St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School

Parent and Student Handbook

INTRODUCTION

St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School is the parochial elementary school of St. Peter and Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Churches. The churches and their school are members of the Indiana District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Control and supervision of the school is exercised by the Voters’ Assemblies of each congregation through the Board of Christian Education. The principal of the school acts as the agent of the congregations and of the Board of Christian Education in direct supervision and administration of the school. This handbook is written for and distributed to the school parents so that they are aware of guidelines and policies which govern school life. It is the responsibility of every parent to know and support of the contents of this handbook. For any clarification of the handbook, please contact the principal.

PURPOSE OF ST. PETER-IMMANUEL

The purpose of St. Peter-Immanuel School is to provide a Christian education for its students. The school intends to nurture the Christian lifestyle in the children by the example of Christian living. By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, this school exists for the purpose of leading children to faith in their Savior and endeavoring to keep them in that faith, and to help the individual child in Christian growth.

MISSION STATEMENT

The parochial school of St. Peter and Immanuel Lutheran Churches proclaims the Gospel, serves its students, and reaches out to the community.

PHILOSOPHY

In the beginning Man was created in God’s own image, in perfect holiness and righteousness. Therefore, Man’s will was in perfect accord with God’s will. However, when man fell into sin by disobeying God, he lost his holiness and became a sinner. This condition estranged him from God and robbed him of heaven. Yet, God in His mercy did not want man to be lost. Therefore, He graciously chose to save man from damnation. This He did by sending His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to take away our sins so that we might live. Christian education is applying God’s Law and Gospel to all aspects of life and learning. It is a vital component of every Lutheran congregation’s ministry. Education occurs daily in all subjects to prepare children to serve God and people throughout their lives. Children’s faith in Christ is nurtured by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word. Children are taught the demands of God’s Law and are comforted by the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. They receive encouragement and instruction to live in service to Christ and others. To prepare for this service they are taught to develop and use their abilities in further schooling and in adult life. All subjects are taught by Lutheran Christians who are academically prepared to teach from the Christian viewpoint. Students and teachers strive for excellence as they use effective and current learning and teaching methods and materials. Students are prepared to become responsible stewards of their talents in joy-filled Christian life. Now through the action of the Holy Spirit, those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior have the certain hope of eternal bliss in Heaven.

PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS

1. To respond to God’s grace through a desire to grow in the Christian life by regular worship and Bible study attendance, the setting of a good example, and the support our churches and their school through gifts of money, talents, and other resources.

2. To be actively involved in their child’s education by helping with homework, attending school events, volunteering for assorted projects, and supporting the decisions of the faculty.

3. To pay all fees and to return forms, report cards, and other items to school in a timely fashion.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

1. To respond to God’s grace by committing to the Christian life through love and respect to God, their parents, their pastors, their teachers, their fellow students, and their neighbors.

2. To use their God-given talents and abilities to put forth their best effort in all school activities through study, faithful homework completion, and the maintenance of a positive attitude.

3. To know and obey the regulations of the school and to accept responsibility for their actions and abide by the consequences.

ACHIEVEMENT TESTING

Students in grade three, six, and eight take ISTEP tests in the fall of each year. All students in grades two through eight take STAR reading and math tests in the fall and spring of each year. Students who are experiencing extreme difficulty in school may be referred by the teacher and principal, in conjunction with the parents, for testing by the Adams-Wells Special Services Cooperative.

ACCREDITATION

St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School is accredited through the Performance Based Accreditation system of the Indiana State Department of Education. The work of our students is accepted by both North Adams Community Schools and East Allen Schools.

ATHLETIC PROGRAM

St. Peter-Immanuel fields teams in girls’ volleyball, cheerleading, boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, and co-educational soccer. Each child must have a current health form signed by a physician. The health form is good from September to the following August. A new form must be on file each year. if the school has no form, the child will not be allowed to participate. This is a state athletic regulation.All parents of athletes are members of the Booster Club and will be expected to support its activities.

Students must maintain a ‘C’ average with no ‘F’s or ‘U’s and must have attended church within the last week in order to participate in athletics.

ATTENDANCE

Regular school attendance is essential to success in school. Students not in their classroom by 8:00 A.M. will be marked tardy. For the health of the affected student and for the health of other students, parents are encouraged to keep their child home all day if they are sick. Parents are to call school if their child will be absent on a certain day. A note explaining the absence must accompany the student when they return to school in order for the absence to be considered excused. When absences are excused, students will be allowed to make up work they missed on that day.

AWARDS

Academic awards are given at the end each school year to students in grades five through eight. Students with all “A’s” and only one “B” and all ‘S’s are awarded high honors while those with all “A’s” and more than one “B” and all ‘S’s are awarded honors for each quarter.

BOOK COVERS

In order to extend their life, all textbooks are to be covered throughout the school year. Book covers should be able to be taken off the books without damaging the books. Parents will be responsible for books damaged due to improper book covers.

CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY

Students will be held financially responsible for any and all damage to any school property that they cause through misuse.

CHAPEL AND DEVOTIONS

Worship is an essential part of every Christian’s life, including children. Worship services for our students are held weekly. Parents are encouraged to attend. Each morning, school begins with devotions for all students.

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

Since the religious instruction and the program of the school are of vital concern to St. Peter and Immanuel Churches, it is imperative that all pupils attend Divine Worship Services regularly. Regular attendance is in keeping with the Lord’s expectations. Each classroom teacher keeps a record of church attendance and this is reported quarterly on the student’s report cart and to the Pastors, Boards of Elders, and Board of Education. All students who participate in the sports program must attend each week or they will be excluded from participation.

COMMUNICATION

In all aspects of school life, Christ’s instructions in Matthew 18 are to be followed. When problems, concerns, or questions arise go directly to the faculty or staff member involved to discuss the situation. If you cannot resolve the situation with that person, consult the principal. Do not discuss the situation with others or engage in gossip that is counterproductive to the purposes of our school.

CURRICULUM

Kindergarten - Subjects taught include religion, memory work, reading, phonics, language, spelling, math, social studies, science, German, art, music, and physical education.

First and Second Grades - Subjects taught include religion, memory work, reading, phonics, language, spelling, math, social studies, science, German, art, music, technology, and physical education.

Third and Fourth Grades - Subjects taught include religion, memory work, reading, language, spelling, math, social studies, science, German, art, music, technology, and physical education.

Fifth and Sixth Grades - Subjects taught include religion, memory work, literature, language, spelling, math, social studies, science, German, art, music, technology, health, and physical education.

Seventh and Eighth Grades - Subjects taught include catechism, memory work. literature, language, speech, spelling, math (pre-algebra or algebra), United States history, science, German, art, music, technology, health, and physical education.

DISCIPLINE

The purpose of discipline in a school is to promote an environment conducive to academic, social, physical, and spiritual learning. In a Christian setting, discipline is always Gospel orientated in that students are always given the opportunity to admit to and then turn from behavior that is inappropriate. Repentance is always followed by forgiveness. Teachers act in the place of parents, taking action to promote proper conduct that parents would reasonably take in any given situation. The Fourth Commandment and its meaning clearly apply here. Teachers will deal with ordinary discipline matters, such as class disturbance and inattention, among others, in the classroom. When ordinary classroom discipline methods produce no improvement in behavior the following course of action will be take:

1. Written notice sent home and teacher telephones home.

2. Parent, teacher, and principal conference.

3. In-school suspension.

4. Out-of-school suspension. (Length determined by situation)

5. Expulsion.

Instances of dishonesty, disrespect, stealing, disobedience, swearing, or fighting will be immediately referred to the principal and will require the use of at least step three. Students who are in possession of weapons, controlled substances, tobacco, or alcohol will be immediately suspended until the matter can be referred directly to the Board of Education for further disciplinary action.

DRESS CODE

The personal appearance of students has a direct effect upon the educational atmosphere of school. Personal appearance refers to neatness, cleanliness, hair style, and choice of clothing among other characteristics. Good taste and common sense should serve as guidelines in the choice of clothing and hairstyle. The student’s personal appearance should give the student a positive image and not detract from the educational purpose of the school. Parents should take an active role in the choices a student makes in term of personal appearance. When parents are in doubt concerning personal appearance, they should contact the principal. Students who attend school in unacceptable clothing will be asked to correct the problem. If that is not possible, the student’s parent will be contacted and asked to pick the child up from school and take them home to correct the problem.

ENROLLMENT PRACTICES

St. Peter-Immune Lutheran School exists primarily to educate the children of our two congregations Parents who are interested in becoming members at either congregation may have their children enrolled as mission students. Parents who are members of another church my enroll their children as tuition students. (See mission and tuition statements.)

FIELD TRIPS

Students are required to accompany their class on all field trips. A signed permission form is required from all parents before their child may accompany the class on the trip. In the third and fourth grades, our students travel to Camp Tecumseh every other year for a three day field trip to study Indiana history. In the sixth grade, our students travel to Camp Lutherhaven for three days for outdoor education. In seventh and eighth grade, our students travel to Washington, D.C. every other year for five days as part of their study of United States History. In eighth grade, our students travel to Chicago for two days as their graduation trip.

FOOD

Food is allowed in the cafeteria during lunch and during special occasions. Food and drinks are not allowed in the classrooms under any circumstance. Due to the potential damage possible, gum is not allowed anywhere on school property during any school event. Students who wish to bring treats to school to celebrate special occasions may do so with the permission of the teacher.

GRADING

Report cards are sent home at the end of each quarter. Mid-term progress reports are sent home at the mid-point of each quarter.

Students in grades 5-8 receiving all A’s and only one B on and all S’s will be placed on the high honor roll. Students receiving all A’s and B’s and all S’s will be placed on the honor roll.

HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

It is highly recommended that parents consult a physician and get a health report on their child before sending him or her to school. All elementary school children are required to be immunized against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, rubella, and polio myelitis. The only exceptions to these requirements are children to whom the vaccines are medically contraindicated. Parents should be encouraged to provide the school with complete immunization records prior to the beginning of the school year.

Minimum Immunization Requirements for All Children Newly Enrolled in Kindergarten or Grade 1 and less than 7 Years of Age

- 5 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP),orpediatricdiphtheria-tetanus accine (DT) or 4 doses are acceptable if the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday.

- 4 doses of either oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), in

any combination or 3 doses of all OPV of all IPV are acceptable if the third dose

was given on or after the fourth birthday.

- 2 doses of measles (rubeola) vaccine, on or after the first birthday.

- 1 dose of rubella (German measles) vaccine, on or after the first birthday.

- 1 dose of mumps vaccine, on or after the first birthday.

- 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine

Minimum Immunization Requirements for All Children Enrolled in Grade two or Above Or 7 Years of Age and older:

- 3 doses of diphtheria-tetun-acellular pertussis (DTaP), diphtheria-tetanus-

pertussis (DTP), or tetanus-diptheria (Td) vaccine, or pediatric diphtheria-

tetanus (DT) vaccine.

- 3 doses of either all oral polio vaccine (OPV) or all inactivated polio vaccine

(IPV). If a combination of OPV and IPV is used, 4 doses are required.

- 1 dose of measles (rubeola) vaccine, on or after the first birthday.

- 1 dose of rubella (German measles) vaccine, on or after the first birthday.

- 1 dose of mumps vaccine, on or after the first birthday.

- 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine are required for children in grades six

to twelve and students in ungraded classrooms who are 11 to 12 years of age

or older by August 1, 1999.

No child will be permitted to attend school for more than twenty days beyond the date of his enrollment unless he or she is either fully immunized or has begun his or her immunizations and produced a schedule for the completion of them.

The school strives to guard the health of its pupils. Health lessons are given in class. First Aid equipment is maintained in the building to be administered by teachers only.

If a child shows signs of illness, parents are urged to keep the child home until the condition is corrected. The same request applies to children who have severe colds or coughs. In case of a serious illness or injury, parents are immediately notified so that the child can be placed into the care of the family doctor. Periodic visits are made by the county nurse. Eye, ear, and spinal examinations are made by the nurse. Defects found are reported to the parents for correction.

HOMEWORK

The accurate, neat, and total completion of all assignments is vital to success in school. Students who miss any assignment during a given week will have a note sent home with them on the last day of that week listing the missed assignments. The student's teacher will see to it that the student brings home the materials necessary to do the assignments. Those assignments are to be completed over the weekend and returned to school on the first day of the week along with the note signed by their parent. If those assignments are not completed the student will be kept after school that day to complete all assignments. When the students has done so, he or she will call a parent to pick them up.

LUNCH PROGRAM

Students may bring their own lunch or they may purchase lunch provided by North Adams Community Schools through the National School Lunch Program. If purchasing lunch, students are to bring their lunch money to school in the provided envelope on Monday with the student’s name, the days the student is eating, and the amount marked on the outside of the envelope. All parents’ cooperation is needed in this matter in order to reduce the amount of time each teacher must spend on this task. Students bringing their own lunch may purchase milk. Lunch is served every day that students attend school.

MISSION AND TUITION STUDENTS

A students may be enrolled at St. Peter-Immanuel as a mission student for one semester subject to board approval. Any parent or guardian wishing to enroll a student at St. Peter-Immanuel will need to meet with the principal and pastor, be approved by the School Board, and agree to the following requirements before enrollment is official;

- All records from the previous school will need to be in St. Peter-Immanuel’s possession prior to approval.

- Payment of registration fee or a payment schedule must be accounted for prior to approval.

- Parent or guardian will agree to regular attendance at either St. Peter or Immanuel churches.

- Parent or guardian will agree to regular attendance and a willingness to accept responsibility in the Parent-Teacher League.

- Parent or guardian will agree to maintain open lines of communication with the faculty and principal.

- Parent or guardian and student agree to follow and support the guidelines and policies set forth in the Parent and Student handbook.

At the end of the first semester of attendance the mission student’s status will be reviewed by the School Board and principal. Failure to meet the guidelines listed above may result in expulsion or being switched to tuition status.

A student already having a church home may enroll in St. Peter-Immanuel on a tuition basis. Tuition is set at the cost of educating a student less the amount of the registration fee. Tuition paid in full before the beginning of the school year shall receive a $50 rebate. If the parents should choose to make payments, all payments must be paid in full by the end of the first semester. All tuition families must meet with the pastor and principal, be approved by the School Board, and agree to the following before enrollment is official;

- All transcripts and school records from previous school must be in St. Peter-Immanuel possession before enrollment.

- Payment of registration fee must be paid before enrollment.

- Payment or a plan of payment of tuition must be made before enrollment.

- Parent or guardian shall agree to actively participate in the Parent-Teacher league.

- Establish and maintain open lines of communication with the faculty and principal.

- Follow and support the guidelines set forth in the Parent-Teacher Handbook.

NEWSLETTER

The newsletter is sent home with all students on the first school day of each week. Parents and students are responsible for information contained in the newsletter.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School does not discriminate against employees or students on the basis of race or gender.

PARENT-TEACHER LEAGUE

Our PTL plays an active role in the life of our school. The PTL functions best when all parents do their fair share. The first is regular attendance at PTL meetings and then active involvement in PTL activities.

RECESS

All students will be expected to go outside for recess. Students will only be excused from recess when a written excuse is received from the parent.

SCHEDULE

The school day begins at 8:00 A.M. and ends at 2:45 P.M.. Students are not to arrive at school before 7:45 A.M. and are to picked up no later than 3:00 P.M. unless special arrangements have been made with the principal. Students who are not picked up by 3:00 P.M. will be kept in the seventh and eighth grade classroom until their parents arrive. Students who are picked up will be dismissed from the southeast gym entrance. Parents should form a counter clockwise line around the gym parking lot with the first car being at the door. Students will be dismissed when their ride is at the front of the line. Parents who must come into the building to get their children after school are asked to park in that lot and enter through that gym door unless special arrangements are made with the principal. Bus students will be dismissed from the main entrance. St. Peter-Immanuel follows the school calendar of North Adams Community Schools. Any deviations to that calendar will be announced. For delays and closings parents should listen for the announcements of North Adams Community Schools. Kindergarten follows the instructions for grade one through eight. Delays and closings will be reported on most local television and radio stations. The best source of information probably is radio station WZBD 92.7 FM. Delays will be for one, two, or three hours. There will be no four hour delays. With any delay, lunch will be served.

SCHOOL BUS

Students ride on busses operated and controlled by North Adams Community School and East Allen Schools. Students are subject to their rules and their system of discipline while on the bus.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Each family receives a handbook each year. In the handbook, are informational sheets for each class, among other things, the supplies that the student needs throughout the school year are listed there. Unless otherwise state, these supplies are to be at school every day.

SCHOOL VISITS

Parents are always welcome to visit school and encouraged to do so. Please contact the teacher to arrange for a time for visitation.

STUDENT EVALUATION

The following system of reports and conferences are used in order to keep parents well-informed of a student’s progress at school:

1. Report cards are issued at the end of each academic quarter.

2. Mid-term progress reports are issued at the mid-point of each quarter.

3. Scheduled parent-teacher conferences are held at the end of the first quarter.

If a parent feels the need for more frequent reports they may contact the teacher at any time point to confer over the phone or to schedule a conference.

STUDENT RETENTION

If a student is experiencing extreme difficulty in class, it may be necessary to consider retaining that student in his/her current grade for the next school year. Parents will be notified at the end of the second quarter if the teacher is considering such action. Any student receiving more than one failing grade on their fourth quarter report will not be promoted to the next grade.

TELEPHONE POLICY

The telephone is for the use of the faculty and staff only. Students will not be allowed to use the phone during the school day and will be called to the phone in cases of emergency only. Parents should call teachers before or after school

TOYS

Toys may be brought to school with the teacher’s permission. Toys brought to school and used improperly will be confiscated and returned personally to that child’s parent.

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St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School

Booster Club Guidelines

1. The purpose of the Booster Club is to support the athletic program of St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School

2. All parents of student-athletes are automatically members of the Booster Club. A student’s participation is dependent upon the parents’ active participation and support.

3. The membership shall elect a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer at its April meeting. It is the officers’ responsibility to schedule, organize and run all meetings.

4. The president shall appoint the following chairpeople:

a. soccer

b. volleyball

c. basketball

d. additional fundraising

The chairperson is to organize a committee that will accomplish the following tasks:

a. Concessions at home games and tournaments

b. Scorekeeping and other duties at home games and tournaments

c. Clean-up of home games and tournaments

d. All other activities as required to operate the athletic program

5. The Booster Club will meet in August, October, and April.

6. The athletic director shall supervise and advise the Booster Club as necessary.