Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
STUDENT/PARENTHANDBOOK AND CODE OF CONDUCT
2011-2012
606 EAST ROYAL LANEIRVING, TX 75039
PHONE: 972-501-0645FAX: 972-501-9439
1
Dear Parents & Students:
Welcome to another exciting year at North Hills Preparatory where we promise to make “Every Second Count” for every child in the quest for college –readiness. As we embark on a journey into a new future, we invite you to reflect with us in the positive and confident manner that has always characterized the mission of North Hills Preparatory. We look forward to the many exciting opportunities that lie ahead. These opportunities run the gamut from new instruction for the young people of our community, new training and support programs for our talented and dedicated staff, and additional involvement and
2
support options for our parents and community members. We invite and encourage you to join our efforts as we continue to seek and determine long-range plans for the direction and future of our school.
Within the pages of this Handbook and Code of Conduct are the policies, rules, consequences, and procedures that are in place this year at North Hills Preparatory School. Please read them carefully with your student and refer to them throughout the year. By familiarizing yourself with this information, you can help support the school’s effort of establishing and maintaining an academic learning environment free of distractions. With your help, our students will be well informed and be able to avoid situations that result in an administrative consequence.
We would like to extend an invitation to each of you to become an active part of your student’s North Hills Preparatory experience. This year we will continue to seek ways to provide more avenues for parents to become informed about the resources at North Hills Prep. Our VIP (Volunteers in Partnership) organization and staff are always looking for ways to include our entire school community. We welcome feedback and questions. Please feel free to call or email us at any time. Our doors are always open.
Sincerely,
The North Hills Administrative Team
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Shawn Stover Becky Christensen Paul Fulce
Richard Young Senior Director Primary School Director Middle School Director Upper School Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Page3
I. INTRODUCTION – UPLIFT EDUCATION Uplift Vision & MissionUplift PrinciplesIB Learner Profile
Commitment to Excellence CompactOpen Enrollment Charter School Information
6-13
II. SPECIFIC SCHOOL INFORMATION School VisionSchool Identity
MottoColorsMascotPledge
School Schedule _ Primary & Secondary Arrival and dismissal procedures Attendance Communication with Parents
14-24
III. ACADEMIC PROGRAM
CURRICULUMGrading Class PlacementStudent Graduate ProfileRecommended and Distinguished graduation requirements
SCHEDULEBlock Schedule
CREDITDual CreditCorrespondence CoursesEvaluation of Credits for Transfer Students
Calculating and Reporting GPARank in Class Honor Graduates Road to College ProgramAcademic Probation
HONOR CODEHonor PledgeAcademic HonestyCheating
PHYSICAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
P.E. Requirement Off-Campus P.E.
25-43
4
ATHLETIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Eligibility and Commitment Requirements Student Athletic CodeOther Qualifications Letter Jackets and Letters
CLUBS and ORGANIZATIONSHonor Societies
IV. BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Community Service
Field Trips Field Lessons
43-45
VI. ASSESSMENTS/TAKS/ACADEMIC SUPPORT
(TAKS) TESTING AND ENRICHMENTCOLLEGE TESTING
PSAT SAT and ACT
LEARNING DIFFERENCES PROMOTIONS/RETENTIONS
46-47
VII. CHOICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONSUPLIFT STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
48-61
VIII. DRESS CODE
UNIFORMSADDITIONAL DRESS CODE POLICIES
62-68
IX. DISTRICT INFORMATION
ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS - FERPAREPORTING OF CHILD ABUSEACCEPTABLE USE POLICY - TECHNOLOGYINAPPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY –ON OR OFF CAMPUSEQUAL ACCESS – FREE SPEECHSEXUAL HARASSMENT PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA)
RELEASE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS WAIVER OF STUDENT FEES
SCHOOL CLOSINGS OR DELAYDISASTER AND FIRE PREPAREDNESSEQUAL OPPORTUNITY/NONDISCRIMINATION POLICYDRUG-FREE SCHOOLS
69-71
5
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS –PARENTS’ RIGHT TO KNOWCAREER AND TECHNOLOGY NONDISCRIMINATION INFORMATION ON CHILD INTERNET PROTECTION
X. CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM – MEALS
NUTRITION – WELLNESS POLICY FREE & REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM BIRTHDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
LUNCH VISITATIONS
72
XI. HEALTH INFORMATION HEALTH OFFICE POLICY – NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
73-74
XII. PARENT INVOLVEMENT
COMMUNICATIONRETURNED CHECKSVOLUNTEERS – BACKGROUND CHECKSFUNDRAISINGVISITOR PROCEDURESSCHOOL VISITSLOST AND FOUND
75-77
HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM 78ACCEPTABLE USE FORM STUDENT AGREEMENT 79-81APPENDIX B: GRADUATION PLANS 82
6
SECTION I. UPLIFT EDUCATION - VISION AND MISSION
North Hills Preparatory is a member of the Uplift Education family of schools. Uplift Education is a non-profit organization that holds the charter for North Hills Preparatory
The mission of Uplift Education is to create and sustain schools of excellence that empower students to reach their highest potential and inspire a lifelong love of learning, achievement, service, and responsible citizenship.
UPLIFT PRINCIPLES Our students deserve the very best public education that we as an organization
can provide. Our goal of rigorously preparing each student to enter and subsequently to succeed in college must be the overriding objective in every thing that we do.
We select our teachers and staff one by one, recognizing that we cannot provide a great education for our students without seeking and retaining the best possible teachers and school leaders. The measure of our success as educators starts first and foremost with the quality of the teachers in our classrooms.
Our schools are demanding and place high expectations on everyone involved…from our students, our teachers, our staff and our boards of directors. From great expectations come great results.
The dedication of our people to closing the achievement gap, demonstrated through substantial amounts of real time in the classroom, is greater than that found in many other educational institutions. We think that our uncompromising dedication to making “every second counts” when impacting the life of a child is an important part of our success to date.
We believe strongly in the power of student-faculty relationships and foster them through our small school sizes and reduced grade level teams. As a result, each teacher has the power to make a real difference in their students’ lives.
Our curriculum must be relevant to the lives of our students, teaching them to be world citizens, tolerant and understanding of how we are all different yet also recognizing how our common values create a compelling need for us to work together for the greater good.
We offer our professionals the opportunity to make a meaningful difference sooner than they might at other organizations. We sufficiently empower our school leaders with more control and input than that found at other schools in the belief that each leader, reporting to a dedicated local operating board, should have the ability to control their team and their environment.
We are fully accountable to all of our stakeholders, especially the parents of our children and the taxpayers and philanthropic organizations who provide our funding. We will measure and report our results on an ongoing basis to each constituency who has given us their trust.
7
We expect everyone within our community to maintain high ethical standards in everything that they do, both in their professional responsibilities and in their personal lives. Our integrity is not a grey area that can be negotiated or compromised.
While we take great pride in the quality of the education that we provide, we also seek to continually reflect and improve upon it by sharing our most successful approaches across each of our schools while also seeking to learn best practices developed at other institutions. We must recognize that we can always be better.
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) LEARNER PROFILE
The aim of the IB Programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet help to create a better and more peaceful work.
IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers: They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Knowledgeable: They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators: They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
Principled: They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and consequences that accompany them.
Open-minded: They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring: They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a
8
positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Risk-takers: They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
Balanced: They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
Reflective: They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.
NORTH HILLS PREPARATORY CORE VALUESRigor, Relevance, Real Time, Reflection, Responsibility, Relationships, and Results
Rigor: Our students deserve the very best public education that we as an organization can provide. Our goal of rigorously preparing each student to enter and subsequently to succeed in college must be the overriding objective in everything that we do. We select our teachers and staff one by one, recognizing that we cannot provide a great education for our students without seeking and retaining the best possible teachers and school leaders. The measure of our success as educators starts first and foremost with the quality of the teachers in our classrooms. Our school is demanding and places high expectations on everyone involved, from our students, our teachers, our staff and our boards’ of directors. From great expectations come great results.Real Time: The dedication of our people to closing the achievement gap, demonstrated through substantial amounts of real time in the classroom, is greater than that found in many other educational institutions. We think that our uncompromising dedication to making “every second count” when impacting the life of a child is an important part of our success to date.Relationships: We believe strongly in the power of student-faculty relationships and foster them through our small school size and reduced grade level teams. As a result, each teacher has the power to make a real difference in their students’ lives.Relevance: Our curriculum must be relevant to the lives of our students, teaching them to be world citizens, tolerant and understanding of how we are all different yet also recognizing how our common values create a compelling need for us to work together for the greater good.We offer our professionals the opportunity to make a meaningful difference sooner than they might at other organizations. We sufficiently empower our school leaders with
9
more control and input than that found at other schools in the belief that school leaders, reporting to a dedicated local operating board, should have the ability to control their team and their environment.Results: We are fully accountable to all of our stakeholders, especially the parents of our children and the taxpayers and philanthropic organizations who provide our funding. We will measure and report our results on an ongoing basis to each constituency who has given us their trust.Responsibility: We expect everyone within our community to maintain high ethical standards in everything that they do, both in their professional responsibilities and in their personal lives. Our integrity is not a grey area that can be negotiated or compromised.Reflection: While we take great pride in the quality of the education that we provide, we also seek to continually reflect and improve upon it by sharing our most successful approaches across each of our schools while also seeking to learn best practices developed at other institutions. We must recognize that we can always be better.
10
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE COMPACT
The Commitment to Excellence Compact is an accountability statement which puts into words those commitments which reflect our organizational symbol -- the triangle. These commitments are the underpinnings of the “whole village” concept – “it takes a village to raise a child.” Each triangular side depicts the one of the three areas of responsibility necessary to ensure each student’s academic success: School-professional community, Parent/Guardian-home, and Student-individual.
This Compact is made between North Hills Preparatory, a college preparatory public school organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas, the student, and the parent/guardian in pursuit of a rigorous college preparatory education and leadership development for the academic year.
SCHOOL COMMITMENT
We believe that every child … Has the capacity to learn, grow, and develop into a knowledgeable, reflective,
caring, ethical, and contributing citizen. Must have access to the very best programs and practices a school can offer. Must be engaged in learning that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and
exploratory. Thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in a democratic learning
environment where trust and respect are paramount and where family and community are actively involved.
Faces significant life choices and needs support in making wise and healthy decisions.
Deserves educators who are prepared to work with this age group, who are themselves lifelong learners and who are committed to their own ongoing professional development and growth.
Therefore, we proudly dedicate ourselves to becoming the best school educators that we can be and an active advocate for all children and youth.As part of the school faculty, I fully agree with and commit to the following:
I will exhibit the rigor required to ensure actions are based on educational best practices and will do whatever it takes to meet individual student needs.
I will attend and participate in all staff meetings and professional development to ensure best teaching practices become universal for continuous improvement.
I will “go the extra mile” by being available before and after school to work with students and parents by addressing any concerns.
I will respond to communications from students and parents within twenty-four (24) hours, during the school week.
I will remain focused on standards and excellence leading to results that support and implement the mission of North Hills Preparatory.
I will utilize data to support and measure curricular and academic achievement.
11
I will protect the safety and well-being of all North Hills Community members and further organizational goals by enforcing all rules, codes, policies, procedures and values of North Hills Preparatory.
I will promote North Hills, its staff, students and community in a positive way at all times.
I will contribute to the school by offering my suggestions in constructive ways. As a returning member to the North Hills community, I will offer my support and
guidance through modeling, chairing of events and helping out where I can to support new to North Hills’ staff and new teachers. I will also actively seek out leadership opportunities for myself and communicate these with the director.
PARENTS'/GUARDIANS' COMMITMENT:
As a parent, I fully agree with and commit to the following: We will make sure our child arrives at North Hills Preparatory every day on
time and is there until scheduled afternoon pick-up every instructional day of the school calendar unless my student is sick or there is an emergency.
I will pick my child up from school on time or accept the consequences or penalties.
I will notify the school if my child is unable to attend school. I understand that daily attendance is essential to student success.
I will make arrangements so my child can be at school before or after the school day for tutoring, detention or other after school programs when required or needed.
We will always help our child in the best way we know how and we will do whatever it takes for him/her to learn. This also means that we will check our child's homework every night, let him/her contact the teacher if there is a problem with the homework, and try to read with him/her every night.
I will communicate respectfully with faculty and staff. I will read all papers that the school sends home, sign if necessary, and
return the next day. I will participate in all meetings and conferences concerning my child. I will support the academic expectations and curricular programs of the
school including allowing our child to go on North Hills Preparatory school field trips, including out-of-town experiences.
I will be a role model for my child as I follow the rules, codes, policies, procedures and the core values established by the school.
I will adhere to North Hills Preparatory attendance policies ensuring the academic success of my child.
I will ensure that my child follows the school rules, codes, policies and procedures so as to protect the safety, interests and rights of all individuals in the classroom. We will support the school as it administers consequences in response to student behavioral choices in accordance to the school policy.
I will support the School and my child by signing up for volunteer work and make a good faith effort to complete the recommended volunteer hours for each parent/guardian.
STUDENT’S COMMITMENT
12
As a North Hills student, I fully agree with and commit to the following: I will arrive at school every day on time in order to guarantee a full
instructional day. I will strive to become a global citizen by acting as a thinker, risk-taker and
balanced student. I will approach my learning with creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm. I will attend tutoring, detention or any other support services that are
needed as required by school officials. I will attend each day of mandatory summer programs and Saturday
programs. I will work, communicate and behave in accordance with the school’s
honor code. I will complete all of my homework every night and attend each session of
any required or assigned enrichment program. I will contact my teachers if I have a question or concern related to my
academic or social well-being. I will be respectful and cooperative toward my parents and teachers. I will be principled in all my actions and accept responsibility for them. I will be knowledgeable of and follow all school rules, codes, policies and
procedures. I will always behave in a caring manner that protects the safety, interests
and rights of all individuals in the classroom and school community. I will conduct myself in an inquiring manner that is conducive for learning. I will be a reflective, open-minded member of my learning community who
will show empathy, tolerance and respect. I will maintain academic integrity ensuring my work is my own. I will practice the North Hills Core Values of Integrity, Inquiry, Choices,
and Reflection as part of the Choice Management Plan for leadership.
Failure to adhere to these commitments may cause my child to lose privileges and may lead to my child’s removal from North Hills Preparatory.
13
ADMISSION TO NORTH HILL PREPARATORY
Open Enrollment Charter SchoolNorth Hills Preparatory is an open-enrollment charter school which is a public school of choice. In order for a student to be admitted into an open-enrollment charter school, the parent must follow the established guidelines for the admission and lottery process.
School AdmissionParents must complete an application form and submit it to the school prior to the deadline in order to be qualified to be selected in the Lottery. There will be times posted for applications to be received and deadlines to be met in order to qualify to participate in the Lottery. The school will determine the number of spaces that are available in all grades within the school. For rules regarding a student who withdraws from North Hills Preparatory, refer to guidelines later in this handbook on the Withdrawal and Re-admission section.
EnrollmentFollowing the Lottery drawing, the list of the students who have been selected will be posted. Each parent will be notified to complete the admission paperwork and to submit it to the school. The school will conduct a Pre-Attendance Conference (PAC) with the student and parent(s) so that they become familiar with the expectations, commitments, goals and programs within the school. The student, parent(s) and school will sign the Partnership in Excellence Compact as part of the enrollment process. Partnership in Excellence compacts are signed on an annual basis at the beginning of each school year.
Waiting ListFor the upcoming school year, student’s names not drawn during the Lottery process will be placed on the waiting list for the applicable grade. As places become available, a student will be contacted for a Pre-admission Conference.
Currently Enrolled StudentsOnce students are admitted to the school, they are not required to participate in the lottery or admission process, but they will be asked to indicate their intent to return to the school by completing the re-enrollment process which usually occurs in the early spring.
A student who withdraws for any reason during the school year is only eligible for re-admission through the lottery. See also the Student Code of Conduct for additional requirements if a student withdraws prior to a pending disciplinary action.
Withdrawal ProcedureParents of students withdrawing from North Hills Preparatory are required to meet with the Divisional Director or Designee before proceeding with the withdrawal process. A Withdrawal Form and a Transcript Request Form may be obtained from the
14
Registrar’s office. Transcripts or student records will be provided within ten (10) business days of the following;
Counselor’s receipt of the Transcript Request Form / Student records Payment of any unpaid fees: and Returning school property, including but not limited to textbooks and athletic
uniforms.
Readmission after WithdrawalA student who has been asked to withdraw, has withdrawn by choice, or has been expelled from North Hills Preparatory, may reapply and return being subject to the following criteria:
If asked to leave, the student must have an error free discipline record at their current school for at least one full semester.
The student must meet with the Re-Admission Committee to explain why he/she should be readmitted.
After step one and two have been completed, the student is then eligible for the Lottery process to gain admission.
Readmission CommitteeThe Re-admission Committee will be comprised of two (2) teachers (chosen by teachers) and an (1) administrator (appointed by the Senior Director) who were not involved in the original withdrawal. The Re-admission Committee may request current teacher recommendations for the student, relevant commentary from any counselor with whom the student may have worked while absent from North Hills Preparatory, as well as other documentation pertinent to the application. The decision of the Re-admission Committee regarding the return of the student is final. Any student who has been dismissed from North Hills Preparatory, and is allowed to return, will do so on probation. Any violations of the Parent and Student Handbook may result in the immediate dismissal of the student without possibility of readmission.
Additional Information on Admission Process may be obtained from Sharon Harman, North Hills Preparatory Admissions Coordinator. Information will also be posted on the School and Uplift website.
15
SECTION II. SCHOOL SPECIFIC INFORMATION
SCHOOL VISION
The mission of North Hills Preparatory is to provide an education that empowers students to reach their highest potential and inspires a love of learning.
We will achieve this Mission by: Providing a preparatory curriculum of the highest standards that encourages
children to raise the level of expectations that they place upon themselves and motivates them to become successful leaders.
Creating a diverse community that embraces the ideals of responsible citizenship in an environment of respect for our world and its peoples.
Creating traditions and symbols that continually illustrate and reinforce our goals among all members of our community.
School Pledge
I pledgeTo be a responsible student
To strive rigorously to achieve my goalsTo reflect upon my mistakes and learn from them.
For me, mediocrity is not an option.Only excellence will do.
Who I am has value.What I think has value.
Who I will become is invaluable to the world.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE FOR STUDENTS School Office HoursSchool office hours of operation are Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Student supervision begins at 7:15 a.m.
Schedule of the Day for PRIMARY SCHOOL
Regular Schedule7:50 a.m. Morning meeting begins8:00 a.m. Primary School classes begin3:00 p.m. Primary students are dismissed3:30 p.m. Primary drive-up carpool ends3.45 p.m. Pick up at the back door of the Primary Cafeteria ends.
16
Early Dismissal2:00 p.m. Primary students are dismissed2:30 p.m. Primary drive-up carpool ends.2:45 p.m. Pick up at the back door of the Primary Cafeteria ends.
Half Day Dismissal 12:00 p.m. Primary students are dismissed.12:30 p.m. Primary drive-up carpool ends.12:45 p.m. Pick up at the back door of the Primary Cafeteria ends.
Schedule of the Day for MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL
Regular Schedule7:45 a.m. Teacher Arrival Time8:00-8:15 a.m. MS Daily Morning Meeting (Main Gym)8:05 a.m. MS Tardy time8:20 a.m. MS & US classes begin
Regular Schedule (M,T,TH,F)45 Minutes 7:30-8:15 Period 0* (Meets Every Day)90 Minutes 8:20-9:50 Period 1A/1B30 Minutes 9:55-10:25 Period 2 (Meets Every Day)90 Minutes 10:30-12:00 Period 3A/3B120 Minutes 12:05-2:05 Period 4A/4B and Lunch90 Minutes 2:10-3:40 Period 5A/5B45 Minutes 3:45-4:30 Period 6* (Meets Every Day)
*Period 0 & 6 are for US only and only for those with scheduled classes during these periods.
Regular Lunch Schedule (M,T,TH,F)A Lunch B Lunch C Lunch D Lunch12:05-12:30 Lunch 12:05-12:30 Class 12:05-1:00 Class 12:05-1:35 Class12:35-2:05 Class 12:35-1:00 Lunch 1:05-1:30 Lunch 1:40-2:05 Lunch
1:05-2:05 Class 1:35-2:05 Class
Wednesday Schedule45 Minutes 7:25-8:10 Period 0 & 6 85 Minutes 8:15-9:40 Period 1A/1B85 Minutes 9:45-11:10 Period 3A/3B115 Minutes 11:15-1:10 Period 4A/4B and Lunch85 Minutes 1:15-2:40 Period 5A/5B
2:40 Dismissal
Wednesday Lunch Schedule17
A Lunch B Lunch C Lunch D Lunch11:15-11:40 Lunch 11:15-11:40 Class 11:15-12:05 Class 11:15-12:35-Class11:45-1:10 Class 11:45-12:10 Lunch 12:10-12:35 Lunch 12:40-1:10 Lunch
12:15-1:10 Class 12:40-1:10 Class
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival to School
Doors open for students at 7:15 a.m. Staff will be on duty as of 7:15 a.m. should a student arrive excessively early, a phone call will be made to the parent to remind them of the school’s policy and our concern for your child’s safety.
Regular Primary drop off begins at 7:30 a.m. Kindergarten students should be dropped off at the Kindergarten building first, then Primary and Secondary students.
On arrival, Primary students should go to Primary cafeteria, Middle School to Main Gym & Upper School to East Commons.
Primary Students should arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. and report directly to the Primary cafeteria where they will be supervised by staff. Children are permitted to read, review homework and talk quietly. It is very important that students are in the cafeteria by 7:50 a.m. for Morning Meeting)
Dismissal Parents wishing to pick their child up before school dismissal must do so by following
school attendance policies. Students must always be supervised and may never wait alone on the school property, at
the Equestrian Center, or at the apartments across the street. Any student caught waiting in an undesignated area will be charged the late room fee, be required to attend a conference with their parents, and will be subject to school discipline consequences.
Parents picking up students early must go to the Primary/Secondary front office and sign their child out of school. Please call the office ahead of time so your student can be ready and waiting. Children will not be released to anyone not authorized to pick up the student. Only after parent signs the child out will the child be released to the parent or other authorized person.
Carpool SafetyFor the safety of all children, parents should allow adequate time for drop off in the mornings and be aware of students walking across the parking lot to get to the building. Due to the large number of cars going through the line during peak times (7:40 – 8:00 a.m. and 3:20 – 3:45 p.m.), remember to allow sufficient time to get through the car pool line. Cars that bypass the waiting line via the through lane will be required to leave the campus without dropping off or picking up their child(ren) and go back through the line properly following drop-off procedure.
ParkingFaculty Parking is located in the north parking lot, to the east of the Kindergarten building, and in the west parking lot. Please do not park in faculty designated spots (faculty parking lots are clearly marked). Unauthorized vehicles will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
18
Volunteer/Visitors/Parents Parking is available in front of the main building on the south side of the median, in the parking lot on the west side of the main building, or in the overflow parking lot (Riverside entrance).
High Bidders’ Parking is reserved for families who purchase these spaces from North Hills Preparatory. The Annual Fund benefits from the proceeds of the sale of these spaces. Do not park in these spaces.
Student DriversDriving and parking on school grounds are a privilege. This privilege may be revoked if proper guidelines are not followed. In order to qualify for parking at North Hills Preparatory, student drivers must complete the Student Driver Application, pay the requisite fee of $75.00 per semester or $140.00 for the year (paid by September 1), and properly display the school’s parking decal on their vehicle. The application requires students to submit a photocopy of their current driver’s license and proof of insurance. Both documents must be current and on file before parking privileges are extended. Because parking is limited, student parking privileges will be extended with priority going to seniors with the highest number of students in a carpool, then juniors with the highest number of students in a carpool, then individual applicants. If space is available, sophomore drivers may be extended parking privileges.
Student drivers must: Park only in the areas designated as student parking; Drive safely at all times, using extreme caution for other students and
pedestrians; Obey all traffic instructions from teachers and school personnel; and Obey all posted traffic signs and markings.
Cell PhonesIt is violation of state law as well as dangerous for the safety of our students to use hand-held cell phones when driving on school property and in school zones. Cell phones must be hands-free and should never be a distraction. School preference is no cell phone use during drop-off and pick-up times unless parked in a marked space. Repeated violations of cell phone use could result in revocation of pick-up and drop-off privileges.
Primary After School Procedures
Carpool NumbersEach primary student will be issued a carpool number by their classroom teacher. Parents will receive four (4) copies of their child’s number to share with families with whom you carpool. Extra or replacements cards are available for $1.00 per card in the Primary Office. This carpool number must be displayed on the car dashboard until all children are in the car. If you are picking up your child from the back door (south) of the cafeteria and forgot your carpool card, you must go to the Primary office for a temporary card. Temporary cards are good for one (1) day only.
Primary Pickup
19
After picking up your Primary student(s), parents should exit the campus, and enter the Riverside parking lot to wait for their Secondary student. If there is a need to park, use the Riverside lot, walk up and show your number to the faculty member on duty at the back door of the Primary cafeteria.
If a child walks home or uses public transportation, a release and permission form must be on file with the Primary Director. Students who are picked up by siblings who drive must have written permission on file in the Primary office. Students and their siblings must leave campus immediately after release. Students may not be picked up by middle or secondary siblings who do not drive.
Early Primary Pick UpStudents who need to leave campus early must be picked up in the Primary Office at least 30 minutes before the dismissal time:
Dismissal Time Early pickup3:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m.2:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m.12:00 p.m. 11:30 p.m.
Parents/guardians must notify the Primary Office in advance so that their student will be ready for pickup. Parent/Guardians coming into the Primary office after the 30 minute time limit will be asked to follow the normal pickup routine and show their carpool number at the back door of the Primary cafeteria.
Students shall be released from school only to the parent(s) or guardian(s) listed on the student registration form, or to another person designated in writing by parent(s) or guardian(s). Exceptions to this procedure will require proof of identification.
Primary Late Room ProceduresStudents who have not been picked up by 3:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. or 12:45 on early dismissal and ½ days, will be taken to the Late Room. Late Room will be monitored by NHP staff. Upon arrival, parent(s) will be directed to the Late Room location where they will sign out their child/children and pay $10.00 per child. If payment is not made at this time, parents will be given a note explaining the process for payment the next school day. If payment is not received the next school day, parents will receive an email or phone call reminding them of their obligation. Failure to pay the late room fee will be taken into consideration with regard to re-enrollment.
Change in TransportationA note or an email must be sent to the office if your child will have a change other than their usual way home. If another person picks up the student, that person should be listed on the vital statistics form. If an emergency occurs and the child must have someone other than those listed on the vital statistics form pick them up, the parents must confirm the change with the Primary Office so that your child will be in the carpool line for pickup.
After Care Program
20
Parents have the option to pick their child up by 3:45 p.m. or enroll them in the After Care Program. The After Care Program costs $165.00 per month for a 5:30 p.m. pickup and $215.00 for a 6:00 p.m. pickup. For more information please contact Joe De La Torre, After Care Director at [email protected]. The After Care Program application is also posted on the NHP website, www.northhillsprep.org.
Field TripsScheduled field experiences, on campus or off campus, are an important part of the school curriculum. Parents will be notified in writing when field experiences are planned. Permission forms must be signed by the parents and presented to the teacher before a student is permitted to participate in a field experience activity. This privilege may be revoked or denied to any student who exhibits poor academic performance or disrespectful behavior. Only students and teacher may ride the bus to an off campus field experience unless given permission by the school director.
Secondary After School Procedures
Once the school day ends, students have 10 minutes to be outside waiting for their rides in the designated pick-up areas, walk home (Upper School Students only whose primary residence is in the homes across the street) or immediately go to their school sponsored after-school programs. During inclement weather, students are permitted to exit through the front lobby. Students are responsible to go immediately to their ride when it arrives. Students are not permitted to be in the front lobby, hallways, or restrooms unless working with a teacher or school sponsored activity.
Students not involved in supervised / school sponsored activities must be picked up by 4:15 PM on normal days, 3:15 on Wednesdays and 1:15 on Early Release Days. Students who are still on campus after 4:15 PM and not involved in supervised / school sponsored activities will be required to attend supervised study hall. A flat fee of $10 per student will be charged upon entry to supervised study hall. After 4:15 PM parents are expected to park and come in by the East Common entrance to pick up their student(s) and pay their fees. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., $1 per minute per student will be charged. If a student is not picked up by 6:00 p.m. and is not in a supervised activity, his/her parent will be contacted and a meeting will be held with the Dean of Students. If payment is not made at the time of pick-up, parents will be given a note explaining the process for payment the next school day. If payment is not received the next school day, parents will receive an email or phone call reminding them of their obligation. Failure to pay the late room fee will be taken into consideration with regard to re-enrollment.
After-School Activities – Student Pick UpStudents must be picked up immediately at the end of an after-school activity (tutorials, sports, practice, etc.). Sponsors of that activity will supervise students for up to 15 minutes after the conclusion of the activity. Students not picked up by this time will be required to go to supervised study hall for a $10 fee. If the activity ends after supervised study hall closes the sponsor will remain with the students until they are picked up for a fee of $10.
21
Middle School After School Program (6-8)NHP will begin an internal after school program, staffed by the University of Dallas. We will be adding staffers to the existing Primary program and create a Middle School program. This change will give us a better ability to develop a program that suits more of our students and is flexible enough to meet our needs. As our after school coordinator works with us to develop the program, there will be a gap in our after school program for the first few weeks of school. During that time, if you cannot make other arrangements for your students, please contact Oscar Avila, our Dean of Students via email and we will gladly make arrangements for your student for the first days of school. As soon as we have the program details, we’ll email you and post it to our website.
ATTENDANCE
Student Attendance/Absences
In Texas, a child between the ages of 6 and 18 is required to attend school unless exempted by law. The Texas Education Code 25.085-096 states that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance at least 90% of the time that the class is offered (9 days per year per class including excused and unexcused absences).
If a student misses more than four classes per semester for any reason other than school-related absences, the student and parent will be notified by the administrative designee of an attendance/credit loss issue. An attendance contract will be initiated with stipulations for “make-up time” to redeem credit. If this contract is not fulfilled in its entirety due to circumstances beyond the control of the student or parent, the parent may then request, in writing, that the Attendance Review Committee be convened to review the decision to deny credit. The Attendance Review Committee, composed of teachers and administrators, will determine the impact of the absences and recommend promotion, retention or remediation. It is the responsibility of the student to provide documentation of their make-up time.
Attendance is taken each period of the school day and is recorded for the state each day during second period State funding is based on daily attendance figures. (In Grades K-5 attendance is taken by 10:30 a.m. In grades 6-12 attendance is taken each class period and is recorded for state attendance purposes at exactly 10:30 a.m.) In Grades 6-12, absence is defined as missing the first twenty minutes for regular classes and 10 minutes for 6th period and 0 hour. Student absences may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of instructional materials and therefore, the student should avoid unnecessary absences. If the parent/guardian or student has questions about attendance they should contact the school attendance office for information. Students are expected to be in school except in cases of emergency, illness, or school-approved absences.
Students should make every effort to be present daily. If an absence is unavoidable, a parent/guardian should call the main office before 10:00 a.m. on the date of
22
the absence with the reason for the student's absence. Teachers are not responsible for communicating this information to the office. All absences will be verified by the school attendance office starting at 8:30 and if the school has not been notified by 10 a.m., the student absence will be recorded as “unexcused.” It is important that the parent calls in and that the parent speaks directly to the person in charge of attendance. A message may be left on the school’s voice mail service; however, it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure the message was received. When a parent /guardian knows in advance about a future absence, prior written permission for the absence to be considered excused should be received in advance. When the student returns to school, he/she should provide the office with a note signed by a parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence. Since absences may determine grading and course credit, all documentation regarding absences will be retained in the student’s cumulative file for a period of two years.
Personal Illness When a student’s absence for personal illness exceeds three (3) consecutive days, the student will be required to present a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or other condition causing the student’s extended absence from school. If the student has established a questionable pattern of absences, the Campus Director may require a physician or clinic’s statement of illness after a single day’s absence. This procedure will be used as a condition for classifying the absence as excused or as one for which extenuating circumstances exist. Failure to provide the required statement may result in the student and/or parent being charged with violating the compulsory attendance laws as well as the possibility of a loss of credit.
Upon the student’s return to school from being absent, he/she must go to the attendance clerk with a note from parent prior to entering the classroom. Students are to make contact with the teacher to make up work missed due to excused absences. Regardless of the reason, absences will be marked “unexcused” if the parent does not contact the school in writing or by telephone. A note or confirmation from the parent / guardian must be provided the day of the student’s return. If a note is not provided within three working calendar days of the student’s return, the absence will be marked “unexcused” resulting in possible academic penalties. (Example: If a student is absent on Monday and returns to school on Tuesday, then Tuesday would be considered day one; Wednesday, day two; and Thursday, day three). If the student does not have a note submitted to the Attendance Office or if the parent/guardian has not spoken to the attendance office by 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, the student’s absence(s) will be marked as “unexcused.”
Excused Absences: (these are excused absences by school or by law)
Student absences may be excused in the following situations: Medical appointments: If a student has an appointment with a health care professional and provides documentation of the visit.
23
Observance of religious holy days: North Hills Preparatory will excuse students from attending school for the purpose of observing religious holy days. Excused days for travel shall be limited to no more than one day for travel to and one day for travel from the site where the student will observe the religious holy days. A student whose absence is excused for the purpose of observing religious holy days shall not be penalized for the absence and shall be counted as having attended for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance if documentation is provided. The school may investigate any case in which an excused absence is requested.
Extracurricular activities: If a student participates in a school-approved and supervised extracurricular activity.
College trips: Junior and senior students may be excused to visit an accredited college or institution of higher education for the purpose of determining the student’s interest in attending the college or institution. However, not more than two days during the student’s junior year and two days during the student’s senior may be excused, provided the trip is approved in advance by the counselor or campus director. Official documentation provided by college tour guide must be submitted to Attendance office (See Guidelines for Visiting College Campuses – available from RTC Counselor).
Attendance at required court appearances : If a student is required to appear at court – including truancy court – the absence may be excused upon receipt of proper documentation.
Naturalization ceremonies: Appearance at a governmental office to complete paperwork required in connection with the student’s application for US. Citizenship or taking part in a U.S. naturalization oath ceremony with proper documentation.
Death or serious illness in immediate family: Attendance at a funeral for an immediate family member (parent/guardian/custodian, siblings, and grandparents) – not to exceed three days if travel is required unless approved by the school director. Absence due to serious illness of immediate family member limited to three days (including travel).
Military deployment of parent : Absence for the purpose of a student visiting with his or her parent or legal guardian related to leave or deployment activities – not to exceed three days per year unless other approved by the Senior Director.
Unexcused AbsencesAbsences not excused by law or school procedure and absences that are not a result of approved extracurricular activities shall be designated as unexcused, even if the student has parental permission to be absent. A student with unexcused absences ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a six-month period or three (3) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period from school may face legal prosecution under Texas’ Truancy laws.
24
Closed Campus for Grades 6-12A student may not leave campus after arriving at school until safely picked up by parent/designee without parental permission documented with the attendance clerk. A student who leaves campus without permission will receive disciplinary action. Leaving campus is defined as leaving the actual school grounds, including waiting at the Las Colinas Equestrian Center and apartments across the street.
Late Start / Early Dismissal for Grades 6-12Students who have a scheduled Late Start/Early Dismissal must show a school ID or driver’s license to the attendance clerk in order to be released from school. Please refer to the section regarding Late Start/Early Dismissal in the Academic Programs section for further eligibility requirements.
Average Daily Attendance (ADA)School funding from the State is based on Average Daily Attendance figures. We need your cooperation in scheduling appointments after school hours.
All students must comply with the following procedures:
A signed note from a parent must be submitted to the attendance clerk before 10:00 a.m. on the day the student is to be dismissed early. A verifiable telephone number must be written on the note. If the appointment is made after the student arrives on campus, a parent must call the attendance clerk, so that the student will be ready when the parent arrives. If a parent shows up unannounced, it will take additional time to excuse the student from class.
The student will be given a dismissal slip for an early release. The student will show the dismissal slip to his/her teacher. At the appointed time on the dismissal slip, the student will leave class and wait for his/her parent outside the attendance office. The student will only be permitted to wait for his/her parent for ten (10) minutes before being required to return to class. If no dismissal slip is issued, departure from school is unexcused.
Parents will sign the student out with the attendance clerk. If the parent is unable to sign the student out, it must be stated in the note, which should include an explanation of the student’s means of transportation. If the student returns to campus on the same day, he/she must sign in with the attendance clerk. When leaving for a doctor’s appointment, student drivers will be permitted to sign themselves out if they have already submitted a parent authorization note.
For State funding, it is imperative that a student submit a doctor’s note whenever he/she is partially absent from the school day due to a doctor’s visit. A parent note is not sufficient to receive State funding.
Student Age 18 and OverA student who is age eighteen (18) or older and living independently of his/her parent is permitted to verify his or her own absences and sign out. Parent and student must have a signed release on file with the attendance clerk.
25
Loss of Credit for Excessive AbsencesA student in Grades K-8 shall not receive credit and may not be promoted if he/she has been in attendance fewer than 90% of the 180 school days. Students in Grades 9-12 who do not maintain 90% attendance in each class per year may not be promoted or receive credit for a course regardless if the absence is excused or unexcused. Attendance is recorded each grading period and reported as part of the report card.
The school attendance committee may give credit if there were extenuating circumstances for the absences. Parents may submit a written petition that requests an award of credit; all petition requests should be submitted to the Senior Director who will forward the request to the attendance committee. Petitions may be filed at any time the student receives notice, but no later than seven (7) days after the last day of classes.
The Senior Director or Designee may impose conditions on the receipt of credit, such as requiring the student to:
Satisfy given requirements before and/or after school, or on Saturdays. Attend tutorial sessions as scheduled. Attend approved summer school or tutorial programs. Take an examination to earn credit. Complete additional assignments, as specified by the committee.
Additionally, the student shall maintain the attendance standards for the rest of the year. Also, the student must earn a passing grade in order to receive credit. Students may be required to pay a fee for the attendance of Saturday classes or summer school programs. The student and parent will be notified in writing when a student accumulates absences that put him/her at risk of losing credit for the class.
Truancy/Non-Compliance with Attendance Laws: A student who is absent from school without permission of parent / guardian or absent from class without the Campus Director’s permission, is considered truant and will be subject to disciplinary action. A student is considered truant if he/she misses all or part of a school day without the knowledge of parental permission or school permission. There will be academic penalties for truant students. At no time are students allowed to leave the campus without prior permission from parents and the Campus Director. Students should also sign out in the Administration Office before leaving campus.
If a student who is required to attend school under the law is absent without excuse on ten or more days or parts of days within a six month period or three or more days or parts of days within a four week period, a truancy action may be brought for failure to comply with the compulsory attendance laws. The student and his parent may be subject to prosecution or referral to the juvenile court is the student fails to attend school as required by law.
TardiesNorth Hills Preparatory expects punctuality and dependability and maintains a strict policy regarding tardiness. Tardiness to school and to class is unacceptable and is punishable by detention or classroom consequences. Excessive or habitual tardiness may be grounds for
26
suspension or other disciplinary action. Students arriving to school late cannot enter classes without a tardy slip from the Attendance Office. Every effort should be made to schedule medical/dental appointments at times other than during school hours. Nonetheless, tardiness will be excused for scheduled doctor, dentist, or orthodontist appointments, illnesses, and emergencies upon returning to school with a note from the doctor or a parent to the Attendance Office.
Tardiness will not be excused for reasons of tiredness, traffic, or errands. Students will receive a detention or classroom consequences for unexcused tardiness. Students with three attendance-related detentions in a quarter will be given notice of more serious consequences for further tardiness. Any student who arrives unexcused will receive an automatic detention. The Director or teacher may issue attendance-related detentions and decide whether a tardy is excused or not. Parents must accompany students to the main office to sign them in if they are late arriving to school.
PrimaryStudents are expected to be on time for all classes. A student will be considered tardy if he/she is not on campus by the beginning of the school day. Teachers will make contact with the student’s parent prior to office referrals and will handle the first three tardies using teacher detentions or other appropriate consequences.
SecondaryStudents are expected to be in their desks working at the start of class. Teachers will make contact with the student’s parent prior to office referrals and will handle the first three tardies using detentions.
Campus Consequences for Unexcused Absences, Tardies and Missing Detention:
3 unexcused tardies = 1 unexcused absence 4 or more unexcused tardies =Detentions by Campus Director or Saturday Detention Hall1 period =4 Detentions (after school – 1 hour each)2 periods =7 Detentions (after school – 1 hour each)3 periods =1 Saturday Detention Hall (4 hours)All Day =2 Saturday Detention Halls (8 hours)2 consecutive days = Parent conference/Possible suspension/expulsionSkipping DetentionSkipping one time = 1 day detention addedSkipping two times= 1 Saturday Detention Hall added/Parent conference/Possible Suspension/expulsionSkipping Saturday D-Hall = Parent conference/Possible suspension or expulsion
Communication with Parents27
Faculty and staff will maintain a system of communication with students and their parent.
Method of Communication
Frequency Responsible Purpose
Student Planner Daily Students and Teachers
All students will use their planner to record homework and long range assignments, projects, and tests. The planner will also be used for other general planning purposes.
Primary Weekly Folder Weekly Teacher and Office Staff
Send home school-wide events and documents (i.e. parent-forms, calendar of events, lunch menu, fundraisers, progress reports, etc.)
Written/E-Mail Communication
As Needed
Each Teacher
Communicate a student’s level of success in following the classroom management plan (i.e. notices of exceptional behavior, choice management referrals, classroom detention forms, etc.)
School Newsletter
Weekly Administration
The Weekly Tidbits will be e-mailed to parents
www.northhillspreparatory.org
Always Departments, Office Staff, and Technologist
Provide information of school events, policies, and Newsletter. Provide teachers/departments with an on-line method for class newsletters.
Teacher’s Bio Contact info Syllabus Calendar of Events Other interesting items of
importance
28
SECTION III. ACADEMIC PROGRAM North Hills Preparatory will offer a rigorous college preparatory education, which encourages confidence, independence and meaningful relationships. The relevant academic program will require English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and History each year. Additional courses will be offered such as: Foreign Language, Business Technology, Physical Education, and Fine Arts. Upon successful completion of all coursework, the student will earn a Distinguished Achievement Program High School Diploma. Most significantly, each student must seek and gain acceptance into a four-year or two-year college or university as a high school graduation requirement.
Curriculum The North Hills Preparatory faculty and administration are committed to preparing our students for the global world in which we live. Our college Preparatory curriculum emphasizes a rigorous core academic program that includes Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and Foreign Language and is modeled on the standards set by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Please refer to the Program of Studies published each spring for detailed information about our academic programs.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner ProfileThe aim of the IB Programme is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Knowledgeable They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Thinkers They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
Principled They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.
Open-minded They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals
29
and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Risk-takers They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
Balanced They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
Reflective They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.
Primary Years Program InformationNorth Hills Preparatory is authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Year Program, or PYP. The PYP is designed for students aged 3 -12. It focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs to addition to academic development. At North Hills Preparatory all students in grades Kindergarten through grade 5 participate in the PYP.
The Program: Encourages a positive attitude to learning by engaging students in inquiries and
developing their awareness of the process of learning so that they become lifelong learners.
Reflects real life by encouraging learning beyond traditional subjects with meaningful, in-depth inquiries into real issues.
Emphasizes through the learner profile, the development of the whole student-physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
The PYP is the curriculum used at North Hills Preparatory. We do however; align this curriculum to the Texas Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the state mandated standards.
Curriculum:An aim of the PYP is to create a transdisciplinary curriculum that is engaging, relevant, challenging and significant for the learners in the 3-12 age range. In developing a curriculum of international education for Primary school students, The PYP definition of curriculum is broad and inclusive. The IBO believes that:
All students should be supported to participate in the program to the fullest extent possible
30
The school’s curriculum includes all those student activitie3s, academic and non-academic, for which the school takes responsibility, since they all have an impact on student learning.
The PYP definition of curriculum, then, emerges as compromising three interrelated components. In keeping with the PYP commitment to inquiry, these components are expressed in the form of the following three opened-ended questions.
What do we want to learn?The written curriculum- the identification of a framework of what’s worth knowing.
How best will we learn? The taught curriculum- the theory and application of good classroom practice.
How will we know what we The assessed curriculum- the theory and application of have learned? effective assessment.
Assessment:We believe that assessment plays a critical role in driving the quality curriculum necessary to empower students to reach their potential. Assessment tells us where students are in their learning, and provides students guidance towards higher levels of achievement. Assessment is central to the North Hills Preparatory effort to achieve its mission by “providing a preparatory curriculum of the highest standards that encourages children to raise the level of expectations that they place upon themselves and motivates them to become successful leaders.”
The IB Middle Years Programme
The IB Middle Years Program (MYP) in grades 6-10 links the IB Primary Years Program (K-5) and the Diploma Program (11-12). The program requires mastery of eight domains of learning - English, Humanities, Science, Math, Foreign Language (Spanish or French- currently offered at NHP), Physical Education, Technology, and the Fine Arts. As defined by the IBO “The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme is designed to help [students] find a sense of belonging in the ever-changing and increasingly interrelated world around them and to foster a positive attitude to learning.”
The IB Middle Years Program, for students aged 11 to 16, provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers. The core belief of the IB Middle Years Program is that all students can be taught to be independent problem-solvers with strong study skills.
The MYP curriculum framework involves three fundamentals- holistic learning, international mindedness and communication. All disciplines include five key areas of interaction (application/contexts of learning): Approaches to learning, Community and Service, Human Ingenuity (creativity), Health and Social (well-being) and Environments (natural, built and virtual). The content is taught using these areas of
31
interaction as context.
Students are required to take eight courses every year in grades 6-10 with a minimum of 50 hours of instruction per subject. The program requires mastery in one additional language by the end of the 5th year of the program. Therefore, students are not permitted to switch to another language offered at the same grade/mastery level after 6th grade. Moreover, the Middle Years Program requirement does not allow any extra-curricular activity/athletics to replace the PE course requirement. Students have to master all the subject specific objectives in Year 5 to receive the MYP certificate.
The Middle Years Program culminates in the submission of a Personal Project in grade 10, where students exhibit flair and knowledge in a subject area of their own choice. At North Hills Preparatory, this work for this project begins in the second semester of 9th grade and culminates in the first semester of 10th grade. All 10th grade students are required to do a Personal Project. Mentors/advisors are assigned to support each student through the planning and implementation cycle (two semesters).
Collaboration is an important element of the MYP. Teacher teams meet each week by grade level to examine the curriculum horizontally so that each MYP subject supports the others to provide students with a holistic experience of curriculum and assessment. Departments/vertical teams also meet regularly to align the final objectives of their respective programs.
The Diploma Programme
North Hills Preparatory is an authorized DP school. The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.
The CurriculumThe IB Diploma Programme is available to our 11th and 12th grade students. This programme is designed for highly motivated students who pursue the rigorous curriculum established by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). The IB Diploma Programme requirements include course work in six (6) areas of study, completion of 150 hours of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service), a 4,000 word extended essay and the Theory of Knowledge courses. Receipt of the IB Diploma is based upon scores on IB exams taken by Diploma Candidates at the end of their coursework. In addition to counting towards the IB Diploma, high scores on IB exams are widely accepted for college credit.The IB Diploma Programme offers the areas of study at the Standard Level (SL), or the Higher Level (HL). Though SL courses are less rigorous than HL courses, both SL and HL courses constitute a challenging, advanced curriculum. Most IB courses at North Hills, both SL and HL, constitute a two (2) year course of study.
32
1. Language A1 - English HL2. Language B - Spanish HL/SL or French HL/SL 3. Individuals and Societies – History of the Americas HL, Psychology SL4. Experimental Sciences - Biology HL/SL; Chemistry HL/SL; Environmental
Systems (SL)5. Mathematics - Math Studies SL or Mathematics HL / SL6. Electives - Visual Arts HL/SL; Theatre Arts HL/SL, Music SL (North Hills is
piloting IB Music—it is not guaranteed that the course will be offered). A second course from one of the other groups may be substituted for an elective.
7. Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The extended essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.
Theory of knowledge is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).
Creativity, action, service requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.
AssessmentStudents take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.
The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, service requirement. The highest total that a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points.
Grading ProgramGrading and reporting should focus on student growth and learning in a climate of high expectations. Instructional emphasis should be placed on the accomplishment of defined school goals. Student progress will be assessed every nine-weeks, using several rubrics, which include portfolios, verbal assessments and written formats, such as tests and quizzes. All students will earn numerical grades.
The numerical grades (percentages) and their meanings used on the report to parents are shown below:
Percentage Explanation of 33
Grade Grades100-90 Outstanding
Progress 89-80 Good Progress 79-75 Satisfactory
Progress 74-70 Unsatisfactory
Progress 69 and
below Failing
I Incomplete
North Hills Preparatory (K-2) Grading Scales:
Kindergarten - Academic & Citizenship 1st – 2nd Core SubjectsE - Excellent E - Excellent (100 – 90)S - Satisfactory S - Satisfactory (89 – 80)N - Needs Support N - Needs Improvement (79 – 70)
U - Unsatisfactory (69 and below)
Preparatory students are expected to maintain a mastery level of in all subject areas. Failure to do so will result in required tutorials after school and/or Saturday school.
Explanation of Letter Grades for LeadershipThe following criteria are provided as a general guide for administering leadership grades:
E Excellent Observes rules all of the time
S Satisfactory Observes rules most of the time
N
Needs Improvement
Observes rules infrequently
U
Unsatisfactory Almost never observes rules
The indicators to be used to assess leadership grades are listed below:
• Practices integrity and respect • Makes choices that positively impact the learning community• Avoids distractions and uses inquiry to problem-solve • Uses reflection in an effort to continuously learn and grow• Works well with others • Uses acceptable language • Follows dress and honor code
Block Schedule for Grades 6 - 12In an effort to provide time for adequate instruction and inquiry, our school has chosen an A/B block schedule. The block schedule allows students and teachers the flexibility to meet individual learning styles
34
Homework and Test Procedure for Grades 1-12It is the student’s responsibility to turn in homework on the assigned date. When absent, students must obtain the missed assignments and make up the work in accordance with the procedure for excused absences. Please reference www.northhillsprep.org for links to teacher pages for class specific information.
Major Assessment Procedure for Grades 6-12A variety of assessments will be given to measure student knowledge and progress throughout the year. In the Upper School, a student shall not be required to complete more than two major assessments (2 tests or 1 test and 1 project or 2 projects) on the same day. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the teacher at least 48 hours in advance, if this situation occurs, with the teacher who assigns the third major assessment.
Exam Exemption Procedure for Grade 12FOR SENIORS ONLY: a senior student with a grade of 90 or above average and who has nomore than 2 unexcused absences in the second semester is exempt from finals. ALL STUDENTS whether exempt from taking an exam or not, MUST be present on campus during assigned exam periods to ensure a continuum of school funding.
Test Retakes for Grades 6-12Students who earn a grade below 70 on a test are eligible for a retake. If a retake test is offered by the teacher, the student may not earn a grade higher than a 70%. The score earned on the retake test must be the recorded grade, not the average or higher of the two grades. Tests may be retaken only once. Situations may arise where the teacher offers a retake for an entire class; however, it is the student’s responsibility to seek a retake test from his/her teacher within one week of receiving the failing test grade.
Late Work for Grades 6-12All assignments are expected to be turned in on time. If assignments are turned in late, the grade will be affected by the following adjustments: Students who attend after-school tutoring or Saturday tutoring may be able to earn grades above the minimum (based on director and instructor discretion)
On the 1st day of class that the assignment is due, the student will be able to earn a maximum grade of 100%.
On the2nd day of class, the student will be able to earn a maximum grade of 70% On the3rd day of class, the student will be able to earn a maximum grade of 50%, And on the 4th day of class , the student will be given a 0
Tutorials for Grades 1-12All teachers schedule tutorial times and encourage students to attend. Teachers may require students to attend tutorials.
Making Up Work for EXCUSED AbsencesStudents who have missed work due to an excused absence have as many class days to make up the work as they were absent. All work assigned before the student absence
35
will be due the day the student returns to class. If a student misses one (1) class, the student will have one (1) additional class day to turn in the assignment.
Work assigned to secondary students on Monday and due on Wednesday is not due by this student until Friday. If a student has missed several days due to an excused absence, parents should contact the teacher to determine a reasonable plan to help your child catch up on missed work. The late work procedure does not apply to an excused absence.
UNEXCUSED Absences for Grades 1-12Students with unexcused absences will receive a grade of zero (0) for all missed daily work. Major work may be made up; however, the grade will be no higher than 70%.
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Testing and RemediationNorth Hills Preparatory is committed to student success on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and takes seriously its obligation to provide students the support and assistance they need to succeed. All students at TAKS-testing grade levels, Grades 3-11, will be regularly benchmark tested to ensure they are making appropriate progress throughout the required TAKS curriculum. Students who are not making adequate progress will receive remedial assistance. Students who have failed a TAKS test in the previous year will be required to attend remedial classes/tutorials when the school offers them in the areas in which the standard has not been met. This may be an on-going, regularly scheduled class or it may be an intense remedial tutorial for a period prior to TAKS testing.
RetentionGrades K – 5: If a student fails two (2) core subjects, does not pass the TAKS test or their teacher recommends retention, there will be a Grade Placement meeting. The Grade Placement Committee consists of the parents/guardian, Primary Director, Dean of Students and the teacher.
Grades 6 – 8: A student in Grades 6-8 who fails a class in a core subject area (Math, Science, Social Studies, Language A, Language B) must satisfactorily complete such classes in summer school. A student who fails three (3) or more core classes may not advance to the next grade. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to find an approved Summer School program, if not offered at NHP. North Hills Preparatory reserves the right to accept or deny summer school credit. Consult the Counselor to get acceptance of summer school credit.
Credit Recovery for Grades 9-12A student in Grades 9-12 who fails a credit course must take the course again during summer school. Students must take the failed course before graduation and receive a passing grade. Students who fail a core subject class must take the failed course during summer school immediately following the academic year in which the class was failed. Because many courses have prerequisites, failure to attend summer school may impact a student’s ability to graduate within four (4) years of Upper School.
Class Placement in the Secondary School
36
Class placement in the Secondary School depends on the number of accumulated credits. The following scale shows credits that must be completed for class placement.
Sophomore: 07 credits Junior: 14 credits Senior: 21 credits Student Graduate Profile
Content Area Credits
Courses
English 4 English I, II, II, IV
Math 4 Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, plus an additional math course*
Science 4 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, plus an additional Science course
Social Studies 3 World Geography, US History, World History
Additional Language: 3 Spanish I, II, III (AP and IB students will earn IV.)
Government ½ GovernmentEconomics ½ EconomicsPhysical Education 1 ½ PE or AthleticsHealth ½ HealthCommunications ½ Communication ApplicationsFine Arts 1 Choir, Band, Visual Art, Theater
Technology 1Desktop Publishing, Business Computer Applications Systems, Web mastering, Computer Science, or other technology course
College Skills 1 To be taken over the course of two years. ½ credit per year.
Additional Electives 3½Additional Math courses, Technology courses, or courses of the students choosing may satisfy the elective requirement.
Students must also fulfill the college acceptance component for graduation.
Evaluation of Credits for Transfer Students North Hills Preparatory accepts credits from other schools accredited by the State of Texas. Courses will be evaluated by a counselor to determine if the course meets the requirements for graduation from a Texas high school, as well as from North Hills Preparatory. All transfer grades earned in accredited schools will be converted to North Hills Preparatory grading scale and course designation consistent with North Hills Preparatory standards. In order to receive credit for work completed, students entering North Hills Preparatory from a non-accredited school or from home schooling must take credit-by-exam (CBE) tests approved in advance by North Hills Preparatory. Students are responsible to pay applicable fees for these tests. Students must achieve test scores acceptable to North Hills Preparatory.
Grade Conversion for Transcripts with Letter GradesConversion of letter grades to numerical grades for students transferring in with letter grades from accredited schools will be based on numerical equivalents. Conversion of out-of-country students’ grade equivalency will be determined by evaluation of the
37
students’ transcripts. A plus or a minus attached to a letter grade shall be converted as follows:
A+ = 98 B+ = 88 C+ = 78 D+ = 70A = 95 B = 85 C = 75
D = 70A - = 91 B - = 81 C - = 71 D - = 70F = 50
Eligibility for Commencement North Hills Preparatory seniors who have satisfied all NHP requirements for graduation are eligible for participation in Graduation Ceremonies. An exception may be made in the situation that a senior lacks one credit towards graduation requirements and a student has a plan approved by the head counselor and the Upper School Director to complete that one credit prior to the beginning of the next school year. No other exceptions to participation in the Graduation Ceremony will be granted.
Only students who have completed all requirements of North Hills Preparatory will receive a diploma. Those requirements are:
Completion of a minimum of (29) credit hours according to the North Hills Preparatory Program of Studies;
Completion of (100) hours of community service; Applied and accepted to a two (2) or four (4) year college; and
Not assigned to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement (DEAP) setting during his/her senior year at North Hills Preparatory or any other education setting.
Academic Achievement Record/Transcript Each student has an academic achievement record with grades, graduation credits, grade point average and standardized test scores recorded from the beginning of the freshman year. A photocopy of the record is called a transcript and is required for admission by most secondary and post-secondary institutions. A transcript may not be released without written request from a parent or student over (18) years of age. Request forms are available from the academic counseling office and at www.northhillsprep.org. An official transcript is one that is mailed to another educational institution upon written request of the parent. The cost of each official transcript is $5. An unofficial transcript is given to a parent or student upon written request from a parent or student over (18) years of age.
Approved Courses Included in Formal Grade Point Average; Calculating & reporting GPA, Rank in Class, Valedictorian and Salutatorian – Hold for final approval of GPA calculation and ranking policy by the Board on June 10.
Road to College Program: -- All students will be supported in their college application process by the Uplift Road to College Program and the RTC campus counselor. Students will also have the opportunity to have a HERO volunteer assigned to them to assist with the college application process. Please check with the RTC counselor at the school for further information.
38
Academic Probation Academic probation will be initiated with a parent conference in which all parties (student, parent/guardian, teachers, and Advisor) draft a contract whereby the student will be mandated to take certain steps to improve their academic performance including but not limited to the following:
4:15 p.m. homework hall; academic support Daily Planner check-ins Nightly homework check-ins Mandatory tutorials Weekly progress report Loss of Extended Day Program activities
While on academic probation, students should focus their time and effort on making sure they are earning grades to meet expectations (85% or above) in all classes. Students should take advantage of morning and afternoon flextime, lunch tutorials, office hours, and make an extra effort to call teachers with questions about homework or projects, and schedule after-school tutorials if necessary to meet expectations.
If the student is meeting expectations in all classes on the report card following Academic Probation, earning 85% or above for the quarter, he/she will be released from Academic Probation and will become a student in good standing. If, according to the next quarter report card, the student on Academic Probation fails to meet expectations (below 70%), then the Academic Probation contract will be reviewed at another parent meeting and revised as necessary.
Students who continue on academic probation and do not earn academic credit in a course will have to repeat that course the following academic year. As such, some students may take more than four years to complete the North Hills Preparatory graduation requirements. Final decision of academic placement is at the discretion of the school administrators.
GPA Policy:- The grading system is as follows:
On 100 Scale On 4.0 ScaleA+ 100-97 4.0A 96-93 4.0A- 92-90 3.7B+ 89-87 3.3B 86-83 3.0B- 82-80 2.7C+ 79-77 2.3C 76-73 2.0C- 72-70 1.7
F69 and Below 0.0
39
Calculation of weighted GPA:o To weight the GPA, the semester grade in each course is added to the course
weight. All weighted courses are totaled and divided by the total number of courses to get the weighted GPA.
Example: A student earns a grade of 4.0 in an AP English class for the fall semester. Since this course is an AP level course, the student earns an additional point. Therefore the student’s weighted GPA is a 5.0 (4.0 + 1.0 = 5.0) for the semester class.
o Weightings are based on the following scale:Advance Placement/IB 1
Dual Credit/Pre-AP/Honors 0.5
All other courses 0
Calculation of unweighted GPA:o Unweighted GPA is the sum of the unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale divided by
the total number of courses
Communication on transcript:o The student’s transcript will show bothweighted GPA on a 5.0 scaleunweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale
Ranking Policy:Rank will be calculated using all semester grades and will be based on weighted GPA. The following courses are not included in GPA:
o Currently Pass/Fail courses do not receive GPA points. Without a numeric grade no GPA points can be awarded. These types of courses are generally PE courses so they rarely earn class ranking points either
o HS credits earned in middle school do not count towards class ranking or GPA. These classes will show Pass/Fail on the transcript
o Local credits earned do not count towards class ranking or GPA
o If a student repeats a course where credit has already been earned, then the first course will have to be listed as a local credit. For example: If a student took Algebra 1 in the 8th grade but needed to repeat it in the 9th grade, then the 8th grade Algebra 1 would count as a local credit
40
Note: This policy goes into effect immediately for all students across Uplift schools with the exception of the North Hills Prep graduating class of 2012 which will calculate rank based on quality points.
Rank is calculated at the end of the first semester of 9th grade. The system will automatically begin to rank students as soon as they have acquired credit in 9th grade
Graduating seniors with the highest and second highest cumulative weighted grade point average as determined at the end of the third nine weeks grading period Senior year or the eighth semester and carried out three decimal places will be eligible to serve as the valedictorian and salutatorian respectively. In the event of a tie for valedictorian, the students will share the honor and there no salutatorian will be designated. All courses and corresponding numeric grades earned to determine GPA must not be modified in content and must be identified by the state as a regular, honors, and / or AP courses in order to qualify for valedictorian and salutatorian. Valedictorian and salutatorian eligibility requires attendance at Uplift high school for 6 consecutive semesters proceeding graduation. Further, a student who is in violation of school code, honor code, or have criminal charges may be deemed ineligible to represent school as the valedictorian or salutatorian.
Internal communication of rank: Ranks will be communicated to students and their families who are in the top 25% at the end of sophomore year, end of junior year, and end of every semester senior year. For those below the top 25%, students and their families will be told what quartile they are in at the end of sophomore year, end of junior year, and end of every semester senior year.
External communication of rank: Each campus at Uplift Education will communicate rank by doing the following:
o Eliminate the rank field on the transcript (this will also eliminate class size, quartile, and class rank date fields)
o Communication of rank will only be shown on counselor reports in the form of a standardized letter/report. In addition to sending the standardized letter/report, reports can also be in the form of a secondary school report, mid-year report, and final year report
o For students in the top 25%, counselors will note student as Valedictorian, Salutatorian, “Top 10%” or “Top 25%”
o For students who are not in top 25%, counselors will note “not ranked by Uplift” if asked to provide rank by college
o Grade distribution and weighting methodology will be shown on the school profile that is sent out with each transcript
Credit Policy:Health is no longer an Uplift requirement
41
Honor CodeNorth Hills Honor Code:
“I pledge to uphold the honor of the North Hills Preparatory Honor Code and that all the work carrying my name is my own.”
Our Honor Code:
Respect of the inherent dignity in all human beings Responsibility for one’s actions Maintaining high ethical standards in everything we do
Every student is expected to uphold the highest standards of honor with regard to academics, activities, and other related pursuits. By means of the Honor Code, students practice responsible leadership, accept personal responsibility, and develop strong character to create an atmosphere free from suspicion. Violation of the Honor Code include but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, forgery, which are considered severe discipline problems and are subject to disciplinary action within the by-laws of the Honor Code.. We believe that students can and must take responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards for their own behavior. At its core, the Honor Code is based on mutual respect and trust. It serves as a written model for what is expected from students. It also serves as a pledge to uphold the school’s values while maintaining college preparation as the number one priority.
Taking responsibility for one’s actions is vital to the maturity of each individual. The trust among all students in the school builds confidence in the overall school community and enables each student to be grounded in the leadership core values of INTEGRITY, INQUIRY, CHOICES, and REFLETION which guide the student’s every decision.
Teachers may require students to write the full honor code on major assignments. Actions or attempted actions that run counter to these perceptions are violations to the honor code.
A student’s word is expected to be the complete truth; therefore, lying and forgery are violations of the honor code.
A student’s work is expected to be his/her own, unless properly credited; therefore, plagiarism and cheating are violations of the honor code.
The property of others is to be respected; therefore, stealing – no matter how minor – is a violation of the honor code.
In situations that seem unclear, it is each student’s responsibility to check with the teacher or director regarding the honor code. Ignorance of the honor code will not be an excuse for a violation. Students who witness an honor code violation are strongly encouraged to report the action to the teacher who will notify the Campus Director. Witnessing an honor code violation and reporting it constitutes honorable behavior and is an expectation for all students. Students may opt to report a violation through an anonymous referral. Working together, we can ALL create a community of learners that value hard work, creativity, and commitment to college success. It is crucial that every member of the North Hills Prep community – students, parents, staff,
42
and trustees – understands the importance of the North Hills Preparatory Honor Code and strives to maintain its integrity.
Academic HonestyNorth Hills Preparatory Honor Code is based on the belief that true learning depends on honesty. The North Hills Preparatory community acts on the basis of mutual trust and respect between all members of the community. As a result, students are expected to demonstrate integrity and individual responsibility, both personally and academically, in order to maintain a fair and honest environment. Students who commit themselves to upholding the North Hills Preparatory Honor Code will be instilled with a sense of honor and integrity that will last beyond their high school years.
Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty where a student presents the work of another as one’s own. Plagiarism is the taking of ideas, writing, etc. from another and submitting them as one’s own (Webster’s New World Dictionary). It is important to acknowledge that plagiarism is not only the stealing of words but also of ideas. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
Copying word for word and turning in as your own work information from books, magazines, essays, the Internet, etc.
Rewording or rewriting text and information from documents not originally written by you and turning it in as your own work without proper citation.
Paraphrasing with minimal word changes (citing the source or not). Borrowing ideas and patterns of thought without proper citation. Printing an essay from the Internet and turning it in as your own work.
Collaboration on independent homework/assignments or tests will not be permitted unless permission has been secured from the teacher allowing for cooperative or group work. Students are permitted to receive assistance or guidance from others, but the entirety of the work itself and the content must always be the student’s own.
Copying and submitting the work of another or submitting work done by another is an act of academic dishonesty.
Allowing another student to copy one’s work, quiz, test, or submit one’s work, quiz, or test is an act of academic dishonesty.
Cheating is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “dealing with dishonesty for one’s own gain.” Dishonesty promotes bad character and prevents students from gaining a full grasp of information presented to them. Cheating also prevents teachers from fully evaluating the progress of students and is a form of theft. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
Using a “cheat sheet” or other unauthorized notes during a test or quiz. Looking at someone else’s paper for an answer on a test or quiz and changing
an answer. Having someone else do all or part of your homework or assignment for you Failing to mark an answer wrong when self-grading. Telling others or asking others the content of an exam or quiz. Giving a student or using an old test without teacher permission. Looking at an exam prior to taking it without teacher permission. Copying someone else’s homework or other assignment. Splitting an assignment into parts and doing a section, sharing it with others
and copying the rest from someone without teacher permission.
43
Collaborating on any assignment unless the teacher has specifically designated it as a collaborative assignment.
Using old assignments written by you or someone else instead of creating new work.
Using an online translator or other translation in place of your own. Copying material during an examination or quiz Using unauthorized notes or devices Submitting falsified information for grading purposes Obtaining a copy of and/or information about an examination or quiz without
the knowledge and consent of the teacher Submitting a paper or project which is not the student’s work Impersonating a student to assist the student academically
Stealing or accepting stolen copies of tests or answer keys Altering a teacher’s grade book Falsifying information for applications (e.g., college scholarships) Using professional help such as an author, expert, or purchased service in
violation of guidelines established by the teacher Unlawfully copying computer software or data created by others Any other violation intended to obtain credit for work which is not one’s
own Academic Consequences (Immediate)If a student is suspected of plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty, the following procedure will be followed:
The student’s exam, test, or quiz, or assignment will be confiscated by the teacher.
The paper, exam, test, quiz, or assignment will be submitted to an Administrator for consideration.
The student will be required to meet with the teacher and the Campus Director for review of the student’s work with consequences up to and including dismissal/expulsion from school, in accordance with the Uplift Student Code of Conduct.
The following general procedures shall be applied:
First offenseIn general, consequences for a first offense may include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. meeting with the parent(s) followed by written notification to the parent of the academic integrity policy;
2. Saturday Detention.
Additional or more serious offensesAdditional or more serious incidents of academic dishonesty or plagiarism shall be dealt with more severely. Consequences for any offense beyond the first or a more serious initial offense may include:
1. meeting with the parent(s); and2. one to three days of out of school suspension.
44
3. notification to the student’s post-high school counselor and any faculty members writing a college/university letter of recommendation;
4. no public recognition of the student at any senior honors function;5. no distinguished scholar recognition (if applicable);6. no scholarship money granted to the student by North Hills Prep, or any other
school affiliated organization; or7. a withdrawn failing grade from the class in which the additional offense occurred
and placement in a restricted study hall after withdrawal from the course.
Furthermore, faculty members will have full access to any disciplinary records documenting academic dishonesty for the purpose of writing letters of recommendation.
Recommendation for Revocation of Enrollment Students who commit one or more of the following offenses may be recommended for revocation of enrollment:
1. theft, sales or distribution of any materials including, but not limited to, examinations and/or quizzes;
2. breaking into and/or examining a teacher’s personal possessions (e.g., desk, files, cabinet, etc.) to obtain or view evaluation instruments;
3. changing and/or falsifying a grade in a teacher’s grade book, on the computer or through other school devices used to record student grades; or
4. unauthorized possession of a stolen evaluation instrument.
The student, who commits a serious violation of the academic honesty policy, as noted above, may receive an “F” grade for the course as reported on the permanent record, whether or not the student is expelled from school. The “F” designation shall denote no course credit and shall be the equivalent of a failing grade (“F”) for purposes of calculating the student’s cumulative grade point average.
College Prep AdvisoryA unique characteristic of North Hills Preparatory is its extended family atmosphere, an atmosphere where students are known and embraced as individuals. The College Prep Advisory Program is designed to continue to cultivate this atmosphere even as student population becomes larger in future years. Strong relationships provide a supportive environment that cultivates friendship, competition, leadership, and community service. Discussion of issues such as academics, discipline, attendance, and planning for excellence are all part of the Advisory Program.
Each Advisory is under the direction of a faculty member who is charged with ensuring that each student’s academic and personal needs are known and met during his or her years at North Hills Preparatory. Each Advisory is designed by grade level. Your advisor will become the primary contact person for your parents and will offer both advocacy and support regarding your progress, challenges, and successes.
Advisory activities and meetings will be structured to help facilitate success in student life and growth in academic achievement. Advisories will include advisor-directed activities such as goal setting, evaluation using the leadership core values, completion of student accountability documents, college prep activities and lessons, study hall,
45
sustained silent reading (SSR), sustained silent writing (SSW), individual mentoring, etc., and school-directed activities such as class meetings, college counseling, peer mentoring, and community-service.
The specific purposes of advisory are: Academic Advising : The advisory is a place to monitor student progress in
general and toward specific goals, to discuss teachers' assessments with students and parents, and to build upon successful habits of learning. In the upper grades, there will be a focus on college readiness.
Community Service : The advisory is a place to practice being an active member of the broader community by designing and implementing community service projects.
Community Conversations : The advisory is a vehicle for school-wide conversations about community issues and about being a community member.
Character Education : The advisory program will highlight character attributes from the IB Learner Profile along with leadership attributes.
Accountability : The advisory group will hold its members accountable to high academic achievement as well as high standards of behavior. Both aspects of the students’ education will be reported weekly to the parents and the advisor if that student is not meeting their Advisory goals.
Components of advisory: Weekly Goal Setting Completion of Student Accountability Documents Daily homework checks Reflection on Goal Progression Study Skills Lesson Character Education Lesson College Preparation Lessons
*The Campus Director will be responsible monitoring these lessons/activities each week with input from teachers regarding the needs of the students.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS Students at North Hills Preparatory are required to earn 1½ credits in P.E. before graduation. A student may be excused from activity due to health reasons for a maximum of three days with a note from a parent given to the PE teacher. If it is necessary to be excused for an extended period of time, a doctor’s note must be provided to the school. The student is still responsible for attending class and learning the curriculum even if physical restrictions prevent the student from actively participating in the program. A uniform is part of the overall North Hills Preparatory safety plan for students. Therefore, all students are expected to wear the appropriate uniform in order to participate in physical education activities. Students who fail to dress out in proper uniform will be given a zero for classroom participation for the day.
Off-Campus P.E.
46
Although we are supportive of our many students who participate in a variety of athletic activities outside of the school curriculum, approval for off-campus PE will be at the sole discretion of the school administration. Students interested in this option should contact the Campus Director. Please note that due to IB requirements most requests for off-campus P.E. will not be granted.
ATHLETIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Philosophy Statement We believe that physical activity is an integral component of a student’s intellectual and emotional development. The athletic program of North Hills Preparatory is designed to complement and foster our academic goals. We offer every student the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs provided they are able to maintain a level of academic performance consistent with our school mission. Our goal is the development of our students who are able to meet and balance the demands of our rigorous curriculum as well as the challenges of our sports programs.
. Eligibility and Commitment Requirements To be eligible to participate in competitions or performances for extracurricular activities a student must have no grade below a 70 in any class at a nine-week marking period. Exception: The first grade check for eligibility will be at the end of the 9-week period at the beginning of each year. (Required by UIL). Grades in AP/IB/Honors courses will be included. Quality points will not be factored in to the grade to determine eligibility. Students enrolled in AP/IB courses may have one grade per student per semester exempted from the no grade below 70 rule. The grade may not be below 60 and must be in an AP/IB course. Grades in regular courses are not exempted. The student must attend mandatory tutorials in the failed course until the grade is raised to passing. Only one grade per student per semester may be exempted. Failure to attend all tutorials will result in loss of the exemption.
Beginning with the first nine-week report period, grades for eligibility will be taken each nine weeks.
A student failing at a nine-week period will lose eligibility to compete. Eligibility may be regained at any three-week progress period if the
progress report in the failed class(es) indicates a passing grade. Three-week progress reports will not be used to withdraw a student’s eligibility, only to restore it. A student may not regain eligibility before a three-week progress report period.
The calendar will note on which day the books close for a given marking period. From that date each student has a seven calendar day grade period to compete or perform before any restriction to participation occurs. Any grace days taken at the beginning of the period of ineligibility will be added to the end of the period. The ineligibility period is in effect for fifteen consecutive school days.
Student Athletic Code
47
The opportunity to participate in the athletic program at North Hills Preparatory is a privilege available to all students. Because of the public nature of athletic programs sponsored by the district, students choosing to participate are expected to conduct themselves as leaders at all times during their season of participation and between consecutive seasons in a manner that will reflect the high standards and ideals of North Hills Preparatory and its community. These high personal standards for conduct promote maximum achievement, safe performances, commitment to excellence in health and conditioning, and fulfill responsibilities as student leaders by setting a positive example for other students. Students who fail to do their homework or who receive an office referral may not be allowed to participate in events and practices.
Sportsmanship is not only expected, it is mandated. Good sportsmanship eliminates problems and makes for a rewarding experience for those who witness and participate in athletic events. Student must remember to abide by the following:
Maintain self-control at all times. Show respect for opponents and officials. If you bring younger children to athletic events, they should sit or stand
with you; they should not be running around the gymnasium, hallway or athletic field.
Students must meet the standards for interscholastic eligibility as outlined by the state of Texas. Copies of these rules and regulations may be obtained from the school Athletic Coordinator upon request. The expectations for being a participant in a school's athletic program, including specific eligibility requirements, training rules and team rules shall be communicated to team members at the beginning of the season of participation. All program expectations and team rules shall be in writing. Any athlete in a District-sponsored athletic activity who willfully performs any act that substantially interferes with or is detrimental to the orderly operation of the District's athletic programs shall be subject to discipline. As participants in athletic programs, students are faced with choices. If a student’s choices interfere, impede, hinder their personal or group/team performance or render the individual as unfit to serve as a representative(s) of the district’s schools, they forfeit the privilege to participate. Misconduct by participants in the athletic program at any time, on or off campus, school related and/or non-school activities during the season of participation and between consecutive seasons of participation constitutes cause for discipline including denial of participation in and/or removal from the athletic program.
Other Qualifications A student who is ineligible to compete or perform in extracurricular activities may continue to practice or rehearse with the team or troupe during the period of ineligibility. All ineligible students are required to attend tutorials in failed classes and must be excused from rehearsal/practice without penalty. A student who fails a course in the 4th Quarter yet passes the course for the year will be ineligible for competition or performance until the six-week marking period of the next academic year. A student who fails a course for the year but makes up and passes the course in the summer will be eligible to compete and perform the next school year. In the time period from 12:01 a.m. Monday through 3:40 p.m. on Friday no team or other activity may practice, rehearse, or meet for more than 8 hrs. This time limitation
48
is exclusive of games or performances or other competition events. The Campus Director is responsible for ensuring that grades of students in extracurricular activities are monitored carefully and that students, coaches, and advisors are held accountable. In disputed cases the decision of the Campus Director will be final.
Arrival on Campus and Participation in After School ActivitiesStudents that arrive after 10 a.m., even with parental permission, will not be allowed to participate in activities that include contests, dramatic rehearsals and performances, and club activities. Students who arrive after 10:50 a.m. because of a doctor’s appointment are not subject to this policy. Any student who is at a doctor’s appointment will need to bring a note from the doctor when arriving on campus.
Letter Jackets and Letters Students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to be awarded a letter in Fine Arts, Academics, and Athletics. These are awarded in the fall following completion of the academic school year. Basic criteria include grades, citizenship, commitment to the program and leadership. For the specific requirements of these awards, see the sponsor of the activity in which you wish to receive a letter.
Athletic Participation Fee There is a fee for participation in athletics. Contact the athletic department for information.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONSParticipation in clubs and organizations is a privilege that allows students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, special talents, and new interests. Participation is a privilege, and therefore, students must meet all the requirements set forth in this handbook. North Hills Preparatory recognizes that the learning process is not confined to the classroom and that school life and social interchange are very important aspects of the educational process. We endeavor to provide a well-balanced extracurricular program. To supplement the basic educational programs and to provide opportunities for students to learn in various school settings, a comprehensive extracurricular activity program is available. Each school activity is organized to accomplish four major goals:
1. School service: perform various activities to enhance the school's academic function.
2. Community service: support a community activity in line with the functions of the student group.
3. Fundraising activities: raise money to carry out defined activities. 4. Social activities: provide an opportunity for students to socialize through
group activities.
Each extracurricular activity should complete on a yearly basis, at least one activity corresponding to the above stated purposes. The following extra-curricular activities may be offered:
49
Cheerleading (MS-US)Tennis (US)Basketball (MS-US)Volleyball (US)Golf (US)Track (US)Cross Country (US)Swimming (US)Soccer (MS-US)Band (MS-US)Orchestra (MS-US)Choir (MS-US)Student Council (US)MS Student Council (“Slice”)Model UN (MS-US)Mock Trial (US)
Coda Crew (PS)“Words With Friends” (PS Scrabble)Crafts Club Dance Team (US)Art Service ClubUIL Computer Club (US)Book Club (US)Eco Club (US)Yearbook (US)Robotics Club (US)French Club (US)Spanish Club (US)National Honor Society (US)National Junior Honor Society (MS)Psychology Club (US)Key Club (US)Red Cross Club (US)
Honor Societies (JNHS and NHS)
Requirements for becoming a member in the Junior National Honor Society (JNHS) in grades 7 and 8 include an average GPA of 95.0 with no grade lower than 90.0. Maintaining membership requires an average of 90.0 and no grade below 85.0.
Membership in the National Honor Society is open to any eligible student in grade 10, 11, or 12 who has been enrolled for a minimum period of one semester. Students achieve membership because they are held in the highest regard in all aspects of their student life. To become a member of the Senior National Honor Society students must be enrolled in at least four courses in the core curriculum areas of English, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science. Students must earn an overall 92.0 average with no grade lower that 85.0. Maintaining membership requires an overall 88.0 average with no grade below 84.0. In order to be a member of the National Honor Society students must be outstanding in the areas of Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.
The Honor Society Committee ultimately will determine those students who have upheld, to the highest degree, the standards that are required. Specific requirements include:
Scholarship. Students must have a minimum of grade A in all academic courses. Leadership. Students should have demonstrated leadership. It is helpful if
students have held a variety of offices with the school and community. These offices should have required the student to demonstrate a variety of skills and abilities.
Character. Students should actively demonstrate the qualities of honesty, responsibility, fairness, courtesy, tolerance and cooperation.
Service. The student should have made significant contributions to the school, classmates and community. Such contributions should be readily identifiable.
Student Council
50
The North Hills Preparatory Student Council meets regularly. The student body elects the Student Council that is responsible for organizing social activities on behalf of the students and for determining student needs and opinions on matters affecting them. The Council works closely with both the student body and administration in an effort to build a stronger school community.
SECTION IV- BEYOND THE CLASSROOMCommunity Service Students are expected to participate in age-appropriate community service work for Grades 6 – 12, and for students in grades 9-12 are expected to complete 25 hours of community service per year.
Field Trips Scheduled field trips are an important part of the school curriculum. Parents will be notified in writing when field trips are planned. Permission/Release forms must be signed by the parent and presented to the field trip organizer before a student is permitted to participate in a field trip activity. All students are expected to be in full uniform unless special permission has been obtained from the Campus or Senior Director. An alternative activity may be provided to any student who exhibits unacceptable behavior throughout the school year and/or while attending any field trip. Please refer to the Field Trip Policy approved by the School Board for further questions.
RTC TripsThe annual RTC trip is a school sponsored activity and is a privilege that carries certain requirements for students who attend. This RTC trip is a privilege that may be revoked or denied to any student who exhibits poor or disrespectful behavior throughout the school year or while attending the trip. Students attending the trip will be sent home for disrespectful behavior or for not complying with rules, policies or directives of teachers and trip sponsors at the student’s own expense.
The trip is school sponsored and students raise funds for the trip in the school community. Students may be prohibited from participating in the trip if they have a poor disciplinary record or a poor attendance record. Students not attending the trip are required to attend school during the school days of the trip. Review work, make up work, or a community service project may be scheduled during this time. If students are not in school and not on the trip, their absences will count against the 10% absence rule. (See Loss of Credit for Excessive Absences for more information about the 10% rule.) The dress code for all field lessons must be approved by the Campus or Senior Director.
Uplift Education grants students the unique opportunity to take part in End of Year Trips. Throughout the year, students work in their academic classes to earn trips that help make connections between their in-class learning and the world beyond. In order to attend, students must meet academic and behavioral expectations of the school. Students are then rewarded for their year-long effort, attitude, behavior and improvement. The following criteria must be met:
51
GRADES Students must maintain a 3.0 average through the first three quarters of the
academic year. Failure in any class will result in immediate disqualification from consideration for
End of Year Trips.
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS Students placed on final warning contracts at any point in the academic year will
be immediately disqualified from consideration for End of Year Trips. Students may receive no more than one out-of-school suspension per academic
year. Each campus selection committee reserves the right to disqualify ANY student for
not upholding the school’s core values.
ATTENDANCE Students with five (5) or more absences during the academic year may be
disqualified from consideration for End of Year Trips.
FUNDRAISING Students and/or parents/guardians must participate in at least 80 percent of
mandatory fundraising activities.
TRIP CANCELLATION/REFUNDS Uplift Education does not reimburse deposits made for End of Year Trips.
Late Start/Early DismissalStudents in Grades 11 and 12 may request a Late Start/Early Dismissal. Request forms are available in the counselor’s office after the school year begins. In order to qualify for a Late Start/Early Dismissal, a student must meet and maintain the requirements listed below throughout the year. If the student does not meet these requirements, the student will lose Late Start/Early Dismissal privileges and will be immediately scheduled into a Study Hall.
Late Start/Early Dismissal students must: Abide by all Late Start/Early Dismissal policies and procedures (including
properly signing in and out); violation of Late Start/Early Dismissal policies and procedures will result in an immediate loss of Late Start/Early Dismissal privileges for the remainder of the school year;
Stay in a supervised area while in the building; and Pass all classes or be placed in Study Hall for one (1) quarter until all grades are
passing at the marking period.
Procedures for Late Start/Early Dismissal: Sign in and out at the Attendance Office upon entering and leaving school
grounds. Use the designated entrance upon entering from or leaving for their Late
Start/Early Dismissal.
52
Must be in proper uniform while on campus.
TransportationNHP will provide transportation for all off-site events for participants. Students must get written permission in advance and assume all liability if they do not use school transportation. Participants may not drive other students or participants to school-sponsored events.
Students are expected to follow the directions of the teacher/sponsor and driver at all times. All school rules apply when attending a school-sponsored and/or sanctioned event.
Release of Information and PhotographsObjections to the release of information or photographs may be submitted on forms available at the time of registration. Changes during the school year can be made by contacting the Primary or Secondary Registrars, Maggie Stirton, Rachel Nguyen or Lisa Smith.
Video Monitoring SystemNorth Hills Preparatory maintains a video monitoring system in order to ensure a safe and orderly environment for students and staff members.
Lunch Visitations PrimaryGrades K – 5: Relatives of students are welcome to visit during lunch; however, due to space limitations in our cafeteria, only a limited number of visitors can be accommodated during each lunch period. If relatives wish to visit during lunch, they must contact the Primary Office by 9:00 AM to reserve a spot.
Primary Birthdays/Invitations (K-5)Student birthdays will be celebrated once a month in each classroom. This will replace individual birthday celebrations. These monthly celebrations will ensure that all birthdays are recognized and everyone feels special. NHP will provide the treat utilizing the party funds. Invitations to a private birthday party will only be distributed at school if each student in the class receives one.
School Parties for K-5In an effort to maximize instructional time, school parties are scheduled twice a year – Winter Holiday party and End of Year party. No other parties will be observed at school.
53
SECTION V- ASSESSMENTS/TAKS/ACADEMIC SUPPORTMajor Assessment Policy No student shall be required to complete more than TWO MAJOR assessments (2 tests, 1 test and 1 project, 2 projects) on the same day. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule another due date (at least 48 hours in advance) with the teacher who assigns the third major assessment.
Request for Final Exam Date Change Only in the most extreme circumstances will approval be given for a request to change a final or semester exam. Exams, except by special exception of the Campus Director, must be administered during the assigned final examination schedule.
TAKS Testing and Remediation North Hills Preparatory is committed to student success on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and takes seriously its obligation to provide students the support and assistance they need to succeed. All students at TAKS-testing grade levels (3 – 11) will be regularly benchmark tested to ensure that they are making appropriate progress through the required TAKS curriculum. Students who are not making satisfactory progress will receive remedial help. Students who have failed a TAKS test in the previous year will be required to attend academic support classes / tutorials when the school offers them in the areas in which the standard was not met. In some cases, this may be an on-going, regularly scheduled class. In others, it may be an intense tutorial for a period prior to the TAKS testing in February, March, or April.Note: TAKS is to be replaced by STAAR Test in 2011-2012. In general, the same practices described above will apply to the STAAR testing and remediation.
Test Retakes Only students who earn a score below 70 on a test are eligible for a retake. If a retake test is offered, the student may not earn a grade higher than a 70%. The score earned on the retake test MUST be the recorded grade, not the average or higher of the two grades. Tests may be retaken only once. Unless the teacher offers a retake for an entire class, it is the student’s responsibility to see his/her teacher within one week of receiving the failing test grade to retake the test.
College Testing PSAT Students will take the PSAT in October and must sign up with the College Counselor. The PSAT tests have a fee, but fee waiver forms are also available for qualifying students for this test. Students take the PSAT to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.
SAT and ACT 54
Applications for taking the SAT and ACT are available in the counselor’s office. Fee waiver forms for these tests are also available in the counselor’s office. Students in Grades 11 and 12 usually take these tests. North Hills Preparatory code number for College Board and American College testing is 443551. Use this code number for school identification on the SAT and ACT college registration forms.
Learning Differences If a child is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent may contact a school administrator to learn about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options, including referral for a special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory and other support services that are available to all students. At any time a parent is entitled to request an evaluation for special education services. Within a reasonable amount of time, school must decide if the evaluation is needed. If evaluation is needed, the parent will be notified and asked to provide consent for the evaluation. North Hills Preparatory must complete the evaluation and the report within sixty calendar days of the date the district receives written consent.
North Hills Preparatory must give a copy of the report to the parent. If North Hills Preparatory determines that the evaluation is not needed, North Hills Preparatory will provide the parent with a written notice that explains why the child will not be evaluated. This written notice will include a statement that informs the parent of their rights if they disagree with the district. Additionally, the notice will inform the parent how to obtain a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards - Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities.
55
SECTION VI- CHOICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
North Hills Preparatory aims to develop students into responsible, professional individuals upon graduation. Therefore, expectations for each student’s behavior are set very high. The faculty and staff work to assist students as well to ensure that these expectations are attainable for all students. Additionally, all students are expected to follow and uphold the Uplift Student Code of Conduct, a copy of which is attached and made a part of this handbook. In addition to setting out expectations, the Code of Conduct also sets out those behaviors which could lead to expulsion from North Hills Preparatory and the process for determining when expulsion will be imposed and the appeal of such decision.
Rules and disciplinary procedures exist to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone at North Hills. Our school’s choice management system is designed to identify and correct misconduct, to encourage all students to adhere to their responsibilities as citizens of the North Hills community, to protect students, staff and property, and to maintain essential order and discipline. Respect for self, others, and the pursuit of knowledge is the rule in all situations. Any behavior detrimental to another’s access to a quality education in a safe learning environment will be addressed and redirected. All school rules will be announced, presented in writing, and enforced fairly. If student chooses to show disrespect toward himself/herself or another including interference with another’s access to a quality education in a safe environment, the student will be subject to disciplinary action. North Hills students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance to high standards of excellence in speech, dress, and academia.
Our school’s leadership program is designed to support students’ lifelong success goals, encourage self-discipline, assist students in making good choices, model appropriate behaviors, encourage all students to adhere to their responsibilities as a member of the
56
North Hills Preparatory learning community, protect students, staff, and property, and to maintain essential order and discipline.
At North Hills Preparatory, leadership is grown through our Character Education and Choice Management Program. This program is designed to create responsible global citizenry through the education of a student’s understanding of self in relation to the world. As our students attend they learn to make choices that help themselves and support their teammates. This is done by first teaching the student about self and TEAM responsibility. Later the responsibility of family (global community) is stressed. One of our overall goals for each of our graduating leaders is that they understand and welcome the challenges of making responsible decisions that impact not only themselves but others and the generations to follow. We emphasize that one’s goal is to “always leave it (everything) better than you found it” by making positive contributions to the world.
We believe that quality character education helps schools create a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment for every student and supports academic development. It fosters self-discipline or habits of mind that will help students be successful as citizens, in the workplace, and with the academic curriculum. It lays the foundation to help students be successful in all of the goals we have for our school. It is the common denominator that will help our students reach all of their goals!
Nonetheless, from time to time it becomes necessary for a student to face disciplinary action for choices that disturb the overall learning community or that violate the school’s rules and codes of conduct. Enrollment in the school indicates knowledge of and a willingness to comply with the school’s regulations. Ordinarily, the classroom teachers handle most discipline issues. They have authority to apply appropriate disciplinary techniques to maintain order in their classrooms. The Director/Senior Director oversees enforcement of rules and code of conduct.
North Hills Choice Management GuidelinesStudent choice management will be addressed by the Campus Director based on a Level System of intervention to correct the distraction to the learning environment. At North Hills Preparatory, our aim is to manage choices with dignity and our entire staff has been trained on how to assist students in making positive lifelong choices.Before referring a student to the Campus Director for a minor infraction, each teacher is required to contact the parent and solicit the parent’s help by expressing a sincere interest in the student. Teachers are expected to handle minor classroom problems such as tardies, talking, not bringing proper supplies, etc. Teachers and School Leaders must keep documentation of infractions committed by students. Students with problems concerning study habits should be referred to the Advisor and/or Counselor. Issues such as fighting, tobacco/drug use, abusive language and other major problems should be referred to the Campus Director or their designee. Every resource should be used to maintain a positive learning environment.
57
Behavioral Expectations on Campus
Assembly BehaviorAll students are expected to attend assembly programs and sit in their designated areas. Inappropriate behavior will be dealt with in accordance with the student behavior code. During assemblies, the highest standard of conduct is expected. We, as a school, are often judged by our ability to host visitors. Assembly programs are situations where our ability to behave as adults is being judged. Students taking part in assemblies must have all activities and routines previewed by their advisor. Students who vary from these previewed activities may be disciplined.
Cafeteria BehaviorStudents shall not: fight with, throw or kick, or step upon objects; tamper with tables, leave behind their trays, milk cartons, or other objects; refuse to follow the directions of any adult with responsibility for the cafeteria; or misbehave in any manner.
Lunch must be eaten in the cafeteria (lunch trays, food, milk, chairs, lunch bags, and the like are not to be taken into the restrooms, classrooms, or halls). After finishing, students are expected to put waste materials in the waste baskets, keep chairs in their proper places, clean up the area of the table used, and put trays and utensils in the proper places. Students are not permitted to leave the school building at lunchtime. Hallways and locker areas are off-limits unless permission is granted by the hall supervisor by issuing a pass.
Students who make ongoing poor behavior choices may be required to assist in cleaning up the cafeteria. All food and beverages are to be consumed in the cafeteria only. These items are not to be in the halls, restrooms, classrooms, or outside the building unless students have earned the privilege to eat in the courtyard.
TardiesNorth Hills Preparatory expects punctuality and dependability and maintains a strict policy regarding tardiness. Tardiness to school and to class is unacceptable and is punishable by detention. Excessive or habitual tardiness may be grounds for suspension or other disciplinary action. See Tardy policy in the Attendance section of this handbook.
Profanity/Abusive Language/Obscene GesturesNorth Hills Preparatory students use language that is respectful and in keeping with the standards of North Hills leadership. Profanity, obscenity, and the like in word, writing, gesture, or action is unacceptable at North Hills Preparatory School. Use of such language demeans the speaker and the learning community.
Profane language is prohibited.Used in conversation with another student = 1 detention or in-school suspensionUsed toward a faculty or staff member = 1 day in-school suspension; return to school with parent for conference or possible expulsion
58
Remarks, actions and/or gestures directed at a student which are sexually or racially discriminatory = detention/suspension or possible expulsion at the discretion of the Campus Director.
Threatening StatementsNorth Hills Preparatory strives to provide a safe atmosphere for its students and staff. The school will respond to threatening statements in a very serious manner (possible suspension or dismissal). Additionally, the student may be required to undergo an evaluation by a counselor of the school’s choice to determine for the school and the student’s family that the student is safe to return to school. All members of the school community, students and adults, should be aware that statements such as “I was just kidding” or “I didn’t mean it” are not acceptable. This policy regarding threatening statements applies to incidents on and off campus during school-sponsored activities.
Fighting/Assault/Inciting Violence/Disruptive ActivitiesFighting, assaults, inciting violence and/or disruptive activities are any activities that interfere with the culture, climate and positive learning environment of the school and are strictly prohibited. Consequences for devising or participating in disruptive activities at school or at a school-related activity will be determined by the Campus Director and may include emergency removal, parent conference and possible expulsion.
Gang-related Attire/Signs/GraffitiNorth Hills Preparatory has a policy of zero tolerance regarding gang-related attire, signs and/or activities. Gang-related attire includes but is not limited to beads, bandanas, shoelaces, and standard gang uniforms.
Wearing gang-related attire or using gang signs or graffiti is strictly prohibited and may result in emergency removal, parent conference and possibly expulsion.
TheftTheft is considered a major offence to the North Hills Preparatory Student Commitment. Student who commits theft will be obligated to the restitution of the stolen object. Apart from the discipline penalties assigned to the student, stealing of school property may result in the filing of charges with the local Police Department.
Drugs and AlcoholUsing, being under the influence and/or possession of drugs and alcohol on campus or at school-related events will result in emergency removal, parent conference, possible expulsion, and/or referral to the local Police Department for criminal charges.
Cell Phones/Beepers/Electronic devicesStudents having parental permission to carry cell phones for medical or other emergencies must have prior approval from the Principal to carry them around within the building. Otherwise, students who have a cell phone at school for the purpose of after school travel or communication with parents must leave the phone off during the school day in their lockers or unseen and heard throughout the day. Cell phone
59
calls – except in emergencies – may never be placed or received by students within the building during regular school hours (7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.). Use of cell phone cameras during the school day is likewise prohibited. Students using cameras for the purpose of taking Yearbook or Newspaper pictures will be issued a permission card from the respective faculty advisor. Students traveling for school-related events are permitted the use of electronic equipment during travel; however, such use will be subject to the authority of the coach, faculty member, or chaperone supervising student travel. In general, all cell phones must remain in students’ lockers until they are ready to leave the campus for the day.
Students are permitted to have cell phones under the following conditions: • Cell phone is not visible after arrival at school until dismissal at 3:40 p.m. • Cell phone remains off after arrival at school until dismissal at 3:40 p.m. • Cell phone is not used in any way (phone, text messaging or taking
photographs) upon arrival at school until dismissal
*First violation will result in a (1) day confiscation and a $15 fine, to be retrieved by parent / guardian. *Second violation, a loss of cell phone for the student through the end of the school year. Radios, CD players, MP3 devices such as i-Pods, beepers, cellular telephones, gaming electronics such as Gameboy, calculators used as games, recording devices, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment are not appropriate in the academic setting and should not be present in the classrooms, cafeteria, or hallways during regular school hours. Violators may be required to forfeit such equipment to the School Dean for a minimum of 24 hours and for a maximum of the remainder of the year. Laptop computers or Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s) used as games, CD players, or video or DVD players will also be subject to forfeiture.
Video and Audio Recording Video and audio recording devices are not permitted on school grounds or during school functions without prior approval. Such devices will be confiscated without appropriate approval.
Felony ConvictionsA student who is convicted of a felony that occurred on or off campus is subject to expulsion.
TobaccoNorth Hills Preparatory is tobacco free. Tobacco is strictly prohibited. Students who smoke or use smokeless tobacco on campus or at school-related activities will be assigned a consequence of up to suspension for the first offense. A second offense will result in emergency removal, parent conference and possible expulsion. .
Gum ChewingGum chewing is prohibited at all times on campus both inside and outside. Disciplinary action will be taken for violations
60
Forged Faculty/Staff Signatures/Possession of School Documents (Hall passes, notes to other teachers, etc.) = 1-day suspension/Parent conference/Possible expulsion
Bullying/IntimidationBullying is strictly prohibited at North Hills Preparatory School. Consequences for bullying will be determined by the Campus Director and included but are not limited to in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, parent conference and expulsion.
Sexual MisconductPublic displays of affection including but not limited holding hands, embracing, kissing, or touching in an inappropriate manner are prohibited. Students engaging in this type of behavior will be disciplined and parents will be notified. Consequences may include in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, parent conference and expulsion.
Sexual HarassmentStudents shall not engage in unwanted or unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed toward another student or school employee. This prohibition applies whether the conduct is by word, gesture, or any other sexual conduct including requests for sexual favors. If a student engages in this conduct or there is a reasonable basis for finding that the student engaged in such conduct, the parents will be notified immediately and must attend a parent conference with the Campus Director. School administrators are required by law to document and report such accusations to the Senior Director within 24 hours. Teachers should report these incidents to the Campus Director.
Vandalism and Damage to PropertyParents or guardians of a student guilty of damaging or defacing any property, including furniture and other equipment, will be liable for damages in accordance with the law. Students shall be responsible for the care and return of the state-owned textbooks and will be charged for replacement of lost or damaged books. Consequences may include detention, out-of-school suspension, parent conference and expulsion.
Weapons North Hills Preparatory has a zero tolerance policy regarding weapons and/or any article considered to be a weapon or a look-alike weapon on school property or at a school-related event. Students in violation of this policy will receive immediate consequences including possible expulsion.
Interrogations and SearchesSchool officials may search a student or student’s property with reasonable or probable cause. Vehicles on school property are also subject to search. Campus Directors and teachers have the right to question students regarding their conduct or the conduct of others.
Searches of student’s outer clothing and pockets may be conducted if reasonable cause exists. If law enforcement authorities are involved in the search, the search shall be
61
conducted under criminal law standards rather than under the provisions of this policy.
Physical RestraintAny school employee may, within the scope of the employee’s duties, use and apply physical restraint to a student that the employee reasonably believes is necessary in order to:
Protect a person, including the person using physical restraint, from injury Obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object Protect property from serious damage Remove from a specific location a student refusing a lawful command of a school
employee, including from a classroom or other school property, in order to restore order or impose disciplinary measures
Restrain an irrational studentFollowing the physical restraint of a student, the appropriate documentation must be completed within one school day of the incident by the person who conducted the restraint. CPI Training may be required for the school employee within 30 days of the incident if they have not previously been trained.
Re-enrollment Following a Disciplinary Action – See Code of Conduct
ESCALATING CONSEQUENCES
Discipline Consequences for Primary School
The following are possible consequences for student violation of the policies contained within the Primary School Parent and Student Handbook and teacher classroom policies:
Teachers may assign consequences for minor classroom violations and/or lunch detention.
If a student’s behavior is such that they must be removed from the classroom, the student will go to the Dean of Students. At that time the parents will be notified of the behavior issue. If the inappropriate behavior persists, a parent conference will take place. Parents must attend this conference to discuss the behavior and develop a plan of improvement, possible suspension, or revocation of enrollment.
Out-of-School Suspension Students may be suspended for up to three (3) consecutive school days. Students may not be on campus at any time during the suspension period
including all curricular and extra-curricular activities. For all suspended days, a student’s absence is considered unexcused.
Disciplinary Consequences for Secondary School
Student Violation of the School and Classroom Policies and Procedures
62
It will be considered a student violation of the school and classroom policies and procedures if a student does not act according to the rules and procedures described within the Parent and Student Handbook and teacher classroom policies.
Penalties to these violations may include: School Detention Saturday Detention In-School Suspension (ISS)
Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) Revocation of Enrollment
School Detention may be issued by teachers or any school administrator to their discretion for
Tardiness to class Not wearing identification badge Name calling Unauthorized use of electronic
devices Infractions of the uniform code Eating candy or gum
Skipping detention for the first time
Use of profane, abusive or obscene gestures or language in conversation with another student
Any other minor infractions of school and classroom policies and procedures
Saturday Detention may be issued by the Director or Dean of Students for
The accumulation of four detentions
Disrespectful conduct toward a member of the staff
Bullying Skipping class Leaving campus grounds without
authorization Skipping detention twice Plagiarism Sexual misconduct Use of profane, abusive or obscene
gestures or language toward a faculty or staff member
Academic dishonesty Inciting violence Disruptive activities Remarks, actions or gestures
directed at a student that are sexually or racially discriminatory
Gang-related attire Endangering their safety or the
safety of others Any other infractions of school and
classroom policies and procedures
Saturday Detention meets Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Students will be notified of exceptions for holidays. Students will be assigned four hours of Saturday Detention and will be required to;
Be on time and in Monday uniform; Reflect on their misbehavior in written form; Bring school work to work on;
Be prepared to work on community service tasks throughout the school; Remain attentive; and Leave promptly after the Saturday Detention ends.
63
In-School Suspension may be issued by the Divisional Director or Dean of Students for
The accumulation of intervals of twelve school detentions (MS only) Any other infractions to any major school and classroom policies and procedures
In-School Suspension (ISS) is a discipline management technique separate from the Out-of-School suspension. Students may be placed in ISS for violations of campus rules and/or general misconduct violations. Parents are contacted by phone when a student is placed in ISS. Students placed in ISS will be permitted to resume school-related activities, including extra-curricular activities, on the first full day attendance day following the completion of their ISS assignment.
Out-of-School Suspension may be issued by the Divisional Director or Dean of Students for
The accumulation of 3 In-School Suspensions
Fighting Theft
Any other major infractions of school and classroom policies and procedures.
Signs or graffiti
Rules for Out-of-School Suspension Students may be suspended for up to three (3) consecutive school days. Students may not be on campus at any time during the suspension period
including all curricular and extra-curricular activities. For all suspended days, a student’s absence is considered unexcused. All minor class work will be given a grade of 0%.Major assessments missed
during the suspension period may be made up, but will not receive a grade higher than a 70%.
Expulsion/Revocation of Enrollment may be recommended by the Divisional Director to the Senior Director at his/her discretion for the...
The accumulation of two Out-of-School Suspension Vandalism and intentional damage to property Possession of guns or weapons Possession or being under the influence of drugs, tobacco, alcohol in school or
any school-related activities or events Any other severe infraction to the school and classroom policies and procedures.
Serving Assigned PenaltiesAll consequences must be served when assigned, there are no deferred consequences pending an appeal. In the case of an appeal, the student’s record will be changed if there is a change of consequences.Parent Conferences due to Misconduct
Parent conferences due to student’s misconduct will be required by the Divisional Director or Dean of Students to their discretion. Parents must attend
64
this conference to discuss their children behavior in school and develop a plan of improvement, possible suspension or revocation of enrollment.
UPLIFT STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT I. General Principles and Guidelines
These rules of conduct and discipline are established to maintain order in the school and to encourage responsible behavior on the part of all students. The staff of the school has the responsibility to enforce the standards and policies of this Student Code of Conduct. Full cooperation of the students and parents/guardians is expected.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times. Any behavior that is detrimental to the learning environment of the student or other students and/or staff member s will not be tolerated. A student whose behavior shows disrespect toward others, including interference with another’s access to public education and to a safe environment, will be subject to disciplinary action.
A. Campus Director: The Campus Director has the authority to implement the Student Code of Conduct up to and including the suspension of a student from campus. The Dean of Students who handles student discipline, may recommend discipline consequences, including suspension or expulsion, to the Campus Director. In determining whether to recommend suspension or expulsion, the Campus Director should consult the Senior Director prior to making the recommendation.
B. Senior School Director (or School Director): Only the Senior Director (also referred to herein as the “School Director”) has the authority to expel a student. Expulsions shall be handled according to the procedures described below.
C. Campus, Classroom and Assembly Rules In addition to rules in this Student Code of Conduct, Campus and School Directors may impose additional campus rules, and teachers and extracurricular sponsors may impose and communicate such additional campus rules, classroom rules, where such rules are not inconsistent with this Code. A student’s conduct in assemblies and other out-of-classroom activity must comply with rules applicable to those of the classroom.
D. Extracurricular Standards Sponsors and coaches may develop and communicate written extracurricular expected standards of behavior for induction in and continued participation in that activity. Such standards may be higher than those of the Student Code of Conduct. These standards must be communicated to the students involved in that extracurricular activity and must be approved by the School Director. Students who
65
violate communicated extracurricular standards of behavior may be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct, and in addition, denied the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
E. Students With Disabilities The discipline of students who have been identified with a disability as outlined in the Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA‘04) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and are currently receiving services under those statutes, will be conducted in accordance with the current federal and state laws. School staff will determine if the student is eligible for such services and, upon making such determination, shall utilize and apply the appropriate disciplinary process under the current Code of Conduct.
F. Expected Standards of Student Conduct: Each student is expected to behave in a responsible manner by:
1. Demonstrating courtesy and respect for others;2. Attending all classes, regularly and on time; 3. Preparing for each class by taking the appropriate materials and assignments to
class;4. Being well-groomed and dressing appropriately as defined by the School’s code
for dress and grooming standards; 5. Obeying all campus, classroom and extracurricular rules; 6. Respecting the rights and privileges of other students, school staff, and other
adults on campus or at school-related activities on or off campus; 7. Respecting the property of others, including school property and facilities; 8. Cooperating or assisting the school staff in maintaining safety, order, and
discipline; 9. Adhering to the Academic Honesty Policy; and 10. Adhering to the Student Code of Conduct.
G. Code of Conduct Violations
Prohibited behaviors: Students who engage in any of the following behaviors are subject to disciplinary consequences, up to and including suspension or expulsion, if the behavior is persistent or serious enough, in the reasonable opinion of the School Director, to warrant such action:
1. Leaving school grounds or school-sponsored events without permission of an appropriate school official;
2. Insubordination, i.e., failing to comply with lawful directives given by school personnel;
3. Engaging in inappropriate physical or sexual conduct; 4. Engaging in conduct that constitutes sexual harassment, whether the conduct is
by word, gesture, or any other sexual conduct, including requests for sexual favors;
66
5. Possessing or using matches or a lighter except as part of an instructional program;
6. Starting or building a fire on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event except as part of an instructional program;
7. Possessing, using, or smoking tobacco products; 8. Possessing, selling, using, or distributing medications that are available without a
prescription in a manner that is not consistent with the medicine’s intended use as indicated on the manufacturer’s label or with school rules concerning the handling of such medications;
9. Possessing or selling items attempted to be passed off as illegal drugs or contraband;
10. Possessing drug paraphernalia; 11. Possessing or distributing pornographic material; 12. Possessing knives, bladed instruments, air guns, chemical dispensing devices,
fireworks, replica firearms or bombs, electronic stunning devices, and other similarly dangerous items;
13. Possessing a firearm; 14. Possessing ammunition or explosives; 15. Committing an assault which results in injury; 16. Making a threat to harm someone or to cause damage to the building or property
of the school, including a false alarm or report, including but not limited to, bomb threats;
17. Possessing, distributing, using, or being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage;
18. Possessing, using, being under the influence, distributing, attempting to distribute, buying or attempting to buy illegal drugs;
19. Using, in a manner inconsistent with the manufacturer’s instructions, or being under the influence of, glue or aerosol paint;
20. Discharging a fire extinguisher, except in an emergency; 21. Violating dress or grooming standards;22. Violating campus, classroom, extracurricular or other communicated standards of
behavior; 23. Being in facilities designated for the opposite sex such as restrooms or locker
rooms, or in facilities designated as faculty, janitorial only, or custodial only;24. Cheating or copying the work of another; 25. Using profanity, vulgar language, or obscene gestures; 26. Engaging in fighting, whether provoked or not, when such fighting results or may
result in injury to a student, staff or other bystander;27. Bullying, which may include repeated teasing, taunting, threatening, hitting,
stealing, intentional exclusion, and rumors that create an ongoing pattern of harassment and abuse, including the use of social media or internet as a means of bullying;
28. Stealing, theft or robbery; 29. Damaging or vandalizing property belonging to others; 30. Name calling, ethnic or racial slurs, or derogatory statements that school officials
reasonably anticipate could disrupt the school program or incite violence; 31. Inappropriate or illegal use of the school’s electronic communication systems,
including the Internet;
67
32. Falsification of records, passes, or other school-related documents; 33. Behaving in any way that substantially disrupts the school environment or
educational process; 34. Being involved in gang activity, including participating as a pledge or member, or
soliciting another person to become a pledge or member of a gang; 35. Evidence confirming that a student has committed a felony level offense (under
Texas Penal Code) or other serious off-campus conduct which is likely to have at least one of the following effects:
a. Disrupts the learning environment; b. Provides a negative example to other students; orc. Creates a dangerous and unsafe environment for students or school
personnel.
The above list of prohibited behaviors is offered by way of example only. Disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or expulsion, may result for other types of school-related misconduct that violates the intent of this Code of Conduct.
II. Discipline Management -Consequences:
Discipline will be designed to improve conduct and to encourage students to adhere their responsibilities as members of the school community. Disciplinary action will draw on the professional judgment of teachers and administrators and on a range of discipline management techniques. Discipline will be correlated to the seriousness of the offense, the student’s age and grade level, the frequency of misbehavior, the student’s attitude, the effect of the misconduct on the school environment, and any statutory requirements. Because of these factors, discipline for a particular offense may bring into consideration varying techniques and responses.
Teachers initially handle all discipline issues within their classrooms and administer consequences ranging from a simple warning to removal from the classroom. For those Code infractions that can be handled by the teacher, the following discipline management techniques may be used alone or in combination:
a. Verbal or oral correction;b. Cooling off or timeout; c. Phone calls to parents/guardians;d. Seating changes in the classroom or lunchroom;e. Counseling by teachers, counselors, or administrators; f. Parent-teacher conferences; g. Parent-administrator conferences; h. Temporary confiscation of items that disrupt the educational process; i. Grade reductions for academic violations such as cheating, copying, allowing others
to copy work, or plagiarism;j. Rewards or demerits;k. Behavioral contracts;l. Sending the student to the office or other assigned areas, or in-school suspension; m. Detention, either during the school day or outside the school day; n. Assigned school duties, other than class tasks, such as cleaning desks;
68
o. Withdrawal of privileges, such as participation in extracurricular activities and eligibility for seeking and holding honorary offices;
III. Suspension or Expulsion
Students who violate this Code of Conduct, as noted above, are subject to disciplinary consequences, up to and including suspension or expulsion, if the behavior is persistent or serious enough, in the reasonable opinion of the School Director, to warrant such action.
Firearm ViolationsFederal law mandates that a student be expelled from the regular classroom for a period of at least one calendar year for bringing a firearm (as defined by 20 U.S.C. Section 7151) to school, subject, however, to the discretion of the School Director to modify the length of the expulsion or assess another comparable penalty that results in the student’s exclusion from the regular school program on a case-by-case basis.
A. Suspension Due Process:
The Campus Director has the authority to suspend a student for a period of up to three school days for any or the following reasons: 1. The severity or persistence of the Code of Conduct violation alleged; 2. The need to further investigate an incident or allegation; or3. That a recommendation to expel the student has been considered.
Prior to suspending a student, the Campus Director must notify and consult with the Senior Director and in addition, the Campus Director must hold an informal conference with the student to: 1. Notify the student of the accusations against him/her; 2. Allow the student to relate his/her version of the incident; 3. Determine whether the student’s conduct warrants suspension.
Notification to Parents (or legal guardian, if applicable): If the Campus Director determines the student’s conduct warrants suspension, the Campus Director will notify the student’s parents that the student has been suspended before the student is sent home. At this time, the Campus Director will also notify the student’s parents of the period of suspension, the grounds for suspension, and the time and place for conference with the Campus Director.
Emergency ActionsThe Campus Director, after consulting with the Senior Director, may order the immediate suspension of a student for up to three (3) days if the Campus Director believes that the student’s presence threatens the health, safety, or welfare of himself/herself or other students or faculty.
If a student is suspended in an “emergency” situation without the opportunity for notice of the allegations against him/her, the Campus Director must notify the student of the allegations and provide the student with an opportunity to present his/her version of the
69
incident within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed three (3) days from the date of the suspension.
While suspended, students are not allowed to be on the campus, including at afterschool activities. The suspended days will be counted as unexcused absences. Students may receive credit for work missed during the period of suspension if the student makes up work missed during the period of suspension within the same number of days the student was absent. Students may make up major assessments missed during the suspension, but may not receive a grade higher than 70%.
B. Expulsion – Due Process
If the Campus Director believes a student has committed an expellable offense, the Campus Director may make the recommendation to the Senior Director. Prior taking any expulsion action, the Campus Director or other appropriate administrator will schedule a hearing before the Senior Director and provide written notice to the student and his parents of:
1. The reasons for the recommended expulsion; and2. The date, time, and location of a hearing before the Senior Director, within three
days after the date of the notice, unless the parents and Senior Director agree in writing to an alternate time. The notice shall further state that the student is entitled to:a. be present at the hearing; b. have an opportunity to present evidence; c. have an opportunity to examine/question the school’s evidence and witnesses; d. be accompanied by his/her parents or another adult who can provide guidance to
the student and who is not an employee of the district; ande. be represented by an attorney.
The notice shall also state that failure to request such a hearing constitutes a waiver of further rights in the matter.
Hearing before Senior Director:
After providing notice to the student and parent of the hearing, the Senior Director shall hold the hearing regardless of whether the student, the student’s parents or another adult representing the student attends. The Senior Director shall audio record the hearing.
At the hearing, the School administration shall be allowed to present its evidence of the alleged violation and the student and/or his parents or attorney may present evidence and cross examine the administration witnesses in defense of the allegations.
Within 24 hours of the hearing, the Senior Director will notify the student and the student’s parents in writing of his/her decision. The decision shall specify:
1. The length of the expulsion, if any;
70
2. The procedures for re-admittance to the school at the end of the expulsion period; and
3. The right to appeal the Senior Director’s decision to the governing school board (or its designee).
Board Review of Expulsion
After the due process hearing, the expelled student may request that the board review the expulsion decision. The student or parent must submit a written request to the Senior Director within three days after receipt of the written decision.
a. Appeal to the local school board
The student or his parents/guardians may elect to appeal the Senior Director’s decision to the local school board. If such request is made, the local board may designate a committee of the board members to hear the appeal, however, the final authority on any appeal rests with the charter holder board (the Uplift Education Board). The Senior Director will provide the student or parent with written notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting at which the local board (or its designated committee) will review the decision.
If the student or parents/guardians elect to appeal to the local school board, the time limit for appeal to the charter holder board will be extended and will not run until the local school board (or designated committee) issues its decision. The local board (or its designated committee) will review the record of the expulsion hearing in a closed meeting unless the parent requests in writing that the matter be held in an open meeting. The board may also hear a statement from the student or parent (or representative) and from the school administration.
The local board (or its designated committee) will hear statements made by the parties at the review and will base its decision on evidence reflected in the record and any statements made by the parties at the review. Consequences will not be deferred pending the outcome of the hearing. The board (or its designated committee) will make and communicate its decision orally at the conclusion of the presentation.
Appeal to the Charter Holder Board.
The student or his/her parents may appeal the decision of the Senior Director or the local board to the Uplift Education board by notifying the Senior Director in writing within three days of the date of receipt of the Senior Director’s decision (or within three days of the receipt of the local school board’s decision). The Senior Director will provide the student or parent with written notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting at which the local board (or its designated committee) will review the decision.
The Uplift Board may designate a committee to hear the appeal. The board (or its designated committee) will review the audio or transcribed record from the hearing before the Senior Director and the local board, if applicable, and will hear statements
71
made by the parties at the review and will base its decision on evidence reflected in the record and any statements made by the parties at the review. Consequences will not be deferred pending the outcome of the hearing. The board (or its designated committee) will make and communicate its decision orally at the conclusion of the presentation. The decision of the board (or its designated committee) is final.
During the appeal process, the student will be allowed to complete homework and submit for credit.
Readmission after Withdrawal or Expulsion: If a student has been expelled or has withdrawn prior to a final expulsion or disciplinary hearing, the student is not eligible for readmission to the School, unless the following terms are met:
1. The student must have a clean discipline record at their current school for at least one full semester; and
2. The student must meet with the Re-Admission Committee to present a request for re-admission.
The Re-Admission Committee will be comprised of two teachers and an administrator (appointed by the Senior Director), all of whom were not directly involved in the original expulsion or withdrawal. The Re-Admission Committee may request current teacher recommendations for the student, relevant commentary from any counselor with whom the student may have consulted, as well as any other documentation pertinent to the application. The student will be allowed to make a statement to support his request and may submit additional documentation to the committee for consideration. A parent or other adult representative may also be present for the presentation to the Committee. Upon conclusion of the presentation and after review of all relevant documentation, the Committee will make a recommendation on whether the student should be re-admitted. The decision of the Re-Admission Committee may only be appealed to the Senior Director, whose decision will be final.
The student must reapply and follow the same process for admission as if he or she were a new applicant. However, if admitted, any subsequent violation of the Student Code of Conduct may result in expulsion without the possibility of readmission.
This policy will also apply to any other school operated under the charter of the school the student was currently attending.
SCHOOL PROPERTY
LockersLocks and lockers are issued to students in Grades 6-12. Locks and lockers are the property of North Hills Preparatory and are subject to control of the school. This includes any searches or seizures necessary to provide a secure environment. If a lock is damaged or lost, the student must purchase another lock for $10.
72
Students are expected to: Use only the locker assigned to them and must not share lockers or combinations Use lockers for school-purposes only Keep lockers in a clean and organized condition, writing or marking on lockers is
not permittedNo exterior locker decorations are allowed except for approved Extra-curricular activities. Permission must be given by the Divisional Director or Designee.
Textbooks and Library BooksNorth Hills Preparatory issues textbooks and they are considered school property. These books are very expensive. You will record your name, the teacher’s name, and the year issued in the front cover of the book; no other writing should be done in the text. Students are responsible for all school materials which are issued to them. This includes library books. At the end of a semester or school year (whichever is appropriate) students must make restitution for lost, destroyed, defaced, or damaged materials which have been issued to them. Failure to make this restitution may result in a student not receiving their report card.
73
SECTON VII – Dress Code & Uniforms
DRESS CODEThe School strongly supports students forming habits of mind that will lead to their lifelong success. To that end, excellence begins with the start of every day as each North Hills Preparatory student uniformly gets dressed for his/her academic day of excellence. The wearing of the uniform signifies community and the student’s desire to attain excellence through focused effort. All students will be in uniform accordingly. Students who come to school inappropriately dressed will not be permitted to attend any classes until they are in proper uniform. The North Hills Preparatory administrative team is responsible for interpreting, implementing, and enforcing the dress code policy. The only exception to this section of the handbook is religious beliefs, and parents must consult with the administration about their specific concerns and how they affect the dress code. The Campus Director is the final arbiter in determining when attire is not acceptable.
Grooming – Students will adhere to the following guidelines in all issues pertaining to grooming.
Hair – Neatness and good grooming are the expectations. Hair color must be your natural color. Highlighting is not acceptable. Male students must be clean-shaven at all times. Male haircuts must be traditional haircuts and should be no longer than the top of the collar. Spiking of the hair is limited to one inch. Mohawks, designs, and fad cuts are not allowed. Students who violate these rules may be sent home and disciplinary action taken.
Jewelry may be worn in moderation (one necklace, one bracelet or cloth wristband, one pair of stud earrings or hoops no bigger than a quarter). Oversized and/or dangling earrings are not permitted. Boys may not wear earrings of any type. Body piercing and grills are not acceptable.
Cosmetics – Starting in 9th grade, girls may wear only pale colored or clear lipstick. Only very moderate makeup is acceptable. Clear nail polish only is acceptable.
Jackets may be worn to school, but only school approved jackets are allowed in the classroom.
In addition, the following are not permitted: Slippers, moccasins, sandals, high heels, jellies, patent leather, platform shoes,
hiking and/or work boots (boots of any kind). Shoelaces should either be black or white. No gloves, hats, scarves, sweaters (other than approved uniform sweaters), sunglasses, or ear warmers are to be worn in the classroom. Large belt buckles and cargo pants are not permitted.
Inappropriate, offensive, or disruptive clothing or other items are not allowed under any circumstances. Examples include, but are not limited to, clothing depicting or promoting drugs, alcohol, violence, prejudice, or obscenities.
This is not an all-inclusive list. If students or parents have any questions about a particular article of clothing they should forward those questions to the Campus Director.
74
NHP Primary Uniform Code and PolicyThe purpose of a uniform policy is to promote an environment focused on academic rigor. Neat, clean grooming for school is expected at all times. Each student is responsible to comply with this code during regular school hours. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child complies with the dress code before the child comes to school. All uniform items must be in good condition, correctly sized and labeled with the student’s name. Students may not deface, add or detract from the uniform, shoes or any uniform accessory. This includes: marking on uniform items, wearing un-hemmed skirts or pants, or wearing other items that are not part of the uniform. A student’s citizenship grade may be lowered for a uniform violation.Violations of the dress code may result in disciplinary action. A student may be sent home or wear school-provided items, if available. All decisions about a student’s compliance of the dress code are at the discretion of the administration.
Identification BadgesIdentification badges are considered part of the uniform code. All the students must wear a school identification badge. Students will be given an identification badge at the beginning of the school calendar at no cost. Students shall wear it all the time and display it in a visible location (e.g. worn on the left side of the shirt or sweater) free of any decoration or mutilation during school or any school related activityBadge Replacement PolicyStudents with damaged, altered, defaced, or lost ID badges shall purchase a replacement ID badge. A replacement fee of $10.00 shall be assessed for each occurrence of a lost/damaged ID badgesBlouses/ShirtsWhite cotton Peter Pan collared blouses (long or short sleeved) from Parker Uniform or school logo green or blue polo shirts are required for girls. White button down oxford shirts (long or short sleeved) or school logo green or blue polo shirts are required for boys. Oxford shirts must be worn by all students on dress uniform Mondays. Long sleeves must be buttoned. The hem of the shirts must be fully tucked in and not rolled under. All shirt buttons except the top button, including the collar points, must be buttoned during school hours. Students may wear only a solid white t-shirt or undershirt under the dress shirt. Colored shirts and logos are not permitted underneath uniform shirts. Kindergarten and Grade 1 students may wear the Parker green polo shirt Tuesday through Friday.
Sweaters, Vests & Spirit SweatshirtsOnly green Parker uniform sweaters may be worn in the classroom Monday – Thursday. Spirit Gear may be worn on Friday. All items must be in good condition (not torn or discolored) and must fit appropriately. Only North Hills Preparatory Spirit Gear may be worn.
PantsPants should be worn appropriately and modestly. Both girls and boys must wear navy blue Parker uniform pants with their designated shirt style. Boys must wear pants on
75
Mondays. Navy blue Parker uniform shorts may be worn Tuesday – Friday. Kindergarten and Grade 1 may wear elastic waist pants/shorts.
BeltsStudents in Grades 2-5 are required to wear belts. Belts must by black, woven or flat, and with a small, silver buckle. No designer or logo buckles are permitted.
JumpersGirls may wear the Parker uniform jumper anytime during the school year. Jumpers must be worn on Mondays. Jumper length may not be shorter than the width of a credit card measured at the back of the knee. As girls grow taller, jumper lengths may need to be adjusted. The waistband must be at the waist.
Modesty ShortsAll girls must wear navy blue (plain, with no other colors or designs) modesty shorts under their jumpers. Modesty shorts must be purchased at Parker Uniform. Long pants may not be worn under the jumper.
Uniform ShortsExcept on Mondays and other designated dress uniform days, boys and girls may wear uniform shorts instead of pants. Shorts may not be shorter than the width of a credit card measured from the back of the knee. Uniform shorts may not be worn under jumpers.
SocksStudents must wear navy, white or black socks. Students are not permitted to wear socks with logos. All socks must cover the ankle bone. No-show socks are not permitted. Girls may also wear solid navy, opaque white or black tights (waist to toes) with jumpers. Leggings are not permitted.
ShoesGirls are required to wear the Parker School Days navy and white saddle oxford shoes with white laces. Boys are required to wear New Balance 621 or K-Swiss Origin solid black shoe with black laces. Kindergarten and Grade 1 boys may wear the shoes listed above with Velcro. Other shoe accessories are not permitted. Shoes and shoelaces must be kept in good order and replaced when they are outgrown, torn, or otherwise damaged throughout the school year.
Dress Uniform for MondaysAll students are required to wear the dress uniform on Mondays. Girls must wear the Peter Pan collar blouse and jumper. Boys must wear navy blue pants with the button down collar oxford shirt. Parker uniform sweaters may be worn.
LogosStudents are not permitted to wear logos on any part of their uniform, including socks, shoes, pants, shirts, etc.
76
Head WearStudents are not permitted to wear hats, caps, visors, sunglasses or other headwear during school hours. All hair accessories and cultural head covers must match a color in the jumper.
HairHair must be clean, neatly styled, not cover the eyes and be of a naturally occurring hair color. Boys’ hair length must be above the eyebrows and no longer than the top of the collar in the back of the uniform shirt.
Make-up/Nail PolishStudents in Grades K-5 may not wear make-up or nail polish.
Jewelry/WatchesStudents are permitted to wear noiseless wristwatches. Girls may wear pierced stud earrings only. Dangling earrings may not be worn for safety reasons. Boys are not permitted to wear earrings. If a student wears an item for religious reasons, it should be worn under the blouse or shirt.
BackpacksRolling backpacks are not permitted. Backpacks should be an appropriate size for your child. Items such as key chains that dangle from the backpack are not permitted. Students are encouraged to limit the weight of their backpack.
UmbrellasStudents are not permitted to bring umbrellas for safety reasons. Raincoats or ponchos are permissible.
Casual DaysCasual dress days will be made available at designated times throughout the school year. All students in good academic and disciplinary standing will have a casual day the last day of each quarter. Casual dress privileges may be revoked for students who do not comply with all dress code policies, as determined by the administration.
Spirit GearSpirit Gear may be worn on Fridays with uniform pants or shorts.
College DayOn the 2nd Friday of each month students are encouraged to wear a college or university t-shirt with their uniform pants or shorts.
Casual Day GuidelinesOnly shirts that do not display offensive language or images of violence, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or the occult may be worn as long as it has sleeves, covers the midriff area and is not low-cut. Shirt must fit in a modest fashion and not be too tight. Jean shorts and khaki shorts of modest length may be worn. Pants and skirts adhering to the uniform
77
code for length may be worn and must not be torn or have holes. Athletic uniform clothing may be worn with the exception of sweat pants. Clothing must follow the same guidelines for fit and length as comparable uniform items. If you have doubts, don’t wear it.
NHP Secondary Uniform Code and Policy
Identification BadgesIdentification badges are considered part of the uniform code. All the students must wear a school identification badge. Students will be given an identification badge at the beginning of the school calendar at no cost. Students shall wear it all the time and display it in a visible location (e.g. on a lanyard worn around neck or other visible location) free of any decoration or mutilation during school or any school related activity.
Badge Replacement Policy
Students with damaged, altered, defaced, or lost ID badges shall purchase a replacement ID badge. A replacement fee of $10.00 shall be assessed for each occurrence of a lost/damaged ID badge.
ShirtsStudents are required to wear long or short-sleeved white button-down oxford shirts from Parker Uniforms, or green or blue North Hills Preparatory Logo polo shirts from TMG (Technology Media Group). Long sleeves on oxford shirt must be either buttoned or rolled up. The hem of all shirts must be fully tucked in all around waist and not rolled under. All shirt buttons, including the buttons on the collar points, must be buttoned during school hours. When a tie is required, the collar button must be buttoned during school hours. This is the only button that may be undone when not wearing a tie. Girls have the option of wearing a Parker ¾ sleeved blouses when a tie is a not required.
PantsParker pants must be worn appropriately and modestly. The following guidelines must be observed:
Students must not wear pants that fit tightly Pants are to be worn at the natural waistline (no “hip huggers” or sagging) Hems may not touch the floor
BeltsStudents wearing pants must wear a belt every weekday that is black leather with a small, simple buckle. No designer or logo buckles are permitted. Students may not wear billfold or watch chains that hang from the waist.
UndershirtsStudents may only wear a solid white, long or short sleeved T-shirt under the dress shirt or spirit polo shirt. Writing on undershirts or logos is not permitted underneath uniform shirts. Undershirts are to be tucked into the waistband of skirts/pants and the sleeves may not extend beyond the sleeves of the dress/polo shirt.
78
Ties for Grades 6-12Parker plaid ties are required every Monday with white oxford button down shirt. Students in 12th grade have the option of wearing the striped “Senior” tie from Parker.
Blazers for Grades 9-12Students are required to wear a Parker Uniform blazer Monday starting the first Monday in October through the last Monday in April.
SkirtsGirls may wear either the Parker plaid skirt or culottes. Skirt and culottes length may not be shorter than the width of a credit card measured from the back of the knee at the crease. Girls must wear a skirt every Formal Dress Monday.
Modesty ShortsAll girls are required to wear modesty shorts or P. E. shorts under skirts. Modesty shorts must not be visible beyond the hem of the skirt.
SocksStudents are required to wear solid white, navy blue or black socks. Students are not permitted to wear socks with logos or patterns. Girls may wear solid navy, white opaque or black tights (toe to waist).
ShoesAll shoes are now available through Parker Uniforms and only identical representations may be purchased at an alternative retail store. Girls must wear either the Parker white and navy blue saddle oxford or the Parker black princess slipper. Boys must wear either the Parker black pinched penny loafer or the black Sketchers Raider. Pictures of the shoe choices are on the Parker website.
Grade 12 OptionsGrade 12 students may wear a Parker blue button-down oxford long or short sleeved shirt or a light blue North Hills logo polo shirt. Female students may wear the Parker ¾ sleeved blue blouse and the grey pleated skirt or grey culottes. The Parker blue and green striped tie is also an option.
Sweaters, Jackets & SweatshirtsParker sweaters may be worn Monday through Friday. There is an option of either a sweater vest or long sleeve sweater. Grades 6-8 may only wear a Parker green sweater and Grades 9-12 may only wear a Parker navy blue sweater. Only the NHP jacket from TMG may be worn Monday through Friday. NHP sweatshirts may be worn on Fridays only. No other jackets, sweaters or sweatshirts may be worn during school hours.
Letter Jackets and LettersStudents may wear North Hills Preparatory Letter Jackets Tuesday through Friday.
79
Non-NHP LogosStudents are not permitted to wear logos on any part of their uniform, including socks, shoes, pants, shirts, etc.
Head WearStudents are not permitted to wear hats, caps, visors, sunglasses or other headwear during school hours. All hair accessories and cultural head covers must be of school colors (navy blue, dark green, white, black or white in solid colors).
HairHair must be clean, neatly styled, not cover the eyes and be of a naturally occurring hair color. Boy’s hair length should be no longer than the top of the collar. Boys Grades 9-12 should be clean shaven every day. Side burns must not be longer than the ear lobe.
MakeupGirls in Grades 6-12 may wear moderate natural makeup, which may include foundation, blush and mascara. Lip color must be light pink, clear or a color that matches the student’s natural lip color. Makeup should be applied at home or in restrooms and cannot be applied in hallways or classrooms. Boys are not permitted to wear makeup.
Nail PolishBoys are not permitted to wear nail polish. Nail polish for girls must be natural color and must be maintained.
JewelryBody piercing (including nose rings), other than ears, is not permitted. Girls are allowed only two earrings per ear. Necklaces should be modest with no large or distracting pendants. No “studded” necklaces or bracelets are allowed, as well as any chain type jewelry or billfold. Earrings should not be longer or wider than two inches from the earlobe. Boys are not permitted to wear earrings.
BackpacksEvery student is assigned a locker. Backpacks should be standard size and free of offensive symbols or words. Rolling backpacks are not permitted without written instructions from doctor. Backpacks are not allowed in the classrooms for grades 6-8. Students in grades 9-12 are permitted to bring backpacks in the classroom at the teacher’s discretion.
Spirit Day UniformEvery Friday is Spirit dress day. North Hills Preparatory polo spirit shirts may be worn with khaki pants, Parker gray slacks or a Parker plaid skirt. Khaki pants must be full length and fit according to NHP pants guidelines. No shorts are allowed. Spirit shirts include class sweatshirts, club and activity polo and athletic polo shirts. Spirit t-shirts are no longer acceptable during school on any school day. All requests for new spirit gear must be approved by a Director and made by our approved vendor, Technology Media Group TMG.
80
Casual Day Policy & DressPolicy: As a privilege, there will be four Casual Dress Days which will fall on the last day of each quarter (the end of each quarter is shown on the School Year Calendar). Casual dress privileges may be revoked for students who do not comply with all dress code policies, as determined by the administration. Bring a change of clothes if you are unsure. Otherwise, you will wait in the office for a change of clothes or be sent home to change.Dress: Only shirts that do not display offensive language or images of violence, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or the occult may be worn. Shirts must have sleeves, cover the midriff area and may not be low-cut. Shorts are not allowed. Pants, including jeans, and skirts must fit in style that follows NHP pant and skirt requirements previously stated. Clothing that is torn or has holes is not allowed. Athletic uniform clothing may be worn with the exception of sweatpants. Shoes must be closed toed.
Competition DressStudents are required to wear Monday dress uniform to all competitions at school and at off-site locations unless Director permission has been given.
PE/Athletics UniformStudents taking a P.E. course are required to wear the North Hills Preparatory approved P.E. uniform from TMG.
Warm Weather Students are to wear North Hills Preparatory grey t-shirts, green shorts and
athletic shoes with white socks.Cold Weather Students may wear North Hills Preparatory spirit sweatshirts, sweatpants or wind
suits.
Regular Weekday Uniform Summary
Monday (Formal Dress)Grades 6-8White oxford shirtTieParker gray pants with belt – BoysParker plaid skirt – GirlsGreen sweater (optional)
Grades 9-11Blazer (Starting first Monday in October)White oxford shirtTieParker gray pants with belt – BoysParker plaid skirt – GirlsNavy sweater (optional)
Grade 12BlazerWhite or light blue oxford shirtPlaid or striped tieParker gray pants with belt – BoysParker plaid or grey skirt – GirlsNavy Sweater (optional)
Tuesday – FridayGrades 6-11White oxford shirtNHP logoed navy blue or green poloParker gray pants – BoysParker plaid skirt/culottes - Girls
Grade 12Light Blue or White oxford shirtNHP logoed light blue, navy blue, green polo
81
NHP Jacket (optional)Green (MS)/Blue (US) sweater (optional)Blazer (optional)Tie (optional)
Parker gray pants with belt – BoysParker gray/plaid skirt/culottes-GirlsNHP Jacket (optional)Blue sweater (optional)Blazer (optional)Tie (optional)
Friday Options – Only on announced Spirit DaysSpirit polo/sweatshirt from NHP activity, club or athletics (no t-shirts)Khaki pants – Boys & Girls (must be full length and fit pants guidelines)Parker gray pants – BoysParker plaid skirt - Girls (no shorts are allowed)Uniform shoes
82
SECTION VIII- DISTRICT INFORMATION
1. Access to Student Records - FERPAThe school will comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights of privacy with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are as follows:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes to be inaccurate.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Contact: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-5920
Parents, whether married, separated, or divorced, have a right to access their child’s education records, unless a court order specifically restricts that right.
Directory Information : FERPA permits the school to designate certain personal information about students as directory information. This directory information may be released to anyone who follows the procedures for requesting it. A parent may prevent the release of such directory information by designating that choice in writing and delivering to the School Director or registrar.
2. Allegations of Abuse Any allegations of abuse of students by school employees should be reported to the Campus Director.
3. Acceptable Use Policy – Technology (See AUP – Appendix A)
4. Inappropriate Use of Technology – on or off campus:
Students are prohibited from sending or posting electronic messages that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another’s reputation, or illegal. This prohibition applies to conduct off school property if it results in a substantial disruption to the educational environment, as determined in by the campus director. Any person taking, disseminating, transferring, or sharing obscene, sexually oriented, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or other content will be disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct and may, in certain circumstances, be reported to law enforcement. North Hills Preparatory has the right to monitor and examine any files and activity on all district technology resources. The appropriate personnel may monitor, examine or disclose the contents of any activity to guarantee proper use of these resources as well as investigate complaints of possible inappropriate use.
5. Equal Access – Free Speech
83
The school believes that it is important for students to learn the meaning and practice of freedom of speech while in school. However, the school retains its right to make decisions concerning equal access while maintaining an orderly and disciplined school environment.
6. Sexual Harassment Students shall not engage in unwanted and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed toward another student or school employee. This prohibition applies whether the conduct is by word, gesture, or any other sexual conduct, including requests for sexual favors. All students are expected to treat other students, school employees, volunteers, and community members with courtesy and respect, to avoid any behaviors known to be offensive, and to stop these behaviors when asked or told to stop. A substantiated complaint against a student will result in appropriate disciplinary action, according to the nature of the offense.
7. Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)PPRA afford parent and student who is either 18 or an emancipated minor certain rights regarding the school’s conduct of surveys, collection, and use of information for marketing purposes and certain physical exams. This includes the right to consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns a protected area if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education. The school will use every precaution and will notify parents when appropriate to comply with the PPRA guidelines.
8. Release of Information and PhotographsObjections to release of information or photographs may be submitted on forms available at the time of registration to North Hills Preparatory. Changes during the school year may be made by contacting the registrar.
9. Waiver of Student FeesAny requests for waiver of student fees must be made to the director of the school. The director will take into consideration the individual student’s situation and make a determination based on need and circumstances.
10. School Closings or Delay
Cancellations and delays will be communicated to parents via phone call and email using the automated IRIS Alert System. In addition, the following websites and television and radio stations will announce the school’s cancellation or delay information:
www.cancellations.com; KDFW (Channel 4) WBAP 820 am www.uplifteducation.org; KXAS (Channel 5) KRLD 1080 am WFAA (Channel 8) KTVT (Channel 11)
11. DISASTER AND FIRE PREPAREDNESSThe school has a disaster and fire protection plan which is posted in each classroom. Drills are conducted regularly through out the school year.
84
12. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY – NONDISCRIMINATION POLICYNo administrative officer or employee of North Hills Preparatory, acting in his/her official capacity, may discriminate on the basis of a person's sex, race, religion, color, or national origin regarding personnel practices, including the assigning, hiring, promoting, compensating, and discharging of employees, and/or the use of facilities, awarding contracts, and participation in programs.No student shall, on the basis of sex, race, religion, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity sponsored by this school district except as specifically provided in the Title IX implementing regulations.
No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored by this school district except as specifically provided in the Section 504 implementing regulations. Inquiries regarding any of these policies should be directed to the School Director.
13. DRUG-FREE SCHOOLNorth Hills Preparatory is a drug-free environment. All students are prohibited from the possession, use, sale, distribution, transmittal; or attempt to possess, use, sell, distribute, transmit; or being under the influence of a controlled substance or dangerous drug (as defined by law) or alcohol or any alcoholic beverage, or any abusable or volatile chemical substance, or any intoxicant or behavior-altering drug on school premises or off school premises at a school-related activity, function, or event. In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, students may be disciplined for any alcohol and drug related offenses. All individuals will be referred to appropriate law enforcement officials for criminal prosecution.
A teacher, administrator, or staff member who suspects a student or other individual of using, passing or selling drugs, glue, aerosol paint, volatile chemicals or alcoholic beverages on school property must report the observance to a school administrator or governmental authority. The adult making this report may not be sued or held liable for having made the report.
14. Teacher Qualifications – Parents’ Right to Know: All parents have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher. Professional qualifications include whether the teacher is certified in the grade level or subject he or she is teaching, the baccalaureate and or graduate degree he or she holds, and the field of discipline of his or her degree or certification, or the result of any content exam taken to establish that the teacher is “highly qualified” under NCLB. Uplift Education and North Hills Preparatory prides themselves on hiring qualified individuals who are outstanding teachers for all our students. If you wish to know any of this information regarding your child’s teacher, please make a written request to your child’s campus director.
15. Career and Technology Nondiscrimination StatementUplift Education offers career and technology programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and business and computer technology. Admission to
85
these programs is based on interest and aptitude, age appropriateness, academic achievement, state and local policy, class space available, and any course pre-requisites. It is the policy of Uplift Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its vocational (career and technology) programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 18973, as amended. It is the policy of Uplift Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age in its employment practices as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Uplift Education will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all education and vocational programs. For information about your rights or grievance procedures, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Mr. Dennis Vasquez, at (214) 276-0352 or [email protected] and/or the Section 504 Coordinator, Mrs. Marilyn Wright at [email protected].
86
SECTION IX- CHILD NUTRITION - MEALSNutritionStudents should bring lunches or purchase them from North Hills Preparatory. Students are required to pay for their lunches. In an effort to create an inclusive environment, parents are asked to bring lunch only for their own child. A healthy lunch will be provided each weekday for a nominal fee. We encourage students bringing lunch from home not to bring salty, sugary, or other snacks not considered high in nutritional value, and because of our commitment to overall health, North Hills Preparatory will not allow sugary and salty snacks to be served on our campus. You can find more information about school lunches on the school website.
The state of Texas offers free/reduced breakfast and lunch to qualifying families. All families (with or without need) must fill out the designated form, which is distributed in July. If your family qualifies for state assistance, a written notification will be sent home. Students who do not qualify may still purchase school provided breakfast and lunch. Students not choosing to partake in the school provided meals should eat breakfast at home and supply their own healthy sack lunches.
Classroom celebrations involving food must be approved by the Director/Senior Director and be scheduled after the end of the last lunch period so that these celebrations will not replace a nutritious lunch. Federal regulations do not permit foods of minimal nutritional value to be served before meal periods. Foods otherwise restricted by the policy are not permitted in classroom students’ parties. TDA (Texas Department of Agriculture) recommends that parties be held after the last lunch period so the party does not spoil the students’ appetite for a nutritious meal. TPSNP (Texas Public School Nutrition Policy) does not allow access to FMNV (Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value) at anytime or anywhere on school premises until after the end of the last scheduled class. The State guidelines allow schools to schedule two schoolwide parties per year and parents will receive these dates in August.
Birthdays and Special Events Birthday cakes, cupcakes and other sugary foods of Minimal Nutritional
value are not permitted. Birthday and special events must not be excessive.
Lunch Visitations Visitations are not permitted during lunch hours without prior approval from the Campus Director. Visitors must contact the appropriate Dean to submit request by 9:00 a.m. the day of visit. Students with pre-approved lunch visitors may be asked to eat in a designated area outside of the designated lunch area.
87
SECTION X – HEALTH INFORMATION
Dispensing of Prescription Medications at School
All prescriptions MUST be in the ORIGINAL, current, pharmacy-labeled bottle with drug name, date, dosage, time of dosing, physician’s name and phone number printed on the bottle. A written note signed by the parent stating the purpose and duration the medication is to be given, must accompany the medication and include the parent’s emergency daytime phone numbers.
Parents should deliver medications to the clinic or nurse’s office for their children.
Paperwork must be filed and signed by the parent. Students should NEVER have any medications in the backpacks, purses,
or on themselves.
(Medication will be secured, stored and administered only in the nurse’s office. Medication packaged as a physician’s sample must be accompanied by a written, signed prescription by the doctor, including all information listed above. Prescription medication will only be given if the parent’s and physician’s current phone numbers are on file in the nurse’s office. It is the responsibility of all middle and upper school students to remember to come to the nurse’s office to take their dosage at the prescribed time. The school nurse reserves the right to withhold a student’s medication if any of the above stated conditions are not met or questions arise about the drug’s appropriate use.
Students with asthma or severe allergic reactions are required to have signed medication administration and emergency forms on file in the nurse’s office. Students in grades 6-12 may carry and self-administer their own “rescue” inhalers and epi-pens if the appropriate paperwork is on file with the school nurse’s office. Spare inhalers kept in the “Nurse’s Office” are always advised and easily accessible in case an emergency occurs.
Dispensing of Over-the-Counter (OTC)/Non-Prescription Medications at School
The nursing staff at Uplift Education may administer over the counter medication for five (5) consecutive days with a written request by the parent or legal guardian. This request must include a verifying phone number and signature of the student’s parent or legal guardian. Non-prescription medication must be labeled with the students’ name and be in the original manufacturer’s container due to questions that may arise regarding dosage or side effect. OTC medications will be kept in the nurse’s office for the entire school year ONLY if a medication administration form signed by the physician is provided. If your child needs to take medication at school, that medication must be provided by the parent/guardian.
NO aspirin will be given to students. The nurse keeps no medications of any kind in stock. Any student found taking medication or giving medication to another student will be subject to school disciplinary action.
88
Asthma Medications Send all inhalers with the pharmacy prescription label attached directly on the inhaler. Also, please send the nurse a copy of the student’s “Asthma Action Plan” as devised by your child’s physician. If your student has any activity restrictions due to weather or exertion, send a doctor’s note specifying this with the physician’s signature and date. All students are allowed to carry their own inhalers at school as long as a note with the physician and parent’s signature is filed in the nurse’s office. For the health and safety of the student, and so that the nurse can monitor the condition of the student, it is advised that all school asthma medication is taken (and/or a spare inhaler kept) in the nurse’s office. Equipment for nebulization is available in the nurse’s office. Parents must provide the tubing and mask or mouthpiece. All inhalers for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade must be stored and administered in the nurse’s office.
Severe Allergic ReactionMedication must be kept with the physician’s written consent in the nurse’s office for a student with known hype-allergic reaction. Ensure that the nurse is aware of any student’s hypersensitivities to food/environment/insects. (Examples of medication include Benadryl in a lotion or pill form, Epi-pen, or topical creams.) An “Allergy Action Plan” is advised to be completed for any student with a known history of anaphylactic reaction and is available from the school or on the forms section of the school’s website.
FeverA fever is an oral temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher or, greater than 99.4 degrees under the arm. Students should not be medicated to reduce a fever and sent to school.
Students must be fever free for 24 hours after the temperature has returned to norm (98.6) without the use of analgesics before attempting to return to school.
Students should not be sent to school with medication “to take after they eat lunch.”
Any questions regarding the above policy should be directed to the school nurse.
Immunizations Students must be fully immunized against certain diseases before they may attend school. The immunizations currently required are specified on the Department of State Health Services website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school/ Proof of immunization may be established by personal records from a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber-stamp validation.
In addition to routine immunizations, new state requirements are as follows for all Kindergarten and 7th grade students:
89
If your child is going into Kindergarten:
MMR Vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) – required two doses Hepatitis A Vaccine – Required two doses
If your child is going into 7th Grade:
Meningococcal Vaccine Varicella Vaccine – required two doses Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and accellular pertussis) – required
booster
90
SECTION XI – PARENT INVOLVEMENT – VIPENGAGING OUR PARENTS:
North Hills believes in the importance of partnerships that support education. We believe that parents are an essential partner in the education of students and 30 years of research supports this belief. We know that a parent is a child’s first and most important teacher, and a great deal of learning occurs before children begin school. We rely on the guidance parents provide their children and the insights they provide us as educators.
Research has shown repeatedly that there are three factors that account for almost all the differences in average student achievement across the nation: 1) student absenteeism; 2) variety of reading materials in the home, and 3) excessive television watching. Parents establish the expectations for each of these. Research also shows that what the family does - the activities they share - is more important to student success than family income or education. Simply put, parent involvement in education is too important to ignore if we really want to create a stronger, safer, and more enriching future for our North Hills youth.
We invite you to help us help your child by practicing some of these basic standards of good parenting:
Communication A healthy school environment requires ample and appropriate communication between all members of the school community. Communication requires regularly scheduled progress conferences and reports and timely responses to other issues that arise. If you feel this is not occurring, please contact your student’s teacher first, then the appropriate School Leader. Appropriate communication is respectful of the time, opinion and feelings of others. It is directed toward the person charged with solving the problem or knowing the answer to the question. To help you determine who the appropriate individual is with ownership of an issue, please consult the school’s directory. www.northhillspreparatory.orgThe North Hills Education website is a primary source of communication for our parent community. All families are encouraged to regularly view the website for updated information. Please make the website one of your “favorites.” The school calendar is updated almost daily and all important information is posted on the front page of the website
91
• Read together • Use TV wisely• Establish a daily family routine • Schedule daily homework time• Monitor out-of-school activities • Talk regularly to your children• Communicate positive values: respect, hard work, and responsibility
• Express high expectations and offer praise and encouragement for achievement
Parent/Teacher Conferences Parents will be actively involved in their child’s education. They will have scheduled meetings with their child and teacher periodically during the year to review goals and progress. Methods in which the child can be supported outside of school in order to expand on the learning occurring at school will be discussed. Parents will want to participate in the demonstration and presentation nights. They are encouraged to share their knowledge, talents and interests/expertise with students in large and small groups or with students working on individual projects.
Parent Volunteers Strong parental involvement is a key component of any successful school. Parents, as well as relatives and friends, are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available through the Volunteers in Partnership (VIP) an organized group of teams and individuals who provide invaluable hours of volunteer contributions. The Volunteer in Partnership (VIP) aims to:
• Facilitate communication between the school and parents as well as between parents
• Provide essential support to the school and its staff • Promote age appropriate social activities for students • Foster a sense of inclusion and community within our school family
VIP –Fundraising: The VIP may be engaged in fundraising, but all fundraising events must be approved by the School Director, and if using the name of Uplift Education in the fundraising, also by the Chief Development Officer of Uplift. The purpose of requiring this approval is to ensure any activities are consistent with the educational mission and programs and are not in conflict with any other plans of the school. All funds raised by the VIP must be deposited into a bank account under Uplift’s control, but the account will be identified as the school’s enrichment or VIP account. Specific financial procedures for managing VIP funds are available from the Uplift CMO accounting office.
Volunteer Service Agreement Parents / guardians are asked to provide thirty volunteer hours of service per family to the school per year or provide an equivalent in donations or cash. Please complete the Volunteer Agreement form and send it in to the school office. Volunteer opportunities will be identified by the School Director and communicated to the VIP leaders.
Volunteer Background Checks: All volunteers who will be working in the school or around students must consent to a background check which will be conducted by the school. If you did not complete the
92
Volunteer Background Consent form at the time of enrollment, please complete and return it to the front office.
Visitor Policy Everyone coming to North Hills Preparatory must first check in with the receptionist. Visitors, parents, guests, and repair people will be given a visitor’s pass to wear and will be asked to sign-in in the visitor’s log book. School visitations are not permitted during school hours without prior approval from the Campus Director. Parents may not visit students in classrooms without an escort and may not visit teachers unannounced before or during school. If you wish to speak with your child's teacher, please make an appointment with the office manager. We would like to be considerate of our teachers; therefore; please allow 24 hour notice. See also Lunch visitation.
Visitor ScreeningNorth Hills Preparatory uses Raptor Technologies V-Soft visitor registry program to screen and identify those individuals who are listed as Registered Sexual Offenders who might try to enter the School. Upon entering the school, a visitor will present a valid state or government issued photo identification card (usually a person’s driver license) to the front desk attendant and it will be scanned into the Raptor system. Once completed, a visitor’s badge will be issued with the person’s name and photo, the day’s date, the time, and the destination within the building for the visit. When the visitor leaves the building, an entry will be made that the person has left the building. If you have any questions about the screening system, please contact the School Director.
Returned Checks In the event the bank returns a check for non-sufficient funds, repayment must be made by money order or cash and will include a $25.00 returned item-handling fee to cover bank charges. By submitting payment by check, you agree to this policy as allowed by law. A student may be restricted from extracurricular activities and records will be held until full payment is received. After three occurrences of returned checks from one family, all future fees must be paid by money order, cashier’s check or cash. When paying by cash, always request a receipt.
Financial Need Any family in need of financial assistance with school fees of any kind should contact the Senior or Campus Director
Directory InformationThe Volunteers-in-Partnership publishes the school directory. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow North Hills Preparatory to include this type of information a student’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:
The directory which contains a student’s name, grade, address, telephone number, parents’/guardians’ name(s) and their address and telephone number; A playbill,
93
showing a student’s role in a drama production; The yearbook; Honor roll or other recognition lists; Graduation programs; and Sports activity sheets.
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, institutions of higher learning and companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. Unless submitted in writing prior to September 1, 2011, a student’s information will be published in the North Hills Preparatory Student and Staff Address and Telephone Directory.
94
North Hills Preparatory Parent and Student HandbookAcknowledgement Form
I understand and consent to the responsibilities outlined in North Hills Preparatory 2010- 2011 Parent and Student Handbook and Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). I understand and agree that my child will be held accountable for his or her behavior and consequences outlined in this document by the school and at any school-sponsored and school-related activities, including school-sponsored travel.
Failure to sign this form does not release a student’s or parent’s responsibility to abide by the stated policies.
Date: ____________ Grade: _____
Please Print Parent/Guardian Name: _________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________
Please Print Student Name: __________________________________________
Student Signature: ___________________________________________________
95
APPENDIX - A
Acceptable Use Policy
IntroductionUplift Education provides students and employees with extensive technology resources, including computing facilities, local area networks, Internet access, and e-mail addresses. Our goal is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication within our own community and the world.
As a member of the Uplift community, I agree to follow School rules and commit to the School's values. To maintain these values as related to technology, we must all agree to support the needs of the School community even if they may conflict with one’s personal desires.
Uplift Education Technology Ownership Uplift Education owns all systems, software, and e-mail addresses.
Content created with the School’s technology tools and saved on the School network is the property of the School.
Computer resources at Uplift are a limited resource and are reserved for educational and school-related business.
If I leave the School community, I may take copies of anything I have created. However, this content can continue to be used by the School for educational purposes.
My Use of School Computing Resources I will help to create a positive atmosphere by allowing those engaged in
academic work priority use of the computers. I will respect the work and privacy of others throughout the Uplift
Education network. I will use my applications, e-mail accounts, and Uplift Education network
space appropriately for school-related activities. I will not save or install files and/or software on School equipment without
the authorization of a teacher or the network administrators. I will not use Uplift technology resources for commercial activity, for
seeking monetary gain, or for political purposes.
System Security I will log on to the network only as myself. I am responsible for my individual account and will take all reasonable
precautions to prevent others from being able to use my account.
96
I will immediately notify a faculty or staff member if I have identified a possible security problem.
I will not intentionally introduce a virus or other harmful code anywhere on the Uplift Education network, and I will make an effort to keep my home computer free from viruses and other destructive materials. If my files are accidentally infected, I will seek help from a member of the technology staff.
97
I know that any electronic devices brought on this campus are subject to search without notice or warning. I will refrain from using any device or software that masks my use of the school resources. This includes but is not limited to anonymizers and any application or hardware device that circumvents network security, logging, or tracking procedures.
Use of Uplift Content or School Information on Non-Uplift Websites Content about Uplift Education anywhere on the World Wide Web should
observe all aspects of the School's Acceptable Use Policy. Official School files or documents are not to be posted on non-Uplift sites. Individuals who post content on World Wide Web sites away from Uplift
should not present content as if it represents any official views of Uplift Education.
The official Uplift Education website represents the School. No representation of Uplift should be made on any other website.
Intellectual Property and Privacy I will not copy or transfer any copyrighted software to or from computers
on the Uplift School network without the permission of the technology staff in my building. This includes but is not limited to web browsers, MP3 players, and games.
I will not plagiarize words or phrases that I find in books, on the Internet, on CD-ROMs, or on other online resources.
I will respect the rights of copyright owners, including those who have created music, images, video, software, etc.
I should have no expectation of privacy when I use on-line resources since materials are owned by the site and can be redistributed without an author’s permission. I should check each site’s privacy and security policies carefully before posting or adding content I may not wished viewed by others presently or in the future.
I will not repost a message sent to me privately without the permission of the person who sent the message.
I will not post private or false information about another person.
Inappropriate Language and Harassment I will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory,
threatening, or disrespectful language on any and all uses of computers at Uplift, whether in public or private messages.
I will not post information that could cause danger or disruption or engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
I understand the following: I continuously represent Uplift Education whenever and wherever I use
school computing Resources, even if I am using these resources away from or outside of the
School's network.
98
I may be held responsible for any on-line behavior or content that connects me to the School or implicates the School in that behavior.
If I knowingly enable others to violate these rules, I may lose my School network, e-mail, or World Wide Web access.
Uplift Education has software and systems in place that monitors and records all activities and traffic on the School computing resources. I should expect only limited privacy in the contents of my personal files on the School network.
Tampering with Uplift technology tools or another person's work is unacceptable, and I could lose all rights to use computers at the School, including my user account and network access.
Violations of the Uplift Education policy including social media policy and AUP are subject to disciplinary action ranging from loss of computing privileges up to and including suspension and/or expulsion (or termination for employees).
Uplift Education makes no guarantee that the services provided will be error-free or without defect. The School will not be responsible for any damage suffered including, but not limited to, loss of data or disruption of service.
Parent Permission Form and User Agreement
I have read, understood, explained, and discussed the Acceptable Use Policy to my student.
Student’s Name (PLEASE PRINT) ________________________________________________
Name of Parent/Guardian (PLEASE PRINT)
__________________________________________________________
Signature________________________________________________________Date__________
______________________________________________________________________________
I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and discussed it with my parent(s)/guardian(s).
Student’s Full Name (PLEASE PRINT) ______________________________________________
Student’s Signature________________________________________________Date______________
99
APPENDIX – B – GRADUATION PLANS
North Hills/IB Graduation Plan
29 Credits Required
Distinguished Graduation Plan
26 Credits Required
Recommended Graduation Plan
26 Credits Required
Minimum Graduation Plan
22 Credits Required
English – 4 credits English – 4 credits English – 4 credits English – 4 creditsEnglish I, II, III and IV English I, II, III and IV English I, II, III and IV English I, II, III & other
options
Math – 4 credits Math – 4 credits Math – 4 credits Math – 3 creditsAlg. I, Alg. II, Geometry
& CalculusAlg. I, Alg. II, Geometry
& CalculusAlg. I, Alg. II,
Geometry & CalculusAlg. I, Geom. & other
options
Science – 4 credits Science – 4 credits Science – 4 credits Science – 2 creditsBiology, Chem., Physics
& 1 creditBiology, Chem., Physics
& 1 creditBiology, Chem.,
Physics and 1 creditBiology & Integrated
Physics (IPC)
Social Studies– 3.5 credits (IB+2.0)
Social Studies – 3.5 credits
Social Studies – 3.5 credits
Social Studies – 2.5 credits
World History, World Geography,
U.S. History and U.S. Government
European History & Theory of Knowledge
OR Humanities
World History, World Geography,
U.S. History and U.S. Government
World History, World Geography,
U.S. History and U.S. Government
World History OR World Geog., U.S. History &
U.S. Government
Economics – 0.5 credits
Economics – 0.5 credits
Economics – 0.5 credits
Economics – 0.5 credits
100
Physical Education – 1.5 credits
Physical Education–1.5 credits
Physical Education – 1.5 credits
Physical Education – 1.5 credits
Health Education– 0.5 credits
Health Education–0.5 credits
Health Education – 0.5 credits
Health Education– 0.5 credits
Foreign Lang.–3.0 (IB+1.0) credits
Foreign Language– 3.0 credits
Foreign Language – 2.0 credits
Foreign Language– no credits
Tech. Applications – 1.0 credits
Tech. Applications– 1.0 credits
Tech. Applications – 1.0 credits
Tech. Applications – 1.0 credits
Fine Arts – 2.0 credits Fine Arts – 1.0 credits Fine Arts – 1.0 credits
Fine Arts – no credits
Speech – 0.5 credits Speech – 0.5 credits Speech – 0.5 credits Speech – 0.5 credits
Elective courses – 2.5 credits
Elective courses–2.5 credits
Elective courses – 3.5 credits
Elective courses – 6.5 credits
101
