Handbook
Welcome to Davis High School ... "Home of the Darts"
Davis High School's tradition of excellence extends over 100 years. As the first school established in Davis County, The Home of the Darts has served the community well by helping to produce prominent political, entertainment, and business leaders. We are dedicated to "Defending the Tradition -- While Leaving a Positive Legacy."
Davis High Policy and Guidelines
- District Notice: Notice of Non-Discrimination
- District Notice: Filing an OEO Complaint
- District Notice: Student Conduct and Discipline
- District Notice: Safe and Orderly Schools
- 2022-2023 School Leadership
- About Davis High
- Graduation
- Harassment/Hazing/Bullying
- Search and Seizure
- Extracurricular Activities
- Compulsory Education Requirements
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
- Student Directory Information
- Protection of Pupil Rights
- Religious Expression in Public Schools
- Meal Charges in Schools
- Expectations, Policies, and Code of Conduct
- Classroom Behavior
- Attendance
- Tardy Policy
- Parent Notification
- Academic Grades
- Citizenship Grade
- Administrative U
- Emergency Preparedness
- Citizenship Make-up Credit
District Notice: Notice of Non-Discrimination
EQUAL EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Davis School District and Davis High are committed to creating an environment free from harassment and discrimination, including addressing and correcting incidents of harassment and discrimination when they occur, ensuring that discipline is free from discrimination, and ensuring nondiscriminatory access to student groups. Students and employees may not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, in its programs and activities, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Policy 11IR-100 prohibits harassment and discrimination against students on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability (“Protected Class”).
Complaints of harassment or discrimination against students on the basis of a Protected Class should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
Ken Auld, Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity
Davis School District
45 East State Street
P.O. Box 588 Farmington, Utah 84025
tel: (801) 402-8701
kauld@dsdmail.net
Further information regarding student-on-student or staff-on-student harassment will be provided in a separate Notice of Non-Discrimination.
Employee requests for accommodations or complaints of harassment or discrimination against an employee should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at:
Steven Baker, Associate Director Human Resources ADA (Employment Issues) Coordinator
Davis School District
45 East State Street
P.O. Box 588 Farmington, Utah 84025
tel: (801) 402-5315 sbaker@dsdmail.net
Information regarding accommodations for disabilities should be directed to:
Midori Clough, District 504 Coordinator Section 504 (Student Issues) Coordinator
Davis School District
70 East 100 North
P.O. Box 588 Farmington, Utah 84025
tel: (801) 402-5180
mclough@dsdmail.net
Information or complaints about discrimination on the basis of sex in athletic programs may be directed to:
Tim Best, Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator Title IX Athletic Compliance Coordinator Sex Based Discrimination in Athletic Programs
Davis School District
20 North Main Street
P.O. Box 588 Farmington, Utah 84025
tel: (801) 402-7850
tbest@dsdmail.net
Information or complaints about discrimination on the basis of a disability in access to facilities may be directed to:
Scott Zigich, Director of Risk Management Physical Facilities Compliance Coordinator
Davis School District
20 North Main Street
P.O. Box 588 Farmington, Utah 84025
tel: (801) 402-5307
szigich@dsdmail.net
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Davis School District and Davis High will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Students, parents, or employees needing accommodations should contact their school ADA/504 Coordinator, Davis High, their principal, or supervisor. Or you may contact the District ADA Coordinator, Steve Baker (402-5315), for parent or employee accommodations; or 504 Coordinator, Midori Clough (402-5180) for student accommodations. (TDD hearing impaired 402-5358)
District Notice: Filing an OEO Complaint
The Davis School District is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all students that is free from harassment and discrimination. The District has a duty to promptly and appropriately investigate and resolve any complaints of discrimination, including harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), religion and disability (“Protected Classes”). The District requires staff and encourages students and parents who believe a student was subjected to harassment or other discrimination to file a complaint or report it to the OEO.
The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) is dedicated to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints of student-on-student and staff-on-student harassment and other discrimination, and to address any hostile environment related to or arising from such harassment. The District created an electronic central reporting system that allows students, parents, and staff to submit complaints to school and District leaders so that the District may track and address complaints received. Complaints of harassment or discrimination on the basis of a Protected Class can be submitted in any of the following ways:
• Through the new central reporting system, hdrs.davis.k12.ut.us
• Email to: OEOcomplaints@dsdmail.net
• Contact the District’s OCR Office by phone at (801) 402-5357.
• Report to administrators verbally or in writing
• Report to any school staff verbally or in writing
The District will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into any complaints in accordance with the district’s new non-discrimination policy and procedures, District Policy 11IR-100. The policy includes an appeal process.
Beginning this 2022-2023 school year, and then each semester, the District will host multiple outreach events at schools across the District to explain the new policies, procedures, and supports to students and families. The District is also seeking engagement from parents and community leaders as it reviews its policies, practices, and procedures.
For more information regarding the Settlement Agreement entered into between the District and the Department of Justice and the steps the District is taking to address the issues of racial harassment in our schools, see: Summary of Settlement Agreement (tinyurl.com/36k4vcu6) and Settlement Agreement (https://tinyurl.com/57rnd7be). For the District’s response, see former Superintendent Newey’s letter: (https://tinyurl.com/yckw8ed9). It is the intent of the Davis School District and its Board of Education to do better at protecting all students in the district from harassment and discrimination of any kind. The District is committed to making its schools a safe educational environment for everyone.
District Notice: Student Conduct and Discipline
Davis High School's policy and procedure is first guided by Davis School District Policy 5S-100 Student Conduct and Discipline.
District Notice: Safe and Orderly Schools
It is the policy of the Davis School District and Davis High to promote a safe and orderly school environment for all students and employees. Criminal acts or disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated and any individual who engages in such activity will be subject to school disciplinary action as determined by school administrators, District disciplinary action as determined by the Department of Student Services Case Management Team, police referral, and/or prosecution. In determining appropriate discipline, school officials will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the offense, as well as the individual’s age, disability status, intent, academic status, and prior disciplinary record.
WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES (AUTOMATIC ONE-YEAR EXPULSION)
Any student who in a school building, in a school vehicle, on District property, or in conjunction with any school activity, possesses, controls, uses or threatens use of a real weapon, explosive, noxious or flammable material, or actually uses or threatens to use a look-alike or pretend weapon with the intent to intimidate another person or to disrupt normal school activities, shall be expelled from all District schools, programs, and activities for a period of not less than one calendar year; unless the Case Management Team determines on a case-by-case basis, that a lesser penalty would be more appropriate. The terms a weapon, an explosive, and a noxious or flammable material include but are not limited to; guns, starter pistols, cap guns, knives, martial arts accessories, bombs, bullets and ammunition, fireworks, gasoline, or other flammable liquids, matches, and lighters.
DRUGS/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
Any student who possesses, controls, uses, sells, or arranges the sale of real, look- alike, or pretend illegal drugs or controlled substances, including alcohol, tobacco in any form, and electronic cigarettes may be suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, tested for drugs, expelled, referred for police investigation, and/or prosecuted.
SERIOUS VIOLATIONS
Students may be suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, expelled, referred for police investigation, and/or prosecuted for committing any of the following school- related serious violations: 1) threatening or causing harm to the school, school property, or persons associated with the school, or property associated with that person, regardless of where the conduct occurs; 2) committing any criminal act, including but not limited to: assault, harassment, hazing, rape, trespass, arson, theft, and vandalism, possession or use of pornographic material on school property; 3) engaging in any gang activity, including but not limited to: flashing gang signs, displaying or spraying gang graffiti, wearing or displaying gang-related clothing or apparel, or soliciting others for membership in a gang.
DISRUPTION OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS
Students may be suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, expelled, referred for police investigation, and/or prosecuted for any school-related conduct that creates an unreasonable and substantial disruption or risk of disruption of a class, activity, program, or other function of the school, including but not limited to: frequent, flagrant, or willful disobedience; defiance of school authority; criminal activity; fighting; noncompliance with school dress code; possession of contraband (i.e., drug paraphernalia, pornography, mace, pepper spray, laser pen, chains, needles, razor blades, bats and clubs); or the use of foul, profane vulgar, harassing or abusive language. Animals of any type are prohibited except approved service animals.
DUE PROCESS
When a student is suspected of violating Davis High or District policy the school administrator must meet with and inform him/her of the allegations and provide the student the opportunity to give his/her version of the incident. If the school administrator determines sufficient evidence exists to impose discipline the school administrator shall notify the parent or guardian that: 1) the student has been suspended; 2) the grounds for the suspension; 3) the period of time for which the student is suspended; and 4) the time and place for the parent or guardian to meet with a designated school official to review the suspension.
AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND OR EXPEL
The school administrator has the authority to suspend a student for up to ten school days per incident. If the school administrator desires or contemplates suspending for longer than ten school days or expelling a student, the school administrator shall make a referral to the District’s Case Management Team.
2022-2023 School Leadership
ADMINISTRATION:
Principal Dr. Lori Hawthorne 801-402-8800
Assistant Principal Mark Jolley 801-402-8800
Assistant Principal Amanda Taggart 801-402-8800
Assistant Principal Doug Peterson 801-402-8800
Assistant Principal Mackenzie Loo 801-402-8800
SRO Detective Mike Criddle 801-402-8836
Athletic Director Bo Roundy 801-402-8880
Office Manager Leslie Gale 801-402-8804
Financial Secretary Cassie Nelson 801-402-8808
Financial Secretary Janeen Steab 801-402-8812
Office Secretary Wendi Pehrson 801-402-8824
Attendance Secretary Carol Stephens 801-402-8806
Facility Manager Blake Petersen 801-402-8872
COUNSELING OFFICE
Counselor Truman Carver (A-Cl) 801-402-8830
Counselor Tiffany Taurone (Cm-Hal) 801-402-8826
Lead Counselor Robyn Lawson (Ham-Lar) 801-402-8815
Counselor Heather Baschuk (Las-Pag) 801-402-8827
Counselor Karl Hall (Pah-Soq) 801-402-8829
Counselor Chris Burrows (Sor-Z) 801-402-8831
Registrar/Counseling Secretary Malia Roundy 801-402-8821
Citizenship Secretary Camille Barber 801-402-8805
Scholarship Secretary Teresa Sommer 801-402-8965
CTE Coordinator Jill Hess 801-402-8832
CTE Secretary: Juanita Olsen 801-402-8814
STUDENT BODY OFFICERS
Gabriel Sawyer - President
Josh Webb - Vice President
Jake Stewart - Vice President
Porter Montgomery - Vice President
Bryndee Maxfield - Vice President
Charlotte Lineman - Vice President
Anna Larsen - Vice President
Brandon Geckler - Vice President
Ruby Jan Hollingsworth - Vice President
Erik Gunn - SBO Advisor 801-405-8852
SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS
Abby Sanders - President
Danny Brough - Vice President
Tate Pack - Vice President
Kennedy Ridges - Vice President
Carla Money - Senior Class Advisor 801-405-8937
JUNIOR CLASS OFFICERS
Spencer Stevenson - President
Will Hoagland - Vice President
Toben Butcher - Vice President
Sam Jones - Vice President
Alli Copier - Junior Class Advisor 801-405-8980
SOPHOMORE CLASS OFFICERS
Lucas Hill - President
Cruz Rushton - Vice President
Bronco Maxfield - Vice President
Megan Herbst - Vice President
Elisha Jones - Sophomore Class Advisor 801-405-8867
About Davis High
DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
In partnership with parents and community, Davis High School will foster educational excellence in a safe and nurturing environment where all students will be empowered to acquire the skills, knowledge, values, and the commitment to lifelong learning necessary to contribute and adapt in a diverse and changing world.
SCHOOL PURPOSE
The purpose of Davis High School is to promote the mission of “learning first” for all. To accomplish our purpose, we support a quality learning environment by establishing expectations and providing programs that challenge our students through rigorous courses such as AP, Concurrent Enrollment, Early College, and Honors level. We support and encourage our students to access a rigorous curriculum while also providing robust instruction and appropriate learning benchmarks for all levels and for all students. Our goal is to provide our students with the skills to successfully transition to any post-high school opportunity.
SIX PILLARS OF DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT
-Student Growth & Achievement
-Empowered Employees
-Parent & Community Connections
-Fiscal Responsibility
-Safety & Security
-Culture
DAVIS HIGH CHARACTER STANDARDS / HONOR CODE
All students at Davis High will perform in a highly ethical and honest manner in all areas of their involvement at school. Students are expected to do their own work to the best of their ability. Some examples of unethical or dishonest behavior would include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, copying other student’s assignments or allowing others to copy their assignments, using any electronic device to get unauthorized answers, or doing anything that would be considered dishonest in their work and dealings with teachers and classmates. Teachers and administrators will deal with students who violate this standard in a fair and appropriate manner. Consequences may include, but are not limited to, calling home to inform parents, getting a zero on the assignment or test, receiving a U for the term from the teacher, receiving an administrative U, and/or getting suspended. The faculty and staff of Davis High are united in the belief that all students should practice ethical and honest behavior.
Graduation
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The Davis School Board of Education has set this requirement for the four-period rotating block to 27 units of credit. In order to “walk” at the graduation ceremony a student must be enrolled in at least 4 classes during the last semester of their senior year and need to clear all “U’s” and pay all fines and fees. Participation in the graduation ceremony is a privilege not a right. If you do not have 35 citizenship credits and 27 academic credits you will not receive a Davis High School Diploma. If at the beginning of the next school year these have not been made up you can receive a 24 credit Davis School District Diploma Adult Education Diploma only.
CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Davis School District requires each student to have 35 credits in Citizenship. All unsatisfactory grades in citizenship must be made up in order to graduate as well as participate in extra-curricular activities.
ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
Students at Davis High School have a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and will continue to be honored for their scholastic endeavors during the coming year. Students may graduate with High Honors or Honors based on the following criteria:
HIGH HONORS RECOGNITION
1. Have a Cumulative GPA of 3.8 or better at the end of the third term. (9-12)
2. Be enrolled in a minimum of 7 classes each year of high school (including college classes).
3. Complete at least three credits from two curricular areas from the following classes: AP English, English 11 Honors, English 10 Honors, CE English, AP American History, AP European History, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, CE Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Art History, Intermediate Algebra Honors, AP Economics, French 5, Spanish 5, American Sign Language2, Mandarin Chinese 3, Pre-Calculus Honors, CE Math, AP Calculus, AP American Government, AP Comparative Government, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art.
4. Meet regular graduation requirements for DHS.
Note: Appeals may be made to the Academic Appeal Committee.
HONORS RECOGNITION
1. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or better at the end of the third term.
2. Be enrolled for classes each year of high school.
3. Meet regular graduation requirements for DHS.
Harassment/Hazing/Bullying
Students may be suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, expelled, referred for police investigation, and/or prosecuted for engaging in any physical or verbal aggression, intimidation, initiation, or discrimination of any school employee or student at school or school-related activity regardless of location or circumstance, including but not limited to bullying, hazing, or sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, or disability-related harassment.
Search and Seizure
School officials have the authority to search a student’s person, personal property, or vehicle while located on school property or at a school sponsored activity, when they have reason to believe that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating a particular law or school rule.
Students have no right or expectation of privacy in school lockers. School lockers are the sole property of the Davis School District and Davis High. Periodic general inspections of lockers, including the use of drug detecting canines, may be conducted by school authorities for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.
Extracurricular Activities
Participation in interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, marching band, student government, student clubs, graduation ceremonies, and other extracurricular activities is not a constitutionally protected civil right. Therefore, students who are suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, or expelled, may lose the privilege of participation in all extracurricular activities during the period of discipline and will not be afforded due process procedures to challenge the denial of participation.
Compulsory Education Requirements
A parent or legal guardian having custody over a school-age minor is required under State law to enroll and send a school-age minor in a public or established private school during the school year in the district in which the minor resides. The process of education requires continuity of instruction, class participation and study. Frequent absences from classes disrupt the instructional process. Parents/guardians are encouraged to work with the school in promoting regular attendance of all students.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Student Education Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights are:
1) Parents have the right to inspect and review all of their student’s education records maintained by the school within 45 days of a request for access.
2) Parents have the right to request that a school correct records believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
Parents who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the principal or appropriate school official, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.
3) Generally, the school must have written permission from the parent before releasing any information from a student’s record. However, the law allows schools to disclose records, without consent, to some parties. Such exceptions include, but are not limited to: school officials with legitimate educational interests; other schools that have requested the records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll or where student is already attending; individuals who have obtained court orders or subpoenas; persons who need to know in cases of health and safety emergencies; juvenile justice system; etc.
A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving as a volunteer; a person serving on the District School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist), or to whom the District has outsourced institutional services or functions. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Student Directory Information
Directory Information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, may be released at the discretion of school officials, without consent, for appropriate reasons such as, school publications, newspaper articles, and to outside education related organizations. In addition, two federal laws require secondary schools to provide military recruiters, upon request, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of their students.
The Davis School District has designated the following information as directory information:
1) student’s name, address, and telephone number;
2) student’s date and place of birth;
3) major field of study;
4) student’s District email address;
5) parent email address;
6) participation in officially recognized activities and sports;
7) weight and height of members of athletic teams;
8) degrees, honors, and awards received;
9) photograph;
10) most recent educational institution attended by the student.
If you, as a parent, do not want Davis High School to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the school in writing annually.
Protection of Pupil Rights
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding the use of surveys or other school activities which may involve the collection or use of protected information. These include the right to:
Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas:
[a] Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
[b] Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
[c] Sexual behavior, orientation or attitudes;
[d] Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
[e] Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
[f] Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
[g] Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
[h] Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students regarding any of the protected information areas.
Inspect, upon request and before administration or use of:
[a] Protected information surveys designed to be administered to students; and
[b] Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
Davis School District has policies in place to protect student privacy as required by both state and Federal law. Davis High will directly notify you of the specific or approximate dates of activities which involve the collection or use of protected information and provide an opportunity to opt your student out of participating in such activities.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may contact the school's administration or file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920
(202) 260-3887
Informal inquires may be sent to FPCO via the following email address: PPRA@ED.Gov.
Religious Expression in Public Schools
In compliance with existing federal and state law regarding religion and religious expression in public schools, the District or school may neither advance nor inhibit religion. It is the District’s policy to:
1) allow students and employees to engage in expression of personal religious views or beliefs within the parameters of current law, and
2) maintain the schools official neutrality regarding sectarian religious issues according to the constitutional principle of separation between church and state.
Meal Charges in Schools
The purpose of these procedures is to establish consistent meal charging and collection procedures districtwide. The District’s goals are:
To maintain a positive experience for students during meal service.
To treat all students with dignity and respect.
To establish practices which are age appropriate.
To minimize meal charges and encourage parents to pre-pay for all meals.
To promote parents’ responsibility for meal payment and self-responsibility of the student.
Meal Accounts: Payment in advance for meals enables the District to achieve these goals. Personal checks and cash deposits are accepted daily at the schools. For convenience, deposits may also be made by credit/debit card through a parent’s myDSD account.
Emergency Meal Service: The Board of Education acknowledges that on occasion, students may forget or lose meal money. In such cases, the student’s statement of need shall be accepted, and a meal will be made available. School lunch employees shall not, withhold a meal, provide an alternate meal, pull a student from the line, ask the student to call his parent or friend, stamp the student’s hand, or otherwise call attention to the student who has forgotten or lost meal money. A school lunch employee may remind a student attending a secondary school that his account is in the negative. The cost of the unpaid meal will be charged to the student’s account.
Evaluate Individual Circumstances: When a student repeatedly comes to school without a meal from home or money to participate in the school meal program, school administrators should consider if circumstances in the home warrant contacting social workers or Child Protective Services. Frequent requests may indicate the family’s need for free- or reduced-price meals. School administrators may work with the family to apply for school meal benefits. All meals eaten before a free- or reduced-price meal application is processed and approved are the responsibility of the parent and must be paid for.
Repayment for Meal Charges and Bad Checks: Federal guidelines prohibit the Food and Nutrition operation from writing off bad debts as a result of charged meals. Every effort will be made to collect for unpaid meals. Unpaid meal charges may result in the following:
An automated telephone call to the parent.
An email sent to the parent.
A verbal reminder to student attending a secondary school.
School lunch manager contact parents by phone or notes in teacher mailboxes.
In case of significant delinquent payments, a letter will be sent home from the Food and Nutrition Department.
Parents are responsible to pay all their student’s meal charges. All unpaid charges will be added to the list of any outstanding fees or unpaid fines at the end of the school year. Uncollected meal charges shall be handled the same as other school debt.
Expectations, Policies, and Code of Conduct
Davis High School has been building a tradition of excellence since 1914. As a student of Davis High School you are asked to contribute to this tradition by living up to the expectations, policies and our code of conduct that is presented in this handbook. A student at Davis High School is asked to:
1. Accept responsibility for your education, decisions, words and actions.
2. Act in a way that best represents your school, parents, community and self to promote a safe, healthy environment in which to learn.
3. Be involved in school activities.
4. Respect your fellow students and support their activities with enthusiasm and good sportsmanship.
Avoidance of profanity in speech and in cheers is a firm expectation.
Classroom Behavior
Davis High School has high expectations in the classroom and your attitude and behavior should contribute to an environment of learning. Specifically, we expect that you will:
1. Arrive to class on time.
2. Be prepared for class, with all materials necessary, each day.
3. Show respect and consideration for others in the learning environment.
4. Demonstrate care and consideration for school property and the property of others. You are expected to observe the rules and procedures that have been established by each teacher for their classroom and respond promptly to the direction of your teacher or be subject to due process.
Attendance
Davis High School, Davis School District and Utah State Law expects students to attend regularly and that parents bear considerable responsibility in helping to ensure that students are in school when they are required to be there. The guidelines for student attendance at Davis are as follows:
1. All absences must be verified within three days upon the student’s return to school.
2. Students/ Parents are responsible for ensuring that all absences are verified through the Attendance Office. A telephone call WILL NOT clear an absence. Clearing an absence may be accomplished in one of five ways:
(1) Parent may clear an absence through myDSD within 3 days of the unexcused absence. (Preferred Method)
(2) Reply back from the email that has been sent from the district
(3) E-mailing the Attendance Secretary at dhsattendance@dsdmail.net
(4) Having a parent or guardian come to the Attendance Office in person
(5) IF THE INTERNET IS UNAVAILABLE, you may bring in a note with a phone number verification, students first and last name, student number, grade, and reason for absence.
You are only able to check your student out by phone during class time. Otherwise use the methods described above to clear absences.
3. Absences that may be verified by a parent include: family emergency, illness, medical appointment, or a funeral. In all four cases, the following information must be provided: the exact dates and periods the student was absent, the reason for the absence, and a phone number where the parent or guardian come may be reached should a question arise, or further verification is necessary. Parents or guardians may contact the Attendance Office at 801-402-8806 during regular office hours (7:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M., Monday through Friday).
4. School-excused absences are recorded and are considered part of the educational process. All school-excused absences must be authorized in advance. Students will be allowed to make up missed work for parent verified absences, and school excused absences, without losing points, if the work is made up in a reasonable amount of time. Each teacher will determine what that time is for his or her class, as explained in their disclosure. Teachers are not required to allow a student to make-up work or a test if the student has been truant from their class and the teacher may choose not to allow make- up work for an absence that is not verified by a parent or legal guardian.
5. Students are considered absent if they are late to class by more than twenty minutes or are not making an honest effort to get to class on time.
6. Students who leave school before the end of the day are required to check out. This may be done with parent or guardian permission only. Students who leave school or class without permission may be considered truant.
7. If a student has been marked absent incorrectly, they need to check with the attendance office to determine the class period it was in, and then talk to the teacher who marked them absent to correct the absence.
8. Three or more unexcused absences qualify a student for a “U” citizenship grade, as does being tardy four or more times.
Tardy Policy
Being late to class is not only discourteous but can be disruptive and detrimental to the learning process. Each teacher will disclose their tardy policy for their classes. Four occasions of being late is considered excessive and a “U” may be given, if not made up before the end of the grading period.
Parent Notification
Parents or guardians will be notified of student’s absences by:
1. A recorded phone message from the school and /or email.
2. An attendance report at mid-term and on report cards.
3. Parents may call the Attendance Office during regular business hours at 801-402- 8806.
4. Parents may access student attendance information through their myDSD account.
Academic Grades
Grades are awarded on a quarterly basis, earning .25 credits toward graduation. Although grades are issued on a quarter bases, course curriculum should be planned on a semester basis. Students will not be allowed to transfer classes at the quarter without consultation with the teacher, counselor and administration. Students are allowed to change their schedules at the beginning of the school year during registration and at the end of the first semester. A $10 class change fee will be assessed for changes by request (no charges will be made for school mandated changes).
Standards for academic grades should be high yet attainable. High academic success requires regular attendance. It is recommended that teachers hold students accountable for absenteeism by utilizing a class policy that only allows make-up for excused or verified absences. Teachers do not have to allow a student to make up work missed due to an unexcused absence. Illness, family emergencies, and extenuating circumstances are considered acceptable reasons for missing school and teachers should allow a student to make-up worked missed due to these reasons. All schoolwork will also be allowed to be made up due to school excused absences. The teacher will notify a parent/legal guardian by phone call, in person, by mail, or by email before giving an F Grade. Students may not be allowed to make up work due to truancy.
Citizenship Grade
Graduation requirements in the Davis School District include satisfactory citizenship and adherence to the rules and policies of Davis High school. Failure to earn the required 35 citizenship credits will result in with holding the graduation diploma and participation in the commencement exercise. For graduation a student is required to earn citizenship credit in grades 9 through 12, .25 units of citizenship credit in each class for each term can be earned, for a total of 35 Citizenship Credits.
Administrative U
One citizenship credit is given per year (.25 per term) to cover the school period before, during, and after school, and at all school sponsored activities. This credit may be withheld by the administration for unsatisfactory citizenship behavior; some examples of this behavior are as follows: fighting, hazing, theft, possession of controlled substances, truancy, excessive tardiness, and failure to meet release time and other off campus commitments, etc. Citizenship grades will be determined each term by the teacher.
Such factors as school and class behavior, attendance, and punctuality, are used to determine a student’s citizenship grade. Expectations set forth in a teacher’s course disclosure will be used to determine grades and credit. It is the responsibility of the student to adhere to the citizenship policy and to teacher expectations. A “U” grade remains on the permanent record, but credit can be restored through proper citizenship make-up.
Emergency Preparedness
Schools are required by law to conduct regular fire drills and other drills such as a lockdown or earthquake drill. An exit procedure for such drills exists and instructions posted in each classroom regarding the route and procedure to exit the building safely. Evacuation must take place quickly and as orderly as possible. Students are to remain at least 100 feet outside all buildings until instructed by a school authority to return to class.