ADMINISTRATIVE NEWSLETTER
FIRST SEMESTER
November 2006
Dear Parents:
As the first nine weeks ends and the second nine weeks begin, I would like to thank you and your child for a successful start to the 2006-2007 school year. Already this year, our students have experienced a range of accomplishments. First, our Marching Warriors have competed at the local, regional, state, and national levels receiving multiple trophies at each competition. Most recently, our Marching Warriors were chosen as one of the top twelve bands, ranking eighth out of 32 bands at the national competition. Second, our Performing Arts students have also competed at the state level earning awards for Best Improv Comedy and Overall Best Physicality. The group of 10 students also received many individual awards as well as 45 collegiate call backs. Finally, we hosted an academic reception where our school honored 96 students who maintained a grade point average of 3.6 or higher during the last school year.
We are continuing to create ways to more effectively
communicate with our parents. First, the
school division has launched a program entitled “Parent Connection” which
enables parents to access to their child’s grades and attendance. Any parent wishing to take advantage of this
program may contact our guidance department. In addition, we have expanded our school’s
web page to include a tutorial link.
This link provides a listing of all of the teachers and what day(s) and
time(s) tutoring is available. Also, you are reminded that many of our teachers
have created web pages that can be accessed through the
As you can see, our accomplishments have been many, and we anticipate even more successes as we progress through the school year. We have attached a calendar of events for the remainder of the first semester as well as the new attendance policy that is in its second year of implementation. I ask that you review this information carefully so your child will not be in danger of violating the new attendance policy. Please remember that if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call my administrative team, guidance department, teachers, or me at our new phone number of 923-4101.
Thank you, again, for your continued support of our school and your child’s success.
Sincerely,
Thomas W. McLemore, Jr.
Principal
attachments
NANSEMOND RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
NEW ATTENDANCE POLICY
2006-2007
We will be monitoring your child’s attendance very closely this year. You may refer to the student handbook pages 4 and 5 for a list of guidelines that must be followed. Here are important changes to our new attendance policy this year.
If
your child misses more than two unexcused absences in a 9 week grading period,
he/she will fail for that nine weeks.
If your child must be absent from school, you
must submit the appropriate documentation to excuse the absence.
Documentation for an absence must be
submitted within 5 days of the absence.
If documentation is not received within the 5 days after the absence,
then the absence will not be excused.
If your child has a doctor’s, dentist, court or
counseling appointment, we are requiring official documentation from that
office. If you forget, they may fax it
to us at 538-5430. It will be your
responsibility to follow up on the faxed documentation. We will not accept any handwritten notes for
these absences.
If your child is absent due to a death in the
family, we ask that you submit the memorial program from the service or the
obituary along with the excuse note.
We will also assign an attendance monitor to make random calls to verify documentation after an absence. When your child brings in documentation for being absent, he/she should place the documentation in the locked box that is located on the counter in the main office.
q Reports will be generated at the end of each nine weeks. The attendance monitor and assistant principal supervising attendance will identify students in violation of the attendance policy.
q A letter will be sent to the parents advising them that their child has been identified as being in violation of the attendance policy.
q Students who may be non-waived and were passing the class will receive a “69” for the nine weeks rather than for the semester. This holds your child accountable sooner and also provides him/her with an even greater opportunity to recoup the grade during the next nine weeks.
q Students
will have the opportunity to make up 2 absences each nine weeks. On designated Saturdays from 8:00-12:00, students can attend the
q Transportation is not provided. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain
transportation to and from school and to bring assignments. Please arrive by 7:50. Late arrivals will not be admitted. Dress code and student code of conduct is
enforced as if it is a normal school day.
ATTENDANCE MAKE UP DATES FOR 2nd
9 WEEKS:
JANUARY 13 and 20, 2007
8:00 – 12:00
CHARACTER
TRAITS
November SELF-DISCIPLINE Controlling Your Actions and Emotions;
Setting and Accomplishing Your Goals
December KINDNESS Showing Concern For Others Through
Thoughtful Deeds and Words
January PERSEVERANCE Having Courage to Pursue Your Goals,
Regardless of Difficulties, Opposition, or
Discouragement
Nansemond River High School’s
mission is to support an environment that recognizes the potential of all
students to excel academically, emotionally, and physically in order to become
responsible and productive citizens in a multicultural society.
BELIEFS
We believe…
Each student is
capable of being successful and must be educated to the best of his/her ability.
Success demands
a joint effort involving students, parents, teachers, administrators,
paraprofessionals, and the community.
Every child
must be responsible for his/her own learning and growth through determination
and personal discipline.
Our school promotes
multicultural understanding and respect by appreciating the uniqueness of
individuals.
True education
cultivates a lifelong appreciation for learning.
DATES TO
REMEMBER FOR SECOND NINE WEEKS
November 22 Early Dismissal- 11:45 A.M.
November 23 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
November 24 Thanksgiving Break—Students are not in school
November 29 ASVAB Testing—NRHS Juniors (During the school day)
November 30 ASVAB Testing—NRHS Seniors (During the school day)
December 2 SAT Testing (www.collegeboard.com)
December 12 Financial Aid Workshop at 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the auditorium
December 14 School Board Meeting—City Council Chambers 7:00 P.M.
December 11-15 SOL Testing—Retesting for students 9-12 and transfer students
December 13 Parent Teacher Student Association (PSTA) Meeting and
Winter Concert 7:00 P.M.
December 20 SAT Registration deadline for January 27 testing
December 21 Winter Break Begins at the end of the day
December 22-January 1 Winter Break
January 2 School Re-opens
January 3 Interim Progress Reports Issued
January 10 Custodial Worker’s Appreciation Day
January 11 School Board Meeting—City Council Chambers 7:00 P.M.
January 15 Martin
Luther King, Jr.
January 23 Exams Begin (2nd block exam—Regular schedule rest of the day)
January 24-26 Exams—Early Dismissal at 11:45 A.M.
January 26 End of the Second Nine Weeks and First Semester
January 27 SAT Testing (www.collegeboard.com)
January 29 Staff Development Day/Clerical Day—Students are not in school
A LOOK
TOWARD THIRD NINE WEEKS
February Disabilities Awareness and School Board Appreciation Month
February 2 SAT Registration deadline for March 10 testing
February 5-9
February 7 Parent Teacher Conference 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M
(Lunch 1:00-2:30)
February 7 State of the Schools Breakfast
Report cards will be distributed—Students are not in school
February 8 School Board Meeting—City Council Chambers 7:00 P.M.
Suffolk Public Schools does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs
and activities. The following person has
been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies:
Mr. Kevin Alston, Assistant Superintendent of
Administrative Services
Phone: 925-6750
Fax: 925-6751 E-mail:
kevinalston@spsk12.net