HEALTH AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Emergency Medical Contact Form

A new Emergency Medical Contact Form is required for each student each year and received by the office before the first full day of class. This form contains important emergency information to be used by the school in the event a parent cannot be contacted.

Illness and Injury

Union Academy will notify parents if a child becomes ill or injured while at school. The school can provide only minimal care and first aid, to include taking the child’s temperature.  If the fever is above 100°F, we will recommend that the child go home.

Immunizations and Health Assessments

As required by North Carolina State Law, all Union Academy students must have a complete record of immunizations on file signed by a physician or bearing a physician’s stamp.  All children entering Kindergarten in public schools are required to present the completed blue Kindergarten Health Assessment form on or before the first day of attendance.  Health Assessments must be completed within one year prior to student’s enrollment.  Parents will be notified in writing when their child does not meet immunization requirements.  The law allows parents or guardians thirty calendar days from the first day of child’s attendance to present the required up-to-date immunization records.  Upon termination of the thirty-calendar-day period, the child shall not be permitted to attend school until he or she provides a Certificate of Immunization as required by law.

State law requires the following minimum immunization doses:

DTP, DtaP       5 doses of either vaccine are required (if 4^th dose is on or after fourth birthday, a 5^th dose is not required; DT requires medical exemption)

Tdap                1 dose is required for all rising 6^th graders

Polio                4 doses (if 3^rd dose is after 4^th birthday, 4^th dose is not required)

Hib                   1-4 doses (Series complete if at least 1 dose given on or after 15 months and before 5 years of age; not required after age 5)

Measles            2 doses (at least 30 days apart; 1^st dose on or after 12 months of age)

Mumps             1 dose (on or after 12 months of age)  Individuals entering school for the first time on or after July 1, 2008 are required to have a second mumps vaccine.

Rubella             1 dose (on or after 12 months of age)

Hep B              3 doses are required for all children born on or after July 1, 1994

Varicella           1 dose (on or after 12 months of age) is required for students born on or after April 2, 2001

Children born prior to July 1, 1994 who have not had the Hepatitis B vaccine should consult with their health care provider to see if this vaccine is recommended.  It is recommended that all children 19 years of age and younger be immunized against Hepatitis B.  The Union County Health Care Department will offer the Hepatitis B vaccine as well as Tetanus/Diphtheria boosters to students free of charge.  You may contact the Union County Health Care Department for further information.

Medical Information Form

A medical information form is to be completed at the beginning of each school year for each student.  Forms must be filled out in their entirety, signed and returned prior to the 1^st full day of classes.  Students who do not have a completed form on record with the school by the second Fiday in August will not be allowed to attend school until a form is received by the health room staff.  Students will not be allowed to participate in PE classes until their medical information form is completed.  Forms are available on the UA website under “Important Forms”. 

Medical Records: Each student must have on file with the school the appropriate immunization and other medical records in compliance with North Carolina health regulations.  Otherwise the student may not attend school.  Parents will be notified if these records are not in order.  New kindergarten students are required to have a Kindergarten Health Assessment.  Assessments must be completed within one year of a student enrolling in kindergarten.

Prescription Medications: Union Academy will dispense prescription medication only with the written authorization of a medical doctor and written permission from the parent or guardian.  Prescription medicines must be brought to school in a pharmacy-labeled bottle that contains instructions on how and when the medication is to be given.  A Medication Consent Form must be on file in the office.

Over-the-counter medications:  Medication must be supplied by the parent/guardian and in the original packaging.  Medication will be administered only with proper consent.  Any over-the-counter medication that must be taken more than 10 days must have a consent form signed by your physician.  Remember, students are not allowed to carry any medications with them in school.

The complete Mediation Administration Policy may be viewed on-line or at either office.

HOMEWORK POLICIES

Lower Campus:  Homework is assigned by the classroom teacher in order to review, enrich, or reinforce classroom learning.  Homework encourages responsibility and develops a student’s organization and study skills.  The link between school and home is strengthened when a parent or significant adult shows interest in what a child has learned in school.

A general rule of thumb is that a student should expect 10 minutes of homework for every grade level that he/she is in.  A fourth grade student can expect to spend 40 minutes on homework, a third grader 30 minutes, and so on.  Homework should never exceed 60 minutes, and we encourage parents to contact the classroom teacher directly if you find your child is consistently working for that amount of time daily.

The above homework time does not include the time that students are expected to spend each night reading to an adult or on their own.

Upper Campus:  Establishing a homework policy that fits every child is difficult because children vary considerably in personality, ability to focus, and general topics of interest.  What takes one child an hour to complete may take another child only 10 minutes.  Topics in which one child has a deep and abiding interest may hold no interest for another.  Nevertheless, we do want to establish an estimated time guideline so that you, as parents, know what to expect.

• A middle or high school student can expect to have as a minimum approximately 60-80 minutes of homework each night.  The amount of homework time required will increase as the student moves from one grade level to another.  For high school students enrolled in AP courses, one will expect up to 2-1/2 hours of homework per night.
• Students will begin work on homework assignments in the classroom and will be expected to complete these assignments at home. 

We hope that this policy will help you as you deal with your own student’s work patterns.  If you have questions or concerns, share them with the classroom teacher.  If your student is spending more time with assignments than seems reasonable, we may be able to help the student work toward better use of time, or we may be able to help the student improve study skills in general.

INCLUSION MODEL POLICY

Union Academy operates under a formal charter or contract approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education and authorized by the North Carolina State Legislature.  The charter is mission specific.  As a special independent public school of choice, the Academy must operate in accordance with that Charter and with the Mission, Impact, and Purpose Statements as contained in that formal document.  Families choose to apply and to enroll their children in the Academy based on the mission specific nature of the charter.  

With respect to students qualified for Exceptional Children’s services and with other identified special needs, Union Academy will endeavor to provide all required support within the “Inclusion Model,” as confirmed in “LEA Impact Statement” #10 and “Purposes of Proposed Charter” #6.  It was and is the belief of the members of the Founding Board of Directors that all students are gifted and should be served in a heterogeneous or inclusion grouping.

In line with the Inclusion Model, an “Inclusion Model” requires that the Academy strive to educate all students, regardless of special needs or qualifications, in a regular classroom setting and that Exceptional Children’s support not interfere with the child’s right to operate in that inclusion or heterogeneous classroom.  Other Exceptional Children’s models are available in Union County Public Schools.  These models include what are sometimes called the “Pull-Out” or “Resource Room” model and the “Self-Contained” model.  For some students, one model is better than another, depending on the child’s special needs.

To insure that Union Academy and its staff are following the Inclusion Model and that the model is clearly defined, the School operates under the following guidelines or policy in line with the State’s definition of an inclusion model:

• The Exceptional Children’s (EC) Staff will strive to support IEP-qualified special-needs students within the regular classroom setting, but only for a limited number of minutes per day.  The amount of support for the IEP qualified student will not exceed 30-50 minutes per day or 150-250 minutes per week. That specific individualized service will be reviewed at least every 90 days to insure in all cases that the individual student is being served in conjunction with the lessons and requirements of the regular classroom population.
• Under extraordinary circumstances, pull-out services for students formally identified with special needs may be used for a limited period of time in order to help the child integrate into the regular classroom.  In all such cases, the service will not exceed the 30-50 minute per day policy for in-class service, will be designed to return the student’s support to the regular classroom setting as soon as possible, and will avoid removing the child from core academic areas.  A review of progress will be required in 30-day intervals.
• To insure the operation of the Inclusion Model, no “Self Contained,” “Resource Room,” or one-on-one instructional services or assistants will be provided or addressed at Union Academy (except as indicated above), as providing these services would be in violation of our charter.

If a student’s IEP requires services outside the scope of this Inclusion Model (i.e., Self Contained or Pull Out), the Union Academy Exceptional Children’s staff and the Administration will advise and provide assistance in determining the local public school environment that provides those services.  

INSURANCE

Accident insurance is available through the school. A brochure explaining the coverage will be sent home with your child the first week of school.  This insurance may be purchased at any time during the school year.  Union Academy suggests that you acquire this insurance if you do not have personal insurance.  All overnight field trips require that you purchase accident insurance on your child if you do not have personal insurance.

INTRAMURAL PROGRAM

Mission Statement:  Knowing that physical activity is an important key for a healthy lifestyle, Union Academy’s Intramural Program will offer various opportunities for sport and activities to reach the maximum number of participants in Grades 2, 3, and 4.  The UA Intramural Program will address the following goals:

            *  Accountability                                                           *  Loyalty

            *  Character Building                                                    *  Positive Competition

            *  Discipline                                                                  *  Self Worth

            *  Fair Play                                                                   *  Sportsmanship

            *  Healthy Lifestyle                                                       *  Teamwork   

            *  Leadership                                                               *  Whole Child Development

Intramural participation will be for grades 2, 3, and 4.  Some activities will require a limited number of students due to lack of equipment, space, and volunteers.  We will pursue at a first come first serve basis.  Students can choose to play, coach, manage or ref in various activities.  We will work hard and choosing activities that will reach maximum participation by all grade levels.  Volunteers are appreciated and welcome!

Sport activity options:  Arm wrestling, baseball, basketball, bowling, exercise ball workouts, floor hockey, Frisbee golf, handball, horseshoes, soccer, sport stacking, step aerobics, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Student and parents must sign and return the intramural contract and waiver.
• Pay $1.00 per month or per activity to the classroom teacher.  The teacher will give them a form to fill out and bring to me in order to complete the sign up for the monthly activity.  (Students will be directed on how to do this.)
• If a student loses red rocket points, money, receives a demerit or visit the office due to behavior issues, they will not be eligible to participate on that day.  The student will stay in the classroom during intramurals and will still be dismissed at 3:15 PM.  A call home will not be made.
• Students not picked up at 3:15 PM will go to the ASCP and have to pay necessary fees upon pick up.

Intramural schedule – schedule may change per school year.  Students may only participate with their grade level.

Grade Level	Day of the Week	Time	Place
3rd	Tuesday	2:45-3:15	LS Gym
4th	Wednesday	2:45-3:15	LS Gym
2nd	Thursday	2:45-3:15	LS Gym

LOCKERS/COMBINATION LOCKS

Upper Campus students are provided lockers in which they may keep school supplies and articles of clothing.  If a student wishes to use a lock on his/her locker, the office will provide a lock for a fee.  Only locks issued through the school office may be used. Any other lock used will be removed.  The lockers are school property and should be kept in good condition.  Inspections of lockers may be conducted by school authorities for any reason consistent with school policies at any time without notice, without consent, and without a search warrant.  All lockers must be emptied at the end of the school year.  Students whose lockers have excessive damage will be charged a damage fee to be assessed upon review of the locker.  Magic marker, gummed stickers, and other items that damage the painted surface (interior or exterior) warrant a damage fee for removal and repainting.

LOST AND FOUND

Lower School Campus:  Please put your child’s name on clothing, lunch boxes, and any other items that your child brings to school.  Belongings with names can be returned to the owner.  Lost and found items

will be kept in the office.  Reminders will be sent home quarterly, and any items not claimed at the end of the designated time will be donated to a charitable organization.

Upper School Campus:  Lost items are kept in a lost and found designated area.  Upper campus students have the responsibility to locate their lost items in lost and found.  Lost textbooks are returned to the appropriate classroom teacher.