Note: The handbook was written before the new Administrative Structure was implemented. Therefore, the language used in the text below as well as the downloadable document does not reflect these changes. References to Division Heads refer to the Assistant Head of School and the Director of Academics.
In order to help parents and students understand the operational functions and policies of the school, we have published the Robinson School handbook. This text does not intend to be an exhaustive source of all rules and procedures, but will provide important regarding the processes and expectations of interacting with the school.
Often parents would like to access specific policies from the handbook. In order to assist you in finding what you want quickly, you will find below the most frequently referenced policies:
Parents are requested to call the school before 7:30 a.m. to report a studentīs absence. All absences must be explained by a note from home. The note is due on the first day the student returns to school. The note must contain the date, studentīs full name, grade, the signature of the parent, reason for the absence and the date(s) of absence. Absences without a parental or medical excuse will be considered unexcused and may result in disciplinary action.
At all levels, every three tardies will be converted into an absence. Any student who accumulates 10 or more absences during semester year may forfeit the right to registration for the following academic year and/or be placed on disciplinary probation. Preschool students (PPK - Kinder) are expected to report to their respective homerooms by 8:00 a.m. Elementary school students (1st - 6th grade) are expected to report to their respective homerooms by 7:30 a.m. Secondary Students are expected to report to their homeroom by 7:30 a.m.
Academic Eligibility Requirements for Participation in Sports and Activities
Students who are on Academic Probation will not be permitted to participate in sports or any other school activities.
Eligibility for participation will be based on quarter grades. Any student having a C and/or lower quarter grade or GPA of 2.0 at that time, will be denied the privilege of participating in a given sport or activity at the discretion of the appropriate Division Head.
Students will be notified by the appropriate Division Head if they are on probation. Students on academic probation will not participate in extra-curricular activities beginning the day after the notification.
A student on probation who wishes to participate in any activity may present a written petition to the appropriate Division Head. The request must be signed by the student, parent(s) and activity sponsor. The Division Head will consider such requests on the basis of the student´s past academic performance. If the student´s request is granted, there may be other required stipulations regarding his/her participation.
Students who are on academic probation for two or more quarters of the school year may be ineligible to enroll in Robinson School for the next academic year. Elementary School students who do not obtain a 70% (C-) or better in all major subjects (English, Math, Spanish, Science, and Social Studies) at the end of each quarter will be placed on academic probation. Secondary school students, who do not maintain a general grade point average of 2.00 or better, will be placed on academic probation.
While Robinson School maintains an open campus for our community, entrance is a privilege and not a right. We reserve the right to limit access to our campus for any reason. This includes but is not limited to students who have been withdrawn or separated from the community, parents, students or guests who do not model the interpersonal attributes, level of respect and appropriate decorum expected on our campus.
Our security personnel are to be respected and their instructions followed. We regret that we will engage in law enforcement support should any person on our campus not adhere to our instructions and expectations.
When working in a school environment, there are many questions that occur on a daily basis. At Robinson School, we are well equipped to resolve any issues, if the proper communication procedures are followed. The following sequence outlines our "chain of communication."
First The student should attempt to resolve the issue. We will not intervene until the student has attempted to resolve the issue without success. This process teaches students to learn to communicate clearly, advocate for themselves and become responsible citizens in the community.
Second The teacher or person directly responsible for supervising the situation should be contacted. If the issue is curriculum related, please make an appointment to see the appropriate Curriculum Supervisor.
Third If at this point, there is no resolution, the Division Head should be contacted.
Fourth The Head of School will become involved only if there has not been a satisfactory resolution to the situation after following the three previous steps.
The following disciplinary actions may be imposed by the Dean of Students and/or Division Head:
Behavioral Misconduct - Notice of Concern
Disciplinary Referrals will be issued in accordance with the violation of specific school regulations. These cases may lead to detention or school suspension.
Detentions in the Elementary Level will be held either during lunch time or after school. The detentions may be held at the discretion of the Division Head any day of the week.
Detentions at the Secondary School level will be served after school hours under the supervision of the Dean of Students and/or Faculty.
Suspension - If a studentīs misconduct warrants a suspension, the student will be sent home on that day. The form and duration of the suspension will be determined by the Division Head. The student may automatically be placed on disciplinary probation until the end of the academic school year. During the suspension or probationary period, the student loses all privileges and may not participate in any sport and/or extra-curricular activity. If a student is issued a referral for serious misconduct during the probationary period, the student may be subject to immediate expulsion. A student suspended off campus cannot make-up tests, quizzes or major projects.
Separation from Robinson School - Ongoing behavioral issues on the part of the student or parent may result in the permanent separation of the family from the Robinson community.
The Administration and Staff of Robinson School believe that a clear and concise written statement of disciplinary policy and procedure, understood by parents, students, teachers, and administration is necessary for the effective and orderly pursuit of our educational goals. This belief is based on the premise that such objectives can best be achieved if parents and students are aware of each studentīs responsibility to the school and others.
We realize that childhood and adolescence are difficult times for young people. We expect students to make mistakes; however, we also expect students to accept responsibility for their own actions. Our discipline policies are intended to hold the student accountable for his/her behavior and allow for individual social and emotional growth in accepting responsibility.
Students and parents are expected to respect the rights, person and property of others. Disciplinary action will be taken by school authorities in response to misconduct. However, an effective policy and procedure must also include steps to alleviate or overcome behavioral problems.
Our policy on referrals and suspensions reflects an attempt to identify chronic behavioral problems. Once identified, behavioral problems can be dealt with immediately, instead of prolonging the situation at the expense of the family and student body.
Parents desiring to deliver items, messages and / or materials to their children must first report to school security. Once logged in with security, parents will then proceed to the Schoolīs receptionist. Parents may not enter a classroom during the school day without appropriate authorization from the Division Head.
The possession, use or distribution of any quantity of illegal drugs (including prescription drugs), drug paraphernalia or alcohol is not permissible on campus, in school vehicles or at off site school-sponsored activities. Violators are subject to severe school discipline, up to and including dismissal. (See Disciplinary Policies and Procedures.)
The School, however, when confronted with observations and / or evidence of alcohol / drug use by a student, will notify parents.
Realizing the seriousness of the problems of alcohol and drug abuse/misuse, the School will make every effort to assist students involved with the problem. Strict confidentiality will be maintained and every effort will be made to enable students who are actively seeking help for themselves or others.
Robinson School reserves the right to search lockers, backpacks and other personal items. We also reserve the right to use drug dogs, as needed, to keep our school safe and drug free.
The use of any form of electronic device on campus (such as cell phones and iPods) are allowed before 7:30 a.m. and after 3:00 p.m. only. Please note: We are not responsible for the loss of these items. All cell phones must be turned off during school hours. No phones, iPods, Walkman, MP3 players or other electronic devices may be in use or in sight during the school day, including during lunchtime and breaks. Students who need to make calls should get permission to use office phones. Parents who need to contact their child/children who have cell phones should do this outside of school hours or leave a message for the student that can be retrieved at a later time. In case of an emergency, the parent may contact the corresponding school secretary and ask to speak with the student.
The school may exercise its right to monitor the use of any technology available on campus, including PDAs, laptops, ipods, etc. Students must grant school personnel viewable access to any requested data, logs or files on any electronic device present on campus.
Note: Camera phones may not be used at any time. No cameras, including video devices are ever permitted on campus without prior approval.
Violations of this policy will result in confiscation of the device. At the first infraction, the item will be returned the following school day. If a student has a device confiscated a second time, the confiscation period will be for the remainder of the semester. If the student avoids any disciplinary problems and/or being assigned detention for a period of one month, the item may be returned before the end of the semester. The application of this concession is at the discretion of the Dean of Students and/or Division Head.
The following are examples of some additional expenses that may be incurred during the year:
Field trips
Materials for special projects
Costumes for programs
All occasion t-shirt and special program t-shirts
Kinder and sixth grade graduation fee
Participation in extracurricular activities
Cafeteria fees
Individual Student and Class fees
Student´s accounts and fees must be paid in full in order to participate in quarter and semester tests and receive report cards, transcripts and diplomas.
Money collected for a class, club or organization, are kept by the Business Office.
Requisitions are made through the class or club/organization´s Treasurer and/or homeroom teacher and must include the signature of the sponsor and/or homeroom teacher.
Homeroom teachers, club/organization sponsors and corresponding Treasurers are solely responsible for any transactions of accounts. A Treasurer cannot transfer this responsibility to another individual.
Fees will be determined by the class sponsors in conjunction with the Division Head.
The following items are not considered proper attire and therefore are not permitted on days school is in session:
No sandals of any kind are permitted.
Elementary school students may not wear make-up.
Nail Polish: Girls in preschool through sixth grade may not wear nail polish to school. Secondary school girls may wear conservative colored nail polish.
Girls may wear small earrings only. Hoops and ornate earnings larger than one and one-half inches may not be worn. No more than two earrings may be worn in each ear. No bolts, cuffs, nose rings or other accoutrements may be worn.
Other fad items of the times are not to be worn.
Boys may not wear earrings.
Shirts, blouses, and/or dresses that expose the mid-section and/or cleavage are not appropriate for school.
Skirts and dresses should be knee length.
Tank tops, loungewear, torn clothes, clothes made from transparent fabrics are prohibited.
Shirts and /or T-shirts with any socially offensive, alcohol or drug related themes or advertising, lewd printing or pictures may not be worn to school.
Hats, headscarves, bandanas, or other head coverings, and sunglasses are not permitted.
Boy´s hair should be trimmed and worn neatly, in their natural color. Front hair length should not exceed eyebrow level. If hair is worn long, it must be neatly tied back at all times. The use of hair gel or other hair accessories to keep hair neat may be considered appropriate as determined by the Dean of Students. All boys must be clean shaven, but may wear a neat mustache to be no longer than the corners of the student´s mouth. No sculpted hairstyles or dreadlocks are permitted.
Girl´s hair must be neat and worn in a natural hair color.
All students are required to complete the following courses in order to qualify for a Robinson School diploma:
Department
Credits Required
English
4
Spanish
4
Math
Required are Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
4
Social Studies
4
Spiritual Life
4
Physical Education
4
Health
1
Fine Arts
1
Electives
2
Each student in grades seven through eleven will be enrolled in seven classes.
In grades nine through eleven, each student must accumulate seven credits per year. In their senior year, students are required to earn six credits. The credits needed to earn a Robinson School diploma are 27 in total.
Students may take a variety of electives to earn the necessary credits for graduation. We encourage students to take courses that will advance the quality of their transcripts.
Grades One and Two - 45 minutes and 10 minutes of independent reading.
Grades Three and Four - 45-55 minutes and 25 minutes of independent reading.
Grades Five and Six - 1 hour and 20 minutes Monday thru Thursday and 25 minutes of independent reading. Homework may be assigned on Friday´s for sixth grade.
Grades Seven and Eight - 2 hours per evening.
Grades Nine and Ten- 2.5 hours per evening.
Grades Eleven and Twelve - 3 hours per evening.
Honors Courses - At least 1 hour of homework per evening per Honors class
AP Courses - At least 2 hours of homework per evening per AP course. Studying for tests is included in the aforementioned time allocations. The homework assignment time frame does not provide for any assignments missed due to unexcused absences or tardiness or any assignments not completed during class. It is the student´s responsibility to complete missed or incomplete work on his or her own time.
Students have a designated lunchtime and they will eat lunch with their class. Parents may purchase meal plans directly from the food service vendor. Any student may bring food from home; however, no microwaves are available for student use. Pizza parties and the like are not permitted in the cafeteria during lunchtime. Special arrangements should be made through the Division Head´s office for these special events.
We want to be sensitive to the needs of our students and encourage parents to disclose any medical conditions that may affect the child at school. Please contact the appropriate Division Head with any important information.
Students may not be in possession of any prescribed or over the counter medication(s) at any time. All medication should be in the Health Services office.
Robinson School personnel will not administer any medication unless it has been previously authorized on the Medication Authorization Form. Parents must inform the school in writing if a student is temporarily required to take any medication while at school or has any specific health-related issues that need follow up, for example, diabetes, special nutrition needs, allergies, etc. For medications, the written statement must include the doctorīs recommended interventions.
Medication must be in its original box, bottle or jar with the prescription label. If a medication must be administered by school personnel, parents must send a written authorization to this affect.
Due to the growing problem of broken homes in our contemporary society, children are frequently robbed of the protection traditionally provided by the family structure. Out of concern for our students´ welfare, Robinson School assumes the position of guaranteeing and respecting the rights and authority of parents on behalf of their children, as well as the child´s right to peace and safety. Recognizing that under special circumstances, the courts award custody to one parent, Robinson School will strictly enforce a court documented decision regarding this situation. Letters from attorneys will not be accepted. Our interpretation of the court document will stand.
Students are expected to be in attendance on all scheduled school days for the entire day. Because every school day is important to the growth and development of each student, we urge parents not to request student absences and/or early dismissals except for illness or family emergencies.
If a student needs to leave school early, the dismissal must be approved by the appropriate Division Head. The parent/guardian must report to the Division Head´s office to obtain a pass that will be given to the Security Guard before leaving campus. Students may only leave with their parents or an authorized person. Identification with a photo I.D. is required, and we reserve the right to deny dismissal if there is any question regarding the authorization of the adult. In all cases, the students are expected to provide a written excuse for the periods for which they were absent.
Doctor´s appointments notwithstanding, students are required to attend at least 75% of the school day in order to participate in extracurricular activities.
Valuable articles should be left at home. Toys, walkman, radios, ipods, cards and jewelry, etc. should not be brought to school.
It is the student´s responsibility to safeguard all belongings. All situations where personal property becomes damaged, destroyed or lost is at the ownerīs expense. Robinson Schoolīs insurance does not provide coverage for personal losses.
Anyone found in possession of anotherīs belongings without permission will be subject to disciplinary action.
Students are not permitted to sell personal property, for example jewelry, trading cards, and food items, without the direct consent of the Division Head.
Girls: Yellow Polo shirt with school emblem, navy blue skorts, white ankle-high socks and black closed school shoes. Optional: Navy blue Polo dress
Boys: Yellow Polo shirt with school emblem, navy blue shorts, white-high socks and black shoes.
Elementary School
First through Sixth Grades:
Girls: Yellow Polo shirt with school emblem, navy blue skorts or knee-length navy blue bermudas, white ankle high socks and black closed school shoes. Optional: Navy blue Polo dress
Boys: Yellow Polo shirt with school emblem, navy blue long pants or knee-length bermudas, black or dark blue belt, white ankle high socks and black closed school shoes.
Physical Education Uniform PPK through Sixth Grades:
Boys & Girls: Short blue pants with logo, blue-gray t-shirt with logo and sneakers.
Only fourth through sixth graders are allowed to use long blue sports pants with the Robinson School emblem with the same blue-gray t-shirt with logo.
Secondary School - Seventh through Eleventh Grades:
Girls: Long navy blue pants, knee-length navy blue bermudas or skort, light yellow blouse with school emblem or white polo with school emblem (the same as the boys´ shirt), white ankle-high socks, and black closed school shoes.
Boys: Long navy blue pants or knee-length navy blue bermudas, white polo with school emblem, black or dark blue belt, white ankle-high socks, and black closed school shoes.
Seniors (Shirts to be ordered in advance)
Girls: Long navy blue pants, knee-length navy blue bermudas or skort, special Senior Class shirt with the school emblem, white ankle-high socks, and black closed school shoes.
Boys: Long navy blue pants or knee-length navy blue bermudas, special Senior Class shirt, black or dark blue belt, white ankle-high socks, and black closed school shoes.
Physical Education Uniform - Seventh through Twelfth Grades:
Boys & Girls: Long blue sports pants with logo or short blue pants with logo, Robinson t-shirt and sneakers.
The security team on campus is comprised of Robinson School employees. We value their commitment to the educational program and to your children. Please treat them with the respect and consideration of any professional on campus. Parents are to promptly and respectfully comply with the directives of the school security officials. Failure to do so may result in the loss of the privilege of visiting and / or driving a vehicle onto school campus.
Summer Session is designed for students who failed one or two required classes and need to pass them to remain at Robinson School. A student who failed a required course during the academic year must take the credit at Robinson Summer Session. Students required to attend Summer Session will be promoted on the basis of the Summer Report or other formal professional evaluation deemed necessary by the appropriate Division Head.
Under extraordinary circumstances, Robinson School students may receive permission from the appropriate Division Head to enroll in a Summer Session for courses that are not offered at Robinson. Robinson School reserves the right to determine whether summer school credits from another school are accepted and may require that the student pass a standard exam given at Robinson School with an 80% or better. Should such an exam be required an associated fee will be charged.
The maximum number of credits or units allowed during the summer is two.
Summer classes may not be taken to alter a passing grade on a studentīs transcript. However, students may audit two or more summer classes. An audit does not receive credit, but may help prepare the student for a difficult subject to be taken during the following school year or may be used to review material from a previous class.
If a secondary student fails the first semester of a one credit course, but passes the second semester, the grade of the first semester may be changed to a 67% at the discretion of the Division Head.
If a secondary student fails a course during the academic year, he/she must repeat the course in Robinsonīs Summer Session. The grades obtained in the regular semester will not be eliminated from the student record, but will not be used to calculate the studentīs overall GPA. The grades obtained in summer school will appear in the student record and will be included in the semester GPA.
Secondary students may be authorized by the Secondary School Division Head to take courses for original credit.
Athletics and Sports Clinic
