School Policy

Believing that all truth is God’s truth, ECA School strives to educate young people in an environment that integrates faith and learning, what we believe with what we know. The intellectual development of young people cannot be rightly pursued apart from their emotional and spiritual growth.

All of the programs of the school, curricular and co-curricular, are designed and implemented with the objective of shaping a Christian world and life view in the hearts and minds of young people.

The teachers, by example and method, give evidence of a life that is centered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The teachers view their role as a challenging profession, reserved for those who love children, exhibit mastery of their subject, and sense their calling to serve the Lord through the awakening of young minds. We believe that young people need to be guided and challenged in every area of their development: physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual. In their formative years, children need to develop a deep sensitivity to basic human values: honesty, consideration of others’ rights and feelings, discipline, and respect for the uniqueness of each person. They need to grow in their understanding of their relationship to other people and in their relationship to God.

The curriculum at ECA School is designed primarily within the guidelines of college preparation. The course of study is centered in the truth as revealed in the Bible, and it includes rigorous study and mastery in the traditional academic disciplines as well as formal instruction in Bible, physical education, and the fine arts. The school offers a full range of programs designed to promote a genuine integration of new found knowledge with the contemporary experiences of young people.
The teacher/staff shall:

Have received Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior. Believe that the Bible is God’s Word and standard for faith and daily living.

Be a Christian role model in attitude, speech and actions toward others. This includes being committed to God’s Biblical standards for sexual conduct.

Be a member in good standing at a local church.

Show by example the importance of Scripture study and memorization, prayer, witnessing, and unity in the body of Christ.

Be in whole-hearted agreement with the school’s Statement of Philosophy.

Have the spiritual maturity, academic ability, and personal leadership qualities to teach and train children in the admonition of the Lord.
The teacher/staff shall:

Reflect the purpose of the academy which is to honor Christ in every class and in every activity.

Motivate students to accept God’s gift of salvation and help them grow in their faith.

Lead students to a realization of their self-worth in Christ.

Cooperate with the board and administration in implementing all policies, procedures, and directives governing the operation of the academy.

Teach classes as assigned following prescribed scope and sequence as scheduled by the administrator.

Integrate Biblical principles and the Christian philosophy of education throughout the curriculum and activities.

Keep discipline in the classroom and on the school premises for a good learning environment.

Maintain a clean, attractive, well-ordered classroom.

Maintain a professional relationship with students, which includes not using social media to communicate with students.

Plan a program of study that, as much as possible, meets to individual needs, interests, and abilities of the students, challenging each to do his/her best work.

Utilize valid teaching techniques to achieve curriculum goals within the framework of the school’s philosophy.

Employ a variety of instructional aids, methods, and materials that will provide for creative teaching to reach the whole child: spiritual, mental, physical, social, and emotional.

Plan though approved channels the balanced classroom use of field trips, guest speakers, and other media.

Assess the learning of students on a regular basis and provide progress reports and report cards as required.

Maintain regular and accurate attendance and grade records to meet the demands for a comprehensive knowledge of each student’s progress.

Keep students, parents, and administration adequately informed of progress or deficiencies and give sufficient notice of failure.

Recognize the need for good public relations. Respect the school in a favorable and professional manner to the school’s constituency and the general public.

Develop and maintain rapport with students, parents, and staff by treating others with friendliness, dignity, and consideration.

Follow the Matthew 18 principle in dealing with students, parents, staff, and administration.
The following policies represent the expression of the administration of Elizabethtown Christian Academy in order to provide for equitable and consistent treatment of employees and students. To assure that Elizabethtown Christian Academy achieves and maintains the purpose of this policy manual and to assure the organization’s continued ability to meet its needs and those of its families under changing conditions, ECA reserves the right to modify, augment, suspend, or revoke any and all policies, procedures, practices, and statements contained in this manual at any time.
Elizabethtown Christian Academy reserves the right to publicize the school and all activities related to the school through promotional literature, DVD’s, social media, and on its website. Students will never be photographed individually and placed on any promotional material without the expressed written consent of their parents; however, group photographs of students participating in the activities of the school can be utilized in promotional material at the discretion of the Head of School.
Selection of students for admission to ECA School is based on evidence of character, ability, future promise, and academic preparation through school records, interviews, and recommendations. ECA seeks students who can perform at the level of average to superior in college preparatory coursework. ECA admits male and female students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies or other school-administered programs.
At ECA, student classroom assignments are carefully determined to provide the best educational experience for each student. We consider a variety of factors, including academic needs, teacher expertise, class size, and overall balance, to ensure that each student is placed in an environment where they can thrive. In most cases, we do not accommodate individual parent requests for specific teachers or class placements, as our process is designed to maintain fairness and balance across all classrooms. Our goal is to support every student’s growth and success through a thoughtful and equitable placement process.
It is the desire of the ECA School Advisory Team to assist in the education of every child who desires attendance in our school. There are many situations in which a child with some learning difficulties is identified and can be mainstreamed within the regular class-room.

Depending on the specific needs of the child and the training necessary to accommodate the student, we will consider one or two students per classroom. It is expected that these students will be able to remain in the regular class setting and perform at the same level of expectations as the other students within the class.

Any child who develops or presents signs of learning difficulties should be the focus of parents and teachers. We encourage documentation of meetings, emails, and modifications tried. If a child continues to struggle, we suggest the following steps:

The first step would be to visit your pediatrician. You can explain to him/her what you are observing with your child. Your pediatrician will be able to eliminate any medical issues that may be causing your child to struggle. He/she may even encourage you to see an eye specialist or hearing specialist to eliminate visual or auditory issues.

The second step would be to have a psychological evaluation. For this, you must see a licensed psychologist or credentialed school psychologist who will go through a series of tests with your child to determine whether or not there is a disability. If there is indeed a disability, the doctor will put together a psychological report listing the disability or disabilities. This report will often make suggestions for educators on how best to serve the student in the classroom. If you do not want to use independent psychological counseling, you can contact the Bladen County Board of Education.

A valid psychological report should be submitted to the school. It becomes part of the child's permanent folder. The psychological report allows the school and the teachers to form a plan that meets the needs of the student. In public school, there is a team of professionals who work to put this in place.

Depending on the specific diagnosis found by a psychologist, it will be up to ECA to decide whether or not we can provide the necessary accommodations. If we do not have the trained staff in the case of a disability/disabilities beyond our professional care, the parents may need to make the tough decision of finding a school environment that can accommodate the child's needs.

All parents should be advocates for their children if there is a learning disability, and all parents should want a psychological evaluation to be part of the child's permanent records. This documentation affords your child student services in public school and in college.

Psychological evaluations must be updated every three years unless the parent or school or doctor agrees a reevaluation isn't necessary. Using the psychological evaluation and its suggestions will benefit a child in many ways, especially when he/she takes standardized tests, including the SAT or ACT.

Public school districts have set rules and procedures to follow when evaluating children. You are entitled to use your local school district student services for evaluation; however, the only service Bladen County can provide private schools beyond the diagnosis is for speech. ECA is more than willing to help guide you through the process of requesting testing and evaluation from Bladen County student services should you want to go that route.

Your other option is a private evaluation with a licensed psychologist. You would schedule this yourself, or ask your pediatrician to help you schedule this if there are no medical issues.

Students with an IEP identifying a language-based disability such as dyslexia or a math-based disability such as dyscalculia may be admitted to The Longleaf Academy.

Ephesians 3:14-21)…..For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The accepted standard for attendance at ECA is ninety percent: students must be present and ON TIME ninety percent of the time. 90% of our 180-day calendar is 162 days. The responsibility of regular and punctual attendance (on time) has a direct relationship to privileges.

The exception to the attendance rule is in the case of severe sickness or COVID-19 isolation for 10 days. Students will be expected to follow ECA Remote learning in this instance; however, attendance will not play a factor if children are too sick to participate in remote learning.

Picking children up or taking children home early should be in case of a doctor’s appointment, family emergency, or sickness. Learning does not cease until 3:05 pm M-Th. For the safety of all students, if you are picking your child up early, please come to the school office and sign the student out of school. The child may not be picked up from the classroom or the playground. If your child will be leaving early, please send a note to the teacher on the morning of the dismissal. Please give yourself enough time for all of this to take place. Without parental permission, a student will be released to no one other than his/her parent.

ABSENCES/TARDIES

Students with medical notes or parental notes documenting illness or doctor’s appointments will be kept in a file and used to determine whether or not a child’s excessive absences/tardies warrant further action.

Excessive Tardies

Tardies interrupt the classroom environment and interfere with the learning of other students. Our classes begin promptly at 8:00 am and students are considered tardy if they are not in their classrooms by 8:00 am. It is our responsibility to teach children the importance of being on time and being held accountable. Please plan your morning routine to avoid tardies.

Beginning with the 10th unexcused tardy, students will be required to attend a 20 minute after school detention for every subsequent tardy.

Excessive Absences

ECA provides ample breaks throughout the year for vacations/family trips. We ask you to be mindful of those dates and try to plan around them. Absences in excess of 15 days per semester may place continuing enrollment or promotion to the next grade in jeopardy. Parents may keep up with attendance records through Gradelink.

If your child has a communicable disease, please contact your doctor as to the length of confinement.
Please abide by the following guidelines when deciding whether to send your child.

If a rash is present that has not been evaluated by a physician.

If your child’s oral temperature exceeds 100*F, or 1 to 2 degrees above the child’s normal temperature. A child must be fever-free without the aid of medication for 24 hours before returning to school.

If the child vomits and continues to experience nausea and/or vomiting.

If your child complains of fever, persistent pain, the symptom should be referred to a physician for evaluation.

If your child shows signs of upper respiratory infection (cold symptoms) serious enough to interfere with the child’s ability to learn.

If there are signs of conjunctivitis (pinkeye) with matter coming from one or both eyes, itching, crusts of eyelids, etc. the child should be evaluated by a physician.

If there are open sores that have not been evaluated by a physician.

If there are signs of infestation with lice (nits in the hair, itchy scalp) the child should be evaluated for treatment with a pediculicide.

If your child has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, he/she should remain in isolation at home for a period of 10 days from the last time of exposure.
Chapel services will be held weekly, and all students & staff are required to attend. Chapel time is a special and reverent time during the busy school week. It is a time set apart for worship and reflection. Chapel services are designed to support the school’s mission and purpose of challenging students to know Jesus Christ as Lord, love others as themselves, grow in knowledge and skill, and to serve the Lord through their character and leadership. Chapel services include prayer, singing, a speaker, and occasional special programs. Parents and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend. Students and guests are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Chapel will take place from 8:15 am until 8:45 am on Wednesdays and will include our pre-k classes.