Important Emergency Information
The faculty and staff of Holy Family Academy have the highest concern for our students’ safety. Because of this, we practice severe weather, fire, evacuation, and lock-down drills frequently throughout the school year. Although this planning and preparation are very important, they are not complete without your knowledge of, and compliance with, the established procedures. In the unlikely event that there is an emergency while your child is at school; please observe the following guidelines so that our staff can concentrate on the most important detail at hand – student safety.
The principal, office administrator, school secretary, and/or school nurse may dismiss or approve the dismissal of a student who becomes ill or hurt during the school day. Parents/guardians are notified when the decision is made. If parents or designated guardians are unable to come for the student, arrangements must be made for a relative or other authorized person to pick up the student in the school office. A student will not be sent home due to illness if a parent or guardian is not at home.
An emergency form is sent home at the beginning of each school year to be filled out and signed by the parent. If address, phone, or emergency contact information change during the year, it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to notify the school.
Health records are required of each student. It is recommended that the student have a physical before entering kindergarten or first grade and again in fourth.
Holy Family Academy follows the requirements of the Minnesota School Immunization Law (Minnesota Statues Section 123.70). All immunization dates are to be submitted to the school prior to the start date of the school’s present school year. The parent is responsible for providing this information in writing to the school office and for providing additional immunization information as administered.
A written statement is required of the parent/guardian who requests and authorizes the giving of medication in the dosage prescribed by the physician, thereby releasing school personnel from liability should reactions result from the medication. Drugs or medicines must be in the original licensed pharmacist’s labeled container. Administration of the medication during school hours shall be by qualified personnel and in a manner consistent with instructions on the label. Tylenol, cough medicine, and similar over-the-counter medications are considered the same as prescription medication and must be stored in the school office. See the back of this Parent Handbook for Medication Permission Slips.
As a service, annual vision, hearing, and scoliosis examinations are conducted by the public school nurse at various suggested grade levels. Parents will be notified when these checks occur.
Holy Family Academy is legally required to follow the requirements of Minnesota law pertaining to reporting child neglect and/or abuse. Staff members will report suspected cases to the local law enforcement agency or social service agency if they know of, or have reason to believe, that there is currently abuse or neglect present, or has been present within the past three years. At the same time staff members will report suspected cases to the principal and/or pastor. A written report must be filed within 72 hours of the verbal report. Neglect is defined as a serious failure to provide education, food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or as prenatal exposure to a controlled substance. Abuse is physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment.
Where parental custody of a student is an issue, parents/guardians must supply custodial and guardianship information to the office by the first day the child attends school. In the case of divorced or separated parents, it will be presumed that both parents have full parental rights and equal rights to custody of the student unless a judicial decree stating otherwise is supplied to the office. Written notification should be provided regarding to whom, besides the parents/guardians, the child may be released during the school day.
Holy Family Academy teachers and staff are not permitted to be involved in custody cases, including but not limited to, speaking or submitting a written testimony on behalf of one or the other parent/guardian.
Fire, tornado, lock down, and evacuation drills serve to inform the students of evacuation and precautionary procedures to be followed should a dangerous situation arise. Such drills are serious and require a prompt, quiet, and obedient response from everyone. Teachers will give instructions for exit and protection. Students will be taught the plan as it applies to the various locations on school and church grounds.