We welcome and encourage parents to visit the school. A child's academic performance often improves when a parent takes an active interest in schoolwork and activities. Out of respect for our teachers, we ask that you make arrangements with the office and the teacher at least one day prior to your anticipated visit. Before entering the classroom, please come by the school office and check in. It is important that the office personnel know who and where everyone is on campus. We ask parents to limit their visits to twenty to thirty minutes and to sit where requested by the teacher or in the back of the classroom. If you desire a longer period of time or want to schedule regular visits, discuss it with the teacher and the principal.

Prospective students or others wishing to visit the classroom must have their visit approved by the teacher and the principal first. Unapproved visitors will be asked to leave the campus. Many times families have visitors staying with them, who have school aged children. We are happy to accommodate such visitors, but we must approve their coming in advance. It is unlikely that they would be allowed to stay if the first information regarding their visit was on the morning of the visit.

In order to maintain classroom efficiency and order, parents are requested to come to the school office first before visiting a classroom for any reason. Parents should not go directly to a classroom. Lunches, homework, books, etc. are to be left in the office to be delivered.

Parents should not detain a teacher before or after school without making prior arrangements. Parent-teacher conferences are encouraged and can be scheduled by telephone. Top

Fire drills are conducted on a regular basis. Emergency exit procedures are reviewed in each class at the beginning of the school year. Exit routes are posted in each classroom. Each class has a designated meeting area within the safety zone outside the school building. During the fire drill, students are to WALK quickly and quietly as a class unit to their designated area. If a student is in the restroom or out of the classroom at the time of the drill, he/she should exit by the nearest door and proceed to his/her class's meeting area, without returning to the classroom. Students may return to their classroom when the teacher gives the direction to do so.

Students should bring a lunch to school, which includes a healthy mid-morning snack. Please avoid excessive sweets and "junk food". Milk and juice are available for a small fee. Microwaves are available to heat entrees during lunch. The parent must provide appropriate containers for use in the microwave. Parents must provide any utensils necessary (plates, bowls, spoons, forks, etc.), as these are not readily available at school. Parents are requested to monitor and restrict the amount of sweets provided to a student daily.

Food is to be eaten in designated areas only. No food, drinks, or snacks are to be taken outside except on special teacher-supervised occasions. Classes eating outside are responsible for cleaning the grounds. Top

Most classes plan one or more educational field trips during the school year. Students are expected to abide by all school rules while attending any school-sponsored trip. Each child must have a completed permission slip signed by the parent in order to attend any field trip.

Students may, on rare occasions, be denied permission to attend a field trip for disciplinary or academic reasons. In such cases, the student will be required to complete an alternate assignment or be assigned to detention or in-school suspension.

Parents may be asked to participate as drivers and/or chaperons. Field trips are designed to have educational value and provide a learning experience, which cannot be obtained in the classroom. To preserve the purpose for which they are designed -and to guard against liability risks to Community Christian School - we ask that parents abide by the following rules:

1. Set a good example. Remember, children learn by watching others. Profanity is prohibited.
2. Be courteous. We represent a Christian School - even when we are miles away.
3. Dress modestly.
4. Be responsible. You have children in your care whose parent(s) have entrusted them to you. You are responsible for the children assigned to you at all times. If you have a problem with a child, go to the teacher so that it can be taken care of immediately.
5. Be punctual. The teacher has put much time and effort into the planning of this trip; if one person is late, it may cause the entire group to miss an event or tour.
6. Do not deviate from the itinerary. Field trips can be a tool, which can bring the class(es) together by the enjoyment of a shared experience.
7. Do not separate from the group. If you must separate into smaller groups, there should always be at least two adults with each group.
8. Abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products on any field trip - whether it is a one-day or several days trip.
9. If driving, the office must have a copy of your driver's license and insurance. Obey all traffic laws. All students must be in seat belts. Top

Library Usage

Students are only permitted in the library with teacher permission and supervision. Reference books, such as encyclopedias, may not be removed from the library. Limited photocopies may be made for students who are working on research papers and reports at home. A small fee may be charged for each copy. Most classrooms have a computer available for student use. Many reference works are available on CD and may be checked out of the library by the teacher for use in the classroom.

Parents interested in volunteering time in the library are asked to contact the librarian.

After School Activities

Students remaining after school for any reason (athletic practices, teacher's request, detention, etc.) are to be under adult supervision at all times. If the activity ends before the parent arrives, the student will be placed in day care. Charges will accrue after 15 minutes in day care.

Student Drop-off/Pick-up

Students arriving for school before 7:45 a.m. must report to the day care area. Students may not enter the classroom before the teacher is present.

School ends at 3:00 p.m. Students, whose parents are not present to pick them up, will be escorted to the day care area at 3:15. Parents thereafter may pick up their children at the playground. Students must sign out with the day care worker before leaving. Only those people who are listed with the office may pick up children. Picture identification is required to be on file in the office (photocopy of driver's license is acceptable) and may be requested before the student is released. Students remaining after 3:15 p.m. will be charged for after-school day care. Top

Copies of custody papers or any other legal restrictions involving students must be on file in the school office.

The circular driveway may be used to drop students off on the sidewalk nearest to the school. Neither lane in the circular drive is ever to be used for parking. If you are leaving your vehicle for any reason, please park in one of the two parking lots. Do not block the driveway.

Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)

The PTO is made up of a group of concerned parents and teachers who meet regularly to improve and increase the opportunities for our students and to maximize their educational experience. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. Officers are elected in the spring of each year for the following year. The PTO helps to organize and operate most fund-raisers held at the school. Parent volunteers can also be coordinated through the PTO.

Resolving Problems/Complaints

In the event of a disagreement with policy or procedure, whether between students, student and teacher, or parent and teacher, we ask that you follow the Biblical guidelines for resolving disputes. Go to the person with whom you have the problem and discuss the problem tactfully. If, after speaking to the person, the problem is not satisfactorily resolved, the two parties should meet together with the principal. Please refrain from discussing the difficulties with other parents, students or teachers as this only leads to gossip and hurt feelings for everyone involved. Top

Attendance

The academic school year consists of approximately 180 teaching days. Students are expected to be present for all of those days except in the event of excused absences. Repeated unexcused absences may result in the student being required to repeat the grade or attend a summer school.

Excused Absences

 

Students must bring to school upon their return from an absence, a written note specifying one of the above circumstances, signed by a parent, guardian or doctor in order for the absence to be excused. Notes should be provided in advance of foreseeable absences, as in the case of doctor appointments.

Reasons for excused absences are:

1. Personal illness including appointments to doctors, dentists, orthodontists, optometrists, and other recognized practitioners.
2. Death or serious illness of a family member.
3. ther circumstances satisfactory to the school administration.

Unexcused Absences

 

An absence will be considered unexcused if there is not a written note about the absence or the reason is unacceptable. A verbal excuse given by a student will result in an unexcused absence regardless of the reason for the absence.

Special Absences

 

Absences not falling into the above categories (such as family trips) may be considered excused under special circumstances. These absences must be pre-arranged and have the approval of the teacher and administrator. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for all make-up work with the teacher. At least one-week advance notice should be given. Other requirements, such as a written or oral report, a journal, or an essay may also be required in order for the absence to be excused. The objective is that school days be educational and that there is some demonstration by the student of educational advancement.

Tardiness

 

Tardiness at any grade level is detrimental to the child and disrupts the educational process in the classroom. Students in all grades are considered tardy in the morning when they are not in the classroom by 8:10 a.m. Students at the middle school level who are involved in changing classes will be considered tardy when they are not in the classroom at the scheduled time for their next class to begin.

Students who are tardy to a class must go to the office for a pass in order to be admitted to class.

Students arriving late in the morning need to provide a written excuse for their tardiness, signed by a parent or guardian. A parent may accompany the child to the office to write and sign the excuse. Students will not be admitted to class without a pass from the office, when they arrive late to school.

Excessive tardiness (4 in any semester) may result in an unexcused absence, detention time, in school suspension, or loss of privileges for the student. Chronic excessive tardiness may result in a required meeting between the school board, the parent and the student.

Early Departure

 

The school day ends at 3:00 p.m. Repeated early pick-up for anything other than doctors appointments or other reasons approved in advance by the school or the teacher will not be allowed and may result in disciplinary measures. Top

Students Leaving Campus/Early Dismissal

In consideration of safety, this school is a closed campus. Once a student arrives for the school day, he may not leave the campus until school is dismissed. If a student needs to leave school early, a note is to be sent to the teacher that morning. The child is to be signed out by the parent in the office prior to leaving. A secretary will call the classroom for the child to be dismissed. Class assignments are to be turned in before departure unless the departure is an emergency. Any missed assignments are to be made up. If a student leaves school more than three hours prior to regular dismissal time, he is considered absent one-half day. Top