Credo Academy Investing the resources God has entrusted to us, toward the education of our children, in order that we may pass on a heritage of practical wisdom to future generations. Student Application Instructions (retain for your records) (revised 03-16) Step 1: Read all packet documents, verifying your eligibility. Complete Application Form and Student Medical Questionnaire. Step 2: New Families - must bring the completed application, medical questionnaire, registration and tuition checks to your New Family Interview. Please make registration checks payable to Credo Academy, and tuition checks to each teacher. Applications will not be accepted after the New Family Interview date. Credo Fees are non-refundable after the application has been submitted. Returning Current Families - applications must be received by the Registration Date. Applications received after the designated Registration Date will be charged a late registration fee of $50/student or $100/family in addition to regular fees. Please note: On-time registrations have priority. On August 1 st for the Fall Semester and December 7 th for the Spring Semester, classes which do not have a minimum number of students registered will be canceled, and your choices may no longer be available. Step 3: Schedule a New Family Interview (new students & students who have not attended Credo Academy for six months or more). The student, with at least one parent, must complete an interview designed to explore whether Credo s programs are right for your family. Entrance interviews will be scheduled in late April or early May for Fall Semester and in November for Spring Semester. Please see the Credo Academy website Calendar for specific dates. Credo Eligibility In order to be eligible to apply to participate in Credo programs, you must: 1) Be able to profess a basic adherence to the Christian faith as expressed in our Statement of Faith and Biblical marriage definition 2) Agree to abide by our Code of Conduct 3) Commit to volunteering with Credo Academy, and 4) Agree not to participate in middle school or high school academic programs funded by the public school system while you are involved with Credo Academy. (This excludes reimbursement for college classes.) 1
Credo Statement of Faith Credo has adopted the Apostles Creed as its statement of faith because, as the most ancient creed of Christianity, it can serve to unify us under the Trinity without allowing denominational differences to distract us from the work we can and should share. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost: the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints: the forgiveness of sins: the Resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. *Catholic: universal, world-wide. Not only Roman Catholic. God has His people throughout Christian churches everywhere. 2) Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. 3) Code of Conduct It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself, if his conduct is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11 The Credo Academy Code of Conduct promotes a Christ-like attitude in its learning environment and encourages the development of positive Christian relationships among its students. Therefore, it sets specific guidelines for student behavior. Although parents are primarily responsible for dealing with discipline, if needed, Credo may employ mild forms of reproof, rebuke, and correction. Credo Academy reserves the right to suspend or expel students with serious discipline problems at any time during the year. 1. Students must show respect to adults at all times. A title (Mr., Mrs., etc.) should be used when addressing an adult. 2. Students should treat each other with respect, kindness, and compassion, as God commands in Matthew 7:12, So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you. 3. Students must be prepared for class by being punctual, completing assignments, and bringing necessary supplies. 4. The facility and grounds must be kept clean and orderly, in order to show an attitude of gratefulness and respect. 5. No horseplay, running, or rough play is allowed during or between classes. 2
6. Profanity is not allowed. 7. Public displays of affection such as hand-holding, kissing, activities that excludes others, etc. are not permitted. 8. Students should bring only those items that are necessary for attendance at their classes such as backpacks, notebooks, pencils, etc. Electronic devices may only be used for academic purposes or calling parents at the front desk. Please label all personal items. 9. No tobacco products, illicit drugs, alcohol, weapons, knives, or inappropriate printed material are allowed on site or at a Credo Academy function. 10. Parents must make certain that students arrive on time for class and that they are picked up immediately following class. 11. Dishonesty, including cheating, copying another s work, or deliberate deception, is not permitted. 12. Student s appearance should reinforce and reflect a healthy educational environment and be appropriate for learning. Student dress should hold to high standards of modesty and neatness. Credo Academy reserves the right to send home any student who is deemed to be inappropriately dressed. Any disputes that may arise will be settled using the model of Matthew 18. The parties to the disagreement should endeavor to solve their differences first by themselves in a spirit of humility and cooperation. If an agreement cannot be reached, and the matter needs to be settled onsite and immediately, the parties should seek out a Board Member, who will put in place an immediate solution (possibly temporary). If the matter can wait, the parties should seek out the Teacher Liaison (teachers and curriculum), Business Manager (financial and legal), and/or Registrar (students and records), depending on the type of dispute. These representatives will hear the dispute and endeavor to solve the difficulty. If this fails, all parties to the dispute will submit to the conflict resolution process provided by Peacemakers Ministries and the Institute for Christian Conciliation (ICC) and outlined below. Any costs that may be incurred as a result of this process will be equitably distributed among the parties at the direction of Peacemakers. However, Credo Academy will not be responsible for any of these costs, unless Credo Academy had been the principle initiator of the complaint. All parties, by signing the student applications, renounce recourse to litigation. The intent of this policy is to minimize the number of people involved in any given dispute and to facilitate a timely remedy. *********************************************************************************** Peacemakers Pledge and Commitment to Peacemaking and Reconciliation Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God (Matt. 5:9). Credo Academy is committed to building a culture of peace that reflects God s peace and the power of the gospel of Christ in our lives. As we stand in the light of the cross, we realize that bitterness, unforgiveness and broken relationships are not appropriate for the people whom God has reconciled to himself through the sacrifice of his only Son (John 13:34-35; Eph. 4:29-32; Col. 3:12-14). 3
Therefore, we look to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit for guidance on how we can respond to conflict in a way that will honor God, promote justice, reconcile relationships, and preserve our witness for Christ. As God gives us his wisdom and grace, we are committed to actively teaching and encouraging one another to live out the following principles of peacemaking and reconciliation: Personal Peacemaking There are three biblical ways to resolve conflicts personally and privately, just between you and the other party. Overlook an Offense Many disputes are so insignificant that they should be resolved by quietly overlooking an offense. A man s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense (Prov. 19:11). Overlooking an offense is a form of forgiveness, and involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it, or let it grow into pent-up bitterness or anger. Reconciliation If an offense is too serious to overlook or has damaged our relationship, we need to resolve personal or relational issues through confession, loving correction, and forgiveness. [If] your brother has something against you go and be reconciled (Matt. 5:23-24). Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently (Gal. 6:1; see Matt. 18:15). Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col. 3:13). Negotiation Even if we successfully resolve relational issues, we may still need to work through material issues related to money, property, or other rights. This should be done through a cooperative bargaining process in which you and the other person seek to reach a settlement that satisfies the legitimate needs of each side. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:4). Therefore: Whenever we are faced with conflict, our primary goal will be to glorify God with our thoughts, words and actions (1 Cor. 10:31). We will try to get the logs out of our own eyes before focusing on what others may have done wrong (Matt. 7:3-5). We will seek to overlook minor offenses (Prov. 19:11). We will refrain from all gossip, backbiting and slander (Eph. 4:29-32). If we have a problem with others, we will talk to them, not about them. We will make charitable judgments toward one another by believing the best about each other until we have facts that prove otherwise (1 Cor. 13:7). If an offense is too serious to overlook, or if we think someone may have something against us, we will go promptly to seek reconciliation (Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15). When we offer a word of correction to others, we will do so graciously and gently, with the goal of serving and restoring them, rather than beating them down (Prov. 12:18; Eph. 4:29; Gal. 6:1). When someone tries to correct us, we will ask God to help us resist prideful defensiveness and to welcome correction with humility (Ps. 141:5; Prov. 15:32). When others repent, we will ask God to give us grace to forgive them as he has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32). When we discuss or negotiate substantive issues, we will look out for others interests as well as our own (Phil. 2:3-4). 4
Assisted Peacemaking When a dispute cannot be resolved personally, God calls us to seek assistance from other believers. Mediation If two people cannot reach an agreement in private, they should ask one or more objective outside people to meet with them to help them communicate more effectively and explore possible solutions. If he will not listen [to you], take one or two others along (Matt. 18:16). These mediators may ask questions and give advice, but the parties retain the responsibility of making the final decision on how to resolve their differences. Arbitration When you and an opponent cannot come to a voluntary agreement on a material issue, you may appoint one or more arbitrators to listen to your arguments and render a binding decision to settle the issue. If you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church (1 Cor. 6:4). Accountability If a person who professes to be a Christian wanders from the Lord by refusing to be reconciled and do what is right, Jesus commands church leaders to lovingly intervene to hold him or her accountable to Scripture and to promote repentance, justice, and forgiveness: If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not go to look for the one that wandered off? If he refuses to listen, tell it to the church (Matt. 18:12,17). Therefore: When two of us cannot resolve a conflict privately, we will seek the mediation of Credo volunteer mediators, or other impartial parties within the Credo community and listen humbly to their counsel. (Matt. 18:16; Phil. 4:2-3). When informal mediation does not resolve a dispute, we will seek formal assistance from board members or people they appoint, and we will submit to their counsel and correction (Matt. 18:17-20). When we have a business or legal dispute with another Christian, we will make every reasonable effort to resolve the conflict within the Credo Community through biblical mediation or arbitration, rather than going to civil court (1 Cor. 6:1-8). If we have a legal dispute with or within the Credo Community and cannot resolve it internally through the steps given above, we will obey God s command not to go into the civil court (1 Cor. 6:1-8). Instead, we will submit the matter to mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation. Above all, we pray that our ministry of peacemaking will bring praise to our Lord Jesus Christ and lead others to know his infinite love and peace. The Peacemakers Pledge and Relational Commitments are adapted from Peacemaker Ministries and The Peacemaker Church. Used by permission of Peacemaker Ministries http://peacemaker.net/project/peacemakers-pledge/ http://peacemaker.net/project/relational-commitments/ *********************************************************************************** 3) Credo Parent Involvement Agreement (Volunteering) Credo s success requires on-site parental involvement. We are not a drop-off program. We are all working together to build a supportive community that will launch well-equipped, visionary young people into their chosen arenas. Please review the Volunteer Job Descriptions from 5
the Credo Academy Homeschool Life website. A Sign Up invitation will come from the Volunteer Coordinator online a few weeks before start date for the Fall Semester. 4) Credo Public School Agreement Credo Academy serves private homeschoolers, and does not open its programs to families who have chosen to participate in public school programs (K-12). We pass no judgment on the sincerity or Christian commitment of those families, but Credo is committed to ensuring that there is always a private, Christian educational alternative of excellence. 6
Credo Academy Eligibility Form (Return with your application materials) 1) We have read the Statement of Faith and are in agreement. Yes No Initial 2) We have read the Biblical Marriage definition and are in agreement. Yes No Initial 3) We have read the Credo Academy Code of Conduct and are in agreement. Yes No (Signed) Father Mother (Signed) Student 3) We have read the Parental Involvement Agreement, and understand that our contribution to Credo s work is essential. We will assist approximately 15 hours on-site each semester in the following area (See the Volunteer Job Descriptions on the website.) Parent Signature: 4) Credo Public School Agreement. We certify that (student s name) is not involved in any school program funded through the public school system (HOPE, Options, K-12, COVA, etc.) for any semester which I am registering with Credo Academy. Note: College classes which your family pays for or college classes in concurrent enrollment (Two Roads or Early Colleges) are not included in this prohibition. Student Signature: Parent Signature: 5) Credo Photographic Release. I am the parent or legal guardian of (insert child's name). I hereby give my consent for my child to have their photograph posted on the Credo Academy website without their name being used. Parent Signature: 6) I understand that my registration is a commitment to the instructor to take the classes for which my student is enrolled. My full tuition payment to the instructor is required unless I withdraw from the class by notifying Credo Academy in writing by July 15th for Fall Semester and year long classes or by December 1st for Spring Semester. For year long classes I understand I will pay for both semesters. I understand registration fees are non-refundable but are transferable to another class choice. Parent Signature: 7
Credo Application Form Student Application Year Semester Please use a separate form for each student. Date : Grade: Student s Name (First, M.I., Last) DOB (mm/dd/yyyy) How many years homeschooled? Home Address City Zip Father s name : Cell phone: Mother s Name : Cell phone: Home Phone: Email (Must be Email address that is checked regularly) Class Registration Class Name Class Time Instructor Tuition Registration Fee *Individual instruction students (e.g., voice, piano), please place preference times for lessons next to the registration fee column. Late Fee Totals 8
New Family Applications - must be received at the New Family Interview including the completed application, medical questionnaire eligibility form, and the registration and tuition checks. Please make registration checks payable to Credo Academy, and tuition checks payable to each teacher. Applications will not be accepted after the New Family Interview date. Tuition and registration checks received in April/May will be held until the first day of class. Returning Current Family Applications - must be received by the Registration Date. Applications received after the designated Registration Date will be charged a late registration fee of $50/student or $100/family in addition to regular fees. Please note: On-time registrations have priority. On August 1 st for the Fall Semester and December 7 th for the Spring Semester, classes which do not have a minimum number of students registered will be canceled, and your choices may no longer be available. Tuition Fees are payable directly to the teacher/ instructor by the first day of class for all returning students. Registration Fees of $20 per class per semester payable to Credo Academy. Checks are held until the first day of class. For year-long classes it is expected that students/parents will pay for and enroll for both semesters, even is 2nd semester is not attended by student. Please realize your registration is a commitment to the instructor to take the classes for which your student is enrolled. Your tuition payment to the instructor is required unless you withdraw from the class by notifying Credo Academy in writing by July 15th for Fall Semester or December 1st for Spring Semester. Please realize your registration is a contract to pay the instructors for the classes for which your student is enrolled. Registration fees are non-refundable but are transferable. If a teacher cancels their class, registration fees will be returned. For year-long classes it is expected that students/parents will pay for and enroll for both semesters, even if 2nd semester is not attended by student. Please realize your registration is a contract and commitment to the instructor to take the classes for which your student is enrolled. Your tuition payment to the instructor is required unless you withdraw from the class by notifying Credo Academy in writing by July 15th for Fall Semester and year long classes or by December 1st for Spring Semester. You are agreeing to pay the instructors for the classes for which your student is enrolled. Registration fees are non-refundable but are transferable. If a teacher cancels their class, registration fees will be returned. 9
Credo Academy Medical History/Release Form Student s Name DOB Age Address City/State Zip Persons to contact in case of emergency: (List parent and best phone numbers first) Name/Relationship to student Home/Work phone Cell phone/pager Check any of the following that the student has or has had: Asthma Diabetes Special Diet Lung Disease Headaches/Migraines Heart trouble Ear Infections HIV Sinus trouble Epilepsy Fainting Spells/Convulsions Eye glasses/contacts Dizziness Hearing impairment other Emotional Disorders Nosebleeds specify Allergies/Hay fever Allergies to medicines specify Does the student have any other conditions or allergies not listed above that we should know about? Does student take any prescription medication? Primary Physician Phone Number Medical Insurance Carrier Policy/Group# I, the parent /guardian of the above named student, give permission to Credo Academy staff and faculty to seek emergency medical/surgical treatment as necessary in my absence. I understand that every attempt will be made to contact me, or the emergency contact named above, before taking this action if at all possible. I hereby waive and release Credo Academy from any liability for any injury or illness incurred while attending Credo Academy classes or functions. I will be financially responsible for any medical attention needed for this student and will contact Credo Academy if there are any changes to the information provided on this form. Parent/Guardian Signature Date 10