FAQ'S

Student Handbook, Program of Studies Book, Policy Manual, Website

These will be available:
A current Policy Manual is kept in each house office; in addition, Board of Education policies are   available on the Trumbull Web Site at  http://www.trumbullps.org/policies.htm.
In the handbook, you will find answers to questions about:

The Program of Studies is distributed to incoming 9th grade students and current THS grades 9, 10, and 11 students at the end of January.

Website access -the THS site should be visited frequently.

Currently, we want you to know that the main page of the THS website posts important information regarding events, bulletins and recognitions. Other information regarding staff, calendars, rubrics, academics, sports, clubs and the PTSA are located within the website and can be accessed from the menu on the left hand side of the page. In addition, there is an “IT Help” section for staff to assist with common technology questions and issues.
All items to be posted on the website need to be submitted electronically - no hard copies will be accepted.

Students need to have accumulated at least 22 credits, met a proficiency standard on CAPT, and completed community service hours in order to graduate from Trumbull High School.  Specifically, students are still required to carry a minimum of 5.5 credits each year.  Community service forms are available in each guidance office.  Students should complete these forms and return them to their guidance office upon completion of the specific activity.  (Check web link to policy for further explanation).

Yes, but only on a very selected and limited basis.  Students must seek a faculty sponsor and submit a proposal, based on the agreed upon criteria, to the Guidance Department Chairperson.  Information is available through your Guidance Counselor.

Yes.  Students must meet with their counselor to determine their eligibility based on credits and requirements. 

Students must request early graduation in their Junior year.  Credits will be reviewed by their counselor.  If they appear to be eligible, they must make their request in writing to the building principal which will be submitted for committee review.  A parent/guardian signature is required.

Community service is a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2010. 

Community service is a graduation requirement that began with the Class of 2010.  Students are encouraged to volunteer for an activity/event that is purposeful, enjoyable and interesting to them.  If they are unable to locate an activity or event, the guidance staff will be able to make suggestions to them.
Community service forms are available in the house guidance offices.  Once the service is complete, the students should ask the coordinator of the event/activity to fill out and sign the form.    Tally forms of activities are available in the Guidance offices.  Students collect all service forms and retain them until the end of the year.  They then bring them to counselors with the tally sheet, in front, before June 1st. (Please check link to the website for more information).
All students must complete a minimum of one hour per year in order to graduate; however, THS views volunteerism as an integral part of a well-rounded high school program and encourages all students to be active participants in this endeavor with as many hours as possible.

The NEASC standards serve as our plan of school improvement.  We are currently planning for the next visit October 6 - 9, 2013.  

On the Infinite Campus report card, each marking period is a term.  Term 1 is the first marking period.  “GPA” is the grade-point average for that term.  An “A” average is represented by a GPA of 4.0, a “B” average is represented by a GPA of 3.0, and so on.

Parent Conferences will take place on November 15, 2012, afternoon and evening, and February 28, 2013, afternoon and evening.

Please check the Trumbull High School website for report card  and progress report dates.

Yes. Due to construction on campus, Emergency Egress Routes have been revised.  In addition, the main entrance is now located on the front of the building.  The Fire Marshal has increased the number of fire lanes on campus and will be working closely with Administration to ensure safety for all students and staff.  Additional internal and external security cameras are in the process of being installed.

At the present time, the THS Building Committee continues to meet to address the needs of the   renovation process.   THSBC continues to forge ahead to insure that the building will be renovated as new to meet 21st Century skills and the High School Reform initiative required by the state.

The report card now displays the successful completion of the school-wide rubrics as required by NEASC.  Each department is assigned one or more of the school-wide rubrics as recommended by NEASC.  Semester courses are assessed in January and full-year courses are assessed in June.  Student progress is labeled “E” for exemplary, “P” for proficient, “N” for needs improvement and “U” for unacceptable as a measure of student accomplishment.  The actual rubrics themselves can be found on the school website.

AgriScience - Melissa Cunningham, Linda Goodman
Guidance – Jamie McEnaney
Language Arts – Erica Serrano, Hope Spalla
Math – Elizabeth Capobianco, William Kirk
Paraprofessionals – Frances Bray, Pat Hen, Elaine Prusasky, Diane Severino, Johanna Simmel
Physical Education – Keith Strychalsky
Science – Melissa Brown, Alexandria Davies
Secretarial – Stephanie Piazza
Security – Bill Connolly, Jr.
Social Studies – Gary Guertin, Jack LaBarca
Special Education – Anya Farber, Kimberly Foster, Kristin Magazine, Jennifer Stewart
World Language – Benjamin Brust

The Associate to the Dean is Dennis McLaughlin, who is trained as a social worker as well.  Working very closely with the Dean of Students, this office is student-centered, focusing on creating a positive learning environment for the Trumbull High School community.  Additionally, this office has daily contact with the house offices, security officials and provides another resource for our teaching staff.   Discipline issues are handled by the Associate Dean.

The Crisis Intervention Specialist and Associate to the Dean advise the Peer Mediation program.  Peer Mediation offers a unique learning experience for students to develop the skills necessary for resolving any interpersonal conflicts with peers.  Peer Mediators receive up to 18 hours of training through Creative Response to Conflict, a leader in the field of conflict resolution education.  Students may access peer mediation services by filling out a referral form located in each house office or in the library media center.  Anti-Defamation League training is also utilized.

The Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) at Trumbull High School is Bill Mecca.  He is trained as a school social worker, licensed clinical social worker, and licensed drug and alcohol counselor.  Bill coordinates/co-delivers three scientifically-based research instructional programs (SRBI) designed to support student learning.  First, the Signs of Suicide (S.O.S.) program is offered to all students in their Health classes.  Students are taught the symptoms of depression or warning signs of suicide in themselves or their friends and teach them the appropriate steps they should take to get help.  Second, the Coping and Support Training (CAST) program is a 12 session group that helps students to build self-esteem, set goals, make decisions, and develop personal control.  Third, Reconnecting Youth, (known as Group Dynamics in the program of studies) is a daily class elective designed to improve class attendance and grade point averages.  Students learn a variety of skills that can help them become successful, independent learners.  [Subject to annual budgetary limitations and subscription]

The CIS also works very closely with other members of the administrative, faculty and support staff to address particular student issues.  For example, when students find themselves dealing with a serious personal crisis that needs intensive management, the CIS is a part of a multidisciplinary team determining a student’s needs and  connecting students and families to the appropriate outside resources.  The goal in these situations is to ensure that a temporary crisis does not completely overwhelm a student and prevent his/her educational progress.      

You may always contact any teacher directly (email, letter, call house office).  Feel free to contact your student’s guidance counselor who acts as a “bridge” between the home and the school.  Additionally, you might call your student’s House Principal, Dean of Students, or Athletic Director, depending on the question.  All contact information can be found on the Trumbull High School website.

The credit value is based on a traditional standard credit measurement.  Freshmen (9th Grade) Physical Education meets every day for a half year, for a credit value of .5.  Freshmen also take Health for one quarter.  Sophomore (10th Grade) and Junior (11th Grade) Physical Education classes meet every other day, all year.  This is equivalent to a .5 credit value.
In order to accumulate the necessary credits in Physical Education at Trumbull High School, a student must successfully complete 9th, 10th & 11th grade Physical Education and Health offerings. 

The Attendance Policy has been revised and approved by the Board of Education.  The policy can be viewed on the Trumbull Board of Education website.  This policy is constantly under review and revision.

The Writing Teacher, Jodi Netting, affiliated with the English Dept. and Literary Team, helps students and teachers with all aspects of the writing process. From drafting to proofreading and publishing, she solicits ideas from writers, helping them to recognize their strengths and errors so that students can self-correct, becoming independent revisors and editors. She collaborates with teachers, delivering mini lessons on a variety of revision and editing strategies. She works with teachers to develop rubrics and peer revision/editing tasks specific to a given writing assignment. Along with the teachers, she will evaluate writing so that we can celebrate successes and target deficiencies. The Trumbull High School Writing Center has as its immediate goal to assist students in developing writing skills across the disciplines. Our long-range goal is to encourage all in a lifetime of writing.  If your child would like help on a paper, please have him/her stop by the Writing Center, located in the lower media center, or email Mrs. Netting at nettingj@trumbullps.org.

This service has now been incorporated into the Career Center and is available for our students’ needs at their request.