HICKS HIGH SCHOOL
1296 Hicks School Road
Leesville, LA 71446
337-239-9645
Student Handbook
2016-2017
School Vision: The students of Hicks High School will reach their potential by attaining high achievement in their chosen diploma route. Students will enter the work force and/or college with pride and confidence knowing they are prepared for success. The faculty and staff are committed to continuing the tradition of excellence by setting rigorous goals, modeling, and motivating, educating, and encouraging students.
Philosophy of Hicks High School
The faculty and staff of Hicks High School accept the responsibility for providing an educational program through which each child can achieve his or her maximum potential. The school program offers a variety of learning experiences so that the child of today can be the successful adult of tomorrow.
We believe that parents, students, and the faculty should work together to achieve success in the educational process. Every child should be provided with a stimulating environment designed to promote emotional and behavioral development that will affect a satisfactory adjustment to life.
We believe that the school should offer a curriculum designed to meet the needs of each student. Students planning to continue formal education, as well as those entering the work force should be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of society in the present and the future.
Revised 6/10/16
Academic Performance
Hicks High School continues to strive for excellence as evidenced by its educational growth. Our School Performance Scores have increased steadily through the years. Although we will not receive this year’s SPS score until after school begins for the year 2016-2017, we expect to again show academic growth. In the 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2014terms, our school was recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as a “School of Exemplary Academic Growth”. In 2013, 2014, and 2015, Hicks High School was labeled by the La. DOE as an Academic “A” School as well. Complete school year by year academic performance can be found on the Louisiana Department of Education’s Web Site.
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
“PIRATE PRIDE”
PREPARATION of life-long learners
RECOGNITION of efforts and achievements
INVOLVEMENT of parents and community
DEVELOPMENT of responsible citizenship and basic skills toward
EXCELLENCE in education
HICKS HIGH SCHOOL GENERAL INFORMATION
Hicks High School is a rural K-12 school that has been in existence since the 1950’s. The school and community are closely related in all aspects of the school environment. The administration and faculty are united and committed in providing a quality education for all students. Hicks High School accepts students without regard to race, sex, or disability. Students are assigned classes in a non-discriminatory manner.
This list of suggestions, rules, and information was prepared to assist you. Any items of information or possible occurrences that are not covered by this handbook will be dealt with by following the Vernon Parish regulations for students. If you have further questions, please ask your homeroom teacher or the principal.
Academics
*Academics are stressed first and foremost.
“A – B” Honor rolls will be identified each six-weeks.
“B” Honor Roll students receive free passes to concession - popcorn and drink.
“A” Honor Roll students will be rewarded with a free breakfast trip OR concession pass – popcorn and drink.
Students of the Six-Weeks
*Students are selected by a Teacher Committee, one student in grades k-3, one in grades 4 & 5, one in 6-8, and one student in grades 9-12.
*Students are selected based on academic performance during the respective six-weeks.
*Criteria for selection may include but not limited to the following: outstanding academic performance, academic improvement, outstanding performance on specific assignments and/or tests, positive behavior, and attendance.
*Students selected have their names and pictures posted on bulletin boards in their respective grade level buildings, receive a free pass to concession and $20.00 gift card from Wal-Mart, and have their pictures taken and sent to the Leesville Leader for publication.
Students of the Year
“Students of the Year” are selected one in each of the following grade levels: grade five, grade eight, and twelve. Students are selected at the school level by the Administration and Teacher Committee based on Vernon Parish School Board criteria. Once selected, students then compete for “Student of the Year” honors in Vernon Parish.
“Students of the Year” have their names and pictures placed permanently in the halls of Hicks High School. They also have their pictures taken and published in the Leesville Leader, and receive a $25.00 gift card from Walmart.
Policy
In grades 6 – 12, students may not have a grade of “F” on their Six-Week Report Card and participate in field trips. This means a disqualified student may not become eligible for field trips until the report card meets the qualification the next six-weeks. In addition to the above policy, Student-Athletes who have a grade of “F” on a six-week report card will also follow their coach’s academic policy for each sport. Field trip sponsors and coaches are responsible for making sure ineligible students do not participate in field trips and/or athletics.
CURRICULUM
Programs are offered in vocational areas as well as the traditional subjects through the traditional classroom setting and through our compressed video lab. Students are also awarded opportunities to obtain diploma endorsements as well as college credits for work completed in dual enrollment courses offered through Northwestern State University. Hicks High School follows the guidelines established by the State Bulletin 741 for School Policies and Standards. The Vernon Parish Pupil Progression Plan is followed for promotions, retentions, grading procedures, and other pertinent policies.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance has a direct bearing on your grades, and your grades will suffer if your attendance at school is not regular. Consequences for tardiness and absenteeism are addressed later.
Louisiana Schools are mandated to enforce Attendance Requirements for students attending public schools.
These requirements are as follows:
(1) A minimum attendance of 167 days per year for elementary students grades k-8 and for high school students, 83 days per semester.
(2) Mandates that schools provide verbal or written notification to a student’s parent, tutor, or legal guardian when that student has been absent from school for three (3) consecutive school days or in excess of a total of five (5) non-consecutive days.
High school students who miss six (7) or more unexcused days in a semester will fail. The only exceptions would be those granted by the Principal on evidence of extenuating circumstances.
Elementary students who miss (11) or more unexcused days in a school year will fail. The only exceptions would be those granted by the Principal on evidence of extenuating circumstances.
A student who does not meet the minimum time requirements for an individual class may also fail that particular class or classes.
Attendance Recovery will be offered to coincide with Grade Recovery dates. Four hours of Attendance Recovery equates to make up of one full day of absence.
Hicks High School will follow the Vernon Parish Truancy Intervention Program.
1. Following three (3) unexcused absences by a student the parents and/or guardian will be contacted by the school and/or representative of FINS (Families in Need of Services) to ascertain the nature of the student’s absence.
2. Following five (5) unexcused absences by a student the parents and/or guardian will be contacted by the School Resources Officer and/or representative of FINS to schedule a mandatory school conference to discuss the nature of the student’s continued absences.
3. Following seven (7) unexcused absences by a student the parents and/or guardian will be subpoenaed by the District Attorney’s Office to appear before the Judges of the 30th Judicial Court to show cause why the student is not attending school and/or referred for criminal prosecution.
It is the parents’ and/or guardians’ responsibility to comply with state law regarding students’ attendance.
The Hicks High School Web Site can be found @ www.vpsb.k12.la.us . Once there click on Hicks High School. At our web site you can find information about academics, athletics, and individual teacher web pages. At the Parent/Student Center you can access school test history, school report cards, testing resources, practice test materials, and other items to assist students in preparing for high stakes testing. In the Parent /Student Center you may also access your child’s teachers’ areas of certification.
Parent Communication Center: From this site, you may access your child’s grades, attendance, tardy, and transcript records. Simply go to the website listed above. Once there, you will click on the Parent’s Communication Center and set up an account. For information about how to utilize this resource, contact Tammy McKenzie. It is recommended for each parent/guardian to utilize the Parent Communication Center.
ATTENDANCE REWARDS
Perfect Attendance awards will be given to students who have attended 100 % of every school day. School approved trips are not counted as absences.
ABSENCES
Absences from school may be excused for (1) student illness, (2) illness in immediate family, (3) death in immediate family, (4) approved religious holidays, (5) doctor and dental appointments, (6) approved school trips. If a student has an excused absence from school verified by a parent, then the student will be allowed the same number of days that she/he was absent to make up the work missed.
Students must bring a written note when they return to school from an absence. Students 7-12 should bring that note to the office before school begins. Failure to bring a note will cause the absence to be unexcused.
Absences will not be excused for any of the following reasons:
(1) shopping trips
(2) meals off campus
(3) haircuts
(4) automobile broken down
(5) any other reasons not listed as excused
Students who have agreed to participate in school functions and do not show up and/or compete will be considered absent without permission. If such an event is on a school day, the student will be charged with an unexcused absence. This student will not be allowed to participate in any future activities of a similar nature. Teachers will take roll at the beginning of each class and document any students not present in class. These students’ names will be checked against the names of students not present in 1st period and the check in/out sheets. Any student caught skipping a class will be dealt with accordingly.
CHECK IN/OUT
Anytime students arrive at school after the first hour tardy bell, they are required to sign in at the office. If students must leave school for an emergency, they must have a note from a parent or guardian stating the time for the student to sign out. Students will not be able to leave school without parental permission. Students who check out of school for unexcused reasons will not be allowed to check back in that day. To check out and back in the same day, a student must be going to a doctor, a dentist or a funeral. The student must bring a notice from the doctor/dentist’s office to check in. The only exceptions to these instances must be granted by prior approval of the principal or assistant principal.
TELEPHONE USE
Students may not use the telephone in the office, the cafeteria, the library, the teachers’ lounge, or the counselor’s office without prior approval from the principal, assistant principal, or secretary. Except in extreme emergency, no other person is authorized to give this permission. Use of the gym phone is to be approved by the coaches.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH PROGRAM
Each student is assigned an account number. All breakfast and lunch money will be paid in advance. Students K-5 should bring money in a sealed envelope with their name, account number, and homeroom teacher’s name on the outside of the envelope. Any amount sent will be credited to the student’s account. Students 6-12 will pay their account in the cafeteria in the morning before school. As students eat breakfast or lunch, the appropriate amount is deducted from their accounts. The only exception to this is the purchase of extra milk. Money for extra milk must be paid at the time it is purchased. Extra milk costs will not be deducted from the student’s account. Students are encouraged to pay a week or more in advance to avoid daily trips for payment. No change will be given as students go through the lunch line. If a student’s account runs out of money, then the cafeteria will notify you/your child. Charges are limited to a maximum of Five Dollars.
Please note: Full pay lunch fees are now $2.00 per meal.
Free/Reduced lunch applications may be accessed online at www.vpsb.k12.la.us .
From this site, you may also set up access to monitor your child’s breakfast/lunch account as well as make online payments – click on the link or visit http://www.myschoolbucks.com .
VISITORS
Students are not to have visitors at school, except parents or guardians. All visitors, with the exception of central office staff, must check in at the office and be issued a visitor’s badge. This badge must be visibly worn in order for the visitor to gain access to a student or a classroom. Visitors will check out through the office and will check in and out of the Headstart room, but must check in at the office before going elsewhere on the school grounds.
In order to protect our students’ learning opportunities, Parents/Guardians wishing to speak with a teacher must schedule a conference. Instructional time must not be disrupted so that our students have ample opportunity to be well prepared for their futures. We greatly appreciate your help with this matter and will gladly assist you in setting up a conference time.
CHARGES INCURRED BY STUDENTS
Students are responsible for charges they incur at school. Lost or damaged textbooks or library books are the responsibility of the student. Failure to return the books will result in the student being responsible for the cost of the book. Students are responsible for money collected and/or materials used for fund-raisers.
SCHOOL SAFETY
HHS takes the safety of its students very seriously. We adhere to all guidelines and follow procedures for various issues concerning the safety of our students. A full-time School Resource Officer is on staff and aids in monitoring the campus throughout the day as well as assists in combating truancy.