Student Handbook
2008-2009
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
“TRADITION”
·
Students develop a positive self-concept
·
Students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to cope responsibly
with life’s situations
·
Students learn the importance of loyalty to their self-beliefs and the
tolerance for the beliefs of others
To Students and
Parents:
For this new
year to be successful for your child, we must all work together: students,
parents, teachers, and other school staff members.
The Bells High
School 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—providing 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 Bells High School 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 a separate document sent home to parents and
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. A copy
of the District’s policy manual is available in the
Superintendent’s school office.
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
Sincerely,
Will
Steger,
School
District Information
Mr.
Joe Moore
Superintendent
of Schools
Bells,
965-7721
Will Steger
High
School Principal
965-7315
Don
Keene
Junior
High Principal
965-4835
Rebeckah
Pritchard
Elementary
Principal
965-7725
Steffani
Cornelison
High
School Counselor
965-7315
Paula
Mortensen
Elementary
Counselor
965-7725
Tricia
Meek
Curriculum
Director
965-7721
Charles
Boles
Athletic
Director
965-4831
School
Board Trustees
Max
Robertson President
Brent
Adams Vice
President
Brian
Haase Secretary
Pete Wornhor
E.T. Petitt
Gary Payne
Jeannie Russell
Posting Location of all School Board Meetings:
Administration Office
Front Door
High School Front Door
Anna Ruth Prichard Junior High Front Door
Board
of Trustees — Monthly Meetings
The
Bells ISD Board of Trustees meets at least once a month, generally at the
administrative offices. Date, time and location of each meeting are posted on
the front door of the administration building and all three campuses prior to
each meeting. The public is welcome
to attend all meetings.
Nondiscrimination
Bells I.S.D.
does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex,
or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs,
including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
The following District staff members have been designated to
coordinate compliance with these requirements:
Title IX Coordinator, for concerns regarding discrimination on the basis of sex:
Name: Joe Moore
Position: Superintendent
Address:
Bells TX 75414
Telephone: (903) 965-7721
Section 504 Coordinator, for concerns regarding discrimination on the basis of disability:
Name: Joe Moore
Superintendent
Address:
Bells TX 75414
Telephone: (903)
965-7721
Liaison for Homeless Children and Youths, who coordinates services for homeless students:
Name: Tricia
Meek
Position: Curriculum
Director
Address:
Bells
TX 75414
Telephone: (903)
965-7721
Bells
ISD does not discriminate on the basis of disability by denying access to the
benefits of District services, programs, or activities. To request information about the
applicability of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
interested persons should contact Mr. Joe Moore.
Services
for Students with Disabilities
Parents of
students with learning difficulties or who may need special education services
may request an evaluation for special education at any time. For more information, see page ____ and contact:
Name: Margaret Lea
Position: Director,
Address: 201 E. Lamar,
Telephone: (903) 893-3114
SECTION I
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
This section of
the Bells High School Student Handbook includes information on topics of
particular interest to you as a parent.
QUICK REFERENCE:
Where to look when you need information
about…
Parental involvement page 7
Grading guidelines page 9
Report cards/progress reports and conferences page 10
State-mandated assessment testing page 11
Promotion and retention page 11
Other standardized testing: College Requirements page 12
Medicine at school page 13
Psychotropic drugs page 13
Student records page 13
Student or parent complaints and concerns page 16
Release of students from school page 16
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Working Together
Both experience
and research tell us that a child’s education succeeds best when there is
a strong partnership between home and school, a partnership that thrives on
communication. Your involvement in
this partnership may include:
Encouraging your child to put a high priority on education and working with your child on a daily basis to make the most of the educational opportunities the school provides. Ensure that your child completes all homework assignments and special projects. Be sure your child comes to school each day prepared, rested, and ready to learn.
Becoming familiar with all of your child’s school activities and with the academic programs, including special programs offered in the District. Discuss with the counselor or principal any questions you may have about the options and opportunities available to your child. If your child is entering ninth grade, review the requirements of the graduation programs with your child. Monitor your child’s academic progress and contact teachers as needed. [See Academic Counseling on page 21 and Academic Programs on page 18.]
Attending scheduled conferences and requesting additional conferences as needed. To schedule a telephone or in-person conference with a teacher, counselor, or principal, please call the school office at 903-965-7315 for an appointment. A teacher will usually return your call or meet with you during his or her conference period or before or after school. [See Report Cards/Progress Reports and Conferences on page 10.]
Attending Board meetings to learn more about District operations.
Conferences
Students and parents may expect teachers to request a
conference:
1. If
the student is not meeting academic expectations.
2. If
the student presents any problem to the teacher.
A parent who
wishes to confer with a teacher may call the office for an appointment at
903-965-7315.
Obtaining Information and Protecting
Student Rights
Your child will
not be required to participate without parental consent in any survey,
analysis, or evaluation—funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department
of Education—that concerns:
Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent
Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family
Sexual behavior or attitudes
Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior
Critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student has a close family relationship
Relationships privileged under law, such as relationships with lawyers, physicians, and ministers
Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents
Income, except when the information is required by law and will be used to determine the student’s eligibility to participate in a special program or to receive financial assistance under such a program
You will be able
to inspect the survey or other instrument and any instructional materials used
in connection with such a survey, analysis, or evaluation
"Opting
Out” of Surveys and Activities
As a parent, you
also have a right to receive notice and opt your child out of participating in:
Any survey concerning the private information listed above, regardless of funding
School activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from your child for the purpose of marketing or selling that information
Any
nonemergency, invasive physical examination or screening required as a
condition of attendance, administered and scheduled by the school in advance
and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the
student. Exceptions are hearing,
vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or
required under state law.
As a parent, you also have a right:
To review teaching materials, textbooks, and other teaching aids and instructional materials used in the curriculum, and to examine tests that have been administered to your child
To inspect a survey created by a third party before the survey is administered or distributed to your child
To review your child’s student records when needed. These records include:
· Attendance records
· Test scores
· Grades
· Disciplinary records
· Counseling records
· Psychological records
· Applications for admission
· Health and immunization information
· Other medical records
· Teacher and counselor evaluations
· Reports of behavioral patterns
· State assessment instruments that have been administered to your child.
[See Student Records on page 13.]
To grant or deny any written request from the District to make a videotape or voice recording of your child. State law, however, permits the school to make a videotape or voice recording without parental permission for the following circumstances:
· When it is to be used for school safety.
· When it relates to classroom instruction or a cocurricular or extracurricular activity.
· When it relates to media coverage of the school.
To remove your child temporarily from the classroom, if an instructional activity in which your child is scheduled to participate conflicts with your religious or moral beliefs. The removal cannot be for the purpose of avoiding a test and may not extend for an entire semester. Further, your child must satisfy grade-level and graduation requirements as determined by the school and by the Texas Education Agency.
To request that your child be excused from participation in the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag. The request must be in writing. State law does not allow your child to be excused from participation in the required moment of silence or silent activity that follows. See Pledges of Allegiance and a Minute of Silence on page 45.
To request that your child be excused from recitation of a portion of the Declaration of Independence. State law requires students in social studies classes in grades 3-12 to recite a portion of the text of the Declaration of Independence during Celebrate Freedom Week unless (1) you provide a written statement requesting that your child be excused, (2) the District determines that your child has a conscientious objection to the recitation, or (3) you are a representative of a foreign government to whom the United States government extends diplomatic immunity.
To request in writing, if you are a noncustodial parent, that you be provided for the remainder of the school year a copy of any written notice usually provided to a parent related to misconduct that may involve placement in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) or expulsion
GRADING GUIDELINES
In grades 9-12,
achievement is reported to parents as number grades. The grading system is based on a
100-point scale. In order to gain
credit for a class, students must maintain an average score of at least
70. The grade scale may be
described as:
90—100 A
80---89 B
70---79 C
0----69 F
Transfer
students with grade reports using letter grades are converted using the
following scale:
A
= 95
B
= 85
C
= 77
D
= 72
F
= 65
REPORT CARDS / PROGRESS
REPORTS AND CONFERENCES
Report cards
with each student’s grades or performance and absences in each class or
subject are issued to parents at least once every 6 weeks.
Students will receive progress reports from each
teacher on the Wednesday following the third week of the reporting period. The progress report will include grades
earned on daily work and tests to the end of the third week. Students having grade averages of less
than 70 at this time will have a progress report mailed to the home for those
subjects. If the student receives a
grade lower than 70 in any class or subject during a grading period, the parent
will be requested to schedule a conference with the teacher of that class or
subject. [See Working Together on page 10 for how to schedule a conference.]
Teachers follow
grading guidelines approved by the principal that have been designed to reflect
each student’s academic achievement for the grading period, semester, or
course. State law provides that a test
or course grade issued by a teacher cannot be changed unless the Board
determines that the grade was arbitrary or contains an error, or that the
teacher did not follow the District’s grading policy.
Questions about
grade calculation should first be discussed with the teacher; if the question
is not resolved, the student or parent may request a conference with the
principal in accordance with FNG(LOCAL).
The report card
or unsatisfactory progress report will state whether tutorials are required for
a student who receives a grade lower than 70 in a class or subject.
Report cards and
unsatisfactory progress reports must be signed by the parent and should be
returned to the school within 3 days.
Report cards will be issued on the Wednesday
following the end of the sixth week of the reporting period.
Exemptions
Juniors
and seniors may be exempt from semester tests if guidelines are met. The guidelines are as follows:
*an overall average of 95 for the
semester & not more than 3 excused absences
*an overall average of 90 for the
semester & not more than 2 excused absences
*an overall average of 85 for the
semester & not more than 1 excused absence.
Freshmen and sophomores may be exempt
from spring final exams if they pass all TAKS exams, and if they meet all of
the other requirements for exemptions.
Students
may not be exempt from exams in a
class if they have an unexcused absence or a grade of 0 during that
semester. In addition, if a student
has been assigned to in-school-suspension &/or DAEP for any reason, he/she
shall not be exempt from any exams.
Freshmen and
sophomores may also be exempt from final exams at the end of the school year,
if they have met all of the above criteria, and have passed all TAKS tests.
Honor Roll
Students
earning grade averages of 92 or greater with no grade less than a 90, excluding
PE/PE equivalent, and maintaining
satisfactory or better citizenship in all subjects will be placed on the
Superintendent’s Honor Roll.
Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses may retain eligibility
for Superintendent Honor roll placement with a minimum grade of
“87” on the report card at the end of the six-weeks grading period
Students earning a grade average of 90 or greater with no grades less than 80, excluding PE/PE equivalent, and maintaining satisfactory or better citizenship in all subjects, will be placed on the Principal’s Honor roll.
STATE-MANDATED ASSESSMENT TESTS
Students at
certain grade levels will take state assessment tests (such as TAKS) in the
following subjects, as well as routine testing and other measures of
achievement:
Mathematics, annually in grades 3–7 without the aid of technology and, in grades 8–11, with the aid of technology on any assessment test that includes algebra
Writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades 4 and 7
English language arts in grade 10
Social studies in grades 8 and 10
Science in grades 5, 8, and 10
Any other subject and grade required by federal law
PROMOTION AND RETENTION
A student will be
promoted only on the basis of academic achievement or demonstrated proficiency
in the subject matter of the course or grade level. To earn credit in a course, a student
must receive a grade of at least 70 based on course-level or grade-level
standards. In addition, students at
certain grade levels will be required to pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge
and Skills (TAKS) as a further requirement for promotion:
In order to be promoted to grade 4, students must have
performed satisfactorily on the
In order to be promoted to grade 6, students enrolled in grade 5 in the 2004–2005 school year must perform satisfactorily on the mathematics and reading sections of the grade 5 assessment test in English or Spanish.
In order to be promoted to grade 9, students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2007–2008 school year must perform satisfactorily on the mathematics and reading sections of the grade 8 assessment test in English.
In addition,
students in grades 3, 5, and 8 must meet promotion standards established by the
District in order to be promoted.
Parents of
students in grades 1-8 who do not perform satisfactorily on their exams will be
notified that their child will participate in special instructional programs
designed to improve performance.
These students will also have two additional opportunities to take the
test. If the student fails a second
time, a grade placement committee, consisting of the principal or designee, the
teacher, and the student’s parent, will determine the additional special
instruction the student will receive.
After a third failed attempt, the student will be retained; however, the
parent can appeal this decision to the committee. In order for the student to be promoted,
based on standards previously established by the District, the decision of the
committee must be unanimous. Whether the student is retained or promoted, an
educational plan for the student will be designed to enable the student to
perform at grade level by the end of the next school year.
A Personal
Graduation Plan (PGP) will be prepared for any student in a middle school or
beyond who did not perform satisfactorily on a state-mandated assessment test
or is determined by the District as not likely to earn a high school diploma
before the fifth school year following enrollment in grade 9. The PGP will be designed and implemented
by a guidance counselor, teacher, or other staff member designated by the principal. The plan will identify the
student’s educational goals and include consideration of the
parent’s educational expectations for the student. For additional information, see the
counselor.
Students in grade 11 must pass the
secondary exit-level assessment in English language arts, mathematics, social
studies, and science in order to receive a diploma. A student who does not pass the
exit-level assessment will have additional opportunities to take the test. [See STATE-MANDATED ASSESSMENT TESTS on
page 11 for information regarding exit-level tests required by state law.]
Certain
students—some with disabilities and some with limited English
proficiency—may be eligible for exemptions, accommodations, or deferred
testing. For more information, see
the principal, counselor, or special education director.
OTHER STANDARDIZED
TESTING: COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Most colleges require
either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
for admission. Students are
encouraged to talk with the counselor during their junior year to determine the
appropriate exam to take; entrance exams are usually taken at the end of the
junior year. Prior to enrollment in
a
MEDICINE AT SCHOOL
Students are not
to self medicate and must receive all medication of any kind from the office
according to the following guidelines.
District employees will not give a student prescription medication,
nonprescription medication, herbal substances, anabolic steroids, or dietary
supplements, with the following exceptions:
Authorized employees, in accordance with policy FFAC, may administer:
· Prescription medication provided by the parent, along with a written request, and in the original, properly labeled container
· Medication from a properly labeled unit dosage container filled by a registered nurse or another qualified District employee from the original, properly labeled container
· Nonprescription medication provided by the parent along with a written request, and in the original, properly labeled container
· Herbal or dietary supplements provided by the parent if required by the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan for a student with disabilities
In certain emergency situations, the District will maintain and administer to a student nonprescription medication, but only:
· In accordance with the guidelines developed with the District’s medical advisor and
· When the parent has previously provided written consent to emergency treatment on the District’s form
A student with asthma who has written authorization from his or her parent and physician or other licensed health-care provider, may be permitted to possess and use prescribed asthma medication at school or school-related events. The student and parents should see the school nurse or principal if the student has been prescribed asthma medication for use during the school day
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
Teachers and
other District employees may discuss a student’s academic progress or
behavior with the student’s parents or another employee as
appropriate. In addition, a
District employee who is a registered nurse, an advanced nurse practitioner, a
physician, or a certified or credentialed mental health professional can
recommend that a student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner,
if appropriate.
“Psychotropic
drug” means a substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention
of a disease or as a component of a medication and intended to have an altering
effect on perception, emotion, or behavior. It is commonly described as a mood- or
behavior-altering substance.
STUDENT RECORDS
Both federal and
state law safeguard student records from unauthorized inspection or use and
provide parents and “eligible” students certain rights. For purposes of student records, an
“eligible” student is one who is 18 or older OR who is attending an
institution of postsecondary education.
The law
specifies that certain general information about Bells I.S.D. students is
considered “directory information” and will be released to anyone
who follows procedures for requesting it.
That information includes:
A student’s name, address, telephone number, and date and place of birth
The student’s photograph, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height of members of athletic teams
The student’s dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status, honors and awards received in school and most recent school previously attended
The student’s e-mail address
Release of any
or all directory information regarding a student may be prevented by the parent
or an eligible student. This
objection must be made in writing to the principal within ten school days of
the child’s first day of instruction for this school year. [See the acknowledgement form attached
to this handbook.]
Virtually all
information pertaining to student performance, including grades, test results,
and disciplinary records, is considered confidential educational records. Release is restricted to:
The parents—whether married, separated, or divorced—unless parental rights have been legally terminated and if the school is given a copy of the court order terminating these rights. Federal law requires that, as soon as the student becomes eligible, control of the records go to the student. However, the parents may continue to have access to the records if the student is a dependent for tax purposes
District staff members who have what federal law defines as a “legitimate educational interest” in a student’s records. Such persons would include school officials (such as Board members, the Superintendent, and principals), school staff members (such as teachers, counselors, and diagnosticians), or an agent of the District (such as a medical consultant)
Various governmental agencies or in response to a subpoena or court order
A school to which a student transfers or in which he or she subsequently enrolls
Release to any
other person or agency—such as a prospective employer or for a
scholarship application—will occur only with parental or student
permission as appropriate.
The District
must comply with a request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher
education for students’ names, addresses, and telephone listings, unless
parents have advised the District not to release their child’s
information without prior written consent.
The principal is
custodian of all records for currently enrolled students at the assigned
school. The principal is the
custodian of all records for students who have withdrawn or graduated.
Records may be
inspected by a parent or eligible student during regular school hours. If circumstances effectively prevent
inspection during these hours, the District will either provide a copy of the
requested records, or make other arrangements for the parent or student to
review the requested records. The
records custodian or designee will respond to reasonable requests for
explanation and interpretation of the records.
The address(es)
of the principals’ offices are:
Bells, TX 78414
A parent (or the
student if he or she is 18 or older or is attending an institution of
postsecondary education) may inspect the student’s records and request a
correction if the records are considered inaccurate or otherwise in violation
of the student’s privacy rights.
If the District refuses the request to amend the records, the requestor
has the right to request a hearing.
If the records are not amended as a result of the hearing, the requestor
has 30 school days to exercise the right to place a statement commenting on the
information in the student’s record.
Although improperly recorded grades may be challenged, contesting a
student’s grade in a course is handled through the general complaint
process defined by policy FNG. [See
Report Cards/Progress Reports and
Conferences on page 10 and Student
or Parent Complaints and Concerns on page 16 for an overview of the
process.]
Copies of
student records are available at a cost of ten cents per page, payable in
advance. If the student qualifies
for free or reduced-price lunches and the parents are unable to view the records
during regular school hours, one copy of the record will be provided at no
charge upon written request of the parent.
Transcripts
Transcripts are available upon request by the
student or parent.
Please note:
Parents or eligible
students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of
Education if they believe the District is not in compliance with federal law
regarding student records. The
District’s policy regarding student records is available from the principal’s
or Superintendent’s office.
The
parent’s or eligible student’s right of access to and copies of
student records does not extend to all records. Materials that are not considered
educational records—such as teachers’ personal notes about a student
that are shared only with a substitute teacher—do not have to be made
available to the parents or student
A student’s school records are
confidential and are protected from unauthorized inspection or use. A cumulative record is maintained for
each student from the time the student enters the District until the student
withdraws or graduates. This record
moves with the student from school to school.
By law, both parents, whether married,
separated, or divorced, have access to the records of a student who is under 18
or a dependent for tax purposes. A
parent whose rights have been legally terminated will be denied access to the
records if the school is given a copy of the court order terminating these rights.
Enrollment Cards
An enrollment
card must be completely filled out and maintained on file in the office for
each student. Please use your
correct mailing address on the card to ensure prompt receipt of important
information from the school. This
card must be returned to the office prior to the fifth day of classes; students
that have not returned their enrollment card by this date may be sent home.
STUDENT OR PARENT
COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS
Usually student
or parent complaints or concerns can be addressed simply—by a phone call or
a conference with the teacher involved in an effort to resolve any questions
&/or conflicts prior to consulting the principal. For those complaints and concerns that
cannot be handled so easily, the District has adopted a standard complaint
policy at FNG (LOCAL) in the District’s policy manual. A copy of this
policy may be obtained in the principal’s or Superintendent’s
office
In general, the student or parent should first discuss the complaint with the campus principal. If unresolved, a written complaint