Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year with Bishop Garrigan Schools. We begin the year with new energy and excitement, creativity and promise.
Those who are new to the system, be assured that you can count on us to provide the best possible environment for your child's learning.
The Seton staff is eager to meet new families while we reacquaint ourselves with old friendships as well as with the programs that we feel will be successful.
We feel very blessed to be able to be with you as we begin our journey this year.
- Eugene Meister
-Kathleen Froehlich & Michael Stence
Please plan to stop at school one of the following days to pick up a parent handbook, insurance forms, calendars, home base assignments, bus information, athletic practice schedules, and lunch menus. Tuition payments may also be made at that time, and home base lists will be posted.
There will be a uniform exchange on those days as well. Clothing items may be brought to the office starting August 8 from 9:00 - 1:00.
August 21 is a half day of school with parish busing. Dismissal is at 12:45pm. The first full day is August 22.
Please note that preschool (PreK) and extended day information is intermingled in this letter with all the other grades.
All grades PreK-8 are invited to an Open House at Seton on Monday, August 20, from 5:30 - 6:30pm. Students are encouraged to bring all their school supplies at that time, and parents and teachers will have a chance to meet each other.
A reminder to be aware of the size of book bags for ALL school students. Those that are too large or have wheels will be sent home as two bags need to fit inside student hall lockers. Check the handbook for dress code and make-up guidelines. Make-up at school is reserved for high school.
Please check length of shorts, especially on middle school students--height changes, waist size often does not. Shorts are to be walking length.
Algona Community Schools will begin with regular bus routes on Wednesday, August 22, with 3:18 dismissal time.
Doors for Grades PreK-8 open at 8:10am (earlier on inclement weather days). Students are asked to use the entrance nearest their classroom as follows**:
** Door assignments will change when the new security system is installed.
Early Arrivals (Early Birds): Sometimes students need to arrive early because of parent work schedule. If your child needs to be dropped off between 7:30 and 8:10am, you will need to stop in the office to fill out a form stating the reasons for the need to be in the building early. Please do not just send a note with a student. Students will then be issued a book bag tag to display on individual book bags. In the past we have had so many students coming to school early to visit with friends or "collaborate" on homework, and it has created an extra supervision for teachers who are required to be in meetings almost every morning before 8:00am. Students without a tag will be sent home.
If your child usually rides with an older brother or sister who will need to have an early schedule part of the year, please consider having the younger students ride the bus during that time.
All authorized early arrivals, including early bus students, will be assigned a seat where they are expected to remain until 8:10am. Students will need to have a free reading book with them to occupy their time in a quiet and profitable manner.
Dismissals will be on the same schedule as last year: walkers, car riders, and some bus riders at 3:18, everyone else at 3:20. Car riders will be dismissed from the south side of the building only, and are to cross the street at the crosswalks for their own safety. Car riders and walkers leaving from any other side will be stopped and rerouted.
Walkers and car riders who wait for parents after dismissal may not wait at the Train Park as there is no supervision and by law the children are our responsibility until they are off school property.
** Students who arrive after 8:20 are considered tardy.
Enclosed is a letter detailing information about the Federal Hot Lunch Program and priocedures to use in applying for hot lunch assistance for PreK-grade 8. Note that the application for the program needs to be made every year. The school greatly benefits when you qualify for free or reduced lunch, as we receive more per lunch from the State of Iowa for each free lunch than we charge. Other money received for programs like Title I reading is based on the number of free and reduced lunches. Please consider applying.
Hot lunches for Seton will cost $1.80 per lunch ($36.00 for 20 day ticket). In addition, Prep, Den, and kindergarten students need milk tickets to take care of their snack during the day ($.25 per carton = $5.00 for 20 days per program child attends).
We will continue the practice of filling out only one application for the entire family. This form may be returned to either Garrigan or Seton. For assistance in filling out the form, call Sister M. Hermann at 295-3509.
All fees are payable to Carol in the office.
Bus Info: There will be information on daily bus expectations and emergency response procedures in your packet. Please read them very carefully and place them in a safe place.
Wellness Policy: The school board passed the BGS wellness policy in July 1006. There will be information about it in your packet.
Bullying/Harassment Policy: The new 2007 policy for the State of Iowa will be in your fall packets.
All adults who work with students either in the classroom, on field trips, or during class projects are required to have VIRTUS training. There will be a VIRTUS trainingsession held by Deacon Bob in the Bishop Garrigan High School on a date to be determined. You may register online at Virtus.org for any nearby class.