Excerpts from the Mclean High School and Fairfax County Public Schools Websites

Excerpts from the McLean High School and Fairfax County Public Schools Websites

[Viewed 2 September 2007]

Turnitin.com Information:

At the end of the 2005-2006 school year in a department chair meeting, a department chair presented the idea of using Turnitin.com. After considerable discussion amongst department chairs and school administration, the idea was brought back to the departments for their input, and then voted on at the next meeting. All departments voted yes, and administration supported the decision. We decided to implement Turnitin.com for the 2006-2007 school year.

Turnitin.com is being used at McLean High School as an instructional tool. Students are provided with a class id and password from each teacher using Turnitin.com. Students then self-enroll in the class by creating their own accounts and passwords. When a student submits a paper to Turnitin.com, the database will send back an “originality report” to the student and teacher. The originality report is a color- coded report that allows the student and teacher to see where the student missed a citation or cited a source incorrectly. Students are permitted to resubmit their papers an unlimited number of times, until the teacher-designated deadline. The database will replace the previously submitted paper. Students should review their originality report with the teacher before the deadline if they have concerns or questions about proper citation.

The ability for students to submit and overwrite their papers multiple times is a unique way that Turnitin.com allows schools to customize the service to suit the needs of the individual school. By allowing students to check their papers an unlimited number of times, rather than simply mandating that students submit their papers without seeing the originality report, McLean High School is using Turnitin.com as an instructional tool. Students will learn how to cite material more accurately and effectively.

McLean High School is phasing in the use of Turnitin.com for the 2006-2007 school year. We will be phasing in the program via traditionally 9th and 10th grade English and social studies classes because students at the 9th and 10th grade levels are still learning how to cite material and learning how to do research. In addition, since English and social studies are the two subject areas in which students will do the most amount of writing, the phasing in of the program will begin there. Turnitin.com use will start at the beginning of the second quarter grading period. In ensuing years, the program will be implemented in the 11th and 12th grades.

Turnitin.com is a database that allows students to submit their school assignments via www.turnitin.com. The database compares students’ papers with over 22 million other sources, including Internet web pages, other students’ papers, and electronic archives of academic journals. Similar FCPS Schools such as Thomas Jefferson, Langley, Woodson, and Oakton High Schools are using Turnitin.com.

Currently, teachers are being trained on how to use Turnitin.com. At the October 16 PTSA meeting, McLean administrators will be conducting a demonstration on how Turntin.com works, in addition to answering any questions that parents may have.

From www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS/admin/Turnitin.htm 1 2 September 2007

McLean High School

FAIRFAX COUNTY 1633 Davidson Road PUBLIC SCHOOLS McLean, Virginia 22101 703 714-5700 703 714-5797 FAX

Dear Parents and Students:

The McLean High School community values honesty, fairness, and respect for others. We expect our students to adhere to the McLean Honor Code. Infractions of the honor code include cheating, plagiarism, lying and forgery, and illegal use of technology. Fairfax County Public School’s Instructional Services Department has approved the use of an anti-plagiarism service entitled Turnitin.com for all schools throughout the county. McLean High School will be employing Turnitin.com this year as a deterrent to discourage students from plagiarizing and to identify students who violate the McLean Honor Code.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Presenting, as one’s own, words, works, or opinions of someone else without proper acknowledgment.

• Borrowing the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought of someone else without proper acknowledgment.

The following are examples of plagiarism:

• Failure to document with quotation marks any material copied directly from other sources.

• Failure to provide a bibliography.

• Use of another’s work as one’s own, particularly in the creative arts, i.e., themes, poems, musical compositions, or artwork.

Teachers will check student papers for plagiarism through a variety of means, including but not limited to personal research and plagiarism detection software offered by Turnitin.com. Teachers will use such reviews to instruct students regarding appropriate use of secondary source materials. In the case of clear plagiarism, however, discipline (including failing grades) may be imposed. Turnitin.com review includes a comparison of student papers to documents in a reference database, the Internet and other available sources. Submitted papers will become part

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of the Turnitin.com database for plagiarism detection. Students and parents agree that by submitting student papers for grading and credit, they understand and agree to this review of their papers.

Students must abide by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) when working on FCPS computers, regardless of whether they are using Turnitin.com or other programs. The AUP is available online at http://www.fcps.edu/curator/polregul.htm and in the 2006-2007 Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kimberly Carney, Assistant Principal, at (703) 714-5904.

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McLean High School

[Excerpts only]

What does McLean offer to a struggling student?

McLean offers many services for students who are struggling academically. One of our newest opportunities, Student Success Seminars, began last year in response to requests from many parents, teachers and students who were hoping for support in test taking, study, and organizational skills - basically, ways to improve grades. We also offer one-on-one tutoring services in the form of regular "Lunch and Learn" sessions, and a daily "Walk in Study Center" in the College/Career Center (staffed by members of the National Honor Society). Late buses offer a time for students to set up individual meetings with teachers who may be struggling with various subjects. In addition, our strong counseling staff members are excellent in working with parents and students, identifying problems, and directing students toward the appropriate resources.

All students who are unsuccessful on a SOL test are offered remediation in varying lengths from a brief session immediately prior to a retake to a multi-week remediation in preparation for a new testing window. Also, in the spring, we ask teachers to identify students they feel may struggle on the May end- of-course SOL testing and schedule those students for as much as 8-10 weeks of preparation/remediation before the testing window. Any student may participate in any of the remediation programs offered throughout the year by contacting Mrs. Dabroski at (703) 714-5846 or e-mail at

[email protected].

[Text omitted]

• College Essay Workshops

In lieu of the PSAT on Wednesday, October 18th, seniors are invited to participate in two different unique opportunities. Those who have yet to begin the writing process may want to consider attending an interactive College Essay Writing Workshop with two of our esteemed counselors. This session will take place in the lecture hall and will begin promptly at 9:30. Seniors who are well in to the writing process and already have several rough drafts should consider meeting one on one with one of our esteemed English 12 teachers. This session will take place every 30 minutes beginning at 7:30. Please email Robyn Lady ([email protected]) if you would like an appointment with a teacher. If you would like to participate in the workshop simply show up that morning ready to listen and work.

McLean High School Student Activities

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McLean High School is extremely proud of our Student Activities program. We offer numerous extra and co-curricular activities designed to meet the diverse needs and interests of our student body.

Several studies conducted recently have demonstrated the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and later successes in college and occupational endeavors. One study indicated that 95% of all Fortune 500 executives had participated in high school sports. A study done at the University of Minnesota, found that students participating in student activities maintained higher GPA’s than those who did not participate. Other studies have indicated that participation in high school activities is a better predictor of success in college than SAT scores or grade point averages.

Student Activities provide the opportunity for students to challenge themselves, set goals, master specific skills, and have fun. As you enter McLean High School, please take advantage of these opportunities that are available to you in our Activities Program. You will find that you will make more friends, develop your potential more fully, and school will be more interesting if you simply become more involved.

[Text omitted]

Helpful Phone Numbers

Tom Herman, Director of Student Activities 714-5860 Demby Banbury, Assistant DSA 714-5863

Bill Drake, Assistant DSA 714-5864 Highlander Hot Line 749- 8138

Turnitin.com

What is Turnitin.com?

How did the idea of using Turnitin.com at McLean High School originate?

At the end of the 2005-2006 school year, a department chair presented the idea of using Turnitin.com at a department chairs’ meeting with McLean High School administration. After discussion amongst department chairs and school administration, the idea was brought back to the departments, and then voted on at the next meeting. All departments voted yes, and administration supported the decision. We decided to implement Turnitin.com for the 2006-2007 school year.

How does Turnitin.com work and how will McLean High School be using it this school year?

coded report that allows the student and teacher to see where the student missed a citation or cited a source incorrectly. Students are permitted to resubmit their papers an unlimited number of times, until the teacher-designated deadline. The database will replace the previously submitted paper. Students should review their originality report with the teacher before the deadline if they have concerns or questions about proper citation.

Will all students be required to submit work to Turnitin.com?

Do students, parents, and teachers have input into the phasing in of Turnitin.com?

A committee of parents, students, and staff is currently being formed. The committee will meet at designated times throughout the school year to gather input and information pertaining to the phasing in of the program and expanded use.

How can I find out more information about Turnitin.com?

Attendance

Why has McLean changed its attendance policy?

We are putting a special focus on attendance at McLean; for it is one area that we worry we will not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards in the near future. The federal No Child Left Behind law has 32 benchmarks/standards that must be met. If a single one of those standards is not met, the school is labeled as failing. For the attendance standard, 95% of students must attend class every day, and 6 From http://www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS/admin/qanda.htm 2 September 2007

McLean High School has been inching downward towards that mark. Last year our attendance was 95%. We do not want to be on that list, especially due to attendance, since we have amazing test scores in most sub groups.

Actually, there was only one change made to our policy. We changed from three unexcused tardies per class equaling one unexcused absence to two unexcused tardies per class equaling one unexcused absence (in periods one through six). This change should have been made when McLean went from a seven period day – with all classes meeting every day – to a block schedule. Under the old policy, a student could be tardy to almost half of the meeting days.

Our data shows a direct correlation between attendance and better grades, and we want students to be in class because that is where teaching and learning takes place. The assistant principal for attendance is also stressing with teachers the need for keeping accurate records and providing meaningful instruction from bell to bell, for in that way we can improve the academic performance of our students.

How is McLean handling attendance differently this year?

To improve our attendance, one assistant principal, Mr. Jeffers, has been assigned to all attendance issues – including enforcing and publicizing our attendance policies. At the end of the first period of the day, an absence report is generated and the attendance office begins personally calling parents to check/verify absences. Our live morning news show has been moved to the beginning of the second period of the day to eliminate the lateness excuse ‘I’m only missing the morning show’.

FCPS attendance policy is strict and clear, and one thing that we are closely examining is the reasons for absences, including pre-arranged absences. Family vacations should not be taken during the school year, and FCPS policy specifically lists such trips as unexcused absences. Every request for a prearranged absence must now come to the attendance administrator to be reviewed on a case by case basis. College visits are still permitted and encouraged, and you can see the full list of excusable absences on our website (http://www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS/).

If students are frequently truant – or absent – from school, the administration will be investigating the reasons and looking for solutions. Unfortunately, this means students may get punished – usually receiving after school detentions for their truancy or other loss of privileges. Repeated offences will lead to increased punishments, but the goal is to instill positive behavior and create positive habits that will lead to success not only in school but in life beyond high school.

How are we handling student accountability?

We are holding students to high standards – academically and behaviorally. But remember our mission – ‘…to graduate educated AND RESPONSIBLE citizens’. We are helping to establish positive behavior norms from respecting the rights of others to being prompt, dependable, and responsible. There are consequences for being tardy, cutting class, or excessive absences just as in a job there would be consequences. Students may receive after school detentions, in school suspensions, lose their parking permits, serve community service, or, ultimately suffer out of school suspension and possible court intervention.

We are also looking to positively encourage attendance. From all students with perfect attendance in the quarter, we will be selecting winners who will receive small gifts/prizes to recognize them. Students have suggested that we recognize the classes with the best attendance as well, and we’re investigating that possibility. In addition, the greatest reward for attendance will be improved academic performance – that is what the data supports, what we believe, and, what will improve students’ post-secondary opportunities.

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To review our attendance policy in detail, please visit the McLean High School web site at http://www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS/, and then click on the button labeled ‘information’ and then on ‘attendance policy’.

How is the new attendance focus working so far?

Anecdotally, we are seeing a dramatic change in a couple of ways. The hallways are clear when the tardy bell rings. You will actually see students moving with a sense of urgency to get to class on time. Instruction is beginning at the bell and accurate records are being kept by teachers. Parents are telling us they are having a hard time making dentist appointments after school because everyone is trying to avoid missing school time.

With hard numbers, we can say the following: Our attendance rate as of 9/27/06 is running at 97.82%. As of this date, we have 674 students (out of 1804 students) with perfect attendance (haven’t missed even one period), and that is very impressive.

What we are currently seeing is a change of climate and expectations; we are establishing attendance and behavioral norms. With the help of parents, teachers, staff, and students we will maintain a high attendance rate, avoid being labeled as a failing school, increase student achievement, and establish positive habits that will well serve our students as they move beyond high school. Thank you for your cooperation in helping McLean High School achieve its goal.

How can I be more involved as a parent?

• Join PTSA

• Attend general meetings

• Attend parent coffees 7:30 a.m.

th o October 16 Freshmen & Sophomore

th o October 17 Junior & Senior

th o April 24 Freshmen & Sophomore

th o April 25 Junior & Senior

• Attend Mini Conferences

th o November 17

o February 23, 2007

• Join one of our many booster organizations

• Sign up for Keep in Touch – visit the McLean Web page

www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS and scroll down to the yellow circle labeled

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Keep in Touch for easy step by step directions.

• Always feel free to contact an administrator, counselor, or teacher

with suggestions or concerns.

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[Excerpt only]

Turnitin.com - What's it All about?

Turnitin.com is a powerful Internet based writing tool being used at McLean High School to improve student writing. We are phasing it in this year, beginning with the current Freshmen and Sophomore English and Social Studies classes, and over the next three years it will be implemented across all grades and subjects. Please click here [http://www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS/admin/Turnitin.htm] to read more about what it is, how it came to be at McLean, and how it will be used.

From www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS/News0607.htm 10 2 September 2007