Admissions/Registration Policies

St. Rosalia Academy admits students of any race or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all students formally accepted into the school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race or national or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admission policies, athletic or other school administered programs. Children who are not Catholic are expected to participate in religion classes and to attend all religious functions of the school/church.

A student entering kindergarten must be five years of age by September 1, unless already registered in our preschool program for the 2006-2007 school year. Official certificates of birth and baptism are required at the time of registration. Those registering for grades 1 to 8 must fulfill the age requirement for the desired grade. A mini-battery may be administered to all new students to verify placement. Grade level and academic group determinations are made on the basis of school records.

Immunization records must be complete before any child may enter school. The requirements are as follows:

1 dose of chicken pox vaccine
4 doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (one dose must be after the fourth birthday)
3 doses of oral polio vaccine
2 doses of measles vaccine after the first birthday (or proof by blood test of having had measles)
1 dose of mumps vaccine after the first birthday (or proof by physician's letter of of having had mumps)
1 dose of rubella vaccine after the first birthday (or proof by blood test of having had German measles)
3 properly spaced doses of hepatitis B vaccine (K-4)

Absences / Tardiness

Regular attendance at school is a major factor in determining academic success. Students who are absent for more than thirty days during the academic year may be denied academic promotion.

Absences from school are defined as either Excused or Unexcused according to guidelines from the Pennsylvania School Code. Excused absences include illness, quarantine, impassable roads, recognized religious holidays, and urgent reasons, such as a death in the family or a court appearance. The state guidelines also permit an Excused Absence for Educational Trips, if a request is sent to the school prior to the dates of the trip. If no prior notice is received, the absence is classified as Unexcused.

Parents should call the school office on the first day that a child is absent from school. Give the child’s name, homeroom teacher, and reason for absence. Unless the absence will be for an extended period of time, please make arrangements with another child to have assignments brought home.

Upon returning to school from an absence, a student must submit a written excuse to his/her homeroom teacher as required by state law. If this excuse is not submitted within three days following the absence, the absence will be classified as Unexcused.

A written excuse should be given to the teacher for the following reasons:

• Following an absence
• Excused from gym class
• Permission for out of school appointments (child is expected to return when possible)
• Attending funerals
• Vacation
• Change of plans in leaving school (bus, ride, or walk)
• Early Dismissal

According to the Pennsylvania School Code, Section 1332, “The absence of any pupil who remains out of school with or without his parent’s permission, and is not absent because of illness or for other urgent reasons, as defined in the School Code, shall be unexcused. Such absence will be recorded as 'unlawful-unexcused'” for a pupil who is under the compulsory attendance age.” Section 1333, “Any such child who has been absent three days, or their equivalent, during the term of compulsory attendance, without lawful excuse...shall be given written notice. If, after such notice is given..., attendance is again violated by the person, such person shall be liable... for referral to the magistrate.”

Parents and guardians of students who acquire excessive absences may be required to provide documentation from a physician indicating that the absences are relating to an existing medical condition.

A child is considered tardy, if he/she enters his/her homeroom after the second bell at 8:05 am. When a child is late, he/she must be signed in at the school office. Frequent tardiness may be reason for detention. Students who are tardy are NOT considered to have perfect attendance.