Student Handbook
Many items not covered our school's handbook are covered in the BSD Student and Family Handbook.
- Nutrition
- Grading and Assessment
- Behavioral Reporting Agreements
- Academic Integrity
- Bullying and Harassment
- Communication and Electronics
- Dress Code
- Attendance
- Personal and Banned Items
- Publications
- Tardies and Hall Passes
- Detention
- Visiting and Volunteering
Nutrition
Nutritious Breakfasts and Lunches are available for all students to purchase each day. In addition, “Ala Carte Menu” offers individual components of the meal sold separately, as well as snacks. Breakfast is served daily from 6:45 AM - 7:15 AM. Menus are available at Nutrition Services.
Free & Reduced Price Meal Benefits: If a family is experiencing financial need, then parents may complete one application for free or reduced price meals for all students in their family. Meal benefit applications and instructions are available in each student’s “back to school” packet, school office, cafeteria, or from the Nutrition Services Meal Benefits office. The application process and each student’s meal benefit status are completely confidential. Families may apply for meal benefits at any time throughout the school year, even up to the last day of school. However, a new application is required for each school year. For more information please call: Nutrition Services Meal Benefits Office 503-356-3955 or ELL Welcome Center: 503-356-3755.
Student Meal Accounts: Each student is assigned their own individual meal account which they can access using a Personal Identification Number, (PIN). The meal account is a debit account, so students eligible for full and reduced price meals must deposit money into their account before they can purchase meals. Parents may deposit money into their student’s account by sending cash or a check made out to the school cafe or by depositing money through the online system. When making a payment, please indicate your student’s first and last name along with his or her PIN, on the memo line of the check. It’s best to deliver the payments directly to Nutrition Services staff in the cafeteria so that the payments can be applied before the next meal. Some schools have payment drop boxes or baskets in the main office that you can also use; however, it’s possible the payments may not be applied prior to the next meal service.
See BSD Meal Pricing for how to set up a School Cafe account to be able to deposit money into your student's account online or check their balance. If you have further questions, please call the Nutrition Services Dept. at (503) 356-3955.
When needed, students can charge a meal. When your student graduates from high school or transfers to another school within BSD, his or her account balance will transfer with him or her. Messages are sent through ParentSquare two times a week once a negative balance is about $10.00.
Meal Etiquette
Health department regulations stipulate that students should wash their hands before eating and are not allowed to share any portion of their meals. Students are expected to clean up after themselves, return trays to the proper location, recycle appropriate items, and dispose of garbage in the waste can.
Grading and Assessment
We take academic assessment very seriously as a crucial part of our college preparation courses. To that end, and to meet the increasing focus on standards-based assessment at the district and state levels, the Beaverton School District has adopted a system that separates academic grades from student behaviors.
Academic Reports
Students will receive in-class grades using a 1-4 rubric scale to reflect their learning and ability to use content, concepts and skills in a particular course:
- N - No Evidence: Students not earning a passing grade will receive an N mark. An N Mark indicates that a student has not demonstrated sufficient understanding of the course learning targets.
- 1 - Developing: Performance at this level indicates an emerging or no understanding of a complex body of knowledge or concept.
- 2 - Nearly Proficient: More detailed level of understanding of knowledge and facts and nearly proficient in the learning target concepts and skills. Performance at this level shows inconsistent demonstration of mastery.
- 3 - Proficient. Meets the learning target.
- 4 - Highly Proficient. Exceeds the learning target.
Students not earning a passing grade will receive an N mark. An N mark indicates that a student has not demonstrated sufficient understanding of the course learning targets.
Final grade marks are determined by averaging the summary judgments for the learning targets of the course. The summary judgment average determines the letter grade assigned using the Beaverton School District grading matrix. Teacher judgment determines the final grade in each course. Please refer to the class syllabus for teacher grading policies.
Clear, consistent and truthful reporting of student progress begins with the learning targets. A teacher's instruction, a student's work and the way we report a student's progress should all be focused on the learning targets. Each teacher will ensure that instruction and student tasks are aligned to the Learning Targets. At the end of a reporting period, the teacher will consider all of the evidence a student produced around each Learning Target and use the Scoring Guide / Rubric to determine the student's proficiency level for each learning target. Percentages, points, and extra credit are not components of a Standards Based Learning System.
Intervention Strategies implemented at BASE that work to support students reaching proficiency are:
Supervised Study Hall: Most middle school students have one period a day to work on homework, get help from peers or their study hall teacher. With permission from both teachers students may be able to meet with a classroom teacher if planned in advance.
Access Tutorial: All high school students are assigned an Access Tutorial. Seniors who have earned enough credits and have a double late arrival on B-Days may choose to not have an Access Tutorial. Access Tutorial provides structured time on B-Days for students to have access to their teachers and the support of their peers to receive academic support, complete projects, collaborate with peers, make-up missing assessments, etc.
By appointment: Please encourage your child to meet with their teachers and arrange additional help in classes where needed.
Behavioral Reporting Agreements
All students are held to the guidelines set forth in the Student and Family Handbook. The complete guide may be found on the District Website. Students are expected to read and comply with the guidelines.
It is a school and District priority to maintain a safe and secure environment for our students. In the event that a student makes a poor behavior choice, there will be consequences for their actions. A Discipline Referral may be written by any staff member who observes a student making a poor choice. The consequences for the referred behavior are made by the appropriate school administrator according to the Student and Family Handbook, and taking into account any prior behaviors.
The following policies have been adopted by BASE to specifically define the consequences for behaviors common in schools:
We will report out in each class on the behaviors of Responsibility, Self-directed Learning, Communication & Teamwork, and Digital Citizenship (examples: work turned in on-time, participation in class, respectful to peers and staff, and using technology appropriately). Reporting will occur on the progress reports and Semester report card for each grading period. Behavior can act as an invisible hurdle for students and can prevent equitable educational opportunities. Reporting on behavior, but keeping it out of academic assessing and reporting, allows us to focus more clearly on student learning. Each learning target receives one of the following grades: Consistent and Independently (C/I), Generally (G), or Sometimes or Rarely or with Reminders (R). An R indicates this area needs improvement.
BSD Behavior Learning Targets
BLT1: I can manage my responsibilities as a student.
BST 1.1 I turn in work on time.
BST 1.2 I turn in completed work.
BST 1.3 I break down large tasks into smaller, manageable parts.
BST 1.4 I use my class time appropriately.
BST 1.5 I prepare for class with necessary materials and am ready to learn.
BST 1.6 I complete my makeup work in a timely manner.
BST 1.7 I use a system for tracking my assignments.
BST 1.8 I use strategies regularly to prepare for assessments.
BST 1.9 I follow directions accurately.
BST 1.10 I demonstrate quality craftsmanship in my work.
BLT 2: I can self-direct my learning.
BST 2.1 I can use rubrics to accurately assess my progress toward learning targets.
BST 2.2 I can identify my current academic strengths and areas where growth is needed.
BST 2.3 I can set and achieve goals.
BST 2.4 I can develop a plan to achieve my goals.
BST 2.5 I can implement and adjust as necessary.
BST 2.6 I can persist with a task that takes a great deal of effort.
BST 2.7 I can persist with a task over an extended period of time.
BST 2.8 I can persist with tasks where the answer is not apparent.
BST 2.9 I can utilize a variety of sources to find help or to make up for absences.
BST 2.10 I can articulate specific areas in which I need help.
BST 2.11 I can advocate for myself.
BLT 3: I can communicate and work effectively within a team or group.
BST 3.1 I show my commitment to the group goals through my active participation/engagement.
BST 3.2 I listen respectfully and acknowledge the contributions of others.
BST 3.3 I share my ideas honestly and clearly.
BST 3.4 I contribute to creating a safe learning environment for all.
BST 3.5 I respect points of view that differ from my own.
BST 3.6 I work within my team to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable parts.
BST 3.7 I work with my group to identify when changes are necessary.
BST 3.8 I adapt to changes in the group process with a positive attitude
BLT 4: I can safely use technology.
Recognizes the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world and acts in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.
BST 4.1 I can manage my digital identities and reputations within school policy, including demonstrating an understanding of how digital actions are never fully erasable.
BST 4.2 I can demonstrate and advocate for positive, safe, legal, and ethical habits when using technology and when interacting with others online.
BST 4.3 I can demonstrate and advocate for an understanding of intellectual property with both print and digital media-including copyright, permission, and fair use - by creating a variety of media products that include appropriate citation and attribution elements.
BST 4.4 I can demonstrate an understanding of what personal data is and how to keep it private and secure, including the awareness of terms such as encryption, HTTPS, password, cookies, and computer viruses. I understand the limitations of data management and how data-collection technologies work.
Academic Integrity
BASE expects all students to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Violations of academic integrity include cheating, plagiarizing, turning in another’s papers or projects, giving one’s work to others, passing test information to others, misrepresenting other’s work as their own, or being found in possession of another’s work.
What Is Plagiarism?
Definition: Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, ideas, or facts as if they were your own, without giving credit to the original source.
Examples:
● You are plagiarizing when you use information from another source without including proper documentation (e.g. citations and a list of works cited or a bibliography).
● You are plagiarizing when you turn in another student’s work as your own or allow someone else to copy your work; this work might include homework, tests, papers, or other assignments.
● You are plagiarizing when you copy materials from sources such as the Internet, books, or periodicals without introducing the material or using citations to show the beginning and end of the “borrowed” material.
(Adapted from the OCTE pamphlet “What’s Plagiarism and How Can You Avoid It?”)
Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism:
● Indicate clearly when you use anything from another person’s work, even if only a phrase or a single keyword, by using quotation marks. If you use more than three words from a source in a row, put them in quotations and cite the source.
● When summarizing or paraphrasing, distinguish clearly where the ideas of others end and your own comments begin.
● When using another person’s ideas, credit the author by name and identify the work in which you found the idea.
● Err on the side of caution by giving credit whenever you suspect you are using information, other than general knowledge, from a source.
● If you are unsure if you are plagiarizing, it is your responsibility to consult with your teacher regarding the work before the assignment is due.
(Adapted from Write for College, published by Write Source.)
Note: Assignments or portions of assignments submitted in a class may not be submitted in a second class unless the teacher of the second class gives prior approval. Submitting the same work in multiple classes (or even in a class previously taken) without authorization will bear the same consequences as plagiarism.
Consequences for Plagiarism or Violations of Academic Integrity
Violations of academic integrity result in these consequences:
1. Parent/Guardian contact
2. Discipline referral and consequences according to the Beaverton School District Code of Conduct
3. Ineligible to be recognized as Valedictorian or receive honors
For second offenses, more extreme cases, or cases that occur in AP or college level classes, the consequences may also include:
1. Notification of teachers who have written letters of recommendation and possible withdrawal of letters of recommendation
2. Notification of colleges through Common Application updates
3. Notification of National Honor Society
4. Notification of all of the student’s current teachers
Bullying and Harassment
Any report of bullying and harassment is taken seriously, and is investigated quickly. Language or behaviors, which insult, ridicule, intimidate, or torment another person all take away from the safety of the school, and will not be tolerated. When bullying or harassment occurs, students are asked to notify a staff member immediately. The student will then meet with their counselor, who will attempt to mediate the situation. In the event the bullying or harassment continues, the offending student will be referred to the Assistant Principal for disciplinary actions and placement on a Bullying Contract. No Contact Contracts are often required.
Communication and Electronics
BASE administration and staff understand most students bring electronic devices (cell phones, iPads) to school. If a student must bring a cell phone or electronic device, it MUST be “Off and Away” during all class time, unless otherwise directed by a teacher for academic use. Any cell phone or music device that is visible during class time without teacher authorization may be confiscated, taken to the Main Office, requiring parent pick up of the item. This includes students who use any device (including district provided devices) for their non-intended purpose, for example using their Chromebook to play video games.
Students are permitted to use their electronic devices before school, between class times, after school, or during lunch. If a student needs to use a phone to contact a parent or guardian, they will need to ask their teacher for permission or do so in the Front Office.
Dress Code
Please refer to the school district handbook on student dress requirements.
Code 11: Disruptive Appearance/Student Dress of the Student Family Handbook: Dress and grooming are primary responsibilities of students and parents/guardians. However, students may be directed to change dress or grooming if it interferes with the learning process or school climate, is unclean, or threatens the health or safety of the student or others. Clothing, jewelry, or wording/graphics on clothing or on the person (e.g., tattoos) that is sexually suggestive, drug or alcohol-related, vulgar, which depicts violence, insulting, gang membership related, or ridicules a particular person or group may be prohibited.
Dress and Grooming
Dress and grooming shall be in keeping with health, sanitary and safety practices.
a. When a student is participating in school activities, his/her dress and grooming shall not disrupt the performance or constitute a health threat to the individual or other students.
b. Dress and grooming standards may be established by school authorities as a requirement for participation in the school activity program. Students participating in PE should wear athletic shoes with sock and proper attire that allows movement and safe movement in the PE activity.
c. Dress and grooming that disrupts the learning process shall not be permitted. Immodest attire may be disruptive. When immodest attire is considered disruptive, the student will be expected to alter the mode of dress.
d. Students shall not wear clothing, jewelry, emblems, badges, signs, tattoos or other symbols that are evidence of membership or affiliation in any gang.
Attendance
A key component to being successful academically is to have regular daily attendance. It is also essential to attend classes on time and be ready to learn. In accordance with guidance from the Oregon Department of Education, we have set our attendance standard at 94% and above. Missing 10% of school days for any reason is considered Chronically absent. Students who wish to participate as Outdoor School Counselors must have an attendance rate of 90% or above.
If your child is ill or there is an emergency, the parent or guardian should call the attendance line (503) 356-3631 by 7:40 a.m. on the day of the absence. If you call to report your child's absence, a note is not needed and your child may report directly to class upon returning to school.
If you do not call the school to report your child's absence, you need to send a note for your child to give to Ms. Larson, the School Attendance secretary on their return to school. The note should include child's full name, dates of absence, reason for the absence, and your full name.
Excused absences are those caused by student illness, illness or death of a family member, family emergencies, or medical and dental appointments.
An accumulation of unexcused absences will result in a mandatory conference with the student and their parents. Oregon Law states, “All children between the ages of 7 and 18 years who have not completed the 12th grade are required to attend regularly a public full-time school of the school district in which the child resides." The full range of consequences as cited in the Consistent Discipline Handbook and Oregon Law will be considered.
Once a student is on campus, the student must remain within the BASE Main Building or Cafeteria. Students may not go to their cars during school hours for any reason, If it is necessary for the student to leave school for any reason, they must be signed out of the building at the office by a parent. Students who are absent are expected to complete assignments that are missed.
On occasion, weather conditions may force schools to close or delay opening. The district web site, www.beaverton.k12.or.us will have updated weather/ school closure information. Local radio and television stations will broadcast closures.
Unexcused absences are those that do not meet the criteria for excused absences or if
timely documentation/notice is not provided to the school by a parent/guardian. The
consequences for an unexcused absence in a specific class period are defined below. Unexcused absences are reported to parents.
- A teacher may issue a referral to the office for an unexcused absence for their class period (skipping).
- Student may be assigned detention or In School Suspension for repeated Unexcused Absences (skipping)
- In-School suspension assigned by Assistant Principal, and(or) limiting/prohibiting on-site/off-site activities may be a consequence for students with habitual unexcused absences.
- Students who are absent (excused or unexcused) for any reason for 10 consecutive days are automatically withdrawn from BASE. A parent/student/administrator meeting is required if a student wants to return to BASE. Return to BASE is not guaranteed.
Tardiness is another form of absence, resulting in loss of key instruction time. It is important that students arrive to class on time, including the first period of the day.
Personal and Banned Items
Students are strongly encouraged not to bring valuable personal items to school. We cannot assure that personal items will be safe. The best security of personal items is to leave them at home. The only personal possessions appropriate to have at school are those that relate to the educational process.
Students are not permitted to bring knives, full face masks that hide the student's identity, squirt guns/ water balloons, matches, lighters, tobacco, laser-pointing devices/ pens, weapons or any item used dangerously, explosives, aerosol toxins, illegal substances, or drug paraphernalia to school under any circumstances. BSD is a LATEX-FREE environment. Students/parents/guardians should refrain from bringing any latex balloons into school. Latex is prohibited.
Publications
Tardies and Hall Passes
Our expectation is that all students are punctual to all classes. If a student arrives to a classroom after the tardy bell they are considered tardy. If a student wishes to excuse a tardy, they will need a pass from either the front office, or their previous class teacher.
Hall passes will be issued by staff members if a student needs to leave the classroom for any reason, including to go to the Front Office, Health Room, Library/Media center, or for other emergency reasons. Students are expected to take care of all personal needs during class passing times and bring all necessary materials to class so that they will not need to leave the classroom. Passes for restroom use will not be issued during the first or last 10 minutes of class. Students in the hall without a pass will be subject to disciplinary action.
Detention
After school detention or required student service is held 2:10-3:00 pm Monday – Thursday. Lunch detention may be held during middle school and high school lunches Monday – Friday. It is the student's responsibility to communicate to their parent or legal guardian when detention is assigned and to make alternate transportation plans when necessary. If a student fails to serve his/her detention within the prescribed time period, the student will be referred to an administrator for further consequences and/or a possible suspension. Detentions and required school service arrangements are supervised.
Visiting and Volunteering
We welcome the input and support of our families at BASE. Volunteers are needed for field work and Exhibitions of Learning. If you are interested in learning about opportunities to volunteer at the school, please do not hesitate to contact us at 503.356-3630. Background Checks and COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all volunteers.
In our continued efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for all children to learn and grow, we require that all visitors check-in at our Front Office, just inside Entrance A to sign in and pick up a visitor’s badge. Visitors, including parents, must be accompanied by a BASE Staff member outside of the Main Lobby and Front Office.