Paideia Christian Academy (MS) - School Handbook AYE 2027 by Publications

The Mission

At Paideia Christian Academy, our mission is to partner with parents who desire their children to strive for what is good and true We will provide an intentional, academically rigorous, yet hospitable liberal arts education that nurtures both mind and spirit, fosters critical thinking and a deep foundation in Christian faith, and upholds high standards and integrity, encouraging each child to ﬂourish in their God-given abilities.

Our mission is to partner with Christian families in cultivating a joyful education grounded in God’s Word and the classical liberal arts We equip every willing learner through the Trivium moving from knowledge, to understanding, to wisdom so that they may discern truth, reason clearly, communicate persuasively, and live wisely under the lordship of Christ

Deep Hope

At Paideia Christian Academy, our deep hope is that our students will be wise and virtuous; seeing Scripture as the beginning of all knowledge, equipped to love and serve Christ in whatever the Lord calls them to do.

We ultimately hope that our students will have rightly ordered loves and that the whole family will be discipled through our education.

Our prayer is that each student will grow to love what is true, good, and beautiful; to see all knowledge as belonging to Christ; and to live as faithful stewards of the gifts and callings God has entrusted to them for His glory and the good of the world.

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Our name, Paidea, comes from the Greek word for “nurture” or “instruction” or “training”. We see it used in Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” and in 2 Timothy 3:16, “ All Scripture is breathed out by God and proﬁtable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”. At Paidea, we wish to partner with parents who are diligently aspiring to obey these texts in their training; teaching children that God created all things for His glory and to use the Scripture as a lens to joyfully learn all that is true, beautiful, and good in His creation.

We hold that education is discipleship, shaping not merely intellect but souls toward virtue. Every child, made in the image of God, is taught as a whole person—mind, heart, and body within a disciplined and joy-ﬁlled community that delights in truth, goodness, and beauty

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge To know is not to be wise Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” - Spurgeon

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

“For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” Proverbs 8:11

What Is Paideia? - Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS)

Philosophy of Language

At Paideia Christian Academy, students will study Latin after developing foundational English grammar skills. Latin reinforces English grammar by applying grammatical skills to a new language

Because Latin is a well-ordered language, its students develop a logic of language that deepens their understanding of language in general The study of Latin and its etymology builds a strong vocabulary foundation, as it is the basis of our legal and medical terms and the root of all Romance languages. Since about two thirds of English words are derived from Latin, the study of Latin provides invaluable insights into the structure and meaning of English words. Latin is also the language of Rome,

the culture in which Christ came, so many foundational documents for the Christian Church were written in Latin Not only does the clear grammatical structure of Latin make it beneﬁcial to study to form the logical minds of students, but it is also an excellent language to be able to translate and interpret for deeper understanding.

Philosophy of Math

We serve a mighty God of order, not chaos There is objective truth found in solving a problem involving numbers. In a culture that overlooks the beautiful complexities and masterful design of numbers and order, we want our students to marvel at how perfectly God has given structure to the universe through the realm of mathematics We begin with mastering the language of math through numbers and then to studying numbers in space, which is where geometry is exercised. Music is the study of numbers in time, and ﬁnally we are led to a deeper understanding of the cosmos, which is the study of numbers in space and time.

We start with arithmetic to build mastery in the language of numbers and then move to studying numbers in space, where we see geometry throughout creation. Music is the study of numbers in time, and ﬁnally this leads to a deeper understanding of the cosmos, which is the study of numbers in space and time

Philosophy of Science

Through observing the world and God’s creations, we leave ourselves better equipped to wonder at God’s might and worship His omnipotence We desire for our students to be inspired by His works, therefore, we use hands-on experiments and physical observations to solidify their learning from texts. Our hope is for all learners to master the skills of observations, hypothesis, and conclusions and know that His Word holds true through all scientiﬁc concepts.

Having a deep understanding that all truth is God’s Truth We therefore can look at science with anticipation of truth being revealed.

Our philosophy of science fosters the pursuit of truth, beauty, and wonder, guiding students to recognize the alignment between God's Word and creation. We teach science as a tool, not the ultimate answer. Science cannot stand alone, it must be integrated with math, philosophy, and the arts for true mastery Mastery goes beyond acquiring knowledge it requires a deep, applied understanding of God’s ordered world. We do this through discussion, observation, and hands-on experiments.

Philosophy of Humanities

To the extent of what classical education is able to provide, the Paideia of the Lord perhaps makes the most gain in the studies of the Humanities The study of humanities aims to embolden students to live virtuous lives for God, marked by discernment and piety; knowing their choices will impact not just themselves, but those around them Fundamentally the study of God’s image- bearers through history and literature. Humanities are the collective works essentially bearing witness to God’s story. With the integration of Scripture, History and Literature, students witness the rebellion of man against God throughout all history as well as the Redemptive plan of God unfolding. History is seen more clearly through the lens of story, and literature reveals character and gives us often a ﬁrst-hand perspective of choices and how they impact lives History gives us context, while selected liturgical works give deeper meanings of things. Lessons will aim to produce for students cultural awareness, think critically, and form opinions.

Philosophy of Art

As image-bearers of the Divine Creator, we as humans have been given the unique privilege to not only witness the intricate details of creation whispering of His Glory before us, but also to “create” that which is true, good, and rightly beautiful. And that, in a culture that is dominated by visuals, is important now more than ever Today, there is a war against beautiful, transcendental art and design; in a time where eyes are rarely trained to see or appreciate that which should serve as a witness to God’s power and beauty Art in a Classical Christian setting, should develop the skill to recognize, appreciate, and produce art that can serve as an apologetic.

Philosophy of Music

Music reﬂects God’s order and beauty through rhythms and harmonies that align with His creation It calms the mind, awakens the soul, and reveals truth, beauty, and goodness while pointing to Christ. As a singing people, we are called to glorify God through music, making it both a gift and an act of worship. Music will be taught as a language and skill, equipping students to hear, sing, read music, and worship with understanding.

Philosophy of PE

“The body and the soul are united in such a way that failure to cultivate the capacities inherent in either is failure to cultivate the whole person. ” (The Liberal Arts Tradition, Ravi and Scott)

At Paideia Christian Academy we understand and believe physical and cognitive development to be deeply intertwined, each supporting the other and crucial in a child's holistic development We also realize that God's Word speaks to stewardship of our physical bodies We choose to integrate physical activity throughout our day to support the needs of our students as the teacher discerns is most beneﬁcial. Outdoor lessons, nature journaling, regular moving around in the classroom (as opposed to sitting in one desk endlessly) are all things you can expect for your student(s) This not only preserves our condensed academic schedule, but also integrates physical activity into our students' learning and normal rhythms, in contrast to having one time of day set aside for physical activity. We also highly encourage families to prioritize ample time during their home days and weekends to be outdoors, play games, take walks, do outdoor chores, explore places, swim, participate in team sports, etc We desire to model and encourage our students to build lifelong healthy habits in regards to physical activity and also discover ways they enjoy being active that will enrich their lives now and for years to come.

CULTURAL ISSUES

On Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality

Paideia Christian Academy is committed to the infallibility of the Christian Scriptures in all matters of faith and life Our aim is to be aligned with the truth of the Bible even when that means being out of alignment with what is considered popular or culturally-acceptable. Moreover, especially as it pertains to the statements below, Paideia Christian Academy stands in continuity with what the Church has taught, believed, and confessed for over 2000 years In these matters, we seek to be both clear and compassionate.

We believe that every person regardless of sinful beliefs or actions—must be shown love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). We repudiate hateful and harassing words or behavior about or toward anyone as out of accord with the teachings of the Bible, the character of our Lord, and the mission of Paideia Christian Academy. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, sexual or otherwise, seeking his mercy and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19–21; Rom 10:9–10; 1 Cor 6:9–11)

We believe that in order to preserve Paideia Christian Academy’s integrity and effectiveness, as a biblically faithful institution of Christian education and as a model to our community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Paideia Christian Academy in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, afﬁrm and abide by this statement (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14–16; 1 Thess. 5:22). We also expect students to uphold these biblical values regarding sex, gender, and sexual activity in their speech, dress, and conduct

On Gender

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as either male or female, both in biological sex and in gender These two distinct, complementary genders together reﬂect the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27). “To reject one's biological gender is an act of rebellion against God's design.” *

On Marriage

We believe that according to the Bible, marriage has only one appropriate meaning: the union of one man and one woman in a holy relationship intended to be exclusive and lifelong (Gen. 2:18–25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between men and women joined in marriage (1 Cor 6:18 and 7:2-5; Heb 13:4)

On Sexuality

We believe that participating in or approving of any form of sexual activity forbidden in the Bible (including unmarried sex, adultery, homosexual or bisexual behavior, and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18–20; Rom. 1:24–32; 1 Cor. 6:9–10).

*Paideia Christian Academy understands that due to sin, we are confronted with genetic brokenness which could include the rare case of a child born intersex. This does not constitute a de-emphasis on the biblical pattern of male/female complementarity.

On Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in his image Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps 139) We believe this is the starting point for all discussions related to the sanctity of life (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, war). Gen. 2:18-25; Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5 ; Isaiah 44:2 Exodus 4:11, 20:13; Proverbs 31:8–9).

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the ﬁnal authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed. (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12–13)

The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit coeternal in being, coeternal in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut 6:4; 2 Cor 13:14)

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (John 1:1–2, 14; Luke 1:35) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His

death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3–5) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9–10; Heb 7:25, 9:24; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8–11, 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor. 12:12–14; Rom. 8:9; Eph 5:18)

We Are Born Sinners

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that all men are born sinful, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition without Christ. (Gen. 1:26–27, Rom. 3:22–23, 5:12, Eph. 2:1–3, 12)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Eph. 2:8–10; John 1:12, Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19)

Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

We believe that all those who are saved are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37–40, 10:27–30; Rom. 8:1, 38–39; 1 Cor. 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5) We believe it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the ﬂesh. (Rom. 13:13–14; Gal. 5:13, Titus 2:11–15)

The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts It is, however, the believer's responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and is the placing of the believer into the Body of Christ We also believe that particular spiritual gift(s) are neither

essential (proving the presence of the Holy Spirit), nor an indication of deep spiritual experience (1 Cor 12:7, 11, 13; Eph 4:7–8) We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afﬂicted. (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14–15) We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God given to him (Rom 12:1–8; 1 Cor 13; 1 Peter 4:10–11)

The Church

We believe that the Church, which is the Body and espoused Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons (Eph 1:22–23, 5:25–27; 1 Cor 12:12–14; 2 Cor. 11:2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and deﬁned in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 18:22, 20:17; 1 Tim 3:1–3; Titus 1:5–11) We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control. (Acts 13:1–4, 15:19–31, 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16, 5:4–7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1–4) We recognize believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church (Matt 28:19–20; Acts 2:41–42, 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23–26)

Secondary Doctrine

Paideia Christian Academy’s Statement of Faith and the New City Catechism deﬁne the beliefs on which the school is based. Paideia Christian Academy deﬁnes secondary doctrine as doctrinal issues which are not directly addressed in our Statement of Faith or the New City Catechism We will use catechism* as a part of our pedagogical approach.

*A catechism is a summary of Christian doctrine presented in a question-and-answer format, designed for teaching the foundational beliefs of the faith. Traditionally, catechisms cover core topics such as the nature of God, salvation, the sacraments, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and prayer (especially the Lord’s Prayer) Catechisms are commonly used in churches, schools, and homes to instruct both children and adults in the basics of their faith, fostering understanding and memorization of key doctrines

In matters of secondary doctrine, Paideia Christian Academy’s administrators and teachers will:

1. Encourage and challenge students to think and be discerning on all matters according to the truth of God’s Word

2. Foster a classroom environment, especially at the secondary level, of love, respect and charity among students

3. Be encouraged to charitably present the various sides of a secondary issue

4. Seek to maintain unity among our students and families according to our Statement of Faith and the New City Catechism and by not teaching secondary doctrines as primary and not disparaging secondary doctrinal beliefs that are contrary to their personal convictions

5 Encourage students to seek the support and instruction of their parents and their local church

The following list is not exhaustive but represents some of the secondary doctrine discussions that may occur (mainly) at the secondary level:

1. Age of the earth

We read Genesis 1–3 from the framework of an orthodox Christian perspective. We will teach from the perspective of a literal 24-hour day but will open the discussion up in secondary years, where we will discuss other orthodox views as viable interpretations.

2. Eschatology

We will teach about the imminent return of Jesus and that the dead will be raised to eternal life or eternal judgment. This will expand, in the secondary years, to discussion of four held views of eschatology: dispensational premillennialism,* historical premillennialism,† amillennialism,‡ and partial preterist postmillennialism.§

*Dispensational premillennialism: Dispensational premillennialism teaches that Christ will return twice: ﬁrst to rapture believers before a seven-year tribulation, and then to reign for 1,000 years on Earth, fulﬁlling promises to Israel. It emphasizes a literal interpretation of prophecy and distinguishes between God’s plans for Israel and the Church.

†Historical premillennialism: A non-literal interpretation of the trials described in Revelation, this view holds to the imminent return of Christ after a period of tribulation with a following age of peace where Satan is bound until right before the ﬁnal judgment

‡Amillennialism: The millennium is symbolic and represents the time of Church growth that is spiritual rather than physical Jesus' imminent return will occur after a “millennium” of people coming to Christ. There are various aspects to timing held within this view.

§Postmillennialism: Satan was bound at the cross, the millennial period is a period of time rather than a literal thousand years. During this millennium the gospel will spread “to the ends of the earth” until death is the last to be conquered and put under Jesus’ feet, when the earth will be transformed in the “blink of an eye ” with Jesus’ imminent return. This view holds that many of the New Testament prophetic passages were fulﬁlled by the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD

3. Baptism

We hold that baptism is not salviﬁc. It is the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signiﬁes and seals our adoption into Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord and to his church (NCC, question 44). In the secondary years we will discuss the two main positions, credobaptism,** and paedobaptism,†† as a viable, orthodox belief.

**Credobaptism: This position teaches that baptism is a sign of a believer’s fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection and should be administered to those who profess repentance toward God and faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ Believers are to be baptized in the name of the Triune God by immersion in water.

††Paedobaptism: This position teaches that baptism is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace. Immersion into water is not necessary, but is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person in the name of the Triune God. Infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized, not for salvation, but so that the promised grace of God is exhibited and conferred by the Holy Spirit to such as that grace belongs to, according to God’s own will and in His appointed time.

4. Cessationism & Continuationism

We will teach that the Holy Spirit is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe (NCC, question 36) and that He is the believer’s Helper who convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word (NCC, question 37).

In the secondary years, we will explore various Christian perspectives on the gifts of the Spirit, presenting both cessationist and continuationist views within a balanced, biblically grounded framework. Our discussions will be guided by the following principles:

1. While God may still perform miracles today, these are not as prevalent as in the Apostolic age and do not appear to be performed through individuals

2. We reject the notion that God’s favor is demonstrated by material wealth or success and do not endorse "name it and claim it" theology, which can suggest that faith guarantees speciﬁc outcomes Instead, we emphasize that faithful Christian living is founded on God’s will as revealed in Scripture

UNIFORM POLICY

For more information, please see the LINK.

DISCIPLINE POLICY

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it ” –Hebrews 12:11

Paideia Christian Academy recognizes that the purpose of discipline is to develop our fellowship and love for God and neighbor (Mark 12:30–31). Discipline is necessary for discipleship. To this end, discipline is not meant to simply modify outward behavior, but to train the heart to love Jesus

General Guidelines

Discipline is administered in light of severity, situation, and attitude of the individual student The kind of discipline may be determined by the teachers or, and if necessary, Administration (e.g., Head of School) following the guidelines below. Any disciplinary action must be done in love with the hope of restoration.

Classroom Discipline

God is a God of order and our teachers foster this order through classroom discipleship (1 Cor. 14:33, 40). Students will be asked to behave in a way that fosters respect for their teacher especially as it relates to love for God and their neighbors in class General behaviors that can be corrected in-class include:

● Minor classroom disruption

● Nuisance behavior to teacher or students

● Inappropriate use of classroom material

Three opportunities will be offered to help students course-correct. At that point an ofﬁce visit will be held. At the ofﬁce visit a consequence will be given along with a note to the parent

Potential Discipleship Opportunities During an Ofﬁce Visit

These activities are designed to encourage personal growth, reﬂection, and responsibility:

● Helping Clean and Care for Our Spaces

○ Tidying common areas and picking up trash

○ Freshening up bathrooms

○ Sweeping or vacuuming ﬂoors

○ Wiping down desks, walls, and whiteboards

○ Assisting with outdoor clean-up

● Building Physical Endurance and Self-Discipline

○ Wall sits

○ Jumping jacks

○ Short laps

○ Push-ups

○ Burpees

● Reﬂective and Restorative Actions

○ Writing a reﬂective note on what happened and what could be done differently

○ Taking steps to make things right and show responsibility

○ Practicing asking for forgiveness when appropriate

○ Temporarily giving up certain privileges as a reminder of responsibility

○ Practicing expected behaviors to reinforce positive habits

○ If needed, taking a break for the rest of the day to reﬂect at home

Ofﬁce Visit for Overt Behavior

Overt behaviors which require administrative involvement necessitates parent notiﬁcation Depending on the severity of the infraction, students may need to be picked up immediately from school and in some cases, receive suspension. For discipline to be effective, it is imperative for teachers and parents to behave as a team. If this can’t be accomplished, a student may need to be unenrolled until such a time as an agreement can be reached.

● Flagrant disrespect shown to staff

● Dishonesty (e.g., lying, cheating, stealing)

● Deﬁance (e.g., outright disobedience, consistent correction, or rebellion)

● Fighting (e g , striking with the intention to harm another student)

● Bullying (i e , when a student deliberately harasses another student during or outside of school and includes cyber-bullying)

● Enabling others bad behavior

● Acts that endanger the lives of another person

● Vandalism

● Theft

● Inappropriate use of school property or facility

● Inappropriate language (e.g., obscene, vulgar, profane)

● Romantic displays of affection (e.g., kissing, hugging, hand-holding, etc.)

● Sexual misconduct (e.g., inappropriate touching, use of pornography, etc.)

● Illegal substance use (e g , drug or alcohol use)

● Weapons on campus (e.g., guns, knives, etc.)

Degrees of Discipline for Overt Behaviors

The degree of discipline depends on the severity of the offense and may lead to expulsion through a disciplinary hearing process

Re-Admittance

Should a student who was expelled, or who withdrew to prevent expulsion, desire to be readmitted to Paideia Christian Academy at a later date, they would require a discipline hearing involving the parents, teachers, and school Administration The Education Council, in consultation with the Head of School, will make a decision based on the student's attitude and circumstances.

Electronic Device Policy

Use of personal electronic devices (i.e., phones, smart phones, portable gaming devices, smart watches, etc.) by students is prohibited on campus. Such devices may be brought to school, but they must be checked in at the school ofﬁce during school hours

● Use of laptops is permissible for secondary academic purposes only under the pre-approved direction and supervision of a teacher

● A ﬁrst violation of this policy will result in immediate conﬁscation of the device, to be released to a parent or guardian

● A second violation of this policy will result in a parent conference with Administration

● A third violation of this policy will result in a disciplinary hearing

● Paideia Christian Academy accepts no responsibility for use, breakage, theft, or loss of phone or other personal items

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating is deﬁned as looking at another’s work without the teacher’s permission or communicating with another during an exam without the teacher’s permission.

Plagiarism is deﬁned as using another’s work without acknowledging and thanking them for the use.

If either cheating or plagiarism is noticed, the assignment or exam will immediately receive a 0. Parents will be notiﬁed. A second cheating or plagiarism infraction will result in an Education Council review

Dress Code Violation

If faculty notices a dress code violation,* they will inform Administration, and Administration will notify parents through a Dress Code Violation Form (via ClassReach). After 4 dress code violations, an office visit will follow in addition to email notification. After the 5th violation within a semester, the student will be sent home. Subsequent dress code violations will require the Head of School to treat the violations as office visits in accordance with the discipline policy.

*A dress code violation is a violation that cannot be corrected in class

GRADING POLICY

Conduct Items

● Speaks at the appropriate time

● Respects authority

● Respects others

● Completes work on time

● Works hard when faced with something difﬁcult

● Shows initiative

● Follows directions

● Comes prepared to class

● Stays focused on task

● Seeks forgiveness when wrong

● Patient with others

Primary & Secondary Weighted Categories

● 30% Practice Work

● 70% Magnum Opus

Primary Grading

Secondary & Secondary Prep Grading

Assessment & Grading Protocol

Humanities

● Soft grading throughout the week on various writing and speaking assignments

● Magnum Opus for each week that is graded in the gradebook (may be written or oral)

● Assessment at the end of each book that includes:

○ Grammar section

○ Logic section

○ Rhetoric Section

Mathematics

● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work

● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade

Science

● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work

● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade

Music & Art

● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work

● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade

Latin

● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work

● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade

*Hard grade: after practicing the child will be assessed on mastery or improvement

Review week and midterm week before Thanksgiving.

Review week and ﬁnals week at the end of the year.

Parent Communication

● Grades will be communicated through ClassReach

● Conduct items will be entered prior to the Fall and Spring Parent-Partnership Meetings

● A parent-partnership meeting will be held in the fall and the spring. Please see our calendar for dates Teachers will contact parents if a student is struggling academically or socially

● Please use ClassReach as the best way to communicate important information with the staff

Expected Homework Load

Grades at Paideia Christian Academy do not in any way reflect the immeasurable worth and value of each child made in God’s image, but rather they are a reflection of the quality of work in a given field of study at a given time. At Paideia Christian Academy, grades serve three basic purposes:

1. To help students to improve

2 To determine the best placement level considering academic ability

3. To provide a just and legitimate means of holding students accountable for the quality of their work

Grades provide a widely understood means of communicating progress and achievement to parents and other parties such as college entrance boards or other schools to which the young student may transfer.

Individual Grades

Paideia Christian Academy will use a unique method of grading that ensures students have time to “practice” before they receive a grade. Therefore regular feedback within the scope of the class regarding new concepts will be given and “practice” grades will be recorded within the gradebook Magnum Opus assignments (best work), that will more greatly affect overall standings, will also be recorded for transcript purposes. Consistent with educating the whole child, both attitude and effort will be considered within our grading systems

Group Project Grades

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ” –1 Thessalonians 5:14

Group projects are a part of coursework and it should be expected that grading of these will not be individualized because we believe that character in community reveals the heart. Paideia Christian Academy cares even more about the heart than the academics, group projects allow teachers to see where character work is needed, and since we are preparing students for life, not just college, character in Christian community is integral to “Loving God and Loving Neighbor” (Matt. 22:36–40).

Mathematical Grading Policy

Because math problems are objectively right or wrong, grading will follow a simple number correct out of the number of problems. Exercises that are philosophically based will follow the humanities scale (see below)

Math examinations are 70% of the ﬁnal grade. Math homework, practicums, and projects are 30% of the ﬁnal grade (group or individual)

Science Grading Policy

Since science is taught through experiments, and discovery, this will be a participation and group project grade in the primary years and will move towards mastery grading through the various scientiﬁc ﬁelds of study in the secondary years.

Latin Grading Policy

Latin is taught to build vocabulary and continue to grow English as well as Latin grammar skills Assessments will be based on these concepts and points will be awarded for the purpose of demonstrating mastery.

Humanities Grading Policy

Vocabulary terms, spelling, grammar, and direct character names or dates will be objectively graded and will be on a points-based system. With mastery as our goal, students will be asked to correct the wrong answers.

Assignments that are more philosophical in nature will be graded on a scale. Within each assignment, grammatical and spelling mistakes will be clearly marked and students will be asked to review the word or grammatical rule and edit their writing This promotes mastery in writing assignments.

Failing and Retakes

Retakes will be left to the teacher’s discretion A student who has simply failed for a lack of understanding may be given another opportunity to prove their understanding after further practice. A student who neglected their studies and therefore failed, may not be given a retake opportunity

If a student fails an entire course, the student, parents, and teacher will meet with the Education Council to determine the best course of action for the student

Circumstances, understanding of directions and effort will all be taken into consideration

Parents will be notiﬁed within three weeks of the end of the grading period if their student is in jeopardy of failing

PARENT COMMUNICATION AND INVOLVEMENT

At Paideia Christian Academy, we recognize that parents are ultimately responsible for the education and ﬂourishing of their children We believe that educators are facilitators and advisors as parents pursue this important work.

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled as needed. We encourage teachers and parents to communicate regularly about how the student is doing and to schedule formal meetings as needed.

Teachers may be contacted through ClassReach outside of regular working hours. When addressing any concerns, parents should copy the Head of School to keep the school informed of classroom circumstances. Teachers will do the same when addressing concerns via emails with parents

If you have a concern about curriculum content, Paideia Christian Academy policy, or philosophy, communicate with the Head of School. If you have questions about the weekly workings of a particular classroom (e g , homework load), contact the Lead Teacher through ClassReach At no time should an individual student’s problem be addressed to non-involved parties. In the great majority of cases, if you have worked patiently and in good faith, with the teacher and directors, you will ﬁnd a satisfactory resolution.

Please follow Matthew 18:15 to determine the proper order of communication: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

HONOR CODE

Parent Honor Code

I am placing my child as a student at Paideia Christian Academy because I care about my child being educated both in character and in academics. I understand that my child will be educated under a Christian worldview and that loving God and neighbor are primary tenants of Paideia Christian Academy I also understand that the responsibility of Christian nurture is ultimately the responsibility of parents (Eph. 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:7–9). I understand the importance of participation in a local church and cultivating an at-home spiritual environment to the raising of my student(s) in the Lord

Part of loving God and neighbor means being on time, present, and respectful Paideia Christian Academy has been very thoughtful in developing a school schedule that allows for solid family time during summers, holidays and various breaks. For this reason, I understand that school attendance is a way of loving teachers and classmates and I will ensure that my child is present and on time unless an emergency arises. In cases of planned absences or important family time, I understand that it is my responsibility to communicate with the teachers and make a plan for the class time my child will miss without putting an excessive burden on the teachers. I also understand that poor attendance may cause my child to fall behind.

I understand that a Uniform Policy is a way of loving those around us by respecting a uniﬁed and meaningful representation of our school culture, including professionalism, modesty and our distinct values I will make sure that my child follows the uniform policy so that this culture is maintained.

I understand that my child will need to submit to the authority of Paideia Christian Academy faculty and staff during school events. I also understand that I will be ultimately responsible for my child’s behavior while at Paideia Christian Academy and thereby will follow the directives of the school as outlined below

If a discipline note goes home from a teacher or the Head of School, I understand that I need to work with my child on changing their behavior through the heart, by encouraging them to seek forgiveness.

If my child continues to incur infractions, it will be clear to me that I need to deal more seriously and consistently with my child. I also understand that my child will be dealt with in accordance with the discipline policy outlined in this handbook and that I will need to meet with the Head of School in cases of excessive ofﬁce visits to work out a plan designed to correct my child’s disruptive behavior.

If my child continues to remain unresponsive to correction, I understand that my child may be subject to a disciplinary hearing as outlined by the discipline policy of this handbook. I also agree that if my child is subject to a disciplinary hearing before an appointed council for excessive ofﬁce visits or for any extreme ungodly behavior that impedes school culture, that I will abide by the council's decision If the council decides to suspend or expel my child, I understand that Tuition will not be reimbursed.

I understand that the teachers at Paideia Christian Academy aim to educate the whole person and will keep the wellbeing of the student in mind. Therefore, all efforts will be made to not impede grading as it may affect my child’s next steps.

By enrolling my child in Paideia Christian Academy, I understand the important mission to special needs children. I know that with this may come exposure for my child to unique behaviors such as ﬁts, undressing in inappropriate places (typical of autism), and or outbursts not common to most classrooms. I understand that Paideia Christian Academy will notify me if my child is exposed to such a behavior, or if my child exhibits such a behavior I also understand that, no matter the special need, behavior that falls into the category of “serious discipline case ” including: unsafe behavior that endangers others, or overt moral issues will be addressed through a discipline hearing and not excused due to the special need

Secondary Student Honor Code

As a secondary student at Paideia Christian Academy I commit to the following:

1. I will do my best in my academics by:

a Submitting homework on time

b. Preparing for examinations

c. Being prepared for class

d Taking notes

e. Keeping an organized binder

2. I will be an example to younger students by:

a Being respectful to those in authority

b Loving those around me in the way I dress, act, and speak

c. Following the Uniform Policy and dressing modestly

d. Aiding those around me who are struggling

e. Being wise in my relationships with those of the opposite sex

3 I will honor God by:

a. Not gossiping

b. Not lying

c Being a good steward of my time and the school’s resources

I commit to positively contributing to the Christian culture of Paideia Christian Academy

Internet Use and Social Media

Students are held to the same standard of behavior whether they are on campus or online at home. Individuals agree to use these technological tools honorably and responsibly

The following is not permitted:

● Sending or displaying offensive messages or intimate pictures

● Using obscene, vulgar, or profane language

● Harassing, tormenting, threatening, embarrassing, humiliating, insulting, or attacking others

● Texting or social media interaction with teachers

ClassReach communication is permitted for students, parents, and teachers.

AI Use by Students

Permitted Uses (with teacher oversight):

● Research assistance may be permitted for high school students when guided by classical research methods and citation expectations.

● Creative generation tools may be allowed in elective or enrichment courses as part of broader projects under teacher supervision.

Prohibited Uses (breaking of this will fall under our cheating policy) :

● Using AI to write essays, complete homework, or generate academic work in place of the student’s own effort is a violation of academic integrity and our commitment to truth and virtue

● AI use in logic, rhetoric, or theology courses that bypass a student’s own reasoning is prohibited.

● AI used in solving any type of math problem or used for the scientiﬁc process is prohibited.

● Any use of AI in secret or deceptive ways is a violation of the school’s code of conduct.

AI Use by Teachers and Staff

Teachers and staff may use AI tools to:

● Draft lesson ideas, generate quiz questions, and explore curricular support

● Review or summarize educational content.

● Assist with administrative tasks (e g , calendar coordination, grading rubrics), with discernment

They must not:

● Rely on AI for theological instruction or the development of statements that reﬂect Biblical or doctrinal truth without careful human theological oversight.

● Replace teacher-led instruction or diminish the incarnational model of learning that emphasizes real presence, real authority, and real mentorship.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Lunch

Students will bring packed lunches to be eaten in their classroom or outside if the weather permits. Please pack lunches that do not have to be heated or refrigerated. Please alert us of any severe allergies so that we are aware (please provide an epinephrine pen if severe reactions occur). At Paideia Christian Academy, we value health and wellness, so please keep this in mind when packing lunches, as your young students will be learning about nutrition, a balanced diet, etc. A well “fueled” brain enhances the learning experience.

Snacks

Parents are welcome to send an easy to eat snack (we recommend a nutritious snack) for mid-morning. Water is the only beverage allowed to accompany snacks.

Health Records

State law requires that families provide a copy of their child’s immunization record or exemption status each year so that we may maintain accurate health ﬁles. We recognize and respect that medical decisions for children rest fully with parents Immunization choices, including whether to vaccinate, are the responsibility of each family.

If a parent chooses not to immunize, we simply ask that the appropriate exemption form be submitted so our records remain complete.

Administration of Medicines

Administration may administer over-the-counter medication to the children in their care but only with authorization from the child’s parent or guardian through the ClassReach release form

We reserve the right to refuse the responsibility of prescription administration for any reason. If this occurs, we will be happy to accommodate parent visits during the day for the purpose of medication administration

Illness Policy

In consideration of your young student’s wellness, in addition, preventing the spread of illness to your child’s classmates and teachers, a young student should be symptom-free a full 24 hours from the following before returning to onsite classes:

● Fever - Temperature of 100 degrees or above without the use of fever-reducing medication.

● Vomiting/diarrhea

● Please do not send children with highly contagious illnesses such as strep, hand/foot/mouth, or pinkeye (to name a few).

Government Agency Requests

Paideia Christian Academy values our parent partnership and as such we will notify parents of any interaction with a government agency such as child protective services, as it relates to your child. Our policy is as follows:

*Parents will be notiﬁed and their presence requested prior to a government agency being allowed to interview a child during school hours.

*Paideia Christian Academy will do its best to uphold this policy with any government agency but cannot be held liable if we are not able to get a hold of a family or if the government agency uses legal force to demand the interview.

ACADEMIC SCHEDULE

Calendar

The Academic Calendar is located on our website

Arrival and Dismissal

School begins at 8:00AM and students may be dropped off between 7:45 and 8:00 AM

School ends at 3:00 PM and students may be picked up between 3:00 - 3:25 PM

A fee will be implemented if there is early arrival or late pick up. Consistent early arrival or late pick up will constitute a meeting with Administration.

Attendance

Paideia Christian Academy has intentionally set its vacations, schedule, and structure to allow important time for families By registering a child in Paideia Christian Academy, the parent or guardian is agreeing to this schedule and it is loving to the community of students to be in attendance. Emergencies or important family time arise from time to time; therefore students have 6 Core academic days* within each semester for school absences without consequence to their credits unless pre-approvals are arranged We ask that the Administration be notiﬁed as soon as possible for any absences. A student that surpasses 12 days for an academic year, or a total of 6 days in a semester will be subject to an Education Council review .

For sickness: please notify administration through the ClassReach form provided

For prolonged periods of absence (to extend beyond the 6 academic days in a semester) please get pre-approval from Administration. All work would need to be followed up after the absence and educational packets will not be provided

*Emergency situations will obviously be taken into consideration.

Tardies

A student who arrives after 8:00 a m is considered tardy Four tardies within a month will constitute a parent email. A 5th tardy will result in an ofﬁce visit. Subsequent tardies will be treated as ofﬁce visits in accordance with the discipline policy.

ENROLLMENT POLICY

Regarding candidates for admission, we are a Classical Christian school committed to partnering with Christian parents who share our mission and are intentionally nurturing a Christ-formed paideia in their homes.

At Paideia Christian Academy, children diagnosed with a learning disability are welcome to apply for admissions so long as we can serve them well and they can meet, or be assisted to meet, the discipline standards of the classroom, discussions, and daily routine

Students applying for admissions should have a desire to receive this form of education. We do not mind assisting parents in fostering this desire, but the student needs to at the very least be “willing to be made willing” to be discipled through a Classical Christian education.

General Agreement: All parents and students who are enrolling in Paideia Christian Academy afﬁrm by their application and enrollment their intentional willingness to abide by the Christian conduct (word and deed) presented in this handbook and all other school documents, both expressed and implied. This includes the Statement of Faith, Cultural Issues, attending church, and all policies stated herein.

Enrollment Process

1. General Inquiry

2. Family Interview Request

3 Admissions Interview

4 Application

5. Enrollment

6. Tuition Agreement

7. Assessment of student

TUITION

Please view the Tuition & Fee Policy here.

Tuition Assistance

Financial Assistance for returning families should be requested by March 31st, however later applications will be accepted any time since new or unforeseen situations may arise subsequently to this timeline For new families, we welcome tuition assistance applications any time during their enrollment process.

Families are strongly urged to seek assistance from their family, churches, and friends prior to seeking ﬁnancial aid However, we also do not want ﬁnances to be the reason a family does not attend Paideia Christian Academy.

Tuition Assistance Requests will be handled through the Tuition Assistance Committee including initial application and interview

1. Teachers will evaluate students regularly for the purpose of assessing skill and knowledge

2. Teachers are evaluated unannounced throughout the year.

3. The administration will be assessed periodically by the staff.

4 Parents will evaluate the school annually

Anti-Discrimination and ADA Statement

Paideia Christian Academy admits students and hires employees without regard to race, color, national origin, or ethnic origin, ensuring equal access to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally available to our school community. We are committed to upholding applicable nondiscriminatory policies in the administration of educational policies, admissions, scholarships, loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered activities. Paideia Christian Academy does not accept federal funds.

Children diagnosed with a learning disability are welcome to be a part of Paideia Christian Academy so long as they can meet, or be assisted to meet, the discipline standards of the classroom, discussions, and daily routine.

Disclaimer

The reader should take notice that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, Paideia Christian Academy reserves the right to make changes at any time without prior notice Parents will be notiﬁed of any changes to the handbook that occur during the current academic year. Paideia Christian Academy provides the information herein solely for the convenience of the reader and, to the extent permissible by law, expressly disclaims any liability which may otherwise be incurred.