INSTRUCTION

All teachers employed at KSDA are certified by the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists.
 

CURRICULUM

The school utilizes a curriculum identified and approved by the Education Office of the North American Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. This curriculum meets National Standards and the NAD Journey to Excellence.
 

FINE ARTS CREDIT

To meet the fine arts requirement, all students are expected to participate in the music program. Students in grades 5–8 participate in band instruction. Students in grades K through 4 participate in classroom music instruction, which includes a practice requirement.
 

PROMOTION/ACCELERATION/RETENTION

At the end of each school year, students who have mastered the appropriate knowledge, skills, and concepts for their grade, and who exhibit readiness for work at the next level, will be promoted to the next grade.
 

Acceleration is rarely considered. KSDA believes that students need to gain not only the academics of each grade level, but also the maturity and social skills that each grade level provides.
 

In exceptional cases, a recommendation may be made to retain a child in their present grade. When the possibility of retention exists, parents will be notified as early as possible and a meeting will be arranged to discuss the situation.
 

In matters of acceleration and retention, the decision of the principal, in consultation with the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Office of Education, is final.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards are sent home at the end of each nine-week period. Final report cards and 8th grade diplomas are not released until tuition accounts are paid in full.

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PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES​​

School-wide Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled twice a year, during the first and third quarters. Additional conferences may be scheduled at other times as necessary. While we have regularly scheduled conferences each year, we encourage parents to contact teachers in between those times as needed, to foster a partnership for the student's spiritual and academic future.

HOMEWORK​

Homework is used at KSDA to practice, maintain, enrich, complete, or make up classroom activities. It helps develop independent study habits and an appreciation for learning. Homework may include special assignments, research projects, reading and/or writing assignments, or other tasks directly related to a particular subject. We consider homework an extension of, and reinforcement to, classroom activities, to be done on the student's own time, outside the regular classroom environment. Students will be assigned homework, including nightly reading expectations, on a regular and consistent basis. The following guidelines indicate an average expectation, although this will fluctuate according to the individual student:

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• Grades 1–3: approximately 30 minutes maximum daily

• Grade 4: approximately 45 minutes maximum daily

• Grades 5–6: approximately 60 minutes maximum daily

• Grades 7–8: approximately 90 minutes maximum daily

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Students who are making up work from an absence may have one day for each day absent to complete and turn in back work. Please note that this will mean a student spends more time completing those assignments.