WELLNESS POLICY

Thank you for your interest in our Wellness Policy.

 

Please click here for the complete policy and assessment tool.

 

If you have an questions or feedback in regards to LGHS's Wellness Policy please send that feedback to office@lghschicago,org .

 

 

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

If you feel you have been discriminated against and want to report the alleged violation please read the info below and contact someone in the school office to whom you feel safe reporting the incident to assist you in with following up. 
 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at  How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint  and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:  program.intake@usda.gov.

 

 

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Governance Structure and Policy Making Procedures 

The governing bodies of LGHS are the Educational Board and the Financial Board. 

 

The Educational Board is composed of the Dean, School Principals, teachers and lay leaders in the community, with the Principals as the primary decision makers in educational policies.

 

The Financial Board is composed of the Dean, and lay leaders in the community, with the Dean as the primary decision maker.

 

The Dean is the chairman of both Boards.

In the event of a serious policy disagreement, a meeting would be convened with all board members, using the LGHS corporate legal structure as summarized above.

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Professional Code of Conduct

      General Safe Conduct:

• Faculty/Staff understands and accepts that s/he is a caretaker of teenagers.

• Faculty/Staff are committed to maintaining the proper relationship with the students- and not share personal information.

• Faculty/Staff understand that there is a clear power difference between themselves and their students (authority, experience, knowledge, different sets of rules).

• Faculty/Staff understand that inappropriate language and touching, with or without abuse, of a student can have severe emotional and psychological effects on a student that can last a lifetime.

• Faculty/Staff may, under no circumstances, hit a student.

• Faculty/Staff may not physically restrain or guide a student unless in the case of clear and present danger and then only in the presence of another staff member if possible, and with the minimal force necessary.

• Faculty/Staff may not use abusive or derogatory language (i.e. shaming, sarcastic remarks, teasing, etc.).

• Faculty/Staff will seek the assistance of supervisory administrative staff when they encounter a particularly difficult student.

• Faculty/Staff will never forbid students to share any conversations or information with parents or administrators, nor instruct students to keep secrets from parents.

• Faculty/Staff will be mindful when communicating with students via students’ personal cell phones, or via text messages, email, and will specifically consider the power differential of their relationship when doing so.

• Faculty/Staff will only take pictures of and with students when it is professionally appropriate and with the students permission

• Faculty/staff may not be secluded with a student in an area that is not accessible and visible to others.

• In all dealings with students, faculty/staff  strive to respond as opposed to react to students; Faculty/Staff do not respond to a student in anger.

• Faculty/Staff have no contact in a place on a student’s body that is normally covered by a bathing suit (unless administering medication and then only with another adult present).

• Faculty/Staff never have contact against a child’s will (unless in the case of clear and present danger).

• Faculty/Staff touch, when appropriate, is restricted to only students’ hands, shoulders or the upper back (always in the presence of others).

• Faculty/Staff will not contact when the student verbally or nonverbally signals discomfort.

• Faculty/ Staff will ask for support when dealing with escalating stress or difficult situations.

• Faculty/Staff will alert senior or supervisory staff to dangerous or at-risk situations between students and staff, between students and students, or any student individually.

• Faculty/Staff are aware that they are a mandated reporter and the ramifications of this responsibility.

Here is a link to the Illinois State Board of Education, Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Faiths-Law-Resource-Guide.pdf

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No Retaliation Policy

there will be no retaliation for making a complaint or participating in the complaint department.  

 

Assault and Battery and Firem arms Policy

No firearms or incidents involving drugs are allowed at any time in the school.  Any breaches of this law will be reported through the School Incident Reporting system by an administrator on the Illinois State Board of Education website.  

 

Any instances of battery committed against school personnel at the school will also be reported in the above manner.

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Absenteeism and Truancy Policy

Lubavitch Girls High School (LGHS) adopts this Absenteeism and Truancy Policy in accordance with applicable provisions of the Illinois School Code, including 105 ILCS 5/26-2a and 105 ILCS 5/26-18.

Our goal is to make attendance procedures as smooth and straightforward as possible while balancing the needs of individual families with those of our school community. LGHS recognizes that there are legitimate circumstances in which a student may need to be absent from school. At the same time, regular attendance is essential to a student's academic progress, well-being, and participation in the school community.

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1. Valid Cause for Absence

In accordance with Section 26-2a of the Illinois School Code, “valid cause” for absence includes illness, including the mental or behavioral health of the student; observance of a religious holiday; death in the immediate family; family emergency; and other situations beyond the control of the student, as determined by LGHS administration. Valid cause also includes circumstances that cause reasonable concern to a parent or guardian for the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or safety.

LGHS's procedures for planned absences and attendance are described below.

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Academic Responsibility During Absences

Students are responsible for making up classwork, homework, projects, and assessments missed during an absence.

Students are strongly encouraged to speak with their teachers in advance whenever possible so that they can receive assignments or guidance and remain up to date with their coursework.

The Mechaneches is available to support students in completing missed work and staying on track academically.

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Planned Absences and Travel

LGHS deeply values family milestones, simchos, and meaningful family time. Our goal is to partner with families while also preserving a strong learning environment for all students.

The procedures below establish LGHS's process for requesting and documenting planned absences. 

If a request falls within the guidelines below, families may submit the appropriate online form. The submitted form serves as the school's approval, and there is no need to wait for a separate confirmation.

If a request falls outside these guidelines, parents or guardians should email Mrs. Sarah Wineberg at swineberg@lghschicago.org before submitting the form. The request should include the reason for the absence and the dates and times involved.

Type A Events

Type A events include:

•        Sibling's chasuna

•        Bris of a sibling

•        Bar/Bas Mitzvah of a sibling

•        L'chaim of a sibling, aunt, or uncle

•        Chasuna of an aunt or uncle

Time allotments:

•        Sibling's chasuna — up to 5 school days, including travel.

•        Bris, Bar/Bas Mitzvah, l'chaim, or chasuna of an aunt or uncle — up to 2 school days, including travel.

Parents should submit forms at least two weeks in advance whenever possible.

Type B Events

Each student may receive up to two Type B event allowances per school year.

Type B events include:

•        Cousin's or non-immediate family member's wedding

•        Family travel or vacation that coincides with school instructional days

•        Appointments that require travel and missing school days

•        Personal scheduling needs or other family events that parents or guardians deem important

Time allotments are generally up to 2 school days, including travel. Parents should submit requests at least two weeks in advance whenever possible.

Travel Exception Requests

Separate from Type B events, LGHS recognizes that some families face unavoidable logistical challenges when traveling at the beginning or end of school vacations. Depending on where a family lives or is traveling, flight availability may be limited, itineraries may require multiple connections, or there may be a significant cost difference between available flights.

In these situations, a student may request a limited adjustment, such as leaving earlier in the day, departing the evening before, or returning later because of available flight times.

If more than a few class periods will be missed, the absence will count toward the student's Type B allowance.

When appropriate, logistical travel requests may be approved up to two times per school year and will not count toward the student's two Type B allowances when the request results in only a few missed periods.

Generally, requests may be approved when they meet one or more of the following criteria:

•        Significant financial savings, particularly when flights are booked at least three weeks in advance

•        Limited or seasonal flight availability

•        Travel requiring multiple flight connections or other significant logistical constraints

•        The family made reasonable efforts to work within the school calendar

Students may receive up to two logistical travel requests per school year under these guidelines.

Late Arrivals and Early Dismissals

A school arrival or sign-out form must be completed for every late arrival and every early departure, whether the absence is considered excused or unexcused.

Students will be permitted to check in after arriving late or leave the building only after the required form has been completed. When applicable, the student's phone will be returned after the required attendance procedure has been completed.

For out-of-town students, if a parent or guardian is unavailable, the student's dorm mother will be contacted and Mrs. Levine may complete the form on the family's behalf. Parents or guardians will be notified accordingly.

Recurring Appointments

Recurring appointments must be coordinated through the Director of Student Services. The nature of the appointment will be treated confidentially and shared only with appropriate personnel as necessary to administer the attendance process.

Email: behven@lghschicago.org

Attendance and Building Sign-In/Sign-Out

To simplify communication, attendance-related forms are maintained in one location and include:

•        Type A absence requests

•        Type B absence requests

•        Logistical travel requests

•        Late arrival forms

•        Early dismissal/sign-out forms

2. Diagnostic Procedures for Identifying the Causes of Unexcused Absenteeism

When a student has an absence that is unexcused or for which the school has not received an explanation, LGHS will make reasonable efforts to identify the cause of the attendance problem and encourage the student's regular attendance.

At a minimum, the school's procedures will include the following interviews:

•        The school will attempt to contact the parent or guardian and the student to determine the reason for the absence.

•        If the school is unable to reach the parent or guardian, the school may contact the emergency contact listed in the student's registration information.

•        The school will speak directly with the student regarding the reasons for the absence and encourage her return to school.

•        The school will speak with school officials or other individuals who may have relevant information concerning the student's attendance problem.

In addition to these required interviews, the school's procedures may include the following:

•        When appropriate, the school will work with the student and family to identify barriers to regular attendance and determine appropriate supports or interventions.

These procedures are intended to identify and address the underlying causes of attendance problems rather than merely document absences.

3. Truancy, Chronic Truancy, and Supportive Services

Definitions

For purposes of this policy, LGHS will use the definitions established by Illinois law.

•        Truant: A student subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause for more than 1% but less than 5% of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

•        Chronic or Habitual Truant: A student subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

•        Truant Minor: A chronic or habitual truant for whom appropriate supportive services have been provided and have failed to result in regular attendance, or for whom appropriate supportive services have been offered and have been refused.

LGHS will monitor attendance and respond to attendance concerns in accordance with applicable Illinois law and this policy. The determination of truancy is based on absences without valid cause and is distinct from the school's broader monitoring of chronic absenteeism.

Supportive Services and Interventions

When a student is identified as having a significant attendance problem, including truancy or chronic truancy, LGHS will provide or offer appropriate supportive services designed to address the circumstances contributing to the student's absences and encourage regular attendance.

Depending on the circumstances, supportive services may include:

•        Parent or guardian conferences to discuss the circumstances of the absences and develop a plan for the student's return to regular attendance and completion of missed work.

•        Student counseling or support to encourage the student's return to school.

•        Family counseling, where appropriate.

•        Information about existing community services relevant to the family's needs, including referrals to appropriate community agencies when available and appropriate.

•        Consideration of modifications to the student's schedule, classes, or other school supports, where appropriate, to address barriers to attendance.

•        Other interventions reasonably designed to address the underlying causes of the student's attendance problem.

LGHS will document appropriate interventions and supportive services as required by applicable law. Any administrative withdrawal or other enrollment action based on nonattendance will be taken only in accordance with applicable law and LGHS's enrollment policies.

 

4. Chronic Absenteeism: Data Collection and Review

Chronic absenteeism is distinct from truancy and chronic truancy.

For purposes of Illinois attendance requirements, a student is considered chronically absent when the student is absent for 10% or more of the school year, including absences regardless of whether they are considered excused or unexcused, as provided by applicable Illinois law.

A student may therefore be chronically absent without being truant. Conversely, a student may have a smaller number of unexcused absences that result in truancy even if the student has not reached the chronic absenteeism threshold.

In accordance with Section 26-18 of the Illinois School Code, LGHS collects and reviews its chronic absence data at least annually to determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families and to encourage the habit of daily attendance. This review is conducted school-wide and overseen by school administration.

LGHS may use the results of this review to identify attendance patterns, evaluate existing supports, and develop additional strategies to promote regular attendance and address barriers to attendance.

5. Publication and Review of This Policy

This Absenteeism and Truancy Policy will be posted on the LGHS website and incorporated into the LGHS student handbook.

This policy was adopted August 27, 2026 and will be reviewed and updated at least every two years, or more frequently as required by applicable Illinois law and ISBE requirements. LGHS will make any required submissions to the appropriate Illinois educational authorities.

The school may also update its administrative attendance procedures, forms, and contact information as needed without changing the substantive requirements of this policy.