In accordance with Diocesan policy and California law, school staff is obligated, under penalty of fine and jail term, to report reasonable suspicion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional deprivation, physical neglect, inadequate supervision or sexual abuse and exploitation.  In this very serious and legally narrow area, the school will not contact parents in advance (which would be the procedure followed in most other legal matters) of making a report to legal authorities.  The clear intent of the law, based on the seriousness of the crimes listed above, is to mandate that staff will make such reports in the best interest of the affected child and do not, once reasonable suspicion is established, have any legal alternative except to make the report to the proper authorities for their investigation and review.