CHESS 2010-2011 Participation Agreement
Parents and students agree to comply with the policies herein as a requirement for taking classes at CHESS.
Mission Statement
To support homeschooling parents of seventh through twelfth grade students by providing classes to prepare students for college and for life.
CHESS classes are designed to supplement and enrich the homeschool. Classes meet one or two days per week, while the majority of the work is still done at home. CHESS is not a school. Parents should be involved in what their students are learning. Small class sizes and teachers who are passionate about their subjects make this program unique and effective. If your student is ready for challenging material without the pace of college courses (typically twice as fast as high school), consider our upper level high school classes.
The Instructor's Role
Instructors will teach the course subject, provide a detailed prospectus for the class, post weekly homework assignments on the web page, provide semester progress reports in a timely way, contact the parent if a behavioral problem arises or if homework is not being completed on time (according to their class policies), teach from a Biblical world view and be positive and supportive of homeschooling.
The Student's Role
Students will be on time for class, attend all classes, follow the teacher’s prospectus guidelines, meet assignment deadlines, participate respectfully in class discussions, be prepared for class which includes bringing texts, completed assignments, and all required supplies needed to participate fully in the class, respect all teachers, administrators, fellow students, and the church property and building.
The Parent's Role
Parents will see that their student arrives on time for class, monitor homework assignments and see that they are completed on time, satisfy all requirements as outlined on the teacher’s prospectus, proctor, grade, sign and return any tests/homework/quizzes as defined by the teacher and notify the teacher or the administrator if their student is absent on or before the day of class. If parents have questions or concerns about a class they will first communicate directly with the teacher. It is the responsibility of the parent to make the final judgment of the performance of their student in each class, record and document their grade, and to monitor home study hours.
Communication
All families must have access to an email account and check it regularly, since email is the primary means of communication within CHESS. Parents and students should immediately notify the administration and teachers if their email malfunctions, or if their email address or other contact information changes so that they will not miss important communication. Families should check their email at least twice a week and before each class meets in case of an emergency cancellation of a class.
All teachers will provide an email address (and usually an alternative form of communication) to the students and parents registered for their classes.
Contacting the Administration
Tara Taylor
Administrator
admin@chessclasses.org
Weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm: (703) 753-1901
While CHESS is in session: (571) 264-3535
- Mondays from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
- Wednesdays from 10:30 am to 5:15 pm
Kathy Kuhl
Assistant Administrator
kathy.kuhl@chessclasses.org
(703) 715-8697
For emergencies, if you are unable to leave a message on Tara’s cell phone while CHESS is in session, call the Centreville Baptist Church office at (703) 830-3333 to relay a message to Tara Taylor.
Inclement Weather Notification
CHESS does not follow the county’s decisions. In case of snow or other inclement weather, the administration will email a notification by 9:00 a.m. on the day of class if classes are cancelled. Many of the conditions that affect the roads for public school students are not an issue in the afternoon, when CHESS meets.
Privacy
The information collected by CHESS, including email addresses, home addresses, and personal information, is used exclusively for communication related to the CHESS program. The CHESS contact list is not an avenue for advertising. A bulletin board is available to post information related to homeschool events and activities at the “sign in” stand. Parents and students are encouraged to read the postings.
Participation Previews
Participation Previews are mandatory orientations to the CHESS program that explain the roles that members of the program play in the education process at CHESS. CHESS is neither a co-op nor a private school. The program is a supporting extension to home schools that thrives on unique interactions between students, parents and teachers. Participation Previews reveal the structure of the CHESS program, show parents and students what to expect, and provide them with teacher contact information and prospectus.
Both new and returning students and at least one of their parents are required to attend one of the three Participation Previews. The Participation Previews will meet at Centreville Baptist Church at the following times:
May 25 at 8:15 pm
June 26 at 10:00 am
August 17 at 8:15 pm
Families that attend one of these meetings and do not drop a class will receive a $50 rebate on their registration fee.
Expos
The Expos on May 25 and August 17, 2010 from 7:00-8:15 p.m. are an exciting opportunity for families to hear a brief word from our teachers, meet them, ask questions, and find out what makes them passionate about their subject(s). Some families will add or change their class choices after attending an Expo and hearing directly from our teachers. Parents and students grades 7-12 are welcome to attend, as well as younger siblings however no child care will be provided. It is strongly suggested that registered families meet their teachers at one of the Expos before the classes begin in September. The Expos will be followed by Participation Preview meetings at 8:15 p.m.
Open House
We host a spring Open House in May each year for families who interested in the program as well as currently participating families. Visitors can see samples of class work and sit in on the classes throughout the day.
First Day of Class
It is strongly suggested that at least one parent attends the first class with his/her student. This, and a careful reading of the prospectus is the best way to understand how the class works and what the students and parents should expect. Parents and students will have two opportunities to meet the teachers before classes begin - at the Expos on May 25 or on August 17. History has shown that parents who meet with the teachers are the most satisfied with the classes and avoid miscommunication. Childcare for younger siblings featuring Veggie Tales videos will be available to watch during the first day of class so that parents can attend classes with their students.
Visitors
Visitors must obtain prior approval from the instructor and administrator before entering a class. Parents are always welcome to observe classes when space permits. Only students that are registered for a class on a given day should be on the premises. Unsupervised siblings of students are not permitted on the premises.
Academics
Grades
Each teacher will write a prospectus, which will include their policies on (1) course objectives, (2) grading scale, (3) grading criteria, and (4) late homework/quizzes/tests. Each family will receive a copy of the prospectus for each class at the Participation Preview. The prospectus will also be available for downloading and viewing on www.chessclasses.org.
A minimum of three student reports, one initial feedback and two semester reports will be sent home in a sealed envelope from the teacher to the parent or as explained by the teacher in their prospectus.
Whereas grades and evaluations are issued by the teachers, it is the responsibility of the parent to make the final judgment of the performance of their student and record the grade on the student’s transcript. It is also the responsibility of the parent to monitor home study hours. The State of Virginia requires 120-180 hours of study in order to receive a full Carnegie unit of credit for a high school course. This translates to 2.6-4.5 hours of study per week, in addition to class time, for CHESS classes meeting once per week, or 1.6-3.5 hours for classes meeting twice per week. (Completing a textbook also qualifies for a Carnegie unit.) Parents should make sure that their students devote an appropriate amount of time to study apart from class.
Honors Classes and Honors Option Classes
Students looking for more challenging courses can choose an Honors class or choose the honors level option of a class. Parents should record an honors class as such on the high school transcript. There is an additional fee of $45 per annum for an honors level class. The fee should be added to the total tuition payment, after discounts have been applied (see Tuition and Registration Fees).
Attendance
While many homeschoolers enjoy flexible schedules, the CHESS program is not designed to accommodate a spontaneous lifestyle. This is a fast paced 33 week program. Punctuality and regular attendance are expected. The hour (or two) that teachers have with the students each week is vital to covering the material and to communication.
Tardiness: When a student is late for class it is a disruption to the other students and the teacher. A student is tardy if they arrive after the classroom door has been shut. Students that are tardy may not enter the class until they have obtained an “Administrative Notice” from the administrator or assistant. After obtaining an “Administrative Notice”, students should go directly to class, enter quietly, hand the notice to their teacher and be seated. Teachers are not obligated to make special accommodations for students who arrive late for class - the students are responsible for what they missed.
Parents should make every effort to communicate with the administration in situations of family duress and emergencies. Generally, situations that could have been prevented are considered unexcused. Repeated tardiness will be considered noncompliance to the policy.
The administration will take the following action in reporting unexcused tardiness:
- On the first violation, a parent will be notified via email that their student was tardy, and the student will receive a copy of the administrative notice
- On the second violation, a parent will be notified via email or phone, and the student will receive a copy of the administrative notice
- On the third violation, a parent conference with the administration is required, and the student will receive a copy of the administrative notice
- On the fourth violation, the student will be dropped from the class.
Excused Absence:
Illnesses and emergencies are considered excused absences IF the teacher or administrator is contacted within 24 hours of the class day by the parent (not the student). Contacting the administrator does not address the need to follow up on missed homework assignments.
Unexcused Absence:
No notification from the parent and/or no advance notification from the parent (due to travel, etc), qualifies an absence as unexcused. If a student has three unexcused absences they will be dropped from the class.
The administration will take the following action in reporting unexcused absences:
- On the first violation, a parent will be notified via email, and the student will receive a copy of the administrative notice
- On the second violation, a parent will be notified via email or phone, and the student will receive a copy of the administrative notice
- On the third violation, the student will be dropped from the class, or the program
Homework Assignments
It is the responsibility of the student to complete, on time, all homework, tests, quizzes, and other assignments—even those given while the student was absent or tardy. Homework for each class will be given in class (or per the teachers prospectus), and posted weekly by the teacher on the CHESS website. To check on posted homework assignments, go to www.chessclasses.org and click on homework. If the information is unavailable on the website, parents should contact the teacher directly. Students who know in advance that they will be absent or tardy should ask the teacher for assignments on the class session prior to the absence, complete and turn in their assignments in advance. Penalties and grade reductions for late or missed assignments depend on the stipulations of the teacher’s prospectus.
When the teacher determines that a student has not complied with their policies, they may issue an “Administrative Notice”. The administration will take the following action regarding homework assignments that are reported as late or incomplete:
- On the first violation, the student will be given an administrative notice to take home, and the parent will be emailed
- On the second violation, the student will be given a notice to take home, and the parent will be contacted directly
- On the third violation, a parent conference with the administration is required
- On the fourth violation, the student will be dropped from the class
Classes Meeting Twice a Week
The policies above for tardiness, absences and homework apply differently for classes that meet twice a week. At the end of the first semester (16 weeks), if a student has not been dropped from a class, the administrators will not count the first semester's administrative notices towards the second semester. For example, if a student was late twice in the first semester, and late again in March, that counts as a first violation rather than a third.
Modified Assignments
It is the teacher’s discretion to allow a student to audit a class or continue in a class if the parent chooses to modify the homework assignments. If parents modify the assignments, the responsibility for grading will then fall to the parent.
Special Needs
Our program is not designed to serve special needs students, although we are sometimes able to do so. Our teachers have only 33 or 66 hours to cover a year’s worth of material and do not have time for remedial work. If you have a child with special needs (e.g., learning or attention difficulties, developmental delays, or anything else) and you think he or she can keep up with the pace of the work and the teacher’s expectations, please discuss your child’s special needs with the teacher before registering and provide details on the back of the registration form. If it is determined during the course of the year that a student’s needs are making excessive demands on the teacher or the class, the student may be dropped from the class.
Used Books
Families that have books to sell are encouraged to post them on the website and/or bring them to the Expos. Books are limited to those used within the CHESS program. You will be sent a login code after you register for the classes in order to view books for sale on the website.
Conduct
Code of Conduct
CHESS upholds a Biblical standard of respect, honor, and integrity for all who participate in the program. Students are to be respectful to all others including fellow students, teachers, and administrators, in action, speech, and demeanor, at all times.
Cheating and plagiarizing are serious violations. If a student is found to be cheating or plagiarizing on the first violation the student will be given a verbal warning and the parent will be notified. Teachers may assign a grade of zero for the assignment, at their discretion. If there is a second violation the student will be dropped from the class.
The administration and teachers reserve the right to limit and define appropriate content for all student produced work.
Disciplinary Action pertaining to Code of Conduct
When the administration determines that the code of conduct has been violated, the issue will be dealt with according to the following guidelines. (The administration is not exclusively limited to this procedure.)
- On the first violation, the student will be given a verbal warning, and the parents may be notified
- On the second violation, the student may be removed from the class or location where the violation occurred, and be placed under administrative supervision, and the parent will be notified
- On the third violation, the student may be dropped from the class where the violation occurred, or expelled from the CHESS program, according to the level of offense
Attire
The standard for dress is modesty. The student’s clothing should completely cover his/her torso, including the shoulders, back, middle, and chest, regardless of posture. No spaghetti straps, shoulderless garments, mid-drifts or low-cut tops. No clothing with offensive printed material. Shorts should be at least as long as the fingertips, and should not expose undergarments, regardless of posture. Skirts and skorts should reach at least to the knees. Footwear is required at all times.
Should a student’s attire be deemed immodest or inappropriate by a teacher or administrator, supplementary clothes will be loaned to the students, and parents will be notified.
Building Use
The church property and all its amenities must be treated with respect. If a student damages classroom materials, lab equipment, white boards, chairs, or other articles of property owned by CHESS or Centreville Baptist Church, his/her parents will be fined for the damages.
In accordance with these standards, CHESS has established the following corollary rules:
- While in the lunch room, students are expected to promptly clean up all trash and crumbs for which they are responsible, this includes running the vacuum when necessary
- Students should notify administration if they spill a fluid other than water, so appropriate cleaning materials can be used
- Bottled water only is allowed in rooms other than the lunch room
- White boards are for teachers’ use only
- Students must walk at all times while in the building
- Items such as lighters, matches, fireworks, weapons, toy weapons, and obscene/ offensive printed or electronic media are prohibited. The administration reserves the right to determine obscenity or offensiveness.
- Student cell phones must be turned off in class
- Additional rules specific to the lunch room also apply, the rules will be posted in the lunch room
Internet Use
Centreville Baptist Church has requested that we NOT use their internet connection while we are on the church property. Please respect their request at all times.
Dropping Off and Picking up Students
Do not park or wait in the fire lane while waiting for students. If parents expect any kind of delay when they drive up to the building, they should park their car in the parking lot, and wait for their student to exit the building, or come in to get them. Please pick up your students promptly when their classes are over.
Sign In and Church Premises
We are guests of Centreville Baptist Church and have limited access to the building. Please use only the exterior entrance marked “Daytime Office Entrance.” Each student must sign in at the CHESS entrance upon arrival (no earlier than 10:05 am on Mondays, 11:15 am on Wednesdays). Students are expected to remain on the CHESS hallway, the study hall or lunch room during CHESS class hours. Students may enter the courtyard or the east field of the church property after obtaining permission from an administrator, and must also sign out noting their location, and sign in upon their return. If a student wants to temporarily leave the premises for an exceptional reason, he/she must obtain permission from an administrator, and sign out noting their location, and sign in upon their return. No student is to leave the church property without obtaining consent from the administrator.
All parents and students agree to comply with the policies outlined in this Participation Agreement for admission in the class program.
It is not necessary to send a copy of this agreement to CHESS as the act of registering for classes confirms full acceptance of the terms of this agreement. Please keep a copy of these policies for your records.
Download a Participation Agreement to save or print: Participation Agreement Word Document or Participation Agreement PDF File
CHESS 2010-2011 Calendar
May 25 Expo, 7:00 p.m. May 25 Participation Preview 8:15 p.m. May 25 Registration Opens for returning families June 1 Registration Opens for new families June 26 Participation Preview, 10:00 a.m. August 17 Expo, 7:00 p.m. August 17 Participation Preview, 8:15 p.m. August 20 Cancelled classes announced August 27 Registration closes September 8 Wednesday classes begin September 13 Monday classes begin September 15 Last day to drop Wednesday classes September 20 Last day to drop Monday classes October 11 Columbus Day, classes will meet October 13 Initial Feedback to Parents sent home (Wed only classes) October 18 Initial Feedback to Parents sent home (Mon only or Mon/Wed classes) November 24 Thanksgiving Break December 20-31 Christmas Break January 3 Classes resume January 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, classes will meet January 31 First Semester Grade Reports sent home with students (Mon only classes) February 2 First Semester Grade Reports sent home with students (Wed only or Mon/Wed classes) February 21 President’s Day, no classes* April 18 & 20 Easter Break May 16 Last day of Monday only classes (tentative) May 18 Last day of Monday/Wednesday classes (tentative) May 18 Last day of Wednesday only classes (tentative) May 23 Snow make-up day (if needed) May 25 Snow make-up day (if needed) June 6 Final Grade Reports mailed out*Classes will not meet in the building, however many teachers will assign work on that day. The day is counted in our schedule as part of our 33 weeks.
Download a 2010-2011 CHESS Calendar to save or print: CHESS 2009-2010 Calendar Word Document or Chess 2009-2010 Calendar PDF File
Download a Participation Agreement to save or print: Participation Agreement Word Document or Participation Agreement PDF File
Last updated 5/22/10