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The work program is a vital part of Seventh-day Adventist education. Two objectives of this program are:

• To teach the student good work habits.
• To provide a way for the student to earn part of their expenses while at school.

STUDENT LABOR
Jobs are available at Highland Academy in the Highland Manor Nursing Home, Wilks Publications, cafeteria, campus maintenance, janitorial, grounds, dormitories, administrative offices, teacher's reader and library. Work assignments can be arranged through the Work Coordinator for students who are 14 years of age or older.

Checks for work are sent directly to the Business Office to be applied to the student’s account.

Useful work is just as much a part of the student's program as is the classroom instruction. Students are expected to work at some job, not just to help with expenses, but to realize the best of our work-study program.

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STUDENT WORK POLICIES

Philosophy
"Daily, systematic labor should constitute a part of the education of the youth. Much can be gained by connecting labor with schools. In following this plan, students can leave school with strength and courage to persevere in any position in which the providence of God may place them." (Fundamentals of Christian Education 44) "Schools should be established for the purpose of obtaining not only knowledge from books, but knowledge of practical industry." (Fundamentals of Christian Education 317)

"The youth should be led to see the true dignity of labor, and that God is a constant worker. All things in nature do their allotted work. Action pervades the whole creation, and in order to fulfill our mission we, too, must be active." (Education 214)

"That which trains the hand to helpfulness, and teaches the young to bear their share of life's burdens, is most effective in promoting the growth of mind and character." (Education 215)

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

"A youth so trained, whatever his calling in life, so long as it is honest, will make his position one of usefulness and honor." (Education 222)

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Goals
The goals of the work program are as follows:

• To show that the training at Highland Academy is just a carry over from their first industrial school - home. (Education 217)
• To help youth in determining their choice of an occupation. (Education 220)
• "Practical work encourages close observation and independent thought. Rightly performed, it tends to develop that practical wisdom which we call common sense. It develops ability to plan and execute, strengthens courage and perseverance, and calls for the exercise of tact and skill." (Education 220)
• To teach that the discipline of systematic, well-regulated labor is essential, not only as a safeguard against the vicissitudes of life, but as an aid to all around development. (Education 215)
• To help young people discover that manual labor is not degrading. (Education 215)
• To teach the students to make their work as nearly perfect as human brains and hands can make it. (Education 222)

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Orientation and Training
Each school industry and inner campus work department will instruct the student and orient them in the areas of attitude, dependability, punctuality, dress/appearance, care of equipment, cooperation and influence.

In addition to the orientation, students receive on-the-job training, which includes instruction in use of equipment, department policies, work practices, schedules and other topics to assist in getting the student off to a good start.

Changing Jobs
Students will be able to change jobs only at the beginning of the school year. At no other time will a student be able to change jobs unless his/her work supervisor and the work coordinator both feel that it would be advantageous for the student and the work department for a change to take place.

All changes must go through the work coordinator. Any unauthorized transfers will not be recognized by the work coordinator, and the student must return to his/her original place of employment.

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Evaluation
Each semester the work supervisors complete evaluations of the student's performance and review these with the student. The evaluation, divided into ten areas, constitutes the student's work grade. The students are asked to sign the evaluation, indicating it was reviewed with them. These evaluations are also reviewed by the work coordinator.

Absences and Tardies
It is imperative that the students come to work faithfully and on time. If for some reason a student must be late or miss work, it should be arranged for as far in advance as possible.

It is up to the students to make arrangements in writing one week in advance in order to participate in any school function during work time. If they fail to do so, they will be expected to stay and fulfill their work responsibilities regardless of what the activity is.

The student must make arrangements in writing one week in advance for vacation or weekend leaves.

Unexcused absences and tardies subtract from the students' work grades in the area of attendance.

Illness
The school nurse will be checking for students who need to go on sick list each morning. If a student goes on sick list, the school nurse or dean will notify the work supervisor.

Once on sick list, the students must remain in their rooms until the dean takes their names off the list, or they will be unexcused. Village students must have their parents call their work supervisor directly before their scheduled shift begins.

Death in the Family
In the event of a death in the family, the student should notify the work supervisor as soon as possible so a replacement can be found. If the student is unable to contact the supervisor, they should have the dean or work coordinator inform the supervisor of the situation.

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Problems in Work
In the event of a problem involving work, students should not hesitate to go to their work supervisors to resolve the problem. If the student is not satisfied, he/she should go to the work coordinator who will talk to the supervisor alone, and then with the supervisor and student together. These steps are to be as follows:

• Student to work supervisor
• Student to work coordinator
• Student, work supervisor and work coordinator

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Discipline
Discipline at work is handled through a four-step procedure, which was developed to help the student become a successful worker:

• Work supervisor deals with the initial situation and tries to come to an agreement with the student.
• Work supervisor meets with the student and calls the parents to inform them of the deteriorating situation and make recommendations on how the student can improve. Work coordinator will be notified of the situation at this time.
• Work coordinator, work supervisor and student employee will sit down and formulate a plan for the student to successfully continue in the work program at Highland Academy. Parents will be notified of the progressive deterioration and made aware of step four.
• If the situation does not improve, the work supervisor, work coordinator and the principal, with parental input, will help the student develop a plan of action that will avoid dismissal from the work program and dismissal from Highland Academy.

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Visiting a Work Area
Students are not to visit other work areas except with permission from their department supervisor, a dean or with a faculty member.

Transportation
Students working off-campus using school transportation may be charged for that service.

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Getting Fired and Quitting
Getting Fired -- Any student who is fired from a job may receive an "F" for the grade and will not be given a job until the work committee meets. At that time, it will be determined if the student will be re-employed by Highland Academy or one of the industries on campus.

Quitting -- Any student who quits a job without the consent of the work supervisor and work coordinator will receive an automatic "F" for the work grade, and Ad Council will determine if the student will be re-employed at Highland Academy.

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Dress Code
Some departments require uniforms to be worn while working. If no uniform is required, the student should dress according to the dress code for school unless his/her supervisor feels a need for another type of clothing.

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SOCIAL SECURITY
As required by federal law, a student who expects to work at H.A. must present his/her social security number before being given a work assignment. Applications for a social security card are available at any U.S. Post Office or Social Security Office.

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WORK CERTIFICATE
Certain work areas offer Work Certificates to those students who accomplish the requirements specified for that position. The Work Certificate can be very useful for future employment in that it gives the time period the student worked, hours of experience, a specific description of the responsibilities and experience acquired and other pertinent information. A student who is interested in pursuing a Work Certificate should work directly with the work supervisor for that area.

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Social Security | Student Labor | Student Work Policies | Work Certificate