e Mission
We lead learners in the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, training them to love what is true, good, and beautiful, and enculturating them in a Christian environment marked by gratitude, discipline, and wonder
Our Deep Hope
We desire that the students and faculty from our school would
● Passionately love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength
● Genuinely display Christian character and virtue in all of life
● Eagerly apply the tools of learning in a lifelong pursuit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge
● Winsomely engage the world around them with a Christian worldview
● Courageously live by the truth
Our Commitment
We are committed to serving Christian families in the Sioux Falls area by providing an academically rich and rewarding classical, Christian, and collaborative education that focuses on the formation of students
Our Distinctives
Discipleship Modeled
Covenant Classical is discipleship-oriented in its mission Although we highly value evangelism as Christian individuals, the school exists to partner with Christian families to educate students in the Christian Faith, e uipping them to be culture shapers and a blessing to the world Covenant Classical does not o er admission to families who are not Christians and who do not agree to abide with our Statement of Faith.
Faculty, Sta , and Board Re uirements
All of the school’s employees and Board Members must sign a rming that they have read the school’s Statement of Faith (and mission statement), are in agreement with its content, and are members in a church that seeks to abide by one of the Protestant statements of faith from the school’s “Book of Confessions.” e Board reserves the right to make exceptions, when it deems appropriate, in rare and extraordinary situations (e g when a church is not formally governed by, but agrees with, a statement from the “Book of Confessions”).
We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexual conduct, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, any use of pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and o ensive to God.
Regarding life: We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God (Gen 1:26-27) Human life at all stages including pre-born, disabled, and elderly should be valued, respected, and protected (Psalm 139).
Regarding creation: We believe that God created everything out of nothing and that He created it good While various views on the age of the earth exist among faithful Christians, Covenant Classical School teaches that God created the world in the space of six ordinary days and that God rested on the seventh Because of this, we believe that the Darwinian theory of evolution is at odds with the truth of Scripture.
A Brief and Untechnical Statement of the Reformed Faith, by B B War eld1
1 I believe that my one aim in life and death should be to glorify God and enjoy Him forever; and that God teaches me how to glorify and enjoy him in His holy Word, that is, the Bible, which He has given by the infallible inspiration of His Holy Spirit in order that I may certainly know what I am to believe concerning Him and what duty He re uires of me
2 I believe that God is a Spirit, in nite, eternal and incomparable in all that He is; one God but three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Sancti er; in whose power and wisdom, righteousness, goodness and truth I may safely put my trust.
3. I believe that the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, are the work of God's hands; and that all that He has made He directs and governs in all their actions; so that they ful l the end for which they were created, and I who trust in Him shall not be put to shame but may rest securely in the protection of is almighty love.
4. I believe that God created man a er is own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, and entered into a covenant of life with him upon the sole condition of the obedience that was his due: so that it was by wilfully sinning against God that man fell into the sin and misery in which I have been born.
1 From John E. Meeter, ed., Selected Shorter Writings of Benjamin B. Warfield, Vol. I (Nutley, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1970), 407-410. https://www.monergism.com/brief-and-untechnical-statement-reformed-faith
2. Foster a classroom environment, especially at the secondary level, of love, respect and charity among students
3 Be encouraged to charitably present the various sides of a secondary issue
4 Seek to maintain unity among our students and families according to our Statement of Faith and by not teaching secondary doctrines as primary and not disparaging secondary doctrinal beliefs that are contrary to their personal convictions
5. Encourage students to seek the support and instruction of their parents and their local church
e following list is not exhaustive but represents some of the secondary doctrine discussions that may occur (mainly) at the secondary level:
1 Age of the earth
We read Genesis 1–3 from the framework of an orthodox Christian perspective. We will teach from the perspective of a literal 24-hour day but will open the discussion up in secondary years, where we will discuss other views as possible interpretations
2 Eschatology
We will teach about the imminent return of Jesus and that the dead will be raised to eternal life or eternal judgment is will expand, in the secondary years, to discussion of four held views of eschatology: dispensational premillennialism,* historical premillennialism,† amillennialism,‡ and partial preterist postmillennialism §
*Dispensational premillennialism: Dispensational premillennialism teaches that Christ will return twice: first to rapture believers before a seven-year tribulation, and then to reign for 1,000 years on Earth, fulfilling promises to Israel It emphasizes a literal interpretation of prophecy and distinguishes between God’s plans for Israel and the Church
†Historical premillennialism: A non-literal interpretation of the trials described in Revelation, this view holds to the imminent return of Christ a er a period of tribulation with a following age of peace where Satan is bound until right before the final judgment
‡Amillennialism: e millennium is symbolic and represents the time of Church growth that is spiritual rather than physical Jesus' imminent return will occur a er a “millennium” of people coming to Christ ere are various aspects to timing held within this view
§Postmillennialism: Satan was bound at the cross, the millennial period is a period of time rather than a literal thousand years During this millennium the gospel will spread “to the ends of the earth” until death is the last to be conquered and put under Jesus’ feet, when the earth will be transformed in the “blink of an eye ” with Jesus’ imminent return is view holds that many of the New Testament prophetic passages were fulfilled by the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD
Uniform Policy
For more information, please see the Uniform Policy.
Discipline Policy
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it ” –Hebrews 12:11
Covenant Classical School recognizes that the purpose of discipline is to develop our fellowship and love for God and neighbor (Mark 12:30-31) Discipline is necessary for discipleship To this end, discipline is not meant to simply modify outward behavior, but to train the heart to love Jesus
General Guidelines
Discipline is administered in light of severity, situation, and attitude of the individual student. e kind of discipline may be determined by the teachers, and if necessary, Administration (e g , Head of School) following the guidelines below Any disciplinary action must be done in love with the hope of restoration
Classroom Discipline
God is a God of order and our teachers foster this order through classroom management (1 Cor 14:33, 40) Students will be asked to behave in a way that fosters respect for their teacher especially as it relates to love for God and their neighbors in class. General behaviors that can be corrected in-class include:
● Minor classroom disruption
● Nuisance behavior to teacher or students
● Inappropriate use of classroom material
ree opportunities may be o ered to help students course-correct If a teacher needs assistance, a student may be sent to the o ce
O ce Visits
Overt behaviors which re uire administrative involvement necessitates parent noti cation Depending on the severity of the infraction, students may need to be picked up immediately from school and in some cases, receive suspension. For discipline to be e ective, it is imperative for teachers and parents to behave as a team. If this can’t be accomplished, a student may need to be unenrolled until such a time as an agreement can be reached
● Flagrant disrespect shown to sta
● Dishonesty (e g , lying, cheating, stealing)
● De ance (e g , outright disobedience, consistent correction, or rebellion)
● Fighting (e g , striking with the intention to harm another student)
● Bullying (i e , when a student deliberately harasses another student during or outside of school and includes cyber-bullying)
● Enabling another’s bad behavior
● Acts that endanger the lives of another person
● Vandalism
● e
● Inappropriate use of school property or facility
● Inappropriate language (e g , obscene, vulgar, profane)
● Romantic displays of a ection (e.g., kissing, hu ing, hand-holding, etc.)
● Sexual misconduct (e g , inappropriate touching, use of pornography, etc )
● Illegal substance abuse (e g , drug or alcohol use)
● Weapons on campus (e.g., guns, knives, etc.)
Potential Discipleship Opportunities During an O ce Visit ese activities are designed to encourage personal growth, re ection, and responsibility:
● Helping Clean and Care for Our Spaces
○ Tidying common areas and picking up trash
○ Freshening up bathrooms
○ Sweeping or vacuuming oors
○ Wiping down desks, walls, and whiteboards
○ Assisting with outdoor clean-up
● Building Physical Endurance and Self-Discipline
○ Wall sits
○ Jumping jacks
○ Short laps
○ Push-ups
○ Burpees
● Re ective and Restorative Actions
○ Writing a re ective note on what happened and what could be done di erently
○ Taking steps to make things right and show responsibility
○ Practicing asking for forgiveness when appropriate
○ Temporarily giving up certain privileges as a reminder of responsibility
○ Practicing expected behaviors to reinforce positive habits
○ If needed, taking a break for the rest of the day to re ect at home
Degrees of discipline
e degree of discipline depends on the severity of the o ense and falls somewhere along (but not limited to) this continuum*:
1 Verbal warnings (e g , student’s opportunity to self-correct)
2 Acknowledging o ense and making apologies (public o enses prompt public apologies, private o enses prompt personal apologies)
3 Making restitution
4 Changing of location (e g , desk/chair change)
5 Sitting out of an activity
6 Documentation for student/parent le
7. Removing of some privilege (e.g., eld trip)
8. Community Service (e.g., janitorial work)
9. Sent home (e.g., early pick-up)
10 Detention
11 Parental attendance during the school day
12 Suspension
13 Expulsion
Re-Admittance
Should a student who was expelled, or who withdrew to prevent expulsion, desire to be readmitted to Covenant Classical School at a later date, they would re uire a discipline hearing involving the parents, teachers, and school Administration. e Disciplinary Council, in consultation with the Head of School, will make a decision based on the student's attitude and circumstances
Electronic Device Policy
Use of personal electronic devices (i e , phones, smart phones, portable gaming devices, smart watches etc ) by students is prohibited on campus Such devices may be brought to school, but they must be checked in at the school o ce during school hours
● Use of laptops is permissible for secondary academic purposes only under the pre-approved direction and supervision of a teacher
● A rst violation of this policy will result in immediate con scation of the device, to be released to a parent or guardian.
● A second violation of this policy will result in a parent conference with Administration.
● A third violation of this policy will result in a disciplinary hearing
● Covenant Classical School accepts no responsibility for use, breakage, the , or loss of phone or other personal items.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating is de ned as looking at another’s work without the teacher’s permission or communicating with another during an exam without the teacher’s permission
Plagiarism is de ned as using another’s work without acknowledging and thanking them for the use
If either cheating or plagiarism is noticed, the assignment or exam will immediately receive a 0 Parents will be noti ed A second cheating or plagiarism infraction will result in a Disciplinary Council review.
Dress Code Violation
If faculty notices a dress code violation, they will inform Administration (Dean of Students or Head of School), and Administration will notify parents through a Dress Code Violation Form (via ClassReach) A er 4 dress code violations, an o ce visit will follow in addition to email noti cation A er the 5th violation within a semester, the student will be sent home Subse uent dress code violations will re uire the Dean of Students to treat the violations as o ce visits in accordance with the discipline policy.
*A dress code violation is something that cannot be corrected in class
Grading Policy
Conduct Items
● Speaks at the appropriate time
● Respects & obeys authority
● Treats others with kindness & patience
● Completes work on time & comes prepared to class
● Works hard when faced with something di cult
○ Rhetoric Section
Mathematics
● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work
● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade
Science
● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work
● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade
Music & Art
● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work
● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade
Latin
● 1 hard grade* per week of homework/practice work
● 1 assessment every other week as a hard grade
*Hard grade: a er practicing the child will be assessed on mastery or improvement.
Review week and nals week before Christmas
Review week and nals week at the end of the year
Parent Communication
● Grades will be communicated through ClassReach
● Conduct items will be entered prior to the Fall and Spring Parent-Partnership Meetings
● A parent-partnership meeting will be held in the fall and the spring Please see our calendar for dates Teachers will contact parents if a student is stru ling academically or socially
● Please use ClassReach as the best way to communicate important information with the sta
Expected
Age Group
Homework Load
School Nights (as needed) At Home Days
Grades at Covenant Classical School do not in any way re ect the immeasurable worth and value of each child made in God’s image, but rather they are a re ection of the uality of work in a given eld of study at a given time At Covenant Classical School, grades serve three basic purposes:
1 To help students to improve
2 To determine the best placement level considering academic ability
3 To provide a just and legitimate means of holding students accountable for the uality of their work
Grades provide a widely understood means of communicating progress and achievement to parents and other parties such as college entrance boards or other schools to which the young student may transfer
Individual Grades
Covenant Classical School will use a uni ue method of grading that ensures students have time to “practice” before they receive a grade erefore regular feedback within the scope of the class regarding new concepts will be given and “practice” grades will be recorded within the gradebook. Magnum Opus assignments (best work), that will more greatly a ect overall standings, will also be recorded for transcript purposes Consistent with educating the whole child, both attitude and e ort will be considered within our grading systems
Group Project Grades
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone ” –1 essalonians 5:14
Group projects are a part of coursework and it should be expected that grading of these will not be individualized because we believe that character in community reveals the heart Covenant Classical School cares even more about the heart than the academics, group projects allow teachers to see where character work is needed, and since we are preparing students for life, not just college, character in Christian community is integral to “Loving God and Loving Neighbor” (Matt 22:36–40).
Failing and Retakes
Retakes will be le to the teacher’s discretion. A student who has simply failed for a lack of understanding may be given another opportunity to prove their understanding a er further practice A student who neglected their studies and therefore failed, may not be given a retake opportunity.
If a student fails an entire course, the student, parents, and teacher will meet with the Board (or Head of School) to determine the best course of action for the student Circumstances, understanding of directions, and e ort will all be taken into consideration
Parents will be noti ed within three weeks of the end of the grading period if their student is in jeopardy of failing.
Parent Communication and Involvement
At Covenant Classical School, we recognize that parents are ultimately responsible for the education and ourishing of their children We believe that educators are facilitators and advisors as parents pursue this important work.
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled as needed. We encourage teachers and parents to communicate regularly about how the student is doing and to schedule formal meetings as needed
Teachers may be contacted through ClassReach outside of regular working hours When addressing any concerns, parents should copy the Head of School to keep the school informed of classroom circumstances. Teachers will do the same when addressing concerns via emails with parents.
If you have a concern about curriculum content, Covenant Classical School policy, or philosophy, communicate with the Head of School If you have uestions about the weekly workings of a particular classroom (e g , homework load), contact the Lead Teacher through ClassReach At no time should an individual student’s problem be addressed to non-involved parties. In the great majority of cases, if you have worked patiently and in good faith, with the teacher and directors, you will nd a satisfactory resolution
Please follow Matthew 18:15 to determine the proper order of communication: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother”
Honor Code
Parent Honor Code
I am placing my child as a student at Covenant Classical School because I care about my child being educated both in character and in academics. I understand that my child will be educated under a Christian worldview and that loving God and neighbor are primary tenants of Covenant Classical School I also understand that the responsibility of Christian nurture is ultimately the responsibility
of parents (Eph. 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:7–9). I understand the importance of participation in a local church and cultivating an at-home spiritual environment to the raising of my student(s) in the Lord
Part of loving God and neighbor means being on time, present, and respectful Covenant Classical School has been very thoughtful in developing a school schedule that allows for solid family time during summers, holidays and various breaks. For this reason, I understand that school attendance is a way of loving teachers and classmates and I will ensure that my child is present and on time unless an emergency arises In cases of planned absences or important family time, I understand that it is my responsibility to communicate with the teachers and make a plan for the class time my child will miss without putting an excessive burden on the teachers I also understand that poor attendance may cause my child to fall behind
I understand that a Uniform Policy is a way of loving those around us by respecting a uni ed and meaningful representation of our school culture, including professionalism, modesty and our distinct values I will make sure that my child follows the uniform policy so that this culture is maintained
I understand that my child will need to submit to the authority of Covenant Classical School faculty and sta during school events. I also understand that I will be ultimately responsible for my child’s behavior while at Covenant Classical School and thereby will follow the directives of the school as outlined below
If a discipline note goes home from a teacher or the Head of School, I understand that I need to work with my child on changing their behavior through the heart, by encouraging them to seek forgiveness
If my child continues to incur infractions, it will be clear to me that I need to deal more seriously and consistently with my child I also understand that my child will be dealt with in accordance with the discipline policy outlined in this handbook and that I will need to meet with the Head of School in cases of excessive o ce visits to work out a plan designed to correct my child’s disruptive behavior
If my child continues to remain unresponsive to correction, I understand that my child may be subject to a disciplinary hearing as outlined by the discipline policy of this handbook. I also agree that if my child is subject to a disciplinary hearing before an appointed council for excessive o ce visits or for any extreme ungodly behavior that impedes school culture, that I will abide by the council's decision. If the council decides to suspend or expel my child, I understand that Tuition will not be reimbursed
I understand that the teachers at Covenant Classical School aim to educate the whole person and will keep the wellbeing of the student in mind erefore, all e orts will be made to not impede grading as it may a ect my child’s next steps
By enrolling my child in Covenant Classical School, I understand the important mission to special needs children I know that with this may come exposure for my child to uni ue behaviors such as ts, undressing in inappropriate places (typical of autism), and/or outbursts not common to most classrooms I understand that Covenant Classical School will notify me if my child is exposed to
● Using obscene, vulgar, or profane language
● Harassing, tormenting, threatening, embarrassing, humiliating, insulting, or attacking others
● Texting or social media interaction with teachers
ClassReach communication is permitted for students, parents, and teachers
Health & Wellness
Lunch
Students will bring packed lunches to be eaten in their classroom or outside if the weather permits Please pack lunches that do not have to be heated or refrigerated Please alert us of any severe allergies so that we are aware (please provide an epinephrine pen if severe reactions occur) At Covenant Classical School, we value health and wellness, so please keep this in mind when packing lunches, as your young students will be learning about nutrition, a balanced diet, etc A well “fueled” brain enhances the learning experience
Snacks
Parents are welcome to send an easy to eat snack (we recommend a nutritious snack) for mid-morning Water is the only beverage allowed to accompany snacks
Health Records
Covenant Classical School does not re uire information regarding immunizations Covenant Classical School should be noti ed of any severe allergies or health concerns.
Administration of Medicines
Covenant Classical School Administration may administer over-the-counter medication to the children in their care but only with authorization from the child’s parent or guardian through the ClassReach release form
Covenant Classical School reserves the right to refuse the responsibility of prescription administration for any reason. If this occurs, we will be happy to accommodate parent visits during the day for the purpose of medication administration
Illness Policy
In consideration of your child’s wellness and to prevent the spread of illness to classmates and teachers, we kindly ask that a young student should be symptom-free a full 24 hours from the following before returning to onsite classes:
● Fever Temperature of 100 degrees or above without the use of fever-reducing medication
● Vomiting/diarrhea
● Please do not send children to school with highly contagious illnesses such as strep, hand/foot/mouth, or pinkeye (to name a few)
Government Agency Re uests
Covenant Classical School values our parent partnership and as such we will notify parents of any interaction with a government agency such as child protective services, as it relates to your child Our policy is as follows:
● Parents will be noti ed and their presence re uested prior to a government agency being allowed to interview a child during school hours
● Covenant Classical School will do its best to uphold this policy with any government agency but cannot be held liable if we are not able to get a hold of a family or if the government agency uses legal force to demand the interview
Academic Schedule
Calendar
e Academic Calendar is located on our website
Daily Schedule
Monday and Wednesday are on-campus days Tuesday, ursday, and Friday are at-home days
Arrival and Dismissal
Students are able to arrive between 8:00 AM and 8:15 AM
Students must be picked up between 3:30 PM and 3:45 PM
A fee will be implemented if there is early arrival or late pick up Consistent early arrival or late pick up will constitute a meeting with Administration
Attendance
Covenant Classical School has intentionally set its vacations, schedule, and structure to allow important time for families. By registering a child in Covenant Classical School, the parent or guardian is agreeing to this schedule and it is loving to the community of students to be in attendance Emergencies or important family time arise from time to time; therefore students have 6 Core academic days* within each semester for school absences without conse uence to their credits unless pre-approvals are arranged We ask that the Administration be noti ed as soon as
possible for any absences. A student that surpasses 12 days, or a total of 6 days in a semester, will be subject to a Board (or committee review) review
For sickness, please notify administration through the ClassReach form provided
For prolonged periods of absence (to extend beyond the 6 academic days in a semester), please get pre-approval from the Head of School All work would need to be followed up a er the absence and educational packets will not be provided.
*Emergency situations will obviously be taken into consideration.
Tardies
A student who arrives later than 8:15 AM is considered tardy. Four tardies within a month will constitute a parent email A 5th tardy will result in an o ce visit Subse uent tardies will be treated as o ce visits in accordance with the discipline policy
Enrollment Policy
Enrollment Process
1. General In uiry
2. Family Interview Re uest
3. Admissions Interview
4 Assessment of student
5 Application
6 Enrollment
7 Tuition Agreement
Tuition
For more information, please see the Tuition Guide
Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance System coming soon.
Evaluations
1. Teachers will evaluate students regularly for the purpose of assessing skill and knowledge
2. Teachers are evaluated unannounced throughout the year
3. e administration will be assessed periodically by the sta
4. Parents will evaluate the school annually
Anti-Discrimination and ADA Statement
Covenant Classical School admits students and hires employees without regard to race, color, national origin, or ethnic origin, ensuring e ual access to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally available to our school community We are committed to upholding applicable nondiscriminatory policies in the administration of educational policies, admissions, scholarships, loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered activities Covenant Classical School does not accept federal funds
Children diagnosed with a learning disability are welcome to be a part of Covenant Classical School so long as they can meet, or be assisted to meet, the discipline standards of the classroom, discussions, and daily routine
Students applying for admissions should have a desire to receive this form of education We do not mind assisting parents in fostering this desire, but the student needs to at the very least be “willing to be made willing” to be discipled through a Classical Christian education
General Agreement: All parents and students who are enrolling in Covenant Classical School affirm by their application and enrollment their intentional willingness to abide by the Christian conduct (word and deed) presented in this handbook and all other school documents, both expressed and implied is includes the Statement of Faith, Cultural Issues, and all policies stated herein.
Disclaimer
e reader should take notice that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, Covenant Classical School reserves the right to make changes at any time without prior notice. Parents will be notified of any changes to the handbook that occur during the current academic year. Covenant Classical School provides the information herein solely for the convenience of the reader and, to the extent permissible by law, expressly disclaims any liability which may otherwise be incurred
