Immanuel Lutheran School
		Parent Student Handbook

Contents | Immanuel | Registration | General Information | Student Conduct | High School | Extra-curricular

---

Part Two: Registration and orientation information

Atmosphere/Attitude

Our school strives to achieve an atmosphere of love and consideration. We encourage the development of personal responsibility and of concern for others out of love for Christ. Therefore, we welcome new students, are supportive of them, and accept them as part of our school family.

We appreciate the benefits of a family-type setting, and expect upper class men to set an example for younger students in establishing a Christian atmosphere, an environment where honesty, respect, and safety prevail.

Enrollment policy

The school encourages all children of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, as well as children of neighboring CLC (Church of the Lutheran Confession) congregations, to enroll at Immanuel Lutheran School.

As we have opportunity, we welcome children of non-members and thank God that we have the opportunity to share with others that which our Lord has so generously given to us.

Enrollment policy regading religious instruction

Enrollment at Immanuel carries with it the requirement that all students in K-12 attend the religion classes and devotions scheduled for them. Furthermore, students in grades seven and eight will receive doctrinal instruction in preparation for communicant membership in Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. Nonmember students who are enrolled in the high school may request adult instruction classes if they would like to become members of the church. We encourage non-member parents to become acquainted with the teachings of Immanuel, and to attend our worship services.

We require that all students, member and non-member students alike, receive our Bible-based education without disruptive or disrespectful opposition.

Enrollment policy regarding students with special needs

We do not pretend to be a school equipped to accommodate students with special needs. There are student needs that are more complex and demanding than the staff and facilities at Immanuel can handle. We ask that information pertaining to special needs and situations, such as existing I.E.P.’s, health, and behavioral problems, be presented when considering enrollment at Immanuel.

In some cases, students will be enrolled with the understanding that they will begin their enrollment under board probation. (see board probation)

Immanuel reserves the option, for as long as the student is enrolled, to redirect a student to enroll elsewhere if the student has needs we are unable to serve.

Age requirements for starting school

In Minnesota, children entering kindergarten must be at least five years old by September 1. Children entering first grade must be at least six years old by September 1.

Health requirements

Immunization requirements must be completed before enrollment. The school office has the necessary immunization forms. Click Here for Minnesota's School Immunization Law chart.

Kindergarten: Minnesota law requires all children who enroll in a Minnesota school to be immunized against 5 DTaP, 4 POLIO, 2 MMR, 3 HEPATITIS B, AND 1 VARICELLA OR HISTORY OF DISEASE .

Seventh graders: Students entering seventh grade are required to be immunized against 2 MMR, 3 HEPATITIS B, Td BOOSTER after age 11 years, AND 1 VARICELLA OR HISTORY OF DISEASE (2 doses varicella if age 13 or older).

8th through 12th graders: Td after age 11.

Exemptions: Those who cannot be immunized for medical reasons or whose parents are consceintiously opposed to immunizations must provide proof of legal exemption.

Sports: Children who participate in interscholastic athletics should have a physical examination every three years. District #77 health services urge students to have a physical examination at regular intervals. We recommend physicals before kindergarten and grades four, seven and ten. We encourage regular dental checkups. Dental forms are available at the school office.

Enrollment procedure

If, after becoming acquainted with our school through visiting with a representative of Immanuel or by reading this handbook, parents decide to pursue enrollment for their child, they should meet with the principal, the school counselor or a pastor, and a member of the finance committee. Meeting arrangements may be made by contacting school personnel directly or by calling the school secretary.

The principal and teachers will answer any questions pertaining to this handbook, the curriculum, and the faculty. In the case of high school students wishing to transfer to Immanuel, the principal will also discuss the student’s transcript, graduation requirements, and course selection possibilities. (Many of our high school classes are offered every other year, which can cause problems for transfer students. These problems are more easily resolved when detected at the time of enrollment.)

The school counselor or a pastor will meet with you to discuss the spiritual character and doctrinal position of our church and school, and the potential impact on the student.

The finance committee will meet with the family of a prospective student to discuss arrangements for the payment of tuition, fees, and religious book purchases. If a family is requesting financial aid, the finance committee member will be able to explain the guidelines and procedures for that also.

We encourage everyone to tour the school, meet the faculty, see our students, and ask questions.

When parents of prospective students have followed the above steps and have completed the enrollment forms, and if all things are positive, we consider the student enrolled.

Enrollment forms

The forms listed below are to be completed and returned to the school office before the student’s first day of school.

1. District #77 student information sheet
2. Pupil Request Form (for participation in Educational Aids for Pupils Attending Nonpublic Schools.)
3. Health Information
4. Family payment plan
5. Registration form (if enrolling at Immanuel for the first time)
6. Home Language Questionnaire (if enrolling in a Minnesota school for the first time.)
7. Permission to be on Released Study Hall (for grades 9-12 only, if applicable)
8. Permission to drive, transport other students, or ride with another student (if applicable)

Orientation meetings

Orientation meeting for parents

An orientation meeting for all parents of K-12 students is held in August on the Thursday that is twelve days before the start of school (with the start of school being the day after Labor Day). Packets of information and forms will be handed out to each family. Completed forms are to be given to the school secretary as soon as possible. The packets include:

Orientation includes brief presentations by the administrator, principal, athletic director, some faculty members, finance committee, and the Board of Education. Questions may be asked, fees and tuition payments may be paid, and sign-up sheets for various volunteer activities may be completed at this time.

Orientation for students

Students in grades 7-12 meet as a group on the first day of school to review the handbook. Each student is given a copy of a handbook summary, and may request a copy of the handbook itself. All students are given the opportunity to ask questions about school policies at this orientation session. In addition, students may schedule a meeting with the principal if they would like to ask their questions in private or with a smaller group.

Tuition and fees

Payment policy

Checks made payable to Immanuel Lutheran School should be given to the school secretary. Please keep payments for lunch money separate from other payments. This is required by the lunch program.

Fees

Fees pay for educational supplies, computer hardware and software, physical education equipment, library materials, field trips, maintenance of lab and classroom equipment and student accident insurance. Fees are the same for members and non-members, but differ by grade level as shown below:. Current fees are listed in a seperate publication which is available from the school office

Tuition

The congregation charges tuition for all students. Tuition is set according to the grade level and the membership status of the student. Tuition amount for 2004-2005 are shown below: Tution amounts are available from the school office.

Family rate: The third child in a family pays 75% of the tuition, the fourth pays 50%, as does each child thereafter.

Most of the school’s expenses are paid by the congregation with money that is received through church offerings. The tuition amounts shown for each category of membership reflect the truth that Immanuel members support the school through their contributions to the church, not only by their tuition payment.

Payment Plan

Several plans (shown below) are available for payment of tuition and fees. Parents who choose a payment plan other than the first one must submit their payment plan choice to the finance committee. Preprinted plans are provided at orientation or by mail. Payment arrangements should be made before school starts. Since the finance committee is represented at the August orientation meeting, that is an opportune time to take care of this matter.

Student aid

Applying for student aid

The school’s finance committee awards student aid based on student need, the number of applicants requesting financial aid, and the amount of money available in the student aid fund. The school financial secretary must receive requests for financial aid by July 15. Although the Board of Education makes final decisions regarding financial aid requests, parents must contact the financial secretary when requesting aid.

Gifts to student aid

Designated offerings received at Sunday services, as well as other gifts, provide most of the student aid. Contributions to the student aid fund are welcome. A member of the finance committee or the church treasurer can direct anyone interested in giving money to this fund.

Delinquent accounts

The school has a specific procedure that is followed to collect past due tuition and fees. When an account is fifteen days past due, the financial secretary will discuss the account delinquency with the person responsible for the payment and encourage on-time payments. If the financial secretary can ascertain that unusual or extenuating circumstances have caused the delinquency, he may adjust the payment plan to fit the needs of the family. Even in cases such as this, where the payment timetable is adjusted, the family is still obligated for the original financial commitment.

When an account is thirty days past due, the financial secretary will notify non-CLC members that if the account continues to be unresolved in the next thirty days, the school board may discontinue the student’s enrollment. If a CLC member’s account continues to be unresolved after thirty days, the school will ask the member’s pastor to assist in discussions to resolve the account delinquency. If a member’s account continues to be unresolved and reaches forty-five days past due, the school board may discontinue the student’s enrollment.

Boarding students

It is possible for students who live beyond practical commuting distance to attend Immanuel. The school will assist these students in making housing arrangements with families of the congregation. Please apply as soon as possible if you need assistance with boarding arrangements.

The Immanuel congregation has a special program available to boarding students. who will be entering either their freshman or sophomore year. A freshman will receive a grant in the amount of approximately one half of the yearly tuition, while the sophomore grant is one fourth of the yearly tuition.A grant in the amount of approximately one half of the yearly tuition will be awarded to a student in his first year at Immanuel as a boarding student. In the student’s second year as a boarding student, a grant of one fourth of the yearly tuition will be awarded. A grant that reduces the yearly tuition to that of an Immanuel member is awarded to the boarding student during their first year at Immanuel. During the second year, the grant would reduce the yearly tuition to a rate halfway between Immanuel member rates and CLC member rates. These grants are applied to a student’s account only after the student has paid the amount for which he is responsible.

Calendar

Calendars for the school year are usually available in April, but are also handed out at the August orientation. The school year at Immanuel begins the day after Labor Day and runs through the first week of June. Any input or questions pertaining to next year’s calendar should be directed to the administrator before January.

Vacation days

The following occasions are observed by Immanuel as vacations (see current calendar for exact vacation dates):

In addition to the above list, there are teacher workdays after each quarter, and occasional other days when classes are not in session. All of these dates are shown on the school calendar and are also announced in the school’s Weekly Update and in the church’s Sunday bulletin.

Standardized event dates

Whenever possible, calendar dates for Immanuel events that are held every year are reserved. The following school-related events have reserved dates.