2008/2009 Elementary Handbook - New England Christian Academy

New England Christian Academy is an integral part of and inseparably linked with Grace Gospel Church. We believe it is a vital and necessary ministry. Because New England ChristianAcademy is a ministry of Grace Gospel Church, we espouse the same doctrinal position.

The Role of the Bible

We know God and Christ only through the Bible. This knowledge forms a foundation for the rest of life, which must be built upon knowing Christ. Bible is a required subject at New England Christian Academy in every grade. From its pages, we can gain a clear direction for everyday living as it reveals to mankind the only way to heaven and the only hope for eternity.

A God-Centered Curriculum

The Bible enhances and becomes the foundation for the study of all other subjects, such as English, History, Reading, Mathematics, and Science.

All N.E.C.A. teachers are qualified educators. Every staff member at N.E.C.A. has publicly professed his or her faith and trust in Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. Each staff member views his or her work at N.E.C.A. as a ministry, not just a job.

AFFILIATIONS

New England Christian Academy is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (A.C.S.I.), an internationally recognized organization.

PARENT-STAFF RELATIONSHIP

We thank God for the opportunity to have a part in the education of your child. We do not take this responsibility lightly. The staff of N.E.C.A. is dedicated to the task of giving your child the best education possible.

The school is an extension of your home and we recognize the importance of the home and school working together for the spiritual and academic growth of the child. In light of this, we require one of the parents or guardians to be a “Born Again” Christian who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (John 3:3, I Peter 1:23). It is understood that the parent/guardian serves as a role model. The parent/guardian will manifest by precept and example the highest Christian virtue and personal decorum, serving as a Christian role model (I Timothy 4:12, Luke 6:40). This includes, but is not limited to, the refraining from such activities as the abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs, and the use of vulgar and profane language. (Colossians 3:17, Titus 2:7-8 , I Thessalonians 2:10, I Thessalonians 5:18, 22-23, and James 3:17-18). All parents/guardians must agree to accept the school’s interpretation of Biblical standards for their sexual behavior, that any sexual misconduct including but not limited to – premarital, extramarital, or homosexual activity; use or viewing of pornographic material or websites; violates the requirements of being a Christian role model. I agree that such behaviors may be grounds for immediate dismissal of my child(ren) from N.E.C.A.. The parent/guardian will faithfully attend a local church whose fundamental beliefs are in agreement with the Statement of Faith of this school. (Hebrews 10:25)

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled each semester for you to meet with the school personnel and discuss the needs of your child(ren). We ask that all students and parents participate in these beneficial conferences, which are scheduled on the school calendar.

We ask that parents respect the faculty's time at home with their own families. Please contact your child's teacher through the school rather than calling him/her at home unless requested to do so by the teacher. If a teacher is unavailable when you call, the school secretary will be more than happy to leave a message for the teacher to call you back. Every effort will be made to return your call as soon as possible.

As parent(s), you understand that the type of Christian education provided at New England Christian Academy requires cooperation and a partnership between the parents of the students and the school administration and faculty. As parents, you hereby pledge your full support and cooperation with N.E.C.A. and agree to withdraw your child(ren) if at any time you find that you cannot support school philosophy, policies, faculty, and administration. As parent(s) you further agree to abide by the Biblical principles of moral and spiritual conduct of Matthew 18:15, Galatians 6:1, Proverbs 15:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 in resolving any disagreement or dispute you may have with the school or its administration or faculty. You understand that your failure to abide by this agreement or violation of any current or future school policy or procedure may be grounds for dismissal of your child(ren) from school.

Matthew 18:15 -- "If a brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault. If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother."

Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

I Corinthians 6:1-6 – “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare you take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before God’s people? ² Or do you not know that God’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ⁴ Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? ⁵ I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? ⁶ But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!”

STUDENT-STAFF RELATIONSHIP

Teachers at N.E.C.A. strongly believe in training students academically and spiritually, instilling the need for knowledge accompanied by the values reflective of Christian character. The teachers guide students by giving them the background necessary to succeed in their education as well as in personal life decisions. We maintain an attitude of mutual respect between students and staff. Although an atmosphere of friendliness prevails, we require students to address staff members and their spouses as Pastor, Mr., Mrs., or Miss.

ENROLLMENT

New England Christian Academy seeks to serve students of average to above-average academic ability that intends to follow a college preparatory track. The school is not equipped to serve students who have significant learning problems or who would require major modifications to our standard programs. Applications for student enrollment at New England Christian Academy will be considered on the basis of the ability of the applicant to meet the entrance requirements

regardless of race, color, or national origin. Application forms may be acquired through the school office. Prospective students will be tested prior to acceptance. A conference between the parent(s) and administration with the student present is necessary prior to enrollment of any student.

NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY

New England Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, loan programs, athletic, and other school-administered programs.

TUITION POLICY

(A) Families wishing to pay the tuition for their children in full must do so prior to August 1^st, and will thereby be entitled to a five percent (5%) discount from their annual total tuition. Prepaid discount will be computed on the remaining balance after all credits are applied

(B) All other families are required to participate in N.E.C.A.’s automated tuition payment program, administered by the FACTS Management Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. Payments are made in 10 or 12 monthly payments via electronic funds transfer (an automatic withdrawal each month from a family’s checking account). There will be an annual one-time, non-refundable fee per family per school year of $38.00 to cover the costs of setting up and administering this tuition account. No interest or other charges will be assessed for this service. Signed agreements with FACTS Management Company must be received by FACTS three weeks prior to the first tuition payment date. Application forms and further information regarding our FACTS tuition payment program are available from the school’s finance office.

All fees are required to be paid regardless of any prepay arrangements; all accounts must be current in order to re-enroll for the next school year. Senior students’ account must be paid in full prior to graduation. All students, whether Dual Enrollment or not, need to pay full tuition.

All past tuition payments are non-refundable and all future tuition payment obligations for the rest of the year and must be paid regardless of continued enrollment.

In cases where a student has been expelled or has been asked to withdraw from school or a parent withdraws their child from the school, the person who signed the enrollment or re-enrollment form remains responsible for all financial obligations to N.E.C.A. for the remainder of the year.

In the case that tuition for a student(s) remains unpaid after attempting to collect it, N.E.C.A. will inform the IRS in January for the tax year ending in December that a debt has not been paid by filing a 1099-C for the amount of the unpaid tuition.

In the event that a parent/guardian gives N.E.C.A. a check that is returned for insufficient funds, that parent/guardian will not be allowed to use personal checks to N.E.C.A. for any fees or payments owed to N.E.C.A. after that point. Instead, they must get a money order or certified bank check for any fees owed to N.E.C.A.

Tuition Fee is per child; 4^th youngest child is free, non-refundable, and must be paid regardless of continued enrollment. If tuition is paid in full by August 1, 2008, subtract 5% on tuition only.

*After the first 2 weeks of class, the student will not be allowed to attend class until the fee is paid in full. This will affect the student’s academic grade.

(per family, per school year; non-refundable; see Financial Aid Policy below for further details)

FINANCIAL AID POLICY

We at N.E.C.A. realize that tuition commitments can be burdensome for some families. It is our desire to make a Christian school education as affordable as possible, and we acknowledge that in some cases, a real need is present. In order to meet this need, and to provide financial assistance in an objective and confidential manner, N.E.C.A. has contracted with Family Financial Needs Assessment (F.F.N.A.) of Hernando, Mississippi, to process all requests for financial assistance.

(6) The deadline for mailing financial aid requests for current school families is August 20th. It is essential that you give this matter your highest priority.

(7) Tuition payments must be kept up to date so that faculty payroll can be met. If tuition payments are not kept up to date, a student will not be allowed to continue to attend N.E.C.A..

F.F.N.A. applies objective and uniform methods of computation in determining their recommendations for financial aid. After a thorough analysis of a family's application, F.F.N.A. will generate a report and forward it to N.E.C.A., telling us the amount of financial aid they recommend to be awarded to that family. Utilizing those recommendations, the Principal will then award financial aid in the form of tuition assistance to qualified families, based on the amount of funds then available for that purpose.

Submitting an application to F.F.N.A. does not guarantee that financial aid will be awarded. Aid is granted based on assessment of need and availability of funds. An award by N.E.C.A. of financial aid is not automatically carried over from one school year to another. Requests for financial aid must be resubmitted each year.

More information regarding F.F.N.A. can be obtained by visiting their web site at www. ffnal. com.

TEXTBOOKS

Student textbooks are purchased by N.E.C.A. and are on loan to the student. Students are responsible for their texts and, should damage or loss occur, they or their parents are accountable for damage or replacement fees. Some courses (e.g. Philosophy, Bible, Literature, etc.) may require textbooks to be purchased and retained by the student. All school-owned textbooks are to be appropriately covered at all times. Any student found with an uncovered school-owned textbook, or found misusing a text (e.g. defacing a book), will be subject to discipline. Under no circumstances will N.E.C.A. purchase teachers' materials for parents. All textbooks must be returned in the same condition and given to the teacher prior to final exam or final exam may not be administered.

PARENT ORIENTATION

Parent Orientation is scheduled in August at Grace Gospel Church. This time is reserved for parents to meet the teachers and review important school policies.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

A copy of the calendar for the entire school year highlighting important dates can be found in the first day of school folder. We suggest posting this in a convenient location for reference throughout the school year. Any changes to the school calendar will be made to the parents by memo.

ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE /EARLY DISMISSAL

School begins at 7:50 AM. Any student entering the school after that time will be marked late and must sign the tardy sheet in the main office. Students arriving early will have staff supervision beginning at 7:15 AM.

Pre-K through grade 4 students are to be dropped off at the back building according to instructions on the traffic map. Parents are to drop their child(ren) off in the church foyer or at the coned off playground area as shown on the traffic map. To avoid classroom interruptions, parents are not to take their child(ren) to the classroom as it disrupts classroom instructions. Students in grade 5 are to be dropped off at the Middle/High School building. The students, weather permitting, will remain in the playground area until they are brought inside by their teacher. They can also enter through the front door and go outside after putting their belongings in their locker.

Dismissal is 2:40 PM for Pre-K through grade 5. Parents are expected to pick up Pre-K through grade 5 children by 3:00 PM. Students not picked up by these times will be placed in the After-Care Program (see further information below). The faculty and staff are required to be at the school until 3:30 PM for extra help and detention. Students remaining on school or church property after this time, unless authorized to be at an extra-curricular activity, MUST be in After-Care.

A dismissal teacher will be in the church foyer at 2:40 p.m. Parents are to give the child’s name to the teacher who will then call to the appropriate classroom to dismiss the child. Parents are to remain in the foyer while waiting for their child(ren). To avoid any interruptions, parents are not allowed upstairs at dismissal time. If a parent needs to speak briefly with their child(ren)s teacher, they can inquire with the dismissal teacher in the foyer who will then contact the teacher. If he/she is unable to meet on that day, the parent is to call the school office to schedule an appointment. Students in 5^th Grade will be brought outside by their teacher for dismissal, weather permitting. Parents are to see the teacher before taking their child.

In the case of early dismissal for students in grades Pre-K through 4^th, the parent must sign the child out at the High School building. At that time, they will be given a pass which they will then take to the church building to pick up their child(ren). Grades 5parents must sign the child out at the main office and a staff member will get the child(ren) from the classroom.

Students participating in sports or other extra-curricular activities are responsible to meet all original deadlines for assignments, quizzes, and tests. On the day of a scheduled event, students must report to teachers of all classes that will be missed, to obtain homework/class work for the day.

Any missed quiz/test scheduled for the day of the event must be made up after school the next school day, unless the teacher has previously approved other arrangements.

The student must present a written note to their teacher to be given to the office at the beginning of the day. Early dismissals should occur only for emergencies. Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments after school hours. When picking up a student, parents are asked to come to the office to sign out the child.

All students are to be picked up only by their parent or guardian. All other arrangements must be made prior to pick-up time with written notification and verbal confirmation.

Students who are participating in any events, practices, etc. are not allowed to bring any other students with them. All elementary and middle school students who are not participating in the event or practice must be in After Care between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., unless accompanied by an adult. No student will be released during the school day to attend a school activity without adult supervision.

Excessive absence in a given semester and/or year is considered a serious matter. Students deemed to be excessively absent from school may, at the discretion of the principal, be subject to failure for the semester/year. Excessive absence is usually defined as 6 days per quarter, 12 days per semester not exceeding 24 days per year. If a problem arises in this area, such as 6 days absent per quarter, a conference with the principal, parent/guardian, and student will be required. A determination will be made whether dismissal is warranted due to lack of attendance.

Students absent are to obtain homework assignments by contacting another student or calling the office. Teachers in Pre-K through Grade 4 will be given these messages through the school office. Parents of students in the 5^th Grade have the option to come to the school at the end of the day and speak with the teacher(s) directly or contact another student.

As a general rule, a student returning after a verifiable medical absence will be allowed up to 3 days (at the teacher's discretion) for each day of absence to submit any missed work. A doctor's note must be presented in order for an absence of 5 consecutive days to be considered verifiable.

Students absent on a test or quiz day must report to the teacher on the day of return, to schedule a time after school to make up the missed test or quiz within five school days. Exceptions may be made for students absent five or more consecutive days due to a prolonged illness, surgery, or hospital stay. A doctor's note is required for any student absent for more than five consecutive days. Students absent on a test or quiz day due to extra curricular activities must take the test or quiz the following day. All absences are considered to be unexcused.

A student who has been absent for 15 consecutive days of school without legitimate written explanation, will be considered dropped from enrollment. A letter will go home to the parent/guardian to this effect. Before this occurs, the parent/guardian will be notified and a meeting will be held to try to resolve the attendance problem. If the problem persists, the student will be considered dropped from enrollment or asked to leave the school due to excessive absenteeism. Financial obligations will be addressed for anyone in this situation. The administration reserves the right to make the final decision in all matters. Please note that according to state regulations, we must keep a student's home school district notified of the student's status.

All students arriving after 7:50AM are considered tardy. Parents are asked to drop off their children in the church building where a staff member will be available from 7:50 – 8:05 AM to sign in tardy students. If you bring your child to school after 8:05 AM, they will need to be signed in at the front building office or they will be marked absent.

All students arriving after the 7:50 AM bell need to report to the office for a pass before going to homeroom and/or class. Being consistently tardy disrupts class procedure, and is a hindrance to academic progress.

The office requires at least two weeks notification, in writing, of any vacation scheduled outside of the usual school vacation weeks. A student must get all assignments from teachers prior to the vacation and must have all work done upon return to school.

When a student in school becomes ill, he or she should report immediately to the office who will then contact the parent or guardian.

A quarterly and end of year Perfect Attendance certificate will be given to a student who has had no tardies or absences.

The After-Care Program is a supervised program for N.E.C.A. students only, available to parents for a reasonable fee, held in classroom number 3 on the lower level of the school building. When the group is not in the classroom, a sign will be posted on the door to indicate whether the group is in the recreation area or in another room. Both children and teens will have the opportunity to do homework as well as artistic and/or recreational activities when scheduled. All school rules apply during the After-Care Program. Children who are enrolled in the program on a regular basis may bring a change of clothes and will be allowed to change to casual clothes after school is over. It is recommended that you provide your child with extra snacks and drinks if they are going to After-Care.

The After-Care Program is held on days when school is in session, Monday through Friday from 3:00-6:00 PM. The After-Care Program will be offered on half days from 12:00-6:00 PM.

No students are allowed to be in the buildings or on the grounds unsupervised. If a parent is in the building after 3:00 PM for an appointment or other activity, the child(ren) must be either with the parent or in After-Care. Any student, including athletes, will be placed in After-Care if found wandering the building or grounds. (See section on Athletic Policy for details on student attendance at after-school games.) Coaches are responsible to stay with students until the parent arrives.

In the case of an extreme emergency and a parent is unable to be at After-Care by 6:00 p.m., please call the After-Care program at 508-617-0089.

The cost for After-Care is $5.00 per hour per child for any part of the 1^st hour, plus $5.00 for any part of an hour through 6:00. All children must be picked up from the After-Care Program by 6:00 PM. A late fee of $10.00 per 15 minutes late will be assessed. Payment is to be made in cash or by check payable to New England Christian Academy and is due the day of service. Advance payment by check is optional; credit will be given each day until the amount of the check is exhausted.

All students are to be picked up only by their parent or guardian. All other arrangements must be made prior to pick-up time with written notification and verbal confirmation.

TRAFFIC PATTERN

Drivers are requested to follow drop-off and pick-up procedures as shown on the traffic map in the Appendix.

New England Christian Academy is not responsible for student drivers riding with another student in their vehicle on or off school property. This is the sole responsibility of the parent or guardian.

SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS

On several occasions throughout the school year, it may be necessary for N.E.C.A. to cancel school or open late due to inclement weather conditions.

The radio stations to listen to are: 630 AM (WPRO); 92 FM (WPRO); and Television Channels: 10 and 12.

New England Christian Academy will NOT dismiss students early when there is inclement weather. Parents may at their discretion, sign their child(ren) out if they feel the weather warrants this. Please listen to the media contacts listed above for any N.E.C.A. cancellations.

TELEPHONE USE

Parents are asked to refrain from calling their child at school unless it is an absolute emergency, or concerns a car pool situation. Cell phones are not allowed to be used in any way on the school property during school hours. All cell phones must be shut off and kept in the school locker during school hours. Cell phone usage of any kind, will receive one demerit and the phone will be confiscated until a parent can pick it up at the school office. You may use your cell phone before and after school only.

VISITORS/PARENTS/BUILDING SECURITY

For the safety of our students, the following security procedures have been established:

· Students are discouraged from bringing friends, houseguests, etc. to school during the regular school day.

· Any request to do so must be in writing from the parent at least two days in advance of the visit and approved by the administration prior to the visit.

· Parents are welcome to attend chapel (however, are asked to adhere to the visitor policies below).

· All visitors/parents must report to the school office before going to a classroom or speaking with a child or teacher. If a parent wants to meet briefly after school with a teacher, please inquire with the dismissal teacher after school hours. If the teacher is unable to meet on that day, please call the school office to schedule an appointment.

· Former students that may be picking up a sibling are required to either remain in their car or wait in the foyer. They are not allowed to walk around the school visiting classrooms or other students.

STUDENT RECORDS

Please keep the office informed of any change of address, telephone numbers, places of employment of both the mother and the father, and current name, number, and address of persons to be called in case of an emergency. Appropriate custody documentation and information is required in cases of divorce. It is also necessary at the beginning of the school year to inform the school of the person(s) responsible for picking up your child at the end of the school day. . Alternative after-school transportation for any given day should be cleared through the office.

The school will keep all student records on file and up-to-date, including transcripts, standardized test scores, attendance records, and health records. If a parent wishes to review or discuss his or her child's record, the parent must contact the principal.

Transfer of records to another school is provided by mail directly to the receiving school only. Records will be transferred after receipt of written authorization by the parent/guardian while attending New England Christian Academy or by a former student after he/she has reached his or her 18th birthday.

HEALTH OFFICE REGULATIONS

If it is necessary for a child to leave the school early for a medical/dental appointment, the school office must be contacted in advance. Children will be released only to those authorized by the parent. Please note that the student retains the responsibility to obtain the required homework.

Upon diagnosis of any of the following diseases/illnesses or being absent from school for five consecutive days, a child must have written consent from either a physician or the Health Department before returning to school:

Immunizations and Dosage Requirements for entrance to school: In accordance with state regulations, no student will be permitted to attend N.E.C.A. until the school has received written documentation of the required immunizations (unless exempt waiver is completed), Health Interval History form and physical exam within 12 months of enrollment. Failure to comply with this policy will cause a child to be excluded from school until the necessary immunization(s) and/or documentation are provided.

Pre-K		Kindergarten
HEP B	(3 DOSES)	HEP B	(3 DOSES)
DPT	(4 DOSES)	DTP	(5 DOSES)
POLIO	(3 DOSES)	POLIO	(4 DOSES)
MMR	(1 DOSE)	MMR	(2 DOSES)
VARICELLA	(1 DOSE)*	VARICELLA	(1 DOSE)*

*One dose of varicella vaccine or physician-certified reliable history of chicken pox disease will be required for all susceptible students entering kindergarten and seventh grade and upon enrollment.

NO PRESCRIPTION OR OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS WILL BE GIVEN AT SCHOOL. The school will no longer provide any over the counter medications. Students in grades 6 through 12 will be allowed to carry their own medications in the original container and take medications on their own as needed. They will not be allowed to give any medications to another student. If they are caught handing out medications there will be a 1-day suspension and they will lose the ability to carry their own medications.

Children in grades Pre-K – 5^th will give their teacher their inhalers and they will be locked up in their own classroom.

Epi-pens- No teacher that has not been trained in the administrations on an epi-pen will be authorized to give it. No epi-pen will be given to a child who has not provided their own.

Please make every attempt to schedule prescription medications around school hours. When a child needs to take a prescription medication during school hours, and is not able to self-administer, a parent must come in and administer the prescription medication to the child. Students in grades Pre-K through 5^th are not allowed to self administer any medication at any time. If any prescription medication needs to given, it must be by a parent or guardian only. There should also be a list of side effects that the teacher must be made aware of by the parent in case the child has an adverse reaction. This can be completed on our Health Interval History which will be sent home on the first day of school. Please note that changes can be made to the form at any time. For students in grades Pre-K through 5^th, no prescription medications can be brought or carried in school by a student (this excludes inhalers).

For new enrollments, physicals are required no less than 12 months prior to admission to NECA. Physicals will then only be required in K, 3^rd, 6^th and 9^th grades. All student athletes m

NEW ENGLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

SCHOOL HISTORY AND PURPOSE

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Church and School Philosophy