Computer Responsibilities

If a student notices a security problem, the student must notify I.T. personnel immediately. Failure to follow the policy may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the student handbook.

1. Renaissance School will not tolerate cyber-bullying. Should evidence of cyberbullying occur by any Renaissance School student at any time, disciplinary action will be taken at the discretion of the Head of School. Such considerations will include suspension and expulsion. 2. Preservation of the equipment means keeping electronics from situations that put them at risk. Students must keep food and drink away from computers at all times! (This includes water and coffee.) Avoid any activities that would put computers at risk! 3. Renaissance School has a designated computer for yearbook committee use only. Students not working on the yearbook are not permitted to use the yearbook computer. This is located in the Art Room. 4. Practice conservation of trees and money! Recycling of paper is strongly encouraged. Students should be thoughtful concerning their printing needs and only print what is necessary. 5. We trust that all sites visited by students will be in the interest of legitimate research. Do not misuse internet privileges or internet privileges will be taken away! Also, keep in mind how time can slip away…don’t let the internet eat away at homework time. The use of one’s account must be in support of educational and research objectives consistent with the Renaissance School mission.

6. Saving data/downloading. Students are required to save academic work on a portable USB stick or a shared public drive such as Google Drive. Do not transmit, search, or save any questionable material. The internet may not be used to infringe on copyrights or to plagiarize materials!

7. If there are problems with the system that result in misuse or disrepair, users will be suspended from the network, or, ultimately, expelled from the network. If something breaks as a result of negligence, the user or users will be responsible for repairs.

8. Any questions or concerns regarding computer use, data sharing, internet access, or other online system information should be directed to IT.

9. Laptops - Renaissance School will not be held liable for:

• Information stored on hard drives or servers. •Information retrieved through the School computers, networks, or on-line resources. •Personal property used to access School computers, networks, or on-line resources. •Financial obligations resulting from the use of School resources and accounts to access the internet.

10. Do not establish new internet email accounts at school.

11. Each student is assigned a Renaissance School email account. Students are responsible for checking their email at least every 24 hours. Students must also reply to all emails.

12. Exploring the “dark web” can be dangerous to individuals and the community, and is strictly prohibited with School equipment, during School hours, or on School grounds.

13. Use of student photography - Students are not permitted to post or

share publicly any photos taken during school hours and/or on school property without permission from all visible parties and permission from the Head of School.

OFFICE TELEPHONE

Students may use the office telephone only to make emergency calls. Students may not leave class to make calls unless the teacher requests it. No social phone calls of any kind are permitted on the office phone.

Renaissance School students are encouraged to bring a bag lunch from home, as the lunch period is short and classes begin promptly after the lunch period. Lunch should be eaten in the Renaissance School lunchroom or outdoors, and should be cleaned up afterward with all food and trash thrown away promptly, as well as dishes and utensils washed or put in the dishwasher. Absolutely no eating or drinking, with the exception of water and liquids held in spill-proof cups, is allowed outside of the lunchroom. Going out for lunch is a privilege and, as such, will be revoked if it is abused.

Students may use the oven and stove top during lunch with administrator permission only. The oven and stove top will be cleaned by the student after each use.

Students take turns cleaning the lunchroom on a rotating schedule. This includes, but is not limited to, sweeping the floors, wiping all tables and countertops, cleaning any items left in the sinks, and removing any remaining debris. This is an important contribution to the school community.

PUBLIC DISPLAY

There should be no "make out" sessions and displays, no matter the sexual orientation, on the school grounds. This can make others feel uncomfortable and is an inappropriate use of school time. Likewise, we do not share seats or chairs with friends. One person, one seat.

FOOD AND DRINKS

No food, candy, gum, or beverages without spill-proof lids are permitted outside of the lunchroom. As with all school property, students must not leave trash or personal possessions. Students are expected to clean up after themselves in a timely manner.

Each student has a lunchbox cubby in the lunchroom where food can be stored. Students may also use the refrigerator as needed, but are required to clean out their belongings each day.

Each student is assigned a cubby in which to store books, school supplies, and personal belongings. Cubbies are public spaces and are to be respected as such. Cubbies should be kept clean and debris free! Lunches, food items and drinks should be stored in the lunchroom refrigerators and shelves, not in the cubby room.

Each student is also provided a personal mailbox. Students should check their mailbox several times a day for homework, messages, etc. Mailboxes should not be used to store textbooks or large binders, and should regularly be cleaned out.

It is important to remember cubbies are school property. Faculty and staff reserve the right to remove any materials that are inappropriate (including but not limited to, messages targeting hate, food and drink, and leaking containers).

MESSAGES

Parents may call Renaissance School to leave a message for a student. Parents may also bring forgotten items to the office and leave a note for the student. Messages from parents will be placed in the student's mailbox. An urgent or very important message will be taken directly to the student.

HEALTH MATTERS

Every morning before entering the school building, students should do a daily health assessment. During this time, students should assess how they are feeling and if they have any symptoms related to illness.

If a student is sick or showing symptoms of illness, the parent should contact the Head of School and the student’s pediatrician immediately. The student will not be permitted into the building that day and a re-entry plan must be formed with the Head of School.

Students who develop symptoms during the school day are sent to the office. If a student is too ill to attend class, it is necessary for the student to go home and a re-entry plan will be developed with the Head of School. The school will call the parent to come for the student. If parents have signed a permission form, a student may be given medication in the school office. Any medication that a student brings to school should be given to the Office Manager. The student can then come to the office to take the medication. If a student must be taken to the hospital or other medical care unit, we will use the “Release of Agent” form on file.

Medical forms and emergency notification forms are kept on file for all students. It is a parent’s responsibility to advise the school of any needed alterations to these forms resulting from moves or other changes in circumstances.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

If Renaissance School is to be closed due to weather-related or safety reasons, the Head of School will email parents, students, and staff. An emergency text message will also go out to the community. This includes weather-related late openings and early closings. Parents may call for their children before dismissal time if they have concerns about worsening road conditions in their area.

Renaissance School strives to dedicate itself to creating and maintaining an atmosphere free of all forms of harassment or intimidation. Every individual in the Renaissance School community shall be treated with sensitivity and respect and shall be entitled to work and learn without fear of intimidation, humiliation, and/or degradation from unwanted and unacceptable behavior.

This policy applies to relations between adults, between students, between adults and students, regardless of the individual’s gender and/or age.

Sexual harassment is not social or courting behavior. It is in part, or whole, best seen as an assertion of power through coercion or innuendo or as the result of a student-adult school relationship or student-student relationship.

To attempt to list all possible incidents of acts of sexual harassment would be futile. Sexual harassment can be very broadly described as unwanted and uninvited attention in the form of intimidation or coercion of an unwilling individual into sexual relations or favors real or perceived. It also encompasses the maintenance of a hostile atmosphere or any unwanted and uninvited attention.

It is always important to bear in mind that a power imbalance exists in a faculty-student relationship. This, coupled with students’ relative inexperience, requires all adult members of the Renaissance School community to display and live a strong sense of professional and institutional responsibility. In short, faculty and staff behavior with respect to students as well as to each other must be above suspicion.

The prohibition of sexual harassment is the law, and there is no choice for any organization but scrupulously to comply with Title VII and Civil Rights Act of 1964. There can be no hint of retaliation for legitimate reports of sexual harassment.

The reporting authority for all students is the Dean of Students or the Head of School. The reporting authority for all faculty is the Head of School. Reports will be strictly confidential. An investigation into any charge(s) will be conducted promptly. Anyone found to be in violation of this policy by the Head of School will be subject to appropriate action which may include separation from the School. Anyone who has made false accusations and/or accusations with the sole purpose of defaming may also be subject to separation.

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

Building & IT Steve Haske shaske@renaissanceschool.org

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Ti Ames tames@renaissanceschool.org