WIXLIB

Will Carleton AcademyHigh SchoolParent – Student SupplementalHandbook2021– 2022This handbook is intended to supplement the Will Carleton Academy Parent-Student Handbook. Thesupplemental handbook will explain the differences between the policies of the primary and secondaryschools. Those policies from the original handbook that are not included or covered in this supplementremain unchanged and likewise apply to the secondary grades.1

Will Carleton Academy High SchoolMission StatementWill Carleton Academy High School will provide a character-based secondary educationwith high expectations challenging students to develop intellectually, morally, andphysically. Through challenging curriculum emphasizing core academics with anexposure to the arts, students will be prepared to enter college, the work force, and theircommunities with personal integrity and responsibility.2

Will Carleton Academy High SchoolAcademic Honesty PolicyIt is the belief of the founders, staff, and parents affiliated with this school that allsignificant learning necessarily occurs within the boundaries of academic honesty.Furthermore, any knowledge falsely represented as one’s own is hollow and withoutmerit. Thus, academic dishonesty and toleration of academic dishonesty seriouslycompromise the educational mission of Will Carleton Academy.To the end of promoting academic honesty, every student shall be honor bound to refrainfrom cheating (including plagiarism). Cheating and plagiarism include but are notlimited to the following behaviors: Copying verbatim the words of another without proper citationParaphrasing the words or borrowing the ideas of another without proper citationReceiving unauthorized help on a test, paper, or assignmentGiving unauthorized help to another student on a test, paper, or assignment (Thiscould include sharing test questions with a student in another section of the sameclass and/or communicating with another student during a test.)Every student shall be honor bound to report immediately all violations of this policy ofwhich the student has first-hand knowledge; failure to do so shall be a violation of theHonor Code resulting in an infraction. Every student found guilty of cheating orplagiarizing shall receive a three day suspension with a parent conference for his/her firstoffense, a five day suspension with a referral to the high school committee for furtherdiscipline for his/her second offense, and expulsion upon his/her third offense. Allviolations will result in a “zero” on the assignment in question. Accumulations ofviolations shall be for a student’s entire high school career. Every member of the WillCarleton Academy community is expected to be familiar with the operation of the HonorCode. Ignorance will not be considered a valid excuse for failure to comply with theterms of the policy.By signing their names to coursework and by submitting it for evaluation, all students arepledging that they have neither given nor received help on the work, that they havefollowed and will continue to observe all regulations regarding it, and that they areunaware of any violations of the Honor Code by others.3

Will Carleton Academy High SchoolAppearance PolicyIn keeping with the precedent established in the grade school, and in conjunction with theuniform policy, Will Carleton Academy High School expects students to keep theirappearance dignified and professional at all times. The high school will follow similarguidelines as the grade school in regards to student appearance, but with some minorchanges. They are as follows:Make-upGirls may wear make-up on a privileged basis. Any make-up worn by girls must beconservative in amount and traditional in style. Excessive application of make-up, asdetermined by the school’s director, will result in a loss of make-up privileges for thosewho abuse the policy.EarringsGirls may wear a maximum of two smaller-sized earrings per ear. Looped earringsshould accommodate no more than a finger’s circumference. Boys may not wearearrings.Hair ColorStudents should maintain simple and traditional hairstyles. Students who dye their hairmust use a uniform, natural color. Subtle highlights are also permitted.Tattoos and Body PiercingsTattoos and body piercings are not allowed at WCA. While at school or school activities,any tattoos must be completely covered and body piercings removed.Casual DayStudents will be allowed to wear casual clothes on scheduled Casual Days. Jeans withholes or the appearance of holes, yoga pants, spandex, flip flops, and short shorts are notacceptable apparel on these days. If your child chooses to wear leggings, tops must bemid-thigh in length to provide coverage of their backside.4

Will C a rl et o n A c a d e m y Hi g h S c h o olAtt e n d a n c e P oli c yA d h eri n g t o a c o m mit m e nt t o a c a d e mi c e x c ell e n c e, i nt e grit y, a n d r es p o nsi bilit y, WillC arl et o n A c a d e m y v al u es r e g ul ar cl ass att e n d a n c e as a st u d e nt’s m ost eff e cti v e m e a ns f ora c hi e vi n g t h es e g o als. C o nsist e nt wit h t his st at e m e nt, t h e f oll o wi n g s h all b e t h e p oli c y ofWill C arl et o n A c a d e m y Hi g h S c h o ol: Aft er a st u d e nt h as a c c u m ul at e d si x ( 6) a bs e n c es i n a s e m est er, e a c hs u bs e q u e nt a bs e n c e m ust b e e x c us e d b y a d o ct or’s n ot e u p o n t h e st u d e nt’sr et ur n to s c h o ol. If a d o ct or’s n ot e is n ot pr es e nt e d u p o n a st u d e nt’s r et ur n i n t h es e c as es,t h e a bs e n c e will b e c o nsi d er e d “ u n e x c us e d, ” a n d f o ur p er c e nt ( 4 %) will b ed e d u ct e d fr o m t h e st u d e nt’s s e m est er gr a d e f or e a c h cl ass miss e d. I n t h es e c as es, st u d e nts will b e p er mitt e d t o c o m pl et e a n y miss e d w or k f orcr e dit, wit h t h e e x c e pti o n of t ests, i n w hi c h c as e t h e y will r e c ei v e a z er o. A d diti o n all y, st u d e nts will b e r e q uir e d t o c o m pl et e o n e ( 1) s essi o n ofS at ur d a y S c h o ol f or e v er y a bs e n c e t h e y a c c u m ul at e b e y o n d s i x ( 6) i n as e m est er. A st u d e nt citi n g e xt e n u ati n g cir c u mst a n c es f or e x c essi v e a bs e nt e eis m m a yp etiti o n t h e Dir e ct or f or r e vi e w of his or h er c as e.Hills d al e C o u nt y Att e n d a n c e P oli c yAtt e n d a n c e is e xtr e m el y i m p ort a nt t o st u d e nt s u c c ess. T h er e is a p osit i v e c orr el ati o n b et w e e nst u d e nt att e n d a n c e a n d a c hi e v e m e nt. P ar e nts ar e r es p o nsi bl e f or e ns uri n g r e g ul ar a n d p u n ct u alatt e n d a n c e of st u d e nts p er S e cti o n 8 3 of t h e Mi c hi g a n S c h o ol C o d e. I n or d er t o assist Hills d al eC o u nt y i n m e eti n g att e n d a n c e r e q uir e m e nts, t h e Hills d al e C o u nt y C o urt h as est a blis h e d a c o u nt ywi d e Tr u a n c y p oli c y.E x c us e d A bs e n c es: P ar e nts m a y e x c us e t h eir c hil d(r e n) fr o m u p t o fi v e ( 5) d a ys of s c h o olatt e n d a n c e b y c alli n g or s e n di n g writt e n d o c u m e nt ati o n wit hi n 2 4 h o urs of t h e a bs e n c e.A d dit i o n al a bs e n c es m ust b e d o c u m e nt e d as f oll o ws t o b e e x c us e d:1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Ill n ess/ m e di c al r e as o nM e di c al a p p oi nt m e ntsO bs er v a n c e of a r eli gi o us h oli d a yD e at h i n t h e f a mil yE m er g e n ci es b e y o n d t h e c o ntr ol of t h e f a mil yM a n d at e d c o urt a p p e ar a n c esE xtr a or di n ar y e d u c ati o n a l o p p ort u niti es pr e-a p pr o v e d b y t h e distri cta d mi nistr at orsP ar e nt or g u ar di a n’s milit ar y s er vi c eH o m el ess n ess5

Consequences of Excessive Absences:Unexcused absences: In accordance with State law and Hillsdale County policyregarding truancy, a petition may be filed with the Hillsdale County Juvenile Courtseeking the Court to declare a student truant if the student has accumulated in excess of 6unexcused absences. Absences which are not excused will be considered “unexcused”and subject to the following procedures as will any student who is chronically absent. Upon accumulation of three (3) unexcused absences the parent(s) orguardian(s) will be contacted to make them aware of the situation and set up ameeting for consideration of an attendance plan with the family. After five (5) unexcused absences the parent(s) or guardian(s) will becontacted to make them aware of the continued issue with school attendanceand a meeting with the truancy officer will be set up to discuss the plan forimprovement of attendance. After seven (7) unexcused absences the parent(s) or guardian(s) will becontacted to make them aware of the continued issue and notify them thetruancy officer will report the case to the Probate Court for appropriateproceedings.Chronic Absences: Chronic Absenteeism is missing 10% or more of scheduled schooltime regardless of unexcused, excused or disciplinary reasons.Chronic Truancy Policy: School attendance is of the utmost importance. A parent mayexcuse a student’s absence in accordance with school policy, however, if a student hasaccumulated 10 or more absences, whether or not those absences have been marked“excused,” the school office will send to the parent or guardian of the student a letterwhich states that if there are any future absences, that within 24 hours, the parent orguardian must provide the school office with a written and signed statement from thestudent’s treating physician which specifically excuses the student for that day and thereason for the student missing school (i.e., the medical condition requiring the student tostay home from school). If this written documentation is not provided within 24 hours,the absence will be considered unexcused.Tardiness: Ten (10) tardies will result in one unexcused absence as defined in the aboveattendance policy.6

Will Carleton Academy High SchoolClassroom Discipline PolicyThe high school discipline policy regarding classroom discipline is an extension of thepresent Code of Conduct – Major Infractions and Minor Infractions for Will CarletonAcademy, grades K – 8 as prescribed in the Student Handbook.As professionals, the staff at Will Carleton Academy High School will be expected tomaintain an effective learning environment within their classrooms. As in the primarygrades, the staff will use positive, natural and negative consequences in a consistentmanner to maintain classroom discipline.Disciplinary ActionDisciplinary action may include verbal warnings, infraction reports, after-schooldetentions, out-of-school suspension and/or expulsion. The severity and nature of theinfraction will determine the disciplinary action that is to be taken.Major InfractionsHigh school students committing a major infraction will be subject to the Will CarletonAcademy Code of Conduct – Major Infractions policy in the Student Handbook. Theexecution of the disciplinary action rests with the Director and will follow currentlyestablished procedures.Minor InfractionsThe high school staff will have the responsibility and discretion of establishing andenforcing director-approved classroom rules. These rules will cover behavioral offenseswhich bring with them the consequences of Minor infractions. Some examples of Minorinfractions are: disrupting classrepeated speaking without permissionteasing, roughhousing, name-calling, bullying, etc.inappropriate languagerepeated dress code violationssleeping, lack of attentiveness, poor use of class timeinsubordinationlack of proper classroom supplieschronic tardiness (x3)excessive touching7