Administrative Policies and InformationWhat Demographics Do You Expect to Have? Are the campus and events going to comply Is There a School Lunch Program? Is There Student Transportation to and from School? What is the yearly, weekly and daily schedule? How Does The Enrollment Lottery Work? Are There Truancy Rules and Attendence Requirements? What demographics do you expect to have? Who can attend the school? At Vista Grande, we expect our students to come from a wide variety of economic, cultural and educational backgrounds throughout Taos County. We believe that all of our students can learn and succeed in high school, provided they experience a learning environment that is motivating, compassionate, appropriate and challenging. Expeditionary Learning, our model of school design, provides a framework to create that kind of environment. Vista Grande High School can motivate students who previously have been unsuccessful in traditional schools, while also challenging successful students to gain deeper meaning and richness in their learning. Vista Grande High School (VGHS) seeks to enroll a student population
that reflects the diverse and vibrant population of Taos County.
This will not be easy. To achieve this goal of diversity, Vista
Grande needs the active support of the Taos Municipal Schools
Board of Directors and Superintendent, Taos County public schools,
community organizations, local media and countless individuals.
Without full access to existing public school students and their
families, and without full support and advocacy by existing
public schools and organizations, Vista Grande could enroll
a population that does not mirror the full demographic population
of Taos County youth. This is why we asked for a full collaborative
effort by Taos Municipal Schools board and administration, to
cooperate with Vista Grande founders in order to better the
educational opportunities for all of Taos County youth. Low
Income and At-Risk Students This unpleasant combination in Taos County—no public school choice at the high school level, widespread poverty and lack of social supports, high levels of violence, and a statewide culture of under-education—creates a troubling picture for Taos County teens, and puts the vast majority of youth at risk. Taos teenagers who already have direction, passion or talent seem to do well at Taos High School. Yet, as the statistics above indicate, there are many others—those who are not rewarded at school, those who are not inherently motivated to do schoolwork, those who are lost at a large institution, those who are “falling through the cracks”— who do not thrive at Taos High. These students need a smaller, nurturing environment and an engaging, motivating curriculum taught by invested teachers . They need an extremely supportive school culture and education that inspires them to continue in school. Vista Grande High School intends to meet these needs through the Expeditionary Learning model (see Educational Program) and through the following specific programs designed to meet specific learning needs of at-risk learners. Modifications to Meet Needs of Bilingual, Limited English Proficient, and Enrichment Education Students Vista Grande High School is prepared to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners including bilingual, Limited English Proficient, and special education students by implementing the principles and practices of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a comprehensive reform framework developed by the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC). Enrichment Education Limited English Proficient (LEP) To assist students grasp abstract concepts, construct complex arguments, and work with subject-specific vocabulary, Vista Grande High School will implement tools to meet students’ individual instructional needs. These instructional strategies and tools are described in detail in our charter and include advance organizers, models, analogies, manipulatives, word maps, vocabulary notebooks, and use of cognates. Reading and writing strategies include reciprocal teaching, pre-reading, adaptation, jigsaw activities, character maps, open mind/brainstorming, story maps, dialogue journals, writer’s workshop, graphic organizers, and inquiry. In order to create a solid foundation, Vista Grande High School will transition to a four grade school.
Crucial educational foundations will be established in the 9th and 10th grades. Students entering the 11th grade must complete a 10th grade Passage Exhibition demonstrating their ability to be a self-directed learner. Therefore, admission to VGHS is limited to grades 9 and 10 and is not open to 11th and 12th graders coming from other institutions. Vista Grande High School is a public charter school. There is no tuition, although, like other public schools, an activity fee is required each semester. VGHS receives funding for its annual operations just like any other public school, from the New Mexico state government through the Student Equalization Guarantee (SEG). In the 2007-2008 school year, VGHS expects its SEG funding to be approximately $940,000. Additional government monies for special education, technology, bilingual education and facilities may also be received. Vista Grande also receives federal funding and private grants. Start up funds in the amount of $450,000 is provided, over a three-year period, from the Planning & Implementation Federal Stimulus Grant. During its planning year, VGHS also received $20,000 from the Walton Family Foundation, a private nonprofit organization. Are the campus and
events going to comply with American Disabilities Act? The school’s facility will be handicap accessible and all activities will be adapted to meet the need for access. What kind of lunch
will be provided? Perhaps students will be able to receive a free or reduced
lunch at Vista Grande High School beginning with the 2007-2008
school year. Arrangements are being made with the Taos Municipal
Schools to provide a nutritious meal each day. The New Mexico Student Nutrition Program Unit is providing services to support the local school districts in designing food services that incorporate, healthy wholesome food. Healthy food will include the option for vegetarian meals, and a substantial reduction in fats, sugars, salt, and white flour products. It also will make fresh fruit and salad available daily on open bars from which students may select what they like. Two main entrees will be offered daily at the high school level. High school students may have seconds if they are still hungry. Due to logistics and delivery challenges, charter schools are not able to receive a breakfast program through Taos Municipal Schools at this time. Taking into consideration that students may arrive at school without having breakfast, a committee made up of Vista Grande staff will supervise the donations of food items from local businesses in order to provide early morning nutrition for our students. We feel this is a crucial aspect of promoting performance. Students need a balanced meal in order to feel content to study and participate. This is supported by research in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. There is a possibility y that Vista Grande will make a decision to provide lunches through an independent contractor. The contractor may be a local restaurant that would guarantee natural and fresh foods daily. This has been explored due to the concerns about meeting quality standards for our students, but not in any negotiation stage. According to current public law students will not be given access to vending machines which may sell soda or snacks. This includes any agreement for services that may be made between Vista Grande and an independent contractor. Students may bring their own snacks or food to school but it is recommended that the food be such as nuts, cheese, granola bars, sandwiches, fruit, etc. that are easily transported and consumed. For further information visit the New Mexico Public Education Department website: http://www.ped.state.nm.us/div/sipds/snp/lunch.html Is there student transportation to and from school? Taos Municipal Schools will provide daily transporation to VGHS for the proposed 8:00-2:30 pm school day. Students participating in afterschool activities will be responsible for making arrangements for their own transportation. VGHS students in the 9th and 10th grades will
not be permitted to drive themselves to school. We expect that
many 11th and 12th grade students will choose to drive themselves
to and from school or to carpool. Vista Grande will be located within proximity of the Taos Municipal School District facilities core which includes The school district administrative office, Taos High School, Taos Middle School, as well as being near the Taos Youth and Family Center. What is the yearly, weekly and daily schedule? • Vista Grande High School will operate on a semester system with a calendar year similar to other public schools in Taos County in order to accommodate families with siblings in those schools. There will be some differences in the schedule to allow for additional teacher in-service, extended wilderness trips and fieldwork out of the classroom. • The first day of school is August 21, 2007. • Intended daily schedule is q8:00am and end at 2:30pm. • Afternoon Electives will be scheduled from 2:35pm – 4:30pm. Students will need to choose two eight-week afternoon Electives across the school year. • Lunch time will be12:05 – 12:45 pm. • Vista Grande High School intends to operate on a modified block schedule with 100-minute blocks for integrated courses such as Humanities and Math/Science. Other courses will meet daily for 50 minutes. • Flexible block scheduling supports fieldwork and project-based learning. At VGHS our scheduling policies reflect what is best for learning, rather than what is most efficient or cost-effective. • Anticipated length of school year for 2007 -08 will be 171 school days. Several of these days will include extended afternoons, evenings or nights. The length of future school years may be variable, due to extended field research and overnight trips, but will always exceed the state required amount of 1080 hours per year for high school. • Out-of-class curricular experiences are regular occurrences in the Vista Grande High School calendar year. Some of these are research and fieldwork that is scheduled during normal school hours, while some are overnight, multi-day educational experiences in wilderness or urban locations. Mountain, canyon and river travel are integral parts of some Learning Expeditions, as well as trips to larger urban centers such as Denver or Albuquerque. How Does the Enrollment Lottery Work? Enrollment opens and is advertised in the spring. 60 students are admitted to each grade, 9 and 10. If the number of applications received is less than this number, then every student is admitted and enrollment is open again. If the number of applications received is greater than the number of actual spaces the following lottery design will be held in accordance with the 1999 Charter Schools Act within two weeks of enrollment closing. • Each applicant is assigned a number. What is the policy on truancy for VGHS? Introduction Optimal learning occurs when the individual student takes responsibility for learning. Students cannot learn the presented curriculum if they are not in school, and make-up work is a poor substitute for the oral information and explanation students miss when they are not in class. Except under extenuating circumstances, students are expected to be in class each and every day. It must be emphasized that regular attendance is the key to much of the success a student may gain from his/her experience at VGHS. Students should be in school-directed programs, exclusive of the half-hour lunch period, for a minimum of the following State Department of Education daily requirements:
Pertinent Definitions Truant: a student who has accumulated
5 absences within a twenty-day period. Truancies: Truancy is any absence that was not approved by the parent/guardian and/or School Director’s Office. Truancies are referred to the school director for disciplinary action. Procedures Determination of which category an absence falls into is the responsibility of the school director and will be entered into the computer database by the school attendance secretary. 1. Excused Absences: ALL absences
must be EXCUSED in writing 2. School Sponsored Co- or Extra-curricular Activities: Coaches or sponsors will be responsible for turning in a list of excused students to the office prior to a school trip. This list is to be printed and entered into the computer database. Absences for co- or extra-curricular activities do not count toward the ten absences limit. 3. Unexcused Absences: The following actions will be taken to ensure parents/guardians are aware of the student’s absenteeism and school policies, however, VGHS staff will work diligently with students and their families to resolve problems with attendance, as soon as possible, and hopefully, without the intervention of legal or social service entities: • On the third (3rd) unexcused absence in one or more classes, or the first full-day unexcused absence, the teacher(s) or other designated school personnel, will make a phone call to the parent/guardian informing them of their student’s absenteeism. • On the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, a certified or personally delivered letter, will be sent to the parent/guardian explaining the Compulsory School Attendance Law, and a mandatory conference will be held with the parent/guardian, teacher, school social worker, and school director to discuss the student’s situation and possible solutions. A Corrective Action Plan will be developed. A letter from the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office will be sent to the parent/guardian. • On the seventh (7th) unexcused absence, a certified letter or personally delivered letter, will be mailed to the parent/guardian reiterating the Compulsory School Attendance Law and explaining the school’s loss of credit due to the attendance policy. The parent/guardian will be required to attend a meeting with the school director and school social worker. A second letter from the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office will be sent to the parent/guardian. • On the tenth (10th) unexcused absence, a certified letter will be mailed to the parent/guardian serving as a final notice that the student will fail the course(s) for the semester if all work and time are not satisfactorily made up through arrangements approved by the school. A referral will be set to the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office for violation of the Compulsory School Attendance Law. • Each subsequent absence will result in additional referrals. • Any student with ten (10) or more unexcused absences in one or more classes may be subject to other disciplinary or intervention measures by the school, Juvenile Probation and Parole Office, District Attorney’s Office, Social Services, and/or the Children Youth, and Families Department. These measures may apply to the parent/ guardian as well. Habitual truants can lose their driving privileges for 90 days, and for up to a year for subsequent infractions, and parents/guardians may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment, as well as the reduction or cancellation of social services. • The consequences for excessive absences may include substantial independent work, In-School Service for a first offense, Saturday School for a second offense, and/or include a parental explanation to the VGHS Board of Trustees. The school director of VGHS has the final say regarding all consequences for student truancy. Make-up Work Tardies Educational Absence Policy Leaving Campus due to Illness
For more information, contact
Vista Grande High School Taos Charter High School: Vista Grande Charter High School in Taos, New Mexico |
Copyright © 2007, Vista Grande High School. All Rights Reserved.
Vista Grande High School
P.O. Box 850
Taos, NM 87571
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