Lighthouse Christian Academy
1460 Berger Road, Odenton, Maryland 21113
410-305-0701
PARENT / STUDENT
HANDBOOK
Sherise Webb M.Ed., Principal
Email:
A Message From Mrs. Webb:
Lighthouse Christian Academy holds a very special place in my heart. From the age of seven, I have always had a desire to teach children. Practicing with teddy bears, rulers, pens, and an easel, I reflect on that experience and look at where I am now. It is through passion, commitment and desire that has brought me this far; and this fire is what I hope to pass along to faculty, students, and parents. Our destiny is to be the very best citizen we can be in representing our heavenly father, and to carry out His will and plan for our life, only then can we truly experience joy. That strength and confidence that we display before others is more then academic knowledge, it is spiritual knowledge as well, and together, what a powerful impact on society will we as individuals have. So, look out world; here comes Lighthouse Christian Academy!
Lighthouse History
Lighthouse Christian Academy (LCA) was established in 2005 as a ministry of Lanham Church of God in Lanham, Maryland. The academy relocated to Odenton, MD, in 2009 and is now a ministry of the Odenton Church of God. The school is registered with the Maryland State Board of Education as a non-profit church school. We also belong to ACSI, the Association of Christian Schools International.
Credits & Thank You’s
All accreditation to the initiation of Lighthouse Christian Academy goes to God our heavenly father, who has allowed dreams and desires to flourish, under His authority.
In addition, due to the commitment of two individuals, Eddie L. Sweeney who had a vision to start a school, and Yvonne R. Sweeney who was the founder, backbone, and action figure for launching the school, we are where we are today.
Lighthouse has also continued because of a host of prayers, financial support, advertisement, and inspiration provided by church family, biological families, friends, and loved ones, who without we could not thrive as a school.
Those who have served our school in the capacity of teaching since its inception in 2005 until the present deserve high honor and recognition as well.
A special family, the Sayles are to be recognized as their belief in our ability as a school to educate their child has provided for the school to continue, despite our hurdles we had to overcome in relocating the school.
Finally, thank you to my spouse, Damon Webb, who’s belief in me as a principal, financial support, and overall love, has been my rock upon which I can stand and declare Lighthouse Christian Academy as a school of purpose!
Our Vision
“To produce students who grow in academic, spiritual, and moral leadership.”
Scripture text - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Our vision is to meet the whole child. We believe that God has created each person, mind, body, and spirit. We believe our program will meet all areas of a student’s life. Our goal is to stimulate growth and help each child rise to maturity knowing that one day they will become well respected adults leading the way for others.
Our Mission
“To meet the needs of the individual learner.”
Scripture Text - 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
We understand that every child has specific needs and use a variety of learning styles to advance in knowledge. Our goal is to strive to help every student be successful. However we recognize that we may not be able to reach every child due to learning challenges that may be beyond our ability and our resources. When this occurs and we recognize difficulties we will try to assist the parents of each child to help them find a suitable educational program to meet their own child’s needs. We believe in partnership with our Christian parents and believe that the home and school connection is very important for academic and spiritual growth. The Bible tells us that we must be a light in a dark world. We believe that when one mind is lit it will catch on and can change an entire community for Christ.
Our Motto
“Lighting our world one mind at a time.”
Scripture Text - Matthew 5:14-16
Our Mascot
“The Eternal Flame”
John 8:12
God has through Christ provided us with eternal things. We feel that the eternal flame symbolizes God’s continual guidance and loving kindness to his children that never fades or burns out.
Special Programs
· Our concentration is Grade 2, and 9th through 12th grade.
· Bible Based Curriculum
· Supplemental Aids from rich sources offered at colleges, public school systems
· Prayer in classrooms
· Small class-sizes
· Affordable tuition and payment options
An exemplary teaching model involves knowing the learner, the curriculum, and the pedagogy.
Facets of the Learner:
· Cognitive
Our goal is to excel academically, with an education program that will allow students to achieve now and in the future. We hope to speak to the student’s mind concerning moral behavior, academic success, and preparedness for knowing and reaching God’s will for their life.
· Personal
Make learning personal, connecting goals and interests and collective goals established by the class. Involve the students in goal-setting, self assessment, and reflection.
Spiritually: Students will learn the meaning of a real relationship with God.
Mentally: A war is raging for the hearts and minds of our youth. Therefore, our goal is to teach students to apply God’s truth to life, and cultivate the power of critical thinking. (Romans 12:1, 2)
Socially: We will prepare students to live in the world as moral leaders, encouraging them to remain loyal to God, home, and country.
Emotionally: We will teach students to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, follow Christ’s example, and pray to the Heavenly father for self-discipline and controlled behavior. (II Timothy 4:12)
Physically: We will teach students to respect their body as the temple of God, and teach students to maintain their body through proper nutrition and exercise, and encourage them to yield their body as instruments for God’s use.
· Social
Form partnerships and build community to help students achieve high levels of cognitive development.
WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE
Doctrinal Commitments:
The following Doctrinal Commitments represent the core beliefs of Lighthouse Christian Academy and the ministry of the Lanham Church of God as outline in scripture. The following commitments have been taken from the Church of God minutes of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee.
· Repentance. Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19
· Justification. Romans 5:1; Titus 3:7
· Regeneration. Titus 3:5
· New birth. John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9
· Sanctification subsequent to justification. Romans 5:2, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 12:14.
· Water baptism. Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9, 10; John 3:22, 23; Acts 8:36, 38
· Baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to cleansing; the endowment of power for service. Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49, 53; Acts 1:4-8.
· The speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost. John 15:26; Acts 2-4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7.
· The Church. Exodus 19:5, 6; Psalm 22:22; Matthew 16:13-19; 29:19, 20; Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; 7:38; 20:28; Romans 8:14-17: 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 12:12-31; 2 Corinthians 6:6-18; Ephesians 2:19-22; 3:9, 21; Philippians 3:10; Hebrew 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:6, 7; Revelation 21: 2, 9; 22:17.
· Spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7 , 10, 28, 31; 1 Corinthians 14:1
· Signs following believers. Mark 16: 17-20; Romans 15: 18, 19; Hebrews 2:4.
· Fruit of the Spirit. Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11.
· Divine healing provided for all in the Atonement. Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24.
· The Lord’s Supper. Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
· Washing the Saints’ feet. John 13:4-17; 1 Timothy 5:9, 10.
· Tithing and giving. Genesis 14: 18-20; 28: 20-22; Malachi 3:10; Luke 11:42; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 16:2; Hebrews 7:1-21.
· Restitution where possible. Matthew 3:8; Luke 19: 8, 9.
· Premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the dead saints and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years. Zechariah 14:4: 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 14, 15; Revelation 5:10; 19:11-21; 20:4-6.
· Resurrection. John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:5, 6.
· Eternal life for the righteous. Matthew 25:46; Luke 18:30; John 10:28; Romans 6:22; 1 John 5:11-13.
· Eternal punishment for the wicked. No liberation or annihilation. Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 3:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9: Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8.
Declaration of Faith:
The Declaration of Faith has been taken from the Church of God Minutes of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee.
We believe:
· In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
· In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
· That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That he ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
· That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
· That justification, regeneration, and the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
· Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
· In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
· In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
· In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
· Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
· In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
· In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
· In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and the eternal punishment for the wicked.
1. Absences/Attendance:
Regular daily attendance in school is vital to the continuity of classroom instruction and participation in school activities. Parents are encouraged to establish a pattern of punctuality and regular attendance unless health prohibits it. All students are expected to attend school regularly in accordance with the Laws of Maryland. Students are considered lawfully absent from school, including absence for any portion of the day under the following conditions: Death in immediate family (not to exceed 5 days) or aunt, uncle or classmate (1 day); illness of the students; court summons; Hazardous Weather Conditions(as determined) state emergency (as determined by the governor) suspension; lack of authorized transportation , other emergencies or in case of circumstances (such as a family trip up to 5 days). Please understand that in order for a student to be legally excused from school due to a family vacation, written request from the parent for such absence must be received by the administrator before the scheduled absence. Students who have an excessive number of absences and/or are tardy consistently from school will be referred to our school board.
Excessive student absences:
The policy of Lighthouse Christian Academy is that a student may have only 25 legal absences per year. An accumulation of 25 days of absences may be grounds for retention of the student at grade level pending a school board review.
Steps for absences:
After each and absence from school, the student will bring a note (a phone call is not sufficient) from the parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence. This note should accompany the student on the first day the student returns to school. When a note is received for absences due to illness, death in the immediate family, transportation breakdown, or other family emergencies that prevent attendance, the absence will be excused. If no note is forthcoming after the third day, it will be automatically considered an unexcused absence.
Work, including tests, missed by students during an excused absence must be made up within a time period equivalent to the time missed. Parents requesting make-up work should call the office before noon. It is the responsibility of the student or parent/guardian to pick up and return missed work.
A student must bring a doctor’s note to school for an absence of five or more consecutive school days due to illness. The note must state what the illness was.
We request that parents not take their children out of school for an extended period of time; however, if this becomes necessary, notify the school office and your teacher in advance so that make-up work may be given. If your child is absent from school, notify the school office before 9:30 a.m.
2. Academic Probation
Lighthouse Christian Academy will monitor student’s progress throughout the academic period. If necessary, the student will be placed on academic probation when the student’s performance is at an unsatisfactory level or is failing. During academic probation the school will work more closely with the parent and student to try to identify and remedy academic problems in order to help the student end the year in good academic standing.
Any student who receives less than a 2.0 total GPA at the end of the marking period will be placed on a 9 week academic probation. If at the end of the 9 weeks, a student has not improved their GPA to at least a 2.0 GPA, the administration will consider whether to extend the probation or ask the student to withdraw from Lighthouse Christian Academy.