Parent Student Handbook

PARENT–STUDENT HANDBOOK 2017-18

2667 Bruton Boulevard ▪ Orlando, FL, 32805 Tel. (407) 206-8602 ▪ Fax (407) 206-8700 Website: WWW.TheFirstAcademy.Org

Table of Contents

The First Academy Parent-Student Handbook

THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIRST ACADEMY............................................................................................................................... 8 School Background ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 School History......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Mission Statement ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Vision Statement .................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Royal Values ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Alma Mater - Refer to Appendix-A .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Accreditation & Membership ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Administrative Prerogative ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Non-Discriminatory Policy .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Plan of Salvation ................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Christian Conciliation Agreement ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Organizational Structure ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Vertical Teams – Leading As Teams: ................................................................................................................................ 10 Administrative Duties – The Ministry of Servant Leaders at TFA ..................................................................................... 11 STATEMENT OF DOCTRINAL BELIEFS........................................................................................................................................ 13 Parent Cooperation .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Lifestyle Policy ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Parents'/Guardians' Statement of Support .......................................................................................................................... 15 Student Honor Code (Grades K4 – 12) ................................................................................................................................. 15 Student Agreement of Conduct (Grades 7 – 12) .................................................................................................................. 16 Changes to Policies ............................................................................................................................................................... 17 ACADEMICS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18 College Guidance .................................................................................................................................................................. 18 Academic Probation ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Add/Drop Course Procedures .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Advanced Placement (AP) Courses....................................................................................................................................... 18 Biblical Worldview Integration ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Challenged Materials ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Chapel/Assemblies ............................................................................................................................................................... 20 iPad/Computer Use/Internet Statement .............................................................................................................................. 20 Conditional Enrollment Sponsor (grades 9-12) .................................................................................................................... 22 Valencia Dual Enrollment ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 Duke Talent Identification Program ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Eligibility ............................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Evening of the Arts: Lower School ........................................................................................................................................ 24 Extra Credit ........................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Extracurricular Activities....................................................................................................................................................... 24 After School Emergency Procedures ................................................................................................................................ 25 Special Interest Clubs/Activities ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Field Day (LS/TCS) ................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Field Trips ............................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Final Examinations ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Proposed Online Coursework Policy for The Virtual Academy ............................................................................................. 26 Online Coursework (including Florida Virtual School) .......................................................................................................... 26 Grading ................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Grade Point Average Calculation ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Weighting ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Transfer Grades (Grades 9-12) ......................................................................................................................................... 27 Graduation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 28 1|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Early Graduation Policy .................................................................................................................................................... 28 Graduation Honors ........................................................................................................................................................... 29 Upper School Graduation Exercises ................................................................................................................................. 29 Royal Scholar .................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Daniel & Esther Awards .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Valedictorian and Salutatorian ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Humanities Scholars ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 Home School at TFA (See The Classical School) ................................................................................................................... 30 Homework ............................................................................................................................................................................ 30 Honors Classes (Grades 5-12)............................................................................................................................................... 30 Honor Roll............................................................................................................................................................................. 30 K4 Program ........................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Kindergarten......................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Late Work ............................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Learning i.e. .......................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Library/Media Center ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 National Honor Society (Grades 10-12)................................................................................................................................ 32 Community Service .......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Leadership and Participation ............................................................................................................................................ 33 The First Academy Chapter of NHS Procedures ............................................................................................................... 33 National Jr. Honor Society (Grades 7-9) & National Elementary Honor Society (Grades 4-6) ............................................. 34 Report Cards ......................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Rising Grade Level Parent Meetings ..................................................................................................................................... 35 SCAN Student, College, Academic, and Naviance ................................................................................................................ 35 School Calendar .................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Service Hours........................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Standardized Testing ............................................................................................................................................................ 36 Student Records ................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Summer Camps (SummerQuest) .......................................................................................................................................... 37 Summer Reading (Early Advantage Accelerated Reader©) ................................................................................................. 37 Tardy and Late Check-In Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 38 Test Days .............................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Testing Security .................................................................................................................................................................... 38 Textbooks ............................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Teachers - The Living Curriculum ......................................................................................................................................... 39 The Classical School (TCS) - K-12 Parent Directed Education ............................................................................................... 39 The First Hope Program - PreK-12 ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Transitional Kindergarten (TK).............................................................................................................................................. 39 Tutoring ................................................................................................................................................................................ 39 Warning Bell ......................................................................................................................................................................... 39 ATTENDANCE............................................................................................................................................................................ 40 Lower School (Grade K4 – 5) ................................................................................................................................................ 40 Grades 6-12 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 41 DISCIPLINE & CONDUCT ........................................................................................................................................................... 44 Conduct and Courtesy .......................................................................................................................................................... 44 Christian Testimony .............................................................................................................................................................. 44 Progressive Discipline Guidelines: Grades K4 – 5 ............................................................................................................ 45 Progressive Discipline Guidelines: Grades 6 – 12 ............................................................................................................ 45 Drug and Alcohol Usage ....................................................................................................................................................... 47 Student Conduct Agreement................................................................................................................................................ 47 TFA DRESS CODE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Dress Code ........................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Footwear .......................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Outerwear/Cold-Weather Dress (K4-12) .......................................................................................................................... 52 Spirit Day Dress Code/Homecoming Week Dress-up Days .............................................................................................. 52 2|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Extracurricular Performance/Off Campus Activity ........................................................................................................... 52 Field Trip/Off Campus Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Formal Wear/Dress Clothes ............................................................................................................................................. 52 Parent/Volunteer Dress Code .......................................................................................................................................... 52 Physical Education (P.E.) Class .......................................................................................................................................... 53 Progressive Discipline (Uniforms) ..................................................................................................................................... 53 Uniform Information ............................................................................................................................................................ 53 Exclusive Uniform Provider .............................................................................................................................................. 53 Used Uniform Exchange ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 FINANCES ................................................................................................................................................................................. 53 Overview .............................................................................................................................................................................. 53 Accident Insurance ............................................................................................................................................................... 54 Fines/Debts .......................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Fundraising/Club Finances ................................................................................................................................................... 54 Generous Giving ................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Guiding Principles for Biblical, Financial Stewardship .......................................................................................................... 55 Returned Checks .................................................................................................................................................................. 56 Tuition Assistance ................................................................................................................................................................. 56 Withdrawal Procedures ........................................................................................................................................................ 56 GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................................... 56 Advertising - Posters, Flyers, Announcements, Etc. ............................................................................................................. 56 After School Program (After Care) ....................................................................................................................................... 56 Animals on Campus .............................................................................................................................................................. 57 Anti-Harassment Policy ........................................................................................................................................................ 57 Birthday Parties, Other Parties, Gift Giving .......................................................................................................................... 57 Cell Phones ........................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Church Attendance .............................................................................................................................................................. 58 Christian Educator of the Year ............................................................................................................................................. 58 Communication with Faculty and Staff ................................................................................................................................ 58 Problem Resolution Strategy ................................................................................................................................................ 58 Dance Policy ......................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Drug and Alcohol Prevention Policy ..................................................................................................................................... 59 Drug Policy: Community and Parental Responsibilities ........................................................................................................ 61 Electronic Devices ................................................................................................................................................................ 61 Elevators ............................................................................................................................................................................... 61 Emergency School Closings .................................................................................................................................................. 61 Emergency Training for Student Care .................................................................................................................................. 62 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) .............................................................................................................. 62 Fine Arts Network (F.A.N.) .................................................................................................................................................... 63 Food/Drink/Gum .................................................................................................................................................................. 63 Food Services (Lunch/Cafeteria) .......................................................................................................................................... 63 Friends of the Library ........................................................................................................................................................... 64 Gift Giving ............................................................................................................................................................................. 64 Hall Pass ............................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Health/Medical Information ................................................................................................................................................. 64 Communicable Childhood Diseases ................................................................................................................................. 65 Immunization Policy ......................................................................................................................................................... 65 Infectious Diseases ........................................................................................................................................................... 65 Medications ...................................................................................................................................................................... 65 Allergies ............................................................................................................................................................................ 66 I.D. Cards .............................................................................................................................................................................. 66 Legal Injunctions and Court Documents .............................................................................................................................. 67 Lockers ................................................................................................................................................................................. 67 Lost and Found ..................................................................................................................................................................... 67 Medical Emergency Preparedness ....................................................................................................................................... 67 3|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Parent Teacher Fellowship (PA) ........................................................................................................................................... 68 Personal Property ................................................................................................................................................................. 68 Photographs and Video - Use of Student’s Image, Likeness................................................................................................. 68 Playground ........................................................................................................................................................................... 68 Promotion/Retention Policy ................................................................................................................................................. 68 Prospective Student ............................................................................................................................................................. 68 Rainy Day Lunch and Dismissal Procedure ........................................................................................................................... 68 Re-Enrollment ...................................................................................................................................................................... 69 RenWeb ................................................................................................................................................................................ 69 Restricted Areas ................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Safety and Security ............................................................................................................................................................... 69 School Office Hours .............................................................................................................................................................. 70 School Pictures ..................................................................................................................................................................... 70 Sexual Harassment ............................................................................................................................................................... 70 Solicitation ............................................................................................................................................................................ 70 Spiritual Climate ................................................................................................................................................................... 70 Student Elections (US) .......................................................................................................................................................... 70 Student Government Association (Grades 7-8) .................................................................................................................... 71 Student Interaction with Social Media ................................................................................................................................. 71 Student Pick up Protocol ...................................................................................................................................................... 71 Student Searches .................................................................................................................................................................. 73 Telephones ........................................................................................................................................................................... 73 Threats of Violence and Bringing Weapons to School.......................................................................................................... 73 Communications .................................................................................................................................................................. 74 Blogs ................................................................................................................................................................................. 74 TFA Today ......................................................................................................................................................................... 74 Social Media ..................................................................................................................................................................... 74 Toys ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 74 Volunteer Organizations/Special Interest Groups ................................................................................................................ 74 Volunteer – Definition of a TFA Volunteer ....................................................................................................................... 74 Volunteer Authorization ................................................................................................................................................... 74 Athletic Booster Club – Athletic Director ......................................................................................................................... 74 Fine Arts Network (F.A.N.) – Fine Arts Director ................................................................................................................ 75 Friends of the Library – Librarian ..................................................................................................................................... 75 Parent Association – Principals......................................................................................................................................... 75 SCHOOL EVENTS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 75 Christmas.............................................................................................................................................................................. 75 Coffee with the Principal ...................................................................................................................................................... 75 Golf Classic, Tennis and Tea, and Gala Auction .................................................................................................................... 75 Grandparents Day (LS).......................................................................................................................................................... 76 Halloween ............................................................................................................................................................................ 76 Homecoming ........................................................................................................................................................................ 76 Junior/Senior Prom............................................................................................................................................................... 76 Meet the Teacher ................................................................................................................................................................. 76 National Day of Prayer Observance...................................................................................................................................... 76 Parent-Teacher Conferences ................................................................................................................................................ 76 Parties/Socials ...................................................................................................................................................................... 76 Pastor Appreciation Month .................................................................................................................................................. 77 Royal Academy of Arts & Enrichment .................................................................................................................................. 77 Senior Retreat ...................................................................................................................................................................... 77 Spirit Days ............................................................................................................................................................................. 77 Teacher Appreciation Week ................................................................................................................................................. 78 TRANSPORTATION .................................................................................................................................................................... 78 Accident Insurance ............................................................................................................................................................... 78 Auto Insurance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 4|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Bus Guidelines ...................................................................................................................................................................... 78 Driving/Parking on Campus .................................................................................................................................................. 78 Traffic Plan - Arrival/Dismissal .............................................................................................................................................. 78 Grades K4 – 6 ................................................................................................................................................................... 79 Grades 7 – 12 ................................................................................................................................................................... 79 Traffic Safety ........................................................................................................................................................................ 80 ATHLETICS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 80 Athletic Administration ........................................................................................................................................................ 80 Athletic Booster Club............................................................................................................................................................ 80 Athletic Conflict Resolution .................................................................................................................................................. 80 Athletic Facilities .................................................................................................................................................................. 80 Athletic Program/After School Sports .................................................................................................................................. 80 Rainy Day Policy.................................................................................................................................................................... 80 Student Attendance at FHSAA State Championships ........................................................................................................... 80 The Classical School (TCS) Participation Policy ..................................................................................................................... 81 Youth Sports ......................................................................................................................................................................... 82 APPENDIX-A .............................................................................................................................................................................. 83 Alma Mater - The First Academy .......................................................................................................................................... 83 Lower School Traffic Map ..................................................................................................................................................... 84 Campus Map ........................................................................................................................................................................ 85

5|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Message from the Head of School

Dear Parents and Students:

We welcome you to another great year at The First Academy! To experience the richness of the school experience at TFA, one must understand this endeavor is a partnership between church, home, and school that is purposefully designed to fulfill our mission−to “prepare children for life as Christian leaders who choose character before career, wisdom beyond scholarship, service before self, and participation as a way of life.”

Since the autumn of 1987, The First Academy has grown to become one of the finest Christ-centered, collegepreparatory schools in the nation. While we rejoice in the victories of the past, we believe that the best days for our school are ahead as we further His kingdom! We are honored that you have given us the opportunity to partner with you in the process of your child’s education.

In an effort to strengthen the bond between home and school, we have prepared this Parent-Student Handbook to answer many questions and provide helpful resources for each of our TFA families. This document is a “work in progress” so, we need your help. Feel free to let us know what else needs to be added or what elements need greater clarification.

Specifically, the policies and procedures found in this handbook were created to support the K4-12 program for the students, enhance communication, make us more efficient as an organization, increase efforts toward a more safe/secure environment and, most importantly, honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe it will help us have an outstanding year, if we all understand and follow these policies.

In closing, let me ask you to do two things. First, take time to read through the handbook carefully and keep it close by as a reference. Second, join me in praying that God will give us a wonderful 2017-2018 school year!

In His Joy,

Dr. Steve D. Whitaker Head of School

6|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

The First Academy Leadership Team

Kyle Barrett, PhD

Director of Spiritual Formation

Leighann Harris, BS Director of Finance

Luci Higgins, EdD Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Middle School Principal

Patrick Barrett, MA

Assistant Head of School- Scholastic Excellence

Jerry Chambers, BCP-E, BS Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Jackson, MEd Lower School Principal (K4-6)

‘

Will Cohen, BS Athletic Director

Joyce Kwak, BA Director of College Guidance

Sarah Donovan, MEd

Director of The Extended Educational Programs

Matt Eggert, MS

Director of Technology

Brian Rose, MEA

Assistant Head of School - Advancement & Spiritual Formation

Garry Sullivan, MEd Upper School Principal

Shayne Grove, BS Director of Admissions,

International Students, & Marketing

Juan Felix

Director of Operations & Facilities

Steve Whitaker, PhD Head of School

7|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to The First Academy! As a Christ-centered, college-preparatory school, it is our goal to partner with parents in teaching and training a generation of young people to have a mature faith in Jesus, a love for learning, the ability to communicate articulately, the courage to lead and a heart to serve. In this Parent/Student Handbook are the policies that will guide our partnership. These statements are not intended to be restrictive and legalistic, but rather enlightening and liberating. By reading, understanding, and following these guidelines, we will have the joy that comes from living in a supportive community of faith whose members have a common purpose.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIRST ACADEMY School Background Founded: February 1986 First Year of Operation: August 1987 School Colors: Royal Blue and Gold. Royal Blue symbolizes royalty and leadership. Gold symbolizes royalty and lasting value.

Mascot: Royal Lion. The king of beasts has characteristics that are exhibited through majesty, strength, courage, and authority – Attributes of the Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5) who is our King of kings, Jesus Christ.

School History The First Academy (TFA) is a ministry of First Baptist Church Orlando (FBCO) that offers students a college-preparatory education from a Christian worldview. Founded in 1986, with a generous gift from Orlando attorney, Thomas Gurney, The First Academy opened its doors in the fall of 1987 with 232 students enrolled in grades K4-6. The school later added grades 7-12 and a homeschool division. In 1994, TFA graduated its first senior class. Total enrollment is now approximately 1450 students across all divisions – The Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School, The Classical School, and The First Hope.

Mission Statement The First Academy is a Christ-centered, college-preparatory school whose mission is to prepare children for life as Christian leaders who choose character before career, wisdom beyond scholarship, service before self, and participation as a way of life.

Vision Statement The vision of The First Academy is to be the first choice for families in Orlando who are seeking a Christ-centered college preparatory education. Specifically, our vision is three-fold: §

The First Academy will forge an enduring partnership between church, home, and school that will produce powerful and effective student leaders who will impact their world for Jesus Christ through biblical thought and action in obedience to the Great Commandment (Mk.12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20).

§

The First Academy will attract and retain Living Curriculum faculty and staff members who understand that rigor, relevance, and relationships in the learning process produce outstanding scholars who will be admitted to the college/university of their choosing based on a well-rounded record of scholastic accomplishment.

§

The First Academy will aspire for excellence in every area to be a role model for Christian schooling nationally. We will also strive to remain a sustainable institution that impacts families for generations to come with respect to money, management, and marketing.

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18)”. The First Academy will prayerfully pursue the above vision with a faith that is firm and a hope that endures.

8|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Royal Values Veracity of scripture- The Bible is the final authority for all aspects of the Christian life (II Timothy 3:16-17).

Acceptance in a diverse community- All persons are uniquely created and given specific gifts and abilities. Economic and racial diversity within The First Academy provide a well-rounded learning environment (Matthew 18:15-35).

Leadership through service- Serving the needs of our students, our families, our community, and our fellow staff members is the ultimate test of Christian leadership (Matthew 20:25-28).

Uncompromising stewardship of resources- Responsible management of the time, talent and treasure given by God is essential for his blessings to be poured out upon us (Matthew 25:14-29).

Evident commitment to family- The First Academy serves its purpose to the extent that it partners with parents in the education of their children. The First Academy exists to complement, not compete with, the family (Psalm 127).

Scholastic excellence- A college-preparatory program of excellence purposefully designs academic, athletic and artistic opportunities that develop the student spiritually, mentally, physically and socially to be a leader for life (II Timothy 2:15).

Alma Mater - Refer to Appendix-A Accreditation & Membership The First Academy is accredited by: 1.

Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS)

2.

Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC)

3.

Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)

4.

AdvancED: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/CASI)

5.

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

6.

Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA)

The First Academy is a member of: 1.

Florida High School Athletic Association

2.

National Association of College Admission Counseling

3.

Southern Association of College Admission Counseling

4.

Southern Association of Independent Schools

5.

Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools

6.

Central Florida Consortium of Private School Advisors

7.

Florida School Music Association

8.

College Board

Administrative Prerogative The intent of this handbook is to give general overall guidelines to be adhered to by students and parents. Sometimes new situations will occur or circumstances will arise not covered specifically by this handbook. The administration reserves the right to exercise its administrative prerogative in responding to these new situations. The school will not be responsible for any event that is not officially sanctioned by the administration.

9|Page Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Non-Discriminatory Policy The First Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin in its administration of education, admission, athletic, or financial policies or in any other school programs.

Plan of Salvation Admit: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Pray: Lord, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Savior.

Believe: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have

everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Pray: Lord, I believe that Jesus died and shed His blood for my sins. I believe this in my heart and not just my head.

Call: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Pray: Lord, I call upon You to save me from my sins. I confess and repent of my sins. I know that Your Son, Jesus paid my debt on the cross—a debt I could never pay despite all my good works—and I thankfully accept Your gift of eternal life in Heaven that His death makes possible.

Christian Conciliation Agreement The parties to this agreement believe that the Bible commands them to make every effort to live at peace and solve disputes with each other in private or within the Christian church (see Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8). Therefore, the parties agree that any claim or dispute arising from or related to this agreement shall be settled by biblically-based mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries (complete text of the rules is available at www.peacemaker.net). Judgment upon an arbitration decision may be entered in any court otherwise having jurisdiction and shall comply with any statutory requirements necessary to effectuate the party’s intent to pursue these alternative dispute methods. The parties understand that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of this agreement and expressly waive their right to file a lawsuit in any civil court against one another for such disputes, except to enforce an arbitration decision. Without waiving the requirement that all disputes be resolved by mediation and, if necessary, arbitration, in the event a lawsuit is threatened or filed in connection with this agreement or relating to relationship between the parties hereto arising out of this agreement, the exclusive venue for such lawsuit shall be the Circuit or County Court of Orange County, Florida. The parties agree that this provision is severable and if any portion thereof is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that shall not affect the validity of the other portions of this provision. Additionally, if a parent of a current student files a lawsuit (or threatens to do so) against the school, his/her student will be dismissed from school until the matter is settled.

Organizational Structure The First Academy (TFA) is a ministry of the First Baptist Church Orlando (FBCO). The Head of School of The First Academy serves as one of the assistant pastors at First Baptist Church Orlando. He is responsible for leadership of the Christian school ministry. The Head of School works with the men and women of the School Board to establish sound policies, promote programs, and create long-range plans for The First Academy. The daily operations of The First Academy are carried out by professional educators, administrators, and staff. In this organizational structure section, you will find the roles of the vertical teams (structure), horizontal teams (service), and the general duties of key administrators (servant leaders).

Vertical Teams – Leading As Teams:

Vertical teams include the School Board Team, Leadership Team, Administrative Teams, School Planning Team, Curriculum Teams, All Staff and Special Interest Teams. The general purpose of each team is listed below.

School Board Team (Vision and Legacy) – A team of leaders whose responsibility is to recommend viability-focused action on behalf of the next generation of students, funding the mission and securing the legacy of The First Academy.

Leadership Team (Mission and Strategies) – A team of senior administrators who joyfully serve others through building relationships, encouraging effective communication, providing wisdom to division/department administrators who are

10 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

wrestling with difficult decisions, focusing on mission implementation, providing genuine inspiration in goal setting and maintaining a focus on The First Academy’s vision/strategic plan. This team is divided into two groups – Academic Team (Divisional Principals, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Director of The Extended Educational Programs, The Virtual Academy Principal, and Athletics) [facilitated by the Assistant Head of School] and Management Team (Admissions, Finance, Human Resources, Operations, and Technology) [facilitated by the Chief Financial Officer].

Administrative Teams (Action and Implementation) – A team of administrative supervisors meeting weekly within each division/department who implement school handbook policies (Parent-Student Handbook and Personnel Handbook) and take action on a daily basis to see that academic excellence and spiritual formation are taking place in every classroom, in every office, in every extracurricular group (arts, athletics, leadership, service, etc.), and in every decision made throughout The First Academy.

Planning Team (Consultation and Reflection) – A team comprised of the leadership team and the administrative teams who meet quarterly to plan for the future of The First Academy with respect to handbooks, calendar, and vision development.

Special Interest Teams (Connection and Service) – Teams of parents that seek to connect other parents with The First Academy to provide volunteer support and promotion for the school. These groups (Friends of the Library, Fine Arts Council, Athletic Boosters, PA, etc.) are under the supervision of the Assistant Head of School and an assigned divisional/department administrator.

Administrative Duties – The Ministry of Servant Leaders at TFA Head of School – Articulates the vision of The First Academy, serves as an assistant pastor at FBCO, works with the School Board, facilitates strategic planning efforts, works with community/legislative affairs, works with church/school communication, represents The First Academy with respect to educational agencies, consults with new and improving Christian schools, facilitates positive public relations, directs capital campaigns, solicits endowment/major gifts for the school, serves on the leadership team, and conducts educational research.

Assistant Head of School – Advancement & Spiritual Formation – Directs the Royal Nation Fund, coordinates the Capital Campaign, builds alumni relations, supervises school publications, leads special events, reports on fundraising progress, works the Golf Classic and Gala Auction, manages the donor/gift recognition program, and supports the admissions/marketing efforts. Oversees the daily operations of the Director of Spiritual Formation and the Assistant Director of Advancement.

Director of Spiritual Formation – The Director of Spiritual Formation is responsible for leading efforts that grow the Spiritual Formation outcomes as it relates to students, parents, faculty and staff.

Assistant Head of School – Scholastic Excellence – Oversees the daily operation of all staff. Manages the daily affairs of the academic administrators as directed by the Head of School, manages the work of a division (Lower School, Middle School, Upper School, The Extended Educational Program, and The Virtual Academy) in the absence of both the Principal and Assistant Principal. Supervises the arts, athletics, technology, and curriculum.

Director of Curriculum & Instruction – The academic administrator that serves to strengthen the academic performance of The First Academy across subject areas throughout grades K4-12 while ensuring a Christ-centered college preparatory mission. Focuses on the areas of a) Biblical Worldview Integration (BWI) across the curriculum, b) Academic Rigor and Relevance: Standards, Instructional Methods, and Assessments, c) Educator Excellence: Recruitment, Support, Coaching and Professional Development, Florida Professional Education Certification, d) Accreditation FCIS, FKC, SAIS, AdvancEDSACS/CASI, ACSI, CESA, and e) Student Support Services: Learning Intentionally Enhanced. The role of the Director of Curriculum and Instruction is to work collaboratively with and through the principals to pursue excellence in teaching (methods, tools, professional development, and certification) and learning (standards, benchmarks, assessments, and accountability). The term "with and through" means that the principal is the primary driver of classroom excellence and accountability. The Director of Curriculum and Instruction serves as an encouraging resource for students, teachers and the leadership team. The term "teaching" means to employ the best teachers (Godly, gifted, and gracious), who use the latest methods (brain research, learning styles, technology integration, etc.) in concert with their own eagerness to grow personally and professionally for the benefit of students at TFA. The term "learning" means to know what is most important to be learned at every grade level, in every discipline, so that a strategic curriculum plan can be developed and evaluated to guarantee these opportunities exist in each classroom, every day on TFA’s campus.

11 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Principal (Lower School, Middle School, Upper School) – Conducts classroom/teacher observations, visits each classroom daily/weekly, focuses on knowing and meeting the needs of individual students, provides for parent communication/problem resolution, responsible for faculty support/communications/morale, articulates the strategic vision of The First Academy to faculty, schedules classes, supervises discipline program, provides for guidance counseling, conducts academic assessment, reviews weekly lesson plans, supervises Parent Association (PA), promotes school spirit/student morale.

§

Lower School Administrative Team: The Lower School Principal leads the Lower School Administrative Team. The Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor supervise student discipline, assists with classroom observations, assists with monitoring lesson plans, coordinates the standardized testing program, assists with parent/student counseling, directs student leadership/government program, organizes support groups, and manages the affairs of the Lower School in the Principal’s absence.

§

Middle School Administrative Team: The Middle School Principal leads the Middle School Team. The Assistant Principal organizes faculty meetings, and organizes/leads monthly department head meetings as directed by the principal. Creates class/teaching and alternative schedules, assists with inputting/changing of student schedules, assists with monitoring lesson plans, assists with classroom observations, supervises student discipline, organizes Royal Recharge, leads the Student Government Associations, supervises all clubs/student organizations, coordinates the standardized testing program and Duke TIP program, assists with parent/student counseling, manages class trips, and manages the affairs of the Middle School in the Principal’s absence.

Upper School Administrative Team: The Upper School Principal leads the Upper School Team, organizes faculty meetings, organizes/leads monthly department head meetings, creates class/teaching schedules, and evaluates weekly lesson plans. The Assistant Principal supervises student discipline (disciplinary referrals, detentions, Saturday School, etc.), organizes Royal Recharge, supervises after school programs, supervises all clubs/student organizations, and manages class trips. The College Advisors and the Director of College Guidance conduct SCAN (Student, College, Academic, Naviance) meetings, lead rising grade level meetings, guide the senior college application process, assist in planning curriculum, handling of transcripts and records, schedule college representative visits, work with Admissions, lead all standardized testing activities, oversee report cards/interim reports, create grade distribution reports, and maintain class schedules and cumulative records.

Director of Guidance (Upper School) – Responsible for working and supervising the College Advisors as they work with students and parents through the transition process to post-secondary education. Director’s primary responsibilities include creating, implementing and supporting appropriate college preparing plans and informative college guidance sessions for the department to work with students and families. §

Director of The Extended Educational Programs (TEEP) – Oversees the Extended Educational Programs of The First Academy. These programs include the Preschool, The Classical School (hybrid homeschool), and The First Hope (special needs). Leads the academic, admissions, business, and facility operations of The Extended Educational Programs, Conducts weekly leadership meetings with the TEEP principals and TEEP’s leadership team. Implements the strategic five year plans and annual administrative agenda for each program as measured by KRA’s. Conducts classroom walkthroughs via MBWA’s and provides ongoing feedback to the faculty and staff. Ensures strong communication, problem resolution, and a healthy culture. Articulates the strategic vision of The FIrst Academy to TEEP stakeholders.

Director of Athletics – Develops systems and policies for the Athletic Department, oversees and coordinates coaching staff, reviews and updates the athletic and PSAC budgets, works in conjunction with coaches to schedule all athletic events, manages facility usage, promotes athletic program and athletes to media sources, families and colleges, assists Leadership in developing nurturing atmosphere in athletics, and aids Business Administrator in overseeing the Booster Club. The Athletic Director evaluates all coaches annually, recommends coaching changes, schedules all events through school calendar, conducts fall/winter/spring parent meetings prior to the beginning of each season, conducts monthly coaches meetings, creates/edits athletic policy manuals, and works with the Summer Camps and the after-school sports program.

Chief Financial Officer – Serves on the Executive and Leadership Teams, manages the Business Administrator, Finance and Human Resources Departments; monitors and maintains a balanced school budget, supports the work of the independent accounting firm who conducts the annual financial audit, works with the School Board in setting tuition, chairs the tuition assistance committee, works with the FBCO Budget/Administration Team, supervises the Director of Admissions, oversees the Operations Department, supervises the Director of Technology, oversees the School Store.

12 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Director of Human Resources – Reports to the CFO and is responsible for human resources processes and employee recruitment.

Director of Finance – Reports to the CFO and is responsible for Budget Management and Financial Reporting, supervises Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, manages the Tuition Assistance program, prepares Bank Financing reports and Audit reports, and assists in updating the Strategic Financial Plan and five year budget.

Director of Admissions – Develops marketing programs and analyzes marketing effectiveness, supervises the admissions process, provides consultations with prospective parents and conducts personalized tours, builds relationships with current families to encourage retention of students, and assists in developing customer service programs.

Director of Technology & Innovation for Technology – Works to increase institutional awareness of technology, oversees completion of all Tech Orders, develops long term technology plan, reviews technology budget with Business Administrator, assists in the development of online Parent Payment Program, and coordinates the development of communication tools.

Director of Operations – Oversees the comprehensive building program, conducts facility evaluations for maintenance, cleanliness, appearance and suitability, supervises grounds crews, analyzes systems in terms of efficiency, processes and budgets, creates and maintains an updated Crisis Manual, and aids in updating and completing the Capital Campaign budget and spending.

STATEMENT OF DOCTRINAL BELIEFS

The First Academy is a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Orlando and affirms the church’s doctrinal statements, including the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, as faithful expressions of historic evangelical Christianity.

The First Academy is a nondenominational institution, but each faculty member must sign a statement affirming his or her adherence to the following doctrinal positions. Additionally, parents of our students must support these statements in their own lives/practices, live a lifestyle consistent with these practices before their children, and support the school in teaching these as moral truth.

1. The Scriptures: We believe that the entire Bible, all 66 books of the combined Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings. Through the providence of God, the Word of God has been protected and preserved, and is the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

2. God: We believe that there is only one true, living sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each being a distinct person with a distinct function, but all of one essence and all possessing the same nature, perfection, and attributes. The triune God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, confidence and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31)

3. Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, shed His blood on the cross to pay the debt for our sins, was buried, bodily resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return literally, visibly, and personally in glory and power. (John 1:1-3,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; I Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11)

4. Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is the chief convictor of sin, the chief agent of regeneration and sanctification. The Holy Spirit lives within every believer and empowers every believer to live a godly life. (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9,11; Titus 3:5)

5. Mankind: We believe that in the beginning God created mankind in His image, and is not in any sense the product of evolution. Mankind was originally created with the ability to live perfectly for God’s glory. (Genesis 1:27, 31)

6. Sin: We believe that Adam, the first man, sinned by disobedience. This act resulted in the fall of all mankind, therefore, all people have sinned and lost their ability to live for the glory of God. Every person’s sin incurs both physical and spiritual death until there is forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God. (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23)

13 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

7. Salvation: We believe the salvation of lost and sinful people is a free gift of God’s grace apart from human works, based solely upon Christ’s vicarious and atoning death, effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and received only through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from death. (Ephesians 2:810; II Corinthians 5:21) 8. The Church: We believe that the church is the body of Christ and the family of God. It is made up of saved and baptized believers, who regularly join together for worship, fellowship and ministry. (Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25)

9. Evangelism: We believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)

10. The Home: We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by blood or adoption with marriage as the foundation. Marriage, as designed

by God, is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment. In addition to these important beliefs, we also believe that God has given the parents and the home the responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6) We believe that a consistent and whole education will occur when home, church and school work closely together and are in agreement on the basic concepts of life.

Parent Cooperation The First Academy’s educational mission involves working closely with the home in the overall Christian education of students. The First Academy views itself as partnering with parents in the educational process. As a result, parents enrolling their children (and in order to maintain enrollment), agree to support and cooperate with The First Academy in the education of their child and also agree to support the religious educational philosophy of the school. This is founded upon the biblical principle articulated in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.” Parents also agree to support The First Academy with prayers and a positive attitude. Complaints or negative comments will be shared with the teacher, administrator or person involved, in accordance with Matthew 18 Principles. Parents agree that if at any time, parents/guardians act in a manner that demonstrate a lack of support for The First Academy or its religious educational philosophy, or otherwise reflect a lack of cooperation and commitment to the home and school working together, The First Academy has the right, in its sole discretion, to remove any student or to discontinue further enrollment of any student.

Parents/guardians acknowledge and agree that their conduct can jeopardize the enrollment status and/or continued enrollment of their child. If a parent of a current student files a lawsuit (or threatens to do so) against the school, his/her student will be dismissed from school until the matter is settled.

Lifestyle Policy The First Academy’s biblical role is to work in conjunction with the home to provide an education grounded upon spiritual truth and to mold students to be Christ-like. On occasion, the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home may be counter or in opposition to the biblical lifestyle The First Academy teaches. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to sexual immorality, homosexual and transgender orientation, or inability to support the moral principles of The First Academy. The First Academy expects parents/guardians to refrain from conduct or a lifestyle which would undermine the religious, Christian beliefs and values taught by the School and to cooperate and support the religious educational philosophy of the School. In such circumstances The First Academy, predicated upon religious reasons, cannot effectively partner with the parent/guardian because of the divergence between the religious teachings of the School, which permeate the entire educational experience and philosophy of The First Academy, and the beliefs, attitude, lifestyle, or conduct of the parent/guardian. In such circumstances, The First Academy reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student.

A covenant signifies a solemn oath and sincere pledge of mutual respect and cooperation. The First Academy covenants to provide the best it can for your children in the way of facilities, curriculum, faculty, athletics, social functions, and instruction. We further pledge to do all possible to support your home in growing every student in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As the legal parent/guardian of your children, parent/guardian covenants to support The First Academy in its efforts at Christian education. We, the parents, agree that it is our responsibility to strive diligently toward the observance of the “Parent/Guardian Statement of Support” as God enables us by the power of the Holy Spirit. If, for some reason, we become dissatisfied, we promise to handle the matter privately and lovingly. If support or resolution cannot be reached, we recognize it is our responsibility to leave The First Academy and seek a school in alignment with our 14 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

personal convictions. Together, as a school and as parents (guardians), we pledge to submit our lives to one another and to the final authority of the Word of God.

Parents'/Guardians' Statement of Support §

We have received and read the “Statement of Doctrinal Beliefs” of The First Academy and are willing to have our children educated in accordance with them.

§

We will regularly and earnestly pray for The First Academy.

§

We will worship the Lord regularly at a Bible – believing church.

§

We will fully cooperate in the education activities of The First Academy by doing our best to make Christian education effective in the lives of our children.

§

We will require our children to support the spiritual activities of The First Academy (Chapel, Bible classes, Scripture memory, etc.).

§

We will pay all of our financial obligations to The First Academy on or before the date due. If we are ever unable to do so, we will notify the Business Office, giving a reasonable explanation for the delay and stating when payment will be made.

§

The First Academy has full discretion in the discipline of our children in accordance with the “Dress Code Policy” and the “Discipline Policy” as published.

§

The First Academy reserves the right to place our children at the appropriate grade level and designate the appropriate teacher(s).

§

The First Academy reserves the right to dismiss any student when either the parents/guardians or the student does not cooperate with the educational philosophy or the policies of the School.

§

We will volunteer for duties and responsibilities for The First Academy, as opportunities arise and God provides the time and strength.

§

We will be faithful to attend all parent functions at The First Academy, as best as we can. These include Open House, Parent Association meetings, parent conference requests, information nights, etc.

§

If we become dissatisfied with The First Academy in any way, we will resolve the matter with the person(s) involved, privately and lovingly, rather than spreading criticism and negativity (Matthew 18:15-17; 5:23-24). We understand that failure to adhere to expected standards may result in The First Academy, at its discretion, denying future enrollment or discontinuing enrollment of our student at The First Academy.

§

We will seek to support and advance The First Academy in every area possible – spiritually, academically, physically, and financially.

§

We will make a yearly tax-deductible gift to the school above and beyond tuition to an area of our choosing.

§

We will agree to follow the complaint resolution procedure understanding that failure to do so may result in my child(ren) being dismissed from The First Academy.

Student Honor Code (Grades K4 – 12) Attendance at The First Academy is a great privilege. Like all privileges, it comes with certain responsibilities. I, therefore, personally accept each of the following Christian responsibilities: §

Love God Wholeheartedly- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30

§

Serve Others Joyfully- "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Philippians 2:3-4

§

Obey Authority- "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17 15 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

Work Diligently- "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23

Student Agreement of Conduct (Grades 7 – 12) As a Christ-centered school, The First Academy desires that every school employee and student reflect a lifestyle pleasing to Jesus Christ. Because of this, who we are and what we do, both on and off campus are extremely important. Realizing that students are representatives of The First Academy and that the expectations of biblical behavior are not limited to a specific time or location, expected conduct standards apply to students both in and out of school and whether on campus or away from campus. Thus, parents understand and agree that a student’s conduct away from campus and outside of school hours can result in disciplinary action. Since the testimony of our lives is so significant, you are asked to read and sign the following agreement which pertains to student conduct both on and off campus, during and after school. §

§

To God Almighty – I believe and depend on the gospel, which is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). I will seek to honor the Lord in all that I think, say and do and I will humbly submit to His commands (Deuteronomy 26:17). I recognize that my appearance and behavior reflects on God as much as on me and my earthly family (I Corinthians 10:31).

To my parents – I will attempt to honor my parents in everything I think, say and do (Exodus 20:12). I will seek to learn all that I can from them (Ephesians 6:1-3). I acknowledge that I cannot receive what I need in life or godliness without them (Psalm 78:1-8).

§

To my church – I will submit to all the authorities in the church that God has placed over me (Titus 2:1-5). I will make worship, discipleship, and spiritual growth a priority in my life (Galatians 2:20). I will attempt to be an ambassador of Christ and His church wherever I am (Matthew 28:19-20).

§

To my teachers – I will demonstrate respect, attentiveness, gratitude, and obedience to my teachers (Hebrews 13:1). I will seek to do all the work that I have been assigned with diligence, honesty and integrity (Ephesians 5:817). I will do my utmost to learn and achieve as much as I possibly can (Philippians 2:3-7).

§

To my classmates – I will honor and respect the time, work and feelings of my fellow students (Rom. 12:9-18). I will model honesty, integrity, kindness, and modesty in my relationship (Philippians 2:3-7). I will love others by confronting their sin (and receiving their correction) in a spirit of love and humility (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Additionally: §

I will strive for excellence as a student in all that I say and do.

§

I will obey biblical principles with regard to speech and conduct.

§

I will show respect and cooperate with those in authority at The First Academy. Students are to listen and obey school authorities (i.e. teachers, staff and administrators). Defiance or insubordination of authority is not permitted.

§

I will not try, use or possess alcohol, drugs or tobacco.

§

I will avoid cursing, sexual immorality (including professing to be a homosexual/bisexual/and transgender or practicing homosexual/bisexual/and transgender behaviors), witchcraft, dissension, and cheating. Specific acts and attitudes that The First Academy does not accept or tolerate are cited in Galatians 5:19-21.

§

I will dress in accordance with the guidelines set forth by The First Academy dress code policy.

§

I will comply with the discipline policy of The First Academy.

§

I will use appropriate, non-violent means to resolve any conflict. Students should keep their hands off other students at all times. Any form of aggressive behavior, such as bullying, insults, threats, inappropriate teasing, and harassment are demeaning to other students, disruptive to the educational environment and are not tolerated.

§

I will strive to complete all assignments on time and to the best of my abilities and demonstrate academic integrity in all assignments and course work.

§

I will engage in conversation which is appropriate and honoring to God. Profanity, inappropriate joking/language or innuendoes are not acceptable.

16 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

I will respect the personal property of others. Students should leave the property of others alone. Destruction, damaging, tampering with or the theft of another individual’s or The First Academy’s property is not tolerated.

§

I will view other students as brothers and sisters in Christ.

§

I will not engage in any actions that compromise the safety of other persons or The First Academy.

§

I will abide by the other policies set forth herein, including, but not limited to the policies prohibiting harassment, prohibiting threats of violence, and prohibiting possession of any weapons at The First Academy or its related activities.

§

I will be courteous, cooperative, and accepting of instruction and discipline.

§

I will avoid any other conduct which brings discredit to The First Academy, its standards, or violates the biblical teachings or standards. Such conduct may, based upon the facts and circumstances, result in discipline.

§

I understand that once I enroll at The First Academy, I am part of The First Academy family wherever I am.

Therefore, I agree to avoid behavior, both on and off-campus, that would dishonor Jesus Christ, The First Academy, the church, my family, and me.

§

I understand that I can be held accountable by The First Academy for any negative behavior both on and off campus at any time during the year. If The First Academy determines the inappropriate behavior impacts my witness for Christ, the school’s reputation and/or other TFA students or families in a negative manner, suspension or expulsion may result.

Students agree to uphold each of the above statements before enrolling in The First Academy. Parents and students agree that any violation of the above, or other policies set forth herein may result in discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Changes to Policies The Board of TFA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to alter, amend, or repeal any policy, or to adopt new policies when it determines it to be in the best interest of The First Academy, following written notice to all Parents/Guardians by the Head of School. Parents/Guardians agree to abide by the current policies and any changes or modifications made pursuant to this provision.

17 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

ACADEMICS College Guidance The First Academy believes in ministering to the total needs of our students, based upon Christian beliefs and practices.

Advisors are available to assist students and families by helping to solve problems that a student might encounter at school, interpreting test scores, assisting college and academic preparation, assisting with student testing and assessment decisions, choosing a career and college, applying for post-secondary scholarships, and providing information for college entrance exams.

Recommendation Letter Requests Students must request for recommendation letters through Naviance 2 weeks before the College Admission Application deadlines. Most likely, recommendation requests made less than 2 weeks before an application deadline will not be completed before that deadline. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure timely requests are made.

All recommendation letters are confidential between the recommender and the institution. Under no circumstances will recommendation letters be shared with students.

Academic Probation Students are expected to meet specific minimum academic requirements in core subject areas. Failure to maintain these may result in Academic Probation and/or specific summer school requirements, retentions (grades K4 – 8) or withdrawal from The First Academy. Student(s) on Academic Probation may be removed from school activities that distract from maintaining academic requirements. Reinstatement to good standing in academic status will take place at the end of each quarter by the Principal. The minimum academic expectations are: 1.

Pass every core subject at a level of 70% or higher (K4 – 1 the exception).

2.

Maintain an overall 2.0 or higher GPA.

Academic Probation will be assessed at the end of each quarter.

Add/Drop Course Procedures Middle School (Grades 7-8) and Upper School (Grades 9 – 12) Students may drop or add a course within the first two full weeks of the class, if the master schedule allows. After the first two weeks, add/drop may occur only due to academic misplacement or at the recommendation of a teacher. Students adding a class are responsible for making up all missed work.

An Upper School course that is dropped after the first 12 weeks of the semester will receive a “W” on the transcript with no credit given. Enrollment opportunity will be dependent upon course availability.

Course Withdrawal forms can be obtained through the College Guidance office. This form requires students obtain approval from their College Advisor and New Course Teacher before a change can be made.

Students wishing to make a change after the deadline may be placed in a study hall instead of a credit bearing course.

When possible, students will be placed in a new course based on teacher approval. *Quarter 1 grade received in the previous course will be averaged with the Quarter 2 grade of the new course.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses In order to be eligible for an AP class: 1.

2.

A student is expected to meet grade specific percentile requirements on standardized tests.

Departmental recommendation: evidence includes work completion, meeting required deadlines, minimal absences/tardies, work ethic, class participation/behavior, effort to analyze/synthesize beyond the minimum expectation, and an exhibition of written work.

18 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

3.

Summer work is assigned to AP students prior to beginning their courses in the fall. Assigned summer work is due the first day of class. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the student being required to drop to honors level.

4.

Additional charges for books and testing apply.

5.

All students enrolled in an AP course must take the AP exam at the end of the course and pay the examination fee.

Students who do not qualify for an AP course via test scores or teacher/department recommendation may enroll in the course by submitting the Curriculum Support Letter signed by their parents/guardians (based on course availability).

6.

Parents and students will sign a contract that outlines what is expected. AP courses are weighted a 1.0 grade point above the standard. Students who take the AP exam at the end of the course and fail will still be given AP-weighted credit, regardless of the score.

When making the determination concerning whether an AP course is the best option, please consider the following: A successful experience in any AP course necessitates the student understand the course operates under these expectations. ü

High-Level Reading Comprehension

ü

Strong Work Ethic, Willing to Persevere

ü

Regular Class Attendance Mandatory for Success

ü

Substantial Amounts of Information Covered in a Short Amount of Time

ü

Memorization Necessary for Analysis of Facts Retained

ü

Routine Analysis of Historical Documents

ü

Essay Writing Guided by Specific Instructions

ü

Course Intended to Prepare Student for AP Exam

ü

Course Tracks for Students Interested in Pre-Law or Research Related Fields

(Although a student not interested in these fields may of course participate.)

In order for an automatic invite to enroll in an AP course, a student must meet the following criteria:

PSAT Reading

PSAT Writing

Rising 9 Grade

50

50

Rising 10 Grade

th

55

55

th

Rising 11 Grade

60

60

AP English Language

70

70

AP English Literature

70

70

th

AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BS PSAT Math: 70

Biblical Worldview Integration The First Academy is a Christ-centered college preparatory school. It is vital that there be focus and implementation of Biblical Worldview Integration (BWI) in all areas of academic accomplishment. The primary means of accomplishing biblical Integration at The First Academy encompasses the provision of a Christ-centered atmosphere for school personnel, 19 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

students, and families. This atmosphere will be realized and enhanced through consistent prayer, devotions, training, nurturing, and shepherding of students and their families. A second path to attaining Biblical Integration at The First Academy is through the deliberate merging of the Biblical Worldview Integration into all areas of curriculum content as the instructional staff consistently strives to inform and influence student learning. This will be achieved by intersecting the truths of Scripture with the teachings of the various curricula. Biblical Integration includes the immersion, demonstration, and influence of biblical doctrine and truth as it relates to all aspects of learning.

Challenged Materials The First Academy encourages and supports the rights of all parents to monitor their child’s reading and instructional materials. However, those rights extend only to their own children. Individuals are not free to define what is appropriate for all students or teachers to read, view, or hear. Each student is free to choose from the collection of materials that meet his or her family’s standards and leave on the shelf those which do not. As a college preparatory school, TFA retains the right for students to have available materials that follow the TFA Mission Statement. Despite the great care taken in the selection process, there may be occasional objections raised to some of the materials included in the TFA Library/Media Center. Concerns should be handled in a Scriptural manner, following the principles in Matthew 18:15-17. Any parent, faculty, or staff member may challenge materials he or she deems objectionable by following the procedures outlined herein.

When materials are challenged, the following procedure is to be followed: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Formal objections to library materials may be made by filling out a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form. The form must be signed by the complainant and filed with the Librarian/Media Specialist.

Upon receipt of a request, the Librarian/Media Specialist shall refer it to the Reconsideration Committee. This committee shall consist of (but not be limited to) the Librarian/Media Specialist, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and at least one member of the Language Arts Vertical Team.

The Literacy Committee reviews the challenged materials, re-evaluates the material, and makes the decision to keep or remove the materials from the library.

The complainant is notified in writing of the Literacy Committee’s decision.

Appeals to the Literacy Committee’s decision may be made in writing to the appropriate Principal.

Chapel/Assemblies Chapel and assemblies are a part of the curriculum and are designed to be educational, profitable, and spiritually enriching experiences. Chapel provides one of the few opportunities in school to participate in worship, to hear a motivational speaker, to watch a drama, and to learn formal audience behavior. Regardless of the type of program, courtesy demands that the student body be respectful and appreciative. Talking, whispering, whistling, and booing are discourteous. Parents are invited to attend. Chapel is required for all students. Failure to attend will result in disciplinary action. Attendance will be taken for grades 7 – 12.

iPad/Computer Use/Internet Statement The technology program at The First Academy provides the students with many opportunities to use a variety of exciting resources including the use of computers and the Internet. It is understood that computer use and Internet access for TFA students is a privilege, not a right. Computer misuse, including TFA computers and private computers while on campus, consists of the inappropriate use of a computer including, but not limited to, accessing or breaking into restricted accounts or networks, modifying or destroying files without permission, sending inappropriate messages, illegally copying software, entering, accessing, viewing, distributing inappropriate/unauthorized files or programs on or off campus..

The communications services and equipment at The First Academy (including, but not limited to, telephone, fax, photocopy machines, email, computer network, computer files, and Internet access or use) are School property and should be used only for appropriate purposes. Accordingly, TFA may intercept, monitor, review, or disclose any use of communication systems at the School, as it may select. Messages sent or received, materials or websites viewed, files created, or any use of TFA’s communications system or equipment is not a student’s private property and a student has no ownership rights in such materials or expectation of privacy in the use of the School’s communications services and equipment. Students do not have any expectation of privacy in any communications or files created, stored, sent, viewed, or received upon The First 20 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Academy’s communication services and equipment, regardless of whether the materials, files, or communications are intended or designated as private.

The First Academy reserves the right to monitor at any time, without notice, any student’s use of any of the School’s communication service or equipment. This includes, but is not limited to, installing programs that monitor a student’s use of the Internet and electronic communications, and to take disciplinary action based upon any violation of expected conduct standards discovered.

Students should keep their username and password to TFA’s network confidential, and they will be held accountable for any action associated with their account.

All users of the computers, mobile devices, and the Internet will agree to sign an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) that adheres to the following Code of Ethics, which applies to both school and home use of computers and the Internet: I will strive to act in situations with honesty, integrity, and respect for the rights of others and to help others to behave in a similar fashion. I will make a conscious effort to be a good testimony to my fellow students, faculty members, and others I communicate with on the Internet. I agree to follow The First Academy’s basic rules. I will strive to apply Philippians 4:8 and Psalms 101:3 to my electronic communication.

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes.” Psalms 101:3 Internet Acceptable Use Policy

In order to assist students in learning to use the Internet correctly, The First Academy will do everything it can to ensure that students access resources appropriately. This includes providing: §

A reliable connection that is protected by Censorware. Censorware blocks sites that are objectionable for content, language, or a variety of other things that The First Academy has defined as inappropriate, such as releasing personal information.

§

Supervision of students while they are using the Internet during school hours.

The Internet user is held responsible for his/her actions whenever using the Internet. Unacceptable uses of the network will result in the suspension or revoking of these privileges as well as possible discipline. Some examples of unacceptable use are, but are not limited to: § § § § § § § § § § § § § §

using the network for any illegal activity using the network for financial gain or initiating any financial transactions degrading or disrupting the equipment or system performance. Any security problems must be reported to the Director of Technology and not shared with other users. vandalizing the data of another user. wastefully using finite resources after being warned and instructed as to proper use. gaining unauthorized access to resources, including attempting to get around the Censorware installed on a computer with Internet access - this includes the use of proxy websites to avoid the surf control program invading the privacy of individuals including reading mail that belongs to others without their permission using an account owned by another user – with or without that user’s permission posting personal communications without the author’s consent or posting information containing information not meant to be made public posting rude or inappropriate messages downloading viruses or attempting to circumvent virus protection programs downloading any information from the Internet without teacher approval attempting to by-pass the firewall especially by the use of a proxy website (violation will result in loss of Internet privileges) violating the spirit of The First Academy’s Mission Statement

21 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

The Internet user and his/her parents must understand that he/she uses the Internet at his/her own risk. Considering the provisions mentioned above, TFA will not assume responsibility for: § § §

§

the reliability of the content of a source received by a user (students must evaluate and cite resources appropriately) costs that the student incurs if they request a product or service for a fee any consequences of disruption in service that may result in lack of resources. Though every effort will be made to insure a reliable connection, there may be times when the Internet service is down or scheduled for use by teachers, classes, or other students guaranteeing privacy of mail

Though we do support privacy of email, users must not assume that this is guaranteed. The Technology Director and the principals reserve the right to investigate possible misuses and to monitor any email from TFA students which may contain: § § § §

suggestive and/or graphic language threats against any TFA faculty, staff, or student content that goes against the Student Code of Conduct any required assignments that cannot be completed because student has lost Internet user privileges due to misuse of those privileges

Use of Electronic Devices

The First Academy supports the authentic integration of technology with teaching and learning. Students are permitted to use personal electronic devices (cell phones, iDevices, electronic readers, and personal laptops) for educational purposes within the parameters as outlined by The First Academy student handbook. Students may not use ear piece devices while on campus unless they are used for academic purposes.

Conditional Enrollment Sponsor (grades 9-12) From time to time, students enrolled in The First Academy need extra help and incentive to be successful in our academic program or discipline program. While it is The First Academy’s desire to see all students achieve, it is further understood that there are things that the school can do to help students in these circumstances. Toward this goal, the Conditional Enrollment Sponsor (CES) has been created.

In the event that a student is accepted to The First Academy under enrollment conditions, that student will be assigned a Conditional Enrollment Sponsor. The CES is responsible for the following items: 1.

Implement a Conditional Enrollment Plan (CEP) as written by the US Assistant Principal. The CEP is an academic or behavioral plan written specifically for the student involved. It will define the necessary student Academic/behavioral progress needed to continue enrollment in The First Academy.

2.

Set up a supervisory schedule with the student involved. The CES should meet with the student no less than biweekly to check on progress toward the goals outlined in the CEP.

The CEP should ensure that the sponsor is in communication regarding the student involved. This may include, but is not limited to, obtaining a copy of the student's schedule, being copied on emails from teachers to the family, and communicating with the Assistant Principal regarding disciplinary and/or other relevant issues.

Valencia Dual Enrollment TFA Students have another great way to get challenge themselves in college level courses to prepare for educational opportunities after high school. Students can have the opportunity to fulfill both high school graduation requirements and college requirements! TFA is partnered with Valencia College to offer Dual Enrollment courses students in 6th-12th grade. Students must meet the following requirements:

§

Have at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA for grades 6-11th; or 3.0 weighted GPA for 12th grade at the time of application.

22 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

§

Demonstrate college readiness in reading, writing and math. (Student will need to provide collegeready test scores from the PERT, ACT or SAT by the assessment scores deadline.) Please see the chart.

Be a resident of Orange or Osceola County and enrolled in grades 6 – 12 at The First Academy.

When taking Valencia Dual Enrollment courses at TFA:

§

§

§ §

§ § §

Students will report to the Computer Lab during the scheduled Dual Enrollment class (or after school hours)and will work independently on course assignments, tests, etc. Grades will be given by Valencia professors.

Dual-enroll final grades will be listed on the transcript as an alphanumeric grade and calculated into the TFA GPA with a weight factor of 1.0 (same as AP level classes). These grades will appear ONLY on the student transcript.

Students may take only the General Core classes that are not offered at TFA. If a student withdraws from a course, that withdrawal will appear on their TFA transcript. Must maintain a 3.0 high school GPA and a 2.0 Valencia College GPA in order to continue participation in the DE program; Academic Probation, two "W"s/withdrawals, or Academic Warning with less than a 2.0 will result in dismissal from further program participation Permitted to register for up to 4 courses/13 credit hours for Fall and Spring terms; 2 courses/7 credit hours for Summer term Courses must be creditable towards successful completion of high school graduation requirements May not register for remedial/developmental, physical education, flex start, or less than 3 credit hour courses

Please visit http://valenciacollege.edu/dual/private-school.cfm to register. Students are responsible for completing the enrollment process in accordance with the college’s requirements.

Duke Talent Identification Program As stated on the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) website (www.tip.duke.edu), Duke TIP is a non-profit organization that is recognized as a leader in identifying and serving the educational needs of academically talented youth. th

th

th

Students in grades 4 - 6 may qualify for Duke TIP recognition by scoring a 95 percentile or higher on at least one of the identified subtests from the previous spring's standardized testing. The following January, qualifying students are sent a notification letter, along with an application to apply for the TIP program. Students who choose to participate in the program are entitled to periodic publications that contain articles and activities designed to spark creativity and help develop a wide range of interests. He/she may also choose to learn more about his/her academic talents by taking the EXPLORE test. EXPLORE is a multiple-choice test developed by American College Testing (ACT) to evaluate eighth grade students' academic development. Whether a student chooses to enroll and participate in the program, he/she will be recognized for achieving a qualifying score at the year-end awards chapel. th

th

In addition to its 4 -6 grade recognition, the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) also includes an annual talent search th for 7 grade students who display academic excellence in math and/or verbal aptitude. Students qualify by scoring in the th th th 95 percentile in specific math or verbal subtests that are accessed through their 5 or 6 grade standardized testing. A th reception for qualifying students is hosted by The First Academy during the fall of the 7 grade year. At that time, parents and students are given information regarding TIP, which includes the opportunity to register and take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT with 11th and 12th graders at an area high school. Students are not required to take the SAT, but those that choose to participate and score 510 or above in critical reading or 520 or above in Math are invited to attend a special recognition ceremony hosted by a Florida university. Students who qualify on the state level will also be invited to nationally recognized summer programs at Duke University and other college campuses.

23 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Eligibility Grades 6 – 12

Eligibility applies to athletics, music, drama or any other activity where students represent The First Academy publicly.

Eligibility will abide by the following guidelines. Students must: §

Be enrolled as a full-time student at The First Academy or The Classical School.

§

On the first day of the school year, the student must be at his/her proper grade level and on schedule to graduate.

§

Maintain a 2.0 Semester GPA.

§

All student athletes who are participating at the varsity level shall be subject to the FHSAA guidelines.

§

At the end of any nine (9) weeks, a student with two or more classes with a 62% or below shall be ineligible to practice/play for three weeks. At the end of three weeks, there must be evidence of improvement and those grades below a 62% improved to at least a 70%. If grades do not show improvement, a weekly check will be made for eligibility.

Students will be unable to participate in practice or events due to the following conditions: Ineligibility due to grades Students must have a 2.0 semester GPA, failure to do so will result in not being able to participate (practice or events) for the next semester. Students will be evaluated at the end of each semester.

Out of school suspension Students may not participate in practice or events from the beginning of the suspension until the student returns to classes. This may include evening and weekend events. Students suspended from participation shall not be permitted to participate in any event-related activity including practice, dress out, or travel to the event with the team or group.

Evening of the Arts: Lower School The Evening at the Arts is a one-of-a-kind presentation that occurs on two consecutive evenings in May. It encompasses a th K4-6 grade Visual Arts show and a musical in which students in grades 4-6 may participate. The spring musical is sponsored by the Fine Arts & Special Area Faculty of Lower School and is an event that involves wide spread cooperation among parents, students and departments within The First Academy community. There is a mandatory meeting for all parents of participants following the auditions to: 1) review the parent/student commitment and rehearsal schedule and 2) to enlist parent volunteers.

Extra Credit At times, students will ask for extra credit assignments when grades are low in order to improve their grades. There is a fallacy in this request. If a student is not doing well with regular work, additional work will not help the student perform better. Extra work is not permitted for the purpose of improving grades. A teacher may, at his/her discretion, allow a student to repeat an assignment in a different format. A teacher may also individualize a previous assignment in order to improve skills and/or to replace a low grade. This will not, however, be used as a last-minute effort to salvage a low grade.

Teachers may also give bonus questions on tests or quizzes; however, questions must be from the studied curriculum and of a higher level of thinking.

Extracurricular Activities The extracurricular activities that are available include, but are not limited to, athletics, Fine Arts, clubs, and Student Government. While extracurricular activities are important and strongly encouraged, these activities do not supersede academics and conduct. Good academic performance and proper behavior are needed to be able to participate in any extracurricular activity.

Participation Guidelines: §

Participation in a school-sponsored extracurricular activity is a privilege.

24 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

A higher standard of excellence is expected from students involved in these activities. Participating students are representing our school, our community, our state, and our Lord Jesus Christ. The standard of behavior should be one that exhibits pride, politeness, and responsibility.

§

It is important for students to understand that the behavioral expectations placed upon them by The First Academy can extend beyond the classroom and school campus.

§

The student must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

§

The student must be at school or involved in an approved school-day activity for the majority of the day in order to participate in any extracurricular event occurring that day.

After School Emergency Procedures

The First Academy school health clinic hours are 8:00am-3:30pm on school days. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure access to emergency medication/equipment when The First Academy health clinic is closed. If your child participates in an after school activity (sports, drama, club, after care, etc.), you will need to make arrangements with the instructor for instructions/access to any emergency medical supplies (inhaler, EpiPen, etc.) for your child. The student will not be permitted to carry medication(s) or any medical supply unless they have a written medical authorization. There will be no access to the emergency medication/equipment stored in the school health clinic before 8:00am or after 3:30pm.

We appreciate your cooperation as we try to ensure the well-being of your child.

Special Interest Clubs/Activities For a complete list of clubs please visit the school’s website.

Field Day (LS/TCS) Field Day is held each spring and is planned by the Lower School Physical Education department for grades K4-6. Field Day activities are scheduled for morning and involve games and other fun activities. The Classical School (TCS) students also have a Field Day scheduled each year.

Field Trips Education is not limited to the classroom. Teachers may choose to take their class to off-site locations for firsthand experiences. In order to participate in a field trip, a student must have on file a signed Permission Form from his/her parent(s) and must have earned the right to attend. To earn this right, a student must demonstrate that he/she has the discipline to obey the rules and regulations that are necessary to have a safe and successful trip. Any faculty member, with the consent of his/her principal, may choose not to take any student who has demonstrated a lack of self-discipline and may be a potentially disruptive influence on a trip. Parents will be provided with all information concerning the trip and adequate chaperones will be acquired. If an overnight stay is required for a field trip or athletic event, TFA administration will schedule a mandatory parent meeting at least two weeks prior to the field trip to review the details of the trip. See TFA Dress Code for Field Trip attire.

General Field Trips: Schedule and applicable fees will be available through the classroom teachers. Costs associated with field trips will be included in the activity fee.

Chaperones: TFA reserves the right to limit the number of chaperones attending a field trip.

Siblings: Only those students in the grade level on the field trip are permitted to attend. In an effort to maintain a safe and secure as well as educational experience for all involved, parents serving as chaperones are not permitted to bring siblings along on the trip. th

th

8 Grade Washington D.C. Trip: As an experiential study of United States history in the 8 Grade, students travel to Washington, D.C. to tour historic monuments, government buildings, and museums. The cost is an extracurricular fee.

Senior Ski Trip: Traditionally, seniors travel to Breckenridge, Colorado for five days of skiing and snowboarding in March.

The cost is an extracurricular fee.

25 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Final Examinations Seniors with 85% or higher and with 4 or fewer absences during the last semester may be exempt from the final assessment. Core classes that are only one semester will have a final assessment regardless of which semester it was taken.

Proposed Online Coursework Policy for The Virtual Academy

TFA Students are invited to take online coursework with TVA with two models to choose from:

Hybrid - Students take four courses on campus (either AM or PM blocks) and the remaining three courses online with TVA. There is no additional cost to students for the hybrid model.

Supplemental Online Course(s) - Students may take one or more online courses with TVA to supplement their schedule.

This can be done during the day and scheduled into the library or can be done outside of the school day schedule and completed at home. The supplemental courses are $750 per semester.

Grades earned with TVA will appear on semester report cards through RenWeb and transcripts.

Online Coursework (including Florida Virtual School)

TFA students are permitted to take online coursework on either of the following two conditions: • All graduation requirements have been met within a given discipline, and a student wishes to take a course not offered at The First Academy. • A student has an unsolvable schedule conflict preventing them from otherwise taking a course necessary for graduation.

Grades earned from online courses are not included in the report card. However, semester grades will appear on the transcript and calculated towards the cumulative grade point average. Any other requests for online courses require approval from the Guidance office. Seniors completing FLVS courses must complete all coursework 10 business days before graduation to ensure accurate and timely processing of grades and credit allocation.

Grading A serious attempt is always made to provide parents and students some evaluation of a student's progress that is consistent and meaningful. A student's grades may include test scores, quiz scores, homework, notebook checks, labs, projects, reports, term papers and classroom participation.

The grading system, as reflected on each nine-week report card is as follows: st

Academic Scale (Grades 2-12)

K4, TK, K and 1 Grade

100% - 90%

A

Skills based on assessment

Pass or Fail

89% - 80%

B

79% - 70%

C

69% - 60%

D

Special Area Classes K-5

59% & Below F

CP H AP/DE Grade Grade Grade Grade Point Point Point 100 5.0 5.5 6.0 99 4.9 5.4 5.9 98 4.8 5.3 5.8 97 4.7 5.2 5.7 96 4.6 5.1 5.6 26 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

95 94 93 92 91 90 89 -- -- 66 65 64 63 62 61 60

4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.0 3.9 -- -- 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0

5.0 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.4 -- 4.2 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5

5.5 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.0 4.9 -- 4.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.0

Students in grades 7 – 12 can earn up to 7 credits per academic school year.

Credits are awarded twice during the year. Students earn half of their credits during the first semester and the other half during the second semester. Students in grades 7 – 12 will take an assessment test at the end of each quarter and take a final exam at the end of the fourth quarter. The only exception is a core 1 semester course which will have a final exam. Semester grades are awarded on the following basis:

Grades 7 – 8

st nd Semester 1 grade = 50% (1 nine wks. Grade) + 50% (2 nine wks. Grade) rd

th

Semester 2 grade = 50% (3 nine wks. Grade) + 50% (4 nine wks. Grade) Grades 9 – 12

st nd Semester 1 grade = 50% (1 nine wks. Grade) + 50% (2 nine wks. Grade) rd

th

Semester 2 grade = 50% (3 nine wks. Grade) + 50% (4 nine wks. Grade) + end-ofcourse exams are worth 2 test grades For a student to be awarded credit, he/she must receive an overall passing grade for the semester. However, if a passing mark is not obtained, credit will not be awarded and the student will have to make up the credit.

Grade Point Average Calculation The First Academy uses a 5.0 weighted grade point scale for grades 9-12 for the purposes of determining Valedictorian, Salutatorian, honor rolls and transcripts. See Weighting section for an explanation of weighted grades. The quarterly GPA that is printed on report cards does not include grades earned from Dual Enrollment (DE) or from Florida Virtual School (FLVS). DE and FLVS credits are treated as transfer grades. As such they are included in the transcript GPA calculation.

In addition to the 5.0 weighted GPA, The First Academy also calculates an un-weighted GPA in grades 9-12 using a 4.0 scale. The un-weighted scale is used for such things as FHSAA athletic eligibility, team GPA awards through FHSAA, and other various instances that do not include TFA in-house academic awards. The un-weighted 4.0 scale awards students grade points on the following scale:

100% - 90% 4.0 89% - 80% 3.0 79% - 79% 2.0 69% - 60% 1.0 Below 60% 0.0

Each semester of work at The First Academy is then averaged together to create a Cumulative Grade Point Average or a Cum GPA. In this way an un-weighted GPA and un-weighted Cum GPA are calculated for each student.

Weighting Students can receive weighted grade points for taking Honors, Dual Enrollment (DE), and Advance Placement (AP) classes.

When a student takes an Honors level class, the grade point awarded for that class is increased by 0.5 points. When a student takes an AP or DE class his/her GPA is awarded an increase of 1.0 points.

Transfer Grades (Grades 9-12) Transfer grades will be entered into a student's record and will be reflected on the transcript, not on the quarterly report card. Some institutions only report to The First Academy letter grades on official transcripts. When this occurs, student grades will appear on the TFA transcript as the letter grade reported from the transferring institution.

When a student transfers from a school with the Alpha-grading system, TFA will transfer the alpha grades on to the transcript with the following Cumulative GPA weighting:

§

Alpha-grades will be input with an additional 0.3: A=4.3, B=3.3, C=2.3, D=1.3 (Additional weighting will apply for Honors, Advanced Placement, Dual-Enrollment, and International Baccalaureate courses) 27 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

If new students are able to provide the College Guidance office with official documentation of numerical grades, then the numerical grades will be used instead of alpha-grades.

Graduation Our desire is that students will use the full four years to be involved in a wide range of academic and extracurricular experiences as he/she prepares for their college years. The minimum required courses (25 credits) for graduation are:

§ § § § § § § § § § § §

Bible (Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, World Religions, Apologetics) 4 Language Arts (English 9, 10, 11, 12) 4 Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Math higher than Algebra II) 3 (4) Science (Biology, Chemistry, Additional Science) 3 (4) Social Sciences (World History, American History and Government/Economics) 2 Foreign Language (Consecutive credits in the same language completed in High School) .5 Personal Fitness .5 Other P.E. Elective 1 Fine Arts 3.5 Electives 25 Credits Total 100 Community Service Hours (Beginning with the graduating class of 2021)

Bible will be waived for the year(s) that transfer students were not in attendance at The First Academy. (This does not change the 25-credit requirement for graduation.)

Students must complete a total of 7 credits between the Science and Social Science Departments. Specific courses required for graduation are indicated above.

Credits that count toward graduation begin in the ninth grade. Advance courses taken during Middle School (Algebra I, Geometry, Mandarin I, Spanish I, or Latin I) do not count towards the 25 credits towards graduation.

The student’s Math or foreign language requirements for graduation are not reduced. The purpose of taking advanced courses in Middle School is to make available extra time for more advanced work in grades 9-12.

A student must have earned a cumulative un-weighted GPA of 2.0 on a 5.0 scale. The final GPA will be determined at the end of the 8th Upper School semester.

The First Academy will waive the Personal Fitness credit of .5 for students who reach or exceed the 85th percentile on all five components of the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge.

The Other PE Elective course will be waived for students that participate in one year of Marching Band or two years of a JV or Varsity Sport at the Upper School. (This does not change the 25-credit requirement for graduation.)

All seniors are expected to submit a minimum of three college applications.

Early Graduation Policy If a student desires to graduate early from TFA the following prerequisites or guidelines must be adhered to:

1.

Parents must submit a letter during the spring of the junior year (stating significant scholastic reason).

2.

Student must be accepted to a college or university.

28 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

3.

Financial agreement will include the full year (senior).

4.

Complete the TFA/State required course load needed for the high school diploma.

5.

Key classes or assignments (senior thesis) must be completed.

Graduation Honors Students at The First Academy are encouraged to take the most rigorous course offering available to meet their individual goals and needs. TFA believes all students maintaining excellent grades whether in AP, Honors or College Prep courses should receive special recognition at graduation.

Summa cum laude

5.00 and above

Maximus cum laude

4.75 - 4.99999

Magna cum laude

4.50 - 4.74999

Cum laude

4.00 – 4.49999

Upper School Graduation Exercises The Upper School graduation program is designed to recognize the accomplishments of the students. All faculty and administration of The First Academy are required to attend.

Royal Scholar The Royal Scholars are students who have taken, at minimum, five Advanced Placement (AP) courses and Honors/Dual Enrollment courses. This totals a minimum of 14 courses during their Upper School career with grades no less than 80% in those courses. The only exception is for students who took an AP course in grades 9-11 which resulted in a grade of less than 80%. In these cases, AP Exam scores will be consulted. A passing score of 3 or higher on the AP Exam will be deemed as acceptable for qualification of the Royal Scholar Award. This is one of the most challenging academic achievements that TFA awards its students. Royal Scholars are recognized at graduation with a special seal on their diplomas and have the honor of wearing a white tassel as part of their graduation regalia.

Daniel & Esther Awards The Daniel and Esther Awards are presented to one male and one female student at the Awards Ceremony. These students are selected by faculty members because they fully embody the mission of The First Academy. The Daniel and Esther Awards are the most prestigious awards given to students graduating from The First Academy. Its recipients are awarded a scarlet stole at the Senior Awards Ceremony and are allowed to wear that stole as part of their graduation regalia.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

To be eligible for Valedictorian or Salutatorian Honors, a student must be enrolled in full time attendance at The First Academy for their entire junior and senior year. The academic portion of the formula will be based on a cumulative weighted grade point average calculated at the conclusion of the seventh semester of high school (first semester of senior year). Upper School courses completed in Middle School will not be calculated in the weighted GPA. Grades earned in Florida Virtual School courses as well as Dual Enrollment courses will be included in the GPA calculation when those courses are completed as part of a student’s Upper School curriculum.

Students who transfer to TFA during their freshman and sophomore year are eligible for consideration in Valedictorian and Salutatorian Honors only if they complete all of junior and senior year at TFA. Transfer students grades will be calculated into their weighted GPA based on the transfer grade policy at the time of their enrollment. Student’s graduating early will not be eligible for consideration in Valedictorian and Salutatorian Honors.

Humanities Scholars Humanities Scholars are students who earn additional course credits in the areas of Fine Arts, Social Sciences, and foreign language. Humanities Scholars must maintain an 85% or higher in Honors courses; 80% or achieve a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams.

4+ Social Science Credits (at least 1 AP) 29 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

3+ Foreign Languages (at least 1 Honors) 2+ Fine Arts

Home School at TFA (See The Classical School) Homework Homework serves two purposes – it reinforces and extends learning. The amount of time a student needs to complete homework varies from day-to-day and from student-to-student. The faculty attempts to gear assignments so that only a reasonable amount of time will be required, considering the subject matter and individual student needs and abilities. The First Academy urges that each student plan his/her out-of-school activities wisely so that adequate time is provided for homework. Wise planning of time will allow for completed homework assignments as well as for the development of personal responsibility. No homework is to be assigned during, nor is an assignment to be due immediately upon return from the following holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Spring Break, and Good Friday.

Note: AP courses will require homework during weekends and scheduled vacation breaks.

To help students budget their time, one should expect the following daily homework requirements: Grades K-2

30 minutes or less

Grades 3-6

One hour or less

Grades 7-8

One to two hours

Grades 9-12

Two to four hours (depending upon level of courses)

Note: AP course will require intensive study time.

®

Parent participation in providing assistance and accountability is crucial to the educational process of each child no matter what age. If the homework load seems excessive for your child, please take the following steps: 1.

Make sure there is a designated time and place for homework to be completed each night.

2.

Maintain a log of how much time is being spent on each subject/project for an entire week.

3.

Check RenWeb regularly for lesson plans and grade reports.

4.

Contact the Principal to discuss the issue further.

Honors Classes (Grades 5-12) In order to be eligible for honors classes, a student must meet the following requirements: 1.

A teacher, in the course under consideration, must recommend the student.

2.

A student must have scored in an excellent range in the subject areas on the school’s adopted achievement test.

3.

A student must have excelled in the subject during the previous year by making outstanding grades.

These courses are for the highly motivated student who possesses good study habits and has a high aptitude. These courses move at an accelerated pace and are more in-depth than regular classes. Students in honor courses are expected to maintain a grade of 80% or better. Those not meeting this expectation will not be recommended for honors level classes for the following year. Honors courses are weighted a 0.5 grade point above the standard weight.

Honor Roll To qualify for Honor Roll, a student must take a minimum of six graded classes. Study Hall and Student Assistant are nongraded in grades 9-12. Honor Roll is determined by the student‘s quarterly grades (for year-end awards ceremony, Quarters 1-3 will be used for evaluation).

Grades 7-12 Head of School's Honor Roll 5.0 or above Principal's Honor Roll 4.75 - 4.99999 30 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Collegiate Honor Roll 4.50 - 4.74999 Honor Roll 4.00 - 4.49999

Grades 4-6 Head of School’s Honor Roll 4.0 or above High Honor Roll 3.75 Honor Roll 3.5

K4 Program st

The K4 program is designed for students who are 4 years old by September 1 of the new school year.

Criteria for acceptance into the K4 program includes: st

§

Age 4 by September 1 of the new school year

§

K4 screening for 4 year olds

§

Kindergarten committee recommends placement

Kindergarten Kindergarten at TFA is a very special time. All students desiring to start Kindergarten must be five years old before September 1 of the school year in which they are to be enrolled. During this foundational year, students are given the building blocks of success for future education. Parents are encouraged to become active, supportive, and involved in the kindergarten program.

Late Work Our goal at TFA, is to help students understand that deadlines and due dates are a part of day-to-day living and can be reflective of work ethic and character. The following policy applies to students’ daily work and major assignments: Grades 1 – 3

There will be no deduction for late homework. However, repeated occurrences may result in disciplinary action at rd rd teacher’s discretion. Students in 3 grade will begin receiving deductions for late work in the 4th quarter of 3 grade as they prepare for the transition to 4th grade.

Grades 4 – 12 Daily Work/Homework: All work is expected to be completed and turned in on the assignment due date. In the event that daily work or homework is submitted one day late without an excused absence, there will be a 50% deduction in the grade.

No credit will be applied to any daily work turned in two or more days late without an excused absence. No late work will th th be accepted in 6 -12 grade Math.

Major Assignments/Projects: All major assignments and projects are expected to be completed and turned in on the assignment due date. In the event that major assignments or projects are submitted late, 10% will be deducted for each day the assignment/project is late. The 10% penalty will compound (10% day one, 20% day two, 30% day three, etc…) and apply each day for the equivalent of one school week (5 days). After 5 days, no credit will be applied to the assignment/project.

In the case of an unplanned absence, students are allowed the same number of days as the length of the absence in which to make up quizzes, tests, homework, and major assignments without penalty.

Learning i.e.

Learning-i.e. is a self-funded integrated division of The First Academy.

Learning-i.e. works in coordination and cooperation with classroom teachers, principals, guidance advisors, and families to provide additional educational services designed to intentionally enhance individual student educational experiences.

Its purpose is to provide intentionally enhanced supportive educational services to students with a variety of documented learning strengths and abilities. The primary services include: a) Student Academic Plan (SAP) Development and Monitoring, 31 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

b) Cooperative Consultation and Case Management, c) Development & Instruction of Learning i.e. classes, d) Management of Therapists, e) Coordination of Tutoring Services, and/or f) Faculty Support & Professional Development.

Library/Media Center Library Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm* Wednesday – 7:30 am to 2:35 pm Friday – 7:30 am to 3:30 pm *Students must be accompanied by parents or guardians in the library after school. Accelerated Reader testing is available until 4:15 pm and book checkout until 4:20 pm.

The TFA Media Center serves as the Academic Heartbeat for our entire school community. Students are welcome to visit the library before school without their parents. The librarian is available to assist students in their academic pursuits.

In an attempt to encourage academic interest and curiosity, students who participate in disruptive behavior may be requested to attend the Morning Care session located in the gymnasium. Students will be welcomed back to the library the following morning.

Library Checkout Guidelines

The TFA library serves students in grades K4-12. To best meet the needs of all students, library materials are divided into four sections: Easy Reader, Juvenile, Middle Grades, and Young Adult. Materials are categorized based on both level of difficulty and maturity of content. Consequently, the following guidelines are in place for each section:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Easy Reader (E/ER prefix, Blue spine label): Any students, from K4-12, may check out books from this section.

Juvenile (J prefix, Clear spine label): Any students, from K4-12, may check out books from this section.

Middle Grades (No prefix assigned, Yellow spine label): Only students in grades 5-12 may check out books from this section of the library. Students in grades K4-4 may only check out books from the Middle Grades section if they have parent permission on file in the library’s online circulation program (Destiny Quest).

Young Adult (YA prefix, Green spine label): Only students in grades 9-12 may check out books from this section of the library. Students in grades 8th or younger may only check out books from the Young Adult section if they have parent permission on file in Destiny Quest.

Computer Lab

The TFA Media Center’s Computer Lab is available for use by the entire school community. Students may take their Accelerated Reader© quizzes, Accelerated Math© test, and AR Literacy quizzes in the lab.

National Honor Society (Grades 10-12) The purpose of The First Academy National Honor Society chapter shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to motivate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of The First Academy in agreement with the mission statement of the school. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. Graduate and honorary members have no vote in chapter affairs. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the TFA Chapter of NHS. Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students, and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Candidacy Requirements (Scholarship & Character)

§ Candidacy is granted to students based on scholastic merit, upstanding character, leadership potential, and service.

§ Students must be enrolled for one semester prior to being nominated for candidacy.

32 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

§

To be granted candidacy, a student must initially qualify academically with a 3.75-unweighted cumulative grade point average or above (two semesters) in the core academic and religion classes and have no more than four (4) minor infractions (Level 1 - Level 2) the semester prior of induction and no major infractions (Level 3 - Level 4) throughout the student’s high school tenure.

Those students and families choosing not to accept admission into the honor society should notify the faculty advisor of such a decision immediately.

The First Academy Core Academic areas for NHS consideration include: Math, Science, English, Social Studies, World Languages, and Bible courses

*For 2017-2018 the Rising Seniors will be grandfathered in using the prior NHS criteria of using all courses for qualification.

All members will have to maintain all other NHS requirements regarding discipline, leadership, character, etc.

Selection and Induction Process

In the spring of the current school year, rising Juniors and Seniors who meet the academic and discipline requirements will be invited to complete an Application Form. The academic requirement will be determined by the Guidance Office, based on the unweighted GPA requirement of 3.75 for Religion and Core Academic courses, and the discipline requirement will be determined by the Assistant Principal using the criteria above. A Faculty Council will evaluate each student’s completed Application Form and will make a recommendation for each candidate’s acceptance into the society. If accepted, students will be invited to join the National Honor Society and must participate in the induction ceremony to be considered members. Parents will be invited to attend the induction ceremony which will take place during the Fall semester of the following school year.

Membership and Maintenance Requirements

In addition to the requirements of scholarship (maintain 3.75 unweighted GPA or better in Religion and Core Academics) and character (not exceeding more than four (4) minor infractions (Level 1 - Level 2) in one semester and no major infractions (Level 3 - Level 4) throughout the student’s high school tenure), leadership and service are also vital elements of NHS. To maintain membership a student must not exceed more than four (4) minor infractions (Level 1 - Level 2) in one semester and no major infractions (Level 3 - Level 4) throughout the their high school tenure any subsequent semester, or drop below the minimum GPA requirement for membership. Students will be required to complete community service and leadership/participation as outlined below.

Community Service

Upper School – Complete TWO service projects each year of membership. Each member must participate in a minimum of two service projects. Participation will be determined by the specific project and participation records will be kept by the chapter secretary. Not participating in the minimum required service projects could result in the loss of chapter membership.

Leadership and Participation

Upper School – enroll in one additional co-curricular organization, club, or team outside NHS. Each member must participate in a minimum of one additional c0-curricular organization, club or team outside of the chapter. Participation will be documented by the chapter secretary.

The First Academy Chapter of NHS Procedures

Maintain 3.75-unweighted GPA

A student who falls below the 3.75 GPA minimum standard in the core academic courses defined above may reach dismissal from the chapter. Students may appeal the dismissal to the chapter advisor and the Upper School administrator.

33 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Maintain Code of Honesty and Integrity

A chapter member who exceeds more than four (4) minor infractions (Level 1 - Level 2) in one semester and receives at least one major infractions (Level 3 - Level 4) throughout their membership may be dismissed from the chapter. In addition to maintaining upstanding citizenship and character, it is expected that students who become members are required to exhibit outstanding character in the following areas:

§ Members should demonstrate upstanding digital citizenship at all times. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the chapter. § Members should demonstrate upstanding character in the area of academic plagiarism or cheating. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the chapter. § Members will maintain appropriate school attendance as outlined in the Parent Student Handbook. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the chapter.

Students may appeal dismissal from the chapter to the advisor and the Upper School administrator by following the guidelines as set forth by the National Honor Society.

Chapter Service Projects

A student must complete a minimum of TWO service projects each year to maintain NHS membership, not for induction.

Chapter officers will announce chapter projects. The Chapter officers will aim to complete a minimum of four chapter service projects per school year. The Chapter officers will be the driving force behind completion of chapter projects.

Chapter Officers Positions

§ § § § §

President: Manage planning and organization of the club Vice-President: Assist president in planning and organization of the club Junior Vice-President: Serve and assist the president and vice-president as an office-in-training (this office may only be held by a current 11th grade student) Secretary: Manage meetings, member participation, and announcements Treasurer: Record chapter expenses, manage member participation

Voting and Selection Process

Flyers and announcements posted for two weeks prior to voting. E-mail communication will be sent to NHS members. Election of new officers will take place near the close of each school year. Interested students should see the chapter advisor for more information. Current chapter president will lead a required meeting for all interested officer candidates. Candidates will be approved by the administration. Voting takes place by ballot.

Chapter Dues

Chapter dues in the amount of $15.00 are collected through the business office from each chapter member upon confirmation of membership. An email is sent to the parents, from the NHS Advisor, notifying about the payment method and directions. Please do not attempt to make the dues payment until you have received an email from janellpenny@thefirstacademy.org with payment directions.

The Chapter dues payment is required prior to the student’s participation in the formal induction ceremony, which takes place in the Fall. The member dues offset the costs associated with the graduation ceremony cords.

The member dues also offset costs associated with the formal NHS induction ceremony. Each chapter member is required to contribute the $15.00 chapter dues.

National Jr. Honor Society (Grades 7-9) & National Elementary Honor Society (Grades 4-6) Candidacy Requirements (Scholarship & Character) §

Candidacy is granted only to students selected by the Faculty Council based on scholastic merit, upstanding character, leadership potential, and heart for service. Students must be enrolled for one semester prior to being nominated for candidacy.

34 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

To be granted candidacy, a student must qualify academically with a per semester 3.5 weighted cumulative grade point average or above (two semesters) and have no more than a net total of 10 demerits (grades 4-12). The student will be required to complete an application and turn it in as outlined in the parent meeting.

§

This application allows students to document leadership, character, and service so that the Faculty Council can recommend their eligibility for nomination to the Principal.

§

Those students granted candidacy but not approved by the Faculty Council will meet with the principal and parent individually where a written explanation of the reasons for failing to qualify will be provided to them.

§

Those students and families choosing not to accept admission into the honor society should notify the principal of such a decision immediately.

Selection and Induction Process Parents and students moving from candidacy to membership must attend a mandatory selection meeting. At the meeting, greater detail will be provided to parents and students regarding membership requirements. At least one parent is required to attend. §

Parents will be invited to attend the induction ceremony. Students must participate in the induction ceremony to be considered members.

Membership and Maintenance Requirements (Service & Leadership/Participation) §

In addition to the requirements of scholarship (3.5 GPA or better) and character (10 or fewer net demerits per year grades 4-8, per semester grades 9-12) mentioned in the candidacy section, leadership and service are also vital elements of NHS. Students will be required to complete community service and leadership/participation as outlined below.

Community Service §

Lower School - Complete 5 hours per year

§

Middle School - Complete 20 hours per year

§

Upper School - Complete 25 hours per year

Leadership/Participation §

Lower School - Active participation in meetings and projects

§

Middle School - Complete one leadership project per semester approved by the Principal

§

Upper School - Enroll in one additional co-curricular organization/club/team outside NHS

Report Cards Student grades are available for viewing in RenWeb. Parents are encouraged to view these grades on a regular basis and stay apprised of their child's progress in each subject area. During the nine-week period, a parent will be notified if a student's grade begins a significant decline or if a pattern begins to develop in the student's homework or conduct that indicates a cause for concern. A final report card will be mailed at the end of the school year. Please note that Dual Enrollment and Florida Virtual School courses are treated as transfer credits and therefore do not appear on quarterly or semester report cards. These courses are only available to Upper School students.

Rising Grade Level Parent Meetings Rising Grade Level Parent Meetings are held annually. Parents are invited to attend an informative session on grade level expectations, as they prepare their children for the new school year. Teachers give a brief overview of the curriculum and expectations for students entering that grade level.

SCAN Student, College, Academic, and Naviance SCAN meetings will provide college preparation to TFA families. As such it will help families know what to focus on and when. It will ‘demystify’ the college preparation process. It will give parents and students resources for strategically planning for PSAT, SAT, ACT, high school course selection, college searches, scholarships, Bright Futures, and having a four-

35 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

year plan. It will also give parents and students valuable tools for college acceptance starting with Naviance®. SCAN meeting are in a small group or individual meeting formats based on the grade level.

School Calendar The school calendar is designed to maximize learning and minimize absenteeism. A few noon dismissals are listed on the calendar. Days off for holidays and other events are strategically placed in order to provide rest for the students, families, and teachers. Because absence from class is detrimental to a student’s academic performance, families are encouraged to align any school year vacations with the scheduled days off (see Attendance). The school calendar for the coming year will be finalized each January.

The school calendar is available on our website at www.thefirstacademy.org. Parents and students can click on the “About” link and view the various calendar options.

Service Hours It is the mission of The First Academy to encourage our students to practice service before self in and outside of the classrooms. Community Service is unpaid and voluntary work (outside of school hours) that helps & benefits others in specific areas in the community and globally. Students can submit Community Service form online: http://thefirstacademy.org/academics/guidance/upper-school/community-service-hours-form/

Voluntary work that includes the following activities: § Promotes the health, welfare, and safety of the community § Improves the standard of living for people within our community and those of other regions § Enriches the lives of the mentally and/or physically disabled in our community § Supports and encourages the growth of the Arts in our community § Improves the quality of life for senior citizens in the area § Provides leadership, guidance and activities for the youth in our community § Preserves the environment and/or the protection of historical sites

What does not count for community service: § Babysitting § Working for family's business or for a family § Items donated non-profit organizations and/or campaigns § Services performed during school hours

Standardized Testing Testing is an important component of The First Academy’s academic program. st

§

K-1 grade students take the TerraNova 3 assessment.

§

2 - 8 grade students take the Comprehensive Testing Program-4 (CTP 4)

§

7th grade students who meet the requirements of the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) may take the SAT.

§

All 8 -11 grade students take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) as practice for taking it the junior year when it becomes the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

§

WrAP: Writing Assessment Program – grades 3-12

§

STAR: Reading – grades 1-8 (provides benchmark for Accelerated Reader©)

nd

th

th

th

Math – grades 1-5 (provides an assessment for Accelerated Math©)

Early Literacy – grades K-1

36 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Student Records The First Academy maintains complete records, including a cumulative academic record, for each student. All material in these records are treated confidentially and are available only according to the following policy: §

No report card or student records will be released to parents or to another school if the family is delinquent in tuition payments or has a debt of any kind with The First Academy.

§

Parents or guardians have the right to inspect and review all official records, files, and data directly related to their child’s academic progress, including all materials that are incorporated into their student’s cumulative record folder. Parental requests to inspect and review official records relating to a child shall be made in writing to the Divisional Principal. Such request will be honored within ten (10) school days following receipt of the request. All records will be reviewed or inspected in the presence of the Guidance Counselor or Principal so that proper explanation can be given.

§

Parents shall have an opportunity for a hearing with the Divisional Principal to challenge the content of their student’s school records to insure that the records are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student, and to provide an opportunity for the correction or deletion of any such inaccurate or misleading information.

§

There will be no release of a student’s personal records or files or any data in those records without the written consent of a parent or guardian, to any individual, agency, or organization other than the following: - Staff members of The First Academy who have legitimate educational interest.

- Court or law enforcement officials, if The First Academy is given a subpoena or court order.

- Certain federal, state, or local authorities performing functions required by law.

- Officials of other schools in which the student intends to enroll.

§

Release of report cards, etc., to non-custodial parents.

- Non-custodial parents have equal access to report cards, teacher conferences, etc., together with the custodial parent. By law, both have joint input into the education of the child as provided by the Shared Parent Responsibility Act of October 1, 1982, State Statute 61.13, “Dissolution of Marriage; Support; Custody.”

- If the final judgment and/or settlement agreement stipulates otherwise, the custodial parent must submit a copy of that judgment or agreement to the Principal, if The First Academy is to comply. Such documents shall be placed in the student’s regular file.

- Whenever a request by a non-custodial parent is made for information, appearance at a teacher’s conference, etc., the custodial parent may be notified by The First Academy of the non-custodial parent’s request for information.

§

Transcript request – Official transcript requests must be made in Naviance 2 weeks before a College Admission Application deadline. Only one request is necessary per college application. Making multiple requests will delay the processing of your transcript and other materials.

§

After materials are sent by the TFA College Guidance office, College Admissions offices may take an additional 2-4 weeks to process student application materials - Plan accordingly. It is the responsibility of the student to confir

Summer Camps (SummerQuest) TFA offers a variety of summer camps – athletic, academic, and enrichment. This information will be provided during second semester of each year.

Summer Reading (Early Advantage Accelerated Reader©) Summer Reading is sponsored by the TFA Library Media Center

Summer Reading Book Lists and Required Assignments are published on the TFA Website.

37 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Accelerated Reader Qui zzes can be taken using the Accelerated Reader App using the TFA Guest wireless available in the Administration and Library Building.

The TFA Library is not open for Check Out/In of any books during the summer break.

Tardy and Late Check-In Policy Punctuality is an important part of a successful school experience and is an expectation at TFA. Being late to class is disruptive and this practice is to be avoided. All tardies are recorded as part of the student's permanent record. A tardy is defined as not being in their classroom seat when the tardy bell rings. All tardies are considered unexcused unless accompanied by a written note from a Faculty/Staff member.

Grades K4-6 – When students arrive at school after 8:00am, he/she must have a pass from the Principal’s office (LS Receptionist) before he/she reports to their teacher. More than five (5) tardies per quarter is considered excessive.

Excessive tardies will be monitored by the Principal and will result in a letter informing the parents. A continued pattern of consistent tardies will result in disciplinary action.

Grades 7-12

§

The seventh and subsequent tardy to the first period of the day during a semester, will result in discipline consequences regardless of the reason.

§

Any tardy (beginning with the first tardy) to all other periods of the day will result in discipline consequences.

§

Tardies will result in late work penalties, the same as unexcused absences.

§

Students checking into school after the 7:50am tardy bell must report to the attendance desk for a pass to class.

Students more than 60 seconds late to class will not be admitted to class without a pass.

Test Days Principals work with teachers to coordinate that no more than two (2) tests are given in one school day.

Testing Security In order to encourage student’s integrity, administration must insist that whenever a quiz, test, or exam is given, §

The teacher is to be circulating and observing.

§

Students must use a cover sheet, with everything removed from his/her desktop.

§

When possible, students are to be spread out.

§

The teacher is not to accept quiz, test, or exam grades called out by students in class.

§

Students are not allowed to grade their own quizzes, tests, or exams nor those of other students.

Textbooks Efforts: Instructors will closely review literature to identify content that may be deemed offensive to some students/parents.

The instructor will present to the divisional principal and Director of Curriculum and Instruction the following: §

§ §

§

Specific need for the literature to be utilized as an additional enhancement of existing curriculum (Standards/Benchmarks, etc.)

Specific list of “questionable content” will be developed.

Instructor will develop a specific instructional plan of action on how to address the “questionable material” with a Biblical Worldview Integration.

Instructor will also develop an alternative equivalent assignment that will provide a “choice” for students and parents. (Draft of letter informing parents of literature and alternative literature will be described).

38 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

Instructor will present compilation of information mentioned above to Principal and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for review.

Teachers - The Living Curriculum All teachers at The First Academy are born again believers who profess faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The teachers are expected to always emphasize the spiritual component of life and the importance of a saving relationship with Christ in all that they teach. It is this component of The First Academy that makes it substantially different from other academic schools. Academically, The First Academy meets the requirements for accreditation set forth by FCIS, FKC, CESA, SACS, and ACSI with respect to hiring practices and policies. The First Academy administration is responsible for the recruitment of all faculty and staff and does not consult with classroom parents in respect to hiring teachers for a given class either prior to or during the course of the school year. This policy also applies to teacher placement/teaching assignments. TFA teachers are The Living Curriculum (II Corinthians 3:1-3) and are expected to serve as Christian role models. Credit: The Living Curriculum was designed by Dr. Frost of Wheaton Academy.

The Classical School (TCS) - K-12 Parent Directed Education The Classical School is a division of The First Academy. The Classical School offers two different programs.

1.

The Tuesday/Thursday program is designed for students (K-12th Grade) to receive instruction two days a week in a traditional classroom setting. The other three days are parent-led with instructional content provided by The Classical School.

2.

The basic program is for the families (K-8th Grade) who wish to homeschool their child without receiving instruction from The Classical School. These students would receive legal covering from The Classical School, in addition to academic counseling. The parent must provide a portfolio of the student's work, monthly records, and completion of standardized testing.

The First Hope Program - PreK-12 The First Hope program is a 5-day ABA-inclusion program for students with special needs.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) The Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program at The First Academy is considered to be a “young five” class for students who are age appropriate for kindergarten but who exhibit younger developmental tendencies and/or below average skills that may interfere with a successful full-day kindergarten experience.

A successful kindergarten experience relies on the readiness of the whole child, not just a measuring of academic skills.

Therefore, additional time in the transitional program allows developmentally younger children to grow and mature in all areas of development that impact school readiness, without the demands of a more rigorous, academically structured day.

Criteria for acceptance into the transitional program include: st

§

Age five by September 1 of the new school year.*

§

Kindergarten screening for 5 year olds

§

Kindergarten screening committee recommends placement in TK. st

*Children who will not be five by September 1 may be enrolled into the transitional program at the discretion of the Principal.

Tutoring Teachers are available to assist students after school.

Warning Bell Grades K4-5 - The first bell (7:50am) in the morning is a "warning" signal for all students to proceed to their classroom. The second bell (8:00am) is when school begins and students are to be in their classroom seats at this time.

39 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Grades 6-12 - The first bell (7:45am) in the morning is a "warning" signal for all students to proceed to their classroom. The second bell (7:50am) is when school begins and students are to be in their classroom seats at this time.

ATTENDANCE Success at The First Academy is directly linked to school attendance. Regular attendance is required by law and provides students the opportunity to acquire specific skills and meet course goals and objectives that may not otherwise be possible if not in attendance. Parents must call the Divisional Receptionist when their child will not be in attendance. Many integral learning activities including class discussion, laboratory experiments, field trips, direct instruction, and guest speakers cannot be simulated or replicated with bookwork. Irregular attendance is a major cause for poor academic work and continual tardiness is disruptive to the normal flow of school activity.

More than ten absences per semester are considered excessive. Every absence after the tenth must be accompanied by a physician’s note. If there are extenuating circumstances not covered by a medical excuse, parents must petition the Principal in writing. A committee consisting of the Principal, Assistant Principal, Guidance Counselor, grade level team leader, and/or classroom teacher will meet to determine the validity of the extenuating circumstances. School sponsored activities/field trips are part of the educational program and are not counted towards the ten days. Students choosing not to attend will be counted as absent. Excessive absences may result in the need for the students to take a comprehensive exam to determine mastery of the content covered during the semester.

The Divisional Assistant/Receptionist will contact parents of absent students to verify that the student is ill and at home.

Any student’s absence that is not verified by a parent will be reported to the Divisional Assistant Principal and will be dealt with according to the TFA policy for missing class. Parents will have 48 hours to provide written documentation detailing the reason for their child’s absence, or the absence will be annotated as unexcused without parent’s permission and appropriate discipline will be assigned. Teachers check attendance at the beginning of each class period.

Lower School (Grade K4 – 5) Absences are classified as excused, absence with parent's permission, and unexcused. Students must be in class for the majority of the day to be counted present for the purpose of attendance records.

Excused Absence:

An excused absence is one that occurs for illness, death in the family, or other unavoidable occurrences. Students should bring a parent’s written excuse for being absent to their teachers upon their return. A request to obtain make-up work for the day the child is absent must be made by the parent to the Lower School Receptionist before 9:15am in order for the work assignments to be ready for pick up by 3:30pm. Teachers may not have the opportunity to check email or voicemail between 8:00am and 3:00pm. Requests for assignments for an extended absence should be made at least two days in advance.

Every effort will be made for the student to make up work missed during the school day upon his/her return to school.

However, an extended illness [more than two (2) days] may require additional tutoring and/or parental assistance. Work to be made up is at the teacher’s discretion. Students are required to make up tests and quizzes.

In the case of an unplanned absence, students are allowed the same number of days as the length of the absence in which to make up quizzes, tests, homework, and major assignments without penalty. Major assignments/projects are due the day a student returns to school if the first day of the absence was the due date of the assignment. The Principal may grant exceptions to this policy.

Absence with Parent’s Permission:

An absence with parent’s permission occurs when parents choose to withdraw children from school for vacations or other absences. Under these circumstances, the following guidelines are in place: §

Any absence that can be anticipated should be provided for with the completion of a Pre-arranged Absence Form with at least 48 hour notice provided. The form may be picked up at the receptionist’s desk or in the Principal’s office.

§

With a pre-arranged absence, the student will make up the work missed either before departure or upon return from the trip within the time constraints of The First Academy make-up policy; major assignments that are due during the absence must be turned in before the student leaves for the trip. Parents are responsible for instruction of the material covered in the class during the absence.

40 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

The teacher will provide the assignments from the plans he/she has completed at the time of the student’s departure. The rest of the assignment will be given to the student upon his/her return.

§

All work given to the child before an extended absence is due on the day that the student returns to school or it will be considered late. It is the responsibility of the student to turn in make-up work. Work done during the absence is for practice and reinforcement after parental instruction. It is to be checked by the parents. The work must be returned to school, but those grades will not be entered in the grade book. Extra days given for make-up work will be at the discretion of the teacher depending on the assignment or project due. It is the responsibility of the student to receive a written plan from each of his/her teachers prior to the extended absence, stating what work must be completed and deadlines for the make-up work.

§

Tests or quizzes must be made up immediately. Parents of K – 6 students must make arrangements with their child’s teacher to make up tests missed.

Unexcused Absence:

An unexcused absence occurs when a child is absent for any other reason. Class work and assessments missed must be made up. The Lower School Principal may also take additional disciplinary action such as detention, in-school suspension, or other measures as is deemed appropriate to the case and occasion.

Absences for Extra-Curricular Activities:

Students participating in any extra-curricular activities must be present at school or involved in an approved school-day activity for the last four hours before dismissal on the day of an event. When a student leaves school early with the team, club, or organization, all work (tests, quizzes, projects, homework, etc.) that is due on that day must be turned in to the teacher before leaving. Otherwise, it will be counted as late work.

Grades 6-12 An absence is defined as missing 15 minutes or more of class time. Absences due to school sponsored functions will not be included in the cumulative count. All other absences will be included. Attendance is taken within 5 minutes of the start of class. The attendance clerk will then verify attendance and contact the parent if a student is absent without parental consent. Any student’s absence that is not verified by a parent will be reported to the Divisional Assistant Principal and will be dealt with according to the TFA policy for missing class. Parents will have 48 hours to provide written documentation detailing the reason for their child’s absence, or the absence will be annotated as unexcused without parent’s permission and appropriate discipline will be assigned.

Any MS student who accumulates more than ten (10) absences and US student more than eight (8) absences excused or unexcused in a class for a semester must show course content mastery or must retake the course. (More than ten absences per semester are considered excessive. Every absence after the tenth must be accompanied by a physician’s note). This policy will be applied to each class separately. Mastery will be determined as follows: • A Cumulative passing grade for the course (70% or higher) • A passing grade of 70% or higher on a comprehensive semester exam • All coursework completed in accordance with the school or department policy

Parents must notify The First Academy every time their child is absent. Academic instruction that is missed must be made up by the student in a manner acceptable to the teacher, department, and the Principal (see policy under Late Work). Areas impacted by absences may include honor roll, course credit, senior second semester exam exemption, extracurricular participation, student leadership, loss of off-campus lunch for seniors and driving privileges. By state law, students with fifteen (15) or more unexcused absences within any 90-day period will not be able to acquire or maintain a driver’s license.

These students will be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Reinstatement of a driver’s license must be initiated by the student by submission of the written verification that he/she has been in attendance at school for 30 days prior to the request for verification of compliance.

Excused Absences Include: • Illness and injury (after three consecutive days absent, a doctor’s note is required) or medical appointments that cannot possibly be scheduled outside of school • A death in the immediate family of the student (notification needed from parent/guardian)

41 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

• •

A subpoena by a law enforcement agency for a court appearance (copies of documentation must be forwarded to school) Prearranged college visits or participation in school-related activities that have been approved by divisional administration (will not be included in the above 8 or 10-day count)

Students are responsible to schedule and take make-up tests and quizzes. Students will have one day for each day missed to take tests and quizzes and make up any homework for excused absences only.

Unexcused Absences Include: • All absences not listed above • All absences not verified or approved as excused by The First Academy

Consequence: No extra time will be allotted for missed tests/quizzes and assignments. Test/quizzes and assignments must be completed before the absence or the day the student returns. Test/quizzes and assignments that are not turned in on the day the student returns to school, will be due the following day for ½ credit. Any assignments turned in after this will not count for credit. Excessive unexcused tardies in AP classes may result in the loss of AP credit.

Pre-Arranged Absences: Any extended absence, excused or unexcused, that can be anticipated must be provided for with the completion of a PreArranged form. Please see Pre-Arranged Absence form for complete guidelines. Forms are located in the Upper School front lobby and must be approved by the Assistant Principal minimally two days prior to the absence.

Pre-Arranged Unexcused Absences: If the planned absence is unexcused (see Excused/Unexcused Absence section), all test/quizzes and assignments must be completed prior to the absence or completed during the absence and turned in on the day the student returns to school. Test/quizzes and assignments that are not turned in prior to the absence or on the day the student returns to school, will be due the following day for ½ credit. Any assignments turned in after this will not count for credit.

Pre-Arranged Excused Absences: If the planned absence is excused (see Excused/Unexcused Absence section), students are responsible to make up all assignments and schedule to take make-up tests and quizzes. Students will have one day for each day missed to take tests and quizzes and makeup all assignments. Major assignments/projects scheduled to be due during the absence are to be submitted to the teacher prior to the absence unless otherwise noted from the teacher.

Absences for Extracurricular Activities: Students participating in any extracurricular activities must be present at school or involved in an approved school-day activity for the majority of the school day. When a student leaves school early with the team, club or organization, all work (tests, quizzes, projects, homework, etc.) that is due on that day must be turned in to the teacher before leaving.

Otherwise, it will be counted as late work.

•

Returning After Being Absent One or More Days: 1. Report to the attendance desk (Receptionist) before the first class of the day.

2. Present a note detailing the reason for your absence. The note must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Middle/Upper School (Grades 6 – 12) Middle/Upper school hours are from 7:50am to 3:15pm (2:40pm on Wednesday). Parents are discouraged from checking out students early. However, if it becomes necessary to check your student out of school before 3:15pm, please follow the checkout procedures outlined below.

• Parent/guardian should email MSattendance@thefirstacademy.org (grades 6-8) or USattendance@thefirstacademy.org (grades 9-12) stating the time needed to leave school and a phone number where the parent can be reached. With the parental email, the student may sign out at the attendance office (grades 9-12).

42 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

• •

• • •

Students may not sign out of school unless the receptionist is there to verify their departure via note.

If a note is not presented, a parent or guardian must sign the student out at the attendance office before leaving school. The student will be called from the classroom to meet the parent in the office. Parents are asked not to go to the student’s classroom to pick up the student.

When returning to school after an early dismissal, you must check back in with the attendance office to receive an Admit Pass for the classes missed.

Students are not allowed to sign out early on the days of special programs without parental permission.

Students traveling on athletic teams or field trips do not have to do the early dismissal procedures. Their dismissals will be handled by their coaches/teachers.

Any student leaving campus for ANY REASON without following appropriate procedure will be considered truant (missing school) and subject to a Level 3 Infraction.

Grades 6-12 Tardy and Late Check-in Policy

Punctuality is an important part of a successful school experience and is an expectation at TFA. Being late to class is disruptive and this practice is to be avoided. All tardies are recorded as part of the student's permanent record. A tardy is defined as not being in their classroom seat when the tardy bell finishes ringing. All tardies are considered unexcused unless accompanied by a written note from a Faculty/Staff member.

Grades 6-12 Tardies to 1st Period

•

The sixth unexcused tardy will result in students receiving an automated warning email from RenWeb stating they have exhausted their grace tardies.

•

The seventh unexcused tardy will result in a Level 1 Infraction and a lunch detention.

•

The tenth unexcused tardy will result in an additional Level 1 Infraction and a morning detention.

•

Subsequent tardies will result in an escalation of discipline including but not limited to a Level 3 Infraction and inschool suspension.

Tardies will result in late work penalties, the same as unexcused absences. Students checking into school after the 7:50am tardy bell must report to their respective attendance desk for a pass to class. Students more than 60 seconds late to class will not be admitted to class without a pass.

Grades 6-12 Tardies to 2nd - 7th Period

•

The third unexcused tardy will result in students receiving an automated warning email from RenWeb stating they have exhausted their grace tardies.

•

The fourth unexcused tardy will result in a Level 1 Infraction and a lunch detention.

•

The seventh unexcused tardy will result in an additional Level 1 Infraction and a morning detention.

•

Subsequent tardies will result in an escalation of discipline including but not limited to a Level 3 Infraction and an in-school suspensions.

Tardies will result in late work penalties, the same as unexcused absences.

Early Checkout

Students are encouraged to be in attendance for the entire school day unless unavoidable circumstances require their early dismissal. Missing more than the last 15 minutes of class will result in an absence being recorded and any MS student who accumulates more than ten (10) absences and US student more than eight (8) absences excused or unexcused in a class for a semester must show course content mastery or must retake the course as defined above. Students with excessive absences in a non-academic class periods will receive discipline consistent with our progressive discipline policy, starting with lunch detentions for excessive absences. Other areas that may be impacted are off-campus lunch for seniors, student leadership positions, club participation, etc.

43 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

DISCIPLINE & CONDUCT Conduct and Courtesy

The First Academy endeavors to give each student an education, including the teaching of social graces and Biblically based moral education. The education process involves imparting rules and precepts, as well as providing explicit instruction, exhortation and training. Students are expected to address adults with proper titles. “Thank you,” “please” and “yes, sir/ma’am” are examples of courtesies to be exercised. Students are expected to behave as ladies and gentlemen at all times, both in and out of school, as he/she represents Jesus, their families, and The First Academy. Faculty and students are expected to treat one another with respect and courtesy. At assemblies and chapels, students are expected to be active participants and pay attention to the program. Talking, reading, studying, eating and walking around during assemblies are inappropriate behaviors and are not permitted. At athletic events, students are to display sportsmanship toward our team, coaches, opponents, and officials regardless of winning or losing the contest, as well as respecting traffic safety by driving and parking in an exemplary manner. Driving and parking violations will be dealt with by Administration.

Likewise, parents are to be examples of good conduct and courtesy in a similar fashion, as parents also represent Jesus, their families, and The First Academy. Parents are to treat one another, school faculty, and staff with respect and courtesy, including the respect of time, appointments, and school procedures, and the courtesy of professional decorum in speech and behavior. Proper decorum shall also include respecting the campus functions of teaching and training by not remaining on campus during school hours unless officially volunteering that day in such functions or attending an official meeting or event.

The First Academy believes that a positive and constructive working relationship between the school and a student’s parents (or guardian) is essential to the fulfillment of the school’s mission. Thus, The First Academy reserves the right not to continue enrollment or not to re-enroll the student if the school reasonably concludes that the actions of a parent (or guardian) make such a positive and constructive relationship impossible or otherwise seriously interfere with the school’s accomplishment of its educational purposes.

Christian Testimony

Good behavior arises from good character. Assisting parents in the development of Godly character in their children is one of our primary goals. This is done by focusing on good behavior and commending it. On occasion, we must also give consequences for negative behavior. It is necessary to recognize and contend with misbehavior so as to discourage its frequency and intensity. It is also Biblical to provide consequences within a community for inappropriate actions (Matthew 18).

It is our desire that TFA students would daily strive to obey the Scriptures. Colossians 3:17 says, “So then, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all to the glory of God.” In the best interest of the entire school community, so that we might all live happily together and function as smoothly as possible, certain guidelines of conduct must be maintained by all students, both on and off campus. To that end, the school honor code will be emphasized by all students at The First Academy through morning announcements and classroom procedures so that a framework for proper behavior, based on the teachings of the Bible, will be with them at all times.

Community Guidelines This policy is a classroom-centered, teacher-focused policy that is designed to give parents, students, and school the tools needed to maintain an optimal learning environment. We believe in the values of these Community Guidelines. While they are not a measure of one’s spiritual maturity, they are helpful in maintaining a common standard of behavior. In addition to the guidelines listed below, each grade level establishes an effective and clear, age-appropriate classroom discipline policy.

Teachers will explain these expectations to all students. At the beginning of the school year, teachers will communicate to parents the grade-level discipline policy. The levels of offenses and consequences listed below have been established to effectively handle behavior issues and consequences at the most appropriate level. Although The First Academy follows the general guidelines below, all consequences are at the discretion of the teacher, Assistant Principal, or Principal as to the proper level of the offense. The First Academy reserves the right, based upon the specific facts and circumstances, nature of the offense, history of prior misconduct, student attitude, and other factors, in its sole discretion, to by-pass this general procedure and proceed to more severe discipline, up to and including, suspension, or expulsion. An appeals process based on the “Complaint/Resolution Procedure” and/or the “Expulsion/Appeals” policy may be followed to resolve misunderstanding and differences of opinion. In all such cases, the parent agrees to follow the processes outlined in this handbook as the sole method of conflict resolution without resorting to legal action of any sort. Student discipline consequences are confidential.

44 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Progressive Discipline Guidelines: Grades K4 – 5 LEVEL 1 Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Gum chewing, drink or food in hallway, drink or food in classroom without permission, dress code violations, not following teacher’s instructions, not following classroom procedures, minor disruption of teacher or instruction, name calling/teasing, late to class during academic day, inappropriate hallway behavior, inappropriate cafeteria behavior, inappropriate assembly behavior, excessive noise, distracters (cell phones, games, music players, etc.), not following car pool procedures, not following before school procedures, not following after-school procedures. The classroom teachers handle Level 1 offenses at their discretion. Teachers may use progressive consequences such as warnings, time-outs, missing recess, and lunch detention to handle these problems. Classroom teachers may complete a Behavior Report Form to document in-class behavior.

LEVEL 2 Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Recurring dress code violations, excessive or ongoing teasing/bullying, name calling, disrespect, lying, cheating, failure to be properly supervised, inappropriate language, missing class, major disruption of teacher or instruction, excessive roughhousing, Honor Code violation, and excessive and/or reoccurring Detention Report Forms within the same semester.

A Parent-Teacher-Student conference is required prior to the issuing of a Level 2 Offense. The parent, student, and teacher will sign the Conduct Report Form at the end of the meeting. A Conduct Report Form will be issued for Level 2 offenses.

Level 2 offenses are referred to the Assistant Principal in writing by the teacher with his/her support for consequences, which may include a lunch detention or after-school detention, depending upon the nature and severity of the offense.

LEVEL 3 Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Fighting/physical, aggression/confrontation, intimidation/threats/harassment, gross disrespect, insubordination, inappropriate Internet use, inappropriate use of an immoral or pornographic nature, defacing or damaging property, theft, and four Conduct Report Forms within the same semester. The parent, student, and teacher will sign the Conduct Report Form at the end of the meeting. A Conduct Report Form will be issued for Level 3 offenses. Level 3 offenses are referred to the Assistant Principal and Principal in writing by the teacher with his/her support for possible in-school or out-of-school suspension of the student. The number of days of suspension depends upon the nature and severity of the offense. Severe or continued Level 3 offenses may also result in conditional status or expulsion at the discretion of the Principal. A ParentPrincipal-Teacher conference is required when issuing a Level 3 offense.

Progressive Discipline Guidelines: Grades 6 – 12 LEVEL 1 (1 demerit per infraction) - Discipline Issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Tardiness: Third tardy to the first period of the day, and any subsequent first period tardy thereafter. First and subsequent tardy to any other period of the day. Dress Code/Grooming standard violation, minor classroom disruption, not following teacher’s instructions or classroom procedures, unauthorized food/drink in classroom, hallway, or any part of the building, unauthorized use of elevator, excessive noise, roughhousing/inappropriate hallway behavior, inappropriate cafeteria or assembly behavior, abuse of vehicle parking privileges, not following carpool, before school, or after school procedures.

Some Level 1 offenses and their associated demerits, such as tardies and dress code violations, will not be held against a student when he or she seeks a leadership position, unless these specific events become excessive. This judgment will be made by the US administrative team and Leadership organization sponsor.

Multiple dress code violations may result in the student being sent home to change into proper wear.

LEVEL 2 (3-5 demerits per infraction) - Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Moderate classroom disruption, teasing/bullying, excessive roughhousing, public display of affection (PDA): includes holding hands, embracing, lap sitting, hugging, or kissing, failure to be properly supervised, missing class, truancy, failure to report to detention/Saturday school/ISS, using cell phone, iPad, or other electronic devices during school hours for other than education purposes, traffic violation on campus, name calling/disrespect of another student.

LEVEL 3 (10 or more demerits per infraction) - Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Honor Code violation, reckless or irresponsible vehicle operation on campus, excessive or ongoing teasing/bullying, threats of a harmful nature, profanity or inappropriate language/material, assault on another student, fighting, intimidation, lying, 45 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

cheating or plagiarism (minor incident), disrespect or insubordination toward authority, forgery, theft with a value of less than $25.00, possession or use of tobacco products, vandalism.

LEVEL 4 (20 or more demerits per infraction) - Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Violation of suspension, racial, ethnic, or gender slur or harassment, lighting matches/starting fires, sexual harassment, immoral behavior, tampering with emergency equipment, cheating or plagiarism (major incident), theft with a value of $25.00 or more.

LEVEL 5 (25 or more demerits per infraction) - Discipline issues may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Assault on a staff member or school official (verbal or physical), assault/possession of a weapon (real or toy) on campus, death threat, bomb threat, bullying, possession, use, or sale of illegal drugs or alcohol, sexual, or moral indecency.

Tier Level Disciplinary Actions - The levels of disciplinary action taken will be as follows to ensure that the student and the parents remain informed, and to ensure that behavior patterns can be identified and closely monitored.

TIER 1: Morning Detention - The accumulation of 5 demerits will result in Morning Detention, served from 6:45am to 7:45am. The parent will receive a phone call from the Assistant Principal. Morning Detentions will normally be offered only once per week. The cost of Morning Detention is $20 to cover the cost of a faculty monitor and must be paid at the time of the Morning Detention.

TIER 2: Saturday School - The accumulation of 10 demerits will result in Saturday School, served from 7:00am to 10:00am.

Student must wear a school uniform on this day. The cost of Saturday School will be $60.00 to cover the cost of two faculty monitors, and it must be paid at the time that Saturday School is served to be admitted to class the following week.

Additionally, the parent will receive an e-mail notification from the Assistant Principal.

TIER 3: In-School Suspension - The accumulation of 15 demerits will result in In-School Suspension. The cost of In-School Suspension will be $100.00 to cover the cost of a faculty monitor, and it must be paid at the time that In-School Suspension is served to be admitted to class the following day. Additionally, the parent will be notified in writing from the Assistant Principal regarding the reasons for the In-School Suspension. Students subject to In-School Suspensions will also be suspended from extra-curricular activities throughout the duration of their suspension at a minimum, at the discretion of the extracurricular activity sponsor. This is an attempt to allow students to review their poor choices and rethink their alternative choices. Students will be given work from each of their teachers to be completed that day, and their work is eligible for credit in accordance with this handbook.

TIER 4: Out-of-School Suspension - The accumulation of 20 demerits will result in Out-of-School Suspension. The Principal or Assistant Principal will notify the parents personally, and always in writing, of the reasons for the suspension. Students subject to Out-of-School Suspensions will also be suspended from extra-curricular activities throughout the duration of their suspension at a minimum, at the discretion of the extracurricular activity sponsor. A suspended student will be reinstated to class after consultation with both the student and parent or guardian, preferably in person, with assurance from them that such behavior and/or attitudes will be discontinued, and that the student will assume his/her place in the school community with a cooperative and willing spirit.

Students will be required to complete all missed work and turn it in on the day he/she returns to be given ½ credit. Tests, quizzes, and labs must be completed within 3 school days of returning to school from the suspension. Students who do not make up this work within 3 school days will receive zeros.

TIER 5: Expulsion - The accumulation of 25 demerits will result in consideration for expulsion.

We understand that detentions, Saturday Schools, and suspensions may cause an inconvenience for the family; however, it is the inconvenience that serves as part of the discipline for the student, and hopefully it will serve as the mechanism to thwart his/her less than ideal behavior.

Any student who exceeds 20 demerits for the year may be subject to being placed on conditional enrollment status for the next school year, placed on probation, or both, and may be subject to expulsion at the discretion of the Principal.

The goal of The First Academy’s discipline policy is redemptive in nature. Consequently, the points for infractions and merits are zeroed out at the end of each semester, even though the file stays intact. Each student therefore begins a new semester with a clean discipline record.

Additionally, students have the opportunity to earn merits. This is accomplished when a person in a position of authority observes a student doing something beneficial or positive that is of an exceptional nature and sincere. That authority 46 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

figure can then issue the student merit points. Merit points will erase demerit points one-for-one or earn a positive balance.

Drug and Alcohol Usage

If a student is involved in a drug or alcohol related incident, they will be removed from any and all leadership or elected positions.

For more information please see Drug Policy under General School Information Student Conduct Agreement Student Responsibility for Reporting Discipline Violations

As members of a Christian community who are concerned for one another, students are expected to follow the guidelines below when they are aware of violations of The First Academy standards by another student. Failure to confront misbehavior according to the policy below will result in disciplinary action. This will usually mean the following: First:

Personally confronting the fellow student and encourage him/her to stop the violation and make known his/her problem to those in authority. The problem should not be communicated to other students who are not immediately involved.

Second: If step one is not successful, others who are aware of the problem should be encouraged to talk to the person and encourage them to make things right with those in authority.

Third:

It is the responsibility of the student to report a violation to school authorities so that the one who has committed the violation can be helped. Inability or failure to follow the first two steps should not keep a student from following the last.

Teacher Responsibility

Individual teachers will handle inappropriate behavior in their own classrooms as well as off campus. Most disciplinary problems will hopefully be resolved between the student and teacher. The teacher will be an active participant in selecting and enforcing appropriate discipline measures.

Specific Discipline Issues

§

Guns, knives, matches, lighters, clubs, or other such items of any type, real or toy, are not permitted on campus.

Failure to comply with this regulation may result in immediate expulsion.

§

Profanity, vulgar speech/actions and abusive speech/actions will not be tolerated. Such speaking and acting is harmful to others and certainly is not appropriate, nor is it conducive to one’s own moral and spiritual development.

Any student using profane, vulgar language, obscene gestures or actions, or who is abusive, physically, or emotionally, threatening or bringing harm to the person or property of another member of the school community or involved in sexual harassment will be disciplined. Definition of harassment may include the following: -

Sexual Harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors and other inappropriate verbal, non-verbal, written, graphic, or physical conduct of sexual nature. Sexual harassment may include same-sex incidents or opposite-sex incidents. Sexual harassment, as defined above, may include, but is not limited to the following: verbal, graphic and written harassment or abuse, pressure for sexual activity, remarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implications, unwelcome or inappropriate touching or exposure of body parts, suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one’s social or academic standing, explicit pictures, posters, calendars, etc. in class, notebooks, lockers, etc.. Specific laws relating to sexual contact with students age fifteen (15) or younger must be understood and followed by all students.

-

Racial Harassment consists of all forms of discrimination related to race, color, and national origin, including any verbal, non-verbal, graphic, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward any person based upon race, when such conduct interferes with a student’s academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive school environment. Racial harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following conduct which is based upon race: epithets and slurs, negative stereotyping, threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts, written or graphic material that stirs hostility or aversion toward an individual or group.

47 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

-

General harassment/bullying consists of using unwelcoming gestures, words or written statements to annoy, demean, denigrate, defame, malign, or ridicule another person.

§

Water pistols, noisemakers, radios, video games, beepers, or any other potentially dangerous or annoying devices are not allowed in school unless permission to bring them to school has been granted by a teacher or Administrator.

Failure to do so will result in the device being taken. Additional offenses will result in confiscation of the item and suspension from school. TFA is not responsible for the theft or loss of these items.

§

Public display of affection such as holding hands, embracing, hugging and kissing is prohibited.

§

Cheating is not permitted. The First Academy expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid disciplinary consequences. Honesty and integrity are virtues that need to be pursued by all Christian students. Each student’s record is to reflect his/her own individual effort. Students should not give nor receive assistance on tests or assignments unless the teacher has specifically granted permission.

-

Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or intent to help, or conspiracy to help another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. Cheating (using or attempting to use unauthorized information) and plagiarism (representing another’s words, works, or ideas as one’s own) are serious offenses. Whether you give or receive information, the offense is the same.

-

On homework assignments, students should accept the responsibility to honestly pursue academic growth and not merely the “right” answers to “credit points.” Except in cases where doing effort or group work is clearly intended and /or allowed by the teacher, copying another student’s homework and representing it as one’s own is academic dishonesty and will result in a “0” on the assignment for all parties involved. The teacher will confer with the student(s), contact the parents, and inform the Principal via a Discipline Referral. If copying homework were to be detected as a repetitive behavior, a student would be placed on disciplinary probation.

-

During a test, quiz, or exam whether oral, written, or on the computer, it is the student’s responsibility to avoid every appearance of academic misconduct. All books and papers must be placed at a sufficient distance in an appropriate location away from the student’s seat. No communication between students is allowed. Students may receive a “0” if he/she communicates with another student.

1. The first occurrence of cheating on a test, quiz, or exam will result in a “0” for that particular piece of work.

2. The second occurrence of cheating (grades 9-12) on a test, quiz, or exam may result in suspension or expulsion.

§

Stealing will be severely dealt with, including possible expulsion.

§

Eating food in the hallways or classrooms is not allowed. Except for during parties listed on the school calendar or activities approved by Principals, all food is to be eaten in the lunch area at the regular lunch period or designated areas for Royal Recharge.

§

Threatening or bringing harm to the person or property of any member of the school community or to the school itself will result in suspension or expulsion and full financial restitution for damages incurred.

§

Search of Student Lockers, Vehicles and iPads: -

All TFA/FBCO parking areas and lockers are the property of The First Academy/First Baptist Church.

Lockers are provided by The First Academy as a convenience to students and at all times remain the sole and exclusive property of TFA. Students do not have any expectation of privacy to their lockers or to any materials stored within their lockers. The First Academy reserves the right, at any time without prior notice, in its sole discretion, to search student lockers; this applies to iPads as well. The First Academy provides network services that support the academic endeavor of its students. Therefore, the school maintains the right to search iPads, including the personal iPads, a student chooses to use for academic purposes at TFA.

-

Parking on the premises of TFA/FBCO is a privilege and not a right. Each student parking a vehicle on campus must sign a Student Parking Application. Students and Parents do not have any expectation of 48 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

privacy to vehicles parked on premises. The First Academy reserves the right, at any time, to inspect any student parked vehicles and/or lockers in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of students or if TFA has a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law or of the Student Conduct Agreement. This includes use of drug and gunpowder sniffing K9 dogs.

§

§

-

An Administrator will conduct the search with another school employee. The search may be conducted with or without the presence of the student.

-

Routine locker cleanups are not considered searches.

Search of Students: -

If TFA has a reasonable suspicion that a student has prohibited items or evidence of a violation of the Student Conduct Agreement, a school Administrator, with another school employee, may ask a student to empty his/her pockets, purse, book bag, and/or to take off their shoes and socks. If the student is unwilling to do so, the Administrator will contact a parent/guardian.

-

If the student is still unwilling to do so after having spoken with his/her parent/guardian, and the parent/guardian is unwilling to do so, then TFA will assume that the student has the prohibited material or has engaged in the conduct alleged and take appropriate disciplinary action, which may include suspension or expulsion from The First Academy.

Student Immorality: God has clearly communicated His standard of reserving sex for the institution of marriage and refraining from promiscuity. Accordingly, students violating The First Academy’s Biblical morality standards by engaging in Biblically inappropriate sexual conduct will be suspended for a period of time to allow for an investigation of the facts before further discipline is imposed. Based upon its investigation, TFA will impose appropriate discipline, which may include but is not limited to suspension or expulsion. Each decision will be made on the basis of Christian concern for the welfare of each student and family involved and for the welfare of the student body.

§

Driving and Parking Privileges: It is a privilege to drive and park on school grounds and regulations for driving and parking are strictly enforced.

TFA and FBCO are not liable for any vandalism to, theft of or from, or damage to vehicles on this property. Such matters are to be handled between the driver(s) and their personal insurance company. Suspension of parking privileges or other disciplinary actions may occur because of parking or driving violations. Also, students with eight (8) first period tardies to school will have their driving/parking privileges suspended for one month.

Guidelines for student drivers include, but are not limited to: all vehicles operated by students must be registered with The First Academy, students may only park in designated student parking areas –no angle parking (cars may be towed at owner’s expense), students may not park in another person’s assigned space, student vehicles may be subject to search, the speed limit on campus is 20 M.P.H., student drivers may not be careless or reckless when driving, driving is to be on paved areas following designated traffic patterns, students may not go to their vehicles during the school day unless permission has been granted by administrative personnel. If a student driver is reported by an adult to be reckless, careless, or in violation of vehicle guidelines, his/her driving/parking privilege may be suspended for one month.

§

Pranks: In the event that graduating seniors pull senior pranks that damage property or create additional work for the maintenance staff, the student/family will be billed for the actual cost and may be subject to prosecution.

Probation (Disciplinary) - Probation is invoked by the Principal when it becomes apparent that a student has a serious problem, as determined by TFA administration. The student and parents will be notified in writing by the Principal when probation is invoked. It gives the student an opportunity to correct his/her problem and to assume the responsibilities involved in a more mature and appropriate manner. The problems for which a student can be placed on disciplinary probation include, but are not limited to, the following:

§

Attitude: A rebellious spirit, which is unchanged after much effort by the teachers, or a continued negative or uncooperative attitude and bad influence upon the other students.

49 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

Misconduct: Continued deliberate disobedience to a teacher or of school rules; committing a serious breach of conduct inside or outside of school which has an adverse effect upon the school’s and/or student’s Christian testimony. Probation will last from 9 to 18 weeks. At the conclusion of the probation period, the administration will reconsider the student, confer with the parents, and will recommend either removal from probation or withdrawal from school. All students on disciplinary probation are ineligible for athletics and all other extracurricular activities.

Long-term Suspension/Disciplinary Probation - Long-term suspension of no more than 30 days may be invoked by The First Academy administration in the case of serious offenses or pending an investigation. When a student is suspended longterm or placed on probation, the parent will be notified in person and in writing by the Principal.

Expulsion - When a student is expelled by the Principal, both the student and the student’s parent(s) shall be notified in person and in writing as to the reasons for the expulsion. The First Academy has the authority to expel a student and may expel a student for any reason it deems necessary, with or without the consent and/or agreement of the parents. Parents are responsible to pay the full tuition for the academic year in which the student is dismissed. The student and his/her parent or guardian may ask their case to be reviewed by the Head of School. Their request shall be in writing and shall be presented to the Head of School within three (3) days of the expulsion. The Head of School may choose to send the review to the Discipline Committee or the School Board. The decision of the Discipline Committee or School Board shall be final. Expulsion may result when there is a serious departure from school policies or expectations for students, as determined in the sole discretion of TFA, including but not limited to, the following:

§

Repeated misconduct.

§

Failure to respond positively to repeated efforts at correction by The First Academy’s personnel.

§

A serious breach of The First Academy’s Student Conduct Agreement, including stealing, the use or possession of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, sexual misconduct, and/or weapons whether on or off campus.

§

A third occurrence of cheating during a student’s high school (9-12) experience.

§

Threatening or bringing harm to any member of the school community.

§

Violation of TFA’s no weapons policy.

§

An action or attitude that seriously harms the name of Christ and/or The First Academy’s reputation in the community including immorality and/or an attitude not in harmony with the goals and spirit of the school.

§

Any action by a parent(s) or guardian, which seriously interferes with The First Academy’s ability to accomplish its educational purposes or which demonstrates an inability for the parent or guardian to cooperate with TFA in its religious educational program.

§

Once expelled, a student may be considered for admission as a new student after a term of expulsion (up to eighteen (18) academic weeks) has ended. Expelled students may be asked not to attend certain school activities during the expulsion period. Re-admission to TFA will be at the discretion of the Principal.

§

Commission of a crime.

§

Any other conduct which, in the discretion of TFA, indicates an unwillingness to support or abide by TFA’s conduct standards and religious educational mission.

§

In some circumstances, an expelled student may be able to enroll in The Classical School at his/her discretion.

Corporal Punishment – The Faculty and Staff at The First Academy do not administer corporal punishment.

Contrition – When a student’s choices/behavior may have risen to the level of expulsion or suspension, the student has an opportunity for mercy and grace through contrition. Contrition is defined as a student’s “recognition of and repentance for sin.” TFA cannot presume to know who is truly contrite and who is not. Therefore, for the purposes of determining contrition, a student is contrite by confessing wrong doing before being called to the office or called upon by Administration in any way to account for behavior. Any student confession must be made to the Principal and/or Assistant Principal by the student alone or with an accompanying teacher, coach, sponsor or parent. Telling a teacher, coach, or other school representative alone does not qualify.

Restoration Plan – It is always the intention of The First Academy to lovingly restore students after a period of suspension.

“Loving them back onto the team” is our desire. As a means to that end, the following guidelines will govern the

50 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

readmission of suspended and expelled students. At the beginning of the disciplinary period, the Principal and Assistant Principal will: §

Clearly identify the offense at both the beginning and end of suspension.

§

Assist the student in verbalizing why the offense was inappropriate and/or harmful.

§

Notify the student’s teachers/coaches of the suspension term but not the nature of the offense.

§

In the case of long term suspension or expulsion, the Assistant Principal will (with parental permission) assign a mentor to disciple and maintain contact with the student for the duration of the suspension/ expulsion period.

At the end of the disciplinary period, the Principal and Assistant Principal will: §

Conduct a re-entry interview with the student and at least one parent.

§

Assist the student in identifying a plan to ensure improvement.

§

Remind the student of their importance in the TFA community.

§

Explain that the student is on disciplinary probation and its ramifications, if applicable.

Engage in a time of prayer in which the Principal or Assistant Principal and parent(s) pray for the student and the student prays for any whom they have offended as well as themselves.

TFA DRESS CODE Dress Code §

The dress code supports The First Academy’s mission to prepare students for life as Christian leaders by promoting a high level of professionalism on campus. Students are expected to dress in a conservative manner that reflects professionalism and maturity. The Academic Team reserves the right to determine the propriety of any trend related to appearance and attire.

General Guidelines § Students must be in uniform every day unless otherwise noted (i.e., Spirit Days). §

§

Uniform pieces – Dennis only – must fit appropriately (not too tight or baggy). Appropriately sized and fitted shirts may be worn untucked. Belts (colors must be conservative) must be worn through belt loops when shirts are tucked.

All female skorts, skirts, dresses, jumpers, and shorts (bottom options vary by division) must rest below mid-thigh while seated. Uniform bottoms may not be hemmed to an inappropriate length or rolled.

§

Any jewelry or makeup (girls only) must be worn conservatively (no spacers, gauges, gothic-style makeup, etc.).

Boys may not wear earrings on campus or while participating in any school-sponsored activity.

Girls may wear leggings or tights underneath uniform bottoms (white, black, gray, and navy blue are permitted).

§

Students are not permitted to display tattoos during any school-sponsored activity.

§

Hair Boys: Facial hair must be clean-shaven and hair must be neatly groomed and cut and abide by the following guidelines when untied and resting: § § § §

Above the eyebrows in the front Mid-ear or above on the sides Above the collar in the back Sideburns no longer than mid-ear

Girls: Hair must be worn neatly and may be highlighted or colored with natural hair colors.

51 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Footwear st

§

K4 thru 1 grade students must wear athletic shoes only.

§

2 thru 12 grade students must wear flat, closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes (heels, platform shoes, boots, sandals, etc., are not permitted).

nd

th

Outerwear/Cold-Weather Dress (K4-12)

During cold or inclement weather, only school-approved outerwear may be worn on campus. The hem of uniform bottoms must be visible and rest below the hem of an outwear garment (outerwear may not completely cover uniform shorts, skorts, skirts, etc.). During extreme cold weather, the school will notify students and parents of Spirit Wear dress. Girls may not wear sweat pants, warm ups, etc. under uniform bottoms.

Spirit Day Dress Code/Homecoming Week Dress-up Days

Spirit Day attire is worn on Fridays (K4-12) or the last day of the week. Dress attire (see Dress Clothes below) is worn for formal dances and events in grades 9-12. Other days may be designated for Spirit Wear by divisional administration.

Lower School Spirit Wear:

§ TFA approved uniform, Royals Athletics, Fine Arts, or camp T-shirts (blue/gold/white/gray/black). § Standard uniform bottoms, jean shorts / skirts (Lower School only) that rest below mid-thigh while seated, or denim jeans (full length blue or black). § Divisional footwear guidelines apply on Spirit Days.

Middle/Upper School Spirit Wear:

§ TFA approved uniform, Royals Athletics, Fine Arts, or camp T-shirts (blue/gold/white/gray/black). § Standard uniform bottoms only (no denim shorts or skirts) or denim jeans (full length blue or black). § Divisional footwear guidelines apply on Spirit Days.

Extracurricular Performance/Off Campus Activity

Please see the Fine Arts and Athletic handbooks for specific information related to extracurricular performances and off campus activity.

Field Trip/Off Campus Activities

Lower and Middle School students are required to own a pair of khaki bottoms and a royal blue polo to wear as standard dress on school field trips.

Formal Wear/Dress Clothes

All dress and formalwear should be conservative and appropriately modest.

On special occasions during the school year, students may be asked to wear dress clothes (assemblies, programs, etc.). The following guidelines apply in such cases: Girls: Dresses and skirts are permitted. The hem of any skirt, dress, or gown must rest at or below the knees when seated. Dress slits may not rise above the knee. The back of any dress, gown, or blouse should be no lower than the bottom of the shoulder blades, and cleavage may not be shown in the front. Strapless dresses are acceptable formalwear. Dress and formal attire may not contain see-through material, cutouts, or show the midriff area.

Halter-style dresses must be approved by the Female Christian Leadership Coordinator. Dress shoes must be worn (heels and open-heeled / toed footwear are acceptable). Athletic footwear and boots are not permitted.

Boys: Dress shirts and dress slacks are required. Suits, tuxedos, blazers, and ties are appropriate but optional. Socks and belts are mandatory accessories. Dress shoes must be worn - athletic footwear and boots are not permitted.

Parent/Volunteer Dress Code

Volunteers are expected to wear conservative attire while serving on campus. Parents must exercise careful judgment regarding garment length, fit, and coverage.

52 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Physical Education (P.E.) Class

The approved uniforms for P.E. class (grades 6 -12) are to be worn by all students in class. Girls in grades K4-5 should wear shorts under their skirts and jumpers for P.E. and recess. A student failing to wear the approved P.E. uniform will have grade points deducted. Students may not participate in P.E. classes without appropriate athletic shoes.

Progressive Discipline (Uniforms)

Protocols will vary by division, however, teachers and administrators will closely monitor uniform compliance. In grades 612, male administrators will work with male students, and female administrators will work with female students to follow the progressive discipline process below. st

§

1 Incident: The student will receive a warning (noted in RenWeb) and may be required to change immediately. 1 demerit will be assigned (6-12).

§

2 Incident: The student will be required to change immediately and may not return to class until he/she is in dress code. The student will be assigned 5 demerits (6-12). Parents will be alerted by email and required to sign a form that outlines progressive discipline steps.

§

3 Incident: The student will be sent home immediately and assigned 10 demerits (6-12).

§

Any absence(s) from class related to a dress code incident will not be excused.

nd

rd

Uniform Information All uniform pieces (tops and bottoms) must be purchased from Dennis School Uniforms. Families may shop online (please go to www.dennisuniforms.com and enter the school code “ETF” to access The First Academy’s customized webpage that includes uniform options, size charts, pricing, and more) or at the store location below:

1101 N. Keller Road, Suite G-3 Orlando, FL 32810 Telephone 407-960-1788

Exclusive Uniform Provider Dennis School Uniforms is the exclusive uniform provider for The First Academy.

Used Uniform Exchange The Parent Association will host uniform exchanges / resale events during the school year in order for parents to donate, exchange, or purchase additional clothing items at a reduced price. For more information about TFA uniform exchanges, please send an email to parentassociation@thefirstacademy.org.

FINANCES Overview One of our organizational values is stewardship. As parents and students, it is important that we understand that strict accountability measures are put in place to provide for the stewardship of our resources. The School Board meets regularly to review the financial reports of The First Academy and the same reports are submitted to the Budget Administration Team of First Baptist Church Orlando. In addition to these oversight bodies, the financial statements of The First Academy are audited annually by Batts, Morrison, Wales, and Lee, P.A. The annual budget of The First Academy proceeds through the same process as others ministries of First Baptist Church Orlando.

Each year, The First Academy School Board sets the tuition and fee amounts that meet the school's needs to provide the most excellent educational program in the most cost-effective way possible. Tuition covers most textbooks and achievement testing. The tuition schedule for the current year is available upon request. The First Academy students with an outstanding balance on their account for tuition, lost books, After Care charges, etc., will not be issued or have access to report cards, transcripts, or diplomas. Records will not be forwarded to another school until all financial obligations have been satisfied.

53 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Tuition assistance is available upon request. The tuition assistance policy has been approved by the School Board. Tuition assistance is granted through a combination of endowments, annual gifts, and need based discounts. The disbursement of assistance is equitably disbursed through a third party assessment firm called Facts Tuition Management. Names of those receiving tuition assistance will be kept confidential. Further information on this tuition assistance is available on The First Academy website under Admissions or through the Business Office.

Academic, financial, or other information related to a student’s enrollment at The First Academy may be disclosed to a legal guardian, or to the individual or individuals who pay all or a portion of that student’s tuition.

Accident Insurance The First Academy carries a student accident insurance policy on its students, including those involved in athletics. This coverage is known as excess coverage, meaning the parent’s own insurance is primary. The First Academy’s insurance will begin coverage up to certain limits AFTER the parent’s coverage has reached its maximum limit. The First Academy’s coverage may include deductibles and other claim costs that the parent’s policy may not cover. Claim forms for the school’s insurance are available from the Business Office at 407-206-8758. Note: Claims must be filed within 90 days of the accident to be considered for school insurance coverage.

Fines/Debts Students may be subject to accumulating fines during the course of the school year. Fines for lost or damaged library books, damaged textbooks, damage to church or school property, Lower School lunches, After Care fees, in-school suspension fees, etc. can accumulate. The Business Office will hold all school records and reports until all financial obligations have been cleared. Delinquent tuition payments can also result in the holding of student report cards and/or records.

Holding Report Cards: During the school year, quarterly report cards may be held for fees in excess of $50 for tuition or aftercare overdue charges. At the end of each school year, all outstanding amounts including but not limited to tuition, aftercare, athletic uniforms/fees, band fees, AP fees, missing or damaged school textbooks/resources, and Lower School lunches will be compiled by the accounts receivable specialist. Any families that have outstanding obligations will be sent an email notifying them that their report card will be held until the obligation is paid. The parent will be given the option of paying their balance via electronic check, mailing/carrying in a check or via credit card (fees will apply) to the accounts receivable specialist. At the end of the school year, report cards will be held until all financial obligations have been returned or paid in full.

Fundraising/Club Finances Any class, club or other school-related group (Athletics, Fine Arts, SGA, etc.) involved in fundraising must clear its project through the Principal, who will gain final approval from the Institutional Advancement Office. Such activities are potential sources of conflict and must be coordinated according to an overall master plan. All club/class money and accounts must be maintained in a TFA school activities account specifically for the purpose of the activity. No separate bank accounts may be maintained by any student organization. The First Academy prohibits students from selling or soliciting door to door.

Our concern is for the safety and well-being of our students.

Generous Giving Your financial gifts to The First Academy are an investment in our present and our future. They are also an act of Christian service, as the Bible tells us that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Scripture also tells us that we are to “honor the Lord with [our] wealth” (Proverbs 3:9), and the Apostle Paul commended those who “gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability” to meet the needs of others (2 Corinthians 8:3, 4).

The Capital Campaign and Royal Nation Fund are critically important parts of the financial plan for nearly every private school, as its fundamental purpose is to provide financial support for the tuition assistance program and to support ongoing school initiatives. In short, the Royal Nation Fund takes over where tuition income ends. It is so important that every member of our school family is called to participate. Your gift has a direct impact in every classroom on the campus, and each family is asked to give prayerful consideration to the needs of our students.

Why give to The First Academy above and beyond tuition? §

To partner with the faculty and school leadership in their commitment to providing your child with the best possible education. Each year our Teachers, Principals, Guidance Staff, and Administrators determine the 54 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

academic priorities of the coming semesters; your gift helps achieve the full academic plan for each classroom and student. §

To demonstrate a strong internal commitment of financial support to outside donors, corporations and foundations who may consider The First Academy for gifts, grants, and endowments.

§

To help The First Academy attract and retain exceptional teachers who are highly qualified in their field.

§

To provide a diverse, real-world, socio-economic environment for all TFA students by extending tuition assistance to deserving families.

§

To double the impact of your gift through a matching gift program by your employer. Please check with your Human Resources department for the appropriate form.

§

Your gifts of cash, stocks, securities, gifts-in-kind, and by way of long-term endowments and annuities are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Through your gifts of time, talent, and treasure, The First Academy will attain its full potential as an unequaled Christcentered college preparatory school. Your time and talents are greatly needed as volunteers and advisors to the Parent Association, Royal Boosters, and various School Boards. Your treasure is greatly needed as we work to meet the financial needs of The First Academy.

Matthew 6:19-21 admonishes us, “Don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and dust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Guiding Principles for Biblical, Financial Stewardship The First Academy has been called and commissioned to serve Central Florida as a Christ-centered, college-preparatory school. The First Academy operates according to biblical principles as outlined below. The Guiding Principles are adapted from the work of the Christian Stewardship Association and Generous Giving Ministries.

1.

Recognition of our Provider – We believe God is the creator (Gen.1) and sustainer of all things (Col. 1:17) and the One “who works within us to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). We believe He is a God of infinite abundance (Psalm 50:10-11) and grace (II Cor. 9:8) and therefore will supply the resources needed to advance His Kingdom through The First Academy.

2.

Scriptural Foundation - Acknowledging the primacy of the Gospel (Rom 1:16) as our chief treasure (Matt.

13:44), The First Academy is called to Christian stewardship, as managers of all that God has entrusted to us (I Cor. 4:1-2).

3.

Accountability - God entrusts possessions to Christians and holds them accountable for their use, as a tool to grow God’s eternal kingdom, as a test of the believer’s faithfulness to God, and as a trademark that their lives reflect Christ’s values (Luke 16:1–9). The financial affairs of The First Academy are regularly and carefully reviewed by the School Board and FBCO Budget Administration Team.

4.

Stewardship - Stewardship is a lifestyle based on the biblical belief that God is the rightful owner of everything (Psalm 24:1) and that we are stewards or caretakers of this world, responsible to do with it what He wants done. Biblical stewardship includes many aspects, including personal finance, use of one’s ability and more – even the gospel itself. But of all the various aspects of stewardship, the Bible frequently singles out financial stewardship as the one most representative of a Godly heart (Matt.6:19-21).

5.

Reward for Labor - The Bible teaches that we are to reward those who labor accordingly (I Cor. 9:10-11, Gal. 6:6). It is our commitment to pay our employees a comparable and competitive wage to those serving in similar positions. Personnel expenses make up three-fourths of the operating budget. The tuition level reflects the Reward for Labor principle. Schools that may have lower tuition levels have, for the most part, chosen to pay teachers less and bear the consequences of such a decision. The First Academy values its employees and will reward their labors appropriately.

6.

Excellence – As believers, we are called to be excellent in all that we do (Rom. 12:1). Excellence includes both breadth and depth (Phil. 1:10). Our budget reflects expenditures on campus maintenance, 55 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

equipment/technology upgrades, and teaching resources to facilitate excellence. These costs make up roughly one-fourth of The First Academy’s budget.

Returned Checks Returned checks will automatically be put through for deposit again during the next scheduled deposit. If the check is returned for a third time, parents will be contacted for cash or money order replacement. A $30.00 fee will be charged for any check return occurrence. Non-payment of returned checks may result in a report card being withheld until payment is settled.

Tuition Assistance One of the core values of The First Academy is “acceptance in a diverse community” (Matthew 25:35, 40). The School Board has designed a tuition assistance program that is purposefully aligned to fulfill this core value. The tuition assistance program is designed and implemented by a third party vendor that has been approved by independent school associations, the FHSAA, and the School Board.

For a family to be granted tuition assistance, they must follow a rigorous screening protocol conducted by a third-party organization called FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) that evaluates their finances and ability to pay tuition. At a minimum, families will be required to submit information on household income and expenses, home value and mortgage payment, vehicles driven, savings, investment, and retirement accounts. Additional information related to Federal Income Tax returns may also be required. Tuition assistance will only be granted upon the recommendations of the third party vendor and approved by the Tuition Assistance Committee. The names of those receiving tuition assistance will be kept confidential. The program is made possible through tuition discounting, endowment earnings, and other gifts.

The School Board is provided regular updates on the progress of the program. All families of The First Academy are encouraged to seek additional information regarding this program by visiting the school's website (under Admissions). The school community is encouraged to support the program philosophically (understanding that we as Christians are called to meet the needs of fellow believers) and practically (by giving to the program and/or speaking of the program and its recipients only in an honorable manner), so that it remains a value-added component of our institutional identity.

Withdrawal Procedures Parents considering withdrawing a student from school should make direct contact with the Principal several days prior to the withdrawal date. The student or parent must pick up a withdrawal form from the office and will be supplied with a checklist of items that must be cleared prior to withdrawing. The withdrawal form must be returned to the business office when completed. Records will not be forwarded to the new school until all items on the checklist are cleared, all outstanding fees and fines are paid, and a parental release form has been received from the new school. The receiving school initiates the actual release of records.

GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION Advertising - Posters, Flyers, Announcements, Etc. Students, parents, or employees who wish to display a poster, distribute any literature announcing a non-TFA event or information, or sell any non-TFA items, must first have it approved by the divisional Principal. If it involves anything to be sent home to parents or distributed off campus, the Assistant Head of School must also approve once the Principal has given permission. Announcing certain activities in chapel or over the intercom is left to the Principal’s discretion. Due to the number of requests, we are unable to distribute informational flyers that are not TFA and/or FBCO related.

After School Program (After Care) Lower School

The First Academy’s After School Program (After Care) offers quality care for students after school. The experienced staff provides an environment that your child will find secure and comfortable. We provide something different and enjoyable for them to do each day with supervised free play, games, movies, arts and crafts, as well as time set aside for homework. th

K 4– 6 Grade After School Program: §

3:15pm until 6:00pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 56 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

2:40pm until 6:00pm on Wednesday There is a $10 per quarter-hour late fee for any pick ups after 6:00pm th

Homework time has become an essential part of our program. Appropriate time is set aside for K – 6 grade students to work on homework assignments each day. We have software, flashcards, worksheets, and books to read for those children without homework assignments. In this social setting, children are encouraged daily to make new friends and to practice God’s love, kindness, and compassion toward others.

Note: After School Program is closed on all official holidays, school holidays, and teacher workdays. Please check the school calendar.

Registration and pricing information will be made available at the beginning of each school year. After School Program information, pricing and payment links can be found on our website at http://thefirstacademy.org/academics/after-schoolprogram/ Payments for the After School Program are made in advance of use. All payments and selections are done online. Parents may choose to purchase an Unlimited Use Ticket or an Occasional Use Ticket.

Unlimited Use Tickets are established at the beginning of the year. The fee is a flat rate per child for the school year. The election of payment method is done on the online form as mentioned above.

Occasional Use tickets (15 or 30 hour) are purchased online and minutes are deducted as used. Tickets may be split among siblings. Parents will be notified when a ticket is low or depleted and a new ticket should be purchased. Tickets can be carried over from one year to the next. No refunds for unused hours will be given.

Emergency Use is charged for any portion of an hour at a flat rate per day and per student. Emergency use should be paid using the online link and instructions (amount specified) sent to you by the After School Director or Business Office.

Report cards will be held for any unpaid charges.

Middle/Upper School Students in grades 7–12 who remain on campus after 3:30pm must report to a designated study hall classroom for supervision. Fee structure will be the same as Lower School.

Animals on Campus Although we enjoy animals and teach our students about animal care and safety, animals are not allowed on campus.

Please keep in mind that safety is our number one concern at The First Academy. Therefore, pets are not allowed on campus whether it is in the schools, in parking lots, or at the PSAC. Animals can cause an unsafe feeling to students who may be afraid of them; animals can cause a sanitation issue which will put us in violation of a State Health Code; and/or animals may cause an injury to someone, bringing a liability issue for yourself and our School. Registered “guide dogs”, ( i.e. “seeing eye dogs”) are allowed and must register at The First Academy Reception Desk before going on campus. Any animals used for teaching purposes (ex. science projects, show-and-tell, class mascots, etc.) need to be approved by the divisional Principal before being brought into the classrooms.

Anti-Harassment Policy We strive to have the environment at TFA be one in which all individuals feel free to work, learn, and develop relationships without fear of intimidation and humiliation, as a result of unwanted or unacceptable behavior from others. It is expected for the well-being of all that students, parents, teachers, and staff members treat each other with due respect for rights, individuality, and personal dignity.

Birthday Parties, Other Parties, Gift Giving th

Birthday parties will not be held at school. However, students (grades K4-6 ) who wish to celebrate their birthday may bring a snack for the entire class for lunch or snack time. No personal party invitations are to be distributed at school unless every child in the class receives one or all students of the same gender receive one. The same guidelines apply to any other party as well (sleepovers, etc.). Our goal is that no child would feel excluded by his/her peers from any such gathering.

Please contact your child’s teacher in advance for his/her recommendation. The principle of inclusivity applies also to gift giving at The First Academy. If giving a gift, gifts should be given to all students in a grade level or on a team when distributed at school.

57 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Cell Phones See Electronic Devices

Church Attendance The First Academy believes that participation in a Christ-centered, Bible-believing local church is essential to spiritual formation. At the point of admission, parents / guardians agree to actively encourage and support their student's involvement in a local church.

Christian Educator of the Year The Christian Educator of the Year is awarded each year to those teachers identified by their peers, administrators, students and parents to have an exceptional commitment to their work at The First Academy. Each award winning teacher is given a certificate of recognition and a cash award. The program is planned and facilitated by the Institutional Advancement Office in appreciation for the great work of the Living Curriculum (teachers) at The First Academy.

Communication with Faculty and Staff TFA faculty and staff welcome constructive communication from parents at any time. Mail sent to the school is the property of TFA upon arrival. Mail may be screened prior to distribution. Any of the following methods may be used to contact a staff member: §

Staff Mailboxes: Notes or letters may be left with The Classical School, Lower School, Middle School, or Upper School assistants for placement in the staff mailboxes.

§

Conference: If you would like to arrange a conference, please make your request in the form of a note, voicemail or email so that a time may be scheduled. Instructional time in the classroom is valuable. Unscheduled conferences prohibit teachers and administrators from adequately addressing your questions and concerns.

Teachers and administrators have conference times built into their schedules and would be happy to meet with parents.

§

Voicemail & Email: A TFA staff and faculty directory of voicemail extensions and email addresses can be found on the TFA website. Every attempt will be made to respond to all voicemail and email messages within 24 hours during the school week. Teachers are on duty supervising students from 7:45am until 3:25pm. Many faculty/staff also have extracurricular duties following school hours. Therefore, it may be difficult to reach them by phone. In most cases, email is the best method for initial contact. Our staff’s family time is precious. We respectfully ask you to refrain from calling our staff at home. Please make every attempt to have after-school plans in place prior to the school day.

If you are having a problem reaching a faculty/staff member and are not receiving a response to your requests for communication, you should contact that employee’s supervisor/principal.

In seeking to solve any problem or misunderstanding originating in class, students and parents should work with teachers first then administration if needed. Concerns involving students and classroom procedures are most appropriately directed to the teacher. Questions concerning school policy should be directed to the appropriate Principal.

Problem Resolution Strategy During the course of the year, occasional misunderstandings or problems arise between a teacher and student, teacher and parent, parent and school, or any one of several possible areas. This is often the result of a lack of communication between those involved. This process is outlined in the School Board Handbook so that board members can appropriately direct parents who may bring concerns to their attention.

1.

2.

All questions, problems, or complaints should first be brought directly to the teacher or coach before anyone else is involved.

If the situation is not cleared up at this level through direct contact, it should then be brought to the Principal, along with the teacher. If it involves a coach, the athletic director should also be present. A special athletic appeals process is in place (see Athletic Handbook) and all requests for consideration are final with the appeals committee. Administrators, other than the Assistant Head of School – Scholastic Excellence and Athletic Director, do not engage in athletic related complaints or problem resolutions.

58 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

3.

Finally, but only when the above steps have not brought resolution, does the problem find its way to a member of the Senior Staff (Head of School/President, Assistant Head of School – Scholastic Excellence, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Head of School – Advancement and Spiritual Formation). A member of Senior Staff and the Principal or Director will meet with the individuals concerned. If the issue remains unresolved, the Head of School/President will bring it to the School Board through a written appeal from the parent.

Pastors/staff members of First Baptist Church/Orlando, school administrators, and School Board members support and are committed to following this biblical process for problem resolution. Therefore, when a parent or student approaches one of these individuals with a concern, please understand that they will direct the parent or student to follow this procedure. It is inappropriate for pastors, staff members, faculty, administration, or School Board members to be approached with school problems at athletic contests, concerts, church, church functions, or in any other manner not listed in steps 1-3 above. Please be respectful of this policy and understand that those who may stop you from sharing your problem are doing so to preserve the integrity of this biblical model for problem resolution, not because they lack concern for you and/or your situation.

Parents must agree to follow these steps and to attempt a positive resolution to problems and disagreements within the school community. Activities to be avoided at all times include gossiping, spreading rumors, and spreading of hearsay reports. The good reputations of other persons and of the school are to be protected and promoted.

Dance Policy

The First Academy will allow appropriate dancing at the school’s annual Homecoming and Junior/Senior Spring Formal/Prom.

Drug and Alcohol Prevention Policy The First Academy is dedicated to academic excellence and to the personal growth and well-being of its students. This mission requires a school environment that is safe and drug-free in order to maximize the learning potential of its students.

TFA is implementing this drug prevention program for one PRIMARY purpose – to provide our students with a resource they can draw upon when faced with choosing for or against drugs. Some are able to make that choice on their own without any fear of social pressure; but some are not. We hope this program will help their decision-making in this crucial area.

The First Academy has a mandatory drug testing program for all students in grades 9-12 and all employees. The program is designed to prevent drug use by students. It is based on a structure that assists, rather than punishes, students on the first offense. It is intended to empower parents with valuable information for active participation in this assistance. TFA insists on a drug-free environment. The possession or use of illegal drugs or the misuse, abuse, illegal possession or use of prescribed drugs or other substances, including alcohol and tobacco, by a TFA student at any time does not promote the general welfare and reputation of TFA, its students, or the community. Thus, TFA will not tolerate the possession or use of illegal drugs or the misuse, abuse, illegal possession or use of prescribed drugs, alcohol, or other substances on campus or during any School-sponsored activity. TFA will take disciplinary action as it deems appropriate.

Mandatory Testing

TFA reserves the right to require students suspected of using illegal drugs or alcohol or of other substance abuse to be evaluated at any time by a physician or medical technician, including, but not limited to, drug and/or alochol testing. The suspicion may be based on any information considered reliable by the Administration in its discretion. TFA will keep the sources of such information confidential. Parents will be notified in advance of testing.

In addition, TFA reserves the right to require students to be evaluated at any time by a physician or medical technician if any of the following occur: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Observed behavior or change in performance Reckless driving or speeding on campus Any major disciplinary infraction as defined by the administration Chronic tardiness or absences from School Being off campus without permission 59 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

6.

Violation of any criminal law

By execution of the signature page of the TFA Handbook, students and parents agree that: 1. Students shall submit to any reasonable laboratory testing that, within the school’s discretion, is deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, breath tests, urine tests, hair tests, and fingerprinting. TFA will not require students to give blood samples.

2. Students and their parents understand the purpose and reason for the tests, and give their consent to said testing.

3. Students and their parents will hold harmless The First Academy and its employees, agents, and representatives for any loss sustained as a result of said testing, including the negligence (but not gross negligence) of The First Academy and its employees, agents, and representatives.

4. Students and their parents waive any privilege or confidentiality that might exist or come into existence with respect to said testing, including, but not limited to, any doctor-patient relationship. This waiver shall be limited to The First Academy, and The First Academy will not publicly disclose the results of any such testing except as may be ordered by a court of law.

All tests required by the school will be performed at a site determined by the school and results will be sent directly to the school. Any student refusing to submit to testing of this nature shall be subject to dismissal.

Universal Drug and Alcohol Testing Program

A.

The school requires universal drug and/or alcohol testing of all students in grades 9-12 as follows:

1. Every student will be tested within the first few weeks of school.

2. A number of students will be randomly selected for additional drug and/or alcohol tests during the academic year.

3. Any student testing positive on the initial or on any subsequent test will be re-tested within 90 days and again thereafter at the discretion of the School. All follow-up testing will be at the expense of the student’s parents.

4. New students will be initially tested within 15 days of beginning classes and are subject to re-testing as described above.

B. Testing Method – The primary testing method will be hair analysis performed by a licensed clinical laboratory, Psychemedics Corporation. Each hair sample will be analyzed for a number of substances, including, but not limited to, cocaine, opiates, marijuana, methamphetamines, PCP, and Ecstasy. Other forms of testing (such as urine testing or hair testing for additional drugs) may be employed at the discretion of the school. This additional testing shall not include blood tests, and shall be subject to reasonable collection and chain-of-custody procedures.

C. Hair Collection Procedures

1. Each student will be assigned a unique identification number. The school will perform the hair collections using chain of custody procedures established by Psychemedics Corporation. The Assistant Head of School will be the only person privy to the identification numbers.

2. A sample of hair (approximately 60 strands) will be cut cosmetically from the crown of the student’s head.

Students with insufficient head hair will have hair collected from the arm, leg or underarm. The sample will be mailed to Psychemedics Corporation’s laboratory for analysis.

D. Confidentiality and Dissemination of Results

1. All sample collections and results will be identified by the unique identification number of the student. No names will be recorded on the collection bag or the test results.

2. Test results will be confidentially provided by Psychemedics Corporation to the Assistant Head of School and to no one else.

3. Parents will NOT be notified if a test is negative. The school will notify the student’s parents of a positive result within 15 days of receipt of the test results by the school.

4. All test results of students will remain strictly confidential between the student, his/her parents, the Assistant Head of School, and the counselor selected by the parents as discussed in Section F below.

60 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

5.

E.

F.

Absent a court order, no test result of any student will be disclosed to any person or agency beyond the persons identified above without the written consent of the student’s parent.

If a student testing positive wishes to dispute the test result, he or she may do so within ten days of notification of the student’s parents of the positive result.

1. Re-tests will be at the expense of the student’s parents unless the re-test demonstrates that the initial test gave a false positive result.

2. Re-tests must be performed by Psychemedics Corporation using the same collection procedures as in the initial test.

Consequences of a Positive Result 1. TFA will not initiate criminal charges or other legal action against the student or the student’s parents based solely on a positive drug test obtained in the universal testing program.

2. TFA will require a conference between the parents of a student testing positive and the Assistant Head of School.

3. TFA will recommend that any student who tests positive and the parents of any such student obtain a substance abuse evaluation through a counselor or community agency.

4. All costs for the recommended counseling are the responsibility of the parents. A student who has tested positive for the first time on a test administered in the universal drug testing program will continue normal school activities unless directed otherwise by the parents or counselor.

5. Any student who tests positive in the universal testing program will be re-tested approximately 90 days after the first test and thereafter at the discretion of TFA until graduation or until the student is no longer enrolled at TFA. 6. A second positive test at any time will result in the student being dismissed from TFA. 7. Any student who has tested positive on a test administered in the universal drug testing program for the first time remains subject to all other disciplinary policies and procedures of TFA. 8. Seniors who test positive for the first time with less than 100 days of school remaining must successfully pass a second test (to be given in the summer) prior to the school issuing his/her diploma.

9. Students will be removed from all leadership positions, arts and athletic involvement.

Drug Policy: Community and Parental Responsibilities For the welfare of students and the school and to promote and insist on a drug-free environment, the entire TFA community, including parents and guests, should not be in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during any activity on TFA’s campus or at any TFA event, athletic or otherwise. The cooperation of parents and guests is needed to send a strong message to our students with regard to the school’s position.

Electronic Devices The First Academy supports the authentic integration of technology with teaching and learning. Students are permitted to use personal electronic devices (cell phones, iDevices, electronic readers and personal laptops) for educational purposes within the parameters as outlined by The First Academy student handbook. Students in grades 7-12 are allowed to make cell phone calls before and after school, at Royal Recharge (snack break), or at lunch.

Elevators Students may not ride the elevators without an appropriate pass. Students who choose to ride the elevator without appropriate passes will be considered for disciplinary action. A Lower School student with a pass must be accompanied by an adult or another designated student when riding the elevator. Students with an injury, requiring them to use the elevator, may receive an elevator pass from the Health Aide.

Emergency School Closings The First Academy DOES NOT necessarily follow the Orange County Public Schools with regard to Emergency School Closings, because Orange County’s decisions are based on a wide range of factors (busing, etc.) that may not always affect TFA families. At times, emergencies such as severe weather, fires, power failures, or law enforcement issues can disrupt operations. In extreme cases, these circumstances may require the closing of the school. A message will be sent to all faculty, staff, and parents via Voiceshot.com online calling system. This system enables a message to be recorded by a member of the Leadership Team and then sent to a pre-programmed calling list using the phone number entered into 61 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

RenWeb. School closure notices will also be communicated by the following means: §

E-mails sent home

§

www.thefirstacademy.org

§

Voice Shot calls to the home

Emergency Training for Student Care Trained personnel are to be in attendance during regular school hours and for sports practice after school. Trained personnel may range from Health Aides to athletic trainers and may also include instructors/staff who are certified in CPR/First Aid. First Aid supplies are on campus in at least two locations (1 Health Clinics and Response Team equipment storage). The trained personnel will initiate First Aid treatment. The procedures for more significant injuries will follow the TFA Crisis Management Plan (Chapter 19 - Medical Emergency). For less significant injuries, students will be brought to The First Academy Health Clinic where the Health Aides will treat them. Responses will incorporate information from the RenWeb Emergency Information Form.

If needed, the trained personnel will call 911 and 1.

identify name of caller

2.

identify injured person’s name, age, sex, nature of injury, and what first aid has been administered

3.

identify location: The First Academy (2667 Bruton Blvd.-Orlando), the school building or playing field, and a contact phone number

Trained personnel will stay with the injured person until a parent or EMS help arrives or until the student can return to class. The responsible TFA representative will contact a parent. The responsible TFA representative or athletic trainer will have emergency information on hand. The responsible TFA representative will also document the incident on the TFA Accident Report form, and notify the supervisor of the incident and status of the student.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students." §

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

§

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

§

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31): −

School officials with legitimate educational interest;

−

Other schools to which a student is transferring;

−

Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

−

Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; 62 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

−

Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;

−

Accrediting organizations;

−

To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;

−

Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and

−

State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

Fine Arts Network (F.A.N.) See Volunteer Organizations/Special Interest Groups

Food/Drink/Gum Students are not allowed to consume food and beverages (with the exception of water) in the classroom or hallways.

Special classroom events involving food must have administrative approval. Water (with no food dyes) in clear plastic bottles is allowed in classrooms. Gum is permitted in grades 7-12 but must be disposed of in a responsible fashion. These restrictions have been established to promote good stewardship of our buildings as we endeavor to keep the environment clean and safe

Food Services (Lunch/Cafeteria) The Food Service Ministry of First Baptist Church Orlando serves TFA students, parents and staff. The lunch program is similar to a Food Court variety with our four (4) unique food lines, including a Comfort Food, American Grill, Italian and Fresh Wraps and Salads, and fresh fruits. There are combo meals and an A la Carte Menu available to the TFA Staff, Middle School, and Upper School Students.

For the convenience of the student, there is a state-of-the-art debit card system. This system allows a student to pay in advance for meals in a variety of payment methods. Students will still have the ability to pay cash or check at the point of transaction, but this safe and convenient method is strongly suggested. The system works with a student’s ID issued by TFA. All students will have an established debit account. To prevent fraudulent use of student accounts, the picture of the student will also appear on the monitor to verify access to a student's account. Money will be deducted from an account when the student uses funds to purchase the meal.

Deposits made should be a minimum of $50.00 each time funds are added to the account. When balances fall below $15.00, all active accounts will be notified by email. To make an advance payment, follow the Option #1 instructions in Appendix-A. Cash back is not available; however, refunds of accounts can be made upon written request and will be issued by check. Funds remaining at the end of the school year are transferable to the next school year or if that student graduates funds may be transferred to a sibling’s account.

All students and parents may also use their accounts to purchase meals for First Baptist Orlando’s Wednesday Night Fellowship Dinners.

Students may also use their accounts to purchase items at Café on the Rock before and after school as well for lunch if accompanied by a parent/adult. For complete menu information and hours of operation please visit www.firstorlando.com/Ministries/SupportMinistries/FoodServices.

Upper School students may order Cafe on the Rock for lunch according to the following schedule (all orders must be done online by 10:00am):

§ Monday: Seniors § Tuesday: Seniors § Wednesday: Juniors § Thursday: Sophomores 63 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§ Friday: Freshmen The lunch program at TFA is outsourced to First Baptist Church of Orlando Food Services. Please contact them directly in the event you have a concern or complaint.

Refer to Appendix-A for Payment Options

Friends of the Library See Volunteer Organizations/Special Interest Groups

Gift Giving See Birthday Parties, Other Parties, Gift-Giving

Hall Pass Hall and bathroom passes will be issued using the "Buddy System". Passes and a “buddy” assigned by the teacher will be issued to the student needing to leave the classroom for an approved reason. Hall passes should be written in pen only.

Students outside of a classroom during class hours are required to carry a hall pass from their classroom teachers.

Students will not be allowed in the Health Clinic or Library/Media Center without a hall pass. Students out of class without a hall pass will be considered as missing class. Teachers will monitor what is a reasonable amount of time each student should be gone from the class for each particular request. Students may not go to the car/parking lot unless he/she has checked out with the attendance desk and have written permission from an administrator. This system provides both safety and accountability for students not under direct supervision of the classroom teacher. Note: While US students need a hall pass, they are not required to have a buddy accompany them to the restroom.

Health/Medical Information Guidelines for Returning to School after Illness (adapted from WebMD)

Fever-Body temperature must read below 100.4 for a minimum period of 24 hours. If taking medication for fever, child must be medicine free for a minimum period of 24 hours.

Diarrhea or Vomiting-Keep your child home until the illness is over, and for 24 hours after the last episode (without medicine).

Sore/Strep Throat-Your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat. He or she can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)-Keep the child home until a doctor has given the OK to return to school. Pink eye is highly contagious and most cases are caused by a virus, which will not respond to an antibiotic. Bacterial conjunctivitis will require an antibiotic; your doctor will be able to determine if this is the case.

Health Clinics A Health Clinic is available on The First Academy campus from 8:00am until 3:30pm when school is in session. Training for the Health Aides and the extent of services offered includes CPR, First Aid, dispensing of prescription medication, and contacting emergency services, as mandated by the state of Florida. In the event a student becomes ill, a parent will be notified to pick up their student. The aide will monitor the student until the parent arrives. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for students until such time as a parent or other designated adult is notified and picks him/her up. Please make sure your contact information is current in RenWeb. This will enable us to contact you more efficiently should the need arise. There will be no access to the emergency medication/equipment stored in The First Academy Health Clinic during the hours before 8:00am and after 3:30pm. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure access to emergency medication/equipment when the school Health Clinic is closed.

64 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Communicable Childhood Diseases

Upon having the following illnesses, a child must have written consent from either a physician or the Health Department to return to school or be subject to school office approval for re-admittance: 1. Chicken Pox

6. Pinworms

11. Fifths disease

2. Measles

7. Scabies

12. Shingles

3. Mumps

8. Ringworm

4. Pneumonia

9. Impetigo

5. Whooping Cough 10. Pink Eye Immunization Policy

Florida State law decrees that each student must present to The First Academy a Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH680). Non-compliance with this regulation will result in referring the student to the proper authorities. Immunizations may be obtained from any branch of the Orange County Health Department or your doctor’s office. The immunization th program must be completed no later than the 15 day of school or the child will be excluded from school until the program is completed.

In keeping with the Florida State immunization law, non-compliance will result in the following procedure: 1.

The First Academy Health Aide will send a letter to parents of those students with missing and/or expired certificates.

2.

The First Academy Health Aide will follow up one week later with a phone call to the parent if no action has been taken.

3.

If action still has not been taken, a meeting will be scheduled with The First Academy Health Aide, Principal, and parent if necessary.

Infectious Diseases

A complete and detailed policy related to Infectious Diseases is available from the Health Aide.

Lice (Pediculosis)

From time to time, some of our students experience the problem of pediculosis (head lice).

1.

It is important to notify the school health clinic at once if you find that your child has contracted head lice.

2.

Any student with lice or nits must be effectively treated before returning to school. Effective treatment includes using an over-the-counter or prescription shampoo that is made specifically for treatment of lice and nits. All nits need to be completely removed from the hair after shampooing.

3.

A parent must take his or her child to the clinic to be checked prior to being admitted back to class.

4.

Upon learning that a student has head lice, the clinic aide will check other students in the same class, grade, family, or social circles as deemed necessary.

5.

Any student found to have lice or nits will be sent home for treatment.

6.

The school will notify parents when their children have been checked for lice and when two or more students in a grade have lice.

Medications

§ § § §

Students may not carry or be in possession of medications, including vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements.

All treatment for symptoms or conditions will be handled through the clinic.

All forms expire at the end of the school year.

Medications must be in the original bottle with the prescription label attached.

Students may not transport medications. Parents must deliver the medication to the Clinic Aide, who will then check it in.

Self-Carry Medications and Emergency Medications

65 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

State Law allows students to carry their own medications for 3 reasons only: 1. Blood Glucose monitoring and Insulin for diabetic students.

2. EpiPens for allergic students.

3. Metered Dose Inhalers for asthmatic students.

These emergency medications may be stored in the clinic for emergency use. The clinic closes at 3:30pm, please plan accordingly for After Care and any other extra-curricular activities.

Form(s) Required Diabetes Action Plan, Severe Allergy Action Plan, or Asthma Action Plan If the student will self-carry the medication, a physician will need to sign the form stating that the student is knowledgeable and capable of self-administering the medication.

As-Needed Medications These are prescription or over-the-counter medications that are given infrequently on an as-needed basis. The clinic will not administer over-the-counter medication unless the parents have provided medication in the original container to the school specifically for their child. As-needed medications will not be administered by After Care.

Communication Parents will be called and verbal authorization will be confirmed. This is to ensure that students are not getting “double dosed.” No medication will be given until verbal authorization is received.

Parents will be notified via RenWeb email when the student is given an as-needed medication.

Form(s) Required Medication Authorization Form

Short Term Medications These are prescription or over-the-counter medications that are given on a regular basis/schedule for less than two weeks.

Please ask your pharmacist to dispense the medication into two containers – one for school, one for home. Short term medications will not be administered by After Care or by the clinic after 2pm, please arrange the dosing schedule accordingly.

Communication Parents will be notified via RenWeb email when the student is given a scheduled dose in the clinic.

Form(s) Required Medication Authorization Form

Long Term Medications These are prescription or over-the-counter medications that are given on a regular basis for more than two weeks.

Communication Parents will be notified via RenWeb email when the supply on hand is one week’s worth of doses. That is 5 doses for M-F schedule, or two doses for Tu, Th schedule, etc.

Form(s) Required Medication Authorization Form – if it is an over-the-counter medication, a physician must sign the form.

Allergies

The First Academy is committed to the safety of all students. We are not a “food allergy-free” school and cannot guarantee exposure will not occur, however, we are firmly committed to offering reasonable accommodations to policies and procedures in an effort to support student safety. These accommodations cannot create an undue burden on school faculty and staff nor impact the educational experience of other students.

I.D. Cards All students will be issued a bar coded, student identification card. The I.D. card serves two purposes: (1) It allows students access to several exterior building doors around campus, and (2) It serves as a debit card for lunch purchases. th

Only 6th-12th grade students will be issued an I.D. card. The card belonging to K4-5 grade students will be kept on file in Faith Hall, sorted by teacher name. As the class moves through the lunch line, each student will be handed his/her card.

66 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

He/she will return the card to the cashier to pay for lunch; the cashier will verify, then re-file the card for use the next day. th th Students in grades 6 -12 will retain possession of their own cards. Additionally, these cards are a safety and security measure for the protection of our students which we take very seriously. A failure to comply with requested presentation will be considered a Level 2 violation and be met with appropriate sanctions. First offense will be written up as a warning.

The second offense will be assigned three demerits, and the third offense will be accompanied by a parent meeting.

The I.D. card can be reused from year to year. Lost cards may be replaced by submitting the Prox card app from the th th student iPad (Grades 9 -12 ) or by submitting the form on the TFA website http://thefirstacademy.org/academics/technology/prox-cards/.

I.D. cards for parent volunteers and substitute teachers must be obtained from the divisional receptionists.

Legal Injunctions and Court Documents Injunctions may be received in multiple areas of the school depending on how it is addressed and how it is delivered. Some rd injunctions name TFA as a party to the injunction while others are between two individuals and TFA is a 3 party that is affected by the injunction.

Regardless of delivery method/contact, all injunctions should be forwarded to Tim DeBoom in the Business Office. Tim will immediately seek legal counsel to determine TFA’s responsibilities, if any. Detailed information will be communicated directly to those who are affected by the injunction.

General information will be included in RenWeb so that any employee who interacts with the student is aware that there is an injunction in place. The information in RenWeb will be written in such a way that it could be viewed by either party to the injunction without causing undue discomfort. (i.e. injunction in place – special pickup instructions).

At the beginning of each year all active injunctions will be reviewed and reminders sent to those that are directly affected.

Note: Many times TFA is not named in an injunction, but there will be orders in the injunction that affect how a student is supervised (i.e. persons student may not be in contact with, pickup instructions, communication instructions, financial responsibility). These orders are between the parties to the injunction and TFA is not legally liable if they are not followed.

TFA accommodates the injunction when possible to the point that it does not disrupt the classroom day.

Lockers All lockers are the property of The First Academy. Lockers, storage areas, backpacks, and purses may be searched without prior notice if The First Academy staff has reasonable suspicion that contraband items may be present or they contain evidence of a violation of School Policy or its Student Conduct Agreement. Lockers are issued to students at the beginning of the school year. Students are responsible for all items stored in his/her locker. Use only the locker assigned and keep it locked at all times. Do not tamper with another locker or give your combination to another person Stickers or use of markers, inside or outside of lockers, are prohibited. TFA is not responsible for items lost or stolen from any locker.

Lost and Found Lost articles, including books, clothing, valuables, etc., may be reclaimed in the school office before or after school only.

Items in Lost and Found that are not labeled with student's name will be sorted and distributed to areas of need at the end of every month. Lost items will not be held over the summer months.

Medical Emergency Preparedness At the beginning of each school year, all parents must complete the "Medical Emergency Information Form" and "Family Demographic Form" located in RenWeb. These forms are located in the Web Forms section on the left side of your School Information page. The medical form includes the name and phone number of the doctor to be notified, as well as allergies and conditions that will help us better care for your child. The demographic form includes the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the parents and an alternate person to be notified if the parents cannot be reached. Note: It is the responsibility of the parent to see that this information is on file and kept current. In case of serious illness or injury, this information may be relied on and used before consultation with the family can occur. The family will be contacted by phone, and the parents will be requested to come to the school to pick up the student as necessary.

67 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Parent Teacher Fellowship (PA) See Volunteer Organizations/Special Interest Groups

Personal Property The First Academy will not assume responsibility for lost or stolen personal items and damage to personal vehicles.

Valuables (jewelry, electronics, music or athletic equipment, etc.) should be insured through a homeowner’s policy. We highly discourage students from carrying large amounts of cash (over $20).

Photographs and Video - Use of Student’s Image, Likeness The First Academy students are photographed (and videoed) on a regular basis both by students and professional agencies.

These photos and videos are used to promote The First Academy by showing many of our great activities.

Parents/Guardians on the enrollment application and contract give consent for photographs, audio, video, or electronic or digital images or likenesses of their student(s), to be used by TFA for exhibition, public display, publications, competitions, publicity materials, advertising, a news media story, video, audio, or other electronic media, including but not limited to, yearbooks, newspapers, promotional brochures or literature, the Internet, a school website, television, CD-ROM, or DVD. If a student or family does not wish such pictures to be used in school publications or promotions, parents should complete the applicable section on the enrollment form.

Playground Safety is a great concern on the playground. Students are permitted to play in designated areas. No roughhousing or contact sports are permitted. Good sportsmanship is the key to a healthy playground. Students are not allowed on the playground without adult supervision.

Promotion/Retention Policy Grades K4 – 5

A goal of our school is to minimize the need for retention. Strong effort in developmental screening, while not infallible, is intended to be a part of this effort. Early communication between the home and school combined with vigorous intervention efforts will always be made to reduce the potential for retention. A Lower School student who is experiencing academic difficulty, particularly in the critical areas of reading and math, may be required to repeat the year if it is determined that he/she is very likely not to experience success in the next grade. This decision will be made with input from the teacher, parent(s), and administration by evaluating the child’s academic performance, work habits, and achievement test scores. Summer school or a tutoring program may be required for students with poor grades. If a student is experiencing significant academic difficulty by the end of the first semester, he/she will be placed on Academic Probation. For kindergarten and first grade, the student’s maturity will be a consideration also. Notification will be by conference and letter. Unless there is significant improvement, the student may be retained or the parent may be asked to withdraw the student. The general policy regarding retention is that a child may not be retained more than one time while enrolled in Lower School.

Grades 6 – 12

To be promoted to the next grade level, a student must pass all classes with a 70% average or higher. No more than two failed subjects per year may be made up through a TFA approved summer school or tutoring program.

Prospective Student Any prospective student wanting to shadow a TFA student must have prior approval from the Admissions office at least 24 hours before the visit is to take place. To receive approval, the prospective student's parent or guardian should call the Admissions office to make the request. Admissions will then coordinate with the appropriate Division to determine if the requested date can be approved. Once permission is granted, the prospective student and their parent or guardian should arrive at the Admissions office on the approved day to complete any necessary forms and receive instructions for the day.

The prospective student is expected to follow all guidelines pertaining to students while on campus.

Rainy Day Lunch and Dismissal Procedure Lunch procedures for bad weather days will be as follows: The Principal will determine if such weather warrants a change of plans. If it is determined that the normal lunch routine will be changed, the students will eat lunch in the classrooms.

68 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Parents are encouraged to send a bag lunch on days when bad weather is likely to be a problem. FBCO Food Service employees will bring a box lunch (not necessarily the normal lunch menu) in the event that such is needed.

Afternoon procedures for bad weather days will be as follows: The Principal will determine if such weather warrants a change of plans. If it is determined that the normal dismissal routine will be changed, the students will remain in the building during the dismissal period. Parents are asked to park and come to the building to pick up their child. In the event of bad weather, parents will be notified via RenWeb communication.

TFA expects Upper School students to be properly prepared for wet weather by their choice of footwear, outerwear, and their storage of foldable umbrellas or ponchos in their locker.

Re-Enrollment Re-enrollment is processed online using RenWeb. You will receive instructions in January on how to reenroll.

RenWeb RenWeb is an Internet-based school management system that embraces the various needs of parents, teachers, students, administration, and staff. Lesson plans, homework assignments, and assessment information is updated on a regular basis by teachers. Faculty will continue to teach the students how to effectively utilize a planner. If there is a discrepancy between the child’s planner and RenWeb, please refer to the information posted on RenWeb. It serves as the official source for information.

RenWeb’s ParentsWeb is a private and secure website that allows you to see complete information specific to your child.

All you need is an Internet-capable computer to view information such as: attendance, daily grades, progress reports, lesson plans, homework, discipline, staff and school directory, teacher email addresses, and other school information. It is the responsibility of each student’s parents to update contact information and student medical information as soon as there is a change. Correct information will assure that important mailings from The First Academy are delivered promptly and correctly, emails are received as intended, and that school officials have access to current information, should an emergency arise. All demographic information can be updated by clicking the “Web Forms” link and completing the “Family Demographic Form” and the “Medical Information Update” form. To log on to RenWeb for the first time, click the “RenWeb” link from the TFA homepage. Click the First-time Users tab and enter an email address that is on file with The First Academy. A password will be emailed to that address which will allow you to log on under the Parents tab.

Restricted Areas Restricted areas are defined as those locations that are considered "off limits" to all students during the school day because of student safety concerns. Violations of restricted area policies and procedures will result in disciplinary action. The following restrictive areas include, but are not limited to: §

Parking Lots – Administrative permission is required to enter the parking lot during the school day.

§

Gym and Athletic Fields – Only students scheduled for physical education are permitted in these areas during the school day.

§

Dining Room – Students are only permitted in the dining room during their scheduled lunchtime.

§

Class Buildings/Rooms During Lunch – All classrooms/buildings are closed to students during lunchtime unless a teacher is present and supervising. Students in the hallways must be able to verify permission granted with their teacher.

§

Empty Classrooms – Students are not permitted in empty rooms.

§

FBCO Facilities/Building – Students are not permitted in these areas without teacher supervision. This includes Welcome Centers, Faith Hall Rotunda, and FBCO break rooms.

§

Henry Pond – water’s edge, etc.

Safety and Security Security at The First Academy is a community-wide responsibility. Faculty, staff, administration, parents, and students will endeavor to contribute to a safe learning environment. The Operations Department is responsible for overseeing this important aspect of our school. A comprehensive Crisis Management Plan is available from the Operations Department.

69 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

School Office Hours The First Academy offices are open from 7:30am to 4:00pm during the school year. Summer hours are from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

School Pictures Dates for all pictures will be announced and order forms sent home to be used to order pictures if desired. Orders should be placed at the time the pictures are taken.

Sexual Harassment §

The First Academy endeavors to provide an environment without fear of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment by any member of TFA’s “family” (employees, students, parents, etc.) is a violation of both the law and TFA’s policy and will not be tolerated. Males and females can both be victims and perpetrators of sexual harassment. It is an issue that may affect any member of the TFA family and will be dealt with promptly by the administration.

Students who experience or witness sexual or other harassment in the school should immediately report it to their teacher or principal. If the student or parent feels they would be uncomfortable contacting those persons or they would prefer to discuss the issue with someone else, contact the Assistant Head of School's Office immediately.

All complaints will be handled in a timely, and to the extent possible, confidential manner. Information related to the complaint should not be disclosed by The First Academy to any people or organizations not involved in the investigation, except as otherwise set forth below. However, administrative personnel needed for participation in the investigation of the complaint, the alleged harasser, possible witnesses, and the School Board Chairperson, may be contacted and will learn of the complaint.

It is The First Academy’s policy to not discriminate or retaliate against any person who has filed a complaint involving harassment or has participated in any investigation. However, if in the course of an investigation or subsequently the school learns that a complaint was not made in good faith or it was known to be false at the time of the complaint, The First Academy reserves the right to take appropriate action. Making false complaints or complaints not made in good faith can jeopardize someone’s reputation.

Solicitation Students, parents, or employees who wish to display a poster, distribute any literature announcing non-TFA events or information, or sell any non-TFA items, must first have it approved by the Principal. If it involves anything to be sent home to parents or distributed off campus, the Head of School must also approve. Announcing certain activities in chapel or over the intercom is left to the Principal’s discretion.

Spiritual Climate Truth is our cornerstone at The First Academy in the person of Jesus Christ. As the world around us continues to deteriorate, we must continue to be a lighthouse. Through TFA’s hiring practices based on being born again, our teachers and staff reflect the truth by the way he/she is expected to live on/off campus. The Bible classes, the integrated truth into all of the curriculum, innovative chapels, community service, and our partnership with FBCO, all point in the same direction – integrity and truth. Our goal is for our students to see the importance of Christian values before he/she leaves for college. Each family is responsible to be active in their attendance at a Bible-believing church.

Student Elections (US) During the course of the year, there will be at least three student elections run by the Student Government Association.

The elections will determine the Homecoming Court (including King & Queen), Sweetheart Court (including King & Queen, Prince & Princess), and SGA representatives for the upcoming school year. Ballots are prepared that include all eligible candidates (each election has a different criteria for candidacy) and then passed out to the student body. Election results are either hand counted or electronically tabulated by the Student Government Advisor and presented to the Upper School Principal for certification. In the event of a personal conflict of interest involving a relative on any ballot, another member of the Upper School administrative team will supervise the tabulation of the results and original ballots will be saved in the Upper School Principal’s office until the next school year.

70 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Student Government Association (Grades 7-8) The mission statement of The First Academy Student Government Association is, “We, the Student Government Association of The First Academy, make it our goal to demonstrate Godly leadership and a servant’s heart in order to promote communication, increased involvement, and school spirit (Philippians 2: 1–4).” § The Student Government Association (SGA) is a student-led, student-run organization. § Classmates elect their officers each year. § SGA officers include a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, historian and male & female chaplains. The students elect their set officers. These students preside over and coordinate the entire SGA. § The SGA functions to develop and organize activities. § The elected students strive to represent their classmates in scheduled meetings and also act as a liaison between the student body and the administration. § Every Child Has Opportunity (ECHO) Representatives are elected and become the liaison between the organization and the students..

Student Interaction with Social Media Given the explosive growth and expansion of “social networking” technology such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. and related resources such as blogs and other web-based discussion forums across all areas of modern life, students of The First Academy may be held accountable for their actions related to any and all internet interactions according to the agreed upon conduct policy found in the Parent/Student Handbook (see Student Conduct Agreement). Any interactions with social media by a TFA student which appear to be contrary to the TFA code of conduct may result in disciplinary action and or dismissal. Interacting on line with a person or group, in its essence, is no different than interacting with someone face-toface – i.e., students are required to maintain the principles of a Christ-like character.

Student Pick up Protocol Any parent with special custody arrangements must have updated paperwork on file in RenWeb. During School Hours §

At enrollment/re-enrollment, all parents must complete the "Emergency Contact" and "Transportation" information in RenWeb. This will provide The First Academy with the necessary information as it pertains to emergencies and student pickup authorizations. The parent is responsible to continually update this page. In the event a parent has not completed this information, the division Receptionist will contact the parent to remind them to complete the information as soon as possible.

§

If a person comes to the front desk to pick up a student, the Receptionist checks RenWeb for approved persons. If the person is approved, the student is released to that person.

§

If the person seeking to pick up the student is not approved in RenWeb, the parent is contacted and the Receptionist sends an email to the parent documenting this approval. A copy is made of their photo ID and the student is then released to that person. If the parent is unreachable, the student is not to be released.

§

If another TFA parent seeks to pick up a student other than their own and they are not approved in RenWeb, that student’s parent will be contacted for an approval, making the release decision be that of the parent and not The First Academy. The Receptionist sends an email to the parent documenting this approval. If the parent is unreachable, the student is not to be released.

After School Hours Lower School §

At car line, if an unfamiliar person walks up at dismissal and seeks to pick up a student, that person will be directed by a teacher to visit the Receptionist for the proper verifications as depicted above.

§

If a parent sends a message to a teacher, changing who will pick up their student, the teacher will notify the Receptionist if the pick-up will be before the car line dismissal.

71 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

If a parent informs the Receptionist, changing who will pick up their student, the Receptionist will notify the teacher.

§

Once in the presence of the person picking up the student, the teacher will ask the student who the person is, in order to further verify the student’s association and comfort with the person.

§

Students not picked up after school or after sports programs will be taken to After Care.

§

If a parent is not available to pick up a student, the final authority for releasing a student rests with the teacher or coach, as they are judged to have the closest relationship with the parents.

Middle School/Upper School §

Once school is dismissed for the day, The First Academy is no longer responsible for MS/US students unless the student proceeds directly to a school-sponsored program. If a student is not involved with an after school program, the student must report to MS/US After Care located in the Lower School building. No student will be left unsupervised. It is the student's responsibility to contact his/her parents regarding their pickup location.

After School Program (After Care) §

At enrollment/re-enrollment, all parents must complete the "Emergency Contact" and "Transportation" information in RenWeb. This will provide The First Academy with the necessary information as it pertains to emergencies and student pickup authorizations. The parent is responsible to continually update this page. In the event a parent has not completed this information, the division Receptionist or After School Director will contact the parent to remind them to complete the information as soon as possible. Should the “Transportation” & “Emergency Contact” information listed on the After School registration form differ from RenWeb, the After School Director will notify the parent to update RenWeb accordingly.

§

If a person comes to pick up a student from After School, the After School Director will check RenWeb for approved persons. If the person is approved, the student is released to that person.

§

If the person seeking to pick up the student is not approved in RenWeb, the parent is contacted and the After School Director sends an email to the parent documenting this approval. A copy is made of their photo ID and the student is then released to that person. If the parent is unreachable, the student is not to be released.

§

If another TFA parent seeks to pick up a student other than their own and they are not approved in RenWeb, that student’s parent will be contacted for approval, making the release decision be that of the parents and not the schools. The After School Director sends an email to the parent documenting this approval. If the parent is unreachable, the student is not to be released.

§

If a person comes to the door and seeks to pick up a student from After School, that person must meet the proper verifications as depicted above.

§

If a parent notifies the After School Director, changing who will pick up their student from After School, the Director will send an email to the parent documenting this approval.

§

If a parent sends a message to a teacher, changing who will pick up their student from After School, the teacher will notify the After School Director. The After School Director will also send an email to the parent documenting this approval.

§

If a parent informs the Receptionist, changing who will pick up their student from After School, the Receptionist will notify the After School Director. The After School Director will then send an email to the parent documenting this approval.

§

If a parent has previously given documented approval for a person to pick up their student from After School, the parent will need to contact the After School Director again or update RenWeb information in order for the child to be released to that individual at a later date.

§

Once in the presence of the person picking up the student, the After School Director will ask the student who the person is, in order to further verify the student’s association and comfort with the person.

§

If students are not picked up by 6:00pm the After School Director will contact the parents to arrange for pickup of the child by a parent or other approved person.

72 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

If a parent is not available to pick up a student, the final authority for releasing a student rests with the After School Director, as they are judged to have the closest relationship with the parents.

Student Searches We do not search students themselves. However, our policy with students is as follows: 1.

A school administrator, with another school employee present, asks the student to empty his/her pockets and remove shoes and socks. If the student is unwilling to do so, the administrator will contact the parent.

2.

If the student is still unwilling to do so, after having spoken with the parent, the student may be expelled from school. (also see Discipline and Conduct)

Telephones Students are not to use the school office phone for personal calls except for emergencies determined by office personnel.

In the event a student receives a phone call, he/she will be called out of class ONLY in case of an emergency; otherwise, the message will be delivered to the student.

Threats of Violence and Bringing Weapons to School Threats of Violence

TFA seeks to promote a healthy, safe learning environment. TFA does not tolerate threats of violence to oneself, others, threatening behavior, or other acts of violence (including threats to severely damage school property or the property of other students) whether made in school or out of school. Any threats or depiction of violence or harm, whether specific or general, whether done in jest or serious, whether in school or out of school, whether in person or through some other form of communication (e-mail, IM, message board, Internet posting, letter, picture, etc.) will be taken seriously by The First Academy and may be grounds for immediate discipline, including suspension or expulsion. Following any such events, The First Academy may suspend or expel the student or may, in its sole discretion, depending upon the facts and circumstances, condition continued enrollment upon satisfaction of additional criteria, which could include certification from a mental health professional and consistent monitoring by a mental health professional. Nothing contained herein, however, shall in any way limit or prohibit The First Academy, in its sole discretion, from suspending, expelling, or removing any student who violates this policy.

Parents and others will be encouraged to report any such incidents or information to the appropriate school official. Staff shall immediately notify an administrator of any threat, threatening behavior or act of violence he/she has knowledge of, has witnessed or received. All reports will be promptly investigated.

Weapons

Similarly, TFA expressly prohibits the bringing, or possession of a weapon on school grounds or at school functions. No student or nonstudent, including adults and visitors, shall possess, use, or distribute a weapon when at school. The First Academy will act to enforce this policy and to discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, school employee, volunteer, or member of the public who violates this policy.

A “weapon� is defined as any object, device, or instrument designed as a weapon or through its use is capable of threatening or producing bodily harm or which may be used to inflict self-injury including, but not limited to, any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; air guns; pellet guns; BB guns; all knives; blades; clubs; metal knuckles; nunchucks; throwing stars; explosives; fireworks; mace and other propellants; stun guns; ammunition; poisons; chains; arrows; and objects that have been modified to serve as a weapon.

No person shall possess, use, or distribute any object, device, or instrument having the appearance of a weapon and such objects, devices, or instruments shall be treated as weapons including, but not limited to, weapons listed above which are broken or non-functional, look-alike guns; toy guns; and any object that is a facsimile of a real weapon.

No person shall use articles designed for other purposes (i.e., lasers or laser pointers, belts, combs, pencils, files, scissors, etc.) to inflict bodily harm and/or intimidate and such use will be treated as the possession and use of a weapon.

Violations

In the event of violation of this policy, The First Academy may impose disciplinary action, in its sole discretion, including but not limited to, suspension or expulsion. The First Academy also may make a referral or report to appropriate law 73 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

enforcement for any violation of this policy when it believes a crime may have been committed or take any other action which it deems necessary in the best interest of the School or to protect the safety of its students, staff, and visitors.

Communications Blogs

Each division provides an up-to-date Blog as a resource to all TFA families. This includes current and upcoming events, highlights, and exam or testing schedules.

TFA Today

TFA Today is a weekly, electronic school newsletter detailing all the events on campus. Check your inbox every Thursday to keep up with the latest TFA news.

Social Media

The First Academy also enlists the usage of social media to keep its families informed. Follow along with TFA on: Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheFirstAcademy Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheFirstAcademy Instagram – http://instagram.com/thefirstacademyorlando Google Plus - https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#apps/tfa+today/1498215a5bf32a66 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4950055&trk=nmp_rec_act_group_photo

Toys Toys should be left at home unless special permission is granted by a teacher for events such as “Show and Tell.”

Volunteer Organizations/Special Interest Groups Volunteer – Definition of a TFA Volunteer

All volunteers are expected to complete a background check prior to serving on campus. Volunteers must be an immediate family member – a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian. All other persons wishing to volunteer at The First Academy must be approved in advance by the school administration. In case of divorce and custodial parent issues, the school follows the guidelines outlined in the legal documents provided to the school.

Volunteer Authorization

In order to help insure the safety and security of our students, all volunteers at The First Academy must undergo a background screening. To complete the background screening process, please navigate to www.candidatelink.com/tfa or go to the TFA website, click on Support TFA and then click on the Volunteer Authorization tab.

The next step is to create an account, which will allow you to complete the background screening application. If necessary, you may save your work and complete any missing information at another time. TFA will not receive the screening results until all information is completed.

Only those who have completed and passed the background screening may volunteer in classrooms or attend field trips.

The process takes approximately 3-4 business days once the application is submitted.

Athletic Booster Club – Athletic Director

The purpose of the Booster Club is to support The First Academy athletic program through volunteer service and financial aid. The Booster Club works in close conjunction with the Athletic Office to ensure that the needs of the athletic programs are met at The First Academy. The Athletic Council assists the Athletic Director in policy development, mentoring, and program development. The administrator leading this effort is the Chief Financial Officer.

74 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Fine Arts Network (F.A.N.) – Fine Arts Director

The purpose of FAN is to support the Arts and Media programs through volunteering time and talents, sharing of ideas, and giving of financial resources. These efforts will enhance the experience of every student who, at some point in his/her TFA career, will be a part of these programs. FAN works closely with the Fine Arts and Media departments to ensure the needs for exceptional programs are met.

Friends of the Library – Librarian

Friends of the Library is a group of volunteers who support and help to provide for the needs of the TFA library. This group organizes/facilitates book sales and other fundraisers to aid the library. They work closely with the English department and library to encourage habits of life-long learning through reading. The administrator leading this effort is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Parent Association – Principals

Parent Association (PA) exists to help promote the mission and purposes of The First Academy. Teams of moms and dads carry out the various programs of the PTA. Some of the ministries within the PA include class coordinators, community service coordinators, fundraising coordinators, teacher appreciation coordinators, and family enrichment advisors. The goal of PTA is “Every Mom and Dad Involved Somewhere-Making a Difference.” There are five divisions of PA: The Classical School/The First Hope, The Preschool, the Lower School, the Middle School and the Upper School, with each accountable to its division Principal. The administrator leading this effort is the Assistant Head of School.

Dress Code

Parents who volunteer at school or who need to be on campus for a period of time are expected to follow the same guidelines as students and faculty/staff. Pay special attention to the length of dresses or skirts and blouses/tops that are low cut, see through or that do not cover the stomach.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Assistant Head of School at 407-206-8643 or visit the TFA website and complete the online survey. Parents and students volunteering at TFA are not covered by school accident or disability insurance. Students are covered when participating in school sponsored functions.

SCHOOL EVENTS Christmas The First Academy celebrates Christmas as the blessed occasion when Jesus, God’s son, came to earth as a baby. Through His life, death on the cross and subsequent resurrection, those who place their faith in Him are saved for all eternity (John 3:16) from the penalty of sin which is eternal hell and separation. As such, our activities, parties and projects should draw attention to Jesus, not man. Each year, The First Academy will partner with a non-profit organization to share the love of Jesus with needy children. Only those projects/activities approved by the school should be undertaken so as not to overburden parents with requests. Gift exchange among students will not be held. Teachers are not to open student gifts in front of the entire class in order to avoid any hurt feelings by students who may not have been able to purchase a gift for the teachers.

Coffee with the Principal Coffee with the Principal is held annually, by division. Parents are invited to informally share their suggestions and concerns with the Principal in a group setting.

Golf Classic, Tennis and Tea, and Gala Auction To benefit The First Academy, the Golf Classic, Tennis and Tea, and Gala Auction are critical in the fundraising efforts at TFA. Every family's support and participation is encouraged. The Golf Classic and Tennis and Tea event celebrate a day of golf, tennis and fellowship amongst the supporters of TFA.. The Gala Auction is an evening of fellowship, fundraising, and fun for everyone with fine dining and unique auction items.

75 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Grandparents Day (LS) The First Academy believes family involvement in children’s educational experiences is important. Grandparents Day was organized to honor the significant role that grandparents play in the lives of children and to give them a peek at their grandchildren’s school lives. Held each spring in Lower School, Grandparents Day includes a reception, classroom visits, and a special presentation from each grade level.

Halloween The First Academy does not celebrate Halloween. Decorations depicting witches, skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, and haunted houses are not permitted on campus.

Homecoming Homecoming is a school wide event including The First Academy K4-12, The Classical School, The First Hope, and The Preschool. A homecoming planning team may include teachers, students, and parent representatives. Planning meetings will be led by the Student Government Sponsor and will be held in August, September, and October. If a TFA student chooses to invite a non-TFA guest to the Homecoming banquet, the guest must currently be in high school or a TFA alumnus.

The First Academy does not endorse, promote, or encourage students to attend "after parties" following Homecoming.

Parents who permit their children to attend must understand these events are not school sanctioned and should take all precautions necessary to educate themselves as to the level of adult supervision, type of activities, safety/security of facilities, etc. The First Academy cannot and will not assume responsibility for such events.

Junior/Senior Prom th

th

Junior/Senior Prom is an 11 /12 grade student activity. The planning committee consists of Junior class officers, Junior class sponsor, and designated Junior parents. Underclassmen are only allowed to attend if invited and escorted by a TFA Junior or Senior. If a TFA student chooses to invite a non-TFA guest to the Prom, the guest must currently be in high school or a TFA alumnus. All plans are approved by the Upper School Principal.

The First Academy does not endorse, promote, or encourage students to attend "after parties" following the Junior/Senior Prom. Parents who permit their children to attend must understand these events are not school sanctioned and should take all precautions necessary to educate themselves as to the level of adult supervision, type of activities, safety/security of facilities, etc. The First Academy cannot and will not assume responsibility for such events.

Meet the Teacher This event is held before the first day of school, affording all students and parents the opportunity to meet their new teachers in the classrooms. It is held in the evening, in conjunction with the New-Family Reception and All-Family Worship.

National Day of Prayer Observance This is held the first Thursday in May. Each Principal will provide a program of special observance on this day to include student, faculty, and parent participation.

Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on the dates indicated on the annual school calendar. Parents are encouraged to utilize these conferences to communicate directly with their student’s teacher(s). Conferences with a teacher at any other time of the school year are also available. Please contact the teacher directly or the team leader if you desire a conference.

Students who wish to talk to a teacher about any problem should request a conference with the teacher and/or grade level team before/after school or at a time convenient to both during the day. A Parent-Teacher conference is encouraged for all parents of NEW students in the fall. A Parent-Teacher conference/communication is also required for parents whose student(s) have a report card grade of 70% or below. Teachers or parents may request a conference as needed.

Parties/Socials The Principal must approve all class party plans. §

The sponsor of the party is required to submit an agenda of events prior to approval.

76 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

§

For any type of party to be an official TFA party, a faculty member must be involved in the planning and be present at the party.

§

For TFA socials, the ratio of chaperones to students is 1:8.

§

All types of watercraft must be driven by an adult 21 years or older. Students are not allowed to drive any watercraft.

§

Girls will wear modest one-piece bathing suits for water activities (a two-piece worn under clothing is allowed, i.e. rash guard and shorts).

§

A child’s birthday is very special. If you want to have birthday refreshments at The First Academy, you must contact the teacher in advance to set up a day and time. School parties are not an occasion to exchange gifts; however, treats and party favors are acceptable at the end of the day or at another time designated by the teacher. For children with summer birthdays, please contact the teacher to determine a day and time to celebrate the summer birthday.

§

Flowers and/or gift baskets may not be delivered to students during class on any school day or at any schoolsponsored event or program. Any deliveries may be picked up at the school office.

§

For birthday parties outside of school, please adhere to these guidelines: -

Invitations may not be distributed in school unless the entire class (or all boys/all girls) is invited. If invitations are distributed in school, they may be distributed only at a designated time approved by the teacher.

-

After school carpool lines may not be used as pick up times for birthday parties to avoid students feeling left out for not being invited.

Note: Social gatherings or parties not sanctioned by TFA (events where a school employee is the person in-charge) may take place. The First Academy, however, does not endorse, promote, or advertise such events. Parents who allow their children to attend must assume all risks associated with the event.

Pastor Appreciation Month This is held during the month of October. FBCO pastors are certainly worthy of our appreciation, and we would encourage all TFA teachers to involve students in “giving honor to whom honor is due.” The Principal for each division will organize and administrate a plan for recognizing and thanking the FBCO Pastoral Staff. For those families who do not attend FBCO, parents are encouraged to do the same for their church family.

Royal Academy of Arts & Enrichment The Royal Academy of Arts & Enrichment is a program designed to allow LS and MS students to more fully explore extracurricular interests in the areas of performing and creative arts, as well as enrichment. The courses are designed to build self-confidence, develop creative skills, and meet the needs of students with varying interests. Students will be able to select from a variety of courses based upon availability. Classes are offered after school on a semester basis. The program is structured to run similarly to our Summer Camp courses with registration and fees, but over a 10-14 week schedule, with a couple of classes running 8 months. Each course will include weekly classes (1-2 days per week) and will be approximately 1½ to 2 hours in length beginning immediately after dismissal.

Senior Retreat Senior Retreat is an off campus event lasting several days. This is an opportunity for seniors to bond together and grow as a class. Retreat expenses are the responsibility of each student. Information on retreat costs and location will be given in May prior to the senior year.

Spirit Days The last day of the week is designated as Spirit Day. Students will follow the guidelines set forth in the dress code section of this handbook. Spirit Day apparel can be purchased at our School Store or on-line at https://tfastore.lightspeedwebstore.com/.

77 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Teacher Appreciation Week Teacher Appreciation Week will be celebrated annually in the spring. The activities will be coordinated by PTA and the Principals.

TRANSPORTATION Accident Insurance See Finances

Auto Insurance See Student Conduct Agreement - Driving & Parking Privileges

Bus Guidelines In order to provide safe transportation for all students, whether for a field trip, athletic function, or similar activity, students are expected to abide by the following standards of school bus behavior, in addition to the Student Conduct Agreement which includes, but is not limited to: obeying the bus driver at all times, giving your proper name when requested by the bus driver or monitor, remaining seated at all times when the bus is moving, remaining silent when the dome lights are on, remaining silent at railroad crossings, refraining from bringing food, drink, and gum on the bus, refraining from using profane language or gestures, refraining from throwing objects from the windows of the bus, refraining from sticking arms and head out of the windows of the bus, refraining from any conduct or behavior that interferes with the orderly, safe, and expeditious transportation of you or other bus riders.

Driving/Parking on Campus In accordance with the policies at First Baptist Church Orlando, TFA does not allow vehicles to be driven or parked on any surface not specifically designed for motor vehicles. These areas include, but are not limited to, sidewalks, patios and curbs. Visitors should be asked to move their vehicles to a proper parking area or roadway, and assistance offered as needed. Any unusual circumstances that may require a vehicle to be driven on to a non-roadway surface must be approved by the school office. Approval should only be granted if extenuating circumstances warrant the waiver of this policy. All students must fill out a Student Parking Application each year to bring vehicles on campus. The Upper School Office will maintain student driver records.

For the sake of safety, the administration will respond to violators as follows: Students:

Level 1 - Abuse of vehicle parking privileges - Disciplinary Action (1 demerit)

Level 2 - Traffic violation – Disciplinary Action (3 to 5 demerits)

Level 3 - Reckless/irresponsible vehicle operation - Disciplinary Action (10 demerits)

Parents:

First Offense – Phone call from the Operations Administrator, followed by a certified letter Second Offense – Meeting with Operations Administrator and Assistant Head of School, followed by a certified letter

Third Offense – Children are no longer enrolled at The First Academy

Traffic Plan - Arrival/Dismissal The traffic plan endeavors to accomplish three goals: the safety of all students, minimizing the time required to drop off and pick up, and the smooth flow of vehicles. The accomplishment of these three goals will require your willingness to comply with the plans. Parents are NOT to use cell phones while in carline. It is important for the safety and security of our students that the traffic flow diagrams be followed carefully. Students are to exit the vehicle on curbside only to avoid crossing in front of traffic. A copy of the traffic flow diagram is enclosed as Appendix-A in this document.

78 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Grades K4 – 6

Students should be dropped off and picked up according to the traffic flow map in Appendix-A and in accordance to the following guidelines: K-K4 Morning Care (room 106) 7:30-7:50am Grade 1-5 Gym Supervision begins 7:30am th

th-

K4-5 Classes begin 8:00am (6 7:50 am) No student should be dropped off before 7:30am. TFA does not assume responsibility for any students on campus before 7:30am. It is important that all parents follow the directional signs as indicated on the map. Traffic flows in one continuous direction. Cars should pull completely forward and stop before allowing a child to exit the vehicle. Students are to exit the vehicle on curbside only to avoid crossing in front of traffic. Safety Patrols are available each morning to assist your child from 7:30am to 7:55am. Students should be dropped off at carline. The parking lot is only for parents who need to park st and come in the building. Parents are encouraged to allow their students to walk to class after the 1 week of school.

Dismissal Grade (K4-6) 3:15pm - (Wednesday 2:40pm) Parents should use the dismissal line system unless the parent must pick up their child early from school for a scheduled appointment. The dismissal line traffic flows in one continuous direction. Vehicles should pull completely forward until the stop sign indicates STOP. Do not attempt to stop in front of your child’s class. Your child will be brought to your car by a patrol or a teacher. Car signs will be given out at Meet the Teacher. Please be sure to hold the sign out the window when entering the loop road so teachers can identify your car and prepare your child to dismiss. Afternoon glare often obscures the signs left on the front dashboard. Remember, please drive safely and watch for children at all times, especially when entering and exiting the parking lot. Students must be supervised by a parent at all times when walking to or from the parking lot. Students not picked up by the end of carline dismissal will be sent to After School Program and charged accordingly. ATTENTION! All students not under the direct supervision of a parent, coach or sponsor after the official th school day has ended (see above for times) MUST be in the After School Program (K4-6 – Lower School Building). Failure to follow this guideline will result in immediate discipline and repeated occurrences may result in suspension or expulsion.

Grades 7 – 12

Drop-off 7:30-7:45am (Classes begin 7:50am) Students should be dropped off and picked up according to the traffic flow map in the Appendix and in accordance to the following guidelines: Students should not arrive before 7:30am unless they are with a teacher and involved in a designated activity. Any student arriving after 7:50am will be considered tardy.

TFA does not assume responsibility for any student on campus before 7:30am unless he/she is on campus at the request of a school faculty or staff member for a school-sponsored event.

Dismissal 3:15pm (Wednesday 2:40pm) Students must be out of the building by 3:30pm (2:50pm on Wednesday) or report to an after study area. Students are not allowed to wander the campus or hang out in Faith Hall or other areas of the campus after the official school day has ended (see above for times). Students involved with after school sports or fine arts activities should report to their coach(s) and/or teacher(s) for supervision. Any student found to be without supervision will be taken to the after school study area.

Failure to follow this guideline will result in immediate discipline and repeated occurrences may result in suspension or expulsion.

Parents picking up Upper School students may wait in the pick-up lane in front of the building. Upper School students are to park in the Student Center parking lot, avoiding the slots marked for student ministry. Parents may drop off students along the drop-off/pick up loop in front of the Upper School Building. Drivers (both student and parent) should observe a 15mph speed limit while on campus. There are a lot of students moving to the building and great caution must be observed by everyone.

79 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Traffic Safety The focus on safety for students on campus includes strict enforcement of safe driving expectations for Upper School students and all parents. This includes the requirement that drivers respect all traffic control devices including speed limits, barricades, cones, and signs, both for ingress/egress and for parking.

For the sake of safety, the administration will respond to violators as follows: Students:

Level 1 - Abuse of vehicle parking privileges - Disciplinary Action (1 demerit)

Level 2 - Traffic violation – Disciplinary Action (3 to 5 demerits)

Level 3 - Reckless/irresponsible vehicle operation - Disciplinary Action (10 demerits)

Parents:

First Offense – Phone call from the Operations Department, followed by a certified letter Second Offense – Meeting with School Resource Officer and Assistant Head of School, followed by a certified letter

Third Offense – Children are no longer enrolled at The First Academy

ATHLETICS Athletic Administration The Athletic Director reports to the Chief Financial Officers. Matters of policy, game issues, coaching decisions, and other athletic issues should be brought to the Athletic Director first and then taken to the Chief Financial Officer if the matter cannot be resolved in a satisfactory manner.

Athletic Booster Club See Volunteer Organizations/Special Interest Groups

Athletic Conflict Resolution See Athletics Handbook

Athletic Facilities To request the use of a TFA athletic facility or academic facility, please see the Facilities & Transportation Request form found at the bottom of the opening page of the TFA website.

Athletic Program/After School Sports See Athletics Handbook

Rainy Day Policy In the event that the weather or conditions of the facilities are deemed unfit for practice that day, youth sports practices will be cancelled. It is the parent’s responsibility to call the youth sports Information Line at 407 206-8626 for details on practices that day. The message will be updated by 2:35pm (1:35pm on Wednesday) indicating the status for that day. If the weather conditions call for an inside dismissal, all Youth Sports will be cancelled automatically. Any children not picked up by the end of dismissal will be sent to the After Care program and a fee assessed accordingly.

Student Attendance at FHSAA State Championships In the event that the participating team from TFA could potentially play during two school days the State Championship game will be the date chosen for US student attendance to minimize lost academic time.

Student attendance of any Final Four or State Championship game that results in missed class time will follow these protocols: 1.

All game schedules and information of the team participating in a State Championship tournament will be communicated to all TFA families through the athletic department once the FHSAA has released the schedule.

80 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

2.

The sports that will be considered for student attendance of a state championship game by the 9-12 grade student body will be limited to the following team sports; Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, and Softball.

Sports that have individual competitions or team sports that are day long meets/matches will not be attended as a student body. Attendance of those events will be allowed on an individual basis with approval by the division principal and parent transportation and supervision. Lower School and Middle School parents can choose to take their children at their discretion. Attendance of these games will be an excused absence for all divisions if a student chooses to attend.

3.

For those events that require “Spirit Buses” used to transport the students to the event, those buses will be secured for US students only by the athletic department. The cost of the buses, tickets to game, and chaperones is to be factored in to the student cost. The ratio of chaperones to students on buses is 1:8. The athletic office will handle all reservations of student riders with the divisional assistants collecting signed permission forms.

4.

Teachers/staff will be allowed to attend the events if proper substitutes and supervision can be secured.

Teachers/staff with children or spouses involved with the team will have first priority in getting to go. Divisional principals will then make determination of how many others can attend.

5.

Students can travel with their parents if a signed permission slip is turned in to their division.

6.

Divisional principals have the right to deny attendance of the event if academic or attendance concerns are present.

The Classical School (TCS) Participation Policy The Extended Educational Programs participation in TFA 5-Day activities is based on historical participation and activities with cross- divisional connections as determined by TFA’s Academic Team. The First Hope student participation will be determined by divisional principals and TEEP’s director.

All TCS Students (Basic and Tuesday/Thursday program):

§

Are permitted to attend TFA non-sports related activities such as prom, homecoming, and fine arts events at the regular ticket price. No additional participation fee will be required

§

May participate in Lower School Royal Academy of the Arts. Basic student participation will be based on class availability

§

May participate in Lower School Extracurricular Athletics

§ May participate in Summer Quest § May participate in Student Leadership University (SLU). Chaperones will be assigned based on number of students

participating § May use TFA’s library under supervision of their TCS teacher or parent

TCS Tuesday/Thursday Lower School Students are eligible to participate in Lower School’s Evening of the Arts, FatherDaughter Dance, and Mother-Son Event.

TCS Tuesday/Thursday Middle and Upper School Students:

§

§ § §

Are eligible to tryout for all sports and fine arts programs at TFA. There will be an annual, non-refundable activity fee of $500 per student. This fee does not guarantee participation and will not be collected until a student has been placed on a team or in a fine arts program. There will also be athletic package fees, which will vary in amount according to the program level.

May participate in TFA’s Marching Band and Sapphires may take a course at TFA. Prior approval from TCS and TFA leadership must be confirmed, the course must fit within their schedule, and will include a prorated cost determined by the Business Office. may participate in the Middle School PAL-DC trip pending review and approval of all prerequisite assignments.

Chaperones will be provided based on the number of students participating.

81 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

TCS Tuesday/Thursday Upper School Students may participate in the following TFA Upper School events: § National Honor Society Chapter & Ceremony § Homecoming Float, Homecoming Parade, Homecoming Dance § Sadie Hawkins Dance ○ NYC Fine Arts Trip § Junior/Senior Prom § Spring Break Missions Trip § AP Testing TCS Tuesday/Thursday Senior Students may participate in the following TFA senior events: § Senior Step-Up Day § Senior Pages in TFA’s Yearbook § Senior Ski Trip § Senior Lunches (4x per year) § Graduation Ceremony § Meeting with FBCO Senior Pastor

TCS Basic Program Students are eligible to try-out for all sports at TFA. There will be an annual, non-refundable activity fee of $1,000 per student. This fee does not guarantee participation and will not be collected until a student has been placed on a team. There will also be athletic package fees, which will vary in amount according to the program level.

TCS Basic students are not eligible to participate in TFA’s Lower School or Middle School Fine Arts programs.

Youth Sports The First Academy Lower School Youth Sports is an after-school athletic program whose goal is for students to grow in Christ-like character and sportsmanship. Youth Sports is primarily a parent volunteer-based program. We offer a variety of sports, such as basketball, soccer, girls volleyball, boys flag football, golf, and tennis for students in grades K4-5. Practices are held after school on our TFA campus. Some sports have games that occur off campus on Saturday and some weekdays.

Siblings of students participating in Youth Sports must be under the supervision of an adult, other than a coach.

Unsupervised students or children will be sent to After Care (Grades K4-6 report to LS / Grades 7-12 report to Lower School). Sports and seasons vary and are subject to change.

Lower School Sports - In-Season & Off-Season Teams In-season sports will be open enrollment (any player can participate regardless of skill level). Off-season teams (i.e., Spring Basketball) may also be developed. They will be selective and competitive based on skill level/ability of the player.

82 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

APPENDIX-A

Alma Mater - The First Academy A city on a hillside; a beacon in the night now stands our alma mater - proclaiming truth and right.

Depending on the promises of Jesus Christ, the Son, in whom our faith is anchored; in whom the victory's won.

His Word of hope now hidden securely in our hearts, Though years of change may threaten, His Word will not depart.

As workmen who have studied and need not be ashamed, prepared as Christian leaders; We're trusting in His name.

His character and wisdom - the hallmark of our creed, Accepting our commission to serve all those in need.

Together lift your voices and sing in one accord, of this alma mater - the mission of our Lord.

83 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Lower School Traffic Map

84 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep

Campus Map

85 | P a g e Definitively Christ-Centered, Distinctly College-Prep