Download EPA 2012-2013 Student Handbook

 

ELITE PREPARATORY ACADEMY

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

 

 

The following student handbook is designed to help all students understand school rules, policies, and procedures.

 

 

 

By signing the handbook, I agree that I have read and understand the student handbook policies and procedures. I also agree to follow the school rules and procedures as specified by the handbook.

 

 

 

STUDENT: ____________________________________ DATE: _____________

 

 

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Education provides the means necessary for an individual to progress forward in an American society marked by rigorous competition. At the same time, education allows for one to expand their mindset to its full capacity allowing one to achieve a sense of gratification. The road of education is seemingly endless as there are always more valuable lessons that can be learned.

Education should be delivered through multiple means of expression. Every student has a different learning style and background which must be reflected by the lesson plan design. Curriculum should focus on individual advancement but must also foster a communal aura among the student body. In order to achieve both outcomes, students should be tailored on an individual basis, while at the same time; students must collaborate with one another in group settings. The combined effort will allow students to reach their highest potentials.

As each coming year poses a new exciting set of challenges, Elite Preparatory Academy is committed to providing excellence in education in order to push students forward into a lifestyle marked exclusively by success.

Cynthia M Hwang, Esq

Assistant Principal

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT

“Our intention is to transform young adults into mindful learners who will utilize rich educational knowledge towards the fulfillment of life’s ambitions. Special attention will be given towards the attainment and preservation of good physical health, social development, and emotional stability. Most importantly, student learners will acquire a respect for the diverse world around them, an understanding of consequences for wrong choices, a responsibility toward civic participation, and a development of good character morale.”

 

 

BULLYING, HARASSMENT, AND HAZING

It is the right of every student to learn and grow in a caring, respectful, and peaceful environment. Therefore, hazing and bullying are unacceptable at all times on school premises and at school sponsored events. Hazing means the performance of any act or forcing another to perform acts of initiation into any class, club, or activity. Bullying is any continuous physical or verbal abuse of another person or group. Harassment is consistently disturbing, annoying, or tormenting another individual or group. Any student who witnesses or experiences any hazing, bullying, or harassment activity on campus should immediately report the incident to a teacher or school principal immediately.

 

 

CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

All students are expected to act and carry themselves with respect and dignity towards themselves, their school peers, and towards all school personnel. Included in this ideal is the responsibility for every student to participate fully in their educational success by attending class regularly and fulfilling class work objectives.

 

 

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

Elite Preparatory Academy explicitly forbids any conduct or expression that may be construed as the sexual harassment of a pupil by an employee or by another pupil. The sexual harassment of pupils includes all unwelcome sexual advances or suggestions, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical contacts of a sexual nature whenever such conduct has the purpose or effect of intimidation or tends to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. Any incident of sexual harassment must be reported to the principal or assistant principal immediately.

 

 

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

The official start of each school day is at 8:30 a.m. when all students must be in their assigned first period class for attendance, instruction, and other school-related matters. Any student not in class or who arrives to school after 8:30 a.m. is late to school and must report to 1st period. Unauthorized presence in any other class is strictly prohibited and is subject to school detention.

 

 

CLASS ROOM BEHAVIOR

Students are expected to arrive in class on time. Any late arrivals and absences will be noted by the classroom teacher. Students are expected to sit in assigned seats, remove all headgear, remain in their seats at all times, remember that feet are not permitted on chairs, refrain from talking out of place, refrain from sleeping, not use any electronic devices, and to give their undivided attention to the teacher and his/her instructions.

The consequences for not following any of these procedures will result in school detention.

 

 

CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Cell phones and electronic devices (excluding math calculators) are prohibited during the school hours of 8:30am to 5:30pm. All cell phones and/or electronic devices are to be left with the Assistant Principal at the start of the day and will be returned at the end of the school day. Any cell phones and/or electronic devices used during school hours will be confiscated by school personnel. Cell phones and/or electronic devices used during class time will result in school detention.

 

 

FIRE DRILLS

Fire drills are necessary for the safety of students and staff. All building occupants should know the specific direction for reaching a point of safety from any assigned area. Directions for fire drills are posted in each room. General rules to follow are:

  • Students must follow designated exit instructions by walking to the appropriate exit and meet at the predetermined assigned location for that classroom. Students must refrain from running or talking.
  • When instructed to do so, students will return to assigned classrooms in an orderly fashion.
  • Teachers will remain with their classes during the entire drill.

 

 

LOST AND FOUND

Any found articles should be taken to the Reception area at the front of the school where they may be claimed by the owner. All lost articles should be reported to the Reception area. THE SCHOOL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR STOLEN PROPERTY. Students are urged not to bring valuables or large sums of money to school.

 

 

SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

Cameras have been placed in corridors, hallways, and cafeterias throughout the school. These cameras are in place for the security and safety of all.

 

 

CHEATING

Honesty and integrity are valuable qualities for all individuals. Cheating is a form of dishonesty and reveals a lack of integrity in the character of an individual. If a student is caught cheating he/she will receive an automatic zero for the assignment. In addition, that student will be subject to after school detention. Copying homework is also included under this category. The student who copies the homework and a student who gives their homework to be copied will both receive a zero for the assignment and will both be subject to school detention.

 

 

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is defined as the theft of another person’s words or ideas. Students must understand that paraphrasing without proper acknowledgment is a form of plagiarism and just as serious as stealing words. Assignments that are plagiarized will be subject to a grade of zero.

 

 

ACADEMIC RECORDS

All academic records are stored and maintained by teachers and by the school principal. Report cards will be given at the end of each semester. Official transcripts can only be released by the principal.

 

 

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In order for a student to receive a high school diploma from ELITE, he/she must:

  • For American students - Pass the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA)
  • For international students - minimum TOEFL score of 60
  • Successfully complete a minimum of 130 credits. The course work must include the following
    • Language Arts – at least 20 credits
    • Mathematics – at least 20 credits
    • Science – at least 15 credits
    • Social Studies – at least 20 credits (including two courses in US History)
    • Physical Education and Health – at least 20 credits
    • World Languages – at least 10 credits
    • Visual and Performing Arts – at least 5 credits
    • Practical Arts – at least 5 credits
    • Additional Elective – at least 15 credits

 

 

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks issued to students should be cared for with pride, since they are the student’s temporary personal property and responsibility. Students must print their names in the proper place on book covers. Teachers’ names will be written or stamped in the place provided. Lost books must be paid for immediately. NO FINAL REPORT CARD, SCHEDULE, OR TRANSCRIPT WILL BE FORWARDED FOR ANY STUDENT WHO FAILS TO PAY FOR A LOST OR STOLEN BOOK.

 

 

CLASS CUTTING

Cutting is defined as any student who skips a class without a valid reason for missing the class. Any student with more than three cuts from a class in one marking period fails that marking period’s class.

When a student cuts, the following procedures will be enforced:

First Cut: School detention will be assigned.

Second Cut: A letter notifying the student’s parents of the student’s cuts will be immediately given. Again, the student will be given school detention.

Third Cut: The teacher has the right to lower the student’s grade for that marking period by one letter score. Additionally, the student will be given school detention.

Over Three Cuts: Results in an immediate letter sent home which explains the situation. The student will be automatically failed for that class for that marking period. Detention will be given.

 

 

LATENESS

Any student who is more than 5 minutes late to class will be marked as late by the teacher. Three marks of being late is equivalent to a cut. The consequences for cuts will be given in result.

 

 

ABSCENCES

Twelve unexcused absences will result in the need for summer school in order to fulfill the necessary amount of school days required by state regulations.

 

 

SUMMER SCHOOL

A three month long program designed to educate a student who has missed 12 or more days from the regular academic year in order to fulfill state regulations.

 

 

REWARD SYSTEM

Elite Preparatory Academy believes that students should be rewarded for good behavior. Good behavior includes but is not limited to- regular class attendance, respect towards school personnel and fellow students, working hard and showing strong commitment in class, and acting as a good model student for others to follow.

Rewards will be decided by the teachers at the end of each marking period and may include some of the following:

  • A letter notifying the student’s parents of his or her success
  • A pass for first place in the lunch line
  • Be featured on a photo recognition board
  • Student of the Month
  • Have a specially written letter honoring the student for their respectable actions from the Assistant Principal. Such a letter would be noted on transcripts and is a positive marker that will help a student get admitted into American colleges.

 

 

HONOR ROLL

Each marking period students who have all A’s and one B will be honored by being placed on the Assistant Principal’s honor roll. An official letter recognizing that student’s academic success will be written which students can use on college applications. In addition, the honor roll will be mentioned on the student’s official transcript.

Furthermore, the student will be placed on the Honor Roll bulletin board where he/she will be recognized for their academic success. Lastly, honor roll students will be rewarded with a lunch out of school with the Assistant Principal.

 

 

SCHOOL DETENTION

School detention shall be given from 5:30pm-6:30pm where students will be forced to sit in with the Assistant Principal at a specified location. Students who are given a pink slip by their teacher or school personnel are required to report to detention.

During detention time students will be given a special task that will reflect upon their inappropriate behavior.

Failure to report to school detention or to follow any of the detention procedures will result in a letter home, an official note of bad behavior on the student’s permanent school transcript, and possible extermination from school enrollment at Elite Preparatory Academy.

  • 3 detentions in a given marking period will require students to set up a school program educating students on issues such as bullying, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, health issues or other important topics.
  • 4 detentions in a given marking period will require students to perform school community service where they perform a labor task that benefits the school community.
  • 5 detentions in a given marking period will result in an official note of bad behavior on the student’s permanent record that will make it difficult for the student to be accepted into any American university.

 

 

DORMS

The dorms are to be kept clean and in proper condition. All students will have cleaning responsibilities on a weekly basis to ensure that the dorms are properly kept. In doing so, students will gain a sense of adult responsibility that will render character development.

Additional dorm rules include:

  • Internet will be subject to specific times as to ensure that it is not overused and abused.
  • There will be a curfew at 11:00pm.
  • Any student who intends to leave the dorms on the weekends must notify the school by email or telephone in advance.
  • Any student who damages dorm property will be responsible for the cost of repairs.

If any of the above rules are violated, school detention will result.

 

 

LUNCH

Lunch must be carried out in an orderly fashion. There will be no cutting the line, no taking food outside the cafeteria, and no food or drinks will be permitted in the classrooms.

If any student violates these rules, detention will result. Any student who is caught cutting the line will automatically be sent to the back of the line and if it becomes a habit will be liable for school detention.

As a member of the school community one student will be chosen each day to help serve the lunch.

 

 

PHYSICAL ABUSE

No teacher shall physically abuse a student. Likewise, no student shall ever physically abuse a teacher. Any student who hits a teacher will be automatically sent to school detention, will be failed and banned from the class, and possible action will be taken with Franklin Township Authorities.

Copyright © 2007 Elite Preparatory Academy