Pre-school students are encouraged in their overall growth through play and developmentally appropriate activities. Elementary school students learn through a balanced curriculum of English literature, grammar, reading, writing, spelling, activity-based math and science, history, geography, French, Spanish, computer literacy, physical education, music and art. Teachers at St. Stephen’s are experienced, well read, life-long learners with broad liberal arts and classical educational backgrounds. Pedagogy is based on sound research and proven best practices (i.e., Spalding, etc).
Religious Education:
All students are nurtured in the basic elements necessary for an effective and life-giving faith. We want to develop a community of students, faculty and parents who know, love and serve Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. We believe this can be accomplished with age-appropriate classes on the content, practice, and history of Christianity; with participation in the liturgies of the ancient, Christian church; and with the development of a personal discipline of prayer in the English Prayer Book tradition—to include an emphasis of service on behalf of others, in the name and to the glory of God.
Religious Education is provided and taught by the Clergy and Seminarians of Grace Church and St. Stephen's Parish.
Decorum and Discipline:
At St. Stephen’s Classical Academy, we think of discipline as the teaching of self-control, Christian attitudes, orderliness, efficiency and respect. To that end, children will be taught to practice self-control and emotional control. The staff expects appropriate behavior from all students. Conduct cannot interfere with the learning process. Teachers handle discipline concerns in the spirit of love and with firm kindness. Children are taught that in order to live a Christian life, it is necessary to love one another, serve one another and respect the rights and privileges of others.
The teachers supervise the students in the hallways so that instruction in other classes can proceed smoothly. Supervision on the playground ensures that children are sharing and that they are safe. Each teacher cooperates and shares in the discipline of all children. All children are treated like our own children.
Decorum:
Good behavior is the expected norm at all times. The following rules are not meant to be all-inclusive, but are general rules to be followed by all students. Failure to do so may result in suspension or dismissal. Teachers may make additional classroom rules as needed.
General rules:
§ Students will behave in a courteous and respectful manner at all
times.
§ Children are to use language that is appropriate to solid citizenship
and high moral character.
§ The telephone may be used only with permission of the secretary, teachers,
or Head. The telephone is not to be used to make after school social arrangements.
§ Gum chewing is not allowed.
§ Students are expected to keep the classrooms and campus, including bathrooms,
clean and neat.
§ Hitting, pinching, biting, or other physically aggressive behavior may
result in suspension from the academy.
Inside rules:
§ Walk at all times.
§ Talk quietly.
§ Keep hands to self.
§ Request hall pass from teacher when unaccompanied by an adult.
§ Do not enter supply or faculty rooms.
§ Use elevator only if accompanied by an adult.
Outside rules:
§ Students must stay within school boundaries.
§ Students may not go in and out of classrooms during recess.
§ Sliding on ice is not permitted.
§ Use of Slide
Sit, feet first, facing down only
No climbing on slide
Use the slide only for coming down
§ Use of Sandbox
Keep the sand inside the sandbox
Keep the sandbox toys inside the sandbox
No throwing sand
§ Play away from fence, stair rails, and trees.
§ Students must not pick up other students.
§ Grabbing other students by their clothing is not permitted.
§ Throwing of sand, bark, chips, rocks or snowballs is not permitted.
§ Balls outside the playground area may only be retrieved with teacher
permission.
§ Roughhousing or wrestling is not permitted.
§ Jump ropes are to be used for jumping rope only.
§ Include all who wish to play.
§ Put away playground equipment when done using it.
§ A teacher’s permission is necessary before leaving the playground.
§ Alert a teacher of any injured student.
§ Play away from the grass along the edge of the building.
§ Play away from the north doors and the pillars by the doors.
§ Treat the growing things on the playground with respect.
§ Play on grass only on grass days.
Discipline:
Our goal is to work together with parents to reinforce and support the
standards of courtesy, respect and appropriate behavior that are important
aspects of our children’s education. The maintenance of an orderly
and harmonious classroom is essential to learning.
The following progressive stages constitute the official discipline policy of St. Stephen’s:
1. The teacher will address the problem directly. All discipline will be handled within age-appropriate guidelines.
2. If the first step is ineffective, the student will be sent to the Head’s office for discussion and review of the problem.
3. If behavior does not improve, parents will be called for a conference. (In cases of very serious infractions, step three may be omitted and parents will be called in to counsel and take their child home.)
4. If the problem is still not resolved, the student may be suspended
or dismissed from St. Stephen's.