Family & Student Handbook

The faculty and staff work together to ensure a quality atmosphere where children are taught in the context of daily life. The seamless curriculum for PreK3 through 12th grade is founded on a Biblical Worldview and measured by National Standards with performance-based assessments, ensuring that all students master the content being taught. Strong Rock Christian School is excited about providing a classroom environment where children will have opportunities to pursue spiritual, as well as academic excellence.

The fifth-grade year is designed to be an exciting transitional experience for students.  Students participate in elementary specials classes for piano, physical education, and technology.  Specials classes for art, band, and chorus are with academy elective teachers.  Student leadership is emphasized.  

It is our desire that Strong Rock graduates be ready to attend college, so the minimum course of study reflects the admissions requirements of highly respected public and private universities throughout the nation. Specific graduation requirements are consistent with those required by the state of Georgia and other private and/or Christian schools that serve college-preparatory students.

The faculty and staff of Strong Rock Christian School are highly qualified professionally and love the Lord deeply. They work together to provide the type of environment that is critical for the success of our students. A well-rounded education incorporates roles for all stakeholders.

The mission of Strong Rock Christian School is to partner with families, so all children grow spiritually, academically, and socially. There are many components that go into ensuring this success including the appropriate contributions of teachers, parents, and students.

A partnership is most successful when all of the “partners” fulfill their unique contributions. Each is important and is critical in the overall success of the student. Below is a framework of teacher, parent and student contributions to the success of this partnership. Each must be fulfilled in order for the student to master the curriculum and mature both socially and spiritually. This, in turn, helps further our desire to have each student “...grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men”. (Luke 2:52)

Partnership-Five Essentials for Student Academic Success

Five Essentials	Teacher	Parent	Student
Preparation	Plan effective lessons daily	Provide student with resources necessary to succeed	Complete homework and be prepared for tests and other classroom tasks
Implementation	Teach effective lessons: differentiated instruction, appropriate knowledge, creative, relevant, engaging and provide practice for content learned	Encourage student to meet reasonable academic expectations by setting goals with the student and by holding them accountable for meeting goals	Do your best in class: positive attitude, focus, determination and turning in of all assignments on time
Assessment	Assess student progress through questioning strategies, grading papers, quizzes, tests and projects	Monitor RenWeb regularly (minimum weekly) and provide encouragement and accountability	Monitor RenWeb regularly (minimum-weekly) and self-assess, “How can I do better?”
Adjustments	Provide opportunities for re-teaching and/or tutoring	Discuss with student ways to meet expectations and adjust priorities and goals as needed	Discuss with parents and teacher what can be done to improve performance and make appropriate changes
Communication	Communicate student progress weekly on RenWeb or with weekly folders, contact student’s parents if student develops a pattern of not reaching their full potential to discuss strategies to improve learning with student and parent	Communicate concerns as needed with teachers regarding student’s performance and discuss strategies to improve student learning	Be proactive by speaking with the teacher or your parent when there is a need for understanding or clarification regarding a concept or directions related to any assignment

As students mature, they must learn to take ownership of their learning. This process involves a partnership among parents, students, and faculty. While parents learn to give their students appropriate degrees of independence in making educational decisions for themselves, students learn to bring questions and/or concerns about their individual performance and grades directly to their teachers. Throughout this process, faculty members endeavor to partner with both parents and students in teaching self-advocacy. Mature students learn to approach teachers independently, appropriately, and respectfully in solving both personal and academic challenges.

Strong Rock Christian School defines “rigor” as the result of work that challenges students’ thinking and engages them to foster a curiosity for and a love of deeper knowledge. SRCS offers a variety of rigorous courses that engage students in more critical thinking and that hold students accountable to high standards of commitment and excellence. It is not Strong Rock’s desire to see students overworked and anxious to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. On the contrary, Strong Rock faculty and staff endeavor to teach students balance within their academic, extracurricular, athletic, personal, and spiritual lives. Rigor does not necessarily reflect greater work load. Rather, with rigor comes greater investment on the part of students to challenge themselves to grow in the subject matter and achieve a level of excellence in their effort.

Students who enroll in more rigorous courses recognize they are challenging themselves to strengthen their own work ethic. They recognize they will be investing themselves to a greater degree than they would in a lower level course and that this will stretch their academic abilities. The rewards of academic rigor are valuable: Students gain greater knowledge of self and their ability to handle responsibility. They are skilled in prioritizing and balancing their schedules. They are better equipped to handle the challenge of collegiate coursework in the future. Such reward will serve them well in future endeavors.

Elementary (PK3-5th Grades)

• Bible
• History/Geography
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Phonics (Pre-K - 2nd Grade)
• Reading Comprehension
• Science/Health
• Writing
• Spelling

Elementary Specials Classes

• Art (Grades PreK3-5th)

• Band (5th)

• Music (Grades PreK3-4th)

• Technology/Computer Lab (Grades PreK3-5th)

• Physical Education (Grades PreK3-5th)

• Piano (Grades 1st-5th)

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Academy (Grades 6th-8th)

• Bible
• Language Arts
• History
• Mathematics
• Pre-Algebra (7th Grade)
• Advanced Pre-Algebra (7th Grade)
• Algebra 1 (8th Grade – full year; carries one unit of high school credit; must retake in 9th Grade if yearly average is below 83%)
• Geometry – (8th Grade – full year; carries one unit of high school credit; pre-requisite – Algebra 1)
• World History (6th and 7th Grade)
• US/Georgia History (8th Grade)
• 5th Grade Science
• Earth Science (6th Grade)
• Life Science (7th Grade)
• Middle School Physical Science (8th Grade)
• Physical Science (8th Grade – full year; carries one unit of high school credit, must retake in 9th Grade if yearly average is below 83%)
• Spanish 1 (8th Grade – full year; carries one unit of high school credit, must retake in 9th Grade if yearly average is below 83%)

6th Grade Enrichment Options

In 6th Grade, students will take 2 enrichment options as part of their 7-period class schedule.  Each 6th Grade student will select at least one Fine Arts option. 

6th Grade Fine Arts course options include:

• Beginning Band
• 2nd Year Band
• Beginning Piano
• 2nd Year Piano
• Semester Rotation – Theatre Arts/Art
• Chorus

Sixth grade students may select Health/PE as a Physical Education Enrichment option. 
 

7th and 8th Grade Enrichment Options

Enrichment options for 7th and 8th Grade include:

• 7/8 Band
• 7/8 Percussion Band
• 7/8 Chorus
• 7/8 Piano
• Dance
• Drama
• Physical Education - Four Fitness
• Middle School Strength Training I (MSST1)
• Middle School Strength Training II (MSST2) - (prerequisite – MSST1)
• MS Theatre (Zero Period 7:15am-7:55am)

The 7th/8th Rotational Exploration courses include:

• Art/Theatre Arts
• Study Skills/Technology

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High School (Grades 9-12)

Biblical Studies

• Bible I – Dynamic Christian Living
• Bible II – Understanding the Faith
• Bible III- Understanding the Times/ Biblical Manhood/ Discipleship
• Bible IV- Understanding the Culture/ Biblical Womanhood /Discipleship
• Worship Arts – Performance
• Worship Arts - Technology

English

• English I – Survey of Literature, Grammar, & Composition (Honors Available)
• English II – World Literature, Grammar, & Composition (Honors Available)
• English III – American Literature, Grammar & Composition (Honors Available)
• AP English Language and Composition (11th Grade)
• English IV- British Literature, Grammar, and Composition (Honors Available)
• AP English Literature and Composition (12th Grade)
• ENG101 – Critical Reading & Writing I (12th Grade) provided through Point University
• ENG102 – Critical Reading & Writing II (12th Grade) provided through Point University

Mathematics

• Algebra 1
• Geometry
• Honors Geometry
• Algebra 2
• Honors Algebra 2
• Algebra III
• Honors Pre-Calculus
• AP Pre-Calculus
• AP Calculus A/B
• AP Statistics

Science

• Physical Science
• Biology
• Honors Biology
• AP Biology
• Chemistry
• Honors Chemistry
• AP Chemistry
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Forensic Science
• Honors Physics
• AP Physics
• Environmental Science
• AP Environmental

Social Studies

• World History
• Honors World History
• AP World History
• US History
• Honors US History
• AP US History
• HIS250 US History I/HIS251 US History II through Point University (11th Grade)
• AP Psychology
• AP Human Geography
• Government
• Honors Government
• AP Comparative Government and Politics
• HIS103 Government through Point University (12th Grade)
• Economics
• Honors Economics
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP European History

World Language

• Spanish I
• Spanish II
• Honors Spanish II
• Honors Spanish III
• Honors Spanish IV
• AP Spanish Language

Technology/Career

• Public Speaking/Political Leadership & Ethics (each one semester)
• Aviation
• Aviation 2
• Business & Finance
• Business/Entrepreneurship (prerequisite – Business & Finance)
• Introduction to Computer Science
• Honors Technology Applications
• Mentorship
• Yearbook
• Work Based Learning Program (12^th grade)

Fine Arts

• Art 1 - Comprehensive Art
• Art 2 - Drawing and Painting
• Art 3 - Advanced Drawing and Painting
• Art 4 - Sculpting and Ceramics
• AP Studio Art
• AP Music Theory
• Band
• Band Percussion
• Chorus
• Choral Ensemble
• Class Piano
• Dance
• Drama
• Theatre (7:15-7:55)

(Note: Honors component available in performance fine arts…band, chorus, piano)

Physical Education

• Health & Life Fitness
• Athletic Performance

Dual Enrollment

In addition to the dual enrollment courses listed above, 5 online courses are also offered through Point University.  These courses include:

• HUM101 - Introduction to Humanities (Fall)
• MTH120 – College Algebra (Fall; student must have completed Algebra 2)
• SOC103 – Introduction to Sociology (Spring)
• PHL330 – World Religions (Spring)
• BUS320 – Microeconomics (Spring; prerequisite – MTH120)

Students must earn the indicated credits in each of the following areas:

Units	Content Area	Required Specific Course of Study
4	Bible	½ credit earned each semester in attendance at Strong Rock Christian School
4	English/Language Arts	English Literature
4	Mathematics	Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II (or equivalent courses), and 1-2 advanced college preparatory math courses
4	Science	Biology, Chemistry or Environmental Science, and Physical Science or Physics; plus 1 additional science course
3	Social Studies	World History; US History; Government (1/2 unit); Economics (1/2 unit)
1	Health/PE	½ unit of Health; ½ unit of Physical Education
1	Fine Arts / Technology / Career Education	May choose from chorus, band, piano, visual arts, drama, yearbook, or any computer course
2	World Language	2 units of the same world language
2	Elective	May be from an academic, fine arts, technology, PE, world language, business, or aviation
25	Total Units	Minimum number of credits
		Note: students will typically finish with 28+ credits.

 

Any adjustment to graduation requirements will be approved by the administration at the time of course selection.

Students may choose to fulfill the requirement for one or more of the following SRCS Recognition of Excellence areas in order to receive a pin or cord at graduation:

Area	Requirements
Fine Arts	4 units in fine arts with a 3.0 GPA; at least 2 units must be from the same discipline
Technology	4 units in technology-based courses with 3.0 GPA.
World Languages	4 units in a foreign language with a 3.0 GPA; at least 2 units from the same language.
Distinguished Achievement	4 units in AP courses with a grade of “B” or higher for each.
Athletic Achievement	8 Strong Rock Christian School varsity letters during their high school career.
Service Ministry	24 hours of acceptable service each year of high school

Pre-Kindergarten

• Developmental Checklist

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Kindergarten

• S = Satisfactory
• IP= In Progress
• U = Unsatisfactory

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Grade 1

• E= Excellent
• S = Satisfactory
• IP= In Progress
• U = Unsatisfactory

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 Grades 2nd through 8th

Use the following Grade Scale:

Letter Grade	Number Grade	Description	Quality Points
A	90-100	Excellent	4.00
B	80-89	Above Average	3.00
C	74-79	Average	2.00
D	70-73	Below Average	1.00
F	Below 70	Failing	0.00

 

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Grades 9th through 12th

Use the following Grade Scale:

Letter Grade	Number Grade	Description	Quality Points
A+	96-100	Superior	4.3
A	90-95	Excellent	4.0
B+	87-89	Good	3.7
B	83-86	High Average	3.3
B-	80-82	Average	3.0
C+	77-79	Low Average	2.7
C	73-76	Below Average	2.3
C-	70-72	Below Average/Needs Improvement	2.0
F	Below 70	Failing	0.00

 

Note: Georgia Student Finance Commission and many colleges will recalculate a student’s GPA for scholarships and/or college acceptance. The scale below is used by GSFC for the HOPE Scholarship calculation. In addition to using a different scale, GSFC also uses a different weighting system for honors and AP courses, and they only use courses in the core areas of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Foreign Language that were taken from 9th grade forward. Due to these variations in GPA calculation, the HOPE GPA and the Strong Rock Christian School GPA will not be the same.

90-100	4.0
80-89	3.0
74-79	2.0
70-73	1.0
0-69	0.0

• S – Satisfactory
• N – Needs Improvement
• U - Unsatisfactory

Grade point averages are used to measure a student’s academic achievement and to determine a student’s class rank. Strong Rock Christian School calculates the GPA according to national standards set by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and based upon Carnegie Units of Instruction. All courses with exception of a zero period taken once a student enters as a freshman are included in the overall GPA.

1. Grade point averages (GPA) are calculated for each student in grades 9-12 at the end of each semester.
2. Academy and High School students are required to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average during any two consecutive semesters. Exceptions may be made, at the school’s sole discretion, for students who have a grade point average of less than 2.0 but have not failed any courses during the semester in question.
3. High school students who have a GPA under a 2.0 any given nine-week period or who fail two or more classes and Academy students who fail two or more classes will be placed on academic probation for a period of nine weeks. While on academic probation the student must have a weekly report signed by each teacher (in the classes that the student has a 69 or below) as well as attend a minimum of one full tutorial or study hall each week per course. Students may participate in extracurricular activities while on probation, but administration reserves the right to suspend all after school activities for the student. In addition, each student’s academic standing will be reviewed to determine if Strong Rock is the appropriate setting for the student.

When a student in the Academy fails a course in any of the following core subjects they will be required to complete an Academy Summer School Packet. The Summer School Packet will be required for each semester that is failed. For example – A student who fails Fall semester but passes Spring semester will be required to complete and pass one Summer School Packet. A student who fails Fall and Spring semester will be required to complete and pass two Summer School Packets. A cost of $25 per summer packet course given will be required.

Academy core courses include:

• Math
• Science
• Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Bible

The packet will include review assignments that must be completed and turned in by the third Friday of Summer break. On the third Friday of Summer break the student will come to school and take a course recovery test.  The student must score at least 70% to receive credit for the course and to ensure they can return to Strong Rock Christian School for the following school year.  Students who fail the summer test can be subject to a penalty of Academic Probation for the upcoming school year.  Learning Lab PASS support.

Spanish I, Coordinate Algebra, and Physical Science are high school credit classes and require the credit recovery process for high school.

Subjects taken for high school graduation credit must be passed, or the subject will have to be repeated.  Students will not be allowed to make up a failed course at Strong Rock Christian School unless approved by the administration.  Strong Rock Christian School’s primary credit recovery source is Georgia Virtual School.  Students wishing to use any other source must submit a written request citing the reason to the administration.  It is strongly recommended that students address any recovery needs during the summer before the next academic year begins.

In a case where the student fails the fall semester, but passes the spring semester, we will look at the average of the two semesters.  If the average of the two semesters equals a passing mark (70%+), then the average grade will be used for both semesters and full credit will be awarded.

Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to dismiss students who do not apply themselves academically. This assessment usually, but not always, occurs after each nine-week period.

Probation for more than 2.5 units of credit recovery may lead to a forced withdrawal.

Students who achieve certain academic distinctions through earned grade point average will be graduated upon recommendation of the faculty with institutional honors indicated with tassels, as follows:

• Summa Cum Laude            4.00 GPA       Gold
• Magna Cum                         3.70 GPA       Red
• Laude Cum Laude              3.50 GPA       White

Valedictorian is the award for the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. The Salutatorian is the award for the graduating senior with the second highest cumulative grade point average. The following is a list of criteria that will be used to determine the Valedictorian and Salutatorian:

• Must be a full-time student at Strong Rock Christian School with no enrollment interruption for the entirety of their 11th and 12th grade years.
• Only courses taken during the 9th through the 12th grade will be used to determine GPA for Valedictorian and Salutatorian status.
• For transfer students, previously taken courses will only be used in Valedictorian/Salutatorian GPA if that course is also offered at Strong Rock Christian School.
• Valedictorian/Salutatorian Cumulative GPA will be figured to the fourth place to the right of the decimal point.
• Students must abide by the Strong Rock Christian School Honor Code. Violation of the Strong Rock Christian School Honor Code may disqualify a student as the Valedictorian or Salutatorian depending on the severity of the violation(s) at the discretion of the school administration.
• In the event of a tie for Valedictorian/Salutatorian, the administration will determine the roles for the commencement services.
• In the event of a tie for Valedictorian/Salutatorian, the school will use the student’s numerical average as a tie breaker.

Exemplary Academic Honor Roll (Grades 2-4)

Students must make all A’s and S’s on their report card in each semester for each nine-week grading period.

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Principal’s Honor Roll (Grades 2-4)

Students who earn all A’s and/or B’s in every area and receive no U’s under the work habits section of the report card, including conduct area grades.

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Patriot Award (Grades 1-5)

The Patriot Award will be given to one student per classroom for exemplary Christian character. Teachers will recommend students for this award based on their conduct, work habits, relationship with other students, respect for teachers, and servant leadership.

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Adams Legacy Award (Grade 5)

The Legacy Award will be given to a student at the highest grade level in the Elementary (5th). This award will be selected by administration in conjunction with faculty and staff based on the complete overall student who is impacting Strong Rock Christian School eternally.  The student must have been enrolled at Strong Rock Christian School for a minimum of three years.

Honor Roll

Honor rolls will be published for Semester 1 and Semester 2.  Students who earn all A’s for the 1^st and 2^nd semesters will be listed on the Exemplary Academic Honor Roll. Students who earn all A’s and B’s for the 1^st and 2^nd semesters will be listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll.  These students will be recognized in the E-Pistle at the end of the year.

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Patriot Award (grades 6-12)

The Patriot Award will be given to one female and one male student at each grade level for exemplary Christian character. Teachers will recommend students for this award based on their conduct, work habits, relationship with other students, respect for teachers, and servant leadership.

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Adams Legacy Award (grades 8 and 12)

The Legacy Award will be given to a student at the highest grade level in the academy (8) and the high school (12). This award will be selected by administration in conjunction with faculty and staff based on the complete overall student who is impacting Strong Rock Christian School eternally.  The student must have been enrolled at Strong Rock Christian School for a minimum of three years.

Elementary report cards will be sent home at the end of each 9-week grading period. Academy and high school semester grade reports are available two times per year at the end of the first and second semesters. Credits toward graduation are recorded on the student’s transcript at the end of each semester.

Using RenWeb technology, in grades two through twelve, parents may review student progress at any point during the grading period. Parents are encouraged to schedule conferences with teachers to discuss a student’s progress at any time during the grading period.

Student placement in classes and courses will be at the sole discretion of Strong Rock Christian School. Parents may not request particular teachers but may request assignment to honors and advanced placement courses based on established criteria. However, this must be approved through the high school administration.  SRCS does allow students to take online courses through Georgia Virtual School under the following conditions: 1) No more than 2 class periods given to online courses; 2) the GAVS courses must be courses that SRCS does not offer; 3) or if there is a scheduling conflict that cannot be worked out in any other way.  Students and parents should understand that taking a course through GAVS will likely add an extra expense.  GAVS fees are $250 per semester per course.  These fees would have to be paid to GAVS before a student would be fully enrolled in the GAVS course and any changes be made to their SRCS class schedule.

All Strong Rock courses are competitive, college-preparatory courses in their scope and sequence. Honors classes are designed to take the accelerated student an extra step in terms of analysis, depth of coverage, and pace. To enter any honors course at Strong Rock, students are evaluated according to following criteria:

• To apply from a College Prep class to an Honors course for the next year, the student must earn an “A” average at the semester one and the third nine weeks academic checkpoints. 
• To apply from an Honors class to another Honors class for the next year, the student must earn an 85% at the semester 1 and Term 3 academic checkpoints. 
• To apply from an Honors class to an AP class for the next year, the student must have an “A” average in at least one of the academic checkpoints at the end of semester 1 or at Term 3. 
• To apply from an AP class to another AP class for the next year, the student must earn an 85% at the semester 1 and Term 3 academic checkpoints. 
• If the applicant met the criteria for the semester 1 grade, but not the Term 3 grade and received favorable Teacher Recommendations, a Delayed Decision could be extended where the student must have a final semester 2 grade that would meet the afore mentioned standards. 
• If a student meets the semester 1 and Term 3 academic check points, but allows their semester 2 grade to fall, this could lead to grounds for withdrawing an approval status. 
• Dual enrollment courses would be treated in the same way as Honors classes.

Students in honors classes are expected to be individuals capable of demonstrating higher level critical thinking, independent study habits, strong reading ability, and easy mastery of basic and advanced skills and concepts. The nature of an honors course is distinctive, creating a unique environment for learning that allows for significantly different educational approaches to the material studied. Students in the honors class will usually be responsible for content material covered in the regular class plus additional advanced materials and assignments. Because of the nature of the subject, a clear differentiation is evident in the curriculum, even though a few of the assignments may be similar. The honors classes are also designed to become more rigorous each year, demanding an increase in the students’ commitment to the subject matter, not just an intellectual capability. Students must continue to be motivated to participate in the honors program.

Honors courses are not part of the academy program, but some courses are grouped based on ability and performance (in particular, math courses).  An academy student who is on an advanced track and is ready to take Geometry in 8^th grade could take it at the honors level if he/she is approved.  However, since high school GPA is not calculated until 9^th grade, the student would not benefit from the GPA weighting.

Any high school student who passes an honors course will be awarded a half quality point (.5) on his or her GPA. Extra points are not added to numerical grades. The same weighting policy will be in effect for dual enrollment courses as it applies to the student’s Strong Rock Christian School GPA.

Strong Rock Christian School makes every effort to offer Advanced Placement and other specialized-level courses. Such courses are designed to prepare students uniquely for the possibility of testing with a view to attain advanced college and university credit. For this reason, these courses are especially rigorous regarding the high level of their requirements (i.e., in-class interaction, homework, and testing). Students and their parents should understand that admission to these courses depends upon more than mere enrollment; students must establish demonstrated proficiency and a propensity for excellence in the academic area. Minimum qualifications for student admission to such courses include obtaining written parental permission, establishing and maintaining a high “B” average in all previous work in the subject area, and approval by the instructing teacher and principal. Additional admission and retention requirements may apply (i.e., maintaining a minimum class average as determined by the teacher or may require a prerequisite).

All students taking AP courses, including AP courses through GAVS, are required to take the corresponding AP exam or the final exam in the class. The fee is set by College Board. The exam fee must be submitted prior to the exam; students will not be permitted to take the exam if the fee has not been paid prior to the exam payment deadline. If a student fails to take the AP exam, a fine of $100 will be added to the student’s FACTS school bill, and the student will be required to take a teacher generated exam in the corresponding course during the scheduled final exam time for that class period which applies towards a student's GPA. Strong Rock will add one quality point (1.0) to the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) for each semester of Advanced Placement coursework. The student must have passed the Advanced Placement course before one quality point is added to compute the GPA. Extra points are not added to numerical grades.

Strong Rock Christian School administers the following nationally normed assessments:

 

Assessment	Grade(s) Administered	Description
SESAT	K-1	SESAT is administered in the fall of each academic year in order to obtain detailed data regarding student learning and achievement in reading and mathematics.
CTP5	2-8	CTP5 is administered in the fall of each academic year in order to obtain detailed data regarding student achievement in reading, language arts, and mathematics.
Iowa Assessments	K-8	The Iowa Assessments are administered in the spring of each academic year in order to obtain detailed data regarding student learning achievement in reading, mathematics, social studies, and science.
Pre-ACT	9-10	The Cambridge ACT consists of retired ACT national college admissions examinations that consist of subject area tests in English, math, reading, and science.  Administration is in the spring semester.
ACT	10-12	The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, math, reading, and science. The ACT with writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 40-minute writing test. The ACT is administered on six test dates within the US. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the US. Students are responsible for registering for and taking these college entrance examinations at their own expense.
PSAT/NMSQT	9-11	The PSAT is produced by College Board and will be administered each fall.  The PSAT measures reading/writing and math abilities, and is a practice for the SAT.  The score in 11th grade is used as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
SAT	10-12	SAT and SAT subject area tests are designed to assess a student’s academic readiness for college.  These exams provide opportunities for financial support and scholarships.  The SAT and SAT subject area tests keep pace with what colleges are looking for today and measure the skills required for success in the 21st century.  Students are responsible for registering for and taking these college entrance examinations at their own expense.

The amount of homework will vary by the course level.  Strong Rock Christian School’s goal for homework is to continue and practice skills introduced in class, so questions about homework should be directed to the teacher.  The following will serve as guidelines for homework. These times do not reflect daily study times necessary to prepare for quizzes and tests, or time spent on long-term projects. 

• Pre-Kindergarten assignments average 10 minutes.
• Kindergarten assignments average 15 minutes, plus short reading passages.
• Grade 1 homework averages about 20 minutes, plus short reading assignments.
• Grade 2 homework averages 25 minutes, plus a daily reading assignment.
• Grades 3 homework averages 35 minutes, plus a daily reading assignment.
• Grades 4 homework averages 45 minutes, plus a daily reading assignment.
• Grade 5 homework averages 50 minutes, plus a daily reading assignment.
• Grade 6 homework averages 60 minutes.
• Grade 7 homework averages 70 minutes.
• Grade 8 homework averages 80 minutes.
• Grade 9 homework averages 90 minutes.
• Grade 10 homework averages 100 minutes.
• Grade 11 homework averages 110 minutes.
• Grade 12 homework averages 120 minutes.

Students in honors and/or advanced placement courses must expect more homework than those taking regular courses of study.

When students in the Academy do not turn in assignments unrelated to an absence on the due date, teachers will penalize the assignment, after grading for accuracy, an additional 15 points for the first day late; on the second day the students will receive a zero. For homework assignments that are graded the following day in class, the late grade policy does not apply.

When students in the high school (with the exception of AP courses and 8th grade courses) do not turn in assignments unrelated to an absence on the due date, teachers will penalize the assignment, after grading for accuracy, an additional 25% for the first day late; on the second day the students will receive a zero. For homework assignments that are graded the following day in class, the late grade policy does not apply.

At Strong Rock Christian School, we strive to create a class schedule that is “perfect” for every student.  The reality is that is not always going to work out due to numerous factors.  In our best effort to try to get as close to perfection as possible, we do offer a drop/add period where students can try to make schedule changes. Keep in mind, not every change request is going to be possible.  Each request will be evaluated and if it can work, we will make the change.

Class schedules for 6th-12th grade will be published in Renweb on the afternoon of July 14.  After the schedules have been released, change requests through email only will be accepted through 12:00 PM July 21.  The student should send the email to Dr. Kerce and it must have the parent email included as a recipient.  Parents, please let this be a task for the students to embrace.  For younger students, parents are encouraged to help the student write their emails, but please let them execute this task.  Change requests that come as emails that are not student generated and do not include a parent email will not be honored.  Additionally, phone calls and voice messages will not be honored for change requests.

After 12:00 PM on July 21 no change requests will be honored until we get to the official drop/add period once school starts.  The process of creating student schedules can be a challenging task, so in our best effort to try to allow for the best possible scheduling situations for every student, we offer a drop/add period where students can request schedule changes.  We are going to change the timing of our August drop/add from how it typically has operated.  Typically our drop/add has started on the 2nd day of school and ran for approximately 2 weeks.  A common concern heard every year is that in that first 2 weeks of school, students still don’t have a real good sense of the courses on their schedule, the workload, and many times a class might have only recorded a single graded assessment by the end of drop/add.  So to hopefully address this issue and to give students more time to get a good feel for a course before having to make a decision to change, we are going to have all students stay in their class schedule from day 1 (August 2) through August 11. Students will have a week and a half to be in their initial class schedule so they have more time to get a good feel for the course. The drop/add will run from August 14 through the end of 3rd period on August 18.  

This timing adjustment does mean that some students could change to a new course having missing the better part of the first 3 weeks of class, that is undeniably true.  It will be the student’s responsibility to make up all work missed by September 8.  Any work not made up in the new class by September 8 will be entered into the grade book as a zero.

Once school gets started, a detailed message on the specific drop/add procedures will be sent out to all 6th-12th grade students and parents.  There will be specific time slots assigned based on grade level that will be presented as well the specific steps expected in the drop/add process.

In addition, each student who desires to withdraw from a class must submit a letter of request to the guidance office with a full explanation of the hardship. These requests will only be considered during the first six weeks of each semester. Each student who is granted a withdrawal request will still have the grade earned reflected on the transcript annotated with a “W.”  All textbooks for withdrawn classes should be returned to the academy/high school office.

Academy:

• Semester 1: Academy may exempt 1 exam in a class where they have an A average and 1 additional class where they have a 96+ average and meet the attendance requirements.
• Semester 2: Academy may exempt 2 exams in a class where they have an A average and any class where they have a 96+ average and meet the attendance requirements.

High School:

• Semester 1: High school may exempt 2 exams in classes where they have an A average and 1 class where they have a 96+ average and meet the attendance requirements.
• Semester 2: High school may exempt 2 exams in classes where they have an A average and any class where they have a 96+ average and meet the attendance requirements.

Students will not be eligible to exempt an exam if they have more than five unexcused absences in a class per semester; three unexcused tardies to school is equivalent to one unexcused absence.
 

The school maintains a permanent cumulative file on all Strong Rock students. Records of health, grades, standardized test scores, reports of parent conferences and disciplinary action make up most of the content of these records.  These records are the sole property of the school and will not be released if there are any monies owed to the school by the student and/or his/her parent/guardian.

• Strong Rock will release student grades, achievement test scores, and other information upon the written request of another school system, when such request contains both the signature of an authorized school official and the signature of at least one parent/legal guardian on a form to be supplied by the receiving school.
• Transcripts of a student’s grades will be provided free upon request of the student’s parent/legal guardian. The transcript will include the full record of grades plus any achievement test scores.  Parents requesting additional information may incur a processing fee.
• Transcripts given to a parent or student are unofficial copies. Official transcripts must be sealed in a Strong Rock Christian School envelope and mailed directly to another educational institution.
• No school records, other than the transcript defined above, will be released to a student’s parent/legal guardian or any agency other than another school or scholarship related program. 
• Confidentiality of cumulative records will be maintained. The professional staff or other approved persons may have access to the records under conditions specified by the principal.
• All library books should be returned and fines paid.
• All textbooks must be returned.

Students in grades PreK3 through 4 are evaluated on an individual basis. A rubric will determine if retention is needed.  Students in grades 5 through 8 must pass academic classes or complete the Summer School Packet Process for the classes failed. In high school, students must earn six, twelve, and eighteen cumulative units of credit in grades nine, ten, and eleven respectively to be promoted.

Students who transfer from public or private schools will not be required to make up the Bible requirement for graduation. Other electives will be used to fulfill the total number of required credits. Transfer grades will be entered on Strong Rock’s transcript as they are listed by the sending school.

Strong Rock Christian School does not accept credits from other educational entities taken for the purpose of a student “getting ahead” in their program of study.  Strong Rock Christian School will allow students to take Health and Life Fitness during the summer, but this is the only course Strong Rock Christian School will accept for a student to “get ahead” in their program of study. Students who take a Strong Rock Christian School course and fail the entire course or one semester of the course must recover the failed credit through an approved credit recovery source.  Unless approved by the administration, a student will not be allowed to retake the course through Strong Rock Christian School. It is best to address any credit recovery needs in the summer before the next school year. Approved credit recovery sources include Georgia Virtual School, Impact Academy Henry County, and Alpha Omega.

All elementary classes have the opportunity to participate in service ministry projects during the year. These projects might include, but are not limited to, a canned food drive for needy families, writing cards to shut-ins, or participating in a Christmas project.

All academy and high school students will be required to complete six hours of service ministry each semester. Students may work individually, in small groups, or as a class depending on the scope and complexity of the project. Service Ministry Projects may span more than one grading period with the approval of the student’s Bible teacher. The project must be completed outside of the school day unless approved by administration.

Service Ministry Projects are 10% of the student’s Bible grade. The 10% will be divided into two parts: 5% for the proposal and 5% for the report. Due dates will be given at the beginning of each semester. All students are expected to complete his or her project with excellence as unto the Lord. Administration and/or Bible teachers may refuse to accept a project that is not completed with quality work.

Strong Rock’s media center is designed to complement and enrich the curriculum.  It contains books (fiction, nonfiction, and reference books) primary source materials, CDs, DVD's, computers, printers, and general media equipment.

Elementary Students

• May check out two books
• PK & K may check out one book
• May keep the book(s) for one week
• May renew book(s)

Academy/High School Students

• May check out three books
• May keep the book(s) for two weeks
• May renew book(s)
• Students will be fined for overdue books at a rate of $.05 per day.

The media center will be open from 7:35 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to allow students and faculty the opportunity to use its resources on a regular basis.  The media center staff is always willing to help students with research or to locate materials within the center.  Groups of four may be admitted by prior arrangements between the media center staff and the teacher.  If an entire class is scheduled, the classroom teacher will accompany them.  The media center staff also offers editing, copying, and research services for students and staff. 

All textbooks and instructional materials are the property of Strong Rock Christian School.  They must be handled with care and kept mark free except for the student’s name.  Students are responsible for taking care of textbooks and instructional materials.  Students should cover all hardback textbooks.  Upon withdrawal or at the end of the school year, all textbooks and instructional materials must be returned to the school.  Students must reimburse the school for any textbook damage or loss for which they are responsible.  Some textbooks are consumable and may be written in by students.

By enrolling the student in the Strong Rock Christian School, the parent and student acknowledge that during student’s attendance at Strong Rock Christian School all student Intellectual Property (defined below) related to or used in connection with the student’s participation in any joint or group school activity (classroom, homework, athletic, artistic, scientific, etc.) is the exclusive property of Strong Rock Christian School.  Intellectual Property includes all inventions, creations, videos, audios, writings, prototypes, discoveries, developments, formulas, techniques, and improvements and all works of original authorship or images that are fixed in any tangible medium of expression, whether or not copyrightable, patentable or otherwise protectable, which are conceived, designed, created or developed by any of Strong Rock Christian School’s students in conjunction with other students and/or school personnel.  To be clear, if a student works on a project alone (such as a painting or music), such project is not Intellectual Property covered by this policy.  Any parent or student who believes that they are eligible for a waiver to this policy should contact the Head of School to discuss the specific circumstances.   

 

Google Classroom is the designated platform for classroom instruction.  Teachers will include Google Classroom expectations on the syllabus and utilize it routinely in their course work.  All students will be assigned a Strong Rock account to access Google Classroom when necessary.

Strong Rock Christian School provides technology resources to its students and employees for educational and administrative purposes. The goal in providing these resources to students is to promote educational excellence consistent with Strong Rock Christian School’s mission statement and curriculum. The use of these technology resources is a privilege, not a right, which may be revoked at any time for misuse. Noncompliance with applicable regulations may result in suspension or termination of privileges and other disciplinary action consistent with the policies stated in the Family Handbook.

This policy outlines the guidelines for the ethical use of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots and explains the consequences of misusing this technology.
Philosophy: With the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), schools and businesses worldwide are having to make decisions on how they will respond to and manage this new and expanding technology. Just as computers have changed the way society operates, we believe AI will do the same but in much less time.

Technology should always serve as a tool to expand knowledge, not replace critical thinking and authentic learning experiences. Strong Rock Christian School recognizes that AI has its dangers and limitations, but also realizes it has possibilities to enhance student learning and create meaningful, engaging lessons within the classroom.  As a result, our technology department, in coordination with administration and department chairs, is constantly exploring the use of AI in the classroom and is committed to finding ways to utilize and learn from AI to better prepare students for their futures.

Teaching students to think critically and develop integrity are goals we try to achieve in all academic areas. As our students move toward adulthood, Digital Citizenship - the ability to navigate our digital environments in a safe, responsible, and ethical manner - has become an even greater need. 

Ultimately, we feel this initial AI policy will begin to help our students develop awareness of the importance of Digital Citizenship in a changing world and help them utilize this new technology ethically and responsibly.

Purpose:  ChatGPT serves as a resource to support students' learning experiences by providing information, explanations, and suggestions. It can assist in answering questions, offering guidance, and facilitating discussions but is no replacement for critical thinking and original work.

Ethical Use: 

• Respectful Language: When interacting with ChatGPT, students must use respectful language and avoid any form of discrimination or harassment. Treat ChatGPT with the same respect and courtesy you would extend to a human.
• Academic Honesty: ChatGPT should not be used to cheat or engage in academic dishonesty. It is important to uphold integrity in any academic endeavor. Do not use ChatGPT to generate plagiarized content or answers for assignments, tests, or exams.
• Personal Information: Do not share any personal, sensitive, or confidential information with ChatGPT. It is designed to process and respond to information in a general context, and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
• Legal and Ethical Boundaries: Use ChatGPT within the legal and ethical boundaries defined by Strong Rock Christian School and applicable laws. Do not engage in any activities that may violate the school's code of conduct or policies.

Consequences of Misuse:

• Academic Consequences: Any student found misusing ChatGPT (or other AI chatbots) for academic dishonesty may face disciplinary action, including but not limited to receiving a deducted or failing grade on the assignment, test, or exam in question. In addition, any misuse will result in an Honor Code violation on the student’s permanent record. Repeat offenses may result in more severe consequences, such as academic probation or suspension. 
• Restricted Access: If a student is found misusing any AI chatbot or violating the ethical guidelines repeatedly, the school reserves the right to restrict or revoke their access to the technology.
• Educational Intervention: In cases where a student's misuse of ChatGPT is identified as a result of misunderstanding or lack of awareness, an educational intervention may be implemented. This could involve one-on-one conferences with the student and parents, faculty, and counselors, or other measures to promote responsible use of technology.
• Legal Ramifications: Misuse of ChatGPT that infringes upon legal boundaries may result in legal consequences according to local, regional, or national laws.

Teacher Supervision and Monitoring: Teachers will oversee and monitor students' interactions with ChatGPT during class time or designated periods. They will provide guidance on the appropriate use of the technology, monitor the conversations, and intervene if any misuse is detected.

Reporting Misuse: If students observe or suspect any misuse of ChatGPT by their peers, they should report it to their teacher or school administration. Anonymity will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken to address the issue.

Because of the rapid changes in this technology, policies will be evaluated regularly and if necessary, modified with the best interests of students in mind.

Personal electronic devices (including personal communication devices such a cell phones/connected watches/tablets and computers) are discussed in the divisional sections of the handbook. Audio, pictures, or video recording may not be conducted anywhere on the SRCS campus without the prior approval of SRCS Administration. No audio or video recording is permitted in bathrooms or locker rooms under any circumstances.

networks/media such as Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, Facebook, GroupMe, TikTok, and Snapchat, blogs, and other similar online or internet communications. Because this form of communication is vast and growing, Strong Rock feels it is important to communicate Strong Rock Christian School’s position regarding a student’s use of social media or networking. 

Use at School or a School-Related Event:  Strong Rock Christian School does not permit students to access social media and/or social networking sites during the school day.  The school has taken steps to block many of the social media/networking sites on the school’s network, but technology will undoubtedly work faster than Strong Rock’s IT Department.  Therefore, even if students are able to access such sites during the school day, they should understand that activities involving inappropriate content are in violation of school policy and may result in disciplinary action.

Use Away from School Property:  It is not the school’s goal to regulate a student’s personal online activities when not on Strong Rock Christian School property or at a school-related event. Please understand, however, that certain activities might impact a student’s relationships with other students or school employees or school rights that Strong Rock does reserve the right to regulate. All students should ensure that they are familiar with school’s conduct policies to avoid any online communications that might violate those policies.

For example, students must ensure that their online activities do not violate a Strong Rock Christian School policy regarding bullying or harassment, or other similar policies pertaining to how students interact with each other.  If students utilize any electronic means to post or say something that impacts another student negatively, the activity may result in an investigation and possible discipline.

Students should also be aware that teachers and administrators periodically check such sites and may determine that off-campus behavior, including texts, violates the school conduct code if there are disparaging or negative comments about the school, administration, or faculty members in a manner that is disruptive to the school’s educational mission or activities. 

In addition, postings on social networking or other internet sites of students engaging in inappropriate behavior (such as drinking, smoking, sexual actions, etc.) are prohibited. 

Students are not permitted to use the Strong Rock Christian School’s name, logo, trademark, or service mark in online activities.  Students are not permitted to create websites or social networking profiles to rate teachers, discuss aspects of the school, or otherwise disclose information online that Strong Rock Christian School would find offensive or inappropriate if posted in school publications.  Finally, students are not permitted to disclose any confidential information of the school, employees, students, parents, or activities online.  

Student Identity Online:  Students are responsible for any of their online activity conducted with a Strong Rock Christian School email address, and/or which can be traced back to Strong Rock Christian School’s domain, and/or which uses school assets.

What students publish on such personal online sites should never be attributed to Strong Rock Christian School and should not appear to be endorsed by or originated from Strong Rock Christian School.

School’s Right to Inspect:  Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to inspect all electronic data and usage occurring over Strong Rock Christian School’s network or on Strong Rock Christian School property without prior notice.  The school also reserves the right to assess texts and information in the public domain on the internet and to discipline students for any violation of these guidelines.   

Strong Rock Christian School retains all rights and ownership to all technology resources, including Strong Rock Christian School computer systems and networks and any configuration of hardware and software. The systems and networks include all of the computer hardware, operating system software, application software, stored text and data files. This includes electronic mail, local databases, externally accessed databases (such as the Internet), CD/DVD-ROM, optical media, clip art, digital images, digitized information, communications technologies, and new technologies as they become available.  Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to monitor all technology resource activity.

Technology use by students and employees is not private and may be monitored at any time by Strong Rock Christian School to ensure appropriate use.  Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to inspect user directories for inappropriate materials or executable files and programs that are unauthorized and may affect the operation of the network. Such files are subject to removal when found. Additionally, Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to monitor access to and use of email, the Internet, or other network or computer-related activities, engage in routine computer maintenance and housekeeping, carry out internal investigations, prepare responses to request for public records, or disclose messages, data, or files to law enforcement or other legal authorities.   Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to confiscate and analyze any electronic device that may connect or utilize Strong Rock Christian School network resources.

 Parents are encouraged to monitor all forms of their child’s technology use.

Strong Rock Christian School’s technology resources will be used only for learning, teaching and administrative purposes consistent with Strong Rock Christian School’s mission statement and goals. Commercial use of Strong Rock Christian School’s technology resources is strictly prohibited.

Software or external data may not be loaded on any computer, whether stand-alone or networked to the Strong Rock Christian School network. Only personnel from the Technology Department are authorized to load software.

Other issues applicable to acceptable use are:

1. Copyright: All users are expected to follow existing copyright laws, copies of which may be found in each technology lab, the elementary and academy/high school offices, and in the media center.
2. Supervision and permission: Student use of the computers and computer network is only allowed when supervised and granted permission by a faculty member.
3. Attempting to log on or logging on to a computer by using another’s password is prohibited: Assisting others in violating this rule by sharing information or passwords is unacceptable.
4. Improper use of any computer or the network is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Submitting, publishing or displaying any defamatory, inaccurate, racially offensive, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, or threatening materials or messages either public or private
• Using the network for financial gain, political or commercial activity
• Attempting to or harming equipment, materials or data
• Attempting to or sending anonymous messages of any kind
• Using the network to access inappropriate material
• Knowingly placing a computer virus on a computer or the network
• Using the network to provide addresses or other personal information that others may use inappropriately
• Accessing of information resources, files and documents of another user without authorization

 

Access to Strong Rock Christian School’s network systems will be governed as follows:

1. Students will have access to technology for class assignments and research with their teacher’s permission and/or supervision.
    
2. Students and employees with accounts will be required to maintain password confidentiality by not sharing the password with others.
    
3. Any network user identified as a security risk or having violated Strong Rock Christian School Acceptable Use Policy may be denied access to the system. Other consequences may also be assigned.

The following standards will apply to all users of Strong Rock Christian School’s network systems:

1. The individual in whose name a network account is issued will be responsible at all times for its proper use.
    
2. The system may not be used for illegal purposes, in support of illegal activities, or for any other activity prohibited by Strong Rock Christian School.
    
3. Network users may not use another person’s network account without written permission from the Director of Technology.
    
4. Network users are responsible for making sure they do not violate any copyright laws.

Network users are expected to observe the following network etiquette (also known as netiquette):

1. Use appropriate language.  Swearing, vulgarity, ethnic or racial slurs and any other inflammatory language are prohibited.
    
2. Pretending to be someone else when sending/receiving messages is prohibited.
    
3. Submitting, publishing or displaying any defamatory, inaccurate, racially offensive, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually-oriented, or threatening materials or messages either public or private is prohibited.
    
4. Revealing such personal information as addresses or phone numbers of users or others is prohibited.
    
5. Using the network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users is prohibited.

Strong Rock Christian School shall not be liable for user’s inappropriate use of electronic communication resources or violations of copyright restrictions or other laws, users’ mistakes or negligence, and financial obligations incurred by users. Strong Rock Christian School shall not be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, age appropriateness, or usability of any information found on the Internet.

Strong Rock Christian School has a commitment to the integration of technology into the academic programs of the school. The Strong Rock Christian School network and computer equipment are available for students, faculty, and staff to use for research, study, and other educational purposes. The goal in providing access to these technological resources is to promote educational excellence and innovation and to facilitate communication and creativity in the expression of ideas and information.

Access to Strong Rock Christian School technological resources and the Internet is a privilege that is tied to responsibilities. Students must use these resources in a legal, ethical, moral, and responsible manner in accordance with the school’s stated mission. The following guidelines are intended to help individual technology users understand appropriate use and apply to any device brought to or used at school. The school may restrict, suspend, or terminate any user’s access to the school’s technology systems and network for not respecting these guidelines.

During the school year, all academy and high school students may be issued a Strong Rock Christian School e-mail account as a tool to enhance the learning process and aid in communication between teachers and fellow students.  Students in the 7^th through 12^th grades will also be allowed to bring and use 

personally-owned, netbooks, tablet PCs or similar devices. Each teacher has the right to limit or restrict usage in their classroom.

The following are approved devices for the 7^th -12^th grade “Bring Your Own Technology”– All use is at the teachers’ discretion. Requests for the use of devices or software programs not on the list below must be made directly to the academy/high school principal.

• Laptop computers
• Flash Drives
• External Hard Drives
• I-pads, tablets, netbooks, SMART Phone
• Kindle or devices designed with the same capabilities

• All students will be assigned a Strong Rock account to access Google Classroom when necessary.
• Strong Rock Christian School e-mail accounts are provided for school purposes only. Only Strong Rock Christian School e-mail accounts are to be used on school grounds. Students should use a personal e-mail account (i.e., Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) for communications other than school business.
• Students are expected to be polite and may not become abusive in messages to others. Email accounts may not be used to harass others or send inappropriate or offensive messages.
• E-mail etiquette should be observed. In general, only messages that one would say to the recipient in person should be written.
• Students who receive harassing or threatening messages must notify a faculty member as soon as possible.
• Grade-level mailing lists are for school business only.
• Emails to the entire school are permitted only with permission from the principal.
• All messages from student e-mail accounts will be deleted each summer.
• The use of e-mail during class, without teacher approval, is strictly prohibited.
• Students should not send out bulk e-mail. This includes chain letters, advertisements, or any other message that includes many different recipients without their consent.
• Students should not reveal their personal address or phone number or those of other students or staff members.
• Forgery or attempted forgery of email messages or other electronic documents is prohibited.
• Attempts to read, delete, copy, or modify the electronic mail or other electronic documents of other users or deliberate interference with the ability of other users to send/receive email is prohibited.
• Any malicious attempt to harm, alter or destroy school technology equipment or materials, the data of another user, or any of the institutions, or other networks that are connected to the Internet is prohibited.
• Email and any other use of the electronic communication systems by students shall not be considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by designated staff to ensure appropriate use of educational or administrative purposes
• School e-mail addresses are not to be given to ANY website, company, or other third party without the explicit permission of a teacher or administrator.

• Students will have access to the Strong Rock Christian School network through school owned devices, including computers in the technology labs, the Media Center and in classrooms equipped with student computers, as well as on their personal device.
• Students are prohibited from connecting any device directly to Strong Rock Christian School’s wired network. This includes personally-owned laptops and unapproved wireless routers.
• Students are prohibited from accessing faculty, administration, and staff computers as well as restricted file servers for any reason without explicit permission from the user or administrator of that computer.
• Students are prohibited from utilizing the command prompt interface. In addition to this, students are prohibited from using any method to obtain control of another person’s computer through the use of their own computer.
• Students are not to use another person’s user name or password to gain access to the Strong Rock Christian School network or Internet or trespass into another user’s files.
• Users are responsible for their individual network account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from using their account. Students should not provide their network password to any other person. If there is ever any concern about a password being compromised, the student will need to contact the Technology Director in order to have the password changed.
• Students should not intentionally waste limited resources such as paper and printer cartridges that are provided by Strong Rock Christian School. Only essential materials should be printed. Limitations may be placed on students’ permission to print if they abuse this privilege.
• Students should not use the network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users. For example, students may not download large files over the Internet during school hours.
• Users should not have food or beverages in the vicinity of Strong Rock Christian School-owned technological devices.

• Students will have filtered Internet access through school-owned devices connected to Strong Rock Christian School’s wired network.
• Students’ use of the Internet at school must be in support of education and research and be consistent with the educational objectives of Strong Rock Christian School, whether that use is on a  Strong Rock Christian School computer or a student-owned device. Misuse of the Internet is prohibited, including production or use of threatening or obscene material, and infringement of copyrighted material or material protected by trade secret.
• Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to monitor the Internet usage of all students through specialized software reporting as well as any other means available to teachers and administration. This includes school-owned computers as well as any other computers or devices that access the Internet through Strong Rock Christian School’s Internet connection or personal internet connection through another access (for example 4G or 5G networks). Students are not allowed to access inappropriate sites.
• Students may not use any social networking, instant messaging, texting, blogging, chatting, or other collaboration method to communicate with others during class, unless a teacher or administrator expressly authorizes them to do so.
• The use of the Internet and e-mail is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use could result in a cancellation of those privileges.  Strong Rock Christian School reserves the right to review any material on user accounts and to monitor file-server space in order to make determinations on whether specific uses of the network are inappropriate.
• If a student inadvertently accesses a website that contains obscene, pornographic or otherwise offensive material, the student should notify a teacher or the Director of Technology as quickly as possible so that such sites can be blocked from further access within the Strong Rock Christian School firewall.  This is not merely a request; it is a responsibility.
• The Internet is a rich and valuable source of information for education. Inappropriate materials are available on the Internet but are strictly prohibited. These materials include items of a sexual or pornographic nature, extremist or militant materials, gambling, depictions of violence, images that are intended to be abusive or harassing, etc. Students must not access, display, or store this type of material.
• These policies and procedures apply to all computing devices used at Strong Rock Christian School, including devices owned by the school, privately purchased devices (irrespective of ownership), and any device considered by the Director of Technology to fall under this policy. Teachers may set additional requirements for computer use in their classroom.
• In areas where wireless access is not available to Strong Rock Christian School’s filtered network, students may choose to use their own wireless data plan. Students using their own data plan are expected to abide by all aspects of the Strong Rock Christian School Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).

• Students must receive express, prior permission from the owner before borrowing devices, power cords, or any accessories. To act otherwise will be considered theft and the student will be referred to an administrator to face disciplinary action. If a student brings a computing device to school and then loans it to another student who uses it inappropriately, the first student may also bear some responsibility for the inappropriate use.
• Students are responsible for taking care of their computing device and accessories such as batteries and chargers.
• A student’s computing devices must not be left unattended at any time. Computing devices that are not being monitored by the student should be secured in a locked classroom or with the student at all times.
• All devices and cases should have a name tag attached to the outside of them that clearly identifies the owner.
• Students are entirely responsible for backing up their own data. Lost or damaged data is not the responsibility of the school. Computer malfunctions are not an acceptable excuse for not submitting work.
• Students are expected to take their computing devices home every day after school, regardless of whether or not they are needed. If students are participating in an afternoon activity, they must make prior arrangements to store their devices in a secure place.
• Students may make prior arrangements with a parent to pick up devices immediately following school.
• Under no circumstances should computing devices be left in unsupervised areas, including the school grounds and campus, the library/media center, unlocked classrooms, dressing rooms and hallways of buildings.
• Unsupervised computing devices will be confiscated by staff and taken to the appropriate office.

• No computer programs (executables), pornography, or copyrighted material may be distributed over the network. This rule prohibits sending files through email as well as setting up “servers” on a student’s device or by any other physical or electronic means.
• Students are responsible for ensuring that only software that is properly licensed is loaded on their computing device. Any personally-owned software that is used at school must be appropriate for the school environment and may not infringe on the productivity of the classroom setting.
• Unauthorized duplication of data or software is prohibited.
• Students are not to use electronic devices to send messages (emails or text messages or to access social networking sites or join chat rooms) during class periods without permission of a teacher.
• The volume setting on computing devices should be muted when using the device in a setting that would be distracting to others unless required for the activity being conducted.
• Any audio or video recording may not be conducted without the approval of Strong Rock Christian School Administration. No audio or video recording is permitted in bathrooms or locker rooms under any circumstances.  Students, who violate this policy, may be subject to severe disciplinary action.
• Sharing of music over the school network is strictly prohibited and is subject to appropriate consequences.
• Downloading music, videos, or software from the Internet at Strong Rock Christian School is prohibited unless specifically approved by a faculty or staff member.
• Using a computing device to play games during class time is strictly prohibited.
• Violent games and computer images containing violence or pornographic material are not allowed on school grounds in any format. This includes music with vulgar lyrics or titles, pictures, text documents, PowerPoints, etc. Any file found on a student’s device that is considered violent, obscene, vulgar or pornographic will result in immediate disciplinary action.
• Students are prohibited from disabling or attempting to disable any Internet filtering device, encrypting communications to avoid security review, or intentionally introducing a virus to the computer system.
• Downloading or using copyrighted information without permission from the copyright holder is a possible copyright infringement. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if it is discovered that a student has infringed a copyright holder’s rights and/or plagiarized material.
• Students are responsible for providing their own storage media.

• File sharing is the public or private sharing of computer data or space. Any program that creates a point–to–point connection between two or more computing devices for the purpose of sharing data is considered file sharing.
• File sharing of any kind is prohibited on campus. The only exception to this is when it is a specific assignment given by a faculty member.
• No file sharing software of any kind is to be used on school grounds. Examples of this type of software are Limewire, Bearshare, Kazaa, iMesh, etc. Although these types of programs are software downloads, they automatically create file sharing connections.

• The school will monitor computer activities that take place on campus during the school day including logging website access, newsgroup access, bandwidth, and network use.
• Any computing device used at school, even if privately owned, is subject to all policies and consequences of the AUP including the right to view the content of the device at any time.
• A computing device may be removed from a student’s possession if there is an infraction to the AUP that deserves that consequence. In this case, it will be necessary for a parent or guardian to reclaim the device from school administration.

• Students are responsible for all maintenance on personal laptops and other personally-owned devices.
• It is the responsibility of each owner to be sure that all equipment is insured.  Students are responsible for the security of personal laptops and any other personally-owned devices.
• Students must notify the school immediately if a device is discovered missing while on school grounds. If a device is reported stolen and cannot be located within a reasonable period of time, the school may require a police report to be filed.
• Damages to school devices by students are the financial responsibility of the student and his/her parents. Fees for damages will be added to the student’s account with the school. 

• Conference with an administrator.
• Loss or restriction of technology privileges, including the privilege to use personally-owned devices at school.
• Detention or suspension.
• Parental notification.
• A very serious infraction could result in dismissal/expulsion from the school.
• Students are subject to a random check of the history and activity on school-owned devices that they have used. Decisions of the Strong Rock Christian School administration regarding unacceptable computer use are final.
• Strong Rock Christian School may limit, suspend or revoke a student’s access to the school’s technology systems or the network upon violation of the AUP.
• Students are to report any known violations of this AUP to appropriate administrative staff members.