The Terra Nova School - Handbook AYE 2027

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CONTENTS

SCHOOL GOALS.........................................................................................................................................4 ABOUT THE TERRA NOVA SCHOOL....................................................................................................... 4 MISSION STATEMENT.............................................................................................................................4 SCHOOL VISION....................................................................................................................................... 5 OUR DISTINCTIVES..................................................................................................................................6 STATEMENT OF FAITH............................................................................................................................7 STATEMENTS OF FAITH APPLIED................................................................................................... 10 SECONDARY DOCTRINE POLICY.....................................................................................................10 ACADEMICS.................................................................................................................................................... 11 GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES.................................................................................. 11 METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................................................... 14 SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES....................................................................................14 GRADING POLICIES...............................................................................................................................18 SCHOOL RULES AND DISCIPLINE..........................................................................................................23 BASIC SCHOOL RULES........................................................................................................................23 DISCIPLINE POLICY............................................................................................................................... 24 CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM...........................................................................................................26 DRESS CODE VIOLATION................................................................................................................... 27 PRIMARY STUDENT DISCIPLINE PLAN......................................................................................... 27 SECONDARY STUDENT DISCIPLINE PLAN..................................................................................28 OFFICE VISIT PROTOCOL....................................................................................................................28 EXCESSIVE OFFICE VISITS..................................................................................................................29 SERIOUS DISCIPLINE CASES.............................................................................................................29 SCHOOL CULTURE................................................................................................................................ 30 RE-ENROLLMENT.................................................................................................................................. 30 RE-ADMITTANCE................................................................................................................................... 30 ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY........................................................................................................... 30 ENROLLMENT AT THE TERRA NOVA SCHOOL.............................................................................. 31 ADMISSIONS...................................................................................................................................................31 ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE AND ENROLLMENT.......................................................................31 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STUDENT...................................................................32 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARENTS................................................................... 32 1

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LEARNING DISABILITIES.....................................................................................................................33 IMMUNIZATIONS.................................................................................................................................... 33 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ADA STATEMENT....................................................................... 33 PARENT RESPONSIBILITY......................................................................................................................... 33 PARENT INVOLVEMENT...................................................................................................................... 34 COMMUNICATION................................................................................................................................. 35 PARENT COMMITMENT.......................................................................................................................35 TUITION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE..............................................................................................36 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.................................................................................................................... 36 ATTENDANCE.................................................................................................................................................37 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE...................................................................................................................... 37 TARDIES/LATENESS..............................................................................................................................38 STUDENT ETIQUETTE................................................................................................................................. 39 SCHOOL UNIFORM.......................................................................................................................................40 GRIEVANCES...................................................................................................................................................40 GENERAL GUIDELINES........................................................................................................................ 40 GRIEVANCES BETWEEN STUDENTS............................................................................................. 40 PARENTS/STUDENTS TO TEACHERS............................................................................................ 41 PARENTS TO ADMINISTRATION......................................................................................................41 VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF/ADMINISTRATION............................................................................... 41 HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SAFETY....................................................................................................... 42 CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS........................................................................................................................ 42 EMERGENCIES.........................................................................................................................................42 ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES.................................................................................................. 42 HEALTH RECORDS................................................................................................................................ 43 LUNCH AND SNACKS.......................................................................................................................... 43 SAFETY.......................................................................................................................................................44 SCHOOL GOVERNANCE........................................................................................................................ 45 SCHOOL HISTORY........................................................................................................................................ 45 OUR NAME............................................................................................................................................... 45 OUR STORY.............................................................................................................................................. 45 GOVERNANCE................................................................................................................................................45 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.......................................................................................................................45 EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE................................................................................................................... 46 2

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GROWTH.................................................................................................................................................. 46 ACCREDITATION.................................................................................................................................... 46 PARTNERS................................................................................................................................................ 46 CONTINUED EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS................................................................................. 47 EVALUATIONS.........................................................................................................................................47 EDUCATION COUNCIL......................................................................................................................... 47

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GOALS

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MISSION STATEMENT The mission of The Terra Nova School is to enculturate students as citizens of God’s kingdom, by partnering with parents in discipling their children through a Christ-centered, classical education, firmly established on Scripture, and by cultivating wisdom, virtue, and eternal influence.

Enculturation into the Kingdom of God: ●​ Teach as the absolute truth, the fact of creation, Christ’s Lordship over all, His death on the cross, His resurrection, and His rule over the world (John 17:17–19; Psalm 119:160) ●​ Catechize children so that the word of God in Scripture is foundational to how they view and live in the world (2 Timothy 4:2–4; Colossians 2:20–23) ●​ Bring children to worldly philosophers and authors with honest and equipped minds, and minds open to truth, goodness and beauty (Colossians 2:8; Romans 12:2) Christ-Centered Education: ●​ Teach all subjects as parts of an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center (2 Timothy 3:16–17) ●​ Provide a clear model of the biblical Christian life through our staff and board (Matthew 22:37–40) ●​ Encourage every student to begin and develop his relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:13–15, 28:18–20) Distinctly Classical Education: ●​ Build thinking skills through the grammar, logic, and rhetoric of each discipline ●​ Encourage every student to develop a love for learning and live up to his academic potential—the academic potential intentionally instilled by God ●​ Provide an orderly atmosphere conducive to the attainment of the above goals that loves the student through godly discipline

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Definitions: Grammar: the concrete and tangible information needed to build upon for learning (knowledge).

Logic: the ordering and distilling of information aimed at truth; reasoning (understanding).

Rhetoric: the expression of knowledge that follows discernment (wisdom).

SCHOOL VISION In Our Students: Sanctification: We aim to graduate young men and women who are rooted in and delight in God’s Word, who daily behold Christ and submit to His Lordship, who seek to see His glory revealed in all of life, and who, by the work of God alone, have grown in personal holiness with humility and gratitude to God. Work-ethic: We aim to find them well-prepared in all situations, possessing information and the knowledge of how to use it; students who are disciplined, hard-working, who persevere through challenges, and pursue excellence in their work and duties.

Love of learning with humility: Our hope is that our graduates would be prepared with the essential tools of learning and be marked by humility, desiring to grow in understanding, yet fully realizing the limitations and foolishness of the wisdom of this world, finding joy in the lifelong pursuit of learning in this world and in the new earth to come.

Biblical worldview: We desire our students to have a robust knowledge of God, man and creation in order to develop biblical understanding and to be equipped to face the challenges in the world around them with prudence and boldness; who are capable of evaluating their entire range of experience in the light of the Scriptures; and who do so with eagerness in joyful submission to God. In Our Staff: We likewise aim to cultivate these same qualities in our staff and to see them well paid so that they may make a career at The Terra Nova School. We desire them to be professional and diligent in their work, gifted in teaching, loving their students and their subjects.

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We desire that they seek to clearly understand classical education, how it works in their classroom and how their work fits into the whole; that they possess a lifelong hunger to learn and grow; and that they have the opportunity to be refreshed and renewed.

We desire to see them coach and nurture new staff and to serve as academic mentors to students. We look to see them mature in Christ, growing in the knowledge of God, their own children walking with the Lord.

In Our Parents: We aim to cultivate in our parents a sense of responsibility for the school; to see them well informed about the goals of our Christ-centered, classical approach.

We desire them to grow with the school, involved in and excited about the journey.

We aim to help them to follow biblical principles in addressing concerns, to be inclined to hearing both sides of a story before rendering a verdict, and to embrace the Scripture’s injunctions to encourage and stir up one another to love and good works.

With Our Community: Finally, in our relationship with our community, we aim to be above reproach in our business dealings and supportive of the local business community. We further seek to exemplify the unity of the body of Christ, to develop greater fellowship and understanding with the churches, and to bring honor to our Lord in all our endeavors.

OUR DISTINCTIVES Small Class Sizes: Your children will be known by their teachers. We will have low student-teacher ratios (background-checked teachers’ aides and volunteers will be available). This prioritizes quality instruction and more in-depth interactions. Teachers are able to better support students who may be struggling or exhort those who are excelling.

Godly Teachers: Our teachers are Christian. They are members in good standing at biblically faithful churches.

Their character has been tested and proven true. This facilitates the effective transmission of a biblical, Christian culture. With our staff being instruments of the Holy Spirit, they can continue to help form the souls of our students into the likeness of Christ and lead our students in joy.

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Christ-Centered Community: We are a community that loves God and loves our neighbor because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. In our partnership with parents and in our commitment to building a biblical, Christian culture, we pursue the active engagement of the families in our school community—educating our children together! This Christian community undergirds, prays for, works for, and supports this Christ-centered education.

Not Bending to the Surrounding Culture: In a time where the mass majority of people are ruled by emotion and quickly persuaded by the flow of culture and what the media (and social media) is proclaiming, it is essential that we develop the minds, wills, and affections of our children to be able to know and discern what is true, good, and beautiful and to eloquently articulate to others what is right. The students of Terra Nova will daily have their hearts and minds prepared to dwell in the perfectly righteous culture of the King’s heavenly home. Our students will be prepared to fight, with courage, wisdom, and humility, the culture wars of their time.

Integrated Ages: Students move through learning groups and will be instructed with students of different ages rather than strictly age-related grades. These blended ages afford both struggling and advanced students to learn at the pace that coincides with the way they were designed. Some students may progress quickly through the various learning levels and others may proceed slowly. Rather than automatic promotion to the next level, students move at a pace that builds mastery.

Integrated Curriculum: The teacher uses the curriculum as a launching point to instruct students, but the curriculum is just a tool and the teacher is the mentor. The curriculum is tailored to study core disciplines through: Mathematics, Science, Humanities (Literature, History, Language), and Arts. We aim to effectively teach the Liberal Arts.

STATEMENT OF FAITH The following is the foundation of beliefs on which The Terra Nova School is based. They are also the key elements of Protestant Christianity that will be unapologetically taught in various ways through all grade levels. Secondary or divisive doctrines and issues will not be presented as primary doctrine. When these types of doctrine or issues arise, they will be referred back to the family and local churches for final authority.

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The Scriptures: We believe the Bible is God’s written revelation to man. It is composed of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. It is verbally inspired in every word and absolutely inerrant in the original manuscripts. We affirm the infallibility, sufficiency, and authority of Scripture. We affirm its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

The Trinity: We believe that there is but one living and true God, an infinite, all-knowing being, perfect in all his attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—each equally deserving worship and obedience.

God the Father: We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that he, in keeping with his justice, possesses righteous anger toward all those who do wicked. Yet, according to his steadfast love, he concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of men. He hears and answers our prayers, and he willfully and joyfully saves from sin and death all that come to him through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and that as such, he possesses precisely the same nature, divine characteristics, and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that he is truly God and truly man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin. We also believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal and visible return from heaven which the church eagerly awaits.

The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person and is fully God. As the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers for service, and seals all believers unto the day of redemption.

Regeneration: We believe that every person is a sinner by nature and by choice and is, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and empowered to live a new life. We believe that the salvation of man, who is sinful and lost, is instantaneous and accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God when the 8

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repentant sinner—enabled by the Holy Spirit—responds in faith. This salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, the merit of his shed blood and perfect obedience, and not on the basis of human merit or works.

The Church: We believe that all who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, of which Christ is the head. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by building its members up in the faith, by instruction of the word, by fellowship, by keeping the ordinances, and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world. We believe in the local church consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized in the name of the triune God and associated for worship, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, and evangelism.

The Last Things: We believe in Jesus’ visible and glorious return to judge the living and the dead. This will be accompanied by the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved; the saved unto the resurrection of life and the unsaved unto the resurrection of damnation.

The Apostles’ Creed: The Terra Nova School holds to the historic creeds of the ancient church, including the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. Both creeds are widely accepted and use brief statements of the Christian faith. Even though the creeds do not directly quote Scripture, they are based on biblical concepts and scriptural truths. In summary, they are concise statements of beliefs for Christians.

At The Terra Nova School, we expect all of our students to have the Apostles’ Creed memorized in the classroom: I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy catholic church*; the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen. *The word “catholic” refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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STATEMENTS OF FAITH APPLIED Statement of Marriage and Sexuality: We believe that the term “marriage” has only one valid meaning, and that is a covenantal union sanctioned by God which joins one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or pornography is sinful and offensive to God in any context.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking his mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Statement of Gender: We believe that God wonderfully and immutably created each person as distinctly male or female (Genesis 1:26–31, 2:18–25, 5:1–2). These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. To reject one's biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person and is a sin against God. Statement on Sanctity of Human 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, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139).

Statement of Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct: This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the final source of all that we believe. For purposes of The Terra Nova School's faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our school board is the final interpretive authority on the Bible's application.

SECONDARY DOCTRINE POLICY These guidelines apply to all Terra Nova School teachers in their capacity as teachers at The Terra Nova School: 1.​ Classroom discussion of secondary doctrine should be informative and honoring of competing viewpoints 10

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2.​ Presentation of all sides of an issue is encouraged 3.​ The teacher should encourage the students to follow up any questions they have with their parents and pastor Baptism: Echoing what Paul states in Ephesians 4, there is one body and one Spirit. We have one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. We recognize that historically the church has had much debate regarding the matter and form of baptism. Nevertheless, our goal is to preserve unity.

At The Terra Nova School, we will aim to teach the viewpoints of both credo and paedo baptism, and we will hold friendly debates regarding the distinctions in secondary school.

Teachers will commit to honor and defer to parents as this topic arises.

Young Earth / Old Earth: All things are created in the space of 6 yom (days) “and it was very good.” The word yom has been debated as a day or a period of time. But we ultimately hold Colossians 1:17, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” At The Terra Nova School, we will teach the literal 6-day creation account as that is what we affirm as the most biblical account of creation. In secondary years, we will hold friendly debates regarding the age of the earth within the scope of Scripture.

Eschatology: We will discuss historical premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism as important views that our brothers and sisters in Christ hold. These three views will be discussed in our upper primary levels and robustly introduced in secondary.

ACADEMICS

GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES Although most Christian schools would agree on certain fundamentals, it is imperative that parents scrutinize the foundational beliefs of any school in which they may enroll their child.

Therefore, below are the most important philosophical elements that we at The Terra Nova School believe distinguish our approach to education. Rather than choosing curriculum, we have made informed decisions on our philosophical approach and choose various tools to support our pedagogy. Our teachers are the curriculum who embody our philosophy of education and the various curricula used are simply tools in the hand of a master.

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Family: We believe that the Bible clearly instructs parents, not the church or state, to "bring children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." We are here to serve families in a way that creates a partnership to fulfill the mandate of training children in the paideia of the Lord and to enculturate them into the Kingdom of God. We know that children will spend an enormous amount of time in school, and we consider this a deep responsibility. The Terra Nova School is not a substitute for family; we come alongside families to create a community that, together, desires to direct the loves of children towards truth, beauty, and goodness.

Knowledge: Our pedagogy endeavors to lay a foundation of truth so that students view the world through Scriptural lenses. All truth is God’s truth and everything is related to the work of God. This informs the way we teach, the curricula we choose, and the methods that we use for instruction. We believe that God’s character is revealed not only in His Word, but also in every facet of the creation. Therefore, we teach that all knowledge is interrelated (integrated) and can instruct us about God Himself. God wants us to love Him with our minds, as well as with our hearts, souls, and strength (Matthew 22:37).

Standards: We want to help parents teach their children that all they do should be done "heartily, as unto the Lord." Therefore, we seek to encourage quality academic work and maintain high standards of conduct. This necessarily includes biblical discipline principles.

Love: The knowledge gained at The Terra Nova School must be coupled with robust love. We desire graduates who are gracious, who engage culture with humility, and who are prepared with trinitarian thinking to discern the nature of God in creation.

Aesthetic Vision: The apostle Paul instructs us to set our minds on that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely; we are to meditate on those things which are of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy. As a classical and Christian school, we have particular duties in this regard; we have been entrusted by student parents with the responsibility to help train and discipline the minds of their children. We understand that the loveliness and nobility enjoined by the apostle involve more than just spiritual truths, and that our duty as a school includes the discipline of aesthetic education.

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We therefore affirm that the triune God contains within Himself all ultimate loveliness and beauty. As His creatures, therefore, we are to serve and worship Him in all that we do in the beauty of holiness. He has created us in His own image, and requires us to strive to imitate Him in all that we do, and this includes the duty of understanding our responsibilities of appreciating and creating objects of loveliness.

In the education we provide, we therefore deny all forms of aesthetic relativism. At the same time, we affirm our limitations as creatures. This means that in any work of art containing true beauty, only God knows exhaustively all that is beautiful about the work, while we see the beauty only partially. Because different human observers see different partialities, this creates an illusion of subjectivity. Because our vision of the beautiful must necessarily be partial, we seek to instruct our students to make all aesthetic judgments in humility. At the same time, we want to train them on their responsibility to make grounded and informed aesthetic judgments, rejecting all forms of principled ugliness or aesthetic nihilism.

We seek to teach the importance of aesthetic standards in all activities associated with the school, striving for that form of excellence suitable to each activity. This obviously includes a strong emphasis throughout our curriculum on the fine arts—music, painting, drama, poetry—with the attendant responsibilities of the students including study, meditation, and memorization. But our emphasis on aesthetics also extends to more mundane matters—the cleanliness and decoration of classrooms, student dress, athletic competition (in the future), handwriting (including every primary school student learning cursive), etc. In all this, we aim to teach our students the reasons for what we require, and not just impose the bare requirement.

As a Christian school we want to particularly avoid all forms of pious or traditional kitsch—aesthetic frauds which can evoke a sentimental and superficial aesthetic response.

The standards we use in determining what we consider to be aesthetically valuable include, but are not limited to, conformity to the standards of Scripture, historical durability and the approval of many minds over generations, a balance of complexity and simplicity, dignity, metaphorical strength, harmony, subtlety, the power to evoke love of truth and goodness, the art of concealing art, acuity or craftsmanship, an ability to work against standards while honoring and employing them, avoidance of formulaic cliches, and wisdom.

Above all, parents can be confident that their student, at every stage of his development in school, will be loved with Christ’s love at The Terra Nova School.

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METHODOLOGY God is The Subject in Every Subject (field of study or realm of inquiry) God did not design humans to learn about His universe divorced from Him. He is the main subject in every field of study. He is the greatest artist, astronomer, mathematician, logician, scientist, grammarian, historian, sociologist, philosopher, etc.

“The final aim of every subject taught: To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”​ –Augustine SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES Mathematics: Take the most basic math problem: 2 + 2 = 4. Consider how this one problem puts on display the attributes of God! 2 + 2 = 4 is true. It is true by necessity.

2 + 2 = 4 is true at all times. It is eternal.

2 + 2 = 4 is true in all places. It is omnipresent.

2 + 2 = 4 never changes. It is immutable.

2 + 2 = 4 is understood only by persons. It is personal.

2 + 2 = 4 is in harmony with the created order. It is beautiful.

What are all of these qualities? They are attributes of God. In other words, when we do even the most basic math problem we are confronted by God!1 This doesn’t mean that the non-Christian can’t believe in 2 + 2. But the deep truth of mathematics cannot be fully understood without understanding who God IS. Math at Terra Nova will not only dive deeply into the art of mathematics but will urge students to see the attributes of God as they seek the truth of answers in the study of mathematics.

Mathematics has been a foundational subject in the tradition of classical education. It is like a language, and languages train our brains in thinking skills. It is a logical, precise language and subsequently builds our capacity for higher-level thinking.

1 Cf. Vern S. Poythress, Redeeming Mathematics: A God-Centered Approach, (Wheaton, IL.,: Crossway, 2015)

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Science: “Scientia” is the Latin word for knowledge and knowledge discovers what already exists in God’s creation—it is understanding what IS. God made the world in an ordered way, and science discovers this order through investigation, exploration and experimentation—it is an active process that should cultivate wonder. These skills, well developed, promote discovery of truth; and this prepares students for more formal studies.

Our ultimate Philosophy of Science is that the study of God’s creation reveals His handy work (Psalm 19:1–6). Science should instill wonder and curiosity at the “how” of nature while understanding the magic of creation. The ultimate result of scientific discovery is fulfillment of the creation mandate in Genesis, and this informs how we engage with ethics, morality and politics. The Terra Nova School science program will aim for mastery in what they learn, cultivating wonder and appreciation for God’s creation while integrating their material with other subjects such as history, mathematics, and language when appropriate.

Humanities: A thorough understanding of the humanities enables a person to see both causes, correlation and conclusion. As we navigate history, literature, philosophy and theology students discern good and evil, and truth from lies. The voices of the past speak wisdom and discernment into the future. Figures such as Socrates, Aquinas, or Screwtape, navigating their world, reveal how both good and bad philosophies impact civilization. Theologians, such as the apostle Paul, Augustine, or Schaefer, show us “How Should We Then Live.” This is humanities at Terra Nova and the integrated approach that we take equips students to see Truth as a whole rather than in fragmented parts. We rotate through eras of time so that students dive deep into themes and ideas while comparing it to the world we live in today. To study the humanities is to study the image bearers of God and to study the image bearers of God is to know more about God and the story He is writing. The result of this study should be students who write, speak and think critically, a people equipped to express themselves with clarity, and persuasiveness that is aimed towards truth. We believe that humanities instruction should result in conscious dependence upon God and His sovereign reign over all things, gratitude for the redemptive work of Christ in the world, and an emphasis on the cultivation of Christian virtue.

Language and Latin: God has given us language and each language is rich with culture and history. Language embellishes the other disciplines. To study another language is to study people and to study Latin is to study the origin of words we use in medicine, law, science, and in our daily lives. We teach Latin as a foundational second language because of the rich history that accompanies it 15

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for Christians. This is the language that surrounded our founding Church fathers and a language that has clarity in its words. Latin lends itself to logical skills and reinforces grammatical concepts in reading, writing and analyzing literature. Latin is foundational to the Romantic languages and cultures, and with a large Spanish speaking population in Southern California, Latin sets our students up to learn Spanish readily. It is also beneficial to future learning in computer programming or in the medical field.

Music: Within the God-breathed books of the Bible, the Creator gave Christians a timeless song book, the Psalms, with 150 different songs to sing and praise His name as well as songs scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments. Both vocal and instrumental music are to be used by man to point back to God. Music is not just a subject that we should teach, it is a way to express the goodness of God and the joy we have in living in His presence.

The integration of all subjects, with the Scriptures as central, is one of the goals of The Terra Nova School. We believe and therefore want to instruct all the students in the basic knowledge and related benefits of music to all of learning. We want to teach students to distinguish good music from mediocre music. We want them to recognize that though we limit their exposure in truth, beauty and goodness in music, good music is not bound by a period of time or by a particular style, but that good and beautiful music is a gift from God to man throughout all ages.

Music is an aspect of Christian community that is to be nurtured and enjoyed. We desire that our students know music through singing, theory and musicianship. Ephesians 5:19 says “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” and we want our children worshiping together as a way of life.

Knowing and reading music is to speak another language and to appreciate other cultures.

Worshiping God in this way is to “make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1).

Music adds to the culture of our school, and music instills truth through the repetition of beautiful words. Singing together, building skill in vocal technique, and fluency in music are foundational to our pedagogy and our theology.

Visual Art: We want our students to recognize the true, the good, and the beautiful and not just things that are utilitarian. We create because we were created in the image of God. As Francis Schaeffer says, “A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God, not just as tracts, mind you, but as things of beauty to the praise of God. An artwork can be a doxology in itself.” We 16

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want well rounded students, students who are not just academic but students who recognize and can create beauty. The study of art gives us a lens into other times and cultures while also educating us in the history of the image bearers of God. Physical Education: “The body and the soul are united in such a way that failure to cultivate the capacities inherent in either is failure to cultivate the whole person.” (The Liberal Arts Tradition, Ravi and Scott) At The Terra Nova School, through our physical education program, we seek to challenge and encourage our students to love God with all of their strength as they participate in age-appropriate physical education and sports activities. We aim to do this by systematically working with the students to teach them basic exercises and game skills (i.e., throwing, hitting, kicking, catching, etc.), teach cooperation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship, and in partnership with families, encourage the students to knowledgeably establish and maintain good health and nutritional habits.

Struggling Learners: Our school aims to teach students of varying ability levels through solid Christian pedagogy and materials. Because we are able to take both conventional and unique learners, our program is very distinct. We offer classical teaching as input but only expect classical output based on the gifting of each individual student. Our teaching is done in a way where we move from the concrete to the philosophical as the students are ready.

Chapel: Formal Chapel is held each Thursday morning. Its purpose is to bring our school together as a community and to challenge students with the Word of God through worship through singing, Scripture recitation, prayer and sermons or teachings. Classes, individual students, teachers, pastors, and other outside speakers will be part of the chapel services. Parents are always invited and encouraged to attend. We gather together on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the sanctuary for a shortened chapel gathering as well.

Sex Education: Due to the extremely sensitive and intimate nature of human sexual relations, discussion and instruction on this topic generally will be limited to scientific discussion and biblical principles and references, as they arise in appropriate class contexts. All other instruction on this topic will take place at home.

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Field Trips: Field trips are intended to be educational in nature and a way to engage our students in the community. Field trips will primarily take place on non-core coursework days, Mondays and Fridays. Parents will be informed in advance of the nature and location of the field trip. Field trips are privileges and students can be denied participation if they fail to meet academic or behavioral requirements. Part-time students may attend if prior authorization has been granted by the Head of School and arrangements are made for the parents to bring them and participate.

Catechisms: Catechism comes from the Greek word catechesis, which means to instruct by mouth. For generation after generation, our forefathers in the faith would instruct their children by means of this valuable tool using repetitions of question and answer. “Q: Why did God make you and all things? A: For His own glory. Q: How do you glorify God? A: By loving Him and obeying His commandments. Q: Where do you learn to love and obey God? A: From the Bible alone.” You see, God’s law provides basic guidelines that cover the whole of life. Catechism serves as a guide to better understanding God’s law and apply it to every domain of human existence.

Therefore, The Terra Nova School utilizes catechisms as an important tool for instructing our students.

When applicable, we will incorporate catechism questions (questions and answers) in learning other subjects as well.

GRADING POLICIES Grades at The Terra Nova School do not in any way reflect the immeasurable worth and value of each child made in God’s image, but rather are an accurate reflection of the quality of work in a given subject at a given time. At The Terra Nova School, grades serve three basic purposes: 1.​ To help our young students to improve 2.​ To determine the best placement level for a young student's academic ability 3.​ To provide a just and legitimate means of holding young students accountable for the quality of their work and to provide a widely understood means of communicating their progress and achievement to parents and other parties such as college entrance boards or other schools to which the young student may transfer Our balanced and objective grading system will be based on these values.

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Individual Grades: The Terra Nova School will use a method of grading that ensures students have time to “practice” before they receive a grade. Therefore regular “soft” grades on new concepts will be implemented, while grades that affect overall standings will be recorded in our software for transcripts.

Group Project Grades: 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: “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 Thessalonians 5:14). Because The Terra Nova 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.” If there is a disparity between the group effort and the final product, a conversation should ensue.

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 a grading rubric to be approved by the Head of School. All percentages of the final grade in math examinations, homework completion and math projects will be determined by the teacher, approved by the Head of School and communicated to families.

Science Grading Policy: Students will demonstrate the various skills and memory work that is needed for a concrete understanding of the various topics. All percentages of the final grade in science examinations, homework completion, experiments and projects will be determined by the teacher, approved by the Head of School and communicated to families.

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

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asked to review the word or grammatical rule and “edit” their writing. This promotes mastery in writing assignments.

Humanities Grading Rubrics will be submitted to the Head of School for approval by individual teachers.

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 a class. Throughout each course, teachers will notify parents (along with the Head of School) of any failing grade that a student receives.

Grade Reports: Progress reports are sent each quarter. Progress reports are available on ClassReach for all students and updated at the end of each semester in order to give parents and students an accurate indication of academic progress. Grades will be accessible through ClassReach at any time.

Mastery: 98 Approaching Mastery: 90 Working Understanding and Proficiency: 80 Basic Competence: 70 Not Ready to Proceed: 0–69 Secondary & Secondary Prep Grading: Percentage

Letter Grade

GPA

98+

A+

4.0

90-98

A

3.9

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80-89

B

3.0

70-79

C

2.0

0-69

F

0

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Homework Policy: Students often need some amount of extra practice in new concepts, skills, or facts. Therefore, after reasonable in-class time is spent on the material, the teacher may assign homework to allow for the necessary practice.

Homework given by teachers should offer: ●​ Skill-building through practice ●​ Time for memorization of information that builds a foundation for further learning and/or spiritual growth ●​ Reading time in preparation for discussion or material to be covered the next day ●​ Development time for projects that serve specific learning purposes ●​ Make-up work time We believe in the importance of rigorous academics balanced with family time and sabbath rest. Families enrolled in the core, 3-day program may help their students on Monday and Friday with their practice work and help prepare them for the following week’s core classes.

Expected Homework Load: Age Group

Weeknights

Monday Home Day

Lower Primary K4–1

10–20 minutes

1–2 hours

Upper Primary 2–5

20–45 minutes

1–3 hours

Lower Secondary 6–8

45 minutes–1 hour

2–3 hours

Upper Secondary 9+

1–2 hours

3–4 hours

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Makeup Work: Students are expected to make up all missed work for any absence. Should a student be absent on the day an assignment is assigned or due, the teacher may give a reasonable extension for the assignment to be completed. The extension will not exceed the number of school days missed during the absence. It is the parent/student's responsibility to find out what work was assigned. For an extended illness, parents should contact the teachers directly.

Student Conduct Feedback: Students will also be regularly evaluated by their teachers in regard to particular character traits that we seek to cultivate at The Terra Nova School. Our goal at The Terra Nova School is to educate the whole child, and to see the students of our school growing in both knowledge and virtue.

In light of this, the following areas of student conduct will be evaluated by the student’s teacher on a quarterly basis: ●​ Diligence ○​ Works hard when faced with something difficult ○​ Completes work on time ○​ Stays focused on task ●​ Generosity ○​ Stays in fellowship with others ○​ Patient with others ○​ Looks to the needs of others ●​ Taking Responsibility ○​ Seeks forgiveness when wrong ○​ Comes prepared to class ○​ Respects property ●​ Patience/Obedience ○​ Speaks at the appropriate time ○​ Respects authority ○​ Follows directions ●​ Boldness ○​ Contributes joyfully to the classroom ○​ Shows initiative 22

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○​ Solves problems creatively The teacher will evaluate these character traits based on whether the students display these traits always, regularly, occasionally, or rarely.

SCHOOL

RULES

AND

DISCIPLINE

BASIC SCHOOL RULES The following school rules are those essential policies that we require all our students to be aware of and adhere to. Each teacher is free to add to this list those rules that allow his/her classroom to run more smoothly and efficiently.

1.​ Students are expected to cooperate with basic Christian standards of behavior and conversation 2.​ There should be no talking back or arguing with teachers or staff. Prompt and cheerful obedience is expected. Instructions from the teacher should not have to be repeated 3.​ Chewing gum, electronic music devices, or other distracting toys/tools are not allowed on the school grounds. Cell phone use is permitted outside the building after school hours only 4.​ No guns, knives, or smoking are allowed on the school grounds 5.​ Students are expected to be aware of and avoid the off-limits areas of the building or grounds. Children should not play in traffic areas (parking lots, drop-off/pick-up zones, alleyways) before or after school 6.​ Students are expected to treat all of the school's materials or facilities with respect and care. This includes all textbooks distributed to the students. (Students will be charged for lost or damaged textbooks) 7.​ Students are expected to treat one another with kindness and respect. Teasing, criticizing, and name-calling are not permitted 8.​ Students are expected to treat worship, prayer, and class discussion with proper reverence. Jokes, songs, or behaviors that treat the Lord’s name or character with triviality are not permitted

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9.​ The Terra Nova School is not the place in which romantic relationships between students should be initiated or cultivated. Public displays of romantic affection are unacceptable 10.​It is expected that students work diligently and concentrate fully on their work while in school 11.​All work is to be completed within the time specified by the teacher. Repeated failure to complete assignments on time is considered disobedience and will be addressed in an office visit and possibly suspension 12.​Restrooms are only to be used in conformity with one’s biological gender 13.​Cheating and plagiarism is widespread today. We believe that teaching students to do their own work and keep their eyes on their own papers should begin in the elementary years. Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable at The Terra Nova School and are defined as the following: ●​ Cheating is defined as looking at another’s work without the teacher’s permission, talking during an examination, or working together on an assignment that was intended to be completed individually ●​ Plagiarism is defined as using another’s work without 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.

14.​Staff and Student Interaction: Staff may not initiate digital friend requests to students nor accept friend requests from students. Staff may not initiate or facilitate any private or isolated types of communication with students that might be interpreted as unprofessional. The Terra Nova School has zero tolerance for inappropriate interactions between staff and students.

DISCIPLINE POLICY The Terra Nova School seeks to provide an environment where the students are encouraged and challenged to exemplify Christian behavior in all aspects of the school day. It is imperative that our school be a haven of safety for all children. Actions that jeopardize the safety of others are dealt with promptly.

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We recognize that maintaining a well-disciplined classroom is key to learning. We believe that “knowledge without virtue is dangerous.” Therefore, encouraging virtuous behavior that stems from the heart is as important as encouraging excellence in math and grammar. A young student’s behavior, attitude, and physical disposition should contribute positively to the classroom environment and The Terra Nova School’s value of shaping godly character. Our rule is simple for maintaining this disciplined atmosphere: “love your neighbor as yourself.”

The kind and amount of discipline will be determined by the teachers, and if necessary, the Head of School. The discipline will be administered in light of the student's problem and attitude. All discipline will be based on biblical principles, e.g. restitution, apologies (public and private), swift and appropriate punishment, to bring about restoration of fellowship without lingering attitudes. As part of our belief in the authority of the family, parents will be made aware of concerns or warnings given to a student by a teacher or the Head of School, as well as of any disciplinary action taken as soon as possible after each incident.

The Terra Nova School uses a structured discipline plan for the classroom while varying the consequences based on the frame of the child and the parent’s input. Although our method of helping them reach the standard of “loving God and loving our neighbor” may be different, the standard remains.

The purpose of our discipline policy is to foster a beautiful and rich culture that serves the Lord. We understand that there are children with behavior difficulties due to various diagnoses or traumas of varying sorts. This policy is not intended to dissuade these children from attending The Terra Nova School. This is instead a guide for the culture we seek. We are happy to meet with parents of children who might need a varied plan and we will individualize for specific circumstances pending our Education Council approval.

We also understand that children diagnosed with particular disorders may have behavioral issues that accompany the diagnosis. We want to love and discipline these children in partnership with parents, but we do not allow a diagnosis to be an excuse for sin, therefore we will create robust discipleship plans that offers external support to assist these children, but if it becomes apparent that safety of the child or other students is compromised we will need to make alternative arrangements, outside of the school, until the child is able to follow our handbook behaviorally.

The vast majority of discipline will be handled at the classroom level. Love and forgiveness will be an integral part of the discipline of a student.

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CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM Cheating is defined as looking at another’s work without the teacher’s permission, talking during an examination, or working together on an assignment that was intended to be completed individually.

Plagiarism is defined as using another’s work without 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.

Regarding Artificial Intelligence: Students and teachers are made in the image of God and are therefore uniquely capable of rational thought, moral responsibility, creativity, and communion.

AI must never replace human relationality or moral agency. The goal of education is the formation of the soul—not merely the acquisition of data. AI may assist in learning but must not displace the role of teachers or classical methods like Socratic dialogue, narration, memorization, and debate. AI tools are considered extensions of human productivity and must never be regarded as moral agents or pedagogical substitutes. It is a tool that is not neutral and thereby should be handled very carefully.

1.​ Use of artificial intelligence for research assistance may be permitted for high school students when guided by classical research methods and citation expectations.

2.​ Creative generation tools may be allowed in elective or enrichment courses as part of broader projects under teacher supervision.

3.​ Using AI to write essays, complete homework, or generate academic work in place of the student’s own effort is a violation of academic integrity and our commitment to truth and virtue. AI used in solving any type of math problem or used for the scientific process is prohibited. Any use of AI in secret or deceptive ways is a violation of the school’s code of conduct.

4.​ Teachers and staff may use AI tools to draft lesson ideas, generate quiz questions, and explore curricular support, review or summarize educational content, and assist with administrative tasks (e.g., calendar coordination, grading rubrics), with discernment.

5.​ Discipleship-Oriented Tech Instruction: Terra Nova will intentionally teach older students how to approach AI with Biblical discernment, including lessons on digital ethics, intellectual honesty, and human limitations.

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DRESS CODE VIOLATION Teachers that notice a dress code violation will submit a ClassReach form to the Head of School. The Head of School will make a violation determination and a note will go home to parents if a violation has been determined. After 4 dress code violations an office visit will follow and an email will follow. After the 5th within a semester the student will be sent home.

Subsequent dress code violations will require the Head of School to treat the violations as office visits in accordance with the discipline policy.

PRIMARY STUDENT DISCIPLINE PLAN The rule is love God and love your neighbor.

1.​ If a student is overtly disrespectful to authority an immediate office visit will follow 2.​ If there is unloving behavior in the classroom, during breaks or lunchtime the teacher who observed the situation will give a warning and correct the behavior 3.​ If a second infraction occurs the infraction will be documented 4.​ If an infraction occurs during a break, the student’s lead teacher will be notified and documented accordingly 5.​ If a third infraction occurs the teacher will send the child to the Head of School for an office visit with information specifying the issue a.​ The Head of School will notify the parents through email of what occurred and the discipline given 6.​ Homework: a.​ Any missing homework will be entered as a “0” in ClassReach. After the third “0” or third poor grade, the parents will be notified. The late assignment policy is 10% grade reduction the first day, 20% reduction the second day, and 1 percentage point for any day thereafter.* A standing “0” will mean the assignment was never submitted *Extensions may be granted for extenuating circumstances or through the Education Council for struggling learners.

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SECONDARY STUDENT DISCIPLINE PLAN The rule is love God and love your neighbor.

1.​ If a student is overtly disrespectful there will be an immediate office visit 2.​ If a student is speaking inappropriately there will be an immediate office visit 3.​ If a student has not completed homework the teacher will notify the parents and the Head of School 4.​ Homework: a.​ A missed assignment will be entered as a “0” until submitted, and the late percentages will apply: 10% for not being submitted, 20% for the second day, and 1 percentage point for any day thereafter.* A standing “0” will mean the student never submitted the work. *Extensions may be granted for extenuating circumstances or through the Education Council for struggling learners.

OFFICE VISIT PROTOCOL 1.​ The Head of School may discipline in one of several ways pending the student: a.​ Cleaning i.​

Picking up trash

ii.​

Cleaning bathrooms

iii.​

Vacuuming and or sweeping

iv.​

Cleaning desks, walls, white boards, etc.

v.​

Cleaning outside

b.​ Physical endurance i.​

Wall sit

ii.​

Running laps

iii.​

Push ups

c.​ Writing i.​

A note on what the student did wrong

ii.​

A note asking forgiveness

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d.​ Other i.​

Loss of privilege(s)

ii.​

Repetition and practice of proper or expected behaviors

iii.​

Being sent home

iv.​

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

2.​ If an office visit occurs, a discipline note will go home from the Head of School to the parents EXCESSIVE OFFICE VISITS As noted above, the purpose of the discipline policy is to shape godly character in the student.

If it becomes apparent to the Head of School that the student’s character is not improving over time and/or is becoming worse to the detriment of the school culture, the Head of School will meet with the parents and they will come up with a plan to resolve the issue. The Head of School will also meet with the parents in cases where the student exhibits a lack of repentance or lacks interest in attending The Terra Nova School. The Head of School may, at his discretion, allow for additional meetings with the parents if the previous discipline plan to help the student was unsuccessful. To help the parents understand their child’s behavior, they may be required to sit with the student during a part or all of the school day. If the Head of School determines that the student’s behavioral issue still cannot be corrected through the discipline plan(s) generated by the meeting(s) with the parents, then it will be considered a “Serious Discipline Case”.

SERIOUS DISCIPLINE CASES A Serious Discipline Case occurs when a student exhibits extreme ungodly behavior that impedes the culture of the school. Examples include (but are not limited to): 1.​ Excessive Office Visits (see section of the same name above) 2.​ Unrepentant, consistent, or serious disrespect of authority 3.​ Unsafe behavior—endangerment to themselves or others 4.​ Overt moral issues including (but not limited to): a.​ Inappropriate touching b.​ Substance abuse 29

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c.​ Illegal activity If the Head of School has determined that the student’s words or behavior constitute a Serious Discipline Case, the student will be subject to a discipline hearing before a select committee.

The discipline hearing will include the student, the parent(s), the teacher (if applicable), the Head of School, and school board members. At this point the school board will determine the necessary course of action which may include suspension or expulsion of the student. Tuition will not be reimbursed for suspensions or expulsions.

SCHOOL CULTURE If a student has a significant negative influence on other students, the Head of School has the right to seek to expel the student, apart from the process of office visits. ●​ Examples of such behavior would include, but not be limited to: student romances, disobedience to parents, love of worldliness, a surly attitude, and any other ongoing attitudes reflecting a clear disregard of scriptural standards ●​ If the Head of School exercises this option, they will meet with the parents and Education Council who will make the final decision. The parents will then have the option to withdraw their student to prevent expulsion RE-ENROLLMENT At the discretion of the Head of School, in consultation with the Education Council, a student may be refused re-enrollment. Such refusal to re-enroll is not considered a direct disciplinary act, requiring accumulated office visits in order to be taken. Refusal to re-enroll is not the equivalent of suspension or expulsion.

RE-ADMITTANCE Should a student who was expelled, or who withdrew to prevent expulsion, desire to be re-admitted to The Terra Nova School at a later date, 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, etc.) by students is prohibited on campus during school hours. Such devices may be put on silent or turned off and left in bags or backpacks while a student is at school or on campus.

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Use of laptops, computers, or tablets for research or writing (and other staff approved purposes) is allowed with staff supervision and direction.

Violation of this policy will result in immediate confiscation of the device, to be released to a parent or guardian.

The Terra Nova School accepts no responsibility for use, breakage, theft, or loss of phone or other personal items.

ENROLLMENT

A T

THE

TERRA

NOVA

SCHOOL

ADMISSIONS

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE AND ENROLLMENT The admissions procedure will allow the school to accurately identify and admit students from families who have clearly expressed convictions that are similar to the school’s regarding the education of children. The selection and make-up of the school’s student body is second only to staff selection in the impact it has upon the school’s mission. The family-like atmosphere The Terra Nova School seeks to foster will be due in great measure to the similarity of biblical convictions and principles taught and lived out in many of the homes of our students. As the Lord blesses us with growth and change, we want to do all we can to maintain and build up that atmosphere.

A student’s academic achievements will be considered in the application process, but only for class placement, not as the primary determinant for acceptance. We are seeking to enroll those students who, because of their own families’ priorities, will most benefit from what The Terra Nova School can offer them.

1.​ Complete Online Interest Form and/or Schedule a Tour We would love to give an opportunity to answer any questions that you may have before beginning the application process.

2.​ Interview Request Complete an interview request form with questions related to your family. A pastoral reference will also be requested. Upon approval you will be invited to an admissions interview. Please read The Terra Nova School Parent/Student Handbook in its entirety before scheduling a family interview. We highly recommend that this information be 31

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reviewed and discussed as a family and that you pray for the Lord’s guidance in this decision for your family.

3.​ Complete Application After your family interview and approval with the Admissions Team, we will send you a Family Application to complete. Upon receiving and reviewing your application, the Head of School, with counsel from the Admissions Team, will make the final admissions decision and will contact the parents with the decision regarding acceptance.

Note: We reserve the right to admit students in a manner that takes into consideration the capacity of the school to meet the needs and educational benefit of both the individual student and all the students of that class. We do not base our admissions on the ability of the family to pay full tuition.

4.​ Enrollment and Tuition Agreement Accepted applicants will receive appropriate information regarding tuition and financial arrangements and will be sent a Tuition Agreement form and set up for billing.

5.​ Review School Uniform Policy and Supply List We will provide you with details of what you will need to begin class in the fall.

6.​ Placement Assessment Each student will be assessed to be placed in the appropriate instructional level/grade.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STUDENT A child must be at least 4 years old to apply for enrollment (by September 1) to our Primary Preparation learning level. Students will be assessed for placement in the appropriate learning level. Our goal is the long-term success of the student in an academic environment as opposed to automatic promotion based on age, thus students placement will be related to mastery of skills rather than age.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARENTS Parents should have a clear understanding of the Biblical philosophy and purpose of The Terra Nova School. This understanding includes a willingness to have their child exposed to the clear Protestant teaching of the school's Statement of Faith in various and frequent ways within the school's program. The parents should be willing to cooperate with all the written policies of The Terra Nova School. This is most important in the area of discipline (see School Rules and 32

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Discipline) and schoolwork standards, as well as active communication with the respective teachers and administration.

LEARNING DISABILITIES The Terra Nova School desires to accept, enroll, and educate every student interested in attending our school. We are not always equipped to serve students with severe learning or physical disabilities. We will assess our ability to serve these students on a case-by-case basis.

IMMUNIZATIONS The Terra Nova School does not require or collect information regarding immunizations; we believe that parents have the right to make medical choices for their children and want to ensure that this freedom is protected. Please notify us of any severe allergies or health concerns.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ADA STATEMENT The Terra Nova School 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. The Terra Nova School does not accept federal funds.

PARENT

RESPONSIBILITY

“Train the child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it…” ​ Proverbs 22:6 At The Terra Nova School, we recognize that parents are ultimately responsible for the education, training and flourishing of their children. We believe that our school and our educators are facilitators and advisors to serve parents as they pursue this important work. We encourage you to join with us in this process in a variety of ways: ●​ Pray together as a family ●​ Be currently active in and regularly attend your local church ●​ Talk daily with your children about God, Scripture, and faith and participate in a rhythm and routine of family worship 33

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●​ Celebrate your children’s successes ●​ Faithfully and biblically discipline them when needed ●​ Attend and participate in parent meetings and parent-teacher conferences with the school ●​ Always read school communications ●​ Participate in the classroom school activities ●​ Support your children with homework and school projects ●​ Be sure your children are at school and on time each school day.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT The Terra Nova School is continually seeking ways to constructively involve the parents, grandparents, and siblings of our students in the school’s regular and special programs.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: During the first and third quarter, mandatory formal parent-teacher conferences will be arranged by the teacher. Informal conferences may and should be scheduled as needed.

Parent Involvement in the School: Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer or to observe in the classrooms, pending a clear background check. Simply call ahead out of courtesy to the teacher.

Necessary ways we expect parents to be involved: ●​ School workdays ●​ Christmas Program ●​ School fundraising events ●​ Classroom volunteering Other ways parents may be involved in the school: ●​ Parents may accompany the class on field trips ●​ Parents may help with recess and/or lunch duty ●​ Parents may come as guest speakers, serve as story-reader or song-leader, or offer special talents ●​ Parents may share experiences or travel as they may relate to an area of study in class ●​ Parents may assist with large office mailings or photocopying ●​ Parents may support a teacher or administrator through regular prayer

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COMMUNICATION Our grammar school teachers are required to communicate with all their class parents at least once every two weeks (a once-a-week email is very common). This may be done in a written or verbal form. We encourage teachers and parents to speak frequently about how the student is doing and to schedule formal meetings as needed. When teachers are addressing concerns with parents, all formal and written communications to class parents must be read and approved by the Head of School prior to being disseminated.

Teachers will provide parents with an email address where they can be reached outside regular working hours. If you have questions about the weekly workings of a particular classroom (homework load, etc.), contact the teacher via email. When addressing any concerns, parents should copy the Head of School to keep him informed of classroom circumstances.

If you have a concern about curriculum content, The Terra Nova School policy, or philosophy, please communicate with the Head of School.

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 administration, you will find a satisfactory resolution.

Please follow principles from Matthew 18 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.”

God will honor this commitment by all (parents, teachers, administrators) and provide a healthy school environment that will bring glory to Christ.

PARENT COMMITMENT (When enrolling at The Terra Nova School) I am placing my child as a student at The Terra Nova 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 The Terra Nova School.

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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.

I understand that a uniform policy is a way of loving those around us by respecting a unified and meaningful representation of our school culture, including professionalism, modesty and our distinct values. I will make sure that my child follows the school uniform policy so that this culture is maintained.

I understand that my child will need to submit to the authority of The Terra Nova School faculty and staff during school events. I also understand that I will be ultimately responsible for my child’s behavior while at The Terra Nova School and thereby will follow the directives of the school as outlined in the Parent/Student Handbook.

I understand that my child will be disciplined under the stated Discipline Policy of The Terra Nova School and I commit to supporting the school in the implementation of this policy.

I understand that conflicts and concerns arise between different parties and that the Bible instructs us with the best ways to deal with such issues. I will follow the principles of Matthew 18 to determine the proper order of communication and begin a resolution by going directly to the person at fault first. “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” (Matthew 18:15–16).

I understand that the teachers at The Terra Nova School aim to educate the whole person and will keep the wellbeing of the student in mind. Therefore, I will not impede The Terra Nova School’s pedagogical approach to education and will support the grading policies, the attendance policies, and the discipline policies of The Terra Nova School. I will take responsibility for encouraging my child’s submission to the authority of school personnel.

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ASSIST ANCE

Click to see Terra Nova’s Tuition & Fee Schedule which includes tuition and fee rates, payment options and subsequent discounts, consequences of late payment, and tuition obligation in the event of early withdrawal or expulsion.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Private schools do not have the benefit of any financial aid sources outside of donations. We carefully price our tuition to cover expenses associated with education. At the same time, we do not want to turn anyone away because of finances. Therefore, if a family will have a difficult 36

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time with tuition then we will have them complete a financial aid form and have them meet with our finance committee. The finance committee will discuss the various options with the family and help come up with a solution.

Financial Assistance/Aid is not renewable annually.

A TTENDANCE

A student enrolled in The Terra Nova School is expected to be present and on-time every day school is in session. The Terra Nova School has intentionally set its vacations, schedule, and structure to allow important time for families. By registering a child in The Terra Nova School, the parent or guardian is agreeing to this schedule and it is honoring to the community of students to be in attendance. Because excessive absences harm the student’s ability to achieve mastery, this may be taken into consideration when placing students in various learning levels.

The Education Council will make a determination for student placement.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE We ask that teachers be notified as soon as possible for any absences.

In the event that the total number of absences for one semester exceeds nine days, a meeting will be called with parents, teachers and the Head of School to discuss the implications of the absences.

School Hours: ●​ Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Core Course Days ○​ 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM ●​ Friday Enrichment Day (includes physical education & academic and elective enrichment) ○​ 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM Students are able to arrive between 8:15 AM and 8:30 AM. Students need to be picked up no later than 3:15 PM in the afternoons.

The actual number of days school is in session will be determined by the yearly school calendar. Attendance records for the students are reported on the student's report card each semester. Our academic calendar will be available on ClassReach.

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Short-Term Absences: If a student needs to be absent from school for one to two days, for any reason, the parents should contact the school office and the student’s teachers as soon as possible.

For sickness, please notify the school by 8:15 AM using the ClassReach absence form under “forms.”

Extended Absences: Please complete a ClassReach form for any absences due to sickness or planned days.

Teachers cannot be expected to provide pre-emptive work for such absences. The nature of classical education does not pedagogically make this possible. Makeup work will be given after an absence, and the student has the same duration of time that they were absent to submit work. Frequent, non-consecutive absences are sometimes unavoidable due to illness but can interrupt a student’s ability to keep up in school. We recommend that families communicate with teachers when concerns arise. Extended absences may impede mastery and this will be evaluated by the Education Council for placement.

Make-Up Work: Students may take make-up tests and submit any other make-up work before or after school. It is expected that the child or his parents discuss these arrangements with the teacher and take the initiative in completing the missed work.

Signing Students Out/In: When it is necessary to sign students out (and consequently back in, e.g., for a doctor’s appointment) during the course of the school day, parents are requested to go to the office and sign out and back in.

Afternoon Dismissal: Students will not be released until teacher, administrator, school employee releases them to parent or authorized pick-up person.

TARDIES/LATENESS A student who arrives later than 8:30 AM is considered tardy. Parents should recognize that one student’s lateness affects an entire class and that the responsibility to arrive on time is theirs. Therefore, out of Christian charity and consideration for their classmates and teachers, please make every effort to be punctual.

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Four tardies within a month will constitute an office visit with a note sent home through ClassReach. Please follow the discipline policy for further information (designated office visits will result in a discipline hearing).

STUDENT

ETIQUETTE

There are numerous ways that students are encouraged and expected to show kindness to one another, and to their teachers, during their hours at The Terra Nova School. Periodically, students will receive teaching and reminders about these expectations. It is our hope that these actions will become part of the daily fabric at The Terra Nova School.

We train our young men to show consideration and respect for the ladies in the school. We want to train our young ladies to accept the sacrifice of the young men with humility and thankfulness. As some applications of this truth, we want the young men to do the following: ●​ Open doors for all ladies—whether parents, teachers, or students. Always allow the ladies to exit first ●​ In the hallways, men are courteous and defer to the ladies by giving them space ●​ In all events where food is served, the women are to be served and seated first We want to train our students to show proper respect to their teachers and administrators. ●​ Students should address their teachers by Mr., Miss, or Mrs. ●​ Students should respond by saying ''yes" or ''no," not ''yeah." "Sir" and "Ma'am" are always welcome. ●​ Students should stand when a teacher or administrator enters the room We would like The Terra Nova School to be a place where visitors sense the aroma of Christian love.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death, to the other, the fragrance of life" (2 Corinthians 2:14–15).

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UNIFORM

Click to see Terra Nova’s Uniform Policy which includes our rationale, required and optional uniform details, guidelines for general appearance, and consequences for uniform violations.

GRIEVANCES

All of us are seeking the best for each child. This perspective helps to put problems into a positive framework. If a problem arises, it is imperative for us to work together towards its resolution. Please address a problem as soon as it arises.

“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. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” ​(Matthew 18:15–16) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) These guidelines are to be followed whenever there is a school improvement idea, dispute, or grievance concerning any aspect of The Terra Nova School's operations, between any two parties connected to the school.

GENERAL GUIDELINES ●​ It is understood that if any disputes arise which are not covered by this policy, the board will decide what procedures to follow based on a parity of reasoning from those procedures established by this policy ●​ It is also understood that, especially during the attempted resolution of concerns, the principles of Matthew 18 and James 3 will be followed ●​ Contacting other students, parents, teachers, or administrators to air concerns or accusations is not appropriate as gossip weakens our school and is not part of resolving conflict in a biblical way ●​ We will provide a ClassReach form for any ideas or concerns that are general and not involving sin GRIEVANCES BETWEEN STUDENTS 1.​ Encourage students to speak with each other and ask for forgiveness 40

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2.​ If they are not able to work it out between themselves, it is recommended that the parents plan a time to discuss as a group 3.​ If a resolution is still not evident, we suggest that they contact their teacher or the Head of School for further assistance in resolving the issue PARENTS/STUDENTS TO TEACHERS 1.​ All concerns about the classroom must first be presented to the teacher by the parents, or if the student is mature enough, by the student himself/herself. If the student presents the concern, a respectful demeanor is required 2.​ If the problem is not resolved, the parents may bring the concern to the Head of School.

If the student brings the concern, he must have permission from his parents to do so 3.​ If the problem is still not resolved, the parents may request a hearing from the The Terra Nova School Board PARENTS TO ADMINISTRATION 1.​ If parents have a grievance or dispute about the general operation of the school (apart from the operation of the classrooms), they may bring their concerns to the Head of School 2.​ If the situation is not resolved, they may request a hearing from The Terra Nova School Board 3.​ This procedure applies to board members who are acting in their capacity as parents, and not as representatives of the board VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF/ADMINISTRATION 1.​ If any volunteer has a concern about the volunteer work, he may present that concern to the staff member responsible for his oversight (teacher, Head of School, director, etc.)

2.​ If the problem is not resolved, then the concern may be presented in writing to the Head of School, followed by a meeting to discuss the concern 3.​ If the problem is still not resolved, the volunteer may request a hearing from the board in writing. The request will be passed through the Head of School. The Head of School is required to pass the request on to the board 41

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SAFETY

CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS In consideration of your student’s wellness, in addition, preventing the spread of illness to your child’s classmates and teachers, a student should be symptom-free a full 24 hours from the following before returning to school: ●​ Fever—Temperature of 100.4°F or above without the use of fever-reducing medications. ●​ Vomiting/diarrhea ●​ Rash ●​ Persistent cough NOTE: If your child has a contagious illness such as strep or pinkeye please follow your doctor’s advice and return when advised.

Please notify the school when your child will be kept home.

EMERGENCIES Parents should provide the school with updated emergency numbers, using the online Emergency Form, of friends and/or family who can pick up their child from school if the child becomes ill. This form will also be used to contact people who may need notification in a medical emergency and includes a signed waiver in order to facilitate necessary surgical action.

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES The Terra Nova School administration is willing to administer any over-the-counter medication to the children in their care only with written authorization from the child’s parent or guardian.

We will be happy to accommodate parent visits during the day for the purpose of medication administration.

1.​ Parents are to administer medication to their own children before and/or after school hours as necessary 2.​ Parents must complete a Permission to Administer Medication Form and have the signed physician’s orders on file for each prescription medication requested to be administered by The Terra Nova School. No medication will be given without the physician's signed request 42

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3.​ All medication taken by students must be administered by one of the following: a.​ Parents of the student b.​ Designee of the parents (designee must be an adult identified in writing to The Terra Nova School prior to the initial distribution of medication) c.​ The Terra Nova School staff person designated by the Head of School 4.​ No student will be permitted to administer any form (prescription or over-the-counter) of medication to himself or any other student (except for medicinal inhalers and Epi-Pens, see below) 5.​ Students who require medication on an as needed basis through the use of an inhaler or Epi-Pen will be permitted to self-medicate if the following conditions have been met: a.​ A physician has determined that the student should carry the medicinal inhaler or Epi-Pen on his or her person and self-administer the medication. Physicians’ orders must be on file with the school office b.​ Parents must complete the Permission to Administer Medication Form and indicate that: “the student is able to self-administer and carry the inhaler/Epi-Pen and has been trained in its use” 6.​ The school will complete a ClassReach form notifying the parents that medication was administered with the time and dose HEALTH RECORDS The Terra Nova School will not ask for nor divulge medical records. If your child has allergies or medical concerns please share this information through the ClassReach form provided on the parent home page.

LUNCH AND SNACKS Lunch: Students will bring packed lunches. Lunches must be packed that do not have to be heated or refrigerated. Please also alert us of any allergies your child has so we can accommodate as needed and alert other families (if the allergy is very severe). At The Terra Nova School, we

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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. We encourage low sugar drinks.

Snacks: Parents are welcome to send an easy to eat snack for mid-morning. Water is the only beverage allowed to accompany snacks, as they will be consumed in their classrooms. Exceptions are made for students with a medical necessity for juice or snacks.

SAFETY The Board and Administration of The Terra Nova School recognize the responsibility we have in ensuring the safety of the students and staff of our school. We will continually strive to maintain stringent safety and security procedures, and be proactive in responding to any potential threats to our facility or its members.

We conduct routine emergency drills based on best-practice recommendations from local law enforcement.

Background Checks: The Terra Nova School uses volunteers and teaching aids who have been background-checked for assistance in classrooms. These volunteers are under the guidance of the lead teachers within every learning group.

School Campus Security: During school hours, students are not permitted to leave campus unsupervised. All outer doors will remain locked during school hours. Students who leave during the day must be signed out of the office and signed back in upon their return to the school that same day. Alarms and surveillance systems are in place for security purposes. Please text for admittance outside of pick up and drop off times.

All visitors are required to sign in and out at the school office.

Student Pick Ups: Parents of all students are asked to complete the list of individuals that will likely be picking up their child throughout the school year through our ClassReach system. Any child not picked up by 3:15 will be assessed an after school care fee of $25, multiple late arrivals may have to be considered by the Education Council.

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GOVERNANCE

HISTORY

OUR NAME Terra Nova is latin for ‘new earth.’ Our home is a heavenly home. As citizens of God’s “here and not yet” kingdom, we will aim to glorify God by learning everything we can here, while at the very same time, knowing that the process of learning doesn’t stop when we reach the Celestial City, but continues long into eternity. So every piece of wisdom and virtue we attain on this earth, will serve to prepare our hearts and minds to glorify God on the new earth to come.

With this eternal mindset, we have pressed on to build a school.

OUR STORY God put the desire of starting a classical Christian school on the hearts of four families at San Diego Reformed Church. After 18 months of diligent work and preparation, we launched the school in Fall 2022. We are members of the Association of Classical Christian Schools and have partnered with Concordis Education Partners in bringing a Christ-centered education to like-minded families. God has been so faithful to give us a turn-key school facility in the heart of San Diego County. Please continue to pray for us as we build a foundation for generations to come.

GOVERNANCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Terra Nova School is managed by the Board of Directors. Articles of Incorporation for The Terra Nova School, were filed June 8, 2021. We were approved for tax exempt status retroactive to the incorporation date and was subsequently recognized in a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service. Incorporators were Rony Renfrow, Jacob Merkey, and Zack Gilman. The Articles of Incorporation indicate that the corporation was organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Bylaws also specifically state that the corporation shall support parents by providing a classical and Biblically based education in a Christian environment and include our statement of faith. The incorporators and their wives began meeting and working toward forming the school in March 2021. Informal discussions of the

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desirability and possibility of starting a classical and Christian school in San Diego began in early 2021, if not sooner.

The Terra Nova School is governed primarily by the Word of God, as understood and applied by the school's Board of Directors and administration, and is run by the Board of Directors who typically meet once a month to carry out its responsibilities, with day-to-day operation authority delegated to the Head of School.

EDUCA TIONAL

EXCELLENCE

GROWTH Our school opened its doors in the fall of 2022 with 27 students, grades Junior Kindergarten through 6th grade. During our second year, we increased enrollment to 51 students, up to 7th grade. Over the next few years, we aim to have a full-time Jr. K–12th grade school. Junior Kindergarten is also known as K4 (four year olds) or Transitional Kindergarten.

The Terra Nova School’s Board of Directors and the administration are planning and praying toward further growth of the school, both in facilities and the scope of the program, as more families become convinced of the necessity and advantages of a classical, Christ-centered education.

ACCREDITATION The Terra Nova School is not accredited by any specific body of governance at this time. The Terra Nova School Board reviews decisions made by the Head of School, vets teachers, and brings in outside support as needed to ensure that the education at The Terra Nova School is one of excellence.

Teacher training, review of policies, and review of curricula is a routine part of the administration’s duties at The Terra Nova School.

PARTNERS Concordis Education Partners: We have joined with Concordis Education Partners which provides training, external teacher evaluations, and advises our Education Council on best pedagogical practices.

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The Association of Classical Christian Schools: The Terra Nova School is a start-up member of ACCS (The Association of Classical Christian Schools). This organization continues to offer annual national conferences and practical assistance to forming and growing ACCS schools. We will aim to become accredited by ACCS and take the necessary steps in order to reach that goal.

CONTINUED EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS Because The Terra Nova School understands that learners make the best teachers, we provide continuing education opportunities for our teachers.

EVALUATIONS The Terra Nova School understands that evaluations of our processes, our pedagogy, our instruction, and our organization as a whole are valuable. Therefore we seek critique in the following areas: ●​ We will periodically send out surveys to our families to see how well our faculty and staff are serving our families ●​ We will periodically ask our students to evaluate their teachers ●​ Our administration will frequently evaluate and provide feedback for our teachers ●​ The school board will periodically evaluate and provide feedback for the Head of School ●​ We will periodically invite faculty and staff from other schools to evaluate our classes EDUCATION COUNCIL Purpose of the Education Council: The Terra Nova School Educational Council has the important role of upholding educational standards at The Terra Nova School. This includes a review of discipline, policies, pedagogy, curriculum, and teacher training. The Educational Council oversees the educational practices of the school. They will accomplish this through the research and development of: ●​ Curriculum ●​ Teacher training ●​ Best practices for classroom management ●​ Handbook changes 47

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In addition, the Education Council: ●​ Reviews student progress and learning level placement ●​ Holds discipline hearings ●​ Helps evaluate and oversee individualized plans for specific students Members of the Education Council: Members of the Education Council will be voted on by the board (with recommendations from board members and Head of School) and will consist of: 1.​ At least one Terra Nova School Board member 2.​ At least one Lead Teacher from The Terra Nova School 3.​ The Head of School 4.​ One external member (Concordis currently) These members will remain on the Education Council for the duration of their term on the board or employment with the school.

Members will be appointed or reappointed by May of each year.

Qualifications for Members of the Education Council: Must show a desire for excellence and solid theology in the classroom, and have a willingness to: ●​ Carefully examine teachers in the classroom when needed ●​ Research curriculum ●​ Visit other schools ●​ Assist in organizing teacher trainings ●​ Act as mentors to new teachers ●​ Read educational philosophy books and/or materials ●​ Review homework loads ●​ Help make Classical Christian education available to all learners

The reader should take notice that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, The Terra Nova 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. The Terra Nova School provides the information 48

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herein solely for the convenience of the reader and, to the extent permissible by law, expressly disclaims any liability which may otherwise be incurred.

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