School Policies

CIVA High School is a public school of choice. Students are allowed to attend CIVA on a permit basis from District 11 or from other surrounding districts. The choice to attend CIVA should be made with a clear understanding and commitment to CIVA's Mission/Vision for the student and parents alike.

We encourage prospective students to apply during the spring semester prior to the fall. Interested students are placed on a waiting list on a first come first served basis. Interviews for enrollment will be conducted throughout the spring semester.

CIVA will arrange to enroll students prior to the start of the fall semester. Although CIVA's window for enrollment is open until October 1st of the current school year, it may end earlier if targeted capacity for that year has been reached.

Students applying to CIVA after October 1st will be placed on a waiting list.

An intent to re enroll for the upcoming year is required from all students. Enrollment for the next year will only be reserved if the intent form is completed before May 15th.

One criterion 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 to insure that every child under his 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 highest grades, enjoy school more and are more employable after leaving school. For at least these reasons, we believe 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 the policy.

The following shall be considered excused absences:

A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the Principal.

• A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental or emotional disability.
• A student who is in the custody of a court or law enforcement authorities.
• Any other absence that is considered to be excused pursuant to law.

After 4 excused absences, students must provide a note from medical sources.

Students shall be considered excused with reservation in special situations where the parent advises the school that the student has parental permission to be absent from school, but the situation does not meet legal or school criteria for a fully excused absence. Academic penalties such as a reduction in the amount of credit allowed for make-up work will be assessed.

A student's absence will be considered unexcused when the student is absent from school without the prearranged permission of the parent or documented permission is not received from the parent within 24 hours of absence. The parents will receive an automated phone call if the student has an unexcused absence.

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.

If a student is absent without parental permission or if the student leaves school or a class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge, the student shall be considered truant. A "habitual truant" shall be defined as a student of compulsory attendance who has four unexcused absences from school in any one month or 10 unexcused absences from school during any school year. Classification as a habitual truant shall cause judicial proceedings to be initiated to enforce compulsory attendance.

In order to reduce the incidents of truancy, parents of all students shall be notified in writing at the beginning of each school year and upon any enrollment during the school year of their obligation to ensure that all children attend school. Parents shall be requested to acknowledge in writing awareness of their obligations.

When a student becomes habitually truant, the school shall require a meeting between the student's parent and appropriate school personnel to review and evaluated the reasons for the student being habitually truant and to develop a plan for the purposed of assisting the student to remain in school. Such meeting should be held not later than 10 school days after the student's fourth unexcused absence in a month or 10th unexcused absence in a year.

A student shall be given a consequence (work detail, in-school suspension) on his/her first truancy offense. On the second offense, the student may be given a three day in-school detention or be suspended from school for up to three days. Further truancies may result in additional in-school alternatives and could result in suspension, revocation of attendance permit and or referral to truancy court.

No credit shall be permitted for any student for any class period of portion of a class period during which time the student was classified as truant.

A major portion of students' grades are based on their ability to listen to, critique and learn from one another, and participate daily in classroom discussions and lessons. Frequent absences affect their ability to actively participate and successfully meet the requirements of classes. Attendance, excused or not, will be calculated and heavily weigh on students' grades. Attendance will be graded as the number of days they are in class divided by the number of days class was held. 3 tardies will equal one absence. Students whose attendance falls below 70% will not pass that particular class.

Reference will be made to District 11's Student Code of Conduct and Discipline handbook as a guideline for compliance with District and State regulations.

You must have a CIVA parking permit if you plan to drive to school. There is ample parking in the school lot, but very little in the area due to the medical center overflow. The cost per semester is $15 with a paid activity fee. In addition, a student is allowed to drive only if the following criteria are met:

• Maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average.
• Exhibit good character traits (as demonstrated in classes and around the school).
• Hold a valid driver's license and proof of insurance.

A student's parking permit can be revoked if these guidelines are not met.

To ensure the safety of each student and to create a peaceful learning environment, CIVA will not tolerate fighting of any kind. Fighting is not allowed on or around campus, or at any school activities off campus. Students will be disenrolled for participating in any fighting activity where physical contact is made. No other warnings will be given.

The following is a list of various interventions that we may use at CIVA when problems arise. These will vary according to the individual student and situation. The appropriate accountability measures may be determined collaboratively by a staff person, a parent, another student or by the student in question.

• Verbal Warning.
• Conversation with Mr. Zimmerman or other staff members.
• Classroom detention (with individual teacher).
• Peer intervention: Action plan created by a group of designated students.
• Parent contact: A parent will be contacted whenever a teacher writes a disciplinary referral.
• Work Details or At School Detention: Determined by staff or as a result of a concern meeting. A half or whole day accountability that consists of yard work, moderate physical activity and time for reflection and journaling.
• Suspensions, should they become necessary, will be in compliance with D-11 regulations.

*CONCERN MEETINGS are called in the interest of keeping the CIVA community members accountable for behavior, academics, attitudes and other aspects of character development.

In-school suspension is a way of dealing with minor infractions of school rules such as tardiness, failure to serve detentions and less severe behavior problems.

Students assigned to in-school suspension spend their regular school day in an individual setting in the front office.

Students are expected to complete all assignments from classes and are not permitted to talk, sleep or otherwise disturb the quite atmosphere of in-school suspension.

Students are responsible for obtaining assignments from teachers before 7:45 a.m. daily.