Policies

FAMILY COOPERATION
Because the school will in some ways become an extension of the family, helping you achieve your goals in education (and more generally, helping your children grow up), it is important that we be well oriented to our tasks and to each other. 

This school employs an educational method of broad applicability, drawn from the extensive writings of American author and educator, L. Ron Hubbard. You will be expected to become familiar with some basics of this approach and gain an understanding of the study methods so that we can successfully work together toward our common goals.  Please remain in close communication with your child’s teacher regarding homework assignments to determine how you can be most effective.
 

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
The school’s general philosophy is reflected in a set of standards of conduct expected of group members. These are easy to understand.

1. The members of this school community are people who are striving to become more and more able, and to prepare for and lead productive and satisfying lives. Such people take a self-motivated view of life, starting with the assumption that they are responsible for what happens in their lives, rather than having the viewpoint that life is “happening to them.”

2. Once a person has been admitted to the school, he or she is looked upon as a person whose conduct now is important but conduct prior to enrollment is not as important.

 

3. The group expects full honesty of its members.

 

4. The group expects its members to take responsibility for their own actions and to acknowledge the effect of those actions on other members of the group.

 

5. Mutual respect of the religious beliefs of others is expect ed of all group members.

MORNING ARRIVAL

Parking & Entering the Building: As part of the church's agreement with the neighborhood residents, we are requested NOT to use the small parking lot behind the church for dropping off or picking up children. Please park in the large parking lot on Cedaroak Drive. Providing you arrive on time (before 8:30) your child may enter the classroom through the outer door along the sidewalk, or use the rear entrance to the building off the small parking lot.

Pre -K thru 1st grade students should always be accompanied by a parent or guardian when using the rear entrance as it is not visible from the large parking lot.

On-Time Arrivals: Our doors open at 8:00 a.m. Roll call is at 8:30 sharp. In the best interest of the students, Columbia Academy takes our on-time arrival policy very seriously.

Establishing a routine that ensures your child arrives to school on time is extremely important. Students should arrive 5-10 minutes before roll call, so they have time to put away their belongings, greet friends, and be in their seat when roll call begins. This not only helps children to start the day on a calm, positive note, it teaches them that being punctual is important.

Parents are kindly requested to exit the building through their child's classroom door or the rear entrance doors (off the small parking lot) before roll call, or through the rear entrance doors only after roll call. This helps to minimize disruption of classes.

Late Arrivals: After roll call there may be announcements, show & tell, and/or warm-up exercises. At 8:35 math classes begin, which often start with a seminar conducted by the teacher. When a student is late (arriving at 8:30 or later), all of these activities are disrupted.

It is stressful and embarrassing to the late student, and unfair to the rest of the group. For that reason, it is our policy that a student arriving late MAY NOT enter the classroom through the outer door along the sidewalk (and may even find that door locked). He or she is to walk around to the rear building entrance off the small parking lot, and quietly enter the classroom through the hallway door. Parents are requested not to enter the classroom or exit the building through a classroom after roll call has started. Late arrivals should always exit through the rear entrance doors. This helps to minimize disruption of classes.

Consistent late arrivals will be addressed verbally and/or in writing. If the situation is not resolved, a conference among teacher, parent and student will be scheduled. While the policy may seem harsh, it is our philosophy that teaching responsibility and consideration for others is every bit as important as academics in helping children grow into productive and successful adults. 

AFTERNOON PICK-UP
Classes end at 3:00. Snacks and miscellaneous activities are scheduled from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. Please be courteous, and pick up your child no later than 3:30 unless you are enrolled in the after-school activities program. You may enter the building through your child's outer classroom door along the sidewalk, or through the rear entrance d oors off the small parking lot. Again, please park in the large parking lot on Cedaroak Drive.

Students not picked up by 3:35 will be sent to after-school daycare (in the Pre-K thru 1st grade classroom) and parents will be charged $6. If not picked up by 4:30, an additional $6 will be charged (after-school daycare is $6 per hour, billed in one-hour increments). If you anticipate having difficulty arriving by 3:30 on a regular basis, consider enrolling in the after -school activities program. There are art classes offered, games, projects, Friday movies, and even time for homework assignments.  Contact Justine Syck for more information.  The after-school activities program and emergency afterschool daycare end at 5:30. All students must be picked up by 5:30 p.m.

SNACKS & LUNCHES
Good nutrition is critical in a learning environment. Please ensure that your child eats a proper breakfast before arriving at school. All the students take a snack break at 9:30 a.m. The Pre-K thru 1st grade class has lunch at 11:30, and the 2nd thru 6th graders eat lunch at 12:00. A second snack break is taken in the afternoon. The only non-emergency food provided by the school is offered through the hot lunch program (see below).

Please pack a nutritious lunch (that does not require
heating or cooking) on any days your child has not purchased a hot lunch . Here are some tips:

• Include a morning and afternoon snack (even on hot lunch days!). Go light on high-sugar, empty calorie foods like pudding, gelatin and fruit roll -ups.
• Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grain nutrition bars, and high protein snacks such as yogurt, cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, seeds, jerky and cheese are all great choices.
• Occasional dessert foods (cookies, pastries, etc.) are allowed after the child’s lunch entrée has been eaten, or as an afternoon snack.
• Candy and soda pop are not permitted (even sugar-free varieties).
• Remind your child that water is great for hydration too! Sugary juices kill the appetite and sometimes interfere with healthy eating… so don’t overdo it.

The health and well-being of the children is our top priority. This includes making sure each student is properly nourished. We will not allow a student to go without food.  In emergency situations when a student forgets to bring a lunch, or finds his or herself without an adequate lunch (missing a sandwich or other main entrée) an emergency lunch will be provided at a cost of $5. 

Payment for emergency food items is expected immediately, and parents are asked not to use this service as a convenience.

Hot Lunches

Hot lunches are prepared on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and must be reserved and paid for in advance ($4.50 per lunch). A menu and reservation form is sent out via email near the end of each month for the following month. A copy of the current menu is always available to view or print on the Hot Lunches page.  Hot lunches do not include morning or afternoon snacks.

DRESS CODE
Columbia Academy's dress code is fairly simple; students should wear clean clothing that fits properly and is free from tears and holes. Shorts and sleeveless shirts or tank tops are permitted for warm weather, providing they are not inappropriately revealing. No low-cut shirts, pants or bare midriffs, please.

Please be advised that although we have bark chips in the fenced play area it does get muddy during the rainy season. The lawn outside our classrooms can also get very soggy.

Regardless, we take the students out for fresh air and exercise whenever possible. They need it. If occasional dirty clothing or shoes concerns you, consider not having your child wear their very best items during these periods.

ABSENCES
In the event of vacation or illness, please call or email to let us know your child will be kept home. We worry when students don't show up! Children with a fever or vomiting will not be admitted to school.

When planning vacations and other time away from school, it may be helpful to consult your child's teacher. While the individualized nature of our program offers more flexibility than most, there are several times during the year when absences are particularly inconvenient for both students and staff.  For example, in the weeks prior to our Winter and Spring Graduation & Performances, students are often trying to complete program requirements in order to graduate, as well as learning new songs and dances for the performance.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event of inclement weather, check the Inclement Weather page.  We will make every effort to post our status by 7:00 a.m. on questionable days, but this may not always be possible.  As a default source of information, check the media for school closures.

If West Linn-Wilsonville Public Schools are closed or starting late, so is Columbia Academy.  In the case of a late start, however, you may try to reach us by phone. In many cases you will find that we have staff at school and children can be dropped off at the usual time.
 

PET POLICY
If your child wishes to bring in a pet for show & tell, please check with the teacher beforehand.  If a dog accompanies you for morning drop-off or afternoon pickup, please be sure it remains on a leash at all times and that any messes are cleaned up.  If there is any question as to the safety of the pet around children do not bring it.
 

COMMUNICATION

A Healthy Community
Columbia Academy prides itself on delivering a strong academic program in a positive, warm and safe environment.  We believe families who seek out and choose a unique school such as ours share a common bond; a commitment to provide their children with the very best opportunity to be happy and successful.  It is our hope that lasting friendships between students, families and staff develop here.

In order to achieve this goal it is important that the lines of communication remain open, and all members of the community focus on the positive.  Parents are respectfully asked to avoid engaging in negative or malicious rhetoric and that ANY concerns are brought directly to Columbia Academy staff for resolution. Miscommunications do occur and can be very destructive to the positive community environment we work so hard to create here.

Thank you for respecting our policies.

Need help with links/downloads?  Click here.