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 ADMISSION POLICY

Dallas Christian Academy considers all student applicants for admission. The school admits students of any race, color, or national/ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, and activities available to the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national/ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies or other school administrative programs. Although a low student-teacher ratio allows for a great deal of individual attention, our school is not designed to provide education for students with learning or behavior problems.

Steps for admission are as follows:

Complete and submit the Application for Admission with a non-refundable application fee of $350.00 (Pre-Kindergarten to 8^th Grade) or $375 (9^th to 12^th grade) to Director of Admissions, Dallas Christian Academy.

Submit grade reports and standardized test information from your previous schools. (Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade are not required to submit a recommendation). Students entering from countries outside of the United States are required to take a proficiency examination before they receive placement in Dallas Christian Academy.

Pre-K, kindergarten and first graders are to submit a copy of their birth certificate with their application. State law requires that first graders be six years old by September 1^st. Consistent with this law, DCA also requires students applying for Pre-K to be four by September 1^st and kindergarten students to be five years old by September 1^st to be eligible for admission.

Texas state law requires that all students must have the following immunizations before entering school: DPT & Oral Polio –three doses plus a booster given on or after the 4^th birthday; and a tetanus booster every ten years; measles, mumps, rubella – two doses; hepatitis B – all students entering kindergarten must have completed a series of three doses.

All new students are required to bring current immunization records at the time of registration. If the immunizations are not up-to-date the student will be allowed two weeks in which to receive the needed immunizations. After that time the student will not be allowed to return to school until such immunizations have been received.
    

APPEARANCE AND HEALTH

The following guidelines apply to ALL students.

1. If a child has a fever, the child may not be brought to school until the child has been free of the fever for at least 24 hours.

2. Teachers are not allowed to dispense over the counter medicines. Prescription medicine may only be dispensed if in the original container and the parent has properly filled out the Medication Form that may be obtained from the office.

3. Students should practice good hygiene by regularly bathing, washing hair, brushing teeth, and using deodorant when appropriate.

4. Uniforms are to be neat, clean and ironed. They are to be worn on all school days unless otherwise indicated by the school office.

5. Hair should be neatly trimmed and combed. It should not hang in the eyes. Extreme hairstyles or colors are NOT ACCEPTABLE. The principal will make final determination on individual cases.

6. On Chapel day students will wear the required dress uniform as described in the uniform policy.

7. The following adornments are inappropriate in the building: sunglasses, headbands, hats, and caps.

8. Christian simplicity excludes wearing jewelry and using only natural appearing makeup and fingernail polish will be allowed.

9. Backpacks will not be allowed in any classrooms. They may be used when carrying books to and from school, but must be left in the student lockers during the day.
    

UNIFORM POLICY

Uniform dress has been selected for DCA students. Parents are responsible for sending their children to school with correct dress and grooming. Violation of the dress code will result in disciplinary action.

Uniforms for students may be purchased at Sue Mills, 14902 Preston Rd, # 704, Dallas, TX 75254. The telephone number is 972-385-3121. (Pepper Square Shopping Center) Accessories, such as socks belts, and shoes may be purchased elsewhere.

New students have five days to obtain the full uniform. At that time the student will be asked to stay home until the student is in compliance.

Girls required Dress uniform Pre-K to 4^th
- Rounded white collar blouse
- Plaid jumper
- Navy or Black modesty shorts must be worn under jumpers
- Girls required Dress uniform 5^th and up
- White oxford dress shirt (long or short sleeve)
- Plaid skirt
- Navy Uniform sweater or vest
- Shirts must be tucked in all day, except in gym class

Boys required Dress uniform
- White oxford Dress Shirt (long or short sleeve)
- Navy long Uniform pants
- Navy uniform sweater or vest
- Black , Brown or Navy belt
- Shirts must be tucked in all day, except in gym class
- Only white T-shirts may be worn under dress shirts with no visible writing.

Optional Uniform for all girls
- Burgundy polo knit shirt—appropriate size (Long or short sleeve)
- Navy walking shorts
- Navy uniform long pants

Uniform for all boys
- Burgundy polo knit shirt—appropriate size (Long or short sleeve)
- Navy uniform walking shorts
- Navy Uniform pants
- Shoes should be solid black, brown, navy or white as much as possible

PE Uniform (boys and girls)
- Gray DCA T-shirt
- Athletic shorts or sweats
- Athletic shoes
- DCA sweatshirts can only be worn in the gym

Cold weather classroom apparel includes the option of wearing a solid white T-shirt under uniform clothing. Also a uniform navy sweater or vest may be worn over uniform shirts. No other jackets or sweaters are allowed to be worn in classrooms at any grade level.

If there is a visible difference in the uniform components, a note will be sent home with the student informing the parents that the child may not continue to wear the item.

Required dress uniform will be worn by all Mondays through Thursdays. (Required dress uniforms can also be worn on Fridays) Optional Uniforms can only be worn on Fridays.
    

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

Inappropriate dress – when a student is not in a DCA uniform, parents will be notified and the student sent home. The student may return to school when properly dressed. Absence from class on such an occasion is considered an unexcused absence.
    

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS

The gym door is opened at 7:00 A.M. Students that arrive before 7:50 should enter the gym and sit quietly until they are allowed to enter the locker area. Arrivals between 7:50 and 8:00 A.M. may go directly to the classroom. Students should be picked up between 3:00 P.M. and 3:15 P.M. Any student not picked up by 3:15 will be transferred to the After School Care Program and a $3.00 fee per child will be charged that must be paid when you pick up your child. (This fee is limited to a maximum of $10.00 per carload.) At 3:45 P.M. the normal full fee for After School Care of $6.00 per child becomes due. If a child stays in after school each day of the week the fee is $25.00 for the week. The same conduct policies apply in after school as well as during school hours. Children must be picked up by 6:00 PM or an additional charge will be applied as follows: $5 fee for each 15 minute increment per child. Late pick up of children should be an exception only.

All students need to go into After School and be charged the same fee. They are under the care of and responsible to the After School Supervisor.

The payment of after school should be made on a weekly basis to the after school attendant.
    

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Dallas Christian Academy desires all students to arrive promptly and to have a regular attendance record. The objective of attendance standards is to develop lifelong habits of responsibility. Parents will be notified regarding tardiness in order to develop a solution for getting the child to school on time. Three tardies are equivalent to one absence.

While the administration has the final determination in excuse of a tardy, generally only illness and unforeseen circumstances are excusable. Poor planning is not.

The school maintains attendance records and a satisfactory explanation via written note is required for the student’s return to school when an absence has occurred. The school should be notified by 7:45 A.M. if a student is not able to attend on any given day.

The school has adopted the Texas Conference policy on attendance, which includes the full statutory requirements of the Texas Education Code 21.401. This law states that students are required to attend a minimum of 90 percent of the days the class is offered to receive academic credit. There is no longer a provision for excused or unexcused absences. Any combination of absences totaling more than 10 days per semester will mean the student may lose credit.

Students are to take the initiative for making up any work missed. Requests for exceptions from the above policy need to be addressed to the principal.
    

UNSCHEDULED SCHOOL CLOSING

In case of severe weather, the school will follow the same guidelines as Dallas Independent School District (DISD). If DISD is closed, DCA will also close.
    

In order for each child to develop his/her greatest potential, there must be an open line of communication between parent and teacher.

To ensure that the child begins each day well, the parent should ensure that they receive a nutritious breakfast and be brought to school on time so as not to start their day rushed and behind..
    

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

To benefit the student, it is imperative that parents and teachers be in close communication. Therefore, parent-teacher conferences will be required the first and third grading periods. Parents must see the teacher for these conferences, if unable to attend the regularly scheduled conference, the parent has one week to meet with the teacher. If the parent does not meet with the teacher within this week, the student will be asked to stay home until the conference may be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time. There will be a Mandatory School Orientation Meeting during the first two weeks of school. This meeting will be held in the evening so that all parents may attend.
    

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

In order to achieve an optimal learning environment at DCA, it is imperative that parents, teachers, and students work together toward the goals of the school.

The Home and School Association has been established to encourage this collaboration. Parents will be expected and encouraged to volunteer for at least one major project or event during the school year.

All parents and interested supporters will be given the opportunity to work in the Home & School Association . By working to help DCA, the effectiveness of the educational experience for all students will be enhanced. Constituency church elects the association leadership. Assistant leadership will be divided between primary, middle, and upper grades. Interested individuals will be invited to serve on a Home & School planning committee. Each parent is a member and vital to the effectiveness of the Home and School organization.
    

HOMEWORK

Students will be assigned homework and parents are encouraged to become involved with their children and their homework. Parents should set a specific time each evening for their children to study at home.
    

INSURANCE

DCA will follow Texas Conference policies concerning insurance, which will provide insurance for children at all school events as well as school time each day.
    

TELEPHONE USE

Students will not be called to the phone during any class period and return calls will only be permitted for an emergency. Student phone calls are discouraged at all times. Cell phones will not be allowed in the classrooms. If a student brings a cell phone to school, it must be kept in his/her locker, with the ringer set to off. If a cell phone appears in a classroom, or any other inappropriate place, the teacher will take the cell phone and only return it to the parents.
    

LUNCHES

The diet of students affects how well they learn. Each child should eat a nourishing breakfast before coming to school in the morning. Parents should send a nourishing lunch for the noon meal if not purchasing a school lunch. Even if lunch is pizza or corndogs you might send a piece of fruit along with your child. School lunches are available on a regular basis. These lunches may be purchased with cash or a meal card. The meal card can be purchased for $20.00. Lunches for Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten will be $2.00 per meal. Grades one and two will be $2.50 per meal. All other grades will be charged $3.00 per meal. Seconds may be purchased for $1.50.
    

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT HONORS

Recognition for academic achievement in all grades at DCA will be based on the following criteria for each grading period.

Recognition level Criteria

Grades 1-3
- Honor Roll E’s mostly
- Principal’s Honor Roll All E’s

Grades 4-10
- Honor Roll 80% - 90% in each subject
- Principal’s Honor Roll 90% + in each subject
    

DISCIPLINARY PHILOSOPHY

Only those who choose to live in harmony with the following standards of Dallas Christian Academy should apply for admission.

Each pupil is expected to conform to all the regulations of the school, rendering prompt and cheerful obedience to the directions of the teacher.

- All school regulations apply to students attending any school-sponsored activities.
- Students who leave the campus during the day without permission will be fined $25.00
- The relationship between the opposite sexes should be conducted on a dignified and wholesome basis. The hands off policy will be enforced.
- Radios, tape recorders, beepers, playing cards, CD players, CD’s, hand held video games, cellular phones, and any other personal electronic devices are prohibited at school unless authorized by a teacher. These items will be confiscated and turned into the office. Parents may request and accept return of these items.
- Inappropriate pictures and stickers are not to be posted inside student lockers. Confiscated items may be destroyed after being turned into the office.
- All eating must be confined to the designated areas at appropriate times. NO EATING WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE HALLWAYS. NO GUM IS ALLOWED AT ANY TIME ON THE DCA CAMPUS. A $5.00 fine will be accessed the student if he or she is caught chewing gum.
- No unauthorized selling of items by students is allowed.
- Students are expected to maintain high standards of conduct. Conduct or habits unbecoming the standards of the school, even while off campus, may be subject to review by the school administration. A student may be disciplined, suspended, or dismissed for the following violations.
- Disobedience to a faculty or staff member.
- The inappropriate use of God’s name, use of profane or indecent language, indulging in lewd conduct or suggestions, or possession of obscene literature or pictures.
- Theft, picking or breaking locks, doors, or a window to enter locked places or taking other’s property.
- Assault on a student or a member of the faculty or staff.
- Disrupting classroom activities.
- Cheating or copying the work of another student.
- Willfully causing damage to, or destruction of, school property. Any person willfully marring, misusing, carelessly damaging, or destroying school property must also pay for restoring the property to its original condition or pay for its replacement.
- Constant and obstinate violation of any school regulation that constitutes insubordination.
- The use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol or the possession of such items is prohibited.
- Undermining the fundamental principles, antagonism toward the spirit or methods of the institution, or continuous criticism and faultfinding is prohibited. Fighting or antagonizing others to fight is not acceptable.
- Guns, (toy or otherwise), fireworks, cigarette lighters, matches, knives, etc., are not to be brought to the school.
    

MUSIC

Music is often an important element in the lives of young people. In order to encourage participation in musical ministries, DCA provides choir instruction. There is a bell choir, and private piano lessons available at a reasonable rate. Additional time will need to be scheduled outside of school hours or at recess time for these activities. There is also classroom music instruction.
     

HEALTH SCREENINGS

All schools in the state of Texas are required by state law to perform the following health screenings

Hearing Grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7

Vision Grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7

Scolioses Grades 6
    

TUITION AND FEES

APPLICATION FEE: $300.00 nonrefundable payment due with the application. This fee covers the following:
- Books, workbooks, use of library books, and media materials
- Sight, hearing, and scoliosis tests
- Application processing
- Student accident insurance
- Dallas Christian Academy Yearbook

MONTHLY TUITION: Each parent/guardian is expected to pay or make prior arrangement for payment of 10 monthly payments according to the following schedule. These payments begin in August and run through May. Tuition is considered late after the 5th of the month and a late fee of 10% per child becomes due at that time. If not paid by the 30th of the month you have chosen to keep your child home until the account is brought current within policy. All parents/guardians are ultimately responsible for the student’s tuition.

SUPPLIES: A supplies list will be provided or a supplies fee will be charged.
    

TUITION PAYMENT POLICY

In order for Dallas Christian Academy to meet its financial obligations, the school board has voted the following payment policy:

Returned or non-sufficient funds checks will result in a $20.00 charge, and replacement checks will not qualify for the discount if issued after the 5^th of the month. More than three returned checks within the school year will result in a "cash only" basis for future payments.

TUITION PAYMENT OPTION

Full year in advance – a discount of 10%

One semester in advance – a discount of 5%

First semester and full year payments are due and payable by the first day of school to qualify for discount.

Second semester payments are due by the first day of second semester to qualify for discount.

FAMILY DISCOUNT FOR MULTIPLE STUDENTS

Families with more than one child enrolled in the school will be allowed the following tuition discounts:

1^st child – full price, 2^nd child – (10% discount), 3^rd child – (10% discount), and 4^th child - (free).

Full application and registration fees are required for each student attending. (Even a 4^th child with free tuition must pay full application fees.)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

No child should be denied the opportunity of obtaining a Christian education on the basis of financial need. Families who may need financial assistance are encouraged to visit with the pastor of their church to determine whether financial assistance may be obtained to help with tuition obligations. Arrangements need to be made before school starts.

Monthly Tuition Schedule (10 payments)
(Pre-K to 6^th) - $350
(7^th to 8^th) - $360
(9^th to 12^th) - $460

RELEASE OF TRANSCRIPTS

The Texas Board of Education policy states that schools shall not be expected to release official school records of transcripts or grade reports unless the student’s account has been paid in full. Official transcripts will be released only when satisfactory arrangements have been made.
    

 Accreditation

The schools of the Texas Conference Adventist School System are accredited by the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges and Universities which is a recognized member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation and the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, and is recognized as accredited by the Texas Education Agency.