*
Westbrook ISD
Student
Handbook
Table of Contents
PREFACE..
6
SECTION I IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS.
8
QUICK REFERENCE:
8
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
8
Working Together
8
Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights.
9
“Opting Out” of Surveys and Activities.
10
Display of your child’s artwork, projects, and other special work
products:
10
As a parent, you also have a right:
10
GRADING GUIDELINES.
12
REPORT CARDS / PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES.
12
STATE-MANDATED ASSESSMENT TESTS.
13
OTHER STANDARDIZED TESTING: COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS.
13
MEDICINE AT SCHOOL..
14
STEROIDS.
14
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS.
15
STUDENT RECORDS.
15
STUDENT OR PARENT COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS.
17
RELEASE OF STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL..
17
Late Arrival to School
17
Withdrawing from School
17
SECTION II CURRICULUM-RELATED INFORMATION..
19
QUICK REFERENCE:
19
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.
20
AWARDS AND HONORS.
20
CLASS RANK / TOP TEN PERCENT / HIGHEST RANKING STUDENT.
20
STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS.
21
CLASS SCHEDULES.
21
COMPUTER RESOURCES.
22
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES.
22
COUNSELING..
22
Academic Counseling.
22
Personal Counseling.
22
CREDIT BY EXAM—If a Student Has Taken the Course.
23
CREDIT BY EXAM—If a Student Has Not Taken the Course.
23
DISTANCE LEARNING..
23
DUAL CREDIT COURSES / COLLEGE COURSES.
23
CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.
24
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, AND ORGANIZATIONS.
24
Offices and Elections.
25
GRADE CLASSIFICATION..
25
PROMOTION AND RETENTION..
25
GRADUATION..
26
Requirements for a Diploma.
26
Graduation Programs.
26
Certificates of Coursework Completion.
27
Students with Disabilities.
27
Graduation Activities.
27
Graduation Expenses.
27
HOMEWORK..
27
NONTRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.
28
SPECIAL PROGRAMS.
28
Options and Requirements for Providing Assistance to Students Who
Have Learning Difficulties or Who Need or May Need Special Education.
28
SUMMER SCHOOL..
28
TEXTBOOKS.
28
SECTION III GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS.
30
QUICK REFERENCE:
30
ATTENDANCE..
31
Compulsory Attendance.
31
Attendance for Credit
31
Driver License Attendance Verification.
33
MAKEUP WORK..
33
Routine and In-depth Makeup Work Assignments.
33
DAEP or In-school Suspension Makeup Work.
33
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES / CONDITIONS.
34
Bacterial Meningitis.
35
HEALTH-RELATED MATTERS.
36
Physical Activity for Students in Elementary Grades.
36
School Health Advisory Council
37
Other Health-Related Matters.
37
Tobacco Prohibited.
37
Asbestos Management Plan.
37
Pest Management Plan.
37
FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION..
37
Services for the Homeless and for Title I Participants.
39
Services for Students with Disabilities.
39
CONDUCT.
39
Applicability of School Rules.
39
Corporal Punishment
39
Social Events.
39
Disruptions.
40
Radios, CD Players, Cell Phones, and Other Electronic Devices and
Games.
40
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
40
Questioning of Students.
40
Students Taken Into Custody.
41
Notification of Law Violations.
41
DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLISHED MATERIALS OR DOCUMENTS.
42
School Materials.
42
Nonschool Materials … from students.
42
Nonschool Materials … from others.
42
DRESS AND GROOMING..
43
STUDENT FEES.
46
FUND-RAISING..
47
IMMUNIZATION..
47
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS / HEALTH SCREENINGS.
48
PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MINUTE OF SILENCE..
48
PRAYER..
48
SAFETY..
48
Accident Insurance.
49
Drills: Fire, Tornado, and Other Emergencies.
49
Fire Drill Bells.
49
Tornado Drill Bells.
49
Emergency Medical Treatment and Information.
49
Emergency School-Closing Information.
49
SCHOOL FACILITIES.
49
Use By Students Before and After School
49
Conduct Before and After School
50
Use of Hallways During Class Time.
50
Cafeteria Services.
50
Library.
50
Meetings of Noncurriculum-Related Groups.
51
Vandalism..
51
SEARCHES.
51
Students’ Desks and Lockers.
51
Vehicles on Campus.
51
Trained Dogs.
51
Metal Detectors.
52
TRANSPORTATION..
52
School-Sponsored.
52
Buses and Other School Vehicles.
52
VIDEOTAPING OF STUDENTS.
53
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL..
53
General Visitors.
53
Visitors Participating in Special Programs for Students.
53
GLOSSARY..
54
APPENDIX I ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM...
56
APPENDIX II ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM...
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APPENDIX III CONSENT/OPT-OUT FORM...
59
To Students and Parents:
Welcome to school year 2007–2008! Education is
a team effort, and we know that students, parents, teachers, and
other staff members all working together can make this a wonderfully
successful year for our students.
The Westbrook ISD Student Handbook is designed
to provide a resource for some of the basic information that you and
your child will need during the school year. In an effort to make
it easier to use, the handbook is divided into three sections:
Section I—IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR
PARENTS—with information all parents will need about assisting their
child and responding to school-related issues;
Section II—CURRICULUM-RELATED
INFORMATION—to provide information to students and their parents
about graduation programs, required courses, class rank, and
extracurricular and other activities; and
Section III—GENERAL INFORMATION AND
REQUIREMENTS—describing school operations and requirements such as
safety procedures, the dress code, and fees that may be charged.
Each section has a Quick Reference component to
serve as a guide for day-to-day questions that may arise.
Please be aware that the term “the student’s
parent” is used to refer to the parent, legal guardian, or other
person who has agreed to assume school-related responsibility for a
student.
Both students and parents must be familiar with
the Westbrook ISD Student Code of Conduct, required by state law and
intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning.
That document may be found as an attachment to this handbook or
available in the principal’s office.
The student handbook is designed to be in
harmony with Board policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Please
be aware that the handbook is updated yearly, while policy adoption
and revision may occur throughout the year. Changes in policy that
affect student handbook provisions will be made available to
students and parents through newsletters and other communications.
In case of conflict between Board policy or the
Student Code of Conduct and any provisions of student handbooks, the
provisions of Board policy or the Student Code of Conduct that were
most recently adopted by the Board are to be followed.
We strongly recommend that parents review the
entire handbook with their children and keep it as a reference
during this school year. If you or your child has questions about
any of the material in this handbook, please contact a teacher, the
counselor, or the principal. Also, please complete and return the
parental acknowledgment and consent/opt-out forms so that we have a
record of your choices. [See Obtaining Information and Protecting
Student Rights on page 9.]
Please note that references to alphabetical
policy codes are included so that parents can refer to current
District policy. A copy of the District’s policy manual is
available in the school office.
This section of the Westbrook Student Handbook
includes information on topics of particular interest to you as a
parent.
Where to look when you need information
about…
·
Parental
involvement
page 8
·
Grading
guidelines
page 12
·
Report cards/progress reports and
conferences page 12
·
State-mandated assessment
testing page 13
·
Other standardized testing: College
Requirements page 13
·
Medicine at
school
page 14
·
Psychotropic
drugs
page 15
·
Student
records
