Elementary Handbook 2009-2010

CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL HANDBOOK

2009-2010

THIS IS CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR GRADES K-6TH GRADE FOR THE 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR. THERE IS A SHEET AT THE END OF THE HANDBOOK THAT MUST BE SIGNED BY THE PARENT AND THIS FORM IS TO BE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL SAYING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND OUR POLICIES. PLEASE READ AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR WITH YOU.

[KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 6^TH GRADE HANDBOOK]

Absences………………………………………………………….. 4-5

Academic Performance…………………………………………… 6

Acceptable Use Policy……………………………………………. 10

Appropriate Dress………………………………………………… 8

Attendance………………………………………………………... 4

Cell Phone Policy…………………………………………………. 7

Check Out Policy…………………………………………………. 5

Conduct……………………………………………………………. 6

Consequences for Misbehavior……………………………………. 7

Daily Planners……………………………………………………... 5

Dress Code Policy…………………………………………………. 8

Financial Information……………………………………………… 5

Grading……………………………………………………………. 6

Handbook Purpose………………………………………………... 4

Health Information……………………………………………….. 9

Lunches…………………………………………………………… 10

Medication Authorization………………………………………… 11

Mission Statement………………………………………………… 3

Parent-Teacher Organization……………………………………… 10

Parent/Teacher Signature Requirement…………………………… 12

School Visits……………………………………………………… 10

Weather Information……………………………………………… 9

Welcome………………………………………………………….. 3

What Parents Can Do to Help…………………………………….. 4

Welcome

Welcome to Calvary Christian School (CCS). We are excited about a new year and what it will bring. We know this will be a successful and rewarding year for you and your student.

This handbook contains important information regarding school policy and procedures. Read it carefully and if you have any questions please call the school office.

We encourage your participation in our school and look forward to partnering with you in the education of your child. Your role as a significant contributor to your child’s education is highly respected by this staff. We need your support, your input and your cooperative effort.

Accreditation

Calvary Christian School is a member of and is accredited by the Mississippi Private School Association. The Mississippi Private School Association also accredits our teachers. Our elementary school (K-8) currently holds an AA Certificate of Accreditation, the highest rating awarded by the MPSA.

Calvary Christian School is a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church. CCS has a Superintendent and Headmaster that report to the School Board. The School Board reports to the Deacons of Calvary Baptist Church.

Mission Statement

Calvary Christian School takes a spiritual approach to education. Calvary Christian School is an extension of Calvary Baptist Church and the Christian home and strives to encourage, support, and inspire students and families in a system of values consistent with the Word of God.

This means that the entire program, the curriculum, the quality of teachers, the school policies, the methods, and the evaluation procedures will be based on a genuine commitment to the Christian faith and will be reflected in the way in which the task of education is carried out. Calvary Christian School is dedicated to academic excellence in a disciplined atmosphere.

The purpose of Calvary Christian School is to develop students both spiritually and academically so that they will be able to accept the responsibilities of life as committed Christians doing all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

Handbook

This handbook provides a clear, concise statement of the basic policies, procedures and philosophy of Calvary Christian School. These policies and procedures are formulated as one way to implement our goals in Christian education as well as to provide for a safe, efficient, and consistent approach to education.

Commitment to these policies and procedures by students, parents, and staff will enable the school to run on a smooth, orderly basis. We believe that Christian education involves encouraging and training students for responsible action. These policies and procedures are basic guidelines, which should be viewed as one-way Calvary Christian School encourages and trains students to recognize and assume responsibility for their action. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of this handbook is to allow parents, students, and teachers to be of one mind in the great privilege we have of training children to honor God with their whole lives.

What Parents Can Do to Help

* Pray for and with your child daily. Pray together for the school, its faculty and staff.

* See that your child attends regularly and arrives on time each day.

* Avoid parent/teacher conferences in the presence of your child unless the child is invited.

* Encourage your child to anticipate happy experiences in relation to school.

* Take time to listen to your child’s daily experiences. Ask questions about the child’s day.

* Show an interest in child’s schoolwork. Don’t be critical of it.

* Bring your child to school in a happy mood. A happy child is a learning child.

* Volunteer to use your talents and gifts to help when parent projects are announced. Visit the school.

* We need your help in fund raising projects. Please help us avoid tuition increases.

* Keep a positive attitude toward school.

Attendance/Truancy

Regular attendance at school is a must. Students should arrive at school no later than 7:50 A. M.

More than five tardies will be reported to the school attendance officer. Three unexcused tardies will result in one unexcused absence. Illness, injury, and death in the family are excused absences. Other absences must be presented to the principal in advance. A written excuse signed by the parent or doctor must be presented to the teacher upon returning to school.

Students are responsible for making up all work missed. Any tests missed will be given on the day of return. However, if a student has missed several days, a like number of days will be allowed during which work can be made up.

No student shall be granted credit whose absences exceed 20 days during the school year. The administration and school board may waive this standard if it is determined that the absences resulted from unusual circumstances or extended illness. A limit of 10 absences shall be placed on all one-semester ½ credit courses.

Elementary classes begin promptly at 7:55 A. M. Kindergarten, first and second grades will be dismissed at 2:45 P. M. Third and fourth will be dismissed at 2:50 P. M. and fifth and sixth will be dismissed at 2:55 P. M. Seventh and eighth grades will be dismissed at 3:00 P. M.

A student must be present in every class every day in order receive a perfect attendance award. Appointments with the teachers should be scheduled after school, if possible.

Check-out Policy

Please try to schedule all appointments after school hours. If a student is checking out early, he/she needs to bring a note and turn it in to the classroom teacher at the beginning of the school day. Parent or guardian will need to sign the student out in the office when leaving. Students checking out because of illness must remain at home for the remainder of the day. If a student returns on the same day, he/she must sign back in on arrival at school.

Financial Information

August tuition is due on the first day of school. All other tuition is due on the first day of the month. The account is past due after the fifth of the month. A late charge of $35 will be added to any account that has a balance after the 10th of the month. Services will cease and the student must be withdrawn if the account is past due at the end of 60 days.

Planners are furnished for each child K-8. Parents should check this planner each day. All assignments and other important information should be in the planner. Parents are asked to read and initial planner daily.

Student academic performance will be reported eight times throughout the year (four progress reports and four report cards). Progress reports will be sent home at the end of four and one half weeks and report cards at the end of each nine-week period.

Parents are urged to communicate with teachers and contact them if any questions arise.

Kindergarten grades are: E - Excellent, S - Satisfactory, N - Needs Improving and U- Unsatisfactory.

To be promoted in grades one through three, students must have a passing grade in reading, language arts and math. In grades four through eight students must have passing grades in reading, language arts, math and social studies or science. To be promoted in high school, students must have the number of required credits for that grade. While some courses may be repeated or made up in summer school, the majority of courses must be passed to ensure that all credits are in place for graduation.

To qualify for honors in the elementary and middle school classes, a student must have all A’s and B’s on the report card for the reporting period. For highest honors all A’s are required.

While each teacher has rules and procedures in his or her classroom, Calvary expects all students to follow certain rules of conduct. They include:

* Respect for God, peers, adults, the school facility and our nation are required.

* Students must be prepared for class; this includes having all supplies each day as well as completed assignments and signed planners.

* No form of drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug-like substances or reasonable suspicion of drug use is allowed.

*. Cell phone use is not permitted in the school buildings or on the school grounds. The principal must approve any situation where cell phones are needed in advance.

* CD players, IPODS, radios, electronic games, video cameras, etc. are not permitted at school unless given prior approval for a specific purpose.

* Non-educational magazines, books, or games should not be brought to school without prior approval from the principal or teacher.

NOTE: These steps may be waived for severe behavior and immediate action such as referral to the Headmaster, suspension or expulsion may result.

* Detention- Parents may be notified by phone or in writing. Detention requires parent’s signature if they are not reached by phone.

* There will be a $10.00 fee if cell phones or other electronic devices are taken up during school hours. If the item is taken up the 2^nd time and any subsequential violations from the same student, a $20.00 fee must be paid and the device will be kept for 10 school days. The parent must pick up the device after that time.

* Random drug testing may be conducted unannounced at any time at the expense of the parent/guardian or student. Refusal to take the drug test will be an automatic expulsion.

* Use or possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug-like substance, or reasonable suspicion of drug usage will result in immediate suspension, a recommendation to the school board for expulsion and notification of proper authorities.

—A discipline form will be sent to the parents and must be signed by parents and returned to the principal the following day.

Dress Code

Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year Calvary Christian School students will be required to follow a new school dress code. The decision to move to a more unified look as a student body was one that was carefully thought out and studied. We believe that there is a definite relationship between good dress habits and proper student behavior; therefore, dress and grooming of students are concerns of the teachers and administration at CCS.

The school has established the following guidelines to aid parents and students in selecting the proper dress. All students should use maturity and common sense in choosing their school attire. Cleanliness and overall hygiene should be practiced at all time; and hair should be clean, combed, and out of eyes.

Girls may wear earrings in pierced ears. If any other part of the body is pierced, no instruments or jewelry may be worn in exposed body parts of boys or girls.

Any type of clothing or accessories that are, in the opinion of the principal, obscene or suggestive is not acceptable. Clothing must be worn properly.

TOPS: Boys and girls may wear short sleeve or long sleeve polo shirts in the appropriate colors. Girls may also wear the white Peter Pan collar blouses. Monograms will not be required for all days, but on some occasions (field trips, etc.) your child will be required to have a Royal BLUE shirt with the Calvary monogram. Calvary t-shirts are still acceptable. Shirts must be tucked in.

BOTTOMS: Boys can wear shorts or pants, flat front, pleated, or cargo style in appropriate colors (including the plaid short). Girls may wear pants, skorts, skirts, or jumpers in the appropriate colors. The plaid for girls will be available in skorts, skirts, and walking shorts.

OTHER: No caps, “heelies” or flip-flops will be allowed at school. All shoes will have a back on them. This may be a loop for sandals or crocs but have the loop around heel at all times. Belts are to be worn through the belt loops and properly fastened. It is recommended that Kindergarten-3^rd grade students wear closed toe shoes. All shoes must be properly tied or fastened.

**Calvary monogrammed royal blue polo shirts will be worn on field trips and other special occasions.

Students may wear approved apparel other than the approved dress code on days associated with special school functions or activities designated by the administration.

Students violating the dress code will not be allowed to attend class until appropriately dressed.

Our dress code is designed to promote self-respect and adherence to Christian character. We expect our students to dress in a manner that not only presents them in a positive manner, but that also sets a positive example for others.

Students may wear approved apparel other than the approved dress code on certain days as designated by the Headmaster.

* Tight fitting clothing that shows under garments or excessively emphasizes the shape of the body

Severe Weather

In case of severe weather and school cancellation, we will call the local television and radio stations and give them the information. If school is canceled due to bad weather etc., we will report it by 6:30 in the morning. If school must be canceled early, due to an emergency, we will notify the radio and television stations and call parents as quickly as possible.

In the event of tornado warnings, we will follow prescribed procedures for the safety of our students.

Health Information

Medication will be administrated to students according to doctors’ orders. Written instructions from parents and doctors must be on file (see attached form).

A child who has been sick at home should not be sent back to school until he/she has been free of fever for 24 hours.

If a minor accident occurs, a member of the school staff will administer first aid. No care beyond simple first aid will be given. Every effort will be made to contact parents if an emergency occurs requiring more extensive medical attention. Appropriate medical attention will be secured, if necessary, if the parents cannot be reached. This will be done according to the parents’ instructions on the registration form. However, if a severe emergency develops, the student will be taken to the emergency room at once and the parents and a family doctor will be called.

Lunches

Calvary Christian School will provide lunches prepared in our cafeteria. Our lunches will be $3.50 per day, which includes a choice of drinks of milk, fruit juice or bottled water. Separate drink tickets cost 50 cents each. Students may bring a lunch from home; however, students are not allowed to have a parent or friend bring in fast food during the lunch hour. If the student desires fast food for his/her lunch, he/she should bring it to school in the morning and warm it in the microwave.

Lunch tickets may be purchased daily, weekly or by the month but all tickets must be purchased before school or during morning break. No lunch tickets will be sold in the cafeteria or in the office during lunch period.

Parental Involvement

The PTO is a way for parents to work with teachers in the education of their children and for the improvement of our school. The PTO holds meetings once a month through the year. These meetings will consist of information sessions, programs and plays. For your convenience, an evening meal will be offered at a minimal charge. Reservations for this meal must be made in advance through the school office.

There are many ways to get involved in the PTO. We encourage all parents to find some way to take part. Being an active part of the school activities makes a great difference to your children’s education.

School Visits

Parents are always welcome to visit the school. We ask that you check in with the office when you visit. Parents may not disrupt the classroom when visiting. Conferences with the teacher(s) should be scheduled during non-instructional time.

Acceptable Use Policy

Calvary Christian School recognizes the importance of computer technology in providing tools for today’s education. The new technologies that use global communications provide the students with unique learning opportunities.

Policies and Procedures may be amended at any time without prior notification. Parents will be notified as soon as possible if and when changes are made.

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