We have designed three agreements that we require all members of our learning community to acknowledge and to uphold. Our agreements are rooted in three rules or key values:
Respect
Responsibility
Privilege
We expect all students to accept these rules or key values as the norms of basic operating procedures at Bridges High School. In addition to these norms, there are specific expectations from the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD). Bridges High School complies with all RFSD Board policies, including the Student Code of Conduct with its specific procedures and consequences, and the procedures and policies related to issues of truancy. All other established individual interventions, classroom rules, school rules, building rules, city, county and state regulations, statues and laws must also be obeyed. A core expectation for ALL Bridges High School students is that they will register as full-time students with a commitment to attend school 24 hours each week and complete a minimum of 60 credits per school year. We further require each student to earn a minimum of 15 credits of high or advanced proficiency in their coursework each quarter of the school year, with at least 10 credits fulfilling academic graduation expectations and requirements.
ACADEMIC AGREEMENT
FACULTY STATEMENT:
We believe that ALL students can succeed academically. There are many behaviors that can increase a student’s likelihood of academic success. These may include regular attendance, goal setting, learning to self-advocate, establishing a consistent study time, and the student working together with parents and school personnel.
RESPECT
Continue working on assignments and assessments until “A”/“B” proficiency is demonstrated
Respect the teacher’s subject area knowledge and their role as your instructor, mentor and coach
Enhance the learning environment for all learners by your positive attitude and behavior
RESPONSIBILITY
Know the graduation requirements and monitor your progress toward achieving them
Know your personal access to your webpage and the Infinite Campus site, access both regularly
Demonstrate proficiency in required standards in a timely manner
PRIVILEGES
Do more than the minimum: strive to earn Honors credits and awards
Work at your own pace and choose what work you will focus on
Learn to self-advocate: ask for additional help and/or necessary adjustments and re-teaching
ACADEMIC PROCEDURES:
Students will be provided a syllabus for each of their classes. This document provides information about essential standards, assignments, and assessments that will focus the learning during each quarter, including a suggested timeline and suggested due dates. If a student is not keeping up with this syllabus, teachers will provide help and encouragement to the student. Parents can expect that a student’s academic progress will be reported via Student Weekly Reports (SWRs) available on the student’s page of the Bridges High School website: www.bridgeshighschool.com.
If a student continues to fall behind their syllabi and/or not demonstrate their knowledge and skills at a satisfactory level of proficiency, to aid in their success, we may select interventions from the following options: telephone calls, emails, modified assignments, modified teaching styles, different study environment, student-teacher or student-principal conferences, all staff-student-parent meetings, peer tutoring, REACH classes, individual student intervention plan or goal setting meetings. All interventions are selected to encourage, help, and enable students to access additional educational resources and to have a more successful academic experience. Sometimes the needs of the student require a more unique or more specialized educational setting than what Bridges HS can offer. If it is determined that the student’s ability to succeed at Bridges is being compromised due to their educational needs and that a different educational approach or environment could improve success, then the parents/guardians agree to enroll their student in such a program as soon as arrangements can be made.
At the sixth week of each quarter, teachers evaluate student academic progress and project whether students can successfully complete the quarter based on the syllabus. If at this time, two different teachers express concern that the student is not on track to earn the minimum number of credits required each quarter, despite the use of any of the above academic interventions, he/she will be placed on an Academic Probation Plan. The student will meet with the principal and their advisor to set goals and to arrange weekly progress meetings. The intent of probation plan is to help the student set and achieve academic goals and to succeed academically. Unfortunately, if the academic probation plan is not upheld, the student may not be invited to continue their education at Bridges High School. If this occurs, the parents/guardians agree to enroll their student in their attendance area high school and continue the student’s education immediately.
Each student has agreed to earn “A”/“B” proficiency on all their assignments and assessments. At the end of each quarter we offer students an Extended Learning opportunity. During this period, students may reassess any assessment to improve their demonstration of knowledge, skills and/or the quality of their work, and thereby change any reported quarterly grade. Students are responsible to submit all necessary paperwork to the office by established deadlines to modify grades.
ATTENDANCE AGREEMENT
FACULTY STATEMENT:
We believe that regular attendance can have a positive effect on a student’s academic success. While attendance is not the only indicator, it does seem to be at least one. Good attendance is more than just showing-up and physically being present. It requires the student to be an active learner while he/she is attending each class. Students must also begin to self-advocate, expressing personal and educational needs to their teachers.
RESPECT
Attend school at least 24 hours each week, making up all absences and tardies
Be an ACTIVE learner by attending and participating in your classes regularly
Respect others’ rights to attend school and learn in their classes
RESPONSIBILITY
Know your schedule: know when and where your classes meet, know your teachers
Be responsible for yourself: report absences and excuses to THE OFFICE
If absent, promptly pick-up missed assignments and information from the teacher
PRIVILEGES
Don’t allow your attendance habits to negatively effect your academic success
Recognize when you need additional learning time and attend school more than the minimum
Have fun and earn individual freedoms
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES:
Teachers report attendance via Infinite Campus each class period. Students are ALWAYS expected to attend their scheduled classes. On rare occasions, teachers and students may make arrangements for student learning to take place outside of the classroom. All student absences must be reported to the office (384-6160) within two (2) days by the parent/guardian. The office may ask for supporting written notes and/or documentation. Parents/Guardians and students may check attendance as reported on the Infinite Campus site (a link to Infinite Campus is available on each student’s page of the Bridges HS website). Additionally, teachers may provide attendance habit information via SWRs available on the school website.
If a student’s attendance habits interfere with his/her performance in classes, specifically their ability to demonstrate high or advanced proficiency with the standards and/or to earn the required credits, the student and their parents/guardians agree that the student will attend Bridges High School more than his/her regular schedule to make-up absences (both excused and unexcused) and to improve their attendance habits. If attendance continues to be a problem we will use interventions from the following options: telephone calls, emails, student teacher or student-principal conferences, planned interventions with the principal, all staff-student-parent meetings, principal shadowing, parent shadowing, individual student intervention plan and/or goal setting meetings. The choice of intervention is always selected to encourage a change of the student’s current attendance habits.
If necessary, the student will be placed on Attendance Probation where they will be given ten school days to COMPLETELY comply with this agreement, NO EXCUSED OR PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES WILL BE ALLOWED DURING THIS PROBATIONARY PERIOD. If any violations occur during this ten-day period, the student and the parents/guardians agree to remove their student from the Bridges High School student list immediately, and to enroll their student in their attendance area high school to continue the student’s education.
Sometimes a student’s lack of attendance violates RFSD Board policy. Issues of truancy will be dealt with according to procedures and policies that are currently in place.
BEHAVIOR AGREEMENT
FACULTY STATEMENT:
We believe that each member of our school community is a valuable member, and should be allowed to participate in and gain a quality education. Personal behavior affects not only the student’s attendance habits and his/her academic success, but it impacts our entire school community. Good behavior is more than doing the “right thing” when you know people are watching. It requires that each student be aware of their surroundings and consider how personal choices and actions may be impacting the learning and safety of others.
RESPECT
Listen to others: hear what they say, consider others’ opinions
Respect the staff, respect the students, respect yourself
Respect school and personal property
RESPONSIBILITY
Be responsible for yourself, be responsible for your actions and choices
Have positive communication with teachers, other adults and your peers
Follow the rules and make the Bridges’ reputation strong by your achievements
PRIVILEGES
Know who the other students are, share yourself with others
Take advantage of the one-on-one learning opportunities
Learning at your own pace requires self-discipline and hard work
BEHAVIOR PROCEDURES:
Because of the environment at Bridges High School, behavior is rarely an issue. However, if a student breaks their behavior agreement, teachers will intervene to help correct any misunderstandings verbally. Minor behavior issues may be reported via Student Weekly Reports available on the Bridges High School website.
The continuum of intervention includes: telephone calls, emails, student-teacher or student-principal conferences, planned interventions with the principal, Family Resource Center referrals, special education referral and possible placement at a different school, Safe School Ambassador interventions, structured conversations with peers, all staff-student-parent meetings, principal shadowing, parent shadowing, individual student intervention plan or goal setting meetings. The choice of intervention is always selected to encourage a change of the student’s current behavior.
If behavior continues to violate this agreement or if it violates RFSD Board policy, disciplinary actions, based on the type of violation, will be assigned and enforced according to school procedures and RFSD policies. Information pertaining to violations of this level will be reported and posted on the student’s discipline file of their Infinite Campus site (a link to Infinite Campus is available on each student’s page of the Bridges High School website).
After any required disciplinary actions are completed, the student may be placed on Behavior Probation and will be given ten (10) school days to COMPLETELY comply with this agreement. If any behavior violation occurs during this period, the student and the parents/guardians agree to remove their student from the Bridges High School student list immediately, and to enroll their student in their attendance area high school to continue the student’s education.
Revised 05/13/09
