“Soaring to Excellence”
What follows are some of the policies and procedures that are designated to allow Salem’s families, faculty, and staff to fully enjoy the partnership they share in raising up Godly children. Questions should be addressed to the school administration.
MISSION OF SALEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Our mission is to share the Christian faith with children and their families by partnering with them to provide opportunities for spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth in a Christ-centered environment.
INTRODUCTION
You are invited to visit us and ask questions. We encourage close cooperation between parents and staff. Salem Lutheran School is licensed through the Department of Human Services and has regular monitor visits insuring we meet all the minimum licensing requirements of the state of Arkansas.
OBJECTIVES
Salem Lutheran Church provides a school ministry. Salem Lutheran School offers a quality Christ-centered education program in an environment of Christian love and acceptance that challenges the child to discover, use, and develop to the fullest, individual talents and spiritual gifts.
POLICIES:
Anti-Bullying Policy
Salem Lutheran School is committed to providing a safe and caring learning environment, which fosters respect for others and for each of its students. Bullying is a destructive behavior that will not be tolerated. “Bullying” means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act.
Discipline
The child’s relationship with the teacher is of vital importance in the school program. A one-to-one relationship with an adult must be established before the child can respect him/herself, develop, and learn. Love is essential, but must be combined with teaching the child self-discipline by clearly setting limits. In order to provide a good learning environment, room control is essential. We believe, as parents, you should want your child to practice self-control, fairness, cooperation, and participation in group experiences.
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Parents of preschool children are required to physically sign their children in and out everyday on the sheet provided. This is a permanent record of the school and is a requirement of the Department of Human Services.
If someone other than those on the authorized pick up list will be picking up your child from school, please send a written note with their name on it to your child’s teacher or to the administrators. Please inform them to have their driver’s license or other picture ID with them to show the staff person on duty. Your child will not be allowed to leave unless these steps have been followed. In an emergency, we will accept a phone call from the parent stating the same information.
Security System
Salem Lutheran Church and School has a security system installed which has all outside doors to the building locked at all times. Parents will be issued up to two (2) security key cards at the start of your child’s enrollment to our school. Each card requires a $15.00 deposit which will be refunded to you when the key cards are returned at the end of your stay with us.
Enrollment Policies
Children are accepted for enrollment at Salem Lutheran School for each school year. Re-enrollment procedures must be completed each year. Salem Lutheran School reserves the right to limit or restrict admissions and re-enrollment because of inability to adequately serve children with certain learning disabilities, limited achievement, or behavioral and/or emotional problems. All students are accepted on the premise that they will apply themselves according to the ability God has given them, conform to the rules and regulations of the school, and respect the religious teachings. Parents/guardians must agree and adhere to all of the policies of the school.
Age Requirements
Class placement will be based on the state requirements for kindergarten. Children must be 3 or 4 by August 1st of registering year.
Enrollment Procedures
Applications must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian. A NON-REFUNDABLE REGISTRATION FEE MUST accompany this form.
All students must have on record in the school office the following information:
- Application form.
- Current immunization record with all required immunizations documented.
All students that enroll in Salem Lutheran School will be expected to take part in all religious activities, worship, Bible study that may include memory work, the annual children’s Christmas programs and any other programs for their classes.
Priorities for Enrollment
Pre-registration will take place after January 1st each year and applications will be accepted in the following order:
- Current students and siblings of Salem Lutheran School
- Member children of Salem Lutheran Church
- Others
Financial Policy
Salem Lutheran School is essentially a tuition-driven institution. Families pay direct family support, our church supports our facility needs, and additional funding comes through fund-raising activities and designated gifts.
Registration Fees
ALL REGISTRATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
Tuition
School year tuition is based on a 10 month year. A tuition contract will be discussed and signed prior to the first day of attendance with the administrator for all students attending Salem Lutheran School.
TUITION MUST BE KEPT CURRENT FOR YOUR CHILD TO CONTINUE WITH ATTENDANCE.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY YOUR WEEKLY FEES REGARDLESS OF DAYS ABSENT FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER REASONS. VACATION AND HOLIDAYS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEDUCTED FROM THE TOTAL FEE FOR THE PERIOD.
After School Care
Children must be picked up promptly by 5:30p.m.
Summer Tuition
Summer tuition is based on the number of weeks between school years. No vacation from fees will be allowed for those children attending the summer program. All school closings have been deducted from this tuition.
Lunch and Other Food Items
The school provides a mid-morning and an afternoon snack for preschoolers.
A nutritious hot lunch is available for all students. Parents are requested NOT to send food for their preschool children except in EXTREME CASES OF FOOD ALLERGIES.
Parents and other guests may join us for lunch at a cost of $3.00 per meal. Please pay the church or school office first thing in the morning. Please also let your child’s teacher know upon drop off the number attending so we may notify the kitchen staff to plan accordingly.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Salem Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, and all other school-administered programs.
School Closings
Please see school calendar for dates when the entire school is scheduled to be closed.
If there is no public school due to inclement weather, Salem Lutheran School will also not hold classes for the day. Please check the closings on the local television and radio stations. However, we are usually open for those who require childcare. Please call ahead to see if childcare will be available for the day. We will not be open in bad weather if it puts children, parents, and staff at risk. You may also check the school facebook page – Salem Lutheran School facebook page.
School Visitation
All outside entrances to the campus will be locked. Parents are welcome to visit school at any time; however, visitors must enter and check in at the church office. This precautionary procedure is taken to ensure the safety of the students and staff.
ACADEMICS
Class Size
3-year old-10
4-year old-14
Conferences
Teachers will schedule times to visit with the parents and the child prior to the first day of school. The visit provides opportunity for the parent, teacher, and the child to meet and discuss procedure and curriculum, and for the child to become familiar with the classroom and facilities.
Two parent-teacher conferences per year are scheduled for preschool 4 year olds – one during the first quarter and the other during the third quarter. Attendance at your scheduled conference is encouraged and the staff will make every effort to arrange a time convenient for you.
Curriculum
The curriculum of Salem Lutheran School is designed to give a well-rounded, quality Christian education to each child. . Students are instructed in the areas of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, and physical education. All subject areas are taught with a Christian emphasis.
Our school is not equipped to serve as a disciplinary school or school for exceptional children with exceptional needs.
The school requires that all parents purchase their own medical insurance or be financially responsible for medical issues. The school does not provide medical insurance for the students.
All children enrolled in preschool are required under licensing requirements to participate in outside playtime, weather permitting, for at least one hour per day. Any child unable to do so should remain home for the day.
All employees of Salem Lutheran School and Church are, by law, mandated reporters of any suspected child abuse and/or neglect. All staff and children in the school are subject to be interviewed by the Department of Human Services and other such agencies and their employees at anytime without prior notification to the parents or school.
Programs
Salem Lutheran School offers classes for children 3, 4 & 5 year olds, Monday- Friday. Class time is from 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m, we are, however, open and you may be here anytime between 7am-5:30pm.
Childcare is offered for all children on non-teaching days with the exception of closing for inclement weather, holiday, and other scheduled closings.
Summer Program
A summer program is offered during the off-school weeks during the summer months of June, July, and August. We will accept children up to and who have completed 5th grade. Space is limited and children will be accepted on a first-come waiting list basis only after our own students have had the opportunity to register.
Registration fees and a two week deposit are required prior to the start of the summer program.
A contract and registration fee MUST accompany the application and is NON-REFUNDABLE.
NO VACATION from fees will be allowed for children in this program.
GENERAL INFORMATION
We have a Facebook page which we encourage you to “like” if you use facebook. It is Salem Lutheran School. We will use this to send reminders and important notices as well as school closings for inclement weather.
Hours of Operation
7:00a.m.-5:30p.m.
Worship
God’s children worship Him. In keeping with the philosophy and objectives of Christian education, regular church and Sunday school attendance on the part of our families is strongly encouraged. We welcome all to worship with us here.
Chapel Services
Children’s chapel services are conducted once a week for all students of our school. Parents and friends are welcome to attend those services. Chapel offerings are collected weekly throughout the school year and distributed to charitable organizations.