(Please note that all of this information has been copied directly from the Fossil Ridge High School Student Handbook 2006-2007 . Please view the student handbook at your leisure.
If you cannot find what you are looking for here or in the student handbook,
please contact us directly at 488-6260.)

Please read the following about Important Attendance Information

Transcript Request

Students can request official and unofficial transcripts in the Career Center. Transcripts in hand $2.00 mailed transcripts are $4.00.

Grading Scale

Fossil Ridge High School’s grading scale is as follows:
90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
Below 60 = F

Pinnacle Internet Viewer (PIV)

Using the Internet, PIV may provide you with term grades, assignment grades missing assignments. Access to the PIV from your home or public library is controlled by Student ID number and PIN number. Please visit our Pinnacle Internet Viewer (PIV) page for more information or follow these steps to gain access to the PIV. Go to: http://piv.psdschools.org/piv/piv.exe

- Enter Student’s ID
- Enter PIN
- Select Fossil Ridge High School
- Click on the Request Report

Grade Reports

Progress grade reports for the quarters and report cards for the first semester will be distributed at school during the Student Advisory period. Report cards for the second semester will be mailed home in June.

Class Changes (Drops & Adds)

Students wishing to change their schedule may do so on a space available basis during the 1st - 3rd day of a semester by completing a schedule change request form located in your counselor’s office.

Counseling staff will authorize appropriate schedule changes. Please note : Schedules will be changed only for appropriate educational or personal reasons.

Students may drop a class up to the 4th week of a semester without receiving an “F” if the drop will not put the student below the required credit hours. Permission will only be granted with administrative, teacher, parent, and counselor approval. A student may drop a class and receive a “WF” at any point during the semester if dropping will put them below the required credit hours for their class level. A “WF” drop requires student, parent, counselor or administrator approval. Any class dropped after the 4th week for reasons of attendance or administrative discipline will be recorded as an “F”. Students must maintain 25 credits per semester to be considered full time. Class credit requirements are as follows:

10th – 70 Credits
11th – 60 Credits
12th – 50 Credits

Grade Change Policy

Any student receiving a “D” or “F” grade in a course may retake the same PSD course and be credited with the higher earned grade. The original grade will be changed to a “W” (withdraw). A student may receive credit for the course only once. After a student has retaken a course, he or she must complete a grade change form and submit it to his or her counselor to receive administrative approval. Forms are available in the Registrar and Counseling offices.

Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism and or cheating are serious offenses and will not be tolerated at Fossil Ridge High School. Violations of FRHS policy include:

Copying another student’s work or paraphrasing another’s words or ideas and submitting them as original work
Submitting another individual’s work as your own
Copying portions or pages from books or electronic references or sources without proper citation
Taking or copying answers from another student during a testing situation

The following consequences will be applied for incidents of dishonesty:

First offense – The student(s) involved in the offense will receive a zero (0) for the work or exam assigned. Parents or guardians will be notified, as well as administration for possible additional school consequences
Second offense-The student(s) involved will receive a 3 day suspension from school.
Third offense – the student(s) involved will be dropped from the course with an “F”. Parents will be notified of additional school consequences
Repeated offenses - May result in administrative recommendation for expulsion

Required Assessments

The following state mandated tests will be administered at FRHS during second semester.

Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) – for all sophomore students

*Tests will be given after Spring Break in March. Dates, times and testing sites will be published in a school-wide communication.

ACT Assessment – for all junior students

Attendance Policies

Regular daily attendance is essential and required for students to be successful at Fossil Ridge High School.

Excused and Unexcused Absences

The following are considered excused absences according to Board of Education policy:

Absence due to illness or injury, or to attend a doctor’s appointment
Pre-arranged absences approved by administration for family activities, appointments or circumstances that cannot be taken care of outside of school hours
Absences to attend school-sponsored activities approved by administration
Absences to attend required legal proceedings

Please note : the school may require adequate verification for the above absence exceptions including written statements from physicians.

Policies and procedures for addressing absences are as follows:

Student attendance is primarily a student and parental responsibility. All absences not called in by a parent or guardian on the school attendance line (488–6270) within two school days will be considered unexcused absences
Any student arriving late to a class beyond the first ten minutes of a class period will be marked absent by the instructor. It will be the responsibility of the student to meet with the instructor to address the absence within one school day
At three absences to any class during a grading term, excused and unexcused (excluding school excused events), attendance staff will prepare and submit an attendance concern notification to an administrator for an intervention contact.
An administrator will forward the attendance concern to the appropriate teacher(s) so they can notify parents/guardians and initiate an attendance contract or other documented interventions.
Teacher(s) will submit copies of contracts or verifications of interventions to administration.
At six absences to any class in a grading term, excused and unexcused (excluding school excused events), a student will be withdrawn from the class with an “F”.
For unexcused absences, students will be allowed to complete the work missed, but will only receive partial credit as determined by the instructor
Attendance drop appeals may be made directly to an administrator. Exceptions will be considered only for legitimate medical reasons or extreme hardships encountered by a student and his or her family

Pre-arranged Absences

Students should observe the following requirements when seeking approval for an absence known ahead of time:

Pick up a pre-arranged absence form from the attendance office and complete and present it for administration approval and signature
The student must obtain signatures of approval from all affected teachers and a parent or guardian, and return the completed form to the attendance office at least three days prior to the scheduled absence

Tardies and Truancy

Students at FRHS are expected to arrive to all classes on time. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive to class after the last bell has rung. Any student arriving late to a class beyond the first ten minutes of a class period will be marked absent by the instructor. It will be the responsibility of the student to meet with the instructor to address the absence within one school day. Students who are habitually late can be assigned disciplinary consequences and or community service by administration, or be withdrawn from the class.

If a student is absent without parent excuse or leaves a class or school without instructor or administrator permission, the student will be considered truant and an unexcused absence will be recorded. Excessive truancy may result in loss of classes and or suspension consequences.

Make-up Work Policies

Make-up work shall be provided for any class for which a student has an excused absence. The student is responsible for picking up all make-up assignments on the day he or she returns to class. Students shall have at least one day to complete make-up work for each day of absence. The school will also provide students serving suspensions an opportunity to make-up the work missed, with the terms of credit granted determined by individual instructors.

Change of Address

To assist FRHS staff in responding to emergencies and to ensure that parents and guardians receive all school mailings, please notify the Registrar by calling 488–6265 with any changes of address or phone numbers.

Leaving Campus/Open Campus – Policies and Expectations.

Students have a responsibility to attend all classes for which they are enrolled. Sophomores are expected to be enrolled in a full schedule of classes. Any exceptions must be approved by administration. It is strongly recommended that sophomore students remain on campus during lunch to support school-wide efforts to ensure safe and appropriate choices and conduct. Juniors and seniors have open campus privileges including leaving campus for lunch. If a student is not registered for a class during a period, he or she may leave campus, use the Media Center for study, or visit the student commons. If a student chooses not to attend a scheduled class, he or she may be prohibited from certain areas of the campus by administration. Students who drop a class or have been dropped from a class may also be prohibited from certain areas of the campus by administration.

Students may not sit in their vehicles, loiter in the halls or parking lots, or disrupt classes if they have an open period in their schedule. Students who are unwilling to observe open campus expectations will be denied the privilege of open campus.

Locker Searches and Seizure

According to Board of Education Policy, school lockers are the property of the Board of Education and at all times are under the control and supervision of school administration. Lockers and their contents may be searched and examined at any time by the Principal or school staff. Similarly, at the school’s request, trained search dogs may be brought in unannounced to search school grounds and locker areas. Inappropriate and/or dangerous items found in lockers may be seized during searches by staff or administration.

Driving and Parking Policies

Students with a valid drivers license may drive to FRHS and park in designated student lots only. Students with vehicles must obtain a mirror-parking hanger from the Campus Security Officer. Hangers must be displayed on rear view mirrors at all times when a vehicle is parked on school lots. Lost or damaged hangers will be replaced for a $5.00 fee. Hangers are not transferable. Students who transfer hangers may lose parking privileges on campus. Hangers are used for student protection to identify vehicles that have been parked illegally or inappropriately, damaged, or have their lights on.

Driving and parking motorized vehicles requires consideration and responsibility for the safety of others. Misconduct and unsafe operation of a vehicle on school grounds or parking lots can result in fines, community service, suspension of parking privileges and/or suspension from school.

Additional driving and parking policies are as follows:

Speed limits on campus drives and lots are 15 mph
Careless and reckless driving behavior is prohibited
Parking in a bus or fire lane will result in a towing of a vehicle. Towing fees are the vehicle owner’s responsibility
Student vehicles parked in handicapped parking will be ticketed by police or SRO
Students vehicle parked in Visitor, designated Staff parking or red curbed area, will receive a $75.00 fine Students receiving three tickets will have their parking privileges revoked until the tickets are paid or they have appealed to the Campus Security Officer. Individuals who continue to park on campus after their privilege has been revoked will have their vehicle booted and/or towed. The cost to remove a boot is $50.00.
Students who continue to park on campus after their privilege has been revoked may have their vehicle towed
Students are expected to help keep the parking areas clean by disposing of trash in nearby trash receptacles.

Vehicle Searches

School Board Policy states that no loitering in parked cars or in parking lots shall be permitted during the school day.

The privilege of bringing a student operated motor vehicle on school premises is conditional on consent by the student driver to allow a search of the vehicle when there is reasonable suspicion the search will yield evidence of contraband. Refusal by a student, parent/guardian, or vehicle owner to allow search access to a vehicle on school grounds when requested will be cause for terminating the privilege of bringing a vehicle onto school premises.

FRHS and/or Poudre School District are not responsible for the theft or damage to vehicles parked on school property or at school activities.

Student Dress and Appearance

Students at FRHS should dress in a way that is not offensive to members of the school community, not disruptive to the educational process, or a threat to the safety and health of others. District approved guidelines at FRHS for student attire is as follows:

Clothing must be worn so it covers underwear, the midriff, chest and buttocks
Clothing that promotes alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gang affiliation, sexuality or profanity are prohibited
Any jewelry or accessories that could be used as a weapon will not be allowed. Bandannas are not allowed to be worn or displayed at any time on school grounds
Skirts and shorts must be of appropriate length
Half shirts, undershirts, see through or mesh shirts, tube tops or any tops without a back will not be allowed

Staff members will make final determinations of dress code violations. Students found in violation of the dress code will be asked to change their attire. Failure to follow staff requests will be grounds for disciplinary action, which can include suspension.

Health Services and Medications

If a student becomes ill or is injured while at school, he or she should report to the office for assistance and evaluation by the nurse or office staff. Students with ongoing health issues should provide a yearly updated health plan to be placed on file in the office. This information will be used to guide school staff if medical intervention is necessary.

All medications taken at school are to be managed and administered per current district policy. No medications are to be taken on school premises without required parent and health care providers signatures. For further information regarding medical services, students and parents should contact the school nurse or health technician.

FRHS Student Commons / Food Court

The Fossil Ridge Commons and Food Court facilities are open for the convenience of students and staff to dine, study, or quietly socialize. Students and staff are expected and responsible for cleaning tables and areas they use prior to leaving.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a safe and respectful manner and are not allowed to sit or put their feet on tables, counters or backs of chairs. Students who act inappropriately in the commons may be denied the use of the area for periods of time by administration.

Radios, Stereos, Pagers, Cell Phones and Laser Pointers

Radios, stereos and other similar items are not to be brought to school with the exceptions of Discmans and walkmans with headsets. Students may carry cell phones, pagers or other similar devices as long as they do not disrupt classroom activities or school functions. Devices that go off in class or at school events will be confiscated and returned only to parents or guardians by administration. Laser pointers are prohibited and will be confiscated. Students who repeatedly violate these expectations may lose the privilege of carrying these devices on campus and face disciplinary action. FRHS is not responsible for any lost or stolen electronic or communication devices.

Skateboards, Bicycles and Skates

Skateboards, skates and other similar equipment must be picked up and carried when students enter campus grounds. Using these items on campus and surrounding sidewalks is prohibited by city ordinance. Students must walk their bicycles on the sidewalks near the building. Bicycles may be parked and locked only at designated bike racks.

Visitors Policies and Procedures

Visitors to FRHS are welcome but must check in at the office and wear a visitor badge while in the building. Visitors will be approved for specific academic or school related reasons only. No students from other schools will be permitted to visit FRHS while either their home school or FRHS is in session without prior written permission from an administrator. Access to Fossil Ridge students during the school day is allowed only for immediate family members who can verify their relationship with proper identification. Messages for students are announced only for appropriate or emergency reasons. Classroom instruction is protected from unnecessary interruptions.

Loitering and Trespassing

Students are not allowed on any other campuses in Poudre School District other than their own. No students or other individuals shall loiter, idle, or wander in the building or on school grounds with the intent to interfere with or disrupt the school learning environment, or with the intent to endanger students or school personnel. The School Resource Officer may cite offenders for loitering or trespassing.

Parent Groups And Parent Support

Parents are always welcome at Fossil Ridge High School and are encouraged to become involved in a variety of school activities and support organizations. Parents are welcome to volunteer their time in the following clubs and organizations:

VIPS (Volunteers In Poudre Schools)
Booster Groups and Parent Athletic Clubs
After Prom Committee
School Improvement Team (SIT)
Parent Advisory Board (PAB)

For more information regarding these or other groups please contact the main office at 488-6260.

Reporting Threats/Inappropriate Conduct

If a student believes that they or others are being threatened or if they have knowledge of the presence of drugs, alcohol or weapons on campus, they should report this information immediately. Students can share information and concerns with teachers, counselors, administrators, the School Resource Officer, or other school staff. Student privacy and anonymity will be appropriately protected in all situations where possible.

Surveillance Cameras

As a part of the effort to ensure a safe and secure learning environment, video cameras are located in and around the building.

Student Resource Officer (SRO)

Along with all other secondary schools in the Poudre School District, Fossil Ridge High School participates in a partnership with the Fort Collins Police Department known as the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. The purpose of the SRO Program is to ensure a safe learning environment, improve relations between law enforcement and students, and to be a resource to students, staff and parents. Fossil Ridge’s School Resource Officer maintains an office in the main commons area of Fossil Ridge. Students are encouraged to stop in or contact the SRO at 488-6306.

Emergency Drills and Evacuation

Emergency drills are conducted in cooperation with the local fire department in order to safeguard the students in case of an emergency. The building fire alarm is sounded during fire drills or emergencies. It is important for students and staff to evacuate the building calmly and immediately, following procedures and posted exit plans. Students and staff are to move quickly out of and away from the building and to remain in designated locations until permission is given to re-enter the building.

Individuals who deceitfully pull a fire alarm will be subject to suspension and/or criminal charges.

Lock-down emergency drills will also be practiced throughout the school year. Students are required to respond according to administration and staff instructions.