Parent-Student
Handbook

Mailing Address
PO Box 1065
Hobe Sound FL 33475-1065

E-mail Address
Hobe Sound Christian Academy

Elementary Office
772-545-1453

High School Office
772-545-1455


Introduction

Dear Parents/Students:

We at Hobe Sound Christian Academy are honored that you have chosen us to further your child's education. We are grateful for the high privilege of being involved in the Scriptural education of young people and rejoice in what God is doing in the lives of our students.

Hobe Sound Christian Academy is beginning its forty-third year of operation. The school is fully accredited by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS), by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and is in compliance with Date Base Survey as required by the Florida Department of Education. All of our faculty hold the minimum of a bachelor's degree and are certified by FACCS.

We believe our student body is one of the finest in all of Florida. We are here to serve students who want not only an academically excellent education, but also have a sincere desire to live for Christ and grow spiritually.

Again, let us welcome you to the Hobe Sound Christian Academy family and let us assure you that your child is in good hands. In Deuteronomy, chapter 6, verses 6 and 7, the Lord commands parents: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children." We praise the Lord that you have seen fit through the ministry of this school to teach these things diligently to your children.

Sincerely,

HOBE SOUND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Dr. Randall McElwain, Principal

TO THE PARENTS OF THE ACADEMY PUPIL

This handbook is prepared for you . . .

It is designed:

Read and study it carefully. Preserve it for future reference. You may also use it as a source of information when discussing the school with others who may be interested.

ADMISSION STATEMENT

All applicants for admission will be considered without regard to race or ethnic group. It is very important that both parents and students be in basic harmony with the Academy' s educational philosophy, moral standards (including dress and conduct requirements), and ethical standards. Hobe Sound Christian Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin.

STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE

We stand openly and without apology for the historic faith of the Bible, including such factors as the Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures, the Deity and Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, the Blood Atonement, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Deity and Personality of the Holy Spirit.

We hold to the Wesleyan-Armenian position of an unlimited atonement, the witness of the Spirit, and the entire sanctification of the believer as a second work of grace.

ACCREDITATION

Hobe Sound Christian Academy is fully accredited by FACCS (Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools) and AACS (American Association of Christian Schools). The academy is accredited by SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). FACCS is affiliated with FAANS (Florida Association of Academic Non-Public Schools) and NCPSA (National Council of Private School Accreditation).

QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS

A11 of our faculty hold the minimum of a bachelor's degree and are certified by FACCS or the Department of Education.

PARENT-PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION

Parents are requested to deliver and pick up their children in the following manner:

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is a "must" if students are to make educational progress. In case of absence, the parent must call the office or write a note which the student should present to the office. The office will give the student a permit to class which must be presented for admission to all classes missed.

Being tardy gets the entire day off to a poor start. Your child must be on time. If an emergency makes tardiness necessary, a note from home must be brought or the parent should call the office. Three tardies will equal one absence against the student's perfect attendance record (or against the student's class absence record in high school). If an elementary student has been tardy three times, he (she) must stay for a half-hour detention after school. In high school, the student is allowed two unexcused tardies per semester and thereafter must serve 45-minutes of detention after school for every unexcused tardy. Repeated tardiness may result in the student's dismissal from school.

Students who have their driver's license and miss in excess of the allotted days may have their driver's license revoked by the Division of Driver's Licenses in Tallahassee.

Students must be in school at least a half day to be counted present; for the high school this means attendance to a minimum of 3 classes. Any dismissal before 12:15 p.m. will result in a half-day absence being counted on your child's record.

Absences for the following reasons will be considered excused absences:

  1. Personal illness.
  2. Death in family.
  3. Two (2) personal days are permitted during the school year and will be considered excused. However, these days do count against a perfect attendance record. It will be required that a student wanting a personal day(s) must have his (her) parent call the office to make the request, or must bring a note from home, signed by the parent, requesting the day(s) off before the absence. This request for a personal day(s) is to be turned in to the principal's office for approval. Failure to request by signed note before the absence will result in the personal day being unexcused and the student will receive zeros for all work missed. Personal days may be taken at the family's discretion with the exception of exam week at the end of each semester for high school and Achievement Testing week for both elementary and high school.
  4. Students in the Academy will be able to take five "family" days during the school year. These days must be taken with parents or guardians and must be prearranged. Requests for family day(s) must be submitted at least one week in advance, and arrangements must be made with teachers for classwork to be made up. Failure to request by signed note or phone call before the absence will result in the family day being unexcused and the student will receive zeros for all work missed. These days will be in addition to the two personal days already provided and will not be the same as personal days. They must be days that the student accompanies the family on a trip. Family days may be taken at the family's discretion with the exception of exam week at the end of each semester for high school and Achievement Testing week for both elementary and high school.
  5. Any other reason excused by the principal before the absence occurs. All other absences are unexcused.
  6. Students in high school who receive unexcused absences (no legitimate excuse or note from home) will receive five demerits and a three-hour work detention.
  7. Students who are absent due to sickness should not be seen out playing, participating in school activities, etc. on the day(s) of their absence(s) for sickness. Absences of this sort will run the risk of being unexcused.

Students will receive no credit for any assignments or tests missed during unexcused absences.

If a student misses more than 18 days during the year (or 9 days during the semester), his (her) promotion will be in jeopardy or he (she) will not receive credits for the classes.

Visitors may not attend classes without permission. Permission must be given by the office and the teacher a day ahead of time. A visitor's pass may be obtained from the office.

Children who are not of school age may not be sent to school with older brothers or sisters.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Hobe Sound Christian Academy desires to maintain a healthful school environment by instituting controls designed to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The term "communicable disease" shall mean an illness which arises as a result of a specific infectious agent which may be transmitted either directly or indirectly by a susceptible host or infected person or animal to other persons.

A teacher or administrator who reasonably suspects that a student or employee has a communicable disease shall immediately notify the school principal. The reportable diseases include the following:

Any student or employee with a communicable disease for which immunization is required by law, or is available, shall be temporarily excluded from school while ill and during recognized periods of communicability. Students and employees with communicable diseases for which immunization is not available shall be excluded from school while ill. If the nature of the disease and circumstances warrant, Hobe Sound Christian Academy may require an independent physician's examination of the student or employee to verify the diagnosis of communicable disease. Hobe Sound Christian Academy reserves the right to make all final decisions necessary to enforce its communicable disease policy and to take all necessary action to control the spread of communicable diseases within the school.

INSURANCE

Accident insurance is required for every student and is issued through the school. The charge for this will be added to each account. This policy gives coverage for the child for nine months.

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