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CC of Columbus Handbook 2025-2026 -Columbus Baptist Church- 1258 Palms Rd, Columbus, MI 48063 Melanie McCue Director for Foundations/Essentials 810.363.5295 melaniec.c.director@gmail.com Renee DeRuischer Community Support Leader rderuischer@classicalconversations.com 1
Welcome to CC of Columbus! We are so excited to begin another year of homeschooling, training up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! As the world is changing rapidly, we love that our homeschool community is able to continue offering a stable option of education during these uncertain times. There is no doubt that God has blessed us and we are thankful to Him for His faithfulness as we raise our children in His ways. We continue to pray that we are pleasing God in building a long-lasting and impactful campus here in the Blue Water Area! Thank you for joining us for this school year. We look forward to growing together as we disciple each other in seeking God’s will in our lives. Blessings, Columbus Campus Directors 2
Parent-in-Room Policy (Foundations and Essentials) Because the focus of our campus meetings is to train the PARENTS, we expect that moms and/or dads will attend class with their children (some exceptions apply) to be trained by the tutor. This means that parents are expected to participate in class by helping the tutors with materials, shepherding students, gleaning useful information for the school week and being aware and attentive to the tutors' needs. Because we strive to limit distractions and to be respectful to the tutor and the students, we ask that the classroom is technology-free for both students AND PARENTS. This means no cellular use, watch use, laptop or headphones use in the classroom. The tutors have spent time preparing and gathering material to share and to help enhance the students' learning experience. They are also managing their time within 30 min. intervals for each subject. Please lead by example for our students and raise your hand and allow the tutor to call on you! This will reinforce the proper procedure and show respect for the teacher and allow the children to do the same. During presentations each student will be given the same amount of time. Presentations should be given from the student. If your child hesitates or stumbles, do not direct or prompt them. This is a great time for them to learn to sit in silence and maybe be a little uncomfortable. This will help them build skills and learn from the other students. With that being said, having the students prepare and practice at home will really help them know what to say and what to talk about during their presentation. We highly encourage all families to practice their presentations before they come to community day! Although we will do everything we can to ensure that there are two parents available for each tutor, each classroom will have at least one parent in each room to assist the tutor except in case of illness or emergency. When a child needs to use the restroom and needs assistance they must be accompanied by 2 adults. The only exception is if you are taking your own child to the restroom. There is no situation or emergency in which there aren't 2 adults accompanying a child not of your own. I am ALWAYS available to be that second adult. Please come get me! 3
Student-in-Room Policy Students will be expected to participate appropriately in class. Students will be expected to extend respect in words and actions to their tutor/director. This includes but is not limited to: listening, obeying, being kind, being courteous, staying on topic, and giving their full attention. Students will also be expected to extend respect to their peers in words and actions. This includes but is not limited to: listening politely, being kind, being courteous, being safe, and not touching. Photography Our community has a great opportunity to enjoy memorable experiences. We ask that if you would like to share any pictures on social media that your child is the ONLY ONE in the picture. Not all of our families are comfortable with their children being on social media. With that being said, if you would like to take pictures of your child with other students you are welcome to do so and share in our picture group me chat for the yearbook or for your own personal memories. Classical Education at Home Because we are HOMEschoolers, parents should understand that community day is not meant to provide a full education for their students. As homeschoolers, parents are solely responsible for the education of their own children, which Foundations, Essentials, and Challenge programs through Classical Conversations provide enhancement and support. Weekly memory work and Essentials/Challenge assignments are designed to be accomplished outside of the community day. Students and parents should recognize this and use the week between community days to accomplish their work. 4
Accountability for Children (and Adults) During the course of the day, no student is ever to be left on their own. We ask that adults always have an eye on the kids, and that our children know that they must be within sight of an adult at all times. That being said, adults should be mindful that 1-on-1 situations with both kids and adults are to be avoided when possible. Sick Children It is important to remember safety guidelines with regard to communicable diseases. Please train your children to wash their hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and keep noses dry, eat healthily, and exercise often. Should one of your children become ill with the potential to spread that illness to others, we ask that you please keep that child home for the community day. Cancellation Policy Days cancelled will be decided by 6:30am on the day in question. Notifications will be sent via email, text, and any other previously established mode of communication between parents and directors. Because we only meet once a week, cancelling just one day can wreak havoc on the schedule. Because of this, we will try to make every date possible. That being said, attendance at community day (when it’s open) is always at the discretion of the parents. Dress Code All children and adults should dress in a way that honors our Father in Heaven and makes others comfortable around us. Our clothing choices should be modest, drawing others to Christ, not ourselves. Below are the standards of dress we will follow for our campus: · Clothing should be neat, without excessive tears or rips, and worn in the way they were intended to be worn. · Shorts, skirts and jeans are welcome (Fingertip test) · No midriff showing (Raise arms test) · No low-cut necklines · No tight-fitting clothing · Pants to pass squat test · No inappropriate language, images or jokes on clothing · Any jewelry worn should not interfere with learning Please remember that we as adults set the example for our children in what we wear, therefore we should be following the dress code as well. Any child that arrives wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change. 5
GHIDE Values As members of CC of Columbus, we MUST be guided by the following principles in regard to our relationships toward each other. Grace in Speech (Colossians 4:6) Humility of Mind (Philippians 2:3) Integrity in Action (Titus 2:7-8; Proverbs 11:3) Diligence in Work (Romans 12:11) Excellence in Results (Philippians 1:10; I Corinthians 10:31) Conflict Resolution/Matthew 18 We strive to glorify Christ in all we do, including how we solve conflict. As a Christian community, we are called to love each other first, even in disagreement. Matthew 18 outlines God’s perfect design in conflict resolution, and as directors we will be following this plan of action. In any conflict as a Christian, first check your own heart. If you feel there is truly an issue, approach the offender (if appropriate) confidentially, winsomely, and directly. The result of a direct conversation will either resolve the dispute in love, or require some more regimented action. The SMART plan (following Matt. 18) outlined below will be the course of action as needed to resolve conflict, and will involve all parties, the director, and the SR (if needed). SMART Plans SMART plans are an excellent way to formally achieve goals or correct behavior, following a Matthew 18 dispute. SMART plans are: Specific- Name the EXPECTED goal. Measurable- How will you know when you achieve the goal? Accountable- The SMART plan details weekly evaluation of progress Reasonable- Are the expectations for the goal reasonable? Timely- What is the timeframe of the plan? Typically a 3-week period is appropriate 6
Enrollment Ages The enrollment age for Foundations is for a child to turn 4 by June 1st on the year of enrollment. If a child is 4 or older AND attending campus days, they MUST be enrolled in Foundations. Essentials students must be 9 by September 30th of the enrolling year to join. Challenge students must be 12 by September 30th of the year of enrollment. Emergency Plan Columbus Baptist Church has emergency policies in place that will be covered during orientation. Please become familiar with the locations of fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and AED during the orientation time. We will also cover fire escape routes, and tornado shelters on orientation day. Weapon Policy It should be clear that in Michigan it is illegal to carry a firearm in any public place of worship without permission from the pastor/governing body. PERPL Policy CC ascribes to a wise policy regarding sensitive subjects being sent digitally. In a nutshell, any digital/written communication that contains material that is Personal, Explosive, Religious, Performance related, or Legal that is received by the director will be handled via face-to-face or phone conversation. Context is easy to miss when sending emails/texts, so we will handle sensitive subjects in person. 7
Dating and Personal Relationships While we would encourage strong relational bonds that flourish for years following graduation, for the sake of the unity of our community, forming dating relationships between students is STRONGLY discouraged. Because of the intentionally small class size and need to winsomely discuss curriculum on community day, inter-student relationships carry a strong potential to destroy foundational comfortability that is necessary for proper classroom operation. Should a dating relationship between students emerge, the parents will be notified immediately and the Director(s) of the students will work with both sets of parents to ensure the unity of the community. We believe that displays of affection are inappropriate for the task of education. Therefore, public displays of affection between students are prohibited. Challenge Driving Policy To promote community, challenge students should remain at the community facility during the entirety of the community day. If a challenge driving student must leave campus during community day hours, written permission by the parent must be submitted to the director in advance. Delivery services To limit distractions during community day, I do ask if students or parents would like to take part in any delivery service (such as doordash, Instacart, ubereats, ect.) that food / items are picked up in the parking lot. This will limit distractions and unapproved access to the facility. 8
Hold-Harmless Waiver I, the undersigned, assume full responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of ourselves and our children on CC campus days, and further agree to hold harmless both the contracted Directors and contracted Tutors of Classical Conversations of Columbus, in addition to the church and it’s staff, for any injury of any kind suffered during Classical Conversations hours (Mondays from 8:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m.), as well as before and after campus time while on Columbus Baptist Church property. Initial________ Background Check Permission I, the undersigned, give permission to CC of Columbus to perform background checks for myself in compliance with church and insurance standards. Initial________ Matthew 18 Covenant I understand that conflicts are to be resolved in a Christ-like manner, following the outline set forth by our Creator. I have (or will) read Matthew 18 and understand the process by which an offense will be settled. Initial________ CC of Columbus Covenant I, the undersigned, have received, read, and understand the policies set forth by CC of Columbus. I furthermore agree to abide by the policies aforementioned in this document, and at orientation. I agree that as a parent, I am responsible for my child’s education, and agree to uphold a Christ-like standard while participating with CC of Columbus. Sign____________________________ Date___________ CC Columbus Statement of Faith 9
All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts, culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation, we affirm these additional essentials of our faith: ● We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory, and praise forever! ● Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins, according to the Scriptures. On the third day, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator. ● The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives us new life, empowers us, and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth and seals us for the day of redemption. ● Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. ● We believe that (a) salvation is by grace, a free gift of God apart from works, (b) salvation involves repentance, a change of mind in respect to God and thus turning from one’s own way to God’s way, (c) salvation is through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in Christ alone, (d) all who receive Jesus Christ are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and have become the children of God, and (e) true salvation will be manifested by a changed life. ● The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she 10
awaits the return of her Lord. ● Jesus Christ will come again to the earth— personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). ● The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). CC of Columbus Statement of Faith I, the undersigned, have received, read, and understand the Statement of Faith for CC of Columbus. I also agree to one of the following: - I am in full agreement with the doctrinal positions of CC and this particular campus and that I will seek to uphold and defend the doctrinal positions of this campus by my words and deeds, on or off campus. - I do not agree with all the doctrinal positions of CC and this particular campus but will neither seek to upend or otherwise discredit them by my words or my deeds, on or off campus. Sign____________________________ Date___________ 11