Student Handbook
-
Welcome to Summit High School for the 2021- 2022 school year! We are dedicated to providing all our students with an exemplary educational experience. We ask that all students and parents read through the content below to familiarize themselves with school policies and helpful information about SHS.
-
SHS Student Handbook
-
Academic Honesty
All stduents are expected to produce their own, original work. Violations of this concept include, but are not limited to the following:
- Knowingly taking or providing information of any form into a test and/or homework situation for the purpose of responding to test items.
- Plagiarism: The submission of another person's published words or ideas as one's own. This includes not just verbatim copying of an author's work but also paraphrasing from that work without giving appropriate reference to the original source.
- Copying the work of others or providing the work knowingly to another student. This includes electronic copying.
- Prividing test information to others in or out of class.
- Taking test questions (complete test, answer key, teacher's edition) to provide assistance in later test situations.
- Selling or buying papers.
- Sharing of information by the use of calculators is not allowed. This is a form of cheating.
Students will be asked to redo the work that was submitted under dishonest circumstances. The teacher will contact the student's parent or guardian and refer the student to the administration.
Dishonesty and misrepresentation of student work will not be accepted. Recommended Disciplinary Actions are:
- 1st Offense: Parent notification and 1 day of ISS
- 2nd Offense: 2 days of ISS and parent conference
- 3rd Offense: 3 days of ISS and parent conference
-
Academics
Focused Plan of Study
Each 8th grade student, parnet/guardian, and faculty advisor or school counselor will jointly prepare an initial four-year plan of study. By the end of the 10th grade, the student, parent/guardian, and school will focus this plan to ensure completion of the program of study and transition to post-secondary study and work. This plan will be reviewed annually by the student and faculty advisor or school counselor and revised as appropriate.
High School Courses Taken in Middle SchoolThe following high school courses taken before high school will receive high school credit by passing (grade 70 or above) both semesters of the course and will be recorded as Pass/Fail with no grade point (GPA) value: Algebra I, Geometry, and Level I World Languages. If taught at honors level, these courses will count towards the Williamson County Honors Diploma. Additional high school courses will not receive high school credits absent a special exception which may be granted by the Superintendent of Schools or designee upon request by an individual student or guardian. Determinations shall be made on an individual basis.
AssessmentsStudents, other than exempted seniors, will be required to take either state, district, or teacher-developed final examinations in core high school courses or exams by College Board or the International Baccalaureate Program. State End of Course (EOC) examinations will include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, English I, English II, Biology I, and U.S. History.
District of teacher-developed tests will be administered in all other core courses. Grades will incorporate state-provided exam results at the minimum weight allowed by the Tennessee State Board of Education. Locally provided exam results will be incorporated into student grades at the same weight as state-provided exam results.
IncompletesStudents who receive an incomplete (which will be represented by "INC") on a report card should make up the work and get the grade changed by the end of the next marking period. In the event the grade has not been changed by the end of the next marking period, the grade will stand.
-
Attendance
It is our expectation that all Summit High School students will attend school every day school is in session. We expect parents to support us in reaching that goal. Regular, uninterrupted attendance is an essential ingredient in the learning process.
The purpose of the following policies is to establish guidelines for attendance, to clarify terms used in the process, to identify who is to assume the necessary responsibilities for attendance and, primarily, to foster regular attendance for all students.
In accordanc ewith new state attendance guildelines, Williamson County Schools has implemented a Progressive Truancy Intervention Plan to monitor student attendance. Parents will be notified as unexcused absenses accumulate to proactively help with truancy concerns.
- 3 unexcused absences - Parents will receive a phone call regarding unexcused absences.
- 5 unexcused absences - The principal/principal's designee will schedule a meeting with the student, parent(s), and school team members to provide needed supports while creating an attendance contract to monitor progress.
- If the student continues to accumulate unexcused absences, a school-based truancy board will evaluate progress and determine appropriate next steps which could include a truancy petition with juvenile court.
Attendance ResponsibilitiesStudents
- Be present and on time for all classes.
- Secure assignments whenever absent.
- Make sure your parents call Student Services by 10:00 AM on the day of the absence.
- Bring your parent or medical note to STudent Serices the day following your absence.
- Pre-arranged absences must be approved by the administrator one-week prior to the absence. Includes more than one day away from school/college trip.
Parents/Guardians- Make sure your child is in school every day unless there is a valaid reason.
- Call Student Services by 10:00 AM on the day your child is absent.
- Send a parent or medical note (first 8 per year are automatically excused) to school including the following information:
- Student Name
- Date(s) of absence
- Reason for absence or tardy
- Parent signature and immediate contact information
Teachers- Keep accurate attendance records and report accurate information to Student Services.
- Notify STudent Services of suspected skipping or other attendance irregularities.
- Give assignments to students in a timely manner whenever informed of any prearranged absence and to Student Services whenever requested by staff.
Student Services- Attempt to call parents of absent students by 10:00 AM each day.
- Monitor students with attendance problems.
- Send letters to parents after 5 unexcused absences.
- Notify administration when juvenile referrals are needed.
- Assist teachers in enforcing attendance policy.
SHS Tardy Discipline Framework
- 1st - 4th Tardies: Verbal Warning/Information Student Conference
- 5th - 7th Tardies: Admin referral/formal conference with Admin plus 1 day of ISS.
- 8th - 9th Tardies: Office referral/formal conference with Admin and Guardian(s)/Parent(s) plus 2 days of ISS.
- 10th Tardy or More: Possible juvenile Petition
-
Cafeteria/Eating Area Rules
No food from outside eateries is permitted. All students are expected to eat and remain in the cafeteria or other designated eating areas during their lunch times. Students are expected to dispose of all trash and clean up after themselves. Proper manners are expected in the cafeteria. Use of improper manners will face disciplinary action.
-
Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco
Students shall not be allowed to possess, smoke, or use tobacco/electronic cigarette devices in any form while on school property or while participating in a school-sponsored event, or while on school buses to and from school, or on school buses to and from school-sponsored events. Possession of tobacco/e-cigarette in any form anywhere by a juvenile is prohibited by law and could result in a citation to Juvenile Court with a susequent fine and/or other behavioral consequence.
- 1st Offense - 5 days ISS, tobacco citation, parent meeting, and counseling referral
- 2nd Offense - 10 days ISS, tobacco citation, and parent meeting
- 3rd Offense - tobacco citation, parent meeting, ALC, and juvenile court petition
-
Parking/Driving Privileges
Students who are licensed drivers are reminded that driving to school is a privilege, not a right. The following rules apply to the parking lot and student driving.
- All students must attend one Checkpoints class before being eligible for a parking hang tag.
- All students must register their cars with the front office. Students must complete a vehicle registration form and pay the appropriate parking fee. Replacement permits will be issued at an additional charge.
- The current year's permit must be located on the rearview mirror so that the number is visible from the outside.
- Sale or transfer of permits between students or to any other car is prohibited.
- Cars may be parked only in the designated student parking lot.
- First-year drivers must complete the Checkpoints driving course in order to obtain their hangtag.
- Second year and beyond will need to turn in the social contract in order to receive their hang tag.
- Students are not allowed to go to their cars during school hours without permission from the front office staff.
- Students who leave campus without the school's permission will be subject to the loss of parking privileges, whether driving a vehicle or not.
- Parking violations, such as parking in the faculty lot, parking in a prohibited area, speeding, or going the wrong way on a one-way street, will result in the suspension of the parking permit.
- Students who drive to school and park on school property agree to the search of their vehicles by administrators who have "reasonable suspicion" that the student's car contains drugs, alcohol, weapons, or other items not permissible at school.
- All cars (students/parents) should be parked in a designated parking space for all events.
-
Respecting Others
Disrespect Toward Staff Personnel
Students are expected to treat each other and SHS staff members with respect at all times.
Part A - A student shall not be verbally disrespectful toward any staff member. The use of an obscenity directed toward a staff member would be a severe form of disrespect. All offenses - Detention to ALC
Part B - A student shall not assault a staff member, either verbally or in writing. All offenses - Zero Tolerance
Part C - A student shall not physically assault a staff member. All offenses - Zero Tolerance
Disrespect Toward Another Student
Students are expected to treat each other with the utmost respect. Forms of disrespect include, but are not limited to: graffiti, notes, cartoons containing discriminatory language, name calling, bullying, jokes, rumors, racial, sexual, and ethnic remarks.
-
S.A.F.E. Reporting
S.A.F.E. stands for Summit's Anonymous Form for Everyone. This form is for students who have concerns that they would like to anonymously share with a school administrator or school counselor. Depending on the situation and the corresponding information, school administration and/or school counseling will commit to effectively and efficiently address reported concerns. It takes a concerted effort from everyone, including students, to ensure that Summit is a safe place to learn and grow.
-
District-wide Policies
-
Attendance
-
Technology and Chromebooks
-
Dress Code
-
Grading and Progress Reporting
-
Athletics
Interscholastic activities in Williamson County Schools are an important part of the overall educational process. The athletic programs offer students expanded learning opportunities including self-discipline, self-esteem and teamwork. Students who participate in extracurricular activities tend to get higher grades, have better attendance and pose fewer discipline problems.
-
Annual Public Notices
Annual Public Notices including FERPA, Child Advocacy Groups Contact Information, Homeless Education, Rights of Children with Disabilities and Parent Responsibilities, Section 504 Notice, State Statutory Rights of Parents and Students, Teacher Information, and the Williamson County Schools Statement of Non-Discrimination can be found on the Annual Public Notices posted to the WCS website.
-
Statement of Non-Discrimination
-
Child Find
Williamson County, in compliance with federal and state law, performs a countywide Child Find. Child Find uses screening to find students in both public school or private school located in the geographic region who may need special education services and supports.