2019-2020 Family Handbook

Carmel Christian School 1145 Pineville Matthews Rd. Matthews, NC 28105 704-849-9723, #2

Note: All policies contained in this handbook are contingent upon the approval of the Carmel Christian School Board. This is a “living” document and policies may be revised throughout the school year. The administration reserves the right to make exceptions to all policies for extenuating circumstances that are not written in this handbook Each Carmel Christian Family agrees to the policies contained in this handbook via signature on enrollment contract. Links are embedded throughout the handbook in order to provide more information for selected topics. “Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done”. Psalm 78:4

Table of Contents ALL SCHOOL INFORMATION Leadership School Board, Executive and Educational Leadership Teams 8 Mission and Vision Statements: Carmel Baptist Church, Our Mission, Our Vision 9 School Mascot and Seal, Accreditation and Memberships, School Verse 10 Statement of Faith 11 Carmel’s Philosophy of Partnering with Christian Parents 12 Expectations for Student & Parent Conduct: Reconciliation Principle 13 Discipleship Missions ES, MS, HS and Service Organization Projects 14 The Honor System The Honor Statement, Guidelines of Honor Grades 6-12: Definitions and Examples Carmel Honor System: Grades 9-12 15 ATTENDANCE OVERVIEW Enrollment 16 Probation: Academic Guidelines for Student Athletes & Performers 17 Extra-Curricular Participation, Academic Expectations for Students in School Plays or Musicals Probation: Disciplinary Reasons, Behavioral and IT Probation Suspension & Expulsion, Behavioral Probation, IT Probation Student Withdrawal 18 CARMEL CAMPUS Athletics & School Store Carline Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures On Campus Parking, Student Parking 19 Chapel: ES, MS & HS Drop-off of Personal Possessions and Homework Emergency Closing of School Extended Day Program 20 Field Trips Media Center Student Use of Automobiles Visitors and Guests 21 CONDUCT & BEHAVIOR Behavioral Guidelines 22 Bullying 23 Positive School Culture Co-curricular Events: Behavior Disruptive Activities 24 Gender Identification Policy Harassment Policy Reporting Harassment Sexuality Policy 25

Substance Abuse Twenty-four Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week Policy STUDENT HEALTH Accident/Injury Report Allergies 26 School Procedure Additional Parent/Student Responsibilities 27 Additional School Nurse Responsibilities 28 STUDENT SERVICES: PATHWAYS Goals Parent/Teacher Conferences for Pathways Students SCHOOL & FAMILY COMMUNICATION 29 School Contact Information, Website & Media Follow Us, Carmel Parent, eNews, ParentsWeb, Posting or Distributing Information on Campus 30 School Calendar My Dynacal Calendars Teacher Classroom Webpages Social Media/Online Behavior Student 31 Faculty & Staff, CCS Employee SMS/Instant Messaging Communication with Students BUSINESS OFFICE 31 Curriculum Materials & Usage, Lunch Accounts, Report Card & Transcripts, Student Insurance DEVELOPMENT Support CCS, CCS Annual Fund, CCS Capital Campaigns, Student Fundraising TECHNOLOGY & RELATED POLICIES 32 eReader Policy General Technology Usage Guidelines for Students and Parents 33 Using a Computing Device Technology Health Tip Sheet for Parents Student Must Do’s Caring for the Computing Device: Carrying & Screen Care 34 Cyber Safety – Technology Guidelines for Students & Parents Cyber Safety Tips 35 Email and Social Media: Help Children Stay Safer Online Help Protect Children Against Inappropriate Content Electronic Email Usage Student Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) 36 Educational Purpose, Limitations on Non-Educational Activities, Student Safety, Student Access to Internet Student Privacy Plagiarism & Copyright, The Disciplinary Process 37 Liability SAFETY AND SECURITY Yellow Lock Down Red Lock Down School Resource Officer: Reporting Requirements Reporting of Illegal Activity 38

Weapons Prohibited on School Property Threat of Mass Violence at School Making a False Report of Mass Violence on Educational Property Cyberbullying Disclosure of Private Images 39 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL POLICIES: GRADES K-5 ATTENDANCE 41 Check-in & Check-out Procedures, Early Dismissals Tardy Policy Family Trips 42 ACADEMIC POLICIES Communication: Parent/Teacher Parent/Teacher Conferences Biblical Integration Elementary School Curriculum Extra Credit Grades Homework Grades Homework During Holidays 43 Standards and Expectations for Elementary School Grading System Kindergarten – 2nd Grade, Third – Fifth Grades Make-up Work Report Cards and Weekly Grades 44 Standardized Testing Promotion Kindergarten Graduation, Elementary School Summer Reading 45 Summer School Grades STUDENT LIFE 45 Birthdays Cafeteria Cell Phones 46 Classroom Parties Electronic Device Policy Lost and Found Media Center: Check-out Limits, Policies 46 Snacks STUDENT UNIFORM POLICY: K-5 General Information Prohibited Clothing Items 47 Student Appearance Uniform Vendor Girls Uniform Options Boys Uniform Options 48 MIDDLE SCHOOL POLICIES: GRADE 6-8 ATTENDANCE 51

Check-in & Check-out Procedures, Early Dismissals Tardy Policy Student Tardies (Class-to-Class) 52 Family Trips ACADEMIC POLICIES Communication – Parent/Teacher Parent/Teacher Conferences Biblical Integration Middle School Curriculum Electives 53 Class Rotation Middle School House System Homework Homework During Holidays 54 Standards and Expectations for Middle School Middle School Exams Extra Credit Grading System Honor Roll 55 Report Cards & Weekly Grades Standardized Testing Duke Tip Program Summer Reading Summer School Promotion 56 STUDENT LIFE Birthdays Cafeteria Cell Phones Electronic Device Policy Lockers 57 Media Center: Check-out Limits & Policies Snacks Windy Gap Retreat STUDENT UNIFORM POLICY General Information Prohibited Clothing Items 58 Student Appearance Uniform Vendor 59 MS Uniform Options HIGH SCHOOL POLICIES: GRADES 9-12 ATTENDANCE 62 Check-in & Check-out/Early Dismissal Procedures Make-up Work After an Absence Assignments and Tests: Late Arrivals 63 Medical Leave of Absence

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC POLICIES Curriculum Graduation Requirements Mastery Learning for Standard Level Classes 64 Course Selection Electives Honors and Advanced Placement Courses Dropping/Adding a Course 65 Sevenstar Academy World Language Requirement Homework During Holidays Late Work High School Exams Exam Exemptions AP Exams 66 Special Testing Issues Failing a Course Supplemental Learning & Credit Recovery Courses Repeated Through an Appropriately Accredited Institution Parent/Teacher Communication Teacher Feedback Teacher Office Hours 67 Test Calendar High School Grading Scale Class Rank Honor Roll Senior Cords Standardized Testing 68 Summer Reading Summer School 69 Transcript Release Requests HIGH SCHOOL BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES Behavior Guidelines Cafeteria Policy 70 Junior & Senior Lunch Disruptive Activities Conduct Infractions for High School Disciplinary Consequences Community Service Detention Saturday School 71 Suspension & Expulsion STUDENT LIFE 72 Birthdays Cell Phones Crew Program Dances

Driver’s Education 73 J-Term Lockers Service Program Snacks Windy Gap HIGH SCHOOL DRESS CODE 74 High School Dress Code for Young Women: General Appearance High School Dress Code for Young Men: General Appearance 75 Unique Dress Code Situations 76 Dress Code Alignment ANNUAL SCHOOL EVENTS, CLUBS, VOLUNTEERS & PTF LIST OF ANNUAL SCHOOL EVENTS 78 CLUBS ASSOCIATIONS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 79 VOLUNTEERS AND PTF 80

All School Information

Carmel Christian School admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship program and athletic and other school administered programs.

Leadership School Board Members Chad Bryant, Chair [email protected] John Capell [email protected] Eric Fletcher [email protected] Anne Jordan [email protected] Patrick McCrory [email protected] Renee Ratcliffe [email protected] Sara Reynolds [email protected] Andrew Riebe [email protected] Robert Russell [email protected] Daniel Sanders [email protected] Hugh Shannon [email protected] Stephanie Spies [email protected] Erik Swanson [email protected]

Executive Director Leadership Team Jay Hancock, Head of School Jack Kelley, Associate Head of School Gwen Bennett, Executive Director of Admission and Family Relations Ali Crotts, Executive Director of Advancement

Educational Leadership Team Jay Hancock, Head of School Jack Kelley, Associate Head of School Lance Womack, Elementary School Principal Leslie Southerland, Middle School Principal Sheila Nelson, High School Principal Grant Coffey, Athletic Director Christina DeSoto, Fine Arts Director Dan Siftar, High School Vice-Principal Kristi Scallin, Director of Pathways Neil Hawkins, Curriculum Director

***Click here to view a comprehensive list of faculty and staff.

Mission and Vision Statement Carmel Baptist Church’s Mission Statement Carmel exists to make disciples of those nearest, our neighbors and the nations. Our Mission Carmel Christian School exists to provide an excellent education, built on biblical truth, which equips students to reflect Christ to the world. Our Vision Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31 Carmel Christian School will cultivate a community of academic excellence, artistic expression and athletic distinction, marked by intentional discipleship. We partner with Christian parents to nurture and challenge the potential of each individual student. Through genuine relationships, biblical foundations, and purposeful curriculum, students will develop Christ-centered wisdom to become sincere followers of Christ in learning and living. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52 Carmel Christian School is grounded in a tradition of Kingdom education that prepares young people to face a changing world. We present a challenging college preparatory environment through the lens of a biblical worldview that fosters the wisdom of each child. Innovative programs, supported by parent involvement, kindle a lifelong passion for learning while allowing students to reach their unique, God-given potential. Integrity, leadership, sportsmanship, creativity, teamwork, and family involvement are the heartbeat of our Athletic and Fine and Performing Arts programs. Participation in physical and artistic activities is an integral part of the total Carmel experience, inspiring students to develop their God-given talents while growing in stature. The cornerstone of discipleship at Carmel cultivates the spiritual growth of each student, allowing them to stand in favor with God and man. Through a distinctive Kingdom education, effective student leaders are born who will impact their world for Christ. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 Carmel champions a spirit of excellence in every aspect of our community, distinctively training individuals to embrace those nearest, our neighbors and the nations. It is our desire that graduates of Carmel realize their full potential in the collegiate setting and pursue a growing relationship with Jesus Christ while influencing the world for His glory.

School Mascot, Seal, Memberships and Verse

School Mascot: Cougars School Colors: Navy and Gold

School Seal

The words Scientia Et Sapientia in Christo at the base of the symbol represent Carmel Christian School’s commitment to truth and knowledge in Christ (Proverbs 1:4). Academics void of a solid Christian worldview is vain knowledge. In the center is a Shield representing the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). The Torch represents how we are a light to the world (Mark 16:15). The Open Bible symbolizes the school’s emphasis on God’s Word through biblical integration imparted by a dedicated Christian faculty (Psalm 129:105). Carmel Christian School was founded in 1993.

Carmel Christian School Accreditations and Memberships Cognia (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED) Association of Christian Schools International Educational Records Bureau Greater Charlotte Association of Christian Schools Matthews Chamber of Commerce North Carolina Association of Independent Schools North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Athletic Association Queen City Athletic Conference North Caroline Theatre Conference The National Association of Music Education National Art Education Association Christian in Theatre Arts Conference School Verse “To give the young knowledge and discretion.” Proverbs 1:4

Statement of Faith Carmel holds to the statement of faith adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention and recorded in The Baptist Faith and Message. The Scriptures – The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and religious opinions should be tried. God – There is one, and only one living and true God. He is the Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. God is infinite in holiness. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. The Trinity – We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Fall of Man – Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning, man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice, man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original innocence; whereby his posterity inherited a nature and an environment inclined towards sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become transgressors and are under condemnation. Mediator – We believe Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross and ascended to His Father at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. Church – We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. Salvation – We believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and through grace, salvation is offered as a free gift to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. Regeneration – Regeneration, or the new birth, is a word of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through the conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which

the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Glorification – Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. It is the ultimate and complete salvation which shall be realized in heaven. Baptism – Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. The Lord’s Day – The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion. Social Order – All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our lives and in human society. In the Spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. Christians should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. Family – God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in a covenant commitment for a lifetime. The Resurrection – We believe the bodies of man after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God, to rest with Him; the wicked to be reserved under the darkness of judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. The Judgment – We believe that the end of the world is approaching, that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will take place; that the wicked will be judged to endless punishment and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness. Carmel’s Philosophy of Partnering with Christian Parents Carmel is a covenant school which means that we partner with Christian parents in the Christian education of their children. The Word of God clearly states that believing parents are to teach their children (Deuteronomy 6:7). The scriptures admonish us to “beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after the Messiah” (Colossians 2:8). We are encouraged to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5). When parents are unable to deliver the academic disciplines that are needed in the life of the child, Carmel Christian School is there to help. CCS and our parents are determined to partner in the education of the child. As one of our teachers so eloquently stated, “Each morning the parent brings the child to school, hand-in-hand. When they arrive in the classroom they place the child’s hand in ours. At the end of the day, that exchange of hands is made again and the child returns home to the parents.” That is a beautiful picture of what partnering is all about at Carmel Christian School. We do not replace the parent during the day. We are working together in the molding of the child academically and spiritually. The parent understands his/her role in the nurturing of the child and Carmel understands its role in complementing the values set forth in the home. Parents must understand their role in supporting the administration, faculty and staff of Carmel Christian School. This is accomplished through parent support of the decisions that are made, the policies that are created and the programming that takes place. Parental support for the individuals who lead the children at Carmel Christian School each day must be exercised and openly communicated through words and actions. Parents must sign the Parents’ Statement of Support at the time of enrollment. Because Carmel Christian School believes so strongly in the philosophy of partnering, sometimes it becomes necessary to break the partnership. At times, the family and Carmel Christian School arrive at a place where the partnership is no longer sustainable. For example, the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home may be counter or in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes but is not limited to sexual immorality, homosexual orientation, or the inability to

support biblical standards of right and wrong. In such instances, if the school and the parents are no longer able to come to an agreement on a given issue, Carmel Christian School reserves the right to terminate the partnership with the parents, nullifying the contract and the child can no longer attend Carmel Christian School. Expectations for Student and Parent Conduct: Reconciliation Principle If disagreement occurs at CCS, the manner in which it is handled must be proper and Christ-like. As believers, we are instructed to resolve our differences according to the principles set forth in Matthew 18:15-17 and Matthew 5:24. These passages do not relate specifically to the school setting, but the principle is a sound one to follow. It instructs the concerned party to go first and only to the other party. A “whisper campaign” or discussion of problems with those not concerned only adds to the problem. The administration will speak with all parties involved in willful acts of gossip against any student, parent, faculty member or administrator of Carmel Christian School. If anyone feels he/she has a complaint with a teacher, the following procedures should be followed: • The parent is expected to speak first with the individual who has offended. Prayerfully, resolution will take place at this time. If a satisfactory agreement or resolution cannot be made, then the appropriate principal should be contacted. • The appropriate principal will meet with both the parent and the teacher to achieve resolution. • All parties should remember that hurtful comments need not be said. Deal with the facts, not emotions. • If a resolution cannot be reached by the principal’s involvement, the Associate Head of School and/or the Head of School may become involved in order to determine if continuing partnership between the parents and the school is possible. The decision of the Head of School will be final. • If disagreement occurs between parents at CCS, the same guidelines listed above should be followed. • It is never acceptable for a parent to approach a CCS student, who is not their child, in anger or for disciplinary purposes. • Dependent upon the situation, student and parents may be asked to meet with the appropriate principal and faculty member. While we understand the occasional desire of parents to begin “at the top”, comment or concerns should be presented to the appropriate people in the order listed above. We believe that by keeping the channels of communication open, complying with the principles of scripture and following this system, our students will be served in a prompt, effective, and caring manner. Discipleship CCS is dedicated to disciple-making education. Disciple-making education is the process of discipling a child by leading them to discover truths regarding God’s created world and training them to think, discern, and live according to God’s plan for his glory. Our strategy for discipleship is to help our students Abide in Christ in order to Build Relationships and Live the Gospel with Everything. (A.B.L.E.) Disciple-making education depends on the spiritual strength of the home, the church and the school. Together, these institutions can help guide our children with instruction for a long and fruitful life following the will of the Lord. Another passage that speaks to this instruction is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Based on this passage, we believe that parents are the primary disciple-makers in the lives of their children. It is the parent’s responsibility to disciple and educate their children. At CCS, we have the privilege of coming alongside parents in a ministry partnership, using the school’s program to help their children grow in their relationship with Christ while learning about his created world. This is the vision of disciple-making education. While you disciple your children every day, our faculty and staff speak the same message and work together with you to reinforce the values and beliefs that we both hold dear. Missions CCS desires to ensure that our outreach opportunities relate to our vision as a ministry of Carmel Baptist Church. Our goal is to provide opportunities that develop a gospel-driven, missional mindset through hands-on experiences for our students. All grade levels participate in projects that are age appropriate from Elementary classes serving ministries by doing projects in their classroom all the way to our High School students who have the option to travel on international missions trips.

Elementary School • Grade Level hands-on service projects: • Each class/grade level will choose one organization they can serve hands-on. All of these will be grade level experiences, and not school-wide. Please see school calendar for service dates. Middle School • Grade Level hands-on service projects: Each grade level will have one planned mission day off campus (see school calendar for service dates): High School • Various mission opportunities provided through the J-term experience Service Organization Projects Each service organization (National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Beta Club, etc.) will choose one project to do each year for students in that organization only, not school-wide. We are also encouraging after-school hours and not school/academic time, although we know some projects off-campus, like Special Olympics, may need to be held during school. We encourage as many hands-on experiences each can appropriately plan for where students can give of their time/talents. Mission and Service experiences from all groups will be shared monthly within our eNews. The Honor System CCS uses an Honor System to handle issues of character. Part of the training in a Christian school goes beyond the textbook but to training from God’s Word. Proverbs 14:5, Ephesians 4:28, James 4:17 and Colossians 3:9, for example, give biblical guidelines for us to follow in relation to principles of integrity. An honorable student does not lie, cheat, or steal. Each individual is responsible for his/her own conduct, keeping in mind that individual actions set an example for others. It is the fundamental assumption at CCS that any work presented by students will be their own. In an academic community, a violation of this tenet is an extremely serious offense. The Honor Statement (Grades 6-12) “On my honor, I pledge that I have neither given nor received help on this work.”

• Students are responsible for securing electronic technology during a test. No cell phones or other such technology may be present during a test unless deemed necessary by the instructor. If a computer, calculator or other form of technology is permitted during a test, the student is held responsible for all items stored or accessed on the device. Students will be required to sign a technology pledge which will read, “On my honor, I have checked the content of my (specific technology) and have removed any inappropriate material.” • Students will be required to sign an honor pledge which will read, “On my honor, I pledge that I have neither given nor received any help on this work.” • The Honor Statement applies during school hours, at any time on school campus, and during school-sponsored activities such as field trips, seminars, athletic events, dances, service projects and anytime off campus. If violations of the Statement occur, the divisional principal will review each case. Disciplinary action for violation of an honor offense will be determined after an investigation of each incident. Consequences are recommended to the appropriate principal who can follow the recommendation or determine another consequence. Guidelines of Honor (for grades 6-12) Definitions and Examples: Cheating: The act of gaining or attempting to gain an unfair advantage or assisting another in gaining or attempting to gain an unfair advantage; the act of receiving or giving information for a dishonest purpose. Examples:

• Copying another person’s work (tests, quizzes, homework, etc.) or allowing someone to copy your work • Asking for or giving questions and/or answers to tests or quizzes • Getting information from books or notes during a quiz or test • Turning in another student’s work as your own

Lying: The act of making an untrue statement with the intent to deceive. Examples

• Telling an untruth or not telling the whole truth • Denying guilt when guilty • Changing a grade on a paper, a quiz, a test, or a report card • Forging a parent’s signature on a progress report, test, etc. • Using another person’s password to gain access to the Carmel Christian School network or to the Internet Stealing: The act of taking or being in the possession of the property of another, or being the accomplice to such an act. Examples

• Taking/being in possession of or using another person’s or the School’s property without permission • Taking books from the Media Center without checking them out • Using someone else’s Computer Access Code • Using school resources for personal use Plagiarism Plagiarism is a student’s use of another person’s ideas or direct words as his or her own. This reflects a direct and deliberate violation of the Honor Code. The first time a student plagiarizes in a course, the assignment will be graded as a zero and the student must complete the assignment appropriately but without credit. In addition to plagiarism in terms of their written work, they also must abide by the following legal parameters for use of copied sources: • Students shall not reproduce copyrighted material without explicit permission. • Students shall stay within the bounds of the "fair use doctrine" of copyright law and must cite the source of information taken from the Internet or any other source. * The Head of School has the authority to determine and implement the final consequences in all disciplinary circumstances Any of the above infractions is an honor violation and the student will be referred to the principal’s office. Disciplinary action will depend on the severity of the infraction. Carmel Honor System – Grades 9-12 CCS uses an Honor System to handle issues of character. Part of the training in a Christian school goes beyond the textbook to training from God's Word. Proverbs 14:5, Ephesians 4:28, James 4:17 and Colossians 3:9, for example, give biblical guidelines for us to follow in relation to principles of integrity. An honorable student does not lie, cheat, plagiarize, or steal. Each individual is responsible for his/her own conduct, keeping in mind that individual actions set an example for others. It is the fundamental assumption at CCS that any work presented by students will be their own. In an academic community, a violation of this tenet is an extremely serious offense. Any violations will be handled by the high school Principal or Assistant Principal who will determine if violation has occurred, initiate consequences and seek restoration going forward. Attendance Overview Attendance in all classes is crucial to ensure students' comprehensive understanding of the course material. Teachers are committed to working with students who are absent to provide make up work, but make up work cannot compensate for missed instructional time with the teacher. For this reason, we discourage students from being absent for more than 20 days (ES & MS), 10 classes (HS) during the school year. Enrollment The Student Enrollment Contract is posted through ParentsWeb in February for each student in good standing. It must be completed online and received by the deadline with the Enrollment Fee, Parental Statement of Support and FACTS registration. Completion of this contract does not guarantee placement at CCS. Final decisions regarding re-enrollment are made by the Administration.

Probation: Academic Academic Probation Grades 3-12 A student may be considered “at risk” in a course if he or she earns a 69 (D) or below as a quarter grade in a core academic subject. When a student is in this situation, his/her parents will be notified, and a conference with the respective principal, parents, and student will be scheduled. At that time, goals will be set and strategies discussed to assist with the student’s progress. Additionally, the student is strongly recommended to attend the respective teacher’s office hours in order to master course material. These sessions should take precedence over all extracurricular activities. A student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 in order to retain academic good-standing. A student will be placed on academic probation if his or her overall weighted GPA falls below a 2.0 at a mid-quarter grade check or at the end of any quarter. A student on academic probation is ineligible to participate in any game or Fine Arts production and may not be eligible for re-enrollment unless the GPA can be brought back to a 2.0. Student athletes and performers are to assume personal responsibility for maintaining an acceptable academic status in accordance with school policy. CCS will review mid-quarter grades and end-of- quarter grades throughout the school year to ensure academic eligibility for all sports and extra-curricular activities. If a CCS student's grades fall to any of the following criteria at these times, they will be placed on immediate academic probation (10 school days): • Has one F in any class • Has a D in any two classes • Has a GPA under 2.0 In order to help a probationary student get back on track academically, every effort must be made to clear his/her schedule in order for him to work and bring his/her grades up to appropriate standards. A student on academic probation may practice with his/her current team on days when it does not conflict with required extra help sessions or extra-curricular activity but may not participate in or dress out for games, productions, or extra-curricular activities. During probation, students must turn in a weekly grade report to the Athletic or Fine Arts Director. Probationary students cannot receive an early dismissal privilege to travel with the team until they are removed from their “ineligible” status. Students will work with their teachers during the probationary period to bring their grades up to or above these standards in order to regain full athletic eligibility. If at the end of the initial 5-day probation period, the student athlete is still not academically eligible, he/she may have a second 5-day probation period (with the same guidelines listed above) to bring grades to an eligible standards. If, at the end of this 10 day probation period, the student has failed to bring his/her grades up, he/she will remain ineligible. Academic probation does not apply (carryover to the fall) after the final report card of the academic year. The intent of academic probation is to aid the students in keeping academics their top priority understanding that athletics and extracurricular activities are a privilege, not a right. It is the hope of the teachers, administration, and staff that there will be an improvement in effort and commitment on the part of the student as a result of being placed on academic probation. Guidelines for student athletes: In order to help a probationary student get back on track academically, every effort must be made to clear his/her schedule in order for the student to work and bring his/her grades up to appropriate standards. A student on academic probation may practice with his/her current team on days when it does not conflict with required extra help sessions or extra-curricular activity but may not participate in or dress out for games, or extra-curricular activities. During probation, students must turn in a weekly grade report to the Athletic Director. Probationary students cannot receive an early dismissal privilege to travel with the team until they are removed from their “ineligible” status. Students will work with their teachers during the probationary period to bring their grades up to or above these standards in order to regain full athletic eligibility. If at the end of the initial 5-day probation period, the student athlete is still not academically eligible, he/she may have a second 5-day probation period (with the same guidelines listed above) to bring grades to an eligible standards. If, at the end of this 10 day probation period, the student has failed to bring his/her grades up, he/she will become ineligible to participate in practices or games for the next 10 days. If the student has failed to bring up his/her grades at the end of the second 10-day period, he will be ineligible for the remainder of the season. Guidelines for student performers: In order to audition for the school play/musical, students must be academically eligible. A student is ineligible to audition if the student has been placed on academic probation based on the criteria listed above (1 F/2 D policy). There will be a mid-season check to ensure that students remain academically eligible to participate in the performance. Students should be aware that eligibility can impact casting decisions. Academic probation does not apply (carryover to the fall) after the final report card of the academic year. The intent of academic probation is to aid the students in keeping academics their top priority understanding that athletics and extra-

curricular activities are a privilege, not a right. It is the hope of the teachers, administration, and staff that there will be an improvement in effort and commitment on the part of the student as a result of being placed on academic probation. Athletic/Extra-curricular Participation - Daily Eligibility and Health-Related Exemptions for PE, Practices or Games In order to be eligible to participate in an interscholastic game, a student is expected to be in full attendance during the school day. A student who is not able to attend to his academic responsibilities should not, under any circumstances, be involved in extracurricular performances, particularly if the cause of his absence is illness. Exceptions can be made, however, for unavoidable commitments, for scheduled appointments or for other situations where it is clear that the student has made a good faith effort to meet all of his school responsibilities. Students must be at school a minimum of four hours in order to participate in order to participate in either a practice or a game situation that same day. Exceptions to the policy based on personal emergencies will be considered. Final approval will be made by the Athletic Director or Director of Fine Arts. Off-campus medical appointments should be planned in advance in order to avoid conflicts with both academics and athletics. Requests by parents for early dismissal from athletics must be cleared by the coach or Athletic Director. It is the responsibility of the student to inform his/her coach or Fine Arts instructor as soon as possible if he will not be or has not been in full attendance at school on the day of a game. Academic Expectations for Students in School Plays or Musicals (Middle School & High School) Participants should not miss practices, rehearsals or games. Students who are interested in other school related programs that are a part of the curriculum and may create conflicts in any extra-curricular schedules should notify either the Athletic or Fine Arts Department director. Both directors will then meet and try to negotiate a schedule on which both programs can agree. If there cannot be a resolution that satisfies both entities, the student will have to choose between activities. It is the responsibility of the student to notify each department of any potential conflict before tryouts for either program. Tests and Quizzes: Students are expected to take scheduled tests each day of play week. Projects: All projects due during play week are expected to be turned in on the pre-assigned due date. Probation: Disciplinary Reasons Suspension and Expulsion Expulsion is the termination of a student’s right to attend CCS. The student expelled may reapply for admission through regular admission procedures after two semesters. Out of school suspension is a temporary absence from school for disciplinary reasons as indicated by the appropriate principal. A suspended student will be eligible to return after the time specified by the Principal. Suspended students may be placed on behavioral probation for the remainder of the semester. During the suspension, the student will be responsible for all work missed. Any student holding an office in a club or organization, or holding a position on the Honor Council, who is suspended from school, may be required to relinquish his position for the remainder of the year. The school may also use in-school suspension as a consequence when necessary. The Principal is vested with the authority to suspend a student from school in accordance with these guidelines. The principals, in consultation with the Head of School is vested with the authority to expel a student from school in accordance with these guidelines. Attendance at CCS is a privilege, not a right. Students forfeit this privilege if they do not conform to CCS’s standards of conduct, achievement, and attendance. This is not to be considered exclusive of all activity which may lead to expulsion. Rather, this information is to be considered representative of activity which is deemed to be contrary to scripture, and thus, offensive to God, harmful to self and/or others and may not be tolerated at CCS. Behavioral Probation In keeping with Carmel’s mission to provide an excellent education, built on biblical truth, to equip students to reflect Christ to the world, the faculty and staff at CCS puts a special focus on student behavior. The Bible calls us to “train up children in the way they should go; so that even when they are old, they will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6. If a student displays repeated offenses or commits a serious infraction, the student may be placed on behavioral probation.

When behavioral probation is deemed necessary for a student, the student and parent will receive a written letter which outlines the behaviors of concern, the terms of the behavioral probation, and an action plan to help the student display the conduct expected of a CCS student. A student placed on behavioral probation may be considered ineligible to try out for or participate in all extracurricular activities, athletics, drama, and field trips. During the time of behavioral probation, any behavior that blatantly breaks school policy (dress code infractions, disrespect/ insubordination of school staff members, threats, any illicit substances on campus, honor code offense, or any other type of inappropriate behavior etc.) could result in dismissal from school and/or a non-acceptance for the next school year. IT Probation Integration of technology into the academic probation of CCS is extremely important. We expect all of our students to use their school provided technology for academic purposes only. Students’ online activities are monitored by our IT department through the GoGuardian program. Students are expected to be ‘above reproach’ with the use of their technology. In cases of repeated and/or serious infractions involving technology, the student will be placed on IT probation and the parent will be notified. In order to keep the student accountable and help him or her grow in remaining above reproach, a student on IT probation will have his or her technology use monitored more closely by our IT department. Any infractions, no matter the severity, will be reported to the Principal’s office and the student will earn heightened consequences, possibly including suspension from school. Student Withdrawal Tuition is due in full without regard to the student's absence, withdrawal or dismissal from CCS. Student records will be released upon, but not prior to, full payment of tuition and/or account balance. Carmel Campus Athletics Carmel Christian School is a member of the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA). We compete for state championships in the 3A division. Carmel fields 27 teams, with 563 total student athletes. We have a coaching staff of over4 0 coaches. We have student athletes who receive opportunities and scholarships to represent their colleges in interscholastic athletics in college. For information regarding the Carmel athletics program, click here. To access the Athletics Parent-Student Handbook, click here. The School Store is a one-stop shop for all CCS Spirit Wear. The store is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 – 3:30 pm and prior to most home games in the Main Gym Lobby. The school store also accepts online orders periodically throughout the school year. You will find a link to the school store on Carmel Parent. Carline Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures CELL PHONES ARE PROHIBITED WHEN DRIVING THROUGH THE CARLINE. This is a safety issue. Thank you for your cooperation. Our carline system is designed to provide safety, order, and supervision for each child’s arrival and departure. The traffic pattern is designed for maximum safety of our students. Parents are asked to observe all traffic flow patterns. We encourage you to drop off your students in the carline line and not walk your student in each morning. There is NO CCS parent or staff parking allowed in the C lot at during carline or at any time during the school day. This parking area is reserved for other church ministries. • Parents are NOT allowed to park and walk up to any carline to get their ES students out of the waiting area. We do not have enough staff members to supervise putting students into their cars, call out names and also supervise students being picked up out of the line. • If you live in the neighborhood of Reverdy Lane and wish to walk to school to pick-up your child(ren), please email the elementary or middle school principals for approval and special instructions. • Do not leave cars unattended in the car line. Park in designated areas only. • The speed limit is 10 mph. • Elementary School students (with MS/HS siblings) dropped off at the MS/HS carline will go to a supervised area until 8:00 am.

• ES not picked up by 3:20 pm and MS students not picked up by 3:30 pm will be taken to Extended Day Program and parents charged a drop-in rate of $25. On Campus Parking Carmel has designated parking lots (Lot E & F) on campus. Parking in front of the main doors (Lot C) is prohibited as this parking area is reserved for other church ministries. Student Parking Due to limited student parking (Lot G), we cannot guarantee that all eligible high school students will be able to obtain a driving/parking pass. Priority will be given in the following order: Seniors and submission date, Juniors and submission date, Sophomores and submission date, Freshmen and submission date. Families will be notified of final decisions prior to the start of school. Please visit the High School Information page in Carmel Parent to find the form. Chapel All grade levels have planned chapel programs. Parents are encouraged to attend chapel programs as their schedules permit. Chapel takes place on most Thursdays. We welcome all parents and other family members to join us for chapel each week. Elementary School Our students attend chapel every week on Thursdays by grade level. Elementary students love to worship through song, shared testimonies and listen to special speakers. A variety of speakers and special emphasis programs are scheduled throughout the year appropriate for each grade. Middle School and High School Students experience worship through scripture reading, prayer, the Ignite Praise Band and other means that creatively impart the Word of God through chapel on Thursdays. Speakers share from the heart to actively engage our older students in worship and help them understand what is means to lead a life of discipleship and be a follower of Jesus Christ. Chapel times and locations are available on the school calendar. Drop-off of Personal Possessions and Homework Parents are asked not to drop off luggage, birthday gifts, etc. that will be needed for after school events at the school office. Forgotten homework and student lunches will be delivered at the earliest convenience of the office staff. Please encourage student responsibility by refraining from late deliveries as much as possible. Emergency Closing of School CCS utilizes the ParentsWeb system, which allows the school to send a telephone and text messages to all faculty, staff and parents on selected contact numbers within minutes for any reason during the school day or after school hours. CCS will also post inclement weather notifications on local television stations, the CCS website and social media accounts. The decision to close school is made in collaboration with all Carmel ministries. Information will be given to television stations prior to 6:15 am. You will be notified by the ParentsWeb system via telephone call and e-mail by 6:15 am should a decision to close school be made prior to the start of a school day. If, in your judgement as a parent, travel to school for your child seems inadvisable due to poor weather or road conditions, you should not send your child to school. You may use the student absence form located on Carmel Parent to report your child’s absence. Once students arrive at Carmel Christian School, closing school will be difficult. In extreme situations, school will close and parents will be called to come and pick up your children. Parents may come for their children at any time. Faculty and administration will remain on campus until the last child departs. Extended Day Program The Extended Day Program is available to students grades K-10, and offers a variety of programs including Young Cougars Club, After School, Enrichment Classes and Music Lessons. For more details, follow this link to their website: The Extended Day Program Field Trips Students are presented with a variety of opportunities to attend cultural and educational events in the Charlotte area and abroad. These events are created by teachers and the administration who also accompany the students on tour.

Field trips are a vital part of the overall curriculum of the school. All students are expected to participate. Parents should contact the teacher or administrator in charge of the field trip with questions as soon as they arise. Students not attending school trips in grades K-12 will be counted absent from school. Parents may sign up to chaperone only one field trip per child so that as many parents as possible have the opportunity to participate. Chaperones and drivers are required provide a copy of their driver’s license to the school. Please sign up for one field trip so that as many parents as possible have the opportunity to participate. CCS does not cover the cost of parent chaperons. CCS does pay for parking for chaperons on any field trips. Drivers should not talk on cell phones while driving. Passengers may use cell phones. Any child under 8 years of age, who is not at least 80 pounds, must ride in an approved booster seat. Each parent is responsible for providing the booster seat for any field trip. No child within this guideline will be allowed to be transported without a booster seat by any driver on behalf of Carmel Christian School. Only students who exceed the limits imposed by this law, and are riding with their parents who are chaperoning on a field trip, may ride in the front seat of a vehicle. Teachers will compile a list of chaperons for out-of-town field trips. School staff will be used first. If parent chaperons are needed, the teacher will select parents to go as chaperons. Teachers do not stay overnight in student rooms in hotels. Security guards are hired to patrol the hallway during overnight academic experiences. Chaperone Expectations To ensure the safety of our students when on school field trips, the following rules must be observed:

• Will be responsible for all students at all times. • Will be responsible for students assigned to my care. • Will take only the students assigned to my vehicle by the teacher. • Will take only the students assigned to my vehicle back to CCS once the field trip is over. • Under no circumstances is a driver allowed to have their assigned student obtain a ride from someone else to avoid returning to CCS. • Will not use a cell phone or “text” while the vehicle is in motion. (Passengers may use cell phones as needed). • Will not provide any inappropriate music while students are in my car. (If used, radios should be turned to 98.7) • Will not show movies or videos in my vehicle at any time. • Will not make any unscheduled stops, except when needed for gas (ex: ice cream, coffee, etc.) • Will not allow any “car games” to occur (i.e., drills). • Will follow the travel instructions provided by the teacher. • Will not purchase or provide treats to students in my group unless also doing so for all the students on the trip and only with teacher approval • Will not allow ES students to sit in the front seat of the car. • Will be responsible to quickly locate my students as we travel throughout the day. • Will be responsible to stop all unnecessary noises and distractions during the trip. • Will be responsible to see that my students ask permission to go anywhere. • Will be responsible to see that I follow the teacher’s instructions and requests. • Will be responsible to see that students are treated with kindness and love. • Will be responsible to see that students have a positive experience. • Will be responsible to see that I support the activity with enthusiasm, positive attitude, and flexibility. Siblings or young children are not allowed on field trips. Media Center Hours 8:00am-9:00am Open Browsing, all welcome 9:00am-3:00pm CCS Library Hours, open browsing, all welcome 3:00pm-3:30pm Open Browsing, all welcome Student Use of Automobiles Driving and parking on campus is a privilege. Our foremost concern is for the safety of both our drivers and others on campus. Any careless, reckless or dangerous driving on campus may result in a student losing his or her driving privileges.

It is important to remember that parking is limited on our campus, and not every student of legal driving age is guaranteed a parking space. During the school year, the school office will distribute parking decals as long as there is space available. These decals must be displayed on the rear windshield of the vehicle. Upper School students may park in the parking lot at the corner of Pineville-Matthews Road and Reverdy Road only. Students must fill out the High School Student Request for Driving /Parking Form, available on Carmel Parent, in order to drive to school. Students will be issued one parking decal. Additional parking decals or replacements are available for $5.00.Students will also be assigned a parking space in September. Since safety is our first priority, students who drive automobiles to school share a major responsibility for maintaining safety on the campus. Driving is a privilege granted to those who observe and respect the following driving regulations: • Cell phone use is strictly prohibited in moving vehicles. • Campus speed limit is 10 M.P.H. or less. • Cars are to be parked in the area reserved for students. • Cars are to be locked. No valuables should be left in automobiles. • Cars are not to be entered during the school day. • Cars are not to be backed into parking spaces. • Student drivers are not allowed to drive through the carpool lines. • Student drivers should enter and exit from the second Reverdy Road entrance only. • Student drivers may park only in the E parking lot. • CBC/CCS is not liable for any damages sustained in our parking lot. Students are expected to read and review these regulations before registering their vehicles. Violations of these regulations will result in fines and/or immediate suspension or revocation of on-campus driving privileges. Visitors and Guests Carmel Christian School is a closed campus school. Visitors are limited to immediate family members of current CCS students, CCS alumni, invited guests of the faculty, administration, and the CBC Student Ministry Office. All visitors will enter campus through the main school office. Visitors who enter at the main church entrance will be redirected to the school entrance. LobbyGuard is a security software that provides a secure way for CCS to manage visitors and monitor who is on campus at all times. It is imperative that all visitors bring proper identification when coming to the campus, including a Driver’s License or other government issued ID. This identification will be scanned and a visitor’s badge will be printed. This badge will need to be worn at all times when on campus. Guests should go directly to their destination. When their activity has concluded, guests should check out at the main school office. Guests are not allowed to visit classrooms, faculty members or administrative offices without scheduling an appointment prior to arrival. Lunch Visits: Visitors are allowed to visit current students during their assigned lunch periods. Siblings attending other elementary, middle or high schools may visit their CCS sibling only during their lunch period. These guests may not visit other students at other lunch periods. All guests are expected to eat in the school cafeteria with the student they are visiting. Carmel Christian School reserves the right to deny a visitor's request for access to our campus for any reason at any time. Conduct and Behavior Carmel functions as a community of Christ-followers, joined together by choice, for the purpose of bringing glory to God and educating students so that they may grow into responsible citizens equipped to impact their culture for Christ. The reasons for forming a community involve similarity of belief, purpose, and conduct among the individuals. The principles of developing godly character and integrity are the underlying hallmarks for the regulations of student behavior. With these principles come high expectations. Students must read the following expectations so that they are aware of them and the consequences of not abiding by them. Students are responsible for thoroughly knowing, understanding, and following the regulations of CCS. Students must accept a great deal of personal responsibility in order to ensure the success of our school community. Members of the Carmel community are expected to be honest, fair, and courteous. Personal honesty involves being truthful about the source of one’s work. Fairness implies some latitude in the enforcement of regulations. Courtesy produces an attitude of respect.

CCS students are expected to practice and promote healthy, appropriate relationships and to abstain from immoral behavior according to these biblical standards. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children abide by these standards (See Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 17-20; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Romans 1:26-27). Practicing or promoting immoral behavior may result in discipline of a student or termination of the partnership between the family and school. When the actions of a student conflict with school regulations, then we have an obligation to discipline that student. Restoration is provided to guide the student so that this behavior does not reoccur and to maintain order in the school. In order to be fair and consistent, certain behaviors will result in clearly established disciplinary actions. All students in grades 4-12 need to read this portion of the Family Handbook carefully. Students in grades 6-12 will sign a handbook compliance document the first week of school. The expectations discussed here are fully explained. Knowing these expectations exist, any violation of these expectations shows a willful disobedience to the clearly stated expectations. Behavioral Guidelines It is expected that students at Carmel are serious about academic preparation for college and have high standards of conduct, integrity, honesty, motivation, courtesy, and respect. Below are listed the guidelines of appropriate behavior expected of all CCS students while on campus or while participating in or attending off-campus school activities.

• Character development is of utmost importance. Parent partnership with faculty and staff is a key component in working through this process. • Respect, courtesy and consideration for other students, teachers, administrators, and visitors to the school. • Responsibility in reporting on time to assigned classes and activities. • Respect for school and individual property, including other students’ lockers, books, automobiles, etc. • Neat and appropriate dress (see Uniform Policy) • Proper behavior when travelling in vehicles destined for school activities. Students are expected to refrain from the following: • Behaving in ways that could lead to the injury of another person. • Chewing gum in class. • Using electronic devices without permission during the school day. • Eating or drinking outside of the cafeteria or designated areas (unless it has been pre-approved).. • Students are expected to comply with faculty or staff member requests without hesitation or argument. Any violation of the above will result in disciplinary action, which may include detention, suspension, or expulsion. Any student who participates in or promotes any of the following activities may be subject to suspension and/or expulsion:

• Possession or use of tobacco products (on or off campus) • Possession or use of drugs (on or off campus) • Possession or use of alcohol (on or off campus) • Lying • Cheating • Habitual disrespect • Truancy • Improper physical contact • Inappropriate language • Public display of affection • Sexually immoral behavior • Habitual academic probation, exceeding 90 days. This is not to be considered an exhaustive list of all activity which may lead to involvement of the SRO, suspension or expulsion. Rather, this list is to be considered representative of activity which is deemed to be contrary to scripture, and thus, harmful to the student, other students, and/or the school community; as such it is also contrary to the will of God as revealed in scripture and will not be tolerated at CCS.

Bullying Carmel does not allow or tolerate harassment or bullying of any kind. Bullying is defined as repeated negative behavior toward another individual; exerting power over another individual for the purposes of intimidation; repeated verbal, emotional, or physical intimidation of another individual, either in person or through the use of technology. CCS, like schools across America, acknowledges the need for a comprehensive program at the school level to manage school culture and foster kind behavior among the students and all stakeholders. Below you will see a clarification of bullying vs. normal conflict:

Normal Conflict Bullying

Equal power or friends Imbalance of power, not friends

Happens rarely/infrequently Repeated negative actions

Accidental Purposeful

Not serious Serious with threat of physical or emotional harm

Equal emotional reaction Strong emotional reaction from victim; little or no reaction from bully

Not seeking power or attention Seeking power, control

Not trying to get something Attempts to gain power

Remorse--takes responsibility No remorse--blames victims

Effort to solve the problem No effort to solve problems

Bullying that takes place during the school day and/or interferes with the normal activities of the school day will be immediately addressed and consequences will be assigned. Students who repeatedly engage in harassment and/or bullying can be assigned serious consequences, up to and including expulsion. Confidentiality of Claims: CCS takes reports of harassment and bullying seriously, and administrators will do their best within reason to ensure that students/parents reporting this behavior remain anonymous and that no retaliatory action is taken against reporting students/parents. While this is the goal, there must be no expectation of anonymity from the reporting parties, and conflicts cannot always be resolved without specifics being shared. Administrators engage in conflict resolution with the highest priority on protecting the offended student(s) in every way possible and will protect anonymity only when possible. Students engaging in retaliatory action may be subject to serious consequences, up to and including expulsion. Positive School Culture Students in all divisions will be introduced, using age level appropriate programming, to the year-long theme of the Code of Courage Creed/Acrostic in their classrooms and in Chapel. This acrostic has been developed using verbs to provide students, parents and teachers with appropriate steps that can be taken when the need for conflict resolution arises: C=care for one another O=one makes a difference U=unify R=resolve conflicts A=advocate G=give thanks E=encourage each other Co-curricular Events: Behavior Students must remain in the appropriate area of activity (game, theatre) or other supervised areas at all times when they are on campus for a co-curricular event. If a student is found to be in an unsupervised area of the campus during such an event, he or she will face disciplinary consequences.

Disruptive Activities Activities or events that have the effect of disrupting the learning environment of the school or interfering with other students’ rights are prohibited. Speech, protests, demonstrations, clothing, behavior or actions that convey a message that has this effect is covered by this policy. School officials are expected to maintain order and discipline on school premises and to protect the well-being of all students and faculty. Gender Identification Policy Scripture defines humankind’s two genders as male and female (Gen. 1:27). Staff, faculty, students, and guests at Carmel shall use appropriate restrooms and locker rooms, participate in sports and other gender-specific events, and abide by dress codes according to their biological gender at birth and recorded on their birth certificate. Harassment Carmel recognizes and respects individual differences in regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin and disability. In order to provide an atmosphere that fosters mutual respect, it is important that every member of the CCS family recognize certain guidelines for appropriate and acceptable behavior. Verbal or physical behavior that subjects an individual to personal indignity is deemed harassment and will not be tolerated whether it occurs on or off campus. Harassment includes but is not limited to playing abusive or humiliating tricks upon an individual, engaging in frightening behavior, inappropriate affection, the display of sexually-explicit or suggestive material, or unwarranted verbal remarks, scolding, or physical assault. Such behavior also includes unwelcome physical advances or contact, overt displays of affection. Other examples of unacceptable behavior include: • Pressure to engage in or promotion of sexual activity, whether explicit or implicit • Hurtful or unkind remarks • Pressure to use alcohol or drugs • Obscene or suggestive remarks or jokes, as well as verbal insults or abuse • Vulgar language, jokes or innuendos directed at an individual or group • Photographs, pictures, or printed materials which others might find offensive or degrading • Comments which are demeaning with respect to race, color, sex, age, ethnicity or disability • Repeated incidents of reported harassment could result in more severe consequences. In addition, Carmel’s policy and disciplinary procedures regarding harassment apply to behaviors involving direct contact as well as the use of e-mail, social networking websites, cell phones, or other technological devices. Reporting Harassment Any member of the Carmel family who perceives that he or she has been subjected to harassment, as defined and illustrated above, is required to promptly report this, by following this procedure:

• You have the option, either orally or in writing, of letting the offending party know you want the behavior to stop. If you do so, give a clear message and express that you have been offended. • Keep a record of when, where and how you believe that you have been harassed. Include witnesses, what was said, description of what occurred, and copies of any related written communication. • Whether or not you decide to confront the offending party in person or in writing, you are required to inform CCS administration about the situation. You may inform any available faculty or staff member who will then inform the Associate Head of School. All complaints about perceived harassment will be taken seriously, investigated, and dealt with appropriately. If a situation occurs off campus or via social media, please intervene immediately by contacting the other families involved. The school is unable to monitor all social media. We will act according to policy in all situations where proof of inappropriate action is provided. No one should hesitate to bring a complaint for fear of retaliation. All complaints of harassment will be treated confidentially as practicable under the circumstances. Carmel Christian School will not tolerate threats of retaliation or retaliation resulting from a report of harassment. Any student or other member of the CCS family who engaged in harassment will be subject to effective remedial measures, including possible suspension or expulsion from school. Each person in the CCS family has the right to participate fully in the life of the school without harassment.

Sexuality Policy Carmel Christian School, a ministry of Carmel Baptist Church, defines sexual sin according to biblical standards. Sexual sin, therefore, includes, but is not limited to, sexual activity outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, and pornographic activity including transmission of sexual images. Sexual activity is designed by God as an expression of covenant relationship between a man and a woman in the framework of marriage. Sexual activity outside of the marriage relationship is adultery. (See Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 17-20; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Romans 1:26-27) Substance Abuse The following behaviors are not permitted anywhere or at any time on campus or while on any school activity or trip. Any infraction of this policy will result in suspension or expulsion from school.

• Possessing, using, or selling tobacco. This includes vaping and e-cigarettes • Possessing, using, selling, purchasing or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages. • Using or being under the influence of intoxicating substances such as butane, glue, etc. Possession of these substances for the purpose of intoxication is also prohibited. • Possession, using, selling, purchasing, or being under the influence of illegal drugs. Possession of drug paraphernalia is also prohibited. Any student found to be in the possession of, selling, purchasing, and using or under the influence of drugs on campus or during any school related activity may result in expulsion from school for the remainder of the school year. • Possession, using, selling, purchasing, or being under the influence of legal prescription drugs. Any student found to be in the possession of, selling, purchasing, using or under the influence of legal prescription drugs (controlled substances) on campus or during any school related activity or trip may result in expulsion from school for the remainder of the school year. • Any use of illegal substances, which include cigarettes, vaping, alcohol and drugs on a school trip will result in the student being immediately sent home at the expense of the parent. Parents must make necessary arrangements on regard to transportation and chaperoning. • If a Carmel Christian School administrator has reason to believe that a student is in possession of drugs, alcohol, or other contraband, that employee will notify their administrator who will then notify the SRO. If a student is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on school property or at a school function, the SRO will be notified. Twenty-Four Hours/Seven Days a Week Policy As is the case for all infractions involving the regulations of CCS, all Carmel students are put on notice that they are responsible for their behavior 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Off-campus behavior that is illicit, immoral, illegal, or reflects adversely on Carmel subjects the student to immediate suspension or expulsion. Students who violate this policy will receive appropriate consequences that may include detention, suspension or expulsion. Student Health Carmel Baptist Church Accident/Injury Report Two registered school nurses are on campus during the school day. If necessary, the school nurse will make arrangements for a parent or guardian to pick up their sick child. Students who become ill or injured should not contact their parents before seeing the school nurse or office staff. Click here to access all student health policies. The Carmel Accident/Injury Report will be completed immediately or within 24 hours of any injury or accident by the school nurse. The form will be emailed to parent/guardian for signature and must be returned to the nurse’s office within 48 hours. Parents will receive a copy of the report via email. E-signatures or an email, indicating that the parent has read the report, are acceptable. Allergies Carmel Christian School is committed to providing a safe school environment for all students physically and socially/emotionally. The school recognizes that food/insect sting allergies in some instances may be severe and even life-threatening. CCS has developed a food/insect sting allergy policy to reduce the likelihood of severe allergic reactions of students with known food/insect sting allergies while at school. This policy has been developed using guidelines from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, the National Association of School Nurses, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Our goal is to help students learn to manage their food/insect sting allergies while providing an environment where the risk of exposure is reduced and emergency support is available. The school cannot achieve this goal alone. Student and family involvement are critical. Teachers will help students feel included in all class activities, and they will also demonstrate to students that they will work to protect them and make them feel safe in class. School Procedure:

1. CCS cannot ensure an allergen-free environment (peanut, tree-nut, milk, latex, insects, etc.) in any context. Due to sharing space with other ministries of Carmel Baptist Church, the school is unable to fully control the physical environment in which its students operate. 2. Carmel does not have the ability to designate a classroom as an allergy-free environment due to the space being shared as multi-use with all ministries. As a safety precaution and as appropriate, we encourage students to be sensitive to the student with allergies in their classroom and to wipe or wash hands and their desks and tables after eating snacks/lunches. 3. At its discretion, Carmel nurses, with teachers’ input, may designate certain tables in the cafeteria as specific food allergen-free tables. This implies teachers and fellow students will make earnest efforts to facilitate such a setting, but it does not ensure this will be accomplished with 100% accuracy or consistency. It also does not guarantee that such products have not been brought into the eating areas by other groups. This option will be given to all students with a diagnosed allergy and the decision to use the table will be left up to the student and his/her parents. 4. Classroom teachers will notify parents in advance of any major planned classroom activities that will include food, such as classroom celebrations for holidays and birthdays. However, since food is frequently prepared in homes where such substances are present, we cannot guarantee that any food is completely without cross-contamination of any known allergens (even if/when it was intended to be so). 5. All students are allowed to bring in birthday treats for their class. While a list of suggested allergy-free treats can be provided, there is no guarantee that any birthday treat is safe. In Elementary School, we require that all students with known food allergies bring in allergen safe treats or snacks and have them stored in their classroom as an alternative. Middle School and High School students with known food allergies may store alternative snacks in their backpacks. Our policy is designed to avoid placing the responsibility of monitoring and providing allergy- safe food on other class families. 6. Information pertaining to a student’s allergies will be shared with all Carmel Christian School employees who have immediate contact with the student. This includes all special teachers and the kitchen staff. 7. A physician signed Food/Insect Sting Allergy Action Plan and Medication Authorization Form MUST be provided by the family to their respective health room prior to the first day of school. All action plans will be kept in the health room and a copy will be distributed to the appropriate teachers of lower school students. The student’s paperwork can be updated as needed by the parent and will need to be updated yearly. Updates will be provided to the nurse. 8. If epinephrine (EpiPen Auto-Injectors or similar devices) are required in the event of an allergic reaction, parents are required to supply at least 1, 2-pack Auto-Injector to the school. 9. EpiPen Auto-Injectors for Lower School students will be kept in the individual student’s classroom and carried by the teacher/assistant in a red first aid pack/bag along with pertinent action plans to any areas the class travels to on campus. 10. EpiPen Auto-Injectors for Middle and High school students will be kept in the Middle and High School Health Room as well as in the respective school office. High School students only are able to self-carry. If your HS student is approved to self-carry, a backup 2-pack EpiPen Auto-Injector must also be provided to the health room as well. Self-carry approval is contingent that the backup emergency medication has been provided and stored in the health room. Self-carry privileges may be revoked if a backup supply is not provided to the respective school office or there is a violation of the EpiPen contract for self-carry. 11. In compliance with the Board of Pharmacy, the EpiPen Auto-Injectors may not be split and must remain in the 2- pack to insure availability should 1 injector malfunction or a second dose is needed.

12. If EpiPen Auto-Injector(s) and required paperwork have not been provided in the case of a student with a life threatening allergy, the student may be withheld from attending an off campus event. If EpiPen Auto Injector(s) are not provided, Carmel Christian School reserves the right to withhold your child from attending an off campus event in the best interest and safety of your child. 13. Student Athletes - It is the parent and student’s responsibility to inform athletic trainer and coaches of all allergies. If an EpiPen is needed, the student will be required to have one on hand for all practices and games, home and away. It is our goal to make sure that all students are safe while traveling with school sports teams; therefore, it is essential for parents of students with allergies to provide all emergency medication that is needed. A contract to self-carry an EpiPen is provided through the Health Room. 14. Fine Arts - It is the parent and student’s responsibility to inform the fine arts director, teacher or other staff member involved with the after school activity of their known allergy. If an EpiPen is needed, the parent must provide a separate medication to have on hand for all fine arts practices, rehearsals and productions. The medication must accompany paperwork completed by the treating physician and a self-carry contract. All paperwork needed is provided through the Health Room. 15. Self-Carried Medications for High School Students only: a) In accordance with North Carolina General Statute § 115C-375.2, students requiring medication for anaphylactic reactions may self-medicate with physician authorization and parent permission at the discretion of the school nurse and/or principal. Prior to self-medicating, a Medication Authorization Form, Allergy Action Plan, and a Student Agreement for Self-Carried Medication Form must be on file in the respective school office and in the health room. b) The school nurse will confirm physician authorization indicating student competence in self-administration of the prescribed medication. c) Any student wishing to self-carry an EpiPen Auto-Injector must meet with the school nurse PRIOR to the start of school, or prior to requesting self-carry, to sign off on the self-carry contract, skills and responsibility check. It is the parent’s responsibility to schedule this meeting prior to their child self-carrying any emergency medication. d) If a student is approved for self-carry, a second 2-pack EpiPen Auto-Injector must also be provided to the respective health room. Self-carry approval is contingent that the backup EpiPen has been provided and stored in the school’s health room. Self-carry privileges may be revoked if a backup EpiPen Auto-Injector is not provided to the respective school office. e) A student may lose the privilege to self-carry if they share medicine with another student or use the medication to threaten or harm another student or staff member. f) Students who self-carry are independent in the management of their medication. 16. School nurses will provide yearly food/insect sting allergy and anaphylaxis training for identified CCS employees during school in-service prior to students being on campus. This training will include information on how to recognize an allergic reaction/anaphylaxis and respond appropriately. 17. Fields Trips, Bus Travel - When students are allowed to bring snacks for consumption while traveling on trips (field trips, sports, retreats, etc.), students will be encouraged not to bring snacks containing nuts. If snacks are provided by the school, such snacks will be nut-free. 18. Like regular teachers, substitute teachers will be trained regarding EpiPen use. Substitute teachers will be provided information about students in their class (es) with allergies. Additional Parent/Student Responsibilities: 1. Parents of students with allergies must make the school aware of their child’s condition via communication with the school nurse(s), as well as indicating it on the school’s required emergency form and health information form. A medication authorization form and food/insect sting allergy care plan signed by the parent and physician is required. Parents may be asked to provide additional information from a physician, if needed, to help clarify the matter. All paperwork and information must be provided prior to the first day of school.

2. If epinephrine (EpiPen Auto-Injectors or similar devices) are required in the event of an allergic reaction, parents are required to supply EpiPen Auto-Injector(s) according to guidelines above. 3. It is the family's’ responsibility to be sure the EpiPen Auto-Injector is within its expiration date. 4. Parents are responsible for educating their children about managing their allergy at school and reinforcing that the student should ask for help if unsure about choosing safe foods at school and proper hand washing and table cleaning if applicable. 5. If parents are uncertain about possible exposure to allergy-causing foods, they should provide snacks, treats, and lunches for their student. In Elementary School, an allergy-free class supply of snacks/treats should be provided to teachers/respective office to have on hand in the event there is a questionable class treat. 6. Parents may be asked to supply extra “wipes” and other materials, as needed, to the classroom teacher or school for the cleaning of students’ hands and/or desks and tables if that is a part of the requested/necessary procedures. Additional School Nurse Responsibilities: 1. The school nurse(s) will provide yearly food allergy and anaphylaxis training to identified school employees prior to the start of school. 2. The school nurse(s) will provide red class bags to Elementary School classrooms that have severe allergy students. The red bags should be carried throughout campus with the class. The bag will hold any emergency medications that must be readily available for life threatening allergy students with the appropriate physician and parent signed allergy action plan. A class supply will only be provided if there is a backup emergency medication supply in the respective office/clinic. 3. The school nurse(s) will prepare field trip bags for classes that will contain first aid supplies and all emergency medications and paperwork that must accompany students on field trips held during school hours. Student Services: Pathways Pathways is a student-focused ministry that offers a variety of services to support students and their families. The prayerful mission of Pathways is to provide assistance to students and help them succeed to the fullest extent possible through long term and short term processes. Such services are offered through an extension of the curriculum and via before and after-school activities. How these goals are prayerfully and intentionally accomplished? First: Pathways understands that student growth is measured over time. Assistance is available to any student who may be demonstrating difficulty with grade level academic tasks or overall classroom performance. Consultation and collaboration occurs with all stakeholders who impact the student in their educational journey at CCS. Recommendations may be made, upon occasion, for outside formal psycho-educational, medical, speech and language, occupational therapy, or other pertinent testing that may beneficial to the student. If the team determines that testing is not needed during the current review process, consultation and collaboration may continue to help the student achieve a greater level of success. If student progress is not made with this additional support, additional testing recommendations may be revisited. If assessment occurs and when applicable, service plans are developed and initiated to meet individual student needs. Such plans include establishing appropriate accommodations and interventions, which are created from input gained during the assessment process. Information from staff members in each school (elementary, middle and high) is gathered, and family input is considered. If age appropriate, accommodations are established for CCS standardized testing and through the College Board. Constant collaboration and monitoring continues among all stakeholders to help students succeed. During the intervention process, trained academic specialists work diligently to improve student performance and meet academic needs, through research based instructional methodology and constant data review. The latest assistive technology tools and apps are also utilized whenever appropriate. Second: Pathways works with each division to serve students who may become eligible for advanced curriculum programming through Advanced Seminars, which are offered to students in Grades 3-8 based upon established criteria. These criteria may include, but are not limited to: a cumulative review of academic records and standardized testing, past and present teacher input, outside psycho-educational assessment, and a review of other documentation when available. Services for these students

are uniquely provided by the grade level as an extension of the learner outcomes, through a subject area class, or through small group opportunities based upon student interest and aptitude. In this way, qualifying students may truly excel with their individual gifts and talents. Third: Pathways works indirectly with each principal and the Counseling Center Staff at Carmel Baptist Church to refer or assist students who may benefit from counseling services. Fourth: Pathways serves international students who may be limited in their skills in the English language upon their admittance into our high school International program. Vocabulary review, accommodations to the curriculum, and inclusion in the Charlotte culture are the main goals of these support services. Fifth: Pathways serves students with instructor-led standardized test preparation, school tutoring, cognitive support, social skills practice or group participation, and other specialized training modules. Such classes may be offered before or after school. These services are prayerful and intentional and designed to obtain a specified goal. Parent/Teacher Conferences for Pathways Students All parents/guardians of students served through intervention sessions in Pathways will be provided with an academic specialist, who will serve as a case manager to the family throughout the school year. The academic specialist will update each individual service plan to provide services to each student. This meeting may be conducted through an in-person conference, telephone correspondence, or other internet-based meeting exchange. Additional conferencing will be held in October during the school Parent/Teacher conference week. Once conferences have occurred and updates have been completed, documentation will be submitted to families reflecting student progress made each quarter. These reports will be released within one week of the student's posted quarterly report card. Additional meetings may be scheduled at request of the student, parent, teacher, Pathways academic specialist, or other administrator. Conferences may also be held, as needed, for students participating in Advanced Seminars. These conferences will include the Advanced Seminars teacher, general classroom teacher, and family. For students with accommodation plans not receiving direct intervention though a case manager through individual sessions, review, feedback and revisions to the accommodation plan will be conducted by the Director's office, with input from the family and student, when appropriate. Intervention and accommodation plans may be updated throughout the school year based upon changing student needs. A copy of these changes will be sent to each family for review before revisions are made final. Pathways believes that the partnership between Christian families, students and teachers is a critical component in the success of a student. Pathways abides by the Carmel Christian School Philosophy of Partnering with Christian Parents. Should a family and Pathways arrive at a place where the partnership is in dispute, Pathways reserves the right to nullify the contract and refer the student file for review to the appropriate principal. Pathways is blessed and grateful to serve students, families, and teachers, throughout each child's unique educational journey at Carmel Christian School. All Pathways services are provided at an additional fee. Contact the Pathways office for more information. School and Family Communication Communication with our parents is very important. We provide several avenues to keep in touch with you throughout the year. The information below is detailed and relevant. Please take the time to read carefully. Please email the Communications Department with questions. School Contact Information Email: Carmel staff emails are always: last name, first [email protected] (no punctuation; ex: [email protected]) Website: carmelchristian.org Telephone: 704-849-9723, Option 2; Fax: 704-847-9908 Address: 1145 Pineville-Matthews Road, Matthews, NC 28105 Website/Social Media Our website is designed primarily for prospective parents desiring more information about Carmel. There is a staff listing under the About tab. Carmel Parent is a password protected page where parents will find links to forms, current information about activities, the school lunch menu, school division links with absence and early dismissal notification forms and more. The links will be active the first day of school. You may wish to make carmelchristian.org your home page. This process is easy and can be done through your

browser. Follow Us Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarmelChristianSchool; Twitter: www.twitter.com/@CarmelCougars; Instagram: www.instagram.com/carmelchristiancougars Carmel Parent This is the first place parents should go to find information and links. Carmel Parent is a password (carmelccougars) protected web page where parents will find links to forms, current information about activities, lunch menu, school division (ES, MS, HS) links with absence and early dismissal notification forms and more. The links will be active by the first day of school. Carmel Weekly eNews This communication for parents contains important news they need to know about campus happenings. This is a separate email list and is not connected to the ParentsWeb/FACTS contact information. If your email address changes once school begins, you must immediately update your profile on the footer of any previous eNews email. Those who receive this email have the option to subscribe and unsubscribe. At least one parent should receive the weekly emails. Many grandparents and friends subscribe to our eNews so they can keep up with news and events at CCS. ParentsWeb Parents will find grades, report cards, schedules, lunch and FACTS account information. Be sure to keep information updated. Teachers and staff will use this information to communicate with parents. ParentsWeb. Questions: [email protected] NOTE: It is the responsibility of parents to keep these TWO email lists (ParentsWeb and Weekly eNews) updated with any changes. Posting or Distributing Materials on Campus Materials for clubs, activities, and sports are to be posted or distributed only in approved locations. All material to be posted or distributed must be approved through the appropriate principal’s office. Parents and students must follow this policy. School Calendar Our goal is to provide parents with the most up-to-date information. The school calendar is web-based and will be housed on Carmel Parent and on the website homepage (at the bottom of the page or drop down under Campus Life). Dynacal is our calendar program. My Dynacal Calendars For easier management by parents, the school calendar has been divided into sub-calendars or "featured calendars." Each calendar has a brief description at the top describing what events are on the calendar. When viewing the calendar on the website, “featured calendars” are on the left sidebar. The “All School Calendar” is the main calendar with information about school-wide events, holidays, early dismissals and more. Division calendars (Elementary, Middle, or High) have division specific events. To create a My Dynacal account. Click here to see step-by-step PDF instructions. There is a flash tutorial once you begin. Athletic teams use this feature as well for game and practice schedules. Teacher Classroom Webpages Elementary School teachers will communicate classroom information via their webpages through ParentsWeb. Middle School teachers will communicate classroom information via email and ParentsWeb. In high school, teachers invite parents to receive summaries from Google Classroom. This invitation comes via email from a teacher near the beginning of the student’s ninth grade year (or first year at CCS). Once a parent has joined Google Classroom, the access is automatically available every year of high school. Social Media/Online Behavior Student Online behavior that is illicit, immoral, illegal and/or reflects adversely on Carmel could subject the student to immediate suspension or expulsion. The administration reserves the right to interpret all matters of online behavior.

Faculty/Staff At Carmel Christian School, it is our policy that our faculty, staff and coaches do not “follow” or “friend” students on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Exceptions: • Faculty & Staff who are also CCS parents may “friend” CCS students associated with their children via social media to the degree that is appropriate while acting in a parental capacity (i.e.: following social media accounts for monitoring purposes ONLY). No school-related information should be communicated via this platform. • Faculty & Staff who engage with CCS students in church youth ministry may “friend” or “follow” those specific CCS students via social media to the degree that is appropriate while acting in a youth worker capacity. No school-related information should be communicated via this platform. • Varsity Coaches may “friend” or “follow” students who are on their team(s) for the purpose of mentoring student athletes who are being recruited by colleges. Written permission from a parent or guardian must be provided to the coach and kept on file in the athletic office. CCS Employee (Faculty/Staff/Coach) - SMS/Instant Messaging (IM) Communication with Students Electronic communication with Carmel students should be limited to e-mail sent from Carmel Christian email accounts, ParentsWeb/Google classroom pages and the GroupMe App for teams, clubs, etc. Business Office Curriculum Materials and Usage Carmel has in place a regular Textbook Review Cycle. Curriculum and textbooks for all subjects are reviewed by the Curriculum Director and a faculty review committee. If deemed necessary by this committee of professional educators, recommended changes are approved by the Associate Head of School and implemented by the principal. Each student rents textbooks and non-issued materials for curriculum programs through tuition. Care should be taken in the use of these books so that they can be used from year-to-year. Students will be charged to replace any textbooks, workbooks, or materials that are damaged. All charges must be paid before report cards will be issued. Lunch Accounts Students may bring their lunch or purchase a lunch in the cafeteria. They may make cash purchases in the cafeteria (please send cash or check in sealed envelope with child’s name on the envelope) or use their FACTS prepay lunch account, set up automatically at enrollment. Each student has a lunch account that will be activated when you make your first deposit, in any amount you choose. A student lunch or a la carte purchase will be deducted from the student lunch account as your child comes through the line on a daily basis. When your child’s account drops below $5.00, you will be notified. This notification from FACTS tells you that it is time to make a deposit to keep your student’s prepay lunch account current. Students will not be permitted to charge his/her lunch if the balance becomes negative. Report Cards and Transcripts When necessary, report cards and student transcripts will be held by the school due to non-payment of family accounts. Student Insurance Carmel has purchased a student accident insurance plan that will provide up to $25,000 of medical coverage for any injuries sustained by a student during school. The insurance is an excess policy that supplements any medical insurance that a family currently has, meaning that it would provide reimbursement for co-pays and/or deductibles or any other costs not covered by a family’s insurance. For those individuals without health insurance, it will provide first dollar coverage up to $25,000. Coverage includes any injuries sustained during travel to and from school, during school and associated field trips. Your child will be automatically enrolled in this insurance program so there will not be any need for an application. We are pleased to provide this policy for our students and although we certainly hope all of our students have an injury free year, we have comfort knowing that a student’s basic insurance needs will be supplemented or covered to a reasonable degree. In order to process a claim, please contact the Business office. Development Support Carmel Christian School “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” II Corinthians 8:7

The Grace of Giving embodied by the CCS community fuels a challenging Christ-centered educational experience for families, friends, faculty/staff, grandparents, and alumni and cultivates a community of academic excellence, artistic expression and athletic distinction, marked by intentional discipleship. All school-wide fundraising efforts support one of the following purposes: • Annual Fund: Supports CCS students and programs by providing enhancements that are not otherwise covered by tuition. • Capital Campaigns: Held periodically to fund specific facility improvement or expansion needs to support the CCS mission Gifts to Carmel Christian School are received through Carmel Education Foundation (CEF), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization created to support the students and programs of Carmel Christian School. When you support CCS, you demonstrate your commitment to the mission of Carmel Christian School. CCS Annual Fund The Annual Fund exists for the benefit of all CCS students and programs. This fund bridges the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of a Carmel Christian education, allowing us to fulfill our mission while maintaining a competitive tuition structure. Programs supporting the Annual Fund include: • The Carmel Fund (top fundraising priority in which we encourage full parent participation) • CCS Golf Classic • CCS Online Auction • Corporate Partner Program • Boosterthon Fun Run CCS Capital Campaigns The Carmel Family is participating in the $21 million Cultivate Campaign to provide funding for the new facility. Carmel Christian has a $10.4 million commitment to this project. Families are encouraged to prayerfully consider a gift to the building fund to empower daily discipleship at Carmel Christian School. Student Fundraising Fundraising activities at Carmel Christian School must be approved by the Head of School. The CCS School Board is made aware of all fundraising activities and they are coordinated through the CCS Development Office. CCS Students and Families will not be permitted to sell items or promote personal charitable endeavors to the CCS community other than those deemed for the benefit of Carmel Christian School by the Development Office. The Development Office is committed to maintaining a manageable number of programs to avoid continual requests to our families and friends of the school throughout the year. Technology & Related Policies Personal devices such as laptops, cell phones, and tablets, are not allowed for grades K-8 during school hours. School owned devices are provided for these grades. Chromebooks are the only devices used in 9th – 12th grades for our one-to-one program. Cell phones in HS are allowed with restrictions. All other devices, including laptops, tablets, and smart watches are not allowed in 9th-12th grades. No earbuds are allowed unless they are required during class time. eReader Policy In an effort to promote an ever-increasing love of reading, CCS will allow students, grades 2-12, to bring eReader devices to school for the purpose of reading extracurricular books, including Accelerated Reader books. Some students may find that this will help them in their AR goal of reading 30 minutes each day. eReaders are not required in any class. You will have a choice to bring eReaders to school within the following guidelines: • Students may bring to school any eReader that does not have camera capabilities, devices such as Kindle or Nook • Cell phones, iPads and Apple watches will not be considered as an eReader • Wi-Fi and cellular data must be disabled • Only appropriate content, images and language should be stored on the eReader • Games and music are not appropriate for school • Carmel Christian School reserves the right to determine appropriate eReader content • Carmel Christian School is not responsible for damage to, or loss of, any student's eReader device

• Label your eReader with child’s name General Technology Usage Guidelines for Students and Parents Student use of computers is restricted to educational pursuits at all times. Students are permitted to check their school e-mail accounts during the school day. Students in grades 9-12 are restricted to sites that are free from profanity, vulgarity, nudity, and violence at all times. All students will be required to sign the Computer Usage Policy Agreement. Social media, Facebook (and similar social networking websites), blogs, YouTube and instant messaging are restricted at all times. Visiting these sites could result in the immediate revocation of account privileges. Using computers and the Internet at Carmel Christian School is a privilege. The misuse of these privileges will result in the loss of account access. Loss of this account could affect a student’s ability to complete assignments at school. It will be the student’s responsibility to determine how to continue completing assignments without an account. These privileges will NOT be used to: • Visit websites that are not school related during the school day. • Play or create any games unless they are part of a class assignment. • Visit any websites that are violent, pornographic, or degrading to others. • Use social media or instant messaging at any time while at school. Any questions about your privileges should be directed to the high school administration. CCS filters Internet access; any attempt to bypass the filter for any reason will result in the revocation of privileges. Any inappropriate activity should be reported to a member of the faculty immediately. If a student inadvertently reaches a website that is inappropriate, that student should promptly inform a faculty member. Using a Computing Device - Technology Guidelines for Students and Parents Technology Health Tip Sheet for Parents The average child in the high school now spends an average of 7 hours a day using computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic devices. As screen and electronics time increases, time spent on exercise and family activities typically decreases. An increase in screen time has been shown to be linked to an increase in obesity rates. What you can do to help keep your child safe and healthy as he or she ventures into this new world of electronic education:

• Limit the amount of time that your child is using the computer/tablet/smartphone outside of schoolwork. The AAP recommends limiting total screen time to 2 hours daily. • Be aware of what your child is using the computer/tablet/smartphone for. Know what Internet sites he is visiting and what he is doing on those sites. • Keep the bedroom as a screen free area. No televisions, tablets, cell phones or computers need to be in a child’s bedroom, especially at night. • Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise daily. • Above all, talk with your child. Discuss what she is doing with their new computer/tablet/smartphone and discuss things that have absolutely nothing to do with computers. Just talk! Students must: Respect and protect your own privacy and the privacy of others. • Use only assigned accounts. • Keep personal information such as: name, address, phone number, etc., offline. • Keep passwords secret. • Have permission to photograph or videotape other individuals and to subsequently post these images or videos to the Internet. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources. • Observe all network security practices. • Conserve, protect, and share these resources with other students and Internet users. • CCS is not responsible for damages to personal digital technologies or electronic communication devices. • Treat digital technologies with care, report any damages, security risks or violations to a teacher or administrator. Respect and protect the copyrighted/intellectual property of others.

• Cite all sources appropriately. • Follow all copyright laws. • Use electronic communication devices appropriately to assure academic integrity. Respect and practice the principles of community. • Communicate only in ways that are kind, responsible, respectful and lawful. • Use electronic communication devices for schoolwork only. • CCS email should be used for schoolwork only. • Report threatening or offensive materials to a teacher or administrator. Caring for the Computing Device • The computing device is issued by the school and all users will follow this policy and the CCS Responsible Use Policy. • Students should use the device assigned to them and not lend their device to others. • The serial number must remain on the device. • Students are responsible for the general care of the computing device issued by the school. • Only use a clean, soft cloth to clean the screen, no cleansers of any type. • Cords and cables must be inserted carefully into the computing device to prevent damage. • Computing devices must never be left in an unlocked locker, unlocked car, unsupervised area or in extreme temperatures (hot and cold). • Students are responsible for keeping the computing device’s battery charged for school each day. • Do not place books or other items on top of the device. • Do not place your Chromebook on uneven surfaces where they might be subject to an accidental fall. • Be careful about leaving your Chromebook on top of blankets, beds, sofas or pillows while on and in use. It needs to “breathe” so that it will not overheat. • Never leave your device unattended. Especially at coffee shops and restaurants with free Wi-Fi. Thieves target these locations. • Do not leave your Chromebook locked in any vehicle in plain sight. Avoiding temptation is a security best practice. • Avoid food and drink around your device. • “Skins” or other personalization must be specifically designed for devices, must be easily removable and must be approved by the school administration. Carrying Computing Devices

• The computing device should always be within the protective sleeve/case when transported. • Carrying cases should not hold other objects. Folders, workbooks, etc. should be kept in a book bag or carried separately to avoid placing excessive pressure and weight on the computing device screen. Screen Care

• Screen damage will occur when pressure is applied to the screen. Users must avoid leaning on the top of the device when closed and placing objects in a book bag that would apply pressure to the screen. • The screen must be cleaned with a dry soft cloth or anti-static cloth. • The computing device must not be bumped against lockers, walls, car doors, floors, etc. as it will break the screen. • Only carry the device by holding the base not the screen. Cyber Safety: Technology Guidelines for Students and Parents Carmel Christian School encourages students to use a variety of technologies to enhance their learning. To ensure the privacy and safety of our students, and to protect data and our resources, we ask parents and students to carefully review policies that have been established for technology use at the school. These include the school’s Acceptable Use Policy and the Technology Guidelines for Students and Parents. These are provided so that the school, parents, and students have a unified understanding of how to use technology as a student at Carmel Christian.

Cyber-Safety Tips Open communication with your child is vital. Your child needs to feel they can come to you if they encounter frightening communications or images. Understand the technology. Open an account yourself, and get your whole family connected. If your child views the program as a way of staying in touch with family, there might be less risk of misuse with friends. • Model good video chat behavior. Show children how to be polite and respectful, and let them know that’s the behavior you expect when they’re video chatting with their friends. • Use privacy settings. Just like other communication tools like Facebook and Snap Chat, Instagram and Twitter most video chat programs come with privacy settings. • No inappropriate activities. You can use parental controls through your Internet provider to restrict what sites your children can visit. • Set time limits. With any online activity, be sure to tell your children how long they will have to engage in these activities. E-Mail and Social Media – Help children stay safer online • Know who your child is communicating with online. • Open a family e-mail account to share with younger children. • Teach your child never to open e-mails from unknown senders and to use settings on IM programs to block messages from people they do not know. • Be aware of other ways your child may be going online – with cell phones, devices, or from friends’ homes or the library. • Tell your child not to share passwords with anyone but you to help avoid identity theft and cyber bullying. • Familiarize yourself with popular acronyms at sites like www.netlingo.com and www.noslang.com Help protect children against inappropriate content • Use the NetSmartz Internet Safety Pledges to set clear guidelines for going online (http://www.netsmartz.org). • Report the sexual exploitation or online enticement of a child to www.cybertipline.com . • Do not fill out a profile without parent review and approval. • Never give out real name, telephone or cell phone number(s), mailing address, or passwords. Giving away personal information can lead to identity theft or worse • Do not post photographs in publicly accessible sites. The settings for ANY social networking profiles should be PRIVATE and new friends are accepted only if they are known to the child AND parent. • Posting pictures online or sending images can have dangerous consequences. • Report Cyber bullying to an adult (Cyber bullying refers to the practice of using technology to harass, or bully, someone else). Electronic (Email) Usage • The primary purpose of the student electronic mail system is for students to communicate with school staff and fellow students to collaborate on school activities. • Students are responsible for good behavior while using school e-mail, just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. • Access to e-mail is given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Access is a privilege – not a right. Access entails responsibility. • Students are responsible for messages sent from their accounts. • Students should not share their passwords. • Students will not use email to bully, harass, or threaten other students or individuals. • Students will not use email to send chain letters, viruses, or hoaxes to other students or staff. • Email accounts are filtered and messages written containing inappropriate language or content will be flagged. • Student email is provided by the school and is school property. CCS reserves the right to archive, monitor and/or review all use of its email system, and users should not have any expectation of privacy in any electronic message created, sent or received on the school’s email system. • Student email accounts will be removed from the system after graduation, leaving the school or disciplinary actions. If necessary, CCS, at its discretion, may close the accounts at any time.

• School accounts are terminated after graduation. Student Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Educational Purpose Students shall use the Internet for educational purposes. Educational purposes include CCS activities and projects or limited high-quality self-discovery activities. The school reserves the right to log, monitor, and review Internet, e-mail, and other network use of each user. This logging, monitoring, and review may be conducted without cause and without notice. Each user agrees and consents to such logging, monitoring, and review and acknowledges that s/he has no right or expectation of confidentiality or privacy with respect to the Internet, e-mail or other network usage. Limitations on Non-Educational Activities Students shall not use the Internet for the following non-educational activities: • Students shall not use the Internet for commercial purposes, defined as offering or providing products or services. • Students shall not use the Internet for purchasing products or services. • Students shall not use the Internet for political lobbying except to analyze legislative measures and communicate their opinion to elected officials via the Internet. • Students are not allowed to “role play” with others on Internet sites. Student Safety

• Students shall not reveal personal contact information about themselves (full name, address, phone number, e- mail, pictures) when using the Internet. • Students shall not agree to meet with someone they have met online without their parent’s/guardian’s approval and participation. • Regular audits of student activity will be recorded. Student Access to the Internet Students shall not access material using the Internet that has been deemed inappropriate for school use. Strict filters are in place which will prevent students from accessing inappropriate material and track any attempts to reach such material. Inappropriate material is defined as: • Dangerous information -- information that, if acted upon, could cause damage or presents a danger of disruption. • Criminal information – information that advocates or condones the commission of unlawful acts including instructions on breaking into computer systems, child pornography, drug dealing, gang activities, etc. • Inappropriate language -- obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, disrespectful, threatening, or inflammatory language; harassment; personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks; or false or defamatory material about a person or organization. • Information that is inappropriate in an educational setting or violates school rules. • Should students accidentally encounter inappropriate material they shall disengage from it immediately and report it to their teacher. • Students shall not access or post defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually-oriented, threatening, offensive, or illegal material on the Internet. • Students shall not download or install any commercial software, shareware, music tracks, or freeware onto computers, network drives or disks. • Students shall not deliberately attempt to disrupt the computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal. • Students shall not read, copy, modify or erase other people's files. • Students should not provide another student with user account information or passwords. • Students should not by-pass or attempt to circumvent network security, virus protection, network filtering, or policies. Student Privacy Students acknowledge that the routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to discovery that they have violated the law or a school policy. Carmel reserves the right to search student files, cache, browsing history and media accounts when there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search would turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or rules of the school.

Plagiarism and Copyright: • Students shall not reproduce copyrighted material without explicit permission. • Students shall not plagiarize. Students shall stay within the bounds of the “fair use doctrine” of US copyright and Trademark Law and must cite the source of information taken from the Internet. The Disciplinary Process Internet access is an educational activity that is considered to be an important component of the educational environment in the preparation of students for life and work in the 21st Century. It is an essential requirement for the completion of assignments. Internet access is being provided to students for an educational purpose only and will be denied, restricted, or suspended as appropriate following due process as follows: Any violations will be handled per the CCS Conduct and Behavior guide. Liability CCS shall not assume responsibility if a student causes harm to another person or organization as a direct result of using the Internet. CCS shall not be responsible for losses sustained by users resulting from the Internet. These losses could involve loss of data, interruption of services, or reliance on the accuracy of information maintained on the system or accessed through the system. Educators and students should make a personal back up of material contained on the computer system. Parents should understand that their child may have accounts created for various educational programs such as Accelerated Reader, BrainPop, Discovery Education, and others. These programs may collect children’s first and/or last name to keep track of individual student learning. Safety & Security The school administration, faculty and staff train to follow the school safety guidelines and emergency management plan to prevent and respond to injuries, incidents, and emergencies. A copy of the evacuation plan is posted in every classroom, office and meeting area throughout the campus. Fire, tornado, and lockdown drills are conducted at regular intervals during the school year. All safety procedures exist in collaboration with all Carmel ministries. A lock down is when the entire Carmel campus is put on alert due to an external or internal emergency or threat to the safety of the campus population. There are two levels of lock down: Yellow Lock Down A Yellow Lock Down is when an authorized person deems that the campus should be on alert, but the emergency or threat is not imminent or definite. The entire campus will be locked and outside activities will cease. Indoor activities will be allowed but outside activity will cease. Red Lock Down A Red Lock Down is when an authorized person deems that the campus population is in immediate danger. The entire campus will be locked and both inside and outside activity will cease. Building access will be fully screened. In the event of a Lock Down Drill, parents will be notified via ParentsWeb notification system. In the event of an actual Lock Down, parents will be notified ParentsWeb notification system as soon as students and staff are safely secured. Students will not be released from CCS for any reason until the “all clear” has been given by appropriate authorities. Parents are asked not to come to the school office during this time; faculty and staff will be occupied doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our students. School Resource Officer Reporting Requirements Faculty and staff shall notify their administrator of any situations involving the following behaviors. If his or her administrator is not available during school hours, the faculty or staff member should notify the SRO verbally and email his or her administrator that same day. Once notified, the administrator shall also notify the Head of School and Executive Director of Finance and Operations in writing or by electronic mail regarding any report made to law enforcement. This notification shall occur by the end of the day in which the incident occurred when reasonably possible but no later than the end of the following day.

Reporting of Illegal Activity Per N.C. law (G.S. 115C-288), when a CCS administrator has personal knowledge or actual notice from school personnel that an act has occurred on school property involving: • assault resulting in serious personal injury, • sexual assault, sexual offense, rape, kidnapping, indecent liberties with a minor, • assault involving the use of a weapon, possession of a firearm in violation of the law, possession of a weapon in violation of the law, or • possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law, the administrator shall immediately report the act to the School Resource Officer (SRO) or, if the SRO is not available, to the local police. ”School property” shall include any space, both inside and outside of the building on our campus, bus, recreational area, or athletic field. The administrator shall also notify the Head of School and Exec. Dir. of Finance and Operations in writing or by electronic mail regarding any report made to law enforcement. This notification shall occur by the end of the day in which the incident occurred when reasonably possible but not later than the end of the following day. Following any report of illegal activity, the school will investigate in conjunction with the police. Regardless of the outcome of the police investigation, involved student(s) may be subject to school consequences up to and including dismissal from school. While the incident is being investigated, school administration may restrict any student(s) reasonably suspected of being involved in the illegal activity from attending school and all extracurricular events. Weapons Prohibited on School Property Per N.C. Law (G.S. 14-269.2) it is illegal for any person knowingly to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any gun, rifle, pistol, or other firearm of any kind on school property or to a curricular or extracurricular activity sponsored by CCS. Likewise, it is illegal for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine, or powerful explosive (as defined in G.S. 14-284.1), any BB gun, stun gun, air rifle, air pistol, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, blackjack, metallic knuckles, razors and razor blades (except solely for personal shaving), firework, or any sharp-pointed or edged instrument except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clips and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction, and maintenance on the school campus or to a curricular or extracurricular activity sponsored by CCS. Such action by a student will be reported to the SRO and/or local police. Threat of Mass Violence at School Per N.C. law (G.S. 14-277.6), it is illegal to communicate a threat of mass violence on educational property. This crime is committed if a person, by any means of communication to any person or groups of persons, threatens to commit an act of mass violence on educational property or at a curricular or extracurricular activity sponsored by a school. “Mass violence” means physical injury that a reasonable person would conclude could lead to permanent injury, including mental or emotional injury, or death to two or more people. Such action by a student will be reported to the SRO and/or local police. Making a False Report Concerning Mass Violence on Educational Property. Per N.C. law (G.S. 14-277.6), it is illegal for a person to make, by any means of communication to any person or groups of persons, a report, knowing or having reason to know the report is false, that an act of mass violence is going to occur on educational property or at a curricular or extracurricular activity sponsored by a school. Such action by a student will be reported to the SRO and/or local police. Cyberbullying Per N.C. law (G.S. 14-458.1(a)(1)(d)), it is unlawful for any person to use a computer or computer network to do any of the following: 1. With the intent to intimidate or torment a minor: a) Build a fake profile or Web site; b) Pose as a minor in: 1. An Internet chat room; 2. An electronic mail message; or 3. An instant message. c) Follow a minor online or into an Internet chat room; post or encourage others to post on the Internet private, personal, or sexual information pertaining to a minor. 2. With the intent to intimidate or torment a minor or the minor's parent or guardian: a. Post a real or doctored image of a minor on the Internet; b. Access, alter, or erase any computer network, computer data, computer program, or computer software, including breaking into a password protected account or stealing or otherwise accessing passwords; or c. Use a computer system for repeated, continuing, or sustained electronic communications, including electronic mail or other transmissions, to a minor. 3. Make any statement, whether true or false, intending to immediately provoke, and that is likely to provoke, any third party to stalk or harass a minor.

4. Copy and disseminate, or cause to be made, an unauthorized copy of any data pertaining to a minor for the purpose of intimidating or tormenting that minor (in any form, including, but not limited to, any printed or electronic form of computer data, computer programs, or computer software residing in, communicated by, or produced by a computer or computer network). 5. Sign up a minor for a pornographic Internet site with the intent to intimidate or torment the minor. 6. Without authorization of the minor or the minor's parent or guardian, sign up a minor for electronic mailing lists or to receive junk electronic messages and instant messages, with the intent to intimidate or torment the minor. Disclosure of Private Images Per N.C. law (G.S. 14-190.5A), a person is guilty of disclosure of private images if all of the following apply: (1) The person knowingly discloses an image of another person with the intent to do either of the following: a. Coerce, harass, intimidate, demean, humiliate, or cause financial loss to the depicted person. b. Cause others to coerce, harass, intimidate, demean, humiliate, or cause financial loss to the depicted person. (2) The depicted person is identifiable from the disclosed image itself or information offered in connection with the image. (3) The depicted person's intimate parts are exposed or the depicted person is engaged in sexual conduct in the disclosed image. (4) The person discloses the image without the affirmative consent of the depicted person. (5) The person obtained the image without consent of the depicted person or under circumstances such that the person knew or should have known that the depicted person expected the images to remain private.

Elementary School Policies Grades K-5

Attendance In consideration for other students and teachers, any student with a fever or any contagious condition is not permitted to be in attendance. Students are expected to attend school daily. If it is known that a student will be absent, parents should notify the school office by 8:30 am by using the grade appropriate link (Elementary School) on your ParentsWeb account. Homework assignments for students can be obtained by emailing your child’s teacher on day 2 of the absence. Homework for students can be picked up after Noon on day 2 of the absence at the school office. Attendance in all classes is crucial to ensure students' comprehensive understanding of the course material. Teachers are committed to working with students who are absent to provide make up work, but make up work cannot compensate for missed instructional time with the teacher. For this reason, we discourage students from being absent for more than 20 days during the school year. Medical absences may be considered as "excused" with a note from a parent or, if necessary, a medical professional. An "excused" absence remains on the student's attendance record, but is marked as "excused" for our records. Should a student exceed the 20 days of absences for any reason, the parent should contact the ES principal to discuss the reasons for those absences and, if necessary, formulate a plan to minimize absences moving forward. Due to missed instructional time, students who miss an excessive number of days may be required to complete some form of summer remediation due to inadequate academic progress. Absences are considered excused or unexcused. Excused absences include: • Parent note stating injury or illness (up to the point of 3 consecutive absences) • Doctor note (Beyond 3 absences) • Dentist note • Counseling appointment • Court appointment • Death in family A coordinated effort between the student and teacher is the best approach for assisting a student to move ahead with his or her peers in the event of an absence. The classroom experience, however, cannot be duplicated and teachers cannot re-teach entire lessons to students during teacher preparation periods or tutorial sessions. Students repeatedly absent from school may not be able to meet the standards for all subjects. Should a student’s absences exceed twenty days, the school administration must consider whether promotion is warranted or whether expulsion is warranted. Per NC law, once a student has been expelled for lack of attendance, the school shall report the student’s expulsion to the local public school compulsory attendance enforcement officials for their immediate follow up. Check-in and Check-out Procedures Early Dismissals Parents may use the online form available on Carmel Parent when your child needs to leave school early. This is designed to notify all necessary staff that your child has an early dismissal. Your student will be ready to leave at the time you submit. If you arrive early for pick-up, you will need to plan to wait for your child to be dismissed at the time you submitted on your form. Please do not ask for an early dismissal after 2:40pm. Most students are preparing to move toward carline after that point. By the time staff can locate students and bring them to the school office, carline has started. Please park in the school parking lot (E) and not in a pick-up lane if you arrive between 12:45-1:15pm, or after 2:15pm, to pick-up for early dismissals. Cars left unattended block carpool lines. Students not picked up by the end of carline will be taken to Extended Day. If one sibling has an after school tutoring session or other event, the other sibling must be picked up from school or they will be sent to Extended Day and parents will be charged. Tardy Policy CCS exists to provide all students the opportunity to be effective communicators, critical thinkers, and collaborative workers. For students to acquire these skills they need to be on time to each class every day. Students are expected to depart from home each morning with enough time to allow for potential delays.

Any Elementary School student arriving after 8:15 am for their school should report to the main school office. Students must be accompanied by a parent in order to check-in. If you know that your child will be late to school or be picked up early, you may complete the Early Dismissal/Late Arrival Form for Elementary School to notify the school office. Family Trips In the case of a family trip outside of the school calendar vacation days, students are expected to keep up with all classroom assignments that are posted on class FACTS (Renweb) and/or class websites. These absences are counted toward the twenty absences per year. Academic Policies Grades Communication - Parent/Teacher It is expected that there will be close home/school communication at all times. Should any concern arise, please e-mail the classroom teacher to arrange a conference. It is through close communication that CCS can assure the best education for each child Parent Teacher Conferences – Elementary School At the end of the first quarter, time has been set aside for Elementary School parent teacher conferences. Parents are expected to meet with their child’s teacher during that time. Elementary School teachers will assign times for parent conferences. Please refer to the school calendar on the CCS Website for dates. Biblical Integration All teachers integrate Biblical principles with their teaching in all subjects taught at CCS. All subjects are to be taught in a manner consistent with Scripture. Elementary School Curriculum Elementary School students study Bible, Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science. The writing and reading program of grades K-2 is incorporated into all areas of the curriculum. The Shurley Grammar program is used in grades 3-5. Grades 3-5 take a standardized assessment called CTP4 in the spring. Specials classes include: Art, Spanish, Music, Science Lab, Computers, Strings, Media Center and Physical Education. During fifth grade, students take band or chorus and can audition for the 5th Grade musical. Chapel is held weekly. Bible class is not held on Chapel day. Fourth and fifth grade students receive a Student Planner. This planner is used to record daily homework and projects. The Student Planner is the definitive resource for all classroom assignments in grades 4 & 5. Extra Credit Grades Teachers, at their discretion may give extra credit opportunities, but extra credit at the end of the quarter is not allowed. Homework Reading at an individualized and appropriate level is always beneficial to a student’s academic growth; therefore, reading assignments will still be given to students on a regular basis. Math fact proficiency is also an important and valuable skill that often takes time outside of the school day for students to master. Bible verse study and memorization is important for students as they learn to hide God’s word in their hearts. Teachers will make every effort to provide time during the school day for Accelerated Reading, Reflex Math (math facts program) and Bible verse recitation; however, these are also expected to be worked on at home during the week and/or on the weekends. Grades K-2 will focus homework assignments on memorizing math facts, Bible verses and spelling words and reading (through specific assignments for K and through the Accelerated Reading program for grades 1-2). Additional assignments may be given when the teacher is able to make assignments fun and engaging or as it relates to a specific topic of study that needs parental guidance (i.e.: projects). Homework for K should not exceed 10 minutes per day (not including reading). Homework for grades 1- 2 should not exceed 20-30 minutes per day (not including reading). Grades 3-5 will focus homework assignments on memorizing math facts, Bible verses and spelling words and reading (through the Accelerated Reading program) and studying for tests in core subjects. Sometimes teachers will use the “flipped classroom” to give students an opportunity to learn new material at home by watching a video so that the majority of the hands-on learning can occur in the classroom with guidance from and supervision by the teacher. Additional assignments may be given when the teacher is able to make assignments fun and engaging or as it relates to a specific topic of study that needs parental guidance (i.e. projects). Homework in grade 3 should not exceed 30-40 minutes (not including AR reading) and homework in grades 4-5 should not exceed 45-60 minutes (not including AR reading).

Elementary School homework is posted on teacher web pages and/or in FACTS (RenWeb). Absence from school for illness does not excuse a student from his/her responsibility for assignments in and out of class. Homework During Holidays It is the policy of CCS to view long breaks such as fall, Christmas and spring breaks as time to be spent with family. Projects and other large homework assignments should not be given to students to work on during these days off from school. Standards and expectations for Elementary School include: • Students should bring appropriate books and supplies to class. • Homework is to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day it is assigned. • Student must record his/her homework daily (4th& 5th graders in the student planner). The student planner is the definitive resource for classroom assignments. • Homework will count as part of every student’s grade. Each teacher has an individual method for weighting and grading homework and will clearly define the system in his/her course syllabus. • Students may not copy homework. • Homework, projects or assignments that are late may be given a reduced grade at the discretion of the classroom teacher. Grading System – Elementary School Kindergarten – Second Grade The following grading and report system is used: 1 = Exceeds grade level expectations 2 = Meets grade level expectations. 3 = Inconsistently meets grade level expectations 4 = Does not meet grade level expectations Major areas evaluated are: Language Arts, Bible, Mathematics, Handwriting, Social Studies, and Science. Social growth, self- discipline and work habits are also evaluated. Third Grade through Fifth Grade: The following grading and report system is used: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 0-59 F The core areas evaluated are: Language Arts, Bible, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. “Specials” are those classes that enhance the core classes, as well as the overall educational experience. Make-up Work Grades Students are responsible for all work missed during any absence. Parents should check the class website or FACTS (RenWeb) for missed assignments. A student will have one day for every day missed to complete work assigned during the absence. Assignments that are due on a day a student was absent must be submitted the day the student returns to avoid a reduction in grade. Students may receive reduced grades for work not turned in within the makeup time frame. Pre-announced tests or quizzes which have been scheduled on the day of the student's return from an absence must be taken. The only exception would be if a teacher has provided prior approval for the student to reschedule. If a student returns to school on the day a major project is due or test is scheduled to occur, the student is expected to complete the assignment/test that same day. If it is known that a student will be absent, parents should contact the school office by 8:30 am by submitting the Student Absence form on ParentsWeb. Parents are invited to call the school office after 8:30 am on the second day of a prolonged student absence if books from school are needed to help their child keep up with assignments. Specific questions for teachers can also be sent via e-mail.

Students who miss school because of prolonged illness need to have a doctor's excuse on file so that missed assignments may be completed without penalty. A plan may be formulated to allow the student to mitigate any loss in academic progress in the class, if possible. When a prolonged illness is documented by a physician, the principal will make the final determination as to whether or not a student has successfully completed an appropriate number of days to warrant promotion to the next grade level or whether summer remediation is necessary. Report Cards and Weekly Grades There are four quarters during the year. Report cards will be posted on FACTS (RenWeb) at the end of the first through third quarters. All fourth quarter report cards are posted on the parent page of ParentsWeb for two weeks in June and/or when the financial account is paid in full. One week after report cards have been posted, all grades are considered final. Each week, grades are posted on FACTS (RenWeb). Familiarize your student(s) with the grading scale and encourage them to keep track of their grades as the grading period progresses. Help them to understand that their day-to-day performance determines their grades, positively or negatively. Parents should not be surprised by end-of-quarter grades as grades are posted weekly. Students who receive Pathways services, (not including subject tutoring) will receive progress reports at the end of every quarter; progress reports are based on individual areas of monitoring and not necessarily grade level material. Standardized Testing Grades 2-5 Nationally Referenced Standardized Testing - CTP4 (ERB) In the spring, (see school calendar), students in grades 3–8 will complete comprehensive testing using the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Comprehensive Testing Program. CTP4 evaluates English and Math content areas. The testing is done in order to help gauge the school’s use of curriculum, as well as to help identify areas that are problematic for students, so that teachers may effectively assist their students. Carmel Christian School uses a standard norm based on comparable schools nationwide. This standard is higher than most nationally normed tests. WrAP Testing, Grade 4 The ERB WrAP test includes all five common modes of discourse in writing as recognized by The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): • Narrative writing—the student tells a story or relates an incident or experience to entertain or to illustrate a point. • Informational writing—the student portrays a person, place, or event with specific and well-chosen details to create a clear impression. • Expository writing—The student clarifies or defines various points of view, positions, or possible courses of action as viable solutions to a problematic situation through supporting facts or arguments for each. • Persuasive writing—The student makes the case for a specific course of action or point of view through the marshaling of logical argument and telling facts in support of the recommended action or position. • Critical thinking—the student incorporates higher-order skills to produce writing intended to demonstrate readiness for college credit courses. Promotion Kindergarten Graduation Promotion of students to first grade is determined by satisfactory achievement, developmental readiness and days attended. Students may need to repeat Kindergarten in order to master the material as he/she may not be developmentally ready promotion. Elementary School Promotion of students to the next grade is determined by satisfactory achievement, developmental readiness and days attended. Students may need to repeat a grade in order to master the material as he/she may not be developmentally ready for the next grade. Students may be required to complete summer remediation at an approved location before being promoted. Students may be asked not to return to CCS based upon academic achievement level. Summer Reading Program Students in grades K-5 will be given a suggested reading list (NO PROJECT REQUIRED) and will have the opportunity to participate in our optional summer reading program. See the CCS website, Carmel Parent, for a full list of summer reading options and school supplies.

Student Life Birthdays (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) Birthdays are important to children. Many parents send in special snacks on their child’s birthday (please review Allergy Policy; in ES, desktops are cleaned after each party). Parents should arrange this with their child’s teacher to avoid conflicts. Birthday invitations should be sent by mail and are not to be distributed at school, unless the entire class is invited. Some parents invite an entire homeroom while others invite all the girls or all the boys. There are a number of ways to structure the invitation list, but parents should make sure children are not hurt by being excluded. Parents are encouraged to donate a book to the Media Center in honor of their child’s birthday. Cafeteria (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) A pre-set menu, established at the beginning of the school year, offers students a variety of hot and cold food choices. Students may also bring their lunch to school if they so desire. It is the responsibility of those individuals using the Cafeteria to keep it clean and neat. The school cafeteria cannot guarantee that any menu/food item is allergen free. Students must obey the following rules when using the Cafeteria (Worship Center):

• All food and drink must be eaten in the Cafeteria. Overflow students may eat in the Worship Center, Gathering Space or Gym (middle school). On “C” schedule lunch days, Elementary School classes may eat in their classrooms. Middle school and high school students eat in the Auxiliary Gym. • Students must place all food on a tray or take-out tray when eating. • Students are to remain in a single file line when going through one of the two lines. • Students entering the serving area must exit by the cash register. • Students are not permitted to move tables or chairs in the Cafeteria. • Once students finish eating, they should discard all paper items in the trash receptacles and place trays at the dishwashing station. Plastic bottles should be disposed of in the recyclable bin. • Assigned students are to assist with cleaning tables at the end of each lunch period. • Students may only be in the Cafeteria during their scheduled lunch time. • Students may use closed container water bottles in classrooms. Microwaves are for use by all teachers and students in grades 3-12. Kindergarten-2nd grade students are not permitted to use the microwave ovens because of safety and time constraints. Cell Phones Elementary School ES may not use their cell phones throughout the day. If an ES brings a cell phone to school, it must be turned off and kept in their book bag. Cell phones that make distracting noises even while in a student’s book bag will be confiscated. Parents may reclaim the phone at the end of the day in the ES office. CCS is not responsible for lost, broken or stolen cell phones. Classroom Parties – Elementary School The PTF sponsors three (3) major parties each year: Fall party, Christmas party and Spring party. All celebrations that occur around the traditional calendar holidays will be based on the Biblical significance of each holiday and will not imply the secular connotation given by the world. Please do not bring siblings or young children to parties. Electronic Device Policy There are to be no electronic games, smartwatches, laptops, tablets or any other electronic devices on campus during school hours unless such devices are required for class assignments. If a device is observed during these hours, it will be confiscated and a parent will be required to pick it up in the elementary school office. Students may use phones in the school office, with permission from a teacher or staff member. Students may not use any other telephones located in various offices or workrooms throughout the school campus without permission. Lost and Found All articles of clothing, books, or other materials of unknown ownership should be turned in to the Lost and Found, which is located in each division. Any items not claimed after two weeks will be donated to a local mission or charitable organization.

Media Center Check-out Limits: Grades K-3: One book checked out for one week, one renewal Grades 4-5: Two books checked out at a time for a two week period, 1 renewal Research projects: If a class is working on a research project, the teacher may contact the librarian before and check out a set of books in his or her name for classroom use. If students need additional books due to a project, they may do so with permission from librarian. Students in grades K-4 will receive a bag in which to place their library books. If lost, it is the responsibility of the student and parents to maintain the care of books and items from the media center. Policies: Each CCS student will have a One Access, Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library, account. For more information about One Access, click here. CCS families are encouraged to visit the media center and sign up for a parent account. This will allow parents to check out up to 7 items for 2 week period, with 1 renewal If items are not returned by the end of the school year, a student's final report card may be held until the item is returned. If an item has been lost, a payment for the replacement of the book or a donated book of student's choosing may be accepted in place of the lost item. Parents are responsible for the replacement cost of lost or damaged items. Media center staff cannot be responsible for individual student book selection. If parents want a child to read or not read certain books, series, or authors, they should discuss this with their child before the child’s media center visit. As part of their media instruction, students will often be asked to visit websites or blogs. These sites are safe at the time they are previewed, but because internet content changes quickly, parents are encouraged to participate in this process. Volunteers are welcome and much needed in the media center. Tasks include helping students with book selection, staffing the circulation desk, and shelving books. Volunteers may sign up on the Carmel Media Center website. Volunteers must be parents of students at Carmel Christian School, unless otherwise denoted by the Media Specialist, must complete training with the Media Specialist or Media Center Staff, and must go through the Welcome Desk procedures to gain a visitor pass during CCS school hours. The Carmel Media Center website offers online searchable catalog, access to One Access, as well as Library Guides to projects and classes for students of all grade levels. Snacks (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) All students will have a daily break and snack period. Students should bring the snack. This break time will help the younger students who are adjusting to a new lunch schedule. Students, K-5, are not allowed to use any of the vending machines during the school day. Student Uniform Policy: K-5 General Information Parents are expected to partner with us in their support of the school faculty and staff as we enforce the school uniform policy. Students at Carmel are expected to be neatly and modestly dressed and well-groomed to attend class each day. Carmel Christian School has a uniform policy in grades K-5 for student clothing and student appearance. This policy is designed for modesty, neatness, and to promote school-appropriate attire. Please keep this in mind as you make your clothing selections for school. • For elementary school boys and girls you may purchase pleated or plain front uniform khaki/blue pants or khaki/blue shorts, shoes, socks, tights, and belts from a department store that deals in specific uniform clothing. • All elementary girls must purchase skorts from Lands’ End. Monogrammed red polo’s are required for most field trips for elementary school students. Chapel days or other pre-announced special assemblies require regulation (Chapel) uniforms. • Please note: the CCS school logo is copyrighted and should NOT be given by parents to any vendor for monogramming purposes.

Friday is spirit day at Carmel Christian School. Students are allowed to wear any Carmel Christian School shirt, including special Booster Club purchases, VIP Day shirts, etc. with jeans. All t-shirts must be clean and hole free. Please refrain from wearing Carmel Baptist Church t-shirts from camp, VBS, sports programs, etc. Please remember that only hoodies, jackets and fleece jackets with a CCS logo are to be worn in class during the school day. An approved CCS polo or chapel shirt must be worn beneath any of these items. Plain cardigans (no monogram) in school colors may be worn in the classroom. On Fridays and certain occasions, students are allowed to wear jeans. Styles must be modest, neat and free from holes. Jeans should also be appropriately sized, no “skinny” fit (CCS administration has final say in regard to appropriateness of fit when necessary). Parents may be called to bring appropriate clothing to school at the discretion of the faculty and staff. Please be aware that undergarments, including camisoles, should not be visible at any time. Uniform interpretation is at the discretion of the CCS faculty and staff. If a student continually does not follow the uniform policy, on the third violation the student will no longer be able to attend class until a parent brings a change of clothes. Prohibited Clothing Items The following items are prohibited for students at Carmel Christian School: • Sandals, clogs, “novelty characters,” platform/lug soles, light-ups, shoes designed to make noise, Rainbows (flip flops), or backless shoes. • Girls should not wear wedge or high heel styled shoes to school. They are hazardous in the building and on the playground. • Headbands that cause distraction in the classroom or that can be hazardous on the playground, Please refrain from sending your child to school in headbands that light up, wiggle, have ears or are shaped like unicorns and tiaras. • Hats, caps, bandanas, scarves or head wraps are not permitted. • Visible undergarments. • Girls’ hemlines shorter than two inches above the knee. Jumpers must be longer than shorts worn beneath them. • PE shorts shorter than four inches above the knee. • Students may wear boots during the colder months of school. Parents will be notified when boots are allowed via eNews. • Beginning fall 2018, all older logos (rugged cross and the gold thread CARMEL CHRISTIAN) will not be allowed. Student Appearance Hair should be clean and neat. Extremes in hair length, razor rows, spikes, Mohawks, and nontraditional hair color for all students are inappropriate. Visible tattoos are not appropriate. Earrings on boys are not appropriate for any CCS event. Student appearance guidelines must meet the approval of the CCS administrative staff. Uniform Vendor - Lands’ End All items must be purchased from: Lands’ End, Phone: 800-469-2222, or on their website www.landsend.com/school. Enter the Carmel Christian School code # 9000-4428-0 in the Optional Ordering Instruction field for logo information. * The only exceptions are plain or pleated front khaki/blue pants or shorts, shoes/socks and tights. 5th Grade PE Uniforms may be purchased through the Lands’ End. Please note: the CCS school logo is copyrighted and should NOT be given by parents to any vendor for monogramming purposes. Girls (Grades K-5) Regulation Chapel Uniform - Must be worn on Chapel Day

• White Peter Pan blouse, may have ruffled placket (must be monogrammed if worn with any skort, shorts or pants) • Clear Blue Plaid jumper (Girls should wear bike shorts or leggings under jumpers. Jumpers should always be longer than shorts worn underneath.) • Solid socks, tights or leggings in white, light blue, gray heather, navy or black • Shoes (see description below)

Everyday Uniform Options - May choose/mix-match any day except Chapel Day Tops • White or light blue Peter Pan collar short/long-sleeve blouse, may have ruffled placket • (Must be monogrammed if worn alone with any skort, shorts or pants) • Short/long-sleeve polo in Lands’ End white, red, blue, maize or classic navy. All polo shirts must be monogrammed with school logo. • A monogrammed Red polo is required for field trips. • Plain long sleeved T-s in white, light blue, light yellow, red, or navy may be worn under uniform tops in colder months • Cardigan in Lands’ End white, blue, maize, red or classic navy (available, but not required, from Lands’ End) Bottoms • Skorts in Clear Blue plaid, navy or khaki – see Carmel Christian Elementary School Lands’ End website for style options. All skorts must be purchased from Lands’ End. Skirts are not part of the CCS dress code. All skorts and shorts hemlines should be no shorter than two inches above the knee. • Plain front pants/shorts/Capri’s in navy or khaki (may be purchased from Lands’ End or other uniform vendors) Jumpers • Empire or Drop waist jumper in Clear Blue plaid/khaki/navy. See Carmel Christian Elementary School Lands’ End website for style options. Girls should wear bike shorts or leggings under jumpers. Jumpers should always be longer than shorts worn underneath. Accessories Solid color or patterned (no characters) socks, solid colored (light blue, navy, white, gray heather or black) tights and leggings are allowed. Shoes Students may not wear the following: no squeak/light-up shoes of any kind, sandals or high heels. Boots may be worn only during cold months specified by CCS. Parents will be notified via eNews. Outerwear Options Coats, jackets, vests, fleece tops, etc. must be monogrammed to wear in classroom (many options available on Lands’ End uniform website). *Students MUST wear CCS polo underneath any outerwear garment worn in class – this includes Spirit Wear hoodies and sweatshirts (available through the school store). Girls’ PE Uniform (5th Grade only) PE t-shirt/shorts with school logo are available through Lands’ End. Students who do not dress out for PE will have points deducted from their grade and wear their school uniform for PE class. They may not dress in any other shorts or t-shirts. Friday Uniform Options/Jeans Day Spirit Wear and all other CCS t-shirts may be worn on Fridays with jeans. Spirit wear may be purchased through the CCS School Store including t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts. Additional Jeans Days: Throughout the school year, students may have the opportunity to wear jeans for special occasions. Jeans with holes or “skinny” fit are not allowed. (The school has the final say regarding fit. If deemed necessary, students will call parents to bring appropriate attire.) Boys (Grades K-5) Regulation Chapel Uniform - Must be worn on Chapel Day • White short/long sleeve polo, must be monogrammed • Navy plain front pants/shorts • Blue/black or brown belt (not required for grades K-2) • Navy, white or black socks • Shoes (see description below) Everyday Uniform Options - May choose/mix-match any day except Chapel Day

Tops • Short/long sleeve polo in Lands’ End white, red, blue, maize or classic navy - All polo shirts must be monogrammed with school logo. • A monogrammed Red polo shirt is required for field trips • Plain long sleeved T’s in white, light blue, light yellow, red, or navy may be worn under uniform tops in colder months • Cardigan in Lands’ End white, blue, maize, red or classic navy (available, but not required, from Lands’ End) Bottoms • Pants/shorts, plain front or pleated, navy or khaki • Blue, black or brown belt (not required for grades K-2) Socks Boys may wear patterned socks (no characters) to school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Shoes Students may not wear the following: no squeak/light-up shoes of any kind, sandals or high heels. Boots may be worn only during cold months specified by CCS. Parents will be notified via eNews. Outerwear Options Coats, jackets, vests, fleece tops, etc. must be monogrammed to wear in classroom (many options available on Lands’ End uniform website) *Students MUST wear CCS polo underneath any outerwear garment worn in class – this includes Spirit Wear hoodies and sweatshirts (available through the school store) Boys’ PE Uniform (5th grade only) PE t-shirt/shorts with school logo are available through Lands’ End. Students who do not dress out for PE will have points deducted from their grade and wear their school uniform for PE class. They may not dress in any other shorts or t-shirts. Friday Uniform Options/Jeans Day Spirit Wear and all other CCS t-shirts may be worn on Fridays with jeans. Spirit wear may be purchased through the CCS School store including t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts. Additional Jeans Days: Throughout the school year, students may have the opportunity to wear jeans for special occasions. Jeans with holes or “skinny” fit are not allowed. (The school has the final say regarding fit. If deemed necessary, students will call parents to bring appropriate attire.)

Middle School Policies Grades 6-8

Attendance In consideration for other students and teachers, any student with a fever or any contagious condition is not permitted to be in attendance. Students are expected to attend school daily. If it is known that a student will be absent, parents should notify the school office by 8:30 am by using the Middle School link on your ParentsWeb account. Homework assignments for students can be obtained by emailing your child’s teacher on day 2 of the absence. Homework for students can be picked up after Noon on day 2 of the absence at the school office. Attendance in all classes is crucial to ensure students' comprehensive understanding of the course material. Teachers are committed to working with students who are absent to provide make up work, but make up work cannot compensate for missed instructional time with the teacher. For this reason, we discourage students from being absent for more than 20 days during the school year. Medical absences may be considered as "excused" with a note from a parent or, if necessary, a medical professional. An "excused" absence remains on the student's attendance record, but is marked as "excused" for our records. Should a student exceed the 20 days of absences for any reason, the parent should contact the middle school principal to discuss the reasons for those absences and, if necessary, formulate a plan to minimize absences moving forward. Due to missed instructional time, students who miss an excessive number of days may be in danger of failing a course due to inadequate academic progress. Absences are considered excused or unexcused. Excused absences include: • Parent note stating injury or illness (up to the point of 3 consecutive absences) • Doctor note (Beyond 3 absences) • Dentist note • Counseling appointment • Court appointment • Death in family A coordinated effort between the student and teacher is the best approach for assisting a student to move ahead with his or her peers in the event of an absence. The classroom experience, however, cannot be duplicated and teachers cannot re-teach entire lessons to students during teacher preparation periods or tutorial sessions. Students repeatedly absent from school may not be able to fulfill the requirements of their courses. Should a student’s absences exceed twenty days, the school administration must consider whether promotion is warranted or whether expulsion is warranted. Per NC law, once a student has been expelled for lack of attendance, the school shall report the student’s expulsion to the local public school compulsory attendance enforcement officials for their immediate follow up. Check-in and Check-out Procedures, Early Dismissals Parents may use the online form available on Carmel Parent when your child needs to leave school early. This is designed to notify all necessary staff that your child has an early dismissal. Your student will be ready to leave at the time you submit. If you arrive early for pick-up, you will need to plan to wait for your child to be dismissed at the time you submitted on your form. Please do not ask for an early dismissal after 2:40pm. Most students are preparing to move toward carline after that point. By the time staff can locate students and bring them to the school office, carline has started. Please park in the school parking lot (E) and not in a pick-up lane if you arrive between 12:45-1:15pm, or after 2:15pm, to pick-up for early dismissals. Cars left unattended block carpool lines. Students not picked up by the end of carline will be taken to Extended Day. If one sibling has an after school tutoring session or other event, the other sibling must be picked up from school or they will be sent to Extended Day and parents will be charged. Tardy Policy CCS exists to provide all students the opportunity to be effective communicators, critical thinkers, and collaborative workers. For students to acquire these skills they need to be on time to each class every day. Students are expected to depart from home each morning with enough time to allow for potential delays.

Middle School students should check-in the Middle School Office until 8:15 am, then will need to check-in at the main office. Students must be accompanied by a parent in order to check-in. If you know that your child will be late to school or be picked up early, you may complete the Early Dismissal/Late Arrival Form for your grade level to notify the school office. If a middle school student is tardy to the same class three times in a quarter (three tardies equal one full day absence), a communication will be sent home. Student Tardies (Class-to-Class) Teachers are asked not to detain a student after class so as to cause the student to be late for his/her next class. If there is a legitimate reason for keeping a student after class, the teacher is permitted to write a note to the student’s next teacher. Tests are not to extend into the next class period. Ample time is provided for students to pass from class to class. Students are expected to be prepared for class to begin when the tardy bell rings. Any student who is tardy to class for more than 25 minutes will be counted as absent from that class. A tardy will be excused if (1) the student was detained by the middle school principal or teacher, or (2) the student is late returning from the school office with a note. Parents should note that if they drop off their student on time, it is the responsibility of the student to get to class on time and not be late due to social interaction. An accumulation of three tardies will be marked as one absence from the specified class. Family Trips In the case of a family trip outside of the school calendar vacation days, students are expected to keep up with all classroom assignments that are posted on class websites. These absences are counted toward the twenty absences per year. Academic Policies Communication - Parent/Teacher It is expected that there will be close home/school communication at all times. Should any concern arise, please e-mail the classroom teacher to arrange a conference. It is through close communication that CCS can assure the best education for each child. Parent Teacher Conferences – Middle School At the end of the first quarter, time has been set aside for requested parent teacher conferences. They will be scheduled through the Middle School office at the request of teachers. At any time if parents have a concern they can meet with all or a specified group of teachers. Biblical Integration All teachers integrate Biblical principles with their teaching in all subjects taught at CCS. All subjects are to be taught in a manner consistent with Scripture. Middle School Curriculum Students in the middle school are learning the tools for study skills, organization, and readiness for the rigors of high school. The world of a middle school student is expanding. Their development of curiosity begins to help them with the cultivation of their world view. Bible classes help them see the world around them from God’s perspective and a biblical worldview.

• Language Arts includes the study of literature, incorporating vocabulary study, grammar, and writing into the critical thinking skills necessary for literary analysis. These courses are all honors-level courses. (Advanced Seminar courses are offered to qualifying students in LA at each grade level.) • In 6th grade, students take 6th grade math (honors and Advanced Seminars tracks available for qualifying students) and 7th graders take either Pre-Algebra (honors and Advanced Seminars students only) or 7th grade math. In 8th grade, students may either take Algebra I (honors and Advanced Seminars students only) or Pre-Algebra. Algebra I is a high- school level course, earning credit on the high-school transcript. • Students in middle school study Life (6th), Earth (7th), and Physical Science (8th). Teachers incorporate a hands-on approach and focus on making these areas of science relevant to students’ lives. These courses are all honors-level courses. • The social studies program in middle school begins with Ancient World Cultures in 6th grade and progresses to World Geography in 7th grade and American History in 8th grade. Teachers employ different types of media and instructional strategies in order to make these subjects come alive for the students. These courses are all honors-level courses.

• Bible classes in middle school focus on a walk through the Bible in 6th grade, a study of Proverbs in 7th grade, and a study of living out one’s faith in 8th grade. Students continue to memorize verses within these courses in order to hide God’s word in their hearts. • Spanish in middle school is a yearlong class that meets every other day for 7th and 8th graders. (6th graders have one quarter of Spanish during Rotation, indicated below.) Students who have successfully completed Spanish for 7th and 8th grade may be eligible to place into Spanish 2 in high school and receive credit for Spanish 1 (depending on their performance on the Spanish 1 end-of-course assessment). Electives Students at each grade level will be given the opportunity to choose electives at the end of each school year. 6th grade electives include: art foundations, band, Digital Media, Genesis Dance, STEM (Sports Science), Introduction to Theatre, and Voices of Praise. Every effort is made to give students their first or second choice of elective. 7th and 8th grade electives include: art foundations, band, Broadcast Journalism, Faith in Motion*, Foundations of Fitness, Praise Band*, Sports and Fitness (PE), STEM (Physics Gone Wild), Studio*, and Voices of Praise. Performance-based courses meet on A days for the entire year, and those marked with an asterisk meet daily and require auditions. All other courses meet every other day for one semester. Every effort is made to give students their first or second choice of elective, and 8th grade students have priority placement over 7th grade students. All middle school students are required to take a PE course unless they are involved in an elective that meets daily. Middle school athletes on Carmel teams may also have the PE requirement waived if they choose to do so. Assessments—middle school students should have no more than 3 assessments on one calendar day. These assessments may be a combination of tests and quizzes, but should be no more than 2 tests on one calendar day. Class Rotation Students in 6th grade participate in a “rotation” class that changes each quarter, allowing them to have exposure to more subjects. Rotation courses are as follows: 6th grade—6th grade Life Skills, PE, Spanish, and Technology Sixth-eighth grade students receive a Student Planner. This planner is used to record daily homework and projects. The Student Planner is the definitive resource for all classroom assignments in grades 6 - 8. Middle School House System Each middle school student is assigned to a small discipleship group upon entry into the middle school. These groups are led by the same teacher each year and have students from every grade level in middle school represented. House groups are designed to foster support for one another among the students and will participate in activities throughout the year such as helping one another with time management, team-building activities, devotions, and activities that impact the Carmel community as a whole. Homework Homework provides practice and review of skills taught in class, develops regular habits of self-directed work, neatness, responsibility and self-discipline, and allows optimum use of class time for teaching. Assignments are given regularly and consist of the reading of texts, essays and composition writing, computation and problem solving, written answers and memorization. Written work is expected to be neat and legible. It is also expected that parents will work in the home to reinforce good study habits and self-discipline. If a student is doing poorly, study practices should be reviewed by parents. Parents are asked to refrain from doing the student’s assignments. All homework must be the student’s own work unless otherwise directed by the teacher. Parents are encouraged to keep up to date with their child’s grade by regularly checking grades on ParentsWeb. During middle school, students may devote more of their time to homework. Generally, we don’t want our middle school students to have more than 60 minutes of homework in 6th grade, 70 minutes in 7th grade, and 80 minutes in 8th grade. Much of the homework in middle school is reading for language arts class and math problems for math class. Students will also continue to have verse quizzes in Bible, so verse memorization is still a part of homework for middle-school students. Some middle school teachers also utilize the flipped classroom (mainly science), so a student could have a 10-15 minute flipped video to watch on the lesson for the following day.

A big difference in homework expectations in middle school are long-term projects. Middle school students have a long-term project assigned each year in social studies. 6th graders actually have two projects that span over a period of weeks each, but 7th and 8th graders each have one project that spans several months. Teachers have due dates for individual portions of these projects to help students manage their time and they also allow some class time to work on the projects. No grade is assigned until the project is submitted in its entirety. These projects really help students learn how to manage their time wisely--unwise time management may result in more work being done at home for these projects, but we feel that time management is a valuable skill for our middle school students to learn. Homework During Holidays It is the policy of CCS to view long breaks such as fall, Christmas and spring breaks as time to be spent with family. Projects and other large homework assignments should not be given to students to work on during these days off from school. Standards and expectations for Middle School include:

• Students should bring appropriate books and supplies to class. Book bags should stay in lockers or on hook rails. Students have five minutes to change classes and be prepared to begin the next class. • Homework is to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day it is due. Middle School students will not be allowed to go to the lockers during class time. • Student must record his/her homework daily in the student planner. The student planner is the definitive resource for classroom assignments. • Homework will count as part of every student’s grade. Each teacher has an individual method for weighting and grading homework and will clearly define the system in his/her course syllabus. • Students may not copy homework. This is a violation of the Honor Code. • Homework, projects or assignments that are more than one day late may be given a reduced grade at the discretion of the classroom teacher. Middle School Exams Exams are given twice a year at the end of each semester to all 7th and 8th grade students. 8th grade students take exams in LA and Math classes at the end of each semester. These exams are scheduled during regular class meetings. 7th grade students take Math exams at the end of each semester and LA and Math at the end of 2nd semester. 7th grade exams are scheduled during regular class meetings. 6th grade students do not take exams. Extra Credit Teachers, at their discretion, may give extra credit opportunities. Grading System Personal Accountability and Responsibility The following areas of personal responsibility (tardies, missing homework, and not being prepared for class) will have an impact on the student’s grade in the class in which the offense occurs. Individual teachers will create a process for dealing with these infractions in the classroom setting, approved by the appropriate principal. Specifics of the classroom process will appear on the individual teacher’s syllabus (available on ParentsWeb). Grading System: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 0-59 F The major areas (core classes) evaluated in middle school are Bible, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Elective Courses are graded and reported using the same system. Students receive evaluations based on overall knowledge of subject areas. Tests, essays, projects, journal entries, completion of homework assignments and class participation are all vital parts of the total evaluation. Individual grading procedures are spelled

out in the syllabus provided by teachers at the beginning of the school year. You may contact your teachers by phone or e-mail with specific questions. Honor Roll Middle School students with a 3.5 or greater GPA for a semester will be awarded the distinction of being added to the Honor Roll. This list will be published at the end of each semester. Report Cards and Weekly Grades There are four quarters during the year. Report cards will be posted on ParentsWeb at the end of the first through third quarters. All fourth quarter report cards are posted on the parent page of ParentsWeb for two weeks in June and/or when the financial account is paid in full. One week after report cards have been posted, all grades are considered final. Each week, grades are posted on ParentsWeb. Familiarize your student(s) with the grading scale and encourage them to keep track of their grades as the grading period progresses. Help them to understand that their day-to-day performance determines their grades, positively or negatively. Parents should not be surprised by end-of-quarter grades as grades are posted weekly. Students who receive Pathways services, (not including subject tutoring) will receive progress reports at the end of every quarter; progress reports are based on individual areas of monitoring and not necessarily grade level material. Standardized Testing Grades 6-8 Nationally Referenced Standardized Testing – CTP5 (ERB) In the spring, (see school calendar), students in grades 6–8 will complete comprehensive testing using the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Comprehensive Testing Program. CTP5 evaluates English and Math content areas. The testing is done in order to help gauge the school’s use of curriculum, as well as to help identify areas that are problematic for students, so that teachers may effectively assist their students. Carmel Christian School uses a standard norm based on comparable schools nationwide. This standard is higher than most nationally normed tests. WrAP Testing, Grades 7 The ERB WrAP test includes all five common modes of discourse in writing as recognized by The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): • Narrative writing—the student tells a story or relates an incident or experience to entertain or to illustrate a point. • Informational writing—the student portrays a person, place, or event with specific and well-chosen details to create a clear impression. • Expository writing—The student clarifies or defines various points of view, positions, or possible courses of action as viable solutions to a problematic situation through supporting facts or arguments for each. • Persuasive writing—The student makes the case for a specific course of action or point of view through the marshaling of logical argument and telling facts in support of the recommended action or position. • Critical thinking—the student incorporates higher-order skills to produce writing intended to demonstrate readiness for college credit courses. Duke Tip Program The Duke TIP's 7th Grade Talent Search identifies academically talented 7th graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are then invited to take the ACT or the SAT as 7th graders, which allows them greater insight into their academic abilities. Summer Reading Students in grades 6-8 will have suggested reading. See the CCS website, Carmel Parent, for a full list of summer reading options and school supplies. Summer School Grades Any student not satisfying the necessary promotion requirements may make-up deficient work by attending Summer School, either on the CCS campus if available, or at other approved locations. In order to ensure that students receive credit for courses taken in summer school, students must have approval from the appropriate principal prior to enrolling in any summer school course. Summer sessions offered through the Pathways program may be required for re-enrollment at the discretion of the administration.

Students making below 70 or C- in a mathematics or English course are encouraged to attend Summer School. This will allow for a more successful transition to the next grade level, and allow more time for mastery of content. Students may also attend summer school to reinforce skills and/or for enrichment opportunities. Students may not remove themselves from expulsion status by attending summer school. Promotion Students must pass all core courses in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Eighth graders who fail one or more core courses must make-up the course(s) in summer school to be promoted to the ninth grade. Upon satisfactory completion of the course(s) in summer school, the student may be promoted. Student Life Birthdays (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) Birthdays are important to children. The middle school office recognize student birthdays. Many parents send in special snacks on their child’s birthday (please review Allergy Policy) Parents should arrange this with the MS office to avoid conflicts. Birthday invitations should be sent by mail and are not to be distributed at school, unless the entire class is invited. Some parents invite an entire class while others invite all the girls or all the boys. There are a number of ways to structure the invitation list, but parents should make sure children are not hurt by being excluded. The outside of lockers may be decorated for birthdays. Parents are encouraged to donate a book to the Media Center in honor of their child’s birthday. Cafeteria (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) A pre-set menu, established at the beginning of the school year, offers students a variety of hot and cold food choices. Students may also bring their lunch to school if they so desire. It is the responsibility of those individuals using the Cafeteria to keep it clean and neat. The school cafeteria cannot guarantee that any menu/food item is allergen free. Students must obey the following rules when using the Cafeteria:

• All food and drink must be eaten in the Cafeteria. Overflow students may eat in the Worship Center, Gathering Space or Gym (middle school). On “C” schedule lunch days, Elementary School classes may eat in their classrooms. Middle school and high school students eat in the Auxiliary Gym. • Students must place all food on a tray or take-out tray when eating. • Students are to remain in a single file line when going through one of the two lines. • Students entering the serving area must exit by the cash register. • Students are not permitted to move tables or chairs in the Cafeteria. • Once students finish eating, they should discard all paper items in the trash receptacles and place trays at the dishwashing station. Plastic bottles should be disposed of in the recyclable bin. • Assigned students are to assist with cleaning tables at the end of each lunch period. • Students may only be in the Cafeteria during their scheduled lunch time. • Students may use closed container water bottles in classrooms. Microwaves are for use of all teachers and students in grades 6-8. Cell Phones Middle school students may not use their cell phones throughout the school day. Middle school students who need to make a telephone call during the school day may go to the middle school office and ask to use the school telephone. If a middle school student brings a cell phone to school, it must be turned off and left in the locker. Cell phones that are not turned off and left in the locker during the school day will be confiscated. Parents may reclaim cell phones at the end of the school day in the middle school office. Electronic Device Policy There are to be no electronic games, tablets or any other electronic devices on campus during school hours unless such devices are required for class assignments. If a device is observed during these hours, it will be confiscated and a parent will be required to pick it up in the elementary school, middle school, or high school offices. Students may use phones in the school office, with permission from a teacher or staff member. Students may not use any other telephones located in various offices or workrooms throughout the school campus without permission.

Lockers Students in grades six through eight are provided lockers in which they may keep school supplies and articles of clothing. Articles such as book bags, backpacks, and athletic bags should be placed in the student’s lockers or other designated areas. The lockers are school property and, therefore, should be kept in good condition. Tape should not be used on the lockers. Magnets should be used. The school reserves the right to open and search lockers at any time. Media Center Check-out Limits: Grades 6-8: Two books checked out at a time for a two week period, 1 renewal Research projects: If a class is working on a research project, the teacher may contact the librarian before and check out set of books in teacher's name for classroom use. If students need additional books due to a project, they may do so with permission from librarian. 6th-8th may also have 1 e-book checked out additionally. Policies: Each CCS student will have a One Access, Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library, account. For more information about One Access, click here. CCS families are encouraged to visit the media center and sign up for a parent account. This will allow parents to check out up to 7 items for 2 week period, with 1 renewal If items are not returned by the end of the school year, a student's final report card may be held until the item is returned. If an item has been lost, a payment for the replacement of the book or a donated book of student's choosing may be accepted in place of the lost item. Parents are responsible for the replacement cost of lost or damaged items. Media center staff cannot be responsible for individual student book selection. If parents want a child to read or not read certain books, series, or authors, they should discuss this with their child before the child’s media center visit. As part of their media instruction, students will often be asked to visit websites or blogs. These sites are safe at the time they are previewed, but because internet content changes quickly, parents are encouraged to participate in this process. Volunteers are welcome and much needed in the media center. Tasks include helping students with book selection, staffing the circulation desk, and shelving books. Volunteers may sign up on the Carmel Media Center website. Volunteers must be parents of students at Carmel Christian School, unless otherwise denoted by the Media Specialist, must complete training with the Media Specialist or Media Center Staff, and must go through the Welcome Desk procedures to gain a visitor pass during CCS school hours. The Carmel Media Center website offers online searchable catalog, access to One Access, as well as Library Guides to projects and classes for students of all grade levels. Snacks (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) All students will have a daily break and snack period during House. Students should bring the snack. This break time will help middle school student to release extra energy. Students, 6-8, are not allowed to use any of the vending machines during the school day. Windy Gap Retreat Each year the middle school students travel to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina to start the year strong spiritually and socially. Students hear great Bible teaching from some of the best speakers available. A praise band leads the four worship sessions. And, the students enjoy the best free time events of any camp around: the zip line, the swing, the slide, and much more. New students meet new friends. The Windy Gap retreat is a great way to start the school year. Student Uniform Policy: 6-8 General Information Parents are expected to partner with us in their support of the school faculty and staff as we enforce the school uniform policy. Students at Carmel are expected to be neatly and modestly dressed and well-groomed to attend class each day. Carmel Christian School has a uniform policy in grades 6-8 for student clothing and student appearance. This policy is designed for

modesty, neatness, and to promote school-appropriate attire. Please keep this in mind as you make your clothing selections for school. • Middle school students may purchase khaki/navy plain front uniform pants, knee length shorts and Capri’s from department stores that deal in uniform clothing. • All middle school girls must purchase skorts from Lands’ End. Monogrammed red polo’s are required for most field trips for middle school students. Chapel days or other pre-announced special assemblies require regulation (Chapel) uniforms. • Please note: the CCS school logo is copyrighted and should NOT be given by parents to any vendor for monogramming purposes. Friday is spirit day at Carmel Christian School. Students are allowed to wear any Carmel Christian School shirt, including special Booster Club purchases, VIP Day shirts, Windy Gap (MS only), etc. with jeans. All t-shirts must be clean and hole free. Please refrain from wearing Carmel Baptist Church t-shirts from camp, VBS, sports programs, etc. Please remember that only hoodies, jackets and fleece jackets with a CCS logo are to be worn in class during the school day. An approved CCS polo or chapel shirt must be worn beneath any of these items. Plain cardigans (no monogram) in school colors may be worn in the classroom. (MS girls may have small embroidered personal monogram on sweaters). Middle school dress code violations will be dealt with by the classroom teacher and reported to the middle school office. Parents will be notified via e-mail. After three violations, parents will be called to bring appropriate clothing. On Fridays and certain occasions, students are allowed to wear jeans. Styles must be modest, neat and free from holes. Jeans should also be appropriately sized, no “skinny” fit (CCS administration has final say in regard to appropriateness of fit when necessary). Parents may be called to bring appropriate clothing to school at the discretion of the faculty and staff. Please be aware that undergarments, including camisoles, should not be visible at any time. Uniform interpretation is at the discretion of the CCS faculty and staff. If a student continually does not follow the uniform policy, on the third violation the student will no longer be able to attend class until a parent brings a change of clothes. Prohibited Clothing Items The following items are prohibited for students at Carmel Christian School: • Sandals, clogs, “novelty characters,” platform/lug soles, light-ups, shoes designed to make noise, Rainbows (flip flops), or backless shoes. • Girls should not wear wedge or high heel styled shoes to school. They are hazardous in the building and on the playground. • Headbands that cause distraction in the classroom or that can be hazardous on the playground, Please refrain from sending your child to school in headbands that light up, wiggle, have ears or are shaped like unicorns and tiaras. • Hats, caps, bandanas, scarves or head wraps are not permitted. • Visible undergarments. • Girls’ hemlines shorter than two inches above the knee. Jumpers must be longer than shorts worn beneath them. • PE shorts shorter than four inches above the knee. • Students may wear boots during the colder months of school. Parents will be notified when boots are allowed via eNews. • Beginning fall 2018, all older logos (rugged cross and the gold thread CARMEL CHRISTIAN) will not be allowed. Student Appearance Hair should be clean and neat. Extremes in hair length, razor rows, spikes, Mohawks, and nontraditional hair color for all students are inappropriate. Visible tattoos are not appropriate. Earrings on boys are not appropriate for any CCS event. Student appearance guidelines must meet the approval of the CCS administrative staff. Parents are expected to partner with us in their support of the school faculty and staff as we enforce the school uniform policy. Students at Carmel Christian School are expected to be neatly and modestly dressed and well-groomed to attend class each day. This policy is designed for modesty, neatness, and to promote school-appropriate attire. Please keep this in mind as you make your clothing selections for school.

Please note: the CCS school logo is copyrighted and should NOT be given by parents to any vendor for monogramming purposes. Uniform Vendor - Lands’ End All items must be purchased from: Lands’ End, Phone: 800-469-2222, or on their web www.landsend.com/school. Enter the Carmel Christian School code # 9000-4428-0 in the Optional Ordering Instruction field for logo information. * The only exceptions are plain or pleated front khaki/blue pants or shorts, shoes/socks and tights. PE Uniforms may be purchased through the Lands’ End. Please note: the CCS school logo is copyrighted and should NOT be given by parents to any vendor for monogramming purposes. • Boys and Girls (Grades 6-8) Regulation Chapel Uniform - Must be worn on Chapel Day • The Middle School Chapel shirt is the Classic Navy blue polo from Lands’ End (sold through Lands’ End only). • Plain front khaki pants, shorts or knee length skort (sold through Lands’ End only) • Shoes (see description below) Everyday Uniform Options - May choose/mix-match any day except Chapel Day • Socks, tights and leggings worn for Chapel must be Navy, white, or black. Students may wear patterned (no characters) socks, tights and leggings on Mondays. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tops Polo’s - Short or Long Sleeves: All polo shirts must be monogrammed with school logo. Middle School Polo colors include: Black, Classic Navy, Deep Purple, Cobalt, Blue, Teal Breeze, Evergreen, Gray Heather, Honey Gold, Maize, White, Ice Pink, Orange Spice, Burgundy, Garnet, and Red Monogrammed red polo is required for field trips Polo’s must be worn under any CCS spirit/team wear: hoodies, sweatshirt or team jacket Students may wear long sleeved T-shirts, white only, under polo’s in the cooler months of the school year Cardigan sweaters: Solid colors in the same colors as polo’s are allowed in the classroom (Girls’ cardigans may have small, embroidered personal monogram) Bottoms Khaki or navy plain front pants (regular or mid-rise only), Capri’s or Bermuda length shorts (no “skinny” fit – the school has the final say regarding fit if deemed necessary) Bermuda (knee length) shorts, and Capri pants in khaki or navy Girls have one skort option: Lands’ End Long Chino Skort in khaki or navy Outerwear Options Coats, jackets, vests, fleece tops, etc. must be monogrammed to wear in classroom (many options available on Lands’ End uniform website) Students MUST wear CCS polo underneath any outerwear garment worn in class – this includes Spirit Wear hoodies and sweatshirts Boys and Girls PE Uniform (Grades 6-8) PE Uniforms are available through Lands’ End School Uniforms for students who are taking the PE classes or elective classes. Students must dress out in PE uniforms. Points will be deducted from overall grade if a student does not dress out in the school- approved uniform. They may not dress in any other shorts or t-shirts. Accessories No undergarments, including camisoles, should be visible. All pants and shorts with belt loops must have a belt.

CCS monogram should be clearly seen through all scarves, necklaces and other accessories worn by students. Shoes Students may not wear open toe or open heeled shoes, sandals, flip-slops, house shoes, or high heels. Boots may be worn only during cold months specified by CCS. Parents will be notified via eNews.

Friday Uniform Options/Jeans Day/Special Events Spirit Wear and all other CCS t-shirts may be worn on Fridays with jeans. Spirit wear may be purchased through the CCS School Store including t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts. MS students may wear approved PE shorts on Fridays. Additional Jeans Days: Throughout the school year, students may have the opportunity to wear jeans for special occasions. Jeans with holes or “skinny” fit are not allowed. (The school has the final say regarding fit. If deemed necessary, students will call parents to bring appropriate attire. Special Events: Occasionally, CCS will sponsor events for middle school students that require more formal dress. The following guidelines will apply: • Shirts, ties and dress slacks for boys • No “skinny” fit (The school has the final say regarding fit if deemed necessary.) • No strapless or spaghetti straps on dresses or tops, straps must be a minimum of 2 inches and a sweater or “shrug” must be worn over any dress that is not a standard sleeveless style • Skirt lengths should be at the knee • Dress pants are allowed for girls • Dress Shoes

High School Policies Grades 9-12

Attendance Students are expected to attend school daily. If it is known that a student will be absent, parents should notify the school office by 8:30 am by using the grade appropriate link (High School) on Carmel Parent. The educational process is a multi-sensory experience requiring class attendance and participation to reap the full richness of each day’s learning opportunities. Success in the CCS High School depends heavily upon experiencing the course content firsthand as led by our faculty. In-class discussions and activities enrich and deepen a student’s understanding of the course content. For this reason, regular class attendance is the expectation for our students. Excused absences include (up to the point of 10 classes): • Parent note stating injury or illness • Doctor note (up to the point of 3 consecutive days of absences) • Dentist note • Counseling appointment • Court appointment • Death in the family If a student is scheduled to miss a class due to a curricular or extra-curricular event (athletic, fine arts, etc.), he or she must contact his or her teacher in advance to ensure that he or she is able to keep pace with the rest of the class. Students will be responsible for completing assignments given, and or due during school-related absences and meeting the due dates for those assignments. If a student driver requires an early release for a medical appointment, the parent must provide a written note requesting this. Only then will a student driver be allowed to leave campus early. Students in the high school will not be permitted to miss more than 10 class sessions, excused or unexcused, per academic year. Students who miss more than 10 class sessions may not be awarded credit for that specific class. The only exception that will be made to this policy is in the event of a documented medical need in which a doctor’s note can be provided for each absence. All other absences, no matter the situation (undocumented illness, family vacation, suspension, funeral, tardy accrual, college visit), will count towards the 10 allowed class session absences. It is important that students arrive on time and prepared for class. All high school students will be marked tardy for a class if they are not in the appropriate classroom, ready for instruction, when the bell rings to signal the beginning of class. It is each student’s responsibility to stay organized and travel from class to class in the time allotted. Each time a student is tardy, the teacher will mark the tardy in the attendance record. An accumulation of three tardies result in a detention will be assigned. If a student is more than 25 minutes late for class without a note from a faculty member, it will be treated as an absence from that class period. This policy includes first block classes. The only time a student will not have a tardy recorded is in the event that the student has a signed doctor’s note (when coming from home) or a pass to class from a school staff member. All other instances will be treated as a tardy. Should a student’s absences exceed 10 classes, the school administration must consider whether a promotion or an expulsion is warranted. Per NC law, once a student has been expelled for lack of attendance, the school shall report the student’s expulsion to the local public school compulsory attendance enforcement officials for the immediate follow up. Check-in and Check-out / Early Dismissal Procedures Students requesting an early dismissal from school should notify the school office by using the [email protected] email address located on Carmel Parent and sign out in the school office at the time of departure. Students who return to school during the day must sign in at the main school office. Students who miss part of a school day due to a field trip, athletic reason, or early dismissal request from a parent must get permission before leaving. Students are held responsible for making up the work before the next meeting of that class. When a parent arrives on campus, he/she must go to the main school office and sign the student in/out. All students will be dismissed to meet parents in the school office. Written permission must be given for someone other than the parent to take a child off campus. Make-up Work After an Absence Students are responsible for all work missed during any absence. High School students should check the Google classroom page and calendars for missed assignments. A student will have one class period for every class missed to complete work and assessments assigned during the absence. Assignments that are due on a day a student was absent must be submitted the next

class period to avoid a reduction in grade. Students may receive zeroes for work not turned in within the makeup time frame. Pre-announced tests or quizzes which have been scheduled on the day of the student's return from an absence must be taken. The only exception would be if a teacher has provided prior approval for the student to reschedule. If a student returns to school on the day a major project is due or test is scheduled to occur, the student is expected to complete the assignment/test that same day. If it is known that a student will be absent, parents should contact the school office by 8:30 am by emailing [email protected] (information located on Carmel Parent). Parents are invited to call the school office after 8:30 am on the second day of a prolonged student absence if books from school are needed to help their child keep up with the curriculum. Specific questions for teachers can also be sent via e-mail. Students who miss school because of prolonged illness need to have a doctor's excuse on file in the Health Room so that missed assignments may be completed without penalty. In grades 9-12, a meeting will be initiated with the high school principal, the teacher, parents, the advisor, and the student to formulate a plan to allow the student to mitigate any loss in academic progress in the course, if possible. This may include recommending outside private tutoring to understand concepts that were studied in the student’s absence. When a prolonged illness is documented by a physician, the principal will make the final determination as to whether or not a student has successfully completed an appropriate number of days to warrant earning credit for a course. Assignments and Tests: Late Arrivals If a student is present in school for any part of the school day, he or she is responsible for submitting any work that was due that day in any of his or her missed classes. If a student misses a test during a period for which he or she is absent, he/she must make up that test at the teacher’s discretion and earliest convenience, ideally on that same day. As in other areas, academic success and responsibility remains each student’s first priority, so a student may need to miss a practice or rehearsal to make up a test in this scenario. If a student fails to meet with the teacher and attempt to make up or submit the assignment that same day, the assignment will be considered late and standard late policies will apply. Medical Leave of Absence In the case of a medical condition which requires a prolonged absence, the parents and student will partner with his or her teachers to devise a work plan to enable the student to remain caught up with the course curriculum. Students who miss more than 10 class sessions will not be awarded credit for that specific class. The only exception that will be made to this policy is in the event of a documented medical need in which a doctor’s note can be provided for each absence. All other absences, no matter the situation and including undocumented illness, will count towards the 10 allowed class session absences. High School Academic Policies Curriculum The curriculum of the High School (see Course Guide) is designed to prepare our students for the future endeavors into which God has called them; for the majority of our students this will be further study at a four-year college or university. Our course offerings have been intentionally designed for students to experience success within the calling that God has for their lives. Graduation Requirements for Carmel Christian School 24 academic credits minimum, which must include the following: Waiting on Sheila 4 Credits English 4 Credits Mathematics 3 Credits Science 3 Credits Social Studies 4 Credits Bible* 2 Credits World Language 1 Credit Visual or Performing Arts elective .5 Credit Physical Education or Dance (beginnin1g with the Class of 2023) .5 Credit Health 2 Credit Elective *One year of Bible per school year of attendance at CCS High School The following are additional requirements outlined by Carmel Christian School:

• Extended Missions Experience (either international, stateside or local; J-term local missions week would qualify) anytime during the four years of High School and approved by school administration • Successful completion of a J-term course for each year in attendance at CCS High School • Successful completion of minimum required service hours (see High School Service Program) Page 71. • All financial obligations have been met Contact the College Placement Office for more detailed information. Mastery Learning for Standard Level Classes Students in Standard Level classes who have scored below an 80 percent on a test or other summative assessment may be given an opportunity to redeem points by articulating, in writing, where and why they erred on the assessment and how they would correct their mistakes. The aim of this practice is to strengthen the rigor of our assessments while ensuring that students have mastered material which they failed to demonstrate adequately on the first attempt. In no case will students be allowed to redeem points unless the original assessment demonstrates that the student has given maximum effort. Per the teacher’s discretion and based on the quality of the rewrite, students will be awarded redemption points. The maximum a student may earn on the rewrite is a 79. This policy will not apply to semester exams. Students in Honors and AP level courses are not eligible to rewrite their assessments. Teachers will communicate their “mastery learning” policy in their syllabi at the start of the year. Course Selection High school course planning represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Determining an appropriate course selection lies in a student’s ability to maximize academic rigor while protecting his or her grade point average (GPA). Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 courses at all times. Students must be enrolled in Bible, English, and Math courses all four years of high school, even if the number of credits required for graduation has been met. Students may have up to two early release periods during the senior year if all graduation requirements have been met. (One of these release periods may be a late arrival.) CCS reserves the right to place students in an alternate course or courses when first-choice requests cannot be honored, or when the student's previous academic achievement and learning characteristics are not appropriate for the desired level of study. The faculty, led by the high school principal, makes the final placement decision based on the student's mastery of prerequisite skills as evidenced through diagnostic testing, previous achievement, maturity, and individual work ethic. Students will complete course contracts when registering for honors and advanced placement courses. Electives On-campus electives will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis with upper class students taking priority in order to complete graduation requirements. Please see our High School Course Guide for descriptions of the electives offered at CCS. Honors and Advanced Placement Courses Honors and AP course content, pace, and academic rigor place higher expectations on the student. The CCS weighting system respects this higher level of performance by adding the equivalent of one quality point to the grade earned for Honors and two quality points for Advanced Placement. AP course expectations far exceed the typical standards of CCS course work; the degree of critical thinking and volume of work required likewise exceed the typical standard. Work, typically including assigned reading and writing, will be required of an AP student over the summer and possibly during school holidays. Students are expected to be disciplined enough to perform independent study as well as carefully review, evaluate, synthesize, and apply materials that are introduced in class. Due to the benefit of annotating and highlighting AP texts to ensure optimal course preparation, it is required that students obtain the novels, biographies, exam preparation workbooks, and other consumable materials needed for each respective AP course. JACK Grades in prerequisite courses are critical for entrance into these classes. Students may be asked to submit writing samples in order to take English or History offerings. At least one of the following requirements must be met: • Standard- Honors (must have at least a 90 to meet minimum qualifications) • Honors – AP (must have at least an 85 to meet minimum qualifications) • Standard- AP (must have at least a 95 to meet minimum qualifications)

• Acceptable score on teacher recommendation rubric • High achievement on appropriate standardized test scores (PSAT, etc.) or listed on College Board’s AP Potential

Dropping/Adding a Course Students will be allowed to drop or add courses only if there is a demonstrated, high school administration-approved need for a change. Supplemental Coursework A student may wish to take a course outside of CCS to supplement their academic experience. Such coursework must be pre- approved by High School administration in order to count for credit. It will be recorded on the student’s transfer transcript, but will not appear on his or her CCS transcript, nor will it impact the student’s GPA. Sevenstar Academy CCS enjoys a special relationship with Sevenstar Academy, which offers a fully-accredited Christian college-prep curriculum online that serve as a resource to round out our program of studies and expand our course offerings. Offerings may be sought for personal elective enrichment, extra summer course work, or credit recovery. All such courses must be approved by high school administration in prior to registration. If course is taught at CCS, you may not register for classes through Sevenstar. Courses taken online through Sevenstar also typically take place during the CCS school day and at the CCS facility. For this reason courses taken through Sevenstar will count toward the student’s weighted GPA; some courses are distinguished by Sevenstar as “honors” level in terms of rigor and content, and these courses will also receive a 1-point additional weight. To see a list of courses offered through Sevenstar (including detailed descriptions and sample lessons), visit http://sevenstar.org/descriptions.php. For more information regarding these opportunities contact the Guidance office. World Language Requirement Selective colleges typically expect a student to have studied 3 or more years of the same foreign language. Foreign language choices for this year include Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Chinese. Spanish is the only live courses on campus at this time. Chinese, French, German, and Latin are offered online. Homework During Holidays It is the policy of CCS to view long breaks such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break as time to be spent with family. Projects and other large culminating assignments should not be given to students to work on exclusively during these days off from school; however, regular homework assignments may be assigned, including projects already in process on which students have worked incrementally. Tests are not to occur on the first day directly after one of these major holiday breaks. This restriction does not apply to AP courses. Late work Homework is intended as a way to prepare students for class experiences or review/refine concepts or skills learned in class. As such it is imperative that students complete their work on time. A major assignment will receive a letter grade reduction for every class period it is late. After a calendar week has passed, the assignment may not be eligible to receive credit. For daily student work and assignments, parents and students should refer to each teacher’s specific policies as found in his or her respective syllabus. High School Exams Exams are given at the end of each semester in order to measure students’ mastery of course standards; each exam constitutes twenty percent of the respective semester average. First semester High School exams are scheduled for December; second semester exams are scheduled for May. Both midterm and final exams may be cumulative in nature according to the teacher’s discretion. Students are expected to take their exams at the regularly scheduled time. Parents should not schedule out-of-own trips or activities that may conflict with the exam schedule. Students must be in dress code for exams. Exam days are abbreviated. Exams are given in the morning and students have the option of reviewing with teachers after the morning exam. These review sessions must be pre-arranged with teachers with 24 hours’ notice. Exam Exemptions Seniors will be eligible for May final exam exemptions provided their overall Semester One average (including the Semester One exam grade) is an A, their Quarter Three average is an A, and their Quarter Four average at the cut-off date is an A.

There will be no exemptions for mid-year December exams. AP Exams In May, all students are required to take the nationally administered tests for each AP course in which they are enrolled. Students must pay for this exam up front no later than first day of the second semester. If payment is not received by the deadline, students will be automatically withdrawn from the AP course and placed into an available standard course. Families will be billed in the fall semester for the cost of these tests through the business office. Any student failing to take a required AP exam will have the AP designation and weighted GPA removed from his/her transcript. In early July, students will receive notice of their respective AP scores. Special Testing Issues Students who qualify for extended testing time or other exceptional testing conditions are responsible for applying for this accommodation through Pathways. To qualify for this service, a student must have had a full battery of diagnostic educational testing administered by a licensed psychologist within the last three years. It is the responsibility of the student to advocate for him or herself and make arrangements with their instructors to take advantage of these accommodations. Students either take all tests using these accommodations, or none. Students will not be allowed to access these accommodations on standardized testing unless they are used regularly at school. Incomplete Grades If a student is unable to complete the course work at the end of a reporting period, an incomplete grade may be designated until the student is able to make up the work within a reasonable time agreed upon in partnership with the administration and the teacher. Failing a Course A student will pass or fail a course based on the final average for the year. The minimum passing score for any course is 60. Supplemental Learning and Credit Recovery If a student fails a course and repeats the same course at Carmel the original grade will be replaced by the grade earned during the repeated class. The original grade will remain on the student’s transcript until the student successfully completes the repeated course. Courses Repeated Through an Appropriately Accredited Institution As determined by high school administration, certain institutions meet the accreditation standards required by Carmel Christian School. As such, if a student fails a course (or earns a D) and repeats the same course at an approved acceptably accredited institution, he or she will receive credit for the course once it has been completed. The course and grade will appear on a transfer transcript and the failing course and grade will not be removed from the official Carmel transcript. This failing grade will not be counted on the student’s GPA. The original grade will remain on the student’s transcript until the student successfully completes the repeated course. The student must provide an official transcript or confirmation on school letterhead confirming course completion and the grade earned to High School administration. Parent/Teacher Communication In High School students are expected to develop their self-advocacy and communicate proactively with their teachers. As each student has a minimum of six teachers each semester, this communication might not be as frequent or as descriptive as in earlier grades. Communication between a parent and multiple teachers is also more challenging, but it is still vital to our goal of partnering together to nurture each student’s development. Our school-wide method of communication is email, and parents are encouraged to check regularly on their children’s progress through the use of ParentsWeb. Additionally, high school teachers are also expected to create and maintain a Google Classroom page for each course they teach in order to communicate with students regarding course information, announcements and assignments. Teacher Feedback The process of delivering feedback is critical to our teachers’ communication with parents and students. Homework assignments are expected to be graded within 72 hours of submission. Test, project, and culminating assignment grades are expected to be posted on ParentsWeb within a week of submission.

Teacher Office Hours All full-time High School teachers are willing to assist students when they require extra help. After school office hours will be set and published by each teacher after school at least one day per week to ensure student access. Students may schedule alternative meeting times pending teacher availability Test Calendar A shared calendar will be used by faculty and shared with students to ensure that no more than two tests are scheduled on any single day for a particular grade level. If a student has 3 tests on a given day, the final test posted on the shared calendar must be postponed, but this is only required for the students who have 3 tests (i.e. if this test is another student’s 2nd for the day, the teacher is not required to offer a postponement). If a student has a third test on a given day, he or she needs to alert teachers to this situation at least by the previous class meeting so that the teacher can readjust if needed. Quizzes and assignments may be given at any time and do not fall under this policy. High School Grading Scale 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 0-59 F Class Rank While we do calculate each student’s GPA for college admission purposes, it is not our practice to rank students and thereby generate an unhealthy spirit of competition between them. We seek to be a community that is supportive of each other and our academic accomplishments. We do honor the two students who have distinguished themselves by attaining the highest level of academic achievement with the recognition of valedictorian and salutatorian based on the following criteria: 1. Weighted GPA for all courses taken during the four years of High School, whether at Carmel or another accredited institution with the exception of courses that were repeated in order to raise the grade. Courses taken at another school during the student’s ninth or tenth grades will be evaluated on the weighted scale of that school if it is less than the CCS scale. They will not be recalculated to the CCS scale. Courses taken off-campus may be counted as credit to fulfill graduation requirements, but will not count toward a student’s GPA. A student must be enrolled in his or her junior and senior year to qualify for the distinction of being class Valedictorian or Salutatorian. Each year students will be selected as Junior Marshals to assist with the Graduation events. Students may qualify to be a Junior Marshal based on GPA ranking in the class and being a member of the National Honor Society in good standing. Honor Roll Students with a 3.5 or greater GPA for a semester will be awarded the distinction of being added to the Honor Roll. This list will be published at the end of each semester. Senior Cords Senior cords will be awarded using the following qualifications: Cord Qualification

Mission Trip: Light blue Student has completed 2 or more mission opportunities, 1 of the required being a J-term opportunity (Beginning in 2023 the requirement will be 3 missions opportunities.

National Honor Society: Gold Student is a member in good standing

National Beta Club: Student is a member in good standing Royal blue

Fine Arts: Kelly Green Student has participated in 2 years of Fine Arts classes, beginning their Junior year or has participated in 4 HS Theatre Productions

Athletics: White Student has participated in 2 years of a varsity sport, beginning the Junior year

SGA: Light Green Student has served for 2 years in an SGA position

Cum Laude: Orange GPA 3.5-3.74 (by end of 3rd Qtr.)

Magna Cum Laude: Teal GPA 3.75-3.99 (by end of 3rd Qtr.)

Summa Cum Laude: Purple GPA 4.0 and above (by end of 3rd Qtr.)

Standardized Testing College Entrance Exams Each 10th grade student will take the Pre ACT test and Grade 9-11 students will take the PSAT. These tests will assist the college-placement office in helping each student with appropriate course selection and intentional college-planning. PSAT – Grades 9-10 The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives students a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The PSAT is administered to 9th Grade students in October. Pre-ACT The pre-ACT test provides information about the skills, interests, plans, and goals for 10th grade students. Results can be used to make sure students’ remaining high school courses are the best ones possible to prepare them for college and help them consider their options for after high school. NC Early Math Placement Test This assessment is given as a practical college placement test in the UNS system. Students in Algebra II and higher will take the test each year in April. Results will help students and teachers focus on specific algebraic skills to improve the likelihood of superior performance on an actual college math placement test. SAT - Grades 11-12 Students may register through the College Board to take the SAT at any approved testing site in the Charlotte area. WrAP Testing, Grades 10 The ERB WrAP test includes all five common modes of discourse in writing as recognized by The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): • Narrative writing—the student tells a story or relates an incident or experience to entertain or to illustrate a point. • Informational writing—the student portrays a person, place, or event with specific and well-chosen details to create a clear impression. • Expository writing—The student clarifies or defines various points of view, positions, or possible courses of action as viable solutions to a problematic situation through supporting facts or arguments for each. • Persuasive writing—The student makes the case for a specific course of action or point of view through the marshaling of logical argument and telling facts in support of the recommended action or position. • Critical thinking—the student incorporates higher-order skills to produce writing intended to demonstrate readiness for college credit courses. Summer Reading Summer reading assignments may be required for AP and English courses (and all levels of English, grades 9-12), and will be intentionally coordinated with the academic program. Students are expected to have read the required texts prior to the first day

of school as they will discuss and write about those summer reading selections in their classes. In nearly all cases, some form of graded assessment related to the summer reading will be given at the beginning of the school year. Summer School Any student not satisfying the necessary grade-level requirements may make-up deficient work by attending Summer School. In order to ensure that students receive credit for courses taken in summer school, students must have approval from the high school principal prior to enrolling. Students may also attend summer school to reinforce skills and/or for enrichment opportunities. Students may not fulfill required coursework through a summer school in lieu of taking the course at CCS. Transcript Requests Official transcripts may be requested using the link on Carmel Parent for seniors for college admission purposes only. CCS releases certified transcripts to colleges or other educational institutions for scholarship applications and for the express purpose of applying to that institution or for that scholarship upon the request of said institution. Transcript requests require a two-week minimum for completion once approved. Students must fulfill all financial obligations in order to receive their official transcripts or graduation diplomas. High School Behavioral Principles Carmel functions as a community of Christ-followers, joined together by choice, for the purpose of bringing glory to God and educating students so that they will be responsible citizens equipped to impact their culture for Christ. While our focus in the High School is not a list of rules, our emphasis on discipleship calls our faculty and administrators to speak truth and life into our students, be encouraging to them, and be available to them through the challenges of growing into adulthood. A key point for parents and students alike to remember is that High School students are still adolescents; we, as adults, seek to partner with parents to help nurture and disciple our students into the people God would have them be. At times this means that teachers will have to correct student behavior, and even attitude, when it becomes rebellious or destructive to our community’s peace. Students are expected to demonstrate respect for the authority of any adult staff member on campus, whether that be a teacher from any school (elementary, middle or high) a church office employee, or member of the kitchen staff. We believe that students develop the life-long ability to listen to and obey the Lord as they learn the discipline of respecting and obeying authority, starting with their parents, as they grow in maturity. Students are expected to respond politely and respectfully, and to obey adults on campus or at off-campus school activities. When the actions of a student conflict with school regulations, we have an obligation to discipline that student. Discipline is provided to guide the student so that this behavior does not recur and to maintain order in the school. In order to be fair and consistent, certain behaviors will result in clearly established disciplinary actions. All students in grades 9-12 must read this portion of the Family Handbook carefully and sign the enclosed signature line on the last page of the handbook. Behavioral Guidelines It is expected that students at Carmel be serious about their academic preparation for college and have high standards of conduct, integrity, honesty, motivation, courtesy, and respect. Below are listed the guidelines of appropriate behavior expected of all CCS students while on campus or while participating in or attending off-campus school activities.

• Respect, courtesy and consideration for other students, teachers, administrators, and visitors to the school. • Responsibility in reporting on time to assigned classes and activities. • Respect for school and individual property, including other students' lockers, books, automobiles, Chromebook, etc. • Neat and appropriate personal presentation (see Dress Code). • Proper behavior when travelling in vehicles destined for school activities.

Cafeteria Policy (Please See Allergy Policy Page 25) All school rules and regulations apply to students during the lunch period. Students are expected to report to the cafeteria on time and remain in the cafeteria area until the lunch period has ended. While students may sit anywhere in the high school area of the cafeteria, staff members retain the right to move students to other areas if that student is causing a disruption or not complying with directions issued by a staff member. Students may use the restroom without teacher permission, but are expected to ask for permission if they are leaving the cafeteria for any other reason. Students may respectfully use their cell phone during lunch, provided it does not cause a disruption to the environment and they comply with all directions issued by a staff member. Students are expected to clean their area after lunch and leave the area better than they found it. Students will be held responsible for their table/ area of the cafeteria, regardless if the mess belongs to that student. The cafeteria is a shared community space, and with regards to Christian community, we expect students to take responsibility for the area, not just themselves. If a mess is left at a table, all students at that table will be expected to clean the area before leaving and will be counted tardy to their next class if they are late. If they have already left the cafeteria, the students sitting at that table will be expected to serve their peers by cleaning up the other tables in the cafeteria during the last ten minutes of lunch for a certain number of days, as deemed appropriate by staff members. Additional consequences could be issued if a pattern of leaving a mess is established in that habitually leaving trash or messes for somebody else to clean is disrespectful to others who must clean up after the student. Junior and Senior Lunch Junior/Senior Lunch will be held on Thursdays during the school year; this is not a school supervised activity, but a privilege. Students are responsible for driving their own car to and from lunch if they decide to leave campus. Before students avail themselves of this opportunity, his or her parents must submit an approval form releasing CCS from any liability associated with their child leaving campus for this purpose. Students must sign in when they return to campus and return to class without being tardy, no later than 12:40 PM. This privilege will be revoked based on behavior and repeated class tardies. Students are not allowed to bring food items back with them to the classroom. Students are expected to refrain from promoting or practicing all of the following: • Vandalism of school property in any way. • Violating campus speed limits and parking restrictions. • Using music or unapproved disruptive electronic devices during the school day. • Bringing to campus or being in the possession of Laser pointers. • Eating or drinking outside of the cafeteria or designated areas (unless it has been pre-approved). • Behaving in ways that could lead to the injury of another person. Any violation of the above will result in disciplinary action, which may include detention, suspension, or expulsion. Disruptive Activities Activities or events that have the effect of disrupting the learning environment of the school or interfering with other students' rights are expressly prohibited. Speech, protests, demonstrations, clothing, behavior or actions that convey a message that has this effect would all fall under this policy. School administrators are expected to maintain order and discipline on school premises and to protect the well-being of all students and faculty. Students who violate this principle will receive appropriate consequences that may include detention, suspension or expulsion. Conduct Infractions for High School Disciplinary Consequences When a student has earned consequences, the faculty and administration at CCS will always strive to be fair and consistent, while considering each individual situation. A special emphasis will always be placed on restoration to God and others, as we believe this restoration and redemption is at the heart of the gospel. Minor consequences can range from conferences to written apologies. In the event that minor consequences cannot bring justice and restoration to a situation, the administration will use wisdom and seek the Lord in assigning the following consequences for more serious or repeated behaviors. Community Service Detention Faculty and administration may assign a community service detention when warranted. If a student does not follow teacher directions, is a disruption in class, rebelliously breaks a communicated school policy (no students on elevators, going to their car during the school day etc.) or any other display of poor judgement, a detention will automatically be assigned as it is important that students know and follow the procedures that allow our school to run effectively and safely.

Community Service Detention will be held at lunch or after school and will be monitored by the Principal’s office. The purpose of this time is for the student to give back to the school/ church community. Students will participate in community service through light landscaping, general cleaning such as vacuuming, wiping desks or lockers, or sweeping and mopping, for example. If a student is disruptive during detention or refuses to participate in community service, alternate consequences will be assigned (see below). Detentions will be served on the upcoming Thursday for all students. The only way a detention will be rescheduled is if a student is absent from school or has a signed doctor’s excuse. Students who arrive late or skip detention will automatically be assigned an additional detention and serve detention on the following two Thursdays. Saturday School A student will earn a Saturday School in the event of repeated infractions or a more serious infraction. All first time honor code infractions will result in a Saturday School. Saturday School will be served from 8-12am on the assigned Saturday. Students will be expected to pay a $30 fee for each Saturday School in order to cover the cost of supervision. During this time, students will participate in community service activities, have a reading assignment with a reflection essay and engage in a redeeming discussion with the supervisor. If a student is late or absent, the student will be suspended from school. If at any time the student is disruptive or disrespectful, the student will be sent home immediately and a suspension will be assigned by the Principal or Assistant Principal. The Head of School’s office will not hear appeals for Saturday School assignments as suspension is the only other option for infractions that reach this level. Suspension and Expulsion Suspension is a temporary absence from the school for disciplinary reasons as indicated by the High School Principal. A suspended student will be eligible to return after the time specified. Suspended students may be placed on behavioral probation for the remainder of the semester. During the suspension, the student will be responsible for all work missed. Students will not receive an academic penalty for a behavioral infraction; missing class is a sufficient penalty. Students will not be given an extension for major assignments or tests that were administered or assigned during the suspension. A missed test must be made up on the first day after the suspension has concluded. Any student suspended from school that holds an office in a club or organization may be required to relinquish that leadership position for the remainder of the year. Suspended students will not be allowed to attend school, school events or school-related activities (athletic competition, dances, fine arts performances, etc.) during the period of their suspension. Attendance at CCS is a privilege, not a right. Students forfeit this privilege if they do not conform to CCS's standards of conduct, achievement, and attendance. Expulsion is the termination of a student's privilege of attending Carmel Christian School. The student expelled may reapply for admission through regular admission procedures after two semesters. When a student is expelled, he/she will receive notification from the school administration and may not attend Carmel Christian School for the remainder of that school year. Any student who participates in or promotes any of the following activities may be subject to suspension and/or expulsion: • Possession or use of tobacco products (on or off campus) • Possession or use of drugs (on or off campus) • Possession or use of alcohol (on or off campus) • Possession of a weapon of any type, or an item perceived as a weapon, on school property • Criminal activity (on or off campus) • Lying • Cheating • Stealing • Habitual disrespect • Truancy • Improper physical contact • Inappropriate language • Public display of affection • Racial, ethnic or sexual harassment • Sexually immoral behavior • Threatening others

• Physical abuse of others • Habitual academic probation, exceeding 90 days. This is not to be considered an exhaustive list of all activity which may lead to suspension or expulsion. Rather, this list is to be considered representative of activity which is deemed to be contrary to scripture, and thus, harmful to the student, other students, and/or the school community; as such it is also contrary to the will of God as revealed in scripture and will not be tolerated at CCS. Student Life Birthdays (Please review Allergy Policy, Page 25) Birthdays are important to students. The high school office recognizes student birthdays. Many parents send in special snacks on their student’s birthday (please review Allergy Policy). The outside of lockers may be decorated for birthdays. Parents are encouraged to donate a book to the Media Center in honor of their student’s birthday. Cell Phones High School students may use cell phones before school, during their designated lunch period and after school. All phones should be put away at all other times of the day. The only time a phone should be taken out during class is when the teacher gives express permission to a student for academic reasons. Students use their phones outside of the designated times will have their phone confiscated. Students should never have their phone out in a bathroom or locker room. Phones seen in these areas will be confiscated by a staff member. It is inappropriate for students to take pictures or videos when others are not aware. If evidence of this is found, the violator will have his/her cell phone confiscated and will earn additional administrative consequences. Ear buds are not allowed at any time unless the teacher has given express permission to the class. Ear buds will be confiscated if used at unauthorized time and will be treated as a cell phone infraction. All staff members have the right and are expected to confiscate a student’s cell phone when he or she is not following the outlined policies. Consequences for violation are as follows: • First time: Warning and student pick-up from the high school office at the end of the day • Second time: $20 fee and student pick-up from the Principal at the end of the day • Third time: $30 fee and parent pick-up from the Principal at the end of the day Crew Program Each High School student is assigned to a Crew at the beginning of the school year, comprised of a faculty or staff member and a group of students from the same grade. Crews meet for approximately thirty minutes several days each week, and all students are required to attend. The purpose of the Crew is to provide a personal adult mentor who will nurture, encourage and provide accountability for the students as they progress through the High School years. Students in each group will develop strong relationships with other members of their grade during this intentional non-instructional period. Faculty leaders will engage students in devotions, prayer, announcements, and community building activities. The Crew leader will also serve as a resource for students in their group regarding academic issues. Due to the importance of our Crew time, clubs, sports teams, and other student activities are not to meet during the time. Dances Carmel Christian School’s high school may host a school dance at a local community location. Students and guests are asked to check in on arrival; chaperons will greet students as they enter the dance. Students and/or their guests arriving more than one hour after the dance has commenced will not be permitted to attend. Students are asked to check out upon their departure; they will not be permitted to return to the dance once they have departed. For the safety of all participants, CCS students must complete Guest Form by the date specified for each dance. Each student should invite no more than one outside guest, and guests must be at least in grade 9 and no older than 19. Guests will be asked to submit proper identification when checking in. Everyone in attendance is expected to dress in accordance to the appropriate dress code set forth for the dance. All those in attendance are expected to behave appropriately and to adhere to all school rules and policies.

Driver's Education Students wishing to participate in Driver's Education classes may schedule them outside of school hours. Classes for students in Mecklenburg County are offered through your area public high school at no charge. Contact Jordan Driving School at www.jordandrivingschoolcharlotte.com to register your student for classes. All CCS students will need a NC Certificate of Eligibility within 30 days of starting their classes. Families must complete the NC Driver Eligibility Request Form on Carmel Parent 48 hours before your DMV appointment. Students will be emailed when their certificate is ready for pickup in the main school office. (Please note: certificates expire after 30 days). J-Term Each year students will be required to participate in a week-long J-Term course. This will provide the opportunity to explore an interest, discover a new area of knowledge, attend a mission trip, or experience an enriching travel opportunity. Each J-term course will clearly define its purpose, expectations, and requirements for successful completion. Successful completion of a J-term course for each year of attendance at CCS is a graduation requirement and, as such, will appear on a student’s transcript. A student must attend at least 4 of the 5 days of each week-long J-term course in order to pass, except in the case of a documented serious illness or medical issue. If a student fails to fulfill the expectations of a course, he or she will be required to complete make-up work appropriate to the respective course. For example, if a student was on a mission trip, additional service hours may be required. If the course was academic in nature, an academic paper may be required. Lockers Students in grades nine through twelve are provided lockers in which they may keep school supplies and articles of clothing. Articles such as book bags, backpacks, and athletic bags should be placed in the student’s lockers or other designated areas. The lockers are school property and, therefore, should be kept in good condition. Tape should not be used on the lockers. Magnets should be used. The school reserves the right to open and search lockers at any time. High school students who use locks must use school issued locks. Locks are available in the high school office. Service Programs In order for our students to grow as fully committed and effective followers of Christ and develop a life focused on serving others, Carmel requires that students begin to actively participate in community service ventures beginning in the 9th grade. Our hope would be that this discipline would assist students in developing service as a life-long habit and a feature of their character. Service can take many forms, including church activities such as leading a Sunday School class or worship team, school-based activities such as tutoring younger children or leading a club, or participating in social missions such as volunteering in a soup- kitchen or on a Habitat for Humanity build. It may also take the form of a missions trip to another community in the States or internationally. Each service opportunity needs to be logged using the Carmel Community Service Form, must be signed by the service activity sponsor, and submitted to the academic counselor. The academic counselor will maintain a Student Service Hours log to track service hours for all HS students. Students must turn in their accumulated service hours at the end of each quarter. A minimum of 20 hours are the required service hours per grade level. Club membership requirements may exceed the 20 hour minimum High School requirement. Club service hours will count toward the 20 hour High School requirement. It is our sincere hope, however, that students would see these as minimum expectations as we seek to develop an attitude of service following the example of our Lord, who came “not to be served, but to serve.” Service hours completed during J-Term courses may contribute to satisfying this requirement, with 20 hours being the maximum service hours awarded for any J-term course. If a student does not meet these minimum service hours for a given year, he or she will be expected to make these hours up by the end of the following year. Successful completion of service hours is a graduation requirement. Snacks (Please Review Allergy Policy, Page 25) All students will have a daily break and snack period. HS students may bring easily disposable snack to Crew. The vending machines may be used before and/or after school hours. Windy Gap Retreat Each year the high school students travel to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina to start the year strong spiritually and socially. Students hear great Bible teaching from some of the best speakers available. A praise band leads the four worship

sessions. And, the students enjoy the best free time events of any camp around: the zip line, the swing, the slide, and much more. New students meet new friends. The Windy Gap retreat is a great way to start the school year. High School Dress Code As a school, we acknowledge the importance of a dress code in order to maintain an orderly environment in which students come ready to learn. Every school and workplace has a dress code to which individuals must abide. We believe that an additional benefit of a dress code is that it prepares our students to abide by the rules and authority in their future jobs. As Christians, we also acknowledge the fact that we are devoted to the mission of the gospel and our hope is to shepherd our students to live every day as God designed them to live. It is our deep desire that our students’ hearts are ruled by worship of God while gladly living inside of the boundaries that the school sets forth to help our students live as salt and light to the surrounding world. The following dress code is a guide in helping our students cultivate humility and modesty in their appearance while at school. The school commits to enforcing the dress code as fairly as possible. Daily parent partnership is essential in ensuring their child’s school wardrobe aligns with the specifications of the dress code and the values we desire the Lord to instill in our students. Students at CCS are expected to ensure their dress reflects a biblical worldview at all times while on campus and at off-campus events. The administrative office team reserves the right to interpret and/or make changes as fashions change and issues arise. High School Dress Code for Young Women General Appearance At no time shall a student’s dress be considered suggestive or provocative. All clothing must be clean and in good repair. Brand names that do not promote a positive biblical worldview may not be worn (i.e. Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria Secret, PINK, etc.). Clothing with professional sports teams may not be worn, unless specified as a special sports day by the school. Blankets are not permitted at any time. Undergarments, including bralettes and sports bras, must be completely covered at all times. On game days, athletes will dress according to coaches’ instructions provided that they conform to the dress code requirements and may wear either track suits or team T-shirts (for the current year’s team only) provided that every member of the team is wearing the same outfit. Team captains will assist administration in the enforcement of this policy. General Appearance Don’ts • Body piercings other than ear jewelry • Caps, hats, or other head coverings (may be worn outside only) • Extreme hairstyles and color • Tattoos (must be completely covered during the school day and on all school activities, field trips, etc.) Tops Do’s • Knit or cotton tops, blouses, collared shirts and dress sweaters • An appropriate undershirt must be worn under shirts that are too low in the front, too open in the back and that are of a thin or gauze (i.e. transparent) material • CCS, plain, and college sweatshirts and hoodies may be worn at any time during the school day Tops Don’ts • Halter tops, tank tops/camisole tops, or T-shirts on days other than Friday • Clothing with writing or pictures other than CCS, plain, and college sweatshirts • Revealing blouses or tops that expose midriffs, or excessive skin on the chest or back • Exposed bralettes Bottoms Do’s • Skirts, dresses, or skorts may be worn of an appropriate length that is no shorter than 3 inches above the knee. This includes the shortest level of a bi-level dress/skirt and the highest part of a slit • Jeans and other pants must be free from holes, and appropriately modest • Leggings (defined as tight or close-fitting knit pants) are not allowed, with the exception of wearing them underneath a skirt or dress of appropriate length (as defined above) • Pants of any style should not be low-rise or excessively tight-fitting • Shorts may be worn if they are no shorter than 3 inches above the knee

Bottoms Don’ts • Skirts, dresses, or shorts that are more than 3 inches above the knee • Torn, faded, or patched skirts or pants, sweatpants, cut-offs, or fatigues of any kind Shoes Do’s • Shoes must be worn at all times. For safety reasons, heels and wedges should be a reasonable height. Sandals have a back Shoes Don’ts • Flip-flops, Rainbows, athletic slides, and Crocs Friday Dress Code • Any Carmel Christian School T-shirt, CCS-related T-shirt, college t-shirt or plain t-shirt with a small inconspicuous logo may be worn on Friday • CCS, plain, or College sweatshirts and hoodies may be worn on Friday, as with any day of the week High School Dress Code for Young Men General Appearance At no time shall a student’s dress be considered suggestive or provocative. All clothing must be clean and in good repair. Brand names that do not promote a positive biblical worldview may not be worn, (i.e. Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.). Clothing with professional sports teams may not be worn, unless specified as a special sports day by the school. Blankets are not permitted at any time. Boys’ hair should be neatly trimmed and tastefully groomed. Extreme color and styles are unacceptable. Facial hair must have clean lines and be well groomed. On game days, athletes will dress according to coaches’ instructions provided that they conform to the dress code requirements and may wear either track suits or team T-shirts (for the current year’s team only) provided that every member of the team is wearing the same outfit. Team captains will assist administration in the enforcement of this policy. General Appearance Don’ts • Piercings of any kind, including earrings • Caps, hats, or other head coverings (may be worn outside only) • Extreme hairstyles and color • Tattoos (must be covered during the school day and during all school activities, field trips, etc.) Tops Do’s • Boys must wear collared shirts, either polo style or button down • Dress sweaters, CCS hoodies, plain, and college hoodies may be worn • A collared shirt is not required under a sweatshirt or hoodie, as long as the student does not take the hoodie off during the school day Tops Don’ts • T-shirts on any day other than Friday • Shirts displaying professional sports team logos • Fatigues • Tops with writing (other than CCS and college sweatshirts/ hoodies, or a small inconspicuous logo) Bottoms Do’s • Full length pants or trousers • Jeans and other pants must free from holes, and appropriately modest • Shorts that are shorter than 3 inches above the knee. Bottoms Don’ts • Torn, faded, or patched pants • Oversized pants; sweatpants, track pants, cut-offs, joggers, rolled-up shorts or oversized shorts that fall below the knee • Fatigues • Overalls of any kind.

Shoes Do’s • Closed-toed shoes must be worn at all times. Shoes must be in good repair Shoes Don’ts • Sandals, flip-flops, and croc-style shoes, and Rainbows Friday Dress Code • Any Carmel Christian School T-shirt, CCS-related T-shirt, college t-shirt or plain t-shirt with a small inconspicuous logo may be worn on Friday. • CCS, plain, or College sweatshirts and hoodies may be worn on Friday, as with any day of the week. Unique Dress Code Situations All students enrolled in physical education participate daily. Students are required to follow the expectations of the PE teacher for proper dress. Showers are permitted. Students must furnish their own towel. The Dress and Grooming Code applies before and after regular school hours, outside as well as inside the buildings. Students who attend school or school functions are expected to dress appropriately for those events. These events would include, but not be limited to: • Concerts • Fine Arts programs • Windy Gap retreat • Field trips Appropriate attire for school and field trips and retreats will be determined by the nature of the trip. Special instructions will be given to the students prior to the trip. Dress Code Alignment If, in the judgment of any staff member, a student is inappropriately dressed or is out of dress code at any time during the day, he or she will be assigned a consequence and required to correct their attire. If the student does not have an appropriate garment available, he or she will be directed to contact their parent in order to have clothing brought to school. If this cannot be done in a reasonable amount of time, the student will put on school-provided clothing (if available) so that he or she may return to class.

1st Offense: Warning and correction of clothing 2nd Offense: Detention and correction of clothing 3rd Offense: Detention and correction of clothing 4th Offense and any subsequent offenses: Saturday School with the required $30 tuition and correction of clothing

Annual School Events Clubs Volunteers/PTF

Annual School Events ACSI Competitions Elementary and middle school students participate in the Association of Christian Schools International Speech Meet and Art competitions. Boosterthon (K-5) CCS participates in the Boosterthon Fun Run as a part of our Annual Fund. Those families choosing to participate get lap sponsors for each child in this fundraising event. Funds from this portion of the Annual Fund usually go for technology in the classroom. Even if a student does not choose to raise funds, each child runs and participates in the week-long event that promotes leadership, Christian character and fitness. Christmas Fine Arts Program Each Christmas season is highlighted by the various fine arts performing arts groups from all schools. Visual arts are also showcased in a chapel and nighttime event. Bands, choirs, and dance team. Theatre Productions (Middle School/High School & 5th Grade Musical) The Fine Arts Department of CCS is well-known in the Charlotte community. Each year more than 1200 people attend with a play, musical, or both at Carmel. Field Day (K-8) This annual spring event is a great way for parents to volunteer. All morning the students rotate through various fun events that include: dunking booth, the super slide, climbing wall, and the obstacle course. Dads and moms help the CCS staff pull off this big event. All elementary and MS students go home at noon with a Field Day T-shirt and memories of a fun day. High School will be in regular session on Field Day. Fine Arts Competitions Middle and high school students participate in a variety of Fine Arts competitions throughout the school year in all content areas including: Band, Choir, Theatre, Dance and Visual Arts. Geography Bee In January the National Geography Bee provides an event for students to practice their geography skills. Students in grade 1 through 8 earn the right to participate in front of their peers. The winner is eligible to move on the regional round. Golf Classic CCS families and friends enjoy a Golf Classic and Fun Run and fellowship while raising funds for the Grace of Giving Annual Fund. Sponsorships are also available at several levels. Kids Vote Carmel Christian School students are active in Kids Voting from kindergarten through ninth grade. Kids Voting is a non-profit, non-partisan voter education program. Students learn about the election process, citizenship and civic responsibility. Students accompany their parents to the polls on Election Day and cast ballots in local, state and national elections. Kindergarten – 2nd Grade Reading Buddies The Kindergarten – 2nd Grade Reading Buddies program is open to any “senior” member or VISTA members of Carmel Baptist Church and any grandparents of Carmel Christian School. Middle school students participate as well. Four times a year the Kindergarten students meet to read with their “buddies”. The Media Center Director helps lead the reading program Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Banquet Only Carmel Christian School seventh and eighth graders may attend the banquet. Sixth graders on the Student Government Association may attend. Everyone in attendance is expected to dress in accordance to the appropriate dress code set forth for the banquet. All those in attendance are expected to behave appropriately and to adhere to all school rules and policies. The Cornerstone A Prayer gathering for all CCS families is held each month on the second Friday in the Carmel Room. These Cornerstone gatherings give all parents the opportunity to meet and fellowship with one another as they lift the students, CCS families, faculty and staff in prayer through a deliberate and intentional process throughout the school year.

See You at the Pole CCS participates in this national student prayer event. Founded by students in Texas, the prayer event unites the entire Carmel family around the school flagpole. The Middle School SGA and High School Student Council lead our time of prayer. Anyone who wishes to participate is allowed to pray during this before-school event. Senior Graduation Carmel Christian School will graduate the senior class at the end of May. The seniors, their families and special guests will participate in a Senior Breakfast, Baccalaureate service and graduation ceremony. Spelling Bee CCS participates in the National Spelling Bee each December. Students who earn the right to participate take to the stage to correctly spell challenging words. One student from the middle school will move on to participate in the Charlotte Observer Independent Schools round held in January. Spirit Week/Homecoming This is one of the students’ favorite weeks. Each day has a different spirit theme in which the students dress up to show their school spirit. The week is capped off by Homecoming. The event begins with a pep rally in the afternoon filled with basketball competitions. CCS 8th Grade alumni come back year-after-year to participate and see old friends. The day ends with the boys’ and girls’ Homecoming basketball games. Spring Fine Arts Program Each spring this fine arts event highlights the various performing arts groups from all schools. Visual arts are also showcased in a chapel and nighttime event. All bands, choirs, elementary school strings, studio and dance perform. Teacher Appreciation The parents and students of CCS get a chance to show their appreciation for our dedicated and loving faculty and staff. The PTF sponsors these events throughout the school year. Clubs, Associations and Extra-Curricular Activities School-Sponsored Activities, Clubs and Organizations Student organizations are an important part of the curriculum at Carmel Christian School. As such, we strive to provide extracurricular activities that are pleasing to the Lord, enjoyable for our students, enriching academically, and developmentally appropriate. The faculty works closely with students to develop and ensure that activities planned throughout the year to support the mission of Carmel Christian School and its core values. Creating a Club If you are interested in creating a club you may ask for a form from the High School or Middle School offices. Be sure to create a clear purpose statement, which supports the mission of CCS and expresses an obvious need for your club to be recognized by CCS. Executing the application process does not guarantee the recognition of your club. The administration reserves the right to review your intentions, and to ultimately accept or deny your application. Once you have given your written answers to the Principal’s office, an administrator will speak to the potential faculty advisor and set up a time to interview the student leadership. The administration will ultimately determine whether or not the club will be formally acknowledged by the school. The administration should be contacted for questions related to establishing new clubs or activities. Junior Beta Club – Middle School The Junior Beta Club is a national service organization for students in grades 7-8. Members are chosen on the basis of character, leadership and scholarship. Members must have an overall GPA of 3.20 throughout middle school and must be willing to participate in service projects for the school and the community. (The High School will provide membership into the National Beta Club once a 10th grade has been established). There is a $25.00 fee to join Beta Club. National Beta Club – High School The National Beta Club has become the nation's largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. We are committed to recognizing and promoting high academic achievement, rewarding and nurturing worthy character, fostering leadership skills and encouraging service to others. Members must maintain an overall GPA of 3.20 throughout high school and must be willing to participate in service projects for the school and the community. There is a $25.00 fee to join Beta Club.

National Honor Society – High School The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since their beginning in 1921. NHS students must maintain a weighted GPA of 3.85 or higher. In addition, applicants to NHS must complete an application which requests information for membership criteria. Upon final review of the student GPA and application, invitations to join NHS are mailed in August and inductions are held in October each year. National Junior Honor Society NJHS is an honor bestowed upon Middle School 8th grade students with exceptional grades (GPA of 3.8 or higher) and character. Leadership is emphasized. Students expand their knowledge, citizenship, scholarship, service, and leadership through community service. Invitations to join NJHS are mailed in August and inductions are in October each year. Student Council (High School) This is an elected group of students chosen to represent the entire student body of CCS. Acting as liaisons between the faculty and the students, the Student Council is the means through which the students express their ideas, discuss issues of current interest to the school, and plan mission projects for the school’s benefit. In addition, they organize the high school social functions, Winter Blast, leadership workshops, and occasional guest speakers. This organization’s success depends on the support and assistance of all students. Each spring four officers are elected from the rising high school grades. In the fall, two representatives from each grade level are elected. Student Government Association (Middle School) This is an elected group of students chosen to represent the Middle School. They help coordinate the 7th/8th grade banquet, Spirit Week, and a mission service project for The Charlotte Rescue Mission. Each spring three officers (President, Vice President and Secretary) are elected from the rising 6th-8th grades. In the fall, two representatives from each grade level are elected. These nine students form the SGA. International Thespian Society The purpose of the International Thespian Society is to promote the theatre arts and to recognize those students who have contributed to the performing arts at Carmel Christian School. Membership in the International Thespian Society is for juniors and seniors who have completed 100 hours of work in at least two theatrical performances. On stage or off stage work is recognized. There is a $30 membership fee that is required. Students are inducted in the spring of the school year. Volunteers/PTF Parent Teacher Fellowship - Board Members The PTF exists as a service organization of Carmel Christian School to coordinate unity and spirit building activities for our students and families. Each year, a general interest solicitation will be sent out to the body of parents via a “PTF - Application of Interest”. Respondents to this application will be considered for service by the Head of School, the Director of Parent Relations and the PTF President. The PTF Committee will consist of a President, President Elect and 3 Committee Chairs. • President shall serve for a period of two (2) years; • President Elect shall serve a period of two (2) years with the first year serving alongside the current President; and • PTF Committee Chair A Chair will serve for a period of one (1) year as chairman of a particular committee. However, upon mutual consent of the PTF President and the Director of Parent Relations, the chairman can serve a maximum of three (3) years. Extending the time period beyond three (3) years must be approved by the President and Director of Parent Relations Go to Carmel Parent to find out ways to get plugged in!