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August 2011
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Welcome back to school! I
could not be more excited about the opening of school for the
2011~2012 campaign. We have an outstanding school that is
poised to become even better, and we are working hard to keep
“learning” our number one priority. As this new school year
begins, we must recommit ourselves to our school mission: “In
order to excel tomorrow, we challenge all students to meet the
highest academic, civic and social standards today.” Please
note the following grade reporting days for school opening this
year. All students will be reporting to their homerooms upon
entry into school.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31ST
~ GRADE 9 ONLY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST
~ ALL GRADES
School hours are 7:24 a.m. to 1:51 p.m.
Mrs. Marie Cote (734-3250 ext 103) will be responsible for
grades 10 and 12. Mr. Donald Miller (734-3250 ext 102) will be
responsible for grades 9 and 11. Call at any time to discuss
your concerns with the appropriate assistant principal.
Providing quality education within an appropriate social
environment is our responsibility
and we will provide it. To do this we need your help,
particularly in the following areas:
ATTENDANCE: Children cannot be educated unless
they are here. We expect attendance every day unless serious
family problems preclude it. Doctor and dentist appointments
should not be scheduled during the school day. Remember,
there is no such thing as a “Bunk Day”. We will teach every
day, test every day, and call parents every day. Habits of good
attendance are absolutely necessary for academic success as well
as attaining and holding a job after graduation. Students
will only be dismissed during the school day for the most
serious emergency matters.
At any point in time that a student’s combined absence and
lateness exceeds twenty percent (20%), she/he will be
denied social and/or athletic participation. For example, if a
social event was held on the 44th day of the school
year, a student’s total of the above could not exceed 8. If it
exceeded 8, she/he would not be allowed to attend
the social event. This policy is in effect through the entire
school year and obviously includes proms, dances, trips, etc.
Over the years, a number of students have presented doctors’
notes in May and June to reduce the excessive absence total in
order to attend “end of year” social events. If a student is
absent for a number of consecutive days, we need to receive a
doctor’s note upon a student’s return to school. Do not
wait until the end of the school year to collect doctors’ notes
to reduce a student’s absence/tardy total.
PROMPTNESS TO SCHOOL AND CLASS: We are trying to
develop student promptness as a habit that will carry over to
their jobs and their personal lives. Continued
lateness will be considered a serious offense and will result in
detention or other disciplinary action. Likewise, students
will not be permitted to enter school late unless a
parent has contacted the school and has given their son/daughter
an appropriate written excuse for the tardiness. It is important
to remember that there is no homeroom period. Students will
report directly to their first period class each day. Since we
have a rotating schedule, if a student is habitually late for
school, this will negatively impact a number of classes, not
just one! School begins at 7:24 a.m.
HOMEWORK: Homework is assigned regularly in every
class. Please make sure that your child sets aside time for
homework every afternoon or evening. Do not accept the answer,
“I don’t have any” “Studying” is homework. Call the school at
any time to check with the appropriate department, teacher or
counselor. You may also access schoolnotes.com, which contains
many of our teachers’ short term and long-term assignments. You
may also directly e-mail the teacher of a class.
Following is other pertinent information, constructive hints and
suggestions:
1. Please encourage your child to report to the bus stop at
least five minutes before the normal bus departure time
2. Emphasize the importance of punctual and regular attendance
and discourage the practice of writing excuses for tardiness and
absences which are not genuinely legitimate. Additionally,
written excuses for absences are due on the following day and
should be composed by the parent only, regardless of age of the
student. Written excuses for tardiness are due upon entrance to
school. A limit of two tardiness excuses will be allowed per
quarter. After this limit of two excuses, detention and/or
placement in the Alternative Education Program (AEP) may result.
3. Academic grade reports are issued during the following
intervals:
1st quarter 8-31~11/4~report cards issued Friday, November
18, 2011
2nd quarter 11/05~1/20~report cards issued Thursday,
February 2, 2012
3rd quarter 1/21~4/2~report cards issued Friday, April 13,
2011
4th quarter 4/3~6/13~report cards mailed Thursday, June
21, 2011
INTERIM REPORTS Monday, October 3, 2011, Friday, December 9,
2011
Thursday, March 8, 2012,
Thursday, May 10, 2012
4. Changes in student schedules shall not be entertained unless
there is a serious extenuating circumstance that makes a change
imperative
5. Please contact your child’s guidance counselor immediately
at any suggestion of scholastic difficulty.
6. Each academic department conducts a special department night
period at the conclusion of the school day. Students interested
in making up work or seeking extra help are always encouraged to
attend. Following is a department night schedule:
a. Monday ~ Math, Special Education, Technology Education
b. Tuesday ~ Science, Business, Guidance, Graduation by
Proficiency
c. Wednesday ~ English, Library, Physical Education, Health
d. Thursday~ Foreign Language, Social Studies, Music
*** No Friday department nights except by appointment.
7. Students are promoted to the next grade based upon the
appropriate collection of credits. Minimum credits required to
promote to grade 10 – 4.75, grade 11 – 9.50, grade 12 – 15.25,
to graduate 22.
8. Students must supply their own personal lock for their
locker to alleviate losses through theft. However, we
reserve the right to inspect all property assigned to them
regardless of the circumstances.
9. Physical Education participation is a state requirement
for all students. Only a medical authority may excuse a student
from this requirement. Furthermore, students must attain a
passing grade in the subject to be promoted or to graduate.
Failing grades in physical education can be made up the
following semester. Students must bring their own lock for
physical education. Either combination or key lock is
acceptable. If it is a key lock, a spare key is to be kept by
the physical education teacher.
10. Attendance at summer school is granted solely per the
permission of the Principal. This privilege is
extended only to those whose deficiency is not the result of
excessive absence without just cause.
CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE: On the first unauthorized
absence from class, the student’s parents are notified and they
must accompany the student for a conference with the appropriate
assistant principal the following day. The student will be
assigned one day of AEP or 2 consecutive Friday detentions.
SCHOOL TRUANCY: On the first offense, the
student’s parents are notified and they must accompany the
student for a conference with the appropriate assistant
principal the following day. The student will be assigned two
days of AEP and/or a series of extended detentions on Friday
afternoons from 2:00PM-5:00PM.
CELL PHONES, BEEPERS, WALKMANS, RADIOS, AND SKATEBOARDS
are not permitted on school grounds. They are a
source of distraction, present opportunities for theft, and lead
to student/staff confrontations. Please refer to the attached
sheet regarding our cell phone and electronic equipment policy.
SMOKING: There will be no smoking
before, during or after the regular school day anywhere on
school grounds. The penalty will be automatic out of school
suspension followed by AEP. Athletic and extra-curricular
events are considered an extension of the school day.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also included is any
other disorder not specifically listed above which is disruptive
of the educational process and would create a hazard to the
safety of students or school staff. Rules and regulations
specific to a particular school will be published in each school
and reasonable punishments, short of suspensions, may be imposed
for violation of said rules by the Principal or his designee.
Unfortunately, it is necessary to point out rules and sanctions
in a large school. However, the overwhelming majority of
students never have a problem with a teacher or another student
in the course of a school year. I am sure that with proper
encouragement at home and sufficient challenge at school, your
son/daughter will also have a positive, constructive school
year.
Parents often ask me what is necessary for their children’s
success socially and academically in school. While I certainly
do not have a single answer to that question, my experience over
the years indicate to me that parents can encourage their
children to:
1. attend
school every day (grades/marks are universally related to
attendance)
2.
do homework each day
3.
participate in school functions, sports, academic clubs,
social clubs
4.
keep notebooks
5.
read books, newspapers, newsmagazines
6.
set goals
7.
disclose who their friends are
Thank you for
your attention to the above items. I hope all of us have a
great, successful school year.
Sincerely,
Dennis T. Mullen
Principal
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