San Diego Early/Middle College  Student Handbook  The mission of San Diego Early/Middle College is to develop individuals who are socially, ethically and academically prepared to thrive in the higher learning environment of their choice and to use their knowledge, creativity and skills to contribute to their communities and the world beyond. Expectations San Diego Early/Middle College students enjoy the privilege of attending a small, non-traditional high school on the campus of San Diego City College, where they have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit in five years or less.  In order to achieve this, each student agrees to the following expectations:  Making education a high priority in one’s life, including positive participation in class and school activities.  Devoting a minimum of two hours each evening to homework, studying and    reading.  Being punctual and maintaining good attendance in all classes  Accepting the AVID program and subscribing to its principles, including maintaining  an organized notebook, taking Cornell notes and participating in study groups.  Taking responsibility for one’s own learning, behavior, and success.  Demonstrating the ability to make appropriate choices and accepting responsibility for those choices.  Showing respect for everyone in the school community and the rights of others to learn and succeed.  Behaving in a manner that shows respect for the college, school facilities, and equipment.  Maturely handling the freedoms and scheduling of a college setting, and understand that our presence on the college campus is a privilege, not a right   Understanding that flexible scheduling requires productive use of unscheduled time.   Adhering to the acceptable use policies for technology of San Diego Early/Middle College and San Diego City College. Attendance Good attendance by our students in both their high school and college classes is vital to the SDEMC program. Families are asked to schedule vacations, doctor visits, and other appointments so that they do not conflict with high school or college classes.   Absences Parents need to call the school secretary if their child is absent. Students who need to leave campus for medical or legal reasons during the school day must obtain a “blue slip” from the school secretary. Please be aware that college instructors expect students to attend class and a student may be dropped from class if he or she misses as many sessions as are offered in a week. Whenever possible, students should communicate with their instructors (high school and college) if they are going to be miss a class. Tardies Tardies to school are considered excused only for medical or legal reasons. Excuses must be in the form of a phone call or note to the school secretary. Oversleeping, transportation problems, or personal excuses cannot be accepted. Students who arrive 30 or more minutes late will be marked absent. Make-Up Work Students should have at least one study partner for each class who they can contact for missed work so that they can do the make-up work prior to returning to school. If that is not possible, it is the student’s responsibility to request make-up work from teachers. High School Students on College Campus Freshmen and Sophomores SDEMC has an agreement with San Diego City College that 9th and 10th graders are not allowed on campus without direct adult supervision, including before or after school. Abiding by this agreement is very important for the safety of our younger students. Every 9h and 10th grade student is responsible for the following:    1. During school, students walk together to the college cafeteria (or any other area on campus) with an adult and sit in the areas designated by SDEMC staff.    2. Before and after school, students walk directly to the SDEMC classrooms or their trolley/bus stops or drop off points.    3. SDEMC students do not interact with college students except in a classroom situation. Juniors and Seniors Juniors and seniors are under SDEMC’s general supervision when taking classes or studying in the library on the college campus. However, they may not leave the campus (even to go to McDonald’s) during the school day without parent permission and a “blue slip” from the school. CODE OF CONDUCT Academic Honesty Policy Acts of academic dishonesty by SDEMC students will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:   Cheating on quizzes and/or tests or copying someone else’s work   Fabrication (any intentional falsification of or invention of data, citation, or other authority in an academic exercise)   Unauthorized collaboration   Plagiarism (the taking of and passing off as one’s own the work or ideas of another) Consequences for Academic Dishonesty Consequences for academic dishonesty may include parent notification, a zero grade for the assignment, lowering of the citizenship grade, lowering of the academic grade, or removal of network privileges. Behavior Expectations SDEMC students are all ambassadors for the school and expected to show respect for each other and everyone in the college and high school community. Students are expected to know and follow all classroom, high school and college rules. The following is the hierarchy of consequences for defiant or disruptive behavior in the high school classroom:  Teacher speaks to student privately  Teacher calls home  Teacher refers student to counselor or principal   Parent conference to create a student action plan Below are examples of unacceptable student behavior. Depending on the severity and student’s prior behavior history, consequences for these actions range from a teacher or counselor talking to a student privately about his or her behavior to revoking privileges, suspension, removal from SDEMC and reassignment to school of residence, expulsion, and/or prosecution:    Defying any high school or college staff member    Deliberately disturbing classroom instruction    Being on the college campus without adult supervision (9th and 10th graders)    Acting in a rowdy/distracting, potentially dangerous way    Dressing inappropriately    Using profanity or vulgar language    Leaving campus without permission    Public display of affection    Cheating or plagiarizing    Defacing or damaging school property    Bullying    Harassing someone sexually    Fighting, threats of violence, or intense incident of “drama”    Possessing or using drugs, alcohol or tobacco    Possessing, furnishing, or selling any item deemed to be a weapon Please note that SDEMC is a guest on the campus of San Diego City College. Any student who jeopardizes our standing on the college campus or the learning of others because of repeated defiant behavior or an unwillingness to follow school rules will be removed from SDEMC and reassigned to their school of residence. Cell Phones Students may have cell phones on campus; however, cell phones must be out of sight and turned off during instructional time (passing periods are included as part of the instructional program). Students may use cell phones before school begins, during the lunch period, and when school ends. Other Electronic Devices (e.g. MP3 Players, iPods) Students may have electronic devices such as MP3 players and iPods; however, these devices must be out of sight and turned off during instructional time (passing periods are included as part of the instructional program). Please note that students bring electronic devices and cell phones onto campus at their own risk; SDEMC is not responsible for lost/stolen or damaged electronic items.                                                                  Dress Code Students should dress in a way that does not interfere with their learning or the learning of others, but that exhibits the student’s progress toward being socially prepared for the world beyond. Items that do not demonstrate social preparedness include (but are not limited to) clothing or accessories that:    Promote sex, violence, drugs, or alcohol    Are deemed to be gang-related or likely to incite confrontation    Obscure the head and/or face    Hinder timely movement between classes (namely inappropriate footwear)    Draw attention to the body rather than the mind    Are deemed offensive or which may cause a disruption of the school environment Students referred to the counselor or principal for unresolved dress code violations by any staff member will be given a change of clothing or will be sent home. SDEMC Technology Acceptable Use Policy  This policy is intended to supplement the San Diego City Schools Acceptable Use Policy, and is in compliance with District, state and national telecommunications regulations. PURPOSE: Students at SDEMC are provided access to the Internet and multimedia technology in order to support and enhance their learning in the classroom, and in order to prepare them to participate as students, employees and citizens in an increasingly technology-based global society. EXPECTATIONS: With the use of technology comes rights and responsibilities for students, educators and parents. All SDEMC community members must be aware of what constitutes appropriate use of technology, and support students in behaving in a respectful manner. Students should act in the spirit of community in their use of technology, working together to become successful and responsible citizens of the “cyber classroom.” Student use of technology is a privilege that is contingent upon students abiding by the policies set forth below. What Can Students Do with SDEMC Technology?   Use a general student account to utilize laptops and classroom desktop computers. Computers may only be used with the permission of a staff member, and under a staff member’s direct supervision.    Use Internet for educational purposes to research topics and communicate with peers and faculty. (Note: The computers are for school, not personal use.)    Create and use a Google account to access email, Google Docs, student-generated websites and other free features available through Google. The Google account will be created on-site to be used strictly for school purposes, and staff will have access to students’ usernames and passwords.    Use SDEMC video equipment and multimedia to create products demonstrating mastery of course content in an innovative and creative manner.    Abide by good “netiquette” in order to interact successfully with other Internet users.  What Must Students Avoid with SDEMC Technology?   Use of the Internet to communicate with anyone other than an SDEMC community member without the express consent and supervision of an SDEMC staff member. Any attempts by someone outside of SDEMC to communicate with you or meet you in person must be reported to a staff member immediately.   Inappropriate use of school email, including distribution of unsolicited email or other personal use. Note: Using personal e-mail at school is not allowed.   Violating basic Internet privacy and safety protocol, including revealing personal information about one’s self or another SDEMC community member.   Use of the Internet to violate copyright law (illegally downloading music, software, etc.).   Engaging in harmful or illegal activity, or viewing content that encourages such behavior. This includes cyberbullying, lewd content, vulgar language, violent content, hateful or discriminatory materials, or any other content deemed inappropriate by SDEMC staff.   Vandalism, unauthorized access (this includes bypassing proxies), “hacking,” or tampering with hardware or software, including introducing “viruses” or pirated software is strictly prohibited.   The presence of food, drink, gum or rowdy behavior near technology.   Vandalism or theft of technology.   Engagement in any activity that disrupts the use of the network by others. Consequences:: Violation of this AUP may result in temporary or permanent suspension of a student’s ability to utilize SDEMC technology, in addition to other disciplinary action.