Handbook

2006-2007

4301 Sandy Porter Road, Suite E

Charlotte, NC28273

Phone: (980) 343 – 1110

Fax: (980) 343- 1114

Email:

Table of Contents
Welcome Letter - Principal ...... 2
Welcome Letter - Parent ...... 3
School Philosophy ...... 4
Guiding Principles ...... 4
Commitment of SBHPA Students ...... 4
Commitment of SBHPA Families ...... 5
Commitment of SBHPA Staff ...... 5
Advisory ...... 7 / Academics ...... 7
Communications ...... 8
Dress Code ...... 8
Discipline ...... 9
Tardy Policy ...... 9
Classroom Norms ...... 10
Schedules...... 11
Emergency Procedures ...... 14
Miscellaneous ...... 14
The handbook should not be considered all-inclusive in its coverage. Parents and students should consult CMS Student Parent Handbook ( and Student Code of Conduct ( publications for information on policies, regulations and procedures. Failure to read and be familiar with Charlotte-MecklenburgSchool District’s regulations and policies does not exempt a student from responsibility.

Page 1

Welcome Letter – Principal

Dear Olympic Community of Schools Members

My name is Jerry Brown, principal of the Biotechnology, Health and PublicAdministrationSchool at the Olympic Community of Schools. I am proud to join a school community that is willing and able to invest in a very important reform effort in this nation’s high schools.

The reforms require changes; sometimes these changes are very subtle and sometimes they are obvious. Some of these changes are structural, but the most important changes are aimed at creating a more academically sound learning environment for all students. Community support is pivotal in the success of these changes and that support on the part of the Olympic community has been tremendous. During the coming year, I would urge you to continue that support by actively participating in this very important process.

In our efforts to establish a school community that is safe and civil, expectations for behavior will be markedly high. These expectations will be set by representative students, staff and parents and clearly communicated to all students. In turn, the staff and administration will consistently and fairly enforce these expectations.

In his book, Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville explains that as our society has changed, we are becoming less and less connected to communities of all sorts. Our school will implement an Advisory that will help students examine critically the impact of those changes and how to make connections to the school community. The small school setting is a very conducive process to facilitate this goal.

Instruction at the school will be rigorous and challenging. Both students and teachers will examine each other’s work critically, using protocols for that critical examination process. This critical examination of instructional processes and outcomes will be aimed at continued improvement in both teacher and student work. I would be amiss if I did not stress the importance of parental involvement in this component. Engage your student in discussions about school. Engage our staff in discussions about your student. We welcome those discussions.

We also intend to communicate openly and frequently with students and parents during the coming year. Watch for a regular newsletter and visit our website. As principal, I intend to have an open door policy for students, staff and parents.

Finally as we begin this year of transformation to professional learning communities, we must recognize the gargantuan work of Pam Espinosa and her design teams. The sheer volume of work and planning that has gone into this effort is nothing short of amazing. I am confident that we, as a school community, will reap the benefits of this work.

Sincerely,

Jerry Brown

Welcome Letter-Parent

Dear Parents of Students at the new Biotechnology, Health and Public Administration School at Olympic:

I have been an Olympic parent for three years and during the last year have served on the design team for our new Biotech, Health and Public Admin school as a parent representative. In all honesty, I chose to become involved in a design team because I had a lot of questions about what the Coalition of Essential Schools was all about and felt being involved would offer me the best opportunity to get answers to those questions. As a parent, one of the questions I had was obviously “How will the upcoming changes affect my own teenagers?” I’m sure each of you has asked yourselves that same question. As a member of the design team, I have had the opportunity to ask many questions, offer opinions from the parent’s perspective, meet the staff that one of my teenagers will be working with, disagree with staff, and openly and honestly discuss what we as a team felt was in the best interest of all students choosing to attend our new school. I have also had the opportunity to get accurate information rather than depending on the rumor mill for information. Often times, I was amazed at the rumors circulating among the students and parents and it was reassuring to be able to discuss rumors with staff and get facts rather than rumors.

Do I have all the answers? I don’t think any of us have all the answers. Some answers won’t come until next year as we make the transition to a new way of educating our students. As a parent, I also understand the anxiety some of you may be feeling. Change is never easy but I have learned through the years that sometimes we must change in order to improve. I have been a resident of the Steele Creek community for over 16 years and have seen the growth and changes in our community as well as the changes at OHS through the years. I am also a native Charlottean and graduated from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. Over the years I have watched as our city and county have struggled with the issue of education and I think most of you will agree that we MUST make changes within our schools to prepare our students for success in college and the workforce.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year and the changes it will bring, I encourage you to get involved. I know from personal experience that the best way to stay informed, to have the opportunity for input, to help bring about change, and to make an impact for our kids is to be involved. Change may be difficult; but with parents, staff, students and community working together, this transition will be made much smoother. We must work together as a team for the benefit of the students. I encourage you to attend as many meetings as your schedules allow. Volunteer in any way you are able. Take the time to meet the staff and get to know them. They have spent many long hours after school and at home preparing and planning for this next year because they believe in the new school and they care about their students. I have been very encouraged as I talk with and observe the staff on this team and as I have participated in our team meetings.

Please take the time to read the monthly newsletter and look for opportunities to volunteer. There will be many opportunities; some big and some small; some short-term and some long-term commitments but all are important and necessary if we want to see our kids succeed.

I look forward to meeting you and working with you as we make this transition at Olympic. Together, we can make a difference for our kids and for the new OHS.

Beth Anthony

School Philosophy

GOAL: The Biotechnology Health and Public Administration will provide a successful 21st century school model that empowers its students with fulfilling careers.

VISION: Through fostering an intrinsic motivation for lifelong learning in ALL students, the School of Biotechnology, Health and Public Administration will provide students with the tools necessary for lifelong personal and professional success, regardless of their career choice, effective communication, organizational, and time management skills, develop a healthy sense of drive, ambition, and work ethic, as well as to desire to continuously seek additional educational knowledge and personal fulfillment

MISSION:The School of Biotechnology, Health & Public Administration, in partnership with community and industry, is dedicated to provide life-long learners with real world applications of science to encourage advancements and to promote social awareness in the 21st century. Students will participate in an intensive cross-curricular program that values social responsibility, equity, and personal enrichment.

Our Guiding Principles

These principles are the foundation of all School of Biotechnology, Health and Public Administration (SBHPA) policies, programs, and collaborative work.

  1. Staff, families and students all choose to be here because we are committed to the vision of the school. Being a part of this community is intentional.
  1. With the choice to be part of this exceptional community comes the responsibility to make it work every day. Staff, families, and students commit to true partnerships that enable us to transform our vision statement into our daily reality.
  1. We are committed to a success greater than just our own. We understand that every action, positive and negative, ripples beyond us to influence our entire community. We offer our strengths as support to others.
  1. We believe that all students can be held to rigorous academic and community commitments while respecting individual differences. The diversity of our school community enriches our learning.
  1. The School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, whose principles inform all aspects of our practice. Fundamentally, we believe that students who learn to use their minds well make positive decisions for themselves and our world.

Commitment from SBHPA Students

We are fully committed to the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration’s Community in the following ways:

  • Commitment to SBHPA’s Guiding Principle and Vision
  • We believe in the Vision and Guiding Principles of the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration. As a member of this community, we will work to fulfill this vision.
  • We care about both our own success and the success of others in our community.
  • Commitment to Policies and Attendance Requirements
  • We understand that we must follow the SBHPA policies and will accept the consequences of our own choices.
  • We understand that the project-based and collaborative nature of the curriculum makes missing school time very difficult for us. We are aware of the attendance requirements and will make careful decisions when deciding to miss school. If we are absent, we will take full responsibility for making up missed work and staying up to date with current work.
  • Commitment to Progress
  • We understand that homework is crucial to success and will complete quality work each night.
  • We will make sure to be organized and prepared in each class. We will come to every class with pens/pencils, required texts and notebooks, planner, and assignments. We will use the planner to stay organized.
  • We will take a leading role in our education by asking for help when we are struggling, being an active learner in class, and creating a personal challenge in every learning experience.
  • Commitment to Partnerships
  • We will be allies with all students in our school community. We will not bully, tease, exclude others, or physically fight. We will speak up if we witness others being mistreated and we will offer our strengths to others through tutoring and collaboration. If we have a problem with another student, we will try to find a peaceful solution. When asked if we did enough to help make a situation better, we will be able to honestly answer, “yes”.
  • We will care for our shared spaces. We will help keep common spaces clean even when the trash is not ours.
  • Commitment to Personal Responsibility
  • We understand that we make choices that determine both our own success and the success of our greater community.

Commitment from SBHPA Families

We are fully committed to the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration’s Community (SBHPA) in the following ways:

  • Commitment to SBHPA’s Guiding Principle and Vision
  • We believe in the Vision and Guiding Principles of the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration. As a member of this community, we will work to fulfill this vision.
  • We are dedicated to the academic success and overall well being of all students in the SBHPA in addition to our own.
  • Commitment to Policies and Attendance Requirements
  • We understand that our child must follow the SBHPA policies to contribute to his/her individual success as well as that of the greater community. We are responsible for the behavior of our child and will collaborate with the school staff and our child to effectively address any concerns.
  • We understand that the project based and collaborative nature of the curriculum makes missing school time very difficult for our child. We will not schedule appointments or plan vacations that will conflict with school. We are aware of the attendance requirements and will make careful decisions when allowing our child to miss school.
  • Commitment to Progress
  • We will ensure that we receive each Progress Report and Report Card and will review them carefully with our child.
  • We will do our best to stay informed about daily assignments, projects, and assessments. We will help our child maintain the consistent effort required to thrive at SBHPA.
  • Commitment to Partnerships
  • When our child is struggling in any class we will get in touch with the staff instead of waiting for an update from the school.
  • We will do our best to attend school functions and Parent Teacher Conferences in order to stay informed about our child’s progress and build positive relationships with the staff.
  • We will be active partners in the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration by sharing ideas and resources that will benefit the school.
  • Commitment to Personal Responsibility
  • We will help our child understand that her/his success rests with her/his own choices and he/she also has responsibilities to strengthen and add value to the SBHPA community.

Commitment from SBHPA Staff

We are fully committed to the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration’s Community in the following ways:

  • Commitment to SBHPA’s Guiding Principle and Vision
  • We believe in the Vision and Guiding Principles of the School of Biotechnology, Health, and Public Administration. As active members of this community, we will work to fulfill this vision.
  • We choose to support all students as they develop as thinkers, activists, and community members.
  • Commitment to Policies and Attendance Requirements
  • We will help implement the policies and expectations of the SBHPA fairly for all students in the community.
  • We will keep accurate data regarding student attendance and progress to help address student needs.
  • Commitment to Progress
  • We will teach academic content by focusing on significance: making connections, finding and evaluating evidence, considering alternatives and seeing points of view.
  • We will design a constructivist curriculum in which students create enduring understanding through personal connections, shared discovery, meaningful projects, revisions, skills practice, and real world application.
  • We will provide a variety of learning experiences in order to meet the needs of diverse learners. We will maintain a rigorous program for each student.
  • We will think critically about teaching and learning. We will participate in professional development opportunities to further develop practice.
  • Commitment to Partnerships
  • We will collaborate in teams, departments, and as a school to share best practices, create curriculum, and support students’ academic and emotional needs. We will contribute to school leadership committees to help influence the direction and tone of the school.
  • We will maintain contact with families regarding the progress of their child.
  • Commitment to Personal Responsibility
  • We will help students see themselves as change agents in their own lives and in the world.

Staff Listing

Staff Member / Area / Staff Member / Area
Tamara Easter / English / John Michalski / Social Studies
Gregory Morrison / English / Michael Williams / Social Studies
Janet Tuthill / English / Latisha Hensley / Social Studies
Ginger Stearns / English
Rae Kube / ESL
Monica Millner / Math
Kenneth Walker / Math / Terri Greene / Spanish
Candice Smith / Math / Freddy Rivera / Spanish
Patrick Bucka / Biology / Julie Blackwelder / Health/PE
Jeanne Smith / Chemistry
Lawrence Hollis / Science/Bio / Amanda Stone / PLTW/Technology
Beth Williams / Science/Sports Medicine
Deborah Powers / Business Education
Belinda Searcy / CC
Meghan Sanford / CC / Becky Carter / Health Occupations
Margareete Nellon / EC Res
Sherry Griffin / EC Asst. / Les Brooks / Guidance Counselor
Yvonne Haney / EC Asst.
Joey Price / Administrative Assistant
Jerry Brown / Principal

Shared Resources Staff

Staff Member / Area / Staff Member / Area
Baumgarten, Kurt / JROTC / Massey, Earl / JROTC
Caldwell, Dean / CDC / Merrill, Emily / Athletic Trainer
Davis, Benjamin / JROTC / Modisette, James / JROTC
Espinosa, Pamela / Executive Principal / Neal, Clayton / JROTC
Hunter, Lasonia / Chorus / Realon, Mike / CDC
Konstanty, Kenneth / Ath Dir / Rudd, Jonathan / Band
Lacher, Dennis / JROTC / Watts, Terry / JROTC

Coaches

Coach / Team / Coach / Team
Maurice Flowers / Varsity - Football / Matt Merrill / Varsity – Boys Soccer
Julie Blackwelder / Varsity - Volleyball / Christy Kunkle / Varsity - X-Country
Ryan Bean / Varsity - X-Country / Beth Linkston / Varsity – Cheerleading
Paula Wright / JV- Cheerleading / Ty Baumgardner / Varsity- Boys Basketball
Pat Bucka / JV Boys Basketball / Sue Panek / Varsity Girls Basketball
Julie Blackwelder / JV Girls Basketball / Ryan Bean / Varsity - Wrestling
Christy Kunkle / Varsity - Swimming / Bob Rhodes / Varsity - Baseball
Rachel Dorr / Varsity - Softball / Matt Merrill / Varsity – Girls Soccer

Advisory

What is advisory?

“If even one person in a school knows him/her well enough to care,