Seminary Disclosure 2018

Centerville Jr. Seminary Disclosure

Welcome to seminary at Centerville Junior with Bro. Barlow and Bro. Hugh. We look forward to getting to know you and learning together about the Savior and His Church. Our hope is that students will strengthen their testimonies and be motivated to apply what they learn into their daily lives. Our course of study this year will be the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History. This area is blessed with bright, respectful and well-behaved students. Certainly, they are the hope of the future. We also appreciate the parental support here which substantially contributes to student success. As this is their introduction to seminary, please read this disclosure together with your student to ensure mutual understanding of seminary expectations.  

Classroom Expectations       Be seated when the bell rings and attend consistently. Remain seated or in your assigned area; Ask for permission to leave your seat. Have your scriptures and study journal at your desk when class begins. Leave all other homework, books, binders, or distractions away from your desk. Raise your hand before speaking (D&C 88:122) Follow the teacher's directions.

Seminary Expectations       No food or drinks are allowed in the seminary building unless sponsored by seminary. A water bottle can be used in class if necessary. Adhere to Church standards of dress and grooming (outlined below). Address other people respectfully. No electronic devices (without signed parental permission) R+R=R+R (Reverence + Respect = Revelation & Refuge)

The Importance of Keeping the Seminary Rules

Heavenly Father wants us to organize our seminary classes and establish them as houses of order and learning (D&C 88:119). When order is present, spiritual growth occurs and testimonies are strengthened. This is why we have rules in seminary. There are so many blessings that will come from your seminary experience. Students who graduate from seminary are more likely to remain active in the Church and marry in the temple. You will be better prepared for service in the Church, especially for a mission. If you want to attend a Church school such as BYU, seminary performance is considered and a letter of recommendation is submitted by your current seminary teacher. All students can form lasting friendships in seminary. Attending seminary is an important part of your spiritual growth in junior high and high school. Plan now to graduate from seminary by completing all four years.

Seminary Graduation

· Elevate Learning. In order to receive seminary credit toward graduation, every student is expected to 1) attend a minimum of 75% each term, 2) read the entire Doctrine and Covenants this school year. 3) Pass 2 learning assessments (1 each semester), and 4) qualify for an ecclesiastical endorsement.  Letter grades of A or B will be given based completion of these requirements. Participating in learning activities available at https://www.ldsscripturepower.org/ will greatly enhance your experience. Unauthorized absences (sluffing) will require make-up work. Failing grades (E or F) will NEVER be given in seminary. If any of the 4 criteria above are not met, a grade will not be given until the required makeup work is completed. Excessive tardiness may also result in a loss of credit until makeup work is completed. Teachers will notify parents of attendance concerns, usually through email.

· LDS Seminary and Institute App: Parents can use this app to stay informed about their students’ performance and progress in seminary.  When parents login to this site or on the app with their LDS account, they can 1) View and edit seminary attendance (including excusing student absences) 2) View the lesson schedule 3) See any required makeup work 4) Check student progress and credit through each year of seminary. 5) Update contact information. 6)Mark reading progress. ALL STUDENTS will be asked to use this app (or the accompanying website) to report their reading progress. It is free todownload for apple or android devices.  All students will need AN LDS ACCOUNT LOGIN for this purpose. 

· myseminary.lds.org: Those who cannot access the app can accomplish all the same things on this website.  Please use it often.

· Learning materials. Each student should have a set of PAPER scriptures in class every day. Students may also choose to use electronic scriptures IN ADDITION TO their paper scriptures.  If using the electronic version, please download the LDS Gospel Library app. Even though we are studying one book of scripture this year, we will use the Bible and Triple Combination in class every day. Please have a complete set of the standard works in class. All students should be logged in to Gospel Library every time they use it.  Parents may need to assist students in getting (or remembering) their LDS username and password so they can login.

· Makeup work. Students are allowed to makeup missed days of class and excessive tardies to receive credit. Makeup work will be determined by the teacher, will be related to the work missed, will be meaningful and realistic, and require effort similar to that of students who attended on the day(s) missed. Students are encouraged to submit make-up work before the term ends.

Personal Behavior

· Treat others with kindness. The seminary is a private religious school run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such, we expect the highest standards of behavior. Generally students love each other and the Spirit is felt. Please remember to behave in ways so the Lord's Spirit can be with us. Problems like intimidation or bullying; or physical/sexual harassment do not belong in seminary and will be dealt with immediately. Seminary teachers who find a student failing to behave with safe and orderly conduct may contact parents or priesthood leaders as necessary. It might also be necessary to alert the junior high school administration of safe and orderly conduct violations.

· Dress and Grooming. The way you dress affects your self-esteem and confidence and can assist the influence of the Holy Ghost. We encourage all students to uphold Church standards of dress as outlined in the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth.

· Electronic Devices. Mobile phones, tablets, or other electronic devices are permitted in the seminary ONLY when students adhere to the following guidelines: 1) Devices remain in “airplane mode” during class (except by invitation) and 2) they are used solely for gospel study and to contribute to the class.  99% of electronic use should be in Gospel Library.

· Students who use electronics for gaming, texting, social media, or other distractions will lose the privilege of using them in class. We ask that students who plan to use electronics 

1. Read this great talk by Bro. Ridd (click here to access the talk) and 
2. Discuss together how your student will use the principles they learn from this talk to guide their use of electronics in class throughout the year.  
3. PARENTS, once you have had this discussion with your student, you can give your permission for in-class electronics use by going to the "readings" in the S&I app and checking the "Electronics Use Permission: Parent" box. (myseminary.lds.org)
4. STUDENTS once have read this talk, discussed it with your parents, and plan to use your electronics appropriately, please sign by checking the  "Electronics Use Agreement: Student" box in the app. (myseminary.lds.org)

PLEASE NOTE: The school does not share attendance information with the seminary.  Parents can view and manage student seminary attendance (including excusing absences) by going to myseminary.lds.org or using the Seminary & Institute app. You may also contact us directly via Email: Bro. Barlow (barlowak@ldschurch.org) or Bro. Hugh (hughbd@ldschurch.org), or by Phone: (801) 299-4264.