Student Services
SJRCS has a number of resources available to support our students.
- Guidance
- Health
- Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support
- Mount Saint Mary’s University Professional Development Partnership
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
St. John Regional Catholic School is fortunate to have a full-time school counselor on staff who assists students that are in need of educational support. As the liaison between Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) and St. John's regarding educational testing. The counselor conducts meetings with individual students; as well as group meetings. The Counselor also works with whole classes of students on topics such as friendship, study skills, and organizational skills. The school counselor also works closely with parents as they apply for scholarship opportunities for their children.
The school counselor helps with the testing of new students and assists with their transition to a new school. She is also the moderator for our school safety patrols.

SCHOOL NURSE
St. John Regional Catholic School has a fully furnished health suite that is overseen by a full-time registered nurse who provides first aid for our students throughout the day.
The nurse is on hand to administer prescribed medications as
needed. The school nurse schedules and facilitates vision and hearing
testing with the Frederick County Health Department. She arranges
annual visits from area dentists who speak to our primary grade students
about dental health and on a variety of topics from healthy eating to
personal hygiene.
KEEPING YOUR CHILD SAFE
The faculty, staff, and administrators of St. John Regional Catholic School help to ensure a safe school environment for all students. All classes up to grade 3 have a teacher and teaching assistant. In grades 4-8, there is a teaching assistant assigned to each grade level.
All school personnel must successfully complete a background check and submit fingerprints to Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS). Additionally, all faculty and staff members, as well as school volunteers, must be VIRTUS certified. VIRTUS Training is mandatory training for all those wishing to work in ministry with youth and children. This process ensures the safety, protection, and care of minors and is an Archdiocesan requirement for anyone interacting with children in the Church, professionally or voluntarily
Fire drills are practiced monthly and fire evacuation procedures are displayed in all classrooms. Emergency procedures, aligned with Archdiocesan policies, are clearly articulated to all staff members.
In the event of an emergency school closing, SJRCS uses the SWIFT K-12 communication system as an emergency notification system. We also use the school webpage as a means of communication.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP WITH MOUNT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY
A
Professional Development School (PDS) is a collaboratively planned and
implemented partnership for the academic and clinical preparation of
teacher candidates and the continuous professional development of both
school system and institution of higher education faculty. The focus of a
PDS partnership is improved student performance through research-based
teaching and learning.
The university enjoys a long-standing PDS partnership with elementary, middle and high schools in Frederick County, Md. It is possible, but not mandatory, that early field experiences take place in one of the PDS sites. However, the standards for Maryland PDSs hold that all teacher candidates are provided equitable access to an extensive internship (at least 100 consecutive days) in a PDS. The Mount's field placement coordinator, working in concert with the PDS coordinator and building principals, arranges internship placements in PDSs.

PBIS
What does PBIS stand for?
“PBIS” is short for Positive
Behavioral Intervention and Supports. This language comes directly from
the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA).
PBIS is used interchangeably with SWPBS, which is short for “School-wide Positive Behavior Supports.” PBIS is based on principles of applied behavior analysis and the prevention approach and values of positive behavior support.

What is PBIS?
PBIS is a framework or approach for assisting school personnel in adopting and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum that enhances academic and social behavior outcomes for all students. PBIS IS NOT a packaged curriculum, scripted intervention, or manualized strategy. PBIS IS a prevention-oriented way for school personnel to (a) organize evidence-based practices, (b) improve their implementation of those practices, and (c) maximize academic and social behavior outcomes for students. PBIS supports the success of ALL students.
What are PBIS "systems"?
PBIS emphasizes the establishment of organizational supports or systems that give school personnel capacity to use effective interventions accurately and successfully at the school, district, and state levels. These supports include (a) team-based leadership, (b) data-based decision-making, (c) continuous monitoring of student behavior, (d) regular universal screening, and (e) effective on-going professional development.
What does PBIS have to do with school discipline and classroom management?
Effective classroom management and preventive school discipline are essential for supporting teaching and learning. PBIS goes further by emphasizing that classroom management and preventive school discipline must be integrated and working together with effective academic instruction in a positive and safe school climate to maximize success for all students.
PBIS Gold Award at St. John Regional Catholic School
Through PBIS, students at St. John Regional Catholic School are recognized daily by teachers and staff for exemplary behavior. Crosses are earned by students when they exhibit behaviors in line with the school-wide expectations illustrated below. In addition, teachers can nominate students for a St. Francis Award, based on the school-wide expectations, which is given out at our monthly First Friday Masses.
SJRCS has obtained the highest level of PBIS Maryland . The PBIS Maryland Gold Recognition Award is only awarded to those schools who demonstrat sustainability for the systems, practices, and data utilization for school-wide PBIS and can demonstrate that their implementation has had positive effects on both their discipline and achievement data for at least two years.
PBIS Mission Statement at St. John Regional Catholic School

I am not afraid to ask questions
And do the right thing because
I am COURAGEOUS.
I always do my best
And I never give up because
I am RESPONSIBLE.
I put Jesus and others before myself
And I use empathy because
I am UNSELFISH.
I do on to others as
I would have done to me because
WE are made in the image and likeness of CHRIST.
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