FAQ'S
Questions
1. Where are most of the practices, policies, and procedures outlined?
2. How will I be updated about educational standards and ongoing changes?
3.Have the graduation credits requirements changed?
5. Can students sign up for Independent Study credit?
6. Are students allowed to graduate early?
10. What are the dates of parent conferences and progress reports?
11. Have there been improvements made in the Safety/Security of the campus since last year?
12. What should we expect with regard to the next phase of the high school renovation?
13. What is the meaning of the rubrics on the report cards?
14. Who are the new staff members to the campus, and what are their positions?
16. If I have inquiries about my student, to whom should I direct them?
17. How is the credit value calculated for Physical Education?
18. What is the status regarding attendance requirements?
Answers
1. 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:
| non-discrimination in instruction policy | study halls |
| sexual harassment | school dances |
| guidelines for alternate placement | buses |
| standard of student conduct | fire drills, parking |
| school code of conduct | dress code |
| off campus misconduct | attendance and tardiness polices |
| electronic devices | internet policy |
| parking | courses and grading information |
| detention | resources, service & activities |
The Program of Studies is distributed to incoming 9 th grade students and THS grades 9, 10, and 11 students at the end of January.
2. Website access - All important notices are placed on the THS website. It 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 recognition. 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. In addition, there is an “IT Help” section for staff, to assist with common technology questions and issues.
The website has been redesigned. With the new site there is a “search” feature which should make it easier to find information. All items to be posted on the website need to be submitted electronically - no hard copies will be accepted. Send all requests to the THS Webteam.
3. Yes, in fact, there is a need to have accumulated at least 22 credits (beginning with the class of 2011), met a proficiency standard on CAPT, and completed community service hours (beginning with the class of 2010) 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).
4. Yes, Science courses that have lab periods once in our four day cycle are given 1.25 credits. Upper class one semester Physical Education courses that meet three times out of four days are assigned .375 credits each.
5. 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. Information is available on the common drive.
6. Yes. Students must meet with their counselor to determine their eligibility based on credits and requirements. They must submit their request in writing to the principal. A review committee will determine the outcome of that request.
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.
7. Community service is a graduation requirement beginning 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.
Community service forms are available in the house guidance offices. Once the service is complete, please ask the coordinator of the event/activity to fill out and sign the form and deliver it to your counselor. (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.
The Program of Excellence is no longer offered to students beginning with the Class of 2010. Originally, this program was based on taking honors courses as well as participating in community service. Upon researching its validity with respect to college and university acceptance, we have found that it is not an influential factor in decision making for acceptance. Students in the Class of 2008 and 2009 who are in the program will remain until they graduate. The community service component has been integrated into our overall graduation requirement.
8. Currently we are responding in a five year report to the NEASC recommendations of 2002.
The NEASC Five Year Report is due on March 1, 2008 . The Steering Committee worked on this in the summer, with information provided from all standard committees. We continue to work on this report, and one area, Curriculum, needs to be yet completed. We will be ready for submission at the appropriate time. As NEASC is our accrediting organization, these reports are composed to comply with its requirements. NEASC expectations and standards serve as our plan of school improvement. The decennial evaluation will take place in 2013.
9. Report cards currently differ in the following ways:
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They are displayed in letter format and take two pages as opposed to landscape display and the one page on Starbase.
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Marking Periods are now referred to as Terms in IC and the GPA for each term shouldbe calculated in the same way.
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Attendance is no longer listed, at this time, on the report card as it was with Starbase.
Information remains the same but the display is quite different. Teachers have unlimited comment possibility – no longer limited to 3 comments. Previous quarter GPA’s will appear (called “Term GPA”). Parents may access the most recent report card and progress report from the Infinate Campus Parent Portal.
10. Parent Conferences will take place on November 27, 2007 in the afternoon and November 29, 2007 in the evening.
Progress Reports may be issued as follows:
Marking period 1 – mailed 10/5/07
Marking period 2 – mailed 12/18/07
Marking period 3 – mailed 3/7/08
Marking period 4 mailed 5/16/08
*These dates are subject to change due to snow days and other unforeseen circumstances.
11. Yes, in cooperation with the Trumbull Police Department, we have instituted emergency numbering for exterior doors and procedures for emergency student release. We have put into place an Incident Management Team, along with an Emergency Plan. Emergency egress routes and Stay Put/Lock Down procedures have been revised, as well as the institution of a K12 Alert Information System.
12. At the present time, the THS Building Committee continues to meet to address the needs of the renovation process. On July 1, 2007 , the state passed a new bill with specific guidelines for the “Like-New Renovation” process. The committee is now responding to the new regulations. Once an architect is selected, the process of interviewing school personnel with regard to our needs will begin.
13. 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. All teachers are familiar with the school-wide rubric(s) assigned to their department. Each department is assigned to assess a particular rubric. 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 their accomplishment. The actual rubrics themselves can be found on the school web-site.
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15. The House Disciplinarian position is filled by Dennis McLaughlin. He acts as an “arm” of the Dean of Students, works to foster positive student interactions, has daily contact with our Security officials, and provides another resource for our teaching staff.
The Crisis Intervention Counselor at Trumbull High School is Bill Mecca. He is trained as a social worker and as a drug and alcohol counselor. There will be three main facets to his role so as to support the social, emotional, and behavioral development of students in order to foster positive academic outcomes for our students. First, Bill will be directly involved with prevention activities which will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to make good decisions when managing the developmental tasks of adolescence. Two prevention programs slated for this year are the suicide prevention project with ninth graders and the work associated with the Trumbull Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking (TPAUD). Bill will also play a large part in addressing the needs of our students who present themselves as more at-risk for social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties which may impede their academic progress. He will use current information about our students and work in conjunction with the school counselors, PPS staff, the Dean, and the House Disciplinarian to identify those students who need more support. Small group counseling will be provided to these students in order to assist them with being more successful in school. Finally, Bill will be directly involved with students who find themselves dealing with a serious personal crisis that needs intensive management. He will collaborate with other support staff, parents, and outside agencies to be sure that a temporary crisis does not completely overwhelm a student and prevent his/her educational progress. The focus for Bill and all our support staff will be to identify needs early and prevent difficulties for students in order to avoid a crisis situation whenever possible. Collaboration with all members of our school community will be very important as Bill takes on these important responsibilities at Trumbull High School . We are also attempting to work on a guidance center program related to intervention/substance abuse lessons.
16. You may always contact any teacher directly (email, letter, 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 for advice and guidance. All contact information can be found on the Trumbull High School website.
17. The credit value is based on a traditional standard credit measurement. Freshmen (9 th Grade) Physical Education meets everyday for a full year, for a credit value of 1.0.
Sophomore (10 th Grade) and Junior (11 th Grade) Physical Education meet three out of four days on a four-day schedule for one semester. This is equivalent to a .375 credit value.
In order to accumulate the necessary credits in Physical Education at Trumbull High School , a student must successfully complete 9 th, 10 th & 11 th grade Physical Education offerings. Health is incorporated into 9 th grade Physical Education classes at this time.
18. The attendance policy is in the process of being reviewed. Potential loss of credit can occur. The appeals process has been modified. Parents will be called into a meeting with an administrator at specific thresholds (full year courses at 10 absences and 20 absences, half year courses at 5 absences and 10 absences), to be informed of the student’s status and to appeal the decision if needed.