Guidelines
Rules and Guidelines for The Home Educator’s Outsourcing Solution
A. Dress Code
1. Parents and students, especially teenagers, need to be careful to dress modestly.
2. Shorts, skirts, and dress hemlines must be long enough that when arms are fully extended at side your fingertips are not longer than the hemline. Your fingertips must at least touch the hem of the short, skirt or dress..
3. NO skin-tight clothing, see-through clothing, tank tops, halters, midriffs, fish-net tops, plunging necklines, split-side skirts or clothing that advertises illegal or immoral acts shall be permitted.
4. Student's hair must be clean, well groomed and out of their eyes.
5. Students must be dressed appropriately for the classes they are attending, i.e. appropriate athletic shoes for any physical fitness class, no skirts in volleyball, etc.
6. No pajamas shall be worn to class.
B. Back Pack and Supplies
1. All students need to bring the requested supplies to every class meeting.
C. General Behavior
In order to maximize the benefit of classes for all students, we ask that you instruct your student in the following classroom behavior:
1. Participate
2. Do whatever your teacher requests of you.
3. Listen carefully to directions.
4. Do not talk when anyone else is talking, especially the teacher.
5. Stay seated in your chair unless your teacher requests you to do otherwise.
6. Be respectful of all adults.
7. All adults are to be referred to as Mr. or Mrs.____________
8. Use your best manners at all times, (i.e. Yes Ma'am, no thank you, please, etc.)
9. Students are expected to complete all homework assignments.
10. Students need to be in their assigned classes at all times and should arrive in a timely manner.
11. If you have a student who has special needs, i.e. food allergies, learning differences etc., please notify his/her teachers before classes begin.
12. No outside food or drink is allowed in any classroom unless brought by the teacher of that class. Students can bring a water bottle in their backpack for emergencies.
13. No Gum
14. No Red Bull or other highly caffeinated drinks are allowed at THEO.
15. Students should use their indoor voices out of respect for nearby classes.
D. Discipline Policy
THEO students should "read and heed" this entire document of rules and guidelines. We do not anticipate problems with discipline in our class rooms, particularly because our classes are so small. However, to prevent potential problems, our five-step procedure for handling discipline problems follows.
First step: Verbal warning during class time. If more than one verbal warning is needed during one class time, then the Teachers are encouraged to verbally inform the parent of the warning either in person during classes that day or by telephone during the week after the verbal warning was given. A written communication slip can also count as a verbal warning.
Second step: A continuing problem will require a written discipline note to the parent with a second copy going to the administrator. A continuing problem might include a student who continues to disrupt class and interfere with the education of his or her fellow students.
Third step: If the student’s discipline problem is not resolved by the previous written communication with the parents, then the Teacher will issue a second written discipline notice. After the second discipline notice is received, the family will receive a written summary letter from THEO administration to warn them of the consequences which will follow a third written discipline notice being issued. If necessary, a conference will be held with parents, director, and teacher.
Fourth step: Student may be suspended from class activities for a day or week depending on his/her conduct without a refund of tuition when a third written discipline notice is issued by the teacher.
Fifth step: Upon returning to class after a suspension, a fourth written discipline notice will result in the student being expelled from THEO with administration reserving the option of expelling the entire family.
Any purposeful acts of vandalism will result in immediate expulsion. We do not anticipate having any problems, but in fairness to all (including our host Church) we will adhere to this policy.
E. Lunch Time
1. Lunch eaten inside the building is confined to the lunchroom.
2. Food and drinks are not allowed in any other areas of the THEO.
3. No red beverages allowed. If possible, drinks should be either light or clear in color.
4. No Gum is allowed at THEO.
5. No highly caffeinated drinks are allowed at THEO.
F. Communication between THEO, teachers, students and parents
1. Communication will be sent home with the student or communicated directly to the parent via email, phone or letter.
G. Building and Equipment Policies
1. Only radios and tape players brought by teachers for classroom use are allowed in our classrooms. All others will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.
2. If you leave any item at the THEO, it will be placed in the THEO's lost and found on the book cases in the lobby. All unclaimed items will occasionally be donated to charity.
3. The bathrooms are to be maintained and kept orderly.
4. Musical instruments and equipment are not to be touched.
5. Pocketknives are not allowed on the premises.
6. Do not sit on the tables and carts. Please sit on the floor or in chairs. Those who sit on tables will be asked to take out the trash.
H. Visitors
1. Guests, adults and children, are welcome to visit when evaluating THEO as a school support.
2. It is recommended you schedule an appointment if you want to meet with the director during your visit. Email Terri Threadgill at Terri@THEOsonline.org.
I. Attendance and Homework Requirements
Consistent attendance is vital for your student to benefit most from their paid-instruction.
1. We do not allow students to “audit” our classes. Parents may audit THEO classes for free if they are willing to commit to the entire semester.
2. If you are going to be absent, you must notify the teacher as soon as possible.
3. Students must turn in all homework assignments to the appropriate teacher on time.
4. Due to the concentrated teaching time for our classes, it is important for a student to make attendance a priority. Please only register your student for these classes if you are willing to make every effort for them to attend scheduled classes.
5. Joining a continuation class during the spring semester will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. The parent and/or student must be able to demonstrate to the instructor that the student has sufficient skills to be able to step into the class midway through the year and be able to keep up with the rest of the class.
6. Assignments will be graded, and the student will receive a final grade upon completion of the class.
7. Parents would be wise to keep up with the material their child is learning. If their child falls behind, it is the parent’s responsibility to bring him/her up to speed. THEO teachers are not available to privately tutor students unless paid for their assistance. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their student receives proper help with any areas of individual difficulty.
8. Cheating will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the class and perhaps grounds for withdrawal of a student from THEO. The situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but we will not allow our program to be compromised by cheating. Our teachers, board and families expect high standards. Everyone is expected to cooperate to maintain the integrity of our program.
9. THEO’s teachers reserve the right to have homework signed by each parent before accepting the homework from a student. Students who continually turn in sloppy or incomplete work may be required to have a parent initial their homework before it will be accepted by a teacher.
10. Please arrive five minutes before class. Late arrivals disrupt the entire class and rob the teacher of precious minutes.
J. Illness
1. Please do not bring your students who have had fever, vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
2. If your student requires any medication, please keep it with you and administer it yourself.
3. Notify teachers if your student has any allergies, especially in a class where food may be served.
K. Tardiness
1. We monitor tardiness through the attendance sheets in each class to minimize class time disruptions.
L. Miscellaneous
1. Our teachers work hard to prepare fun, interactive, exciting lesson plans in order to enhance learning class room learning opportunities. Please do not allow your students to bring anything that would be disruptive or distracting for them or the other students.
2. Parents and students: Cell phones should be turned off during class unless you are expecting an urgent call. If there is a chance that your cell phone may have to be on and may ring during class, please notify the teacher before class has started of that possibility.
3. Any accidents should be reported to the front desk immediately.
4. Use gloves when dealing with any blood.
5. All open wounds must be covered before the student can return to class.
6. If you have a student with special needs, please notify his/her teachers before classes begin. Special needs can include food allergies, asthma for outdoor classes, dyslexia or other learning issues.
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