Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook

Colorado Academy
2012 – 2013
Upper School
Handbook

Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
Revised August, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
School Mission Statement and Statement of School Philosophy ........... 4
Important Telephone Numbers ............................................................ 5
Academic Credit .................................................................................... 6
Academic Probation .............................................................................. 6
Academic Warning/Academic Concern ................................................. 6
Accommodation Plan ............................................................................ 7
Advisory Program ................................................................................. 7
Assemblies ........................................................................................... 8
Athletic Eligibility ................................................................................... 8
Athletic Uniforms ................................................................................... 8
Attendance ............................................................................................ 8
Audit ................................................................................................... 11
Bookstore ............................................................................................ 11
Bus/Late Bus ...................................................................................... 11
Campus Facilities ................................................................................ 12
Cell Phones……………………………………………………………… 12
Cheating (also see Plagiarism and Cheating) ..................................... 12
Clean-Up Duty……………………………………………………………..12
College Counseling ............................................................................. 13
Commons Area ................................................................................... 13
Community Service (See Service Learning)
Computer Use ..................................................................................... 14
Counseling Services……………………………………………………....14
Course Load ....................................................................................... 16
Dances ............................................................................................... 16
Discipline ............................................................................................ 17
Ditch Day ............................................................................................ 19
Dress Code ......................................................................................... 19
Driving Privileges/Off-Campus Privilege (also see Parking) ................ 19
Extracurricular Activities, Clubs and Organizations ............................. 20
Faculty and Staff Lounge/Workroom ................................................... 21
Failures ............................................................................................... 21
Field Trips ........................................................................................... 21
Fifth Course Waiver (See Waivers)
First Aid (See Illness/Injury and Medication)
Global Studies …………………………………………………………….21
Grade Point Average........................................................................... 22
Grading and Grade Reports ................................................................ 22
Graduation Requirements (See Appendix A)
Green Campus ……………………………………………………………23
Guests ................................................................................................ 23
Gymnasium ......................................................................................... 23
Harassment ........................................................................................ 24
Hazing ................................................................................................ 25
Homework ........................................................................................... 25
Honor Roll ........................................................................................... 26
Illness/Injury ........................................................................................ 26
Inappropriate Items ............................................................................. 26
Incident Reports (see Discipline)
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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Incompletes ........................................................................................ 26
Independent Study, Academic and Athletic ......................................... 27
Interim Program .................................................................................. 27
Jobs .................................................................................................... 28
Knowles Upper School (See Building Hours)
Library ................................................................................................. 28
Lockers/Respect for Property .............................................................. 28
Lost and Found ................................................................................... 29
Medication .......................................................................................... 29
Messages ........................................................................................... 29
Mid-Trimester Grade Reports (see Grading and Grading Reports)
Off-Campus Privilege (See Driving Privileges)
Parking ............................................................................................... 29
Pass/Fail Credit ................................................................................... 30
Plagiarism and Cheating ..................................................................... 30
Public Behavior/Language .................................................................. 31
Raether Building ................................................................................. 31
Service Learning ................................................................................. 32
Sexual Harassment (See Harassment)
Smoking Policy ................................................................................... 32
Snow Day Policy ................................................................................. 32
Standardized Testing .......................................................................... 33
Study Halls .......................................................................................... 33
Summer Reading ................................................................................ 33
Suspension and Expulsion (See Discipline)
Tardiness ............................................................................................ 34
Technology (see Computer Use and Appendix B)
Tests ................................................................................................... 34
Theft/Valuable Items ........................................................................... 34
Threats of Physical Violence ............................................................... 34
Transcripts .......................................................................................... 35
Tutoring............................................................................................... 35
Use of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco .................................................... 36
Waivers, Academic and Athletic .......................................................... 36
Appendix A (Graduation Requirements) .............................................. 37
Appendix B (Technology Use Agreement) .......................................... 38
Appendix C (Accommodation Plan Policy) .......................................... 41
Appendix D (Policy regarding Students at Risk) .................................. 44
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
Revised August, 2012
MISSION STATEMENT
A dynamic liberal arts and sciences program that challenges students ethically,
academically, artistically, and athletically creates the foundation of Colorado
Academy. Teachers, students, parents, and staff foster trusting and respectful
relationships, enhancing our thriving school family. Students pursue excellence
and seek to become life-long learners and contributors in our local and
international communities.
STATEMENT OF SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
‣ The school balances challenge and demand with support and encouragement. In a nurturing
environment we cultivate in each student the confidence to experiment, think independently,
and work cooperatively with others.
‣ The school promotes intellectual excitement and inspires students to develop inquisitive and selfdirected
minds.
‣ Students acquire tools to discover, analyze, and interpret the world.
‣ The school encourages students to become reflective citizens concerned with local and global
physical, social, cultural, and political environments.
‣ The school’s curriculum and admission philosophy fosters an understanding of and a respect for
people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
‣ The school’s balanced liberal arts and sciences program and emphasis on character development
prepares students to be successful in colleges and universities commensurate with their
interests and abilities.
‣ The school develops students’ abilities and desire to educate themselves beyond the limits of their
formal education, encouraging them to view learning as a life-long endeavor.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS/INFORMATION
Upper School Attendance…………………...………………………303-914-2598
(call by 8:30 AM to report student absences)
Upper School Office…………………………………………………….303-914-2519
Upper School Fax ……………………….……………………………...303-914-2544
Upper School Principal’s Office……………………………...……….. 303-914-2520
Registrar’s Office……………………………………………. .…………303-914-2563
Upper School College Counseling Office.………….…………………303-914-2502
303-914-2504
Upper School Admissions Office………………………………………303-914-2513
Mailing Address……………………………………………………Colorado Academy
3800 S. Pierce St.
Denver, CO 80235
Main School Phone Number ………………………………...…………303-986-1501
(to access teacher voicemail, other school divisions or departments)
Events Line (Sports)…………………………………………….……….303-914-2525
Athletic Department………………….…………………………………. 303-914-2529
Transportation Department……………………………………….…….303-914-2540
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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Academic Credit
Upon successful completion of each trimester of academic class enrollment, one-third
credit is awarded. A student passes a course if a grade of D- or higher is earned. No
credit is awarded in any class for which a student has previously earned credit.
Academic Probation
A student is automatically placed on academic probation if her/his grade point average
(GPA) falls below 1.67 at the end of any trimester. Two consecutive trimesters below
this threshold may result in the student being counseled out of Colorado Academy. In
all cases of academic probation significant action is taken by the school, including
frequent progress reports, meetings with the student’s parents/guardians, and strategy
sessions with teachers. Parents/guardians will be informed by phone and by letter
when a student is placed on probation.
Academic Warning/Academic Concern
In order to better serve students who are struggling academically, any student with two
or more grades of C- or below at the end of any trimester will be put on academic
warning for the following trimester. The student's parents/guardians and advisor will
receive notification in writing as soon as this situation is known. The usual remedies in
this circumstance will include one mandatory study hall, regular progress reports from
all teachers to the parents/guardians during the trimester, and regular contact with
parents/guardians from the student's advisor.
Academic concern is designed to call attention to a student about whom a teacher or
advisor may have questions in an individual class or in several classes. For example, if
a student slips a letter grade or more from one trimester to another in a given class, is
slipping more than one letter grade during a trimester, or consistently behaves in ways
detrimental to a positive learning environment, he or she could be placed in the
academic concern category. Other indicators of concern may include effort, attitude
and attendance. There is no grade or GPA designation for this category, and the
criteria may be different for individual students depending upon specific factors germane
to that student’s academic situation. At any time, but particularly at the end of each
trimester, the faculty will inform the Principal and Deans of any student of concern; that
group will in turn determine whether to place the student in the academic concern
category. If so, the student, the advisor, and the student’s parents/guardians will be
notified in writing and by telephone. Students in this category may be assigned study
halls, tutorials, or other measures deemed appropriate by the Principal, Deans, and
advisor.
Any student who is on academic warning or academic concern for two trimesters in a
row or for three out of four trimesters will be encouraged to consider other high school
options, and/or may be counseled out of Colorado Academy.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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Accommodation Plan
Students with diagnosed learning disabilities may benefit from special accommodations
in the Upper School. The path to an accommodation plan generally begins with
someone (either school personnel or a parent/guardian or both) perceiving an issue with
the student's learning. Once a behavior is observed, a referral to the school counselor
is necessary. The counselor will do a preliminary assessment at school by interviewing
the student's teachers, parents/guardians, the student and the student's advisor.
Referrals for formal educational and/or psychological testing may then be made. (If the
student has already been tested, the evaluation must have been done within the past
three years.) Following testing and consultation with a professional health care
provider, a judgment will be made as to whether an accommodation plan is advisable.
If it is, and if the school determines in its sole discretion that the needs of the student
can be met, a plan will be developed with specific strategies for the classroom teachers.
Parents/Guardians are always encouraged to share any special needs that a student
may have with the student's advisor or the school counselor. This allows the school to
address a student's educational needs and put an accommodation plan in place if
necessary and appropriate.
For a more detailed description of the school’s Accommodation Plan Policy and
Process, please see Appendix C in the back of this Handbook. With respect to the use
of accommodations concerning standardized college entrance exams, please refer to
the Guide to the College Counseling Program. Additional information can be obtained
from the Upper School Counselor.
See also Counseling Services.
Advisory Program
Advisory Mission Statement: The Upper School Advisory Program fosters a supportive
and caring atmosphere. Through daily contact, students develop positive connections
to school, concerned adults, and peers. Communication happens on many levels---
advisor-student, advisor-teacher/coach, advisor-parent, advisee-advisee---developing
and strengthening these connections. The program plays a significant role in furthering
each student’s academic, social and emotional development in the student’s years at
Colorado Academy.
Students are assigned to advisory groups of 8-12 members from their grade.
Advisories meet four times a week, allowing a student and the advisor a daily check-in
time. The advisor also facilitates discussions stemming from assembly programs,
special presentations at school, or other discussion topics appropriate to a particular
grade level or those to be discussed by the whole school. Regular contact with parents
--either by phone, e-mail or conference--is a primary part of the program. The advisor
serves as the student's and the family's first point of contact when a problem arises at
school.
The advisory program is one of the most essential ingredients of a student's educational
experience at CA. Studies have shown that consistent interaction with an adult advisor
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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helps keep a student on track, both academically and emotionally, through his or her
high school years. The individualized attention inherent in the program also strongly
supports our school's mission (see CA Mission Statement at the front of this book).
Assemblies
All-school assemblies are held frequently in the Froelicher Theatre or Newton
Gymnasium. Many of these are devoted to the opportunity to watch other members of
our community perform. On occasion, we are also fortunate to be able to welcome
visiting speakers and performers. Every student in the Upper School is expected to
arrive at assembly promptly and to observe mature, supportive and appropriate
audience behavior throughout the lecture or performance. Students who do not have
classes before assembly are expected to arrive in time to attend assembly. Campus is
closed (students are not allowed to leave) for ALL students during assembly and during
the activity period that either follows or precedes assembly on most days. If a student
must miss assembly, the student must be excused by a parent or teacher before the
assembly. In all cases the Upper School Office staff should be notified.
Athletic Eligibility
All interscholastic sports in the athletic program are governed by the Colorado High
School Activities Association (CHSAA). A student is considered ineligible for
competition if he/she is taking fewer than four academic courses or if he/she is failing or
has an incomplete in the equivalent of 1/2 Carnegie unit of credit (two courses in one
trimester). In order to play in a game, the student must attend classes the first half of
the school day (8:20 a.m. - 12:00 noon).
Athletic Uniforms
Uniforms are issued to students for team participation. The student is responsible for
the care and laundering of these uniforms. If uniforms are lost or damaged, students
will be billed for their replacement or repair cost. Statements of uniform policy are
available in the Athletic Office.
Attendance
It is our responsibility to promote the academic success of all of our students, and
regular school attendance is a critical piece of that success. When a student misses
school, the class is negatively affected as is the student. Although a child may
complete missing assignments, what they missed over the course of the day simply
cannot be made up. The interactions, discussions, collaborative work, etc. are not
things that a family can replicate. Even though the reason for the absence may seem
valid, it is still an absence. Vacations and extended trips, regardless of the value of the
location, result in missed opportunities for learning. So we ask that families not extend
vacation periods with extra days missed from school. Other specific policies and
procedures regarding procedures and policies for reporting absences are noted below.
• When a student is absent for five or more days in a trimester the Principal
reviews his/her record and may request a conference with the parents/guardians
and the student's advisor. No distinction will be made between excused and
unexcused absences.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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• Students who are absent over nine days in a trimester may not receive credit for
the courses affected.
• Students who cut (ditch) classes will be handled as a disciplinary issue by the
class deans or Principal.
• In some cases where a pattern of school absences continues after school
communication and meetings have occurred, the contract for the next school
year may be held in a probationary status or not issued.
1. Notifying School
The safety and security of our students is of primary concern. Our attendance policies
are designed to help us account for our students throughout the school day. Parent
cooperation in this regard is expected in order for us to fulfill this important part of our
responsibilities.
a. Parents or guardians, not students, must call the Upper School Office
(914-2598) by 8:30 a.m. or send a note to school with the student if
he/she will be tardy or absent for any portion of the school day,
including leaving school early.
b. Any absence, late arrival or early dismissal not excused by a parent note or
call will be considered unexcused. It is the responsibility of the parents or
guardians to contact the school regarding their student's absence, late arrival
or early dismissal.
c. Please call your student's coach or the CA Athletic Office at 914-2574 if your
child will be absent on a day a game is being played. It is NOT necessary to
call the coach or athletic office if your student will miss practice only.
2. Excused Absence
a. An absence is excused under the following circumstances:
1) illness,
2) medical appointment,
3) personal business which can be accomplished only within the period of
the school day (parent sanction).
b. When an absence is excused in advance by a parent, the student consults
with his/her teachers to determine the arrangements for completing assignments.
3. Unexcused Absence
a. When an absence is unexcused, the student may not submit any assignment
for full credit; however, the teacher reserves the right to require that all work be
submitted and determines the procedure for evaluating that work.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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b. In the case of suspension from school, the same conditions governing makeup
work for an unexcused absence apply.
c. All unexcused absences will be reported by the teacher on an Incident Report.
The advisor will consult with the class deans who will determine the appropriate
disciplinary action. Parents/guardians will be notified by the student's advisor or
class dean.
4. Extended Absence
a. The Upper School does not support the practice of removing students from
school for extended periods of time.
b. Parents/guardians are asked not to excuse students on days immediately
preceding or following a vacation period.
c. Parents/guardians are asked to contact the student’s advisor prior to an
unavoidable extended absence; the advisor will consult with the Principal in
determining whether or not the absence is appropriate.
d. All make-up work is the responsibility of the student.
5. Absence and Extracurricular Participation
The school day of a student at Colorado Academy may include a wide variety of
activities--classes, athletics and fine arts rehearsals. Students are encouraged to
examine their commitments carefully in order to make sure that these can all be
met in any given day. Students should anticipate “crunch” times and discuss with
their advisors and teachers how to meet the demands of all the activities to which
they are committed. Skipping one activity to meet the demands of another is
unacceptable.
6. Attendance Check-In
Official Upper School attendance is recorded in an electronic gradebook by all
teachers at the start of the first two class periods on a daily basis. An Upper
School attendance report is then generated based on these teacher gradebook
entries. Students who arrive to school after the 8:10 start time, or who arrive at
class after these attendance reports have been submitted, must check in directly
with the Upper School office or they will be marked as absent for the day.
Juniors and seniors who have free blocks during these times may come to school
late and do not need to check in with the Upper School Office upon arrival.
Freshmen and sophomores must arrive at school by 8:10, even if they have an
early free block.
7. Tardy Students – See Tardiness
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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Audit
Students may elect or be asked to audit a course for which they have already received
credit when they need more preparation before advancing to the next course level. No
further academic credit will be assigned. The pertinent faculty member, in consultation
with the Principal, will prescribe the requirements.
Bookstore
The CA bookstore is located in the Campus Center and is open daily from 8:00 a.m. -
4:00 p.m (closed for lunch from 11:30 to 12:00). Upper School students may charge CA
clothing and other school supplies to individual student accounts. Parents will be billed
on a monthly basis.
Students are required to purchase all books that they use in classes. Textbooks are
available at the MBSdirect.net website (which may also be accessed through the CA
homepage). For electives taught during the second and third trimester, students may
buy their books in the bookstore. Students may also purchase used books at the used
textbook sale held every spring.
Bus/Late Bus
Many of our students take advantage of our extensive bus service which serves a wide
range of the Denver metro area. The school intends, although it will not be required to,
offer a number of options in order to promote the bus service as a “green alternative.”
Those options include multi-child discounts, varying plans of ridership (two days or five
days a week), single-ride coupons, and new routes and consolidated stops.
Parents/guardians should contact the Business Office if they are interested in
purchasing a bus pass or for more information.
Late bus service is provided for students participating in rehearsals or athletic events, or
who are meeting with a teacher. For those students who do not regularly ride the bus,
special arrangements can be made to drive the student home. A fee will be charged.
Please call the transportation department for more information. Late buses leave from
the fire lane across from the Lower School at 5:45 p.m. daily.
Bus ridership extends from our youngest to oldest students, K-12; therefore, it is
imperative that proper behavior be maintained. The same principles of behavior that
prevail on campus extend to school buses. Students who disrupt the safe operation of
school vehicles will be reported to the Principal who will then take appropriate
disciplinary action.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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Campus Facilities
Our 93-acre campus is beautiful as well as functional. Because it accommodates
students between the ages of 4 and 18, it is important for each of us to respect all
members of the community. Upper School students are asked to be sensitive to the
age-specific considerations of the younger students who use the many facilities on
campus. Upper School students should not visit the Middle School or Lower School
buildings during the school day unless they have a specific class in those buildings.
Students are asked to be conscious and caring of our school environment.
The care for property and privacy must also extend to the school’s neighbors. The CA
campus is surrounded by private property, all of which is off-limits to CA students,
including Pinehurst Country Club and Academy Pointe apartment complex. The school
supports their right to exclude trespassers from their property.
Use of the new Slater Field across Pierce Street is restricted. Students may only use
the field under the direct supervision of a teacher or coach.
Cell Phones
In order to promote a greater sense of community and a focused learning environment,
cell phone use is restricted in the Upper School. There are two designated areas for
use: the telephone area next to the student mailboxes and the “technology room”
(Room 2) in the Upper School. Students may also use phones outside of the building,
provided they are not interrupting any school business. During the day, phones should
be turned off; in classrooms, phones should never be used to place calls or send texts.
However, there may be times when teachers will allow the use of smart phones as part
of the business of the class. Unauthorized use of phones (e.g. inappropriate calling or
text messaging, or use as handheld personal computers) is prohibited and will result in
cell phones being confiscated and held in the main office.
Cheating – see also Plagiarism and Cheating
No form of cheating, e.g., copying a friend's homework or getting online translations, is
acceptable at Colorado Academy. Cheating undermines the integrity of Colorado
Academy's mission toward academic excellence, and deprives students of the
opportunity to demonstrate genuine mastery of our curriculum. Students found cheating
will be written up on an Incident Report, and the student's advisor, the Principal, and the
parents/guardians will be informed. Consequences vary depending on the severity of
the case, and/or on the students’ previous behavioral record, but in most cases a
student will go before the Disciplinary Committee.
Clean-Up Duty
As part of our ongoing desire to promote a healthy and proactive community, students
are assigned to do community clean-up during the school year. Students are required
to tidy up student lounge spaces and locker banks, pick up trash, clear backpacks from
hallways, bring recyclables to the appropriate bins, help clean up the dining room after
lunch, and return any dishes or plates in the Upper School back to the dining room.
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Clubs
See Extracurricular Activities
Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
Revised August, 2012
College Counseling
The individualized College Counseling Program officially begins in January of the junior
year with individualized counseling sessions and a variety of supportive programs.
(Please note, however, that the resources of the College Office are available to students
and families at all grade levels, and general class meetings with the college counselors
occur for both students and parents during all four years of upper school.) The College
Office has an extensive library consisting of college catalogues, view books, scholarship
and financial aid information, college and financial aid applications, summer program
information, guidebooks, test registration and preparation materials, and information for
athletes, including contact information for college coaches. The College Counseling
page of Colorado Academy's website is also an excellent resource.
The core of the College Counseling Program is a sequence of individualized counseling
sessions between the two Co-Directors and families, with the goal of finding the best
match in college for each student. This mission is supported by a variety of programs
such as essay writing workshops, financial aid workshops, college night programs with
nationally known admissions officers, and panels with previous graduates. The College
Office also hosts well over one hundred admissions officers each year who visit our
campus to recruit CA students. The College Office personnel work intensively with
each student to build an appropriate college list and to complete strong and effective
college applications and essays while also writing a letter of recommendation for each
student and advocating for them at the colleges to which they apply.
Commons Areas
Commons areas are the gathering places for Upper School students and, as such, are
subject to regular and often heavy use. It is our collective responsibility to maintain the
space and to use all furnishings appropriately. Furniture may not be removed from
student areas for any reason. Community Council, the two Deans and the Principal will
take the responsibility to determine the best ways to keep common areas clean. In
addition, the library includes numerous spaces for students to use. The expectation is
that these spaces will be quiet enough for students to work, either individually or in
groups. Food and drink are allowed in some of these rooms, but students are asked to
clean up after themselves.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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Community Service
See Service Learning
Computer Use
Every upper school student must sign a Technology Use Agreement (computer
contract) upon entry to the Colorado Academy Upper School, and again from time to
time if the contract changes substantially. It is very important that the student reads this
agreement thoroughly and is familiar with its contents. The agreement sets forth the
rules for ethical and safe use of the CA computers, student laptops, the CA wireless and
internal network, Internet access, and student e-mail. Students may use computers for
school work and research in the Raether Library and computer labs on an individual
basis when classes are not scheduled. If a class is in session, the instructor may or
may not make unused computers available for individual student use. Please check the
lab doors or online lab signup schedule for current lab schedule information. In
addition, a few computers are available for student use in the Upper School study
lounge. There are also several laptops available for day/overnight/ weekend checkout
from the Library. Computer lab hours are approximately 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No Web surfing, streaming audio or video, reading non-school related online journals or
blogs, social networking, chatrooms, or game playing of any kind are allowed on any
library or lab workstations. Personal e-mail may be accessed briefly on school
computers. Students who wish to connect their personal laptops to the CA network
must fill out and sign an additional form, obtainable outside the Network Office on the
second floor of Raether Library.
Counseling Services
Philosophy of the School Counseling Program at Colorado Academy
The School Counseling Program at Colorado Academy considers the development of
the whole child: physically, cognitively, psychosocially and ethically. School Counselors
employ a developmental approach that addresses the general stages and tasks that
most individuals experience as they mature from childhood to adulthood. It centers on
the development of positive self-concepts formed through experience and education. It
further recognizes that feelings, ideas and behaviors are closely linked and are learned.
The developmental model is systemic: it recognizes the interrelationships among the
student, family, school and community and the ramifications of changes in any one of
those systems.
The general objectives of the School Counseling Program are to aid students to meet
the challenges of modern life armed with knowledge of their physical, social,
intellectual and emotional development; become knowledgeable about educational,
occupational and social opportunities; learn decision-making skills and combine these
insights into personal plans of action.
Overview of the School Counseling Program at Colorado Academy
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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The School Counseling Department at Colorado Academy is responsible for the
development and administration of a developmentally based counseling program which
supports the mission of the school and considers the physical, cognitive and
psychosocial changes in children which shape behavior. The School Counseling
Department provides a comprehensive counseling program which assists our students
in meeting the challenges of modern life, particularly through individual and group
counseling, as well as through consultation and collaboration with parents/guardians,
teachers, administrators, and community resources.
The School Counseling Department is comprised of three school-based mental health
professionals available to serve students in all three divisions. School Counselors work
directly with administrators, faculty, parents/guardians and professional community
resources in order to meet the specific academic, developmental, social and emotional
needs of students. Students and/or parents/guardians can schedule appointments with
the School Counselor in their division to discuss any range of emotional, behavioral,
social, or learning concerns. In cases where the needs of the child warrant the
involvement of an outside professional (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational
therapist, speech and language therapist, or tutoring), an appropriate referral will be
made.
The School Counseling Department takes a proactive and preventative approach to
supporting student mental health and learning. School Counselors strive to help all
students meet their needs by providing a wide-range of support, intervention and
response services. While most meetings with the school counselor are self-initiated,
meetings with students are also arranged in response to requests from
parents/guardians, faculty and/or other students who report concerns. All students may
meet with the School Counselor on an “as needed” basis as various issues arise over
the course of their schooling; however, ongoing counseling is rarely provided in the
school setting. School-based mental health services are intended to be brief and
oriented towards immediate problem solving or crisis intervention. If initial meetings with
a student indicate that more intensive, ongoing counseling is needed, the student will be
referred to an outside professional. Although parents/guardians may not be advised of
every student-counselor interaction, they will always be notified when there is any
question of student safety.
Confidentiality
Members of the school community commit themselves to maintaining professional tact
and discretion with regard to any confidential information they receive. However,
confidential information may be disclosed to the Head of School, Division Heads,
Deans, outside professionals, law enforcements officers, parent/guardians or others
when there is a compelling reason for doing so, including, without limitation, in cases
of health and safety emergencies (when students or others are in imminent danger of
harm); when there is concern about an individual’s ability to function academically,
emotionally, physically, and/or mentally within the school environment; or when legal
requirements demand that confidential information be revealed.
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Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
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The School Counseling Department also provides the CA community with a wide-range
of health and wellness programming consisting of the following topics:
• Substance Abuse Prevention
• Human Sexuality
• Mental Health
• Safety
• Life Skills
• Healthy Living
• Learning Differences
• Study Skills, Time Management and Career Exploration
School Counselor Assignments:
Liza Skipwith, Upper School Counselor and Director of Counseling Department
Liza.skipwith@coloradoacademy.org
Dawn Meyer, Middle School Counselor
Dawn.meyer@coloradoacademy.org
Kate O’Donnell, Lower School Counselor
Kate.odonnell@coloradoacademy.org
See also Appendix D
Course Load
The expected course load for students in the Upper School is five academic classes
plus Fine Arts classes, most of which carry academic credit, and Athletics. Our goal is
for students to maintain an appropriately rigorous but manageable course load. (See
Upper School Curriculum Guide for further explanation.) Taking six academic courses,
excluding Fine Arts, may be unduly burdensome and could be detrimental to the
student's overall educational experience at CA. Similarly, students will be limited to
taking no more than 3 Advanced Placement (AP) classes in one year. Students still
wishing to take six academic courses, not including Fine Arts, or who wish to take 4
APs, must petition to do so. The form is available from the Registrar or the student's
advisor. The petition must be signed by the student and a parent, and must be
approved by the Principal in consultation with the student's advisor. Conversely, a
student, with the recommendation of his advisor, may request a waiver of the fifth
academic course. Course waivers can be granted after review by the advisor, teachers,
counseling department and the Principal.
Dances
Typically three school-sponsored dances are held each year: Homecoming, Winterfest
and Prom. The sponsoring group announces the date, time, location and dress well in
advance of each event. Faculty act as chaperones and all school rules apply at each
event, whether located on or off campus.
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Discipline
1. Standards of Conduct
We nurture in our students respect for themselves, others, and their environment. Each
student is an integral part of the school community, and we expect each to exercise
judgment and act with the good of that community in mind. Appropriate behavior is
expected of students in all activities that are tied to the school (e.g., field trips, bus rides,
sports events, etc.).
Students must act with the highest integrity. We expect students to work respectfully
with each other and the staff. Truthfulness is highly valued in our community, and we
expect students always to be truthful when speaking with each other, the faculty and
staff. Any conversation that falls short of truthfulness puts student integrity in question,
and may lead to a substantial disciplinary response.
2. Disciplinary Actions
Often, inappropriate behavior is dealt with verbally by the teacher or other member of
the school administration or staff who observed it. However, if such verbal interaction
fails to remedy the situation, or if the teacher or other member of the school
administration or staff believes that further action is required, any of the following
actions may be taken, and it shall not be necessary for the school to take a less severe
action (such as issuing an Incident Report) prior to imposing a more severe disciplinary
action (such as suspension or expulsion). In all cases, the final authority with respect to
the disciplinary action to be taken lies in the sole discretion of the Head of School, who
may seek recommendations from others, including, without limitation, the Principal and
the Disciplinary Committee.
a. Incident Reports. Incidents Reports may be given to students when they
have acted inappropriately, including violating school policies or rules.
Actions that may result in Incident Reports include, but are not limited to, the
following:
• Swearing or other inappropriate language
• Inappropriate consumption of food, drinks, candy, or gum in the building
• Tardiness or unexcused absences
• Parking violations
Copies of Incident Reports will be given to the student, the student’s advisor,
the faculty/staff member who issued the report, and a copy will also be placed
in the student’s file and will be reviewed by the Principal and class dean. The
student advisor will talk to the student and will call the student’s parents or
guardians to inform them of the inappropriate conduct and enlist their help in
correcting such conduct. The student will also be required to discuss the
matter with either the Principal or the class dean. If deemed necessary in the
sole discretion of the Principal or class dean, the incident may be referred to
the Disciplinary Committee.
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b. Suspension or Expulsion. Students who have received multiple Incident
Reports or who have engaged in serious acts of misconduct (as determined
in the sole discretion of the Head of School) may be suspended from school,
prohibited from attending all school-related activities or expelled from school.
Such serious acts of misconduct may include, but are not limited to, the
following:
• Possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs
• Improper sexual conduct
• Sexual or other harassment
• Threat or use of physical violence
• Possession or use of matches, lighters, fireworks, explosives, weapons or
other dangerous materials
• Reprehensible conduct tending to reflect serious discredit to the school
• Willful destruction of property
• Stealing
• Dishonesty, including Plagiarism
• Bullying or malicious gossip
• Repeated acts of misconduct
Students who receive a suspension from school for any period of time are
considered unexcused for the days they miss. However, they may make up
some portion of the work missed at their individual teachers’ sole discretion.
It is the student’s responsibility to discuss the particular circumstances with
his or her teachers. The school recommends that any student serving an athome
suspension be given a particular task, possibly community servicerelated,
to be performed while out of school. Students who are expelled from
school will be prohibited from being on school grounds and will not receive
academic credit for the trimester in which they were expelled.
Students who are suspended while attending the Upper School may be asked
to report the suspension in their college applications. Many colleges now ask
directly: “Have you ever been suspended from school? If so, what were the
circumstances?” The student must then report the suspension and include a
brief explanation as to the context. It is generally the school’s policy to not
report suspensions directly, nor is there mention of suspension on the
student’s official transcript. However, when colleges ask for such information,
it is our policy to disclose it. We strongly advise students and
parents/guardians to be forthcoming and proactive in reporting suspensions,
especially if they occur during senior year; college admission offices are
typically able to deal with these matters fairly and discretely. Consult the
Colorado Academy College Handbook for more information.
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Ditch Day
By definition, and in the interest of student safety, there can be no "ditch day." All
sanctioned school events must have faculty and administration present. Sanctions for
"ditching" are severe for individuals or groups.
Dress Code
The Upper School environment is partially a function of the way we dress. Our goal is
to enhance the academic atmosphere and achieve an environment of seriousness and
concentration. We must also bear in mind that we are a pre-K through 12th grade
school and that Upper School students act as role models for the younger students on
campus. Thus, the following rules apply:
• All clothing must be neat and clean;
• Clothing may not make references to drugs, alcohol or profane language;
• Tops and bottoms should meet--no bare midriffs;
• Tops should be appropriate for school--no spaghetti straps, strapless or backless
styles;
• Shorts must be modest--no short shorts;
• Footwear must be worn at all times.
Should a student not comply with the above rules, he or she will be spoken to by faculty,
the advisor or the Principal. If there is more than a single occurrence, the student's
advisor will call the parents/guardians and enlist help from home. Students who
receive more than one warning about dress code may be required to spend one week in
Study Hall. At the beginning of the school year the subject of appropriate clothing will
be discussed in advisories so there will be a common understanding of the rules.
Driving Privileges/Off-Campus Privilege (also see "Parking")
Seniors and juniors who are licensed, in good standing and have the proper permission
forms signed by parents/guardians on file in the Upper School Office may drive their
cars to and from school. Furthermore, they may leave school for lunch and other short
errands during the school day when they do not have class or other curricular
obligations and if they have the proper forms signed by parents/guardians on file.
Sophomores who are licensed, in good standing and have the proper permission forms
signed by parents/guardians on file in the Upper School Office may drive themselves to
and from school. Sophomores do NOT have off-campus privileges and may not leave
campus during the school day unless they are accompanied by their parents/guardians
or a school official. According to state law, they also many not have any passengers in
their cars at any time. Sophomores may be excused from school by a parent to drive to
and from an important appointment off campus that could not be scheduled after school.
It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to notify the school of the appointment, and it
is the sophomore student's responsibility to check out of school and back into school
with office personnel.
Freshman students do not have driving privileges on our campus. Freshman students
do not have off-campus privileges and may not leave campus during the school day
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unless accompanied by their parents/guardians or a school official on a curricular field
trip.
With a daily campus population of more than 1,000 persons, 900 of whom are children,
for obvious safety reasons students are required to observe all campus speed limits,
stop and yield signs, and parking regulations. Failure to comply will result in a first
offense warning by the advisor or the appropriate grade level dean, and a call home to
the student's parents or guardians. For a second offense, driving and parking privileges
will be suspended for one week with the parents or guardians notified by the Principal.
Any student who has a third offense will meet with the Upper School Disciplinary
Committee.
Extracurricular Activities, Clubs and Organizations
Most students find that involvement in extra-curricular activities enhances their Upper
School experience. All Upper School students are encouraged to participate in the
many student activities, clubs and organizations offered in the Upper School. New
clubs and interest groups are formed each year depending on student interest and
initiative. Students interested in forming a new club must submit a petition to the
Principal, who will decide whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition should
describe the club and its mission. Every club must also have a faculty sponsor. Clubs
that have been active in the school over the last three years are as follows: AfricAid,
Amnesty International, Community Council, Faces of Diversity, French Honor Society,
Journeywork, Kokopelli (Literary Magazine), Medical Careers Club, Mock Trial, Model
UN, Movie Club, Operation Smile, Spanish Honor Society, Students HOPE (Helping
Other People Eat), and Yearbook (Telesis).
Faculty and Staff Lounge/Workroom
Students must not be in the faculty lounge, which is located in the administrative area of
the Upper School. Faculty members are often conducting private discussions or making
copies of tests or other materials. Students may leave papers and homework for faculty
in the Upper School Office, and office personnel will deliver them to faculty mailboxes in
the lounge. Use of the lounge refrigerator and other appliances may only occur with a
teacher’s permission and presence.
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Failures
A student must repeat, for credit, any required class in which he/she has received a
failing grade. Elective courses in which a student earned a failing grade may be
repeated for credit. The grade earned in this repeated class will appear on the
transcript as any other grade, but does not replace the failing grade that will continue to
appear on the transcript. Failure, of course, does not result in credit. Failure during a
course in the first or second trimester may result in the student's withdrawal from that
course.
Field Trips
Field trips are considered valuable educational opportunities. While departments do not
schedule an excessive number of such trips (out of respect for the academic demands
of all classes), the trips that are planned are well organized and have a strong link to the
academic program. Transportation is generally covered by school buses and sack
lunches are provided. Approval of field trips comes through the principal’s office, in
conjunction with the sponsoring faculty and the deans. Field trips are also regarded as
class away from campus. All rules enforced on campus are enforced on field trips as
well. This includes special attention to deportment and personal appearance.
Fifth Course Waiver -- see Waivers
First Aid – see Illness/Injury and Medication
Global Studies
In the Upper School, we want to help students to explore the world around them and
encourage deep-level, relevant learning in a global context through careful
consideration of content and pedagogy. We wish to develop in students, the skills,
practices, and habits of mind that will enable them to appreciate full participation in the
world today. Through Global Studies, CA seeks to graduate students who:
‣ have the ability to recognize and analyze the global dimensions of an issue
‣ possess a coherent global literacy that crosses disciplines and includes multiple
perspectives
‣ demonstrate empathy and value new and different ways of thinking about the
world
‣ engage in the responsibilities of living in an interdependent world.
Global Studies is an emphasis that reaches across all academic disciplines and
divisions and informs our assembly program as well. We also encourage student travel,
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and the school regularly offers a catalog of school-sponsored travel opportunities.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A student’s grade point average is computed on a trimester basis by dividing the sum of
the grades earned in the student’s courses by the number of courses the student is
taking on a graded basis for credit. The cumulative grade point average is computed by
taking the sum of the trimester grades for each course that is included in the trimester
grade point average divided by the total number of courses taken for credit in the Upper
School.
No grades earned at other schools are averaged into a student’s GPA at CA, although
they will be reflected on the transcript. Grades earned in academic Independent Study
qualify for inclusion in the student’s GPA if the grade is assigned by a Colorado
Academy faculty member. (Please see Independent Study).
Grading and Grade Reports
Colorado Academy uses the traditional A-F grading scale:
A (4.00), A- (3.67) Distinguished achievement
B+ (3.33), B (3.00), B- (2.67) Good achievement
C+ (2.33), C (2.00), C- (1.67) Satisfactory achievement
D+ (1.33), D (1.00), D- (0.67) Unsatisfactory achievement
F (0.00) Failure
For Athletics and Fine Arts Practicums, the following symbols are used:
HP = High Pass, P = Pass, F = Failure
Certain advanced courses of an elective nature generate weighted grades. Students in
these courses will receive additional quality points according to the following formula:
A (5.0), A- (4.59)
B+ (4.17), B (3.75), B- (3.34)
C+ (2.92), C (2.50), C- (2.09)
D+ (1.67), D (1.25), D- (0.84)
Hence a student receiving a C (numerical grade = 2.0) in one of these classes would
earn a numerical grade of 2.50. This numerical grade will be averaged with his/her
other grades to determine the student’s GPA.
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Grade reports are posted on-line at the conclusion of each trimester via the Net
Classroom program, accessible through the school’s website. Parents/guardians
receive information about how to log in to this password-protected system. The grade
report provides a context for the academic grade in terms of course expectations,
consistency, commitment to task, and the individual student’s potential.
In addition, preliminary progress reports (mid-trimester reports) are posted electronically
for all students at the mid-point of each trimester. Parents/guardians and students view
the mid-tri reports through the same system described above. In Trimesters II and III,
grades are given but full mid-trimester reports are written only for students earning a
grade of C or lower in a class, or in courses in which the student is new to the class, or
at the teacher’s discretion. In all other cases students receive a posted grade only,
without a report.
In athletics students are graded on a High Pass/Pass/Low Pass/Fail basis. Each
individual is judged on these aspects: attitude, effort, growth, responsibility, attendance
and individual achievement. A student with three or more unexcused absences will
NOT pass athletics.
Graduation Requirements -- see Appendix A or Upper School Curriculum
Guide
“Green” Campus
The school has developed a Sustainability Plan that covers all aspects of campus life,
including recycling, energy consumption, driving and parking, food service, and
technology. These efforts will continue to be a major focus of the Head of School and
the Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the Business Office and the Operations
Department. Colorado Academy strives to be a community leader and model in terms
of advocating green practices.
Student initiatives are encouraged; students who develop a “green” idea should first
discuss the matter with their advisors or classroom teachers, who will help them take it
from there. We encourage all faculty, staff, and students to be environmentally
conscious in their daily lives.
Guests in Upper School
Guests are generally welcome in the Upper School. Permission to bring a guest must
be obtained from the Principal before the day the visit will take place. Guests must
check in at the main office at the beginning of the day. Guests are expected to attend
all classes with their CA friend and must be introduced to the Principal during the visit.
Students who may be interested in attending CA should schedule their visit through the
Admission Office.
Gymnasium
The Newton Athletic Center is a facility which every student uses almost every day. It is
expected that students treat the gym with consideration and remember that it is a visible
facility for the entire CA community. Students not involved in after school athletics are
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not to loiter in the gymnasium. Locker rooms are only to be used for the purpose of
changing clothes. Lockers and locks are provided by the Athletic Department and must
be used daily by student athletes.
Harassment
Harassment of any kind, including, but not limited to, that based on gender, is against
the principles for which the school stands, and will not be tolerated. Specifically,
students who engage in sexual or other harassment on the school premises or off the
school premises at a school-sponsored activity will be subject to disciplinary action,
including, without limitation, the possibility of suspension or expulsion.
Harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to treatment which is hostile or
intimidating because of the individual's race, creed, color, national origin, physical
disability, sexual orientation or gender. It includes, but is not limited to, any or all of the
following:
• Verbal Harassment: Derogatory comments and jokes with intent to harass, or
threatening or obscene words spoken to another person.
• Physical Harassment: Unwanted physical touching, contact, assault, deliberate
impeding or blocking movements or any intimidating interference with normal
work or movement.
• Visual Harassment: Publicly displaying or making obscene gestures with the
intent to harass, or derogatory, demeaning or inflammatory posters, cartoons,
written words or drawings.
• Sexual Harassment: Any activity of a sexual nature that is unwanted or
unwelcome, including but not limited to, unwanted touching, pinching, patting,
verbal comments of a sexual nature, propositions, and unwanted bodily contact.
• Cyber Harassment: Verbal, visual, or sexual harassment directed toward any
student, family member, staff member or member of the school administration
through the use of a computer, including, without limitation, the posting or
transmittal of harassing material via the Internet.
• Hazing: Ritualistic tests or tasks involving harassment, abuse or humiliation,
typically used as a way of initiating a person into a club, organization or other
group. (See also Hazing, below).
Students must avoid any activity that may be considered discriminatory, intimidating, or
harassing. Any student who feels he or she is the victim of such activity should, if he or
she is comfortable doing so, immediately inform the perpetrator that the behavior is
offensive and unwelcome, and the student should also immediately report the incident
to a member of the school’s administration or staff. Every complaint of harassment will
be investigated and corrective action will be taken where appropriate. If requested,
efforts will be made to maintain the confidentiality of such complaints and the identities
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of the complaining individual; however, it may not be possible to maintain complete
confidentiality while conducting a full investigation.
It is the policy of the school to prohibit any form of retaliation against individuals who
report unwelcome conduct or harassment to any member of the school administration or
staff, or who cooperate in the investigation of such reports. However, students found to
have made false or frivolous charges of sexual or other harassment will be subject to
disciplinary action, including, without limitation, the possibility of suspension or
expulsion.
Hazing
All forms of hazing are against the law and run contrary to the values of this school.
Hazing should be reported to any school official immediately. The parents/guardians of
the student committing the hazing will be called by that student's advisor and,
depending on the nature of the event, the student may have to appear in front of the
Upper School Disciplinary Committee. Hazing is also strictly prohibited in team sports.
(See the Colorado Academy Athletics Handbook for more information). Please see also
the section on Harassment
above.
Homework
Homework is an essential dimension of any college preparatory program with high
expectations for its students. Upper School students may expect a homework
assignment in every subject area on the nights before that particular subject meets.
Teachers may assign up to 30 minutes of homework in each subject area per class
meeting (45 minutes, on average, for Advanced Placement courses). Because some
work in Upper School is project-based, students who do not work consistently and
evenly on project preparation may find a great deal of work needing to be accomplished
in a relatively short period of time. In sum, the average CA student can expect 2-3
hours of homework per night, depending on course load. However, since there can be
variation in the amount of time that it takes students to complete their assignments,
students who experience more than the recommended amount of homework in any
subject area should be sure to consult their teacher or their advisor.
The responsibility for turning homework in to teachers rests with the students.
Therefore, it is requested that parents/guardians do not fax or e-mail homework to
school when a student has forgotten it at home.
The school, recognizing that it is impossible to reduce or eliminate homework for every
religious holiday or other observance of an increasingly diverse student body, limits its
“no homework” nights accordingly. See the yearly calendar for the “no homework”
nights during a given year.
When a student is absent from school for any other reason, it is his or her responsibility
to obtain homework in any one of several different ways. The student should first check
any course syllabus given to him/her by the teacher and consult the teacher’s website.
Students may also e-mail teachers to ask for assignments. If a student has been
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absent three or more days, the student or parent may call the student's advisor for help
in obtaining assignments.
Honor Roll
The standard for academic recognition set by the Upper School is a GPA of 3.33 or
above, and no grade below C. Honor Roll designations are given at the end of each
trimester.
Illness/Injury
Students who become ill or injured during the school day should report to the Upper
School Office immediately. The Upper School can provide basic first aid and the office
has one available cot for a sick student to rest. However, facilities and health care are
quite limited. Therefore, parents or emergency contacts will be notified and a
determination made as to whether the parent will pick up the student or allow him/her to
drive home. Students should never drive themselves or friends home without first
consulting with staff in the Upper School Office or the Principal. (See section on
Medication for further details).
Inappropriate Items
Students are not allowed to have items at school that pose risks to themselves or
others, or that will disrupt the normal school day. Examples include roller blades, skate
boards, scooters, laser pointers, matches, lighters and water pistols. If in doubt about
the appropriateness of an item, the student should check with the advisor, a teacher or
the Principal. Of course, drugs and alcohol may never be brought to school.
Incident Reports
See Discipline
Incompletes
An “Incomplete” grade is given when the student is unable, because of extenuating
circumstances, to complete the required assignments prior to the end of a grading
period.
1. No incomplete may be carried longer than three school weeks following the trimester
in which the incomplete was granted.
2. The date of the deadline for completing work following Trimester I or II will be
determined by the teacher.
3. No incompletes are given at the end of the Trimester III unless by special permission
of the Principal.
4. Failure to complete the assignments for which an incomplete was granted results in
failure for those assignments. Trimester grades will be calculated accordingly.
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Independent Study -- Academic and Athletic
The purpose of Independent Study is to afford students the opportunity to pursue a
course of study on a topic that has significant import in the development of their overall
academic program. Independent Study courses are meant to enhance, not substitute
for, regularly scheduled academic courses. We do not offer independent study in a
course that is offered in the Upper School curriculum. In most cases, the Independent
Study should be a sixth course, not an alternative to a fifth course. Students should
discuss Independent Study ideas with faculty in the appropriate academic department.
They should identify a faculty sponsor with the expertise, interest, and time to support
and supervise their study. Faculty are usually pleased, but are not obligated, to
supervise Independent Study. Then, students submit the Independent Study proposal
to the relevant department head for the department’s review. This must be
accomplished before the announced deadline for applications (usually the trimester
before the Independent Study is to take place). Deadlines will be published and
announced. Late proposals will not be considered. Grades and credit for Independent
Study appear on students' transcripts. Independent Study forms are available from the
Registrar.
Students may also, if conditions warrant it, apply for credit for an Independent Athletic
Program. This is available in special circumstances, usually in response to student
interest in an on-going athletic program outside the school that requires a minimum of
eight hours of weekly in activity. Athletic independent programs are not granted in
areas included in the CA athletic offerings for the trimester in which credit is requested.
Requirements and conditions are specified by the Athletic Department. Independent
Athletic Programs are graded on a High Pass/Pass/Fail scale and appear on the
transcript. Independent Athletic Program petitions are available from the Registrar and
Athletic Department personnel.
Interim Program
The purpose of the Upper School Interim Program is to provide each student a period of
intense involvement in a single experiential activity which is not available to students as
part of their typical classroom experience. One of the hallmarks of a CA education, the
Interim program is designed to expand our educational scope to include a variety of
experiential educational opportunities. These Interim courses may be local or may
involve travel and encompass a wide range of activities. Interim catalogs with course
offerings and registration forms are distributed mid-winter, and the courses take place
during the last week of May. All students are required to participate in Interim every
year in the Upper School. It is critical to consult the dates of each offering to insure that
full participation will be possible. In any event, families should not plan vacations or
other outside events during the four school day period of Interim. Missed interim days
need to be made up for successful completion of four years of Interim, a graduation
requirement.
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Among recent year’s offerings were Backpacking the Colorado Trail, Front Range
Explorers, Crags and Canyons (Moab), Flyfishing, Mountain Biking (in Fruita), Yoga
Retreat, Mission Wolf, and Rafting the Gorge.
Jobs
The nature of our college preparatory program makes it difficult for a student to devote
adequate time to school while holding a job. Any student who considers taking a job
outside of school should discuss those plans with his/her parents and their advisor.
Students who have jobs should understand that commitment to school must come first
and going to a job is not an excuse for missing classes or other curricular requirements.
Library
Raether Library is a multi-faceted facility. It exists as a focal point for study and
research for both students and faculty. Students may use computers for research to
support their coursework. They may also study quietly and use the library's extensive
collection of books, videos and online databases. Databases are available for our
students to access at home. The library has a conference room for small groups.
There are no fines for overdue materials. However, if materials are not returned,
parents/guardians are billed for the replacement cost of the material. The library
provides resources for students, staff and parents through a nationwide interlibrary loan
network. The copier located in the Raether Library is available for photocopying of
library materials (i.e. an article from a magazine or encyclopedia, a few pages from a
book). Library hours are 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m –
4:00 p.m. Friday. There is a lost and found in the building. See also Raether Building.
Lockers/Respect for Property
Students are provided with lockers, and care of lockers is each student’s responsibility.
Lockers are designed to lock automatically when the doors are shut, and students
should ensure that their lockers doors are closed at all times. Students must not write
on lockers or apply stickers that cannot easily be removed.
Students are advised to take precautions with personal property and are discouraged
from bringing valuables, gift cards, or large sums of money to school. Cameras must be
stored in locked lockers in the Photography Lab or locked in the student’s locker.
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Lockers and locks are the property of CA. Students exercise control over their locker
from other students, but not from the school and its officials. As a result, the Principal
and his or her designees, as well as law enforcement officials, shall have the right to
search lockers to insure school safety and the students’ welfare, including, without
limitation, to determine if students are harboring stolen property, weapons, or illegal or
dangerous substances, and school and law enforcement officials shall have the right to
seize such items or other items that jeopardize the safety of the students or the building
or constitute health hazards. The school also reserves the right to conduct random
searches of school lockers throughout the year.
Lost and Found
A container for lost clothing and books is located in the main office. Items of value such
as watches, jewelry, computers, calculators, and the like should be taken to and sought
after in the Upper School Office. Students should label all books, notebooks, clothing
(jackets, hats) and sports equipment with their name. The lost and found is cleaned out
twice a year (before the winter holidays and at the end of the school year) and
unclaimed items will be donated to Students HOPE or Goodwill.
Medication
Non-prescription painkillers will be available to students in the Upper School Office if
students and parents/guardians have properly filled out, signed and returned all
necessary permission forms and releases to the Upper School Office. Prescription
medication must be brought to the Upper School Office in the original pharmacy
container labeled with the student’s name, dosage, time to be given, and prescribing
doctor’s name. The proper school permission forms and releases, including a Physician
Authorization Form (which can be faxed from the physician for short-term medication
requirements), must be completed, signed and returned before students will be
permitted to take prescription medication.
Messages
The Upper School office staff will take messages of an urgent nature for students and
post them on the student message board for the students to receive. Messages should
be limited to those items parents or guardians could not communicate to students
before they left for school because circumstances have changed during the course of
the day. Messages will only be hand delivered to students in case of family emergency.
In most cases, leaving a message for the student on his or her cell phone is the most
reliable means of communication.
Mid-Trimester Grade Reports – see Grading and Grade Reports
Off-Campus Privilege -- see Driving Privileges
Parking
Parking space on campus is provided for faculty, staff, students with driving priviliges,
parents/guardians and visitors. Students with driving privileges must park in the
following areas:
• Seniors – in their assigned numbered spaces in the Froelicher Theatre lot
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• Juniors – in assigned numbered spaces on the north side of the road by the Dos
Chappell Trail
• Sophomores – in assigned numbered spaces to the west of the junior spaces.
• Freshmen – may not drive on campus
These are the only parking spaces provided for student parking. NO STUDENTS
MAY PARK IN FRONT OF SMITH CENTER, THE GYM, THE TENNIS COURTS,
UPPER SCHOOL, OR IN ANY SPACE DESIGNATED FOR VISITORS. Students will
be asked to move any car not properly parked. Students may also be required to
appear before the Principal or Disciplinary Committee, and/or lose driving
privileges if they violate driving rules or park their car illegally.
Parents/guardians and visitors should park only in the spaces marked "Visitor." All
parents, visitors and students are asked to park only in their designated parking spaces.
While this may be inconvenient at times, it is absolutely necessary so that emergency
vehicles be able to access our campus quickly and easily.
Pass/Fail Credit
The Principal, Department Head, and appropriate faculty may respond to petitions for
five-course waivers or to a recommendation on a student’s accommodation plan by
requiring the student to take a fifth course on a Pass/Fail basis. Pass/Fail status
requires that the student fulfill all the requirements of the course, but receive a Pass/Fail
grade on the transcript. A passing grade is an average in the course of 60% or better.
No student may take a course on a Pass/Fail basis as a fifth course without approval.
A student may be granted the Pass/Fail option for a sixth academic course by
obtaining approval from the teacher, the advisor, and the Principal. Pass/Fail forms are
available from the Registrar. This sixth course must NOT be a course required for
graduation.
The student must declare his/her intention to take a course on a Pass/Fail basis by the
drop/add deadline for the trimester in question. The request should be fully
documented and contain all the approvals indicated above.
Students who are not sure whether to take a class for a grade or on a Pass/Fail basis
must declare an intention to take the class on a Pass/Fail basis following the guidelines
enumerated above. She/he will have until the end of the third week of the trimester to
revoke the request and receive a regular grade for the course. If the request is not
revoked in a timely manner, the student will be considered to be taking the course on a
Pass/Fail basis.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Colorado Academy is dedicated to educating students in various ways about ethical and
moral behavior. Plagiarism is perhaps one of the most important issues facing
educators and their students today, for academic honesty is the currency of what we do
together at school. Further, it is our duty as a college preparatory school to instruct
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students about plagiarism, so that students internalize these guidelines before going off
to college. Plagiarism, according to The Little, Brown Handbook, is the "presentation of
someone else's ideas or words as your own. Whether deliberate or accidental,
plagiarism is a serious and often punishable offense." Such “presentation” plays itself
out differently in different subject arts, so teachers should inform their students about
their respective academic department's guidelines, and most of the common forms of
plagiarism in their discipline. Students who plagiarize will be written up by the teacher
on an Incident Report. The advisor, the Principal and the parents/guardians will be
informed; in some cases the Disciplinary Committee will be convened to consider the
matter. A second offense will always lead to a Disciplinary Committee hearing, and
may result in a student’s suspension or expulsion from the school. A third offense will
result in expulsion.
Public Behavior/Language
Upper school students must be mindful that their public behavior is under constant
scrutiny, especially in light of the fact that Colorado Academy is a preK-12 school.
Peers, faculty, and campus guests formulate opinions and attitudes about the school
based on observations they make upon entering the building, walking through hallways,
and attending school-sponsored events.
Students are expected to be courteous and respectful in their behavior and are asked to
refrain from the use of inappropriate or offensive language and from rough play inside
school buildings. Violation of these behaviors will most likely result in an Incident
Report being written, and the subsequent policies regarding Incident Reports will be
followed. (See Incident Report section in Handbook.)
Raether Building
Raether Building is an all-academic area before, after and throughout the school day.
The library, labs, and lobby areas, upstairs and downstairs, are available for classes,
individuals, and small group study sessions. The lobby and upstairs study area are
open for study from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Students will be welcome in the building
for all scheduled library or lab classes and for quiet study. Game playing of any kind--
board, cards, or computer--will not be allowed in any part of the Raether Building. This
includes time before and after school.
The copier located in the Raether Library is available for photocopying of library
materials (i.e. an article from a magazine or encyclopedia, a few pages from a book).
Water bottles may be used anywhere in the building, but food may be eaten only in the
library classroom during advisory and in the main lobby.
We are working hard to create an academic sanctuary for our students. The Raether
Building is an academic zone that will give our students a much-needed place to work
without being disturbed.
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Service Learning
The concept of service to others is fundamental to a CA education. From Pre-
Kindergarten through high school, students participate in various service projects to
develop social responsibility, perspective, and sensitivity to the world around them. In
the process, students encounter different people and cultures and learn valuable
lessons about life and the importance of helping others. The CA community service
program helps students develop and form values that will guide them at CA today and in
the world tomorrow.
Upper School students are required to take their service learning to the next level in a
developmentally appropriate way. During freshman year, students learn the difference
between indirect service, direct service and advocacy. Next these students identify a
community need that links up with an area of interest for them. Once they have
identified a true need, they will research what can be done about that need, and take
action so that by the end of 9 th grade year, students will have designed a program of
individual service learning. In 10 th grade students complete service primarily through
their advisories but are also encouraged to develop their own interests and/or work with
one of our service-based clubs like AfricAid and Students HOPEDuring the 11 th and 12 th
grade years, students are required to complete independently designed projects in
order to complete their service learning requirement. Failure to fulfill service learning
objectives may result in extra hours being required the following school year, or, in the
case of a graduating senior, withholding of a student’s diploma until the project is
completed.
Sexual Harassment - see Harassment
Smoking Policy
Student smoking is prohibited at all times on campus and at all school-sponsored
activities. Violations will be referred to the Principal using an Incident Report, and
recurring use will be cause for the student to be sent before the Disciplinary Committee.
Snow Day Policy
The school is committed to being open every scheduled school day. In the event of
severe weather, parents/guardians are responsible for deciding whether or not to send
their students to school. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school if
the student will not be attending. Information about school closings, if any, will be
posted on the front page of the school’s website at www.coloradoacademy.org (the
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website is always the best source to check for emergency messages of any kind).
Information about school closings will also be broadcasted on the following local radio
and television stations: KOA-85 AM and TV Channels 2, 4, 7, 9, and 13. You may also
get a telephone call at home the morning of a school closing with a recorded message
informing your family of the closing. In addition, parents/guardians can call 303-986-
1501 after 6:00 a.m. to hear a recorded message confirming the school closure.
School will not be dismissed early in the event of bad weather except in unusual
circumstances. Once again, it is up to parents/guardians to dismiss their student early
by calling the Upper School Office.
Standardized Testing
Standardized testing in the Upper School consists of national tests given by the College
Board (PSAT, SAT I and SAT II) and the American College Testing Service (PLAN,
ACT) for students’ use in the college application process. The PSAT and PLAN are
given on the CA campus, while the other tests are taken at national test centers in the
metropolitan Denver area. A schedule of test dates, registration materials and test
preparation resources are available in the College Office. The college counseling staff
meets individually with students to discuss testing results and their implications, as well
as assisting in planning an individualized testing strategy that will serve students best in
their college applications. The College Counselor also works with the school counselor
to arrange extended time standardized testing for students who have documented
learning disabilities and an accommodation plan at CA
Additionally, Colorado Academy offers numerous Advanced Placement courses each
year. These courses usually culminate with Advanced Placement exams published by
the College Board, administered by an Upper School faculty member, and proctored by
volunteers from the Parent Association. In most cases students enrolled in an AP
course are required to take the AP exam for that course. Faculty teaching AP courses
will announce the course requirements at the beginning of the academic year and will
make exceptions to policy only in extreme cases.
Study Halls
All entering freshmen are assigned to Study Hall for the entire school year. Faculty
members proctor Study Hall in classrooms or in another designated study room.
Student behavior must conform to the need for an environment conducive to study. Any
students in any grade on academic probation or warning will also be required to attend
Study Hall. Other students may also be assigned to Study Hall should their behavior or
academic performance, in the opinion of one or more teachers or advisors, warrant
such an assignment. Any student may utilize a Study Hall period as a quiet place to
complete homework or to make up a missed test or assignment.
Summer Reading
Upper School students are assigned one or more books to be read during the summer,
in preparation for the following academic year. Summer books are available in May at
the CA bookstore in the Campus Center, and English teachers can provide students
with bibliographies for further summer reading. Upper School students new to CA may
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come to the CA bookstore during school hours (including summer) to purchase their
books.
Suspension and Expulsion
See Discipline
Tardiness
Students are expected to arrive on time for all classes, advisee meetings, class
meetings, assemblies, and other special programs. Instances of repeated tardiness will
be reported on an Incident Report and students will meet with their advisor and/or class
deans to discuss the problem. In most cases, students who are tardy more than three
times for any class will be asked to make up the missed time by attending Study Hall for
a week.
Any student arriving late to school for any reason must sign in at the Upper School
Office before going to class. It is the parent’s responsibility to contact the school to
excuse the student; otherwise, the tardiness will be considered unexcused.
Technology – see Computer Use and Appendix B
Tests
It is the policy of the school that students are responsible for no more than two tests on
a given school day. (A test is defined as an assessment that takes the full class period;
thus quizzes or short writing assignments do not count.) Due dates for major essays or
projects are also covered by this policy. Because it is hard to predict each student’s
assignment schedule, students who find themselves with more than two major
assignments due on a given day should immediately consult their teachers and advisor
in order to make a plan for bringing these assignments into conformity with the policy.
Theft/Valuable Items
Items of substantial value and large sums of money should not be brought to school. If
this should be absolutely necessary, however, arrangements must be made to lock the
item or money in the student’s locker or the school safe. Students should put their
names on clothing items and books as many students have similar possessions. All
calculators should have the student’s name etched into the case. Students whose
possessions are missing should report their loss to a member of the Upper School staff.
Threats of Physical Violence
Any student who is threatened with physical violence at school should report the threat
to any school official immediately. The Principal will be informed without delay and the
school's policy on harassment will be invoked.
Transcripts
The Upper School transcript is the complete record of the student’s grades, test scores,
and academic honors for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. Trimester grades for every course
are transferred exactly as they appear on the grade report (A-, B, C+, etc.) to the
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permanent transcript. Regardless of subsequent enrichment, no final grades may be
altered on the transcript. Students who transfer to Colorado Academy during their
sophomore, junior or senior years will be given academic credit towards graduation for
courses taken at their prior school that correspond with Colorado Academy's
curriculum. Transfer courses that are given CA credit are listed on the transcript.
However, these courses are not included in the student's cumulative grade point
average and transfer school grade point averages are not listed on the Colorado
Academy transcript.
Requests to have a copy of a transcript mailed to an agency or institution should be
directed to the Upper School Registrar. It is the policy of Colorado Academy to withhold
transcripts or other official representations of a student’s work until all financial
obligations to the school have been met by the student’s family, or until satisfactory
arrangements have been made with the school’s business office for a future plan of
payment.
Tutoring
Occasionally, students will encounter difficulties in a particular subject or subjects such
that the student, teacher, advisor, and/or parent may be concerned. The teacher will
always serve as the first line of diagnosis and remedy on the matter, and families are
urged to follow the teacher’s suggestions as to extra-help sessions during school or
after school. There is adequate time built into the Upper School schedule to ameliorate
most cases in which a student is not performing well in a given course. Families are
urged not to assume a tutor should be the immediate or long-term solution to a problem
a student is having in a particular class. Often, a productive meeting involving the
student, teacher, advisor, parents/guardians and principal will produce better results for
the student.
If problems persist, more diagnostic testing might be recommended, in consultation with
the school counselor. In some cases, the Principal and/or school counselor might
recommend tutoring for the student.
The school does not have an “approved” list of tutors; however, the Upper School has
developed a productive relationship with many tutors over the years, and the Principal,
in consultation with the school counselor, may make recommendations to families. We
cannot, however, guarantee the tutor’s pedagogical skills or place them under direct
school supervision. We also cannot provide appropriate space for students and their
outside tutors to meet. Time available during the day is best used on program
requirements, homework assignments, and meetings with teachers. Tutoring
arrangements are best made off-campus at times that are convenient for families and
not in conflict with other school obligations.
Any questions about tutors and their recommended use should always be directed to
the Principal or the school counselor.
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Use of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
The use, possession or distribution by students of alcohol, drugs or tobacco on the
Colorado Academy campus or at school-sponsored events is strictly prohibited.
Likewise, students are prohibited from using or carrying tobacco on their person on
campus or at school-sponsored events. While the school cannot dictate rules governing
all dimensions of a student’s life, it is our objective to maintain an environment which is
free of peer pressure in this regard and which discourages substance abuse. Drug and
alcohol counseling is available to students through the office of the school counselor.
In any case in which it is suspected that a student is using, carrying, or distributing
drugs, alcohol or tobacco, the student and his/her parents/guardians are notified
immediately. A student who is found to be in possession of, using, or distributing drugs
or alcohol will have a hearing before the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary
Committee will propose disciplinary action to the Principal who will, in turn, consult with
the Head of School. Such proposals, in cases of this sort, range from counseling
referrals to temporary suspension or permanent expulsion, even on a first offense. In
every case, appropriate consideration of the student accused, as well as the health and
safety of the community, are the fundamental concerns.
Waivers -- Academic and Athletic
The required student course load is five academic courses (history, math, science,
English, foreign language). In addition, the student may be enrolled in fine arts and
athletics to complete graduation requirements. In some situations,
a student may need a reduced academic schedule. The determination to grant a fifth
course waiver will be made by appropriate school personnel who may include all of the
following: the Principal, faculty, the student's advisor, and the school counselor. In such
cases, a student would be required to take four academic courses plus a full year of fine
arts courses.
An Athletic Waiver may be requested by those students who are medically excused
from participation in athletics (physician’s statement required). Students who receive an
Athletic Waiver are required, where feasible, to manage a competitive team for two
seasons. Arrangements for managing should be made through the Athletic Director.
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APPENDIX A
Requirements for Graduation
For Students Entering in All Grades
Athletic Program:
English:
Fine Arts:
Foreign Language:
Mathematics:
Science:
Social Studies:
Academic Electives:
6 seasons/trimesters (two seasons required each of
first two years; one season required in last two years)
4 years (required each year in Upper School)
2 years (six trimesters); at least one trimester must be
taken each year in Upper School, even if six
trimesters are completed early
3 years of the same foreign language in Upper
School
3 years (4 recommended)
3 years (one year of Biology, one year of Chemistry, and one
year of electives)
3 years (one year World History, one year U.S. History, one
year of European history)
In addition to the departmental requirements specified,
students are encouraged to earn units of academic credit by
taking academic courses of their choice.
Summary: 18 Academic Credits
2 Physical Education Credits
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Appendix B
Colorado Academy
Technology Use Agreement – Upper School
Computers in the Colorado Academy labs, libraries, classrooms, and other spaces are tools to support
the educational mission of the school. The purpose of the Colorado Academy network and its connection
to the internet is to support research and education by providing access to unique resources and the
opportunity for collaborative work. Computers may be monitored or filters employed to ensure
appropriate use.
Scope of Coverage for All Technology Policies:
All policies, guidelines and rules described in this document refer to all computing
/electronic/telecommunication devices (including, but not limited to, computers, handhelds or PDAs, MP3
players, portable memory storage devices, calculators with interfacing capability, cell/smart phones,
digital cameras, etc.), technology infrastructure, associated peripheral devices and/or software: 1) owned
by, leased by, or on loan to Colorado Academy; and 2) any computing or telecommunication devices
owned by, in the possession of or being used by CA students and/or staff that are operated on school
grounds or connected to any equipment on school grounds by means of direct connection, telephone line,
or other common carrier or any type of connection including hardwired, fiber, infrared and/or wireless.
Each student is responsible for using resources and equipment according to the privileges,
responsibilities and restrictions listed below.
Privileges and Responsibilities:
Access is a privilege, not a right, and requires personal responsibility.
Access is provided for educationally related communication, collaboration, assignments, and
research.
Each student will access the network through personal login and may store documents in a
personal file on the network server and use a personal e-mail account. Those files are private, but
can be accessed by administrators. Network files will be cleared at the end of every school year.
All users must abide by copyright laws by using proper citations for information, images, sound
and video files, or other data retrieved online or found elsewhere. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Reasonable access to personal e-mail for school purposes and current news sites is allowed
during the school day.
Appropriate language will be used at all times.
In order to conserve paper and toner, there is print copy quota system. Each student will be
issued an ample 250 pages per trimester printing credit. When the credit is used up, a student
may petition for more credits.
Students wishing to use the CA network for any personal electronic devices (e.g., smart phones,
laptops) must complete a separate agreement every year and agree to provide the machine
(mac) addresses of their devices to the network administrator. Parents must also sign the
agreement.
Technology and Library staff are always available for assistance.
Restrictions – The following activities are not permitted:
Playing games online, streaming music, downloading or watching videos or trailers, shopping, or
taking entertainment quizzes or surveys.
Using cell phones or other electronic communication devices (ECDs) during classes or while taking
a test; using cell phones or ECDs with built-in cameras, at any time, in a locker room, bathroom, or
locations in which inappropriate or privacy violating images could be obtained. Violations of this
provision may result in disciplinary action and/or confiscation of the cell phone or ECD, or in
possible referral to law enforcement.
Using the internet for entertainment (surfing), time-wasting, or fantasy sports activities.
Participation in chatrooms, online social networking, journal or blog sites, auction sites, or instant
messaging.
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Damaging, tampering with, “hacking,” installing any type of adware, spyware or malware, or
altering computers, laptops, carts, monitors, peripherals, software, networks, folders or files;
attempting to turn off or circumvent any security or filtering software; changing system or browser
settings.
Using mobile lab or classroom laptops when not in a supervised class. (Please check one out from
library if needed.)
Having any food, beverage, candy, gum, make-up, white out, or other liquids or chemicals near
computers.
Vandalizing, damaging, copying, deleting or disabling the property, work, or files of another user.
Logging in to the network or e-mail with another person’s password or allowing others to use your
password.
Accessing, displaying, viewing, creating, downloading, saving, sending, forwarding, uploading,
downloading, or printing information, text, images, sounds or videos that are offensive, abusive,
pornographic, discriminatory, obscene, inflammatory, threatening, illegal, or dangerous on school
or personally owned devices.
Providing personal information (such as name, phone number, addresses, school, e-mail, credit
card numbers or age of any person, including yourself) to personal space websites, strangers or
websites that may use the information for identity theft or unethical purposes.
Using networked or electronic devices to threaten, harass, spread rumors about, embarrass or
humiliate another person (cyberbullying). In addition, any off-campus activities which constitute
unkindness, threatening/harassing behavior, slander/libel, or invasion of privacy, and which impact
CA students, personnel, or campus life, may carry penalties as outlined below.
Accessing the internet without adult supervision.
Penalties:
Violation of these rules will result in loss of computer privileges and login deactivation for a designated
length of time and/or issuance of an incident report. These may lead to a detention or an appearance
before a principal or the disciplinary committee and could result in suspension or expulsion or referral to
law enforcement.
Note: Failure to return this signed agreement during the first week of school will result in deactivation of
students’ logins until the signed form has been received. New students will receive information on how to
access their network account, e-mail, and the website in their advisory or Freshman Seminar class.
Disclaimer:
Colorado Academy’s computer technology, network and internet system is to be used for educational and
professional purposes. Users are reminded that all computer, network and internet use may be monitored
by the school and that there is no assurance of privacy or warranty of any kind, either expressed or
implied, or that all services provided through this system will be error-free or without defect. CA does not
guarantee the functioning of any computer, server, or the network, and it is not liable for any service
interruptions or inconvenience, including lost data sustained in the use of any computer or other hardware
or software. Colorado Academy specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of
information obtained through the internet.
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Appendix C
Accommodation Plan Policy and Process
The following policy statement is intended to clarify the process around which Colorado
Academy will respond to the particular needs of students with documented learning
disabilities.
A “learning disability” is a physical or mental functional limitation that substantially affects the
student’s ability to learn, understand, concentrate, remember or communicate information and
prevents the impaired student from meeting their fullest academic potential. In general, the
school’s policies with respect to learning disabilities are designed to be consistent with those
published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and ACT in their consideration of
accommodations for various standardized tests, including college entrance examinations.
The purpose of an accommodation plan is to make changes in the standard delivery of
academic services for students with learning disabilities who have special academic needs. A
formal accommodation plan, if one is adopted, will address recommendations which will be
enacted by the school. In appropriate cases, recommendations for outside treatment, including
tutoring, may be made. In all instances, the cooperation of the student and family is required in
order to provide the best learning experience for the student.
Accommodation plans do not compensate for diminished effort in the classroom or on
homework and they do not compensate for a student’s inability to meet basic expectations and
complete the school’s academic program. The presence of a learning disability does not
constitute sufficient reason for a student not to complete homework nor to turn in work after a
deadline.
While accommodations for learning disabled students, including those recommended by an
outside professional, will generally be considered, accommodations will not be made in every
situation. Colorado Academy reserves the right to decide, in its sole discretion, which
accommodations are warranted and which accommodations, if any, will be implemented
by the school, taking into account, among other factors, the school’s resources,
philosophy, mission, performance expectations and academic curriculum, as well as the
needs of the subject student and those of other students. The implementation of an
accommodation plan and the establishment of accommodations under such a plan
should not be construed as, and do not represent, a commitment by Colorado Academy
to maintain the plan or any accommodations for any period of time, or to implement
similar plans or establish similar accommodations for the same or other students in the
future. Colorado Academy reserves the right at any time in its sole discretion to continue
or discontinue any accommodation plans and/or any accommodations made under such
plans. In situations where the school decides that it cannot meet the educational or other needs
of a student, the school reserves the right to counsel the student and his/her family to seek a
more appropriate learning environment.
Before the school will consider whether to adopt an accommodation plan, parents/guardians
and a qualified outside professional must contact the School Counselor and provide valid
documentation of a learning disability. To be considered “valid”, the following conditions must be
met in the documentation:
1. The evaluation must be conducted by a qualified professional. The name, title, and
professional credentials of the evaluator, including information about licensure and
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certification, must be included in the report. “Qualified professionals” generally
include clinical, educational, and school psychologists, neuropsychologists, learning
disabilities specialists, and medical doctors with specialized training in the
assessment of learning disabilities in children and adolescents. Use of diagnostic
terminology indicating a specific learning disability by someone whose training and
experience are not in these fields is not acceptable. It is not appropriate for
professionals to evaluate members of their own families. It is also not appropriate for
an individual to be tested by someone who has any kind of prior (personal or
business) relationship with the individual or the individual’s family, unless living in a
highly rural area where no other arrangements are possible. In the Denver metro
area, such an exception is extremely unlikely. The School Counselors at CA can
provide referrals if necessary. It is recommended that a copy of this Accommodation
Plan Policy and Process be given to the professional completing the evaluation.
2. Testing must be current. While learning disabilities are presumed to be life-long
challenges, the severity of the condition may change over time. As such, an
assessment must be conducted within the past three years in order to be considered
“valid.” Similarly, follow-up testing concerning the student’s disability must be
conducted at least once every three years. Requirements for re-testing should be
discussed with the School Counselor.
3. The assessment must be comprehensive. Presenting problems and developmental
history, including relevant educational and medical history, must be included. For
assessments of learning disabilities, tests of aptitude and cognitive ability (such as
an IQ test), measures of academic achievement, and measures of information
processing must also be included, and evidence that alternative explanations were
ruled out must be provided. For AD/HD, the report must document evidence of early
impairment; evidence of current impairment (including presenting problem and
diagnostic interview); evidence that alternative explanations were ruled out; results
from valid, standardized, age-appropriate assessments; and the number of
applicable DSM-IV criteria and description of how they impair the individual. Tests
used must be reliable, valid, and standardized for use on the individual’s population.
When appropriate, assessments should also include brief interviews with or
checklists completed by teachers, and classroom observations.
4. Actual test scores must be included for all measures given.
5. There must be a substantial difference between “ability” and “achievement” in order
to document a learning disability. The difference between overall ability (as
measured by IQ tests) and achievement (as measured by academic achievement
tests and measures of information processing) is often referred to as a “discrepancy
score.” In order to allow for clinical judgment of the evaluator, there is no absolute
cutoff discrepancy score used by the school that is necessary to diagnose a learning
disability. However, the difference must be substantial, and the discrepancy must be
described and summarized in an accurate manner. For an accommodation of untimed
testing to be made with respect to standardized exams, at least one standard
deviation difference between IQ and achievement scores (as measured by all
subtests tapping that particular skill) is required. The School Counselor will review all
reports and determine in his or her sole discretion whether a diagnosis is appropriate
based on the data presented.
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6. A specific diagnosis for learning disabilities must be included in the report using
criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4 th edition
(DSM-IV) and a numerical diagnostic code must be given. Vague diagnoses, such as
“academic problems”, “learning disabled” or “other health impaired” alone are not
enough to support the development of an official accommodation plan.
7. Each recommendation provided must be accompanied by an appropriate rationale.
The impact of the learning disability on a major life activity as well as the degree to
which this impacts the individual must be documented. This is particularly important
with requests for extended time testing on college entrance exams, since students
do not automatically meet qualifications by The College Board and ACT merely
through the diagnosis of a learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder. Reviewers from the testing boards need to see specifically why extra time
will allow a particular individual to more accurately portray his or her abilities on the
standardized tests.
Once an appropriate evaluation is conducted and a report is received, the School
Counselor will typically meet with the student (when age appropriate) to discuss his/her
perception of the assessment and the learning disability. If the school determines in its
sole discretion that an accommodation plan is warranted and appropriate, the School
Counselor will develop and draft an official accommodation plan, which typically takes
up to four weeks to complete. After the plan is drafted, a “staffing” meeting will be
scheduled with the student, his/her parents/guardians, the student’s advisor, the division
Head and the division School Counselor to discuss the implementation of the plan and
the nature of the student’s learning disability. Progress to date in the student’s courses
will also be discussed. If all parties are in agreement with the school’s official
accommodation plan, it will then be signed by the student, his/her parents/guardians,
the student’s advisor, the division Head and the division School Counselor. A
copy/record of the official accommodation plan will be given to the parents/guardians of
the student and a copy will be placed in the student’s file. If a student is applying for
extended time testing on standardized tests, a copy will also be given to the student’s
assigned college counselor. All students receiving accommodations will have their
official plans reviewed annually by the School Counselor, and teachers will be notified
regarding students’ specific accommodations prior to the start of classes.
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Appendix D
Colorado Academy
Mental Health and Wellness Policy and Procedures for Individuals at Risk
Colorado Academy (“CA”) is invested in the well-being and safety of the entire school
community. Whenever the school is made aware of any student, faculty member, or
staff member who is at risk, if their safety or health is in jeopardy or threatened, the
school will respond accordingly to protect the safety and welfare of the individual(s) at
risk, as well as the school community. If a member of the CA community is aware of any
student who may be a danger or threat to themselves or others, they are required to
immediately notify the student’s division School Counselor who will respond, as
appropriate, to the at- risk student in order to preserve their safety and well-being. In the
event that an emergency situation occurs on campus, all faculty and staff will adhere to
the safety guidelines and procedures provided in the “CA Emergency Procedures
Handbook”.
Members of the school community commit themselves to maintaining
professional tact and discretion with regard to any confidential information they
receive. However, confidential information may be disclosed to the Head of
School, Division Heads, Deans, School Counselors, outside professionals, law
enforcements officers, parent/guardians or others when there is a compelling
reason for doing so, including, without limitation, in cases of health and safety
emergencies; when students or others are in imminent danger of harm; when
there is concern about an individual’s ability to function academically,
emotionally, physically, and/or mentally within the school environment; or when
legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed.
If a student’s, faculty and/or staff member’s health or safety is at risk, or if they
jeopardize the health or safety of others in the community, or if their behavior or
presence poses an immediate or continuing threat or disruption to the educational
process of the school, the division Principal and Head of School shall be notified so that
appropriate action may be taken. After consulting with the division School Counselor
and Principal, the Head of School shall have the authority and discretion to impose
disciplinary and/or therapeutic measures of the individual at risk, in order to preserve
the welfare and safety of the school community not limited to the following, singularly or
in combination with others:
1) a clinical assessment/evaluation or written letter/documentation provided to the
School Counselor by an outside professional mental health clinician referred by
CA, confirming that the individual at risk is no longer a threat or danger to
themselves or others, is able to return to school without threatening or disrupting
the daily educational process at CA, and is able to appropriately manage and
maintain their own daily functioning and learning in the school environment;
2) a parent/guardian and student signed CA release/exchange of information form,
authorizing communication between the outside mental health professional treating
the individual and the division’s School Counselor;
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3) recommended or mandated on-going counseling/therapy, treatment plan, and/or
prescribed medication, determined by the outside mental health professional
treating the individual in consultation with the division’s School Counselor; and,
4) a mandated drug test and/or substance abuse counseling/treatment plan.
Nothing herein, including the at-risk individual’s adherence to the above-referenced
guidelines or other measures imposed by the Head of School pursuant to this Policy,
shall limit the rights of CA and the Head of School to exercise and resort to other
disciplinary measures, including dismissal from CA.
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