Wheaton Junior/Senior High School

Student Handbook

2015 –2016

Wheaton R-III School District

PO Box 249116 McCall

Wheaton, MO 64874

Home of the Bulldogs

Wheaton R-III District Philosophy

Recognizing each student as a unique individual, we believe that education should provide an opportunity for the maximum development of each individual within the limitations of his/her capacities. We believe that education must help the student realize his/her worth as an individual and should lead him/her toward becoming a productive member of society. Strong emphasis must be placed upon democratic values, which are important for an effective and satisfying personal and social life. We believe that the teacher, the parent/guardian, and the student must have all definite responsibilities in the educational program of the community. We believe it is the responsibility of the WheatonR-IIISchool District to provide an educational environment for the children of the district, which will foster and accelerate their intellectual, physical, social and career development.

District Goals:

  • Respect for basic values for self, family and community.
  • The ability to apply critical thinking skills in solving problems and making decisions.
  • The ability to learn independently and work cooperatively with others to achieve common goals.
  • The skills necessary to communicate effectively.
  • The skills necessary to function in mathematical and technical situations.
  • The social skills necessary to understand and appreciate relationships between cultures and people in a global society.
  • The ability to exercise responsibility in dealing with health and environmental issues.

Wheaton Jr./Sr.High School Faculty & Staff

2015 – 2016

Jodi ArnoldBusiness

Dana BartkoskiNurse

Lori BartonArt

Glynn BennionEnglish Language Arts

David BoltonAgriculture

Jon BranscumSocial Studies

Becky ChristmanMath

Darrell CraneEnglish Language Arts

Robert CreekmoreScience

Kristi DunlopParaprofessional

Dale ForgeyAdministrative Assistant

Doretta FoxStudent Services Director

Billie Jo HardyVocal Music

Terra HarperParaprofessional

Chris KennedyPhysical Education

Holly LaceyScience

Jessica LombardPhysical Education

Karen MitchellParaprofessional/Nurse

Twyla McInturffLibrarian

Jason NavarroSocial Studies

Pam PetersonMath

Jennifer SullivanCounselor

Jessica YangSpecial Education

Transportation Maintenance

Gary Bertalotto – DirectorGary Bertalotto - Director

Jon BrattinJon Brattin

Julie MalinChristopher Hang

Steve SpillmanJulie Malin

Janice WallaceDavid Toler

Purpose for Handbook

This handbook is a tool to assist our students, their guardian’s, and parents. It provides basic information about our school, including important dates, policies, and general guidelines. Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with this information. If you have any concerns, please contact the high school office at 652-7249, or come by the school. Should you need to talk to a teacher, please arrange a conference time. Due to the importance of the educational environment of the students, this handbook may be amended during the year at the administrator’s discretion.

Table of Contents

Wheaton R-III District Philosophy

Wheaton Jr./Sr. High School Faculty & Staff

Purpose for Handbook

A+...... 5

Academic Letter Requirements

Access to Student Records...... 6

Accidents/Illness

Additional Discipline Concerns

After School Detention (ASD)

Alcohol/Drug Abuse

Bell Schedule

Bus Rules

Cafeteria Services

College Visit Procedures...... 12

Contagious Diseases...... 12

Directory Information Notice for FERPA...... 12

Discipline Policy

Dress Code

Driving Privileges

Dual Credit Program...... 14

Due Process

Electronic Devices

Extracurricular Activity Membership

Fighting

Food and Drinks

Grade Classification

Grade Reporting Periods

Grades

Grading System

Graduation Requirements

Guidance Services

Harassment...... 19

Head Lice...... 27

Honor Roll Guidelines

Immunizations

Inclement Weather

K – 12 Attendance Policy

Leaving School Grounds

Medication Policy

Military Recruiter Access to Student and Student Recruiting Information

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Parent Portal

PPRA Amendment...... 30

Public Notice

Residency

Right to Complain to FERPA Office

Right to Request Amendment3

Search and Seizure

Suspension (Out of School)3

School Activities

Student Automobile Regulations...... 3

Student Insurance

Tardy Policy

Telephone Use

Textbooks5

Tobacco/E-Cigarettes5

Visitors5

Weighted Classes5

Wheaton R-III School District Computer and Network Use Rules and Regulations5

Behaviors Considered to Violate School Rules and Regulations...... 36

Wheaton R-III School District Discipline Code

A+ School Program (officially designated)

This is a state funded program designed to assist students with college tuition reimbursement. Individual students who meet the requirements of this program will be eligible for state reimbursement for the cost of tuition to any Missouri public community college or vocational/technical school. Students win with A+ Schools because all students participate in a rigorous program of academic and technical education that will prepare them for the workplace, post-secondary vocational training or college. To be eligible, each student must have entered into a written agreement and meet the following requirements:

Attend a designated A+ school for three consecutive years

Maintain a 2.5 Grade Point Average for all four years of high school

Maintain a 95% attendance average for all four years

Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring

  • Students Graduating in 2015 and beyond must score proficient or advanced on the Algebra I EOC

Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoidance of unlawful drugs.

Academic Letter Requirements

Students will receive an “Academic Letter” which is a four-inch script W with an embroidered lamp of knowledge and a certificate. Each additional year a student qualifies for a letter, the student will receive a bar and an additional certificate.

To be eligible to receive an academic letter, the following criteria must be met:

  1. The student must be in grades nine through twelve.
  2. The student must be enrolled at Wheaton for the entire school year.
  3. The student must earn a minimum of Seven (7) units of credit per year.
  4. The student must have earned a cumulative grade point average for the year of A- (10 points) or higher.
  5. The student must be enrolled in three core classes per semester or two core classes and attend Vo-Tech. Dual credit courses will be considered core classes.

Access to Student Records: Notification of Rights under FERPA for K-12 Schools

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day the Wheaton Jr./Sr. High School receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

  1. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the Wheaton Jr./Sr. High School to amend a record should write the school principal [or appropriate school official], clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

  1. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer. [NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.]

  1. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the [School] to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

[NOTE: In addition, a school may want to include its directory information public notice, as required by § 99.37 of the regulations, with its annual notification of rights under FERPA.]

See the list below of the disclosures that elementary and secondary schools may make without consent.

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the parent or eligible student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the parent or eligible student, § 99.32 of the FERPA regulations requires the school to record the disclosure. Parents and eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A school may disclose PII from the education records of a student without obtaining prior written consent of the parents or the eligible student –

  • To other school officials, including teachers, within the educational agency or institution whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§ 99.31(a)(1))
  • To officials of another school, school system, or institution of postsecondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of § 99.34. (§ 99.31(a)(2))
  • To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as the State educational agency (SEA) in the parent or eligible student’s State. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of § 99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
  • In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§ 99.31(a)(4))
  • To State and local officials or authorities to whom information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed by a State statute that concerns the juvenile justice system and the system’s ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records were released, subject to § 99.38. (§ 99.31(a)(5))
  • To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§ 99.31(a)(6))
  • To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§ 99.31(a)(7))
  • To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§ 99.31(a)(8))
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§ 99.31(a)(9))
  • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36. (§ 99.31(a)(10)
  • Information the school has designated as “directory information” under § 99.37. (§ 99.31(a)(11))

Accidents/Illness

Whenever an accident or illness occurs and it is of a serious nature, we do everything within our power to contact parents/guardians. If we cannot locate a parent/guardian, we will notify the emergency number on the “In Case of Emergency” form. If a student is injured or becomes ill at school, he/she is to report to his/her teacher and ask for a permit to go to the school nurse. Students who are injured or become ill and are able to leave the campus must check out through the office before leaving the school. The district will notify the parent/guardian if the child should go home or go receive medical care as promptly as may be arranged. For the child’s safety, school personnel, including a school nurse, will not transport a seriously injured student. If parents/guardians cannot provide transportation, an ambulance will be called at the expense of the parents/guardians.

Should there be an emergency involving an accident and we cannot reach a parent/guardian; the student will be taken to SouthBarryCountyHospital in Cassville, unless otherwise specified on the student health inventory form. This is the nearest hospital and they are affiliated with St. John’s in Springfield. The doctor on call will be used for emergency treatment. A responsible adult may accompany the child in the ambulance in the absence of a parent/guardian.

In case of minor illness, we have the student lie down and notify the parent/guardian if she/he becomes worse. Under no circumstances do we send a student home, unless the parent/guardian or person listed on the emergency contact grants permission. Please keep all telephone numbers and emergency informationcurrent with the office.

Additional Discipline Concerns

Students who misbehave or are disrespectful when a substitute teacher is in the classroom will be sent immediately to the office. Students in these cases are in jeopardy of a more severe consequence. The Wheaton Jr./Sr. High School reserves the right to pursue disciplinary or legal action for behavior, which is subversive to good order and discipline in the school, even though such behavior is not specified in the preceding written rules. It should perhaps be noted here that there are certain rules and regulations protecting the rights of personnel as well as the rights of students.

After School Detention (ASD)

1. The student shall report to the detention room by 3:20 with all textbooks, materials, paper, pen or pencil, and all other materials. Once scheduled for ASD, you must attend or have administrative permission to change dates.

2. Lack of writing materials (paper, pen, pencil) will result in an automatic five page writing assignment.

3. Arriving late (tardy) for ASD will result in an additional ASD.

4. Upon arrival, students will be seated and begin work. Students will not talk to, communicate with, or disturb others while in ASD.

5. Students will be productive and working on assignments at all times. Students will not get out of their seat or speak without raising their hand and receiving permission from the teacher. Students will work independently except for necessary assistance. Eating and drinking is prohibited.

6. Disruptive behavior in ASD may result in additional ASD or OSS.

7. ASD is not intended to be abusive, but it is intended to be an unpleasant enough experience that students will consider strongly this consequence before they violate rules and regulations. We sincerely hope it will be a prevention/deterrent of misconduct.

ASD Summary

  • Students report to the assigned classroom and are seated by 3:20 p.m.
  • They are expected to bring assignments to work on.
  • After school detention is supervised.
  • Detention is held until 3:50 p.m. for 30-minute detention and 4:20 p.m. for 1 - hour detention.
  • Failure to attend ASD without notification to the HS office prior to the assignment will result in additional ASD's or OSS.
  • ASD may be substituted for or combined with other consequences, according to administrator discretion.

Alcohol/Drug Abuse

The Board recognizes its share of the responsibility for the health and safety of the students who attend WheatonR-IIISchool District. The board considers use of illicit drugs and the unlawful possession or use of alcohol as wrong and harmful; therefore, the following activities are prohibited:

  1. The use, distributions, possession of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, imitation of controlled substance or drug paraphernalia.
  2. Being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.

This policy applies to the following:

  1. Wheaton R-III property.
  2. On any school-owned vehicle or in any other school-approved vehicle used to transport students to and from school or school activities.
  3. Off school property at any school-sponsored or school-approved activity, event or function, such as a field trip or athletic event where students are under the jurisdiction of the school district.

For the purpose of this policy, a controlled substance shall include any controlled substance, counterfeit substance or imitation controlled substance as defined in the Narcotic Drug Act, Section 195.010.RSMo. All medications prescribed by a physician, as well as all non-prescription medications, will be cleared with the school nurse, principal, or superintendent before taken. In the absence of a physician’s instructions, parental permission in writing is required for any student medication to be possessed or taken by the student while under the jurisdiction of the district.