Choices Academy 23-24 Student Handbook Principal: Courtney Elliott Assistant Principal-Michael Beale Dean of Students-Bonnie Johnson
MISSION STATEMENT Choices Academy’s mission is to promote student growth through social, emotional, personal, and intellectual engagement to reach academic success and be able to return to a comprehensive school setting. THE CHOICES WAY Social/Emotional Goals Students will: • Respect themselves, each other, and all property to ensure a positive and safe learning environment. • Display appropriate behavior according to the Choices Academy Handbook and WCPS Code of Conduct at all times. • Cooperate with all school personnel. • Use respectful, appropriate language. Avoid using sarcasm, gossip, belittling, or putting down of others. • Consume food and drink in the Choices cafeteria only. • Place all trash and discarded materials in trash cans throughout the day. • Move quietly through the building to avoid being a distraction to classrooms along the route. • Display appropriate behaviors that will allow the bus driver to reach each destination safely. Personal Goals Students will: • Wear proper and acceptable attire to school • Arrive at school and to every class on time and be ready to work. • Move to class when the warning bell rings at 7:30 a.m. • Take proper care of textbooks, materials, and equipment. • Remain on school property during school hours. • Present a note signed by a parent/guardian to explain any absences (no more than 5 per term). • Advise the school office, guidance, and nurse regarding changes of address, phone number, and emergency information on a consistent basis. • Keep all electronic devices (Cellular phones, headphones, etc.) in a safe place. Choices Academy is NOT responsible for any lost/stolen items. • Exit the building promptly at the ringing of the dismissal bell at 2:26 p.m. Academic Goals Students will: • Conduct themselves in a manner that allows the teachers to teach, and all students to learn. • Strive for success and believe it is possible. • Complete and turn in assignments on the due date. • Remain in class in order to maximize learning. The behavioral expectations are taught to all students in the building and are taught in real contexts. Teaching appropriate behavior involves much more than simply telling students what behaviors they should avoid.
MAIN OFFICE INFORMATION Our secretarial staff receives numerous requests from parents each day that involve various requests. In an effort to minimize interruptions to the school day and classroom instruction, we are asking that parents limit the number of times they call the school to leave messages or come to school to drop off items to their student. If your child has called and asked you to drop something off, please leave the item in the main office. Please make sure that your child's name is on the item. For your convenience in direct dialing, please keep this number in a handy spot: Choices Academy Main Office 410-677-5220 REPORT CARD / MID-TERM REPORT DISTRIBUTION Students and families of Choices’ students are able to access student progress reports and report cards on the Family Portal. ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES Any student who arrives to school after the 7:45 am bell, or who needs to leave school after arriving, must sign the "Sign In/Sign Out Form" in the main office. Students who are dismissed early are only allowed to leave school premises with a Family Portal listed contact. Those not listed are not permitted to pick up a student. A student should never, under any circumstances, leave school during school hours without first obtaining permission from a parent/guardian. Students leaving school without proper permission are subject to disciplinary action. Absence Notes - A note is required for an excused absence. Such notes would include doctors' notes, notices of court summons or a copy of an obituary from a death in the family. Notes should be submitted within 5 days after returning to school from the absence. Notes from parents may be submitted for other absences and will be filed in the student’s file. Please note, no more than 5 excuse notes will be allowed per term. Request for Make-up Work - Makeup assignments to be sent home may be requested when a student has an extended absence by calling the school and giving 24 hour notice of the request. The request should be made by the student or guardian. Work will only be given on a weekly basis. A timeline will be determined for work submission between the student and teacher. Lunch - A student may bring a packed lunch or get lunch in the cafeteria. If a student choses to bring in a packed lunch, it must be left in the main office until their lunch shift. Students may not leave campus for lunch nor may they order lunch and have it delivered. All food and drinks are to be eaten in the cafeteria as food is not permitted in other parts of the building. School Functions - Students and guests at school functions must observe expected school behavior. The code of conduct does apply to all extra-curricular/co-curricular events at Choices Academy and other schools/functions. Any person appearing to have consumed alcohol and/or drugs prior to entrance to any extracurricular event will be refused admission. Persons leaving the building during an event may not return. At the end of each event, all
persons are to leave promptly. Conduct at all extracurricular activities should reflect courtesy and respect for others and bring honor and credit to our school and ourselves. Please note this is only for volunteer students and Risers. All other students are not permitted to attend extracurricular activities. HOW TO GET HELP WITH A PROBLEM Our school seeks to serve the needs and best interests of each student; therefore, it is our goal to help students in problem situations. Discipline, Security, Personal Safety or Welfare - If you have a problem related to discipline, security, personal safety or welfare or vandalism: 1. Tell the nearest teacher or adult staff member. Tell him exactly what happened to you or what you observed happening to someone else. Problems of discipline, security and personal safety are considered very serious. For this reason, you should also. 2. See the Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, or Student Advisor right away. 3. When you alert school personnel, tell your parents about the problem. They will want to know. It is important for you to know that when you report incidents of this nature to the school, every effort will be made to keep the information and your identity confidential. Academic Problems - For help with an academic problem: 1. See the teacher who teaches the subject. Go to teachers on a personal, one- to-one basis. If they can help, they generally will be glad to do so. They will welcome you and may ask for further conferences with you and/or your parents. 2. Further help can be obtained through the guidance counselor. 3. For problems that are still not solved after you have talked with the guidance counselor, discuss the matter with your parents and with the Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, or Principal. Your parents may wish to join you in talking with the Principal. Choices Academy Code of Conduct The students, faculty, and staff of the Choices Academy community are committed to creating an environment of academic integrity and personal character that affirms honesty, responsibility, and effort. We believe that an essential part of education and citizenship is developing a sense of responsibility and fairness by encouraging principled actions. Our goal is to foster the growth of each student's self-respect through academic integrity and ethical behavior and to encourage honest and trustworthy conduct in all curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities. The Code of Conduct provides students, faculty, staff, and parents with specific expectations for ethical conduct and behavior, as well as clear and uniform consequences that promote development of character through interventions and appropriate penalties. The Wicomico County Code of Conduct can be found at SFS_GEN_PR_008 Student Code of Conduct 82023.pdf (boarddocs.com) Consequences The success of the Code of Conduct relies in part on the enforcement of uniform consequences. Teachers, administrators, and Academic Integrity Counselors agree to abide by the progressive
penalties and rehabilitation programs described herein. Consequences will be consistent and fair. The Code of Conduct provides guidelines for consequences based on the actions of the student. RESPONSIBILITIES Teachers are responsible for clearly communicating to students their expectations for the ethical completion of assignments, projects, and assessments. When a student has violated the Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity, the teacher will refer the student to the appropriate administrator. Failure to do so may be noted in the teacher's administrative review. Students are responsible for monitoring their own behavior and conducting themselves in a manner that reflects the spirit of the code of conduct. To that end, the following practices are suggested: • Ask teachers to specify if work is to be done cooperatively or independently. • Use a cover sheet during assessments. • Put all materials, including calculators and cell phones, out of sight during assessments (unless authorized by the teacher). • Follow sound research methods by taking careful notes, paraphrasing or quoting, and properly documenting any idea that is not your own.
SERVICE LEARNING AND PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS FOR WICOMICO COUNTY Students must meet the Student Service Requirement. This requirement prescribes that students shall complete one of the following: (1) a state-approved, locally designed program in student service; or, (2) seventy-five (75) hours of service that includes preparation, action and reflection components. Promotion Requirements - In order to pass to the next higher grade, a student must have earned the following minimum credits: 9th to 10th - 4 credits 10th to 11th - 9 credits 11th to 12th - 14 credits
ANY STUDENT EXPERIENCING ANY DIFFICULTY IS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK ASSISTANCE. Daily Announcements - Each day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by school related announcements which have received prior approval. Quiet is expected during the announcement period. Conflict Resolution/Human Relations - The Student Advisor facilitates the resolution of conflicts and the development of Human Relations skills. Students may be referred to these programs but are also actively encouraged to contact these staff members whenever they can be of assistance. Guidance Counseling – Choices Academy has one guidance counselor who can provide many services and information. The student and the parents should use the resources available through the guidance office. Services include: academic planning, career planning, career counseling and referral, testing for armed services, college, school and State of Maryland, and information regarding the Academic Assistance Program. Health Services - Students becoming ill during the school day should obtain permission to report to the school nurse. Students who must take medications during the school day must adhere to procedures outlined in the Wicomico County Policy for Administration of Medication. Lost and Found - The Lost and Found area is in the main office. The school is not responsible for lost items. Mentoring Project - The Wicomico Mentoring Project involves members of the business, agency, and civic communities in nurturing relationships with our students to provide social, emotional and/or academic encouragement.
SCHEDULE FOR DELAYS
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