Our Savior Lutheran Church operates and maintains Our Savior Lutheran School as a means of teaching and training the children in its congregation and its community in the Christian way of life. Our school, as a part of the total educational program of our congregation, assists parents in carrying out their God-given task of bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Our Savior Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Our school is a ministry of our church and therefore teaches and adheres to the beliefs and practices found at www.lcms.org.
Our Savior Lutheran operates three ministry portions of the school:
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is made up of 35 districts. Our Savior is located in the Florida Georgia District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Rev. James H. Rockey, District President
Mrs. Jennifer Tanner, Executive Director - Schools & Youth Ministry
Address: 5850 TG Lee Blvd. #500, Orlando, FL 32822
Phone: (407) 258-5049
Our Savior Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, religion, national and 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, religion, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies and athletic and other school programs.
Providing a quality Christian education is expensive. As a ministry of Our Savior Lutheran Church, our school receives support from Our Savior Lutheran Church and its members. These members, young and old, believe in the value of a strong Christian Day School and they are committed to the financial and spiritual support of their school.
Upon registering, each child must pay a fee and submit an application. The fee is non-refundable. Registration will not be complete until payments are set up with the finance office.
Tuition and Extended Care fees are based on the NUMBER OF DAYS SCHOOL IS IN SESSION ONLY. They do NOT include vacation periods or days school is closed for faculty in-service. It does include days on which there is an early dismissal.
Tuition payments are to be set up through the Business Manager. Failure to keep accounts current may result in termination of services. Extended Care fees for the days in which school is not in session are due by the date listed on the reservation form. Failure to register by the due date will result in a late fee.
Tuition and Extended Care fees will not be refunded except at the discretion of the School Board. Special consideration may be merited through an appeal to the School Board.
Incidental (i.e. Drop-in extended care, lunches, extension classes) payments brought to school by parents or children are to be placed in the payment slot in the school office. Please indicate in the memo portion for what the payment is to be used. We are not responsible for cash sent with children or through the mail. Kindly make all payments by check. Save your receipts. Checks that are returned to the school will be assessed a returned check fee.
Monthly payments, if not made by the selected payment date, will be assessed a late fee. If accounts are not kept current, students may not be allowed to attend class unless suitable arrangements are made with the principal or the School Board. Quarterly report cards, test scores, awards and records will not be released until all fees are paid.
Our belief and philosophy at OSLS is that all of us want the best possible education for your child. We all are part of a team that endeavors to ensure that your child is building a sure foundation for the future. Each of us has a variety of expectations. There are many things that you can do to be a strong support to the education of your child. We encourage you, as parents, to prayerfully consider what you can do to strengthen your child’s education at OSLS.
Grievances
Matthew 18:30 (NIV) “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” To improve the level of communication between home and school when difficulties arise, the following steps have been identified to assist with conflicts and/or grievances regarding school matters. It is best to handle conflict in a Christ-like manner.
Step 1: Personal Communication - As identified in Matthew 18:30, it is the direction of the Holy Scriptures to FIRST communicate your grievance to the person you have the grievance against. Oftentimes, grievances or conflicts are based on poor communication or lack of information. In step #1, each party has an opportunity to clarify their position, more fully understand the other party’s positions, and begin communication to resolve the grievance/conflict.
Step 2: Principal - If, after completing the first step, you feel the grievance/conflict has not been resolved, the matter should be brought to the attention of the Principal and be discussed in a private, personal conference. If time has passed, it is productive to return to the person with whom you have a grievance to discuss further.
Step 3: School Board Chair - If the grievance/conflict has not been resolved in the first two steps, the matter may be brought to the attention of the School Board Chair. Within the Christian spirit, conflicts between individuals should never be brought up in public (i.e. PTF meetings, congregational meetings, church meetings, hallways, parking lot, emails, blogs, Facebook, etc.). Private counseling and conflict resolution is strongly encouraged as a tool to resolve differences.
Please visit the PTF page for more info
Service Hours
Each school family is asked to complete at least 10 HOURS of service per school year. You are responsible for recording your service hours in the Volunteer Book in the office(22-23 school year) Family Portal or Family App (23-24 school year and following). Service hours can be performed by a parent/guardian, grandparent or an older child of high-school or college age.
Background Checks
To protect our students, each year, parents, guardians, or other volunteers who wish to drive for field trips, or participate in other classroom activities (i.e. tutoring, secret presenter, etc.) may do so if they submit to and pass a background check, and are approved by the administration. Background check information is available in the school office.
Volunteer Guidelines
Volunteers are dedicated persons, and they help the school serve the students. Volunteers enhance the learning of students by assisting in a variety of ways. These guidelines are designed to be helpful for volunteers who have sustained contact with students. They are intended to make volunteering a valuable experience for the students and for the volunteer.
Volunteers do not discuss a child’s apparent behavior difficulties or academic needs with the child’s parent—and certainly not with other parents. Volunteers who have concerns about what they’ve observed should discuss their concern with the teacher or the administrator. Contact with the home should come from the professional staff.
Student Behavior Discipline is under the direction of the trained professional staff. Volunteers are not responsible for administering any disciplinary measures. The volunteer should instead report behavior difficulties to the teacher.
Field Trips
Special trips may be planned by teachers to support the curriculum and enhance the school experience. Parents will sign a consent form upon registration, which allows their child to attend each trip in which their class participates. Your child’s teacher will announce field trips to you in advance. Drivers and chaperones are needed throughout the year for classes to take field trips. You must have an approved background check to participate.
Guidelines for parents who drive on field trips will be shared prior to the trip. Parents who drive are responsible for these students and are not to stop at any location other than the arranged stop. Drivers are not permitted to bring any additional children, as they will distract the adult's attention from the students.
Students in grades 4-8 may participate in trips that involve staying overnight. Guidelines for parents who chaperone on overnight trips will be shared prior to the trip.
Early Arrival
7:30 am - 8:00 am - Before school extended care is available. For the safety of your child(ren), please park in a designated are and walk your child to their assigned room. No outside supervision is provided during this time. All K-8 students are to check in at their assigned room. Any student arriving before 8:00 a.m. will check into morning extended care and the regular hourly rate will be charged.
Do not leave cars parked and unattended in the circle drive in front of Wegner Hall. Do not park in the Handicapped Parking unless you have the correct permit. For the safety of our students the speed limit in the parking lot is 10 miles per hour.
8:00 am - 8:15 am – All students should be dropped off at their designated areas. Students must go directly to their classrooms or morning care. For their safety, Preschool, pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten students are to be walked to their classrooms by an adult.
Children who are not in their classroom by the appropriate time must go to the office to check in and get a pass. Students who arrive after the beginning time will be marked tardy, unless a doctor’s excuse is provided.
To begin our day on time, we ask that parents leave all classroom areas five minutes prior to class start time. The teacher’s primary duty in the morning before school begins is the supervision and orderly beginning of the day. Please do not use this time to conference with a teacher. If you need to speak with a teacher, an appointment should be made after 3:15 p.m. You may also relay, in writing, any important messages or changes in routine to the classroom teacher.
You are welcome and encouraged to participate in events on campus. We ask that you coordinate visits to your child’s classroom through the school office. Please make sure your background check is completed in advance of the event.
If your student forgets an item in the morning, it may be brought to the school office. Students may not call home unless they have permission from their teacher.
Dismissal
Afternoon dismissal takes place at different stations around our campus. At the start of the school year, your classroom teacher will explain drop-off and pick-up procedures for your child’s class.
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm - Students in Preschool through Pre-K are picked up at the main school entrance.
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm - See Car Line Map
Please pull up to the pickup area and remain in your car until your child is brought to you. According to Florida law, students must use seat belts/car seats with regard to their age and weight. It is recommended that young children not sit in the front seat of a car equipped with passenger-side air bags.
If your child is to leave with someone who is not on the regular pickup list, please send a note or email to the teacher and office in the morning. Picture identification will be required at any time the staff does not recognize the person picking up.
After Dismissal
Preschool/Pre-K children remaining after 3:15 pm or K - 8th grade students remaining 3:30 pm (Dismissal for the 24-25 school year is 3:15 pm for all students.) will be sent to extended care and charged from the time of their dismissal, according to our fee schedule. No one other than the parent or designated person(s) recorded on the Enrollment Form may pick up a child without specific permission from the parent. Please notify the school office if your child is to be picked up by an undesignated person. No child will be permitted to leave the school grounds during school hours without the permission of the parent, and a staff member.
Noon Dismissal
When there is a half-day of school scheduled, all students will be dismissed at noon. Students who remain after 12:15 p.m. will be sent to extended care and charged according to our fee schedule starting at noon. Children absent from school the morning of a half-day will not be able to attend after care unless a doctor’s notice is given.
There is no lunch service on noon dismissal days, please pack a lunch for your child if they are staying in aftercare.
School Attendance
Regular school attendance is required of all students in VPK, Elementary, and Middle School. Medical and dental care, which cannot be arranged outside of school hours and other emergencies only, should be considered as valid reasons for absence from school. Upon return from school, students who are at a doctor or dentist should bring proof of the visit to the school office.
Absences
After a total of 5 absences (either excused or unexcused) in a quarter, a notice will be given in regard to attendance. If a student has 7 absences in a quarter, parents will be required to meet with the principal to establish a plan of how the family will honor the commitment of attendance so the student's enrollment is not in jeopardy. Efforts should be made to maintain a continuity of learning during the child's absence. Parents should weigh carefully their request to have a child excused from school.
Please see the Grading section for information regarding make-up assignments during a student's absence.
Illness
Your child should not come to school if ill or with a fever. A child with a fever will be sent home and cannot return for at least 24 hours. For the health of our student body and staff, we ask that students not return until they are well. (It is recommended that students not return until 24 hours of fever-free without medication.) If your child is out with any contagious illness or condition, such as strep throat, chicken pox, conjunctivitis, impetigo, measles, ringworm, etc., a medical release from your child’s physician should be brought to the office upon your child returning to school.
If a child contracts an illness which is regulated by the Health Department, he or she must be cleared by the Health Department to return to school.
Parents should inform the school office by email to school.office@oursaviorfl.org or call the school office by 9:00 a.m. on the day that the student will not attend. Students who are absent on days of programs, sports events, or other after school activities may not participate in that afternoon’s/evening’s activity.
Absence from Physical Education
If your child is to miss P.E. because of injury or illness a letter should be sent, and given to the homeroom teacher in the morning, stating the dates the student should not participate. Students who are excused from PE will not be allowed to participate in recess during these times. If the period to be excused is longer than one week, a doctor’s note is needed. Missing PE class repeatedly, without a doctor’s note, may affect the PE grade. Students who are medically excused from PE for an extended period of time may have written work in place of activity.
Tardiness
It is important that all students arrive on time for instruction. This means strive to arrive at 8:00 am when classrooms open so students have time to ease into their day by 8:15 am. Bringing students to school after the appropriate time disrupts the morning routine and distracts students from their lessons. Students who are tardy more than 20% of the time may be placed on probation or suspended.
Vacations
Parents are encouraged to schedule vacations outside of school days. Families should seek approval to miss school from the principal. Assignments missed due to vacations will be given upon return from a trip.
Early Pick Up
The last thirty minutes of school is wrap up time in each classroom. Try to avoid this window of time as much as possible. When picking a child up before the end of the school day, please sign your child out in the office. The student will be called to the office for dismissal.
Behavior Expectations of OSLS Students
Student Conduct and Discipline
The goal of Christian discipline is to enable students to move from externally imposed discipline to self-discipline and, finally, to a Christian example for others.
Our Savior's staff assists students in working towards this goal. Students are given guidelines for appropriate behavior. Positive reinforcement is given for adhering to these guidelines. Specific classroom rules will be sent home during the first week of school.
Students are encouraged to look beyond themselves and live their lives as Christ modeled for us. Our Savior Lutheran School provides an atmosphere in which the student's personal growth is fashioned after Christ and quality relationships are fostered.
Parents and school working together as unified partners will assist the child in achieving this ultimate goal of disciplined Christian living.
The following guidelines should be observed on campus and at all school-sponsored events:
The guidelines listed above also apply to extended care students.
It is our desire to offer every student at Our Savior Lutheran School a fine Christian and academic education. However, there are certain behaviors which interfere with this process and cannot be tolerated at school. Violation of these policies and guidelines will result in the following:
FIRST VIOLATION: Warning: Parents of the student who is being disciplined are communicated with explaining the violation.
SECOND VIOLATION: Warning: Parents of the student who is being disciplined are communicated with explaining the violation and requesting a parent consultation.
THIRD VIOLATION: A one day, in-school suspension will be served, parents of the student who is being disciplined called for consultation, and the School Board will be notified of disciplinary action. The student is put on probationary enrollment.
FOURTH VIOLATION: A one day, out-of-school suspension will be served, parents of the student who is being disciplined called for consultation, and the School Board will be notified. The student is put on probationary enrollment.
FIFTH VIOLATION: Indefinite suspension until the School Board makes a decision on the case, including expulsion.
While the offenses are cumulative for one school year, the principal can recommend to the school board not enrolling the student for the next year or that the student be granted enrollment for the following year in a probationary status. Some violations may count as two offenses. In-school and out-of-school suspensions may be given, by the principal or the School Board, at any time, for behavior that, they determine, warrants such action.
THE ABOVE POLICY is designed to serve most discipline situations. However, in cases of flagrant actions the administration or School Board has the power to overrule the steps of this policy.
It is very important that all parents and students understand that severe cases of discipline, as well as improper academic, online and social behavior will not be condoned on our campus or while involved in school sponsored activities off campus.
All uniforms must be of the correct size and in good repair. OSLS items may be purchased through Risse Brothers at: (https://www.rissebrothers.
Our Savior Lutheran School is a place of student learning within a Christian environment. We strive to create an effective learning space while reducing unnecessary distractions. It is important that parents understand that some of today’s styles, logos, symbols, etc. promote a level of immodesty, disrespect and/or distraction that is inconsistent with the scriptural standards of OSLS. The dress code seeks to minimize differences in outward appearance and maintain a standard of modesty and discretion, thereby maximizing opportunities to focus on learning.
At OSLS, the appearance/dress code is based on three standards as a guide for determining the appropriateness of a student’s appearance.
Regular School Day Uniform
PE Uniform
Jewelry
A conservative approach to the use of accessories and/or jewelry is expected. Boys may not wear earrings.
Make-Up
Hairstyles
The curriculum is aligned with the requirements of the State of Florida and meets suggestions outlined by the Curriculum Guide for Lutheran Schools established by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Our Savior is fully accredited in the State of Florida and nationally by National Lutheran School Accreditation. All faculty members are required to obtain State certification or have expertise in their subject area. Subjects and materials used are usually reviewed on a five-year cycle.
In keeping with the purpose of Our Savior Lutheran School, our curriculum begins with the Word of God. The truths of the Bible are taught not only during the religion period, but these truths permeate all teaching. It is our aim to instill into the hearts and minds of the children entrusted to us a Christian philosophy of life—to love Jesus, love people, serve the world, a philosophy that will lead to interpretation and evaluation of every facet of experience from the Christian viewpoint.
Preschool and Pre-K
Teachers will formally assess student development two to three times a year for Preschool and Prekindergarten students. A copy of this assessment will be shared with parents/guardians. Teachers use portfolios to share examples of the student's progress.
Report cards – Grades K-8
Report cards are issued four times a year. Your child’s progress will be discussed at Parent-Teacher consultations following the first quarter. Additional meetings may be held at the request of the parent or the teacher. Report cards will be given to students during the week following the end of the second and third marking period. The final report card will be issued on the last day of school.
Grading procedure
In grades 1-8, scores on classwork, homework, and tests are taken and averaged. The letter grades that correspond to the percentage scale are:
Grading (1st – 8th Grade)
Letter Percentage GPA (5th – 8th Grade)
A 90-100 4.0
B 80-89 3.0
C 70-79 2.0
D 60 - 69 1.0
F 59 & below 0.0
Grades will be weighted using the total number of classes per week.
Effort grades will be designated as: S+ Outstanding, S Satisfactory, S- Average, N - Needs improvement, and U - Unsatisfactory.
Monitor your student’s progress on Gradelink. Parents who have students in Grades 1-8 will be able to monitor their child’s progress through the site www.gradelink.com. Please contact the school office if you are having difficulty accessing your student’s account.
Homework/Tests
Time is usually given in class for Elementary students to complete many of their assignments. Any work not completed in school should be completed by the time the teacher has said it is due. This is their "homework". Extra work may be assigned if the teacher considers it necessary. Middle School students will be given homework on a daily basis.
All work turned in after it is due shall be considered late. Work that is late will be marked with a deduction in points earned.
Any parent whose child seems to have a large amount of homework on a regular basis should contact the teacher and discuss the situation. Parents should show an interest in the child's work, check what he/she is studying and stay up-to-date on the quality of the work completed. A genuine parental interest in the child's work is extremely valuable and cannot be over emphasized.
It is recommended that children have a definite time each day when studying is to be done. This develops worthwhile study habits and helps the child to have his/her required work completed on time. Studying should be done in a quiet, comfortable, well lit, and well-ventilated location. The child should be alone or away from other distractions if possible.
Students who do not do their own work or look for answers on other students’ tests or assignments will receive a deduction on the complete test or assignment. This deduction may be as much as a F or a zero (0) for the assignment or project.
Please encourage your child to gather all assignments at the end of the day as all classrooms will be locked after school.
Classroom work that is missed as a result of an excused absence will be allowed to be made up. Students will be given two days (up to a maximum of 6) to make up work for each day of excused absence, due to illness, if a note is provided. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the assignments and complete them in the time allotted.
A catering service will be providing our lunches for all days except days with noon dismissal. Lunch will consist of a meal and a drink. In order to order meals you must order lunches ahead so that the caterer can properly prepare the correct quantity of food.
All lunches and drinks should be nutritious and filling. Students will need to include a cold pack with lunches that require cooling. Remember to pack napkins and eating utensils when necessary. Microwaves are not available for student use; please be sure that the lunches sent with your child are ready to eat and do not need warming or cooking. Soda is not allowed during Preschool and Elementary lunch. Middle School students may purchase soda on designated days only.
Illness
Students are required to be in good health while they attend Our Savior Lutheran School. Contagious illnesses must be treated before a student returns to school. If your child is treated by a doctor, please submit a doctor’s note to the office when your child returns to school. Here are key items to keep all students and staff protected and in school.
Illness requiring antibiotics necessitates students to take the medication for a full 24 hours before returning to school. (For example: If a child leaves with symptom(s) at 10 am, the student is first eligible to return to school at 10 am the next school day.)
To prevent the spread of any illness, a child must be free of the follow symptoms for 24 hours:
Tammy Sojka is the Director of After School Program at Our Savior Lutheran School and is overjoyed to be working with each and every student in this upcoming year’s program. Tammy’s kind and caring staff are looking forward to meeting the new students in the After School Program as well as welcoming back the familiar faces.
The full-time after school program operates from the hours of 7:30am-6:00pm. The Aftercare Program facilitates an environment which is conducive for working on homework, complete with all of the necessary equipment which might be needed from the student’s different classes. Although the staff is there to aid in the students homework, if needed, they are not a substitution for parental assistance with a student’s homework.
Your child will meet for check-in at Room 7 for socialization and relaxation. Following this will be a 30-minute “quiet” period that is allotted for homework to be worked on, as well as mathematics, reading for A.R. or any other assigned projects. If your child requires more time than is given to complete their homework assignments, please let their group leader know and appropriate accommodations can be made. Having a conversation with your child about the importance of the rules during homework time is imperative so that every student has the opportunity to succeed in a quiet atmosphere.
Families sign a yearly agreement at the beginning of each school year.
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