Dear Parent/Guardian:
The mission of Granite Mountain Charter School is to develop the individual gifts of our students. Our students will become proficient in Common Core State Standards and become critical thinkers, responsible citizens and innovative leaders prepared for academic and real-life achievement in the 21st Century. The mission will be accomplished in a personalized environment that fosters successful achievement through quality, personalized, standards-based education, which could include online coursework, offline textbook work, and unique hands-on and experiential learning experiences facilitated in partnership with students, parents, staff, and community.
Our live virtual classes are designed around our school mission. During the school year, we will be recording our live virtual classes for families to refer back to. These video recordings will be housed in each teacher’s Google Classroom and will be shared with student’s in that class only. These videos may capture your child's participation, directly or indirectly. You may see your child’s image, name, and/or hear their voice in these recordings. These recordings will not be shared outside of our program/class. A completed waiver is required to participate in our live virtual classes and must be signed before the start of these classes. The recordings are a vital function of our program.
In addition to giving permission for recordings, we are asking that the policies within Granite Mountain’s Parent/Student Handbook as well as the following virtual code of conduct must be adhered to for students participating in our live virtual classes.
Virtual Code of Conduct
- When participating in virtual class dialogue or in the chat, no one monopolizes discussions to exclude the others.
- Student Camera will be turned on and the student will be visible for the duration of any and all live virtual classes and tutoring sessions.
- No side conversations or other distracting behaviors via chat or drawing tool during class discussions or presentations.
- Members of the class as well as the teacher are to be respected and responses to lessons/conversations should be polite and courteous.
- No offensive comments, language, or gestures, or pictures will be permitted in our online classroom.
- Behavior that is obscene, defamatory, or that is intended to harass or bully another student or teacher will not be permitted.
- There will be no gum chewing, no eating or drinking near school issued computers and/or during instruction time.
Handling or displaying weapons, or images of weapons, including toy or facsimile weapons.
Consequences of Inappropriate Online Conduct
After an initial verbal warning:
- 1st action step: 2nd Verbal warning with a follow up email to parents.
- 2nd action step: Written warning via email to parents and cc FBLT and departmental supervisor.
- 3rd action step: Mandatory meeting with virtual teacher, FBLT, family and departmental supervisor to discuss behavior and possibly implement a behavior plan
- 4th action step: Removal from live virtual setting
Parents and students must be aware that conduct that is unacceptable and disruptive in the regular classroom environment is, typically, equally unacceptable in the virtual classroom. GMCS recognizes, however, that virtual learning is a new experience for some students and families, and that the context in which student conduct occurs must be taken into account in determining the appropriate penalty, if any, imposed for violations of the Student Code of Conduct in the virtual classroom.
Inappropriate student conduct that occurs in the virtual classroom, shall be subject to the above listed progressive consequences depending on the seriousness of the conduct at issue. The seriousness of the conduct at issue will dictate the actions of administrators. For example, a student may be subject to a severe penalty, even for a first offense, depending on the seriousness of the conduct at issue.
By signing below, I hereby agree to the code of conduct and give permission for images, audio, and/or video of my child captured during live virtual classes to be used solely for the purposes of the Virtual Exploration Program.
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ASSUMPTION OF RISK GENERALLY: By signature hereon, parent/guardian waives liability against and holds harmless the school and its board members, staff, volunteers, vendors, agents; the school district; and State of California; and further acknowledges that this voluntary activity and/or transportation to and from (as applicable) and/or access to and use of a dangerous product (such as sharp tools, chemistry kits, knives, paints, etc.) may expose the student to potential harm including injury or death. If student believes that an unsafe condition or circumstance exists with respect to the activity(ies), student will discontinue participation and immediately notify school staff. Student shall not further participate until the unsafe circumstance is remedied. Parent/guardian hereby agrees to remain responsible at all times for supervising the student(s).
By signing below: (1) I am giving up substantial actual or potential rights in order to allow the student to voluntarily participate in this activity(s); (2) I have signed this agreement with full appreciation and understanding of the risks inherent in the activity(s) or use of the product; (3) I have no question regarding the intent of this agreement; (4) I, as parent or guardian, have the right to bind myself, the student and any other family member, representative, assign, heir, trustee or guardian to the terms of this agreement; and (6) I have explained this agreement to the student, who understands his/her/their obligations hereunder.