DBHS Student Handbook

This handbook is designed to help you have a successful year at DBHS. Your teachers are eager to help you to be successful. Success is directly related to your efforts.

SCHOOL COLORS

SCHOOL MASCOT

Students are welcome from 8:15 a.m. until the buses leave in the afternoon. Students in the building during any other times must be under the direct supervision of a staff member.

If school should dismiss for weather or other reasons, it will be announced on KDMA, KLQP, KKCK, and WCCO radio. All students who are bused must have emergency housing in town if buses are unable to travel.

If a parent has a complaint or question concerning a school policy, please contact the principal’s office. If the complaint concerns class work or a teacher, please contact the teacher. If the parent feels the problem is still unresolved, he/she should then contact the principal.

Students who wish items to appear on the daily announcements must submit a written copy of the announcement to the principal’s office by 8:30 .

All articles found by students, teachers or custodians should be turned into the H.S. office. Report losses to the H.S. office.

INDIVIDUALS VISITING THE SCHOOL MUST REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE. Parents and guardians are always welcome to visit and take part in the educational process. Please make prior arrangements to visit.

Students may have visitors to school when (a) pre-arrangement for visitation has been approved by the high school principal, (b) student’s parents or guardians provided permission for visitation.

When students withdraw from school, all fees must be paid before records will be forwarded. A form needs to be signed by the parent/student when withdrawing.

RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION

Public information shall include names and pictures of students participating in or attending extra-curricular activities, school events, and MSHSL activities or events.

AIR QUALITY POLICY

The head custodian is the air quality control officer. Any concerns or questions should be directed to him. Dawson-Boyd air quality policies and program are available in the District office.

This fee schedule was adopted by the Board of Education for various activities for 2003-2004.

ATHLETICS: Payment of fee must be made prior to the first game of the season in each sport. No refund will be made to anyone who voluntarily quits or who is cut by the coach for violating training rules. No refund will be made to students who transfer out of the school district after the 1st competitive event. Refunds will be made when a student is prevented by illness or injury from remaining in the activity until the first competition.

$80.00/yr./person in grades 10-12. $50.00/yr./person in grades 7-9. $135.00/yr. will be collected from any one family for ATHLETICS.

MUSIC: All music students in grades 4-6 will pay a $10.00 fee each for band and orchestra. This fee allows students to participate in all music organizations. Lesson books for grades 4-12 are $4.00 to rent it or pay the price of the book to own it. School-owned instruments will have a fee of $25.00/yr. for all students. Sixth grade students who play percussion will pay a $10.00 rental fee. (If a director asks a student who already owns an instrument to play a school-owned instrument, there will be no charge. If a director asks a student who does not own an instrument or a student (owns a different instrument) requests to play a school-owned instrument, there will be a charge. NO FAMILY WILL PAY MORE THAN A MAX. FEE OF $160.00 FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE COMBINED ACTIVITIES (class dues are not included). All fees, detentions and other student responsibilities will carry over from year to year. Students will not be allowed to participate in prom or commencement without completing these responsibilities.

Students should be aware of school exits and proper procedures for emergency situations.

1. When the alarm sounds, students should walk single file from the room to the designated exit.

2. The first student to reach the exit will hold the door open until all people are out of the building.

3. Everyone should move 500 ft. from the building and remain there until further instructions or the signal sounds for you to reenter the building. FALSE ALARMS ARE ILLEGAL. VIOLATORS WILL BE SUSPENDED AND THE POLICE NOTIFIED.

1. When the CODE BLUE status is announced by the building principal or designee, all staff and students should go immediately to the classroom or office nearest them.

2. Classroom and office doors should be locked immediately. Students will not leave the rooms during CODE BLUE, nor should staff or students respond to knocks on the door. Only via intercom will a classroom door be authorized to be opened during the CODE BLUE status.

3. Staff and students will remain seated on the floor and away from windows and doors during CODE BLUE status.

4. In the event that there are students outside of the building during a CODE BLUE status, the building administrator will communicate actions to be taken to the supervisor of the students prior to their entering the building.

5. The Superintendent or designee will be determined when the CODE BLUE status is ended and when students and staff are free to come out of the classroom. The intercom will be used to announce the end of CODE BLUE

1. Upon receiving notification of an approaching storm or weather emergency, all windows and blinds should be immediately closed. Staff should take grade books for attendance.

2. Staff and students will leave their rooms and walk in single file to the designated shelter area. Each building will assign designated areas for every classroom and locate the area on the classroom map.

3. Everyone should be seated and remain calm in the designated area. If directed to do so, students and staff should bring their knees to their chest, wrap arms around their legs and place their heads down on their knees.

4. Buildings will stay tuned to a local radio station for storm advisory/warning information.

The price of noon lunches is $1.45 per meal for students. Ala Carte selections are also available. The ala carte line is open 7:30 - 8:20 a.m. for purchases and closed 8:20 - 11:30 a.m. If students are using ala carte to charge, parents must fill out a form to approve ala carte purchases. (This form is included in the all school mailing.) Milk prices will be $.35.

Students may purchase a pass that entitles them to admission to all home athletic events for $20.00. Student tickets are $3 to each event.

The Dawson-Boyd School offers health and psychological services for students. Parents having questions should contact the school.

The school nurse provides health services. Students who become ill in school are required to see her before leaving. If an ill student needs to leave school, the nurse will try to contact the parents. The nurse’s phone number is: 769-2221.

Psychological Services are provided by a school psychologist, LQP family services and by the Woodland Center . Students who need help should contact the school counselor.

School Nurse - The school nurse has a health file, including a record of immunization, for each student. All students enrolled in a Minnesota school must have the following immunizations: 2 MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), 5 Diphtheria-Tetanus plus a booster every 10 years, Hepatitis B and 4 oral polio vaccines. Students will not be allowed to attend until their vaccinations are current. Changes in a student’s health should be reported to the school nurse.

Vision and hearing are checked periodically and referrals made when necessary. Scoliosis screenings are done during grades 7-10.

Minnesota schools are required to adopt a policy about administering prescription medicine in school. Prescription medicine should be given at school only when failure to take the medicine could jeopardize the child’s health. Prescribed medication will not be given until written permission is received from the parent.

When prescribed medication is to be administered by the school nurse, it must be brought to school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy, physician, or dentist. The medication name, time of day it is to be given, purpose of the medication and the name of the physician or dentist must be on the container.

The nurse’s office will not accept medication brought to school in an unlabeled container, or any other container not issued by a pharmacy.

If a student is absent from school because of illness with a fever, he/she should remain home 24 hours after the temperature is normal. Students are to come to the nurse’s office, after they have been absent due to illness, when they return to school. Please bring a note from your parent explaining the nature of their illness.

The nurse’s office is located in the elem. school. Students excused from class to see the school nurse must sign out in the HS office.

The guidance and counseling department is committed to helping students, parents and staff to develop attitudes and skills that will enhance students’ self-esteem, contribute to life-long learning and promote successful relationships.

Guidance and Counseling Services are available to help students make educational and vocational plans, as well as helping individuals resolve personal problems. Individual counseling is available to students.

Jrs. need to begin to plan for life after DBHS. It is wise to be looking at all options to determine which career path is most appropriate.

Post-secondary institution’s admission requirements, including test results, high school g.p.a.and application deadlines will vary. It is important to gather your information as early as possible. The summer between 11th and 12th grade is a good time to visit post-secondary institutions. You can arrange an appointment at any school by contacting their admission office. See the guidance office for help.

Special services such as tutoring, speech therapy, special education for students with learning and/or emotional problems, adaptive physical education, and chemical dependency counseling and referrals are available.

Grades are reported as a numeric percentage. These also have meaning in letter & GPA grades. The grading scale is shown below in letter grades, decimals & percents.

The honor roll is computed by an average of all subjects. Any D, F, or incomplete causes honor roll ineligibility. Students need to receive grades for six classes (credits) in any one grading period to be eligible for the honor roll. Students taking classes outside of DBHS will not be eligible for the honor roll or class rank until the high school counselor has received grades. A and B Honor Rolls are published at the end of each quarter. Students must have a 2.9 average to qualify. In order for a student to be an honor graduate, they must maintain a 3.2 average. The top 2 honor graduates that attended the DBHS campus during their senior year will speak at commencement.

Students are to do their own work unless they are involved in a teacher-guided cooperative learning group activity. Students who are guilty of cheating, as determined by the teacher, will be given a grade of zero on the material. This will be averaged in with the 9-week grade.

Students in grades 7&8 must make satisfactory academic progress in order to pass. Students who fail 2 or more classes may be retained in that grade. Students who have failed two or more classes will be required to attend summer school. If students successfully pass summer school, they will be allowed to proceed to the next grade level. At the end of the third quarter 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade teachers will submit student names for consideration for retention of grade. The student, their parents, their teachers, and a building administrator will meet to determine if retention is the best solution for meeting the students needs. Reasons for retention could include lack of an adequate number of days of attendance or instruction, low skill development, inadequate preparation for the basic standards tests, or students demonstrating a lack of ownership in their education process showing little responsibility and personal accountability.

Students graduating under No Child Left Behind: Starting with the class of 2007 (this years tenth grade students). Students will be required to accumulate 24 credits. Students will start accumulating credits when they successfully pass classes during their 9^th grade year. The following must be successfully completed to be eligible for a DBHS diploma:

· Successfully pass the 8^th Grade Basic Standard Test for Reading and Math as well as the 10^th Grade Basic Standard Test for Written Composition.

· The Profile of Learning will no longer be offered in classes. Instead, the state of Minnesota has developed new standards that school districts are required to implement in their schools. As parents, you may be hearing your child talk about Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA’s) that they are required to take. The state of Minnesota will eventually have tests at almost every grade level to assess the academic progress of your child. Dawson-Boyd School District is required each year to show improvement from the previous year. If we do not show improvement, we will be placed on an “Annual Yearly Progress” list.

· According to NCLB, students are now required to have a minimum of 21.5 credits to graduate for students in grades 9-12. Dawson-Boyd will be requiring 24 credits to graduate starting with our current 10^th grade class.

· Under NCLB, DBHS students will be required to accumulate the following credits:

o 3 credits of math, which encompass algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics.

o 4 credits of social which include at least one credit of US history, 1 credit of Geography, .5 credit of Government and Citizenship, .5 credit of world history, and .5 credit of economics.

o A minimum of 8 elective requirements. One of these credits must be in the arts.

This is the current transition plan, however, DBHS reserves the right to change the requirements as needed to accommodate state/federal laws or school board action. If there are changes to this current plan, students and parents will be given ample notice to make sure that their son/daughter would have the opportunity to successfully graduate.

Students in grades 11 and 12 (Sr. High) must earn a MINIMUM of 18 credits to graduate including 3 credits in English, 3 credits in Social Studies, 1 credit in Health and PE, 1 credit in Biology, 1 credit in Math beyond 9th grade, and 9 elective credits. The State of Minnesota has enacted a change in addition to the local graduation requirements. Students graduating after 2001 will also need to complete 24 additional performance assessments from the High Profile of Learning. A copy of the Graduation Standards manual will be available upon request at the H.S. office. The manual includes the adaptation, modification & exemption procedures for special needs students.

To be considered a full time student at DBHS, students must be enrolled and making steady progress toward a minimum of seven classes per day. Students are allowed a maximum of one study hall per year. Exceptions will be made by administration on a case by case basis. Students enrolled in fewer than seven classes would not be considered full time students and would not be eligible for academic honors earned by full time students. This would include class rank, honor student status, and eligibility for selection as valedictorian/salutatorian. In addition, any enrollment level less than seven credits would be considered an F for that credit hour. This would be reflected on the student transcript and could result in academic ineligibility due to falling grades.

Full time students are not allowed to take a credit from an outside agency unless they have taken the DBHS required course and failed it for the year. For example, a full-time student who refused to take English 11 at DBHS would not be able to take an English 11 ALC course and transfer the credits to DBHS to fulfill this graduation requirement unless they had already failed the course at DBHS. Any student who fails a course may either re-enroll in the course the following year or may take summer school to make up the credit.

Students dropping classes prior to the end of the semester will receive a 55% as a final semester grade for the course. This grade will be averaged into the student’s grade point average.

Students who choose to study abroad their senior year will need to meet with the counselor to ensure they are taking the classes they need to fulfill DBHS graduation requirements. Students will still be eligible to be an honor graduate if they have met DBHS requirements.

Students who are currently in grades 11 or 12 must have 14.5 credits (working towards a total of 18 credits) by the end of the first semester of their senior year to participate in commencement ceremonies. Students in grades 7-10 will need 20.5 credits (working towards a total of 24 credits) to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

In order for students to be eligible to speak at commencement, they must be enrolled as a full time student for at least 5 semesters during grades 9-12 at DBHS.

Seniors in good standing (those who have finished all of their classroom obligations) are released from school five days before the school year ends. The student will receive a form that must be signed by all of the student's teachers, by the counselor, the principal and all outstanding fees must be paid. This form DOES NOT mean students have passed and will graduate. It means that everything is turned in to the teacher for the year.

Online courses: Students wishing to take an online course must receive permission from the counselor and principal before enrolling in the course at least 30 days before enrolling. If students are under the age of 17, students must have written consent of a parent or guardian to apply for an on-line learning course. If DBHS offers the course, students must take and fail the course here before they would be allowed to take the course online. Students dropping classes prior to the end of the semester will receive a 55% as a final semester grade for the course. This grade will be averaged into the student’s grade point average

PSEO: Any 11^th or 12^th grade student may choose to go PSEO. According to state statue, a student should notify the district of their intent to pursue this option by March 30^th the school year before they are planning to attend a PSEO program. Prior to enrolling in a course, the student and the student’s parents must sign a form that states they have been informed about the responsibilities of enrolling in this program. The student and the parent are required to visit with the counselor about the risks and possible consequences of enrolling in postsecondary courses.

Report cards are issued at the end of each 9 weeks. Deficiency reports can be sent any time. Usually they are sent at mid-quarter. Teachers do send “good news” reports to students who are doing well. An honor roll will be posted at the end of each 9 weeks.

Students will have 5 school days at the beginning of each semester to change their schedule. The change must be signed by the counselor and the teacher that the change will effect. A form will be provided for you in the counselor’s office.

HONOR POINT SYSTEM The purpose of the honor point system is to recognize students, grades 7-12, who take part in many activities and excel in academics. 135 points are required for a student to earn an honor letter. Letters are awarded in the spring at Class Night.

The first 3 qtrs. are figured on actual grades. 4th quarter grades are an average of the first 3 qtrs. Band, Choir, and Orchestra grades are excluded. ½ yr. PE and Health receive ½ the pts.

Points will be awarded according to participation. Clubs included are: FFA, FLA , Knowledge Bowl, Declam, One-Act Play, and Service Learning.

Points in all activities are awarded at the discretion of the teacher, supervisor, or coach.

The Board of Education, administration and staff believes that regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student. The purpose of this policy is to encourage regular school attendance. It is intended to be positive not punitive.

This policy recognizes that class attendance is a joint responsibility to be shared by the students, parents or guardians, teachers and administration. This policy will assist students in attending class.

The philosophy of Dawson-Boyd High School is to place the responsibility on students and their parents to ensure that absences are infrequent, and that when they occur, they are caused by matters of extreme urgency. The responsibilities of the school are to provide students instruction, to inform parents of students who are not in attendance, and to enforce compulsory attendance laws as well as regulations. It is the student’s responsibility to be in school. It is also the student’s responsibility to attend all classes regularly and to follow the correct procedures when absent from school.

Parents

Parents of absent students will call the school the morning the student is absent. The school’s phone answering system is active 24 hours day. Messages can be left any time of the day. The school will call the parent during the day if a student is not in school. These contacts will be made at the parent’s residence or place of work. If the school is unable to reach the parent the day the student is gone, the procedure will be repeated the following day. If no contact is made, the absence will be recorded as unexcused, detentions/suspension will be assigned, and a note sent home. Parents who are unable to follow the above procedure need to contact the high school office.

When a student must leave the school during the school day:

1. If a student becomes ill during the day they must see the nurse, high school principal or counselor before leaving school.

2. If a student needs to leave the school during the day for a reason other than illness, they must have a parent call or bring a note to the office. The office must issue them an “Out of Building Pass” if you leave the building. Students will need to show the pass to the teacher of the class that they are leaving. Remember that students must sign in and out when leaving/returning to the building before the end of the day. Failure to sign in or out (except over noon ) will result in detention.

3. If students do not follow these policies, they will receive an unexcused absence and possibly other disciplinary actions. This decision will be at the discretion of the high school principal.

A. parent should call school when their child is absent with the reason they will be gone. Parents should call 769-2955 between the hours of 7:30AM and 9AM .

2. Students should get an “Admit Slip” from the attendance secretary on the day when they return to school.

3. All students who miss class are required to show a make up slip to the teacher the following day in order to be admitted to class. The make up time for class work will be at the teacher’s discretion.

1. The student must bring a note from a parent or a phone call must be made stating when the student will be gone from school and the reason they will be absent.

4. Students will complete the assignments by the due date on the make up slip. If the make up work is not completed within the prescribed time limit, the student will receive zero or partial credit. Any exceptions to this will be at the discretion of the teacher and the high school principal.

Allowable Absences

Students who are in grades 7-12 are allowed a maximum of six unexcused absences per quarter. Even though an absence may be considered unexcused, it is still the responsibility of the parent to notify the school that their child will not be in school. On the seventh unexcused absence, student grades will be docked for lack of participation in school activities including daily classes. On the 7th failure to participate, a 7% grade reduction will occur in each class. Each additional failure to participate will lower the grade by 2% until the grade is 75%. Students will not fail as a result of this policy. No further deductions will occur below 75%.

Absences which are exempt from the maximum of six allowable absences per quarter are:

1. Medical and dental appointments, which are verified by notes from the clinic’s office. If the appointment is not verified by a note the absence will be counted as an unexcused absence.

2. Absences which are the result of a death in the student’s family. Students should bring in a program from the funeral to have it excused.

3. Extended family vacations will count as one day regardless of the total number. School contact needs to be made PRIOR to the vacation.

5. Court. Students should bring in their court appointment card to have it excused.

6. Juniors and seniors will be allowed a maximum of two college visit days per year. You must produce a written note from the college verifying that you were there for the day.

It is the student and the parent’s responsibility to be informed of the number of absences accumulated during each quarter. Information on each student’s attendance status is available by contacting the high school office at 769-2955. Notices will be sent to parents when students accumulate 4 unexcused absences.

Students will have two days for each day absent to make up their work if it is illness related or a death of a family member.

Students will have one day for each day absent to make up their work if they were absent due to a family trip, school sponsored activities, court, or college visits. Any exceptions to this are at the discretion of the teacher or the principal.

When a student serves an in school suspension, it will not count towards their maximum of six absences. If a student serves an out of school suspension, it will count towards the maximum of six absences. Students on both in and out of school suspensions will be allowed to make up their work and receive full credit as long as it is turned in on time.

Continuing Truant: A student who is absent from class or study hall for three or more class periods on three days with out a valid excuse. The school will notify the parent by phone and/or first class mail when a student reaches three or more class periods on three or more days. The parent or guardian will have the right to set up a meeting with school administration to discuss options and consequences for the student. If truancy continues, a CHIIPS (Child in Need of Protection) petition will be filed with LqPV Family Services. The student and his/her parent will need to appear before a judge regarding the truancy petition.

Skipping: A student who is not in the class they are assigned to for that particular hour. Examples could include, but are not limited to the following: a student who leaves a classroom with out permission, a student who is in the building, but not where they are supposed to be, etc.

If a student needs to see another teacher, the student needs to get a pass to go to another part of the building. Students needing to leave the building during school hours (except for lunch or an excused school activity) need to sign out in the office and have parental permission before they leave the building.