OCS-NEO Student Handbook

Racial Nondiscriminatory Policies

3001-39-04 Sec. A(3), A(5) and Sec. B(1)

The governing board of Orthodox Christian Schools of Northeast Ohio, Inc. (OCS-NEO), located at 755 South Cleveland Avenue, Mogadore, Ohio, has adopted the following racial nondiscriminatory policies for all its campuses:

OCS-NEO recruits and admits students of any race, color, gender, or ethnic origin to all its rights, privileges, programs, and activities.  In addition, the school will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs and athletic/extracurricular activities.  Furthermore, the school is not intended to be an alternative to court- or administrative-agency-ordered, or public-school-initiated, desegregation.

OCS-NEO will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.

Admissions

1. Admission is made through formal registration.  At this time the following is required:

• Birth Certificate

• Baptismal Certificate (for Orthodox students)

• Health forms, physical examination reports, and immunization records (may be provided at any time before the start of the school year)

Though not required to be Orthodox Christians, the parents (or guardians) of students in OCS-NEO schools should have a clear understanding of the philosophy and purpose of the ministry.  This understanding includes a willingness to have their child exposed to the clear teaching of the Orthodox Christian Faith in various and frequent ways within the school’s program.

2. Parents (or guardians) of students in the school must:

• Uphold and follow the school policies and procedures outlined in this document, and any updated policies that may become necessary.

• Attend at least 75% of Partners in Education (PIE, Parent Association) meetings held during the school year.

3. Admission Priorities — Classroom enrollments will not exceed 18 students.  A waiting list is established once a class size is reached.  Students will be accepted into OCS-NEO schools (e.g., the chosen campus) on the basis of the following priorities:

• Children who have siblings attending the school.

• Children of Orthodox families according to the date of application.

• Others.

4. Initial Enrollment

• Kindergarten: Children entering Kindergarten must be 5 years of age by September 30.  All incoming kindergartners will be screened to determine readiness.

• First Grade: Children entering Grade 1 must be 6 years of age by September 30.  First graders will be screened for readiness.

5. Transfer Students — A new student application must be completed and signed at the time of registration.  Upon the entrance to the school, a transfer form and the report card from the school previously attended must be presented.  Parents must request in writing the transfer of all records from the previous school, including any reports of psychological services the child has received.  In the case of students transferring from other private schools, all financial obligations must be met at the previous school before acceptance.
   
   Due to the rigorous nature of the academic program, transfers into kindergarten will not be permitted after the sixth week of school.

6. Withdrawal — If all financial obligations are met at the time a student withdraws, parents will be given a report card to present to the receiving school.  A copy of the permanent record card and health record will be sent directly to the receiving school upon written request of the parents.

7. Family Orientation — An orientation date is scheduled prior to the opening of the school year.  Students and their families will visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and receive school supply lists.  The format of orientation may vary.  Details will be included in an introductory letter that will be sent to each family mid-summer.
   
   A meeting for parents will be held at the beginning of the school year.  At this time teachers will explain curriculum, procedures, expectations, and other concerns particular to the grade level.  Attendance at this parent meeting is required for at least one parent (or guardian) of each student.

Finances

1. The family assumes responsibility for the full amount of tuition ($2000.00 per student for 2002-2003)..

2. The student registration fee is $30.00 per student, and is due at the time of registration.  This fee is non-refundable.

3. The deposit is $250.00 per student, and is due at the time of acceptance.  This fee is applied toward tuition, but is non-refundable in case of cancellation.

4. The student book fee is $200.00 per student, and is due no later than July 15th.

5. Tuition can be paid in full (no later than August 15th), or in payments from August to May.  Payments are due on the 15th of each month.

6. Students’ records and report cards will be withheld until all payment is complete.  Registration for the following school year is not considered final until all financial obligations are met.

7. There is a $25.00 fee added per returned check.

8. If there is a problem meeting tuition payments, parents/guardians are asked to meet with the school administration to discuss adjustments in payments.  Such discussions will remain confidential.

School Operations & Student Life

1. School Hours — School is in session from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM daily.  Teachers, students — and parent (or guardian), if they can stay — begin the day in prayer, by participating in the Third Hour (which begins at 8:30 AM), and end the day with Ninth Hour (which begins at 2:45 PM).
   
   The church building’s lower entrance is opened each day at 8:00 AM; parents and students should not plan to arrive before that time, except by special arrangement.
   
   Students should be picked up promptly following dismissal/Ninth Hour at 3:00 PM, if they are not required to be at the church building or hall for another activity (e.g., youth group meeting, hot meal).  Students may not stay past dismissal/Ninth Hour without the supervision of their own parent/guardian or a responsible adult designated by the parent.  Our schoolteachers cannot be responsible for the supervision of students past dismissal.

2. Church Services — All students are expected to attend and participate in Church services held during the school day, including feast-day Liturgies and funeral services.  At the discretion of the priest, some Orthodox young men may be asked to serve in the altar.  Others may stand in the nave or, with permission, sing with the cantor/choir.
   
   Students are expected to behave properly in the House of God, not disrupting the prayer of others or leaving the nave unnecessarily.
   
   Orthodox students should abstain and prepare to receive Holy Communion at feast-day Liturgies.  (Non-Orthodox students do not partake in Holy Communion.) A light breakfast (e.g., muffins or bagels and fruit) will be offered to all students after Liturgy.

3. Personal Appearance — Students should be clean and appropriately-dressed for school each day.  The dress code is as follows:

• Students will wear the approved uniform of the school, available through the J.C. Penney’s and Land’s End catalogs.  Uniforms should be kept clean and in good repair.

• Everyday school shoes should be loafers, deck shoes, or dress shoes in black, blue, or brown.  Open-toe shoes, sandals, and clogs are not appropriate.  Each student should have a pair of clean athletic shoes that can be left at school to wear for gym and for warm-weather walks on the church grounds.

• During the cold weather months, students should wear warm coats, hats, gloves or mittens, snow pants, and calf-length waterproof boots to school each day — or have extra of these items to leave at school — for outdoor walks, playtime, etc.

• Students should not wear jewelry to school, except for a cross/prayer rope and watch.  (Jewelry is easy to break or lose.)

4. Lost and Found — Unmarked items (e.g., books, backpacks, sweaters, etc.) left in the school common area or classrooms will be put in the lost and found box in the office.  Items left in the nave of the church or the bathrooms will be put at the candle stand.  Students should check those places for missing items.

5. Lunch — Teachers, students, and visitors to the school eat together following meal-time prayers in the basement common area between 11:30 AM and noon PM.  Mealtime is used for quiet conversation and fellowship, as well as an opportunity to learn and practice good table manners.
   
   Because the school facilities do not include a licensed commercial kitchen in daily operation, students are required to bring a sack lunch with them.  Children may refrigerate their lunches in the morning, if desired, but may not leave food in the church kitchenette.
   
   Students may bring individually-packaged and marked drinks (e.g., juice boxes or milk chugs) to leave in the refrigerator for morning snack and/or lunch; they should not bring pop/soda to school.
   
   Because of the danger of severe burns, students may not use the microwave oven to heat their lunches without adult supervision.
   
   During the Nativity fast (November 15-December 24), the Great Fast (the Monday after Cheesefare to Pascha), and on Wednesdays and Fridays, parents/guardians should make it a point to pack appropriate “fasting food” lunches (e.g., peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and fresh fruit).

6. Homework — The classical curriculum used at OCS-NEO schools assumes that reading, writing, and learning will be done throughout the day, not just during school hours.  Parents/guardians should plan on their children having daily homework assignments, requiring half an hour for grades K-2 and about an hour for grades 3-5, and should encourage additional ‘recreational’ reading and study as well.
   
   Homework assignments will not be given on evenings when a Church service is scheduled, so that families may attend without the pressure of homework.

7. Absence and Attendance — Students should be in school on all days that school is in session, except for personal illness or family crisis.  Parents/guardians should call the school to report either of these, so that the student/family can be remembered in daily prayers.
   
   Families should not schedule vacations during the school year if at all possible, except during the regularly-scheduled breaks.
   
   Our winter and spring breaks are scheduled to allow families to be together for the Nativity of our Lord and its afterfeast, and for Holy Week and Bright Week.  This ‘togetherness’ includes family attendance at feast days and special services that fall during these breaks from school (e.g., the Circumcision, Theophany, and the Holy Week services).

8. Make-up Work — During or following an excused absence, parents may ask the teacher for a summary of the work/assignments their child has missed.  Parents and student should work together at home to discuss new readings, and complete written work used to reinforce new knowledge.

9. Grade Reports — Both interim reports and ‘report cards’ will be sent home, as indicated on the school calendar.  Parents/guardians should note that these are a formality only; their continuous involvement in the educational
   process insures that they know of progress or shortcomings well before ‘grades’ are issued.

10. Additional Requirements for School Activities

• Part of the OCS-NEO curriculum is training in both reading music and playing a musical instrument (beginning with the piano in Kindergarten).  It is important that students bring their practice books and personal instruments, if appropriate, to school on scheduled ‘music’ days.

• Students should have a paint smock/shirt for art class.  This shirt will get very dirty; it will be sent home as needed for washing.

• Students should not bring money to school, except to purchase candles and/or take on field trips.  Tuition payments should either be mailed or brought to the church by parents/guardians on Sunday, not sent with students.

• Offering/tithing envelopes from children, likewise, should be placed in the basket on Sunday.

11. Field Trips — Parents/guardians complete emergency procedure forms and general permission slips as part of the registration process.  However, details of specific field trips will be provided as soon as they are planned.
    
    Chaperones/assistants may be required for some field trips; younger siblings are welcome to join us whenever possible.
    
    Students are expected to behave properly on field trips, using the same standards set for Church services and the classroom.

12. Special Occasions — Students may wish to celebrate their birthday, baptismal anniversary, or patron saint’s day with their classmates.  Parents/guardians may bring in cookies, cake, cupcakes, or frozen desserts on that day — enough for each student — along with “party” plates, napkins, etc.  Special treats will be eaten in the afternoon, before dismissal.
    
    The beginning and end of the school year are marked with a family cookout/picnic on the church grounds.

13. Emergency Closing Procedures — The Superintendent will notify local televisions stations (Channel 43 and others) in the event of a snow closing. Families will be notified as early as possible by phone tree if school will not be in session because of some other emergency.

Health and Accident Procedures

1. Parents/guardians must submit completed health forms, physical examination reports, and immunization records prior to the start of the school year, and update them as necessary to keep information current.
2. If a student becomes ill or has a minor accident during school hours, he/she will be taken to the school clinic, where first aid will be administered and, if warranted, parents/guardians will be notified. If necessary, the student will be sent home with the parent/guardian or specified emergency contact.
3. In the case of serious illness or major accident, the Fire Department/Emergency Squad will be summoned via 9-1-1 to assist.
4. If a student is suspected of having a contagious disease (e.g., chicken pox, measles) or infestation (e.g., lice) while at school, the guidelines of the appropriate County Health Department will be followed. If a student is diagnosed with a communicable disease or infestation, parents/guardians are asked to notify the school immediately.
5. When students have been exposed to a communicable disease or infestation, a notice including incubation time and/or symptoms will be sent home.
6. Students may not attend school if they have been ill with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within 24 hours of the start of the school day. Likewise, students under a doctor’s care for infection may not return to school for 24 hours after medication is first administered (e.g., they must complete a full day’s dosing of antibiotics, as prescribed by their doctor).
7. Parents/guardians should make every effort to time the dosing of prescribed medications so that they may be given at home. If this is not possible, parents must fill out a Medication Form (available at the office) for each individual medication that must be administered to the student by the school clinic during school hours. Medications must be clearly marked with the student’s name and dosing instructions, and whether the medication must be kept refrigerated or not.
8. Students may not have any prescription or non-prescription medications in their possession during school hours.

Student Conduct and Discipline

The conduct of all those involved with the school is based on our Lord’s teaching — ‘love God above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself’.  The good conduct of students relies heavily on their parents (or guardians) to provide both a leading example and enforcement/discipline.

The practical ‘rules of the school’ should be applied and reinforced at home:

• Obey instructions given by adults.

• Show respect for parents, clergy, teachers, and visiting speakers by giving them your polite attention.  Show respect for classmates/siblings, too.

• Encourage others positively, not negatively (no taunts or ‘put downs’).

• Show respect for the church grounds and building, and for school equipment and supplies.

• Show respect for the personal property of teachers and other students.

• Clean up after yourself in the classroom, lunch area, and restroom; put equipment and supplies neatly in their place after use.

• Use a voice appropriate to the situation — loud and joyful when singing, clear and moderate when reading or asking/answering questions, and quiet when having mealtime conversations.

• No running on the front steps and the parking lots, in the church building, or in the church hall if not in gym class.

• Follow both the spirit and word of the dress code: cleanliness, comfort, and modesty/appropriateness for Christians.

• Obey all other posted and verbal rules not listed here.  (Copies of activity-specific rules will be sent home for parent/guardian review as needed.)

Violation of school rules will meet with the following consequences:

• 1st infraction — verbal warning to student, and ‘time out’ if appropriate

• 2nd infraction — verbal warning to student, followed by verbal notification of parent at pick-up that afternoon

• 3rd infraction — written note from teacher to parent/guardian, to be signed and returned the next day (copy to priest/principal)

• 4th infraction — phone call from priest/principal to parent/guardian to schedule a private conference

Additional disciplinary measures for consistently unacceptable behavior — including suspension and/or dismissal from St. Nicholas Orthodox School with forfeiture of tuition fee — may be determined through the joint efforts of priest/principal, parents/guardians, and teachers.

Parents/guardians will be called immediately for a conference with the priest/principal and teacher(s) to determine appropriate disciplinary action if students are:

• discovered cheating on at-home assignments or during an examination;

• intoxicated or under the influence of non-prescribed drugs; or

• found in possession of any gun, knife, or other weapon.

Additional Guidelines

Questions regarding the policies outlined in this document, the school’s overall curriculum and philosophy, and/or teacher conduct should be addressed to the parish priest/school administrator.  He will present concerns to the school board and/or Partners in Education as needed.

Questions regarding specific reading and writing assignments, projects, field trips, and/or student performance should be addressed to the classroom teacher.

Rev. 15 August 2001

Parent / Student Contract

We (parents/guardians and students) have read the student handbook of the school together, and understand what is presented there.

We will strive to meet these standards and comply with all the policies and procedures outlined, and will work with the school's  administration and faculty to create a Christ-centered, safe, and positive educational environment.

Child’s signature _____________________________________   Grade ________

Child’s signature _____________________________________   Grade ________

Child’s signature _____________________________________   Grade ________

Child’s signature _____________________________________   Grade ________

Parent/guardian’s signature __________________________   Date ________

Parent/guardian’s signature __________________________   Date ________

Orthodox Christian Schools of Northeast Ohio, Inc.
755 S. Cleveland Ave., Mogadore, Ohio 44260
330.628.4441 phone/fax