about us button
activities button
athletics button
bingo button
news button
sponsors button
shrine of st. jude button
archdiocese of washington button


home button
academics button
admission button
calendar button
faculty button
parents button

Home and school association banner

Click the logo below to enter your support hours:

Parent Participation
Home and School Association (HSA)

Parent Participation

As part of the School Support Program, all families are required to perform 40 hours of service (20 hours for single parent households). There are a variety of ways this obligation can be fulfilled and parents will receive a letter at the beginning of the school year describing the program in detail. If a family is unable to fulfill its obligation with service, a $15.00 fee will be assessed for each hour not worked. This program is considered part of tuition, and report cards or school transcripts will be withheld if the obligation is not met.

The St. Jude Catholic School Support Program involves all parents of children attending the school. The administration of the school has designed a new goal statement. Its purpose is to assist in the daily activities of the school. The jobs available are to support activity that directly relates to St. Jude Catholic School (the students, the faculty and the facility). The jobs available are outlined as to what the parents' choices are to obtain their required hours. All parents are required to donate a specific number of hours of their time to assist in school activities as described below. The number of hours required depends on the parents' current status: single parents are required to donate 20 hours, and married couples are required to donate 40 hours. The program runs from July 1 through June 30, although the activities run at different times. The activity starting and ending dates are noted in the job descriptions below. All required hours are to be earned within this time frame. If you are a parent with a child in 8th grade, your required hours must be met prior to graduation day.

Please note that CCD, Coaching and Scouting are not included in the school support program.

For additional information, contact the school support program coordinator.


School Support Program Activities:

ADMINISTRATION

Typing, computer work, weekly folders, errands, weekly copying or any job as indicated by the school office for the school office only.

For more information contact the school office at 946-7888.

ADVISORY BOARD/HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Meetings (and any activity associated with the meetings - typing, telephoning, scheduling, etc.) for the Advisory Board, Home and School Association, Publicity, Ways and Means Committee and Hospitality Committee.

Other activities may include:

Back to School Night
Breakfast with Santa
Catholic Schools Week
Gift Wrap Program
New Parents Night
Open House
Santa Secret Shop
School Dance
Silent Auctions
Teachers Luncheon

Information will be sent home in the weekly folders prior to each activity.

BABYSITTING

Babysitting is done for other families whose parents are working a specific activity at or for the school. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BABYSITTING FOR YOUR OWN CHILDREN IF YOUR SPOUSE IS WORKING A SPECIFIC ACTIVITY AT OR FOR THE SCHOOL. When signing the log book for babysitting, include the family name for whom you babysat and the activity in which they participated or the hours will not be counted.

This is an occasional activity.

BINGO

Bingo is our school’s biggest fundraiser. The profits from Bingo directly benefit each family at St. Judes by providing a tuition subsidy to each student.

The Bingo program at our school is a very important program and one that parents can get involved in. Parental participation and volunteers make this program a success. Bingo Volunteers are needed during the day each Sunday for set-up, and during the evening from 3:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Evening duties include kitchen work, cashier, numbers caller, bingo floor worker, clean up etc. Siblings are allowed during set-up, but not during the evening hours. Bingo Volunteer Options: Please note that the first two options require only 30 hours of work, however, you will be compensated for 40 School Support hours:

  • SUMMER CREW - Parents can work every other Sunday during June, July and August from 3:30 pm to 9:30 pm for a total of approximately 30 hours. Parents working in this program will fulfill their 40 hour commitment for the following school year before school starts. *
  • SIX MONTH TOUR – Parents can work one Sunday a month from 3:30 pm to 9:30 pm from, either, July 1 st to December 31 st or from January 1 st to June 30 th, for approximately 30 hours. *

* Parents working in the Summer Crew or Six Month Tour program will fulfill their 40 hour commitment. These programs require a conscientious commitment from the parent. If for any reason you miss an assigned Sunday, you are responsible to trade or have a substitute cover your week.

Tuition Credit Program

Parents can work Bingo and earn a tuition credit. There are two tuition credit programs available. Each spring, the budget is set with the Pastor, and the credit amounts for each program is calculated. Families currently participating are offered the opportunity to continue. Vacancies remaining are offered to families working Bingo on a volunteer basis. Parents participating in this program also receive one school support hour credit for three hours actually worked. Parents will satisfy their 40 hour requirement if selected for this program.

Full Time – This program requires the family member to work every Sunday except Easter Sunday and Super Bingo, which is twice a year on a Saturday.

Part Time – This program requires working every other Sunday of the month. If the month has a fifth Sunday the part time staff will work every other 5th Sunday, and are also required to work the two Super Bingo’s which will be held on a Saturday.

Bingo Setup

Volunteers are needed during the day each Sunday to set up the Thaddeus Room, Blue Room and the kitchen for that evening's Bingo. The commitment is for one to two hours one Sunday per month, with a second Sunday required one time during the year. Teams fill up quickly. Siblings are welcome provided they are supervised.

Bingo Baking

Volunteers are needed for the baking or purchasing of cakes, pies, cookies etc. Each Sunday afternoon between 3:30 pm and 4 pm, homemade desserts are delivered to the Thaddeus Room Kitchen. The food is sold during Bingo that night. Approximately 15 bakers are needed each week. The number of hours is based on number of desserts that the baker brings. Four desserts per baker will earn 4 support hours. Bingo Baking hours are to be logged onto the school computer. There are four teams of bakers. For more information contact the Bingo Baking coordinator.

BOOK FAIR

The focus of our annual Book Fair is to promote reading by offering new, high quality and award winning paperback and hardback books to readers of all ages.

The Book Fair is organized by the librarians and staffed by parent volunteers. All profits from the Book Fair benefit our school library.

For more information contact the school librarian.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Enjoy the magic of Christmas as children delight in a Breakfast with Santa. This event is a wonderful event for the entire family. A staff of Santa's elves are needed to make Santa's appearance one to remember.

Information will be sent home in the weekly folders prior to the activity.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

This event is usually held at the end of January/beginning of February each year. It is a time when we celebrate why we have chosen Catholic Education.

Volunteers are needed to decorate hallways, classroom doors, rooms and bulletin boards, and to assist with the teachers' luncheon (setup, buying of supplies, decorating, serving, cleanup, etc.). Room Mothers are requested to help with this week's activities.

For more information see the HSA President.

CLASS AIDES/ASSISTANTS

Volunteers are needed based on the individual teacher's need for assistance. If you are assisting in the teaching of a class (reading, religion, art, gym, computer, etc.) or accompanying and assisting on a class field trip (SCHEDULED AND APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL) YOU EARN ONLY THE HOURS ACTUALLY WORKED. TRIP TIME IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL NOT BE COUNTED TOWARD REQUIRED SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAM HOURS.

Aides are needed only from September through June on school days only.

For more information speak with the class teacher.

HALL MONITORS

To ensure the safety of our students and maintain security for the school, volunteers are needed as Hall Monitors to patrol the hallways and classrooms of the school on a daily basis between the hours of 8:20 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. This is an extremely important job and should be taken very seriously.

For more information contact the school support coordinator.

EARLY MORNING PLAYGROUND MONITORS

Volunteers needed as morning monitors from 7:50am to 8:20am Monday through Friday on the playground areas overseeing childrens' activities, ensuring childrens' safety and diverting traffic. In case of bad weather, parents will monitor the school hallways. Siblings welcome.

For more information contact the school support coordinator.

FIELD DAY

At the end of each school year, St. Jude holds a Field Day for the entire student body in which they participate in various field sport activities. The children look forward to this event every year.

Volunteers are needed to assist classes of children in the various sports activities.

For more information contact the PE Teacher at the school.

GIFT WRAP PROGRAM

This is a fundraising event that takes place in the early fall. Gift wrap, stationery, cookies and nuts are offered for sale via catalog.

Volunteers are need to assist in totaling, unpacking and distributing orders.
For more information contact the Ways and Means committee.

GYM AIDE

Volunteers are needed to assist the gym teacher. Aides are needed at all grade levels. No siblings.

For more information contact the PE Teacher, at the school.

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

Volunteers needed for assistance with the preparations of various school functions.

For more information contact the Hospitality Committee.

HOT LUNCH PROGRAM

Volunteers are needed to work hot lunch each Wednesday in the Blue Room serving hot lunch to the students, from 10:30am to 1:30pm. Each volunteer is needed to help in setup, kitchen work, food or ice cream serving, cleanup, etc. Volunteers are also needed to help prepare and cook lunch in the school kitchen from 8:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Teams are formed to cover each week of the month. This program runs from October to May.

For more information contact the Hot Lunch coordinator.

LIBRARY ASSISTANTS

Volunteers are needed to assist the librarian in daily activities. Includes shelving books, checking out books, story telling. No siblings.

For more information contact the school librarian.

ROOM MOTHERS

Volunteers needed for each class to assist teachers with projects, parties, etc. - any teacher approved activity. Room Mothers are assigned at the beginning of the school year. Room Mothers will need the assistance of other mothers for baking, telephoning, setup, cleanup, etc. Room Mothers will also help with Catholic Schools Week activities.

For more information contact the Room Parent coordinator.

SILENT AUCTION

St. Jude sometimes has a silent auction, and it is a fun-filled evening. Volunteers are needed to setup, decorate, serve refreshments and clean up. Volunteers are also needed to obtain items for the auction.

For more information contact the HSA President.

LUNCHTIME PLAYGROUND MONITORS: Volunteers are needed from 11:30am to 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to count and pass out milk, to monitor classrooms during lunch period, and to monitor all playground/parking lot areas and adjoining fields during recess. Volunteers are needed from 11:30am to 1pm on Wednesdays after Hot Lunch to monitor all playground/parking lot areas and adjoining fields during recess. The monitors' job includes overseeing and disciplining children, and diverting vehicles and strangers from areas where children are playing.

Lunchtime Playground Monitors have the option of earning school support hours or receiving a stipend of $15.00 per day. The stipend is paid once a month, and the monitor must work at least twice a week to qualify. If a monitor elects to recieve the stipend, the hours worked as a lunchtime playground monitor are not eligible to be included in your required school support hours.

No siblings are to accompany adults onto the playground during this time. Day care will be provided if needed.

CARPOOL CONNECTION: St. Jude tries to assist you with the names of other families in your area who are looking for a carpool. NOTE: NO HOURS CAN BE EARNED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

For more information contact the Carpool Coordinator.

 

There are NO AUTOMATIC 40 HOURS for any school activities. Hours are based on the time spent in the activity only. You do not earn hours for travel time to and from the school for the activity, shopping for supplies for the activity or baking time for the activity.

Parents are urged to volunteer their time in obtaining their required school support hours; however, relatives may assist by volunteering for school activities. When signing the log book note the family name if different from the name of the relative working the activity. CHILDREN WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO WORK IN A SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAM TO EARN HOURS.

Hours may not be automatically donated from one family to another. If you would like to donate some of your earned hours to another family in need, please contact the school support coordinator to add them to a 'pool'; distribution of donated hours will be determined by the school administration and the school support program coordinator.

No one may sell, trade or in any fashion give their school support hours to another family for money.

No children are allowed to accompany a parent working at a school activity or function, unless otherwise noted in the job description.

All information is to be logged into the school support program database computer, accessible online. All hours, except for Bingo and Bingo Baking, are to be logged into this computer on or about the date the activity was actually worked.

Bingo and Bingo Baking hours are logged onto sheets located in the Thaddeus Room and the kitchen. They are to be logged in the same day that the bingo activity takes place.

If, at the end of the school year, you have not completed your required hours, you will be assessed $10.00 for each uncompleted hour, which is due prior to the end of the school year. You will be contacted by the school office prior to the end of the school year to advise you of your status.

Due to the number of families attending the school involved in the school support program, please be sure to follow the instructions as noted above to avoid any problems.

If you have any problems, questions or are unsure of school support program activities you may contact the school support coordinator.



St. Jude Catholic School 4820 Walbridge Street • Rockville, Maryland 20853
Phone: (301) 946-7888 - Fax: (301) 929-8927
Contact the webmaster:
webmaster@stjudesschool.org
Contact the school: stjudemain@yahoo.com

Copyright © St. Jude Catholic School/Rockville, Md ~ All Rights Reserved
~ September 14, 2008 9:15 PM