Policies & Procedures - Introduction

Expectations for Parents

Our belief and philosophy at OSLS is that all of us want the best possible education for your child.  We all are part of a team that endeavors to ensure that your child is building a sure foundation for the future.  Each of us has a variety of expectations.  There are many things that you can do to be a strong support to the education of your child.  We encourage you, as parents, to prayerfully consider what you can do to strengthen your child’s education at OSLS. 

1. Regular Attendance in School - Parents should make every effort to see that their children are regular in their attendance in school.  Tardiness negatively affects the routine of the class. 

2. Regular Attendance in Worship - One of the marks of a Christian is his/her desire for active and regular participation in corporate worship.  God wants His people to worship together in fellowship with others.  God speaks to us through His Word and instructs us to train our children.  The expectation is that families worship a majority (50% or more) of the weekend worship.  Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Mark 10:14

3. Regular Attendance in Sunday School/Bible Class - The fact that God can bless a minimum of instruction does not make a minimum of instruction God’s will or the Christian ideal.  Attendance in Sunday school and Bible Class offers the first opportunity for a family to grow in Christian instruction 

4. Financial Responsibility - The congregation supports the yearly budget of the school.  It does not charge the school for facility usage.  Student tuition and fees are the responsibility of the families who enroll their children in OSLS

5. Active in Parent Teacher Fellowship (adding in 2023-2024 school year) - The PTF is an organization that provides outstanding opportunities for parents to work together to support the children and faculty of OSLS.  Meetings and activities will be scheduled by the PTF Leadership Team at the beginning of the school year.  Please see the calendar on our website.

6. Home Devotion/Bible Study - Home devotions is a time for the family read God’s Word and discuss it, and, pray.

7. Pray for Students, Families, and Staff - The power of prayer has always amazed us.  We ask for continued prayers for our OSLS community. 

8. Supervise Homework Assignments - Parents of OSLS students can help develop a sense of responsibility within their child(ren) when they supervise homework time.  Students should be responsible for completing their homework.  Parents of preschool parents can spend time reading to and with their children.

Communication

Grievances 

Matthew 18:30 (NIV) “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” To improve the level of communication between home and school when difficulties arise, the following steps have been identified to assist with conflicts and/or grievances regarding school matters. It is best to handle conflict in a Christ-like manner. 

Step 1: Personal Communication - As identified in Matthew 18:30, it is the direction of the Holy Scriptures to FIRST communicate your grievance to the person you have the grievance against. Oftentimes, grievances or conflicts are based on poor communication or lack of information. In step #1, each party has an opportunity to clarify their position, more fully understand the other party’s positions, and begin communication to resolve the grievance/conflict. 

Step 2: Principal - If, after completing the first step, you feel the grievance/conflict has not been resolved, the matter should be brought to the attention of the Principal and be discussed in a private, personal conference. If time has passed, it is productive to return to the person with whom you have a grievance to discuss further. 

Step 3: School Board Chair - If the grievance/conflict has not been resolved in the first two steps, the matter may be brought to the attention of the School Board Chair. Within the Christian spirit, conflicts between individuals should never be brought up in public (i.e. PTF meetings, congregational meetings, church meetings, hallways, parking lot, emails, blogs, Facebook, etc.). Private counseling and conflict resolution is strongly encouraged as a tool to resolve differences.

Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF)

* Link to PTF Page

Visitors & Volunteers

Service Hours

Each school family is asked to complete at least 10 HOURS of service per school year. You are responsible for recording your service hours in the Volunteer Book in the office(22-23 school year) Family Portal or Family App (23-24 school year and following). Service hours can be performed by a parent/guardian, grandparent or an older child of high-school or college age. 

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Background Checks

To protect our students, each year, parents, guardians, or other volunteers who wish to drive for field trips, or participate in other classroom activities (i.e. tutoring, secret presenter, etc.) may do so if they submit to and pass a background check, and are approved by the administration.  Background check information is available in the school office.

Volunteer Guidelines

Volunteers are dedicated persons, and they help the school serve the students. Volunteers enhance the learning of students by assisting in a variety of ways. These guidelines are designed to be helpful for volunteers who have sustained contact with students. They are intended to make volunteering a valuable experience for the students and for the volunteer.

1. Accountability - The school administrator is responsible for the daily operation of the school and supervises all staff and volunteers. The classroom teacher is responsible for implementing the educational program with the students in his/her care. Volunteers assist the teacher and take their direction from the teacher or staff person in charge of the activity.  

2. Two Adult Rule - All adult volunteers should observe the “two” adult rule.  This requires that our adult volunteers are never alone with children, i.e., another adult should always be present.

3. Those Who Are Not Allowed To Volunteer - Adults who have been convicted of either sexual or physical abuse may not serve as a volunteer in any school-sponsored activity or program for children.

4. Volunteer Commitment - If for some reason a volunteer cannot meet his/her commitment, the teacher or supervisor should be informed as soon as possible so the day’s schedule can be adjusted.

5. Confidentiality - Classroom volunteers sometimes have access to privileged information. They have the opportunity to observe individual students, or interaction among students or between students and teachers, or to hear comments made by children. Information of this sort needs to be treated as confidential. 

Volunteers do not discuss a child’s apparent behavior difficulties or academic needs with the child’s parent—and certainly not with other parents. Volunteers who have concerns about what they’ve observed should discuss their concern with the teacher or the administrator. Contact with the home should come from the professional staff.

Student Behavior Discipline is under the direction of the trained professional staff. Volunteers are not responsible for administering any disciplinary measures. The volunteer should instead report behavior difficulties to the teacher.

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Field Trips

Special trips may be planned by teachers to support the curriculum and enhance the school experience. Parents will sign a consent form upon registration, which allows their child to attend each trip in which their class participates. Your child’s teacher will announce field trips to you in advance.  Drivers and chaperones are needed throughout the year for classes to take field trips. You must have an approved background check to participate. 

Guidelines for parents who drive on field trips will be shared prior to the trip. Parents who drive are responsible for these students and are not to stop at any location other than the arranged stop.  Drivers are not permitted to bring any additional children, as they will distract the adult's attention from the students.  

Students in grades 4-8 may participate in trips that involve staying overnight.  Guidelines for parents who chaperone on overnight trips will be shared prior to the trip.