Woodland Hills High School Grades 9-12 STUDENT HANDBOOK 2006-2007 HOME OF THE WOLVERINES.

Woodland HillsWoodland HillsHigh SchoolHigh School

Grades 9-12

STUDENT HANDBOOK2006-2007

HOME OF THE WOLVERINES

Dear Students: On behalf of the entire staff, we welcome you to Woodland Hills High School. This handbook has

been prepared to help you understand the total school program. It lists important dates, outlines school policies and procedures, and includes expectations for student behavior. We encourage you to become very familiar with this handbook and to review the contents with your parents or guardians. Students will be held directly accountable for understanding the contents of this handbook. If you need assistance or further information, your teachers, counselors, administrators, and other personnel will be glad to help you. As you face the challenge of this year, we wish you success.

Sincerely,

Dr. Margaret A. Boden, Co-PrincipalMr. Robert J. Scherrer, Co-Principal

Ms. Allison A. Kline, Assistant Principal, Letters A-GTBD, Assistant Principal, Letters H-N

Mr. Richard M. Dowell, Assistant Principal, Letters O-Z

THE MISSION STATEMENT OFWOODLAND HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Woodland Hills High School, a large and diverse school representing twelve

communities, provides each student with challenging and supportive

educational opportunities that foster personal excellence and responsible

engagement in curricular and extra curricular activities through the

cooperative efforts of home, school and community.

THE BELIEFS OFWOODLAND HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

All students can learn and are capable of achieving high standards.• Effective schools encourage all students to be resourceful and accept challenges as positive learning experiences.• The best schools encourage a love of life-long learning and the development of self-esteem.• Students are motivated to learn when they can apply what they have learned to their lives.• An effective curriculum promotes understanding and appreciation of all people and cultural backgrounds.• Student success is best achieved through the cooperation of home, school and community.• Students learn best in safe and orderly places.• Educated students will become productive citizens in the local and global communities.• Student pride in self, school and community will strengthen the Woodland Hills community.• Student participation in extra-curricular activities is an important component of a well-rounded education.• On-going staff development and training is essential to maintain a quality education program.• Students must possess the technological skills required in the information age.• Diversity is our strength.

ATHLETIC & ACTIVITY EVENTS

Guidelines for student behavior apply and

are in effect at all school activities. Students are expected to behave in a

sportsmanlike manner at all athletic events. Students attending or

participating in any extra-curricular activity are expected to exhibit sportsmanlike

behavior at all times.

EMERGENCY AND FIRE DRILL EXIT INFORMATION The teacher in each of the classrooms will inform all students of the proper emergency exit information for that particular room. Also, the emergency exit information will be posted near the exit door of each room. Students are required to become familiar with this information. In the event of a drill or an emergency, students are to move quickly and quietly to the area designated by the teacher and/or the posted instructions. All rooms are to have the windows closed, blinds open, lights on, and door closed. All windows and blinds must be closed in the event of a “severe weather” warning or drill.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)(College Boards)Test Date Registration DeadlineOctober 14, 2006 September 12, 2006November 4, 2006* September 29, 2006December 2, 2006 November 1, 2006January 27, 2007 December 20, 2006March 10, 2007* February 2, 2007May 5, 2007 March 29, 2007June 2, 2007 May 9, 2007

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ATTENDANCE The Woodland Hills School District has an adopted attendance policy of a maximum unexcused absences of eight (8) days per semester course or sixteen (16) days per year-long course.

Absence report1. The Student Absence Report

Parents/guardians shall furnish a written explanation (Student Absence Report) for the absence of a child. An unexcused absence for any pupil under the age of seventeen (17) is, by definition, an unlawful absence. A legal excuse is the

parent’s/guardian’s only protection from arrest. In case of arrest, the burden of proof is upon the parent/guardian to show that the absence of the child was properly

excused by an Administrator or the Board of School Directors. In case of chronic absence, school authorities may request a physician’s statement showing such absence to be justifiable. Any student not following the procedures listed below

may be subject to disciplinary actions.

Doctor’s Student Absence ReportA Doctor/Physician’s statement will verify an illness-related absence as being

excused. A doctor’s excuse must be submitted to the Attendance Clerk within three days of the absence. Doctors’ excuses will not be accepted under any

circumstances after three days.

• Excused/Unexcused

LEAVING THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND/OR GROUNDS WITHOUT PERMISSION

The front of the school building and the side of the building by the band, auditorium, biology, gymnasium, stadium and Room 126 entrances are "off limits" during the school day. No student is permitted to leave the school building and/or grounds during the school day without the knowledge and consent of the administration. The school has a responsibility to provide for the safety, welfare, and education of each student and it cannot do so if the student has left the school property without permission. Any student who violates this policy will face disciplinary action.

Late To Class The following guidelines will be in effect for lates to class: If a student arrives late to class, he/she will receive a warning from the teacher. If

the student is late again, the teacher will call home. If a student is late a third time, the teacher will write it up on a discipline referral (documented dates, times, and parent contacts) and submit it to the appropriate administrator. Those students who continue to be tardy to class will be required to have a meeting with an administrator and their parent before he/she may return to school.

Students who are at least five or more minutes late to class should be reported to

the building administrator (using the Excessive Late Slip). Students will be considered late to lunch and will receive detention if they are not in

the lunch corridor before the bell rings.

Student Bookbags

Students are permitted to enter the high school building with their bookbags. Bookbags will be checked by security and must be opened when requested by a security officer for checking. Bookbags should be housed in the student’s locker once they enter the building. Bookbags

should be kept in the student’s locker during the school day. Only clear plastic see-through bookbags are permitted to be carried to any class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION GRADES – K-12 In total value, the class participation grade will be approximately equal to a major exam grade, or project grade in each grading period following procedures established by the classroom instructor.

Class Cutting and Truancy

Any absence related to class cutting or truancy is an illegal absence which will be counted toward the no credit attendance limit for grades K-12. For a specific definition of truancy and its disciplinary consequences, see Chapter

III.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR COMMENCEMENT

In order for any student to participate in Commencement, the following requirements must have been satisfactorily completed:

• A. All state and local requirements for graduation have been successfully completed. Twenty-five (25) credits, including all required courses and electives with a passing grade. Only courses taken in grades 9 through 12 apply, and the distribution of credits must be as follows (all graduates must have 25 credits)(two credits of which will be Computer Science and Foreign Language):

•


Graduation Requirements• ENGLISH 4.0 Credits • SOCIAL STUDIES 4.0 Credits • *MATHEMATICS 3.0 or 4.0 \ Total • *SCIENCE 3.0 or 4.0 / of 7.0• PHYSICAL ED 2.0 Credits • ARTS/HUMANITIES OR BOTH 1.0 Credits• HEALTH .5 Credits • COMPUTER 1.0 Credits • FOREIGN LANGUAGE 1.0 Credits

• ELECTIVES 4.5 Credits• Total Required Credits 25.0 Credits• **Also satisfactory completion of the Graduation Project• • *Students are required to take 4 Math and 3 Science courses or 4 Science and 3 Math courses. One

Science must be lab-based.• **Students are required to score Advanced or Proficient on the PSSA or pass the make-up class in

Reading, Writing, or Mathematics to qualify for graduation.


All students graduating from Woodland Hills High School must complete a graduation project that fulfills the requirement of the Woodland Hills School District, Woodland Hills High School, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations.

B.

Meet the minimum attendance requirements. Be clear by the designated date of all obligations (return all textbooks, athletic equipment, library books, detentions, suspensions, monies owed, etc.) All obligations must be paid by cash or money order after May 1, 2006, but not later than two school days before commencement.

If student is under a suspension, he/she will not be eligible to participate in the ceremony.


A student will be denied participation in the ceremony of graduation by administrative action when personal conduct so warrants or the student has failed to meet all of the graduation requirements. “Each school district (including charter schools) shall specify requirements for graduation in the strategic plan under section 4.13 (relating to strategic planning). Requirements shall include course completion and grades, completion of a culminating project, and results of local assessments aligned with the academic standards. Beginning in the 2002-03 school year students shall demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics on either the State assessments administered in grade 11 or 12 or local assessment aligned with academic standards and State assessments under section 4.52 (relating to local assessment system) at the proficient level or better in order to graduate. The purpose of the culminating graduation project is to assure that students are able to apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and communicate significant knowledge and understanding” (PDE, Chapter 4, Annex A, 1999, p. 13).

F. Students are to dress appropriately for the commencement ceremony. Girls are to wear a white or light-colored dress and white shoes. Boys are to wear a white shirt with a black tie, black or dark colored trousers, black socks and black or dark colored dress shoes. Girls will be wearing white commencement gowns and boys will be wearing black gowns.

SCHOOL SOCIAL EVENTS POLICY

Homecoming, Prom, Senior Dinner/Dance (any other Social Events sponsored by the High School)

When the dance/social event is on a school day, you must be in school on the day of the event in order to be eligible to attend. If

the dance/social event is on a non-school day you must be present the day prior to the event. You must be in attendance all day on the

school day preceding the dance/social event. If a student is suspended or has failed to fulfill detention obligations, he/she will

not be eligible to attend or participate in a school event.

YOU AND YOUR RECORD

The contents of the file of each student are considered confidential information. Academic and/or personal information is released to no one except upon written request by the student and/or parent/guardian. Upon request, the counselor is ready to discuss items in a file with the student

and/or his/her parents.

Student files are used by faculty and administrators to monitor the student’s progress, to determine class rank, to assess ability levels, to

ensure that graduation criteria are met, and to serve as the basis for job and college recommendations.

Essential information is preserved for each student so that credentials may

be provided at any future date when needed. Students must notify the Guidance Office of any change in address or telephone number as soon as the change takes place. Students are required to keep the

school informed of any changes in their family status, address, phone numbers, and parent or guardian.

COMPUTER USAGE AND INTERNET POLICY Students are not permitted to be in any classroom, computer room, etc. unless their classroom teacher is with them.

All students are required to have their parents/guardians sign the Internet Policy. Students and parents are to read and abide by the Woodland Hills School District’s Internet Policy. Students are not permitted to “free lance” or print any material unless the student has the approval of the administration and/or classroom teacher or librarian. Students who violate this policy may also be assigned In-School Suspension or Out-of-School Suspension. Students will continue to be responsible for completion of all of their required classroom assignments. The current prevailing costs will be assessed for printing violations and any other damages or violations.

All users of the Woodland Hills School District network are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include (but are not limited to) the following:1. Be polite.2. Do not write, send, view or print abusive messages to others. Use appropriate language.3. Do not receive, view, print or distribute pornography, obscene or sexually explicit materials.4. Note that electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the system do have access to all mail. Any use of the internet that supports illegal activities will be reported to the administrators and/or the appropriate legal authorities.5. Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other users (e.g. downloading files; sending mass e-mail messages, downloading or uploading computer viruses. Only files approved by the classroom teacher are permitted to be downloaded and saved.6. Do not receive, view, print, or distribute hate mail, discriminatory remarks, and offensive or inflammatory communications.7. Do not access, view, or print any information without the approval of your classroom teacher or classroom monitor.8. No unauthorized software is permitted on the computer hard drive, floppy disc or CD ROM.9. The default wallpaper is not to be changed.All electronic and Internet use is monitored.

USE OF MEDICATIONS

The following Use of Medications was adopted by the Board of School Directors of Woodland Hills School District in May, 1983 and was revised as of March, 2005. The Board shall not be responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. The administration of prescribed medication in accordance with the direction of a licensed prescriber to a student during school hours will be permitted only when: (1) failure to take such medicine would jeopardize the health of the student. (2) the student would not be able to attend school if the medicine were not made available during school hours. Medication shall include all prescribed medication and any non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications. Licensed Prescriber shall include a licensed physician, dentist, nurse practitioner or other health care provider who is legally authorized to prescribe either prescription or non-prescription medications.

Woodland Hills High School Grades 9-12 STUDENT HANDBOOK 2006-2007 HOME OF THE WOLVERINES.

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