HOME AND SCHOOL ORGANIZATION

Parents and community members maintain an active Home and School Organization which coordinates the Room Parent Program, Parent Night, Science Fair, Education Fair, Track and Field Day, and other programs.   Parents are encouraged to volunteer and be an active part of this organization.

HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS

We realize that formal school is a choice and many parents choose to home school their children.  We support parents who are able to make this choice and seek ways to strengthen home school education for the good of the child. Schools have resources and professional expertise which may be unavailable to a parent at home.   Parents often search for outside programs to round their child’s education.  The school is open to exploring ways in which we can support parents through individual classes, the music program, sports, and other aspects of student life.  Parents should contact the principal for further information.

INSURANCE

Student insurance is provided to students of the school for accidents occurring during school functions. Costs and coverage are explained in a brochure available at the school office.

The first $500 of covered charges will be paid regardless of other insurance.  Additional amounts in excess of $500 will be charged to the family insurance plan.  Student insurance will pay all covered charges above $500 not covered by the family insurance plan.  If there is no family insurance plan, the student insurance will pay all charges above $500.  Repair or replacement of glasses is excluded.

LIBRARY

A school library is available for student and parent use.  Books should be returned within two weeks after check-out. Reference materials should not be removed from the library.  The library will charge replacement costs for books not returned within one month after date due.  All books will be due two weeks before the closing of school, and replacement costs will be charged if all books are not returned by the last day of school.

LOANS TO STUDENTS

The school will not loan money to students.  Parents may deposit money at the office for emergencies

LOCKERS

Lockers or storage bins are provided for each student.  Students are encouraged to keep their personal belongings in the lockers and locked at all times.  The school assumes no responsibility for damage to or loss of personal property left on the school premises.  The school reserves the right to search lockers at any given time.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Conferences are formally held at the end of first and third quarters.  Parent or teacher initiated conferences may also be held as needed at any time.  It is required that these meetings occur when the teacher is not in or scheduled for a class.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE

The matter of dress is a sensitive area.  Because of differences in individual body size and maturity, the same garment may fit two different people in two very different ways.  Different families may have different standards of dress.  Please understand that it is not our desire to dictate individual standards of dress in any of our students, but rather to encourage each student to be Christ-centered, choosing a manner of dress that would be modest, neat, bringing glory to God rather than to the wearer, and appropriate for various activities that happen within a school day.  We believe that attire is not a salvation issue, but as a group, it is important to have the same standard for each student.  We do not wish the matter of dress to be an area of difficulty between students and teachers.  In a very deliberate effort to prevent such a problem, we ask that our students (K-11) abide by the following guidelines for dress: 

• Shirts:  Students are expected to wear polo shirts with sleeves. Button-up dress shirts with collars are acceptable.   When needed for warmth, a turtleneck instead of a polo shirt.  Midriffs must be covered even when the student is bending or stretching.  T-shirts may be worn for P.E. class only. 

• Sweaters or a zip-up fleece may be worn over polo shirts for warmth.  Sweatshirts or hooded garments are acceptable for P.E. or recess only. 

• Pants/Skirts/Shorts:  Students are expected to wear solid-color pants, slacks, shorts or skirts without designs, decals or pictures.  Modest (when sitting, bending or standing) length shorts may be worn.  Shorts are considered to be modest when they are no shorter than 3 inches above the floor when kneeling.  Girls may wear skirts that are long enough to reach the top of the kneecap.  Pants, skirts and shorts need to be worn at the waist. 
  

• Shoes must be worn at all times.  Tennis shoes and socks must be worn for P.E. classes.

• Students should wear clothing in their size.  Oversized or undersized shirts are not appropriate.  Saggy pants where underclothing would be seen, or low-riding pants are not appropriate.

• Clothing should be free from pictures or words (aside from small name-brand emblem.)

• Caps and hats are not to be worn indoors whether at school or on a field trip.

• We encourage our ladies to be very natural in appearance.  Natural looking make-up and nail polish may be worn.

• Jewelry of any kind is not to be worn on campus or at any school sponsored activity.  This includes “Livestrong” type bracelets, friendship bracelets, chastity rings, etc. 

Formal Dress

For special events, week of prayer, some music performances and field trips, students may be asked to come to school dressed more formally.

• Formal dress requires boys and young men to wear a collared shirt with or without a tie, and long slacks.
• Formal dress for girls and young women requires a dress, dress slacks, or a blouse and skirt.

Banquet Attire

• General guidelines apply.
• Young women may wear dresses of knee length or longer.
• Dresses must have modest necklines and must not be sheer.  Spaghetti straps are not appropriate.  Dresses should have sleeves, or straps must be at least 12 inches wide.
• Young men should wear collared dress shirts and dress slacks.
• Dress shoes are required for all students.

Swimsuits at special events and field trips

• Girls and young women may wear modest one piece suits or a Tankini styled top with short type bottoms. Midriffs should be completely covered.
• Boys and young men must wear modest swim shorts secured at the waist.

SEARCH AND INTERVIEW

The school reserves the right to interview a student and to search the locker or personal property of any student at any given time at its sole and absolute discretion.  Interviews, inspections, and searches may be conducted randomly, without cause.  The purpose is to check compliance to the student guidelines.  If materials are discovered which violate school policy, they may be confiscated and used as evidence in determining disciplinary action. 

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Eighth Grade Class

Eighth grade is the student transition between the elementary experience and high school.  The eighth grade class is an organized group with class officers.

Class Officers
Students elect class officers under the guidance of the class sponsor.  Meetings are held to plan fundraisers, the class trip, an outreach project, and a class gift to the school.  Class colors and a motto are also selected.  Meetings give students an opportunity to learn and use a simple subset of Robert’s Rules of Order. 

Graduation
The end of the eighth year is celebrated with a graduation ceremony on the evening of the last Thursday of school.  Students actively participate in the planning of the graduation program.   Seventh graders and their parents are also participants in these events.

Class Gifts
Besides raising money for class projects, the students have also used part of their funds for a class gift to the school and for a mission project. 

Sports Program

The School is a league member of the Denver Metro Christian Athletic Association.  Our sports program is offered to provide students an extra opportunity to improve their soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball skills.  It is the goal of the program to instill a sense of cooperation, teamwork, and sportsmanship into the lives of the young people who participate.
  - "... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." -  1 Cor. 10:31

Student Association

Students in grades 7-12 elect officers which coordinate activities for the student body of the school.  Activities include banquets, alternative education days, buddy tutoring projects, and other extra-curricular activities.

Yearbook

TELEPHONE

The school telephone is a business phone and needs to be kept free for business calls.  Students should minimize calls placed in order to obtain information about rides home or after school plans. Students wanting to go home with other students after school should make prior arrangements at home.  No phone should be used without permission.

TUESDAY FOLDERS

UNSCHEDULED SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND DELAYED STARTS

A delayed start may be implemented because of conditions.  A delayed start will usually be one hour later than normal.  In general, on snowy days, the school will be open if nearby public schools are open.

VEHICLE POLICY

Vista Ridge Academy cannot accept responsibility for liability of vehicles while on campus or while driving to and from school.  Drivers should be considerate of others when driving vehicles on campus.  Vehicles should be driven under control at all times and speeds should never exceed 5 mph.  Off road vehicles, including but not limited to:  four-or three-wheelers, dirt bikes and ATV’s are not permitted on Vista Ridge Academy’s property without specific written permission of the Administration.  If permission is given, all safety gear and appropriate clothing is required.

Students who wish to drive to school must make application through the Principal’s Office.  A certificate of liability insurance must be presented showing that the student is insured.  Students must agree to follow these vehicle guidelines:

• abide by all state and local traffic laws;
• drive carefully at all times so tires do not squeal or draw undue attention (this includes doing doughnuts, etc.);
• drive only on approved roads and parking lots;
• use the vehicle only as transportation to and from school during appropriate times;
• park only in the assigned parking space;
• permit no students to ride in or on the vehicle.  This is the responsibility of the driver;
• allow no one, including driver, to be in or near the vehicle during school hours;
• do not loiter in the parking lot; and
• play only appropriate music, at low levels, in the vehicle while on or near campus.

Failure to comply with the above rules may result in the loss of on-campus driving privileges.

VISITORS

All visitors must register at the office before entering a classroom.  Parents are welcome to observe the school program in action.  Arrangements should be made with school administration at least one day in advance.  Students must obtain a pass from the office and secure the consent of all their teachers one day in advance before bringing non-adult visitors to school.  Preschool children should be accompanied by a parent when visiting school.

WORKING STUDENTS

Limited jobs are available on campus for student readers and janitors.  All earnings from campus jobs are to be applied to the student’s account unless the account is fully current.