Ajo School District
Ajo Arizona

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Student/Parent Handbook
2008 - 2009

ACADEMICS

Educational Options

Ajo High School is committed to offering a program of educational excellence. Classes are currently available in Social Studies, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, Art, Career and Technology Education, and Music. Ajo High School also offers Advanced Placement and Honors courses in Social Studies, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.

College Entrance Requirements

In addition to a rigorous course of study, selective universities also require a high GPA (grade point average) and specific college entrance exam scores (such as SAT or ACT). Check individual college catalogs or admission web pages for specific requirements.

Progress Reports to Parents

Progress reports inform parents about their student's achievement or lack of achievement. Progress reports will be sent home during the fifth week of each quarter. Parents may request more frequent feedback from teachers if they feel it is necessary. You may contact your son/daughter's teacher for assistance in making these arrangements.

Report Cards

Report cards will be issued at the end of each nine week grading period.

High School:
The Quarterly (nine week) report reflects progress toward the Semester (mid-year) report. The semester report reflects grades and serves as a basis for the granting of academic credit. Semester grades are recorded on the student's permanent record and are reflected on the student's cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Elementary and Middle School:
The Quarterly (nine week) and Semester (mid-year) report reflects progress toward the year end report for granting of academic credit and promotion to the next grade level or retention in the same grade level.

PowerSchool

PowerSchool provides access to your student's current grades and attendance 24 hours a day via telephone or Internet. You will need your student's Username and Password, which were mailed to each student before the start of school. If you did not receive this information please call the school office at 387-7601.

Steps to the Internet

1. Any internet browser.
2. Type 12.52.35.158/public in browser address bar.
3. User ID Box, type in student Username.
4. Password box, type in student password.

Alternate access to PowerSchool: There is a PowerSchool link within the right-side navigation bar on every web page on this website. Click it then follow steps #3 and #4 above.

Telephone Steps

1. Dial 387-7655
2. Follow phone prompts.
3. Username and Password will be needed.

We believe that it is the right of individuals to gain knowledge and develop understanding about themselves and their relationships to others. We also affirm the individuals need to love and be loved. We base our educational philosophy upon these rights and needs and on our commitment to pervasive caring and high student achievement.

Grading Policy

Student progress will be assessed and evaluated at the end of each nine week period and at the end of each semester according to the following standard:

An "I" (Incomplete) indicates that the student, because of illness, has not completed the required course work by the end of the grading period. This is a temporary grade. All required work must be completed within two weeks after the incomplete is received, or as approved by the teacher and administration. An Incomplete "I" semester grade must be completed during Summer School, if available, or within the time frame of the following semester. If the student does not follow through and complete the work, the incomplete automatically becomes and "F" grade. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure all criteria are met within the prescribed time line to recover an Incomplete "I" grade for credit. If an Incomplete "I" grade is not recovered within the prescribed time line, the course will be rescheduled at the next possible opportunity. A student may not graduate with an Incomplete "I" in a required course.

Pass/Fail grading is available in a limited number of classes. A Pass or Fail does not impact a student's grade point average.

Promotion and Retention of Students

Student retention shall be a team decision between parents and teachers. Academic performance, ability, physical and social development, and attendance shall be considered to determine the best placement for the student. Promotion and Retention of Students is ultimately the decision of the teacher(s). Promotion and Retention at the Middle Level will be a determination of the Middle Level instructional team.

Homework
The purpose of homework is to enhance the student's experience at school by fostering initiative and the ability to learn independently. It is meant to enrich and extend classroom instruction by providing additional practice and application. Students and parents should anticipate that most Ajo School teachers will assign homework. When stating their expectations for courses, teachers will describe their policy regarding the amount, frequency, and assessing of homework. Parents and students can expect homework to be evaluated and returned in a reasonable amount of time. Questions regarding the quantity of homework should be directed to the student's teacher.

Requests for Homework
Parents may request homework whenever students are absent or for prearranged absences. Please call the attendance office at 387-7601, grades 7-12 or 387-7602, grades K-6 to request homework. Homework can be picked up between 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on the day after the request was made.

Make-Up Opportunities
Upon returning from any excused absence, it is the student's responsibility to request an appointment with teachers to obtain missed assignments. The student has the right to make-up any class assignment or activity for which a grade is given. Assignments not completed as a result of an absence from class, will be due on the fifth (5) day following the return to class. If the student is absent on the day the assignment is due, and the student had knowledge of the assignment's due date prior to the absence, said assignment(s) shall be due upon the return of the student to class. Assignments not meeting these time lines will be considered late and may receive a lesser grade or a zero. This policy is not intended to exclude the possibility that other prior arrangements may have been made between student and teacher. Class participation points lost through excused absenteeism may be made-up by individual discussion with the teacher or by written reports as agreed upon. Assignments of longer duration than five weeks with a deadline stipulated in advance need not be accepted later than the due date. School Policy IKEA

AJO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

TOTAL CREDITS NEEDED: 22

^aCan substitute for English 5-6 if college bound.
^bCan substitute for English 7-8 if college bound.
^cMay be elected to serve as one credit toward graduation.
^dCan substitute for Biology 1-2 if college bound.

Additional High School Graduation Requirements

1. Of the 22 units of credit, 16 credits must be in solid subjects. All subjects are solids excepting Band, Student Tutor, Teacher Aide, Library Aide, and Office Aide.
2. No more than 2 units of credit may be counted toward the elective category in the following: Student Tutor, Library Aide, Teacher Aide, or Office Aide.
3. No more than 2 units of credit can be earned from correspondence courses. All correspondence courses must have prior approval from the principal.
4. Credit will be given by semester for all subjects passed.
5. A student may repeat a course that has been passed to earn a higher grade. No additional credit can be earned for the same course.
6. All high school graduates must demonstrate the ability to read at the ninth (9th) grade level of proficiency as measured by the Terra Nova.
7. AIMS - Arizona Instrument for Measuring Success: Students must meet the standards in reading, writing, and mathematics to be issued a diploma. During their high school career students will be given 5 opportunities to pass the AIMS beginning their sophomore year.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian Selection

Selection shall follow the procedure listed below.

1. A student must have attended Ajo High School a minimum of two full consecutive school years.
2. A student must be registered for a minimum of six classes each semester or 4 classes plus work release.
3. The Valedictorian shall be the senior who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the completion of seven (7) consecutive semesters. Ties shall be broke by computing the grade point to the .000 (thousandths) place.
4. The Salutatorian shall be the senior who has achieved the second highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the completion of seven (7) consecutive semesters. Ties shall be broke by computing the grade point to the .000 (thousandths) place.

Class Rankings
Colleges and universities on transcripts submitted for entrance evaluation require ranking in class. Class rank shall be determined as follows:

1. Class ranking will be determined each semester beginning with the first semester of ninth grade.
2. Class rank will be based only on the grades earned in regular education classes that meet or exceed graduation requirements.
3. Total grade points begin accumulating with the ninth grade. These are divided by total units attempted to produce the cumulative grade point average (GPA). Students are then ranked according to grade point average (GPA), with 4.0 as high.

Honor Roll
To qualify for the Principal's Honor Roll, a student must earn all A's and B's in all classes with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 or better. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better. A grade of "F" in any class will disqualify a student from the honor roll.

After-School Tutoring
After school tutoring will be afforded any student who seeks additional services. All grade levels are encouraged to take advantage of additional help. After school tutoring will also be available for AIMS preparation at the High School level, as determined by need.

Special Education
Students placed in special education programs will complete their course of study as prescribed by their IEP, individual education plan. Course work will be presented at a level commensurate with the student's abilities and interests. The student's permanent file will reflect courses completed through special education; however, the student will receive the standard certificate of promotion and may qualify for the Principal's Honor Roll or Honor Roll.

Work Release
Graduating seniors will be required to enroll in a minimum of 4 classes, if they are approved for work release through the principal's office.

Eighth Grade Promotion
Students who have all 8th grade academic courses successfully completed by the end of the year will be encouraged to participate in promotion and will be awarded a certificate of promotion.

I touch the future...
I teach.
Christa McAuliffe

Student Records
Parents, legal guardians, or students, who have attained age 18, have the right to the following considerations:

• Inspect the contents of the student record.
• Insert comments or explanations into the record.
• Request a review or hearing for the purpose of challenging contents of the records that are believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or injurious to the student's rights.
• Be notified of the school's intent to transfer the student's progress record to another school in which the student has enrolled.
• Approve or deny the transfer of the student's behavioral record (if any) to another school.
• Approve or deny the release of the student's record or any information from the student's record to any third party.

Withdrawals and Transfer
The request to withdraw or transfer from school must be made by a parent/guardian. The student must be given clearance from all teachers, library, and athletic director if the student participated in sports. The clearance form must be returned to the principal's office for final approval. Request for withdrawal for Home Schooling purposes must be accompanied by the District approved "Intent to Home School" form that will be submitted to the Pima County Schools Superintendent Office.

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Ajo School District - Ajo High School - Ajo Middle School - Ajo Elementary School

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