MJSHS Student Handbook
September 18, 2007
Minneapolis
Jr/Sr High School
LIONS
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Parent-Student Handbook
2007-2008
Minneapolis Jr/Sr High School
Parent-Student Handbook 2007-2008
Welcome
MissionStatement Pg 5
Educational Access Pg 6
1) Academics Pg 6
a) Grade Cards Pg 6
b) Grading Scale Pg 6
c) Assignment Weight Pg 6
d) Honor Roll Pg 6
e) Class Rank Pg 6
f) Incompletes Pg 7
g) Academic Lettering Pg 7
h) National Honor Society Pg 7
2) Graduation Requirements Pg 7
3) Enrollment Issues Pg 9
a) Changing Schedules Pg 9
b) Teacher’s Student Aides Pg 9
c) Partial Day Enrollment Pg 9
d) Area Technical School Pg 9
e) Correspondence Course Policy Pg 9
f) Activity Passes Pg 9
4) Books Pg 9
a) Book Rental Pg 9
b) Workbooks Pg 10
5) School Day Management Pg 10
a) Normal Day Schedule Pg 10
b) Collaboration Day Schedule Pg 10
6) Student Services and Facility Issues Pg 10
a) Facility Usage Pg 10
b) Parking Pg 10
c) Computer Network Pg 10
d) Telephone Usage Pg 11
e) Lockers and Locks Pg 11
f) School Lunches Pg 11
g) Cafeteria Regulations Pg 11
h) Tornado and Fire Pg 11
7) Attendance Pg 12
a) Tardiness Pg 14
b) Truancy Pg 14
c) Leaving the Building Pg 14
d) Becoming Sick at School Pg 14
8) Appearance Pg 14
a) Proper Dress Pg 15
b) Improper Dress Pg 15
9) Conduct Pg 15
a) Respect Pg 15
b) Public Displays of Affection Pg 15
c) Cell Phone Usage Pg 15
d) Learning Distractions Pg 16
e) Items of Value Pg 16
f) Sexual Harassment of Students Pg 16
g) Damage to Property Pg 16
h) Bus Behavior Pg 16
i) Food, Drink, and Gum Pg 17
j) Possession of a Dangerous Weapon Pg 17
k) Plagiarism Pg 17
l) Tobacco Pg 17
m) Alcohol and Illicit Drugs Pg 17
10) Disciplinary Measures Pg 19
a) Office Referrals Pg 19
b) Detention Pg 19
c) Detention Chart Pg 19
d) In School Suspension Pg 20
e) In School Suspension Chart Pg 20
f) Out of School Suspension Pg 20
g) Out of School Suspension Chart Pg 21
11) Participation Issues Pg 21
a) Sunday and Wednesday Activities Pg 21
b) Class Field Trips Pg 21
c) Bus Travel Pg 21
d) Dance Regulations Pg 22
e) Class Point System Pg 22
f) Activity Participation and Suspensions Pg 22
g) Minneapolis Jr/Sr High School Eligibility Policy Pg 23
h) Code of Ethics Pg 23
i) Attitude Toward Officials Pg 24
j) Cancellation of School and Other Activities Pg 24
12) Medical and Heath Issues Pg 24
a) Medication Pg 24
b) Prescription Drugs Pg 24
c) Non-Prescription Drugs Pg 24
d) Inhaler Medication Contracts Pg 24
e) Head Lice Pg 25
f) Accident / First Aid / Insurance Pg 25
g) Health Assessments / Physicals Pg 25
h) Immunizations Pg 25
i) Hearing Screening Pg 25
j) Vision Screening Pg 25
k) Scoliosis Screening Pg 26
l) Meal Substitution Form Pg 26
13) Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 Pg 26
14) Equal Opportunity Pg 27
15) Complaints and Grievances Pg 27
Welcome,
On behalf of the faculty and staff at MJSHS I want to welcome you to MJSHS for the 2007-08 school year. I hope this year will be filled with excitement and opportunities for growth physically, emotionally, and academically. This handbook has been prepared as a guide and is not meant to be all inclusive of all “school policy”. Interpretation of items in this handbook and those things that are not in the handbook shall be the responsibility of the building administration.
It is our desire to encourage you to do your very best every single day. We would like MJSHS to be a place where you are comfortable and can enjoy the pleasant environment as you strive to reach your goals. I want to encourage each person to get involved in organizations, clubs, teams, and school sponsored activities, which will make your school year more meaningful and enjoyable. It is our hope that those who are a part of MJSHS will come to understand true happiness comes when we work in cooperation to create happiness. It is our wish that those who enter our doors and depart with a diploma find that they have gained much which will help them to step in the right direction.
Our school will only be as good as the people that compose it. Each person must assume their share of responsibilities along with the acceptance of opportunities. The more you put into your school the more you will gain from it and the happier you will be.
Sincerely,
Jay Macy
Principal MJSHS
MISSIONSTATEMENT
The mission of Minneapolis Jr/Sr High School is to challenge all students to improve. We believe individuals:
must meet curriculum exit outcomes to graduate
should demonstrate respectful behavior
should be a responsible and accountable for their actions
should be adaptive to a changing society as life-long learners
should be committed to family and community
EDUCATIONAL ACCESS
College and Armed Forces Recruiting (Title XI)
Requires each LEA (Local Educational Agency) that receives funds under the ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) to provide, on request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher education, access to the names, addresses, and telephone listings for secondary students. However, parents may request that such information not be released for their child without prior written parental consent by filling out the appropriate form at enrollment. LEAs must give military recruiters the same right of access to secondary students as they provide generally to post-secondary institutions and prospective employers.
ACADEMICS
Grade Cards: Grade cards will be issued at the conclusion of each nine-week period. They will either be mailed to parents or picked up at parent-teacher conferences. The first and third nine-week grades represent the student’s progress in that semester at that time. The second and fourth nine-week grades represent the student’s grade for that semester’s work. Credit will be shown when it has been earned.
Grading Scale: A uniform grading scale will be used at MJSHS. The scale will be as follows:
A 100- 90%
B 89-80%
C 79-70%
D 69-60%
Any grade below 60% will be a failing grade and no credit will be given for the course.
Assignment Weight: No single assignment will be allowed to account for more than 20% of a student’s semester grade in a course.
Honor Roll: Two honor rolls will be computed for MHS & MJH students based on the following 4-point scale:
All “A” grades - 4 points
All “B” grades - 3 points
All “C” grades - 2 points
All “D” grades - 1 point
Students earning an average grade point of 3.5 or higher will be placed on the high honor roll. Students earning an average grade point of 3.0 to 3.49 will be placed on the basic honor roll. The honor roll will be published in the local newspaper at the end of each semester. Students must have all incompletes finished prior to the publishing of the honor roll to be placed on it. No second printings will occur.
Class rank: Computed using the same 4-point scale.
Incompletes: Students receiving incompletes for semester grades may not be placed on the honor roll. Efforts should be made to finish the work as soon as possible.
Academic Lettering: MHS has adopted an Academic Letter Program in order to encourage, recognize, and reward students who successfully achieve and maintain high academic standards. In order for a freshman, sophomore, or junior to earn an Academic Letter, he/she must maintain a 3.5 grade point average both semesters. Those underclassmen that do earn an Academic Letter will receive them at the fall student assembly held on the first day of school.
In order for a senior to earn an Academic Letter, he/she must maintain a 3.5 grade point average for the first three nine-week grading periods. Those seniors who qualify will be awarded their Academic Letters at the spring Awards Assembly.
National Honor Society: National Honor Society is an organization sponsored and governed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. It has strict selection criteria and procedures and is designed to promote scholarship and community service. National Honor Society policies were developed through the efforts of a review committee consisting of two board members, two faculty members at large, two NHS sponsors, one community member at large and the principal.
Policies for acceptance were approved by the USD #239 Board of Education on October 13, 2003. Any student applying for NHS will need to pick up a copy of the procedures in the counseling office.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Graduation Requirements Class of 2008 – 22 credits needed to graduate
- Four and one-half credits of Language Arts: English I, English II, English III or English Comp I, English IV or English Comp II, Speech or Forensics
- Three credits of Math
- Three credits of Social Science: World History, American History, American Government/Economics
- Two credits of Science (one must be a lab) Earth/Space Science, Biology
- One credit of Physical Education: ½ Health, ½ Physical Education
- One-half credit of Computer Science
- Eight credits of electives for graduation
Graduation Requirements Class of 2009 and 2010 – 23 credits needed to
graduate.
Needed to Graduate:
- Four and one-half credits of Language Arts: English I, English II, English III or English Comp I, English IV or English Comp II, Speech or Forensics
- Three credits of Math
- Three credits of Social Science: World History, American History, American Government/Economics
- Three credits of Science (one must be a lab): Earth/Space Science, Biology, Biology II, Human A&P, Chemistry, or Physics
- One credit of Physical Education: ½ Health, ½ Physical Education
- One-half credit of Computer Science
- One credit of Fine Arts: Music or Art
- Seven credits of electives
Graduation Requirements Class of 2011 – 23 credits needed to graduate
- Four and one-half credits of Language Arts: English I, English II, English III or English Comp I, English IV or English Comp II, Speech or Forensics
- Three credits of Math
- Three credits of Social Science: World History, American History, American Government/Economics
- Three credits of Science (one must be a lab): Earth/Space Science, Biology, Biology II, Human A&P, Chemistry, or Physics
- One credit of Physical Education: ½ Health, ½ Physical Education
- One credit of Computer Science
- One credit of Fine Arts: Music or Art
- Six and one-half credits of electives
Students will be scheduled into required classes based upon the following pattern:
Freshmen 1 unit of Math 1 unit of English ½ unit of Health
1 unit of Earth/Space Science 1 unit of Comp. Applications
Sophomore 1 unit of Math 1 unit of English 1 unit of Biology
1 unit of World History ½ unit of Speech or Forensics
Juniors 1 unit of English 1 unit of Math
½ unit of Am. History 1 unit of Science
½ unit - American Government
Seniors 1 unit of English ½ unit of American History
½ unit – Economics
ENROLLMENT ISSUES
Changing Schedules: Always go to the counselor’s office to initiate a schedule change! Schedule changes will be made only with teacher, parent, counselor, and principal’s approval. Schedule changes will be considered during the first week of each semester. Beyond this, changes will be made in rare cases only.
Teacher’s Student Aides: Senior students wishing to be a teacher’s aide may enroll with that teacher’s permission. There will be no credit received for this program. A senior student may not be an aide for more than one class period. No teacher will have more than one aide.
Partial Day Enrollment: All students will be required to attend school for the entire day. Partial day enrollment will be permitted only with approval from the Board of Education.
AreaTechnical School: Students interested in attending Salina Area Technical School should check with the counselor prior to pre-enrollment for their junior or senior year. Representatives from the Technical School are invited to the high school each spring to discuss enrollment and answer other questions. These visits will be posted or announced. Eligible students may participate with tuition and transportation provided by the school. Please note the academic regulations pertaining to eligibility for these students.
Correspondence Course Policy: All correspondence work must be arranged through the counselor if it is to be applied toward high school credit and to appear on the transcript. Arrangement of all work must be done prior to the beginning of the course. All students that take a correspondence course policy will follow established guidelines available in the counseling office.
Activity Passes: Adult passes can be purchased at the Minneapolis Jr/Sr High School office. Passes are good for all home league contests and tournaments that are not considered post-season competition. These passes also allow children K-6 to be admitted free of charge. Seventh grade through twelfth grade students will pay $5.00 for a student ID/activity card during enrollment. This card will have the student’s lunch number and locker number on it and can be used for free admission to all Minneapolis home junior high or high school games not considered post season.
BOOKS
Book Rental: Students are not charged book rental, however, students are expected to treat books with reasonable care. Books lost or unreasonably damaged will result in appropriate charges being made to the student.
Workbooks: In those subject areas where workbooks are used, students will be informed of the cost. Payment will be made at enrollment.
SCHOOL DAY MANAGEMENT
Junior High and High School SCHEDULES
Regular Day Collaboration / Late Start
1st hour 8:10-8:59 The hours missed will be rotated as needed to
2nd hour 9:03-9:52 insure that the same 2 hours will not be missed.
3rd hour 9:56-10:45 3rd Hour 9:56-10:45
4th hour 10:49-11:38 4th Hour 10:49-11:38
5th hour 1142-12:57 5th Hour 1142-12:57
Lunch 1st 11:38-12:04 Lunch 1st 11:38-12:04
JH 12:04-12:30 JH 12:04-12:30
2nd 12:31-12:57 2nd 12:31-12:57
6th hour 1:01-1:50 6th hour 1:01-1:50
7th hour 1:54-2:43 7th hour 1:54-2:43
8th hour 2:47-3:30 8th hour 2:47-3:30
STUDENT SERVICES AND FACILITY ISSUES
Facility Usage: The building is open for student use at 8:00 am. The school day ends at 3:30 pm. Students not involved in extracurricular activities are to leave the building at that time. Those wishing to stay longer must be under the supervision of a staff member. Student groups may use the facilities any time a school employee is available to sponsor the activity. Prior notification of the Principal and/or Activities Director is encouraged to avoid conflicts.
Parking: Your cooperation is necessary while driving cars at school. Please park properly (do not back into stalls) and drive carefully at all times. Do not park cars in the shop area during school hours. Driving excessively fast around the school, spinning tires, etc. will not be tolerated. Obviously, do not park in the handicapped or other reserved parking areas. In addition, please do not park in the grass along the east edge of the lot facing the track. Permission to go to your parked car during school hours is gained through the office.
Computer Network: Willful misuse or inappropriate actions dealing with computers, computer network, Internet, or other forms of technology is not permitted in USD 239. These actions may include alteration, corruption, damage, or theft involving equipment. Internet resources, plagiarism, software, network files, electronic messaging (i.e.: Message boards, web e-mail) etc.
If a person is involved in any of these actions, the administration and faculty will deal with the situation in an appropriate manner, which may include detention, school suspension, loss of privileges, expulsion, or more severe consequences, and may require notification to local law enforcement agencies. The action to be taken will be determined by the principal and/or other school personnel. Each student should have an Acceptable Use Policy verification of understanding form on file prior to using the company network.
Telephone Usage: The school telephone may be used in cases of illness, to conduct school business, or with permission from the office staff. Cellular phones and beepers are not to be used during the normal school day. Permission may be granted through the principal’s office for extenuating circumstances.
Lockers and Locks: Please remember the school owns the lockers and does have the right to enter them. Whenever possible, the student will be invited to be present when the locker is searched. Students are responsible for securing their possessions at all times. School lockers are not 100% effective from break in and theft. Many times our locker rooms are used by other schools as dressing rooms and it is impossible to provide supervision to all parts of the school all the time. Locks for lockers are available through the office for a $1.00 rental fee. The loss of a school lock will result in a $10.00 replacement charge. The school recommends you use these locks to secure your possessions. Only school owned locks are to be used.
School Lunches: Lunches are to be paid for in ADVANCE. Lunch reminders will be sent out periodically to keep parents and students informed.
Cafeteria Regulations: Orderly behavior is expected during the lunch shifts. Students are expected to be in the cafeteria within five minutes after being dismissed from class. Once a student has entered the cafeteria, he/she must gain permission from the lunchroom supervisors to leave. Students will be dismissed to the student lounge area, the hall near the gym, in front of the building outside and to the restrooms across from the office for the last 10 minutes of each lunch shift. Permission must be gained from the lunchroom supervisors to go beyond these designated areas.
Tornado and Fire Drills: These drills will be conducted on a regular basis during the year. Fire drills will occur once a month and tornado drills approximately three times during the spring. A continuous bell signals fire drills. Tornado drills are signaled by a repeating dismissal tone over the intercom. Specific procedures for each classroom will be posted.
ATTENDANCE
It is the responsibility of both the school and the parent to require students to attend school regularly and to maintain a level of school instruction, which can only result from regular attendance. Frequent absence from school substantially reduces the quality of education for the absent student. Since the complete educational process requires continuity of instruction, classroom participation, the exchange of ideas, and supervised study activities, regular attendance is essential for maximum educational benefit. The learning process provided by regular classroom instruction cannot be adequately replaced by make-up work for individual instruction after regular school hours. It is difficult, at best, to effectively teach students who do not attend class regularly. This policy has been created in an effort to provide our students the best possible education our school can offer. If you have any questions regarding its concept, please call or stop by the office. Minneapolis Jr/Sr High School has established the following policies to promote the concept of regular attendance.
1) The building principal will develop a regulated system for excusing students following an absence. The system will utilize parental contact.
a) Permanent records of daily attendance and tardiness will be filed in the school office. The building principal will be responsible for maintaining attendance reports. The building principal reserves the authority to determine the acceptability of any excuse for tardiness or absences.
b) Notification will be sent to parents advising them of their child’s attendance record.
c) Attendance will be kept on a per class basis.
d) If a student misses all classes in one day, he/she will receive one full absence in the attendance file.
e) The parents will be notified by the principal at least two (2) times to discuss the child’s attendance situation prior to the student losing credit in the class
2) Parents will be requested to notify school personnel by telephone when they determine it necessary to keep their children out of school. Parents of students absent from school without notification will be contacted by telephone if possible, to advise them that their child is not in school. Letters of notification will be sent to parents if they were unable to be contacted by phone.
3) Students absent for any excused reason will be required to make up work missed. A student will receive no credit for an assignment given during an absence until the work involved is made up entirely. If the work is not made up entirely, in a reasonable amount of time, a zero (0) will be entered in the grade book. Teachers will have the option of assessing make-up sessions for class hours missed. These sessions may be assigned before or after school hours. The time allowed to make up work missed by absences will be up to the teacher assigning the work. Usually a student will be given one day to make up the work for each day missed
4) If a student is absent three consecutive school days, a doctor’s written verification of the need for the absence is requested with the student’s return.
5) The following types of absences will be considered excused:
a) Absence caused by illness of a student, provided verbal parental confirmation is given to the proper school personnel on or before the day the student returns to the school.
b) Absences for school-sponsored activities will not be exempt from making up missed class work. Students should have pre-planned absence sheets signed by teachers if they know they will miss class because of a planned absence. On days when a game or other co-curricular contest is to be held, a student calling in ill must attend at least ½ of his/her classes that day in order to compete in that evening’s activity. A student involved in a co-curricular activity may be permitt