Parents' Handbook

School Hours

Junior Kindergarten: 8:00 am–1:15 pm
Kindergarten: 8:00 am–2:00 pm
Grades 1–2: 8:00 am–2:50 pm
Grades 3–4: 8:00 am–3:05 pm
Grades 5–8: 8:00 am–3:10 pm
Grades 9–12: 8:00 am–3:15 pm

Visitors

All parents and visitors are welcome to Cannon and Bissell campuses, but MUST SIGN IN with the receptionist at the appropriate office to obtain a visitor pass, which should be displayed throughout the visit. Parents and visitors must also SIGN OUT and return the pass prior to departure.

Sign In/Out locations include:

• Athletics Department
• Levine Building Receptionist
• Lower School Office Receptionist
• Middle School Office Receptionist
• Upper School Office Receptionist
• Plant Operations Receptionist

Lunch & Dining

Country Day partners with Aladdin Food Management Services to provide healthy food options. Students can either bring their lunch or purchase it in the dining halls. Every student has an ID card that is scanned, and parents receive a monthly statement from the Business Office.

The lunch calendar is posted monthly on BucsNet so parents can discuss lunch options with their children. Parents, grandparents, and special friends are welcome to visit campus to enjoy lunch with their child, after they’ve signed in.

Campus Stores (BucsShop)

BucsShop, our campus stores, are available on both campuses for students to purchase school supplies and Country Day spirit wear (see your division handbook for guidelines on student spirit wear use during school).

Cannon Campus store hours:

Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–3:30 pm

Bissell Campus store hours:

Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–12 pm

Students and parents can also purchase spirit wear online through BucsGear.

BucsGear

BucsGear is the official Country Day Athletics gear retailer. A partnership with BSN Sports, BucsGear provides students, faculty/staff, parents, and alumni a platform to purchase their favorite products in a variety of colors and logos. Bucs fans can even personalize certain products for a completely customized look.

To order, simply choose your product, color, and logo. Finished items ship to your door in less than seven days and there are no minimum orders. The store is open year round and a customer service team is on call to answer any questions.

Bus Transportation

Bus transportation services are offered to a variety of locations throughout Charlotte. For convenience, we also offer morning and afternoon shuttle service between both Cannon and Bissell campuses. We provide service to the following neighborhoods and bus stop locations:

• Myers Park (Westminster Church, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Christ Church, Little Church)
• Charlotte Country Club (Sugar Creek Charter School)
• Ballantyne (Stonecrest Shopping Center, Ballantyne Country Club)

Enrollment begins in early May for the upcoming school year and is on a first come, first served basis. View 2019–20 bus information and schedule.

Questions
For questions, please contact Lynette Harris, lynette.harris@charlottecountryday.org or call (704) 943-4557.

Textbooks

Middle and Upper School students may purchase both new and/or used textbooks. We partner with MBS Direct as our online textbook provider for grades 5–12. They secure the books and resources needed for each of the classes offered for the school year. In August prior to the start of a new school year, parents can log onto MBS Direct and look up what books and materials are required and place an order. Books are delivered directly to your home. Please note: parents are not required to purchase books through MBS Direct.

Order Textbooks Online

Used Textbook Sale­
As a fundraiser, the Parents’ Association sells used textbooks, with proceeds split between the seller and the Parents’ Association. The Middle School sale takes place at the end of the school year, as well as in August. The Upper School sale takes place in early August. Check the school calendar for exact dates.

Please notify your division as soon as you know your student will be absent, late, or leaving early:

Lower School
Complete this form: LS Student Absence

Middle School
Call (704) 943-4820 or e-mail msattend@charlottecountryday.org

Upper School
E-mail Peggy Carey, peggy.carey@charlottecountryday.org

Tuition & Enrollment

Re-enrollment for the following school year typically begins in late January/early February. An Enrollment Deposit of 10% of tuition is required at the time of re-enrollment, which is credited to the total tuition due. When it's time to re-enroll, parents receive a personalized e-mail with a unique link that brings you to your family's Enrollment Portal.

For questions, please contact Shannon Starnes in Student Billing at shannon.starnes@charlottecountryday.org.

Payment Schedule
There are three payment plans to pay the remainder of the tuition:

• Two equal installments to be paid in July and January,
• A 10-month payment plan that is set up with an automatic bank draft, or
• Full tuition paid by July 15

Tuition and fees can be paid in three methods:

• Online by electronic check or credit card
  • To pay online, make sure you are logged into the parent portal of BucsNet and select Pay Your Bill under Quicklinks.
• Bank auto draft
• Mail a check (to the Business Office, 1440 Carmel Road, Charlotte, 28226)

Incidental Charges
Incidental charges such as dining hall, Campus Store, Extended Day, tutoring, PE uniforms (Middle School), and bus transportation fees are billed on a monthly basis and must be paid either online or by check. Charges are NOT automatically drafted like tuition is.

Questions?
Contact Shannon Starnes in Student Billing, shannon.starnes@charlottecountryday.org or call (704) 943-4555.

Financial Aid

Financial aid helps close the gap between the costs of attending and a family’s ability to pay tuition, as determined by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS). We encourage our families to apply for financial assistance if needed. Financial aid is awarded annually in the form of grants and are based upon a demonstration of financial need, coupled with a student’s individual merits. Learn more about financial assistance.

Questions?
Contact Nancy Ehringhaus, director of admissions and financial aid, nancy.ehringhaus@charlottecountryday.org or call (704) 943-4531.

E-mail Communications

• BucsNOW—weekly parent newsletter e-mailed every Thursday that includes upcoming calendar events, important announcements, information from our parent volunteer groups (such as Parents’ Association and Boosters Club), and school news celebrating our student and faculty achievements.
• Weekly e-mail messages from division heads
• Regular "Good News to Share" from Head of School Mark Reed

SPAM: If you’re not receiving e-mails from us but we have your correct contact information, consider adding noreply@charlottecountryday.myenotice.com and bucsnet@charlottecountrday.org to your Contacts, which will help ensure our messages aren’t ending up in your spam folder.

BucsNet

BucsNet is our comprehensive online resource for Country Day parents, faculty, and staff, providing access to calendars, announcements, school news, divisional information, PowerSchool (academic class information), health forms, athletics schedules, arts events, and more. Be sure to bookmark BucsNet for quick and easy access in the future.

Logging into the Parent Portal

Some information on BucsNet is password protected, such as student health forms, directories, academic information, a photo gallery, and more. For questions about your login information, please contact Bruce Doskocil, bruce.doskocil@charlottecountryday.org.

General Questions

For questions about BucsNet, please e-mail bucsnet@charlottecountryday.org.

Calendar Feeds

Subscribe to and download various iCal feeds. Choose from several categories, including divisions, arts, team schedules, and more.

PowerSchool

PowerSchool learning management system is used by all three divisions to connect students and parents to each classroom. Teachers rely on PowerSchool to share course information and publish tools, resources, and contact details. Middle and Upper School students rely on PowerSchool for all class assignments, online discussions, curricular support, and extracurricular information. To access, parents must be logged into the Parent portal of BucsNet and click on the PowerSchool button on the right.

Emergency Communications

In the event of an emergency or a school delay/closing, we will activate our voice broadcast system and you will receive a phone call, as well as an e-mail. It is critical that we have your most current contact information. From the Parent Portal, click Profile under "My Account" to update your information.

To update your contact information with the school, make sure you are logged onto the Parent Portal of BucsNet. In the top left hand corner, hover over your name and select "Profile." From there, make edits as needed.

Print Publications

Perspectives—school magazine published bi-annually (Fall and Spring).

Annual Report—includes financial report, admissions profile, and donor recognition.

Take Home

Depending on the grade level and class, teachers may have additional methods of communicating with you such as homework agendas, personalized notes, and more.

Asbestos

Twice a year, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Country Day performs surveillance of asbestos materials in our buildings. Country Day began inspections in 1988, as a result of the EPA’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. At that time, 95 percent of asbestos-containing building materials were removed. The remaining 5 percent are encapsulated. Surveillance results are on file in the Plant Operations office.

Custodial/Non-Custodial Parents

Policy on Student Information
The school reminds separated and divorced parents about our policy on sharing school/student performance information and on releasing students from the school campuses:

Country Day welcomes appropriate involvement by custodial, non-custodial, and stepparents in the education of their children. We recognize that the student’s welfare is our mutual concern.

Communications generated by the school (grade reports, teacher comments, standardized test scores, and other mailings) will be distributed to the custodial parent. Furthermore, the school will also distribute the aforementioned communications to stepparents and the non-custodial parent unless an order of the court or other legally binding document prohibits this sharing of information.

Similarly, both natural parents (as well as the stepparents) will be granted permission to visit the student on school grounds or during school-sponsored trips. However, the school may make exceptions to this policy in order to comply with legal documents. In particular, the school must receive specific authorization signed by the custodial parent or from a court of law regarding the removal of a student from the school campus by anyone other than the custodial parent. The school will assume that a child may leave the school campus with either the custodial or non-custodial parent, unless otherwise directed by a signed written agreement or order of the court.

Any written authorizations or documentation regarding access and visitation should be presented to the appropriate division head for Lower, Middle, or Upper School. This information is requested and this policy is formulated to protect the rights of both the student and the parents.

E-mail Lists

For the security and privacy of our parents and students, it is school policy not to share parent e-mail address lists for personal use (i.e. birthday parties), even if an entire grade level is invited to an event.

Non-Discrimination

Admissions
Country Day welcomes students in JK–12 without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin. Country Day does not discriminate in its admission and educational policies, financial aid, athletic, and other school administered programs.

Employment
It is the policy of Charlotte Country Day School not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy extends to recruitment, employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff, termination, compensation, training, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Country Day will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

Student Health Policies

It is essential that the school have adequate and accurate student health information on file at all times. Safe participation in athletic and physical education activities, the precise administering of medications, and the school’s assumption of certain obligations in case of emergencies are governed by the information we receive from parents. Full cooperation with the school’s policies is imperative to providing appropriate supervision.

The school provides minimal first aid for students and notifies the family immediately of any significant accident or illness. When and if, in the judgment of any representative of the school, a student should need immediate care and treatment as a result of any injury or sickness, it is understood that every effort will be made to contact the parents or emergency contacts. If parents/contacts are unable to be reached, then a school nurse, athletic trainer, or qualified school personnel will accompany that student for treatment and assume responsibility acting as a prudent parent would.

Fever/Illness

All students who have a fever of 100°F or greater, vomiting, and/or diarrhea may NOT attend school until they are symptom free for 24 hours.

Required Student Health Forms

Completing health forms is necessary for the safety and security of our students. We partner with Magnus Health to manage our students' confidential health and medical information, a secure and streamlined process for completing health forms online.

Accessing Student Health Forms

To access health forms, log onto the Parent Portal and click the orange "Health Forms" button.

Every new and returning family needs to visit the Magnus Health portal to enter your child's health information by the first day of school or first day of sports practice (if a student-athlete). Since some forms require a physician's signature, we recommend you start this process early.

Steps to Complete Your Child's Health Forms:

• From the Parent portal click the orange "Health Forms" button, which will automatically log you into the Magnus Health portal.
• Follow the prompts and complete the "To Do" tasks for EACH CHILD.
• Download and print the forms you need.
• Take your forms to your physician to have them completed and signed.
• Make a copy of the signed forms for your records and either scan and upload, fax, or mail them to Magnus Health (instructions are available online). Do not send forms to Country Day.
• If you have technical questions about providing forms to Magnus Health, please contact them directly at service@magnushealthportal.com or call (877) 461-6831.

Annual Health Forms

Every year, required health forms need to be completed prior to the start of school or athletic practice:

• Vital Health Record—online general health questions to be reviewed and saved annually.
• Physical Exam-Health History Form—must be completed by a physician and is required for all new students and all athletes, cheerleaders, and dance team participants.
• Annual Medication Authorization Form— if it is necessary for a student to receive over-the-counter (OTC) and/or prescription medication during school hours or while attending an overnight school trip, this form must be completed and signed by the student's parent and physician annually. Please anticipate OTC medications that may be given seasonally or annually (i.e. OTC vitamins, allergy medication, melatonin, magnesium or potassium supplements, etc.) and have your doctor write them in the space provided on the form. Absolutely no medications will be administered by school personnel or be self-administered without written authorization.
• Concussion Awareness Form— all students in grades 7–12 must complete this form.
• Sudden Cardiac Death Awareness Form—all students in grades 7–12 must complete this form.
• Immunization Form—required of new students and rising 7th graders only.
• Diabetes Care Plan, Allergic Reaction Plan, Asthma Action Plan, and Seizure Plan—required only for students with these specific medical conditions.

Questions?

Please direct questions about the forms or other health issues to health@charlottecountryday.org.

Peanut & Nut Policy

Country Day is committed to providing a safe environment for all of its students and we are aware that peanut/nut allergies are among the most common to the students we serve.  While the school cannot guarantee that our campus is “nut free,” we ask that members of our community help us maintain as safe an environment as possible by refraining from bringing obvious nuts or nut products to campus for classroom use. Please be aware that some foods that do not contain obvious nuts may contain trace amounts of nuts that could also cause a severe allergic reaction.  

We also ask that parents of students with severe allergies requiring medical treatment provide an Allergy Action Plan (see Required Health Forms)  and an Epi-pen to the school nurse and/or athletics and Extended Day. Information derived from that action plan will be very important in helping provide as safe a school as possible.

Due to developmental conditions and differences, each school division (Lower, Middle, and Upper) has specific guidelines and policies as it relates to preventing allergic reactions on campus. They work individually with families of students with allergies to provide as safe an environment as possible.

If you have questions specific to your child’s division, please contact your division head and/or division’s nurse.

Contact Our Nurses

Cannon Campus: 7:30 am–6 pm

(704) 943-4569 or (704) 943-4568
Liz Grasty, RN
Gwen Nix, RN, BSN

Bissell Campus: 7:30 am–3:30 pm

(704) 943-4826
Wendy Barber, RN 

Cancellation of School

Decisions to close or delay opening of school due to inclement weather are made jointly by the heads of Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Latin School, Providence Day School, and Charlotte Christian School before 6:00 am, when conditions clearly warrant. These decisions are based on the sharing of individual school surveys of school neighborhood conditions/bus routes, information gathered from weather services and, if needed, transportation and street maintenance departments. Country Day families commute from neighborhoods throughout Charlotte and from cities one or more hours away. When a judgment is made that school can be open during inclement weather, the final decision on whether a student attends school or drives to school rests with the parents.

Should inclement weather force school closings or a delayed start, we will:

• Activate the school’s emergency “broadcast” system to send a recorded message to phone numbers listed in our directory, as well as an e-mail to addresses on file.
• Post an announcement by 6 am on the Country Day “Emergency Weather Hotline” at (704) 943-4745, BucsNet, Country Day Web site (charlottecountryday.org), facebook.com/charlottecountryday.org and twitter.com/CCDSNews.
• Report announcements of closing or delayed start to major local television and radio stations. With high volume of announcements reported to media stations, the actual broadcast of specific school information may not occur quickly. Specific station Web sites (such as wbtv.com) will contain information immediately.

Delayed Opening of School

Each of our schools attempts to avoid delayed school openings because of the complicating impact on family, work, childcare, and transportation schedules. If it is determined, however, that a delayed opening is in the best interest of our students and faculty/staff, the start of the school day will be delayed by two hours and classes (JK–12) will begin at 10 am. A delayed opening will not impact any end of the school day or normal after-school activities, such as Extended Day or athletics.

Early Closing of School

Should hazardous weather conditions develop while school is in session, announcements of school closing will be communicated the same way as listed above. 

We request that parents rely on these announcements, rather than call the school and tie up lines needed for emergency communication. We also request that parents discuss with their children family transportation and prompt pick-up plans for days when weather conditions may force an early school closing. On such days, faculty members will remain on campus in key locations until all students have departed. Students in the Middle School are requested to leave information with the school office if they are going home in a manner different from their usual method. 

All Lower School students who are not picked up at their classrooms prior to or at dismissal times will be brought to Claudia Watkins Belk Hall and will wait by grade levels in the designated classrooms listed below for their parents/carpools. The After School Program (Extended Day and Enrichment Classes) will not operate when school is closed for inclement weather.

JK/Kindergarten—Mr. Nicoletti’s Room
Grade 1—Ms. Nim’s Room
Grade 2—Mrs. Williams’ Room
Grade 3—Mrs. Witman’s Room
Grade 4—Mr. Jarrett’s Room

Lightning Policy

To protect students, faculty/staff, parents, and visitors from the potential danger of lightning strikes, Country Day uses a lightning detection system. It is school policy when a lightning alarm signals, everyone (students, employees, parents, visitors) must move inside a building for safety. If the lightning alarm signals during carpool, students will not be allowed to load or unload from cars until the all-clear signal is given. Should a parent choose to park, walk in, and pick up their child, they assume the risk of transporting a child during a lightning delay. When possible, signs will be set out to inform drivers that a lightning delay is in progress. 

SIGN IN/SIGN OUT PROCEDURES 

All parents and visitors to Cannon and Bissell campuses are required to SIGN IN using Raptor Technologies guest management system, which allows front office personnel in seven different locations on both campuses to screen visitors to ensure registered sex offenders are not entering school. It also allows our security team to have an accurate account of who is on campus at all times, ensuring their safety and the safety of our students and faculty. 

Check-In Process

Visitors are required to present a photo ID at their first visit. The guest management system uses the ID to instantly check the sex offender registry for every state. The software does not check criminal history, which by law requires written consent of the individual and a qualifying reason for a criminal background check.

Parents and visitors will only have to use their driver’s license the first time they use the guest management system. In subsequent visits, the system will remember the guest and print out a visitor pass along with their photo. 

Locations

• Front offices of Lower, Middle, and Upper School
• Levine Center
• Athletics Office
• Brock Center for Extended Day
• Plant Operations Office

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am picking my child up from the Nurse's Office?
Guests picking up students from the Nurse's Office will still have to check-in at the office, obtain a visitor pass, and then continue on to the Nurse's Office.

What about for events that happen after school hours, such as athletic games, performances, and speakers?
The new guest management system will only be used during school hours.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Harris, lynette.harris@charlottecountryday.org or call security at (704) 943-943-4630.

Traffic Rules

Parents are reminded that special roadway procedures are in place for major campus events in addition to the regular good practices required for our pedestrian and automobile traffic. Please follow school traffic flow plans, especially during this time of construction.

Both campuses have signs that denote parking areas, fire zones, bus zones, and other information. The speed limit on all roadways and in parking lots at both campuses is 10 mph.

Parents visiting a classroom, campus store, or any campus site should park only in the visitor’s area. Drivers must not leave unattended vehicles on the school roadways or in bus zones.

Only single-lane queuing is permitted at student pick-up time in order to keep moving traffic lanes open at all times.

Lightning Policy

To protect students, faculty/staff, parents, and visitors from the potential danger of lightning strikes, Country Day uses a lightning detection system. It is school policy when a lightning alarm signals, everyone (students, employees, parents, visitors) must move inside a building for safety. If the lightning alarm signals during carpool, students will not be allowed to load or unload from cars until the all-clear signal is given. Should a parent choose to park, walk in, and pick up their child, they assume the risk of transporting a child during a lightning delay. When possible, signs will be set out to inform drivers that a lightning delay is in progress. 

Dress Code

Students are expected to attend school well-groomed and properly attired in clothes that are neat, comfortable, clean, and in good repair. A Country Day student is expected to accept this responsibility, and the school depends upon the cooperation of the entire school community in adhering to the spirit of this code. Please refer to your division for specific expectations:

• Lower School
• Middle School
• Upper School

Honor Code

Leadership, integrity, determination, and discipline are valued and modeled at Country Day. A diverse student body creates a healthy backdrop for the development of true empathy as students learn to see the world from many perspectives. Our Honor Code asks all students to act with honor in everything they do. Country Day’s Honor Code is straightforward and powerful: “I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I tolerate those who do.”

Guidance

Each division has a full-time guidance counselor. Parents are encouraged to contact the counselor if they have any concerns about the emotional development of their child.

Lower School
J.G. Bailey | E-mail | (704) 943-4612

Middle School
Janani Buford | E-mail | (704) 943-4827

Upper School
Samantha Bosco | E-mail | (704) 943-4677

Student Driving/Parking Privileges

Due to the limited number of parking spaces, freshmen are not permitted to drive to school and only a limited number of sophomores are permitted to drive to school or park at Carmel Presbyterian Church (two blocks down the street, a short walk).

Each student who drives to school must register his/her car in the Upper School office and pay a $10 fee. ALL student cars must be parked in the student parking lot or other designated areas and must display a student parking sticker on the left rear bumper. Failure to register a car or parking a car outside designated areas will result in a $25 fine and loss of privileges. More detailed information about driving privileges and parking regulations can be found in the Upper School Student Handbook.