MS/HS Faculty Policies - Table of Contents
Attendance
The normal workday for faculty is 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM. Faculty are required to attend meetings, programs, duty rotations, etc., beyond these times as directed by their principals. Faculty are required to be on campus and available during the school day. Faculty who need to leave campus must check in and out with their school’s office.
Faculty attendance at the following is mandatory:
- Faculty/Team meetings
- Faculty/staff devotions as scheduled
- Chapel
- Faculty orientation/ in-service
- Registration (War Eagle Welcome)
- Parents’ Night
- Field Trips (As requested by Principal)
- Select Info Sessions/Open Houses
- Select schoolwide activities as directed (Homecoming, community celebrations, fall festival, spring arts festival, etc.)
- Staff development offerings
- Graduation (High School)
- Faculty are urged to attend as many extra-curricular activities as possible
- Post-planning
- Mandatory Gate Duty or Fine Arts Duty- Must serve 3 times per year
Budgets / Requisitions
All budgets are the responsibility of the Department Head. In order for any purchases to be made for your classroom, you must have prior approval from your Department Head. Reimbursements will be handled in the same manner. The department head in conjunction with the school principal will oversee the purchasing of all supplies including texts and classroom materials in conjunction with the Director of Purchasing.
Club and Organization Sponsors
In an effort to train students to be servant leaders, the role of the club/organization sponsor is crucial. The opportunity is available to guide students in their task of leading their club/organization, both formally and informally. A few of the major responsibilities include and will be expanded further are:
- Meet with the group regularly.
- Help the students create an agenda for meetings.
- Oversee and supervise all activities.
Evaluation - Faculty
The purpose of faculty evaluation is to foster professional growth and competency. His/her school principal or the Director of Teaching and Learning will formally and informally evaluate each faculty member yearly. Classroom observations will be done periodically.
In the middle and high school, content evaluations by department heads and the Director of Teaching and Learning will be ongoing.
A summative evaluation for both middle and high school teachers which will rate the teacher’s degree of Christian worldview integration, class productivity, commitment to the Landmark mission, and attitude as a professional toward students, peers, and staff will be formulated prior to issuance of a contract for the following year.
Evaluation - Students
Evaluation of students is part of each faculty’s job description. It is expected at Landmark that all course policies and procedures will be posted so that students are aware of all grading procedures. The course syllabus will be given out the first day of class and will be posted to the Landmark Portal which will include the grading procedures and expectations.
All tests and assignments will be graded on the point system. All grade points of students in the same course may be different, but all students in the same class must have the same number of possible points. Point totals should always be substantial enough so that small assignments either not done or poorly completed do not significantly affect a student’s grade. There should be ample grades given by the instructor using different modalities of assessment. All student grades (7-8) will be calculated as follows: semester work 90% and final exam 10%. All student grades (9-12) will be calculated as follows: semester work 80% and final exam 20%. All final exams must be turned into the department head two weeks prior to the date on which the final is to be given. No test (final exam) will be allowed to be presented to students if it does not meet the standards of the department. Final exam review guides are strongly encouraged to be provided to students. Final exams should not just constitute rote level of interaction. Final exams should promote thinking and problem solving along with the facts gone over in the course of the semester. Essays must be a part of the exam to help encourage the writing process (this is course specific). Second semester grades are figured the same way. Semester grades are the only grades recorded on the permanent record. They stand alone. No yearly grade is calculated.
Extra Credit
Extra credit must be kept to a minimum. Any extra credit assignment offered must be offered to the entire class and may only be used to trade for points missed on a test or quiz or a previous assignment. At no time should extra credit points cause the student’s points earned to exceed the points possible. Extra credit should have an educational value relating specifically to the unit being covered.
Field Trips
Field trips can be of great educational value if they are planned well. Forms for permission to take a field trip should be submitted one month ahead to the department head and the principal, providing date(s), educational value, who is involved, and the educational impact considered on other classes. There will not be any field trips in December or in the month of May. If exact dates are not known due to scheduling issues, then approximate dates will suffice in order to determine availability on the calendar. The school nurse will keep the medical release form for all students participating in a school event.
Homework
Daily/Written homework assignments may be given by the following departments:
- Math
- Science
- English
- World Language
- History
Homework assignments in other courses will be held to a minimum.
Outside assignments will be coordinated across the curriculum to provide reasonable balance in time management. Homework will not be assigned to be completed over school holidays. This does not include previously assigned long-term projects.
Due Dates and Times: Homework is due at the beginning of the class period. A late homework policy should be established for each class in consultation with your department head and carefully communicated to your students and parents through your syllabus.
If a student misses class on the day homework is due, that assignment is due the day they return.
Middle School: A typical student taking non-honors courses will not normally be expected to spend more than an average of 30 minutes-1 hour per night on homework. Honors classes will have heightened course expectations which will inevitably lead to heightened work requirements.
Middle School Project Calendar
September: Math
October: Science
November: English
December: History
February: Math
March: English
April: Science
May: History
While some minor projects can be completed in class, major projects that have a large at-home component should be spread out. Please use this calendar when planning those major projects.
High School: A typical student taking non-AP/honors courses will not normally be expected to spend more than an average of 2 hours per night on homework. AP and honors classes will have heightened course expectations, which will inevitably lead to heightened work requirements.
Make-Up Work
In cases of excused absences or excused tardies, it is the responsibility of the student to get the assignments. If a student misses class on the day of a scheduled test or quiz, they should be prepared to take that test or quiz when they return. Students are expected to take the initiative to consult with their teacher upon their return. If a student misses class on the day homework is due, that assignment is due upon their return.
Lesson Plans
Each department head will determine lesson plan formats. In the middle and high school, lesson plans will be due at regular intervals set by the department head. Teachers will submit lesson plans to your department head. The basic lesson plan format may include the following: objectives, content to be covered, concepts to be taught, activities to be used, evaluations and assessments to be used to determine whether lessons have been learned.
All assignments will be posted to the Landmark Portal and in class by Monday morning for the entire current week. If changes occur in assignments during the week, the change must be communicated to students verbally, so they are aware. You do not have to adjust the Landmark portal website unless you have directed the students to use the Landmark portal website for class purposes. Always ensure that your upcoming due dates are posted in class and on the portal with clarity.
Movie Policy
- Only movies that have current academic/curricular significance should be shown in class.
- A movie as substitute material is not appropriate unless it has current academic/curricular significance.
- HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS: Approval for all movies must come from your department head.
- MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS: Approval for all movies must come from your principal—email your request, include ‘movie’ in the subject line and send a brief explanation/description.
- Movie and video clips used for instructional purposes and are less than 10 minutes in length do not need to be approved. However, these should be used with discretion.
- Upon approval, please contact all parents in the class to inform them of your plans and the value of their child viewing the movie. Request the parents to inform you if they object to their child viewing the movie. You may then make alternate plans for the student.
- Generally speaking, movies with foul language, racial slurs, sexual scenes/innuendo, and/or drug use should not be shown.
Responsibilities / Expectations
Faculty are responsible for turning in all reports on time. These include grade report forms, time-dated material that the administration has requested to be completed, and homework returned to students. If these items are not turned in on time and a pattern of lateness is created, the situation will be handled accordingly. Here is a general rule of suggested turnaround times for student work:
- Homework assignments/quizzes- 1 to 2 days
- Small papers / written assignments – 1 week
- Tests – 1 week if written part / 1 day if multiple choice
- Major papers – 2 weeks
- Term papers- 3 weeks / or a week before the next paper is assigned
The administration expects all faculty to complete all tasks within the given time. If situations arise warranting an extension, please consult with your department head and/or principal.
Substitutes
When possible, please enter your absence in Frontline Education the night before or no later than 6:30 AM the morning of your absence. Teachers should have a substitute folder that contains the following at the beginning of the year:
- Class lists, seating charts, a schedule, and class procedures/discipline
- Three days of generic lesson plans
- Safety plan
The MS/HS Administrative Coordinator is your contact for questions related to Frontline Education.
When there is a shortage of substitutes, teachers may be called upon to help cover classes during a planning period.
