Student Handbook.
Student Handbook 2020–2021
Jodye Routledge
PRINCIPAL
Sean Bennett, Vice-Principal – Grade 9 & 10
Kay Greene, Vice-Principal – Grade 11
Peter Morse, Vice-Principal – Grade 12
75 Greenwich Road South
RR#2 Wolfville
Greenwich, NS
B4P 2R2
PHONE: (902) 542-6060
FAX: (902) 542-6066
E-MAIL: hhs@avrce.ca
WEBSITE: hortonhighschool.ca
INTRODUCTION
This online handbook has been prepared for you to answer many of your questions. Please read it carefully and have your parents do the same.
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. |
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
We hope that we will never have a life-threatening emergency, but students must understand what to do in an emergency. Because we have to account for the location of every student in an emergency, we have a sign-in/out policy that must be followed at all times.
• Never leave the school grounds during class time without signing out.
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ALARMS
There are four types of alarms that require your immediate response:
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. |
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
Horton High School provides learners with opportunities to gain proficiency in the Essential Graduation Learnings of Aesthetic Expression, Citizenship, Communication, Personal Development, Problem Solving, and Technological Competence. To achieve a well-rounded education, the educational partners encourage flexibility, understanding, and involvement in meeting the challenges of the 21st Century. |
HORTON CREST
Horton High has derived its name from Horton Township, which was established by the Nova Scotia Government in 1758, honoring the Earl of Halifax who was born in Horton, Northamptonshire, England. The crest is the official crest of the school and has an historical background of which we are all proud. The word “Horton” once meant a bit of marshy land which had been dyked. The brown of the crest represents the land or earth, while the blue and white represent the water. The griffin and the gold letters on the black scroll surrounded by the red diamond background now give us our official mascot and our colors of red, black, blue and gold. |
OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE
The Horton website contains a wealth of information for students, as well as staff, parents, alumni and the community in general. Students and parents can access teacher web pages; learn about Horton’s 50+ year history; read the daily announcements; check the test calendars; view the SWAG items for sale; see upcoming events; access library resources; login to student and parent portals; explore our many extracurricular activities, clubs and events; get information about graduation week and much more. Our website address is hortonhighschool.ca |
HORTON HIGH CHILDCARE CENTRE
The Horton High Childcare Centre is a licensed, non-profit, subsidized centre, which exists to provide quality child care to students who are teen parents and want to complete their high school education. We are licensed for 10 children, ages 3 months – 5 years. Children with special needs are welcome. We have 7 subsidized spaces. The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. We have 2 full-time and 1 part-time staff. The staff is qualified with Early Childcare certification, First Aid and CPR. To meet the needs of the quickly developing young child, two nutritious snacks and a full-course meal are served daily. Students who are interested in having their child attend the Centre should contact the Director, Serina MacDougall. Children must be registered before June 30. Children of Horton students are given priority for registration, with remaining spaces being filled by children who live within the community. Students may drop in to see Serina, or call the Centre at (902) 542-4388. |
HORTON’S STUDENT SUPPORT WORKER
AND NATIVE STUDENT ADVISOR
The Student Support Worker and Native Student Advisor provide support to students of African descent, First Nation students and their families in order to make their schooling a more positive experience, thereby helping them achieve success and remain in school. The student support worker offers, among other services, advocacy and support, fun educational learning and positive role modeling to self-identified students. Activities such as attending meetings with parents, principals and parents with students on their behalf, field trips to universities and colleges, and presentations to students and school staff on cultural topics, are a small example of the kinds of support that the student support worker offers. For more information about the Student Support Worker Program, visit the AVRCE website and go to the RCH link. |
STUDENTS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE FOR 2020~2021
President |
Luke Rideout |
Vice-President |
Sarah Stockdale |
Secretary |
Carmen Peng |
Treasurer |
Bailey Stokes |
Assistant Treasurer |
Lindsey Atwell |
Clerk |
Daniel Hennigar |
ADMINISTRATOR’S MESSAGE
We extend a welcome to all students and parents who make up the Horton School Community. Our school is rich in achievement and tradition. Since the first Horton public school opened its doors in 1959, it has had a reputation for high academic standards and outstanding achievement in extra-curricular activities. Achievements such as these are the result of cooperation amongst all Horton Community members. Just as this has been the hallmark of our past, we are confident it will be the foundation of our future.
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. |
HORTON CALENDAR
Note: This calendar, along with test calendars for all grades, Griffy’s Grill lunch specials and others may be found on our website.
SCHOOL ROUTINES, POLICIES & SERVICES
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1. The Daily Schedule
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. Schedule for the first several days in September, when homerooms are in effect:
The following schedule is for the remainder of the year, when homerooms are removed from the schedule.
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:
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; 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 Students’ 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
8. Cell Phones & Smart Devices Smart devices shall include smart phones, 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:
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. 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 Subsequent offenses 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 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 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 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 both promote 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. 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, and should not, in the opinion of the school’s staff, disrupt or interfere with the educational environment. This includes school events such as dances, sporting events, or any events where the student is representing the school/school board. The AVRCE acknowledges that adolescence is a time of rapid physical growth and developing sexual awareness. Schools are intended to provide an environment for teaching and learning. Consequently, the Board stipulates, without prejudice, that:
Inappropriate attire is judged to be any attire which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, 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:
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 behavior 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 halls. Students on frees during period 1 in early September must attend homeroom period. 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
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 As part of their mandate, the NSEFS provides financial assistance to enable individual students and/or public schools to make use of, or establish programs that match our goals. Grants are available for applications that benefit an individual and/or school program. Application forms may be downloaded via the Horton website. 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
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
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 32. Student Supervision Students wishing to use the gym (including the fitness studio) at any time or planning activities at the school which 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.
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 which 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 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. |
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS
1. Assignments & Tests a) Through the electronic test calendars on the Horton web page, teachers will strive to have individual students write no more than two tests per day. Students should immediately inform the teacher when this is not the case. b) All assignments, tests, reports, etc. must be completed and marks for any semester maybe withheld until work is complete. c) Late/Missing Assignments: 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 will not be accepted and zero grades will be assigned. 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 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, fill it out, get it signed at home, have it signed by the teacher whose course the student is dropping, get course of study approval from the guidance counsellor, and finally bring 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 for the Workplace) 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. 4. Correspondence Courses The Department of Education provides correspondence courses for credit. Students requesting to take such courses for credit must first fill out the appropriate form and receive the permission of the Principal. It is not the intent of correspondence courses to allow a student to cover three years of high school in two years. 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
A student must complete the requirements for English, French, science, social studies, mathematics and physical education/PDR. 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
C. HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION CERTIFICATE D. GRADE 12 FEE |
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Course Registration Book 2020 2021
7. Honours Students
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:
Grades 9, 10, 11: any six (6) courses
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 gym 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 Check our online calendar (above) for specific report card dates. 14. Student Portal Horton students are encouraged 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:
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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 |
2. Students Council Fees
These fees are determined by the Students’ Council to help pay for student activities (school trips, special speakers, athletic teams and events, band, choir, student ID’s, student agenda, etc.) The Students’ Council 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. 3. Band & Choir Instrumental and vocal practices, under the guidance of the Band Director, take place before, during and after school hours. Any students interested in the program should contact the Band 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 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: |
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 |
HORTON HIGH SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS
Respect for Self | Respect for Others | Respect for Learning | Respect for Environment | |
Everywhere | • Project a positive self- image. • Dress in a manner which is respectful to you and to others. • Refrain from wearing items which may be considered offensive or revealing. • Remain positive. • Be proud of Horton and participate actively. • Be proud of yourself and your school! • Be safety conscious. |
• Be courteous and respectful of others. • Be a good listener. • Respect personal space. • Use appropriate voice and language. • Be considerate and cooperative. • Be a good role-model. • Keep Horton scent-sensitive. • Remove hat during “O Canada” • Follow sign in/out procedures. |
• Keep an open mind. • Always be ready to learn something new. • Take advantage of opportunities to be involved in the school community. • Listen to and learn from others. • Be well organized. |
• Keep all facilities clean. • Respect all facilities; discourage acts of vandalism and report damage to staff. • Respect others’ belongings. • Reduce, reuse and recycle. • Put all garbage in appropriate bins. • Use of laser pointers is prohibited unless permission has been granted by a staff member. |
Classrooms | • Attend all classes and be on time. • Personal music players must be away during instruction time & may only be used with teacher permission. • Remain positive and put forth a good effort. • Respect rules of individual classrooms and learning areas. |
• Listen carefully to your teacher and follow his/her instructions. • Be courteous and respectful of others. • Be helpful and supportive of others. • Speak with suitable volume and at appropriate times. • Be a responsible digital citizen with smart devices and cell phones. • Remove hat as requested. |
• Attend all classes. • Put forth your best effort in class. • Bring all necessary resources. • Do your homework. • Ask questions when you are unsure. • Be responsible for the time you miss from class. |
• Keep classroom clean and organized. • Respect others’ belongings. • Respect the facility and report any vandalism or defacing of the room to your teacher. • Place chairs on tables at the end of the day to assist the cleaners. |
Hallways, Stairwells, Horton Hall, Art Gallery & Main Entrance |
• Have a positive attitude and remain courteous. • Walk through hallways. • Use stairways safely. • Public displays of affection (PDA) should be minimal and respectful. • Refrain from walking/talking during “O Canada”. |
• Respect space of others. (e.g. walk to the right) • Be a good host to the many visitors who come to Horton. • Use appropriate volume and language. • Sit on chairs, benches and the stage area rather than on the floor or someone’s lap. |
• Obtain permission to be in hallways during class times. • Leave hallways and common areas at appropriate times. • Be considerate of classes and meetings which are in session. |
• Avoid leaving book bags and personal items unattended. • Refrain from moving benches. • Please heed the “No Loitering” signs in various locations, including the music/drama wing. • The Art Gallery is to be kept free of food and beverages. • Locked exit doors are to remain locked and are NOT to be propped open |
Dances & Other School Events | • Be a positive school representative. • Practice good sportsmanship. • Exhibit proper conduct and behaviour. |
• Be respectful towards competitors, visitors and officials. | • Ensure priority for academic studies. | • Respect school equipment. • Clean up area before leaving. • Please honour the rules pertaining to specific events. |
Cafeteria | • Take time to eat and relax. • Make healthy food choices. • Use manners and be co-operative. |
• Show patience when waiting in line. • Return your chair under the table when finished. • Be respectful of peers and all staff. • Speak at an appropriate voice level. |
• Use the cafeteria only during appropriate times. • Be respectful of nearby classes. |
• Clean your eating space when finished. • Use recycling and garbage bins. |
Gymnasium | • Participate and be physically active. • Be responsible for your own belongings. • Take care of personal hygiene and keep your clothes clean. |
• Show good sports etiquette. • Be conscious of others. • Play fairly. • Be positive and encouraging of others. |
• Listen closely to all instruction. • Dress appropriately for gym class. • Participate daily and to the best of your ability in all activities. |
• Wear appropriate footwear at all times. • Use equipment appropriately. • Help protect the gym floor and equipment. |
Library | • Use library with permission or during free times. • Take advantage of library resources to enhance your learning. |
• Use quiet voices. • Enter and exit quietly so as not to disrupt others. • Be respectful of librarian; follow all library rules and procedures. • Allow easy access to Library doors |
• Take advantage of library resources to enhance learning. • Use library during free times or only with teacher permission. |
• Take care of library books and be sure to return all books on time. • Be careful with the computer equipment and report any malfunction to the librarian. |
Food, Textile, Technology Ed & Science Labs | • Use all tools and equipment appropriately, safely and only with suitable training/supervision. | • Leave work spaces and equipment clean and in good order. • Respect rules governing backpacks and outside clothing in labs. |
• Be an active participant in lab activities. | • Keep the use of consumable materials to a minimum. • Dispose of waste properly. |
Computer Labs & Technology Use | • Use technology safely and appropriately as directed by teachers. • Ensure that usernames and passwords are kept confidential. • Use technology to learn by giving your best effort and remaining focused. |
• Work quietly and keep volume levels low on computer. • Respect the work space and privacy of others. • Remain positive, helpful and patient. • Use headphones if listening to audio (such as music) for an extended period of time. |
• Follow all instructions carefully. • Come to class prepared with all necessary resources. • Follow acceptable use policy for computers. |
• Be careful with the computer equipment. • Refrain from having food or drink in the labs. • Inform a staff member if there is a problem with equipment. |
Bus | • Sit in your designated seat. • Remain positive and cooperative. • Travel safely. |
• Be polite and courteous to others. • Remain seated respecting the personal space of others. • Be respectful of the bus driver and not distracting. • Use appropriate language and a quiet voice. |
• Get to the bus stop on time to ensure that you get to school. | • Keep the bus clean and damage-free. • The purpose of bus windows is to provide a view (and fresh air when appropriate). Never throw anything from the bus. |
Parking Lot | • Watch out for moving vehicles. | • Park only in designated places. • Keep visitor spaces free for their intended use. • Drive slowly and watch for pedestrian traffic. |
• Plan ahead in order to arrive at school on time. | • Dispose of any litter from your vehicle in an appropriate receptacle. • Respect Horton’s “Idle Free Zone” policy. |
Assemblies | • Leave your valuables in a safe place. • Remove your hat for formal gatherings. |
• Demonstrate your Horton spirit through your enthusiasm for presenters. • Be courteous of others in the audience by paying attention at appropriate times. |
• Be an active listener. • Sit at the front of the room if possible. • When attending with your class, sit as a group with your teacher. |
• Refrain from stepping over seats in the Performance Centre. • Leave backpacks outside the Performance Centre. |
Provincial School Code of Conduct Policy
1. Introduction Students, parents, teachers, support staff, principals, and school boards share responsibility for creating a school-wide approach to maintaining a positive and inclusive school climate where all students are supported to develop healthy relationships, make good choices, and achieve success in their learning. All members of Nova Scotia’s school communities have a role to play in the awareness and prevention of unacceptable behaviour. The provincial school code of conduct policy applies to all public schools and school boards in the Province of Nova Scotia. All students and school members in Nova Scotia are required to follow this provincial school code of conduct policy, which is governed by the Education Act. 2. Definitions “Parent” includes, except in the definition of entitled parent, a guardian and a person acting in loco parentis to a child. “School members” refers to students and all adults whose roles or jobs place them in contact with students in school settings and school activities. School members include students, principals, teachers, parents, staff employed by the school board, other staff engaged to provide services at the school, volunteers, visitors, and any persons who have contact with students and staff. “Provincial school code of conduct policy” means the policy established by the Minister under clause 141(ja) of the Education Act. 3. Establishing Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments Nova Scotia’s provincial school code of conduct policy establishes standards of behaviour for all schools and is built on the following expectations:
– give first consideration to the safety and security of students, staff, and other members of the school community – assist students with developing new behaviours and strategies to reduce the reoccurrence of unacceptable behaviour – address consequences in a fair manner that does not disproportionately impact students based on race, culture, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability or mental disability, mental illness, age, national or aboriginal origin, socio-economic status, or appearance – use restorative strategies, when appropriate – consider the impact that consequences may have on the student(s) adversely affected by unacceptable behaviour, such as > decisions regarding the appropriate placement within the school or school board of the person initiating the harm > allowing the person harmed the opportunity to provide a statement in cases where consequences result in a suspension appeal process – remove students from class only after acceptable strategies have been implemented to support a change in behaviour or as necessary to maintain a safe learning environment and ensure the student’s return to their regular class when it is safe to do so – provide academic support when a student is removed from class or suspended from school for up to 10 days and take into consideration the use of in-school suspensions provided that the student can continue their work in a classroom designated by the principal for in-school suspensions, a teacher or principal is present to supervise the students, and the principal notifies the student and the student’s parents of the reasons for the in-school suspension, as soon as is reasonably possible1 – formalize community partnerships that enhance community and school-based supports to students and families 4. Roles and Responsibilities The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is responsible for
Schools are responsible for
5. Provincial School Code of Conduct All students and members of a school community will feel and be safe in their school. Each person will contribute to a safe and inclusive learning environment. Unless immediate action is necessary to maintain a safe learning environment, schools will support and promote positive student behaviour through programs of prevention and intervention. Acceptable Standards of Behaviour All students and school members will
Promoting Acceptable Behaviours
6. Responding to Unacceptable Behaviour Unacceptable behaviours (defined in Appendix A) endanger the well-being of others, result in damages to property, and/or significantly disrupt learning environments. Unacceptable behaviours are referred to the office through the provincial online Incident Referral Form and where appropriate, will be addressed in a progressive manner (see Appendix B) through consequences that may include in-school or out-of-school suspensions. Responses to unacceptable behaviour will
Appendix A: Definitions of Unacceptable Behaviour
Appendix B: Responding to Unacceptable Behaviour
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:
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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 School Board 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 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 which 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 home room periods are over in mid-September, the bell to proceed to period 1 sounds at 9:00 AM, with all students expected to be in class by 9:05 AM. This means that students traveling to school via private transportation rather than the bus should aim to arrive no later than 8:55 AM. Systematic or chronic late arrivals are a concern to the school for a number of reasons. They reinforce to 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 both the teacher and the majority of students who make the effort to be on time. Students who arrive late for class without an acceptable excuse will be sequestered in a designated area to work for the remainder of the period, at which time they will be permitted to proceed (on time) to their next class. Their attendance for the missed class will be recorded as absent unexcused, resulting in a subsequent phone call or email to parents, as is our current practice. Examples of acceptable excuses are: 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 on time 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 frees 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)
2) During the period of internal suspension, the pupil shall be given school work to complete.
2. EXTERNAL SUSPENSION |
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:
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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.
Violation of these rules may result in the loss of computer privileges or – in the event of a serious offense – suspension from school. |
APPENDIX F: (THIS FORM IS AVAILABLE AT THE ADMIN OFFICE)
Download Request to Become Independent Student Form
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
travel on bus #__________ (if known) travelling to _________________________.
___________________ _____________________________
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. |
APPENDIX H: Horton 8-Day Timetable (Grades 10-12)
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. |
Note: Students are encouraged – if possible – to take a clear photograph of their Horton ID card with their mobile device. ID’s displayed electronically will be accepted to gain admission to Horton and Students Council events. |
APPENDIX J: Horton Art Gallery
APPENDIX K: HORTON CHROMEBOOKS ~ POLICIES & PROCEDURES Receiving and Returning Your ChromebookReceiving Your Chromebook
Returning Your Chromebook
Using Your Chromebook at Home and School
Care of your ChromebookGeneral Guidelines
Access to Digital Tools and File Storage
Student Use of Chromebooks FormAs 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.
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 |
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. |