GRACE Policies

Monthly Statements & Late Fees
Refunds

Study Hall
Family Room, Resource Center, & Nursery
Prompt Arrival
Previous School
I. Maximum Number of Classes
II. Dress Code
III. Lunch
IV. Grading Scale
V. Cheating
VI. Plagiarism
VII. Homework
VIII. Tardiness
IX. Absent Policy
X. Weapons
XI. Other Rules
Failure to Obey Rules

Bad Weather

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Current GRACE families will have until April 24 to turn in their registrations before non-GRACE families. After April 24, registrations will be received on a first come, first served basis (you may send your registration in before this date and they will be kept in the order that they are received). There will be a $30 registration fee per family for registrations turned in before June 30. After June 30, the registration fee per family will be $50. This fee is non-refundable and is above and beyond tuition to help cover administrative costs. An initial confirmation will be sent out after receiving your registration.

The final registration deadline will be August 14. Registrations and class changes after this date will be accepted if the class is still available, but it will cost an additional $15 per class for each student. This policy is in place so that the administration and teachers are able to be properly prepared for the first day of classes. Classes not filled by August 14 will be dropped. The final confirmation of classes will be sent out to families shortly after August 14.
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BOOKS

Your family is responsible for obtaining the correct textbook for each course. You may purchase your books at the Home School Bookstore unless otherwise indicated in the course description. In the description you will also find the name of the book for that course.

In working with the Home School Bookstore, we would like to make some recommedations to ensure that everyone is all set for the new year. Under the heading "Registration", you will find a booklist and order blank for all the books that the Home School Bookstore will be able to obtain for this year's GRACE classes. There is a 15% coupon to use for all books purchased for this year's classes to help defer some of the costs for GRACE families. It applies to your total purchase. Keep in mind that other home schooling families also purchase their books at the HSB bookstore, so it is important to order your books as soon as possible. The bookstore no longer carries a large inventory of extra books, but will instead order most books as they are needed. The order form is provided to ensure your items are ready in time for classes. Please do not wait until the last day before classes start to buy your books or you may find that the Bookstore is out of stock and will have to wait for a future shipment. With this being said, please be aware the Home School Bookstores return policy states that you may return books up to 60 days after purchasing.

If you have any difficulties finding a book, feel free to contact Waverly Gentry at office@gracehsaonline.org or call her at 616-204-4920 for assistance.

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TUITION, PAYMENTS, & REFUND POLICY

Current GRACE families will have until April 24 to turn in their registrations before non-GRACE families. After April 24, registrations will be received on a first come, first served basis. If you have requested a class which has already been filled, you will be contacted by phone to ask if you would like a different class, or would prefer to be placed on the waiting list. Each student may register for one or more classes, but only three core classes. Refer to Rule # 1 below.

Class fees are as follows:

        $205.00 per 1-hour class per year
        $307.50 per 1 1/2-hour class per year
        $410.00 per 2-hour class per year
        $512.50 per 2 1/2 hour class per year

Some classes have added expenses for extra materials and/or lab fees. You will find the total cost for each class with its description.

We have a SLIDING SCALE for any family which registers for more than six class hours. There will be a $15.00 discount for the seventh and eighth class hours. There will be a $23.00 discount for the ninth class hour and for each class hour beyond.

Each semester consists of fifteen weeks with two semesters per school year. You will register for both semesters at the same time. Marvelous Michigan is offered only during the fall semester. In December there might be an opportunity to sign up for a second semester elementary science or art class, if they are not full. We will not publish a catalog for the second semester. If you have questions regarding registration, please call Waverly Gentry at 616-204-4920 or e-mail office@gracehsaonline.org.

Monthly Statements & Late Fees. Payment for classes can be paid in full, or you can use our payment plan. Your tuition will be divided into eight equal payments. Payments are due the first Friday of each month, September through April; the first payment being due September 4. You will receive a statement in the mail or e-mail (if you so choose) about 1 1/2 weeks before your payment is due each month.

We appreciate it when families pay on time. A late fee of $5 will be charged for payments not received by the second Friday of the month. Report cards will not be sent to families with delinquent accounts until payments are up to date. If there are special situations which may require a late payment, please call beforehand and make arrangements to avoid late fees.

Refund Policy. ***If you drop before the first day of classes, you will get a full refund, less the registration fee. If a student drops a class on or after the day of the first class meeting but before the end of the day of the third class meeting, half of the full year’s tuition cost for that course will be refunded. If a class is dropped after the third class meeting, no refund will be given and you will be required to pay the remaining balance. Please be sure that you don’t overload your student and find that you need to drop a class later. We will not give you a refund. GRACE has fixed financial obligations requiring us to have a no refund policy.

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GENERAL RULES

Students who attend GRACE Home School Association will have the opportunity to practice good Christian behavior and habits. Proper conduct, politeness, and respect is emphasized in all our classes.

Study Hall: When not in class, all students, without exception, must be in the supervised study hall, or accompanied by their parent in the family room or library. A study hall will be provided for students who are not in class during the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:40 P.M. Students must pre-register for the study hall for a fee of $30.00 for each hour per semester. (A $3.00 fee per hour will be added to your bill for each occasional use of study hall). The study hall will be monitored by an adult each hour. Traditional study hall rules will be enforced (students will be expected to be reading or doing homework quietly). If a student is expelled from study hall three times during one semester, he/she will be expelled from GRACE.

Family Room, Resource Center, & Nursery: We value the work that home school mothers and fathers are doing and seek to support them. The Resource Center (library) has been designated as a continuous area for quiet study and quiet conversation. Tables and chairs will be available for you so that you may work with your school age children while waiting for your other children participating in classes. The Family Room is also available for the same purpose, but it is not strictly quiet. This would be a good place to be with children that need to move more and to visit with other moms. Tables and chairs will also be provided in this room. The Nursery will be available for those who wish to use it. The HSB would like to make this area a clean and relaxing area, well stocked with age appropriate toys and books, with diapers and wipes available for those who may have forgotten their diaper bag. GRACE students will not be allowed in the Family Room, Resource Center, or Nursery without their parent. GRACE students must be in study hall or a class when not accompanied by their parent.

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Prompt Arrival and Departure: Students should be picked up promptly after their classes are finished for the day and should not be dropped off more than ten minutes before their first class. Keep in mind that a staff person from GRACE must remain in the building until all the students from GRACE have left the building, even if there are other activities scheduled in the building. The atmosphere of our building must be one of order, discipline, and cooperation. Parents not cooperating with these standards will be asked to remove their children from GRACE.

As Christians, our goal is to obey Scripture and, whether in word or in deed, to do all to the glory of God. Since the ultimate end of all Bible-centered education is to grow in wisdom and virtue, we require all our students to exhibit the following minimal personal virtues:

1. Kindness
2. Truthfulness
3. Courtesy toward others and respect for their property rights
4. Punctuality in attendance and work
5. Respect for and obedience to those in authority
6. Diligence in effort and attention

Our goal is to work with parents to maintain a school which supports high standards of Biblical behavior, (e.g. to love God with our whole heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves).

If you are unsure of the meaning of any rule, please feel free to ask. Any student that fails to respect these rules and the philosophy of GRACE could be subject to dismissal.

Our chief intent and purpose is to minister to homeschoolers. Therefore we are and will continue to be open to comments and suggestions from homeschooling parents.

Please Note. If a student has been expelled from a school previously, the student and parents must meet with the GRACE Board to determine the possibility of enrollment.

If you have a child with SPECIAL PHYSICAL OR ACADEMIC NEEDS, PLEASE LET THE TEACHER KNOW SO THAT THEY CAN ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. When registering your child, please send an attached, separate sheet of paper with specific details pertaining to the needs of your child.

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I. Maximum of Three Core Academic Classes

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has determined that the home is considered a "home school" if the parent or legal guardian is the primary educator (not just study monitor) of the child in at least 50% of the core academic areas. Therefore, GRACE will not permit GRACE students to register for more than three (3) core academic subjects in a given semester. Courses from any of the following subject areas are considered core academic subjects: English (grammar, writing, speech, and literature), history, government (constitution), math, and science courses.

II. Dress Code

Because we believe Christians need to practice making God-honoring choices, we have chosen to have a dress code rather than uniforms. Our choices should be guided by the Biblical truths of modesty, self-control, respect for authority, and self-respect. All our living must flow from a heart of love for God first, and then our fellow man. Because of our love for our neighbor, we should be careful not to provide an opportunity for our neighbor to be tempted and stumble into sin. Please read and discuss these scripture passages with your children: Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 14:12,13; Matthew 5:28; Philippeans 4:5.

Boys: Dress-casual clothing. Shirts must have a collar and at least short sleeves. (Sweaters may be worn over the collared shirt.) Shirts made to be tucked in must be tucked in. Jeans of any color, baggies, shorts, sweat shirts, and athletic clothing, are all prohibited. Hats must be removed upon entering a room. Earrings, chokers, and chains are not allowed.
Girls: Modest dress clothing. Dresses or skirts must cover the whole knee. (No slits above the knee.) Leggings will be permitted if they are worn with a skirt, and the skirt must still cover the whole knee. Slacks and jeans are not allowed. Blouses or tops must have at least short sleeves, may not have low necklines, must be loose-fitting, and must completely cover the midriff.
All Students: No writing or pictures on clothing. (Small logos are allowed.) Extreme styles or fads are not permitted. This applies to clothing, hair, and jewelry accessories (piercings, etc.) All underwear must be covered, not visible at all. Dress codes must be observed until the student leaves the building for the day. Changing clothes after class is over and staying in the building is not allowed.

We believe the dress code can encourage an atmosphere of serious study and encourage students to learn a valuable life lesson that their appearance should be appropriate and respectful to the occasion.

III. Lunch

Students and parents who stay during the lunch break may bring their own sack lunches. We may decide to offer a hot lunch periodically throughout the school year at a very reasonable rate, which includes a nutritious selection with a main entree, fresh fruits, salad, drink and a dessert. Parents are welcome to stay with their students or visit with other parents and purchase these lunches as well.
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IV. Grading Scale

96-100 A 74-77 C

92-95 A- 71-73 C-

88-91 B 68-70 D

84-87 B 64-67 D

81-83 B- 61-63 D-

78-80 C 60 & Less F

V. Cheating

If a student is caught cheating by either giving or receiving answers during a test, or in any other assignment, the parents will be notified, and an automatic zero will be administered for that particular test or assignment. If cheating occurs again in any subject during the year, the child will be expelled from that particular class. If it occurs a third time, the child will be expelled from GRACE for the remainder of the year.

VI. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is unacceptable at GRACE. Plagiarized reports and materials will not be accepted.

VII. Homework

Because of our strong commitment to academic excellence we will require homework to be turned in on time according to the teacher’s schedule. Failure to do so four times per semester will result in dismissal from that particular class. Exceptions will be for those who have made arrangements with their teacher or those with a medical excuse.
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VIII. Tardiness

If a student is tardy two times or more, the teacher may lower the student's grade one point, (e.g. A to A-). Subsequently, each new tardy could lower the grade another point. An excused tardy slip may be obtained from the administrator.

IX. Absent Policy

If a student misses four combined or three successive weeks without the teacher's permission the result could be dismissal from that particular class. Please contact your teacher when absent to obtain assignments for the missed class. A list of teachers' phone numbers and e-mail addresses will be mailed out shortly after classes begin.

X. Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes

No harmful substances are allowed on or around the Home School Building. If a student is caught with any, the consequence could be immediate expulsion.

XI. Weapons

Bringing anything to the premises considered to be a weapon or anything that could be used as a weapon is prohibited. This includes jack knives. If you are unsure whether an item may be thought of as a weapon, check with the administrator when you enter the building.

XII. Other Rules

No food or drink in any classrooms, (including gum).
No electronic devices such as MP3 players, Ipods, CD players, hand-held games, etc.
No bringing extra items to class such a toys, beads, etc. Items will be confiscated and returned after class.
No wandering in the halls during class time. If you are not in a class, you should be in a designated area for studying.
No loud talking or running will be permitted.
No loitering out in the restrooms.
No loitering out in the parking lot.
Cell phones must be silenced or turned off. No texting will be permitted during class time.

Failure to Obey Rules. If any of the rules of GRACE are disobeyed, a written warning will be sent to the parents. The second violation will result in dismissal from classes for that day. The third violation will result in dismissal from GRACE without any refund.
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**BAD WEATHER POLICY**

******If GRACE needs to cancel classes because of severe weather, we will not call parents to notify them of this, so listen well to your radio and television stations. Please note that TV, radio, and on-line announcements will refer to us as the “Home School Building” and not as GRACE. The Home School Building will announce the cancellation on at least TV Channels 8 and 13 and their corresponding websites. You may also call the GRACE phone number to see if we have cancelled classes or look at our website (you may need to refresh your web browser).

Tornado Policy: If a tornado watch or warning is issued for Kent County, and is still in effect one hour before the beginning of the class day, we will cancel all classes for the day. If the watch is issued while we are in class, we will cancel all classes with the intent that all the students can be sent home immediately. If a warning is issued, then we must take shelter in the building. Again, if a watch is issued please have a plan whereby your child (children) can get home as soon as possible.

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