RBCS Family Handbook

R B C S
FAMILY HANDBOOK
2005 - 2006

2102 North Partin Drive Niceville, Fl 32578-1507

A Ministry of the Northwest Florida Christian Education Association

(850) 678-7358 Fax: (850) 729-2513

Mr. Donald Larson Superintendent

Put on the whole
armor of God,
Ephesians 6:11

STUDENT CONDUCT

        Attendance/Tardiness
        Guidelines for Student Behavior
                Positive Stewardship
                Dress
                Dress Codes
                Unauthorized Articles
                Lunches
                Classroom Control
        Philosophy of Discipline

        Academy Policies
                    Attendance
                    Attendance Appeal
                    Pre-planned Absence
                    Make-up Work
                    Truancy
                    Tardiness
                    Leaving Campus
                    Suspensions
                    Auditing Classes
                    Teacher and Office Assists
                    Dropping Classes
                    Lockers
                    Internet and Computer Use
                    Telephones

            Emergency Weather Procedures
            Field Trips
            Holidays
            Homework Policies
            Illness/Medication
            Insurance
            Lost and Found
            Lunches/Snacks
            Parent-Teacher Meetings and Conferences
            Report Cards
            School Pictures
            Telephone
            Transportation
            Visitors

Welcome to the RBCS family. I believe God has richly blessed us with a Board of Directors, faculty, staff, volunteers, parents and supporting friends that have combined to make the RBCS program one of the best biblically-based programs of high academic quality available in America today. The current RBCS FAMILY HANDBOOK (FH) is maintained on this web site, www.rbcs.org. A printed copy is available as a handy reference copy for those who need it. The FH will help orient you to our school, and provide information you can use throughout the year. Changes made since the revision date of the printed edition will be found in the web site edition. The FH does not contain all RBCS policies. The RBCS CORPORATE MANUAL, TEACHER'S MANUAL, and RBCS STANDARD PROCEDURES are also authoritative policy documents.

Let me begin your orientation by telling you about the organization and staffing of the ministry. RBCS is a ministry of the Northwest Florida Christian Education Association (NFCEA), an expandable association of churches. The NFCEA Board of Directors employs a Superintendent to administrate its schools: the RBCS Niceville campus and the Fort Walton Beach Campus, which could be supplemented in the future with school operations elsewhere in the Okaloosa-Walton area. The Superintendent staffs the school with employees and volunteers. A current organizational chart with the names of key personnel and department phone numbers is available on our web site at "Contact us."

Again, welcome to the RBCS ministry. RBCS is here to help parents carry out their biblical responsibility to educate their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. RBCS desires to help in a team effort designed to lead our students toward Christian maturity. I ask parents and students to read through the items of philosophy, policy, and procedures in our Family Handbook to facilitate our having a productive, smooth and peaceful year.

In the summer of l973, when God called certain people to establish Rocky Bayou Christian School (RBCS) to provide students with a biblically-based, Christ-centered education, many problems had to be solved. Who would be our first students? Who would teach them? What curriculum materials would we use to help them grow to Christian maturity? What financial resources could we use? What legal steps are required to establish such a ministry? How could we picture the mission that the school was to carry out?

Primary responsibility for answering such questions fell upon Major Bob Grete, a USAF SOF plans officer stationed at Eglin. Bob was conducting a Bible study for interested SOF personnel, including illustrator Bill Brannon of Niceville. Bob mentioned the foundation of the RBCS ministry and its purpose to guide students to Christian maturity. He mentioned the ministry needed a logo -- an RBCS crest that would express the school's mission in terms of the whole armor of God:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.... (Ephesians 6:10-18, KJV)

Bill accepted the challenge. A little later on that same day Bill called Major Grete to his office to view the results of his work stating, "If it's not what you want or if there is anything that isn't just right, I'll do it again." Upon seeing the beautiful color crest mounted on a wood-grained background, Major Grete easily discerned that God had immediately given to Bill a beautiful concept to express the whole armor of God needed for Christian maturity in today's world. Thus, the RBCS crest was born.

Since developing the RBCS crest, RBCS has adopted the Knight, holding a shield of the crest's design, as the school's "mascot." The Knight symbolizes one who is armed and ready to carry out the commandments of his King. Jesus gave the following "Great Commission" to His disciples:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20, NASV)

The RBCS ministry desires to equip its students with the biblical world view, Christian character, and skills necessary to be a Knight for King Jesus in any pattern of life into which He calls them.
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Admission.
Admission to RBCS is based upon academic achievement and behavioral criteria. RBCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, athletic teams, clubs, or any other school-administered program. TO TOP

Application Procedures.
For each new academic year, a current APPLICATION PACKET provides the information and forms necessary to make application for admission to RBCS. To enroll a new student, follow the instructions in the current packet. Please note that Florida law requires students entering a Florida school for the first time to have a physical examination plus a current CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION signed by a Florida doctor. All students must have a birth certificate, DH form 680 (Certificate of Immunization), and DH Form 3040 (Certificate of Physical Examination) in their school records. Failure to comply with this regulation could result in suspension from school and even prosecution of the parent or legal guardian(s) by the state. The DH forms may be obtained at the Okaloosa County Public Health Unit, or from your doctor, and must accompany the RBCS STUDENT APPLICATION FORM.

State law requires that all students attending Florida schools have certain immunizations:
chicken pox immunizations - 3 year olds through 2^nd grade students
Hepatitis B series of 3 shots - 3 year olds through 5^th grade and 7^th - 12^th grades
Td (tetanus/diptheria) booster - grades 7-12
Second MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) - 5 year olds through 12^th grades
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Testing
We recommend that students applying for grades 2 and above schedule the California Achievement Test (CAT) as early as possible to avoid delays in class placement. Also, parents of a newly-enrolled student must attend the RBCS Newcomer Orientation as well as participate in any admissions conference a Principal requires to review test results and insure proper grade placement for their child(ren).

After admission of your child(ren), please follow the schedule provided by the current new year Parent Letter sent out prior to 1 July to insure a smooth transition into the academic year.

Early Application Program.
Early application makes our facilities and faculty planning easier for the next year. Those who help with early commitments save money on their application fees. Families enrolling students for an academic year during the early application period (prior to 1 May) are able to save substantially over enrolling 1 May or later. Check the current application package for applicable savings.

Re-enrollment.
Re-enrollment is not automatic; application must be made by each student for each academic year. Re-applicants, however, may use the EZ DATA VERIFICATION FORMs distributed to the parents of enrolled students during the early application period, for simplified re-application.
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Withdrawals.
Withdrawal procedure requires the payment of all fees due, return of library books, texts, and other school property, and the proper documentation of such actions on the STUDENT WITHDRAWAL FORM. The Cumulative Student Record (CSR) can be given to the parent or mailed to the student's next school when the withdrawal process is complete, current grades are calculated, the Principal screens the CSR for accuracy and completeness, and copies required by law are made. Advance notice of withdrawal will help avoid delays in releasing a CSR.
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1. God gives parents the responsibility to educate their children according to His truth.

2. Primary responsibility for helping families carry out God's instructions belongs to the local church, whose officers are in a position to accurately evaluate the family's financial status, give guidance in terms of biblical principles, and supply benevolence from the congregation's tithes and offerings or a specially designated Christian Education Scholarship Fund, as appropriate. To enable RBCS to provide financial aid to needy families, gifts specifically designated to the RBCS Scholarship Fund are necessary. To provide evaluation of family need, RBCS turns to Family Financial Needs Assessment (FFNA), to which families may make application.

3. We would like RBCS operating expenses to be covered by operating revenues. This has been a difficult goal to achieve, as has that of providing a satisfactory wage to members of the staff.

4. Fund raising activities and tax-deductible giving, to include designated gifts to specific projects, will be used to make capital investments to enhance the quality of the RBCS program or retire debt if necessary. If increased support is forthcoming in this area, we will be able to "hold the line" on tuition schedules, thus making an RBCS education a greater value per tuition dollar as years go by.

5. RBCS is trying to maintain a debt-free financial plan providing adequate financial resources for a high-quality educational program year after year.

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Success in meeting our financial goals will require that RBCS parents and friends:

1. promptly pay required fees and tuition. Our automatic withdrawal payment policy has helped RBCS achieve this goal.

2. help us keep our costs down by providing volunteer services that would otherwise have to be provided by paid staff. We have benefited from volunteer bus drivers, classroom aides, cleaning personnel, etc. Such volunteers make firm commitments to provide services that must be continually and reliably performed. We also need some volunteer work on an occasional basis. For example, if we can have productive 3-Hour Club Workdays, we can have a safe and beautiful campus at minimum maintenance cost. Also, some folks have donated needed items for us (e.g., the exterior lights for our buildings, library books, computer and science equipment, athletic equipment, musical instruments, a lawn mower, tools, etc.). If we all work together, we can hold costs down.

3. supplement operating revenues with tax deductible gifts. To have financial success, RBCS must broaden its revenue base. If we can expand the individual, church, business, and foundation support for the school, we can strengthen our program without putting our financial health at risk.

We encourage parents, students, staff, and friends of the RBCS ministry to take an active interest in our school, and do what we can to work together for the highest standards of spiritual, moral, academic, and financial health.

A letter entitled RBCS FINANCIAL INFORMATION is generated in April to show accurate information for the next academic year. It may be obtained at the RBCS Business Office.

Attendance/Tardiness.
Christians must develop a sense of responsibility for their commitments, to include being punctual. Failure to develop the habit of showing up on time, or developing a practice of not performing a duty when it is possible (although difficult) to do, will neither promote career success nor glorify God. Students must plan their personal affairs around their classroom responsibilities. The training environment of the school must encourage students to develop high standards of punctuality and reliability in keeping scheduled commitments.

Students are absent from school any time they are not attending a scheduled class or home room period.

Students are tardy for a class when they are not sitting quietly in their seats by the time the class-start tone ceases to sound (or the teacher officially calls the class to order if the tone is not available) but do arrive in class subsequent to that time. One tardy unit is to be recorded for each minute, or fraction thereof, a student is late. Thus if a student reports to class one minute, forty seconds late, the teacher will report the student guilty of two tardy units.

An "authorized" absence is one for which there is parental approval, which means that the parent relieves RBCS of supervisory responsibility for the student. An "unauthorized" absence is one for which neither RBCS nor the parent has given authority. The student is thus truant.

An "excused" absence is an authorized absence due to a medical or other parentally certified bona fide emergency. An "authorized unexcused" absence is one for which there is parental approval, but to which a medical excuse or bona fide emergency does not apply. Teachers will appropriately reflect all absences in class grading systems.

The consequences for unexcused student tardies/absences are determined by the Department Principals. Excessive absences from Academy classes can result in loss of credit and/or driver license privileges when standards required by law are not met.
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Guidelines for Student Behavior.
The Scripture says that "the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1 Tim 1:5 NASV) While God has given His people both DOs and DON'Ts, the thrust of the New Covenant is that followers of Jesus Christ must, in Christian liberty, obey Jesus Christ by living in accordance with His law of love. Jesus said to His disciples (followers):

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:10-13,17 NASV)

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity [base of operations] for the flesh, but through love serve one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Gal 5:13,16 NASV)

The Scripture clearly tells us what the deeds of the flesh are (Gal 5:19-21), what the fruit of the Spirit is (Gal 5:22-23), and that a man's actions flow from the basic nature of his heart (1 John 3:1-24). At Rocky Bayou Christian School, we pray God would send us His children to educate, whether before or after he calls them unto salvation. We desire to reach their hearts that they may, from the heart, be disciples of Christ.

The word "discipline" is from the same root as the word "disciple." As we pursue the goal of our instruction, we wish to avoid the externalistic, legalistic, and Pharisaic approach which risks clouding the purity of the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, and destroys Christian liberty by reducing the Christian life to "Old Covenant" style law-keeping. Ours is not the approach of the humanistic world which puts confidence in the inherent goodness of man and his ability to reform himself through law. Scripture teaches the inability of man to cleanse himself from sin and marks all men as haters of Jehovah until they experience regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Recognizing the world and its philosophy is opposed to Christ and His truth, RBCS attempts to follow biblical principles by applying sufficient law to restrain wickedness, build good habits, and provide necessary procedural structure. Then, by using the Word of God, we seek to encourage God's people to voluntarily discipline themselves in Christian self-government and liberty that they, through love, might serve one another. Accordingly, we offer the following guides to students and encourage each one to purpose to build a Christian society at RBCS so that we all can experience the joy Jesus referred to in John 15:11.
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Positive Stewardship.
Basic to God's law of love is that we respect the resources God has given to us in stewardship. Damaging or wasting resources (e.g., property, time, talents) is contrary to God's law of love. If behavior reflects poor stewardship, it should be corrected.

Examples of poor stewardship include taking or using property without the permission of the owner. We should not touch another's possessions without specific permission; to do otherwise is theft. Applying this, a student should leave other students' possessions alone, should not take books owned by RBCS without specific authority (most books will be issued by number), and should not sit on tables, counters, or desk tops since it risks damaging them. Musical instruments in the buildings should not be played without specific permission. Even if they are a student's own, playing them may disturb students in class, and therefore steal from them the quiet atmosphere they need to do their work. Being late to class steals time from others and cuts down on productivity. If a student fails to do the best work possible, he is stealing from his parents who are paying for his education. Running on the sidewalk endangers the safety of others, thus violating Christ's law of love. Good stewardship creates a quiet and productive atmosphere free from fear of harassment, damage, loss, and injury. We all should work to establish that joyful atmosphere.

Dress.
Perhaps one of the most difficult areas in which to apply the biblical principles expressed above is that of appearance and dress. Certain principles must be taught to our children as spiritual truths, others as moral principles and still others as simply "the rules." That Christians should do all things under Christ's authority is a spiritual principle. That all children should obey their parents in the Lord and that gentlemen and ladies should dress modestly are examples of biblical moral principles. A school regulation prescribing that male students be clean shaven is simply a rule established to achieve school goals that have nothing to do with either spirituality or morality. Our children must understand that they are not made spiritual by keeping either moral law or rules. Spirituality involves a repentant person's submission to the Holy Spirit and God's Word. Scripture makes clear that our relationship to God is established by Him through Christ's atonement, not through our law-keeping. Standards of dress can help us build good habits, maintain a Christian testimony, give external evidence of inward beauty, etc., but cannot produce godly Christian students.

Parents are responsible before God for setting standards for their family. Applicable biblical (moral) principles include modesty and distinction between the girls and the boys (1 Tim 2:9; Deut 22:15; 1 Cor 11:14, 15). Cleanliness and neatness are related to health and general social acceptance. Obedience to rules is related to moral principles in that children are commanded to obey those in authority over them. Our young people must develop not only obedience but also deference (limiting freedom in order not to offend the wishes of those in authority). Future employers may frequently ask a person to wear a uniform, adopt a certain hair style, or follow certain procedures with which the subordinate does not agree. We desire to train our children to face such situations with cheerful deference rather than a rebellious spirit. Dress standards help the school develop habits of appearance and good behavior that will be of value to students in maturity. The RBCS dress standards provide guidance for the purchase of clothing for school, and form the basis for counseling students in good standards of dress as well as prohibiting certain attire when necessary. Faculty "Deans" are appointed to help students develop appropriate standards.

Unauthorized Articles.
Students are authorized those things necessary to properly perform their responsibilities (e.g., appropriate dress, texts, personal Bible, pencils, pens, paper, and notebooks). Materials or inappropriate decorations such as those glorifying pornography or the alcohol, drug, or rock culture, are not authorized in any form. Students should not bring items of athletic equipment, knives, guns, books, magazines, toys, calculators, compact disks, computer games, laser pointers, etc., without specific teacher permission. Student possession of chewing gum is a prima facie case of rebellion against authority and will warrant application of the rod of correction or other appropriate consequences. Possession of unauthorized drugs or any paraphernalia from the drug abuse culture is grounds for immediate expulsion. Possession of anything in between (e.g., tobacco, alcoholic beverages, rock music paraphernalia) warrants disciplinary action ranging from the rod to expulsion, depending upon the case.

Lunches. TO TOP
Food will not be eaten in the buildings without specific teacher permission. Students bringing their lunches from home must eat what they bring or take it home (with the exception of inedible waste). Food is not to be traded with other students.

Classroom Control.
There are three standard rules for classroom control. Students will 1) not talk without permission, 2) not get out of their seats without permission, and 3) give their attention to the teacher's instruction.

Thus, when a class is called to order, all students must cease talking immediately, stay or get into their seats, and listen for instructions. During class, a student must have permission for talking or rising from the seat. When talking is authorized, it should be conducted in quiet, conversational tones.

If all obey the principles of God's law of love, RBCS will have a joyful society without a multitude of rules and regulations. Let's protect our joy.
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Philosophy of Discipline.
The "Guidelines for Student Behavior" section above expresses a biblical philosophy of discipline from the perspective of the student trying to develop a self-disciplined life. A biblical philosophy of discipline from the parent/teacher perspective is expressed in the RBCS TEACHER'S MANUAL, from which the following paragraphs are extracted. Since attendance at RBCS is a privilege and not a right, RBCS will neither admit nor retain students who will not conform to required behavioral standards, or whose parent(s) will not commit themselves to the "Statement of Cooperation" on the RBCS STUDENT APPLICATION FORM which requires family support of those standards.

"Discipline" is a word with several meanings or nuances. Secular government schools lack proper discipline in several ways because God's principles of child training, order, righteousness, and punishment are not followed. The purpose of the paragraphs below is to briefly describe the framework for proper discipline, and to prescribe some specific policies for teachers to use at RBCS.

One way to use the word discipline is to refer to the entire educational or training process designed to develop correct understanding, habits, and behavior in one growing toward maturity. RBCS attempts to discipline students in the sense that teachers are to be "teaching them to [obey] all that I [Christ] have commanded you...." (Matt 28:20) It is the concept of discipling or training children to be followers of Christ. The child is to learn God's truth in the home, church, and school, whether God has regenerated the child yet or not. The lost need God's Word since "faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ." (Rom l0:l7) We should pray that God works the miracle of the new birth in the hearts of our as yet unsaved children as we minister to them God's truth. Paul greatly profited from biblical training even while he was blind to the gospel and the knowledge that Jesus was Jehovah. When God brought salvation to him, Paul had a tremendous advantage in Christ's service over those Gentiles God saved under Paul's ministry. Only the regenerate, of course, can be true disciples of Christ. For the discipline of all children, however, both regenerate and not yet regenerate, it is appropriate to train them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. No other training is acceptable to Christian parents.

Basic to this concept of discipline is the fact that the child is created in the image of God. He is not a product of evolutionary forces. He is not an animal to be conditioned through modification of his environment. The child is fallen in Adam, and therefore, his problem is his sinful nature. The problem is not in his environment, but in himself. Through the saving work of Christ on the cross and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, the child may become a new creature. He then has the moral duty to walk in the Spirit of God. In our teaching and practice, we should not confuse morality with spirituality. For Christians and pagans, obeying God's law is a moral duty. Performing that duty may be evidence of spirituality, but that does not make one spiritual. Only God can make a human being spiritual.

Modern statist educational philosophy is humanistic. It is premised on the inherent goodness of the child, and therefore, is child-centered and permissive. There is no place for the grace of God, and God's law is not valid. The teacher in the Christian school must assist the parent in bringing up the child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This is a biblical concept of discipline.

This leads to a second way to use the word discipline. We often refer to an orderly classroom as a disciplined classroom. A teacher maintaining good classroom control is said to have good discipline in the classroom. A disruptive class is the biggest time waster in the schools. While some persons are gifted in the area of maintaining order, discipline can be learned, and teachers can make steady improvement in this area. A key to having good discipline is the desire to have it. The Christian school has every advantage over a government school in this respect. The students are sent willingly by the parents, not by compulsion.

Standing in loco parentis, teachers must require the same obedience parents should. The child is commanded by God to honor and obey his parents and, consequently, those who are delegated parental authority in the classroom. The classroom is not a democracy in which the children decide by majority vote what they are going to do.

God's Word requires us to make good use of our time. The children are to be taught Christian stewardship of time. A quiet, orderly atmosphere is to be maintained at all times in the classroom. God's Word requires us to respect our neighbor's property. In biblical times, property that was stolen was restored by the person who stole it. A pencil that is deliberately broken, a sheet of paper that is scribbled upon, a book that is improperly cared for, a desk that is defaced, or any other destructive acts on the part of the students are dealt with in terms of the biblical principles of restitution detailed in Appendix F of the TEACHER'S MANUAL.

Desks are to be kept neat and clean. Books, pencils, paper, etc., are not to be left on the floor. At the end of the day, all belongings are to be in the students' desks or lockers. The teacher is instructed to speak with a calm voice at all times. Students must also learn to speak quietly, and one at a time. Students should not be permitted to talk back to a teacher. Good behavior should be praised and bad behavior reprimanded. Individual offenders are therefore singled out for corrective action without punishing "the righteous." (A teacher who tries to be a buddy to the students is usually unable to maintain good order.)

Students are not supposed to run to the playground or the buses. When classes are dismissed, a quiet and orderly atmosphere prevails when children are let out by rows. The quietest row and those who have straightened up their desks first are usually dismissed first.

Two other matters in connection with classroom discipline ought to be mentioned. One is that homework should always be done unless the student brings an excuse from home. The other is that successful discipline can often be attained by keeping in close touch with the parents. In some instances, the parent has not maintained good discipline at home (that is often why there is a problem at school). In such cases, we may be able to guide the family to biblical principles. This is a Principal - level activity. One of the biggest mistakes is to ignore problems as though they will vanish with the passage of time. Such a notion is unrealistic and unsuccessful. Problems should not be avoided and simply passed on to another teacher; but they should be solved in light of the Bible.

Applying Scripture introduces a third way to use the word discipline -- a person's subjection to rules or laws. A disciplined person is one who adheres to standards. A self-disciplined person does not need external coercion to adhere to the standards. What standards should a Christian adhere to? The biblical answer is the law of Christ -- a royal law of liberty that defines God's law of love in harmony with God's standards of righteousness taught to man since Adam walked in the Garden of Eden. Man's laws, to include RBCS rules and teacher decisions, must be in harmony with God's principles of righteousness.

What must we do when a child violates God's principles of righteousness or the rules and instructions he is responsible to obey? It is impossible to cover all situations in this document. Books have been written on this fourth way in which we use the word discipline -- the consequences of wrongdoing such as correction, restitution, chastisement, and separation (which could extend to suspension or expulsion for students, and imprisonment or death for criminals). The word punishment is often used for this concept of discipline. The punishment must be commensurate with the offense and take into account the offender. Repeated misbehavior must be dealt with more severely than a first offense. Here are a few basic principles to guide us in this area.

A common element in the correction of wrongdoers is instruction from the Word of God. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:l6-l7) We should insure that the student understands what behavior was wrong and why. Sometimes it is useful to require the student to write Scripture or an essay to focus attention on the content of God's Word. (Several appropriate verses are written by category in Appendix J of the TEACHERS MANUAL. The practice of writing l00 times "I will not talk in class" (or whatever it might be), however, is of dubious value. In most cases, such corrective instruction is all that is necessary for the child to confess (agree with God that the behavior was wrong) and repent. For Christians, it should be all that is necessary, but even Christians can behave like fools by rebellious behavior.

Chastisement is the proper consequence for rebellion against authority. At RBCS, the word chastisement refers to correction by inflicting pain with the rod of correction. This is biblical and is even permitted by the state in Florida government schools. Guidelines for applying the "rod of correction" are detailed in Appendix G of the TEACHER'S MANUAL. Children are not to be slapped. Bizarre methods of punishment are not to be used.

Whenever possible, we prefer that chastisement be handled by the teacher. Children are not to be sent to Principals for minor offenses. If the teacher is unable to cope with the situation, he is to then discuss it with the Principal. Appropriate suggestions will then be made and steps taken to correct the situation.

Repeated rebellious or uncontrolled behavior may indicate a scornful attitude toward the things of God. The biblical method of dealing with a scorner (who by definition will not accept instruction or reproof) is separation. Since it may take some time to diagnose a true scorner, there are phases of separation which may be used. A teacher may reassign seats to achieve a desired separation. This may need to be done in coordination with the home room teacher in case a child should be permanently separated from another child with whom he creates problems. Children are not put in corners of the room. It is better to separate them to a place "under the teacher's nose." One important reason for this is that frequently they will pass the time by marking up the corner with a pen or pencil. Another reason is that the child will hardly benefit from the teaching. A third reason is that it makes a poor impression on persons visiting the room. There are other ways of getting results. A student is not to be separated by simply putting him outside the classroom. A further kind of separation is brought about when we conclude that a student is a scorner. He may be suspended from school for a period of time, or permanently expelled. A student suspended for the third time during any academic year is, with Superintendent approval, automatically expelled for the remainder of the academic year. Expulsions and re-enrollments for expelled students in future academic years, both require Superintendent approval.

Children are to be kept after school only with prior parent coordination. They may be kept in at recess if they will be under direct teacher supervision. One consideration is that the students who are disruptive are often the very ones who need to get out and run off some of their energy. It is often appropriate to have them run laps before starting detention. Students may also be required to do some kind of work such as raking leaves, picking up sticks, cleaning up the grounds, or cleaning up a classroom.

RBCS uses a "Tally System" in the Elementary Department. Information on this system is found in Appendix C and is separately distributed to parents of Elementary students at the beginning of the academic year.

Proper behavior is expected and required at all times when RBCS is responsible for students. This includes on-campus sporting events, class trips, special functions, and any other time school transportation is being used. If, for any reason, repeated occurrences of rebellious or uncontrolled behavior take place while traveling to and from school, offending students will be removed from the bus for a period of one week. Repeated violations will result in progressive discipline, leading to expulsion from the bus. This policy insures orderliness and is essential for the safety and welfare of our students.

Accreditation.
The RBCS K-3 through 12th grade standard/advanced academic program is fully accredited by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS) [which is a member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)], and the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS). FACCS is an accrediting agency recognized in Florida law. RBCS is also a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). The RBCS Discovery Program is accredited by the National Institute for Learning Disabilities (NILD). We believe FACCS will be in a position to accredit our Special Services program by our next evaluation scheduled for 2008. FACCS is also the organization we look to for teacher certification. Although it is RBCS policy to require all RBCS teachers to be FACCS certified, at any given time there may be teachers in the process of evaluation which do not yet have certification, and it may also be expedient for RBCS to use an individual in a teacher or administrative position who is not at that time certifiable by FACCS. Parents may request that the relevant Principal provide the credentials of any teacher on the RBCS faculty. Parent volunteers and teacher assistants are not certifiable by FACCS.

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Athletic Programs.
RBCS sponsors soccer and basketball teams in local community leagues which allow RBCS coaches for RBCS student teams. Varsity soccer (boys and girls), varsity golf (boys and girls), JV and varsity basketball (boys and girls), JV and varsity volleyball (girls), JV and varsity baseball (boys) and softball (girls), and cheerleading (girls) are part of the extracurricular program. Students must be academically eligible to participate in after-school-hours extracurricular activities (to include club activities). To be eligible, a student must maintain an overall academic average of no less than 83% and have passing grades in at least six courses, or have an overall academic average of at least 80% with no D's or F's. Ineligibility begins with the first report card (midterm or quarterly) showing grades lower than these criteria. Eligibility can be regained by bringing the cumulative averages for the current semester up to meet the standards. When a student becomes academically ineligible for extracurricular activities, the coach (sponsor, or advisor, etc.), the Principal, and parent(s) will evaluate the situation to determine precisely what restrictions are in the best long run interests of the student. If a waiver authorizing partial or full participation in an extracurricular activity would be in the long run interests of the student, a waiver may be granted by the Principal if all three parties agree.

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Chapel/Student Assembly Programs.
Junior High and Academy students have a weekly chapel/student assembly program featuring guest speakers including local pastors, Christian college representatives, missionaries, Christian leaders, and RBCA faculty and students. Chapel is part of the Bible curriculum and emphasizes the practical application of biblical principles in our lives.

Music / Art / Foreign Language Programs.
The RBCS Academy Choir earns high school credit for RBCA students. The choir competes with those of other Christian schools annually. Band is also an option in which RBCA students may earn credit. Important parts of the music curriculum are the annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving Programs, Christmas Music Programs, and Spring Music Programs. All Kindergarten and Elementary students participate in music and/or art and/or foreign language curricula, and 5^th and 6^th graders may elect to participate in band. Art is also an RBCA elective. RBCS normally competes in the annual Congressional Art Show. The character of the music/art/foreign language program may vary from year to year depending upon teacher resources or student demand.

Academic Departments.

The RBCS academic programs are implemented by the Principals of the academic departments at each campus. The departments are Kindergarten, Elementary, Junior High, Academy, and Special Services.

The Kindergarten Department at each campus is divided into three basic groups: K5 (5 by 1 Sep), K4 (4 by 1 Sep), and K3 (3 by 31 Dec). Within each of these groups there is a further breakdown which offers a teaching level in accordance with the readiness of the children. This helps to provide individualized attention for every student. Half or full-day options are available. (Note: No noon bus service is provided by RBCS.) Some general information concerning each age group is as follows:

K3 (3-year-olds):
This class has a limit of 20 with a full time assistant. The morning program, five days per week, begins at 8:15 and concludes at 11:30. The first 90 minutes consist of Bible, Phonics, and Math instruction. The remaining morning time includes a snack period, Art, Music, Science, stories, Poetry, rest/play periods, plus Unit Studies ( Community Helpers, Safety, Farm, etc.). Reading begins at this level in a one-on-one individualized program, as the capabilities of each student permit. Afternoons provide a play and rest period. It is necessary that children be potty trained before they are accepted for enrollment.

K4 (4-year-olds):
Class sizes are normally limited to 20. The morning and afternoon schedules are similar to those of the K3s. Home reading assignments (Mon-Thurs nights) usually begin by November or December. Many four-year-olds have been known to achieve the equivalent of a first grade level in Phonics, Reading, and Math by the end of the school year.

K5 (5-year-olds):
Class sizes are normally limited to 20. The K5 program is a full-day schedule. Morning instruction includes Bible, Phonics, Reading, and Math. Afternoons offer Music, Art, Science, History, and P.E. The full-day teaching is the very best preparation for first grade. However, if only a half-day attendance is preferred, this can be arranged. The morning session meets minimum state hour requirements, which RBCS desires to meet or exceed voluntarily. The afternoon classes are not mandatory courses for promotion.

Most five-year-olds can be expected to achieve the equivalent of 2nd - 3rd grade level in Phonics, Reading, and Math depending upon the number of years at RBCS, and individual capabilities. (These grade levels are based upon results obtained in the past on the 1970 California Achievement Test designed for first graders.)

RBCS will award Kindergarten graduation certificates and promote to first grade students who:

1. reach age six on or before 1 September of the first grade year, and

2. satisfactorily complete our standard Kindergarten curriculum.

Students achieving Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) percentile scores exceeding 90 and grade level scores exceeding 2.0 should find success in an advanced first grade program (1A). Students who score below the 90th percentile and a grade level of 2.0 will normally do best in a regular first grade program (01). Kindergartners who meet the chronological but not academic criteria may be placed in the regular first grade program on a conditional basis. During the first quarter, if academic progress continues to be slow, a screening for learning disabilities may be recommended. Based upon the results of such testing, the parents and teacher must then make a careful decision as to how to best help the student achieve academic success.

What about the students who reach age six between 1 September and 31 December? Students in this category can only be promoted to first grade under extraordinary circumstances in which the parents and the school agree that an exception would be in the best interest of the child. This usually requires demonstrated maturity plus an achievement within the top 15% of his K5 class. Placement in first grade would then be on a conditional basis.

Especially at the lowest grade levels, it is important to place students into the curriculum flow and into an educational environment that best assures growth and success for the student. Placing a child in too low a grade level can produce boredom and deny academic challenge and competition that would facilitate academic, moral, and spiritual growth. Placing a child at a grade level higher than his achievement and maturity level warrant can make the academic process frustrating and lead to discouragement and failure. As teachers observe the performance of students in the Kindergarten, they can discern very accurately that level which optimizes the academic environment for each child. When making placement decisions, we must evaluate all relevant evidence and place the child at the level that will best meet his current academic need. We must avoid all temptation to base placement decisions upon criteria rooted in truth-obscuring pride.

God will hold parents and their educational advisors responsible for decisions affecting the child's growth to Christian maturity. Let us work together to insure our decisions optimally meet the genuine educational requirements of the children God has blessed us with.

To accurately identify the needs of each kindergartner and determine a proper class assignment, parents of kindergartners are asked to complete a KINDERGARTEN QUESTIONNAIRE and submit it with the application forms.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

RBCS looks forward to working with each parent to develop a caliber of godly character in each kindergartner which will bring honor and glory to Christ.

The RBCS two-track system (advanced and regular) begins in the Elementary Department. This system accommodates the fact that most graduates of the RBCS Kindergarten have already completed a first grade level program, while newly-enrolling first graders must begin a first grade level program. The former group normally enters the advanced first grade (1A) to begin a commercial curriculum designed for the second grade. When regular first grade (01) finishes the first grade curriculum, students advance to regular second grade (02). Students on the advanced track have an excellent opportunity to graduate from the Academy Department with the knowledge and skills necessary to CLEP or otherwise validate up to a year of college work, thus saving on higher college tuition. If student enrollment is insufficient to justify separate classes at the same curriculum level, regular and advanced classes will be combined (e.g., 4A/05), since both are at the same point in the curriculum flow.

RBCS has chosen a mix of the best curriculum materials suited to our philosophy of Christian education. Materials include those published by our own Christ Centered Publications plus A BEKA, Bob Jones, and a few others. Courses include Bible, Phonics, Reading, Math, Science, History/Geography, Penmanship, Music, Art and P.E. -- all taught in a traditional classroom setting. CURRICULUM GUIDES for each course and a schedule for each grade are available in the Elementary office.
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Absences and Tardies.
To the school-wide information on Attendance/Tardiness above, the Elementary Department adds the following information.

If an elementary student incurs an "excused" absence, he will earn a "0" if the student missed a graded exercise and that graded exercise is not made up within one week of the day of absence. For example, if a student is absent on Monday and a Math test was given to his class, the absent student must make up that test before the following Monday, in order to receive a grade for the test.

If an elementary student incurs an "unexcused" absence, he will earn "0's" for all missed graded assignments unless prior arrangements are made by parents with the teacher. If the student is planning a trip which requires him to be absent for a period of time, arrangements can be made to either complete graded work ahead of time, or submit assigned work on the day the student returns to school. If work is not completed and returned on that day, "0's" will be earned on all unaccomplished assignments.

Tardy units earned by elementary students will have the following consequences. If a student earns 10 tardy units, the student will be charged with a full day absence. These tardy units and absences will be cumulative throughout the school year. To be tardy means a student is late arriving to morning home room or late for the start of any class during the school day. If the student arrives at school after 8:10 AM, he is considered tardy.

The Home Study Assistance Program (HSAP) is designed to help parents provide a Christ-centered education for children taught in the home, grades K-12. Students usually are instructed by one or both parents. RBCS helps parents design and obtain necessary CURRICULUM GUIDES and materials. Additionally, RBCS provides counseling and testing services, maintains a Cumulative Student Record (CSR) with quarterly posting of grades, and can grant access to campus classroom and athletic activities according to their availability and the particular desires of the family. Every effort is made by RBCS to maintain an effective working relationship with the parents to achieve a quality education for students not attending a full in-residence program.

Parents can request home study assistance by submitting a HOME STUDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM, the current application fee, and any existing Cumulative Student Record (CSR) for each student. A quarterly tuition is charged per child. All books and supplies are to be paid for upon receipt, to include any shipping charges. Quarterly grades must be provided to RBCS for grades 1-8.

Out of state parents are required to test each child according to directions and send the results to RBCS. Out of local area parents, within the state of Florida, must supply the name of a certified teacher to administer the test. The test will be mailed to the teacher and, after testing, the teacher will mail it back to RBCS. Upon receipt of testing materials, tests will be graded and evaluated by the HSAP Manager for proper placement. The Manager will then outline the curriculum needed for each child (grades 1-8). Complete HSAP information and current financial requirements are available upon request.

RBCA does not grant credit for parent administered high school level courses. RBCS will not accept transfer credits for home school courses unless they are credits awarded in an accredited distance learning program, such as that provided by A Beka. If a home schooled student is awarded a diploma from a program such as A Beka, and has a particular association with an RBCA graduating class, with Academy Principal approval, the student may participate in the RBCA Baccalaureate/Commencement service.

The Rocky Bayou Christian Academy (RBCA) offers an educational program for grades seven through twelve in two tracks-Regular and Advanced-leading to three types of diploma. Successful completion of the Academy program requires students to accumulate high school credits as described under "Graduation Credit Requirements" below. RBCA students can earn either a standard diploma or an honors diploma based on the courses satisfactorily completed. Special Services likewise offers an educational program for grades seven through twelve leading to three types of diploma (see below.) Depending on their needs, a student may work entirely through the Academy or Special Services department, or takes classes in each. Extra-curricular activities, athletics, and behavior standards are shared. In Addition, the Academy is administratively divided between Junior High and High School.

Junior High

The Junior High Department, administratively combined with the Academy Department, offers a two-track system for 7^th and 8^th grades (07, 7A, 08, and 8A. The Special Services Third Track is also available to Jr. High students. ) Courses taught include Bible, English, Literature, World History I, American History I, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Earth Science, Basic Science, Microsoft Office, and P.E. The Junior High Coordinator will administrate dress code compliance, resolve discipline matters, and lend academic oversight to the Junior High Program.

This chart indicates the typical sequence of courses taken at RBCA. This may vary from student to student.

	Seventh	Seventh Advanced	Eighth	Eighth Advanced
Bible	Proverbs	Character Quest	Character Quest	Old Testament
English	7^th Grade English	8^th Grade English	8^th Grade English	Grammar I Composition I
History	Geography	World Hist I	World Hist I	Amer Hist I
Literature	7^th Grade Literature	Literature Themes	Literature Themes	American Literature
Science	Life Science	Earth Science	Earth Science	Basic Science
Math	Algebra ½ (A)	Algebra ½	Algebra ½ (B)	Algebra I
Other	Phys Ed Study Skills Microsoft Office	Phys Ed	Phys Ed	Phys Ed

Promotion.
Junior High students who fail two academic subjects (English, Math, History, Literature, Science, or Bible) may proceed to the next grade, provided that one of the academic failures is made up during summer school, using the "fifth quarter" system. A student who fails three or more academic subjects must repeat the entire grade.

Diploma Types. A student may graduate from RBCA with one of three diplomas described below. Special Services students are eligible for a fourth option. (See the Special Services section below.)

To receive an RBCA standard diploma, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 26 credits which must include credits for the mandatory courses identified by an asterisk (*) on the chart below. The twenty-six credits are comprised of 4 credits in Bible, 4 credits in English, 3 credits in literature, 3 credits in math, 3 credits in science, 4 credits in social studies, 1 credit in a foreign language, 2 credits in Physical Education, and 2 credits in electives. Any waiver of mandatory course requirements for accelerating, Special Services, or transfer students will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

To receive an RBCA Honors diploma, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 28 credits. The twenty-eight credits are comprised of 4 credits in Bible, 4 credits in English, 3 credits in literature (including Philosophy and Apologetics, Honors Senior Literature or AP Literature), 4 credits in math (including AP Calculus), 4 credits in science (including Physics or AP Chemistry), 4 credits in social studies (including Economics and Government), 2 credits in foreign languages, 1 credit in Physical Education, and 2 credits in electives. Students must complete at least 2 science or engineering projects in grades 9-12 to earn an Honors Diploma.

Credits transferred to meet RBCA diploma requirements must represent courses taught from a Christian perspective rather than a secular (God left out) perspective. An RBCA diploma requires a minimum of 19½ credits taught from a Christian perspective. A Rocky Bayou Academy diploma is earned when this particular requirement is not met.

No student will receive a diploma or participate in a baccalaureate/commencement service without having successfully completed graduation credit requirements.

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Promotion.
A final grade of 73 or better must be earned in a full time course for an Academy student to earn credit for a semester (½ credit). Accumulated credits serve as the basis for class placement. For a student to enter the 10th grade, he/she (subsequently simplified to the generic "he") must have accumulated 5 credits; for the 11th grade, 12 credits; for the 12th grade, 19 credits.

Credits.
Authority for each credit course is an RBCA Curriculum Guide which specifies the course objectives, texts, grading standards, and scope and sequence. Award of a credit is related to two factors: the classroom time (see Attendance Policy below) and the student's proficiency. Normally, if a student fails to pass a credit course taken during the regular session, a summer session may be used to attempt to save the credit. A full credit course cannot normally be given during a summer session. Courses may be full credit (½ credit per semester) or partial credit, such as 1/4 credit per semester, depending on the time scheduled for the course.

Christian Community Service Program.
The Lord has commanded us to serve one another (Phil 2:3-5). Thus, RBCS wishes to teach the importance of a lifetime commitment to community service. To accomplish this, RBCS will require each student to complete a total of fifty hours of Christian Community Service as a prerequisite to graduation. Students should keep in mind that certain scholarships require up to seventy-five or more hours of community service. Students interested in competing for scholarships should consider originality, diversity and longevity in fulfilling this commitment to maximize scholarship opportunities. Students should follow the following minimum requirements:

	Ninth	Ninth Advanced	Tenth	Tenth Advanced	Eleventh	Eleventh Advanced	Twelfth	Twelfth Advanced
Bible	Old Testament	Tools & Techniques	Tools & Techniques	New Testament	New Testament	Harmony of the Gospels	Harmony of the Gospels	Systematic Theology
English	Grammar I Comp I	Hon Grammar II Comp II	Grammar II Comp II	Hon Grammar III Comp III	Grammar III Comp III	Grammar IV or AP English Comp IV	Grammar IV or AP English Comp IV	AP English Advanced English
History	Amer Hist I	Hon World History II	World History II	Hon US History II	Hon US History II	Hon Government	Hon Government	Hon Economics
Literature	American Lit	French I or Spanish I or Latin I	French I or Spanish I or Latin I	Hon British Lit	Hon British Lit	Hon Philosophy (1 sem) AP Lit (1 sem)	Hon Philosophy (1 sem) AP Lit (1 sem)	Hon Apologetics1 sem) AP Lit (1 sem)
Science	Basic Science	Hon Biology	Biology	Hon Chemistry I	ChemI	AP Chemistry	AP Chemistry	Hon Physics
Math	Algebra I	Hon Geometry	Geometry	Hon Algebra II	Algebra II	Hon Pre-Calculus	Hon Pre-Calculus	AP Calculus
Other	Phys Ed	Phys Ed	Phys Ed	Phys Ed	French II or Spanish II or Latin II	French II or Spanish II or Latin II	French III or Spanish III or Latin III	AP French or AP Spanish of AP Latin
	Ninth	Ninth Advanced	Tenth	Tenth Advanced	Eleventh	Eleventh Advanced	Twelfth	Twelfth Advanced

Art	Drama	Human Anatomy	Newspaper
Astronomy	English Assist	Marine Biology	Physical Education
Auto Mechanics	Environmental Science	Math Assist	Physiology
Band	Great Books	Microsoft Office	Speech
Choir	Home Economics	Network Management	Varsity Sports
Web Design/HTML	Yearbook

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