Welcome to Chapel Hill Christian School (CHCS). Our mission statement says that we partner with families in the education of their children, providing excellent academics and training in Christian values and character.  We are an integral part of The Church at Chapel Hill, working in concert with the Church’s mission to “Worship the Lord, Reach all people, and Equip to Serve”.   

For this school year CHCS offers a nurturing academic environment in our Pre-School for two year olds, our  Pre-K program for three and four year-olds,  and our Elementary School program for children in five-year old kindergarten through fifth grade. 

We offer both half- day and full day options three and four year-olds.  Three-year olds must be potty trained before starting school.  The program for two year-old children is half-day only.

Clear communication between home and school is one of the keys to a successful educational program. This handbook is a tool to communicate with you specific information and requirements set forth by CHCS and by the State of Georgia. After you have read it, please sign the Parent Agreement Form stating that you have read, understood and agreed to cooperate with this information. The Parent Agreement Form must be turned in within 30 days of enrollment at CHCS and will be kept in your child’s file. The handbook is designed as a handy reference tool for you. We suggest you keep it in a convenient place for easy referral throughout the school year.

Immunization Form:
Information regarding all immunizations the child has had, including the month and year when each immunization was administered, must be recorded on the 3231 Immunization Form supplied by the Georgia Department of Health. The immunization form, along with a copy of the child’s birth certificate shall be obtained at the time of admission or within 30 days after admission and kept in the child’s file.

Emergency Form:
The parents’ or guardians’ current home, cell, & work emergency contact information must be on file.  The child’s known allergies to foods or medications and the release permitting emergency medical treatment printed on the application must be on file at the time of admission.

Authorization for Pickup
Authorization for person(s) other than the parents to get the child from school must be on file with RenWeb. Persons other than the child’s parent will be asked to show identification before the child can be released. It is a good practice for the parent to notify the staff or office when someone else is picking up the child on a given day. In emergency situations parents may need another person not on the “Authorization for Pickup” form to get their child. In such cases, the parent must give written authorization or verbal authorization over the phone. The authorization for pickup also includes information indicating anyone who is not allowed to pick up a child.

Re-enrollment:
Re-enrollment begins during the month of January at CHCS.
There is an annual fee for re-enrolling for the following school year.

Withdrawal Notice:
A two-week advance written notice is required to withdraw a child from school.

Sick Children:
A child who is ill upon arrival at school will not be admitted or will be separated from the other children until a parent or guardian arrives to take the child home.

When children have been exposed to communicable diseases such as hepatitis, chicken pox, measles, or strep infection, all staff members and all parents or guardians of children will be notified immediately by the school. For any infectious disease, we ask that you seek your physician’s advice and always notify us of the disease.  If a child becomes ill while at school, the parent or guardian will be contacted and expected to pick up the child within the hour. The child will be separated from the other children until the parent arrives.

If a child has a fever, stomach flu symptoms or severe sore throat, or persistent cough and severe cold symptoms, he/she must be kept at home.   The child may return to school 24 hours after illness and when one of the following happens:

Medication :
Medication or special medical procedures shall be given or applied only when the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) have provided a written order.   All prescription medications must be in their original containers, and parents or guardians must sign the Medication Release Form stating the kind of medication, the amount to be given, and the time it is to be administered.

Allergies:
All allergies to medication and/or other substances must be stated on the emergency and medical forms.

Accidents:
In the case of an accident, assessment and treatment of the injury will be given under the supervision of the teacher and/or administrator. If further treatment is deemed necessary, the parent, guardian, or emergency contact person will be called. All accidents are recorded on an accident report form and sent home with the child.  CHCS requires the form be returned with the signature of the parent.

Inclement and Excessively Hot Weather:
On days of inclement or excessively hot or cold weather, children will be kept inside the classrooms.

Tornadoes:
In the event of a tornado warning, students will be escorted to a safe shelter in one of our inner rooms and instructed in proper safety procedures.  Tornado drills will be conducted periodically during the school year.

Snow Days:
When severe weather conditions exist, please listen to the radio or television for school closings. CHCS follows the Douglas County Public Schools school closing guidelines.  If Douglas County schools are closed, so are we.

Fire Safety:
Fire drills are held during the year in order to familiarize the children with proper and safe procedures for exiting the building in an emergency. In the event of a fire, students will be evacuated according to plan. The school building is inspected on a regular basis by the fire marshal. The most recent inspection information is located in the school office.

Child Abuse
The faculty and staff members of CHCS are required by Georgia state law to report any suspicion or evidence of child abuse.

Parent Communication and Involvement:
CHCS invites all families to establish a parent account with RenWeb School Management System.  Daily communications, discipline notices,  and grades are sent home via RenWeb.  Parents are responsible for keeping their child’s records current,  reflecting any changes in their work  or home addresses or phone numbers, or the child’s physician, health status, etc.

We welcome parent involvement in the school.  Parent involvement benefits not only the school but the parent and child as well. All parents who volunteer regularly must have a current criminal background check on file and must sign in when they come to work in the classroom. Usually parent volunteers will be asked to work in a classroom other than their own child’s classroom.  We encourage all parents to participate in our Parent Volunteer Organization which works on projects to benefit the whole school.

Special Event Days
Throughout the school year the school staff plans special activity days to enhance the curriculum. Parents are encouraged to participate by helping in the classroom or by providing special snacks or activities.

Field Trips:
Field trips are an integral part of the CHCS experience. They enhance learning by offering opportunities not available in the classroom.  Parents will be notified of a forthcoming field trip two to four weeks in advance.  Parents may be responsible for driving their own child on field trips or having the option of keeping them at home on the day of the field trip.

Snacks and Lunch:
Parents will be responsible for providing lunches and morning snacks everyday.  CHCS will provide milk daily and afternoon snacks.  Parents are encouraged not to send sugary snacks, but to focus on nutritious foods such as fruit.  Lunches may be ordered through the office for $2.75 per day, or brought to school by the student.
Birthdays are very special occasions for children. We would be glad to help you celebrate if you would like to bring a special snack to school for your child’s birthday.  Cookies or mini cupcakes are appropriate for the occasion, or even favorite breakfast items.  Please contact the teacher to let her know how you are planning to celebrate.

School-day Hours:
School begins at 8:30 a.m., and is dismissed at either noon or 3:00 pm.

Car Loading Times: 
Cars will be unloaded from 8:15 – 8:30 am.
Cars will be loaded from 12:00 – 12:15 pm, and from 3:00 –3:15 pm.
When students are picked up or delivered to school at times other than regular car loading times, parents or persons authorized by the parents must come into the school to escort the child in or out.   Parents may not allow their child to enter or leave the school without being escorted; and the school will not permit the child to enter or exit without an escort.  

Extended Care:

Curriculum:
CHCS uses a combination of Bob Jones University Press, ACSI and Abeka textbooks, and some novel-based reading.  We teach reading through a strong phonics program.  We believe that this combination provides a challenging academic track with a variety of learning methods and activities to engage every child and maximize his or her learning potential.  We teach technology to all students from First Grade up.

Homework:
Homework assignments will be given and graded as a part of the academic assessment for students from Four-Year Pre-K through the Elementary Grades.  These assignments support parent involvement as parents listen to students read, help them do research or check their students work at home.  Parents should never do the work for their students, but are there to answer questions and help students establish good work habits.  We encourage parents to make homework a priority as they partner with teachers in the education of their children.

Absences:
We plan our programs and classes with the assumption that every child will attend every scheduled class. If your child is unable to attend school, please notify the office. If your child is absent because of illness with a communicable disease, please let us know as soon as possible. 

Make-Up Work:
Elementary students should bring a note to the teacher explaining the cause of each absence.  Students are allowed to make-up tests and work missed during an excused absence.  Students will have one day for each day they were absent to get make-up work turned in without penalty.  Make-up work that is not turned in within the allotted time will result in points deducted or “0”s.

Grading System:
No graded evaluations will be provided for two-year old children. 

For three and four-year old students CHCS uses the following evaluation scale:
Excellent……………………………….......  E
Good………………………………............. G
Satisfactory ……………………………….  S
Need improvement ………………………  N
Unsatisfactory ……………………………. U

CHCS uses the scale below for our Elementary Students: 
A…………….100-90
B……………. 89-80
C……………. 79-70
D……………. 69-60
F…………….. 59- 0

Conduct:
The conduct grade reflects the child’s ability to govern himself in areas of obedience, respect for authority, respect for others and respect for property.

Standardized Achievement Testing:
Standardized Achievement Tests are administered near the end of the school year to evaluate the educational progress of elementary student. The parent receives a copy of this annual evaluation. (Note: This evaluation is based upon national norms and is not the conclusive record of the ability or achievement of the individual child.)

Report Cards:
Report cards are distributed to parents through RenWeb four (4) times a year to give parents an accurate assessment of the child's individual progress.

Retention:
Students in the first through fifth grades will be retained if they have an "F"
as a final grade in any of the following subjects:  Math, Reading or
English.  A student will also be retained who has an "F" as a final grade in any other two subjects, (even if they have passing grades in Reading, Math or English).  A student may also be retained if in the opinion of both the administration and parents, that retention would be beneficial.

Honor Roll:
We recognize both Academic Honor Roll and an  All “A" Honor Roll. Our Honor Rolls are established to recognize exceptional academic achievement accompanied by Christian character.  To be placed on the Academic Honor Roll, a student must achieve grades that are “B’s” or higher. Conduct grades are included.
The "All A" Honor Roll recognizes students who achieve all "A's" with no grade
including conduct lower than an "A".
. Non-academic subjects such as P.E., music, art, etc. (those subjects which assess one's talent or gifting rather than cognitive skills) will not count in the average for Honor Roll.

AWARDS are given at the Awards Program at the end of each school year.

Honor Roll:
Certificates are given to the students who have been listed on the Honor Roll for
the year.

All “A’s” Honor Roll:
An honor pin is given to students who have made the "All A’s" Honor Roll
each 9 weeks for the entire year.

Perfect Attendance:
Certificates are awarded for perfect attendance with less than three tardies.

Uniform Dress Code:
CHCS requires all students except two year-olds to wear a CHCS school shirt with khaki or navy blue shorts, long pants, skirts or skorts to school every day.  School shirts will all be purchased from Land’s End and have the CHCS logo applied by Land’s End.  Girls may wear jumpers, dresses and skirts from Land’s End in navy, khaki or the navy plaid only.   Jumpers and dresses will need the CHCS logo.  Parents may purchase khaki or plain navy blue pants, skorts, skirts and shorts from the retailer of their choice.  Outer-wear such as jackets and shoes are not required to be uniform.  Catalogs with our school code number for purchasing are available in the office.

Shirt Styles:
Shirt style choices will include long or short sleeved polo shirts, blouses, and turtlenecks, either mock or regular style, sweaters or sweater vests and sweat shirts. (No tee shirts either long or short sleeved, will be worn to school without a school shirt over them except on special dress days.)

Colors:
All students will need to purchase one cobalt blue polo shirt to be worn with khaki bottoms for special days when we want a uniform look. In cold weather this uniform shirt may be worn over a long-sleeved black tee or turtleneck. Other shirt color choices will be up to the individual student/family to choose from the solid colors that Land’s End makes. 
All school shirts, dresses or jumpers must have the CHCS logo embroidered on it by Land’s End. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences:
Parent/teacher conferences for each child beginning with three-year old students will be held in October.  At conferences the teachers will give parents information about the child’s progress. The teachers and the administrator are available throughout the year for individual conferences with parents when needed.

Discipline:
We believe the education of children is enhanced by an orderly atmosphere.  Child guidance has an important place in the program at CHCS. Parents and teachers  work together in order to be consistent and effective in training children to use good manners, respect and obey authority, and make appropriate choices in a classroom setting. Each classroom teacher has implemented a classroom government policy which delivers consistent consequences for age appropriate lapses in self-government.  However, repeated challenges in the classroom, deliberate disobedience or deliberate injury or threat to another student will result in parents being notified in writing  that child’s behavior has warranted a visit to the Principal’s Office.  This is designed to inform parents of problems either with academics or with behavior and attitude. Parents may be asked for a behavior conference to insure that that the child’s behavior complies with the standard expected by the CHCS.  We have developed a formula that we feel is appropriate in shaping and encouraging responsible behavior in children. If you have any questions about our disciplinary procedures, please talk to your child’s teacher or the administrator.

Solicitation:
CHCS may not be used as a setting for solicitation.

Transportation:
The school does not provide transportation services.

Gum:
Please do not allow your child to bring gum to school at any time.

Personal Hygiene:
All possible provisions have been made to assure that children and teachers follow appropriate rules of personal hygiene. Anti-bacterial soap is used for hand washing before meals and after toilet use.  Hand sanitizer is regularly used in the classrooms.   Disposable paper towels are used for drying hands.

Toys:
Please do not allow your child to bring toys to school except on designated share days.

Non-Discrimination Policy:
 The Chapel Hill Christian School maintains a firm policy in hiring employees prohibiting discrimination against persons of any race, color, or ethnic origin.  In addition, the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admission policies and other school programs.

Statement of Faith:

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21)

2. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30)

3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, (John 10:33), His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23), His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15 & 7:26), His miracles (John 2:11), His vicarious and atoning death (1 Cor. 15 :3 ), His resurrection (John 11:25, 1 Cor. 15:4 ) His ascension to the right hand of God ( Mark 16:19), His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11,  Revelation 19:11).

4. We believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature; and that we are justified on the single ground of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We believe that only by God’s grace and through faith alone we are saved. ( John 3:16-19, 5:24, Romans 3:23, 5:8-9, Ephesians 2:8-10,  Titus 3:5)

5. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those that are saved to the resurrection of life, and those that are lost to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-20)

6. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20, Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)

7. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (Romans 8:13-14, 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20, Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)