High school classes are designed for high school students in grades 9 through 12 to gain credit towards high school requirements. High school credits must be earned based on “credit hours.” The following is an excerpt from the HSLDA website on determining credit hours:
"For courses that do not use a standard high school-level textbook (perhaps you are putting together your own unit study, or you are using an integrated curriculum), log the hours that your child spends completing the course work. One credit is approximately 120-180 hours of work. The upper end of this range (180 hours) is usually appropriate for lab science courses, while 150 hours is the average for a year long academic course such as English or History. Don't become legalistic in keeping track of each minute, but generally, when evaluating credit for an academic course, a good rule of thumb is 50 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 36 weeks, for a one-credit course."
1. In order to earn credit hours, high school classes will meet weekly to cover the credit hours.
2. Instructors will assign homework, tests will be administered, and grades will be suggested by the teacher unless the class is a lab only class or class description indicates differently. However, the parent will be the ultimate grade assigner for their homeschooled high schooler. Please support the authority of the teacher in the classroom who has taken on the responsibility and work load of many students to give feedback/grades for their overall improvement. Since students will meet weekly, it is expected that the student will keep up with the pace of the class and complete their assignments. If a student comes to class unprepared, the teacher should communicate verbally with the parent as soon as possible. If the student continues to be unprepared or does not complete the work sufficiently, the teacher, high school coordinator, Del Rio Homeschool Group directors, and the parent will meet to discuss the student’s enrollment in the course.
3. Planned absences should be kept to a minimum. Parents and students will need to coordinate with teachers to complete and turn in work in advance or after planned absences. For excessive absences, the teacher may not recommend the student earn credit towards the high school class.
4. Our disruptive behavior policy is consistent with that policy already in place at Del Rio Homeschool Group and will be enforced. Students asking for permission to be excused during class for bathroom breaks is considered disruptive unless a documented medical condition exists. DRHG Directors and the high school coordinator should be notified by email of such extenuating circumstances.
5. Parents may drop off their children and pick them up if they do not have helper obligations AND if they do not have younger elementary-aged students attending on elementary days. However, students that are picked up more than five minutes late more than once may not be allowed to continue in the high school classes unless the parent commits to staying at the church for the duration of the classes.
6. If the parent cannot commit to this, then the student will be dis-enrolled from the classes. Study hall will not be an option for dismissed students. If students are late to class more than fifteen minutes past the starting time of the class period, the student may no longer enter the class that day and will not be able to attend class until the next period. Parents may drop their children off no earlier than five minutes prior to class starting time.
7. Parents may be required to fill in as substitute teachers or helpers as the need arises. High school parents may also be required to fill in for childcare needs on middle/high school only days when normal elementary classes and nursery are not available. Children of any age are not allowed to run around the building or be left unattended.
8. The illness policy will be slightly different than the regular DRHG Illness policy. If there is another child sick in the house, but the middle school student is not showing any signs of sickness, they are permitted to come to class, as long as there have been no symptoms for over 24 hours. However, we ask parents to use good judgment in considering whether or not their child or family is sick and will infect other students and teachers. If a student is sick or may be and chooses not to come to class, students may FaceTime to listen to the class virtually so they do not miss material. Please be vigilant in cases with easily spread illnesses like the flu, mono, strep and stomach bugs that can wipe out an entire class especially if they are in close proximity to another as is the case in lab classes.
9. Unless the directors are notified by the parents of extenuating circumstances, high school students are expected to stay in their classes for the duration of the 60-minute class period. This includes bathroom and water breaks. There are break periods allotted which will allow students to use the bathroom and get needed water; therefore, leaving class is not necessary. Should extenuating circumstances arise, students will be excused. Repeated violation of this bathroom policy will result in the DRHG discipline policy being implemented for disruptive classroom behavior.
10. Students are expected to attend every class of the semester.
11. Because these classes will require much more planning and teaching than regular DRHG classes, in addition to class supply and lab fees, there will also be a fee for taking the class, payable to the teacher of the class. Once the class sign up deadline has passed, students wishing to sign up for classes will be subject to approval from the high school coordinator, directors, and teacher. Additionally, any student who signs up after the deadline and teacher purchase of supplies, will be responsible for any additional shipping costs associated with their supply purchases, as well as any other additional expenses incurred as a result of their late sign up.
12. High school students may withdraw from a class, without refund, for which they registered after the first meeting ONLY. Written withdrawal notification needs to be provided to the teacher, High School Coordinators and directors. DRHG membership dues will not be reimbursed.
13.We will meet for 32 weeks of the school year - 16 weeks each semester.
14. Teachers are required to complete lesson plans for each semester. This lesson plan will need to be available for a substitute if the teacher is suddenly unable to attend class on Friday morning. For planned absences, which are expected to be minimal, the teacher may coordinate with the substitute in advance to provide lesson plans and class materials. Teachers may choose to FaceTime into class if they are unable to attend class and deem their presence necessary.
15. Copies will be made by the DRHG copy volunteer. Copies may only be submitted by 3:30 PM on Thursday before class days. Please email copy requests to Bethany Rodriguez. It is preferred for copies to be made the week prior to your needs.
16. Students may only consume food in classrooms during their alotted snack time in Period 2.
17. Study Hall/ Hybrid Study Hall Students participating in either Study Hall or Hybrid Study hall should come prepared with school work or reading to do during the study hall. The only electronic devices that will be allowed must relate directly to their school work or reading. Electronic gaming and music are prohibited. Texting or making phone calls is not permitted during class hours.
18. Additionally, high school age students may volunteer to be a helper for a younger class instead of attending a class period. However, this must be a semester long commitment and approved by DRHG Leadership. Please submit offers to volunteer as a helper by email to thenextgeneration2010@gmail.com.
19. While high school parents are not required to be on campus at all times, they will however be required at certain times to fill helper spots, substitute, study hall, field trip/party helpers or meet childcare needs for high school teachers on a rotating basis. If a high school parent also has an elementary child, they will be required to be on property and available to help during elementary classes.
Violation of rules and policy will lead to dismissal from DRHG. We want co-op to be a rewarding experience, but expect our students to be privy to rules and policies and exemplify appropriate behavior at all times.
