ACADEMIC INFORMATION

INSTRUCTION

All teachers employed at KSDA are certified by the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists.

CURRICULUM

The school utilizes a curriculum as identified and approved by the Education Office of the North American Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. This curriculum meets the National Standards and the NAD Journey to Excellence.

FINE ARTS CREDIT

To meet the fine arts requirements, all students are expected to participate in the music program. All students in grades 5-8 participate in band instruction. Students in grades K thru 4th participate in classroom music instruction, which includes a practice requirement.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards are sent home at the end of each nine-week period. Final report cards and 8th grade diplomas are not released until tuition accounts are paid in full.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

School-wide Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled twice a year during the first and third quarters. Additional conferences may be scheduled at other times as necessary. While we have regularly scheduled conferences each year we encourage parents to contact teachers in between those times, as necessary, to foster a partnership for the student’s spiritual and academic future.

HOMEWORK

Homework is used at KSDA to practice, maintain, enrich, complete, or make-up classroom activities. Homework is to help develop independent study habits and appreciation for learning. Homework may include special assignments, research projects, reading and/or writing assignments or other assigned tasks directly related to a particular subject, we consider homework as an extension of, and reinforcement to, classroom activities and is to be done on the students’ own time, outside the regular classroom environment. Students will be assigned homework, including their nightly reading expectations, on a regular and consistent basis. The following guidelines indicate an average expectation, although this will fluctuate according to the individual student:

Grades 1-3: approximately 30 minutes maximum daily
Grade 4: approximately 45 minutes maximum daily
Grade 5-6: approximately 60 minutes maximum daily
Grades 7-8: approximately 90 minutes maximum daily Students who are making up work from an absence may have one day for each day absent to complete and turn in back work. Please note that this will mean a student will spend more time in completing those assignments.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for extracurricular activities:

Student must demonstrate good citizenship and attendance.
Student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.3, with no F’s and no more than one D.

Eligibility for sports (see the Sports Manual for complete details):

Maintain a “C” grade minimum in all classes.
Have a grade report free of “F’s” or incompletes in the previous quarter.
Maintain satisfactory attendance and citizenship in all classes.
Be an active participant in PE classes.

Eligibility for holding office:

Student must not be on probationary status.
Student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.3, with no F’s and no more than one D.
Eligibility for holding an office is determined quarterly.

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

After school clubs and activities are available for students, such as lego robotics, sports, yearbook etc. Check with your teacher to see what clubs your students may be eligible for.

PROMOTION/ACCELERATION/RETENTION

At the end of each school year, students who have mastered the appropriate knowledge, skills and concepts for his/her grade, and exhibits readiness for work at the next level will be promoted to the next grade.

Acceleration is rarely considered. KSDA believes that students need to gain not only the academics of each grade level, but need to gain maturity and social skills that each grade level can provide.

In exceptional cases, a recommendation may be made to retain a child in his/her present grade. When the possibility of retention exists, the parents shall be notified as early as possible and a meeting will be arranged to discuss the situation.

In matters of acceleration and retention, the decision of the principal, in consultation with the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Office of Education, shall be final.