Community Policies

The Purpose of Amicus Classical Academy beyond our mission statement is to create a unified academic environment in which our homeschooled students can share in the camaraderie of learning alongside their peers, and where homeschool parents can share the load of teaching and lead learning together. When stepping into something as beautifully cooperative as ACA, with the freedom to make changes to support our community as needed, it is important to understand a few more basic policies:

Communication

Slack is our primary communication interface at ACA. Instructors post their weekly updates there, calendars, yearbook photos, logistical details, curriculum updates and more are found here. Older students have direct access to their instructors and can ask for clarification or help easily by using Slack.

Students 7th grade and older are allowed a Slack account. Student cell phones are not allowed to be used on campus without specific permission.

Parental Involvement while at ACA

Our current need based on our enrollment is for each parent to instruct for about 2.5 - 3 hours of teaching each week. Parents are encouraged to be with their students during the times they aren't instructing. There are also downtime opportunities to fellowship with other parents, sub for missing instructors, work on organizational or clean up tasks, or help with any other needs that arise.

The unique atmosphere of the Amicus community creates a very organic kind of ebb and flow of fellowship throughout the day - a soft of "all hands on deck" and "at ease" feeling at the same time. Community day is not a time where parents are able to work on outside jobs or "check out" on screens.

Application & Attendance Policies

All families assume full responsibility for any Accident/Medical insurance needed to cover their child in case of accidental injury, or the like, while their child is attending Amicus Classical Academy.

All families are required to pay their family fees on time and in one lump sum. Families are responsible for the purchase of all needed curriculum.

Parents are required to be on campus with their students each and every week. Because of the nature of the interdependence on each other at ACA, each family is asked to commit to keep planned absences non-existent if possible. If you do have a planned absense for the school year, please alert the board of directors. You are responsible for finding appropriate subs when needed.

Also, all students need to be fully enrolled at Amicus - all classes are required. There is a possible exception to this only in the Quest 3 and 4 levels (11th and 12th grade) but is subject to board approval.

Instructor Policies

All ACA instructors are parents and educators of their own children first and foremost. They share the load with our community to stay ahead of their class and being the lead learner of their particular subjects. This frees up the real teachers (parents) to follow your lead, ask you and questions, and ask for your guidance along the way.

Instructors are not the "expert" in their subject or expected to always know the answers. It is not the responsibility of the instructor to create students who are masters in the subject. Mastery is always up to the student- in any realm of learning. Instructors do not have the authority to grade papers, pass/fail students or give final grades. They can assign tests with corrections given and pass them back to their students. And they are responsible for giving number grades to the parents (Quest only) and speaking with parents individually about any places their student may be struggling. Instructors need to be prepared for class before arriving at Amicus each week and are responsible for the management and discipline of the classroom and weekly Slack posts.

Non-enrolled people on campus & Special Days

Bringing non-enrolled children (0-17) to Amicus with you for the day should only be considered in an emergency situation. Any non-enrolled direct family members 18 years and older visiting Amicus requires board knowledge if they are coming for any reason other than on our special Presentation Days, Christmas Parties, field days, or other fun events planned by our members. Spouses visiting do not require board approval but will not be allowed to sub or be in a classroom by themselves with you unless they have been background checked by ACA.

Nursery and Aftercare

Nursery is provided for any children not old enough for Approach (younger than 4). This does not require an extra fee at this time. Nursing infants are welcome to be in the nursery and are welcome in classrooms as well provided they are not creating a distraction for the instructor or students.

Any child too young to be enrolled in Crossover (younger than 9) will be in Aftercare in the afternoon.