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School Personnel Responsibilities & Intervention Strategies
process rights of the student(s) alleged to have committed acts of harassment, intimidation and/or bullying.
False Claims Students are prohibited from deliberately making false reports of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and may be subject to disciplinary procedure(s) if responsible for deliberately making a false report of that nature.
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School Personnel Responsibilities and Intervention Strategies
Teachers and Other School Staff Teachers and other school staff, who witness acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, as defined above, shall promptly notify the Head of School of the event observed. If the report is a formal, written complaint, such complaint shall be forwarded promptly (no later than the next school day) to the Head of School. If the report is an informal complaint by a student that is received by a teacher or other professional employee, he/she/they shall report promptly (no later than the next school day) to the Head of School.
In addition to addressing both informal and formal complaints, school personnel are encouraged to address the issue of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in other interactions with students. School personnel may find opportunities to educate students about harassment, intimidation, and bullying and help eliminate such prohibited behaviors through class discussions, counseling, and reinforcement of socially appropriate behavior. School personnel should intervene promptly whenever they observe student conduct that has the purpose or effect of ridiculing, humiliating or intimidating another student/school personnel, even if such conduct does not meet the formal definition of “harassment, intimidation or bullying.
Non-disciplinary Interventions When verified acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying are identified early and/or when such verified acts do not reasonably require a disciplinary response, students may be counseled as to the definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying, its prohibition, and their duty to avoid any conduct that could be considered harassing, intimidating or bullying.
If a complaint arises out of conflict between students or groups of students, peer mediation may be considered. Special care, however, is warranted in referring such cases to peer mediation. A power imbalance may make the process intimidating for the victim and therefore inappropriate. The victim’s communication and assertiveness skills may be low and could be further eroded by fear resulting from past intimidation and fear of future intimidation. In such cases, the victim should be given additional support. Alternatively, peer mediation may be deemed inappropriate to address the concern.
Disciplinary Interventions When acts of harassment, intimidation and bullying are verified and a disciplinary response is warranted, students are subject to the full range of disciplinary consequences. Non-verified complaints, however, shall not be the basis for disciplinary action. In- and out-of-school suspension may be imposed only after informing the accused perpetrator of the reasons for the proposed suspension and giving him/her an opportunity to explain the situation.
FACULTY EVALUATION PROCESS
Summer: Each faculty member will write their syllabi and provide a copy to the Dean of Academics for review.
June: The Dean of Academics and the Head of School will provide faculty members with compiled student survey results, along with any other appropriate performance-related information or feedback collected in the faculty member’s performance file over the course of the year. Teachers will perform a self-assessment using this data. If there are concerns resulting from the student surveys, the Dean of Academics and Head of School may request meetings with individual faculty members.
August - September: The Head of School will conduct a faculty meeting to assist faculty members in developing professional and educational goals, and plans for the coming year. The goals and plans will address areas of needed growth identified by the Head of School and Dean of Academics, students, community, etc. in the faculty members’ performance files.
The Dean of Academics and the Head of School will meet with faculty members as needed to review his/her/their professional and educational goals and plan for the coming year.
The Dean of Academics will meet with each faculty member to confirm curricular goals and course content. The Dean of Academics will read and understand the syllabus for each course offered at Renaissance School. If necessary, the Dean of Academics may ask a faculty member to make curricular changes at this point. All final curricular goals will be submitted to the Dean of Academics and the Head of School.
2nd Quarter: Faculty members will participate in peer reviews. The peerreview process will be designed and administered by the faculty. The results of the peer review will become part of the faculty members’ performance appraisals. The results of the peer reviews will be communicated to the faculty.
School may conduct a mid-year survey with students.
3rd/4th Quarter: Students will complete course surveys. The Head of School and Dean of Academics will read the individual surveys and compile the data into a more digestible format. The Head of School and the Dean of Academics will communicate immediately with faculty members should data trends indicate faculty performance issues.
End of March: The Head of School will review the performance files of all faculty members and determine which faculty to invite to renew their contracts. If the Head of School has uncertainty, the Academic Dean will meet with the Head of School to provide additional observations and input.
of School will document this feedback and will include it in the faculty member’s performance file.
Additionally, the Head of School or Dean of Academics will attend classes of concern (i.e. classes which seem to provoke steady parent and student complaints). The Dean of Academics will provide faculty members with feedback and suggested improvements. The Dean of Academics will monitor the class until improvements are made.
BUILDING SECURITY
Renaissance School doors should be secured at all times. The front door is operated with a code that changes each semester and during the summer. The code may change at the discretion of the Head of School at any time. The 5th Street door should have the deadbolt unlocked during school hours since this is a fire exit. The handle of the door should stay locked (school can get out, but to the outside, it is locked).
Renaissance School uses a walkie-talkie system of communication. Each faculty member has a walkie-talkie labeled with their name in their cubby. Faculty should carry their designated walkie-talkies during the school day and return it to their cubby when they are finished teaching.
Fumes
Any fumes detected should be immediately reported to the Front Office.
Elevator
The elevator is not to be used except for handicap access or to move furniture and equipment up and down floors.
RENAISSANCE SCHOOL EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
1. All persons in the building will be notified by members of the administrative team in a variety of manners. 2. It is mandatory that faculty members are familiar with all procedures and alarm sounds.
a. The administrative team will verbally notify all staff and students of the threat. b. Office Manager will grab the enrollment sheet and emergency kit. c. Faculty will calmly lead students to the basement of the front building. Students should have a hardbound textbook with them to cover their heads from falling debris. The door to the basement is located just outside of the English Room. d. All faculty and students will position themselves in a windowless room and under a secure piece of furniture or against an external wall. e. Students should sit quietly with heads covered. f. Office Manager will take roll.
Sudden Snow Storm during school hours:
a. The administrative team will verbally notify all faculty and students of the threat. b. Students will be permitted to contact their parents via personal cell phones. c. A parent can provide verbal permission to the Office Manager for their child to leave early with another student or family. d. Students waiting for rides will not be permitted to ride home with other students without permission from BOTH sets of parents. e. A faculty member will stay with any delayed students until all are safe with parents or at an alternate agreed-upon location.
Fire, Smoke, or gas in the building:
a. Students and faculty should immediately notify a member of the administrative team of any unusual odors or if fire is suspected. b. A member of the administrative team will activate the fire alarm. c. Faculty should promptly make sure all students in their class are accounted for as well as scan the nearest common spaces. d. Registrar should grab the enrollment sheet. e. Faculty should calmly lead all RS students out the nearest safe exit: Front building, lunchrooms: East Jefferson St. door Back building: Fifth St. door f. Once outside all faculty and students should assemble in front of the statue at the park across the street. g. Office Manager will take roll.
Lockdown is a procedure used when there is an immediate threat to the school such as in the case of a school intruder. Lockdown minimizes access to the school and secures staff and students in rooms. As part of this procedure, everyone must remain in the room until the situation has been declared safe by an authorized person such as an administrator or a Police Officer.
1. Modified Lockdown occurs when there is a threat outside of the building or there is a non-threatening circumstance when people need to be kept away from areas (e.g. crime scene near the school or community disturbance outside of the building, severe weather incident) 2. Lockdown with Intruder occurs when there is a threat or intruder inside the building.
a. A member of the administrative team will announce “Modified Lockdown” verbally through the walkie talkies or through the alarm system within the school. This announcement will be repeated several times. b. Faculty should bring students inside to the classroom spaces. c. Front office administrative staff should lock all exterior doors. d. Direct movement will be announced/determined by the front office staff. This includes changing classrooms between periods and moving to safe shelter (e.g. basement). e. Students should be kept away from all windows. f. Classes should continue, moving to the next class ONLY when the front office announces to do so. g. Students are not to leave the building, and lunch will be provided as necessary. h. Administrative staff will announce “all clear” when the threat has ceased.
Implementing Lockdown with Intruder:
Renaissance School follows the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission recommendations of Run, Hide, Fight:
Run if there is an accessible escape route Hide if evacuation is not possible, barricade your position Fight when your life is in imminent danger
Steps to follow:
a. A member of the administrative team will release an alarm sound that alerts all students to go directly to a faculty member for guidance. The admin team will announce “Lockdown with Intruder” through the walkie-talkies. This announcement will be repeated several times. b. A member of the administrative team will immediately notify police and parents through email/text if possible. c. Faculty should immediately take their students to the closest “exit space” (assembly room office, science room office, French room). d. Along the way, faculty should shut and lock (if able) all doors e. If you are outside DO NOT enter the building (notification via text) f. Faculty/Staff should check corridors outside their classrooms or offices for nearby students and direct any students in the immediate vicinity into the exit space. g. Lock all doors leading to exit space, as well as exit space doors. If there is no lock, barricade the door with available objects. h. If the faculty member determines it is safe, students and faculty should exit through the window using drop ladders. i. Once students and faculty have exited the building, they should take shelter in the courthouse across the street. If that building is closed, they should go to the apartments next door. j. If it is not safe to exit the building, students and faculty should seek cover or concealment. If gunshots or explosives are heard, stay behind cover or concealment and lie on the floor or get as close to the floor as possible without giving up your cover. k. If possible, Faculty/ Staff should record the names of students who are in the room. Any missing and/or extra students should be noted. Faculty/Staff should provide these details to an administrator as requested. l. Do not evacuate the building even if the audible fire alarm is heard. This could be a ruse to get people into the hallways. m. DO NOT respond to anyone at the door until administrators announce "all clear. " If someone attempts to gain access into your room by proclaiming to be a Police Officer ask them to slide their identification under the door. n. All faculty, staff, students, and visitors should follow lockdown procedures until the ALL CLEAR is given by the school Administration.
o. Administrators shall account for the safety of all faculty/staff, students, and known visitors immediately after the incident. If any of the previously mentioned are missing, it shall immediately be reported to Law Enforcement.
NOTE: If circumstances warrant, students will be evacuated from the school property by school-related vehicles to be picked up by parents at an offcampus location. Parents are requested not to call or come to the school campus during an evacuation or other emergency. Driving to the school will cause traffic congestion that could potentially interfere with the arrival of emergency vehicles should they be needed. Parent phone calls, likewise, will tie up phone lines at a crucial time.
Renaissance School Description
Renaissance School is a college preparatory high school for curious and passionate students in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities. It emphasizes both broad and deep learning through a balanced program equally strong in the arts and academics. Renaissance School embraces the whole student through differentiated and experiential learning and emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Students and faculty alike are a friendly community of independent thinkers and learners. There is a mutual respect and appreciation between students, faculty, the parent council, and Board of Directors. This support carries into special traditions including Ninth Week, Arts Practicum, and our two-year Independent Study program. You can learn more about these compelling programs by exploring the school’s website. Renaissance School has had a 100 percent college acceptance rate for graduating seniors, ranging from Harvard University to Berklee College of Music. The average in grant and scholarship offers per applying student for the class of 2021 is $284,000 with some receiving full-tuition scholarships at the college of their choice. Renaissance School offers a remarkable highschool experience to students who want to be engaged in life to the fullest. Renaissance School is located in beautiful historic downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. Its central location enables it to have a campus that includes the Jefferson Madison Regional Library, the McGuffey Art Center, Live Arts, Light House Studios, Music Resource Center, ACAC Fitness and Wellness, local galleries, great cafés and restaurants, convenient bus access to UVA and PVCC campuses, and so much more that Charlottesville has to offer.
2022-2023 RENAISSANCE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Head of School Sara Johnson sjohnson@renaissanceschool.org
Assistant to the Head & Office Manager Richelle Claiborne
rclaiborne@renaissanceschool.org
Business Manager and Registrar Lady Keller lkeller@renaissanceschool.org
Dean of Academics Bethany Farris bfarris@renaissanceschool.org
Dean of Students, Diversity & Inclusion Welford McLellan, Jr. wmclellanjr@renaissanceschool.org
Director of Admissions and Marketing Eric Swartzentruber eswartzentruber@renaissanceschool.org
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Ti Ames tames@renaissanceschool.org
Ti Ames (JEDI, African-American History)
tames@renaissanceschool.org
Emily Kate Avakian (Independent Study, Literary Genres)
eavakian@renaissanceschool.org
Richelle Claiborne (Assistant to the Head/Office Manager)
rclaiborne@renaissanceschool.org
Sally Duncan (Charlottesville & US History)
sduncan@renaissanceschool.org
Nora Evans (Calculus I & II)
nevans@renaissanceschool.org
Bethany Farris (Dean of Academics, Precalculus, Business, Integrated Math II)
bfarris@renaissanceschool.org
Rick France (French)
rfrance@renaissanceschool.org
Giselle Gautreau (Art)
ggautreau@renaissanceschool.org
Sarah Goodbar (English 10, 11, & 12)
sgoodbar@renaissanceschool.org
Dr. Helen Halladay (Integrated Math I)
nhalladay@renaissanceschool.org
Steve Haske (Building & IT, Marketing)
shaske@renaissanceschool.org
Ronda Hewitt (Theater)
rhewitt@renaissanceschool.org
Thomas Inigo (Tri Coach) tri@renaissanceschool.org
RENAISSANCE SCHOOL FACULTY & STAFF (con’t)
Sara Johnson (Head of School, College Counseling)
sjohnson@renaissanceschool.org
Lady Keller (Business Manager & Registrar)
lkeller@renaissanceschool.org
Joaquin Litzenberger (Spanish, Chess Coach)
jlitzenberger@renaissanceschool.org
Welford McLellan, Jr. (Civic Engagement, Dean’s Class, Physical Activities)
wmclellanjr@renaissanceschool.org
Anna Minutella (Biology, Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry)
aminutella@renaissanceschool.org
Jay Pun (Music Performance)
jpun@renaissanceschool.org
Eric Swartzentruber (Director of Admissions)
eswartzentruber@renaissanceschool.org
Louis Tanner (History 10, 11, Government)
ltanner@renaissanceschool.org
Shanil Virani (Astronomy, Physics)
svirani@renaissanceschool.org
