STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK Updated 6/5/15 Dear Students & Parents: We trust that you are enrolled at Link because you are seeking something beyond the traditional classroom that will challenge, inspire and nurture you - a program that will link you with a true sense of your identity - and we are confident that you are going to find what you are looking for with us at Link. Our aim is for Link to be an experience like you have while at camp, but accompanied by high quality academics. The value of an alternative residential high school program resonates with me because I was the kind of student who needed something more engaging than the traditional classroom. An alternative high school program helped me get on track, engaged me with an experiential education program, laid a foundation for sound decision making, and helped me become a contributing citizen. Our sincere hope is that the Link School will provide for you the kind of quality academics that will help you really engage in your own learning, expeditions and projects that will help you expand, service opportunities that will help you look beyond self, and spiritual exploration that will help you deepen. This handbook is designed to help you prepare for coming out to Link. It is an overview and you may have many questions that are not answered here, so please call or email us with anything that it would help you to have more information about. Also, please note that this is a progressive document and that there will be changes and additions throughout the school year ranging from courses offered to gear needed, etc. This is a dynamic learning environment. Come ready to give, to learn, and to make it a life changing experience for yourself and the rest of the community! Bobby Lewis - Director TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK........................................................................................................................1 LINK PURPOSE, MISSION, AND OUTCOMES..............................................................................................1 COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES.........................................................................................................................................2 EXPECTATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................2 PROGRAMS...........................................................................................................................................................................2 I. ACADEMIC PLAN .................................................................................................................................................................................2 II. FIELD PROGRAMS.............................................................................................................................................................................10 III. INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS..................................................................................................................................................................26 IV. SERVICE WORK...............................................................................................................................................................................28 TOOL USE ..........................................................................................................................................................................................28 V. SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT...........................................................................................................................................................31 COMMUNITY ...................................................................................................................................................................33 STUDENT INFORMATION.....................................................................................................................................37 PENDANTS................................................................................................................................................................................................38 HOT TUB...................................................................................................................................................................................................39 SLEEPING OUTSIDE ...............................................................................................................................................................................40 FAMILY PROGRAMS AND SERVICE WEEKEND ..........................................................................................................................42 MUSIC DURING ACADEMIC TIME ..................................................................................................................................................43 DOING ACADEMIC WORK AT A TABLE.....................................................................................................................................43 COMPUTER MONITORING................................................................................................................................................................43 AIRSOFT & PAINTBALL ........................................................................................................................................................................44 UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS...............................................................................................................................................................48 SEAT BELTS ...............................................................................................................................................................................................48 FUELING .....................................................................................................................................................................................................48 PROTOCOLS FOR UNSUPERVISED ACTIVITIES .........................................................................................................................49 GEAR & CLOTHING MASTER LIST......................................................................................................................................50 FITNESS....................................................................................................................................................................................................54 SPIRITUAL PREPARATION.........................................................................................................................................................55 SCHOOL CONTACT INFO......................................................................................................................................................57 APPENDIX...........................................................................................................................................................................58 THE 2015/2016 PROJECT BASED LEARNING THEME ...........................................................................................................58 TRAVEL DATES AND INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................................58 Y8 FIELD PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM SCHEDULE.................................................................................................................59 STAFF CONTACT INFO.......................................................................................................................................................................60 i LINK PURPOSE, MISSION, AND OUTCOMES Purpose: The Link School is an alternative high school for students who want or need an experiential education in a family environment where Christian Science is lived and demonstrated on a daily basis. The Purpose of The Link School is to help students “…find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man forever in the divine likeness….” – Mary Baker Eddy Mission: The Link School is life-preparation focused and offers its students an experiential high school program through a mosaic of college-prep academics, individual projects, service opportunities, wilderness experiences, and spiritual exploration in a democratic community. The Link School emphasizes project-based education in an environment that cultivates curiosity, self-directed learning, collaboration, resourcefulness, and problem solving. Outcomes: Graduates of The Link School will be: Linked to the Divine - as evidenced by their: - spirituality, integrity, and sense of spiritual self worth - compassionate & respectful relationships with others - stewardship of the natural environment Engaged learners – as evidenced by their: - successful completion of a college-prep curriculum - critical thinking skills developed in and out of the classroom - curiosity for learning through self-motivated projects Prepared for life - as evidenced by their: - commitment to living in a healthy, balanced way - engagement in meaningful work - purposeful recreation (a little more full instead of a little more empty) Contributing citizens - as evidenced by their: 1 - service to their communities - passion for life - making a difference for good through prayer and action COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES Integrity-Compassion-Stewardship-Curiosity-Spiritual