Valencia High School

TUTORING. Tutoring is available to all students during the Advisory period. Students areencouraged to obtain an advisory pass from their teacher so they can receiveadditional help during this time.STUDENT ACTIVITIESValencia High School strongly encourages participation in some type ofextracurricular activity. Research has shown that students who are involved inextracurricular activities are more likely to have better school attendance, highergrade point averages, more fulfilling high school careers, and greater success in posthigh school education. Below is a list of our current school-sponsored activities:SPORTSCross CountryCheer SquadJAGZ stlingSoftballBaseballTrackGolfCLUBSStudent CouncilNational Honor SocietyMarching BandFuture Farmers of AmericaDrama ClubROTCNative American ClubClass Council(Freshman Class)(Sophomore Class)(Junior Class)(Senior Class)RenaissanceSTUDENT ATTENDANCEATTENDANCE POLICYIf a student is absent (unexcused) for three (3) school days or 12 instructional periods atruancy letter will be generated through the school site and sent to the student’s parent orlegal guardian. If the unexcused absences continue and reach five (5) days or 20instructional periods, a five-day truancy letter will be sent to the listed residence by theschool site informing the parent or legal guardian of the absences. The student will beclassified as a student in need of early intervention. The student will be placed on aTruancy Attendance Contract signed by the student, a parent or legal guardian, and aschool administrator. The contract will include a plan identifying issues regarding whythe student has been missing school and shall attempt to recognize environmentalconcerns that are keeping the student from attending school. Other forms of interventionscan and will be offered to assist the family with the truancy issues.If the unexcused absences continue and reach seven (7) days or 28 instructional periods,the Los Lunas Schools Truancy Department will schedule an Administrative Magistrate10

Hearing in front of the Magistrate Judge who will determine why the Truancy AttendanceContract was violated. The judge will order the student and parent or legal guardian toschedule a meeting with the site administrator. The meeting with the site administratorwill determine what school sanctions to impose such as, revocation of driving privilegesonto the campus, eliminating student’s elective courses, after school tutoring, and E-2020 classes if applicable. If the student parent or legal guardian fails to appear to thescheduled Administrative Magistrate Court Hearing, the case will be referred to theValencia County District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution, thestudent will be referred to Juvenile Probation.If the unexcused absences continue and reach ten (10) days or 40 instructional periods,the Truancy Department will file criminal charges with the Valencia County DistrictAttorney’s Office for prosecution of the parent or legal guardian. The student will beclassified as a Habitual Truant.If fifty percent of an instructional period is missed an unexcused absence for the fullinstructional period will be counted.Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are required to provide written excuses in the form of anote, fax or email, indicating the reason and justification for not being present at schoolon the days absent.Excused absences include personal illness, Dr. Appointments, death in the family,religious commitment, diagnostic commitment, extenuating circumstances and approvedschool activities. At the principal’s or designee’s discretion, a doctor’s note or otherforms of verification may be required.The attendance office is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. during lunch and after school.In order for the absences to be excused, the note must be received within 24 hours ofreturning to school. Failure to bring the required not within 24 hours will result in theabsence being counted as unexcused.The excused note needs to include the following information:*Name, grade level and ID number*Date and periods missed*Reason for absence*Parent/guardian signature*Daytime telephone number11

VHS STUDENT EXPECTATIONS AND DISCIPLINE POLICIESTHE VHS DISCIPLINE MATRIXThe following discipline matrix has been designed to protect and foster respect for therights of VHS students and staff. Infractions of this matrix are grouped in three levelsbased on the severity of the infraction, and each violation of the code may have from one tothree levels of consequences.These represent the recommended guidelines in the disposition of discipline situations atValencia High School. Therefore, depending on the circumstances of the behavior oreducational status of the student, responses may vary from situation to situation. If anincident is considered exceptionally flagrant, a higher consequence may be assigned. Insome Level III infractions, a law enforcement referral may be warranted. NOTE: TheValencia High School Administration reserves the right to have regular penalties in thispolicy altered when circumstances dictate a different course of action.BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONSLUNCH DETENTIONLunch Detention will be heldevery school day during thelunch period. Lunchdetention will be utilized fortardiness, minor classroomdisruption issues, and otherdiscipline infractions that donot necessitate more severedisciplinary action. Failure toreport to lunch detention mayresult in additional daysassigned and/or out of schoolsuspension until parentconference.ALTERNATIVE-TOSUSPENSION (ATS)Students who are habituallydisruptive to the educationalprocess may be placed in ourAlternative to Suspension (ATS)Program. This is a school leveldiscipline intervention designedto keep a student in school whilesimultaneously providingadditional behavior andacademic supports to get themon the right track. Students willgenerally be assigned to ATS fora pre-determined period of time.OUT-OF-SCHOOLSUSPENSION (OSS)Students who are suspendedfrom Valencia High School areprohibited from being on thecampus or in attendance at anyschool activity or event for theduration of their suspension.A parent meeting to develop orreview a behavior plan/contractmay occur prior to the studentreturning to school. Studentswho come onto campus duringan Out-of-School Suspensionwill be subject to arrest andprosecution as well asadditional school consequences.Any school detention and/or suspension will take precedent over activities, athletics, andwork. The student may only report to an event or practice after length of the disciplineconsequence has expired. While in Out-of-School Suspension or Alternative To Suspension,the student may not attend any school events on or off campus.12

LEVEL I REFERRAL: MINOR INFRACTIONBehavior1st OffenseBehavioral disruption1 day lunch detention(profanity, rudeness, actingdisrespectfully, dishonesty,etc.)Bus DisruptionsDress Code ViolationPublic Public Display of AffectionTardy2nd Offense1 day OSS3rd Offense3 days OSSDependent uponinfraction, consequencesissued per schooldiscipline matrixWarning; may warrantchange of dressWarning1 day lunch detention; maywarrant change of dress1 day lunch detention1 – 3 per semester;warning4 and higher per semester; 1day lunch detention per tardy1 day OSS; parentconference1 day OSS; parentconferenceHabitualOffender; OSS (orATS), parentconference, loss ofdriving privilegesLEVEL II REFERRAL: MID INFRACTIONBehavior1st OffenseCheating or plagiarismZero onassignment/test,Parent Conference2nd OffenseZero onassignment/test, 1day ATS, ParentConference3 days lunchdetention or ATS,parent conference3 days OSS;parent conference3rd OffenseZero onassignment/test 2days ATS, ParentConference5 days lunchdetention or ATSTruancy Referral5 days OSS ORassigned to ATS;parent conference1 day OSS; parentconferenceTruancy1 day lunch detentionor assigned to ATSFailure to comply with disciplinaryconsequencesTwice the previousconsequencesHorse Play1 day lunch detentionInappropriate use of technology (using orallowing unauthorized access to software,telephones, accounts, or files)Loss of Internetprivileges and/or OSS(See Tech. Contract)Insubordination, defiance of authority orshowing disrespect1 day OSSMisuse of or falsifying any official documentor communication (including but not limitedto: pass, ID, progress report, call to excuseabsence, parent signature, etc.)1 day ATS2 days ATS5 days OSS ORassigned to ATS;parent conference3 days ATSPossession of inappropriate items/obscenematerialsItems confiscated;Parent Conference,possible ATSItems confiscated;ParentConference,Items confiscated;ATS; ParentConference3 days lunchdetentionLoss of Internetprivileges forremainder ofSchool Year3 day OSS; parentconference13

Cell Phones/Personal Electronic Devices(electronic devices, I Pods, CD Players, MP3Players etc. - See handbook for description)Item confiscated forone day; returned tostudent at end of daypossible ATSItem confiscateduntil ParentConferenceItem confiscateduntil ParentConference, ATSPossession/use of tobacco and/or rollingpapers/E-Cigarettes or similar device1 day ATS3 day ATS5 days ATSLEVEL III REFERRAL: MAJOR INFRACTIONBehavior1st OffenseArson – Level 1 Less than 100.005-10 days OSS pendingdamageinvestigation, may includeArson – Level 2 Personal injury orLong Term Suspensiondamage over 100.00HearingAssault (physical)/battery of a staff10 days OSS pending LongmemberTerm Suspension HearingAssault (physical)/battery of a student5 days OSS, BehaviorContract;2nd Offense3rd Offense10 days OSSpending LongTerm Suspension10 days OSSpending LongTermSuspensionHearing10 days OSSpending LongTermSuspensionHearingAssault (Verbal) of a staff member orstudent (including intimidating orthreatening remarks)3 days OSSBomb Threats/False Alarms/Explosives10 days OSS pending LongTerm Suspension Hearing5 days OSS and Mediation10 days OSSGang Related Activity – Level 1Gang signs, mobbing, markings onbodies, and dressGang Related Activity – Level 2Graffiti, gang violence, and repeatedgang activity3 days OSS5 days OSS10 days OSSpending LongTermSuspensionHearing10 days OSS5 days OSSHarassment (Physical, racial, verbalintimidation toward another studentbullying)Making a false 911 callPulling fire alarm1 day OSS and referral to aCounselor/Social Worker &Mediation5-10 days OSS, possibleLong Term SuspensionHearing10 days OSSpending LongTerm SuspensionHearing3 days OSS5 days OSSFighting – Aggressive Confrontation(Physical)5 days OSS,BehaviorContract14

Drug/Alcohol abuse (solicitation,possession, consumption, or being underthe influence of alcohol, drugs, look-alikes, or other controlled substancesincluding prescription drugs orparaphernalia)5 days OSS;Counseling referral10 days OSSpending LongTerm SuspensionHearingIndecent Behavior/Acts5 days OSS; parent contact7 days OSS;parent contactReckless Driving3 days LOSS of campusdriving privileges; parentconferenceParentConference andLOSS of campusdriving privilegesSelling or distributing alcohol, drugs,look-a-likes, or other controlledsubstances including prescription drugs10 days OSS pending LongTerm Suspension HearingSexual Harassment (See definition, page17)OSS, pending investigationSexual Assault or Battery10 days OSS pending LongTerm Suspension HearingTheft/Extortion3 days OSS and restitutionVandalism (involved in altering,defacing or destroying school or privateproperty, including technology)Possession of Weapons10 days OSSpending LongTermSuspensionHearing10 days OSSpending LongTerm SuspensionHearing5 days OSSpending LongTerm SuspensionHearing andrestitution10 days OSSpending LongTermSuspensionHearing andrestitution3 days OSS, loss of privileges, 5 days OSS10 days OSSrestitutionpending Longpending LongTerm Suspension TermHearing,Suspensionrestitution, lossHearing,of privilegesrestitution, lossof privileges10 days OSS pending LongTerm Suspension HearingDisclaimer: Any illegal activity may be referred to law enforcement.15

BULLYING POLICY“Bullying behavior by any student in the Los Lunas Schools is strictly prohibited, and suchconduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion from school.“Bullying” means any repeated and pervasive written, verbal or electronic expression, physicalact or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more studentsin the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop, or at schoolactivities or sanctioned events. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, hazing, harassment,intimidation or menacing acts of a student which may, but need not be based on the student’srace, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation that areasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to disrupt orinterfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student.Students and parents may file verbal or written complaints concerning suspected bullyingbehavior to school personnel and administrators. Any report of suspected bullying behaviorwill be promptly reviewed. If acts of bullying are verified, prompt disciplinary action may betaken against the perpetrator, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion.”DRESS CODEThe dress and grooming standards of Valencia High School are meant to promote a positive,professional learning environment where the focus is on instruction rather than clothing.Clothing, hairstyles, and accessories should not be disruptive, immodest, or compromisestudent safety.Students shall come to school looking clean, neat, and ready to learn. The District prohibitspictures, emblems, or writings on materials or clothing that are lewd, offensive, vulgar,immodest, or promote or refer to alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other illegal substance. TheDistrict also prohibits any clothing or grooming that, in the principal’s judgment, mayreasonably be expected to cause disruption of or interference with normal operations. Shirts orother clothing items depicting or promoting acts of violence, guns, weapons, death,dismemberment, disfigurement, gang activity or affiliation, or other offensive items arespecifically prohibited.The following statements serve as guidelines so that there is no question of what is acceptable. “Sagging pants” are not allowed. Jeans, slacks, shorts, and all other pants must be wornat or about the waist at all times. Even if a shirt is long, the pants must be worn at thewaist. Undergarments should not be visible at any time.Inappropriate exercise clothing will not be allowed without an appropriate coveringgarment. Yoga pants, stretchy pants, or tights are not allowed unless covered by anappropriate length dress or shirt.Pants and other articles of clothing that are torn, ragged, frayed, or pants with holes arenot permitted.Sunglasses, and bandanas are not to be worn into the classrooms or offices.16

Hairstyles or unnatural hair colors that, in the judgment of the principal, cause adisruption of the educational environment are not allowed.No undergarments or pajamas are to be worn as outerwear.Shoes must be worn; house shoes are not permitted.Earrings are permissible. All other visible body-piercing jewelry or ornaments that aredeemed excessive by the administration will be prohibited.Boys: Shirts with sleeves must be worn at all times.Girls: Sleeveless tops with a minimum width of two-inch wide straps are acceptable.The shirt straps must be wide enough to cover undergarments.See-through, bare midriff, halter type, or spaghetti strap blouses or any revealingclothing is not permitted. Shirt hems should extend well below the waist ofpants/shorts/skirts whether in a sitting or standing position.Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be a length that reaches 3 inches above the knee.Students inviolation of the student dress and grooming code will be expected to change to appropriateattire (that will be provided by the school) when violations are brought to their attention.Students will be required to leave the inappropriate clothing item with the principal and willnot be returned until the student brings back the clothing provided by the school. Students willnot be allowed to leave campus for the purpose of changing clothes. Students who chronicallyfail to meet this requirement of compliance with the Dress Code may be out- of- schoolsuspended until a parent conference. Students who persistently violate the dress code may beheld to a higher dress standard. Students are expected to be in compliance with the dress codeat any school-related event or activity; school officials have the authority to ask them to leave ifthey are inappropriately dressed.Note: The principal, in connection with the sponsor, coach, or other person in charge of anextracurricular activity, may regulate the dress and grooming of students who participate inthe activity and may impose higher standards.ELECTRONIC DEVICESValencia High School (VHS) holds a belief that students need a safe, positive and productivelearning environment free from disruptions, distractions and threats. VHS has determined thatPersonal Electronic Devices (PEDs) [PED defined as “an electronic device that emits an audibleor visual signal, displays a message, or otherwise summons the possessor, including, but notlimited to, cellular telephones, paging devices, electronic e-mailing devices, radios, tape players,CD players, DVD players, video cameras, iPods or other MP3 type players, laser pointers, portablevideo game players, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cameras, and any devicethat provides a wireless connection to the Internet] can create a disruption to the learningenvironment, distract students from the primary purpose of education and can be used tothreaten other students.The school prohibits the use of Personal Electronic Devices by students in classrooms, otherplaces designated for instruction (including the field, shop, and gym), and school offices duringthe school day. Personal Electronic Devices MUST be stored out-of-sight and in an “OFF”position while in classrooms, other places designated for instruction, and school offices duringthe school day. A student who has a PED that is visible or can be heard in the places listed willbe in violation o

REGISTRATION Incoming ninth grade students will have gone through pre-registration activities at Valencia Middle School, but may still need to attend registration activities in July/August before school starts. Please contact Valencia High School at 565-8755 if you have any questions about the registration process and what is required of you.