All-School Family Handbook
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ALL-SCHOOL FAMILY HANDBOOK 2021-2022 Updated September 23, 2021 Carolina Friends School | All-School Family Handbook 2021-2022 NOTE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Greetings, Carolina Friends School Parents and Guardians, As we prepare for the 2021-22 school year, we continue to keep the safety of our community mem- bers at the forefront. We are leaning on educational best practices and the strong framework we built last year while continuing to monitor data and guidance related to public health and students’ education and well being. You will find our comprehensive COVID-19 Guide has been updated and integrated into our All-School Family Handbook. This summer, we have reorganized and updated the general handbook information, as well as the COVID-19 section. Please familiarize yourself with this crucial resource. All parents and guardians agree to read, understand, and abide by the terms of the handbook on signing the enrollment con- tract. In addition to this handbook, individual teaching units have their own handbooks that provide information specific to those students. All these resources are published through the Family Portal prior to the start of school. Any modifications made to this handbook, including the COVID-19 sec- tion, will be communicated to families as they occur. We value you as a key educational partner, and look forward to having a positive and productive year together. In Friendship, Karen Cumberbatch Head of School 2 Carolina Friends School | All-School Family Handbook 2021-2022 CONTENTS 04 Mission 12 Academic Program 04 Philosophy 13 Governance 04 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity 14 Communication 04 Community 16 Health Services 06 COVID-19 Guide 19 Absence 06 Community Agreement for Health and 19 Extended Learning Safety 20 Student Support and Accommodations 06 Sources for Policies on Infection Prevention 21 Campus Safety and Medical Policies and Procedures 22 Technology 06 COVID-19 Vaccination 22 Athletics 06 Masks, Social Distancing, and 23 Enrollment, Re-Enrollment, and Withdrawal Handwashing 24 Student Records 07 Daily Health Screening 24 Harassment and Sexual Abuse 07 Exposure and Sick Students or Staff Members 26 Appendix A: Protocol for School Assistance 09 Process to Handle a COVID-19 Case at with Health Department Close Contact School Identification for COVID-19 Cases 10 Protocol for Isolation and Return to School 27 Appendix B: Isolation Period Chart for Cases and Contacts 28 Appendix C: Magnus Health Frequently 11 Athletics and COVID-19 Asked Questions 12 Participation in Music Classes 12 Eating at School 12 Appropriate Restroom Etiquette 12 Bus Use 3 Carolina Friends School | All-School Family Handbook 2021-2022 which demeans or discriminates based on race, MISSION ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, or any Carolina Friends School is a vibrant and other attributes of identity. inclusive learning community empowering students to think critically, creatively, and independently. We foster active exploration Non-Discrimination Policy and quiet reflection, individual endeavor and Carolina Friends School actively strives to be collaborative engagement. Inspired by Quaker a community of staff, students, and families values—pursuit of truth, respect for all, peaceful of diverse backgrounds. Carolina Friends does resolution of conflict, simplicity, the call to not discriminate based on age, race, color, service—we teach our children that it is possible gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, to change the world. religion, disability, socio-economic background, family structure, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, or military service in the PHILOSOPHY administration of its policies and program. The philosophy of Carolina Friends School (embed link to website) is reflected in the COMMUNITY following beliefs, which are rooted in the tenets of the Religious Society of Friends: Parent and Guardian Responsibilities Belief that the truth is continually revealed When parents or guardians enroll a student Belief in seeking peace with oneself and others at Carolina Friends, they agree to support the Belief in accepting and respecting each School’s mission and values in their interactions individual’s uniqueness with the other members of the School Belief in the spirituality of life community whether in person or virtually, Belief in the value of simplicity treating others with kindness and with mutual Belief in the power of silence respect. We value parents and guardians as key partners in supporting student growth and development and in ensuring a healthy and DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND supportive learning community. We recognize that effective partnerships are characterized INCLUSIVITY by defined responsibilities, a shared commitment to collaboration, and open lines of Statement of Community communication. Our belief in the innate worth of each person • Parents/guardians are expected to work and in the uniquely valuable heritage of productively with Carolina Friends staff every cultural group guides our practice as a members. multicultural community and our commitment • Parents/guardians and students must to authentic personal relationships and abide by rules and community standards, peaceful resolution of conflict at Carolina including but not limited to those outlined Friends School and in our lives outside of in enrollment contracts, handbooks, or other School. Our learning community is built on school communications and agreements. our Quaker values: simplicity, peace, integrity, • When an issue arises that affects a student community, equality, and stewardship. In order at Carolina Friends, parents/guardians are to meet these goals, we believe in holding all strongly encouraged to communicate first of ourselves accountable to respecting the with the staff member(s) directly involved identities and experiences of all community (normally a child’s advisor or teacher). If, after members and maintaining a safe and working with that staff member, the concern welcoming community. We actively oppose is unresolved, parents/guardians may then and will address any actions and/or speech communicate with the student’s Head 4 Carolina Friends School | All-School Family Handbook 2021-2022 Teacher. The Head of School would be a final held virtually or in-person. Information about contact. A staff directory is available on the community Meetings for Worship may be Family Portal. found on our online calendar and through • Teaching staff have limited access to their email communications with families. email during the school day due to their duties in the classroom, but questions Annual Community Events and concerns will be addressed in a timely We cherish our annual traditions, and have fashion. If a more immediate question or adapted them, where possible, as pandemic need about your student occurs during the restrictions allow. Traditionally, Carolina Friends school day, contact the unit’s administrative School has invited the larger community assistant or Head Teacher, where applicable. on campus for an informal “Turkey Trot” on • Parents/guardians who wish to volunteer Thanksgiving Day. On Martin Luther King, Jr. in-person must complete and sign Day, we honor his memory by having a day “on,” Authorization to Obtain Records and Fair marked by a morning of school programming Credit Reporting & Disclosure forms to concluded by a mid-morning all-community Human Resources prior to their involvement. celebration. Each spring, we typically enjoy These forms are available in the Family Portal. welcoming grandparents and special family • Parents/guardians should abide by any guests to campus, as restrictions allow, on restrictions placed on campus visitors. If the Friday half day prior to Spring Break. visitors are allowed in classrooms, parents/ Information about these events are posted guardians are welcomed and encouraged to on our online calendar and through email do so, but this must be scheduled in advance communications with families. with the classroom teacher or Head Teacher. Parent-Staff Association Our relationships are built on trust and accountability, and we aim to resolve conflict The mission of the Parent-Staff Association peacefully and respectfully. The School reserves (PSA) is to foster a strong, cohesive all-school the right to terminate the relationship with community by: parents/guardians and their student(s) if • Coordinating, supporting, and sharing the Head of School concludes that a parent/ volunteer-based efforts across all units of the guardian is engaging in conduct which is not school consistent with a positive and constructive • Communicating through the monthly email relationship between the School and the family, newsletter for Carolina Friends families, that a lack of parent/guardian cooperation Around Our Circle, community meetings, the disrupts or impedes the School’s ability to online school calendar, and other outreach meet its objectives, or because of continued or • Creating learning and social opportunities for substantial account delinquency. parents, families, alumni, staff, board, and the larger community. All-School Events and Programs • Family members representing all units have Meetings for Worship joined together throughout our history to foster support and create an environment that makes Quaker Meeting for Worship involves settling every community member feel welcome and into shared silence, often around a query for valued. All parents and guardians are welcome reflection. Community members, no matter to become