Mt. Moriah Christian Academy Handbook

Mt. Moriah Christian Academy exists to provide students with a  Christian education that is committed to both high academic standards  and a Biblical view of God and the world.

• The Bible is inspired and the only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
• There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His  sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in  His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the  Father, and in His personal future return to this earth in power and  glory to rule for a thousand years.
• In the blessed hope, the rapture of the church at Christ’s coming.
• The only means of salvation is through the repentance and faith in the precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
• Renewal by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
• The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to the prevailing prayer.
• The baptism of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
• In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation.

Mt. Moriah Christian Academy does not discriminate on the basis of  race, color, gender, religion or national and ethnic origin in the  administration of admissions or educational policies.

To officially register your child for enrollment, there is a  registration fee of $35.00 that must be paid prior interview and final  acceptance of the student. This is paid only once and is refundable if  the child is not accepted as a student.

Toward the end of the year, a letter will be sent home asking to  re-enroll your student. These must be signed and promptly returned with a  fee of $25.00 in order to reserve your child’s seat for the next year.

Tuition: All tuition costs and discounts can be found on the Tuition and Cost sheet and can also be requested from the school office.

In order to insure your child’s placement in school for the coming  year, we require that any previous balance be paid in full. Students  whose families have outstanding balances will not receive their final  report cards until all accounts are paid.

Tuition Payments: To keep the tuition costs as low  as possible, Mt. Moriah Christian Academy is a not-for-profit  organization. Therefore each teacher is paid directly by the students’  parents. If the tuition balance is not paid by the beginning of the  school year, parents may opt for a ten (10) month payment plan, schedule  and the day of the month the payment is due. Payments are to be made  from August to May (10 month) or August to July (12 month). Students  whose tuition is late may be dismissed from the school until the balance  is paid in full.

Tuition Contracts: Each teacher is in charge of  their own Tuition Contracts. The parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) must  sign these prior to the beginning of the school year.

Curriculum Bills: Curriculum is ordered at the end  of the school year and during the summer months. Parents will be billed  for these items by the end of July and must be paid in full before the  beginning of the school year. Failure to do so could result in loss of  books until the balance is paid in full.

Mt. Moriah Christian Academy sub-divides the major academic areas into  specifically targeted skills in order to develop abilities more  thoroughly. The following is a brief synopsis of the subjects taught.

• Phonics – An in depth study of the structure of words. (Begins in Kindergarten)
• Vocabulary – Through a comprehensive word study program vocabulary is developed and broadened.
• Analogies – The relationships of words are studied.
• Reading Comprehension – Various materials and techniques are used to develop and strengths the student’s understanding.

• Language Arts – Capitalization, punctuation, reasoning skills and grammar are all studied areas.
• Literature – There is emphasis on award winning and classical literature at all levels.
• Listening Skills – All grades work on the development of memory and note taking skills.
• Penmanship – Both printing and cursive are taught in elementary grades and implemented in the upper grades.

Our program strives to be comprehensive, covering the major branches  of scientific study with age appropriate concepts. While our curriculum  may not deliberately teach about the concepts of God, “creationism” is  the belief of the school and is taught as fact rather than a theory.

Social issues and historical events from the beginning of the world  up through current affairs are all studied. Principles of government and  economics, as well as geography are also included.

Arithmetic concepts are introduced at the primary level through  manipulatives. Older students develop solid skills through an  intergraded approach. Mastery of concepts is affected through continuous  and long-term practice.

• Physical Education
• The Fine Arts (art, music, and drama)
• Foreign Language – Spanish

Test results (either transferred from previous school or obtained  from an independent agency) are used for placing students in their  subjects. The traditional age/grade level system does not necessarily  apply at Mt. Moriah Christian Academy. Students are placed in subjects  according to current skill and performance level. This may mean that a  child may need remedial work in subjects above or below traditional  grade level, depending upon the particular strengths and weaknesses.

NOTE: A student must become five (5) years of age by December 1st of that school year to be eligible for Kindergarten.

In grades Kindergarten through Second (2nd) the grade scale is as follows: (Yearly averages are numerical)

100-97%    A+
96-94%      A
93-90%      A-
89-87%      B+
86-84%      B
83-80%      B-
79% and lower are failing grades
 

In grades Third (3rd) through Twelfth (12th) the grade scale is numerical and is as follows:

100-93%   Excellent
92-87%     Good
86-80%     Accepaccordionle
79% and lower are failing grades

Mt. Moriah encourages our faculty to asses each student every four to  five (4-5) weeks and notify the students’ parents of the results.

Report cards are given every nine (9) weeks at the end of each  quarter. A copy of the report card must be signed by the parent and  returned promptly.

• Stanford Achievement Test: Mt. Moriah Christian Academy administers  the Stanford Achievement Tests for every grade (excluding  Pre-Kindergarten) to assess the students’ progress.
• Regent Competency Test: High school students will be required to  take the New York State RCT’s, which will correlate with the classes  taken that year.
• SAT®: All High School students are strongly encouraged to take the  SAT® tests either in their Junior year or Senior year of High School

• Mt. Moriah Christian Academy is not a corrective institution. No  student should be enrolled on the sole basis of reforming or correction.  Mt. Moriah Christian Academy is here to work with both parents and  students on disciplinary problems.
• Upon violation of student rules, any one of certain measures can be taken. 
  1. A problem is first addressed between student and teacher.
  2. If the problem(s) persists the parent(s) will be notified as well as the principal.
  3. In the event that the problem continues, “In-House” suspension  (dismissal from class but remaining at school) or Suspension (dismissal  of the student from the premises) could occur.
  4. After two (2) suspensions, on the third disciplinary action, a  meeting will be scheduled with the pupil, parents, teachers, principal  and/or administrator to try and resolve the issue(s).

If the problem(s) cannot be rectified the student could be expelled (dismissed) from the school.

We define Provisional Status as the period in which a student is  evaluated in regard to academics, procedures, deportment, and attitude.

All new students are admitted on Provisional Status for the first full quarter (nine weeks total).

At the end of that time a meeting must be scheduled with the parents,  pupil, teacher and principal in order to evaluate the students’  progress. Failure to meet school requirements could then result in  expulsion.

Students must at all times conduct themselves in a Christian manner.  When conduct and/or attitude is not in accordance with school policies  or principles, the student may be placed on provisional status, the  parent(s) will be notified and called in for a conference. If the  administration feels the situation has not changed within the amount of  time designated (commonly two weeks), parents will be asked to withdraw  their child.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays:

Boys must wear either their navy blue or white Polo style shirts or  their white button up shirt, which must be tucked into their pants. And  they must wear their tan khaki pants with a belt and brown or black  dress shoes.

Girls must wear their navy blue or white Polo style shirts or their  white button up shirt. And they must wear either their tan khaki pants  or tan khaki skirt with either brown or black dress shoes.

On Wednesdays (Chapel Days):

Boys must wear their white button up shirt tucked into their pants  with a tie. And they must wear their tan khaki pants with a belt and  brown or black dress shoes.

Girls must wear their white button up shirt and either their khaki pants or khaki skirt with either brown or black dress shoes.

On Fridays:

Each students may dress down as long as they have followed the dress code for the entire week.

During the cold months students may wear navy blue sweaters or a navy  blue zip up fleece, and they must be on the dressier side (no holes,  cartoons, emblems of any sort, etc.) Sweatshirts (including those with  hoods) are dress down items and cannot be worn on any day except Friday.  We are also discouraging students from wearing their jackets during  their classes.

During the warmer months dress sandals (no flip flops) may be worn by  boys and girls except on Wednesdays when dress shoes are the only  exception. Shorts are considered dress down items. Tank tops, worn as  shirts for both boys and girls, are not permitted on any day.

Samples of all the uniform clothing can be provided upon request.

• Written excuses are required after any absence. Conditions for  excused absences are: sickness, a death in the family, an appointment  for a doctor or dentist, or impassable roads. In the event of an  absence, we ask that parents inform the school. It is possible that when  a student has unexcused absences over a period of time, parents may be  called.
• Mt. Moriah Christian Academy requires that students must complete a  full year of school, only missing no more than twenty (20) days of  school (this totals a full month of school missed). If this amount is  exceeded, students must make up the class time either after school  during the year or during summer school (July and August) at the expense  of the parents.
• Tardy: Being on time is very important for students’ education.  School begins at 8:00 a.m. If a student is habitually late, even with  adequate excuses, reasonable consequences will result.

In order to give the best witness students are to refrain from:

• Obscenities and swearing
• The use, possession or sale of tobacco products
• The use, possession or sale of alcohol
• The use, possession or sale of any illegal drugs
• Defacing of personal or public property
• Stealing and robbery
• Assault and physical injury
• Intimidation, harassment, menacing, or bullying
• The use, possession or sale of weapons
• Cheating on any sort of school work
• Possession of cell phones and/or musical devices
• Other disruptive incidents

Students are to be courteous, respectful and orderly at all times.  Proper grooming must be taught along with manners and morals. We support  the emphasis of the Christian home in matters of modesty. We seek to  use every means at our disposal, including dress and proper grooming to  encourage our students to think and act like ladies and gentlemen.
Respecting the Property

Mt. Moriah Christian Academy shares the building with Mt. Moriah  Church; therefore students must respect all property. Students are not  allowed on the Church stage or to use equipment without proper  supervision.

• Church Attendance: All students are required to  have a regular Sunday church attendance. We strongly encourage families  to attend church in order to give their child the best chance for  success.
• Medical: In the event that a student needs special  medical attention, a staff member will call the parent(s) first. If the  parent(s) are unreachable and the student needs immediate medical  attention 911 will be contacted.
• Conferences: Parent-Teacher conferences will be  arranged, after the first marking period, and again after the third  quarter marking period if needed. If an additional appointment is  necessary, please contact the school to make arrangements. A report of  the student’s progress will be given at the conference.
• Calendar: Please keep your copy of the year’s  school calendar for ready reference. It will be issued at the earliest  date possible in September. If there are any changes to the calendar, a  written note will be sent home with every child.
• Snow: Mt. Moriah Christian Academy will close for  snow or weather emergencies. Please watch any major television channel  for our name on the ticker.
• Transportation: Mt. Moriah Christian Academy does  not provide transportation to and from the school (outside of field  trips.) Most school districts do provide transportation and it is up to  the parents to contact the bus garage.
• Driving students: Student’s with licenses are  allowed to drive to school, however during school hours it is up to  teachers/staff if they may leave the grounds during break (10:00 a.m.)  and lunch (12:10 p.m.) Also these privileges can be removed as part of  discipline.
• Electronic Devices: Students may use video games,  music players, etc. at the discretion of the teacher. Cell phones may  also be used with permission from the teacher and never during class.  If, however, the device becomes a distraction or abuse of these  privileges occur, the device may be taken away and only parents will be  able to pick it up from the main office.