Welcome! We are happy that you have chosen Klamath Falls Adventist Christian School (KFACS) as your child’s school. We consider it a privilege to walk hand in hand with you during these important and formative years of your child’s life. This handbook is put together to give important information and answer questions you may have about our school. We hope it gives you an understanding of who we are, what we do, and most of all, why we do it.
Adventist Christian School in Klamath Falls is part of a worldwide system of schools run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Protestant denomination founded upon the belief that Jesus Christ is Creator and Savior as revealed in the Holy Bible. We believe:
The Bible is the inspired word of God
Salvation is a free gift from a loving Father, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
We can live an abundant, joyful life by following Jesus and his precepts
Adventists have operated Christian schools for over 120 year and over 90 years in Klamath Falls. These schools provide an atmosphere where young people can strive for spiritual, academic, physical, and social excellence in a caring environment. We are one of the Adventist schools in the state of Oregon. We are accredited with the Board of Regents of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, the North Pacific Union Conference of Education and registered with the State of Oregon.
The Klamath Falls Adventist Christian School family exists to show children Jesus, nurture their love for Him and others, teach them to think, and empower them to serve.
The KFACS is committed to seeing that the standards are maintained at the level required by the Board of Education of the Oregon Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists and the Department of Education of the State of Oregon, and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
KFAS is operated by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church as a mission to the Seventh-Day Adventist and non-Seventh-Day Adventist youth. KFACS admits students of any race, color, national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship or loan programs and extracurricular programs. Admission of all students wishing to enroll in the school is based on the following satisfactory evidence:
Approval of all the applicant’s forms/records by the School Board.
Be in agreement with and be willing to cooperate with the philosophy and policies of the school as outlined in the handbook
Fulfill their financial agreement
Provide current immunization records and copy of birth certificate
Be in agreement with and be willing to cooperate with the philosophy and policies of the school as outlined in the handbook
Desire to be a part of a Christian community and be able to behave and treat others as the Lord would direct respect and kindness
Desire to pursue excellence and to develop their God-given abilities and interests to the full
KFACS cannot meet the educational needs of every student. While the school desires to be a blessing to all and respects the value of every child, it cannot adequately accommodate the highly specialized needs of some students who are academically or behaviorally challenged. The School Board reserves the right to request parents to withdraw a student whose needs cannot be properly accommodated.
Absences for reasons other than illness or emergency must be pre-arranged with the student’s teacher. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the child understands and completes missed classwork.
KFACS requests that students with a fever or nausea, or any symptoms, must be fever free for 24 hr. without fever reducing medication. In the event a student becomes ill during the day, a parent will be asked to pick up the student early.
Immunizations must be current in accordance with Oregon state law. Alternately, the parent must follow the state guidelines for exemptions and provide the form to the school.
By law, teachers are not to administer medication to students without a written, signed statement from the parent explaining dosage and method of administration, along with a doctor’s prescription. If a medication must be taken at school the parent must give the medication to the teacher to be locked in a safe until the need to dispense the medication.
All students are covered by school medical insurance. The coverage is for students engaged in school sponsored and supervised activities. This insurance is secondary to a family’s health insurance plan and covers injuries only after the family’s insurance pays its part. Any accident must be reported immediately to qualify for insurance coverage.
Students at KFACS agree to conduct themselves in a manner that honors Jesus and the school. This is true not only at school but in off-campus activities as well.
Encourage and facilitate learning
Model and sponsor Christian qualities and principles
Respect and dignify people
Plan and behave in a manner that maintains safety for all
Respond positively to authority
Value and care for property (Parents are responsible for compensation for any loss or damage)
Keep their hands, feet and bodies to themselves unless otherwise directed by a teacher
A student may be suspended or expelled for defiance or disrespect to teachers, staff or fellow students. Fighting, stealing, cheating, dishonesty, damaging school property, profanity, possession of illegal or harmful substances (including tobacco, alcohol or non-prescription drugs), possession of a weapon, verbal or physical harassment of fellow students, or repeated violation of school or classroom regulations may also result in expulsion.
Each case will be handled on an individual basis depending on the specific nature of offense and always with an attitude of Christian concern. A conference with the student, parents, principal and Board Chair or education superintendent will be held at the time of suspension and/or before the suspended student can be readmitted to the school. The Principal determines the time of suspension of a student, which may be from one to five days. For serious matters, expulsion results as an action of the School Board.
Matthew 18:15-17 is the model for any disagreement or grievance. Please make an appointment with the teacher and Board Chair for resolution of issues.
In accordance with the overall goal of promoting excellence in behavior and education, while reducing distractions, the School Board has adopted the following Uniform Policy. Please read the policy carefully. It is the responsibility of the student and the parents or guardians of the student to be familiar with and follow the uniform policy. Should you have any questions, please contact the Principal. Uniform components may be mixed and matched as you like. All logo items must be purchased through the Adventist Christian School for conformity.
Uniform items are available to be purchased from the JC Penney School catalog, the Land's End School Uniforms catalog, Children’s Place, or other appropriate retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target. Please note that not all items in the catalogs are part of the Adventist Christian School uniform policy, only those that fit the specifications stated below.
Navy Blue or khaki-colored, cotton/cotton blend twill pants (khaki includes shades of tan only, not white, grayish, or greenish). Classic style with plain, or pleated, front. Straight-leg, no extreme wide or tapered, cuffs optional. Interior pockets only (no patch, exterior, or cargo style pockets). Front zipper only. No cargo loops, rivets, zip-off legs, drawstrings, etc. Pants must be appropriately sized and worn appropriately at the waist. Pants must be hemmed, free of rips or tears, and in good condition.
Capris and shorts must fit the criteria of pants above. Shorts length is to be no more than 4" above the kneecap.
White, navy blue, forest green or burgundy (wine color) polo, long or short sleeve (no logo/graphics).
White, navy or burgundy Oxford style dress shirt, long or short sleeve. Girls: White oxford may have a "Peter Pan" collar.
Logo shirt, purchased from KFACS only.
Shirts worn under uniform shirts will be white only. Sleeve length will be the same as or shorter than the uniform shirt.
Logo t-shirts are required for most KFACS field trips
Navy blue, burgundy or khaki (shade of tan) pleated skirt or A-line jumper or skirt. Skirts may be any length as long as they are no more than 2" above the kneecap. No form-fitting skirts.
Navy, burgundy or white sweaters or sweatshirts only (no graphics or logo)
Should not have sleeves that cover the hands
Logo sweatshirts are available through KFACS
If hose/tights are worn, they must be white, natural colored or matching skirt color.
If belts are worn, they should be black or brown belts only.
No hats, hoods or sunglasses are to be worn inside
No open-toed shoes. Shoes used in the gym shall be white soled or non-marking sole.
Only clear appearing nail polish is allowed.
The following will not be allowed at school or while students are under the authority of ACS.
Students should be in appropriate uniform whenever they enter the building on a school day (during school hours). Uniform violations will be handled with an appropriate, escalating discipline procedure. Any changes or exceptions made in regards to the uniform policy will be communicated to the students and parents. Cooperation with the policy helps the school run efficiently. Administration has the authority to make decisions on questionable appearance not specifically addressed within the uniform policy or pertaining to matters where questions of "appropriateness" arise.
Grades are issued after the end of each quarter. There are four quarters throughout the school year. Please see the school calendar for dates.
The school values open and frequent communication with parents. Teachers and parents are a team – working together with students for the good of the student. Report cards are sent out at the end of each quarter. Regular parent/ teacher/ student conferences are scheduled after the first and third quarter.
Field Trips are planned throughout the year to complement the classroom curriculum. Parents are welcome to participate in these activities after they are cleared by the School Board and a background check as required by the Oregon Conference. Parents who are able to provide transportation and chaperone responsibilities are a tremendous blessing to the students and teachers. A private transportation form and copy of insurance showing at least $250,000/500,000 must be on file for all who drive other that their own children.
Every Thursday morning we have an all school chapel. Chapel is a special worship service we have weekly where we are brought together to grow as a community closer to God.
Parents are responsible to see that their student has the necessary supplies to carry on a study program. A supply list is available at registration. To assist in returning items to the proper owners, please be sure that the student’s name is on all items brought to school.
All textbooks are furnished by the school on a rental basis to the student. Excessive wear or damage to a book will bring an additional charge to a student. Individuals will be held financially responsible for lost books.
The child’s education is a cooperative project of the school and the home. Homework reinforces what is learned at school and teaches responsibility in the learner.
The student will have homework if he/she does not complete each day’s assignments in class. NAD guidelines are grades K-3 up to 20 min/day, grades 4-6 20-40 min/day, grades 7-8 1 hr/day for average students. In order to learn responsibility, students must learn to turn in their assignments when they are due, usually the next morning, unless it is a long-term project. Grades will be diminished if assignments are not turned in on time.
Projects will be assigned throughout the year that may require work at home to complete.
Throughout the year we will have musical or church programs. The attendance of your child is imperative at these performances and programs. Every student is missed and their part is not fillable if they are not there. Please help us present quality programs by having your child attend.
The School Board reviews tuition and fees annually, and rates for the coming year are published at the time of registration. Every effort is made to keep tuition at a reasonable level. All students attending KFACS pay reduced tuition due to Church subsidies. The school must maintain a sound financial program. Student charges must be paid at the designated times. Those needing financial assistance for their tuition and fees must fill out an application through the online FACTS program. All patrons must pay the prescribed charges or those which have been arranged with the School Board. Tuition must be paid in advance on the first of each month. For example: The monthly payment for October is due October 1st. The last monthly payment is due May 1st. If the monthly payment is not received within 30 days of the due date, the student’s enrollment may be discontinued unless satisfactory financial arrangements have been made with the School Board.
Payments of school tuition can be mailed to the school address in check or money order form, or payments can be made to the Principal at the school.
The following will be required before any student will be admitted to attend classes:
$350.00 is a non-refundable fee charged to all students. It is collected to cover costs for student insurance, library materials, art supplies, science and PE equipment, textbooks and to help subsidize field-trips.
Entrance fees are due at time of registration. Entrance fees are refunded if a student is not accepted for admission.
Grades 3-8, $450.00/mo. For nine months, Sep - May
Grades K-2 (Full day), $400.00/mo. For nine months, Sep – May
Grades K (Early Release), $320.00/mo. For nine months, Sep – May
KFACS offers limited financial aid for tuition when there is a financial need. To be eligible for the assisted student aid program, the parent/guardian must apply through the online FACTS program. Request the information sheet from the Principal.
Monday – Thursday:
Grades 1-8, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Grades K, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Friday: No School
Parents are asked to bring their children no earlier than 7:45 a.m.
Students are expected to leave the school premises within 15 minutes of dismissal.
Students may leave the school grounds during school hours only with specific written permission from the parent/guardian. Students may be picked up only by family members unless he/she has written permission from parent/guardian. Any other arrangements must be made prior to the time of pick-up and verified with a written note of permission from parent/guardian.
In the event of inclement weather, KFACS follows the guidelines and decisions made by Klamath Falls City School District. A REMIND message will be sent as well as an e-mail and post made on social media as soon as possible with closure or delayed start information.
Students will be required to leave cell phones with the teacher during school hours.
The Home and School Association exists to help provide materials and events that enrich students. The Association consists of parents, teachers and church members who have a desire to provide excellent education and fun activities for our students. The Home and School leader can be reached at kfacshomeandschool@gmail.com.
KFACS requires that each family volunteer at events at least twice per year. We require all volunteers to complete a background check prior to volunteering. They will also be asked to sign the supervision guidelines.
KFACS admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic background, country of origin, or sex in the administration of education policies, applications for admission, scholarship programs, and extracurricular programs.
KFACS is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our diversity makes us stronger. We desire to nurture an inclusive staff and student body. As followers of Christ, our greatest desire is to love like Jesus by recognizing the value of every person. We strive to treat all humanity with unconditional dignity, respect, and love, while celebrating our differences. We pray to live out God’s kingdom by doing all within our power to create an environment where every student experiences safety, belonging, inclusion, and love. Therefore, it is unacceptable to tolerate or propagate slurs or jokes that target others. Furthermore, we promote a culture where no one remains silent when others suffer, are victimized, or marginalized. We will not tolerate any form of racism, discrimination, bullying, harassment, hatred, or bigotry.
Administration may search a person and/or their personal property. Searches may be conducted at any time on our property or when the student is under the supervision of a school-sponsored activity. Administration may seize any item which is suspected not to be or is not in accordance with school or state policy, or has potential to interfere with the safety of others. Search may include lockers, backpacks, purses, cars, or any other personal belongings. The administration reserves the right to ask for electronic devices to be unlocked. Any confiscated property may be returned at the discretion of the school administration or turned over to the law enforcement as needed. Administration may perform random searches. Administration will use the right for individual search and seizure to the best of their ability when there is reasonable suspicion to believe there is evidence of a violation of school policy or state law.
We encourage parents to communicate directly with teachers by utilizing teacher contact information as printed in the handbook, and the REMIND app. To protect teacher/student relationships, we ask that students contact their teachers only through approved applications [examples: REMIND app or school email], and not through texting on personal devices. Our school policy requires teachers to also avoid contacting students privately on any social media sites.
Administration has the right to test for inappropriate substances. Students under the influence of inappropriate substances or found to be in possession of prohibited or illegal items or substances will face school disciplinary action, arrest, and/or prosecution.
As a school, we do our best to follow legal documentation for custodial requests. We cannot make custody accommodations for your child without appropriate court orders. If there are any custody orders or restrictions regarding your family that impact your student in this school, please inform us and provide copies of legal documentation.
Our school operates in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). It is our goal to maintain confidentiality regarding student information and records. Student information and records will not be disseminated without parental or legal guardian permission. A parent, legal guardian, or eligible student may inspect and review education records upon request. We will comply with a request for access to records by a parent, legal guardian, court order, or eligible student within a reasonable period of time.
Parents and students are encouraged to speak with administration or a trusted staff member when they have a safety concern.
Fire drills will be practiced on a monthly basis. Earthquakes and locked downs will also be practiced three to four times a year.
Under Oregon's law, it's a crime to possess sexually explicit images of minors, create or share sexually explicit images of minors, or use a minor in a display of sexually explicit conduct. Both adults and minors can be prosecuted under these laws. And because the law doesn't require images to be of another minor, taking or sexting sexually explicit selfies count as crimes. Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.665 to 163.689 (2020)
The Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Office of Education (The Oregon Conference) prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any kind. This policy defines these terms and provides a complaint procedure for all persons described in subsection (5)(b) of Senate Bill 197 (SB197) who believe they have been victims of prohibited conduct.
This policy includes sexual harassment of students by students or staff members; sexual harassment of staff members by students or other staff members; and sexual harassment of persons described in subsection (5)(b) of SB197 by students or staff members. It may also encompass any conduct that a reasonable person in the individual’s circumstances would consider unwelcome, hostile, intimidating, threatening, humiliating, abusive, offensive, or violent behavior that is not necessarily illegal, but is still prohibited by this policy.
It is the Oregon Conference policy to provide a learning environment free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. Beyond the legal requirements, it is the expectation for all members of our school community that we follow Biblical counsel and Jesus’ example to respect and affirm every person as made in the image of God and loved deeply by Him.
It is our policy that all students, staff members, volunteers, and visitors to the school are entitled to a respectful and productive learning environment free from behavior, action, or language that constitutes harassment or discrimination. The “school” includes when any individual is on school premises, at a school-sponsored off-site event, traveling on behalf of the school, or conducting school business, regardless of location.
Sexual harassment is a form of harassment and includes, but is not limited to 1) unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other conduct of a sexual nature, explicit or implicit; 2) unwelcome verbal or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with performance or creating a hostile, intimidating or offensive environment.
Sexual Abuse or Assault is 1) conduct of a sexual nature directed toward a person younger than the age of consent or a person who is unable to give consent; 2) unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that is inflicted upon a person or compelled through the use of physical force, psychological or emotional manipulation, threat, or intimidation.
This policy prohibits conduct based on an individual’s protected status. The following examples, while not comprehensive, represent prohibited behavior:
Physical harassment, including but not limited to unwelcome physical contact such as touching, impeding or blocking movement, or any physical interference;
The Oregon Conference will not tolerate discriminatory conduct, harassment, or sexual assault. Any individual found to have engaged in such conduct may face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
The Oregon Conference prohibits retaliation against any individual for filing a complaint regarding conduct in violation of this policy. The Oregon Conference will not tolerate retaliation against any student or staff member for raising a good faith concern, for providing information related to a concern, or for otherwise cooperating in an investigation of a reported violation of this policy.
Any student or staff member aware of or experiencing discrimination, harassment, or sexual assault at school or participating in school-related activities should report that information immediately and may make the report verbally or in writing to an immediate supervisor or school administration.
The school administrator/principal shall contact his/her superintendent to report any information or incident he/she becomes aware of regarding discrimination, harassment, or sexual assault.
a. providing resources for support measures to the student/staff
b. taking any action necessary to remove future impact on the student/staff
c. investigating and document all complaints
d. communicating with involved students/staff and parents. The individual who initiated the complaint and, if
applicable, the student’s parents shall be notified:
i. when an investigation is initiated
ii. of the protected rights of the student reporting
iii. when an investigation is concluded and whether a violation of this policy was found to have occurred
e. documenting action(s) taken.
5. Local law enforcement may be involved if required by the facts of the incident.
Nothing in this policy precludes any person from filing a formal grievance to the Bureau of Labor and Industries’ Civil Rights Division or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Note that Oregon state law requires that any legal action taken on alleged discriminatory conduct (specifically that prohibited by ORS 659A.030, 659A.082 or 659A.112) commence no later than five years after the occurrence of the violation. Other applicable laws may have a shorter time limitation on filing.”
