This Handbook will help orient you to MORGAN and acquaint you with school policies, rules, procedures, and expectations. It is important that you and your parents become familiar with the information in this Handbook. Please keep this book as a handy reference throughout the school year. The policies, rules, procedures, and expectations outlined herein are intended to provide for a sound, rich educational environment and a productive school community.

MORGAN has outstanding faculty and support staffs who is dedicated to helping you grow academically and socially. Your success depends on the effort you expend and the decisions which you make. You are responsible for your own accomplishments at THE MORGAN SCHOOL.

Our first priority is your academic success. You cannot be academically successful unless you attend school on a daily basis, report to all of your assigned classes, and conscientiously complete all course work. MORGAN will always give you its very best and MORGAN expects only the very best effort from each of you.

We also hope that you will participate in the rich and varied co-curricular program of THE MORGAN SCHOOL. These activities will add immeasurably to your success, and will enrich your days at MORGAN.

Take pride in yourself, in MORGAN, and in Clinton. Make this year your best year ever.

Sincerely,

William J. Barney, Jr. Principal

Mission Statement & Student Expectations

MORGAN FACULTY AND SUPPORT STAFF

William J. Barney, Jr. – Principal, Assistant Principal

Business

Jay Cole – Chair

Bernadine Shea

George Windish

English

Paul Serenbetz – Chair

Eric Bergman

Leslie Chausse

Lori DelGrego

Julie Frydenborg

Tara Gallagher

Heather Iverson

Michele Wickem

Fine Arts

Pamela Neri

World Languages

Kathleen Barrett

Carole Fisher

Marla Kosenski

Laura Luther

Susan Peterson

Guidance

Janice O’Brien

Daniel Picchioni

Marie Tramontana

Library

Linda Gworek

Mathematics

Alan Samet – Chair

Lori Clemente

Nancy Cooney

Joseph Grippo

John Madura

Thomas Nigrelli – Computer Science

Maryann Shugrue

Michael Underwood

Music

John Lampe

Raymond Smith

Physical Education and Health

George Braun

Steven Redes

Kalli Schutz

Judith Smith

Science

James O’Brien – Chair

Ali Izardi

Christopher Luther

Nancy Toomey

Brian Vitelli

Colleen Whittel

Social Studies

Jeffery Motter, Chair

Michael Graham

Michael Meizies

Diana Rizzo

Rachel Shook

Steven Speilman

Christopher Zawadski

CODE OF CONDUCT

1. Respect for Others

At all times, students shall act with courtesy toward staff members and other students. Both their words and actions shall reflect this courtesy. Students will conduct themselves in a manner which shows respect not only for self, but also for the entire school community.

2. Independence and Responsibility

As students develop an increased level of independence, they must also learn to accept responsibility for their actions and the logical consequences of their decisions. The goal is to foster students' maturity and their ability to make intelligent decisions.

3. Attendance: School and Class

Students are expected to attend promptly all assigned classes, labs, study halls, and programs unless medically excused or involved in other legitimate business.

4. Property Rights

Each person at Morgan can feel secure that his or her property will not be damaged or taken. If school or private possessions are lost or damaged, the person who caused the loss or damage will be responsible for restitution.

5. Academic Responsibility

Students are expected to come to each class on time properly prepared with books and other materials, having completed all school and homework, and ready to be active learners.

6. Harassment

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that gives dignity to all members of the school community. School is an environment where all parties can be free from verbal, symbolic, racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual harassment.

7. Honesty

Students are expected to submit work that is their own, and they are not to cheat, plagiarize, or otherwise misrepresent the truth. Open, honest treatment is expected from all.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Clinton Board of Education has established an attendance policy requirement for all courses offered based on the following conclusions:

1. That time lost from class is essentially irretrievable in terms of opportunity for instructional change.

2. That excessive absences rob teachers and students of teaching time that could be better spent on programs and activities.

3. That a student has an obligation to give as well as receive in the context of the classroom setting.

ATTENDANCE REGULATION

I. ABSENCE LIMITATION

A. Credit will be withheld in a semester or year course if a student exceeds ten (10) absences in a semester.

Parents will be informed, in writing, of any loss of credit.

B. 1. For purposes of this policy, all absences will count except for:

· Participation in an approved school activity;

· Personal illness confirmed by a physician;

· Mandatory court appearance;

· College visits (2 days);

· Religious holiday;

· Death in the family ;

· Suspension from school;

· Limited absence from school for special activities with parental consent, subject to the prior approval of the principal or associate principal.

2. Family trips and vacation will not be regarded as reasons for exceeding the absence limitation. Parents are strongly discouraged from scheduling vacations during times when school is in session. Any parent contemplating family vacations during school should contact the school at least two weeks prior to the contemplating vacation dates to ascertain its probable impact on the child's academic and credit situation.

C. The school will send written notice to parents after four (4) absences in a semester.

D. In order to be eligible for participation in athletics or other school-sponsored events and activities, a student must be present in school by homeroom, and must remain in school for at least four (4) hours and must remain in school until the conclusion of his/er E period class.

II. EXPLANATION OF STUDENT'S ABSENCES

A. All class absences, including those for tardiness and early dismissal, other than for a reason listed in I.B.1, will count toward the absence limitation even when explained by a parent.

B. Procedure for parents to explain absences:

1. Absence from school - If a student is absent from school, the parent or guardian should call the school (664-6504) that morning to report the absence. If a parent is unable to call the school, the student will be required to bring a note from the parent to the office within two (2) days after returning to school explaining the day's absence. Failure to bring in a note will result in that absence being regarded as a truant and will be treated as a cut in every class. Phone verification WILL NOT be accepted on days after the absence. A note must be used in this instance.

2. Tardiness to school.

a. All class absences due to tardiness to school will be excluded only for reasons listed under Section I-D.

b. Students tardy to school will receive an administrative detention unless excused by an administrator.

c. Classes missed due to unexcused tardiness will be considered cuts.

d. All students who are tardy to school must sign in at the main office or face disciplinary action.

e. Students will be allowed one “medicinal and one “personal” tardy per year.

f. 3 unexcused tardies to school within 2 weeks will result in an in-school suspension.

3. Early dismissal from school

A. All absences from class due to early dismissal will be treated as unexcused except for reasons listed under Section I-B.

B. Dismissal from school is subject to the approval of the administration upon written permission of the parent or guardian which states the reason for the dismissal. Students are to make every effort to schedule appointments for after-school hous, and not during the academic school day. Dismissal notes should be brought to the main office before school begins. Notes must include student name, grade, reason for dismissal, phone number for verification, and signature of parent/guardian.

C. Any student who leaves school before 2:10 p.m. without a permission slip from the main office will be considered tryant for the part of the school day missed and will face disciplinary action.

C. the Clinton Board of Education treats all students equally, regardless of age. Students who are 18 or older are responsible for abiding by all attendance regulations including absence, dismissal, tardiness, and class cutting. Students age 18 and over who DO NOT live at home, and have provided verification thereof, may provide their own absence, tardiness, and early dismissal notes.

III. CLASS CUTS

A. a cut is an unexcused absence from a scheduled class, lab, study hall.

B. Cuts will be handled in the following manner:

1. The first cut for a semester in any class will result in the deduction of five (5) points from the quarter average. Students may have the opportunity to restore the five point deduction by serving detention with the teacher. This option is only at the teacher's discretion.

2. The second cut for the semester in any class will result in the deduction of five (5) points from the semester average.

3. After the third cut in any class during a semester; credit will be withheld for that class for the semester.

IV. APPEAL PROCESS

A student losing credit may appeal the decision as follows:

A. The appeal committee may restore credit when it feels there are justified, extenuating circumstances.

B. All requests for a hearing before the Appeal Committee must be made in writing to the Associate Principal within five (5) days of the mailing of the notification of loss of credit to the parent/guardian.

C. The student will bring to the Appeal Committee hearing corroborating information to support the appeal.

E.The decision of the Appeal Committee will be made known to the parent, student, and teachers.

BELL, ROTATING SCHEDULE,

AND HOMEROOM SCHEDULES

BELL SCHEDULE

7:30 Warning Bell

7:35 - 8:23 First Period of the Day

8:27 - 9:15 Second Period of the Day

9:19 - 9:26 Homeroom

9:30 - 10:18 Third Period of the Day

10:22 - 11:10 Fourth Period of the Day

11:13 - 12:26 Fifth Period of the Day

Lunch 1 (11:13-11:34)

Class (11:39- 12:26)

Lunch 2 (11:39-12:00)

Class (11:13- 11:34 & 12:05- 12:26)

Lunch 3 (12:05-12:26)

Class (11:13- 12:00)

12:30 - 1:18 Sixth Period of the Day

1:22 - 2:10 Seventh Period of the Day

2:15 Bus Departure

2:15 - 2:55 Detention

TWO HOUR DELAY

29 Minute Classes

9:35 – 10:04.....1^st Period

10:08 - 10:13.....Homeroom

10:10:17 - 10:46.....2nd Period

10:20 – 11:19.....3rd Period

11:23 - 11:52.....4th Period

11:55-1:08…..5^th Period

1:12-1:37…..6^th Period

1:41-2:10…..7^th Period

Early Dismissal

7:30 – Warning Bell

7:35 – 8:02 1^st period

8:05 – 8:33 2^nd period

8:36 – 8:41 Homeroom

8:44 – 9:11 3^rd period

9:14 – 10:42 4^th period

9:45 – 10:12 5^th period

10:15 – 10:43 6^th period

10:46 - 11:15 7^th period

ROTATING SCHEDULE

MORGAN OPERATES ON A SEVEN PERIOD DAY

TIME SLOTS: DAY 1 2 3 4

TIME SLOTS DAY 1 2 3 4

7:30-8:23 A B C D

8:27-9:15 B C D A

9:19-9:26 HOMEROOMS

9:30-10:18 C D A B

10:22-11:10 D A B C

11:13-12:26 E E E E

12:30-1:18 F G F G

1:22-2:10 G F G F

HOMEROOM SCHEDULE

All students must be in their homeroom by 9:19 for opening exercises.

During the homeroom period, attendance is taken, the flag is saluted, and the day's announcements are read. The homeroom is to be quiet so that all staff and students can hear the announcements.

HOMEWORK

Homework is viewed as school work to be done outside of class time. Homework is an integral part of the instructional program which allows students to follow through on their personal commitments to school work. The regular practice of homework requires self-discipline and enables students to function as individuals.

Students who benefit the most from formal education are those who approach it with curiosity, varied interests, and a willingness to work hard. Homework, therefore, should foster this approach by being meaningful and by helping students develop constructive attitudes and improve their possession of useful skills.

The assignments of homework shall be determined by teachers in accordance with the following regulations. Homework assignments should be given to reinforce and augment lessons taught in class and to provide exercises in the development of responsibility and of good work and study habits. Such assignments allow for research, individual projects, and drill and they are intended to enhance students' knowledge in all subject areas.

HOMEWORK REGULATIONS

Teachers will observe the following standards regarding the assignment of homework. The standards are expressed in terms of minutes per five day school week. For all grades at The Morgan School, the Minimum Standard shall be 450 minutes of homework per week (90 minutes per day) and the Maximum Standard shall be 900 minutes of homework per week (3 hours per day).

SUMMER READING REQUIREMENT

All students in the Morgan School are expected to participate in the summer reading program. The primary aim of this activity is to promote an enjoyment and personal appreciation of the power of reading.

A list of required books will be distributed to students and sent home (via June newsletter) to parents prior to the summer break. A list of suggested reading books is available in the at the town library. Students can obtain copies of the books at the town library, at local book stores, or in the main office.

GRADING POLICY

PROGRESS REPORTS

Teachers issue Progress Reports midway through each marking period. The Progress Reports are mailed home. A student’s counselor is informed when a counselee receives a Progress Report so that he/she may contact the student and/or parent and arrange meetings, when warranted, to discuss the student’s progress.

Teachers may issue progress reports or warning notices, at any time during each of the marking periods, to those students who are failing, in danger of failing, or whose work or conduct is otherwise unsatisfactory.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards are issued four (4) times each school year. The first three report cards are distributed to students in homeroom to bring home. The final report card is mailed home. Report cards are usually issued within one week of the close of a quarter.

INCOMPLETE GRADE

A teacher may give a student a grade of INCOMPLETE (INC) whenever the teacher feels that valid, extenuating circumstances prevent a student from completing course requirements. Depending upon the severity of the circumstance, a student may be allowed from one (1) to fifteen (15) school days to complete missing work.

SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

At the end of each semester, all students take examinations in all classes. These exams, called Mid Year and Final exams are two (2) hours in duration. Specific days are set aside for these exams. Exam days are four (4) hours in length. Exams take place from 7:45 to 9:45 and from 10:00 to 12:00. Students need only be present when they have an exam. At the end of each exam day, bus transportation will be provided.

Students who are absent from an exam will not be permitted to makeup the exam unless they present a note from a parent which states that the absence was for one of the reasons stated in I.B.1 of the Attendance Policy. Students who are allowed to makeup a missed exam are to make arrangements with their teacher to take the exam at a mutually agreed to time.