1.  Setup and Take-Down, Boards
2.  Trash and Bathrooms and Tables
3. Kitchen sink, microwave, countertops, and refrigerator

           Rotating Schedule      

                              Al      Aa     N

                               1       2       3  

     9-10 to 9-14     2       3       1

     9-17 to 9-21     3       1       2

     9-24 to 9-28     1       2       3

     10-1 to 10-5     2       3       1

High School Credit

     In order to receive high school credit, a student must demonstrate knowledge of the subject and be in attendance at school the equivalent of 180 days.  Testing is only one of the ways a student can demonstrate knowledge of the subject.  Each of the two semesters during the year is 28,350 minutes.

 

 

Attendance

       In accordance with the requirements of Boston School, from which the students receive their credit and diplomas, students must spend 180 hours on each subject to receive credit.  Attendance has been one of the major reasons some students have not succeeded at Wittenberg Learning Center.  We feel that attendance is important if we as teachers and students are to succeed. We encourage parents not to schedule vacations during the school year.  Students should talk to their employer so that they do not have to leave school early for a job interview or to get to work.  Students must make up all time they miss at school.  If students miss more than 4 days of school during the entire school year, they will make up 2 days for each 1 day of school missed beyond those 4 days.  If you are tardy or absent more than four days, students may be charged for makeup time.

     Compensation time may be given for field trips, homework completed, and other activities (some are noted later in this handbook) at the discretion of the teacher.

     185 days are scheduled in our school calendar.  If students complete all their requirements early, they will not be required to attend after June 1st.  If you have more than 6 hours of makeup time left after Prince William County Public Schools has had their last day of school, you will have to pay $20 per hour and make up the time in July and August.  Exceptions can sometimes be made for students in the hospital, those who require extended medical care, in the case of a flu epidemic, or other unforeseen occurrences.  Time must be made up before credit is given.

     If you are absent, you will not do as well on tests, because you have missed material that you will be tested on.  We cannot go over everything that you missed on a particular day.  We read and discuss a lot of material in the course of one day.  If you read it at home, you and the other students do not gain the advantage of class discussion.   You are tested on reports that other students give.  It would be unfair to ask the other students to give their reports a second time.  You are tested on field trips.  We cannot go over everything we did on the field trip if you do not attend.

 

Lethargy in Class

In the past certain students arrive at school tired and remain tired. They have obviously not had enough sleep or have been consuming something that dulls their minds. Parents will be alerted when this happens and are expected to investigate and take appropriate action. In worst case situations the student will be sent home because it is hopeless to teach a sleeping or spaced out student.

     Sleeping in class, not paying attention, clock watching, or distracting other students is not allowed.  A student's parents will be notified if a student is having any of these problems, as this is a sign that there are underlying problems that need to be addressed.

     Lifestyle and behavior could be the main reasons why a student cannot learn. A couple more hours of sleep could be a simple answer. But, counseling services and other interventions may be necessary. We will recommend and encourage parents to seek outside help if a student is lethargic, hyper or distracting. We are always willing to work with parents or a counselor to help a student. We understand families may wish to keep problems private but if these problems are holding back the student we hope parents will seek professional assistance. We all must do what is in the student's best long term interest.

 

Multitasking

     Students at Wittenberg Learning Center are expected to put their full attention toward the lesson we are working on as a class.  Multitasking is not a good habit to get into at school.

 

Clock Watching

    The school day normally ends at 3:00 PM. but this may not always be the case. A field trip may return later than 3PM. A movie may end later than 3PM. A discussion or reading exercise may go a few minutes beyond 3PM. Students should not monitor the clock as 3PM approaches. There also will be days in which the last class ends before 3PM. Therefore students should not become stressed when some school days go a few minutes longer. In fact students are welcome to linger after the end of school and get extra help from teachers.

 

 

 

Tardies

     If you are tardy you will make up 15 minutes plus 2 times the number of minutes late.                  

 

 

Late Return from Break

     For each late return after the first late return, you will make up 15 minutes plus 2 times the number of minutes late. 

 

 

Food and Drink

     You may always have a drink container handy during class.

     You must obtain permission to eat during class.  Please do not eat food that crunches or has a strong smell associated with it.  Save that for lunch time. 

     All food left in the refrigerator overnight must be labeled with your name, or it may be thrown away.

     The microwave may not be running during class, but you may use it during break.

     You are not to leave food in the refrigerator over the weekend without permission.

     We have been asked not to use the paper products that are found in the kitchen.  Those items are provided for church functions and not for our use.

     If this becomes a problem, students will not be allowed to use either the microwave, the refrigerator, or the kitchen.

 

Restroom Use

     Students are discouraged from taking bathroom breaks during a class. This brings class to a grinding halt and wastes valuable time. Students are allowed to get up and walk around if they find sitting long periods of time difficult. They will be given breaks several times a day but they must be in their seats ready to work at the designated class start time.

     Students should use the restroom during breaks and lunch time.  Students are allowed two and a half minutes per day during class for use of the restroom (If not used, this time is counted as compensation time.)  Use of the restroom is counted double absent.

     During History and 21st Century Issues classes  bathroom breaks are not allowed except for emergency reasons which should be very infrequent. We lost momentum and concentration when these breaks occurred. We need to spend every minute possible on the subject matter. If a break is taken, the school day will be extended beyond 3PM for the same number of minutes as the break.

 

Lunch and Breaks

     Students are not allowed to drive to 7-Eleven or leave the immediate area during lunch or breaks.  Failure to follow this rule will result in dismissal from WLC, because it puts our ability to obtain insurance for the school and thus the existence of Wittenberg Learning Center in jeopardy.

 

Monday or First Day of Week Set-Up

     Students will be assigned set up, take down and clean up tasks. This is the contribution students make to Wittenburg. Parents pay for their education, Lutheran Church of the Covenant provides the learning space, Epiphany Lutheran provides the teachers, the Boston School provides the academic framework and the students maintain the school. Students will be expected to be reliable in carrying out their various assignments.

      Everyone has setup/cleanup assignments.  Please take these jobs seriously.  When you are to be at school at 8:30, Mrs. Kraig is counting on you to arrive by 8:30 a.m.  It is difficult to setup without help.  She will be very distressed if you do not arrive to help out.  These jobs save the staff from more than one hour of work per week.

     Students will be assigned to set up the school on Monday mornings or the first day of school during the week.  If you are assigned to set up the room, you need to arrive at 8:30 a.m. 

     Also, in addition to setting up the room, you are to return the trash cans (after the trash is picked up) from the curb to the side of the building.

     If you are not setting up on a Monday morning or first day of the school week, you are to arrive early enough Monday mornings to carry your books from the supply room to the classroom before class starts.

     There will be a charge if you do not arrive to help set up the classroom on the Mondays or first day of the school week you are assigned.  Also, you will not be counted present until you have your books out on Mondays or the first day of the school week.  Students are responsible for knowing when they are assigned this responsibility.  A list of assignments is posted on the white board carts.

 

Friday or Last Day of Week Set-Up

     You will be assigned to help put all the carts and materials in the supply room.

     You will also be assigned to take the trash out to the trash cans.  This includes emptying the trash from kitchen.  You will also need to replace the trash can liners.

     You will be assigned to clean the kitchen.  This includes making sure the refrigerator, countertops, sink, and microwave are clean before you leave.

     You may be assigned to wash the tables, wash the white boards, and push in all the chairs.

     There will be a charge if you do not finish the job assigned.

     Jobs are assigned on a rotating basis.  You are responsible for knowing when you are assigned the jobs.

Cell Phones

     Cell phones are not allowed in class. Parents will be provided with a phone number which they can use to contact a student.

     If you bring a cell phone to class, it must be placed in a designated location during class.

     Students may use their phones during break or lunch time.

     Students who do not comply will be given make up time, since cell phones are a disruption to everyone in the class.   Keep in mind a good time to call would be during lunch from 12:00 until 12:30.

 

Cigarette Smoking

     We are using church space which does not belong to us. Students must respect the feelings of the host congregation. No smoking what so ever is permitted on the property. If church members find traces of the cigarettes they become upset. In the past, members have been especially concerned about damage to bathrooms by cigarette burns, fires started in bathrooms, and fires begun by cigarettes thrown into the mulch in the yard.  It is illegal for teenagers to smoke. Smoking is not cool. It is not a smart thing to do.  None of the teachers smoke or approve of smoking.

    

Snow Days, Etc.

      Wittenberg Learning Center will not have school if the roads are not safe.  You will be notified if we are not following the school closing policy of Prince William County Public Schools.   You will need to give us a phone number where you can be reached in case we are having school on a snow day.  Keep in mind that you must attend school for a minimum number of hours.  Snow days do not count toward school time unless you are given assigned work and finish it.

Delayed Opening   

     If Prince William County Public Schools decides to have a two-hour delay, Wittenberg Learning Center will open at 10:00.   You will be notified if school is open on time or if school is closed.  Please provide a phone number where you can be reached in case we cancel school.

 

Field Trips

     Field trips are a great way to learn and earn compensation time if students stay with the chaperones and listen to the teacher, docent, or tour guide.  Students are tested on what they learn on field trips.  If you do not stay with the chaperones, you are counted the same as absent, and will have more make up time at the end of the year.

 

Field Trip Fund

     This money is an account for students just for field trips.  In the past students have forgotten to bring money, or don't have enough money for field trip activities.  Sometimes the field trip will include lunch at a restaurant, such as the American Indian Museum Cafeteria or the Mount Vernon Restaurant, which includes ethnic foods and ethnic atmosphere, and provides class discussion.  There may be cheaper food in the area, but the teachers feel that lunch together is an important part of the field trips.  The discussion during lunch is also part of the field trip.  If we eat lunch together, school time is counted.  The fund would assure parents that this money is being spent on all day field trips only.  This money will not be used for student's school lunches or ordering out lunch.  Parents can deposit $75 in their child's field trip account.  We will also use this account for the prom.  Any money left in the account at the end of the year will be refunded to the parents.

     Students are expected to go on all field trips. Usually they will be given a follow up test. Students will be expected to remain close to their teachers throughout the field trip. If guides or movies are provided the students must pay attention and if necessary take notes. They will eat lunch together at a location chosen by the teachers and attending parents.

 

General Staff Qualifications and Responsibilities

 

Teachers should have a college degree with a major in the subject area being taught. Instructional experience is necessary. The following are the responsibilities of the subject specialists:

1.  Provide instruction.
2.  Lead classroom discussion.
3.  Answer students’ questions.
4.  Tutor students one-on-one.
5.  Check student comprehension to help students determine if they are adequately prepared for tests.
6.  Suggest ideas for field trips and help to coordinate them. If possible accompany students on field trips, especially if they pertain to their subject area. (Time spent on field trips will not be paid.)
7.  Suggest study methods to the students

    

    

   Other Student Responsibilities

    

8.  Arrive on time. Be in the assigned area at all times working on the assigned work.
9.  Keep the center clean and free of clutter.
10.  Attend the learning center each day that it is open, unless you are sick or a family emergency arises.
11.  Get adequate rest at night.
12.  Bring all necessary books and materials to the center.
13.  Bring a nutritious lunch each day.
14.  Follow the guidelines for classroom behavior as established by the learning center.
15.  Follow the guidelines for field trip behavior as established by the learning center.
16.  Follow the dress code as established by the learning center.
17.  Finish assignments and turn them in.
18.  Correct or rework all missed problems or questions.
19.  Ask for help when you find assignments difficult.
20.  Respect the adults who are employed or volunteer for the learning center.
21.  Follow the honor code as established by the learning center.

     

    Dress

     

    Shirts must be of a length so there is no gap at the waist, have a high neckline and sleeves.

    Pants or skirts must be no shorter than just above the knee.

     

    Please keep in mind that we do lots of hands-on type activities with permanent markers, paint, household chemicals, etc.

     

    Students will

     

22.  participate in class, work on assignments, and ask questions as needed.
23.  participate in all activities on field trips, as these are designed as learning experiences.
24.  stay with the assigned group during field trips.  If you are not with the teachers/ adults that accompany you on the field trip, you are counted the same as absent, and you will be required to make up the time.  It is to your advantage to stay with the instructor and listen to what he/she is talking about.
25.  let the teacher know if he/she feels uncomfortable with the given assignment.
26.  not bring cigarettes to school, possess cigarettes on school grounds, or smoke on school/church grounds.
27.  During time set aside for lunch stay in the center or walk to 7-eleven.
28.  not drive or ride in a motor vehicle during lunch, except with a WLC approved adult driver.
29.  ask for permission before using the bathroom during class.  Also inform the teacher when you have returned from the bathroom.  This will assure that you will not be charged for extra time for not being present in class.
30.  not use inappropriate language.
31.  not go to the basement  of Lutheran Church of the Covenant except with permission of a teacher while in the building for school.
32.  not use any doors to exit or enter the building, other than the one from our classroom, except with permission of a teacher while in the building for school.