Watertown High School - SharpSchool

Watertown High School

50 Columbia Street

Watertown, Massachusetts 02472-3492

Phone: 617-926-7760 Fax: 617-926-7723

Joel Giacobozzi, Principal joel.giacobozzi@watertown.k12.ma.u

Annmarie Boudreau, Assistant Principal annmarie.boudreau@watertown.k12.ma.us

September 2021

Brian Brewer, Dean of Students brian.brewer@watertown.k12.ma.us

Welcome, Watertown High School Students and Families!

As we begin this year, I hope we can come back to the building with a renewed appreciation for being in the same space, as a community. The last 18-months have been challenging for everyone, including Watertown High School, its students, staff, and families. We have learned a lot about how important it is to be together, learning. Despite the challenges, Watertown High School has continued to show itself as being committed to its core principles of excellence, equity, and community. These pillars hold up institutions of education that support all students, making them life-ready, critical thinkers.

We must take the lessons learned during the pandemic to help us grow as a school community. Lessons like being empathetic to the burden everyone is carrying, working to ensure everyone has access to an excellent education, and using technology to innovate in the classroom. These are just a few of the many things our difficult 18-months have taught us. Each year is a chance for us to recommit to the belief that Watertown High School engages in the difficult conversations, celebrates our differences, and learns from the experiences of those around us.

This handbook contains boundaries and guidelines for behavior, academic progress and honesty, athletics, arts, clubs, and much more. We ask that each student and family review this handbook to familiarize themselves with its contents. While this handbook provides guidance and policy, it is up to us to create a community that is rooted in empathy and excellence.

Let us take a moment to thank those that helped us navigate education during a pandemic and focus our sights on the opportunities of this year.

Be well,

Joel Giacobozzi Principal

Language Assistance Services

ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child's school for assistance.

Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el ingl?s, hay servicios de asistencia ling??stica disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia.

Portuguese: ATEN??O: Se fala um idioma diferente do Ingl?s, os servi?os de assist?ncia lingu?stica est?o dispon?veis gratuitamente para si. Entre em contato com a escola do seu filho para obter assist?ncia.

Russian: : , . , .

Haitian Creole: ATANSYON: Si ou pale yon l?t lang ke lang Angl?, s?vis asistans lang yo disponib pou ou gratis. Kontakte lek?l timoun ou an pou kapab jwenn asistans.

Cape Verdean: ATENSON: Si bu ta fala un l?ngua diferenti di Ingles, Serv?sus di Apoiu Lingu?stiku st? dispon?vel sen kustus. Kontakta sk?la di bu fidju pa d?-bu apoiu.

Th ai:: . :: Arabic .

. , : : Armenian

Pashtu: .

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Urdu:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS MISSION STATEMENT ..................................................................................................5 WPS THEORY OF ACTION............................................................................................5 SCHOOL COMMITTEE ...................................................................................................5 CORE VALUES..................................................................................................................6 MISSION ............................................................................................................................6 SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS ...........................................................6 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................7

Marking Periods for 2020-2021 ..........................................................................................................7

School Hours ........................................................................................................................................7

Health Clinic ........................................................................................................................................7

Student Lockers ...................................................................................................................................7

ACADEMIC INFORMATION, REQUIREMENTS, AND ELIGIBILITY....................8

Graduation Competency Requirements ............................................................................................8

Graduation Credit Requirements ......................................................................................................8

Credits Required for Grade Promotion and Graduation ................................................................9

Transfer of Externally Awarded Credit .........................................................................................10

Schedule Changes ..............................................................................................................................10

High Honor Roll.................................................................................................................................11

Honor Roll ..........................................................................................................................................11

Cum Laude Society............................................................................................................................11

National Honor Society .....................................................................................................................11

Decile Standing ..................................................................................................................................12

Academic Warnings ..........................................................................................................................13

Applying to a Vocational School.......................................................................................................13

Special Education Services................................................................................................................15

Student Records.................................................................................................................................17

Destruction of Student Records........................................................................................................17 3

Release of Information/Images.........................................................................................................17

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ......................................................................................... 18

Class Officers .....................................................................................................................................18 Student Council..................................................................................................................................18 The Advisor to the State Regional Advisory Board........................................................................18 Student Advisors to the School Committee .....................................................................................18 Student Member of the School Site Council......................................................................................1

STUDENT ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................... 21

Class Advisors ....................................................................................................................................21 Clubs/Activities ..................................................................................................................................22 Procedures for Student Activities, Groups and Clubs ...................................................................22 Athletics ..............................................................................................................................................23 Athletic Fee.........................................................................................................................................23

STUDENT CONDUCT................................................................................................... 25

Five Basic Principles of Conduct at WHS .......................................................................................25 Sessions ...............................................................................................................................................27 Expulsion and Suspension.................................................................................................................28 Plagiarism ........................................................................................................................................... 29 Personal Electronic Devices ..............................................................................................................29 Student Email Use .............................................................................................................................30 Dress Code..........................................................................................................................................30 Anti-Bullying Procedures..................................................................................................................30 Alcohol and Drug Use in School or at School Sponsored Activities..............................................33 Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products............................................................................................36 Behavior on Buses/Vans/Cars Used for School Related Activities ................................................36 Possession of Dangerous and/or Illegal Weapons ...........................................................................37

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WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mission Statement WPS prepares all students for life by engaging them in a challenging and meaningful education within an inclusive, diverse community.

Excellence * Equity * Community

WPS Theory of Action

If we: Focus on inclusively educating all students to their full academic, social, and emotional potential; Build an educational program aligned to standards and promote high expectations and authentic learning; Foster caring and collaborative relationships among and within schools, families and community members; Build educationally appropriate, joyful learning environments

Then we will inspire and empower students to explore and shape the world around them.

School Committee The Watertown School Committee establishes goals, policies, and the budget for the Watertown Public Schools. The School Committee hires the Superintendent and works closely with that individual in developing policies and practices to improve the school system. The School Committee also is responsible for conducting collective bargaining with all employee organizations and has other responsibilities as outlined by Massachusetts General Laws.

The School Committee consists of seven members. Six are elected on a town-wide basis for fouryear terms. The Town Council President serves as the seventh member and is elected to a twoyear term. In January of each year the School Committee elects a chair, vice-chair, and secretary from among its members. The School Committee also organizes itself into subcommittees to conduct its business.

Members: John Portz, Chairperson Kendra Foley, Vice-Chairperson Amy Donohue, Secretary Lindsay Mosca Lily Rayman-Read Mark Sideris

David Stokes

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