Student Handbook

Absence Policy/Guidelines 

In Case of Illness/Sickness 

Parents are encouraged to keep sick children at home until all signs and symptoms of illness cease (including fever, nausea, diarrhea, etc.). Parents will be contacted if a child is running a fever of 100 or above. Please make sure the child has been fever free without fever reducing medicine for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Children will be placed in a quiet isolated area until picked up if they are running a fever or sick. If your child is absent, please call or email the school and notify the front office of your child’s absence. When your child returns to school please send in a written note explaining the reason for his/her absence. Notes need to be in no later than 3 days after the absence. If we do not receive notes about absences they will be coded as unexcused. If your child has 10 or more unexcused absences we MUST have a doctor’s note to excuse any further absence. 

For any illness, children may not remain in care at school if they have any of the following symptoms: 

● Temp. of 100 degrees when taken under arm or 101 when taken orally 

● If a child gets a sudden onset of diarrhea, or has 2 or more episodes of vomiting within a 12 hr. period 

● Red or Pink eyes with white or yellow eye discharge/may return 24hrs. after treatment has begun 

● Scabies or lice (remain home until clear and treated) 

● Chicken pox or a rash suggestive to chicken pox 

● Tuberculosis, may return to care after a health professional states the child is not infectious 

● Strep Throat may return 24 hrs. after treatment has begun 

● Pertussis or whooping cough, may return 5 days after appropriate antibiotic treatment 

● Hepatitis A virus infection, may return 1 week after onset of illness or jaundice 

● Impetigo may return 24 hrs. after treatment has begun 

● Flu Diagnosis, may return after a healthcare professional says it is not infectious 

Letters/Phone Calls/Meetings regarding Absences 

When a child is absent for any reason you will receive a phone call letting you know your child was absent. Absences are addressed in the following manner: 

1. After 3 unexcused absences parents/guardians will receive a letter from the school through mail. 

2. After 6 unexcused absences parents/guardians will be notified by the school attendance administrator and will be mailed a letter discussing our policy and the Compulsory Attendance Law. The letter goes over our policy and explains the NC Carolina School Law, Article 26, 115c-378 (Compulsory Attendance Law). 

3. After 5 unexcused absences parents/guardians are required to have an in-person meeting with the Student Support Team to discuss ways of improvement. 

4. After 10 unexcused absences only doctors notes will be accepted. 

5. If a parent or guardian does not make a good faith effort to come in for a meeting after 10 unexcused absences, the attendance administrator may file a truancy charge with the magistrate. 

6. Any child with 20 days or more of excused or unexcused. absences may be retained in his/her current grade level. (This is also stated on letters that are sent home from the school.) 

Please understand the importance of attending school. We try to work with parents and families as much as we can in regard to sicknesses and other health issues, but excessive absences can result in violating the NC Compulsory Attendance Law. 

Tardy and Early Dismissal Policy/Guidelines 

Students that are not in their classrooms by the 7:45 then they will be counted tardy. After 7:45 you are required to park and come in to sign your child in at the front desk. 

Any student that is not signed in before 11:30 a.m. or checks out before 11:30 and does not return to school will be counted absent for that school day 

Unexcused tardiness and unexcused early dismissals that impact instruction will be addressed in the following manner: 

1. After 3 instances, students will have a letter sent home that goes over the policy. 

2. After 6 instances, parent contact will be made by the school social worker and a letter will be sent home. 

3. After 10 instances, parents/guardians are required to have a face to face meeting with the Director/Designee to discuss further action. 

Educational Opportunities 

We understand that families plan vacations and other trips throughout the school year that may be considered educational opportunities. Parents must fill out the educational opportunity form no later than 2 weeks prior to the trip. Failure to meet the deadline will result in unexcused absences. Please turn the form into the front office. The Director will determine if the trip is considered educational and give approval. The classroom teacher will prepare assignments and what will be 

expected of the student during their time out of school. Please understand that work is involved and it is up to each individual teacher on what will be required for their class, while the student is absent. A student can receive up to 5 excused absences or educational opportunities per school year. Educational opportunities request forms will be posted online and kept at the front desk. If you have any questions regarding this policy please contact the Office. 

New Dimensions Charter School Dress Code Policy 

New Dimensions Charter School recognizes that student dress significantly impacts behavior, academic engagement, and the overall learning environment. Additionally, the school acknowledges the role of parents in guiding their children to make appropriate choices regarding clothing, accessories, and personal appearance. 

To foster an atmosphere conducive to learning, all students are expected to dress in a manner that reflects good taste, respect for themselves and others, and adherence to school expectations. 

General Guidelines 

The following dress code provides guidance for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. While this list outlines specific expectations, it is not exhaustive. The school director reserves the right to determine whether any attire violates the principles of this policy. Decisions will consider the student's developmental level and ability to understand the significance of appropriate dress. The Board at New Dimensions School has adopted the following dress code to promote a positive and distraction-free learning environment. All students are expected to comply with the guidelines below. 

Shirts/Tops 

● Must be a solid color with a collar (tank tops are not allowed). 

● Logos must be no larger than a closed fist. 

● No holes in tops and undergarments must not be visible. 

● New Dimensions hooded sweatshirts or solid-colored hoodies are allowed. ○ Hoodies must be worn with a uniform shirt underneath. 

Bottoms 

● Must be a solid color made of cotton or twill material. 

● Not permitted: Denim, sweatpants, spandex, leggings (unless layered), jeggings, or nylon. 

● Acceptable items include: Pants, capris, shorts, skirts, skorts, scooters, and jumpers. 

● Leggings may only be worn under skirts, shorts, scooters, skorts, or jumpers. 

● All bottoms must be at least mid-thigh in length. 

● Bottoms must not have holes or rips. 

Shoes 

● Must be closed in the back or have a supportive strap. 

● Prohibited shoes: Flip-flops, jellies, bedroom slippers, wheeled shoes, or high heels. 

Accessories & Outerwear 

● Clothing must fit appropriately. Clothing should not be form-fitting or oversized. 

● Pants and shorts must be worn at the waist and shirts should not be tight across the chest or midsection. 

● Midriffs and undergarments must remain covered at all times 

● Baggy clothing that obscures the shape of the body or causes safety concerns is not permitted. 

● Students may wear solid lightweight jackets inside. 

● Heavy coats must be removed after entering the building. 

● Students may wear New Dimensions or solid color hooded sweatshirts. ○ All hooded sweatshirts must be worn with a uniform shirt underneath. 

● Clothing may not include offensive, racial, or vulgar words or images. 

● No references to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons are allowed on clothing. 

● All headwear (including hats, caps, visors, bandanas, scarves, etc.) must be removed inside the building unless required for medical or religious reasons. 

● Costumes or custom accessories are not permitted, except on designated dress-up days such as Book Character Day. 

Face Masks/Coverings 

● New Dimensions will follow state requirements for face coverings. 

● If required, face coverings must be free of offensive content, including: ○ No racial or vulgar word 

○ No drawings of weapons 

○ No references to drugs, tobacco, or alcohol 

Warrior Fan Friday Dress Code Policy 

Effective for the 2025–2026 School Year 

To promote school spirit and unity, Warrior Fan Fridays will be celebrated each Friday during the 2025–2026 school year. On these designated days, students are permitted to dress down following these guidelines. 

Tops: Students may wear New Dimensions t-shirts or sweatshirts or New Dimension colors (blue, yellow, or white). 

Bottoms: Students may wear jeans or athletic apparel. Leggings may be worn only under skirts, shorts, skorts, scooters, and jumpers. The length of shorts, skirts, and scooters must be mid-thigh length. Bottoms must not have any holes. Bottoms must not have any holes or rips. 

Dress Down Day Dress Code Policy 

As Designated on the School Event Calendar 

Occasionally throughout the school year, Dress Down Days will be scheduled and noted on the official school event calendar. On these days, students are permitted to wear more casual attire. 

Students are allowed to wear pants (without holes), shorts/skorts/capris (appropriate length-see regular dress code), appropriate shirts (no spaghetti strap tanks or dresses, midriffs, or sleeveless shirts (ex. Boys athletic shirts with no sleeves, undergarments should not be visible), shoes (see regular dress code). Please make sure that clothes are not excessively tight during dress down days. If you have questions about dress down days school attire please contact the school. 

If you have questions about Dress Down Day attire, please contact the school prior to the event. 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT 

I. OVERVIEW 

The New Dimensions Board ("Board") is committed to discipline practices that encourage the development of self-control, personal responsibility and respect for the dignity of all individuals. The Board is committed to maintaining effective discipline in order to establish positive learning environments within which students have the opportunity to receive an appropriate public education. In order for effective discipline to be maintained in each school, the Board acknowledges that cooperative relationships must be established among students, parents and school personnel. Each is expected to work positively toward this goal and to respect the individuality and the rights of all people. Parent(s)/guardian(s), students and school personnel are also expected to deal effectively with behavioral concerns. To carry out this commitment, the Board has established the following 

Discipline Procedures ("Procedures") and Code of Student Conduct ("Code") for all students in grades K-5. 

School personnel shall make efforts to ensure early identification of students at risk for potential disciplinary problems. When it is recognized that a student is behaving in a manner which indicates potential disciplinary problems, school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to initiate preventive measures. Preventive interventions should attempt to identify and address the sources and cause of the potential discipline problems. Possible ] interventions may include but are not limited to: 

● conferences with students 

● conferences with parents/guardians and school personnel 

● change of schedule or teacher 

● change of instructional methods 

● change of educational setting 

● use of daily or weekly progress reports to parents/guardians 

● visit by parents/guardians in the classroom 

● referral to student support team 

● referral to appropriate support personnel (i.e. counselor, school resource officer, school social worker, juvenile services) 

● referral to school-based assessment committee 

● referral to and/or consultation with community agencies 

School personnel shall actively seek effective, positive methods and strategies to help each student learn to behave in a manner that is conducive to effective learning and that respects the rights of others. School administration shall systematically identify potential problem areas with his/her school that may contribute to discipline problems within the school. The Board encourages the administration to continue to work with appropriate community agencies in dealing with discipline problems. 

Cell Phones/Other Smart Devices 

To maintain a focused and respectful learning environment, New Dimensions Charter School has established the following rules regarding student cell phone/smart devices use during instructional time: 

● Cell phones must be turned off or on silent mode and kept out of sight during class time. This includes placing phones in lockers, backpacks, or designated storage areas as instructed by teachers. 

● Use of cell phones/Smart Devices during instructional time is not permitted, unless explicitly authorized by a teacher for instructional purposes. 

● Unauthorized use of a cell phone/smart device during class (texting, calling, taking photos/videos, browsing the internet, using social media, etc.) will result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. 

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES 

A. Definitions and Procedures 

1. Parent – Parent is the student's parent(s), guardian(s) or individual(s) standing "in loco parentis" as appointed by a court of law. 

2. Principal/Director – Principal/Director shall include Assistant Principals. 

3. Parent Visitation – A student who breaks the Code of Conduct may be given the opportunity by the Principal/Director to have one of his/her parents attend school with him/her for a day and attend class with him/her. This disciplinary action is decided solely by the Principal/Director and will not be used when serious conduct infractions have occurred. 

4. Restitution – The replacement of, or payment for, property taken, damaged, or destroyed shall be sought. 

5. Search of Student Lockers – Student lockers are school property and remain at all times under control of the school; however, students are expected to assume full responsibility for the security of their lockers. Periodic 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. 

6. In-School Suspension ("ISS") – In-school suspension is used as a disciplinary procedure which allows students to remain in the school environment where their conduct and academic progress can be closely supervised by school personnel. In-school suspension also prevents the student from accumulating excessive days of absence. Any student assigned to in-school suspension will not be allowed to participate in school sponsored activities during the time of his/her in-school suspension. 

7. Immediate Removal from School – If the Principal/Director witnesses or is made aware of serious student misconduct and believes that immediate removal of the student is necessary to restore order or to protect persons or school property on the school grounds, he/she may suspend the student immediately. In all cases, minimal due process (notice of the charge and an opportunity for the student to explain his/her version of what happened) must be given to the student as soon as is reasonably possible. 

8. Short-Term Suspension – A short-term suspension is removal from school for a period of ten (10) school days or less. The Principal/Director may invoke a short-term suspension only after investigating the misconduct, confronting the student with the charges and allowing for the student's response. A short-term suspended student shall be provided an opportunity to take any quarterly, semester or grading period examinations missed during the suspension. Once a Principal/Director has decided to invoke a short-term suspension, he/she shall make every effort to talk by telephone with the parent and shall mail or hand deliver a timely notice to the parents and Superintendent stating the charges against the student. 

9. Long-Term Suspension – A long-term suspension is removal from school for more than ten (10) days. If the offense leading to the long-term suspension occurred before the final quarter of the school year, the suspension must be no longer than the remainder of the school year in which the offense was committed. If the offense occurred during the final quarter of the school year, the suspension may include a period up to the remainder of the school year and the first semester of the following year. 

Following an investigation, if the Principal/Director determines that long-term suspension is appropriate, he/she shall invoke a short-term suspension of ten (10) school days and inform the student and parent(s) that he/she is recommending to the director long-term suspension. The student and parents shall be provided a copy of the Due Process Procedures. Once a Principal/Director has decided to invoke a long-term suspension, he/she shall make every effort to talk by telephone with the parent and shall mail or hand deliver a timely notice to the parents and director stating the charges against the student. 

Disciplinary reassignment of a student to a full-time educational program that meets the academic requirements of the standard course of study established by the State Board of Education and that provides the student with the opportunity to make timely progress toward graduation and grade promotion is not a long-term suspension requiring due process procedures. 

10. 365 Day Suspension – A 365 day suspension is the disciplinary exclusion of a student from attending his/her assigned school for 365 days. The director may only impose a 365 day suspension for certain weapons. 

11. Restrictions during short-term/long-term/365 Day Suspension – The student is not to be on the campus of New Dimensions without special permission and cannot participate in or attend any school sponsored activity without written permission from the school Director. 

12. Expulsion – Expulsion is the indefinite exclusion of a student from school enrollment for disciplinary purposes. Upon recommendation of the director, the Board may expel a student who is 14 years of age or older for certain types of misbehavior if the student's continued presence in school constitutes a clear threat to the safety of other students or employees. During the expulsion, the student is not entitled to be present on education property and is not considered a student of the school system. 

13. Appeal for Long-Term and 365 Day Suspensions and Hearing Rights for Expulsion – prior to any long term or 365 day suspension or expulsion, a student is entitled to due process including the opportunity for a hearing before an impartial hearing officer, the right to testify and present evidence (both witnessed and documentary evidence) in his/her defense and the right to be represented by an attorney.