Parent-Student Handbook Addendum

2023-2024 School Year

Table of Contents

Overview        2

Internet Capabilities        2

Technical Support        2

Student Expectations        3

Parent/Guardian Expectations        4

High School Students        4

Equipment Rules and Guidelines        5

Electronic Resource Policy and Responsible Use Procedures        5

Equipment Use and Care        6

Email for Students        6

Webcams        8

Movies        8

Gaming        8

Backgrounds and Screensavers        9

Damaged Equipment        9

Lost or Stolen Equipment        9

Code of Conduct        9

Academic Honesty        10

Student Discipline        11

Electronic Devices        12

Make-up Work Policy        13

School Information        14

Attendance        15

Contact  Information                                                                                                                                                              16

Overview 

Mission: 

Colonial Heights Public Schools, in partnership with the home and the community, will provide each student with a relevant, quality education. The skills taught shall enable each student to become a self-sufficient, productive member of the global society prepared to enter the job market and/or continue his/her education.

Colonial Heights Public Schools is committed to ensuring all students are prepared for their future.  CHPS continues to put the students' best interest at the forefront of all decision-making.   We are committed to ensuring that all students learn.

We promise to engage, nurture, and support students through this phase of their education.  This text serves as an addendum.  Other policies and regulations through CHHS and CHPS that are applicable, remain in effect.  

Internet Capabilities

Reliable Internet connection is essential for utilizing chromebooks for school assignments when not on school grounds. Families who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch program may also qualify for Comcast's Internet Essentials (internetessentials.com). The Internet Essentials program will allow customers to pay only $9.95 per month.  Families who do not have reliable Internet access and do not qualify for the Comcast Internet Essentials program should contact the Office of Technology and Learning by emailing TechSupport@colonialhts.net or calling 804-524-2275 ext. 202

Technical Support

If students are having difficulty with their Chromebook, then they should first contact the main office or Mrs. White (media center specialist).  Tech support will be contacted.  Tech support within the CHHS school building will attempt to remedy the technical issue.  In the event that the technical issue cannot be fixed at the school level, a representative from the Office of Technology and Learning will assist with fixing the technical issues.  

Student Expectations

All students must adhere to the Acceptable Computer Use Policy and Technology Use Guidelines as outlined by Colonial Heights Board Policies.  

Parent/Guardian Expectations

High School Students

Equipment Rules and Guidelines

The rules and regulations are provided here so that students and parents/guardians are aware of the responsibilities that students accept when they use district-owned technology equipment. In general, this requires efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of all technology resources. Violations of these rules and guidelines will result in disciplinary action.

Electronic Resource Policy and Responsible Use Procedures:

Equipment Use and Care

Email for Students

Webcams

Movies

Gaming

Backgrounds and Screensavers

Damaged Equipment

Lost or Stolen Equipment

Code of Conduct

Colonial Heights Public Schools expects all students to behave appropriately for an educational environment and follow school rules.  Any behavior which disrupts the learning environment, and / or is detrimental to the safety and welfare of other students or staff is subject to disciplinary action.  Students are expected to abide by the Standards of Student Conduct.

Appearance and Attire

In addition to student dress criteria listed in the Standards of Student Conduct, student attire and    clothing that presents an immodest appearance or that could cause a class disruption may not be worn.  Examples include but are not limited to:  clothes with revealing rips/holes above fingertip length, tops that expose front or back, short skirts, dresses, or shorts above fingertip length, see through blouses/tops, bare midriffs/crop tops, spaghetti straps under two inches in width, tops that expose undergarments, tops that are too low or high, halters, corsets, tube skirts, muscle tops, pants worn below the waist.  Pajamas, pajama pants, and bathrobes are not permitted to be worn at school.

No clothing, garment, or item that causes a disruption of the educational process may be worn.  This includes but is not limited to clothing or items with inappropriate messages, double-meanings, confederate flags, and/or advertisements of tobacco projects, juuls/vapes, drugs, alcohol, sexual and/or pornographic connotations, or any illegal substances.  Large/oversized coats and trench coats may not be worn in school during the day or at any after school events.  The wearing of studded necklaces, bracelets, rings, or any item that poses a safety hazard may be prohibited.  

Hats, hoods, bandannas, head wraps, ear muffs, sunglasses, do-rags, bonnets, and other head apparel are not worn in the school building during instructional hours.  All head coverings and apparel must be removed when entering the building unless it is being worn for religious reasons.  Head wraps may be no more than 3” wide and worn as a headband.  

Clothing, colors, or accessories which evidence membership in gangs cannot be worn in school.

Yoga pants, leggings, and bike/compression shorts may be worn to school.  A top or shirt must be worn to at least to the mid-thigh for coverage in the front and back.  Bike/compression shorts must be at least fingertip length when worn.  

*Changes and additions to clothing styles occur during the school year that may require revisions and adjustments to guidelines.  The school dress and grooming policy is not intended to include or cover all possible dress and grooming situations.  Necessary additions or adjustments to this policy can occur during the school year.*

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to follow all copyright laws. Duplication and/or distribution of materials for educational purposes is permitted when such duplication and/or distribution would fall within the Fair Use Doctrine of the United States Copyright Law (Title17, USC).

Student Discipline

Teacher-Detention of Students:  An individual teacher as a disciplinary action may keep a student before or after school.  At least 1 day’s notice will be given and the teacher will contact the parent/guardian via phone or email.  Students who fail to report to teacher detention will be assigned administrative detention.

Administrative Detention:  Students may be assigned administrative detention by a CHHS administrator or administrative assistant for violation of school rules.  Administrative detention will be held from 2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays unless a change in the schedule is announced.  At least 1 day’s notice will be given to the student.  Employment, athletic, or extracurricular activities will not be acceptable excuses for not serving detention.  Students who fail to report to detention as assigned may receive at least one day of ALC.  Administrative detention is not appealable to the principal.  

Alternative Learning Center (ALC):  Students assigned to ALC must earn their way back into the regular classroom by satisfactorily completing all assigned work and adhering to all ALC policies.  If a student is not adhering to ALC rules, he or she will be placed on school suspension for a set time period.  If a parent wishes to appeal a student’s ALC time, he or she must first speak with the assistant principal.  If the parent is still not satisfied, the parent may appeal within 24 hours to the principal by calling the school secretary to make an appointment.  ALC is not appealable to the superintendent.  

Any student placed in the alternative learning center is not allowed to participate in VSHL and/or CHPS activities until he/she has been reinstated.

Out of School Suspension (OSS):  Grading of assignments for students assigned to OSS will be as follows for each school year:

• 1st offense where student is placed on OSS:  student will receive full credit on all school work assigned while on OSS
• 2nd offense where student is placed on OSS:  student will receive grades no higher than a 60 on all school work assigned while on OSS
• 3rd offense and any thereafter where a student is placed on OSS:  student will receive 0’s on all school work assigned while on OSS

While on OSS, students and parents should check Canvas and email teachers to request homework.  A parent conference may be required with CHHS administration before the student returns to the classroom.  Continued misconduct after multiple placements or short term suspensions may lead to possible prolonged  or long-term suspension of the student or referral to the superintendent of schools or his designee.  If a parent wishes to appeal an OSS decision, then he or she needs to set an appointment with the high school secretary to meet with the high school principal.  This must be done within 24 hours.  If a parent wishes to appeal the principal’s decision, then he or she must appeal in writing within two days of the principal’s decision to the superintendent’s secretary.

Suspended Students:  While suspended out of school, a student is considered trespassing if he/she comes on the school grounds of any CHPS property without having the permission of an administrator.  Any student placed on out-of-school suspension is barred from participating in VHSL and/or CHPS activities until he/she has been reinstated.  Any student placed on OSS is not allowed to attend any CHPS event until reinstated.  This includes home and away games and CHPS events held outside of Colonial Heights.  In addition, students who are suspended out-of-school are not allowed to participate in school-related work programs.

Electronic Devices

Electronic devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, ipods, iwatches, air pods, may be used by students before and after school, during designated areas in lunches, and in hallways during class changes.  Electronic devices should be off and away when entering a teacher’s classroom.  

During classroom instruction, classroom teachers will be able to select a classroom setting (red light or green light) regarding electronic devices as it pertains to educational purposes only.  Classroom teachers will set appropriate levels of acceptable usages as outlined below:

Red Light:  Cell phones and electronic devices are not allowed for the current activity/time period, and need to be turned off and put away.

Green Light:  Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed by the classroom teacher for the current activity/time period and must only be used for educational purposes as it pertains to the given activity/time period.

The following stipulations will also be adhered to regardless of location during all times of the school day.

• In the event of a teacher absence, the default setting will be RED during the entire duration of the class.
• Students will NOT dial or accept phone calls, voicemails, or facetime.
• Students will NOT record/show/post pictures or videos of any student or staff member without the student or staff member’s permission.
• Students will NOT take pictures of a teacher’s instructional material (notes or graded assignments) without prior permission from the teacher.
• Electronic Devices will be off and put away during all quizzes and tests.
• Students will NOT bring personal computers, tablets, or gaming systems to school for use during the school day.  

Students not adhering to the electronic device policy may have their electronic devices confiscated by staff members and turned into the main office for a parent/guardian to pick up.  Failure to comply with the requests of a staff member may result in disciplinary action.  

1st and 2nd offense:  Student turns in the phone/electronic device and an adult on the emergency card is able to come get the device on the same day.

3rd and further offenses:  Student will receive ALC.  

*Electronic device offenses are subject to disciplinary consequences (administrative detention, ALC, or OSS) in the place of/or in addition to confiscation and having the device picked up by a parent/guardian.*

CHPS-issued Chromebooks must be utilized during the school day.  

Make-Up Work Policy

• Individual students and parents are responsible to make arrangements to request and receive classwork and homework while absent from school.  
• It is the student’s responsibility to see the teacher on the day he/she returns to schedule make-up work on or before the date set by the teacher.  All work not made up will be graded as a zero.  In extending the time limit for make-up work, an administrator may consider extenuating circumstances and extensions shall be granted in order to ensure that a student with a valid excuse is allowed to make up work.
• All previously assigned work before the student’s absence including projects, reports, tests, homework, etc. will be required on the first day the student returns to school.  An administrator may grant an extension under this policy.  
• Appeal for an exception to the provisions of the make-up work policy will be heard first by an assistant principal.  Should the matter not be resolved at this level, it may be appealed to the principal.  

School Information

Attendance

• Personal appointments should be made AFTER school hours.
• Daily school attendance is required.  Students are expected to arrive by 7:35 and report directly to their 1st block class.  
• Within the first 15 minutes of class, the teacher will take daily/class block attendance – present, absent, tardy – using PowerTeacher.  If a student missed more than 30 minutes of class time, an absence will be recorded and a tardy will be recorded on his/her tardy card.  
• Bathroom needs will be taken care of by the assigned teacher.  
• School Messenger will be used daily to notify parents/guardians if their student is marked absent.
• Notes are required for all absences.  They may be faxed to 804.520.7222, scanned, mailed, or pictures of the signed note may be emailed to Mrs. Marcy Kroll at marcy_kroll@colonialhts.net.  Notes may also be given to the main office secretary.
• If a student has three or more undocumented absences, the teacher will make direct contact with the parent/guardian (phone call).
• The state requires that an attendance plan be developed for any student who has five or more unexcused absences.  An attendance conference with the parent/guardian must be held within ten days of the 10th unexcused absence.
• Students with excessive absenteeism may be referred to school administration and/or the attendance officer.
• Excessive absences may result in a student not receiving credit for a class.  
• In the event of a mandatory quarantine and/or extended illness, building administration will make instructional accommodations for students whenever possible.

Contact Information