HCHS Parents and Stakeholders,
Happy mid-May and all the busyness that comes with it! We have had a great few weeks with our seniors--Prom, Banquet, Grad Walks, Last Senior Recess, along with lots of activities for our underclassmen--athletics, concerts, extracurriculars, etc., etc.! Goodness, we're nearing the end of this school year...quickly! I have lots to share today, so please take a look at the topics below (in Patriot red) to see what applies to you. Please feel free to let us know of any questions.
Yearbooks:
We have had a few yearbooks that have binding issues. If your child's yearbook had any similar concerns, please email yearbook sponsor, Tiffany Dunn, at dunnt@henryk12.net by Monday, 5/18.
Seniors: Exams + Graduation + Project Graduation
Senior Exams: Please see information shared with you in the senior email/on the yellow sheet given to students.
Graduation: Please see information shared with you in the senior email/on the yellow sheet given to students.
Project Graduation is being sponsored by a parent group for the Class of 2026. Only HCHS Seniors can attend, and they need to preregister for this event. Please see the flyer for more information.
Summer School
Summer School will be required for any student grades 9-12 who needs to recover a credit for a required graduation class that they failed. Transportation will be provided. To register, please see the flyer.
Athletic Tryouts:
I am attaching two graphics with athletic tryouts. Updates will be posted on the "Henry County TN School System Athletics" Facebook page. We are so excited our Soccer and Softball teams are still playing!
Junior Parents: TN Promise, Direct Admission
For the first time ever, the state has opened the TN Promise application early and students can now apply as juniors. TN Promise is a last-dollar college/community college/TCAT scholarship available after high school. The normal application timeline is in the fall of senior year. Recently during state testing (but on a day juniors were not testing), we had our juniors go ahead and apply. The majority of them have now completed this first step (there will be more steps next year), but it's possible if they were in DE or WBL, they have not yet done this. Please feel free to ask your student and contact John Norwood (norwoodj@henryk12.net) should you have any questions.
Additionally, the current seniors are the first class to be involved in a program called Direct Admission. HCHS was chosen this year to participate in this state program, which allows our students to be accepted to colleges without having to apply individually. Please be on the lookout this summer for information that should come to you through the mail regarding Direct Admission.
Junior Parents: ACT Update
We received this information from the state today and wanted to share...Bottom line is...If scores change, they will be for the better. From the state...
"Based on its continual evaluation of scores, ACT has informed us that it needs to reissue scores for students who took the ACT online during the school day this spring. If you are among those students, your current score will be removed from your MyACT account on Wednesday, May 13. When scores are available again (no later than June 2), your Composite score and section scores will remain the same OR go up slightly based on your individual performance. Your scores will NOT be lower than what was previously released. There is no action you need to take. ACT will post revised scores on MyACT and will be resending scores to your school. If you previously opted to send scores via ACT to a college, university, or scholarship-awarding organization, they, too, will be sent any updated scores."
Final Exams:
SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS: Exam Information
Exempt students... (See further down in the email for the Exam Exemption Policy)
Attendance will count through Wednesday, May 20th at 3:15 pm for all sophomore and junior students, including those who are exempt from exams. After that, students will only need to attend if they are not exempt from exams.
Non-exempt students (See further down in the email for the Exam Exemption Policy)
Thursday, May 21st:
Underclassmen Finals for Periods 4,5,and 6 (normal school schedule)
Note: Students who are not exempt from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period finals should attend 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods.
Note: Students who are exempt from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period finals but are not exempt from 4th, 5th, and 6th period finals may attend all day or may come just for finals. Students arriving just for finals should be on campus by 11:35 and should check in at the sign-in table in the main foyer by the cafeteria.
Note: Students who are not exempt from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period but who are exempt from 4th, 5th, and 6th may leave at 11:30 with a parent note. These students will check out with their 3rd period teachers.
Friday, May 22nd:
Underclassmen Finals for Periods 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods will be altered slightly; 1st period exam will begin at 8:10 am; 2nd period exam will begin at 9:10 am; 3rd period exam will begin at 10:10 am)
Note: Students who wish to leave after finals may leave at 11:05 am with a parent note. These students will check out with their 3rd period teachers. Everyone else will be served lunch at the end of their 3rd period exam and then dismissed at 11:40 am.
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.
NOTE: Due to the busyness of this time of year (Graduation is on May 22nd), we ask that you not come to the office to check out a student. Please make arrangements as outlined above, in advance.
HC Exam Policy: (as found in the 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 the following attendance events (excused/unexcused absences, tardies, early check-outs, etc.):
Quarter Classes: two attendance events
Semester-Long Class: three attendance events
Year-Long Classes: six attendance events
--B average and no more than the following attendance events (excused/unexcused absences, tardies, early check-outs, etc.):
Quarter Classes: one attendance event
Semester-Long Class: two attendance events
Year-Long Classes: four attendance events
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 class are not eligible for final exam exemptions.
Tardies will be considered for the entirety of the semester, including for nine-week courses (such as Personal Finance 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 let us know of any questions.
Go Big Red!
Michele Webb, Ed.D.
Principal