North Georgia Home Education Academy Policies

Welcome to the 2nd year of North Georgia Home Education Academy.  We are so excited you are joining us for Homeschool classes this 2011/2012 school year. 
 
Purpose:
Our purpose is to aid Homeschooling families in the education of their children in a safe and edifying environment that will enable each student to receive Godly wisdom from professional instructors that will help them (and you as the primary teacher) to become the Godly young men and women Christ has created them to be for His glory.
 
Parent/Teacher Relationship:
We are here to serve the Homechooling community by providing instruction in many academic subjects that are taught from a Christ centered Biblical Worldview.  Teachers, gifted and experienced in many arenas of education including homeschooling, lead our NGHEA classes.  Though excellent and experienced, our instructors recognize they “come alongside” to help parents not replace parents in teaching each student.  We offer to come along side you, the parent and main teacher, to assist you with classroom instruction offering a variety of hands on activities, interactive classroom participation and guided discussions along with weekly assignments to be completed at home.  Classes are offered on an as needed basis and students may take high school level class at any given age as long as any pre-requisites have been met. 
 
Time & Location:
We meet weekly on Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm at the property of Cool Springs Baptist Church, Tate GA. We are very grateful for the churches generous spirit in working with us to give students a Christian education. Classes begin on September 1, 2010 and will end May 18, 2011. 
 
Campus Polices:
During the Wednesday classes, we will be breaking for a 30 min. lunch.  Please provide a healthy lunch for your child OR send money with them as someone is always running out for take-out and will gladly grab something for you if you need.   Students that drive themselves may NOT have freedom to leave the campus until their classes are over and after notifying Diana Mc Daniel (or her substitute).  We are a CLOSED CAMPUS.  Students may not return after leaving the campus.  They are welcome to stay for study hall but not be a disruption.  All students are required to sign in and out with Diana McDaniel for security purposes.  Diana will need contact phone numbers of anyone leaving campus during the day.
 
Dress Code:
We offer a casual environment but will not tolerate immodest dress.  We are asking that students dress respectfully mindful of others by demonstrating modesty.  That means; no short shorts (no baggy basket ball shorts) and no bare bellies, backs, shoulders or chests (boys or girls!) no tank tops or spaghetti straps without covering.   Clothes should fit, not too tight and not too baggy.  We are not requiring uniforms but please be sure that nothing inappropriate or offensive be worn or anything that may cause another to stumble.
 
Ladies, our young men are very aware of modesty issues.  Please be considerate of this and do not wear anything that would reveal cleavage or that is too short revealing upper thigh or backside.  To clarify, if you bend over no one should see anything in front or back! 
 
Men please dress appropriately.  Please come dressed for working in class with guys and girls.  Come dressed and groomed for school, not the gym or lounging in front of the TV.  In addition, clothes should not be too tight or too loose, we really don’t want to see what you are wearing underneath. 
 
We realize there are very different degrees of demonstrating modesty in each family and we do not wish to work against but rather with families to preserve the Godly beauty of each person and to encourage proper respectful dress that is attractive but not attracting.  “A beautiful women without discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.”  Proverbs 11:22
 
Interaction:
Students are expected to treat each other with kindness and respect at all times!  This includes inside and outside the classroom!  Disrespectful language or inappropriate conversation will not be tolerated!  We want to demonstrate love as Christ does and our children need to be consciously working toward this goal.  This includes crude talk, extreme sarcasm, coarse jesting, teasing, demeaning or ridiculing of others that might be taken in the wrong way.  We don’t want to be easily offended but we should not cause anyone to think less of anther.  We should speak in ways that build each other up and give life, not tear down and cause death.  “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  Prov 19:11  “Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrow is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’”  Proverbs 26:18,19
 
Guy/Girl Interaction:
Though we cannot prevent outside parent sanctioned relationships, NGHEA discourages any kind of boy/girl “relationships”.  Any kind of behavior that appears to foster inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed with students and parents.  We are here to learn and interact on a purely friendship and family level.
 
Books & Supplies:
Families are responsible to purchase all necessary curriculum and supplies as required by each instructor.  Please be sure your child has an adequate supply of paper, pencils and pens and any other items necessary to complete classroom activities.  A backpack is essential for each student that has more than one class to be prepared. 
 
Student Readiness:
Enrolling in a class is really entering into a “contract”.  Students, teachers, and parents each have their responsibilities to fulfill.  At the beginning of each course, instructors will outline the requirements to complete the course and receive a grade.  Instructors will provide a syllabus and working schedule of assignments and a “grade contract” for review.  Students will work toward a desired grade with full awareness of what they have to do.
 
To ensure students are ready to get the most out of each class experience, please be sure they bring all necessary texts, assignments, and notebooks each week.   We strive to be Christ like in our actions and deeds and there are always exceptions to be worked thru on an individual basis with grace however, because of our desire to be like Christ, we must encourage each other to rise above the excuses and go the extra mile. Parents and teachers will requires that assignments be done correctly, completely, and on time.  Since classes meet once a week, a late assignment is not a day behind, but a week behind!  Teachers will be contact parents if there seems to be any pattern of late or incomplete work.  Instructors, parents and students will work together to determine next steps to ensure success.  Each class is a “learning” team.  When a student does not do his/her assignments or is unprepared, he/she demonstrates a real lack of respect towards parents, the class, the teacher, and him or herself.  Please help us to encourage a healthy work ethic so each student will feel a sense of pride and success in their studies, which will stay with them into adulthood and bring glory to God! 
 
Grade Contracts:
Instructors will discuss course requirements for desired grades the first day of class. They will receive contracts to be filled, signed by student and parent, and returned the second week of class. Changing a contract will require discussion and agreement by all parties.  Our goal is for students to take responsibility for their own learning and keep parents and teachers “in the loop”.
 
Inclement Weather:
In case of inclement weather, please follow school closing information for Pickens County Public Schools.  Stay tuned to news channels that provide such information.
 
Additional Opportunities:
We will be encouraging families to participate in a variety of field trips thru Mr. David Cain’s Education Escapes!  Trips are optional, but will greatly enhance your child’s or family’s educational experience in ways you never imagined!  Each trip is open to the entire family unless otherwise indicated. Trips are offered on a ‘fee’ basis with discounts for early sign up and family participation.  We hope to offer trips that could even take us to far away places over a few nights!  Our goal is to discover the “fingerprints of God” in every aspect of our lives and creation. 
 
Again, we are grateful to God you have chosen to allow us to partner with you at NGHEA this year. It is our prayer you will be blessed thru this program and your children will be better able to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and continue to deepen their personal relationship with Him for His glory!