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Frequenty Asked QuestionsWhat is the school's mailing address?Answer: 542 Cypress Avenue, Garden City, South Carolina 29576. What is the school's telephone number?School Office: 843-651-6795 What is the school's fax?Fax: 843-651-6803 What is the school's email address?You may contact St. Michael Catholic School via email at: schoolinfo@saintmichaelsc.org, Can Non-Catholics attend school at St. Michael Catholic School?Yes! Students of any faith are welcome at St. Michael Catholic School. For additional information please click on the PTO header and select “Non-Catholics info” link located on the far left of the web page. Do you have an after-school program?Yes! We have an after-care Enrichment School programthat’s unlike anything in the area. It is an extension of your child’s school day. Students explore activities including: sports, music, art and much more. It is NOT day care. For more information regarding our “Enrichment School”, please contact our school office or click on the link above to read more about this service. Where can I get additional uniforms?Lands End is our school’s official uniform company. You may obtain uniforms quickly and easily as needed by visiting their site. For additional information regarding dresscode, visit the Uniform Information link on the PTO News page. Names What does school tuition cover and how often does it increase?Tuition usually rises according to the “cost of living” increase which is usually between 3 and 5%. The PTO plays a major part in our school budget. They are committed to raise over $30,000 each year. Tuition is earmarked for salaries, maintenance, supplies and instructional costs: textbooks, library, computer programs, special projects, etc. The Church pays utilities and any other overhead expenses incurred. Our tuition covers about 70% of the cost of the school. The rest is covered by fundraising, donations, grants and our church. Can I view my homework assignments on-line?Yes! As long as your teacher has posted them, you can view your assignments on-line. The fastest way to access this information is by going under the drop down menu entitled “Classrooms” and select “Teachers”. You will immediately view links for each classroom and/or grade. Select the appropriate link and to obtain the information you are seeking. Who is in the PTO? What is it?The PTO is an abbreviation for Parents Teacher Organization. Sometimes, we will refer to this organization as SMCSPTO. Any teacher, parent(s) or caregiver who has registered a student at St. Michael’s is automatically part of our PTO. All parents are required to volunteer via our school’s “FAIR SHARE” program. For additional information regarding responsibility of our PTO, current officer contact information, and our Fair Share Policy, please visit the “PTO” section and select the appropriate link. What does FAQ mean?FAQ stands for “Frequently Asked Questions”. What is S.E.E.D.S?SEEDS is an acronym for “SUPPORTING EARLY ELEMENTARY DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS”. It’s a program that supports the language arts curriculum in grades K through 5. This program utilizes elementary level children’s literature to develop critical thinking skills and cognitive development through various methods of creative learning. Click here for more information.SEEDS. Who did the beautiful photography on this site?Photos throughout the site were taken by Sandy Foxworth, Ann Malarich and Stan Sowa. This talented group continue to donate their time to do the photography on this site. Thank you all! If you are interested in volunteering to help with photography, please contact Maura Utley. What is the role of the School Board? When does it meet?The St. Michael Catholic School Board is an advisory board and follows the guidelines established by the Diocese of Charleston in 2004. According to the guidelines established for the Board in October, 2004, the purpose of a Catholic School Board is to provide broad direction in compliance with the school’s mission, monitor school budgets, identify needs and formulate policy. It is quite different from a public school board since its members are appointed, not elected, and it is not responsible for the school’s hiring or firing, discipline or selection of instructional materials. The Board meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. in the teacher’s lounge. If you have questions about the Board or would like to submit a topic for review, please contact Miriam Jones or Laurence Bolchoz, our School Board President. Please visit our Administration page for additional information and to obtain a list of current members. I have signed up for email alerts and I am not getting an emails? Why is this happening?After signing up, you should receive an email acknowledging you have signed up for this service. Father Ray mentioned we are going to a "zero-based" budget. What does that mean?Basically, a zero based budget means that you allocate all of your budgeting dollars to different categories. If you have $100 to budget, you might budget $50 to food, $25 to clothing, $15 to toiletries, and $10 to entertainment. You now have zero dollars left to allocate (and later spend). If you decide you want $15 for entertainment, then you had better pull $5 from one of those other categories. So, let’s pretend your take-home pay is $36,000 per year. That equates to $3,000 per month. At the beginning of each month, you would take that $3,000 and allocate it to all of the different spending categories you’ve decided to use. Many people use the “envelope system” in conjunction with a zero-based budget resulting in controlled spending. What is St. Michael Catholic School's policy on protecting our children?We, at St. Michael Catholic School, are committed to creating an environment where all children are safe. We have instituted safe environment programs to assure the safety of our children. One is the VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children Program™ for adults. (The direct link to this site is located under our PTO page’s links on the left.) Another is Teaching Touching Safety which is being given to all children in the school, Religious Education program, and Youth Group, unless their parents opt them out of coverage. What Are the VIRTUS® Programs? The VIRTUS® programs were created by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc. The VIRTUS® brand name, derived from the Latin language, was selected because in ancient times “virtus” denoted a way of life and behavior that demonstrated the most positive aspects of human interaction. It means valor, moral strength, excellence, and worth. The educational component helps prevent child sexual abuse by making every adult employee or volunteer of the diocese aware of the issues surrounding child sexual abuse and how it harms the victims, their families, the parish, and the community. It helps adults recognize warning signs of abuse, shows them how to respond to suspicious behavior, and empowers them with five steps to help prevent child sexual abuse. For additional information, you may obtain a direct link to this site under our PTO page. The Teaching Touching Safety program is directed to children and is taught on an age specific basis (Kindergarten through High School) and will help them with their own personal safety. How does the Diocese of Charleston define sexual misconduct or abuse? Sexual Misconduct or Abuse: Sexual misconduct or abuse of a minor includes sexual molestation or sexual exploitation of a minor and other behavior by which an adult uses a minor as an object of sexual gratification. Consequently, any act or attempt to commit any act of incest, rape, or a sexual offense in any degree, sodomy, or any unnatural or perverted sexual practice, lewd or indecent acts or proposals, including indecent touching or fondling, exploitation, or permitting, encouraging, assisting, or aiding another, or permitting, encouraging, assisting or aiding a Child to participate in such acts, constitutes sexual misconduct or abuse of a minor. Sexual misconduct or abuse of a minor includes conduct or interaction with a minor which is external and an objectively grave violation of the Sixth Commandment. Such conduct does not need to be an act of intercourse or involve force, physical contact or have a discernable, harmful outcome. Click here to view the Diocese of Charleston’s Policy Concerning Allegations of Sexual Misconduct or Abuse of a Minor by church or school personnel: http://www.catholic-doc.org/comm/Minor.html#Intro For additional information, visit http://www.catholic-doc.org. If you would like to speak to a school representative about this, please contact Nancy Esposito in the school office or Theresa Crabb in our church office. Who is the webmaster of the school's site?Maura Lefemine Ultey is the school’s webmaster. She also oversees the group on volunteers that manage the church’s site. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to volunteer to help maintain this site, you may contact her directly at mmutley@sccoast.net. Please type “SCHOOL WEBSITE” in the subject line. Can I get email alerts sent to my cell phone?Yes! All you have to do is visit the email alert page and type in your information. First, you should check with your cell phone provider to obtain the proper suffix (just like an email address). Second, so your cell phone text message won’t interfere with emails to your computer, please type your name in followed by the word cell. For example, your entry should read: Name: John Smith Cell Email:8435550000@tms.suncom As a parent of a registered student, am I required to volunteer?Yes. The “Fair Share” policy outlines what is required from each family. Even though this is not a PTO Policy and it is a school policy, please visit the PTO News page on this site to obtain the details. What is the V.I.P. program?V.I.P. is an acronym for Volunteer Incentive Program. The Volunteer Incentive Program was designed to annually reward the volunteer(s) who have made the biggest contribution to our school in an academic year. Depending on number of volunteers eligible, this award might either be selected by a committee or by a chance drawing. Winner is selected at the end of the academic school year. I want my child to go on to a Catholic High School after St. Michael's. Any advice?Plans for a Catholic high school are well underway. The Diocese of Charleston owns land in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach. Please check our website for additional information or call the school office. Schools like Bishop England in Charleston have strict admissions policies. If there is a waiting list, students previously enrolled in a Catholic elementary school will be admitted before students who attended a public or private school. Maintaining a Catholic education supercedes academic excellence and income. For additional information, please contact the school’s admission office. Am I required to attend PTO meetings?Yes. In compliance with our school’s Fair Share Policy, at least one parent/caregiver is requested to attend all PTO meetings. (Even though they are called PTO Meetings, important school information is always discussed.) If your family is not able to attend, please contact the school office at least one day before the meeting. It is your responsibility to obtain the information covered at the meeting. Minutes are posted on the website and available in the school’s office. What is the procedure for picking-up and dropping-off students?To ensure your child’s safety, St. Michael Catholic has strict procedures in place. Please visit our “school administration” in the “about us” section of our website to review important information regarding these procedures. Why did Senator Raymond Cleary visit our school?On Friday, February 2. Senator Cleary toured St. Michael Catholic School and addressed the student body, faculty and parents and discussed “School Choice”, the importance of a good education, and the upcoming rally on Tuesday, February 13 in Columbia. Senator Cleary was accompanied by Representative Thomas G. Keegan, father to second grade student, Molly Keegan, who helped organized Senator Cleary’s visit. During Catholic Schools Week, St. Michael Catholic School, along with Catholic Schools across the nation, urge legislators to visit our schools and see the programs we offer and help spread “The Good News in Education”. It is a common misconception that all private and parochial school parents can “afford” to send their children to such schools. As you know, many parents have to sacrafice and often struggle to pay tuition bills. Many believe tution is $15,000 or more per child and, therefore it is not an option. We want legislators to see that an overwhelming majority of private schools offer a superior educational program for a third of the per pupil costs in public schools. St. Michael Catholic School would like to thank Senator Cleary for visiting St. Michaels. We enjoyed your visit and look forward to your speedy return. What school supplies do I need to purchase?Nothing! Each student will be required to purchase a supply box for a nominal fee due at registration. The fee covers everything your child needs throughout the entire year including paper towels, tissues and anti-bacterial gels! When you take into consideration that the cost is for the entire year and how much time and money you would spend on gas shopping for school supplies, you should find this service very valuable. What happens if my child runs out of school supplies mid-year?If a student needs more supplies, they should tell their teacher. How do I apply for a scholarship?Thanks to the generosity of parishioners, parents and our school administration, tuition assistance is often available to eligible students. To inquire about scholarship assistance, please contact the school office and speak with Miriam Jones, the school principal. Thank you for your interest in St. Michael Catholic School. How do I email a teacher?If you wish to contact a teacher by email directly, please visit “Classroom” then click on the header entitled “Teacher” and select the appropriate link. On each page, there is a quick-link to contact that teacher via email. How do I get information regarding inclement weather and emergency school closings?On the school’s home page, there is a yellow button that reads “Gator News Alert”. Click on the graphic to be routed to the appropriate page where you can obtain information immediately. |
