Parent & Student Handbook - Independence Charter School

Student Code of Conduct
ICS Community Guidelines
Students start each year by brainstorming and creating their hopes and dreams (Grades K-4) or goals and
declarations (Grades 5-8) for the year. Students then share their hopes and dreams / goals and declarations
with classmates and teachers. Students discuss the connection between these hopes and dreams /goals and
declarations and classroom guidelines. As a group, each class then creates classroom guidelines that help them
achieve the hopes and dreams/ goals and declarations they have shared. Classes discuss how their classroom
guidelines align with the ICS Global Citizen ideas and beliefs. Once every advisory/homeroom has developed a
list of 3 to 5 guidelines for a Social Contract, student representatives from all the advisories/homerooms will
decide on a Team Social Contract. This has great advantages and ensures consistency from one room to the next
within the team. After two weeks of discussion during the orientation period at the beginning of the year, the
entire school holds a constitutional convention in the form of a general assembly. At this assembly, the student
representatives publicly read and sign the Social Guidelines they agreed upon at their meeting.
All students are responsible for upholding these guidelines. If a student does not comply with guidelines he/she
will be expected to discuss and solve the situation with the help of a supervising adult. Depending on the severity
of the infraction, the student may also serve a logical consequence. (Please see Minor & Major Infractions
Section of Code of Conduct).
Parent Involvement
The Independence Charter School community consists of teachers, non-teaching staff, administrators,
students and parents/guardians. Parents and guardians are an integral part of a child’s education. All
ICS staff and community members are considered teachers of our children. We welcome your
participation in the classroom and the school community. Students take pride in a school when they see
parents, guardians and teachers working side by side to create an optimal learning environment. We look
forward to working with you at community service events, parent-teacher conferences, field trips and
PTA meetings. Our Family and Community Partnerships Coordinator, Jenny Hoedeman-Eiteljorg,
works closely with classroom teachers to organize meaningful parent participation at ICS.
Because ICS is a school of choice, we know that families have made the important decision to send their
children to a school with the highest standards for student behavior and achievement. It is thus
expected that parents/guardians will attend all scheduled parent/teacher conferences and schoolrequested
meetings (academic or behavioral).
Positive Recognition, Redirection, and Reinforcement
Independence Charter School believes that students learn best in a positive and supportive environment.
Independence Charter School staff will use language that is clear, simple and direct in recognition,
redirection and reinforcement; language that is genuine and respectful to all members of the ICS
community, showing faith in an individual’s abilities and potential. At ICS, students celebrate their
academic and social achievements throughout the year. Celebrations occur frequently and in various
settings. These celebrations may be as a school, a grade, and as a class, with a bus cohort or as
individuals. All students will have the privilege of participating in these celebrations by upholding their
responsibilities as outlined in the ICS Community Guidelines.
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