HANDBOOK
MIDWEST CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
student rules and regulations
INTRODUCTION
This
student handbook has been prepared to explain the policies, procedures and
practices of Midwest Central High School.
The handbook represents the combined views of the Student Council,
parents, faculty and administration, and has been approved by the Board of
Education.
PHILOSOPHY
STATEMENT
It
is the expressed desire of the Midwest Central Board of Education,
administrators and instructional staff, that all students at Midwest Central
High School enjoy academic success as well as social gratification by positive
experiences they have through their involvement in academic and co-curricular
activities while at Midwest Central. Each
incoming freshman will work toward acquiring the necessary
credits for graduation and ultimately receive a
diploma signifying that accomplishment. This
requires a concentrated effort by three important parties: the student, the
parent and the instructors. Daily
attendance, completion of assignments, preparation for tests, cooperation with
instructors and a willing-
ness to understand and work within the guidelines
as stated in the student handbook are all major
ingredients for a successful learning experience.
At any time questions or concerns arise, parents are encouraged to call
the high school office at 968-6766 or come to school to find the answer or
address the concern they might have.
NONDISCRIMINATION
CLAUSE/SECTION 504
Midwest Central District #191 ensures that equal educational
opportunities are offered to all students regardless of race, color, national
origin, age, sex, religion or handicap. Questions
in reference to educational opportunities may be directed to Mr. Jude S. Ney,
Superintendent, 968-6868. Mr. Ney
is coordinator of sex equity (Title IX), handicapped (Section 504) and
minorities. In addition to the
above statement, all students regardless of race, color, national origin, age,
gender, religion or handicap have access to all classes offered at Midwest
Central High School.
Section
504: It is the policy of the Board of Education to provide a free and
appropriate public education to each handicapped student within its
jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the handicap.
It is the intent of the District to ensure that students who are
handicapped with the definition of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 are identified, evaluated, and provided with appropriate educational
services. Students may be
handicapped under this policy even though they do not require services
pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The Act defines a person with a handicap as anyone who: 1) has a mental
or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life
activities (major life activities such as caring for one’s self, performing
manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and
working); 2) has a record of such an impairment; or 3) is regarded as having
such an impairment. Due process
rights of handicapped students and their parents under section 504 will be
enforced. The Superintendent is the coordinator of Section 504
activities for the District.
Behavior
Intervention Guidelines: In compliance with PL 89-191, the District has
adopted Behavior Intervention Guidelines for students with disabilities.
For those requiring additional information on the policy, contact Mrs.
Martha Willard, special education administrator for District #191, at
968-6464.
HIGH
SCHOOL ACCREDITATION
Midwest Central High School is accredited by the Illinois State
Board of Education and meets all requirements proscribed by the laws of the
State of Illinois. Midwest
Central is a member of the Illinois High School Association.
All inter-school events such as contests in athletics, music and speech
are governed by the rules and policies of the Association.
ACADEMICS
REQUIREMENTS
FOR GRADUATION
The following credits are required to graduate from Midwest
Central High School:
Class
of 2002
21 credits (only 2.5 credits in social studies)
Class
of 2003 22
credits
Class
of 2004 & beyond 23 credits
REQUIRED ACADEMIC SUBJECTS FOR ALL GRADUATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
6 semesters/3 credits of math
6 semesters/3 credits of science
3 semesters/1.5 credits of American History
3 semesters/1.5 credits of social studies electives
7 semesters/3.5 credits of English (including 1 sem. American
Literature AND 1 sem. Communications I)
1 semester/.5 credit of Consumer Management OR 2
semesters/1.0 credit of Introduction to Business
1 semester/.5 credit of Computer Applications I
1 semester/.5 credit of Health
8 semesters/(at .25 credit per semester for a total of 2.0
credits) of Physical Education
1 semester/.5 credit of Driver Education (.25 credit for the
classroom,.25 credit for behind-the-wheel)
Additional elective credits as needed to complete required
credits as listed above for graduation
IT
IS THE STUDENT'S REPSONSIBILITY to make sure he/she has the proper number of
credits, along with all required courses.
Each student is encouraged to check on his/her record of grades and
required subjects on a regular basis throughout the year.
ALL COURSES MUST BE COMPLETED AND ALL CREDIT MUST BE EARNED PRIOR TO A
STUDENT RECEIVING A DIPLOMA AND/OR PARTICIPATING IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.
BOOK
RENTAL/LAB AND ACTIVITIES FEES
To make textbooks available at a reasonable cost, the school
provides books for a rental fee of approximately one-fourth the school
purchase price. Students are responsible for proper care of all books and
equipment. Fines will be assessed
if school materials are lost or damaged. Lab fees are required for all art, lab science, foods,
clothing, industrial technology, welding and business/computer classes plus a
uniform fee for band. A
technology fee and an activities fee are also required.
These fees are to be paid at the time of registration. There is a $30.00 driver's education fee for behind-the-wheel
driving. This fee must be paid
before the student can pick up his/her "blue slip".
CLASS
RANK
Rank in class is computed at the end of each semester on the
basis of all academic credits. Only semester grades are used to compute class rank.
All members of the class are included in the ranking.
Rank is cumulative and includes transfer grades.
There is no special weighting of grades.
CLASS
STANDING
For the Class of 2004 and beyond:
A
FRESHMAN is defined as a student who has accumulated 0.00 to 3.99 credits
A
SOPHOMORE is defined as a student who has accumulated 4.00 to 9.99 credits
A
JUNIOR is defined as a student who has accumulated 10.00 to 15.99 credits
A
SENIOR is defined as a student who has accumulated 16.00 credits and above
(NOTE:
For the Classes of 2002 and 2003, SOPHOMORES must have 4.0 credits, JUNIORS
10.0 credits and SENIORS 15.0 credits)
Class
standing is adjusted only once each year, in June, after the entire year’s
academic credit has been finalized. The
only exception to this rule is a fourth year student who does not have 16.0
credits and senior standing at the beginning of his/her 7th
semester of school. This student
may earn senior standing at the beginning of his/her 8th semester
if this student has reached 19.0 credits and is on schedule to complete all
required credits by the date of graduation. (NOTE: This 8th
semester number for the Class of 2002 is 17.0 credits and for the Class of
2003 is 18.0 credits)
CONSTITUTION
REQUIREMENTS
Students must pass the Constitution test(s), both U.S. and
Illinois, to satisfy the state requirement for graduation.
A student has three chances to pass the Constitution test(s) without
having to repeat American History I.
CORRESPONDENCE
COURSES
A student may earn no more than one full credit through
correspondence to fulfill his/her graduation requirements.
A correspondence course may not be taken in place of a required course;
it may be used only as a general elective.
The correspondence course must be pre-approved by the counselor and
must be completed by May 1 of the senior year to receive credit.
In addition, correspondence courses may not be used for early
graduation purposes, except in unusual circumstances as pre-approved by the
District #191 Board of Education.
DRIVER'S
EDUCATION
The State of Illinois will not issue a student under the age of
18 a driver's license until the student has successfully completed eight
classes in the previous two semesters prior to applying for the license.
1.
All students enrolled in the classroom portion or the behind-the-wheel
portion of Driver's Education shall be at least 15 years of age and of
sophomore standing. All such
students shall have passed (with a grade of "D" or better) a minimum
of 8 academic classes (4 full academic credits towards graduation from MCHS)
in the previous 2 consecutive semesters.
Summer school or correspondence courses, if pre-arranged with the high
school counselor, can be counted in that total for a maximum of one academic
credit.
2.
If a student reaches his/her 15th birthday during the first semester of
his/her freshman year of high school, he/she may be eligible for the classroom
or behind-the-wheel portion of driver's education (on a space-available basis)
if he/she has passed a total of 8 academic classes in the previous two
consecutive semesters, including at least 4 classes during the first semester
of freshman year at MCHS. Summer
school courses, if prearranged with the high school counselor, can be counted
in that total for a maximum of one academic credit.
3.
All transfer students must prove by official transcript that they have
met the above requirements before they will be enrolled in either portion of
Dr's Education. In addition, any
student who has been expelled from or has dropped out of Midwest Central High
School for any reason is not eligible to take either portion of Driver's
Education until he/she has successfully passed the necessary 8 academic
classes in the previous 2 consecutive semesters or has reached the age of 18
years old.
4.
No student shall be enrolled into either the classroom portion or the
behind-the-wheel portion of Driver's Education unless he/she has met the above
requirements or has applied to the Superintendent of Midwest Central District
#191 for a waiver of the requirements. Such
waiver must be submitted in writing with the parent or guardian's signature,
considered in the following circumstances and granted only with administrative
discretion: an out-of-state transfer student who is at least 16 years of age
and of junior standing, or other exceptional circumstances as deemed
appropriate by the Superintendent of Schools.
Students who reach their 18th birthday before successful
completion of the classroom portion of Driver Education may waive this
graduation requirement and replace it with another elective, by demonstrating
proof of a driver’s license valid in the state of Illinois.
The driver education program at Midwest Central High School consists of
two courses: the classroom course and the behind-the-wheel course.
The classroom course is a requirement for graduation.
Students
DRIVER'S
EDUCATION (cont.)
must
pass this class to graduate from Midwest Central High School.
The behind-the-wheel course is optional.
Students do not need to take the behind-the-wheel phase of the program
to graduate from Midwest Central High School.
For those students who choose to take the behind-the-wheel course,
there will be a minimum of six clock hours of instruction given.
The one exception to this rule is that a student may take the final
driving exam at the conclusion of three clock hours of instruction if the
instructor and the student feel the driving test could be completed
satisfactorily.
The behind-the-wheel phase of driver education is a pass/fail
class. Upon completion of the behind-the-wheel course, the instructor will
give the student a grade of "P" or "F".
Students receive one grade on their report card at the conclusion of
the driver ed classroom course. This
grade equals .25 credit. If the
student chooses to take the behind-the-wheel driver's ed course, a grade for
behind-the-wheel will be recorded on their report card as well.
This grade equals .25 credit.
Students taking driver's education must have a social security card.
Social security registration cards may be obtained from the counselor's
office or the U.S. Post office. The
behind-the-wheel cost for those who have completed the classroom portion of
the course will be $50 -- $20 payable to the Secretary of State to cover the
cost of the permit and $30 payable to Midwest Central High School to cover the
cost of the additional expense incurred for the program.
The costs are non-refundable. Students
must take: (1) a certified copy of their birth certificate, (2) their social
security card, and (3) their blue slip with them to the driver's license
station in order to obtain their license.
DROP
FROM SCHOOL
Obtain
a clearance slip from the office. Return
all books, supplies, and equipment to the proper instructor or department.
Pay all fees. Return your
clearance slip to the high school counselor after all of your instructors have
checked and sign the clearance slip. Any
book rental refund will be mailed to you after the clearance slip is recorded
and filed.
GIFTED
The Board of Education of Midwest Central District #191 is
committed to a philosophy of service to our children.
The objective is to help each child, regardless of race, creed, color,
gender or disability, realize his/her contributions to self and society.
The Board thus recognizes its responsibility to provide an
instructional program for those children who are identified by professionally
qualified persons as gifted and/or talented by virtue of outstanding
abilities. The Board recognizes
that these children are capable of high performance and, in order to maximize
their abilities, require differentiated educational programs and/or services
beyond those normally provided by regular school programs.
Gifted students will be identified in math and reading.
Students who meet at least one of the following qualifications will
form a pool of students that will have teacher recommendation included in
their group of scores. Any score
of 90% or higher on Math Applications, Math Concepts, Reading Vocabulary, or
Reading Comprehension on the Stanford Achievement test will qualify students
for the pool. Verbal or
non-verbal IQ scores of 125 or higher will also qualify a student for the
pool. All the scores will be
evaluated to identify the gifted students in each area.
The following criteria have been established for gifted selection at
Midwest Central Schools. Students
may be found eligible in Math, Reading, or both areas.
Reading: 125 or above on the Verbal test of the Otis Lennon
School Ability Test
95 or above on the
Stanford Reading Vocabulary test
95 or above on the
Stanford Reading Comprehension test
30/45 points on a
Teacher Checklist
An additional point will
be given for verbal score of 135 or above.
Math: 125 or above on
the Non-Verbal test of the Otis Lennon School Ability Test
95 or above on the
Stanford Math Concepts test
95 or above on the
Stanford Math Applications test
30/45 points on a
Teacher Checklist
An additional point will be given for a non-verbal score of 135 or
above.
GRADE
REPORTS
Grade reports are mailed out to parents at the end of each
semester. Progress reports are
mailed out in the middle of each grading period, four times per year.
Students are encouraged to check periodically with their teachers to
assess their academic progress.
GRADING
SCALE
The high school grading scale is based on percentile points:
A
= 100 - 93%;
B
= 92 - 86%;
C
= 85 - 77%;
D
= 76 - 70%;
F
= below 70%
GRADUATION
CEREMONY
Participation in the graduation ceremony is a privilege.
In order to participate in the ceremony, a student must have earned the
required number of credits and have passed all required classes prior to the
ceremony. Any speaker at
graduation must be approved by the administration, and all speeches must be
presented for approval in final written form prior to graduation practice.
HOME
SCHOOLING
Students who enter MCHS from a home school must document their
academic experience. Credits
towards graduation from MCHS may be granted following the student’s
successful completion (passing grade) of MCHS semester exams in the equivalent
home schooling courses. Home
schooling grades that are accepted for credit at MCHS will be recorded as
Pass/Fail in terms of class rank. Home
schooled students are not eligible for participation in MCHS extra-curricular
activities. Home schooled
students may register for Driver Education as provided by the Illinois State
Board of Education regulations.
HONOR
ROLL
At the conclusion of each grading period, a scholastic honor
roll will be announced by the school through all local news media.
The honor roll will be divided into two categories: High Honors = 3.75
- 4.00; Honors = 3.00 - 3.74. A
student is not eligible for the honor roll if he/she has a grade below
"C" or an incomplete "I" in any class.
HONOR
STUDENTS
The Midwest Central Board of Education provides three special
categories of recognition for each graduating class: Valedictorian,
Salutatorian and High Honors. For
publicity purposes only, Valedictorian and Salutatorian are named at the
end of the third nine weeks’ grading period senior year.
These awards are not official
until final grades are computed at the end of the 8th semester.
High Honors graduates are those members of the senior class who have
earned a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.75 or higher.
High Honors graduates are recognized at the graduation ceremony, after
all seniors’ grades are computed at the end of the 8th semester.
All classes, including credits earned in summer school, S.A.E. record
books, independent study and/or correspondence courses are included in the
final cumulative G.P.A. All
Board-approved early graduates are eligible for all honors and awards,
including Valedictorian, Salutatorian and High Honors.
INCOMPLETE
GRADES
Any student who receives an incomplete grade has two weeks after
the end of the grading period in which to make up any work necessary to change
the incomplete to a letter grade. Failure
to make up the work within the two-week period will automatically change the
grade to an "F".
INDEPENDENT
STUDY FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT
1.
The student will contact the counselor and discuss ideas for a
proposal.
2.
The counselor will ask a teacher in the area related to the topic to be
the student's supervisor and help the student draft the course.
3.
The teacher will assist the student with writing a detailed proposal of
the project and present it to a committee consisting of the counselor and the
principal. The proposal must be
acceptable to each of the above mentioned individuals.
4.
A student should not do independent study in a course already offered
at the high school. The
supervising teacher will determine the amount of academic credit given to the
independent study project and the course grade.
5.
Independent study for academic credit is generally for seniors only.
See the counselor for more details.
6.
A student may take no more than one independent study course at a time.
MID-TERM
GRADUATION
School Board approval must be received to graduate mid-term.
Students may request mid-term graduation after seven semesters of high
school if they have met all requirements in Board policy.
Requests to graduate after six semesters are not allowed. Special circumstances may be appealed to the high school
principal and district superintendent. Credits
earned in summer school, S.A.E. record books, independent study and/or
correspondence courses are not accepted towards mid-term graduation.
To request permission to graduate mid-term, a student must present a
written request (signed by the student and the parents) to the high school
principal no later than October 1 of the student’s senior year.
Students who graduate in less than eight semesters are not permitted to
go on the senior trip. Early
graduates will be considered as seniors with regards to the prom.
A student who is eligible under all of the above criteria for
mid-term graduation may instead request a reduced schedule for eighth semester
attendance. A reduced schedule
must consist of a minimum of four classes.
If a student maintains a passing grade in all four of these classes and
meets all other eligibility requirements as stated in the Activities Code, the
student may participate in co-curricular activities and the class trip during
the eighth semester. In order to
participate in an inter-scholastic sport with a championship series as
governed by the IHSA, the four classes must total 2.0 academic credits for the
semester. Such request for a
reduced schedule during the eighth semester must be indicated in writing,
signed by the student and his/her parents, and submitted to the high school
principal no later than October 1 of the student’s senior year.
NATIONAL
HONOR SOCIETY
One of the highest honors that a student may receive at Midwest
Central High School is to be selected as a member of the National Honor
Society. The selection process
for National Honor Society follows these national guidelines:
1.
Students will be selected to NHS based on the following four qualities:
scholarship (junior or senior standing with a 3.0 cumulative GPA), service,
leadership and character.
2.
Each teacher who has had a student in class will vote "yes"
or "no" for the student's selection to
NHS,
according to the above four categories.
NATIONAL
HONOR SOCIETY
(continued)
3.
A faculty council consisting of the MCHS School Improvement Leadership
Team will make the final approval for NHS based on a list of students with the
number of "yes" and "no" votes.
Students with a 75%
"yes"
vote of the faculty are selected for NHS unless the faculty council vetoes the
selection. Students with less
than a 75% of yes" votes from the faculty may be selected for NHS if the
faculty council approves the selection.
4.
A student may be removed or placed on probation as a National Honor
Society member for failing to uphold any of the four qualities outlined for
selection as listed in #1 above. Probation
or removal of a student from National Honor Society shall be initiated by the
faculty sponsor and the final decision shall
be
made by a majority vote of the faculty council. The student involved shall have the opportunity to address
the faculty council prior to the final vote.
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
The State of Illinois requires all students to take Physical
Education. The only exceptions
are students who have a medical exemption from a physician.
Waivers must be approved by the counselor and principal.
JUNIORS OR SENIORS may be permitted to waive Physical Education for the
following reasons:
1.
Athletic participation:
a. A JUNIOR or SENIOR may waive P.E. beginning with the first
official day of practice. The student
must return to P.E. at the conclusion of the sport season.
A student who quits or is removed from the
sports team will immediately return to P.E.
b. A JUNIOR or SENIOR who is enrolled in first semester marching
band may waive first semester P.E.
2.
Make up classes are needed to graduate on time:
a. Juniors who have less than 10.5 cumulative credits.
b. Seniors who have less than 15.0 cumulative credits.
3.
A class is needed for college admission:
a. The following classes meet the P.E. waiver requirement for
juniors:
(1) Advanced Algebra or Math IV, (2) Spanish I, II or III (3)
Sixth semester of social science
(Class of 2002 only)
b. The following classes meet the P.E. waiver requirement for
seniors:
(1) Advanced Algebra, Math IV or Math V, (2) Eighth semester of
English, (3) Spanish II, III or IV,
(4) Sixth semester of social science (Class of 2002)
Students
must dress in required physical education uniforms (school shirt and black
shorts/sweatpants) and participate in all activities to the best of their
ability. P.E. shirts are
purchased at the high school during registration. Students are encouraged to
take showers after participation in gym classes.
Students will not be excused from physical education if they forget to
bring their gym clothes. A parent
note, signed by the school nurse, may be accepted for a maximum of two days as
an excuse for a minor medical problem. After
two days, a physician’s excuse is required.
Physical Education grades are recorded on the same grading scale as
every other class at Midwest Central High School.
A combination of no-dress/non- participation marks and absences from
class reaching a total of three in a semester will require the student to take
the semester exam in P.E. More
than three no dress/non-participation marks in a grading period will result in
disciplinary consequences.
SEMESTER
EXAMS
Semester exams are required at Midwest Central H.S. and count as
20% of the semester grade. However, a student may be exempt from semester exams if the
student has:
1.
No more than 3 days excused absence (no unexcused) for the semester;
2.
At least a "C" for the semester in the class, as of the Monday
before semester exams begin;
3.
No central detentions or in-school suspensions for the semester; and
4.
No out-of-school suspensions all year long.
If
a student who is exempt chooses to voluntarily take an exam, that exam grade
cannot lower his/her semester grade. Non-graduating
seniors who are not exempt from exams will take exams on the dates scheduled
for 9th – 11th graders.
SUMMER
SCHOOL
All students who plan to attend summer school must have their
summer school academic program approved by the high school counselor BEFORE
summer school starts. No high
school credit will be given for courses which have not been approved.
TECH
PREP
Tech Prep classes are those which integrate academics and
vocational subject matter using hands-on and team-teaching strategies under
federal and state Education-to-Careers programs.
In addition to classroom activities, Tech Prep students participate in
career-exploration, job shadowing and work-site experience internships.
Students may earn college scholarship money and/or college credit
through articulation of certain Tech Prep courses and freshman-level classes
at Illinois Central College. See
the counselor for details.
TESTING
Several very important tests are given every year to assess
student progress and achievement. Students
in grades 9 and 10 are required to take the Stanford Achievement tests each
year. Juniors are required to
participate in the Prairie State Achievement Exam, as developed by the
Illinois State Board of Education. These
tests are very important to local and state-wide assessment policies.
The ACT portion of the Prairie State Achievement Exam is a
fully-accredited score, but does NOT count towards NCAA-athletic eligibility
in college.
TRANSFER
STUDENTS
Unpaid
fees from former school should be paid. Proper
health records must be updated. A
copy of your birth certificate needs to be on file in the main office.
Credits and previous grades must be on file.
Official Illinois State Board of Education "Student Transfer
Form" with proper signatures is required.
No public school district shall admit a new student unless he/she can
produce this form.
COUNSELOR'S
OFFICE
COUNSELOR
A counselor is provided to help the individual student
academically and personally. This includes many areas such as counseling in class
selections, personal problems, test interpretation, college selection, grades,
school records, family problems, vocational choice, etc. A student who has problems with academics, attendance, health
or behavior may be referred by the counselor to the R.S.A.P. (Raider Student
Assistance Program) for further help. In
addition, the counselor may also refer students to other counselors.
The counseling department, in conjunction with the library, is also a
source of information on colleges, trade schools, occupations and much more.
The counselor also oversees all matters pertaining to permanent and
temporary school records of the student.
Requests for transcripts should be directed to the counselor.
COLLEGE
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
It is impossible to plan a program of study in such a way to
meet the entrance requirements of all colleges and universities, since they
vary as to the requirements for admission.
The best plan to follow is to decide upon several colleges or
universities which you may wish to attend and to plan courses in such a way as
to meet the entrance requirements for those particular schools.
The Illinois State Board of Higher Education has established statewide
minimum admission standards for public colleges and
universities
in Illinois. The following high
school subjects are currently required of freshmen entering community college
transfer programs and public universities (a unit is a one year of
instruction):
MINIMUM
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
UNITS
SUBJECT
4
English (emphasizing written and oral communication and literature)
3
Social Studies (emphasizing history and government)
3
Mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of
computer programming)
3
Science (laboratory science)
2
Foreign Language or Fine Arts (some colleges also accept some
vocational classes)
Individual
public/private universities and community colleges may have other subject
requirements as well as requirements involving test scores and grade point
averages. Applicants must contact
each college or university individually for details about all of its
requirements. Requirements for
college entrance are so varied that it is impossible to generalize as to
entrance requirements. That is
why it is important to begin communicating with the guidance department and
the potential school as soon as some desire to attend a specific school is
expressed.
COLLEGE
TESTING - ACT AND SAT
Most colleges require test scores from a commercial testing
company. Since these test are
provided on a national basis, most colleges accept scores from one or both
companies. The ACT
(American College Testing program) is a very commonly used admission test in
Illinois and other Midwestern states. It
is a four-part test giving scores in a range of 1 to 36 in English, Math,
Reading and Science Reasoning. A
fifth score of “Composite” is computed and sent to the colleges of a
student's choice. Scores are
considered to be indicators of a student's potential to succeed in college.
Most colleges require an ACT score of 18 or above for admission.
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is administered by the
College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) and is commonly referred to as
"college boards." Two scores are computed on this test: Verbal and
Mathematical. The range of scores
is from 100 to 800. Most colleges
give preference to students with a combined score of 1000 or more.
Normally, most students take the ACT in the spring of their
junior year. However, many
students do not finalize their college plans until their senior year, and
therefore, may take the ACT in the fall of their senior year.
The SAT is usually taken in November or December of the senior year,
but many students take it earlier in hopes of securing admission to highly
selective schools or in hopes of obtaining financial aid.
Both tests are scheduled on Saturdays and must be registered for about
six weeks prior to testing. Either
test may be taken more than once, and the highest score will be used.
Students with a high class rank and ACT or SAT score may qualify for a
state scholarship. To be
eligible, the student must take the test as a junior.
FINANCIAL
AID
This topic is becoming more complex in regard to providing
current information. Each year we
get new guidelines on money available, and that usually arrives in January.
Students need to speak with the guidance counselor regarding money
available from federal and state sources.
Furthermore, it is imperative that students must check with the
guidance office regarding all available scholarships from local sources.
Many students have been fortunate in recent years to obtain extra help
this way.
Unfortunately, the single most important source of
financial information is seldom used and that is the financial aid office of
the prospective college or university you plan to attend.
Many times local scholarships, fellowships, grants-in-aid, or loans are
available along with the latest information on financing from these
institutions. Please contact the
guidance counselor regarding any advice or information pertaining to higher
education finance.
HOMEBOUND
TUTORING
A student who is seriously ill and has a doctor's excuse to be
absent for more than 10 consecutive school days may be placed on homebound
tutoring, as arranged by the counselor. The
following guidelines will be used for academic credit:
1. The goal of
homebound tutoring is to keep the student current with classroom activities so
he/she
will be on pace to rejoin the regular class when released from
medical care.
2. The tutor will work
with the classroom teacher on a weekly basis to adapt/coordinate assignments
and grades.
3. Assignments will
be returned promptly. Assignments
not completed within an acceptable time frame
(generally, two weeks) would receive a zero, unless the teacher
is alerted to problems by the tutor or
medical personnel. Students
should finish homebound work for each quarter within two weeks after the
end of the quarter. After
this time, a homebound “I” grade reverts to an "F” like any other
class.
4. Students on
homebound tutoring are not exempt from semester exams.
If illness prevents the
homebound student from taking semester exams at school, the
tutor will administer exams at home
following exam timelines as much as possible.
RAIDER
STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (R.S.A.P.)
The Raider Student Assistance Program at Midwest Central High
School exists to help students deal with problems which may interfere with
their academic success. The four
aspects of a student's life the R.S.A.P. works with are health, academics,
attendance and behavior. These
guide the R.S.A.P. team in making suggestions that lead to the avenue to help.
In an effort to provide comprehensive support for our young people,
Midwest Central High School has incorporated the R.S.A.P. into existing
services. Individual counseling is available through the R.S.A.P.
The faculty in the R.S.A.P. also conduct support groups on various
topics. The topics can be study
skills, family communications, dating relationships, self-esteem, coping with
death, and personal use of alcohol and other drugs.
Information from the groups stays within the group.
Confidentiality is required. Another
service provided in the R.S.A.P. is the Peer Helpers.
Peer Helpers are a group of high school students who are trained to
help students to help themselves. They
talk to students with problems, help new students and help the R.S.A.P. get
information to students in other buildings.
SCHEDULE
CHANGES
All schedule changes must be approved by the counselor.
A letter from the parent of the student requesting a change in schedule
must be directed to the counselor explaining why the change is needed.
The following are the only reasons a schedule may be changed:
1. Schedule error
2. Repeating a required course that had previously received a
failing mark
3. Teacher or administration request
ATTENDANCE
POLICIES
The school day begins when the student arrives on the school premises
in the morning, and ends when school is dismissed and the student has left the
school grounds. For students
riding the school bus, the school day begins when the bus is boarded in the
morning and ends when the student departs the bus in the evening.
Students are allowed in the building from 7:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.
unless special arrangements have been made with a teacher, coach or the
principal. ONCE A STUDENT HAS
ARRIVED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, HE/SHE IS NOT PERMITTED TO LEAVE SCHOOL PREMISES
WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING THE EXPRESSED PERMISSION OF A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR.
The class schedule will be as follows:
Period
EB Period 1 Period 2 Period
3 Period 4
Period 5A Period5B
Period 6 Period 7
Period 8
7:13
8:05 8:55
9:45 10:35
11:25 11:59 12:33
1:23
2:13
8:00
8:52 9:42
10:32 11:22
11:55 12:29 1:20
2:10
3:00
It is the philosophy of Midwest Central High School that good habits of
school attendance will carry over in adult life.
Our attendance policy is an outgrowth of this philosophy.
We believe that a part of success in school and in adult life has to be
attributed to good attendance. Parents
are to call the school before 9:00 a.m. on days when their student is absent.
A parent having no phone must send a note with their son or daughter
upon their return to school explaining the nature of their absence.
The note MUST BE DATED and signed by the parent.
A forged note or a fake phone call will result in disciplinary
consequences.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES
Absences from school will be excused when the cause is
unavoidable, such as when the student has been ill; for doctor, dentist, and
eye appointments; serious illness in the family; attendance at a funeral of a
relative; or for another reason deemed necessary by the parent where
arrangements have been made in advance by the parent with the principal's
approval. If a student's absence
has been excused, he/she will be listed as "excused" on the morning
announcements. After every
excused absence IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK WITH HIS/HER
TEACHERS CONCERNING MAKEUP WORK.
UNEXCUSED
ABSENCE
Students suspended from school, students skipping classes, or
students who miss school for reasons that are not accepted by the school such
as oversleeping, car trouble, haircut appointment, or other personal business
which could be taken care of during off-school hours, will be given an
unexcused absence for that day or that class.
Unexcused absences may result in disciplinary consequences.
1.
Each day teachers will be issued a list of unexcused students.
Teachers shall record unexcused absences of their students.
2.
Parents are to notify the school the day that their son or daughter is absent
and the reason for the absence. This
is to be done by telephone by 9:00 a.m. If
you do not have a telephone, send a dated note to the office when the student
returns.
3.
When a student returns to school from an unexcused absence, the student must
report to the office before 8:05 a.m. to be re-admitted to class.
4.
A parent communication is required with an administrator in order to admit a
student back into school after an unexcused absence. The communication will be a telephone call, note, or a
conference as determined by the administrator.
5.
For an unexcused absence, the student will receive a zero for any graded work
missed. Other disciplinary
consequences may result.
6.
If a student's absence has wrongly been assigned as unexcused, that student
has two days after returning to school for the unexcused absence to be changed
to an excused absence.
ASSIGNMENT
MAKE-UP POLICY
1.
For every day a student is absent (excused), a student will be given one day
to make up assignments missed during the absence.
A maximum of two weeks will be allowed for makeup work.
Unusual circumstances will be subject to the discretion of the teacher.
2.
If an assignment and/or test has been assigned prior to a student being
absent, even with an excused absence, the student will be expected to take
care of the assignment and/or test the day the student returns. Unusual
circumstances will be subject to the discretion of the teacher.
3.
It is the responsibility of the student to contact each teacher for the
assignments missed, preferably before or after class, the day that the student
returns to school.
4.
If assignments are to be made up during class time, that teacher will be
responsible for the supervision of the student and assignment.
5.
The student is responsible for taking care of any unexcused absence.
A student has two days following an unexcused absence to change it to
excused or the student will remain unexcused.
6.
Certain long term assignments and projects (ex. term papers, poetry projects,
culture credit projects, etc.) may have specific due dates set and announced
to all students in advance. These
projects are due on or before the due date unless specific arrangements are
made and approved in advance by the teacher involved. Students missing a due
date due to illness may be required to provide a doctor's excuse to be exempt
from the due date.
EXCESSIVE
ABSENCES
A student who is excessively absent even though the absences are
excused, may be required to present a doctor's certificate as proof of poor
health (example: 10 of 40 days). The
reason for the absence will be discussed with the student and parents.
Continued absences without a doctor's excuse may result in disciplinary
consequences.
PRE-ARRANGED
ABSENCES
A STUDENT PLANNING TO BE
ABSENT ON FAMILY BUSINESS, INCLUDING A FAMILY VACATION, MUST PRE-ARRANGE THE
ABSENCE IF THE ABSENCE IS TO BE EXCUSED.
A student MUST bring a letter from his/her parent requesting the
student to be absent and specifying the days to be missed.
If approved, an administrator will then sign the letter, and the
student will take that letter around to each class to arrange for assignments.
The letter then MUST be returned to the office.
FAILURE TO PRE-ARRANGE AN ABSENCE WILL RESULT IN THE STUDENT BEING
COUNTED UNEXCUSED. A student may be required to turn in assignments prior to
leaving on a pre-arranged absence. All
other pre-arranged assignments are due upon the student's return to class.
ABSENCES
& CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students who do not attend school(excused or unexcused) may not
attend school-sponsored co-curricular activities the day of their absence
unless the absence has been due to a school-related function.
A student must be in school at least one-half of the school day (3 1/2
hours) in order to attend a school event that same day.
COLLEGE
DAYS
Seniors who have a "C" average or above, 95%
attendance and plan to attend a post-secondary institution after high school
graduation may arrange for a college day. Juniors may be granted a college day with administrative
approval. Students must use the
college day form supplied by the counselor and must submit it at least 48
hours in advance of the day. This
one college day will not be counted as an absence if the student provides
verification of visiting the post-secondary institution.
An additional college day may be requested and approved by the HS
administration, but it will count as an excused absence.
Students will not be granted a college day the last two weeks of either
semester. Students who fail to
follow this policy will be given an unexcused absence.
JOB
SHADOWING
Similar to a college day, a student may apply for one job
shadowing day per school year. The student must maintain a 95% attendance average.
A proposed job shadowing experience must be pre-arranged and approved
by the student's parent and the HS counselor or administration at least 48
hours in advance of
the
day. This will not count as an
absence if the student provides verification of having completed the job
shadowing experience. No job
shadowing will be approved after December 1 for the first semester or after
May 1 for second semester. Students
who fail to follow this policy may be given an unexcused absence from school.
Students fulfilling a course requirement must also follow this
procedure for job shadowing credit.
LEAVING
SCHOOL DURING THE DAY
STUDENTS MAY NOT LEAVE SCHOOL GROUNDS WITHOUT PERMISSION after
they arrive in the morning until school is dismissed.
If a student wishes permission to leave school during the day, the
student must come to the main office. Students
must present a note from their parent or call home from the main office and
get permission from a parent or guardian BEFORE the student will be excused to
leave school. Students leaving
school in any other manner will be given an unexcused absence.
After receiving the necessary permission, students must sign out in the
main office before leaving and exit the front main doors of the school.
RELIGIOUS
HOLIDAYS
A student who is unable, because of the observance of a
religious holiday, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall be
excused from any examination or any study or work assignments on such days and
shall be allowed to make up any exam or assignment he/she may have missed.
SENIOR
CLASS TRIP
The class trip is a culminating activity for the senior class,
held in late spring of the senior year. Only
graduating seniors who are passing all classes, have fewer than two demerits
on the student disciplinary scale and have earned the appropriate number of
class points are eligible to go on this trip.
Points are earned towards the class trip during all four years of high
school through participation in various activities such as class fund-raisers,
Homecoming Week, class government, Pack-the-Place, etc.
Point totals are monitored by the class sponsors and are posted at
registration so all students know where they stand.
Each year, a senior class trip committee is selected to be responsible
for planning the itinerary and making the proposal to the other seniors and
the Board of Education. The trip
is to be structured to miss no more than one day of school; the trip may be
overnight pending Board of Education approval.
At least one parent of each student going on the class trip must attend
a parents' meeting to sign medical forms and permission slips for their child.
If a parent cannot attend, it is mandatory that the parent see a class
sponsor in person to go over the trip itinerary and sign the forms.
Parents will have a list of activities for the trip and will mark which
activities their child may and may not participate in.
Four school chaperones will attend and monitor the class trip. All school rules apply to student behavior on the class trip.
Severe misbehavior may require the student's parents to come get their
child. All student luggage will
be checked by the chaperones. All
students' prescribed medication is to be kept and dispensed by the chaperones.
Spending money for the class trip is the responsibility of the
individual student.
BEHAVIOR
EXPECTATIONS/DISCIPLINE
ASSISTANT
PRINCIPAL
The assistant principal is responsible for attendance,
discipline and supervision of student activities at the high school.
This person is in charge of the high school in the absence of the
principal.
GENERAL
CONDUCT
It is impossible to have a good learning situation where there
is unnecessary noise and confusion in the classroom or hallways.
We, therefore, feel very strongly that discipline is essential for good
learning situation. Hazing,
profanity, participation in dangerous playful acts, continual disobedience,
fighting, truancy, forgery of names on excuses, and destruction of school
property are all subject to disciplinary consequences.
EXPECTATIONS
OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR
The following behavior expectations and rules apply to all
students. They are designed to be
consistent expectations for students. We recognize that we are dealing with children who come to us
with unique talents and needs. Hence,
these expectations and rules were designed with this notion in mind.
It is our goal that these rules for behavior will prepare students to
have those attitudes and skills that are necessary to become capable and
contributing citizens.
1.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MANNERS -
THE WAY THEY LOOK, TALK AND ACT IN SCHOOL.
A. Generally, students are to keep their hands and feet to
themselves.
B. Students are to respect all people and all property.
C. Students are to respect others' right to speak.
D. Students are not to swear or otherwise speak in a manner that
hurts others. This includes the
use
of slang sayings or slogans and double-meaning words and
phrases.
E. Students are allowed to leave their seat according to the
rules of the classroom, cafeteria or
school bus.
F. Students are expected to follow the district dress code as
described by Board Policy and included
in
this handbook. This includes
outerwear and book bags which are to be left in students' lockers
during the day.
G. Students should make an effort to speak mannerly.
H. All recreational equipment is to be left at home except at
times designated by staff. This
includes but is not limited to: stereos, boomboxes,
radios, balls, CD's, bats, skateboards, squirt
guns, computer games, laser light pens etc.
The possession of pagers, cell phones or other
electronic communications devices by students on school ground
is also forbidden.
I. Banned or controlled substances are not allowed on any school
bus, school property or at school
events as defined by School Board Policy.
J. Students are to eat or drink in the cafeteria only or at
other times and places as designated by
the staff.
2.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO EXHIBIT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, ATTEND REGULARLY
AND BE ABSENT ONLY FOR ILLNESS OR EMERGENCY.
A. School work is to be completed and turned in on time as
defined by each classroom teacher and
handbook guidelines.
B. Students are expected to do their own work.
C. Students are expected to provide a parental excuse for any
absence.
3.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON TIME WITH THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO
DO THE JOB.
A. Students are expected to arrive to class on time.
B. Student are expected to bring necessary items to class
(textbooks, paper, pen and pencil, etc.)
4.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, WORK COOPERATIVELY AND USE
TOTAL WORK TIME PRODUCTIVELY.
A. Students are expected to listen when others are talking.
B. Students are expected to use work and study time to complete
unfinished school work before asking
to do other activities.
5.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE THE PRIDE AND MOTIVATION TO TURN OUT A
QUALITY PRODUCT TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
A. Students are expected to do their best work possible.
B. Students are expected to maintain their work stations.
DETENTIONS
Detentions will be used as a disciplinary action by individual
teachers or by an administrator for student misbehavior.
Central detentions will be served after school for a minimum of 40
minutes. Students receiving a central detention will have a written
notice sent home to parents. The
notice will state the nature of the offense and the day and time the central
detention is to be served. During
detention, students are to be quiet, stay in their seats and do school-related
work. Failure to serve a
detention or misbehavior in detention will result in further disciplinary
action.
REFERRALS
Some student misbehavior is of such a serious nature that a
detention may not be sufficient to correct the problem.
When this is the case, a referral may be necessary.
Any staff member may write a referral on a student displaying such
misbehavior. The referral is then
sent to the assistant principal for appropriate disciplinary action.
When the referral is complete, a copy is mailed home to the
parent/guardian of the student being referred.
One copy is returned to the teacher and one copy is kept on file for
reference.
IN-SCHOOL
SUSPENSION
This is an alternative form of discipline which may be assigned
for certain violations of school rules instead of an out-of-school suspension.
Possible examples, including situations involving truancy, class cuts,
excessive tardiness and repeated public display of affection, are behaviors
which can result in the student being assigned an in-school suspension.
ISS will be housed at the Midwest Central Grade School building from
8:15am - 2:45pm unless otherwise directed.
All ISS rules must be followed. All
students must abide by the following ISS behavior contract:
1.
In-school suspension day is the same as the elementary school day.
2.
Talking will be permitted only upon receiving permission from the
supervisor.
3.
You may not leave your assigned seat without permission.
4.
You will be courteous at all times to the supervisor and others
involved.
5.
All assignments are to be completed and returned to the supervisor.
6.
Students will receive credit for all written work which is completed
satisfactorily while on in-school
suspension.
7.
After assignments have been completed satisfactorily, you may read
material approved by the
supervisor.
8.
You must bring all books, materials, and supplies to the in-school
suspension.