SHAPING YOUR SHAPING YOUR FUTUREFUTURE

Cranston High School WestCranston High School West

““What you do today affects What you do today affects what you can do tomorrow”what you can do tomorrow”

Future success often depends on your high school Future success often depends on your high school efforteffort

Aim high and work hard to create as many Aim high and work hard to create as many postsecondary options as possible when you postsecondary options as possible when you graduate from CHSWgraduate from CHSW

Freedom in high school requires greater Freedom in high school requires greater responsibilityresponsibility

General Overview of General Overview of Proficiency-Based Graduation Proficiency-Based Graduation

Requirements (PBGR)Requirements (PBGR) CreditsCredits Required CoursesRequired Courses Graduation Portfolio and Presentation Graduation Portfolio and Presentation Community Service (20 hours over 4 years)Community Service (20 hours over 4 years) Standardized AssessmentsStandardized Assessments

– Starting with the Class of 2012, all students will be required Starting with the Class of 2012, all students will be required to pass the NECAP/PARC standardized test in order to to pass the NECAP/PARC standardized test in order to graduategraduate

Comprehensive Course AssessmentsComprehensive Course Assessments Individualized Learning PlansIndividualized Learning Plans

Detailed information can be found in our Detailed information can be found in our New Diploma Handbook

PBGR: CreditsPBGR: Credits

24 high school credits24 high school credits

Credit awarded for final grade of D or higher Credit awarded for final grade of D or higher (however, 4 year colleges require grade of C (however, 4 year colleges require grade of C minus or higher)minus or higher)

Depending on course, student will receive 1.75 Depending on course, student will receive 1.75 (CACTC courses), 1.0, .5, or .25 credit(s)(CACTC courses), 1.0, .5, or .25 credit(s)

PBGR: Required CoursesPBGR: Required Courses

General rule: take four years of all major disciplines and General rule: take four years of all major disciplines and fill open periods with required/meaningful electivesfill open periods with required/meaningful electives

Students must complete:Students must complete:4 credits in English4 credits in English4 credits in Math4 credits in Math3 credits in Science3 credits in Science3 credits in Social Studies (1 credit must be US 3 credits in Social Studies (1 credit must be US History)History).5 credit in Computer Technology.5 credit in Computer Technology.5 credit in Fine Arts .5 credit in Fine Arts 1 credit Physical Education1 credit Physical Education1 credit Health Education1 credit Health Education7 additional credits in elective courses7 additional credits in elective courses

PBGR: Working PBGR: Working Portfolio/Graduation PortfolioPortfolio/Graduation Portfolio

Working Portfolio consists of artifacts and Working Portfolio consists of artifacts and accompanying reflectionsaccompanying reflections

Artifacts are evidence of proficiency in each of the 25 Artifacts are evidence of proficiency in each of the 25 academic expectations academic expectations

After school support is available for assistance and After school support is available for assistance and make-up workmake-up work

Portfolio can be accessed through the Portfolio can be accessed through the RIEPS website Graduation Portfolio is a subset of the Working Graduation Portfolio is a subset of the Working

PortfolioPortfolio Senior year presentation of Graduation PortfolioSenior year presentation of Graduation Portfolio For detailed information see our For detailed information see our

New Diploma Handbook

PBGR: Comprehensive Course PBGR: Comprehensive Course AssessmentsAssessments

Students are required to complete final exams in Students are required to complete final exams in all coursesall courses

Every student is required to participate in the Every student is required to participate in the New England Common Assessment Program New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) during the junior year(NECAP) during the junior year

Students are expected to score at least Partially Students are expected to score at least Partially ProficientProficient

Results will become part of the student’s official Results will become part of the student’s official transcripttranscript

For specific information see our For specific information see our New Diploma Handbook

PBGRPBGR: : CommunityCommunity Service Service Students must complete 20 hours of community service over 4 Students must complete 20 hours of community service over 4

years of high school. It is anticipated that all students complete years of high school. It is anticipated that all students complete the community service requirement by the 2the community service requirement by the 2ndnd quarter of grade 12 quarter of grade 12

For a complete list of acceptable and unacceptable community For a complete list of acceptable and unacceptable community service hours, please see our service hours, please see our New Diploma Handbook

Students are responsible for maintaining a log of their community Students are responsible for maintaining a log of their community service hours on an Hourly Log Sheet as hours are completed. service hours on an Hourly Log Sheet as hours are completed. Students must have verifying signatures that service has been Students must have verifying signatures that service has been completed. Hourly Log Sheets should be stored in student’s ILP completed. Hourly Log Sheets should be stored in student’s ILP folder (make a backup copy and keep at home as well)folder (make a backup copy and keep at home as well)

Community service will be part of the senior Portfolio Presentation Community service will be part of the senior Portfolio Presentation at which time the student will present verified Hourly Log Sheets at which time the student will present verified Hourly Log Sheets and orally reflect on their experiencesand orally reflect on their experiences

Admission to Four Year Post Admission to Four Year Post Secondary Institutions Secondary Institutions

Differs from PBGR for CHSWDiffers from PBGR for CHSW General rule: Students should engage in and earn General rule: Students should engage in and earn

a C minus in a challenging program of studiesa C minus in a challenging program of studies Consult the high school Program of Studies Consult the high school Program of Studies

located on the located on the Cranston Public School's website for course descriptions to determine appropriate for course descriptions to determine appropriate course of study for admission to technical, 2 year, course of study for admission to technical, 2 year, or 4 year post secondary institutionsor 4 year post secondary institutions

Basic Admission Requirements for Basic Admission Requirements for Public Four Year Institutions: Public Four Year Institutions:

Courses and CreditsCourses and Credits 4 credits of English4 credits of English 3 credits of math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2)3 credits of math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) 2 credits of social studies2 credits of social studies 2 credits of lab science (Biology and Chemistry or 2 credits of lab science (Biology and Chemistry or

Physics)Physics) 2-3 credits of foreign language (same language)2-3 credits of foreign language (same language) .5 credits of fine arts.5 credits of fine arts 4.5 credits in additional electives4.5 credits in additional electives

Important: Final grades from all high school years Important: Final grades from all high school years appear on your transcript. Poor grades can appear on your transcript. Poor grades can negatively affect your future plans (i.e. college negatively affect your future plans (i.e. college acceptance and employment)acceptance and employment)

Basic Admission Requirements for Basic Admission Requirements for Public Four Year Institutions: Public Four Year Institutions: Standardized AssessmentsStandardized Assessments

PSAT in sophomore year for practicePSAT in sophomore year for practice

PSAT in fall of junior year for additional PSAT in fall of junior year for additional practice and qualification for National practice and qualification for National Merit ScholarshipMerit Scholarship

Register for the PSAT through the CHSW Register for the PSAT through the CHSW guidance office (Spring) guidance office (Spring)

Basic Admission Requirements for Basic Admission Requirements for Public Four Year Institutions: Public Four Year Institutions: Standardized AssessmentsStandardized Assessments

SAT or ACT in spring of junior yearSAT or ACT in spring of junior year

SAT Subject Test (if needed) as soon as possible after completion SAT Subject Test (if needed) as soon as possible after completion of advanced coursesof advanced courses

SAT/ACT in fall of senior yearSAT/ACT in fall of senior year

Register through the testing serviceRegister through the testing service– College Board– ACTACT

Never too early to create an account for standardized testingNever too early to create an account for standardized testing

College/Career PlanningCollege/Career Planning

Start researching career paths and Start researching career paths and postsecondary options now!postsecondary options now!

Your postsecondary plans may drive Your postsecondary plans may drive your course selection, extracurricular your course selection, extracurricular activities, community service, summer activities, community service, summer employmentemployment

Use the following online resources:Use the following online resources:– College Board's College Planning CenterCollege Board's College Planning Center– WaytogoRIWaytogoRI– ACT's College Planning CenterACT's College Planning Center

AttendanceAttendance When absent, a parent must call the main officeWhen absent, a parent must call the main office If student is absent or it is projected that the If student is absent or it is projected that the

student will be absent for three or more days of student will be absent for three or more days of school, the parent may request assignments by school, the parent may request assignments by phoning the main office; please allow twenty-four phoning the main office; please allow twenty-four hours for teachers to process the requesthours for teachers to process the request

Student is responsible for making up all missed Student is responsible for making up all missed assignments and/or assessments. See all assignments and/or assessments. See all teachers immediately upon return to class; set up teachers immediately upon return to class; set up a schedule for submitting all assignments and a schedule for submitting all assignments and taking all assessmentstaking all assessments

In cases of extended absences, please notify the In cases of extended absences, please notify the guidance counselorguidance counselor

If incomplete grades are issued, you may be If incomplete grades are issued, you may be academically ineligibleacademically ineligible

Unexcused AbsencesUnexcused Absences

• Students with more than 5 days unexcused Students with more than 5 days unexcused absences in major classes or more than 3 days in absences in major classes or more than 3 days in minor classes will have their quarter grade minor classes will have their quarter grade reduced by 10 pointsreduced by 10 points

• The grade deduction is determined by the The grade deduction is determined by the student’s Assistant Principal (not the classroom student’s Assistant Principal (not the classroom teacher) upon review of attendance recordsteacher) upon review of attendance records

• Consult the school planner for the CPS Consult the school planner for the CPS Attendance PolicyAttendance Policy

• Excessive unexcused absences will result in a Excessive unexcused absences will result in a referral to Truancy Courtreferral to Truancy Court

Assessment of CourseworkAssessment of Coursework

Approximately midway through each report card Approximately midway through each report card period Interim Progress Reports will beperiod Interim Progress Reports will be issued issued through the advisorythrough the advisory

If you are not doing satisfactory work, you may If you are not doing satisfactory work, you may need to modify your study habits, see your need to modify your study habits, see your teacher(s) for extra help, and/or have a teacher(s) for extra help, and/or have a parent/teacher contact. Contacts can be arranged parent/teacher contact. Contacts can be arranged through your guidance counselorthrough your guidance counselor

Report cards are issued each quarter. They are Report cards are issued each quarter. They are distributed in advisory except for the fourth distributed in advisory except for the fourth quarter which are mailed to the student’s home quarter which are mailed to the student’s home addressaddress

AspenAspen

Use Aspen portal to check assignments, Use Aspen portal to check assignments, assessments, and gradesassessments, and grades

StudentsStudents– Username: capital S followed by student ID# (e.g. Username: capital S followed by student ID# (e.g.

S123456)S123456)– Password: capital CHSW followed by Year of Graduation Password: capital CHSW followed by Year of Graduation

(e.g. CHSW2014)(e.g. CHSW2014) Parents/GuardiansParents/Guardians

– Contact the Guidance office if you never received a Contact the Guidance office if you never received a temporary username and password temporary username and password

Access through the Aspen login websiteAccess through the Aspen login website

Weekly Progress ReportsWeekly Progress Reports

If you or your parents would like a weekly update If you or your parents would like a weekly update of your academic performance, you may pick up of your academic performance, you may pick up a Weekly Progress Report form in the guidance a Weekly Progress Report form in the guidance office or download a copy of our Weekly Progress office or download a copy of our Weekly Progress Report form by visiting the Student Center on our Report form by visiting the Student Center on our school’s websiteschool’s website

The weekly report process is driven by the The weekly report process is driven by the student and parent. Guidance counselors and student and parent. Guidance counselors and teachers do not initiate, maintain, and/or provide teachers do not initiate, maintain, and/or provide consequences for academic performance based consequences for academic performance based on weekly reportson weekly reports

Summer SchoolSummer School

If you fail a course or receive a “D”, you If you fail a course or receive a “D”, you should repeat the course in summer school to should repeat the course in summer school to recover credit and/or enhance your transcriptrecover credit and/or enhance your transcript

It is strongly recommended that students It is strongly recommended that students attend summer school because failure to do attend summer school because failure to do so will negatively impact your program of so will negatively impact your program of studies studies

Guidance counselors will provide information Guidance counselors will provide information regarding summer school attendance at the regarding summer school attendance at the close of the school yearclose of the school year

Please note: If you earn a “F minus” in a Please note: If you earn a “F minus” in a course, you do not qualify for summer schoolcourse, you do not qualify for summer school

Keep InformedKeep Informed

Keep informed of all student and school activities Keep informed of all student and school activities through the daily bulletin that is read in advisory through the daily bulletin that is read in advisory each morningeach morning

Typical announcements concern meetings with Typical announcements concern meetings with college representatives, athletic events, student college representatives, athletic events, student elections, club notices, and other pertinent elections, club notices, and other pertinent informationinformation

Visit the CHSW website for school information and Visit the CHSW website for school information and add your email address to the CW Family Listserv add your email address to the CW Family Listserv for school announcements and updatesfor school announcements and updates

Scheduling CoursesScheduling Courses

Each year, teachers will recommend courses for the Each year, teachers will recommend courses for the following academic yearfollowing academic year

Recommendations are based on perceived ability, Recommendations are based on perceived ability, work/study skills, and academic performancework/study skills, and academic performance

Recommendations are also based upon performance Recommendations are also based upon performance on standardized assessments (e.g. NECAP, NWEA-on standardized assessments (e.g. NECAP, NWEA-MAP)MAP)

Students and parents may elect to override a Students and parents may elect to override a teacher’s recommendation, provided that a course teacher’s recommendation, provided that a course override form has been completed, signed, and override form has been completed, signed, and returned to the guidance counselorreturned to the guidance counselor

Until the master schedule is created in late August, Until the master schedule is created in late August, the courses are requests only. Students are the courses are requests only. Students are ultimately placed in courses based on requests, ultimately placed in courses based on requests, requirements, availability, and faculty/student ratiosrequirements, availability, and faculty/student ratios

Teacher RapportTeacher Rapport

Your relationship with your teachers and staff Your relationship with your teachers and staff is an important oneis an important one

Establish a good rapport as soon as you can. Establish a good rapport as soon as you can. Let them know that you are interested in doing Let them know that you are interested in doing well in their classwell in their class

You may need a letter of recommendation for You may need a letter of recommendation for college and/or employmentcollege and/or employment

EligibilityEligibility

• Students who do not meet satisfactory behavior guidelines and Students who do not meet satisfactory behavior guidelines and academic criteria are placed on an ineligibility/unsatisfactory conduct academic criteria are placed on an ineligibility/unsatisfactory conduct list(s) and will be restricted from participating in school-related list(s) and will be restricted from participating in school-related extracurricular activitiesextracurricular activities

• Unsatisfactory Conduct IneligibilityUnsatisfactory Conduct Ineligibility • Student incurs three or more “3s” in Citizenship in a marking Student incurs three or more “3s” in Citizenship in a marking

period - The student may ask for a review of status during the period - The student may ask for a review of status during the interim grading period (see Student Planner for procedure)interim grading period (see Student Planner for procedure)

• Academic IneligibilityAcademic Ineligibility Follows RI Interscholastic League guidelinesFollows RI Interscholastic League guidelines Student must pass 60% of scheduled courses (see Appendix C Student must pass 60% of scheduled courses (see Appendix C

in Student Planner)in Student Planner) Academic Eligibility Academic Eligibility cannotcannot be reviewed mid-quarter be reviewed mid-quarter

Start a “Guidance” FolderStart a “Guidance” Folder

Begin a “Guidance” FolderBegin a “Guidance” Folder, , either in paper form either in paper form or in youror in your PortfolioPortfolio

Visit the Student Center on the CHSW website in Visit the Student Center on the CHSW website in order to download the Individual Learning Plan order to download the Individual Learning Plan Worksheet and Activity Sheet templates Worksheet and Activity Sheet templates

Include all the awards and achievements you Include all the awards and achievements you receive in school and the community (CLCF, part-receive in school and the community (CLCF, part-time jobs, volunteer work, awards, activities, etc.) time jobs, volunteer work, awards, activities, etc.)

This folder will prove helpful as you begin the This folder will prove helpful as you begin the college application and/or employment process in college application and/or employment process in your junior and senior yearsyour junior and senior years

School ActivitiesSchool Activities

Become involved in the school community!Become involved in the school community! There are a variety of athletic, academic, musical, There are a variety of athletic, academic, musical,

and social extracurricular activitiesand social extracurricular activities Benefits include better school performance, sense Benefits include better school performance, sense

of belonging, increased pride in school, and more of belonging, increased pride in school, and more competitive college and employment applicationscompetitive college and employment applications

Consult the student planner or CHSW website for Consult the student planner or CHSW website for a current list of all activitiesa current list of all activities

Visit the RI Interscholastic League website for Visit the RI Interscholastic League website for detailed information on athleticsdetailed information on athletics

Guidance Services: General Guidance Services: General OverviewOverview

Counselors are available to assist students in Counselors are available to assist students in dealing with academic, career, and personal dealing with academic, career, and personal issuesissues

Counselors can provide referrals to other support Counselors can provide referrals to other support staff members (school social workers, staff members (school social workers, psychologist, nurse)psychologist, nurse)

Counselors play an integral role in the selection of Counselors play an integral role in the selection of coursescourses

Counselors can assist in the college and/or Counselors can assist in the college and/or employment application process employment application process

Guidance Services: Requesting Guidance Services: Requesting an Appointmentan Appointment

Students: Ask your advisory teacher for a Students: Ask your advisory teacher for a “Request for Counselor Appointment” “Request for Counselor Appointment” form form or fill out one in the Guidance Office.or fill out one in the Guidance Office. Please Please include the reason for the visit so your counselor include the reason for the visit so your counselor can plan the time accordinglycan plan the time accordingly

Parents: Call the Guidance Office at 270-8063 or Parents: Call the Guidance Office at 270-8063 or email the guidance counselor to schedule an email the guidance counselor to schedule an appointment. Please refrain from walking in appointment. Please refrain from walking in without an appointment without an appointment

Anti-BullyingAnti-Bullying PolicyPolicy

Bullying of any form is NOT tolerated in Bullying of any form is NOT tolerated in the Cranston Public Schoolsthe Cranston Public Schools– Forms of bullying include physical, Forms of bullying include physical,

mental, emotional, and technological mental, emotional, and technological (i.e. Facebook, texts, emails).(i.e. Facebook, texts, emails).

If you are a victim of bullying or know of If you are a victim of bullying or know of another student who is getting bullied, another student who is getting bullied, please let an administrator, counselor or please let an administrator, counselor or teacher know. You can anonymously send teacher know. You can anonymously send us information as well!us information as well!

ReferenceReference Support staffSupport staff

– Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs: K. MagnelliAssistant Principal for Academic Affairs: K. Magnelli– Assistant Principal of Special Education and related Services: Assistant Principal of Special Education and related Services:

D. SchiappaD. Schiappa– School Counselors: D. Golini, J. McGuirl, M. Royal, R. Willette, School Counselors: D. Golini, J. McGuirl, M. Royal, R. Willette,

R. D’Almeida, L. Velino, D. Ciccone and V. ClarkR. D’Almeida, L. Velino, D. Ciccone and V. Clark– Social Workers: L. Thompson , K. AscoliSocial Workers: L. Thompson , K. Ascoli– School Psychologist: G. BlessingSchool Psychologist: G. Blessing– School Nurse: D. MolliconeSchool Nurse: D. Mollicone

Location: A-1 WingLocation: A-1 Wing Phone number: (401)270-8063 Fax: (401)270-8522Phone number: (401)270-8063 Fax: (401)270-8522 School address: 80 Metropolitan Avenue, Cranston, RI, School address: 80 Metropolitan Avenue, Cranston, RI,

0292002920 Website address: http://cpsed.net/chsw/index.htmWebsite address: http://cpsed.net/chsw/index.htm Email addresses: available at school websiteEmail addresses: available at school website CEEB school code: 400036CEEB school code: 400036