Letter To Prospective Families

Dear Parents:

Thank you for your interest in Friendship Christian School, a ministry of Friendship Baptist Church. FCS is a traditional school that has been in existence since 1970. Since the first graduating class in 1980, we have graduated over 500 hundred students. Our mission and purpose is “Working together with the home in training God's child.” The primary goals of FCS are to provide a spiritual and academic complement to the Christian home, to assist the fundamental local church in reaching youth with the gospel, and to encourage young people toward fruitful service for the Lord Jesus Christ. We are accomplishing this by viewing the parents and the church as an integral part of that education; employing a godly, separated, dedicated, and qualified staff; using a Christ-centered curriculum, and utilizing all possible resources that will advance and enhance the educational experience.

I have taken the time to list some of the answers to our most frequently asked questions. Feel free to contact us with any additional questions that you may have.

Admissions: FCS is most effective when working with families who share our commitments. Therefore, priority is given to these families in the admissions process. Each family and each student admitted to FCS is expected to exhibit a cooperative spirit. Parents and students should read the Parent/Student Handbook for a description of the School's standards and expectations. The school only admits students who want to attend FCS. Negative attitudes about the Christian faith or the School will prevent admission. The student application, interview, and references are used to determine a student's suitability for admission.

The school's exact admission standards are presented out in a separate document. The admissions standards and procedure are located on the school's website, www.friendshipchristian.net, under admissions.

Admissions Policy: Friendship Christian School admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic 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, national, or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, or scholarship administered programs.

Achievement Tests: Achievement tests are given to all new students who enroll at FCS. The results are used to determine academic deficiencies and to establish grade placement. Each spring, the Stanford Achievement Tests are given to all students in grades K-5 through 12 to insure on-going academic development. Our students consistently score an average of 1 year and 3 months above the national grade equivalent average.

Arrival and Departure Times: Early drop off begins at 7:30. All K5-12 grade students report to the lunchroom. K3-K4 students must be walked directly to their classroom. No students are to be dropped off before this time unless special arrangements have been made. Middle School and High School students will be allowed to enter FCS at 7:40 a.m. School begins at 7:50 a.m. School begins at 8:00 for kindergarten and elementary. Students in those grades will be picked up by their teacher in the lunchroom at 7:45. Students should plan to be at their respective classrooms by that time. Students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m.

Bible: Bible is a required subject at FCS. The foundational resting point has to be that the Bible is the inherent, infallible, and inspired Word of God (II Tim. 3:16-17, II Pet. 1:21, I Cor. 2:13). The Bible is the source of all Truth in all areas of life (Jn.17:17). It must be considered all encompassing; all of life must be looked at through the Word of God as the eyepiece. In establishing this fact, then it also must be held that Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, is God's Truth revealed as the Living Word (Jn. 1:1-3, Heb. 1:2-3). It also concludes that Creation is God's Truth revealed in a natural way (Ps. 19:1-2, Ro. 1:19-20). We must hold these truths as the foundation upon which to build. A Christian school is privileged to use this most important source in the process of character building. The Bible is one of the most necessary tools of our school. Without a working knowledge of the Bible, a student can hardly be considered educated in the truest sense. To maintain conformity, all students must have a King James Version of the Bible.

Books and classroom supplies: Textbooks are included in the student resource fee. In the case of lost textbooks, students will be charged for the total price of replacement of such books. Each student must furnish his own supplies (i.e., pens, pencils, etc.). The classroom supply lists are provided at the end of each school year for the next school year.

Chapel: Chapel is vital to the life of a student attending FCS. It is compulsory, and no student will be excused from attendance. Students must bring their Bibles to chapel. Students will be expected to display the same type of behavior in Chapel as displayed in the classroom. The chapel service will include singing, special speakers (when available), and time for personal testimonies.

Curriculum: The A Beka and Bob Jones curricula are our primary texts.

Dress Regulations: Our dress code policy stresses modesty, appropriateness and godliness. It is our desire that the dress code contributes to the education process and does not distract from it. Parents are expected to make sure their child is dressed daily according to the school's standards.

Grading System:

Lunches and snacks: About 40% of our students order a hot, nutritious, catered lunch. The rest of the students bring their lunches from home. Drinks, chips, ice cream, and other snack items are sold at the school. In addition to a lunch time, the kindergarten sessions have a daily classroom snack time.

Aftercare Program: We offer an afternoon extended care that starts at 3:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. The aftercare program operates only when school is in session. If school is closed, so is aftercare.

Postlude: Attendance at Friendship Christian School is a privilege and not a right. This privilege may be forfeited by any student who does not conform to the standards and regulations of the institution. The school may, at any time, request the withdrawal of any student who, in the opinion of the school, does not conform to the rules and regulations of the school. Those who do not maintain a level of scholarship consistent with that of his tested abilities or the school's academic standards may be requested to withdraw.