The mission of the New Richmond
Exempted Village School District Graduation Academy is to offer
individualized instruction with a flexible schedule to carefully
selected, at-risk students who will successfully graduate from New
Richmond High School while improving the district's overall dropout /
graduation rate.
Standards
Based upon the pace and independent
nature of the coursework, NREVSD Graduation Academy students are
expected to exhibit a high level of personal integrity, and
disciplinary action for cheating or lying will be severe.
Graduation Academy students are expected to: maintain an
attendance rate of at least 90%; achieve an 80% or better success rate
in each course prior to being awarded credit; comply with all
guidelines, rules, and regulations;, and provide their own
transportation to and from the Academy. Any student who is
removed from the program for cause will be recommended for suspension
from the Graduation Academy with a possible recommendation for
permanent removal from the Academy and/or from New Richmond High
School.
Admission to the
Program
The New Richmond Exempted Village
Graduation Academy is designed of those students 16 years of age and
older who are not achieving success in a traditional educational
setting. The priority for acceptance is as follows:
1.
New Richmond seniors with an
insufficient number of graduation credits.
2.
Juniors in danger of not graduating
due to a projected credit shortage.
3.
Students who are two or more years
older than the standard age of other students in their anticipated
graduation class.
4.
New Richmond High School dropouts on a
space available basis.
Prior to attending the
Graduation Academy, the student and his/her parent(s) will meet with the
Director and staff to develop a plan to identify credits needed for
graduation, service learning opportunities, and sign all forms needed
for admittance to the Graduation Academy. All students must be
enrolled or re-enrolled at New Richmond High School.
Academics
[
Students are expected to attend
Graduation Academy sessions at least 15 hours per week unless other
arrangements are made. Additional hourly sessions may be
scheduled based upon available computers and staff approval.
[
The basic education tool will be the
NovaNet computer curriculum although additional assignments may be
made by any Graduation Academy staff member to augment the electronic
classroom. Students are expected to be on-line at least 90% of
the time they are in the Academy but may logoff temporarily to take
necessary breaks with teacher permission.
[
Students will be permitted to
withdraw from the Graduation Academy to return to New Richmond High
School only with the approval of parents, Graduation Academy staff,
Guidance
Counselors, and the High School Principal.
[
The Graduation Academy is considered a
vocational school, and students will need 21 credits to qualify for
graduation. Additionally, students must comply with all other
New Richmond High School requirements for graduation, e.g., completion
of Individual Career Passport, appropriate community service, payment
of fees, etc. Successful preparation of the Career Passport is a
requirement to complete English IV, and each passport will be graded
similar to those prepared in New Richmond High School language arts
classes.
[
Students attending the Graduation
Academy for 21 credits must be enrolled in at least two credit
courses at the Academy to qualify for the 21 graduation credit
criteria. Students needing more than 21 credits for New Richmond High
School graduation may be permitted to enroll in the exact number or
specific courses required for graduation with approval of the High
School Guidance Counselors, Principal, and Academy Staff.
[
Since the Graduation Academy is a
vocational setting, constructive credit for on-the-job work experience
may be granted in certain situations. Specifically, one credit
may be given to students who work at least 15 hours per18 weeks for a total of
270
work-hours during the school year. Students must provide valid documentation from their employer(s)
to apply for these special credits. No more than two total
credits will be given for this program while enrolled in the
Graduation Academy, and all credits requested will be granted at the
discretion of the Academy Director. Only students enrolled in
the Graduation Academy summer enrichment program will receive credit
for work performed in the summer, and these hours will be counted as
work study hours performed the semester that just concluded.
Hours cannot be carried forward from one school year to the next but
can be carried forward from first to second semesters.
Service Learning / Community Service
Each student admitted to the
Graduation Academy must fulfill a minimum of one hour of
community service per graduation credit needed as part of their service learning
requirement.
Service learning is defined as a combination of community service and
academic work that instills the values of good citizenship by
addressing community problems through hands-on solutions.
Transportation
Transportation is the students'
responsibility and must be carefully considered prior to attending the
Graduation Academy. Transportation issues or lack of
transportation will not excuse an
absence or tardy. School bus transportation to and from New
Richmond High School and the Graduation Academy is available during
school hours and days.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend the
Graduation Academy a minimum of 15 hours each school week in
accordance with a pre-approved schedule, but no student may be absent
Friday and Monday of the same weekend. Attendance at the Graduation Academy
is expected to be at least 90% or better during each high school
semester, and failure to sustain this rate may result in removal from
the program and possible return to New Richmond High School (no more
than nine total unexcused and excused absences per semester). Attendance policies at the Graduation Academy are
identical to those of the high school except for some necessary
modifications or additions. Refer to the Attendance Section of
the School Operations and Policies Chapter of the New Richmond High
School Student Handbook for complete information on New Richmond High
School attendance procedures.
The following policies and procedures
specifically apply to attendance at the Graduation Academy:
[
Students must contact the Academy
Staff at
513-553-2616 ext. 12141 prior to
9:00 a.m. on the day of absence if they will be absent for any reason. Leave a voice mail if
necessary or if you call outside of normal school hours..
[
Students must bring a parental note of
explanation the next school day following the day of absence for it to
be considered excused. Failure to comply may result in the
absence being reported as unexcused. Students eighteen years of
age who do not live at home with their parents are still required to
provide reasons for any and all absences.
[
Students will be allowed to depart
earlier than scheduled for necessary appointments with parental
approval; however, students must wait inside the Graduation Academy
for pickup.
[
Students will be considered tardy if
they are ten minutes or more late for their scheduled computer time.
Students who sign-up for additional or make-up work will also be
considered tardy if they are late for the additional sections or fail
to contact the Graduation Academy Staff.
[
It is the student's responsibility to
comply with the agreed upon computer schedule, and failure to attend
Graduation Academy classes due to a lack of or failure to obtain
transportation will result in unexcused absences.
[
If a student develops a pattern of
frequent excused or unexcused absences, excessive tardies or more than five
total absences, a conference may be scheduled with the student and
parent/guardian. The results of this meeting will be an
attendance improvement plan up to and including possible dismissal
from the program and return to New Richmond High School. Per the
High School Handbook and district policy, three tardies are considered
one unexcused absence.
Schedule Changes / Walkouts
Students must receive permission from
the Academy staff to make changes or alterations to their schedules.
Students who walkout without permission or leave the Academy early
prior to their scheduled departure time will be charged with an
unexcused absence and will lose credit for all work completed the day
of the unexcused absence.
Inclement Weather
The Graduation Academy will follow the
same schedule as New Richmond High School for all assigned school days
and functions. In the event of inclement weather or other
changes to the High School schedule, the Graduation Academy will
follow the same modifications, closures or delays. Consult local
radio and television stations for up-to-date information and changes.
On days school is delayed to inclement weather, all students are
expected to report at their scheduled times once the delay is
completed. Delays only apply to the first hour or two of school
after which time normal schedules will resume.
Dress Code
The dress code policy for the
Graduation Academy reflects its efforts to prepare students for
success in the work place. Appearance and wearing apparel is
expected to be in good taste appropriate for school and business.
The guidelines are identical to those of New Richmond High School.
A student may be denied participation due to his/her dress.
Judgment regarding dress code is at the discretion of the Graduation
Academy Staff.
Behavioral Issues
The student code of conduct for the
New Richmond High School forms the basis for discipline at the
Graduation Academy. Due to the special nature of this program,
the level of tolerance for behavioral issues is much more stringent.
The following infractions may lead to disciplinary action and/or immediate removal from the
program at the discretion of the Academy Staff.
[
Alcohol / Drugs:
No student shall posses, transmit, conceal, use, consume, show
evidence of having consumed, used, or offered for sale any alcoholic
beverages, illegal drugs, unprescribed drugs, look-alike drugs, or any
mind altering substance while on school grounds or facilities; at
school sponsored events; in other situations under the authority of the
District or in controlled vehicles. Included in the prohibition
are any substances, nonalcoholic beers, steroids, tobacco and tobacco
products and drug paraphernalia.
[
Assault:
A student shall not intentionally cause or attempt to cause physical
injury or intentionally behave in such a way which could reasonably
cause physical injury to a teacher, an administrator, other school
employee, another student, or visitor not employed by the school.
Sexual assaults, acts or gestures directed toward other students or
any school personnel are expressly forbidden. No student shall
commit an act that is a criminal offense when committed by an adult
and that results in serious physical harm to persons or property owned
or controlled by the board or at an interscholastic competition,
extracurricular event, or any other school program or activity.
[
Damage to School
or Private Property: A student
shall not intentionally cause or attempt to cause damage or
destruction of school or private property on school grounds or during
a school activity, function, or event off school grounds; on the
private property of a district official or employee wherever located.
[
Dangerous
Weapons, Explosives, and / or Instruments:
A student shall not possess, handle, transmit, or conceal any object
which might be considered a dangerous weapon, explosive, or instrument
of violence including, but not limited to: guns, knives, ice
picks, night sticks, mace, brass knuckles, explosives, firecrackers,
and bombs. This prohibition is in effect on property owned or
controlled by the school, at an interscholastic competition,
extracurricular event, or at any other school program or activity that
is not located in a school or on property owned or controlled by the
District.
[
Disrespect /
Insubordination: A student shall
not fail to comply with directions of regular, substitute or student
teachers, teacher aides, supervisor, principal, bus drivers, or other
authorized school personnel during any period of time when the student
is properly under the authority of school personnel.
[
Obscene Language
/ Literature: No student shall use
foul or obscene language, gestures, or noises directed toward other
students, visitors, or school personnel, or possess, sell,
disseminate, or otherwise distribute any pornographic materials to
other students, visitors, or school personnel while on school
premises.
[
Possession,
Smoking, or Use of Tobacco: The use
of tobacco in any form is prohibited on school property or during
school-sponsored activities on or off school property including the
school property outside the Academy. Students are not permitted
to leave school grounds to smoke or smoke in their cars while on
school property including the Market Street parking lots.
[
Music:
Students are not permitted to listen to
recorded music on headphones on school computers or personal CD
players or other listening devices such as MP3 players.
[
Food:
Students will be permitted to bring food and beverages and eat and
drink at designated locations in the Graduation Academy; however, no
one is permitted to eat or drink anywhere in the computer area.
comments@nrschools.org
New Richmond Exempted Village School District, 212 Market Street, New
Richmond, OH 45157 (513) 553-2616