At Grace, it is our goal that the children entrusted to our care grow in the knowledge and love of their Savior from sin, and become useful citizens in this life. In order to serve the Lord with their abilities and talents, the students at Grace are taught that they have good reason to learn of God's orderly creation (mathematical, biological, and physical sciences) and of God's continual working in the affairs of the world around us (social sciences). What better reason for learning to communicate well (language arts) than to share God's Word of peace and promise with others?

Grace Lutheran Grade School is not merely a private school, but we consider Christian education to be the most complete education available, dealing with all aspects of the individual – soul, mind, and body. We encourage parents to reinforce what is taught by bringing their children to our Sunday School and Worship Services regularly. Children in the upper grades complete their preparation for communicant membership through doctrinal studies with the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church.

ENROLLMENT POLICY

All children of Grace Lutheran Church are encouraged to enroll at Grace Lutheran School. Parents who are not members of our church and are interested in sending their children to Grace Lutheran School should make an appointment to speak with the pastor. At this time they may fill out a nonmember application form. Each application form is reviewed by the Board of Education and approved on a case by case basis. We thank our God that we have the opportunity to share with others that which our Lord has so generously given to us.

REGISTRATION
In April, registration forms for the next school year will be sent to parents of all students. We need to know the enrollment for the following school year so money will not be spent on books and supplies for students who may not be returning.

SCHOOL FINANCES

The Board of Education will be in charge of collecting school fees. A school fee of $50.00 per child per year is charged for all students in grades one through eight and $25.00 for Kindergarten students. This covers various student supplies throughout the year. The school fee is to be paid at the beginning of each year, or semester.

Non-Member Tuition Fee: A tuition fee is charged for nonmember students. Nonmember tuition is $900.00 per year for each child in grades one through eight and $450.00 for Kindergarten students. A payment schedule should be set up with the Board of Education.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is important for your child's education as school work is planned with daily attendance in mind. Tardiness or irregular attendance can cause a child to get behind, become discouraged, and not do as well as he or she can and should do in school.

EXCUSES

We request that a phone call be made between 7:45 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. to inform teachers of absences and the reason for the absence that day.
Both the faculty and the Board of Education feel strongly about the importance of regular school attendance. Therefore, we request that parents taking children out of school for any reason other than illness submit a notice to the principal two weeks in advance of the absence. Children are requested to complete all assignments made during their absence and submit all completed work upon their return to school or to make appropriate arrangements with the teacher. We furthermore trust that parents will accept the responsibility of seeing to it that their children not only complete the work, but understand it as well.

REPORT CARDS/

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Report cards are sent home every quarter. Mid-quarter reports are sent during the first and second quarter. Regular conferences are held at the end of the first and second quarters. Other conferences may be scheduled as teacher or parents deem necessary.

SCHOOL PHONE

The number for the school is 763-784-6340. Should you wish to contact the teachers, please use this number and do not call the church number. An answering machine will pick up the phone between 8:45 A.M. and 3:20 P.M. on school days. Messages will be checked at noon and after school.

THE SCHOOL DAY

The teaching day begins at 8:45 A.M. A child will be marked tardy if he or she comes after 8:45 A.M. with the exception of medical appointments with prior written excuse.

The school day proceeds as follows:
Students should not arrive before 8:15 A.M. unless prior arrangements have been made with the classroom teacher or the principal.

8:15 A.M. - 8:45 A.M. Students upon arrival will go to their desks in their classrooms.

8:45 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. Opening devotion

11:45 A.M. Recess

12:15 - 12:35 P.M. Lunch

3:15 P.M. Closing followed by duties

3:20 P.M. End of school day

We expect all students to be gone by 3:30 P.M. unless prior arrangements have been made with the classroom teacher.
Please Note: Parents should not assume that their children will be supervised or that the faculty is responsible for their children before 8:15 A.M. and after 3:30 P.M. unless prior arrangements have been made.

LUNCH

Students are expected to bring a lunch each day. A microwave is available for quick warmups. All lunches should be labeled with the child's name. We encourage parents to send well-rounded lunches for their children and not more than the child can eat. We do not allow children to trade food with each other or throw food away. Lunch boxes or bags (not paper) are preferred. The paper bags often fall apart.

STORM DAYS

Generally, when the Spring Lake Park School District (Dist. 16) closes because of bad weather, Grace will also close. However, there may be exceptions. When school is called off or dismissed because of severe weather conditions, parents will be notified by telephone by the teachers or board members.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (CEA)

Meetings of the CEA are information sessions for parents. Previous meetings have discussed ADD/ADHD and home and school first aid. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of these meetings.

PERMISSION SLIPS

Recess: The faculty expects all children to participate in recess activities. Students are expected to go outside unless there is bad weather. When the weather is cold we will normally go outside unless it is below zero in temperature or wind chill. In case of illness, permission slips are needed for the child to be excused from recess. A student excused from recess will not be allowed to participate in Phy-Ed. In the winter and windy days, please make sure your child has mittens and some form of head covering.

Field Trips: Parental permission slips must be signed and returned to the teacher before each field trip. The students travel by cars driven by adult volunteers.

TESTING

The Iowa Basics Achievement Tests are given each spring to all students in grades K - 8. The results of this test will be enclosed with the final report card.

CHURCH SINGING

I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:18b -19

The children will sing in church at least once a month. During various seasons singing may increase. Please see that your child, in respect for our Lord, dresses appropriately for singing in church. This means shirts that button, pants that crease and shoes that shine.

DRESS CODE

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

The school requires modest and appropriate dress and appearance. We believe that attention and study habits are affected by the clothes students are wearing. Wear clean and modest clothing that will help everyone think and act like children of Jesus. Therefore no bare midriffs and no T-shirts with inappropriate slogans or groups. Please wear tops long enough to stay tucked in and that cover most of the shoulder. Body piercings (beyond one set of modest ear rings) can be a symbol of rebellion. They are discouraged and a student who displays such body piercings may have his or her attendance reviewed. Students must wear socks and shoes at all times. Fire code does not permit stocking feet in school. A student who forgets their shoes may need to have them brought. Students need to have appropriate shoes for recess.

As Christian parents you are expected to train your child and supervise what he or she wears so that it is modest, clean and neat. If your child's dress is considered inappropriate, the teacher will notify you and you will need to bring a change of clothing.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Students wishing to participate in extracurricular activities, such as athletics, must maintain at least a C average. After a student has become ineligible, the student and teacher will review the grades on a two-week basis to determine the student's return to that activity. A student may also become ineligible if, in the estimation of the faculty and parents, the continued participation in extracurricular activities would be harmful to his/her academic achievement.

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL STAFF

John Ude, Pastor, Confirmation Class
Ann Radichel: grades K-2
Ellen Bergstrom: grades 3-5
Deborah Ude: grades 6-8

APPOINTMENTS

The faculty at Grace would like to encourage open lines of communication between parents and teachers. However, we request that appointments be made in advance for discussion of school matters. Please phone 763-784-6340 or e-mail:

Ann Radichel: akradichel@yahoo.com

Ellen Bergstrom: ebergstrom@myexcel.com

Deborah Ude: dju9@juno.com

John Ude, Pastor: grace@ladybug.net

TEACHERS ARE CALLED

Every Christian has the call to share the Gospel. The public ministry is another matter. It is a ministry carried out on behalf of the Lord our God and in the name of fellow Christians in the areas of responsibility prescribed by them. The call may only be extended to those sharing the same confession. The call is a call not a contract. In a call, God confers the ministry on a person. A call is in effect until God decides otherwise. The diploma of vocation outlines the area of work and what the person called solemnly obligates to do. It also outlines what the congregation obligates to do for the person called. The relationship of the teacher and congregation is one of love.

In extending a call to a teacher, the congregation solemnly obligates the teacher:
1. To teach the students entrusted to you in the area of learning you are called to teach in the spirit of the Gospel;
2. To maintain Christian discipline in class and to assist in maintaining Christian discipline in the school;
3. To serve the congregation as an example of Christian conduct;
4. To endeavor earnestly to live in Christian harmony with the pastor and faculty; and
5. To submit to the supervision of the pastor, board of education and others who are responsible for the conduct of the school, and with the help of God to do everything within the limits of the call for the general advancement of the Kingdom of Christ.

In extending a call to a teacher, the congregation solemnly promises:
1. To receive the teacher as a servant of Jesus Christ for their children, and to accord the teacher the honor and love which they owe the teacher as a servant of Christ;
2. To support the teacher's work among the congregation with their prayers and personal assistance;
3. To aid the teacher in maintaining the proper Christian discipline; and
4. To provide for the teacher's proper maintenance according to the congregation's ability in compliance with the Word of God, and to pay the teacher a salary promptly and regularly.

CONCERNS REGARDING A TEACHER

Procedure for handling concerns or complaints regarding a teacher at Grace Lutheran School: Concerns or complaints regarding a teacher shall first be directed to the teacher in question. If after contacting the teacher the concerned party is not satisfied, the pastor should be approached regarding the situation. If after speaking with the pastor the concerned party is not satisfied, the Board of Education should be consulted. The Board will investigate the matter, report its findings, and give recommendations when recommendations are appropriate in a given situation.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT CONDUCT

Students will conduct themselves quietly and considerately in the hallways. No running is permitted inside.
Students are not to be found in the church proper unless by teacher permission or supervision.
All students will be supervised during lunch.
All lunches will be eaten in the lunch room.
All students will be in an area supervised by a teacher during recess.
Students are to use the telephone only with permission of one of the faculty. We ask that parents and students plan ahead. Telephone privileges are not to be abused.

Please do not let students bring along toys, collectible cards, or any other items to school that are not required for the school day. These items may be a distraction to the owner and other students.

DISCIPLINE

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Discipline at Grace Lutheran School is based on Christian principles. The church expects a oneness of spirit in the heart of parents, child, and teachers. This does not mean that problems will not arise, but that we share a common basis from which to resolve problems.

If a specific problem of discipline arises, the teacher will communicate with the parents, arranging meetings if necessary, to discuss and resolve the problem. The parents may also initiate discussion. If the parents and teacher cannot resolve the problem, they should contact the pastor. The pastor will try to resolve the problem with the parents and teacher, calling in the school board members as he feels it is necessary.

Our first measure is always to remind the student that we are God's children. This will serve as a guide as we show our love to the students through discipline.

Squares / Tickets
Each student is given 10 squares / tickets each week. These squares / tickets serve a number of purposes:
The squares / tickets will be used to aid the students in curbing childish behavior, bad habits and breaking the rules.
Squares / tickets may also serve as an incentive at the discretion of each classroom teacher. A tally of the tickets will be kept. By keeping squares / tickets students may gain prizes and / or privileges.

Work Detail Guidelines
Each teacher has his or her rules and corrective measures for his/her classroom. If a student does not respond to these measures, other measures must be taken, such as issuing a work detail.

When Used:
· When the student defies authority.
· When the student uses foul or abusive language.
· When the student becomes involved in physical violence while on the school ground.
· When the student has misused or abused school property or the property of another student. (Damaged or destroyed property will be replaced or repaired.)

How Used:
· The student will be informed of the work detail immediately after the infraction.
· A work detail slip is to be given to the student at the end of the class period or immediately after the infraction. The work detail slip states the student's name, a brief description of the infraction, date, and is signed by the teacher/person in charge.
· The student will take the slip home, have it signed by the parent, and return it to school the next day.
· If the slip is not returned signed by the next day, a work detail will be added for each day the slip is not returned.
· A work detail involves doing clean-up work or other chores around the school and church.

More Serious Infractions include but are not limited to:
Willful defiance, foul/abusive/inappropriate language, physical violence and abuse of school or student property.
1st serious infraction in one day: Student will lose one square / ticket. Student will also face discipline intended to diffuse the situation and to remind them to honor Jesus with their behavior, such as a time out or logical consequence.
2nd serious infraction in one day: Repeat 1^st serious infraction consequences and either lose a recess or student must complete a recess-long task. A note will be sent home to the parents. They will sign and return it by the next day.
3rd serious infraction in one day: Repeat 1^st serious infraction consequences. Bring the student to the Pastor. If Pastor is unavailable the student will be moved to another supervised room until the teacher observes a repentant, workable attitude. Parents will be called.
4th serious infraction in one day: The parents are called and they will come and take the child home. The parents are clearly informed of the potential consequences.
If a child reaches the 4^th stage twice in one week or repeatedly the Board of Education will be informed and be asked to find a proper course of action (including but not limited to suspension).

TERMINATION OF ENROLLMENT

A student's enrollment in our school may be discontinued:
1. When the principal and Board of Education determine that a student is a detriment to our school or student body; or
2. When the principal and/or Board of Education conclude that our program is no longer serving as a benefit to the student; or
3. When financial arrangements are not kept current or are disregarded.

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL SUPPLIES

The school will supply pencils, erasers, and assignment books for your children. These are paid for with the school fee. Your children should have the following:

We ask that students in grades 2-8 keep a Bible, the red Catechism, and a hymnal at school for class use. The items can be purchased through the church.

Grades K-2:
* 1 Pencil box
* 2 Pocket folders
* 1 backpack
* 1 lunch box

Grades 3-5:
* scissors
* small bottle of glue
* crayons (24 or 48)
* 2 notebooks (wide rule)
* 1 pack of loose leaf paper
* 1 folder with 2 pockets
* pencil box
* markers optional
* Bible
* Catechism
* Lutheran Hymnal

Grades 6-8:
* 4 spiral bound notebooks (wide rule)
* 1 pack of loose leaf paper
* compass
* Protractor
* 12" ruler (also with cm)
* Bible
* Catechism
* Lutheran Hymnal
(Markers, crayons, scissors, pencils and pens are available in the room.)

Grades 6-8 for catechism class:
* A Pen or pencil
* A Highlighter
* A loose leaf folder
* A notebook

Updated 7/29/2003
Web 9/1/2003