Horn Academy |
Student Handbook Attendance | Bus | Dismissal | Calendar | Discipline | Curriculum | Grades | Computer Use User Agreement | Health/Safety | Lunch | Red Folders | Parent Tips | Promotion | Schedules Dress Code | Neighborhood Vanguard | Traffic | SDMC | Visitors | HISD Zero Tolerance Horn Academy follows the HISD and Texas Education Code attendance policies. Attendance Students in kindergarten through grade five attend school for seven hours each day. Students report to classrooms at 7:45 a.m. and classes begin at 7:50 a.m. Instructions begins at 7:50 when the tardy bell rings. Cafeteria supervision begins at 7:30 a.m. for bus students and breakfast students. Students are required to attend class each day. The only acceptable excuses for tardies and absences are: personal illness, illness or death in the family, quarantine, weather or road conditions making travel dangerous, participation in school activities with permission of the principal, emergencies or unusual circumstances recognized by the principal. Students who have been absent must present a written excuse from the parent/guardian upon return to school. The note must include: student’s name, date the note is written, date of absences, reason for absence, and a parent/guardian signature. This excuse must be received by the school within 3 days after the absence or tardy. Students shall be excused from school on religious holiday provided a written excuse is send in advance by the parent/guardian. Students may have no more than eight (8) unexcused absences per year. More than 8 unexcused absences may result in failure, even though grades are passing, determined by the school grade placement/attendance committee. Tardies - Unexcused tardiness to class is a level I violation of the code of student conduct. 3rd Grade - for each third unexcused tardy in a 9 week period, the student's conduct grade will be lowered the week of the third tardy. Attendance is officially recorded at 9:45 a.m. Attendance Phone Line To promote student safety on the way to school, parents are asked to call 713-295-5264 by 7:45 a.m. to report a child’s absence. Riding the school bus is a privilege. Good student conduct on the school bus is important for the safety and the well-being of the entire passenger load. All school and bus rules are to be observed when in route to and from school. All infractions will be reported by the driver to the Magnet Coordinator and disciplinary measures will be taken which include the suspension or denial of bus transportation. All HISD buses will be loaded in front of the school. Students are asked to stand in their individual bus lines and not to "save" a place for their friends or permit their friends to make "cuts" in the line. Only students eligible for bus transportation may ride the buses. Occasionally, a student may miss the bus even though every effort is made to encourage the prompt reporting to the loading zone. If this should happen, the student should report immediately to the magnet Coordinator for assistance. Bus riders are to report to their supervisors at 2:40 p.m. All other students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. and are to leave campus promptly. If students are kept after school, their parents must be notified ahead of time. Bus riders cannot be kept after school. Parents are to pick up students promptly at 2:45 p.m. If there is an emergency, parents must call the school office at 713-295-5264 by 2:45 p.m. so that special arrangements may be made for the child’s supervision. All teachers are off duty by 3:00 p.m.; children left at school are not under adult supervision. The office staff is not responsible for child care. If a child is left at school repeatedly, Children’s Protective Services will be contacted by the office, and the child will be taken to the Chimney Rock Center for pick up by the parent. The YWCA After-School Program is also available for child care daily from 2:45-6:00 p.m. You may call them at 713 868-9922. Students are not allowed to return to campus after they leave at 2:45 p.m. Please help your child remember his or her books/assignments and belongings. The classrooms will not be opened after 3:00 p.m. Custodians, office staff and principal have duties after school and can not allow anyone into an empty classroom. Click here for Horn's School calendar or check HISD's Calendar. A school wide discipline plan promotes intrinsic responsibility and self-discipline. Each student will choose the appropriate actions, knowing what is right and what is the consequence. Horn School follows the HISD Code of Student Conduct. Horn’s discipline plan is based on the Assertive Discipline approach of Lee Canter. Basic to this approach is an understanding that the teacher has:
This discipline plan includes:
School wide Rules:
Consequence: Classroom teachers will record behavior daily. Any severe misconduct will be reported directly to parents and administration. Reward: Positive reinforcement such as a good conduct button, sticker, or extra privileges. Cafeteria Rules:
Consequence:
Any severe misconduct will be reported directly to parents and administration. Ancillary Classes: The ancillary teachers are responsible for recording appropriate and inappropriate conduct in a notebook provided by each homeroom teacher. This becomes a part of the student’s daily conduct assessment. Any severe misconduct will be reported directly to parents and administration. Ancillary teachers work with the classroom teachers in promoting self-discipline and student respect. All teachers request that parents contact the teacher first when there are questions or concerns about classroom discipline or procedures. Teachers want to communicate with parents. Horn Academy is designed to serve the total school population (K-5). At Horn Academy curriculum in all subjects is based on unit teaching, active and cooperative learning, critical thinking, oral and written expression and integrated disciplines. The following Magnet components serve to enrich and reinforce the regular instructional programs.
Report Cards and Notice of Progress Report cards are issued four times a year. Report cards must be signed and returned to the school within four school days. Kindergarten will use a revised HISD Kindergarten report card. Grading Policy - Horn Academy In Kindergarten children will be assessed in the areas of Social/Emotional Development, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Computer, Fine Arts, Physical Development, and Work Skills. First Grade Third Grade-Daily work may be corrected and returned for a 70. 4th & 5th Grade Community Assignment Policy and Consequences If a student’s average falls below passing after progress reports are normally sent home, a teacher should issue the student a Progress Report at the time the average falls below passing. A Notice of Progress may also be sent for student behavior/conduct. The Use of Computers, the Internet and Electronic Mail Information Horn Academy, a Houston Independent School District magnet school, is pleased to offer students access to a computer network for electronic mail and the Internet. To gain access to e-mail and the Internet, all students must obtain parental permission as verified by the signatures on the attached form. Should a parent prefer that a student not have e-mail and Internet access, use of the computers is still possible for more traditional purposes such as keyboard practice, word processing, and spreadsheets. What is possible? Access to e-mail and the Internet will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, museums, and other repositories of information and to exchange personal communication with other Internet users around the world. Families should be aware that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive. While the purposes of the school are to use Internet resources for constructive educational goals, students may find ways to access other materials. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration exceed the disadvantages. But ultimately parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. Therefore, we support and respect each family’s right to decide whether or not to apply for access. What is expected? Students are responsible for appropriate behavior on the school’s computer network just as they are in a classroom or on a school playground. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communications apply. It is expected that users will comply with district standards and the specific rules set forth below. The use of the network is a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked if abused. The user is personally responsible for his/her actions in accessing and utilizing the school’s computer resources. The students are advised never to access, keep, or send anything that they would not want their parents or teachers to see. What are the rules?
Succinct Advice These are guidelines to follow to prevent the loss of network privileges at Horn Academy.
Parent Permission Form and User Agreement If you need to sign a computer user agreement, print one out, sign it, and turn it into the office or get a copy from the office. The school nurse conducts various health screenings during the school year including vision, hearing, sclerosis, and pediculosis (head lice). Parents are immediately notified if any unusual health condition is found during these screenings. HISD Board Policy and Procedures states that it is not the function of public school personnel to administer medical treatment or medication including over-the-counter drugs. Teachers and other school personnel are expected to limit themselves to the usual and accepted practices of first aid in managing emergencies due to sickness or accident. Students on long-term medication which cannot, under any arrangement, be administered other than during school hours, may take medication at school with a written physician’s statement and a properly completed medication form (No. 40.3740). All medication will be maintained in the nurse’s office and administered by the school nurse or a designee instructed in the proper dosage. If you child is on a short-term medication, such as an antibiotic, please schedule the dosage so that it is given in the morning and the remaining doses when the child returns home from school. Under no circumstances will any child be permitted to have any form of medication in their possession while at school. The child should report any illness or injury to the classroom teacher who will then have the student report to the school nurse. Parents will be contacted by the nurse or office staff. Students may bring their lunches or buy lunch and/or breakfast from the cafeteria. The nutritional theme is Choose Right, Eat Right. Bringing lunch from home
Buying lunch/breakfast Lunch cards may be purchased through the main office. Please pay in cash only. No checks can be accepted. Also, bring the right amount of cash; change is not kept in the office. What if you forget your lunch or lunch money? Check the lunch schedule for your child’s scheduled lunch time. Students’ work will be sent home in red folders on Tuesdays of each week. Parents are requested to go over the work samples and other important information in the red folder. If you have questions or concerns about the work your child is doing, please schedule a talk with the teacher before the problem gets out of hand. It is the parents’ responsibility to know what is in the red folders Write child’s name in coat, sweater, lunch boxes, etc. Identified items have a better chance of finding their owner. Give your child the correct change for lunch. Our cashier is not allowed to keep extra moneys for change. Call and set an appointment for a teacher conference. Teachers cannot discuss your child at 7:45 a.m. when their duties for the entire class begin or during the instructional day except their conference period. Look for the red folder on Tuesdays. Everything that is important should be in the red folder. Write absence and tardy notes within 3 days or the absence/tardy will be marked unexcused. Notify the school for change of phone numbers, address, way to go home, employment information, etc. It may be necessary to reach you in an emergency. Call the school at (713) 295-5264 for information and answers to your questions. In the spring of 1998 the Houston Independent School District adopted a policy to end social promotion. The new policy requires that students demonstrate that they have learned the state-mandated objectives, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), before the student is promoted to the next grade. The district is starting with students in grades 1-3. Starting in 1999-2000 the district will include grades 4-8. Guidelines for Promotion Standards - The district has set the following measures for the students to demonstrate achievement on the state-mandated objectives:
If a student fails to demonstrate one of the measures above, s/he will be required to attend summer school. The student must have a passing average as stipulated in state law to be promoted to the next grade. If a student fails to demonstrate two or more of the three measures, s/he will be required to attend summer school and will be retained in the current grade for the following school year. For students in grades 4 and 5, the promotion standards will address both reading and mathematics for the school year. 7:30 a.m. Breakfast 7:45 a.m. End of breakfast 7:45 a.m. Class begins *Students arriving after 7:50 a.m. are tardy and must come to the office for a Tardy Slip. 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins 1:25 p.m. Lunch ends 2:45 p.m. Dismissal of students Instructional time for students 7:50 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Duty time for teachers 7:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Teacher Planning Schedule
If parents wish to confer with teachers regarding the progress of their child, parents are asked to write the teacher a note or call the office and leave a message for the teacher. Each teacher has a scheduled planning time each day and parents are to schedule conference before or after school or during the teacher's planning time. For the good of all children, teachers are not to conduct conferences with parents during instructional time. Horn Academy's dress code is similar to other HISD schools. The following dress code was adopted by the Horn faculty and SDMC. To order uniform shirts or sweatshirts, fill out the form and send it to school along with a check made out to Horn PTO. Students will wear uniforms Monday - Thursday. On FREE DRESS Friday only, students may wear other Horn event T-shirts.
Consequences of Violations - The following consequences apply if the Horn Academy dress code is not followed:
Neighborhood Vanguard is a specialized program that provides challenging supplemental instruction for qualifying students in grades K-5. All of our classroom teachers are trained for teaching Gifted and Talented students. G/T classes involve students in complex activities with emphasis on abstract reasoning, higher order thinking skills, and in-depth investigations. Qualifying students receive G/T instruction from qualified G/T teachers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Students are identified in the spring of Kindergarten. HISD bus zones are marked on Pine and day care bus zones are marked on Avenue B with yellow curbs and signs. Please observe these bus zones and do not park in them. Student drop-off and pick up zones are marked with white curbs on Pine and Avenue B. Parents may also drop off and pick up curbside on Holly Street. Stopping at the intersection on Pine and Avenue, in the bus zones, across the street from the school, or in the middle of a street is prohibited and dangerous. Avenue B is a two-way street and very congested between 7:40 - 7:55 a.m. and 2:40 - 3:00 p.m. each school day. In order for traffic to flow smoothly, do not park or stop along the curb opposite from the school. U turns on Avenue B or turning on to Valerie and backing out on Avenue B to reverse your direction is prohibited. All vehicles using Avenue B need to circle the school. Students arriving after 7:50 should be dropped off at the front door as they will need to get a tardy slip from the front office before going to class. The gates will be locked on the campus at 7:55 a.m. Pine is a designated one-way street with traffic proceeding from west to east during regular school hours. Crossing guards are positioned at the intersections of Pine / Avenue B and Pine / Newcastle for the safety of our children. All children walking or riding bikes must cross the streets at these designated places. Shared Decision Making Committee (SDMC) Organizational Structure The Shared Decision-Making Committee is composed of 16 members: six classroom teachers, three professional staff, one non-instructional staff, two parent representatives, two community representatives, one business representative, and the principal. Five standing committees (Goals, Budget, Curriculum, Staffing, and School Organization) as well as special sub-committees operate as components of the Shared Decision-Making Committee. Decision-making Process The committee meets monthly to discuss matters on an agenda prepared by the school principal. Request forms are used to place an item on the agenda. Any individual may address the committee. Decisions are based on "sufficient consensus" as evidenced by a 2/3 majority vote of the committee. A quorum of members must be present for a vote to be taken. Method of Communication Minutes from each SDMC meeting are published and available upon request. Also, the minutes are permanently housed in the library and in the main office. The "Trumpeter," Horn’s newsletter, carries SDMC highlights in each publication. Membership # of Classroom Teachers (2/3) 6 All visitors are required to register at the principal's office before going to any classroom or other areas of the building. Check into the front office for a visitors badge before going anywhere on campus. A driver's license check will be processed during check in at the front office. Houston Independent School District Zero Tolerance Policy The Board of Education of the Houston Independent School District approved a policy of zero tolerance regarding weapons, drugs, and violent behavior. This policy was written to ensure a safe and secure environment in which all students can learn to the best of their abilities. See the Code of Student Conduct for additional information. |
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This page was last modified on
October 5, 2007
, by Margaret M. Slutz |