WESTWOOD REGIONAL
JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL
701 Ridgewood Road
Township of Washington, NJ 07676
www.wwrsd.org
201-664-0880
201-722-1542 (Fax)
STUDENT/PARENT/GUARDIAN
HANDBOOK
2016-2017
“Excellence in Education”
This agenda belongs to:
Name: ______Grade: ______
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All District Policies and Regulations can be found at the following link: Policies & Regulations
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Dear Student and Parent/Guardian:
This handbook has been prepared for the benefit of all parents/ guardians and students. It is designed with one purpose in mind: to improve communication between home and school. Students will do better if we work together in the spirit of cooperation.
Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School is committed to the pursuit of “excellence in education.” A group of people bound together in pursuit of educational excellence must set down in writing the policies, rules, and procedures which will bind them together as a community. This handbook represents a balance between individual rights and the school’s responsibilities as an educational institution. Other materials that may be of assistance to make this school year a success may be found on the school’s website at http://www.wwrsd.org/site/default.aspx?DomainID=76
It is the hope of the administration and staff that the student body recognizes and understands the importance of the information contained in this handbook. It has been prepared to supply the students of Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School with a thorough overview of the school, its policies, and expectations. Please read this document carefully and keep it handy for future reference.
Motto
“Excellence in Education”
Mission Statement
“To provide excellence in education through rich and diverse learning opportunities, enabling students to exercise intelligent control of their future.”
Vision Statement
The vision of Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School, serving the diverse communities of the Borough of Westwood and the Township of Washington, is to provide a sound and comprehensive education. This education process will ensure that our students have the knowledge, skills, and experiences which will enable them to make future life choices. It is our long-term goal that each student will use this knowledge, these skills and these experiences to reach his/her potential and thus become an actively contributing, productive member of the global community.
Belief Statements
The Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School staff believes that:
1. Children are our community’s most valuable asset and we value each individual child.
2. All students have the right to a safe, positive, learning environment where diversity and individuality are respected and appreciated.
3. Each student’s individual learning styles and needs shall be addressed.
4. Students shall be empowered to be productive, organized, responsible, and self-directed individuals.
5. Our school shall inspire pride, accomplishment, and growth in all students.
6. Physical and mental well-being contributes to student success.
7. Students shall be encouraged to become life-long learners.
8. A sound and comprehensive education produces literate individuals who are effective problem solvers, critical thinkers, and users of technology.
9. Our school has a responsibility to instill an awareness and appreciation of the global community and environment.
10. Education is the shared responsibility of the students, faculty, staff, Board of Education, family, community, and government.
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Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School Administration
Frank Connelly
Principal
Christopher Mello Michael Corso
Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Grades 10 & 12 Grades 8, 9, 11
Department Supervisors
See: Supervisors
Table of Contents
ACADEMICS 5
Credit System
Grading System
Shared-time Programs
Graduation Requirements
Honor Rolls
Promotion Requirements – Jr. High School
Unprepared for Class
Report Cards/Progress Reports
ATTENDANCE 8
Cutting
Illness at School
Long-term Illness – Home Instruction
Notification to Parents
Right of Appeal
CODE OF DISCIPLINE 11
Student Code of Discipline
Dress Code
Substance Abuse
Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying
GENERAL INFORMATION 12
Communicating with Teachers
Security System
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS 13
Academic Dishonesty
Cell Phones/Radios/Electronic Devices
School Activities
Fire & Security Drills
Parking at School
Personal Property
Prohibited Items
School Property
Student and Locker Searches
Study Hall Standards
STORMY WEATHER REGULATIONS 18
SUPPORT NUMBERS & INFORMATION 18
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY 20
IMPORTANT DATES & SCHEDULES 20
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ACADEMICS
Credit System
The number of credits received by students for a subject is determined by the number of times a class meets per week and the length of time a subject is studied.
Courses meeting for a full year will have a five (5) credit value. Courses meeting less than a full year receive a portion of that credit. Classes that are indicated as a semester (S) will receive two and one-half (2.5) credits while those indicated as a quarterly (Q) will receive one and one-fourth (1.25) credits. A student earns a passing grade by earning a 65 or better for the course.
Grading System
The purpose of grading is to:
1. Inform the pupil of his/her progress
2. Inform the parent/guardian of the student’s progress
3. Establish an objective record for promotion
4. Provide information for the guidance of teacher and parent/guardian in development of each pupil
The plan of grading is as follows:
1. Quarterly reporting of marking period and quarterly summative assessments
2. A five (5) letter scale of marking
Letter Numeric
Grade Equiv. Weight
A+ 100-97 4.3
A 96-93 4.0
A- 92-90 3.7
B+ 89-87 3.3
B 86-83 3.0
B- 82-80 2.7
C+ 79-77 2.3
C 76-73 2.0
C- 72-70 1.7
D 69-65 1.0
F 64-0 0
WA Withdrawn Absent
WC Withdrawn Cutting
WF Withdrawn Failing
WP Withdrawn Passing
Final averages are computed using the numerical values that a student has earned throughout the year. Report card and transcript grades will be converted from numerical grades to alpha grades.
If a student earns a grade that is lower than a fifty (50), and there is improvement in the subsequent quarter, then the case will be reviewed to determine whether or not the circumstances warrant accommodations. Parents/ guardians should reach out to the individual teacher(s) to begin the process.
For a full year course in the Jr./Sr. High School, the final average will be computed from the four (4) quarterly grades (21.25 percent each) and the final exam (15 percent). For a semester course, the final average will be computed from the two (2) quarterly grades (42.5 percent) and the final exam (15 percent). Quarter Courses will remain the same and if an end of course exam is given it will count as part of the quarterly grade.
In the event that a student fails a course, the prerequisite course must be completed with a passing grade before the student can move on to the subsequent course (i.e., Spanish II must be completed with a passing grade before the student can go on to take Spanish III). English and Physical Education are the only exceptions to this rule. In the event a student chooses to take a course during the summer to make up credits, all summer course work must be completed by September 1.
Shared-time Programs
Students attending the Bergen County Technical High School, Capri Institute or Lincoln Technical School, on a shared-time basis (1/2 of the school day) must maintain passing grades in all of the courses in which they are enrolled. If a student fails one or more courses for the school year, either at Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School, Bergen County Technical High School, Capri Institute or Lincoln Technical School, he/she will be ineligible to continue attending the Technical School and forfeit this privilege. Appeals will be heard on a case-by-case basis.
Graduation Requirements – Seniors
High school diplomas will be granted to those students who have completed studies totaling one hundred thirty-five (135) credits including the required subjects correctly distributed. Required subjects include twenty (20) credits in English, fifteen (15) credits in mathematics, fifteen (15) credits in science, ten (10) credits in United States and five (5) credits in world history, five (5) credits in world language, five (5) credits in health and driver’s ed., and the annual completion of physical education.
In addition, all students must meet the requirements listed below:
1. Ten (10) credits in fine, practical, and/or performing arts.
2. A minimum of ninety (90) hours in career exploration. (Please note: career education exploration is infused throughout the student’s required classes and is not a separate course offering.)
Any senior who has not met all of the requirements for graduation may not walk at the graduation ceremony.
Students at Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School receive a decile rank beginning with the second semester of Junior Year. The deadline for final determination of class rank is the end of the first semester of Senior Year.
Additional State High School Graduation Requirement
Beginning in March 2016, a redesigned SAT has been administered and scoring has been updated. The College Board has published a concordance table explaining score equivalencies between the redesigned SAT and the old SAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/educators/higher-ed/scoring-changes/concordance. For the classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in both ELA and math by meeting ONE of the criteria in each column below:
English Language Arts / MathematicsPassing score on a PARCC ELA Grade 9 or / Passing score on PARCC Algebra I or
Passing score on a PARCC ELA Grade 10 or / Passing score on PARCC Geometry or
Passing score on a PARCC ELA Grade 11 or / Passing score on PARCC Algebra II or
SAT >= 400 or / SAT >= 400 or
ACT >= 16 or / ACT >= 16 or
Accuplacer Write Placer >= 6 or / Accuplacer Elementary Algebra >= 76 or
PSAT >= 40 or / PSAT >= 40 or
ACT Aspire >= 422 or / ACT Aspire >= 422 or
ASVAB-AFQT >=31 or / ASVAB-AFQT >=31 or
Meet the Criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal / Meet the Criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal
Valedictorian/Salutatorian
In each high school graduating class, the student who has earned the highest grade point average shall be named valedictorian and the student who has earned the next highest grade point average shall be named salutatorian, provided that any student so names shall have been enrolled in this district for at least two (2) years immediately prior to high school graduation.
Grade point average is calculated at the end of the seventh semester. In the event the highest or next highest grade point average has been earned by two or more students, both or all the students who have tied for first or second place shall be name co-valedictorian or co-salutatorian, as the case may be.
Honor Rolls
Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School recognizes an Honor Roll with Distinction and an Honor Roll. To be eligible for Honor Roll with Distinction, a student must achieve grades no lower than “A-.” To be eligible for Honor Roll, students must achieve grades no lower than “B.”
Promotion Requirements – Jr. High School (Grade 8) to the Sr. High School (Grades 9-12)
In order to be promoted to the next grade level, students in grade 8 must pass a minimum of three (3) major subjects (language arts, math, science and social studies). If a student fails any two (2) major subjects, he/she will be retained unless at least one (1) of the subjects is repeated in summer school and a passing grade is achieved.
Unprepared for Class
Certainly a student will have difficulty learning if he/she is not in class or not prepared for class. Therefore, each student is expected to attend all of his/her classes daily, and to bring the necessary materials as required by each teacher.
If a student is continuously unprepared for class, his/her teacher may choose to assign detention, and/or contact the student’s parents/guardians. Additionally, a parent/guardian and teacher conference may be requested with the student’s school counselor.
Report Cards/Progress Reports
Genesis is accessible by going to the following link Genesis and then “Take Me to Parent Access” at the bottom of the page. Sign in with your username and password.
To view your child’s most recent Progress Report or Report Card in Parent Access, go to “Grading” and click on “Please click here to view.”
Graded student work is also meant to serve as progress reports on a more regular basis. It is very important that each student bring home all graded work in order to help parents/guardians and each student keep track of his/her progress.
ATTENDANCE
The Board of Education has an obligation to require students of this district be present at school so that he/she may be educated appropriately. This policy is for the benefit of the students, their parents/guardians, and the community at large. This policy is based on the belief that a student must attend class on a regular basis if he/she is to receive the maximum benefit from the classroom instruction and to profit from the exchange of ideas within the classroom. Absences, for any reason, restrict and inhibit the ability of the student to master and complete the prescribed curriculum requirements and the various subject proficiencies. The Westwood Regional Board of Education and the Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School staff recognize and accept the responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education for every student and expect the cooperation of students and parents/guardians in this endeavor.
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the attendance office on the morning of the absence as to why the student is absent either by note, email or phone at (201) 664-0880 x2051. Please see Attendance for more information about the attendance policy and/or regulation.
Students arriving to school prior to the conclusion of first period shall report to their class and the teacher will mark them accordingly. Students arriving to school after the first period shall report to the Main Office. No student should report to class after the first period unless he/she has checked in at the Main Office and has been issued a late pass.
Every four (4) tardies of less than fifteen (15) minutes will count as an unexcused absence. Every eight (8) tardies will result in a late cut. Three (3) late cuts in a full year class and two (2) for semester and quarter courses will result in a loss of credit for course.
Cutting
A student is expected to be in class on time every day he/she is in school. If a student is reported as present to school, but fails to show for class without an excuse pass or is fifteen (15) minutes late or more without an excuse pass, it will be considered a cut. Students who accumulate three (3) cuts in the same class if the course is a full year course and two (2) cuts for a semester or quarter course will be denied credit for the course.