Creative Minds Student Handbook
Creative Minds Philosophy and Mission
We believe in the ability of all students to succeed. Our school is built on the idea that academic achievement comes through a combination of scholarship, critical-thinking and creativity. We want our students to leave Creative Minds with a sense of curiosity about the world as well as the practical tools needed to find lasting success in life.
Creative Minds Attendance Standards
- Students at Creative Minds are only allowed to miss 5 days of school during any one month or 8 days of school during one semester.
- You may be dropped from the CM program on the 6th day or the 9th, respectively.
- Please call the office in the event of any absence. (344-9712)
- Exceptions may be made due to extenuating circumstances, good grades and/or overall academic performance
Creative Minds Academic Standards
All students must demonstrate academic progress in order to remain in good standing and enrolled at Creative Minds.
If a student earns a grade of F in any class during the semester, he or she will be placed on academic probation for the following sememster. The studen must raise and maintain all of his or her grade(s) at a "C" level by the close of the probationary period. If the student is unable to perform at this "C" level in all classes by the end of this probation, he or she will be dropped from the Creative Minds Program.
If a student fails 2 or more classes during a single semester at Creative Minds, he or she will be dropped from the program.
Exceptions and modifications will be made to meet pre-existing IEP benchmark goals.
Daily Schedules
| AM |
|
PM |
| 1st Period |
9:00-9:45 |
|
1st Period |
1:00-1:45 |
| 2nd Period |
9:45-10:30 |
|
2nd Period |
1:45-2:30 |
| 3rd Period |
10:30-11:15 |
|
3rd Period |
2:30-3:15 |
| 4th Period |
11:15-12:00 |
|
4th Period |
3:15-4:00 |
Student Expectations (A/K/A the rules)…
These expectations are for all of us so that we can be safe, learn, and enjoy being at Creative Minds together. Nobody expects you to be perfect all the time, but we do expect you always to try to give your best effort. Work on achieving your goals, completing your schoolwork, and being respectful. Always try your hardest.
-
Attendance
Come to school! You can’t miss more than 8 days in the semester or 5 days in a single month. It doesn’t matter if these absences are excused or unexcused. We might make exceptions if there are reasons for absences that are out of your control. But if you go over the maximum number of absences, you may be placed on an attendance contract after meeting with the Director. If this doesn’t work, you may be dropped from the program. And remember, your parent or guardian needs to call you in when you are going to be absent. The office phone number is 344-9712.
- Tardiness
Be on time! School starts at 9:00 A.M. for the morning program and 1:00 P.M. for the afternoon. If you can’t help being late, you need to have a signed note from your parent or guardian or we need a telephone call from them. Sometimes accidents happen but if you’re always late, there’s a problem. Being tardy affects your school work and your grades and it also disrupts the other people in your class. Frequent tardiness will result in the need for a parent conference with the Director.
- Preparation
Come to school each day with the intention of working hard and doing your best! Some days you might not be in the greatest mood or able to do your best but we understand this. We will work with you to fix what needs to be fixed but don’t use this as an excuse when you’re just messing up. Take care of yourself and come to school ready to give your best effort.
- Respect
Be respectful! Be respectful and appropriate toward the other students and your teachers. You shouldn’t use bad language and you can’t insult people. Don’t threaten or bother people. We want you to express yourself but be respectful of other students and the staff of Creative Minds.
- Dress Code
Use common sense. Your stomach must be covered and you can’t wear tank-tops with spaghetti-style straps. Also, no t-shirts, hats or other articles of clothing that promote alcohol, drugs, gang-affiliation, violence, sexual activity or any offensive attitudes. You cannot wear sunglasses in class without a medical reason. We want to see your faces and engage with you; therefore if you wear a hoodie-type sweatshirt, you can’t wear the hood up over your head.
- Safe Behavior
Creative Minds is a safe place. You can’t hit, push or rough-house aggressively. Don’t put your hands on other students or the teachers. Threats, aggression and other unsafe behavior will be dealt with seriously and may get you suspended or expelled.
- School Property
This is your school. Make it a place you want to show your parents and friends. Do not damage or vandalize or steal things. Accidents happen but you’re responsible for anything you damage or break. You will be billed for damages.
Personal Belongings and Personal Space
You need to respect the property of other students and the property of the teachers and staff. Everyone has the right to not have their things bothered, damaged, or stolen. If you don’t have permission, don’t touch it! Theft is a crime and it will be handled in a serious manner that the administration feels is appropriate.
Also, you need to respect the personal space of other people around you. If somebody doesn’t want to be touched, don’t touch them.
- Campus
Creative Minds is a closed campus. You need to remain on school property until school is out or until you are given permission or accompanied by a staff member. We share this building with a lot of other tenants and certain areas are off-limits to you. Off-limits includes upstairs, the parking lot, and the alley along the east side of the building.
- Cell-phones, Music Players, Game Devices, Skateboards, etc.
You cannot be a distraction to other students. Cell-phones will not be seen or heard anywhere on campus during school hours. If you take out a cell-phone, it will be confiscated. You may get it back at the end of the day. The same goes with personal stereos and electronic game devices. They are not to be used at all during school hours. And like cell-phones, they will be confiscated. After the first offense, you can get it back at the end of the day. A second offense means that a parent or guardian will have to come in and pick it up for you.
Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades and bikes must be put away when you first get to school. You can’t use them inside the building or in the parking lot. There are racks beneath the shelter to lock your bike. Bring a lock.
A special note:
The school phone is for emergencies only. You should arrange for a ride home ahead of time. The phone is not to be used for this purpose.
- Computer and Internet Use
Computer use is governed by the Acceptable Use Agreement that all students must sign prior to enrollment. Simply put, you will not use the Creative Minds computers to look at inappropriate things such as pornography, or violent, racist or drug-related sites. Chat rooms and social-networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) are strictly off-limits. If you break the rules, or are caught using software or a “tunneling” site to get around the filtering programs on our machines, your computer privileges might be suspended or revoked for good.
You may not use a teacher’s personal computer without permission!
If you have time before or after school, it’s OK to use your e-mail as long as this does not violate any of the above restrictions on content.
- Field Trips
Field trips are an important part of community learning. We take a lot of short field trips around the city of Eugene. You are considered to be still in school during a field trip! You need to follow all the rules of Creative Minds and local traffic laws while you’re gone and you need to stay within sight of accompanying staff member(s).
- Food Policy
Creative Minds follows the 4J Health and Wellness Policy as it relates to food on campus. Food and drink may only be consumed on campus before or after school and it must meet the healthy snack food criteria. Do not bring soft drinks, energy drinks or sugary junk food or candy to school. The food must have nutritious qualities.
Teachers may allow you to consume healthy snacks or drinks in their classrooms but it is at their discretion. You need to ask before you open something or start to eat or drink. This is not a right but a privilege and all food or drinks must be finished before you leave that classroom.
Chewing gum, too, is at the discretion of the teacher. If a teacher allows you to chew gum, it is only for that class and in that classroom.
Students may not consume sunflower seeds in the shell! This involves spitting and violates the health and safety standards of the school. No un-shelled sunflower seeds.
- Public Displays of Affection
Creative Minds is a small academic environment. We need to keep our focus on education and minimize distractions. Relationships cannot be allowed to distract us from learning. Kissing, holding hands, sitting on other student’s laps or otherwise touching in an inappropriate manner will not be tolerated.
Creative Minds Discipline Policy
Violations of the Creative Minds rules will result in the student receiving an Incident Report.
5 such write-ups in any semester may result in a suspension and the student will not be allowed to return to CM before attending a behavioral conference involving staff members and the student's parent or guardian.
Subsequent Incident Reports during the same semester may result in the student being dropped from the Creative Minds Academic Program.
Other Important Things (CM Policies and the answers to your questions)…
- What about being admitted to CMAS and school attendance?
Students will be admitted under various criteria. This includes an initial interview with the director of Creative Minds, the student’s previous academic & behavioral record, and the student’s dedication and commitment.
Students are expected to attend all classes at Creative Minds in which they are enrolled. If a student is to miss school due to illness, doctor or dental appointment, emergency, etc., parent or legal guardian needs to call the school as soon as possible. Too many absences are grounds for dismissal from the program.
Tardiness is harmful to a student’s academic progress as well as a disruption to the classroom. Chronic or excessive tardiness is unacceptable and may be grounds for dismissal from the program.
It is the student’s responsibility to make up work that was missed. Instructors will communicate with the parents or guardian when the student’s academic progress is placed in jeopardy due to excessive absence or tardiness.
Students, Parents and guardians, please note: frequent, multiple absences or tardiness will also affect in-school performance and earned-credit. If a student is more than 25 minutes late to a class, he or she will be marked absent from that particular class.
If a student has an attendance rate of less than 75% for any one class, the student will earn a reduced amount of credit for that class, equal to the rate of attendance. (For example, if the student shows up to first period math class only 60% of the time, he or she can only earn 60% of the credit.)
- What about grades?
Creative Minds assigns grades on the letter system (A, B, C, D and F) with the additional marks of (+) or (-) available as well. Students are graded according to their own progress and skill level.
In most cases, Incompletes will not be granted. Occasionally, newly arrived students will not have enough evaluated work for the instructor to assign a grade. In this case, a notice of No Basis for Grade (NBG) will be assigned.
Please Note: High School students at Creative Minds may see their semester academic credits negatively affected by poor attendance or consistent lack of effort.
- Is there a dress code?
Creative Minds encourages students in their individuality. However, the clothes you decide to wear cannot be offensive to other people. Clothes that promote violence, gang affiliation, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornographic images or words, or that glorify illegal behavior will not be tolerated. Your clothes should not be too revealing.
Students must wear shoes at all times for health and safety reasons.
Students should choose clothing that will fit the day’s activities. Clothes should not affect participation. Inappropriate footwear is not an excuse to skip a field trip.
Parents or guardians should be sure that their students are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions.
- Can I bring a guest to school?
All visitors to Creative Minds must be pre-approved and receive permission from the administration to be on the premises. Visitors must respect the environment of the school and cooperate with all the rules of Creative Minds.
- Creative Minds Policy on Violent Behavior and weapons
Conflicts are an inevitable part of life, but violence and threats of violence are not allowed at Creative Minds. Attempts at conflict resolution will first be made by the students involved in the situation with the aid of an instructor or staff member. However, students who assault, menace, threaten, harass or cause physical harm to another person will face disciplinary action that may include suspension, expulsion and legal proceedings. This includes bullying and intimidation.
Students may not threaten or physically fight with other students at Creative Minds. Also, students may not engage in rough or aggressive play at school. This includes wrestling, pinching, slapping, punching or kicking, even if it is “just goofing around.”
No student, staff or visitor will possess or transport any object that can reasonably be considered a dangerous weapon on school grounds or while participating in a school-sponsored activity. Violation of this policy will result in expulsion from Creative Minds. In accordance with state law, students expelled for a weapons violation will not be allowed to attend public school for one year.
Creative Minds Policy on School Searches
Creative Minds recognizes a student’s right to privacy. It is the expectation of the school that students, staff and guests will not bring illegal or prohibited items to school with them. We all must work together to preserve the safety and integrity of this learning environment.Should a student be observed to have an illegal or prohibited item in his or her possession, a staff member may ask the student to open and reveal the contents of pockets, bag, backpack, or car and surrender any illegal or prohibited items found. This will be done in the presence of a second staff member and, if possible, under conditions of privacy and confidentiality. In minor cases, some surrendered items may be returned to the student at the end of the school day. Other items can be reclaimed by a parent or guardian. However, illegal drugs, firearms, or other warranted items will be turned over to the police. If the police are notified, the school will follow the policy on police investigations.
Should a student refuse to comply with a requested search or to surrender restricted items, the student’s parent(s) or guardian will be contacted immediately and asked to pick the student up. Before re-admittance, parent or guardian must give the staff reasonable reassurance that no prohibited items were found. Depending on severity of the situation, student or students may face further disciplinary action.
Partial list of prohibited items:
Tobacco products, alcohol, narcotics, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, weapons, pornography.
Creative Minds Policy on Drugs & Alcohol Possession
The use or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs is absolutely prohibited at all programs of Creative Minds and on any field trip or extra-curricular activity. If a staff member has reasonable suspicion that a student is under the influence or in possession of alcohol or illegal narcotics at school, on school property or at any school-sponsored events, disciplinary action will be taken. Infractions may be punishable by suspension or expulsion.
- Withdrawal, Suspension, or Expulsion
If a student decides to withdraw from Creative Minds, the parent(s) or legal guardian will sign a withdrawal form which will be dated and placed in the student’s file. Credit-eligible students may receive partial academic credit if they attended classes for at least four weeks before withdrawing.
Students may be suspended or expelled from Creative Minds for incidents involving drugs or alcohol, destruction of school property, endangering the physical or emotional safety of other students, or repeated violations of behavioral expectations. A conference will be held with the school director, the student, and the student’s parent(s) or guardian. Upon explanation of the situation and consideration, if a suspension or expulsion is deemed appropriate, reason(s) for the suspension or expulsion will be documented. Consideration of re-admittance will depend on the situation and behavioral change in the student.
Out-of-school suspension is the temporary exclusion from school attendance and is not to exceed 10 days. Before the student can return to school, a conference must occur involving the director, the student, and the parent(s) or legal guardian.
Expulsion from school is a long-term exclusion from school and requires a hearing unless waived by the parent(s) or guardian or the student, if over the age of 18.
Any student who brings a dangerous weapon to school or any school-related function will be expelled for one year.
- What if I leave the school grounds?
Creative Minds is a closed campus. Parental permission is necessary before a student may leave the premises prior to daily dismissal. Students who know in advance they will have to leave school due to medical or dental appointments, athletic events, job interviews, etc., must bring a signed note clearly stating when they will be leaving. Also, they must contact the teachers of classes they will miss and get assignments in advance if possible.
If a student becomes ill at school, she or he may lie down for up to 45 minutes before being asked to decide whether to go home or go back to class. If the student is unable to continue with school, a phone call will be made to a parent, legal guardian, or a previously designated third-party. This adult must then come to school and pick the student up.
- Can I take my medicine here?
If a student requires prescription medication she or he should inform a staff member, and bring the medications in the original container that shows the prescription. It also needs to be made clear by the parent or guardian whether the student will be responsible for self-medication and if they need a reminder.
- What about the computers?
Access to Creative Mind’s electronic network is provided under the guidelines included in our Acceptable Use Policy. We want to insure that students and their parent/guardian are aware of this policy. We have two requirements that the student must fulfill before they are allowed access to the network:
- To insure that students and parents know the guidelines of the policy, we require the student return a signed Network Access Permission form.
- Teachers will give students instructions regarding appropriate use of the Internet. After that training, student will sign an Acceptance Form. This form reinforces the student’s knowledge of the rules.
Students may find material on the Internet that parents consider objectionable. Creative Minds will work to safeguard students from these situations, but we recommend parents have a discussion with their children about values and safe activities inherent with using the Internet. School guidelines prohibit access to material that is inappropriate in the school environment. Students working independently on projects are responsible for obeying school guidelines.
- Infectious Disease
Consistent with OAR 581-022-1440, CM will maintain age-appropriate plan of instruction about infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B as part of health education curriculum.
- Non-Discrimination Policy
Creative Minds Alternative School admits students of any race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. CM does not discriminate on the basis or race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in educational policies or programs.
Options for High School Students at CM…
Upon enrollment at Creative Minds, high school students will choose one of four academic options to pursue. This is the course track and goal that the student will be working toward. CM Academic Standards apply for all four options.
The offered programs are as follows:
- High School Completion—
the student will graduate and earn a high school diploma through Creative Minds Alternative School. Must earn extra-curricular credits to remain eligible for the completion program.
- High School Transition—
the student will use Creative Minds as a stepping stone to ease back into the public school system.
- Credit Recovery—
the student will attend Creative Minds for a brief period in order to make up a few missing graduation credits from his or her referring high school.
- GED Preparation—
the student must meet all requirements for this prep course and will attend Creative Minds to find assistance in review and study. If enrolled in this option, the student must maintain an attendance rate of 90% and continue to make steady progress toward completion of the GED test series in order to remain eligible.
An extra note about High School Completion…
High school students at Creative Minds attend school for three hours a day. This is half the seat time available at a traditional school and the credits available per semester are thus halved as well. A full year at Creative Minds Alternative School, if completed successfully, will earn the student 4 high school credits.
To receive a diploma, an incoming student needs to earn 24 credits. Therefore, if enrolled in the High School Completion Program, the student must be prepared to earn credits outside of the slotted class time.
We encourage internships, volunteering, apprenticeships, participation in structured sporting events, after-school jobs and courses of independent (but monitored) study. All must be pre-approved.
This is a part of the HS Completion Program and the student engaged in this track will be self-motivated and dedicated.
Assistance and guidance for these students will be offered through the Creative Minds Mentoring Program.
The High School Mentoring Program…
With the small size of our classrooms, our teachers develop strong rapport and relationships with the students. Our teachers get to know the kids that come to school here. And due to the close-knit nature of this academic community, we’ve found that we don’t need an on-site guidance counselor to assist students with their school planning. Our teachers and staff administrators work together to help keep students on track.
Within a few weeks of enrolling, each high school student will be assigned to work with a particular instructor. This teacher will know where you stand in the program, what you want to get out of Creative Minds, and what kind of help you need to reach your goals. You can talk to them, discuss problems and get advice.
At least once a month, the entire high school will take a day off from regular classes and your counselor will meet with you to check on your progress and grades. The teachers can also help you set up internships or volunteer spots, perhaps even after-school job tips.
|
