Parent Student Handbook

2015-2016

A Message from our Principal

Dear Students & Parents, Welcome to Hilburn Academy! Our school has long been recognized in the community for its strong academic performance and exceptional teaching practices. The staff here is committed to providing a safe, orderly, challenging and nurturing environment for your child. But it is our love and passion for children, our commitment to excellence and the high value we place on building meaningful relationships that truly makes Hilburn a special place to learn and grow. The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with helpful answers about Hilburn Academy and familiarize yourself with school procedures. Should you have any questions that have not been answered here, please call your child’s teacher or the school office. We hope you will read this handbook thoroughly and refer to it throughout the school year. We hope you will pursue some of the many opportunities that are available to support your child’s educational experience at Hilburn. We look forward to partnering with you as we work to make this school year a very successful one for your child. In Partnership, Gregory Ford Principal

Mission Statement Hilburn Academy strives for academic excellence by providing opportunities for each child to learn and grow in a nurturing atmosphere. Through mutual respect within the total school community, our children will develop into responsible and productive citizens. Academic Performance – Middle Grades New in 2015-2016, WCPSS will also apply a 10-point scale for all students in grades 6-12. Under the new scale, grades and grade point average calculations (high school only) will be applied as follows: A: 90-100 = 4.0 B: 80-89 = 3.0 C: 70-79 = 2.0 D: 60-69 = 1.0 F: < 59 = 0.0 These grades will be reported on the transcript as numeric grades, rather than letter grades as have been reported in prior years. Report Cards/Interim Reports Report cards are issued four times a year. Interim reports are given to each student midway through each grading period. The WCPSS 2015-2016 Academic Calendar indicates the dates these documents are sent home. Honor Roll for Middle Grades Students Hilburn Academy recognizes students with exemplary academic achievements. Pursuant to the guidelines in Board Policy 5522, students will be recognized for A-Honor Roll and AB-Honor Roll at the end of each quarter. Promotion Standards All students in the middle school grades are required to pass three of their four core courses (two must be Math and Language Arts) and half of their elective courses. Students must also achieve a level 3, 4 or 5 on the Math and ELA standardized tests, as well as satisfactory achievement on the Science and Social Studies Measure of Student Learning tests. Electives Students may choose from a variety of elective courses. Because a school cannot accommodate all students’ requests for electives, students rank choices by priority. Hilburn staff makes every effort to accommodate those choices. Transfers to other electives courses midyear are not permitted unless for documented need of intervention purposes. This means a student may drop an elective at the semester mark if s/he is failing Math or ELA, with quarterly

benchmark scores below the 40th percentile, and needs to enroll in the corresponding intervention class. Other data points may be considered as well. Similarly, students currently enrolled in an intervention class may elect to “opt out” take a different elective if their performance in the corresponding core classes is at standard.

Agendas, Edmodo & Organizing Assignments Organization is a key skill that successful students develop with

structure and practice. All students in grades 3 through 5 use agendas (classroom calendars/ planners) to develop essential

planning skills related to learning and academic success. These agendas are provided at no cost to studnets from Hilburn’s PTA. Students in grades 6 through 8 use the online planner via Edmodo. Middle grades families may elect to purchase agendas for their student to further support/supplement organizational skills. Replacement agendas may be purchased for $4.00 in the main office until our supply runs out.

Arrivals and Departures

Please also see Attendance

Hilburn’s instructional day begins at 8:15 and it ends at 3:00 p.m. We ask that students arrive each morning no later than 8:10 so they can be prepared for instruction to begin at 8:15 a.m. The Wake County School Board has established six Early Release Days for the 2015-2016 school year. Please see this year’s Academic Calendar for those dates, all of which will be Fridays. On Early Release Days, school dismisses at 12:30 p.m. Children should be dropped off and picked up in the front of the school. In order to facilitate the smooth and efficient flow of traffic, please make sure your child is ready to get out of the car when you stop to drop-off in the morning. Prolonged stopping or parking in the circle is not permitted. Please remember that the bus circle is only for buses. For safety reasons, please do not drop off your child prior to 7:45 a.m. as there will be no adult supervision. It is imperative that students are present for the entire day. In those rare instances where a student arrives late or must leave early, parents are asked to sign students in when entering the building after the tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m. and sign them out when leaving before 3:00 p.m. Please use the Ident-A-Kid kiosk when signing in and out of school. An ID with your signature may be requested before a child is released. Children will not be released without appropriate signatures and identification. It is extremely important that each parent/guardian sign his/her name on the locator card for this reason. Locator cards are given out at the beginning of the school year. All students must have an

updated locator card in the front office. If you move, change phone numbers, your address, etc. please update this information on your child’s locator card. Wake County Board Policy (6000.2) states “Parents must ensure that students attend and remain in school daily. To be considered present, a student must be in attendance at least one half of the student school day.” Based on our school hours, Hilburn Academy’s half day is at 11:30 p.m. Your child must arrive at school by 11:30 to be considered present for that day. If a parent/guardian chooses to pick up their child prior to 11:30 a.m. and does not return to school that day, the student will be considered absent. Students entering school after 11:30 a.m. will also be considered absent. Children who are habitually tardy in the morning or signed out early in the afternoons will be referred to staff members who comprise the Attendance Committee. For the purposes of safety, security, and fostering student independence, parents may drop off and pick up students in the main office only and not at the classroom doors.

▪ Morning arrival begins at 7:45 ▪ Tardy bell rings at 8:15 ▪ Dismissal begins at 3:00 ▪ Dismissal begins at 12:30 on Early Release Days

*Please see “Carpool Procedures” and “Early Sign-Out” for more details.

Articles Not Permitted in School Students have many items at home that often prove to be disruptive to instruction or school procedures. The following items deemed to be possible safety hazards should not be brought to school: virtual pets, dolls, collectable cards, yo-yos, toys, cell phones, hand-held video games, etc. If students bring any of these items on campus, they should remain turned “off” and kept in the student’s bookbag. If any of these items are seen by a staff member and/or taken out of the bookbag on campus, they will be confiscated and turned into the office and can be picked up only by the child’s parent/guardian. We also recommend that your child does not bring a significant amount of money or any valuables to school. These items can “disappear” and are often never recovered. Glass bottles or canned drinks are not permitted in school because they are considered safety hazards for children. Students who wish to bring a beverage from home for lunch may bring juice boxes or plastic water bottles. Headphones are not permitted unless approved by a teacher for instructional use within the classroom. Balloons are not allowed at Hilburn because of the potential safety hazard to students. We have several students who have severe allergies to latex.

Animals and pets are not permitted on campus for any reason. Doing so endangers the health and well being of students, staff members and other parents in the building. Many people are allergic to animals and therefore may suffer from an allergic reaction. Children and adults may also suffer from anxiety-related distress caused by fears stemming from past experiences with animals. We know that Fluffy, Boots and Rover are all very cute and wouldn’t intentionally harm anyone, but animals can be unpredictable around excited children. Bites and scratches caused by your pet would make you liable for legal action by another child’s parents – and may put the school at risk of liability as well if we didn’t maintain this policy. All Wake County schools maintain a no homemade food policy for student safety reasons. Food items brought into school for sharing (i.e. birthday treats, “learning celebration” items, etc.) can only be store-bought. Please contact your child’s teacher prior to bringing in food to be sure that there are no students who are allergic to the ingredients in the food.

Attendance

Prompt, regular attendance at school is one of the best ways to help insure student success. It is important for students to be on time so they don’t miss or disrupt the instructional time. We ask that parents respect the instructional day and schedule doctor appointments, etc. outside of the instructional day, whenever possible. Students need ample time in the morning to prepare for their day and review the days’ objectives/activities. Parents are requested to have children at school by 8:10 a.m. in order for them to be prepared for instruction to begin when the final bell rings at 8:15. When your child misses school, please send a note to your child’s teacher explaining the reason for the absence within three days. If a student is tardy, he/she needs to check in at the office for an admission slip to class. You may also pick up a Request for Excused Absence form from the office if the absence will be due to religious or educational reasons. Please note that the educational reason must be aligned with your child’s Standard Course of Study for their grade level. The form must be completed two weeks prior to the absence and submitted to the principal for consideration. The principal or classroom teacher may require the student to complete a project summarizing what they learned on the trip and present it to the class. Students are discouraged from taking family vacations during the school year. Due to the loss of instruction, the administration will be reluctant to excuse such absences during the academic calendar year. We ask that you complete a Student Locator Card at the beginning of the year in the event that your child becomes ill and parent contact must be made. It is very important that we have more than one telephone number on file in order to locate parents in case of an emergency. If information on this card changes during the year, it is vital that you notify the school office to make the necessary changes. Only persons designated on the locator card will be allowed to pick up your child/children from school.

After School Program Hilburn Academy maintains its own, ‘in-house’ after school program on our campus. It begins at the end of the school day and runs until 6:00 p.m. For more information about either program and to register, please see our school website.

Behavioral Expectations & Student Code of Conduct The Hilburn Academy staff teaches independence, respect for self and others, and other character traits in addition to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCS). Maintaining a safe, orderly environment for our students is an important part of providing quality education, since we know that learning cannot occur without order. The classroom teacher will maintain classroom discipline to protect the school day and deter behavioral interruptions. Teachers and students will collectively construct their classroom rules, routines and consequences. Students will be sent to administration for disciplinary action after the teacher has taken steps to change and/or stop the inappropriate behavior. Any student involved in a fight or threatening another student will be sent to administration immediately. Students should always adhere to Hilburn’s School Rules:

● Respect yourself and others ● Keep hands and feet to yourself ● Use kind words or no words

All students are responsible for complying with and are expected to be familiar with WCPSS Code of Student Conduct and school board policies governing student behavior and conduct. All Code of Student Conduct policies are contained in the WCPSS Student/Parent Handbook, which is distributed to all students and parents at the beginning of each school year or upon enrollment in the WCPSS. If there is a conflict between the rules expressed in this handbook/agenda/planner and the Code of Student Conduct policies, the WCPSS Code of Student conduct policies shall take precedence. Wake County School Board Policy requires that we restate the above paragraph in Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families: Todas las politicas del Codigo de Conducta Estudiantil se encuentran en el manual de WCPSS de Estudiantes/Padres, el cual se distribuye a todos los padres y estudiantes al principio de cada ano escolar o al matricularse en el WCPSS. Si hay un conflicto entre las reglas expresadas en este manual de Estu diantes/Padres y el manual/agenda/planificador de la escuela de su hijo (a) las reglas expresadas en est e manual deben tomar prioridad. BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS Violations of the code of student conduct may result in a range of consequences. Please review the list of infractions and consequences to understand the varying types of consequences that may be issued. This list does not include every possible violation of the

code of student conduct, but it does include some of the most common school infractions. The list is designed to provide students and parents with an overview of possible consequences. Administrators will weigh mitigating and aggravating factors when determining consequences for each individual student on a case-by-case basis. Administrators reserve the right to modify these consequences when necessary. These infractions are described in the Wake County Student/Parent Handbook and should be reviewed.

Level 1 Student Actions Level 1 Possible Teacher Responses ● Computer  Violation ● Disruptive  Behavior ● Dress  Code  Violation ● Electronic  Devices ● Gum  Chewing ● Not  bringing  materials  to  class ● Profanity ● Public  Display  of  Affection ● 2nd  Tardy    in  1  wk

● Verbal  Warnings/Redirections ● Parent  Contact ● Time  Out ● Lunch  Detention ● Loss  of  Privilege ● After-­‐School  Detention ● Behavior  Contract ● Parent/Student  Conference ● Student  Reflection ● Referral  to  Counselor ● Restitution

Level 2 Student Actions Level 2 Possible Teacher Responses ● 3rd  Tardy  in  1  wk  per  class ● Repeated  Level  1  Violations ● Cheating/Plagiarism ● Not  attending  ALC ● Falsification/Lying/Forgery   ● Horseplay ● Insubordination/Non-­‐Compliance ● Minor  Damage  to  Property/  

Vandalism ● Misbehavior  with  a  substitute ● Talking  Back/Disrespect ● Teasing/Picking  on  other  students

● All  Level  1  Consequences  plus: ● Change  of  Schedule ● In  Class  Suspension ● Alternative  Learning  Center    ● Team  Conference  ● Conference  with  

Administrator ● Minor  Office  Referral

Level 3 Student Actions Level 3 Refer to School Administration

● 4  or  more  Tardies  in  1  wk  per  class   ● Repeated  Level  2  Violations ● Skipping  Class ● Bullying/Harassment ● Bus  Referral ● Disruptive  Behavior  in  ALC/ASD ● Fighting/Physical  Aggression ● Major  Vandalism ● Profanity  toward  staff ● Sexual/Racial  Harassment   ● Theft/Stealing

● All  Level  1  and  2  Consequences  plus   Major  Office  Referral

● Threats  to  staff ● Threats  to  students ● Weapons

Birthdays Birthday invitations for private parties should be mailed from a child’s home and not distributed at school. Birthday snacks must be store-bought and shared in the cafeteria during scheduled lunch times. Prior teacher notification is expected. As mentioned above, please note that balloons are not allowed inside Hilburn Academy, as they are potential safety hazards to students with latex allergies. Food items brought into school for sharing (i.e. birthday treats, “learning celebration” items, etc. can only be store-bought for food safety reasons. Please contact your child’s teacher prior to bringing in food to be sure that there are no students who are allergic to the ingredients in the food. The federal government recommends that snacks brought to school be healthy and nutritious for active young minds and bodies. Please keep this in mind when choosing food items for your child (and other parents’ children) to eat for celebrations at school.

Buses The Wake County Public School System provides bus transportation for students who live in our base area. Our foremost concern with student transportation is SAFETY. In order for students to have a safe bus trip to and from school, bus safety rules must be followed. This service is a privilege, which may be revoked if children exhibit inappropriate behavior or violate safety rules. Violation of safety rules or inappropriate behavior may result in bus suspensions for either short term or the remainder of the school year. When students are suspended off of the bus, parents/guardians are responsible for transporting them to and from school. At Hilburn, the safety of all our

students comes first in school and on the school bus; therefore, compliance of the following rules is absolutely necessary:

● Arrive at your assigned bus stop on time. ● While waiting for the bus, remain in the loading area, not in

the street. ● Wait until the bus stops before advancing to the bus. ● Board the bus and be seated quickly in your assigned seat. ● Talk softly with your neighbor when conversing on the bus. ● Be completely quiet when the bus reaches and approaches a railroad crossing. ● Keep the aisle of the bus clear of books, feet, book bags, etc.

● Keep head, hands and arms inside the bus at all times.

● Remain seated while the bus is in motion. ● Cooperate with and obey the bus driver at all times.

It is necessary that a supervising adult (parent/guardian) is at the bus stop for the drop off and pick up of small children. In addition, this significantly increases the safety of all children and reduces the likelihood of inappropriate behavior at the bus stop. Parents/guardians assume responsibility for transportation to and from school for students on a school transfer and for those students who have been suspended off the bus. Failure to bring the student to school will be treated as truancy. If a child requests to ride another bus other than the bus to which he/she was assigned, the child must bring a note from home requesting the change. Due to space and liability concerns, the request might not be granted by the administrator. Issues relating to bus stops and bus drivers should be directed to the transportation department via the portal on the WCPSS website. However, issues relating to student behavior can be addressed by the school bus driver and/or the school administrator.

Café A hot breakfast and lunch are served each day by our wonderful cafeteria staff in the Hawk Café. Meals can be purchased daily, but it is recommended that students deposit funds into their individual accounts to cover meals for the week or month. Milk, snacks, and desserts can be purchased separately. Parents can specify that funds in the account be used to purchase lunch only or lunch and snacks. Deposits are made in the cafeteria. Please include your child’s or children’s ID# on all checks. You may also set up an electronic funds transfer account via www.mylunchmoney.com. Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to have lunch with their children during the school year! Please send a note to your child’s teacher when you plan to visit in case there is a schedule change. Students are not allowed to “charge” breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria. If students’ funds have been depleted, the school system allows them to choose unlimited fruits and vegetables (excluding potatoes) for lunch. If lunch money is borrowed from the office, it must be paid back prior to borrowing again.

Café Meal Prices Breakfast Full Price K-5 1.00 Full Price 6-8 1.25 Reduced Price .30 Adult A la Carte Lunch Full Price K-5 2.00 Full Price 6-8 2.25 Reduced Price .40

Adult A la Carte Milk .50 Snacks .25-.75

Care of School Property We have a beautiful campus! Everyone should take pride in the facilities at Hilburn Academy. Our goal is to keep our school tidy and clean year round. Students and staff are asked to do everything possible to help keep Hilburn clean and attractive. Students will be expected to clean up after themselves in the cafeteria daily. Good table manners start at home and are reinforced at school. Students will be held accountable for any damage or vandalism to school property. Students who witness vandalism should report it to a teacher or the office. As good citizens, we are all responsible for maintaining Hilburn Academy.

Carpool Procedures No school procedure causes more daily ire for both parents and school staff than the carpool line – but this doesn’t have to be the case here at Hilburn. We maintain a well-established dismissal procedure that is very effective and efficient. Keep in mind that the first two weeks of school tend to be slower in carpool as our new parents and students get used to the procedure. Please also keep in mind that every parent in the line is just as eager as you are to see their child and get him or her home (or to an immediate after school activity). And while not following the rules may be acceptable to some parents, every deviation from the expected procedure could cause confusion for school staff or for

the parents behind you in line, which could result in an accident. Even when accidents are avoided, disorderly assertion in the carpool line is not courteous to the other parents who endeavor to follow the rules. If a staff member needs to speak to you about following carpool procedures, please do not react negatively – they are only doing their job to ensure the safety

of the students and fairness to the other parents. We don’t like either choice, but we would much rather have to deal with an angry parent than an injured child. For the student’s safety, it is essential that students and parents adhere to the following procedures:

● Parents will display carpool tag on the rearview mirror. ● Parents will need to enter the carpool line and move, single file, to the pickup

area. ● Carpool students will go the multipurpose room at dismissal. ● Students will wait with staff until their transportation arrives and their number is

called. ● Students will be placed in their cars by a staff member or student safety patrol

officer. ● Please follow the carpool route designated by traffic cones.

Parents are requested to remain in their cars at all times. They should not park their cars anywhere else on campus or street and come to the carpool area to retrieve their children. This causes confusion in the process and increases opportunities for accidents. If you drive a vehicle to school, you are considered to be participating in carpool and must come through the carpool line. Parents may not park on the street and wait for their child to walk to the car, nor can parents walk up to the school from their parked car to pick up their child as a walker. By School Board policy, walkers are defined as children who live within the designated Walk Zone for Hilburn Academy. If you are not sure if your address falls within this zone, please see Mrs. Sturdivant (our student data manager) in the main office. If your address does not fall within the Walk Zone, the dismissal choices for your child are to use carpool or the school bus. Picking up students prior to dismissal in order to avoid waiting in the carpool line is not permitted. This process is essential for the protection of our students and it helps ensure a smooth dismissal. If you need to pick up your child for an appointment, please see the Early Sign-Out section of this handbook. Carpool tags will be available during Open House in August or anytime from the main office. Each tag may be purchased for $2.00 each. Please make sure that each person designated to pick up your child has an original carpool tag. We can only release students in carpool to cars that have tags. For the protection of all students, unidentified individuals will be asked to check students out in the front office by showing proper identification. The name must be on the locator card for the student to be released. Morning Drop Off: Students may be released from cars at 7:45 when a staff member or student safety patrol is stationed on duty outside and the car is within the carpool loop in front of the school. Students must exit a vehicle on the right side for safety purposes. Vehicles should remain in a single file line and exit the carpool loop. To expedite the process please do not block the carpool lane. After the first few weeks of school, student Hawk Helpers will assist with opening carpool doors for students. Carpool students wishing to eat breakfast should be dropped off between 7:45-8:00 so they have enough time to get to the cafeteria, wait in line to purchase breakfast, have enough time to eat it and get to their classroom – all before the tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m.. If your child arrives after the 8:15 tardy bell there will not be any adults on carpool duty. Therefore, a parent/guardian will need to escort your child to the front office and sign him/her in for the day. An adult is required to sign students in /out once the school day has begun. Late students are not admitted to class without a tardy slip from the front office. Afternoon Pick up: Carpool riders will be sent to the multipurpose room to wait for their carpool number to be called. Students will be called by their assigned number when their vehicle approaches the building. Staff members and student safety patrol officers will supervise as students walk around to board their vehicles. Students will board from the passenger side only. School age children should be able to safely open car doors and buckle their seatbelts without the assistance of an adult. Parents are to remain in their cars at all times to ensure safety and efficiency of the procedure. Please refrain from parking and walking up to the school to pick up your child during carpool. In order

to ensure the safety of our students, allow office staff to tend to end-of-day messages , and to respect those parents waiting in the carpool line for dismissal to begin, carpool students cannot be dismissed from the front office between 2:30 and 3:00pm. Entering the bus loop for drop off or pick up is not allowed. Students may change modes of transportation or be able to ride with friends or neighbors only with written permission from the parent/guardian. Students will not be allowed to use the school phone to make transportation arrangements unless it is an emergency. This is for the safety of our students. Children may also walk or ride bicycles to school ONLY if they are within the WCPSS-designated Walk Zone for Hilburn and ONLY if they a completed Walker/Bicycle Rider Release Form on file in the office. Please see the Walker & Bicycle Rider Policy section of this handbook for more information. No skateboards are allowed. Carpool Do’s

● display original carpool tags ● Proceed to the parking lot and around the circle ● proceed at a safe speed when driving ● completely stop before your child opens the car door

Carpool Don’ts

● block the carpool lane ● pull out in front of someone else ● drop off in the bus loop ● talk/text while driving

Change of Address/Phone Numbers Please report all changes in home, work and mobile phone numbers and addresses immediately to the school. We must be able to get in contact with parents/guardians, or authorized individuals in the event of an emergency. A child cannot be treated by a doctor or emergency personnel without permission from a parent/guardian. The importance of maintaining updated information cannot be overemphasized.

Character Education Traits

Hilburn strongly promotes the values and character education traits listed: Kindness, Integrity, Perseverance, Respect, Courage, Responsibility, Good Judgment, and Self-Discipline. Each month a trait is highlighted throughout the school.

Communication All communication will be made available in the following ways:

● School’s website ● PTA/School weekly newsletters, called the Hawk Talk. ● School phone messenger ● Monday Folders (K-5) ● Edmodo site for core classes in Grades 6-8 ● Individual teacher webpages ● Facebook and Twitter pages

The best way to communicate often with teachers is through email. All staff email addresses can be found on our website: www.hilburnacademy.net

Conferences Conferences are an excellent way of keeping you informed of the overall progress of your child’s schoolwork. For elementary grades families: Your child’s teacher will contact you to schedule a conference at least twice during the year. Conferences with middle grades teachers are scheduled at the parents’ or teachers’ request. Any parent may request a conference at any time if you have questions or concerns. Some grade levels have also implemented Student-Led Conferences, which is a research-based best practice that increases each student’s accountability for their own performance. Your child’s teacher will have more information about this format if it is used.

Counseling The counseling program is designed to help students with a variety of educational, social, behavioral and academic concerns. The counselor works with individuals, small groups, and whole classes.

Custody Issues Here at Hilburn, we want to remain sensitive to and current with custodial issues. Please note that we can comply with legal documentation only. If we do not have legal documentation of changes to custodial rights, then we can not comply with parent/guardian directives. A parent of a child cannot deny the right of the child’s other parent to sign a student out, review the student’s records, etc. simply by request – regardless of the circumstances. We are required to release children to any parent listed on the birth certificate or legally designated guardian unless we have a current Court

Order, signed by a judge, on file in the office denying or limiting a parent’s or guardian’s rights. Please notify the main office as soon as you have a court order or decree issued or updated. If you have any related questions, please contact Mr. Ford, principal.

Early Release Days The Board of Education has designated six Fridays this year as Early Release days for our students. School will end early and students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. on these days. The staff will participate in staff development during the afternoons of these days. YMCA will operate on an early schedule to accommodate students in their program on these days. Please see the 2015-16 WCPSS traditional school academic calendar for these dates. Please remember that per Board policy, any student picked up prior to 11:30 AM will be considered absent on these and any other school day.

Early Sign-Out To support the instructional day and maintain student safety, students will not be dismissed from the school office between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. Parents who have scheduled appointments or have last minute schedule changes will need to arrive prior to 2:30 p.m. The parent/guardian is asked to sign the student out using our computerized system at the front desk so we have a record of his/her leaving. You are encouraged to schedule regular medical and dental, etc. appointments before or after school hours. If you need to make alternate pick-up arrangements for your child, please send a note to the teacher. If you forget to do so or your plans change during the day, please call the office on the day of prior to 2:45 so office staff will have time to notify your child and your child’s teacher. Students cannot be called to the office until the parent/guardian arrives. Children should never be checked out early on a regular basis. This is a busy time in the office and instruction is still occurring in the classroom.

Field Trips

Properly supervised and planned educational field trips are an important part of the instructional program. Students are given a Hilburn tag to wear while on field trips. This will help identify them as part of Hilburn Academy. A signed permission form from a parent/guardian is required for all field trips. Transportation for field trips will be

provided by school buses or chartered buses. Private cars are not allowed for transporting students.

Parents are encouraged to chaperone; however, for liability purposes parents cannot ride a WCPSS bus. All chaperones are required to be cleared as a volunteer through the state’s criminal background check system. Please contact your child’s teacher or the main office on how to register.

Forgotten Items Any item a child has left at home may be brought to the office. School personnel will make sure the item is delivered to the student. In order to protect instructional time, visitors are not permitted to go directly to the classrooms to drop off forgotten items.

Grading

School Grading Plan – Elementary Grades In the Wake County Public School System, we are committed to maintaining rigorous performance and achievement standards for all students and to providing a fair and consistent process for evaluating and reporting student progress that is understandable to students and their parents and relevant for instructional purposes. All elementary schools in Wake County use standards based grading. Student performance is shown with levels of 1 to 4 to indicate whether the student has met the expectations set by the state in the Standard Course of Study and to indicate whether the student has the necessary skills and concepts to be successful in the next quarter or next grade. Teachers use a variety of assessments which include observations and evidence collected throughout the grading period to determine the student’s level of proficiency. The descriptors for each level have been aligned to the expectations of the new Standard Course of Study (Common Core State Standards and NC Essential Standards) for all content areas.

● Level 4 - Exemplary Student consistently demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.

● Level 3 - Proficient Student consistently demonstrates an understanding of the standard, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.

● Level 2 - Approaching Proficiency Student is approaching an understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.

● Level 1 - Non-Proficient Student does not yet demonstrate an understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.

The information below shares specific information about grading at our school:

Homework The following are school-wide expectations for homework:

● Homework is assigned regularly (weekly or nightly). ● Homework assignments are posted on the teacher’s webpage. ● Homework can serve a variety of purposes, such as reviewing skills taught in class or

introducing new content through flipped videos that will be addressed in class.

● All homework is checked and feedback is provided in a variety of forms. Please see your child’s teacher for ways that feedback is provided.

The following are grade/subject specific expectations for the completion and grading of homework:

● Completion of homework is a component of the work habits grade on progress reports and report cards.

The school’s Homework Plan can be found on the school website and in the Student-Parent Handbook.

Classwork & Assessments The following are school-wide expectations for classwork:

● Time is provided for every child to complete all classwork. ● Classwork is an opportunity for practice and application of skills. ● Feedback is provided for classwork as assignments are reviewed and corrected.

The following are school-wide expectations for assessments and projects:

● Assessments are graded with common grade-level expectations. ● Observations can be a means of assessment. ● Students are provided more than one opportunity to demonstrate proficiency for each

essential standard. ● A student’s grades are communicated to parents through progress reports, report cards,

and work sent home in a weekly folder. The following are grade/subject specific expectations for the completion and grading of classwork and assessments:

● Completion of classwork is a component of the work habits grade on progress reports and report cards.

Missed Work The following are school-wide expectations for missed work:

● If the absence is approved in advance and/or if the work is assigned by the teacher in advance, all make-up work, including tests assigned for the day of return, is due upon the student's return to school. Teachers should use discretion and may make exceptions in the case of students whose excused absences were not planned in advance, were beyond the student' control, and the nature of which would not support make-up work the day of return

● Graded assignments and assessments will be made-up when the student returns and has been taught the material missed due to the excused absence.

● Classwork will be made up based on teacher discretion. The following are grade/subject specific expectations for the completion and grading of missed work:

● If the make-up work has not been assigned in advance, for absences of one (1) to three (3) days, the student will have one day for each day absent. For absences exceeding three (3) days, the student may have two (2) days for each day absent to make up work. Special consideration will be given in the case of extended absences due to injury or chronic illness.

Prevention-Intervention Plan For students at risk of academic failure, our school seeks to provide a prevention/intervention system that promotes successful completion and mastery of work. Details of our plan are below. The following are school-wide expectations for how we support prevention-intervention efforts:

● Students are provided with ongoing opportunities to demonstrate mastery. ● Students are given differentiated assignments based on the student’s learning profile. ● Students not meeting benchmarks are provided with intervention by a staff member,

including the classroom teacher. ● Tier 2 and Tier 3 plans are created and interventions are provided for students who are

not mastering the content through Tier 1 instruction. ● A variety of data points will be used to determine if a student will receive intervention

services. ● FOCUS time is used for intervention.

Extra Credit Extra credit is not applicable to a standards based grading model.

School Grading Plan – Middle Grades

In the Wake County Public School System, we are committed to maintaining rigorous performance and achievement standards for all students and to providing a fair and consistent process for evaluating and reporting student progress that is understandable to students and their parents and relevant for instructional purposes. New in 2015-2016, WCPSS will also apply a 10-point scale for all students in grades 6-12. Under the new scale, grades and grade point average calculations (applicable to high school only) will be applied as follows: A: 90-100 = 4.0 B: 80-89 = 3.0 C: 70-79 = 2.0 D: 60-69 = 1.0 F: < 59 = 0.0 I = Incomplete These grades will be reported on the transcript as numeric grades, rather than letter grades as have been reported in prior years. While a student should receive a grade whenever possible, the teacher may issue an “Incomplete” (I), with principal approval, when students are unable to complete assignments that are major components of the grade. Students must adhere to the teacher’s plan for completing those assignments or the grade will revert to the original grade. Incompletes will not be used for 4th quarter grades.

Homework The following are school-wide expectations for homework:

● Homework can serve a variety of purposes, such as reviewing skills taught in class or introducing new content through flipped videos that will be addressed in class.

● Homework should be completed by the due date. ● Homework should count for no more than 15% of grade.

● Homework is generally graded on completion, though some long-term assignments may be graded on accuracy.

● Per WCPSS policy, homework for middle grades students should not exceed 90 minutes per night. If this occurs, please contact the teacher(s).

Classwork & Assessments The following are school-wide expectations for classwork and assessments:

● Grades are only to be given based on content taught in class. ● Classwork is formative and may or may not be graded. When classwork is graded,

students are given due dates and clear expectations. ● Rubrics should be provided for writing assignments and projects at the time the

assignment is announced. ● Major assessments are allowed a source of grade recovery based on the teacher’s

discretion. This could be a retest, test corrections, or alternative assignment. ● Late assignments will be accepted up to 2 weeks after the due date and up to 25% will be

taken off for that assignment. ● Within 2 weeks, assignments should be graded, entered into Powerschool, and returned

to the student. ● Two or more assignments should be given within each grading category on Powerschool

to ensure that student learning is accurately reflected. ● All grades will be entered into Powerschool. At the end of the quarter, if a student has a

final grade below 60, the teacher will override the grade to be a 60. By doing this, a student has a chance to recover their semester grade for that course to a passing score.

Missed Work The following are school-wide expectations for missed work:

● For all absences, the student shall make up all work in a timely manner at the convenience of the teacher. The make-up work may be specific material missed by the student, reinforcement, or enrichment.

● The student is responsible for securing make-up work at the secondary level. ● If the absence is approved in advance and/or if the work is assigned by the teacher in

advance, all make-up work, including tests assigned for the day of return, is due upon the student's return to school. Teachers should use discretion and may make exceptions in the case of students whose excused absences were not planned in advance, were beyond the student' control, and the nature of which would not support make-up work the day of return

● If the make-up work has not been assigned in advance, for absences of one (1) to three (3) days, the student will have one day for each day absent. For absences exceeding three (3) days, the student may have two (2) days for each day absent to make up work. Special consideration will be given in the case of extended absences due to injury or chronic illness.

Prevention-Intervention Plan For students at risk of academic failure, our school seeks to provide a prevention/intervention system that promotes successful completion and mastery of work. Details of our plan are below. The following are school-wide expectations for how we support prevention-intervention efforts:

● Interims and Powerschool are used for parent communication on student progress. ● Personalized Education Plans are created for students who are failing a course and need

intervention. ● Students who are enrolled in the intervention class and students that show a need based

on a combination of data points will be progress monitored.

● Students will be placed in the Intervention elective based on specific criteria.This course is graded on a pass/fail grading scale.

Extra Credit Extra credit is offered at the teacher’s discretion and will be connected to learning outcomes.

Homework Plan As a form of practicing skills, homework is an integral part of the learning experience. It should be given the same attention as class work. The teacher will introduce a concept or skill and provide guided practice before making a homework assignment. Homework is provided to:

1. Reinforce, maintain, enrich, and extend skills and concepts taught in class 2. Inspire self-directed learning and academic achievement 3. Establish good study habits 4. Develop responsibility in each student

Parents should provide their child the time and location for uninterrupted study. It is recommended that the location be free of distractions such as T.V., music, etc.

Parents may request homework and other assignments for their child who has been absent at least 2 consecutive days. Requests should be made before noon in order to provide ample time for the teacher to prepare the homework packet. These items will be available after 3:00 PM on the day the request is made.

Because WCPSS elementary schools use standards-based grading, student performance on assignments and projects can only be based on work completed independently at school. Homework assignments and projects completed at home are therefore considered as excellent practice only and will be given a grade of “P” for Practice in grades K-5. In grades 6-8, homework will consist of 15% or less of a student’s overall grade in any course. Please see the Grading Plans (above) for details.

Inclement Weather

In case of snow and other dangerous weather or emergency situations, a decision may be made to close or delay school. These decisions are made by WCPSS after the National Weather Service and local weather bureaus have been consulted. As soon as a decision is made, local radio and television stations are notified and a notice is posted on the system’s web page at http://www.wcpss.net. If school is in session, please do not call the school because telephone lines must be kept open so that we can receive updated information. Refer to the WCPSS calendar for make up day information. In the event school closes early due to inclement weather, the same procedures are followed.

Lost and Found Lost and found items will be placed in the entrance of the custodial room and in the Lost and Found closet in the STEM Building.

Mascot and School Colors

Our school mascot is the Hawk and our school colors are purple and gold.

Medical Matters When students become sick or injured during the school day, if necessary, the teacher will send the student to the health room. If office personnel deem the problem to be minor, then first aid will be administered and the child will return back to class. If the problem is more serious, the child’s temperature will be taken. If their temperature is 100 degrees or greater, and/or vomiting or a serious injury, a parent/guardian will be called to pick him/her up. Children must stay home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication. Please also keep your child home if they have vomited within a 12-hour period. In addition, children should be kept home when they have any of the following symptoms:

● Severe headache ● diarrhea within the last 12 hours ● Red, watery eyes with yellow discharge and ● Unexplained rash

In order to do this, we need to keep accurate directory information at all times. Please keep your child’s teacher and the school office informed of any changes that occur in addresses, phone numbers and emergency contact persons. If you are called to pick up a sick or injured child at school, please come quickly. Ring worm, head lice and “pink eye” are very contagious. If you discover that your child has developed either condition, please seek immediate medical attention before sending your child to school. A letter with information about treatment will be sent home if head lice or chicken pox is found in your child’s classroom. Please notify the school when your child has a contagious illness such as chicken pox or lice. For the safety of all students, and the comfort of the sick child, we require that students return to school only after the child is well again. Office staff may request a written note from the child’s pediatrician granting permission for the child’s readmission to school. If your child has a special health condition that the school needs to be aware of and prepared to handle, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide written documentation of this need. We will send home forms for you to complete at the beginning of the school year to gather this information. The school nurse will work with staff to ensure that your child’s medical needs are met.

School personnel are prohibited from giving children any medication without Form 1702 signed by the child’s doctor. This form is available in the school office and most pediatricians’ offices. The medicine and completed form must be taken to the office by an adult for medication to be administered by the office staff. All prescription medication must be in a pill container with proper labeling form the pharmacy.

Parking Please park in designated parking spaces only when visiting the school. Exits, entrances, and fire lanes should remain open for emergency vehicles at all times. Double parking is prohibited.

Positive Behavior Intervention Support Program

Hilburn’s greatest priority is to ensure a safe and orderly school environment for all students, where teaching and learning occur at the highest levels. Schools which are most effective have structure, order and high expectations for student behavior and academic performance. Hilburn is one of WCPSS’s Positive Behavior Support (PBIS) schools, which involves a proactive and positive-reinforcement approach to student behavior. The following principles are stressed in PBIS:

● Consistent expectations for all students ● Reinforcement of positive behavior ● Appropriate correction of negative behavior with a replacement strategy

For more information about this program, please visit the PBS page on the WCPSS website.

School Insurance

School accident and dental insurance information will be sent home during the first several days of school. If you wish to purchase dental insurance, please mail the application directly to the company. Accident insurance envelopes should be returned to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

School Pictures Lifetouch Studios will take individual school pictures in the fall and full body pictures and classroom pictures in the spring.

School-Wide Drills Every precaution is taken to insure the safety of your child during school hours. Monthly fire drills and periodic severe weather and emergency lockdown drills are performed to make certain students learn proper safety procedures and adhere to all safety guidelines.

Special Education Services A referral to the special education program may be initiated by a parent or a staff member. Once a referral is received, the IEP team including the parent/guardian will meet to discuss the process.

Student Dress Code

From Board Policy 6410: “Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance that are compatible with an effective learning environment. Presenting a bodily appearance or wearing clothing which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar, offensive or obscene, or which endangers the health or safety of the student or others is prohibited. Examples of prohibited dress or appearance include, but are not limited to exposed undergarments; sagging pants; excessively short or tight garments; bare midriff shirts; strapless shirts; attire with messages or illustrations that are lewd, indecent or vulgar or that advertise any product or service not permitted by law to minors; head covering of any kind; see-through clothing; attire that exposes cleavage; any adornment such as chains or spikes that reasonably could be perceived as or used as a weapon; and any attire that is prohibited by Policy 6410 Level III:2, Gang and Gang-Related Activities. Individual schools are free to specify additional examples of dress or appearance that are prohibited at that school under the terms of this policy.

If a student's dress or appearance is such that it constitutes a threat to the health or safety of others, distracts the attention of other students or staff from their work, or otherwise violates this dress code, the principal or principal's designee may require the student to change his or her dress or appearance.”

Telephone Messages Parents/guardians are asked to make after- school arrangements with their children before they leave home. Changes in transportation should be in writing and submitted to your child’s teacher. Messages for students will be delivered at the end of the instructional day in order to protect teachers’ instructional time. Messages for teachers will be placed in their mailboxes. Calls will be returned within 48 hours.

Textbooks Textbooks and library books are furnished to your child by the school system on a loan basis and should be treated as borrowed property. Students must pay for the loss or abuse of textbooks and library books.

Visitors & Volunteers Parents are always welcome at our school, and there are many opportunities for volunteering! Please note that district policy requires that all school visitors report to the office and sign in when entering the building and wear a Visitor’s badge. The staff of Hilburn Academy is committed to ensuring and protecting the instructional workday; therefore, spontaneous classroom visits are not permitted because they disrupt the instructional program. Please do not appear at your child’s classroom to talk with the teacher, expect a conference, or to observe your child without making an appointment with the teacher. These interruptions interfere with teaching and learning. Our staff would love to meet with you, but we ask that you respect the integrity of the teaching and learning day by scheduling appointments. Please send a note, email or call your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment. We appreciate your willingness to adhere to these policies and procedures. WCPSS has organized volunteer services in the schools to improve student safety. Parents or guardians wishing to volunteer for any activity at Hilburn must be approved through the Volunteer Application process. This program can be accessed at any WCPSS school and requires specific identification so the school system may complete a criminal background check on each applicant. Because these checks need to be as current as possible, Wake County requires that every person apply for volunteer status every year – even if you were approved last year. It usually takes about 2 weeks for clearance to be denied or approved. Once you are approved to volunteer and you come to Hilburn to do so, upon signing in at the front desk a personal volunteer badge will be printed for you. Please wear this badge at all times while you are on campus or at a school-sponsored field trip so that staff, parents and others will know you are an approved chaperone/volunteer.

Walker/Bicyclist Dismissal Procedures: Walkers and bicycle riders are dismissed from classrooms after the dismissal bell rings at 3:00PM. Please note it usually takes 4-5 minutes for students to make their way to the exit doors by the cafeteria. Bicycle riders may immediately exit, get their bicycles from the bike rack, and proceed down the sidewalk to Hilburn Drive. Walkers assemble just inside the doors near the multipurpose room and are led as a group by a staff member and student safety patrol officers. The staff member stops traffic at the intersection of Hilburn Drive and the school driveway, allowing students to cross the street if needed. Once the group of students has crossed, the staff member and

safety patrol return to the building with any students who has parents who usually meet them but are not present that day. These students will then be walked to the main office to call home. Helpful Tips Consider traveling your child’s route to/from school with your child for practice and advice. Review traffic and pedestrian rules with your child, and ensure their awareness of “stranger danger.” Students are to use the sidewalks at both entrances for walking and bicycle riding and should be mindful of the many buses and cars moving nearby. If cycling to school, please consider purchasing a chain lock for your child’s bike during the school day. If you do not want your child to be dismissed as a walker/bike rider on a particular day, please call the school by 3:00pm so your child and his or her teacher may be notified in time.

Parents may always greet their child(ren) at the doors and walk or cycle home together! Please do not walk your family pet on campus given the health risks they pose to some of our students and staff. Thank you.

Addendum: Acceptable Use Agreement for Middle Grades Program Laptop Computers may be found after this page.

Acceptable Use Agreement for Middle Grades Program Laptop Computers

2015-2016

-Laptops are to be used at school only and not taken home. -Laptops should be secured safely in laptop cart before student dismisses for the day. Always secure laptops with 2 hands when traveling in class. When traveling between classes, the laptop must be secured in a padded laptop bag. · Do not change settings on the laptop unless given permission or instructed to do so. · Never touch screen with pencils or other objects, and never type with pen or pencil in hand. · Always place the laptop in the appropriately numbered spot. The laptop number should match the slot number. · Proceed with caution when plugging in and unplugging laptops as to not bend the adapter plug pin. · NO food or drinks at tables when laptops are out. · Only use YOUR assigned laptop. · If borrowing a laptop for another class, with teacher’s permission, be sure to use the sign-out sheet providing name, laptop number, and date (teacher will provide check-out sheet). · Always properly shut down your laptop, and do not return to cart until completely shutdown. · Never download or install any applications including IM, chats, or gaming programs without permission.

· Students should always be ON-TASK when using the laptops – no inappropriate websites. · No visiting websites of unrelated subject content. · Immediately report any laptop damage to your teacher. It’s important that you do this so the next student reporting damage will not reflect misuse by you. · ALWAYS save files in home directory if at school and on local hard drive if at home. Use flash drive as a backup only. · Streaming of music from any site (such as pandora, spotify, youtube) is not permitted due to our limited bandwidth.

Any misuse or vandalism to laptops will be handled by the Administration. Failure to abide by these expectations may result in restricted use of computers and/or restitution for damaged or destroyed technology. Any repair or replacement charges must be paid by the student’s parents or guardians in order for laptop use to resume. I have read the Hilburn Academy Laptop Computer Use Guidelines and I agree to follow the rules contained in these guidelines. I understand that if I violate the rules, I may face disciplinary action in accordance with Hilburn Academy, Wake County Public School System policies and state law. Student Name (Printed) _________________________________ Student Signature ______________________________________ Date:____________ Parent Signature _______________________________________ Date:____________