Student Handbook.

A look at the Table of Contents which follows will give you an idea of the scope of this handbook. If there is anything you do not understand, be certain to ask your teachers.

Both students and parents should look over the various dates for the year (found on our Horton Calendar below) so that you are well prepared, be it for examinations or for holidays.

A special welcome is extended to all of the students new to Horton this year. We hope that you will enjoy your time at Horton and that you will take advantage of what the school can offer you, both academically and in the extra-curricular field.

• Never leave the school grounds during class time without signing out.

• When arriving at school after classes have begun, sign in.

Regular fire alarm Students are expected to evacuate the building immediately and assemble at the designated location. Should an alarm occur during class time, students will follow their teacher to the designated space for that particular class room. Students on free periods will assemble near the bus entrance along with the office staff. In the event of an alarm during non-class time, students will proceed to the north side of the building (facing highway 101) and line up by home room at the designated space. All buzzers indicating changes of classes, or recess or noon, or the end-of-day, are to be ignored. Once the building is evacuated all future instructions will be voice instructions.

Lock Down This will be announced over the speaker system as a “lock-down…”. On this command, all students will remain in their rooms until further notice. Students in the library will remain there. Students out of their rooms will go to the nearest teaching area occupied by a teacher. Students in Horton Hall will go to the gym. If a lock-down is called at recess or noon, or during a student’s free period, students are to proceed immediately to the gym, or to the nearest area occupied by a teacher.

Hold and Secure This will be announced over the speaker system as “hold and secure …”. During this time, students will continue to move about the interior of the school as usual but no one is to enter or leave the building.

Evacuation Directions as to where to go will follow an announcement for an evacuation. Evacuations are to proceed in an orderly manner, observing the same procedures as for a fire alarm. Students will exit the building using the designated fire exits.

While we are proud of the academic achievements of many of our students, it is within the capability of all students to achieve the Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma. Students with learning challenges are able to have their programs adapted to meet their needs. Parents who want to know more about program adaptations should contact Student Services. Horton staff is committed to helping students succeed; putting students first is our priority. We hope that parents, if they have concerns, will feel free to contact the school. Education is a cooperative effort.

Each of the scheduled classes of the day is 75 minutes in length. Travel time is provided between periods 1 and 2. Students are to be in classrooms and ready to begin at the designated start time of each class.

For the first two 8-day cycles, students will meet daily in their Advisory Group. This meeting time could be a short, 10-minute time frame, or a longer, extended time slot. The shorter time schedule is outlined below.

The following schedule is for the remainder of the year. 

Early Dismissal Schedule:

Check our online calendar for early dismissal dates.

2. The 8-Day Cycle

The school operates on an 8-day cycle. Cycle days for the school year are posted on our online calendar.  Holidays, in-service days and exam days are not included in the numbering system.

Days cancelled due to weather conditions are lost from the cycle. For example, if a school day is cancelled on Day 5 because of a storm, it will be Day 6 when you return the next day.

3. Announcements

Daily written announcements:

• are to be emailed to hortonannouncements@gnspes.ca by 8:50 a.m.
• will be emailed to students through the morning to their gnspes.ca address
• are available on our website and via the Parent Portal
• will be posted on the Student Google Classroom

Any announcements submitted by students must have the name of the student advisor on the announcement request, indicating the advisor approves of the announcement.

4. Book Bags & Knapsacks

While students may bring book bags to school, they must be aware that they are not allowed in the Library. Students are discouraged from leaving book bags unattended, especially those containing items such as wallets, iPods,  cell phones or other valuables.

5. Cafeteria Services

Horton has an outstanding cafeteria staff who they work diligently to offer a wide variety of nutritious, affordable items each day for students and staff. A complete menu, along with the Daily Specials, may be found on our website. In addition, we offer a complimentary Breakfast Program each morning for all students. Parents or students who wish to contribute to this valuable program are invited to do so at any time; your support is always appreciated.

Griffy’s Grill, which serves all Horton students, is located in Horton Hall. Its hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This service is privately operated with profit-sharing going to Student’s Council. The cafeteria will be closed during class change time and at the end of recess (for 30 minutes). Students involved with scheduled activities at noon may pre-order and prepay, then collect orders at noon without lining up.

6. Campus Shop

A variety of commonly used school supplies is on hand in the Admin Office. These include: pens, pencils, binders, coloured pencils, memory sticks, markers and rulers. A complete list of items available (along with prices) may be found on our website, under “Campus Shop”.

7. Care of School Property

• All students must help to maintain the cleanliness of the school. They are not to mark on the desks, walls, or lockers at any time. Textbooks, Chromebooks, & school calculators are not to be left on desks or in the classrooms overnight.
• Any damage, accidental or intentional, must be reported immediately to the principal.
• Students who leave their lockers in an unsatisfactory state at the end of the year may be charged a $5 cleaning fee.

8. Cell Phones & Smart Devices

Smart devices shall include smartphones, tablets, iPods and other portable technology with texting and/or internet capability. Smart devices and tablets are valuable learning tools and students are encouraged to bring their devices to enhance their learning. Use of these devices must conform with the AVRCE acceptable use policy and the Horton High School cellular and smart device policy outlined below.

The following is from the policy of the AVRCE:

• Cellular phones may not be used at any time where individual privacy must be protected, such as in washrooms or change rooms.
• If the video recording feature of a cellular phone is used in such a way as to show disrespect for another’s privacy, or if the text messaging feature is used during a test or examination, these actions will be considered to fall under the category of a “severely disruptive/illegal behaviour”, under the Board’s Student Code of Behaviour Policy.

Horton students are expected to practice appropriate digital citizenship throughout the school day. This includes – but is not limited to – the following guidelines:

• Students shall ensure that smart devices in their possession are in silent or vibrate mode during class time.
• Smart devices are to be away or with the teacher during any form of assessment where these devices could be used to cheat.
• Students shall not initiate communication such as phone calls, SnapChats, and text messages nor shall they respond to calls or other types of communication that might negatively impact their learning during class time unless permission has been granted by the classroom teacher.
• The use of smart devices shall not interfere with the class environment NOR be a distraction to other students.
• It is expected that students using smart devices during class time do so discretely, with the understanding that they are responsible for being active learners and remaining engaged in the lesson or the class work which has been assigned.
• Inappropriate use of smart devices in school that falls under the category of cyberbullying will be handled at the office in accordance with the Nova Scotia Cyberbullying Act.

Students who violate the AVRCE or Horton cell phone/smart device policy will be dealt with in the following manner:

1st Offense: Warning from staff member involved
2nd Offense: Loss of device for the remainder of the class
3rd Offense: The device is taken to the office for end-of-day pickup by the student
4th Offense: Device goes to the office for pickup by a parent

Subsequent offences may entail the student no longer being permitted to bring his/her smart device to school; failure to comply would be considered an act of defiance, subject to suspension. Repeat offenders will be closely monitored by a school administration.

9. ChromeBook Computers: SEE APPENDIX K

10. Clothing Orders: See SWAG (Below)

11. Corridor Use During the Day

No student should be in the wing hallways during class without the express permission of his/her scheduled teacher. Students who have a free period are also not to loiter in the halls. Students entering/exiting the building during class time are expected to use the main entrance doors. Due to fire/safety regulations, students are not allowed to sit in the hallways or on the steps.

12. Dress Code

FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE: The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education believes that the manner in which students dress and conduct themselves has a direct influence on the educational learning environment of the school and school community. The AVRCE believes that schools must maintain learning environments that are positive and respectful. Consequently, the Board requires that students’ manner of dress promote both a positive, respectful school climate, and be reflective of community standards and diversity.

The AVRCE views the safety and welfare of students and staff as being paramount; therefore, the Board supports schools in their requirements that students dress safely and in a manner that is appropriate for the setting in which an educational program is being carried out.

Appropriate school dress

FROM HORTON ADMINISTRATION: Schools are a public place in the community and we want our students to understand that how you dress matters. One job in education is to help teach students more than what they learn in their classes.  School must be considered on the same level as a place of work.  If the attire is not appropriate for a job interview or work placement, it might not be the best decision to wear it to school.

Students are expected at all times to dress in a manner that is appropriate, clean, and tidy. A student’s dress and appearance shall be safe, and appropriate for the time, place, and occasion. This includes school events such as dances, sporting events, or any events where the student is representing the school/school board. We do not want students to be out of school due to school attire, as that is not the goal.  We do appreciate your support if we are forced to call to a dress situation that is not appropriate for our school community.  Together we will be able to find a solution to any concern.

Inappropriate attire is judged to be any attire that is profane, vulgar, offensive or obscene, promotes or incites discrimination, or which, because of the setting (for example, in certain laboratory situations) endangers the health and safety of oneself or others.

Examples of dress, appearance, or adornment that schools must prohibit include, but are not limited to:

• any attire containing symbols, styles or messages, which promote or may incite hatred, intolerance, discrimination, violence, or intimidation
• any attire with messages or illustrations that are lewd, profane, vulgar or offensive
• any adornment or clothing (such as chains or spikes) that could reasonably be perceived as, or used as, a weapon
• clothes that are see-through or have holes in inappropriate places

Students who do not comply with the school dress code may be directed to return home and change their attire before returning to school or may be directed to wear a school-provided T-shirt until end-of-day dismissal.

Repeated non-compliance of the dress code will be treated as a disciplinary issue and be considered disruptive behaviour under the AVRCE BP/AP 402.7 Student Code of Behaviour.

13. End-of-Day Dismissal

Students will dismiss for the day immediately after last period. Students may leave the building once they have returned to their lockers to retrieve required items. Buses will depart 10 minutes after the dismissal bell.

14. Food Service

See Cafeteria Service

15. Free Periods

Only students in grade 11 or grade 12 may have free periods. Those students who have free time at the beginning of a day may sign in late, or if they have free time at the end of the day may sign out early. Students at school who have free time will go outside, to the library, if available, or to Horton Hall. Students must not linger or be in the wing halls. Students who have a study period during period 1 must attend Advisory Group during September. School administration reserves the right to assign students on a free to a designated, supervised area should they be found violating school rules during their free period or in danger of failing one or more required courses.

16. Laptop Computers ~ Personal

Students wishing to access the internet on their own laptop computers may do so via Horton student wi-fi only. See Item 35 for wi-fi information. Students are not permitted to connect their own laptops directly (via cables) to our school network.

17. Lockers

• Students must recognize that the use of a locker is a privilege, not a right.
• To enjoy this privilege, students must meet the school’s criteria for locker usage, which includes prepayment of a Students’ Council fee and the payment of all bills outstanding.
• Students are not allowed to share lockers with other students.
• Students are not allowed to change locks or lockers. No personal (store-bought) locks are permitted to be used.
• The locks are provided by the school and remain the property of the school.
• Once a locker is assigned to a student, the student is responsible for reporting any damage to that locker or lock, to both the Advisory teacher and the school administration. Damage done to lockers but not reported will be the financial responsibility of the student.
• Students will sign a locker contract prior to being assigned a locker to indicate their willingness to comply with the conditions of locker usage. Students who choose to decline the offer of a locker will indicate this on the locker contract.
• Lockers remain the property of the school, and the school administration reserves the right to open lockers at any time without prior notification.
• Students are not allowed to glue, tape or stick items in/on their lockers.
• Lockers will be inspected at the end of the year. Students will be required to leave their lockers in the same state that they received them. Failure to do this may result in bills being charged to the students.
• Perishable food items are not to be left in lockers overnight.

18. Lost & Found

If you have lost something or found something, report to the service desk where office staff will take the details and arrange for announcements as necessary. Students are advised against bringing large sums of money and other valuables to school. The school administration is not responsible for the investigation of thefts due to carelessness.

19. Lunch

It is expected that students will eat their lunches in Horton Hall or outside the building. Teachers may allow for students in lunchtime meetings to eat lunches in their rooms. Students who eat in Horton Hall are expected to leave the tables in the same location and to place garbage in the appropriate receptacles.

20. Nova Scotia Educational Facilities Society – SEED Grants

A new process for applying for grant money is coming soon.

21. Prefects

Prefects are chosen as student leaders who are assigned special responsibilities and are expected to work with the staff and the student body to create a spirit of cooperation and respect for both people and property in the school.

22. Posters & Signs

There are designated spaces (bulletin boards) throughout the school for signage. Posters/signs must be approved by the office and are generally not permitted on walls, windows or woodwork except in special circumstances deemed appropriate by administration.

23. RCH

Horton High School has an RCH Committee comprised of staff and students. The Race Relations, Cross Cultural Understanding and Human Rights, Policy of the AVRCE will be followed. In addition, HHS will provide a supporting educational component:

• At all grade levels teachers will reinforce the need to recognize and fight racist, sexist and discriminatory behaviours.
• Counselling will be advocated and provided at student, staff, or parental request.
• A culture of mutual respect will guide all personal interactions within the HHS community.
• All students at HHS are respected and treated with equity. Racial, ethnic or gender intolerance is unacceptable. These types of actions will have serious consequences.
• Horton High School Trans* Inclusive Policy: The AVRCE prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. In order to comport with this policy and to uphold the principles of equity and inclusion, Horton maintains the following policies to facilitate and encourage the participation of trans* and gender-nonconforming students, staff and visitors. These policies cover: participation in clubs and sports; participation in education offerings; and accommodation for trans* and gender nonconforming who attend and participate in any activities, educational or otherwise, at Horton High School.
• In keeping with our mandate to prevent discrimination of any kind, Horton will take punitive action for any types of bullying or harassment based on discrimination. Staff will, to the best of their ability, attempt to stop any form of discrimination if they witness it. Our wish is to prevent both discrimination and bullying due to gender and/or sexuality-related reasons.

24. Room Security

Students who arrive early are encouraged to gather in Horton Hall. Classrooms will remain locked until opened by the homeroom teacher.

25. Scent-Sensitive Policy

Over the last number of years, we have seen various institutions and businesses adopt “scent-sensitive” policies. These actions are a result of increased rates of reaction to fragrances in the general population. Statistics indicate that approximately 15% of the population has adverse reactions to various scented products. Research also indicates student performance decreases when exposure to fragrances occurs.

In accordance with this, Horton High School encourages all staff, students, and visitors to refrain from the use of scented personal care products. This includes, but is not restricted to those products in the form of perfumes, colognes, after-shave, hair sprays, etc. Information regarding alternative products is available, upon request, from the Occupational Health & Safety Committee in the school.

26. School Buses

• The bus driver will have complete charge of conduct and discipline on the bus at all times.
• No smoking or eating is permitted on school buses. No open drinks are permitted on school buses.
• Bus drivers can refer discipline matters, if they feel it is necessary, to school administrators.
• Students wishing to travel on a bus other than their own must present a note from home to the office. They will then be provided with a form to give to the driver.

27. School Exits and Entrances

In order to maintain reasonable safety and security for all members of the Horton school community, entrance doors other than those at the main entry (near the admin offices) will be locked during the school day. Students are not to use the doors at the ends of the red and blue wing during class time unless there is an emergency evacuation or teacher permission has been granted. Provisions will be made for access during recess and lunch breaks.

28. School Grounds

Students are encouraged to use the outdoor facilities before school and during break times, at recess, and noon, but are not to enter the property of our neighbours. We want to remain good neighbours and ensure student safety. This means that the roadway leading from the parking lot to the main entrance, the fire road to the Old Orchard Inn, Highway 101, the orchard toward Highway 101, the pond area to the west of the guard rails on the west side of the school, and all wooded areas surrounding the school grounds are out-of-bounds.

Students who wish to walk home for lunch must present to the administration, at the beginning of the year, written permission from parents. These students must use designated roadways to get to their homes. Caution is urged, as there are no sidewalks in the area. Other individuals are not to accompany these students due to the safety factor.

29. Sickbay

Horton maintains a small sickbay area with washroom facilities for students who are ill and waiting for a drive home. In order to be admitted to sickbay, students must indicate to their teacher that they are ill and need to go home. A staff member will bring the student to the office area and contact home to arrange a drive, then accompany him/her to sickbay to await pickup. Students who become ill during non-class time are to report to the administration office, where the same protocol will be followed. Students who indicate that they do not need to go home will be escorted back to class.

30. Staff Contact Information

An up-to-date list of all Horton staff, along with links to their email addresses and (where appropriate) their web pages may be found on our website under the link: Contact … Staff.

31. Student Meeting Locations
Students planning to hold a meeting are encouraged to book one of the meeting rooms or the Conference Room. This may be done through the office.

32. Student Supervision

Students wishing to use the gym (including the fitness studio) at any time or planning activities at the school that will take place outside regular school hours must have staff supervision.

33. SWAG: Spirit Wear And Gifts

We carry a small inventory of clothing and gift items year-round – available through the admin office. Click the SWAG link on our website to view the current offerings. In addition, Students Council places custom orders for Horton clothing twice a year: before Christmas Break and in the spring before graduation season. The spring order typically includes grad wear as well.

34. Teacher Authority

Any teacher or other staff member will have full authority over all students during school hours and when on school property.

35. Telephones

In-house phones are not for student use unless specific permission has been granted. Students wishing to phone home may do so in the admin office.

36. Vehicles and Their Use

Student parking at Horton is a privilege, not a right.

• Students are not to be in any parked vehicle during the school day.
• Students are to obey all posted speed limits and traffic signs.
• White lines identify student parking areas. Students are expected to refrain from parking in the designated visitor spaces.
• Students’ vehicles must not display (inside or out) obscenities or offensive (racial, sexual, etc.) signs or symbols.
• When parents give permission for a student to drive to school, they also assume responsibility as to whether the student uses his/her vehicle during non-class time, including, in the case of Grade 11 or 12 students, during their free period.
• Students driving off school grounds during the school day are expected to follow the school’s signing out policy.
• Student vehicles are not permitted in the bus loop except with special permission from staff.

A student’s failure to observe any one of these rules may result in loss of parking privileges.

37. Vending Machines

There are machines in the cafeteria that dispense snacks and beverages. These machines are able to accept bills as well as coins and are maintained by the cafeteria staff who will address any issues or problems with them.

38. Visitors

Horton is a closed campus. This means the site, during the regular school day, is reserved for the benefit of Horton students only. Parents and guardians are welcome on school property but are asked to report to the office before walking through the building. Students are not allowed to receive social visits from non-student friends during the day, including recess and noon.

38. Water Bottles

In keeping with our wish to limit the consumption of non-renewable resources, Horton High School does not sell bottled water. Bottle filling stations are located on both levels of the school. Students are encouraged to bring their own refillable bottles each day.

39. Wi-Fi Access

Wireless internet is available throughout the school to students for personal devices. Rules governing acceptable computer use also apply to wi-fi users. The network for student use for your personal device is called AVRCE_Student and requires your device wifi address to be emailed to selfservice@avrce.ca from your student gnspes.ca email address. The subject of your email should say only wireless and the body of the email should be in this format with your wifi address substituted for this example: +12:34:56:AB:CD:EF,iPhone. (the plus sign, the colons, the comma, and all other information have no spaces between them and all must be included in the email.) You will receive an email back telling you which wifi signal to connect with. For assistance with Horton wi-fi, check out http://it.avrce.ca and find the Connect Personal Device to Wireless link on that page.

40. Student Fees

The Student fee for this school year will be $25 per student, which includes a $2 locker fee. The maximum fee for a family shall be $50. These funds are used to purchase classroom supplies that are used directly by students.

b) All assignments, tests, reports, etc. must be completed and marks for any semester may be withheld until work is complete.

c) Late/Missing Assignments: Assignments are one of the tools that teachers use to assess whether or not students understand the course material. If assignments are not submitted, the teacher cannot accurately make that determination. The AVRCE has developed a document entitled “Ensuring Student Success”, from which Horton High School has adopted the following policy: Late assignments may be subject to a penalty of up to 25% depending on the degree of lateness; there will be terminal deadlines after which items may not be accepted. Teachers may contact home to inform parents/guardians about pending terminal deadlines for major assignments. This information is typically available on the Parent Portal as well. Students will generally not be permitted to submit late assignments during the final week of a course.

2. Changing Subjects

If, during the first 8-day cycle of classes, a student wishes to change courses and there is sufficient room in the new course, he/she must pick up a Subject Change Form from Student Services. This form needs to be signed at home and signed by the teacher whose course the student is dropping. The student should also consult with the guidance counsellor to ensure that the course change does not affect graduation requirements. Finally, the student needs to take the completed form to Student Services for processing. Students are to follow their old timetable until they have gone through the complete process and a new timetable has been issued.

Students typically have until the completion of one 8-day cycle to initiate a course change. Check the online calendar for specific dates for semesters one and two.

Level changes: (i.e., Math 11 to Math at Work) Since many student timetables do not permit level changes, students are advised to make all level changes before the course change deadlines. Students who discover a need to change levels shortly after the course change deadline may apply through Student Services, for a late level change.

Grade 12 students, as long as they maintain the minimum required course load, may, with the required permission, drop a course after the September deadline. Any student who withdraws from a course after October 1st for Semester 1, or March 1st for Semester 2, will still have that course recorded on their transcript and on their reports with a “WD” recorded as the mark.

3. Cheating

Infractions with cheating on assignments, examinations or other school work will result in zero being assigned as a mark for the work. Communication in any form that could be used for cheating need only be in the possession of the student during the assessment time for him/her to receive a mark of zero. Students should be aware that ALL parties involved in a cheating incident will receive consequences.  They are therefore advised not to share their work with other students unless the teacher clearly states otherwise (ie: group projects).

4. Correspondence Courses

The Department of Education provides correspondence courses for credit. Currently, these courses are being updated and are not available for registration. When correspondence courses are once again available, the Guidance Department will make students aware.

5. Exams

Examinations in most semestered courses will be written at the end of the semester in January or June. In most year-long courses students will write exams only at the end of June. Exam format, value and length may vary depending on the subject area. Exam days are indicated on the school calendar, and the specific schedule will be provided a few weeks prior to exams.

All students who miss exams because of illness must have a parent/ guardian contact the school prior to the day of the exam in question, or if on the day of the exam, before the start time of that exam. A doctor’s excuse will be required and must indicate the date(s) that the student is unable to write an exam. Students who have other extenuating circumstances must contact the Principal. A student who misses an exam, with an acceptable excuse, may be required to write the exam at a later date.

AVRCE policy states that exams are not to be scheduled outside of the designated exam period. Therefore we cannot schedule students to write exams early, or after the exam period. Families should not plan vacations during exam time, and should also keep in mind the possibility of storm days delaying exams in January.

6. Graduation Requirements

1. GRADE 9 PROMOTION

A student must complete the requirements for English, French, science, social studies, mathematics and physical education. These are known as required courses. In addition, students must pass one additional course for a total of seven courses in order to receive a grade nine promotion. A student who fails one of the required courses may be advanced into grade ten without a promotion certificate.

B. FRENCH IMMERSION CERTIFICATE
This certificate will be awarded to students who:

1. were enrolled in an early immersion program or a late French immersion program;
2. successfully completed a total of nine courses in which the language of instruction is French; three of which must be French Language Arts.

C. HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION CERTIFICATE
Graduating students must meet the Graduation Requirements listed below and in the Horton Course Calendar.

D. GRADE 12 FEE
Students who plan to participate in graduation activities are expected to pay a grade 12 fee, which covers the cost of a grad cap, tassel, and gown and certificate folder.  There may also be Prom and Graduation Banquet fees. This is payable at Student Services. Students may pay their grade 12 fee in installments.

At the end of term or end of year, students may receive Honours standing to acknowledge their academic achievement. Honours standings are granted to all AVRCE students under the following guidelines:

• The Honours standing is based upon an average of the final or term marks/grades. Not every mark is included; the list below details the number of marks included, based on grade level.  Any marks/grades for correspondence courses shall be included in the calculation of the average for the academic year the course was completed. The number of marks used,  based on student grade level:
  • Grades 9, 10, 11: any six (6) courses
  • Grade 12: any five (5) courses*

*Students who are enrolled for one (1) semester only in any given year are eligible for Honours standing by taking a minimum of three (3) courses in that semester.

• For an average of 80% or higher, the student will receive an Honours standing. For an average of 90% or higher, the student will receive an Honours with Distinction standing.
• In order to receive either an Honours or Honours with Distinction standing, the student must not have a final failing grade in any course for the term or year.

8. International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Program

Horton is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme to our students. The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year, internationally recognized curriculum and system of assessments. A student in IB would take IB courses in Grades 11 and 12, instead of courses from the Nova Scotia curriculum (PSP). A student intending to enroll in IB Diploma courses in Grade 11 and 12 would prepare by taking Horton pre-IB courses in their Grade 10 year. Please visit the Horton website and follow the “IB Program” link for information. Questions about IB can be directed to the IB Coordinator, Mr. Fuller.

9. Library

The librarian or assistants will be available during school hours and all books must be checked in and out. The library will be open every Tuesday and Thursday as well as every other Monday from September onwards, from 8:55 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. Any use of the library before or after these times will have to be discussed with the Librarian.

1 0. Physical Education

Physical education is compulsory for all students to the end of Grade 9. Should a student be medically unfit for physical education class for an extended period of time, he/she will need a medical certificate from his/her family doctor. Proper footwear and appropriate clothing must be worn at all times for playing in the gymnasium.

11. Ranking (Grade 12)

The AVRCE does not rank students. Some university applications request a rank. “N/A” is an appropriate response in these cases.

12. Resource

Resource support can be arranged for students in grades 9 to 12 who are experiencing academic difficulties.

The Resource Department works closely with subject teachers to provide individualized test or exam situations where this has been found beneficial. Additional information may be obtained from the Resource Department.

13. Semesters & Progress Report Information

There will be two semesters, with a maximum of eight courses that may be semestered or year-long. Teachers will have prepared for students and parents/guardians, an outline of course evaluation for each course for the first day of classes. Formal reports will be presented to students and parents four times during the year:

November: Mid-semester progress reports
February: End of semester 1 final reports
April: Mid-semester progress reports
June: End of semester 2 final reports

Reports are typically emailed to parents, although if required, a hard-copy can be sent home with your student. The information on the report card can be found on the Student Portal. (More details below)

Check our online calendar (above) for specific report card dates.

14. Student Portal

Horton students will need to make use of the Student Portal, which provides a great deal of useful information, including student grades and attendance. Students can access their teachers’ grade books to determine how they are progressing in their courses and to see if there are any outstanding items which require immediate attention. A Parent Portal is also available; contact the Administration Office with photo ID to obtain the login codes.

Student Portal login requires a user name and password.

Your username is the same as your email address (the characters BEFORE @gnspes.ca)

15. Student Services

At Horton our school counselling provides an opportunity to talk and reflect privately and carefully with the assistance of our school counsellors. Within the special relationship, the student will receive empathy, respect, trust and confidentiality in an effort to facilitate wise choices. Through counselling, students are assisted with the setting of goals for personal, social, career and educational needs.

16. Upgrading Students

This policy applies to students who are repeating a course that they have already passed or students who have graduated and wish to take additional courses. These students must meet with the principal and may be asked to sign a contract that will outline their goals, as well as clearly stated expectations for their performance in the course(s).

The contract will include the following:

• The student’s goal in repeating a course should be to achieve additional learning and improve his/her academic standing in the course. For this to occur there must be an observable improvement in areas such as attendance, completion of assignments, general quality of work, attitude and responsibility for his/her own learning.

• Returning grads are expected to attend school regularly and perform to the best of their ability. They may be asked to volunteer their time/skills in order to enhance the school community.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

1. Athletics

Athletics is a very important part of school life for many students. Horton offers a wide variety of sports for both males and females at the junior and senior level. New sports may be added whenever the students express an interest. The following are offered each year: soccer, cross-country, wrestling, volleyball, basketball, hockey, badminton, rugby and track.

Any full-time student (defined as taking 3 or more courses in a particular semester) who has not reached the age of 16 for junior high and 19 for senior high before October 1st is eligible to try out for any team. The Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation has declared that students will only be able to represent their school in competition during their first three years in high school. Students spending more than 3 years in grades 10-12 will not be eligible after the third year to represent their school in any competition regulated by the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation regardless of their age.

The Students’ Council pays part of the expenses for each team, while the remainder must come from the players involved. Each team has a pay-to-play policy. Charges vary according to the level of the team (junior and senior). Also some senior high teams such as basketball and hockey have a higher fee because of the greater expense involved. Students who might have difficulty paying are still encouraged to try out for teams and to explain their situation to the coach or Student Services to work out an alternate solution. AVRCE Policy states that “Students are not permitted to transport other students to or from a school sponsored event.”

The NSSAF, the governing body of school athletics, and
Horton High School, expect players, coaches and
spectators to practice the principles of fair play. These
principles are:
i Respect the rules of the game.
ii Respect officials and accept their decisions.
iii Respect your opponent.
iv Allow all team members to have equal opportunities.
v Maintain your dignity under all circumstances.

See paragraph 40 above.

3. Band & Choir

Horton values the Arts in all forms. The school is home to several vocal and instrumental ensembles, at various skill levels. Concert Bands, Jazz Bands and Combos, Concert Choir and Glee Club are just a few examples of the opportunities Horton students have to learn and celebrate music. Along with credit courses at all grade levels, there are extracurricular instrumental and vocal rehearsals, some of which take place before, during and after school hours. The music director is responsible for the scheduling of rehearsals, along with input from the students.  Any students interested in the program should contact the Music Director.

4. Eligibility System

A student who wishes to participate in extra-curricular activities must be a full-time student (taking at least 3 courses per semester). Academically, students cannot be failing more than one course during a particular semester.

Student eligibility will be reviewed in early October and after each reporting period in November, February and April. Students who do not meet eligibility requirements (i.e. are failing more than one course) shall be placed on a 2-week probationary period during which they must demonstrate substantial improvement in the courses which they are failing. Following the probationary period, their academic progress will be reviewed and if an improvement is not shown they will be deemed ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities until such time as they meet eligibility requirements.

TRANSPORTING STUDENTS TO & FROM EVENTS

Parents, coaches, staff advisors and students should be aware that Horton students are not permitted to transport themselves or other students TO or FROM school-sanctioned activities. As per AVRCE policy, drivers must have a J-Form on file with the school and drivers must be 19 years of age or older. A transportation log is to be on file with the driver and the school for each trip, as per the policy.

Click below to view the AVRCE Administrative Procedure:

202.1 AP Vehicles for Co-Curricular & Extra Curricular Schools Trips

Click below for a copy of the J-Form:

202.1 AP Appendix A Updated September 2018

POSITIVE STUDENT RECOGNITION

At Horton, students who specifically contribute to the positive climate of the school will have their efforts recognized. Areas where students can demonstrate their contribution include effort in their academic work, effort in contributing to positive school social climate and effort in contributing positively to our community.

Students who become involved in various activities earn points towards Horton’s award system. All points will be awarded by the supervisory staff member, coach or administrator. Criteria will include attendance, participation and attitude.

Upon arriving at Horton High School, students begin receiving Participation Points for each activity in which they are involved. Students who, in the opinion of their coach/staff advisor, participate regularly and consistently in an activity will receive recognition for their contribution in that activity in the form of a Participation Point. When a student’s point total reaches 5, he/she would receive a large felt “H”. When the point total reaches 12, the student receives a silver “H”. If the point total reaches 20, the student receives a gold “H”. If a student earns 25 points, he/she receives a special award in the form of a school plaque. The special award is the highest recognition for student involvement in activities at Horton.

Conversion of Points Awarded Prior to 2017-2018:

Students who received points under the previous award system will have their points converted to Participation Points. For each activity where 15 or more points were awarded, students will be credited with one Participation Point.

Examples of Points Conversion:

• 15 points for rugby, 20 for volleyball, 25 for RFD = 3 Participation Points
• 20 points for soccer, 25 for hockey, 20 for track, 15 for PLAYAS, 25 for Students Council = 5 Participation Points
• 20 points for choir, 10 points Horton Holiday Hoorah, 15 for basketball = 2 Participation Points

Provincial School Code of Conduct Policy

1. Introduction

A PDF version of the Provincial Code of Conduct is available HERE.

Nova Scotia Law: Smoke-free Places Act and Tobacco Access Act (Vaping and e-Cigarette Regulations)

Date in effect: May 31, 2015

Under this law, the following are banned:

• Sale and supply to minors;
• Possession by minors;
• Vaping in any venue where smoking is banned;
• Vaping on school property, in cars with children under 19, on restaurant/bar patios, within four metres of doors, windows and air intakes of workplaces

APPENDIX A: ATTENDANCE & LATE POLICY

Consistent student attendance is important. When a student is frequently absent from school he/she misses important learning experiences including specific skills and knowledge that may be necessary for further learning. The real danger of frequent absences from school is that students will develop gaps in their learning that will hinder future learning. It is understood that there are legitimate reasons why students must miss school. When this occurs, the school will work with you to ensure your child does not fall behind. Please communicate these situations with the child’s teacher and the school principal.

There are also many examples of students missing significant time when it is not necessary. Please take school attendance seriously. Be consistent in ensuring that your child values the importance of a good education. Make sure he/she goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets a good night’s sleep.

The students of Horton High School are expected to be in every class on every school day unless they are excused with parental permission. Parents are urged to grant permission to miss time from school for only the very best of reasons such as personal illness. Students should not be excused for reasons such as to do errands, work, or other reasons, which reduce the importance of attending school. The Education Act states it is the duty of parents to “cause their children to attend school as required by the regulations.” The Education Act and Regional Centre for Education policy also state that it is the duty of students “to attend school regularly and punctually” and of teachers “to take all reasonable steps to secure full and regular attendance at school.” To monitor student attendance, the following policy is in effect:

1. DAILY AND CLASS ATTENDANCE

a) During the school day, no student is to be in the school without having reported either for class attendance or to the Service Desk to sign in late. Violations of this rule will make the individual liable to the same consequences as if he/she had skipped class.

b) A student absent from school on a day that a dance is held is not eligible to attend the dance.

c) Student absences may be excused by parents/guardians in one of the following ways: Email or phone call to the office (preferably on the morning of the absence) or a note upon return delivered to the Service Desk. Absences from evaluations may require an acceptable excuse to the subject teacher.

d) Students reported absent from one or more scheduled classes may receive a computer-generated phone call and/or email to their home reporting the absence(s).

e) Parents are urged to plan family vacations within scheduled breaks. If a student is away on vacation it is his/her responsibility to catch up on work that was missed. Both Horton High School and the AVRCE recognize that students who miss a significant amount of class time will not receive the same educational experience as they would have, had they been in the class.

Please note that teachers are not obligated nor expected to prepare work for a student who will miss time for vacations or to re-teach lessons upon his/her return. Teachers will endeavour to provide the student with the opportunity to recoup marks that may have been lost during his/her absence. This could include extending deadlines, increasing the value of a pending activity, completion of a project or other appropriate accommodation.

2. ARRIVING LATE ~ SIGNING IN AND OUT

a) Once Advisory Group periods are over in late-September, the bell to proceed to period 1 will sound at 8:55 AM, with all students expected to be in class by 9:00 AM. This means that students travelling to school via private transportation rather than the bus should aim to arrive no later than 8:50 AM.

Systematic or chronic late arrivals are a concern to the school for a number of reasons. They reinforce in our students the concept that being on time is not an important practice. They cause excessive lineups at the Service Desk and inconvenience students who are unavoidably late in arriving. Most importantly, they disrupt classes that are already underway and show a general lack of respect to those who make the effort to be on time.

Students who regularly arrive late for class without an acceptable excuse will be assigned detentions, and parents will be contacted. The exterior door of the school (as per provincial policy) will be locked at 9:00  and students arriving late will need to be admitted one at a time to sign in.

Examples of acceptable excuses for being late include family emergency, early morning medical appointment, late bus and unexpected disruptions/delays such as power outages, roadwork, poor weather/road conditions or vehicle failure. Please note that, where appropriate, Horton requires communication from a parent – either in person or via note, phone call or email – in order to excuse a late arrival.

Unacceptable excuses typically include: oversleeping, stopping for coffee and general lack of effort to be at school on time.

We recognize that events take place occasionally that are beyond our control. These measures are in place to deal with what we consider to be frivolous and/or chronic late arrivals. We hope that students and parents appreciate the value of instilling in our young people the importance of being punctual whenever possible for scheduled appointments, events, classes, etc.

b) Students who arrive late for class with an acceptable excuse must obtain a late slip from the Service Desk before proceeding immediately to their class.

c) Grade 11 and 12 and Co-Op Ed students who have Study Periods must still follow the sign-in and sign-out policy when entering or leaving school grounds.

d) Students leaving the building prior to end-of-day dismissal must sign out. This means they must have a written note from a parent or guardian to support their early dismissal. Parents may, instead, sign out their sons or daughters in person in lieu of a note. In certain urgent circumstances, a student may be permitted to phone home and have someone in the office speak with a parent to confirm that a sign-out is permitted. Telephone excuses will be accepted only in very special cases. No student will be allowed to sign out unless adequate transportation is available.

e) Students not following this policy and not present in their scheduled classes will be considered to have skipped those classes.

3. ATTENDANCE & ENGAGEMENT POLICY

In October 2017, the Department of Education implemented a new Attendance and Engagement Policy. Click HERE to view the policy

APPENDIX B: SUSPENSIONS

1. IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION (INTERNAL)

Suspension by School Personnel

• Only the AVRCE designate shall administer a suspension.

• Internal suspension is the removal of a pupil from class(es) for a specified period of time during which the following conditions shall apply:
  • The pupil shall work in a supervised area segregated from other students.
  • The pupil on an internal suspension shall be permitted an abbreviated lunch hour and reasonable access to the washroom.
  • Once the school has exhausted the internal suspension route, students will face external suspension.

2. EXTERNAL SUSPENSION

External suspension is the removal of a pupil from school by the Principal or designate for a period of time and shall require the parents, AVRCE, student and teachers to be notified in writing of the reason. The parent shall be informed of the right of review by the Suspension Review Committee. Before returning to class, students on external suspension must meet with an administrator, who will then notify the appropriate teachers.

APPENDIX C: STUDENT ACCIDENT COVERAGE

The Nova Scotia School Insurance Program provides all public school students with student accident coverage for the ten-month school year at no cost to the students, or their parents/guardians. Coverage is provided during school hours, school activities, and travel to and from such activities. Parents may purchase additional coverage if they wish.

APPENDIX D: DETENTIONS

Detentions are held during the noon break or (when possible) during a student’s free period. Detentions are supervised by staff and are a minimum of one half-hour in length. The following guidelines will be observed:

• There will be no eating, drinking, playing games or listening to music. Students are to be quiet and are encouraged to do school work.
• No hats are to be worn in detention.
• Students arriving late will be required to make up the missed time.
• Failure to follow the rules will result in more serious punitive measures.

APPENDIX E: ACCEPTABLE COMPUTER USE

All students are required to sign an Acceptable Use Agreement, which includes the following rules governing computer use in schools:

The use of the AVRCE network and access to the Internet is a privilege. Unacceptable use may result in disciplinary action consistent with the AVRCE Student Code of Behavior, including the suspension or cancellation of access privileges. Students should understand that the loss of access privileges may negatively impact on requirements for course work for which they are responsible.

1. Personal information which identifies users, such as pictures, addresses, telephone numbers, parents’/guardians’ names, will not be web-published.
2. Users will not install/run applications on AVRCE computers that have not been approved for use by authorized school or school board staff.
3. Users will not play games or engage in the use of Chat lines or variants of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) without prior approval of authorized school or school board staff.
4. Users will not use the AVRCE network to access, review, upload, download, store, print, post, or distribute pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit material, or materials that use language or images that advocate violence, harassment or discrimination toward other people (hate literature).
5. Users will not use the AVRCE network to transmit or receive abusive, profane, vulgar, rude, threatening or disrespectful language or images.
6. Users will not use the AVRCE network to gain unauthorized access to information resources or to access another person’s materials, information or files.
7. Users will only use email accounts provided to them by their school or the AVRCE. Users will not use anonymous email accounts such as Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.
8. A user will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the AVRCE network or any other network through the AVRCE network, attempt to log in through another person’s account, or use computer accounts, access codes or network identification other that those assigned to the user.
9. Users will not attempt to connect unauthorized hardware (including personal laptops) to AVRCE networks without the express permission of AVRCE technical staff.
10. Users will not use the AVRCE network to violate copyright laws or usage licensing agreements and will not plagiarize works they find on the Internet.
11. Users will not download or transfer pirated software to or from any school computer.
12. Users will not use the AVRCE network for unauthorized commercial purposes including product advertising and to offer goods and/or products for sale.
13. Users will adhere to other guidelines that individual schools adopt in response to specific requirements of their environment. Such additional guidelines will be communicated in a manner consistent with the normal running of the school.

Violation of these rules may result in the loss of computer privileges or – in the event of a serious offense – suspension from school.

APPENDIX G: (THIS FORM IS AVAILABLE AT THE ADMIN OFFICE)

HORTON HIGH SCHOOL ~ REQUEST FOR ALTERNATE BUS

REQUIRED IF TAKING AN ALTERNATE BUS HOME

_______________________________________ has permission to
Student Name

travel on bus #__________ (if known) travelling to _________________________.

___________________ _____________________________
Date Parent/Guardian Signature

Please Note: Students may bring a note from their parent or guardian to the Admin Office giving permission for an alternate bus to be taken after school. Office staff will exchange the parent note for a Bus Permission Form signed by a school official.

Download Note From Home

Download Alternate Bus Request

APPENDIX I: Your Horton ID Card

Every Horton student who has paid the student fee is issued with an ID card, which must be shown for admission to certain Horton events.

A number of local establishments offer a discount to Horton students, upon presentation of a valid ID card.

Students who are not present for school photo day in September should make an effort to have an ID photo taken in October (retake day), December (grad photos), or February (grad photo retake day).

Students who lose their ID card should enquire at the Office to obtain a replacement.

APPENDIX K: HORTON CHROMEBOOKS ~ POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Receiving and Returning Your Chromebook

Receiving Your Chromebook

1. Chromebooks will be distributed to students for use during the regular school year. Students will receive a Chromebook, power adapter, and protective sleeve – and will be expected to return the items at the end of the school year in the same condition.
2. All Chromebooks are inventoried and labelled for identification. Students are not permitted to tamper or obstruct identification tags.
3. Parents and students must sign and return the Chromebook agreement before the equipment can be issued.

Returning Your Chromebook

1. HHS students are issued a Chromebook during the school year for as long as they are enrolled at the school. Students will be required to return all of the issued technology if they transfer from the school or at the end of the school year at a set date. Chromebooks are stored over the summer months and the same device is re-issued to returning students in the new school year.
2. As the Chromebooks are school property, damage, loss, or theft of the property will be treated seriously and dealt with accordingly on a case-by-case basis within AVRCE policy and legal boundaries. Users are expected to show reasonable care in the use of the technology (as outlined in Using Your Chromebook at Home and School).

Using Your Chromebook at Home and School

1. As the use of information and communication technology is a part of Nova Scotia curriculum, students are expected to use their Chromebooks at HHS.
2. Students are permitted to use their Chromebooks at home, understanding that the technology is school property and covered under the AVRCE Public School Network Access and Use Policy, even when it used at home on a private network.
3. If a student does not bring their Chromebook home, they are responsible for securely storing the Chromebook in the provided protective sleeve at the school. Storage in a locker or locked cabinet is acceptable.
4. Any damage, loss, or theft of a Chromebook must be reported to HHS administration immediately.
5. Any technical issues with the Chromebook must be reported to HHS staff or AVRCE IT staff immediately. This includes, but is not limited to: battery issues, loss of network connectivity, Chrome OS issues, screen display issues, malfunctioning USB ports, keyboard malfunctions, and other hardware problems.
6. Any hardware or software repairs that are not caused by misuse will be covered without cost to the student. However, repeated accidents may result in restrictions being placed on the user (see chart below).
7. Any hardware or software repairs or loss of the technology that are caused by misuse may result in disciplinary actions and restrictions placed on the user (see chart below).
8. Any reports of theft will be referred to the police.

Care of your Chromebook

General Guidelines

1. The Chromebook is property of the AVRCE.
2. The Chromebook is assigned to an individual use. Other users, inside and outside the school, are not permitted to use the device.
3. The Chromebook, including the battery, is under warranty for repairs due to regular use. It is important that students take care in the use, transportation, and storage of the Chromebook to maximize its service.
4. Students are responsible for having their Chromebook charged for class.
5. All Chromebooks are marked with an engraved asset number and numbered with stickers for identification. Students are not permitted to remove or distort these identifiers.
6. Students are prohibited from marking the surface of the Chromebook and/or accessories in any manner, including the use of stickers or labels.
7. Chromebooks and accessories cannot be left unattended in an unlocked or unsupervised location.
8. Cords and peripherals should be inserted and removed from the Chromebook with care.
9. Only use a dry cloth to clean a Chromebook. Never use water or cleaners.
10. Never expose a Chromebook to extreme cold or heat.
11. Do not eat or drink around a Chromebook.
12. Do not stack materials on top of a Chromebook, place it in a tight bag or space, or engage in any action that puts excessive pressure on the device.
13. Students are not permitted to access another student’s Chromebook or Google Apps for Education account.

Access to Digital Tools and File Storage

1. As the Chromebook and the Google Apps for Education account are educational tools, students should limit the amount of personal use and recognize the limited expectation of privacy outlined in the AVRCE Public School Network Access and Use Policy.
2. Students should save their work to their Google Drive space in their Google Apps for Education account.
3. The limited physical storage on the Chromebooks is not backed up and should only be used for educational purposes.
4. The Chromebooks are managed virtually and it is the student’s responsibility to backup locally stored data. The AVRCE is not responsible for lost data in the event the Chromebook is reset, updated, or reimaged.
5. Chromebook malfunctions are not an excuse for not submitting homework or communications. Students will not be penalized in the event of a school-wide network loss and their Google Apps for Education account is unavailable.
6. Students are not permitted to remove Chrome extensions/apps that are remotely loaded on their Chromebook by the AVRCE, school administration, or HHS staff.
7. Any attempt to ‘jailbreak’ or alter the operating software of the Chromebook will result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.
8. The AVRCE, school administration, and HHS staff have the right to limit the user’s ability to install extensions and apps on the Chromebook.
9. The AVRCE, school administration, and HHS staff have the right to remove (with no responsibility for lost content) extensions, apps, and content deemed to be inappropriate.
10. If allowed to install Chrome apps and extensions, the student is responsible for managing the apps and extension they place on the device. Poor performance and technical issues that arise as a result of apps and extensions installed by a student are not supported by AVRCE staff.
11. Chromebooks must be made available for physical inspection upon request from AVRCE staff, school administration, and HHS staff. Staff may also inspect devices virtually at any time, without notice, through the Chromebook Management system.

Student Use of Chromebooks Form

As a student at Horton High School, you have been issued a Chromebook to enhance your educational experience. This is a privilege that requires the ethical and appropriate use of technology as a digital citizen. As with any technology in school, you are required to follow the AVRCE Public School Network Access and Use Policy. In addition, you are required to follow HHS’s Chromebook Policies and Procedures, and follow classroom and school policies in respect to the use of this tool in your education.

In particular, you should be prepared to do the following to ensure that you get the most from this educational tool.

1. Take care of your Chromebook, always knowing where it is and never leaving it unattended.
2. Be a proactive digital citizen in the decisions you make using the Chromebook.
3. Have your Chromebook charged for class at all times.
4. Ensure the Chromebook is returned in the same condition it was received.
5. Keeping your Chromebook in its protective sleeve when it is not in use, being stored, or being transported.
6. Not marking the surface of the Chromebook or decorating it with stickers or labels.
7. Immediately reporting any damage to staff.
8. Taking responsibility for damage caused by neglect or abuse.
9. Not trying to alter or reset the settings, apps, and extensions that are installed on the Chromebook.
10. Respecting individual classroom rules and routines in the use of the Chromebook.

I/we understand that the issued Chromebook is intended solely for educational use under the terms and conditions outlined in this handbook and in the AVRCE Public School Network Access and Use Policy. I/we understand that the Chromebook may be taken home for school-related use, but must be at school every day. I/we understand that the Chromebook and accessories must be returned at the end of the school year, or when enrollment at the school comes to an end, in the same condition in which they were received at the beginning of the school year.

Student Signature: _________________________Date: _____________

Parent/Guardian Name: ______________________________________

Parent/Guardian
Signature: _________________________________Date: ___________

APPENDIX L: Our Community Sponsors

Horton Students Council is pleased to partner with Pita Pit New Minas in offering an exclusive Horton Griffin Pita, with a portion of all sales being donated to Students Council.

In addition, many local businesses offer discounts or deals to Horton students upon presenting their ID card.