Greenville Classical Academy - Deum Glorificare

Uniform Policy

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Thursday, July 24, 2008	For More Information Call: (864) 329-9884

F.A.Q. : Main

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GCA associated with the church where it meets or with any particular denomination?
Do you have a sports program?
What other student activites do you have?
Does the school have chapel and, if so, how often?
What are the school colors?
What curriculum does GCA use?
What subjects are taught at GCA?
How many years do students study Latin?
What is the discipline policy at GCA?
What is the school's policy regarding dress codes and uniforms?
What is the current enrollment at GCA?
How and when was GCA begun?
What grade levels does GCA offer?
How is academic progress measured at GCA?
What is GCA's approach to homework?
What are the school's hours?
Where is the school located?
What kind of lunch program is offered?
Does GCA have a mascot?
How does the school view parental involvement?
Do students at GCA take standardized tests?
What is the student - teacher ratio?
Are your teachers certified to teach in the state of South Carolina?
How do you handle new students transferring into your program from other types of schools?

How academically rigorous is your program?
Is GCA accredited by any agency or organization?
Does GCA offer tuition discounts or financial aid?
If we apply for a tuition grant, might we be taking money away from families who may be struggling financially?
What happens to our application fee and enrollment fee if we apply for a tuition grant, but do not receive one?

Is GCA associated with the church where it meets or with any particular denomination?
No, GCA is totally independent of the church where we meet and we are not associated with any particular denomination. Our Statement of Faith is reflective of historic, orthodox Christianity. We are a distinctively Christian institution, however, and require that at least one parent, preferably both parents, be a confessing Christian.

Do you have a sports program?

Yes, we offer volleyball, basketball and soccer for girls and basketball and fall and spring soccer for boys.

What other student activities do you have?
Depending on their grade level, students have had the opportunity to participate in such activities as the Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, Science Fair, GCA String Ensemble and History Fair. Other activities will be added as deemed appropriate for the enrollment.

Does the school have chapel and if so how often?
Currently GCA has a 30-minute chapel for both the Lower School and Upper School on Fridays.

What are the school colors?
GCA's school colors are navy, cardinal (burgundy), gold and white.

What curriculum does GCA use?
GCA is not tied to any one curriculum. Instead, we select what we believe are the best resources to support a classical and Christian education. Examples of our selections include Saxon math, Shurley grammar, and Veritas Press history.

What subjects are taught at GCA?
All of the basic subjects including reading, writing, spelling, math, Bible, science, history and English are taught. Latin is taught beginning in the 3rd grade, Logic in the 7th grade, and Rhetoric in 10th grade.

How many years do students study Latin?
Students will study Latin in the 3rd - 8th grades. We currently offer Spanish for grades 9 - 11.

What is the discipline policy at GCA?
The kind and amount of discipline (punishment) will be determined by the teachers and, if necessary, the headmaster. The discipline will be administered in light of the individual student's problem and attitude. All discipline will be based on biblical principles, e.g. restitution, apologies (public and private), swift/painful punishment, restoration of fellowship, and the absence of bad attitudes. The vast majority of discipline problems are to be dealt with at the classroom level. In order to maintain consistency, the teachers will regularly meet together to discuss biblical standards and school guidelines concerning discipline. GCA does not engage in corporal punishment as this is the unequivocal domain of the parent.

It is vital for parents and students to realize that maintaining an orderly atmosphere in the school and particularly in the classroom is critical to the learning process. As in all other areas of education at GCA, love and forgiveness will be an integral part of the discipline of a student.

What is the school's policy regarding dress codes and uniforms?
GCA requires its students to wear uniforms. The daily uniform generally consists of navy or khaki bottoms and white, navy or burgundy shirts. See the Dress Code and Uniform Policy for the specifics. Uniform items may be purchased by any of four suppliers -- Lands' End (www.landsend.com), French Toast (www.frenchtoast.com), JC Penney, (www.jcpenney.com), or Educational Outfitters (www.educationaloutfitters.com). Students are also required to obtain a dress uniform that includes a tie for the boys and a burgundy vest for the girls that must be purchased from Lands' End.

What is the enrollment at GCA?
2006 - 2007 76 in K5 - 10th grade and the Home School Alliance

2005 - 2006 64 in K5 - 9th grade and the Home School Alliance

2004 - 2005 55 in K5 - 8th grade

How and when was GCA begun?
In May, 2004, a group of parents came together for the purpose of praying and seeking God's will in having a classical Christian school in the Greenville area. An Interim Steering Committee was formed and on June 16, 2004, the Steering Committee made a recommendation to proceed with a classical Christian school in Grades K5 - 8. That school was soon named Greenville Classical Academy (GCA). On July 13, 2004, the parents convened and elected a Board of Directors. September 7, 2004, marked the first day of school with 54 students enrolled.

What grade levels does GCA offer?
For the 2004-05 school year, GCA offered grades K5 - 8. We added 9th grade in 2005-06, 10th grade in 2006-07, 11th grade in 2007-08 and our plan is to add 12th grade in 2008-09. We also offer the Home School Alliance Program for home-schooled students in grades 7 - 12 who wish to take classes along with our full-time students in grades 7 - 11.

How is academic progress measured at GCA?
GCA uses a grading scale of A (93 - 100%), B (85 - 92%), C (75 - 84%), D (70 - 74%) and F (below 75%) in the 2nd grade and above. In K5 and 1st grade, marks of "Excellent," "Satisfactory," and "Improvement has been shown" and "Unsatisfactory" are given. Report cards are issued at the end of each quarter. Parent - Teacher conferences are held for students in K5 - 6th grade twice a year near the end of the first and third quarters. It is our desire to keep our parents well informed concerning their child's academic progress.

What is GCA's approach to homework?
Our approach is to work hard on academics during the hours the students are at school, with the goal of minimal homework after school. We try hard not to give unreasonable amounts of homework because we believe it is important for the student to spend time with the family in the evenings.

What are the school hours?

For 2007-08 hours will be as follows:

K5	M - F 8:30 - Noon
1st - 6th	M - F 8:30 - 2:30
7th - 11th	M - F 8:30 - 3:30

Where is the school located?
Early in the process of forming the school, Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church (PCA) graciously offered use of their facilities located at 2519 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC, 29681. Our desire is to someday have a permanent campus of our own, and we are seeking the Lord's leading regarding the timing.

What kind of lunch program is offered?
We sometimes engage in bringing in outside optional food from local fast food restaurants. Currently, students may order cheese pizza on Tuesday and pepperoni pizza on Thursday from Little Caesar's. Students bring their own lunch on Monday and Wednesday. Microwaves are available for heat-ups.

Does GCA have a mascot?
GCA's mascot is the lion pictured below:

How does the school view parental involvement?
At the core of our philosophy of education is the conviction that parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. Our authority and our task are delegated from the parent. Therefore, we strongly encourage parental involvement in our school program. We desire our parents to be active in school-related committees, in the classrooms, through school projects, and through regular and frequent communication with teachers.

Do students at GCA take standardized tests?
Yes, students in Grades 3 - 11 will take the Stanford 10 the last full week of April.

What is the student - teacher ratio?
GCA's goal is to have 12 - 14 students per class in K5 and approximately 15 - 18 students per class in first grade and up. This low student - teacher ratio allows a teacher to give more personalized attention to each student.

Are your teachers certified to teach in the state of South Carolina?
State certification is not a requirement for our faculty. We generally require each of our teachers to possess a bachelor's degree, to have an active and faithful walk with Christ, to have a true love for teaching children, to be committed to the classical model of education, and finally to have a love of learning and a passion and skill for their subjects.

How do you handle new students transferring into your program from other types of schools?
Having a student transfer in from another school is a legitimate concern, but with some extra effort from the parent and student on work at home, it has been our experience that most students adjust within a few months in our program. Because of the small class sizes, teachers have the ability to spend extra time with students, helping them catch up and adjust.

How academically rigorous is your program?
At GCA we believe that students are capable of much more than most schools require. We set our standards high in order to stretch average and above-average students to their full potential.

Is GCA accredited by any agency or organization?
GCA holds membership in the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). GCA will pursue accreditation, as soon as we are eligible, but some accrediting agencies will not consider schools until they have been in operation for a certain number of years.

Does GCA offer tuition discounts or financial aid?
GCA does not offer tuition discounts but does offer need-based tuition grants to families who apply and qualify, as funds are available. Financial aid is provided on a first-come, first served basis. Contact the office if you are interested.

If we apply for financial aid, might we be taking money away from families who may be struggling financially?
The Board has an idea of the particular needs of certain families when it set aside money for financial aid. An additional amount of money is set aside each year to help some families that are affected by the lack of discounts to families with multiple students enrolled. A family does not have to be living at the poverty level to qualify for financial assistance, and families are encouraged to apply, especially those with more than one student at GCA.

What happens to our application fee and enrollment fee if we apply for financial aid, but do not receive any?
Your enrollment fee will be returned to you if you are dependent on financial aid to be able to enroll your child, but do not receive any or if you are are denied admission for any reason. The application and testing fee for new students goes toward administrative costs to process your application and administer tests and will not be refunded.