Policies & Procedures - Introduction

Early Arrival

7:30 - 8:15 a.m. - Before school extended care is available.  For the safety of your child(ren), please park in a designated are and walk your child to their assigned room.  No outside supervision is provided during this time. All K-8 students are to check in at their assigned room.  Any student arriving before 8:15 a.m. (8:05 for middle school) will check into morning extended care and the regular hourly rate will be charged.

 

Do not leave cars parked and unattended in the circle drive in front of Wegner Hall. Do not park in the Handicapped Parking unless you have the correct permit.  For the safety of our students the speed limit in the parking lot is 10 miles per hour.

8:05 - 8:25 a.m. – 1st through 8th-grade students should be dropped off at their designated areas.  Students must go directly to their classrooms or morning care.  For their safety, Preschool, pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten students are to be walked to their classrooms by an adult.

8:05 a.m. – Middle School opens   8:15 a.m. - Middle School classes begin. 

8:15 a.m. – PS – Grade 5 classrooms are open   8:30 a.m. – PS – Grade 5 classes begin.  

 

Children who are not in their classroom by the appropriate time must go to the office to check in and get a pass.  Students who arrive after the beginning time will be marked tardy, unless a doctor’s excuse is provided. 

 

To begin our day on time, we ask that parents leave all classroom areas five minutes prior to class start time.  The teacher’s primary duty in the morning before school begins is the supervision and orderly beginning of the day.  Please do not use this time to conference with a teacher.  If you need to speak with a teacher, an appointment should be made after 3:15 p.m. You may also relay, in writing,  any important messages or changes in routine to the classroom teacher.   

 

You are welcome and encouraged to participate in events on campus.  We ask that you coordinate visits to your child’s classroom through the school office.  Please make sure your background check is completed in advance of the event.

 

If your student forgets an item in the morning, it may be brought to the school office.  Students may not call home unless they have permission from their teacher.

 

Dismissal  

Afternoon dismissal takes place at different stations around our campus.  At the start of the school year, your classroom teacher will explain drop-off and pick-up procedures for your child’s class.   For a timely dismissal, we ask that parents wait in the car line, in the courtyard or on the preschool playground for the 3:00 p.m. dismissal. Students in Preschool through Grade 2 will leave their classrooms at 3 p.m., Grades 3 through 8 at 3:15 p.m.  

 

Please pull up to the pickup area and remain in your car until your child is brought to you.  Parents wishing to park MUST pull into a lined parking place out of the flow of traffic.  According to Florida law, students must use seat belts/car seats with regard to their age and weight.  It is recommended that young children not sit in the front seat of a car equipped with passenger-side air bags.  

 

Please do not use this time to conference with a teacher.  The teachers' primary duties are to supervise children and safely escort them to cars.  If you need to speak with a teacher, an appointment should be made after 3:15 p.m.

 

If your child is to leave with someone who is not on the regular pickup list, please send a note to the teacher in the morning.  Picture identification will be required at any time the staff does not recognize the person picking up.

 

After Dismissal

Children remaining after 3:15 p.m. (or 3:30 p.m. for Grades 3-8), will be sent to extended care and charged from the time of their dismissal (3:00 or 3:15 respectively), according to our fee schedule.  No one other than the parent or designated person(s) recorded on the Enrollment Form may pick up a child without specific permission from the parent.  Please notify the school office if your child is to be picked up by an undesignated person.  No child will be permitted to leave the school grounds during school hours without the permission of the parent, and a staff member.

 

Noon Dismissal

When there is a half-day of school scheduled, students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 will be dismissed at noon.  Students who remain after 12:15 p.m. will be sent to extended care and charged according to our fee schedule starting at noon.  Children absent from school the morning of a half-day will not be able to attend extended care (and/or extension classes) unless a doctor’s notice is given.   Preschool and Prekindergarten hours will not be affected by noon dismissals.   If there is a different pick-up procedure used on a noon dismissal, your child’s teacher will inform you of the pick-up location.

 

There is no lunch service on noon dismissal days, please pack a lunch for your child if they are staying in aftercare. 

​School Attendance

Regular school attendance is required of all pupils.  Pupils who must be absent for a portion of the day should attend the remainder of the day, if possible.  

 

Medical and dental care, which cannot be arranged outside of school hours and other emergencies only, should be considered as valid reasons for absence from school.  Students who miss more than 3 hours of class for excused doctor's appointments will be marked 1/2 day absent.  Students who miss less than 3 hours of school and show proof of a doctor’s visit with a doctor’s note will not be marked absent.  Failure to submit a doctor’s excuse will result in the student being marked tardy or absent.  

 

Absences

After a total of 5 absences (either excused or unexcused) in a quarter, a notice will be given in regard to attendance.  If a student has 7 absences in a quarter, a meeting with a school board member, or their designee, may be held.  

 

Excessive absences (10 per quarter) could result in detention or retention of the student.  Efforts should be made to maintain a continuity of learning during the child's absence.  Parents should weigh carefully their request to have a child excused from school.  

 

Please see the HOMEWORK section for information regarding make-up assignments during a student's absence.

 

Illness

Your child should not come to school if ill or with a fever.  A child with a fever will be sent home.  For the health of our student body and staff, we ask that students not return until they are well.  (It is recommended that students not return until 24 hours after having a fever.)  If your child is out with any contagious illness or condition, such as strep throat, chicken pox, conjunctivitis, impetigo, measles, ringworm, etc., a medical release from your child’s physician should be brought to the office upon your child returning to school. 

 

If a child contracts an illness which is regulated by the Health Department, he or she must be cleared by the Health Department to return to school.

 

Parents should telephone the school office by 9:00 a.m. on the day(s) of the student's absence.  An email or a  note signed by the parent explaining the nature of the absence should be sent to school upon the student's return to the classroom.  Students who are absent on days of programs, sports events, or other after school activities may not participate in that afternoon’s/evening’s activity.  

 

Absence from Physical Education

If your child is to miss P.E. because of injury or illness a letter should be sent, and given to the homeroom teacher in the morning, stating the dates the student should not participate.  Students who are excused from PE will not be allowed to participate in recess during these times.  If the period to be excused is longer than  one week, a doctor’s note is needed.  Missing PE class repeatedly, without a doctor’s note, may affect the PE grade.  Students who are medically excused from PE for an extended period of time may have written work in place of activity.

 

Tardiness

It is important that all students arrive on time for instruction.  This means students should be in their seats at 8:30 a.m.  (8:15 for Middle School) so our school day may begin promptly.  Bringing students to school after the appropriate time disrupts the morning routine and distracts students from their lessons.  Please make every effort to have your child in their classroom by 8:25 (8:10 For middle school) so they may be prepared for the day's activities.  Classrooms will be open at 8:15 a.m. each morning (8:05 middle school). Students who are excessively tardy may be placed on probation or suspended until they appear before the Attendance Review Committee.  

 

Kindergarten through Grade 8 students who arrive after the tardy bell must go to the office for an admittance pass.

 

Students who arrive after 8:45 will be marked one-half day absent and must be signed in by the parent in the school office.

 

Appointments/Vacations

Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments and vacations outside of school hours.  In the event that this is not possible, the parent is required to make arrangements with the teacher prior to removing your child from school.    If assignments are given before the trip begins they will be due upon the student’s return to school. Assignments not completed will be graded as late/failed. Assignments given on return from a trip will be given an appropriate amount of time for completion.

 

When picking a child up before the end of the school day, please sign your child out in the office.  The student will be called to the office for dismissal.  

 

Please try to avoid picking up your child before their dismissal time, as teachers are trying to get their entire class ready for dismissal.  Students who leave school before the dismissal time for reasons other than  excused doctor’s appointments will be marked ½ day absent.

Behavior Expectations of OSLS Students

• Be Safe: I will act in a way that keeps me and others safe physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

• Be Respectful: 

  • I will respect the authority of my teachers, coaches and staff at Our Savior. 

  • I will respect my peers through what I say and how I act on and off campus.

  • I will respect others when I use technology during school and outside of school hours. 

  • I will respect the property of others and my school. 

• Be Responsible: 

  • I will use integrity and honesty with others.

  • I will follow through on my commitments even when there is an unexpected sacrifice required of me. 

• Be Reliable: I will consistently be on time to school, prepared for class, and ready to learn.

• Be Resilient: I will give my best, have self-control and grit in difficult situations and will face disappointments and failure with God's hope to persevere.

​

Student Conduct and Discipline

The goal of Christian discipline is to enable students to move from externally imposed discipline to self-discipline and, finally, to a Christian example for others.

 

 Our Savior's staff assists students in working towards this goal.  Students are given guidelines for appropriate behavior.  Positive reinforcement is given for adhering to these guidelines. Specific classroom rules will be sent home during the first week of school.

 

Students are encouraged to look beyond themselves and live their lives as Christ modeled for us.  Our Savior Lutheran School provides an atmosphere in which the student's personal growth is fashioned after Christ and quality relationships are fostered.  

 

Parents and school working together as unified partners will assist the child in achieving this ultimate goal of disciplined Christian living.

 

The following guidelines should be observed on campus and at all school-sponsored events:

 

1. Act like a child of God, be the living love of Christ.

2. Walk quietly in the buildings, hallways, and walkways.

3. Be considerate of classes in session while walking in the hallway.

4. Do not chew gum on school property and during school activities.

5. Be kind and respectful to others

6. Be respectful of God's House and of others in worship.

7. Take good care of books and respect school property.

8. Use bicycles only for transportation to and from school, riders must wear a helmet and walk their bikes when on school property.  A letter must be on file for all students riding bikes.

9. Stay on the school grounds during the school day; no student is allowed to leave by themselves during the day.

10. Play only inside the fenced playground areas.

11. Have the teacher's permission to leave the room.

12. Listen and obey all teachers and parents, who are asked to correct any child out of order.  This is for the safety of everyone at Our Savior.

13. Obtain permission from their teacher to use the school phone.  The phone is for emergency use only.  

14. Do not bring the following to school or school-sponsored events: Cell phones, media players, trading cards, comic books, lighters, knives, squirt guns, radios, weapons, and the like. These and other nuisance items will be confiscated.   If any of these or similar items are needed, the teachers will request them.

15. Our Savior will not be responsible for lost or damaged items.

16. Choose games to play that are not physically rough (for example, tackle football is not appropriate).

17. Only use the playground when adult supervision is available.

18. Animals are not to be brought on campus unless requested by a teacher.

 

The guidelines listed above also apply to extended care students.

 

It is our desire to offer every student at Our Savior Lutheran School a fine Christian and academic education.  However, there are certain behaviors that interfere with this process and cannot be tolerated at school. Violation of these policies and guidelines will result in the following:

 

First Violation:  Warning:  Parents are called or a note is sent home explaining the violation.

 

Second Violation:  Warning: Parents are called or a note is sent home explaining the violation and requesting a parent consultation.  

 

Third Violation:  A one-day, in-school suspension will be served, parents called for consultation, and the School Board will be notified of disciplinary action.

 

Fourth Violation:  A one-day, out-of-school suspension will be served, parents called for consultation, and the School Board will be notified.

 

Fifth Violation:  Indefinite suspension until the School Board makes a decision on the case, including expulsion.

 

The offenses are cumulative for one school year.  Some violations, such as fighting and inappropriate language may count as two offenses. In-school and out-of-school suspensions may be given, by the principal or the School Board, at any time, for behavior that, they determine,  warrants such action.

 

The above policy is designed to serve most discipline situations.  However, in cases of flagrant actions (i.e. bullying, harassment, cyber-bullying) the administration or School Board has the power to overrule the steps of this policy.

 

It is very important that all parents and students understand that such things as possession or use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs or weapons, and severe cases of discipline, as well as improper academic, online and social behavior (bullying or harassment), will not be condoned on our campus or while involved in school-sponsored activities off campus.   

All uniforms must be of the correct size and in good repair. OSLS items may be purchased from the school office.

​

Regular School Day Uniform

• Polos with the OSLS crest (shirts must be long enough to remain tucked in at all times and collars are to be folded down)

  • Elementary (Grades K-5): Hunter green, grey, or white short or long-sleeved

  • Middle School (Grades 6-8): Hunter green or grey (men's are 3 botton, women's are 5 button);

  • K-8: Students may wear long sleeved OSLS polos or a solid black or white long sleeve shirt under the OSLS polo

• Sweatshirts, Hoodies, and Fleece with OSLS logo

  • K-8: In addition, may wear a solid navy or white zipper or button down sweater over a an OSLS polo

• Pants - plain, solid navy or khaki in a cotton or cotton blend

  • K-8: No sewn on pockets (i.e. cargo style); No jean fabric; No jeggings or leggings style; no elastic/cinched ankles

  • 6-8: If the pants have belt loops, a belt must be worn.​​​​

• Shorts - plain, solid navy or khaki in a cotton or cotton blend

  • K-8: No sewn on pockets (i.e. cargo style); No jean fabric; No jeggings or leggnings style; no elastic/cinched ankles

  • 6-8: If the shorts have belt loops, a belt must be worn.​

• Skirts (K-8 Girls only)​

  • Solid black, navy or white shorts that are shorter than the length of the skirt should be worn under skirt.​

  • Skirts should fall no more than 5 inches above knees

• Jumpers (K-5 Girls only) - embroidered jumpers with OSLS crest

  • MUST be approved by administration prior to being embroidered.

  • Embrodery is done by White House Custom Printing at 7183 30th Avenue North

  • Solid black or navy tights/ankle length leggings may be worn under jumper.

  • If not wearing leggings, solid black, navy or white shorts that are shorter than the jumper should be worn under jumper.

  • Jumpers should fall no more than 5 inches above knees.

• Shoes​

  • K-5​: Flat bottomed with rubber soles; Socks must be worn every day and must fall below the knee

  • 6-8: Shoes or sneakers must have closed toes, sides, and heals; The sole/heel should not exceed 1" in height

  • K-8: No sandals or flip-flops; Boots may only be worn on early dismissal days, spirit days

​

PE Uniform

• PE Shirts and Shorts

  • K-8​: Green dri-fit OSLS Spartan PE shirts and black OSLS PE shorts with OSLS crest; Should be loose, comfortable fitting - NOT tight

• Fleece, Hoodies, & Sweatshirts

  • K-8: OSLS fleece, OSLS hoodie, & OSLS sweatshirt may be worn over the OSLS PE shirt; No non-uniform shirt should be worn under the OSLS fleece, OSLS hoodie, or OSLS sweatshirt.

• Sweatpants​

  • K-8: OSLS sweatpants may be worn over the OSLS PE shorts; No non-uniform shorts should be worn under the OSLS sweatpants.​

• Shoes

  • K-8: Athletic, rubber soled sneakers, with socks, must be worn.

​

Jewelry

 A conservative approach to the use of accessories and/or jewelry is expected. Boys may not wear earrings.​

• K-8: on PE days -  no jewelry, other than post earrings, may be worn

• K-5: Girls may wear small post earrings with no parts that dangle or fall below the earlobe

​​

Make-Up

• K-8​: No temporary, henna, or permanent tattoos are allowed

• K-5: No make-up may be worn

• 6-8: Girls may wear makeup to school in moderation.  Make-up brought to school may be confiscated. Boys may not wear make-up.

​

Hairstyles

• K-8: Should be clean, trim, so both eyes are visible. Colors other than natural tones and distracting hairstyles are not permitted. No designs may be shaved into the haircut.​

• BOYS: hairstyles must be above the collar, ear lobes, and above the eyes. Hairstyles, such as mohawks, braids, cornrows, dreadlocks, pony tails, buns or any other long hairstyles are not permitted.

​

The curriculum is aligned with the requirements of the State of Florida and meets suggestions outlined by the Curriculum Guide for Lutheran  Schools established by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  Our Savior is fully accredited in the State of Florida and nationally by National Lutheran School Accreditation.  All faculty members are required to obtain State certification or have expertise in their subject area.  Subjects and materials used are usually reviewed on a five-year cycle.

 

In keeping with the purpose of Our Savior Lutheran School, our curriculum begins with the Word of God.  The truths of the Bible are taught not only during the religion period, but these truths permeate all teaching.  It is our aim to instill into the hearts and minds of the children entrusted to us a Christian philosophy of life—to love Jesus, love people, serve the world, a philosophy that will lead to interpretation and evaluation of every facet of experience from the Christian viewpoint.

• In every classroom, worship, prayer, instruction in Lutheran doctrine, and Bible study occurs daily.  In the lower grades, the instruction consists of learning Bible stories, together with their application to life situations.  Church history, application to today’s life situations and study in Christianity are added in the upper grades.  Bible selections, hymn verses and parts of Luther's Small Catechism are studied and memorized.

• God has provided spoken and written language as the means of communication between Himself and man, and between human beings. Reading, spelling, writing, handwriting, and the studies of english and foreign language are part of our language arts program. 

• God has created an orderly, intricate, and very beautiful world for man to live in and to enjoy.  Technology, mathematics and science are taught to help students better appreciate these wonders of His hands.  

• God created man in a setting in which He interacts with other humans.  Man, as a social creature, is studied through a social science program which includes studies in such social science areas such as geography, history, world culture, citizenship, and current events.  

• God gave man many special talents and abilities.  Skill in the use of these talents is developed through a program of art, music and physical education.

Preschool and PRE-K

Teachers will formally assess student development two to three times a year for Preschool and Prekindergarten students.  A copy of this assessment will be shared with parents/guardians.  Teachers use portfolios to share examples of the student's progress.

 

Report cards – Grades K-8

Report cards are issued four times a year.  Your child’s progress will be discussed at Parent-Teacher consultations following the first quarter.  Additional meetings may be held at the request of the parent or the teacher.   Report cards will be given to students during the week following the end of the second and third marking period.  The final report card will be issued on the last day of school.

 

Grading procedure

In grades 1-8, scores on classwork, homework, and tests are taken and averaged.  The letter grades that correspond to the percentage scale are:  

A (100-90),  B (89-80),   C (79-70),   D (69-60),   F (below 60)

 

Grades will be weighted using the total number of classes per week.

 

Effort grades will be designated as:  S+  Outstanding,  S  Satisfactory,  S-  Average, N - Needs improvement, and U - Unsatisfactory.

 

Monitor your student’s progress on Gradelink. Parents who have students in Grades 1-8 will be able to monitor their child’s progress through the site www.gradelink.com.  Please contact the school office if you are having difficulty accessing your student’s account.

A catering service will be providing our lunches for all days except days with noon dismissal.  Lunch will consist of a meal and a drink.  In order to order meals you must order lunches ahead so that the caterer can properly prepare the correct quantity of food.

 

All lunches and drinks should be nutritious and filling.  Students will need to include a cold pack with lunches that require cooling. Remember to pack napkins and eating utensils when necessary.  Microwaves are not available for student use; please be sure that the lunches sent with your child are ready to eat and do not need warming or cooking.  Soda is not allowed during Preschool and Elementary lunch.  Middle School students may purchase soda on designated days only.

Illness

Students are required to be in good health while they attend Our Savior Lutheran School.  Contagious illnesses must be treated before a student returns to school. If your child is treated by a doctor, please submit a doctor’s note to the office when your child returns to school.  Here are key items to keep all students and staff protected and in school.  

• Illness requiring antibiotics necessitates students to take the medication for a full 24 hours before returning to school. (For example: If a child leaves with symptom(s) at 10 am, the student is first eligible to return to school at 10 am the next school day.)

• To prevent the spread of any illness, a child must be free of the follow symptoms for 24 hours:

• Fever (100 degrees or higher) without medication.

• No vomiting or diarrhea.

• No rash.

• No red, running, or swollen eyes (other than allergy-related).