Parent and Student

Handbook

2018 - 2019 School Year Bethel’s Christian Academy 14442 Fonmeadow Drive Houston, TX 77035 Phone: 713-729-5672 www.bcaeagles.org

Operational Policies

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Ruby August: Visionary for Bethel’s Christian Academy

Ministry Leader, Counselor, Advocate for Children

Born on June 4, 1959, Ruby August was raised in Natchitoches, Louisiana where she was later baptized at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church by Pastor Emeal Jones in 1971. In 1977, after graduating high school, she attended Northwestern State University and later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she started her career in the field of banking.

In 1985, Sister August moved to Houston, Texas and joined True Light Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. E. L. Lott. Working at First City Bank of Texas, she met and began dating Walter August Jr. in December 1985. They married on November 7, 1987 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Houston. Sister August continued her employment at the bank and served in various ministries at True Light Missionary Baptist Church.

In 1994, she and her husband started Bethel’s Family Baptist Church where she served as founder/director of the Children’s Ministry and Bethel’s Christian Academy, an accredited child education entity. She currently serves as co-director of the Academy, where she works tirelessly to ensure that children grow spiritually, mentally and physically within a safe and nurturing environment. To further express her passion for educating children, Sister August instituted the Clarice Jones Scholarship in honor of her mother. The foundation seeks funding for inner-city students desiring a higher education. When she is not working in support of children, Sister August serves as a leader in the Women’s Ministry at Bethel’s Family, serving over 2,500 women, providing counseling, hosting women’s conferences and facilitating classes. Sister August also serves on the mission field internationally traveling to Kenya Africa, Czech Republic, Haiti and domestically New York school of Urban Ministry (NYSUM) known as a cross cultural intercity mission school. Sister August also enjoys spending time with her family God has blessed her with 3 sons, 2 daughter in-laws and 6 grandchildren. She truly seeks to represent God in all that He has given to her.

Index

Welcome Letter l Our Team l Calendar l About Us l Tuition and Fees l Enrollment and Admission l Health and Safety l Programming and Administration l Office Policy and Procedures l Discipline Policy l Parent/School Relations l Helpful Information l

Parent/Student Signature Page l

A Welcome Letter From Our Director

Welcome to Bethel’s Christian Academy. I am so excited that you are considering our preschool as the place for your child to grow and learn! If you make BCA your choice, our desire is that your child grow to love his/ her preschool class and come home talking about all the wonderful things they did and learned throughout the day. Our program offers a wide variety of academic experiences and works to instill a love of Jesus Christ into the hearts of our young students.

Our preschool teachers work hard to make sure that your child is actively learning throughout the day. We plan daily lessons to encourage and challenge your preschooler to learn all that they can about the world around them. Our academics focus on language arts skills, math, writing, art, science, social skills, and the Bible. We have many fun opportunities for the children to become involved in their classrooms; from daily jobs, to student of the week, sharing days, and weekly Chapel time.

I am married to Pastor Marcus D. Holman, Sr. the Missions Pastor for The Church at Bethel’s Family. We have 4 children Vinchelle, Marcayla, Marcus Jr., and Faith. I speak highly of the BCA preschool program not only as the director, but also as mother that knows the value of a Christian environment, Christian Education along with the academic learning for kids to grow physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. I can’t imagine a better place for children to spend their day learning and growing to know Jesus.

I encourage you to call or stop by the preschool office to set up a tour of our classrooms if you are interested in learning more about us. You are also welcome to call and ask any questions you may have. We offer a variety of preschool schedules to meet the needs of our families, and we are currently enrolling for the start of the 2018-2019 school year. Let’s go Eagles it’s time to Soar to Higher Heights. In His Service,

Jaime Holman BCA Director

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Contact Information Jaime Holman Program Director – 832-250-8639 jholmanbca@gmail.com

Ruby August

Executive Office Manager - 713-553-1801 raugustbca@gmail.com

Bernice Lofton Receptionist- 713-729-5672 bloftonbca@gmail.com Debra Norman Finance Administrator – 713-729-5672 dknorman.bca@gmail.com

School Hours Bethel’s Christian Academy hours are Monday – Friday 6:30 am to 6:oo pm.

Important Dates (2018-2019) Holiday School Closures

August 6th, 2018 – First Day of School

September 3rd, 2018 - Labor Day

November 21st - 23rd – Thanksgiving Break

December 21st – 25th – Christmas Break December 31st, 2018 - New Year’s Eve (BCA Closed) January 1st, 2019 – New Year’s Holiday January 21st, 2019 –MLK Day (No School) April 19th, 2019 – Good Friday (No School) May 27th, 2019 –Memorial Day (No School) June 10th – July 25th Summer Program (Ages 5-11 years) July 4th – Independence Day (No School)

A Our Mission Bethel’s Christian Academy (BCA) exists to provide a holistic education that promotes the highest achievement in academics, a biblical worldview, and character development marked by disciplined behavior, thereby equipping children (18 months to Pre-K 4) with what they need today to live successfully and effectively tomorrow.

Our Vision Bethel’s Christian Academy will embody and promote the spirit of individual excellence through the highest Quality of teachers, broad based family, community support and programs that are biblically based. BCA will become a model school for educating children regardless of their current academic and social status.

Our Stakeholders 1. Children

2. Staff

a. Administrators who provide leadership, program development, and service coordination.

b. Teachers who provide classroom instruction and student supervision. c. Support personnel who provide assistance and program service.

3. Home

Where parents (who are the primary teachers of children) participate in the learning process by reinforcing the individualized educational goals for their child(ren) .

4. Supporters

a. Board of Directors

b. Volunteers

Our Values Our Greatest Model- Jesus

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52

At Bethel’s Christian Academy we value the total commitment of all our stakeholders (students, parents, staff and supporters), as evidenced by:

1. A sense of shared purpose and values. 2. Camaraderie, teamwork, and collegiality. 3. Effective communications at all levels to facilitate the educational objectives.

An academic program marked by excellence and high achievement, as evidenced by: 1. An environment that conveys the message that all students can learn, marked by

increasingly higher levels of achievement with students performing at or above their academic grade level.

2. Effective, enabled, equipped, and empowered staff, parents, and supporters. 3. Individualized and personalized instructions.

A biblical worldview that is evidenced by: 1. An awareness of the unconditional love of God, a sense of purpose and self-worth, and hope for the

future. 2. Workers who serve as models and mentors of the highest biblical values by loving God and loving

others. 3. Instructions and training that integrate the truth of God’s Word with the facts about God’s world.

Positive character development through: 1. Having clear-cut expectations of the children to demonstrate appropriate, responsible, and

productive social behavior. 2. Teaching by persons who represent positive role models that the children can emulate. 3. Teaching social skills to children in formal and informal settings.

Our Strategic Plans At Bethel’s Christian Academy we value the total commitment of all, our stakeholders (students, parents). To facilitate its mission and vision, Bethel’s Christian Academy recognizes two strategic areas for school:

1. Student Assessment

The philosophy of teaching adopted by Bethel’s Christian Academy is that teaching is directly related to learning, and where learning has not taken place, neither has teaching. The act of teaching is not an end but a means to an end. The end is that the student registers the information taught, retains the information, and is able to recite it with understanding. To measure the effectiveness of the teaching/learning process, Bethel’s Christian Academy is committed to regular student assessment. via written or oral. Such assessment provides the information needed to diagnose the student’s beginning academic levels, prescribe an effective course of study tailored to the individual student, and prepare the student for optimum performance on nationally administered standardized tests.

2. Parental/Community Involvement

At Bethel’s Christian Academy we believe that the parent is the first and most important teacher in a child’s life. The home is where a child should be trained up in the way he or she should go. The reality is that we continue to witness the demise of the basic family structure that offers children the best foundation for their physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual development. As a result, children are starting school with considerable emotional, moral, and academic deficiencies. These deficiencies require the mobilization of adult caregivers who will instruct by their teaching and illus- trate by their living the core values essential for a child’s development. Bethel’s Christian Academy is committed to mobilizing parents and volunteers to this end.

Minimum Standards & Licensing Parents are entitled to the following information

Minimum Standards for Licensed Day Care Licensing Inspection Forms and Reports

Located in the BCA office (Also see Receptionist) Contacting Agencies

Local Licensing Office – 713-940-3009 DFPS Hotline – 1-800-252-5400

DFPS website – www.dfps.state.tx.us Please feel free to contact the BCA Director anytime with any concerns about policies &

procedures. Please feel free to make an appointment of visit the preschool anytime.

Additional Information Transportation BCA does not offer transporatation BCA does not transport children for field trips Hearing & Vision Screening not offered at BCA please check with Your child’s physician if there are problems with hearing & vision For Specifics info can be found at Texas Dept. of State Health Services www.dshs.state.tx.us/vhs/ Vision and Hearing Screening Requirements The Vision and Hearing Screening Program, Texas Health and Safety Code requires that all children enrolled for the first time in any public, private, parochial, or denominational school or in a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed child-care center and licensed child care home in Texas, or who meet certain grade criteria (specified below), must be screened or have a professional examination for possible vision and hearing problems. The requirements for VISION AND HEARING SCREENING apply each year for children enrolled in any licensed child-care center and licensed child care home or school program at the ages or grades listed below:

WHO MUST BE SCREENED WHEN SCREENING MUST BE DONE

4-years-old by September 1st Kindergartners Any other first-time entrants (4 years* through 12th grade)

Within 120 days of admission

**Tuberculosis Testing is not required for Preschoolers however testing maybe required for School Aged children

For more information visit www.dshs.state.tx.us

Registration Fee A NON-REFUNDABLE registration/supply fee $75.00 per school year. Tuition $125 weekly per child.

The tuition for Bethel’s Christian Academy is due by Friday by 6:00 p.m. prior to the attending week. (Please note: Tuition Payments are still collected for School Holidays and Holiday Weeks ie. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s). Parents are welcomed to pay w e e k l y , bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly etc. - as long as the tuition is paid in advance- NOT in the rear. The preferred method of payment is credit/debit cards, or online payment. When making a payment via credit card place payment in Bethel’s Christian Academy envelope, write the parents first and last name, child’s first and last name and the week for payment. Not doing so may result in your child’s account not being credited. Payments go in the payment box in the office or to OFFICE STAFF ONLY. All checks or money orders are made payable to Bethel’s Christian Academy. Your Child Care Expense Report will be given to all parents by the end of January.

Late Tuition Payments Bethel’s Christian Academy will enforce “No pay, No stay” policy. Payments are due on the Friday prior to the attending week. If the payment is not made Friday prior to the attending week, there will be a $25.00 late fee charge. If a payment goes delinquent for more than one (1) business day, Tuesday morning of the attending week, the child’s enrollment will be terminated until all fees are paid.

A re-enrollment fee/registration fee of $75.00, plus one week’s tuition of $125.00 will be assessed in order for the child to re-enroll into the Bethel’s Christian Academy.

Late Pick-up Fee Children must be picked up no later than 6:00PM. If you know you will be late give a courtesy call. There will be a charge of $10.00 per child for the first 5 minutes (6:05PM). An additional $1.00 per minute will be added after the first 6 minutes (6:06PM) and every minute thereafter. Upon arrival, the attending staff will notify you of the total amount incurred for the late pick-up.

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Admissions & Enrollment Policies Bethel’s Christian Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national and ethnic origin, or religion for purposes of admission.

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1. Parent or guardian visits school 2. Application/Registration is submitted accompanied by registration fee of $75 for the Fall. Student must be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian 3. Parent or guardian complete and sign all forms a. Admission/Registration Information Form

b. Child Pick-Up Authorization Forms c. Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment d. Insurance Information/General Release and Wavier of

Liability e. Child’s Birth Certificate f. Health Requirements Forms (Immunizations) g. Financial Agreement

*Immunization forms must be received before a student may enroll in program. (All students must have immunizations for diphtheria, polio, measles, and rubella.) Terminating Policy If you need to terminate your child’s enrollment, we ask that you give a one-week written notice by completing a Withdrawal Form outlining the reasons for termination.

Changes in child’s or parent/guardian’s Important Information

If there are any changes in the following, notify the school at

713-729-5672 immediately.

A. Change of contact information (address, telephone, etc.)

B. Place of employment

C. The people who are authorized to pick-up your child(ren)

D. Emergency contact information

E. Changes in Allergies

F. Changes in medication

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Attendance We believe that regular attendance in the summer program is essential to the success of a student’s experience. One can really never make up or compensate for absence from the program.

Advance notification from parents or legal guardian is requested particular instances of:

(1) Illness or injury prohibiting a child from coming to school.

(2) Serious illness or death in the student’s family.

(3) Any significant change

Signing Students In and Out of School A. All children must be signed in and out by a parent/guardian or a designated person listed on child’s

pick-up authorization form who is over the age of eighteen (18 or over). Students may not enter or exit the school without being accompanied by a parent or parent designee. BCA also utilizes Brightwheel for checking your child in and out of school. You will receive a 4 digit code used to sign your in & out also it’s a form of daily communication with our teachers regarding your child’s day.

Parents must turn in a written list of designated drop off/pick up persons. It is advisable for parents and guardians to establish a password for the child(ren), the program and parent pickup designees. The purpose of the password is an added safety feature to ensure that the pickup person is eligible to pick-up the child(ren).

Illness Policy Ill children cannot attend the program. Children with allergies may attend. If you are unsure call and con- sult your child’s physician. Children experiencing the following symptoms in particular should not attend the program. Fever (Any fever higher than 100’ within the past 24 hrs.) Vomiting (Any vomiting within the past 24 hrs.). Diarrhea (2 or more loose bowel movements with the past 24 hrs.) Any contagious diseases (Including, but not limited to: pinkeye, conjunctivitis, lice – must be nit-free for 48 hrs, chicken pox, flu, ringworm) if you are unsure consult with your child’s physician. If your child has any contagious virus/diseases, a statement from your child’s physician will be required in order for the child to be re-admitted to school. Parent(s) will be called to pick up a child that becomes ill. If you would like the Academy to administer Tyle- nol to your child, a permission form must be signed and kept on file. An ill child should be picked up by the parent/guardian or parent designee within the hour. The staff is unable to properly care for an ill child and still provide supervision to the other children. Daily Morning Health Checks A daily morning health check is performed everyday your child attends preschool. The daily health check is a visual and physical assessment of your child to identify potential concerns about a child’s health, including signs or symptoms of illness or injury, in response to a child’s behavior since the last date of attending preschool. Annual Staff training is conducted on how to conduct health checks and identify the problem for the purpose of preventing the spread of illness in the preschool setting.

Health and Safety Each student must have up-to-date physical records and required immunizations and vaccinations.

A. Infectious Diseases In the event an enrolled student or applicant in the process of enrollment is discovered to have an infectious disease or to be a carrier thereof, the follow- ing will apply, the parents or guardians of an infected student are responsible for securing regular medical evaluations, as determined by the program’s director, so as to permit a reliable assessment of any change in the student’s condition that might affect the program’s decision permitting enrollment or continued attendance. B. Administration of Medicine The parent/guardian shall deliver the medication to the office, labeled child’s name to the office along with a signed note from the doctor, stating what the medication is for, how often it is to be taken, and how long it is to be taken. Under no circumstances will any medication be given without written con- sent from doctor. BCA/ staff will only administer medication that has been prescribed by a doc- tor or medication that the parent has given written consent to administer to the child. Any medications brought by the parents for their child (ren) must: 1. Be in the original container; 2. Be labeled with the child’s name; 3. Be labeled with the date (If prescription medicine); 4. Include directions to administer the medication; and, 5. If prescribed, include the name of the physician prescribing the

medication. Medications will not be administered to a child if they have not taken the medication prior to the first dosage in the program. Any medications must be administered first at home or by the physician. Inform the staff if you, the parent/guardian, have given any medication during the 24-hr prior period. This information will aid if there is an emergency and prevent from overdos- ing the child. Any special handling, such as refrigeration, dilution, etc., must be put in writing. Time will be provided in the child’s schedule to come to the office to receive the medication.

C. Parents’ Emergency Phone Numbers Required At least two emergency phone numbers must be on file in the summer pro- gram office. In addition to the home phone numbers, the program requires a work phone number, mobile number and the numbers of a close friends, neighbors, or relatives who can be contacted in the event of a serious prob- lem. D. Medical Release Form Required The program must have a medical release form for each student. This form al- lows physicians to perform emergency treatment in the event that it is impos- sible to reach a parent or legal guardian or designee. Few hospitals or doctors will treat a patient under the age of eighteen (18) without parental consent and in a serious emergency a medical release could save a life! Only a pro- gram official will use the form when a parent or guardian cannot be reached. In any event, every effort will be made to reach the parents or guardians, and program officials will follow hospital’s instructions.

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Biting Policy We want to insure that every child is safe while in our care. Our program provides an environment that encourages and promotes cooperative interaction, respect for others, and non-aggressive problem solving between the children. Biting is a normal stage of development for young children who are teething and are still developing their language skills. It is usually a temporary condition that is most common between thirteen and twenty-four months of age. This means that is a particular concern for the staff in the Toddler/ Young 2’s Room.

For safety and health concerns, we take biting seriously. When it happens, it’s very scary, frustrating, and stressful for children, parents, and teachers. It is also not something to blame on children, parents, or teach- ers, and there are no quick and easy solutions to it. Children bite for a variety of reasons: simple sensory exploration, panic, crowding, seeking to be noticed, or intense desire for a toy. Repeated biting becomes a pattern of learned behavior that is often hard to extinguish because it does achieve results: the desired toy, excitement, attention. Knowing that the effect of their biting will hurt another person is not yet a part of a child of this ages’ mindset, so the “cause-effect” relationship is not internalized. Our teachers plan activities and supervise carefully in order for biting not to happen. There are times, however, when everyone cannot be within immediate reach to prevent a bite.

Our policy for handling a biting incident is the following:

• The biter is immediately removed from the group with a firm NO. The bitten child is consoled and the bitten area washed with soap and water. If necessary, ice is applied to reduce any swelling or bruising. The biter is not allowed to return to play and is talked to on a level that he/she can understand, then redirected.

• A written incident report is given to the parents of all children involved when they are picked up that day. The name of a biting child is not released because it serves no useful purpose and can make an already difficult situation more difficult.

• We look intensively at the context of each biting incident for pattern, in an effort to prevent further bit- ing behavior.

• We work with each biting child on resolving conflict or frustration in an appropriate manner.

• We try to adapt the environment and work with parents to reduce any child stress.

• We make special efforts to protect potential victims.

• We try to make every effort to extinguish the behavior quickly and to balance our commitment to the family of the biting child to that of other families.

• First offense will result in a meeting with Parent and Director to discuss child biting behavior.

• Second offense will result in 2 days home for student.

• Third offense student will be administratively withdrawn and there will be a period of 6 months before student can return back.

Programming and Administration

Dress Code Students must be dressed in uniforms Monday-Thursday. Students are permitted have “free-dress” (BCA t-shirt w/ jeans) on Fridays only. Students should be dressed appropriately to BCA uniform standards unless otherwise stated for designated days.

French Toast is the Vendor for Uniforms please go to www.frenchtoast.com School: Bethel’s Christian Academy the School Code is QS5HDIW

Shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee. Parents of students in violation of the dress code will be contacted to bring a change of clothes or pick the child up from the program. It is also advisable for students to wear closed toe sneakers or any other comfortable active wear shoe with plenty of support and rubber soles. Flip- flops are not acceptable shoe wear.

Meals A light breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks will be served daily. Meals will meet the state nutrition and health guidelines.

If your child has special dietary needs inform the staff in writing. If your child does not like the lunch served on a particular day you may pack a lunch for your child on that day. We ask that you would provide the lunch with your child’s name on it.

Meals are at scheduled times as listed below. Any child not present for a meal will wait until the next meal is served. If your child is going to arrive after a meal is scheduled to be served, you must feed them before bringing them to the summer program.

Inclement Weather In the event there is an inclement weather report after BCA operational hours, you will receive an automated phone call, email or text message by 5:30 a.m. to inform you if the school will be closed. *We will follow HISD procedures unless otherwise specified by BCA Staff.

Monitoring Service BCA allows you to be a part of your child’s day by giving you video access to his/her classroom. Viewing availability is Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please see last 2nd to last page for instructions on how to access your child’s classroom.

WatchMeGrow Sign Up Instructions 1. Go to www.watchmegrow.com 2. Select “Sign Up” and complete form. 3. Center Information is as follows: Name: Bethel’s Christian Academy; Address: 14442 Fonmeadow Drive Houston, TX 77035; Phone: 713-729-5672

***Your account will be activated as soon as WatchMeGrow verifies your information with the front office.***

Office Policy and Procedures

1. Student Records:

The program maintains a permanent cumulative file on all BCA students. Records of health, grades, reports on parent conferences, and reports on disciplinary action make up most of the content.

2. Release of Records:

BCA will release student grades and medical information on the written request of another school s y s t e m when such request contains both the signature of an authorized school official and the signature of at least one (1) parent or legal guardian on a form to be supplied by the receiving school.

3. School Phone:

Students may use the office telephone with permission of a staff member, when it is needed and available.

4. Lost and Found:

Clothing, books, and personal articles will be collected by the program custodial staff each day, and placed in a central depository. Students and their parents or guardians are asked to check and reclaim articles during times designated. The program assumes no responsibility for articles left lying about the building or improperly stored. Articles that are not reclaimed after 10 business days shall be forfeited by the director/ office staff and donated to an appropriate charitable organization. Staff in the program can advise students and parents about the location of “found items.”

Program of Instruction

The BCA is designed to provide a mixture of Christian education, academics, dance, art and crafts.

Our curriculum includes age-appropriate activities for 18mos-5 yrs. old. We include activities in

language, art, music, computers, science, socialization, and math.

A tentative daily schedule:

6:30- 7:45 Breakfast/ Morning Motivation

8:00-8:30 Devotion/ Restroom Break

8:30-11:00 Academics

11:00-12:00 Lunch/ Restroom Break

12:00-2:30 Nap Time

2:30-3:00 Snack Break

3:00-6:00 Extended Care activities

Discipline Policy Our goal is to build self-esteem by setting appropriate limits necessary to learning self-control and responsible behavior in a preschool environment. BCA is committed to never using work as punishment, since it is our conviction that work is good. It is essential for students to develop wholesome work ethics and habits. Therefore, our intention is to use work to help our students develop the discipline necessary to live productively and effectively. If inappropriate behavior continues after techniques have been exhausted then we will contact the parent(s) and a plan of action will be agreed upon. If inappropriate behavior continues parent(s) will be required to remove the child from our program.

A variety of techniques may be used to help children with appropriate classroom skills

Some of the following techniques are implemented at BCA • Redirection – offering choices to eliminate difficult behavior • Conflict Resolution: Encouraging children to verbalize their needs by talking about what happened • The “listening” or “thinking chair” - take time out to think about appropriate classroom behavior • Behavior Charts – to help children work back up to making better choices

Specific Rules

1. BCA reserves the right to suspend or expel a student for misconduct. 2. Program and School property shall be protected. Malicious or careless, defacing, or destroying school property will result in both appropriate disciplinary action and the replacement of such property by costing the student and/or his or her parents or legal guardians. 3. Conduct and attitude shall be respectful. Disruptions in class, unruly behavior, or repeated violations of prescribed school policy will not be allowed. 4. Respect for authority is required. Each student is expected to show respect for any staff member at all times, in and out of the program. Any student who is disrespectful to a staff member(s) will be subject to disciplinary action.

There is a “No Tolerance” policy for fighting or biting, inappropriately hitting or touching another student, foul and inappropriate language and /or conversation. Any children found in violation of these behaviors may be subjected to suspension and expulsion.

Improper behavior includes but is not limited to the following: *Disruptive behavior *Disrespectfulness/rudeness *Horseplay *Running or excessive noise in the hallways *Improper Dress *Disorderly Conduct *Refusal to participate *Failure to comply with a reasonable request *Inappropriate behavior during campus activities *Unsportsmanlike behavior *Graffiti/defacing property *Fighting/Biting *Inappropriately hitting or touching another student *Destroying property *Any other inappropriate behavior/attitude

Readmission or Continued Enrollment BCA reserves the right to deny admission or continued enrollment to any student whose actions demonstrate that it is not in the program’s best interest to allow admission or continued enrollment. Any student expelled from school will normally not be allowed to apply for readmission. Requests for readmission should be made in writing to the Director.

Parent/School Relations 1. Appointments with Teachers - Parents or guardians are encouraged to see the teaching staff at any time they have a question or concern about their child’s progress. Teachers are available by appointment before or after the academic program day for this purpose. To facilitate conferences, parents are asked to call the program office to confirm the availability of the teacher they wish to see. Parents who desire a tele- phone conference may leave a message with the office, and the teacher will be asked to return their call at his earliest possible convenience.

2. School Communications - The school is committed to effective communication. If a parent needs further information concerning program activities call the school office. Notices of special events and activities will be delivered to the parent at drop off or pick-up. Parent/guardians are asked to always read the notices sent home because important news concerning program closing, Injuries, communicable disease, damage to due to weather, holidays, time changes, permission slips, etc., may be involved. a. Pertaining to LEGAL matters, please submit appropriate paperwork for your child’s file and inform the staff of actions needed and/or any changes.

3. Classroom Visiting a. Parent(s) or guardian(s) are invited to visit, provided the arrangement is made in advance and approved by the director. Anyone visiting the campus must first check in at the office and receive a “PASS”. Parents may not go to classrooms without a “PASS”. b. Other visitors are not permitted to visit class or be on campus during the program day without the approval of the director.

4. Complaint or Problem Procedures - Occasionally misunderstandings or problems will arise between the teacher and a student, teacher and parent, parent and program, or one of several other possible areas. Such a misunderstanding often results from lack of communication between those involved. 5. Staff must, at all times, conduct themselves in a manner becoming of a Christian. Griping is not tolerated! If a student comes home complaining about a discipline policy, parents should follow this procedure: a. Give BCA the benefit of the doubt. b. Realize that your child’s reporting is emotional, and may not contain all the relevant information. c. Realize that we have reasons for all rules, and that we enforce them without favor. d. Support the program’s administration and call us for all the facts.

Helpful Information...

Communication It is extremely important that communication between parents and our staff is open and honest. Parents are requested to inform the staff of anything that might be occurring in the child’s life that may affect their daily routine. If you need to speak with the Director about ANYTHING, do not hesitate to call us or email.

Child Abuse Reporting Parents if you suspect child abuse or neglect, you may contact the following agencies:

• Child care licensing 713-940-3009

• Child abuse hotline 1-800-252-5400

FIRE/Tornado/Complete Evacuation Fire Drills are practiced monthly Severe weather drills are practice 3 times each school year In Case of a building evacuation we have an on-site and off-site Buildings On-Site Youth Ministry Building adjacent to BCA building 14442 Fonmeadow Houston, Texas 77035 Phone: 713-364-1381 Off-site The Bethel’s Place Empowerment Center (across the street) 12660 Sandpiper Houston, Texas 77035 Phone: 713-729-0125

Please see our Emergency Response Handbook for a detailed account for all procedures

For our Nursing Mommies (Breastfeeding) Our Center will provide a comfortable place with proper seating in a classroom that will enable a mother to breastfeed her child. Please see front office so we can make adequate arrangements.

Gang-Free Zone All gang related activity is prohibited and is subject to extreme penalty under Texas Law. Any gang related activity within 1000 feet of the preschool is a violation of law. All gang activity around the preschool is reported to law enforcement immediately. Please report any criminal activity as soon as possible.

Abuse or Neglect State Law requires that the school immediately report all suspected/observed cases of child abuse or neglect What are the signs of Abuse? Children who are abused might show physical sign or changes in their behavior or school performance. These signs don’t prove that children are being abused, but they could be a signal that their children or families need their help. When children talk about being abused take them seriously. Take steps to get help. General Signs of Abuse

• Nervous around adults or afraid of certain adults • Reluctant to go home • Very passive and withdrawn or aggressive & disruptive • Tired a lot, or they may complain of nightmares or not sleeping well • Fearful or Anxious • Missing school a lot • Begging for food • Lacking needed medical or dental care • Being frequently dirty • Saying there is no one at home to take care of them

Signs of Physical Abuse • Unexplained burns, bruises, black eyes or other injuries • Faded bruises or healing injuries after missing school • Apparent fear of a parent or caretaker

Signs of Sexual Abuse

• Difficulty walking or sitting or other indications of injuries to the genital area • Sexual knowledge of behavior beyond what is normal for the child’s age • Running away from home

Signs of Emotional Abuse • Acting overly mature or immature for a child’s age • Extreme Changes in behavior • Delays in physical or emotional development • Attempted Suicide • Lack of emotional to the parent

Reporting Abuse Anyone having cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect should contact the Dept. of Family Services (DFPS) Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide Parents at Risk:

• Abuse and neglect can be prevented. Don’t lash out when angry with you’re a child • Take a deep breath • Call someone or call a friend to watch your kids while you calm down • Call Texas Neglect & Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400 for someone to talk to • Find parenting classes in your community to learn about ways to handle the stresses of

dealing with kids.

Parent/Student Signature Page

By Signing Below I,______________________________ the parent of ______________________________ (child’s name) acknowledge that I have received a copy of the parent/student handbook and will agree to abide by the policies, procedures and standards of this Handbook. Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Director’s Signature Date

(Return to Bethel’s Christian Academy office)

2018-2019

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This Page to Remain Blank

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