Elkton High School
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ELKTON JH/HS STUDENT HANDBOOK
Elkton School District Philosophy
The Elkton Independent School District 5-3 believes in the worth, dignity, and uniqueness of each individual. We believe the purpose of the educational process is to prepare each student to accept responsibilities for self, family, community, country, and the changing global society and to empower students with a dedication to lifelong learning.
Therefore, the District will offer a broad curriculum to fit the needs and levels in the intellectual range of all students by providing academic, vocational, and activity programs which give each individual the opportunity to develop his/her potential.
We believe this can best be attained through the joint efforts of students, parents, staff, and community.
DISSEMINATION OF POLICIES
The school board shall provide for notice of all policies and regulations affecting student conduct, which could result in suspension to be given to the students or parents, and otherwise give general publicity. Publication in the student handbook shall be considered adequate notice.
ATTENDANCE
1. Students who have not missed more than 2 days (8 blocks) and have no more than 6 (3/semester) tardies throughout the year will be exempted from taking second semester finals. All students will take first semester exams. Attendance will be recorded hourly. It is recommended that doctor, dental, orthodontist, and other appointments be made in the afternoons or before school begins. Funerals are excused with a note from parents and will not enter into the perfect attendance summary. Elkton Public Schools will require students who are failing a class to take the semester exams regardless of attendance and we encourage all other students to consider taking the exams to raise their overall grade. Hardship cases may be appealed to the administration.
2. Students are given four minutes to pass between classes. Any student not in the room by the time the buzzer rings is tardy. If a student has been held by the instructor of a class, he\she needs an excuse from that instructor in order to be admitted to the next class. Tardies will be punishable by detention or suspension if the problem becomes serious. Delays in the start of classes due to operational directives of the school will not count against any student (I.e. assemblies, late buses, weather restrictions, etc.)
3. When a student is absent from school, one of his\her parents/guardians should call the school (542-2541) on the day the student is absent to verify his\her being gone. Please call by 9:30 a.m. If we receive no word, the school will attempt to call to verify.
4. The natures of excuses which will be honored by the principal are:
a) illness
b) illness in the home
c) work with parents' consent, except for excessive amounts, and only for parent.
d) funerals
6. Students who expect to be absent for work or because of family or home situations should have their parents notify the school and have work completed before the time of the absence. This also applies to school trips for athletics, music, FFA, FCCLA, etc.
7. The responsibility for making up the missed lessons rests with the students, not the teacher. Students will be given 2 days for every day they miss in order to make up missed work. Unexcused absences must be made up to prevent a lapse in instructional areas - although zeros will be given for such days. Excused absences must be made up and grades assigned for such work. Make up slips are required to be readmitted after an absence. The student must obtain a slip the day he/she re-enter school and must have a written permission slip from the parent or guardian...no exceptions! The school will accept a phone call from a parent or legal guardian in place of a written note.
8. When a student misses the eleventh day in a given semester, he\she will automatically fail all courses for that semester. The same rule applies for individual class periods. Any student that misses a given class 11 times in 18 weeks will automatically fail that particular class for the semester. Hardship cases may be appealed to the Board of Education.
9. All incompletes not finished at the end of the semester will revert to a failing grade for the course. (Hardship cases may be appealed to the Administration.)
CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY AND RESPECT OF SCHOOL
1. All school property shall be treated with care. Students who maliciously or carelessly damage school property shall be required to reimburse the school district for the cost of replacing or repairing the property and shall be disciplined according to discipline policies.
2. Students are expected to walk in the halls.
3. Student lockers will be provided. A student must understand that lockers are school property and subject to search with reasonable cause. Damage claims may also be assessed if the lockers are not taken care of properly.
BUS PLAN
1. Share your seat on the bus with other students.
2. Students should be ready when the bus arrives.
3. Bus drivers shall have full authority to quell any disturbances that might arise while the bus is en route. All disturbances will be reported to the school principals for immediate action. Constant troublemakers and creators of misbehavior may be forbidden to ride on the bus in accordance with the transportation policy on file in the offices or with the bus drivers. Parents will be notified.
CLASS MEETINGS
All class or student organizational meetings must be cleared through the principal's office by the advisor of the organization that is requesting the meeting. Class meetings shall not be held without the class advisor being present.
DETENTION HALL
Students who are required to attend detention for disciplinary reasons must notify their parents so their parents can provide transportation for them. Parents will also be notified by the school.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES GUIDELINES
The following guidelines are in effect for all extra curricular activities offered by the Elkton School District. Questions may be addressed to the school administration or the coaches/advisors of that particular activity.
Eligibility:
All students who are enrolled in the Elkton Public School shall be eligible to participate in school-sponsored activities under the following conditions:
1. He/she has passing grades in at least four subjects, has a qualified physical exam on file with the Athletic Director, and a signed copy of Elkton training rules is on file with the Athletic Director.
2. If the academic standing of a student is unsatisfactory, he/she becomes ineligible to participate in all extra curricular activities. Eligibility can be restored when satisfactory progress is documented by the classroom teacher(s) and administration.
3. South Dakota state law prohibits minors from purchasing, possessing, receiving, or consuming tobacco products or from attempting to purchase or receive tobacco products. Students who do so will be suspended for five (5) days and be reported to local law enforcement. Effective July 1, 1998, state law fines minors $200 or 7 days in jail.
4. Participation in athletic events and other activities require that all students be eligible under the rules and regulations of the SDHSAA.
5. Any person adjudicated, convicted, or are the subject of a suspended imposition of sentence for possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances or marijuana as defined in chapter 22-42 is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity at any secondary school accredited by the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs for one year. Upon a subsequent adjudication, conviction, or suspended imposition of sentence for possession, use or distribution of controlled substances or marijuana by a court of competent jurisdiction, that person is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity while that person is attending any school accredited by the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs. Upon such a determination in any juvenile proceeding the Unified Judicial System shall give notice of that determination to the South Dakota High School Activities Association and the chief administrator of the school in which the person is enrolled.
As used in this section, the term extracurricular activity means any activity sanctioned by the South Dakota High School Activities Association
FIRE, FIRE DRILLS AND TORNADO DRILLS
1. In the case of a fire drill, or an ordeal fire, students are to follow the instructions of the teacher in charge of the class or study hall in which they are participants.
2. Speed is desirable during all fires and fire drills, but not to the point of throwing away caution. Every person walks to his/her station of safety.
3. Students gather in groups according to the class or study hall that they are in and retreat at least one hundred feet from the building. Students shall wait for the teacher in charge of their group until they are done taking roll.
4. All students will remain in their groups until they are given instructions to leave them.
5. If the fire or drill occurs at noon, the students should leave the building by the fire exit which is posted in the room they are in. Students shall fall into groups, by classes, one hundred feet from the building for roll call.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Graduation requirements of the Elkton Public Schools shall consist of the requirements as established by the State Board of Education.
The State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education require a minimum of 22 units for graduation. (July 2004 incoming freshman) Elkton High School requires 23½ units to graduate.
Units for Graduation include:
English/Language Arts 4 units
Social Studies 3 units
Mathematics/Laboratory Sciences 5 unit
Laboratory Computer Science 1/2 unit
Fine Arts 1 unit
The Elkton School District requires all students to pass: 1 unit of American History, ½ unit American Government, ½ unit of Economics, ½ unit of World Geography, ½ unit of Modern Communication and ½ unit of Journalism. Including the requirements listed above.
*** South Dakota Board of Regents requires that entering undergraduates complete the above preparatory curriculum with an average grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Students are also required to have one of the following:
a minimum of a 2.6 high school GPA
a graduating class rank in the top 60%
an ACT Composite score of 18.
***** ****** Foreign language requirements are established by individual colleges and programs.
Taking a Foreign Language in high school is recommended but not required for graduation. Please check the admission requirements of the continuing post high school facility you are interested in for further information.
HONOR ROLL
Students who maintain grade averages of 3.6 to 4.0 shall be eligible for "A" honor roll and 3.0 to 3.599 for the "B" honor roll. The honor roll will be computed by the following numerical system: A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points. The total numbers of points you receive for a reporting period will be divided by the number of subjects you are taking. A “D” or “F” grade will automatically eliminate you from the honor roll. Band, Chorus, and P.E. are not counted.
The Honor Roll will be published each quarter.
LUNCHROOM AND NOON HOUR
Elkton School lunch hour is closed. Students may not leave the building or go home for lunch. Students will remain in the gym after eating until they return to class. Students who bring a sack lunch from home will eat in the lunchroom. No pop or soda is allowed until after lunch hour is over.
STUDENTS PROVIDING THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION
1. Any student providing his/her own transportation shall be under the direct supervision of the school administration.
2. There shall be no driving of vehicles during school hours, whether the student lives in town or not.
3. Extreme caution must be exercised by the student when approaching and leaving the school grounds.
4. Students will not return to cars without permission of the administration.
TELEPHONE / TELEPHONE USAGE
There is local phone service available in the hallway near the principal's office and in the main office. These telephones may be used by the student in emergency situations on approval by a teacher, secretary, or administration official. Unless an emergency exists, messages will be taken for all incoming calls. We will not interrupt classes for incoming calls.
LEAVING OR RETURNING TO THE BUILDING OR GROUNDS
1. No student is allowed to leave the school grounds at any time during school hours for any reason without permission from the office and having signed out in the office. A student neglecting to do so will recieve 1/2 day of unexcused absence.
2. Any student who is tardy in the morning must check in at the office before going to their class.
DRESS CODE
The purpose of a dress code is to promote the best possible atmosphere for students to achieve their highest potential and safety.
Students should at all times be dressed in a manner that is conducive to a business-like scholastic atmosphere and in a way as to reflect positively upon the school and community. Please refer to the progressive discipline plan for further explanation.
Shorts may be worn only during the months of September and May. No biker shorts, short shorts, or boxer shorts allowed. Wear shorts with finished hems - no cut offs, jeans or sweats. Dress appropriately or the privilege will be lost. A student who abuses the policy will receive a warning and he/she will be assigned detention if guilty of another incident. If you have questions concerning the appropriateness of your attire, it is best not to wear it.
Students are expected to be well groomed and use proper hygiene.
Computer Usage
1. Students are encouraged to utilize all available technology at school. Every student is required to have a signed “Acceptable Use” policy on file each year. Students who fail to abide by this policy may forfeit the use of the technology.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Come to class prepared to learn. Bring absolutely all necessary materials.
2. Be attentive in class to understand the objective of the lesson and take notes as needed to provide background for the preparation of the homework.
3. Clearly understand the directions, extent, and options in the homework.
4. Prepare the assigned homework neatly and accurately and have it ready to hand in on the due day.
5. Use the resources of the school (i.e. after school teacher conference, peer tutoring, Honor Society tutoring, etc.) when experiencing difficulty with assignments.
6. Set priorities that put daily educational achievement ahead of other activities.
7. Get organized by making use of the planner provided.
**** A progressive discipline plan, and associated grievance procedures are currently being reviewed by the Board of Education. Students will be given copies of the plan on the first day of school.
Questions may be addressed to the Administration.
For further information check out the following resources:
Elkton Public School Homepage: http://elktonps.org
Parent Portal web site: sisddncampus.net/campus/mycampus/Elkton.asp