SHAPING YOUR FUTURE

1. SHAPING YOUR FUTURE Cranston High School West

2. “What you do today affects what you can do tomorrow” • Future success often depends on your high school effort • Aim high and work hard to create as many postsecondary options as possible when you graduate from CHSW • Freedom in high school requires greater responsibility

3. General Overview of Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements (PBGR) • Credits • Required Courses • Graduation Portfolio and Presentation • Community Service (20 hours over 4 years) • Standardized Assessments • Starting with the Class of 2012, all students will be required to pass the NECAP/PARC standardized test in order to graduate • Comprehensive Course Assessments • Individualized Learning Plans Detailed information can be found in our New Diploma Handbook

4. PBGR: Credits • 24 high school credits • Credit awarded for final grade of D or higher (however, 4 year colleges require grade of C minus or higher) • Depending on course, student will receive 1.75 (CACTC courses), 1.0, .5, or .25 credit(s)

5. PBGR: Required Courses General rule: take four years of all major disciplines and fill open periods with required/meaningful electives Students must complete: 4 credits in English 4 credits in Math 3 credits in Science 3 credits in Social Studies (1 credit must be US History) .5 credit in Computer Technology .5 credit in Fine Arts 1 credit Physical Education 1 credit Health Education 7 additional credits in elective courses

6. PBGR: Working Portfolio/Graduation Portfolio • Working Portfolio consists of artifacts and accompanying reflections • Artifacts are evidence of proficiency in each of the 25 academic expectations • After school support is available for assistance and make-up work • Portfolio can be accessed through the RIEPS website • Graduation Portfolio is a subset of the Working Portfolio • Senior year presentation of Graduation Portfolio • For detailed information see our New Diploma Handbook

7. PBGR: Comprehensive Course Assessments • Students are required to complete final exams in all courses • Every student is required to participate in the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) during the junior year • Students are expected to score at least Partially Proficient • Results will become part of the student’s official transcript • For specific information see our New Diploma Handbook

8. PBGR: Community Service • Students must complete 20 hours of community service over 4 years of high school. It is anticipated that all students complete the community service requirement by the 2nd quarter of grade 12 • For a complete list of acceptable and unacceptable community service hours, please see our New Diploma Handbook • Students are responsible for maintaining a log of their community service hours on an Hourly Log Sheet as hours are completed. Students must have verifying signatures that service has been completed. Hourly Log Sheets should be stored in student’s ILP folder (make a backup copy and keep at home as well) • Community service will be part of the senior Portfolio Presentation at which time the student will present verified Hourly Log Sheets and orally reflect on their experiences

9. Admission to Four Year Post Secondary Institutions • Differs from PBGR for CHSW • General rule: Students should engage in and earn a C minus in a challenging program of studies • Consult the high school Program of Studies located on the Cranston Public School's website for course descriptions to determine appropriate course of study for admission to technical, 2 year, or 4 year post secondary institutions

10. Basic Admission Requirements for Public Four Year Institutions: Courses and Credits • 4 credits of English • 3 credits of math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) • 2 credits of social studies • 2 credits of lab science (Biology and Chemistry or Physics) • 2-3 credits of foreign language (same language) • .5 credits of fine arts • 4.5 credits in additional electives Important: Final grades from all high school years appear on your transcript. Poor grades can negatively affect your future plans (i.e. college acceptance and employment)

11. Basic Admission Requirements for Public Four Year Institutions: Standardized Assessments • PSAT in sophomore year for practice • PSAT in fall of junior year for additional practice and qualification for National Merit Scholarship • Register for the PSAT through the CHSW guidance office (Spring)

12. Basic Admission Requirements for Public Four Year Institutions: Standardized Assessments • SAT or ACT in spring of junior year • SAT Subject Test (if needed) as soon as possible after completion of advanced courses • SAT/ACT in fall of senior year • Register through the testing service • College Board • ACT • Never too early to create an account for standardized testing

13. College/Career Planning • Start researching career paths and postsecondary options now! • Your postsecondary plans may drive your course selection, extracurricular activities, community service, summer employment • Use the following online resources: • College Board's College Planning Center • WaytogoRI • ACT's College Planning Center

14. Attendance • When absent, a parent must call the main office • If student is absent or it is projected that the student will be absent for three or more days of school, the parent may request assignments by phoning the main office; please allow twenty-four hours for teachers to process the request • Student is responsible for making up all missed assignments and/or assessments. See all teachers immediately upon return to class; set up a schedule for submitting all assignments and taking all assessments • In cases of extended absences, please notify the guidance counselor • If incomplete grades are issued, you may be academically ineligible

15. Unexcused Absences • Students with more than 5 days unexcused absences in major classes or more than 3 days in minor classes will have their quarter grade reduced by 10 points • The grade deduction is determined by the student’s Assistant Principal (not the classroom teacher) upon review of attendance records • Consult the school planner for the CPS Attendance Policy • Excessive unexcused absences will result in a referral to Truancy Court

16. Assessment of Coursework • Approximately midway through each report card period Interim Progress Reports will beissued through the advisory • If you are not doing satisfactory work, you may need to modify your study habits, see your teacher(s) for extra help, and/or have a parent/teacher contact. Contacts can be arranged through your guidance counselor • Report cards are issued each quarter. They are distributed in advisory except for the fourth quarter which are mailed to the student’s home address

17. Aspen • Use Aspen portal to check assignments, assessments, and grades • Students • Username: capital S followed by student ID# (e.g. S123456) • Password: capital CHSW followed by Year of Graduation (e.g. CHSW2014) • Parents/Guardians • Contact the Guidance office if you never received a temporary username and password • Access through the Aspen login website

18. Weekly Progress Reports • If you or your parents would like a weekly update of your academic performance, you may pick up a Weekly Progress Report form in the guidance office or download a copy of our Weekly Progress Report form by visiting the Student Center on our school’s website • The weekly report process is driven by the student and parent. Guidance counselors and teachers do not initiate, maintain, and/or provide consequences for academic performance based on weekly reports

19. Summer School • If you fail a course or receive a “D”, you should repeat the course in summer school to recover credit and/or enhance your transcript • It is strongly recommended that students attend summer school because failure to do so will negatively impact your program of studies • Guidance counselors will provide information regarding summer school attendance at the close of the school year • Please note: If you earn a “F minus” in a course, you do not qualify for summer school

20. Keep Informed • Keep informed of all student and school activities through the daily bulletin that is read in advisory each morning • Typical announcements concern meetings with college representatives, athletic events, student elections, club notices, and other pertinent information • Visit the CHSW website for school information and add your email address to the CW Family Listserv for school announcements and updates

21. Scheduling Courses • Each year, teachers will recommend courses for the following academic year • Recommendations are based on perceived ability, work/study skills, and academic performance • Recommendations are also based upon performance on standardized assessments (e.g. NECAP, NWEA-MAP) • Students and parents may elect to override a teacher’s recommendation, provided that a course override form has been completed, signed, and returned to the guidance counselor • Until the master schedule is created in late August, the courses are requests only. Students are ultimately placed in courses based on requests, requirements, availability, and faculty/student ratios

22. Teacher Rapport • Your relationship with your teachers and staff is an important one • Establish a good rapport as soon as you can. Let them know that you are interested in doing well in their class • You may need a letter of recommendation for college and/or employment

23. Eligibility • Students who do not meet satisfactory behavior guidelines and academic criteria are placed on an ineligibility/unsatisfactory conduct list(s) and will be restricted from participating in school-related extracurricular activities • Unsatisfactory Conduct Ineligibility • Student incurs three or more “3s” in Citizenship in a marking period - The student may ask for a review of status during the interim grading period (see Student Planner for procedure) • Academic Ineligibility • Follows RI Interscholastic League guidelines • Student must pass 60% of scheduled courses (see Appendix C in Student Planner) • Academic Eligibility cannot be reviewed mid-quarter

24. Start a “Guidance” Folder • Begin a “Guidance” Folder, either in paper form or in yourPortfolio • Visit the Student Center on the CHSW website in order to download the Individual Learning Plan Worksheet and Activity Sheet templates • Include all the awards and achievements you receive in school and the community (CLCF, part-time jobs, volunteer work, awards, activities, etc.) • This folder will prove helpful as you begin the college application and/or employment process in your junior and senior years

25. School Activities • Become involved in the school community! • There are a variety of athletic, academic, musical, and social extracurricular activities • Benefits include better school performance, sense of belonging, increased pride in school, and more competitive college and employment applications • Consult the student planner or CHSW website for a current list of all activities • Visit the RI Interscholastic League website for detailed information on athletics

26. Guidance Services: General Overview • Counselors are available to assist students in dealing with academic, career, and personal issues • Counselors can provide referrals to other support staff members (school social workers, psychologist, nurse) • Counselors play an integral role in the selection of courses • Counselors can assist in the college and/or employment application process

27. Guidance Services: Requesting an Appointment • Students: Ask your advisory teacher for a “Request for Counselor Appointment” form or fill out one in the Guidance Office.Please include the reason for the visit so your counselor can plan the time accordingly • Parents: Call the Guidance Office at 270-8063 or email the guidance counselor to schedule an appointment. Please refrain from walking in without an appointment

28. Anti-BullyingPolicy • Bullying of any form is NOT tolerated in the Cranston Public Schools • Forms of bullying include physical, mental, emotional, and technological (i.e. Facebook, texts, emails). • If you are a victim of bullying or know of another student who is getting bullied, please let an administrator, counselor or teacher know. You can anonymously send us information as well!

29. Reference • Support staff • Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs: K. Magnelli • Assistant Principal of Special Education and related Services: D. Schiappa • School Counselors: D. Golini, J. McGuirl, M. Royal, R. Willette, R. D’Almeida, L. Velino, D. Ciccone and V. Clark • Social Workers: L. Thompson , K. Ascoli • School Psychologist: G. Blessing • School Nurse: D. Mollicone • Location: A-1 Wing • Phone number: (401)270-8063 Fax: (401)270-8522 • School address: 80 Metropolitan Avenue, Cranston, RI, 02920 • Website address: http://cpsed.net/chsw/index.htm • Email addresses: available at school website • CEEB school code: 400036