ROCK HILL HIGH SCHOOL
320 W. Springdale Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730
803-981-1300 Telephone 803-981-1343 Fax
Judith B. Mobley, Principal
August, 2010
Dear Students and Parents:
We welcome you all to Rock Hill High School for 2010-2011! Whether you are entering the Bearcat Family for the first time as a Freshman Academy student or you are a returning Bearcat, we are glad you are here and hope you will make the most of the educational and extra-curricular activities available to you this year.
Teaching and learning are the first priority every day. Students are expected to participate in all planned class activities and complete homework assignments that reinforce the learning and prepare them for the next class. Teachers post homework on the Assign-A-Day link on our school webpage so that students and parents can check for homework assignments daily. Tutoring is offered beginning the second week of school on Wednesday afternoons for freshmen and each morning at 7:20 (except Tuesday) for upperclassmen. Students should attend the tutoring as soon as they begin to struggle and should not wait until the end of a course.
Attendance is also a priority since students miss valuable course content when they are absent. Students who miss more than 6 days in a 90-day course, regardless of the reason for absences, will fail the course due to absences unless they attend make-up school. Avoid attendance issues by coming to school every day and by coming on time.
Student involvement in extracurricular activities is another way to be successful in high school. Rock Hill High School offers many clubs and service organizations, art programs, ROTC, and over 30 competitive sports teams. Since research shows that students who become involved in school activities are more likely to be successful, we urge all students to get involved in activities outside class.
Communication between school and home is also vital to students’ success. We will communicate with progress reports, report cards, newsletters, phone calls, and e-mail and ask that you also keep in touch with us about your students. The school website is an excellent resource for information and provides links to teachers’ e-mail addresses. If your contact with us is not returned within 24 hours, please contact us again to be sure we have received the message. We want to work together with students and parents to provide the best education possible, and we need to communicate effectively to meet that goal.
We will provide excellent instruction that engages students in learning and prepares them for the world beyond high school. We ask students to give their best and parents to join with us in helping students reach their fullest potential this year.
Sincerely yours,
Judith B. Mobley
Principal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Information
Administration & Staff Directory 8
Alma Mater 9
Attendance Guidelines 16
Automated Phone Message System 14
Bearcat Creed 9
Bell Schedule 6
Bus Information 22
Care of School Buildings and Grounds 16
Class Rings 12
College Visit 18
Complaints and Grievances (JCE) 16
Parent Notification System Automated Phone Message System 15
Parent Notification of Handbook 5
Core Beliefs 10
Dress Code 52-53
Driving Rules and Regulations 21-22
Elevators 13
Equal Education Rights and Privacy Act 63
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act 63-64
Fees 11
Health Room 13
Homebound Instruction 20
Identification Cards 11
Junior-Senior Prom 12
Lockers 12
Lost and Found 12
Lunch Periods 15
Make-Up School 16-17
Make-Up Work 20
Media Center 15
Messages 14
Mission Statement 9
Package Deliveries 16
Photos & Release of Student Information 35
Parking 20-21
Public Address System 14
Salesmen 16
School Calendar 5
School Seal 10
Senior Privileges 12
Signing Out Early 19
Student Code 9
Student Lunches 15
Student Medicines at School 13
Tardies 20
Telephones 14
Textbooks 22-23
Trips 15
Valentine Deliveries 16
Visitors 14
Counselors and Curriculum Information
Academic Honesty Policy ……..48
Adviser/Advisee Mentoring Program 24
Advanced Placement Courses 25
Certificates 30
College Preparatory 24
College Prep Requirements 27
Course Selection and Individual Graduation Plans 24
Counselors 23
Diploma/Graduation, Promotion Requirements, GPA Determination 26
Dual Credits 25
Exam Policy 34
Gifted and Talented 25
Gold Seal Diploma Requirements 28
Grading and Reporting 31
Graduating Juniors 24
Graduation 30
Guidance and Counseling Services 23
Honor Graduates 29
Honors Courses 25
International Baccalaureate 25
Procedures To See Your Counselor 24
Promotion Policy 29
Release of Student Information to Military 35
Scholarships/Financial Aid 31
Semester Exam Policy 34
South Carolina 4 Year Preparatory Course Prerequisite Requirements 27
Tech Preparatory 24
Testing Information 34-35
Transfers/Withdrawals 24
Uniform Grading Policy 33
Disciplinary Information
Alcohol/Drugs 54
Assertive Discipline 47
Before and After School Waiting areas 47
CD Players, Tape Players, Radios, Electronic Games, etc. 53
Cell Phone and Paging Devices 53
Computer and Internet Use 49-50
Cutting 48
Detentions 46
Discipline for Extracurricular Activities 55
Discipline Offenses and Consequences 39
Drug Dog 54
Entering and Leaving Classrooms 47
Exclusions 47
In-School Suspension Program (ISS) 46
Leaving Class for Other Areas of the School 47
Leaving School Grounds 48
Off-Limits Areas 48
Out Of School Suspension (OSS) 47
Parent’s Role 37
Photographs and Work Samples on the Webpage 41
Principal’s Role 38
Public Display of Affection 49
RHHS Crime Stoppers Reward Program 55
School Dress 52-53
School Service Project (Work Detail) 44
School Lab Safety 51
Search and Seizure 54
Smoking 54
Student Code of Conduct 36
Student Rights and Responsibilities 36
Student Safety Contract 51
Weapons 54
Student Activities
Value of Activities 56
Holding An Office 56
Academic Organizations
AFJROTC 57
Beta Club 57
Garnet, Black and Gold Honor Cards 56
History Club 56
Junior Marshals 56
Kitty Hawk Air Society 57
National Honor Society 57
Service Clubs
Environmental Club 58
FBLA 58
Fellowship of Christian Athletes 58
International Club 58
Junior Civitan Club 58
Library Club 58
Peer Mediation 59
R.E.A.L. Link Program 59
Red Cross Club 59
Student Ambassadors 58
Student Council 59
Thespian Troupe # 4246 59
Publications
Garnet, Black and Gold 59
Springfire 60
The Bearcat 59
Athletics
Athletic Trainers and Managers 60
Baseball 60
Basketball 61
Cheerleaders 61
Cross Country 61
Eligibility Requirements 60
Football 61
Golf 61
Soccer 61
Softball 61
Sportsmanship 62
Sunday Practices 62
Swim Team 61
Tennis 61
Track 61
Volleyball 62
Wrestling 62
Inclement Weather and Emergency Plans
Emergency Evacuation 62-63
Emergency Plan 61
FERPA 63-64
Inclement Weather/School Closing or Delayed School Opening 7
School Lockdown 63
INSERT SCHOOL CALENDAR
17
WEATHER/EMERGENCY PLANS
INCLEMENT WEATHER/SCHOOL CLOSING OR DELAYED SCHOOL OPENING
When schools must be closed, or open on delay, announcements will be made by local radio stations by 6:30 a.m. Students are asked not to call the stations or the school. We will also utilize our Parent Notification System to notify parents of any school delays, openings or closing. This is a computerized phone system that will call all our parents/guardians with important information.
If schools open and then must close, announcements will be made by local news media. When possible, lunch will be served before schools are closed. Parents are encouraged to have a plan for their children as to where they should go in the event school closes early. Young children, in particular, should know who will pick them up or where they should go in case parents have not heard about the early closing.
In all 2 hour delayed openings, students shall report directly to 2nd period at the 10:20 warning bell followed by the 10:30 tardy bell. If the delayed opening is later than 10 a.m., the morning session for ATC students will not be held.
EARLY SCHOOL CLOSING:
The following procedures will be observed in the event it becomes necessary to close schools early due to inclement weather or for other reasons.
· Required closing of all schools.
· The Superintendent or designee notifies principals, staff, media, and parents via our Parent Notification System.
· If for some reason a call notification is not received, please check the school district website or tune to AM 1340 or FM 107.1. These radio stations, as well as the Charlotte television stations begin broadcasting delays around 6 a.m.
· District policy states that “if school is delayed, teachers are expected to arrive at the normal time…or when conditions allow.”
· If classes are delayed two consecutive days for two (2) hours, we will omit 1st block on the first day and omit 2nd block on the second day…etc.
WEATHER DELAYED OPENING SCHEDULE:
ONE HOUR DELAY:
9:00 Buses for the Applied Technology Center leave RHHS
9:20 Warning Bell
10:43-11:43 Second Block
Regular Bell Schedule remainder of the day.
TWO HOUR DELAY: Staff report at regular time or as conditions permit.
***10:20 Warning Bell—Students who normally go to ATC 1st block report to auditorium.
10:30-11:43 Second Block
If school is delayed two hours on consecutive days, we will alternate omitting first and second block.
Regular bell schedule remainder of the day.
ROCK HILL HIGH SCHOOL
Mrs. Mobley-Principal
Administrators
Mr. King - Assistant Principal Mr. Knight - Assistant Principal
Mr. Modla - Assistant Principal Mr. Buddin - Assistant Principal
Ms. Deborah Maynard—Assistant Principal
Freshman Academy Administrator
Mr. Knight-Academy Director
Athletic Director
Mr. Parker-Athletic Director
Ms. Elder—Assistant Athletic Director
Guidance Counselors
Mrs. Daigle-Director of Guidance
Grades 10-12 (Ho-Mc)
Mrs. Lilienthal – Grades 10-12 (A-Co)
Mrs. Knotts—Grades 10-12 (Cr-Hi)
Dr. Russell—Grades 10-12 (Me-Sc)
TBA—Grades 10-12 (Se-Z)
Mrs. Karen Jackson – Grade 9 Freshman Academy and 9th Repeaters A-Li
Mrs. Starnes – Grade 9 Freshman Academy & 9th repeaters Li-Z
Secretaries
Mrs. Goolsby--Secretary to Principal
Mrs. Benfield – Guidance Secretary Mrs. Rogers - Attendance
Mrs. Center – Athletic Secretary Ms. Knox - Attendance
Mrs. Cobb – Secretary Mrs. Stewart - Bookkeeper
Mrs. Crenshaw – Registrar Mrs. Turner - Receptionist
Ms. Helms - Secretary Mrs. Workman – Secretary
Home School Worker
Mrs. Crocker
Nurse
Mrs. Angie Jackson
ALMA MATER
We sing to thee, our Alma Mater,
From hearts that glow with pride sincere;
Thy mem'ry ever lingers with us
Though we be scattered far and near.
Whate'er we win of fame and fortune,
for high school days we oft will sigh;
We'll cherish still our Alma Mater
Our dear old Rock Hill High.
Let loyalty now be our watchword,
A theme that's dear to one and all.
Though far away we oft may wander,
We'll ever hear thy ringing call.
Our thoughts will linger with thee ever;
Our hopes and dreams will e'er be true.
Our hearts forever will be loyal,
Dear Rock Hill High, to you.
STUDENT CODE
As a student at Rock Hill High School, I realize I am responsible not only to myself, but also to my school for the following code items:
1. I will at all times be a proud representative of my school at non-school as well as school-supported activities.
2. My behavior shall be of the highest caliber, displaying only the best examples of sportsmanship and spirit.
3. As a true Bearcat at Rock Hill High School, I will show pride in myself and in my school by having my dress and appearance in accord with good, acceptable school standards.
4. Finally, as a student, I will devote the majority of my time and study periods to the job of preparing for the future, as no sport or extra-curricular activity takes priority over learning at Rock Hill High School.
BEARCAT CREED
We strive to serve as we ought; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we have given our best.
ROCK HILL HIGH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
The Rock Hill High School community works to provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which each student chooses a unique path to success in a global society.
CORE BELIEFS
1. Learning can be achieved by all students and is the chief priority for the school.
2. Students have the opportunity to explore and make guided choices in their academic experiences.
3. Students are provided guidance from the school community in order to make informed decisions about their future career path.
4. A safe and supportive environment promotes student learning and mutually respectful relationships.
5. Students, parents, school staff, and the community are responsible and accountable for the success of the school as a learning organization.
6. Commitment to continuous improvement must be a primary focus of the learning organization to enable each student to be an adaptive and productive member of a global society.
SCHOOL SEAL
In response to student requests for a school motto and shield, an official seal for Rock Hill High School was designed in 1933 through the cooperative efforts of Walter C. Sullivan, who was principal at the time, and Mrs. Clarence M. Kuykendal, who was the art teacher in the junior high school.
The symbolism may be understood as follows: the open book and quill, for knowledge received through instruction and study; the lyre, for the musical training available in school; the artist's palette, for art training and aesthetic opportunity; the mask, for training in the dramatic arts; the winged sandal of Mercury, for the learning in all fields, with particular emphasis on academic excellence; the perpetual flame of the Lamp, for the limitless opportunities always available to young people of good education.
The motto is the Latin CARPE DIEM, meaning, in strict translation: "Seize the day," and, in a free translation, "Take advantage of all opportunities."
The version of the seal depicted on this page is a rendering by Mrs. Beryl Tittensor, of the Herald Painters of the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, and was prepared especially for the forty-eighth volume of THE BEARCAT (1982).
STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS (Student ID’s)
For security reasons, students are required to wear a student picture identification card visible on them at all times. The student identification cards are used for signing in at the attendance office, purchase of student lunches, library checkout, textbook checkout, entrance into the media center, computer labs, purchase of prom tickets, entrance into the prom, attendance at extracurricular activities, purchase of advanced athletic ticket sales, etc. A replacement fee of $10 will be assessed for lost, damaged, or defaced ID’s. Replacement cost for a card holder only is $3.00 and $2.00 for a lanyard. ID’s are available in the main office with Mrs. Cobb and in E building with Mrs. Helms.