POLICY HANDBOOK (MANDATORY RULES AND REGULATIONS)

 

Parental Involvement

 

It is extremely important to remember that HHSW is a cooperative effort on the part of parents, their children, and teachers.  Parents must diligently monitor all their children’s HHSW work (including their high schoolers) to insure that homework and projects are well-done, complete, and turned in when due. This is the parents’ responsibility. No teacher at HHSW should have to deal with routinely late or incomplete assignments.

 

A.) Parental Presence

A parent from each family must be present in the building (not out in your car) whenever your child(ren) are in the building. Parent sign-in sheets are located at the Board Table. Be sure to sign by your name when you arrive each week. Because a parent’s presence each week is mandatory under HHSW policy, parents may not bring other children, including day care children, to Hallstrom on a regular basis.

 

B.) Parents Attending Classes/Parent Classroom Etiquette

As your children’s primary teachers, parents need to regularly attend your child’s workshops in order to monitor and help with weekly assignments, ensuring that all weekly assignments are completed, and, in general, stay in close contact with all your children’s teachers. However, parents are not to ask questions during class or participate in class discussions unless specifically invited to by the teacher. Parents should never converse with other parents in the back of a classroom or use cell phones during a class.

 

C.) CLEANING -- NOT AN OPTION

Cleaning is one of the most important aspects of the Agreement HHSW has with Temple Baptist Church. It is critical that all HHSW families bear this in mind throughout their day at Temple Baptist. If you or your child make a mess, clean it up immediately. Vacuums are stored in the closet in Fellowship Hall. See a board member for any other cleaning needs. We have a cleaning crew, but they are not your slaves or servants. They work hard for hours at the end of each Hallstrom day doing general cleaning. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that you remind yourselves and your children of Jesus’ Golden Rule. Translated to this issue it means:

 

1. Keep your table and the floor around it in the Fellowship Hall and classrooms clean and uncluttered.

2. No food or drinks (except water) outside of the Fellowship Hall.

3. Do not litter inside or outside the building. 

4. Hang all coats and jackets on the coat racks provided.. Please, no coats in Fellowship Hall. 

5. Train yourself and your children to be ”litter conscious” and view the building through the eyes of a visitor. Pick up litter on the floor or ground, inside and outside.

6. If you see an overflowing wastebasket, take it to the dumpster (down the stairs from the gym).

The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful building in which to meet. LET’S KEEP IT CLEAN.

7. At the end of the day, please return tables and chairs in the Fellowship Hall to their proper place and position.

 

D.) Current Family Status

There are many responsibilities that arise from week to week during HHSW. There is no way that all of the work can be done by the Board Members. Our “Current Family” policy refers to volunteer hours by HHSW parents. To be considered a “Current Family” and receive the privileges of registering for classes at an earlier time with the other “Current Families,” each family needs to volunteer at least 2 hours of time per year to HHSW. Let a Board member know when you have completed your volunteer work.

 

The following volunteer opportunities are areas of current need on Tuesdays and Thursdays:

1. Hall monitors for 1st and 2nd floors. General guidelines: No students roaming halls during class; Encourage parents to have conversations in Fellowship Hall or outside; No gum allowed at Temple Baptist; Check restrooms for messes and supplies; Food should be eaten only in Fellowship Hall.

1st Floor Hall Monitor: Also check back parking lot areas. There should be no scooters, skating, etc. Watch for suspicious activity and strangers; No children should be in the gym without an adult present; No backpacks, boxes, etc. on floor under the coat rack. Put them on top of the coat racks.

2nd Floor Hall Monitor: Do not allow parents or students to congregate outside the Temple Baptist office. Encourage them to use Fellowship Hall for visiting and to direct their questions and needs to a Board member at the Board Table; Quiet study is allowed in hallway upstairs; Check bathroom for supplies and messes.

Outside Monitor Guidelines: No students should be without a parent in charge. Tell them to return inside to parent; No unsupervised children; Check for garbage; No skateboarding, roller blading, etc. on church property; Watch for suspicious activity and strangers. Don’t be afraid to question people you don’t recognize; Handicap spots are for handicapped only.

2. Bathroom checkers at noon -- replenish toilet paper, empty waste baskets, pick up papers off the floor.

3. Help clean at the end of the day, and help with special cleaning projects throughout the year.

4. Empty wastebaskets that are overflowing during the day in Fellowship Hall and/or classrooms.

5. Help teachers set up classrooms in the morning, rearrange classrooms in the afternoons.

6. Walk around the outside of the building and pick up trash.

7. Assist with one of the many jobs associated with the Christmas Program, Spring Academic Fair, Spring Class Performances, Graduation, Drama Productions, Honors Program.

8. Volunteer to help with Student Council and H.I.S. projects.

9. Help teachers as needed with special speakers, class projects, etc.

10. Watch a baby or toddler for a teacher, etc.

 

E.) Leaving the Building

Should an emergency or illness arise, parents must have another parent agree to be responsible for their child(ren) if they have to leave for part of the day. You must complete the HHSW Mandatory Permission and Release Form and leave it with a Board Member at the Board Table before leaving your child(ren) in the care of another adult.

 

 

Dress Code      I Timothy 2:9

 

Students must wear modest and appropriate clothing to HHSW. The goal of having a dress code is not to be burdensome on the families; therefore, specific name brands are not required. Parents, your full support of this dress code is required. Each family must fully cooperate. Don’t allow your children to push the limit and put a Board Member in the difficult position of having to make a judgment call.

 

A.) General for All Students 

1. The dress code is for all students K-12. K-12 children present in the building with their families but not attending classes also need to follow the dress code.

2. The dress code is for HHSW Tuesday and Thursday workshop days.

3. Moms and dads, please consider these standards or higher for yourselves. We need all our parents’ cooperation in setting a high Biblical standard of modesty.

 

B.) Polo or Oxford Shirts

1. Shirts must be short or long sleeve, solid colored, buttoned (not snaps) polo shirts. Manufacturer’s logos or icons, Hallstrom logos, or logos from other organizations a student may be part of such as 4-H, choirs, etc., that are stitched or printed on the upper left front of the polo, are acceptable.

2. Oxford style shirts may be worn instead of a polo. These may be any solid color, long or short sleeve; no stripes or patterns.

3. Shirts must be long enough to stay tucked in.

4. Turtle necks may be worn under polo or Oxford shirts.

5. Plain solid colored shirts, which must be tucked in, may be worn under polo or Oxford shirts.

6. Plain solid colored sweaters may be worn over polo or Oxford shirts.

7. Plain, zippered (or buttoned) sweatshirts and sweaters with or without hoods may be worn over polo or Oxford shirts.

8. No hooded pullover sweatshirts (hoodies).

9. Sweatshirts with a Hallstrom logo are permissible. Otherwise, they must be plain.

 

C.) Pants/Skirts/Jumpers

1. Pants, skirts, and jumpers must be any solid colored khaki material (twill fabric) or corduroy.

2. Skirts and jumpers must come to the bottom of the knee cap or longer. Solid-colored, uniform-style jumpers (which may be made of polyester) for little girls are acceptable.

3. Boys may wear long shorts (to the knee).

4. Girls may wear capris if they are solid colored khaki type material. No low riders, spandex, tight capris, etc.

5. Pants must be worn high enough that underwear is not exposed.

 

D.) P.E. and Sports Classes

1. Students may change into loose fitting t-shirts and modest shorts just before P.E. or dance classes. Students must change back into their dress code clothes immediately after class.

 

E.) Additional Dress Code Policy

1. Clothes must be clean and not torn.

2. Hair must be kept groomed and clean and may not include shaven designs, bizarre coloring, or bizarre styles.

3. Boys’ hair should be neatly cut and trimmed in front so that the eyes are seen (the rule of thumb would be above the eyebrow) and short enough in back to not touch the collar. Girls’ hair must be worn so that the eyes are never covered.

4. Older boys should be clean shaven.

5. Symbols or logos or tattoos that communicate anti-Christian messages are unacceptable on gym clothing, jewelry, and other accessories.

6. With the exception of women wearing earrings, the piercing of any body parts in unacceptable. Girls must restrict earrings to one per ear.

7. No jewelry for young men except watches, purity-type rings, or cross necklaces.

8. No chains or studded jewelry/accessories such as belts, bracelets, necklaces or chokers.

9. Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times.

10. Neither hats, caps, nor bandannas are permitted to be worn inside the Temple Baptist church building.

11. Do not attempt to embellish the dress code.

 

Failure to adhere to the above dress code may result in denial of participation at Hallstrom until the matter is corrected. Areas of dress not mentioned or defined in the above statement will be left to the board members for interpretation and enforcement.

 

 

HHSW Code of Conduct

 

The purpose of this code of conduct is to promote behavior that honors the Lord. As a group of Christian families, our witness to others, both in word and action, is very important.  “It is by deeds that a lad distinguishes himself, if his conduct is pure and right.”  Prov. 20:11    “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Col. 3:17

 

A.) Students

1. All students will be held responsible for their actions and shall conduct themselves in keeping with their level of maturity, showing regard for established authority and the rights and welfare of others. We call this living by the “Law of Love.”

2. “Recital Etiquette” -- People are always watching us as home schoolers. Our testimony is especially on the line during weekly Chapel and special events sponsored by Hallstrom throughout the year. Therefore, you need to remind your children of the simple, but important rules of “Recital Etiquette.” Once a speaker or performer has begun, no one is to enter or leave or wander around the room. If you must leave before the program is over, do so only between performances. To do otherwise is disrespectful, distracting, and rude.

3. We ask that students seek excellence, be honest, use clean speech, and be courteous and kind to all.

4. Chapel will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Everyone in the building at 10:00 a.m. must attend. NOTE: Although we try to post all important announcements at the Information Table and in the weekly announcement handout, many important announcements are made and explained in greater detail during Chapel.

5. If a student has a free period, he/she can go to Fellowship Hall, the quiet study hall or outside with an adult. Temple Baptist will not allow students to roam their building.

6. Any defacing or grafitti on Temple Baptist property is grounds for immediate dismissal.

7. Any student found with possession of any type of firearm, knife, tobacco, alcohol, or drugs will be expelled.

 

B.) Dating

HHSW’s primary purpose is to provide Christian education and support for one another as home schoolers. It is not to foster dating relationships. For this reason we have implemented the following policy:

1. Respectful language must be used at Hallstrom and all Hallstrom sponsored events. Inappropriate language or behavior should be brought to the attention of one of the Board members or event chaperones immediately.

2. No pairing off as couples is allowed and dating-type relationships will not be allowed at Hallstrom or Hallstrom sponsored events.

3. Flirting as well as any public display of affection is not allowed.

4. We want to encourage all students to develop healthy and Godly relationships one with another.  Friendships without the pressures of dating will prove to be a valuable part of your teen years.

 

C.) Midterm Notices and Academic Probation

Midterm reports are issued to families who are behind in teacher payments and to 7th-12th grade students who are behind in their assignments. Families are not allowed to register for the next semester until all their teachers are paid in full.

 

Academic Probation: Students who do not complete their assigned work and/or are doing below “C” work at mid-term will be placed on Academic Probation for the remainder of the semester. If work continues to be incomplete and/or the student is not working up to his ability, that student may not be allowed to register for the next semester.

 

D.) No skateboarding, roller blading, roller skating, or snowball throwing allowed on Temple Baptist property.

 

E.) Students participating on a Hallstrom sport team must be enrolled in at least one academic HHSW class. In order to be eligible to play in a game, a student must be at 70% or above in all of his classes.  Students who have received a citation are not eligible to play in a game until that situation is addressed and corrected. 

 

 

Dismissal

 

A.) Citations

Citations are issued by Board Members for any violation of the handbook, including violation of Dress Code, Temple Baptist and HHSW Codes of Conduct, or disrespectful or disruptive behavior during a class. When a first citation is issued, the parent and student are notified. If a second citation is issued, a conference is held with the parent, student, and the Board. A third citation is cause for dismissal from Hallstrom. Academic citations are issued for cheating or plagiarism and are treated as a double citation.  If a family has received two or more citations in a year, they may be asked to re-interview.

 

B.) Habitual Misconduct

The purpose of the Board is not to police or baby-sit your children. Families whose children are habitually not in compliance with the Handbook will be asked to leave the Hallstrom organization.

 

C.) Other Misconduct

Greater misconduct, occurring at Hallstrom or not, could result in immediate dismissal of a student and his family from the Hallstrom organization. Other misconduct includes, but is not limited to: use of tobacco products, illegal drugs, alcohol, posting or sending unacceptable information over the Internet via MySpace type websites. The Board reserves the right to dismiss any student or family at any time to maintain high Biblical standards.

 

Updated September 2008