GRACE uses a variety of communication methods to keep parents, staff, and students aware of important events. Open, honest, biblically-based communication is strongly encouraged. All communication should be respectful and in the spirit of cooperation. Please see the Parent Partnership Agreement for general guidelines surrounding communication with GRACE employees. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide all official school communication and any other requested information to the non-custodial parent in a timely fashion except if directed otherwise by the custody agreement.
When seeking to communicate on a particular subject, communication should begin at the appropriate level as follows:
Parents/Students to Faculty
- All concerns about the classroom must first be presented to the teacher by the parents, or if the student is mature enough, by the student. A respectful demeanor is required at all times.
- If the problem is not resolved, the parent and/ or student may bring the concern to the principal. If the student brings the concern, he must have permission from his parents to do so. If the problem is still not resolved, the parents should submit the matter, in writing, to the Head of School.
- A parent conference may be requested as needed.
- Email communication is preferred. Please do not text teachers concerning school-related issues/questions.
- All communication between GRACE employees and students should be documentable and trackable.
Faculty to Parents
- Faculty should respond to parent telephone calls or email messages within 36 hours.
- A formal parent-teacher conference is offered during the first quarter.
- Conferences will be arranged as needed for any student who is experiencing academic and/or behavioral difficulties.
- If a parent and teacher cannot resolve a difficulty, the principal may be contacted.
- Faculty should address parents in a polite manner via email and in person.
Parents to Administration
- Parents or students must first present all concerns about the classroom to the teacher before approaching the principals.
- If the parents have a grievance or dispute about the school’s general operation (apart from the operation of the classrooms), they should bring their concerns to the Head of School.
- If the situation is not resolved, they should present their concerns, in writing, to the Board of Trustees.
- This procedure also applies to Board members who are acting in their capacity as parents and not as representatives of the Board.
Email & Weekly Newsletter
Email and the GRACE weekly e-newsletter (AmazingGRACE) deliver information directly to your email account. It is the parent’s responsibility to use these communication channels and acquaint themselves with pertinent information. You may also find GRACE news and announcements on the GRACE website and in Blackbaud.
Blackbaud
The office uses Blackbaud to record contact information for each family member. Emails sent from the school will utilize the email addresses input by each family into Blackbaud. Please make sure that you update Blackbaud if you move or change phone numbers so that, in case of emergency, we will be able to reach you as quickly as possible.
Blackbaud Family Portal (GRACE Christian My School App)
Blackbaud is accessible to all parents via gracechristian.myschoolapp.com, for the purpose of viewing their student’s attendance, grades, ordering hot lunch, paying school fees and updating personal contact information and preferences. Progress reports, learning evaluations, schedules, directories, assignments, grades, calendars, course documents, major communication, and more are housed on Blackbaud.
Blackbaud School Directory Use: No Solicitation
The GRACE Christian School Directory is designed for parents to contact one another about school-related matters and activities. It is expressly prohibited to use the contact information supplied in the Directory (emails, phone numbers, and/or addresses) to solicit business.
Blackbaud is our primary tool for sharing school-wide and whole-class information with students and parents. We recommend all parents check Blackbaud daily to know what’s happening on campus and in each of their children’s classrooms. We created a Blackbaud Parent Walkthrough Tutorial Video to show parents how to use the site. Please be sure to review this tutorial and set up your preferences as soon as possible.
School-Wide Information:
Whole school announcements and information about school events will be posted in Blackbaud News. The weekly Amazing GRACE newsletter will continue to be sent via email and will also be posted in Blackbaud News. Individual campus information will be posted in the Lower Campus Parents and Upper Campus Parents groups within Blackbaud.
Whole Class Information:
Within Blackbaud, each teacher will post their class policies and procedures, syllabi, course resources, and any other information that doesn’t change often to their Bulletin Board. They will also post regular one-way communication, such as weekly newsletters, announcements and reminders here. We recommend that parents select to be notified when new information is posted, as we will no longer be sending this information out via email.
Individual Communication with Parents:
Correspondence with individual parents will continue to take place through email and not the Blackbaud message feature.
Parent to Teacher Communication:
Parents should correspond with teachers through the individual staff member’s GRACE Gmail address. Email addresses for all GRACE staff members are accessible in the staff directory in Blackbaud.
Individual Correspondence:
Teachers of students in grades TK-3 will continue to use Class Dojo for informal messages to individual parents. Staff G-mail will be utilized for formal correspondence, and all newsletters and announcements will be posted in Blackbaud. Email addresses for all GRACE staff members are accessible in the staff directory in Blackbaud.
