Student Handbook
Dear Student,
We, the staff and teachers at Ebenezer Academy are happy that you and your parents have chosen us to help you reach your potential. We believe that you are here because God, Himself, has ordained that you and we should be here at this time, in this place, for this purpose. We welcome you with open arms and hearts. It is our desire that you would reach your full potential, and we will be challenging you to reach a little higher and stretch a little wider as you grow into the person God has created you to be. One of the first, problably the most important, and sometimes the most difficult of lessons that you will be expected to master, is that of willing obedience. We define obedience as:
- Doing exactly as you are told,
- Doing it immediately, and
- Doing it with a cheerful heart.
It is our goal and sincere desire for you to lear the joy of willing obedience. Here are some of the rules we expect you to obey.
Attendance: We expect you to be in school every day. We begin each day at 8:00AM sharp at the Flagpole. You will be marked tardy if you miss the flag ceremony.
If you are going to be late or absent for any reason, please call Mr. or Mrs. Contois before 8:00AM. If you do not already have them, the numbers will be given to you. Failure to notify the school of these things will result in demerits.
School ends at 3:00PM at the Flagpole. You will be dismissed after the flag is lowered, folded, and we have sung. Please do not go to your car until you are dismissed. If you are released from class early, you may wait on the front steps of the church for everyone else to arrive at the flagpole. Younger students will be accompanied to their car by a teacher or parent.
If you miss more than 3 days in one quarter for any reason, you will be expected to make that time up at a time convenient to your teacher. It may be done on a Saturday, in 3 after school days, or in the summer. Since the teacher is having to put in extra time from her/his schedule, there will be a $25.00 charge for each day of school made up.
After School Care: We provide after school care for students who are not picked up by 3:15PM. There will be one teacher responsible for this service each day, and for those students with whom prior arrangements are made the charge will be dempendent upon how many students there are. The teacher will expect a reasonable compensation, and that will be divided among the students staying. For students who are late leaving, with no prior arrangement, the charge will be $2.50 for each 15 minute period (or any portion thereof).
Sickness: If you are really sick, please stay home and get well. When you come back to school, please bring a note from your parent telling us why you were absent. If you are out three or more days due to illness, you will have to have a note from your doctor. Please do not stay home for trivial reasons. it is difficult for you to make up assignments, it is difficult for your teacher to have to give extra time to teach you missed lessons, and it is difficult for your classmates to have to wait for you to catch up. Remember, you must call each and every day that you are going to be absent. The call is for courtesy, the note is for your records.
Appointments: Please try to make doctor or dentist appointments after school hours, or as late as possible.
Homework: We expect that you will have your completed homework assignments with you and ready to turn in at the begining of each class. Because our assignments build one upon another, we consider it a serious problem when a student does not do the necessary work. If you have not done your work, you will receive an "Incomplete Homework Assignment" form which you will have to take home to your parents. Your parents must sign the form, and you must bring it back the next day, with the completed assignment attached. If you do not bring the form back, or do not complete the assignment, you will be referred to the principal for discipline. If you are having difficulty with an assignment, see the teacher before class and explain the problem. Be ready to ask specific questions to receive help. In this event, you and your teacher will decide what to de about the unfinished work.
BE READY FOR SCHOOL
School is your job. When you have a job, you are expected to be on time and ready to work. You can only do this if you take care of yourself. We ask that you go to bed early enough each school night so that you will be able to stay awake during school hours. We ask that you eat a good breakfast, and bring a nutritious lunch with you. Please do not bring candy or sugary treats to school. These basic health measures will help you to focus your attention and get the most out of your classes.
PARTIES
We like parties as well as anyone else, however lots of sugar is very disruptive in a classroom. Therefore, on your birthday, if your parents would like to bring a treat for you to share with your classmates, we ask that that be done at 2:30PM. Be sure to let the teacher know ahead of time so she/he can be prepared. Near the end of the year, we will have one big party for those whose birthdays fall during the summer.
DRESS CODE
Our dress code is absolute.
Our uniform is khaki pants with no more than two front pockets and two back pockets. Knee length khaki shorts are acceptable during warm weather. Pants must be well fitted (not tight on girls, not loose or baggy on boys) and worn properly at the waist. If a boy has trouble wearing pants around his waist, suspenders are required. Pants with belt loops must be accompanied by a belt. Please note: Cargo pants, hip-hop pants, zippered pants, or blue jeans are not allowed.
Academy Shirts are navy blue golf or tee shirts with the Academy Logo embroidered on them. Two shirts are included with the tuition for new students. Others are available to purchase. We have available golf shirts, tee shirts, long-sleeve tee shirts, sweat shirts, and zippered sweat shirts. In school , a student must always have a shirt with the logo showing (no plain sweaters or sweat shirts, no jackets, ect). Shirts must be tucked in .
Predominantly white sneakers complete the uniform. We encourage you to find sneakers that are reasonably priced, and not get into the competition of having the most expensive shoes.
Young ladies may wear one pair of earrings, one appropriate bracelet, and one appropriate necklace. Boys may wear one appropriate bracelet. No other jewelry is allowed.
If you wear a hat to school, you will be required to take it off when entering a building.
Students arriving out of uniform will receive demerits.
SAFETY
There are several things to considor in the area of safety. We have students from ages 4 to 18. We require the older students to be aware of the presence of the younger children, to be careful around them, to know that the younger children will copy your behavior, and so we expect you to set a good example for them. We also ask you to be a big brother or sister to these youngsters. If you see a child doing something he/she is not supposed to be doing, or is dangerous, please speak to him/her or a teacher. Our school is still small enough for us to be a family, and as such, we all take responsibillity for each other.
RIDES HOME FROM SCHOOL - You will be allowed to leave only with drivers who have been pre-approved by your parents and we have a copy of their license. Any special arrangements will have to be made by your parents and your teacher. You should be dropped of and picked up at the end of the building by the playground. There will always be a teacher there to greet you. If there is no one there, it is because the teacher has stepped inside for some purpose. Please do not get out of your car until the teacher returns. Students driving their own cars are not allowed to leave the school grounds without specific permission from their parents.
FIRE DRILLS - Fire exit routes are posted in each classroom area. Be sure to look it over and know where you will have to go during a fire drill. When exiting the building during a drill, you should not be talking. You and your classmates may need to hear some life or death instructions. You should also not run during any kind of a drill. An orderly exit is the safest way to leave a building. If you are separated from your class during a drill, you are to go first to the flag pole, and then to the front porch of the Christian Life Center (CLC).
TORNADO DRILLS - When we recieve word of a tornado watch, which means that conditions are right for a tornado, we will stay in our classroom and review the procedure for a warning. We will then go back to our class work. If we are advised of a Tornado warning, which means a tornado has been spotted in the area, or if any teacher feels the conditions are such that we should proceed to a warning, we will go to Mrs. Gaddy's classroom and stay there until the all clear is given. Listen to your teacher and obey everything she/he says. If you are separated from your class at the time of a Tornado drill, go directly to Mrs. Gaddy's classroom.
A drill is a practice. We don't think any of these things will happen, but if they do, we will know what to do.
BEHAVIOR CODE: We expect our students to stand out for their good behavior and manners.
- We strive to honor and glorify our Lord, Jesus Christ in all that we do.
- We answer teachers and elders with respect, "Yes Ma'am, Yes Sir" is required.
- We do not lie - ever. Lying is one of the things hated by the Lord (See Proverbs 6:16-19). Lying can be telling an untruth, or not telling the whole truth. Lying is also making excuses for things done or left undone. We strive for honesty in all our ways.
- We do not cheat - ever. Cheating is lying and stealing put together. Cheating is trying to make someone believe we know something that we do not know. We do our own work, and learn our own lessons. Cheating is also copying something from the internet and calling it our own work. Don't do it!
- We do not steal -- ever. Stealing is taking someone's property. If we find something that does not belong to us, we find out to whom it belongs, and return it to that person.
- We are responsible to keep our school clean and neat. Each person has a chore at the end of the day and each person is held responsible for doing that chore well. Failure to do chores will result in demerits as well as having to do the chore in the morning.
- We do not take the name of the Lord in vain nor use vulgar or street language.
- We do not chew gum in school.
- When we are left in a classroom while the teacher steps out, we behave as if she/he was still there.
- We do not bring things to school that have been banned. The list of such things includes drugs or drug paraphernailia, any tobacco products, weapons, cell phones, games, electronic gizmos, ect. The Administrator reserves the right to search decks, backpacks, lunchesboxes, or ask a student to empty pockets at any time, and will exercise that right on a random but regular basis, with or without provocation.
- Now Pay Attention - This Is Important: If you see someone breaking one of these rules, you are required to tell a teacher. We do not tolerate behavior which reflects negativity on parents, teacher, school, church, community, or God. If you know something negative is going on, and you do not tell, you are as guilty of the act as the person actually doing it, and can recieve the same discipline.
DEMERITS - Be sure to check the demerits page to see what demerits you will be earning. You do not want demerits, and we do not want to give them out, so be sure you know the rules.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
The following items are a distraction in class, and are not allowed in school: Radios, CD players, headphones, cell phones, electronic games, ect.
RESTROOM
Normally you should go to the rest room during breaks and at lunch time. People coming and going during class is disruptive, so try to time your visits to the restroom during the allotted times. If it is necessary for you to go during class, your teacher will tell you what he/she wants from you. Only one person may leave the classroom at a time. Come back as quickly as possible. Grades K4 - 3 will use the rest rooms in the kindergarten area. Grades 4 and above will use the rest rooms up stairs. Remember, you will be responsible for cleaning the bathrooms, so be careful during the day. Clean up after yourself, put paper towels in the waste basket, wipe up any splashes at the sink, ect.
SCHOOL CLOSING
In the event of inclement weather, the decision as to whether to have school or not will be made by the principal. The decision will be posted on WYFF(Channel 4).
FINAL THOUGHTS
We have tried to answer as many of your questions as we can think of. You may have more, and if you do, please ask and we will give you and answer. We are all exited about another school year. It is said of our Lord, Jesus Christ, "He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52) That is our prayer for you this year, and we are looking forward to being witnesses for your growth.
Rev. Contois
Mrs. Contois
Dear Parent,
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in the education of your child. We consider this to be one of the highest callings to which we can be called. You as parents are responsible for and answerable to God for the education of your child. You have bestowed on us an awesome responsibility.
In order for us to do the job you have asked us to do, we need to be in agreement. The student handbook contains the rules and regulations we expect the students to obey. Please read it with your student and make sure you both understand it. Infraction to these rules will earn the student demerits. Probably the most important thing a student can learn is willing obedience. Our goal is to have students who will submit to the authorities that the Lord has placed over them, not only here and now, but for a lifetime. Life is more rewarding when we know who our legitimate authorities are, and submit willingly to them. Now here is an important point:
A disobedient child is an unteachable child.
Having said all that, you need to take seriously the partnership agreement that you will be asked to sign.
- You need to know the rules of the school and encourage your student to follow those rules.
- You need to be sure that when your student arrives at school, he is dressed according to the uniform code.
- You need to be sure that your student is not bringing the items that are not allowed at school (radios, CD players, headphones, cell phones, games, etc.)
- You need to be sure that your student does his homework. If he receives a "Failure to Complete Assignment" form, you need to sign it, and return it with the completed assignment.
- You need to make sure your student is at school on time. If he is to be late or absent, please call his teacher before 8:00AM. Failure to call in these instances will result in demerits. Some students have received demerits for this, and parents have felt it was unfair to the child, because it is really teh job of the parent to call. This may be true, bue we cannot give demerits to the parent, so be sure to call! Don't let your child suffer for your irresponsibility.
- If you have a problem with the school, the teacher, the principal, the assignments, or anything else, please talk to us about it. Remember, you are the person responsible to God for the education of your child, and we do not want to usurp that authority.
- Remember, your student's homework is his/her homework, not yours. If you find your child truly has too much homework, or it is too difficult for him, please let the teacher know. Do not do the work for your child.
- School is over at 3:00PM. Your student needs to be picked up by 3:15. If you are late in picking up your student, he/she will stay in his/her classroom. if you have made prior arrangements for after school care, you will be informed of the charge basedc on the number of students who are staying. If you are later than 3:15, and have not made prior arrangements, there will be a late stay charge of $2.50 for each quarter hour or any portion of a quarter hour that you are late.
Discipline
Discipline is an important part of the life of a Christian, and imposed discipline helps and individual achieve self-discipline. Discipline is the responsibility of the parents and teachers together. In school, discipline can mean many different things. Here, discipline of students alwyas includes prayer. The student may be asked to do some extra academic work, some physical work around the school, attend detention, write sentences, miss recess, earn demerits, paddling or expusion. Most minor discipline problems which occur in the classroom are handled by teh teacher. More serious problems are referred to the principle. Here are two areas of discipline about which something more needs to be said.
Attendance:
A child's education is adversely affected by absence from school. One studen'ts absence adversely affects the class as well. The teacher may feel a need to wait until all students are present before teaching a specific lesson, or if the lesson is taught, it may have to be repeated for the student who has been absent. There are many students who simply miss the lessons of the day, and find themselves at a disadvantage later in the year or in their educational career because they have missed important steps in teh progress of learning. For these reasons, we expect students to be present every day, and students who achieve perfect attendance are recognized and rewarded during our graduation exercises. Any student who has mere than 3 (three) days absent in any one quarter will be required to make up that time at the teacher's convenience. Since this is an imposition on the teacher's time, and extra charge of $25.00 (twenty-five dollars) will be applied. A student who misses 10 days in the year, and does not make up that time, will not be promoted to the next grade without the approveal of the administrator. A student who misses 20 days, and does not make up that time, willneed to convince the administrator that there is a reason for their continued attendance at the Academy.
Attitude: A student who contimually shows and attitude of disrespect to authority will not be allowed to stay at the academy. We will do all we can to convince the student to change his/her attitude before making a decision to dismiss.
Appointment: Please try to make doctor or dentist appontments after school hours, or as late as possible.
We are looking forward to a wonderful school year with your student and with you.
By God's Grace, andfor His Glory,
Rev. Richard F. Contois