tower hill school upper school handbook

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK2013-14

TOWER HILL SCHOOL

Welcome to the toWer hill Upper School handbook 3the toWer hill miSSion Statement2 Welcome to the toWer hill Upper School handbook 3

CONTENTS

1. the tower hill mission Statement page 2

2. Welcome to the tower hill Upper School handbook page 3

3. a day in the life of a tower hill Student - the School day page 4

4. the rules page 10

5. What to Wear - dress code at tower hill page 20

6. making the Grade - academics and achievement page 24

7. academic technology page 32

8. Student life - athletics, SFc, clubs, theater and Service page 36

9. Your Support team - resources page 42

the tower hi l l mission Statement

tower hill School prepares students from diverse backgrounds for full and creative engagement with a dynamic world. each student is provided with an educational experience that emphasizes the development of an inquisitive, discerning, and critical mind; the value of being creative and aesthetically sensitive; the appreciation of physical well being; the ability to collaborate and to function as part of a team; and the growth of character.

Welcome to the toWer hill Upper School handbook 3Welcome to the toWer hill Upper School handbook 3

Welcome to the Tower Hill Upper School Handbook

this handbook is intentionally written to our students as

we believe that in Upper School at tower hill, it is the

student’s responsibility first and foremost to manage his/

her own experience. because it provides the foundation

of our values, policies and expectations for behavior,

each year we require that students sign a pledge

affirming that they have both read and will abide by the

standards set forth in this handbook.

That said, we hope that current parents and prospective families might find it useful as well, not only

in learning more about the nuts and bolts of how we run the place, but also to get a flavor for the

many elements that comprise the high school experience at tower hill.

From what to wear, to who to go to if you need help, we hope that this document will be a useful

guide for students to maximize the benefits of their school experience. If you have any questions

about what is (or is not) contained in this handbook, please do not hesitate to contact me or mrs.

Megan Cover, Assistant Head of Upper School/Dean of Students. Have a great year!

Sincerely,

daniel e. hickey, ed.d

head of Upper School

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The School Day

School begins at 8:00 a.m. monday, tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and at 8:30 a.m. on thursday. While classes may end earlier depending on your schedule, the academic day lasts until 3:00 p.m., with athletic practices running 3:30-5:30 p.m. monday through Friday.

Attendance

please see attendance for policies regarding unexcused / excused absences and unexcused / excused lateness.

Features of the Schedule

the Upper School uses a six-day rotating schedule which includes a morning assembly, class time, flexible time and breaks for snack at 10:00 a.m. and lunch at 1:00 p.m.


Upper School6-Day Schedule


Morning Assembly

We begin each school day at assembly in the theater at 8:00 a.m. sharp (8:30 on thursdays). during morning assembly, we take attendance and make any relevant announcements for the school day. classes begin ten minutes later.

Classes

the Upper School uses a six-day rotating schedule with typical class lengths of 45, 50, or 55 minutes. depending on the class, the last period of the day can last 50, 70 or 90 minutes. there are six academic periods scheduled each day. classes meet 5 out of 6 days in the schedule.

Free Periods

When you do not have a class scheduled, your time is generally yours to use as you see fit. You must remain on campus and shouldn’t be causing a ruckus. Free periods are a great time to get some homework done, meet with a teacher or relax and socialize with friends between classes.

In the first quarter, 9th graders are scheduled into a study hall during their open periods. After the first quarter, if your grades are good, the study hall becomes a free period. Students of any grade who aren’t meeting their academic obligations may be scheduled into a study hall during an open period.

Flex Period

The flex period is a break in the day and that allows for various activities including assemblies, club meetings, advisory, or extra help. Depending on the day of the cycle, the flex period may last 20, 30 or 75 minutes and includes a snack for students every day.

Advisory

the advisory program is designed to support students personally and academically throughout their upper school experience.

Clubs and Activities

clubs are a great way for you to participate in extracurricular activities both in and out of school


Class Meetings (Homeroom)

class meetings occur approximately once per cycle. each grade meets in its homeroom to discuss grade-specific information. The Head Class Advisors and elected Class Co-Chairs run homeroom meetings.

Lunch

all upper school students are scheduled into the meal plan and are expected to attend lunch from 1:00-1:30 p.m. Our lunch options are phenomenal!

Forum

the Forum Speaker Series is a unique opportunity for you to interact with personalities of national prominence. each year a theme is selected and approximately a half-dozen events ranging from speakers to debates to films highlight the year’s theme. Some of these events occur in the evening, and semi-formal attire is required. Visit the Forum web page for more detail on this unique experience for tower hill students.

Meeting with Teachers

meeting with teachers outside of class time is commonplace at tower hill. these meetings can occur during common free periods and before or after school. Students may make these appointments voluntarily or may be scheduled for extra help by the teacher, advisor or the dean. regardless of the reason, you should not be shy about seeing your teacher outside of class.

http://www.towerhill.org/forum


Athletics

athletics are a required element of the school day for most students. on a typical day, practice occurs from 3:30-5:30 p.m. depending on the sport, games occur a few times a week or on the weekend. Go to hillersSports.com for team schedules and info or to the athletic handbook for more information on our athletic requirement.

http://hillerssports.com/

http://www.towerhill.org/athletic_handbook

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t h e r U l e S

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Honor StatementTower Hill School is an educational community committed to the ethical, intellectual, and physical growth of its students both as individuals and as members of a community. Tower Hill recognizes that achievement by an individual or as a school in academics, athletics, and the arts is meaningless without integrity. We believe that honesty, respect for others and self, and concern for others’ person and property are fundamental standards; therefore, Tower Hill insists upon active support of these standards by students, faculty, and parents.

You will be required each year to sign a statement that you have read, understand, and will actively support and comply with the Honor Statement and policies outlined in the Upper School Student Handbook. This is a way for the School to be certain that each student is aware how important this part of their commitment to Tower Hill is. It is also the reason you will be asked to acknowledge in writing on every piece of work submitted for credit that the work is your own.

Departmental Honor Statements

the tower hill Upper School Faculty fully support and subscribe to the following honor code Statements:

English Department: Papers: A paper prepared outside of class must be a student’s own work and thought. ideas or phrasing borrowed from other sources must be acknowledged by a footnote or by context. (As Edmund Wilson stated...”). Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty defined as “work or ideas taken and passed off as one’s own.” Students are also responsible for their own mechanical and logical accuracy. If a friend or parent reads a paper, the advice must be general: “I had trouble following your point here” or “You’d better check your spelling in the second paragraph.” Some assignments will call for cooperation between students; however, unless otherwise instructed by the teacher, students may ask only the teachers for specific advice.

tests, Quizzes, in-class papers: these exercises must be prepared without giving or receiving aid of any kind. the test or quiz may not be discussed with any other student until after everyone has taken the test.

History Department: the history department expects that each student will abide by the norms stated in the Honor Code for all tests and assignments, unless the teacher specifically states otherwise for a particular assignment. Ideas and opinions that are not the student’s own, whether paraphrased or quoted, must be acknowledged with a proper citation.

Honor at Tower Hill


Language Department: Students are expected to accept responsibility for the integrity and basic honesty of their academic work, either in class or at home. all tests, quizzes, or graded material (including homework) will be done without assistance, unless express permission is given by the teacher. Accordingly, students are never permitted to take credit for or represent as one’s own work anything that is the work of another. if a student receives any help on out-ofclass assignments, this help will be reported to the teacher. at no time should work be copied. this includes the academic work of classmates, published authors, and known or anonymous authors on the internet. academic dishonesty includes a variety of activities that includes, but is not limited to: all forms of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citation, the failure to use appropriate citations, unauthorized possession of examinations or quizzes, submitting work of another person or work previously submitted by another, and tampering with the work of another. additionally, any test or quiz may not be discussed with any other students until after everyone has taken the test or quiz (this also applies to essays and any other form of graded work). in all other matters, the language department will follow the guidelines of the Upper School Student handbook.

Math Department: all in class tests and quizzes (announced or unannounced) will be taken without assistance. In certain specified cases, out-of-class honor assignments will be given on which no assistance may be given or received.

Science Department: appropriate help is any studying or teaching that occurs before a test, quiz, lab write-up, or other graded assignment. once a student begins to write any graded assignments, the student is to work on his/her own. Any infraction of this will be considered in violation of the Tower hill honor code.

Honor Board

tower hill requires that each of its students conduct themselves in an honorable fashion. breaches of honorable conduct include lying and misrepresentation of facts in academic work, cheating, stealing, and vandalism. When the dean of Students or the head of the Upper School has been made aware that a student has allegedly committed an honor violation, s/he may convene the Honor Board, if s/he deems the cause sufficient.

the voting members of the honor board consist of one of the following: the dean of Students, or a class advisor of the senior class; and a class advisor, a faculty member from the Student-Faculty council, and three student members of the Student-Faculty council selected by the president. (the students may not be chosen from the class of the student who is alleged to have committed the violation without the approval of the dean of Students or the head of the Upper School.) the student’s advisor, the Head of the Upper School, and the class co-chairs of the student brought before the board may be present as observers.

an honor board is held shortly after the violation in question occurred in a private location and all proceedings are confidential. The Dean of Students calls the meeting to order with all members present, beginning with an explanation of the alleged violation, process, and expectations.

In cases of academic dishonesty, teachers are first asked to tell their side of the situation while the student and advisor are asked to leave the room; after a teacher is finished with her/his explanation, s/he is asked to leave the room and the student(s) in question is/ are asked to explain their own

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side of the situation in question. Student and faculty members attending the hearing may ask questions of both parties for clarification and further information. After hearing the details of the alleged honor violation, the voting members of the board shall make a recommendation based on a simple majority to the head of the Upper School and the headmaster concerning what action or outcome consequences should be taken. Since the honor board is to be governed by the spirit expressed in the introduction, it will base its recommendation on the principles that tower hill students and faculty support honesty and respect for others.

While the tone of honor board hearings is necessarily formal, the hearings themselves are meant to clarify a situation, not to imply automatic guilt. We recognize that students undergoing a hearing may be scared, and we invite a student’s advisor to accompany them for support. These hearings are completely confidential, and their specific contents will never be released to other students or to anyone outside the meeting (other than a family involved). after an honor board hearing, we all make our best effort to move forward in a positive and nonpunitive manner, allowing students to begin again with a clean slate and relationship with faculty members.


Attendance

We all agree that one of the most important elements to succeeding in school is actually being there. So regular attendance and arriving on time are essential. please adhere to following policies:

Absences

School starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. If you are going to be absent or late, a parent/guardian must contact the Upper School administrative assistant by 9:00 a.m. If we don’t hear from you, you’ll hear from us. this is true for any mandatory school event.

if you are absent on a given day, you should not be in the building or attending school events later on that day, unless your absence has been excused for non-illness reasons.

Excused Absences

excused absences are those deemed to be the school to be legitimate reasons for missing school, such as illness, court appearance, religious observance, or other unique circumstances. these absences should be arranged in advance and, depending on the reasons for the absence, may or may not be considered excused; bringing a note from a parent or guardian explaining the nature of the absence does not automatically mean the absence will be excused.

in the case of an excused absence, you are responsible for notifying your teachers in advance when possible, and for following up with them upon your return to school. Students should receive the same number of days to make up missed work as the number of absences that were excused (for example, if out for two days, two days to make up work).

Unexcused Absence

there is ample vacation time at tower hill, so you are expected to be in regular attendance before and after school holidays and long weekends. all requests for excusals at these times must be submitted in writing. however, except for unusual circumstances, absences during these times will be considered unexcused.

Consequences for Unexcused Absence

if your absence is unexcused you will only receive a maximum of 50% of the credit earned for any test, quiz or graded assignment missed during that absence. Your teachers are not obligated to help you make up any work missed during an unexcused absence, nor is extra time granted to make up work.

Lateness

if you arrive after 8:00 a.m. on monday-Wednesday and Friday or 8:30 a.m. on thursday, you are considered late. We’ll cut you slack and excuse your lateness for a pre-determined appointment, inclement weather conditions or other unusual situations. but if you miss any portion of class due to an unexcused lateness, you may receive no credit for work missed.

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What to Do When You’re Late to School

When you arrive late, you must sign the late pad in the Upper School Administrative Assistant’s office as soon as you get to school. You will receive a pass to get into class; please get there as quickly as possible. if you think your unexcused lateness should be excused, see the dean or head of the Upper School sometime during the day.

if you arrive late due to sickness or fatigue, you will be marked unexcused and must arrive by 9:00 a.m. if you arrive after 9:00, you may be sent home and may not return to participate in activities beyond the academic day. bottom line: if you are sick, please stay home.

If you arrive after the beginning of first period, you must have a note from a parent or from a doctor, to be left with the Upper School administrative assistant, explaining the reason for the lateness. the note will not necessarily excuse the lateness, but it will allow you to attend class. if you do not have a note, you still must sign in and receive a yellow entry slip and will need to see the dean of Students or head of the Upper School as soon as possible. We think our late policy is very reasonable. You can be late to school up to three times in a quarter without disciplinary consequence. however, your fourth late and every one after that in a quarter will get you a detention, and your parents will be notified of the situation.


Check-out Procedures

End of the Day

When you are at school, you are expected to remain in or immediately adjacent to the main school buildings during the 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. school day unless you have permission to leave early. You shouldn’t be wandering the campus outside or in areas of the building where you do not belong. if you need to go to your car to retrieve something, you need permission from the Upper School office. If you participate in a sport, you must remain until the end of your athletic commitment. You may leave after the last period of the day on Fridays provided you have no other commitments.

Checking Out During the School Day

if you need to leave school for an appointment or other obligation, you must present a note or email, written by a parent or guardian, in the Upper School Office and obtain a yellow dismissal slip from the Administrative Assistant and sign out. The note should contain specific information about the time and nature of the appointment, and should indicate whether or not the student will return to finish the school day. The school asks that, whenever possible, appointments be scheduled so as not to conflict with academic classes and athletic contests.

When you return from having checked out of school, you must go directly to the Upper School Office and sign in, and the administrative assistant will give you a yellow re-admission slip to take to your teacher. if the administrative assistant is unavailable, sign in and go directly to class.

Going Home Sick

if you are not feeling well in school, simply ask your teacher if you can go see the nurse. You should always see the nurse before making arrangements with a parent to go home sick. While no one will force you to stay in school if you are not feeling well, you will not be excused from school for illness without going through the office of the school nurse. If you are leaving, follow the checkout procedures listed above.

Leaving School Without Permission

our most important priority is your safety. therefore, we must know your whereabouts at all times.

Leaving school without permission is considered a major offense and may result in severe disciplinary action including suspension.

Disciplinary System

The welfare of the school community as well as the school’s ability to grow and be effective in its programs is directly related to each student’s willingness to suspend a portion of his or her individuality. Students attending tower hill are expected to have the integrity and self-discipline needed to accept the rules, policies, and expectations of the school even while working for changes that they feel to be necessary. these attributes are expected both on and off campus. if a student exhibits negative behavior while clearly representing tower hill at an event that is not sponsored by or does not take place at tower hill (such as another school’s dance or an away athletic contest), this will be considered to be behavior “on campus” and will be responded to accordingly.

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Warnings and Detentions

If you are involved in infractions of school rules, you may receive a “warning” or be required to serve a detention. if you receive a total of three warnings, a detention will be issued. Warnings reset at the beginning of each semester.

examples of infractions which will normally result in a warning are the following:• dress code• chewing gum• arriving late to class• inappropriate behavior• inappropriate use of cell phone or technology

detentions are served on the day of the infraction unless special arrangements are made with the dean of Students or Upper School administrative assistant. they occur mon.-thurs. from 3:15-3:45 p.m.; Fridays from 2:30-3:00 p.m. an unexcused absence from detention will incur another detention and repeat violations may lead to a letter of Warning.

examples of infractions which will normally result in a detention are the following:• the fourth and any additional unexcused lates to school per quarter• repeated minor lateness to class• unexcused absence from class or part of a class• foul language/disrespectful behavior

the detention system is designed to deter inappropriate behavior. multiple detention assignments indicate a pattern not conducive to the enrichment of the community and therefore will lead to more serious consequences as described below:• five detention assignments within an academic year will lead to a Letter of Warning• seven detention assignments will place a student on disciplinary probation• Students who accumulate ten detentions or more may risk suspension or expulsion

While the number of detentions will not accumulate from year to year, records of these infractions will be kept and may be consulted in future disciplinary decisions.

Suspension & Disciplinary Probation

those who are involved in major infractions of school policies or who repeatedly demonstrate their unwillingness to accept what is asked of them will meet with the dean of Students or with the head of the Upper School at which an appropriate course of action will be determined. the action taken could include a letter of Warning, disciplinary probation, or suspension.

A Letter of Warning is sent to the student and his/her parents when a pattern of infractions occurs or when the infraction is serious enough to warrant such a letter. the letter puts the student on notice that his or her behavior needs to be exemplary, and that a future infraction of any kind will be treated more severely (including disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion) than it might if the student had not received a letter of Warning.

When a serious question arises about whether a student should continue at tower hill, the student may be placed on Disciplinary Probation for a specified period of time. Prior to the end of the probation period, the student must submit to the head of Upper School a letter indicating what the student feels he or she has gained by remaining at tower hill, and what the School has gained by his or her presence.


the student will discuss the letter with the head of the Upper School, who will make a recommendation to the Headmaster concerning the student’s future at Tower Hill.

Students need to be aware that a suspension or disciplinary probation is part of a permanent record. colleges usually request such information as part of the application process, and if applications or recommendations have already been sent, the school must notify each of the colleges involved that a suspension has occurred. Accompanying the school’s notification is a letter written by the student explaining the suspension.

the following infractions below are considered very serious that will lead, except in very unusual circumstances, to immediate suspension or dismissal from school by the administration:• Using or being under the influence of any form of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs while on school

property or while attending any function sponsored wholly or partly by the school.• possession of a school key.• Unauthorized presence in any school building including locker rooms, gym, field house, etc. (for example,

students involved in a weekend or evening activity are expected to remain at the site of the activity, rather than elsewhere in the building).

• leaving campus without permission during the school day, including during athletic practice time.

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Behavior

Bullying / Harassment

as a community, we tolerate diverse perspectives including, but not limited to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political beliefs. We strongly believe that you and all members of the community should feel safe within tower hill. it is expected that all students and faculty will treat every member of the community with respect and dignity. any harassment of others, including sexual harassment, will not be tolerated; this includes on campus, off campus and online. if at any point you feel as though you have been harassed by anyone, you should seek out a teacher or administrator immediately and talk to them about the situation. there will be consequences to anyone in the community who is found to be harassing others.

Guidelines for Social Events

When you are attending a dance or any school-related event (such as fundraising activities or athletic contests), you are representing tower hill School. You are expected to abide by all school rules and policies. We as a school reserve the right to use practical means (such as a breathalyzer or consultation with police officers) to determine whether or not you are under the influence of illegal substances at an event. The school reserves the right to ask you to leave an event if you are suspected of being under the influence and will communicate with a parent in such a case.

Substance Abuse and Weapons on School Property

tower hill School does not allow harmful or illegal drugs, substances, and weapons on its campus. Students and faculty should not bring alcohol, tobacco products, drugs, or weapons of any kind to tower hill facilities at any time. if students require ongoing medication or take prescription medicine for a current ailment, they should check in with the school nurse to receive any necessary medications. We reserve the right to expel students found to be under the influence or in possession of illegal drugs.

Cutting Class

You should not miss class for any reason unless you have written permission ahead of time from a parent, guardian, or teacher. the consequence for skipping a class is two detentions: a detention for the time missed in class and a second for having skipped class.

Use of School Space During the Academic Day

if you do not have a class, you may sit quietly in free space such as the library, upper lobby lounges or college counseling conference room. Seniors may sit in the senior homeroom or may visit the dining room from 8:00-10:10 a.m.

Students should not be in the Field house, Weaver Gym, training room or locker rooms before 3:00 p.m. without supervision from a faculty member.

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Tower Hill’s dress code is based primarily on the belief that dress should be appropriate to the work people are doing. The school’s dress requirements, therefore, stem from an effort to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable, but conducive to education. Student attire should reflect good taste and respect for the instructional environment.

The specific school policies with regard to dress are outlined below. Parents and students are urged to use common sense in interpreting this information. The final decision about the appropriateness of a student’s dress rests with the Upper School Faculty, dean of Students, the head of the Upper School, and the headmaster.

all clothing should be neat and clean with appropriate hems and cuffs. clothing should be free from holes, paint spots, frayed edges, etc., and should fit well.

Dress Code Violations:

infractions to the dress code may be handled in one or more of the following ways:• Student will call home for appropriate dress.• appropriate clothing may be given to student.• Warnings and/or detentions assigned.

it is important to understand that missing classes due to a violation of the dress code will be considered an unexcused absence, and, therefore, a student will usually receive no credit for any work missed. in addition, repeated violations may result in disciplinary probation or suspension.

Boys:Shirts• dress shirt, turtleneck, or polo shirt with a naturally turned collar.• Shirts must be tucked in all the way around at all times.

Pants/Shorts• Clean dress pants/shorts with a belt.• Shorts of an appropriate length may be worn until october 15 and after april 15, and any time the

temperature is forecasted to exceed 80 degrees.

Footwear• Shoes in good repair that cover the entire foot.• Sneakers in good repair; laces must be tied.• Socks must be visible above shoe/sneaker.

Outerwear• Sweaters in good repair; collared shirts must be worn underneath.• only tower hill sweatshirt apparel is permitted; hoodies are not permitted.• Students should not wear outdoor jackets, coats or hats of any kind in school.

Face/Hair• Students are expected to be clean-shaven.• any haircuts, hair coloring or piercings that are deemed by the administration to be inappropriate or

distracting are not permitted.

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Girls:Shirts• dress shirt or blouse, turtleneck, or polo shirt.• Sleeveless tops must have a strap width of at least three inches.• Shirts should not be low cut, tight or revealing in nature.• t-shirts are only permitted when worn under sweaters or other outerwear.

Pants/Shorts• capri pants or full-length pants.• No yoga pants, jeggings, leggings or excessively tight pants of any kind. “Skinny fit” pants – those that are

cut to be or worn as skin tight through the thighs, knees, calves and ankles - should not be worn to school.• While colored denim is permissible, students should not wear anything resembling traditional blue or gray

jeans.• Shorts of an appropriate length (no more than 4 inches above the knee) may be worn until october 15 and

after april 15, and any time the temperature is forecasted to exceed 80 degrees.

Dresses/Skirts• Sleeveless dresses must have a top strap width of at three inches.• dress length must be no more than four inches above the knee.• Skirts should be no more than four inches above the knee.• dresses that have spaghetti straps, bare back, off the shoulder, halter, tube, crop, sun dress or tank top style

are not permitted.

Footwear• Shoes in good repair that cover the entire foot.• Sneakers in good repair; laces must be tied.• Shoes that have a closed toe and preferably closed heel; sling backs or slides with a rim around the heel are

also acceptable.

Outerwear• Sweaters in good repair.• only tower hill sweatshirt apparel is permitted; hoodies are not permitted.• Students should not wear outdoor jackets, coats or hats of any kind in school.

Face/Hair• any haircuts, hair coloring or piercings that are deemed by the administration to be inappropriate or

distracting are not permitted.

Other non-appropriate items for all students include:• t-shirts or shirts which have large-lettered advertising.• clothing that is excessively tight, overly revealing, inappropriately short, or revealing during standing,

bending, sitting, or moving.• no undergarments showing at any time.• materials that are mesh, sheer or see-through are to be worn with an undergarment that is not mesh, sheer,

or see-through.• Jeans.• Flip-flops, mules that cover only half the foot, beach shoes, sandals, and similar attire are not considered

appropriate for the classroom.

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Dress-down days/Jeans days

on these special days, students may wear jeans, sweatpants, or shorts along with t-shirts, sweatshirts or tops of their choosing. However, short length and top coverage rules are still mandatory. Flip-flops, hats, and other items not listed in the dress code are not permitted. if a student does not want to participate, they do not have to make the donation and should, therefore, be in dress code. if these rules are in question, students should be sure to ask a faculty member beFore the dress down day so warnings are not given for non-compliance to this privilege. While dress is casual on these days, clothing that is deemed by the faculty or administration to be inappropriate or distracting is not permitted.

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General Information

tower hill is a college preparatory school. our courses are geared towards preparing you for that next step in your education. each year, as you select your courses from the online curriculum downloads, you and your advisor should keep that larger goal in mind. While your advisor, among others, is ready to help in making decisions concerning the number and difficulty of courses you might take, ultimately you are responsible for your own program and performance.

Since an important part of the learning process occurs through interaction in classes, it is important for you to be prepared to participate actively and intelligently. therefore, you are expected to do your work and prepare daily for each class.

Should you encounter any difficulty in your coursework, you should immediately seek help from your instructor. it is important for you to do so as early as possible so that you do not fall behind. our marking system serves to inform you, your advisor and parents about your progress and to give colleges some indication of your potential in various areas.

Course Credits, Academic Loads, Requirements

Full-year major courses = four credit units each

Semester major courses and certain full-year electives = two credit units each

electives = one credit unit

http://www.towerhill.org/us_curriculum


Minimum Credit Units/Courses Required by Year

Grade 9 (22 units)• english 9• World history 1• biology• math• language• minimum two credit units from art, computer,

drama and/or music

Grade 10 (20 units)• english 10• chemistry• math• language• minimum of four additional credit units*

*most often satisfied by World History 2

Grade 11 (20 units)• one major english course each semester• U.S. history• Science• math• Four additional credit units

Grade 12 (18 units)• one major english course each semester• three other major courses each semester• additional courses needed to reach 18 units

and complete the graduation requirements

Advanced or “Starred” CoursesAdvanced/accelerated course prerequisites:• courses with titles followed by an asterisk (*)

are advanced and challenging.• permission is normally required.• permission depends on background, academic

load, and extracurriculars.• each starred course reduces the required

credit unit load by one for the year*

*In the case of French, Latin and Spanish, students must take a starred course each semester in order to receive the load reduction.

Graduation Requirements

English (16 units)• english 9• english 10• plus one major course each semester of the

junior and senior years

History (12 units)• World history 1• U.S. history• plus four additional credit units

Language (8 units above level one)*

Satisfied by completing either:• the third level of one language or• the second level of two different languages

Math (12 units above a first-year algebra course)

Science (12 units)• biology• chemistry• physics

Electives requirement (4 units minimum)• From approved courses in: art, computer,

Drama, Music, and/or Yearbook

Drop/Add Procedure

During the first three weeks of each semester, students may make course changes to their schedules. Schedule changes will not be made after the Drop/Add period unless they are initiated by the school for unique reasons.

procedure:• Pick up a Drop/Add Form from the Director of

Scheduling• return the form after appropriate signatures

have been obtained• Official registration through the Director of

Scheduling and a completed Drop/Add Form is necessary to receive credit for a course

• Junior and Senior Drop/Add must be approved by the director of college counseling


Report Cards• consist of a numerical mark and narrative for each course• Students receive report cards at the end of each quarter• After the first quarter, the mark is based on the cumulative average

The Numbers - Grading and GPAs

Grading Scale and Associated Grade Point Average

We use numerical grading on a 100-point scale for report card and transcript marks. only major courses are calculated into the Gpa. major courses include two-credit semester courses and four-credit year-long courses. advanced (*) courses in art and music are considered major courses. n

Weighting

While our Gpas are based on a 4.0 scale, accelerated and advanced courses as well as grades above 94 receive additional weighting toward the Gpa in the following manner:1. Grades earned in accelerated or advanced courses receive additional weighting of .5 point, e.g.

grade of 84 (b) would be calculated as a 4.0 (3.5 + .5) in the Gpa2. an a+ grade (95-100) in any academic course receives additional weighting of .25 point (4.25)

Transcript Grading

Grades are calculated and published on the transcript in the following way:

First Semester Grade Second Semester Grade

1st Quarter (40%) 3rd Quarter (40%)2nd Quarter (40%) 4th Quarter (40%)midterm exam (20%) Final exam (20%)

A cumulative grade for a course and the GPA for the year is calculated by averaging the first semester grade/GPA with the second semester grade/GPa.

Number Grade Letter Equivalent Unweighted GPA 95-100 A+ 4.25 ( ) 90-94 A 4.0 87-89 B+ 3.75 83-86 B 3.5 80-82 B- 3.25 77-79 C+ 2.75 73-76 C 2.5 70-72 C- 2.25 67-69 D+ 1.75 63-66 D 1.5 60-62 D- 1.25 Below 60 F 0

Letter grade equivalents and grade point averages for standard courses

see Weightingbelow


Academic Distinction - “Scholar” Recognition

Scholars are recognized for outstanding achievement at the end of each semester.

Scholar• all major course marks 84 or above• All minor course marks 80/B- or above• First semester: each major course (77 - 83) is offset by a major course mark of 90 or above• Second semester: each year-long course (77 - 83) is offset by either:

a) a year-long course mark of 90 or above b) a semester-long major course of 93 or above

Scholar with Honors• all major course marks 87 or above• All minor course marks 83/B or above.• First semester: each major course (80 - 86) is offset by a major course mark of 93 or above• Second semester: each year-long course (80 - 86) is offset by either:

a) a year-long course mark of 93 or above b) a semester-long major course of 96 or above

Scholar with Distinction• all major course marks 90 or above• All minor course marks 87/B+ or above

Study Hall and Extra Help Sessions• Grade 9 students attend study hall every free period in the first quarter• Grade 9 students with satisfactory achievement are no longer required to attend study hall after the

first quarter• Any student may be placed in study hall if the faculty feels the student’s effort or achievement

warrants• Any student having difficulty may be assigned for extra help

Incomplete Work, Course Failures, Examsin June, the Upper School faculty reviews the performance of any student who has failed two or more courses. recommendations sent to the head of Upper School and the headmaster determine if the student will return to tower hill.

Incomplete Work• all major assignments must be complete to receive credit for the course• Unfinished or unsatisfactory work will be recorded as incomplete until the work is satisfactorily

completed, at which time a mark and full credit will be given


Course FailuresSeniors• Seniors must pass all courses to graduate• in the event of course failure, the diploma will be withheld until the failure has been resolved

Underclassmen• Underclassmen that fail a course follow the recommendation of the department chairperson• actions may include repeating the course the following year or passing an exam prepared by the

department• reexamination is in conjunction with attending summer school, individual review or private tutorial to

be completed before return in the fall• in all cases, the department chairperson will determine the process to resolve a failing mark• the department chairperson will inform the head of the Upper School of the procedure to be followed

Exams• Most examinations cover material studied during the previous semester (midterm exams cover first

semester material; final exams cover second semester material)• all examinations are up to two hours in length• Final examination or project marks below 50 in a semester long course result in automatic failure

regardless of course average before the exam• Notification is made in the event of a final exam/project failure• re-examination after recommended tutoring or summer school allows students the possibility to pass

the course. See tutoring on page 42 for more details. • Re-examination scores of 50 or higher are averaged with the original exam in calculation of the final

average

Exam weighting• All first semester examinations count 20% of the semester mark• Year end examinations count 20% of the second semester mark

Academic Probation• a student may be placed on academic probation for poor academic performance or for unsatisfactory

effort• a student will remain on academic probation for one semester• after that time, a review by the advisor, teachers, dean of Students, and the head of the Upper

School will determine whether the student should continue at tower hill• in some cases, a student on academic probation will be restricted from participating in non-academic

activities to dedicate time and energy to improving academic status

Tests and Test Calendar• test content and frequency are determined by departments and individual teachers• there may be no more than three total assessments per day which includes two announced tests

(including major papers or projects) and one announced quiz• teachers must place all tests, quizzes and major assignments on the test calendar

Blackouts• Blackouts occur when a significant portion of students have school related obligations extending past

the official end of the school day• Examples of blackouts are evening Forums, Band/Choral Concerts or Evening of the Arts• blackouts are indicated on the school calendar• no homework, papers, projects or assessments of any kind can be given the day following a blackout

academic technoloGY30 academic technoloGY 31

a c a d e m i c t e c h n o l o G Y

academic technoloGY 31

Overview

the computing facilities at tower hill are designed to support the educational program of our students. all computer users are expected to use the computing and information resources responsibly, respecting the rights of other computer users, protecting the integrity of the computing resources, following all licensing agreements, and applying the principles of the honor code and proper behavior to all activities. The school’s computer system should not be used in any way that is harassing, offensive, intimidating, or discriminatory. In addition, students who are found to have openly disparaged Tower Hill, or members of its community in a libelous or harassing manner in a public Internet forum - Facebook, Formspring, etc. - may face disciplinary action, comparable to if the offense occurred in school.

Students are expected to use the technology resources to support their educational program or appropriate recreational use as determined by faculty and staff. Students should always be able to justify their use of the technology resources by explaining how their actions are connected to their tower hill program or to appropriate recreational use. Any accessing of technology either through school or personal devices that becomes problematic because it is inappropriate in its content, disruptive to others or negatively impacts a student’s academic performance will not be permitted and may be subject to disciplinary action.

The following guidelines, although not all-inclusive, apply the principles listed in the overview to specific situations. these policies and guidelines apply to students using tower hill computing resources, using their personal technology device or other technology devices at school, or using their towerapps or towernet account from home or through the web.

academic technoloGY32 academic technoloGY 33

Educational Guidelines• always use a headset when accessing technology that involves sound.• do not use any personal device or the computer resources for commercial, political, or non-

tower hill-related purposes.• do not participate in chatrooms or similar activities, unless the chat is part of a class.• Do not download audio or visual files (MP3s, music videos, sports clips, etc.), unless they are

a part of an academic project.• do not use any electronic mail account other than your towermail account.• Use the internet only for tower hill-related activities, avoiding sites that are pornographic or

otherwise inappropriate or sites that hinder overall network performance (videos or streaming music, for example).

• do not violate the privacy or property rights of others.

academic technoloGY 33

Personal & School Safety Guidelines• do not disclose personal information over the internet. do not reveal your real name, telephone

number, address, password, credit information, school or other information. do not give out such information about anyone else.

• Do not use the Tower Hill computer resources for any monetary or financial transaction (shopping, auctions, purchases, banking, etc.).

• do not give out your password or let anyone else use your account.• do not create, send or forward documents or messages that are inappropriate, malicious,

pornographic, harassing, wasteful, or annoying (chain letters, for example).• Do not access, copy, delete, or alter information or files that are not your own.

Administrative Guidelines

• do not attempt to acquire a password.• if a student learns a password or becomes aware that someone without authorization has obtained

a password, the student should notify a member of the computing faculty or school administration.• Scheduled classes take precedence over general use.• computer users should be aware that the school computers, server storage, towerapps

and towernet accounts, and internet use may be monitored at any time; there should be no expectation of privacy using the school’s computer system.

• Follow any special rules established for each computer area in the school.• report broken or malfunctioning equipment.

Responses to Violations

Access to Tower Hill’s technology facilities is a privilege granted to members of the Tower Hill School community and may be revoked or limited for violations of the policies outlined in this document. depending on the violation, tower hill students may also be subject to further disciplinary action under the guidelines established in the student handbook, and in some cases to criminal charges by local, state, or federal authorities. Students should be aware that the use of Tower Hill’s technology facilities and their TowerApps and TowerNet accounts may be necessary for their school work; therefore, any revocation or limiting of their privileges may have academic implications as well.

responses to violations may include, but are not limited to, the following depending on the nature and frequency of the violation: warning, detention, suspension/limitation of technology privileges for a set number of days, meeting with the Dean and the student’s parents.

Students who feel that they have been unjustly accused of a violation may appeal to the Student Faculty council, who will make a recommendation to the administration.

StUdent liFe - athleticS, SFc, clUbS, theater, SerVice 34 StUdent liFe - athleticS, SFc, clUbS, theater, SerVice 35

S t U d e n t l i F e - at h l e t i c S , S F c ,

c l U b S , t h e at e r , S e rV i c e

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On the Field - AthleticsGeneral Information

many important lessons are taught through athletic experience, not the least of which are particular skills, sportsmanship, self-confidence, and teamwork. Therefore, athletics are a fundamental part of the total curriculum at Tower Hill, fulfilling our motto of “Multa Bene Facta,” Many Things Done Well. You are required to participate in the athletic program each season, although juniors and seniors are exempt one season each year. It is Tower Hill’s expectation that our community as well as our athletes will demonstrate respect for everyone involved in athletic competition. please visit the towernet to learn more about Tower Hill’s Athletic Program.

Obviously, if you have specific medical issues or develop serious injuries, you may be excused from participating in athletics if your condition has been properly diagnosed by a doctor; you may not resume participation without a doctor’s note certifying that you are medically fit.

if you are not participating in a school-run athletic program, you are expected to leave school at the end of the academic day.

if you are absent from school during the academic day or arrive at school late due to sickness or fatigue may not participate in an athletic contest at the end of that day,

In order to insure safety, you should use the bridge to reach the girls’ hockey/boys’ lacrosse fields and the tunnel to reach the Field house and other athletic facilities across rising Sun avenue.

in between seasons, you are excused to go home at the end of the school day at 3:00 p.m.

Participation in non-Tower Hill Athletic Activities

if you have developed a high level of skill in a sport not offered at tower hill, you may petition the athletic director to pursue it during one of the three athletic seasons. Your parents should submit a written request in a form available on towernet. a detailed description of the proposed activity should be attached to the completed form that includes information on the time involved each day, the practice schedule, the game/event schedule, the instructor, etc. A request should be submitted in writing by the following deadlines:

Fall sports: august 1st

Winter sports: november 1st

Spring sports: February 15th

Granting of an exemption from tower hill athletics in order to participate in an outside athletic activity will be granted on a case by case basis and can only be granted to you one time in an academic year. a decision not to grant an exemption may be appealed to the headmaster. the exemption from athletics may also be granted to allow you the time to engage in a substantial role in a theater production. as with an outside sport, such an exemption can be granted only once per school year.

http://www.towerhill.org/athletics

http://www.towerhill.org/ftpimages/213/download/download_group9758_id268292.pdf


Training Rules

if you are a member of an interscholastic team, you are expected to refrain from using tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs. in addition to any other school punishment for violations of that rule, student athletes will be prohibited from representing the school in interscholastic competition for a period of about twenty percent of your team’s competitive events with other schools. the athletic director may reinstate the athlete during this period if he or she deems it appropriate and the coach and team captain concur.

a student athlete who breaks training for a second time during a school year will be barred from representing the school in competition for the remainder of the season in which the violation takes place.

Letters

Varsity letters will be awarded to student athletes who have either played in half or more of a team’s games, matches or meets, or to swimmers and cross country runners who have scored a prescribed number of points. a coach may, for good reason and with the approval of the athletic director, decide to award a letter when these standards have not been met. a student athlete who has been suspended during a season for training rule infractions may not receive a letter for that season.


Get Involved - Student LifeStudent/Faculty Council

FunctionStudent/Faculty Council is your opportunity to have a voice in how the school is run. Its purpose is to improve the quality of Upper School life and to provide a forum for better communication between the faculty, students, and the administration by discussing all aspects of school life. The council is composed of 16 Upper School students, 3 faculty members and the Dean of Students; its recommendations must be approved by the Head of the Upper School and/or the Headmaster.

Officers

president: the duties of the president are to preside over meetings, to write the agenda, and to inform all members of their responsibilities. in addition, the president shall make a yearly report in which he or she shall review the council’s accomplishments and present them to the succeeding council and Upper School. the SFc president also is an important part of the honor board, serving as a consistent representative and chooses the appropriate student representatives for each honor board hearing.

Vice-president: the duties of the vice-president are to assume all responsibilities of the president in his or her absence and to assist the president in his or her duties. the Vice- president is also responsible for overseeing the peer mentoring program.

Secretary: the duties of the secretary are to record and distribute the minutes of meetings, to publish agendas, notices, reports, or other council work submitted for duplication, to maintain the files and bulletin board. the Secretary is also responsible for communicating the SFc weekly email to the student body.

Treasurer: The duties of the treasurer is to support the secretary in his/her duties as well as keep track of all fiscal responsibilities for Student-Faculty Council. The Treasurer is responsible for checking in with club leaders once a month and will provide SFc with monthly updates.

Duties of Elected Officers

the duties of all members are to assume responsibilities as representatives and leaders of the student body or faculty and to participate fully in all matters of the Student-Faculty council, including Student-council sponsored events. Student representatives lead announcements at class meetings and and participate on the honor board as outlined (see on my honor). class co-chairs are responsible for helping head class advisors with attendance and day-today events pertaining to the class. they also collect money for Jeans days and give it to the appropriate point person.

Representatives’ Election Process:

Students elect two male and two female student members to SFc from each class each spring of the preceding year, and the faculty elect three representatives in the fall upon return to school. the newly elected nominees in the junior class are eligible to be considered for the position of president. each of the nominees will speak to the Upper School student body, giving the reasons they should be elected, and the student body and faculty will select the winner. the members of the Student-Faculty council will vote for all officers other than President in the fall.


Peer Mentors

in conjunction with department chairs, SFc runs a mentoring program that gives all students who are struggling in an academic class the opportunity to work with another student. the mentors are 11th or 12 grade students who show strong interest and strength in a field or subject. Mentors are selected by department chairs and by their strengths in the subject compared to the weaknesses of the mentee: the personalities of both the mentor and mentee (whether they clash or enhance each other): the comfortability of the mentee with a similar or opposite-gendered mentor. having a mentor who is also a student creates an aura of comfort for students, who may have trouble with asking a teacher or adult constantly for extra help. the Vice-president of SFc oversees this program.

Senior Mentors

Senior Mentors are a select group of students who are chosen by the Dean of Students and/or head class advisors to assist new students entering tower hill. the group is led by a Senior who will coordinate activities throughout the year for Senior mentors and their buddy groups. buddy groups will consist of 3 to 4 new students per group.

Clubs

clubs are a great way for you to participate in extracurricular activities both in and out of school. they can help you to develop your interests and to gain a sense of responsibility and service to the school and the larger community. Students are recommended to participate in at least one club, but many find they enjoy being involved in multiple clubs.

the clubs offered vary each year depending on the interest of the students. any student may start a new club at the beginning of the school year by signing up and finding a faculty sponsor. Club leaders must check in with their SFc representative once a month to share with them what they are doing and attendance. the following is a list of recent student clubs:

• Animal Awareness• Baking Club• Beats and Poetry• Bipartisan Club• Blue-Gold Club• Books for Children• Chess Club• Community Service Club• Culture Club• Debate Club• Diversity Club• Event Photography• Forum Council• Functional Fitness

• Green Keys• Jefferson Awards for Public Service• Lit Page• Mock Trial• Physics Club• Public Speaking Club• The Rubble• Student Union Club• The Sportsman’s Club• Winter Skiing Club• Young Democrats• Young Republicans• The Yearbook


Pay It Forward - Service Learning

Giving to the community is a large part of fostering citizenship and building character in the Upper School community. As a part of the graduation requirement, you must complete forty hours of service with one particular activity/organization in one year. However, many students go above and beyond the 40 hour requirement. All service must be non-paying and performed outside of Tower Hill. Service may be performed any time during the Upper School years, but may not begin before the start of ninth grade. Students who would like to begin their requirement must fill out proposal forms that can be found online under the service learning channel.

new students entering tower hill in the tenth or eleventh grade must complete the full forty-hour requirement, students entering the school in the twelfth grade are required to volunteer a only a minimum of fifteen hours prior to graduation.

in order to enjoy senior privileges, students must have all service and the necessary paperwork completed by the first day after the winter break. Students will not receive a diploma at graduation and final transcripts will be withheld from colleges until the requirement is fulfilled.

all service projects initiated by students must be approved by the director of Service learning. Students who would like to support non-profit organizations with a jeans day collection must have approval from the dean of Students and director of Service learning.

Break a Leg - Theater Productions

two major productions are held each year, and there are often additional opportunities. tryouts for each production are held the semester prior. each production offers you opportunities to participate on the stage or behind the scenes in stage management.

A student who is heavily involved in a theater production may apply for an exemption from participating in athletics during one season per year by using Outside Athletic Activity Request Form

https://www.towerhill.org/ftpimages/213/download/download_group9758_id268292.pdf

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Y o U r S U p p o rt t e a m - r e S o U r c e S

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Student Support• Upper School head - dan hickey• dean of Students - megan cover• college counselor - Jill lauck• School counselors - amy cuddy and Fran henkel• School nurse - nancy martin• head class advisors - kevin Waesco-12th grade

leigh thompson-11th gradeoremia caimi-10th gradetara malloy-9th grade

communication is key in responding to questions or concerns, or in seeking help. We have a number of different people who can help with many things at tower hill. Whether it is academic, social or behavioral, we have various support systems and resources in place.

What to do if you need support in …

Academics

The first step is to talk to your teacher if you have an issue. If you feel you are not making progress, go to your advisor. Your advisor helps to advocate for you as well as helps you advocate for yourself. the two of you can make a plan as to how to proceed. if your issue is academic in nature, you and your advisor can talk to your teacher and/or the Department Chair.

Meeting with Teachers

meeting with teachers outside of class time is commonplace at tower hill. these meetings can occur during common free periods and before or after school. Students may make these appointments voluntarily or may be scheduled for extra help by the teacher, advisor or the dean. regardless of the reason, you should not be shy about seeing your teacher outside of class.

Learning

Sometimes academic problems are related to a certain class, but sometimes they are bigger. if you notice persistent challenges with your studies - homework takes too long, you don’t finish tests in time - you should talk to your advisor, dean of Students and one of the school counselors.

if you have a learning difference that is documented in a formal educational evaluation, be sure to contact your advisor and the dean of Students so that we are sure you are eligible for accommodations.

student teacher advisor departmentchair

dean of students

head ofupper school

student advisor dean of studentsschool counselor


Extra Time

if you qualify for extended time on your tests, you must be certain to make arrangements with each teacher to create a plan for how this will be utilized - it may vary from class to class or teacher to teacher. Official documentation from an educational evaluation needs to be on file with the school.

Tutoring

Tutoring after Failure of Final Exam or Course

A student who needs to retake a final exam due to receiving a mark less than 50 will normally be expected to complete an appropriate amount of review as determined by the department, usually three to five hours. The teacher, or another member of the department, will work with the student to prepare for the reexamination. there is no cost for tutoring associated with basic exam retake prep. See exams on page 29 for more information.

in those circumstances when the teacher, department chair or head of Upper School determines a student will need a significant amount of work, usually eight or more hours, in order to remedy a course failure or poor final exam performance, the family will be asked to employ the services of a tutor.

Upper School’s General Philosophy on Tutors and Tutoring

When students encounter difficulties, the first place to seek help should always be the teacher. however, we understand that there are occasions when assistance may be useful beyond what the teacher can provide. if a tutor is engaged without the formal recommendation of the teacher or member of the school community, as both a matter of courtesy and to enhance communication, we highly recommend that the student notify the teacher or advisor. most importantly, in all cases in which a tutor is employed, a tutor should be considered a supplement to the learning the teacher provides, not a replacement.

tower hill recognizes that there may indeed be a difference between needing a tutor (help passing a course; at the request of the teacher) and wanting a tutor (help turning a b into an a). therefore, the degree of time engagement with a tutor on the part of the teacher can vary. We feel that it is often very helpful for teachers and tutors to collaborate, especially when the teacher has recommended tutoring, or the student is facing great difficulty in the course. That said, we must also be cognizant that the interaction is appropriate; communication between teacher and tutor should cover general skills, concepts and material, but should never create an unfair advantage for students with tutors.

most tutoring takes place outside of school time, but there are instances when students work with tutors on campus during the school day. in these cases, tutors may only use school facilities with the support of the teacher and the approval of the head of Upper school.

our goal is always to help students perform successfully in the classroom, and our school culture is built upon the idea that teachers are available to assist their students during and outside of class time. in cases when outside help is introduced, it is our desire to be certain that communication and collaboration is reasonable, fair and effectively supports both the student’s learning and the institutional goals of the school.


College Counseling

Your advisor will help you choose an academic plan for your four years at tower hill. as a freshman, you will be given a username and password for naviance, which is a Web-based service that organizes your records and resume from the first day of 9th grade. Throughout freshman and sophomore years, there will be some introductory programs from the College Counseling office for you and your parents, but you will not formally begin this process until winter of your junior year. once you get to be a second-semester junior, you will begin meeting with the director of college counseling, who will start to formally guide you through this process. please visit the college Counseling Office webpage to learn more about the college guidance process.

Behavior

if you ever get into trouble, we encourage you to think seriously about the honor pledge you sign at the beginning of each school year. honesty is always the best policy at tower hill. please be honest with your teachers and with your advisor. They only want to help you find a solution to your problem and can only help you if you are upfront with them. in cases of academic honesty violations, follow this process

Emotional Well-being

There is never a problem too big without a solution that we can’t help you work through. If you are experiencing personal problems, such as conflict with a friend, social issues, depression, addiction, decision making, your advisor can be your first point of contact. He/She can direct you to our school counselors. You can meet with them individually or with your advisor.

Physical Well-being

Whenever you are not feeling quite right, the nurse is always available in the health center. You can visit her at any time within the school day and she will help you. if you are in class or will miss a class due to a visit to the nurse, make sure to notify your teacher.

You should always see the nurse before making arrangements with a parent to go home sick.

student advisor director of college counseling

student teacher advisor dean of students

head ofupper school

student advisor schoolcouselor

student nurseteacher/advisor

http://www.towerhill.org/collegehandbook

http://www.towerhill.org/collegehandbook


Student/Advisor Relationship

beginning in 10th grade, you will have a chance to select your advisor and are able to remain with this person for your entire career in upper school. Your advisor is a teacher with whom you have a close trusting relationship--your formal or informal advisor. this person is the equivalent to a faculty coach who is here to help you navigate your daily life at TH. He/She can advise you academically and personally.

Your advisor will also have other advisees, which makes up your advisory. advisories are mixed-grade level, so you may be in an advisory group with freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. advisories meet once every several days in groups (usually of 8 students to 1 faculty member), but you should consult your advisor whenever you have a question or encounter a rough spot in the road.

Peer Mentors

in conjunction with department chairs, SFc runs a mentoring program that gives all students who are struggling in an academic class the opportunity to work with another student. the mentors are 11th or 12th grade students who show strong interest and strength in a field or subject. Mentors are selected by department chairs and by their strengths in the subject compared to the weaknesses of the mentee: the personalities of both the mentor and mentee (whether they clash or enhance each other): the comfortability of the mentee with a similar or opposite-gendered mentor. having a mentor who is also a student creates an aura of comfort for students, who may have trouble with asking a teacher or adult constantly for extra help. the Vice-president of SFc oversees this program.

Student Support Groups

Advisory

The advisory program is designed to support students personally and academically throughout their upper school experience. The program fosters growth of core values, such as honesty, responsibility and respect for oneself and the community through building open and honest relationships between student and teacher. It serves as a safe place for students to seek assistance or advice in all facets of their school life.

Advisory focuses on both the academic and character development of the individual as well as the important role one assumes as part of a group. The advisory program offers meaningful opportunities for active citizenship, leadership and cooperative group experience, serving as a forum for the sharing of ideas relevant to school life, team building and service to school.


Senior Mentors

Senior Mentors are a select group of students who are chosen by the Dean of Students and/or head class advisors to assist new students entering tower hill. the group is led by a Senior who will coordinate activities throughout the year for Senior mentors and their buddy groups. buddy groups will consist of 3 to 4 new students per group.

For Parents

As parents, you obviously play a crucial role in your child’s school journey. An ideal support team is made up of student, parent and school all working together. You should first direct your child to ask questions at school, which will help to empower him/her. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning, which includes decision making, conflict resolution and self advocacy, but parental guidance, more so than control, is very important. in turn, students should communicate with their parents regularly about their experiences at school.

Since it is not uncommon for you to have questions or concerns about your child’s academic performance, we certainly want to promote productive communication with parents as well as students. For parents who may have concerns about their child’s performance or perhaps questions about a policy, practice or decision that is unclear to them in a particular class, the best place to start is with the teacher. if additional assistance is necessary, you should contact your child’s advisor. If the issue persists, or requires additional guidance or perspective, you might also access the department chair, dean of Students or head of Upper School. all situations are unique, but the general sequence for seeking help or information in academic matters is

For more information on healthy parent/school relationships, read the national association of Independent School’s Principles of Good Practice: Parents Working with Schools/Schools Working with parents.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Your child’s advisor will contact you in the late fall to schedule a parent-teacher conference to discuss your child’s performance. While this is the only formally scheduled conference, you should feel comfortable speaking with your child’s advisor at any time of the year. We find it is helpful, whenever possible, that the student is included in these conversations, if not leading them.

For more information on healthy parent/school relationships, click here to read the National Association of Independent School’s Principles of Good Practice: Parents Working with Schools/Schools Working with parents.

student/parent teacher advisor department

chairdean of students

head ofupper school

http://www.nais.org/Series/Pages/Parents-Working-with-Schools-Schools-Working-with-Parents.aspx



TOWER HILL SCHOOL

tower hill school upper school handbook

Documents

tower hill page

tower hill student

tower hill schoolwelcome

school day page

schedulethe upper school

school day4

school dayschool

high school experience