Attendance and Policies

DISTRICT PHILOSOPHY: “PURSUING EXCELLENCE WITH INTEGRITY”

The Fremont Union High School District is committed to advancing the pursuit of intellectual excellence and to maintaining the highest standards and expectations for academic integrity among all students. We believe in establishing a school climate that promotes ethical and responsible student conduct. In conjunction with that belief, we support the development of a school culture that furthers our academic mission and recognizes the hard work of students and faculty alike. We are convinced that neither pressure for grades, inadequate time for studying or completing an assignment, nor unrealistic parental expectations justify students acting dishonestly. As a professional learning community, we affirm that “learning for learning’s sake” is intrinsically valued, and we will not tolerate any infractions that create or result in an unfair academic advantage for one student, or a disadvantage for another. In short, any form or act of academic dishonesty will undermine our standards of excellence and violate the trust that bonds all members of the school community.

DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty is using a person’s work, concepts, designs, data, ideas, research, or documentation, without giving proper credit to the source. It goes beyond plagiarism to also include lying, cheating, using or providing unauthorized materials in preparation for an exam/test/quiz, or using or providing unauthorized materials during an exam/test/quiz, and other acts, such as the theft or falsification of records and files.

FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (EXAMPLES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING):

 

TEACHER’S PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT

A teacher’s professional judgment guides the implementation of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy. The teacher is responsible for setting the academic expectations, explaining the consequences of the Policy, evaluating any evidence of student misconduct in light of the Policy, and determining whether the Policy has been violated. Students are to conduct themselves in a sensible manner and not give the teacher cause to consider their actions a violation of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy.

CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS

The District considers violations of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy to be serious offenses and has therefore instituted the following consequences. The consequences apply on a school-wide and district-wide basis, i.e., a violation in one class follows a student to a different class within the school, and a violation at one school follows a student to a different school within the District. Additionally, violations of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy are cumulative for all the years a student is enrolled in the Fremont Union High School District.

First Offense

• The student will have a reduction in grade/credit (up to, and including, an “F” grade/“0” credit) on the assignment, exam, test, or quiz based upon the teacher’s grading system.
• The student’s semester grade may, at the teacher’s discretion, be lowered by one full letter grade.
• The teacher will confer with the student and contact the parent/guardian by phone or e-mail to review the academic dishonesty incident within two school days of becoming aware of the incident.
• The teacher will submit a written referral, with appropriate documentation, to an administrator who will meet with the student and the counselor, and document the incident/follow-up action in the student information system, Infinite Campus.
• Disciplinary actions may include, but are not limited to, a warning and a signed student/parental statement that acknowledges the violation/penalty, and indicates an understanding of further consequences for any subsequent offenses. Additionally, a student will be suspended from school, even on a first offense, in accordance with Education Code Section 48900, if a violation has occurred in the following areas:
  • Alteration or falsification, or attempted alteration/falsification, of records (e.g., transcripts)
  • Theft, or attempted theft, of records or testing materials (exams/tests/quizzes)
• The student may be barred from participation or having a leadership role in a club, scholarship group, student government, athletic team, or other extracurricular activity for a period of one year from date of the violation.

Second Offense

Consequences listed in the First Offense and ONE OR MORE of the following:

• A conference will be held with an administrator, parent/guardian, teacher, counselor, and student, and the incident/follow-up action will be documented in Infinite Campus.
• The student will be given an “F” for the six week grading period in which the incident occurred.
• The student will be dropped from the class with a grade of “F.”
• The student will be suspended from school.

Third/Continuing Offenses

Consequences listed in the First Offense and ONE OR MORE of the following:

• A conference will be held with an administrator, parent/guardian, teacher, counselor, and student, and the incident/follow-up action will be documented in Infinite Campus.
• The student will be dropped from the class with a grade of “F.”
• The student will be suspended from school.
• The student may be referred to the District’s Placement Advisory Committee for transfer to another school.

APPEALS PROCESS

Students wishing to contest decisions resulting from the administration of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy may submit their appeals in writing to the principal.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC HONESTY

Administrators, teachers, parents and students must understand, accept, and share responsibilities if this policy is to be effective.

Student Responsibilities

The student will:

• Set aside sufficient time to study
• Participate actively in class and attend regularly
• Protect work—do not lend or borrow work
• Observe test time limits
• Not look at another’s test or allow his or her test to be seen
• Not talk during a test or about the test until all classes have had a chance to take it
• Not represent as his or her own the work of a parent, brother, sister, or anyone else
• Not change a test item in any way when the test is returned for review
• Not allow one member of a team to do the whole task
• Learn how to attribute work properly by citation, footnote, and bibliography
• Not enter teacher offices and other restricted areas without permission and/or being accompanied by a staff person

Parent Responsibilities

The parent will:

• Communicate to the student values of moral and ethical behavior
• Refrain from placing undue pressure for high grades at any cost
• Be aware of a student’s need for a quiet time and a place to study
• Support the student’s efforts, but not edit, type, or in any other way do the work
• Encourage wise use of time

Teacher Responsibilities

The teacher will:

• Review at the beginning of the school year the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy along with his/her course descriptions/syllabi/green sheets that spell out clearly the consequences for academic dishonesty in his/her classes; review the various examples and forms of academic dishonesty that should be avoided
• Be specific as to whether work is to be cooperative or individual, i.e., clarify the definition and expectation of “group work”
• Keep completed assignments and tests secure
• Inform students if unannounced tests will be used in the course
• Ensure that grades in mark documents and the grade book are private and safe; not allow teaching assistants (TA’s) to make or maintain grade entries

Administrator Responsibilities

The administrator will:

• Provide copies of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy to all teachers for distribution to students
• Place the signed FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy Parent/Student Agreement Statement in cumulative folders
• Support teachers in administering discipline and upholding the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy
• Record incident/follow-up action in Infinite Campus; inform teachers about outcome of the referral
• Review on a case-by-case basis the need to reference infractions on Secondary School Reports
• Facilitate conferences and counsel students in every case of academic dishonesty
• Communicate with teachers about students who have prior violations
• Collaborate with teachers in maintaining a secure digital and physical environment
• Review and resolve appeals

 

Review FUHSD's Annual Notifications on the District website.

Tutorial is considered academic time. The purpose of tutorial is to create an individualized learning environment for all students at Homestead. The following guidelines have been set for Academic Tutorial:

• The campus is closed during tutorial.
• Students must choose an authorized location (classrooms, the library, computer labs, the career center). Hallways, stairways and landings, the quad, parking lots and unsupervised athletic areas are off limits during tutorial period.
• Students may not change areas/classrooms without a pass from the teacher.
• All teachers will be in their classrooms. Students may see their teachers to be tutored, obtain make-up work or make-up tests and assignments.
• Students in P.E. areas must be dressed in P.E. uniforms, must check in with their PE teacher, and must participate in the scheduled activity.
• An academic atmosphere will be maintained. No food will be served. Students may not use electronic devices (iPods, cell phones, etc.) during the period.
• A teacher may make tutorial attendance mandatory for any student.
• Students with no first or second period class are not required to attend tutorial unless one of their teachers makes attendance mandatory. However, if students are on campus, they must attend tutorial.
• Tutorial Presentations (college and career opportunities, study skills workshops, etc.) will be made available to students periodically throughout the year.

Please note: Violation of these guidelines may result in disciplinary action.

All students are expected to read and abide by the Parent/Guardian & Student Handbook.

Homestead High School wishes to create a campus climate focused on academic achievement and student integrity. To this end the following campus rules will be enforced:

CLOSED vs. OPENED CAMPUS

Students are not permitted to leave campus at any time during brunch or tutorial. Students are permitted to leave campus for lunch or, in the case of a hole in a student’s schedule, a student can leave campus with a waiver. You can obtain a waiver from the Guidance Office.

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

Please be respectful of Homestead’s neighbors and local businesses regarding trash, language, and behavior.

VISITORS

No one other than staff members and students attending Homestead High will be allowed on the campus during school hours. Visitors who need to be on campus for any reason must check-in at the front office.

TUTORIAL POLICY

Tutorial is academic time. You must be in your chosen tutorial classroom by 9:30. There is no movement between classes during tutorial unless you have a teacher issued pass. Classroom rules apply (i.e. no cell phones, i-pods, playing cards, etc.). The library is open during tutorial, but please be aware that a limited number of students are allowed in the library. If you are found outside of a classroom during tutorial, it will be handled the same way as a cut.

ABSENCE AND TARDY POLICY

Student punctuality and attendance is vital to avoid classroom disruption and to promote a solid learning environment. For these reasons, HHS has developed a policy for dealing with student tardiness and cuts.

Tardy Policy—Incidents of tardiness will be handled on a class-by-class basis. The first three tardies will be dealt with by the teacher. After the 4th tardy, the student will be referred to the Dean who will assign one hour of detention. Each tardy thereafter will result in an additional 30 minutes of detention. If a student does not report for detention, the assigned detention will double in length. With all referrals, the parent will be notified. Additional tardiness or failure to report for assigned detention may result in forfeit of extra-curricular activities, suspension, and/or removal from the class.

Unexcused Absence (Cut) Policy—Cuts will be handled by the Deans. Cutting a class will result in a conference with the Dean, parent/guardian contact, and detention. Continued truancy may result in forfeit of extra-curricular activities, suspension, referral to the Truancy Abatement Program and/or removal from the class. Involvement in Truancy Abatement Program results in a referral to the District Attorney’s Office which leads to fines of up to $400, required community service and forfeit of driver’s license.

DRESS EXPECTATIONS

Student dress should be appropriate for school and not distract from or disrupt the learning environment: no materials, writing, symbols, locations, or group "colors", no obscene or vulgar images, no references to drugs or alcohol, no spiked accessories, no exposed underwear, or too much skin or bare feet. Violation of these expectations may result in a Clothing Contract which will outline consequences should a student continue to violate dress expectations.

USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Use of electronic devices (i.e. i-pods, cell phones, MP3 players, gaming devices, etc.) in the classroom may result in confiscation of the item. Continued violation will result in parent conference with the Dean.

VEHICLES

Students who wish to drive vehicles to campus must park in the designated student parking lot only and must display an HHS parking pass. Failure to follow these rules may result in a parking ticket or loss of parking privileges.

OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

Skateboards, roller blades, scooters, and bikes cannot be ridden on campus. Should you need to use these items as methods of transportation please do not use the items while on campus. Item will be confiscated if ridden on campus. The school and/or school district cannot be responsible for loss of unsecured property.

CONSEQUENCES WHEN CAMPUS RULES ARE VIOLATED

1. Administrator/student and/or parent conference

2. Detention/school service assignments

3. Forfeit of extra curricular activities

4. Administrative recommendation for transfer to another school or program in the district.

WHEN & WHERE CAMPUS RULES AND ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY APPLY

School rules apply during school hours and during school sponsored events both on and off campus (i.e. sporting events, dances, club activities, school sponsored trips, etc.).

• School hours include travel time to and from school, sponsored events, as well as the lunch hour.

• School officials can search with “reasonable suspicion” (law enforcement needs “probable cause”).

  ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

The Fremont Union High School District strictly enforces a "Zero Tolerance" policy. Discipline rules and regulations for the students of the Fremont Union High School District have been established to reflect the California State Education Code and the policies determined by the Board of Trustees. For most discipline cases, the school staff will intervene with actions such as detention, student/parent conference, and/or suspensions. However, the Education Code and District policies mandate a recommendation for expulsion from the district for certain, more sever behaviors. The principal of the school must recommend expulsion for the following behaviors, even if the student has no prior disciplinary history:

The following violations will result in suspension from Homestead High School and may result in recommendation for expulsion from the Fremont Union High School District:

• Possessing, selling, or otherwise furnishing a firearm,
• Possession/brandishing of any knife; possession of an explosive, or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the pupil,
• Unlawful possession, sale or distribution of any controlled substance,
• Causing serious physical injury to another person; robbery or extortion,
• Assault or battery upon any school employee,
• Damaging school or private property (including damage caused by “pranks”),
• Possessing or using tobacco or tobacco products,
• Committing an obscene act (in person, via e-mail or text messaging) or habitual profanity or vulgarity,
• Possessing or selling drug paraphernalia,
• Disrupting school activities or defying valid authority,
• Receiving stolen property,
• Harassing (including sexual harassment), threatening, or intimidating others (in person, via e-mail or text
• messaging),
• Participating in hate crimes of any kind (in person, via e-mail or text messaging),
• Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person
• Using, possessing, or being under the influence of a controlled substance, including an alcoholic beverage
• or any intoxicant,
• Theft of, or attempt to steal, school or private property,
• Possessing an imitation firearm.

Violations in any of these areas may also result in the student being referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Please visit the FUHSD website for more information on the District's Complaint Process and Procedures.