General Information
Basic Responsibility of Students
Grading and Units of Credit
Graduation Requirements
Family School Partnership
Lagu School District
Withdrawal and Transfer of Students
Basic Responsibilities of
Students
All students are expected to:
* Bring basic supplies to class daily
* To be courteous, cooperative, and respectful.
* Hear instructions the first time. It is you responsibility to listen!
* Avoid interrupting. Allow others to learn and the teacher to teach.
* Be prepared daily.
* To make arrangements to complete work missed during an absence on the first day you return to school.
The school year is divided into two 18-week semesters. At the end of each semester, teachers indicate with a grade, the level of achievement reached by each student. Students, who do not receive a satisfactory grade must retake the class at the earliest opportunity.
The grading of students is the teacher's responsibility. Teachers are considered the best qualified persons to evaluate students' work and their integrity shall be respected. Grades at Simon Sanchez High School are recorded as percentages. A student must receive a grade of 60% or above to pass a class. No credit is received for an NC. Any incomplete grade which is not converted to another kind of grade within 10 school days after the end of a semester, or within two days prior to the commencement exercises for graduating students, automatically converts to a percentage of 50%.
Units of credit are earned in 2 unit increments per semester, excepting certain technical courses which are taught in two hour blocks and receive one unit of credit. Semester grades go into the permanent record.
Semester grades are not averaged. For example, if a student receives an "F" (below 60%) in United States History for the first semester and a "C" (70%) for the second semester, the student will earn 2 unit of credit only for the second semester. The semester failed for a required course is the one that must be repeated.
No credits earned from non-accredited correspondence courses or home schooling can be used to fulfill graduation requirements. The determination of academic standing is limited to only those students whose GPA's are based exclusively on credits received from accredited institutions. Consequently, students whose GPA's are based in part on credits received from non-accredited institutions have no academic scholastic standing or class ranking.
If a student over compulsory age fails all classes, despite intervention attempts by the school, the student may be dropped for the remainder of the semester.
Change of Residence: Students must attend the school within their area of residence. A student whose residence changes during the school year must notify the school and fill out a Change of Residence Form. If this change places the student outside the area of his/her present school, the student must then transfer to the appropriate school. The Withdrawal/Entry procedures will be followed accordingly.
Report Cards, Progress Reports, Parent Conferences: Report cards are issued at the end of each nine weeks, and progress are issued during the fifth week of the quarter. Scheduled Parent Conferences are held at the end of the first and third quarters. Parents may request meetings with teachers or counselors at anytime.
Students who enter Simon Sanchez High School choose from three Alternative Learning Paths: The three paths defined by the Department of Education are: (1) College Prep, (2) General Education, and (3) Vocational-Technical education. In all three paths the students will be provided with the type of curriculum that will prepare them to go directly to work, to continue their education by attending a post-secondary technical school, a junior college, or a four year college. The counselors will help the student to develop a four-year plan that insures all requirements for graduation are met. Students must complete all requirements, and have 21 credits in order to graduate. It is the responsibility of the student to plan a course of study for four years which will prepare the way for entrance into college, technical school, or the job market.
The Board and the Union recognize that family-school partnerships are fundamental to successful schools and agree that communication between the schools and parents is essential.
Teachers shall provide students and families with the following information at the beginning of every school year/semester:
* Course outlines and class rules;
* An explanation of what parents/guardians are expected to do to monitor the extent to which their children are meeting class/course requirements and to maintain communication with the school.
The Board Union Contract also requires that teachers communicate with parents on a weekly basis. A failing grade on a report card should come as no surprise to the parent if the teacher has kept them informed. There are a number of ways this can be accomplished, and a teacher may use any method they like to fulfill this requirement. Some possible methods are:
* progress reports, letters
* ask that a parent sign an assignment sheet
* ask that a parent sign a completed assignment or test paper
* phone the parents
When a student will be absent for an extended period of time due to illness, an off-island field trip, or suspension the teacher should provide a written list of assignments and due dates.
At mid-quarter parents will be given a written progress report, and parent-teacher conferences are scheduled to be held after grades are posted for first and third quarters. Teachers are encouraged to call parents regarding their child's behavior and attendance before referring the student to the administrators for disciplinary action.
Parents are encouraged and invited to be apart of their sons or daughters education. Parents are welcome to seek information concerning their child's grades and/or classes, as volunteers in the classrooms, at activities, on field trips as speakers, and as mentors. The Simon Sanchez Parents, Administrators, Teachers & Students Organization (PATSO) meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the SSHS Library. Among other things, PATSO sponsors the Homecoming Carnival, the annual Spaghetti Dinner, the Appreciation, and Awards Ceremonies, and the Simon A. Sanchez Memorial Ceremony.
The school publishes a monthly newsletter "Shark Bytes" which contains a listing of the month's events. The newsletter is sent home with the students the first of every month. Parents should ask their sons or daughters for the newsletters, progress reports, report cards, and other information concerning events taking place at the school. The school also hosts Parent and Student Orientation for Incoming Ninth Graders and New Students, College Nights, and F.A.S.T. (Families and Schools Together) workshops.
The Lagu School District of Northern Guam
Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School
Wettengel Elementary School
Maria Ulloa Elementary School
Astumbo Elementary School
Upi Elementary School
Mt. Santa Rosa Elementary School
Yigo Elementary School
Dededo Middle School
F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School
Simon Sanchez High School
Withdrawal and Transfer of Students
Students must be eighteen years older in order to withdraw without parent permission. The parent/guardian will sign a withdrawal form prior to and not less than 24 hours before the actual date of withdrawal. This form will be sent to the student's teachers for grades and attendance and returned to the counseling office within 24 hours.
The student will return all books to the counseling office and will have to pay for lost or damaged books before records are released. A copy of the withdrawal form, latest report card, cumulative card and shot record will be provided to the student to present to his/her next school.