ADMISSIONS POLICY

Admission to Union Academy is by public lottery.  Information sessions are held in late February or March for the next school year.  In April, all candidate names are drawn by grade level to fill available positions at the time of the lottery.  Once available positions are filled, the remaining names are drawn and placed on a waiting list in the order in which they were drawn.

Grade level placement will be determined upon receipt of the student’s final records for the current school year.  Students admitted to Union Academy at the high school level, will need to provide documentation that North Carolina graduatin requirements have been met according to their current grade level and that they are eligible to be promoted to the next grade level.

When a family expresses interest in the school after the lottery, a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers is kept in the order in which those names are received.  

Students currently enrolled at Union Academy are assured of positions for the next school year provided they follow the procedures for holding their spaces.

Prior to enrollment, accepted students are expected to:

1.            Meet all health requirements set forth by the State of North Carolina and exhibit records as such.

2.            Submit to an interview which will include the parent(s) or guardian, student applying, the Principal/Headmaster and/or any others designated by the Headmaster or Board of Directors as members of an interview committee.

3.            Sign a Partnership Agreement Form stating that the mission of the school and expectations for all parties are fully understood.

4.            Submit to placement exams to determine grade level (not acceptance).

5.            Supply a transcript of grades and standardized test scores from the prior or current school.

6.            Submit an affidavit or letter from the previous school principal stating that the named student has not been expelled from the public school and is not presently serving a suspension.

These expectations are to be completed in a timely manner. Two weeks is considered a timely manner.

Once students are admitted to Union Academy, they will retain their position as pupils in the school until they leave voluntarily, graduate from the school, or are expelled, provided the proper re-enrollment procedures are followed.

AGENDAS

Students in Grades 1-12 are required to use an agenda with calendar as a place to write down assignments, upcoming events, or as a tool for teachers to communicate with parents.

The agendas are provided by Union Academy for a fee to be paid the first week of school.

ATHLETICS INFORMATION

Philosophy

Union Academy is committed to a strong and diverse athletic program for all students.  We believe that athletic experiences provide a valuable link in a student’s overall growth and maturation process.  Every effort is made to offer separate and equal programs for boys and girls. All programs challenge athletes to achieve success in a quality, caring, and innovative environment.  Student athletes are encouraged to participate in the total school program and experience as wide a variety of activities as possible.  Student safety in athletic events will be the top consideration throughout our program.

Competition is viewed as an important part of a sound athletic program.  Competitive experiences will be balanced with participation, skill development, and safety concerns. 

Middle School programs will stress participation and skill development.  UA Middle School will offer volleyball, baseball, soccer, cheerleading, softball, cross-country, track and field, golf, wrestling, and basketball teams.  Swimming and tennis are being considered.

High School programs will stress skill development, cooperation, competition, team attitude, and team success.  “Cutting” may occur if team dimensions cannot accommodate the number of students who wish to participate.  Playing time in contests will be a result of the progression of the athlete’s skills and attitude and the needs of the team as determined by the coach.

Integrity expressed in sportsmanship and fair play is a controlling value throughout our programs.  Student athletes and coaches are held to the highest standard of conduct as ambassadors for our school district and our community.  The value of each individual will be emphasized along with the individual’s ability to make positive contributions that will enhance respect for others and promote self worth. Union Academy supports the following:

1.            Players’ Role

·        Play the game for fun, be humble when you win, and gracious when you lose.

·        Respect and abide by the rules of the game.

·        Put the team ahead of yourself.

·        Accept decisions made by those in authority.

·        Demonstrate respect to your opponents, coaches, and teammates.

·        Be accountable for your own actions.

·        Develop the feeling of pride based upon “shared joy” of the team.

·        Develop a teachable spirit that allows you to take correction as a compliment.

·        Accept and embrace the discipline involved in athletics because it benefits the team.

·        Be an athlete of character.

2.            Coaches’ role

·        Coach for the love of the game and the love of the athlete.

·        Place athletes above winning.

·        Reward effort and behavior and not the outcome.

·        Lead with character and by example.

·        Put the needs of the team ahead of any individual.

·        Encourage multiple sport participation.

·        Develop a positive-demanding coaching style.

·        Constantly work to improve your knowledge and ability to teach the game and the athletes.

3.            Parents’ Role

·        Attend as many games as possible.

·        Be a model, not a critic.

·        Attend pre-season meetings.

·        View the game with the team’s goals in mind.

·        Encourage multiple sport participation.

·        Accept the judgment of the officials and coaches.

·        Accept the results of each game – do not make excuses.

·        Demonstrate winning and losing with dignity.

·        Dignify mistakes made by athletes who are giving their best effort.

·        Accept the goals, roles, and achievements of your child.

Eligibility Requirements will be available in a separate publication pending changes that result from our recent acceptance into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Any student who participates in a school sponsored athletic program is a representative of Union Academy.  For this reason, each student is bound and obligated to behave in such a manner as to reflect credit on the activity and the school.

Athletes must realize that their primary purpose in attending school is to acquire an education; therefore, all school and athletic codes are in operation at all times.  Athletes will honor the student codes or will be subject to discipline.

a.       Athletes on in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension will not be allowed to practice or compete in interscholastic contests for the duration of the suspension. 

b.      If a student receives three detentions within a given season, he or she will face a Review Board of teachers and staff to determine if he or she can remain on the team.

c.       If the Review Board approves the student to continue the season, a fourth detention will result in removal from the team for the remainder of the season.

d.      Removal from a team does not automatically disqualify the student from the upcoming athletic season, but the Review Board may review the situation at the request of a coach or member of the faculty.

The head coach in consultation with the Athletic Department will be responsible for all decisions relating to disciplinary action resulting from violation of training rules.  All actions (including sportsmanship) leading to probation, suspension, or expulsion will follow the regular administrative procedures.

Any athlete who does not abide by the rules and regulations of the coaches and this athletic code are subject to warning, suspension, or expulsion from the team.

The coach may give a warning, which states that an athlete must correct a certain behavior or be placed on suspension.  This athlete will continue to practice and compete in interscholastic contests.

The athlete is prohibited from competition in interscholastic contests for a defined period of time due to unsatisfactory correction of a probationary problem.  Suspension may result from an infraction deemed severe enough by the head coach.  It is the coach’s decision whether or not the athlete continues to practice.

Expelled athletes are prohibited from practice and/or competition with the team for the remainder of that sport season.  This action can be taken in regard to specific rule infractions stated in this athletic code or by the coach or Athletic Director in response to repeated violations of team standards of conduct.

1.            All participants must be enrolled in UA and in the 7^th Grade or above for middle school sports.

2.            All participants must provide a physical dated within one year of the first day of practice.

3.            A student who is promoted from 6^th Grade to 7^th Grade automatically meets the requirements for the upcoming middle school athletic season.

Other eligibility requirements will be available in a separate publication pending changes that result from our recent acceptance into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Absences

In compliance with the North Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law, it is the responsibility of Union Academy to keep and report attendance and to notify parents by recording attendance on the report card.  State Department of Public Instruction regulations require additional steps:

v     No absence, regardless of reason, is excused without a written note from a parent or guardian to the Headmaster.

• The school will notify parents in writing when a child reaches three unlawful absences. A child’s advancement to the next grade level may be in jeopardy if the student has more than three unlawful absences.
• The school will notify parents by mail when a child reaches six unlawful absences.

Make-Up Work for Days Missed

Upon returning from an excused absence, students will be given two days for each day of absence to make up the work missed.  When arrangements are not made to complete make-up work, or if it is not submitted in time, the student will receive NO credit.  Students who have an out-of-school suspension and students with unexcused absences and tardies are encouraged to make up all missed work, and may not receive credit, but are allowed to make up major tests or projects (i.e. term papers) for credit and to take semester exams.

Please contact teachers via e-mail or voice mail directly with questions about make-up work.  Please do not call the front desk.

If a student is absent for more than 19 days (10% of our school days), that student’s promotion to the next grade is in jeopardy.  This total of 19 includes both lawful (excused) and unlawful (unexcused) absences.  The parent or guardian will be notified if and when the child reaches ten absences.  Any absences beyond 19 require a written note from a licensed M.D.

If your child must be absent from school, please call our message center by 8:00 AM. Lower School Campus (704) 283-5678 Ext. 500 and Upper School Campus (704) 238-8883 Ext. 0 to indicate why your child will not be in school. 

Each child must bring a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian stating the reason for absence upon his or her return to school.  The note should include the following information:

·        First and last name of child and homeroom teacher’s name.

·        Date(s) of absence(s).

·        Reason for absence. 

Upon receipt of the note, the office will be able to determine what type of absence to record.  Absences will not be excused unless written notice is received from the parent or guardian.  The following is a list of absence types according to the state of North Carolina.

The following absences are considered “Excused” by Union Academy:

·        Illness or injury that prevents the student from being physically able to attend school.

• The State Board of Health or local health officer orders the student into isolation.
• The death of a member of the immediate family of the student; for the purpose of this regulation, the immediate family is considered the parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents.
• A medical or dental appointment of the student.
• The attendance of a student at the proceedings of a court or an administrative tribunal if the student is a party to the action or under subpoena as a witness.
• A religious observance with prior approval from the headmaster.
• When it is demonstrated that the purpose of the absence is to take advantage of a valid education opportunity, such as travel; written notification prior to the absence must be presented to the headmaster for approval of absence.