There are ten departments at St. Mary's from which
students choose their required and elective courses: Religion,
English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education & Health,
Science, Computer, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts. Some courses are
offered on three levels: remedial, college prep, and honors.
In addition, students may take courses at Delta
Community College or the University of the Pacific.
St.
Mary's High School Student Academic Honor Code
"...
For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in
the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of man ..."
Romans 8:21
"Goodness
is the only investment that never fails ..." Henry
David Thoreau
St. Mary's
High School is a community with a proud tradition in which
faculty and students share knowledge, ideas, and creative works.
St. Mary's High School Academic Honor Code expresses our
commitment and moral responsibility to accurately represent the
contribution of each individual and to ensure that those
contributions are made in an honest fashion with
personal
integrity as a cornerstone of this call to honor.
The purpose
of the Code is to help students develop habits of moral
character. Each student is an important member of the St. Mary's
High School Family and must make the ethical and moral
commitment to act honestly and to encourage other students to
act in the same way.
This Code
outlines the expectations of the St. Mary's High School student
and the consequences for violating those same expectations. The
teacher will notify the Academic Dean of all MAJOR violations of
the Academic Honor Code. The teacher will provide proof of the
violation and the teacher will be informed of the appropriate
consequence. The Academic Dean will notify the parent/guardian
of the situation and meet with the parent/guardian.
EXPECTATIONS
1. All work
will be the student's own original work. All quotes, statistics,
facts and sources will be properly cited as taught by the SMHS
English Department using the MLA format. Plagiarism will not be
tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as taking ideas or writings
knowingly from another person or source and presenting those
ideas or writings as one's own original work.
2. All tests
will be taken according to the teacher's instructions and
requirements. Cheat sheets, electronic cheating, or any other
verifiable proof of cheating is a violation of this honor code.
3. The
student will submit required essays to turnitin.com as
instructed by the teacher.
MAJOR
VIOLATION: This is an assignment or test which makes up a major
part of the student's grade (at least 5% of the quarter grade).
The violation must be accompanied by PROOF to the Academic Dean.
MINOR
VIOLATION: This is cheating on an assignment such as a daily
reading quiz or written homework assignment. Copying or cheating
on such routine assignments will be handled by the classroom
teacher in a way he/she feels appropriate and reasonable. Minor
violations may also include the teacher seeing the student
copying an answer from another student's paper.
These
violations will be dealt with by the teacher. The class syllabus
will outline the consequences for minor violations of the
Student Honor Code and the teacher will enforce his/her class
rules.
PROOF: Major
violations of the Student Honor Code must be provable. Such
proof includes, but is not limited to, cheat sheets, crib notes,
notes on a student's physical person, turnitin.com violations,
two tests that are 100% exactly alike, phone or text messages,
twitter or other electronic messages, emails, etc.
CONSEQUENCES: Major violations of the Honor Code will result in
a student/parent conference with the Academic Dean as well as a
zero on the assignment in question. Repeated major violations
will result in an additonal conference with the Academic Dean
and additional academic and disciplinary
St. Mary's High School is responsible for securing its network and
computing systems in a reasonable degree against unauthorized access
and/or abuse, while making them accessible for authorized and
legitimate users. This responsibility includes informing users of
expected standards of conduct and the punitive measures for not
adhering to them. Any attempt to violate the provisions of this
policy will result in disciplinary action.
Once
the user accesses the network and computer systems the
user is solely responsible for all actions taken.
Once the user accesses the network and computer systems the
user is solely responsible for all actions taken.
Students are responsible for their work saved on library
computers. A backup of work
is recommended.
Deleting, examining, copying, or modification of files is
prohibited.
Attempting to evade or change network security is
prohibited.
Use of facilities for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Any unauthorized, deliberate action which damages or
disrupts or alters a computing
systems’ normal performance is prohibited.
The copying of copyrighted materials without express written
permission is prohibited.
Attempts to gain unauthorized access or interfere with the
regular operation of local or remote systems are prohibited.
Usage of St. Mary’s computing facilities for any purpose
other than those prescribed or explicitly permitted by the
high school is prohibited.
Sending harassing, obscene or other threatening messages
through the Website is prohibited.
Users of the computer facilities shall obey the instructions
of the supervisors.
Actions which disrupt or adversely effect the use of the
facilities of other users are prohibited. This includes, but
is not limited to: eating, drinking, excessive noise or
playing games.
Engaging in aggressive behavior or abusive language is
prohibited.
Representing Saint Mary's High School under false pretenses
on the school’s Website is prohibited.
Eligibility For Final Grades and Units From Non-St. Mary's
Courses
For eligibility purposes, final grades and earned units
from schools other than St. Mary's, including online
classes, must be verified by the first full day of classes
In August For Ql eligibility and the Friday before the
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in January for Q3
eligibility. Grades from courses taken at schools other than
St. Mary's, Including online classes, will be computed for
eligibility in Fall and Spring semester gpas only. Q2 and
Q4 eligibility will be determined using only St, Mary's
grades earned the previous quarter.
A member of the St, Mary's Guidance Department will proctor
final exams for online and/or correspondence courses.
Appointments for taking final exams must be scheduled ahead
of time with a member of the Guidance Department. Exams may
be taken on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. When
school is in session, these exams will be administered at 2:
15 p.m. For testing on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in June,
July, and August, students can call Mr., Nomellini,
957-3340, Ext 124, to schedule a testing time.
A fee of $25 will be assessed for each final exam proctored.
The fee is due prior to the administration of the final
exam.
In order to graduate from St. Mary's High School, a
student must have successfully completed the
following
4 years of English
40 units
4 years of Religious Studies
40 units
3 1/2 years of Social Studies
Geography (9)
5 units
World History (10)
10 units
United States History (11)
10 units
Government (12)
5 units
Economics (12)
5 units
2 years of Mathematics
20 units
2 years of Physical Education
20 units
2 years of Science
20 units
(Science 9, Biology)
Health Education
5 units
Visual/Performing Arts Elective
10 units
Computer Elective
5 units
Additional units of electives
60 units
Total units required for graduation
255 units
Policy With
Regard To Units That Must Be Completed
For
The 10th Grade Standing
60
units
For
The 11th Grade Standing
125
units
For
The 12th Grade Standing
190
units
For
Graduation
255
units
Advanced Placement courses are offered in American
Literature, English Literature, Chemistry, European History, U.S.
History, U.S. Government, Psychology and Biology.
Students may take the Advanced Placement Exams in
Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature,
European History, Foreign Language, Physics, Psychology, U.S.
Government & Politics and U.S. History.
*72% of our juniors and seniors take upper division
mathematics; 67% of our juniors and seniors are enrolled in upper
division science. Also 69% of our students are enrolled in French,
Italian, or Spanish.
The school year is divided into Fall Semester and
Spring Semester. In addition to semester exams and grades, quarter
exams and grades are mailed home. Progress reports and deficiency
reports are sent to parents halfway through each quarter grading
period.
Teachers will give an out-of-class
assignment each day when appropriate and beneficial.
Assignments are usually written, but
reading assignments are also regarded as "homework".
It is assumed by the administration that every teacher gives an
assignment for every class when appropriate. This is important in
securing parental cooperation and knowledge of the school program.
In assigning homework, teachers are to be considerate of just claims
of the other classes upon the students' time for study. Students are
expected to spend time at home each night preparing for classes.
After an absence, it is the student's responsibility to see the
teachers about making up missed work. When students are able to work
during absence, they are encouraged to obtain their assignments from
fellow classmates. A teacher is expected to submit a list of class
assignments upon request. If a student will be absent because of
illness for three days or more, parents should contact the school
through the Guidance Office to obtain a list of assignments to be
completed at home for the length of absence.
St. Mary's has a policy regarding unscheduled vacation time. It is
the responsibility of the parent or guardian to plan vacations when
school is not in session. Therefore, the administration, faculty,
and staff are not obliged to render any special services to any
student who is absent because of vacation plans.
Final exams are
crucial to the process of student assessment. Attendance is
mandatory with the following considerations:
a) Make-up or
pre-arranged advance exams shall be considered for the
following:
In the
event of a documented illness, medical condition or family
emergency.
In the case
of a CIF-sponsored playoff event which cannot be
rescheduled.
In the case
of a school-sponsored activity which covers one final
exam period. Any event under this guideline must be
pre-approved by the Vice-Principal or a designee.
b) All make-up
or pre-arrranged advance exams must be arranged through the
teacher(s) and approved by the academic dean or designee.
GPA and class rank are calculated by converting
grades to honor points and dividing by attempted units.
When a teacher
chooses to employ a system of weighting quarter marks and
semester exams, the system must be clearly presented to the
students at the beginning of the course. Plus and minus grades
may be given at any marking period.
c) A student or
parent who has a concern about a grade or assignment in a
particular class should speak with the teacher to clarify
matters. If further discussion is necessary, the student or
parent should consult with the Department Chairperson,
Counselor, and finally, the Vice Principal.
Each department
has established a policy for students making up failures.
English
Students who
fail English classes must repeat and pass courses at summer
school or night school. These courses can be repeated at St.
Mary's if class size permits.
Mathematics
Students have
sufficient time in their four years at St. Mary's to schedule
the necessary required units.
Physical
Education
The two year
requirement can be made up through scheduling in the Junior and
Senior year, in summer school or at Delta.
Religion
With the
approval of the Vice Principal and Department Chairperson, a
course may be repeated. Specific individual problems should be
referred to the Department Chair.
Science
Students who
fail Physical Science and/or Biology may attend summer school,
Delta or repeat the class at St. Mary’s if class size permits.
Social
Studies
Geography,
Modern World History, U.S. History, Economics and Government
must be repeated and passed at summer school, or night school.
These courses can be repeated at St. Mary’s if class size
permits.
Students who
show evidence of a pattern of failure in courses required for
graduation may be asked to withdraw from St. Mary's.
Such a pattern
of failures will qualify a student for Academic Probation. The
parent(s) will receive a letter notifying both student and
parent of this status.
A student who
because of multiple failures does not have the necessary number
of units to advance to the next grade level may be asked not to
return in August, especially for the Junior and/or Senior year.
After June
grades, the Vice Principal will inform the parent(s) by letter
of the student's status. The letter will be of two kinds: i)
letter of warning, stating that the student has one more year to
show improvement. ii) letter stating that because the student
has not shown improvement in grades, the student cannot return
in the Fall.
In order to be
eligible for the school Honor Roll, a student must:
1) Earn a
college-prep grade point average of: (PE and TA excepted)
a) 3.50 - and
above for 1st Honors
b) 3.00 - 3.49
for 2nd Honors
2) Have no
"D's" or "F's" or Incompletes on the report card.
Academic
privileges are granted to those students who are eligible for
the school Honor Roll:
Seniors who
have achieved 1st andlor 2nd Honors for the first seven (7)
semesters receive special recognition in the form of a gold
stole.
Seniors who
have achieved 1st Honors for the first seven (7) semesters
receive special recognition in the form of a gold stole and a
special cord and medal.
The
valedictorian and salutatorian will be those students who have
achieved, after the first seven (7) semesters, the highest class
ranking as determined by cumulative academic grade point
average. The valedictorian and salutatorian may not drop a class
in the fall semester of the senior year to improve class rank.
Dropping a class to improve class rank shall disqualify a
student from the position of valedictorian and/or salutatorian.
NOTE: Honor
Roll achievement at St. Mary's is based solely on St. Mary's
grades. Make-up grades or grades for courses taken outside of
St. Mary's do not count. Transfer students excepted.
Grade Weighting
All Advanced
Placement classes and Honors classes (grades 11, 12 only) will
be weighted. (5 for an “A” grade, 4 for a “B” grade, and 3 for a
“C” grade). Those courses qualifying for weighted grades are
identified by the University of California, not by St. Mary's
High School.
Class Rank
Class rank and
cumulative G.P.A. is calculated from the semester grades earned
in grades 9, 10, 11, 12, excluding Physical Education, Teacher
Assistant, Cheer, and Drill.
All
AdvancedPlacement classes and Honors classes (grades 11, 12
only) will be weighted. (5 points for an "A" grade, 4 points for
a "B" grade, and 3 points for a "C" grade). Those courses
qualifying for weighted grades are identified by the University
of California, not by St. Mary's High School.
St. Mary's
High School encourages its students with the necessary skills to
expand their academic horizons and to fully develop their
academic potential through the taking of Advanced Placement
classes. Students must be aware that such courses do require
additional work, and while AP classes do receive a weighted
grade, students will more than earn that extra grade point. The
goal of an Advanced Placement course is to prepare students for
an intense competitive nationwide test for college credit*
offered by the College Board in May. Students will be expected,
but not required, to take AP exams in the subject areas offered.
Students who are interested in scheduling such courses should
contact the instructor prior to registration if they have
questions regarding an AP course and its content/requirements.
Students are encouraged to make mature, responsible decisions
regarding AP scheduling. In many cases, an AP course contract is
required prior to enrollment. The contract will usually outline
course requirements and expectations. Consult with your
counselor before you apply. In addition, the contract will state
the length of time that a student must remain in the class
before dropping or transferring.
*Most
colleges have special AP acceptance requirements. Contact www.
apcentral.collegeboard.com for information regarding the
specific college requirements. Check under Higher Education.
St. Mary's from 1990 to 2011 has exceeded state and national averages on AP
exams.
