School Policies

Absence & Tardiness

Students are required to attend school everyday. Following a school absence, the student must bring a note explaining his/her absence: reason for the absence, student's name, grade and signature of a parent/guardian with a telephone number for verification, if necessary. Any absence will be considered unexcused until a valid note is presented.

Tardiness

Any student arriving after 8:15 a.m. (morning session) or 11:45 a.m. (afternoon session) will be considered absent for the day. The student will report to the Office, or the School Social Worker when available, where the parent will be contacted. The student will be sent home.

Early Dismissal

Students seeking early dismissal must bring a signed note with a phone number to verify. Parent will be contacted. No exceptions!

Building Hours

Supervision is provided for students in the building from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students are not expected to arrive before 7:45 a.m. for the morning session and before 11:15 for the afternoon session. Students must leave by 11:00 a.m. for the morning session and 2:30 p.m. for the afternoon session unless involved in a staff-supervised activity. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cell Phones/Wireless Communication

As a school, we discourage the possession of cell phones during school hours. Cell phones are not considered necessary for students to have at school. If a cell phone is brought to Virtual High School, it may be used before entering school grounds and after 2:30 p.m. Cell phones should be stored in book bags, or purses. Cell phones are not to be seen or used at any other time. If a cell phone is seen or used at times other than stated, the phone will be confiscated and held until the end of the day for a first offense. A second offense will result in the phone being held until a parent picks it up. A third offense will result in the phone being confiscated until the end of the quarter. A fourth offense will result in the phone being confiscated for the rest of the school year. Any student who refuses to turn over a phone immediately upon request by school staff will be disciplined.

Cheating/Plagiarism

A student must not use, submit or attempt to obtain data or answers dishonestly, by deceit or by means other than those authorized by the teacher. These are examples of acts of cheating/plagiarism: any literary theft, falsification, counterfeiting, piracy, fraud or unsupervised possession of any federal, state or district mandated test(s).

Dismissal

Students who remain on campus past dismissal must be involved in an authorized activity. No student is to be on campus without adult supervision

Display of Affection

In keeping with reasonable rules of appropriate conduct, students will refrain from actions involving even minor touching of a sexual nature, with or without consent of the other party. Respect for one another and good taste in manners should be exhibited at all times. Sexual harassment charges should not have to be filed if appropriate behavior is exhibited.

Dress

Within broad limits, dress and appearance are considered matters of personal taste. Appropriate clothing and shoes, however, are required to be worn at all times. These limits generally relate to health, safety, modesty and educational disruption. Students are expected to maintain an appearance that is not distracting to teachers or disruptive to the educational process of the school. In this respect, it is recognized that parents have the major responsibility for the appearance of their children. When a student’s appearance is felt to be detrimental, the student will be removed from a class and a parent-administrator conference will be arranged. However, it is the view of Virtual High School that learning is enhanced in an atmosphere in which both mental and physical attractiveness is given priority. Parental cooperation is earnestly solicited.

Examples of inappropriate clothing and shoes:

Underwear worn as your outerwear (bras, briefs, boxer shorts, thongs, teddies, slips, mid-length underwear)
Swimwear/beachwear (swimsuits, thongs, bare midriff)
Clothing with profane slogans, cartoons, illustrations, diagrams, promotion of illegal activities or products
See-through outerwear and immodest rips or tears in clothing exposing breast, buttocks or genital area

Dress/Gang Attire and Activity

Gang attire and activity include the use of hand signals and the presence of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, book, or manner of grooming which, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark, symbol or any other attribute denotes membership in such a group.

The principal of the school or the principal's designee shall make the determination if the student's attire constitutes a threat to safety, campus order, or is unduly distracting and therefore disruptive to the educational process.

Ethnic Intimidation

A student must not use words, statements (written or verbal) or actions that intimidate or express inflicting harm or loss toward students, district staff, visitors, district vehicles or property. This includes any derogatory comments or statements about a person’s race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Health Records

Both state and local health laws mandate that each student must have received clearance for DPT, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella to continue attendance in school. All students, including transfers from a school outside of Hamilton County, as well as students from a private school in Cincinnati, must also be screened for tuberculosis within ninety (90) days of the first day of school unless documentation of tuberculosis screening within the previous year is presented.

Each parent must complete and return an Emergency Medical Form to assist in helping students get immediate family or medical assistance when they become ill or injured during the school day. A NEW Emergency Medical Form must be completed each school year by October 1. Parents are responsible to see that this form is kept updated and to inform the school of any changes in phone numbers, doctor, medication, or special problems. In instances where a child has been prescribed medication by a physician, a special permission form for the dispensing of medication(s) must be filed. A copy of the prescribed medication, dosage, duration of dosage, and any possible side effects must be signed by the physician. All medication must be carried in the original container and bear the name of the child for whom it has been prescribed. Authorized forms for dispensing of medication may be obtained from an administrator's office.

Illness at School

In the event of illness, students should obtain a written pass from their teacher to report to the Main office.

A parent will be contacted, as necessary, to make arrangements regarding the situation. Once permission has been granted for a student to leave school, the student will receive an official Early Dismissal Slip. In no case is a student to leave school without permission from school authorities.

Inappropriate Communications

A student must not engage in name-calling or derogatory statements or gestures toward other students or staff. This includes any derogatory comments or statements about a person’s race, sexual orientation, nationality or religion. Students may never verbally, electronically or by written words, photographs, drawings, direct profanity to anyone nor insult anyone with obscene gestures.

Medication

A medication form must be completed prior to the dispensing of any medication, including over-the-counter medication. Forms are available in the office.

Messages

Delivering messages to students involves the interruption of classroom instruction. Only messages of an urgent nature from parents will be delivered. Routine calls will not be honored. Limited staff and time for these requests make it imperative to limit calls to those when an emergency need is determined. Cell phones may not be used or seen at anytime during classes. (see cell phone/wireless communication)

Metal Detectors

Security is always a priority at Virtual High School. Metal detectors may be used at times for gaining entrance to the school. Security staff assists the administration with creating a safe campus.

Metro Service

Transportation to and from school is provided through contract with Queen City Metro. Each eligible student will receive a bus card for daily transportation to and from school. Drivers are responsible for all conduct on the buses. Students may be put off a bus for misconduct. Incident reports will be filed by Metro drivers with the Transportation Office at the Education Center on Burnet Avenue (363-0330) and with the school.

Plan Ahead — Students should know all routes that serve their neighborhood.

Off Campus

No student is to leave school grounds at anytime during the school day without prior approval of the administration. Violation of this rule will result in disciplinary action.

Open House/Parent Conference for Parents

Parents have the opportunity to hear the teachers' expectations for the class and to receive a syllabus of what will be covered in the class.

Outstanding Financial Obligations

If any fees or textbooks are still owed at the conclusion of a school year, the transcript will be held in the main office. The transcript will be held until the obligations are met. Other obligations of students will be transferred to their new school. Students transferring to a private or parochial school will have the transcript withheld until all financial obligations have been paid. Cash or money order ONLY will be accepted for student obligations.

Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program

Ohio's Senate Bill 140 provides for the enriched experience of exceptional high school students beyond the spectrum of the high school. The program has been established as a complement to a high school’s curriculum. Its intent is to provide exceptional students (high grade point average) with challenges beyond those found in the high school environment. By March 31 of each year, all interested students must inform the high school career specialist if they intend to participate, and prepare an application for submission to a participating college. Application deadlines are usually mid-April.

Safety

Safety of students is a primary concern for all of us. Students should not be walking through some parts of the neighborhood where Virtual High School is located. Parents should not have students walking to bus stops or cutting through certain areas. Private transportation should be provided after the regular dismissal time

Metal detectors may be used at times to gain entrance to an activity, classroom, or to the school. Random searches using metal detectors will take place. Security is always a priority at Virtual High School. Security staff assists the administration with creating a safe campus.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is recognized as a form of sex discrimination and thus a violation of the laws which prohibit sex discrimination. A learning and working environment that is free from sexual harassment will be maintained at Virtual High School.

Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments. It refers to behavior which is unwelcome, which is personally offensive, which debilitates morale, and which therefore interferes with the academic work of its victims. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature and request for sexual favors.

Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to:

Sexually oriented verbal "kidding," abuse or harassment;
Pressure for sexual activity;
Repeated remarks to a person, with sexual or demeaning implications;
Unwelcome touching, such as patting, pinching or constant brushing against another's body;
Suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats

A student who experiences sexual harassment should make it clear that such behavior is offensive and that it should stop. A complaint of sexual harassment should be made with building principal.

In fulfilling Virtual High School’s obligation to maintain a positive and productive educational environment, the administration will make every attempt to halt any harassment of which they become aware. Any student who knows of situations involving sexual harassment has a duty to report those circumstances to a grade level administrator.

Smoking

Ohio State Law prohibits the use or possession of tobacco products by students in any school building, on school grounds, or at any school-sponsored event. Violation of this rule will result in immediate disciplinary action. The campus is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is not to take place. Smoking within buildings is not permitted by anyone.

Tardiness: See Absence and Tardiness

Visitors

All visitors must register with the main office upon arrival unless they are meet with other office personnel.