HCS Teacher Expectations

Hudsonville Christian School Updated 7 / 05


  1. Since our school's mission involves excellent academic training rooted in God's Word, our daily lessons need to reflect our perspective of the Creation /Fall / Redemption /Restoration cycle.
  2. We relate academic material to discerning biblical themes “which are characteristic of, but not unique to, a Reformed worldview” such as Kingdom, Covenant, Lordship, Servanthood, Stewardship, Discipleship, Destiny, God's Plan.
  3. Our vision is to enable our students to be capable stewards of God's gifts and creation, providing them with opportunities to serve and promote progress and healing in individuals, community, and creation.
  4. We foster the devotional life of our students, encouraging them to search for God's will, living as God's servants, and praying for themselves and others.
  5. We nurture the Christian walk and relationships of respect and care, emphasizing forgiveness, stewardship, civility, and developing a servant's heart.


  6. Teachers are required to teach the curriculum as printed in the HCS Curriculum Guide.
  7. Changes to the curriculum must be presented for decision by the Curriculum Review Board.
  8. We give adequate attention to both long term (big picture) and short term planning, demonstrating our knowledge of content and pedagogy, interpreting content in a biblical framework. Planning occurs on the individual and team levels, and on the K - 8 level as well, through curriculum committees.
  9. We consider individual abilities and needs. Thinking skills and Reformed perspective go hand in hand. We create lessons which involve the upper levels of Bloom's taxonomy. Tests must also reflect and assess this kind of learning. We plan for a depth in lessons so that extensions are available to the gifted students. We prompt student reflection on a biblical perspective especially in history, science, and literature. We work for the goal that every test given in these subjects should have at least one item for assessment of students learning to think Christianly, with the implication that they have been prepared in class to do this.
  10. Hudsonville Christian School has endorsed the following educational philosophies / strategies.
    1. Seven Elements of Lesson Design (ITIP; Madeline Hunter's model) Information in Staff Manual.
    2. The Learning Cycle: Proven effective in increasing student communication ability. See outline in Staff Manual. A yellow poster has been provided for each classroom.
    3. Understanding By Design: Staff training provided 2004 - 2005


  11. We model and encourage respect and care for students of all abilities and temperaments, considering their status as image-bearers of their creator.
  12. We are informed of and alert to bullying, supporting the school's Bully Free program. We value consistency of discipline by using established school procedures for dealing with bullying.
  13. Student behavior is the staff's responsibility inside and outside of the classroom. Whenever possible, teachers are asked to stand in the doorway while students are moving in or out of the classroom so the students can be observed both in the hall and classroom.
  14. Teachers must accompany the class in transit to a special class in another room. Elementary teachers must lead the class. It helps to have a student appointed to monitor the end of the line.
  15. Teachers are responsible for making sure their own students are not loitering in the building at times when all students are expected to be outside.
  16. Students who remain after school for any reason must be supervised at all times. The exception is after-school programs such as Math Pentathlon for which parents are responsible for supervising participating students. Parents must be notified if students will not be arriving home at the usual time.
  17. Students must be supervised during lunch and recess snack times. It is necessary for teachers to remain in the rooms as much as possible for proper management of student behavior. Students must remain seated while eating. Use of videos and other entertainments that inhibit casual classroom discourse is discouraged.
  18. Corporal punishment is not used at Hudsonville Christian School.
  19. We create opportunities for service and stewardship for both your students and their parents. Many parents desire opportunities to get into their child's classroom to help and know what's going on there. We welcome parent help and find ways to involve those who wish to be.
  20. Elementary teachers are expected to provide a weekly classroom newsletter with information regarding units currently being studied, tests and work due, Bible memory assignments, special events, advance dates, and other news.
  21. If you have students from blended or two-residence families, solicit information from both parents on their expectations for receiving school communications such as newsletters and report cards.
  22. If a discipline situation is beyond what is ordinary, call the parents to notify them of the incident and the measures taken. It is also wise to let the principal know what occurred should the parents wish to follow up or call us. The same is true when injuries occur. In appropriate situations, it is also recommended to call the parents of the all parties involved.
  23. The home bulletin, The Home Communicator, is sent home every Tuesday with the youngest child in each family. Teachers need to develop a routine of distribution so that the Communicator is taken directly home and given to parents. If teachers have classroom news that might be of interest to the parents, the deadline is Friday noon.
  24. Communicate your homework guidelines and expectations very early in the year. Excerpt from the Parent Handbook:
  25. Be informed of the school's CRISIS PLAN. Please keep the information at ready access.


  26. Turn lights off & lock room when leaving each day.
  27. Delegate cleaning duties to students; do not dismiss until floor is clear and materials are properly put away.
  28. Please keep names on desks as long as possible.
  29. Creative desk arrangements are encouraged, but do not allow desks to touch walls.
  30. Never puncture the ceiling tiles if you suspend objects from your ceiling. Special clips for suspending lightweight items from the ceiling framework are allowed.
  31. No masking tape is allowed for use in attaching things to painted or varnished surfaces. Please use poster putty.
  32. Permission must be granted for any permanent or semi-permanent changes to the building / classroom, e.g., painting, wall brackets.
  33. Report spills on the carpet to the office immediately. The longer they sit, the greater the chances for stains. Do not use Voban on carpets: it can stain and is difficult to remove.
  34. Gum chewing is forbidden in the school building.
  35. Elementary students are allowed to drink only milk or water in the classrooms for lunch and snack time.
  36. Elementary students are required to have a second pair of shoes for wear outside. Teachers must enforce this rule throughout the year.
  37. Intentional damage to school property, including desks and books, will be dealt with on a case by case basis by the teacher and /or administrator.
  38. Phones: Please use your calling card or reverse charges when making personal long distance phone calls. Also, for any outgoing phone calls, start with the line buttons to the right on the phone keypad; we must keep lines 1 and 2 clear for incoming calls. When you call parents who live outside the area and require a toll call, the school pays for this; just dial direct.
  39. Students through grade five are not allowed to use the phone. If a call is necessary, staff or office personnel must make the call. There is a pay phone in the middle school for students in grades 6 - 8.
  40. The kitchen at Oak Street is maintained and operated by the Parents' Club, and is kept locked. Teachers may have access to the kitchen for special projects after questing permission from an administrator. No articles may be removed from the kitchen for personal or classroom use.


  41. Field trips: Rule of thumb - 2 outings per class, per year for which bus transportation is required. We will entertain exceptions that support the curriculum.
  42. Teacher /team leader must turn in bus forms to Bob at least 2 weeks prior to the date.
  43. Teacher/team leader is responsible to include information about any student activities on the school's online calendar.
  44. Students must be coached for their behavior off site and on the bus. Do not neglect this.
  45. No field trips should be planned for after Memorial Day.
  46. If elementary teachers are having a special program to which parents are invited, please notify the office and Karen. (Invitations are appreciated!)
  47. Any time you leave the school grounds with your class, make sure either the office or building principal knows.
  48. If a student is hospitalized, the teacher should select an appropriate gift for which the school will pay up to $10.
  49. If a student transfers to another school during the school year, the teacher should plan a suitable farewell activity or time in class during which a gift should be given. The school will pay up to $10 for a gift.
  50. Parents must be contacted if students are to leave school grounds for any reason. Do not allow a student to leave school property without permission and knowledge of parents. If a student is to walk home, the parent must give specific permission for this either verbally by phone or in writing.
  51. Student Language statement. (from Parent Handbook) We take very seriously our students' social and spiritual development. This includes guiding them to express themselves in appropriate ways. We also realize the impact that TV, videos, and society in general have on them in the kind of language to which they are exposed. Our students are taught that bad language dishonors God and will not be tolerated at our Christian school. If profanity or other inappropriate language is used by a student, our teachers and administrators consider this a teaching opportunity and deal with it directly bin a firm but loving manner. If the problem persists with a particular student, parents will be notified. We need to work together in discerning ways to honor God and be an example to others through our language.


  52. No medications are to be given to students until parents provide written permission that includes the name, dosage, and time of dispensing of the medicine. (See Policy Manual.)
  53. Each teacher should have a supply of Bandaids in his/her room. These are supplied by the school. Other first aid supplies are available in the office.
  54. Each teacher must keep at least one pair of latex gloves (kept in the stock rooms) in a readily accessible location in the event of contact with blood or other body fluids which could potentially contain blood-borne pathogens. Refer to policy #775 in the policy section.
  55. If you are in doubt whether an injury may require a doctor's attention, notify the principal and/or call the student's parents.
  56. The principal should be notified in the event of any significant injury.
  57. The student's parents must be notified in the event of any significant injury. If in doubt, call.


  58. Teachers are expected to arrive 20 minutes prior to the bell in the morning and remain for at least ½ hour after dismissal in the afternoon. Teachers' hours: 7:30 A.M. 3:10 P.M. Exceptions are OK, but let the office know so phone calls and other contacts can be redirected.
  59. Transfer responsibilities that appear on the weekly schedule to your plan book.
  60. Lesson plans are due at the beginning of the current week. Please be professional about this.
  61. Anecdotal records: Teachers in the upper grades realize how valuable these are. Please do your part in recording significant information for the year you have each student. The Friday after conferences is the time designated to do this unless you choose another time(s.)
  62. Absence Sheets/booklets: Keep up to date to be returned for filing in school records in June. Keep all excuse notes on file until last day of school year.
  63. Teachers are provided with post-it pads to record and post daily attendance information for the Child Watch program. 100% of our students must be accounted for every day of school. The office informs teachers of reasons for absence as communicated through the ChildWatch program.
  64. Inform the office if you have any information regarding an absence due to a communicable disease. This information can be written on the Child Watch slip.
  65. Keep records of tardiness with your attendance records. Call the parents on the second offence and notify an administrator.


  66. Please schedule no appointments for Wednesday afternoon. Even if no meeting is scheduled, that is a time we like to keep open if a need for a meeting arises.
  67. You are also advised to avoid scheduling classes on Wednesday and Thursday night, due to conferences and other school events –generally held on a Thursday night.
  68. Substitute teachers: All requests go through your building principal. If you are ill in the morning, call anytime after 5:15 A.M. and before 6:00.
  69. For planned absences, get a form from the office and turn in to your building principal.
  70. Keep a file folder labeled Substitute teacher file with your class list and any pertinent information in your upper right hand desk drawer
  71. If no communication occurs, we will assume you will be back to school the day following an absence, so be sure to call your building principal if you need another day.
  72. If a teacher must be absent to attend the funeral of a close relative or other person close to the teacher, the school will pay a substitute teacher.
  73. The following are guidelines for personal days. However, extenuating circumstances will be considered and should be discussed with Bob VanderLaan. Two personal days are allowed for each teacher; part-time employees receive a corresponding fractional part of 2 days. Employees reimburse the school for the cost of the substitute for personal time. Employees may roll over unused days from the previous year. No more than two consecutive days may be used at a time, and days immediately preceding or following a scheduled vacation are not to be used as personal days.