GNCS Emergency/Weather Closing/Delayed Start Messages
In the event of a school closing/delayed start or other emergency, GNCS parents can expect to receive an automated text from us. In every situation, the principal will take many factors into consideration before a decision is reached. In order for us to contact you as quickly and as efficiently as possible, GNCS is using an automated texting app.

Parents Android or iPhones: open web browser and go to: remind.com. Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.

Parents without smartphones: text the message @gncspa to the number 81010. If you encounter difficulties with 81010, try texting @gncspa to 708-390-0295.

Please note: This contact information must be updated if a phone number is changed during the school year.
FYI: School closure decisions will usually be made between 5:30-6 a.m. the day of closure. This allows weather conditions to be monitored overnight to avoid unnecessary closures. Closure decisions will only be made the night before if conditions are certain and warrant closure.

Homeroom teachers will communicate regularly and keep parents informed about upcoming events in the classroom. In most cases parents can choose to receive communications in print or electronically.

Parents are encouraged to direct questions concerning an individual student or event to the classroom teacher. Questions or concerns about policy, tuition, or proper conduct should be directed to the Principal. Teachers set classroom guidance practices. In the event that a specific practice is called into question by a parent, a conference will be held with the teacher, parent and principal to seek an appropriate resolution.

There is one scheduled conference in the fall. This takes place around the midpoint of the term, and the homeroom teacher meets in person with the parents. Additional conferences can be set up throughout the year as needed and requested by the parents or the teacher. Parents will receive an email midterm from the homeroom teacher with any updates about your child.

Regular communication goes a long way toward making a great school year. The school sends newsletters through e-mail and teachers often make special requests to parents, also through e-mail. In the event that we need to contact you quickly, (to cancel school due to inclement weather, for example) we will initiate a phone tree and contact you at the number you provided. Please make sure the contact information you provided on your emergency contact form is current.

The phone number for the school office is 847-724-0057 x10. Someone will answer the phone during the hours of 7:45 am – 3:45 pm, Monday-Friday. Please leave a message outside of these hours, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Email on any topic related to the Glenview New Church School or Preschool can be sent to the principal and/or the homeroom teacher.

Principal: Phil Parker philp@glenviewnewchurch.org 847-724-0057×20

5-8 grade: Phil Parker philp@glenviewnewchurch.org 847-724-0057×11

5-8 grade: Kara Smith karas@glenviewnewchurch.org 847-724-0057

3-4 grade: Emily Pietrasiak emilyp@glenviewnewchurch.org 847-724-0057x 23

1-2 grade: Laura Barger laurab@glenviewnewchurch.org 847-724-0057×17

Kindergarten: Erin Lovitto erinl@glenviewnewchurch.org 847-724-0057×12

Preschool: Lisa Haske lisah@glenviewnewchurch.org

Preschool: Abbie Acton

abbiea@glenviewnewchurch.org

Arrival:

Students may arrive at any time between 8:00 and 8:10 am and will be greeted at the door. Students in grades 5-8 will enter through the main door near the school office, students in grades K-4 will enter through the door that leads to their wing of the primary building. After 8:10 am, the greeter will no longer be present and the door will be locked. Parents are required to bring late arriving children to the school office in the main building where the GNCS administrative assistant will escort them, at her convenience, to their classrooms. 

Pick-up: 

School ends at 2:45 pm and students should leave the building by 3:00 pm. Teachers may also keep students after school for special help or detention. Parents may pick up K-8 students at any time between 2:45 pm and 2:55 pm. After 2:55 pm, children who have not been picked up or dismissed to walk home will be escorted to the school office where they will wait with the administrative assistant until they are picked up. Special arrangements for late pick-ups will be made on the days of clubs and other after-school activities. If parents need to pick up their children at any time during the school day (appointments, sickness or any other activity) they must enter through the main building and check in with the administrative assistant. Parents must notify the school office in advance so that the teacher is prepared for your child to leave. The K-2 and preschool doors will not be answered during the day, except during drop-off and pick-up times, as an ongoing safety measure. Please refrain from making doctor, dentist, or other appointments prior to 3:15 pm if at all possible.

The expectation is that parents should be in touch with the school any day that their child will be late or absent, telephoning the school office (847-724-0057 x10) before 8:10 am. Please don’t only contact your child’s teacher. If your child has not arrived by 8:10 am and we haven’t heard from you, you will receive a phone call from us.

Please consult with the student’s classroom teacher to arrange makeup work and a reasonable time for this work to be completed after the student returns to school.

In the case of a planned or extended absence, such as a family vacation or family emergency, it is important to contact the Principal who will, in turn, notify your child’s homeroom teacher. This enables the teacher to coordinate classroom activities and also provide the student with a list of homework, which will help prevent the student from falling too far behind.

A student who is absent more than 24 days during the school year will not automatically be promoted. The education of the student suffers through missing the introduction of new ideas, as well as classroom discussion and hands-on activities. The education of the whole class may also suffer if too many absences require additional review or significant ongoing individual attention to help the student catch up. If a student misses too many days, the parents are asked to write a letter explaining any special circumstances that resulted in the excessive absence and requesting that their child be promoted. A decision will then be made by the administration in consultation with the classroom teacher.

General Policy: A student is considered late if he or she arrives after 8:10 am. Another late will be incurred for each class missed by a student in Grades 3–8, including chapel.

Grades K–2: After three lates, the teacher will call the parent. After three additional lates, the principal will call the parent. Calls will continue if lateness persists.

Grades 3–8: After five lates, the teacher will call the parent and the student will get one half hour of detention. For each subsequent late for the rest of the term, the student will get one half-hour of detention. After seven lates, the principal will call the parent. Lates are counted per term and new “free” lates are given each term. 

The purpose of the Glenview New Church School dress code is to promote an appearance that is neat and orderly. Clothes must be appropriately sized (neither too baggy, or too tight), and not torn or dirty.  

Tops

While the time a student spends on homework varies from one night to the next, the average time spent on homework should be:

Kindergarten: 5–10 minutes

Grade 1: 15–20 minutes

Grade 2: 20–30 minutes

Grade 3: 30–45 minutes

Grade 4: 30–45 minutes

Grade 5: 60–75 minutes

Grade 6: 60–75 minutes

Grade 7: 75–90 minutes

Grade 8: 75–90 minutes

These guidelines do not assume a particular skill level so much as they assume the gradual development of good study habits. It is our desire that children’s time at home not be dominated by homework, and that they have time to play, follow their own interests, and do things with their families. Having a routine of regular time and a reasonably quiet place to do homework will save students time and frustration. Parents can also help their children develop efficient work habits. These habits are vital in instilling children with responsibility, carefulness, patience, tidiness, a well-trained memory, a desire to do well, and a sense of pride in any job well done.

Tuition will be set annually by the administration of GNCS in coordination with the Midwestern Academy of the New Church (MANC) Board of Trustees.

Current tuition rates are available here and at the front office. The School Fee must be paid at the time of registration for the following year and is not eligible for tuition assistance or deferred payment.

In order to maintain an effective teaching/learning environment based on individual attention, strong relationships and family involvement, full-time enrollment is strongly preferred at GNCS. However, there are circumstances under which GNCS is able to provide an education for students on a part-time basis. Enrollment on a part-time basis will follow the same process as full-time admission. The decision to allow a student to enroll on a part-time basis will be at the discretion of the principal and based largely on the following:

Communication and participation – The school expects regular communication with and involvement from parents/guardians. There should not be significant language barriers, prolonged absenteeism, inability to participate in curricular and/or non-curricular events, or other circumstances that contradict a high level of parent involvement.

GNCS does not provide visas for oversea students

Visitors are always welcome. Parents and adults wishing to visit either the school as a whole, or specific classes, are asked to please consult with one of the school administrators or the teacher ahead of time to confirm that the visit will be convenient. If you do drop by unexpectedly, please stop by the school office first.

We are happy to welcome visiting students as well. A preparatory phone call will ensure that we can at least set out an extra chair. 847-724-0057

Unless it is expressly stated otherwise, GNCS is a nut-free school. Every year we start with the assumption that we are a nut-free school. This means that there can be no snacks or lunches sent to the school with peanuts, walnuts, almonds pistachios or spreads made from these nuts (peanut butter etc.) in them. If there are no significant nut allergies in the student body, that policy can be adjusted after the school year has begun.

Food allergies can be life threatening. The risk of accidental exposure to foods can be reduced in the school setting if schools work with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks and provide a safe educational environment for food-allergic students.

Top Food Allergens for Children (identified among students at the GNC)

• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios)

Family’s Responsibility

• Notify the school of the student’s allergies.
• Work with student’s teachers and the principal to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school including in the classroom, at lunch, in before/after-care programs and during school-sponsored activities, as well as a Food Allergy Action Plan.
• Provide written medical documentation, instructions, and medications as directed by a physician.
• Fill out the Food Allergy Action Plan (FAAC) and review with assigned teachers to ensure they can recognize symptoms and know what to do in case of emergency.
• Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.
• Educate the child in the self-management of their food allergy including: – safe and unsafe foods – strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods – symptoms of allergic reactions – how and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related problem – how to read food labels (age appropriate)
• Review policies/procedures with the school staff, the child’s physician, and the child (if age-appropriate) after a reaction has occurred.  Provide emergency contact information.

School’s / Teacher’s Responsibility

• Assign a teacher) to be the “Go-To” person for the student with allergies. This should be teachers that are always available and near-by the student in case of emergency.
• Practice the Food Allergy Action Plans before an allergic reaction occurs to assure the efficiency/effectiveness of the plans.
• Include food-allergic students in school activities. Students should not be excluded from school activities solely based on their food allergy.
• Assure that all staff who interact with the student on a regular basis understands the food allergy, can recognize symptoms, knows what to do in an emergency, and works with other school staff to eliminate the use of food allergens in the allergic student’s meals, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.
• Ensure communal foods such as “Hot-Lunches”, “Daily Snacks” and “Birthday Snacks) do not include foods identified as top food allergens listed above (peanuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds and pistachios). These communal foods should not include any form of nuts; that includes nuts, seeds, and nut-based oils.
• Practice administering medication in case of emergency.
• If mild allergic symptoms appear call the parents/guardian immediately, if the symptoms seem life threatening per the plan call 911 emergency services immediately. This may also require administering medication, such as, Epinephrine before paramedics arrive.
• Review policies/prevention plan with the core team members, parents/guardians, student (age appropriate), and physician after a reaction has occurred.
• Discuss field trips with the family of the food-allergic child to decide appropriate strategies for managing the food allergy.
• Take threats or harassment against an allergic child seriously.

Student’s Responsibility:

• Should not trade food with others.
• Should not eat anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain any allergen.
• Should be proactive in the care and management of their food allergies and reactions based on their developmental level.

For health reasons, we cannot have visiting pets in the school unless they are specifically a part of a show-and-tell experience. The homeroom teachers are aware of classroom and school allergies and can manage the presence of pets accordingly.

GNCS has a policy of ‘zero-tolerance’ for bullying. Treating others with respect is required of all students and teachers at the Glenview New Church School. Any form of demeaning or disrespectful behavior towards others is unacceptable.

Bullying and harassment by anyone directed toward any person or persons, including students, teachers or other members of the school community, will not be tolerated. Bullying/harassment can take many forms including, but not limited to: intimidation, teasing, threats, spreading gossip or rumors and misusing any form of electronic communication. Any form of bullying or harassment using electronic communication will be dealt with in the same manner as any other form of bullying.

Teachers will implement a developmentally appropriate approach to bullying, for example an escalating response (three-strikes), and at their discretion involve the Principal when appropriate. All allegations of bullying will be taken seriously, investigated promptly and dealt with appropriately. All escalated cases will be referred to the school principal for appropriate action. Those who engage in such behavior will be subject to disciplinary action, which could also include, but is not limited to, a disciplinary contract, suspension or expulsion.

The students have benefited from the additional attention of parents and other adults who have assisted the classroom teachers in subjects such as art, computers, math, science, and language arts. Volunteers also assist with special occasions, celebrations, and field trips. Please let us know your areas of interest or expertise if you would be willing to volunteer.

All students are expected to stay for lunch. Students should bring their own lunch with them in the morning and place it in the appropriate refrigerator. The students eat together during lunch and then are given a chance to play, do homework, or relax using the time as they see fit.

The Glenview New Church School follows Illinois law in regards to immunizations and other health policies.  Parents are informed by the school if there is an outbreak of lice, strep throat, or any other contagious disease. Parents are asked to keep their children home from school when there is a recommended incubation period. If you have any questions about State Health policies in regard to school children, please contact the school.

When your child is sick you must keep him or her at home. The child may return to school after they have been fever-free and symptom-free for 24 hours.

A student’s personal record (permanent file) is kept in the office. This file includes report cards, standardized and diagnostic test scores, medical, and dental records. Should a parent want to review this material, he or she can arrange an appointment to do so. Students’ final report cards for the year will not be sent to parents if there is an outstanding tuition balance. Likewise, if a student is transferring schools, records will be withheld pending complete payment of tuition.

At the end of each term, the homeroom teacher will compile a report card which will be mailed home, approximately two weeks after the term is over.

We use the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). These are administered every spring to the 1st through 8th grade students. Students in the 3rd and 7th grades are also given the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to provide us with comparisons between their tested abilities and their achievement using those abilities.

Glenview New Church Schools has actively pursued making advanced technology and increased access to learning opportunities available to our students, faculty, staff and community. In a few words: “The student laptops are tools, not toys.”

Laptops are intended for use at school each day. In addition to teacher expectations for laptop use, school messages, announcements, calendars and schedules will be accessed using the laptop computer. Students must be responsible to bring their laptop to all classes, unless specifically advised not to do so by their teacher. Students are welcome to take laptops home to continue homework. Internet usage on the laptop from the home is allowed but not recommended.

Internet and E-mail

The Internet is to be used for scholarly research and as a means of obtaining needed information. Students are prohibited from using the Internet for shopping purposes from school or home. GNCS reserves the right to monitor the internet usage of all students through specialized software reporting. Students’ use of the Internet must be in support of education and research and consistent with the educational objectives of GNCS. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.

Students may not use any chat or collaboration program to communicate with others through the computer network during class, unless a teacher or administrator expressly authorizes them to do so. email during class, without teacher approval, is strictly prohibited. Likewise, the playing of games during class time, without teacher approval, is also strictly prohibited.

No computer programs (executables) should be downloaded unless specifically supported by GNCS. Any use of peer to peer software is strictly prohibited. This includes but it is not limited to Imesh, Morpheus, Kazaa, WinMx, etc.

The use of the Internet and email is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges.

Laptops are to be turned into GNCS at the end of the School year with curriculum text books. Laptops will be reissued to students at the beginning of each school year with their textbooks. Damage or loss of a laptop will be the responsibility of the parent.

In accordance with Illinois Senate Bill 550, GNCS recently tested all drinking water sources. On September 19, 2019, Suburban Laboratories of Geneva, IL received 28 water samples from GNCS. On October 3, 2019 they advised us that no lead was found in our water. Per state law, the report has been submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health.