HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL Brian Pittman, Principal 5329 Cass Holt Road Holly Springs, NC 27540 tel: (919) 577-1444 fax: (919) 577-1773 July 22, 2015 Dear 10-11th Grade Golden Hawk Parents & Students: I hope that you are all enjoying a wonderful summer and are excited to start a new school year! Our staff is busy preparing for the 2015-16 school year. This is a special year for Holly Springs High School as it is our 10 th year as a school. I am confident that each of you students and parents will play an important role in making it our best year yet! Enclosed in this mailing are a number of resources and details that will help you to prepare for your high school year. It includes information on course schedules, bell schedules, process for arrival and dismissal, dress code, and much more. Please read through it carefully. In many cases there is a reference to an electronic resource on our website that gives additional information. If you would like for us to mail you a printed copy of any of these materials, please call the front office at (919) 577-1444 and we ll be happy to do that. As you plan for the upcoming year, please make note of the following key dates: August 20: Open House Between 5-7pm, parents and students can visit the HSHS campus to pick up their schedule, meet teachers, and tour the facility. This is a pass through event with no formal program. You are welcome to arrive at any point during those times. August 24: First Day of School Our school day will begin at 7:25am and end at 2:18pm. Students should plan to arrive between 6:55-7:25am. September 10: Open House This open house will be more structured and will allow you to hear from different teachers about their course. This will begin at 5:30pm. We are thrilled that you will be part of our Golden Hawks community this school year! There are many wonderful adventures ahead but we do know that new experiences bring questions. Please feel free to reach out to us through email or via our website (bit.ly/hshsfeedback) or by calling our front office at 919-577- 1444. We look forward to working with you in your journey toward graduation and beyond! Sincerely, Brian Pittman, Principal bpittman@wcpss.net
c HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL Home of the Golden Hawks Open House / Student & Parent Visitation August 20, 2015 Please come out to meet the teachers and staff of Holly Springs High School on THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 from 5-7pm. This is a pass through event where you are welcome to arrive at any point during this time period to: Explore the building and walk the schedule Meet your student s teachers for the fall semester Receive information for parent volunteer opportunities Sign- up for Parent Portal / PowerSchool Accounts Receive bus route information Access information about PTSA, Parent Booster Groups, Student Council, Clubs, Athletics, and other student activities For more information on this event, please call the front office at (919) 577-1444. 11 th Grade Information for Starting the 2015-16 School Year Arrival at School. Students should not arrive before 6:55am. Upon arrival, students must either take a seat in the cafeteria, proceed to their first period classroom, or the lockerbay of their first period classroom. Students will not be permitted to loiter in the commons or hallways. Those who arrive via carpool will need to be dropped off in the front circle. Please be sure you pull all the way up around the circle to move the line along. After 7:05am, carpool may also drop off in the bus loop. No students will be permitted to be dropped off in the student parking lots for safety reasons. A visual image of our carpool procedures is available on the school website and at the following link: http://bit.ly/hshscarpool Bell Schedule. Our school day and schedule has not changed from last year. We begin at 7:25am and end at 2:18pm. Classes are 85 minutes with a 57 minute lunch between 2nd and 3rd period. A complete bell schedule including delay schedules is available at http://bit.ly/hshsbells. Bus Routes. Our bus routes will be posted online closer to the first day of school. They can be accessed at the page below. This will also be linked to the HSHS website. http://bit.ly/hshsbusroutes. Additional information about WCPSS transportation can be viewed on the WCPSS website by clicking on the Transportation icon on their main page. Class Schedules. Students will receive a first draft of their schedule when they attend Flight Academy on August 6. This is not their final schedule as we will continue to balance and adjust classes throughout the remaining weeks to meet as many student needs as possible. Students will be able to receive a new copy of their schedule at the open house on August 20 and will receive a final copy on the first day of school. Schedules will not be mailed home to students. Requests for changes to electives will not be approved if it is an option that the student requested as a primary or alternate course selection. We will do our best to make changes to balance first and second semester to the extent possible, to accommodate requests for increased rigor, and to correct errors. There will be an online form to complete a request for a schedule change. It will be linked to the school s main webpage. Communication. We seek to communicate frequently and proactively with our parents and students. Some communication strategies that you should be aware of include: Weekly Phone Message Home from Mr. Pittman Weekly HawkBlast Email (If you have not received one of these yet, please visit http://bit.ly/hshshawkblast Interim Progress Reports are distributed to students approximately every 3 weeks from teachers. During this year, interim reports will be on the following dates: Quarter 1: September 16, October 7 Quarter 2: November 18, December 16 Quarter 3: February 10, March 2 Quarter 4: April 27, May 18 Within the first few weeks of school, all teachers will have active websites sharing the great things happening in class in a way that will support students and parents in staying current and successful. Departure from School. After the 2:18pm bell, students are expected to depart campus immediately unless they are under the supervision of a staff member for sports, academic supports, or other after school activities. Students riding the bus will move directly to the bus loop. It is important that students riding the bus move purposefully to the bus as they will leave at the designated time of 2:26pm so that we do not delay dismissal at other schools. Students who ride carpool in the afternoons will get picked up in
the main circle in front of the building. Any student who remains on campus after 2:35pm will be expected to be under the supervision of an adult or they will be asked to leave campus. Dress Code. Students are required to comply with dress code starting on the first day of school. While students and parents are encouraged to review WCPSS Board Policy 6410 - Inappropriate Dress, the following are some of the most common violations of dress code policy: Exposed undergarments Attire that exposes cleavage Bare midriff shirts Backless shirts, halter tops, net shirts, strapless/shoulderless shirts, or shirts that expose the torso on the sides. Shirts/tops with spaghetti straps Excessively tight, revealing, and/or short garments skirts and shorts not at mid- thigh length Clothing that is profane, disruptive, vulgar, etc. Students who do not meet the dress code will be removed from the learning environment until they can meet the dress code. Students are permitted to wear hats in the hallways and during lunch but hats and other related apparel (except as it relates to religious observance) are prohibited in the classroom. Any student who wears a hood or hat that obscures their face will be asked to remove it. Please talk with your administrator about any specific questions regarding the dress code. Lockers. Students are not automatically assigned a locker as many students opt not to use one. If your student wants a locker, please submit the request form at http://bit.ly/hshslockers. Requests can be made in person via the front office as well. It is good to have your schedule prior to making this request so that your locker is near your classes. Lunch. Our students have one lunch period between 10:20 11:17am. Please see the enclosed handout on HOT Lunch. Students can pre- pay their lunch accounts using www.mylunchbucks.com. This site is a replacement for the previous online account. More information is available on the WCPSS website by going to Parents and School Meals. You are welcome to email our cafeteria manager as well, Ms. Tuesday Scott (tscott4@wcpss.net). Off Campus Lunch Pass. Juniors may request an off campus lunch pass. Student must stay in good academic standing and comply with expectations in order to keep their off campus lunch pass. Applications are online at http://bit.ly/hshsapplications. Parking. Students who have a valid driver s license may request a parking spot on campus. These spaces are being assigned on a first come, first serve basis. No space will be assigned to a student until their parking application is complete. This includes payment, a copy of a valid NC driver s license, and all outstanding fees paid including class dues for 2015-16. Students can pick up their parking tag at HSHS on August 4 or 5 (7:30-12, 1-3), at open house on August 20, or on the first day of school. Parking information is available at http://bit.ly/hshsapplications. PowerSchool Access. All students will have to create a new account to access PowerSchool to view their grades, attendance, etc. Directions on how to create your new school account are located in the School News section of the HSHS website and available in hardy copy in the front office. It is our understanding that parent accounts are unchanged. Student Activities Calendar. In an attempt to help families plan their school year, we have developed the student activities calendar for 2015-16. This includes all significant events that we are aware of at this point except sports events. While dates are subject to change, we believe that these dates are fairly stable. Please always refer to the school s online master calendar for more up- to- date information. A copy of the current student activities calendar is enclosed. Student Code of Conduct / Student Handbook. We encourage every student to read the WCPSS Student / Parent Handbook and the HSHS Student Handbook thoroughly prior to the first day of school. While each part of the handbooks provide important information, the following guiding thoughts and reminders will help get you started in a positive direction. Students should be where they are assigned on time and doing what they have been asked to do. Students are expected to be respectful of their peers, the staff, and their surroundings. Students should always keep their hands to themselves. Electronic devices should be used in alignment with the acceptable use policy. For more information, see http://bit.ly/hshsbyod. Students who violate the drug & alcohol policy, the weapons policy, the gang & gang related activity policy or assault another student or adult will be recommended for long- term suspension on the first occurrence. Students who fight, threaten others, or cause significant disruption to the school day can be recommended for long- term suspension on the first occurrence.
c HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL Student Activities Calendar, 2015-16 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 6 Flight Academy 12 PTSA Board Meeting 18-21 Teacher Workdays 20 Open House 24 First Day of School 24 Senior Parade / Breakfast 1 Holiday / No School 5 Choral Booster Meeting & Informance 11 Period 1 & 2 Exams 12 Period 3 & 4 Exams 13 EOC Exams 14 EOC Exams 15 Make Up Exams 15 Early Release 15 End of 2 nd Quarter 18 Holiday / No School 19 Teacher Workday 26 Dance Symposium Auditions 28-29 HOSA Blood Drive 1 Choral Parent Meeting 4 Early Release 7 Holiday 10 Open House 16 Interims Distributed 17 Junior / Senior Night 19 Homecoming Dance 21-25 Homecoming Week 23 Teacher Workday 7 Interims Distributed 9 Murder Mystery 14 PTSA Board Meeting 16 Early Release 23 Quarter 1 Ends 26 Teacher Workday 28-29 HOSA Blood Drive 4 PTSA Board Meeting 5 Financial Aid Night 10 Dance Parent Meeting 11 Holiday / No School 16 Choral Booster Meeting & Informance 18 Interims Distributed 19-21 Drama Production 25-27 Holiday / No School 4 Band Concert 9 PTSA Board Meeting 10-12 Nutcracker 15 Choral Concert 16 Interims Distributed 16 Dance Honors Solo s 18 Early Release 21-22 Teacher Workdays 23-31 Holiday / Vacation January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2106 2 Spring Open House 1 ACT Testing (pending) 1 Spring Break 3 Period 1 & 2 Exam 3-5 Musical Auditions 2 Interims Distributed 13 PTSA Board Meeting 6 Period 3 & 4 Exam 10 Interims Distributed 4 Early Release 14-16 Musical 7 EOC Exams 10 PTSA Board Meeting 8 Dance Honors Solo 19 Senior Class Meeting 8 EOC Exams 12 Early Release s 19 Rising Senior Parent 9 Make Up Exams 15 Teacher Workday 9 PTSA Board Meeting Night 9 Last Day of School 17 Reflections Participants 10 Mr. Holly Springs 21 AP Parent Night 10 Teacher Workday Lunch 14 Choral Booster Meeting 23 Prom 13 Teacher Workday 18 Curriculum Fair & AP & Informance 25 Teacher Workday Night 23 End of 3 rd Quarter 27 Interims Distributed 26 2016-17 Dance Auditions 24 Teacher Workday 28-29 HOSA Blood Drive 25-31 Spring Break 29 Dance Symposium 2-13 AP Exams 2 Arts Honor Society Inductions 3 NHS Inductions 6 Band Concert 9 Dance Honors Solo s 10 Underclassmen Awards / PTSA General Meeting 13 Chorus Concert 17 Dance Parent Meeting 19-21 Spring Play 23 Letterman Night 24 Year 10 Band Concert 24-26 Dance Solos 25 Choral Banquet 26 Band Awards Banquet 27 Senior Awards Day / Senior Picnic 31 Theatre Awards Banquet Note that all dates are subject to change. Exam dates are listed by pending details on testing requirements, the date of graduation in the spring, etc. These may shift by 2-3 days. 1 st Draft July 7, 2015
HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL What is HOT Lunch? What is HOT Lunch? HOT Lunch is a 57 minute lunch period where the entire school is at lunch. Our goal is to use this period of the school day to provide intervention, enrichment, access to clubs and intramurals, and an opportunity for our eligible juniors and seniors to go off campus safely. Where students are being successful academically, they will have more freedom to decide what on task means for them during this period of the day. In cases where students need additional supports, the staff will guide them to specific tutorials, study halls, etc. How does it work? Students should allocate about 30 minutes for eating and the other 27 minutes for their activity. Some logistics that will help you during HOT Lunch include: The lunch is divided into two periods of time: A Lunch which is 10:20-10:48am and B Lunch which is 10:48-11:17am. Students will hear a bell ring at the beginning of B Lunch. Clubs and tutorials will often be advertised as happening during either A or B Lunch. Students with last names A-L are encouraged to eat during A Lunch while students with last names M-Z are encouraged to eat during B Lunch. When you need to attend tutorials or clubs, it is OK to eat during the other time. The goal is to spread out the time spent waiting in line for food. Students are allowed to be in the cafeteria, in the locker bays, with teachers attending tutorials or clubs, in the courtyard (weather permitting), or in another approved/supervised setting. The Media Center is also available to students for silent reading, group work, or time on the computer. Students are NOT allowed to sit along the academic hallways, loiter in the stairwells, loiter along the commons area walkways, or be outside in unsupervised areas. Students who do not have an off campus lunch pass are not permitted in the parking lots. Staff members monitor open areas during HOT lunch. Students who cause disruption during HOT Lunch may have their ability to have freedom of movement taken away during this time. What are directed tutorials? Staff members have the ability to assign students to HOT Lunch Directed Tutorials when they deem that a student needs academic assistance in their classroom. If a student is failing a course, the teacher MUST assign directed tutorials for the student. It is the student s responsibility to sign in for their tutorial. This will be monitored by administration. If a student does not attend a directed tutorial, an administrative referral will be created. This referral can result in individual counseling, consequence for nonattendance, and/or revocation of the off campus lunch pass. When and where are the tutorials? Tutorials are scheduled by department at the following times. Teachers will provide information on locations. Mondays: English (A Lunch), Science (B Lunch), World Languages (B Lunch) Tuesdays: Career & Technical Education (A Lunch), Special Programs (A Lunch), Math (B Lunch) Wednesdays: Science (A Lunch), ESL (A Lunch), Social Studies (B Lunch), Special Programs (B Lunch) Thursdays: Math (A Lunch), Fine Arts (A Lunch), English (B Lunch), CTE (B Lunch) Fridays: Social Studies (A Lunch), World Languages (B Lunch), Fine Arts (B Lunch) Teachers may provide additional time for tutorials outside of these times. Please see your teacher with any questions. Still have questions about HOT Lunch? Questions can be addressed to your counselor or administrator. You are always welcome to stop by the front office during HOT Lunch and ask a question. Students and parents are also welcome to submit a question via the online feedback form at bit.ly/hshsfeedback.