School Charter
 
 
Proposed Charter 
 
 
Mission Statement: The goal of the Barony of Smoking Rocks Page’s School is to provide educational opportunities for young people within the East Kingdom in various aspects of the Middle Ages, to encourage the growth of leadership skills, personal responsibility and respect for self and others. The Page’s School offers a well-rounded education through coursework, individual projects, mentoring and formal fostering, which includes study in three areas: Chivalry, Arts and Sciences and Service.  
 
I.      Enrollment
 
A.     All children of the East Kingdom are welcome to enroll in the Barony of Smoking Rocks Page’s School.
B.     Students must be between 6 and 18 years of age to attend. Younger siblings are welcome to participate in age-appropriate activities with a parent or responsible guardian present. Older siblings are also welcome to participate as mentors or assistant instructors.
C.     Parents must fill out and sign an enrollment form prior to each class if their child is to receive credit for the class or activity.
  
II.     Participation
 
A.     Participation in any class or activity is voluntary and advancement within each class is based on a child’s individual efforts.
B.     The input of all students is valued and students are encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions and questions with the group.
C.     A parent or a responsible adult must be onsite during each class.
D.     One parent volunteer must remain in the classroom during instruction. There are no exceptions and class will not be held if there is no parent present.
E.     Participation in other events, classes or activities outside of the Page’s School will count towards participation and advancement within each level. In order to receive credit, students must write a brief summary of their experience or share the results of a workshop or activity with the Headmistress/master.
F.     Parents are encouraged to participate in all aspects of their child’s learning experience as classroom instructors or assistants or providing input to the Page’s school staff.
G.    Students enrolled in the Page’s School are encouraged to wear a white tabard bearing the Baronial device whenever they attend a class or SCA event.
 
III.     Curriculum
 
A.     The classes will be of mixed age and ability but will vary individually with the specific topic based on the appropriateness of the material and difficulty of activities.
B.     Instruction is based on a cooperative learning model in which students work together, participating in hands-on activities, creating group projects and taking part in open-forum discussion on the topic.
C.     Courses are offered within three disciplines: Chivalry, Arts and Sciences and Service. While students may choose which courses to attend, advancement through the Page’s School requires participation in all three areas of learning.
D.     Chivalry courses not only instruct students in the military arts of the medieval period but promote the values of chivalric behavior on and off the field. Participation in youth boffer fighting and archery activities are voluntary but students must attend instruction in order to receive credit.
E.     Arts and Sciences courses cover a broad range of non-martial skills and include both practical and academic topics.
F.     Training in Service encompasses both Chivalry and Arts and Sciences areas as students will gain experience in actual service in a variety of settings.
 
IV.    Class organization
 
A.     Classes are organized into academic terms that will run four times per year: Whitsun (mid May), Lammas (early August), Martinmas (mid November) and Candlemas (early February).
B.     Each academic term will consist of “kid’s event” which may or may not coincide with a larger Baronial event.
C.     Each term will run for one half-day, from approximately 12 pm to 6 pm and consist of three courses in each of the three areas of study: chivalry, arts and sciences and service. There will be a recreation period in which students can choose among several group activities or individual work. The term will finish with a mini feast, hosted by students and attended by their families and friends.
D.     Students can choose to participate in any or all of the activities offered but will only receive credit for those courses that they attend.
E.     With the help of the instructor and his/her parents, each student will choose a longer-term project from one of the three study areas to work on between terms. Students are encouraged to select a mentor for this project who will consult with parents and the Headmistress/master on their progress. Students are encouraged to share their project with their peers and will receive credits upon completion. Students may then choose another project from a different area of study.
F.     Additional classes will be offered between terms, as the interest, need and opportunity arise.
 
V.     Staff
 
A.     The Headmistress/master is responsible for the organization and operation of the Barony of Smoking Rocks Page’s School.
B.     Instructors are adults or in the case of assistant instructors, young adults of the East Kingdom, who have displayed extensive skill or knowledge in a given course of study.
C.     Two adult instructors and a parent volunteer will be present in the classroom at all times.
 
 
VI.    Discipline Plan
 
A.     Students must display courteous and respectful behavior towards their instructors, fellow students and others at all times, inside and outside the classroom.
B.     Any cases of difficult behavior, which cannot be resolved with verbal reminders in the classroom, will be discussed with both the parent(s) of the student and appropriate Barony officials.
C.     Instructors reserve the right to request the immediate removal of a student by a parent if his/her behavior constitutes a risk to the instructor, fellow students or his/herself.
D.     Physically or verbally abusive behavior or intimidation is grounds for immediate expulsion.
E.     The decision to permanently remove a student from the Page’s School will not be made without the unanimous approval of Barony officers, school instructors and the Headmistress/master.
 
 
VII.   Levels of Achievement
 
A.     The Page’s School is organized into three levels of participation and achievement—Junior, Senior and Graduate. Students are assessed individually on their effort and enthusiasm, and will receive credit for every activity that they participate in. These titles carry no precedence.
B.     Junior Page: Students must be between 6 and 14, and complete the following credits:
*       8 Service hours
*       8 Arts and Science hours
*       8 Chivalry hours
 
C.     Senior Page: Students must be between 14 and 18 years of age, have completed the required credits for Junior Page as well as complete the following credits:
*       8 additional Service hours
*       8 additional Arts and Science hours
*       8 additional Chivalry hours
*       completion of a final project
 
E.     Graduate Page: Students must be at least 14 and have completed all the requirements for Senior Page. Graduate Page requirements are:
*       10 additional Service hours
*       10 additional Arts and Science hours
*       10 additional Chivalry hours
*       Completion of a final project, including documentation and bibliography
*       Six months of formal fostering to an adult with expertise in the area he/she is interested in.
 
F.     Students who reach each level of achievement within the Page’s School will receive a baldric of the appropriate color in recognition of their efforts. (Colors for each level are pending).
 
 
VIII.  Fees: A materials fee is requested at the time of enrollment to each academic term within the Page’s School. The amount, not to exceed $15.00 per student will be announced prior to the commencement of the term.