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General Policies for Studio1248
1) We follow the Open Latch Education Foundation school calendar. Our first day is the first Monday after two weeks from 11 August. Students will complete four eight-week terms, with the school year ending around the end of May. Holidays and inter-term breaks are built into the schedule.
2) We adhere to the Open Latch Education Foundation's manual for microschool accreditation.
3) All students must pay an annual accreditation fee. This is in addition to the tuition for Studio1248. This fee is $100 per student but will not exceed $300 total for students from the same family. This fee is paid directly to the Open Latch Education Foundation.
4) Students must apply for Studio1248. The process includes a meeting with the teacher, the student, and at least one parent. Not all applicants will be accepted.
5) Student health and allergy information must be updated every year.
6) Students must attend an absolute minimum of 1001 hours/year.
7) All tuition for the year must be paid by the end of the first term.
8) Bullying or consistent unkindness will not be tolerated. If a student's persistent misbehavior is deemed detrimental to the success of the other students, the student will first be placed on short leave. If there is no improvement, the student will not be invited back for the next academic year.
9) Students must receive a mid-year grade report, an end-of-year grade report, and an annual transcript. Also at the end of every year, students will receive a continuance letter (an invitation to return for the next school year) or discontinuance letter (an explanation why they are being asked to leave). Discontinuance letters come only after an extended period of discussion and corrective measures.
10) No backpacks are allowed in the school. Students can bring their lunches in lunch bags or containers, and can bring medical necessities in pouches or small bags if necessary. This is to ensure that nothing potentially harmful to other students is brought into the house. This requirement also limits the amount of work a teacher may be tempted to assign as homework. All school supplies will be provided by the school except for books required for students dual-enrolled in our Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Arts programs.
11) Students must wear flipflops or socks inside the school. All shoes must be left on the porch. Colorful flipflops and socks will be provided, cleaned, and stored by the school. Students may bring their own socks, flipflops, or slippers to wear in the house and may store them at the house.
12) Studio1248 is a Christian institution with strong religious beliefs about the image of God in us and our eternal destiny. However, as a subsidiary of a 501(c)3 organization (we are owned by Varsity Mentors), we serve the public. This is to say, all students from all faiths or worldviews are welcomed at our school.
13) School starts at 9am and ends at 4pm. Drop off is no earlier then 8:30 and pickup no later than 4:30.
14) Tea and light, healthy snacks will be served at 11am. All students will take some part in this activity. Students preparing food must have approval forms signed by parents.
15) The only homework students will have is student-chosen reading. All other work will be done during school hours. This is to ensure that students have time to relax with their families, to engage in hobbies and personal projects, and to get adequate sleep.
16) Assessors from the Open Latch Education Foundation are allowed to directly survey students and parents about their experiences with Studio1248. This information may or may not be shared with Studio1248.
17) Authorities will be alerted if a student discloses that sexual or physical abuse that is happening at home and if we see evidence to corroborate the allegation.
18) All teachers directly in contact with students must have a background reports no older than four years, and parents are permitted to examine the reports upon request.
19) No laptops are allowed unless approved for work on special projects. Students must check their phones in their credenzas but will have an opportunity to check their phones every day during lunch. After lunch, the phones must be returned to the credenza until 4pm.
20) Lunch is at 1pm. In our commitment to all aspects of preparing students to live life well, students are strongly encouraged to bring light, healthy lunches with overall low artificial sugar content. Sodas or sugary drinks are discouraged. The body is made in the image of God, and while some sugar is acceptable, the amount of processed sugar the commercial food industry places in children's snack food is harmful to the overall health of the child and not conducive to a calm, learning atmosphere.