Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook

Colorado Academy Upper School Handbook
Revised August, 2012
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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