WELCOME TO THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR!

The following information has been carefully prepared to help you adjust to Hillsdale High School and to become an integral part of it.  Your success at Hillsdale will be directly proportional to the amount of time and effort you invest in the pursuit of your education.  In addition to Hillsdale's academic offerings, we encourage you to participate in our extensive co and extracurricular activities programs.

The role of the counselor is to assist students to achieve to the best of their abilities.  If you want to talk with your counselor, fill out a request form, available in the Counseling Center.  Parents are also encouraged to consult and work with their student's counselor.

A - Outstanding Achievement
B - Good Achievement
C - Satisfactory Achievement
D - Minimum Achievement
F - Failure/Unsatisfactory Achievement
FNA - Failure because of non-attendance (absences)
NM - No mark
IF – Incomplete failure to complete all required work

A grade of IF (Incomplete) is given in cases where work is not complete because of absences caused by SERIOUS EMERGENCIES.  Work must be completed within a specified time.

Progress Report Cards
Progress Report Cards are issued every six weeks, and will be sent directly to the parents.  The third and sixth of these reports will contain the number of credits earned and semester grades which are cumulative grades (i.e., they are not an average of each 6 weeks.)  The semester information will become part of the permanent record.

            Fall                                                            Spring
            9/26                                                            2/13
            11/7                                                            3/27
            1/7                                                            5/28

We encourage you to sign up for schoolloop.  See pg. 18 for more details.

Calendar
There will be an early release schedule each week (Thursday) for staff professional development.  We encourage you to use these days to schedule your student’s medical, dental, etc. appointments on these days to reduce the loss of instructional time.

Students and parents must meet with their counselor to make schedule changes.  All class changes require teacher and counselor approval.  Students must attend all of their assigned classes until an official change form has been issued.  The deadline for dropping a class without penalty coincides with parental/guardian receipt of the 1st 6 week report card.
Transcripts
When applying for college and/or scholarships, you will find it necessary to request transcripts of your high school records.  All transcript requests should be submitted to the Student Data Analyst who is located in the Counseling Center.
Graduation Requirements
San Mateo Union High School District Class of 2009 must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 170 credits in required courses and 50 additional credits of elective coursework, making a total of 220 credits.  Each course passed earns 5 credits.  Members of the Class of 2007 and beyond will also need to pass the California High School Exit Exam.

Graduation Ceremony Participation

Students may ONLY participate in the graduation ceremony if they have successfully completed all credits and courses required for graduation, passed the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) (beginning with the Class of 2006), and have no outstanding bills.  Students will not be able to participate in the graduation ceremony if they are short credits even if they will take them during the summer or fall of the year of graduation.

Lockers
Lockers are school property furnished as a convenience for students to store items necessary at school.  Each student will be assigned a specific locker to use during the four years at Hillsdale.  Lockers should be kept clean at all times.

Special school issued combination locks will be LEASED ($5.00) to each student upon entering Hillsdale.  No other locks are permitted on non P.E. school lockers.  When a student leaves Hillsdale, he/she may keep the lock or sell it back to the school.  Students are encouraged NOT to share their locker or combination with other students and not to use their lockers to store valuable articles. 

THESE LOCKERS ARE BOOK DEPOSITORIES; THE SCHOOL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF MATERIALS PLACED IN THE LOCKERS.

Students will be held financially responsible for loss of school owned books.  PE lockers are issued by the PE department at the start of each semester.  Specific guidelines for use are explained in PE classes.

Student and Faculty Parking Permits
All students and faculty must register their car in the Main Office in order to receive a permit parking sticker.  Students and staff with a permit may park in the Del Monte Street and 31st Avenue parking lots.

This center is designed to assist students in obtaining information about college entrance requirements, college courses of study, financial aid, and occupations.  This information is continually updated and will aid students in planning for their educational and vocational future.  Students who wish to investigate college, career interests or occupational choices can sign up in the Career Center for an appointment to use the "Bridges" computer system.
We invite you to visit our website www.hillsdalehigh.com and go to the Counseling & Career Center link.

State law requires that every student under the age of 18 have a work permit for all employment situations:  after school, nights, weekends and/or vacation periods.  Work permit applications are available from the Student Data Analyst.  The application form must be signed and returned with proof of age and signature of both parents and employer.  In order to secure a work permit, the student must earn a 2.0 GPA or better, and return the required application form signed by their parents and employer.  Job opportunities and information are posted on a bulletin board located in the Career Center and on the Hillsdale Web Site (hillsdale.com).

To be eligible for participation in the school's athletic, co-curricular and extracurricular programs, a student must have earned 25 credits (passed 5 courses) and earned a 2.0 or better grade point average during the previous grading period.  In addition, athletes must have a current clearance card & emergency information card to be eligible to play.

The Library will be open and available to all students for their use during non-class time, from 7:45 am until approximately 4:00 pm.  When classes are in session, teachers may send students to the library by issuing a written pass or by personally escorting them.  All students who use the library are expected to follow the posted policies and procedures.

Textbooks

All basic texts are loaned to students for use during each semester.  Please be sure your name and grade are written on the book label (inside front cover) in case your book is lost or misplaced.  Textbooks are to be covered and kept clean.  Students will be held financially responsible for loss, damage, writing in, or unusual wear to books.

Student Identification Cards/Student Body Cards/PAL Stickers

IDENTIFICATION CARDS are issued every fall.  Students are required to have this ID in their possession at all times.  The ID serves not only to identify students to staff but also to quickly identify those students enrolled in off campus programs.  The bar code on the back of each ID card turns the ID card into a LIBRARY CARD.  You CAN NOT check out any library or textbook without this card.  If you lose this card, report to the Health Office where you can purchase a replacement.
A STUDENT BODY CARD is a STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARD with an attached PAL sticker/logo.  The PAL sticker can be purchased through the student government office at the beginning of each school year.  Savings in excess of fifty dollars ($50) are possible with this sticker due to reduced prices for all Hillsdale football and basketball games, school dances, various school activities and the yearbook.  Proceeds from the sale of PAL stickers help finance Hillsdale's athletic and student government activity programs.

The maintenance of a quality educational environment requires rules, procedures and consequences.  Our rules are based on the rights of students & staff to their property, their physical safety and well being, their privacy and their right to be productively involved in the educational & activity programs offered.  Students are expected to:
1. Attend school regularly, be in class on time with the proper materials and prepared to work.
2. Conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to a positive teaching/learning environment.
3. Respect the rights and property of others.
4. Be respectful, courteous and cooperative with school personnel and fellow students.
5. Take pride in the appearance and reputation of Hillsdale High School and work diligently to maintain its positive image.

The San Mateo Union High School District does not discriminate against any person in the provision of any program or service.  Specifically, it prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or physical or mental disability.

Any act directed against a pupil or groups of pupils that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the actual and reasonably expected effect of materially disrupting classwork, creating substantial disorder, and invading the rights of that pupil or groups of pupils by creating an intimidating or HOSTILE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT will be subject to investigation.  Harassment may be nonverbal, verbal or written and now also includes delivery via pagers and the Internet.  Individuals involved will be subject to counsel and/or disciplinary procedures.

In accord with the philosophy that good schools are safe schools the district enforces, without exception, a maximum safety policy.  This means that any student who assaults another student, or who carries an instrument construed to be a weapon, or who brings to school a blade of any size, or who provides or sells drugs will be recommended for expulsion.  A weapon is defined as any object which can be used to hurt another person or which causes that person to believe that he/she will be harmed in some way.  We include in the gun category, any imitation or replica (e.g., a toy pistol, pellet gun, forced air gun, starter pistol, or paint ball gun.)  It makes no difference whether the gun is loaded or unloaded, or whether it can be fired or not.  Additionally, every blade, regardless of its size, will be viewed as a weapon, including any pocket knife, penknife, Swiss Army knife or other utility blade.

It is the policy of the SMUHSD to provide an education, employment and business environment free of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment as defined and otherwise prohibited by Federal and State law.  Students found in violation of these laws may be punished by suspension, expulsion, and/or transfer to the district’s continuation school.  Police involvement may accompany any of these consequences.

Hate violence is defined as the use of force or threat of force to intimidate or injure a person or a person's property because of that individual's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability.  Students involved in acts of hate violence may be subject to suspension and/or expulsion.

1. Smoking or use of tobacco products is not permitted on or around school grounds.  This includes all school activities.  Consequences for violations include detention, suspension, and referral to smoking cessation classes.

2. When it has been established to the satisfaction of the Principal (or his designated representative) that any student has USED, POSSESSED, PROVIDED, IS or HAS BEEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE of any dangerous substance listed in Education Code 10603 or other State laws, on the school campus or during a school sponsored activity, that student will be suspended immediately, pending further action, including referral for expulsion or transfer to the district's continuation school.

These infractions are also punishable by detention, suspension, or in extreme cases by police intervention and/or by referral for expulsion or transfer to the district's continuation school:  fighting or any kind of assault or battery upon another person; theft of ANY kind; possession or use of firecrackers or fireworks; defiance or disobedience to school authority; upbraiding, insulting, or abusing teachers and staff; hazing; forgery; falsifying or altering school correspondence, passes or admits; continued use of profanity, vulgarity or indecent language; gambling, extortion/robbery.

The San Mateo Union High School District in conjunction with the San Mateo Police Department has instituted a "Safe School" telephone hotline.  This program was developed to help combat the problem of violence, crime, and other unlawful activity at schools that would jeopardize the safety of students and adults.  The program provides students the means to report suspicious or dangerous activity at school or in the community in a manner which protects the caller's identity.  The toll-free 24 hr. telephone number is 1-(877)-723-3477.

The San Mateo Union High School District has a uniform complaint procedure.  Complete copies of the Student Rights Policy and Appeal Procedures may be obtained from the Administration.  Copies of the district’s Unlawful Harassment and Discrimination Complaint forms are available in the District Human Resources and Administrative Services Office and the Principal’s office at each campus.  For further information, contact the Associate Superintendent, Human Resources and Administrative Services at (650) 558-2208.  

Visitors
Student visitors may attend as guests of students enrolled in Hillsdale High School only if they bring proof of coming to this area from 100 miles or more away.  Arrangements must be made with an Assistant Principal and teachers more than 48 hours prior to the day of the visit.  The request form is available in the Main Office.

The campus will be closed from the beginning of the student's first class to the end of the individual's scheduled school day.  Failure to abide by this rule will result in an IN-HOUSE SUSPENSION. Students may not leave campus until after their last class of the day has been dismissed, unless PRIOR permission is granted and a permit to leave is issued by the Principal, Assistant Principal, Attendance Office, or Health Records Clerk (after parents have been contacted).  During the brunch and lunch periods, students must remain on the school grounds which include the buildings, courts and south soccer fields. (see campus map.)  Students may not congregate in the parking lot areas, or loiter in their cars or they will be assigned IN-HOUSE SUSPENSION.
Students on a reduced schedule must show their id card with an appropriate sticker in order to leave campus before the end of the school day.  Students without an ID card/sticker may be assigned detention.

Attendance
1. It is the student's responsibility to see that a parent or guardian telephones the attendance office before 9:00 a.m. on each day of absence.
2. If the absence is not excused by the end of the school day, parents will be contacted at home or at work.
3. Students AND Parents have 48 hours to clear an absence, otherwise it will be recorded as a truancy (cut). NO EXCEPTIONS!
4. The only legal absences from school which are recognized by the State of California are (1) illness or quarantine (2) medical, dental, optometrical appointments, and (3) death in the immediate family.  Appointments which interfere with class time should not be made except in genuine emergencies.  Absences for other reasons are considered illegal and the school reserves the right to decide whether such absences shall be subject to disciplinary action.
5. No student will be sent home before the close of the school day unless the parent/guardian has been previously notified.  Period cuts will not be cleared after the fact.

•        No student may participate in any school activity or athletic contest if he/she has been 

             truant from school during any portion of that day.

A student is considered a T-1 level truant after 14 period cuts.  T-1 level indicates the following:
1.            In-house suspension will be assigned.
2.            A letter is sent home notifying a parent that the child is in violation of compulsory school’s  attendance laws of the State of California.  This letter indicates that the student has 14 or more periods of unexcused absences. (This shall serve as a stern warning!)
The letter states the following:

• Your child is classified as a truant.
• Your child is obligated to attend school.
• A parent or guardian who fails to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction and subject to prosecution and a fine by the District Attorney’s office.
• Your child may be subject to prosecution in Juvenile Court.
• Your child may be subject to suspension, restriction or delay of driving privileges under Vehicle Code 13202.7.

When a student reaches 21 period cuts, A T-2 level letter is sent home which indicates the following:
1.            Effective immediately, a student may lose the right to participate in all extracurricular activities.  (This includes athletics, dances, and all other out-of-school events.)  Note: After 6 weeks of demonstrated improvement, a student may earn the privileges back according to the stipulations of a signed attendance contract.
2.            A second letter is sent home that states the child has more than twenty one periods of unexcused absences, and an appointment has been made for the parent and child to meet with the Assistant Principal or Dean of Students and the Risk Prevention Probation Officer.
3.            At this meeting, the student’s truancy and possible sanctions and interventions will be  defined in a truancy contract.  Those interventions may range from (1) detention (2) after             school or weekend study programs (E.C. Sec.48264.5(b) (3) student and/or family counseling (4) possible police involvement, juvenile contact report (5) home visit (6) parent may be required to attend classes with student (7) suspension of work permit (8) possible impact on CalWorks/AFCD benefits, (9) other site based interventions to be defined at this meeting.

If a student has any more cuts after the T-2 contract, a T-3 level letter is sent home which indicates the following:
At this point, Hillsdale has attempted multiple interventions and now needs district support. The student and parent must stand before the School Attendance Review Board. This panel consists of the Assistant Superintendent and Director of Attendance and Welfare and their objective is to provide one more opportunity for the student to stop all truancy activity. Hence, a final contract is signed which stipulates the student cannot cut one more class.

If the student violates the SARB contract, then the student may be forced to appear in Juvenile Court and may be placed on probation and the parent/guardian may face a fine of up to $1,000.00.

1.  Students are tardy if they are not in their classroom and seated when the last bell rings
2.  Students are late for PE if they are not in the locker room when the last bell begins to
     ring, and if they are not in line when the instructor commences roll call.

• Students will be held accountable for all tardies.
• Three tardies are considered equivalent to 1 period cut

Students are required to have an authorized hall pass in their possession whenever they are released by a teacher during a class period.

Students are only allowed to use gameboys, IPODS, MP3 players, cellular phones, or other electronic devices before and after school and during brunch and lunch.  Students who are found with any of these items in their possession and “in use” during class will be required to leave these items in the Office, to be picked up by a parent or guardian.  Repeat offenders will have their items confiscated until the end of the term.  Hillsdale High School is NOT responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices.  If students choose to bring these items to school, they do so at their own risk.

Field trips enhance classroom instruction, however, students are reminded of their responsibility to make up all missed assignments.  All field trip forms must be submitted to the teacher one week prior to the scheduled event.  Transportation will be arranged and pre-approved by teacher and/or administration.  For reasons of safety, students are never allowed to transport other students.

All office phones are reserved for business purposes.  Students will not be called out of class to receive telephone calls.  Emergency phone messages will be delivered to the student in class.  Students who are found using cell phones during class will be required to leave these items in the Office, to be picked up by a parent or guardian. 

Before anything can be posted on the Hillsdale campus, prior approval must be obtained from the Administration and/or the Election Commission.  All posted material must be attached with Special Blue masking tape only, and removed as soon as the activity is over. 

Any student responsible for graffiti or property damage on campus or a neighboring property will be considered for suspension and will be held financially responsible for all damage, repair and replacement costs.

Regulations For Safe And Sober Dances
Dances are an opportunity for students to socialize in a safe, supervised, and appropriate environment.  Student behavior must reflect the district’s mutual respect policy.
It is expected that Hillsdale students who choose to attend dances and activities will pledge to do so alcohol and drug free.  Every student will be tested for alcohol with the use of a Breathalyzer prior to a school dance.

• Dances on school sites are from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Doors close one hour after the dance starts.
   
• Dances held outside the District’s boundaries are limited to two per school year, can be held only between San Jose and San Francisco, and are to begin by 8:00 p.m. and end by midnight.
   
• Tickets must be purchased in advance.

• Doors close one hour after dance begins.

• Students who leave the dance may not re-enter.

• Inappropriate or dangerous dancing is disallowed. Inappropriate dress is disallowed.

• Every student will be tested for alcohol with the use of a breathalyzer prior to a school dance.

• Dance contracts must be signed and turned in at the beginning of each new school year.

• Selling, possession or being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance will result in immediate removal from the dance and suspension from school along with possible legal consequences.

Failure to comply with the rules will result in removal from the dance and notification of parents/guardians, and other disciplinary action as determined by the school administration.

1. Students must register their auto(s) with the Main Office. 
2. Students who park in the parking lots may be allowed to go to their cars if they have prior approval, written or verbal, from a staff member.  All other trips to cars will not be allowed and subject to detention and/or referral.

• Once a student parks a vehicle at school, it may not be moved until the student is scheduled to leave for the day.  Movement of the car willresult in detention.  Repeat offenders will lose the right to park their cars at school. 
• Students driving to school who cannot find on-campus parking may park on the school side of Del Monte Street or on the school side of 31st Avenue.  Please avoid parking in front of any residence, driveway or on the grass.
• Effective fall 2007, the south parking lot will be closed to students.
• Students must obtain a special parking clearance permit from the Auto Shop instructor the day before they will be parking in the school's shop area lot.  Cars are to be parked there in the morning, not moved during the day.

Driving to school is considered a privilege which can be lost if the above rules are violated.

Bicycles/Mopeds may be chained to the racks provided in Sir Cedric’s Court or on 31st near the library.  Do not chain bicycles to school framing or trees.