Frequently Asked Questions for New Parents

Who provides lunch for the students, and how do I pay for it? Dan's Diner is our lunch provider. Please click on Lunch Information for more info.
 
Where should I pick up my child from aftercare? At the school office. The cost of aftercare is not included in tuition.

How many volunteer/service hours do I need? Twenty hours per family. Please note: You must take the Ethics & Integrity Ministry (EIM) Basic Workshop to be eligible to volunteer at the school. For more information, visit www.austindiocese.org. You must take an EIM workshop every three years (either the introductory course or the refresher).

 
What is RenWeb? RenWeb is an online database that provides data sharing school-wide. RenWeb contains information regarding your child’s classes and current grades.

What is ParentSquare? ParentSquare is our central source for school communication, primarily with email, text, and app notifications. It is also utilized for volunteer sign-ups, form signatures, and more. 

What is school grounds clean up? At the beginning of the school year, each class is assigned a specific Saturday morning of the month to clean up the school grounds. Families pick up trash, leaves, etc., and participating students receive a one-day Spirit Wear pass. Please consult the school calendar or your homeroom parent for your scheduled Saturday.
 
What do students wear on Mass day? All-School Mass is every Friday at 8:15 am in the church (unless we observe a Holy Day of Obligation earlier in the week). For all Mass days, girl students are required to wear white uniform shirts and uniform skirts or jumpers. Boy students must wear white uniform shirts and long khaki uniform pants. Shorts are not allowed. If Friday is a school holiday, Mass will be rescheduled or canceled - for an 8th-grade student for the week.
 
What is a Mass Buddy? Each Pre-K3 through 1st Grade student is assigned a corresponding 5th - 8th-grade student sitting alongside them at Friday All-School 8:15 am Mass. The older students serve as mentors, demonstrating and advising on proper Mass behavior. It is customary (though not required) for Mass buddies to exchange small gifts at Christmas and year’s end. Parents and other family members are welcome (and strongly encouraged) to attend all-school Masses as students are allowed to sit with their parents/families.
 
What is Spirit Wear Day? On Spirit Wear designated days, students, faculty, and staff may wear blue jeans or jean shorts with a St. Ignatius school-sanctioned t-shirt. Examples include BBC spirit gear and team wear, PTO school seal shirt, Bobcat Fun Run, or Fall Fest shirts. Students may also wear their Spirit Wear with uniform bottoms. The BBC, PTO, and Fall Fest will all offer T-shirts for sale during various times of the school year.
 
What is PTO? The St. Ignatius Parent-Teacher Organization sponsor programs and activities for both the school faculty and students. They meet bi-monthly on a Tuesday evening. Snacks are available to purchase, with the meeting beginning at 5:30 pm. Contact the PTO at ptopresident@st-ignatius-edu.org for details
 
What is the BBC? The Bobcat Booster Club is the school’s official athletic organization representing the Bobcat Nation. Through spirit gear sales (t-shirts, school seal sweatshirts, St. I baseball caps, and window decals), team practice gear sales, volleyball & basketball game concession sales, and Friday lunchtime St. Ice Cream sales, the BBC raises funds to outfit our varsity athletic teams with professional uniforms and equipment like the scorer’s table, electronic scoreboard, and volleyball net system. The BBC also hosts an annual Academic/Athletic Awards Banquet. If your child participates in varsity athletics (5 ^th-8 ^8th grade), you are already a member of the BBC. However, you are not required to have a son or daughter in varsity athletics to volunteer. The BBC welcomes all parents (with children in any grade) who want to volunteer. Contact the Boosters Club at  [email protected] for details.
 
What is Fall Fest? An annual outdoor carnival held each fall in the parish parking lot; Fall Fest features game booths, bingo, a raffle, pony rides, live music, barbeque dinner, and other delights. It is also the primary fundraiser for our parish. As a church ministry, our school is leading in Fall Fest. Each class staffs a game booth, and all school families are encouraged to volunteer, sell raffle tickets, buy Fall Fest t-shirts, and enjoy a great day with our whole St. Ignatius parish community.
 
What is the Halloween Carnival? Held in the Family Center, the Halloween Carnival is an exciting fundraiser for the PTO and 8th^th grade. Each grade is assigned a game booth and is responsible for building and equipping it, assembling it before the carnival, staffing it during the cafestivaland disassembling the booth afterward. The PTO awards prizes for the best stalls.
 
How much money is each family required to fundraise for the school, and how do I do it? Each family is contractually obligated to raise $300. You can do it by collecting the Bobcat Fun Run pledges, securing sponsorships for the School Gala, donating to the general school fund, or writing a check.
 
What is the Bobcat Fun Run? In the school’s fundraising triad, the Bobcat Fun Run is the granddaddy of them all! Over the past years, this annual fundraiser has raised over $70,000 each year. Beginning in February, each student requests donations from friends, family, or neighbors to sponsor their run. Rather than asking for pledges per lap, we ask students to secure a set of assistance. On the day of the race, our campus transforms into a running track, and this event becomes one of the biggest highlights of an exciting school year! Awards are given to top fundraisers and more. In February, you will receive more information about this year’s Bobcat Fun Run.
 
What is Field Day? This is not a fundraiser, just a delightful Junior Olympics-style competition for all students. Held in late May and hosted by the athletic department, Field Day is the exclamation point to a fun-filled school year. PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten class events are held on one day, and the 1 ^st-8 ^8th Grades compete the next day. Your child is assigned a team and a team color. Please send them to school on their field day in comfortable athletic wear bearing the team’s color. In the spring, you will receive more information regarding events and requirements for Field Day.