TECHNOLOGY
Technology Instruction
We aim to inspire and encourage our students to use technology to enhance their curriculum and aid them in their assignments. We strive to infuse technology into all aspects of our students’ education to prepare them to be successful in the continuously evolving world of technology. In addition, Union Academy meets and exceeds the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for all grade levels regarding computer instruction.
Currently there is computer access for all grade levels with labs for the Lower School, Middle School, and High School. Additionally, student computers are available in many classrooms, in the technology rooms of the Media Center, and in the Media Center proper. In addition, UA supports a growing online learning program.
Network Security
To meet technology goals, policies and procedures must be in place and followed. Each student is required to read and sign a network security and internet use agreement before being granted use of the school network. Students are given network and internet security instruction. Students in Grades 4-12 are granted individual network accounts. Use of the network is for school-related purposes only. Students must abide by the security rules or face disciplinary action, including suspension from the school network.
Union Academy Website
Union Academy provides a school website at www.unionacademy.org or www.unionacademy.net. While there is a great deal of information available to the public, there is information available only to families. To be able to access the family only information, you will need to create an account. You can do this by registering. The registration link is in the top right hand corner of the homepage. When you register, you will create your own username and password. It is important that UA families be registered members so that they can receive the weekly information packet, Family Folder, electronically.
TESTING
State mandated testing includes:
EOG Grades 3-8 Math, Reading
EOG Grades 5 & 8 Science
Writing Test Grades 4, 7, 10
Computer Competency Grade 8
EOC Algebra I and II, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, English I, Physics, Civics and Economics, and U.S. History
Students entering 9th Grade for the first time in 2006/2007 and beyond will be required to meet new exit standards. These students will be required to pass five EOC assessments (Algebra I, Biology, English I, Civics and Economics, U.S. History) and a senior project.
Mid-year and final exams are given to all students in Grades 9-12 on designated days in the school calendar. Mid-year exams count as 15% of the first semester grade, and final exams count as 25% of the student’s final grade. With the exception of State mandated end-of-course tests, a Grade 9-12 student may be exempt from mid-year or final exams in a class if the student maintains an “A” average and is not absent more than three days during the semester.
TEXTBOOK POLICY (Lost and Damaged)
Lost textbook – student will be charged replacement cost
Damaged and not usable – replacement cost
Damaged but still usable – 25-50% of replacement cost see table below
Students who lose their textbooks during the year will not be issued any replacements until they return or pay for the books. Students will be responsible for completing assignments during the time between the loss of the book and receipt of a new book. “Loaners” may be provided for classroom use if extra copies are available.
Textbook Conditions: One or more of the following conditions may apply
New = 1st year of use only
Good = Like new; few bent pages, light wear on corners
Fair = pencil marks, bent pages, bruised corners
Poor = pen marks, few torn pages (if repairable), bruised corners, few pages wrinkled from moisture
Unusable = cover ripped, torn pages, pen/marker marks, answers written in book, pages falling out, binding loose, mold
Condition at Condition at
Check Out Check In Charges
New Good no charge
New Fair 25%
New Poor 50%
New Unusable Replacement Cost
Good Fair no charge
Good Poor 25%
Good Unusable 50%
Fair Poor No Charge
Fair Unusable 25%
Poor Unusable No Charge
TOBACCO, DRUGS, AND ALCOHOL
Our school is a smoke-free and tobacco free environment. Please do not use tobacco products of any kind in school buildings, on the grounds at any time or during Union Academy field trips and school sponsored events. Refer to Behavior Management Section.
Union Academy is a drug-free environment. No one may come onto campus in possession of, or under the influence of, alcoholic beverages or drugs.
VANDALISM
The willful destruction of Union Academy property or material is prohibited. Acts of vandalism include but are not limited to defacing school property with graffiti, destroying building materials or landscaping, and tampering with the maintenance systems or information systems network and the computer programs of others.
VISITORS AND PARENTS ON CAMPUS
Union Academy must identify and record the arrival and presence of all persons on campus during the school day. An automated LobbyGuard sign-in/sign-out system is used on both campuses. This system issues passes to parents, employees, and visitors. All persons who enter campus must sign in and receive a nametag or visitor pass.
Students are not allowed to invite visitors to school (including lunch).
To insure the health and safety of students and faculty, pets or animals of any kind are not permitted on campus unless written permission has been granted by the Division Head.
VOLUNTEERING
The Union Academy Partnership Agreement states that, as a minimum, Union Academy expects a service contribution to the School of six hours per month or sixty hours per year of each family. Demonstrating respect for this contract is a clear requirement of UA’s original charter. There are 17 Parent Service Teams which assist in organizing and coordinating family volunteer efforts. Below is a brief description of these teams. The team leaders serve on the Union Academy Parent Council and are listed in this section of the Family Handbook.
Cardinal Athletics Club The Union Academy Cardinal Athletics Club is established to support the sports and activities program at Union Academy by assisting the school’s athletics and activities staff and administration. Realizing that such programs are costly, the Cardinal Athletics Club will see as one of its major roles the financial support of school programs, so that all students will have the opportunity to participate.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Character Support “At Union Academy, we do the right thing, even when no one is looking”. The Character Team is a character think-tank, aiming to support family and school efforts to model and teach good character. Among other things, this team will research materials for our character library, suggest guest speakers, and assist with school Character Assemblies.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Classroom Volunteers Classroom volunteers assist teachers in and out of the classroom with such activities as making copies, helping with lunch, planning celebrations, acquiring classroom supplies, reading to students, and helping with field trips.
Time Requirements: School hours primarily - some after school hours needed for planning celebrations, acquiring supplies, and making classroom phone calls.
Communications The Communications Team supports the UA Development Office with the production of the UA Cardinal’s Perch. Volunteers gather information, interview staff and parents, write articles, edit text, does layout, and take photographs. This team needs a variety of talents!
Time Requirements: During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Community Outreach The Community Outreach Team supports the various UA community service projects. Volunteers assist, organize, and chaperone grade service projects. Emphasis is on projects that are hands-on and take our students face to face with real needs in our community.
Time Requirements: During school hours primarily
Cultural Arts Support Team The Cultural Arts Team will focus on helping prepare our students for living in a global world. Volunteer will research ideas for promoting diversity, provide information about cultural events taking place in the in the greater community, and support faculty and staff in teaching the students about the world around them. During and after school hours.
Facility and Grounds The Facility and Grounds Team assists with interior and exterior improvements and maintenance. This team helps with such things as facility maintenance, Saturday cleanups, planting seasonal flowers, cutting grass, and moving large items.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Fine Arts Boosters Club The Performing Arts Boosters is a group of parents that have an interest in supporting arts programs, including Art, Band, Choral, and Theatre. This group will encourage morale building events as well as work with the Art, Band/Choral and Theatre directors, form committees for fundraising, chaperone and assist with events as needed, and assist students at performances, contests, and other related events and functions.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours
Fundraising The Fundraising Team helps organize fundraisers (outside of the Development Office) for the support of the daily on-going needs and activities at Union Academy. This team manages such fundraisers as the Scrip Program, UA Nights at CiCi’s, Showmars, Kate’s, etc., and a variety of retailers’ incentive programs. (This team is NOT part of the UA Development Office or our UA Capital Campaign.)
Time Requirements: After school hours primarily (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Hospitality This team organizes teacher appreciation activities, recognizes teacher birthdays, writes thank-you notes, prepares meals for families in-need, and organizes refreshments and greeters for special occasions.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Media Center The Media Team supports the Media Center with daily volunteers. This team also helps with special Media Center events, such as book fairs and author luncheons, and decorates the Media Center with seasonal themes.
Time Requirements: School hours primarily
Office and Lunch Support The Office and Lunch Support Team serves catered lunches, , assists in the UA office with copying and filing, and helps with morning and afternoon carpool.
Time Requirements: School hours primarily
Safety and Traffic The Safety and Traffic Team is comprised of parents with experience in law enforcement and traffic control. These parents consult with UA on security issues and assist with traffic control during large family functions.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours
School Activities Support Team This team supports the Activities Departments by helping “make it happen”, providing volunteers to plan, organize, and carry out our many activities. Special events like the Medieval Faire, Boo Bash, Holiday Festival and other school-wide events, as well as students’ activities such as Field Day, Socials, Enrichment, school spirit support, and field trips all are a part of helping with this team. If you like event planning, working behind the scenes, or being on hand for whatever fits your schedule, this is the team for you.
Time Requirements : During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
Tutoring/Proctoring Team The Tutor Team tutors for the K-4 Stars and Champs program, assists classroom students, helps with homework during middle school study halls, and proctors during state testing. (Team members will not be working in the classes with their own children.) Parents do not need to have expertise in any particular academic area, just a love for helping students learn.
Time Requirements: School hours
Technology Team The Technology Team assists with the installation and maintenance of UA’s computer system in the office and classrooms, which is a PC-based Microsoft Windows NT network. The Team also has a subcommittee that assists with the UA website. This team helps with the acquisition of new systems, researches the market for recommendations for new equipment, replacing and installing new cables/wireless and upgrades to existing systems. Members of this team also help teachers with their computer skills! A strong technical background is helpful but not required. The non-technical team members can assist by reviewing website content for accuracy, moving equipment and inventory efforts.
Time Requirements: During and after school hours (GREAT FOR WORKING PARENTS)
F.A.Q.’s about Volunteering
What is Union Academy’s expectation for my family’s volunteer service?
Every Union Academy family signs the UA Partnership Agreement stating their intent to support the daily operations of the School by volunteering a minimum per family of sixty hours per year of service hours to Union Academy. Finding, completing, and reporting volunteer hours are responsibilities that you accept as part of this agreement.
How do I complete my volunteer hours?
Participate in parent-managed UA Service Team activities. Get connected to a Service Team by attending the Service Team meetings that interest you, call a Service Team Leader to find out about activities, and complete the Service Team Signup Form in the summer mailing, or talk to the Family Involvement Coordinator.
Service Team meeting announcements, team activities, and special volunteer needs appear in the weekly Family Folder on the Volunteer Opportunities page. Thousands of hours of opportunities are available during the school year, and reading your Wednesday Family Folder to stay informed will help you find ideas for ways to get involved.
What can I count as volunteer hours?
Basically, you count any activity done by you or your family members in support of events or programs of the school. Service team activities, special events, UA family nights, and teacher and staff support all count towards your volunteer commitment. Remember to count hours for each family member involved.
Donations are vital to our success and greatly appreciated but don’t count as volunteer service hours except for the time spent planning, shopping, preparing, or delivering items. Dollar amounts given do not count as volunteer service hours except for time spent related to providing this type of donation. In addition, any service provided to you by the school related to your child’s education, such as a parent teacher conference or curriculum information night, does not count toward your volunteer hours commitment.
How do I volunteer if I cannot be on campus during the day?
There are many off-campus opportunities! Here are just a few:
· Attend or assist with monthly team sponsored Family Nights, such as Chick-fil-A night or CiCi’s Pizza night, or Kate’s Skate Nights. (Fundraising Team)
· Assist with large special events on campus, such as the annual Boo Bash, Fall Festival, Ultimate Charity Auction, and the spring concert. (School Activities Team)
· Help with facility and grounds maintenance on a regular basis, on scheduled Saturday Cleanup Days, or with material donations. (Facility and Grounds Team)
· Prepare food at home for school events. (Hospitality Team)
· Request material donations from your employer, such as new computers, office equipment, furniture, TV’s, dry erase boards, projectors, papers, even vans or buses! (Office and Lunch Support Team, Technology Support Team)
Who can I personally speak with for volunteer ideas?
Marla Killion coordinates family involvement, and she would love to hear from you! You can call her or leave a message on either campus. Lower Campus – (704) 283-5678, Upper Campus – (704) 238-8883 or email her at mkillion@unionacademy.org.
How do I keep track of my volunteer activities?
Monthly Service Review Forms are used to keep track of volunteer service hours. Forms are available in the Family Folder several times a year, and at the reception desk of each campus or online at any time of the school year. Return the completed form each month noting your activities for the current month. This form will also give you an opportunity to share your thoughts on family involvement specifically or in general. For your convenience, you may also email hours to mkillion@unionacademy.org. Remember, we are a community school and your input is important. This is the only way that Union Academy documents hours, so be sure to fill it out every month. Only hours reported by you will be documented. Signing in and out at the front desk is not considered hours reporting.
WITHDRAWING STUDENTS FROM UNION ACADEMY
The Registrar’s Office at Union Academy must receive a two-week written notice when a child is being withdrawn during the school year. A “Withdrawal Form” is to be signed by the parent or guardian. Upper School students are required to have each of their teachers sign their withdrawal form with current grade information and that all textbooks, classroom supplies, and library materials have been returned in good condition. All outstanding fees must be paid in the Accounting Office prior to withdrawal and release of records. The Athletic Director must sign the form for each athlete (uniforms returned, etc.). Records will be sent directly to the receiving school once the withdrawal process is complete and a request for records has been received.