Warlick Academy Student Handbook The Power of Choice Unlock Your Potential Home of the Patriots 2016-2017
WARLICK ACADEMY 1316 Spencer Mountain Road Gastonia, North Carolina 28054 704-836-9608 (Telephone) 704-824-0918 (Fax) August 2016 Dear Students: Welcome to Warlick Academy, home of the Patriots! As you prepare for your academic and personal growth, please know we are a very dedicated and caring staff ready to assist you with your challenges. We will celebrate your success with you and your family. We believe all students are capable of making the right choices and can unlock your own potential. We will help you each step of the way. You will learn that in the public schools success will sometimes disguise itself. We can help you learn that attending school everyday, dressing appropriately, showing respect to yourself and others, and demonstrating your full potential in the classroom will be the beginnings of a successful you. You will find opportunities to practice student success every day. Remember, we are here to assist you on your journey. You and your parents are being provided with the Gaston County Student Information Guide. Here you will find a wealth of information including the Student Code of Conduct. Reviewing the student code will be the first step to success. We welcome parent(s)/guardian(s) involvement and plan to communicate with you frequently and hope to see you in our school. As the new principal of Warlick Academy, I personally say, Welcome! Sincerely, Curt Hovis Mr. Curt Hovis Principal
Warlick Academy s Vision, Direction, and Beliefs Our Vision: Warlick Academy aspires to create a safe and nurturing learning environment that is tailored to meet the individual social, emotional and academic needs of each student. Our Direction: Warlick Academy is striving to prepare students behaviorally and socially to be successful citizens. Our Beliefs: Warlick Academy will create an educational setting in which: students can learn at a level necessary to be a successful and contributing member of society. students learn to adapt their behavior to be productive learners. students can acquire appropriate educational, social, psychological, emotional, and behavioral skills in a safe and orderly environment. Warlick Academy Guidelines for Students METAL DETECTION Students will be called to the detector one student at a time. They will remove their shoes, coat, belt, and jewelry and place items on the table. They will empty pockets when instructed to do so. They will walk thru the detector and if an alarm/beep occurs, they will then be searched. Students will be refused entry into the building if they refuse to comply with staff directions. HALLWAY Students will walk on the right side of the hallway and stay out of the middle. They will walk quietly in a single file line with no physical contact including high-fives, handshakes, or gang signs. CLASS CHANGE Students will follow scheduled times in order to put away materials and remain seated until the teacher gives direction to change classes. Walk in straight lines without talking. Go directly to the next class, your seat, and begin warm-up activities. THE CLASSROOM Each teacher will provide students with the guidelines that will make them successful in their room. The guidelines are created to make a safe and productive learning environment. REENTERING CLASS FROM OASIS Students will return to their class with an escort when released by Administration or Oasis Facilitator. Assignments will be returned to the teacher(s) whose class(es) were missed. BATHROOM No more than three students will be in a bathroom at a given time, and they will remain quiet. They will flush the toilet and place any trash in the trash can. Students will wash hands and return to the hallway while bathrooms are inspected. CAFETERIA Students enter the cafeteria and go directly to their assigned seat. Wait for staff directions to move into serving line, 3 at a time. Students are to remain seated at all times, refrain from talking to students at other tables, and to talk quietly to the students at their assigned table. Food is not to be passed from one table to another. Students will follow teacher s direction to line up to go to class on the first request. As high school students transition to the cafeteria, they will stop at the top of the stairs and wait until the teacher gives the okay to proceed.
Warlick Academy s Frequently Asked Questions What should I do if I arrive early? Students should not arrive before 7:45am. What if I am late for school? Late students will report to the office through the front door. Here you will be screened through the metal detector and signed in as tardy. You will then be escorted to class. If you have been at a doctor, court, or dentist appointment, bring a note so your tardy may be excused. What about afternoon transportation? Warlick wants to ensure the safety and security of our students at all times. Students will not be allowed to change the way they go home without a note or call from a parent or guardian. An address change is needed to change the route. What if I need to leave early? Bring a note from home and give it to your teacher upon your arrival at school. If your parent is coming to sign you out early, remain in class and the office will call for you. A parent or guardian or their designee are the only people who may sign out a student. What if I have personal problems or trouble at school? Talk with your teachers or ask to see a school counselor/administrator. What if I must leave the classroom? Students are not permitted to leave the classroom without an escort. What can I bring to school? Students are ONLY permitted to bring lip balm/lip gloss, necessary keys, up to $5 daily, and any homework or books assigned. PENCILS ARE NOT TO BE TRANSPORTED BACK AND FORTH. GCS Board of Education Attendance Policy Gaston County Schools Board of Education adopted a new attendance policy for the 2011-2012 school years. Students and parents will find this policy in the Student Code of Conduct on pages, 22-29. The school year is 180 days. Middle School students have only 12 absences, including excused and unexcused. High School students may have up to 10 absences per semester. WARLICK ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES ENTERING SCHOOL Supervision begins at 7:45 a.m. Students should not arrive before this time. All middle school students arriving to school will enter through the cafeteria and the metal detector before entering the cafeteria. High School students will enter through the east (gym) door and the metal detector and report to homeroom/first block. LEAVING SCHOOL If it is necessary for you to leave school before 3:00 p.m., you must present your teacher with a written note from home. Please bring the teacher this note as soon as you arrive at school. You cannot leave until we see your parent/guardian in the office or talk with them by phone. Upon being called to the office for dismissal, the student will be escorted from the classroom to the office. Before leaving, you must sign out in the office failure to do so is considered skipping and will result in disciplinary action. STUDENT DROP-OFF AND PICK- UP AREAS Car riders- Middle School Students must be dropped off at the west entrance of the school. Students are not to get out of the car until a Warlick staff member signals for car riders to exit their car due to bus traffic. High School Students must be dropped off at the east (gym) entrance of the school. All car riders will be picked up at the Middle School buidling. Please follow instructions provided by the adult on duty. This individual is there to facilitate the safety of all students and adults. Bus students- Middle School Students are dropped off at the Middle School building. High School Students are dropped off at the high school parking lot. At dismissal, all students load buses at the High School (Mountain Side) gym. When dismissal is announced, all bus students are escorted to the buses by their teachers. School bus transportation is provided to all students who comply with the Gaston County Rules for Bus Riders. Students are expected to follow the directions of the bus driver and bus monitors at all times. Failure to follow the directions of any adult involved in bus supervision or the bus driver will result in student discipline and quite possibly in the loss of bus riding privileges. Before bus transportation is provided, students and parents must read and sign the bus guidelines.
WARLICK ACADEMY adheres to the GCS STUDENT CODE of CONDUCT with a few restrictions. STUDENT DRIVING AND PARKING Student use of a personal vehicle on campus is at the discretion of the principal. This privilege can be revoked if the safety and/or security of others become compromised in any way. Vehicles are subject to be searched at any time. Students must exit their vehicle and go to the school entrance as soon as they arrive. ELECTRONIC DEVICES All electronics, including cell phones, are prohibited at Warlick Academy! Students bringing any electronic devices to school will be relieved of the item(s). First offense, the device will be placed in the office until the end of the day. The student may take the item home. Second Offense, the device will be placed in the office and a parent/guardian will be required to pick the item up from the office. Third Offense, the student will be assigned a disciplinary action by the administation. DRESS CODE Students are to comply with dress code expectations each day of school. Students who choose not to meet the dress code will not be permitted into their class, and/or the cafeteria. Repeated violations of the dress code will result in further disciplinary actions ranging from in-school disciplinary action up to 3 days of OSS. Bus Drivers have been instructed not to pick-up students who are not meeting dress code requirements. Warlick Academy is an academic setting where respect and dignity are a priority. Each student is expected to maintain an appearance that is neither distracting to other students nor disruptive to the educational environment or the safe and healthy climate of schools. Teachers and administrators recognize that the responsibility for the dress and appearance of students rests with individual students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). The following restrictions on dress and appearance shall be enforced: Skirts, dresses and shorts of appropriate length are permitted. This translates to these items not being more than 4 inches above the top of the knee. Wearing leggings or tights under the clothing does not negate this policy. Midriff must be covered with clothing. Clothing with rips, tears, and/or holes above the knee is considered unacceptable for school. Pajamas and bedroom shoes are considered unacceptable for school. The wearing of hair combs and picks, hats, caps, bandanas, any type of headwear or sunglasses applies to males and females and is prohibited. These items brought to school will be confiscated and must be picked-up by parent. Jewelry is permitted with the exception of large, heavy chains, medallions or rosaries. No jewelry with spikes, gang signs or symbols, weapons, explicit language, and drug or alcohol symbols are allowed. ALL Jewelry must come off to go through metal detection. Limit the amount so as not to slow the metal detection process down. No style of clothing (or the manner in which it is worn) may expose undergarments or create a distraction or disturbance in school. Bra straps and bra backs are to be covered with clothing. Any clothing accessory considered to be a safety hazard is prohibited. Any clothing that displays sexually explicit words or drawings, alcohol, drugs, weapons, drug or gang symbols is not allowed to be worn at Warlick Academy. When in doubt, don t wear it. SCHOOL S RIGHT TO SEARCH Desks or storage places provided for student use are, and remain at all times, property of the Gaston County Schools. These areas and the contents, therefore, are subject to a random search at any time, pursuant to school board policy. Warlick Academy conducts daily Metal Detection and frequently will conduct random classroom searches. This is a proactive effort to maintain a safe learning environment for all members of the Warlick Academy. Administrators are authorized to conduct reasonable inspection of school property or of students and items brought upon school grounds, including vehicles, when there is reasonable cause to believe that a student may be in possession of evidence that a law or a school rule has been violated. Contraband may be seized by administration.
COMPUTER USE POLICY Students are required to follow the computer use policy that is outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Both students and parents have signed the GCS Responsible Use Policy for Internet use. Students who are found to be in violations these policies, including visiting inappropriate websites, accessing blocked sites and visiting social networking websites such as (MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, FaceChat, and Twitter are subject to the following disciplinary actions: First violation-verbal warning Second violation-parent notification and conference with principal or principal designee Third violation-suspension of internet use for 2 weeks Further violations will result in termination in internet and computer use and will also result in a 3 day suspension CHEATING AND PLAGISARISM Academic infractions involving any form of deception will result in academic and possible disciplinary consequences. Use of a cell phone during a testing is considered deceptive. Cheating is defined as giving or receiving information on any material in a manner contrary to the teacher s instructions. Plagiarism is defined as stealing or passing off the ideas or words of another as one s own. Consequences when a student is caught cheating or plagiarizing: The student will receive a zero on the assignment The teacher will notify the parent/legal guardian Upon a 2 nd occurrence, the student will be referred to an administrator for disciplinary action. SCHOOL RELATED FUNCTIONS Students attending a school-related function will not be counted absent. School related functions are school field trips or school-initiated and scheduled activities. These students will be held responsible for making up work missed. The teacher will determine when work is to be made up. The student is responsible for finding out what assignments are due and completing them within the specified time period. SPORTS Students are not allowed to play sports for their home school while enrolled at Warlick Academy. DRIVER EDUCATION Driver Education will occur at the home school with permission from the home school principal. Warlick Academy is not responsible for driver education. Student and guardian must contact the home school. RETURNING TO HOME SCHOOL The criteria set out for consideration for return to a student s home school are as follows: Students must have good behavior Listed under good behavior includes following the Gaston County School s Code of Conduct, the rules and expectations as laid out in the Warlick Academy Student Handbook, the respect you show for the adults and other students in the building and on the bus. The number of visits to Oasis, In School Suspension (ISS) and (OSS) out of school suspensions is a major consideration when looking at a student s readiness to return to the home school. Students must show academic progress While student behavior is very important, learning shares the same importance. Students are expected to be in class to learn. Some homework will be assigned and testing is a part of learning. Students are expected to take their academics seriously. All students can earn a spot on the honor roll and recognition for outstanding academics. Student grades, benchmarks assessments, computer competency, and EOG/EOC scores are all taken into consideration. Students must have good attendance Students, who don t attend school, can t learn. The attendance policy for Gaston County Schools will be enforced. Students in violation of the attendance policy will not be eligible to return to their home school. What if I don t want to return to my home school, can I stay at Warlick? The goal of Warlick Academy is to provide students who are not having success in a large school with the opportunity to get their education in a smaller learning environment. Students placed at Warlick may opt to remain at Warlick through their senior year. Any Senior assigned to Warlick Academy during their senior year will remain at Warlick Academy to graduate.
AMBASSADORS Warlick Ambassadors are students who have made the honor roll, have no Oasis referrals, good attendance and no suspensions. Ambassadors have more privileges while on campus. The principal will review the application for ambassador status and make a decision after gathering all student information. COMMUNICATION Students and parents are encouraged to make contacts with the teachers and other school staff as often as necessary. We need to develop a partnership with each other to benefit all people involved, especially the student. Students and parents/guardians are encourage to speak to the counselors, mental health specialist, social worker, nurse, assistant principal, or principal when they have questions or concerns. The Warlick Staff is committed to assisting students with setting their goals and achieving them. CAFETERIA PRICING Breakfast & Lunch are free to students while at Warlick Academy. Students may bring up to $5 daily to purchase additional food items. NEXCHECK Your Check is Welcome. Gaston County Schools recognizes that occasionally a parent may inadvertently overdraw a checking account and a check may be returned by your bank. In order to recover these funds in a private and professional manner, the Gaston County School system has contracted with Nexcheck, LLC for collection of returned checks. Checks should be written on a commercially printed check with your name, address, and contact telephone number. When a person writes a check to a school or the School System, he or she agrees that if the check is returned for any reason, it may be represented electronically on the same account, and that the Service Fee for returned checks established by law may be debited from the same account. If the check and fee are not collected electronically, Nexcheck will contact the check writer by mail and/or by telephone to make payment arrangements. All payments need to be made directly to Nexcheck, P.O. Box 19688, Birmingham, AL 35219. For a convenience fee, payments of both check and fee may be made electronically at www.nexcheck.com or over the phone (800-639-2435) using a credit card, debit card or electronic check.