Student Handbook

Handbook Parent Consent Form 
 
 

Please complete the form found in the QR code above or complete the questionnaire below. By signing below, I acknowledge I have re       viewed the school handbook and related school policies, and I acknowledge that my child is responsible for adhering to these policies and may face consequences for failing to comply. 

Please complete the information below for the 2025 – 2026 school year. 

Students Preferred Name (print):  _____________________________________________ 

______ I acknowledge that students and staff will use this name to reference my child. (Parent initials) 

______I acknowledge this as my preferred name. (Student initials) 

Please initial below if you DO give specific permissions for the student listed above:  

_____I DO give permission for the RISE licensed mental health professional to administer non-academic surveys for information to help provide the most appropriate mental health support. (Parent initials) 

_____I DO give permission for my student to attend field trips sponsored by RISE Charter School. Details for each field trip will be provided before each trip. (Parent initials) 

_____I DO give permission for my student’s image, words, or work to be in the school yearbook. (Parent initials) 

_____I DO give permission for my student’s image, words, or work to be on RISE social media. (Parent initials) 

_____I DO give permission for my student’s to participate in Lockdown Drills. (Parent initials) 

_____I DO adhere to the Kimberly School District’s Bus Policy 8140 and understand the consequences for misconduct as outlined in the policy. 

 
_____ We, the parent(s)/guardians of __________________________________________(student) have read and understand the contents of the RISE Charter School Handbook. We agree to follow the procedures and the policies outlined therein.   We understand that the school reserves the right to amend policies and procedures when necessary, and that we will abide by policy changes. Any changes made to the Handbook will be distributed by the School. The Handbook is not an enrollment contract. 

Parent/Guardian Signature:_________________________________________________________ 

Date: ___________________________________ 

What Curriculum Do We Use? 

RISE will continue to adopt the same curriculum however; Summit Learning is now called Gradient Learning. This curriculum helps us grow the WHOLE student and pairs Habits of Success with academic knowledge. This year the curriculum is on the Canvas platform and should be more user-friendly than ever before! The curriculum within Gradient Learning will also be updated to the following: 

For grades K-3 our students will learn to read with a combination of strategies and curriculum including Little Minds at Work, Heggerty, UFli, and EL. Grades 4-8 will use EL and grades 9-12 will use O’Dell for language arts.  Illustrative Math is the curriculum used for all grades of math. History will be a combination of OER, Open History, Investigating History, and Constitution 101. Science for all grades will be OpenSciEd. 

What are the 16 Habits of Success? 
 

Bus Information 

Riding a bus to and from RISE is a service provided by the Kimberly School District and may be revoked for disorderly conduct or unacceptable behavior. Students must adhere to Kimberly School Districts Policy 8140. Students shall be under the authority of, and directly responsible to the bus driver. Students are assigned a bus based on their address. It is unacceptable to ride a bus that is not your assigned bus. Contact the Transportation Department at 208-423-4170 ext. 3328 to set up bussing when enrolling each year.  Should you need further information or if you have a transportation problem, contact the Transportation Office at 423-4170 ext. 3306.  

Motorized and Non-Motorized Vehicles 

No motorized vehicles are allowed on campus.  Non-motorized vehicles are to be walked on campus and kept locked outside in the bike rack.  RISE is not responsible for lost or stolen items.   

Early Pick Up 

If you need to pick up your child before the day’s end, please check them out at the office. All students must be signed out prior to leaving the campus. If there is a change in your child’s transportation for the day, parents or guardians must notify the school by 2:30 p.m., except in the case of an emergency.

Message To Students 

If a parent must bring homework, books, or other materials to a student during the school day, it should be taken to the office for delivery.   

  Cell Phone Policy 

*All grades K-12: No cell phone allowed during school hours, on campus, but may use it before and after school. (See Govenor Little’s Phone Free Learning Act 2024-11.) 

If a phone is seen during school time, it will be confiscated and taken to the front office. Please see Violation of Cell Phone Protocol for consequences; 

If your child needs to contact a parent or guardian, they will be allowed to use the phone in the front office. 

Visitor Check-In / Check Out 

All visitors, including parents not familiar to the staff, must show a valid ID and sign in at the office before proceeding to their destination. Parents who are only dropping something off should leave it at the office for delivery to the student. If someone other than the parent is picking up your child, they will need to be checked in at the office and show a picture ID. Parents or guardians must give permission for any alternate pickup arrangements. 

Parent Volunteers 

RISE welcomes and values the contributions of our parents and family members in various volunteer roles throughout the school year. A volunteer form will be available at the front office. Parents who work one on one directly with students must be approved by the administration and have a background check (cost covered by the school). 

Alternative Transportation 

All students will be expected to be transported to and from school-sponsored activities (field trips, etc.) on buses provided by the school district. Alternate transportation may be provided if the Alternate Transportation Arrangement Form (from front office) is filled out by the student’s parent/guardian and the individual providing the transportation. 

Weather Related Closings 

RISE Charter School follows the Kimberly School District in matters regarding school closure due to inclement weather. Decisions regarding closure are made daily by 6 a.m. and all local news agencies are notified. You may access-up-to-the- minute information through TV/Radio and our social media pages. Generally, if Kimberly School District is closed, then RISE Charter School is closed too. 
 
Extreme Weather/Conditions Policy 

Outdoor recess will be cancelled when the conditions are beyond what the staff determines to be safe. These conditions may include excessive or strongly blowing snow, extreme temperature and/or wind chill, unsafe air conditions (smoke from fires, etc.). 
 
Winter Clothing 

RISE staff will remind students to bring appropriate winter clothing for outdoor recess/play. Should a child forget this equipment a reminder note, or phone call will be sent home from the school.  

Fire and Lockdown Policies 

Fire drills will be held regularly throughout the school year. On occasion, a Lockdown Drill will be performed, and although only a drill, it may be traumatic and/or upsetting to some students.  Please let administration or your child’s teacher know if your student cannot participate in a lockdown drill. In case of a fire alarm, students will exit the building immediately to a designated area. In a lockdown, the administrator will work with campus safety personnel and the local police department to ensure the safety of all children and school personnel. 

School Website / Media  

The school website / Facebook is an ongoing communication platform between the parents and the school. School news, school calendar, classroom news, teacher email links, and other helpful information is regularly updated at www.risecharter.school as well as www.facebook.com/risekimberly and RISE Instagram account at rise.kimberly. 

Parent / Teacher Events 

Many events including a fall fundraiser dinner/concert, fall parent teacher conferences, fall literacy night, holiday concerts, talent show, spring stem night, and a school musical are held during the year and are posted on the school website and Facebook and Instagram pages. Parents are invited to attend monthly board meetings and other training and support meetings. 

Emergency Information 

Please keep the office apprised of an up-to-date emergency contact and phone number and authorized persons who may pick up your child from school. 

Counseling / Guidance Services 

In general, conferences with the counselor will be arranged at the students, staff or parent’s request. The counselor will send for the student from class as soon as possible.  

Students in Media and Photographs 

If you would prefer not to have your student’s image, work, or words published or posted on social media, the school yearbook or in media please opt out by leaving it blank on the Parent Consent form on page 1. 

Food Services 

Please complete the free and reduced lunch form this will help the school with federal funding even if you do not qualify. Should your child have food allergies, make complete the Food Allergy form at the front office. 

Restrooms 

Restrooms may be used during class with the teacher's permission. Students should use the restroom in the building where they attend class unless permitted otherwise. 
 
Food and Drink In Class 
Staying hydrated is important and water is the preferred beverage. NO ENERGY DRINKS ARE ALLOWED ON CAMPUS. Any food in class is at the teacher’s discretion. 

Sexual Harassment 

It is the policy of RISE Charter School to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from sexual harassment.  RISE Charter School prohibits any form of sexual harassment. It shall be a violation for any student or employee of RISE Charter School District to harass a student or an employee through conduct or communication of a sexual nature as defined by Policies 3290, 3085, and 5240. 

Dangerous Items 

Firearms, explosives, smoke or fire-producing items, knives, or other weapons must NEVER be brought to school or on the bus. If a student accidentally brings a dangerous item to school, he/she should immediately turn it into the principal. See policies 3300 and 4300 for details. 

Lockers 

Students will be assigned a locker each year. Students may not trade or share lockers without permission from the office. Combination locks may be purchased at the office for $5.00 if students choose to lock their locker.  The combination will be on file with the office. General inspections of lockers may be conducted by school authorities for any reason, at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant. Administration has the right to cut the lock off.  Under no circumstances should a student give his/her combination to someone else. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Replacement for broken locks or locker doors from being mishandled will be charged to the student. 

Curriculum: Gradient Learning 

Grade Reports 

Kindergarten through 5th grade teachers will communicate regularly with parents including grade concerns.  RISE student’s 6^th through 12^th will, in collaboration with their mentor teacher, send a weekly email to parents with a grade report.  Parents may also log in to your student’s Gradient Learning account to see their To Do List and grades.    

Letter Grade Breakdown 

Gradient Learning emphasizes the belief that all students should have the opportunity to persist until they have demonstrated true mastery with a grade of A, B, or C. Aligned to this belief, there are no letter grades “D” or “F” in Gradient Learning, until the end of the quarter. Instead, if a student has not demonstrated C-level mastery, that student’s grade is “Incomplete” until the end of the year at which time it will become an “F”. 

Quarter Grades 

Official grade reports are distributed to students four times a year and become a part of the students’ permanent records.