Excel High School Handbook

College Preparatory & Technology School

Non-Negotiable Behavior and Citizenship Rules

In order to create a healthy and productive learning environment while ensuring their success, all students at Excel High School MUST:

Be on time for school and all classes.
Come to class prepared to learn. This means radios, walkmans, beepers, wireless telephones, headgear, includes all electronic devices, sports equipment or games are not allowed in the school and will be confiscated.
Respect the school dress code by wearing proper attire at all times. This means that hats, head-coverings, sunglasses, halter tops, shirts exposing portions of the midriff, short-shorts, short skirts, tank tops, or any other clothing that is inappropriate (due to material printed on clothing or inadequate coverage of skin) is not allowed in the school or classroom; Clothing should not let visible any of the following B body parts: back, breast, belly, and, bottoms.
Refrain from defacing any part of the building, and keep the building clean at all times.
Eat only in the cafeteria; gum, candy, and all other food and drink are prohibited outside the cafeteria.
Keep classroom and desk areas clean.
Refrain from engaging in verbal or physical violence; including the use of foul language.
Do not ask for bathroom passes during the first 10 minutes or the last 10 minutes of class.
Follow all classroom instructions given by teachers.
Learn to respect and appreciate human differences.
Respect teachers, staff, and each other.

Academic Expectations

Students at Excel High School will?

Write and speak knowledgably and effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences.
Reason logically, applying diverse methods of data collection in order to improve analysis, to answer questions, and to solve problems.
Employ technology to gather, analyze, synthesize, and convey information, as well as to express themselves creatively.
Read, evaluate, and interpret various materials and apply what they have learned to their academic and personal lives.
Listen and participate actively in a variety of academic and non-academic forums.

Social Expectations

Student at Excel High School will?

Develop social habits essential to student success; consideration and compassion for others, collaboration, perseverance, self-direction, initiative, and responsibility.
Act with integrity and be accountable to themselves, to the school, and to the community at large.
Learn to make appropriate, healthy choices for their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Civic Expectataions

Students at Excel High School will?

Adhere to community standards as defined by the Code of Conduct in Excel Handbook.
Practice ethical decision making and understand the impact of individual actions on the larger community.
Behave in a respectful and ethical manner.

Academics

Excel High School has a safe and rigorous atmosphere for students. In order to graduate all students must enroll in and pass the following promotion and graduation requirements:

4 years of English Language Arts
4 years of Mathematics and pass 3 years
3 years of History
3 years of Science
2 years of the same Foreign Language
2 years of Technology
1 year of Wellness / Health
1 year of Art

Advanced Academic Programs

Excel High School offers Honor sections and Advanced Placement in ELA, Calculus, Biology, and Economics for students who are willing to take advantage of this enrichment program.

Citizenship Habits

All Excel High School students should demonstrate the following attitudes and behaviors:

Do your best in all classes and take the appropriate measures to remain enthusiastic about learning.
Do your homework nightly and seek assistance with homework on days determined by teachers.
Be respectful to all members of the Excel community including yourself.
Be responsible and accountable for your own actions and academic work.
Follow all school and classroom rules and regulations.
Demonstrate good audience behavior.
Develop a sense of honesty and integrity towards your work, words, and relationships.
Seek to improve yourself.

Statement of Beliefs

We recognize each member of the school community as an individual, and that each may have a different style of teaching and learning; however, we do hold high expectations for teaching and learning.

We believe that a well-ordered and disciplined school guarantees a safe and comfortable instructional environment for students, teachers, and staff.

We believe that all members of the school community have the right to this safe environment.

We believe in a strong code of ethics that upholds the highest standards of honesty, dignity, and integrity.

We believe that our school is committed to the development of knowledgeable youth who are also critical thinkers.

We believe that each student should have full access to books and supplies that will enhance their learning experience.

We believe that each member of the school community should have full access to information technology.

We believe that a well-ordered school offers the same set of rules for everyone, and provides fair and equitable application of those rules.

We believe that ALL students can learn.

Academic Habits

Academic Habits for 9th Grade:

Come prepared to school with all materials.
Be on time for all classes.
Have minimal absences.
Do all homework.
Seek help from teachers.
Late assignments will be accepted for a whole grade off only up to 1 week late.
Begin to plan for future standardized exams-MCAS, PSATs, etc.

Academic Habits for 10th Grade:

Come prepared to school with all materials.
Be on time for all classes.
Have minimal absences.
Do all homework.
Seek help from teachers.
Late assignments will be accepted for a whole grade off only up to 3 days late.
Prepare for the April and May MCAS by seeking outside help from teachers and agencies.
Be a role model for 9th graders.
Begin to think about the SAT and other standardized exams.

Homework

Teachers assign a minimum of one half hour of homework per night. Students are responsible for writing down assignments and turning them in by the established deadlines. Homework is an important part of the grading criteria for each marking term.

Lavatory and Hall Passes

No passes are to be issued during the first and last 10 minutes of each period. Students must have a blue color-coded pass. No other forms of passes are accepted. Students without blue color-coded passes will be subject to the BPS Code of Discipline.

Student who abuse the number of times outside the classroom with a pass or without it will be placed in the ?No Hallway Pass? list, which means that students lose the privilege to leave the classroom on their on.

Off-limit areas

Excel High School students may use only Excel's designated staircases. Excel students are not allowed in Monument High School and Odyssey High School before and after school. Students found in off-limit areas will be suspended.

Fire Alarms

If an evacuation is necessary, students will obey their teachers? directions and proceed quickly and quietly to safety outside the building. After a fire drill or an actual emergency, all students will re-enter the building only after instructed to do so by the Headmaster. Attendance will be taking as soon as students return to the class they had during the drill or emergency.

Homework Assistance

Excel High School teachers stay after school to assist students with their homework, projects, and subject matter. Students do not have to stay with their current teachers to seek help. Other teachers are open to work with any student who asks for academic support.

COPE Homework Hotline ? Mondays-Thursdays, 4-8pm 1-800-646-2673 Any subject, any grade (Harvard students)

Students can also set after-school appointments with the Headmaster or Assistant Headmaster to receive additional support or if they need to discuss any other issues.

Book Reading Clubs

Every Wednesday after school, the all females reading club gather in the upper and all male students in the lower library to read and discuss books. Detention During their assigned detention by the Dean of Students or Administrators, students must bring work with them to do during the hour they spend with the Dean of Students. Students who do not bring or do not do their class-work receive an additional hour for the following day.

Mediation Program

A group of students from Excel work closely with the Peer Mediator coordinator to received training and serve as the school's peer mediators. They organize and facilitate meetings during and after school.

Twilight School

Has been designed as an after-school course recovery program designed especially for juniors and seniors whose attendance and behavior is questionable.

Admissions Guaranteed Program (AGP)

In the AGP tutoring model at Excel High School tutors work with students during their regular class time. This benefits other non-AGP students and also provides some support for teachers.

Open Forums

Once every term each grade level has the opportunity to gather as a small community with their teachers, administrators, and student support people to talk about any particular topic or concerns they have. These forums are organized and facilitated by Student Government Members. Administrators and other school staff take notes and, if appropriate, they will respond to the students? demands.

Electronic Equipment Usage

The use of any electronic devices such as cell phones, I Pod, MP3, CD players, headphones, and electronic games and texting devices in classrooms is strictly prohibited.

a. Students are permitted to use cell phones only during the following times:

before and after school hours outside or inside the school building;
at after-school or sports activities, only with the permission of the coach, instructor or program director;
at evening or weekend activities inside the school building.

b. The use of cell phones ? including calls, text messaging and other functions? is not permitted at any other time on school grounds.

c. Cell phones must not be visible during the school day and must be turned completely off (not simply on silent or vibrate mode) during the school day.

Penalties for student in violation of this policy will be as follows:

First offense: Student's cell phone will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day.

Second offense: Parent or guardian must come to school to get the cell phone or other electronic device. Repeated offenses may result in loss of cell phone and/or other electronic devices privilege for the year.

Vandalism and Graffiti

Vandalism and Graffiti are considered as destruction of school property. Students found damaging or writing on any school property are subject to suspension, arrest, and prosecution. Violators will also be required to provide financial restitution and community service hours.

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating includes but is not limited to acts of plagiarism, copying from a student, using someone else's work and claiming it as your own, talking and bringing unauthorized items such as books, written essays, and notes to a testing session or classroom testing. Students may not plagiarize the words, ideas, images, or other work offered in published sources. All quotes, paraphrases, ideas, and images must be properly cited in the MLA format.

Individual teachers will determine consequences for infractions of this policy, up to and including issuing a failing grade for the work in question.

On repeated offenses the student can be suspended and or will fail the semester in any course in which she/he has been found plagiarizing in. A disciplinary letter will go in the student's permanent records.

Issues concerning daily homework are at the discretion of the teacher. All other assignments fall under the policy. Records of students cheating will be kept in the student's file in the Dean of Students Office through out the year.

A student cannot be a candidate for National Honor Society or Student Government. Students can jeopardize scholarships that have citizenship requirements if they cheat or plagiarize.

Graduation/Commencement

Seniors who fall under any of the following conditions will not be eligible to participate in the graduation/commencement ceremony: They can pick up their diploma the day after graduation.

Seniors with 50 or more tardiness.
Seniors with more than 30 absences including excused absences (expect a medical condition where a tutor was assigned.)
Seniors with 3 or more suspension within their senior year.
Seniors who have not returned or paid for all their textbooks, locks and were not officially signed-out by their Student Development Counselor.

In order for seniors to participate in all senior week activities and events, they must pay their senior dues to the Excel Senior Advisor. If there are extenuating circumstances regarding payment, the student must see the Senior Advisor.

Seniors with 50 or more tardiness/absences in a particular class will fail the course due to lack of ?time on learning.? Students with 30 or more absences will not be eligible for summer school and will have to repeat the course at Excel High School.

Book Return Policy

Sign-out/Orange Card

It will happen at the end of the year or when a student leaves the school.

All students must sign-out.

Students must turn in their text books in order to take the final exam. If payment is not received for lost books prior to the final, students will receive a zero on the final. Parents will have to sign the Text-Book Contract in order for their children to receive textbooks. In order to prevent textbooks and/or paperback books from getting lost, we are requesting all students to present their assigned textbooks the day before or on the same day of the exam (Mid-year Assessments, and Final Exams.)

Smoking Policy

In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 2A, and school board policies, all schools are smoke-free facilities. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building or on school grounds or at school-sponsored activities. Any substances found in school property will be confiscated and administrators will follow the BPS and State Law.

Harrasment Policy

Dress Code

In order to maintain a comfortable and productive learning environment for students and for faculty/staff, and to comply with the sexual harassment policy, sometimes overrides individual rights. For example, undergarments should not be visible, and an excess of skin should not be revealed. Footwear must be worn to comply with health codes. All members of the community may address concerns about the dress directly to the Dean of Students or other administrators.

No Sexual Touching

Includes touching of breast, buttocks, crotch, stomach, and inner thighs. Such touching can constitute ?Indecent Assault and Battery,? a felony under Massachusetts General Law (e.g. G.L.c.265, 13B).

No Inappropriate and Intimidating Physical Contact

Including hitting, punching, pinching, restraining a person or blocking a person's pathway, grabbing, slapping, inappropriate lap sitting, or pulling hair. Such behavior can constitute ?Assault and battery? a felony under Massachusetts General Law (G.L.c265, 13A).

No kissing

No Pulling Off or Lifting Your Own or Another's Clothing

Such exposure can constitute a felony under Massachusetts Law.

Safety Nets

Excel High School offers the following programs to all students who need some support during the school day as well as after school.

MCAS for students who have to re-take the exam / Math or English
MCAS for first time takers
MCAS especially designed for English Language Learners

Suspension Hearing Letter

When a student receives a suspension-hearing letter, it means:

There has been a violation of the Code of Discipline.
A parent/guardian must accompany the student to school for the hearing and then a decision will be made to determine if he or she may be suspended.
If a parent/guardian is not able to attend the hearing by the schedule date, a phone call to the school should be made to re-schedule the appointment prior to the date on the hearing letter.
The student will not be allowed in school until a parent/guardian has either:

a) Accompanied the student for the hearing

b) A phone conversation with an administrator has been made

If there are any questions, feel free to contact Mrs. Drummer, Dean of Students at 617-635-9870 ext. 2115

Official Suspensions

Students on suspension are not permitted in the building or on school grounds. They may not participate in any school programs, athletic, events, extracurricular activities, or trips.

Policy on Technology Ethics

Excel High School follows the BPS technology policies and consequences laws.
Students must use technology equipment and facilities for pure instructional purposes.
Students must be authorized by a faculty member to use the technology resources offered in the school.
Students must not use Excel's technology equipment to gain and download unauthorized access to computing facilities of other institutions, organizations, or individuals.

Emergency Closing of School

Weather related school closings are announced over the radio and early news channels. If, for any other emergency, school must be closed during the school day, the school administration will make the announcements.

Excused Absences

When a student is absent, the parent/guardian must send a doctor or other professional's note to the Headmaster explaining the reason for the absence. The Headmaster or the designee will excuse or not the absences upon verification of the note. Notes sent after five days will not be honored. Excel High School will follow BPS policy when students have exceeded the allowed number of unexcused absences in a semester and by the end of the year. Students are responsible for getting and making up all the missed work within a week of return to school.

No Credit Policy due to Attendance Issues

No Credit (NC) Criteria
3 or more, not exceeding 12, unexcused absences
Students have completed most of the class required work
NC must be changed by the next marking term.

Changes to a letter grade:

If the student has not exceeded more than three unexcused absences by the middle of the new term, the teacher will replace the NC by the original earned grade.
If the student's attendance has not improved by the middle of the new term, an F (fail) with a value of 59 point will replace the NC. Final exam grades cannot replace an NC. NC is based on students? attendance.

Inspection of Lockers

Students must have an assigned locker. Only one student per locker. Students are allowed to use their assigned lockers before school, during the 3 minute passing time, before lunch, and upon dismissal. On any given day/time, random searchers of any student locker can occur. Any searches and seizures will be conducted solely for the safety and well-being of students and adults in the Excel High School.

The best advice for students is to bring nothing to school and to store nothing in the locker that he/she would not want school officials or police to know about.

School-Based Policies

Attendance

The 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Law requires high school students to be engaged in 990 hours per year of structured learning time. Students who arrive later than 10:23am will be marked absent for the day. At Excel High School, we expect students to attend all their classes and to be on time.

Students who arrive late to a class will be deducted points from their term grades. Teachers will deduct points according to the minutes students missed on instruction time.

Students who arrive late to school on their fourth (4th) day, consecutive or not, will be given an absent mark.

School Hours 7:25am to 1:45am

Teachers start classes at 7:25am. Students must be in school by 7:20am in order to be on time to start learning.

Students arriving after 7:25 am will be mark tardy. Students will be issued detention for the next afternoon and given a signed and timed late pass. Late students must report immediately to their corresponding period class.

Early Dismissals

Early dismissals are given only in emergencies. On the day before the early dismissal is needed, students must give a note to Ms. Wilson, who will verify by a telephone call to the parent or guardian. No credit for the day's attendance will be given to students leaving before 10:23am. Early dismissal for health reasons is honored only if the school nurse authorized them. There should not be early dismissal for medical/dental appointments, except for emergency cases as certified by a note from a physician or dentist. Request for the second early dismissal for routine appointments will be denied; these must be schedule for after school hours.

All students leaving early must report to the main office for an early dismissal slip.