CCHS Web Homepage: http://www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org
School ID # 490-205 (use for SAT,ACT and College Applications)
2009-2010 Handbook in pdf format
Contact Information
Debra K. Sullivan -- Principal
Kate FitzGerald -- Asst. Principal for Operations
Colleen McCartney – Asst. Principal for Student Affairs
Simone Thomas -- Admissions and Academic Advisor
David Hoffmann – Director of Technology
Shirley Cielensky -- Secretary
Mary Francis Casey -- Secretary and Alumni Support
Lisa Shay -- Registrar and Bookkeeper
C. SCHOOL
CLOSINGS DUE TO SNOW OR ICE
G. CHANGE OF ADDRESS/TELEPHONE NUMBER
C. MAKING UP WORK MISSED AND CONSEQUENCES OF
ABSENCES
G. PROGRESS REPORTING TO PARENTS
P. WITHDRAWAL FROM CHARLESTON CATHOLIC HIGH
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
EXPECTATIONS/DISCIPLINE
A. APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES
D. UNIFORM AND DRESS CODE POLICY
E. TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, AND DRUG
POLICIES
F.
ACADEMIC/BEHAVIORAL PROBATION
G. PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENSION AND
EXPULSION
H. FOR SUSPENSION OF FIVE DAYS OR
MORE AND FOR ALL EXPULSIONS
F.
FACULTY WORKROOM AND MAILROOM
COMMUNITY SERVICE
REQUIREMENTS
FINE ARTS/HUMANITIES REQUIREMENTS
CHARLESTON CATHOLIC HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT ACTIVITIES AGREEMENT
CHARLESTON CATHOLIC DANCE POLICy
CHARLESTON CATHOLIC INTERNET USE AGREEMENT
Morning bells ring at 7:45, 7:55 and 8:00 unless
otherwise noted.
#1 High School
1st -8:00-8:53
2nd
-8:57-9:44 3rd - 9:48-10:35
4th -10:39-11:26 Lunch 11:30-12:02 6th - 12:08-12:56
7th
-1:00-1:48 8th-1:52-2:45
7/8 Middle School
1st - 8:00-8:49
2nd -
8:53-9:38 Break
9:38-9:50
3rd - 9:50-10:37 4th - 10:41-11:26 5th - 11:30 2:18
Lunch12:20-12:56 7th - 1:00-1:48 8th - 1:52-2:45
Sixth Grade
LAB8:05 – 8:20 1st -8:20– 9:00 2nd - 9:04 – 9:44
3rd - 9:48–
10:35 Lunch
10:39- 11:10 5th
-11:16–11:56
6th - 2:00 –
12:42 LAB12:46
– 1:00 Break1:00
– 1:14
7th - 1:18 – 2:00 8th - 2:03 –2:45
#2
Mass Schedule
1st -8:00-8:41 2nd - 8:45-9:30 MASS 9:30-10:30
3rd
- 10:30-11:11 4th- 11:15-11:55 Lunch11:59-12:33
6th - 12:37-1:17 7th - 1:21-2:01 8th - 2:05-2:45
#3
Half-Day Schedule (11:30 Dismissal)
1st
- 8:00-8:30 2nd
- 8:34-8:59 3rd
- 9:03-9:28
4th - 9:32-9:57 (5th period for 6thgrade) 5th/6th10:01-10:26
7th
- 10:30-10:55 8th
- 10:59-11:30
#4
Two Hour Delay
morning 9:45 & 9:55 1st - 10:00-10:30 3rd - 10:34-11:04
4th- 11:08-11:38 (6th Lunch) 5th- 11:42-12:22 (HS Lunch)
6th- 12:26-1:00 (MS Lunch) 7th - 1:04-1:34
8th- 1:37-2:07
2nd- 2:11-2:45
A.
In
the context of a Christian community, Charleston Catholic High School strives
to help students fulfill the potential of their God-given talents and abilities
and to guide them in developing themselves in all areas: spiritually,
intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and socially. Staff, students, and parents work together to
develop a community of shared values based on respect and concern for self and
others while at the same time guiding students to use their gifts and values to
better the world in which they live.
B. PROFILE
Charleston
Catholic is a Catholic co-educational school, grades 6-12, offering a college
preparatory curriculum. Located in
downtown
C. VALUES
Core Gospel values characterize our beliefs and influence
our policies and actions as Catholic school educators. They include:
Sacredness of Person:
Recognizing that all of
humanity is made in the image and likeness of
God, we view each person as a sacred and a perfect expression of the Creator's
love.
Academic Excellence:
We are committed to the
highest educational development of young
people and believe that all who desire to learn can excel.
Respect:
Given the sacredness of each
person, we regard self and others with great esteem.
Integrity:
In all our actions we seek
to maintain a moral and spiritual code of conduct that is
rooted in Gospel values.
Justice:
We are committed to
fairness and the promotion of the Christian vision of right
relationships between people.
Service:
We seek to put the needs of
others first and are committed to living the corporal works
of mercy.
Community: We
are committed to establishing and maintaining the faith-centered collaboration
of students, parents, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, diocese and friends
of CCHS.
Honor Code: All student work
must be signed by the student stating it is his or own work: “On my honor as a CCHS student I affirm this
is my own work.”
The
school office is open between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when school
is in session. Summer hours vary.
Classes
start at 8 a.m. and conclude at 2:45 p.m.
Students are permitted on the classroom floors at 7:45 a.m. At 7:55 a warning bell alerts students to be
on their way to class. Students arriving
at school earlier (no earlier than 7:15 a.m., please) than 7:45 a.m. MUST enter
the school by the gym doors and wait in the bleachers. They will be supervised until 7:45 a.m., at
which time they may go to their lockers.
For safety reasons, students are not to congregate in the front
entryway.
When snow or ice may cause school
closings or delays,
information is posted on our web site, www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org. Additionally, local radio and TV stations
will list information specific to
TWO-HOUR DELAY: When school opening is delayed for two
hours, students may enter the building at 9:30 a.m. at the earliest. Classes will start promptly at 10 a.m.
Early
dismissal days will be identified in parent newsletters. 11:30 a.m. is the typical early dismissal
time on half-days.
School
attendance and the degree to which a student succeeds in school are directly
related to one another. Therefore,
faithful school attendance is of critical importance. Graduation credits (called “Carnegie Units”)
relate to number of hours of instruction for each credit earned; thus,
attendance and participation must be requirements for granting credit for
courses taken.
CCHS
students are expected to attend all classes for which they have been scheduled
as well as other events and activities occurring during the school day (e.g.,
liturgies, assemblies, etc.).
Students
may not leave the school premises during the school day without the explicit
permission of the principal. Permission
may never be presumed.
Students
may use the office phones only in case of emergency and with permission from
the office staff. Personal calls may be
made from the phone in the Commons during lunch periods. Students
are not permitted out of class to make phone calls. Messages to students from parents may be
called into the office and should be made only for reasons that cannot be
postponed. Students are called to the
office to pick up messages during the afternoon announcements. Because of the
number of students enrolled, we strongly request and urge that parents make
arrangements with their students regarding transportation, appointments, etc.,
before students leave home. There is no
guarantee that students will receive messages that are called into the school. The use of cell phones is strictly
prohibited during school hours from 8:00 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. Cell phones MUST be turned off from
8:00 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. If a phone is
used for any reason during the school day, including answering calls or text
messages from parents/guardians, it will be confiscated by a faculty member and
turned in to the office. The phone will
be returned to the parent/guardian of the student to whom the phone belongs. If the phone is taken a second time in the
course of a school year additional consequences, including fines, will
apply. (See section School Facilities
B).
Any
change of address or phone number, or other information kept on file by the
school, should be reported to the office as soon as possible so that school
records may be kept up-to-date.
The
school keeps full and accurate records of each student's attendance and
academic progress. These student records
are kept permanently at CCHS. When a
student transfers to another school, a transcript of attendance, academic
progress, test scores, and health records will be given to the parents to
submit to the new school. Community
service information is not kept on file once a student leaves CCHS. Students transferring to other schools are
encouraged to take their community service folders with them to present at
their new schools.
No data shall be released concerning any
student without written parental consent.
Parents shall have full access to and the right to challenge the
accuracy of data on their children’s records.
No one except authorized school personnel and parents have access to
pupil data without either a subpoena or written permission of the student and
his/her parent(s) or guardian(s).
Requests
for transcripts must be made in the academic advisor’s office. Requests should be made at least 2 weeks
prior to the date the transcript is needed.
Non-custodial parents who wish to receive copies of
their children’s progress reports, report cards, and newsletters should provide
12 self-addressed stamped envelopes to the school office by the beginning of
August.
Announcements
are made after 8 a.m. opening exercises (prayer and pledge) and again at 2:42
p.m. All announcements must be approved
by the principal and must be in the office by 7:50 a.m. for morning
announcements and 2:00 p.m. for afternoon announcements. Copies of morning announcements are included
on the daily absence reports. Students
are expected to be respectful and attentive during the prayer and
announcements.
Any
student taking medication, prescription or over-the-counter, during school
hours must report this to the school office.
Students taking prescribed medication during school hours must have a
Diocesan form on file in the school office. Medication is to be given to the
office staff who will dispense it at times designated
on the permission slip. All medications in the office will be
returned to students at the end of the year. Medications are not kept from year
to year. Parents are advised to caution their children about sharing
medication.
In
order to secure drivers’ licenses and permits, students are required to provide
proof of school enrollment. These
state-mandated forms are available in the school office. Students must request these forms from the
school secretary at least two days in
advance. Forms are not issued during
summer months.
Juniors
and seniors are encouraged to visit colleges to help in the college selection
process. Juniors and seniors wishing to
visit colleges during a scheduled school day will not be penalized for
attendance purposes if they do not exceed a total of 2 days for seniors and 2 days for juniors.
In
order to be approved, requests for college visits must be submitted in writing
(form in academic advisor’s office) at
least 48 hours prior to the visit for approval by the academic advisor and
principal. Visits must be completed by
May 1.
Students
must fulfill requirements for promotion to and placement within each grade
level. Prior to action being taken on
acceptance or promotion of students, each student's file is examined for credit
status. The principal, academic advisor, and admissions committee will determine credit for
all high school courses taken at other schools.
Students are placed in classes on the basis of the school admissions
test, achievement on standardized tests, past academic performance, available
space, and recommendations.
Tuition
assistance is available for needy Catholic students through the Diocese of
Wheeling-Charleston. Applications for
these grants are available in the school office each spring. Other families needing financial assistance
are encouraged to contact their parishes or churches.
Volunteers
are an integral part of our Charleston Catholic community. We appreciate the time, energy, and talents
you share with our students. In
compliance with the Diocesan mandate to create a safe environment for our
students, all adults working with students in any capacity are required to
complete a three-fold sexual abuse awareness
training. Details can be found on our
website: www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org
. If you have any questions contact the
assistant principal for operations.
All visitors must report to the school
office upon entering the building.
Visitors must sign in and fill out a name tag to be worn while in the
building. Visitors must also sign out in the office when they are
leaving the school.
1.
When a student is absent from
school, a parent or guardian must telephone the school (342-8415) before 8:30
a.m. to report the student's absence.
2.
Students who are not in HOMEROOM by 8:00 a.m. or in their classrooms
when the bell rings to indicate the start of each period are considered TARDY
and must report to the school office to obtain an admit slip for that
class. Tardy students will not be
admitted to class without an admit slip.
Students tardy for first period must serve break/lunch detention that
day.
3. Any student more than ten minutes
tardy to a class will be considered ABSENT and TARDY for that period.
4.
Parents should avoid making school-day medical or other
appointments. If such an appointment is
unavoidable, parents should try to vary the times of appointments so students
aren't consistently missing the same classes.
5.
A written parental excuse for leaving the building must be presented for
approval in the office prior to 7:50 a.m.
6.
Students having written parental notification will be given a pass that
they must show to the classroom teacher in order to be released from class at
the appropriate time.
7.
Students must SIGN-OUT in the office when leaving the building for any
reason and SIGN-IN upon returning.
8.
Students
who become ill during the day will report to the office. Parents will be notified by office staff.
While
the school does not encourage students to miss school for any reason, there is
a procedure to follow when students know of absence(s) in advance. The purpose
is to notify school personnel of a student’s planned absence. School-sponsored
activities are excused (e.g., academic competitions, post-season sports
play). All other absences are unexcused
(e.g., doctor appointments, performances, funerals). It is the student’s responsibility to
make up all class work, assignments, and tests missed due to the absence,
according to school guidelines.
1.
Student must obtain an “Out of School Notification” form from the office
for all planned absences.
2.
Parent/Guardian
must complete the form and indicate specific date(s) and reason(s) for the
absence.
3.
Student must present the form to teachers and obtain signatures
indicating that the teachers are aware of the absence.
4.
The form must be turned into the office.
Official school records will reflect the status of the absence, i.e.,
excused for school-approved activities or unapproved for all other
absences. If a school-sponsored excused
form is not completed and turned into the office prior to the absence, it will
be treated as an unexcused absence.
Absence
for sufficient reason entitles the student to an opportunity to make up the
work missed. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up assignments from
teachers. In general, the following
guidelines will apply for making up work missed due to absence. Failure to make up work will result in
zeros. Any work assigned prior to the
absence and due during the absence must be submitted on time to receive full
credit. To ensure that a student has
no outstanding assignments it is recommended that the student check in with
teachers on the day the student returns.
1.
Students who are in the building for any part of the day are required to
turn in all assignments due that day to all of their classes.
Otherwise, late penalties shall apply.
For example, students who arrive late or leave early must turn in all
work due that day. (e.g., students leaving for appointments or school sponsored
athletic events).
2. Long-range assignments made previously by a teacher (i.e.,
prior to a student’s absence) are due on
the date assigned. Otherwise, late
penalties shall apply. Illness or
appointments are not exceptions.
Arrangements must be made to submit assignments on the day they are due.
3.
Previously assigned homework is due the day the student
returns. Otherwise, late penalties shall
apply.
4. Students who are absent the day of a test
or quiz should expect to take these tests/quizzes on the day they
return. These tests will typically
be scheduled outside of class time (i.e., during lunch or after school). A teacher may elect to administer the
test/quiz on a different day, but it should not be expected. It is the student’s responsibility, upon
returning to school, to meet with the teacher to schedule a time to take the
make-up test/quiz.
5.
Students who were absent must talk to their teachers about
completing work missed during their absence.
Failure to complete these assignments on time will result in a zero for
each unsubmitted assignment. Students
must submit make-up work as follows:
One-day absence: work is due the day after returning to school.
Two-day absence: work is due two days after returning to
school.
Three or more day absence: work is due three days after returning to
school.
6. High school students who are absent are encouraged to contact other
students on a daily basis to learn what material was covered in class as well
as what assignments are due. For
prolonged absences (more than three days), students may request homework and
other class assignments from the school secretary. Parents are urged to encourage their children
to inquire about missed assignments.
7. Middle school students who are absent
for a full day will have a make-up sheet completed by their teachers. These sheets are available in the office from
2:45 - 3:30 p.m. on the day of the absence or at 7:45 a.m. the next day. Students absent for part of a day are
required to meet with their teachers for the work missed. It is the students’ responsibility to pick up
the make-up sheets and to follow up with their teachers.
8.
Parents of children absent from school for extended periods of time due
to major illnesses should contact the principal to discuss assignments from
teachers. Parents should encourage their
children to work on an appropriate amount of schoolwork so that, upon return to
school, students’ progress will not be jeopardized.
9. Students suspended from school/class are required to turn in previously made
assignments on time, including those assignments due during the course of their
suspension. While suspended, students
are expected to make up class work/tests and will be given credit for the work
submitted.
10. Students suspended from
school are also suspended from participation in extracurricular activities
including school social activities (e.g., school dances and athletic games,
practices, etc.) for the duration of their suspension.
11. Students absent (for any reason including
appointments, illness or other family circumstances, or being more than 10
minutes tardy to class) from a class period for five (5) or more days per
semester may lose credit for that class or classes. The principal and assistant principal shall
examine the student’s attendance record and determine if credit is to be
withheld or steps needed to be
taken if the student is to earn credit. If
students miss school for any reason, in addition to making up work at the
time of an absence, they shall, at the end of each semester, stay after school
to make up time missed during excessive absences.
Tardiness
to class is unacceptable. During the first few minutes of the day and of each
class period the tone and agenda are set for the rest of the day and the class
period. In being late, students deprive
the teacher of the class’s full attention and waste valuable instructional time
since the teacher has to start over when students enter the room late. Adequate time between classes has been
scheduled so tardiness should not be a problem for students.
Any
student tardy for the day (i.e.,
arriving anytime after 8 a.m.) is expected to serve lunch detention (or break
detention for 6th graders) on the day the tardy occurs. Students failing to report to the tardy table
will receive additional consequences.
The only exception granted to this consequence for
tardiness applies to students who, upon arrival at school, submit a written
doctor’s excuse/appointment slip for that morning, thus verifying the reason
for their tardiness. Students will still
be counted as absent/ tardy for classes missed.
High
school students receiving a total of seven tardies, in any combination of classes, including tardies to first
period, will receive 3 days of in-house lunch detention.
High
school students tardy to sixth period class will automatically lose off-campus
lunch privileges and serve three days of in-house lunch detention and are
subject to additional disciplinary action.
At the end of each semester, students who are
excessively tardy will be required to make up time missed.
Truancy,
absence for all or part of the school day without permission of parents and
school authorities, is considered a very serious offense. Students will be automatically suspended in
school for at least three (3) days for truancy.
In all cases, parents will be notified of the situation and a parent
conference with a school administrator, as well as completion of all
assignments made as part of the suspension, will be required before the student
is readmitted to class.
Students
are expected to report to each class on time and with the proper materials
(e.g., textbooks, pen, and assignments) required by each teacher. Being prepared allows students and teachers
to make the best use of instructional time.
Students
are to follow the approved school heading format on all assignments turned in
to teachers. Theme paper, not spiral
notebook paper, must be used for work handed in to teachers.
Students’
placements in classes are carefully considered to ensure that students are
scheduled for appropriate classes. All
CCHS classes are part of a college preparatory program and, therefore, ALL
classes are presented at a college preparatory level. CCHS
does not offer remedial classes.
Students’ placement in courses varies from year to year and subject to
subject. Each year, students’ records
are reviewed for appropriate placement in classes.
Final placement in courses is made according to academic
requirements, student choices, class availability, past school performance
(academic and personal), staff recommendations, achievement on standardized
tests and other placement tests, class sizes, and schedule conflicts.
There are no ability-grouped classes in the sixth
grade. In 7th and 8th
grades students are only grouped in mathematics.
Homework is an integral part of the Charleston
Catholic program. Homework builds
self-discipline, reinforces study skills, and provides practice and review. Middle school students should expect the
following daily homework load:
6th grade-10 minutes per subject 7th and
8th grades- 15 minutes per subject
D. LATE WORK
Work is due on the date assigned by teachers. Work turned in one day late will be eligible
for up to 50% of the total points possible for the assignment. Work submitted after that date will receive
zero points.
See Section C under Procedures for policies
regarding work missed because of absences.
All students are issued an assignment notebook to
keep track of assignments. The school
handbook and policies are included in this notebook. Middle school students are expected to
bring their assignment notebooks to class each day and to write down assignments.
Teachers
are in their classrooms at 7:45 a.m. and remain in the school building until
3:15 p.m. Students are encouraged to
seek out their teachers if they have questions concerning assignments or
classroom issues. With prior
arrangements, students may be permitted to meet with a teacher prior to 7:45
a.m. Parents with questions for teachers
are encouraged to call the school office and leave a message. Calls will be returned that day or during the
next full school day.
If
a middle school student is not completing assignments, the following strategies
should be followed by parents prior to scheduling a conference.
1. Insist that the student bring home the
assignment book each day. Check to make
sure assignments are written down and completed. Place them in a consistent place to be
brought back to school.
2. Send a note to the teachers informing them
that you are requesting they sign off on the assignment notebook. They will verify that the assignments are
correctly written down. It is the
student’s responsibility to get teachers’ signatures EACH DAY; it is the
parent’s responsibility to see that the notebook has been signed.
If
there is no improvement after three weeks of following these steps, parents
should call the office and request a meeting with teachers. The principal, assistant principal for
student affairs, and academic advisor may be consulted in regard to student
progress issues.
Notification
of student progress will be sent to parents twice during each of the four
quarters. Progress reports will be sent
at the midterm of each quarter to indicate a student’s academic progress to
date. These midterm reports detail a
student’s numerical grade to date.
Report cards are issued at the end of each quarter and the student’s
actual achievement is reported as a letter grade for each subject, i.e., A, B,
C, D, and F. Teachers will provide
detailed academic reports to students at the close of each progress report
period and quarter.
Parents
are encouraged to be knowledgeable about their child’s academic and behavioral
progress. Conferences may be arranged
with teacher(s) at the parents’ or teachers’ request. Parents are encouraged to have telephone
conversations with individual teachers.
Should serious academic or behavioral problems arise, the teacher(s),
academic advisor, assistant principal for operations, or principal will call
the parent(s). School-wide parent
conference times are scheduled during the first semester.
Semester
examinations will be given in all classes.
Examinations will last approximately one hour and thirty minutes for
grades 9 through 12. Each middle school
exam will be one hour long. Students who
miss semester examinations will receive an “F” for those examinations. Students who are ill during exams will be
given the opportunity to take them within a specified time period.
Exam exemption policy:
All students grades 6-12 will take first
semester exams.
Seniors only may be exempt from second semester exams if:
-the course is a two-semester course;
-the
teacher chooses to allow exam exemptions;
-the
student has a 93% average when the third and fourth quarters are averaged
together with both quarters having equal weight;
-the
fine arts and community service requirements are complete by the designated
deadlines.
Students enrolled in AP courses must take the AP
exam. Additionally, school finals will
be given in all AP courses, though seniors may be exempt if they meet exam exemption
standards. Seniors who elect to take AP
tests in non-AP classes will follow the exam exemption policy. Namely, seniors in these non –AP classes who
choose to take AP exams will also take teacher-developed final exams unless
they meet the exemption standards.
Students who choose to take an AP exam for an AP class in which they are
not enrolled must take the final exam for their class, unless they are seniors
and meet the exam exemption standards.
Students must be informed of
their exemption status on or before the last full day of classes.
There are no exceptions to the exam
exemption policy.
1. Academic-- Quarter and semester exam
grades are used to calculate the semester grade. Only the semester grade is
recorded on the permanent record card.
A+ =
100 A= 94 –
99 A- = 93 B+ = 92 B= 86 – 91 B- = 85 C+ = 84 C= 76 – 83 C- = 75 D+ = 74 D= 71 – 73 D- = 70 F = below 70 I =
Incomplete
Students receiving
an Incomplete
have two weeks from the end of the quarter affected to complete course
requirements. After that time, the
Incomplete is automatically converted to an F.
2. Behavior S=Satisfactory S-= Bordering on Conduct Problems
N=Needs Improvement U=Unsatisfactory
If
a student receives an Unsatisfactory grade for
behavior, parents are encouraged to contact the teacher to discuss the
situation.
To calculate GPA, add the number of grade
points and divide by the number of classes.
High
school honors, advanced honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses shall be
given weighted grades. Students not
maintaining at least a “C” in weighted courses may be moved out of these
classes at the end of the quarter.
Courses are not weighted
in the middle school.
Weighting for Courses is calculated as follows:
|
College Preparatory: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F= 0 |
Honors: A=4.25, B=3.25, C=2.25,
D=1, F=0 |
AP or Advanced Honors: A=5, B=4.25, C=3.25, D=1,
F=0 |
|
Theology 9, 10, 11, 12 |
|
|
|
Chemistry, Chemistry II, Biology II, science electives (vary
each year) |
H Physical Science, H Bio, H Chemistry, H Physics |
AH Physical Science, AH Biology, AH Chemistry, AH Anatomy/Physiology, AP Physics |
|
English 9, English electives (vary each year) |
H English 10, 11, 12 |
AH English 10, AH/AP English 11, 12 |
|
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Algebra III |
H Geometry, H Algebra II, H Trigonometry/Pre Calculus |
AH Geometry, AH Algebra II, AH Trigonometry/PreCalculus, AH./AP |
|
US History, World History, 20/21C History, social studies
electives (vary each year) |
|
AP Human Geography, AP Political Science, AP Economics, AP
Psychology |
|
Spanish I & II, French I & II, Latin I & II, |
|
AH Spanish III & IV, AH French III &IV, AH Latin III
& IV |
|
Art I & II |
|
AP Art |
1. The
College Board recommends one hour of preparation per day for each AP
course. When scheduling, students should
realistically balance their honors/AP course load with their other commitments
and with their level of motivation.
2. During
registration in August, AP exam fees (approximately $82 per exam, as determined
by the College Board) for AP classes must be paid. Students wishing to take AP exams for other
courses must commit to their decision regarding the examination by February 15,
submitting their fees to the Academic Advisor by that deadline so that exams
may be ordered.
More
and more frequently, selective colleges are getting away from the notion of
“ranking students.” In the CCHS college
preparatory program, students in grades 9 through 12 (the years for which grades
are reported on the transcripts sent to colleges) are motivated to do their
best, and it is not unusual for a high percentage of the students to have
cumulative averages above 3.0 (B). Class
ranks on transcripts are not descriptive and may, in fact, portray a false
image of a student’s achievement.
Therefore, class rank is not recorded on students’ transcripts. Transcripts contain a statement about the
nature of CCHS (i.e., college preparatory only) and members of the class as a
whole. Statements about students’
graduation status (e.g., valedictorian, salutatorian, etc.) are listed on the
transcript.
Students
are ranked internally. Class rank is determined for the first time
by the cumulative GPA earned during the first six semesters of high school
(grades 9-11). Students may request
information concerning their rank from the academic advisor. The rank is calculated again at the
completion of seven semesters, i.e., grade 9 through the first semester of
grade 12, for the purpose of sending mid-year grades to seniors’ selected
colleges/universities.
Valedictorian(s)
and salutatorian(s) are identified at the end of the eighth semester using each
student’s entire high school GPA.
Graduation
requirements at Charleston Catholic exceed the standards set by the State of
|
- Science: 3 credits (physical
science, biology, chemistry) |
- Foreign Language: 2 credits
|
|
- English: 4 credits |
- Arts/Humanities: 1 credit |
|
- Mathematics: 4 credits |
- Physical Education: 1 credit |
|
- Theology: 4 credits |
-
Health: 1 credit |
|
- Social Studies: 3 credits (US History, World History, and
20th/21st Century) |
- Electives: 5 credits |
-
Yearly
community service requirement, as defined by the Theology department
-
Yearly
humanities/ fine arts requirement
Twenty-eight
(28) credits, as outlined above, are required for graduation. An additional credit will be noted on the
transcript for completion of the fine arts requirement. The valedictorian and salutatorian must have
enrolled at CCHS at least by the beginning of the sophomore year. All courses taken at CCHS will be counted in
a student’s grade point average. If requested
by the student, additional courses (i.e., summer enrichment or college level
courses) taken outside of the school will be noted on the transcript but the
grades will not be calculated in the GPA.
1. All
students (grades 6-12) must pass both semesters of theology in order to
be promoted. The required number of
community service and fine arts/humanities credits must also be completed
before being granted a diploma or before being readmitted for the next school
year.
2. Promotion
to grades 7, 8, and 9 is granted when a student passes both semesters in
English, math, science, and social studies.
If a student fails one or two semesters in any of these courses, he/she
must complete summer programs selected by CCHS for each failed semester. Failure to complete these summer requirements
will result in the student being denied enrollment at CCHS in August. Middle school students failing more than two
semesters in these core courses may not be readmitted to CCHS.
3. Students
who fail courses in grades 9-12 must enroll in CCHS-approved summer school
programs during the summer following the failure to make up the credit if
they wish to remain at CCHS.
4. To
be classified as a sophomore, a student must have earned 7 credits, 14 credits
to be considered a junior, and 21 credits a senior.
1. Course
failures jeopardize a student’s opportunity to attend CCHS for the next
semester and/or year. Students failing
courses must attend and pass CCHS - approved summer school programs. Records of courses taken and grades earned
must be sent to CCHS. Summer school
grades are calculated in with the GPA
for the semester -- previously earned grades for courses retaken are not
dropped. Students with less than
a 2.0 GPA for the second semester who want to improve their GPAs for
extracurricular eligibility may also attend summer school.
2. Theology
is a required class and successful completion is required at each grade
level. Students failing theology will be
required to complete a comprehensive theology packet during the summer months. A fee will be charged, and the completed
theology packet must be submitted by August 15.
Students
transferring to other schools must have a parent complete and submit a
withdrawal form to the school secretary requesting a copy of school academic
and attendance records. Community
service records are not kept once a student withdraws from CCHS so students
must secure these records from their theology teachers. Students leaving
The
discipline philosophy at CCHS flows naturally from the philosophy of the
school. At CCHS, faculty and students
evidence and experience Christian values.
Students are encouraged to grow in their understanding of moral and
honorable behavior in a manner which promotes genuine respect for one’s self,
as well as one another’s person, property, space, and time. In order to build a community where trust and
respect are at the foundation, it is important to strive for the highest
standards of honesty, integrity, and responsibility for one’s actions. In order to achieve an atmosphere where the
Catholic faith, academic excellence, service, leadership, and character can be
pursued, students and their parents must support the policies and regulations
set forth by CCHS.
While
Charleston Catholic neither claims control over nor accepts responsibility for
the behavior of its students outside of school time, activities, and premises,
students' out-of-school behavior reflects their personal integrity. Cases of behavior that could influence other
students adversely may result in disciplinary action deemed appropriate by
school authorities. An all-inclusive
listing of various expectations is impossible to outline on these pages. However, activity such as harassing or
bullying another student either in person or via the internet, cell phone, or
other electronic devices is unacceptable and deserves special mention. The school reserves the right to take
appropriate action for any offense which, in the opinion of the faculty, staff
or administrators, violates the good behavior expected of a CCHS student.
Charleston Catholic High School has earned a
reputation based on its tradition of high academic standards, the emphasis on
values and morals, and the sense of discipline and order in the school. In
such an atmosphere, teaching and learning may occur so that students prosper
spiritually, academically, and emotionally. To assure these goals, students are expected
to use appropriate behavior not only on school premises, but at any time they
are in school uniform or representing the school in any way. Students must realize that they are
identified as CCHS students whether they are in uniform or not. Any action that reflects negatively on the
CCHS community may result in disciplinary action.
While
attending athletic events, either as participants or spectators, students are
expected to behave in a manner that promotes a positive, courteous image. Behavior
such as berating opposing players, spectators, and/or sports officials is not
acceptable. Failure to behave
appropriately will result in disciplinary action.
Appropriate
school behavior may be summed up in this way:
behavior that assures the right of every student to learn, assures the
right of every teacher to teach, and demonstrates respect for the personal,
civil, and property rights of others.
Student behavior will be courteous, attentive, and respectful. Any individual student who does not meet
these standards will be disciplined by the classroom teachers and/or school
authorities. Each classroom teacher will
establish specific disciplinary standards that students are expected to follow
in the classroom. Students unable to
abide by established school behavioral guidelines are subject to dismissal from
CCHS.
Harassment and hazing will not be tolerated under any
circumstance, and offenders will be dealt with directly and severely by school
administrators. Harassment shall consist
of bullying, unwelcome contact or advances, requests for favors, or other
inappropriate verbal, written, graphic, technological,
texting or physical conduct which causes discomfort to another person. Sexual harassment includes these issues but
focuses on content of a sexual nature.
Students
are urged to confront harassers and to indicate by conduct or verbal objections
that the behavior is unwelcome and unacceptable. In order for the school to become involved,
students must inform the administration of incidents involving harassment
Basic
Christian values call each student to use his/her God-given gifts and talents
and to do so honestly. As a learning
community, Charleston Catholic is committed to the development of personal
honor and integrity in all its members.
All who attend Charleston Catholic have the right to feel confident in
the integrity and honesty of their peers.
Every student is expected to be a person of honor whose academic
accomplishments are a result of his/her own efforts, and who admits guilt when
confronted with an honor violation of which he/she is guilty and who accepts
maturely his/her correction or discipline.
The most serious violations
of our standard of academic honesty include:
theft and/or distribution of a test; theft of or tampering with a
teacher's grade book or teachers' manuals.
Such violations may result in a student's suspension, expulsion, and/or
other disciplinary actions.
Other very serious violations include:
flagrant plagiarism; duplication of another person's research paper;
providing previous years’ notebooks, assignments, or tests to another student;
cheating on a test by copying answers from a source brought into the room;
providing test answers to another student prior to or during a test; obtaining
test answers from a student who previously completed a test; theft of or
tampering with another student's work, including by computer and; looking at
another student's paper during a test. Such violations automatically result in:
1) a zero for the particular test or assignment, 2) notification of parents,
and 3) notification of the principal who will decide on other appropriate
disciplinary actions which may include but are not limited to: suspension; dismissal from leadership
positions in school activities; suspension from participation in
school-sponsored athletics, social activities, clubs; loss of exam exemptions;
loss of off-campus lunch privileges; and loss of computer access at CCHS.
Some examples of plagiarism, although the list is not exhaustive,
include: copying homework from a friend;
copying any language from any source, including a website, book, magazine,
newspaper, film, etc. without proper citations; turning in the same paper for
two different classes and; allowing/hiring someone to write or do another
student’s homework.
Individual teachers will explain to their students
how the standard of academic honesty applies to their classes.
Clarification of teacher expectations regarding test taking, citing of
references, cooperative work by students, etc., will be made at the beginning
of each course. If a student is unsure
how the Honor Code applies in a particular situation, it is ultimately the
student's responsibility to clarify these questions with his/her teacher.
On
all tests, exams, term papers, and other designated major projects, students
must verify that all work attempted was completed by that individual
alone. The student's signature on the
work becomes the student's verification of honesty and personal honor in
completing the work assignment. In
deciding on what disciplinary actions may be exacted for serious violations of
the Honor Code, the principal may ask for a recommendation from an Honor
Committee, comprised of the school academic advisor and four faculty members.
In
the event a student feels that he/she is unfairly accused of a serious
violation of the Honor Code, he/she may request a hearing before the Honor
Committee. This request must be made in
writing to the principal within one week of the incident. At this hearing the student will present
his/her description of the incident. The
student's parent(s) is/are encouraged to attend and make a statement. The teacher who claims a violation has
occurred will attend and make a statement.
The committee will meet and decide on a recommendation to be made to the
principal, who makes the final decision.
The purpose
of detention is to help students become responsible for their actions.
Detentions may be given to a student for the violation of school
regulations. Detentions are served at
lunch or either after school from 3:00-3:30 or before school from 7:10 until
7:40. A detention must be served within
two days of when it is assigned. It is
the student’s responsibility to make sure the detention is served in a timely
manner. Failure to do so will result in
additional detentions or suspension. An excessive accumulation of detentions may result in additional
consequences such as after school detention or, in extreme cases, in-house
suspension Requests for
rescheduled detention will be honored only if accompanied by a parent or
guardian note or a phone call received by administrative staff.
Typical detentions include: tardy for first period; uniform violations;
chewing gum; eating or drinking outside of the Commons; throwing things;
profanity; writing on clothing, shoes, body; pushing, shoving, horseplay in the
hallway; disrespect to peers; jaywalking and; talking during announcements.
Additional detentions specific to middle school include not being prepared for
class and not having a lock on a locker.
A student who behaves inappropriately may be
assigned a classroom detention by the teacher. The parent will receive notification 24
hours in advance. Serious misbehavior will
result in removal from the classroom. If
this occurs the student will receive 3 days detention. A second occurrence may result in a
suspension of three days from the class in which the problem occurred. A third offense will result in two full days of
suspension managed by school administrators.
Further incidents will be handled by school administrators.
Part of the “package” at
Uniform
policies:
Uniforms are required
for all students beginning the first day of school. The
dress code is in effect from 7:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., including lunchtime
both on and off campus. Students
will not be permitted in class out of dress code. Any class time missed due
to being out of dress code will be considered an unexcused absence.
Students sent to the office for being out of uniform will be expected to:
1.
Correct the problem immediately.
This may include, but not be limited to, changing clothes, removing a
t-shirt, etc. The student will be
counted absent from the class he/she was sent out from. In-house lunch detention will be assigned to
be served that day. In addition, the
student will serve a half-hour before/ after school detention. Repeat offenders will receive additional
consequences.
2.
If the problem cannot be corrected immediately at school, parents may be
notified to bring appropriate clothing to the student, take their child home to
correct the problem, or give permission for their child to drive home to
correct the problem.
Students
should never presume that they have permission to wear non-uniform clothing to
school.
Uniform
Guidelines:
Determination
regarding appropriate wear and grooming will be determined by the faculty and
staff.
1.
Students not dressed in the proper
school uniform will not be admitted to class.
2.
All clothing must be in good
repair: Students wearing clothing
which is not hemmed, or which is torn, frayed, faded, worn, stapled, pinned, or
taped will be considered out of uniform. Immediate steps must be taken to correct the
problem, and the consequences for being out of uniform shall apply.
3.
Clothing may not be altered, tapered, or rolled up.
4. No
hats, scarves, bandanas, jackets, coats, sweatshirts, or non-uniform sweaters
are to be worn in the building during the school day.
5. Dress
and grooming must be neat and clean. It is expected that hair should be neat
and clean at all times. Unbecoming, bizarre or distracting
hairstyles/colors are not permitted. There should be no writing on shoes,
clothing, or body parts.
Uniform Code:
Uniforms must
be purchased locally from Charleston Department Store or online at Schoolbelles
at schoolbelles.com (our school number is #1246). Uniform skorts and sweater vests must be
purchased at Lands’
Shirts: Shirts must be either a blue or white, long or short sleeved,
oxford-cloth, button-down, worn tucked and buttoned or an official CCHS Polo
(purchased from PVA). Polo shirts may be
worn untucked if the hem is straight and does not fall below the hip line.
Undershirts:
While optional, if worn, undershirts must be solid white with no
printing. Undergarments must not have
collars or turtlenecks and sleeve length must match that of the uniform shirt.
Pants: Navy blue corduroy or twill pants must not
have any visible labeling. Pants must be
worn at the waist. Corduroys and twill pants must not
be faded. Students wearing worn, faded pants will be considered out of uniform.
Shorts: Navy blue twill shorts must meet the top of
the knee. Shorts are worn from the beginning of the school year until the end of
September and after spring break until the end of the year.
Skirts/Skorts:
Navy blue twill skirts must hit
the top of the knee. After the
2009-2010 school year skirts will no longer be part of the uniform. Two styles of skorts (item numbers 25021 and
23158 from Lands’
Sweaters: Plain navy blue
crew neck sweaters may be worn. Sweaters with embellishments or cardigans may
not be worn.
Sweater
Vests: A solid green v-neck sweater
vest from Lands’
Fleece:
Uniform
fleeces may be purchased from the PVA. No gym/team
sweatshirts or jackets may be worn.
Socks
or Hose: Socks coming up to the ankle-bone must be worn and should be clearly
visible. Leggings are not permitted.
Shoes: Shoes
must be leather dress shoes that are primarily black, brown or navy in color. Shoelaces must be the same color as the shoe
and must be tied. Soles may not exceed 1
inch, and heels may not exceed 1½ inches.
All shoes must be closed at the toe and heel and have a hard sole. Shoe tops must be below the ankle bone. The following type of footwear is not
permitted: sandals, moccasins
(soft or hard soled), athletic shoes (even if leather), platform shoes, clogs,
or boots.
Belts: Belts are optional. If worn they should be
simple dress belts.
Jewelry: Girls only
are permitted to have ear piercings. No
other type of visible body piercing is allowed.
Other jewelry, if worn, should not be distracting. Faculty or staff may require a student to
remove offending jewelry. Boys are not permitted any type of visible body
piercings.
Ties: Boys only may choose to wear ties. If worn, ties must be tied at the neck and
worn with an oxford cloth, button-down uniform shirt. Ties cannot be distracting or contrary to
school expectations regarding clothing.
Faculty or staff may require a student to remove offending ties.
High School Activities Uniform:
This uniform may be worn for designated events
only. The uniform consists of a CCHS Team
Polo Shirt. These shirts are available
for purchase at the beginning of each season from PVA. Pants must be khaki twill dress pants. Girls’ khakis must be
similar in style to uniform pants; they may not be casual, cargo, corduroy, or
tight fitting pants. No shorts are permitted.
Regular dress leather uniform shoes are to be worn. Failure to abide with the athletic uniform
code will result in the loss of this privilege.
Gym Uniforms:
Gym
uniforms are mandatory during gym class and are available through the CCHS
bookstore. T-shirts and gym shorts are a
required part of the uniform; uniform sweatshirts and pants are optional. High or low top athletic shoes may be worn.
PICTURE DAY:
Uniforms may be worn on dress-up days. (A safe rule of thumb --
when in doubt, wear your uniform!)
For picture day, students are permitted to dress up; it is not
simply a non-uniform day.
Boys
- Boys are permitted to wear a neat polo style shirt
or a button-down, oxford dress shirt.
Dress shirts must remain tucked. Long dress pants and dress shoes must be worn. Sneakers are not permitted.
Girls –All clothing must be of modest fit. Girls are permitted to wear dresses or
skirts. Shorts and capri pants are not
permitted. Dress length must not be
higher than two inches above the knee; slits may not exceed an additional 2
inches. Tops/blouses must have sleeves.
Slacks, if worn, must be dress slacks, without jean-style rivets and
topstitching. Dress shoes, clogs, or
sandals may be worn. Heel heights must comply with the general school dress
code. Flip-flops, defined as flat-soled shoes with a
thong between the toes, are not acceptable.
Sneakers are not permitted.
CASUAL DRESS DAYS:
Uniforms
may be worn on casual dress days. (A
safe rule of thumb -- when in doubt, don’t wear it!)
Students
should listen to school announcements concerning guidelines for casual dress
days. The guidelines may vary from the
ones here!
Clothing must be of appropriate and modest fit, and
no undergarments may be visible. Clothing must not be torn/cut-off; promote
alcohol, drug, or tobacco use; have vulgar or offensive language; or have
violent graphics. Casual slacks, jeans, or skirts of appropriate, modest fit
may be worn. Skirts, if worn, must not
be higher than two inches above the knee; slits may not exceed an additional 2
inches. All shirts must have sleeves.
Athletic/tennis shoes, sandals, boots, and clogs are acceptable. Soles and heels must conform to regular
uniform shoe requirements. Flip-flops, defined
as flat-soled shoes with a thong between the toes, are not acceptable.
Socks are optional.
Spirit
days and exam days are casual dress days.
On these days ONLY, students may wear sweatpants or athletic pants. No pajamas or lounge pants may be worn.
Consequences:
Students
who do not comply with the regulations for special dress days will be
considered out of uniform for the purpose of consequences. Students may also lose further dress-up/down
privileges.
Tobacco,
alcohol, and drugs are recognized health hazards and are federally controlled
substances. CCHS cannot and will not
condone their use by students entrusted to its care. Procedures for suspension and expulsion
described in this handbook shall be followed.
The school policy on tobacco, alcohol, and drugs comes from the Diocesan
Policy Handbook.
TOBACCO -- Use of tobacco products in the school
building or at school functions is strictly prohibited by state law and
diocesan and school policy. Incidents
involving tobacco use make the student subject to disciplinary action.
ALCOHOL -- No alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, wine
coolers, liquor, etc.) shall be brought onto, carried onto, purchased, sold, or
consumed by minors on the property of Charleston Catholic High School or at
school-sponsored events held at other locations. No student who is under the influence of such
alcoholic beverages shall be present on school property or at school functions
held elsewhere. Violators of this
serious regulation are liable to civil prosecution in addition to the school’s
disciplinary action. Parents of students
violating this rule will be contacted immediately and proceedings initiated to
determine the consequences for students involved. Any student who has in his/her possession,
uses, or is under the influence of alcohol during school hours, or during
attendance at school-related events, is
subject to suspension and parental notification. All such
incidents make the student subject to additional disciplinary actions by the
principal and may include expulsion.
Readmission
to classes will be contingent upon the student’s successful adherence to the
disciplinary program defined by the principal.
Achievement or work performed by the student during this contingency
period will be accepted only on a tentative basis. Failure to take part in such a program will
result in additional retroactive suspension, i.e., any work or achievement
accomplished by the student during the contingency period will be nullified.
If
a student fails to complete satisfactorily any aspect of the disciplinary
program defined by the principal, the student will be expelled from CCHS.
DRUGS -- Any student who has in her/her
possession, uses, or is under the influence of any authorized substance (as
defined by the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, West Virginia Code, Chapter
60A, Article 6, Section 605) during school hours or during attendance at
school-related events, shall be suspended immediately, and parents will be
contacted. Any student who gives, sells,
delivers, or administers a controlled substance to any person (student,
visitor, etc.) during school hours, within the school building, and/or at
school-related events, will be suspended immediately, and parents will be
notified. All such incidents make the
student subject to additional disciplinary action by the principal and may
include expulsion.
Readmission
to classes will be contingent upon the student’s successful adherence to the
disciplinary program defined by the principal and the student’s and his/her
parents’ or guardian’s willingness to take part in a drug counseling
program. Achievement or work performed
by a student during this contingency period will be accepted only on a
tentative basis. Failure to take part in such a program will result in
additional retroactive suspension, i.e., any work or achievement accomplished
by the student during the contingency period will be nullified.
If
a student fails to complete satisfactorily any aspect of the disciplinary
program defined by the principal, the student will be expelled from CCHS. School officials shall notify appropriate law
enforcement officials of all cases of drug law abuse. This step is not discretionary; school
authorities are required to report these incidents to the police.
Probation
may result from a single action or a pattern of inappropriate behaviors. A student is placed on probation for a set
period of time during which the student remains at CCHS on a trial basis. During this time, the student’s progress is
closely monitored by the student’s teachers, academic advisor and
administration. Conditions of probation
are determined by the principal. If a
student violates the terms of probation, removal from CCHS will be
considered. At the end of the probation
period, a decision will be made by the school to remove or continue the
probation status or expel the student from CCHS.
Suspension
may result from a single action or a pattern of inappropriate behaviors. Serious violations will result in immediate
suspension from CCHS. A suspended
student is barred from attending class and from participation in any school
activities (on or off campus) for the duration of the suspension. The principal will determine the duration of
the suspension. It is the suspended
student’s responsibility to keep up with class work and homework.
In
cases of in-school suspension, the student will complete all assignments for
the day from his/her teachers in a separate location in school. If the suspension is to be served at home,
the student is to present all assignments to the teachers during the first
class after suspension. Tests and
quizzes missed during the suspension will be made up at the teacher’s convenience.
Parents
and/or guardians of the student will, within 24 hours of occurrence becoming
known to school officials, be notified of the charges against the student and
any possible action to be taken or which has already been taken.
Within
72 hours of notification to students and parents, a hearing will be held, if
requested by the student, parents or guardian.
Participation in the hearing will be limited to the following persons: student and parents or guardian, and the principal,
the assistant principal, one faculty member, and school president. At the hearing, the student shall be informed
of the formal charges.
The
only issue to be decided is whether sufficient cause existed for the expulsion
or suspension. The hearing is not to
decide guilt or innocence, only if a proper decision was made based on the
information available and the circumstances.
An appeal from the decision of the four-person school panel may be taken
by the student to the Diocesan School Board.
The appeal to the Diocesan School Board shall be the final
administrative appeal within the diocesan structure.
The
various co-curricular and extracurricular activities offered by CCHS are
considered vital ingredients of the school’s program of total education. These activities enable students to gain
valuable experiences that would not otherwise be provided by a strictly
academic program. Each student is
encouraged to participate in several activities each year.
A. ACTIVITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CLUBS
Among the clubs and
organizations available at Charleston Catholic based on student interest and
support are: High School Student
Activities Council, Middle School Student Activities Council, service club,
French Club, Spanish Club, Junior Classical League, ski club, Pax Christi, High
School Quiz Bowl, Middle School Quiz Bowl, SCORES, speech team, sewing club,
drama troupe, robotics club, and 6th grade science club. Other groups may be available, based upon
student interest and support.
Students
shall meet the WVSSAC and Charleston Catholic eligibility guidelines in order
to participate in all school athletic and extracurricular activities. Students are expected to maintain at least a
2.0 GPA to be eligible. However, in all cases, a student with
behavioral problems can be recommended for ineligibility from all
extracurricular activities by the principal.
Eligibility
is determined for each semester
by examining the student’s GPA for the previous semester. If a student does not maintain a 2.0 average
for the first semester, he/she will be ineligible for participation the second
semester. If
at the end of the third quarter the student earns a 2.0 average, he/she becomes
eligible at that time (i.e., at the beginning of the fourth quarter). If the student does not maintain a 2.0
average for the second semester, he/she will be ineligible for participation
the first semester of the following year.
If, during the first quarter, the student earns a 2.0 average, he/she
becomes eligible at the beginning of the second quarter. If the student attends summer school, summer
school grades will affect the GPA. For
the purpose of computing the GPA after summer school, all the student’s grades
from the second semester plus summer school grades(s) will be used to determine
GPA. No classes are dropped; all classes
taken are used in calculating the GPA.
Students’ grades
will be analyzed each quarter to determine eligibility. Students who fall below the 2.0 minimum GPA
at the end of the first and third quarters will be placed on probation and may
lose eligibility.
Interscholastic athletics at
CCHS are governed by the rules and regulations of the West Virginia Secondary
Schools Activities Commission. All
athletic programs and organizations are under the jurisdiction of the
principal, with the athletic director serving a major role in the organizing,
budgeting, scheduling, ordering, supervision of coaches, and general
supervision of all aspects of the athletic program. The sports available at Charleston Catholic
are based upon student interest and support as well as budgeting concerns.
To
participate in athletic events, students must be in school for the full
school day on the day of the scheduled activity.
If a student is late or absent for any part of the day on a game day, that
student is not permitted to play that day.
This
“full day” policy includes leaving school for appointments, so students need to
avoid scheduling appointments during the school day. Students
are also expected to be on time each morning following an athletic event. Students who have long standing medical
appointments, family funerals to attend, or other similar instances may be
excused at the discretion of the Assistant Principal for Operations.
If
a student is suspended at school, that student is also suspended from athletic
practices, games, etc. for the FULL DAY
on the day(s) suspended (i.e., if a student is suspended for a Tuesday,
the suspension includes involvement in any school activities -- sports, social,
etc. -- for Tuesday evening also). In
addition, if a student is suspended for a Friday, the suspension holds for Friday evening but does not continue for
Saturday unless the student is also suspended for Monday.
School facilities are for the use of all
students. Students are expected to
accept personal and community responsibility for the condition of the
building. A clean building contributes
to an atmosphere of pride and order.
Students are expected to act responsibly and maturely and not to
endanger the well being of themselves and others.
Disposing
of litter and trash in trashcans and wastebaskets around the school is
expected.
EATING AND DRINKING ARE PERMITTED ONLY
IN THE COMMONS. CHEWING GUM IS
PROHIBITED IN THE
LOCKERS
are a privilege and are provided for students to use for storing books and
personal belongings during the school day.
CCHS is not responsible for items taken from lockers. Each student is responsible for his/her locker
and its condition during the year. Failure to adhere to locker guidelines and
expectations will result in loss of locker privileges.
1. Personal items are to be kept in the lockers during class time.
2.
Food and drinks, other than lunch items for each particular day, are not
to be stored in lockers.
3.
No individual may invade the privacy of another person by entering,
tampering with, or vandalizing another’s locker. Graffiti, vandalism, and
practical jokes have no place in the CCHS community.
4.
Payment for repair of locker damage is the responsibility of the
student.
5.
School authorities reserve the right to search lockers at any time.
6. ONLY LOCKS PURCHASED FROM THE BOOKSTORE ARE
PERMITTED ON LOCKERS.
7. Middle
school students are required to keep their lockers locked.
8.
Students are expected to keep their lockers clean and neat. Inappropriate
items, including pictures and other items not in keeping with the CCHS
philosophy, may not be kept in lockers.
9.
Students should use common sense regarding the personal items they bring
to school. LARGE SUMS OF MONEY AND VALUABLE ARTICLES SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO
SCHOOL. The school cannot be responsible for students’ belongings.
10. Articles lost or found should be
reported to the office. Items not
claimed by the last day of school will be disposed of. Students should check the lost and found
table outside the office by the last day of school.
Personal electronic devices including, but not
limited to, cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, and CD players have become an
everyday part of life. However, the use
of such devices is not permitted during the school day. Electronic
devices must be out of sight and in the off position during the school day,
8:00am – 2:45 pm. Students violating
this requirement will have their item confiscated and turned into the
office. The Assistant Principal for
Operations will return the item to a parent.
Any subsequent violations will result in a fine of $25,and
the phone will only be returned to the parent.
Students,
staff, parents, and visitors must ENTER
the building through the
Out
of respect for the learning process during class time, students may not be in
the hallways unless on official school business. Students must have an authorized hall pass
from a teacher if they are out of the classroom during class time. Students
should take all books, homework, etc. to class, as they are not allowed to
retrieve materials from lockers once the class bell has rung.
Students
using the LIBRARY are to maintain
quiet so that they, as well as fellow students, may accomplish their work. Borrowed books may be kept two (2) weeks with
privilege of renewal, if no other teacher or student has requested that they be
reserved. Books must be presented for
updating at the time of renewal and fines, if any, are to be paid then. A fine is charged for all overdue books. The student who checked out a book is
responsible for replacement cost of lost books.
These
facilities are for teachers use only. No
personal copies may be made on the school copier.
The
gym is used throughout the school day for classes. Only those students assigned to class in the
gym are to be present in the gym.
Appropriate footwear must be worn when using the gym. In order to preserve the finish on the gym
floor, students should walk around the perimeter rather than across the playing
area. Students in gym classes must wear CCHS gym uniforms and approved
athletic shoes. Other students on
the gym floor for any reason must wear athletic shoes.
The
locker rooms are provided for use by the students in the physical education
classes. The physical education teacher
will discuss specific rules concerning the locker rooms and gym. Student safety is a major concern. Students are to conduct themselves
responsibly and maturely while in the locker room. Failure to behave appropriately in the locker
room will result in a student’s loss of locker room privileges.
This
room provides a beautiful setting for the students to have lunch and breaks. It
also provides a gathering space for the student body. Entry and exit from the Commons is through
the stairway and doors located on the
1. ADDITIONAL LUNCH ROOM GUIDELINES: 6TH - 8TH
GRADES
The
6th grade lunch lasts from 10:35 to 11:10 a.m.
Sixth graders must be in the Commons by 10:40. The 7/8th grade lunch period is from 12:18 to 12:56 p.m., and students must be in the
Commons with lunch, books, library permit, etc., by 12:23 p.m. Once students are in the Commons they will
not be excused to go back to the third floor.
Those students serving lunch detention must report by 10:40 a.m. (6th
graders) or 12:23 p.m. (7th and 8th graders).
Students purchasing lunch will be dismissed by the teacher in
charge. Teachers will establish seating
capacities for the lunch tables.
Those
students wishing to STUDY in the library must have books and a pass from the
teacher assigning the work. They are to
remain in the library, maintaining silence and following other library rules,
until the end of the lunch period.
2. ADDITIONAL LUNCH ROOM GUIDELINES: 9TH - 12TH
GRADES
Students in grades 9 through 12 are not
permitted on the classroom floors during the lunch period unless they are
involved in student club activities or scheduled meetings with school staff.
NINTH GRADERS must eat lunch in the Commons. Ninth graders must remain in the cafeteria
until dismissed by the teachers in charge at 12:02 p.m.
TENTH, ELEVENTH, AND TWELFTH GRADERS may eat in the lunch room or off-campus if
they have parental permission on file in the office and if they are eligible
for off-campus lunch (i.e., lunch privileges have not been withdrawn). Students going off-campus for lunch are not
permitted back into school until the 12:02 bell.
During
the lunch period, students are to be in the Commons or out of the building
(i.e., not in the hallways, stairwells, restrooms, etc.). Students will be readmitted to the building
and released from the Commons at 12:02 p.m.
When students are off-campus during lunch, all school expectations,
rules, and consequences are in effect.
While
not a part of CCHS, the Co-Cathedral is used by the school for liturgies and
special assemblies. It is a house of God
and appropriate behavior is expected (e.g., no socializing during Mass, etc.).
When waiting for rides after school, students are to
be respectful of First Presbyterian Church’s grounds and facilities. For example, Church officials have requested
that students stay off the lawn! Students should also refrain from horseplay,
ball throwing, etc.
Students
must never be dropped off or picked up directly in front of the school on
As
a matter of safety we ask that you pull to the curb to pick- up or drop off
your student. Students are also
instructed they must only cross the intersection of Leon Sullivan and
Catholic
teaching and tradition stress the necessity of reaching out in love and service
to one another, especially to those most in need. CCHS’s Community Service
Program is designed to recognize and support the service that the school is
already engaged in and to encourage the growth of the entire school community
in this area.
Grade level requirements:
Middle
School 6th
= 5 hours; 7th = 7 hours; 8th = 10 hours;
High
School 9th =
15 hours; 10th = 20 hours;
11th
= 25 hours; 12th = 30 hours
Guidelines for students:
1. “Community” includes school,
church, neighborhood, city, state, or world community. A guiding question to
ask in order to understand the “spirit” of the community service requirement
is, “Is this person (organization, etc.) in real need of assistance?” Since it is assumed that service to other
family members (persons living in one’s household) is a normal part of daily
life, such service will not count towards the requirement. The service requirement provides the student
with an opportunity to explore new dimensions of what it means to be a person
of service for others. Students are encouraged to take creative risks instead
of simply trying to meet the requirement.
2.
School community service hours include service performed outside of
regular school hours. It does not
include regular extracurricular activities.
3.
During the summer preceding the academic year, students who have already
attended CCHS may earn community service hours.
4.
A minimum of three different service activities per year is required.
5. In
order to reach out to the poor and disadvantaged (sick, elderly, mentally and
physically impaired, etc.), a minimum of 1/3 of the required hours at the high
school level and 1/2 of the required hours at the middle school must be
performed in this area.
6. A
“Community Service Activity Form” must be completed for each activity,
including the sponsoring adult’s signature and phone number. The activity
forms must be submitted to the theology teacher during the quarter in which the
service was performed in order to receive credit. Forms are available from theology teachers or
from the web (www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org).
7. Seniors
must complete this requirement in order to graduate. In order to be exempt from exams in any
classes, in addition to meeting the academic exam exemption requirements,
seniors must have completed their service hours by the second Friday in
May. Sixth through eleventh graders who
have any hours outstanding at the end of the fourth quarter will have those
hours doubled. These extra service hours
must be completed prior to registration in August.
Community Service Clarification
Regarding Artistic Performances
Charleston Catholic affirms and supports our
students’ participation in the cultural and performance arts here at school and
in the wider community. Generally
speaking musical, theatrical, and dance performances and preparation for the
performances will not be counted for community service credit. In much the same way, students’ participation
in athletics is not counted towards community service. If a particular artistic performance is
shared with a group in special need (e.g., a performance at a nursing home or
at the Boys and Girls Club), community service may be earned. If students volunteer to teach others in any
of the performance arts, or act as volunteers with youth sports teams, these
hours may be counted toward the community service requirement. As always, students should check with their
Theology teachers ahead of time for questions regarding the requirements.
Focus on the Arts expands students’ involvement in the community,
exposes them to a wide variety of experiences, and supports the artistic
endeavors of the community. English
teachers have details on the appropriateness of events submitted by students.
Grade level requirements: 6th: 1 event per year; 7th and 8th: 2
events per year; 9th –12th:
a total of twelve events (with a minimum of 3 three per year). If a student fails to complete the annual
requirement, he/she must complete double the number of outstanding events
during the summer in order to be readmitted to CCHS.
Guidelines for students:
1. The
following seven requirements must be included among the total number of events
in grades six through twelve: one ballet; one musical or play; two classical
music performances; one visual art display or museum visit; one festival; and
one local color event (must focus on West Virginia or Appalachian culture). The remaining events are to be chosen
from those above or such things as: other types of concerts (e.g. rock, country
and western, jazz); lecture/public
reading; historical site/walking tour; outdoor drama; musical events which do
not fit in the categories already mentioned. Sporting events, ice shows,
recitals, entirely food events, zoos/animal shows, or religious/ethnic
observances may not be used to satisfy requirements.
2. Events
appearing on the bulletin boards outside the library or in the English hall may
be used. From time to time announcements are made concerning suitable events
and free tickets. Students are urged to check the appropriateness of other events
BEFORE making plans to attend. While the focus is on area/West
3. Since
many events could fit into more than one of the required categories, the
student will decide on the category to be used for the event. After attending the event, the student will
complete a two-paragraph critique form, available from English teachers or on
the web (www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org). These forms are turned in to the English
teachers and kept on file.
4. The critiques must be submitted during the
quarter in which the event occurred. The entire yearly requirement must be
completed by the end of the third quarter for all seniors. Sixth through
eleventh graders who have any missing critiques at the end of the 4th quarter
will have to complete double the number owed.
Outstanding Fine Arts critiques must be completed prior to registration
in August.
Students are encouraged
to participate in school sports and other activities at CCHS. These are meant to build character,
confidence, a sense of fair play, and commitment to working cooperatively.
Participation in
school activities is a privilege earned through dedication, hard work, and
self-discipline. When Charleston
Catholic students are participating in school-sponsored activities (e.g., field
trips, athletic teams, ski club, quiz bowl) out in the community, they are
representing the school. As such, they
are expected to act in accordance with CCHS policies and guidelines.
Students involved in
CCHS sponsored activities must:
1. Be in compliance with CCHS policies stated in the
Student-Parent Handbook, with particular emphasis on guidelines relating to
academic performance, behavior, and attendance;
2. If appropriate,
meet eligibility requirements established by the West Virginia Secondary
Schools Activities Commission; and
3. Meet
requirements established by adults responsible for supervision.
Failure
to adhere to school expectations (during the school day, at school functions,
etc.) or coaches' requirements for individual sports or activities will result
in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, suspension or dismissal.
Academic and School Behavior The CCHS academic program and behavioral
standards are rigorous and require diligence and hard work by the
students. Students are expected to
demonstrate their personal best in the classroom as well as during the particular
activity. Failure to abide by school
expectations jeopardizes a student's privilege to be a member of a school
athletic team or to participate in school-sponsored activities.
School Attendance In
order to participate in extracurricular activities on a particular day, a
student must be in school for the FULL DAY on the day of the event. This "full day" policy includes
appointments, so students need to avoid scheduling appointments during the
school day. Students who have
long-standing medical appointments, family funerals, or similar instances may
be excused at the discretion of the Assistant Principal for Operations. Students
are also expected to be on time on days following athletic events. If a
student is suspended at school, that student is also suspended from athletic
practices, games, etc. for the FULL DAY on the day(s) suspended (i.e., if a
student is suspended for a Tuesday, the suspension includes involvement in any
school activities -- sports, social, etc. -- for Tuesday evening also).
Personal Appearance and Behavior Students represent the school and are
oftentimes the only examples of CCHS that the public sees. Therefore, students' personal appearance and
behavior at events reflects upon the school as well as individual students and
teams. Students are required to abide by
dress codes established by their coaches/adult sponsors. Additionally, students are required to behave
during meetings, practices, and competitions in keeping with the CCHS
philosophy, one of respect for others.
Failure to comply with school or activity guidelines will result in
disciplinary action including, but not limited to, being held out of practice
or competitions and suspension or removal from the activity.
Activity Fees In order to offset the cost of
extracurricular activities, students are asked to pay a $75 fee for each
activity in which they participate. This fee must be paid before a student
athlete may participate in an interscholastic competition. These fees support
renting fields, paying officials, entrance fees, etc. These fees are collected for both sports and
non sports activities (i.e. quiz bowl, speech.)
Athletic Teams:
1. Fees
and Physical Examinations: In
order to tryout for a team, a student must have a WVSSAC doctor's physical
examination form on file in the CCHS athletic office. Physical forms completed after June 1st
of a particular year are accepted for the school year commencing in August.
Once selected as a member of a team, all athletic fees must be paid ($75 per
sport) before a student will be issued a uniform. Based on their best judgment, coaches will
determine how much playing time athletes receive. Once a student has been selected as a team
member, payment of fees enrolls the student on a team but does not guarantee
playing time.
2. Equipment:
Equipment and
uniforms are school property. Students
using this property are expected to be responsible for and to take proper care
of items assigned to them or used by all team members. Uniforms and other items assigned to
individual students are to be kept clean and in good repair. Immediately following the end of a season,
students must return all equipment and uniforms in good condition. Lost or damaged articles must be paid for at
full replacement cost. Failure to return
all items will result in the holding of a student's report card/progress report
and the student will not be issued a uniform for another sport until the matter
has been satisfactorily resolved with the school office.
3. Jobs:
Because of major
time commitments required to succeed academically and athletically in CCHS,
student athletes shall not obligate themselves to jobs that interfere with
practices or competitions.
4.
Lettering: The provisions to be met for earning a
varsity letter is determined by the athletic director with input from each
coach and should be shared with athletes at the
beginning of the season.
Dances
School –sponsored activities at
Charleston Catholic hosts three dances a year for its high school
students -- Homecoming, Winter Waltz, and Prom.
Dances are from 8-11 p.m. with the exception of Prom which is scheduled
from 9 p.m. to midnight. All students in
grades 9-12 are invited to Homecoming and Winter Waltz dances. Prom is only open to juniors and seniors,
although a sophomore may be an invited guest of a junior or senior. Freshmen may not attend Prom.
Behavior: All students who attend CCHS dances
are expected to behave and dress appropriately.
Students are expected to observe all laws concerning alcohol and tobacco
use, as well as the code of behavior set by the school. A statement signed by the
student agreeing to these policies will be submitted by each student and
his/her guest prior to each dance. These
policies are to insure that everyone is treated with respect and that an
appropriate atmosphere is maintained.
Behavior that disrupts the dance or fails to respect the human or property
rights of others is unacceptable. At the
dance, such behavior will be dealt with according to the rules and regulations
of
1.
School
rules concerning general conduct, vandalism, and use of controlled substances
shall be enforced at all times.
2.
Lewd
and/or vulgar dancing/conduct is not permitted: no groping, exposing underwear,
simulated and /or explicit sexual behavior including, but not limited to,
“freak dancing” and prolonged kissing, etc.
3.
Use
of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is not permitted.
In an effort to insure that dances remain alcohol free, students are
subject to random alcohol screenings.
CCHS administration also reserves the right to require a student whose
behavior evidences the possibility that he/she may have been drinking to comply
with an alcohol screening. Should a
positive alcohol reading be found in the course of the screening, parents will
be notified.
Failure to comply with any of the dance polices will result in notification of parents who will be asked to pick their child up at the dance.
Internet
access is available to students and teachers in
With access to computers and people all over the world also comes the
availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value
in the context of the school setting.
Teachers will supervise student access; however, on a global network it is
impossible to control all materials, and an
industrious user may discover controversial and/or offensive information.
The
smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct of the
end users who must adhere to strict guidelines.
These guidelines are provided here so that you are aware of the
responsibilities you are about to acquire.
In general this requires efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of
the network resources. If a CCHS user
violates any of these provisions, disciplinary consequences which
are deemed appropriate by the school principal will result. Your signature regarding the Internet Use
Agreement is legally binding and indicates that the signing parties have
read the terms and conditions carefully and understand their
significance.
INTERNET
- TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.
Acceptable Use -The
use of your account must be in support of education and research and
consistent with the educational objectives of
2. Privileges - The use of the Internet
is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. The system administrator and the principal
will deem what is inappropriate use, and their decision is final. Students will not receive E-mail addresses
through CCHS. Students may not access home E-mail
accounts from the CCHS network. Students may not sign up for free E-mail accounts through the CCHS
network. Students may not use instant messages through the CCHS network.
3. Network Etiquette – You are expected to
abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the
following:
a. Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other
inappropriate language. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden.
b. Do not reveal
the personal address or phone number of students, teachers, administrators, or
yourself.
c. Do not use the
network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other
users.
d. All
communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to
be private property.
e. Be
polite. Do not get abusive in any
postings on the Internet.
4.
Charleston Catholic High School makes no warranties of any kind, whether
expressed or implied, for the service it is
providing. CCHS will not be responsible
for any damages you suffer. These include
loss of data resulting from delays, non deliveries, misdeliveries, or service
interruptions caused by its own negligence or your errors or omissions. Use of
any information obtained via the Internet is at your own risk. CCHS
specifically denies all responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.
5.
Security - Security on any
computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many
users. If you feel you can identify a
security problem on the Internet, you must notify the system administrator or
your teacher. Do not demonstrate the
problem to other users. Do not use another
individual's account. Attempts to logon to the Internet as a system
administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user
identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other
computer systems may be denied access to Internet and the computer labs.
6.
Vandalism - Vandalism will result
in cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is defined as any
malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware or the data of another
user, Internet, or any of the above listed agencies or other networks that are connected to the
NSFNET Internet backbone. This includes, but
is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.
Internet/Intranet
Publishing Permission
The Charleston Catholic website, www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org,
has become an important source of information for parents, students, alumni,
and interested members of the community. Charleston Catholic adheres to the
following Internet/Intranet publishing guidelines:
·
Acceptable
Student Content – Student content which may appear on the Charleston Catholic
website with a signed Internet/Intranet Publishing Permission form on file is
limited to (1) student first name, (2) student photos, and (3) student grade
level. All other student content, e.g., game statistics, poetry, short stories,
art work, appearing on the website will require an individual content release
signed by student and parent.
·
Student
Safety – A student’s photo and name will not appear on the same page.
·
Privacy
Protection – At no time will any student’s personal information appear on the
Charleston Catholic website.
For the student: I understand and will abide by the CCHS
Internet Use Agreement. I further
understand that any violation of the regulations above is unethical and may
constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit
any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, and school disciplinary action and/or
appropriate legal action may be taken.
For the parent or
guardian: As the parent or guardian of this student, I have
read the Internet Use Agreement. I understand that this access is designed for
educational purposes. I understand that
student access
will be supervised by teachers. However,
I also recognize it is impossible for CCHS to restrict access to all controversial materials, and
I will not hold CCHS responsible for materials acquired on the network.