Download the Student Handbook
Socrates Academy General Procedures
Attendance and Tardy Policy
(adopted by the Board of Directors on September 8, 2008)
· Our scholars are expected to be at school everyday. The North Carolina State Law requires students to attend school for one hundred eighty (180) days, exclusive of holidays.
· Daily attendance is very important for your child to make adequate progress in school. Being on time daily in order to maximize instruction and to build good habits of timeliness is also important. All work must be made up. Two days are given to complete make-up work per one day missed. Teachers are responsible for giving students their make-up assignments.
· In keeping with the commitment to ensure attendance and to maximize instruction please refer to the school calendar and plan trips involving scholars when school is not in session.
· After three consecutive absences and tardies, teachers will contact parents to inquire the status of the student. After ten (10) absences or tardies, the parents of the students will be required to meet with the school-based Attendance Committee. This meeting will focus on ways to provide assistance to the parents and students who have excessive absences or tardies. Hopefully, we can avoid excessive absences and tardies by working with parents and students to develop responsible habits of timeliness and attendance.
· Students and Families with unexcused persistent absences and tardies will be referred to an outside local agency for assistance with school attendance. For example: licensed social workers and specific counties’ Children’s Protective Services.
· Please send a written note within 48 hours for all absences that states the date and the reason for the absence. If the scholar is examined by a physician, please bring a note from the doctor’s office.
Per North Carolina State Board of Education guidelines, absences must fall into one of the following categories to be considered excused:
New School Hours: School Hours are from 8:15 am until 3:25 pm. Morning carpool drop off will be from
7:45-8:10 am. Afternoon carpool pick up will be from 3:30-3:55 pm. Please be respectful of our staff planning time by being prompt in drop off and pick up.
Tardies
All students are expected to be in their classrooms by 8:10 am. When arriving after 8:10 am parents must sign their child in at the office. Tardies after 12:00 pm will be considered an absence for the day. A student must be at school for at least 3 hours and 45 minutes (3.75 hours) to be considered a full day.
Tardies are defined as late arrival for school or early dismissal without a written note from parent or guardian. If you must pick up your child for a doctor’s appointment or a family emergency please do so by 2:00 pm. A parent or doctor’s note should be sent to the teacher for documentation.
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Carpool
THANK YOU FOR BEING GOOD LISTENERS AND THINKING SAFETY FIRST!
Communications
Newsletters
Written communications are sent home in student book bags. The Socrates Connection is our school newspaper sent home monthly. The Calendar of Events will keep you informed of happenings at Socrates. Each Thursday, your scholar will bring home their Thursday Folder with important information for school events or notices.
Teacher Notes
Teachers communicate classroom learning and events by individual web pages. Please visit your teacher’s webpage by visiting http://new.schoolnotes.com by using our school zip code 28105. These pages are updated monthly and as needed.
Changes to Student Parent Information
Please notify the office if there is a change in address, phone numbers or email. It is important that we keep information updated.
Contacts to the School:
Our customer service policy requires that all telephone or email contacts be returned within 24 hours, or the next business day after a weekend. Also, please be mindful that quality, uninterrupted instruction is the main focus of our day. If you call during the day for a teacher and she/he is teaching, please leave a message or phone number and the call will be returned.
Grievance
A Grievance Policy has been developed by the Board of Directors. The Grievance procedures, adopted by Socrates Academy are intended to enhance timely ,fact-finding and sound decision making at the hearing in the event of a grievance or appeal. These procedures will comply with any existing state and local laws in the State of North Carolina that deal with grievances, complaints, disputes, and conflict resolution.
A copy of the Grievance Procedures is available upon request from the school office.
Socrates Academy Code of Conduct
Good behavior at Socrates Academy focuses on respect for others. Effective discipline centers on students and staff being respectful of each other. Each student and staff member is responsible for his/her own actions. We hope that in knowing and respecting limits of behavior our students and staff will know what is acceptable in our learning community as well as what is acceptable in society. We believe that discipline begins at home. It is our goal to maintain the respect that parents have taught the children in their own homes. A part of our positive approach to appropriate behavior is the teaching of values through the following character traits:
Kindness, Courage, Courtesy, Fairness, Family Pride (Socrates Proud), Honesty and Truthfulness, Helpfulness, Respect, Responsibility, and Strong Work Ethic
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Our Board of Directors, staff, parents, and students will work together to make sure that each scholar achieves these attributes. As we work together in a Professional Learning Community (PLC), please refer to the following information to promote good behavior and appropriate conduct at Socrates Academy. Our SCHOLARS will….
Our PLC MEMBERS will demonstrate the following core Values
Please be aware that tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and weapons are prohibited at all times at Socrates Academy.
Extended Learning:
At Socrates Academy student learning does not end when the school day is over. Our “extended learning” includes required reading in both in Greek and English, discovery and proving of mathematical concepts learned at school and continually building on the mathematical relationships in our surroundings and environment. We welcome your involvement. Please refer to individual teacher websites for “extended learning” opportunities. Extended learning assignments are given in both Greek and English.
In addition Socrates Students are encouraged to read nightly.
Our grade level teams will be committed to plan together to eliminate overlapping major assignments for our scholars.
Conferences:
Conferences are held three times a year. Parents, teachers, and, students participate in the conference to share student work and discuss the progress being made at Socrates Academy. If necessary a mid year conference will be scheduled. Parents and teachers can schedule conferences at their own discretion throughout the year.
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Visitor Courtesies
To help us maintain a safe and courteous learning environment please…..
Grading Scale
K-2nd:
E- Excellent (performing above grade level expectations)
VG- Very Good (meets grade level expectations)
P- Progressing (making progress towards grade level expectations)
N- Needs attention (does not meet grade level expectations)
3rd-5th:
A- 93-100
B- 85-92
C- 77-84
D- 70-76
F- Less than 70
Student Health
Socrates Academy
3909 Weddington Road
Matthews, NC 28105
704-321-1711
704-321-1714
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