Summit Charter School - Cashiers, North Carolina

Seeking Excellence

Phone: (828) 743-5755
Fax: (828) 743-9157

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Summit Pledge

Each day in my words and in my deeds I will do my best to live these seven virtues...

Honesty
Respect
Responsibility
Self Discipline
Compassion
Perseverance
and Giving

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Family Handbook

Please familiarize yourself with this handbook and refer to it throughout the school year for any questions you may have regarding school information and family involvement.

Summit Charter School is a public school and adheres to all non-discriminatory practices for student enrollment and employment.

Our Mission
To provide a creative and nurturing educational environment that motivates our children to seek excellence within themselves and in their endeavors.

Our Philosophy

School As Community

In partnership with parents, teachers and the community, the school encourages each student to recognize and attain his or her highest potential through academic, social and personal growth.

Curriculum with Coherence

Through creative and innovative teaching methods, Summit strives to provide a positive educational progression and to stimulate a passion for life long learning. Education is not confined to the classroom, our students are inspired to learn at home and in their community. They are encouraged to explore, understand, and serve the world around them.

Climate for Learning

Every student is encouraged to become a disciplined, creative, motivated learner. Summit serves the whole child, acknowledging that a student’s physical, social and emotional well being affects learning. Summit provides a learning environment that is focused and purposeful.

Commitment to Character

Summit is concerned with the ethical and moral dimensions of a child’s life. The school emphasizes, through the curriculum, seven core virtues:

Honesty Respect Responsibility Compassion Self-Discipline Giving Perseverance

Students are expected to apply these virtues inside and outside of the classroom. They are given the opportunity to participate in service projects throughout the academic year.

Curriculum/Philosophy

The curriculum at Summit is continually developed and improved through a process using numerous resources and teacher input. Each class has a curriculum outlining what should be taught within each specific base camp. The curriculum, like many other things, is an evolving work in progress and one that is examined and updated frequently. Teachers use the curriculum as a tool to plan activities and design innovative, interesting lessons. Summit’s educational program is implemented with the framework of the philosophy of Dr. Ernest Boyer and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. There are four priorities: the School as Community, a Curriculum with Coherence, a Climate for Learning, and a Commitment to Character. The school is dedicated to this philosophy and teachers strive to continue the journey of becoming a Basic School.

Board of Trustees

The school, as an educational institution incorporated under the laws of North Carolina to be run as non-profit, is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board consists of a maximum of 21 voting members. The Director, a teacher representative, and the Summit Family Association president serve as ex-officio members. Members of the Board, made up primarily of parents and community representatives, serve a term of 3 years with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The Board, through various committees, concerns itself with school finances, capital needs, and school policies. The Board employs the Director, who in turn, recruits the other faculty and staff.

Board meetings are scheduled on a quarterly basis. All board members are expected to attend, along with the elected teacher representative and the Summit Family Association representative. Meetings are also open to the public. A list of current board members and a schedule of meetings for the school year is posted in the front office and are also available in the school calendar/family directory and web site.

Committees

Numerous committees are open to parent and teacher volunteers. The Standing Committees are listed below. A list of members and the committee chairs is available in the Summit Charter School Information Notebook, located in the DMRC (school library). All committees except EXECUTIVE and FINANCE are open to parents. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please notify the chairperson.

Standing Committees
Buildings and Grounds, Trustees, Summit Charter School Foundation, Inc., Executive, Finance/Audit.

Administrative Chain of Command

If parents have a concern about their child, they should first speak with the base camp teacher. In the event that a situation should arise that must be dealt with by the administration, the chain of command is as follows:

Atrium Lead Teacher
Director
Board Chair

Athletic Policy

Students in grades 6-8 are expected to follow the Athletic Policy guidelines for Summit Athletic Programs. A complete copy of the Athletic Policy is on file in the Summit Charter School Information Notebook located in the DMRC.

Attendance

Parents or guardians must sign in all late arriving students at the front office.

All early dismissals must also go through the front office. A parent or guardian must sign the student out. No students may be released from the classroom without a call from office personnel.

Late arrival to school and early dismissal from school will be monitored. School hours are from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM. Students are expected to be in attendance during these hours. Late arrivals and early dismissals are very disruptive to the classroom and demonstrate a lack of respect for the school schedule, the teachers, and students. A child must be present for ½ of the instructional day in order to be counted present. By state law a note from the parents/guardian is required after an absence in order for the absence to be counted as excused. Without a note the absence will be counted as unexcused.

It is considered to be a violation of the Parent Partnership Agreement if a student’s absences meet or exceed 10% of the school days to that point of the school year (i.e. 6 of 60, 10 of 100, 18 for the year).
Before/After Care

Before Care (7:30 – 8:45am) and After Care (3:30 – 5:30pm) may be available to students through services provided by The Hampton School. This is a contracted service; fees and rules are not set by Summit. All students must have a completed enrollment form on file for emergency use. Parents who plan to use this service on a continuing basis must inform the person in charge in advance. At the end of the school day, any students who have not been picked up by 3:45 PM will be sent to After Care. Parents will have to pay a fee for this service.
Classroom Expectations

Each teacher will devise and post a set of classroom rules. Expectations are kept short and simple so students can remember them easily. Students should be made aware of rules and review them often. Conduct of middle school students is graded and averaged with other academic grades each quarter.

Class Parties

To avoid extravagant interruptions, parents are discouraged from organizing classroom parties to celebrate their child’s birthday unless the activity can be fit into the mid-morning snack or into the lunch period without disturbance. Please check with your child’s teacher concerning classroom policy.
Discipline

At Summit we expect all of our students to behave properly. Teachers maintain effective discipline practices in their classroom at all times. The teachers at the beginning of each school year will outline discipline procedures. Students should always be expected to know and follow the Summit Pledge.
Diversity
We prize the cultural, socio-economic and philosophical diversity we find among our families and student body. Our task is to help our children appreciate differences in others while valuing themselves. We must help children recognize the biases that exist in our society as we create an environment that challenges stereotypes and prejudices. We should plan no school activities in places that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or national origin.
Dress Code

Summit Charter School students are expected to adhere to the prescribed dress code at all times during the course of the school day. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary measures.

For Boys and Girls:

Upper Body

Shirt Style

Color - solid

Mesh Polo (short/long sleeve)

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Knit Polo (short/long sleeve)

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Mock Turtleneck

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Turtleneck

white, crayon yellow, hunter green or navy blue

Henley shirt (low collar, with buttons)

white, crayon yellow, hunter green or navy blue

Shirt (male)

white (button collar)

Blouse (female)

white (collar)

Overwear Style (worn inside school)

Color - solid, no pattern

V-neck sweater

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Crew neck sweater

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Cardigan sweater

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Sweater vest

white, crayon yellow, hunter green, navy blue, maize

Sweatshirt (crew or zip front)

white, crayon yellow, hunter green or navy blue

* Overwear worn inside school must be hoodless. Hooded sweatshirts, fleece jackets and vests

in school colors with no logos may be worn outside the classroom.

Lower body

Chino Pants(Dress style)

navy blue, khaki

Chino Shorts

navy blue, khaki

(Dress style; walking shorts length)

Skorts

navy blue, khaki

Pleated skirts

navy blue, khaki

A-line skirts

navy blue, khaki

(2" above the knee)

Jumpers

navy blue, khaki, hunter green

* Material may be cotton twill or corduroy, no knit sweatpants, cargo pants, or patch pocketed pants.

Waistband on pants should be at waist or no more than 1" below.

Low riders and hip huggers are not dress code. No double stitching or rivets are allowed.

Socks (in school colors, no patterns)

navy, white, crayon yellow, khaki or hunter green

Tights

navy, white, crayon yellow, hunter green

Hose

neutral, taupe, beige or tan

Shoes

parents' discretion; shoes must be closed toe & closed, low heel.

Belts

solid in school colors, solid brown or solid black.

Ties (optional)

solid in school colors

1.Only Summit Charter School logos may be worn.

2. Appropriate jewelry may be worn (this is at the Director's discretion). Boys: No earrings.

Girls: Post earring or small hoops only. No large hoops or dangles.

3. Shirts are to be tucked in.

4. No scarves or other fabric accessories may be added.

5. No hats may be worn inside the school (hats may be worn for warmth outside the school).

6. Summit team hoodies may be worn by athletes on game days only.

Drop-off/Pick-up

Students should not be on campus prior to 8:45 AM unless they are being tutored, are in the Before Care program, or are accompanied by an adult. Drop off is between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM. You must enter the school from Highway 64, behind the Village Green. Please form two lines, stopping at the orange cones. At 8:45 the orange cones will be moved, and you will begin pulling up in a single line to the covered portico, taking turns with the cars next to you. There will be adults there to open car doors and assist children. Please do not pull into the parking lot, the post office, or anywhere else to drop off your children. This creates a real hazard for the children and other community members who may be using those areas.

Pick up for students is at 3:30 PM. Again, please enter from Highway 64, behind the Village Green. Display your car number from your rear-view mirror. Form two lines and proceed to the covered portico at the front of the school. Students are expected to remain seated and quiet until their car number is called. At that time, they will be escorted to their vehicles, four cars at a time. Please watch and listen closely to the person dismissing students…he or she will tell you when you may safely move your car. Any students not picked up by 3:45 PM will be escorted to After Care, and a fee will be charged.

Walkers will be dismissed from campus and escorted to the road by a faculty member. If your child is to ride home with an individual other than yourself, a note is required.
Enrolling/Withdrawing Students

We try to offer families interested in Summit as much information as possible. Prior to enrolling a student, families are required to meet with the Director and tour the facilities.

Prior to enrollment, parents will need to complete an application for each potential student. This should be done through the front office. Final enrollment is done in the spring. Class size is limited. If needed, Summit will go to a lottery system to finalize enrollment and a waiting list will be formed. The school accepts students from anywhere in North Carolina regardless of race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin. For additional information regarding enrollment procedures, please refer questions to the front office.

If a student must be withdrawn for any reason, please notify the front office. For our attendance records, we will need to know the date and reason for withdrawal. We will also need to gather the student’s records to transfer to the school he/she enters.
Exceptional Children’s Program

Summit Charter School serves students of various levels and abilities within the classroom (inclusion model) as well as resource room and one-to-one instruction. If your child has been served by the Exceptional Children’s Program at a previous school, please inform Summit at the time of enrollment to insure placement and completion of necessary paperwork. If you currently have a child in the ECP, please meet and cooperate with the special education teacher to ensure the Individual Education Plan (IEP) is current and adequate progress is being made. For additional information, please contact the special education teacher.

Facility Use

Summit School strives to be a true “community school” and is always willing to allow outside groups/organizations to use our facility whenever possible. Groups requesting use of our facilities should contact the office by phone or letter in order to make arrangements.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Summit Charter School, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s records. However, Summit Charter School may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the school to the contrary in accordance with Board procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Summit Charter School to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

* A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production
* The annual yearbook
* Honor roll or other recognition lists
* Graduation programs and
* Sports activity sheets, such as for baseball, soccer and other school sports
* School calendar and directory

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that publish yearbooks and local news agencies.

If you do not want Summit Charter School to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify Summit Charter School in writing by the tenth day of each new school year. Summit Charter School has designated the following information as directory information:

* Student name
* Address
* Telephone listing
* Photograph
* Dates of attendance
* Grade level
* Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
* Degrees, honors and awards received

Summit Charter School, by making this information available to parents on a yearly basis, is in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001as described in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. A complete copy of this law may be viewed online at www.ed.gov.
Field Trips

There are many places in the western North Carolina region, which are well worth class visits. Classrooms may choose to go on field trips periodically throughout the year. Parents can assist by promptly returning the necessary paperwork, adhering to schedules and by offering to chaperone. Field trips are an educational experience which allows students to visit new and interesting places. Please note that chaperoning a field trip is a huge responsibility. Parents should follow the teacher’s directions explicitly and should not bring siblings.

Parents who are willing to drive their car and transport children on a school trip must file their current license, registration and insurance card with the front office.
Homework

Homework is an integral part of the instructional program. Purposes of homework include promoting independent study habits, developing responsibility and self-direction, and reinforcing school learning by providing necessary practice. Homework is the student’s responsibility. The parent should encourage the child to fulfill this responsibility and should provide a suitable study area. Summit has adopted a homework policy that states all students will have homework each night Monday-Thursday. The type and amount will vary by age/grade. Homework should be recorded by the student (or teacher in the younger grades) in the student’s learning log/assignment book on a daily basis. The classroom teacher will provide additional information regarding homework.
Immunization Requirements

The North Carolina Immunization Law has been amended effective July 1, 1987. The law, .0401 NCAC 7A(a) describes the immunizations required. Immunizations must be placed in the student’s cumulative file within the first 30 days of the school year (or the enrollment date for student transfers). For additional information, please contact the front office.

Inclement Weather/Early Dismissal

In the event of inclement weather, the Director will make a decision whether to cancel school, remain on a regular schedule, or call for a late start. At the time of decision, the Director will initiate the faculty phone tree. Once the faculty phone tree is initiated, the teacher should initiate his/her own class phone tree to notify parents. The class phone tree will list the youngest or only child as the contact. Other means of obtaining weather information include:

WYFF-Channel 4-Greenville

WLOS-Channel 13-Asheville

School Message-743-5755

In the event of a late start, school will begin at 10:00am for students. There will be no Before Care offered on days that school has a late start. Regardless of the decision, parents should not bring their child(ren) to school if they feel that their safety is at risk.
*Please note that for the purpose of inclement weather, Summit is not listed as a Jackson County school. Watch or listen for information specific to Summit Charter School.

Life Journeys/Group Discovery

A staff member along with parent volunteers are charged with planning and implementing these programs to be held on alternating Wednesday afternoons, one of each per month throughout the school year. These programs provide supplemental learning experiences that cannot be offered in the regular classroom setting and provide staff with needed planning and curriculum development time. Parent and community volunteers are encouraged to host a program and share their specific interests and areas of expertise with students. Arrangements to volunteer can be made by contacting the volunteer coordinator.
Lunch

Students should bring lunch from home each day. Parents should choose healthy selections and nutritious juice drinks. There is not a microwave or refrigerator available, so students should carry ice packs for cold items and not bring items that require warming or cooking. Parents are always encouraged to join their child for lunch. Please check with the classroom teacher about lunch times. It is the school’s policy that parents should not bring in “fast food” for their child. Students are not allowed to have beverages containing caffeine on campus.
Mascot/School Colors

The mascot for Summit Charter School is the Explorer Bear designed by Codi Moore at the school’s opening. School colors match the dress code and include hunter green, navy blue, khaki, yellow green and white.
Medication

Teachers are not allowed to keep or distribute medicine in the classroom. All medication will be kept in the office to be distributed at the appropriate time. In accordance with North Carolina statutes, all medication must be in it’s original container and accompanied by a doctor’s note. Parents are responsible for notifying the front office of all medication needs and for personally delivering the medication to the front office. Students will be allowed to leave class and walk to the front office to receive medication.

The school staff cannot administer any medication (prescription or over the counter) to a child unless it is ordered and prescribed by a doctor. We must have a doctor’s note on file indicating dosage, the amount to be given, and the time of administration for each medication. All medications must be brought to the front office by parents in the original container, and the markings on the container must match the doctor’s note. Medications may also be brought in and administered by a parent on school grounds. No student may possess any type of medication (including cough drops and inhalers) while attending school or a school function. This policy is in accordance with the NC Department of Public Instruction.
Parent Partnership Agreement

Summit Charter School is founded upon trust and responsibility shared among parents, teachers, students and community. Parents in particular are viewed as their child’s primary teachers, and the home as the foundation for learning. Parents and students sign a Parent Partnership Agreement to actively support their child’s education and the school.
Progress Reports

The teachers at the conclusion of each quarterly grading period will complete progress reports. Conferences will be held to discuss and distribute progress reports to parents.
School Sponsored Activities

Parents should support all school-sponsored activities and are encouraged to attend as many events as possible. Parents are needed to volunteer for activities in their child’s classroom, or they can sign up as volunteers to assist in family activities sponsored by the SFA. Parents will be notified of upcoming events.

Summit Family Association (SFA)

The Summit Family Association (SFA) is an active organization that meets monthly, organizes fund-raisers, and provides numerous opportunities for families to become involved in various aspects of the school. Parents and teachers are expected to attend meetings and participate in activities. The SFA elects officers on an annual basis at the end of the school year for the following year. A list of current officers and the SFA By-laws are on file in the school library. SFA sponsored committees that depend on parent volunteers include:

Homeroom Parents

Academic Affairs

Public Relations Committee

Yearbook Parents

Events Committee

Volunteer Committee

As well as:

Homeroom Parents

Yearbook Parents

New Family Ambassadors

Sally Foster

Parents who would like to volunteer for one of these committees should contact the SFA president. For any additional information, comments, or questions please contact the president.

Testing

Summit Charter School participates in the statewide accountability-testing model and will administer the standardized tests in accordance with the set guidelines. A schedule of testing will be distributed. Testing will be handled by the Testing Coordinator and teachers will be trained prior to administration. All students are expected to participate in the state testing program and parents should encourage their child to do their absolute best on these tests. Test results will be shared with parents at the conclusion of testing.

Summit Charter School has also chosen to administer the nationally normed Iowa Test of Basic Skills to students in grades 4 – 8. In 3rd grade, students are assessed through CTP4 comprehensive testing program and the Cognitive Test of Basic Skills/2. Parents will be notified of the dates of test administration.

Tobacco, Weapons, Drugs

Summit Charter School allows NO tobacco products, weapons or drugs on campus at any time.

Tutoring

Tutoring may be made available to students upon the recommendation of the teacher. Should you be contacted about your child receiving tutoring services, please assist your child and our volunteers by adhering to the tutoring schedule and promptly transporting your child to or from the tutoring sessions. Other tutoring opportunities may be available throughout the year. If these opportunities should arise, you will receive information from the office.

Visitors
All visitors must check in at the front office and obtain a Visitors Badge. The badge must be worn in a visible place while on campus. Please return the badge to the office when you leave campus. Parents are asked to check into the office as well. Please do not go directly to the classroom.

Volunteerism

Volunteerism plays an integral part of Summit and continues to be the backbone for its success. Parents are expected to volunteer a minimum of 4 hours per child per month to help support Summit. A full explanation can be found in the Parent Partnership Agreement. A Monthly Summary sheet will be on the back of the calendar for each month. Please log volunteer hours and return the sheet to school at the end of each month. A succinct summary of acceptable volunteer opportunities will be distributed at the beginning of each school year and are posted on the web site.

Volunteer are asked to complete authorization papers for background checks.

Water Bottles

Keeping hydrated is important to overall health. Children should bring a bottle of water with them to school each day.

Ways You Can Support Summit

* Sign up for Tools for Schools at Ingles Summit receives credit from your purchases and can choose school equipment from a catalogue provided by Ingles.
* When shopping online go through www.schoolpop.com first to see if the store you want is listed. If it is, Summit will receive a percentage back on your purchase.
* Link your Target credit card to Summit Charter School. The school will receive a % of your purchase.

The list above can be shared with friends and family members. It is amazing how quickly these little things add up.

(Revised 8/10/06)

Our Philosophy School As Community

Our Philosophy

School As Community