About
Student Life
The school day, attendance, the dress code, and the activities that make up a year at Mt. Zion. Drawn from the Student Handbook.
The school day
The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:24 p.m. Students may arrive from 8:00 a.m., put their things in their locker, and wait in the library until morning assembly is finished. At dismissal, students are supervised at the main entrance until they are picked up. Please pick up promptly; the school cannot supervise students after hours.
Morning assembly
Each day opens with the Pledge of Allegiance, the pledge to the Christian flag, the pledge to the Bible, prayer, and a devotional on the character traits of Christ.
Chapel
Students attend chapel services and bring their Bibles.
Lunch
Lunch is served Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Monday and Friday students bring their own; a refrigerator and supervised microwaves are provided. A morning snack is provided every day.
Phones and watches
Phones and phone watches are turned in at the front office at the start of the day and picked up at the end.
Lockers
Every student has an assigned locker and is responsible for keeping it neat. No padlocks; lockers belong to the school and may be inspected.
Office hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a 30-minute lunch break at 12:15 p.m.
Attendance
Regular attendance matters. A student who misses more than nine days in a semester has missed over ten percent of class time, which the school considers unacceptable except in extreme cases.
Call the office the morning of any absence or tardy, and send a note with the reason when your child returns. Illness, medical appointments, and a death in the family are excused; the principal decides other cases. For a family trip, let the office know at least a week ahead so the teacher can assign work to complete while away.
Students are tardy if they are not in their seats for morning assembly. A tardy student reports to the office before going to class.
Riding the bus
The school runs bus transportation in designated rural areas for a per-trip fare. The driver is in charge, seatbelts are worn, and students stay seated and courteous. A note from both families is needed if a child is going home with another child after school.
Snow days and cancellations
Cancellations are decided as early as possible and announced by group text. They are also reported to KKOZ in Ava and to the Springfield Broadcast Council, which reaches KTTS 94.7 FM, KSGF 1260 AM, KWFC 89.1 FM, and others. If you feel the roads are unsafe on a day school is open, call the office.
Dress code and uniforms
Mt. Zion has a uniform dress code to keep a well-groomed, modest appearance among its students. The uniform is worn during school hours and at school functions, on or off campus. The color to wear each day is announced by the school.
Boys, 1st through 12th grade
Long sleeve or three-quarter sleeve maroon and navy polo shirts with regular-fitting blue jeans. No skinny, faded, or torn jeans.
Suggested: French Toast #1007 or #1009, or similar in any brand.Girls, 1st through 6th grade
Long sleeve or three-quarter sleeve white crewneck tee with a navy jumper, below the knee when standing or sitting. Shorts or solid-colored leggings may be worn underneath. No printed leggings.
Suggested: French Toast V-neck jumpers.Girls, 7th through 12th grade
Long sleeve polo shirts or knit tops in maroon, navy, or white with a navy or khaki skirt, below the knee when standing or sitting. Skirts may be A-line, with no splits. Solid-colored leggings may be worn underneath.
Suggested: French Toast #1268 or #1269, or similar in any brand.Fridays and field trips
MZBS shirt only. Girls wear an athletic skirt, navy skirt, or denim skirt, below the knee. Boys wear athletic pants or jeans. New MZBS shirts are available the first week of school.
For everyone
- Skin-tight, form-fitting, flimsy, or see-through clothing is not permitted, and no shorts of any type.
- Sleeves stay below the elbow, except rolled just above during manual labor or P.E.
- No ornamental jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings). Emergency medical information is permitted.
- No makeup or nail polish.
- Hair kept clean; girls do not cut their hair during the school year or wear extreme colors or styles; boys' hair neatly trimmed.
- No unapproved writing or print on clothing. Hats and caps come off inside any building.
- Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes.
What to wear for programs
- Harvest Home Celebration and FundraiserFirst or second Saturday of November, 10:30 a.m.All students in navy polo shirts. Boys may wear nice denim jeans and girls denim skirts, per the dress code.
- Christmas ProgramDecember, see the school calendarGirls: white blouses or crew-neck tank tops with black skirts; green cardigans are provided for the night. Boys: long sleeve white shirts with nice black pants; red neckties are provided. Provided garments are checked out before the program and returned after it.
- Easter ProgramMarch or April, see the school calendarGirls: white blouses or crew-neck tank tops with black skirts; light purple cardigans are provided. Boys: long sleeve white shirts with nice black pants; matching bowties are provided.
A printable copy of the uniform list is on the Admissions page.
Activities and programs
Student and parent involvement in activities, fundraisers, and seasonal programs is encouraged. Students perform in the seasonal programs, and taking part is a portion of their music grade.
Camp Meeting week in August
Lower Learning Center students attend morning children's sessions in the main chapel, and Upper Learning Center students attend Bible teaching and songs in the auditorium, at 10:30 a.m. each morning in place of chapel. Lunch is provided free to all staff and students that week. A School Service is held at 2:00 p.m. on the last Sunday, where the students sing the school song.
Seasonal programs
The Harvest Home Fundraiser in November, the Christmas Program in December, and the Easter Program in March or April.
And through the year
Banquets, the Christmas parade, field trips, holiday parties, spirit days, the school picnic, the awards ceremony, and graduation.
Parent-Teacher Fellowship
The PTF meets about five times a year. Notices go home with students, and students are welcome too.
School spirit
- Blue & WhiteSchool colors
- Clipper ShipMascot
- CommodoresTeam name
- 1936Christian education since
We'll Conquer
The school song, written by Clyde Gouge and Donna Sue Gouge Haynes, 1979.
Hear our happy voices as we're singing
in the army of our Lord.
Hear the joyful hallelujahs ringing
for our hearts are one accord.
We'll stand the test, we'll give our best;
we're ready for tomorrow.
Never yield to pain or sorrow
Till we triumph thru God's word.
Chorus
We'll conquer, yes, we'll conquer
for our Captain in the sky.
We'll conquer, yes, we'll conquer,
for we dare to do or die.
Bugles sounding, faith abounding,
Tho' the hosts of evil press.
When Christ is leading, there's no retreating
at our school, MZBS!