STUDENT & HANDBOOKFAMILY 2022-23
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. BRANSON’S MISSIONAND VALUES 5 II. ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK 6 III. PARENTS/GUARDIANSAND BRANSON 7 A The Essential Partnership 7 B. Family Responsibility Policy 7 C. Communications 8 IV. COMMUNITYGUIDELINESAND EXPECTATIONS 10 A. Living Our Values 10 B. Care of Campus and Community 10 C Attendance 11 D TechnologyAcceptable Use Policy (AUP) 15 E Campus Visitor Policy 17 F School Dances 17 G. Honor Code Violations and Consequences 18 V STUDENT HEALTHAND WELL-BEING 23 A Health Information 23 B. Communicable Diseases 24 C. Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Policy 25 D Drug andAlcohol Policy 26 E Transgender and Gender Non binary Student Policy 27 F PolicyAgainst Harassment 29 G Bullying 34 H. Boundary Policy for Faculty and Staff 34 VI ACADEMIC PROGRAM 37 A Requirements for Graduation 37 B. Grades 40 C. Academic Intervention 44 D. Course Selection and Registration 45 E Homework andAssessments 47 F Tutoring 48 G Coursework Outside of Branson’s Curriculum Offerings 49 H. Community Engagement 50 I. School-SponsoredTravel 51 J. StandardizedTesting 52 BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 3
VII. STUDENT SUPPORT 54 A.TheAllen Rand Learning Center 54 B. Counseling Services 55 C.The Brenda Brown Library 55 D Technology 56 E College Counseling 59 VIII. ATHLETIC PROGRAM 61 A Athletics Program and Requirements 61 B Athletic Codes of Conduct 63 C Concussions 66 D Athletics Website 72 IX. SAFETY& EMERGENCYPREPAREDNESS 73 X. SCHOOLFACILITIESAND TRANSPORTATION 75 A School Property, Maintenance and Use 75 B Personal Use of School Property 75 C Search and Confiscation of Student Property 76 D Breakage and Damage 76 E. Tennis Courts 76 F. Traffic and Parking 77 G Non Solicitation Policy 77 BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 4
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In choosingThe Branson School as a place to learn and a place to work, each member of the community student, faculty, staff and parent agrees to sustain an environment of honesty and integrity. We will, individually and collectively, do our part to create and maintain trust, respect and care throughout school life by accepting responsibility for our own actions and those of others We make this commitment to ensure that each of us may grow both in knowledge and in wisdom and that we may leave this school having enriched it by our presence
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Branson develops students who make a positive impact in the world by leading lives of integrity, purpose, learning, and joy. Community Values Courage Kindness Honor Purpose The Branson Diversity Mission Statement
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Our
Mission Statement
I. BRANSON’S MISSIONAND VALUES
Branson believes that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential components of an excellent learning environment and a vibrant, caring community We aspire to create a community in which every member feels a deep sense of belonging and inclusion The Branson Honor Code
Interpretation and Enforcement
II. ABOUTTHIS HANDBOOK
The rules, policies, and procedures set forth in this handbook are intended to apply under normal circumstances However, from time to time, there may be situations that require immediate or nonstandard responses This handbook does not limit the authority ofThe Branson School to deviate from the normal rules and procedures set forth in this handbook The School retains the right to deal with individual circumstances as they arise in the manner deemed most appropriate, taking into consideration the best interests of the school, its faculty, employees, students, and/or overall school community.The policies may also be revised or updated periodically, even during the school year.You will be notified of any changes as they are made.Any student or parent with a question about any handbook policy or statement should feel free to speak with the Director of Studies or Dean of Student Life.
This handbook creates no expectancy of enrollment in future school years The Branson School reserves the right to suspend or dismiss during the school year or decline to re enroll any student who in effort, conduct, or progress is not fulfilling the School’s expectations, as determined by the School.The School also reserves the right to suspend, dismiss during the school year, or decline to re enroll any student whose enrollment is deemed byThe Branson School not to be in the best interests of the School or whose parents and/or guardians are deemed byThe Branson School not to support the School’s mission, philosophy, expectations, and/or rules.
Parents, guardians, and students agree to adhere to and abide by the policies and procedures set forth in this handbook, as amended from time to time, with or without notice Any violations of these policies or procedures by parents, guardians, and/or students may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the School or non renewal of enrollment for future academic years, at the sole discretion of the School
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No set of rules or guidelines can cover every conceivable situation that might arise at a school
Philosophy
The School has the sole discretion to interpret the provisions of this handbook The School may change any provision of this handbook during the school year, and any such changes are binding on parents, guardians, and students after notice of the changes to the Branson community
General Expectations
To be most successful in achieving our educational mission, parents and guardians must understand the school’s mission and purpose, share its core values, and support its programs, faculty, and staff Each of us is responsible for one’s self; it requires a balance to fulfill the needs of an individual and of our community Working together, parents/guardians and school professionals exert a strong influence on students by modeling the relationships based upon civility, honesty, and respect that are the bedrock of a Beloved Community.
A. The Essential Partnership
B. Family Responsibility Policy
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Our students’safety and well being are of paramount concern, whether on campus in school activities, off campus in online learning, or off campus in their private moments In this spirit, we expect that Branson families, as members of this community, will work cooperatively with us to ensure the welfare of the students in our mutual charge Families must comply with laws designed to safeguard young people, such as those governing health codes and consumption of alcohol and other drugs While the School does not, as a rule, monitor students' behavior outside of the school and school functions, we reserve the right to sanction a student whose behavior raises fundamental concerns about his or her judgment and/or negatively affects the experience of any student at the School.The school presumes the use of common sense and responsibility by Branson parents or guardians. We presume that parties are properly chaperoned; that chaperones do not permit the consumption of alcohol and drugs; that families confirm where children will be and under what specific conditions; and that students are guided to respect and obey the laws of the land and the rules of the Branson community. An inability or unwillingness to adhere to these common sense and legal responsibilities will likely result in the school insisting that the family withdraw from Branson, even on the first offense
III. PARENTS/GUARDIANSAND BRANSON
Finally, for all the latest school happenings, follow us on social @bransonschool (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and @branson bulls (Instagram) Our website, branson org, is also regularly updated with school news about academics, arts, athletics, alumni, community engagement, and more CommunicationAboutYour
Student Branson believes in helping students learn to be their own advocates Parents can assist us in this endeavor by encouraging their child to take the lead in conversations when issues arise
If you have questions about your student, please first contact your child’s advisor or teacher, depending on the situation.Teachers are in the best position to field inquiries specific to their class and to your child’s performance in that class.Advisors help students navigate all aspects of the Branson experience and are an excellent resource for questions about a student’s overall academic experience, social interactions, or emotional adjustment. If a matter needs to be pursued further, please contact your child’s Class Dean.
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Accurate contact information is an important part of helping the school run smoothly. Should there be any changes to your contact information (e.g. email, address, phone numbers, etc.), please update your information through the parent portal of the Branson website. If you need assistance in making these changes, please send an email to registrar@branson.org.
“MyBranson” Blackbaud Student Information System (SIS) Parents’“one stop shop” access to school information is through our SIS, Blackbaud (colloquially referred to as “MyBranson ”) Here, you’ll find calendars, family and faculty directories, and links to your student's academic information, including grades and comments The site’s “Resources” also connect you to a wealth of information, including: class news and events; the Parents’Association;Technology resources;Transportation; summer resources for students; student wellness resources for parents; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) resources for parents; all school forms; and more We recommend that you bookmark Blackbaud, though you can also access it from a button at the top of the branson org homepage You should have a unique login given to you by our web administrator before school began, but if you do not, or if you have trouble logging in, please contact cecile lelievre@branson.org. You will receive regular email communications from the school, including our weekly newsletter everyThursday during the school year. If, for some reason, you are not receiving these communications, please contact communications@branson.org.
C. Communications
While we encourage students to self-advocate, when a student’s behavior raises significant concerns, the school pledges to be in immediate contact with parents to have a conversation, and we expect parents to respond promptly to those requests. Unwillingness to do so damages the essential partnership between the school and families, and will result in a conversation with the Head of School
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Branson uses an alert system called Informacast that pushes out messages via text, voicemail, and email in the event of a school closure or emergency For that reason, we ask that you keep us informed of any changes to your cell or home phone numbers and email addresses
Communication with Separated or Divorced Parents/Guardians
We make every effort to respond to all inquiries within 24 business hours
Branson honors varied family structures and believes that it is in a child’s best interest for school communication to be equally maintained with both parents or guardians Unless there are court orders limiting a parent/guardian’s access to information about the child, the school includes both parents in the physical or digital channels of communication and in all contract matters..
Our practice is to send information to all parents/guardians unless we have been instructed otherwise by legal documents. Similarly, our practice will be to continue including all parents/guardians in school communication once a student turns 18 unless there are court orders limiting a parent/guardian’s access to information about the child.
EmergencyAlerts
IV.
1. maintain personal and academic integrity
All members of the Branson community are expected In addition to aspiring to our core values and to upholding both the spirit and the letter of the Branson Honor Code, all members of the Brnson community are expected to:
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4. not engage in discriminatory, racist, sexist, or otherwise harassing, bullying, or violent behavior of any kind, either in person or online
The philosophy and implications of the Mission Statement, Core Values, the Branson Diversity Mission Statement, and the Branson Honor Code are far reaching, and they lead to the following expectations for our community.The guidelines below apply to all members of the Branson community, including students, employees, parents and guardians, and trustees.
2. practice personal responsibility
6. not bring dangerous items to campus, such as illicit drugs, knives, firearms, and/or other dangerous weapons
7. adhere to all precepts and rules outlined in this handbook
These rules are necessarily broad, and they apply to all areas of school life, including school-related events and activities that take place off campus In order to preserve its ethical standards and safeguard a community of safety and trust, the School will take instructive and/or disciplinary actions when a member of the community has breached these standards Likewise, families who fail to abide by these expectations may be required to withdraw from the school
3. maintain respect and kindness in all interactions with others
B. Care of Campus and Community
5. not engage in behaviors or activities that endanger the health and welfare of community members
A. Living Our Values
COMMUNITYGUIDELINESAND EXPECTATIONS
● When applicable, remain on campus during school hours Daily Schedule See the Daily Schedule for the 2022 23 school year here
5. Practice safe movement on campus by remaining on foot (not skateboarding, biking, or using motorized transport) during school hours and following the on campus speed limit of 10 mph when arriving and leaving for the day.
While there are myriad expectations expressed through this handbook, all students and adults at Branson are expected to adhere to the following general guidelines at all times, while at school or when participating in any Branson sponsored activity, in order to encourage a joyful community space.
1. Limit cell phone use in public spaces, especially during school events (eg. assembly, student performances, class meetings)
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2 Use respectful and inclusive language, particularly in public spaces
C.Attendance
● Be on time for the start of the school day
● Follow their daily schedules, be on time, and attend all classes, assemblies, advisor meetings, appointments, and any other required school functions
Signing In and Out of School
3 Respect others by arriving on time to class, meetings, and school events
Students must indicate their arrival at school by either attending their first period class, or by signing in at the lobby of Richardson Hall or the Library on any day when they do not have a first period class, or when they arrive at school after 9 am
Students must sign out whenever they leave campus early for any reason, unless they are leaving to attend a school-sponsored athletic practice or competition.
4 Take necessary steps to keep the campus clean, and encourage peers to do the same
It is critical that the school be aware of who is and is not on campus at all times and who is and is not attending class
Once senior privileges have started, seniors are expected to be diligent about signing out when they leave campus and signing in when they return.
In all cases, students are expected to:
Excessive tardiness for any particular class will likely impact the student’s grade in the course and may put receiving full credit for the course at risk.
Tardiness
Absence Like frequent tardiness, frequent absences interfere with student learning and are disruptive to the classroom
The school will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the effects of illness or absence for family emergencies, but both students and parents/guardians can expect consequences for repeated, extended, and selective absences from class
When a student’s absence is unplanned, such as with illness or some other family emergency, their parent or guardian must telephone the school before 8:45 am to report the absence It is
Absence Due to Illness or Family Emergency
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Students who develop a pattern of absenteeism, or who are absent for more than 7 school days, or miss more than 7 meetings of a particular class, will be asked to have anAttendance Review Meeting with their Class Dean and parents/guardians Such students may be subject to disciplinary action. Excessive absenteeism for any particular class will likely impact the student’s grade in the course and may put receiving full credit for the course at risk. Students may be ineligible to receive credit for a semester-long course if they miss more than 10 class meetings and may be ineligible to receive credit for a year-long course if they miss more than 15 class meetings.
Failure to do so may result in the student being marked tardy If a student will be more than 10 minutes late to class, they must first sign in at Richardson Hall or in the Library before heading to class This rule applies even if checking in adds further delay to a student’s arrival to class
Students are also expected to arrive at class and at school on time even if they do not have a first period class Students who do not have a first period class and fail to sign in at the lobby of Richardson Hall or at the Library will be considered to be tardy Students who do have a first period class and arrive after 10 minutes from the start of class must also sign in at the lobby of Richardson Hall or at the Library before going to their class This rule applies even if checking in adds further delay to a student’s arrival to class
Frequent tardiness to class interferes with student learning and is disruptive to the classroom. Students are expected to have arrived and be ready to begin at the start of each class period.
Students who develop a pattern of tardiness, or who are late for class more than 5 times in a particular semester, will be asked to meet with their Class Dean to review school policy and discuss options for an on-time arrival. Such students may also be subject to disciplinary action.
Meetings with College Representatives
Appointments During the School Day
Absences due to school-sponsored athletics and school-sponsored field trips will not be counted in calculating excessive absenteeism. In the case of any absence, it is the student’s responsibility to make up all academic work due to a missed planned absence, and to partner with their teachers for planning to make up that work. Missing school as a result of an extended family vacation is strongly discouraged and will be counted in calculating excessive absenteeism
Elective appointments (including DMV appointments) should be scheduled outside school hours and families are expected to arrange appointments so that students will not miss school If unavoidable, the student’s parent/guardian must call the school, send an email to attendance@branson org, or send a note to school on the day of the appointment stating the reason, time of departure, and estimated time of return Students are required to sign out in person at the lobby of Richardson Hall or the Library and sign in when they return. Written verification of the appointment may be required.Areminder that students may not be picked up or dropped off on or near campus between 8:15 and 9:15 am and between 2:50 and 4:20 pm. During all other times, pickups/dropoffs must be conducted outside the front gates on Fernhill. Please see theTransportation Handbook for further details.
With permission from the respective teacher, seniors may miss class to meet with college representatives that visit Branson Seniors must sign up for these visits via Scoir and request permission from their teachers at least two school days in advance of the meeting Other students may not miss class to attend college representative meetings, but they may meet with
also acceptable to send an email to attendance@branson.org. Students should remain home when they are ill to avoid infecting others. Planned Absences
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If the student will be absent due to a school sponsored field trip, the student is expected to complete a Field Trip Notification Form and have it signed by their teachers In all other cases, the student is expected to complete a Notice ofAbsence Form and have it signed by their teachers Both FieldTrip Notification Forms and Notice ofAbsence Forms should be completed at least one school week before the date of the absence and turned in to the Class Dean.These forms are available via Blackbaud/MyBranson.
Sometimes, a student knows they will be absent in advance If the student will be absent due to school sponsored athletics, they need to satisfy the minimum attendance requirements for athletics that day in order to be excused from class
Seniors, upon receiving signed permission from their parents and the Senior Dean, may arrive after the scheduled start of the school day and may leave campus early However, per our new Parking andTransportation guidelines, driving off campus for any reason and then driving back to campus will not be allowed, and any driver caught violating this agreement will lose on-campus driving privileges immediately for the remainder of the school year. These privileges do not begin for seniors until each senior has returned their permission form to the Senior Dean. Seniors may leave campus on foot or bicycle only during study blocks, clubs periods, flex blocks, and lunch. Seniors may not miss any classes, assemblies, advisor group meetings, or scheduled meetings with faculty They must also fulfill any carpool obligations, if applicable Seniors who bring younger students off campus during the class day will lose these privileges immediately Chronic tardiness and/or absences from class may also result in the revocation of these privileges Seniors must sign out in the lobby of Richardson Hall or the Library if they leave campus during school hours and sign in at one of those locations when they return A senior with a study block the first block of the day must always sign in at the lobby of Richardson Hall or the Library upon arriving at school Senior privileges may be revoked at the discretion of the Senior Dean Eligibility for SchoolActivities In order to participate in an extracurricular activity, such as a rehearsal, performance, sports practice or sports competition, students must also attend school that day.
Cutting Class, Assembly, or Advisory
Senior Privileges
Branson understands that, on occasion, it may be in a student’s best interest to take an extended leave of absence from school in order to attend to their emotional or physical well being When a student’s mental, physical, or emotional health severely interferes with their capacity to attend and participate in daily school life, this leave may be requested or required,
college representatives if the timing of the visit occurs during a study block, open flex block, lunch, or before or after school.
Extended Leave ofAbsence Policy
Students are expected to attend all of their classes,Assembly, and advisory, as they are key components of the Branson experience Students who cut class,Assembly, or advisory without a legitimate reason will face disciplinary consequences and may go to the Community Honor Board
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Social Media and Digital Communication Branson requires appropriate use of digital media (e g email, website, video conferencing) at all times Student behavior through digital media must comply with the Branson Family/Student Handbook rules and expectations, and all applicable local, state and federal laws regardless of whether the student in question is using Branson owned or personal hardware, networks or domains This applies whether a student is on campus or off Students who engage in online
Return to School
Avoluntary leave may be requested by a student or the family and must be approved by the Leave Committee, which includes the Head of School, Director of Studies, School Counselor, and Dean of Student Life Arequired leave of absence may also be necessary, per the determination of the school In such cases, the Leave Committee will determine all parameters of the leave
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Whether voluntary or required, return to school is not automatic and the date and manner of a student’s return will be determined by the school As circumstances vary, the timing and nature of a student’s return to school will also be subject to review and adjustment. Families should expect that the school will require consultation with the health providers involved in the situation and the school may, at its discretion, create a series of ‘readiness to return’protocol for the student. Students are not allowed to return to school until the school grants permission to do so. Extended leaves that persist for long periods become more difficult to accommodate and, in some instances, the school may require a student to repeat all or part of the year or recommend a change of school environment Branson will assist students in making up missed work and will make adjustments to requirements where appropriate, as determined by the Leave Committee
D.TechnologyAcceptable Use Policy (AUP)
depending on the nature of the issue. We are eager to partner with families in these instances in order to best support our students.
The Branson Technology Philosophy Statement Technology encompasses a vast and ever changing collection of tools that should always be evaluated through the lens of Branson’s educational goals and objectives. When adopted, technology should be used mindfully in support of learning, communication, digital citizenship, and technological competence.All members of the Branson community are expected to use technology responsibly in accordance with the tenets outlined in this handbook.
The use of any technology that is disruptive to the community or to an individual is not permitted Examples of disruption include:
Technology Should Be Supportive, Not Disruptive
● Impersonating another individual through the use of hardware or account credentials.
behavior that does comply with the rules and expectations set out in this Handbook may be subject to disciplinary action.
● The use of Branson equipment, systems and accounts to send offensive material including, but not limited to, sexually explicit images, ethnic or racial slurs, comments that offend or discriminate on the basis of age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ability or anything that may be construed as harassment or disparagement of others is prohibited.
● Cell phones out during assembly, advisory, and other community time without express permission from a Branson adult
Technology Should Be Used Legally
● Creation or intentional distribution of viruses, malware or other harmful computer code.
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● Cell phones out during class without express permission from an instructor
● Viewing or distributing inappropriate content (e.g. pornographic or explicit images, racist, misogynist or otherwise discriminatory language or images).
● The use of Branson systems Branson hardware, network and Branson owned internal and external domains to engage in political or commercial activities or attempting to impersonate another individual either through the use of another person’s device or through the network
● Creating proxies or other methods of circumventing Branson web filters
● The use of personal equipment, systems, and accounts, whether on campus or off, to send offensive material, as described above, is a violation of the BransonAUP.
The use of Branson technology resources must comply with local, state and federal laws as well as the codes of conduct outlined in the Branson handbooks Examples of illegal activities include:
● Viewing videos, playing games, or listening to music at inappropriate volume levels The use of headphones is encouraged.
● Inappropriate use of technology during classes such as playing games, social media, email, and any other activities not expressly permitted by the teacher
E. Campus Visitor Policy
● Intentionally damaging or defacing Branson equipment
Consequences for Violation of the BransonAcceptable Use Policy
All visitors to campus parents, friends, on campus tutors, etc. must sign in at the reception area located in the Brenda Brown Library. Visitors will be asked to show their IDs and will receive a nametag that they must wear for the duration of their stay on campus.
● Installing software of any kind, whether legal or not, without the express permission and supervision of the technology department
Copyright and Fair Use
Certain violations may require involvement of police and other authorities external to Branson if they run afoul of established local, state and federal laws
F. School Dances
Branson offers school dances throughout the year In order to ensure mutual respect and safety at Branson dances, students must sign a dance pledge before each dance Astudent’s dance pledge is their entry ticket to the dance
While at Branson, students enjoy the use of a wide variety of equipment, systems, and accounts. In order to keep them working well for the entire Branson community, students will refrain from:
● Illegal downloading of copyrighted software, music, video or other material without permission.
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● Distribution of copyrighted materials (see above) via servers, email or other means.
Respect for Branson Systems and Equipment
● Changing settings on computers, printers, and other hardware without express permission
The rules of copyright and fair use should be observed at all times and everyone should be diligent in giving credit through appropriate citation processes. Examples of acts that violate these rules include, but are not limited to:
Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in this will result in disciplinary action appropriate to the infringement such as revoking access privileges, suspension or expulsion
● Students should carry only small bags or purses that will be checked in at the entry table
General Dance Rules
● All dancing must be consensual, face to face and not simulate sexual activities
● Each guest must be accompanied by a Branson student.
Preamble Each member of the Branson community is expected to show consideration and respect for others in a way that reflects our core values and supports an atmosphere of trust, personal and academic integrity, and inclusion.This is an integral element of a Branson education and is part of our expectations for students to rise to the challenges presented to them both in and out of the classroom. Such an atmosphere must be created and re-created daily, through individual choices and actions. We ask each student and adult to reflect and act upon their best understanding of these goals and principles. As a community, we aim to respond to violations in a restorative manner, determining consequences that give equal chance for reflection and learning while taking care to think about what is best for both the individual and for the community In other words, we seek to examine the harmful impact of a student’s actions and determine what can be done to repair that harm while also holding the person accountable for their actions Branson works to be consistent and fair in handling disciplinary situations the parameters of which are described in this section
● All school rules are in effect during school dances.
● If students leave earlier than the final time stated, they must sign out
● Students are asked to wear appropriate attire that is not overly revealing
● All students must arrive within thirty minutes of the doors opening Students arriving after that time will not be permitted to enter the dance; no excuses will be permitted
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● Each Branson student should introduce his/her guest to the chaperone.
● If students leave the specified dance area, they may not return to the dance
● Chaperones must be able to walk through the dance floor and venue at all times
● Each student may bring only one guest and is responsible for the behavior of his/her guest. Each student should sign up his/her guest in advance of the dance by using the guest dance forms available on the school website.
Guest Policy
G. Honor Code Violations and Consequences
● Students may use only designated doors for entry and exit.
The Honor Code Pledge Students write and sign the Honor Pledge on all assessments and major assignments: “I pledge to uphold the Branson Honor Code I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid ” Basic Protocols for Violations of Branson Rules and Values
In many instances, a student’s failure to meet expectations in an academic or extracurricular setting will be minor and will be addressed directly with the involved employee(s). However, more serious violations of Branson’s rules and values will necessarily involve a more robust process that can take into account the needs of both the student and the community. In more significant cases of any nature, the faculty or staff member who learns of the suspected violation will notify the Director of Studies (for academic integrity issues) or the Dean of Student Life (for violations of policies not related to academic integrity) Depending on the issue involved, the Director of Studies or Dean of Student Life will include other administrators as needed The responsible administrator (either the Director of Studies or the Dean of Student Life) will meet with the student(s) suspected of violating Branson's standards, explain the concern to them and ask them to share their explanation of the situation The responsible administrator will then determine if further investigation is necessary to understand the facts If so, the administrator will interview other witnesses who may have information necessary to understand the situation and review other evidence If, based on the investigation, it appears that there has been a violation of the Honor Code, the administrator will confer with the Head of School to determine whether the case will go to the Community Honor Board (CHB) for input on remedies or whether it should be resolved through other means.The responsible administrator and Head of School may determine that the case should be handled by senior administrators without being referred to the CHB for a number of reasons, including concerns of the privacy or confidentiality of the students involved or other information to be considered, where violations may lead to expulsion, or where conduct may also be the subject of law enforcement proceedings. Note that for policies that include procedures for resolution (such as the PolicyAgainst Harassment), the procedures in those policies may supersede the following procedures.
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The Branson Honor Code In choosing The Branson School as a place to learn and a place to work, each member of the community student, faculty, staff and parent agrees to sustain an environment of honesty and integrity We will, individually and collectively, do our part to create and maintain trust, respect and care throughout school life by accepting responsibility for our own actions and those of others We make this commitment to ensure that each of us may grow both in knowledge and in wisdom and that we may leave this school having enriched it by our presence
● Meetings of the CHB are not formal hearings but rather an opportunity for members of the CHB to hear from the student involved and to propose resolutions that uphold the values underlying the Honor Code.
If a matter is referred to the CHB, the student will select an employee to join them at the CHB meeting as a CHB advisor.This will likely be the student's regular advisor, but they may ask any employee to serve as a CHB advisor.The CHB advisor will provide the student advice on the process and provide support at the CHB meeting, although it will be the student and not the employee who will present the student's position.
The administrator will arrange for 5 7 members of the CHB to be present for the meeting
Community Honor Board Procedures
The responsible administrator will share with the student involved a summary of the facts based on their investigation, protecting the privacy of the individuals who participated in the investigation The student will have an opportunity to provide a written response to the summary to be shared by the administrator with the CHB The student's response may include any additional evidence the student would like to have considered by the CHB, including any evidence of mitigating circumstances
● The CHB meeting will be attended by the administrator who investigated the matter, the student involved, their CHB advisor, and members of the CHB Parents and other students are not permitted at the meeting
The Community Honor Board (CHB) is comprised of students elected by their peers to provide input on appropriate consequences or remedies to address violations of the Branson Honor Code that are referred to them by the administration.
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The responsible administrator will meet with the student and their CHB advisor and explain the CHB process to them.The administrator will separately notify the student’s parents/guardians of the CHB process
Role of the Community Honor Board
Reasonable effort will be made to ensure that the CHB members in attendance represent the appropriate range of identity lenses as are pertinent to the case
The CHB Meeting
Before the CHB Meeting
● The CHB will then excuse the student to begin deliberations.The CHB will discuss possible consequences to repair the harm and come to a consensus about a response to recommend to the Head of School.The CHB may consider consequences including the following:
o Interpersonal restorative work (ex Restorative circles with any individuals who have been harmed by the infraction)
o Physical work on campus (example: removal of graffiti, repair of any destruction caused by the student)
o Specific academic consequences related to the assignment or the course (restorative → ex redo the assignment; or punitive → ex receive no credit OR, a combination → ex redo the assignment for reduced credit)
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● The administrator will communicate the CHB’s recommendation to the Head of School, who will make a final determination of an appropriate response to the infraction after considering the CHB recommendation, the summary prepared by the administrator, the student's written response and any other information available to the Head of School
● The CHB's recommendation is confidential as are the deliberations CHB members are protected from retaliation for participating in a CHB proceeding After the CHB Meeting
o Personal restorative work (ex. Counseling, reflection, off campus programming)
o Restorative work in the larger community outside Branson
● Before the student joins the meeting, CHB members will read the written summary prepared by the administrator as well as any written response or evidence submitted by the student involved and ask questions of the administrator as needed.
● When the student joins the meeting, the administrator will briefly introduce the proceedings and the role of the CHB as well as the issue to be considered.
● CHB members may ask the student questions to ensure they have a clear understanding of the case.They will also give the student the opportunity to make a statement beyond what they had submitted in writing.The student's CHB advisor can also provide information and answer questions to clarify the situation.
o Institutional restorative work (ex Interaction with or teaching to various groups in the community)
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Any student who goes before the Community Honor Board is expected to engage productively and whole heartedly in the resulting restorative consequences As such, once that process is complete, Branson will not require the student to report the case as part of the college application process and, provided that the student remains in good standing post violation, the college counseling office will submit a statement of full support for the student Note: At the discretion of the Head of School, Branson may still require the student to report a first violation to colleges that ask for this information, depending on the nature and severity of the offense
● The student and parents will receive a follow up letter from the administrator confirming the School's determination.The student’s advisor and class dean will also receive a copy of the letter for the student’s file. Depending on the nature of the case and its outcome, one or more of these employees will work with the student to ensure that all parts of the recommendation are satisfactorily completed in a timely fashion.
As always, the College Counseling office will work closely with the student and family in any and all communications regarding college reporting.There will be space on the application for the student to explain the event and share what lessons have been learned While disciplinary matters are certainly of concern to colleges, our experience tells us that they understand young people make mistakes Amature and graceful response to a discipline infraction can illustrate a student’s growth and development as a young adult Should a student or family member have any questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to contact the College Counseling team or the Dean of Student Life
In instances where students do not engage fully or successfully with the consequences recommended by the CHB, or if they have a second CHB case of any nature, Branson will require students to report that case to colleges.This expectation applies to students at any point in their Branson career, including after the application process is over. It is our expectation that students will answer questions about disciplinary history honestly on all college applications.
College Reporting Policy
● The administrator will meet with the student to share the final decision, and will notify their parents as well.
If a student needs to take any prescribed medication during school hours, parents/guardians must submit an Administration of Medication During School Hours form, which is available on the Magnus Health portal This form gives authorization for school personnel to administer or assist in administering prescription medication and also allows for the authorization of students to self administer medication during school hours
In the event of an emergency or disaster, students may be required to stay at school for an extended period of time Therefore, students who require daily medications during school hours must provide a 72 hour supply of their prescribed medication to the school Medications need to be given to the school in an original prescription container and should be delivered directly to theAdministrativeAssistant
STUDENTHEALTHAND WELL-BEING A. Health Information
andAttendance Coordinator in the lobby of Richardson Hall
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V.
Required Documentation Every year, Branson parents/guardians will be asked to review and/or complete a variety of forms and agreements All forms and agreements are available through the Magnus Health portal, which is accessed via MyBransoon (our Blackbaud SIS), and parents/guardians are responsible for making sure that these forms and agreements are completed appropriately and in a timely manner. Families will receive instructions and information about logging into the Magnus Health portal and required deadlines. Information required during enrollment and re-enrollment includes: doctors’and insurance information; life-threatening allergies/medical conditions; current and allowed medications, family and emergency contact information; student transportation consent and release; consent to treat forms; concussion policy and impact testing information; extracurricular waiver; photo use permission form; sign up to play form and athletic liability release Additional information and documentation may be required by families and all necessary documentation can be found on the Magnus Health portal or MyBranson
Due to potential conflict of interest, students need to be examined by non family/relatives ONLY Physicals are good for one calendar year from the date of physician's signature
Students will not be allowed to attend school and/or extracurricular activities, includingAugust sports practices, until all information has been correctly submitted. Prescription Medications
Branson shall comply with all local, state and federal laws with regards to reporting and preventing the spread of communicable diseases, and it expects the same of families and
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B. Communicable Diseases
Acommunicable disease is an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host. Given the mutable nature of existing viruses and diseases and the regular emergence of new ones, Branson will respond to communicable disease according to the guidance provided by the Marin Health and Human Services Public Health office, the California Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other such local, state, or federal health organizations as appropriate.
Students with Disabilities or Medical Conditions
The Branson School is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to students with disabilities and complies with state and federal disability laws by reasonably accommodating students and/or their parents/guardians with disabilities The school will make accommodations to allow students and their families to participate in the School’s programs, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the School or fundamentally alter the nature of the School’s educational program. Each accommodation request will be handled on a case by case basis. If a student has a disability or a medical condition that may affect the student's ability to participate in the school’s programs, the student and or the student's parents/guardians should contact the Dean of Student Life.The student and parents/guardians’ cooperation will be required for the school to evaluate possible accommodations. Such cooperation may include providing medical and other information that the school deems necessary or consulting with the school on possible accommodations Working together in this way, parents/guardians and the school will try to ensure the student's well being and enable the student to participate successfully in the school's programs
Over-the-Counter Medications Branson keeps over the counter medicationsTylenol andAdvil with theAdministrativeAssistant andAttendance Officer in Richardson Hall OTC medication will only be administered when parents/guardians have given express permission on the Administration of OTC Medication During School Hours form, which is available on the Magnus Health portal
If a community member acquires or is exposed to a known communicable disease, the school must be notified Parents should immediately contact David Hanson, CFOO, and Whitney Livermore, Dean of Student Life Covid 19 Branson follows the guidance of Marin County Public Health, the California Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in its policies and practices concerning Covid 19 prevention and contact tracing All students, faculty, and staff are required to be vaccinated for Covid 19, unless exempt due to a valid medical reason or a sincerely held religious belief (supported by appropriate documentation) Students and families must comply with all of Branson’s Covid guidance and policies, and should be aware that this guidance may change frequently. Questions should be directed to covid@branson.org
The safety and well being of Branson students is paramount Suicidal thoughts, or suicidal ideation, means thinking about or planning suicide Thoughts can range from a detailed plan to a fleeting consideration Therefore, whenever faculty or staff learn of any declaration of suicidal thoughts by a student, regardless of the perceived level of severity or mode of expression, the School will act upon and assess the situation This may include, but is not limited to, comments that a student makes verbally, over social media platforms, in person, as part of a school assignment, or that come to us from a second or third party
students. For more information on communicable disease protocol, please visit California Department of Health Division of Communicable Disease Control.
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 25
The school will contact parents or guardians when any formal suicide assessment is administered, even if the student is determined to be at low or no risk Additionally, the school
Once we learn of a student’s suicidal ideation, either directly or indirectly, the Suicide Risk Response Coordinator (Director of Counseling) and/or theAlternate Suicide Risk Response Coordinator (Dean of Student Life) will formally assess the level of risk and determine next steps. Notifying Parents Parents or guardians will be contacted as soon as possible after a student has been identified as being at risk for suicide,unless doing so would exacerbate the situation No or Low Risk
C. Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Policy
Because Branson students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the school’s guidelines at all times, students will be subject to discipline if they possess, use, supply, or are under the influence of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco products at any time when at school or participating in any Branson related activity. If the school becomes aware of situations
It is forbidden and illegal for minors to use, possess, deal, sell or supply illegal drugs, alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco products or to be in possession of attendant paraphernalia at any time “Illegal drugs” includes not just controlled substances but also includes prescription and over the counter drugs that are obtained or used contrary to a doctor’s instructions. “Tobacco products” includes cigarettes, tobacco chewing, dipping, or being in possession/use of any kind of nicotine or e-cigarette (e.g. vape or Juul).
If a student is found to be at Moderate or High Risk, or they have attempted suicide, the student will automatically be placed on a medical leave of absence and will only be allowed to return to school once all leave of absence protocol has been completed.This will include, at a minimum, written confirmation from a licensed mental health provider that the student is ready to return to school but may also include additional provisions outlined by the Branson Leave Committee, including but not limited to an ongoing treatment plan, additional medical/psychiatric assessment, a reduction in classes or activities, or any other modification as deemed necessary by the Leave Committee If the parent or guardian refuses to arrange for appropriate services for a child under the age of 18 whom we believe is in danger, the school may need to notify Child Protective Services that the child is being neglected D.
In a high risk situation, the parents and guardians will be expected to come to campus and immediately take their child to the Crisis Stabilization Unit at Marin General Hospital, (415) 473 6666. Or, the school will call 911 if that is more appropriate.
Drug andAlcohol Policy
Moderate Risk
Parents/Guardians will sign the Guardian ContactAcknowledgement Form confirming that they were notified of their child’s risk and received referrals to treatment High Risk
Parents or guardians will be asked to come to the school immediately and next-step treatment options will be discussed The family will be given mental health service provider information if they are not already working with a mental health provider
will discuss next steps, as appropriate, with parents or guardians.These steps may include but are not limited to recommending relevant medical or therapeutic referrals.
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occurring off campus at non-Branson events that involve our students and the use of drugs and/or alcohol, the school reserves the right to intervene as needed in the interest of student safety. Violation of these policies will likely result in a case with the Community Honor Board. Such situations could result in a variety of disciplinary responses, which may include but are not limited to mandated treatment or the immediate removal from Branson.Additionally, the school may require students to have an outside professional drug/alcohol assessment and will expect the student to follow any recommendations made from the assessment.
Branson seeks to create a profound sense of belonging in all of its members As such, we are committed to ensuring the safety, comfort, and healthy development of transgender and gender non binary students, while maximizing each student’s social integration and minimizing stigmatization.
Involvement with drugs and alcohol and the misuse of both prescription and over-the-counter medications are possible threats to psychological or physical health.These rules are rooted in the goal of protecting each individual within the community and the community as a whole. No student who seeks assistance from Branson regarding substance abuse will be subject to disciplinary consequences, provided the student is not otherwise in violation of a school rule E.
In order to foster an educational and athletic environment that is safe and free from discrimination for all students, students will be permitted to participate in sex-segrated school programs, activities, and use facilities consistent with their gender identity.
Privacy As recognized by the California Department of Education, “Atransgender or gender nonconforming student may not express their gender identity openly in all contexts, including at home Revealing a student’s gender identity or expression to others may compromise the student’s safety Thus, preserving a student’s privacy is of the utmost importance ” To ensure the safety and well being of the student, school staff shall not disclose any information that may reveal a student’s transgender status to others, including parents or guardians and other school staff, unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure The fact that a student may have selectively disclosed their transgender status to some individuals does not affect the student’s right to maintain the confidentiality of the information with others.
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Transgender and Gender Non-binary Student Policy
Branson believes that every student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronouns that correspond to the student’s gender identity. Students do not need to legally change their name or gender as a prerequisite to being addressed by the name and pronoun that corresponds to their gender identity
Students who identify as transgender or gender non-binary may request an alternate locker room or changing space, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis with the goal of ensuring the student’s safety and comfort while also maximizing the student’s participation. Any student who has a need or desire for increased privacy will be provided with a reasonable alternative changing area such as the use of a private areas (e g a nearby restroom stall with a door, a gender neutral restroom) or with a separate changing schedule (e g using the locker room that corresponds to their gender identity before or after other students)
Names/Pronouns
Students shall have access to the restroom that corresponds to the gender with which they identify If a student prefers, gender neutral bathrooms are available in the following locations: 1 Rand Center at Study Hall 2 Upstairs in the Gym Hallway 3 Upstairs in New House 4 Business Office in Crossways 5 Charlotte King Mills’office in the Library Please check with her before using this bathroom since access is through her office Locker RoomAccessibility
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Official Records Branson maintains a permanent pupil record that includes the student’s legal name and gender Branson will change a student’s permanent pupil record to reflect a change in legal name or gender upon receipt of documentation, such as a court order or an amendment to a state or federally issued identification Even if the student has not provided documentation of legal name or gender change, at a student’s request, Branson will update unofficial school records (e g attendance sheets, school IDs, report cards) to reflect the student’s name and gender marker that is consistent with the student’s gender identity. In situations where school staff or administrators are required by law to use or to report a transgender student’s legal name or gender, such as for purposes of standardized testing, school staff and administrators shall adopt practices to avoid the inadvertent disclosure of such confidential information.
RestroomAccessibility
● The sending of sexually explicit or nude photos by any means
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General Policy
OvernightActivities and Off-Campus Trips
Defined Examples of prohibited harassment may include but are not limited to the following:
Branson strives to be a community in which every individual is treated with respect, courtesy, and sensitivity. It is the policy of the school to provide a learning environment that is free from all forms of discrimination or harassment. The school will not tolerate discrimination or harassment by students, their family members, the School’s employees or contractors or harassment based on an individual’s race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability This policy applies to conduct between Branson students and conduct by members of the Branson community toward Branson students at any time, whether on or off school property and whether or not during school activities Additionally, the school forbids retaliation of any kind against any individual who reports an incident of harassment
● Epithets, derogatory jokes, slurs, or any other verbal behavior that causes disturbance, that is unwelcome, and/or is coercive.
PolicyAgainst Harassment
Harassment
Branson will make every effort to ensure the safety and comfort of all students while participating in overnight activities or on off campus school-sponsored trips. In most cases, students who identify as transgender or gender non-binary will share overnight accommodations with students that share the student’s gender identity asserted at school Branson will work, on a case by case basis, to create overnight environments that ensure student safety, comfort, while maximizing social interaction and equal opportunity for participation F.
● Micro/macroaggressions based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, language, etc.
● Cyberbullying of any kind
Violation of these policies constitutes just and reasonable cause for appropriate disciplinary action Such action will be in accordance with disciplinary policies outlined in this Handbook, in alignment with the Major Rules and Expectations, and may be subject to change as determined by the senior administration.
2 such conduct adversely affects the educational environment including creating an educational environment that is intimidating, hostile, or offensive; and
3. such conduct affects the services, honors, programs, or activities available to any student at the school.
● public display of sexually explicit, offensive or demeaning objects, photographs, or cartoons
In addition to the examples of harassment described above, for the purposes of this policy, sexual harassment is defined to also include:
Student to student interaction: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, written, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature This includes but is not limited to when: 1 such conduct has a negative impact upon the recipient student’s school performance;
● leering or ogling at a person's body
Reporting Harassment
Adult to student interaction: any sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature
● demanding sexual favors, accompanied by promises, hints, or threats concerning one's academic status or opportunities
Adult to Student Harassment
● physical assault, including rape
● sexually stereotyped or sexually charged insults, humor, or verbal abuse
● inappropriate personal questions of a sexual nature
● unnecessary touching in any form
● repeated expressions of sexual or "romantic" interest after being informed that the interest is unwelcome
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 30
● subtle pressure for sexual activity
● sexually explicit or suggestive remarks about a person's body, clothing, or sexual activity
Sexual Harassment Defined
● Unwanted physical conduct and/or threatening behavior
● coerced sexual relations
Procedures
● Visual displays, written communication, or gestures that defame, denigrate or in any way discriminates against an individual or group of individuals
Student to student sexual harassment is not social or courting behavior The overriding factor in student to student sexual harassment is that the behavior is uninvited and unwanted and often an assertion of power. Sexual harassment may include:
The Class Dean or Dean of Student Life will notify the student who made the complaint and their parents or guardians of the disposition of the complaint as appropriate.
Confidentiality Records of all complaint resolution proceedings will be maintained by the Head of School and will be kept confidential except as necessary to investigate and take action on complaints, to provide education about or enforce this policy, or as required by law
The School will lead an immediate investigation and will take corrective action as appropriate, including, but not limited to, possible disciplinary actions against employees of the school The school will advise the student subjected to harassment and the student’s parents/guardians of the disposition of the complaint Student to Student Harassment Harassment between students will not be tolerated Any student who believes that they have been harassed should tell the offending student or students to stop. If a student does not feel comfortable doing this or is unable to do so, they should make their concern known to their advisor, Class Dean, or the Dean of Student Life who will take prompt corrective investigative and disciplinary action.
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 31
Any student or guardian that believes a student has been subject to harassment by any adult member of the school’s community, including employees, contractors, volunteers, trustees or family members of other students, should immediately bring this to the attention of the Class Dean, the Dean of Student Life, or the Head of School
The Branson School prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of students through the cultivation of a supportive and educational environment We want our students to understand how Branson will respond if a student discloses that they have been the victim of sexual abuse If you or another student has been the victim of sexual abuse, we encourage you to consider letting someone at the school know Our aim is to offer support and guidance about ‘next steps,’ answer any questions, and ensure that we are doing everything possible to create a safe environment for all of our students
We know that disclosing such sensitive information can be difficult, so we’ve created the following guide to help explain what happens when a student discloses sexual abuse
Branson’s Protocol for Responding to Suspected SexualAbuse of Branson Students
Disclosing SexualAbuse
● Branson will keep the student’s disclosure as confidential as possible, except as necessary to provide support to the student or to comply with legal duties to report sexual abuse of minors.
Step 1: Disclosing SexualAbuse to Branson
● Students are not obligated to disclose more than they want to the Branson employee and are always allowed to have a friend or family member present with them when disclosing Step 2: Branson’s Response to Disclosure
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 32
● When a Branson employee receives a report of sexual abuse of a Branson student, that employee will help the student find support and resources To do so, the Branson employee may contact the School Counselor, Dean of Student Life and/or the Head of School for assistance.
What is SexualAbuse?
Step 3: Mandated Reporting
While this guide is created with the intent of being as encompassing as possible, each case brings unique circumstances that may necessitate a response that is slightly or altogether different than below. Regardless of the circumstances, however, our goal is to empower and support students who make reports or who are concerned about others and we will do everything we are able to keep the process transparent to all parties involved.
● If a student who is a minor discloses sexual abuse to a Branson employee, the Branson employee will have a duty to call law enforcement or a child protective services agency to report the sexual abuse, because all employees of Branson are “mandated reporters.”
The focus of the following protocol is sexual abuse, which includes sexual assault, attempted sexual assault or sexual exploitation. Branson has separate policies in this Handbook that provide procedures for addressing bullying and harassment by and of students that does not rise to the level of sexual abuse. The Branson School prioritizes the safety and well being of all students and recognizes that sexual misconduct is not limited to heterosexual interactions. In this protocol, we will use the pronoun “they” to avoid heteronormative stereotypes.
● If a student has been subjected to sexual abuse or is aware of sexual abuse of another student, the student may disclose the sexual abuse to an employee of their choice
In addition to following the above protocols, the school will take other steps to address sexual abuse of Branson students where it is reported that other Branson students were responsible for the abuse
● Amandated reporter is required to report suspected abuse of a minor they encounter as part of their job to the appropriate agency when the reporter has sufficient information to reasonably suspect that abuse may have occurred, generally on the same day the reporter receives a report of abuse If more than one mandated reporter at the school is aware of suspected abuse, only one report must be made
● Unless doing so would endanger the welfare of the student(s) or interfere with an agency investigation, Branson will notify parents immediately upon learning that an agency (Child Protective Services, police, etc.) would like to interview or communicate with their child.
● Once a mandated reporter has reported sexual abuse, the agency (and not Branson) will determine the agency that should conduct an investigation If an agency conducts an investigation, a representative of the agency may want to speak directly to the student(s) involved This can happen at school, at the student’s home, or at the agency location If the agency interviews a student on campus, the student is allowed to have a Branson employee or family member present for support
Step 4:Action Within Branson for SexualAbuse involving other Branson Students
● If a student reports that another Branson student was involved in the sexual abuse, the school will address the other student’s conduct by following its disciplinary policies, except that the matter will not be referred to the Community Honor Board The school will notify parents of all students involved, unless doing so would endanger the welfare of a student or interfere with an active agency investigation
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 33
● In some cases, a student may want to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement themselves Branson will support a student in doing so, and if the student prefers, a Branson employee may be present when the student reports
● Under California law, mandated reports are confidential, so Branson may not be able to share information about the report or whether a report has been filed, even to the student’s family. In some cases, the investigating agency does not want information about the report disclosed because that may interfere with its ability to conduct an investigation
● The school is committed to providing support to its students and will encourage students and families to seek out counseling options either through the school counselor or outside of Branson options
As mandated reporters, Branson employees are required to report suspected neglect or abuse of a minor, including sexual abuse.
Included in this definition are initiation and hazing rites, for they tend to be inherently humiliating, exclusive and victimizing and are therefore forbidden Because such behavior is diametrically opposed to Branson’s values, students are not permitted to participate in, orchestrate, encourage, or support such activities, even if the recipients are willing to participate Failure to follow these rules will result in disciplinary action
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 34
● In order to ensure that the learning environment remains safe for students involved while an agency or internal investigation is pending, Branson may take interim measures to ensure that the learning environment is not impacted Interim measures may include, but are not limited to, adjusting students’course schedule or activities to minimize their contact with each other
Threatening statements, aggressive behavior, belittling comments, and insults based on identity have no place in a community based on mutual respect
As of January 1, 2018, California law requires schools to share their student/employee interaction policy in their employee handbooks, on their school websites, and in writing to all parents at the beginning of the school year The following is the policy published in Branson’s employee handbook and online at branson org Parents or students who have a concern as to an employee’s compliance with this policy should report the concern to the Head of School or the Chair of the Board of Trustees
Bullying is defined as recurring negative or aggressive behaviors consciously initiated by one or more students in order to intimidate, belittle, or threaten another student or group of students physically or psychologically. Negative behaviors may include but are not limited to: physical, verbal, or cyber actions. Social media activity may constitute or contribute to bullying. Students who access social network sites from any location, on or off campus, should act responsibly and show respect for the rights and feelings of others Hurtful, libelous, demeaning, or derogatory gossip, insults, harassment, threats, pictures or comments about others, especially students, faculty, staff and the school, are strictly prohibited
Branson prohibits students from engaging in any bullying behavior toward other students
H. Boundary Policy for Faculty and Staff
● If law enforcement or child protective services is investigating the sexual abuse the school may need to defer taking action while the agency investigation is pending in order to avoid interfering with the agency investigation or the rights of the students involved.
G. Bullying
Note, this boundary policy applies to conduct toward current students, applicants for admission, and any former students under the age of 21.
All employees are expected to adhere to the following guidelines and practices:
● Avoid communications with others containing inappropriate information if there is the likelihood that the receiving party will share it with a student; for example, sending content to a former student who is likely to share it with a current student.
● Avoid giving gifts to an individual student that are of a personal or intimate nature
● Avoid telephone calls or text conversations with individual students and instead use the school’s email and communication systems Only use group text if it is necessary for student safety while off campus for a class or other school sponsored activity. If texting an individual student is necessary make sure to include another adult in the messaging.
The school encourages close but appropriate relationships between students and school faculty and staff.At the same time, it is important that each employee’s conduct is at all times professional. In order to best serve the well-being of the school’s students and to avoid confusing communications and to prevent sexual misconduct, the school requires all employees and other adults in the school’s community to maintain appropriate boundaries between themselves and students to ensure that they avoid even the perception of inappropriate conduct or favoritism Some activities may seem innocent from an employee’s perspective but can be perceived as flirtation or sexual insinuation from the perspective of a student or parent
● Avoid sharing or inquiring about overly personal details of a student's private relationships
● One on one meetings with students on campus should happen in public or visible places If you find yourself alone in a space with a student, make sure that the space is visible to the public or that the door is open. Otherwise, move to a more public location. If a space with adequate visibility is not available, find another adult to be present. When a student’s privacy needs to be preserved and no appropriate location is available, consider delaying the meeting.
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 35
● Respect a student’s right not to be touched or looked at in ways that make them feel uncomfortable
● When using a social media site, employees may not include current students or former students under the age of 21 as “friends,” “followers,” or any other similar terminology used by various sites Also be aware of inappropriate use of social media about students
● Do not have unnecessary physical contact with a student in either public or private situations This includes touching students in areas that would normally be covered by a bathing suit Always defer to a side shoulder hug if a hug is appropriate
● Avoid sending communications to students of a personal nature or not about school activities.
● Do not drive alone with a student except in emergency situations.The employee must inform the student’s parents and the employee’s supervisor within a reasonable time of such a circumstance.
● Intentionally being alone with a student off campus without parent and supervisor knowledge or permission is prohibited.This includes meeting with individual students at your home, over coffee, socially or otherwise.
● Do not discuss an employee’s own personal troubles or intimate issues with a student
● As with anyone in the school community, do not share or participate in sexually inappropriate or culturally insensitive comments, stories, or jokes with students
● Avoid excessive attention toward a particular student or group of students.
● Keep parents and supervisor informed when a significant issue develops about a student. School employees have an obligation to report to the Head of School any behavior they deem inappropriate between an adult employee and a student.The school has the right and responsibility to investigate adult compliance with this boundary policy even if no report has been made.
● Do not become involved with a student so that a reasonable person may suspect inappropriate behavior
Duty to Report
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 36
The School will not retaliate against anyone who reports conduct that may violate this boundary policy An employee who retaliates against an individual who makes a report under this policy will be subject to discipline
● Avoid contact with a student away from school for activities not related to school without parent and supervisor knowledge and permission This includes babysitting
Students and parents who have concerns about boundaries between Branson employees and students should contact the Head of School or the Chair of the Board ofTrustees
● Do not seek emotional involvement with a student for an employee’s benefit
If an employee finds themselves in a difficult situation related to boundaries, the employee should ask for advice from a supervisor or the Head of School When an employee becomes aware of another employee crossing appropriate boundaries with a student, the employee must report the matter to the Head of School as soon as possible. If the Head of School is not available, contact the counselor or the appropriate Class Dean. In some circumstances, employees will also have the duty to report such conduct in accordance with mandated reporter requirements.
● Advisory activities are only to take place during the school day.Advisors may take students off campus for an advisory lunch but must notify their supervisor and parents in advance
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK,
Branson’s academic program is designed to give students a well rounded and rigorous training in skills and habits of mind that will be valuable for them in college and throughout their lives A. Requirements for Graduation
VI. ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Graduation Requirements at a Glance Art 6 units (2 years) English 12 units (4 years) History 9 units (3 years) Language 9 units (3 years) of one language or 6 units (2 years) of two different languages (12 units total) Mathematics 9 units (3 years) with completion ofAlgebra II Science 9 units (3 years) Physical Education 4 units (1 term/season each year fall, winter or spring) Community Engagement 15 hours in the 9th grade, 25 hours in each of the 10th-12th grades 1 For incoming ninth grade students (Class of 2026) See below for CE requirements for current 10th 12th grade students. 2022-23
37
In order to graduate from Branson, students must complete a minimum of sixty one (61) units of academic credit and ninety (90) hours of community engagement work . Unless otherwise1 indicated, year long courses receive 3 units of credit and semester long courses receive 1.5 units of credit. Minimum Course Load Each student must be enrolled in at least five Branson academic courses each term.ABranson course is defined as a course offered in the Branson Curriculum Guide 2022 23, including all arts courses For a sixth course, students may take a regular Branson course, a course offered through the BayArea BlendEd Consortium, or some other rigorous semester or year long course offered outside the school and approved by the Director of Studies In order to remain competitive in college admissions, the school recommends that students carry a load of six courses at all times
Physical Education: 4 units. Students must complete at least one term of Physical Education each year.This can be done by playing on a school-sponsored team or by completing an AlternateActivity Program.AllAlternateActivity Programs must be school approved and include a minimum of 36 hours of physical activity.
History: 9 units.All students take Modern World History in the ninth grade, United States History in the tenth grade, and then two semester long electives in History over the course of the eleventh and twelfth grade years. Not all history courses fulfill this requirement; please consult the curriculum guide. Language: 9 units of one language or 6 units in each of two languages (12 units total).The Language Department strongly encourages students to take at least three years of one language Mathematics: 9 units including completion ofAlgebra II The core curriculum of the Mathematics program comprises the sequenceAlgebra I, Geometry,Algebra II, Precalculus and Calculus Students enter the program in the course that best suits their ability and background Regardless of where they begin, all students must complete at least three years of math and complete all courses throughAlgebra II
All students take English I in the ninth grade, English II in the tenth grade, and are required to take one elective in English during each semester of the eleventh and twelfth grade years
Immersives 1 unit (a two week spring term course in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12)
Art: 6 units Students are encouraged to complete the requirement inArt during their freshman and sophomore years
Human Development: 2 units The Human Development program teaches interpersonal and self management skills needed to navigate a diverse and changing world, and make informed decisions that benefit themselves and others By providing accurate and relevant information in
Human Development 1 unit (1 course in the 9th grade year that meets weekly, and 1 course in the 10th grade year that meets weekly) College and Community 1 unit (Grades 11 12, with a weekly meeting schedule similar to Human development)
Graduation Requirements by Department
Science: 9 units All students take Physics I or Physics I Honors in the ninth grade, Chemistry or Chemistry Honors in the tenth grade, and Biology or Biology Honors in the eleventh grade.
English: 12 units
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Bay Area BlendEd Consortium: The BayArea BlendEd Consortium is an alliance of seven BayArea independent schools in which each school offers selected courses that students from any member school can take The Consortium includesTheAthenian School,The College Preparatory School, Lick Wilmerding High School, MarinAcademy,The Urban School, San Francisco University High School, and Branson All BlendEd courses mix online instruction and face to face meeting time In addition, all BlendEd courses are UC approved and considered regular Branson courses Consequently, all grades received in BlendEd courses will appear on the student’s transcript and be included in Branson’s GPAcalculations Promotion Promotion to the next grade level is not automatic. Students must satisfactorily complete all academic, physical education and community engagement requirements each year and abide by the Rules of Community Behavior and Conduct in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Failure to complete any of these requirements will typically result in assigned summer work and a formal plan for completing outstanding requirements. Students will not be eligible to begin the next school year until all requirements from the prior year are met. Graduation If a student has not completed all of the Requirements for Graduation, before the arrival of Graduation Day they will receive a Certificate ofAttendance at graduation, and they will be
a nonjudgmental, socially-sensitive way, we create safe spaces to have uncomfortable conversations about real-life situations. All students takeThe Developing Mind in the ninth grade and Human Sexuality in the tenth grade.
College and Community: In the 11-12 grades, students take a year of civic leadership and a year of college counseling Each course meets once a week, is graded pass/fail, and earns ½ a unit of credit Immersives: 4 units The Immersives Program offers students and teachers the chance to explore interdisciplinary, collaborative work one subject at a time for two weeks at the end of the school year Students take one class, graded on a pass/fail basis, in a 9th 12th grade cohort, co led by two faculty and staff members and exploring a specific field of study
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Community Engagement: 90 hours Students must complete 5 Core and 10 Support hours in the ninth grade, and 15 Core and 10 Support hours in each of the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. School service hours can fulfill ten Support hours for ninth graders and up to five Support hours for tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders. Please refer to the Community Engagement section of this handbook for information about deadlines, available programs, and instructions for receiving credit for hours completed.
Students are not given grades for their Community Engagement hours For academic classes, a grade of D is considered a passing mark, but it is not necessarily sufficient for promotion Please consult the Branson Curriculum Guide for details about prerequisites for promotion
The symbols used in grading are as follows: “A” The student’s work embodies a creative spirit, exhibits command of the content, and proficient communication of the ideas discussed.. “B” The student’s work exhibits an understanding of the course content and clear communication of the ideas discussed.
B. Grades
Students receive letter grades on a scale ofAto F for work completed in all academic classes, and they receive grades of P(ass) or F(ail) for their Physical Education, Human Development, College and Community, and Immersive requirements
Teachers are experts in assessing the quality of student work in the contexts of the class, the discipline, the school, the department, and the teacher’s experience, and a teacher’s assessment of student work is authoritative. While we are always happy to discuss a student’s development, or to correct a computational or clerical error, we will not negotiate grades. It is, of course, the responsibility of faculty members to explain both the school’s standards and their own policies and decisions Discussing the teacher’s evaluation of a student’s work is another opportunity for the student to learn Those conversations are very different from arguments about the number of points awarded or whether a paper deserves anA rather than a B+ Again, we are always happy to help students learn the difference between a growth and fixed mindset in relation to their performance
expected to meet with their Class Dean and the Director of Studies to make a plan and timeline for completing all outstanding requirements.
“C” The student’s work exhibits inconsistent understanding of the content and partial communication of the ideas discussed “D” The student’s work reveals a problematic understanding of the content and significant difficulty communicating of the ideas discussed “F”The student’s work exhibits no understanding of the content and a failure to communicate the ideas discussed An “F” grade at Branson is also usually the result of a significant amount of missing or unfinished work Rarely do students who complete all work in a course receive an “F.”
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Branson Grading Scale Below is a summary of the scale used at Branson to convert grade percentages into corresponding letter grades. Letter Grade % is GreaterThan or EqualTo % is LessThan A+ At teacher’s discretion (see below) At teacher’s discretion (see below) A 92 100 A 88 92 B+ 84 88 B 80 84 B 77 80 C+ 74 77 C 70 74 C 67 70 D 60 67 F 0 60
Explaining the “A+” : The A+ grade may be given at the discretion of the teacher for outstanding work that demonstrates independent thought, critical reflection, extraordinary classroom presence, and mastery of the subject To receive an A+ a student must demonstrate complete command of the subject and considerable originality Such performance exceeds the highest expectations, is exceptionally well done and presented, and done without errors/mistakes The A+ cannot be achieved with extra credit or as a result of make up work/assessment Other Grades In addition to the letter grades shown above, Branson supports several other grades and grade indicators. Inc. - Incomplete If the end of a grading period arrives and a student has not been able to finish all of the work for a course due to illness, emergency or some other circumstance, the teacher may elect to give the student a grade of Incomplete (Inc ) If a teacher elects to give a grade of Incomplete, the
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teacher will also work with the student to create a plan and deadlines for completing any outstanding work. If the student does not meet that deadline, they will not receive credit for any work not completed and their grade will be determined accordingly.Though deadlines may vary, an Incomplete grade may not extend past the end of the next grading period.Adjustments may be made if the Incomplete is in connection with a leave of absence Agrade of Inc is temporary, and must be resolved to a letter grade once the student has either turned in or failed to turn in outstanding assignments IP In Progress It sometimes happens that a student is in a class at the end of a marking period and the teacher feels that the student simply does not have enough assignments in their record to give them a meaningful grade This commonly occurs when a student switches from an honors math class to a regular math class late in the marking period and has not been present for many assessments, or when a student goes on a leave or has an extended absence and has been excused from a number of assignments. In such cases, it will be possible to calculate a grade in the future as more work is turned in, so a grade calculation is “in progress,” but there is no way to give the student a grade for that particular marking period.Their report card will reflect an IP instead. P - Passing In rare cases, a student may take an academic course on a pass/fail basis rather than receiving a letter grade (See “Taking a Course for a Grade of Pass or Fail” below for guidelines) In such cases, a Pindicates that the student passed the course and successfully completed all of the course requirements Note that all Human Development, Immersive, and Physical Education requirements are graded on a pass/fail basis W/P Withdraw/Passing In very rare circumstances a student may choose to drop a course after the end of the add drop period even though they are passing the class. In such cases, their transcript will show a W/Pto indicate that the student withdrew from the course and had a passing grade at the time of the withdrawal. W - Withdraw In cases where a student has a failing grade in a course and decides to withdraw from it after the end of the add drop period, their transcript will show a W to indicate that the student had a failing grade at the time of the withdrawal
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● No proficient objectives: D range
Progress reports are sent home four times a year: in the middle and at the end of each semester. Written comments for each student are included with the mid semester grades.
Student Progress Reports
Rather than offering students a traditional numerical grade on assessments, OBG utilizes learning objectives and rubrics so that students have a clear map of their performance on an assessment Arubric is an evaluation guide that uses performance criteria and a rating scale to give students feedback on their work OBG offers a more equitable 9th grade experience for all of our students, and helps students be less outcome-focused and more process-focused from the start of their high school careers.
● Mostly proficient objectives (roughly 80% proficient and greater):Arange
● Many proficient objectives (roughly 50% proficient and greater): B range
Every OBG course is guided by a series of learning objectives (usually around 20): some objectives are yearlong and aspirational, some more concrete and specific.These objectives are evaluated on a four-level verbal scale (again, there are no numbers in OBG): beginning, developing, proficient, advanced.The goal for every student is to reach the “proficient” level of every objective by the end of the year: the advanced level allows motivated students to work beyond the course’s expectations Students receive multiple reassessment opportunities for every objective In the second semester, the calculations to a letter grade follow this rough guideline:
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Objectives-Based Grading (OBG) In 9th grade core classes, (Dance I, MusicAnd Performance, BeginningActing, Survey Of VisualArts, English I, Modern World History, Mandarin I, Spanish I,Algebra I, and Physics I) students receive OBG style feedback in the first semester, and then both OBG feedback and traditional grades in the second semester OBG uses language instead of numbers to articulate student performance
These categories are deliberately broad so that individual teachers have the ability to ensure that students receive the most accurate and appropriate grade for their work in the course while also agreeing across disciplines to a unifying standard Grade PointAverages (GPA’s) GPA’s for students appear on the Branson transcript and are computed using a standard unweighted averaging of the letter grades a student has received in their Branson academic
● Mostly developing in objectives (fewer than 50% proficient and lower): C range
classes (includingArt) during their time at Branson. Branson does not include in the GPA calculation grades received for coursework completed at other institutions.Also, Branson does not rank students. system for computing a grade point average (GPA) utilizes the following values for each letter grade: A+/A 0.0
C. Academic Intervention
Taking a Course for a Grade of Pass or Fail
4 0 A 3.7 B+ 3.3 B 3.0 B 2 7 C+ 2.3 C 2.0 C 1 7 D 1.0 F
Academic Intervention Plans
Students taking a course for credit in excess of the graduation requirements may request to receive a grade of pass or fail for the class in lieu of a letter grade The student must submit a written petition to the Director of Studies during the first two weeks of a term long class or before the first narrative report for year long classes, and the petition must be approved by the Department Chairs Committee Petitions submitted after these deadlines will not be considered
Students are discouraged from pursuing this option. Transcripts Both unofficial and official transcripts of a student’s academic record can be produced at any time.Transcript request forms are available on Blackbaud/ MyBranson. Questions regarding transcripts should be directed to theAssistant Director of Studies - Registrar.
If a student’s academic performance begins to show a significant downward trend, or if a student receives 2 or more grades of C or below in any 6-week marking period, or a single grade of D or below in any 6-week period, or if a Class Dean becomes concerned about a student’s academic performance, the Class Dean will notify the Director of Studies, who may place the student on anAcademic Intervention Plan.The Director of Studies, in consultation
The
While we hope that every student has a positive academic experience during their time at Branson, we recognize that times can arise when a student needs additional academic support Even more rarely, it becomes necessary to review whether a student should continue their studies at Branson, and even to encourage or require that they pursue their studies elsewhere
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 44
Branson’s registration process begins in March, when the Curriculum Guide for the coming school year is released and students have approximately a month to identify the courses they would like to take the following year Certain course selections require signatures by the student’s current teacher, Class Dean and/or the Director of Studies, and all course selections must be approved by the student’s advisor and parents/guardians Once students submit their
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 45
D. Course Selection and Registration Registration Process and Timeline
Academic Review When a student onAcademic Probation reaches the end of the probationary period and they have not successfully met the terms of theirAcademic Probation Plan, the Director of Studies may initiate anAcademic Review AnAcademic Review is a formal assessment of whether a student should continue to be enrolled at Branson TheAcademic Review will be led by the Director of Studies, and will include consultation with the student’s advisor, their Class Dean, the Dean of Student Life, the School Counselor, and the Head of School ThoughAcademic Review may result in an extension of probation and/or a revisedAcademic Probation Plan, in most instances the student will be asked to leave the school Though individual circumstances will vary, families should be aware that the school may ask a student underAcademic Review to withdraw from the school at any time
with the Class Dean and others as needed, will configure the plan to provide optimal support for the student to succeed to their best ability.The Director of Studies will also determine the duration of the plan. Once the plan is created, a meeting will be scheduled with the family to discuss the plan and make sure everyone understands its provisions. The goal for these plans is always to co-create an individualized approach and plan that helps the student improve Academic Probation If it becomes apparent that anAcademic Intervention Plan is not leading to improved performance for a student, or if concerns about a student’s academic performance continue or increase, the Director of Studies, in consultation with the Class Dean, may place the student on Academic Probation Astudent onAcademic Probation will be placed on anAcademic Probation Plan that includes specific improvements the student must make and the duration of the probationary period over which those improvements must be made Once theAcademic Probation Plan is created, a meeting will be scheduled with the family to discuss the plan and make sure everyone understands its provisions. When a student fulfills the requirements of their Academic Probation Plan they will be taken offAcademic Probation, but anAcademic Intervention Plan may be kept in place to help provide continued support.
Although every effort is made to give students all of the courses that they request, it is not always possible to offer as many sections of a course as needed to meet demand In such cases preference will be given to rising seniors In addition, it often happens that two desired courses are scheduled to meet at the same time, in which case students must make choices, sometimes difficult, about which courses to take Please note that Branson does not register students according to their preference for teacher Taking Eight Classes The Branson schedule has eight blocks, which means that during any given semester, it is possible for a student to take eight classes (including HD / College and Community). Such a course load can be extremely demanding, however, and the school discourages this choice.
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Should a student need to add or drop a class in a particular subject area, the student should fill out a “Schedule Change Request Form” and gather the required signatures Students have a two week period at the beginning of the school year for year long classes, and a two week period at the beginning of each semester for semester long classes, during which they may drop a class and have no record of the class appear on the transcript After this grace period, a W/P(withdraw/passing) or a W (withdraw) will appear on the transcript Students have the right to petition theAcademic Council to have a W/Premoved from their transcript Policy for Switching Math Courses Branson offers a wide range of Mathematics courses, including honors and non-honors classes, and encourages all students to challenge themselves at the highest level. Occasionally, after the school year is underway, it becomes clear that a particular student’s needs will be best served by a different level of the math course they are taking, and it is necessary to make a change.
Students who would like to take eight classes must petition the Director of Studies for permission, who has the right to deny the request after conferring with the student’s teachers, advisor, class dean, and family, as well as the department chairs group.
Managing Scheduling Conflicts
course requests, Branson creates a master schedule that best accommodates everyone’s preferences and then creates schedules for individual students. Students wishing to double up in a subject must fill out the Petition to Double Up form.
Astudent may switch levels in their math course up until the end of the first marking period of the fall semester without penalty All grades from the previous course will be discarded, and the student will receive a single year end grade for the new course Students are encouraged to
Add/Drop Policy
Homework Policy As a general guideline, teachers assign 30 minutes of homework per class meeting in ninth grade courses and 40 minutes per class meeting in sophomore, junior and senior level courses. APcourses, however, may require more time of students in order to prepare them for theAP examination in May. If a student regularly requires more time to complete their homework than these general guidelines suggest, the student should see the teacher of the course to discuss support and learning strategies Tests, Quizzes and MajorAssignments
When a religious holiday falls midweek, teachers will not assign homework or plan major assessments for the next day. Extended Time Testing Branson is happy to support fair and reasonable accommodations for students with documented learning differences. Frequently, such accommodations include giving students extra time on assessments At the beginning of each academic year the Rand Center Coordinator will inform teachers about students with documented learning differences, as well as advise and collaborate with teachers on appropriate accommodations for those students If a student wishes to take advantage of an extra time accommodation, it is their responsibility to make arrangements with the Rand Center and the classroom teacher at least 24 business hours
The following policies outline what students can expect in terms of homework and assessments
Teachers give tests, quizzes, and major assignments at their discretion, and they are expected to give students adequate notice and information regarding subject matter and format All scheduled tests, projects, essays, term papers, performances, and field trips will appear on a course’s Blackbaud page As a rule, no more than two major assessments can be scheduled for any student on one day In the event that a student has more than two major assessments in one day, the student should speak with the teachers and reschedule one of the assessments
Homework andAssessments
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consult their teacher right away if they are considering a switch, and to work closely with their teacher to determine whether and when a switch should take place. After the end of the first marking period of the fall semester, a student may not switch levels in a math course without conferring with the teacher, the department chair, and the Director of Studies E.
In general, any student without documented learning differences may request to have extra time to complete a test. It is the student’s responsibility to make such a request to the teacher at least 24 business hours before the test The decision to grant the request is solely up to the teacher, and only extends to that particular test F. Tutoring
Occasionally students need extra academic support
before the test. Extended time testing may never conflict with another class.
The student’s first course of action should always be to meet with the teacher of the course and to set up a regular meeting schedule if sustained support is needed. If a student needs additional support, parents/guardians may ask department chairs or the Director of Studies to recommend tutors. When a family provides additional support for a student, the Branson Policy for ReceivingAcademic Support applies (see below). It is not appropriate for Branson faculty to be compensated for tutoring Branson students during the school year.
Branson recognizes that access to additional, individual attention from tutors, peers, parents/guardians, siblings and others outside the Branson classroom can help some students attain a more thorough mastery of the course material. Such additional instruction is most effective when all involved understand each other’s expectations. Students are expected to tell teachers when they are working with an outside tutor, and communication between the teacher and tutor can be very effective. Importantly, a tutor’s assistance may not be so significant that it results in a student turning in work that is not their own.That will constitute a violation of the Honor Code, and in those instances, we will ask the students to find someone else to assist them
On-Campus Tutoring
Branson Policy for ReceivingAcademic Support
As a convenience, students may schedule to meet with a tutor in the Branson Library (subject to Branson’s guidelines for on campus visitors) All tutors must be registered on an annual basis and complete a background check in order to tutor on campus, and they must inform the school of each student they tutor Any tutor wishing to tutor on campus who has not already been registered should contact the Director of Studies in order to complete the registration process
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Note that courses taken through the BayArea BlendEd Consortium, as well as certain semester or year long equivalent courses offered through the Branson Summer Session, are considered regular Branson courses As such, these courses will appear on the Branson transcript and grades received in them will be included in the student’s GPAcalculation Independent Study Occasionally a student may wish to pursue an independent study project in subject matter that is not covered by an existing Branson course The student should begin by identifying a teacher who will serve as their supervisor for their independent study project, and then, in consultation with that supervisor and the Director of Studies, develop a formal written proposal for the independent study that includes a syllabus outlining work to be done and a timeline for completing that work.The student must submit their proposal to the Director of Studies for approval. Note that independent study projects may be graded on a pass/fail basis.
● SchoolYearAbroad: Italy, France, Spain and China
● St. Stephen’s School (Rome, Italy) 2022-23 49
● The Community School (Sun Valley, Idaho)
● The International School of Florence (Florence, Italy)
G. Coursework Outside of Branson’s Curriculum Offerings
● The Island School (The Bahamas)
● The School for Ethics and Global Leadership (Washington, D C )
● CityTerm (NewYork City)
In general, coursework completed at outside institutions does not count toward Branson graduation requirements, is not included in GPAcalculations, and does not appear on the Branson transcript. However, students are welcome to submit copies of transcripts received from other institutions for attachment to their Branson transcript.All such transcripts should be submitted to theAssistant Director of Studies - Registrar.
● TheAmerican School in London
● The Mountain School (Vershire, Vermont)
● Sugar BowlAcademy (Norden, CA)
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK,
StudyAway Programs To support our students’desire to study other cultures and languages, or to pursue specialized study or athletic training not available at Branson, we collaborate with institutions that offer semester and year long study away programs Families interested in pursuing these opportunities should contact the Director of Studies In recent years, Branson students have enrolled in the following programs:
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Deadlines Deadlines for completion of CE hours will be determined and communicated by the Director of Community Engagement Missed Deadlines and Requirements
Students who miss the mid-year deadline will be required to meet with their advisor and the Director of Community Engagement and form a plan to fulfill the required hours by the final deadline. Parents will be notified in writing. Students who do not complete their Community Engagement requirements by the final deadline are not promoted to the next grade level, and the Director of Community Engagement will require a summer plan to fulfill the required hours as well as a meeting with the student and parents The Director of Studies will oversee the completion of these plans Students will not be able to pick up their final course schedule for the next school year until the hours are completed
For the upcoming 2022 2023 requirements, 9th grade students must complete five Core and ten Support hours, and 10th 12th grade students must complete fifteen Core and ten Support hours this year For Core hours, students work directly with people in need; for Support hours, students indirectly help those in need School service hours can fulfill ten (10) Support hours for 9th graders and up to five (5) Support hours for 10 12th graders All School service is counted as support Student appeals are adjudicated by the Community Engagement Coordinators and approved by the Director of Community Engagement For a complete review of the department and its programs, please visit the school website. Summer Hours Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to work on a project or with an organization during the summer.These experiences can count towards their requirement for the upcoming school year.
Incoming students (freshmen or transfers) will participate in an orientation in the fall to introduce and familiarize themselves with the Community Engagement programs and offerings They may not apply summer hours to their yearly graduation requirement
H. Community Engagement Community Engagement Graduation Requirement
● Is not done for compensation (school credit, monetary or other)
For the CE hours to be accepted, the student must submit in writing a paragraph long description of the experience, along with the electronic timecard.The Director of Community Engagement shall review and meet with the student as necessary. When students participate in study abroad programs (like SYA, CityTerm, orThe Island School), the community engagement yearly requirement changes according to the nature of the program. If it is a full year program, the student does not need to complete any community engagement. If the student chooses to participate in term or semester long programs, their graduation requirement will be prorated according to the amount of time spent off campus
Seniors must complete Community Engagement hours by a different deadline, to be communicated by the Director of Community Engagement, each spring. Students who do not complete the requirement on time will meet with the Director of Community Engagement, Class Dean, their advisor, and their parents.The Director of Community Engagement and the Class Dean will create a formal plan of completion that must be completed prior to graduation
School-SponsoredTravel
Students are offered many opportunities to enjoy the varied recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities of the BayArea and beyond Some field trips are class specific and some are open to the entire community For any trip, the faculty and staff organizers will follow Branson’s official protocol for off campus travel, and students must have emergency information on file and complete the appropriate forms in order to participate. In addition, all school rules and expectations apply to students for the duration of the trip.
Teachers will announce course-specific trips during class and provide students with details and permission slips Students must obtain permission from their parents to participate Students also must obtain permission, at least one week in advance, from any teacher whose class they will miss because of the field trip Note that the school reserves the right to deny participation in a field trip to any student for whom it feels missing class would not be in their best interest
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Community Engagement done abroad (during the school year or during vacations) is accepted when it meets the following criteria: ● Is core or support ● Can be verified by a supervisor over email
Overseas Community Engagement and StudyAbroad Programs
Students are responsible for making up any work they miss because of a field trip
I.
Class-Specific Field Trips
J. StandardizedTesting
Branson students take a limited amount of standardized testing during their time at the school PSAT To give students practice with standardized tests, the school orders and proctors the PSAT/NMSQT(Preliminary ScholasticAptitudeTest/National Merit Scholarship QualifyingTest) for all sophomores and juniors each October AP(Advanced Placement) Examination Advanced Placement (AP) is a program created by the College Board and offers college level curricula and examinations to high school students. Branson offers a variety ofAdvancement Placement courses.AllAdvanced Placement courses culminate with students taking a national examination in May that is developed and scored by the College Board.
All students enrolled inAdvanced Placement courses will automatically be signed up to take the APexamination in May, and, apart from some specific exemptions, they must take thatAP examination in order to maintain theAPdesignation for that course on their Branson transcript
Exceptions to this requirement are granted on a case by case basis, and typically involve students who go on a medical leave or do a study away program in a location where they are unable to take theAPexam Students also have the option of takingAPexaminations even though they are not taking anAP course or the course they are taking at Branson is not designated as anAPcourse (common examples areAPComputer ScienceAandAPUS History) Students who would like to take an APexamination on their own should inform their teacher and the College Counseling office.
Astudent taking anAPexam may excuse themself from classes the day of the exam.The student is still responsible for the assigned work and must make arrangements in advance with the teachers of classes they will miss.The student must also notify theAdministrativeAssistant andAttendance Coordinator in the lobby of Richardson Hall that they will miss their classes before 8 am on the day of the exam. Students should be aware that colleges and universities establish their own policies on whether they award college credit forAPtest results and/or whether they use the results to place students in advanced courses APexamination scores are reported to students in July Questions about theAPshould be directed to College Counseling
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SAT /ACT Except in rare circumstances, Branson does not order or administer the SATorACTfor Branson students, nor does Branson guarantee spaces at authorized test sites. Registration for these tests is the responsibility of students and their families Questions should be directed to College Counseling Branson’s code number for registration and reporting purposes is 052695 BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 53
6 Provide ongoing academic support for students with documented learning differences
4. Proctor school tests for students who qualify, based on documented learning differences and other physical or mental health impairments for extended time or quiet test location accommodations
STUDENTSUPPORT
Both advisors and Class Deans are available to parents as well, to discuss concerns and answer questions as needed
1. Work on a one on one basis with students to help them with organization, self advocacy and general study skills.
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In keeping with the school’s mission and values, Branson students have access to a variety of resources on campus that can help them get the most out of their time in our community. Each student has an advisor, whose primary role is to advocate for that student and support and guide their academic and personal growth. In addition, the Class Dean can serve as an extra source of support for individual students and also determines and implements activities and initiatives that encourage the holistic development of students, both in and out of the classroom environment. The Class Dean also serves as an important conduit of communication between students, parents, teachers, and administrators
2. Help identify students who are candidates for diagnostic testing for learning differences.
5 Prepare and submit applications for standardized testing for students with diagnosed learning differences (and current documentation) and other physical or mental health impairments
TheAllen Rand Learning Center is Branson’s learning center, and was established to promote, support and enhance effective study skills necessary for academic success. Below is a summary of services provided by the Rand Center.
VII.
The Rand Center does not perform diagnostic testing for learning differences but will be happy to provide references for families who would like to pursue such testing Families who already have the results of diagnostic testing are encouraged to share those results with the Rand Center. Families who are considering having diagnostic testing done are encouraged to contact the Rand Center for guidance and support. In general, the Rand Center will require a supporting (DSM-5) diagnosis in order to grant accommodations.
A.TheAllen Rand Learning Center
3. Develop learning support plans for students with documented learning differences.
Typically, the library is staffed from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday throughThursday, and 7:30 am to 4:30 pm on Friday
The counseling office is open 5 days a week and is a comfortable, safe, and inviting environment for students to talk about issues affecting them at school and elsewhere. Students may drop in or make an appointment via email. The counseling sessions are confidential unless the student presents a danger to self or others, or child abuse/neglect is suspected, or suicidal ideation has been expressed, or sexual assault has been reported.The counselor is also required to report to the Dean of Student Life instances where a violation of Branson’s Honor Code possibly occurred. Confidentiality can also be waived in other circumstances, such as, but not limited to requests made by the school to speak to an outside therapist (in writing) or by the student to share relevant information to other Branson adults in support of their well being
The School Counselor also plays a role in assessment of individual and collective student mental health If a student requires long term counseling services, the School Counselor, in conjunction with the Dean of Student Life will create a formal plan for continued treatment Referral to additional services may be recommended or required Parents will be contacted by the counselor or appropriate administrator to discuss students’needs and to disclose any of the above stated concerns
B. Counseling Services
Students with documented learning differences are eligible to receive accommodations (e.g. 50% extended time, quiet testing location, etc.) but not program modifications (e.g. shortened homework assignments, fewer assignments, etc.)
Branson’s library has a collection of over 12,000 books, scripts, reserve textbooks, DVDs, magazines and newspapers, supplemented by access to dozens of online databases and electronic reference books The librarians are happy to assist students in locating a book or resources for class use, using online databases, or seeking a suggestion for leisure reading Library Hours
The Branson School offers counseling by a licensed marriage and family therapist to assess students’needs and to provide support Additionally, the school counselor serves as a vital member of the Deans’Group and remains deeply connected to the holistic life of students at the school
C.The Brenda Brown Library
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Students are encouraged to be thoughtful of fellow students and use library materials promptly; then return them for others' use If a student loses any library material, they will be expected to pay for it Technology in the Library
1 Enter both first and last names on the book card Put the date in the date column
The section on financial aid at the end of this document details this commitment to ensure no Branson student is at a technological disadvantage
The library is a place for research and study Group work in the Main Reading Room is encouraged, if students are respectful of others studying nearby Study carrels are available on the Quiet Porch for solitary, silent studying To protect books, computers and furniture, no food or open containers are allowed in the library
Any and all use of Branson technology systems or platforms must adhere to the tenets of the Acceptable Use Policy. BringYour Own Device (BYOD) Program At Branson, we believe that a student’s own device is the best device to facilitate learning, which led us to adopt a BYOD (BringYour Own Device) program The details of the program are listed here and will ensure all students have access to technology appropriate to the academic and co curricular requirements at Branson Foremost on our minds is a commitment to digital equity
Students are permitted to check out books from the library collection.
2 Hand the card to one of the librarians
4 Textbooks and books reserved for class projects are for in library use only
The library has a number of desktop computers and a supervised multi-function copier available for student use. Students are expected to use all of these devices responsibly and bear in mind that their use is covered by Branson’sTechnologyAcceptable Use Policy.
Expectations for Student Behavior in the Library
D.Technology
Library Borrowing
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 56
3 So that they will be available for student use, reference materials and magazines may only be borrowed with the librarian's permission
● Special Note: Students will be required to participate in the Branson-sponsored anti-virus program and will need to enroll their device in the Branson School device management system. Software will be provided by Branson for the student machines free of charge
Recommendations
● Branson provides institution Google accounts that will suffice for the student's need to create documents, presentations, etc.
● We strongly recommend that your device is covered byAppleCare or an equivalent protection plan from a different vendor Special Note: Although Branson does provide Google accounts for all students, these accounts are not designed for storage of personal data (e.g., photos, movies, music, etc.). Students should have a way of backing up this material on their own.
General Program Philosophy
The following are the minimum requirements for any device:
● Arobust protective case for the device to guard against cracked screens and other damage, which can be very expensive and frustrating issues to deal with
On-site Support We are happy to assist students with their devices to the extent we are able This includes minor troubleshooting and fine tuning the devices to work with Branson networks and systems, providing loaner laptops, if available, and helping send computers for repairs covered by AppleCare or other programs We are not able to conduct major repairs, services, or upgrades
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● The device must come to school each day fully charged and be available to the student in the evenings for homework (no shared devices).
● The device needs to be a late modelApple laptop with a minimum screen size of 13 inches Late model being defined as less than 3 years old If you have any questions regarding the purchase of an appropriate device, please reach out directly to the technology department
The Branson BYOD program was developed with digital equity in mind. We felt it was important to ensure all Branson students had access to appropriate, late model devices regardless of income Requirements
The following, though not required, are strongly recommended to ensure a positive technology experience:
Financial Aid Students on financial aid may access additional aid, if needed, based on the following criteria:
● Use of Branson Google accounts must comply with all policies outlined within this Branson Family/Student Handbook.
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK,
● The Branson Google domain is not appropriate to use for personal business, (i.e., storage of personal documents, photos, etc.). Students and families are expected to create and use a personal email address and/or other accounts for all personal business.
● If you would like to participate in this program or if you have questions regarding financial aid, please emailAmber Johnson, our finance director, at amber johnson@branson.org.
● Access to additional financial aid for repairs or for a replacement machine will be considered on a case by case basis
● Students on financial aid, who do not already possess a compatible device, are eligible to access financial aid for a new, school purchased,Apple laptop The device will also come with an insurance policy
● Students are typically eligible for financial aid based on the percentage of tuition already covered by their financial aid package At 75% financial aid and above, the student will be eligible for full coverage of the device purchase.
Branson is a GoogleApps For Education school, which means that students have access to and are encouraged to use Gmail, Google Docs (Google Drive) and the Google Calendar for all school related communications and work Creation and sharing of documents on Branson’s Google Drive accounts must adhere to the following guidelines
On occasion, Branson will license and distribute software deemed necessary for all students to have.
If you have any technical questions or questions about the requirements of the BYOD program, please feel free to reach out via email to either Cécile Lelievre at cecile lelievre@branson.org or to Justin Culley at justin culley@branson.org.
Note: Information within Branson Google accounts, (i.e., email, Drive, etc.) is not under the sole supervision of Branson and, therefore, Branson cannot guarantee the security and privacy of this information
GoogleApplications
● Students may access this aid once during their time at Branson
Blackbaud 2022-23 58
Members of the Branson community generally receive a large quantity of email each day In order to maximize the effectiveness of this form of communication here at Branson, students and families are expected to adhere to Branson’sTechnologyAcceptable Use Policy when sending emails All email accounts are Branson domain Google accounts, which also provide students, faculty, and staff with access to all Google services
Branson uses Blackbaud SIS (“MyBranson”) as its learning management system.All students, upon logging in to Blackbaud, will see their academic courses and will be able to access roster information, grades, general course information and specific course content. Parents will also have Blackbaud accounts enabling them to access such things as grade-level information, report cards, and general Branson community updates and information Email
Branson provides access to printing on campus in the library.The school recommends that students do one of the following if they wish to print: 1 Save their materials onto Google Drive, then log into their Google Drive account on a desktop computer in the library and print, or 2 Email to themselves whatever document(s) they wish to print, then open that email on a desktop computer where they wish to print Students are expected to use the copier responsibly and copier use is covered by Branson’s TechnologyAcceptable Use Policy
Students are responsible for the information that they receive via email.They are therefore expected to check it regularly (at least once per day).
Branson students wishing to make copies of paper documents are encouraged to make their copies in the library They may not use other copiers around the campus; however, they may request that faculty or staff members make copies for them Other Services Branson uses various other systems to conduct its business, such as Scoir for college counseling and Magnus Health for managing health and safety information for students.
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E. College Counseling
The College Counseling Office at Branson is responsible for helping students and Branson families navigate the college search and application process The two primary goals of the College Counseling office are to ensure that each student has good choices for attending
Printing and Photocopying
college at the end of the process and to alleviate some of the stress that is often associated with college admissions.To this end, the College Counseling Office offers a comprehensive program that aims to guide and support students and families through the process. The program consists of several major components: ● Family College Nights ● Individual appointments with students and families ● List construction, balancing, and application strategy ● Cultivating relationships with colleges ● College Counseling bus trip ● Comprehensive essay writing help and a summer essay writing workshop BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 60
● Lifelong habits that contribute to health and well being ● Team building and sportsmanship
To earn credit for participation, students are required to attend all games and practices as outlined by the Head Coach andAthletic Department. Practice times are not more than two hours on weekdays and two hours on Saturdays, and there are no practices on Sundays Start dates for each season vary throughout the year Fall athletes are expected to attend practices in
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Students must complete at least one term of Physical Education each year This can be done by playing on a school sponsored team, taking a strength and conditioning class with Branson’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, or completing anAlternateActivity Program
Branson athletics plays a prominent role in the Branson student experience The program serves the mission of the school, strives for competitive success, and promotes the development of athletic skills, leadership, and sportsmanship. Over 75% of the student body participates in athletics throughout the academic year.The athletic program encompasses 21 varsity, junior varsity and freshman interscholastic teams and five club teams. Our teams compete in the Marin CountyAthletic League (MCAL). A. Athletics Program and Requirements
● The ability to cooperate in a shared effort to accomplish goals
Interscholastic Sports and Club Sports
We challenge students to raise their fitness levels and develop an understanding of the relationship between fitness and lifelong physical and mental wellness
Physical activity, exercise, and wellness are essential to the Branson experience We want each student to develop an appreciation for an active lifestyle, good character, and a positive self image Through physical education, participation on an interscholastic sport or club team, or an alternate activity, our students develop:
● Leadership skills
The Branson Bulls play in the North Coast Section, and since 2000, have competed in the Marin CountyAthletic League (MCAL). Each year we are proud to send graduating athletes off to play at the collegiate level, and we are just as proud to accommodate an equal number who are trying a sport for the first time.There is a team and level for everyone in our athletic program.
VIII. ATHLETIC PROGRAM
August. Winter athletes will begin to practice in October, and Spring athletes will begin in February. In many cases, full participation for student athletes includes a commitment to the sport beyond the trimester of the regular season. Branson typically fields the following opportunities for interscholastic competition each year All sports have a varsity level team and sports with large enrollments have a junior varsity team and, when needed, a freshman team Fall Season Winter Season Spring Season 8 Person Football Boys’and Girls’Cross Country Girls’Golf Girls’Tennis Girls’Volleyball Boys’and Girls’Basketball Boys’and Girls’Soccer Baseball Boys’Golf Boys’and Girls’Lacrosse Boys’and Girls’Swimming & Diving Boys’Tennis Boys’and Girls’Track & Field Branson also offers the following club sports: Beach Volleyball Crew Mountain Biking Fencing Sailing Strength and Conditioning Program Branson offers physical training with Bruce Pruiett, our Strength and Conditioning Coach, as an option to fulfill the PE requirement. Students can choose: ● Athletic PerformanceTrainingTrack - Develop strength, explosiveness, speed, and quickness needed in athletic competition ● Physical Fitness Program Engage in individually designed full body workouts to promote healthy and fit lifestyles This course is 36 hours. AlternateActivity Program TheAlternateActivity Program (AAP) is an independent study program designed to provide students the opportunity to pursue physical fitness outside of the school Common pursuits BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 62
Branson is a member of the North Coast Section, a regional subset of the California Interscholastic Federation, and has adopted in full the North Coast Section policies for student athlete, parent, and spectator conduct, as follows:
SPORTSMANSHIP, ETHICS,AND INTEGRITY
➢ Live up to the standards of sportsmanship established by the school administration and the coaching staff.
➢ Shake hands with opponents and wish them good luck before the contest
➢ Exercise self control at all times, accepting decisions and abiding by them
include ballet, horseback riding, martial arts, and competitive dance. Students must select their AAPduring the normal class registration period.AAPs must be approved and are monitored by theAthletic Department. Each course must be 36 hours total, as logged by the instructor.
➢ Treat opponents with the respect that is due them as guests and fellow humans.
➢ Only the captain should communicate with the officials regarding the clarification of a ruling.
➢ Refrain from making any kind of derogatory remarks to your opponents during the game, especially comments of ethnic, racial or sexual nature.
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B. Athletic Codes of Conduct
➢ Respect the judgment of the officials and their interpretations of the rules Never argue or make gestures indicating dislike for a decision The officials are doing their best to help promote you and your sport
Student-Athletes: Doing What’s Right WhatYou Can Do...
➢ Accept seriously the responsibility and privilege of representing the school and community.
✓ Do not enter restricted areas of the venue Stay outside of fenced or marked areas and always obey instructions from game management personnel
WhatYou Can Do.
. .
✓ Be positive. Cheer for your team rather than against the opposition.
✓ Realize that a ticket is a privilege to observe a contest and support high school activities, not a license to verbally assault others or be generally obnoxious. Know and demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Parents & Fans In order for sport to serve a purpose in the educational system, students must obtain positive educational benefits from athletics such as: responsibility, self discipline, sportsmanship, teamwork, work ethic, integrity, and personal sacrifice for the good of others.
➢ Accept both victory and defeat with pride and compassion, never being boastful or bitter. ➢ Congratulate the opponents in a sincere manner following either victory or defeat. ➢ Cooperate with the coach and fellow athletes in trying to promote sportsmanship ➢ Win with humility; lose with grace Do both with dignity ➢ Welcome the opportunity to discuss the rules and strategies of the contest with parents and friends so they can better understand and appreciate the finer points of the game PROMOTE SPORTSMANSHIP
✓
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✓
✓ Refrain from booing and name calling Never address any athlete directly, whether from the home or visiting school Respect the decision made by the contest officials 2022-23 64
✓ Fan behavior, whether at home or away at athletic contests, reflects on the entire community Home fans should treat visitors with respect
✓ Be an exemplary role model by positively supporting teams in every manner possible, including the content of cheers and signs. ✓ Respect the fans, coaches and participants from opposing schools. PROMOTE SPORTSMANSHIP Spectator’s Code What Spectators Can Do to Promote Good Sportsmanship ✓ Remember that student athletes play organized sports for their own fun They are not pro athletes ✓ Be on your best behavior Don’t use profane language or harass players, coaches or officials. ✓ Applaud good plays by your own team and the visiting team. ✓ Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no games. ✓ Never criticize a student athlete for making a mistake during a competition ✓ Condemn the use of violence in all forms ✓ Respect officials’decisions ✓ Encourage players to always play according to the rules ✓ Never berate your opponent’s school or mascot. ✓ Never create or display negative signs. ✓ Never enter the playing area before, during or after a contest without permission of game management personnel BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 65
All Branson students are baseline tested using ImPACT, a computer based program that tests the student’s neurocognitive functioning In the event a student is suspected of having a concussion, a post injury ImPACTtest will be administered by theAthleticTrainer within the first 24 72 hours post injury or within the first two days after the student returns to school Both the
Concussion Management Protocol Any student who has sustained a head injury or who has any of the symptoms listed below should contact Branson’s AthleticTrainer, who is the case manager for any concussion situation, regardless of whether it has occurred during a Branson athletic event or not.After the student has been evaluated by a doctor, the student’s class dean and the Director of the Rand Learning Center will work together with theAthleticTrainer to develop a plan for the student’s gradual and safe return to full participation in academics and campus life
C. Concussions
Aconcussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head (or by a hit to the body) that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain Concussions affect everyone differently, and recovery is different person to person. Children and adolescents are more susceptible to concussions and take longer than adults to recover. While some research shows that the young brain can be resilient, it may also be more susceptible to the chemical changes that occur in the brain after a concussion.These changes can lead to a set of symptoms affecting the student’s cognitive, physical, emotional, and sleep functions. Most concussions get better with rest, and over 90% of students fully recover. However, all concussions should be considered serious Branson seeks to ensure students experience a safe return to classroom activity as well as to all forms of physical activities (including athletics and dance) after a concussion To respond to these injuries effectively and consistently, Branson has established a Concussion Management Protocol to provide concussion education and procedures for students, parents, and school employees to follow in managing head injuries This protocol outlines the return to academics and return to play steps after aTBI following the CIF Return to Learn (RTL) and Return to Play (RTP) guidelines
The BransonAthletic program takes all reasonable measures to ensure that athletes are safe during both practices and competitions In particular, Branson maintains a robust Concussion Protocol Policy pursuant to California state law and guidelines from the Marin County Office of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 66
baseline and the post-injury test will be compared as an evaluation tool, and the results will be printed and sent with the student to their doctor’s appointment. Follow-up tests will be given to the student periodically to help determine progress. For athletes with a concussion, a final ImPACTtest will be given before return-to-play. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms reported by the student: ● Headache or ‘pressure’in head ● Nausea or vomiting ● Neck pain ● Trouble standing or walking ● Balance problems or dizziness ● Blurred, double or fuzzy vision ● Bothered by light or noise ● Feeling sluggish or slowed down ● Feeling foggy or groggy ● Loss of memory ● Complaints of “just don’t feel right” ● Tired or low energy ● Sadness ● Nervousness or feeling on edge ● Irritability ● More emotional ● Confused ● Concentration or memory problems ● Repeating same question or comment ● Drowsiness ● Changes in sleep patterns Signs observed by faculty, teammates, parents, and coaches: ● Looks dizzy or spaced out ● Is confused about assignment, play, or position ● Forgets an instruction or play ● Is unsure of location, what they were doing, game, score, opponent ● Moves clumsily or awkwardly ● Answers questions slowly ● Has slurred speech ● Loses consciousness (even briefly) or passes out ● Shows change in typical mood, behavior, or personality ● Can’t recall events before or after hit or fall BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 67
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● One pupil is larger than the other Is drowsy and cannot be awakened Aheadache that does not go away and that gets worse Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination Repeated vomiting or nausea Slurred speech Convulsions or seizures Cannot recognize people or places Becomes increasingly confused, restless, or agitated Has unusual behavior
●
●
● Parent/guardian must collect the student (The student should not drive ) Forms should be provided to the parent/guardian
● Loses consciousness (even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously) In accordance with the California Education Code Section 49475 (and California LawsAB 2007 andAB 2127), all schools that offer athletic programs are required as follows:
●
● To recognize signs of concussion, immediately remove the athlete from the activity for the remainder of the day, and not permit the athlete to return to play until they receive written clearance to return by a licensed healthcare provider
Symptoms that constitute an emergency:
●
●
●
●
●
● The graduated return-to-play protocol applies to all concussions that occur at school (athletics, physical education, other activity) and concussions that occur outside of school.
●
● The student should be examined and diagnosed by a licensed healthcare provider Due to potential conflict of interest, students need to be examined by non family/relatives
● Each athlete shall complete a graduated return to play protocol of no less than seven days in duration, under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider.
● The incident should be documented, with all forms filled out, delivered to, and signed by the respective parties
ONLY Marin County Schools’protocol for students with possible concussions includes standard reporting and tracking forms The supervising adult starts the process, with theAthleticTrainer as the main informational point of contact.Astudent who has begun the concussion protocol must not participate in any athletics or physical activity until they have received written clearance from their licensed healthcare provider.
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Standard Reporting and Tracking Forms
Return to Learn Protocol When a student has sustained a concussion or is believed to have sustained a concussion, the School will approve their return to classroom instruction is not automatic and will be based on the medical guidance received from healthcare providers Medical professionals will be asked to evaluate the student and stage the student’s concussion according to the chart below The stage of concussion dictates the rate at which, and the degree to which, a student can return to classroom instruction
● If student’s medical provider recommends fewer restrictions than Stages 1 4 below, Branson’s HeadAthleticTrainer,Amanda Boivin, will contact the medical provider for clarification and further documentation 2022-23 70
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The Return to Play Protocol progression is adapted from the International Concussion Consensus Guidelines and CIF Concussion Return to Play Protocol Summary is described in Stages 1 4, below
● Astudent’s medical provider may recommend more restrictions, but not fewer restrictions
● Schools may accept the Return to Play Prescription or other form signed by student’s licensed healthcare provider as clearance as long as they do not permit return to play earlier than the district’s own Return to Play Clearance form.
Return to Play Protocol Schools will send the end Return to Play Progress form to the student’s licensed healthcare provider and begin a gradual return to activity based on a licensed healthcare provider’s instructions.
Stage 2C Strenuous aerobic activity including running or stationary biking for 30 45 minutes or weight lifting up to 50% of max weight.
The progression for physical activity cannot exceed the following steps:
Stage 2D Heavy, non contact activity (closer to what would be in the student’s typical routine), but non contact (e g , running, high intensity stationary biking, regular weightlifting routine, non contact sport specific drills) At this stage, may add some cognitive component to practice
● The student may not resume any physical activity beyond 15 minutes of walking until the student tolerates normal academics. Exception: If back-to-normal academics have not been achieved by two weeks post-concussion, a physical activity program can be prescribed by the student’s managing physician in conjunction with school health, physical education and athletic staff
Stage 3 Begin with limited contact practice Controlled contact drills are allowed, but no scrimmaging Then progress to full contact practice but no competition Prior to beginning this stage, make sure that student receives written licensed healthcare provider approval
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Stage 1 Limited activity for 5 10 minutes that is designed to increase the student’s heart rate (e.g., exercise bike, walking, light jogging); No weight lifting, jumping or hard running.As student will be resting at home for at least 24 hours after experiencing symptoms of concussion, do not start Stage 1 until at least 48 hours after head injury with symptoms of concussion.
No student is permitted to move from one stage to the next, unless there has been an absence of symptoms or signs Refer to CIF Return to Play Protocol for details 1 AthleticTrainer will document performance in each stage and report this to Administrative Designees AthleticTrainer may communicate with the student’s licensed healthcare provider, as necessary
Stage 2A Light aerobic activity Student can attempt 10 15 minutes of brisk walking or stationary biking under direct supervision by the designated school representative Stage 2B Moderate activity, with limited body and head movement May go 20-30 minutes, but be reduced from typical routine for age (e g , moderate jogging, brief running, moderate intensity stationary biking, and moderate intensity weightlifting)
Stage 4 Full contact and full activity can be resumed.Then, after written clearance from student’s licensed healthcare provider, student may return to competition.
● Each student must be kept from any exertive activity beyond 15 minutes of walking (Step 1) for the first and second day after the concussion.
2. If symptoms or signs are experienced, then withhold activity until there are no symptoms for 24 hours, and then return to the previous step. 3. On weekends and days where there is no trained school staff member or physician to document successful progression from one step to the next, school may take parent and student history 4 If a student fails to achieve any step on three occasions, refer the student to the managing physician with this information D. Athletics Website Branson maintains an up to date website at all times: https://wwwbranson org/athletics Please consult the website for team opportunities, schedules, and current news and highlights Internal information is also available on theAthletics resource tile in Blackbaud (MyBranson). BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 72
● Summer Safety Plan this plan is tailored for the summer and is provided to groups conducting programs on the Branson campus
Annual Safety Training
The faculty and staff at Branson are certified in the following:
● Violent Intruder Training - Annually, we provide updated training on how to respond to a potential violent intruder on campus All faculty and staff are required to have this training
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● Student EOP this plan is tailored to the students at Branson and contains an abbreviated subset of the main EOP
We believe that providing a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff is of paramount importance To that end, we have a comprehensive program addressing safety and emergency preparedness in all aspects of Branson life, both on campus and beyond The following is a summary of the major ongoing initiatives If you have questions regarding these or any other safety related programs, please contact our safety director, Justin Culley at justin culley@branson org or by phone at 415 455 7214
Branson maintains several Emergency Operations Plans, (EOPs), which thoroughly document the policies and procedures for emergency situations.These plans include procedures for specific emergencies such as fire, earthquake, violent intruder, etc.Additionally, they include campus evacuation maps and relevant emergency contact information. Each plan is tailored to its particular scope and audience.All plans are currently maintained online and distributed via smartphone app Currently, we have the following plans:
● The Main EOP this plan is provided to all faculty and staff and contains complete instructions for all emergency scenarios as well as detailed information on all safety policies
● First Aid/CPR - This training is renewed every 2 years All faculty and staff are required to have this training
Emergency Operations Plans
● International Travel this plan covers all policies and procedures relating to safety when traveling abroad. It also includes international contact information and overseas resources able to be customized by the trip.
IX. SAFETY& EMERGENCYPREPAREDNESS
● Lodestone - Any faculty or staff member planning on leading an international trip is required to undergo this international safety training We provide this training annually
● CPR/Stop the Bleed - Each year, Branson ensures all graduating seniors participate in this program.This enables each student to provide enhanced first responder care in their communities should the need arise.
Branson requires visitors to register and to wear a visitor badge during their visit. Visitors are checked against two federal sex offender databases prior to being allowed on campus. Each year, we conduct several drills covering the following situations: ● Earthquake ● Fire ● Violent Intruder
Drills
All faculty, staff and students participate in these drills which are updated annually to reflect best practices Safety Team The Branson SafetyTeam meets monthly to discuss ongoing safety initiatives and to discuss any policies, procedures, training and equipment needed to enhance safety and emergency preparedness at Branson.
● Student and Faculty/Staff Training - At the beginning of each year, general safety training is conducted for faculty/staff and students covering drills, updates to policies and procedures, etc Medical Resources We maintain first aid kits in each classroom and program area that also contain tourniquets These kits are checked and updated annually Additionally, we have 3AEDs, (automated external defibrillators)on campus These are checked monthly Visitor Registration System
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The following key conditions are summarized here for particular emphasis:
The Branson School operates under the terms of a Use Permit granted by the RossTown Council Certain conditions govern the Use Permit, and all faculty/staff members, parents/guardians, students, and alumni are urged to familiarize themselves with and to adhere scrupulously to these conditions
7 The new Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDMP) and Transportation Handbook must be followed by all employees, students, and visitors
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5. Use of all school facilities must be limited to use only by current school personnel, organized visiting teams, and certain local groups, nonprofit in nature, that, by tradition, have used the facilities in the past.
B. Personal Use of School Property
Personal use of school property is prohibited by theTrustee policy that all school property is to be utilized exclusively for school purposes
SCHOOLFACILITIESANDTRANSPORTATION
X.
2 The school must use its best efforts to prevent disruption of the peace, quiet, comfort, and safety of the immediate neighborhood
A. School Property, Maintenance and Use
6. Any exception to conditions #5 (above) can be made only with formal permission of the Town Council.
3 The school must discourage parking on streets adjacent to the school by all persons connected with the school.
For a number of reasons, including liability and security, school property and facilities may be used only by current Branson students, faculty and staff members, and their student guests All unaccompanied strangers should be asked if they need assistance and then be helped if possible If persons are interfering with school programs or appear likely to do so (i e , using or damaging the tennis courts, fields, lawns, or buildings), they should be advised that the campus is not a public area and be asked to leave If they do not leave willingly and time appears to be of the essence, the Ross Police Department should be called; otherwise, a Class Dean, the Business Office, the CFOO, or Head of School should be promptly notified.
1 Assuming proper compliance with the 2022 CUPamendment, school enrollment will grow to 420 over the next 4 years
4. The school should discourage access to the campus via Hillgirt Drive.
E. Tennis Courts
D. Breakage and Damage
C. Search and Confiscation of Student Property
The reason for this policy is a legal one, i.e., real and personal school properties are exempt from property tax only because they are used for educational purposes. Property used "...by any...persons so as to benefit any officer, trustee,...employee,...contributor, or bondholder of (the school) or any other person...through the more advantageous pursuit of his business or profession" is not eligible for exemption from property tax
BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 76
To maintain order on school property and at school related events and to protect the safety and welfare of students and school personnel, Branson reserves the right to conduct searches and confiscate student property at any time, without advance notice to students or parents Such searches may include, but are not limited to, personal searches of any student, student belongings, electronic devices or items in the possession of a student, any locker or any vehicle located on or near school property or at any school related event. Moreover, the school may check the content of students’electronic devices, including phones and iPads/tablets/PCs, without parental consent.Astudent’s failure to provide the school access to check the content of electronic devices may lead to discipline.
In the event that a student breaks school property or causes damage to occur, whenever practical the student will be allowed to repair promptly (in most cases within the week) the breakage or damage under supervision If such repair is not practical or has not been accomplished when scheduled or within the week, the student will be charged for the approximate cost of the repair as determined by the Business Office Accidental breakage or damage will be considered in the light of the individual circumstance and may or may not result in a charge and/or disciplinary action depending upon the situation
The Branson School tennis courts are not public, and their use is limited by the conditions governing the school Use Permit, which states that the courts may be used only by current students and current faculty/staff members and their personally accompanied guests Persons who do not fall into these categories should be asked politely to leave If trespassers create an emergency or unpleasant situation, the Ross Police may be called for immediate assistance
F. Traffic and Parking All rules and policies covering transportation to and from school, including pickup and drop off, and parking on campus or at school authorized locations, are covered by the BransonTraffic and Parking Handbook for 2022-2023, which is posted on theTransportation tile in MyBranson/Blackbaud. Families and students should familiarize themselves with these rules and policies. G. Non-Solicitation Policy School communication channels (email including “AllBranson” access, newsletter, social media, etc ) may not be used to solicit funds for personal projects and/or business from members of our community This includes student projects and crowdfunding sites BRANSON STUDENT & FAMILYHANDBOOK, 2022-23 77
Branson develops students who make a
positive impact in the world by leading lives of integrity, purpose, learning, and joy. branson.org
