Welcome to Nebraska Christian Schools! We trust that your goal is to grow in all areas of your life, as Jesus did, "in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). We also trust that you will count it a privilege to attend this school. The purpose of this handbook is to help you to better understand the workings of our school, our philosophy, and requirements.
| Mission | Fire and Tornado Plans |
| Academics | Insurance |
| Classroom and Campus Rules | Support |
| Attendance | Non-Discriminatory Policy |
| Activities and Student Organizations | Changes to the Manual |
| Discipline |
Mission
The mission of Nebraska Christian
Schools is to assist the family and church by providing a Christ-centered
education, equipping students with a Biblical world-view and encouraging a love
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Academics
Nebraska Christian Schools is a
member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and is also
an approved school as determined by the Nebraska Department of Education. Each
graduate earns a valid high school diploma. Teachers are certified by the State
of Nebraska. A sound curriculum is essential to Christian education. Curriculum
which integrates subject matter and God's Word aids the teacher in accomplishing
this. A knowledge of the Bible is the foundation of Christian education. We
strive to train our students to know and to live the principles taught in the
Holy Scriptures. The Bible curriculum includes memorization at each grade level.
There are certain doctrines on which the school maintains a neutral stance, such
as baptism, spiritual gifts, and the tribulation.
| 7th & 8th Grade | |||
| Bible, English, Social Studies, Science, Math, Physical Education/Health, Keyboarding,Reading, Music, Art | |||
| Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior |
| Bible I | Bible II | Bible III | Bible IV |
| English I | English II | English III | English IV |
| Algebra I or Business Math | Geometry or Consumer Math | Algebra II | Senior Math |
| Geography | World History | U.S. History | Government/Economics |
| Physical Science | Biology | Chemistry | Physics or Physiology |
| General Business | Computer II | Physics or Physiology | Electives |
| Physical Education, Health | Spanish I | Spanish II | |
| Keyboarding (if needed) | Elective | Elective | |
| Elective | |||
| Music Appreciation (if not taking band or choir) |
1. Graduation Requirements - A minimum of 24 credit hours is required for graduation. Also one credit (one year) of Fine Arts and one-half credit (one semester) of P.E. are required for graduation for any senior who has attended NC at least half-time (4 periods) during their senior year. Graduation requirements for transfer students may be adjusted on an individual basis.
2. College Credit Courses - Nebraska Christian students have the opportunity to earn college credit during their junior and senior years. College credit classes will be offered on-line through Central Community College. Each student must take the prescribed placement test administered by CCC personnel. Students may earn up to three college credits each semester with a maximum total of 12 credits. The students are responsible for the cost of books and fees and must pay the cost of tuition. The cost of tuition for NC students will be one-half of the normal CCC published tuition fee.
3. Grading scale:
100 A+ 4.00 96-99 A 4.00 94-95 A- 3.67 92-93 B+ 3.33 88-91 B 3.00 86-87 B- 2.67 84-85 C+ 2.33 80-83 C 2.00 78-79 C- 1.67 76-77 D+ 1.33 72-75 D 1.00 70-71 D- .67 Below 70 F 0.00
4. Drop/Add - Students may drop and/or add classes during the first two weeks of the semester. After that, schedules remain the same until the end of the semester. Administrative procedure has been established to review any exceptions.
5. Incompletes - An Incomplete may be given when a student has unfinished work in a course. Incompletes become failures if not removed within two weeks after report cards are mailed.
6. Honor Roll - An honor roll will be published each quarter to recognize those students whose grade point average is 3.25 or higher. All subjects are figured into the average except some PE and music courses. The honor roll categories are:
Highest Honors 4.00 High Honors 3.75-3.99 With Honors 3.50-3.74 Honorable Mention 3.25-3.49
7. Cheating - Cheating is a serious offense against the Lord, against fellow students, and against yourself. Each teacher will explain how cheating relates to his classroom. As a school, we will enforce the following procedures as cheating occurs on homework, quizzes, tests, and/or papers:
a. The grade for the assignment will be a zero
b. 1st offense - One-hour detention; notification of parents
c. 2nd offense - Failing quarter grade for the class in which the 2nd offense occurs and three days suspension
d. 3rd offense - Expulsion
e. Any student caught cheating on a final will be placed on Academic Probation, in addition any discipline listed in the preceding procedures found in points a–d.
8. Plagiarism - In an academic community, one of the most unacceptable acts is plagiarism. Whether plagiarism occurs because of an intention to deceive or because of inexperience in the handling of information and ideas, it is wrong. It is the student's obligation to become familiar with the rules and regulations regarding plagiarism and to monitor one's own work to be certain that no inadvertent instances appear.
"Plagiarism is the appropriation of the work (be it ideas or words) of another without crediting the source. Such a practice is particularly reprehensible in a community dedicated to the pursuit and advancement of knowledge." (UNO Undergraduate Catalog, 1986-1987, p.43).
It is important to point out that this official definition includes taking
another's ideas to pass off as your own. Any fact or statement that appears in
your writing and is not cited is assumed to be your own. Plagiarism is a form of
cheating and will be handled as such (see above).
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Library Procedures
The library is a study
area. Please maintain a quiet study environment.
Internet Use Policy - Nebraska Christian students will have access to the use of the internet. Each student will receive a copy of the acceptable use policy.
Student Planners
NC has provided an individual planner to assist students in managing their time and develop organizational skills.
Lockers
Nebraska Christian students are responsible for the well being of their lockers assigned to them.
In order to be a good steward of the locker assigned to you, the best practice is to lift the handle of your locker in order for it to close properly. If you slam the locker door without lifting the handle, you run the risk of being charged fro replacement of the locker internal closing device.
Personal Appearance Guidelines
Student dress is
to be neat and appropriate. Students and parents are urged to exercise
discretion and modesty regarding the selection of the student's clothing. We
desire that our students have a positive testimony through their appearance as
well as through their attitudes and actions. If the 1st period teachers see a
potential violation of dress code, the student will be asked to go to the
office. A staff person or administrator will decide if the student’s clothing
meets dress code. If the clothing is unacceptable, the school will provide
acceptable clothing and a $2 “rental fee” will be charged. If a problem with
acceptable clothing is observed later in the day, the same steps will be
followed.
Dress Code for all 7-12 Students
Dress-up Event Guidelines
Boys must wear dress
shirt and tie, with dress pants, belt, dress shoes and socks. Shirts must be
tucked in. Ties are not to be pulled down. Girls must wear a dress or skirt and
blouse, belt if appropriate, and shoes or sandals. Nylons are encouraged.
Athletic socks are inappropriate.
These guidelines apply to the Harvest
Festival, Advance Dinner, Graduation, and other special events as announced by
the Administration. Not dressing properly at these events will result in a
detention.
Conduct
In a changing world, the Christian has
an unchanging standard, the Word of God. Nebraska Christian Schools' standards
of conduct are based on the teaching and principles of Scripture, seeking to
develop personal holiness and discipline exemplified in a lifestyle glorifying
to God.
For these reasons, students are required to refrain from the following activities: use of any tobacco products, consumption of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs, gambling, stealing and involvement in sexual immorality of any kind. Abstaining from any appearance of evil is also required (I Thess. 5:22).
Abuse of legal substances is also not permitted. If the school becomes aware of such abuses, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
Because a significant number of evangelical Christians view social dancing as a morally questionable activity, social dancing at school-related functions and while under the supervision of NCS is prohibited. Otherwise, students are responsible to adhere to guidelines of their homes and churches regarding dancing.
Additional activities requiring godly discretion by parents and students include but are not limited to: music, movies, TV, videos, video games, board games, internet use, and reading material.
The school holds parents responsible to discipline their children for off-campus violations of school policies. The responsibility of the school is to notify parents of any infractions we are made aware of and to take appropriate disciplinary action. NCS reserves the right to immediately suspend or expel a student for serious infractions of school policy whether those infractions occur on-campus or off-campus.
Relationships
Our desire at NCS is that
every aspect of a young person's life is brought into line with God's Word,
including putting others before self, living a life of personal purity and
blamelessness, and bringing glory to God in all of life.
At NCS, we encourage close family relationships and friendships that are wholesome, Christ-centered, and God-honoring. Wisdom, patience, and selflessness must set the pace in all our relationships.
Based on these principles, we provide opportunities for students to interact with those of the opposite sex and to develop better interpersonal skills. We encourage guy-girl relationships in group settings, but we want to establish an atmosphere that discourages the cultivation of romantic feelings. We believe that the dating spirit which is prevalent in today’s society is counter-productive to these goals. Although parents do not have to agree with our position on this issue to enroll their students at NCS, we do expect parental support on school-related activities. Two related rules are:
Music
The school believes that music should fit
the principle of Philippians 4:8. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things."
Because trends in music may encourage drug use, violence, and
sexual immorality, all forms of music that suggest a sinful lifestyle are
prohibited on campus or at any extra-curricular activity.
All music used in
the athletic facility, gym, or locker rooms must be approved by the Athletic
Director.
These guidelines also apply to magazines and other reading
material.
Driving
Because of our testimony for Jesus Christ in this
community, especially in the surrounding neighborhood, driving to school
carefully and legally is essential. Any phone call received by the
administration from neighbors or concerned citizens in the surrounding area will
be seriously considered and investigated. Staff and faculty who observe poor
driving habits around campus and on the way to school should report the incident
to an administrator.
The first poor driving incident will result in a warning and the notification of parents. The second incident will result in a One-Hour detention and a $25 fine. Any further incidents will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If the first offense is a serious one as evaluated by the administration, the result will be a One-Hour detention and a $25 fine.
Prohibited Items
The following are prohibited:
firearms (including toy guns), archery equipment, knives, swords, spears,
matches, lighters, laser lights, fireworks of any kind, etc. Bringing these
items to school will result in confiscation of the item and appropriate
disciplinary action. Possession of firearms on campus will lead to expulsion.
Visitors
Parents and others in the community
are invited to visit the school during any regular school day.
Attendance
Good attendance is a key to
effective learning and is important to academic success. It is expected that
parents will cooperate with the school in having each child in school whenever
possible. A student who is absent will be held accountable to make up missed
school work.
A student becomes too sick to attend school, verified by a doctor’s note that the student is too ill to attend school. (NOTE: This does not include regular check-ups, or doctor, dentist, orthodontist, and haircut appointments).
All absences exceeding the seven-day rule will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We recommend that you call and check with the office prior to a student’s absence beyond seven days so that you are well informed to make a decision, weighing the worth of an absence vs. the loss of credit in a class.
Activities and Student
Organizations
Activity Eligibility
All students
participating in school activities must maintain passing grades in every
subject. Activity eligibility will not be checked until after the midterm of the
first quarter. Also, activity eligibility will not be checked the first week of
the second, third and fourth quarters.
After the first
quarter midterm, teachers will calculate grades weekly and turn them in on
Monday. Students who have one or more F’s will be ineligible in all activities
until the grade(s) become(s) passing. The eligibility period is from Wednesday
through the following Tuesday on a weekly basis.
There is
an exception to the ineligibility rule. The first Monday a student who is
participating in an activity receives at least one F, he can continue to
participate during the next Wednesday through Tuesday time period. This grace
period can occur once each semester.
If a student is
ineligible for two consecutive weeks in the same class without a new test grade,
he will be eligible until the next test if his homework average is at least 86%
during that time.
Sportsmanship
Good sportsmanship should
characterize our participants and spectators. It is appropriate to encourage our
team, always respecting the opponents and officials. When an official makes a
call with which you disagree, booing or yelling is not appropriate.
Transportation to School Activities
NCS will work through love to help each student exhibit appropriate behavior at school. Our aim is to help the student develop a strong sense of Christ-like self-discipline. In order to successfully meet our goals, we will employ such discipline as seems wise and necessary for each situation. Parents will be kept informed concerning their student's behavior. . In the infrequent case when there is probable cause of a violation of school policy or state law, the administration does have the right to search vehicles, lockers, or book bags. The student will be informed about the search.
Detention
A detention form explaining the
nature of the offense will be sent to the student's parents. The student will
also be notified of the detention.
Morning Detention
Probation
Probation is for the purpose of
restoring a student's relationship with authority. It is a conditional
enrollment during a specified period of time. During this time, weekly
accountability conferences will be scheduled for the student. If a student does
not adhere to probationary procedures, he will be expelled or asked to withdraw.
Faculty, staff, and administration all may be involved in the determination of probation for a student. Reasons for probation include academic issues, behavior, and/or attitudes. Students on probation cannot serve as class officers or be on the Student Council.
Reconciliation
When a student
voluntarily chooses to come forward and confess to a faculty member his/her
involvement in a misdemeanor or felony on or off campus, sexual immorality or
use of alcohol or illegal drugs, the opportunity for reconciliation is
available. Consequences (such as suspension, random drug testing, counseling and
accountability) can be expected with offenses of this nature, but as fruits of
repentance are evident, students who have confessed and repented may be allowed
to continue their enrollment at NCS upon evaluation by the administration.
Students who commit offenses which endanger others on campus (such as verbal
threats, possessing weapons, firearms, alcohol or illegal drugs) are not offered
continued enrollment.
Expulsion
Students may be subject to
expulsion for conduct in violation of the policies of the board, rules and
regulations of the administration, and for refusal to obey direction of
administration and staff.
We will treat each situation individually, looking at the heart and past and present attitudes of the student. The final decision regarding expulsion will be made by the Superintendent. Any appeal of the Superintendent's decision may be made to the board in writing with a copy to the Superintendent.
Readmission
A student who has been expelled
or who has withdrawn for disciplinary reasons may be considered for readmission
after a minimum of one quarter from the date of expulsion upon approval of the
Superintendent.
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Fire and Tornado Plans
Fire Drill
Procedure: Students will evacuate according to the drill plans for each
room. Teachers should make sure windows and doors are closed and follow students
out of the building.
Tornado Alert: Students in the Administration Building will seek
protection in the hallways of the building. Students in the gymnasium complex or
the classroom/athletic facility will seek protection in the locker rooms.
Students in the dorms will seek protection in the hallways.
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Insurance
All students are urged to
participate in the school's group hospitalization, medical-surgical plan unless
they have adequate protection at the time of enrollment. The parents of those
who do not participate must sign a form releasing the school from all liability.
Nebraska Christian Schools, Inc. assumes no responsibility for illness or accidents on or off campus, in or out of school activities. The use of the school facilities is at the student's own personal risk.
A parent or guardian of each student must sign a medical authorization form,
giving the school permission to obtain emergency medical care for the student
and authorizing the physician to perform necessary services.
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Tuition at Nebraska Christian Schools covers approximately 70% of the cost of
educating the students. The school depends upon donations to cover the remaining
cost.
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Nebraska Christian Schools has had a non-discriminatory policy since its
inception in 1959. NCS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic
origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally
accorded or made available to other qualified students at the school. It does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in
administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship programs,
athletic and other school-administered programs.
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Changes to the Student Life Manual
The
administration reserves the right to change any policy or procedure at any time
in its sole discretion after reasonable notice to constituents.
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