Handbook
The purpose of the Fergus High Alternative School
is to encourage students to come back to school after they have left, for
whatever reason. Students
will develop skills and competencies, gain knowledge, and develop
desirable attitudes to help obtain a high school education.
To help meet student goals, enrollment in the Fergus High
Alternative School will be limited to 10-15 students.
It is our hope that participation in our alternative school becomes
a second opportunity to develop these skills.
To
obtain competence, success and personal satisfaction in a student’s life
and work, the individual should seek the fundamentals that serve as a
foundation for more mature skills and knowledge.
Because
of differences in students’ abilities, interests, and goals, each
student will be treated as an individual with respect and trust. Every student has the right to realize his or her own
self-worth and importance as an individual.
The primary role of the administration and faculty is to create an
environment that makes this possible.
We
hope this alternative school will assist the student to develop skills and
competencies that will serve the individual in preparation for work and to
further their education.
The
Fergus High Alternative School will be held at night enabling an option
for the student that cannot meet his or her requirements in the
traditional school program because of unique circumstances.
The subjects taught will include English, Math, Science, Social
Studies, and Jobs for Montana Graduates (JMG).
Other courses and job training opportunities will be available upon
request. All students will
have an individualized program and will be allowed to accelerate at their
own pace, thus completing courses in a shorter period of time.
Students will have access to counselors and access directly to the
Fergus High Library. There
will be an initial deposit (rental fee) of $35.00 per course per semester
to enroll, which will be refunded after the student completes the course.
If the student does not complete the course(s) he or she must
return all school materials (see Alternative School Contract).
Requirements
established by the State Board of Education and the Trustees of School
District No. One must be met to receive a diploma from Fergus High School.
Each
student must attend a minimum of eight semesters in an approved secondary
program. All graduation
requirements must be met to be eligible to participate in the graduation
ceremony. Fergus High School
graduates must satisfactorily meet the following requirements (student
using vocational classes for cross-over credit cannot use the same class
to satisfy the vocational credit requirement):
·
Three credits of Mathematics, one credit may be crossover
credit.
·
Three credits of Science, one credit may be crossover
credit.
·
Three credits of Social Studies, including World History,
American History and Problems of American Democracy
·
Four credits of English, including English 9, English 10,
English 11, and English 12
·
Two credits of Health and Physical Education, including
Health 9.
·
One credit of Fine Arts and one credit of Vocational
Education.
·
Twenty-two credits (overall) of secondary course work
Alternative
high school students can earn high school credit through its independent
study courses, the Jobs for Montana Graduates class, Internships or
Vocational Coop courses or even some possible elective courses taught
during the regular school day. It
is expected that each student will complete minimum competencies, which
are equivalent to the traditional classroom.
Depending on an individual student basis, the alternative school
may consider previous ¼ credit situations and may be able to incorporate
them into their program of study. Home
school credit will be accepted as per the regular school policy (refer to
the FHS Codebook or SD #1 Policy Handbook).
Student schedules will depend upon each student’s specific needs
and coursework required for graduation.
When a
student has accumulated the necessary credits for graduation, a diploma
from Fergus High School will be awarded.
The student may then participate in the next regular high school
commencement exercises.
The
goal of the Fergus High Alternative School is to have students be
successful by meeting a mastery level of work within their courses.
Final grades representative of the quality of student work will be
provided by the instructor. If
appropriate, the grade shall be determined in conjunction with the
distance-learning provider. Grades
will be recorded on an official transcript and will be based on the
district’s grading scale (A-B-C-D or F), except in some elective
vocational settings.
Class
attendance is the responsibility of the student with support from the
parents/guardians. The
teacher(s) will keep accurate attendance and discipline records. After a student’s attendance drops below the 90% level they
will be required to make up school time missed in a pre-approved study or
makeup session. Students who
are up to 30 minutes tardy will make up all time missed the following
class session. Students who
are tardy more than 30 minutes will be considered absent for ½ a night
session. When a student’s conduct is such that it becomes apparent
he or she no longer wishes to attend the alternative school, the teacher(s)
shall report the attendance or discipline problems to the high school
principal. Appropriate action
shall then be initiated.
Students
enrolled must be progressing toward graduation from Fergus High School.
The staff of the program will meet periodically to discuss each
student’s overall progress. Students
may be exited for lack of effort, poor performance or misbehavior.
The chain of command for the program will be:
teacher, principal, superintendent and Board of Trustees.
Enrollment
in the Fergus High Alternative School is limited to 10-15 students.
Students are expected to understand all Fergus High rules and
regulations. Policies or procedures not specifically addressed in the
Fergus High Alternative School Handbook may be found in either the Fergus
High School Codebook or Renaissance Handbook.
Students
participating in the alternative high school program are generally behind
in credit accumulation. There
are no study halls, although study areas can be arranged.
Students will be expected to participate in a minimum of eight
hours of class time per week, which is required by the state to be
considered enrolled half-time. For
full-time enrollment a student must be participating in sixteen hours per
week of class time and may also participate in other courses or job
experiences for additional credit(s).
The number of credits allowed for each student will be determined
through consultation with the high school principal and vocational
coordinator. Credit(s) will
be based on the number of hours worked and the courses enrolled in.
Individual classes may be dropped at any time, but the $35.00
deposit will be forfeited.
Classes
will be held Monday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and
will correspond closely with the regular School District No. 1 School
Calendar.
It
will be the responsibility of the student and parent to make the initial
contact with the school to be considered for the alternative school.
Keeping appointments in a timely manner with the necessary
documentation in hand will demonstrate a responsible attitude, which is
needed to be successful in the program.
Failure to keep the appointments or to complete the necessary entry
process will result in delayed entry and possible denial of the
opportunity.
Students
will be considered for inclusion in the Fergus High Alternative School
near the end of each quarter of study.
The following procedures are required for initial entry:
- Students who have been expelled from
Fergus High School, or any other school, may not apply to the
alternative school until the conditions for reenrollment have been
met, which includes the length of the expulsion to be served as per
the transferring school.
- The need to apply to the Fergus High
Alternative School program must be discussed with the administration.
If a student can succeed at the traditional high school, that
is considered the best option for the student’s success.
Students accepted in the Alternative School must be within a
year or so of graduation (credit-wise), must have formally dropped out
of school, and must not be older than 19.
However, a student may petition the school if there is an
opening and they were previously excluded because they are not within
a year of graduation (credit-wise).
- Prior to enrollment, each student and
their parent (or adult advocate) must meet with Fergus High Principal
Scott Dubbs. Please call
for an appointment: (535-2321). At
the meeting:
a.
The student and parent will receive information about the program.
b.
The student and parent will discuss reasons for wanting to attend
the alternative program and why the student has been unsuccessful in the
traditional high school setting.
c.
The student and parent will discuss a potential class schedule and
what is required to officially apply for enrollment in the Fergus High
Alternative School.
- Following the meeting, the
administration at the home school will be contacted (usually by
phone), to discuss the student’s academic and behavioral history.
A formal letter of recommendation will be required prior to
enrollment.
- The student will be notified
when the school is willing to consider the student for possible
enrollment in the Fergus High Alternative School.
At the time of appointment to apply for enrollment, the student
and parent (required) must have in hand:
a.
A copy of his or her transcript for evaluation.
A certified copy from the forwarding school will be obtained upon
acceptance into the program.
b.
A copy of an up-to-date immunization record.
This includes their second MMR shot.
c.
A written recommendation from the appropriate administrator at the
high school last attended.
d.
A complete preliminary class schedule and be prepared to pay the
deposit required.
e.
Students under 18 years of age must obtain parental permission to
attend and agree to the expectations of the alternative school.
- The decision about the
appropriateness of each alternative placement will be made by the
Admissions Committee. The
committee is made up of the principal, a counselor, the teacher and
the vocational coordinator, if necessary.
If a waiting list is necessary, students will be placed by
need, and not strictly on a first-come, first-served basis.
Older students and those in need are normally given first
priority. Students living
within the Fergus High School District and those nearest to graduation
will be considered a high priority.
Alternative
school students are placed on individual self-paced educational plans.
They may complete the course faster than the required 18 weeks and
accelerate to another level, assuming the 90% attendance expectation has
been met. The length of the
school year/class is contingent upon completion of the program that is
arranged between the student and the school.
Classes will be in session during the regular school year only,
although a student may carry over a class from one year or one semester to
another. Letter grades will
be given using the same grading scale as the regular high school.
To remain as a student in this program, good attendance, correct
classroom behavior, and academic progress are required.
If any of these areas are not maintained, the student may be exited
out of the program at any time.
Students
exiting the program may apply for re-enrollment into the program after a
minimum of 20 days. If a
student is unsuccessful in this program, in order to obtain another
opportunity, he or she must meet with the administration and teacher to
discuss the problem and to explore and plan interventions to make success
a likely outcome.
Jobs
for Montana graduates (JMG) is a school-to-work program that is designed
to help students stay in school, graduate and successfully transition from
school to work. Students in
the JMG curriculum will receive academic credit.
Employability skills are the main focus of class instruction.
Each student will participate in the Montana Career Association,
which is a student organization that develops leadership skills and
recognizes positive student achievement. Each student will develop career goals that will lead to a
secure job. Students will
also be encouraged to become involved in the community through volunteer
activities. Ninety-six
percent of JMG students graduate from high school.
Eighty-five percent of non-seniors return to school.
Fergus
High School is a drug-free campus. Being
under the influence of, using or possessing of chemicals or tobacco as
indicated by policy is strictly prohibited.
Policies as listed in the FHS Codebook are provided to maintain
learning experiences in the areas of physical, mental, emotional, social
and moral development so that all students may become better and healthier
citizens, while maintaining the safety of others.