Academic Awards…………………. 7

Academic Guidelines…………….. 6

Academic Honesty………………... 23

Accountability & Consequences. 20

Adult Education………………….. 15

Alternative Education Center….. 26

Attendance Policy…………………. 15

Absences………………………….. 15

Absence Procedures……………. 16

Class Cutting……………………. 17

Dismissals……………………….. 17

Extended Illness………………... 16

Make-Up Work Procedure…….. 16

Restricted Activity………………. 17

Tardiness…………………………. 17

Bullying …..……………………….. 5

Cafeteria……………………………. 12

Cheating ………………….……….. 23

Cheating and Plagiarism

Consequences ………………….. 24

Co-Curricular Programs………… 9

Computer Network and the

Internet……………………………. 11

Counselor Assignments………… 8

Course Schedule…………………. 12

Course Changes/Withdrawal…. 7

Daily Schedule……………………. 4

Detention…………………………… 25

Directory Information Notice….. 2

Drugs and Alcohol……………….. 20

Due Process……………………….. 19

E-mail Accounts ………………….. 11

Educational Support System….. 8

Educational Support Team……. 8

Elevator Keys……………………… 9

Expulsion………………………….. 26

Fire Drills………………………….. 14

Graduation………………………… 7

Graduation Requirements……… 7

Guidance Program……………….. 8

Guidelines for Student Behavior. 18

Half-Day Schedule………………... 3

Hall Passes…………………………. 14

Harassment …….…………………. 4

Harassment, Bullying & Hazing

Consequences …………………… 5

Hazing………………………………. 5

Health Services Program………... 8

Highly Qualified Teacher Status. 3

Impending Bomb Threats/Other

Offense or Catastrophe………… 23

Interruption of Classes…………... 12

Law Enforcement Officials….…… 14

Library/Information Services ….. 10

Lockdown …………………………… 14

Lockers……………………………… 12

Military Recruitment…………….. 3

Mission & Expectations…………. 1

Non-Discrimination Policy……… 4

Northwest Technical Center……. 10

Personal Property …………….….. 12

Personal Technology Devices…… 13

Plagiarism …………………………. 24

Protection of Public Rights ……. 19

Retaliation …………………………. 5

Rules and Regulations…………… 18

School Choice …………………….. 3

School Clothes/Accessories…….. 13

School Personnel………………….. 2

School Property…………………… 13

School Song………………………… 27

Skateboarding …………………….. 20

Special Education Services…….. 26

Student/Teacher Advisory ……... 6

Student Behavior Philosophy….. 18

Student Records………………….. 9

Student Guests ………………….. 13

Support Services………………….. 8

Suspendable Situations…………. 25

Suspension..……………………….. 25

Telephone Calls…………………… 13

Tobacco-Free School…………….. 22

Vehicle Parking and Traffic…….. 14

Weapons ……..……………………. 23

504 Rehabilitation Act Notice…. 3

THE CONTENT OF THIS HANDBOOK IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ANY SUCH

CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND ALL OTHERS CONCERNED.

REMINDER: ALL VISITORS MUST REPORT TO THE MAIN OFFICE, SIGN IN, AND RECEIVE A VISITOR’S PASS.

Bellows Free Academy Mission and Expectations

Core Beliefs

We believe that all individuals are unique and can learn and grow.

We believe that the education of our youth is the shared responsibility of the individual, family, school, and community.

We believe that the pursuit of truth and knowledge is essential to foster and sustain a democratic society.

Mission

The mission of Bellows Free Academy is to foster the intellectual and personal development of all students. We will assist every student in developing the planning skills and strategies necessary to succeed in the economic, social, educational, and civic pathways of their lives.

Expectations For Student Performance

Every Bellows Free Academy student is expected to:

· Listen actively for a wide variety of purposes

· Express him/herself effectively

· Read critically and interpretatively to understand a wide variety of materials

· Write effectively for a wide variety of purposes

· Use a broad array of technology to communicate

· Ask questions to deepen and broaden understanding

· Apply abstract, creative, and logical reasoning

· Recognize problems and use effective strategies and means to solve them

· Recognize varied aesthetic and ethical values and use them in solving problems

· Develop a sense of self-worth and personal competence

· Make healthy choices

· Make informed, ethical decisions based on personal beliefs, values, and priorities

· Develop productive and satisfying relationships with individuals and as members of groups

· Demonstrate skills needed to thrive in the workplace

· Learn by serving others and discovering the rewards of giving one’s energies for a larger good

· Respect and value human diversity as part of a multi-cultural society and world community

· Understand how change occurs, how to foster it, and how to use it for positive ends

Expectations For School Performance

The school shall assure that:

· Every student will receive adequate instruction to meet or exceed performance expectations as set forth by the Fields of Knowledge described in The Vermont Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities and/or National Standards which are incorporated into the Grade Expectations (GE).

· Every student has access to a comprehensive curriculum that will assure Student Performance Expectations.

· Every student has access to the best instructions, educational resources, and best teaching practices.

· Every student has access to sufficient time to learn.

· Every student has a safe and healthy environment in which to learn.

· Every student is engaged by active learning experiences built on prior knowledge and experience, with a goal of authentic understanding and performance.

· Every student has access to teachers who successfully adapt multiple teaching roles for the different purposes of instruction and student needs.

· Students have the opportunity to learn through a wide range of roles, both independently and cooperatively.

· Projects, assignments, and assessments require students to perform authentic tasks in meaningful contexts, along with the opportunity to reflect on what they learned.

· Learning environments and strategies are adopted to ensure the success of all students.

· Student learning is assessed in varied and balanced ways, and students are provided with timely feedback about their learning.

School Personnel

Board of Directors: Jim Mercier - Chair Nilda Gonnella-French Al Corey

Donna Corrigan Sally Lindberg

Administration: Ned Caron, Principal

Dennis Hill, Assistant Principal

Geoff Lyons, Assistant Principal

Wendy Meunier, Assistant Principal

Laurence Carnahan, Director Support Services

Sally Tarr, Director Northwest Technical Center

Dave Kimel, Manager Collins Perley Sports Complex

Acct. Services Supervisor: Jennifer Letourneau

Plant Operations: Geoff Plant

Department Chairs: The Arts, Dee Christie and Joan Grant

Athletics, Dan Marlow

Business and Real Life, Elaine Charron

English, Keith Carlton

Guidance, Katharine Hutchinson

Library/Information Services Director, Lydia Foisy Mathematics, Richard Berthiaume

Nurse, Michael St. Joseph

Physical Education, Michael Mashtare

Science Department, Tim Fugere

Social Studies, Larry Trombley

Technical Education, Peter Symula

World Languages and Classics, Louise Haynes

Support Services CIP, Clark Russell

Program Coordinators: Learning Center Coordinator, Heather Davis

New Beginnings, George VanVlaanderen

Summit, Mary Donlon

Annual Directory Information Notice and Right of Refusal

BFA may disclose designated directory information on students without the prior consent of the parent or eligible student, and without any record of such disclosure. The following types of personally identifiable information may be designated directory information:

Student’s name, address, telephone number, electronic email address, photograph, date and place of birth, grade level, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities or sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, and/or degrees, honors, and awards received.

Disclosure may include such personally identifiable information contained or reflected in photographs. If you are a student or if you are the parent of a student currently attending BFA, you have a right to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of these types of information as directory information concerning your child, or (if you are an eligible student) yourself, by providing written notice of your refusal listing the type(s) of information which you refuse to have so designated to the principal of BFA on or before September 22, 2006.

The annual notification is only a summary of rights. Further details about your access to and limitations on disclosure of your education records are contained in the school district’s detailed student record policy (available through the district office), and in state and federal law.

Military Recruitment

BFA will follow No Child Left Behind (Title IX, Part E, Subpart 2, Section 9528) and will allow the same access to students by military recruiters as they do college and job recruiters. This access includes releasing secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters, who can use the information for armed services recruiting and for informing these students of scholarship opportunities. However, students or their parents can request that the information not be released. The request should be made to the principal.

School Choice

BFA, Missisquoi Valley Union High School, and Milton High School offer public school choice to high school students. The purpose of school choice is to provide an opportunity for students to attend one of these participating schools. For further information and an application, contact the Principal’s Office.

Annual Notification of 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973

No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in BFA shall, solely by reason of his or her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by the school. If any person believes that BFA or its employees has inadequately applied the principles and or regulations of (1) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1963 or (2) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, he or she may bring forward a complaint to the principal.

Highly Qualified Teacher Status Notice

Following “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB), parents will be informed by letter if their child is being taught by a teacher who has not achieved “Highly Qualified Teacher Status” (HQT).

Half-Day Student Schedule

Period 1 7:35 - 8:20

Period 2 8:25 - 9:10

Period 3 9:15 - 10:00

Period 4 10:05 - 10:45

Period 5 10:50 - 11:30

Daily Schedule

PERIOD	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
1	7:35 - 8:45	7:35 - 8:45	7:35 - 8:37	7:35 - 8:45	7:35 - 8:45
1	7:35 - 8:45	7:35 - 8:45	ADVISORY 8:42 - 9:07	7:35 - 8:45	7:35 - 8:45
2	8:50 - 10:00	8:50 - 10:00	9:12 - 10:14	8:50 - 10:00	8:50 - 10:00
3	10:05 - 11:15	10:05 - 11:15	10:19 - 11:21	10:05 - 11:15	10:05 - 11:15
4A	11:20 - 11:43	11:20 - 11:43	11:26 - 11:49	11:20 - 11:43	11:20 - 11:43
4B	11:49 - 12:12	11:49 - 12:12	11:55 - 12:18	11:49 - 12:12	11:49 - 12:12
4C