Lockers:
Every student is assigned a locker at the beginning of the year. Students who forget their combinations or cannot open their lockers, should ask the day custodian (James Whiteley) or Student Intervention Assistants (Joe Cruz and James Gibson) to help. Students should not leave valuable items in their lockers. Students are allowed to decorate their lockers with posters and non-permanent decorations. Lockers are school property and are subject to search.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices:
Since the campus does not have pay phones, students are allowed to have cell phones and other electronic devices. However, these devices are not to interfere with classroom instruction and will be confiscated if used during class time. Confiscated items are turned in to the SIA offices and are released to parents on the first offense.

Cheating:

Academic integrity is highly valued and expected of all Whitney students. Students found to be academically dishonest in any manner will be dealt with as follows:

Minimum consequences: 1) A referral to the office and a parent conference.

2) A zero grade on the assigned task or test.

3) Four hours of Saturday school.

4) Documentation on students’ permanent record.

Additional consequences: Depending upon the magnitude of the deceit/dishonesty and upon the student history in the area of integrity, additional consequences may be assigned at the parent conference. These may include: failing grades for a class, loss of privileges, suspension, or loss of permit to attend WHS.

Dress Code:
Students are given a great deal of freedom with their wardrobe selections since clothing is an expression of individuality. However, certain items of clothing are considered inappropriate for a school environment and are not allowed, such as:

Violators are asked to change into something else or to cover up with a jacket/sweater. Repeat violators will be assigned detention.

Rules:
Whitney High School adheres to the California Ed Code and ABC Unified's policies concerning student behavior.

California Ed Code section 48900 outlines reasons for suspension and expulsion. Suspension means that a student loses the right to attend classes and participate in school activities for the period of the suspension. All student privileges are "suspended." Expulsion means that the student's case is reviewed by an expulsion panel and s/he is no longer allowed to attend any school within the ABC Unified School District for a period of one semester up to one year.

Students are expected to follow certain behavioral guidelines while on campus or attending school related activities. These include:

WHS has a progressive discipline program. Students who do not follow the rules will be required to serve Saturday detention. Detention is one hour per infraction.  Students who owe detentions receive a slip that explains the reason for the detention. Students have to serve the detention on their assigned Saturday.  If a student does not serve on the assigned Saturday, then the following week, they will receive a one-day off campus suspension and will lose privileges.

Teachers have the right to assign detentions and Saturday Schools for other reasons not outlined as per course syllabi. Teachers also may suspend any pupil from class for a calendar day or more pending a parent conference. Teachers may allow students to make up work missed during the length of suspension, but are not required to provide make up work for students suspended.

Reasons for suspension and expulsions as outlined in California Ed Code 48900:

Students may be suspended for committing any of the above mentioned acts while on school grounds, on a lunch permit, off campus, or at a school sponsored activity.

 

Be aware that most College/Universities require information regarding student's suspension and expulsion records.

Hall Passes:
Students excused from class by the teacher are expected to have the teacher sign the back of their dayplanner and carry the dayplanner with them while on the errand. Students who are teacher assistants are expected to wear a badge. Students without a badge or hall pass may receive a detention.

Attendance:
Students are expected to be in all classes daily unless excused. Excused absences include reasons such as:

A note excusing absences should be delivered by a parent or student to the attendance office the first day the student returns to school.  Parents may also call the attendance office (Suzanne Campbell 562-926-5566 x22310), if they prefer.  Absences must be cleared within 2 days or will become unexcused. Students with unexcused absences are required to serve detention which will only be on Saturday. Most teachers will not allow students to make up work if the absence is unexcused.  Students will be given a yellow reminder notice as a courtesy to clear the absence, but it is their responsibility to make sure their attendance is cleared.

 

All notes excusing first and second period absences must have a daytime phone number and will be verified by phone.  If the note cannot be verified, the absence will be considered a truancy.

 

It is imperative and demanded by the law that the school has a correct home phone number, work number and emergency phone number for every student.  This is to enable communication between school and parents.  If any phone numbers change please notify Ilka Sabha (562/926-5566 x22309) immediately.

Students with legitimate appointments during the school day (dentist, doctor, etc.) should check out through the attendance office and check in to the attendance office. To release a student with a legitimate appointment, a parent can choose to notify the Attendance Office by phone call, note or in person.  Students may not leave campus without picking up an outside pass.  Students who leave campus without picking up an outside pass will be required to serve a Saturday detention.

 

The parent(s)/guardian(s) must be notified in writing via first class mail of their child's truant status.  This first notification is based upon three unexcused absences three tardies thirty minutes or more, three cuts, OR any combination of these equaling three (E.C.48260(a)).  A conference with the parents must be requested in the letter to discuss solutions to the attendance problem (E.C.48260.5).

 

The parent(s)/guardian(s) must once again be notified via first class mail of their child's continued attendance problems on the fourth truancy (cut) and/or sixth unexcused absence after being recognized as a truant.  Once again the parents are encouraged to meet with a site administrator (E.C.48261).

 

The third letter designates the student as a "habitual truant" (E.C.48262).  This occurs when the attendance problem persists.  In this letter, an appointment is set up for the parent(s)/guardian(s) and child to attend a SART (Student Attendance Review Team) hearing at the site.

Students who will be absent for extended periods of time (one week or more) should notify the attendance office in advance. They should also coordinate with their Grade Level Advisor to work out makeup assignments.

Seniors are allowed to leave campus for lunch on Fridays if they are cleared with an outside lunch pass. Seniors must also have their student ID cards so that the SIA's are able to easily identify them.

Students who leave items in their cars during the school day, must ask for permission from the SIA's or the attendance office before going out to the parking lot unaccompanied.

Textbooks: Students are required to have their student ID cards for textbooks. Griselda Hidalgo (in the library) issues textbooks to students at the beginning of each year. Students are responsible for any books issued to them and must pay for lost books. Textbooks should be covered at all times and students may receive a detention for books that are not covered.

Finance Office:

The ASB Bookkeeper, Sharon McKee, is located in the Financial Office Next to the MPR. Students who are involved in club fundraisers should turn in all money collected to the Financial Office daily. Students should go to the Financial Office to:

WHS Website:
The Whitney website features regularly updated information about college news and other important events. The website's address is www.whitneyhs.org

Parking Lot:
Seniors who drive are allowed to park in the campus parking lot. Each senior space is numbered. Seniors hold a lottery at the beginning of each year and each participating senior's lottery number is their car's designated parking space. Staff cars are parked in spaces marked specifically for staff. Underclassmen are allowed to park in the spaces not marked. Students who park in staff spaces risk being towed. Students park in the lot at their own risk. WHS assumes no responsibility.

Technology:
Students are encouraged to use the laptops, computers, and other equipment available on campus for school related research and projects. Students are expected to be careful with the equipment and to treat it respectfully.

Students are encouraged to sign up for the free schoolwide TCCI program because this enables them to receive e-mail messages from school personnel about important news and events. For more information, see Mary Pinedo in the College Career Center and/or the Grade Level Advisors.

Students who misuse or mistreat the equipment will not be allowed future access and will be financially responsible for replacing damaged machines. Students who access inappropriate websites or use school machines for other illegitimate purposes will be suspended, possibly arrested, and possibly recommended for expulsion.

 

 

The CDE has required that the district and its high schools post the link above to our school and district website:

Please use the link above on your website to provide the public easy access to the recent CAHSEE settlement notice.

Use this title for the link:

 

Tentative Settlement Agreement Challenging the California High School Exit Exam Use this summary (if applicable):

This notice sets forth the basic terms of the proposed settlement reached in Valenzuela v. O’Connell and advises class members of their procedural rights relating to the settlement.