STUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK 2018-2019 Table of Contents I. RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS 1 II. FBA MISSION 1 III. SCHOOL TRADITIONS 1 A. FBA Colors 1 B. FBA Mascot 1 IV. PHILOSOPHY 2 V. PREAMBLE TO THE BY-LAWS 2 VI. ACCREDITATION, GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION 2 VII. ADMINISTRATION/BOARD OF TRUSTEES 4 VIII. ACADEMIC POLICIES 5 A. Class Size Policy 5 B. Textbooks 5 C. Homework Policy 5 D. Assignment Planners 6 E. Teacher Portals 6 F. Test Days 6 G. Marking Systems 6 H. Reports of Student Progress 7 I. Tutoring Requests 8 J. Promotion and Retention 8 K. Advanced Courses 8 L. Continuing Enrollment: Conditional Status 9 M. Summer School 9 N. Center for Academic Success 9 O. Process to Follow When Student Cannot Participate 10 IX. COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE SERVICES 10 X. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROCEDURES 11 A. Children Served 11 B. Hours of Operation 11 C. FBA Holidays 11 D. Forms 11 First Baptist Academy Student | Parent Handbook 7450 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 Table of Contents 713.290.2500 last updated 1.14.2019 Table of Contents (continued) E. Nutrition 11 F. Field Trips: Transportation and General Guidelines 11 G. Personal Items 12 H. Dress Code 12 I. Enrollment Procedures 12 J. School Closures and Early Release Days 12 K. Procedures for Dispensing Medication 12 L. Medical Emergencies 13 M. Illness and Exclusion Criteria 13 N. Medical Records 13 O. Procedures for Conducting Health Checks 14 P. Hearing and Vision 14 Q. Immunization Requirements for Children 14 R Safe Sleep 14 S. Potty Training 14 T. Emergency Plans 14 U. Severe Weather, Fire and Emergency Situation 15 V. Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco 15 W. Discipline and Guidance 15 X. Withdrawal Policy 16 Y. Procedures for Release of Children 16 Z. Parent Communication 16 AA. Water Activities 17 BB. Animals 17 CC. Parent/Center Director Communication 17 DD. The Parent’s Role 17 EE. Parent Visits 17 FF. Nursing Mother’s Room 18 GG. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 18 XI. STANDARDIZED TESTING PROGRAM 19 XII. CODE OF CONDUCT 19 A. Expectations of Students 19 B. Conduct Marking 22 C. Levels of Disciplinary Action 24 D. Dress Code 25 E. Hair Code 26 F. Care of Personal Belongings by Students 26 G. Field/Class Trips and Athletic Events 26 First Baptist Academy Student | Parent Handbook 7450 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 Table of Contents 713.290.2500 last updated 1.14.2019 Table of Contents (continued) XIII. COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS 27 A. Progress Reports 27 B. Report Cards 27 C. Parent/Teacher Conferences 28 D. Honor Roll 28 XIV. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY 28 A. Attendance Policy for Lower and Middle School 28 B. Family Vacations 29 C. Procedure to Follow When Student is Absent from School 29 D. Make Up Work (PreK – 8) 29 E. Procedure to Follow When Student is Tardy to School 30 F. Leaving School Before Regular Dismissal 30 G. Withdrawing a Student from School 30 XV. CAMPUS POLICY 31 A. Visitors 31 B. Lower and Middle School Students on Campus After School Hours 31 C. Encore 31 D. Primary School Late Pick up 31 E. Babysitting 32 F. Oasis Room (FBA Cafeteria Area) 32 G. Library 32 H. Lost and Found 35 I. Emergency Drills 35 J. Emergency Closing of School 36 K. Campus Security 36 L. Printed Material 36 M. Delivery of Gifts 36 N. Class Parties 36 O. Graduations/Promotions 37 P. Procedures for Arrival and Dismissal of Students 37 XVI. BUS PROCEDURES 39 XVII. ACTIVITIES 39 A. Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities 39 B. Enrollment Status 40 C. Clubs/ Organizations 40 D. Awards 41 First Baptist Academy Student | Parent Handbook 7450 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 Table of Contents 713.290.2500 last updated 1.14.2019 Table of Contents (continued) XVIII. RE-ENROLLMENT 41 A. Maintaining Student Permanent Records 41 B. Student Visas 41 XIX. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 41 A. Delinquent Account Policy 41 XX. ADVANCEMENT 42 A. Ways to Give 42 B. Fund Raising and Purchasing Policy 42 C. Public Relations/Media Relations 42 D. Gift Acceptance Policy 43 XXI. HEALTH INFORMATION 43 A. Magnus Health SMR (Student Medical Record) 43 B. Accidents/Health Services 43 C. State Standards Childcare 43 D. Reporting Child Abuse 43 E. Contagious Illness 44 F. Vision/Hearing Testing 44 G. Immunization 45 H. Accident Insurance 46 XXII. TECHNOLOGY 46 A. Computer Usage Policy 47 XXIII. TUTOR POLICY 51 First Baptist Academy Student | Parent Handbook 7450 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 Table of Contents 713.290.2500 last updated 1.14.2019 STUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK 2018-2019 I. RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS FBA’s Student/Parent Handbook is prepared with the purpose of serving as a guide to school officials, students and parents to become familiar with our school’s policies and practices. If the contents of this handbook are known and the guidelines followed by all, the school will function smoothly and efficiently while increasing academic achievement and a greater degree of satisfaction for all. Enrollment in FBA is a privilege and not a right. Students who are enrolled in the school, and their parents, must obey all rules continually and consistently. Consequences are in place for those who repeatedly violate rules leading up to or including the withdrawal of a student. School administrators will render decisions that are fair and in the best interest of both the student and the school. II. FBA’S MISSION To equip FBA students with the Truth of God’s Word while developing their character, intellect, and potential to explore, create, challenge, and lead. (Psalm 86:12, Matthew 28:19, II Timothy 3:16-17) III. SCHOOL TRADITIONS A. FBA Colors FBA school colors are navy blue, green and white. B. FBA Mascot FBA mascot is the Warrior. (Ephesians 6:13-18) First Baptist Academy Student | Parent Handbook 7450 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 Page | 1 713.290.2500 last updated 1.14.2019 IV. PHILOSOPHY The educational philosophy of FBA is based on a God-centered view that all truth is God's truth and that the Bible is the inspired and only infallible authoritative Word of God which contains this truth. God created all things and sustains all things. We acknowledge and affirm that every person has been created in the image of God with a unique identity. Within this person exists individual strengths and weaknesses, capabilities and limitations. By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the individual enters that relationship with God whereby he is nurtured and matured. Thus, we want every person in our school to grow as an individual; acknowledging, appreciating and pursuing the identity which God has given and following the course which God has established. Therefore, FBA is a Christian school dedicated to the development of moral character, the enrichment of spiritual lives, and the perpetuation of growth in Christian ideals. Through its curriculum FBA challenges students to attain academic, emotional, physical and spiritual excellence to the glory of God. This philosophy guides our endeavors to promote high academic standards while helping students to achieve skills in creative and critical thinking and use freedom of inquiry in an integrated curriculum across all subject areas. Our desire is to enable students to pursue the secondary education of their choosing, preparing them to be knowledgeable Christian participants in our nation and the world. V. PREAMBLE TO THE BY-LAWS Founded under the providence of God and with the conviction that there is a need for a school in this community that will train the minds, develop the moral character and enrich the spiritual lives of all people who may come within the ambit of its influence, FBA shall stand as a witness for Jesus Christ expressed directly through its administration, faculty and students. To assure the perpetuation of these basic concepts of its founders, it is resolved that all those who become associated with FBA as a trustee, officer, member of the faculty or of the staff, must believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament; that man was directly created by God, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior as the Son of God, that He died for the sins of all men and thereafter arose from the grave; that by repentance and the acceptance of and belief in Him by the grace of God, the individual is saved from eternal damnation and receives eternal life in the presence of God; and it is further resolved that the ultimate teachings in this school shall never be inconsistent with the above principles. VI. ACCREDITATION, GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION FBA is a private Christian school consisting of students from early childhood through eighth grade. FBA is fully accredited by the Independent Schools of the American Southwest (ISAS) and is recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) #101146101. FBA is a member of Educational Records Bureau (ERB), Independent School Management (ISM), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS), Texas Private Schools Association (TPSA), and the Texas Association of Non-Public Schools (TANS). FBA is also a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Society for the Gifted and Talented, National Junior Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. The school is an independent Texas non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees. First Baptist Academy Student | Parent Handbook 7450 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 Page | 2 713.290.2500 last updated 1.14.2019 FBA Primary School is licensed by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Child Care Licensing division.