BHS STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK—2 Brandywine High School 1400 Foulk Road Wilmington, DE 19803 479-1600 479-1604 (FAX) BRANDYWINE HIGH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Brandywine High School is to develop intellectually inquisitive, mentally astute, and personally self-confident, responsible adults. The learning foundations built at Brandywine High School will serve as a fundamental component of a lifelong educational structure. This will be accomplished through a comprehensive program providing broad educational opportunities, presented by a professional teaching and support staff committed to helping all students find the path to a better future. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT STAFF Mr. Jeffrey (Jeff) Byrem, Principal Ms. Hinda Tanzer, Assistant Principal Mr. Cordie Greenlea, Assistant Principal Ms. Cheryl Beeson, Administrative Assistant to the Principal—479-1600 Ms. Carol Adams, Administrative Assistant, Attendance—479-1611 Ms. Janice Steffin, Administrative Assistant, Guidance —479-1609 Ms. Annette Marks, School Nurse—479-1602 Wellness Center—477-6750 BRANDYWINE HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER Brandywine we sing to thee, Hymns of praise and loyalty. Sons and daughters, Staunch and true, Follow ’neath the white and blue. Forth we march to bring thee fame, Spirits light and hearts aflame; Rich in truth we’ll always be, Brandywine we sing to thee. MASCOT—Bulldog SCHOOL COLORS—Blue and White The Brandywine School District is an equal opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in the actions, programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title IX and Section 504. BHS STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK—3 WE ARE FAMILY TO: THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF THE BRANDYWINE HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY FROM: JEFF BYREM, PRINCIPAL At Brandywine High School, we are growing a family! We are a family made up of students, parents, faculty, and staff, and as members of the BHS Family, we all have a responsibility to: 9 Honor and support teaching and learning, 9 Show compassion and respect for all other members of our BHS Family, 9 Know and follow our school rules and procedures, 9 Respect school property and the property of others, 9 Participate and/or support extra-curricular activities, and 9 Make positive contributions to the overall spirit and reputation of Brandywine High School. As a member of the Brandywine High School Family, you represent part of a 50 year tradition of excellence. This Student Parent Handbook is filled with useful information about school rules and procedures, athletics and activities, grading and promotion, and the answers to many other frequently asked questions. Please review the contents of this handbook, as well as the Brandywine School District’s Students’ Code of Conduct and the BHS Program of Study Guide (which will be distributed prior to the Winter Break). These three documents will answer most questions you may have about Brandywine High School. If you have questions that are not answered by these documents, please check out our new Website (http://bsd.schoolwires.com/brandywine/), contact us by phone at 479-1600, or e-mail me at [email protected]. Good communication between family members is essential. The Home Access Center (HAC) allows parents to check their children’s attendance, discipline incidents, interim reports, report cards, transportation information, and registration information (home address, home phone numbers, etc.). When teachers use the eSchool Gradebook, parents can also check their children’s grades and whether or not they have completed assignments, and to this end, I have encouraged all BHS teachers to utilize the on- line Gradebook. All of this information can be accessed via the HAC at https://hac.doe.k12.de.us/HomeAccess/. Usernames and initial passwords needed to access HAC are mailed to families from the District. If you have not received this information, please e-mail a request for a HAC username and password to our attendance secretary ([email protected]). She will arrange to have the needed information sent to you electronically. As we begin our 50th year in the pursuit of excellence, I’m looking forward to a year of exciting challenges and good times. It is my wish that each member of our Brandywine High School Family will have the best school year imaginable. Go Bulldogs! FOR AN INDEX TO THE CONTENTS OF THIS HANDBOOK—SEE PAGE 16 BHS STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK—4 BHS FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES (excused or unexcused) for more than 13 classes of a High expectations are placed upon all members of the Brandywine course will not receive credit for that course. High School Family. Each of us represents all of us and the 3. The BSD Student Code of Conduct requires students to be following is what we believe students should expect of themselves: given one class absence for every two unexcused lates to 1. Challenge yourself to do your very best work every day; be the same class. Students who are habitually late to school engaged in all class activities. run the risk of not receiving credit for their first period class. 2. Be polite and respectful to every member of our school 4. If a student or parent believes there were circumstances family. beyond the student’s control that were the reason for excessive absences during a semester, an individual may 3. Dress appropriately for school. appeal the decision to deny credit for a course. Days of 4. Be present in school every day and on time, unless you are suspension are not considered extenuating circumstances. legally excused. Both the teacher and principal must agree to grant an appeal. 5. Be present in and on time to all assigned classes. 5. Absences due to school activities shall be excluded from 6. Go to each and every class mentally prepared to work and the charged absences from class (e.g., driver education road with materials needed to do work. lessons, musical sectional classes, school conducted field trip 7. If you are in the halls during class time, maintain quiet so that experiences, early dismissal for athletic or other school others may learn; students should ask for restroom passes events). only when an emergency is apparent. 8. Keep moving in the halls between classes because stopping PROCEDURES—ABSENCE FROM to socialize clogs the halls and prevents others from getting SCHOOL to class on time. On the day after an absence, students shall deliver a note signed 9. Be familiar with and follow the Student Code of Conduct. by a parent or guardian to the attendance office. The note shall contain: 10. Be a GOODWILL AMBASSADOR for your school in the community, especially when you wear a uniform that 1. The student's legal name. represents all of us—cheer for our school or team; don’t 2. The date(s) of the absence(s). cheer against the other school or team 3. The reason for the absence. 4. A phone number where the parent can be reached. ADULT SUPERVISION A student who fails to bring a note signed by a parent or guardian Adult members of the BHS Family accept the responsibility for on the first or second day of his/her return to school following an supervision of students. Students should expect and are entitled to absence shall have the absence defined as unexcused. supervision and direction from any BHS Family adult. Adults are expected to respectfully issue appropriate directions to students In accordance with the compulsory attendance laws of the State of when such directions are necessary. Students are expected to Delaware, the Brandywine School District has adopted a set of comply with those directions without exception. regulations governing whether or not an absence is excused or unexcused. Under the provisions of the Delaware Code, only the following reasons are considered “necessary and legal ATTENDANCE POLICIES absences,” or as we refer to them… Good attendance is closely related to success in school and at work. Our school, district, and State attendance policies are EXCUSED ABSENCES: intended to help students develop good attendance habits that will 1. Illness of a child attested, if necessary, by a physician’s be of value to them in the World of Work. certificate. With block scheduling, regular attendance and punctuality are 2. Contagious disease within the home of a pupil VERY IMPORTANT! Please read and know the following: 3. Death in the immediate family or of a close friend 1. Parents are encouraged to check the Home Access 4. Legal business Center (HAC) on a regular basis to check their child’s 5. Observance of a religious holiday school attendance. Staffing limitations may not allow us to 6. Remedial health care call home to verify every absence, but HAC does provide the opportunity for parents at their convenience to verify 7. Pre-arranged absence to visit a college or university, to attendance. participate in other educational experiences, and/or other emergency situations as determined by the school principal. 2. Students in grades 9 through 12 are expected to attend all 8. Suspension classes. State law requires students to attend a minimum of 85% of each class to receive credit. A student absent Continues on next page… BHS STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK—3 Absences for other reasons are classified as “unexcused.” A similar circumstances will be listed as unexcused—this is student whose absence is unexcused shall receive a failing consistent with District guidelines. grade (i.e., zero, “F,” “U”) for all assignments missed or tests given • A student who is late to school because of an appointment during the period of the unexcused absence. with a doctor, dentist, lab, or because of required attendance Following an “excused absence” from school or class, the time in court must provide a written note upon arrival to school from allowance for making up missed work or tests is equal to the the individual with whom the appointment was held.