August 2020

Dear Upper School Students and Parents:

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We are thrilled either to welcome you to Upper School (for our ninth graders and our new students) or welcome you back to Upper School. I hope that the summer has been restful and relaxing and that you’ve been able to find time to do something you love. Given the uncertainty of the months ahead as we address the challenges of the global pandemic, we ask that you enter the school year with flexibility and good will as we all sort through the factors that provide balance for safety and maximal time together on campus.

As you read through this Handbook (and yes, we do expect you to have read the whole thing), please remember that these guidelines and expectations are designed to help us as a school create an environment that allows you, the students, to make the absolute most of your time here. We want you to dig deeply into those passions that really excite you, and we want to give you time to explore what new areas of interest may await you. We want you to be devoted and committed students, prepared to enter challenging conversations with respect and care, accurate information and openness to new perspectives. 

The expectations outlined in this book are carefully thought out and revised each and every year. Should anything written raise any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to anyone in the Upper School Office. 

All the best for a great year!

Warmly,

Lenesa Leana
Upper School Director

Created by students and faculty in 1998, the honor code is inspired by the mission of the school. The honor code recognizes that the study and practice of honor in one’s own life is the foundation of individual character. Honor is more a matter of attitude and spirit than a system of rules. This statement calls upon each student to act in a trustworthy manner and to work for the common good as responsible members of the school community. By signing this formal pledge, students are acknowledging their individual and collective commitment to these principles in their daily lives at Breck.

Breck Upper School Honor Code

We value personal integrity and academic honesty as fundamental principles that must be upheld through attitude and spirit by all members of the Breck community in order to create an atmosphere in which trust, scholarship, and friendship may flourish.

The Upper School is a diverse community committed to creating an environment that promotes:

• A love of learning rooted in reflection, understanding, compassion, and integrity.
• Conversations between students and faculty forging relationships that strengthen the community.
• The courage to participate in the creation of a just, global community.

The Upper School Student Handbook, issued to every Breck student, is written as a guide for students to follow. It contains information, expectations, and policies that define the Breck experience. All students are expected to read the Handbook and understand its contents. 

 The Handbook is created and distributed by the Upper School Administration. It is revised yearly, based on community input from students, faculty, and parents.

See Student/Parent Portal for student leadership

A Breck diploma indicates the successful completion of a set of specific graduation requirements, and it recognizes the accomplishments made by a student towards the realization of the Breck mission statement. To that end, students are expected to meet the challenges that mission presents by taking responsibility for their own learning, recognizing their own unique talents and abilities and those of others, contributing to the life of the school, being open to new ideas, accepting a responsibility for the common good and helping to create a scholarly environment for all.

Schools and families share in the responsibility for the well-being of the students. To that end, the Upper School promotes meaningful, respectful and timely communication. It is the school’s expectation that students take the lead in communicating with faculty and staff.

Academic Communication

Parents are encouraged to call or email teachers with course-specific questions. Broader academic or social questions should be directed to the student’s Dean. To speak with a teacher or administrator, please use the online or printed directory to find their contact information. If a teacher or administrator is not available, please leave a message with suggested times when the call may be returned. Teachers and administrators will return parent communications as soon as possible. 

Academic Updates

Teachers will generally communicate with students and parents by email when:

• a student earns a C- or below on a significant piece of work or on a major test.
• a student’s overall earned grade is C- or below.
• overall grades and assignment grades are above C-, but the student shows patterns of poor performance in specific areas (e.g., written tests or turning in assignments late). 
• other reasons at the teacher’s discretion.

Narrative Reports

Teachers will write narrative reports for each student in each course. These reports are designed to give students and their parents a broad sense of the student’s progress in the course to date, trends in their work, and a teacher’s observations. These reports, taken as a group, give families an opportunity to evaluate a student’s work overall and should be used to help form approaches to future work.

Age of Majority

Breck considers those individuals who have signed the enrollment contract to be designated as educational decision makers. In keeping with this expectation, those parents and guardians who have signed the enrollment contract will also have access to a student’s educational records while they are enrolled at Breck School. This policy will remain in effect even after students reach the age of majority (18 years old).  Additionally, students in eleventh and twelfth grades (those most likely to turn 18 in a given year) will be asked to formally acknowledge their receipt and acceptance of all policies included in this handbook and the enrollment contract.  Students who are 18 years of age will be required to sign all trip waivers in addition to their parents.

Student Communication

Important messages received for students during the school day will be emailed to the student. Each student is issued a Breck email account. This serves as a primary source of communication for Breck correspondence. The students are responsible for checking their email regularly throughout the school day. Students will receive a daily bulletin (Mustang Minute) with calendar updates and other important announcements.

Parent–School Communication

Email Bulletin Boards

The school sends out weekly email Bulletin Boards to all parents each Thursday during the school year. These emails list Breck events and points of interest for the upcoming week. 

Student/Teacher/Parent Conferences

Student/Teacher/Parent conferences are scheduled for October 8-9, 2020, and Student/Advisor/Parent conferences are scheduled for March 4-5, 2021. These events are offered during the day and in the evening hours in order to meet a variety of family schedules. Parents will sign up for conferences using an online registration system. A mailing to parents before each conference date will give instructions for accessing the system. Students are expected to attend conferences with their parents.

Upper School parents are encouraged to discuss matters of concern about their children’s school performance or any other school-related issue with the appropriate teacher, advisor, or Dean. Parents with academic or classroom-related concerns should first contact the teacher of the individual course. Parents with concerns across several courses or activities may wish to contact the student’s advisor in addition to the teacher or teachers involved. For questions involving school policies, or for further clarification or discussion, parents may contact their student’s Dean. 

Campus Boundaries

For safety reasons, the school has specific boundaries for students during the school day. During the school day, all students (except seniors with off-campus privileges) must remain on Breck’s campus bordered by the driveway. Students are not to be in the Mustang lot, Senior lot, McKnight Stadium, Ottawa Field, Baseball Fields, Highway 100 Fields, or in the Faculty/Staff lot behind the school without permission from the Upper School office. The Breck School Anderson Ice Arena is off limits to students during tutorial and free periods. 

Chapel and Chapel Gallery

All students attend Chapel programs and are expected to conduct themselves appropriately. Because Chapel provides an opportunity for reflection, books, notebooks, electronic devices and the like are not allowed, nor are food and drinks. Students may only be in the Chapel or Chapel Gallery with permission. 

Dining Room

The dining room is open to students during their free time. After eating, students return their dishes to the dishwasher area, and dispose of their garbage. No dishes or other kitchen supplies may be taken from the dining room.  For more information on Dining Room menus and procedures, including allergens, please refer to our website: https://breck.flikisdining.com/

Hallways, Communal Areas, and Conference Rooms

Communal areas should be clear and quiet during class times. Students are to conduct themselves appropriately and respectfully in these areas. These spaces are available for academic pursuits when otherwise not reserved. Inappropriate behavior includes — but is not limited to — making undue noise, running or roughhousing, and throwing objects (e.g., Frisbees and balls). Inappropriate behavior may be subject to disciplinary action. Students should keep the hallways free for easy passage and take care not to crowd or in any way physically obstruct others from passing. Students need to keep their hallways clean.

Library

The Upper School Library is open during school hours Monday through Friday. The use of the Library is a privilege for Breck Upper School students who exercise common courtesies and use it for its intended purposes. It is a place for reference work, for getting material to prepare assignments, for engaging in quiet study, for completing make-up exams, for utilizing computers for academic pursuits, and for satisfying personal reading interests. Students may utilize the Library facility and resources freely throughout the school day. 

Please observe the following:

• Food and drink (other than water in a capped container) are not allowed in the Library.
• Conversation must be kept to a level that does not hinder the studies or purposes of other patrons.
• Academic pursuits are the primary focus while in the Library. 

Check-out information:

• Students may check out books for three weeks and renew them for additional time, if necessary. All items must be checked-out before removal from the Library.
• Magazines, reference books, reserve books, digital cameras and other audiovisual equipment and videos/DVDs circulate overnight only. They are due by 8:30 am on the following school day.
• Overdue notices will be emailed to students. Items not returned or renewed after receipt of the third overdue notice will be billed at replacement cost to a student’s account. Items not returned at the end of the school year will be billed to a student’s account. Any billed items returned within one calendar year will be refunded.

Lockers

Students are assigned lockers by the Upper School office. Lockers are considered school property and may be opened and checked by school personnel at any time. At the end of each school year, students are expected to clean out their lockers. The school is not responsible for loss or damage to property in lockers. The school will dispose of materials left in lockers at the end of the school year. 

Senior Commons

The use of the Senior Commons is a privilege. Seniors are responsible for keeping the area clean and for behaving appropriately.  The Senior Commons will often be used to host meetings with college representatives or for other purposes. These visits will take priority for use of the commons.

Samuel A. Salas Commons

Upper School students may study, talk quietly and relax in the Salas Commons. Fresh fruit and vending machine items are permitted in this area. Students are responsible for keeping this area clean. Students are NOT allowed to rearrange furniture in the Salas Commons.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is taken each class period. Students who do not have a first-hour class, and seniors who do not have senior privileges but do have first hour free, are expected to sign in with the Upper School Attendance Clerk by 8:30 am. Students who sign in or arrive to class after 8:30 am will be marked tardy. Students who are tardy must have a pass from the Upper School Attendance Clerk to enter a first-hour class. Tardiness is excused only under exceptional circumstances. 

If students are too ill to attend school, or must be absent for another reason, parents are asked to submit the absence using the Veracross Parent Portal or telephone the Upper School Attendance Clerk (763-381-8240) by 9:00 am each day. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these guidelines are subject to change based upon state and federal health guidelines. A child must be fever free for 24 hours without any fever reducing medications. Their body temperature must be less than 100 degrees in the past 24 hours before giving medication to reduce fever. There should be no vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours. Students should be able to tolerate eating as they normally would and have the stamina to get through the demands of the school day. If having your child at school would put others at risk for contracting your child’s illness, please keep them at home. For extended absences (more than one week), we will ask you to provide a note from your physician. 

Students are granted an excused absence from school if they:

• Are ill or injured;
• Have an emergency or a death in the family;
• Have completed an absence agreement form (see Prearranged Excused Absence on page 25).
  • a verified medical or dental appointment;
  • an approved college visit or meeting;
  • school-sponsored event; or
  • an appointment that cannot be scheduled outside of the school day.
• Students/parents must have an official verification of visit from the medical/dental office.
• Have other reasons approved by their Dean.
• All extracurricular participation is suspended with absences (excused or unexcused) unless approved by the Upper School office. This includes absences due to illness.

The school asks that every effort be made to schedule appointments outside the school day or during the student’s prep time. (See Upper School Athletic Attendance Expectations in the All-School Policies section.)

To fully benefit from their Breck education, students must be present in all of their classes and service commitments. In keeping with the spirit of this requirement, the school will treat any days missed that are extensions of already existing vacations as unexcused. The school recognizes that families may, under extraordinary circumstances, need to make exceptions to this policy. In these cases, students must fill out an Absence Agreement Form at least one week before the planned absence and have it approved by their Dean. Students who become ill during the school day may be excused to see the nurse. Students must have a pass from their classroom teacher or the Upper School office if they become ill.

To return to class, students must present a pass signed by the nurse. If, after one hour, a student is not well enough to return to class, the nurse will call the parents to take the student home early. Student absences will be considered unplanned and unexcused if they leave school, ill without checking out of the nurse’s office. 

In case of an emergency, the nurse will be called and will decide the next course of action in consultation with Upper School administration. 

Absences from Class

Excused Absences Due to Illness

Students who are absent one or two days due to illness have two days to make up the work. Students who are absent three days have three days to make up work. Students who are absent for longer than three days must work with their teachers to arrange a make-up schedule. Extensions and exceptions to this policy may be arranged with their Dean. Regardless of the length of absence, students are responsible for obtaining all assignments by checking the course website or contacting their teacher.

Absences Not Due to Illness

Absences that the student knows about in advance must be accompanied by an Absence Agreement Form handed in at least one week prior to the planned absence. (For example, if a student will be gone on Friday, then the student must return the form by 3:15 pm on the preceding Friday.) This form should be completed by the student, signed first by the student’s Dean, second by the college counselor (if college-related), and only then taken to teachers. The student’s Dean will determine whether or not the absence is excused. (Family vacations and days on either side of scheduled school vacations are not excused. Family weddings and funerals are excused.)

• Prearranged Excused Absence
  When an Absence Agreement Form is completed, it is the responsibility of the student to work with the teacher and complete as much work as possible before the student leaves. All remaining work is due by 4:15 pm or time designated by the teacher the day the student returns. Extensions and exceptions to this policy may be arranged through their Dean.
• Prearranged Unexcused Absence
  When an Absence Agreement Form is completed, it is the responsibility of the student to work with the teacher and complete as much work as possible before the student leaves. All remaining work is due by 4:15 pm the day the student returns. All work completed following a prearranged unexcused absence will receive 80 percent of the grade earned. Note: An unarranged, unexcused absence is considered a skipped class, resulting in a penalty of 50 percent of the grade earned.

Excused Absences for Athletic Competition

The following guidelines have been adopted to help students and faculty respond to extracurricular absences sponsored by Breck School. Our primary objective is to allow the student to be successful in extracurricular events while maintaining the academic energy of the school. While the school feels very fortunate to have so many successful extracurricular programs, we must also adhere to the belief that in order for students to benefit fully from their Breck education, students must be present in all classes possible.

• The student(s) shall not miss regular school day obligations in order to view parts of the event in which they are not participating. Any student(s) missing obligations on such days will be considered ineligible for remaining performances in that event. 
• Both the Athletic Director and the Upper School Director will decide the time of dismissal from school that is appropriate for the student(s) on the event days.
• The student(s) must complete all homework, quizzes and tests prior to the absence and get the next day’s assignments prior to leaving. Missed work due to the absence must be made up the following day or the Late Work Policy will apply. (See Late Work Policy on page 13.) A student who misses two days will have two days to make up work.
• It is the responsibility of the student(s) to be prepared for homework, quizzes, and tests upon their return to school. Any extensions or exceptions to this policy may be arranged with the classroom teacher and their Dean, but must be done so prior to the absence. 

Excused Absences for Part of the School Day (other than medical appointments)

Students are required to submit an Absence Agreement Form when missing part of a school day. Students who miss a class because of athletic activities or scheduled field trips must hand in homework due in missed classes and get the next day’s assignment prior to leaving. Missed work from class must be made up the following day or the Late Work Policy will apply. (See Late Work Policy on page 13.) If students have an excused absence from a class but are otherwise in school, they adhere to the following policy:

• Students who are late to school (excused) make up all work from the missed classes that same day by 4:15 pm, or time designated by the teacher, or the Late Work Policy will apply.
• Students who miss classes during the day (excused) for reasons other than athletic activities or full-day scheduled field trips make up all work in missed classes that same day by 4:15 pm, or the Late Work Policy will apply.
• Students who leave early due to a prearranged excused absence, such as a doctor’s appointment, make up all work they miss before they leave school that day, or the Late Work Policy will apply.
• Students who leave early due to an illness excused by the school nurse make up missed work the following day if they return to school or the Late Work Policy will apply. 
• All extracurricular participation is suspended with absences (excused or unexcused) unless approved by the Upper School office. 

College Visits

On-Campus College Representative Meetings

Twelfth-grade students who wish to meet with college representatives visiting Breck must request permission at least one day in advance from teachers whose classes they will miss and assume responsibility for making up all missed class work by 4:15 pm, or time designated by the teacher, the day of the college representative visit. If the teacher denies permission to attend the session, students must attend class. Students attending sessions must sign in with the college representative. Eleventh-grade students who have a free period during that time are also welcome to join these college meetings.

Off-Campus College Trips

Seniors are encouraged to use non-school days and other vacation times for college visits. The student’s College Counselor must approve and sign an Absence Agreement Form for off-campus college trips during school days. Students work with the College Counseling office to obtain the necessary forms and information so that they fulfill all obligations. 

Dances

All dances are open to every student in grades 9-12 except the Prom, which is open only to juniors, seniors and their junior or senior guests. Students register guests in advance with their Dean and introduce them to the school chaperones upon entering the dance. Students and their guests are subject to all school regulations. Once students or guests have left a dance, they may not return. Students must arrive at a dance by 9:00 pm; no one will be admitted after 9:00 pm. Exceptions must be approved by the Upper School Administration. Students and their guests are subject to all school regulations.

Dress Code for dances shall be consistent with the expectations of Upper School. 

Dances  will start at 8:00 pm and end at 11:00 pm. Changes in times may be made by the Upper School administration.

Dress Code

The dress code has been established to allow for diversity and individuality in dress while maintaining a standard appropriate for school. The School reserves the right to determine what acceptable dress is. Students should be responsible and use discretion in following the dress code. 

Students are expected to be dressed appropriately for the occasion or task at hand, and in a manner that will not detract from the personal safety of the individual or group. A shirt, bottom (pants, shorts, leggings, a dress, etc.), and footwear must be worn at all times. Clothing that is see-through, displaying offensive or distracting words, pictures or slogans, advertising or promoting alcohol, illegal drugs, or a controlled substance, or containing sexual innuendos is not allowed. 

If a student is in violation of the code, please share that information with the student’s Dean. Students will be counseled by their Dean if their clothing is deemed inappropriate. 

Tops:

• Exposed undergarments, midriff, and chest are not allowed.
• No references to drugs, alcohol, sexual content, and/or offensive language is allowed on any article of clothing.

Bottoms:

• Pants must be worn above the hip line with no undergarments exposed.
• Skirts, shorts, and dresses must be no shorter than mid-thigh.
• Pajamas or comparable sleepwear is not permitted.

Footwear:

• Open-toed shoes are limited to dress sandals

All-School Dress-Up Days

All-School Chapels, Founders’  Day, Grandparents’ Day, Upper School Opening and Closing, and other days designated by the administration are considered designated “dress-up” days. On these days, appropriate dress is either a tie, dress shirt, dress pants, appropriate shoes, and coat (optional); or appropriate dress, skirt or dress pants with a blouse, and appropriate shoes.

Driving/Parking

The school grants driving privileges to students who:

• Have a valid driver’s license;
• Watch the Breck Transportation Driving Protocol video provided by the Breck Transportation Department;
• Register their vehicles with the Transportation Director who issues a parking sticker and assigns a parking lot;
• Park their vehicles only in designated student spots within their assigned lots. Student vehicles found in faculty-designated areas, visitor or handicapped parking spots or fire lanes may be towed at the owner’s expense. Parking on Ottawa Avenue or neighborhood streets is not permitted;
• Drive carefully. Careless driving or any other abuse of the driving privilege results in the suspension or revocation of the driving privilege. 

Electronics 

When students are free (passing time, lunch, free periods, etc.), they may use all capabilities of their mobile phones EXCEPT for placing or receiving voice or video calls. If students need to place or receive calls on their phones, they may step into the upper school office or a classroom and ask permission to use their phones. 

Students who choose to use their mobile devices during the school day are advised that such devices are not permitted in the Chapel or during advisory, service, assembly or other scheduled Breck obligations. In all settings, particularly during class time, it is the school’s expectation that students will use their devices in a manner consistent with the school’s overall behavioral expectations. Teachers will have the final say regarding technology use in their classrooms. Careful consideration should also be given to how and when a device’s recording capabilities are used; ways in which technology can be a distraction; ways in which technology can aid in cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty; and how technology use impacts the learning environment.

It is the sincere hope that we are thoughtful and intentional in our use of technology. The connections that we form during the school day are some of the most important aspects of a Breck education. 

Should the above policy in any way interfere with the healthy growth and development of the Upper School community and the individuals that comprise the community, it will be reconsidered and possibly revoked.

Guests

All student guests must be scheduled through the Upper School office.

Money and Valuables

Students should not bring large sums of money or items of great personal or monetary value to school. The school cannot assume responsibility for the loss of such items. 

Senior Privileges

Please refer to the Senior Privilege Contract for further explanation (available in the Upper School office).

Signing In/Signing Out

Students entering or leaving the school campus between 8:30 am and 3:15 pm must sign in and sign out in the Upper School office. This is done electronically, through the attendance system, at kiosks available in the Upper School office. 

A student must have communication from a parent to sign out. Students without a note must have their Dean’s permission before signing out. For absences from school because of athletics or other school-sponsored activities, refer to the Attendance Policy on page 24.

Unscheduled Time

The amount of unscheduled time in student schedules varies from day to day. It is a part of an Upper School education to learn to use time effectively. Students may use unscheduled time during the school day to:

• study or do research in an appropriate student area;
• meet with a member of the Breck faculty or staff;
• socialize in an appropriate area.

The school’s expectation is that the use of electronics for entertainment is not appropriate during the school day. Students who want to use athletic facilities or equipment during their prep periods must obtain permission and arrange for supervision from the Physical Education or Athletic Department. 

Breck strives to promote a supportive and ethical community for individuals of different backgrounds and talents. The community’s success is in direct relation to the individuals’ concern for each other and for the school. It is important for Breck School to have a healthy environment in which to learn and work. Consequently we, in turn, have a responsibility to uphold the Upper School Honor Code and Mission. Breck School is clear about its expectations of its students and equally clear in our understanding that students will, with honesty and integrity, be forthright when they do not meet those expectations. 

The Enrollment and Tuition/Fee Contract that parents sign annually states “You and the student agree to accept the rules and regulations of Breck School that are stated (in the contract) and appear in the student handbook, catalogs, ‘Back-to-School’ mailings and any other written or verbal communications from us to you and the student.” The failure of a student to abide by Breck School’s rules and regulations—including its rules of student conduct — can constitute a breach of that contract and can result in its termination and the dismissal from enrollment of the offending student. 

Disciplinary Process

Teachers and administrators handle disciplinary problems by speaking directly to students and attempting to resolve difficulties. In certain circumstances early warnings are given. If there are minor offenses, the Dean designs appropriate responses through discussions with the student, parents, and the Upper School Director. In certain disciplinary cases (primarily pertaining to Academic Dishonesty), the Upper School Director will convene the Student Integrity Council. Occasionally the Upper School Director may convene a subset of the Student Integrity Council consisting of the seniors and faculty members of the council in order to discern the appropriate next steps.

The Upper School Student Integrity Council consists of two or more students from each of the sophomore, junior and senior classes, two faculty members, the student’s Dean, and is chaired by the Assistant Upper School Director. In the event that a major school rule violation has been committed, the Student Integrity Council may be convened. The Student Integrity Council will hear cases with the exception of the following: invasion of privacy of a student, invasion of privacy of a teacher, or a breach of confidential communication. In practice, the Student Integrity Council hears cases pertaining primarily to Academic Dishonesty. A student may also waive their right to go before the Council allowing the school to make a decision about the discipline based on the infraction 

When it is convened, the council meets with the student involved. The student’s advisor will be present for guidance and support. First the student is asked to explain their understanding of the incident. Then the council president will ask questions to clarify factual issues. The floor is then open for any council members to ask questions. 

After this step, the student leaves and their advisor may speak on their behalf bringing any knowledge of the student to the group so that they may make the most informed recommendation for the student’s future. When the advisor leaves, the council deliberates and recommends a course of action to the Upper School Director who makes the final disciplinary decision in conjunction with the Head of School. The Dean then communicates the decision to the student and the student’s parents/guardians both orally and in writing. Copies of these letters are kept on file in the Dean’s office. In the event of suspension, the Dean will have an additional meeting with the student upon their return to school. Students will be expected to arrive back to school having reflected on the experience in writing.

Disciplinary Warning

At times during the school year students may find themselves faced with a situation not aligned with the affect or behavior expected by members of the Upper School in accordance with Breck’s Mission and Values. If these community expectations and behaviors are not met, a student may receive a disciplinary warning, in writing, from their Dean. If the issue is not resolved, or multiple warnings have been issued, a student may find him or herself moving on in the disciplinary process.

Disciplinary Probation

Disciplinary probation places a student on notice that if he or she becomes involved in a significant disciplinary situation during the probationary period, he or she is subject to dismissal. At the end of a student’s probationary period, their Dean may recommend to the Upper School Director either extension or termination of probation. 

Suspension

Suspension is the temporary separation of a student from the community for no more than ten days. The terms of the suspension are defined in each instance but, in general, suspension involves the school’s temporary withdrawal of the student’s right to attend classes. When serving a suspension, the student must turn in all missed graded academic work and makeup tests or quizzes upon their return to school. Faculty will not be expected to offer help in assignments under these circumstances. The student’s Dean and the Upper School Director in consultation with the Head of School will determine the terms of suspension. The decision of the Head of School is final and is not subject to appeal. 

Dismissal

Dismissal from Breck may be the consequence of violating one of the major rules stated below and is determined by the Head of School in consultation with the Upper School Director, the Assistant Upper School Director, and the student’s Dean. The Head of School makes the final decision from which there is no appeal. Students who have been dismissed may visit campus only with the permission of the Upper School Director.

In addition, students may be dismissed under the guidelines of the academic probationary policy. 

Contracts of students on probation may be held until the end of the academic year. The school reserves the right to review any student who has been involved in any school violation to determine their re-enrollment. Any such decision would involve the Upper School Deans, the Upper School Director and the Head of School.

Reporting of Disciplinary Outcomes

In accordance with the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Principles of Best Practices, Breck will comply with colleges’ requests for information regarding applicants’ disciplinary records by requiring students to inform colleges in writing of any significant disciplinary or academic misconduct, either before or after their submission of applications. Full support from the school is contingent on students’ direct communication to all colleges or universities that request disciplinary information.

The following school rule violations are considered minor: 

Being tardy to class; being absent from class; violating the dress code; going to the parking lot without permission. 

Minor infractions of the school’s standards may be handled through disciplinary warnings or Wednesday School, which is a mandatory after-school detention period from 3:20-4:00 pm.

The following school rule violations are considered major: 

An accumulation of minor offenses; leaving campus without permission; skipping school; dishonesty; stealing; cheating; plagiarism; vandalism; possession/distribution or use of alcohol, mood-altering chemicals, narcotics, drugs, other controlled substances, or look-alike substances, except as prescribed by a physician to the student, which includes one student sharing prescription medication with another student; violence; verbal, physical or other kinds of harassment; hate speech; violation of the student technology operating policy; and possession of a weapon. 

This list of violations is not to be considered exhaustive. The School will be the final decision maker as to what constitutes a major rule violation.

As explained in this section, students who violate these major rules will be held strictly accountable and may be subject to dismissal. In addition to the major rule violations in this section, the following are grounds for dismissal:

• willful conduct that significantly disrupts the rights of others to an education, the ability of school personnel to perform their duties, or school-sponsored activities;
• willful conduct that endangers the student or other students, or surrounding persons, including school employees or property of the school.

Academic Honesty

Throughout the year, faculty and staff discuss academic honesty — including plagiarism — with students and reinforce the school’s expectations on cheating including what constitutes the difference between collaborative/cooperative learning and cheating. Students are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty; ignorance is not an excuse. 

Cheating includes:

• turning in work that is not your own;
• not collaborating on a paper or project where all members are responsible and claiming credit;
• copying someone else’s work or allowing someone to copy your work;
• sharing or acquiring test information except as allowed by teachers;
• using crib sheets for exams except as allowed by teachers;
• turning in work that has already been credited in another class;
• other situations judged dishonest by the school. 

In addition to disciplinary measures as described in the Violations Process, and Disciplinary Action section, school policy requires that no credit may be given for the work in question. 

Plagiarism, the theft and misrepresentation of the original author’s ideas as one’s own, is a serious form of academic dishonesty. You avoid plagiarism by documenting the words and ideas of others when you use them in your writing. The following are forms of plagiarism: 

• presenting someone else’s idea but not documenting it (so the idea seems to be yours);
• presenting someone else’s words without documenting them (so they seem to be part of your own writing);
• quoting someone else’s words—perhaps even documenting them—but failing to use quotation marks (see The Practical Writer 4). 

The English Department and the Upper School Library provide handbooks to serve as the guide for style and format at Breck. Students are expected to use this guide and to see teachers or the Librarian if they have questions or need help understanding the expectations. Students are responsible for knowing and following the teacher’s requirements for a particular assignment. 

MSHSL Policies

Breck is a member school in the Minnesota State High School League, which may inform additional sanctions.  For more information, please see the Minnesota State High School League Rules section of the All School Policies portion of this handbook.

Boundary Violations

For safety reasons, the school has specific boundaries for students during the school day. Students are not to be in the parking lots without permission from the Upper School office. 

Dress Code Violations

Students need to dress according to the spirit of and the letter of the dress code. (See Dress Code.) Students violating the dress code may be asked to change or go home. If a student must leave campus to change, their absence will be considered unexcused.

Tardies and Absences

• Unexcused tardies — Accumulation of excessive tardies or absences may be considered a major school rule violation, and students who are repeatedly tardy will be reported to their Dean who will communicate with the family. 
• Students who miss a quiz or activity at the start of a class due to tardiness must make up any missed work by 4:15 pm, or time designated by the teacher, or the Late Work Policy will apply. Students who are tardy to the first class of the day must have a pass from the Upper School office in order to be admitted to class. For unexcused tardiness, an additional 50 percent unexcused absence penalty is applied.
• Coming to class 15 minutes after the start is considered an unexcused absence.
• Failing to fill out an Absence Agreement Form will result in an unplanned unexcused absence. An unexcused absence will result in forfeiture of extra curricular activities for that day.
• Faculty and staff will report the third Wednesday Community Engagement absence for the school year to the student’s Dean and the Service Engagement Coordinator.
• A student who is absent for ten or more classes (excused or unexcused, including illness) during a semester will receive credit for the semester only upon the review of the circumstances of the absences and the final level of achievement in the class. This review will be done by their Dean in consultation with the student’s teachers and the guidance committee. Based on that review a recommendation will be made to the Upper School Director and the Head of School. 

Please refer to Veracross for the most up-to-date schedule information.

All-School Chapel

All-School Chapels are normally scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month; any variations are listed in the Breck Calendar.

Advisory

Advisors are an important member of student’s support team in the Upper School. Parents and students are encouraged to use the student’s advisor as a guide when navigating the rigor of the Upper School.

Counseling Services

The role of the school counselor is to help students access their education. The Upper School Counselor is available to all students for guidance and support. Students may access the counselor in person, or via email communication. Parents or guardians of students are also encouraged to consult with the counselor for situations concerning their student. 

Identification of Chemical Involvement

If a student has not violated school rules with their alcohol or chemical use, but is identified as having possible chemical involvement through shared concerns, a conference will be scheduled between the school and the family. This conference, which can be initiated by any of the parties described above, will focus on a plan to evaluate the student’s possible involvement with chemicals and to address any problems identified through that evaluation.

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

Each fall the Assistant Upper School Director produces a current list of clubs and activities. During the first month of school, students have an opportunity to attend an activities/club fair. The administration supports these clubs and views participation in these activities as both supportive of community life and as leadership opportunities.

Athletics

Information about Breck’s Athletics programs may be found on page 2 of the All-School Policies section of the Handbook.