Covenant Classical Academy (IL) Handbook 2026-2027 by Publications

The Mission

Our mission is to intentionally partner with parents as we provide a joyful, Christ-centered classical education that pursues truth, goodness, and beauty by cultivating habits of mind and character. We teach every subject under the lordship of Christ, endeavoring to achieve mastery through high standards and exercising authority with humility.

Deep Hope

Our prayer is that our students will grow into adults who are worshipers, loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We pray they will be faithful men and women whose identity is secure in Christ; joyful and humble culture-builders who lead with courage and kindness; and steadfast workers who embrace discipline and perseverance. We pray they will be truth-lovers who discern wisely, think clearly, and communicate persuasively; fruitful stewards who take dominion under Christ, as disciples ready to stand even to suffer so that Christ is honored in their lives

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

“We teach every subject under the lordship of Christ ”

At the heart of our philosophy is the conviction that education is discipleship. All knowledge coheres in Christ, who is Lord over every subject. Scripture is the foundation of truth and the anchor for both content and method. We unapologetically teach students what is true, good, and beautiful—training them to see the world as God has made it and to live faithfully under His authority.

Classical Foundations

“Cultivating habits of mind and character.”

We honor the rich heritage of the liberal arts, cultivating the “arts of words” through the Trivium and the “arts of numbers” through the Quadrivium Students begin by joyfully building a strong foundation of truth that prepares them for deeper learning As they grow, they learn to think carefully, see clearly, and make wise connections between ideas. Over time, they develop the ability to express their understanding with clarity and grace, shaping both their character and their inﬂuence on others.

Grounded in Scripture, this journey equips students to think critically, communicate with integrity, and live wisely under Christ’s lordship

Joyful Rigor and Mastery

“Achieve mastery through high standards.”

We reject “check-the-box” education and busywork that merely advances students without understanding. Instead, we cultivate joyful rigor where students practice resilience, perseverance, and careful thought True rigor is not about the amount of work assigned but about the depth of attention and pursuit of mastery. Students advance when they have genuinely learned, not simply when a schedule demands it.

Authority, Discipline, and Alliance with Parents

“Intentionally partnering with parents exercising authority with humility.”

Authority and Discipline

We believe God ordains authority as a blessing Teachers exercise humble authority clear, consistent, and joyful modeling confession, repentance, and grace Students are taught to obey “all the way, right away, and with a cheerful heart,” not for the sake of control but as practice for submitting to the Lord. Discipline is formative and restorative, cultivating self-government, respect, and delight in what is good

Alliance with Parents

We view partnership with parents as an intentional alliance toward the mission. We are not a drop-off service, nor do we replicate each family’s choices in curriculum or lifestyle. Instead, we clearly articulate our program, and parents commit to reinforcing it in the home We seek willing learners and willing parents, united in the discipleship of children under Christ

Scholé, Paideia, and a Christ-Centered Culture

“Education that pursues truth, goodness, and beauty.”

Our school seeks to restore the biblical vision of paideia the full formation of a child in Christ and scholé, contemplative learning that makes space for wonder, worship, and wisdom. We resist frantic, shallow instruction and instead pursue mile-deep rather than mile-wide learning. Time for reﬂection, craftsmanship, and rich conversation forms a culture where students delight in knowledge and grow in virtue.

Culture that Changes Cultures

We aim to build a joyful, faithful culture—a community marked by humility, courage, gratitude, and hope. Our graduates are equipped not only to withstand the pressures of the age but to shape culture through persuasion, leadership, and service. By God’s grace, they leave as worshipers and warriors: joyful disciples prepared to glorify Christ in every sphere of life, even to the point of sacriﬁce

Because our education is Christ-centered, we pursue faithful excellence in both academic content and spiritual formation. Students are trained to steward their time, talents, and opportunities responsibly, preparing them to serve church, family, and community. We call forth the best in each child through high standards coupled with wise mercy, cultivating both competence and character.

Philosophy of Language

At Covenant Classical Academy, we believe language is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity, reflecting His own nature as the divine Word. God created us to communicate, and He Himself is a communicative God speaking creation into existence, revealing truth in Scripture, and making Himself known through His Son, the very “Word” of God Through language, truth is revealed, relationships are formed, and beauty is expressed Our curriculum includes the Great Books of Western Civilization, allowing students to engage directly with the foundational ideas that have shaped our world. Latin the language of educated discourse for over a thousand years opens the door to this rich intellectual tradition Studying Latin and Greek grants access to classical wisdom and key theological writings, including core doctrines of the Protestant Reformation. Latin also deepens understanding of Romance languages and significantly enlarges English vocabulary which owes more than half of its words to the mother tongue. Because Latin underpins much of the terminology in law, science, and medicine, it offers practical benefits Greek provides context for reading the New Testament. Most importantly, learning language trains students to see how words convey meaning, equipping them to know the God who reveals Himself through the written word.

Philosophy of Math

At Covenant Classical Academy, we view mathematics as more than numbers and formulas it is a window into the order, wisdom, and beauty of God’s creation. Every pattern, proportion, and relationship reﬂects the intelligence and creativity of the Creator who sustains all things. We teach math to reveal objective truth, to cultivate precise thinking, logical reasoning, and a love of truth, training students to observe carefully, analyze clearly, and solve problems with diligence and integrity Through the

study of mathematics, students learn to order their thoughts, delight in the harmony of God’s world, and prepare to serve others wisely and faithfully in every calling to which He leads them.

Philosophy of Science

At Covenant Classical Academy, we believe science begins in wonder every star in the heavens, every seed in the soil, and every pattern in nature reveals the power and wisdom, order, and beauty of our Creator. We teach students to observe carefully, think clearly, and approach the study of creation with curiosity and reverence At Covenant, science is rooted in classical Christian education. Science at our school trains students not merely to understand how things work but to see that creation proclaims God’s handiwork Our aim is to form students who see science as a calling: to steward God’s world faithfully, serve their neighbors wisely, and glorify Christ in every vocation.

Philosophy of Humanities

At Covenant, we believe that humanities represents the culmination of the educational pursuits our students will take during the course of their instructional journey Beginning with a right understanding of the Lord (Prov 1:7), our students will discover their true identity as human beings and their place in the long lineage of God’s created world Using facts and elements acquired in the hard sciences, students will uncover the timeless truths, general goodness, and enduring beauty interwoven by God into the created order. Through the writings and experiences of generations before them, students will learn to identify and promote that which is good and profitable for human flourishing. Far from simply being an intellectual exercise or frivolous escapism, this study provokes students to reflect on the “whys” behind the universe, as well as fostering within them a knowledge of the virtue and courage required to rise to their role in the future stories of our world. It is in this result where students begin to glorify God through not just a knowledge of His attributes (Ex 34:6-7), but with heart, mind, and strength motivated and equipped to serve Him tangibly, come what may

Philosophy of History

At Covenant, we teach history as a divine invitation to remember the unfolding story of God’s providence and humanity’s response to it Scripture calls God’s people to remember His works and learn from the past, for wisdom is timeless and humanity is forgetful. Through the study of the Great Books and the Western Tradition, students

encounter the enduring truths of courage, virtue, and folly displayed throughout the ages History becomes more than names and dates; it is a training ground for discernment, equipping students to confront the falsehoods of their own time with the collective wisdom of those who have gone before. In seeing God’s hand across generations, they grow in gratitude and faith, understanding that they, too, have been placed in this moment of history for His glory and their good (Es 4:14).

Literature

At Covenant, we believe our God is the God of stories. Though He could have revealed Himself in any way, He chose to give us a divinely inspired, sixty-six-book narrative filled with setting, conflict, and redemption Humanity, made in His image, reflects this divine creativity through stories of our own. When rightly understood, fiction is not falsehood but a means of perceiving truth.

Through engagement with the Great Books—those enduring works that have shaped thought and culture students enter the great conversation of humanity about what is good, true, and beautiful. They learn to read deeply, discerning virtue and truth within the imaginations of God and man. As they study, they uncover how their own thinking and culture have been formed by generations seeking God’s truth in creation

As C.S. Lewis wrote, our aim is to cultivate “ men with chests” individuals whose reason, imagination, and affections are harmonized, prepared to take their place in God’s grand story Bible

At Covenant, we study the Bible because it is the perfect Word of God that points to Christ, the perfect Son of God, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge With the help of the Spirit of God, the study of Scripture will direct the study of every subject as it frames how students view reality. Our goal is for students to see the world, and their lives in it, through the lens of Scripture. A grammatical, logical and rhetorical approach to the study of the Bible will yield learners who understand not only what it says, but also what it means and how to apply it as a worshiper of God. From memorization and catechesis (we will be using New City Catechism) to theology and discipleship, students will engage with God’s word both academically and devotionally.

Philosophy of Art

At Covenant Classical Academy, we believe that art, rightly understood, is not self-expression for its own sake but a pursuit of beauty that reveals truth and gloriﬁes God. We believe that art is a reﬂection of God’s own creativity and a means by which we participate in His divine nature As beings made in the image of a Creator, we are called to cultivate imagination, craftsmanship, and wonder ordering our affections toward what is true, good, and beautiful. We aim to nurture artists who create not to exalt themselves but to serve others, bearing witness to the beauty of holiness Whether painting, sculpting, or drawing, our students learn that creativity is an act of stewardship an offering of skill and imagination to the One who made all things – the Author of all beauty

Philosophy of Music

At Covenant Classical Academy, we teach that music is a gift from God, created for His glory. Music education is not merely technical but moral and spiritual. It is not an individual pursuit but a communal one as students learn to sing songs, hymns and Spiritual songs (Col 3:16). Our philosophy of music seeks to cultivate rightly ordered affections, artistic excellence, preparing students to worship God, serve others, and steward their gifts with wisdom and humility Students are taught to love that which is beautiful and not simply what is entertaining. Students will be trained in the fundamentals of music: theory, history, performance, and appreciation. We emphasize disciplined practice, ensemble participation, and the pursuit of high standards in musical craftsmanship.

Philosophy of Physical Education

At Covenant Classical Academy, we believe that the body, like the mind and soul, is a gift from God to be trained, disciplined, and used for His glory. Physical education is not merely about athletic skill or competition but about cultivating self-control, perseverance, humility, and joy through movement and play. As image-bearers of God, our students are called to steward their bodies as instruments of worship and service. Through exercise, teamwork, and healthy habits, they learn to honor the Creator by caring for His creation themselves and by treating others with respect and fairness. Physical education provides a vital context for teaching virtue. The playground and playing ﬁeld become classrooms where students practice courage in challenge, patience in loss, gratitude in victory, and fellowship in every circumstance.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

(Faculty and Administration must afﬁrm; families agree to be taught.)

We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God It is the ﬁnal rule for faith and life.

We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the full deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary death on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His future return in power and glory.

We believe that all people are sinners and are therefore under condemnation; salvation is received only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life

We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, who make up the Church, His body.

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved unto eternal life and the lost unto eternal separation from God.

We afﬁrm the Apostle’s Creed (an historic creed of the church)

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was cruciﬁed, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

*catholic refers to the universal church

The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufﬁcient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

God

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being inﬁnite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience

The Trinity

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being

Providence

God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

The Fall of Man

God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors

The Mediator

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulﬁlled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.

Regeneration

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone

Repentance

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

Faith

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justiﬁcation and eternal life It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

Justiﬁcation

Justiﬁcation is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.

Sanctiﬁcation

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctiﬁed by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctiﬁcation is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands

The Church

The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these churches He hath given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He hath appointed. The regular ofﬁcers of a Church are Bishops or Elders, and Deacons Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, to be administered with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life It is a prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper, but it is not salviﬁc.

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the

world. It is in no sense a sacriﬁce, but is designed to commemorate His death, to conﬁrm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship

The Resurrection

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

The Judgment

God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.

*This statement of faith is a selection from the Abstract of Principles 1858

Secondary Doctrines

(Faculty and Administration must afﬁrm; families agree to be taught.)

In the classroom, we emphasize that which we share in common, though we do not avoid discussing points of doctrinal disagreement, especially in our upper grades. However, in any case where issues of potential doctrinal disagreement arise, we encourage our students to discuss them with the parents and pastors In all things, we seek to partner with parents, recognizing their primary role in shaping the spiritual lives of their children. The following list is not exhaustive but represents some of the secondary doctrine discussions that may occur mainly at the secondary level.

Creation

We read Genesis 1-3 from the framework of young earth creationism. 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 the old earth creationism view

Eschatology

We will teach about the imminent return of Jesus and that the dead will be raised to eternal life or eternal judgment. This will expand, in the secondary years, to discussion of three held views of eschatology: premillennialism, amillennialism and postmillennialism.

Baptism

Baptism is the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signiﬁes and seals our adoption into Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord and to his church. In the secondary years, we will discuss the two main positions, credobaptism and paedobaptism, as a viable, orthodox belief

Perseverance

We understand that believers must persevere in faith and obedience in order to be saved. Yet this perseverance is also a gift of God in Christ, who seals them with his Holy Spirit and keeps them by his power through faith for the salvation yet to be revealed. In the secondary years, we will discuss whether the believer’s position is eternally secure or if one may fall from grace.

Spiritual Gifts

We will teach that the Holy Spirit is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe and that He is the believer’s Helper who convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word In the secondary years, we will discuss the two main positions concerning the gifts of the Spirit, cessationism and continuationism, as a viable, orthodox belief.

Cultural Statements

(Faculty, Administration and families must afﬁrm)

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that marriage joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, lifelong union and that God designed and directs sexual intimacy exclusively for one man and

one woman married to each other. Any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change or disagree with one ’ s biological sex is sinful and offensive to God

Sanctity of Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, those with physical or intellectual disabilities, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

Catechism

At Covenant, we will use the New City Catechism because it teaches the truths of the Protestant Reformation in modern language that can be adapted for upper and lower grades. The companion resources that have been published allow for supplemental instruction that is conducive not only for indoctrination but also spiritual formation

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 Academy 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. The kind of discipline may be determined by the teachers or, 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 discipleship (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

Three opportunities will be offered to help students course-correct At that point an ofﬁce visit will be held. At the ofﬁce visit a consequence will be given along with a note to the parent.

Ofﬁce Visit Protocol

School Administration (e g Head of School) may discipline in one of several ways depending the situation:

○ Cleaning

■ Picking up trash

■ Cleaning bathrooms

■ Vacuuming and or sweeping

■ Cleaning desks, walls, white boards, etc

■ Cleaning outside

○ Physical endurance

■ Wall sit

■ Running laps

■ Push ups

○ Writing

■ A note on what the student did wrong

■ A note asking forgiveness

○ Other

■ Loss of privilege(s)

■ Repetition and practice of proper or expected behaviors

■ Being sent home

■ A consequence or discipline plan particularly suited to the student and situation as agreed upon with the parent(s)

Ofﬁce Visit for overt behavior

Overt behaviors which require administrative involvement necessitate parent notiﬁcation. 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 effective, 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 staff

● Dishonesty (e.g., lying, cheating, stealing)

● Deﬁance (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 others bad behavior

● Acts that endanger the lives of another person

● Vandalism

● Theft

● Inappropriate use of school property or facility

● Inappropriate language (e g , obscene, vulgar, profane)

● Romantic displays of affection (e.g., kissing, hugging, 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 )

Degrees of discipline for overt behaviors:

The degree of discipline depends on the severity of the offense and may lead to expulsion through a disciplinary hearing process.

Re-Admittance

Should a student who was expelled, or who withdrew to prevent expulsion, desire to be readmitted to Covenant Classical Academy at a later date, they would require a discipline hearing involving the parents, teachers, and school Administration. The Education 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 ofﬁce during school hours

● Use of laptops is permissible for secondary academic purposes only under the pre-approved direction and supervision of a teacher.

● A ﬁrst violation of this policy will result in immediate conﬁscation 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 Academy accepts no responsibility for use, breakage, theft, or loss of phone or other personal items

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating is deﬁned 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 deﬁned 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 notiﬁed A second cheating or plagiarism infraction will result in an Education Council review

Dress Code Violation

If faculty notices a dress code violation, they will inform Administration, and Administration will notify parents through a Dress Code Violation Form (via ClassReach) After 4 dress code violations, an office visit will follow in addition to email notification. After the 5th violation within a semester, the student will be sent home. Subsequent dress code violations will require school Administration to treat the violations as office visits in accordance with the discipline policy.

*A dress code violation is a violation that cannot be corrected in class

PHILOSOPHY

OF GRADING

Grading Policy

Covenant Classical Academy – Conduct & Virtue Formation Rubric

Purpose:

At Covenant Classical Academy, conduct is not merely about compliance, but about discipleship and formation in virtue. We believe that our students’ actions, words, and attitudes should reﬂect the pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful. This rubric helps teachers and parents partner together to cultivate hearts that love the Lord and habits that reﬂect His wisdom, humility, and grace.

Rating Scale Score

4 – Exemplary Faithfully Formed Consistently demonstrates Christlike character and self-control; models virtue for others.

3 – Proﬁcient Growing in Virtue Generally demonstrates desired behavior and attitudes with occasional reminders.

2 – Developing Needs Formation

Shows partial understanding or effort; requires frequent reminders and guidance

1 – Needs Improvement Requires Restoration Regularly struggles with self-control or respect; requires intentional discipleship and restorative correction.

Domains of Virtue and Conduct

Domain 4 – Faithfully Formed 3 – Growing in Virtue 2 – Needs Formation 1 – Requires Restoration

Respect & Courtesy Joyfully honors teachers and peers as image-bearers of God; models humility and gratitude Generally respectful and courteous; responds positively to correction Occasionally careless or disrespectful in speech or actions; needs frequent redirection Regularly displays disrespect or disregard for authority and peers; disrupts community life

Responsibility & Self-Government

Integrity & Repentance

Faithfully stewards time, materials, and actions; acts with diligence and integrity even without supervision. Usually responsible; completes tasks and obeys promptly with minimal reminders Inconsistent responsibility; often needs external motivation or reminders Rarely completes tasks responsibly; requires continual supervision and intervention

Honest in word and deed; confesses mistakes readily and seeks reconciliation with humility. Usually honest; accepts correction and shows remorse when prompted. Occasionally avoids responsibility or deﬂects blame; inconsistent in seeking forgiveness. Dishonest or deﬁant; resists correction and refuses to accept responsibility.

Community & Cooperation Joyfully contributes to the class as a servant-leader; encourages others and pursues peace.

Self-Reﬂection & Growth in Virtue

Regularly examines the heart and desires growth in wisdom and holiness; receives feedback with humility

Cooperative and kind; works well with peers and follows group expectations

Sometimes uncooperative; may withdraw or cause friction in group settings

Disruptive or unkind; refuses to work with others or damages community trust

Reﬂects on behavior and applies teacher guidance toward improvement.

Aware of areas needing growth but struggles to follow through consistently.

PRIMARY & SECONDARY WEIGHTED CATEGORIES

● 30% Practice Work

● 70% Magnum Opus

PRIMARY GRADING

Shows little reﬂection or desire to grow; resistant to correction or guidance.

SECONDARY & SECONDARY PREP GRADING

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING PROTOCOL

Humanities

Soft grading throughout the week on various writing and speaking assignments

Magnum Opus for each week that is graded in the gradebook (may be written or oral)

Assessment at the end of each book that includes:

Grammar section

Logic section

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: after practicing the child will be assessed on mastery or improvement.

Review week and ﬁnals week before Christmas

Review week and ﬁnals 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

● Parent Partnership Meetings will be held on October 2, 2026 and April 2, 2027

● Teachers will contact parents if a student is struggling academically or socially

● Please use ClassReach as the best way to communicate important information with the staff

Expected Homework Load

Age

Upper Primary 4-5

Lower Secondary 6-8

Grades at Covenant Classical Academy do not in any way reflect the immeasurable worth and value of each child made in God’s image, but rather they are a reflection of the quality of work in a given field of study at a given time. At Covenant Classical Academy, 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 quality 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 Academy will use a unique method of grading that ensures students have time to “practice” before they receive a grade. Therefore 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 affect overall standings, will also be recorded for transcript purposes. Consistent with educating the whole child, both attitude and effort will be considered when we assess a student’s progress.

Group Project Grades

1 Thessalonians 5: 14 “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ”

Group projects are a part of coursework. It should be expected that grading of these will not be individualized because we believe that character in community reveals the heart. Covenant Classical Academy 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).

Mathematical Grading Policy

Because math problems are objectively right or wrong, grading will follow a simple number correct out of the number of problems. Exercises that are philosophically based will follow the humanities scale (see below)

Math examinations are 70% of the ﬁnal grade

Math homework, practicums, and projects are 30% of the ﬁnal grade (group or individual)

Science Grading Policy

Since science is taught through experiments, and discovery, this will be a participation and group project grade in the primary years and will move towards mastery grading through the various scientiﬁc ﬁelds of study in the secondary years.

Latin Grading Policy

Latin is taught to build vocabulary and continue to grow English as well as Latin grammar skills Assessments will be based on these concepts and points will be awarded for the purpose of demonstrating mastery.

Humanities Grading Policy

Vocabulary terms, spelling, grammar, and direct character names or dates will be objectively graded and will be on a points-based system. With mastery as our goal, students will be asked to correct the wrong answers.

Assignments that are more philosophical in nature will be graded on a scale Within each assignment, grammatical and spelling mistakes will be clearly marked and students will be asked to review the word or grammatical rule and edit their writing. This promotes mastery in writing assignments.

Failing and Retakes

Retakes will be left 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 after 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 Education Council to determine the best course of action for the student. Circumstances, understanding of directions and effort will all be taken into consideration

Parents will be notiﬁed 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 Academy, we recognize that parents are ultimately responsible for the education and ﬂourishing 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 Academy policy, or philosophy, communicate with the Head of School. If you have questions 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 ﬁnd 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

Covenant Classical Academy

As a parent of a student at Covenant Classical Academy, I commit to supporting the pursuit of excellence in scholarship, character, and conduct for the glory of God. I recognize that my words, actions, and attitudes reﬂect not only on my family, but also on our school community and the Lord we serve.

Excellence

I will encourage my child to do all things with diligence and integrity, as unto the Lord

● I will partner with teachers to support my child’s academic growth and personal responsibility.

● I will ensure that my child comes to school prepared and ready to learn.

● I will uphold the school’s academic and behavioral standards at home and in conversation

● I will model a love of learning and a pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful

Gratitude

I will cultivate a heart of thankfulness and teach my child to do the same.

● I will express appreciation for the teachers, staff, and volunteers who serve our school.

● I will speak with grace about the school and its community, especially in the presence of my child.

● I will approach challenges with humility and gratitude, trusting God’s providence in all circumstances.

Discipline

I will seek to demonstrate self-control, faithfulness, and perseverance in parenting and partnership with the school.

● I will address concerns respectfully and directly with those involved.

● I will uphold the school’s policies and expectations, even when doing so requires sacriﬁce or correction

● I will nurture habits of order, responsibility, and perseverance in my child

● I will pray for the school’s leadership, faculty, and students regularly.

Respect

I will treat all members of the Covenant community with kindness and dignity, acknowledging them as image-bearers of God.

● I will communicate with teachers and staff respectfully and courteously.

● I will refrain from gossip, divisive speech, or criticism that harms the unity of the school.

● I will model peacemaking and forgiveness in my words and actions.

● I will honor the school’s authority and support its mission to form students in wisdom and virtue

By adhering to this honor code, I commit to partnering with Covenant Classical Academy in cultivating a Christ-centered culture of respect, gratitude, and excellence. I desire that, through my example and support, my child and our school community

would grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man. When I fall short, I will seek forgiveness and restoration, trusting that God’s grace covers our imperfections and allows our community to ﬂourish in humility and love

Secondary Student Honor Code

As a student of Covenant Classical Academy, I commit to pursuing excellence in scholarship, character, and conduct for the glory of God. I recognize that my words, actions, and attitudes reﬂect not only on myself, but on my school community and the Lord I serve.

Excellence

I will do my best in my studies, striving to honor God through diligence and integrity.

● I will pursue what is true, good, and beautiful in all subjects and endeavors.

● I will complete my work on time and to the best of my ability.

● I will come prepared for class and participate attentively

● I will take responsibility for my learning by asking questions, taking notes, and maintaining order of my materials.

Gratitude

I will cultivate a heart of thankfulness, recognizing that all I have is a gift from God.

● I will express joy rather than complain, even when faced with challenges.

● I will show appreciation to teachers, classmates, and those who serve our school

Discipline

I will develop self-control and perseverance in my work and relationships.

● I will use my time wisely and avoid laziness or distraction.

● I will follow through on commitments and accept correction humbly.

● I will be mindful of my conduct both in and out of class, on and off campus.

Respect

I will treat others with kindness and dignity, acknowledging them as image-bearers of God

● I will speak truthfully and avoid gossip or unwholesome talk

● I will show respect to teachers, staff, and peers through obedience, courtesy, and self-control.

● I will dress modestly and appropriately, following the school’s uniform policy.

● I will seek to be a peacemaker, forgiving others as I have been forgiven

By adhering to this honor code, I commit to growing in wisdom and virtue, contributing positively to the Christian culture of Covenant Classical Academy, and reﬂecting the character of Christ in all things.

When I fall short, I will seek forgiveness from God and others, trusting in His grace to help me grow in righteousness. I understand that grace and truth work together as I learn to walk faithfully as a student and follower of Christ

Internet Use and Social Media

Students are held to the same standard of behavior whether they are on campus or online at home. Individuals agree to use these technological tools honorably and responsibly

The following is not permitted:

● Sending or displaying offensive messages or intimate pictures

● 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 Academy, 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

Parents should notify Covenant Classical Academy of any severe allergies so that appropriate notiﬁcations can be in place. During registration, parents may upload immunization records or immunization waivers directly to the ClassReach portal.

Administration of Medicines

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

We reserve 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 young student’s wellness, in addition, preventing the spread of illness to your child’s classmates and teachers, 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 with highly contagious illnesses such as strep, hand/foot/mouth, or pinkeye (to name a few).

Government Agency Requests

Covenant Classical Academy 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 notiﬁed and their presence requested prior to a government agency being allowed to interview a child during school hours.

Covenant Classical Academy 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

The Academic Calendar is located on our website.

Daily Schedule

Morning Assembly begins at 8:15 and school ends at 3:00 PM.

Arrival and Dismissal

Students are able to arrive between 8:00-8:15

Students must be picked up between 3:00-3:15

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 Academy has intentionally set its vacations, schedule, and structure to allow important time for families. By registering a child in [School name}, 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 consequence to their credits unless pre-approvals are arranged We ask that the Administration be notiﬁed 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 an Education Council 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 after the absence and educational packets will not be provided.

*Emergency situations will obviously be taken into consideration.

Tardies

A student who arrives later than [insert time] is considered tardy Four tardies within a month will constitute a parent email. A 5th tardy will result in an ofﬁce visit.

Subsequent tardies will be treated as ofﬁce visits in accordance with the discipline policy.

ENROLLMENT POLICY

Regarding Candidates for Admissions

Enrollment Process

1 General Inquiry

2. Family Interview Request

3. Admissions Interview

4. Assessment of student

5 Application

6 Enrollment

7. Tuition Agreement

TUITION

For more information, please see the Tuition and Fee Schedule.

Tuition Assistance

Financial Assistance must be requested by May 1, families are strongly urged to seek assistance from their family, churches, and friends prior to seeking ﬁnancial aid We are partnering in education with families and we are run solely on private funds, therefore every dollar not collected in tuition is a dollar that must be raised through

donations. The best advocates for a child are their parents and family. However, we also do not want finances to be the reason a family does not attend [School name} therefore financial aid may be offered under certain circumstances of extreme need Multi-student aid may be available under specified circumstances.

1. Applicants will be categorized from the greatest ﬁnancial need to the least ﬁnancial need

a. Financial need will be pre-designated based on a ratio of the number of family members to gross income.

2. Tuition Assistance Requests will be handled through the Tuition Assistance Committee including initial application and interview

EVALUATIONS

1. Teachers will evaluate students regularly for the purpose of assessing skill and knowledge

2. Teachers are evaluated unannounced throughout the year.

3. The administration will be assessed periodically by the staff.

4. Parents will evaluate the school annually.

Anti-Discrimination and ADA Statement

Covenant Classical Academy admits students and hires employees without regard to race, color, national origin, or ethnic origin, ensuring equal 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 Academy does not accept federal funds.

Admitting Students with Special Needs

At Covenant Classical Academy, children diagnosed with a learning disability are welcome to apply for admissions so long as we can serve them well and 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 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. This includes the Statement of Faith, Cultural Issues, attending church, and all policies stated herein.

General Agreement: All parents and students who are enrolling in Covenant Classical Academy 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 This includes the Statement of Faith, Cultural Issues, and all policies stated herein.

Disclaimer

The reader should take notice that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, Covenant Classical Academy 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 Academy 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