Missisquoi Valley Union

If a student or parent wishes to have a conference with a teacher or a group of teachers, the student’s guidance counselor should be contacted at 868-7311, x163.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION | Top

New students may be enrolled by a parent or guardian anytime during the school year. The first step in the enrollment process is to fill out an enrollment packet. Enrollment packets can be obtained from the guidance office or the front desk receptionist. A student may be enrolled following receipt of the completed packet, and school records from the previous school and their review by the guidance counselor and principal. Successful enrollment requires a birth certificate, proof of residency, immunization and health records. Official transcripts must be sent directly to our guidance office from the student’s previous school. For more information please call (802) 868-7311 ext. 129.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS | Top

We welcome students from around the world who wish to join our school community for a period of time. The MVU Board would like all to understand that while the course work a foreign exchange student completes here may transfer to their home country, it may not be used in part or in whole to satisfy the requirements for graduation from Missisquoi.

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS | Top

There are a variety of awards and scholarships available to graduating seniors at MVU. Information regarding these will be available and can be obtained from the Guidance Office. Announcements will be made throughout the year keeping you abreast of their availability.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS | Top

To graduate from MVU, a student must earn a minimum of 23.5 credits and must meet the necessary graduation requirements. Students who have not accumulated the required credits by the ceremony will not be permitted to participate. There are eight blocks available for students to enroll in courses in our A/B day schedule. All students enrolled at Missisquoi Valley Union High School are expected to carry a class load of at least six (6) credit hours per year. Seniors in good standing “on schedule to graduate” may carry a load of at least five (5) credits per year. For more specific information regarding academic requirements, please contact your child’s guidance counselor or refer to the current Program of Studies.

EARLY GRADUATION | Top

Students, who wish to explore the possibility of early graduation upon completion of the required number of credits, should speak with their guidance counselor.

STUDY HALLS / TEACHER STUDENT ADVISORY (TSA) | Top

Students will have study periods assigned wherever free time exists in their schedule. This period is to be spent in quiet study and students must

report prepared to work productively. This represents a valuable opportunity to get a good start on homework while teachers are available. Card playing, use of gaming devices, or disruptive talk/behavior will not be tolerated in study halls. Attendance is, of course, mandatory. Every student will have a Teacher Student Advisory (TSA) daily. This mixed grade assignment will serve a variety of functions ranging from improved communication for students, increased connectedness, and academic and social support.

Note: In order to be released from a study hall or TSA, students must present a pre-arranged /pre-signed pass from another teacher. Teachers will not give passes to other rooms. As a general rule, students are expected to remain in their TSA with the exception of clear emergencies.

COURSE CHANGES | Top

The master schedule is created in the spring from the program requests of students and parents. On the basis of these requests, we have scheduled teachers, hired new personnel, and purchased materials. We cannot make major changes without serious consequences. With few exceptions, there will be no changes made in courses or programs. No change will be made in a student’s program without parental permission. The only exceptions will be with obvious schedule errors that fail to reflect the original program request of the student, or changes resulting from attendance in Summer School.

Students are asked to continue attending a class they anticipate dropping or changing until an official change or new placement has been made. Failure to follow this procedure will result in a “cut” and the student will be subject to consequences as outlined in the Code of Conduct and the section in this booklet on Attendance. If a student genuinely feels he/she has been inappropriately placed or has other concerns regarding a class, he/she should make an appointment to discuss these issues with a teacher or counselor.

WITHDRAWAL FROM A CLASS | Top

A course may only be dropped with the approval of a parent, teacher, and guidance counselor. Course drops after the third week of the semester requires the additional approval of an Administrator.

MARKING SYSTEM | Top

Students are evaluated with a report card four (4) times during the year. Approximately four (4) weeks into every marking period progress reports are also mailed to keep parents/guardians up to date on how their student is doing. If you have questions at any time please contact the teacher of the class or their guidance counselor.

Grades at MVUHS are reported as letter grades on report cards. Each letter grade represents a range of numerical grades as follows:

A+ equals 4.3 points A+ = 97 -100

A equals 4.0 points A = 93 – 96

A- equals 3.7 points A- = 90 – 92

B+ equals 3.3 points B+ = 87 – 89

B equals 3.0 points B = 83 – 86

B- equals 2.7 points B- = 80 – 82

C+ equals 2.3 points C+ = 77 – 79

C equals 2.0 points C = 73 – 76

C- equals 1.7 points C- = 70 – 72

D equals 1.0 points D = 65 – 69

F equals 0.0 points F = less than 65

PASS / FAIL COURSES | Top

Students who enroll in pass/fail courses should understand that the receipt of a passing grade, “P”, does not affect the student’s GPA or class rank. Receipt of a failing grade, “F”, does, however, affect the student’s GPA and class rank.

HONOR ROLL | Top

The grade point average (GPA) is found by dividing the total points by the credits per course the student is taking. An average of 3.0 to 3.499 is honors, 3.5 to 3.999 is high honors and 4.0 to 4.3 is highest honors. A “D” prevents honor roll consideration.

RANK IN CLASS | Top

Honor graduates are those students who rank one through ten in the senior class. Pro merito students will be those graduates who maintain a 3.00 average for four (4) years.

MIDYEAR AND FINAL EXAMS | Top

These cumulative exams are given in all subjects at the conclusion of each semester (January and June). The purpose of these exams is to assess the quality of student understanding and provide a valuable experience for future college and career demands. Each exam is approximately ninety minutes and the examination schedule includes two test periods each day. This schedule will be announced to students well in advance of the start of testing. Students are expected to take exams as scheduled. All make-ups require the permission of both the teacher and the school administration.

There are to be no exemptions for full-year courses at the mid-year exam time (January). Seniors who have maintained an “A” average for the entire length of a course may be exempted from the final examination (January or June). Such exemptions, if allowed, must be for all seniors enrolled in the class who meet this standard. No teacher is obligated to offer such exemptions.

1.All activities, except athletic events scheduled with other schools, are canceled for the examination week(s). Practice schedules for athletics will be abbreviated, as necessary, to permit more time for study.

2.While taking examinations students should keep their eyes on their own work at all times, should never communicate in any way, and should have only the test and paper used in the examination on their desks. All books and other papers must be removed from the desks. Following these directions will eliminate any question of cheating for which the penalty is a “0” on the examination and subsequent disciplinary action.

Students not taking an exam during a particular testing period are to report to the Commons where silent study will be enforced. Students in this area need to follow seating arrangements established by the staff in charge and prepare quietly for their next examination. Failure to do so may result in their having the remainder of their exams re-scheduled to the make-up times set forth.

INCOMPLETE GRADES | Top

An incomplete grade may be assigned when course work is not completed for reasons beyond the student’s control. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the student to satisfactorily document, for the Administration, any hardships or extreme circumstances which put timely completion of the course beyond his/her reach. In order for an incomplete grade to be assigned, it must first be approved by the Assistant Principal.

It is also the responsibility of the student to contact his/her teacher and arrange for the makeup of missed/incomplete work upon approval of an incomplete. The incomplete course requirement will be satisfied at the earliest possible date, but will not be extended for more than 10 school days. If the work is not completed, a new grade will be assigned based on the reassessment of the completed work. If the work remains incomplete, however, the grade will remain as previously calculated by the teacher.

PROMOTION | Top

Progress toward graduation rests with the proper accumulation of credits. Student programs will be checked as carefully as possible to ensure that each student is progressing with his or her class. While we will do our best to keep students aware of their requirements, it is the primary responsibility of each student and parent/guardian to know his/her standing. Report cards indicate the credits, which have been accumulated as of the end of each previous year. Parents and students should be aware of their credit total to date to ensure that they have sufficient credits for promotion and graduation. Placement in grade level will be based on the total credits earned.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (Cheating / Plagiarism) | Top

Our school promotes an environment where honesty is valued. Students who cheat compromise that environment. Furthermore, to provide the best possible education for each student, it is important that a student’s work reflects his/her best effort. Cheating seriously hinders the ability of a teacher to identify or remediate the work of a student. Cheating will not be tolerated and will be addressed in the following manner:

1.Teachers will clearly spell out what constitutes cheating in all areas where the definition is not clear (e.g.: plagiarism, homework, group work, etc.). Each department will be responsible for defining acceptable work habits and communicating that information to students. For example, the Social Studies Department will provide students and parents with detailed requirements for research assignments including the definition of plagiarism.

2.Tests are designed to evaluate a student’s knowledge of a particular subject area. To be fair to all students, it is necessary that the integrity of a testing period be maintained. Therefore, in testing situations, the following will constitute cheating:

• Looking at another student’s paper

• Copying information from another student or using cheat sheets

• Any talking during a test or quiz

• Having a copy of the test or quiz prior to the administration of either

• Giving or receiving any information among students

3.The internet is a resource that must be used thoughtfully and with integrity. Any essay, research paper, or other assignment that has been plagiarized from the internet to any extent constitutes cheating and will be addressed in the same manner as other instances of academic dishonesty. “Plagiarism” in these cases is defined as an attempt to promote as one’s intellectual property that of another person, even when that person has placed such property on the internet for public use: instances include but are not limited to copying and pasting from an internet site into a student paper, or the use of a site that offers prewritten essays, either free or for a price. All internet material must be cited within the text and in a bibliography to ensure that credit is given to the author/source.

4.A student caught cheating will receive a “0” for the assignment in question. Both providing and receiving information constitute cheating. In cases where cheating is suspected, but not documented, the teacher will discuss the matter with the student(s).

5.All documented offenses will be reported by the teacher to the Department Leader, Administration, and appropriate guidance counselor.

A letter documenting the academic dishonesty, written by the faculty member who reported it and his/her Department Leader, will be placed in the student’s cumulative file in the Guidance Office. The parents will be notified by the teacher/Department Leader. A copy of the letter will also be given to the Director of Student Affairs for the discipline file.

6.Students and parents will have an opportunity to discuss all matters related to cheating with the teacher and his/her Department Leader.

HOMEWORK REQUESTS | Top

Students who are absent from school for three or more consecutive days as a result of illness or injury may contact the Front Desk Receptionist at 868-7311 to request and obtain homework assignments. A twenty-four hour time period is needed to process homework requests. Assignments should be picked up at the Front Desk prior to 3:00pm, unless other arrangements are made.

MAKEUP WORK | Top

Students will have one day to make up work missed for each day of absence, unless the absence is unexcused. Students are expected, however, to take announced tests and quizzes as scheduled and to submit essays, term papers, projects, etc., which were previously assigned. A student who is absent on the day a test or quiz is given must take that test or quiz on the day he/she returns to school. Students who are absent are advised to contact other class members for assignments. Students who are absent due to illness for three (3) or more days can request homework by calling the Front Desk Receptionist at 868-73ll.

We strongly discourage families and students from planning vacation while school is in session, however, any student who will be away should notify either the Middle or High School Assistant Principal’s office at least one (l) week prior to the absence. The student’s guidance counselor will then discuss related academic issues and responsibilities with the student and/or parent/guardian.

All students will be given the opportunity to make up work missed because of absences due to extended illness or extenuating circumstances approved in advance by either the Middle or High School Assistant Principal. This work will be completed within a time period established by the teacher.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION | Top

Students are required to participate in physical education. In cases of illness for a day or two, a written note from parents will excuse participation. Long-term requests to excuse participation require a written medical excuse from a physician presented to the school nurse.

Students must earn l.5 credits (pass 3 semesters) of physical education. To do so, they must dress and participate in at least 80 percent of the classes each quarter. Excused absences from school and written excuses from the nurse may be made-up within two weeks’ time. Refusal to participate or unexcused absences cannot be made up and will jeopardize these required credits.

SUMMER SCHOOL POLICY | Top

Specific information regarding summer school will be available in the spring.