Penobscot Christian School 1423 Ohio Street Bangor, Maine

Transcription

1 Penobscot Christian School 1423 Ohio Street Bangor, Maine PCS is a parent-sponsored school whose mission is to assist parents in fulfilling their responsibility to provide a Biblically based, Christ-centered educational program characterized by academic excellence. SCHOOL HANDBOOK

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Foundation and Philosophy pages 3-4 A. Who We Are page 3 B. What We Believe page 3 C. What We Do page 5 II. Organization and Faculty pages 5-6 A. Organization page 5 B. Faculty page 6 C. Parent-Teacher Fellowship page 6 III. Student Admission page 6 A. Application Process page 6 B. Acceptance page 6 IV. Tuition and Fees page 7 A. Tuition page 7 B. Fees page 7 C. Refunds page 7 V. Academic Matters pages 7-9 A. Chapel Services page 7 B. Curriculum page 8 C. Grading System page 8 D. Academic Probation page 9 VI. Practical Matters pages 9-12 A. Transportation page 9 B. School Supplies page 9 C. Lunches page 9 D. School Hours page 9 E. Lost and Found page 10 F. Medications page 10 G. Absences page H. Early Dismissal page 11 I. Tardiness page 11 J. Snow and Ice page 12 K. Classroom Visitation page 12 L. Holiday Observances page 12 M. Office Phone Use page 12 VII. Attitudes and Behavior pages A. General Policies page 13 B. Conflict Resolution page 13 C. Dress Codes page 13 D. Philosophy and Principles of Discipline page E. General School Rules page 14 F. Consequences of Rule Infractions page G. Notes page 16 2

3 I. FOUNDATION AND PHILOSOPHY A. WHO WE ARE Penobscot Christian School was founded in 1980 by a group of parents who sought to establish a school that would reflect the same Biblical values, truth, and perspectives that were cherished and taught in their homes. The foundational premise on which the school has been built is the Bible s teaching that man, made in the image of God, was commissioned to subdue the earth and to have dominion over the rest of creation in a way that is in subjection to and for the glory of the Almighty Creator. The primary responsibility to train children to carry out this commission, as well as to know and to serve God, rests with their parents. Since the accomplishment of this task is awesome and complex, parents look to the church and the school for reinforcement and assistance. When the parents, church, and school are in agreement in world and life view, both in philosophy and practice, then a healthy framework exists for the consistent and meaningful education of the child. Penobscot Christian School and its staff of Christian teachers strive to provide an educational environment fully illuminated by the light of God s Word and reflective of the focus found in the home of families who love the Lord. B. WHAT WE BELIEVE 1. Man s chief purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Ecclesiastes 12:13b fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Deuteronomy 6:2,5 so that you.. may fear the Lord your God by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 10:12,13 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 2. The only infallible authority of faith and life is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God, the Bible. II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, and correcting in righteousness. II Peter 1:20, 21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 3. There is one God existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I Peter 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood. 3

4 II Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 4. The universe, including man, is the creation of God and is preserved and governed by His providence. Colossians 1:16, 17 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 5. Man was created good, but by sinning against God, fell into misery, condemnation, and death. Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman he said, I will greatly increase your pains To Adam he said, cursed is the ground because of you. Isaiah 53: 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death 6. In His sovereign grace and mercy, God provided redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, lived a life of perfect righteousness and died on the cross that believers might be delivered from judgment, restored to fellowship with God, and called to lives of obedient service. Romans 3:21-24 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. I Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. John 14:15 If you love me you will obey what I command. 7. God s plan for this world, as revealed in the Bible, includes the personal return of Jesus Christ, the final judgment of the just and the unjust, the resurrection of the just to eternal life, the resurrection of the unjust to everlasting death. Acts 1:11 This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. 4

5 Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne The dead were judged If anyone s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. I Thessalonians 4:14-18 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him C. WHAT WE DO The desire at PCS is, with the support and assistance of the home, to provide an environment conducive to the development of the students in the interdependent areas of the knowledge of God and the knowledge of His creation. Such training can most effectively be carried on in a school where every area of knowledge is seen in its relation to God. 1. God has revealed himself in two ways in a special way through his Holy Scriptures, the Bible and in a general way through his creation and providence. a. God sent his only begotten Son into the world to be the Savior of his people through Jesus shed blood on the cross of Calvary. He has sent his Spirit to live with and in his people to apply to their hearts the benefits of Christ s redemption and to illuminate their minds by the application of the Word. b. By His word, God made the heavens and the earth and all that they contain. (We recognize that the Bible, as well as creation, must be interpreted, and that man s interpretation of the Bible, as well as of creation, may be subject to error.) 2. PCS is dedicated to the proposition that since all truth is God s truth, every subject in every field of study must be taught from a God-centered, Biblical perspective. God alone, not man, is the center of the universe. a. The Language Arts are seen as God s way for us to know, discern, and effectively communicate truth. b. The Fine Arts are viewed as the efforts of man to reflect the creativity invested in him by the original Creator. c. History is understood as the temporal unfolding of God s eternal purpose. d. Science is recognized as the investigation of God s creation. e. Mathematics is acknowledged as a revelation of the orderliness and consistency of God. f. Physical Education and Health are seen as the care and development of our physical strength for the service, enjoyment, and glory of God. g. Foreign Languages and Technologies are regarded as aptitudes that can enhance other areas of education, and therefore, service to God. II. ORGANIZATION AND FACULTY A. ORGANIZATION The Penobscot Christian School Association is composed of Christian parents and others who believe in and adhere to the Statement of Faith. Individuals may become members of the PCS Association by filling out the application for membership and paying the $5.00 per person dues yearly. The Association elects the Board of Directors, which hires the Headmaster and the faculty, sets policies for the efficient operation of the school, and appoints committees that consist of Board members and Association members. 5

6 B. FACULTY The faculty is the key to sound education. PCS employs teachers who are qualified to teach by virtue of their Christian character, love for children, educational achievement, professional experience, and life experience. In most cases, our teachers have also been certified to teach by the Maine State Board of Education. On occasion, PCS will employ qualified teachers who have not been certified by the State but have obtained Educational Technician status with the Board of Education. The Board of Penobscot Christian School considers membership in a local congregation of high importance for faculty members as one of the first expressions of Christian obedience and as a point of contact for matters of counsel and discipline. C. PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP The Parent-Teacher Fellowship (PTF) provides an excellent opportunity for parents and teachers to blend their efforts for the children s welfare. Meetings are scheduled periodically throughout the year to provide informative programs as well as Christian fellowship. The PTF also sponsors several fundraising activities during the school year to help the school. Parents are called upon to work as teacher aides in the classrooms, help on various committees, assist in fundraising events, and so forth. Volunteerism is both necessary and appreciated in the life of the school. III. STUDENT ADMISSION Application for admission consists of these steps: 1. Application Process a. Completing an application form b. Conferencing with the headmaster c. Screening for academic placement d. Returning the Pastoral Reference form completed by the family Pastor. 2. Upon Acceptance a. Paying the non-refundable registration fee. b. Submitting a birth certificate and immunization records for all pupils entering kindergarten. (All pupils must have a copy of their birth certificate and immunization records on file with the school.) c. Requesting that all academic and medical records from previous school be forwarded to PCS. Parents wishing to enroll their children in the school or to obtain additional information should contact the school office ( ) or visit It is understood that parents applying for their children to enter PCS must consent to having their children taught on the basis of the school s Statement of Faith. Decisions regarding grade placement will be made by the school. Incomplete applications may be returned so that needed information can be added. All applications are reviewed by the headmaster. At the headmaster s request, an application is also reviewed by the Board. Successful applicants may be accepted for a 30-day probationary period during which it is determined whether PCS is the appropriate school for the student. In addition, periodic evaluations may be made at any time to determine if PCS continues to be the appropriate school for the student. 6

7 IV. TUITION AND FEES A. TUITION Penobscot Christian School operates solely on the tuition and gifts received each month (tuition is spent on payroll expenses, while gifts are used for operating expenses unless otherwise specified). There is no sponsoring institution or organization underwriting the school s expenses. Therefore it is imperative for every parent to accept sincerely the responsibility of making all tuition payments on time. All tuition payments are based on a 12- month schedule beginning with July. PCS utilizes FACTS Tuition Management Service for tuition payments. Tuition is paid on the 20 th of the month before the tuition is due (such as June 20 th for July tuition), and payments are made directly to FACTS. The headmaster or treasurer must approve any exceptions to this policy. The schedule of tuition rates for the current year is available in the school office and on the school website, B. FEES C. REFUNDS 1. There is a nonrefundable registration fee due upon acceptance. 2. The book and supply fee, which is also nonrefundable, is due by July 31 st (or upon acceptance for admission if that occurs after July 31 st ). 3. Special clubs, organizations, and sport teams may also have their own separate fees. Upon acceptance of each student, a classroom position is reserved, and books and supplies are purchased. Therefore, the registration fee and book & supply fee, as stated in Section B above, will not be refunded. In the event of a student withdrawal before the end of the school year, tuition refunds will be made on a prorated basis. Withdrawal from school must be made through the school office. Tuition payments must continue until the withdrawal is completed. The amount owed to the school will be determined from July 1 st through the date of withdrawal. If there has been an overpayment, the excess will be refunded. V. ACADEMIC MATTERS A. CHAPEL SERVICES Chapel is conducted every Wednesday. Parents are welcome to attend. B. CURRICULUM The Maine Department of Education approves the curriculum of PCS. Both Christian and secular textbooks and/or materials are used in the classrooms. Courses include Bible, Social Studies, English, Written and Oral Communication, Literature, Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, Art, Music, and when possible, Computer Science and Foreign Language. Every effort is made to correlate the curriculum with those of local school systems so that students entering or leaving PCS will not be at an academic disadvantage. C. GRADING SYSTEM 7

8 The grading system shown below is explained on the report card issued four times a year. Its purpose is to give parents and students an indication of progress and difficulties the student may be experiencing. Each student s ability, attitude, and application are considered in the grading. Kindergarten and Grades 1 & 2 E = Excellent S= Satisfactory N= Needs Improvement Grades 3 & Up A= (93-100) B= (85-92) C= (77-84) D= (70-76) F= (Below 70) Progress reports are sent home at the halfway point in each quarter. Parent conferences are held shortly after the end of the first quarter for teachers and parents to discuss progress of individual students. Both parents and teachers are encouraged to ask for additional conferences whenever it seems desirable. Parents are asked to check with the classroom teacher for an appropriate time to discuss matters of concern. Parents who have questions or concerns, relating to their child or the classroom must first bring these concerns to the attention of the classroom teacher. As brothers and sisters in Christ, both parents and teachers have an obligation to one another to address concerns quickly and directly. Should resolution prove to be impossible, parents and teachers should seek the counsel of the headmaster. If resolution cannot be attained with the help of the headmaster, the executive officers of the Board of Directors (the president and vice-president) and by their counsel, the full Board will be involved. (For more on conflict resolution, see page 12.) D. ACADEMIC PROBATION Academic probation is invoked when a student has a serious academic problem. It is intended to give notice to the parent and student so a mutual effort on the part of both school and home may be made to correct the academic deficiency. Hopefully, the deficiency will be improved to a satisfactory or passing level. If not, the headmaster will decide if the student will be allowed to continue at PCS. Students on academic probation will not be allowed to participate in athletic practices or competitions. Academic probation will be invoked in the following manner: 1. A student who received one or more F s at the conclusion of a grading period will be placed on academic probation for one grading period. 2. A letter of notification will be sent to the parents. 3. A conference will be held with the parents, the student, the teacher(s), and the headmaster. 4. After being placed on probation, a student who receives no F s the next grading period will be removed from probation. 5. If a student receives an F in the same subject for the following grading period, there will be a second conference with parents, teacher(s), and headmaster. The headmaster and teacher(s) will then decide on an appropriate course of action. 8

9 Consequences of being placed on academic probation would include exclusion from participation in extracurricular activities, with the possibility of (but not limited to) the following: Tutoring at the parents expense. Mandatory study period in lieu of electives. Mandatory study skills course. Dismissal from school. 6. Following removal or withdrawal from the school for academic reasons, a student may apply to be re-enrolled on academic probation if the following conditions are fulfilled: a. The student has attended another school or been home schooled for one full semester. b. The student has completed a full academic load for the semester. The student received no grade lower than C in any subject. (In the case of home schooling, evidence must be shown of satisfactory progress.) VI. PRACTICAL MATTERS A.TRANSPORTATION PCS does not provide transportation to and from school For the safety of the student, the school must be notified by a child s parents if changes to the regular transportation plans occur, especially for end of the day pick up. Students may only leave school with individuals named on the pick-up list. For field trips, parents must provide insurance information and a copy of their driver s license at the front desk before transporting children other than their own. All students 7 years old and younger must have a booster seat as required by law. B. SCHOOL SUPPLIES Prior to the start of the school year, teachers provide families with a list of school supplies each pupil will need. Parents are encouraged to check with their children periodically throughout the year to see that they have the necessary materials. C. LUNCHES Parents may order meals and/or milk through the PTF Monday-Friday or students may bring a lunch from home. D. SCHOOL HOURS School begins at 8:10 each morning. Students must arrive prior to 8:10 so that they will not be late to class, which is disruptive to teachers and classmates. Pick-up time for students in half-day kindergarten or PreK is 11:30 a.m. Students should arrive at school no earlier than 7:45 a.m. (unless prior arrangements are made with the headmaster). Beginning at 7:45, students are monitored in the gym by parent volunteers and/or teachers, until the start of the school day. It is expected that students will be picked up promptly at the close of the school session (11:30 a.m. for PreK and K, and 3:00 p.m. for Grades 1 & up). Students that are not picked up by 3:00 p.m. will be checked into Afterschool Care and billed at the regular hourly rate. 9

10 E. LOST AND FOUND Clothing or other items found in the school will be taken to lost and found. Any article marked with a child s name will be returned to him. Unidentified items are kept until the end of the quarter, when they will be turned over to a charitable organization. F. MEDICATIONS The staff at PCS will not be directly involved in the administration of medication. If a student requires medication during school hours, it is the parents responsibility to come to school to give the medication or to instruct their child properly on the drug. All medications sent in by parents must be: 1. Accompanied by a signed note and clearly labeled with the full name of the child and the name of the drug. 2. Enclosed in a secure container (no baggies or envelopes). 3. Locked in the cabinet provided for medication in the school office. Since it is desirable to minimize the amount of medication being stored at school, parents should make sure medications are taken home when they are no longer needed. Any medications not taken home at the end of the school year will be discarded. Please be sure to list any medications needed on an ongoing basis on the medical information form. G. ABSENCES 1. Definitions a. Excused Absence: Absence from school for which the parents have notified the school by phone or by note the morning of the absence, and after which a note comes to school with the student upon his or her return to school. Extended, frequent, or repeated absences that are health related require a doctor s note. b. Unexcused Absence: Absence from school for which the parents do not notify the school by phone or note the morning of the absence, except in extenuating circumstances (as determined case by case by the Headmaster). c. Planned Absence: Absence from school for any reason that is known well enough in advance (such as family vacations or doctor s appointments) that all teachers that will be affected can be notified in writing by the parents more than a week before the absence so that preparations can be made for the schoolwork that will be missed. d. Unplanned Absence: Absence that results from getting sick or other unexpected events. Regular attendance is expected, except in the case of sickness. Students who miss 36 days or more of school will be considered candidates for retention. Parents are requested to call the school as early as possible the day of the absence to notify the office and the teacher. Because PCS complies with state attendance requirements, parents are requested to send a note when the child returns to school, stating the nature of the illness or cause of absence. In the event of protracted absence, parents are to contact teachers for assignments so as to reduce the burden of make-up work when the child returns to classes. In consideration of the teachers affected, parents are asked to make such requests early enough in the day for teachers to get the appropriate work together by dismissal time. 10

11 2. The school s policy concerning planned absences is as follows: a. The teacher is to be notified in writing at least a week in advance that such an absence is planned and the dates your child will be out of school. Whenever possible, parents should confirm with teachers if tests are already scheduled for the dates of a planned absence. This will enable the teacher to plan assignments for your child accordingly. b. For every day a child misses school, he will be given 1 day to make up the work. For instance, if he misses 5 days of school, he will have 5 days to turn in his make-up work upon his return. Any papers not handed in within this time frame will be counted as zeroes. c. Any tests a child misses must be made up. They will be scheduled by the teacher at the teacher s convenience either during or after school. 3. The school s policy concerning excessive absences is as follows: a. For each day of unexcused absence, students will have 1 day to make up the work missed. After that the work will be given a zero. b. After 10 days of absences, excused or unexcused, a letter will be sent home to parents. c. After 15 days of absences, a meeting will be held between the parents, teacher(s) and the Headmaster. d. After 20 absences, a meeting will be held with members of the Board of Directors, the parents, the teacher(s) and the Headmaster to talk about the situation. H. EARLY DISMISSAL Whenever possible, all appointments should be set for after-school hours. When it is necessary for parents to take a child out of school during the day, a note should be sent as early as possible (up to a week prior) informing the teacher of this dismissal. If the child is to be released to someone other than a parent, the teacher must be informed. All students dismissed early must be signed out at the office by the person picking them up. If that person is someone other than the parent(s), the parent(s) must notify the office who will be picking up the child and at what time. I. TARDINESS Because students are transported by car, the burden of responsibility for students being on time lies with the parents. Students must be in their rooms and ready to begin class at 8:10. Students who arrive late need to obtain a late slip from the office before they may enter the classroom. The Maine Department of Education requires our school to keep accurate attendance records. While tardiness (along with early dismissal) is one element of the records, the state does not differentiate between excused and unexcused tardies. For the official record, tardy is tardy, regardless of the reason. For our purposes, however, in order to encourage prompt attendance and discourage tardiness, the Board of Directors has determined that tardiness will be considered excused for the following reasons (other reasons would be at the discretion of the headmaster): 1. Doctor s appointments (doctor s note required). If the appointment is after 9:00 a.m. the student is expected to attend school until the time to be picked up to go to the appointment. Parents are also expected to notify the teacher in advance if their child is going to be late coming to school due to a scheduled medical appointment. 2. Car trouble 3. Inclement weather 11

12 For all other tardies, when a student reaches three tardies within a quarter, the parents will be notified by the headmaster, and the next tardy will result in a detention (or other, age-appropriate discipline). If the situation does not improve, the Board of Directors will be notified. J. SNOW AND ICE Since the school s first concern is for the welfare of the students, when snow and ice make driving difficult or unsafe, school will be closed for one day at a time. The school voic greeting will be changed first, and then notices will be broadcast by 6:00 a.m. on WHCF-88.5 FM, WABI-TV (Channel 5), WLBZ-TV (Channel 2), and other area radio and television stations. If there is no announcement, but parents feel conditions are too hazardous, they may keep their children home and their absences will be considered excused. However, the school must be contacted as early as possible to notify the office and teacher(s), and a note must be sent the next day, in keeping with the school policy on absences. In the event that conditions become treacherous during the day, parents have the option of picking up their children early. At least one teacher or staff member will remain at school until all the children have left. K. CLASSROOM VISITATION Out of consideration for classroom teachers and students, parents who wish to visit classes are requested to make arrangements with the teachers ahead of time and not to drop in unexpectedly for visits. If you need to drop something off for your students, please leave it at the front desk and the secretary of headmaster will bring it to your student. L. OFFICE PHONE USE Student phone-use for non-emergency reasons is limited to twice a quarter. VII. ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR A. GENERAL POLICIES Penobscot Christian School exists for those parents and students who believe that a complete education includes spiritual growth as well as academic accomplishments. Admission is open to anyone without regard to race, creed, or national origin. Attendance at PCS is a privilege, not a right. Students and their parents must be convinced that they want to attend and participate at PCS and agree to cooperate with school policies and methods. The Headmaster, teachers, staff and Board members must be treated with proper respect as taught in I Thessalonians 5: B. CONFLICT RESOLUTION As Christians we are required by Scripture to avoid gossip and exhaust all biblical means possible to resolve conflicts and restore broken relationships. Ephesians 4:31-32, Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. As in any organization, problems and conflicts will arise from time to time. As a member of the PCS community, it is expected that parents, teachers, administrators, staff and students will strive to resolve matters according to Biblical principles found in Matthew 5 and 18 in a manner that would please and honor God. These principles require that we speak to the person responsible for the problem or offense in a timely manner and in a spirit of love and respect, that we avoid speaking to others not directly involved 12

13 in the matter, and that we listen and provide time for a resolution to occur. If a matter cannot be resolved directly between the parties, a witness should be included in the effort according to Scripture. At PCS, the headmaster or board member could perform this function. If a resolution is still not attained, assistance from the pastors of the parties involved would be requested. Ultimately, if a resolution is not attained, it may result in a separation from the school for some of the parties involved. C. DRESS CODES Because God looks not on the outward appearance but on the heart (I Sam. 16:7), our primary concern is the grooming of the inner person. We are to conduct ourselves worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27), and dress is a part of our conduct. While avoiding a long list of directives, we must recognize that to some extent how a person dresses reflects his or her attitudes toward self, toward school, and toward the work that takes place at the school. Penobscot Christian School has set forth the following dress code requirements: 1. The dress should be neat and modest and not violate Christian standards of decency. 2. Revealing clothing, such as low-cut blouses or shirts, exposed midriffs, tank tops or spaghetti straps, and the like, is discouraged. Parental support is expected. If there is a question whether the code is being followed, the headmaster s decision will be final. D. PHILOSOPHY AND PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLINE It is the goal of both staff and students, as Christians, to honor God and respect all people as His imagebearers. Therefore, the prayerful objective of discipline is to restore the child to a right relationship, not merely to punish. Belittling, embarrassing, or inflicting pain (physical or emotional) is not appropriate. The aim of discipline is the promotion of self-discipline in the students. While this is developing, students need the discipline of parents and teachers. Students are expected to show respect to adults and to respond properly to the discipline of the staff. Discipline and order are necessary to provide safety and to promote a good education. Students gain security in knowing exactly what is expected of them and how the teacher will respond to any given situation. It is important for each child to know and understand the rules, as well as the consequences of breaking the rules. E. GENERAL SCHOOL RULES 1. Students are expected to show respect to all adults and to respond properly to the discipline of the staff. 2. Students should follow all instructions of the teacher. 3. Unless otherwise instructed, students need to remain seated in the classroom. 4. Students must show respect and kindness to one another. Name-calling or insults are not acceptable. Students may not hit, push, kick or in any other way harm another child. 13

14 5. Eating candy and chewing gum are not allowed in the classroom, except on special occasions, such as parties. 6. Defacing art or making fun of another student s artwork is not permitted. 7. Students are expected to walk through the building quietly and to defer to adults in the hallway. 8. Students may not throw snowballs or ice nor use sticks or other objects to endanger the safety of others. 9. Students may not leave their classrooms without asking for and receiving permission to do so. Bathroom breaks and drinks of water should ordinarily be taken during scheduled break times. 10. Students are asked not to bring radio/cassette/cd/mp3 players, video games, etc., to school. Cell phones may be brought to school, but must be kept in the student s backpack, turned off and unused while at school unless a specific circumstance, preapproved by the classroom teacher, merits a waiver. Students caught using a cell phone without permission will have the cell phone confiscated and will lose the privilege of bringing it to school until the end of the current ranking period. F. CONSEQUENCES OF RULE INFRACTIONS 1. A child who breaks a school or classroom rule will be given a warning from the teacher. 2. Continued disobedience will result in discipline determined by the teacher. Examples of appropriate discipline could be a time-out chair, loss of recess, or after school detention. 3. Teachers will communicate with the parents as may be deemed necessary at this point. 4. A child who fails to respond to the teacher s discipline will be sent to the headmaster s office for counseling and discipline. Parents will be notified by phone or in writing. 5. A second trip to the office merits more severe discipline and a second notice to the parents. 6. If serious discipline problems continue at this point, the headmaster may suspend the child for 1-5 days. The Board of Directors will be advised of this action. Parents will confer with the headmaster and teacher. Expectations for the child s return will be agreed upon. A probationary period may be established. 7. The headmaster, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, may expel a child in extreme continuing cases of defiant or rebellious behavior. 8. Use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol will result in automatic suspension, after which a decision will be made concerning the appropriateness of the student s continuing at Penobscot Christian School. 9. Student Suspension Policy: 14

15 a. The purpose of suspension is to impress the student and his/her parents and peers with the seriousness of an offense, and to indicate in a clear way that similar conduct may result in permanent separation from the school. b. A student under suspension may not enter the school buildings or grounds during regular school hours. c. The student may not attend any school function scheduled on the day of suspension. d. All tests missed during suspension will be taken on the first day the student returns to school. Arrangements may have to be made to administer tests after school that day. Students will receive full credit for tests. e. Parents should see that students make up all daily work and homework to the teacher s satisfaction. This work will receive ½ credit. For example, if the student scores an 80% on an assignment, it will be recorded as a 40%. f. Students may be asked to follow up suspension with regular in-school counseling with the administrator or a local pastor. g. A probationary period may be established upon the student s return. During this time, the student s behavior and attitude will be closely monitored. G. NOTES 1. Any activity which jeopardizes the health or safety of others will automatically result in a trip to the headmaster s office and parents will be notified to come and take the student home. A meeting will be scheduled with the headmaster, parents, and student to determine the terms of the student s return to school. A probationary period may be established upon the student s return. During this time, the student s behavior and attitude will be closely monitored. 2. The headmaster may be called in for guidance or counseling at any point that the teacher deems necessary. 3. When a monitor (other than the classroom teacher) is on duty and a child misbehaves, a warning will be given. If the child does not respond, he will be sent to his classroom teacher for discipline. 4. At the beginning of the school year, teachers will establish (with the class, when appropriate) a set of rules for their classroom so that students will know what each teacher s expectations are. Teachers will also go over the school rules periodically during the year, as necessary. 15

16 Penobscot Christian School 1423 Ohio Street Bangor, ME (207) Updated