Student Handbook

Along with our Mission and Vision Statements, we have developed our “Why?”. This is a simpler version that is at the heart of everything we do.

Our “Why?” We love our kids and want to equip them for a diverse world, offering our students, who may not conform to a traditional setting, another chance at an education.

Everything in this handbook and all we do on a day-to-day basis return to this “Why?”, and we ask that, as you read through this handbook, you keep that in mind.

Welcome to Eagle Academy!

We are excited that you have chosen Eagle Academy to be part of your educational story.

Why is an education important? We hope that you realize that it allows you to open opportunity’s door. We, at Eagle Academy, are committed to doing all we can to help you open those doors.

Eagle Details
Eagle Academy is a family made up of past and present students and staff. We have a saying, “Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle” because of the tight-knit bonds that we build while here. Parents, guardians, siblings, and friends are welcome members, as well. Please be on the lookout for emails about some of our special events; we love to have those close to our students join our celebrations.

Our small class sizes contribute to the family atmosphere. We try to keep classes between 13 and 18 students. Occasionally, due to reasons beyond our control, we may have a class exceed 18 students; however, it is a rarity. 

Eagle Academy is a fee-free school. There are no fees associated with attending Eagle Academy. When possible, we even try to cover all costs of field trips. However, outstanding fees from previous schools must be paid before they will release full student records to Eagle Academy and prior to enrollment at Eagle.

Eagle Academy operates on a four-quarter system with a combined block-traditional class schedule. Students are able to earn up to 1.75 academic credits, in addition to any elective credits earned through ACE Work Experience, every nine weeks, which are awarded at the end of each quarter. 

Eagle Academy utilizes multiple means of communication to remain in contact with parents. The Infinite Campus Parent Portal is an excellent way for families to remain up to date on grades, attendance, etc. Daily notifications regarding absences go out via email/text, and a weekly newsletter is emailed each Monday. We offer Parent/Teacher Conferences each quarter, and grades are mailed home every three weeks. Finally, our staff is happy to answer emails and phone calls and/or reach out to families as needed.

Eagle Traditions
Eagle Academy offers two commencement ceremonies each year, one in January and one in June. Students participate in the first graduation after they have completed state and district requirements for graduation. 

Each quarter begins with an award ceremony that recognizes some of the best and brightest of the previous quarter. Parents of award recipients are always invited via email, but all friends and family are welcome to help honor our outstanding student population. We celebrate the winners of the following awards:

• Rookie of the Quarter (awarded to exemplary new students)
• Kindness (awarded to those who embody compassion to others)
• Work Ethic (awarded to those who show extraordinary work habits, in school or in their job)
• 180 (awarded to students who have made recent significant, positive changes)
• Leadership (awarded to students who excel in all areas, including encouraging others to take the right path)
• Perfect Attendance (awarded to students who have zero absences, excused or unexcused, and/or tardies in a quarter)
• Honor Roll (awarded to students who earn a GPA of 3.00 to 3.49 and pass ACE Work Experience, if enrolled)
• High Honor Roll (awarded to students who earn a GPA of 3.50 to 4.00 and pass ACE Work Experience, if enrolled)

Each semester, Mr. Johnston and our Government classes run Eagle Academy Presidential Elections. Four candidates and their teams develop platforms, create slogans, develop marketing material and commercials, deliver speeches, and present their case. Students vote in a system parallel to the electoral college, and a president is chosen for that semester.

Every fall, Eagle Academy spends an evening at Stone Canyon Outdoor Education Center, taking risks, building trust, and having fun in the process. This field trip, transportation, and dinner on site is paid for by Eagle Academy. Volunteers to assist with dinner preparation and service are welcome.

Every spring, Eagle Academy hosts its annual Art and Talent Show, where students are invited to showcase works of art and various talents. Each year, this evening proves to be a remarkable show of beauty and abilities that are truly impressive. Families and friends are welcome to attend.

Each quarter, our community friends provide a fresh cooked meal for our entire student body and staff. These “community dinners” are a highlight for the Eagle family. 

Each Wednesday, Mr. Broeker and the office staff make pancakes for the students. This is done, free of charge; although we always love donations of pancake mix.

Student Success Score

In order to remain in good standing at Eagle Academy, students must pass their academic grades and Student Success Scores.

All students are expected to pass their Student Success Score (SSS) in every academic class on their schedule for the 9-week quarter to remain a full-time student at Eagle Academy.  Any student that does not meet the minimum SSS for any given 9-week quarter will be placed on Academic Leave for the next quarter.  Eagle students begin each quarter with 15 SSS points in each class, they must earn a minimum of 9 out of the 15 points to remain active for the next quarter.  The breakdown of the 15 SSS points is categorized as follows:
 
Academic Performance Points – 5 possible points
• 5 = A
• 4 = B
• 3 = C
• 2 = D
• -2 = F
*Missing assignments are due within a week of being given and it is the responsibility of the student to request assignments they have missed due to attendance or discipline.  Work submitted beyond a week of its deadline can constitute a zero for that assignment.
 
Attendance Points – 5 possible points
• 5 = No absences
• 4 = One Absence
• 3 = Two Absences
• 2 = Three Absences
• 1 = Four Absences
• -1 = Five Absences
• -2 = Six Absences
*Per School District Policy 3 tardies in a given class equals 1 unexcused absence.
*Having 6 or more absences will automatically result in the student being placed on Academic Leave.
*Absences that are unexcused contribute to point loss.  Only absences as a result of medical or court-mandated appearances can be approved with the appropriate documentation. Administration has all discretionary rights in terms of absences and how they are recorded.
 
Behavior Points – 5 possible points
• 5 = No behavior incidents
*Behavior points are deducted based on the incident and are the discretion of both the teacher
and the administration.  The deduction of a behavior point can/may be limited to an individual
class or be taken from multiple classes depending on the infraction and its impact on Eagle
Academy High School, its students or staff.

Eagle Academy is working with district leadership and various organizations to support our students’ completion of all graduation requirements, including the new English and Math expectations established by the state of Colorado.

Course Offerings
Eagle Academy offers a wide variety of classes to satisfy students’ core requirements. Additionally, in 2017-2018 full time Art and Music teachers were hired to increase our elective course offerings and further meet our students’ needs.

It is not an urban legend; at Eagle Academy, we do not assign homework. Occasionally, if a student has multiple absences, the make-up work may be sent home for completion. Classwork completion is, thus, significantly important as students have no other grades than what is done during a class period. Please note: any remote learning or e-learning required due to state, county, or district guidelines is NOT considered homework but rather a replacement for in-seat classes.

Our preference and goal at Eagle Academy are that all students are career-ready; thus, we offer ACE Work Experience for our students who work as a means to earn the bulk of their elective credits. For every 90 hours students work, they earn .25 elective credits.

For those students who struggle and/or are on IEPs or 504s, Resource classes are offered. The Resource Room is also open during most periods for any students who need additional support or just a quiet place to work.

Student’s class schedules will be developed by Mr. Ponn based on their transcripts and missing graduation requirements.
 

1st Period Classes at Eagle Academy 

In order to meet Colorado state requirements for school funding hours, Eagle Academy has had to add an additional period beginning with the 2018-19 school year. 

The first period will take place from Tuesday to Thursday, 1:00-2:25. 

All students will be enrolled in either Option 1 or Option 2, based on their work situation.  

 

Option 1 – Career Pathways

·      Students MUST submit their ACE paperwork by the end of Week 1 each quarter – no 

exceptions or extensions will be allowed.

·      Career Pathways is Pass/Fail.

·      There is no Student Success Score.

·      Attendance will be taken at the end of class.

       Class times are Tuesday to Thursday, 1:00-2:25.

·      Students must complete and submit reflection assignments and meet attendance requirements to pass class.

·      Students must pass Career Pathways in order to pass ACE Work Experience and must pass Work Experience in order to pass Career Pathways.

·      Students who fail Career pathways twice in an academic year will be automatically placed in Option 2 courses for the remainder of the academic year.

·      .25 ELE/PRA credit will be awarded per quarter in addition to credit earned through ACE Work Experience.

 

 

Option 2 – Seminar/Academic Classes

·      Students who are not working or did not submit ACE paperwork by the end of Week 1 each quarter – no exceptions or extensions will be allowed.

·      Seminar/Academic classes will be graded on an A-F scale.

·      Seminar/Academic classes will include Student Success Score.

·      Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class.

       Class times are Tuesday to Thursday, 1:00-2:25.

·      Students must complete assigned work and meet attendance requirements like all other classes in order to pass.

·      Students who fail Seminar/Academic classes or its Student Success Score will be placed on Academic Leave the following quarter.

·      Students will be rotated through Seminar/Academic classes by quarter.

·      .25 ELE or Content credit will be awarded per quarter.

Attendance and Punctuality

Absences and/or tardies are the number one reasons why students do not find success at Eagle Academy.

Absences
We request that parents or guardians call in to the school when your son or daughter is absent. However, we can only excuse an absence with a doctor’s note or a note documenting a court-mandated appearance. These notes must be submitted within a week of the student’s return to school and must be on official letterhead. Completing a UA is not an excuse for an absence or a tardy. We have a good working relationship with local probation officers who assure us that students may call as early as 5:00 AM to know whether they are required to complete a UA any particular day.

There may be particular days due to their nature or reputation, such as April 20 (4/20), where we require doctor’s notes dated the day of the absence and submitted the first day the student returns after the absence to mark it as excused.

Tardies
Students are tardy if they arrive in class after the bell rings. When students arrive to school or back from dinner late, they must sign in at the office. Per Douglas County School District policy, three tardies equals one absence.  It is the responsibility of the student to arrive at school on time; difficulties in transportation or leaving work late do not excuse a late arrival.

Leaving Class and/or School
Students who leave class must first check with their teachers, asking if it’s a good time and notifying teachers of where they’re going. Students are not allowed to leave campus during class or passing periods, and they cannot leave the building without permission from the office or security staff.

If a student misses more than 20 minutes of a block class or 10 minutes of a daily class, it will be marked as an absence. This includes arriving late, leaving early, or leaving in the middle of a class.

When students leave school for any reason, other than dinner break, they are required to sign out in the office. If they return the same day, they must sign back in; however, students are not allowed to leave school at their discretion and return to campus. Such absences should be approved by the office or security staff first.

“If it’s important to you, you will find a way. If it’s not, you will find an excuse.”

Behavior

Courtesy and Common Sense
All members of the Eagle Academy Community are expected to respect each other, Eagle Academy property, and all DCSD property. All of our facilities are brand new, and we want to make sure we take good care of the investment that the district has made in us.

Our teachers have the autonomy to establish their own classroom expectations; please respect their requests.

Safety
Students are required to use only the front doors to the building. Any non-emergency use of the rear or side doors of the building is prohibited. Students are not allowed to prop open any exterior doors without direct authorization from the office or security staff.

Students are required to stay in Eagle areas at all times unless directed by Eagle staff.

Additionally, in the interest of student safety, the school district prohibits students from riding their skateboards, bicycles, or any other non-motorized wheeled device anywhere on campus. Students on bicycles should walk their bicycles on the sidewalks until off school property.

Parking
Parking on campus at Eagle Academy is limited. Parking is also available at the retail area by Sweet Tomatoes and the United Artist movie theater. Students may also find parking on local public areas such as the entertainment area on Park Meadows Drive. It is the responsibility of Eagle Academy drivers to be respectful of all parking areas, obeying traffic laws, and keeping the area around their cars clean. Parking passes can be revoked at any time.

Technology
Eagle Academy provides student access to desktops, Chromebooks, and iPads. We regularly use student district and parent email addresses in Infinite Campus for communication. Please check your email frequently for weekly updates, special notifications, and emergency information such as unplanned early releases due to weather.

Everyone has the right to their own image. Students are prohibited from videography and/or photography without staff approval and/or supervision.

Student use of headphones and cell phones is at the individual teacher’s discretion. If asked by a teacher or staff member, students are required to surrender their device(s) until the end of class, the end of the day, or as determined by school staff. Failure to surrender a device when requested will result in the minimum of a loss of a behavior point from that class. Additional consequences will be contingent upon student behavior.

Phone calls and texting during class is a major distraction and should be limited to emergency situations only. Teachers have the authority to ask that a student end calls and/or texts and that a student surrender his/her cell phone.

Dress Code
Students’ attire should align with the DCSD Dress Code and reflect the students’ understanding that their education is their most important job.

The following are prohibited:
• Any item that glorifies, promotes, or advertises drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gangs, violence, and/or sex. This includes clothing brands that are designed to promote any of the above, such as Dope and DGK.
• Exposed undergarments of any type.
• Spaghetti straps (use the two finger rule), open backed tops, and/or bare shoulders or midriffs; Shirts with extended arm holes, showing the student’s chest.
• Pajamas – except on assigned spirit days.
• Shorts, jumpers, dresses, and/or skirts that do not reach past the tip of the student’s middle finger when arms are hanging freely by his/her side.
• Wearing tights, hose, or transparent leggings as pants.
• Any transparent, ripped, or see-through garment without appropriate clothing underneath.

Good news – we do allow hats as long as they meet the above specifications.

Students, if you have to stop and wonder about what you’re wearing, you probably shouldn’t be wearing it.

The first time students violate the dress code, they will be given an article of clothing to wear or asked to put on a jacket or another article of their own. Subsequent times a student violates the dress code, he or she will be directed to go home and change clothes, with the time away from school counting as an unexcused absence. There may be additional consequences such as loss of behavior points and/or dinner privileges depending on the student’s response.

Food
We understand that proper nutrition is essential to our students’ learning. We balance this understanding with the priority we place on classroom time and work completion. Therefore, thanks to the generous donations of a number of our community friends, we keep on hand a variety of food items that are readily available for students who may come to school hungry for whatever reason. Students can access these items by speaking with anyone in our mental health, office, and/or security staff.

Because we want to maximize student participation in the classroom and minimize interruptions, we have created some guidelines regarding food preparation, consumption, and delivery. Students are not allowed to cook/prepare food or request that staff cook/prepare it for them during class; this includes the use of microwaves, toaster ovens, etc. Students are given a dinner break during which they have time to cook their food, and we have food items in stock that do not require any preparation that students may have during class if they are in need. Additionally, food consumption in class is secondary to classroom activities, especially if a student has chosen not to eat during his/her dinner break. Teachers and/or administration have the right to ask a student to put food aside if it is interfering with learning. Finally, students are not allowed to receive deliveries of food, drinks, or other items during class. All such deliveries are to be taken to the office where the students can retrieve them during the next passing period.

Other Reminders
Like all Douglas County schools, Eagle Academy is a Tobacco, Drug, Alcohol, and Vape free school.

The law allows us to search a student and his/her property if we have reasonable suspicion, which may look different in different situations. This can include appearing under the influence or in possession of a prohibited substance or device, including lighters and any type of paraphernalia, as well as the appearance of distribution.

Douglas County School District has established the consequences as follows:
• First offense – suspension
• Second and any following offenses – expulsion

Additionally, police will be called in the case of a violation and all prohibited items will be confiscated. We request, for the sake of other students and their journeys, that, while on campus, students avoid conversations about drug and alcohol use.

Federal and state laws prohibit students from being in possession of any type of weapon while on school campus. Beyond the presence of a weapon, threatening statements, symbols, gestures, and movements are also prohibited. Our ultimate goal is the safety of all of our students and staff, and we will investigate any threat of any kind, following closely to the guidelines set forth by the district.

Eagle Academy High School
Discipline Matrix
 
All students are expected to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by Douglas County School District and Eagle Academy High School.  Under the Code of Conduct and Discipline Policy Eagle Academy will exercise due diligence in the form of consequences associated with such behaviors that cause disruption of the academic setting or raise concerns of safety for the students and staff of Eagle Academy High School.  Under the tiered response system, the administration reserves the right to use discretion based on the incident, its frequency and/or its impact on others or program.  The following tiered system of response will supplement our current point systems (SSS).  
 
Tier One
•  Student Conference - Warning
•  Student Conference, Parent Phone Call, possible behavior point deduction from that class and/or  confiscation of item where relevant
•  Student Conference, Request for Parent Meeting, behavior point reduction from that class and/or confiscation of item where relevant
*Confiscated items will follow a due process for their return based on the frequency of infraction and may constitute a parent coming in to retrieve said items
 
Tier Two
•  Student Conference, loss of privilege, point reduction from the class of infraction
•  Student Conference, loss of privilege and/or Community Service, point reduction from the entire
program (each class)
*Loss of privilege/Community Service will be at the discretion of the administration and be relevant to the severity or repeated offense associated with a tier two consequence.
*Community Service done as a consequence cannot be applied to Graduation Requirements.
 
Tier Three
•  Student Conference, Suspension from School, Re-admittance Meeting with parent and student upon  return to program
•  Student Conference, Suspension from School, Law Enforcement Contacted, Re-admittance Meeting  with parent and student, possible program penalties if appropriate
*Suspension from school constitutes an excused absence per district policy but students will have 2-days for every day missed to make up missing assignments.  It is the student’s responsibility to request missing work or it may result in a zero.  Suspensions will have an impact on Behavior Points associated with the SSS.

Tier Four
• Request for Expulsion Proceedings, Student placed on 10-day suspension and will not be allowed to resume Eagle Academy for remainder of the quarter and any identified period of time after that depending on the outcome of the expulsion.

Consequences
Any consequences imposed by Eagle Academy administration are designed to fit the impact, degree of gravity, and frequency of the individual’s behavior. Our students are preparing for adulthood, and it is the expectation of Eagle Academy that students comply with assigned disciplinary action. For example, students who lose dinner privileges are to remain on campus under their own volition, without the prodding, reminding, and/or demanding of Eagle Academy staff. Should a student choose not to comply, additional restrictions and consequences will be imposed.
 

Eagle Academy Academic Leave Expectations

All students enrolled at Eagle Academy agreed to pass their Student Success Score (SSS) and academic grade in each class, each quarter to remain a full-time student. Students that do not pass their SSS and/or academic grade in one or more classes in a quarter are placed on Academic Leave for one quarter. A student can only be placed on Academic Leave ONCE. While on Academic Leave a student can earn the right to return to Eagle Academy as
full time the next quarter if he or she meets the following requirements; if all requirements are not met, the student will be disenrolled from Eagle Academy by, if not before, the end of the quarter. All students enrolled with Eagle Academy for the 22-23 school year must attend in person. Beginning the 21-22 school year, Academic Leave will meet Mondays AND Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6:00 PM, with students arriving no earlier than 4:25 PM.

Credit Requirements
❏ Complete .5 credits or more in an assigned course with a passing grade of at least 70%.
❏ At least 25% of required coursework by Week 3.
❏ At least 50% of required coursework by Week 6.
❏ Students who don’t meet the minimums established above will meet with an administrator to create a plan to complete the online course by the deadline.
❏ Each student will be assigned a class by the Academic Leave Teacher and Eagle Counselor.
❏ Once required coursework is completed, students are still required to attend Academy Leave sessions.
❏ Coursework must be completed by 6:00 PM on the last Academic Leave session of the quarter, except for students graduating at the end of the quarter whose work is due Week8.
❏ Students can complete work at home, however time spent working outside of designated Academic Leave hours DOES NOT count toward the attendance minimum

Attendance Requirements
❏ Students must earn their unexcused absences, with the maximum number of two (2) during the course of the quarter. Students must not have any unexcused absences during the first three weeks and must earn their absences by reaching the completion minimums above (25% by Week 3 and 50% by Week 6). 
❏ If students require a break they must sign out and back in; students may take no more than one 5 minute break per evening. All minutes must be made up at the end of class to complete the total of 90 minutes of work time for the class.
❏ Students that leave the room for longer than 5 minutes total will be sent home and counted absent for the night.
❏ NO EXITING the building. Once a student enters the building for class they cannot exit. Students that exit the building during Academic Leave without the explicit permission from the Academic Leave Teacher AND Eagle Administration will be counted absent for the night and sent home.
❏ Students are prohibited from attending Eagle on any night except their assigned Starlab nights.
❏ Arrival after 4:30 PM is prohibited; students who arrive late will be sent home with an unexcused absence.

Work Requirements
❏ Students MUST log a minimum of 90 work hours (for .25 credit), both online and through electronic copies of pay stubs (only official pay stubs with taxes and Social Security deducted are accepted) submitted to Ms.Quintana.
❏ In order to receive work study credit, students must submit all paperwork and ongoing
documentation to meet this expectation by 6:00 PM on the evening of the 8th Academic Leave
session of the quarter.

Dis-Enrollment from Eagle Academy
Any student that does not meet the expectations above during their time on Academic Leave will be disenrolled from Eagle Academy by, if not before, the end of the quarter.

Communicating Course Progress
During the quarter there will be 2 progress reports sent home to allow both parents and students to monitor progress. Each report will indicate how many credits are assigned, what percent has been completed so far, and what grade the student is currently earning. All Work Study hours, online and hard copies of pay stubs, are due by 6:00 PM on the 8th Academic Leave session of the quarter, and all online classwork must be completed by 6:00 PM on the final Academic Leave session of the quarter, with the exception of students graduating at the end of that quarter, whose online work is due Week 8. The final grade and number of credits
earned will be calculated by 7:30 pm on the last night of the quarter.

Additional Support
We realize that there are often multiple issues underlying the problems that led to a student being placed on academic leave. Students are encouraged, but not required, to seek additional support from a member of our mental health team at any time during the quarter.

Ms. Jen Amos jennifer.amos@dcsdk12.org

Ms. Liz Garth egarth@dcsdk12.org  303-229-7913
Ms. Lisa Jensen aljensen@dcsdk12.org 720-376-8870
 
Academic Leave Dates and Times for 2022-23 school year
Academic Leave occurs on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 4:30 - 6:00 pm in Room 219.


 

Work Study and Career Readiness

ACE Work Experience 
Students opt in to Work Experience, which awards .25 elective credit for every 90 hours worked, at the
beginning of each quarter. Students enrolled must complete a Training Agreement and Workman’s
Compensation form every time they begin employment in a new location. This paperwork is due by
the end of the school day, the fourth day of each quarter. Additionally, students must submit, via an
online Google form and hard copies of pay stubs, a minimum of three pay stubs totally at least 90 work
hours per quarter to remain in good standing. Grading for Work Experience is Pass/Fail.
Students enrolled in ACE Work Experience may also be enrolled in ACE Career Development I,
which is a class focused on career and life skills, including opportunities to work in the school store.
Ms. Quintana, our ACE teacher, will be in charge of both ACE Work Experience and Career
Development I.

Productivity Payoff – Per Quarte
90 hours = .25 elective credit
180 hours = .50 elective credit
270 hours = .75 elective credit
360 hours = 1.00 elective credit

Unfortunately, unused hours do not roll over from one quarter to another. Students who fail ACE Work
Experience two separate quarters out of four consecutive quarters will be unable to take the class and
Career Pathways for a minimum of two quarters.

In order to pass ACE Work Experience and receive credit for their work hours, students must also pass
the Career Pathways 1st period course.

Professional Internships
In unique situations, it may be possible for students to enroll in Professional Internships, which will be
a formalized, unpaid internship program with well-defined guidelines that will offer students .25
elective credit for the successful completion and documentation of 120 hours per quarter.

Online Courses

Eagle Academy’s strength is working with students on a personal level, in in-seat classes, helping students to see school in a different light. Many of our students come to us for credit recovery, which most are able to successfully accomplish through our Work Experience class. Occasionally, we find that students need just one or two more classes in order to graduate. In those cases, we are able to offer a minimal number of online classes to help bridge the gap. These online courses are offered to students on a case by case basis and are limited to students who are within an academic year, preferably a semester, of graduating.

In order to maintain our educational integrity, we limit the amount of online credits a student can earn to a maximum of .75 credits per quarter. Students on Academic Leave can earn up to .5 online credits if it is their first time or 1.0 online credits if it is their second time on leave.

Again, online courses are offered to students on a case by case basis and are limited to students within one academic year of graduating.

Conclusion

We are excited to have your son or daughter with us at Eagle Academy. We maintain high standards for our students because we want to see them grow in all areas and we believe that growth is possible; it all goes back to our “Why?”.

We are always available to answer questions or discuss suggestions. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Our “Why?” We love our kids and want to equip them for a diverse world, offering our students, who may not conform to a traditional setting, another chance at an education.