An "unexcused absence/tardy" includes but is not limited to instances lacking parental approval, late carpools, sleeping in late, voluntary and otherwise avoidable tardiness. Despite the best of intentions, tardiness interferes with student learning. Late arrivals interrupt the learning environment and daily classroom procedures. Being tardy will be handled in a serious manner. The school's starting signal sounds promptly at 7:45AM. At that moment, classroom doors are closed, instruction begins and the student academic day is fully underway. Students arriving after the bell rings are considered tardy and must be checked in at the front desk. Checking students in at the front desk does not guarantee the tardy will be excused. An unexcused tardy will result in a conduct violation. An unexcused absence will result in loss of credit for missed assignments, and may result in further disciplinary actions as determined by the administration. 

Pg. 39-40 LCHS Student/Parent Handbook Click Here

Why We Teach Social Dance
By: Bob Schaffer, LCHS Principal

This is the third year Liberty's social-dance course has been offered at the high school. The class and the lessons reinforce our philosophy toward a high-quality, classical, liberal-arts education.

Students who opt for the course love it; and the elective has been steadily gaining in popularity. This year, we are doubling the course offerings to two semesters per year from only one in previous years. Ms. Debra Endres is our expert instructor.
Some say a high-school social-dance course is a forward-thinking endeavor. While that may be so, the apposite value is that it connects us to our past and broadens our cultural literacy.

Throughout human history, social dance defines civilizations, distinguishes ethnicities, clarifies anthropology, and even influences politics. When expertly taught, social dance reacquaints us with a more polite age.

"A boy should not sit out a dance if any girl is not dancing." One might recognize this advice from the 1934 book Good Manners from which we quote various "rules" in the "Classical Manners" column of every LCHS Monday Notes newsletter.

Recent entries have featured guidelines about how young people should behave at dances. For example, "In asking for a dance, a boy says, 'May I have this dance?' The girl replies, 'Yes, you may'; or, 'I'm sorry, but this dance is taken.' Boys should avoid asking, 'Have you this dance?' or 'Do you want to dance?'"

Authored by the late Beth Bailey McLean, Good Manners was used in American high schools throughout the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. In fact, a review in the 1935 edition of The Palm Beach Post suggested, "Every home with children should have (Good Manners) on their shelves for constant reference." The old advice stands.

"If a boy is introduced to a girl at a dance, he must at once ask her for a dance. To omit this courtesy is very rude." In those days, most young people knew how to dance - respectfully with dignity and honor - and thus enjoyed ever-ready, wholesome fun.

To the bigger point: Knowing the history, the importance, and most of all, the manners and etiquette of social dance arms our young men and women with extraordinary advantages extending well beyond the possession of enjoyable dance skills. Social dance promotes healthy relationships among young people and gives them precise direction and confidence in how to interact properly with peers of the opposite sex.

In a classical context, perhaps a perfect summary of the cultural value of social dance is found at the Blankeny Mannor website which is dedicated to The Scarlet Pimpernel novels of Baroness Emma Orczy. In an essay entitled "The Social Etiquette and Politics of Dance" one finds, "Dance was considered to embody ideal Greek attributes such as wit, serenity, breadth of vision, love of harmony and order, personal courage, irony, fun, and a distaste of passionate excesses."

From a contemporary perspective, a Stanford University essay even asserts social dance prepares one for success in business. Dance-floor themes like teamwork, cooperation, consideration, mental dexterity, adaptability, respect, deference, and practice are of equivalent significance in a board room, or in an engineering group.

Ms. Endres has made a career out of connecting these concepts to professional dance instruction, and she is thrilled to be teaching the cultural elements of social dance to Liberty students. "It's a fabulous exercise for the brain, body and soul," she says. "Social dance is wonderful for their communication skills. It brings out joy in their hearts and will last them a lifetime."

Liberty was first persuaded to add social dance to the curriculum in 2013 after noting the longstanding success of Ridgeview's social-dance course. In keeping with the wisdom of classical themes, we tend to admire and to be inclined toward that which is proven, that which has worked and that which has led others toward truth, beauty, goodness and perfection.

Accordingly, Liberty's semester-long social-dance curriculum has proven to be a superb addition to our elective offerings. The course indeed leads our students further along the path toward mature literacy, mature virtue, and social elegance - with lots of joyful smiles along the way.

NOTE: Ms. Endres offers Wednesday-evening dance lessons for parents in the LCHS Great Hall. Information about this can be found elsewhere in today's Monday Notes newsletter.

Bill Werst has decided to leave the Board of Directors after many years of service in a variety of Board positions. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I thank Bill for his ongoing commitment to the success of Liberty Common School. When a vacancy occurs, the Board of Directors (BOD) will appoint a new member within 60 days of adopting a resolution to fill the vacancy. Anyone eligible is invited to apply to fill this vacancy. Applications encompassing a letter of interest and statement of educational philosophy are due no later than November 8th to ensure adequate time for consideration. To complete an application, go to http://www.libertycommon.org/k-6-school/staff/board-of-directors/. The term of this position is through the 2017-2018 school year. If you are considering the position, I strongly encourage you to attend the October 15th Board meeting at 6PM at the Elementary School. You are welcome to contact me at phansen@libertycommon.org or any Board member who can answer your questions regarding membership. 
Candidates for the BOD must meet the following criteria to quality for election or appointment to the BOD:
Read and support wholeheartedly the views presented in the following three books: 
Submission of Statement of Educational Philosophy
Volunteer in the school
Embrace the principles of Liberty's Charter and founding books 
Receive a recommendation from a School Principal

Paulette Hansen, Chairman
Liberty Common School Board of Directors

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College Fair Mania.  This week, October 5th-9th, colleges from all across the nation are visiting LCHS, participating in college fairs, and providing information sessions throughout the front range.  Check out the college visit list below for more details.