General Information
School Office
In order to limit classroom interruptions before or during school, parents should go to the school office. Lunches, homework, books, and other items may be left in the office to be delivered to a child. Necessary communication with teachers should be written and will be delivered by the office staff. Messages may be left for teachers to return calls, which they will return as soon as possible. Messages may also be emailed directly to your student's teacher.
School phones are for business use only. The office phone may be used by students during the school day with permission if the call is deemed necessary by staff.
Personal copies made in the office cost five cents per page and should be paid at the time the copies are made. This charge also applies to copies of lost or misplaced homework/workbook pages.
Insurance
Our school insurance policy provides limited coverage in the event of injury after the family's primary insurance contributes its maximum. We do not provide supplemental insurance. Although insurance is provided, Arrowhead Christian Academy may not be held liable for any accident or sickness beyond reasonable control. In the event of an injury where there is no primary coverage, please contact the school office.
Closed Campus
Arrowhead Christian Academy operates a closed campus which means that students may not leave school during the day without advance permission from parents and from the school. All visitors must report to the school office immediately upon arrival during school hours; they may not go directly to the classroom.
Arrival / Departure
Please do not drop off your child(ren) before 7:45 a.m. Students arriving at 7:45 a.m. must remain under supervision on the property, and may not be in the buildings before 8:00 a.m. without permission. In extremely cold or rainy weather, a room will be open at 7:45 a.m. School begins at 8:00 a.m. If students arrive after 8:15 a.m., they must sign in at the office before going to class.
Dismissal time is at 3:15 p.m. and supervision is provided until 3:30 p.m. at which time all students must be picked up or be under responsible adult supervision. All student drop-off/pick-up will be done in the designated area unless other arrangements have been made with the office. For the safety of everyone in the drop-off/pick-up line, please adjust your car music to a volume that is not audible outside your car.
Every student leaving 3:15 p.m. must sign out in the office. No students are permitted to leave school without permission and should have a signed note from a parent. Early dismissals are unexcused except for reasons stated under Absences (see below).
Students who walk or ride bikes home must have parental permission and must sign out in the office before leaving campus.
Kindergarten students - the kindergarten program has the same hours Monday through Friday as the school hours above. Half-day kindergarten students must be picked up by noon.
Tardiness
Promptness is a valuable character quality. Emergencies do arise and allowances are made for them, but persistent tardiness is not acceptable. Excused tardies are granted for sickness, family emergencies, mechanical difficulties, etc. but not for routine traffic congestion. Three unexcused tardies will equal one absence. Accumulated tardies will result in after school detention. Tardies will also affect attendance awards and result in discipline.
Absences
Faithfulness in attendance is another strong character quality which we strive to develop at ACA. Absences are excused for the following reasons only: legitimate illness, death in immediate family, doctor/dentist appointments, or a trip pre-approved by the administraion. Any other absences, unless approved by the administration ahead of time, will be considered unexcused.
An unexcused absence means that all missed work results in a grade of zero. Parents should call the office the day of the absence and explain why the student is not in school, send an email to lguthrie@nwvbc.org or send a note with the student upon their return to school.
Arrival after 10:30 a.m. or departure before 1:00 p.m. will be recorded as a half-day absence, and any arrival after 12:00 noon will be recorded as a whole-day absence.
Staff, parents, and students must realize that absences directly affect the learning progress and grades; therefore, great emphasis is placed upon a student's attendance to classes. Any student missing more than ten days per semester for any reason will find his credits for the semester's work in jeopardy.
Planned Absences
Parents may take their student(s) out of school on the basis of planned absences for up to five days per school year. The procedure is as follows:
Parents are to state their intent in writing to the school office at least two days in advance, giving the reason for the absence and the days that will be missed.
Students will receive a planned absence form from the office. This form is to be taken to all of the student's teachers to collect in writing the assignments that will be missed. The form must be returned to the school office by 4:00 p.m. the day prior to leaving.
It is preferred that the student(s) complete class work in advance of any planned absence.
The administration reserves the right to reject or limit planned absences. No planned absences will be granted during exam weeks, academic testing, or the final week of the school term.
All students missing classes for ACA extra-curricular activities such as team sports events or field trips do not need planned absence forms. A list of participants will be given to the teachers, and those with academic deficiencies will not be permitted to go on the trip.
Illness Policy
Please do not send students to school with excessive coughing, runny nose, fever diarrhea, vomiting, or pink eye. If a student develops one of these symptoms after being dropped off at school, we will call the student's parent or guardian to have the student picked up. Please send someone to collect your student(s) within 30 minutes of being called.
Children sent home must wait at least 24 hours before returning to school unless a doctor's note states that they are no longer contagious.
The school does not provide any medications including over-the-counter medicines to students. Parents should send any required medication for your child(ren) to school. The school office staff will administer over-the-counter or prescription medications after the Prescription/Medication Form is completed by the parent/guardian. This form is available in the school office. All medication must be turned in to the office and will be dispensed in the office per written directions. Students may not have prescription or over-the-counter medication with them or in their locker.
ACA does not have a school nurse on duty. The classroom teacher will take care of minor medical needs as they occur. On the Enrollment Application, a signed statement provides the school ability to authorize any necessary medical treatment in the event of an emergency when the school is unable to contact the parents/guardians. Also on the Enrollment Application, the name of the child's physician must be provided and the names of any contacts in case of illness or accident when you cannot be reached. Please update the school office throughout the year with any changes to this information.
Communicable Diseases
ACA desires to maintain a healthy school environment by instituting controls designed to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The term "communicable disease" shall mean any illness which arises as a result of a specific infectious agent, which may be transmitted either directly or indirectly by a susceptible host, infected person or animal, to other persons. If the nature of the disease warrants, the school may require a physician's examination of a student or employee to verify the diagnosis of the disease.
It is the policy of ACA not to admit a student if he has an infectious disease or is a known carrier of a virus that causes infectious disease. For example, this would include chicken pox, measles, infectious mononucleosis, AIDS, mumps, hepatitis, impetigo, pinkeye, and any other type of communicable disease which could be a threat to the health of the student body and faculty/staff.
ACA reserves the right to make all final decisions necessary to enforce its communicable disease policy and to take all necessary action to control the spread of communicable diseases within the school.