Parent Handbook - Jefferson High School - Cedar Rapids ...

Welcome to Jefferson High School, Parents!
This is a very exciting time to be a part of the JHS community.
Between the ever evolving needs of a changing community, the
complete remodeling of our building (we are beginning Phase II of our
reconstruction process which will include a switch to geothermal energy,
a facelift of every classroom in the building, and a completely revamped
cafeteria), and the increasingly high standards
that we demand from our students, there is
lots to do and cover as the 2012-13 school
year begins. Whether you are a returning
J-Hawk or a new member of our family, we all
look forward to working with you during the
new school year. This handbook presents the
opportunities and expectations provided to all
students and their families. The point of this
handbook is to help you to understand what
goes on at Jefferson, our mission, programs
and policies, and where to go when you need
to find the information you need. Needless to
say, there is a wealth of information contained
in this booklet; we hope you take the time to
familiarize yourself with its contents. Should any questions arise, we invite
and encourage you to contact our school.
Jefferson offers programs for students with all kinds of post-high school
plans. Whether you intend to go to college, technical school, the military,
the work force, or even if you are uncertain about your plans, JHS is an
excellent school for you, having even been named a National Blue Ribbon
School twice. Through cooperative efforts between teachers, students,
families, and support staff, we know that every student can succeed. We
are determined to work with you and to help your student to reach their
academic goals. Best wishes for a school year filled with educational and
personal growth!
It’s great to be a J-Hawk!
Points of Interest
about Jefferson High School
Building Opened in ...........................1958
Peak Enrollment .................2,008 in 1969
Largest Graduating Class .......593 in 1971
Graduates, Class of 2012 .............……343
Total Graduates, 1958-2012 .…….21,840
Projected Enrollment, 2012-2013 ....1,490
Important Telephone Numbers
Main Office ...............................558-2435
Attendance ................................558-2341
Thomas Jefferson High School
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
High Levels of Learning for All
Home of the J-Hawks
Additional Telephone Numbers
Bookkeeping ..............................558-2743
Guidance Office ........................558-2441
Activities Office .........................558-2148
Performing Arts.........................558-2092
Grant Wood Area ......................558-2316
Education Agency
FAX Numbers
Activities ....................................398-2149
Counselors .................................398-2442
Main Office ...............................364-1815
Jefferson High School welcomes all students and is committed to a climate that is free of discrimination based on race, color, national origin,
gender, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome Message ...............................................IFC
Jefferson Beliefs and Practices .............................IFC
Extended Learning ...................................................1
CRCSD Administration ..........................................1
CRCSD Board of Education ...................................1
Academic Accomplishments ....................................2
Athletic/Performing Arts Accomplishments ............3
Daily Class Schedules ...............................................4
CRSCD Attendance Procedures .......................... 5-7
Student Services .......................................................8
Library Passwords for Databases ..............................8
Faculty & Staff Directory ................................... 8-13
Class Officers ..........................................................13
Preparing for Academic Success .............................13
Planning Your Education ................................. 13-16
Co-Curricular Activities ................................... 17-18
Student Recognition ......................................... 19-21
Student Eligibility for
Co-Curricular Activities ................................... 22-24
Distractions to Learning .................................. 24-25
School Citizenship Expectations ...................... 25-28
Emergency School Closings ...................................28
Lunch/Bus Info/Fees ..............................................29
Reporting Child Abuse ..........................................30
Search & Seizure .............................................. 30-31
Supervision & Monitoring .....................................31
Additional Board Policies ................................. 32-40
Jefferson Date Request Form for Dances ............IBC
Important Dates for 2012-2013 ..........................IBC
Extended Learning
Jefferson’s New Initiative to Enhance Learning
We know that to be a successful school, students need a structured learning environment. Study hall has not
proved to be an effective learning time for many students, so a research based plan will replace study hall.
Jefferson will be implementing Extended Learning for the 2012-13 school year.
Extended Learning is a classroom where students
are assigned to receive academic assistance based
on their performance data in their academic classes.
Students will be studying, reading, or receiving
academic assistance. Each period of the day there will
be approximately ten teachers assigned to Extended
Learning. Each of these teachers will work with 8-10
students to help them succeed in all of their classes.
The great thing about having multiple teachers available
each period is that they can move students around
to better serve learning needs. If a student needs a
math teacher or a science teacher for help, there is one
available each period of the day. One additional benefit
to Extended Learning is that students will also earn
elective credit towards their graduation.
You may be the parent of a junior or senior who has
the option for P.A.R.T. (Parent Approved Release
Time). Many of these students will not be assigned to
Extended Learning because they are successful in all
their classes. These students have two options. One
option is to leave campus and exercise their P.A.R.T.
privileges and the second option is to sign on as a
teaching assistant and tutor in an Extended Learning
class to receive elective credit towards graduation.
Our goals have always been to prepare students for
learning beyond high school. We must help students
succeed in all their classes so they graduate and feel
confident in college and their career choices. We
believe that implementing Extended Learning schoolwide
will help us do a better job in meeting these goals.
Cedar Rapids Community Schools Central Administration
Dr. David Benson ................................................................................................................. Superintendent
Dr. Gary O’Malley .................................................................................................... Assoc. Superintendent
Steve Graham .................................................................................. Executive Director – Business Services
Sheila Lehman ...................................................................................Executive Director – Special Services
Jill Cirivello ....................................................................................Executive Director – Human Resources
Dr. Sandy Stephen ............................................................................. Executive Administrator – Secondary
Board of Education
John Laverty ....................................................................................................President, Board of Directors
Mary Meisterling .............................................Vice President, Board of Directors / Director, District One
Allen Witt ................................................................................................................. Director, District Four
Nancy Humbles ..........................................................................................................Director, District Two
Keith Westercamp ....................................................................................................Director, District Three
Ann Rosenthal .................................................................................................................. Director at Large
Gary Anhalt ...................................................................................................................... Director at Large
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 1

2
Academic Excellence
Jefferson High School is a comprehensive high school offering numerous academic opportunities for students. Our teachers and staff present a challenging, rigorous
and relevant education to prepare young adults for the challenges of the 21st Century world in which we live. This has been Jefferson’s mission through the course of its
history and continues to be our mission today. Some of Jefferson’s academic accomplishments are listed on this page.
The Class of 2012 was a shining example of the
academic success that students at Jefferson can
achieve. Here are some highlights:
65 students graduated with Academic Honors
98 students graduated with the more rigorous
and challenging Honors with Distinction
77 graduates qualified for National Honor Society
43 students earned more that 400 graduation credits
Four-Year Awards
are given to students who complete four years of either
science, math, social studies, world language, or Project
Lead the Way – members of the Class of 2012 earned
592 of these Four-Year Awards
37 members of the Class of 2011 earned Salutatorian
or Valedictorian distinction
29 students earned the Service Award
Jefferson’s Academic Decathlon team continues to dominate at both the State and
National level, winning the State Academic Decathlon meet for the 15th time in the
last 16 years. At the National Meet in Albuquerque, NM the J-Hawks finished sixth
overall in the medium school division. Under the guidance of Mr. John Wojtowicz the
Academic Decathlon continues to be one of Jefferson’s strongest academic traditions.
Over $20,000 of scholarship money was
awarded to members of the Class of 2012
from various organizations, school, and
community groups.
As you can see, Jefferson is a place where
high levels of learning are the standard
for all students.
Jefferson’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a growing curriculum and community of young men
and women interested in the engineering profession.
Since its inception over five years ago, PLTW has turned out dozens of students who have taken
rigorous pre-engineering courses that have better prepared them for engineering majors in college.
Two Jefferson alumni, through their work in the Engineering Design and Development (EDD)
course, acquired a provisional patent for their work on a project and are attempting to sell their idea to manufacturers.
Jefferson’s PLTW partners with businesses in Cedar Rapids and offers students the opportunity to earn dual credit – credit
towards graduation from Jefferson and college credit.
Jefferson High School has twice
been named a Blue Ribbon School
of Excellence – first in 1985 and
again in 2002.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Athletic Accomplishments all named 2nd Team All-Metro and All-MVC. Kelly May and Performing Arts Perfection
J-Hawk Athletics has a long-standing tradition of
excellence. We offer 21 competitive athletic teams over
four seasons as well as competitive cheerleading and
dance team. We work hard and reap the benefits of our
efforts. Highlights from the 2010-11 season include:
• Mic Vesey was 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC in football.
Ryan Eivins and Christian Knox were both 2nd Team All-Metro
and All-MVC
• Girls’ Swimming qualified three events to the state meet.
Kailey Drake qualified in the 50 Free and 100 Free as well as
earning 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC honors. Erin Kibby,
Emily Ritchie, Drake, and Kylie Steimer qualified in the 200
Medley Relay while Steimer also earned 2nd Team All-MVC
honors. The coaching staff of Ryan York, Les Santee, Chris York,
and Theresa Fettkether were named the MVC Coaching Staff of
the Year
• Kayla Jaschen was 2nd Team All-Metro in volleyball.
• Zach Denny was 1st Team All-MVC and 2nd Team All-
Metro in boys’ golf. Eric Lehmkuhl was also 2nd Team All-Metro.
• The Girls’ Bowling team was the state runner-up as a team
with Nicole Petersen earning 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC
Honors. Other accolades included Courtney Moore as 2nd Team
All-Metro and All-MVC and Rylea Bennett as 2nd Team All-
MVC.
• Zach Trcka earned 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC in boys’
bowling. Michael Kilts was 2nd Team All-Metro and All-MVC.
Will James also earned 2nd Team All-Metro honors.
• The J-Hawk Boys’ Basketball team qualified for the state
tournament for the third consecutive year. Taylor Olson was 2nd
Team All-State and 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC. Ky
Kramer was 2nd Team All-Metro and All-MVC, while Alec
Saunders was 2nd Team All-Metro. Virg Cerveny and Matt
Fowler were honored as the bowling coaching staff of the year.
• Maddie Koolbeck was named 3rd Team All-State to go along
with 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC. Rachel Broghammer was
also named 2nd Team All-Metro and All-MVC.
• The J-Hawk Boys’ Swimming team qualified five events to
the state competition. Kristian Anderson placed 8th overall in
the 100 Fly at the state competition along with competing in the
50 Free at the state meet and earning 1st Team All-Metro and
All-MVC honors. Lance Scallon qualified for the state meet in the
100 Back while also being named 1st Team All-Metro and 2nd
Team All-MVC. Jacob Inghram was 2nd Team All-Metro and
All-Conference while Alex Kleinheinz was 2nd Team All-Metro.
Anderson, Scallon, Inghram, and Kleinheinz also teamed to qualify
in the 200 Free Relay and the 200 Medley Relay.
• PJ Rashed qualified for the state wrestling tournament.
Rashed, Griffin Bollman, Shavez Butler and Luke Sedlacek were
Cody Hensel were both 2nd Team All-MVC, and Drake Allen
and Josh Allen were both 2nd Team All-Metro.
• In Girls’ Golf, Megan Furnish played her way to a 4th place
finish at the state tournament to add to her placement on the 1st
Team for All-Metro and All-MVC. Furnish was also named the
MVC Athlete of the Year.
• The J-Hawk Boys’ Soccer team had the Goalkeeper of the Year
in 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC goalie, Andrew Patience,
as well as the Athlete of the Year in 1st Team All-Metro and All-
MVC honoree Ali Al-Yasseri. Eric Jones also was named 1st Team
All-Metro. Other honorees included Blake Fortner (2nd Team
All-Metro and All-MVC), Stefan Krohn (2nd Team All-MVC),
and Hussin Al-Yasseri and Reece Suckow(2nd Team All-Metro).
The J-Hawk coaching staff of John O’Connor, Ben Watson, Chris
Banker, Tom Jackson and Darius Ballard was honored as the
coaching staff of the year.
• Girls’ Soccer landed two 1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC
players in Riley Kesterson and Katie Dierks. Joining them as
honorees included Trina Gallagher (2nd Team All-Metro and All-
MVC) and Shalyn Kinney (2nd Team All-MVC).
• The Boys’ Track team had a banner year qualifying 11 events
to the state tournament. Included in those state qualifiers were
Timauntey Jones (1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC) who
finished third in the state in the 800 as well as qualifying to state in
the 400, Sam Techau in the discus, Nate Karlan (1st Team Metro)
in the 100 and 200, Taylor Mueller (2nd Team All-Metro) in the
3200, Lucas Vanous in the 400 hurdles, Savaun Bounds in the 110
hurdles, and relays including the 4x400 (Alex Baxter, Jones, Asim
Wallace, and Ryan Deerberg), 4x200 (Dylan Chittick, Wallace,
Deerberg, and Karlan), and 4x100 (Shaq Harbor, Tiedtke, Karlan
and Chittick).
• The Girls’ Track team had a terrific year of their own
qualifying nine events to the state meet. State qualifiers included
Emma Edelin (1st Team All-Metro and All-MVC) who placed
6th in the discus, Maliya Ratliffe (2nd Team All-Metro) who
placed 6th in the 100, Summer Carber (2nd Team All-Metro)
who placed 6th in the 100 hurdles, Lucy Schneekloth (2nd Team
All-MVC) in the 100, and Madison Ranschau (2nd Team All-
MVC) in the 100 hurdles. Relays that qualified include the 3rd
place finishing shuttle hurdle relay (Ranschau, Carber, Allison
Gruwell, Taylor Jacobson), the 4th place finishing 4x200 (Ratliffe,
Carber, Jacobson, Broghammer), the 6th place finishing 4x100
(Broghammer, Ratliffe, Schneekloth, Carber), and the 7th place
spring medley (Broghammer, Schneekloth, Ratliffe, Jacobson). The
J-Hawk coaching team of Bill Calloway, Steve Reed, Tami Loan,
and Leighann Stejskal also earned coaching team of the year.
• In Boys’ Tennis Jacob Donald earned 2nd Team All-Metro
and All-MVC.
• In Girls’ Tennis Crystal Terman and Kelli Walsh both earned
2nd Team All-Metro and All-MVC.
Jefferson has a rich tradition in the performing arts,
dating back to its opening in 1959. J-Hawk performing
arts are often the measuring stick for groups around the
State of Iowa. 2011-12 highlights include:
• The Jefferson Band had members qualify for honor band
recognition in the Iowa All-State Band; the Honor Band of
America; the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor
Band; the Iowa State University Honor Band; the University of
Iowa Honor Band; and the Coe College Honor Band.
• The Band of Blue earned their 34th consecutive Division 1
Superior rating at the State Marching Band Festival and the Wind
Symphony earned their 38th consecutive Division 1 Superior
rating at the State Large Group Festival.
• West Side Delegation
• Jefferson’s Symphony Orchestra earned a Division 1 Superior
rating at the State Large Group Festival.
• Jefferson’s Theatre Department staged four productions,
including a full-fledged musical.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 3

4
Class Schedules
Regular Daily Class Schedule
Early Bird 6:50 7:42
Period One 7:50 8:42
Period Two 8:47 9:39
Period Three 9:44 10:41
(Includes Announcements)
Period Four 10:46 12:09
(Includes Lunch)
Period Five 12:14 1:06
Period Six 1:11 2:03
Period Seven 2:08 3:00
Wednesday Forum Schedule
Jefferson Plc Early Dismissal Day
Early Bird 6:50 7:42
Period 1 7:50 8:28
Period 2 8:33 9:11
Period 3 9:16 9:54
Forum 9:59 10:20
Period 5 10:25 11:03
Period 4 11:08 12:31
(Includes Lunch)
Period 6 12:36 1:16
Period 7 1:21 2:00
Teachers meet in Jefferson
High School PLCs.
Wednesday Schedule
District Early Dismissal Day
Early Bird 6:50 7:42
Period 1 7:50 8:34
Period 2 8:39 9:23
Period 3 9:28 10:13
Period 5 10:18 11:03
Period 4 11:08 12:31
(includes lunch)
Period 6 12:36 1:16
Period 7 1:21 2:00
District Early Dismissal Day
Early Bird 6:50 7:42
Period 1 7:50 8:24
Period 2 8:29 9:03
Period 3 9:08 9:42
Period 4 9:47 10:20
Period 5 10:25 10:59
Period 6 11:04 11:38
Period 7 11:43 12:17
two hour delay
Early Bird 8:50 9:42
Period 1 9:50 10:22
Period 2 10:27 10:59
Period 3 11:04 11:41
(Announcements)
Period 4 11:46 1:09
(Adjusted lunch times)
Period 5 1:14 1:46
Period 6 1:51 2:23
Period 7 2:28 3:00
LUNCH
SCHEDULES
Regular Daily Lunch (Period 4)
“A” Lunch 10:46-11:12
Class 11:17-12:09
Class 10:46-11:04
“B” Lunch 11:06-11:32
Class 11:35-12:09
“A Lunch 11:08-11:34
Class 11:39-12:31
Class 11:08-11:26
“B” Lunch 11:28-11:54
Class 11:57-12:31
Class 10:45-11:20
“C” Lunch 11:22-11:48
Class 11:51-12:09
Class 10:46-11:38
“D” Lunch 11:43-12:09
Wednesday and Alternate Lunch
(Period 4)
“A Lunch 11:46-12:12
Class 12:17-1:09
Class 11:46-12:02
“B” Lunch 12:04-12:32
Class 12:35-1:09
Class 11:08-11:42
“C” Lunch 11:44-12:10
Class 12:13-12:31
Class 11:08-12:00
“D” Lunch 12:05-12:31
two hour delay
Class 11:46-12:20
“C” Lunch 12:22-12:48
Class 12:51-1:09
Class 11:46-12:38
“D” Lunch 12:42-1:09
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

STuDENT
ATTENDANCE
(Code of Iowa Chapter 299A,
299.2, 299.1 and 299.1A;
CRCSD Regulation 602.2)
All children who have
reached the age of six
and are under sixteen
years of age by September
15 are of compulsory
attendance age. A child enrolled in the District
who reaches the age of 16 on or after September 15
remains of compulsory age until the end of the regular
school calendar. The parent, guardian, or legal/actual
custodian of a child who is of compulsory attendance
age shall cause the child to attend the public school,
an accredited nonpublic school, or receive competent
private instruction in accordance with provisions of
Iowa.
(Code Chapter 299A during the school year. Policy 602).
Since punctuality and regular attendance are necessary
for students to derive optimum benefit from school,
students should be required to conform to District
and school rules and procedures regarding attendance.
These rules and procedures should be as consistent as
practicable among and within grade levels throughout
the District, and should be administered in such a
manner as to serve the best interests of children and to
comply with the Code of Iowa.
(Code of Iowa: 279.11; Proposed Procedure 602a)
CRSCD ATTENDANCE GuIDELINES
discretion of the administrator.
Students who wish to participate in school-sponsored
activities must attend school at least one-half day on
the day of the activity unless permission has been given
by the administrator for the student to be absent.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299.281 I.A.C. 12.2(4).
Currently Procedure 602.3a; Proposed Procedure 602b
RESPONDING TO ExCESSIvE
ABSENTEEISm
The appropriate school staff should make an effort to
resolve attendance problems through the following
procedures:
• Establish contact with parents or guardians;
• Utilize available support staff for the initial
investigation;
• Maintain written documentation of absences;
• Involve the school nurse when illness is used as a
reason for excessive absenteeism; and
• Consult with other agencies that may be involved
with the family.
After a student has accrued 11 days of absences for
reasons other than a health condition verified by a
school nurse and the building level administration has
exhausted every means available (phone calls, letters,
home visits, etc.) to the school to assure that the
student is in regular attendance, the following should
occur:
• The school administrator will inform the
parent/guardian in writing that due to the lack of
improvement in the attendance of their child, the
school will be referring the student and the parent/
guardian to the District truant officer for further
action.
• A copy of the letter sent to the parent/guardian
will then be forwarded to the appropriate District
truant officer.
• The District Truant Officer will request a hearing
with the to mediate a plan of action to correct the
attendance problem. The written communication will
specify a definite time period for the hearing dates.
• If the parent/guardian does not respond to the
action in Step 3, and/or the above plan of action fails
to produce results, a registered letter will be forwarded
to the County Attorney or the school attendance task
force and the parent/guardian for further action. A
copy will be placed in the student’s file.
• The County Attorney’s Office and/or school
attendance task force will make the final decision in
regard to prosecution or course of action to get and
keep the student in school.
(Currently Regulation 602.3; Proposed Procedure 602c)
TRuANCy
A truant child is one of compulsory attendance age
(6-16) who:
• fails to attend school anywhere;
• fails to attend competent private instruction for
148 days per year;
• fails to attend a minimum of 74 days per semester;
or
• fails to attend a minimum of 49 days per trimester.
Similarly, if a student turns sixteen prior to September
15, he or she is no longer of compulsory attendance age
and may seek alternative forms of education without
It is the responsibility of the student to initiate a
procedure with the student’s teacher to complete the
work missed. Students whose absences are approved
will make up the work missed and receive full credit
for the missed school work. Students, whose absences
are not approved, will make up the work at the
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 5

isk to his or her parent. If a student turns sixteen on
or after September 15, he or she is compelled to attend
during that school year. (Code of Iowa: 299.1, 299.2, 299.8)
Attendance is crucial to academic success. We want
every student at Jefferson to experience success and to
graduate from our school. Data shows that students
who attend school regularly and are on time to classes
give themselves the best chance to be successful. At
Jefferson attending class on time every day is the first
step towards reaching your highest potential.
ExTRINSIC REwARDS FOR
ATTENDING SCHOOL:
Students with perfect or excellent attendance are
honored each term. Those honored receive a letter of
commendation and have their names published in
the school newsletter. To earn the reward of P.A.R.T.
students will maintain responsible attendance in all of
their classes.
LATE TO CLASS/TARDy
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE PROCEDuRES
Passing time is five minutes long; this time is to be
used as passing time. A one-minute bell will sound
and students who are not in their class are expected
to move quickly in the direction of their next class.
Classes begin when the final bell has finished ringing.
All classes will begin with meaningful learning
6
activities immediately when the final bell rings.
This will set the tone for learning in all classes and
communicates to students that on-time attendance is a
priority in all classes.
Students arriving after the scheduled start of class
are considered tardy unless they have a legitimate
pass from another staff member. Students will be
considered tardy if they are not in the classroom at the
end of the tone of the bell. Before going to class, a
tardy student should report to the Attendance Office
to get a PLASCO pass; student IDs are needed. If a
student does not have his/her ID, he/she must report
to the Main Office.
ID CARDS
At the beginning of Fall Term all students are issued
picture identification. The ID card must be carried
at all times and made available to staff members on
request. The card is necessary for admission to school
events, for the automated lunch payment program, for
computers in school technology labs, and for checking
out materials from the Library. Activities designation
will be placed on the student ID for admission to
home activities. Lost IDs must be replaced through
the Main Office at a cost of $2.
DEFINITIONS:
DT: Detention
AF: Attendance Facilitator
JTAP: Jefferson Temporary Alternative
Placement (in-school suspension)
TAP: Temporary Alternative Placement
(Polk Education Center)
PROCEDuRE AND CONSEquENCES
FOR TARDINESS:
1st and 2nd Tardy
Warning. Students must get a PLASCO pass from the
Attendance Office before going to class.
3rd and 4th Tardy
Detention. Students must get a PLASCO pass from
the Attendance Office before going to class.
Student will serve Detention (DT) with JTAP
supervisor after school. Attendance Facilitator (AF)
will call parent to explain the situation and state when
DT will be served. DT will be 30 minutes in length
and served either the day of or the day following the
tardy. JTAP supervisor will talk with student about
why the student is there, why it is unacceptable to
be late, and the importance of being on time. JTAP
supervisor will outline the next consequence if student
continues to be tardy.
5th Tardy
Detention. Students must get a PLASCO pass from
the Attendance Office before going to class.
Student will serve Detention (DT) with JTAP
supervisor after school. AF will call parent to explain
the situation and state when DT will be served. DT
will be 45 minutes in length and served either the day
of or the day following the tardy. JTAP supervisor
will talk with student about why the student is there,
why it is unacceptable to be late, and the importance
of being on time. JTAP supervisor will outline the
next consequence if student continues to be tardy. In
addition, the student MAY enter into a Jefferson High
School attendance contract with the AF.
6th Tardy
Student is referred to their associate principal. APs
and/or AF will contact parents for an attendance
meeting for further remediation and / or consequences
( JTAP, TAP, attendance contract, etc).
Non-Compliance
A student that does not comply with the support
measures will be assigned JTAP or TAP.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Excused Absences
Developing good attendance habits is an important
part of preparing for life after high school. There are,
of course, instances when students will be ill or will
miss school for other legitimate reasons. Absences
may be excused for the following reasons:
a. Illness
b. Pre-arranged, administrative approved
absences
c. Court summons
d. Pre-arranged college visits (seniors and
juniors)
e. Bereavement
f. Professional appointments (doctors, dentists,
etc.)
g. Religious observations
Absences for reasons other than those listed above are
unexcused.
All absences need to be excused by a telephone call
from a parent or guardian. It is best if the call can be
made prior to the day of the absence or during the day
of the absence. Attendance office hours are 7:00 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. Parents may also call 558-2341 after
office hours and leave a message. Excuses offered for
absences several days or weeks after the absence may
not be accepted.
• For professional appointments, students need to
obtain a form from the attendance office prior to the
appointment and have it signed by an official at their
appointment. The signed form needs to be returned to
the attendance office in order to constitute an excused
absence. For professional appointments before coming
to school, students need to obtain written verification
of attendance at the appointment and present it to the
attendance office upon arrival.
• Students and parents/guardians will be notified
of each unexcused absence by an automated phone call
to their home and in most cases by their teacher(s).
It is the student’s responsibility to have the absence
cleared through the attendance office. Any time class
is missed, regardless of the reason, it is the student’s
responsibility to initiate a conversation with the
teacher to make up work missed in that class.
• Excessive absences (five days or more during a
term, excused or unexcused) will be addressed by an
administrator or counselor. Specific consequences
for excessive absences may result in the student
and parents attending an Attendance Mediation
Hearing with the District Truancy Officer as well
as an attendance contract being implemented.
Hospitalization or extended illness under doctor’s care
is considered an exception to the “excessive absence.”
• Students who are habitually absent from classes,
Extended Learning, forums, assemblies, or class
meetings without excuse may be dropped from school
and/or recommended to Metro High School, the
district’s alternative high school. Those referred to
Metro must remain there for two successful terms
before they will be considered for return to Jefferson.
Experience tells us that students who attend
regularly perform better than those students who are
frequently absent. Unfortunately, not all work can
be made up. Class discussions, group work, guest
speakers, demonstrations, rehearsals, explanations,
and laboratories may not be possible to reconstruct
for students who have missed them. For that reason,
we ask students and their parents to be very selective
about the days, or parts of days, which must be missed.
PROCEDuRE AND CONSEquENCES FOR
uNExCuSED ABSENCES:
1st -- 4th uNv
If a student skips a class, the AF will communicate
to the student and parent/guardian of the student
within 24-48 hours. This communication is to inform
the parent of their child skipping. AF will inform
student and parent that the student will be serving 52
minutes of DT with the JTAP supervisor to make up
instructional time that was missed.
5th uNv
Student will be assigned to JTAP and may be placed
on a Jefferson High School Attendance contract. AF
will notify student when and where to report. AF
will contact a parent to notify them of assignment
to JTAP. Student will report as instructed or face
further consequence such as assignment to Temporary
Alternative Placement (TAP).
Please note: 52 minutes of DT will be served for
each unexcused class period absence. If a student is
unexcused for an entire day of school, a full-day of
J-TAP will be served. Afternoons of Early Dismissal
times may be used to make-up unexcused absences.
NON-COmPLIANCE:
A student that does not comply with the support
measures will be assigned JTAP or TAP.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 7

8
Donna
McCullough
A – D
GuIDANCE AND COuNSELING - Students are assigned to the following counselors by alphabet:
Jason
Edwards
E – K
STuDENT SERvICES
Jamie
Cummins
L – R
Emily
McLain
S – Z
John
Wojtowicz
P.A.C.T.
Kim
Fitten
Freshmen
Seminar
Guidance and counseling services are available for each student at Jefferson High School. These services include assistance with (1) planning and scheduling, (2) home/school/social
concerns, (3) college planning, (4) occupation and career information, (5) scholarship information and (6) interpretation of test information. Students and parents are encouraged to
contact the Counseling Office with any questions or concerns.
Special Education Consultant Social Worker
Speech-Language Pathologist
Administration
Chuck McDonnell
Principal
cmcdonnell@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3950
Officer
Janae Rubino
j.rubino@
cedar-rapids.org
558-2157
Jefferson High School Library website
You can access the Library Web Site from the Jefferson Home page or go directly to: www.myjhslibrary.org. Links to all of our online resources and library catalog are on this
web site.
Passwords for Online Resources
The User Name and Password for most of our online resources has changed. The username for most of our databases is now 1053jeff and the password is aea10.
This includes SIRS Researcher, NetTrekker, Soundzabound Royalty Free Music, Britannica School Edition, Culture Grams, Gale Cengage Learning, Rosen Teen Health &
Wellness, and all other AEA provided Sources.
Vision Impairment Consultant
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Consultant
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant
Transition/Work Experience Facilitator
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FACuLTy & STAFF DIRECTORy
Lorie Bateman
Associate Principal
lbateman@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3720
Mrs. Mary Swanson,
Chair
mrswanson@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-1132
AEA AND OuTSIDE AGENCy SERvICES
Chad Szabo
Associate Principal
cszabo@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1799
Mrs. Liz Deutsch
edeutsch@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3076
Christopher Deam
Activities Director
cdeam@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1045
Resource Officer Art Business Education
Mr. Tim Collins
tcollins@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Exceptions are:
Gale eBooks
Use the password: jhawks
Issues & Controversies
User Name: jefferhs
Password: facts
Iowa Workforce Development Consultant
Mike Panoch
Facilitator
mpanoch@cr.k12ia.us
558-3665
Mr. Matt Hilby
mhilby@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1689
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Mr. Kevin Murray
kmurray@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Kevin Darrow
kdarrow@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Ms. Cassie Lynch
calynch@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3955
Mr. John Wojtowicz
jwojtowicz@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3173
Mrs. Laura Eklund
leklund@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3710
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FACuLTy & STAFF DIRECTORy
Family and
Consumer Science
mathmatics
Mrs. Judy Dye
jdye@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1438
Mrs. Theresa Fettkether
tfettkether@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1035
Mrs. Kelly Panoch
kpanoch@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3393
Mr. Terry Schneekloth,
Chair
tschneekloth@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-3260
Mrs. Cindy Espe
cespe@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1659
I-JAG
Ms. Erin Whipple
ewhipple@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3173
Mrs. Lynn Jensen
ljensen@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3778
Mr. Tim Preston
tpreston@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3068
Mr. Jeremy Barnes
jebarnes@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3258
Mr. Todd Lewison
tlewison@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3568
Language Arts
Mr. Ian Petersen,
Chair
lpetersen@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3429
Ms. Sarah Kolaas
skolaas@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3124
Mr. Bryan Schlotfelt
bschlotfelt@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1572
Mr. Andrew Boone
aboone@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3334
Mrs. Susan Portz
sportz@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3394
Ms. Caitlin Becker
cbecker@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1824
Mr. Joe Link
jlink@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3367
Mr. James Seamans
jseamans@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3587
Mrs. Sue Covington
scovington@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4550
Mr. Brian Reynolds
breynolds@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1564
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 9

10
Mrs. Julia Schreckengast
jschreckengast@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-3580
Mr. Brett Epperson
bepperson@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Matthew Orton
morton@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3546
Ms. Amanda Duffey
aduffey@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1981
Mr. John O’Connor
joconnor@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3412
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FACuLTy & STAFF DIRECTORy
Mr. Chad Tompkins
ctompkins@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3535
Mr. Adam Hoffman
ahoffman@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Brian Webb
bwebb@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1025
Mr. Charlie Gardner
cgardner@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Matt Oliphant
moliphant@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1614
music
Mrs. Katie Burnes
kburnes@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1992
Physical Education
Science
Ms. Kelly Phelan,
Chair
kphelan@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3658
Mrs. Ashley Waltmann,
Chair
awaltmann@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-1430
Mr. Charlie Goetzinger
cgoetzinger@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mrs. Amy Smith
amsmith@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1771
Mr. Thad Driskell
tdriskell@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1380
Mr. Dick Briggs
dbriggs@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1854
Mr. Darius Ballard
dballard@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3011
Mr. Jim Lehmann
jlehmann@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3362
Mr. Bryon Stump
bstump@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1585
Mr. Kent Keating
kkeating@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3564
Mr. Stu Ordman
sordman@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4645
Mrs. Laura Bigler
lbigler@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1000
Mrs. Traci Maxted
tmaxted@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4776
Mrs. Nora Taylor
ntaylor@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3214
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Social Studies
Dr. Jim Dostal,
Chair
jdostal@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3250
Mrs. Merry Petersen
mpetersen@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3651
Mr. Brian Webb
bwebb@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1025
Mr. Christopher Buesing
chbuesing@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1047
Ms. Lindsay Fox
lfox@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1306
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FACuLTy & STAFF DIRECTORy
Mr. Randy Feuerhelm
rfeuerhelm@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Steve Reed
sreed@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4660
Special Education
Mrs. Becky Gearheart,
Chair
rgearheart@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4436
Mr. Al Chism
achism@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1363
Mr. Eric Gjerde
egjerde@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1553
Mr. Augie Hadenfelt
ahadenfelt@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Chris Rolwes
crolwes@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3458
Mrs. Beth Kaump, Chr.
ekaump@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3107
Ms. Miranda Cornell
mcornell@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1113
Mr. Matthew Jenkins
mjenkins@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Thomas Jackson
tjackson@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3053
Mrs. Leighann Stejskal
lstejskal@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1706
Mr. Roger Bouzek
rbouzek@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4413
Mr. John Cox
jocox@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3413
Dr. Jennifer Johnson
jnjohnson@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3405
Mr. Gordy Nordgren
gnordgren@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3290
Mrs. Ashley Weaver
aweaver@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3193
Ms. Tara Brokovich
tbrokovich@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3292
Mrs. Laurie Doyle
ldoyle@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3746
Ms. Becky Jo Johnston
bjohnston@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1521
11

12
Ms. Paula Kincaid
pkincaid@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4346
Mr. Chad Streit
cstreit@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1957
Mr. Vincent Roth
vroth@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Ms. Jennifer Lange
jlange@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3359
Mrs. Susan Rumelhart
srumelhart@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-3473
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FACuLTy & STAFF DIRECTORy
Ms. Dawn Motis
dmotis@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1408
Ms. Sara Young
syoung@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1097
world Language
Mrs. Mary Roberts Rathje,
Chair
mroberts-r@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4185
Ms. Tamara Loan
tloan@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3619
Mrs. Linda Patterson
lpatterson@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3826
Technology Education
Mr. Dick Briggs,
Chair
dbriggs@cr.k12ia.us
558-1854
Ms. Alison Gardner
algardner@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1384
Mrs. Heidi Mittelsteadt
hmittelsteadt@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-1412
Mrs. Julie Schnebbe
jschnebbe@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3265
Mr. Gary Brownell
gary.brownell@
kirkwood.edu
558-1943
Mrs. Jennifer Hamel
jhamel@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3492
Mrs. Cindy West
cwest@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1816
Student Nurse media Center Community Liaisons
Mrs. Becky Johnson,
Chair
bcjohnson@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1584
Mr. Mark Fiala
mfiala@cr.k12.ia.us
558-3957
Mr. Brian Erbe
berbe@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1495
Mr. Mark Stastny
mstastny@cr.k12.ia.us
558-1774
Mrs. Lucille DeWitt
ldewitt@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Ms. Rachel Henkelmann
rhenkelmann@
cr.k12.ia.us
558-3355
Mrs. Beth Wieneke
bwieneke@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Mr. Mike Kuba
mkuba@cr.k12.ia.us
558-4118
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

English Language Learners
Mr. Scott Bleuer
sbleuer@cr.k12.ia.us
558-2435
Student Council Executive Board
Ashley Faulkner and Calese Clemens
Class Officers: Senior Class of 2013
President ..................................................................... Kyler Schoner
Vice-President ....................................................Madeline Koolbeck
Secretary .................................................................. Draziyo Amuda
Treasurer ....................................................................Alec McIntosh
Sponsors: Jennifer Lange, Traci Maxted
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FACuLTy & STAFF DIRECTORy
Mrs. Sharon Leonard
sleonard@cr.k12ia.us
558-2435
JHS STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2012-2013
Class Officers: Junior Class of 2014
President ....................................................................... Tremere Hill
Vice-President .............................................................Alex McPhail
Secretary ..............................................................Brandon Wiederin
Treasurer ..................................................................... Jake Van Oort
Sponsors: Kim Fitten, Lynn Jensen
Class Officers: Sophomore Class of 2015
President ................................................................. Bradley Patience
Vice-President ............................................................... Mary Korch
Secretary ............................................................... Lucy Schneekloth
Treasurer ..................................................................... Austin Snyder
Sponsors: Laurie Doyle, Terry Schneekloth, Ashley Weaver
• Language Arts - Students should take four years of English/Language Arts classes with an emphasis on the communication skills of writing, reading, speaking, listening, as well as the analysis and
interpretation of literature. In addition, classes such as journalism (Yearbook/Newspaper) and media literacy will be valuable. Co-curricular activities such as debate, speech, and decathlon will further develop
essential competencies.
• Math – Students should take four years of math, one in every year of high school. While advanced courses like calculus and statistics are good, it’s more important that students gain a complete understanding
of advanced algebra and trigonometry.
• Science – Students should take four years of natural sciences, one in every year of high school. To be really well prepared for college, take at least one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics. Students
need to talk to their counselor for the order in which these classes should be taken.
• Social Studies – Students should take three years (but four is better) of Social Studies. Taking electives in the Social Studies area is beneficial as many of these classes provide an important understanding
of our political, social, and economic institutions.
• World Language - Students should take four years of a single World Language. By taking a World Language during all four years of high school, a student will go beyond the basic language skills and begin
to use the language and reinforce their fluency.
• Electives – Students should explore other classes in the fine arts, performing arts, computer sciences, or technology that will help round out their high school experience. Perhaps their future field of
concentration will lie in one of these areas.
Students should follow their interests, talents, and the strengths of our school. They should challenge themselves and choose courses with high academic standards. High school is a great place for students to
successfully prepare for the future.
PLANNING yOuR EDuCATION AT THOmAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
To provide for a wide variety of individual student goals,
interests, and abilities, Jefferson offers more courses than it
will be possible for you to take during your high school years.
Therefore, it is very important that you plan your education
carefully and keep such plans up-to-date as you progress
through school. Your counselor and teachers are prepared to
assist you in this task. Each student is expected to have at least
one educational planning conference with a counselor each year.
In addition, counselors and support staff will assist students in
creating their four-year plan on IHaveAPlanIowa.com.
Thomas Jefferson High School
A Tradition Of Excellence
Class Officers: Freshman Class of 2016 Elections to be held Fall term
PREPARING FOR ACADEmIC SuCCESS
at Iowa Regents Universities
Credits – minimum and maximum
The minimum class load is 25 credits during any trimester
of the 9th, 10th and 11th grade year and 20 for 12th grade
year. The minimum load for the 9th, 10th and 11th grade
year is 80; 12th grade year is 65. Exceptions are rare and
must be for specific reasons approved in advance by the
Principal and parent(s) or guardian(s). The maximum class
load during any trimester is 40 credits. Exceptions must
have the approval of the Principal.
University of Iowa
Iowa State University
University of Northern Iowa
Repeated Courses
If a student repeats a course, the new grade will be recorded
as the grade for the course and will be included in the
computation of grade point average. A student MUST
make this request with their counselor for this grade
change to occur.
Senior Status
Students who have successfully completed 225 credits
or more are classified “senior” and are eligible for certain
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 restricted programs and privileges.
13

14
PLANNING yOuR EDuCATION AT THOmAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
Graduation
Requirements
Students must earn
a minimum of 300
credits in grades 9-12
to qualify for a diploma.
These credits shall
include the following
minimum subject area
requirements:
Course Credit
Requirements
LANGuAGE ARTS ...................60 credits
All students must complete sixty credits of course work in
Language Arts.
Freshmen must complete three trimesters of LA
9-1, 9-2, 9-3 for graduation.
Sophomores must complete three trimesters of
LA 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 for graduation.
Juniors must complete three trimesters of LA from
the following:
• AP English Language and Composition ...... OR
• US Humanities and Composition 1,2, 3
Seniors must complete three trimesters of a LA
from the following:
• AP Literature and Composition OR
• Perspectives in Literature and Composition ......
1,2,3 OR
• World Humanities and Composition 1,2,3
mATHEmATICS ...................... 45 credits
All freshmen are expected to complete fifteen credits of
coursework in mathematics and an additional 30 credits
by graduation.
SCIENCE ................................45 credits
All freshmen are expected to complete fifteen credits of
coursework in science and an additional 30 credits by
graduation.
SOCIAL STuDIES ...................45 credits
All students must complete forty-five credits of course
work in social studies, including:
• US History or AP US History
• American Government or AP American
Government
• Economics or AP Economics
• World History or AP World History
PHySICAL EDuCATION ..........30 credits
Students must enroll in PE one term during the 2012-
2013 school year. Waiver exceptions are:
1. Academic Waiver:
For the 2012-2013, students who successfully
complete 8 classes each term (40 credits), may be
granted a PE waiver.
2. Medical Waiver:
Students who are excused for medical reasons by a
licensed physician must present the written excuse to
the school nurse to receive a medical waiver.
3. Career Education Waiver:
Students enrolled in career education programs such
as, PSEO classes, Career Edge Academies, work
experience programs, building trades, etc. may qualify
for a waiver. See your counselor.
Students who receive an unsatisfactory grade for
ANY waiver will be required to make up that PE
requirement. Students must register for a Waiver.
Registering does not insure that the student will
receive the Waiver.
And Additionally:
Graduation requirements for special education
students will be in agreement with the prescribed
course of study as described in their Individualized
Education Program. Prior to the student’s graduation,
the IEP team shall determine whether the graduation
requirements have been met.
Post-secondary Enrollment Options
Students in grades
9-12 who have
exhausted the courses
available in the District
Program of Studies
may take courses
offered during the
regular school year by
community colleges,
private colleges, or
state universities.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Courses that are successfully completed may apply
toward graduation requirements and the District
may pay up to $250 of the cost of a course. Students
interested in participating in this program should
contact their school counselor. The school district
does not pay for the cost of summer school courses.
However, summer school courses are eligible for
course credit.
Because of the difficulty and rigor of the subject
matter, advanced classes are given weighted
grades. Advanced courses allow high school
students to take courses that are challenging,
rigorous, and in-depth – exactly the kinds of
courses they will face once they are in college.
The 23 Advanced Placement classes offered are:
AP Art History, AP Studio Art, AP English
Language and Composition, AP English Literature
and Composition, AP Biology, AP Chemistry,
AP Environmental Science, AP Physics, AP
Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Music Theory, AP US
Government, AP Comparative Government, AP
Micro and AP Macro Economics, AP European
History, AP US History, AP Psychology, AP World
History, AP Human Geography, AP French,
AP German, AP Japanese, and AP Spanish.
The 7 Project Lead the Way courses offered are:
Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles
of Engineering, Digital Electronics, Civil and
Architectural Engineering, Computer Integrated
Manufacturing, Biotechnical Engineering, and
Engineering Design and Development.
meet Honors Program requirements must see their
counselor about whether a particular class may be
taken pass-fail. Students must complete a form with
their counselor before the 10th week of the term in
order to designate a class as pass-fail.
Grade Reports
Progress reports are continually available online
via PowerSchool. See the school website for the
PowerSchool link. A copy of the student’s transcript
is distributed about one week after the term grades
are handed out. The transcript is updated each term
to include the cumulative student record. Transcripts
and spring term final grade reports are mailed home in
mid-June.
Adding and Dropping Classes
All course drops are handled by the student’s counselor.
Grade Computations
Consider the following in determining whether a drop
The following numerical values determine trimester
and cumulative grade point averages (GPA).
is possible:
1. SENIORS must be enrolled in no less than 20
credit hours each term.
Standard Course
Mark Value
A+ 4.334
A 4.000
A- 3.667
B+ 3.334
B 3.000
B- 2.667
C+ 2.334
C 2.000
weighted Course
Mark Value
A+ Not Given
A 5.000
A- 4.667
B+ 4.334
B 4.000
B- 3.667
C+ 3.334
C 3.000
More than 90% of colleges and universities
grant exemptions from introductory courses to
students who have successfully completed an
advance program. Students can be granted up
to a full year’s credit by a college or university
upon completion of a number of AP or PLTW
courses. So a student could actually start
college with sophomore standing.
Pass-Fail Option
2. FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS
must be enrolled in no less than 25 credit hours each
term.
3. At no time may students initiate a drop in a
required course.
4. Students may initiate a drop in an elective course
only the week after mid-terms have been distributed;
however, courses will be dropped with a W on the
student’s transcript if they are passing the course or
with an F if they are failing the course.
5. A required, Extended Learning hour, or P.A.R.T., if
C-
D+
D
D-
F
1.667
1.334
1.000
0.667
0.000
C-
D+
D
D-
F
2.667
2.334
2.000
1.667
0.000
Each term any student who has parent approval
may designate one elective course to be graded on a
pass-fail basis. These classes are not included in the
grade point average. However, they do count toward
graduation. Courses taken to meet the specific subject
matter requirements for graduation may not be taken
applicable, will replace a dropped class.
6. Students dropping a class will continue to attend
the class until the counselor officially assigns them
Extended Learning.
7. Dropping courses is not encouraged, but those
who do may drop only one elective class each term.
pass-fail; except for P.E. Students taking classes to
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 15

If a student decides to add a class during the first 5
school days of a term, he/she will be expected to make
up all work missed in the replacement class he/she
will be enrolling in a timely manner.
Drop Policy for AP Classes
Students enrolled in AP classes will be able to drop
during the first two weeks of the term with no penalty
to their transcript. If a student does not drop within
the first two weeks, their options are:
If the AP class is an elective (student has fulfilled
graduation requirements in this subject), the student
may also elect to drop the class during the fifth and
sixth week of the term without penalty. The only
other time a student may drop an elective AP course
is after finals at the end of their term if he/she does
not want to continue.
If the AP class is a required class (student has yet to
fulfill graduation requirements in this subject), the
only window that exists for a student to drop the class
is the first two weeks. After the first two weeks, the
student must remain in the class until the end of the
term to avoid an F being placed on his/her transcript.
After this two week window passes, the student will
not be allowed to enroll in another course to replace
the AP class until the following term.
If a student decides to drop an AP class in the first
two weeks he/she will be expected to make up all
work missed in the replacement class he/she will be
reenrolling in a timely manner.
Elective Departmental
Recommendations
world Language:
There is no requirement for graduation. However
some colleges require two years of world language;
college-bound students should investigate entrance
requirements regarding world language. Many careers
are enhanced with language aptitude and students are
encouraged to explore language studies.
Electives: Art, Business Education, Driver Education,
16
Family and Consumer Science, Technology
Education, and Music. These subjects offer students
opportunities to take classes that enhance personal
development. Students with interest in these areas will
find that many careers use the skills in these areas.
Academy Courses/Dual Credit
Some students will have the opportunity to take
courses that earn dual credit, meaning credit in
both high school and college. To qualify, students
must meet the minimum competency on the Iowa
Assessment tests or pass a district assessment in order
to be enrolled. For advice and information contact
your counselor.
Senior year Plus Legislation
Enacted by the Iowa Legislature, Senior Year Plus was
created to provide increased and more equal access
to college credit courses. Courses delivered through
Senior Year Plus provide students the opportunity
to take a rigorous college curriculum and receive,
in many cases, both high school and college credit
concurrently. At Cedar Rapids High Schools, jointenrolled
courses include:
• Concurrent Enrollment Courses (Career
Academy Courses)
• Post-Secondary Enrollment Options courses
(PSEO)
The State guidelines now require all **students
enrolling in Senior Year Plus eligible courses to be
proficient in reading (Reading Comprehension Test),
math (Mathematics Concepts and Problem Solving
Test), and science (Analysis of Science Materials) as
assessed through the Iowa Assessments.
**Students with an IEP will be subject to an IEP Team
Review to determine eligibility under Senior Year Plus. The
IEP team may establish alternative, but equivalent qualifying
performance measures through the IEP. The recommendations
should be documented on the learning portion of the transition
assessments section of the IEP.
I Have A Plan
The Iowa College Aid commission supports the www.
ihaveaplaniowa.gov website and program. The State
of Iowa requires completion of various guideway
components at each high school grade level. While
some of these components will be completed at
school, students and parents can visit the website from
home and explore the program and resources available.
To log-on, please visit the website listed above and
follow the pattern below:
Account ID: First Letter of your first name, first letter of your
last name, followed by your student id number then “@”
iowaid
Example: jj123456@iowaid
Password: Capital “I”, lowercase “o, w, a”. Then, 2 numbers
for your birth month and 2 numbers for your birth date.
Example: Iowa0130
Retention Guidelines
Unfortunately, some students do not meet certain
credit minimums and they fall behind in their
graduation plans. In cases where the deficit is not
great, students can recover by taking more classes in
later terms. However when the deficit becomes too
great, students are retained in a forum with younger
students and must make up all required graduation
courses. However should the student make a
substantial gain in credits and catch up, he/she will be
allowed to graduate with his/her original class.
Credits needed to become a sophomore 67.5
Credits needed to become a junior 150
Credits needed to become a senior 225
Those with fewer than the required senior credits
are retained in junior forums and are not involved in
senior events. Students will be moved to senior status
once credits earned exceed minimum requirements.
Students in other grades will not be moved to their
updated status until the end of the current school year.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Athletics
In 2011-2012, over 700 students participated in athletics at Jefferson. This
includes athletes at the freshman, sophomore, junior varsity, and varsity levels
in over twenty sports. They are involved for many reasons; some want to
be part of the great Jefferson tradition of athletic success in the Mississippi
Valley Conference and others just want to have fun. All will have memories
of their experiences lasting a lifetime. The coaches view their programs as very
educational. There are many good reasons for getting involved; physical fitness,
meeting new friends, being a part of a team, and competing at the highest level.
We urge all students to consider the athletic programs at Jefferson. There is
always room for another athlete, a student manager, scorer, timekeeper, or student
trainer. Visit someone in the Activities Office or with one of the coaches listed
on the following page.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL CO-CuRRICuLAR ACTIvITIES
Over 900 of Jefferson’s students devote thousands of hours of their personal time to participate in co-curricular activities available at school.
More than 40 JHS teachers direct co-curricular programs. Many more adults are employed as coaches or directors of activities at our school. We believe these activities enhance students’
academic lives and contribute positively to the overall experience at Jefferson High School. While not every student is capable of performing in every activity, all students can find some
co-curricular activity in which they can contribute and receive benefit. We encourage all students to become involved in co-curricular activities.
P E RFO RM I NG ARTS O P PO RTU NITI ES
Performing Arts opportunities abound at Jefferson. If your interest is in theater, you
may be among the hundreds of J-Hawks who perform, sing, sew costumes, build sets,
sell tickets, or provide technical assistance at any of the numerous stage productions
each year. If playing an instrument is more your style, there is a marching band,
three concert bands, jazz band, string orchestra, or symphony orchestra. Do you
sing? Jefferson boasts several choirs, from non-audition ensembles to the select
Concert Choir, Meistersingers, Ovation, and West Side Delegation. Nearly half the
student population at Jefferson is involved in one or more of these groups, and the
performances they provide are truly special.
There is undoubtedly a place for nearly every student in the JHS fine arts program.
We are blessed with talented, hardworking directors, dedicated students, supportive
parents and guardians as well as excellent practice and performance facilities. This
combination is hard to beat. Performing arts groups are involved in competitions and
performances throughout Iowa and the nation.
For additional information please contact one of the directors on the following page.
17

Fall Sports and Head Coaches
Football ............................................ Brian Webb
Men’s Cross Country .........................Ron Tower
Men’s Golf ....................................Steve Koepke
Volleyball ........................................ Kelly Phelan
Women’s Cross Country ................ Tamara Loan
Women’s Swimming & Diving .............Ryan York
Cheerleading Coach ..................Sherren Huston
Dance Team Director ..........................Kim Fitten
winter Sports and Head Coaches
Women’s Basketball .................. Jason Edwards
Men’s Wrestling ................................Dick Briggs
Men’s Basketball ........................ Stuart Ordman
Men’s Swimming ................................Ryan York
Men & Women’s Bowling ............... Virg Cerveny
Cheerleading Coach ..................Sherren Huston
Dance Team Director ..........................Kim Fitten
Spring Sports and Head Coaches
Men’s Track .......................................Ron Tower
Women’s Track ...............................Bill Calloway
Women’s Soccer ........................... Ash Brannan
Men’s Soccer ..............................John O’Connor
Men’s Tennis ....................................Tim Preston
Women’s Tennis ................................ Pam Towe
Women’s Golf ....................................... Dan Ray
Summer Sports and Head Coaches
Softball....................................... Larry Niemeyer
Baseball ............................................. Mike Kuba
18
Athletics P E RFO RM I NG ARTS O P PO RTU NITI ES
Athletes:
Be Knowledgeable of
NCAA Standards
Students who hope to play college
sports at NCAA schools must pay
close attention to the academic
standards established by the
organization. Be sure your counselor
is aware of your athletic aspirations,
and check to be sure that all of your
classes meet NCAA requirements.
Taking the right classes is ultimately
the student’s responsibility, but our
school staff will work with students to
assure that all expectations are met.
Director of Bands ............................................................... Thad Driskell
Associate Director of Bands ......................................Doreen Anderson
Director of Orchestra ..........................................................Katie Burnes
Director of Choral Activities ...............................................Kent Keating
Associate Director of Choral Activities ......................... Brett Epperson
Director of Theater .............................................................. Lynn Jensen
Associate Director of Theater ................................................... Joe Link
Technical Director of Theater ....................................... Bryan Schlotfelt
Associate Technical Director .................................................... Joe Link
Director of Speech Activities .................................................. Kim Fitten
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STuDENT RECONITION
The Jefferson community reinforces good citizenship and student performance.
This encourages students to do well in the classroom and in co-curricular
programs. Because of this belief, various awards and recognition programs,
both academic and activities based, are in place at Jefferson.
Academic Honors Program
Honors with Distinction
National Honor Society
This program recognizes students who enroll in a Students who choose an even more challenging path Jefferson’s Aristotelian chapter of the
demanding academic schedule and who complete may graduate as “Honors With Distinction”. This National Honor Society is open to
those courses with good grades.
requires still higher goals and achievement, including students after winter term of their
To qualify for this program, students must:
the accumulation of a minimum of 350 total credits, junior year if they have met criteria
• Accumulate a minimum of 310 credit hours for 255 of them in the academic areas previously listed. established by the National Board of
graduation.
Four years of mathematics, science, language arts, Directors. The criteria include:
• Earn 230 of those credits in specified areas of three years of social studies and two or more years of
language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, world language are required for this honor. Finally, • Scholarship; a cumulative grade
world language and/or accounting.
these students must earn a 3.33 GPA in those classes. point average of at least 3.5
• Earn a grade point of at least 3.0 in specific
• Leadership; guides peers
academic classes.
The Honors Program provides incentives to students
to carry a more demanding course load. Those
who complete the program are recognized in the
In 2012, 98 students met the
more challenging standards in
this category.
• Service; to the school or to the community
• Character; as determined by the Jefferson faculty
Underclassmen wishing to be a part of this program
commencement program and wear special medallions
should establish their good academic habits early.
at the graduation ceremony. In 2012, 65 graduates
Cumulative GPA’s are difficult to change after
qualified for Academic Honors.
substantial credit has been earned. In 2012, 77
graduates qualified for National Honor Society.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 19

Academic Letter
Award
Jefferson students may
earn an academic letter.
The chenille letter J is
similar to that earned by
varsity athletes. Students
earn the academic letter by
consistently earning good
grades. The Academic Letter
requires a 3.25 GPA for
three consecutive terms. You may earn this award
each year and be given a pin that displays the year
received.
167 members of the Class of 2012 earned an
Academic Letter.
J-Hawk Honor Roll
Two groups of students are honored each term for
academic achievement:
•Those earning 4.0 or higher grade point averages
•Those earning 3.25 thru 3.99 grade point averages
Honor Roll lists are published in The Record, our
school newsletter. The names of Honor Roll students
are also posted near the main office.
Excellent Attendance
Attendance is critical to student success! Students
with excellent attendance are honored each term.
Those honored receive a letter of commendation and
have their names published in the school newsletter.
Iowa Assessment Recognition
Each year, students from all four-grade levels
are honored for their performance on the State
20
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STuDENT RECONITION
educational development tests. Students scoring at
the 90th percentile or higher are showing annual
improvement on the tests will receive certificates and
awards provided by Jefferson. Similar recognition goes
to students achieving their personal best on the Iowa
Assessments.
Presidential Education
Award
Each spring, a select number
of seniors are presented with a
presidential certificate and letter
honoring them for academic
excellence. To receive this, students must earn a
cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher and
must also score at or above the 85th percentile in the
composite Iowa Assessment testing program. This is
a national award, and the Department of Education
sets the criteria. The Class of 2012 produced 59
recipients of this prestigious award.
Four year
Scholastic Award
Students will receive an
award for earning four
years of credit in any of
the following content
areas: Mathematics,
Science, Social Studies,
Project Lead the
Way and in a single
World Language. 592
of these awards were
presented to the class
of 2012 at Senior
Recognition Night. A
“75 Credit” Language Arts award will be presented
to students who go above and beyond the language
arts requirement by taking at least 15 language
arts elective credits in Beginning Debate, Creative
Writing, Advanced Creative Writing, Journalism, or
Speech, in addition to their required language arts
courses.
Grade Point Improvement Award
A student may earn this award after each trimester by
outperforming his/her cumulative grade point from
the previous term by 0.35. Jefferson High School
values constant improvement and challenging oneself;
this award recognizes that everyone can improve.
400 Club
Students who have earned 400 credits or more
become members of this exclusive group. They wear
blue honor cords at commencement.
In 2012, 43 graduates earned this distinction.
valedictorians and Salutatorians
These honors are the school’s highest academic
awards. To be named a valedictorian, a student must
earn a cumulative grade point average of 4.165 or
higher – which means every course grade counts
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

eginning with the freshman year. The next group of
high-achievers earns the rank of salutatorian. In fact,
many more students may earn the salutatorian medal.
Any student who earns a 4.0 to 4.164 grade point
average is named a salutatorian.
In 2012, 37 graduates earned valedictorian or
salutatorian recognition by earning cumulative
grade point averages of 4.00 or higher.
AP Scholar
To be named an AP Scholar, one must complete three
or more AP exams before graduation and score 3 or
higher on each test.
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STuDENT RECONITION
AP Scholar with Honor
To meet the criteria for an AP Scholar with Honor,
a student must receive an average score of 3.25 on all
AP exams taken and score a 3 or higher on four or
more of these exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction
To be named an AP Scholar with Distinction one
must receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP
exams taken and score a 3 or higher on 5 or more of
these exams.
AP National Scholar
To be named a “National Scholar” on must receive an
average score of 4 or higher on 8 or more AP exams.
Jefferson Service Awards
Jefferson seniors are eligible to earn recognition
for community service work. This work must be
voluntary and may occur at school, service agencies,
churches, and many other locations in the community.
Students track their hours each year during forum
and during senior year students are asked to submit
their documented hours of service. A school
committee reviews the applications and awards those
who qualify. These students receive a special service
medal. This past year, 29 members of the Class of
2012 received medals based on their contributions
of 100 or more hours of community service.
Other Awards
In addition to the previously outlined programs,
Jefferson also recognizes students in many other ways.
Certificates, plaques, academic letters, scholarships
and other forms of recognition are provided each
year by various school organizations. During Senior
Recognition Night each spring, over $20,000 in
awards and scholarships are presented to members of
the graduating class! We know that many students are
motivated to do well without extrinsic rewards being
offered. Many others, however, enjoy knowing that
their efforts are recognized and appreciated by their
school and community. We want students to know
that their accomplishments are valued. To that end, we
continue to seek ways to recognize the positive efforts
of students.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 21

Student Government
The J-Hawk Student Council is an active group of
students The JHS student body elects class officers
each year, but all students are invited to take part in
the dozens of activities and events that this group
organizes, including Homecoming festivities, the
annual food drive, the Winter Semi-Formal, and
many community service projects. Meetings are held
before, during, and after school. Officers must remain
in good standing at all times according to the good
conduct policy (410).
Student Publications
Mr. Tim Preston is adviser to The Outlook, Jefferson’s
student newspaper. Ms. Cassie Lynch directs
The Statesman, the yearbook. Dozens of students
are needed each year to serve as writers, editors,
photographers, artists, typists, and advertisement
salespersons. Introduction to Journalism is a
prerequisite. Mr. Preston and Ms. Lynch can answer
any questions you might have regarding either
publication.
Speech Activities
Many Jefferson High School students participate
in the Iowa High School Speech Association
speech contests. Ms. Kim Fitten is the advisor for
this group. Success abounds in this program, with
all-state speakers and performers nearly every year.
Public speaking is a valuable skill for all students.
22
Participating leads to great fun while they improve
skills. Contact Ms. Fitten for more information.
Reserved Time
Wednesday evenings and Sundays are reserved
for non-school-sponsored student activities. On
Wednesdays, no public school-sponsored activity shall
detain elementary students after 4:30 P.M, middle
school students after 5:45 PM and high school
students after 7:00 PM. The building principal and
appropriate executive administrator of elementary
and secondary education respectively must approve
exceptions at least 48 hours in advance (CRCSD
Regulation 607.1, 11/09/98).
Practice and Rehearsal Schedules
Co-curricular program practices and rehearsals will
end no later than 10:00 p.m. on all non-reserved
time nights. Should the director or coach request an
exemption through the Activities Office, rehearsals
may last longer. Parents who wish to report violations
of this rule should contact the Activities Office.
Good Conduct Policy/Co-Curricular
Activities Eligibility
(CRCSD Policy 410)
The Cedar Rapids Community School District offers
a variety of voluntary activities designed to enhance
the classroom education of its students. Co-curricular
activities provide the benefits of promoting additional
interests and abilities in the students during their
school years and for a lifetime. Participation in school
activities is a privilege. Students who participate in
co-curricular activities serve as ambassadors of the
school/district 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, both
away from school and at school. Students who wish
to have the privilege of participating in co-curricular
activities must conduct themselves in accordance with
Board policy and must refrain from activities that are
illegal, immoral, or unhealthy at all times.
Students who fail to abide by this policy and the
administrative regulations supporting it may be
subject to disciplinary measures. The principal/
designee shall keep records of violations of the cocurricular
activities eligibility requirements.
STuDENT ELIGIBILITy FOR
CO-CuRRICuLAR ACTIvITIES
Co-curricular activities include,
but are not limited to, the following:
Athletics, instrumental and vocal music
performances, drama productions, speech
contests, state contests and performances for
cheerleading and drill team, mock trial, Academic
Decathlon, or any other activity where the student
represents the school /district outside the
classroom in a competition or performance.
To retain eligibility for participation in the Cedar
Rapids Community School District co-curricular
activities, students must conduct themselves as
good citizens both in and out of school at all times.
Students who represent the school in an activity
are expected to serve as good role models to other
students and to the members of the community.
If an employee of the district learns that a student
may have violated the good conduct rule, the student
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

shall be confronted with the allegation, the basis for
the allegation and given an opportunity to tell the
student’s side. If a preponderance of the evidence
indicates that the student has violated the good
conduct rule, the student will be deemed ineligible to
participate in co-curricular activities for a period of
time, as described below.
The following are violations of the Good
Conduct Rule:
• possession, use, or purchase of tobacco products,
regardless of the student’s age;
• possession, use, or purchase of alcoholic
beverages, including beer and wine (“use”
includes having the odor of alcohol on one’s
breath - this includes “near beer” labeled
non-alcoholic beer);
• possession, use, or purchase of illegal drugs
or the unauthorized possession, use, or purchase
of otherwise lawful drugs;
• engaging in any act that would be grounds for
arrest or citation in the criminal or juvenile court
system, excluding minor traffic offenses, regardless of
whether the student was cited, arrested, convicted, or
adjudicated for the act(s);
• inappropriate or offensive conduct including
but not limited to fighting, insubordination (talking
back or refusing to cooperate with authorities), hazing
or harassment of others.
If a student transfers in from another school district
and the student had not yet completed a period of
ineligibility for a violation of a Good Conduct Rule
in the previous school or school/district, then the
student will be confronted regarding that ineligibility
and will be given the opportunity to tell the student’s
side. Violations of Good Conduct Policies in other
school districts may result in loss of eligibility in
the CR Community School District as described
hereafter.
Penalties
Any student, who, is found to have violated the
Good Conduct Rule, at any time, is subject to a loss
of eligibility as follows:
First Offense within the student’s High
School Athletic Career: up to one-third of season
ineligibility with referral for professional evaluation.
Non-athletic: up to four weeks or
longer if necessary to include being ineligible for a
minimum of one public performance with referral for
professional evaluation.
Second Offense within the Student’s High
School Athletic Career: up to one-half the season
of ineligibility with professional evaluation and/or
treatment prior to reinstatement.
Non-athletic: up to six weeks with
professional evaluation and/or treatment prior to
reinstatement or longer if necessary to include a
minimum of two public performances.
Third or more offense within the Student’s
High School Athletic Career - up to twelve (12)
calendar months of ineligibility with professional
evaluation and/or treatment prior to reinstatement.
Non-athletic: up to twelve (12) calendar
months with professional evaluation and/or treatment
prior to reinstatement.
The period of ineligibility attaches immediately upon
a finding of a violation if the student is currently
engaged in a co-curricular activity. If the student is
not currently engaged in a co-curricular activity, or
if the period of ineligibility is not completed during
the current activity, the period of ineligibility begins
or is carried over to the time the student seeks to go
out for the next activity or contest. However, if the
period of time between a violation and an activity
is 365 days or more, the student shall not serve an
ineligibility period for the violation. When a student
begins a season with an ineligibility period from a
previous violation the student is expected to complete
that activity to the coach’s/administrator’s satisfaction
or the penalty will attach when the student next seeks
to go out for another activity, subject to the 365-day
limitation above. An ineligible student shall attend
all practices or rehearsals but may neither “suit up” nor
perform/participate.
voluntary Admission
The voluntary admission provision is in place to
allow students to seek help with substance abuse.
It is designed for students and parents as a tool for
treatment without penalty of losing eligibility. This
admission is not intended as a loophole to avoid
consequences for students found to have violated
the good conduct rule. This provision may only be
used once during a student’s high school career. This
admission may prevent the loss of eligibility.
The purpose of the provision is to create honesty
and openness when dealing with code of conduct
violators. It is designed to help violators, not punish
them.
Violators, or their parents/guardians,
must approach building administrators
acknowledging the student offense. To
remain eligible, the student must:
1. Be referred by the school to a substance abuse
agency for evaluation.
2. Complete all appointments with the agency.
3. Fully cooperate with all recommendations
made by the agency.
The student shall provide a copy of the
recommendations from the agency to the school and
evidence of compliance with completion.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 23

24
The voluntary admission provision does not apply
to violations of the good conduct rule when:
1. The violation occurs at school or a school
sponsored event.
2. Law enforcement officials are involved.
3. Investigations into a specific incident of
student violations have already begun.
A voluntary admission is considered a first offense of
the Good Conduct Policy, even if there is no period
of ineligibility.
Cost of Evaluation and Treatment
In cases of either violation of the Good Conduct
Rule or Voluntary Admission, the District will pay
for a professional evaluation through a provider of
the District’s choice. If treatment is recommended as
a result of that evaluation, the District will pay only
for a basic level of outpatient services through that
provider, and not pay for any in-patient treatment. By
completing the evaluation and treatment paid for by
the District, the student will be in compliance with
the evaluation and treatment requirements of this
Policy.
Letters and Awards
Students who are ineligible at the conclusion of an
activity shall not receive a letter or award for that
activity.
Appeals
Any student who is found by the administration to
have violated the Good Conduct Rule may appeal
this determination to the associate superintendent by
contacting the superintendent within 3 days of being
advised of the violation. The penalty will be in effect
pending the associate superintendent’s decision.
If the student is still dissatisfied, he or she may appeal
to the Board of Education by filing a written appeal
with the board secretary at least 24 hours prior to
the next board meeting. The review by the board
will be in closed session unless the student’s parent
(or the student, if the student is 18) requests an open
session. The grounds for appeal to the school board
are limited to the following: the student did not
violate the Good Conduct Rule; the student was
given inadequate due process in the investigation and
determination; or the penalty is in violation of the
Handbook Rule or Board Policy. The penalty will
remain in effect pending the outcome of the meeting
with the board.
If the Board of Education reverses the decision of
the administration, the student shall be immediately
eligible and shall have any record of the ineligibility
period and violation deleted from the student’s record.
Code of Iowa: § 279.8
Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555,
564 (Iowa 1972)
Approved: 05-24-99
Revised: 01-12-04
07-25-05
06-12-06
Revised: 12-11-06
Academic Eligibility for Activities
To be academically eligible for an activity,
students must:
1. Have earned passing grades in at least 20
credits the previous term/trimester;
2. Be earning passing grades in at least 20
credits in the current term/trimester at the
grade reporting times;
3. Be making adequate progress toward
graduation
4. Students in co-curricular activities failing to
meet 1, 2, or 3 above will not be allowed to participate
in the next performance/competition during the
current/ following trimester as determined by the school
administration.
5. Per Iowa Law 36.15 (2) “The Scholarship
Rule,” all students participating in athletics shall
pass ALL classes at the END of each term in the past 12
months to be eligible.
Special education students or students covered by
a Section 504 plan shall not be denied eligibility
on the basis of scholarship in the identified area of
disability if the student is making adequate progress
as determined by the goals and objectives on the
student’s IEP or accommodation plan.
Visitors
All visitors to the building must enter at the main
entrance under the arcade and be registered in the
Main Office prior to going to other parts of the
building. A visitor pass will be provided. We will not
approve student visitors unless you have met with an
administrator or counselor about enrollment at our
school. Visits from alumni must occur after 3 pm on
regular school days and be arranged in advance.
DISTRACTIONS TO LEARNING
Jefferson must be a school where the focus is on
learning. These rules and policies exist to help
assure that students can direct their energy toward
learning and teachers spend their time teaching. By
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

eliminating distractions to that effort, we all have a
better chance of achieving to the best of our abilities.
To be in the halls or restrooms during class time,
students must have a proper entry on their student
planner Hallway Passport page.
Cell Phones and Other Distractions
Cellular phones, electronic games, MP3 players,
CD players, iPods, ear buds, headphone radios, or
other distractions may only be visible and used in
the cafeteria during lunch time or in the hallways
during passing times. If such items are brought to
school and used inappropriately, students risk having
them confiscated by a staff member and returned
only to parents. Such items should be left at home or
carried out of sight and turned off. No other items are
stolen with such frequency as cell phones and iPods.
Jefferson High School assumes no responsibility if
these items are lost, stolen, or damaged while on our
campus.
Inappropriate Familiarity
Public displays of affection are NOT allowed on
campus at Jefferson High School. This means NO
kissing and NO long embraces or other excessive
displays of affection. School must be a place where the
focus is on learning and behavior must be appropriate
for the business of schooling.
Assigned Areas and Permissions
Students must be only in scheduled or assigned areas
of the campus during the school day.
TO BE IN THE HALLS OR RESTROOMS
DURING CLASS TIME, STUDENTS MUST
HAVE A SIGNED ENTRY ON THEIR STUDENT
PLANNER HALLWAY PASSPORT PAGE.
Students are not permitted to walk the halls,
congregate, or loiter in the halls or restrooms during
unscheduled time. Restricted areas where students
are NOT allowed to be include parking lots, the bus
stop, closed hallways, or areas that are not usually
supervised during class time. Students shall not be in
the gymnasium unsupervised or without permission.
Academic Integrity
Students often face important decisions that require
not only good judgment, but also character and
integrity. Many of those decisions are related to the
honest completion of schoolwork in all classes. At
Jefferson, teachers expect that students always do
their own work. Copying a classmate’s homework
assignment, carrying a sheet with test answers into a
testing site, taking photographs of answers or exams,
texting answers to a friend, or plagiarizing a writing
assignment from an internet site or elsewhere are all
examples of the same thing: cheating. Our staff will
not tolerate cheating in any form. When students are
found to be cheating they can expect to lose credit
for the assignment, but they will also lose something
more valuable: the respect of the teacher in whose
class they have cheated. Other consequences may also
be attached to cheating, including suspension from
National Honor Society or, in particularly severe
cases, failing or being dropped from a class. We urge
students to consider the long-range consequences of
dishonesty and choose the moral and ethical “high
road.” Take pride in doing your own work, and be
able to enjoy the recognition and reward you receive
for it. Academic integrity is a critical part of your
development and success as a student. Do the right
thing, every time!
SCHOOL CITIZENSHIP
ExPECTATIONS AT JEFFERSON
Jefferson must be a safe school. For us to focus on
learning, the school environment must be conducive
to an academic achievement. Anything that interferes
with academic goals will be modified or removed so
that we can focus on our primary purpose: learning.
To accomplish this goal, there are clear expectations
for student behavior. These guidelines are for all
students. These are behaviors that we value as a school
and we hope members of our school community value
them, too. The following section of your handbook
provides many specific behavioral expectations.
However, it is impossible to have a written policy
for every potential situation. In some cases, school
District policy requires building administration to
make judgments in the best interest of the school
and its students. The following guidelines are used in
dealing with behavior judged to be inappropriate for
students at Jefferson High School.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 25

• Students may not possess weapons at school
or school activities; this includes any object that
simulates or is used as a weapon.
• Students may not harass, threaten, or assault
other students, staff members, or visitors to school or
school events. This includes physical confrontations,
written warnings or threats, or any threatening
message delivered to another person in any way
including electronically.
• Fighting is never allowed. Fighting includes
hitting, slapping, punching, grabbing, pulling,
pushing, or any unwanted physical contact that
occurs in a setting where anger and confrontation are
present.
• Jefferson has a “Police Protocol” that is used
to determine when and if police will be asked to
charge students when fighting occurs at school or
school events. That protocol is available from school
administrators.
• Driving in an unsafe manner on or near the
campus may result in loss of parking privileges for an
assigned period of time, as well as suspension from
school.
• Illegal substances are not tolerated. Possession or
use of alcohol, tobacco, synthetic substances, or other
controlled substances will result in school suspension
and possibly expulsion. This is enforced at any and all
school-related events and activities at any location,
26
and includes look-alike substances.
• The use of alcohol or controlled substances prior
to school or school events is also forbidden.
• A breath analysis device will be used at school
events if officials suspect that a student has consumed
any amount of alcohol at or before those events.
• Students disciplined for illegal or controlled
substance use will participate in a screening
inventory administered by the Area Substance Abuse
Council, and they must complete any prescribed
treatment.
• Eligibility rules regarding substance by students
in co-curricular programs can be found under the cocurricular
section of this handbook.
• School officials will always include the local
police department when dealing with the use of
illegal drugs.
• Jefferson must be a school where people and
property are respected.
Directing disrespectful or abusive language toward
staff members or other students will not be tolerated.
This includes crude or obscene gestures, as well as
any language that is delivered in writing, on video
or audiotapes, or through any other technological
delivery system (e.g.: voicemail, e-mail, text or
instant messaging). Students must cooperate
with all requests and directives made by teachers,
administrators, and other adults.
Profanity, either directed at others or simply used in
conversation, is not allowed. This includes sexually
suggestive language, as well as gestures that have
tasteless or obscene implications.
Racial or ethnic slurs, including comments that
include negative stereotyping, will not be tolerated.
This includes oral or written comments, as well as the
wearing of clothing that might be offensive because of
artwork or language.
Students are expected to take care of school property
including desks, chairs, books, lockers and school
equipment. Vandalism is not tolerated. Students
found to have destroyed or otherwise harmed school
property may be disciplined in accordance with
Board policy and/or required to reimburse the school
district. In certain circumstances, students may be
reported to law enforcement officials. The parents/
legal guardians of minor students may be assessed the
cost for damage to school property. Also, they may be
required to reimburse the District for the replacement
costs of lost equipment or materials furnished by the
school. (CRCSD Regulation 604.8, 11/09/1998)
• Sexual harassment in any form must not occur.
This includes negative gender-based jokes or stories,
clothing that have pictures or statements that
negatively portray members of a particular gender
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

or race. This includes comments, written or vocal,
that provide unwanted and disrespectful criticism or
innuendo of a person’s gender, race or sexual activity.
• Hazing is prohibited by the Code of Iowa,
Section 708. Jefferson High School prohibits any
activity expected of someone joining a group that
humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers regardless
of the person’s willingness to participate. This includes
but is not limited to activities like being yelled at,
swore at, forced to wear embarrassing clothing,
taking cold showers, participating in forced physical
activity, etc. It does not include activities such as
going out with your teammates, unless an atmosphere
of humiliation, degradation, abuse or danger
arises. Hazing is a violation of the “Good Conduct
Policy” and may result in loss of eligibility. Stealing,
vandalizing, or otherwise damaging the property of
the school or of school employees, students, or visitors
will result in disciplinary action.
CRCSD SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES
Updated School Board Policies may be found online
at: http://www.cr.k12.ia.us/aboutUs/BoardOfEd/
supportDocs/PolicyHandbook/PolicyHandbook.pdf
APPEARANCE
(CRCSD Regulation 603.1)
The board believes inappropriate student appearance
causes material and substantial disruption to the
school environment or presents a threat to the
health and safety of students, employees and visitors.
Students are expected to adhere to standards of
cleanliness and dress that are compatible with the
requirements of a good learning environment. The
standards will be those generally acceptable to the
community as appropriate in a school setting. The
board expects students to be clean and well-groomed
and wear clothes in good repair and appropriate for
the time, place, and occasion. Clothing or other
apparel promoting products illegal for use by minors
and clothing displaying obscene material, profanity, or
reference to prohibited conduct are disallowed. While
the primary responsibility for appearance lies with the
students and their parents, appearance disruptive to
the education program will not be tolerated. When,
in the judgment of a principal, a student’s appearance
or mode of dress disrupts the educational process or
constitutes a threat to health or safety, the student
may be required to make modifications or be subject
to disciplinary action. The wearing of gang related
attire or insignia by students shall be prohibited.
STuDENT ExPRESSION
(CRCSD Regulation 603.1)
Students will be allowed to express their viewpoints
and opinions as long as the expression is responsible.
The expression will not, in the judgment of the
administration, encourage the breaking of laws,
defame others, be obscene or indecent, or cause a
material and substantial disruption to the educational
program. Further, the expressions must be done in
a reasonable time, place, and manner that are not
disruptive to the orderly and efficient operation
of the school district. Students shall be permitted
to distribute materials in designated areas before
and after school and during the lunch period, as
long as it does not create a disturbance, disrupt
normal operations, or produce excess littering, and
the material content does not violate reasonable
standards of decency or advocate the violation of
laws. Assemblages of students shall be allowed unless
they are designed or may be reasonably expected to
disrupt classes, interfere with school activities, or
intrude upon the lives and rights of others. Materials
concerning non school events or activities shall be
posted only with prior approval of the building
principal.
PROCEDuRAL DuE PROCESS
In cases where violations of statutes, regulations, or
school rules require the disciplining of a student, the
following elements of procedural due process shall be
present: 1) the student shall have been provided with
information regarding rules and regulations, either
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 27

in written form or through verbal instruction, or the
student should reasonably be aware that the behavior
is a violation of school rules; 2) the student shall
receive notice concerning the specific behaviors giving
rise to any proposed penalty or disciplinary action;
and 3) the student shall be offered an informal
hearing permitting the student to give the student’s
version of the events to the decision-making authority
(CRCSD Regulation 603.4, 3/24/2008).
28
Consequences for Student misbehavior
• Meeting with classroom teachers or
administrators to discuss the violation - These
sessions may include reprimands and communication
with parents. The focus of these meetings is on
reasoning with students and helping them to
understand why they must change the behaviors in
question.
• Detention - being required to report after school
to a central detention room.
• Suspension - Students, who continue to violate
rules of conduct or whose presence is detrimental to
the best interests of the school and/or other students
may be suspended by the appropriate building
administrator. (CRCSD Regulation 604.3, 12/08/03)
• Removal From Class - When disruptions occur
in classrooms or are directed at staff members, the
student risks being removed from the class and losing
the credit. The main purpose for being in school is to
become educated and earn credits toward a diploma.
It is disappointing when student behavior becomes
so disruptive that removal from class or from school
interrupts educational experience. Fortunately, this
rarely happens.
• Expulsion - A student may be expelled
whenever the student’s behavior materially or
substantially interferes with the educational process,
disrupting the ability of other students to profit from
the education provided to them. A student may also
be expelled for possession of a dangerous and/or lookalike
weapon, possession and/or sale of a controlled
substance or look-alike drugs, threats of violence, or
extreme acts of violence. Bomb threats and other
threats or acts of violence may be considered felonies
punishable up to five years in prison and $7,500
in fines. Students involved in these acts will be
prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
(CRCSD Regulation 604.4, 09/22/03)
PHySICAL RESTRAINT OF STuDENTS
Notice: Chapter 103 Iowa Administrative Code-
-Corporal Punishment, Restraint, and Physical
Confinement and Detention. State law forbids school
employees from using corporal punishment against
any student. Certain actions by school employees are
not considered corporal punishment. Additionally,
school employees may use “reasonable and necessary
force, not designed or intended to cause pain” to do
certain things, such as prevent harm to persons or
property.
State law also places limits on school employees’
abilities to restrain or confine and detain any student.
The law limits why, how, where, and for how long a
school employee may restrain or confine and detain a
child. If a child is restrained or confined and detained,
the school must maintain documentation and must
provide certain types of notice to the child’s parent.
If you have any questions about this state law, please
contact your school.
The complete text of the law and additional
information is available on the Iowa Department of
Education’s Website http://www.iowa.gov/educate.
(CRCSD Regulation 604.7, 2/22/1999)
EmERGENCy SCHOOL CLOSING AND
EARLy DISmISSAL
Schools will be open and will remain open until the
end of the regular school day whenever possible.
However, in case of severe weather or other
emergencies, the decision may be made to close
schools for the day, delay the start of the school day,
or dismiss early. An announcement will be made
by local radio and television stations and broadcast
frequently. In addition, cancellations will be posted
on the district website at www.cr.k12.ia.us. Families
may also sign up for electronic notification of
emergency closings by going to the district website
and clicking on “News” then “Cancellations” and
then the appropriate building. These announcements
pertain to one day only. If there is no announcement,
school will be operating as usual. Discuss with your
family what to do BEFORE such an emergency
occurs.
School officials will try to determine by 10:00 A.M.
if conditions call for closing the schools or altering
the bus schedule that day. Dismissal schedules will be
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

announced. In the event of an emergency closing the
district will determine whether lunch will be served.
Potential snow makeup days, if needed: January 21,
February 18, February 28, May 31, June 3-7 for the
2012-13 school year.
SCHOOL BuS INFORmATION
Students living three miles or more from Jefferson
may be eligible for free bus transportation. For
information, call 558-3758. We have arranged with
the city bus company to schedule a bus that arrives at
our campus just in time for the school day to start.
SCHOOL FEES
The CRCSD charges fees for certain items such as
consumable materials, driver education, and musical
instrument rental. Students whose families meet the
income guidelines for free and reduced price meals,
the Family Investment Program (FIP), Supplemental
Security Income (SSI), transportation assistance
under open enrollment, or who are in foster care
are eligible to have student fees waived or partially
waived. Parents/guardians or students who may
qualify should contact their school office. This waiver
does not carry over from year to year; it must be
applied for annually. To be considered for reduced/
waived school fees you must complete the Waiver
Benefit section on the Application for Free/Reduced
Price School Meals.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013
LuNCH
Freshman and Sophomores are required to eat in the
Jefferson cafeteria. Juniors and Seniors are permitted
to leave campus for lunch at their own risk. Any
Junior or Senior leaving campus is expected to return
on time to class or face consequences per the school’s
attendance procedure.
Cedar Rapids
meal Prices
BREAKFAST
Elementary ..............................................$1.35
Middle School .......................................$1.35
High School ........................................... $1.35
Adult .......................................................$1.60
Reduced Student $.30
LuNCH
Elementary ............................................. $2.15
Middle School ....................................... $2.25
High School .......................................... $2.25
Adult ...................................................... $3.10
Reduced Student $.40
mILK
Ala Carte ................................................. $.45
Increase: The last increase in school meal prices
in the Cedar Rapids Community School District
went into effect July 2009. The District recognizes
that school meals should be affordable and all
students should have the option of participating. The
increase for a student participating each day in the
lunch program was approximately $2 monthly or $18
annually.
Questions: Please feel free to call 558-2305 or e-mail
sketelsen@cr.k12.ia.us
Student/Parent Discrimination
Complaint Procedure
Students or parents who wish to complain
about conditions protected by State or Federal
discrimination statutes are encouraged to follow
this procedure without delay. First, a complaint
is presented to the teacher or staff member
involved. This may be done orally; however, we
encourage written documentation. If the issue is not
satisfactorily resolved there, or if the complaint is not
about a teacher or staff member, the complaint may
be presented to the appropriate associate principal.
The final building-level appeal would be to the
principal. If there is still no resolution, the complaint
may be presented to the District’s Educational Equity
Coordinator, Aaron Green, who can be reached at
558-2247.
29

Reporting Alleged Abuse of Students
by District Employees
Pursuant to rules of the Iowa Department of
Education, individuals have been designated by the
Board of Directors of the Cedar Rapids Community
Schools to serve as first-level investigators of alleged
cases of abuse of students by District employees.
Each building principal is the initial investigator.
Alternate investigators may be contacted at the
Educational Service Center by calling Human
Resources at 558-2421. At Jefferson, the Level One
investigator is Principal Charles McDonnell.
Child Abuse Reporting
All school employees are mandatory reporters of
suspected child abuse. Iowa law requires that teachers,
counselors, nurses, or administrators file an official
report with the Department of Human Services if
evidence exists of child abuse towards one of our
students.
Search and Seizure
The only staff members with authority to conduct
searches and/or seize items are employees who are
certified administrators, unless there is an emergency.
In emergencies, such as situations in which the health
or safety of a student or employee is compromised,
another school official may conduct a search and/or
seize items.
30
Lockers/Desks
(1) Lockers and desks remain at all times the property
of the school district. (2) The school district has a
reasonable and valid interest in insuring the lockers
and desks are properly maintained. For this reason,
lockers and desks are subject to unannounced
inspections and students have no legitimate
expectations of privacy in the locker or desk.
Periodic inspections of all or a random selection of
lockers or desks may be conducted by school officials
in the presence of the student or another individual.
(3) Contraband discovered during the maintenance
search shall be confiscated by the administration and
the student may be disciplined. (4) The contents of
a student’s locker or desk (e.g., coat, backpack, purse,
cell phone or other electronic device etc.) may be
searched when an administrator has reasonable and
articulable suspicion that the contents contains illegal
or contraband items or evidence of a violation of law
or school policy or rule. (5) Contraband Searches
of Lockers – Items of contraband generally cause
a substantial disruption of the school environment
or present a threat to the health and safety of the
students and staff. Items of contraband include, but
are not limited to, non-prescription medications;
controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine,
amphetamines, and barbiturates; apparatus used for
the administration of controlled substances; tobacco;
alcoholic beverages; weapons; explosives; poisons; and
stolen property. Items of contraband are not to be
placed in lockers. In order to protect and promote
the educational environment, an administrator having
a reasonable and articulable suspicion that the locker
contains illegal or contraband items may conduct a
search of that locker.
Personal Searches
A student’s person and/or personal effects (e.g., purse,
book bag, cell phone or other electronic device etc, or
other container used for carrying personal items) may
be searched when the administrator has reasonable
and articulable suspicion that the student is in
possession of illegal or contraband items, or items
which are not permitted in the schools. Personally
intrusive searches shall require more compelling
circumstances to be considered reasonable. When
feasible, the administrator shall attempt to notify the
parent/guardian of the impending search.
vehicle
Searches
Students are
permitted to park
on school premises
as a matter of
privilege, not of
right. Designated
school employees
may conduct routine
patrols of the student parking lots. The interior of
a student’s vehicle, when on school premises, may
be searched if there is a reasonable and articulated
suspicion to believe that illegal, unauthorized or
contraband items are contained inside. The student
driver or another individual shall be present whenever
practicable during the search.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Searches by Law Enforcement Officers
The search of a student or of protected student areas
by a law enforcement officer or by an administrator at
the invitation or direction of such an officer shall be
governed by statutory and common law requirements
for police searches (including searches by dogs.
(Code of Iowa: Chapter 808a.10, CRCSD Regulation 603.2,
7/24/06)
Illegal Items Found in School or in
Students’ Possession
Students are prohibited from distributing, dispensing,
manufacturing, possessing, using, and being under the
influence of alcohol, drugs or look-a-like substances;
and possessing or using tobacco, tobacco products
or look-a-like substances. Weapons are not allowed
on school grounds or at school activities including
hunting rifles even if unloaded and locked in cars
with the exception of weapons in the control of law
enforcement officials. Students bringing firearms
to school or possessing firearms at school may be
expelled. Parents of students found in violation of
this policy may be contacted, and the students may be
reported to law enforcement officials.
Safe and Responsible use of
Networked Technology Resources
(Computers)
Users of district networked resources may not engage
in activities that are illegal, utilize inappropriate
language, engage in plagiarism or copyright
infringement, or that jeopardize the security of the
system.
• Students will access the system for education
purposes only.
• Students will restrict their access of material
deemed appropriate by staff and parents.
• Students will use appropriate language and will
be respectful of others.
• Students will understand and respect license and
copyright agreements.
• Students will keep passwords and personal
information confidential.
Access to network services will be given only to
students who act in a considerate and responsible
manner. Violations may result in a loss of access as
well as other disciplinary or legal action.
(CRCSD Procedure 604.9a, 3/24/03)
Access to Inappropriate material
Staff and parents should be aware that some material
accessible via the network might contain items that
are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially
offensive. The students or staff should not access
prohibited material. Although the district applies
supervision and technology protection measures
(internet filtering), students acting independently or
irresponsibly may find ways to access inappropriate
materials. Age appropriate instruction will be
provided regarding strategies for avoiding the
inadvertent access of inappropriate material and what
to do if students accidentally access such material.
Supervision and monitoring
Student use of networked resources will be
supervised and monitored by teachers in a manner
that is appropriate for the age of the students and
circumstances of use. Students have limited privacy
when they use network resources at school. Routine
monitoring that reveals evidence of inappropriate
activities may result in an individualized search of a
student’s activities or personal files.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 31

ADDITIONAL CRSCD SCHOOL
BOARD POLICIES
Equal Educational Opportunities for Students
It is the goal of the Board of Education to enhance
social, emotional, behavioral, intellectual, and physical
well-being of the students enrolled in the district.
Student will have the opportunity to use the school
and the school’s educational program and services as
a means for self-improvement and individual growth.
In so doing, the students are expected to conduct
themselves in a manner that assures each student the
same opportunity.
The board supports the delivery of the education
program and services to students free of discrimination
based on real or perceived race, creed, color, religion,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity, physical disability or mental disability.
Inquiries by students regarding compliance with equal
educational opportunity and affirmative action laws
and policies, including but not limited to complaints
of discrimination, shall be directed to the student’s
principal or to the Affirmative Action Coordinator for
Students/Director of Student Equity by writing to the
Affirmative Action Coordinator for Students/Director
of Student Equity, Cedar Rapids Community School
District, 907 15th ST SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52404,
or by telephoning 319-558-2000.
Inquiries by students regarding compliance with equal
educational opportunity and affirmative action laws
and policies, including but not limited to complaints of
discrimination, may also be directed in writing to the
Director of the Region VII office of Civil Rights, U.S.
Department of Education, 10220 N. Executive Hills
Blvd., 8th Floor, Kansas City, Mo. 64153-1367, (816)
891-8156 or Iowa Dept. of Education, Grimes State
Office Bldg., Des Moines, IA. (515) 281-5294. This
inquiry or complaint to the federal or state office may
be done instead of, or in addition to, an inquiry or
complaint at the local level.
Further information and copies of the procedures for
filing a complaint are available in the district’s central
administrative office and the administrative office in
each attendance center and on the district website:
32
www.cr.k12.ia.us. (Board Policy 601- 4/14/2007)
Chapter 103 Iowa Administrative Code-Corporal
Punishment, Restraint, and Physical Confinement and
Detention
State law forbids school employees from using corporal
punishment against any student. Certain actions
by school employees are not considered corporal
punishment. Additionally, school employees may use
“reasonable and necessary force, not designed or
intended to cause pain” to do certain things, such as
prevent harm to persons or property.
State law also places limits school employees’ abilities
to restrain or confine and detain any student. The
law limits why, how, where, and for how long a school
employee may restrain or confine and detain a child.
If a child is restrained or confined and detained, the
school must maintain documentation and must provide
certain types of notice to the child’s parent.
If you have any questions about this state law, please
contact your school. The complete text of the law
and additional information is available on the Iowa
Department of Education’s web site: www.iowa.gov/
educate.
muLTICuLTuRAL AND NONSExIST
EDuCATION
All students will have an equal opportunity for a quality
education without discrimination, regardless of their
race, religion, socioeconomic status, color, sex, marital
status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national
origin or disability.
The education program is free of discrimination and
provides equal opportunity for all students. The
education program will foster knowledge of, and respect
and appreciation for, the historical and contemporary
contributions of diverse cultural groups, as well as
men and women, to society. It will also reflect the
wide variety of roles open to both men and women
and provide equal opportunity to both sexes. (CRCSD
Policy 401, 6/12/06)
Human Growth and Development Waiver
The Cedar Rapids Community School District
provides human growth and development curriculum
at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Families may request to review the curriculum, such
as videos and booklets, and, if they wish, may file a
written request that their student be excused from the
instruction. Human Growth and Development curricula
are reviewed for instructional use by a committee of
volunteer community members, parents/guardians, and
educators.
Jurisdictional and Behavioral Expectations Statement
This handbook is an extension of Board policy and is
a reflection of the goals and objectives of the school
board. The board, administration and employees
expect students to conduct themselves in a manner
fitting to their age level and maturity and with respect
and consideration to others. Students, teachers,
employees, and visitors are expected to treat each
other with respect and courtesy so that all may be safe
within the school environment. Students may not use
abusive language, profanity or obscene gestures or
language.
The student handbook and school district policies,
rules and regulations are in effect while students are on
school grounds, school district property or on property
within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on
school-owned and/or school-operated buses or vehicles
or chartered buses; while attending or engaged in
school activities; and while away from school grounds
if the misconduct directly affects the good order,
efficient management and welfare of the school district
or involves students or staff. School district policies,
rules and regulations are in effect 12 months a year. A
violation of a school district policy, regulation, procedure
or student handbook may result in disciplinary action
and may affect a student’s eligibility to participate in
extracurricular activities whether the violation occurred
while school was in session or while school was not in
session.
Students shall comply with and abide by the school
district’s policies, regulations, procedures and student
handbook. Students who fail to abide by the school
district’s policies, regulations, procedures and student
handbook will be disciplined for conduct which disrupts
or interferes with the education program; conduct
which disrupts the orderly and efficient operation of the
school district or school activity; conduct which disrupts
the rights of other students to obtain their education
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

or to participate in school activities; or conduct which
interrupts the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere.
Disciplinary measures include, but are not limited to:
removal from the classroom, detention, suspension,
probation and expulsion. Discipline can also include
prohibition from participating in extracurricular activities,
including athletics. The discipline imposed is based
upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the
incident and the student’s record.
The school district reserves and retains the right to
modify, eliminate or establish school district policies,
regulations, procedures and student handbook
provisions as circumstances warrant, including those
contained in the handbook. Students are expected to
know and comply with the contents of the handbook.
Students or parents with questions or concerns may
contact the school’s main office for information about
the enforcement of the policies, regulations, procedures
or student handbook of the school district (CRSCD Policy
604, 3/24/2008)
mAINTENANCE OF ORDERLy CONDuCT
Conduct which materially or substantially interferes
with the educational process is prohibited. Students
at school-sponsored, off-campus events shall be
governed by school district rules and regulations and
are subject to the authority of school district officials.
Students shall obey the lawful instructions of school
personnel. All persons must, upon request, identify
themselves to school staff members in the school
buildings, on school grounds, or at school-sponsored
events. (CRCSD Regulation 604.1, 11/09/98)
OFFICIAL SCHOOL PuBLICATIONS
(CRCSD Reg. 609.1)
An official school publication is a curricular or cocurricular
student publication or broadcast, including
but not limited to newspapers, yearbooks, literary
magazines, television, radio, website or cable television
programs produced in curricular or co-curricular
journalism or journalism-related activities under the
sponsorship of the school district and distributed
to the student body either free or for a fee. Each
school determines its own production and distribution
schedule. (CRCSD Regulation 609.1, 11/09/98)
PRIOR RESTRAINT OF mATERIAL PREPARED
FOR AN OFFICIAL SCHOOL PuBLICATION
(CRCSD procedure 609.1)
No student shall publish in an official school publication
material which is obscene or vulgar, libelous,
encourages students to commit unlawful acts or to
violate school rules, causes material and substantial
disruption of the orderly operation of the school, or
infringes on the rights of others. (CRCSD Procedure
609.1a, 11/09/98)
TOBACCO FREE SCHOOL ENvIRONmENT
No student, staff member or school visitor is permitted
to use or display any tobacco product at any time in any
building, facility or vehicle used for District purposes;
on any school grounds or property – including athletic
fields and parking lots; at any school-sponsored
or school-related event. In addition, no student is
permitted to possess a tobacco product. Students
who willfully violate the policy will be disciplined in
accordance with Board policy. Visitors attending school
functions will be asked by staff members in authority
to refrain from using or displaying tobacco products.
Visitors who refuse such a request will be asked to
leave the grounds and property.
(CRCSD Regulation 506.5, 06/11/07)
wEAPONS
The Board of Education prohibits firearms and other
weapons on school district property or at school
sponsored activities. Any object which could be used
to injure or threaten another person and which has no
school-related purpose may be considered a weapon.
This includes specifically, but is not limited to, firearms
of all types, knives of all types, fireworks, metal pipes,
metal knuckles, and explosives. The term “firearm”
includes, but is not limited to, any weapon which is
designed to expel a projectile by the action of an
explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a
muffler or silencer for such a weapon, or any explosive,
incendiary or poison gas. An object that serves as a
facsimile of a weapon may be considered a weapon
in the enforcement of this policy. An object that has a
school-related purpose but is used to threaten or inflict
injury may also be considered a weapon.
Weapons shall be confiscated from persons who
bring them onto school district property or to school
sponsored activities. The parents/guardians of
a student shall be notified if a student is found in
possession of a weapon, or is responsible for bringing
a weapon, onto school district property or to school
sponsored activities. The student will be subject to
disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.
A student bringing a firearm onto school district
property or to a school sponsored activity, or knowingly
possessing a firearm on school district property or at a
school sponsored activity shall be expelled for not less
than one year and the student will be referred to law
enforcement authorities; however, the Superintendent
shall have the authority to recommend this expulsion
requirement be modified on a case-by-case basis.
(CRCSD Policy 608, 12-11-06)
BuLLyING AND HARASSmENT OF
STuDENTS
The Cedar Rapids Community School District
prohibits harassment, bullying, hazing, or any other
victimization of students based on real or perceived
race, sex, creed, color, national origin, religion, marital
status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity,
physical appearance, personality characteristics or
for any other reason. This policy is in effect while
students are on property within the jurisdiction of the
school district, while on school-owned and/or schooloperated
vehicles, while attending or engaging in
school sponsored activities and while away from school
grounds if the misconduct directly affects the good
order, efficient management or welfare of the school
district.
“Harassment” and ‘bullying” shall be construed to
mean any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or
conduct toward a student which is based on any actual
or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and
which creates an objectively hostile school environment
that meets one or more of the following conditions:
• Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to
the student’s person or property;
• Has a substantially detrimental effect on the
student’s physical or mental health;
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with the
student’s academic performance; or
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with the
services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 33

“Trait or characteristic of the student” includes but is
not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race,
religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or
disability, ancestry, political party preference, political
belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status.
“Electronic” means any communication involving the
transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable,
electromagnetic, or other similar means. “Electronic”
includes but is not limited to communication via
electronic mail, internet-based communications, pager
service, cell phones, electronic text messaging or
similar technologies.
School employees, volunteers, and students in school,
on school property, or at any school function or school
sponsored activity shall not engage in harassing or
bullying behavior. The following behaviors or overt
acts are prohibited: Verbal, nonverbal, physical or
written victimization that has the purpose or effect of
causing injury, discomfort, fear or suffering to the victim;
Repeated remarks of a demeaning nature that have
the purpose or effect of causing injury, appreciable
discomfort, fear, or suffering to the victim; Demeaning
jokes, stories, or activities that have the purpose or
effect of causing injury, appreciable discomfort, fear, or
suffering to the victim; and Unreasonable interference
with a student’s performance or creation of an
intimidating, offensive, or hostile learning environment
Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal
or physical conduct of a sexual manner when such
conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with a student’s performance or creating an
intimidating, offensive or hostile learning environment.
Examples of sexual harassment as set out above may
include, but are not limited to, the following: Verbal
or written harassment or abuse; Pressure for sexual
activity; Remarks or gestures to a person with sexual
or demeaning implications; sexting, and unwelcome
touching.
Recourse to Student-to-Student Bullying or Harassment
A student (or adult on student’s behalf) who believes
he/she has suffered harassment should report such
34
matters to certified staff/administrators and/or the
district’s equity coordinator. The complaint process is
outlined below.
The District will promptly and reasonably investigate
allegations of harassment. The building principal or
designee will be responsible for handling all complaints
by students alleging harassment unless he/she has any
conflict of interest. If after an investigation a student
is found to be in violation of this policy, the student
shall be disciplined by measures up to and including
suspension or expulsion.
Retaliation against a student because the student has
filed a harassment complaint, or assisted or participated
in a harassment investigation or proceeding, is also
prohibited. School employees, volunteers, and
students shall not engage in reprisal, retaliation, or false
accusation against a victim witness, or an individual
who has reliable information about such an act of
harassment and bullying. The superintendent/designee
has the right to discipline students who knowingly
file false harassment complaints or otherwise act in
bad faith during a complaint/investigative process. A
student who is found to have retaliated against another
in violation of this policy will be subject to discipline up
to and including suspension or expulsion.
Any matters involving complaints of discrimination
or harassment shall remain confidential to the extent
reasonably possible. Confidential documentation of
allegations or investigations will not be filed in the
complainant’s student file.
(CRCSD Regulation 604.2, 9/26/05)
STuDENT, PARENT, OR OTHER PERSON NOT
EmPLOyED By THE DISTRICT GENERAL
COmPLAINT PROCESS AND AFFIRmATIvE
ACTION AND EquAL EDuCATIONAL
OPPORTuNITy COmPLAINT PROCESS
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School
District to address complaints made by a student or
parent or other person not employed by the district
regarding an action(s) taken by a district employee.
Also, it is the policy of the District not to discriminate
against any student, parent, or other person not
employed by the district as part of the operations of
the District on the basis of race, creed, color, religion,
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
physical disability or mental disability. (Adherence to
bona fide occupational/ educational qualifications shall
not be interpreted as discriminatory.)
The following is the complaint and appeal procedure
for a District student or parent or other person not
employed by the District. This procedure shall be used
to request relief for either a general complaint or a
discrimination complaint.
It is recommended that complaints of a student or
parent or other person not employed by the District
(complainant) against a district employee (subject) first
be discussed directly between the student or parent
or other person not employed by the District and the
District employee (complainant and subject).
Step 1 If the complainant is not satisfied with the
disposition of the concern after discussing it with the
subject, the complainant will present and discuss the
concern with the subject’s immediate supervisor. The
supervisor will gather the necessary facts and make a
decision in a timely manner. If the immediate supervisor
is the subject of the complaint, the complainant may
proceed to the next step.
Step 2 If the complainant is not satisfied with the
disposition of the concern at Step 1, the complainant
will present and discuss the concern with the next
level supervisor in the district organizational chart
per Regulation 300.1. The supervisor will gather
the necessary facts and make a decision in a timely
manner. If the next level supervisor is the subject of the
complaint, the complainant may proceed to the next
step.
Step 3 If the complainant is not satisfied with the
disposition of the concern at Step 2, he/she should
file a written complaint, stating the concern and the
relief sought, with the Executive Director of Human
Resources or designee. The Executive Director of
Human Resources or designee will discuss the concern
with the complainant, review the facts, and make a
decision in a timely manner. If the Executive Director of
Human Resources is the subject of the complaint, the
complainant may proceed to the next step.
Step 4 If the complainant is not satisfied with the
disposition of the concern at Step 3, he/she should file
a copy of the written complaint with the Superintendent
who will discuss the concern with the complainant,
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

eview the facts, and make a decision known to the
complainant in a timely manner. The Superintendent’s
decision shall be final.
Step 5 The complainant may appeal to the Board
of Directors for a review of the complaint process
as specified in Steps 1 through 4. In this case, the
complainant shall submit a written statement of the
violations of the process in a timely manner. The
Board President and Vice President will review the
documentation and complainant’s statement and
determine if the process was competently followed.
The complainant will be notified in a timely manner of
the final decision.
(Affirmative Action and Equal Educational Opportunity
Complaint Process, Procedure 611.a, 10/26/2009)
Annual Notice Regarding Student Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years
(“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the
student’s education records. They are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student’s
education records within 45 days of receipt of the
request.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school
principal [or appropriate school official] a written request
that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The
principal will make arrangements for access and notify
the parent or eligible student of the time and place
where the records may be inspected.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the
student’s education records that the parent or eligible
student believe are inaccurate or misleading.
Parents or eligible students may ask the District to
amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or
misleading. They should write the school principal,
clearly identify the part of the record they want
changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If the District decides not to amend the record as
requested by the parent or eligible student, the District
will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision
and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding
the request for amendment. Additional information
regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to
the parent or eligible student when notified of the right
to a hearing.
(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally
identifiable information contained in the student’s
education records, except to the extent that FERPA
authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without
consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate
educational interests. A school official is a person
employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor,
instructor, or support staff member (including health
or medical staff, law enforcement unit personnel and
certain volunteers); a person serving on the School
Board; a person or company with whom the School
has contracted to perform a special task (such as an
attorney, auditor, AEA employees, medical consultant,
or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an
official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance
committee, or student assistance team, or assisting
another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if
the official needs to review an education record in order
to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon
request, the District discloses education records without
consent to officials of another school district in which a
student seeks or intends to enroll.
(4) The right to inform the District that the parent or
eligible student does not want the District’s designated
directory information, as defined below, to be released
to the public.
To object to the designation and release of certain
student records as directory information, the parent or
eligible student must notify the principal in writing, prior
to September 1 of each school year (or two weeks from
the date of enrollment in the District if such enrollment
occurs after September 1), of the information not to
be released. This object on the release of directory
information must be renewed annually.
THIS FORM MAY BE PICKED UP IN THE SCHOOL’S
MAIN OFFICE.
Directory information means information contained
in an education record of a student that would not
generally be considered harmful or an invasion of
privacy if disclosed. The Cedar Rapids Community
School District does not declare any information
pertaining to elementary school students as directory
information, but has designated the following student
information as directory information for middle and high
school students: Student name, parent name, address,
telephone number, participation in officially recognized
activities and sports, weight and height of members
of athletic teams, degrees and awards received, and
distinguished academic performance or public service.
In addition, two federal laws require local school
districts receiving assistance under the Elementary
and Secondary Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide
military recruiters, upon request, with three directory
information categories – names, addresses and
telephone listings – unless parents or eligible students
have advised the school district that they do not
want their student’s information disclosed to military
recruiters without their prior written consent annually.
(5) The right to file a complaint with the U.S.
Department of Education concerning alleged failures by
the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the Office that administers
FERPA is Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20202-8520 or visit their web site at:
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OII/fpco/ for more information.
(6) The District may share information contained in
a student’s record with officials of the juvenile justice
system if such information will assist in their ability to
serve the student.
(7) The District has contracted with Kirkwood
Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to provide
driver education instruction for high school students.
Information relating to eligibility for full or partial waivers
of school fees will be released to Kirkwood for students
taking driver education during the school year. If a
parent wishes to opt out of this disclosure, the parent
will be expected to pay 100 percent of the cost of the
driver education course.
REquEST TO KEEP DIRECTORy-TyPE
INFORmATION CONFIDENTIAL mIDDLE AND
HIGH SCHOOLS
Directory-type information for middle and high school
students includes the student’s name, parent’s name,
address, telephone number, participation in officially
recognized activities and sports, weight and height
of members of athletic teams, degrees and awards
received, and notices of distinguished academic
performance or public service. Parents/guardians
have the right to refuse to let the District release any
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 35

or all this information. If a parent wishes to identify
information they do not want released, they may pick
up a form in the school office and return it to the school
by Sept. 1, 2011.
(CRCSD Regulation 606.2, 11/13/00)
THIS FORM IS VALID FOR 1 YEAR ONLY. THIS
INFORMATION WILL NOT BE RELEASED FOR ANY
PUBLICATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC (i.e., music programs, school newsletters,
class picture composites).
STuDENT SuPPORT SERvICES
Additional support services are available to assist
teachers when concerns arise with students. These
services include building staff (special education
teacher, counselor, nurse, health secretary, etc.) and
Grant Wood Area Education Agency staff (psychologist,
social worker, consultant, speech-language pathologist,
occupational and physical therapist, work experience
coordinators, and others.) Teachers and families
may use input on an informal basis or request
formal assistance in identifying strategies to address
a concern, in carrying out these strategies, or in
monitoring individual student progress. These services
are available for all students by teacher or parent
request through the counselor at the student’s school.
PACT
middle School - Offers specialized curricular
and extracurricular services to academically gifted
students. Building program managers work with the
instructional staff of each middle school to extend the
basic curriculum and provide intellectually challenging
enrichment activities. After school classes and field
trips based on the students’ interests and needs are
also provided.
High School - Offers specialized guidance
services to academically talented students. These
services include: career counseling, profiling vocational
interests and personal strengths, and facilitating
academic planning during and after high school.
The Cedar Rapids curriculum provides abundant
opportunities for academic challenge and enrichment
through higher level classes, including those in the
Advanced Placement program.
36
ATTENDANCE PERmITS
REGuLAR EDuCATION
Students in the general education program requesting
to attend a school outside of the attendance area in
which the student resides shall make that request in
writing to the Office of Learning and Leadership on a
permit request form. Forms can be obtained at any
school office or by calling 558-2249 (secondary) or
558-2247 (elementary). Permit applications for the
2013-14 school year must be submitted by February
1, 2013. Each request shall be reviewed and acted
upon by the appropriate Executive Administrator of
Elementary or Secondary Education on the basis
of space availability, individual circumstances, and
district policy. The receiving principal and the sending
principal shall be consulted to determine the feasibility
of the request. If a request for a permit is denied and
not satisfactorily resolved an appeal may be made to
the Associate Superintendent in the Office of Learning
and Leadership, whose decision on the matter shall be
final. Permits are subject to administrative revocation
for reasonable cause by mutual agreement of the
principals involved and the appropriate Executive
Administrator. Parents shall be responsible for the
transportation of students not attending their resident
attendance area school.
OPEN ENROLLMENT 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR
Parents/guardians making use of the open enrollment
option to request enrollment of their children in another
public school district in the State of Iowa should be
aware of the following deadlines:
~ March 1, 2013, is the last date for open enrollment
requests for first through twelfth grade for the 2013-14
school year.
~ September 1, 2012 is the last date for open
enrollment requests for kindergarten for 2012-2013
school year.
All requests filed after these dates must meet the “good
cause” definition as stated on the application.
Transportation shall NOT be provided to students
who enter the District under the Open Enrollment Law
of 1989 as amended, unless such transportation is
required by law. The District has the right to assign an
open enrolled student to a particular school. Parents
should be aware that open enrollment may result in the
loss of high school athletic eligibility. Forms may be
obtained by calling 558-2414.
Compete information is available on line from the Iowa
Department of Education; http://www.iowa.gov/educate
(CRCSD Regulation 602.6, 3/24/2008, Procedure 602.6a,
8/14/2006)
COmPETENT PRIvATE INSTRuCTION/HOmE
SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAm
The parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of any
child who has reached the age of 6 and has not yet
turned 16 by September 15 of the current school year,
and is not enrolled in either a public school or an
accredited nonpublic school, must file the Competent
Private Instruction (CPI) form annually. The form is
due to the resident district by the first day of classes
of the public school or 14 calendar days after removal
from an accredited school or moving into the District.
Evidence that the child has had the immunizations
required by law must be provided at the time the child
is first placed under competent private instruction. All
required information must be provided or the application
will be invalid and students will be counted absent/
truant if they are not currently attending a public or an
accredited nonpublic school.
The Home School Assistance Program offers homeschooling
parents/guardians teacher-assisted services
and resources. For information, contact the Home
School Assistance Office at 558-2088.The deadline
for dual enrollment and/or Home School Assistance
Program (if space is available) is September 15 or
within 14 calendar days after moving to the district,
or within 14 calendar days after removing the child
from school. Home school or home school assistance
program students enrolled in classes or participating in
school activities in the school district are subject to the
same policies, rules and regulations as other students
and are disciplined in the same manner as other
students.
The District shall refer a child who may be in need of
special education to the area education agency division
of special education. (CRCSD 602.2a, 3/24/2008) CPI
forms may be obtained by calling 558-2414. If you
are already participating in this program, forms will be
mailed to you.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

Compete information is available on line from the
Iowa Department of Education; http://www.iowa.gov/
educate/index
mEDICAID
Local school districts can bill Medicaid for some of
the cost of providing medical services for our special
education students who are eligible for the Medicaid
program. The district’s access of this funding source
will not affect any services on IEPs. All services
will continue to be provided free regardless of the
availability of Medicaid assistance. Specific information
on this will be shared at IEP meetings. If you have
further questions, please contact the Special Services
Department at 558-2575.
ImmuNIZATIONS
Prior to starting school or when transferring into the
school district, students must present an approved Iowa
Department of Public Health immunization certificate
signed by a health care provider stating that the student
has received the immunizations required by law.
Students without the proper certificate are not allowed
to attend school until they receive the immunizations.
Students may be admitted temporarily to the school if
they have completed provisional requirements. Only
for specific medical or religious purposes are students
exempted from the immunization requirements.
(CRCSD Regulation 602.1, 3/24/2008)
HAwK-I INSuRANCE
Parents/guardians can apply for low or no-cost health
insurance for their children through the state’s Healthy
and Well Kids in Iowa (HAWK-I) program. Children
under age 19 who meet certain criteria are eligible. The
coverage includes doctor visits, hearing services, dental
care, prescriptions, immunizations, vision care, speech
therapy, hospital services, mental health and substance
abuse care, to name a few. Applications are available
in each school health office. Parents/guardians are
urged to call the Linn County Outreach Specialist at
319-739-0020 or 1-800-257-8563 (toll free). More
information may be obtained on the web site www.
hawk-i.org or contact the Linn County Outreach
Specialist at 319-739-0020 for more information.
HEALTH SERvICES
Managing Student Illness during the School Day
Students are sent to the clinic if they are injured or
appear ill. An attempt will be made to understand
the student’s complaint. This may include asking
the student some questions about how he/she feels,
taking a temperature, making observations, talking
to the teacher, and contacting the school nurse. If a
student has a temperature of 100º F. or higher, the
parent/ guardian will be called and the student will
be sent home. Temperature is not the only symptom
that influences the decision to send the student home;
general appearance and functioning are important
factors. After a period of observation a decision will be
made to do one of the following: 1.) Attempt to notify
the parent/guardian; 2.) Allow the student to rest in
the health office for a brief period. The student is to
be fever free without fever reducing medication before
returning to school. Parents will also be notified of
injuries, which appear to require medical attention.
COmmuNICABLE DISEASES
Students with communicable disease will be allowed
to attend school as long as their attendance does not
create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to the
students or staff. The term “communicable disease” will
mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from
person to person, or animal to person, or as defined
by law. Parents should be advised to notify the school
whenever their child has a communicable disease.
Health data of students is confidential.
A student will be excluded from school when the
student’s condition has been determined to create a
health risk to others in the school district environment
or when the student is too ill to attend school. Such
determination shall be made on a case-by-case basis
by the student’s physician, appropriate school staff
members, and/or the District’s medical consultant. The
State Department of Public Health and/or the Linn
County Health Department also may be consulted
(Procedure 605.3c, 4/24/2006).
PROvISION OF EmERGENCy CARE
School personnel trained in first aid/emergency care
techniques may give emergency care or first aid to sick
or injured students, staff, or visitors whenever these
individuals are on school premises or under school
supervision. For severe or life threatening injuries
and illnesses, the Emergency Medical System (911)
shall be activated and the individuals transferred to
an appropriate source of medical care as rapidly as
possible. Annually, parents are requested to provide
emergency information, including the phone numbers
of parent/guardian and alternative numbers to call
in case of injury or illness at school. Parents must
notify the school if the information on the emergency
form changes during the school year (Procedure 605.3a,
4/14/2008).
mEDICATION POLICy
Prescription Medication: Only medication prescribed
by a legal prescriber shall be administered during the
time the student is at school. The parent/guardian shall
provide written authorization and instructions. The
medication (in original container) must be kept in the
school health office unless the school nurse authorizes
otherwise.
Over-the-Counter Medication. A legal prescriber’s
signature is also required on the District’s medication
permission form before any over-the-counter
medications will be given to students. Students who
have demonstrated competence in administering
their own medications may self-administer their
medication with approval of the parent/guardian and
of the school nurse. By law, students with asthma or
other airway constricting diseases may self-administer
their medication with approval of their parents and
prescribing physician regardless of competency
(CRCSD Regulation 605.3b, 5/24/2010).
SCREENINGS
vISION, HEARING AND DENTAL
vision Screening: Grant Wood Area Education
Agency (GWAEA) will screen students in third grade
classrooms. Parent/guardians not wishing their child
to be screened should notify the health office in writing
at the beginning of the year. Parents/guardians with
concerns about their child’s vision should contact the
school nurse.
Hearing Screening:
Grant Wood Area Education Agency (GWAEA) screens
all students in Early Learning Programs, Alternative
Kindergarten (AK), kindergarten, and grades 1, 2, and
5. Students in the Early Learning Program with IEP’s
will be screened. Students in grades 3, 4, middle,
and high school who are new to the school and some
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 37

students with a history of known hearing loss will also
be tested. Follow up testing may occur periodically if
previous hearing test results were not within normal
limits. Parent/guardians not wishing their child’s hearing
tested should notify the health office in writing at the
beginning of the year. Parents/guardians with concerns
about their child’s hearing should contact the school
nurse
Dental Screening:
Iowa House File 906, passed in 2007, requires
that children newly enrolled in elementary and high
school receive a screening for dental disease. This
requirement includes students entering kindergarten
and 9th grade. Valid Iowa Department of Public Health
Certificates of Dental Screening must be submitted to
the school in which the student wishes to enroll. The
purpose of the dental screening requirement is to
improve the oral health of Iowa’s children. No child will
be prevented from attending school without proof of
dental screening. If families have difficulty meeting the
requirement, the I Smile Program and St. Luke’s Dental
Health Center will provide assistance to children and
schools to ensure that dental screenings are obtained.
The form is available from your school nurse, dentist or
on the CRCSD website in the student services/health
services section. In addition St. Luke’s Dental Health
Center screens all Early Learning Programs, alternative
kindergarten, kindergarten, grades 2 and 5, all students
in elementary special education and elementary ELL
programs, as well as others in selected grades. If you
do not want your child screened please notify the health
office in writing at the beginning of the school year.
HEAD LICE
The Cedar Rapids Community School District would
like to assist its families in dealing with head lice by
emphasizing prevention, early detection and education.
This plan does not keep students out of school for lice
but emphasizes family and community education and
assistance.
Students with signs and symptoms of head lice will be
referred to the health office for evaluation. Parents/
guardians of students, found to have live lice or nits
(eggs) within ½ inch of the scalp, will be notified and
provided with information regarding treatment and
management. In the elementary schools, families
with a child in the classroom will be notified by a note
38
from the health office along with information regarding
identification and management of head lice.
It is important that families check their child’s head for
lice on a routine basis. This home screening is the
most effective measure in preventing, identifying, and
controlling head lice.
HumAN GROwTH AND DEvELOPmENT
wAIvER
The Cedar Rapids Community School District
provides human growth and development curriculum
at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Parents may review the curriculum prior to its use
and have their child excused from human growth and
development instruction. Parents should contact the
school principal if they wish to review the curriculum
or file a written request to excuse their student from
human growth and development curriculum instruction.
BmI Screening:
District health and/or PE staff members will screen
height and weight of kindergarten and 5th grade
students. Results will be sent home with each child. If
you do not wish your child to be screened, you must
notify the school health office. If your child had a
physical for this school year, we may use that height
and weight data to calculate your child’s BMI.
LEAD SCREENING LAw
Iowa law requires students show proof of a blood
lead test before starting kindergarten. Physicians and
laboratories report all tests to the Iowa Department of
Public Health, who will let you and the school, know
if they do not have a record of the test. No child will
be prevented from attending school without proof of
lead screening. Lead has adverse effects on nearly all
organ systems in the body. It is especially harmful to
the developing brains and nervous systems of children
under the age of six years.
mETRO CARE CONNECTION
Metro Care Connection is the Cedar Rapids Community
School District’s expanded school-based health
centers. The program focuses on removing barriers to
learning for youth and strives to meet diverse student
needs, improve well-being, increase student attendance
and achievement, and ensure connectedness. Services
include health care, mental health counseling and
substance abuse counseling. To learn more about
these services or access the services please call 558-
2481, talk to your school nurse or go to the CR schools
website.
HOmELESS CHILDREN AND yOuTH
The Cedar Rapids Community School District shall
make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children
and youth within the district, encourage their enrollment
in school, work to eliminate existing barriers in District
policies and procedures which may serve as barriers
to their enrollment, and ensure that homeless children
and youth have equal access to the same free public
education, including public preschool education, as
is provided to other children and youth. Refer to
Regulation 601.1 for the definitions of “homelessness.”
• Your family status may be considered homeless if:
• Foster care
• Transitional housing or shelter
• More than one family in a house or apartment
• living in a motel, car or campsite
• Living friends/family other than parent/guardian
The District’s Homeless Liaison(s) should be contacted
at 558-2000 if you need assistance in this area.
GIFTS TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Those persons wanting to express gratitude or
appreciation to school employees are encouraged to
give written or verbal communication in lieu of material
or monetary gifts. (CRCSD Regulation 1002.6, 4/25/05)
CONDuCT ON SCHOOL PREmISES
(Board Policy 1007)
The Board expects that students, employees and
visitors will treat each other with respect, engage in
responsible behavior, exercise self-discipline and model
fairness, equity and civility. Individuals violating this
policy will be subject to discipline or other appropriate
sanctions.
Individuals are permitted to attend District sponsored
or approved activities or visit District premises only as
guests of the District, and, as a condition, they must
comply with the District’s policies, regulations, and
procedures. Individuals will not be allowed to interfere
with or disrupt the educational program or activity.
Visitors, like the participants, are expected to display
mature, responsible behavior. The failure of individuals
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

to do so is not only disruptive, but embarrassing to the
students, the District, and the entire community.
To protect the rights of students to participate in
the educational program or activities without fear of
interference or disruption and to permit the school
officials, employees and activity sponsors and
officials to perform their duties without interference or
disruption, the following provisions are in effect:
• Abusive conduct of individuals, either verbal
or physical, directed at students, school officials,
employees, officials and activity sponsors of sponsored
or approved activities or at other individuals will not be
tolerated on school premises or at school approved
activities.
• Verbal or physical conduct of individuals that
interferes with the performance of students, school
officials, employees, officials and activity sponsors of
sponsored or approved activities will not be tolerated on
school premises or at school approved activities.
• The use of vulgar, obscene or demeaning
expression directed at students, school officials,
employees, officials and activity sponsors of sponsored
or approved activities participating in a sponsored or
approved activity or at other individuals will not be
tolerated on school premises or at school approved
activities.
• Prohibited behaviors include any behaviors
that are physically or verbally threatening, either
overtly or implicitly, as well as behaviors that are
coercive, intimidating, violent or harassing. Examples
of prohibited behavior include, but are not limited to,
use of profanity, personally insulting remarks, attacks
on a person’s ethnicity, race, gender, nationality,
religion, age, sexual orientation or behavior that is out
of control. Such interactions could occur in telephone
conversations, voice mail messages, face-to-face
conversations, written
• Letters, electronic messages, and/or various
social media websites.
If an individual demonstrates prohibitive behavior on
District premises, the individual may be removed by
the appropriate District and/or School Administrator.
Law enforcement may be contacted for assistance.
Individuals removed from school premises may follow
the Board’s complaint procedures should they choose
to do so. The exclusion is in effect should the individual
choose to appeal the decision of the superintendent.
The term “individual” as used in the policy also includes
students and employees.
If an individual has been notified of exclusion and
thereafter tries to enter a school building or attends
a sponsored or approved activity, the individual
will be advised that his/her attendance will result in
prosecution. The District may obtain a court order for
permanent exclusion from the school building or from
future school sponsored or approved activities.
IOwA CHILD LABOR LAw
Who needs a work permit? People under 16 years of
age cannot be employed or permitted to work, with
or without compensation, unless the person, firm, or
corporation employing the youth receives and keeps a
work permit on file, accessible to any officer charged
with the enforcement of the child labor laws. The
employer also is required to keep a complete list of the
names and ages of anyone under 16 years of age in his
employ.
How to get a work permit - A youth first must go in
person to the local school official designated as an
issuing officer or the Iowa Workforce Development
Center and provide one of the following acceptable
forms of evidence of age: a certified copy of a birth
certificate, current passport or certified copy of
baptismal record showing the date and place of birth
and the place of the child’s baptism. If none of these is
available, then a written certification from a physician
appointed by the local board of education certifying
that, in the physician’s opinion, the applicant is 14
years of age or older, is required. The employer then
must complete the work permit (Child Labor Form),
specifically listing all work the minor will be performing,
equipment he will use, and hours to be worked. After
completing this section, the minor’s parent completes
and signs his portion of the form. The form then is
returned to the issuing officer for review and approval.
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LEGISLATION
The “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB), 2001 grants
parents the right to know the professional qualifications
of their student’s classroom teachers. It is the right of a
parent to ask for the following information about each of
the child’s classroom teachers:
• Teacher state qualifications and licensing criteria
for subject areas and grade level
• College major, degrees, and certifications held by
teacher and are of discipline.
• Information about teachers who are teaching with
conditional licenses.
If you would like to receive information regarding your
child’s teacher, please contact your child’s school
administrator. In addition, parents have the right to:
• Information on student’s performance level on
state assessments
• Timely notice of four or more weeks regarding
teaching by teacher not fully qualified
• Qualifications of paraprofessionals who provides
services to students
NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS uNDER
THE PROTECTION OF PuPIL RIGHTS
AmENDmENT (PPRA)
PPRA affords parents certain rights regarding our
conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for
marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These
include the right to:
• Consent before students are required to submit
to a survey that concerns one or more of the following
protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the
survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the
U.S. Department of Education (ED)–
1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or
student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student
or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or
demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom
respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such
as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the
student or parents; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to
determine program eligibility.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013 39

• Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –
1. Any other protected information survey,
regardless of funding;
2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam
or screening required as a condition of attendance,
administered by the school or its agent, and not
necessary to protect the immediate health and safety
of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis
screenings, or any physical exam or screening
permitted or required under State law;
3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or
use of personal information obtained from students
for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the
information to others.
• Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –
1. Protected information surveys of students;
2. Instruments used to collect personal information
from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or
other distribution purposes; and
3. Instructional material used as part of the
educational curriculum.
These rights transfer to from the parents to a student
who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under
State law.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District will
develop and adopt policies, in consultation with parents,
regarding these rights, as well as arrangements
to protect student privacy in the administration of
protected information surveys and the collection,
disclosure, or use of personal information for
marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. The
District will directly notify parents of these policies at
least annually at the start of each school year and
after any substantive changes. The District will also
directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email,
parents of students who are scheduled to participate
in the specific activities or surveys and will provide an
opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of
participation of the specific activity or survey. Parents
will be provided reasonable notification of the planned
activities and surveys and be provided an opportunity
to opt their child out of such activities and surveys.
Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review
any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific
activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
40
1. Collection, disclosure, or use of personal
information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
2. Administration of any protected information
survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
3. Any non-emergency, invasive physical
examination or screening as described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated
may file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance
Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-8520
ABuSE AND HARASSmENT OF STuDENTS
By DISTRICT EmPLOyEES
Harassment of students by school officials, faculty,
staff or volunteers who have direct contact with
students is also prohibited. Bullying and harassment
of students by adults may including the following
behaviors: requiring that a student submit to bullying
or harassment by another student, either explicitly
or implicitly, as a term or condition of the targeted
student’s education or participation in school programs
or activities; inappropriate remarks to students;
unwelcome touching; implied or explicit threats
concerning one’s grades, achievements, property,
etc. that have the purpose or effect of causing injury,
appreciable discomfort, fear, or suffering to the victim;
suggesting or demanding sexual involvement; or
obscene, lewd or sexual gestures or comments.
A student (or adult on student’s behalf) who believes
he/she has suffered harassment should report such
matters to certified staff/administrators and/or the
District’s equity coordinator. The complaint process
is outlined in CRCSD Procedures 601a and 601b.
Complaints alleging acts of intentional physical
or sexual abuse by school employees, including
inappropriate sexual behavior toward students, should
be reported to the Level I Investigator as outlined in
CRCSD Procedure 506.6a. Each building principal has
been designated as a Level 1 Investigator.
(CRCSD Regulation 604.2, 8/13/2007)
SExuAL OFFENDER REGISTRy
Iowa law requires sexual offenders to be registered with
the State. Parents/guardians seeking information about
sex offenders residing in the community are directed to
the state Web site at www.iowasexoffender.com.
ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION
Asbestos has been an issue of concern for many years.
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of
1986 (AHERA) was designed to determine the extent
of asbestos concerns in the schools and to act as a
guide in formulating asbestos management policies
for the schools. Our school district facilities have
been inspected by a certified asbestos inspector as
required by AHERA. The inspector located, sampled
and determined the condition and hazard potential of all
material in the school facilities suspected of containing
asbestos. The inspection and laboratory analysis
records form the basis of the asbestos management
plan.
A certified management planner has developed an
asbestos management plan for the school district
facilities which includes: notification letters, training for
employees, a set of procedures designed to minimize
the disturbance of asbestos-containing materials, and
plans for regular surveillance of the materials. A copy
of the management plan is available for inspection in
the main office of each school.
HANDBOOK DEFINITIONS
In this handbook, the word “parent” also means
“guardian” unless otherwise stated. An administrator’s
title, such as superintendent or principal, also means
that individual’s designee unless otherwise stated.
The term “school grounds” includes the school district
facilities, school district property, property within the
jurisdiction of the school district or school district
premises, school-owned or school-operated buses
or vehicles and chartered buses. The term “school
facilities” includes school district buildings and vehicles.
The term “school activities” means all school activities
students are involved in whether they are schoolsponsored
or school-approved, whether they are an
event or an activity, or whether they are held on or off
school grounds.
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013

NoN-JEffERsoN DatE REquEst foRm foR DaNCEs
Any student requesting to bring a date who is not a Jefferson student must
have this form completed and returned to the Main Office 7 school days prior
to the dance.
All guests must be under the age of 20 years of age and no middle school
students are allowed. Only one guest will be allowed per Jefferson student,
and a current school photo ID must be presented at the dance by both parties.
GuEst INfoRmatIoN
Printed Name:
Age: Year in school: Home Phone Number:
Address:
City: State:
As the Principal Administrator of the school listed above, I verify that the
student named above is a student in good standing.
Signature of Administrator/Title Date
Administrator’s Phone/E-mail address
JEffERsoN stuDENt INfoRmatIoN
As a Jefferson High School student, I understand that all of Jefferson’s
rules and behavior expectations apply at school functions. I will take full
responsibility to inform and ensure my date’s compliance to these rules.
9 10 11 12 (circle one)
Jefferson Student Date
As a parent of the above name Jefferson student, I find his/her date to be a
responsible person, and I approve him/her as an acceptable guest.
Signature of Jefferson Parent Phone Date
*Jefferson High School Administration has the right to deny any request
Jefferson Parent Handbook 2012-2013
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL 2012-2013 Other Important Dates
FALL TERM
Wed, Aug 15 ................................................. Staff’s first day
Mon. Aug 20 .................................................Freshman Orientation 2pm-5:30
Tues. Aug 21 ................................................. First Day for students-Early Dismissal
Mon. Sept 10 ................................................ Open House 7pm
Wed. Sept 12 ................................................12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Thur. Sept. 20 ............................................... Homecoming parade & Bon Fire tba
Fri. Sept 21 ...................................................Homecoming game vs Waterloo East
Sat. Sept 22..................................................Homecoming Dance 7-10pm
Wed. Sept 26 ................................................12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Wed. Oct 3 ....................................................Fall Progress Report distributed
Mon. Oct 8 ....................................................Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7pm
Wed Oct 10 ...................................................12:17 Early Dismissal
for Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7pm
Thurs. Oct. 11 ...............................................Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7pm
Wed. Oct 24 .................................................. 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Sat. Nov 3 .....................................................Choir Pancake Breakfast/Orch. Bazaar
Wed. Nov 7 ...................................................12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Th/Fri Nov. 15/16 ........................................ FINALS
WINTER TERM
Mon. Nov. 26 ................................................First Day of the Winter Term
Wed. Dec. 5 .................................................. 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Mon. Dec. 17 ................................................ Senior Financial Aid Meeting 5:30
Wed. Dec. 19 ................................................ 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Sat. Dec. 22 ..................................................Beginning of Winter Break
Wed. Jan 3 ....................................................Winter Term resumes
Wed. Jan 9 ....................................................12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Wed. Jan 16 .................................................. Winter Progress Report distributed
Mon. Jan 21 .................................................. Full Day Inservice-Snow Makeup Day #1
Wed. Jan 30 .................................................. 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Thurs. Jan. 31 ............................................... Incoming Freshman Parent Night 6:30
Sat. Feb. 2 ................................................... Winter Semi-Formal Dance
Wed. Feb. 6 ................................................... 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Mon. Feb 18 ................................................. Full Day Inservice-Snow Makeup Day #2
Tue/Wed, Feb 26/27 ...................................FINALS
Thur. Feb 28 ................................................. Full Day Inservice-Snow Makeup Day #3
Fri. March 1 ..................................................Clerical Day
SPRING
Mon. March 4 ..............................................First Day of Spring Term
Fri/Sat March 8/9 ........................................ Show Choir Invitational
Wed. March 13 ............................................. 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Thur, March 14 ............................................. Junior college Planning night
Fri. March 15-22 .......................................... Band and Orchestra in Ireland
Sat. March 16 ............................................... Spring Break begins
Mon. March 25 .............................................Spring Term resumes
Fri. March 29 ................................................12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Wed. April 10 ................................................ 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Th/Fri April 11/12 ........................................ PTA Variety Show
Mon. April 15 ................................................National Honor Society Ceremony
Wed. April 17 ................................................ Spring Progress Report distributed
Fri/Sat. April 19/20 .....................................Band & Orchestra Invitational
Wed. April 24 ................................................ 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Sat. April 27 .................................................. Prom
Wed. May 8 ................................................... 12:17 PLC Early Dismissal
Wed-Sat. May 8-11 .......................................Spring Musical
Mon. May 13 ................................................ Senior Recognition Night
Wed. May 22.................................................Seniors Last Day in Class
Thur. May 23 .................................................JHS Graduation 7:30pm
Wed/Thur. May 29/30 .................................FINALS
Fri. May 31 ....................................................Full Day Inservice-Swow Makeup Day #4
Mon-Wed June 3-5 .......................................Potential Snow Makeup Days #5-#7
Iowa Assessments to be in the spring… April 1-12
All data can be found at the following link also
http://www.mississippivalleyiowa.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=80&school_id=402

Cedar Rapids Community Schools
Jefferson High School
1243 20th Street SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
The Cedar Rapids Community School
District does not discriminate on the
basic of race, creed, color, national
origin, age, disability, sex, or religion
in employment or in access to or
participation in education programs
and services. Inquiries concerning the
application of this statement should
be addressed to Office of Learning and
Leadership at 558-2247.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PaID
Cedar Rapids, Ia
Permit No. 147