---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Western Hills University High School

2144 Ferguson Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio

(513) 363-8900 Phone

(513) 363-8920 Fax

 

2008 – 2009

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

“COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE – NO EXCUSES”

 

 

 

 

 

Mustang Mantra

 

                            M ake good decisions

                           U se appropriate language

                           S tay in school and be on time

                           T alk with respect

                           A sk for help

                           N o cell phones

                           G raduation is our goal

                           S tay focused on school

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                                                                                                                     Page

 
OUR SCHOOL------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5

MISSION STATEMENTS

1.      Cincinnati Public Schools

2.      Project GRAD

3.      Local School Behavior Plan

 

INTRODUCTION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 - 8

RESPONSIBILITIES (STUDENT, PARENT, TEACHER, ADMINISTRATION, AND TEAM)

 

ACADEMICS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 - 12

1.      Philosophy

2.      Schoolwork

3.      Make-Up Work

4.      Extended Absence

5.      Help Sessions

6.      Academic Reports/Parent Conferences

7.      Mid-Term Conference Nights

8.      Promotion/Graduation Requirements

9.      Scheduling

10.  Academic Deficiencies

11.  Graduation Ceremony

 

SOCIAL SERVICES--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

 

SUPPLIES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12

1.      Student Handbook/Assignment Book

2.      Textbook

3.      Student Instructional Fees

 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

1.      Arrival

2.      Dismissal

3.      After-School Activities

 

ATTENDANCE----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

1.      Absence

2.      Illegal Absence

3.      Tardiness (Wednesday Night School)

4.      Early Dismissal

5.      Illness During the School Day

 

STUDENT CONDUCT------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 - 17

1.       Teaming

2.       Local School Behavior Plan

3.       Parental Involvement

4.       Zero Tolerance Policy

5.       General School Policies and Procedures

6.       Consequences

7.       Detention

8.       Time-Out

9.       In-School Suspension

10.   Parental Escort

TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

 

                                                                                                                        Page

 

STUDENT CONDUCT (Continued)--------------------------------------------------------------- 13 - 17

11.   Removal

12.   Fighting

13.   Category I: Alternative to Suspension and/or Expulsion

14.   Category II: A2S/A2E

15.   Category III: Mandatory Expulsion

16.   Alternatives to Suspension for Category I and II Offenses

17.   Permanent Exclusion

18.   Extracurricular Participation

19.  Academic Credit

 

UNIFORMS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 - 18

 

RESTROOMS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18

 

MEDICATION------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18

 

ELECTRONIC DEVICES------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

 

LUNCHROOM------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19

 

PARENT VISITS/CONFERENCES/COMMUNICATION------------------------------ 19

1.      Parent Visits

2.      Parent Conferences

3.      Telephone Messages

 

OFFICE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20

1.      School Phones

2.      Messages/Deliveries

 

LOCKERS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20

1.      Valuables/Money

 

METRO BUS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20

 

SEVERE WEATHER PROCEDURE-------------------------------------------------------------- 20 - 21

 

DAILY BELL SCHEDULE------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21

 

CALENDAR FOR 2008-09 SCHOOL YEAR-------------------------------------------------- 22

 

COMPUTER/INTERNET GUIDELINES------------------------------------------------------- 23 - 24

 

PARENT & STUDENT SCHOOL CONTRACT FOR 2008-09------------------------ 25 - 26

 

HANDBOOK VERIFICATION FORM-------------------------------------------------------------- 27

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

 

Dear Students:

 

The administration, faculty, and the Western Hills University High School look forward to working with you and your parents throughout the 2008-09 school year.  Our goal is to help you to become the best person and student possible.

 

This handbook is designed to help you to be a successful member of our school community by making you familiar with our policies and procedures.  These policies and procedures exist to provide you with a learning environment that will enable you to develop to your potential.

 

As you read the mission statements for the district and the school, you will note that we define our success in terms of student achievement and learning.  We want you to succeed and we are ready to work hard to help you be successful.  Your success as a student will depend upon your daily attendance, hard work, and appropriate behavior.  I am very confident that each of you will put forth your best effort toward being the best person and student possible.

 

Please take every advantage to receive a high quality education at the Western Hills University High School.  Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Dr. Stephanie H. Morton

Principal

 

OUR SCHOOL

The Western Hills University High School is a Team-Based School in only the 9th and 10th grade.  In a Team-Based School, a team of teachers works with the same group of students for a minimum of one year in order to improve student academic achievement and performance.  Teacher-student communication and collaboration are critical to student success in a Team- Based School.  Students are encouraged to work closely with their team of teachers to develop a plan that ensures their success.

All teachers assume responsibility for working together to provide a safe and orderly environment conducive to learning in its classrooms.  As part of this responsibility, each team will develop plans to teach students appropriate school/classroom behaviors, intervention strategies when students exhibit inappropriate behaviors, and a range of consequences when chronic or severe misbehaviors warrant disciplinary action.  These plans, strategies, and consequences will require the active involvement of both students and parents.

PREFACE

The Western Hills University High School is a ‘school of choice’ high school in Cincinnati Public Schools dedicated to the Project GRAD program.  Teams of teachers and students improve student learning through better student-teacher relationships, student accountability, and home-school communication.  Teachers, in conjunction with administration, provide leadership to ensure that all students achieve academic, social, and personal success.

WESTERN HILLS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT

The vision of Western Hills University High School is to have each graduate of Western Hills University High School attend some type of post secondary institution / training and graduate.

MISSION STATEMENTS
Cincinnati Public Schools

The mission of Cincinnati Public Schools is to educate all students to meet or exceed the district’s defined academic standards.

Western Hills University High School Mission Statement

The mission of the Western Hills University High School is to graduate all students prepared to attend the post secondary institution/training of their choice.

Project GRAD

The mission of Project GRAD is to ensure a quality public education for all children in economically disadvantaged communities, so that the high school graduation rate increases and graduates are prepared to enter and graduate from college.

Local School Behavior Plan

The purpose of the behavior plan for the Western Hills University High School (students, staff, parents, and citizens) is to promote a positive and supportive learning environment that encourages personal growth and academic and social learning.  Acceptance of personal responsibility, respect for self, and respect for others requires all to strive to exemplify these virtues: Caring, Honesty, Justice, Courage, Self-Discipline, and Wisdom.
INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Western Hills University High School.  As we begin the 2008-09 school year, each student, parent, and staff member is asked to rededicate himself/herself to academic excellence.

The Western Hills University High School is a proud and enthusiastic school community where every member contributes to a positive learning environment in which students can flourish.  To increase and reach maximum personal growth, all members of the Western Hills University High School must accept their responsibilities:

·         Staff members will provide each student with quality daily learning activities and help each child develop to his/her fullest potential emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually.

·         Parents will encourage and support their child’s efforts to meet school, family, and community expectations relative to attendance, academic performance, classwork, and citizenship.

·         Students will attend school daily, participate in class and school activities, complete all assignments, and behave in an appropriate manner that demonstrates respect for self, others, and education.

These expectations can be achieved through commitment, acceptance of personal responsibility, effort, and mutual respect.  Together, we can achieve educational excellence and look forward to a successful year.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to meet the standards of behavior and academic achievement.  Meeting these standards will require students to commitment to the following:

  1. Attending class daily and on time.
  2. Being prepared for class daily with proper supplies.
  3. Completing and submitting schoolwork on time.
  4. Behaving in a safe and orderly manner in class and throughout the school.
  5. Working to one’s maximum potential in all courses.
  6. Developing a sense of respect for self and others.
  7. Developing self-discipline and a positive self-concept.
  8. Developing a positive demeanor.
  9. Exercising academic and social honesty and integrity.
  10. Using civil, polite language in class and throughout the school.
  11. Participating in class activities.
  12. Following all prescribed school rules.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents have a responsibility to visit the school on a regular basis, to attend school activities and functions, and communicate regularly with their child’s team and teachers.  Meeting the following will enable Western Hills University High School parents to help their child do his/her best:

  1. Send their child to school every day on time and eager to learn.
  2. Insure that their child is well rested, properly nourished, and appropriately dressed. 
  3. Encourage their child’s completion of all school assignments.
  4. Encourage their child to perform to their maximum potential.
  5. Provide their child with needed school supplies.
  6. Attend parent-teacher conferences and Open House.
  7. Be an active member in various school related organizations (LSDMC, Boosters, PTSO, etc.)
  8. Instill in their child a respect for self and others.
  9. Request make-up work whenever their child is absent.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

The Western Hills University High School teachers will help all students reach their maximum potential by meeting the following responsibilities:

  1. Regularly communicate with parents.
  2. Provide and encourage opportunities for parental involvement.
  3. Provide a safe, orderly, clean, and engaging learning environment.
  4. Fairly and consistently enforce district, school, team, and classroom policies.
  5. Provide meaningful, engaging classroom activities that align with state and district standards.
  6. Monitor and accurately report student progress on regular intervals.
  7. Provide positive reinforcement and encouragement to all students.
  8. Support each parent’s efforts to educate his/her child.
  9. Provide positive feedback on academic successes and student achievement.
  10. Provide make-up work for absent student upon their return.
  11. Be active members in the Western Hills University High School community.
ADMINISTRATOR/STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Western Hills University High School staff and administrators will help each student to achieve to the best of their ability by meeting the following responsibilities:

  1. Effectively communicate the mission and goals to all members of the school community.
  2. Provide a safe, orderly, and engaging learning environment.
  3. Provide educational and support services to all students.
  4. Model respect for self, others, and education.
  5. Consistently and fairly enforce district, school, team, and teacher policies.
  6. Support, promote, and foster learning.

TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

Teams will help each student do their best by meeting the following responsibilities:

  1. Communicate regularly with parents and students regarding student progress and academic performance.
  2. Develop a team vision/mission statement.
  3. Establish and revise annual student performance goals.
  4. Develop and implement plans to improve student performance.
  5. Design processes and structures to monitor student progress and performance.
  6. Enforce district and team policies and procedures.
  7. Develop student and parent orientation plans.
  8. Maintain appropriate records to document student success and performance.
  9. Conduct team activities to build team morale, spirit, and celebrate successes.
  10. Plan and implement integrated and interdisciplinary lessons.

ACADEMICS

Philosophy - The Western Hills University High School emphasizes a liberal arts curriculum with active student learning and conceptual learning.  Each student is challenged to perform to the best of his/her ability.  The opportunity to receive college credit for courses as a high school senior and the possibility of a college scholarship worth $4,000 exist if a student meets the criteria established.

Schoolwork – The timely completion of class and homework assignments is critical to the academic success of each student.  Students must commit themselves to a minimum of two hours nightly to complete schoolwork, review the work, read and study.  It is recommended that home study table schedules are established with designated daily times for students to complete schoolwork.

Parents are requested to contact their child’s teacher if their child indicates no homework is being assigned.  This will enable parents and teachers to work cooperatively to ensure that all students are completing homework assignments.

Make-Up Work – Students are required to complete work due to class absence.  It is the student’s responsibility to secure missing assignments from teachers upon returning to school.  Completing missing assignments may require time before and after school.

Extended Absence – Parents of students who are (or expect to be) absent more than 3 consecutive days need to contact their child’s team leader to request make-up work.

Help Sessions – A majority of students can benefit from extra help outside the school day.  Students should schedule times with their teachers to receive additional instruction and assistance before school or after school as needed.  Most teachers are available and willing to assist at these times.

ACADEMICS (Continued)

Academic Reports/Parent Conferences – Mid-Term reports are mailed home halfway through each quarter and report cards are mailed home within two weeks of the end of each quarter to advise parents of their child’s current academic status.  Final report cards will be held for all students who have outstanding financial obligations, including annual instructional fees.  Please contact your team leader if your child did not receive his/her mid-term or report card.  The following dates are:

Mid-Term Conference Nights are from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – No Appointment Necessary.

Wednesday, October 1

Quarter 1 Parent Conference Night

Thursday, December 4

Quarter 2 Parent Conference Night

Thursday, February 19

Quarter 3 Parent Conference Night

Promotion/Graduation Requirements