DIPLOMAS

Upon completion of graduation requirements, the Fort Smith schools award two (2) types of diplomas:

HONORS DIPLOMA - meet requirements for graduation, and maintain a 3.0 grade point average, pass eight units of Pre-AP courses-six of which must be earned in grades 10, 11, & 12. (Pre-AP courses will be so identified on the transcript.)

DIPLOMA - meet requirements for graduation or meet requirements of Individual Education Plan for special education students.

No student can participate in any senior class or graduation activities unless he/she has met or is meeting all requirements for graduation.

Grading Scale

Grades are important to everyone, not only to the student and parent, but also to the teacher, school, and community. The Pre-AP scale is used to calculate rank in class but is not used to calculate the official G.P.A.

GRADE ADVANCED

SCALE REGULAR PRE-AP PLACEMENT

90 - 100 A A = 4 A = 4.5 A = 5

80 - 89 B B = 3 B = 3.5 B = 4

70 - 79 C C = 2 C = 2.5 C = 3

60 - 69 D D = 1 D = 1 D = 2

Below 60 F F = 0 F = 0 F = 0

Grades

The ability to monitor your child’s grades, attendance and any assignment information can now be securely viewed from your internet browser. We are providing this access through our Pinnacle Internet Viewer located on the Northside High School Website. This secured access requires an internet connection and a confidential user name and password issued to the parent by the school each year.

HOMEWORK

Parent/guardian and teachers should be partners in the education of children. Their joint efforts in assigning and monitoring homework can provide an excellent opportunity to strengthen the home-school relationship and to help the student feel that home and school are working together for his/her best interest.

Counselors will, upon request by the parents, obtain pupil progress reports from teachers when a child appears to be having trouble in a particular class. Students who are absent have as many days as they are out to make up their work.

Homework shall be assigned and used as an integral part of the teaching/ learning experience of students. Specific homework assignments shall be made by the teacher, provided each school may adopt guidelines to assure balance in homework assigned to each student. The type of homework assignment and the time to do such homework should give consideration to the grade level or subject area. As general guidelines, homework for grades 1-3 should average from 30-45 minutes per day, for grades 4-6, 45-90 minutes per day, for grades 7-12, 1-2 ½ hours per day. As a general rule, homework is rarely given to kindergarten students.

Homework should be assigned regularly, clearly stated, regularly collected and checked and returned to students. Each teacher should advise students how and the extent to which homework will be used in determining final grades. To develop students’ independent study skills, the teacher should:

A. Discuss the skills needed to accomplish homework assignments

B. Demonstrate a simple step-by-step process of completing a homework assignment

C. Model the techniques of listening, following instructions, note taking, reading for comprehension, preparing papers and locating materials in the library

D. Have students demonstrate their knowledge of independent study skills

E. Teach the students how to organize materials and to work independently

NORTHSIDE LIBRARY INFORMATION

Library hours:

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday

7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Friday

Students must have their teacher’s permission in writing when coming to the library during class. Students will be allowed to use the library when there is no scheduling conflict.

Your Northside ID card is also your library card to use to check out books and use the computers. All books leaving the library must be checked out. If the book is damaged or lost during the check out time, that student is responsible and must pay for the book or books. If books are not returned by the date due, a fine of $ .10 per each overdue day will be charged.

Reference books may be checked out overnight and are due by 8:00 a.m. the next school day. A fine of $1.00 per day is charged for overdue reference books.

A printer and copier are available for student use at $ .10 per page (color prints are $.50).

Students are asked to abide by all classroom, school, and library policies and procedures when working, studying, or reading in the library.

Guidelines for Excused and Unexcused Absences

The Board of Education of the Special School District of Fort Smith recognizes that prompt, regular attendance is extremely important. Excessive absenteeism not only adversely affects the learning process of students but also may impede their normal progression through the grades. The Board expects each student to attend all scheduled classes and daily activities except when the principal or principal’s designee has excused a student. Students who report to school but fail to attend all scheduled classes and activities, except where officially excused, are contributing to the potential disruption of the instructional program.

Parents, guardians or persons in loco parentis have the responsibility to require of their students prompt, regular school attendance. Parents should familiarize themselves with the educational program of the school and rules regarding attendance and student behavior. Failure to comply may result in a court penalty including, but not limited to, a fine up to $500. (Act 473, 1989, as amended)

Attendance Policy

Types of absences: Excused, Parental Permission, and Unexcused.

A. ABSENCE

1. Excused- An absence is excused in the following instances:

a. Personal illness of the student with official written verification.

b. Official school sponsored activity.

c. Court appearances with official written verification.

d. Medical/Dental appointments with official written verification. (Parents/guardians are urged to schedule

medical or dental appointments after school hours. When this is not possible, the appointment should be

scheduled during a study hall or scheduled so that the student will not miss the same class(es) repeatedly.)

e. Death or serious illness in the immediate or extended family. (Official written verification may be required.)

An excused absence shall afford the student the privilege of making up all assignments and/or class activities as the teachers direct.

Official written verification includes signed doctor, dentist, court or legal documents identifying the office and/or the name of the professional who provided the service.

2. Parental Permission

a. Parental permission may be granted for any reason, including personal illness without written verification,

provided the parent has contacted the attendance office, by note or phone call, the day the absence occurs.

b. The student may not exceed eight (8) parental permission absence days for the semester. If a student exceeds eight (8)

days of parental permission absence in any class for the semester, all parental permission days thereafter are

classified as unexcused.

c. Parental permission shall afford the student the privilege of making up all assignments and/or class activities as the

teacher direct.

d. Absences for parental permission shall not be granted in conflict with semester examination schedules.

3. Unexcused

a. An unexcused absence shall be considered to be a willful absence (truant) from school if it is without the knowledge

of the student’s parent/guardian.

2. Any other absence not considered excused in the two preceding sections will be counted as unexcused.
3. Any student who is truant or has an unexcused absence forfeits the right to make up any work for credit.
4. Students on short-term suspension from school (not to exceed ten days) will be considered unexcused for the

purpose of making up work. Suspended students will not be allowed to make up tests (excluding semester tests) taken on suspension days.

1. Assignments and/or projects that are assigned and due during suspension may not be submitted for credit.

2. Projects assigned before suspension but due during the suspension may be submitted for credit.

3. Projects assigned during suspension but due after the suspension ends may be submitted for credit.

4. The parent/guardian may request class information (assignments, etc.) that could be used by the student in

an effort to remain current in classes for no credit.

5. No suspended student will be denied the opportunity to take semester tests.

6. Students on short-term suspension from school (not to exceed ten (10) days) shall be considered absent but

excused for the purpose of absenteeism.

3. A student with four (4) or more unexcused absences per semester may be assigned consequences. Minimum-

reprimand; Maximum – suspension.

B. Parent/Guardian Contact

The parent/guardian should contact the school by 9:00 a.m. any day that a student will be absent. In addition to assisting the school with the attendance record, parent/guardian notification to the school is a security measure to verify the locations of all students.

Upon the second unexcused absence in any semester, a letter will be sent to the parent/guardian notifying him/her that upon the fourth day of unexcused absence from any class, a petition will be filed with the County Prosecuting Attorney or City Prosecuting Attorney to request appropriate legal action necessary to improve the student’s attendance. Such notification may lead to a penalty of up to $500 plus court costs in accordance with A.C.A. 6-18-222.

Students with long-term medically documented illness or injury may be allowed to make up work and may be given assistance in obtaining credit for courses in which they are enrolled.

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