ACADEMIC POLICIES
Grading Scale
A: 100 – 90 – Excellent – Student excels and fulfills their potential.
B: 89 – 80 – Very Good – Student participates and completes assignments well.
C: 79 – 70 – Good – Student adequately completes assigned work.
F: 69 and below - Unsatisfactory
PowerSchool
All student progress is tracked on PowerSchool, our student database server that directly connects students, teachers, administration, and parents. Students are evaluated continuously and progress reports are issued at the end of each semester. We do not advise teachers and parents to use PowerSchool as a micromanagement tool, but rather, we challenge students to be in charge of their own education.
Grade-Point Average/ Credits
A student’s cumulative grade-point average begins at the first semester of their freshman year.
A: 4.0
B: 3.0
C: 2.0
F: 0.0
Grades are averaged and reported at the end of each semester. The final grade determines whether the student receives credit for the semester in the particular course. A student who fails the first semester, passes the second, and obtains a yearly average of 70 or higher can receive credit for the course. A student who passes the first semester but fails the second must repeat the second semester, regardless of their yearly average. All students who fail a class must retake it in summer school in order to return to Khabele the following year. Students may elect to take the course at the Khabele Summer School program or an equivalent at an accredited program or school.
Weighted Courses
The school has approved the following courses as weighted courses:
o All AP® courses
o Honors courses
o College courses
o Transferred IB courses
Weighted courses are worth 1 extra grade point per class (For example, a student who earns an “A” in the regular class will be awarded a 4.0 for that class. An “A” in a weighted course is valued at 5.0.)
Tutoring Policy
The Executive Director’s approval is required prior to hiring a Khabele staff member to tutor a current Khabele student. All of the same school policies apply in the conduct of the staff member and student during off-school tutoring. Tutoring must occur after school hours. The Khabele School reserves the right to 10% payment.
Tutors who use the Khabele campus space and/or recruit from the Khabele community are required to obtain approval from the Executive Director and enter into an agreement with the Khabele School. Khabele reserves the right to charge a percentage fee in these cases.
 Academic Integrity
Plagiarism is theft of intellectual property and is not accepted at Khabele. Students are expected to comply with and uphold the guidelines regarding plagiarism. Students violating this policy will be required to attend a discipline hearing with the Honor Council.
Khabele School Honor Roll
Khabele School Honor Roll and High Honors status are awarded at the end of every school year at the Khabele Awards Ceremony. Honor Roll students are awarded a certificate and are acknowledged for their extraordinary academic performance.
To be eligible for Honor Roll:
o Student must maintain a 3.5 grade point average.
To be eligible for High Honors:
o Student must maintain a 3.75 grade point average.
o Student must complete one volunteer project, community service project, or internship each semester and be awarded “extraordinary service or performance” status by volunteer coordinator, community service teacher, or employer.
Standardized Testing
The Khabele School requires that all returning students and new applicants undergo either a standardized achievement test and/or formal educational evaluation every 12-month period. We recognize the following assessments:
o Stanford Achievement Test (www.harcourtassessment.com)
o Iowa Test of Basic Skills (www.education.uiowa.edu/ itp.itbs/)
o Independent School Entrance Exam (www.erbtest.org)
Testing allows us to place students in classes appropriate for their learning levels and helps to provide a long-term tool for fine-tuning our curriculum. Every year in the Spring semester, the Khabele School administers the Stanford Achievement Test and sends parents results along with end-of-the-year grades and transcripts.
Completion of Credits
All high school credits must be completed in grades 9 through 12. The Khabele School considers transfer credits from public schools, private schools, and home-schooling programs. The Executive Director must approve all transfer credits.
Incomplete Credits
Students may receive incompletes for the following reasons:
o If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student’s work is not completed within the grading period and the teacher chooses to give the student a two-week extension. An incomplete becomes an F if the work is not complete and submitted by the deadline.
o If a student’s family has not met financial obligations prior to the end of the grading period. Grades and transcripts will be awarded upon receipt of tuition and fees owed by the date specified by the Executive Director.
All incomplete credits from the Spring semester must be completed by the next Fall semester.
Semester Grading Periods
All courses are segmented into quarterly grading periods. Formal progress reports are distributed at the end of each semester. Comments are generated each quarter, and quarterly grades are averaged to provide the semester grade.
College Planning and Preparation
All juniors and seniors are required to take the College Planning course. In addition to this class, Khabele recommends other educational services, including career assessments, SAT/ACT prep, and support with putting together a resume, completing college and scholarship applications, writing college essays, and compiling a portfolio. All students must apply to at least 5 colleges during the Fall of their senior year.
Assistance for Students in Academic Difficulty
Every committed student has the opportunity to succeed at the Khabele School. We will not dismiss a student until we are 100% certain that we have exhausted all resources. When a student is experiencing difficulty, teachers, advisors, and administrators may develop a support contract with the student including, but not limited to, the following:
o Mandatory office hours
o Mandatory organizational method
o Parent conferences, parent phone calls, or parent contract
o Student/teacher conferences and consultation
o Weekly written progress reports
o After-school tutoring
o Assignment of a peer tutor
o Assignment modifications
Snow Days and School Closures
Driving conditions determine the cancellation of school or the changing of hours. In the event of bad weather, we normally follow AISD decisions. Non-weather related school closures and delays will be communicated by email and posted on the website.
SCHOOL CULTURE AND CONDUCT
School Culture
An essential aspect of Khabele is our commitment to developing a healthy and supportive school culture. While it is difficult to quantify the presence of culture, it is one of the most critical influences on the student’s education. Therefore, we do not tolerate bullying, gossip or any other demeaning or disrespectful behavior among the student body, between staff members, or among any members of the Khabele community. We encourage and maintain a high level of mutual respect among all community members.
Code of Conduct
The Khabele School has the authority and responsibility to establish rules and standards, which may require academic, moral, and ethical behavior that is considered beyond the standards of society at large. The principal responsibility for proper conduct rests with students, and they all are encouraged to resolve conflicts of individual rights and responsibilities themselves. The Directors, Honor Council and/or teachers will become involved, however, when a student cannot resolve a conflict, when there exists a reasonable basis to believe that local, state, or federal laws have been broken, when there could be or is potential for personal harm or property damage, or when there exists a reasonable basis to believe that the school’s conditions or policies have been violated.
The Khabele School requires students to obey local, state and federal laws. Khabele does reserve the right to hold responsible students whose behavior either on or off campus blemishes the Khabele School’s general image or reputation or otherwise evidences disregard for the safety, well-being, or rights of others. If a student is involved in an illegal act off campus, the school reserves the right to initiate disciplinary action.
Community Agreements
The community agreements are made by each individual in the Khabele School community. They are intended to create a foundation of trust upon which the community can grow and develop. It is understood that we cannot expect to be in accordance with every agreement 100% of our lives. Rather, in making these agreements, we commit ourselves to the active pursuit of their fulfillment. Thus, our fundamental goals as a community are aligned, and we may actively support one another in our journey.
Being a part of the Khabele community entails adopting these five agreements.
The Khabele School Agreements:
 - to contribute to and embody the mission of the school.
The mission of Khabele is to cultivate learning communities in which each and every student, parent, and staff member realizes their profound beauty, falls in love with learning, and lives with courage and authenticity
- to practice Direct Communication.
Direct Communication means bringing resentments, concerns, and issues to the person/s involved, and refusing to gossip or spread rumors
- to complete when I break my word.
Completion means acknowledgment of the impact of breaking one’s word and attempt at restoration
- to do my best in each moment
To do your best is to be present and give yourself fully to each moment, whether you are in class, eating dinner with your family, or hanging out with friends
- to support others to live true to their agreements
Supporting others is being willing to be helpful and compassionate, as well as holding community members accountable to their agreements and commitments.
Student Leadership
There are several established ways for students to develop leadership skills at the Khabele School. These include the Community Leader program, the Honor Council, the Admissions Council, the Shadowing Committee, leadership and organization of Pitsos, and participation in Parent Summits. In addition, students are encouraged to develop novel and personally relevant initiatives and programs to exercise leadership as opportunities arise.
Student Input on Policies
Many of the policies in place at the Khabele School have been suggested by students. Considering the health, safety, and welfare of the student body AND the school’s mission, these students saw the need for policies to be made or revised. If a student would like to request a policy addition or change, the student may submit a formal letter in writing to the Dean of Students or a School Director. All requests will be reviewed and considered by the administration, the Community Leaders, and/or the Honor Council.
All-for-One Policy
If there is a major disciplinary issue that involves more than one student, off-campus privileges for the whole student body may be revoked by the Dean or Directors. The purpose of the All-for-One policy is to hold students accountable for their Promises while developing a greater awareness of the detrimental effect of individual actions on community. Often, students fail to recognize that certain actions can have a devastating consequence on the whole communities. The All-for-One policy is designed to enable community members to increase this awareness of the impact of their actions on the school.
Energy Drinks
So-called “energy drinks” such as Monster and Red Bull are prohibited on campus due to their disruptive effect on the educational atmosphere and their high levels of caffeine, a physiologically and psychologically addictive substance. For the purpose of this policy, “energy drink” is defined as any drink containing more than 60mg of caffeine per container intended for individual use.
Tobacco Use
In 1997, the Texas Legislature enacted a bill (SB 55) that made it illegal to sell tobacco products to minors—those younger than 18 years of age. Consistent with Texas law, the School expects all students, faculty, staff, their guests, and the guests of the School to comply with and uphold these guidelines. Possession, use, or distribution of tobacco products will result in a discipline hearing with the Honor Council.
Alcohol
Consistent with Texas Alcohol Beverage Control Laws, students under 21 years of age are not permitted to possess, consume, or distribute alcohol. Students, faculty, staff, their guests, and guests of the School are expected to comply with and uphold these guidelines regarding alcohol. Possession, use, or distribution of alcohol will result in a discipline hearing with the Honor Council.
Drugs
As with any school, the Khabele School exists within the larger culture, a culture that abounds with both positive and negative influences. One of the most pervasive and dangerous of these influences is the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, we cannot realistically expect to be totally immune to the corrosive effects of our culture’s widespread substance abuse. We live in a city and country with some of the highest substance abuse rates in the world. Given this context, it is our duty to formulate and maintain a clear policy for responding effectively to those influences.
As a cultural phenomenon, we recognize that substance abuse is primarily addressed in the family. Parenting is the main factor in preventing children from venturing into drug and alcohol abuse. We believe in the importance of parents taking the time and energy to prepare their children for a world inundated with substances, legal and illegal. If you have a student, or know of a student who is struggling with these issues, please do not wait for the school to handle it.
Our role as a school is to provide resources for families in their efforts to educate their children to make healthy choices and to avoid dangerous situations. The School Counselor may be contacted if you are in need of support in dealing with these issues. In addition, we can connect community members with primary resources that assist parents in educating themselves and their children on the issue of substance abuse.
In addition, the school will become directly involved if one or more of the following circumstances arise:
o If students are intoxicated at school or school functions
o If students are in possession of substances at school or school functions
o If substance abuse outside of school or school functions is brought to our attention
o If the integrity of the school is affected by substance abuse-related actions taken by students
In the instance that one of these events occurs, the school may choose to respond in a number of ways. Potential consequences include, but are not limited to:
o Suspension
o Expulsion
o Honor Council hearing
o Drug assessment, at the family’s expense
o Substance abuse education, at the family’s expense
o Substance abuse treatment, at the family’s expense
Dress Code
We believe that personal appearance reflects a student’s attitude toward the school and toward him or herself. We require our students to dress appropriately and in a way that respects the Khabele School learning environment. This includes but is not limited to the following:
o No clothing promoting, expressing, or suggesting sex, drugs, violence, alcohol, religious intolerance or obscenities may be worn.
o No clothing with inappropriate advertisements may be worn.
o Suggestive, low cut, or overtly revealing clothing is not acceptable.
o Shorts and skirts must fall below a student’s fingertips when his/her arm is hanging straight down along the body.
o No clothing that is excessively revealing, including of cleavage, skin between shirt and pants/dress, or skin from wearing tank-style or spaghetti-strap dresses
o Undergarments cannot be showing.
o No pajamas are to be worn to the Khabele campus.
o Shoes must be worn when walking on and around campus.
o Clothing should not be excessively tight. Shirt buttons need to lie flat with no gaps. Pants should not pull across the back or cut into the skin.
o Facial piercings and guages are not permitted.
o Any other attire or grooming that is perceived by the administration as detrimental to the educational process will not be allowed.
Teachers and administrators who notice a dress-code violation will send the student to the Dean of Students who will contact the parent(s) and have the student change clothes or go home.
Property Damage
When property is damaged, it is the school’s policy to have the responsible parties pay for the repairs.
Computer Use
One of the objectives within the Five Attributes is that “Our graduates are technologically adept. They understand and use technology in enriching, enlivening, and meaningful ways. They relate to technology as a means for contributing value to their lives, their communities, and the planet.” It is the teacher’s responsibility to create and uphold a classroom environment where computer use is consistent with this objective. It is also the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that transgressions are dealt with directly. The following list outlines the policies regarding computer use at Khabele:
o Laptops should only be in use in class when specifically called for by the teacher.
o Viewing of pornography or indecent material is explicitly prohibited.
o Use of web cams for non-educational purposes is prohibited.
o Streaming video or music for non-educational purposes is prohibited.
o Downloading non-educational media files is prohibited.
o The use of proxies to avert the school’s firewall is prohibited.
o Playing non-educational video games on campus, at any time, is expressly prohibited.
Should a student break this policy, the consequences are as follows:
o First violation: Laptop will be taken up by teacher and given to front desk until the end of the school day. In the instance that a student is found to be viewing pornography or indecent material, they will be referred directly to the Dean of Students.
o Repeat violation(s): In addition to above, student shall be referred to the Dean of Students and/or School Director and may be called before the Honor Council. Student’s parent(s) will be notified.
Cell Phone Use
Student’s cell phones should always be completely silenced and put away when in class. Should a student forget to silence their phone and/or cause a disruption with a phone, the student will be given a grace period of one interruption before any action is taken. Should a student intentionally or repeatedly break this policy, the consequences are as follows:
o First violation: Cell phone will be taken up by teacher and given to front desk until the end of the school day.
o Repeat violation(s): In addition to above, student shall be referred to the Dean of Students and/or School Director and may be called before the Honor Council. Student’s parent(s) will be notified.
Student Rights, Privileges, and Requirements
The Khabele School is an academic and social community dedicated to the development of each individual. All members of the Khabele School are guaranteed certain rights and privileges as long as they abide by the conditions for membership in the community. For students, these rights include, but are not limited to:
o The right to an education
This includes the reasonable and legal use of all services and facilities intended for the purposes of development and growth.
o The right to study and work in a safe environment in accordance with the purposes of the Khabele School
This right includes the freedom to learn in comfortable surroundings without fear, without humiliation, and without destruction or diminution of self-esteem, integrity and personal character.
o The right to safety of persons and property
All individuals have the right to personal safety, to be free from offensive, unruly, or disruptive behavior by others. Included in this is the freedom from personal force, violence, and threats of personal abuse or harassment, either as individuals or as groups.
o The right to privacy of information
Individuals have a right not to have personal information displayed in public. Specific policies governing this right may be found in the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.” (A copy of this Act is available for reading in the school office.)
Searches
Students shall not have any reasonable expectation of privacy toward school administrators or teachers regarding the contents of school lockers, desks, or other school property. School personnel shall have access to school lockers, desks, and other school property to supervise properly the welfare of students. School lockers, desks, and other school property may be opened and examined by school officials at any time.
Nondiscriminatory Policy
The Khabele School is a private, co-educational junior and senior high school that admits students and makes personnel decisions on the basis of individual qualifications to contribute to the Khabele School’s educational objectives. The principle of not discriminating on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, parental or marital status, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, or disability unrelated to the job or to the academic requirements is consistent with the mission of the Khabele School and the law. The Khabele School is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and operates in accordance with federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Health, Safety, Welfare Policy
Whenever an incident occurs at the School that compromises the health, safety, or welfare of any student, faculty, or community member, the witnessing student, faculty, and/or community member will complete the Khabele School Incident Report Form immediately following the occurrence. Incident Report forms are available in the school office, and all completed forms will be given to the Director of Operations for review. Completed forms will be kept on file with student records.
School Related Injuries
It is the policy of the school to treat minor injuries (scrapes, insect bites, bruises, bumps, etc.) with cold compresses, ice, topical creams, or Band-Aids as the need arises. Parents will be notified about minor injuries at the discretion of the administration. When confronted with major injuries, school staff will address the child’s needs, contact parents, notify the Dean or Director, and, if required, transport the student to the nearest hospital emergency department. It is the responsibility of the parent to provide updated medical information to the Registrar (allergic reaction to medication, inoculation, etc.).
Medication Use
The Khabele School does not administer medications unless absolutely necessary. Parents must make any necessary arrangements with the Director of Operations. With the exception of the Director of Operations, staff members are not permitted to supply any medication to any student. Unless a written agreement is secured through the Director of Operations, prescription drugs, controlled medications, or non-controlled medications are prohibited on campus.
High School students may carry and self-administer their own nonprescription medication if the following criteria are met:
o The medication (including but not limited to: ibuprofen and acetaminophen; vitamin supplements; homeopathic remedies) must be in the original properly labeled container and easily identifiable.
o The student must bring a written request from a parent stating that the student knows how to properly self-administer the medication.
o The student understands that sharing their medication with another student may result in expulsion.
o The student does not bring any medication to school that can effectively be administered solely at home.
Students possessing medicines (including prescription and over the counter, herbal, or organic materials used for illicit purposes) in a manner not consistent with the school policy may be disciplined for possession of a controlled substance or intent to distribute, regardless of whether or not the student has a prescription for the medicine. Examples are expired medications, altered medications (e.g. pulverized), medicines not in the original packaging, and medicines packaged in a manner consistent with illicit distribution (foil, baggies, or deceptive packaging). Exceptions to this policy can be requested by providing a written document to the Office Manager explaining the student’s condition as well as a doctor’s note verifying the specific use and circumstances.
Off-Campus Privileges
All Khabele School students in grades 9 – 12, and Community Leaders, Admissions Council, and Honor Council members in grades 6 – 8 are potentially eligible for off-campus privileges on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. All students are required to be on campus for Thursday community lunch.
When off campus, all students are forbidden to loiter in and around Shoal Creek, the bike park (unless procuring permission to ride from the Dean or School Director), the Khabele Studio, or any place where there is little or no adult presence.
All students are required to remain on campus during the first quarter. Ultimately, it is within the Advisor’s discretion to determine each student’s off-campus status throughout the remaining year.
Middle School Community Leaders, Admissions Council, and Honor Council members, and High School students achieve off-campus privileges by:
o Being in good academic standing (GPA = 3.0+)
o Maintaining good attendance: Accruing no more than 3 tardies in any week, and no more than 3 consecutive absences in any class in a given quarter
o Having a permission slip signed by their parent
o Having a permission slip signed by their Advisor
o Acquiring the consent of the Dean of Students
For safety reasons, all Middle School students leaving campus must go in groups of at least two. Also, all students must sign out at the front desk before leaving campus. Students violating either of these policies will be referred to the Dean.
Off-campus privileges may be revoked by the Dean of Students, School Director, Parent, Student, or Advisor in the case that a student’s GPA falls below 3.0, or if a student has excessive absences, tardies, or other disciplinary issues.
Off-Stage Passes
Students with off-campus privileges will be given a customized pass to have in their possession at all times while off-campus. If a student is found off campus without their pass, their off-campus privileges will be retracted for one month. Any further violations of the off-campus policy will result in a referral to the Dean, School Director, or Honor Council. Replacement passes can be purchased from the Director of Operations for a $5 fee.
Attendance and Tardiness
The Khabele School values integrity. Students must therefore attend all classes and be on time. Being on time at Khabele means being present at the time a class is to begin. If a class is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am, students should be in class ready for it to begin at 9:00:00 am. An absence is considered excused if the student has a doctor’s note or a note from home. Students who have excessive absences (even from home or a doctor) may be denied credit for their course.
Over 10 absences per semester (excused or unexcused) is considered excessive, and may result in loss of credit. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the administration.
In addition, more than 15 tardies in a given semester is considered excessive, and may result in a hearing with the Honor Council, at the Dean of Student or advisor’s discretion. All students who are absent or late are required to call the front desk, (512) 480-8142, before they are scheduled to arrive.
Religious Observances
In order that no student at the Khabele School suffers academic penalty because of the conscientious observance of a religious holiday, faculty members follow a uniform policy regarding such observances. The School considers religious holidays for the student body as a whole to be the following: Yom Kippur, the first day of Passover, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Kwanza, and others upon request. If requested, the student will not be required to participate in major school events on these holidays.
Students whose conscientious religious observances require their absence on days other than or in addition to those named above can make use of the following procedure prior to the holiday. If written notification is delivered to the school office at least one week before the holiday, the student’s absence on the holiday will be regarded as an authorized one, and the student will be excused from quizzes and exams for that day. Under these circumstances the student will be permitted to take a make-up quiz or exam without penalty. A similar option exists with respect to papers; if proper notification is delivered to the course instructor, the student will be excused from submitting a paper due on that holiday.
Textbooks
Textbook fees are included in the annual $250 supply and registration fee. This fee is due upon application and/or registration. The student to whom textbooks are issued must pay for lost or damaged school-owned books.
Field Trips
Field trips complement the school curriculum and are taken throughout the school year at the teachers’ and Operations Director’s discretion. Parents will be notified well in advance that the field trip will be taking place. One permission slip that covers all trips during the academic year will be on file in the school office so that it will not be necessary for a permission slip to be signed before each trip.
Locker Use
Each student will be assigned a locker for the year. We strongly recommend that all students keep their personal belongings and their laptops locked in their lockers when not in use.
Laptop Requirement
We require all students to have and use their own laptop computers. Many colleges require incoming freshman to have laptops. We are committed to having our students prepare for college as early as possible. Using technology in their day-to-day schedule empowers students to be responsible, organized, efficient, and professional in their projects and assignments.
Early Drop Off Policy
Students may be dropped off as early as 8:00 am each morning. The school is not responsible for any issue or occurrence that happens before 8:00 am.
Late Pick-up Policy
All students are required to be picked up no later than 6:00 pm at the end of the school day. The school is not responsible for any issue or occurrence happening after 6:00 pm.
Parking
Students are responsible for the security of their vehicles and should make certain that they are locked and parked legally before entering the school. All staff and students who plan to enter the building for more than 5 minutes must park in the back parking lot. The front parking lot is reserved for visitors and parents and should only be used for long term parking if the back parking lot is full. Students must park in the designated areas between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. Students are expected to park straight and not take up more than one space.
Students will be held responsible for any prohibited items found or seen in their cars. Only state inspected and insured vehicles will be allowed in the parking lot. All unauthorized vehicles or suspended vehicles will be towed at owner’s expense.
Transportation
The Khabele School does not provide transportation to and from school. If it is necessary for a child to go home with someone other than the person who usually takes him/her, the school must be previously notified in writing or by phone.
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