Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that these questions seem to be the most asked. For more detailed information about any aspect of St. John the Apostle School, please contact the school at 486-1860 or see the School Handbook pages on this website.
Where is St. John's Located?
St. John's is located at 7601 Vine Street, Lincoln, NE 68505, in the northeast part of Lincoln. The phone number for St. John's is 486-1860. The fax number is 486-4732.
How do I get in contact with St. John's?
Please call the office at above numbers with any questions you may have. Most of the information that you need to know is also on this website. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone will not be answered after hours. For emergencies, please call the rectory at 489-1946.
What are the Parish Boundaries?
The parish boundaries are as follows: From Adams Street to Holdrege Street, 48th Street to County Line; from Holdrege Street to O Street, 56th Street to County Line.
What are the school hours?
The St. John's School hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The doors open at 7:50 a.m.
What is tuition?
Parishioner $825.00; Non-Parishioner $1,650.00; Non-Catholic $2,600.00; Maximum Per Parish Family $2,100.00.
The other fees are: Registration fee: $25; Home and School Association Fee: $35 per year; Athletic Fee: $12.50 per child (6-8th Grade) made payable to St. John's Jets Club.
What are the admission requirements?
According to State Law, to begin Kindergarten the child must be five years old before October 15th. A physical examination as prescribed by the State Department of Education is required of all pupils before entrance into school. In addition, prior to entering school every pupil shall be immunized against measles, rubella, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B and tetanus. For children starting Kindergarten, an eye exam is also required. For any exceptions to this rule a waiver must be signed. A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate along with a copy of their original baptism certificate must also be on file. If a family plans to move out of our school system, the office should be informed as soon as possible. A parent-signed form authorizing the transfer of records must be completed before a permanent file can be sent to another school. Application for enrollment for all students will be held prior to the opening of school.
Transfers
Parents of students transferring from St. John’s School to other schools will need to sign a release of records and an information form at the school they will be attending. All records sent from St. John’s School will be sent by mail to the receiving school and will not be given to parents to carry out. Parents of students transferring into St. John’s School will need to sign a release of records and an information form at our school at the time of registration.
What forms are required?
These forms are required, and can be printed out from the "Forms" page:
Enrollment Information
Baptismal Certificate
Birth Certificate
Emergency Information
Physical Examination Form
New Family Form
Parent Release Form for Records
Immunization Form-on file first day of school and MUST BE CURRENT
What is the staff at St. John's?
| Superintendent--Father Lyle Johnson | Principal--Dennis Martin | Secretary--Diane Carson | |
| Facility Coordinator--Sally McKee; Janitorial Staff & Volunteers--Wayne Rezac, Veronica Wagner, Gene Zitek | Lunchroom--Paula Wagner; Lunchroom Staff & Volunteers--Ann Bode, Patti Bennet, Bette Karre | ||
| Resource--Linda Knott | PreKindergarten--Sue Waldren | ||
| Para-Educators--Nancy Wolf, Judy Cuddy, Sr. Serena, Sr. Cecilia Ann | |||
| Library--Colleen Sebora | Kindergarten A Class--Kathie Rynearson | ||
| Kindergarten B Class--Rebecca Grooms | 1A Class--Audrey Mattson | ||
| 1B Class--Monica Rempe | 2A--Melinda Reinert | ||
| 2B--Amber Grosserode | 3rd Grade--Kathy Kottich | ||
| 4th Grade--Barbara Kuhn | 5th Grade--Gina Nieman | ||
| 6th Grade Home Room/Jr. High Math/Jr. High Religion--Claire Tran | 7th Grade Home Room/Jr. High Social Studies/Jr. High Literature--Sandy Zeleski | ||
| 8th Grade Home Room/Jr. High Science/Jr. High English--Natalie Regan | Music--Ellen Soukup, Paraeducator | ||
| PE--Nancy Fuchs | Computer/Library--Carol McKibbin | ||
| Class Aide--Lisa Steffensmeier | Art Aide--Anna Alcalde | ||
| Extended Care--Coordinator Jen Nienheuser; Assistants Laura Cramer and Erica Buescher. | |||
Is there a Hot Lunch Program?
St. John’s School participates in the Federal Hot Lunch Program and abides by the rules and regulations established by the governing agency. For families who qualify, free or reduced priced lunches are available for children. To qualify a family must meet federally established guidelines. Applications for free or reduced priced lunches are available in the school office and may be completed at any time during the school year. These applications are kept confidential. Students may charge for a hot lunch if they do not have a lunch. Parents will be notified as to how many charges a student has. After the third charge the child will need to bring a cold lunch until all hot lunch charges are paid. Please note that federal laws regarding hot lunch state that NO food may be brought into the school after 11:00 a.m. Adults may eat with their child at anytime. Please call the school office before 9:00 a.m. in order to get on the lunch count for the day. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Hot Lunch Ticket Prices 2007-2008:
Grades |
Per Lunch | You can pay for hot lunch per lunch or for the whole month, or just send a set amount, whichever you prefer. Please send a check to the office payable to "St. John's Hot Lunch" and note how you want it broken down. You may send one check for all of your children. |
Grades K-5 |
$1.75 | |
| Grades 6-8 | $2.00 | |
| Reduced Lunch | $0.40 | |
| Adult | $2.50 | |
| Milk | $0.30 | |
| Yogurt | $0.50 |
Is there a Before and After School Program?
Before school care begins at 6:00 a.m. and goes until 8:00 a.m. on school days only and after school begins at 3:15 p.m. and goes until 6:00 p.m. on school days only. Students enrolled in the program will meet in the extended school care room. A registration fee will be assessed on the first extended care statement at the beginning of the school year. Drop-ins are welcome at a higher rate per hour per child and we ask that you let the office know that your child will be coming. Any child that is not picked up by 3:30 p.m. will automatically go to the after school care and parents will be responsible for the after school care fee at the drop-in rate. The After School Care Program closes at 6:00 p.m. Any child remaining after that time will be charged $5.00 for every 5 minutes late for pick-up.
Do the kids go to Mass?
St. John’s students and teachers attend Holy Mass daily. Our participation in daily Mass is to be one of prayerful participation, self-discipline, and reverence. At Holy Mass we participate in the reenactment of Calvary and in the salvation of our souls. Through our reverent participation we give glory to God. All St. John’s students are required to attend Mass. Mass starts at 8:15 a.m. The School day begins at 8:00 a.m. Teachers will direct their class to an assigned seating area in church. Kindergarten will attend Mass beginning in the second semester. Grades 1 through 8 will attend Mass daily.
Formal Religion classes are held every day in grades Kindergarten thru 8. The sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist will be administered to students in the second grade and above. Ordinarily, students receive these sacraments for the first time in the Spring of the second grade year. The sacrament of Confirmation is administered once a year in the Spring of the fifth grade and above. Devotions to our Blessed Mother such as May Crowning and other devotions including the Rosary, Prayer Services, and visits to the Blessed Sacrament occur during the appropriate season. Boys are trained for service at the altar beginning in the fourth grade. Support of the Missions is promoted and encouraged.
What is the St. John's Home and School Association?
The purpose of the Home and School Association is to promote better understanding, cooperation, and service between the school and the home. The Association provides input into the various programs and activities of the school. All parents should be involved in the Association activities and should attend the quarterly meetings. There is an “HSA” fee per family.
What are the policies for school dismissal for weather?
Cold weather policy:
St. John’s school adheres to the school closing policies of the Lincoln Public Schools. The decision to close schools due to inclement weather is normally made before 6:00 a.m., at which time the local radio and television stations are notified. School closing information may be seen on television channel 10/11 and heard on radio stations KFOR (1240), KLIN (1400), and KLMS.
Heat dismissal policy:
Due to different building conditions our early dismissal policy for heat may not be the same as LPS. We will notify parents the previous school day if we are going to dismiss early due to excessive heat. Early dismissal is at 1:00 p.m. Parents may come to school to pick up their child at any time during the day when weather is threatening.
Where do I drop my kids off and pick them up?
The purpose is to move traffic off Vine Street as quickly as possible in order to reduce the possibility of accidents. We need to create a safe traffic flow for students and parents. This procedure has been found to alleviate the congestion on Vine Street. Students will enter the east double doors. The main entrance on the north will remain locked and will not be used for drop off/pick up times. Please do not exit back on Vine Street during the drop off/pick up times. The safety of our parents and students is our main concern and everyone's cooperation is needed.
Is there a Uniform or Dress code?
School uniforms help create the Catholic identity of St. John’s School. Uniforms also help the children understand that the focus of our school is Christian behavior and academic achievement. St. John’s School students in kindergarten through eighth grade are required to adhere to the dress code. If you are unsure whether or not clothing is appropriate, please check with the administration or office staff before your child wears it to school. The administration reserves the right to make discretionary judgments regarding the appropriateness of the student dress. Students who are in violation of the dress code will follow the dress code consequences listed below: All Staff will be responsible for enforcing this policy.
Uniform Dress Code Consequences:
1st Offense - Student will be given a verbal warning and note home to be signed by parent
2nd Offense – Will result in the loss of recess or detention
3rd Offense - Student will be sent to the office and parent will need to bring appropriate clothing
Under special circumstances Rules/Consequences may be adjusted at the discretion of the principal. Clothing that is offensive, immoral or otherwise inappropriate in a Catholic school environment is NOT acceptable.
Are there School Calendars?
There are monthly calendars for activities, a monthly lunch calendar, and a yearly calendar that will come home. The yearly calendar will come out at the beginning of the year, the monthly ones in the Wednesday Communication Folder.
What is the Wednesday Folder?
The Wednesday Folder comes home with the youngest or only child, unless you designate which child it comes home with, or designate that it is emailed to you. It is the communication folder from the office and classrooms to your home. There will be lunch notices, menus, calendars, event information, or anything that you need to know here. Please read, sign the envelope, and return each week.
Where do I enter the school?
For the safety of our school we require that all visitors to St. John’s School, including parents, report to the school office before going anywhere in the building. The building will be locked at ALL times during the school day. Please enter via the office door entrance northeast entrance off Vine Street. There is a buzzer to let the office know who you are, and they will buzz you in.
Volunteers
Volunteers are very important in the education programs at St. John’s. Services are always needed in the areas of the library, classroom aides and homeroom parents. A St. John volunteer request form must be filled out prior to volunteering. This form is a safety measure that lets the office and staff know that you have the permission to be in the school at designated times on designated days. Volunteers are also required to come to the office to sign in and sign out daily, at which time they will be given a volunteer name tag to wear. All volunteers are required to have a background check which the school will take care of.
What is Scrip?
Scrip is a fundraising tool used at St. John's Church & School. St. John's Scrip program utilizes gift certificates from approximately 40 businesses in Lincoln. These businesses sell their gift certificates to St. John's at a discounted price. The church then sells the certificates at face value to the parishioners. For example, Russ's Market sells their certificates to the church at a 5% reduction of face value. St. John's purchases $10 of Scrip from Russ's for $9.50 and sells it to the parishioners for $10. St. John's earns a $.50 profit for each $10 gift certificate sold. Scrip is unique as a fundraiser, as the parishioners are not actually spending any additional money. Scrip is based on percentages--the more Scrip that is exchanged, the higher the profit for St. John's Church & School.
What are the St. John's Jets?
This program is organized, operated and funded by the St. John’s Jet Athletic Club. Opportunities to participate in soccer, basketball, and track are provided for boys in grades 6 through 8, with the exception of soccer which begins in grade 5. Opportunities to participate in volleyball, basketball, and track are provided for girls in grades 6 through 8. St. John’s School athletic program is maintained in order to teach students sportsmanship, skills, and competition. The program is organized by the Athletic Director under the supervision of the Principal. Volunteer coaches are utilized for all sports. St John’s School is part of the Lincoln Catholic School Athletic League. This league is organized and supervised by a Select Committee made up of Pastors, Principals, and Coaches. Rules and regulations governing athletic programs are developed by this committee. All member schools are responsible for adhering to the conference rules. The Jet's Athletic Club is organized to assist the Athletic Director with the games, concessions, and other activities pertaining to the Athletic program. Active participation by parents of athletes is required. All students are encouraged to participate in available athletic programs. However, a student may participate only so long as he/she is able to maintain satisfactory classroom grades and the display of appropriate behavior in school. Athletic team participation is an earned privilege and not a right.
Athletic Eligibility:
Student Athletes must have a 70% or above average in all subject areas. Any student athlete who violates a behavior contract will be ineligible. On Fridays student athletes will be evaluated using academic and discipline policies stated above. Any student athlete not meeting the academic and/or discipline requirements will be ineligible for the next week’s game(s). Any student athlete who is ineligible 2 weeks in a row may be suspended from the team for the remainder of the season. Student athletes and their parents will be notified of their ineligibility by mail and/or phone call. Student athletes must be in school by 11:00 a.m. in order to participate in games that evening. Transportation to and from games and practice is the responsibility of the parents.
Sports Available: For boys from 6th-8th grade--Basketball and Track & Field; for girls from 6th-8th grade--Volleyball, Basketball, and Track & Field.
What Clubs/Extra Curricular Activities are available?
All athletics are offered through the St. John's Jets Club (information elsewhere on this page). There are several special events throughout the year that are going on and information about those are posted on this site or sent home in the Wednesday Folder. There are some clubs during school hours, such as Yearbook, Builder's Club, and Student Council. Your child will bring home information about these in the beginning of the year, and updates on activities will be posted on the website.
What are the collection programs?
St. John's participates in several collection programs that helps our school year-around. You can collect General Mills Box Tops for Education, Campbell's Soup Labels, B & R Stores "Best Choice" UPC labels. You can collect empty inkjet, laser, fax, and copier cartridges and drop them off at school or take them to Cartridge World in Meridian Park. If you get school supplies at Office Depot, St. John's will get 5% credit from your purchases.
What are the Christmas Wish Lists?
The Christmas Wish Lists are sent home around Christmas and are for things that are needed around school. There is also a diocese-wide list sent to each family.
What is the Staff Christmas Donation information from the Home and School Association?
The staff Christmas Donations information sent home from the HSA are donations that will enable the staff to have a Christmas Bonus. Information is sent home during the month of December, and a donation of $10 per child is suggested.