Student/Family Handbook

Homework

Parents/Guardians

• Parents/Guardians will provide a quiet, distraction-free place for child and ensure their child completes assigned homework.
• Parents/Guardians will recognize and support consequences given for missing homework.
• Parents/Guardians will inquire about student's homework on a daily basis.

Students

• Students will put forward their best effort in completing assignments and return on time.
• Students will record homework in their student planners.

Staff

• Teachers will regularly assign meaningful homework that is accessible to parents via Infinite Campus.
• Teachers will be accessible after school to assist with homework.
• Staff will email or call parents after a student fails to turn in three homework assignments.
• Teachers will update grades in Infinite Campus weekly.

Attendance

Parents/Guardians

• Parents/Guardians will ensure students attend school on time, every day, and remain at school.
• Parents/Guardians will schedule medical appointments outside of school hours.
• After 5 unexcused absences in a semester, students will be considered unexcused without professional documentation.

Students

• Students will arrive to class on time and comply with district attendance guidelines.
• Students will seek out and get missed work after returning from an absence.

Staff

• Teachers promptly begin instruction at the start of each period.
• Teachers will have a system in place for students to receive missed work.
• Teacher attendance will reflect 97% attendance rate.

Respectful Communication and Behavior

Parents/Guardians

• Parents/Guardians will use professional courtesy and respect when dealing with Harrison School District Staff.
• Parents/Guardians will communicate and resolve concerns with a teacher in a timely manner.
• Parents/Guardians will participate in school events when able and in school decision-making when appropriate.
• Parents/Guardians will make every effort to participate in scheduled parent conferences.

Students

• Students will agree to respect each other and all school staff.
• Students will agree to follow behavioral expectations outlined in the school's student handbook.
• Students will share accurate details of concerns with teacher and parent.
• Students will advocate for themselves by contacting an adult when issues arise.

Staff

• Teachers will promote the school-wide expectations as outlined in the parent handbook.
• Teachers will use professional courtesy and respect when dealing with parents.
• Teachers will communicate and resolve concerns with parents in a timely manner.
• Teachers will adhere to due process in regards to discipline issues within the classroom.

College & Career Ready Academic Expectations

Parents/Guardians

• Parents/Guardians will accurately describe the differentiated diplomas and the criteria for each type of diploma.
• Parents/Guardians will attend college and career information nights with their child.
• Parents/Guardians will be familiar with and have access to their child's College in Colorado program.

Students

• Students will accurately describe the differentiated diplomas and the criteria for each type of diploma.
• All students will create a profile in College in Colorado to develop college/career goals.
• Students will attend college and career information night with their parents.

Staff

• Staff will accurately describe the differentiated diplomas and the criteria for each type of diploma.
• Staff will host college and career parent information nights twice a year.
• Staff will ensure that grades will be based on proficiencies derived from building and district assessments.
• Counselors will facilitate students' creation of ICAPS. These plans will be updated yearly.

Studies show that students who miss class on a regular basis, whether excused or unexcused, are far more likely to struggle in achieving their highest potential both in their classes and on standardized testing. As a result, it is imperative that our school and district give high priority to students' attendance on a daily basis. The following policies are district­wide and include the due process rights for students and parents regarding class attendance. 

1. After 3 unexcused absences in one class the front office staff will notify parent and document in Infinite Campus (IC).
2. After 5 unexcused absences in one class, the school secretary will email the appropriate counselor. Counselor calls parent/guardian and places the student on an attendance contract and document in IC.
3. After 7 unexcused absences in one class, the attendance secretary mails a letter informing the student and the parent/guardian that they are both in danger of being referred to the Compulsory Attendance Specialist and the courts, and documents in IC.
4. At 10 unexcused absences in one class, the school secretary will email the appropriate administrator and cc the teacher. The student is referred to the Compulsory Attendance Specialist. The parent/guardian is mailed a notice of non-compliance indicating that any additional absences will result in a referral to the court system for failure to comply with attendance law. The administrator holds a meeting with the student and documents in IC.
5. At 12 or more periods of unexcused absences in one class during a semester, the student may lose credit for the class or be required to audit the class in order to be eligible to re-attain credit by earning proficiency on the District Curriculum-Based Measurements (CBM). Student will meet with appropriate administrator to sign the audit contract and a copy will be mailed home to the parent by the front office staff. Both student and parent/guardian will be notified of appearance date for Initial Notice of court proceedings.

Note: Besides unexcused absences, if a student has 5 or more excused absences within a class semester, additional documentation will be required of the student and parent/guardian in order to excuse the absence and will be required to do so after a cumulative 10 excused or unexcused absences in any class. 

Personal electronic devices may be useful tools for students in the educational environment and can play a vital communication role during emergency situations. However, possession and use of personal electronic devices in school situations must be regulated to ensure that the use or presence of such devices does not disrupt or interfere with the educational process or school operations, or impair the safety, welfare, and privacy of students and staff. Therefore, in order to create engaging spaces in the educational environment that fosters sustained attention and maximizes learning, students may only use personal electronic devices in accordance with this policy. Building administration may develop and adopt school-specific personal electronic device policies that are consistent with this policy.

For purposes of this policy, "personal electronic devices" include any privately-owned portable technology device including but not limited to cell phones, a smart or electronic watch, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, virtual reality devices, wireless earbuds/earphones, headphones, cameras, audio and/or video recorders and players, and any other hand-held electronic communication and data storage devices.

Students shall not use personal electronic devices as follows:

Students in grades 9 – 12: are prohibited from using personal electronic devices during instructional time. Instructional time includes the entire period of a scheduled class and other times when students are directed to report to and participate in any instructional activity. Students may wear smart or electronic watches, but may not use any communication applications or features that are prohibited from use on other electronic devices, and all notifications must be turned off. Personal electronic devices shall be kept out of sight and turned off during instructional time. Personal electronic devices may be used during passing times and lunch periods; however, such use is discouraged. Students may not use personal electronic devices in bathrooms or locker rooms.

(a) The first week of the school year is considered the “warning week.” Students will receive warnings the first week of school.

(b) After the warning week, the first time a student is seen using a personal electronic device in the classroom, the device will be turned over to the classroom teacher and will be kept at the teacher’s desk until the end of the period. If a student refuses to give up their device or is actively defiant towards the teacher, other administrators will step in, and the device will be collected and stored in the main office for the remainder of the day.

(c) If improper usage of personal electronic devices continues and administration must get involved multiple times with the same student, administration will have a meeting with the student and their parent/guardian to discuss alternatives to having personal electronic devices at school, and any other possible next steps (including, but not limited to restorative conferences, cell phone contract, etc.).

Students who refuse to surrender a personal electronic device upon request by a teacher or other school official shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Steps (b) and (c) will reset at the beginning of each quarter.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that personal electronic devices are turned off and out of sight when use is not authorized. Personal electronic devices (1) that produce any audible sound, a ring tone, or vibrating alert, whether through a speaker, earbuds/earphones, buzzer, or other means, or (2) that are displayed or in plain view at such times shall be deemed to be used in violation of this policy.

Regardless of the permitted uses or limitations placed on the use of personal electronic devices, the following conduct is prohibited:

1. To engage in, promote, or facilitate any conduct that otherwise violates the Code of Student Conduct or other Board policies or regulations, or state or federal law.

2. In any manner that causes or results in disruption of the educational environment or school-sponsored extracurricular activities or events, or impairs or interferes with school or District operations.

3. To photograph or record the activities of other students or school personnel on District property or at school or school-sponsored activities, or to disseminate to others such photographs or recordings, in a manner intended to cause or result in, or in a manner the student using the device should reasonably have foreseen would cause or result in, emotional distress, embarrassment or humiliation of a person, or an invasion or violation of any person’s reasonable expectation of privacy.

4. Use of personal electronic devices in locker rooms, bathrooms, or other locations where the presence of such devices poses an unreasonable risk to the safety, welfare, or privacy of other persons, as determined by the building principal.

5. When their use is otherwise prohibited by this policy or by school rules. The principal may, at his or her discretion, establish and enforce additional rules for the use of personal electronic devices appropriate to individual campus needs. School officials are encouraged to set guidelines for the use of such devices during school trips and extracurricular activities.

Exceptions. Students may possess and use personal electronic devices during instructional time or when otherwise prohibited, under the following circumstances:

1. When specifically authorized under a current individual education plan (IEP), a Section 504 accommodation plan, or a health care plan in force and effect regarding the student.

Loss or Damage. The District shall not be responsible for the loss, theft, or destruction of personal electronic devices brought onto school, or District property, or while the student is attending District or school-sponsored activities or events.