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Sunlight Christian Academy

                                      

ministry

Sunlight Christian Academy is a ministry of Sunlight Community Church.  Back in 2004, two unwelcome guests, Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, made landfall in Port St. Lucie. Many homes and businesses in our community were damaged, including a local secular preschool. Fortunately, our church building was in good condition, so we offered to house the small preschool until their building was repaired.  We believe this was God's way of showing us we had the potential to open up our very own Christ-centered preschool in St. Lucie West.
 
We opened our doors in January 2006, with only 8 students.  We have been blessed beyond measure with children and families seeking a high-quality spiritual and academic education.  Today we serve over 600 students from four locations: 
  • Port St. Lucie, FL
    • Lower School Campus, St. Lucie West (Pk-5th Grade)
    • Upper School Campus, PGA Village (6th-9th Grade)
  • Preschool Campus, Lake Worth, FL 
  • Preschool Campus, Winter Garden, FL

Our Mission

Sunlight Christian Academy shines the light of God’s Word into learning for children who bear his image and have a place in his care. We strive to provide a loving and safe environment in which children can explore God and His world from a distinctively Christian point of view.
 
At our school, you will discover an excellent and loving faculty that is well-educated and properly credentialed. We provide a healthy balance of teacher-directed and child-centered learning, through whole group, small group and individualized instruction, and according to measurable learning outcomes. Experiences are provided that meet each child's needs and stimulate learning in all developmental areas including physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
 
Each child is viewed as a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth and development. Different levels of ability, development, and learning styles are expected, accepted, and used to design appropriate activities. Interactions and activities are designed to develop children's positive feelings toward learning.
 
Sunlight Christian Academy is a mission school; families from all walks of life and religious backgrounds are welcome to become part of our school. 
 
Sunlight Christian Academy does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color or national or ethnic origin.
 

code of ethics

  1. Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition fo knowledge, and the nurture of democratic  citizenship.  Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and guarantee of equal opportunity for all.
  2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential. Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.
  3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:
    a. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
    b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
    c. Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
    d. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program.
    e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
    f. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.
    g. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
    h. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
    i. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
  4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:
    a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
    b. Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization.
    c. Shall not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
    d. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual's performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, 
    offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
    e. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague. 

    Training Requirement All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct. 

    Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators All employees, educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators, which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors. Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to:

    SARAH WILSON HYDE swilsonhyde@sunca.org 772-446-7363. 

    Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to:

    PASTOR SCOTT VANDER PLOEG scott@sunlightcc.org  772-879-6326

    Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect All employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Call 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/ 

    Signs of Physical Abuse The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.

    Signs of Sexual Abuse The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively, fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy away from physical contact, or run away from home.

    Signs of Neglect The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

    Patterns of Abuse: Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.

    Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 
    39.203) 

    An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)
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