The Diocese of Harrisburg Catholic School Policies and Regulations

The Catholic schools in the diocese are operated as faith communities, not as a commercial or secular enterprise. The schools provide an opportunity for the development of faith-based values and for receiving instruction in the teachings of Christ and His Church.

Consequently, the policies may not be considered or construed to establish or create any warranties or convents or contractual obligations on the part of the diocese or the schools. Nothing contained therein is intended to, or shall be construed to, create any contractual obligations, express or implied, on the part of the diocese, or school.

“The nobility of the task to which teachers are called demands that, in imitation of Christ, the only Teacher, they reveal the Christian message not only by word but also by every gesture of their behavior.”
– The Documents of Vatican II, Declaration on Christian Education – 1965

Therefore, Catholic school educators strive to sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct in their four-fold commitment to: the student, the family, the community and the ministry of teaching.

Our Policies

The Diocese has purchased excess/secondary insurance to cover most medical expenses from injury for all high school students in the five (5) Diocese High Schools and Students, grades 7-12, at both Lebanon Catholic Regional School and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School. This insurance program covers students participating in interscholastic and intramural sports, band, cheerleading, gym classes, special activities, school time field trips and activities as related to a covered activity. Coverage is also extended to students of a Diocese elementary school who have not yet reached High School, but are participating in a high school interscholastic sport activity with one of the Diocese High School / Regional School interscholastic sports teams. This insurance is intended to supplement, not replace, primary health insurance coverage.

Nutrition in Our Schools

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act was signed as Public Law 108-265 on June 30, 2004. The law contains several provisions that impact the School Nutrition Programs.

Section 204, Local Wellness Policy, requires all Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) that participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program to develop and implement a Local Wellness Policy by July 1, 2006.

The Local Wellness Policy, at a minimum, must:

  • Include goals for physical activity, nutrition education and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness.
  • Include nutrition guidelines for all foods available on the school grounds during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity.
  • Provide assurance that any guidelines established for reimbursable meals at the local level will not be less restrictive than current federal regulations for meals served through the School Nutrition Programs.
  • Establish a plan for measuring the implementation of the wellness policy.
  • Designate one or more persons at the LEA or each school who is responsible for the operational responsibility and ensuring the school meets the policy
  • Involves parents, students, and representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators, and the public in the development of the school wellness policy.