Student and Parent Handbook
Our Student and Parent Handbook is updated annually and contains important details about the polices and procedures of IVA. Click the button below to review the handbook in its entirety. For sake of ease we have also outlined some of the most often used sections in the dropdown menus below.
Click through each of the dropdown menus below to review details from specific sections of our Student & Parent Handbook.
Please contact us if you need support in clothing or other needs. IVA connects families in need with community resources. Families – we appreciate all dress code donations to help provide students with dress code clothing.
Please email info@ivalongbeach.org if you have questions or want to set up a time to drop off donations.
To promote unity and academic success, IVA requires students to follow the Dress Code. This Dress Code is meant to give students some flexibility and versatility while also giving clear guidelines about what is acceptable so that our work and interactions at school are focused on teaching, learning, and community building. These guidelines must be adhered to at all times while on campus.
- Fostering a sense of self-respect
- Supporting students to be leaders
- Maintaining a serious commitment to academics
- Promoting a safe community for all our students
*School appropriate means: Safe, respectful, non-revealing, and conducive to learning. No sexually related, gang, weapons, alcohol, or any drug references on any item of clothing.
SPIRIT WEAR
IVA spiritwear is within the dress code everyday. Purchase of Spirit Wear is optional and may be purchased online throughout the year thanks to the organization and support of the PTO. Please see weekly email newsletters for Spirit Wear sales and announcements.
DRESS CODE AT OTHER SCHOOL EVENTS
Required dress for any school event is in line with our regular dress code and requires a level of attire to fit the occasion.
Student behavior responses at IVA are based on positive support and involve multiple facets of support that include school staff, teachers, parents, and students. At IVA, student discipline is an important opportunity to encourage thinking habits in our students so that they can learn from mistakes and understand appropriate behavior as well as the consequences for our actions. Everything we do should support thinking and learning. But – don't mistake learning opportunities for an unresponsive discipline process. We are responsive to individual behavior concerns, as well as committed to helping students process the sort of conflicts that are normal at this stage in their lives. We have outlined behavior practices in our Schoolwide Behavior Support Framework. When discipline crosses the line of safety on campus we utilize our thorough Suspension and Expulsion Policy that is aligned with state and federal expulsion laws.
One important and potentially transformational element of our discipline process is to hold Restorative Conversations, which are adopted from restorative practices. These conversations are led by staff with time for each participant to be prepared before joining. Some of the most impactful conversations have included parents as appropriate.
It is our goal to create the most positive, least disruptive learning environment for our students. We serve middle school students and this age brings with it all the complications of growth and development, this is a tough time in the lives of kids. The combination of the age of our students and our role as a public school to serve all students means that we cannot promise an environment free from disruptions but we can commit to minimizing the seriousness and frequency of disruptions caused by student misbehavior through our school's policies. In order to prioritize learning at IVA, we take very seriously any distraction that might stop our students from being provided a positive learning environment. It is a part of our model of education to capitalize as best we can on mistakes, failures, struggles, and other "disruptions" as, potentially, teachable moments.
In response to overwhelming research about the negative impact of cell phone use on children, California Education Code 48901.7 requests that schools implement policies to limit or prohibit student cell phone and device usage on campus.
IVA students must keep cell phones, smart watches, and earbuds or other devices in their backpacks while on campus grounds, in the morning (before school) until the end of the school day. If a student needs to contact home, they may do so by going to the IVA front office. If a parent needs to contact a student we ask that they contact the office directly so that the student does not receive a violation for checking messages during the day. The bullet points below are exceptions to this policy:
- In the case of an emergency, or in response to a perceived threat of danger.
- When a teacher or administrator grants permission to the student to use the smartphone, subject to any reasonable limitation they may impose.
- When a licensed physician or surgeon determines that the possession or use of a smartphone or device is necessary for the health or well-being of the student.
- When the possession or use of a smart device or noise cancelling headphones is required in a student's individualized education program or 504.
If a student is observed with an electronic device in their hand or pocket, are wearing headphones, or are using a smart watch outside of the exceptions listed above, IVA staff will respond in the following manner:
- First offense: Students will be required to turn in their device to the front office until after school when the phone can be picked up by the student.
- Second offense: Students must turn in their device to the front office until after school when their parents will pick up the phone. The school office will notify the family so the caregiver can be present to pick up the phone at the end of the day.
- Continued offenses: A contract is created that requires the student to turn in their device to the front office each morning before school for one month. The student will pick up their phone each day after school.
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- Note: If a student fails to turn in their device to the front office, the student receives a reminder. If the student does not have their phone, or if they willingly choose not to turn in their phone, smart device or headphones, notification is sent home to the students' family and appropriate consequences/supports are put in place (i.e. request for parent conference, extended cell phone contract).
All IVA students are issued a personal Chromebook at the beginning of the school year. You can view our full Chromebook Policy here. This policy was included as part of the online enrollment process and student's review and sign the agreement each year when they receive their Chromebook. Some highlights of the policy include:
- Students/Guardians are fully responsible for the care of their personal device
- Chromebooks and the associated IVA Google accounts are the property of IVA. There is no expectation of privacy for any and all actions completed on the device.
- Students should charge their device at home every night and bring to school fully charged
- The full replacement cost of a Chromebook is $250
- Students must keep the case on their Chromebook at all times
- Stickers or other decorations are not allowed on the Chromebook or the case
- Chromebooks will be collected at the end of each school year
Paper/Pencil Supplies:
- Dry erase pens, pencils, colored pencils, blue or black ink ballpoint pens, eraser
- Literature & Composition: one college-ruled composition book
- Science: one college-ruled spiral notebook with full size pockets
- Math/Social Science/Creative Writing/PE: college-ruled loose leaf paper OR multiple-subject spiral notebook with full size pockets
Tech Supplies:
- Individual Chromebooks and a charger are checked out to students in the first week of school.
- Students are expected to bring their Chromebook charged to school daily
- Smart watches, phones, AirPods or personal headphone devices will not be used in classes, break or lunch and must remain in backpacks while at school
Central to IVA's mission is our virtues-based advisory program, which provides for small groups of around 8 students to meet with an Advisor every Thursday from 8:20 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. This time is intended to further the personalization of IVA's educational model by having in-depth check-ins with an adult mentor, who is trained in the language and concepts of intellectual virtues and follows a school-wide curriculum. Advisors get to know their advisees as thinkers and learners, create opportunities for exploration and practice of intellectual virtues, and create a safe environment for students to discuss their personal development of intellectual character. IVA staff and select volunteers undergo an application, selection, and appointment process overseen by the principal.
How are IVA's Character Conferences different than other types of student-parent-teacher conferences?
IVA Intellectual Character Conferences promote a deep understanding of a students' intellectual character rather than focus only on specific assignments, assignment grades, or due dates. Grades and assignments are important interactions in class that give students regular feedback. This grade-based feedback is best communicated through classroom-based interactions, and also through our Office Hours schedule, Google Classroom, and on Aeries as well as direct communication with teachers individually or as a group on ParentSquare.
IVA conferences focus on a big picture thinking practices and consider students' relationship to learning. Character conferences help the team to explore together how each students' mind works by discussing their intellectual virtue practice and common patterns of thinking or learning. The protocol of conference allows students, parents, and teachers to connect to support the student's goals for learning together. Conferences allow students to be seen and known.
Intellectual Character Conferences require the student. We know you know your mind best and our role as parent and teacher is to support your awareness of self!
Conferences are conducted in 20 minute time slots set aside with a specific protocol intended to:
- Empower students to talk about their approach to learning in school in a safe and comfortable conversation with parents and teachers.
- Help students, parents, and teachers use a common language when describing strengths and areas of growth.
- Discuss practical implications of intellectual virtue practice in school.
6th & 7th Grade Conference Protocol: Each member of the group responds to the following questions in a round with the student responding first, then parent(s), then teacher(s). These questions are posed to the student and the other participants will validate, provide details, and possible suggestions to help the student move toward their own goals.
- What intellectual virtue do you feel like you practice naturally or that you've seen yourself grow recently? How does that show up in your learning?
- What intellectual virtue do you want to grow in? How would those qualities show up in your learning?
- What other concerns do you have? What are your appreciations?
8th Grade Conference Protocol: Each member of the group responds to the following questions in a round with the student responding first, then parent(s), then teacher(s). These questions are posed to the student and the other participants will ask for clarification, validate, provide details, and possible suggestions to help the student move toward their own goals.
- In the last three years, what intellectual virtue practices have you seen yourself grow in and what do you want to focus on for continued growth in your intellectual character?
- What has been your relationship to learning in middle school and how do you anticipate that might continue and be challenged in high school?
- What are other areas concern? Appreciations?
Research has shown that the attitudes, behavior and achievement of children are enhanced when parents or other caregivers are involved in their children's education.
Parent and Guardian Feedback
Although Parent Academies are structured for parents to receive input, the collaborative nature of these meetings generates feedback that the Principal and leadership team integrates into various aspects of the school, from structure of parent conferences to newsletter content to Office Hour and discipline practices. IVA seeks regular and ongoing feedback from parents through these means in addition to an annual family survey. Families can also participate in the school through the PTO or IVA's Stakeholder Engagement Committee.
Parent and Guardian Support of Students
Parent involvement and support plays a critical role at IVA due to the unique educational model of the school. All parents are given information about intellectual virtues, their importance to learning, and how they can play a role in their child's intellectual character development. Parent Academies are held to assist parents in supporting their student's experience at IVA and the school will regularly communicate with parents about their student's progress and about school activities through report cards, regular grades, a weekly newsletter and email communication.
Modeling Lifelong Learning – Parent Academies
At IVA it is not only the student that gets to take time to think, process, and explore ideas together. IVA offers numerous Parent Academy evenings, in conjunction with our PTO, in order to support growth in and understanding of the practice of intellectual character virtues for our parents and guardians. Based on parent feedback, IVA schedules multiple Parent Academies in the first month of school to help acclimate families with technical questions and big questions about how thinking and learning works at IVA.
In addition, IVA provides Parent Academy nights annually include a focus on:
- educational theory and practice;
- our Advisory program and helping students towards intellectual exploration;
- developmental psychology of our middle school kids and;
- mindful parenting.
Our speakers are selected together by the IVA Administration and the PTO and are inspiring and educational nights that shouldn't be missed.
The California Constitution guarantees California children the right to attend public schools that are safe, secure, and peaceful. To this end, California Assembly Bill 1747 requires school to develop and annually update a Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP).
Click here to access the IVA Comprehensive School Safety Plan
Click here to access the IVA Staff and Student Interaction Policy
Besides being prepared in the event of an emergency, perhaps the most effective means to keep our campus safe is to recognize and address potential threats or issues before they arise. All students, staff, and parents are encouraged to share any suspicious activity with IVA leaders, no matter how small. If you see something, please say something.
Title IX and Anti-Discrimination
- Race, color, national original (including language use restrictions), immigration or citizenship status
- Religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices)
- Ancestry or age
- Physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, or genetic information
- Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth)
- Sexual Orientation or marital status
- Gender, gender identity, gender expression
- Military and veteran status
Discrimination based on any of the above characteristics, or based on any other legally protected category, undermines the character and purpose of IVA. Such discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying violates school policy and will not be tolerated.
For further information about Title IX specifically you can review this Title IX FAQ Document.
If you have additional questions regarding Title IX specifically or harassment/discrimination more generally, please contact our Title IX Coordinator:
Jacquie Bryant – Founding Principal
jacquie.bryant@ivalongbeach.org
3601 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807
Uniform Complaint Procedures
If you have any complaints please reach out quickly to the school by phone, email, or in person. It is the intent of IVA to hear and respond to all concerns in a timely manner.
When reasonably possible, attempts should be made to resolve complaints at the lowest possible level, with the direct parties involved. Most complaints will be resolved at this level. If no resolution is achieved between the parties directly involved, complaints may be referred to the IVA principal or office staff. Depending on the nature of the complaint, IVA shall investigate according to our general complaint procedures, or according to our Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) Policy. Complaints that may be addressed using the UCP are listed below:
- Discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnic group identification, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, color, a mental or physical disability, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in any IVA program or activity.
- Complaints of violations of state or federal law and regulations governing special education, Title II, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, consolidated categorical aid, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, migrant education, or a child nutrition program.
- A complaint that a pupil enrolled at IVA was required to pay a pupil fee for participation in an education activity.
- A complaint that the school has adopted a textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or curriculum that would subject a pupil to unlawful discrimination pursuant to California Education Code 220.
Should I copy LBUSD or LA County Office of Education into an IVA complaint?
IVA is authorized by LBUSD and yet, as an independent Local Educational Agency, follows CA Ed Code complaint procedures and IVA's Board Policy by processing complaints internally. If the complaint is regarding the school leader, you may decide to email your complaint to IVA's Board Chairperson, Dan Hertzler (dan.hertzler@ivalongbeach.org).
