HCHS Parents and Stakeholders,
It's a bit amazing to realize we are nearing Christmas break and the end of the first semester! I wanted to touch base today about the schedule for next week.
Christmas Cheer...Our Student Ambassadors have planned dress-up days for our students next week. There are also several fun surprises in store too! Dress up days are as follows...
Monday, Dec. 16 - Grinch vs. Santa (Green vs. Red)
Tuesday, Dec. 17 - 'Tis the Season (Christmas Sweaters/Accessories)
Wednesday, Dec. 18 - Family Photo (Flannels)
EXAM INFORMATION...
Exempt students...
All students are expected to be at school next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. After that, they will only need to attend if they are not exempt from exams. Sometimes students who are exempt will mistakenly tell their parents that they do not have to come at all during the week of exams. That will oftentimes pose a problem later in the year with truancy and such, so I wanted to make sure you are aware that attendance--which is cumulative--will count through Wednesday for all students, including those who are exempt.
Non-exempt students...
Non-exempt students are expected to be at school each day next week. Friday will be an abbreviated day. Exams will be given as follows:
Thursday, December 19th:
1st and 2nd Period exam preparation; Finals for 4th & 6th Periods (normal school schedule)
Note: Students who are not exempt from 1st and 2nd Period finals should attend 1st and 2nd Period.
Note: Students who are exempt from 1st and 2nd Period finals but are not exempt from 3rd and 4th Period finals may attend all day or may come just for finals. Students arriving just for finals should be on campus by 11:00 and should check in at the sign-in table in the main foyer by the cafeteria.
Note: Students who are not exempt from 1st and 2nd Period but who are exempt from 4th and 6th may leave at 11:00 with a parent note. These students will check out with their 2nd period teachers.
Friday, December 20th:
Finals for 1st and 2nd Periods (1st and 2nd Periods will be altered slightly; 1st period exam will begin at 8am; 2nd period exam will begin at 9:25.)
Note: Students who wish to leave after finals may leave at 10:55 am with a parent note. These students will check out with their 2nd period teachers. Everyone else will be served lunch at 11:00 am and then dismissed at 11:30 am.
Additional notes on Partially Exempt Students...
Partially exempt students (students who have to take 1, 2, or 3 exams)...
Partially exempt students are expected to be here on next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday plus all classes they are not exempt from on Thursday and Friday. Students can check in/check out if desired, but must have their own transportation and a parent note. I can't easily include every scenario, but I've included a few below that should help in figuring out your situation. Students are welcome to ask as they have questions.
NOTE: We will do check-outs through classrooms and not the office. Students must have a parent note to be checked out and then have transportation arrangements. If they will check out more than once, they will need a separate parent note for each time. The note should include the student's name, parent's name legibly written and signature, the date/time of check out, and a parent contact number.
NOTE: We will NOT dismiss students until the end of the exam period and we will not interrupt a class during exams for any reason. Please make note of the schedule and plan appointments and such accordingly.
Scenario 1: I have to take 1st and 2nd block exams but not 3rd or 4th.
What can I do? Come Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday all day. Come Thursday and check out with a parent note after 2nd block on Thursday. Return on Friday to take exams during 1st and 2nd blocks. Christmas break for you will begin on Friday at 11:30 am.
Scenario 2: I have to take a 3rd and 4th block exam but not 1st or 2nd.
What can I do? Come Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday all day. Check in after 2nd block on Thursday. Take exams during 3rd and 4th blocks. Christmas break for you will begin on Thursday at 3:15 pm.
HC Exam Policy:
(Can be found in the HCHS Student Handbook)
FINAL EXAMS
Final Exams are given at the end of each course and count a percentage of a student’s final grade. Students not taking the Final Exam in a course will receive a grade of zero for the Final Exam. Final Exams will not be given early.
Final Exams: Exam Exemption Policy
Eligibility Criteria for Exemptions: The student will receive exam exemption if s/he maintains a(n):
A average and no more than three* attendance events (excused/unexcused absences, tardies, early check-outs, etc.)
B average and no more than two* attendance events (excused/unexcused absences, tardies, early check-outs, etc.)
*Allowable attendance events for nine-week course exemptions will be reduced by one.
Attendance events are counted up to the day the exam is administered. School-related absences (fieldtrip, 4-H, college visit, athletic) do NOT count for the purposes of this policy.
Attendance events are on a class by class basis. An exemption from a final exam is not granted if during the semester the student is sent to ISS, Alternative Learning Center or receives a suspension.
Exemptions are for end of semester teacher exams.Any student who is currently failing a class at the time of exams will not be exempt from the associated exam. For purposes of determining current failure status, all grades for the semester are considered, not just the MQ4/MQ8 grading period.
Special Circumstances
Students who register after the fifth day of a semester are not eligible for final exam exemptions.
Tardies will be considered for the entirety of the semester, including for nine-week courses (such as Government and Economics).
Any student who qualifies for an exemption has the option to take the final exam. However, the grade received on the exam will be computed in the final semester average.
A student enrolled in dual-enrollment or dual-credit courses will be required to take the final exam per policy of the credit-issuing school.
A student enrolled in an Advanced Placement course will be required to take the AP Exam.
As always, please feel free to let us know of any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Michele Webb, Ed.D.
Principal