Family-School Partnership & Expectations

We believe that home and school should function in dynamic partnership. A positive and constructive relationship between the school and a student’s family is essential for the fulfillment of the school’s mission.

In order to have the most positive results in the education of each child, commitment to healthy and effective communication between parents and the school is vital. Faculty and staff at Minnehaha Academy are committed to working closely with parents.

Community Interactions

Parents, staff, and faculty are expected to interact respectfully with all Minnehaha employees, parents, and students on school grounds and at school events. Abusive language, raising one’s voice, insulting, intimidating, or threatening behavior to anyone on school grounds is not appropriate and the person will be asked to leave the property immediately. Parents must not enter into any contractual agreements with third party vendors on behalf of Minnehaha Academy without prior consent from an authorized administrator.

Effective Communication

It is proper to handle concerns or raise questions with the most direct level first (i.e. teacher, coach, or staff member most closely related to the concern). Teachers and staff can be reached through their school email addresses. (lastnamefirstname@minnehahaacademy.net ) It is our policy not to discuss any significant question or concern by email, as there is too much chance of unintentional miscommunication. To serve your children well, we need to understand one another clearly. If you send us such a message, you can expect a reply inviting you to set up a time to talk directly.

If the parent is not satisfied at that juncture, the next step is to involve the Principal to seek resolution. Meetings need to be prearranged; parents can schedule an appointment through email or by phoning the office.

The President of Minnehaha Academy is the final arbiter for any disputes that are unable to be resolved by the Principal, including parent issues or student disciplinary issues.

Minnehaha Academy may choose to discontinue enrollment or re-enrollment of a student if the school reasonably concludes that the actions of the parent or guardian make it impossible to have a positive, constructive relationship, if financial obligations are not met as agreed upon contractually or in writing with school administration, or if their actions otherwise seriously interfere with the school’s accomplishment of its educational purpose.

Parent-School Communication

While teachers cannot generally return voicemails or emails during the instructional day, they will do their best to respond within 24 hours (excluding weekends). Administrators also may not be immediately available, but will do their best to respond in a timely manner.

Parent Square

Minnehaha uses a platform called Parent Square for school communication. Parents should regularly review the information, and may customize their notification settings on the app. Teachers use Parent Square to provide information about what’s happening in their class as well as any upcoming events or reminders. The Principal will also send regular broadcasts to parents with important information and reminders about upcoming events.

The information in Parent Square may be used solely for the purpose of connecting in positive ways with other Minnehaha families; the information or images may not be shared with anyone outside of our school community.

Redhawk Tip: Find calendars, lunch menus and other pertinent information on our Current Families portal.

Off-Campus Conduct and Social Media

We expect all students and parents to adhere to our community standards and to create a caring community where all members feel respected and valued. The Minnehaha community extends beyond the boundaries of the school’s property. As such, off-campus behavior by students that adversely impacts the safety and well-being of members of this community can become grounds for disciplinary action by the school. This includes online behavior as well and pertains to posting or sending images or messages that negatively impact or impugn the school or any of its community members. The school is unable to monitor and investigate all behavior that occurs off campus. Among other things, factors that may impact the school’s ability to investigate and/or address off-campus conduct include whether the conduct is in connection with a school activity or function, the scope of impact of a student’s or parent’s off-campus behavior on the school community, whether the student’s or parent’s conduct poses a material threat of harm to the school community, the school’s ability to effectively investigate matters that occur off campus and outside school-related activities and the availability of other processes to address the behavior (e.g., police involvement).

As with other off-campus conduct, social media has the potential to impact the safety and well-being of the social community. Minnehaha Academy takes the protection of all students and our school’s brand seriously, and we expect all students to do the same. Students must be mindful of how they represent Minnehaha Academy off-campus, including on social media. and always use good judgment when posting online, including commenting and interacting on online posts. Consider student privacy when posting photos, including those of school-related events. It is prohibited to use other students’ personal information without their permission. Creating social media accounts that use the school name, logo, or other brand identifier without permission or inappropriately is strictly prohibited. This includes using any school-related images or text in a manner that could mislead or deceive others. Additionally, any form of online harassment or misconduct, including the use of derogatory language or discriminatory behavior or commenting on other students in a negative way, is not acceptable.

Any student or parent found to be in violation of this policy may face disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion, or in the case of parents, may result in a discontinuance of enrollment or re-enrollment. Discipline policies may apply when use of social media:

violates an established school policy
the content is directed at the school community in such a way that could be reasonably understood to be threatening, intimidating, or defamatory
could potentially cause a substantive and material disruption to the educational process
promotes illegal activity, such as illegal drug or alcohol use, theft, etc. related to students or the school
is obscene, lewd, or plainly offensive, vulgar, indecent, racist, or otherwise inappropriate and relates to the school setting (e.g., sexually suggestive).

School Use of Student Likeness

Parents consent that as a function of their child’s enrollment at Minnehaha Academy, the school may use their child’s photograph, voice, video recording, or school projects in school publications, news releases, and in promotional materials to the public (both online and in print) without compensation or further authorization. This also extends rights to Minnehaha Academy, partner organizations, or the news media to use, edit, reproduce, and publish photographs, video, and audio of the student, both while he or she attends Minnehaha Academy and thereafter in perpetuity.

Sportsmanship

Athletes, and their parents, have a unique position in the school community and have an opportunity to provide leadership by their actions while participating in or being a fan of an athletic program. It is important that this unique position of leadership be utilized in a responsible manner at all athletic practices and contests.

Treat your opponent with respect. Make a special effort to be courteous and respectful even when you feel your team has not been treated fairly. Refrain from posting anything on social media that could be deemed negative toward the opposing team.

Be a humble winner and a proud, respectful loser.
Conduct yourself in a controlled manner.
Use only positive verbal interchange with any person from an opposing team or school.
A fist bump, handshake or pat on the back is the only physical contact acceptable outside of the normal contact allowed in each sport.
Respond to official’s decisions in a controlled manner and with a spirit of good sportsmanship.
Use only positive actions and words toward officials.
Use principles of sportsmanship and fair play regardless of the situation or outcome of the contest.
Make certain that the building and property are in good condition when you finish using them. Respect your opponent’s school and locker room areas; also any personal property in the area.

As a Christian community, we continually look to Jesus as a model for our own behaviors, as well as the behaviors we seek to bring about in our students.

Philosophy of Discipline

We believe that loving and corrective discipline that leads to maturity and responsibility on the part of those who experience it is a shared responsibility of Minnehaha and parents who enroll their children at the school.

The nature of God’s discipline of humanity is an outgrowth of His love for us, which is underscored in Scripture. Minnehaha desires to model the same kindness and love for its students in exercising discipline.

For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:12
For the Lord disciplines those he loves and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. Hebrews 12:6
For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

Through Jesus Christ, God reconciles the world to himself, breaking down the barriers of hostility and estrangement due to our sin. Minnehaha’s God-honoring focus of discipline is also to restore human relationships, just as God desires the restoration of fellowship between himself and all humanity. The reconciliation of the world to God is only possible through the work of Jesus Christ. Minnehaha’s foundation of Christian faith seeks Christlike restoration as an outcome of disciplinary actions.

The intent of our restorative discipline philosophy is to support and empower students to grow in wisdom and stature. As students learn and practice making good choices, they will bless their community and feel blessed in return.

Everyone in the Minnehaha community is responsible for doing their part to build positive connections and trust. At Minnehaha Academy we are committed to maintaining a climate where all individuals feel safe and valued. In order to have a vibrant, healthy environment where students thrive, we hold all students to high standards of behavior.

Students’ actions outside of the school can have an impact inside of school. Therefore, Minnehaha will impose discipline on students for conduct that occurs away from school grounds when such discipline is consistent with the school’s code of student conduct and will be based on the following two factors:

the discipline is reasonably necessary for the student’s physical or emotional safety, security, and well-being, or for reasons related to the safety, security, and well-being of other students, staff, or school grounds, and
the conduct which is the subject of the proposed consequence materially, and substantially disrupts the school environment or educational process.

No set of policies can cover every situation that might arise. Therefore, in addition to the policies and potential discipline outlined in this handbook and other information, the school reserves the right to assign appropriate consequences for other conduct, whether or not set forth in these policies, consistent with overall expectations for student conduct.

Please see your school’s division-specific information regarding discipline.

Parent-Teacher Conferences & Report Cards

Parent-teacher conferences are held twice each year, fall and spring. Parents should make every attempt to attend conferences as these are opportunities for important updates regarding each student’s progress. Report cards are also important communication tools. Grade reports are sent to families at the end of each grading period (Lower School: 2 semesters, Middle School: 3 trimesters, Upper School: 2 semesters). Report cards are not released if there is an outstanding balance on the student’s account. Minnehaha Academy’s Business Office notifies parents of outstanding balances.

Changes in Emergency & Contact Information

It is critical that we can contact parents and those designated as emergency contacts. It is mandatory that parents update this information in Skyward if any of the information changes after the enrollment process.

Continuous Enrollment and Withdrawal

Minnehaha Academy has adopted a Continuous Enrollment system whereby students will be continuously enrolled from the time of admission until their graduation unless dismissed by the school or officially withdrawn by the parent or guardian through the completion of Minnehaha Academy’s Official Withdrawal Notification Form. Minnehaha Academy may determine at any time that a student is ineligible to return due to academic, behavior, financial or other concerns.

If a decision is made for a student to withdraw from Minnehaha Academy for any reason, either by the family or by the school, all school materials must be returned on the final day of enrollment. This includes textbooks, athletic equipment and uniforms, iPads and accessories, and any other materials belonging to the school. The family will be billed for any materials not returned.

By January 31st of each year, Minnehaha Academy will publish the following school year’s tuition rates, the amount of the annual Reservation Deposit, and information regarding Tuition Assistance along with the associated deadlines. Issues relating to tuition and fees will be handled by the Student Accounts staff. Minnehaha’s Tuition Refund policy is available online.

Disclosure of Student Diagnoses and Student Support Philosophy

Minnehaha Academy is committed to supporting our students and strives to provide the services needed to those with diagnosed conditions that may impact the student’s ability to succeed in the school environment and provide reasonable accommodations when appropriate. To ensure the needs of students are known and an assessment of the school’s ability to serve students is conducted, parents are required to provide a copy of a child’s diagnosis and the recommendations associated with it promptly following awareness that a child needs or may potentially need support. The documentation must be provided during the admission process or when a diagnosis is made at any point of a student’s education at Minnehaha that is likely to impact the child’s educational process or behavior in the school setting. We understand that releasing medical records can be concerning for parents of children with mental health, emotional or behavioral challenges. However, for the benefit of your child, it is critical that the information be shared. Information on a child’s diagnosis will only be shared with individuals at Minnehaha who have an educational or behavioral need to know.

Each division has a Student Support Team (SST), which exists to attend to specific learner needs, including academic, social-emotional, and behavioral. The group consists of Minnehaha faculty members that meet weekly to discuss specific student needs, analyze student data, and collaborate with classroom teachers as they provide support to individual learners. SST will determine appropriate student supports and accommodations, including behavior plans, academic intervention, recommendations for evaluations or external professional support, and/or community resources. If a focused student support plan is initiated at school, parents will be notified by SST.

Student and Family Information Privacy Policy

Minnehaha Academy is committed to being a responsible steward of student information. Student information will be used only by those with a legitimate educational interest, on a need-to-know basis, or for the purpose of instructional planning for an individual student. Due to our status as a private school which does not accept public funding, Minnehaha Academy is not bound by the Minnesota data privacy acts or the federal FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act). However, we maintain procedures in keeping with the spirit of that legislation.

The cumulative file is a physical or digital folder which generally contains grades, report cards, standardized test scores, and individual educational assessments. Parents, legal guardians, and students over the age of 18 have the right to see the information in the student’s cumulative file. Upon receipt of a written request to a school administrator, the school will make arrangements for access and arrange a time and place to examine those records.

The school will comply with applicable laws regarding the disclosure of student records. Public laws allow disclosure of information in the cumulative file to school personnel with legitimate educational interests without the consent of a student’s parent or legal guardian, such as to support a student currently receiving instruction, support or services from the school. School personnel includes individuals employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member, as well as any volunteer or contractor who performs similar services and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use of student records. The school will not send an individual educational or psychological assessment report to a third party without parental notification and consent. The school is authorized to allow emergency release of information, should it be necessary to protect the health and safety of students.

Directory information (student name, grade, parent names and emails) is published in Parent Square. Parents are annually given the opportunity to exclude their student’s information from this directory. The information in this directory is strictly intended for the private use of members of the Minnehaha school community and may not be used for any other purpose.

If a parent has a concern about use of student information the school will generally take the following steps:

Gather information about the concern, including who, when, how and where the information was shared or may be shared, as applicable. Involve school administrators as necessary. Evaluate the concern and determine any potential issues under school policy or practice.
If an issue has been identified, provide notice about the specific concerns in writing to the appropriate school personnel in order of involvement: teacher, coach/group leader, counselor, principal, president.
Work with school personnel toward resolution of the issue.

Parent Engagement

MAPT is a parent group focused on building school-wide community. MAPT sponsors events throughout the school year to promote community and foster relationships among families. There are many opportunities to volunteer with MAPT.

Mosaic (Minnehaha Academy Multicultural Family Network) is a parent group committed to building community. Mosaic exists to enhance the understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity throughout Minnehaha Academy and to serve as a bridge between parents, administrators, and faculty on diversity issues. All Minnehaha Academy families are welcome to join this group. Mosaic's vision is to honor God and His diverse Kingdom by sharing our stories and creating spaces for hope, justice, and unity to transform the world..

Volunteers & Background Checks

We value the large number of parents and community members that volunteer at Minnehaha Academy and want to ensure that our procedures are clear and represent excellent practices to ensure the safety of our students.

Background checks are conducted for all employees, coaches and volunteers. Anyone who is authorized by Minnehaha to drive students will complete a motor vehicle recordscheckas well. This aligns Minnehaha Academy with most organizations that work with children and applicable law. Background check authorization forms are completed through an online service. Please check in with the main office for further direction.