Parent & Student Handbook, 2013-2014 - Tandem Friends School

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Admission and hiring committees at Tandem Friends School seek to attract and retain a diverse community of
students, faculty, and staff. Financial assistance is available on a need basis to all in order to reduce socioeconomic
barriers that might limit access to a Tandem Friends School education.
School Hours
STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE ON CAMPUS BETWEEN 8:00AM AND 8:20AM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AT
MORNING MEETING ON TIME. Morning Meeting begins promptly at 8:30AM. Middle School classrooms open at
8:10AM; Middle School students who arrive before 8:10AM should wait in the Middle School Meeting room. School
ends at 3:30PM, or at 3:50PM for those students who are on Work Crew.
Work Crew
No Tandem Friends tradition or daily school activity is more important than Work Crew. Since our
founding, students and teachers have held the responsibility for maintaining our buildings and grounds. Every
faculty member, staff member and student from 6th through 12th grade is assigned to multi­grade Work Crew teams
for two academic quarters each year (either 1st and 3rd quarters, or 2nd and 4th quarters) and is counted upon to be
at his or her assigned work space each school day afternoon from 3:30–3:50PM. Fifth­grade students work under the
supervision of their teacher to clean their own classroom during the same time period (each student works for two
quarters).
Each year, juniors and seniors are selected to act as Work Crew leaders and to supervise the students on their crews.
Athletes who serve on Work Crew are responsible for arranging coverage of their Work Crew duties when they have
an Away game. On Home game days, athletes should complete their Work Crew responsibilities before attending to
their team responsibilities. In the spirit of equality and teamwork, Work Crew leaders and members finish their daily
tasks at the same time.
Students and teachers come to understand that Work Crew is one of the most meaningful “learning laboratories” here
at Tandem Friends. It is crucial that Tandem Friends parents support Work Crew by acknowledging
and honoring their children’s participation.
After School Hours
All Middle School students must leave campus by 4:05PM unless involved in a supervised school activity such as
athletics or drama programs, or they must be signed in to the After­School Study Program located in the cafe. The
latest pick­up time for the After­School Study Program is 5:30PM. Families are billed for this program.
All Upper School students must leave no later than 5:30PM unless involved in a supervised school activity such as
athletics or drama programs. For purposes of security and safety, all doors are locked by 5:30PM.
Attendance
At Tandem Friends School, lateness and absences will be recorded as excused or unexcused. An excused absence or
lateness is one that is reported by a parent or legal guardian and acknowledged by the school. It is crucial that
parents contact the school at 296­1303, extension O before 8:30AM if their child will be late or absent.
Attendance is taken during Morning Meeting (8:30–8:50AM). All students must sign in at the School Office in
the Main Building if they arrive to school after Morning Meeting has begun, and then go directly to
Morning Meeting, where they will be marked late.
"Kindness and Wisdom, with Kindness Always First"