Policies/Procedures

Attendance and Absences

Regular attendance is key to helping each student do his/her best in academic achievement. Self-discipline on the part of the entire family to assure consistent daily attendance is a most valuable character trait. Notice the following guidelines and policies regarding attendance.

Attendance Requirements

Students who are absent three days or fewer must bring a written excuse from the parent upon returning to school. Except for childhood diseases, a doctor’s verification will be required for an absence of more than three days.

If the parent needs to take his/her child out of class during the day, a signed note should accompany the child that day with a specific time stated. Parents should always come to the office to sign out the child. If the student returns, he/she must sign in at the office and get a pass to return to class.

All absences and tardies, whether excused or unexcused, will be recorded on the report card.

Attendance will be marked in the following way:

Tests and quizzes missed during an “unexcused” absence cannot be made up and will result in a zero.

“Unexcused” tardies will be penalized by one hour of detention after every third offense. After nine tardies, a high schooler who drives to school or has first hour study hall will serve detention each time he/she is tardy.

Students who miss over 15 days of school in a semester will be retained, unless the administration deems otherwise.

Students must attend a full day of school (other than a doctor’s appointment) in order to participate in sporting events that afternoon or evening.

Absence Notification

Parents should notify the school office in advance of the absence whenever possible. In the case of illness, parents are asked to call the school office before 9:00 a.m. stating the specific reason for the absence. Unless notified, the school will attempt to call the home of the absentee. After an absence, the returning student should bring a note explaining the reason for the absence.

24-hour call line: (765) 643-7884, ext. 211. Please leave the following information:
Name of student
Date(s) and projected duration of absence
Specific reason for absence
Identify yourself (i.e. relationship to student)
Would you like homework and class work sent to the school office for pickup?

When an absence occurs, the student is responsible for any class work missed and must arrange with the teacher to make up assignments, tests and quizzes.

Excused Absence

Indiana Christian Academy defines excused absences as:

Illness
Professional appointments (medical, dental, etc.)
Death in the immediate family
School functions (field trips, clubs, sports, performances, or other approved extracurricular activities)

The student will have an equal number of days of excused absence to make up daily homework. The student should expect to make up quizzes and tests on the day he/she returns to class, if they were assigned before the absence. Previously assigned homework will be due when the student returns. If a student’s absence is long term, or he/she has missed class review for a quiz or test, then arrangements between the teacher and student will be made to make up the work. Papers and projects which are assigned two weeks or more prior to their due date must be turned in on the day a student returns to school from an absence.

Unexcused Absence

Unexcused absences include absences for all reasons other than those listed for excused absence. Unexcused absentees will not be able to make up any work unless satisfactory arrangements were made with the teacher before the absence occurred.

Discipline System

We believe that a school environment characterized by consistent discipline administered with a loving spirit is conducive to the best possible learning. Solid Christian character building should always be a vital part of the education received at Indiana Christian Academy.

Prohibited Articles

Cigarettes, tobacco in any form, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, any medicine not prescribed by a doctor for that particular student, cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, playing cards, knives, guns, bullets, explosives of any kind, radios, tapes (audio and video) DVD’s and CD’s that are not school related and approved, comic books and books not directly related to classwork are not permitted. All paperback books and magazines must be appropriate for school use. Gum should not be brought to school for any reason, and candy is to be restricted to lunch and ball games. Palm pilots (PDA’s) are limited to high school students only. These items may be confiscated for an indefinite period of time. Appropriate marks or demerits will be given.

Elementary School Discipline

Discipline in Kindergarten up through 6th grade for minor offenses will be administered by the classroom teacher using a “mark system.”
A student who accumulates three marks in one day or four marks within a week’s time (Monday Friday) will be sent to the administrator.
Students caught lying, cheating, stealing, using bad language, showing disrespect or fighting will be sent immediately to the administrator.

Secondary School Demerit System

The secondary school discipline will be governed by a demerit system. Teachers will turn in demerit slips to the office on the day that the offense occurs. The administrator will periodically meet with the students involved to determine and notify them of the demerits assigned. A list of the most common offenses and the penalties are listed in the Student and Parent Handbook. The following penalties will be assigned for demerits accumulated in one school year.

Transportation

Drop Off and Pick Up Information

In order to maximize the safety and well-being of our ICA family, please familiarize yourself with the drop off and pick up information below. In addition, take note of information for parking, school emergencies, carpooling, and student drivers.

Morning Drop-Off

• Students should be let out at the yellow curb by the gym entrance, not by the SE doors.
• Do not leave your car unattended at any time unless it is parked in an actual parking space.
• All vehicles should enter from Hartman Road and exit onto 50 West.
• Students coming to school with a student driver may enter the Academy’s SE doors.
• Those being dropped off by parents should all enter the gym doors.

Mid-day Pick-Up

Students in Preschool - K5 who leave before lunch will be helped by a teacher or assistant into the appropriate vehicle from the yellow curb outside the gym doors at approximately 10:55 am.

Afternoon Pick-Up

• When a child is waiting in the designated area on the gym sidewalk, the driver may pull up to the yellow curb.
• Do not leave your car unattended at any time unless it is parked in a designated parking space.
• Children will not be allowed to cross the flow of traffic unless accompanied by an adult.
• Secondary students are dismissed 10 minutes after the elementary students.

Parking for Parents Arriving During the School Day

There are four parking spots close to the SE Academy doors, which are reserved for those dropping off/picking up students, or coming to the office during the school day. If staying for a prolonged period, please, park in the large parking lot directly south of the Academy building. When arriving late, the student should go directly to the Academy office to check in.

When picking up a student, go to the school office and request the student to be released to you. You will be asked to sign-out your student and then sign-in your student upon his return, if he is returning to school that day. To meet with a staff member or to attend a student’s class as a volunteer, sign in at the Academy office where you will be given a visitor’s badge and be directed to the appropriate location.

Carpool Information

To conserve time and fuel cost and to reduce drop off and pick up traffic, we encourage all families at ICA to carpool when possible. A database of our families by zip code is available in the School Office for families interested in establishing a carpool. Families who are interested in carpooling should complete a Family Carpool Information Form. Questions regarding carpooling may be directed to the Academy office via email or by phone.

Student Drivers

Any student driving to school or riding with a student driver must have permission from all parents involved. This arrangement must be submitted in writing to the office. Students will not be allowed to return to their vehicles until school is dismissed. Loitering around the cars before and after school will not be permitted. The privilege of driving to school will be taken away from those who are reckless or show a lack of responsibility in driving. A speed limit of 15 m.p.h. is to be observed in the ICA parking lot.