PARENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Holy Family Academy exists to assist parents in their role as the primary educators of their children. We therefore expect a high level of parental involvement in our students’ education and formation. Parents/guardians will be informed of the programs, regulations, and policies of our school via this Parent Handbook, parent meetings and the E-Herald (electronic newsletter).

“Hence considered in its historical origin, the school is by its very nature an institution subsidiary and complementary to the family and to the Church. It follows logically and necessarily that it must not be in opposition to, but in positive accord with those other two elements, and form with them a perfect moral union, constituting one sanctuary of education, as it were, with the family and the Church. Otherwise it is doomed to fail of its purpose, and to become instead an agent of destruction.” –Pius XI, On Christian Education, #7

Parents are expected to:

• Know and adhere to all policies contained in this Handbook; upon registering at Holy Family Academy, parents accept responsibility for Handbook policies.
• Reflect in their everyday lives the Christian atmosphere that permeates Holy Family Academy.
• Encourage good study and homework habits and promote academic growth:
• To be faithful to our mission as a school of academic excellence, students must continually grow and occasionally push the limits of what they find comfortable. One obstacle to students achieving their utmost is well-intentioned parents, verbally or non-verbally, informing students that their homework is too much or too difficult. When a parent feels the homework level is not appropriate, it is usually best to communicate that to the school and not to your child. If a parent tells his child that the work is too much, the child may no longer feel he needs to reach the goal. In most cases, stepping back and letting your child overcome the difficultly is the best solution. If your child is utterly overwhelmed, telling him that you will talk to the teacher is probably helpful. It is problematic if a child is regularly overwhelmed with homework, and a solution should be worked out with the school.
• Provide an appropriate homework setting. For the most part, students are dependent on their parents to give them an effective environment for study. There is a range of settings for what is effective for any given student. The primary situation that should be avoided is having a student in an environment where he spends hours doing his homework but only accomplishes minutes of actual work due to distractions. This scenario is highly frustrating yet usually easily remedied with a plan and commitment to give the children what they need to truly do their best.
• Support administration, teachers, and staff in matters of student discipline, conduct, and moral development. We, parents and school, are all working together to educate and help form virtue in the children entrusted to us. All authority comes from God the Father and is given primarily to the parents. The school participates in that God-given authority of the parents. Order and good behavior is tied together with obedience to rightful authority. All virtues flower when obedience is lived well. At times, some parents will not see eye-to-eye with the way the school handles disciplinary situations with their children. The temptation at these times may be to rush to judgment against the school and commiserate with one’s child. If children know, or even suspect, that their parents do not respect the authority of the school, it tends to lessen the child’s respect for authority and a break-down in virtue may begin to occur. Rather, after talking with one’s child, parents should seek out the adult at school who handled the situation and discover the other side of the story. After a careful examination of the facts, it is possible to come to an educated judgment: usually the fault lies with the child, and, of course, adults make errors as well. There are a small minority of parents who tend to overprotect their child and do not believe or admit that the child can do anything wrong or that he should ever have a consequence for his behavior or given real limits. This belief does not correspond to the Catholic belief in Original Sin and runs contrary to our philosophy of education as Pope Pius XI said, “Every method of education founded, wholly or in part, on the denial or forgetfulness of original sin and of grace, and relying on the sole powers of human nature, is unsound.” #60 Education is mostly dependent upon trust and respect; where they are in short supply, precious little true education will occur.
• Sign and return all school forms, homework journals, and conduct reports as requested by administration and teachers.
• Provide a reasonably balanced home life. There are a number of worthwhile extracurricular events in which children and parents can and should participate. Even so, homework is always a priority over extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities may not be used as an excuse to not do homework. When there is a busy night due to extracurricular activities, it is the student’s responsibility to work ahead in anticipation to make sure all homework is completed on time. Being a student is a calling and vocation from God; students do God’s will for their lives here and now by being good students. If a student’s extracurricular life is so busy or unorganized that their studies suffer, priorities may be out of order.
• Meet financial obligations of tuition and fees.
• Support Holy Family Academy, administration, teachers, pupils and staff in a spirit of true Christian charity when speaking with others.
• Inform the school in writing of student illness or absence, change in parental status and/or custodial restraints, change in transportation routine including carpool assignments, change in address, phone, emergency contact and child care.
• Use the following procedure if there is a concern about your child in the classroom-in this order:
  • An appointment should be made with the teacher to discuss the situation;
  • If a satisfactory conclusion is not reached at this appointment, a meeting may be scheduled with the principal; the teacher may be invited to attend based on the discretion of the principal;
  • If the parent is still not satisfied, he may submit a written statement to the Pastor and School Board who will decide how to pursue his concern.