Harrisonville High School 1504 East Elm Street Harrisonville MO 64701 Back to School! August 1, 2018 Volume 1, Issue 1 First Day of School The first day of classes for all students is Thursday, August 16th. Students will report by 7:40am to HHS. Please note the new Bell Schedule for the 2018-19 school year. Thursdays dismiss at 2:23pm to allow our teachers an opportunity to collaborate. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday will dismiss at 2:50pm. Since the first day is on a Thursday we will dismiss at 2:23pm. Traffic Flow Parents should use the loop on the east side of the school for drop-off and pick-up. The loop in front of the main door on the west side is for student drivers & buses. For pick-up staging, we ask that parents proceed to Cass Career Center, travel around the CCC building, & return to HHS forming a line heading south along the east side of school down to the baseball field. Meet the Teacher Night Meet the Teacher Night is scheduled for Tuesday, August 14 from 7:00 8:30pm. The staff will be present to welcome both you and your student back to school. Guests may tour classrooms, chat with teachers and visit with other parents. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Freshman Orientation... 2 & Chromebooks Let s Stay in Touch... 3 Attendance Procedures... 4 Cell Phone Usage... 5 Bell Schedules... 6 Looking Ahead.6
Freshman Orientation Freshmen orientation for incoming freshmen and their parents will be during Meet the Teacher Night. Incoming freshmen and their parents will have the opportunity to learn about HHS from 5:30-7:00pm or 7:30-9:00pm. The last half hour of each session will be dedicated to Device Orientation and questions and answers in regards to our 1:1 Laptops. As you know, we are continuing our 1:1 technology program this fall at HHS and as a part of that program, students will be provided with a Chrome Book. In order for us to get these devices checked out in a timely manner once school starts, all students will be required to sign the user agreement and pay the insurance premium. We are asking that all new HHS students/parents and freshmen/ parents go through our Device Orientation during Meet the Teacher Night. We will be conducting presentations that both students and parents are required to attend prior to students getting their device. Returning students and parents may attend if they desire. During this session, you will receive information on the device, care/maintenance, and expectations for use. Once you have attended one of these sessions, you will be asked to complete a User Acceptable Use Agreement form and pay the student insurance premium of $10 per student (must be cash or check; cards not accepted). Parents and students will attend the same session. We plan to check out devices to all students who have completed this process on Thursday and Friday, August 16 & 17. If you have not gone through this process, your student will not be allowed to take their device out of the building. 2
2017-18 YEARBOOKS Let s Stay In Touch It is VERY important that we have the correct phone number, e-mail, and emergency contact information in our Student Information System for your child(ren). You can update the information on-line through Parent Portal or you can call HHS to notify us of changes. The Parent Portal will default to the 2018-19 School year. Please update your information and make online payments to this school year only. ** This year we would also like to collect student cell phone numbers to use for text/call reminders. To provide your student's cell phone number, follow the steps below and on Step #5, select Student Information, then click on the + sign next to your HHS student's name to add a student cell phone. Updating Your Student s Information Using Parent Portal: 1. Go to the district website, www.harrisonvilleschools.org 2. Click on Parent Portal in the upper right hand corner of the home page of the website 3. A new screen will appear. Click on the Parent Tab (there are three tabs Staff, Parent, & Student), then enter your username and password. Your password will be sent in a separate e-mail if you ve forgotten it. 4. Go to the Menu icon (circle at top left) & select Updated Household Data. 5. Choose item to edit - Household Parents (email addresses), Household Addresses (phone numbers), Student Information, Emergency Contacts (add or change). 6. Be sure to click Save at the bottom once you ve made changes on each screen. If your student purchased a yearbook last year they will be available for distribution at Residency Verification Night. Extra copies will be available for sale on a first-come, first served basis at the cost of $70. School Pictures taken on August 17! If your student did not get their picture taken during Residency Verification, we will be taking pictures on August 17! Please be on the lookout for an order form! 3
New Attendance Procedures There is a direct correlation between a student s attendance and their academic achievement. Our goal is to have students in attendance, at school, where they can engage in their learning. A missed school day is a missed opportunity for learning. Furthermore, as a school, and a district, we are held accountable to DESE for having 90% of our students in attendance 90% of the time. This equates to 8 missed days of school a semester. As a school, HHS has not yet met this goal. We believe the following changes to our attendance procedures will help us get to DESE s expectation. There is a direct correlation between a student s attendance and their academic achievement. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ATTENDANCE Procedures When a student s attendance falls below 90%: The student will become ineligible for dances, field trips, for participation in school sponsored activities, and involvement in graduation ceremonies. ONLY doctor s notes with dated absences, or funeral notices will exempt an absence toward the school s 90% attendance policy. Attendance letters will be mailed to the address provided in SIS to update parents/guardians on their student s attendance and eligibility. Excessive absences may/will require a conference with parents/guardians to resolve the attendance issues. 4 GRADUATION EXERCISES ATTENDANCE Procedures Students must maintain a cumulative 90% attendance record while attending Harrisonville High School in order to participate in graduation ceremonies. (Students not able to participate will still graduate and receive their diploma) Implementation: Class of 2019-90% or better for their Senior year only Class of 2020 - Average of 90% or higher for Junior and Senior year Class of 2021 - Average of 90% or higher for Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year Class of 2022 and Beyond - Average of 90% or higher for all four years of High School.
Cell Phone Usage We would like to address changes made to the cell phone policy at Harrisonville High School this year. In past years, students of HHS have been allowed to use their cell phones in the hallway and the lunch room. Additionally, it has been left up to teachers' discretion whether or not cell phone were allowed to be used inside the classroom. Unfortunately, as the years have progressed, we have witnessed more concerning behavior regarding cell phone usage. Students are constantly checking and posting on their Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media accounts during instructional time. Not only does this use of social media distract the student from instructional time, it also is the cause for many of the conflicts that arise in our school building. Additionally, after speaking with local professionals, this behavior is beginning to affect students outside of school. They have shared their concerns about young workers' addiction to their phones, and find it to be one of the biggest issues with their young workers. In an effort to provide the most ideal educational environment, as well as prepare students for the expectations of future and present employment opportunities, we have rewritten the school's cell phone policy. Below is the cell phone policy as stated in the 2018-19 Student Handbook. Whenever class is in session, cell phones may not be used and/or visible to staff without staff permission. Students are extended the privilege of using cell phones during passing periods and during their assigned lunch shift. Whenever class is in session, cell phones may not be used and/or visible to staff without staff permission. The inappropriate use of telecommunication devices capable of taking and/or transmitting digital media can create a risk factor in locker rooms, restrooms, private areas, and other locations where students and/or staff have a reasonable expectation of privacy. If a student does not follow the expectations set forth in this policy, the following consequences will apply: First Offense: Cell Phone Confiscation and held for the remainder of the hour. Classroom Warning and Parent Phone Call. Second Offense: Cell Phone Confiscation and held in the office for remainder of the day. Administrative Conference and Parent Phone Call Third Offense: Cell Phone Confiscation and held in the office for the remainder of the day. 3 Hour After School Detention. Fourth Offense: Cell Phone Confiscation until parent picks up. 1 Day of ISS. Fifth Offense: Cell Phone Confiscation w/ parent meeting. 3 Days of ISS. If a student fails to comply with the confiscation of their cell phone, they will be referred to the office for Failure to Comply and will receive disciplinary consequences, regardless of the offense number. 5
2018-19 School Hours Regular Bell Schedule (M, T, W, F) The mission of Harrisonville High School is to ensure our students learn, and to empower their success. 1st Period -- 7:40-8:25 2nd Period -- 8:30-9:15 3rd Period -- 9:20-10:05 4th Period -- 10:10-11:30 1st Lunch Shift -- 10:15-10:40 2nd Lunch Shift -- 10:45-11:05 3rd Lunch Shift -- 11:10-11:30 5th Period -- 11:35-12:20 6th Period -- 12:25-1:10 7th Period -- 1:15-2:00 8th Period -- 2:05-2:50 Collaboration Bell Schedule (Thursday) Harrisonville High School Home of the Wildcats 1504 East Elm Street Harrisonville MO 64701 Phone: 816.380.3273 Fax: 816.380.5853 1st Period -- 7:40-8:25 2nd Period -- 8:29-9:41 3rd Period -- 9:18-10:03 4th Period -- 10:07-11:07 1st Lunch Shift -- 10:07-10:27 2nd Lunch Shift -- 10:27-10:47 3rd Lunch Shift -- 10:47-11:07 5th Period -- 11:11-11:56 6th Period -- 12:00-12:45 7th Period -- 12:49-1:34 8th Period -- 1:38-2:23 Early Release 12:05 p.m. Looking Ahead.. August 17. School Pictures August 22. Excellence in Academics Assembly September 3 No School / Labor Day September 4 No School / PD Day September 11. College Fair YOUR LOGO HERE September 28. Homecoming Game September 29. Homecoming Dance