600 Baptist Camp Rd Griffin, GA30223

SkipstoneAcademy

600 Baptist Camp Rd
Griffin, GA30223

770-227-8966

Handbook

Psalms 18:32-36

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my fee like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

To prepare students for the specific life-plan that God has for them by utilizing innovative and creative teaching techniques that will motivate, inspire and challenge students to aspire to make a positive difference in the world around them

THE SKIPSTONE PHILOSOPHY

The only way to teach someone to skip a stone across the water is to show him how and then allow him to attempt it again and again until the stone glides across the water in perfect rhythm. You cannot just give him a book to read or tell him how to do it...you have to show him and let him try. Sometimes it takes one try, sometimes two or three tries, and then sometimes it takes hours of trying until finally... the stone skips.
That's the Skipstone Philosophy.
Showing. Trying. Learning. Succeeding

THE SKIPSTONE DIFFERENCE

A. Christ Centered Purpose
B. Creative Teachers and Staff
C. Hands On Learning
D. Project Based Curriculum
E. Cooperative Style
F. Relevant Subjects
G. Environmental Mindset
H. Innovative Philosophy

SKIPSTONE CURRICULUM

Curriculum will involve:
1. Academic Classes – One hour classes scheduled four days per week which will include: Mathematics, History, Science, Language Arts, and Foreign Language.
2. Innovations – One or Two hour elective classes that will take place on Friday.
3. Skipstone Synergy - A school-wide, project based, monthly unit study that focuses on hands-on learning, teamwork and creativity. Each Synergy will include a monthly field trip related to the study.

Students may arrive as early as 7:30am. Any elementary students arriving before 8:00am or Middle or High School students arriving before 7:45am, should report to the Elementary Chapel until a teacher accompanies them to their homeroom.

SKIPSTONE SYNERGIES for 2009-2010

August – Mysteries of History

September – It’s A Bug’s Life

October – Wild Wild West

November – Come To Your Senses

December – Around the World

January – Lights, Camera, Action

February – Fly Like A Bird

March – The Dragon Empire

April – Going Green

May – Can You Hear Me Now?

ATTENDANCE

Attendance will be taken every day at the beginning of Chapel/Bible. Regular and punctual attendance is necessary for the success of each student, not only academically, but also in their future endeavors Recognition is given to students with perfect attendance (no absences, early dismissals, or late arrivals) and students with excellent attendance (two or fewer absences, including tardies, late arrivals, or early dismissals).

Absences

Sometimes it is necessary for students to be absent. The following absences are considered “excused” absences:

1. Illness of the student
2. Medical appointments (which cannot be made after school)
3. Funerals of immediate family members
4. Academy-sponsored activities
5. Absences with prior approval of the Administration

Absences not included in one of the preceding categories will be considered “unexcused”.

Parents must send a note explaining the reason for an absence on the day the student returns.

Students with excused absences are responsible for talking to their teachers about make-up work. That make-up work is due within two days of returning to school unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.

Maximum Absences Allowed

The maximum number of absences allowed in a semester is eight (8). This means a total of sixteen (16) per school year.

Tardies

Students who are not in their room at 8:00AM are considered tardy. Late Arrivals should secure a class permit from the school office as soon as they arrive at school. If a student accumulates 5 unexcused tardies in a semester, recess detention will given for two days. If tardiness continues up to 8 days, a letter will be sent to the parents informing them that a $5.00 fee will be charged for each tardy until the conclusion of the semester.

Excused Tardies Include:

1. Student or parent automobile delays or breaks down en route to school. This excuse cannot be used on a consistent basis.
2. Detainment by the office or another teacher.
3. Temporary illness.
4. Unavoidable reasonable circumstances such as traffic accidents.
5. Doctor’s appointment.

Unexcused Tardies Include:

1. Oversleeping, or arriving late for any reasons of negligence.
2. Any tardiness in getting to classes during the school day.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Early Dismissal is discouraged unless the student is ill or has a medical, dental, etc. appointment that cannot be scheduled after school hours. Students who must leave school early must bring a note from their parent or guardian. No student should leave school without first signing out in the school office. Parents should NOT go directly to the classroom to get their child. STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A HALF-DAY’S ABSENCE WHEN THEY LEAVE BEFORE 11:00am.

END OF SCHOOL DAY

The school day ends at 3:15pm. If your child has not been picked up by 3:30pm, they will be sent to after school care. The charge for after school care is $5.00 per day.

LEAVING SCHOOL WITHOUT PERMISSION

Students are not permitted to leave school during the day without proper authorization from the school office. Students are not permitted to leave the campus during breaks or lunch period. Leaving campus without permission will be considered skipping class and will be handled accordingly.

SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO WEATHER

When severe cold, icing, snow, or other conditions make it unsafe to travel, or threaten to do so, SkipstoneAcademy may be closed. The Administrator will make this decision. Announcements of such closings will be made on Griffin radio stations and some Atlanta Television stations:

WKEU (FM97.9,AM1450) and WMVV (FM90.7).

WXIA11Alive, FOX5, and CBS 46.

When the Pike, Henry, and/or Spalding County School Systems close for inclement weather, SkipstoneAcademy will also close. Please verify our closing by listening to media announcements.

SKIPSTONE UNIFORMS

Students will wear comfortable original Skipstone t-shirts that will be issued at the beginning of the school year. Short sleeve shirts are $10 each. Long sleeved t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies will be available in winter months. Students will spend a large percentage of time outdoors so tennis shoes are strongly suggested.

PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE

No student in grades one and up will be promoted to the next grade if two or more major subjects are failed. Major subjects include:

Math

English (Language)

History

Science

ADVANCEMENT OF STUDENT TO HIGHER GRADE

Consideration of student advancement to a higher grade will only become an option if and only if:

1. Student has scored in the 95-100 national average percentile on his/her most recent GAC recognized standardized test.

2. Student has received recorded scores of 98 or above in ALL academic classes for the previous 3 years both at SkipstoneAcademy and elsewhere.

3. Student has been evaluated by Skipstone Administration, parents and current teachers in regards to his/her emotional maturity and ability to handle advancement. There must be a unanimous decision by administration, parents and teachers for the advancement to take place.

GRADING SCALE

The following grading scale is used at SkipstoneAcademy:

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 75-79

D = 70-74

F = 69 and below

TUITION

Tuition is due on the first day of each month unless the tuition is paid in full by the first day of school. Please pay your child’s tuition one of the following ways:

· Your child’s homeroom teacher

· Mail to school address

· Deliver to the Skipstone office during school hours

If tuition is not received by the 10th of each month, a $25.00 late fee will be required. Any student whose account is overdue by 6 weeks, will not be allowed on school property until the account is paid in full. This will result in absences and missed schoolwork, which could harm the students’ education and future.

All fees (tuition, books, pictures, etc.) must be paid in full before report cards or ANY OTHER RECORDS can be released.

Students who pay in full at the beginning of the year who withdraw or are expelled during the year will be refunded at the following percentages:

Withdrawal by September 30 75% refunded

Withdrawal by December 3150% refunded

Withdrawal by February 2825% refunded

There will be a $25.00 service fee on all returned checks. After the 3rd returned check, the account becomes a cash or money order only account.

WITHDRAWAL/DISMISSAL

A withdrawal form must be completed for any student who seeks to withdraw from the school prior to the end of the school year. This form must be signed by the parent(s)/guardian(s). All tuitions continue until the withdrawal process is completed.

No academic records will be given to an individual, with the exception of current averages at the time of withdrawal. All school-owned books and monies owed (tuition, books, pictures, etc.) must be paid before a student is considered to be officially withdrawn. No transcripts will be issued until the student is considered officially withdrawn. Should a student withdraw or be dismissed, a prorated payment will be required.

There will be no refund of any portion of the registration fee, book fee, or uniform fee.

USE OF TELEPHONES

School telephones are business telephones and are not to be used for personal conversations. Students must use the telephone in the school office when it is necessary to make a call. No student is permitted to use any of the other telephones on campus. No student will be called to the telephone unless it is an emergency. Cell phone policies should also be adhered to.

SKIPSTONE STUDENT CELL PHONE POLICY

Students are not allowed to use cell phones during school hours. If you bring a cell phone, it must be deposited in the designated area for your grade group at the beginning of the day and picked up at 3:15. Emergency calls must be made from the school office. If you use a cell phone during the day for calls, texts or other, the phone will be confiscated and returned only to a parent or guardian. After a second offense, you will be instructed to not bring the phone back for any reason.

INSURANCE

Each child is covered during school hours and school sponsored activities. The policy is a “full excess” policy benefits are payable for covered expenses that are not recoverable from another plan providing medical expense benefits to the applicable maximum. In case of accident, notify the school office immediately. Any claims must be filed within 90 days of the accident.

TEXTBOOKS AND LIBRARY BOOKS

Textbooks and Library books are the responsibility of the student to whom they are issued or checked out. Unnecessary abuse calls for reimbursement on the part of the student. Reimbursement for lost books will occur at the rate a new book will cost the school. Lost book charges must be paid before a new book is issued. Report cards/Progress Reports will not be issued to the student until all book fees have been paid in full.

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are an important and integral part of the curriculum at SkipstoneAcademy. These out of the classroom experiences broaden and give depth to the classroom learning that takes place daily.

A note of explanation from the teacher and administration will precede all field trips sponsored by the Academy. A permission slip will need to be filled out for any student participating in any field trip including those accompanied by a parent.

The following policies apply to the field trips:

1. Students must participate unless unusual circumstances do not permit.

2. Students and parents who attend are required to adhere to school policies with respect to conduct and appearance (dress code).

3. Students must finance school trips above tuition cost unless fund-raisers are conducted to alleviate expenses.

Students are expected to follow the same behavior guidelines on field trips as if at school. Each student is representative of our school and expected to act accordingly.

CLASS PARTIES

It is the desire of SkipstoneAcademy to allow fun filled activities for your child to participate in. However, these activities must work in harmony with the instruction within the classroom. Parties must be approved by the teacher and the administration and must reflect the ministry and philosophy of SkipstoneAcademy. The approved classroom parties are as follows: Fall Party, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. Other parties may be scheduled with approval of the teacher and/or administrator.

Halloween will not a celebrated holiday here at SkipstoneAcademy. We will recognize the holiday as a Fall Party. We will hold Fall Festivals or Fall Parties through individual classes. APPROPRIATE costumes are permitted for anyone wishing to dress up for festivities. Bible characters, super heroes, patriotic characters, and animals, are great ideas for costumes.

BIRTHDAYS

Each child’s birthday is special and we like to celebrate the birthday at school. Birthdays can be celebrated during the lunch hour with sufficient notification. Parents are allowed to bring or send in cupcakes, cookies, etc. It will be the responsibility of the parent to bring plates, napkins, dinnerware, etc. to serve these items. If a parent is unable to do this, let the teacher know so a treat can be provided.

Invitations to a child’s birthday party may be given out at school ONLY if every child in the class is included.

CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

CODE OF CONDUCT

Proper behavior is required of Skipstone students at all times. The following guidelines for acceptable and appropriate conduct should be understood and adhered to by all students:

-Respect

• For Authority
• This includes teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and other school employees. This shall include compliance with school rules and regulations and applicable provisions of law.
• Students are expected to maintain a Christ like attitude.
• Negative attitudes, disrespect, disobedience, rebellion and insubordination will not be tolerated.
• When addressing authority, the use of “maam” and “sir” is expected.
• For Self and Others
• When talking to others, be mindful of their feelings.
• Bullying will NOT BE TOLERATED! The result of bullying may be suspension or expulsion.
• No inappropriate talk or language including foul language and vulgarity.
• Never bother things belonging to other people. This includes theft as well as “hiding” others things.
• Keep your hands, feet, and all other body parts to yourself. No hitting, kicking, biting, choking, jabbing, etc.
• NO HORSEPLAY! This causes fights and/or injury as well as destruction to property.
• Stay out of other people’s “Bubbles” unless invited in.
• Avoid unnecessary bodily contact, whether it is affectionate, playful or hostile. Such contact, which may seem harmless, often expand rapidly and tend to detract from the development of proper relationships and a constructive educational atmosphere. This includes “wedgies”, “pantsing”, or any other form of bodily/clothing contact that is deemed inappropriate and harmful.
• There is to be no physical display of affection on campus or at any school activity.

-Property

• Protect and take care of the school’s property and the property of others. Exercise proper treatment of all equipment and facilities. Vandalism will not be tolerated. Students will be required to make restitution for school and camp property damaged through carelessness or malice.
• Students are asked to take proper care of textbooks and library books. It will be the responsibility of students to replace lost or damaged textbooks, library books, or materials belonging to SkipstoneAcademy at the replacement cost.
• No food is allowed in the classrooms or Chapels. Snacks should only be eaten in designated areas.
• No open containers of liquid are allowed in the classrooms or Chapels. Water may be permitted in classrooms only in containers with lids such as water bottles.
• Always clean up your area before leaving it, including classrooms, Chapel, dining hall, and outside areas.

-Dress Code