EPHS Student Handbook

Bell Schedule and Block Schedule

Graduation Requirements

Student schedules are developed with input from students, teachers, and the counseling office every spring for the next school year. There will be a very short period at the beginning of each semester for schedule changes. The first priority will be to meet the requirements of graduation while assisting students in exploring areas of interest.

Credit recovery options provide an opportunity for students to make up credit missed in previous semesters. This can be done either through summer school or other options available during the school year. These courses are done either online or a combination of online and teacher-led coursework. Online credit recovery classes will be paid for by the school unless the student does not pass the class within 60 days of beginning the course. In these cases, the student/family will be billed for the cost of the class.

Estes Park High School is committed to providing a growing number of opportunities for students to earn high school credit towards graduation in conjunction with college credit. The course guide or the counseling office are the best resources for information in this area.

Students will take final exams/summative assessments at the end of each semester. The schedule for the final exams will be published in advance. If a student knows in advance that they will be unable to complete a final, then they are to notify building administration and teachers in order to take finals early.

Students are responsible for any school work or content missed due to an absence. Most schoolwork can be found on Schoology, and that should be the student’s first place to look. Students should also email teachers for more information regarding missed work.

At the end of each semester, students with grade point averages of 3.0 or above will be named to the honor roll. Students with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher will be placed on distinguished honor roll. Academic letters are awarded to students who maintain a 3.75 grade point average for the school year.

The philosophy at EPHS holds that making mistakes and learning from them is a critical part of the maturation process. This is why Estes Park School District has adopted the use of restorative practices in a number of different situations including student behavior that is not conducive to student learning.

Restorative practices encourage positive school and system-level policies, practices, and relationships that lead to better behavioral and academic outcomes for students. When adults enforce positive actions and respond to misbehavior in a calm, respectful, and thoughtful way, students are taught important social and emotional skills that enable them to get along with others, make responsible decisions, and focus on their learning.

Restorative practices will be considered in all circumstances of student misbehavior and could take the form of a number of different consequences that best fit the behavior. Misbehavior is viewed as a harm against the school community (as opposed to a broken rule), and that harm will be repaired as part of the corrective action. Traditional school consequences, such as out of school suspension, could also be used as part of any behavioral intervention depending on the situation. 

This handbook is not meant to be an all-inclusive manual, simply a resource for what is expected and how regular business is handled at EPHS. The items listed below are simply areas EPHS chooses to emphasize in the handbook. Please refer to school district policy for a more comprehensive information around behavior.

All substances that are illegal for minors to possess are not allowed on school grounds at any time. Use/possession of tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarettes/vape pens, or other drugs on school grounds will be addressed based on overall school district policy.

Pocket knives or any item that could be considered a weapon or an item that mimics a weapon is not allowed at school. If a weapon is brought to school by mistake, students should turn the item into the office immediately. This aligns with school district policy.

Students’ clothing can be a distraction or disruption from the purpose of the academic school day. Clothing that either contains inappropriate messaging, advertisement, or does not adequately cover the body will be deemed inappropriate for school. Shoes must be worn at all times.

The use of personal electronic devices during school instructional time will not be allowed except in very specific circumstances that are teacher driven. School work can and should be done on the iPads and on computers. Students will have access to their devices during non-instructional time such as lunch and passing periods.

Lunch is offered every day. During lunch, campus is open to 11^th-12^th grade students. All 9^th and 10^th grade students are required to stay on campus during the lunch period. Students on campus during these periods are allowed in the student commons area and outside when the weather allows. Students should not be in other locations without approval from a staff member. This includes locker bays, classrooms, and gym spaces. Students who demonstrate that they are unable to return to school on time for classes after lunch can have their privilege of leaving campus revoked.

Passing periods are scheduled times for students to change locations in the building, use the restroom, get a drink, etc. Students should avoid extended delays on the way to class. It’s important to be prepared and get to class on time and prepared for class.

Bobcat Advisory is an opportunity for students to receive extra assistance, enhance their learning, or to take part in a number of culture/team building activities that assist and add value to a student’s learning experience. All students are required to attend Bobcat Advisory on a daily basis. Advisory is a .25 credit per semester. Students will be graded on a pass/fail system.

It’s not uncommon for schools to host/sponsor a number of special events throughout the school year to add to the learning experience. These events are to not be a disruption or a distraction to other students and the staff. Students’ behavior during these events could result in fewer opportunities for these events in the future. Every special event must be approved by the administration prior to the event.

It is expected that every student attend school every day. Attendance in class is a key part of academic success. There are circumstances that come up that could cause a student to miss class time such as (but not limited to): Illness, family emergencies, doctor appointments, etc.

The school attendance team reviews attendance weekly and will reach out to parents/guardians if a student’s lack of attendance becomes excessive.

Many school activities require students to miss school and instructional time. This does not excuse the student from the material or their responsibility to complete the required assignments.

If a student knows they will be absent for an extended amount of time (more than 3 school days) they are asked to complete a pre-arranged absence form that can be picked up in the main office. This form simply documents communication between student and teacher so that appropriate plans can be made around the absence to minimize the impact on the student’s grades.

If a student misses a day or part of a day due to an appointment of any kind, a form is not required but students are asked to communicate with the teacher in advance to develop a plan for the missing content and school work.

In the event that a student will be absent, communication between the student, the parent, and the school is important. It is requested that the parents or guardians call (970-586-5321 ext. 3304) or reply to the text from Rachelle Ruiz to excuse the student from the school day. If a student is absent, an automated call will be placed about the absence.

If absences become an issue, teachers and school staff will attempt to contact and address the student’s attendance. In addition to phone calls, EPHS will take a restorative approach around attendance which could result in conferencing and agreements made between the student, the parent/ guardian, the teachers, and the school.

Students should arrive to school on-time every day. Any late student must provide a pass from a staff member (front office) to excuse the tardy. Similar to attendance, habitual tardiness will be addressed through restorative approaches in order to eliminate when being tardy to class is habitual. The distraction of students arriving late to class adds difficulty to a teacher’s ability to teach their classes at the highest level.

All students are encouraged to participate in any and all athletics, activities, and organizations provided at Estes Park High School. These activities are in place to help support the academic school day as well as provide positive experiences for students.

Activities

Athletics

 In order for any student-athlete to be eligible to participate, they must meet several requirements set by CHSAA and the Estes Park School District. Estes Park Schools have the right to set different requirements as long as they are not more lenient than those set by CHSAA. 

In order to gain and maintain eligibility, every student:

• Must be enrolled in courses which offer, in aggregate, a minimum of 2.5 Academic Units of credit. Be a full-time student and must pursue a minimum four year program as outlined in Estes Park School District policy, as well as CHSAA By-laws, which can be found in the office of the Athletic Director. Exceptions include home school students that live in the district, or students who attend another high school that does not offer a sport/ activity that Estes Park offers.
• Must attend at least 100% of the regular school day to travel, practice, or compete in any team related activity. Issues that do arise, such as doctor’s appointments, family functions, etc. can be excused and eligibility can be reinstated by the building principal or athletic director.
• A completed athletic participation packet must be completed and on file with the athletic director (PowerSchool). This packet includes the medical evaluation form with a current physical, student eligibility form, acknowledgement form for code of conduct rules and standards handbook, Bobcat athletic warning statement, athletic injury/ emergency card and a completed concussion baseline test.
• CHSAA Semester Eligibility Requirements: Must not be failing more than the equivalent of one-half (0.5) Academic Units of credit. This means a student can not fail two or more classes in the previous semester. The district has chosen Plan A of the CHSAA bylaw 1710 and this is a CHSAA requirement. A student who finishes a semester with two or more failing grades will not be able to participate until the eligibility regain date set by CHSAA, which is about half-way into the following semester and can be found in the CHSAA bylaws.
• Return all equipment. Any athlete who fails to either turn in, or make good on any equipment checked out to them will not be able to participate in the next season’s practices or events until they are cleared by the previous season’s head coach.
• Estes Park School District Weekly Reports: Eligibility is pulled every Monday at noon when school is in session. The eligibility report comes into effect the following day (Tuesday) and will stay in effect through Monday of that same reporting period. This is the district’s weekly academic periodic check that has been chosen under CHSAA bylaw 1710. A student must not be failing more than the equivalent of one-half (0.5) Academic Units of credit during the reporting period. Ineligible students are not allowed to travel to away games on the bus. They will be required to provide their own transportation to away games, if they choose to attend. Students are not able to regain eligibility during the weekly periodic eligibility check as stated in the CHSAA bylaws.
• If applicable, complete a transfer form through CHSAA. This is for students who are new to Estes Park High School and have participated in high school athletics before at another school. Please contact the athletic director if you think you may qualify.
• Students who represent Estes Park School District R-3 are required to meet standards of personal behavior, in addition to standards of academic performance. A student may be declared ineligible for a specific period of time if, in the judgment of the school administration, the student is not representative of the school’s ideals in matters of conduct and sportsmanship. Parents will be notified of their child’s behavioral ineligibility by the school office. To appeal a decision, the student, with parents/guardians or legal custodian, may schedule a conference with the Principal/Designee.

Students who represent Estes Park School District R-3 are required to meet standards of personal behavior, in addition to standards of academic performance. A student may be declared ineligible for a specific period of time if, in the judgment of the school administration, the student is not representative of the school’s ideals in matters of conduct and sportsmanship. Parents will be notified of their child’s behavioral ineligibility by the school office. To appeal a decision, the student, with parents/guardians or legal custodian, may schedule a conference with the Principal/Designee.

Students must attend 100% of the school day on practice (if it is outside of the school day)/performance days unless absence is approved by administration. Due to these activities serving both as an activity and a class for credit towards graduation, all graded activities are exempt from eligibility standards.  All events/activities that fall into this category that require eligibility for participation will be honored (CHSAA All-State Band/ CHSAA All-State Choir, etc.)

The teacher/sponsor of a class/class activity can elect to require students to be eligible to attend with proper communication with the students/families and with the administration in advance (especially when students are missing class time to attend).

Students must attend 100% of the school day on practice/performance days unless absence is approved by the school administration.

All performance members must be eligible on the report that falls 3 weeks prior to the performance dates. Students will receive a one week warning to repair grade/s to become eligible. This allows time for a replacement to be prepared for the performance.

Attend 100% of the school day on practice (if it is outside of the school day)/performance days unless the absence is approved by the administration.