Student Handbook 2015-2016
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Student Handbook 2015-2016 Vernon Malone College and Career Academy 2200 S. Wilmington Street Raleigh, NC 27603 (919) 856-8119 (Main Office) (919) 856-8158 (Fax) www.vernonmalonecca.wcpss.net Twitter: https://twitter.com/vernon_malone Principal: Dr. Ashlie Thompson Assistant Principal: Mr. Mitch Weaver MISSION All Vernon Malone College and Career Academy students will graduate college and career ready. SCHOOL OVERVIEW Vernon Malone College and Career Academy (VMCCA) is an application school for students in Grades 9-12 focused on graduating students college and career ready in one of eight (8) program areas. VMCCA features a partnership between the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) and Wake Technical Community College (WTCC). VMCCA students have the opportunity to graduate in four (4) years with a high school diploma and earn college credits leading to a certificate, diploma, or Associates Degree in their program area. College credits completed while enrolled in the school are tuition-free and are applicable towards their chosen program of study. AAS degree programs are not guaranteed to transfer to one of North Carolina’s sixteen public universities; however, the college courses are transferrable to Wake Technical Community College with a grade of “C” or better. The school’s small size provides one of the most individualized environments available to Wake County students. VMCCA students complete their high school courses for the UNC system during the three years they are enrolled in VMCCA. In their junior and senior year, students enroll in WTCC courses in their program area to earn credits towards a certificate and/or diploma. Some college credits serve as dual enrollment credits toward a high school diploma. Students receive advisement about their course of study from both VMCCA counselors and Wake Tech academic advisors. This experience provides students with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to continue their education and/or career pathway in their program area. 2 Disclaimer Vernon Malone College and Career Academy students are expected to be familiar with the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) Code of Student Conduct and the policies, procedures and practices outlined in the WCPSS Student/Parent Handbook. They are required to comply with all policies outlined here and in WCPSS School Board Policy. All Code of Student Conduct polices are contained in the WCPSS Student/Parent Handbook, which is located online at www.wcpss.net. Parents may also request a paper copy from the school’s main office. Additionally, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy students are considered Wake Technical Community College (WTCC) students. They must comply with the academic and student codes of conduct that govern the college. Students are accountable to all Wake Tech policies and practices that are applicable to their status as early college students. The Wake Tech Student handbook can be located at http://www.waketech.edu/student-services/student-handbook. As partners, WCPSS and Wake Tech Community College work collaboratively to provide each student with opportunities and experiences appropriate to the purpose of an early college. In the event a question or situation arises that requires a review and application of policy or procedures, representatives from each organization will determine the appropriate policy to be applied based on the nature and the location (high school, college, or clinical site) of the situation. Vernon Malone College and Career Academy has used reasonable endeavors to ensure that materials contained in this handbook were correct at the time the handbook was printed. However, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy reserves the rights at any time to make changes, as it deems appropriate. Students should check for confirmation with the originating or authorizing faculty, department or administrator. A current version of the student handbook will be maintained on the website. 3 Table of Contents Vernon Malone College and Career Academy 2 Mission School Overview Disclaimer 3 VMCCA History 5 VMCCA Faculty and Staff 10 Wake Tech Faculty and Staff 11 Calendar and Daily Schedules 12 School Calendar Daily Schedules Academic Essentials 14 General Information Academic Expectations Monitoring Academic Progress and Grade Reporting Grading System/Policies and Procedures Reporting Periods/Report Card Guidelines Homework Policy (To be added later) Graduation Requirements Online Courses Maintaining and Reporting Grades for Students in WTCC Courses FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privay Act) Career Development Opportunities 29 Academic Support Services and Programs 30 VMCCA Transcript Policy 32 College Planning and Financial Aid 33 The Scholarship Process College Financial Aid Types of Financial Aid College Websites Campus Life 36 Principal’s Weekly Message VMCCA Website (Changing October 2014) Student Email Wake Tech Blackboard/WebAdvisor Accounts Student ID’s Daily Attendance Check in/out Procedures Off Campus Lunch (see lunch contracts) Transportation 41 Medication 44 Code of Conduct 45 Additional Processess 53 Safety Drills 54 Acceptable Use of Technology/BYOD 55 Frequently Asked Questions 58 4 The History of Vernon Malone College and Career Academy The Origins For many years WCPSS has evaluated the best means to deliver Career & Technical Education (CTE) to its students. For the past two decades, CTE has focused on improving programs including the addition of career academies at high schools as an effort to concentrate resources to increase college preparedness of students. Furthermore, throughout Wake County Public School’s (WCPSS) history, school boards and staff have discussed the possibility of a Career and Technical Education High School and, for a variety of reasons; it was not until 2010 that the conversations resulted in the actions needed to follow through with creating such a school. Prior to the merger of the Raleigh City Schools and the Wake County Schools in the 70s, there was a vocational high school headed by Principal Phil Maultsby who later became a school board member and advocated for its return in the early 90s. The possible school structure changed over time, and Horace Tart began the conversation to create a CTE school again in early 2000s. When John Tedesco was elected to the school board in 2009, he had conversations with the board about a CTE high school. Tony Tata was hired as superintendent in December 2010 and he created an office of innovation; the mission of his chief of staff was to develop this department. Mr. Tata listened to the community, which was advocating for a vocational school, and his team did research on different models. In the summer of 2011, WCPSS Facilities was tasked with identifying and evaluating existing buildings in the downtown Raleigh area to determine suitability for adaptive reuse to accommodate innovative schools. Mr. Tata employed a director for innovation who took on the CTE HS project and plans began in 2012. At the same time, at the state level, NC Schools Superintendent June Atkinson and Governor Beverly Purdue began work on Career and College Promise to start in 2013- 2014, which helped support the rationale for a CTE High School. Because of the success of Wake Health Sciences Early College and projects in process to develop NCSU STEM Early College and the Leadership Academies, it was clear that a college partner for the CTE High School would be beneficial. Early informal conversations were held by WCPSS in the fall of 2011 with Wake Tech facilities staff. On January 17, 2012, a meeting was held with Dr. Stephen Scott, President of Wake Tech Community College and Superintendent Tony Tata to review and discuss the CTE High School concept, which was also attended by senior leadership and staff teams from Wake Tech and WCPSS. On January 18, 2012, David Wehbie sent a preliminary program list to Bryan Ryan, Wake Tech Senior Vice President of Curriculum Education Services. On February 9, 2012, a meeting was held with members of the academics and facilities departments of both organizations including Bryan Ryan, Wendell Goodwin, David Wehbie, Sheri Green, Ann Dishong and Betty Parker to discuss the proposed educational programs, identify issues, discuss next steps and set up a regular meeting schedule. In mid to late February, some of the Wake Tech and WCPSS teams toured the facility with the design consultants. Wake Tech, WCPSS and a local developer, who was initially involved with the project, agreed to share the costs of a design charrette with design consultant LS3P Associates Limited for building design input, which was held in Mid March, 2012. The final WCPSS School Board approval for the project was given by: Keith Sutton, Chairman; Kevin Hill, Immediate Outgoing Chairman; Susan P. Evans; Debra Goldman; Christine Kushner; Chris Malone; Jim Martin; Deborah Prickett; John Tedesco; Stephen Gainey, Interim Superintendent. 5 The Facility Vernon Malone College and Career Academy has been a unique project for Wake County Public Schools because of the collaboration with Wake County Government who is responsible for renovating the building where the school will be located, the former Coca Cola Bottling Plant on South Wilmington Street. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBC) first announced its intent to relocate and sell its existing facilities on South Wilmington Street in January 2009. At the time, the company anticipated that it would first sell its buildings and would then identify its future location. After more than 50 years of operating out of the south Raleigh plant, which had been used as a base of operations in the Triangle since 1957, CCBC relocated its area sales and distribution operations to Clayton in May 2011, where the company now has twice the space. CCBC is the second-largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States and delivers Coke products to territories in 11 states, including most areas of North Carolina. The building’s east entrance faces Wilmington Street and is accessible from the student drop- off drive and visitor parking areas. The main lobby just inside this entrance provides access to Reception and the main Administration Area on the right.