Student and Parent Services and Activities

Devotion and Bible Study, Chapels, and Spiritual Emphasis

Morning devotion begins each school day. Students, faculty, and administrators read scripture, share devotional thoughts, and lead in prayer.

Davidson Academy provides opportunity for Bible study at all grade levels. Through grade eight (8), students are engaged in a sequential study of persons of the Bible to identify and cultivate desirable character traits. Upper School Bible courses deal with both Old and New Testaments.

Chapel, with programs arranged by faculty and students, is held weekly in each division. Local ministers are often invited to lead in chapel services.

A Spiritual Emphasis Week is planned each spring for grades seven (7) through 12. Small groups of students explore relevant themes, and students participate in worship services.

Library/Media Centers

Lower and Upper School buildings contain library/media centers to serve the needs of students and faculty. Both libraries also are equipped with electronic on-line information systems, which students may use with instruction from the library staff.

Students are expected to study quietly in the library, and to check out materials properly. Materials not returned before the date due will be fined ten (10) cents per item per day.

For necessary academic purposes there will be no printing fee. For non-academic printing, students will be charged 25 cents per page and up to one dollar per page for graphics.

Clinic

For students who become ill at school, an infirmary, located in the Lower School, is staffed by a Registered Nurse. Students who have temperatures of 100 degrees or more are not permitted to remain at school. They should be without fever for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. The nurse is happy to administer prescription medications if the following instructions are provided in writing:

Prescription Medication

1. Medication is in originally prescribed container with dosage and name recorded.
2. Permission form must accompany medication, with teacher's name, dosage, and time medicine is to be administered and parent's signature.

Non-Prescription Medication

1. Medication must be in original bottle with child's name on the bottle.
2. Time, dosage, reason for medication, discontinuation date, and parent's signature must be completed on the Permission Form for Non-Prescription Medication.

Permission forms for both prescription and non-prescription medications are available in the Lower and Upper School Offices, and in the clinic.

Telephones

Students may use the telephone only with faculty or staff permission. The pay phones are for outgoing calls only.

Guidance

Davidson Academy has full-time guidance counselors in each division, Lower and Upper School, to provide the following guidance services:

• testing - ability, aptitude, achievement;
• college and career planning;
• financial planning for college;
• and personal counseling.

Parent Support Groups

The Athletic Boosters, Band Boosters, the Davidson Academy Association, the DA Dance Partners, and Friends of the Arts provide opportunities for parents and friends of the school to become involved in the school's facilities and programs in specific areas.

Mutual Parent Support

Davidson Academy believes that all children need positive standards and values, and that appropriate limits are essential to their healthy development. The school desires to join with and support parents in an effort to guide our children toward positive lifestyles.

Parents are urged to do the following:

1. Encourage wholesome activities for minors who are socializing in the home by the presence of adult supervision and by not allowing the consumption of alcohol or the presence or use of illicit drugs.
2. Communicate with the appropriate adults to ensure that events outside the home are properly supervised and do not include the use of alcohol or the presence or use of illicit drugs or other harmful substances. We encourage communication from other parents when we host or sponsor such events.
3. Communicate with other parents concerning group activities that may not be properly supervised, such as those at the mall parking lots, parks, or other locations. Know where your children are and who are their companions.
4. Make a special effort to monitor cable television and videos viewed by minors to ensure that the subjects are appropriate for their age.
5. Support and plan to use the following weekend curfews for our children, subject, of course to parental discretion and special circumstances such as school-sponsored events:

*Nashville's curfew law for minors.

Extended Day

The Extended Day program provides adult supervision for Lower School students before and after school and is designed for both full-time and hourly use. Each afternoon includes time for homework, snacks, outdoor play, and crafts.

Davidson Academy respects the school-age child's freedom to control this portion of his or her day. Child-directed choice allows children to spend time in a less structured environment doing the things they enjoy. It is an important aspect of school-age care.

Children will play outside each day unless it is extremely cold (below 36 degrees) or rainy. Children should come to school dressed appropriately, both casual and warm or cool clothing, for outside play.

Age-appropriate time is given for children to work on homework assignments. Extended Day staff provide a quiet environment and remind and encourage children to work on assignments. It is not possible, however, for all children to use this time doing homework. Usually, it is more successful for families to determine homework policies and enforce them. Outside play cannot be withheld for homework purposes.

Extended Day is open from 6:15 to 7:30 a.m., and from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Students who are not in Extended Day must enter the building after 7:30 a.m. and leave by 3:15 p.m.

Upper School After-School Program

Students in grades seven (7) through 12 on campus after 3:30 p.m. and not under the direct supervision of a teacher or coach will be assigned to supervised after-school study hall/activity area. This service is offered without charge with the understanding that students may be asked to perform some general service for the school which may include assisting teachers, general cleaning, emptying trash, or picking up trash on the campus.  Students will not be asked to perform tasks that are demeaning, unsafe, or unsanitary.

Guidelines

• The library will be open each afternoon until 3:30 p.m.
• Refreshments will be available for purchase in the cafeteria.
• Computers will be available by prior arrangement.
• Remedial and enrichment math opportunities will be available.
• Peer tutoring may be arranged.
• After-school activities are restricted to the library, cafeteria, lobby, and outside front patio.  Students may not go to the Lower School or other areas of the campus without permission, and may not leave campus except with a parent or guardian.
• Students on campus after 5 p.m. will be sent to the Lower School Extended Day, where parents may call for them.
• Good behavior is expected at all times.

Snow Care and Holiday Care

Care is provided for students on days when school must be closed because of inclement weather and on many holidays, in order that parents may continue their routine with minimal disruption. A hot lunch is included in the daily fee, and pre-registration is required. All students who are registered must pay the daily fee, regardless of attendance.

Academy Arts

Academy Arts is a fine arts enrichment program offering classes in piano, voice, and ballet year-round. Summer Arts includes a variety of sports and special interest camps such as gymnastics, horsemanship, woodworking, art, photography, life guarding, and conversational French.

Bear Country Camp

Bear Country Camp is a summer day camp program for Davidson Academy Lower School students, open approximately 50 days each summer. Both on campus activities and field trips offer meaningful and fun learning experiences.

Adult and Community Education

Classes for adults are offered from time to time in such areas as parenting skills, computers, photography, art, tennis, aerobics, and sewing. Parents are encouraged to suggest areas of interest for which courses may be offered.

Food Service

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are offered in both buildings for students, faculty and staff, and visiting parents and guests. Breakfast and snacks are a la carte. Lower School students may purchase a lunch ticket, or purchase their lunch daily. Upper School students purchase meals and snacks on a cash basis. In cases of emergency, students may obtain a "charged" lunch by arranging in advance with the food service director. A "charged" lunch includes a sandwich, chips, cookies, a piece of fruit, and a drink.

Transportation

Davidson Academy provides regular bus transportation to and from school along certain routes on a weekly-fee or occasional-rider basis. The school also provides bus or van transportation for students involved in athletics, field trips, or other extracurricular activities whenever possible. When Davidson Academy cannot provide transportation to a certain off campus activity, any student who is an official participant who drives or rides to that activity in a private vehicle must submit a completed "Release of Liability for Private Transportation to School-Related Event" form signed by his or her parent(s) or guardian(s).

Expectations for Behavior on School Vehicles

• Remain seated at all times.
• Be courteous to other passengers and the driver.
• Refrain from loud conversation, screaming, and other annoying behaviors.
• Keep all body parts inside the vehicle.
• Keep all trash inside the vehicle and dispose of it properly when disembarking.
• No canned or glass-bottled drinks are allowed on the vehicles.
• No scissors are allowed on the vehicles.
• Keep hands and feet to yourself.

Overnight School Trips

A student committee has recommended the following guidelines for trips off campus. The administration wholeheartedly supports these guidelines.

Traveling on Davidson Academy or Chartered Vehicles

Students should make it their responsibility to keep the bus or van clean and pleasant for all persons. They should refrain from throwing any objects, from playing audio equipment without earphones, and from any vulgar or profane language.

Dining in a Restaurant

Students must respect the restaurant's property and other patrons, consider those who serve them by awarding a 15 percent gratuity, and not leave the premises without adult supervision.

Staying in a Hotel

Students must respect the hotel's facilities and other guests. They should also have the name and phone number of the hotel with them when they go out.

Observing Announced Curfew

Students must be in their own rooms with lights out at the announced hour, ready to rest for the next day's activities.

Dressing Appropriately

Students should wear the Bear Pride uniform or clothing recommended by the sponsors/chaperones and modest bathing suits for swimming.

Touring

Students should always carry some form of photo identification, stay with the group except by special permission from chaperones, and respect all rules of the facilities being visited.

Sponsors and chaperones are expected to see that all students observe these guidelines. Those who repeatedly refuse to do so may be sent home early at their parents' expense.

Violations of school policies and procedures on school trips are subject to the same penalties as on campus violations.

Campus Information Network

The campus information network provides Davidson Academy with equipment and programming for the "Channel One" daily news program for grades six (6) through 12. The equipment also enables the school to record educational programs of all kinds for classroom use and even to produce closed circuit broadcasts throughout the school. The computer network allows students and staff access to file servers, CD-ROMs, on-line information systems, the Internet, and other electronic media.

The following policies are related to the use of computers, network , and the Internet:

• Use of school technology resources including the Internet is for academic purposes only.
• Students may not install software on any computers owned by Davidson Academy. Downloading of any files is strictly prohibited unless given express permission by a classroom teacher, technology staff, or media specialist.
• Students' disks (floppy, Zip, CD-R, or CD-RW) may contain data only and may not be independently bootable. Disks brought to school may not contain programs.
• Under no circumstances are programs on Davidson Academy computers to be copied.
• Under no circumstances are students to reconfigure the hardware or software on any Davidson Academy computer.
• Students are to follow rules of proper care for all computer equipment. They will be responsible for damages caused by misuse or abuse of equipment. No food or drinks are to be taken into the library or computer labs. Food and drinks are not to be consumed around classroom computers.
• Students may have access to the Internet only with specific teacher permission and constant adherence to Acceptable Use Policy guidelines.
• Students may not use electronic devices in the classroom unless teacher permission is given.  Electronic devices includes but is not limited to cell phones, laptop computers, PDAs, laser pointers, MP3 players, electronic games, etc.
• Students must register any wireless device that will access the Internet through our network with the Network Administrator. When using these devices on our network, all rules stated in this document apply.
• Students may not attempt to use the network for financial gain, for commercial activity, for product advertisement, or for political lobbying. (such as e-bay, shopping, etc.)
• Student use of online games is strictly prohibited.
• Students may not use the network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users.
• Students may not make use of material or attempt to locate material that would not be acceptable in a school setting. The criteria for acceptability is demonstrated by the types of material made available to students by administration, teachers, and the school media center.
• Students may not use the Internet for any illegal purpose.
• Students may not use profanity, obscenity, or threatening or abusive language. Students may not engage in cyber-bullying.  Cyber-bullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices.
• Students may not attempt to change any computer files that do not belong to them.
• Students may not send or get copyrighted materials without permission.
• Students may not attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet, or any networks. This includes the creation of or the uploading of computer viruses on the Internet or host site.
• Students may not destroy or abuse hardware or software in any way.
• Students may not give out any personal information about themselves or anyone else over the Internet.
• Students may not give out passwords to anyone or attempt to discover passwords or other measures the school uses to control access to the Internet. (Should you inadvertently discover passwords, or other measures used to control access to this resource, you must report this to whoever may be in charge at the time.)
• Students may not use picture phones to take or send images. 
• Students may not disrupt another student's use of the network.
• Students must abide by rules of common sense and etiquette at all times.
• If the student is uncertain how to do something on the computer, he or she should ask a teacher.
• All students of Davidson Academy will abide by the computer-related policies established by the school.  Failure to adhere to policies regarding computers, software, and the Internet is considered a major disciplinary issue and can be a violation of the Davidson Academy Honor Code.

Consequences for Violating Rules of Appropriate Internet Use

After careful review of incidences of misuse or violations, the administration and Technology Committee will impose appropriate consequences that may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Student will be reprimanded followed by counseling.
• Students can be given demerits.
• Student access privilege to the Internet may be temporarily suspended.
• Student access privilege to the Internet may be permanently suspended.
• Illegal activities or violations of school rules associated with the use of the Internet will result in appropriate disciplinary action or legal action that may include suspension or expulsion from school.
• Some infractions such as unauthorized use of the network, intentional deletion or damage to files and data belonging to other users and copyright violations may be considered theft in which case they will be subject to penalties as prescribed in the Davidson Academy Honor Code.
• In all cases where technology equipment is damaged or destroyed by abuse or misuse, the user will make full restitution for replacement and/or repair of damaged equipment.
  

The signatures on the enrollment form indicate that the student and parent have read the above terms and conditions carefully, understand their significance and will comply with them.

Web Page

Davidson Academy's official Web Site is www.davidsonacademy.com .

Athletics

Davidson Academy offers many opportunities for boys and girls to participate in interscholastic athletic activities.

Lower School students may participate in football, Junior Pro (intramural) basketball, interscholastic basketball, soccer, and cheerleading. Students in grades seven (7) and eight (8) may participate in baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, or cheerleading. Students in grades eight (8) through 12 are eligible to participate in baseball, soccer, cheerleading, tennis, football, volleyball, basketball, softball, track, golf, or cross country.

Additionally, weight training is available to students in grades seven (7) through 12.

Participation in interscholastic athletics requires that students adhere to the rules and regulations of the TSSAA , including the academic requirement of passing at least six (6) full-credit subjects the previous school year. In order to participate in athletics, students in grades seven (7) and eight (8) must maintain an overall average of 80 each nine-weeks with a failing grade in no more than one (1) subject, or maintain passing grades in all subjects. Certification of physical fitness and family insurance must also be on file for each athlete before he or she can begin practice.

In order to participate in any extracurricular or athletic activity, a student must be present in school for at least four (4) full class periods on the day of such activity.

The use of DA athletic facilities by other than school-sponsored groups is permitted only by written permission from the Athletic Director and requires the supervisory presence of a Davidson Academy staff member.

Bands

Marching band, concert band, and color guard represent Davidson Academy at football games, contests, and festivals throughout the year. The bands begin with students in grade six (6) and meet both during and after school hours.

Special-Interest Clubs

A variety of special-interest clubs are sponsored by DA faculty.

Honor and Service Organizations

Davidson Academy has organized a number of honor and service clubs for students.  Opportunities abound for student to develop leadership skills through participating in honor and service organizations.

Scouts

Davidson Academy has active scouting programs for boys and girls through the committed leadership of parents. The Cub Scout program for boys in grades one (1) through five (5), the Boy Scout program for boys in grades six (6) through 11, and the Girl Scout program for girls in Kindergarten through age 18 offer students opportunities to learn about God, country, family, and self through regular meetings, field trips, service projects, and outdoor activities. 

Student Council

The Student Councils (middle school grades seven (7) and eight (8), and Upper School grades nine (9) through 12) consist of elected student government officers and class officers from each grade level.  The Student Councils are dedicated to:

1. promoting goodwill among members of the student body;
2. expressing student concerns and suggestions to the faculty and administration;
3. improving school spirit by providing good leadership in all areas of school life;
4. and providing opportunities for all students to participate and enjoy school-related activities.

Student Council and class officers must demonstrate exemplary leadership behavior at all times.

Middle School Student Council

The Middle School Student Council functions similarly to the above but includes only students in grades seven (7) and eight (8).