Springfield Catholic High School Handbook | Springfield, MO Catholic HS

Program of Studies

In planning a high school program of studies, students determine their interests, aptitudes and goals. SCHS offers a curriculum that furnishes a solid foundation for whatever a student might choose to do after high school. Religion, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, computer skills, fine arts, practical arts and health/physical education form the basic core curriculum which is required of all students. Electives in foreign language, art, music, business skills and practical, vocational subjects allow flexibility in pursuing personal interests and goals. A description of our complete program of studies along with requirements is published on-line in our SCHS Course Catalog.

Graduation Requirements

Course	Required Credits 2010-11	Required Credits Class 2012+
Theology	4	4
English	4	4
Social Studies	4	4
Math	2	2
Science	3	3
Foreign Language	0	0
Speech	1/2	1/2
Physical Education	1	1
Health	1/2	1/2
Personal Finance	1/2	1/2
Fine Arts	1	1
Computer Applications	1/2	1/2
Electives	9	11
Total	30	32

Grading Scale

Grade	Percent	Grade	Percent
11 = A	94-100	5 = C	78-83
10 = A-	93	4 = C-	77
9 = B+	92	3 = D+	76
8 = B	86 - 91	2 = D	71-75
7 = B-	85	1 = D-	70
6 = C+	84	0 = F	<70

Grades are reported eight times a year. Progress reports and Grade Cards are accessible via parent link. A final transcript is mailed home at the end of the school year. At the end of first quarter formal parent/teacher conferences are held to discuss student progress.

Semester Failure

Each semester stands on its own merit. No yearly average is determined. A failure of either semester results in a loss of credit for that semester. Students who fail a semester of a class necessary for graduation must retake the failed semester(s) in the subsequent summer school or repeat the course the following school year.

Note: In grade point averaging, Summer School is considered as an additional semester.

Therefore, grades earned in Summer School DO NOT cancel or replace an "F" earned during the regular school year. Both the "F" and the passing grade ARE included in the GPA.

Continuance of Enrollment at SCHS

The following continuance guidelines have been set in order to help the student keep up with the required number of credits to insure graduation in four years:

Academic Probation – Any student who has two or more F's, all subjects included, in a semester grade report will be placed on academic probation. If two F's or more appear on his/her next semester grade report, the student will be asked to withdraw from the school unless the student takes either a similar course in summer school or a correspondence course and receives credit for the course.
Credits from Summer School and Correspondence Courses – Up to four credits can be earned over four years with not more than two credits in one year. Correspondence credits and summer school credits may be counted toward graduation requirements with prior approval of the Principal. Grades received from these courses will not be used to improve grade point average.
Seniors – Seniors who have not met the graduation requirements will not participate in the Graduation ceremony, but will be present for the prayer service, Baccalaureate, Awards assembly, class picture, and Project Graduation. Diplomas will be presented when the required work is completed.

Incomplete Grades

At the discretion of the instructor, the quarter grade of Incomplete ("I") may be given to a student who has not completed the work required for a course. This work must be completed within 10 school days following that quarter. In the case of the fourth quarter, no incomplete grades are given. If the work is not completed when due, an "I" grade is converted to an "F", unless another extension is granted.

Adding and Dropping Courses

Classes may be added or dropped from a student's schedule by the completion of a Change of Schedule form in the academic advisor's office. The completed form must be signed by the parent and approved by the academic advisor.
All changes in the student's class schedule must be approved during the first five class days of a new semester. Students may not change a course after the first five school days of a semester. Only in rare circumstances is a student granted a change after the first five days of a new semester.

Academic Records

The school office maintains a permanent record of each student's performance at SCHS. These records contain absences and tardies, grades in each course, and standardized test scores. Also included on this permanent record is an indication of how a student terminated his/her career at SCHS, i.e., graduation, withdrawal, or expulsion. Circumstances around termination are included only if clearly pertinent to an accurate academic record. In general, anecdotal notes are not part of permanent files.

Upon request, a parent/guardian may inspect a child's record in the school office. Records of minors are not released to anyone without written authorization from the student's parent/guardian. Students who are 18 years of age may authorize release of their own records.

Record Release

All school items must be returned in good condition and all fines and fees must be paid in full before student records and reports are issued. These accounts and items include but are not limited to fines and fees, tuition, textbooks, library materials, uniforms, lunch accounts, and property damage restitution. Report cards, transcripts, diplomas and other student records will be released when all outstanding accounts are cleared.

Access to Records

SCHS abides by the Buckley Amendment. Thus, non-custodial parents will be given access to the academic records and to information regarding the academic progress of their children, unless there is a court order specifically stating that the non-custodial parent is denied access to such information. In these cases, a copy of this decree must be sent to the school.

Class Rank

As of July 2009, the practice of reporting class rank has been discontinued at Springfield Catholic High School. Only the ranks of Valedictorian and Salutatorian will continue to be recognized based on the students' accumulative grade point averages at the end of the third quarter of the senior year. Instead of reporting class rank or percentage in class, a student's G.P.A. will be reported on the transcript and a G.P.A. distribution chart will be made available on the SCHS school profile.

Honors

In order to recognize the hard work of many of our high-achieving students, Springfield Catholic High School has established the following levels of Academic Honors:
11.00(4.00) or better Summa Cum Laude
10.99–10.25 (3.99–3.75) Magna Cum Laude
10.24–9.5 (3.50–3.74) Cum Laude
In order to earn academic honors, the student must also qualify for the College Preparatory Certificate. Academic Honors will be noted on the diploma.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

These honors are conferred on students based on outstanding academic work as well as demonstrated leadership qualities and character. Selection of the valedictorian and salutatorian will be determined by an administrative committee based on the student's accumulative grade point averages at the end of the third quarter of the senior year and the depth of leadership and character exhibited over the entire high school career. The valedictorian and salutatorian must have been enrolled at SCHS for at least four semesters, three which must be in junior and senior years. These students must be enrolled in the college-prep curriculum.

Supervised Study Guidelines

This is a special period for students to study, to receive help from the supervising teacher, and to complete assigned projects.

To establish an atmosphere conducive to study, the following guidelines are to be enforced:

All students must bring the necessary books and supplies to study halls. No one may go to lockers.
Respectful silence is to be maintained in the study hall.
Group study is allowed only with permission of the supervisor.
Permission from teachers for a student to take tests or work with the teachers must be secured and shown to the study hall supervisor before the student may leave study hall. A written note must be presented. (This includes permission to the media center).
Students not studying are expected to volunteer for special projects as needed.

Semester Exams

Days are set aside at the end of each semester for examinations. During final exams, SCHS is on a revised schedule and students are required to be in attendance only during their examination time. The schedules are posted in advance throughout the school and on the school's website so students may have time to make necessary adjustments for conflicts, etc. Generally, semester exams compose 20% of the semester grade.

Academic Incentive

Students meeting the following requirements will have the option of opting out of a maximum of any two semester final exams:

GPA of 5.0 or higher
Written teacher and parental approval
Students may not opt out of AP finals

Homework

The completion of homework is considered an essential component of a student's academic success. As a result, students are expected to turn in all homework on time. Students (freshmen and sophomores) who do not complete homework assignments will receive a H.O.T. (Homework on Time) sheet from their teacher. After a student receives three H.O.T. sheets, he/she will fill out a form for improvement. Upon the student receiving five H.O.T. sheets the student will receive a 1-hour detention and charged $10.00, for each additional two HOT sheets, he/she will be required to attend a mandatory two-hour study hall on a designated Saturday morning. After ten H.O.T.'s, there will be a conference between the students, parents, academic advisor, administration, and teachers.

Each student attending the Saturday school is required to pay $15 to cover the costs. The money must be paid on the day of the Saturday or in advance. The students must work during Saturday school.

If the student does not attend the scheduled Saturday school, he/she will serve an in-school suspension for a length of time determined by the administration. If, for some reason, there are extenuating circumstances, administration must be contacted before Saturday school.

Tips for Success at SCHS

Teaching and learning self-motivation and self-responsibility are two of the most difficult and challenging tasks of parents, educators, and students. The following are some practical suggestions to help replace an unmotivated student's pattern of failure with a success-oriented cycle leading to achievement and self-motivation.

PARENTS:
1. Students have a hard time being motivated if they are not organized.
2. To be organized, they must know how to manage their time wisely. Take a stand on the value of studying by establishing a regular time and place for home study. SCHS teachers do give homework on a regular basis; therefore, if your son/daughter repeatedly says he/she has no homework, please check into this.
3. Limit the time students devote to television, computer and video games, etc. in order to establish time for study.
STUDENTS:
1. Keep an assignment notebook in which daily assignments are written. Complete assignments and turn them in on time. Teachers may require after-school study if work is not turned in.
2. Always read the textbook explanation of each section before and after it is explained in class. You will be better prepared to participate in the discussions and to ask questions about the parts you do not understand.
3. Take clear notes in class and write down ideas the teacher illustrates on the board.
4. Don't hesitate to ask questions in class and outside of class. Each teacher has times available for you to get outside help if you need it.
5. To earn your best scores on tests:
  - review notes, handouts, textbooks, and objectives several times before the day of the test to relax, increase confidence, and reduce anxiety.
  - review material with another student after you have studied it yourself.
  - get a good night's sleep before the test.
  - during the test, read the directions and questions and then reread them to avoid misinterpretation.
  - do not spend too much time on any one question.
  - When you get the test back, find out the correct answers.
6. Attendance and punctuality are very important. Avoid scheduling doctor and dentist appointments during any class period in which you find the material especially difficult.
7. When you must be absent, it is to your advantage to find out what you missed, and then to take the responsibility to see your teacher about making up what you missed. It is recommended that you contact classmates who have taken thorough notes during class to get copies of those notes.
8. Working too many hours at a job will negatively affect your grades and your learning. Research says grades begin to slip when teens put in 20 hours a week, or more, on their job.

The above suggestions will increase the student's interest in school and result in academic achievement and success.

College Visists

Juniors/Seniors may have two days per year for a pre-approved college campus visit. In order for the college visit to be approved, the attendance office must be notified one week in advance of the visit. The student must also present the attendance office with a letter of verification from the college with the date(s) the visit occurred.

Academic Advising and Testing

SCHS has an academic/college advisor who is available to help students plan their academic programs. The academic advisor also administers standardized tests, oversees requests for schedule changes, and assists students with scholarship applications and college financial aid forms, administers the vo-tech program, schedules college presentations and distributes information regarding career education. With the assistance of administration, the department coordinates the following testing program:

9^th grade
- EXPLORE (9^th grade level ACT)
10^th grade
- PLAN (10^th grade level ACT)
- PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (practice only)
11^th grade
- PAST/NMSQT
- ACT (American College Test)
- SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
- ACRE Assessment Test (National Catholic Education Association)
12^th grade
- ACT/SAT