SCHOOL CALENDARS

Stay updated with the latest events and important dates for all three Connect Academy programs. Our comprehensive calendars include academic schedules, special events, and essential announcements to keep you informed and engaged.

CONNECT ACADEMY MAIN CALENDAR

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CONNECT ACADEMY EAST CALENDAR

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CONNECT ACADEMY EARLY CHILDHOOD CALENDAR

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CONNECT ACADEMY FAMILY EDUCATION GUIDE

The Family Education Guide offers a comprehensive look at the services, strategies, and supports available to students and families at Connect Academy. From navigating technology and behavior to understanding school-based therapies, IEPs, and crisis response, this guide equips families with the knowledge and tools to nurture resilience, foster learning, and build strong partnerships for every child’s success.

CONNECT ACADEMY MERCHANDISE

Show your Connect Academy pride with our official merchandise! Whether you’re a student, parent, staff member, or supporter, our apparel and accessories let you represent our community with style. Wear your Connect Academy gear to school events, around town, or anywhere you want to show your support for our mission.

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This store is operated by a third-party vendor. Connect Academy does not set prices, manage inventory, or handle order fulfillment, and we do not profit from any purchases. For any questions regarding your order, including shipping or returns, please contact the vendor directly through their website or via the contact information on your order receipt.

CONNECT ACADEMY ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

Bullying is contrary to State law and the policies of Connect Academy and is consistent with free exercise of religion. Bullying, intimidation, and sexual or physical harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are fundamental to Connect Academy. The term “bullying” includes “cyber-bullying” and is defined, per 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7, as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward student(s). Bullying has or can reasonably be predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student(s) in reasonable fear of harm to their person or property.
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student(s) physical or mental health.
3. Substantially interfering with the student(s) ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by Connect Academy.
4. Substantially disrupt the therapeutic process of an individual student or group of students.
5. Substantially interfering with the student(s) academic performance.

Nothing in this policy is intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or under Section 3 of Article 1 of the Illinois Constitution.
No student shall be subjected to bullying:

• During any school sponsored educational event or activity.
• While in school, on school property, on school transportation, during field trips, or other Connect Academy provided transportation.
• Through transmission from a school computer, computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.
• Through transmission from a computer that is accessed at a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of the school.
• Through transmission on an electronic device that is not owned or used by Connect Academy if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of the school.

HARASSMENT/BULLYING OF STUDENTS, in any form, IS PROHIBITED by State law and Connect Academy, which aligns with other school policies required by the State.  No person including an employee or agent of the school, or student, shall harass or intimidate another student upon a student’s sex, color, race, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or other protected group status.  The Academy will not tolerate harassing or intimidating conduct, whether verbal, non-verbal, physical, or visual, that affects tangible benefits of education, that unreasonably interferes with a student’s educational performance, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment.
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A. Bullying may take various forms, including but without limitation one or more of the following:  harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.  This list is illustrative and non-exhaustive.

B. “Cyber-bullying” means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including and without limitation, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sound, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photelectric system, or photo optical system, including without limitations electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications.  “Cyber-bullying” includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing creation or impersonation creates any of the effects aforementioned in the definition of bullying. Cyber-bullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person of the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in [105 ILCS 5/27-23.7(b)].

C. Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying to a Connect Academy staff member. A report may be made orally or in writing to the principal or designee, or any staff member. 

• All school employees are required to notify the principal or clinical director of the report of bullying as soon as possible after the report is received.
• Anonymous complaints may be directed to the principal or clinical director and investigated.
• Student’s and/or their parents/guardians may contact the following individuals to report a bullying incident:
  • ​Name/Title:  Amie Kaczmarek
    • Mailing Address: 1514 S. Main Street Lombard, Illinois 60148
    • Phone: 630-822-8085
    • Email: [email protected]
  • Name/Title: Will McDermott
    • Mailing Address: 1514 Main Street Lombard, Illinois 60148
    • Phone: 630-822-8085
    • Email: [email protected]

D. Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, once an alleged bullying incident is reported, complaint managers will determine whether the reported act is within the permissible scope of its jurisdiction according to 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7 and will promptly (within 24 hours) inform parents/guardians of all students involved in the alleged incident.  The school shallmake diligent efforts to notify a parent or legal guardian, utilizing all contact information the school has available or that can be reasonably obtained by the school within the 24-hour period. Additionally, it will be discussed with parents/guardians as appropriate, the implementation of therapeutic interventions (social work/counseling), other interventions, and restorative measures.

“Restorative measures" means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that
(i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community,
(ii) contribute to maintaining school safety,
(iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate,
(iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society,
(v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, and
(vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students' behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school.
(vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act.

E. Any report of bullying will be submitted to the principal as soon as possible after the report is received.  Connect Academy will make all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation withing 10 (ten) school days after the date of the reported incident was received and will involve appropriate school personnel with training on bullying prevention in the investigation.  

F. Connect Academy will provide parents/guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation with information about the investigation and an opportunity to meet with the principal or clinical director, to discuss the investigation, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to address the incident.   

G. Student confidentiality policies, laws, and guidelines will be considered prior to any interventions or meeting with parents/guardians.  

H. Connect Academy will provide information to parents/guardians of family counseling services available to them in relation to any bullying incident.  

I. The Academy will provide students with interventions that may address bullying, such as social work/counseling services, social-emotional skill building, movement out of class with specific peers, and restorative measures.  This list is intended to be illustrative and non-exhaustive. “Restorative measures” means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning environment, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and retore relationships among student, families, schools, and communities; and, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’ behavioral health needs in order to keep student in school.  

J. A reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is prohibited. A student’s act of reprisal or retaliation will be treated as bullying for the purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.  

K. Student(s) will not be disciplined for reporting bullying or supplying information, even if the Academy’s investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, any person who has been found to have falsely accused another of bullying or knowingly provided false information will be treated as bullying for the purpose of determining discipline in accordance with Connect Academy’s policy and procedures.

Procedures

1. Any and all reports of bullying will be investigated and determined to either constitute bullying or not.  In the event it is decided that a report constitutes a form of bullying the following but not limited to, will then be assessed to determine the actions of the school.
   1. The frequency of victimization.
   2. Student, staff, and family observations of safety at school.
   3. Identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs.
   4. The types of bullying that are common or occurring.
   5. Bystander intervention or participation
2. After assessing the severity and occurrence of an event, administration will create an action plan to ensure the emotional and physical safety of the student.  This plan includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Schedule change for the bullying party.
   2. Mediation guided by a therapist.
   3. Therapeutic assignment.
   4. Removal of bully from school.
   5. In-school suspension.
3. Should it be determined that a person has falsely accused another of bullying, the severity and intention of the report will be assessed.  The following are possible actions the school may take, but are not limited to:
   1. Therapeutic assignment.
   2. In-school suspension.
   3. Additional therapeutic minutes.
   4. Schedule change.
4. Should a report be filed that is deemed to be outside of the permissible scope of the school’s jurisdiction as it pertains to policy 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7, the victim of the incident will be provided information about services that are available within the school and the students community such as counseling and support services.

Development, Notification, and Posting
Connect Academy will evaluate its bullying policy in accordance with state law and be based on the engagement of school stakeholders, including students and parents/guardians. The Academy will re-evaluate this Policy every two (2) years based on an assessment of its outcomes and effectiveness, including, but not limited to, factors such as the frequency of victimization; student, staff and family observations of safety at school; identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs; the types of bullying utilized; and bystander intervention or participation.

This policy is included in the student handbook, and, where applicable, posted where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are currently posted. It can be viewed on the website: https://www.theconnectacademy.org/family--community-resources.html. The policy must also be distributed annually to parents/guardians, students, and school personnel, including new employees when hired. 

This policy is consistent with the policies of Connect Academy Schools. 
Last Revised: 4/22/2025

CONNECT ACADEMY CODE OF ETHICS

Connect Academy will conduct business honestly and ethically wherever operations are maintained. We strive to improve the quality of our services, products, and operations and will maintain a reputation for honesty, fairness, respect, responsibility, integrity, trust, and sound business judgment. Our managers and employees are expected to adhere to high standards of business and personal integrity as a representation of our business practices, at all times consistent with their duty of loyalty to the Company.

We expect that officers, directors, and employees will not knowingly misrepresent the Company and will not speak on behalf of the Company unless specifically authorized. The confidentiality of trade secrets, proprietary information, and similar confidential commercially-sensitive information (i.e. financial or sales records/reports, marketing or business strategies/plans, product development, customer lists, patents, trademarks, etc.) about the Company or operations, or that of our customers or partners, is to be treated with discretion and only disseminated on a need-to-know basis (see policies relating to privacy).
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Violation of the Code of Ethics can result in discipline, up to and including termination of employment. The degree of discipline imposed may be influenced by the existence of voluntary disclosure of any ethical violation and whether or not the violator cooperated in any subsequent investigation.