K-8 Parent-Student Handbook 2024 – 2025 Summary Statement

Once students have met the necessary admission requirements and have been accepted in Saint Mary School, the school warmly welcomes these students for the coming school year and will strive to provide them with a solid Catholic spiritual and academic education in a supportive learning environment. Students and parents must always be mindful that attendance at Saint Mary School is by invitation. It is not a “right” because this is a private school. Admission to and continued enrollment in this school includes responsibilities regarding conduct, both inside and outside the classroom and the school, and students are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner as to be a credit both to themselves and to their school.

In order to protect its standards of scholarship, discipline and character, Saint Mary School reserves the right, and students and parents or guardians concede to the School the right to require the withdrawal of any student at any time, for any reason deemed sufficient in the sole discretion of the school and its administrators. By the student’s attendance at the school, a student and his or her parents or guardians acknowledge the important obligations and restrictions contained in this handbook and agree to be bound by the terms of this handbook.

Students attending Saint Mary School relinquish certain rights they might otherwise be entitled to if they were attending public school. For example, a student’s freedom of speech is limited in many important respects here at our school. Speech, either written or oral, contrary to the Roman Catholic faith, the teachings of the church or the directives of the local Bishop or Ordinary is prohibited, as is any other speech which is contrary or disruptive to the philosophy and purposes of our school. Another important right all students at Saint Mary School surrender involves searches and seizures. School administrators may search a student’s person and belongings if there is a reasonable belief, in the sole opinion of the school administrator, that contraband, illegal substances or inappropriate objects are being concealed. Any unauthorized items found may be seized. Additionally, student desks and lockers, which are at all times under the joint control of the school and the student to whom the desk or locker has been assigned, may be searched by school administrators at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. Students should have absolutely no expectation of privacy with regard to any item in their desks or lockers.

Another important right that a student and his or her parents or guardians give up when they decide to have a student attend this school is the right to sue the school, and/or any individuals acting on behalf of the school, such as the school administrators, teachers, staff or any of their agents for any matter relating to academic or disciplinary decisions or other matters covered within this handbook. Each student and his or her parents or guardians, by their acceptance of enrollment at Saint Mary School agree to and accept the school’s rule and policy that students, parents and guardians may not bring any civil action in any local, state or federal court or in any administrative agency or body to challenge any school decision on academic or disciplinary matters, including any decision relating to the rules, regulations, procedures or programs covered within this handbook. Students and parents or guardians agree that any challenge to any school academic or disciplinary action or relating to the rules, regulations, procedures or programs covered in this handbook may only be challenged or appealed within the hierarchy of the school, subject to the limitations contained in this handbook. This includes any decision relating to a student’s enrollment at the school or termination of that enrollment. 

While any student and his or her parents or guardians are of course free to consult with legal counsel regarding any school decision taken with respect to a student, the school emphasizes that students and parents or guardians are not permitted to have legal counsel present during any meetings with school administrators. School administrators are not obligated to meet with legal counsel at any time.

There are several grounds for disciplinary action or expulsion set forth in the “Discipline Code” section of this handbook. It should be noted, however, that any listing of prohibited conduct is set forth by way of example only and to provide guidance to the student and his or her parents or guardians. It is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of improper conduct or resultant disciplinary action.

Our family has read and discussed the 2024 – 2025 Saint Mary School Handbook, and we agree to be in full compliance with the outlined policies and procedures.