Chrysalis – a community of kindness, respect, and love of learning, encouraging the light within each student to shine brighter.
Chrysalis’s intent is to create a school that inspires students to soar higher in more ways than we, as a culture, expect from our schools. We express this metaphorically as “taking the ceiling off our school so students can soar higher”. However, we have also learned that we need to maintain a floor beneath which students do not drop. This means there are certain expectations that students and families need to meet if they wish to remain part of Chrysalis.
The four basic expectations are:
- Students will maintain a 95% attendance.
- Students will complete at least 90% of their assignments.
- Students will behave in a way that does not disrupt the school’s environment of learning and respect.
- Parents will provide at least 40 hours of community service per year.
Student expectations
95% Attendance
A condition of enrollment at Chrysalis is that a student maintains a 95% or higher attendance record (which is 9 days of absence each year) – unless there are extenuating circumstances as determined by either the teacher of record or the Chrysalis Council. Examples of extenuating circumstances would be a prolonged illness as documented by a letter from a doctor or a disruptive emergency within the family. This attendance expectation includes punctuality; excessive tardies are also cause for non-renewal of a family’s contract.
Non-classroom Attendance
Chrysalis believes family involvement is very important to a child’s education. We will try to accommodate any parental need as long as we believe there is educational validity to it. An example is creating independent study contracts for family vacations. The following procedures spell out the conditions within which we will support short-term independent study.
- Families may obtain short-term independent study contracts ahead of time when families are going on a trip, or if the family wants to take advantage of a special educational offering. These contracts may be downloaded from our website and must be signed by a teacher ahead of time. However, to receive credit, the contract and work artifacts must be correctly filled out and turned in to the child’s lead teacher during the first day back to class.
- The lead teacher will review the submitted work and decide whether the packet reflects work worthy of attendance credit. If not, or if paperwork is not turned in the first day back, then credit will not be granted. The absence will be recorded as an absence.
Chrysalis will initiate the referral process to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) whenever we feel one of our students is missing school for reasons we can’t support.
90% Assignment Completion Policy
It is not Chrysalis’s intent to fill all of a child’s free time with school assignments. We believe children need time independent of school, exploring other aspects of their existence. However, it is also Chrysalis’s intent to maximize the quality of our teachers’ time with our students. Certain activities such as writing drafts of essays, reading literature prior to a class, practicing mathematical procedures are important parts of a student’s learning that should be done independent of the teacher. Students who haven’t completed this work prior to the next class retard the momentum of that class. Therefore, a condition of enrollment is that students will complete at least 90% of all homework assignments each month. Before a student is dropped from our program, there will be opportunities to make sure the assignments are appropriate to the student’s ability and to adjust schedules so the student has opportunities to work on assignments while at school. Though we will help, it is the family’s responsibility to make sure a child completes their homework and brings it to school on the day it is due.
Appropriate Behavior
Chrysalis encourages responsible behavior by giving more freedom and responsibility to students who demonstrate responsibility. Occasionally a student or parent will complain that because of this, not all the students are being treated the same. That’s true, we reply. This is the way the real world works. Demonstrated responsibility earns trust privileges.
We strive to give students immediate feedback on behavior that is either wonderfully helpful or that we consider inappropriate. These practices help create a culture of responsible students. Unfortunately, this is sometimes not adequate. Chrysalis has adopted the following procedures for dealing with continued inappropriate behavior.
- Teacher will contact and discuss behavior concerns with parent either through a conference or a phone call.
- If problems continue, a teacher will send out a First Contact Letter to parent(s) notifying parents. A copy will be made for the school records. Teacher and parent(s) might meet for a conference.
- If problems continue, a teacher will send out the Second Contact Letter to request a conference to develop a Behavioral Contract.
- Parent, teacher, and administrator will meet to develop a behavior plan. Student will participate in this process unless both teacher and parent agree they should not. Family will be informed that the next step in this process is appearance before the Chrysalis Council which has the power to suspend, terminate contract, or recommend expulsion.
- If problems continue, a teacher will send out the Third Contact Letter setting a time on the next Chrysalis Council agenda. The three letters do not have to be about the same issue.
- The Chrysalis Council will meet with the parent and child in closed session. The parent and child will be given the opportunity to address the council in any area they feel appropriate. Afterwards, the council will determine in closed session what course they will follow and then notify the family of this decision. The decisions of the council will then determine what happens from that point on in this process.
- If the Chrysalis Council recommends expulsion, the Chrysalis Nonprofit Board of Directors will hold an expulsion hearing in accordance with the school’s expulsion policy. The Board shall meet in closed session (unless the parents request an open hearing). The student and their parents or guardians will be invited to this meeting and may present evidence and witnesses. If a majority of the board members present vote for expulsion, the student will be removed from Chrysalis.
Some of the behaviors that might lead to a letter and conference are:
Physical violence or the threat of violence– This includes punching or threatening to punch, kicking, headlocks throwing things at others, tripping. Some kids call this “playing around” or “just messing” with someone. We don’t. The three letter procedure described above can be shortened to just the Second or even the First Contact Letter if a child’s behavior threatens the safety of other children.
Put-downs, teasing, and foul language/gestures– Included in this category is disrespectful language, action, and attitude towards the school and the teachers. These behaviors create a barrier to letting one’s light shine, to trying new things and being oneself. Therefore, we give abundant feedback to students to help them grow beyond this form of interacting with others. But at a certain point, we will let a student go rather than continue with everyone else’s lights dimmed.
An anti-school coolness– Chrysalis is proudly intellectual. Kids at Chrysalis delight in using their minds to make their lives more interesting. Thinking is cool. Unfortunately, some kids try out an attitude that it’s cool to not participate and not get excited about learning. This can poison a class.
Damaging or Destroying School Property– We want kids to have ready access to the equipment needed for learning. We try to give kids easy access to good equipment. If somebody shoots all the staples in a stapler or breaks pencils for the fun of it, this impacts all the kids using that equipment and undermines our confidence in giving our students access privileges. Such behavior also creates a slouchy atmosphere of taking that keeps that student from achieving their best.
Boundary violations– We have a wonderfully large campus but we can adequately supervise only a portion of it during recesses so we have boundaries. Students are required to stay within the designated boundaries.
Any student bringing a weapon, alcohol, or illegal drugs to school will, depending on the circumstances, be reported to the police and expelled from Chrysalis.
Some Other School Rules
Physical Displays of Affection:
We do not allow hand-holding, kissing, hugging or other physical displays of affection between boys and girls. Such behavior pulls class energy into “drama”. Because of the close nature of our community, we do allow friendly greeting and farewell hugs.
Games and toys from home:
This rule includes Gameboys and other handheld electronic games. We want students to interact with each other and the opportunities at school, not play the games they can play at home.
Cell phones:
They to be turned off and out of sight during the school day. If you need to talk to your child, please call on the school phone. Students can use their phones to briefly talk with and text their parents at 3:15 at the end of school. This privilege may be revoked for individuals if they abuse it.
For the sake of our carpets, eating and drinking will be restricted to certain areas of the school.
Sodas, gum, and caffeine products such as coffee and energy drinks, and gum are not allowed on campus for students. (Sodas may occasionally be served at school parties.)
Acceptable Use of Computers
We support student use of computers to research appropriate topics, edit video, create art, and write papers, using school tools such as Accelerated Reader, analyze data, layout yearbook pages. We do not want students using the computers in a way that will (a) harm the computers (such as unwittingly downloading viruses) or (b) distract from Chrysalis’s learning environment. Examples of unacceptable uses are:
- Downloading files (including songs).
- Sending emails or instant messaging.
- Going to game sites and playing games.
- Going to offensive sites.
- Going to sites that have an audio component that will distract other students.
If a student wants to check out a site that might be questionable, it is the responsibility of the student to first ask permission.
Any student using school computers for an unacceptable use can, on the first time, lose their access privileges for the rest of the school year.
Students should not eat or drink near the computers nor switch the cables or move the desktop computers.
Dress Code
Our dress codeis focused on appropriate appearance and appropriate function for a school that goes out in the field regularly and unpredictably. Flip-flops, high heels and bedroom slippers should not be worn. Sandals should have a strap across the heel. Closed toe shoes like athletic shoes should be worn for field studies and is the recommended shoe for everyday wear. Shoes with wheels are not to be worn.
Cotton sweatshirts with hoods are not appropriate rain gear. There needs to be a waterproof layer on the outside.
In terms of appropriate appearance, there will be no clothing worn that is gang affiliated; is “see-through”; has “spaghetti” straps; exposes the midriff; is shorter than where fingertips touch the thigh; is sleepwear; has profanity, vulgarity, nudity, put-downs, insulting messages, or offensive pictures or language; promotes violence; advertises drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. We acknowledge that not all inappropriate clothing can be addressed here and therefore give discretion to individual teachers to determine the appropriateness of a particular outfit for our school setting.
Graduating students will dress appropriate to the dignity of the ceremony.
Chrysalis Bus Rules
Buses are crowded. Be respectful of others.
- Keep your hands and property to yourself.
- Keep your voice to an inside level.
- Do not tease people; they can not move away.
- Do not push others or move too quickly
- Obey the bus driver.
- Be polite to the bus drivers; they are in service to you and your education.
Buses are large moving vehicles. To be safe, you must:
- Stay in your seat until it is time to get off.
- Sit facing forward.
- Keep your body out of the aisle.
- Keep hands inside the windows.
- Have sports equipment in a bag so it can’t slide around.
- Not bring breakable objects (glass, ceramics, etc.) onto bus.
Nobody wants to ride in a dirty bus.
- No gum chewing.
- Do not eat or drink on the bus.
- Do not write on, scratch, or pick at any surface of the bus.
- Pick up all your stuff as you get off.
- Notify the driver of any problems you see so they can be taken care of quickly.
Seating
Kindergarten students sit in the front seats.
Electronic Devices
Students may not use cell phones, iPods, video games, and other electronic devices while on the bus.
State Laws
- If you cross the roadway, you must be escorted by the bus driver across the road in front of the bus.
- You must get on and off the bus at your assigned stop unless your parents/guardians have arranged otherwise with the school administration.
Consequences
- Inappropriate behavior can lead to assigned seating at the front of the bus.
- Continued inappropriate behavior can lead to loss of bus riding privileges.
Parent Expectations
40 Hour Parent Service Requirement
Families are required to provide 40 hours of adult service throughout the year. Families with more than one child in Chrysalis only need to do 40 hours. This can take many forms from being a classroom aide to helping on field trips to doing maintenance work to helping with fundraising to serving on governing boards. Chrysalis will make an effort to create service opportunities during non-school hours for working families. We reserve the right to modify this requirement based on hardship on a case-by-case basis with Chrysalis Council approval.
The following are some possible contributions.
Classroom assistance
Classroom and reading aides
Playground supervision
Teaching something you are good at. Examples: cooking, gardening, knitting, drawing, geo-caching, sharing great literature
Lunch-time supervision
Non-classroom assistance
Publishing the school’s newsletter
Mail person – pick up mail at post office and county office and take to Virginia, sort out junk mail, pick up school mail and deliver
Projects manager – help organize special events such as our camping trips, graduation, float trip, snacks for STAR tests, etc.
Book Club – organize orders of Scholastic Book Club.
Community Coordinator – Create opportunities to strengthen our community: potlucks, dances, welcoming committee for new families, rosters so people learn each other
Volunteer committee – keep track of volunteer hours, support other volunteers, sign up and train people,
Receptionist – route incoming calls, take messages,
Special Events Scout – Scout out upcoming and outlying possibilities
Web site link coordinator – Take incoming suggestions and organize a school’s neat list of links.
Alumni-coordinator – semi annual newsletter, list of current addresses,
Gopher – do daily errands for teachers
Building maintenance – plumbing, etc.
Pre-cleaning – help with end of school clean-up
Fundraising Team – Be on the lookout for and develop opportunities for raising funds.
Parents are an essential part of our governance, serving on the Chrysalis Council and our nonprofit’s Board of Directors. Talk to a teacher or administrator for more information if you are interested in being part of the school’s governance.
Parents at School
Many parents report that they feel wonderfully welcome at Chrysalis. Chrysalis strives to be a helpful ally as you raise your children. We welcome parental involvement and participation. In fact, many of the special things we do such as camping trips, small group instruction, and many field trips are possible only with parental participation. However, the presence of a parent in the classroom can distract students or teachers from the academic focus of the class so serving within the classroom is a privilege granted by the teacher. If you wish to be in the classroom on an ongoing basis, check with the teacher on how they would like this to happen. This will include the following guidelines:
A: Dress and act appropriately.
B: Honor your commitments and be on time. Communicate with the teacher ahead of time if you are unable to volunteer the day you were scheduled.
C: If you are in the classroom check in immediately with the teacher to see how you can be of assistance.
D: You are here to help all students in the classroom and to support the teacher. Please do not sit just with your child.
E: Support your child by allowing them their own space to learn independently. If you are in the classroom check in immediately with the teacher to see how you can be of assistance.
F: Don’t distract teachers while they are teaching. If you have questions, wait until after school.
G: Conversations with other adults need to take place outside of the classroom.
H: Find ways to be positive and notice things that are working well.
Remember, your time and energy is helping to make Chrysalis Charter School a great place to learn.
In the same way, we try to welcome preschoolers for three reasons. (1) Many parents of young families can not serve in the school unless their younger children can be with them. (2) It’s good for our students to be around and care for younger students. (3) Many of these preschoolers will become Chrysalis students and these years of “informal attendance” are wonderful preparation. However, preschoolers can disrupt the class or damage, disorganize and lose school materials and supplies. Therefore, a parent’s first responsibility is to monitor their preschooler so that they do not disrupt, distract or disorganize. If your child’s behavior is a distraction to the class, please take him/her outside of the learning area. Teachers may, at different times, ask you not to be in the classroom with a preschooler
Parent Code of Ethics
Members of the Chrysalis family must maintain high standards of behavior during school activities. These standards apply to interactions between adults and children and between participating adults. We are all responsible as role models to our children. Our goal is to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for all Chrysalis students.
Prohibited Behavior
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol with children in or near your vehicle.
The use of physical or verbal aggression toward any child or adult, including profanity or abusive language or non-verbal intimidation. This includes physically disciplining your child in front of others.
Spreading gossip or negative conversations that may undermine the positive atmosphere of the school. If you have concerns, please address them to staff members.
Violations of these standards may result in restricted access to the school or termination of a family’s learning contract by the Chrysalis Council.
Confidentiality
You may be privilege to information involving a child, teacher, or parent of another family. Please use discretion and avoid gossip. We often forget that there may be children in the room. (This is especially true when we’re on the phone.) Issues with learning or discipline should be relayed to the parent by a Chrysalis teacher, not by another parent.
If a problem with a teacher arises, please discuss it with the teacher or administrator. Avoid discussing the matter with other parents or in front of children
Problems between parents need to be solved privately. In the event of an impasse, a teacher may assist in dialog.
Let common sense prevail!
No alcohol or illegal drugs on Chrysalis trips or camp-outs.
No smoking.
Respect the many and varied religious ideals represented in our community.
Discipline should be positive and constructive.
Please remember to remove firearms from your vehicle before driving on a Chrysalis trip.
If an incident occurs involving any Chrysalis community members and you are contacted by the press, please refer them to the school administration.
The Chrysalis Model of Education
Charter schools are public schools that explore different ways to organize public education. A charter school is organized by its charter which can create a school quite different from a traditional school. One of the unique characteristics of Chrysalis is that we are a teacher-led school set up to give teachers far more autonomy and authority than most schools. This gives them a creative investment in the school and creates a vital spark in their teaching. We are very protective of our teachers’ academic freedom to teach based on their professional judgment.
Another characteristic is multi-aged classes. Our charter, in the section on Educational Philosophy, states: “We want our students to achieve understanding of what they are learning. Therefore, students are placed in the classes appropriate for their understanding and academic development, independent of age.”
When a family enrolls in Chrysalis, they are choosing to work within our model.
Conflict Resolution
Chrysalis has developed specified procedures for resolving significant conflict. If a parent has a conflict with a teacher, the first step is to talk with the teacher as soon as possible before the conflict becomes significant. We teachers try to model openness to feedback; that is how we get better so please don’t feel that you are out of line to share concerns with a teacher. Also, in our experience, 90% of concerns are due to misinterpretations; checking the source before things fester can be very healing.
If that does not resolve your concerns, then meet with an administrator.
If that still does not resolve the conflict, then the third step is to take the matter to the Chrysalis Council which meets monthly. The council’s resolution of the issue is final. Be aware that you have a parent representative on the council whose job is to help the school stay in touch with parents’ concerns. Therefore, feel free to talk with your representative at any point. But the first step is definitely to talk to the teacher.
If you have a conflict with an administrator, the first step is to talk with the administrator or, if you are not comfortable with that, talk with your child’s teacher about the conflict.
If that does not resolve the conflict, the second step would be to have a meeting with that administrator with your child’s teacher present.
If that does not resolve the conflict, the third step is to bring the issue up at a weekly teachers’ meeting. They will determine a final resolution through majority vote.
The state also has a complaint procedure if you believe there are not sufficient textbooks or instructional materials, if school facilities are not clean, safe, or in good repair; or if there are teacher vacancies or poor assignments. The state’s complaint form can be obtained from the office or at www.cde.ca.gov/eo/ce/wc/index.asp
The Role of Parent Representatives
Our Parent Representatives have two important roles within the Chrysalis community:
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To bring the perspective of a parent to school governance by being a voting member of the Chrysalis Council.
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To bring concerns of parents to council considerations.
It is not the role of the Parent Representatives to be an advocate for a parent’s concerns.