Oregon Department of Education Home Schooling Questions

Home School Agreement

This Agreement is made by and between the undersigned Parents, School, and Student as of the date set forth below.

Whereas, (Name of School), a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of , with its principal office located at (street address, city, county, state, zip code), hereinafter called School, operates a Home School at said location; and

Whereas, the undersigned Student desires to attend said School; and

Whereas, the undersigned Parents of Student desires for Student to attend said School;

Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. The School will do its best to:

• Maintain excellent lines of communication with Parents;

• Contact Parents if there is a problem with attendance or punctuality of Student;

• Inform Parents of any concerns that might influence Student’s Schoolwork, attitude or behavior;

• Prepare, monitor and assess homework and other opportunities for home learning on a regular basis;

• Support the crucial role of single Parents in their commitment to their students;

• Give Parents appropriate notice of time-scales and deadlines;

• Arrange suitable Parent Evenings, during which time Student’s progress can be discussed;

• Prepare detailed annual reports for Parents to read, approve and sign;

• Keep Parents up to date with School activities through regular notes, notices, news sheets and newsletters;

• Support all policies and guidelines of School and make them readily available for Parent’s scrutiny;

• Support the School’s Mission Statement, attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference, which Statement is reviewed annually;

• Provide learning opportunities for all our students;

• Appreciate individual need of students within a collective context;

• Provide a broad, well balanced, detailed curriculum combining provision for need and opportunity;

• Be open and welcoming at all times;

• Support all students in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development irrespective of their color, race, national origin, creed, handicap, gender or ethnicity;

• Recognize and consider every statement made by Parents to the School’s teachers and administration of School;

• Ensure that Student learn the curriculum; and

• Ensure that Student is appropriately dressed at all times and behaves properly while at School.

2. Student will do his/her best to:

• Observe School rules;

• Take good care of books, equipment and materials;

• Keep the cloakroom tidy and hang bags and coats in their proper place;

• Walk (not run) in the School building at all times;

• Keep School tidy and not to drop litter;

• Put things back where they come from;

• Leave the School facilities at the end of the day as they find it at the beginning;

• Talk at appropriate levels;

• Be friendly and co-operative with the teachers, administration, and other students of the School;

• Be helpful, kind and polite at all times;

• Be honest, open and truthful at all times; Refrain from being argumentative or threatening to the Teachers, Administration, and other students;

• Never respond to the Teachers, Administration, or other students physically or in an intimidating manner; Refrain from removing or taking without permission, anything that does not belong to Student;

• Take notes and letters straight home to Parents;

• Support the School’s Mission Statement;

• Take good care of the School’s property and surrounding areas;

• Be respectful of adults at all times; and

• Be appropriately dressed and wear School uniform.

3. Parents will do their best to:

• See that Student attends School regularly and is punctual;

• Ensure that Student is suitably dressed in the School uniform and equipped;

• Inform the School of any concerns or problems that might affect Student’s work, attitude or behavior;

• Support Student with homework and other opportunities for home learning;

• Support Student by doing my/our best to aid Student to meet deadlines and time-scales;

• Attend Parents Evening and requested meetings for discussion about Student’s progress;

• Read all notes and letters from the School and respond appropriately;

• Contact the School immediately or as soon as possible if Student is absent from School for any reason;

• Keep the School well informed of the dropping off and collection of Student;

• Inform the School of any changes in personal circumstances of Student as early as possible;

• Have Student at School in a timely fashion;

• Support the School’s Mission Statement, guidelines and policies;

• Ensure that Student is appropriately dressed and wears the School uniform;

• Support the Schools policies and guidelines; and

• Support the aims of the School.

4. School Discipline Policy

A. The School demands the mutual respect of all adults and students and on the recognition that all are of equal importance and worth. The prime guiding principle is that everyone will act with courtesy and consideration to others at all times in order to promote a happy, caring and relaxed atmosphere in which to learn. The School recognizes that problems are normal where students are learning and testing the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Our success as a School is measured not by the absence of problems but by the way we deal with them.

B. Good relationships are vital for good teaching and learning. The School values all Achievements, both academic and nonacademic and expects everyone to work hard and give their best.

C. The following policy has been discussed at staff meetings and meeting of the board of trustees. A questionnaire was distributed to all parents and the results used to influence the policy. It will be reviewed annually.

D. This Discipline Policy is directly determined by the aims of the School. Those aims that are pertinent to this policy are listed below

• To help students to understand the world in which they live and the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations, and to learn to live cooperatively in society, showing consideration and respect for people of all races;

• To help students understand the meaning and purpose of religious and moral values, and assisting them to find their own, with a tolerance of other religions, philosophies and ways of life;

• To help students to appreciate human achievements and aspirations;

• To help students to achieve their potential in all areas of development; and

• To promote equal opportunities for boys and girls in all aspects of School life.

E. Discipline Problems

• When disciplinary problems arise, administrators and teachers should involve parents at an early stage rather than as a last resort.

• Teachers should recognize that pupil's behavior at home may differ markedly from their behavior at School. They should take this into account when discussing students with their parents.

• Teachers should encourage parental involvement in the classroom, and administrators should institute policies to secure easy access to them by parents and good communications between them and parents which go beyond the provision of formal parents' evenings.

• Administrators and teachers should encourage the active participation of students in shaping and reviewing the School's behavior policy in order to foster a sense of collective commitment to it.

• Administrators and teachers should ensure that parents receive positive and constructive comments on their student’s work and behavior as a matter of course.

• Administrators and teachers should recognize the importance of displaying the work of students in creating an attractive environment, increasing the self esteem of students and fostering a sense of ownership of the premises.

F. School Rules

The School does not have a long list of rigid formal rules since the School expects students to behave according to the aims of and statements within this policy. However, some basic requirements are as follows. In class, students should make it as easy as possible for everyone to learn and for the teacher to teach. They can do this by:

• always being courteous and orderly;

• always speak politely using a low voice;

• shouting is always discourteous;

• listening carefully and following instructions;

• helping each other when appropriate and cooperating;

• working quietly and sensibly at all times, trying hard to complete all tasks;

• respecting their belongings and those of others;

• respecting the individuality and views of others;

• moving gently and quietly about the School;

• never running, pushing or shouting;

• standing back to let people pass, particularly visitors;

• comply with all reasonable requests from adults;

• alert teachers and other supervisors to incidents occurring in School so that they can be dealt with;

• putting all litter in bins;

• keeping walls and furniture clean and unmarked;

• putting away all equipment in appropriate places.

• treating cloakrooms and toilets with respect.

G. When students display inappropriate behavior and some form of sanction is required.

The following make up a list of possible sanctions or punishments in no order of value.

• Immediate checking of misbehavior with either verbal or nonverbal rebuke, Privately;

• Classroom discussion of behavior;

• "Punishment to fit the crime" e.g. pick up litter or tidy classroom;

• Repeat, or extra work where presentation or content is clearly below student’s potential;

• Loss of break/play or lunch play;

• Loss of privileges e.g. membership of School teams, attendance on trips;

• Community service;

• Restitution repair of damage of School property or payment for it;

• Referral to administration. If this is used please ensure that for every student referred for bad behavior at least three others are referred for good behavior or good work;

• After School detention;

• Parental consultation;

• Placing on report on a daily or weekly basis;

• Maintaining a behavior diary;

• Withdrawal from a particular class;

• Transfer to a unit for disruptive students;

• Fixed term or permanent exclusion; and

• On the playground other sanctions can be applied, such as standing by the fence, staying with the supervisor and being sent into School.

H. It is vital that all staff work together on behavior and that senior staff support all staff in that work and be seen to provide that support. If the problem cannot be solved within the School then there are outside agencies available to give help.

I. Bullying

It is a basic entitlement of all young students that they receive their education free from humiliation, oppression and abuse. It is the responsibility of adults in School to ensure that this happens. While bullying is extremely rare in the School, it would be naive to suggest it does not take place at all. If we can ensure that students follow the guidelines established in this policy, bullying should not occur. When incidents occur, the sanctions and suggestions given earlier can be used initially. When these incidents escalate into bullying, additional steps may need to be taken.

Witness our signature, this the day of , .