The mission of Winchester High School is to provide, for all of its students, an opportunity to achieve excellence in learning, specifically to foster:

· Critical thinking
· Clear and effective communication
· Intellectual creativity
· A sense of personal, civic and social responsibility, and
· The ability to apply these essential skills and knowledge to life situations

EXPECTATIONS

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

The Winchester High School graduate is able to communicate effectively.

The Winchester High School graduate is able to acquire, integrate and apply essential knowledge.

The Winchester High School graduate is able to analyze, interpret and evaluate information effectively.

The Winchester High School graduate is able to make intellectual and practical connections between and among different disciplines.

The Winchester High School graduate is able to understand and apply technology to his/her learning experience.

The Winchester High School graduate works to acquire an informed global perspective.

CIVIC AND SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS

The Winchester High School student demonstrates self-respect and an appreciation of diversity.

The Winchester High School student participates responsibly as a member of the student body.

GOALS

Our school goals are:

1. to educate the complete individual, and

2. to provide the student with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to enrich his/her own life and be a responsible member of society, and

3. to be a school that demonstrates leadership and innovation in education and is a matter of pride and value for the Town of Winchester.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO POLICY OF
NON-DISCRIMINATION

Winchester High School provides equal educational opportunity for all students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Students have equal access to admission to school courses, extracurricular activities, and employment opportunities. Students who believe they have been victims of discrimination are hereby notified that grievance procedures are available to them and that they should contact the principal for more information. Counseling services are available to help students address their individual needs.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must earn a minimum of 110 credits to be eligible for graduation.
The following courses must be taken and passed:

Subject No. of Years

English...............................………... 4 (including 1 semester of Writing Lab)
Social Studies.......................……… 2 years of World History and 1 year of American History
Science.....................................…… 2 years: 1 Biology, 1 Physical Science
Mathematics..........................………2 years
Wellness…………...............………4 years
Fine or Applied Arts*............……...1 year

*5 credits must be earned in Fine or Applied Arts. All courses taken outside of the English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language departments qualify for the Fine Arts and applied requirement.

The following assumptions will govern the above requirements:

· With the exception of the double-period Humanities and the American Studies offerings, no course may be utilized to satisfy more than one requirement.
· A full-year course which meets every day of the scheduling cycle will receive 5 credits.
· All Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors are expected to carry a full academic load. Exceptions require the approval of the administration. A full academic load is defined as 6 courses per semester.
· Seniors enrolled in two or more AP courses may take a lesser academic load.
· Seniors not enrolled in two or more AP courses may take a lesser academic load during 2nd semester, with parental and administrative permission.
· A lesser academic load is defined as 5 courses per semester.

INFORMATION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

For complete information concerning the process for transfer students, including the documents required, go to the Winchester Public Schools Web site: www.winchester.k12.ma.us and look under “Guidance”.

Transcripts from other schools will be evaluated by the Guidance Department in conjunction with the Administration. Incoming students must provide full documentation from the sending school which includes an official transcript, withdrawal form, health and immunization record, and disciplinary record. In addition, students transferring from other Massachusetts public schools must provide their MCAS scores. In order to maintain consistency and equity in this process, the following guidelines will be adhered to:

A. When a student enters Winchester High School, he/she will be awarded credit based on the interpretation of the high school administrators after reviewing the student’s previous school's transcript(s).

B. Students will be required to meet Winchester High School graduation course requirements to be eligible to earn a Winchester High School diploma. The Guidance Department, in consultation with department directors/coordinators, will determine whether any courses must be made up prior to graduation. In accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Education mandate, all students must also earn passing scores on the MCAS examination to be eligible for a high school diploma.

C. Transfer students’ grades from their previous school(s) are not used in the GPA calculations from Winchester High School.

D. In the case of students entering during a grading period, the following guidelines will apply:

1. If the student enters during the first half of the marking period, the teacher will take the grade from the prior placement into consideration and will assign the grade.
2. If the student enters during the second half of the marking period, the student may, at the teacher’s recommendation and with permission of department head and administrator, be graded on a pass/fail basis.

E. Students transferring in should bring their health and attendance records with them and may be held accountable for their cumulative absences.

All grades are letter grades and are used in all classes. Appropriate weight is given each grade to determine the grade point average.

HONOR ROLL

A. A student must receive grades of B- or better in all subjects and a passing grade in pass/fail courses (if applicable) to achieve honor roll standing. No incompletes.
B. Four A's and one grade of no lower than a B- or better, plus a passing grade in pass/fail courses (if applicable) are required for high honor roll standing. No Incompletes.
C. Honor roll standings are determined by quarters, not by semesters.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

1. Students may withdraw from a class within the first two weeks of a course. Students who want to withdraw from a course, at this time, must see their guidance counselor for proper paperwork. The student must continue to attend the class until a new schedule has been issued. If a student does not follow proper procedure, he/she will receive a failing grade. After the two-week period, students will not be allowed to add courses.

2. Students who withdraw during the next four weeks will receive a “W” for that class. Students who withdraw after the sixth week of a class will receive a WF (withdraw fail), WP (withdraw pass), or WM (withdraw medical).

3. Level changes will not be allowed during the last two weeks of a quarter. After the third quarter, students will not be allowed to drop a course to a lower level.
CREDITS/COURSE WEIGHTING FOR GPA

Winchester High School uses a two-leveled grade-weighting system. Courses taken at the College Level are assigned the weight listed in right column below, and those taken at the Advanced Placement (AP) or Honors level are assigned weights listed in the left column.

Course weighting used to determine grade point average::

Grade Earned AP & Honors College

A+ (97 - 100) 4.5 4.0
A (93 - 96) 4.2 3.7
A- (90 - 92) 4.0 3.5
B+ (87 - 89) 3.8 3.3
B (83 - 86) 3.5 3.0
B- (80 - 82) 3.2 2.7
C+ (77 - 79) 2.9 2.4
C (73 - 76) 2.5 2.0
C- (70 - 72) 2.2 1.7
D+ (67 - 69) 1.9 1.4
D (63 - 66) 1.5 1.0
D- (60 - 62) 1.2 0.7
F (0 – 59) 0 0

The values found in the chart above are used to calculate the student’s grade point average (GPA). The values are adjusted to reflect the length of time the course meets (full year, semester or 2 or 3 times per cycle). The level of the course (AP/honors/college) can be found in the course descriptions which begin on page 7.

A brief definition of the levels follows:

Advanced Placement (AP): Advanced Placement courses are designed by the Educational Testing Service (a division of the College Board) to allow students the opportunity to complete college-level studies during secondary school. AP course offerings are for the most educationally advanced students and may be taken only by permission of the appropriate Director/Coordinator. Students choosing these courses should be achieving grades of at least an A- or B+ in the Honors sequence.

Honors: These courses are designed for educationally advanced students. They are extremely rigorous, demanding of the student a high degree of motivation and past achievement. These courses, when taken in appropriate sequence, are preparatory for the Advanced Placement courses. Students desiring to remain in this sequence should be earning grades of B or better.

College: These courses are designed for the majority of students who intend to pursue their education beyond high school. They provide the common learning necessary to prepare a student for the demands of a college curriculum. There are two levels within college - C1 and C2

Additional Information:

1. Credit shall only be given to courses that are in the Course of Studies Booklet, with the exception of Independent Study.
2. Credit may be granted for experiences that are considered to be academic in nature with prior approval of the administration.
3. Credit shall not be granted for enrichment activities such as field trips, exchange trips, or internships.
4. Only courses receiving a letter grade with a corresponding numeric value will be used in calculating Grade Point Average. Courses receiving Pass/Fail will not be used in the calculation.
5. Independent Study courses are graded and must have the prior approval of the director/coordinator of the appropriate department, the guidance counselor, and a high school administrator.

SUMMER SCHOOL

The main purposes of summer school are:
1. Upgrading of poor marks to meet prerequisite requirements.
2. Earning credit for subjects failed.
3. Acceleration/Enrichment (with PRIOR administrative approval).

Administrative approval of summer school courses for remediation is not automatic. In reviewing eligibility for summer school, the Principal will consider both the student’s record of attendance in the course failed, as well as the number of hours and the content of the summer school course proposed for remediation. Except where extenuating circumstances exist, students must have been enrolled and attending classes in a course for the entire academic year in order to qualify for summer school.

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING COURSE APPROVAL

A student must receive written permission from the administration, prior to registering for any course in order to receive credit for the course.

1. The “Course Approval Form” is obtained from the Guidance Department.
2. The student completes the Course Approval Form, attaches a course description to it and submits it to the appropriate academic department director for his/her signature.
3. After obtaining the signature of the department director, the student must obtain the signature of an administrator (principal or assistant principal).
4. After all signatures have been obtained, the student must bring the signed form back to the Guidance Department where it will be kept on file.
5. Upon completion of the course, it is the student’s responsibility to have an official transcript of the course grade mailed to the W.H.S. Guidance Department. No credit will be awarded until the official transcript is received.

Grades from summer school will be recorded separately on the permanent record cards and labeled “Summer Study”. The original grade for the subject will not be changed (if there is one) nor will the summer school grade be included when determining the student’s grade point average (GPA).

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Guidance
Because of the wide variety of opportunities at Winchester High School, as well as the diversity of entrance requirements of thousands of schools and vocations, it is imperative that the student seek the advice and assistance of his/her guidance counselor in selecting the courses that are appropriate to the student's and parent’s expectations.

Our primary goal is to counsel students so that they can attain their highest level of understanding in educational achievement, occupational choices and personal development.

The guidance counselors present classroom group guidance seminars with material designed to meet the developmental needs appropriate to students at each specific grade level..
The Guidance Office strongly encourages students to make appointments to discuss any issues which might arise.

A few important facts are listed below:

A. Guidance and counseling services are available to all students and parents.

B. Counseling assignments are based on an alphabetical division of students.

C. Students may make appointments with their assigned counselor by signing up in the appointment book in the Guidance Office. Except in cases of emergency, students may only schedule appointments during academic blocks (study halls). Appointments may also be made before or after school, with the consent of the student’s guidance counselor.

D. Parents may make appointments with their child’s guidance counselor by contacting the counselor directly.

E. General information is available in the Guidance Office and on the department’s website about post-secondary educational opportunities, scholarship information, career materials, computerized college search services and numerous other materials.

F. The Guidance Department’s monthly newsletter, The Guide, is posted on the department’s website. It is available through the PFA as well. The Guide provides information on upcoming events sponsored by the Guidance Department, as well as timely information about admissions testing, scholarships and other events and programs of interest to the W.H.S. community.

G. Each year the Guidance Department joins with other Middlesex League high schools to co-sponsor an evening college fair at a central location. Several hundred colleges are represented at this event to which all W.H.S. students and parents are invited.

H. Results of intelligence, aptitude, reading and interest tests may be reviewed with a counselor as an aid in planning and exploring educational and career possibilities.

Special Education
The Special Education program at Winchester High School provides support for students who have been identified through a CMR 28:00 (Chapter 766) team evaluation. Students are referred for an evaluation by the Teacher Resource Team. Each student has an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) with specific goals and objectives tailored to his/her disability. Plans are reviewed and rewritten on an annual basis. Students receive services through the following settings:

The Achieve Program - Service delivery in the Achieve comes in the form of a substantially separate classes and support services in regular education classrooms as well. Students have been evaluated and have IEPs indicating educational needs which can be met through modified classes and in small group and individualized specialized instruction. Students meet with special education teachers, and support personnel who are trained to meet the needs of the students enrolled in Achieve.

1st Floor Learning Center – LC1 is a multifaceted program that serves students who have been identified with language based disabilities. Service delivery is comprised of language arts support classes and small group support. Students must meet a specific criterion in order to be considered for the LC1.

2nd Floor Learning Center - Students receive academic support and remediation of skill deficiencies through the Learning Center, while continuing in mainstreamed courses at Winchester High School. Students are assigned to small groups and work with specialists who are trained to assist with the needs as identified by educational plans.

3rd Floor Learning Center assists students to overcome personal challenges to attain emotional health, social skills and behavioral control. Staff in LC3 assist students in preparing them to return to full-time mainstreaming in the high school. Curriculum instruction is tailored to individual student needs. Psychological and vocational counseling are integral parts of the program, along with close home-school communication. Students must meet specific criteria in order to be considered for the LC3.

In addition to the special education programs at Winchester High School, students may also be recommended to receive support services from the school psychologist or other specialists. Recommendations for such services are made through the CMR 28:00 (Chapter 766) team.

OTHER STUDENT SUPPORTS

Clinical Counselor - The school’s clinical counselor is available to support students who are experiencing social and/or emotional adjustment issues. Students may self-refer or may be referred by other members of the school community.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) - The ESOL classroom is available for students whose primary language is not English. Students in need of ESOL services are referred through their guidance counselor. A referral can be made by the student, the family, a teacher or a staff member. The goal of ESOL classes is to provide overall support and to assist the student’s movement into a full, mainstream program.

Excel - The Excel Program is a regular education program designed to intervene with students who are at risk for school failure. Students in the program characteristically present with problems relatied to social/emotional issues that have in some way begun to impede their success in school. Issues related to personal growth and development, attendance, tardiness, and academic underachievement are addressed in the program. The students are able to develop a better sense of self and become more successful in school through academic monitoring, individual and group counseling, home-school communication, teacher consultation and ongoing assessment. Excel has three main components, a five-credit Sociology class that replaces the history requirement for sophmores and seniors, academic support in the regular education classes, and counseling. Referrals into the Excel Program may come from teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, the Child Study Team, parents--or the students themselves. Students are admitted to the program following an application and interview process with the Excel staff.

504 - Section 504 is an Act which prohibits discrimination against persons with a handicap in any program receiving Federal financial assistance. The 504 Act defines a person with a handicap as anyone who:

1. Has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.)

2. Has a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment.

The intent of Section 504 on schools is to “accommodate” for differences within the regular educational environment. Winchester High School has developed procedures and safeguards for students under Section 504 and recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. A student’s eligibility is determined by a team at Winchester High School, chaired by the student’s guidance counselor. For further information regarding Section 504, parents may contact the Secondary Student Services Coordinator.

Instruction of Homebound Students - Home instruction of pupils unable to attend school because of physical disability shall begin as soon as possible after it has been established that the child's absence will extend over a period of more than ten (10) consecutive school days. Such home instruction will cease upon the child's return to school. Parents should call the school counselor for the necessary forms and to arrange for home instruction.

It is the responsibility of the teacher to provide assistance with make-up work not covered by the above instructional arrangements.

Home Schooling - Parents may choose to educate their children at home without using the public school system. According to state law, parents must submit their proposed curriculum to the Superintendent (or his/her designee) for approval.

EARLY GRADUATION

In some instances, students with parental consent may choose the option of graduating a full year in advance of their class. This option is open to all students provided the following procedures are adhered to:

1. The student, through their counselor, must request the early graduation at the end of the sophomore year or during the first semester of the junior year.

2. The counselor will hold a meeting with the student, the parent, and the principal to discuss options, what the decision may mean in terms of future goals, and whether the decision is appropriate, based on the student's prior academic record. Should the student and his/her parent(s) decide to continue this process, the parent will submit in writing a formal request for early graduation to the principal.

3. If early graduation is agreed upon, the work necessary to complete the diploma requirements will be determined either in the meeting mentioned above, or in a meeting held before the close of the first semester of junior year. The requirements for early graduation will be included in a written plan to be signed by the student, parent, principal, and guidance counselor.

4. Upon completion of all agreed-upon work by the student, a diploma will be granted.

OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Vocational Education Opportunities
Winchester is one of 12 communities that are served by the Northeast Metro Tech High School in Wakefield. Admission to Northeast typically takes place at the end of 8th grade, when students apply from their respective communities. The 9th grade year is an exploratory year, during which students have an opportunity to sample a variety of vocational opportunities. Students may also apply to Northeast after the 9th grade, although their choices are limited by the number of vacancies in the vocational department to which they are applying. Applications are due by March 1, 2008 for the 2008-2009 school year; please call Northeast Admission Office at (781) 246-0810, Ext. 1651 to receive an application.

There are two additional ways in which students may be admitted to another vocational school. Parents may apply to other vocational schools in the area who have “school choice”. Under the school choice regulation, students are accepted under a lottery system and if accepted, Winchester funds the tuition at the school. In the second option, students from Winchester may be eligible to attend a vocational school outside of the Northeast Metro Tech High School, if they apply in grade 10 for a vocational choice which is not offered at Northeast. For additional information regarding vocational education, parents and/or students should speak with the Winchester High School guidance department.

Independent Study
Independent Study is a program that Winchester High School offers for 11th and 12th grade students. This program broadens the curriculum by offering students an opportunity to pursue an area of academic interest under the guidance of an advisor who has special skills in that field. Independent study projects may not replicate the existing curriculum at Winchester High School. Specialized topics contained within existing courses may be pursued at the advanced level after the student has taken the appropriate prerequisites. NOTE: Honors credit will not be given for Independent Study.

It is important that students understand the workload for an independent study course is equal to a course offered at the high school. Students take responsibility for their own learning in an independent study course.

Proposal Submission Process

· Your proposal: A Proposal form must be completed by the student and clearly indicate the topic, the process for learning, the times and places of learning, and specific activities that will be used for evaluation of the Independent Study course. All of these decisions should be worked out between the student and his/her advisor.

· Submission of Your Proposal: Proposals should be submitted in the semester prior to the semester for which they are proposed. The final deadline for full year and first semester proposals is two weeks after the first day of school. The final deadline for second semester proposals is the last day of school prior to midterm examinations. Retroactive proposals are not accepted.

· Student Responsibilities: A student taking Independent Study is individually responsible, by definition, for completing work on time, meeting with the advisor, and keeping the advisor informed of progress in completing the independent study. Students are solely responsible for adhering to quarter and semester deadlines, as well as any deadlines set by the advisor. Work must be submitted according to these deadlines.

· Grading and Credits: Grades are weighted at the C1 level and will be part of a student’s GPA. Credit is determined by the amount of time a student spends learning. Credit is awarded for semester (2.5 credits) and/or full year (5 credits). One semester, 2.5 credits, is equal to 72 hours of work.

· Withdrawal: A student may withdraw from Independent Study only by following the normal withdrawal process for regular courses as outline in “Withdrawal Policy” on page 2.

Community Service-Learning
Community Service-Learning is a teaching and learning methodology that blends meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning so that each enriches and enhances the other. Through service-learning, students build knowledge, character, and civic skills, and they improve academic skill by applying what they learn in school to the real world. Community service-learning is an area that has been singled out in several national reports on excellence as an integral part of the education process. By 1999, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly one-third of all public schools were organizing service-learning as part of their curriculum, including nearly half of all high schools. A growing number of faculty offer courses at the high school that utilize community service-learning as a teaching tool. Students interested in taking such a class should contact Kristen Ritchie, the Connect & Commit Community Service-Learning Program Director, at x1999 or kritchie@winchester.k12.ma.us.

Work Study/Internship Option
A Work Study option is available for selected students (generally juniors or seniors). To participate in Work Study, a student must locate a job that provides a learning experience, attain the approval of his/her guidance counselor, assistant principal, parent or guardian, and have demonstrated a strong work ethic. The approval for work study will be made on an individual basis. Credit for Work Study will be granted on an individual basis (up to 10 credits per year).

HIGHER EDUCATION INFORMATION

(For Students Planning to Attend a Four-Year College or University After High School Graduation)

Winchester High School uses the Admissions Standards Policy adopted in 1996 by the Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education as a minimum eligibility guide to course selections for students planning to attend a four-year college or university. In some instances, Winchester High School’s requirements exceed the course work required by the Board of Regents, so that students may be eligible for admission to the most selective colleges.

Minimum Required College Preparatory Course work for Admission to Massachusetts State Colleges and University of Massachusetts

English 4 courses
Mathematics 3 courses
(Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, or comparable course work. U. Mass, Amherst admission into Engineering, Management, and Computer Science requires the completion of 4 courses.)
Sciences 3 courses (including 2 lab courses)
Social Studies 2 courses of World History and
1 course of United States History
Foreign Language 2 courses in a single language
Elective Subjects 2 courses
(Arts, Humanities, Computer Sciences, or the above subjects)

Some competitive colleges may have additional requirements.

Criteria for College Admission
College admission requirements vary widely from school to school. As a guideline, colleges and universities usually consider the following factors:

· Academic Record (grades received and levels of courses)
-Standing in class (WHS uses deciles, rather than rank)
-Grade Point Average (GPA)

· Results of College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Examinations
(Some colleges require or prefer the ACT rather than the SAT and Subject Tests.)
-SAT Reasoning Test
-SAT Subject Tests

· Writing Sample

· Teacher/Counselor Recommendations

· Extracurricular Activities (including work experience.)