Student+Handbook

I__NDEPENDENT STUDY__ Independence High School offers independent study as an option to the regular class instruction. On independent study, students do not usually attend regular classes. They meet with a teacher individually, on a weekly appointment basis. The teacher will assign the student to work based on the written agreement. The completed work is then evaluated and graded by the teacher at the next meeting. Students at Independence High School ARE expected to complete at least 20 hours of assigned work per week. INDEPENDENT STUDY MYTHS There are a lot of myths about Independent Study. Some of the most common are: 1. Only ONE-HOUR per week is required. 2. Work is very easy. 3. It’s just a drop-off program. 4. Student can meet with teacher any time she/he wishes. 5. There is plenty of free time at home. 6. There is little or no homework. 7. There is little or no testing. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL What type of school is Independence High School? Independence high school offers independent study whereby a student completes part or all of her/his school work off campus instead of in daily attendance at school. In Independent study, the student completes work at home and reports to school as often as necessary (usually once a week) to discuss her/his work with her/his teacher. IS INDEPENDENT STUDY EASIER THAN REGULAR SCHOOL? No. It is more difficult for many students. Disciplining your self to study at home three to four hours each day is harder than many students envision. Many students need daily contact with teachers to achieve. CAN I GET CREDITS FASTER AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL? Successful students in a comprehensive high school earn 25-30 credits per semester by taking six classes for a semester. Independent study students generally work only on two courses at a time (Work Experience, an elective, or PE may be taken in conjunction with the other classes). Depending on the student’s ability level, one course constituting 100 hours of work must be finished in five (5) weeks. When one course is completed, another is begun immediately so that a student who does not fall behind will earn five credits every five weeks or 25 credits in a semester. HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M WORKING ON SCHEDULE? When you begin a class, you and your parents sign a contract or written agreement. The contract specifies what work must be completed each week. If in doubt, ask your teacher. CAN I WORK FASTER? The minimum amount of work due weekly is 20 hours. YOU can set the maximum based on your motivation and ability. You should inform your teacher you wish to accomplish more than the minimum and make arrangements to complete a course as quickly as you are able. I AM A CONCERNED PARENT--HOW DO I KEEP MYSELF INFORMED OF MY SON/DAUGHTER’S PROGRESS? The contract specifies the assignments your student should complete each week. It is your responsibility to see that your student accomplishes her/his weekly assignments. Call us to check on your student’s progress any time during a semester, or schedule an appoinment with your student’s teacher. Report cards are issued at the end of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to deliver the report card to you. WHEN DO I ATTEND SCHOOL? Except for individualized special contracts, you must attend once or twice weekly. Students are given a permanent appointment time and are expected to vbe at school with their teacher each week at the same time. IN AN EMERGENCY, we will try to change the appointment time. PARENTS AND/OR STUDENT’S MUST CALL AHEAD to arrange a different (temporary) appoinment during the same week. If an appooinment falls on a holiday, students report at the regular time on the next school day. For Christmas and Easter vacations, report at the time and day of the regular appointment when school reopens. WHAT DO I DO IF I AM ILL? Call in for a new (temporary) appoinment. You may not have a parent or friend bring your work in for you. CAN I COME TO SCHOOL AS OFTEN AS I NEED HELP? Some courses, like mathematics, science and computers, require more attendance and help from a teacher on a more regular basis. Any time you feel the need for assistance, call your teacher and ask when it would be convenient to see her/him. If you complete your work early, call and then bring your work so you can proceed faster on your contract. WHO DO I SEE IF THE WORK IS TOO DIFFICULT? Inform us immediately (call if necessary) if you are having difficulty with the work assigned. We will make every attempt to furnish you with materials at your level of ability. WHAT IS YOUR DROP-FROM-SCHOOL-POLICY? There are two ways you can fail to meet your commitment to Independence High School. 1. Completing only a portion of the work assigned. Incomplete work must be made up the following week. Incomplete work for two or more appoinments will result in a parent conference and possible transfer to another high school program. ILLNESS IS NOT EXCUSED. 2. THREE APPOINTMENTS MISSED IN A SEMESTER. Two letters of warning will be mailed to your home. three missed appointments will result in a tansfer to another program, such as continuation high school or Adult school if you are 18 or over. WHAT KIND OF DIPLOMA DO I RECEIVE FROM INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL? Upon completion of all district course requirements you will receive an Independence High School diploma. We are fully accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). WHAT TYPE OF GRADUATION CEREMONY DOES INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL OFFER? Graduation ceremonies at Independence high School are traditional cap and gown events. You may attend the ceremony if you earn 220 required credits. Students that graduate before June may return and attend the formal ceremony. Students who must complete graduation requirements in the summer following their senior year will receive a diploma at the end of summer school, but will not be eligible for the June ceremony. Scholarships are awarded to worthy students. We acknowledge outstanding graduates from each site. If a student returns for a fifth (5th) year or more and graduates, she/he may participate in the next June ceremony. TRANSFERRING TO INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL A transfer to Independence high School is possible only with a referral from the comprehensive high school counselor or a referral from CWA (Child Welfare and Attendance). A transfer requires mutual consent of the assigning personnel, parent (or responsible adult) and the student.   STUDENT INFORMATION ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING Attendance is granted to independent study students based upon completed homework assignments. Students have one ADA month to complete assigned work unless prior approval is given for more time. for full attendance, all students are recommended to complete a MINIMUM of 20 hours each week or 80+ hours in an ADA month period. Students are behind schedule unless 20 or more hours are completed each week. The attendance credit is earned in whole day (4 hour) segments. If a student completes 20 hours of school work in a week, the teacher willl credit him/her with 4 hours of attendance for each school day of the week. If the student completes 18 hours in a given week, his or her attendance would be computed as present for 4 days with 1 day unexcused absence. For attendance purposes, homework credit can only be given in the month originally assigned. No attendance can be accepted for longer than 4 weeks between assignment and completion of a student’s work, except when special or extenuating circumstances justify a longer time. These exceptions must always have prior approval. FREQUENCY OF APPOINTMENTS Students are required to meet with their supervising teacher for a minimum of one hour every week. A teacher may provide additional time if needed. Generally, these appoinmtents are the same time each week. All work is due ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT UNLESS THE DUE DATE IS EXTENDED. Students are obligated to be present at the regularly time. This time mutually agreed upon at the beginning of the semester. Since meetings are usually one each week, doctor and all other appointments should be scheduled on other days and will not be accepted as a valid reason for missing an appointment. All other appointments should be scheduled around this Independence High School meeting time. ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PRACTICES Students must achieve 220 credits to graduate unless they are incoming Freshman. They require only 210 credits. The following credits indicate the proper grade level classification for 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade levels. FRESHMAN (9TH). . . . . . . . .. . 0- 60      SOPHOMORES (10TH). . . . . . 60-120      JUNIOR (11TH). . . . . . . . .. . 120-160      SENIORS (12). . . . . . . . . .. .160-220      Students earn credits based on 1 unit of credit for 20 hours of completed and passing work. Credits are granted upon successful completion of all contracted work for a class. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Homework assignments are based on one week's worth of work completed by the student. The work is converted into number of credits completed in the one week period. It is possible for a student to complete more than one credit of work per week. Hours and credits 20 hours = 1 Credit 40 hours = 2 Credits 60 hours = 3 Credits 80 hours = 4 Credits 100 hours = 5 Credits 2. It is extremely important for each student to earn 5 credits in each course. If you return to the comprehensive high school with less than 5 credits, they may require you to repeat the whole course. 3. Hours for credits are earned for passing work (D or better only). Your completed work is your attendance. 4. There will be no credits earned for just attending the appointment. 5. For students transferring to Independence High School from another high school, grades and credits earned as of the date of transfer shall be transferred to the same classes at Independence High School. 6. An incoming grade of "D" or better is required for credits to be transferred for a class (with and an incoming grade of "F" the student will start at the beginning of the course). __ GRADES __ Students will earn grades based on the traditional grading system (A, B, D, F). Some courses such as P.E. and work experience are graded Pass/Fail. __ WITHHOLDING PUPIL'S GRADES, DIPLOMA, AND TRANSCRIPT __ Section 48909 (b) of the california Code provides that a school district may withhold a pupil's grades, transcripts, and/or diploma when the pupil has a financial obligation (such as lost or damaged books). The statute requires that the parent be given the opportunity to meet and discuss any financial obligation with a school official. If the official determines that the parents are unable to pay the obligation, the parent must be given the opportunity to perform voluntary work in lieu of monetary payment.   ALHAMBRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS The Alhambra School District Board of Education adopted new graduation requirements for high school students graduating in 2006 and beyond. Incoming Freshman no longer are required to meet Pathways to Careers and Health and Safety requirements dropping the graduation requirement to 210 credits. __ Course/Subject __ __Minimum Required Credits__ English .............................................40 credits Math..................................................30 credits Science..............................................20 credits Social Science...................................30 credits World History - 10 credits U.S. History - 10 credits Government - 5 credits Economics - 5 credits Physical Education.............................20 credits Fine Arts or Foreign Language..........10 credits Pathways to College & Careers.......... 5 credits Health and Safety.................................5 credits Electives.............................................60 credits CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM (CAHSEE) Beginning with the graduating class of 2006, all California public school students must take and pass the High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to receive a high school diploma. Students in grade 10 are required to take the exam. Students will have opportunities each year to retake part(s) of the exam not passed and will be offered special instructions as needed. The exam contains to parts, math and English. Students who do not pass both portions of the CAHSEE, but meet all other graduation requirements, will receive a "Certificate of Completion" and be allowed to participate in the promotion ceremony.   INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA .    .       ||     ||     ||     ||    About   · Blog · [|Pricing] · Privacy · Terms · [|**Support**] · [|**Upgrade**]   Contributions to http://mulloa.wikispaces.com are licensed under a [|Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 License]. Portions not contributed by visitors are Copyright 2010 Tangient LLC.
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