
TRANSPORTATION
1. Be on time for morning arrival of the bus. (five minutes early) Buses drivers are only required to wait at stops for 1 minute, honk, and then will go on. Pleases call the driver or the school when you will not be riding. Any bus stop that is not used for 3 days in a row and no call was received will be discontinued.
2. When crossing in front of a bus always cross at least ten feet in front of the bus. NEVER cross behind a bus!
3. Use the front door – rear exit is for emergencies only.
4. Wait for an approaching bus at least six feet from where the bus is to come to a complete stop. NEVER rush toward a moving vehicle.
5. Pupils and employees of the district are the only person eligible to ride the bus, and other persons are eligible only when specially authorized.
RULES ON THE BUS:
· Obey direction of the driver.
· Take seats promptly and remain seated and facing the front of the bus until time to unload, and bus has come to a complete stop. Keep the aisles clear. Drivers have the authority to assign seats on the bus for reasons of discipline, eliminating confusion, etc.
· The “noise level” permitted may consist of quiet talking only. When directed to be silent, respond immediately and completely.
· Windows may be lowered no further than halfway down.
· Students will be held responsible for any damage, which occurs to a Transportation Department vehicle and will be required to pay all costs for repairs.
NO SMOKING OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS of any kind shall be allowed on the bus. This is in accordance with the state laws.
Glass or other articles which could result in danger to passengers shall not be transported on the bus.
A NOTE OR PHONE CALL TO THE SCHOOL is required from the parent or guardians if a student is to be let off the bus at other than the designated stop. The driver is never allowed to take a student off of an assigned route. If they are to be taken somewhere else it must be on one of Liberty’s assigned routes. Animals/pets, living or otherwise, radios and tape players with loud speakers are strictly prohibited on vehicles transporting students.
ATTENDANCE RULES-Definitions
Tardy (T): Arriving in class later than set time. (Arrival 30 minutes late will be considered absent for that class period.) Three tardies will be counted as one day unexcused absence for the class involved.
Absence (A): Not present in class and/or not present at school or arriving to class later than 30 minutes into that class period.
Excused Absence: Illness, death of a family member, working for parents, etc. (Called in within a 24 hour window)
Unexcused Absence: Any absence that occurs without parent/guardian contact being made. (After a 24 hour window). Unexcused absences include suspension and expulsion.
Prearranged Procedures: Any planned absence the student must come to the front office and sign the prearranged notebook and pick up a prearranged sheet in order to keep track of their missed assignments. The student will sign out for the days they will be absent along with a reason; parent permission is still required (child will be responsible for parents phone call or letter). Once a student signs this notebook they have agreed that they have spoken with their teachers and have received all of their assignments so that they can make this work up upon returning to class.
School Related Absence: participating in a school-related endorsed, or sponsored activity or field trip is not considered an absence. However, arrangements must be made with teachers prior to the pre-excused absence(s). School-related absences do not count toward the 7 limit absence for and attendance review.
A student must check in at the office if he/she arrives late to school. A note or phone call from the parent will be accepted to excuse the late arrival.
File: JH
Student Absences and Excuses
One criteria of a student's success in school is regular and punctual attendance. Frequent absences may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development and possible academic failure. Regular attendance is of utmost importance for school interest, social adjustment and scholastic achievement. No single factor may interfere with a student's progress more quickly than frequent tardiness or absence.
According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent/guardian to ensure that every child under their care and supervision receives adequate education and training and, if of compulsory attendance age, attends school.
Continuity in the learning process and social adaptation is seriously disrupted by excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up adequately. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more and are more employable after leaving school. For at least these reasons, the Board believes that a student must satisfy two basic requirements in order to earn full class credit: (1) satisfy all academic requirements and (2) exhibit good attendance habits as stated in this policy.
Excused absences
The following shall be considered excused absences:
1. A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences shall be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
2. A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental or emotional disability.
3. A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.
4. A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.
The district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.
File: JH
Unexcused absences
An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the
foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student's record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence shall be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence.
In accordance with law, the district may impose academic penalties which relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. The administration shall develop regulations to implement appropriate penalties. Students and parents/guardians may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy or the accompanying regulations provided that no exception shall be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting any such exception.
The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is nine days during any calendar year or school year.
Make-up work
Make-up work shall be provided for any class in which a student has an excused absence unless otherwise determined by the building administrator. It is the responsibility of the student to pick up any make-up assignments permitted on the day returning to class. There shall be one day allowed for make-up work for each day of absence. Make-up work shall be allowed following an unexcused absence with the goal of providing the student an opportunity to keep up with the class and an incentive to attend school. However, this work will receive only partial credit, which is the consequence for an unexcused absence.
Tardiness
Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the non-tardy student to uninterrupted learning, penalties shall be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents/guardians shall be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness.
In an unavoidable situation, a student detained by another teacher or administrator shall not be considered tardy provided that the teacher or administrator gives the student a pass to enter his next class. Teachers shall honor passes presented in accordance with this policy.
The provisions of this policy shall be applicable to all students in the district, including those above and below the age for compulsory attendance as required by law.
File: JH
Adopted: September 11, 2007
LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-2-114.1 (3)(a) (definition of “dropout” student)
C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(n) (length of school year, instruction & contact time)
C.R.S. 22-32-109.1 (2)(a) (conduct and discipline code)
C.R.S. 22-33-101 et seq. (School Attendance Law of 1963)
C.R.S. 22-33-105 (3)(d)(III) (opportunity to make up work during suspension)
CROSS REFS.: IC/ICA, School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time
JEA, Compulsory Attendance Ages
JHB, Truancy
JK, Student Discipline
JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students
JLIB, Student Dismissal Precautions
Note 1: The law requires the local board of education to designate an attendance officer for the district to enforce the provisions of the compulsory attendance law, counsel students and parents and investigate the causes of nonattendance and report those findings to the board.
NOTE 2: Penalties in addition to those referred to in this sample policy may be approved by the Board or administration.
NOTE 3: State law requires that the attendance policy
specify the maximum number of unexcused absences that it takes to trigger
enforcement of compulsory attendance. In determining that number, which can
be expressed either in hours or days, it may be helpful to refer to C.R.S.
22-33-107 (3) which defines “habitual truant” as a child age 7-15
16 who has four unexcused absences from school in a month or 10 during
the school year.
NOTE 4: It is up to the local Board to allow, deny or give partial credit for makeup work completed following an unexcused absence (including a period of suspension or expulsion). CASB recommends that the district’s philosophy regarding make up work be consistent throughout the attendance and discipline policies. In accordance with state law on educational opportunities during suspension, the objective should be to reintegrate the student back into the classroom after sufficient remediation opportunities are provided. The academic penalty should not be so severe as to limit the student’s ability to succeed academically in the future. See C.R.S. 22-33-105 (3)(d)(III).
LEAVING THE BUILDING/GROUNDS
Students are to sign out in the office when leaving or returning to the building. Signing out does not constitute permission to leave school grounds. Students must have permission from the parent/guardian before they are allowed to leave school grounds. Staff requesting students to leave campus, for any reason, must send the student and a note to the office for administrator approval prior to the students leaving. Any student, who leaves school before the time of dismissal without properly signing out, will be considered truant and subjects himself to disciplinary action. The school will not be liable for students who do not follow this procedure.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
The principal will determine the status of transfer students to Liberty High School. Students who do not have enough credits to stay up with their class are not eligible to participate in class activities or to represent a class in any school event except for money-making activities for the class in which they should be but fell behind.
GRADING SYSTEM
A+ 98-100 B+ 89-91 C+80-82 D+71-73
A 95-97 B 86-88 C 77-79 D 68-70 F 0-64
A- 92-94 B-83-85 C- 74-76 D- 65-67
To qualify for Honor Roll, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.4000 or higher. All courses that are assigned a letter grade will be counted in computing the Honor Roll. A minimum of three classes must be included in computation
Knights Honor Roll: Grade point average of 3.4000-3.79000
Superintendent Honor Roll: Grade point average of 3.8000-4.0000
An incomplete must be made up within two weeks of the end of the quarter grading period. If the work is not made up, the incomplete will automatically be converted to a failing letter grade to be calculated as part of the student’s semester grade.
VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN
The superintendent and counselor shall determine valedictorian and salutatorian. Criterion is as follows:
1. The valedictorian will be the student with the highest grade point average for the four years of high school.
2. The salutatorian will be the student with the second highest grade point average for the four years of high school.
3. In case of a tie for valedictorian, valedictorians will be honored and no salutatorian will be selected.
4. In case of a tie for salutatorian, salutatorians will be honored.
5. To compute the grade point average, all academic courses will be considered. (Teacher’s aide grades and work-study will not be used in the computation.) Only semester percentage grades will be used in the computation, with third quarter percentage grades being used in the senior year.
6. To be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian, a student must be enrolled at Liberty High School by and continuously following the tenth school day of the student’s senior year, and must have been a full-time high school student four of the past five academic years.
7. The salutatorian and valedictorian will present addresses at the graduation exercises.
File: IKF
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Liberty SD J-4
28 Carnegie Units
High School Seniors must acquire 28 Carnegie Units in order to graduate, included in the 28 Carnegie Units are 14 core units. The 4 core unit classes are Math, Science, English and Social Studies. Example: At the end of the Senior year a student has taken and passed 4 years of Math and Science in addition to passing three unit of English and Social Studies. A student has the option of varying these core classes on what they choose to take for 4 years and 3 years as long as they take and pass 14 core units.
Freshman-7 units or more required
1. English-1 units to include Language Arts: reading, writing, speaking and listening
2. Social Studies-1 units to include 1 semester of Civics, 1 semester of World Geography
3. Math-1 units of Algebra I or a higher level math course
4. Science-1 units of Physical Science
5. Business-1 units of Computer Applications I
6. Consumer Family Science-1 unit of Teen Choices
7. Vocational Agriculture-1 unit of Agriculture 1
8. Physical Education-1 unit (participation in after school athletics will count 1/3 unit per sport
toward Physical Education Requirements).
Sophomore-Must have passed 7 units of Freshman required courses in order to be classified as a Sophomore. Student must pass 7 units at the sophomore level to stay aligned with graduation requirements.
1. English-1 units to include Language Arts: reading, writing, speaking and listening
2. Social Studies-1 units to include World History
3. Math-1 units of Geometry or Algebra II
4. Science-1 units of Biology
5. Foreign Language-1 unit (graduating class of 2010 or later, to enter a four-year public college or university in Colorado will require 2 units)
6. Business-1 unit of Business Concepts, 1 unit of Accounting I (elective)
7. Consumer Family Science-1 unit: 1 semester of Child Adolescent Development, 1 semester of Nutrition and Wellness (electives)
8. Vocational Agriculture-1 unit of Agriculture II (elective)
9. Physical Education-1 unit (elective)
10. Art/Music-1 unit alternating days (elective)
Junior-Must have passed the freshman and sophomore year requirements of his/her previous school. The student will need 14 more units to graduate.
1. English-1 units: 2 semesters of American Literature the junior year including the Language Arts: reading, writing, speaking and listening
2. Social Studies-1 unit of American History
3. Math-1 units of Algebra II or a higher level math course, 1 unit of Business Math
4. Science-1 units to include at least one of the following: Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Food Science/Dietetics and Nutrition or Agriculture Crop Science and Agricultural Animal Science
File: IKF
5. Foreign Language-1 unit (graduating class of 2010 or later, to enter a four-year public
college or university in Colorado will require 2 units)
6. Business-1 unit of Computer Application II, 1 unit of Accounting I or II (electives)
7. Consumer Family Science-1 unit: 1 semester of Life Man,, 1 semester of Relationships (electives)
8. Vocational Agriculture-1 semester of Ag Business,1 semester of Ag Landscaping, Ag Mechanics I (electives)
9. Physical Education-1 unit (elective)
10. Art/Music-1 unit alternating days (elective)
11. Photography-1 unit (elective)
Senior-Must have passed the freshman, sophomore and junior year requirements of his/her previous school. The student will need 7 more units to graduate.
1. English-1 unit: 2 semester of World/English Literature the senior year including the Language Arts: reading, writing, speaking and listening
If a student qualifies he/she may take College Composition 120 and College Composition
121 to fulfill the senior English credits.
2. Social Studies-1 unit: 1 semester of Introduction to Political Science or American Problems, 1 semester of American Government
3. Math-1 unit of Trigonometry or another equivalent class,1 unit of Business Math
4. Science-1 unit to include at least one of the following not already taken: Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Food Science/Dietetics and Nutrition or Agriculture Science
5. Foreign Language-1 unit (graduating class of 2010 or later, to enter a four-year public college or university in Colorado will require 2 units)
6. Business-1 unit of Business Techniques, 1 unit of Desktop Publishing, 1 unit of Accounting I or II (electives)
7. Consumer Family Science-1 unit: 1 semester of Life Management, 1 semester of Relationships (electives)
8. Vocational Agriculture- 1 unit of Ag Mechanics II, 1 semester of Ag Business, 1 semester of Ag Landscaping, Ag Mechanics II (electives)
9. Physical Education-1 unit of Weights (elective)
10. Art/Music-1 unit alternating days (elective)
11. Photography-1unit (elective)
** At least 8 elective units in area of student choice
Any of the above requirements may be waved because of physical disability or conflict with religious beliefs. Student staffed into Special Education shall not have to complete the required subject areas. Programs for Special Education students shall be based on individual need.
File: IKF
Transfer Students
Transfer students expecting to receive a diploma from Liberty School District J-4 must meet all of the District's Academic requirements, including any requirements for class attendance and adherence to the Student Code of Conduct. Acceptance of credits transferred from schools outside of Liberty School District J-4 shall be determined on a case by case basis at the sole discretion of the Superintendent.
Adopted: May 23, 1974
Revised: February 22, 1979
Revised: May 13, 1982
Revised: October 28, 1982
Revised: July 9, 1987
Revised: May 12, 1988
Revised: November 26, 1991
Revised: July 12, 1999
Revised: November 8, 1999
Revised: December 11, 2001
Revised: November 12, 2002
Revised: June 24, 2003
Revised: June 13, 2007
Cross-Reference: IHCDA, Post Secondary Options/Concurrent Enrollment
IHAIA*, Work Experience Opportunities