Student Handbook & Policies

Please take time to become familiar with the BVSD Student Rights and Responsibilities. (Code of Conduct)

BVSD Student Rights and Responsibilities

The student conduct code allows all students to make mistakes, within defined limits, without cumulative,
punitive action.  It is also important to remember that New Vista has a robust, student directed, Restorative Justice process that is utilized in most discipline cases.  

New Vista High School will be involved in student problems (even if they don’t happen at school) when:

• The problem started at school (e.g., talking about a fight after school, planning a party involving alcohol on the weekend when parents are not at home, planning to purchase drugs during lunch).
• The problem is brought back to school after the problem (e.g., talking about the fight that happened on the Hill over the weekend and what might happen next, taking sides and calling names related to a disagreement at a student’s house over the weekend).
• The problem is between two students at the same school and there is a safety issue (e.g., a student is charged with harassing another student at the same school, sexual harassment of another student at the same school occurs at a party).
• The problem is related to staff (e.g., graffiti on a staff member’s house).
• The student is charged with a felony or sexually related offense. 
• The problem happens when a student is traveling to and from school or after a school activity.

In order to ensure our schools as safe as possible BVSD has installed interior and exterior cameras in all high schools.
Only school administrators and New Vista's campus monitor will have the ability to view the camera
footage at NVHS. Please see the following district policy for more information: BUILDINGS AND
GROUNDS SECURITY / VIDEO SURVEILLANCE PROCEDURES District Policy ECA/ECA-R, 5/8/18

• video surveillance may occur on District property and on vehicles used for District-provided transportation;
• video cameras may be placed in locations deemed appropriate by designated school administrators, including exterior and interior locations;
• video surveillance cameras will not be concealed in any manner and will not be used in locker rooms, restrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, individual offices or classrooms.
• Permissible locations include outdoor facilities, school buses, and common areas in indoor facilities (such as hallways, lobbies and stairwells.);
• video monitoring may occur before, during or after school hours;
• video recordings may be used in connection with the enforcement of Board policy, administrative regulations, building rules and other applicable laws, including student and staff disciplinary proceedings and matters referred to local law enforcement agencies;
• video recordings may become a part of a student’s educational record or a staff member’s personnel record;
• the District will comply with all applicable state and federal laws related to student data privacy and record maintenance and retention;
• The policy and regulation are available here: bvsd.org/policies/Policies/ECA.pdf and bvsd.org/policies/ Policies/ECA-R.pdf

Only parents or guardians may excuse a student’s absence. If a student, or a friend, pretends to be a parent
and tries to excuse an absence, two things will happen. First, the student’s parents will be called. Second, the
student will have to help the office staff with their work for at least 2 hours. This will help make up for the
extra work the staff had to do because of the false call.
If students are too sick to be in class, they need to report to the health room.

New Vista Attendance Policy

New Vista Attendance Information 

Students are allowed to be on campus from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. There will be exceptions unless you are
directly supervised by an adult (ie. Robotics, Ultimate Frisbee, etc.). Due to no adult supervision and our
responsibility to maintain safety, students need to leave by 4:00 pm. This includes classrooms, gym, cafeteria, Study Center, fields, etc.

Computers and telephones in the staff, labs and conference rooms may be used by students for school
business - for Community Experience or doing something for a class. Health emergency phone calls should
be made from the office.

Cell Phone/ear buds/headphones at New Vista

In order to develop responsible technological citizens and protect the integrity of the instructional time in the classroom and collaboration time throughout the day, NVHS has the following cell phone and/or earbuds/headphones policy. All teachers and staff are expected to uphold this policy without exception. This policy adheres to the newly adopted BVSD Board policy which requires schools to become “no cell phone zones” from the start to the end of the school day on school grounds. 

All cell phones and earbuds/headphones must be turned off, put away, and placed in the designated spot as directed by the teacher, before class starts:

• If cell phones and earbuds/headphones are needed in the classroom, the teacher will make it clear to the students to take out their cell phones and/or earbuds/headphones. Teachers will also instruct students to put their phones and/or earbuds/headphones away after the conclusion of the activity. 
• Exceptions to the cell phone and earbuds/headphones policy will be made if a student has specific accommodations in place. Even with these accommodations, cell phones may only be used for instructional purposes or for the student’s stated accommodation.
• When not in class and while on campus, phones are expected to be turned off and put away.  Vehicle and/or backpack are ideal options.  

We will commit to having conversations about why we're doing this and educating students about mental health connections, tech addiction, and appropriate use.

Consequences for not having your device(s) off, or using them at any time during the school day on campus- 

• First incident:  If the student has not turned in their phone and it comes out in class, the phone will be given to the teacher to be brought to the office. The student can pick up the device/headphones at the end of the day. The student will have a conversation with the administration.
• Second incident: Student comes to the office to retrieve phone and administration and student calls parent together.  The parent picks up the phone from school.
• Third incident refusal to relinquish their cell phone to a teacher, staff member, or administration at any time:  The student can no longer bring the phone into school. It is either left at home or held in a cell phone locker in the office from the beginning to the end of the day. The behavior will be logged in Infinite Campus

Consequences for breaking any New Vista norms or for other inappropriate behavior will vary according to
the judgment of the teacher or other adult dealing with the situation, as well as with the specifics of the
situation. Consequences can include but are not limited to:

• having to talk about it/warning
• being removed from the classroom immediately
• restorative justice*
• attendance contract
• detention**
• in-school community service
• being suspended (in/out of school)
• enrollment contract
• Habitually Disruptive Plan (Students may be expelled from school if they are suspended 3 times in a
• calendar year for the same offence)
• expulsion

*Restorative Justice:
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a student-run organization that works side by side with administration, faculty and staff to handle behavioral issues in a non-traditional way. The restorative process requires students to take responsibility for their actions and gain an understanding of the harm their actions may have caused. In this process, student leaders facilitate circles where an open dialogue takes place between the conflicting parties. Students, staff, administrators, and community members work collaboratively to find helpful and creative ways for a student to repair the harm they have caused in their community and to make amends. RJ replaces traditional disciplinary measures such as detention or suspension and provides students with a positive learning experience.

While our community encourages restorative practices whenever possible, RJ is an option that is used at the
discretion of New Vista administrators. Administrators take into account the nature of the issue, the type of
harm caused, and the potential effectiveness of RJ in dealing with the issue before making a decision. While
RJ may be used at New Vista, if a student has broken a law, they may also face legal consequences determined by the School Resource Officer and Boulder legal system.
**Detention:
When students don’t adhere to our core values despite respectful and timely warnings, staff is encouraged to assign Detention. Also, when students have unexcused absences, detention will be assigned. Some norms have been made clear school wide (e.g. snowballs, smoking during break and/or on campus) and do not need warnings or one-on-ones. Detention must be served within a week from referral date or students will need to serve in-school suspension.

Students will exhibit positive behaviors at all times, demonstrating respect for themselves, their classmates,
school staff, and school and neighborhood property. All New Vista students are expected to:

• Behave as role models at all times, through demonstration of respect for the creativity and ideology of others.
• Be in class on time, and to make proper use of the instructional setting by assuming the responsibility of being on task and successfully completing all assignments.
• Achieve to the best of their potential at all times.
• Follow classroom rules as established by school policy and staff.
• Follow the school discipline code during the school day and at school functions.
• Choose positive alternatives, such as teacher assistance and/or avoidance of confrontations.
• Staff may ask that language that offends anyone (in music or speech) be stopped. Staff will respond to racist, sexist, homophobic or other offensive remarks.
• Students are expected to wear shoes at all times.
• Students may not wear sunglasses indoors.
• Students will be quiet during breaks and not bother other classrooms or learning activities.
• Students must not be in possession of lighters. Since lighters can be tools used to create open fire, unless supervised by chemistry teachers, please, do not bring lighters to school. Please know that when lighters are found (during searches, etc.), they will be confiscated.

Inclement weather may occasionally cause the school district to announce that district schools will be on a
2-hour delayed start. In that event, New Vista school start time will be 10:45 am, and our class schedule will
be as follows:

NVHS 2 Hour Delay on a M,T,TH,F

10:45-11:15 (30 min)	AM 1 or AM Block  30 min
11:15-11:20	Passing
11:20-11:50 (30 min)	AM 2 or AM Block Cont’d 30 min
11:50-11:55	Passing
11:55-12:55 (60 min)	Middle Block
12:55-1:00	Passing
1:00-1:30 (30 min)	Advisory
1:30-2:10 (40 min)	Lunch
2:10-3:10 (60 min)	PM Block

2 Hour Delay on a Wednesday:

10:45-11:05 (20 min)	AM 1
11:05-11:10	Passing
11:10-11:30 (20 min)	AM 2/AM Block
11:30-11:35	Passing
11:35-12:15 (40 min)	Mid Block
12:15-12:20	Passing
12:20-1:00 (40 min)	PM Block
1:00-1:30	Lunch
1:30-3:30	CE and Workshops

Lunch is from 12:50-1:40. Students may eat their lunches in the cafeteria/community room. Food and/or
beverages are not allowed in the auditorium or the gyms.

Parking is very limited. Please try to ride your bike or take the bus. Parking permits are required in the
school parking lots. Violators will be towed at the owner’s expense.

• Under 18 - Students may not drive during school activities.
• Students who are under 18 may drive from home to an off-campus location for a class and then from that location back home or to another personal destination.
• Students may not meet at school and leave to an off-campus event.
• Students may not return to school after an off-campus event.
• Once a student has come to school, he/she may not drive to an off-campus learning experience.
• Students may not drive from an off-campus learning location back to school for school business.
• Students may drive to and from school and during lunch.
• Over 18 - May only drive themselves during school activities. They may not provide rides for other students.
• May drive to and from school and during lunch.

NVHS Parking Lot Policy

The purpose of the Study Center is to provide:

• A quiet place for students to work.
• Computer and internet access to support student work.
• A quiet and comfortable place for students to relax.
  
  The norms for the Study Center are as follows:
• Non-school work technology use should be limited to the East computer lab.
• Behavior should be consistent with promoting a quiet, relaxing, school-centered environment:
• Use low voices.
• Walk, don’t run.
• No roughhousing.
• Return your chair to where you found it.
• Clean up after yourselves.
• No food or drink.

Student Clubs & Activities Page

• Dress Code Philosophy

The Boulder Valley School District believes all students have the right to an equitable education and should be able to dress, and style their hair, for school in a manner that expresses their individuality without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming. Enforcement of this universal dress code shall not create disparities, reinforce stereotypes or increase marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural identity, religious identity, household income or body type/size.

• Dress Code Policy

The Board of Education recognizes that students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are primarily responsible for determining the students’ personal appearance (clothing, hairstyle, jewelry, headgear, hats, book bags, etc.). Students' hair/hairstyles will not be considered a cause for dress code violation.

Schools are responsible for ensuring that a student’s personal appearance does not interfere with the health or safety of any student. Students and staff are responsible for managing their own personal distractions and reactions. The following general standards will be in effect at all BVSD schools grade PK-12:

• Mandatory and Allowable Dress:
   

  • Students must wear a top, bottom and footwear while on school premises

  • Some courses may require adjustments to attire and hairstyle to ensure safety during academic activities (i.e. science labs, PE, electives, CTE, etc.)

  • Some courses (PE, science lab, CTE, electives, etc.) and school-sponsored extracurricular activities may require specific attire (safety gear, athletic attire, uniforms, hair tied back, etc.)

• Non-Allowable Dress:

  • Items that expose private parts of the body (genitalia, nipples or buttocks)

  • Items with sexually suggestive language or messages

  • Items that promote illegal or violent conduct, including but not limited to, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons and/or gang affiliation

  • Items that depict hate speech, intimidation or intolerance toward protected groups

  • Items that are profane or legally libelous

  • Items that make the students face unidentifiable (protective masks, clothing/headgear worn for religious and medical purposes are excepted)

These standards will be published and distributed to students, families and staff at the beginning of each school year; a copy will be kept in each school building.

• Dress Code Enforcement

To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school staff shall enforce the dress code consistently using the requirements outlined in this policy. School administration and staff shall not have discretion to vary the requirements in ways that lead to discriminatory enforcement. Staff shall not confront students on dress-code violations in a manner that unnecessarily disciplines or publicly shames the student.

Students shall only be asked to change, cover or remove their attire if they are wearing non-allowable items identified above. Under these circumstances students shall have the following options to comply with the dress code for the remainder of the day:

• Wear their own alternative clothing, if available at  school

• Wear school provided clothing

• Call a parent or guardian to bring alternative clothing

Violation of this policy will result in parent/guardian notification of the violation; a parental conference may be held at the discretion of the building level administrator. More severe consequences may result from repeated or serious violations in accordance with policy, Policy JD/JR, Student Conduct and Discipline Code; JRR, Student Rights and Responsibilities; and Policy JDSE, Student Suspension/Expulsion.

These dress code guidelines shall apply to regular school days and summer school days, as well as any school-related events and activities, such as graduation ceremonies, dances, sporting events and prom.

Filosofía del código de vestimenta

El Distrito Escolar del Valle de Boulder cree que todos los estudiantes tienen derecho a una educación equitativa y deben poder vestirse y peinarse para la escuela de una manera que exprese su individualidad sin temor a una disciplina innecesaria o vergüenza corporal. La aplicación de este código de vestimenta universal no creará disparidades, reforzará estereotipos o aumentará la marginación de ningún grupo, ni se aplicará de manera más estricta contra los estudiantes debido a su identidad racial, etnia, identidad de género, expresión de género, inconformidad de género, orientación sexual, identidad cultural. , identidad religiosa, ingresos del hogar o tipo / tamaño de cuerpo.

Código de vestimenta

New Vista High School espera que todos los estudiantes se vistan de una manera apropiada para el día escolar o para cualquier evento patrocinado por la escuela. Las opciones de vestimenta de los estudiantes deben respetar la intención del Distrito de mantener una comunidad que incluya una amplia gama de identidades. La responsabilidad principal de la vestimenta de un estudiante reside en el estudiante y sus padres o tutores. La escuela es responsable de asegurarse de que la vestimenta de los estudiantes no interfiera con la salud o seguridad de ningún estudiante, y que la vestimenta de los estudiantes no contribuya a crear una atmósfera hostil o intimidante para ningún estudiante. Cualquier restricción a la forma en que un estudiante se viste debe ser necesaria para apoyar los objetivos educativos generales de la escuela.

1. Principio básico: Ciertas partes del cuerpo deben estar cubiertas para todos los estudiantes en todo momento.

La ropa debe usarse de manera que los genitales, glúteos, senos / pecho y pezones estén completamente cubiertos con tela opaca. Todos los artículos enumerados en las categorías de "debe usar" y "puede usar" a continuación deben cumplir con este principio básico.

2. Los estudiantes deben usar, siguiendo el principio básico de la Sección 1 anterior:

• Una camisa (con tela en el frente, la espalda y los lados debajo de los brazos), Y

• Pantalones / jeans o su equivalente (por ejemplo, una falda, pantalones deportivos, leggings, un vestido o pantalones cortos), Y

• Zapatos.

Los cursos que incluyen la vestimenta como parte del plan de estudios (por ejemplo, profesionalismo, hablar en público y preparación para el trabajo) pueden incluir vestimenta específica para la asignación. Se permiten requisitos de calzado para actividades específicas (por ejemplo, calzado deportivo para educación física).

3. Los estudiantes pueden usar, siempre que estos artículos no infrinjan la Sección 1 anterior:

• Sombreros. Los sombreros deben permitir que la cara sea visible para el personal y no interferir con la línea de visión de ningún estudiante o personal.

• Sombreros religiosos

• Sudaderas con capucha (se permite usar la capucha por encima de la cabeza, pero el personal de la escuela debe poder ver la cara y las orejas).

• Pantalones ajustados, incluidos leggings opacos, pantalones de yoga y "jeans ajustados"

• Jeans rotos, siempre que la ropa interior y las nalgas no estén expuestas.

• Camisetas sin mangas, incluyendo tirantes finos; camisetas sin mangas

• Vestimenta atlética

• Cinturones visibles en la ropa interior o correas visibles en la ropa interior que se usa debajo de otra ropa (siempre que esto se haga de una manera que no viole la Sección 1 anterior).

4. Los estudiantes no pueden usar:

• Lenguaje o imágenes violentos.

• Imágenes o lenguaje que represente drogas o alcohol (o cualquier artículo o actividad ilegal).

• Discurso de odio, blasfemias, pornografía.

• Imágenes o lenguaje que crea un ambiente hostil o intimidante.

• Cualquier ropa que muestre ropa interior visible (se permiten cinturones y correas visibles)

• Trajes de baño (excepto cuando se requiera en clase o práctica atlética).

• Accesorios que puedan considerarse peligrosos o puedan utilizarse como arma.

• Cualquier artículo que oscurezca la cara o las orejas (excepto como observancia religiosa).

5. Aplicación del código de vestimenta

Para asegurar la aplicación efectiva y equitativa de este código de vestimenta, el personal de la escuela deberá hacer cumplir el código de vestimenta de manera consistente utilizando los requisitos a continuación. La administración y el personal de la escuela no tendrán discreción para variar los requisitos de manera que conduzcan a una aplicación discriminatoria.

Los estudiantes solo serán removidos de espacios, pasillos o aulas como resultado de una violación del código de vestimenta como se describe en las Secciones 1 y 4 anteriores. A los estudiantes que violen la Sección 1 y / o 4 se les proporcionarán tres (3) opciones para vestirse más según el código durante el día escolar:

• Se les pedirá a los estudiantes que se pongan su propia ropa alternativa, si ya está disponible en la escuela, para vestirse más según el código por el resto del día.

• Los estudiantes recibirán ropa escolar temporal para que se vistan más de acuerdo con el código durante el resto del día.

• Si es necesario, los padres de los estudiantes pueden b

As part of BVSD's school security efforts, all student IDs also function as electronic door fobs.
Students are required to wear their ID badge while at NVHS.

This badge will allow each student to open the front doors and the south door, near the 300 level music
room, during certain limited times including before school begins and during lunch.

It is vitally important that students alert the front office, administration, or the campus monitor immediately
to report any lost or stolen IDs. IDs can be immediately deactivated and then reissued with new access
codes.

Students who do not attend New Vista may not be on school grounds or in the school building without having completed the Out of Town/Visitor Approval Request Form (copies in the front office). The New Vista
student and the visitor must fill out the form and get it approved by administration and teachers 3 days
before your visitor arrives. If you do not follow these steps, your guest will be asked to leave. 

Students who do not currently attend New Vista may not be on school grounds or in the school building
without checking with the office. Former students are allowed to visit only during advisory time, and only if
the advisor allows it. The front office will call the advisor to get approval. If the advisor does not approve, the
student may call/email the advisor to schedule a future visit. A phone call/email to their advisors ahead of
time is highly encouraged in order to avoid disruption.

Visits during academic class time (AM1, AM2, AM Block, Midblock, PM Block, PM2) are not allowed unless the student has made a previous appointment with the teacher and has an email or note to show the front office. If the student has made an appointment but does not have an email or note to prove it, the front desk will call the teacher to double check.

Former students who visit during lunchtime need to check in as Visitors at the front desk. Since we
sometimes have parent volunteers staffing the front desk, an administrator will be asked to grant permission for the former student to be on campus before a visitor badge is provided.

A New Vista student may not go to Fairview or Boulder High School, or any other Boulder Valley school
unless he or she has permission. If a student has a good reason to visit, the school's’ office must say it is okay.  DO NOT visit other schools during lunch or Wednesday Community Experience. If we find out that a student has gone to another school without permission, the student will lose the right to leave school for lunch or Community Experience.

New Vista is a 1:Web school, which means that students have the opportunity to obtain a Chromebook from
the school that will become completely their own when they graduate. Students pay one quarter of the price
of the Chromebook each year. If a student already has their own computer they can use that and not
participate in the program. Every student is expected to have a computer and to bring it to school charged
each day.

New Vista strives to meet individual student needs and understands unique circumstances regarding student schedules. The goals of the school to provide small class sizes and academic equity will be considered first and foremost. In order to achieve this, a considerable amount of time and effort is put into the course selection process, creating a yearlong schedule, and balancing class sizes.  Because schedule changes create a ripple effect that impacts class size and student learning, advisors and counselors will only be approving schedule changes to be made for specific academic purposes.

• NVHS Schedule Change Process/Policy 
• 2025-26 Schedule Change Form

For Morning and Afternoon Blocks, Advisory, and Independent Study Contracts and Service Week, we use the grades: A, B, C, and IP. Teachers may add a (+) or (–) to the grades, but this will not affect the student’s grade point average. Incomplete (I) is only given for emergencies, and the grade must be made up by the due date.
Workshops and Community Experiences are graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

New Vista teachers all use the same 4-point grading scale:
Understanding Our 4-Point Grading Scale

At New Vista High School, we use a 4-point grading scale to provide clear and consistent feedback on student learning. This system aligns with best practices in education by focusing on what students know and can do, rather than relying on traditional percentages or letter grades.

Here’s how it works:

• 4: Exceeds Standards
  The student demonstrates advanced understanding and application of the learning goals, exceeding the expectations for the assignment or standard.
• 3: Meets Standards
  The student consistently meets the expectations and demonstrates a solid understanding of the learning goals.
• 2: Approaching Standards
  The student shows partial understanding of the learning goals and is progressing but has not yet fully met the expectations.
• 1: Does not Meet Standards
  The student shows minimal understanding and needs significant support to achieve the learning goals.

This scale helps us communicate specific strengths and areas for growth, encouraging a growth mindset and deeper learning. It also supports equity by separating academic achievement from behaviors like attendance or effort, which are reported separately.

Our goal is to ensure every student understands where they stand academically and how to reach their potential.

Here are some compelling quotes from Grading for Equity by Joe Feldman that support the rationale behind using a 4-point grading scale:

1. On the purpose of grading:
   "Grading should accurately describe students' academic performance and be mathematically sound, bias-resistant, and motivational."
   • This highlights the importance of clarity and fairness in grading, which a 4-point scale supports.
2. On separating academic achievement from behavior:
   "Including behavior in grades creates confusion about what grades are measuring and often penalizes students with fewer resources."
   • A 4-point scale focuses solely on academic progress, fostering equity and clarity.
3. On supporting a growth mindset:
   "When students see grades as a reflection of their effort and learning, rather than innate ability, they are more likely to engage and persist."
   • The 4-point scale emphasizes progress toward clear standards, encouraging growth.
4. On the simplicity of the 4-point scale:
   "Traditional 100-point scales are overly precise, with distinctions that often don’t reflect meaningful differences in understanding."
   • The 4-point scale avoids this issue by focusing on broad levels of mastery.
5. On equity in grading practices:
   "Our grading practices must promote hope and opportunity for all students, rather than reinforce existing disparities."
   • The 4-point scale provides a more equitable approach by aligning grading with learning rather than external factors.

Finally, although the grading system changes how scores are calculated during the learning process, final grades and GPAs remain identical to traditional systems. For instance, an “A” in our system holds the same value as an “A” in other BVSD schools when calculating GPA.

Students must earn an A or B in a class to earn Common Learning (core courses other than electives) credit.

 

New Vista Common Grading Practice 

All of New Vista's classes emphasize grading based on how well students demonstrate that they have “met the expectations” of learning for the class. Because we want grades to reflect how well students can demonstrate the knowledge and skills expected of the class, our gradebooks more heavily weigh summative assessments (assessments that measure learning after the instruction for that section of learning (chapter/unit/etc) is complete) - things like quizzes, tests, projects are worth a minimum of 80% of the student’s overall grade. Formative assessments (measures that provide students with feedback on their learning during instruction, while learning is still in progress)- things like homework, participation in class activities, and classwork for practice are worth a maximum of 20% of the student’s overall grade. Please note that the weights are minimums and maximums. We have some teachers for that weight summative assessments as 100% of the overall grade (while offering opportunities for relearning and revisions as needed). 

Our staff is committed to thinking deeply about grading practices and doing everything that we can to ensure that our practices are equitable. We spent the 2024-2025 School Year reading the book Grading for Equity: What it is, why it matters, and how it can transform classrooms by Joe Feldman. We are committed to leveraging research while staying true to our school’s purpose.

C’s count for all courses except “Common Learning” or Core classes

If a student earns below an A or a B in a Common Learning class, the credit for this class will need to be recovered. When a content area teacher posts grades, there will be a comment in IC as to whether the C grade is petitionable. At the end of each grading period, Advisors prompt students who have earned C’s to consider whether or not they wish to petition or sign up for credit recovery. Petitions will be accepted until the end of the following quarter.  Classes should be recovered within the next four quarters. 

Students can petition for a C to “count” if there are extenuating circumstances.  If the petition is successful, the grade will not change, but the course will count for Common Learning credit. C petitions are reviewed and approved by the Big Picture leadership team.

Students who receive a C or IP may be eligible to take online credit recovery courses. This is possible when the class is closely aligned with district courses. Examples include most Math and Science, World Geography, Foundations of Writing, and Spanish.

Students who earn a B or higher in credit recovery will have that grade and credit replace the grade and the credit they originally earned.

Students who receive a C or IP may be eligible to take online credit recovery courses. This is possible when
the class was closely aligned with district courses. Examples include most math and science, World
Geography, Foundations of Writing and Spanish.

Students who earn a C or higher in credit recovery will have that grade and credit replace the grade and the
credit they originally earned.

New Vista uses a policy of Due Dates and Deadlines for summative coursework. Each teacher has a policy on due dates that will be shared with students at the beginning of each course. See below for more information.

Due Date: The date an assignment is due, to be turned in, without penalty or labeled as late. Assignments may be turned in after the due date, before the deadline, and still receive reduced credit.

Deadline: The last possible date that a student can turn in an assignment. A student cannot turn in the assignment after the deadline date.

For summative assessments, a due date will be given. Any work submitted after the due date, but before the deadline, may have a reduced grade.

Students who miss the due date can turn in the work by the deadline, which is 1-2 weeks as set by the teacher. Deadlines may not extend beyond the quarter.

After the deadline, late work will not be accepted.

 

At the end of the fourth to fifth week of a class, progress reports are posted on Infinite Campus. We tell
parents if the student’s grade falls below a B- after the fifth week with a phone call, email or note. Teachers
will also tell advisors. We cannot tell parents about final project grades until final grade reports.

Based on scheduling, we may have end-of-quarter revision time between quarters. This is done for two
reasons: First, to give teachers more time between quarters to transition and finalize grades, and second, to
give students the opportunity to finish work that may raise their grades to passing.
Students will be invited to revision time by their teachers, and attendance is mandatory . Once students
have completed the required work, they will be dismissed. Students who have all passing grades will not be
required to attend revision time.

Every student who chooses to come to New Vista has an interview with a member of the staff and a member
of the student’s family. At that interview, we tell students they must earn As and Bs in most of their classes.
Students agree to meet these expectations. The principal checks on this by looking at every student’s
midterm reports and class grades.

When students have problems, we try everything we can think of to help them . If a student still gets low
grades after we have tried to help, it is important that something be done to change the situation.

Why does something have to be done? First, students who earn low grades at New Vista will not graduate
from this school. The longer they stay, the less likely it is that they will graduate from any school. If students
keep earning low grades, they won’t get the education they need for their futures. Second, earning low grades is not part of the agreement that was made when the student came to New Vista. That agreement states that New Vista would offer more freedom if students take more responsibility. When students do not take the responsibility to get good grades, we have to take back the freedom that was agreed upon.

What happens next? We talk to the students. The teachers, the advisor, the counselor, or an administrator
meets with the student to discuss the problem. Does the student need help from a teacher? Should he or she take “Making It at New Vista?” Does the student have special education needs? Does the student need outside support? The following is a typical timeline we use to provide students with the academic interventions they need to be successful:

Academic Interventions Timeline
Classroom support > Lunch Support>Communications with advisor/Case manager/Counseling >Referral
to Response to Intervention (RtI)> Added to Care-and-Concern list.

1. Advisors alter schedule: Can include lighter course load and Making It classes.
    
2. Continued enrollment in Making It>Referral to Student Support Team (SST).
    
3. Possible enrollment contract>Hybrid enrollment with Boulder Universal.
    
4. A parent conference will be scheduled to discuss fit at New Vista and out-of-New Vista enrollment options.*

*If the student is still getting low grades, then the principal meets with the student and his or her parents.
They talk about different schools or programs that could be a better place for the student to learn. A major
change might help a student to get better grades or be more successful.
 

Class Period	Per Quarter	Per Year	Four Years
AM Block	1 Credit	4	16
AM 1 or AM 2	.5 Credits	2	8
Mid Block	1 Credit	4	16
Advisory	.3 Credits	1.2	4.8
PM Block	1 Credit	4	16
PM2	.5 Credits	(optional)
CE	.5 Credits	2	8
Workshop	.25 Credits	1	4
Service Week		.3	1.2
Common Learnings			28 Credits
Path			20 Credits
Culminating Project			2 Credits

TOTAL: 50 Credits

Physical Education - if you play sports at another school, you may be able to earn sports credits.
See the registrar or your advisor for the form.

1 Credit at NVHS = 60 hours

Conventional High Schools: 5 credits = 1.0 Credit, typically 1 semester-long class
CTEC: 15 credits = 3 NVHS credits

Carnegie Units: .5 Carnegie Units = 1.0 credit

Transfer Students from Other High Schools
● Public school students and those at accredited high schools: We will give Common Learning area
credit for all classes in which a student earned a C or above. Courses with a grade of D will only count
towards Path credit.
● Unaccredited private schools or homeschooling through a credit-granting organization: We will only
award credit on a Pass/Fail basis with a maximum of 6 credits per semester, subject to the
discretion of the principal. This is in accordance with the policies followed at all BVSD high schools.

Credits earned through a Study Abroad program
Credits earned through a study abroad program will be evaluated and approved for credit at the discretion of
the building administration. If the foreign school is appropriately accredited, letter grades can be awarded. If
the foreign school is not accredited, S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory) grades will be awarded
accordingly. Credits will be awarded according to the standard New Vista credit system of 60 clock hours per 1 learning unit. A maximum of 6 credits per semester may be earned. All grades earned on the foreign
transcript will be considered for credit.

Documentation in the form of an official transcript translated into English must be provided by the student
or foreign school. Supporting documentation regarding the accreditation of the foreign school is
recommended.

Credit from Summer School
Summer school classes taken while a student is at New Vista are treated the same way all New Vista courses are treated in terms of how grades count toward graduation. As and Bs are needed for Common Learning Areas; Cs go to path; Ds do not count - it’s as if the grade were an F.

Classes taken at Boulder Tec 
Students taking a half-day course at the Career and Technical Education Center earn 1.5 credits each quarter, 3 credits for each semester, and 6 credits for a whole year. Once a student has
enrolled at New Vista, he/she must carry an A or B in any course taken at another BVSD institution in order
for the credit to be counted for Common Learning or Stage II. (See above – Credit from Summer School.)

Cs from college courses
Cs from college courses can count toward Common Learnings. Ds do not count. This applies to both Stage I and Stage II.

● CE grading requires both a completed CE evaluation form and a time sheet of hours logged by the
student. The site mentor and the New Vista advisor evaluate students on their performance. CE is
graded "satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory" and generally valued at .5 Learning Units (LUs) based on a
minimum of 30 hours at a site. NVHS wants students to log four hours of CE a week, but site needs
may require a little less or a little more. Credit will vary depending upon hours logged at a site. Credit
for significantly more than 30 hours must be prearranged with the student’s advisor and the LRC.
There is a one (1) LU credit cap per CE, per quarter. Students receive "Path" credit for CE.

● Workshops are graded “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” and earn .25 Learning Units of "Path” credit

• Successfully meet all graduation related deadlines.
• Write Stage II Proposal for Panel Team.
• Successfully complete (or have plans to complete) credit requirements for Common Learnings and Path work verified in a credit count with the principal.
• Earn grades of A or B in all coursework or Independent Study following the Panel Team’s acceptance of the Stage II Proposal. This requirement must include the four quarters prior to graduation.
• Complete the Culminating Project with the approval of all members of the Panel Team and earn at least a grade of B.
• Students must present projects to Panel Team in the fall and again in the spring for grading.
• Complete any additional tasks, activities, or projects required by the Panel Team.
• Present the Culminating Project to members of the school community at an Exhibition Day or Community Gathering.

Students must meet all the deadlines associated with the Graduation Proposal and Culminating
Project in order to participate in the school’s graduation ceremony.

Graduating seniors must satisfy the steps and deadlines of the Stage II process. The consequence for
not meeting these deadlines is loss of the opportunity to walk across the stage at Graduation to
receive a diploma.
 

More Details on Culminating Projects

Getting Culminating Project Credit for Paid Work
This can happen in only two cases:
1) The student's path is such that holding a job, meeting expectations about that job, and reflecting on the
work experience is the proper culminating project.
2) If a student needs to earn money for either a postgraduate experience or the actual Culminating Project,
they may earn a maximum of .5 Learning Units out of the 2 awarded for the Culminating Project. In keeping
with District policies, work-time credit is counted at the ratio of 120 hours of work time = 1 Learning Unit.
That means that in order to earn .5 learning units from work, a student must accrue 60 hours of work time.

How early can you "do" your culminating project?
A Culminating Project has to be approved by a Panel Team that includes three adults, one of which is your
advisor, and other students. First, the Panel Team must accept the Graduation Proposal and then discuss the Culminating Project. There are no specific time requirements except that we want students to be at New
Vista for at least one year before this process begins.

Can you earn more than two Learning Units for a culminating project?
Culminating Projects are designed to have integrity and coherence. They should have clearly defined
beginnings, middles and ends. It is not uncommon for Culminating Projects to take up far more than the 120
hours specified for them. Some students, once they realize that this is happening, want to take Independent
Studies to earn additional credit. Nevertheless, once the project has been conceived, refined and approved by the committee, no parts of it should be severed off and turned into an Independent Study. Independent
Studies related to the Culminating Project may be identified at the time of project approval or as the project
develops and new opportunities unfold. Under no circumstances should an Independent “take over” pieces of the approved Culminating Project.

For specific details about graduating successfully, see the Graduation Handbook, which is available on the
New Vista website and in the front office.

Beginning with the Class of 2021, in order for BVSD students to graduate high school and receive a high
school diploma, they must meet both BVSD’s credit requirements and demonstrate their competence in
English and Mathematics, as required by Colorado’s new graduation guidelines.
Students must complete at least one of the required measures in English and at least one in Math as well as meet or exceed the measure’s corresponding cut score or criteria to demonstrate college and career
readiness in English and Math. With the help of their advisor, students will select a performance measure for
both English and Math.

For specific details, please check with your advisor or visit the BVSD website.

Students will not automatically fulfill 4 year college entrance requirements by fulfilling New Vista Common
Learning requirements . Below is a comparison between what a students needs to graduate from New Vista
and the entrance requirements for any public, four year college in Colorado. Students must research the
specific entrance requirements for any other school. It is your responsibility to communicate with your
advisor if you are planning on the College Path. Your advisor will help you plan your schedule in order to
meet all college requirements.

Subject Area	New Vista	All Public 4-Year Colleges in Colorado
Language  Arts	4 Credits	8 Credits (NOT incl: Business English, ESL,   Yearbook, Drama, Journalism)
Math	4  Credits	8 Credits at Algebra 1 or above
Science	4  Credits	6 Credits (4 in lab sciences) (Not Incl:   General Science, Outdoor Ed, Environmental Sci)
Social Studies	4  Credits	6 Credits (including: World Geography,   World  History, US History and Civics)
World Language	2  Credits	4 Credits (Through Level II of the same     Language)

 

There are many opportunities for students at New Vista to write and express themselves and many formats
in which to do it – journals, homework, assigned papers, writing tasks, poetry, visual arts, dancing,
photography, etc.
It is important, therefore, to set some broad guidelines to define the boundaries of acceptable school
expression. Because of our informal environment and the strong relationships between students and
teachers, students sometimes choose to express themselves in ways that reveal information that raises
concerns for teachers and the school.
It should be noted that everything written here applies to other forms of self-expression, including art and
performance. To begin, certain topics need to be handled with special care. This list includes:

• sex/pregnancy
• personal safety (self-harm/harm to others)
• drug use
• abuse
• violence

These are not censored topics. For each of them, there are acceptable and appropriate ways to express
yourself in a school environment. Your teachers will help you find them, if that is your choice. The general
idea is to present these topics in balanced ways, dealing with both costs and benefits to individuals and to
society.
There are four points:

It is never appropriate to write about any of these topics in a way that glorifies illegal, unsafe, or
inappropriate behavior.

1. Any writing which suggests that the writer has had personal experience with these topics or is thinking about them in potentially harmful ways will not be kept confidential between the student and the teacher. Teachers will show such writing to a member of the counseling staff who, with the teacher’s input, will decide a) whether parents need to be notified, b) whether the administration needs to be notified, and c) whether public welfare agencies need to be notified.
2. The basic rule of thumb is: If you write about certain things, in certain ways, your parents will be called. Legally, we cannot withhold from your parents or appropriate agencies personal information that indicates your well-being may be at risk.

Deciding when a piece of writing is self-revealing is always a judgment call. As a public institution, we must
make such judgment calls conservatively, i.e. we must err on the side of disclosure. When a student turns in
any writing that is in the first person and covers any of the topics listed above, know that parents will be
called. When the writing is in the third person, several readers will be shown the work and asked to decide if
the third-person format may be a mask for personal experience. If readers think that is a possibility, parents
will be called.

1. Any piece of writing that raises concerns about a student’s physical or emotional well-being, regardless of whether it falls neatly into one of these categories or not, will be shown to the counseling staff and may be shared with parents.
2. Teachers always have the right to refuse to accept a piece of writing that they feel is inappropriate and to insist that something else be turned in.

If you do have concerns about any of the issues listed above, either from your personal experience or that of
your friends, you can discuss these with far greater confidentiality with either the Counselor or Intervention
Specialist. As you bring these topics up, the counselors will make sure you understand the limits of their
confidentiality.

*Important to know: BVSD District policy on student conduct and discipline code also states that student misconduct that has a nexus to the school, even if off campus, may result in discipline or other action.
Nexus = A point of causal intersection, link, relation, connection. For example, surrounding neighborhoods to the school have a physical location nexus to New Vista.

• If it is a first offense, as an alternative to suspension, the student will have the option to:

  •  complete the Teen Intervene Program with our nurse as an alternative to suspension. This program is designed to help students learn about the impacts of substances on their physical and mental health.

  • participate in an Restorative Justice Circle

  • If it is not the student’s first offense, or if the student or parents decline the alternative to suspension, additional disciplinary actions, such as suspension, may replace the Teen Intervene Program and Restorative Justice

• The student will also :

  • remain on campus (inside the building) for lunch for a minimum of four weeks  from the day of the re-entry meeting. *Additional time may be added depending on the severity of the offense and/or if the incident is not the first violation of substance policy.

    • The student will need to sign in for lunch with Jennifer in the main office to let her know where she will be for the lunch hour. 

    • The student will also need to sign in again at the end of the lunch period before their afternoon class.

    • If the student chooses to leave for any lunch period during the assigned period of closed campus lunch, the on-campus lunch requirement will be extended and they will be required to eat in the office instead of a place of their choosing within the building for the remainder of their on-campus lunches. 

  • only be allowed in the hallways during designated breaks and passing periods. Should the student need to use the restroom or come to the office during a time that is not during a break or passing period, the teacher will call the office to find an adult to escort them to and from the restroom. This will also last for a minimum of 4 weeks. *Additional time may be added depending on the severity of the offense and/or if the incident is not the first violation of substance policy.

  • report to the main office before the first class of the day for a search of her backpack/pockets/etc for a minimum of four weeks (or longer at the discretion of Administration).

   Per District Policy:

Students are not allowed to have or use alcohol, illegal substances, or paraphernalia school grounds or at any school event or activity.

For more information, please access New Vista’s Substance Abuse Policy.

We have implemented a school-wide policy regarding “student talk about substances.” While the new policy
has lots of details, its essence is as follows: if you tell us or allow us to overhear talk about substance use or
related activities, you can expect us to share that information with others, including parents and school
administrators.

We will be operating on the assumption that if you bring this information to school, it becomes our business.
If you don’t want it to be our business, keep it to yourselves or share it with the Intervention Specialist.

Why are we doing this? There are three reasons: first, is student safety, second, is being clear about
appropriate staff/student relationships, and third, is a belief that the school is negatively affected by students chatting or even bragging about illegal out-of-school substance use.

#1 - Safety
Substance use has been connected with violent crimes, sexual assault, and fatal accidents. Sometimes the
dangers arise from substances themselves, and sometimes from the fact that the substances are illegal. It is our duty to keep students safe.

#2 - Relationships
We want to have clear and consistent relationships with students. We care about students and want to be
their partners in their education. We are friendly, but not friends. We have a professional role to play, which
at New Vista involves close personal relationships, but it is always a professional role.

#3 - School Climate
We have made it as clear as we can that substance use at school activities is a violation of this community’s
norms. Safety is a primary concern behind these policies, but we also have a commitment to getting students engaged in learning and life. Student talk about substance use pollutes the learning climate we work so hard to create.

Conclusion
If we have information that students are involved with substances we will tell parents and we will tell school
administrators. This does not mean that disciplinary consequences will always follow. It does mean that
there will be lots of conversations about the issues and discipline imposed only when existing school rules
are violated.

These are the things that will happen:

• All direct or overheard conversations will be reported to the office. The administrators will follow up by talking to kids, making contact with parents, referring families to support systems and applying school rules, if necessary.
• We will try to identify people who are just spreading rumors and deal with that as a rumor-spreading rather than a substance-using issue.
• We will get in contact with parents whose homes are used for parties that we hear about.
• If parents call us with information about students, we will talk to those students and their parents; if parents don’t want students or other parents to know about those calls, they should make confidential contact with our Intervention Specialist.

In accordance with District policy, there is no smoking, traditional or electronic, or use of tobacco products,
on campus. This includes electronic cigarettes. “Campus” is defined as the school building, the parking lots,
the surrounding fields and any walkways that connect these areas. School property ends at the sidewalks
that surround the parking lots and fields. In addition, the staff of New Vista does not believe that students
should smoke. We do not approve of this habit and we offer help to people who want to quit. Students may
not smoke or vape during breaks.

Students who are 18 years or older do have a legal right to smoke when not on school property. However,
tobacco products of any kind may not be brought on campus, no matter what a student’s age. In order to not create disruptions in our neighborhood, students may not smoke on the sidewalks on either side of 20th
Street from Baseline to Broadway, or Baseline, from 20th Street to Broadway. Please do not smoke in places
that will disturb our neighbors and please clean up after yourselves. Smoking may only happen on
“non-school” time: before school, lunch, and after school.

When tobacco products, e-cigarettes vapes, paraphernalia, cartridges and/or lighters are found during
searches, they will be confiscated and handed to our School Resource Officer.

Absences:
● Being late or absent will always naturally hurt your grade (participation, etc.), and you will have to
make up time.
● Students whose lateness or absence is excused can make up the work. Teachers will help these
students make up the work.
● Long (over a week) and even excused absences could lower grade/credit for the class, unless
make-up work is pre-arranged with the teacher and administration and completed.
● Administrators, advisors, and counselors will work with students and parents to stop lateness and
unexcused absences.
● If students have a pass from a counselor, administrator, or special education teacher the absence will
be excused.
● Students who miss class because of a school or district event will be excused.
● Whatever the reason for the absence is, it is the responsibility of the student to talk to the teacher,
upon return to get the announcements missed and/or make-up work.
● If students miss 50 percent of a class, that partial absence will be counted as an unexcused absence
for the entire class..
● If a student believes s/he has been marked absent in error, s/he should pick up an “Oops Slip” from
the office. The teacher can sign the slip, indicating that the student was, in fact, present. The slip
should then be given to the Attendance Secretary, who will make the correction to the student’s
attendance record.
● In keeping with Boulder Valley School District policy, if students are over 18 years of age and living
on their own , parents may send a written note to the office allowing the student to excuse
him/herself. Students living at home or with a guardian may only be excused by the responsible
adult.

Notifications:
● Parents of students with unexcused absences will get automatic calls and/or emails from the
attendance secretary. Parental response will be expected within 48 hours.
● If after receiving notification of an unexcused absence, you or your parents have questions, please call
our Attendance Secretary at 720-561-8784 for clarification.
● Students with four or more unexcused absences will get a yellow invitation to talk with the Dean of
Students. Advisors and case managers are invited and highly encouraged to join.
● Parents of students with four or more unexcused absences or excessive absences due to illness (7 or
more days) will receive a letter asking them to set up an appointment to discuss attendance concerns
with the Dean of Students. Advisors and case managers will be invited to join.
● Ten days of excused absences (illness, personal, “excused”) and /or unexcused absences will result in
the school sending “Exhibit B - Second Attendance Letter” mandating doctors’ notes to excuse any
future absences and warning that an Attendance Contract may be called for if attendance does not
improve. The requirement for doctors’ notes to excuse absences will be in place until the student
graduates from or leaves BVSD.
● Teachers will contact parents when there are concerns about absences of any kind. While automated
calls/emails go home, teacher initiated contact proves to be crucial.

Lateness:
● Students who who are late should report to the office for a late pass. If a parent has communicated
with the office to excuse the lateness, the late slip will be marked “excused.” Missed bus, oversleeping,
and discretionary appointments are not reasons for excusing lateness.
● Lateness policies are outlined in each teacher’s syllabus and/or rubrics, and reinforced by each
teacher.
● Teachers will create a system to keep track of tardies and will impose immediate consequences,
typically in the form of make-up time.
● Late students are expected to face consequences immediately, during break, and preferably under the
teacher’s supervision. Excessive tardiness will lead to consequences generated by each teacher.
● If students have a pass from a counselor, interventionist, administrator, or special education teacher,
the lateness will be excused.
● When assigning detention, teachers will enter the deadline by which to serve and the consequence
for not serving. Unless otherwise specified, the deadline to serve detention is one week. The
consequence for unserved detention is in-school suspension.
● When entering lateness into Infinite Campus, teachers will include the number of minutes in the
comments section.
● As with absences, whatever the reason for the lateness, it is the responsibility of the student to talk to
the teacher, to get the announcements missed and/or make-up work.
● If students miss 50 percent of a class, teachers will mark them absent for the entire class. The
Attendance Secretary will later excuse it if we receive a parent call, and the absence is excusable.

Pre-arranged/Extended absences of 4 school days or more MUST be approved in advance by the
Principal or Dean of Students and your student’s teachers.

A “Pre-arranged Absence” form (available at our website and the front office) must be completed and turned
in to the administration for approval 3 days before the absence begins. Students, parents and teachers are
part of the completion process, with the student taking the main responsibility to rotate the form through all
teachers and to hand it in to the front office for approval. If these requirements are not taken care of, the
absence will remain unexcused.

Parents/Guardians: When considering an extended absence, please remember that missing 3 days at NVHS is like missing one week+ and missing 5 days at NVHS equals losing 2 weeks of school at a high school with
semester-long courses.

● Unexcused absences lead to detention, and detention must be served by the given deadline.
● Advisors will be notified when advisees have detention, and remind students to serve.
● Detention is in classroom 112, during lunch unless otherwise arranged by the Dean of Students.
● In detention, students will be working on class assignments, reading, or sitting quietly. No electronics
will be allowed.
Unserved detention leads to in-school suspension .