Parent & Student Handbook 2013-2014

School Handbook2013-2014

2013–2014 Student H andb o ok

Dear St. Luke’s Community,

Whether you are new to St. Luke’s or a returning student and

family, I hope you will find this Handbook helpful in orienting

you to the School. In it, you will find answers to many of your

important questions about our policies, guidelines, programs,

and organization. You can also learn where to go when you need

something, or whom to ask when you need advice.

Please familiarize yourself with the contents of the Handbook.

If you are confused about anything that you read, I encourage

you to take your question to any member of the faculty or

administration who will be pleased to help you. Reading this and

asking questions will enable you to take full advantage of the many

opportunities that St. Luke’s has to offer. It will also help you

understand the policies and procedures that bind us together as a

vibrant learning community infused with a spirit of friendliness

and respect for one another.

Sincerely,

Mark C. Davis, Head of School

2013–2014 Student H andb o ok

Contents

St. Luke’s Mission Statement and Honor Code . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

St. Luke’s Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Communication with Parents and Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Academics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

School Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

School Policies/Community Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Technology and Internet Acceptable Use Policy . . . . . . . . . . .32

Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Charitable Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

2013–2014 Student H andb o ok 1

St. Luke’s Mission Statement and Honor Code

Mission Statement

A St. Luke’s School education prepares students for a lifelong

commitment to learning and social responsibility. The School

sets high academic standards, stimulates individual talents, and

prepares students for a rewarding college experience. St. Luke’s

recognizes that intellectual and personal growth occur both in and

out of the classroom; therefore, both academic and non-academic

programs foster the pursuit of excellence, strength of character,

and a healthy self-image. A friendly and diverse culture shapes all

the endeavors of the community, encouraging responsible, caring

relationships.

Honor Code

As members of the St. Luke’s community, we will maintain and encourage

integrity at all times. We will be honest in what we say and write, and we

will show respect for ourselves, each other, and all property. We will treat

everyone with kindness, and we will accept responsibility for our actions.


St. Luke’s Contact Information

St. Luke’s School

377 North Wilton Road

New Canaan, CT 06840

Main Number: (203) 966-5612

Fax Number: (203) 972-3450

Website: www.stlukesct.org

The School’s website is a dynamic part of School life and serves as a key communication tool for the St. Luke’s community. In addition to using it for general School news and the online calendar of events, parents and students can also gain access to password secured information including the full St. Luke’s Community Directory, homework assignments, schedules, grades, report cards and other specific information. There is also a parent email network that is regularly used for timely notices.

All students and faculty have access to Google Apps for Education (including Mail), which can be accessed via the St. Luke’s website. Instructions on how to configure Google Apps for Education are provided during New Student Orientation and throughout the academic school year.

It is the School’s assumption that all St. Luke’s families have access to the Internet and check their email regularly. Parents unable to access the Internet should contact the Director of Information Technology to make alternative communication arrangements.

Reporting Notification of Absence(203) 801-4813

Athletic Schedule Hotline(203) 801-4894


Communication with Parents and Students

St. Luke’s School values and encourages the active involvement and support of the parents of its students. In order to foster this involvement and support, timely, honest, and meaningful communication is essential. A number of different vehicles exist to provide the opportunity for this communication.

Relationships with our families are facilitated by regular contact. Parents and students can use either phone or email for communicating with teachers, advisors and administrators. In general, if you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s experience at St. Luke’s, your first point of contact is the student’s advisor.

Each student is assigned an advisor who is the person for teachers, coaches, and parents to consult when a student concern arises. The role of the advisor becomes increasingly significant in the Upper School, where the developmental issue of independence encourages students to seek advice from adults other than their parents. In all cases though, parents and students should feel free to contact their student’s advisor throughout the year.

Faculty and staff members contact information may be accessed through the website at www.stlukesct.org/app after login through the website’s Directory.

The Spoken Word

•In September, parents are invited to a Parents’ Night, where, after hearing introductory comments from the respective Division Heads, they visit each of their child’s classrooms. Teachers provide an overview of the course curriculum, distribute important handouts, and answer general questions about the course.

•October marks the annual State of the School, which includes a reception followed by a presentation by the Head of School and the Board of Trustees Chair.

•Parent-Advisor conferences are scheduled on a half-day in mid-October•In November two days are set aside for individual conferences. Parents have the opportunity

to meet with each of their child’s teachers to discuss progress to date and to agree on goals for the year.

•For a half-day in early March, parent-student-advisor conferences are scheduled to discuss the course of study for the following year.

•Conferences may also be arranged at other times during the year. If either a parent or teacher feels the need to meet, a morning conference involving parents and all of the child’s teachers can be coordinated by the advisor.


•Parents may also contact their child’s advisor to discuss concerns or to ask both general and specific questions about the School. Normally, advisors will contact parents at the beginning of the year and then periodically throughout the year, often following the end of an academic quarter.

•The Parents’ Association has meetings during which time is set aside for presentations and question/answer sessions with different school personnel and departments.

The Written Word

•Reportcardsarepreparedandmadeavailableonlineattheendofeachofthefouracademicquarters. In the Upper School, first and fourth quarter report cards contain grades only; detailed comments about the material covered and the child’s performance are included after the second and third quarters. In the Middle School, first and third quarter report cards contain grades only; comments are included after the second and fourth quarters. 5th Grade students do not receive grades but receive anecdotal reports at the end of each semester. 6th Grade students receive their first graded report card at the end of the first semester.

•AdvisorsintheUpperSchoolalsowritea1-2paragraphsummaryofeachadvisee’soveralldevelopment during the school year. This summary is included as a comment on the year-end report card.

•TeachersmaysendAcademicProgressReports(APRs)atanytimetoinformparentsaboutsignificant events or trends at School, both positive and negative. Advisors, Class Deans, and the appropriate Division Head receive copies of these reports. Teachers may also use APRs at mid-semester if they feel the need to go beyond the letter grade provided on the quarterly report card.

•UsefulpublicationsaretheCurriculumGuide,whichincludestheSt.Luke’scourseofstudy,departmental goals, and course descriptions; the Handbook, which includes school policies, procedures and other important information; the Directory; the Afternoon Activities Guide; and the Upper School Community Service Guide.

•The School’s Web site, www.stlukesct.org serves as a key communication tool for everyone in the St. Luke’s community. The site contains a vast amount of information about programs, faculty, activities and events. It may be used to check the school calendar for all events and Parents’ Association activities, review daily homework assignments, view report cards, see photo galleries of recent School happenings, learn about opportunities for giving, read about general School news and much more.

•Publications include 377 The Magazine for St. Luke’s School and the Annual Report.•The School and the Parents’ Association use email regularly to communicate important news

or upcoming events. From the classroom teacher, to the Department Chairs, to the Division Heads, to the Class Deans, to the Advisors, to other members of the School administration, St. Luke’s School is committed to communicating actively with parents to keep them adequately informed about their children’s education, growth, and development.


Contact Information Changes to Home and Work

If parents move during the year, or if a home, office, or cellular number or email address changes,parents should email new information to [email protected]. All address and contact information changes are required in writing to guarantee an accurate recording of information.

School Closing Information

Should weather or emergency conditions make it necessary to close School, to open late, or to dismiss early, announcements of early dismissal will be made:

•on the School website at www.stlukesct.org•when possible, by phone message•when possible, on the following local radio and TV stations: WGCH 1490 Greenwich;

WSTC 1400 Stamford;

WEBE 108;

WCTZ 96.7 Fairfield County;

WEFX 95.9;

WNLK 1350;

Channel 3/Local CBS;

Channel 6/WNBC 30;

Channel 8/Local ABC;

Channel 12/NEWS 12 CT;

www.ctweather.com

Messages and Materials for Students

Parents and students are strongly urged to be clear about their after-school pick-up time and place to avoid confusion prior to coming to School. In the event of an emergency if parents need to contact their child during the day, they may leave a message with the Receptionist. Messages will not be hand-delivered to students in class, except in the case of an extreme emergency. Please be aware that students cannot be paged over the public address system unless it is an absolute emergency. Any pick-up or delivery of student materials is also handled through the Receptionist.


Academics

Central to the St. Luke’s experience are academics. The Curriculum Guide provides detailed information on the course of study and requirements for graduation. This handbook provides an orientation to other important academic matters.

Academic and Afternoon Activity Conflicts

Although active participation in afternoon activities is an essential part of the school experience, a student’s first priority at St. Luke’s is his or her academic work and class attendance. Therefore, extra help will take precedence over practice, particularly for students in academic difficulty (the teacher must notify the coach); no student will be exempt from class for practice or for games without the approval of the appropriate Division Head or the Head of School. In all cases, a student must attend classes in order to participate in afternoon activities. Students who are absent from more than half their classes may not participate in afternoon activities on that school day unless the appropriate Division Head makes an exception.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be honest in the preparation of daily homework assignments, in the compilation and the preparation of research projects and other papers, and in the preparation for and taking of quizzes, tests, and exams. Academic dishonesty is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Homework: Copying another student’s homework, unless the assignment was to study cooperatively, or turning in an assignment that was completed by a tutor or parent, is academic dishonesty. If this occurs, both students—or all involved—will be given a zero for the homework and parents will be called for a conference. Depending on the severity of the infraction, students may be called to appear before the Honor Council for appropriate consequences. Subsequent instances can lead to failure for the marking period and/or suspension or dismissal. Parents also should not routinely help their child with homework.

Cheating: Cheating is copying another student’s work during a quiz, test, or exam; possessing notes, open texts, or other references including the wrongful use of calculators, phones or other electronic devices, unless explicitly authorized by the teacher. Cheating also includes deliberately providing another student with assistance in taking a quiz, test, or exam either inside or outside of class.

If cheating occurs, all parties involved will be given a zero on the test, quiz, or exam with no


opportunity for a makeup test, and the student(s) will be placed on Disciplinary Probation and/or suspended, or they will be dismissed. A second occurrence will almost certainly lead to dismissal. An appearance before the Honor Council may be part of this process.

Plagiarism: A student plagiarizes when she or he presents someone else’s ideas, intentionally or unintentionally, as if they were her or his own. Plagiarism may occur intentionally or accidentally, but it is a serious form of academic dishonesty whatever the motivation. Plagiarism occurs when 1) a student uses someone else’s words—short phrases, sentences, or paragraphs—without giving credit to the source; 2) when a student rephrases someone else’s ideas into his or her own words without giving credit to the source; and 3) when a student omits footnotes which give credit to the source even if the student intended to put them in.

Avoiding plagiarism is simple: give credit in a footnote for any idea presented which is not a hundred percent original. Teachers may answer any questions students have about the form of footnotes or about when they should be used. If plagiarism occurs, the assignment will automatically be given a zero, and the student will be placed on Disciplinary Probation and/or suspended or dismissed. An appearance before the Honor Council may be part of this process. If the student is not dismissed at the first instance of academic dishonesty, and is involved in a second act of academic dishonesty, dismissal would be the normal response. If a student has any questions about how to format properly, she or he must be sure to review with her or his teacher before any drafts are submitted. If in doubt as to whether or not to cite a source, it is better to err on the side of caution and cite it.

Academic Probation

Academic Probation serves as a serious warning to those students who are failing, nearly failing, or underperforming in more than one class. Division Heads reserve the right to place students on Academic Probation when they think it is appropriate. Otherwise, Academic Probation is assigned to those students whose quarterly GPA is 72 or below or to those who receive two grades of D+ or lower. A student may be placed on Academic Probation at the end of any quarter for a period of up to four quarters. A student who is placed on Academic Probation after the fourth quarter (or the end of the school year) will be on Academic Probation the following year. Students who are on Academic Probation after the first semester will have their re-enrollment contract withheld until year-end grades are submitted in June. A student on Academic Probation who, in the opinion of the administration, does not make significant progress by the end of the school year may be asked to leave St. Luke’s School.


Academic Progress Report (APR)

At their discretion, teachers occasionally send progress reports to parents indicating above or below average performances. In addition, parents may request periodic written reports (every three weeks) on a student’s academic progress by contacting the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning or appropriate Division Head. However, after the first marking period, students will not receive periodic progress reports in any class in which they have an average of B+ or higher.

Classroom Behavior

St. Luke’s encourages active participation during classes, maintaining an atmosphere that is structured but flexible. No student may interfere with the education of his or her classmates. Should this occur, students may expect serious consequences, up to and including separation from the St. Luke’s community.

Course Changes

Course changes are to be made through and approved by the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. A course may only be added within two schedule rotations (within one rotation for AP courses), with the approval of the teacher and Department Chair; a course may be dropped anytime during the first quarter provided that the student is left with at least five courses (not including Independent Study courses); withdrawals from courses prior to the Friday before Columbus Day will not show on the transcript; after that date, the dropped course will appear on the transcript. For 2nd semester electives, the deadline is 4 weeks into the third quarter.

Educational Support Services (ESS)

ESS seeks to improve learning in a challenging college preparatory curriculum by providing academic support services to students with a wide range of abilities. The faculty of ESS, one full time learning specialist, provides individual and/or small group support to students, their parents, and teachers, on an as-needed basis. ESS also maintains a list of tutors, educational therapists, and speech and language pathologists for referral outside school hours. The office for Educational Support Services is located in the ESS Center on the mezzanine level of the Library. The ESS Center is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Exams

The purposes of exams for students are as follows: To provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate understanding of concepts; to develop and measure writing skills; to encourage students to synthesize a large body of knowledge into a concise, written work; and to measure each student’s progress. All students in grades nine through twelve will be assessed in March in each full year core academic subject (English, History, Mathematics, Science, and World Language). The exam


grade will be weighted 20% in determining the final grade. All students who take an AP course must take the AP exam. Middle School students do not take March (or year-end) exams.

Failure in a Course

A student who fails a course, for whatever reason, can make up the credit in an approved summer school program by repeating the course, or by a tutorial, at the discretion of the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning and appropriate Department Chair. To make up the credit by means of a tutorial, the following will apply: A student must pass an exam approved by the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning; the tutor must meet St. Luke’s teaching standards; and the tutorial will require fifteen hours per quarter. Tutoring may recover course credit but will not change the transcript grade.

Grades: The Meaning of Grades at St. Luke’s

A: The student’s approach to the subject matter communicates a passion for learning; it not only satisfies the basic expectations of the assignment/course but also excels in several of them for this course or grade level. The work produced by the student:

•demonstrates incisive critical thinking•is thorough, persuasive and/or imaginative•is complex and/or deep•contains few if any calculation, grammar, stylistic, or punctuation errors•demonstrates thorough mastery of the material; it is organized, complete and almost always

correct•demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills•demonstrates risk-taking and a willingness to tackle a difficult topic, task, or problem•presents clearly the thinking of the student; the writing, logic, and/or calculation flows well•demonstrates the consistent application of learned theories, principles, or facts to new

situations or problems

B: The student’s approach to the subject matter is good and the consequence of applied skills, reflecting a core level of competence; it satisfies the essential expectations of the assignment for this course or grade level. The work produced by the student:

•is organized, clear, and largely correct in analyses and/or facts; it is typically complete and reasonably thorough

•is comprehensible and reflects some critical thinking, insight and/or originality•demonstrates good understanding of the material covered by the assignment•demonstrates good problem-solving skills•routine problems pose no difficulty and challenging problems elicit reasonable, though not

completely correct, answers•may be formulaic or mechanical in its feel: few risks have been taken


•does not reach beyond the material presented in the text or the ideas discussed in class•is straightforward and understandable but without depth

C: The student’s approach to the subject matter is competent but it reveals gaps in student understanding and/or presentation. The work produced by the student:

•is weakened by errors, oversight and/or incomplete analysis•is correct but contains some organizational or structural problems•is uneven in expression and in logic•satisfies some, but not all, of the basic requirements of the assignment: factually, structurally,

and/or grammatically, the assignment has flaws—it is less than thorough and lacking in detail•demonstrates competent problem-solving skills: simple, straightforward problems pose no

difficulty—problems that require making connections and/or applying concepts to new situations often elicit incomplete and/or incorrect responses

•is not clearly presented or expressed; the conclusions are not sound: the observations are obvious and/or superficial—the paper posits an acceptable thesis but does not support it adequately

D: The student’s approach to the subject matter is of poor quality; it is substandard in several areas for this course or grade level; it reveals little evidence of intellectual curiosity or goal orientation. The work produced by the student:

•is unorganized and unclear; the conclusions are unsound•is misguided: the student has misunderstood the point or gone in an unrelated direction•contains several serious errors or omissions•reflects oversight, incomplete analysis, little attention to detail, and carelessness•is seriously flawed on all but the most basic problems•demonstrates little understanding of concepts and relationships and how they are connected to

topics previously studied.

E: The student’s approach to the subject matter is unacceptable; it is substandard in many areas for this course or grade level; it may suggest a lack of effort and disregard for institutional goals. The work produced by the student:

•falls well short of achieving the goals of the assignment•shows little understanding of the material•is largely incomprehensible as presented•is incomplete, is completed incorrectly or is the wrong assignment•contains serious factual errors, including on basic problems•mistakes consistently reflect oversight, incomplete analysis, and carelessness, and an inability

to grasp, recall and/or utilize the relationships between concepts


Please note that these descriptions explain what our letter grades mean, but they do not tell which grades are “good” or “bad”, these evaluations being highly personal and relative. For one student, a B- may be a “bad” grade, while for another student, a B- may be a “good” grade.

The following letter grades will apply to their numerical ranges:

A+ 98-100 A 93-97 A- 90-92

B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82

C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72

D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62

E 0-59

An Incomplete may be given only in case of legitimate absence from School with too little time remaining in the semester for make-up. The deadline for completing the course will be one week after the end of the marking period, at which time the incomplete will be converted to a grade and the report card will be updated.

Pass/Fail courses may be taken with the permission of the instructor, provided the course is not required for graduation. The commitment to Pass/Fail must be made in the first two weeks of the course and may not be changed.

Transfer students with grades from another school may have their grades weighted into the year’s average, depending upon individual circumstances.

Honors are to be determined according to the following:The Honor Roll begins in 8th grade and is computed using the following point scale:

•The Honor Roll is computed using the following quality point scale:

A+ = 99,A = 95,A- = 91, B+ = 88, B = 85,

B- = 81, C+ = 78

Teachers may use actual averages, rather than quality points when determining semester and final grades.

•HighHonorsrequiresaminimumgradepointaverageof93withnogradelowerthanaB.Honors requires a minimum grade point average of 88 with no grade lower than a B-

•Classesthatmeeteverydayreceiveonecredit;MiddleSchool“specials”inart,music,etc.receive .5 credit., but are not included in the GPA calculation for Honor Roll. Physical Education, Life Skills and Health receive .25 credit.

•AlthoughMiddleSchoolstudents(except5thgrade)receivelettergradesinallsubjects,courses such as PE, Life Skills, Art, Music, and Theatre are not be included in the calculation of GPA. In the Upper School, only those art, music, and theater courses taken beyond the one-year requirement are counted in the GPA calculation.

•WhencalculatingGPAandHonorRollstatus,averagesareroundedup.•HonorsandAPcoursesareweightedanadditional1/3ofalettergradeforinternalGPAand

Honor Roll purposes only. Earned grades will appear on report cards and transcripts.


Late Work

Late work is penalized a third of a letter grade per day late. This policy applies to major assignments such as papers, projects, and take-home tests as well as tests that are taken after the allotted time specified in the make-up test policy.

Major Assignments

In general, no more than two major assignments should be given to a student on one day. However, exceptions may occasionally have to be made. Tests are posted on the website at least one week in advance to allow the student enough time to prepare adequately.

Make-Up Test

If a student has an excused absence on the day of a test, a make-up test may be taken. If the absence is for the day of the test only, the student is expected to take the test on the day(s) he returns to School (exception: medical absences that prevent a student from being able to prepare effectively for the test). If the absence is longer than one day, the student must make arrangements for the make-up test on the day of his or her return. Parents may not excuse students from tests.

Rewrite

A student may rewrite a paper (in classes where revisions are allowed) provided that the student submits the first draft containing the teacher’s comments along with the revision. A teacher may not accept a revision without the first draft. The writing sequence including a revision must be as follows: first draft—conference (recommended)—resubmission of first draft plus revision. Under no circumstances will a revision be marked higher than one letter grade above the first draft.

Standardized Testing

•St. Luke’s School administers the Educational Record Bureau’s CPT4 battery of tests (ERBs) to students in grades five through nine in November of each year.

•In the fall of their ninth grade year, students take the College Work and Readiness Assessment (CWRA), an on-line examination that measures higher order skills such as critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication. The test, with different tasks, is administered again in their senior year to determine growth and progress during the high school years.

•Students in grade ten take the PLAN (i.e. the practice ACT).•Students in grades ten and eleven take the PSAT, and students in grades eleven and twelve take

the SAT and/or ACT on designated dates each year. Results of the testing are made available to teachers and parents.


A system of standardized testing, such as the ERBs, provides the school with a snapshot of the academic status of the student body at a particular point in time, as well as with data that can be used for assessment of students’ progress over time and for benchmarking purposes by the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. However, the school acknowledges that standardized testing is but one means of judging a student’s growth and progress. Teachers will continue to use other assessment vehicles for this purpose, as well. The on-going process of curriculum review is designed to align learning goals with assessments, as well as with teaching strategies.

In order to minimize or eliminate the loss of teaching time, the ERBs are administered on the Monday and Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving Break.

Buses will run their normal morning and afternoon routes. Parents should arrange for transportation in order to accommodate the testing schedule. Varsity and JV sports may practice these afternoons. Check with coaches for more information.

PSATs will be administered on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 for all sophomores and juniors. The PLAN will be administered on Monday, November 25, 2013 for all sophomores. The School is responsible for the registration and cost of these tests. Check Dates with Guy’s edits.

Study Hall

All students in grades seven and eight must attend study hall except those eighth graders who have earned High Honors status. Loss of honors status will result in reassignment to study hall. Upper School students who, in the opinion of their teachers, advisors and deans, need a structured and supervised time to work, may be assigned to a study hall following the end of each marking period. The Head of Upper School will make the final decision on study hall placement.

Test Completion

A student who needs to make up a test or who needs additional time to complete a test, and who is entitled to extended time according to testing on file with ESS, will be allowed to complete the test after school. Test completion takes precedence over afternoon activities. Students are required to complete a test on the same day that it was started. A student may not postpone the completion of a test to the following day.

Tutoring in the Writing Process

Although tutoring in composition is often helpful, tutors must not do the student’s thinking. Likewise, parents should not routinely edit their child’s papers or otherwise contribute significantly to the organization in a major writing assignment. A good writing tutor is a writing coach: one who prompts and encourages, but one who stays on the sidelines. Teachers who determine that a student’s work is not his or her own will confer with the student and contact the parents. Overzealous tutoring is intellectually dishonest—in spite of the tutor’s good intentions—and will result in a penalty ranging from a lowered mark to no credit for the paper.


Vacation Homework

Over short vacations, including Thanksgiving, normal homework may be assigned just as homework is assigned over a weekend. However, no tests will be given and no papers will be due on the day of return to school. Over long vacations, such as winter break, a reasonable amount of reading may be assigned. (The level of difficulty in the course will define ‘reasonable’). This will, of course, vary by grade and class, especially AP or honors classes, which often require work to be done over the breaks. Questions about a particular assignment should be referred to the teacher first and then the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. In addition, if a student is observing a religious holiday which conflicts with a School assignment, the student should speak with the teacher about appropriate accommodations.


School Life

General Expectations

•Students in all grades will attend their scheduled classes, events, and activities. They will do the work and function in those classes to the best of their ability.

•Students will behave appropriately and with respect for each other as well as for teachers, administrators, and parents.

•St. Luke’s School is a community, and each person attending the School has a role within that community.

•Students are expected to respect the differences among people and recognize that each person associated with the School has something to offer.

•Students will abide by the dress code. The rules have been established for the good of the whole school.

•Anyone who feels that she or he has the grounds to do so may question a rule. However, before challenging a rule, take time to consider it in terms of the whole school.

Advisors

Every student at St. Luke’s is assigned to an advisor. This faculty member is the student and parent’s primary point person for all matters and helps students understand what it means to be a student at St. Luke’s School. Advisors will have a sense of what is going on with their advisees in school, and any significant events at home should be related to the advisor so that he or she can support the student appropriately.

The St. Luke’s School mission is clear about its goals for students as they proceed through the grades and reach graduation. “A St. Luke’s School education prepares students for a lifelong commitment to learning and social responsibility. The School sets high academic standards, stimulates individual talents and prepares students for a rewarding college experience.” This preparation derives from the concerted efforts of the faculty and administration to implement a rigorous and contemporary curriculum, individualized as necessary for the needs of each student. Nonetheless, during a student’s journey from fifth to twelfth grade, many decisions need to be made concerning an appropriate academic course of study. In the earlier grades, most courses follow a prescribed sequence with variables only in the areas of math placement and choice of world language; however, in the Upper School, more options are available—and more choices must be made.

The Curriculum Guide includes flow charts of possible course sequences in each discipline, as well as other information about graduation requirements, and criteria for placement in honors and AP courses. In addition, St. Luke’s provides a number of opportunities to receive advice about


making decisions concerning such topics as choice of electives, how many advanced courses to take, and college expectations. Different people are available to assist depending on the nature of the advice needed. We encourage parents and students to take advantage of the full range of expertise and advice available at St. Luke’s. Please feel free to contact any or all of these resources:

•TheAdvisor,whoisfamiliarwiththestudent’spersonalpreferences,strengthsandweaknesses,is an important contact for academic counseling. He or she can be useful in choosing electives as well as gauging an appropriate load of courses.

•TheDepartmentChairsknowthespecificsofparticularcoursesandtheirlevelsofdifficulty.They can also elaborate on the criteria used for honors and AP placement.

•TheDirectorofStudiesisknowledgeableaboutcoursesequencesandcanbehelpfulwithlong-range planning.

•TheAssistantHeadofSchoolforTeachingandLearningcreatesindividualschedulesandcanadvise about the various possibilities and alternatives that a student may have.

•TheCollegeCounselorscanprovideinformationabouttheacademicrequirementsofspecificcolleges.

•The Division Heads and Assistant Division Heads have information unique to the Middle and Upper Schools.

The most important factors to be considered when making these decisions are the student’s interests and abilities. The goal each year should be to take a course of study that is appropriately demanding and challenging, given those interests and abilities.

Afternoon Activities and Athletic Programs

Part of the mission of the St. Luke’s School is to provide a program that goes beyond the academic experience and contribute to the development of the whole child—that is the social, emotional and physical growth of each student. Afternoon activities are the primary vehicle for delivering these programs, which are designed to broaden students’ experiences at St. Luke’s by providing them with an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Student and parent support of these programs is essential.

Participation is required in the fall and spring seasons and is encouraged, but optional, in the winter season for students in grades five through eleven. Students in grade twelve may be exempt from one of the three seasons. Students who do not meet this requirement may have their contracts held for the following year and their return to St. Luke’s School reconsidered. The annual Afternoon Activities list, available as a download at www.stlukesct.org, has the full offerings information and signup sheet. For more information, please contact the Director of Athletics or appropriate Assistant Division Head.


Class Trips

Throughout their career at St. Luke’s, students will experience a variety of class trips. These are an integral part of the learning experience as well as an opportunity for students to experience an enhanced sense of community. If exceptional circumstances come up which suggest that a student not participate, the parent(s) and the Division Head should confer as soon as possible in order to discuss the situation.

Community Service

The St. Luke’s School motto, “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve,” is reflected in our community service requirement. Throughout their St. Luke’s experience, students have an opportunity to become involved in service activities, which encourage them to share their talents with the community and develop lifelong habits of giving. Our community service program is coordinated by the Director of Character Education and is facilitated by parent volunteers.

In the Middle School, the class projects are centered on a theme for the year. While classes may adjust their activities according to community need, their activities generally follow certain themes. Examples of recent grade themes include The Elderly, The Environment, Hunger and Homelessness, and Children in Need.

In the Upper School, each student is required to complete a total of 80 hours of community service or 20 hours for each year in the Upper School. The projects, coordinated by the community service parent volunteers, will assist a student in meeting this graduation requirement, though they will not fulfill all of the required hours. All Upper School students, therefore, must have some community service involvement beyond what is offered in School.

In order for an Upper School student to receive credit for his or her community service hours, the work must be on a volunteer (non-paid) basis and for a non-profit organization. If a student volunteers at a for-profit agency, the student may have half of his or her hours count toward this requirement. In each case, the student must document the hours and have his or her supervisor send a letter to the Director of Character Education at St. Luke’s. (It is usually best to discuss the method of hourly record keeping with the supervisor when one begins working for an organization.) In addition, there is an opportunity for students to earn community service hours through a formal reflection on their service work. If there are any questions about this, students should speak to the Director of Character Education.

While enrolled at St. Luke’s, students are always representing the School, on or off campus. At all times, their manner and behavior reflects on the entire St. Luke’s community.

Dress Code

The St. Luke’s School Mission promotes the personal pursuit of excellence in every aspect of school life. The School believes an important component of this pursuit is a dress code for students and faculty that sets high standards and creates an environment conducive to learning. Therefore, the


School subscribes to, and enforces, a dress code that emphasizes pride in the community through neat and appropriate appearance at all times. Students in violation of the dress code will receive a detention that must be served the same day as the offense. Students who violate the dress code repeatedly should expect more severe consequences including removal from class or Saturday detention.

While enrolled at St. Luke’s School, students are always representing the School, on or off campus. At all times, their manner and behavior reflects on the entire St. Luke’s community.

General Rules for Both Boys and Girls•At all times, students should be dressed neatly and modestly. In all cases the final decision rests

with the Deans of Student Life for Middle and Upper Schools.•Solid colored knit sweaters can be worn over an oxford shirt.•Outerwear inside the building is limited to knit sweaters, St. Luke’s monogrammed fleece

apparel, or St. Luke’s team jackets only. St. Luke’s School monogrammed fleece vests or jackets are available for purchase through the School Store or Dennis Uniform Co. These vests and jackets must have the St. Luke’s logo. All other sweatshirts are not allowed.

•Pants are to be worn above the hips.•Pierced body parts, other than ears, are not acceptable at St. Luke’s, unless for religious or

cultural purposes.•No hats are to be worn in the building at any time, unless for religious or cultural purposes.•Appropriate hairstyles only - no shaved patterns, half-shaved heads, or abnormal hair colors are

allowed.

MS/US Dress Code for BoysThe boys’ dress code comprises the following articles of clothing. They may be worn in any combination provided that the basic rules are followed:

•Any solid color dress slacks/trousers including khakis, dress corduroys, and chinos. Pants with external pockets, such as 5-pocket jean style (made of denim or corduroy) or cargo pants are not acceptable.

•Traditional solid, striped or small checkered/pinpoint collared dress shirt. Flannel shirts are not allowed. Shirts must be long enough to be tucked in and stay tucked in.

•Traditional dress or bow tie.•Solid-colored, closed-toe, non-athletic shoes only (excessive heels, clogs, moccasins, slippers,

crocs, flip-flops, canvas, fur-lined shoes and work boots are not acceptable).•Belts must be worn at all times.

4th Quarter Dress for BoysAll of the above dress including: Any solid color or conservatively patterned, properly fitting traditional 2/3-button polo shirt with a conservative logo. Polos with numbers or other large logos are not acceptable.


MS/US Dress Code for GirlsThe girls’ dress code comprises the following articles of clothing. They may be worn in any combination provided that the basic rules are followed:

•Any solid color dress slacks/trousers including khakis, corduroys, and chinos. Pants with external pockets, such as 5-pocket jean style (made of denim or corduroy), cargo pants or pants that are exceptionally tight, such as jeggings, are not acceptable. Cropped, capri, or spandex pants are also excluded.

•Traditional collared oxford dress shirt (long or short sleeves). Shoulders and midriffs must be covered at all times. Flannel shirts are not allowed.

•Choice of the following skirts with a length of no more than 3 inches above the knee: Dennis Uniform Co. Skort #03517 in colors Navy, Khaki, and Black Dennis Uniform Co. Skort #05521 in colors Black watch Plaid, Navy, Black, and Gray

•Solid color tights or stockings may be worn with skirts. Leggings are not allowed.•Solid-colored, closed-toe, non-athletic shoes only (excessive heels, clogs, moccasins, slippers,

crocs, flip-flops, canvas, fur-lined shoes and work boots are not allowed).

4th Quarter Dress for GirlsAll of the above dress including: Any solid color or conservatively patterned, properly fitting traditional 2/3-button polo shirt with a conservative logo. Polos with numbers or other large logos are not acceptable.

Music Performance Dress CodeStudents participating in Choir and Band will need the following for their performances:

Middle School

•5th Grade - Khaki pants/skirt; white oxford shirt; dress code shoes; ties for the boys.•6th Grade Band/Choir - Black pants/skirt; white oxford shirt; black shoes; black socks; ties

for the boys.•7th/8th Grade Boys Choir - Khaki pants; white oxford shirt; dress code shoes; ties for the

boys; navy blue blazer.•7th/8th Grade Girls Choir - Black skirt; white oxford shirt; black shoes; black stockings.•Prep Band - Black pants/skirt; white oxford shirt; black shoes; black socks; ties for the boys.

Upper School

•Concert Band, Chorus, Chorale, and a cappella groups: dress code is set by the department and will include an additional fee.

•For concert attire, families will be informed of the details at the beginning of the year.

PE Class Dress And Attendance•Students must wear a St. Luke’s physical education gray t-shirt, black shorts, socks and

sneakers for gym.


•Two gray t-shirts and a pair of black gym shorts will be issued to Middle School students by the PE Department.

•Students who are not prepared for class with the proper clothing will have points deducted from their class grades.

Honor Council

Upper School disciplinary infractions that challenge our Honor Code may require a student to meet with the Honor Council. This group comprises teachers and students who represent the community and help determine the appropriate response.

The Honor Council is selected in the spring of the previous year by peer election. The Honor Council includes five seniors, three juniors and two sophomores, plus several faculty representatives. When a student engages in activity that goes against the School’s Honor Code, he or she may be asked to speak to the Honor Council about that offense. The Honor Council is convened at the discretion of the Head of School or Head of Upper School. Their recommendations will go to either the Division Head or the Head of School for a final decision. Students appearing before the Honor Council will be accompanied by their advisor and a peer. Parents may not attend these meetings.

Student Government

Both the Middle and Upper Schools have student governments with representatives elected by their peers each year. The role of the student government is to foster School spirit, initiate School projects and provide leadership throughout the School.


School Policies/Community Matters

Absences and Attendance

St. Luke’s believes that regular class attendance and participation are essential for learning. All students should make every effort to attend class so that they may take full advantage of the School environment. In addition, the lessons learned by making every effort to meet one’s commitments on time are important for life-long habits. Consequently, St. Luke’s has adopted the following absence policy:

A student who misses more than twelve days in a semester (excused or unexcused) and is not on approved medical leave (see below) automatically will receive a penalty to their grade. At absence #13, a student will receive an automatic 2/3 grade drop, i.e., an A grade lowers to a B+, a B- grade lowers to a C, etc. With each successive absence, that student will receive an additional 1/3 letter grade drop, i.e. a student with 16 absences and an A average in a course would have his/her grade lower to C+ [absence #13 = 2/3 drop (to B+), then absence #14-16 = 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 drop (to C+)].

Student absences are excused only in the following circumstances:•Illness•One-time family events or serious family emergency

Student absences are exempted in the following circumstances:•Religious holidays not marked by the School calendar•School-sponsored field trips•Up to five college visiting days for seniors; up to two college visiting days for juniors.

Absences due to family trips or extended vacations during the academic year are strongly discouraged. In general, these absences will be considered unexcused and teachers are not required to spend additional time re-teaching the missed lessons. In exceptional circumstances whereby a student may be required to miss a day or more of school for a planned event, a parent may make that request, in writing, to the appropriate Assistant Division Head at least a week in advance of the absence. The Assistant Division Head will then give the student an absence slip, which the student must bring to each teacher for a signature. Before leaving, a student must bring the form to the appropriate Assistant Division Head so that it can be properly recorded.

Likewise, college visits require a student to submit a form available from the Assistant Head of the Upper School and signed by their parents, one week prior to the proposed college visit, stating specific dates and schools that they plan to visit. Seniors are exempt for up to five days of school


for college visits provided the proper procedure is followed; if a senior uses more than five college visit days, those will be considered unexcused. Juniors are exempt for up to two days of school for college visits, following the same procedures as seniors.

Class attendance is recorded for each class. If a student’s absence has been reported to the School in accordance with the procedures below and is confirmed by the School to be excused, a student may make up all missed work upon his or her return for credit (see the section on make-up test policy). Absences which are not reported to the school will not be excused.

If an absence is not excused, a student may make up the missed assignments and tests, but at a reduced percentage for that assignment. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the teacher immediately upon return to make up any missed assessments. Failure to make these arrangements or to follow the make-up test policy can result in failure on that assignment.

If a student misses a class and is not accounted for by a parent or a teacher, it is considered a class cut and there will be a reduction in the class participation grade; she or he must make up any missed tests or assignments immediately upon return at a reduced percentage, and will likely serve a Saturday detention. A second class cut in the semester will result in a review by the by the Division Head and could lead to Disciplinary Probation, Suspension, or other action. Three class cuts may result in failure for the marking period. Absences from School should be reported by telephone to the School Nurse by 9:00 a.m. Students may not call themselves in sick—a parent or guardian must do this. Parents will be notified of unexplained or excessive absences. In all cases, the Assistant Division Head, Dean of Upper School Life and/or Dean of Middle School Life will determine whether an absence is excused. See policy on unexcused absences and cuts.

Medical Leave Policy: In extreme mental or physical health situations, which require everyone to prioritize the student’s recovery, the school may recommend a short or long-term medical leave for the student. Information about this policy may be obtained from the appropriate Division Head. The details of a student’s medical leave will be worked out individually with each family needing such a provision.

Long Distance Learning Policy: St. Luke’s curriculum is most effectively delivered in the context of the classroom, and excessive absences will inevitably compromise the program. St. Luke’s also recognizes, however, that certain students have exceptional talent in areas that are either not offered at St. Luke’s or can be accommodated only to a certain point within the School’s curricular and programmatic offerings. The School is willing to work with students in developing a program that could meet the training needs while also completing the requirements for classes. In order to clarify this arrangement, the School has developed an application that must be approved by the Academic Council before the semester of the requested absence. For complete information on this policy along with an application, please contact the Director of Global Education.


Automobiles on Campus

Drop-Off And Pick-Up The School asks that parents assist to improve the drop-off and pick-up process. Following these steps may alleviate long car back-ups, particularly at the beginning or end of the school day:

•Carpool, if possible, or use school van transportation, when available.•Drop-off/pick-up your child at the circle in front of the Athletic Center or at Parking Lot E.•Discuss with your child your pick-up location and have them wait for you there. (St. Luke’s

discourages Middle School students from meeting their parents by the Art House, as that area is not regularly supervised.)

•Ifyouarriveatyouragreeduponlocationandyourchildisnotthere,pleasemoveoutoftheroad or circle and allow others to move up to those children who are ready and waiting. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

•Pleasebeaspunctualaspossible,andencourageyourchildtodothesame,asearlyarrivalsforpick-up may lead to long lines and delays.

No Idling Policy St. Luke’s commitment to being as environmentally friendly as possible has led to the establishment of a No Idling Policy. All drivers who are waiting in their cars for student pick-up must turn off their engines if they anticipate being stationary for more than 2 minutes. Idling releases many fumes and toxins into the air that are harmful to our students, teachers and community members as well as the atmosphere.

Parking Lot DesignationA Lot: along the hill, closest to the main school building (for faculty/staff/visitors only).B Lot: next to the tennis courts (for faculty/staff/visitors only).C Lot: past the footbridge, on the left; below the B Lot (for seniors).D Lot: near the Art Building (for juniors and seniors).E Lot: near the Athletic Center (for faculty/staff/visitors).

Failure to comply with any of these rules will result in the temporary or permanent loss of car and parking privileges and/or other school discipline.

Student Cars On CampusDriving and parking on campus at St. Luke’s School is an all-year privilege for seniors. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, juniors will not be allowed to drive to or from School.

The school does not permit students to park on nearby roads. Sophomores are not permitted to drive to School. Carpools are strongly encouraged. Seniors driving on campus must register their car with the Community Life Associate and receive a parking permit, which must be displayed on the rear view mirror when on campus. Students who do not register their car properly at School will temporarily lose the privilege of driving on campus. Parking in the wrong place, speeding and/or reckless driving on School grounds (campus speed limit is 10 mph) will likely result in the loss of driving privileges for a specified period of time. Repeated incidents will result in a permanent loss


of driving privileges. With the exception of seniors who are leaving campus, students may not go to their cars during the school day. Driving rules are given to all senior students, and it is the student’s responsibility to see that they are followed. This is a privilege that can be revoked by the Head of School, the Head or Assistant Head of Upper School, or Community Life Associate.

Things to remember:•OnlyseniorsmaydrivetoSchool.Nosophomoresorjuniorsareallowedtohavecarson

campus.•TrafficbytheSchoolbuildingcircleisallONEWAY.•StudentsmustdriveSLOWLYatalltimes.Thecampusspeedlimitis10mph.•Studentsmustobeyalloftherulesoftheroadandoperatetheirvehiclesafelyatalltimes.•AllcarsdrivenbystudentsmustberegisteredwiththeCommunityLifeAssociate.•Parkingpassesmustbehungontherearviewmirrorofanyvehicleparkedoncampus.•Studentsarenotallowedtoparkalongthehillatanytimeorinthe“A”or“B”parkinglots.

These parking lots are reserved for faculty, staff and visitors.•Studentsmaytransportotherstudentsaspassengersonlyifauthorizedbymotorvehiclelaws

and with the consent of both the operator’s and the passenger’s parents.

Seniors:•Seniors should park in the “C” lot. If there are no spaces left, seniors must park in the “D” lot.•Seniors may leave campus during free periods, provided there is a parental permission form on

file and all off-campus rules are followed. When returning to campus, students are prohibited from parking in the faculty, staff, and visitor parking lots.

Book Bags

Book bags may be used to transport books to and from School. No bag may be carried during the school day or left out on the floor in the Community Court, Commons, hallways, or classrooms. This includes not only backpacks but also athletic bags and duffels. Students should use their lockers for storing and retrieving books and athletic equipment, and plan to access it several times a day if necessary. Those violating this rule may have their bags confiscated, along with other punitive measures.

Campus Access to Students

The following areas are off-limits to students at all times: fire escapes; roofs of buildings; driveways, and the parking lots during the academic day, including seniors unless they are leaving from or returning to School; all wooded areas; all storage areas; the Faculty Room; and the Copy Room. In addition, the following areas may only be used by students if supervision is provided by a teacher: all playing fields; the Seldin Performing Arts Center; the computer labs; the music rooms; the Center For Leadership; the Seminar Room; the Middle School gym; Athletic Center (including the Weight Room, Multi-Purpose Room, Bornstein Room, Whitcomb Room, squash courts, and Athletic Trainer’s office); department offices; teachers’ offices. When walking to the Art House,


students are to stay on the paved sidewalks at all times and step into the driveways or parking lots only at the designated crosswalks.

Campus Safety

Inspection of all lockers, desks, cabinets, files, brief cases, back packs, automobiles and other places or items on campus is possible at any time if the School deems it necessary to maintain security.

Common Area/Hallway Behavior

Use of common space is an important reflection of our community. Therefore, we expect students to behave in a way that respects people and property at all times and supports the community. Specifically, students may not sit or lie on the floor in the hallways or lie down on the furniture in the Commons. When leaving an area, whether it is by the student’s locker, or a cafeteria table, or a commons sitting area, students are expected to pick up all belongings and clear away all trash. The School is not responsible for personal items left in public spaces.

Inappropriate physical contact (as deemed so by a member of the faculty, staff, or administration) is prohibited and includes physical displays of affection. Students are not allowed to chew gum in school, and they may only eat food in the cafeteria. Students may carry water in closeable containers in School. The faculty reserves the right to address any hallway behavior that they deem disruptive or inappropriate. Students whose behavior in common areas does not properly reflect our School environment will be dealt with and appropriately disciplined.

Community Support Services

St. Luke’s School addresses the health and wellness of our students through numerous initiatives intended to educate the whole child. Our Community Support Services Team (CSST) is an important component of our student care. In addition, we have a team of professionals who are available for student, faculty, and parent consultation. The Community Support Services Team is led by the Upper School Health and Wellness Coordinator and includes the Middle School Counselor, the Director of Character Education, Division Heads and our consulting psychologist. Everyone on the CSST is available to meet individually with students, parents, or teachers to discuss their concerns, but none should be regarded as a student’s on-going therapist. They may determine, after meeting with a student, that additional support is advisable and may refer a student to support outside of School. If a student shares something with any faulty member that has the faculty member worried about the safety or health of the child, the faculty member is responsible for reporting it to his or her immediate supervisor or Head of School so that there can be appropriate follow up.


Disclosure of Student Information

It is the School’s policy to communicate honestly and accurately with educational institutions (or other organizations) seeking information about students pursuant to a written authorization executed by the student and his or her parents. St. Luke’s will release information upon request of the educational institution, including academic and disciplinary information. With regard to discipline specifically, should an educational institution or organization inquire about Disciplinary Probation, Suspension, or Dismissal, St. Luke’s will indicate the nature of the infraction and the subsequent penalty. Furthermore, if the student’s academic or disciplinary status should substantially change, the school reserves the right to update an educational institution regarding the student’s status. Seniors should be aware that St. Luke’s will not release a final transcript to a college until all graduation requirements have been fulfilled including such requirements as may be imposed as a result of disciplinary infractions or academic performance. A student’s educational and disciplinary records are available to administrators, teachers, coaches, guidance counselors and other staff who work with students on a need-to-know basis.

Divorced Parent Policy

The purpose of this policy is to inform divorced parents that, with regard to all matters concerning any student who is their child, St. Luke’s School is required by law to assume, and will assume subject only to the exception specified below, that each natural or adoptive parent has equal rights and obligations in all matters concerning that child. The law directs us further to assume that neither natural or adoptive parent has any exclusionary or directive power regarding the rights and obligations of the other parent. To that end, St. Luke’s requires the names and contact information of both custodial parents to be given to the School upon enrollment. Both parents will then receive all relevant information. The only exception will be when the School is provided with certified copies of court-recorded divorce or other documents that permit or direct one parent to make definitive decisions with regard to that child. When scheduling parent-teacher or parent-advisor conferences, divorced parents are expected to attend together, rather than using separate scheduling time slots.

Disagreements Between Parents

During the course of a student’s school years, there may be occasions when a divorced parent disagrees with a particular action, decision, or request made by the other parent. Unless court documents in the School’s possession specify otherwise, it is the School’s policy to resolve such matters in keeping with the following priorities: By first applying all school rules and standards regarding hours, attendance for class, sports and activities, curriculum, etc., we will, in effect, pursue a policy of explicitly “working to the rule” in such occasions, and if doing so does not define a specific course of action, then by following the directive of the parent who has signed the enrollment contract, and if both parents signed the contract, then by following the directive of the


parent who paid the tuition. Parents are hereby informed that by making these sequential resolution priorities known to divorced parents, it is the School’s desire and intention to have a methodology by which its employees can remove themselves entirely from disputes between divorced parents and remove themselves from negotiations that should rightfully take place between the child’s parents. Parents who are unwilling to allow these priorities to prevail, therefore, should consider other educational alternatives for their children. Questions concerning this policy should be referred to the appropriate Division Head or the Head of School.

Fire Drills, Lock Down Drills and Alarms

Fire drills and lock down drills will be held during the year to ensure quick and orderly safety procedures are followed in the buildings. Students are expected to give the drills their full attention and comply with all instructions. Since the unnecessary use of fire extinguishers presents a serious safety hazard to the people inside the School, any student found using an extinguisher for any reason other than its intended use will be dealt with severely, up to and including dismissal from St. Luke’s School. Students should be aware that the pulling of fire alarms as a prank is not only against School rules, but it is also a crime. In the case of a fire drill or fire alarm, students must remain outside the building until recalled by a member of the administration.

Godfrey Library

The mission of the St. Luke’s School Library is to support the curricular needs of both students and faculty. To that end, the Library has the following specific objectives: To develop an appropriate collection of both print and electronic resources; to create an environment that allows for both individual and group study; to teach students research skills; to help students think critically; to show students how to use information ethically and responsibly. The Library may be used to examine reference materials for papers and projects, to take books out for general reading or research, to read periodicals for research or general interest, and to use computers for research, writing papers, and email.

In order to best achieve its objectives, the Library has the following rules: capacity is limited to 40 students; food and drink are not allowed; students are expected to clean up after themselves; books may be checked out for three weeks (reference books for one day only).

Leaving Campus Early

Permission to leave school early is granted if a note is brought in stating the reason for the request. This note should be given to the School Nurse no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day of the requested dismissal. Students in grades five through eleven are not permitted to leave the campus without this note first being delivered to the Nurse during the school day, which officially ends with the completion of afternoon activities. In an emergency, see the Division Head for special permission.


Leaving Campus During the School Day

Seniors are permitted to bring a car on campus only as set forth in the School’s policy regarding Student Cars on Campus and subject to the student and parent executing permission and release forms. Only seniors may have the privilege of leaving School during their lunch period, free periods or between the end of classes and afternoon activities. Seniors must submit permission slips signed by parents at the beginning of the year and sign out when leaving the building. This is a privilege that can be revoked by the Head or Assistant Head of Upper School or Community Life Associate. All other students are committed to staying on campus until the end of their last commitment (including afternoon activities).

Locker Assignments

St. Luke’s School will issue both gym and book locker assignments to each student. Students are not to change their lockers without authorization. Lockers must be locked at all times. Students are urged not to bring any valuables to School and only bring the money that is needed for the day. That money should be kept on them at all times. The School cannot accept responsibility for personal property, but provides lockers that help keep items secure. The School also reserves the right to search lockers or bags. Any search must be authorized by the Head of School, Assistant Heads of School or the appropriate Division Head.

Lost and Found

Lost clothing and valuables are turned in to the Receptionist or are placed on shelves in the fifth grade locker hallway. Clothes that are left in the lost and found will be donated to charity at the beginning of every long school break.

Medical Requirements

In order to attend School and participate in afternoon activities, all students must have an Emergency Information Form, annual physical and an updated immunization record on file in the School Nurse’s office. If a student is to receive medication (including all prescription and non-prescription medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Tums etc.) during the school day, a Medication Authorization Form must be completed and signed by the physician or dentist, and the parent. Students who are ill and need to be excused from PE or other sports activities for three consecutive classes must provide a note from a physician. A student who requires medical attention due to an injury may not return to gym or afternoon sports activities without a medical disposition from a physician.


Nut-Based Product Policy

St. Luke’s has adopted a policy to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to both peanuts and tree nuts. Nuts are a leading cause of potentially life threatening food allergies, and ingesting, touching or even inhaling a derivative of a nut-based product can cause severe reactions in those who suffer from nut allergies.

St. Luke’s School will not serve nuts or peanut butter, or use peanut oil products, in the cafeteria or in the preparation of School food or School-provided snacks. Students, parents and staff should not bring any food product containing nuts or nut products, including peanut butter or items made with peanut oil. Please be vigilant in checking the ingredients on food you bring or send with your child to School. Please be aware that many baked goods, which appear to be nut-free, may in fact be produced with peanut oil or other nut products. While on campus, students should not share food with others or consume any food with unknown ingredients.

If your child has food allergies, please notify the School, including information about possible reaction, any medication and emergency procedures and contacts. St. Luke’s does not warrant and cannot guarantee that our campus will be completely nut-free. Accordingly, students with food allergies should never eat food provided by other students or with unknown ingredients. In the event a student believes that he/she has eaten something which he/she may be allergic to, the School Nurse or a staff member should be notified immediately.

Ordering Food from Off Campus

Seniors may not bring food from outside vendors to School for consumption on campus by themselves or under classmen. Teachers may make arrangements for food delivery for their advisories or clubs.

Punctuality

Lateness to class may be penalized academically if the student misses a quiz or other assessment in the beginning of class. Unexcused tardiness to a single class more than three times in a quarter is equivalent to one class cut, and therefore leads to the student serving a Saturday morning detention. Three class cuts equal a failure for the quarter. Students and their parents are responsible for keeping track of the of tardiness in each class, via information on the back page (login section) of the website.

Students are urged to get to school on time. Chronic lateness to school, excused or unexcused, is disruptive to the learning environment and detrimental to the student’s academic progress. Students who arrive to school late often, whether or not it is excused, may receive a Saturday detention. Students arriving at school after the opening bell must get a note from the School Nurse and give the note to their teacher. Unacceptable reasons for being late are: oversleeping, traffic, chronic car problems, attending special events the night before, or standing in line for tickets. The Assistant Division Head, Dean of Upper School Life and/or Dean of Middle School Life may determine whether the lateness is excused.


School Trips, Activities and Off-Campus Behavior

While enrolled at St. Luke’s School students are required to abide by the Honor Code. For example, when students are on School-sponsored trips or participating in School activities, they are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. Students in poor academic or disciplinary standing may be denied the opportunity to participate in any School sponsored trip or activity. St. Luke’s students whose conduct brings discredit or embarrassment upon themselves or the School will be disciplined, even if such misconduct occurs outside of the School or School-sponsored event, or outside of the school day or school year. These expectations apply as well to students’ use of computers, both inside and outside of School.

Re-Enrollment

The Director of Admission will send personal invitation letters, accompanied by an enrollment contract, to students in good standing, dependent on a successful completion of the school year. In the case of a student’s failure to meet the conditions of either Academic or Disciplinary Probation, the contract may be rescinded. For students whose contracts are initially withheld, for whatever reason, a final decision will be made in June and the decision will be communicated to the student’s parents by the Head of School or Division Head. Course registration in the spring will be made only for returning students whose contracts and registration fee have been received and whose current year tuition balances are not in arrears. Families who miss the deadline for turning in their contracts will forfeit their place in the class.

Semester/Year Study Abroad

St. Luke’s School encourages students to take advantage of many different learning opportunities. For the purposes of this policy, all academic programs outside of St. Luke’s will be referred to as “abroad” even though we recognize that they may very well be within the United States. Students in grades ten through twelve may choose to study at a different institution for a semester or a year, provided that the program is approved by St. Luke’s for purposes of academic credit and subject to the guidelines, including financial responsibilities, available upon request from the Director of Global Education or the Director of Admission. No more than three students may participate in such programs during any academic year.

Snow Dismissal Policy

When the administration deems it necessary to dismiss students early due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, parents will be contacted immediately by both email and phone broadcast messages. Due to the sudden nature of these dismissals, families must make arrangements with other St. Luke’s families so that they can carpool, in the event that a parent is not available for pick up. All students who drive will be allowed to leave on their own accord. Other students must wait for buses or parents in the designated areas in the School.


Student Visitors

All student visitors must be approved by the Director of Admission or Division Head in advance of their visit. Visitors who have not been approved will be asked to leave the campus. Students may not bring friends to campus unless the visitors are serious admission candidates.


Technology and Internet Acceptable Use Policy

St. Luke’s School’s Computer, Personal Network Device and Internet Acceptable Use Policy guidelines below apply to the use of computers and network devices owned by the school; use of computers and personal network devices (e.g., laptop, iPhone, PDA, iTouch, Blackberry, etc.) in the School, regardless of ownership; and use of the School’s intranet. The proscriptions listed below apply to the use of any device by a St. Luke’s student or employee, insofar as that use is detrimental to the School’s educational objectives or injurious to any member of the St. Luke’s community.

The Internet

Computers and Network Devices at St. Luke’s are to be used to enhance learning and instruction, and to provide opportunities for students to learn about their prospective college and career choices. All computer and Internet use must be carried out in a responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner. Devices must be used for purposes of transmitting or receiving appropriate information as defined by the St. Luke’s community in keeping with the broad goals set forth by the School in its statement of Purposes and Objectives. Within the limits of this policy, “appropriate” means what might normally be found in a school or public library, and what qualified St. Luke’s staff members whose responsibility it is to supervise Internet use at any given time deem appropriate to the age and need of the student for the information.

Use of the Internet at St. Luke’s is free of charge; thus receiving access to services is considered a privilege by the School. Access to the network/use of the computer is a privilege. Users should not have an expectation of privacy in anything they create, store, send or receive on the network or through the Internet while using the School’s network or computers. St. Luke’s may, and does from time to time, review material created, stored, sent or received on its network or computers. That said, faculty and staff have a duty to protect confidential student information as well as the School’s proprietary information. All students and staff must be responsible uses of the Internet as described below. All students and staff will have access to the World Wide Web, their own email account, and access to the school-wide intranet.

A responsible user may use the Internet at St. Luke’s to:

•Conduct research for purposes of completing an assignment•Send electronic mail to other users, both within and outside of the St. Luke’s community•Explore (“surf ”) appropriate sites on the World Wide Web


A responsible user may NOT use the Internet or computers at St. Luke’s to:

•Engage in activities that are illegal, including discussion about committing criminal acts•Communicate using or access material containing obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar,

rude, disrespectful, or threatening language or pictures, otherwise attack or distribute discriminatory, prejudicial, false, or defamatory material, as defined by any St. Luke’s faculty or staff member

•Distribute dangerous information that, if acted upon, could cause damage or present a danger of a disruption

•Violate the rules of common sense or etiquette as appropriate in an educational setting•Plagiarize from information found online, i.e., use ideas and information of others as if they

were the student’s own•Send or receive copyrighted material without permission, including computer software•Send chain letters or commit spamming. (Spamming is sending one or more annoying or

unnecessary messages to large numbers of people.)•Engage in a commercial or other activity designed to produce a financial gain for that user•Violate privacy by revealing personal information about others; post personal information

about him/herself or any other person, or otherwise violate statutes pertaining to individuals’ rights to privacy

•Forward personal communications without the author’s prior consent•Students may not purchase any goods or services online•Students may not chat with other computer users online•Students may not download music, movies, or other files not directly connected with academic

work•Play games, either online or installed, unless explicitly designated by the School as educational

or directly connected within school-related work

Unacceptable use of the Internet (as outlined in this policy) will result at least in revocation of access privileges and possibly other disciplinary action. Students who do not comply with this policy will be referred to the appropriate divisional authority; thus, such actions could have additional disciplinary consequences, especially if repeated. St. Luke’s School reserves the right to monitor email and other Internet use for compliance with this policy.

Computers and the Computer NetworkIn addition to the guidelines spelled out in the section above governing use of the School’s Internet connection, responsible users of computers and the computer network at St. Luke’s may NOT:

•Use School computers, network devices, or printers for purposes not related to a class or other approved school activities

•Change computer files that do not belong to that user•Share his/her access password with anyone, or attempt to discover the password(s) of any

other user(s). St. Luke’s reserves the right to override passwords for security/monitoring purposes


•Change system settings, or install software of any kind on any St. Luke’s School computer, without obtaining permission from the technology department

Laptop And Personal Device Use In SchoolStudents are encouraged to bring their laptops or personal network device to school to support learning in their classes. They make not use their personal device in any other manner not in agreement with this document.

All students are automatically granted access to the Internet using the WL- Guest wireless LAN, by entering the St. Luke’s network username and password. As of the academic year 2012-2013, students no longer have to sign an additional form.

BloggingSt. Luke’s web logs (blogs) are designed to provide a safe, structured, and educationally oriented forum for students to share their writing, as well as a place for reading and commenting on the written work of fellow students and established writers. Web blogs can provide an effective medium to express thoughts and share information, and exist at St. Luke’s solely to serve the academic interested of students and teachers. Any non-academic use of a blog may result in restriction or elimination of blogging privileges.

The acceptable use guidelines that apply to general Internet and computer use as described above in this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) also apply specifically to St. Luke’s web blogs. Additionally, responsible blog users at St. Luke’s must:

•FollowSt.Luke’spasswordpolicieswithregardtotheirwebbloguse.St.Luke’swebblogsarepassword-protected; users may not share passwords associated with their personal blog or the blog of anyone else in St. Luke’s blog community.

•Takepersonalresponsibilityforalloftheirwriting.Usersmaynotcommentorposteitheranonymously or pose as someone else, nor allow another person to post or comment posing as them.

•Ensurethatallcontentonblogsisrespectful.Althoughtheyarepassword-protected,blogsarea public forum and, as such, may not contain anything that anyone reading them would find hurtful, inappropriate, or offensive.

•Shouldonlycreatecontentthattheauthorwouldbecomfortablepersonallysayingtothefaceof any potential reader. Users may neither post nor comment using profanity or offensive or abusive language.

•Vigilantly defend their privacy, and the privacy of others. When conveying sensitive or private information, users should not refer to real people either directly (by name) or indirectly (by implication).

•Refrain from posting links to content or materials that they have not thoroughly reviewed. All links or references must be thoroughly investigated prior to posting.


Facebook Policy For Faculty And Staff•AllSt.Luke’semployeesmaynotbe“friends”withanycurrentSt.Luke’sstudents.(Exception:

employees may “friend” their own children who attend St. Luke’s.)•St.Luke’semployeesmaybe“friends”withformerstudentsorgraduates,ifrequested,butmay

not initiate the request.•TeacherswillusetheSchool’swebsite,ratherthanFacebook,tocreategroupsforuseintheir

classes.

St. Luke’s School expects its citizens to hold themselves to the same ethical and moral standards in their use of computers, blogs and the Internet as in their everyday lives. The use of the St. Luke’s School computers and network is a privilege, and failure to comply with the conditions of this Acceptable Use Policy will result in restriction or denial of access to these services, and possibly further disciplinary action by the School. The St. Luke’s School network is not private, and therefore computer use may be monitored in whatever ways the School deems appropriate or necessary. Any questions regarding this agreement should be directed to the Director of Information Technology.


Discipline

Discipline at St. Luke’s School is based on the assumption that all students and their parents have chosen to be a part of this community and agree to behave according to the School’s mission. Students whose behavior reflects the School’s objectives will find that the School is flexible and willing to consider increased responsibility and privileges. Students whose behavior is in opposition to the School’s objectives will find the School less flexible and privileges curtailed.

Most important to the functioning of the St. Luke’s community are issues of physical and emotional well-being, honesty, respect, and responsibility. On a daily basis, students are required to arrive to classes on time, in dress code, and prepared for the lesson. Respect for the learning environment in each class is critical to the School’s success as an academic community. Failure to meet these basic requirements on a regular basis will raise the question of the suitability of the St. Luke’s environment for that student.

Students should be aware that when they are in the presence of others who are behaving inappropriately or breaking School rules, all students present are subject to the same consequences. Therefore, those not participating in the activity should, at a minimum, remove themselves from the situation.

Major Offenses

The following offenses and their likely consequences do not address every situation, but suggest some serious concerns that are not tolerated at St. Luke’s School. Students will be disciplined for any conduct, on or off School grounds, which is illegal, contrary to School policies, or which is disruptive of the educational process or endangers persons or property. Major offenses, which may result in suspension, probation, or dismissal include but are not limited to the following:

•Theft, vandalism or destruction of property of others or the School•Possession or use of any firearm, knife, explosive or dangerous object of no reasonable

approved School usage•Possession, sale, use or transfer of alcohol, tobacco or any illegal drug or controlled substance

(See Drugs, Narcotics, Tobacco and Alcohol Policy)•Assault on another person•Hazing or other abusive behavior•Sexual or racial harassment•Cheating or academic dishonesty•Distribution or electronic transmission of material that is interpreted as being harmful to the

receiver


In addition, if a student engages in behavior, on or off campus, which endangers her or his safety or welfare, or the safety or welfare of others, or which is seriously disruptive of the educational environment, the student will be disciplined, up to or including separation from St. Luke’s School.

Disciplinary Infractions

Certain other offenses are considered serious within the jurisdiction and guidelines of the St. Luke’s community. Normally, the School will act on the first violation of any of the following infractions with a written or verbal warning, a Saturday detention, loss of privileges, Administrative Review, Warning, Disciplinary Probation, or Suspension. Examples of such infractions include but are not limited to unexcused absences, leaving campus without permission, smoking tobacco, aggressive behavior, or behavior that is disruptive or annoying to others in class or on school buses or vans.

Disrespectful behavior is not tolerated at St. Luke’s School. When a student is engaged in activities that have a negative impact on the character or property of the School, they can expect serious consequences, including separation from St. Luke’s School.

Prohibited Items

The following items may not be brought to School or used on School property at any time. Any restricted item will be confiscated and may not be returned:

•Any weapon, firearm, including a facsimile gun, bb-gun, paintball gun, stun gun, air gun, knife, explosive device, fireworks, or dangerous object not approved for School use

•Anything that squirts water, including water balloons•Hand held video games of any kind•Skateboards, scooters, or roller blades (including sneakers with rollers)•Laser pointers •Food and drink are not allowed in the School building during the day, except in the Dining and

Fireplace Commons areas. Water bottles are allowed, but must be disposed of properly.

Drugs, Narcotics, Tobacco and Alcohol

Students are prohibited from possessing, using or transferring illegal drugs or alcohol in violation of state or federal law. In addition, alcohol or tobacco use or possession is not permitted at any time anywhere on the School grounds or during any School-sponsored event, regardless of the age of the student.

Students who are in attendance at a School event who are under the influence, in possession of, or transferring or using any illegal substance will be suspended or expelled. The School reserves the right to utilize a breathalyzer at School events.

St. Luke’s School will impose discipline, up to and including suspension or dismissal, against any student who violates the above policy, regardless of whether or not the misconduct occurs on or off campus or during a school related activity. Additionally, suspected violations of the law may be


reported to police authorities. All prescription drugs must be given to the School Nurse who will dispense and return them at the end of the day.

Middle School Discipline Philosophy

Given the playfulness, energy, and unique qualities of the Middle School child, St. Luke’s School recognizes the need to seize upon “teachable moments,” and provide for greater flexibility in matters of discipline for minor infractions. Major offenses will require strict action and will be addressed as set forth in this handbook. The primary goal of Middle School discipline for infractions is to educate students about the consequences of unacceptable behavior, to curb such behavior, to teach accountability and to help foster the Middle School belief that moral character and good citizenship are the cornerstones of adolescent development. To help students make the necessary connection between behavior and consequences, more immediate action and parental involvement may be required. To this end, Middle School discipline often involves the personal attention of the Head of Middle School or the Middle School Dean of Student Life.

Discipline Descriptions

Behavior Agreement: The Division Head, Assistant Division Head, or the Dean of Student Life for each division will follow up with a student who is not behaving in accordance with St. Luke’s School expectations. Follow up with students will include a meeting with the student, possibly a letter home and a Behavior Agreement that both indicates what the student will do to correct behavior and outlines consequences if the behavior is not changed.

Daily Detention: Minor disciplinary infractions may receive a Daily Detention. A student must serve detention on the day assigned from 2:45-3:45 p.m. Any exception to the date must be cleared with the Dean of Student Life for the appropriate Division. A student who receives more than 3 detentions in a year will also be assigned to a Saturday Detention.

Saturday Detention: Students report to St. Luke’s on the appointed Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. The student will be assigned to a specific classroom or given specific tasks to complete during that time. Please note that parents may not excuse a student from a Saturday Detention. Any exception to the assigned date must be cleared with the Dean of Student Life for the appropriate Division.

Administrative Review: In the event that a student is suspected of a serious disciplinary infraction, misconduct or behavior which may present a threat to herself or himself or others, the student may be immediately placed on Administrative Review and, if appropriate, sent home from school pending the School’s investigation and determination regarding the appropriate disciplinary action, if any. Once the matter has been investigated and reviewed, the student may be placed on Warning or Disciplinary Probation, suspended, dismissed, referred to the Honor Council (in the case of Upper School students), given another disciplinary consequence, or returned to regular status as determined appropriate at the discretion of the Head of School or Division Head.


Warning: Warning may be recommended by the Honor Council and/or assigned at the discretion of either the Head of School or Division Head when there is a serious concern about behavior, attitude, or either a specific incident or series of incidents that call into question the student’s short or long term likelihood of success at St. Luke’s. The length of the warning period, and the responsibilities of the student while on Warning, will vary depending on the specific context and nature of the concerns. The purpose of Warning is to express the School’s level of concern about the student’s future and to offer the student an opportunity to learn from mistakes, thereby maintaining her or his good standing at St. Luke’s School.

Disciplinary Probation: Probation is the most serious warning status for students. It may be recommended by the Honor Council and/or assigned at the discretion of either the Head of School or Division Head. The student is warned that subsequent offenses can result in dismissal. Students on Disciplinary Probation will not be allowed to attend School sponsored social events or trips. If a student on probation would like to attend a School-sponsored event, he or she may submit a written request to the Division Head. In addition, renewal contracts will be withheld for those students who are on probation for the year and reviewed by the faculty at the end of the year. Other specific conditions of a Disciplinary Probation may be outlined for each student individually.

Suspension or Dismissal: Serious disciplinary infractions or misconduct will result in Suspension or Dismissal from St. Luke’s School as determined appropriate in the absolute discretion of the Division Head or Head of School. Suspension may be either short-term or long-term. Short-term suspension is usually served out of School and may last for up to one week. During this time, students are separated from the community so that they can reconsider their commitment to St. Luke’s School. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate conversations with teachers regarding how and when any missed work will be made up. Any work that a student does not make up will receive a zero.

Long-term suspension results in the student’s withdrawal from the School for a specified period of up to one year. The student must enroll at another school and have a satisfactory academic and behavioral experience there. The student may apply for re-admission after a designated period if certain requirements are met.

Students may not come to campus during a suspension, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Division Head. All students returning from a suspension are automatically placed on Disciplinary Probation.

Dismissal is a permanent separation from St. Luke’s School and will be imposed for serious disciplinary infractions or misconduct or a pattern of poor behavior in the absolute discretion of the Head of School.

Non-Discriminations and Prohibited Harassment

St. Luke’s School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation with regards to admissions, educational services, scholarship, athletics, employment, or other programs. The School is committed to maintaining an academic community in which the dignity and worth of each of its members is respected.


The School will not tolerate any harassing behavior on the part of any student, employee or guest who is offensive based upon gender, sexual orientation race, ethnicity, religion or other personal characteristics. Prohibited behaviors include verbal or written threats, ethnic or racial slurs, or other hostile or offensive behavior that is intimidating, or demeaning.

Bullying

St. Luke’s School uses the State of Connecticut’s definition of bullying: (A) the repeated use by one or more students of a written, oral, or electronic communication, such as cyber-bullying, directed at or referring to another student attending school in the same school district, or (B) a physical act or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at another student attending school in the same school district, that:

(i) Causes physical or emotional harm to such student or damage to such student’s property, (ii) places such student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself, or of damage to his or her property, (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for such student, (iv) infringes on the rights of such student at school, or (v) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

Bullying is strictly prohibited. Any student who is determined to have engaged in such misconduct will be disciplined, up to and including dismissal from the School.

Bullying Reporting If any student believes that he/she is being bullied by another student, he/she is responsible for reporting this to a teacher or administrator in person, in writing or through a third party. Faculty or Staff who witness acts of bullying or receive student reports must notify the appropriate Division Head. Parents may also notify the School of suspected bullying. Division Heads will investigate any reports. The Division Head will keep a record of the incident. He/she will notify the parents or guardians of students who commit verified acts of bullying, as well as the parents of victims within two school days. There will be an appropriate follow-up with all parties involved. The reported incident(s) and potential consequences will be discussed with the accused student(s). Deliberately false reports or accusations of bullying will result in disciplinary action.

The School will review complaints with as much confidentiality as possible, consistent with a full and fair resolution. St. Luke’s will not tolerate any form of retaliation or intimidation of complaining students or witnesses.

Hazing, or any conduct or method of initiation into any organization or athletic team, which endangers the physical or mental health of another student, is strictly forbidden. Any student who is determined to have engaged in hazing will be disciplined, up to and including dismissal from the School.


Sexual harassment is defined as an unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or verbal, written or electronic information of a sexual nature when such conduct is made a term of condition of a student’s educational success or creates an offensive or hostile educational environment.

Students are encouraged to prevent, report and correct any instances of harassment whether committed by a student, employee or other individual on or off the School’s premises by promptly reporting the matter to the Head of School, Division Head, or Director of Character Education. The complaint will be promptly investigated and the complainant and alleged harasser will be informed of the outcome. Individuals who are determined to have committed harassment will be disciplined, up to and including suspension, dismissal or termination of employment. The local police may be contacted, if appropriate.

The School will review complaints with as much confidentiality as possible, consistent with a full and fair resolution. St. Luke’s will not tolerate any form of retaliation or intimidation of complaining students or witnesses.


Charitable Giving

Families choose St. Luke’s for a variety of reasons—excellent faculty, small classes, individualized attention, and a rigorous curriculum of study, to name a few. St. Luke’s can meet the current needs of its students and plan for the future because of the generous support of parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and friends who include St. Luke’s in their annual charitable giving plans. As an independent school, St. Luke’s does not receive any governmental support. While tuition is the School’s main source of income, it does not cover the full cost of educating each student. Voluntary giving is integral to the School’s health and is a testimony to a strong community of families that cares about St. Luke’s.

Throughout the year, there are many opportunities to get involved in the philanthropic life of the School. All gifts are welcome, and contributions can be given to all programs. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Development.

The Annual Fund

Voluntary tax-deductible contributions to the Annual Fund bridge the gap between tuition revenues and operating expenses every year. Yearly gifts to the Annual Fund support operating items, including:

•Faculty compensation•Curriculum development•Academic and extracurricular programs•Buildings & grounds

The Annual Fund Campaign begins in September, and a dedicated team of volunteers will contact you through letters and phone calls. All parents are asked to support the Annual Fund each year, and your support is recognized in the School’s Annual Report.

Endowment Campaign And Special Projects

The Development Office’s focus in the next campaign will be to fund the endowment and capital projects outlined in the School’s 2010 Strategic Vision. Other fundraising initiatives under the auspices of the Development Office are the Whitcomb Scholarship Fund, restricted gifts, and special projects as determined by the St. Luke’s School Board of Trustees. Development coordinates all fundraising and works closely with the Parents’ Association, the Athletics Department, the Dean of US and MS Student Life Offices, the Center for Leadership, and academic departments to ensure that all fundraising is beneficial and timed for maximum benefit to the School.


Planned Giving

Making a bequest to St. Luke’s School allows families to make a significant charitable gift to the School without exhausting assets earmarked for current personal needs. The Hilltop Society includes anyone who has made a planned gift or who has designated St. Luke’s as a beneficiary in his or her will.

Parents’ Association Fundraising

The Parents’ Association (PA) conducts fundraisers throughout the year. In the past, PA fundraisers have included a community cookbook, and a spring gathering with an auction and wishing tree. Your gifts to Parents’ Association fundraisers support a number of educational and informational programs, student and parent social activities at every grade level, and classroom and curricular enhancements. Proceeds from last year’s PA fundraising activities provided funds for classroom enrichment, professional development, non-tuition essentials for students on financial aid, faculty and staff appreciation events, and special projects.

Your donations directly benefit the student body by providing needed funds to offer better compensation packages to teachers, buy equipment, build facilities, and attract a diverse student body. In aggregate, strong participation among families signifies support for the work of the faculty and is an important benchmark to foundations that fund independent school programs and to prospective families looking at St. Luke’s School. If you make any gifts at all to other non-profit organizations to support their missions, we hope you will consider St. Luke’s as a worthwhile cause. Please visit www.stlukesct.org/giving for more information and to make a gift online.

Parent & Student Handbook 2013-2014

Documents

Transcript of Parent & Student Handbook 2013-2014