Student & Parent Handbook
Academic Year 2025–2026
Welcome to Summit
Welcome to Summit College Preparatory School and our Student & Parent Handbook. We are delighted you have joined our community of learners. As an independent nonprofit online school, we provide a rigorous, flexible, and highly personalized educational experience. This handbook will guide you through our academic policies, behavioral expectations, available resources, and support services. Please read it carefully and reach out with any questions or concerns. Working together, we can foster a respectful, supportive environment that promotes academic growth and personal development. Let's make this a successful and enriching academic year for every student.
Mission, Vision & Core Values
At Summit College Preparatory School, we deliver a high-quality, college-preparatory education that is accessible, flexible, and tailored to each student. Our mission is to prepare learners for success in college, careers, and life by promoting academic rigor and cultivating a growth mindset.
Our vision is to empower students to lead with integrity, think with curiosity, and engage as lifelong learners.
Academic Excellence: We uphold rigorous academic standards to prepare students for higher education and beyond.
Integrity & Accountability: We expect honesty, personal responsibility, and ethical behavior in all aspects of life.
Respect & Inclusion: We celebrate diversity and build inclusive environments where all learners feel valued and supported.
Curiosity & Lifelong Learning: We foster a passion for learning and encourage intellectual exploration that continues throughout life.
Service & Leadership: We support students in developing leadership skills and contributing positively to their communities.
Academic Calendar and Structure
The 2025–2026 academic year begins on August 4, 2025, and ends on May 30, 2026. The calendar includes two terms, allowing for regular breaks to support balance and sustained academic performance.
Our school operates on a six-day week (Monday through Saturday), offering both flexibility and structure. The school year is divided as follows:
Fall Term: August 4 – December 20, 2025
Spring Term: January 5 – May 30, 2026
We encourage students and families to consult the official Summit Academic Calendar for holiday dates, term breaks, and school-wide events. Regular breaks are built into the schedule to help students reflect and recharge.
Live Classes, Scheduling & Communication
All classes run live on Zoom Pro via secure, invitation only links. Students sign in with their Microsoft 365 school accounts through ClassLink. In addition, we use the full Microsoft 365 suite Outlook, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms, and Calendar for communication, file sharing, assignments, and feedback. WhatsApp Business supports brief coordination. Consequently, students connect directly to Zoom and Microsoft rather than the public website.
Scheduling. Students follow an individual monthly schedule with fixed days and times. Moreover, we confirm any change in writing and update the calendar immediately.
Submissions. Students submit assignments with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive) using the school account. Additionally, during live sessions, they share work in Zoom when requested.
Communication. We communicate in class and through Microsoft 365 comments and Outlook email. As a backup, teachers use WhatsApp Business for short, time-sensitive notes.
What students need. Laptop or desktop; reliable broadband; webcam and headset; school Microsoft 365 access via ClassLink; digital writing tablet; graphing calculator; mobile phone for WhatsApp and as a backup Zoom device; printer or scanning app; and a secondary laptop or Chromebook as a backup device.
Live Instruction - Policy Essentials
Attendance & Cameras. Students attend on time and keep cameras on during class, unless the school approves an accommodation. This practice strengthens engagement and, moreover, verifies participation.
Identity & Safety. Students join only with their Microsoft 365 school accounts and full names. Teachers admit students through Zoom waiting rooms, use passcodes, and, therefore, keep links private.
Recording & Privacy. The school records a session only when instruction requires it and after notice. We store recordings in OneDrive, limit access to enrolled students, and, furthermore, remove files on a regular schedule.
Accessibility & Accommodations. Families may request academic or testing supports. The school confirms approved supports in writing and, consequently, aligns them with live instruction.
Time Zone & Calendar. The master calendar uses U.S. Eastern Time (Florida) - EST (UTC−05:00) in winter and EDT (UTC−04:00) in summer. Students accept Outlook calendar invites; likewise, the school updates invites when schedules change.
Academic Integrity & File Standards. Students submit original work through Microsoft 365. Use clear file names (Course_Lastname_Assignment_Date) and, in addition, submit on time in the requested format.
Continuity During Outages. If internet or power fails, the teacher posts a quick update by Outlook email and WhatsApp Business. The class resumes on Zoom as soon as practical or, alternatively, the school issues a new time.
Support & Response Times. Teachers hold posted office hours and reply to school email within one business day. Urgent matters use WhatsApp Business for brief coordination; the school follows up by email for records.
Code of Conduct
Summit College Preparatory School promotes a culture built on respect, responsibility, and integrity. We expect all students to uphold the highest standards of conduct and academic performance.
Academic Integrity: Students must complete their own work and demonstrate honesty in all academic efforts. We strictly prohibit cheating, plagiarism, or any form of misrepresentation.
Respectful Communication: All community members are expected to communicate respectfully and professionally in all settings.
Active Participation: Students are required to attend live sessions, complete all assignments on time, and contribute to discussions thoughtfully.
Online Etiquette: Students should maintain appropriate digital conduct. Interactions must remain respectful and promote a positive, productive learning environment.
Parent Engagement & Support
At Summit College Preparatory School, we deeply value the role of parents and guardians in supporting student growth. In a fully virtual learning environment, your participation ensures consistency and academic success at home.
Parent Roles: We ask families to provide a distraction-free workspace, support daily attendance, track academic progress, and communicate regularly with teachers. Daily involvement promotes responsibility and motivation.
Communication: Summit maintains ongoing communication with parents through weekly progress reports, scheduled conferences, and real-time updates via the parent portal. We ask families to stay informed and responsive.
Support for Gifted Learners: Many students at Summit exhibit profound giftedness and asynchronous development. Parents should watch for signs of perfectionism or stress. Personalized guidance and counseling are available to address these needs.
Participation Opportunities: Parents can engage through advisory committees, school forums, volunteer initiatives, or our Summit Spotlight Series. For participation inquiries, please email admin@summithighschool.org.
Parent Code of Conduct: Parents are expected to engage respectfully and constructively with school staff and other families. Disruptive or inappropriate conduct may result in restricted access or administrative intervention.
Parent Acknowledgment
I confirm that I have read and understood the Parent Engagement & Support section of the 2025–2026 Student Handbook.
Parent/Guardian Name: __________________________
Date: _______________
Signature: _______________________________
Student & Parent Handbook - Quick Links
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Helpful External Resources
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