Student Handbook

Weekly Schedule
CLPJH is on a rotating weekly block schedule. You will meet with your teachers three times per week. On Monday, you meet with all teachers; Tues/Thurs your odd numbered classes and Wed/Fri your even numbered classes meet in an extended block. Students are required to have and keep a planner for assignments, to plan for tests and projects, and to record grades and classroom activities.

If you have questions for your teachers on days when you do not meet as a class, please check with them during passing periods or before school. Check your progress through the telephone system 490-3050 or through Counseling.

Closed Campus
Once you arrive at school, you may not leave until the end of the school day unless a parent/guardian signs you out. The lunch period is part of the school day and you may not leave school unless with a parent/guardian. If you do leave the portion of campus which is assigned for lunch, you may be considered truant, a call home will be made, and a conference may be required before you are readmitted to school.

Attendance
It is vital that students be at school. Colorado school law requires that students attend and that parents bring students to school until the student is 16 years of age. If a student has 15 or more absences, Colorado law requires a parent contact be made and judicial proceedings may be initiated. Students must have all absences excused through the attendance office. If a student is absent for any reason, parents need to call the Attendance Office at CLPJH- 490-3087 or have the student bring a note excusing the absence. Parents will be called or notified if an absence has not been excused. If a student is absent, they have the same numbers of days to make up the homework as they have been absent. If you are absent for three or more days of class, make-up work may be requested. When absent, you must check in with the attendance office on the day that you return for a pass to class.

Leaving School During the Day
If you will be leaving school during the day, please bring a note from home to the main office. You must sign-out before leaving the building and sign-in when you return.

Pre-arranged Absences
When parents know in advance that students will be absent, we request that a note be sent to the attendance office with the dates and reasons for the absence. Students should notify teachers and receive assignments in advance when possible.

Telephones
A pay telephone is provided in the front lobby. Students are expected to use this phone for all personal calls. Personal telephone usage must happen on student time, during passing periods. Tardies to class for personal student calls will be unexcused. The office phone is for emergencies only!

Lockers & School Property
Lockers are property of the school. They may be checked at any time for "reasonable cause." Guidelines for use include:

  • Appropriate care of the lockers
  • Appropriate personalization-
  • no pictures or posters which are inappropriate or may offend
  • no writing which is inappropriate or offends
  • You may not change lockers without approval

Do not share locker combinations. Any existing locker security is destroyed if you do. Do not bring items of value and leave them in your lockers. CD players, tape players, or hand-held video games may not be used at school and should not be brought.

Also do not bring large amounts of money and leave in your locker.

Lockers are assigned with your schedule. If you owe money for fines or books, you will not be issued a schedule and locker until this is cleared with the office.
Personal locks will be removed from lockers.

Hall & Cafeteria Expectations
Students are expected to keep all public areas of CLPJH clean and picked up. Areas include the halls, cafeteria, media center, and outside. Except during lunch and the extended morning passing period, eating candy or other food items will not be allowed.

Gum chewing is not permitted in the media center, music rooms or computer labs. In all other areas, gum chewing is allowed only at the discretion of the individual teacher. Students are expected to clean up after themselves in the cafeteria or outside. Trash containers are provided for you to dispose of your trash.

After eating, students may go outside except in the case of inclement weather. If the weather is hot, students may have clear, capped water bottles in the hall. Having water in class is up to each individual teacher.

Before School: Before 7:35 a.m., the halls are closed except to students who are working with their teachers. Students need a pass to go to a teacher's room. Students may wait in the gym or eat breakfast in the cafeteria before the first bell rings. They may sit quietly on the bleachers or play basketball.

After School: Students are expected to leave the building by 3:00 p.m. unless they are in a school-sanctioned activity. If you arrive by car, please be sure your ride is no later than 2:50 p.m.

Media Center & Linc Library
The Media Center is open during lunch for study or computer use. Students who want to use the media center during lunch should stop in before school or between classes to get a pass. Students without passes will not be admitted to the media center. Because the media center and computer labs are valuable resources, no food, drink or gum is allowed. If a student wishes to have a network account, they must sign up in the media center to receive an account. Mrs. Schneider will help you.

Linc Library provides extended hours on Tuesday thru Thursday. Times will be posted in the media center. A staff member is available to help students. Please enter through the SE Library door. We encourage students to take advantage of Linc Library. Please consult with Mrs. Schneider or Mrs. Bridenbaugh about Linc Library procedures.

Counselor
Mrs. Cheryl Duke is the counselor at CLP. She is available to students during most of the day with appointments. Students may visit with her to discuss issues, ask questions about class selection, academic problems, personal concerns, activities offered, or solving conflicts. Please do not use academic time to see the counselors unless it is an absolute emergency. Appointments are encouraged before school, at lunch, during breaks between classes or after school.

Guests & Visitors
GUESTS and VISITORS are allowed at selected CLPJH events. Students must clear any guests with the front office prior to the event. Guests are limited to Poudre School District students in 7th thru 9th grade or students registered in private schools in Fort Collins who are in 7th through 9th grade. Visitors during the day must be cleared with the office at least 48 hours prior to their potential visit. School day visitors are limited to non-Poudre School District students or non-CLP siblings. Visitors may not visit prior to any major holiday or three weeks before the end of the semesters.

Academics & Activities
Academic Success is the reason students are in school and is therefore the most important concern at CLPJH. Any student who does not satisfactorily complete three of their four core classes a year, will be retained in their current grade and required to retake these courses before they are eligible to be promoted to the next grade. Poor performance in an elective class may also result in a lack of further opportunity in the elective area. Failures in required courses may be made up by one of the following means:

  • Successful achievement in summer school.
  • Repeating core classes the following year,
  • Successful completion of an academic contract between the student, counselor, parent &  administrator.

Freshmen
Freshmen fulfill high school graduation requirements and all requirements are based on high school criteria. For all freshmen, you must have successfully completed 40 credits, have passed English 9, World History and content standards to be considered for promotion to tenth grade. In addition, all high school students, to be considered for graduation, must have passed a total of 220 credits in the following manner:

Core 1-Learning, Communication & Reasoning
30 credits
Core 2-Citizenship & Societal Studies
35 credits
Core 3-Cultural Studies
20 credits
Core 4-Math, Science & Tech.,
40 credits
Core 5-Wellness & Living
20 credits
Electives/Enrichment
75 credits

It is vital that Freshmen realize that their 9th grade year is their first year in high school. They are earning the necessary credits in the required areas to successfully complete their diploma in four years. Failure to do so, may result in their inability to be promoted to tenth grade or to graduate with their classes. Alternatives including remaining at CLPJH until requirements are met, or attending one of the alternative programs offered in Poudre Schools or a private school.

Classrooms
To ensure school safety, students are not permitted to bring backpacks into their classrooms. Please leave them in your lockers. Also, heavy outerwear coats are not permitted in the classroom. Please leave these in your lockers as well. We know this may be an inconvenience, but we must ensure students safety and be prepared for any emergency.

Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities
Athletic programs available for 7th & 8th graders

Male: Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Track, Tennis, Golf
Female:  Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, Track, Tennis, Golf

In order to participate student athletes must:

  • have a current physical card on file &
  • proof of insurance or have taken out
  • insurance through PSD &
  • meet building or district eligibility requirements.

Please observe the rules of sportsmanship at all times:

  • Observe all expectations for appropriate behavior-be good sports.
  • Consider all opponents as guests in your school.
  • No booing or harassing opposing players or fans.
  • Positive cheering for CLPJH is acceptableand encouraged.
  • Show compassion for an injured opponent.
  • Accept the decisions of officials without complaining.
  • Be respectful toward players, coaches, & officials.
  • Remember at all athletic events, you represent the pride, respect, and tradition that is CLPJH.

9th grade sports are offered and played at the senior high level. Information is available at either CLPJH or Poudre High School.

Peer Mediation
CLPJH uses trained student peer mediators to resolve conflicts that involve students and staff. If you are having a problem with another student or students, please stop by the counseling office and fill out a Mediation Referral. This is the only acceptable way to resolve conflicts at CLPJH. Verbal or physical confrontation is never appropriate.

Clubs
CLPJH has numerous opportunities to become involved. You are encouraged to try as many as you like. Offerings include: Chess Club, Explorers Club, Geography Club, Literary Magazine, Library Club, and Math Counts, Student Council, Music and Drama presentations and Intramural sports to name a few. In addition to activities sponsored during or immediately after school, there are also social activities offered throughout the year. We encourage all students to find an area they enjoy and then to become active. Studies show that students who are active in their school have higher grades and fewer problems. This is your school, and we want it to be a place where you are welcome and comfortable!

Coming To School
Most students arrive at school on PSD busses. If you are riding a bicycle or walking, be sure you cross the street using the crosswalk in front of the school. County Road 54G is a busy street and all students should exercise caution when using it. Please use the appropriate bike racks, which are located north of the building. Do not ride your bike or walk in front of busses that are waiting or using the bus drop-off area in front of the school. Skateboards and in-line skates/roller blades are not allowed on campus.

If you are 16 and plan on driving to school, PSD requires that you have a signed parental permission slip on file in the main office and park in the lot immediately north of the school. As a junior high school, CLPJH is a closed campus. Your keys must be left with the main office once you arrive on campus. If you do not follow these guidelines, you will not be permitted to drive to school. Any student through their decisions or choice of behaviors may lose the privilege of driving to school.

If you are driven to school, please be aware that the bus drop-off circle in front of the school is very busy and can be dangerous in the morning and afternoon. Please exercise caution, follow the ONE WAY SIGNS and do not pull in front of the busses.

If you are going to be transported either to or from school by someone other than your parent/guardian, your parent/guardian must sign a Permission to Transport form. These are available in the main office. This is especially important for freshman who are being transported either to a high school sport's practice or an event. This is required by PSD liability insurance.

School Resource Officer
CLPJH is fortunate to have a school resource officer assigned to our campus. The SRO is available to students, staff and parents who have concerns. As a member of our staff, the SRO will in the halls, in classes, at lunch, and possibly at student events. The SRO's door is always open when they are on campus whether to listen to student concerns or be actively involved in solving problems. The office is located next to the staff lounge.