Family Handbook
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS
Introduction
Welcome to Joshua Academy! This Parent Handbook is intended to provide students, parents, and staff with a clear understanding of the vision, fundamental policies, and procedures of Joshua Academy (JA).
Should you have any questions regarding the content of this handbook, please contact the school office at 479-439-4092 or info@joshua-academy.org.
Our Name
Where did the name Joshua Academy come from? We actually started with the question, “Who do we want our children to be?” The answer to that question is simple - we want our children to be WARRIORS for God! Today more than ever, our kids need an unshakable foundation in the Word so they can engage with the world knowing who they are in Christ.
Once we had our mascot, we sought a strong warrior from the Bible who exemplified the spirit we want to develop in our students. Joshua was a faithful and courageous warrior for God who was the successor to Moses and was chosen to lead God’s people into the promised land. Jubilee Church was founded by Larry Beam in the late 1990’s. Now lead by Monte Dean, the second pastor of Jubilee Church (our Joshua!) and his wife Shari (our school’s founder), we are ready to raise up a Joshua Generation!
Our Verse
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
A Ministry of Jubilee Church
Joshua Academy is a ministry of Jubilee Church. Joshua Academy has its own School Board with representation from the church board, which reports to the board of Jubilee Church. All JA faculty, board of directors, and Head of School are evangelical Christians and we seek to live our lives accordingly. We offer a school born out of that tradition and its beliefs and values to any family and student who will receive it as having value in their own lives, regardless of their own religious or secular convictions.
Joshua Academy is a “missional” or “evangelistic” school. We will have students who share our Christian beliefs, and some who do not. We are committed to an environment where students can engage one another and us out of their beliefs and stories, knowing they will be different. Students will learn how to engage one another where they are, and to put what they have in common ahead of the differences for the sake of healthy relationships.
Vision of Jubilee Church
To make disciples of all people with the Word of God. We will prepare all believers for every good work as they come into their complete inheritance in Christ.
Mission of Jubilee Church
To ENCOURAGE with the Love of God, EQUIP with the Word of God, EMPOWER with the Fullness of God.
Vision of Joshua Academy
To see children discover God’s story for their lives.
*Mission of Joshua Academy
To prepare future-ready kids who demonstrate excellence in mind, body, and spirit to boldly engage with the world as image-bearers of Christ.
*Core Values
These are our fundamental beliefs that drive our behavior. They serve as our internal compass of principles that drive our decisions and who we strive to be as a community.
Christ-Centered Faith
We actively pursue a deeper understanding of the Gospel while we go deeper in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We engage with members of the school community with humility and with respect for ourselves and others. We maintain fidelity to guiding principles in issues such as sexual purity (as defined in scripture), sobriety, and the honoring of human life in all its stages and conditions.
Growth Mindset
We demonstrate an active curiosity about life and the world. We are life-long learners and express enthusiasm for new things. We are game to try something new.
Effective Communication
We demonstrate strong relational skills and a gentle and gracious way with others. We communicate clearly with students, peers and parents. We are receptive and responsive in listening, receiving, and sharing feedback and information.
Creativity
We demonstrate initiative in cultivating a fresh and dynamic engagement with the curriculum and in how we do things. We instruct, inspire, and assess students and each other using a variety of strategies and approaches.
Servant Leadership
We demonstrate a readiness to identify needs and contribute to solutions with a high standard of excellence. We have a commitment to equipping and edifying others. We demonstrate a quiet confidence in all areas of responsibility.
Care for the Whole Child
We demonstrate a commitment to nurturing the uniqueness of each child. We are dedicated to the cultivation of each child’s intellectual, spiritual, social, physical, and emotional development.
*Our Commitments
These are the attributes we are working towards developing at Joshua Academy and represent the mind-body-spirit, or head-heart-habits that we will assess in our students each year. Research shows that when we emphasize character development in school, academic achievement improves:
Our Approach - Redemptive Education
Redemptive Education is the quest to align with God’s design for teaching and learning, using an approach that is Biblical, Relational, Integral and Experiential (BRIE). Redemptive Educators embrace content (curriculum) and methods (pedagogy) from any source, as long as they align with God’s design. Because “all Truth is God’s Truth,” we can receive and employ practices and principles from many sources, as long as we filter them through the lens of His design.
How do we discern God’s design? By looking for clues in His Word (the Bible) and in His World (our own observations and the observations of others, as in research and historical accounts and similar). For example: In all times and in all places, children – if not impeded – energetically interact with their environments by tasting, touching, seeing, smelling, hearing and otherwise engaging with the world by use of their senses. Therefore, it is clearly God’s design that children be afforded many opportunities to interact experientially with their environment as they are educated.
From scripture: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for such is the kingdom of heaven!” (Matthew 19:14) – Therefore, it is clearly God’s design that we help children come to know God, and do not do anything that would cause them to stumble or be afraid.
Curriculum - Overview
We strive to provide a Christian environment where all students can discover and explore their God-given talents and gifts, where they will make lifelong friendships, and where they will be challenged in their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Joshua Academy is a comprehensive program that utilizes a variety of educational approaches to learning and instruction. We adhere to a Redemptive Educational model that exists to articulate, cultivate, demonstrate and facilitate the quest to align with God’s design for teaching and learning, using an approach that is Biblical, Relational, Integral and Experiential (BRIE). As such, our multi-year, theme-based curriculum is infused with a biblical worldview and our teachers teach holistically with outdoor, hands-on learning as a major methodology.
Biblical
A Biblical approach flows from the Person of Christ and a truth-centered worldview that permeates every aspect of the school, from curriculum, to methods, to board deliberations, to scheduling of classes and activities. It asks, “How does this thing we are considering match up with God’s original intent? How is it messed up? What is God’s message to us from this study? And finally, what is His mission for us now, in response to our study?” Biblical truth infuses and informs every lesson, game, activity and field trip, rather than being confined to “Bible class” or chapel.
Relational
A Relational approach to teaching and learning combines both delight in and respect for children, parents, teachers, individuals, the family, the community, the culture, the world, and the Creator. This explains our commitment to parental involvement at school, multi-age classes, and nurturing the uniqueness of each child. It informs our interest in discipleship, stewardship, instruction, integrity, humility, collaborative work, individual work, obedience, honor, courtesy, dialogue, character development, service to others, and love for God because it’s all about relationship.
Integral
An Integral approach to curriculum and instruction seeks to reflect the cohesive nature of God and His creation using multi-disciplinary thematic units of study organized meaningfully around important ideas. It minimizes the artificial separation of the typical school “subjects,” seeking to continually show the real connections between them, in order to create authentic and enduring understandings. It likewise informs our view of the child as a holistic being comprised of “head, hand, and heart” rather than merely an intellect to be filled with academic data and information.
Experiential
An Experiential approach to teaching and learning combines both delight in and respect for nature, people, ideas, literature, mathematics, the arts, science, the material and the immaterial. This explains our use of multi-sensory teaching for whole-child learning; encouragement of student initiative; fresh instructional and assessment practices. It leads us in engagement with all that is “true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise.”
Redemptive Education Curriculum: Sequence of Units and Themes
Odd Year (K-5)
K/1 Near & Far – I am part of God’s community, and I love my neighbors, near and far! (Mark 12:31, Gal 6:10)
2/3 Hidden & Revealed – I reverence God and He reveals His mysteries to me! (Ps 25:14, Deut 29:29, Dan2:28)
4/5 East & West – God has made a home for me! (Phil 3:20, Ps. 90:1, John 14:3)
Even Year (K-5)
K/1 Near & Far – I am part of God’s creation, and He is always near me! (Matt. 28:20, Ps 24:1)
2/3 Hidden & Revealed – God knows the mysteries of my comings and goings! (Ps. 139, Job 23:10)
4/5 East & West – I am a culture-maker in God’s world! (Gen 1:26, Gen 2:15, Col 3:23-25, Rom 1:20)
Middle School 6/7/8
6th - God’s Grace and Truth in MY Story: Identity as an Image-Bearer
I see God's sovereign hand at work in the lives of His image-bearers, including me!
7th/8th - God’s Grace and Truth in HIS Story: Ancient through Medieval
I see God's sovereign hand at work in the affairs of ancient cultures.
7th/8th - God’s Grace and Truth in HIS Story: Renaissance to Modern
I see God’s sovereign hand at work in the affairs of modern mankind.
Core Values and Learning Goals
Our Core Values are reflected in our Vision & Mission Statements. Learning Goals are tied directly to our Core Values. The purpose of these Learning Goals is to:
1. Describe how students will exemplify Joshua Academy’s mission as a result of their participation in our programs.
2. Define what our students should know and be able to do as a result of their participation in our programs.
3. Explain how students will approach their learning at every grade level and relate that knowledge to the world around them.
Core Value 1: Christ-Centered Faith
Guiding verse:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Learning goals:
1. We actively pursue a deeper understanding of the Gospel while we go deeper in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. We engage with members of the school community with humility and with respect for ourselves and others.
3. We maintain fidelity to guiding principles in issues such as sexual purity (as defined in scripture), sobriety, and the honoring of human life in all its stages and conditions.
4. We demonstrate a curiosity about God outside the classroom as evidenced by Fruit of the Spirit in our own lives.
Core Value 2: Growth Mindset
Guiding verse:
“For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phillippians 4:13
Learning goals:
1. We demonstrate an active curiosity about life and the world.
2. We are life-long learners and express enthusiasm for new things.
3. We demonstrate grit and determination when encountering hard things.
Core Value 3: Effective Communication
Guiding verse:
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18
Learning goals:
1. We demonstrate strong relational skills and a gentle and gracious way with others.
2. We communicate clearly with students, peers and parents.
3. We are receptive and responsive in listening, receiving, and sharing feedback and information.
Core Value 4: Creativity
Guiding verse:
“Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.” Hebrews 10:24 (TPT)
Learning goals:
1. We demonstrate initiative in cultivating a fresh and dynamic engagement with the curriculum and in how we do things.
2. We instruct, inspire, and assess students and each other using a variety of strategies and approaches.
Core Value 5: Servant Leadership
Guiding verse:
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10
Learning goals:
1. We demonstrate a readiness to identify needs and contribute to solutions with a high standard of excellence.
2. We have a commitment to equipping and edifying others.
3. We demonstrate a quiet confidence in all areas of responsibility.
Core Value 6: Care for the Whole Child
Guiding verse:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thess 5:23
Learning goals:
1. We demonstrate a commitment to nurturing the uniqueness of each child.
2. We are dedicated to the cultivation of each child’s intellectual, spiritual, social, physical, and emotional development.
Learning and Assessment
Description of the Learning Stages
In the primary grades, curriculum should feature a playful multi-sensory approach that fits a biblical view of the nature of people and the nature of knowledge. In this stage, children are adept at memorization. Young children learn songs, rhymes and recite facts with ease. They are responsible for the phonetic rules they have studied to that point, but are allowed phonetic invented spelling for words whose rules they have not yet studied. There is an expected range of skill levels demonstrated, both in the mechanics of writing and in the ideas their writing expresses. Children learn their math facts and fundamentals of mathematics from concrete, pictorial, and abstract perspective.
The middle school curriculum involves ordering facts into organized statements and arguments. During the middle school years, children are learning to think independently and often develop a propensity for argument. The study of logic helps students understand the fundamentals of a good argument. Persuasive argumentation (both oral and written) requires the formulation of well-constructed, well-developed arguments. In science, the application of facts learned in the grammar stage leads to the development and testing of hypotheses. In math, students are challenged to logically orient numbers through the more abstract concepts of algebra and trigonometry.
High school students (grades 9-12) take the knowledge of the facts (grammar) and the ability to arrange those facts into arguments (logic), to develop the skill of communicating those arguments to others (rhetoric). In high school, students are much more concerned about what others think of them. We guide students in the development of their minds to think and articulate concepts to others. Writing papers, researching, and oral ideas are skills required in all subjects. We help students polish these skills to create a well-rounded student who can not only develop a well-constructed argument but who can test and communicate that argument effectively. We leverage these skills through the final requirement of the defense of a senior thesis.
While each component has a primary focus during a particular learning phase, all skills are developed during all levels. Children in the lower grades will develop skills in logic and rhetoric, and high school students will still acquire extensive knowledge throughout the curriculum.
Assessment
Joshua Academy seeks to bring depth and richness to learning as we teach children to discover God’s story for their lives. One avenue for facilitating depth and richness is through our assessment system. Much of our assessment is accomplished through observation and evaluation of regular classwork. Formative and summative assessments throughout the school year provide additional information on how a student is progressing towards mastery, demonstrating growth, and areas in which a student may need extra support.
Three Types of Instruction
Joshua Academy uses three types of instruction to meet each student’s learning needs. This approach enables us to meet the goals of the curriculum while also providing grade-level appropriate instruction for students in our multi-grade classrooms.
• Type 1 – Core Classroom Instruction (whole class) encompasses core instruction based on the theme and unit for the class.
• Type 2 – Targeted Instruction (small groups of students). Students are grouped based on mastery level especially for the purposes of mathematics and language arts work. Some students receive a little extra assistance in meeting academic goals in a small group setting, such as math reteaching or reading assistance if necessary.
• Type 3 - Literacy Intervention (one-on-one). Students who are identified as needing extra help in literacy skills work one-on-one with a literacy specialist to help them gain the skills they need to catch up toward grade level.
Grading
All Kindergarten through eighth grade teachers communicate about student progress and development through report cards and narrative summaries that reflect Our Commitments (pg. 8) and will be provided at the end of each trimester. Our mastery-based approach indicates where students are related to each attribute. Evaluation marks on the report cards provide parents with the information needed to best understand the areas where the student is demonstrating strong growth and areas where growth is still developing or is not seen yet.
(S) Secure: Student independently and consistently comprehends, engages, and applies the concept.
(D) Developing: Student is demonstrating good growth in this area.
(B) Beginning: Student’s growth has started in this area.
(NE) Not evident: Student is not demonstrating an understanding of the concept at this time.
(NA) Not assessed: Student has not been assessed on this area at this time.
The attributes list in each report card represent the mind-body-spirit or head-heart-habits domains that each student will work to master while they are a student at Joshua Academy. This means that it is both normal and expected that students have areas marked as “D-developing” and even “B-beginning”. When you see an attribute with one of these marks, it’s not meant to concern you or indicate to your child that they are performing below the norm. Instead, it recognizes that this is an area where the child should focus their attention as they grow during the current year and in the years that follow.
Homework Policy
It is the belief of JA that education should encompass not only training the mind, but also the body and spirit (head, heart, and habits). Homework is de-emphasized while learning and practice during school hours is emphasized. The quality of instruction and learning taking place in the classroom should not be judged based on the volume of homework students are bringing home. Home is a time for the family, where discussions about what was learned during the school day should take precedent over the nightly struggle to complete additional busy work. While more homework may be assigned in the upper elementary grades and beyond, parents should expect little to no homework in the lower elementary grades. This provides more time for parents to engage with their child’s learning and development at home in the following ways:
• Reinforce the learning of facts and concepts taught in the classroom;
• Encourage research on a given topic or book; and or
• Teach practical study skills, organization, and good habits in the older grades.
• As reading is such an essential skill for any subject, students at all grade levels are expected to read (or to be read to) each night;
• On occasion, and in conjunction with parents and or guardians, a teacher may assign homework to correct or improve a student’s skill in a specified area (such as Math, Language Arts, etc.).
• Should you have homework concerns, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher.
SECTION 2: STUDENT CARE & BEHAVIOR
*Student Care
We strive to create and sustain a school environment in which each student is known, accepted and valued, trusted and respected, cared for, and encouraged to be an active and responsible member of the school community. We are committed to building a safe, caring, and healthy school environment that meets the academic, social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of each student. These efforts involve three major components:
1. Support provided by our Student Care Advisor if a student is struggling in any area;
2. Evaluation of any previous psychoeducational assessment, IEP, or 504 Plan from a previous school to determine whether we can adequately serve the student’s needs at Joshua Academy.
3. Referral for assessment of needs that may or may not be beyond the limits of our current resources. While our unique environment and smaller classroom sizes serve the needs of most students well, there may be needs that require professional evaluation for academic specialized instruction, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and/or psychoeducational evaluations, that would help us determine how to best serve the student.
a. Teachers who suspect a student may need to be evaluated will complete a referral form to be reviewed by the Student Care Advisor before it is sent home.
b. Families can request an evaluation from the Van Buren school district. Following assessment, the district may create an IEP or 504 Plan that can be implemented at a local public school or at Joshua Academy if resources permit.
c. The Joshua Academy teacher and either the Student Care Advisor or Head of School will participate in the assessment review, IEP and 504 Plan development by invitation from Van Buren School District.
d. Van Buren School District provides limited services onsite, free of charge, at our school (currently limited to speech).
*Student Behavior
Introduction
The central affirmation of Christianity is the grace of God. Although we do not and cannot deserve it, God provides complete salvation from our sins through the work of Jesus Christ. In response to this grace, parents, faculty, staff, and students must model the grace of God in their interactions with each other.
Motivated by gratitude, we obey God not to earn his love but because in Christ, we know he already loves us. Therefore, grace does not mean the absence of behavioral expectations. On the contrary, in response to God’s grace, we are to strive for obedience and holiness. The school’s goal in nurturing children is obedience motivated by a heart captured by grace, not the application of a strict set of rules.
In practice, we can solve many behavioral issues in the classroom by reorienting students to our expected behaviors. We strive diligently to teach the whole child, “head, heart, and habits” and address conflicts that arise with the same understanding that most problems can be solved by getting to the root issue. Is the child feeling misunderstood? Overwhelmed? Are they feeling wronged in some way? Conflict management in the moment is an important skill that we both teach and practice. It is less about “rule following” and more about understanding the heart of the child.
To assist with student issues that can’t be resolved in the classroom, our Student Care Advisor is available to help students talk through their problem one-on-one at any time, whenever they need it. We approach every situation with love and seek to understand the child’s perspective before reacting or responding. Situations requiring escalation to the Student Care Advisor may also involve parents being called to participate in the restorative process.
Primacy of Parents
The school recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for disciplining their children, and we desire to partner with parents as they seek to guide and nurture them. We rely on parents to apply appropriate discipline at home to correct problematic behaviors displayed at school.
Determination of Discipline
When determining the discipline for students, many factors are taken into consideration. Some factors include but are not limited to age, intent, emotional development, communication needs, family transitions, etc.
A student who is needing more support or time to process a difficult situation may be directed to talk with Shari Dean, our Student Care Advisor. We seek to understand every situation that goes awry but that doesn’t mean that we will not impose consequences. After talking with a student, we may decide that the issue is one that should involve a parent or guardian, requiring the student to be picked up.
If a student continues to struggle with specific behaviors that inhibit the learning of other students or the instruction of a teacher, or if a student has been sent home multiple times, parents will be asked to meet with the teacher and the Student Care Advisor and/or the Head of School in order to determine how to best meet the needs of the student and others in the community. The ability of the school’s resources to meet the needs of the student will be taken into consideration as interventions are discussed and determined.
It is very important that parents understand that discipline is a redemptive action and that we are partners in this process. Parents are always welcome to seek counsel from the Campus Pastor or Jubilee’s Lead Pastor at any time (see Section 4: Pastoral Care).
Expulsion
The goal of the intervention is for the student to experience success at school. If the student consistently does not experience success at school, and/or the learning environment is disrupted or requires additional support that the school does not have, the school may ask for the student to withdraw, or he or she may be expelled or not offered re-enrollment. After a substantial period of separation, the student may apply for consideration for re-enrollment. The length of the period of separation will be determined by the administration on an individual basis.
If a student is expelled, the family will be released from their financial contract for the remainder of the school year. Any outstanding charges or funds due because a scholarship or state funding must be returned due to withdrawl from the school, will be the responsibility of the family to pay.
60-Day Trial Period
Starting in Fall 2025, we will offer all families a “60-day trial period” whereby either the school or the family may withdraw a student for any reason, including behavioral or disciplinary reasons, without further financial obligation. The student’s EFA and scholarship funding will be terminated and any prorated tuition for the 60-day period will be payable to the school, but no other financial obligation will be incurred after that point and the financial contract will be terminated.
Grievances
As a school that seeks to partner with parents, we welcome questions and comments from parents. Though we work hard to communicate clearly and keep misunderstandings to a minimum, we recognize that no school, teacher, or student is perfect. Occasionally problems or difficulties may arise. If this occurs and the parent feels an issue needs to be explicitly addressed, we ask that you take the following steps. Under no circumstances should an issue be presented directly to the Board chair without first seeking resolution described in steps 1 and 2:
Step 1. The student or parent should first contact the staff or faculty member in keeping with the principle in Matthew 18:15-17. Most misunderstandings can be worked out by merely discussing the matter openly.
Step 2. If, after contacting the staff or faculty member, the parent is not satisfied with the situation, they may contact the Head of School, who will review the problem and work with the staff or faculty member and student/parent to resolve the issue.
Step 3. If the previous steps have been taken, and the parent wishes further review, the parent may present the situation to the Executive Committee of the School Board through the Head of School.
The Executive Committee of the board will examine the issue and conclude the matter.
SECTION 3: ORGANIZATION
Statement of Faith
All board members, faculty, and staff at Joshua Academy must be regular attenders of an evangelical church, and agree with the school’s statement of faith. Joshua Academy is a ministry of Jubilee Church, a non-denominational church that embraces the following:
What we believe:
1. The Bible is inspired and empowered by God. It is the infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
2. There is one God who exists in three separate persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life on earth. He demonstrated the power and authority of God in His works, and speech, died on a cross, rose from the dead on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God having accomplished all that is necessary for man’s salvation. Jesus is the only way to God.
4. Man is created in the image and likeness of God. Through the fall of man at the garden, sin came into the world. It is essential that man (mankind) repent of their sins and by faith receive the finished work of Christ by confessing Him as Lord with his mouth and believing in his heart, resulting in regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
5. The return of Jesus Christ is imminent. Those who believe in Him will be resurrected to live for eternity with Him in a heavenly dwelling in an incorruptible body, and those who have not believed on Him will live eternally with Satan and His host in everlasting punishment.
6. The Holy Spirit’s work has not ceased but is continuing the work started at Pentecost, empowering believers to live godly lives, and giving believers the ability to do all the works of Jesus.
7. Water baptism by immersion is a direct commandment of our Lord and is for believers only.
8. The Church is a family composed of believers in Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation.
9. We believe in the great commission, that all born again believers have been commissioned to share the Gospel to all the world.
We recognize that there are issues where Bible scholars honestly differ (such as infant or believer baptism, Halloween or All Saints Day, or Reformation Sunday, grape juice or wine) and as such, Joshua Academy does not promote a certain position. We do, however, maintain fidelity regarding matters that are clear in Scripture such as the sanctity of human life, God’s design of male and female, and that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Our entire program reflects a deep engagement with God’s Word and God’s world. Students learn, memorize, sing, illustrate, apply, act out, and honor Scripture. Our approach to scripture is a devotional approach, rather than an academic approach. We do not offer a “Bible class” or use a published Bible curriculum.
Statement on Life, Marriage, Gender Identity, and Human Sexuality
In support and agreement with the Joshua Academy Statement of Faith, we believe the following regarding life, marriage, gender identity and sexuality:
1. We believe that the Bible is clear in its teaching on the sanctity of human life and we will encourage choices that affirm life for all (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 2:7; Jer. 1:5; Psalms 139:13-16).
2. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
3. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning, the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, biblical, covenant union as delineated in Scripture. (Gen. 2:18-25).
4. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and woman who are married to one another (I Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4).
5. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a traditional marriage (one man and one woman). We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, etc) is understood to be one of the disruptive consequences of the fall (Matt. 15:18-20; I Cor. 6:9-10; Romans 1:18-32).
6. We believe that the call of Christ on the married and unmarried is one of purity; faithfulness among the married couple (recognized as one man and one woman) and a chaste life for those who are unmarried (I Thessalonians 4:3-8).
7. We believe that to preserve the function and integrity of Joshua Academy and to provide a biblical role model to the community we serve, it is imperative that all persons employed by JA in any capacity agree to abide by this Statement on Life, Marriage, Gender Identity and Human Sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; I Thess. 5:22).
8. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 10:9-10; I Cor. 6:9-11).
9. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behaviors or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the goals of Joshua Academy.
Memberships
Joshua Academy is a member of the Redemptive Education Association of Christian Schools (REACH) (redemptiveeducation.org).
We are also an Associate Member of the Arkansas Non-Public School Accrediting Association (ANSAA) and a member of Christian Schools International (CSI). These two organizations will also serve as our accrediting agencies.
Joshua Academy is also a member of the Heartland Christian Athletics Association (HCAA). See section on “Athletics” for more information.
Accreditation
Joshua Academy recognizes that academic accreditation is important because it provides assurance that the school has met the rigorous standards set forth by an outside professional educational organization. It also means that a school is actively engaged in self-assessment and improvement to make sure they are achieving their mission. While the State of Arkansas does not require non-public schools to be accredited, we set the bar higher for ourselves and will be seeking dual accreditation from the following organizations:
1. Arkansas Non-Public School Accrediting Association (ANSAA)
2. Christian Schools International (CSI)
The accreditation process requires a school be established at least one year before submitting an application. After that, schools must remain in “Candidate Status” for a full three years while the school completes their self-study. We will keep our school community well-informed of our progress towards this important goal.
Board Structure
Joshua Academy is a ministry of Jubilee Church and the church board has voting membership/representation on the school board. Church board members currently occupy two of the seven available seats on the school board.
Board of Trustees
Our current School Board members are:
Wes Bailey, President
Brenda Belcher, Treasurer, Chair of Finance committee
Christie Robertson, Secretary, Chair of the Donor Development committee
Blake Rogers, Member, Chair of Grounds & Maintenance committee
Monte Dean, Jubilee Church board member, Lead Pastor, Jubilee Church, Chair of Head of School Support committee
Steve McCleary, Jubilee Church Treasurer and board member
Faculty and Staff
All classroom teachers are licensed in the state of Arkansas to teach at their grade level and/or within their specialty (Middle School). Our current Faculty and Staff members are:
Staff
· Kara Witzke, Ph.D., Head of School/Principal, kara@joshua-academy.org, 479-935-2045
· Shari Dean, Student Care Advisor, shari@joshua-academy.org, 479-670-3273
· Amber Holt, Admissions & Academic Support Coordinator, amber@joshua-academy.org, 479-439-4092
· Shane Voudren, MA, CSSO, Head of Security, shane@joshua-academy.org
· Joshua Killeen, CSSO, Security Officer, Joshua@joshua-academy.org
· Jessica Jernigan, Jubilee Children’s Pastor, Campus Pastor, jessica@joshua-academy.org
· Melisa Gregory, Custodian (part-time)
· Lyndell Gregory, Facilities Manager (part-time)
· Monte Dean, Jubilee Lead Pastor/Spiritual Advisor to school
· Angel Workman, Operations Coordinator, angel@joshua-academy.org
Teachers
· Kilee Treadway, K/1, kilee@joshua-academy.org, 479-217-2073
· Kimberly Teague, K/1, kimberly@joshua-academy.org, 479-274-8369
· Briana Robertson, K/1, briana@joshua-academy.org, 479-670-0828
· Jamie Moore, 2/3, jamiem@joshua-academy.org, 479-343-8153
· Jamie Seiter, 2/3, jamies@joshua-academy.org, 405-456-9319
· Alecia Hesson, MA, 4/5, alecia@joshua-academy.org, 479-670-3189
· Autumn McKenzie, 4/5, autumn@joshua-academy.org, 479-719-3622
· Samantha Waggoner, MS, MS English, sam@joshua-academy.org, 479-310-6602
· Elisa Miller, MA, MS Science, elisa@joshua-academy.org, 479-308-4408
· Kelsie Inge, MA, MS Math, kelsie@joshua-academy.org, 479-739-7455
· Brandi Alexander, Lower Elementary Assistant, MS Conditioning, Coach, brandi@joshua-academy.org, 479-208-3807
· Rebeccah Stockett, Upper Elementary Assistant, rebeccah@joshua-academy.org, 479-274-0171
· Jade Lovell, MS Assistant, Athletic Director, jade@joshua-academy.org, 479-689-9125
· Leslie Taylor, MA, Librarian, Literacy Specialist, leslie@joshua-academy.org
· Paige Kertesz, Art teacher (part-time), paige@joshua-academy.org
· Glenda Fouts, Elementary Music teacher (part-time), glenda@joshua-academy.org
· Audra Kuykendall, Elementary PE teacher (part-time), audra@joshua-academy.org
· Heather Wheeler, Life Skills teacher (part-time), heather@joshua-academy.org
· Jacob Steininger, MS Creative Design teacher (part-time), star7creative@gmail.com
· Betsy Boudreaux, MS Choir and Theater teacher (part-time), betsy@joshua-academy.org
· Angel Workman, MS Conditioning teacher, Coach (part-time), angel@joshua-academy.org
· Hope Parker, Aftercare Lead (part-time)
· Faith Parker, Aftercare worker (part-time)
SECTION 4: GENERAL POLICIES
*App
We have designed a custom JA Family App for download at your App Store (Search Joshua Academy). Every parent should download the app on their phone. It contains instructions and access to FACTS, scholarships, contact info for teachers and staff, field trip forms, school calendar, newsletter, library access, YouTube channel access, donation page, social media links, school directory, and a Bible link.
Please consult the Family App before contacting the office as many questions (including calendar and events) can be found there.
Athletics
Joshua Academy is a member of the Heartland Christian Athletics Association (HCAA). We plan to have a Cross-Country team in the Fall and an Archery Team in the Spring and will add sports as determined by interest and facilities.
New legislation allows private school students to participate in sports through their home public school district if the private school does not offer the sport. We encourage all students to be physically active and participate in sports we do not offer either through the Boys & Girls Club or their home public school.
*Attendance
At JA, we value regular classroom attendance to accomplish our curriculum objectives because each school day is an opportunity for learning and growth. We are also required to maintain attendance logs for accreditation purposes. In the case of an absence, some written work may indeed be made up, but the class discussions, oral instruction, and relational aspects of the classroom cannot. Although some absences are unavoidable, each student is expected to attend and participate in all class activities. If, for some reason, your child must be absent, please notify the school office as soon as possible. If a family trip or event is anticipated, please plan accordingly, giving teachers at least four school days’ notice. This is so that teachers can prepare make up work packets to help ensure that the student can get all assignments made up promptly.
When a student is ill, parents should notify the school office by phone or text (479-439-4092), or email Amber (amber@joshua-academy.org) on the morning of the student’s absence. The parent may request that the student’s assignments be sent to the office for after-school pickup or that they are sent home with a relative or friend. Teachers will make every effort to get the student’s work ready, although due to time constraints, they may not be able to do so for a student absent only one day.
· Students are considered tardy if they arrive after 7:55 am. A parent will need to sign them in.
· 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence.
· 6 unexcused absences will receive a letter home.
· 10 unexcused absences (includes family vacations) will require a meeting with the Head of School.
· The Head of School has the discretion to refer the parent’s contact info to the district truancy officer.
*Before and After Care
Before care is provided free-of-charge each school day from 7:30 am to 7:55 am.
Early drop off between 7:15-7:30 am is $1/day.
After care is provided each full school day from 3:25 pm to 6:00 pm on an as-needed basis.
· $6 per day until 4:45 pm
· $12 per day until 6 pm ($1 per minute after 6 pm).
Families are billed monthly.
Please text or call the main office (479) 439-4092 if your child does not normally stay for aftercare but will be doing so that day.
Once pick-up has finished at 3:25 pm, the aftercare staff will sign in your child. Students will have a snack, spend time playing outdoors (depending on the weather) and/or spend time indoors where students can choose to play games or do a craft. Two after care staff members will be on duty at all times. The main phone line will be answered until 6 pm so parents with children in aftercare can reach a staff member.
On days that our school is not in session or on early dismissal days, aftercare will not be provided.
*Birthday Celebrations
We would love to celebrate your child’s birthday with a song in class, but please do not send treats, balloons, or bring lunch to school. In lieu of treats, the JA library welcomes the birthday child to donate a book for our collection. The librarian may be able to suggest appropriate titles for donation.
Book Replacement
Parents are financially responsible for the replacement of any late, lost or damaged text books, and library books. Notification for overdue library books will be sent via email and fines added to the student’s account (See Library Books section).
Calendar
Our detailed school calendar is posted on the Joshua Academy family app (search your app store for Joshua Academy). Although we try to align our schedule with the public school schedule, ours may differ somewhat. Our major breaks and holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break), however, should be the same as the local schools. Our calendar, however, is based on three grading periods, representing three trimesters, and we start school the day after Labor Day and go one week longer at the end of the school year than most public schools.
*Cell Phones & Communication Devices
While we understand that parents enjoy the ability/convenience of being able to contact their child during the school day, we do not allow students to have cell phones, smart watches, or other communication devices powered on while on campus. If an extenuating circumstance requires your child to have a cell phone it must remain powered off in their backpack at all times, including lunch and before and after school. Please contact the office if you need to send a message to your student and we will make sure they receive it. If a student’s device has been confiscated, a parent will need to pick it up in the main office.
Child Abuse Protection & Awareness
Faculty and staff at Joshua Academy are mandatory reporters. Any faculty or staff member that has reason to believe that a child is being physically or sexually harassed or mistreated by an adult or by another student must report this at the first opportunity to the Head of School.
Joshua Academy is subject to Arkansas state laws regarding the protection of children. Therefore, the school will seek to prevent the abuse of children when they are participating in school or school programs. The policy applies to all teachers, staff, and volunteers who work in the school or school programs with minor children. This policy does not constitute a contract between the school and its families or employees.
*Clothing/Dress Guidelines
Joshua Academy desires to create an atmosphere that encourages personal growth in Christian character and is conducive to learning. A factor that contributes to the atmosphere of the school is student dress.
While we do not require school uniforms or standardized dress (except for field trip days when the Joshua Academy logo t-shirt/sweatshirt must be worn), please adhere to the following general dress guidelines:
• All clothing should be in good repair (no frayed material or jeans with holes above mid thigh.
• No spaghetti straps, exposed mid-drifts (half-shirts), exposed bra straps, or see-through tops.
• Clothing (including shoes/socks) should not contain cartoon characters, movie/tv, or video game references, secular music groups, political statements, or offensive or inappropriate slogans or content.
• Shorts and skorts must have at least a 5” inseam. Modesty shorts must be worn underneath skirts and dresses.
• No “Heelys”/skates.
• Students will wear muck boots outside and either socks or house shoes inside.
• Joshua Academy Logo t-shirts are distributed per class at the start of the school year and should be worn on all field trips. Additional t-shirts and sweatshirts can be purchased from the Warrior Store (we will post when store is open each trimester). The store can be accessed from the JA Family App.
All students must bring the following clothing items to remain at school:
• 1 pair of muck boots, rubber boots, or rain boots. Mid-calf length works well. We wear these a lot so make sure they’re comfortable.
• 1 two-piece rain suit (K-2nd lower elementary) or 1 rain jacket (3rd-7th upper elementary and middle school).
• 1 full change of clothes to remain in the child’s backpack in a ziplock bag (elementary required, middle school optional). If your student does not have a change of clothes and requires one, parents will be required to pick them up.
• Recommended but not required: bug spray, sunscreen, sun hat, sun glasses, slippers/house shoes
• NOTE: Upper Elementary (3rd-5th) will need a pair of slippers/house shoes/Crocs with a firm sole to use the outdoor restroom adjacent to their porch.
Communication Guidelines
These guidelines are written to provide a framework for communication within the school community.
General
Listen: Each time an attempt at communication is made, there should be a concerted effort to hear the heart of the request or concern clearly. Defensiveness and assumption before a point is fully made can lead to great frustration and misunderstanding.
Show mutual respect: Parents and staff alike are to be respected for the roles they play. Showing mutual respect allows the issues themselves to remain the focus of the conversation.
Avoid misunderstandings: When an issue arises that requires attention, it is essential first to ask, “Does this concern require face-to-face communication?” Most misunderstanding and misperceptions happen when tone or meaning is inferred incorrectly or misconstrued. Avoid using email to communicate about sensitive issues.
Build one another up: It is easy to forget the good things that are happening at the school in a student’s life or at home as we manage the demands of daily life. Let us commit as parents, students, and school staff to build each other up. Remember the “sandwich” principle when communicating…begin and end on a positive note!
Start with the source: Communication should be initiated with the one with whom the issue arises. If something happens in the classroom, contact with the teacher is the best place to start. If this does not lead to a resolution, contact the Head of School. Please allow the teacher the opportunity to resolve the concern or issue first.
Make no assumptions: If something appears to be unclear, assume good intent, then make a phone call or email to clarify the issue.
Catch small problems before they grow: Parents will be made aware of any changes in a child’s behavior or academic performance from the teacher as soon as possible. Similarly, parents should let the teacher know about any changes at home that could alter a child’s behavior so adjustments can be made. This would also include any changes in medication, etc.
Speak the truth in love: Many emotions and adverse perceptions come to mind when we hear the word confrontation. The biblical definition of confrontation is “speaking the truth in love.” This should be a hallmark of the partnership between the school and parents.
Keep it private: Teacher/parent discussions and disciplinary issues are confidential. Teachers and staff will refrain from idle talk regarding confidential student or parent issues. In the same way, parents should refrain from speaking with other parents about a teacher, other parents, an issue, or students.
Communicating on Sunday
Please avoid communicating with school staff on Sundays out of respect for the Sabbath. If you must reach out by email to a staff member on Sunday, understand that your email will not be read until Monday morning.
Parent-to-School Communication
• The best way to contact a teacher is through a brief email or by text if they supply a school-based cell phone number. A few simple guidelines should be kept in mind when using email:
• 24-hour rule: Teachers will respond to email within 24 hours if possible, not including the weekend.
• Not for emergencies: If there is an emergency concern, call the school office.
• Be brief: With the volume of demands a teacher faces every day, there can be the temptation to place long emails on the “back burner” until later. Brevity is appreciated.
• Best for minor issues: Email is best for logistics, details, and general information.
• Not for difficult conversations: Difficult conversations should be conducted either over the phone or face-to-face.
Messages
• Messages can be left by phone or text to the school office (479) 439-4092 or to the teacher directly. Most teachers will supply parents with a school cell number. The parent should expect a return call within 24 hours.
Face-to-Face Meetings
• Face-to-face contact is the best form of effective communication. Requests for these types of meetings can be made via email, voicemail, or a message left with the school office.
• Avoid “Impromptu” Meetings. Drop-in attempts to meet with a teacher or administrator just before or after school may seem like a good idea, but these are often busy times. Also, extreme care should be taken when approaching a teacher or staff member outside of school about a problem.
Notes to the Teacher
• Notes from parents to teachers in a backpack are likely to be left right there in your child’s backpack. Email or text is more effective (see Section 3: Faculty & Staff for contact information).
Unusual Circumstances Affecting a Student
• Issues at home may affect a child at school (i.e., death in the family, sickness, significant family change, etc.). Parents are advised to let the teacher or administrator know of these circumstances.
School-to-Parent Communication
Joshua Academy will use email as its primary means of communication with parents. We may also use an email newsletter to keep parents informed.
Website
The school website is https://joshua-academy.org.
Newsletter
The school newsletter will be pushed out via email on a regular basis. Each teacher will also email their class newsletter at least monthly.
Social Media
Joshua Academy uses Facebook for marketing and information purposes. Family members can request to join the Joshua Academy Warrior Families Facebook page by answering a membership question. Each teacher maintains their own class page. Joining instructions will be provided at Open House or will be directly communicated to each family by the teacher.
You will be required to sign a photo release form indicating your preferences for your child’s photo sharing on social media. We make every effort to exclude your child’s photo if you so wish.
Emergency Communication
Joshua Academy uses an automated text broadcast system to notify all parents within minutes of an emergency or unplanned event that causes early dismissal, school cancellation or late start. School closings due to inclement weather will follow the guidance of the Van Buren School District. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in the FACTS Family Portal.
Contact Information
• Joshua Academy, 1901 Liberty Lane, Van Buren, AR 72956
• (479) 439-4092 (call or text)
• Website: joshua-academy.org
Custody/Custodial Parent Policy
The focus of Joshua Academy is on the safety and well-being of the student, and our policies further this goal:
Custody Documentation. At the time of enrollment, parents shall provide all relevant documents concerning custody or visitation of their student, if applicable. If there are any legal changes in custody or visitation, parents are obligated to inform us of the change as soon as possible.
School Records. A non-custodial parent shall have the right to access school records related to his or her student unless prohibited by a legally binding instrument. A non-custodial parent should be listed in the student’s file.
Dismissal and Early Releases. No student shall be released to any individual other than a custodial parent unless express written permission is first given to Joshua Academy by a custodial parent, or unless a valid legally binding instrument granting release is on file with JA. A parent cannot ask the school to withhold release of his or her student to the other parent or representative without a legally binding document.
Parent-Teacher Meetings. We will provide separate parent-teacher meetings if the need arises and the school is informed within a reasonable time.
School Communications. It is the custodial parent’s duty to communicate with the noncustodial parent regarding school announcements and notes unless the noncustodial parent is listed on the enrollment packet as being able to receive communications directly from the school.
*Drop-off and Pick-up
Drop off
Drop off is from 7:30-7:55 am. If you require an earlier drop off time, please contact the main office (479) 439-4092. There is a $1/day charge for all students dropped off between 7:15-7:30 am. All children should be at school by 7:55 am and will be marked tardy, requiring a parent sign in after 7:55 am.
Please enter the school grounds following the cones. All students will be dropped off and picked up under the elementary school covered entryway. We strongly encourage all parents to drop off children from their vehicle. Staff members will assist your child in exiting your car on the passenger side. If you plan to escort your child to the door during the first week of school, please park in the gravel lot and hold your child’s hand while walking them to the gate.
Parents should avoid parking and/or visiting with faculty and staff during drop off and pick up time. Safely unloading and loading your children in an expedited manner is our priority. Carrying out this responsibility is made more difficult when staff are distracted. If you need to meet with a staff member, please call or email the school to make an appointment.
Students who arrive after 7:55 am, will need to be signed in as tardy by a parent or guardian at the main office, regardless of which building their classroom is in. Please park between the cones in the paved lot in front of the main office.
Pick Up
Elementary School ends at 3:05 pm, Middle School ends at 3:15 pm. All students must be picked up by 3:25 pm.
PICKUP GROUP 1: If you ONLY have Elementary School student(s), you will be PICKUP GROUP 1 and may start lining up at 2:45 pm.
PICKUP GROUP 2: If you HAVE a Middle School student, you will be PICKUP GROUP 2 and all of your children should be picked up between 3:15-3:25 pm. DO NOT enter the pickup line until 3:15. You may park in the grass at the far entrance to the school property until 3:15.
(See images for traffic patterns on the next page)
Students not picked up by 3:25 pm will be signed in to aftercare.
NOTE: Please do not line up on Liberty Lane prior to 2:45 pm as it is an active road. If you arrive before 2:45 you may park in the gravel lot near the school and can enter the line at 2:45 pm. Please park very close to the car in front of you and do not leave a large gap. Do not line up past the END OF LINE sign. Pull into the waiting lot at the end of the grass at the far entrance and wait for the line to move.
At pick up, have your child’s hangtag out. Each family receives 2 hang tags which serves as your child’s “ticket to ride.” If you require more tags, let Amber know. Staff will call your child and open your car door. If they need help with their seatbelt, please pull into the gravel lot and assist them.
*Early Check-Out
If you need to check out your child prior to 2:45pm for an appointment, please do so at the main office. Staff will radio to the child’s teacher. You can meet your child at either the elementary or middle school for pick-up after checking them out in the office. We are unable to release any student for an early pick up after 2:45 pm as this is very disruptive to our pick up process.
Employees and Background Checks
Joshua Academy adheres to all local, state, and federal laws with respect to employee hiring, fingerprinting, and background check requirements. All employees complete relevant I-9 employment eligibility verification, background checks and finger printing at the time of hire.
Facilities
Joshua Academy is a ministry of Jubilee Church, which generously provides us with all of our classroom and outdoor space. We urge parents and students to show care and respect for the facilities.
FACTS Family Portal
Your re-enrollment and financial management is done through the FACTS Family Portal. Here you will also find school information, grades, and more. You can also find the Family Portal from the Joshua Academy App (search your app store). If you have trouble logging in or need help with a password reset, contact our school office: 479-439-4092.
FACTS family portal: https://factsmgt.com/ District Code: JA-AR
*Family Lunch
You are welcome to join your child every Friday for lunch! You may picnic, bring your child lunch from anywhere you wish, or you can order yourself and your child a lunch from the LunchLink app that will be delivered to the school.
Lower elementary - 11:15-12:00, Upper elementary - 12:00-12:45, Middle school – 12:30-1:00.
Field Trip Guidelines
We are proud of our emphasis on the outdoors in our curriculum and rely on the rich resources around us to enhance our students’ educational experience. We try to choose field trip locations based on their application to the current topics being studied. Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in this important part of our curriculum as chaperones and study trip guides when invited to do so.
Umbrella Permission Slip – Families will sign an “umbrella permission slip” that automatically authorizes their child to attend all field trips unless the parent opts them out of a field trip on a trip-by-trip basis. The Umbrella Permission Slip is available on the JA App. An “opt out” permission slip is also available for use for any field trip that you do not wish your child to attend. If your child will not attend, please plan to keep them home that day or pick them up prior to the trip, as we cannot guarantee that staff will be available at school to supervise your child.
To the extent possible, all students will be transported on school-owned or rented busses for all field trips. All bus drivers are licensed and carry the appropriate bus driver certifications (if applicable). All Joshua Academy busses are permitted and insured and the proper agreements in place when using rented or borrowed vehicles from other organizations.
Parent chaperones will be allowed on the busses, if room permits. Otherwise, chaperones will need to drive/carpool in their own vehicles. Not all fieldtrips will require chaperones.
Chaperones are considered the adults in charge and should feel free to correct inappropriate behavior during the field trip. Chaperones should also notify the classroom teacher of serious behavior that needed to be corrected. We expect our students to act in line with our behavior policy, to show respect to those speaking, and not talk when a speaker is talking.
Guidelines for chaperones:
• Please do not bring siblings when you volunteer to chaperone a field trip.
• Students should stay with the group to whom they were assigned and participate fully in the scheduled activities.
• Chaperones should not bring or purchase food for students unless specifically asked to do so by the teacher. JA has a number of students with dietary restrictions and these students may not always make these restrictions known.
• Students should not bring snacks or spending money unless specifically told to do so by their teacher.
• Students are not to enter gift or other shops or make personal purchases unless the school’s administration has approved students doing so as a part of the field trip.
• You are encouraged to take photographs as allowed and to share them with the school or post them to the school’s private JA Family Facebook page. Avoid posting photos of children other than your own on public pages as families have different rules around posting pictures of their children.
• Chaperones are not to consume alcohol during school trips.
• Please remember that the teacher is ultimately in charge and their direction is primary.
• Please note that the lead teacher for the field trip will be carrying the first aid kit, which contains emergency medications for students with severe allergies or health issues.
*Food for Students
Any food items prepared or made available to all students must be commercially produced, packaged or individually wrapped. We do not allow families to bring “treats” for the class (see Celebration section) but we may ask families to donate specific items for all-school lunches or special hot lunch days (e.g. pizza or hamburger days). Food prepared in a personal kitchen is not allowed due to food health and safety laws.
Hazardous Materials
Joshua Academy adheres to all local, state and federal laws with respect to supervising students when using hazardous or potentially hazardous materials.
Health
Immunizations
Arkansas statutes require students enrolling in an Arkansas school to present documentation that immunization requirements have been met or be exempt due to medical/religious reasons. Immunization information or proof that a child is in the process of completing immunization series or proof that an exemption has been filed, must be provided to the school before a student can attend. Contact the Arkansas Department of Health to complete an exemption application: https://onlineimmunizationexemption.adh.arkansas.gov/WebsiteContent/Home-Page.aspx
Well-Child Policy
We ask that you help us maintain a healthy school environment by keeping your children home if they have any of the following symptoms:
• Fever higher than 100.4° orally with or without accompanying cough, runny nose, or sore throat. The child may return to school once the temperature has been normal for 24 hours;
• Any inflammatory eye condition;
• Any rash—unless the child has a note from the doctor saying the rash is not contagious;
• Any drainage from the ears;
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea;
• Any other symptoms that reasonably lead you to believe your child has a contagious illness;
• If your child has chickenpox, he or she should be absent from school for seven days after the appearance of the first lesion.
Hours of Operation
The school office is open from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on all days that students attend. Please see the detailed calendar on Joshua Academy App for the most up to date calendar and closures. See section on Before and After Care for additional information. The main phone line will be answered until 6 pm so parents with children in aftercare can reach a staff member.
Library
Children have the opportunity to check books out of our library every week, and school library books may be kept up to one week and may be renewed once. A fine of $1/wk per book will be assessed for late book returns up to a maximum of $6/book for paperback and $8/book for hardback as a replacement fee. If the book is later located the replacement fine can be reversed upon request. We are unable to accept any more book donations at this time.
Lost and Found
The Lost and Found is located near the main office. Items left unclaimed will be added to our clothes closet or donated at Christmas and at the end of each school year.
*Lunches
Every child will bring their own lunch every day. Please include a napkin and utensils as these are not provided by the school. Lunch boxes (please observe no characters policy) should keep food hot or cold and microwaves are not available.
We are working with an outside vendor, LunchLink, to provide outside food from local restaurants for pre-order on a weekly basis. Download the LunchLink app from your app store.
While we do have a nut policy, we will inform the school community if we are enforcing the policy. If there are no students currently enrolled with a life-threatening nut allergy, we will relax the nut policy. Do NOT send candy, gum, or carbonated drinks in your child’s lunchbox. Candy in a prepackaged Lunchable must be removed at home.
Medication at School
All student medication must be brought to the school office where it will be stored in a locked cabinet and will be dispensed by select school staff. Please let us know if your child’s medication needs to be refrigerated. We do not have a school nurse on staff.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Joshua Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at JA. We do not discriminate on any basis prohibited by 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, as it existed on January 1, 2023, in the administration of education policies, admission policies, financial assistance, and other school administered programs.
Nut Allergy Policy
If we have a student with a life-threatening nut allergy that requires enforcement of this policy, we will inform the school community.
There may be student at Joshua Academy who is allergic to nuts, with varying degrees of severity. Some students may have a severe reaction to nut exposure which can occur simply from a student touching a table where peanut butter (or other nut products) has been consumed.
If this is the case, we ask you to help by not sending your child to school with any type of nuts or snacks that contain nuts. In particular, we will ask that you observe the following:
• No nuts, cereal bars containing nuts, peanut butter, or chocolate nut spreads (such as Nutella).
• Only foods clearly marked as containing nuts are prohibited. Food products with the label “may contain trace amounts” or “packaged in a facility where nuts are present” are acceptable.
• In implementing this policy, Joshua Academy does not promise or guarantee that the school will be completely nut free. The policy is simply intended to educate the school community on the dangers of nut allergies and improve environmental safety for our students.
• Implementation of this policy for the protection of children with this life-threatening allergy requires the diligence and cooperation of the entire school community.
Parent Conduct
To ensure a supportive school environment for our students and their families, the school has expectations regarding parent conduct. We set expectations for parent conduct so that our school community can thrive, to live in the truth of God’s Word, and to create open communication between parents, teachers, staff, and administration.
This policy also helps maintain healthy practices when conflict arises between parents and the school. We believe that we can (and will) disagree with one another, however the school must be able to maintain its integrity to implement needed procedures for the safety of the institution.
Furthermore, we believe that the relationship between the school and parents is a partnership. We define the parameters of this partnership in three primary ways. First, the partnership between school and parents is based on open communication and input from both parties. Second, parents will defer to the authority of the school’s standards and best practices. Third, both school and parents will maintain respect for each other while working toward the benefit of the student. The expectations outlined below, and all following procedures are applicable at all school sponsored events. This includes a regular school day, field study trips, special events, etc.
Expectations
Joshua Academy parents agree to:
• Respect the property of others.
• Treat others with dignity and respect.
• Commit to following conflict resolution as outlined in Matthew 18 when having a conflict with another member of the school community (i.e., another family, teacher, administration, etc.)
• Follow the drop-off and pick-up rules and have the child in school on time with the necessary supplies and appropriate dress.
• Sign up and attend scheduled conferences or meetings requested by teachers, staff, or school administration.
• Follow the school’s rules, calendars, and deadlines, and expect your child to do the same.
• Speak respectfully to teachers, staff, administrators, and other parents in front of children, especially when there is a disagreement.
• Exercise consideration when posting photos/videos of your child’s class on social media.
• Build a bridge of acceptance and understanding, and expect your children to do the same.
• Expect emails or phone calls to any school personnel sent after 4 pm will be answered the following business day.
To support a peaceful and safe school environment the school will not tolerate parents exhibiting the following:
• Shouting at members of the school staff either in person or over the phone.
• Breaching the school’s security procedures.
• Making defamatory, offensive, or derogatory comments regarding the school or any of the students, parents, or staff at the school, or on social media.
• Sending abusive or threatening emails, texts, voicemails, phone messages or other written communication.
• Demonstrating disruptive behavior which interferes or threatens to interfere with the operation of the school.
Should any of the above behavior occur, the school may feel it necessary to contact the appropriate authorities, and if necessary, ban the offending parent from entering the school grounds.
Party Invitations
Often, parents wish to send home personal party invitations for their child through the classroom or hand them out at school. Our policy is that invitations may be sent home through a student’s class or distributed at school if ALL of the students in the classroom are invited to the party, or if the student is a boy, all of the boy students in the classroom are invited. If the student is a girl, all of the girl students in the classroom are invited. This is to spare hurt feelings and to maintain a positive classroom culture.
Pastoral Care
Joshua Academy is a ministry of Jubilee Church and the pastoral staff is here to serve our families. If you would like to schedule a time to meet with one of our pastors, please reach out to them via email: Lead Pastor, Monte Dean (monte.dean.8@gmail.com) or Jessica Jernigan, Children’s Pastor (jessica@joshua-academy.org). All communications with our pastors is confidential.
Photo Release
Occasionally the activities of Joshua Academy will involve students and staff being photographed or recorded. Additionally, news media (print and electronic) may visit our school to document the activities of the school and, in doing so, may note names and photograph the students and staff of the school. These images and the identity of the individuals involved may be used in various formats (including electronic) to, among other purposes, promote the school and inform the community of Joshua Academy’s activities. Each year, families will complete a Photo Release Form, indicating whether their child’s photo can be used and the location of the authorized use. Unless you have expressly provided us with written notice or have completed the form indicating your objection to using your child’s image or identity, you agree to allow JA to use your or your child’s image or identity in such a manner as Joshua Academy determines to be appropriate. Permission form: https://forms.gle/MMfma6ZwSmAuKMXc8
Safety & Security
The school recognizes that children can never be protected from every possible danger. We, therefore, place our trust in a loving and sovereign God to work His will for His children at all times. Nevertheless, Joshua Academy has taken reasonable steps for the school year to make it a safe and secure environment for your children.
Joshua Academy security cameras provide coverage of the entire campus, excluding bathrooms, classrooms and offices. Smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire pull-stations and extinguishers are located throughout the buildings. Six-foot fencing helps protect the children while they are learning outdoors. Multiple first aid and bleeding control kits are distributed throughout the campus and an EMT trauma bag and AED are readily accessible in the church building.
The school remains in a lock-out condition (all exterior access doors locked) while occupied and all visitors are screened and checked-in through a hardened, single point of entry. All staff carry hand-held radios. The campus is staffed by an armed Commissioned School Safety Officer during school hours. Joshua Academy is recognized by the State of Arkansas as having its own Security Department.
Joshua Academy’s Emergency Operations and Emergency Response plans were designed by a school safety expert with over 30 years of experience in the security field. All Joshua Academy staff are trained by this same person. Staff and students participate in monthly fire/evacuation, reverse-evacuation and tornado drills while staff-only practice lock-down, active assailant, missing child, bomb threat, and medical response drills quarterly. Additionally, all emergency plans and school floorplans are on file with both the Crawford County Emergency Manager and the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
Schedule
We are in compliance with the state requirement that we provide at least six hours of daily instruction, including breaks, and a total of at least 1,068 hrs of instructional time during the school year. Our school day is divided into work cycles separated by breaks and lunch time. The daily schedule is posted near the main office and is distributed to families at Open House. The calendar is also available on the Joshua Academy App.
School Board Meetings
The school board meets monthly. Board meetings are closed meetings. If you would like to speak to an issue, please contact the Head of School.
School Directory
A directory listing name, address, and phone number of all students and families is available on the Joshua Academy App. The school directory is private information for use by parents whose children are current students and by school personnel. It is not to be copied, shared, or given to anyone not associated with Joshua Academy. You may opt out of the directory on the FACTS Family Portal.
Unless it is a school-sponsored event, information contained in the school directory MUST NOT be used to promote advertisements, businesses, etc.
*Supplies
Each student’s enrollment fee covers the cost of their classroom supplies and curriculum, which the school will provide. We do ask that families send the following items on the first day of school (or bring to Open House), which will remain at the school the entire year. Buy items that will last the school year but there is no need to break the bank:
1. Muck boots – outdoor education can be messy and we want to be able to learn outside in all types of weather. Waterproof/rubber pull-on style boots keep feet dry and makes it harder for pests to get to little feet.
2. Full rain suit – Kids in K-3rd (lower elementary) should have a two-piece waterproof rain suit. 4th-8th (upper elementary and middle school) need at least a rain jacket. We will go places in all types of weather and want kids to stay dry.
3. Backpack and lunchbox – Please choose a backpack and lunch box without cartoon characters, movies/tv, video games or music artists (follow no-characters policy). Simple patterns (like polkadots, stripes, etc) are allowed. We do not have microwaves available so lunchboxes/thermoses should be able to keep food hot/cold.
4. House shoes (optional) – our school is like our home when we’re inside. We want kids to be comfortable and we want to keep our floors as clean as possible since we spend so much time on them. House shoes should be slippers with a sole and something the child can easily get in and out of for transition to outside.
*Tardiness
Tardiness is not only a detriment to the late student but also a disruption to a class. Any student arriving after 7:55 am will need to be signed in by a parent or guardian at the main office. Please be respectful and plan ahead so that your student does not miss being able to put their things away and get their boots on in time for morning Welcome. Three tardies equals an unexcused absence. See our Absence Policy for more information.
*Toys, Nuisance and Hazardous Items
Toys of any kind (incl. stuffed animals) and nuisance items such as radios, MP3 players, handheld video games, and other electronic equipment detract from an academic environment and may not be brought to school. (See Cell Phone policy for guidance on cell phone/smart watches/communications devices). Hazardous items such as guns, matches, tobacco, vapes, alcohol, lighters, lasers, and fireworks are prohibited and will be confiscated. Parents will need to retrieve these items from the main office.
Students should ask for approval from the school office before bringing any playground equipment. The school cannot be responsible for lost or missing items.
Tuition Payments
Tuition payments are remitted directly to FACTS based on the payment date and payment plan selected by the family. Payment plan setup fees were paid by the school this year. A $30 late fee will be charged for tuition payments received more than 5 days after the payment due date. Tuition may be paid by direct withdrawal or by credit card (3.05% fee added for credit card payments). Additional information about tuition charges and payment options can be found on the FACTS family portal.
*Tuition Obligation
Families are responsible to pay their entire tuition bill for the academic year if they voluntarily withdraw their student during the school year. The exception is if a child moves away or withdraws during the first 60-days (See 60-day trial period section).
Please note that Education Freedom Account (EFA) payments cannot be collected for quarters where the student does not attend. Accounts for all students who receive an EFA will be credited for the full amount of the anticipated EFA payments for the year, before school starts. Therefore, if parents voluntarily withdraw their student from JA, the EFA credit will be removed and families will be responsible for the full tuition cost for the remainder of the year. Students who are expelled or for whom it is determined we are not able to serve, will be released from their financial obligation but payment will still be due for days the student did attend.
*Volunteers
In accordance with Arkansas Code § 6-22-105 (2020), Joshua Academy is required to conduct a criminal records background check for School volunteers who may potentially accompany students in an unsupervised capacity such as a chaperone on overnight school trips or as a tutor or mentor working one-on-one or in small groups of five (5) or fewer students.
Background checks are not required for volunteers who will be directly supervised by employees at all times such as during lunch duty, or for parents who visit campus to participate in chapel or family lunch.
Volunteers will be requested and organized by our Parent Engagement Coordinator.
Website
Joshua Academy’s website is Joshua-academy.org. You will find a variety of informative details on our site regarding the school, however the website is primarily intended for prospective (not current) families. If you have any suggestions for our website, please contact the school office.
Current families will find payment and billing information, calendar information, permission slips, newsletters, report cards, library and school directory on the Joshua Academy App (search your app store).
*Worship and Chapel
We believe in teaching children how to worship God through music and prayer. In addition to our daily morning Welcome gatherings, every Wednesday morning (Middle School) and Friday morning (Elementary) we invite all family members to join us from 8:00-8:30 am for a chapel service lead by our campus pastor that emphasizes the application of scripture to real world issues.
Welcome
Each school day begins with our morning “Welcome” where we gather together as a community in our outdoor amphitheater (weather permitting) for worship and to grow together through singing, scripture reading, speaking by students and teachers, movement, and prayer. Parents do not attend the morning Welcome but are invited to attend Chapel each week.
*Winter Weather Procedures
In the event of inclement weather, we will notify you of any school closure or late start (or other campus emergency) via our Parent Alert system via text. Make sure your phone number is accurate in Family Portal. We will generally follow the guidance of Van Buren Public Schools for inclement weather delays and closures.