Student Handbook and Policies

Student Handbook and Policies

2014-2015

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TABLE OF CONTENTS

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TABLE OF CONTENTS ii

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE 1

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | 2014-2015 CALENDAR 2

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | INFORMATION 3

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | MISSION STATEMENT 4

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | CURRICULUM 5

C3 PROGRAM: CARE, COLLEGE & CAREER 5

Grades K-5 5

Grades 6-8 5

Grade 9 5

Grade 10 5

Grade 11 5

Grade 12 5

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | Gr. K-5 SUPPLY LIST 6

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | Gr. 6-12 SUPPLY LIST 7

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | BENEFITS 8

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TOP TEN GOALS 9

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | BOARD OF DIRECTORS 10

LEGAL STATUS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD/PURPOSE 10

SUPERINTENDENT 10

MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS 10

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY 11

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | PARENT TEACHER STUDENT COMPACT 15

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 15

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT 16

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | OPERATIONS 17

ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES 17

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY 17

NON-SECTARIAN POLICY 17

STUDENT ACADEMIC HOURS 18

SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS 18

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS 18

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS 18

SUMMER INSTITUTE PROGRAM 18

MAIN OFFICE HOURS OF OPERATIONS 19

LIBRARY 19

WEIGHT ROOM 19

STUDENT FEES AND FINES 20

STUDENT ACADEMIC CUMULATIVE FILE 20

EMERGENCY CLOSURE 20

SECURITY 20

SCHOOL PROPERTY 20

SEARCH AND SEIZURE POLICY 20

Lockers and Personal Possessions within a Locker 20

Desks 21

Personal Possessions and Student’s Person 21

TEXTBOOKS 21

IDENTIFICATION CARDS 21

LOCKERS 21

HALL PASSES 21

STUDENT VEHICLE REGRISTRATION 21

LOST AND FOUND 22

THEFTS 22

TOYS (Electronic Toys and Personal Belongings) 22

RECESS 22

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | COMMUNICATION 23

TELEPHONE USE 23

CHANGE OF ADDRESS 23

EMERGENCY CONTACT FORMS 23

ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY (Also see Discipline Policies) 23

MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS 23

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS 23

PROGRESS REPORTS - CONFERENCES 24

VISITORS AND GUESTS 24

SOLICITATION 25

MILITARY RECRUITERS 25

Notice for Directory Information 25

ANIMALS 25

MEDIA 25

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | PROCEDURES 26

COLLEGE VISITS 26

STUDENT EARLY DISMISSAL 26

STUDENT PICK UP 26

FIELD TRIPS 26

PHOTO PERMISSION 26

SURVEYS 27

OUTSIDE GUESTS FOR SCHOOL EVENTS 27

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | RELATIONSHIPS 28

STAFF/FACULTY-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP 28

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT 28

MANDATED REPORTING OF CHILD NEGLECT OR PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE 28

PARENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIP 28

Problem Resolution Policy 28

STUDENT COMPLAINT POLICY 29

HARASSMENT POLICY 29

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY 30

General Statement of Policy 30

Definition of Bullying 30

Reporting Procedures 30

HOMEWORK POLICY 30

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 31

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 32

Severe Weather 32

Fire Drills 32

Lockdown 32

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING 32

Crisis Situations 32

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY |STUDENT HEALTH 33

HEALTH/MEDICATION POLICY 33

Personal Health 33

Medication Procedure 33

ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA 34

IMMUNIZATIONS AND SCREENING 34

ACCIDENTS/INJURIES 34

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | FOOD SERVICES 35

FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH 35

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TIME 35

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT 35

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TESTING 36

STATE ACHIEVEMENT TESTING – MCA 36

What are the MCAs? 36

Why do we give these tests? 36

Who must take these tests? 36

STATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER TESTING – ACCESS for ELLs 36

What is the ACCESS for ELLs test? 36

Why do we give these tests? 36

Who must take these tests? 36

DISTRICT PROGRESS MONITORING – NWEA MAP 36

What is the MAP test? 36

Why do we give these tests? 36

Who must take these tests? 37

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 37

Requirement 1: 37

Requirement 2: 37

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | K-8 LEARNING OUTCOMES 38

ACADEMIC GOALS 38

METHOD, INSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND RESEARCH EVIDENCE 38

SIOP 38

GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS 38

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | GRADES AND CREDITS 39

GRADUATION CEREMONY PARTICIPATION POLICY 39

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | ATTENDANCE 41

TARDINESS 41

REPORTING ABSENT STUDENTS 41

DISMISSAL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY 43

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TRANSPORTATION 44

NON-SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION 44

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION 45

BUS PASSES 45

TRANSPORTATION RULES AND REGULATIONS 45

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | DRESS CODE 47

DRESS CODE POLICY 47

Why Do We Have a Dress Code? 47

DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER 47

DRESS CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS 48

UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS 49

PHYSICAL EDUCATION UNIFORM REQUIREMENT 49

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | SCHOOL DISCIPLINE 50

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | DISCIPLINE POLICY 51

MERIT/DEMERIT SYSTEM 51

Merits 51

Demerits 51

Detentions/Demerit Cycles 52

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | DISCIPLINE POLICY 53

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TECHNOLOGY 56

Internet/Intranet Usage 56

Internet/Intranet Etiquette 56

Inappropriate Use 56

Internet/Intranet and Computer Lab Use Policy 56

Violation Consequences 57

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | TECHNOLOGY USAGE AGREEMENT 58

NOTES 59

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE

Dear Students and Parent/Guardians,

Welcome new and returning students to Hmong College Prep Academy 2014-2015! First, I want you to know that I am honored, humbled and excited to serve as the Superintendent of Hmong College Prep Academy. As we start our new year, we often look to our previous years to make improvements, celebrate our successes and look forward to the new school year and what opportunities lay before us.

In fall of 2010, we implemented a new online lesson plan program as well as a new evaluation program for all faculty members. TAP, the System for Teacher and Student Achievement, is a national program that supports teachers to become more effective in their instructional practices and students to advance in their academic success. The TAP program also provides strong feedback for our teachers and administrators and we have mobilized our efforts to ensure greater success from our teachers and students. Moving forward, HCPA will continue to utilize student test data to tailor and drive instruction to meet the needs of our individual learners. Beyond individualized student instruction, each teacher will develop their own individual growth plan (IGP). When teachers meet their professional and overall district goals for student growth and achievement, there are additional salary augmentation and bonuses for their hard work. This will allow HCPA to recognize and continue to support the hard work of our highly qualified and effective teachers.

In August 2013, HCPA expanded to add a three-level high school building, doubling the size of our school! The new building includes a performing arts auditorium with over 500 seats, 30+ classrooms, 2 music classrooms, large media center and library, state of the art science lab classrooms, high school lunchroom, middle school gymnasium with new administration office wing to serve the entire school. Additionally, the existing building underwent renovations to create more space and classrooms for K-8 students. HCPA’s projected goal is to increase student enrollment to 1300+ by the 2017-2018 school year. In order to keep class sizes small, we will continue to hire additional content teachers and offer more elective courses.

HCPA students excel both inside and outside of the classrooms. This past year, service-learning students teamed up with law enforcement and emergency services to film a public service announcement on the dangers of drunk and distracted driving. They were even on TV! Our students were swimming buddies at the YMCA, reading buddies with our younger students, and they cooked meals for families at the Ronald McDonald House and a local nursing home.

This year, we look forward to several new projects and initiatives. In October, we are taking our high school students on an "Ivy League Campus Visit" making stops at Harvard, Princeton and Yale (to name a few). In the spring, students can sign up for the “Big 10 Campus Visit” where they will tour campuses like Northwestern University and Purdue.

HCPA has partnered with CurriculumLoft and T-Mobile to provide Android devices to all students for use in the classroom. Students in grades 5-12 will have the opportunity to take these devices home to use for schoolwork. We are excited about the possibilities of extending our learning to beyond the classroom with innovative software, lesson planning and interactive components to engage our 21st century students!

To support the new projects and initiatives for our students, we have added two additional leaders onto our administration team. Mr. Jason Sellars will be serving as the new K-5 Elementary Director of Teaching & Learning working closely with teachers, staff and students to engage and energize elementary learning. Mr. Dao Lor has been promoted to our Director of Operations & Community Relations and he will work to support school operations and foster relationship outside of HCPA. Mrs. Danijela Duvnjak will remain as our Director of Teaching & Learning focusing on grades 6-12 and Mr. Pao Yang will remain the Chief Operating Officer handling facility management, operations and safety.

With all these changes and enhancements, our aspiration remains the same for HCPA: become a “world class school” that encompasses academic excellence and is continually recognized as a school of innovation. We continue to implement the following:

v Set high learning expectations for all students to succeed – No Excuses;

v Raise the achievement of all students with personalized and engaging instruction, across all content areas utilizing our C3: Care, College, Career College Prep program;

v Emphasize learning and innovation that integrates the use of supportive technologies, inquiry, and higher order thinking skills;

v Offer students challenging college preparatory, honor and Advanced Placement courses;

v Ensure all students graduate on time to pursue higher education and career opportunities;

v Infuse Hmong and world cultures into the daily curriculum; and,

v Ensure all students continue to be culturally and educationally proficient in relationships with students and families of varied backgrounds.

I look forward to meeting and working with all students and parents to fulfill the promise and potential of HCPA school district.

Sincerely,

Christianna M. Hang, Ed. D.

Superintendent

HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY | 2014-2015 CALENDAR

August 2014
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
31
/ • 18-29 Teacher Workshops
• 28 Student Orientation 3-6pm / • 13 No School for Students/ Staff Development & Home Visits
• 16 No School/ President’s Day / February 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28
September 2014
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19* / 20
21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
28 / 29 / 30
/ • 1 No School/Labor Day
• 2 First Day of School for K-12 grades/ All School Assembly
• 19 Early Release/Staff Development (11am) / • 5 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00pm-8:00pm
• 6 No School for Students Parent/Teacher Conferences 9:00am-5:00pm
• 9 No School for Students/ Staff Development
• 27 Quarter 3 Ends
• 3/30-4/3 No School/ Spring Break / March 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28
29 / 30 / 31
October 2014
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25
26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ • 9 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00pm-8:00pm
• 10 No School for Students Parent/Teacher Conferences 9:00am-5:00pm
• 16-17 No School for Students State Teacher Meetings
• 31 Quarter 1 Ends / • 3/30-4/3 No School/ Spring Break
• 6 Quarter 4 Begins
Classes Resume / April 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25
26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
November 2014
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1
2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15
16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22
23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29
30
/ • 21 Home Visits – No school students
• 26 HCPA Culture Day
• 27-28 No School/ Thanksgiving / • 15 Early Release/Staff Development (11am)
• 25 No School/ Memorial Day
• 29 Last Day of School for Seniors / May 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15* / 16
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
31
December 2014
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ • 12 No School for Students/ Staff Development
• 22-31 No School/ Winter Break / • 9 Last Day of School
Quarter 4/ Semester 2 Ends
• 10 Staff Looking Forward Day
(Staff Hours TBD)
• 11 Senior Commencement
• 22 Summer School begins / June 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
28 / 29 / 30
January 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24
25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ • 1 No School for Students/ Winter Break
• 2 Staff Development day
• 5 Classes Resume
• 16 Quarter 2/Semester 1 Ends
• 19 No School/ MLK Day
• 20 Quarter 3/ Semester 2 Begins / July 2015
Su / M / T / W / Th / F / Sa
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25
26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31

(Q1=41; Q2=41; Q3=45; Q4=46: Student Days: 173; Teacher Days: 194) * Indicates an 11am early release.