Spiritual Education for Children and Adults in Northern Virginia

"The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."
- Baha'u'llah

"As for thee, have for them an abundant love and exert thine utmost in training them, so that their being may grow through the milk of the love of God, for as much as it is the duty of parents to perfectly and thoroughly train their children."
- 'Abdu'l-Baha

Policies and Guidelines

One World Bahá’í School

Administrative guidelines and Policies

OWBS Schedule

9:30am Administrators, Café Ridván, Bookstore, Security team, and Greeters arrive
9:40am Teachers arrive
9:40am Café Ridván and Bookstore open
10:00 am - 10:20am OWBS begins in the main meeting hall with Devotions and Opening Session (Café Ridván and Bookstore are closed)
10:25am Students are dismissed with teachers from the main meeting hall OWBS Registrar/Attendance administrator
10:35am Students arriving after this time are considered tardy and must obtain “late pass” from the
10:30am - 12:15pm Classes are in session
12:15pm Dismissal; parents of children in the Stars through 3rd grade must pick up their children from classrooms

Morning Arrival

One World Bahá’í School opens at 10:00am with a Devotional program.  Students are released to their classes at approximately 10:20am.  The Administration strongly discourages 8th grade students and younger from being dropped of by their parents in the parking lot.  Parents of these children are encouraged to accompany their children into the building to attend class.

Tardiness

Any student arriving at 10:35am or after will be considered tardy.  All late students must obtain “late passes” from the OWBS Registrar/Attendance administrator to gain admittance to classes.  Students who are chronically tardy are of concern to the staff of OWBS.  Such students and their parents will be asked to meet with school administrators to discuss this matter.

Devotional Program, Class Presentations

Beginning with the several weeks after the beginning of OWBS, each class will begin to participate in Devotions on a rotational basis.  These presentations are to be approximately 10-minutes in length and will be coordinated with the OWBS Devotions’ team.  Teachers will notify the parents of their students at least two weeks prior to their class presentation to insure the children’s presence at the program.

Dismissal

For security reasons, Stars through 3rd grade students must be picked up by an adult family member at the end of class (12:15pm).  If there are students who have not been picked up 12:30pm, teachers will escort them to the main meeting hall and an administrator will be notified of the situation.

  • The Administration supports the full use of class time and thus discourages parents from picking up their children prior to 12:15pm.  If a parent needs to pick up their child early, the parent is to notify the classroom teacher in writing as early as possible.  Due to liability issues, parents and students are required to check out at the Registrar’s desk before leaving campus.

Emergency Closings

When an emergency, such as heavy snow, affects the canceling of OWBS, such notification will be listed as soon as possible on the OWBS web site (www.owbs.org).  Loudoun County weather announcements will be monitored for impact. Also, please listen to radio station WTOP 103.5 FM/820 AM.

OWBS Appropriate Class Level and Age

  • Stars = 1 & 2 year olds (and three year olds who are not yet potty-trained)
  • Pearls = 3 year olds (who are potty trained)
  • Diamonds = 4 year olds (must be 4 by October of current year)
  • Kindergarten to 12th Grade – students are in same grade as in secular school

Students should be in the grade-level that they are enrolled in secular school.  There are no exceptions to this Board policy.  Parents may consult with the OWBS Board on this policy. If a teacher discovers that there are students in their class who do not belong, please inform an administrator immediately.  Although teachers should inform parents of this guideline, teachers are not expected to be the enforcers for this policy.  The OWBS Board and administration will deal with the situation appropriately.

Attendance

The OWBS promotes excellence though spiritual discipline and requests that parents inform teachers in the case of absences.  Chronic absences will be addressed by a OWBS administrator contacting the parents to discuss the matter.

Standards of Dress

Children, youth and adults of all ages must be exemplars of Bahá’í ideals.  Modest dress in accordance with Bahá’í standards is required.

The following examples of dress are considered inappropriate at OWBS:

  • clothing with inappropriate slogans or language
  • short shorts or skirts, and halter tops
  • muscle shirts, tight clothes, low cut shirts
  • skin showing between the shirt and pant lines (mid-section)
  • visible undergarments

Electronic Devices

OWBS strives for excellence in all things, particularly being respectful of instruction time.  Items such as cell phones, ipods, Gameboys or other types of electronic devices have potential for causing distractions during Devotions or in class.

  • Therefore it is OWBS policy that use of these devices is prohibited while OWBS is in session (10:00am - 12:15pm).  Cell phone usage and text messaging are not permitted in classes, and should be turned off.  If necessary, the devices will be given to an administrator or teacher, to be returned to the student and/or parent at the end of the school session.