Clarifying Student Expectations
Wildcat Families,
As we look forward to the start of the school year, it is important to clarify important information about a few expectations to help ensure a smooth start. The areas below were particularly challenging last school year, so we want to remind everyone of these key expectations. We appreciate you talking with your students about these rules and partnering with us for a productive and exciting start to the year. We too will be reviewing and reminding students of these expectations.
Attendance
Improving attendance is a major goal of CVHS this year! Attendance concerns have significantly increased after the pandemic, and we want to make sure all of our students are successful. Attendance and punctuality are critical to student success in the classroom, and absences add up over the course of the year. Being present in school for all classes is of utmost importance, unless the student is sick or out for another excused reason. Missed days, including excused absences, and late arrival can lead to stress on students who must make up the coursework on their own. Tips for encouraging school attendance can be found here.
Students should be in school by 8:00am with the first class starting promptly at 8:10. Traffic is heavy on school mornings, and students must plan ahead for the extra time.
Please seek to avoid vacations during school days when possible. Time is set aside during the school year for travel including winter break, spring break, and several student holidays scattered throughout the year.
CVHS attendance expectations and reporting procedures can be found on our school website here.
Cell Phone Use
In alignment with FCPS Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R), Students are not permitted to use their cell phones during class time. Phones must be away. Phones or headphones are not allowed to be used during instructional time.
Phones may be used by students during their lunch time and during passing times between classes. Once class begins, however, all phones will need to be silenced and put away.
The following are not approved exceptions for phone use:
- Not having a working or charged laptop
- Listening to music while working in class
If a student has difficulty adhering to this school-wide policy, the following steps will be followed:
- Teacher will remind student of the policy (warning)
- Teacher will privately converse with the student about the rule (in the hallway or after class, for example) and communicate with the parent.
- Teacher will refer the student to their assigned administrator for further action if the behavior continues.
Please help us reinforce with students that their phones need to be away during class so they can focus on learning.
Bathroom Safety
Occasional bathroom breaks are necessary during the school day; however, prolonged periods of loitering in areas with limited supervision, especially in groups, can have negative consequences for both the individual student and the overall school community. In recent times, schools across Fairfax County and the nation have faced increased incidents related to drug use, including the use of substances like fentanyl. The bathrooms, being private areas, are unfortunately more susceptible to such activities. Security and administrators will routinely monitor the bathrooms to the extent possible. We request your support and cooperation in encouraging responsible behavior and reinforcing appropriate bathroom usage habits. We also ask that students notify a staff member immediately if they witness any dangerous bathroom behavior.
Back to School Clothing
The FCPS student dress code has been updated and can be found here in Regulation 2613.12. It can also be found on pages 15 & 16 of the SR&R. We ask that parents review the dress code expectations with their students and help to ensure compliance. Things to consider when choosing what to wear to school:
- Avoid clothing including any inappropriate language, images, symbols, or references to weapons, alcohol, drugs, or illegal activity.
- Avoid any clothing that exposes undergarments, underwear, or private parts.
- Clothing for certain classes, such as physical education, may have additional expectations.
Thank you for helping us ensure that students are dressed appropriately for the educational environment.
Lunch & Food Deliveries
Students are not allowed to leave campus during lunch, eat in their cars, or order food from a delivery service during school hours. If a student forgot their lunch, parents or guardians can bring lunch and drop it off in the main office. Students may also purchase lunch in the cafeteria. When ordering food, students will often have a delivery driver come to an entrance other than Door 1, which compromises the safety of the entire school. Our office staff does not have the time to accept and manage food deliveries and will not open the doors for Uber Eats, GrubHub or any other service.
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