2015-2016 Student Handbook Revised 3/18/16
Buddy Thomas, Principal
Tom Patton, José Farinas, Lacy Emmerling, Kevin Robertson -Assistant Principals
6000 Lakeland Highlands Road
Lakeland, Florida 33812
GJHS Website: www.georgejenkinshs.com
Dear Students:
At George Jenkins High School our expectation is that everyone is prompt, polite, and prepared. An emphasis on academics and the importance of service to others will continue to be the focus of our school’s mission. Students please read this handbook and share it with your parents. The content is crucial to our working together successfully to make a positive difference at George Jenkins High School.
Buddy Thomas, Principal
GJHS Mission
The mission of GJHS is to enable all students, through the collaborative efforts of staff, students, parents, and community, to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their full potential, to make informed decisions, to value diversity, to think critically, and to succeed in future endeavors.
GJHS BELIEF STATEMENTS
1. Student learning is the chief priority of the school.
2. Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
3. Student learning should be the primary focus of all decisions impacting the work of the school.
4. Challenging expectations increase individual student performance.
5. Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate a variety of learning activities to accommodate different learning styles.
6. A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes learning.
7. Teachers, administrators, parents and community should share the responsibility for advancing the school’s mission.
8. Students need to not only demonstrate their understanding of essential knowledge and skills, but also need to be actively involved in solving problems and producing quality work.
9. Schools need to function as a learning organization and promote opportunities for all those who have a stake in the success of the school to work together as a community of learners.
STUDENT SERVICES
Educational counseling services are available for every student. These services include assistance with educational planning, interpretation of test scores, occupational information, career information, counseling for personal problems, or any concerns students would like to discuss with a counselor.
Counselors are available from 7:00 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. A student may leave his name in the Student Services office and a counselor will call the student from class or in the case of an emergency, the student should request a pass from the teacher. Students are encouraged to schedule appointments with their counselor before school, during lunch, or after school.
LOITERING in the Student Services office will not be permitted.
COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENTS
Desmore Peters (Seniors A-C) & (9-11 A-Cos)
Laura Chancey (Seniors D-He) & (9-11 Cou-G)
Dione Facey-Poitier (Seniors Hi-Me) & (9-11 H-LL)
Megan Figarella (9-11 Loc-Pen)
Joanne Collins-Scissors (Seniors Mi-Sc) & (9-11 Peo-Sim)
Denise Norgan (Seniors Se-Z) & (9-11 Sin-Z)
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parents may schedule conferences with teachers or counselors by calling Student Services at 648-3589. Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled during a teacher’s conference period or after school with one-week notice.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Courses selected during registration are considered final. All requests for schedule changes necessitated by course cancellation, incorrect placement, or scheduling conflicts will be made by the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and the School Counselor. Requests for schedule changes are made during the 2 week drop/add period after the first day of each semester. A written request using the Schedule Change Request Form must be submitted to the Assistant Principal of Curriculum. Forms are available in The Learning Center.
GRADING POLICY
Grading Scale: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (0-59)
Academic grades are reported each nine weeks by numerical score. Credit issued for successful completion of the semester according to state guidelines. Computer generated report cards are issued after the end of each nine week grading period. Interim reports are issued at four weeks into each quarter.
EXAMS
Semester final exams are given in all classes the last week of each semester. Final exams are cumulative and count 20% of the semester average. No early exams are administered. Algebra 1, Biology and Geometry have End-of-Course exams which are taken instead of semester final exams. Students in these courses will take a test during their scheduled final exam period.
HONOR ROLL & YEARLY HONOR AWARDS
An honor roll is compiled at the end of each grading period. Those students who have a 3.2 or higher grade point average will be honored.
All awards will be based on semester grades only.
Full time early enrollment students are not eligible for Valedictorian & Salutatorians Honors.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS/CLASS RANK
All credits are awarded on the basis of a half credit for passing a semester unit of work. Honors designation will appear on the graduation program as follows: 4.0 and above Summa Cum Laude, 3.75 – 3.99 – Magna Cum Laude, 3.50 – 3.74 – Cum Laude, 3.20 – 3.49 – Honors
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS
Three transcripts are provided upon request before graduation at no charge (except postage if mailing is required). A $3.00 fee is charged for each transcript thereafter. Scholarship transcripts are available at no cost.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS
Students must notify the terminal operator in writing of a change of address or telephone number during the school year. Two forms of legal documentation are required for verification of change of address from two different categories (1. rent, lease, mortgage document, or property tax record; 2. current utility bill (within last 30 days) with stub attached showing parent name and address (i.e. electric, telephone, water, cable); 3. voter registration card; or 4. proof of government benefits). This also applies to any emergency information updates.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is an important factor to a student’s success at George Jenkins High School. The curriculum at G.J.H.S. is rigorous, and daily attendance is mandatory in order to meet course requirements.
Denial of Credit: Students can be denied credit for nonattendance after missing 10 classes of first period and 5 classes of 2nd through 7th period each semester regardless of the grade earned in the course. Letters are mailed to parents indicating possible loss of credit.
Excused and Pre-excused absences: Written documentation, as per the Student Code of Conduct, is required for any absence to be excused in a class (includes absences resulting from checking out of school) and must be turned in to the attendance office within two days upon return from the absence. Documented excuses are accepted for (A) Personal illness, hospitalization, doctor/dental appointments, extended illness; (B) Religious holidays; (C) Court ordered appearance; (D) Funeral; or (E) Traffic accident directly involving the student. When a student knows in advance that he/she will be absent, a PRIOR NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCE FORM must be completed and submitted to the Attendance Office at least one week in advance of the absence. School sponsored activities, activities directly relating to the curriculum of George Jenkins High School, will be counted school business absence (SB) and considered as an excused absence. Regardless of the type of absence, a student is responsible for all course content and acquiring and completing any work missed. Students are required to submit a request to have an absence excused within 3 days of returning to campus.
Unexcused absences: When three or more unexcused absences occur, teachers are required to provide make-up work upon request but are NOT required to assign credit for those assignments.
It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the teacher 3 days after an excused or unexcused absence to make arrangements for make-up work. The student will be allowed the number of days missed plus two days to turn in make-up work and receive credit.
TARDY POLICY
Tardiness to school or to the same class will result in the following:
1st Offense: Choice room 4th Offense: Choice room
2nd Offense: Choice room 5th Offense: Progressive discipline
3rd Offense: Choice room
A student arriving late to class is to report to the attendance office.
LEAVING CAMPUS
George Jenkins High School is a closed campus. Students may not leave campus without parent/guardian permission. Emergency or other situations as approved by the Principal will be considered on an individual basis. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the loss of driving privilege for 20 school days and out of school suspension for all first time offenders and passengers. Students are not allowed to check out after 1:30pm.
DISCIPLINE
All students are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Code of Conduct. All discipline referrals are submitted to the dean’s office electronically. Failure to report to the office or choice room immediately with referral may result in a four day suspension. Students are required to be courteous, polite and contribute to a positive school climate. Students who feel physically threatened by another student should immediately inform an administrator or teacher. A student assigned to the ACS Bill Duncan Alternative School or who is suspended from school is not allowed to take part in any extracurricular activity, club meeting, sports event, graduation practice, drama performance, band function, etc. from the initiation of the suspension to the end of the suspension.
THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
1. Smoking on campus is a violation of state law (Florida Statute 386.212). Possession of or use of tobacco products at any time while on school grounds will result in disciplinary action and referral to the School Resource Deputy for a fine.
2. Fighting is not tolerated and will result in a 4-10 day out-of-school suspension. Extreme altercations may result in expulsion.
3. Students must vacate campus by 2:05 p.m. unless involved in a school approved/teacher supervised activity.
4. Failure to respond to the instructions of an administrator or teacher during an altercation (verbal or physical) may result in a minimum 10 day suspension, an assignment to Bill Duncan Alternative School, or an expulsion.
5. A student, who strikes, pushes, pulls, shoves, fights, injures or engages in a violent confrontation against a school board employee as defined in Part II, Section 2.21, School Board Employee/ Personnel/Staff is guilty of a serious breach of conduct and will be recommended for expulsion.
ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY AND ARE ENFORCED AT ANY SCHOOL FUNCTION ON CAMPUS, AWAY FROM CAMPUS, AND TO AND FROM SAID FUNCTION.
CHEATING
Giving or receiving information will result in a failing grade on any test or assignment for both the giver and the receiver of the information. Disciplinary action will also be taken according to the Student Code of Conduct.
BUS BEHAVIOR
All school rules and regulations and the Code of Conduct for Students apply to all transportation provided by the Polk County School Board.
HALL PASS
Students are required to have hall passes in their hands when out of a classroom. Students are released from class for emergencies only.
STUDENTS WHO LEAVE THE FOOD COURT AREA DURING LUNCH WITHOUT A PASS WILL BE CONSIDERED OUT OF AREA AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
TEXT BOOKS
Students are responsible for the replacement cost of lost or damaged textbooks.
LOCKERS AND LOCKER ASSIGNMENTS
Student lockers in the main part of the campus have built-in locks. These lockers are assigned during the first week of school. ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE RETURNED SIGNED EMERGENCY CARDS, CODE OF CONDUCT RECEIPT FORMS and HAVE PAID ALL OBLIGATIONS WILL RECEIVE LOCKERS.
VISITORS
All visitors must check in at the Main Office and screened through the PCSB Visitor System. Visitors are not permitted on campus without the permission of the school administration. Visitation during lunch hours in the food court is not permitted.
STUDENT IDENTIFICATION
Students are required to produce, upon request, their school identification card at all times. Identification cards are required for media center check outs and cafeteria purchases. Failure to comply will result in a Choice Room detention. Replacement cards are available through Student Council.
BULLETIN BOARDS/POSTERS/FLYERS
The Student Council monitors bulletin boards in the Food Court area and in the stairwells, as well as, the marquee. No poster, sign, notices, etc. are to be posted on campus unless approved and stamped by student council. Flyers are not handed out on campus without approval from the administration.
STUDENT PARKING
Seniors, juniors, and sophomores may pick up parking permits during the first two weeks of the school year. Students who are without parking permits after this two week grace period are considered in violation of the parking regulations. Parking permits cost $20 and are purchased in the Front Office. Students park in designated areas and only in their assigned numbered space. Parking on the grass is not permitted during or after school. Any violation will result in a fine or loss of privileges. After arriving on campus, students will leave their vehicles and the parking lot area immediately. Students are not permitted to wait in the parking lot for other students. Music must not be heard outside of the vehicle. Failure to follow this regulation will result in the loss of the parking permit.
1. Reckless operation of a vehicle may result in the forfeiture of campus parking privileges for a minimum of 20 school days.
2. In the afternoon, students must be out of the parking lot by 2:10 p.m., unless they are attending a school approved/teacher supervised activity or athletic practice.
3. Any violation of student parking rules while on campus may result in a fine or loss of driving privileges.
DRESS CODE
All students should be neat, clean, and appropriately dressed. George Jenkins High School will adhere to the dress code set forth in the Polk county Schools Code of Conduct for Students.
Appropriate dress is as follows:
1. Shoes that protect the feet
2. Shorts, skirts, skorts (slip skirts), or dresses must be at mid-thigh or longer.
Inappropriate dress is as follows:
1. See-through clothing, one or more tank tops, tube tops, crop tops, off the shoulder or strapless tops, and tops that show bare midriff are not permitted.
2. Pants that are frayed, cut or torn are not permitted. Baggy pants that expose underwear are not permitted.
3. Leggings, bicycle pants, yoga pants, or spandex pants are not permitted.
4. Hats or sunglasses are not allowed to be worn on campus.
5. Students are not allowed to wear clothing, jewelry, buttons, haircuts, or other attire or markings which are offensive, suggestive, indecent displays, display or represent items such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, drugs, obscenities, sex, or disrupt the education process. Refer to the Code of Conduct for Students for further details.