Policies have been written to provide guidelines for group behavior and safety. Any good workable policy has exceptions and each exception will be handled logically and with love as it arises.

1. YEARLY CALENDAR - We believe families are the foundation of our society and family time is important in cementing these relationships. Therefore, we encourage stress-free evenings and long family weekends as well as extended family vacations. As a result, we have attempted to provide time for these activities in our schedule and calendar.
   
   The school year will consist of 180+ days beginning mid-August and ending in June. Because of small classes and individualized instruction, families can determine which 180 days a child MUST attend in order to meet state requirements to obtain credit for one year of school. In essence, children will be allowed days to engage in family time without the burden of take-along work, make-up work, or threats of being left behind. Travel journals, diaries, photo albums, oral reports, e-mail, or other sharing experiences will be encouraged and appreciated but not required. If given enough advance notice, the school will attempt to recommend books or films which might increase the child's enjoyment of the upcoming experience.
   
   
2. DAILY SCHEDULE - The daily school program will being at 7:45 a.m. for individualized activities. Children will be expected to be present no later than 8:30 a.m. for the daily opening and beginning of group activities. School will be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. and children desiring to participate in after-school group activities until 6 p.m. may remain for an extra charge.
   
   
3. CLASS SIZE - It is the goal that classes at Hope Lutheran School be limited to a maximum of 15 students. On occasion, such as when forming a new group, class size might temporarily increase but will return to 15 as soon as practical.
   
   
4. AFTER-SCHOOL CARE - Supervision for children needing to remain after 3:30 p.m. will be provided by an independent teacher. Thus, even though the children will remain on the premises at Hope, there will be an additional registration and charge. Specific days and hours may be chosen by each family.

1. UNIFORMS - Uniforms insure appropriate school dress and take the focus away from clothes. Clothing should be neat and clean as well as appropriate for weather conditions. All children may wear:
   • Khaki shorts or slacks that are mid-thigh or longer
   • Hope green or white shirts with collars and sleeves
   • Hope tee shirts, sweatshirts or jackets
   • Plain tennis shoes with socks
   Our curriculum requires active participating so remember that your children are coming to WORK. They will get stains and spills on their clothes and you should expect them to acquire these badges of accomplishment.
   
   
2. ATTENDANCE - Please re-read Section 1.A. North Carolina supports a school year of 180 days and we expect students to attend regularly to receive the benefit of the tuition you pay. Promptness is a virtue to be practiced and valued. Your child has a built-in allowance of one hour at the beginning of each day so he will be expected to be present and ready to work at 8:30 a.m. Tardiness will disrupt the group and result in your child's feeling disoriented all morning. Cases of chronic tardiness will be dealt with on an individual basis.
   
   
3. LUNCH, SNACKS, and MILK MONEY - Each child will bring his own nutritious lunch (i.e. sandwich or soup, fruit and/or vegetable). We will provide a list of suggested food that will fill your child's stomach yet allow him to remain alert all afternoon.
   
   No soft drinks are permitted because carbonation is harmful to developing teeth and caffeine promotes distractibility. Drinks might include water (preferred!), juice, milk, or soup. Gum is not permitted at school.
   
   
4. BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
   1. We believe that it is essential to have an environment designed to provide developmentally appropriate activities. We expect the adults working with the students at Hope Lutheran School to be positive, optimistic and loving people who look for and nurture correct and kind behavior. We expect students to respect adults, other children and the rules of the school. As a result, emphasis is placed on good behavior, which is rewarded by unlimited and challenging learning opportunities.
      
      There are daily opportunities to reduce stress and to express sadness, happiness, excitement, anger and boredom. Children always have access to water, sand, paint, clay, woodworking, music, isolation, and conversation as a means of handling their feelings.
      
      In the unlikely event that a child does not thrive in this environment, action is taken to change undesirable behavior. Inappropriate behavior will be corrected as outlined in the school policy and will be ignored when feasible for self-learning.
      
      
   2. Students will be rewarded with gestures and words such as smiles, hugs, thumbs up and statements such as "Your hard work really paid off," "I knew you could do it."
      
      
   3. Exceptional behavior will be acknowledged by tangible rewards such as check marks, stickers, notes home to parents, and trips to the principal's office for additional positive reinforcement.
      
      
   4. Consistent good behavior may earn privileges such as helpers, guides, sitting with the guest of honor, etc.
      
      
   5. Students who exhibit unacceptable behavior will be redirected, reinstructed, removed to another area, or removed to a solitary area until able to re-enter the group.
      
      
   6. The teacher will conduct a personal and private conference with the student to discuss ways to improve behavior.
      
      
   7. The environment will be examined to determine whether re-arrangement of furniture, addition or reduction of learning materials, modifying the daily schedule or re-arrangement of child interaction may solve a problem.
      
      
   8. In the event that behavior becomes a problem, a conference will be arranged for the child, teacher, parents, and principal. Together they will develop a corrective action plan that will benefit the child, school and the family.

5. HONOR CODE - Children will be instructed in ethical behavior, taught how to plan and to do their own work, and will be expected to respect the work and property of others. Because virtually all work will be individualized and completed at school under the teacher's supervision, problems will be handled on an individual basis as they arise.
   
   
6. ELECTRONICS - No electronic devices of any kind are allowed at school. This includes game-boys, hand-held games such as Yahtzee, diaries, telephones, and other such devices. If brought to school, these devices will be collected and sent to the office where a parent must come to collect them.
   
   
7. PROGRESS REPORTS - Progress will be reported regularly through notes, telephone calls, or brief conferences. Written progress reports will be provided at least three times a year and will consist of the goals set for the child to work on that period and an evaluation of the child's progress in meeting those goals. Grades might consist of E for emerging skills, N for needs encouragement and reinforcing activities, P for progressing in a satisfactory manner for this particular child, or I for independent for their age level in addition to written comments or descriptive narrative.
   
   
8. HOMEWORK - In keeping with our beliefs about the necessity for family time, homework will NOT be a daily requirement. Parents are asked to set aside a few minutes before bedtime to play family games, to read to their children or listen to their children read to them. Reflection on the day's activities and discussion of problems might be encouraged during a period of devotion and prayer or around the family dinner table. On occasion, the child might assign himself the task of studying for a spelling or other test, obtaining assistance on a long-term project, or seeking parental guidance or expertise on a particular subject.

1. SCHOOL ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL - Children may arrive beginning at 7:45 a.m. and should be in the building by 8:15 a.m. (please see II.B regarding tardiness). Please follow printed, painted, and hand directions to deliver your child safely to the door. Dismissal is at 3:30 p.m. Children not picked up at 3:30 will go to after-school care where parents will go to pick them up and pay the necessary fee.
   
   
2. EMERGENCIES AND INCLEMENT WEATHER - In case of an emergency such as loss of water or power, parents will be called to pick up their children. In case of a weather event such as snow, parents will be asked to follow the directions given on the radio and television for Gaston County Schools. In an individual emergency, children will be given first aid by a certified responder while parents are notified. Instructions given by the parents on the child's application form will be followed but in all cases, the safety of the child is foremost and care will be provided in a manner that is most likely to preserve the child's health.
   
   
3. IMMUNIZATIONS - Children are required to have all immunizations required by the state of North Carolina. Please consult your pediatrician or health department professional when deciding about optional immunizations. Evidence of immunization is required with the child's application.
   
   
4. MEDICATION AND MEDICAL GUIDELINES - It is our belief that parents should provide the primary health care for children. Most medications can be provided in time-release form that can be administered at home or your pediatrician can offer alternative care that does not involve taking medication to school. Therefore, Hope Lutheran School discourages the use and administration of medication at school. However, when it is sometimes necessary for the health of the child, medication will be kept in the office in a secure place. Upon arrival at school, students should bring all medication directly to the office. All medication must be in the original container stating doctor's recommendations for use and must be accompanied by a note from the parent requesting its administration. Over the counter medications must also be in the original container and be accompanied by parental directions for use. Forms will be available for use by parents needing to send medication to school. Students are not allowed to keep ANY medication in their pockets, purses, or book bags.
   
   Children who have a fever or who are too ill and uncomfortable to participate fully in school activities should be kept at home. This is for the benefit of the child and those children with whom he comes in contact. After an illness, children should be free of fever for 24 hours and free from diarrhea or vomiting for at least 12 hours before returning to school. Children who have lice should be treated with an approved shampoo and kept home until all nits have been removed. Children who have pink eye (conjunctivitis) shall be kept home until antibiotic treatment has begun. Children who have episodes of vomiting or diarrhea or who have a fever will be sent home. Parents must provide a name to call in case they can not be reached for emergencies.
   
   
5. PLAYGROUND AND OUTSIDE PLAY - Many educational experiences take place on the playground and it is the belief of Hope Lutheran School that physical education and recess are an important aspect of building good health habits and providing for stress relief and skill development. Outside play will be provided every day except in cases extreme cold or heavy rain. Prepare for muddy clothes and shoes as well as for cold or windy weather. Children are expected to be able to participate in all school activities and should be kept home if they are not well enough to go outside.
   
   
6. VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS - All visitors and volunteers will report to the office to sign in. No child will be allowed to leave with anyone other than his parent unless he has written permission signed by his parent. In case of an emergency, a telephone call from the parent might be accepted but it must be followed with a written note.
   
   
7. AFTER HOURS USE - Use of the school building and/or playground can be scheduled in the office. No unauthorized use of the playground will be permitted.
   
   
8. FIELD TRIPS - Hope Lutheran School believes that making use of community resources and providing community service is an integral part of its program. Field Trips will be pre-planned and approved by an appropriate committee. Efforts will be made to insure that trips are for educationally sound reasons and occur at developmentally appropriate ages. Not all children at a given age will have identical experiences although similar experiences will be provided (i.e., not all children will pick apples but might pick berries or pumpkins). Some field trips might incur modest costs which parents will be asked to supply. Adequate notice will be given for returning fees and permission slips. No child will go on any trip without written prior permission from his parents.