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This section of the handbook contains information on academics and school activities, which is of particular interest to students. Students should take the time to review this information with their parents—especially if they are entering 9th grade or are a transfer student. The section includes information on graduation programs and requirements; options for earning course credit; extracurricular activities and other school-related organizations; and awards, honors, and scholarships.

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

The school counselor provides students and their parents information regarding academic programs to prepare for higher education and career choices. [For more information, see page 21 of this handbook and policy EIF.]

[See Academic Counseling on page 21.]

The two highest ranking students in each graduation class shall be awarded valedictory and salutatory honors on the basis of the highest scholastic average for two years in junior high school work.

The selection shall be made at the end of the fifth six weeks of the year of promotion.

To be eligible for valedictory and salutatory honors the student must have attended Banquete Junior High School for a minimum of two(2) years immediately preceding promotion.

Students are pre-registered for courses and generally must remain in these courses. Conflicts or unusual circumstances may necessitate schedule changes. Approval must be obtained from the principal within the first three class days and a valid reason must be presented to change a schedule. Changes shall not be allowed after the fourth class meeting.

Students enrolling in band will be required to complete the year. Students will not have an option to drop band after the class begins.

To prepare students for an increasingly computerized society, the district has made a substantial investment in computer technology for instructional purposes. Use of these resources is restricted to students working under a teacher’s supervision and for approved purposes only. Students and their parents will be asked to sign a user agreement (separate from this handbook) regarding use of these resources; violations of this agreement may result in withdrawal of privileges and other disciplinary action.

Students and their parents should be aware that e-mail using district computers is not private and may be monitored by district staff.

[For additional information, see policy CQ.]

Students and their parents are encouraged to talk with a school counselor, teacher, or principal to learn about course offerings, the graduation requirements of various programs, and early graduation procedures. Each spring, students in grades 6 through 8 will be provided information on anticipated course offerings for the next year and other information that will help them make the most of academic and vocational opportunities.

To plan for the future, students should work closely with the counselor in order to take the high school courses that best prepare them for attendance at a college, university, or training school, or for pursuit of some other type of advanced education,. The counselor can also provide information about entrance exams and deadlines for application, as well as information about automatic admission to state colleges and universities, financial aid, housing, and scholarships.

The school counselor is available to assist students with a wide range of personal concerns, including such areas as social, family, or emotional issues, or substance abuse. The counselor may also make available information about community resources to address these concerns. A student who wishes to meet with the counselor should make an appointment with the counselor.

Please note: The school will not conduct a psychological examination, test, or treatment without first obtaining the parent’s written consent. Parental consent is not necessary when a psychological examination, test, or treatment is required by state or federal law for special education purposes or by the Texas Education Agency for child abuse investigations and reports.

[For more information, refer to policy FFE and FFG(EXHIBIT).]

A student who has received prior instruction in a course or subject—but did not receive credit for it—may, in circumstances determined by the teacher, counselor, principal, or attendance committee, be permitted to earn credit by passing an exam on the essential knowledge and skills defined for that course or subject. To receive credit, a student must score at least 70 on the exam.

The attendance review committee may offer a student with excessive absences an opportunity to earn credit for a course by passing an exam. A student may not use this exam, however, to regain eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

In all instances, the district will determine whether any opportunity for credit by exam will be offered.

[For further information, see the counselor and policy EEJA.]

A student will be permitted to take an exam to earn credit for an academic course for which the student has no prior instruction. The dates on which exams are scheduled during the 2006–2007 school year include:

A student will earn credit with a passing scored of at lease 90 on the exam.

If a student plans to take an exam, the student (or parent) must register with the principal no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled testing date. The district will not honor a request by a parent to administer a test on a date other than the published dates. The parent will be responsible for paying an appropriate fee to the district or for purchasing the test from a university approved by the State Board of Education. [For further information, see policy EEJB.]

Participation in school-related activities is an excellent way for a student to develop talents, receive individual recognition, and build strong friendships with other students; participation, however, is a privilege, not a right.

Eligibility for participation in many of these activities is governed by state law and the rules of the University Interscholastic League (UIL)—a statewide association overseeing interdistrict competition. The following requirements apply to all extracurricular activities:

Please note: Sponsors of student clubs and performing groups such as the band, choir, drill and athletic teams may establish standards of behavior—including consequences for misbehavior—that are stricter than those for students in general. If a violation is also a violation of school rules, the consequences specified by the Student Code of Conduct or by local policy will apply in addition to any consequences specified by the organization’s standards of behavior.

[For further information, see policies FM and FO.]

CHEERLEADING

Students who meet all eligibility by the date of tryouts will have an opportunity to tryout for next year’s squad. Students are elected based on teacher evaluation, judge’s scores and student body vote.

NJHS

The National Junior Honor Society is an organization whose purpose is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character and to encourage citizenship.

To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative grade average of 85. For further consideration, an appointed faculty council will evaluate potential members in the areas of leadership, service, character, and citizenship. In addition to grades, attendance, office referrals and lunch detention will be reviewed. Students must fill out a "Student Activity Information" form. A "Faculty Council" appointed by the principal, will look at each student’s qualifications for membership. A student receiving a majority vote from the council will be inducted into the chapter at the end of the school year.

A student will be promoted only on the basis of academic achievement or demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter of the course or grade level. To earn credit in a course, a student must receive a grade of at least 70 based on course-level or grade-level standards.

In grades 6^th-8th, promotion is based on Code 21.72(a) which states in order for a junior high student to be promoted from one grade level to the next, a student shall attain an overall average of 70 or above for the year in all core courses taken. Averaging the final numerical score for all core courses taken shall derive the overall average. In addition, students shall attain an average of 70 or above in three of the four core academic areas:

In addition, at certain grade levels a student—with limited exceptions—will be required to pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), if the student is enrolled in a public Texas school on any day between January 1 and April 15 and is a Texas resident during the week that the TAKS is administered the first time.

Parents of a student in grade 3, 5, or 8 who does not perform satisfactorily on his or her exams will be notified that their child will participate in special instructional programs designed to improve performance. Such students will have two additional opportunities to take the test. If a student fails a second time, a grade placement committee, consisting of the principal or designee, the teacher, and the student’s parent, will determine the additional special instruction the student will receive. After a third failed attempt, the student will be retained; however, the parent can appeal this decision to the committee. In order for the student to be promoted, based on standards previously established by the district, the decision of the committee must be unanimous. Whether the student is retained or promoted, an educational plan for the student will be designed to enable the student to perform at grade level by the end of the next school year. [See policy EIE.]

A Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) will be prepared for any student in a middle school or beyond who did not perform satisfactorily on a state-mandated assessment or is determined by the district as not likely to earn a high school diploma before the fifth school year following enrollment in grade 9. The PGP will be designed and implemented by a guidance counselor, teacher, or other staff member designated by the principal. The plan will identify the student’s educational goals, address the parent’s educational expectations for the student, and outline an intensive instruction program for the student. [For additional information, see the principal and policy EIF.]

Certain students—some with disabilities and some with limited English proficiency—may be eligible for exemptions, accommodations, or deferred testing. For more information, see the principal, counselor, or special education director.

While homework assignments remain the teacher’s domain, Banquete Junior High teachers recognize certain guidelines in administering homework and will be part of their classroom rules.

The district provides special programs for gifted and talented students, homeless students, bilingual students, migrant students, students with limited English proficiency, dyslexic students, and students with disabilities. The coordinator of each program can answer questions about eligibility requirements, as well as programs and services offered in the district or by other organizations. A student or parent with questions about these programs should contact the campus principal.

If a child is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent may contact the person listed below to learn about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options, including referral for a special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory, and other support services that are available to all students.

At any time, a parent is entitled to request an evaluation for special education services. Within a reasonable amount of time, the district must decide if the evaluation is needed. If evaluation is needed, the parent will be notified and asked to provide consent for the evaluation. The district must complete the evaluation and the report within 60 calendar days of the date the district receives the written consent. The district must give a copy of the report to the parent.

If the district determines that the evaluation is not needed, the district will provide the parent with a written notice that explains why the child will not be evaluated. This written notice will include a statement that informs the parent of his or her rights if the parent disagrees with the district. Additionally, the notice must inform the parent how to obtain a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards—Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities.

The designated person to contact regarding options for a child experiencing learning difficulties or a referral for evaluation for special education is Rosario Gonzalez at 361.387.2551.

If a student is receiving special education services at a campus outside his or her attendance zone, the parent or guardian may request that any other student residing in the household be transferred to the same campus, if the appropriate grade level for the transferring student is offered on that campus. [See policy FDB(LOCAL)]

State-approved textbooks are provided to students free of charge for each subject or class. Books must be covered by the student, as directed by the teacher, and treated with care. A student who is issued a damaged book should report the damage to the teacher. Student will be provided textbooks for use at school during the school day and if needed parents can check out textbooks for use at home. Parents who have use of the Internet can view textbooks on line. The principal of teachers can provide the parents with the web sites.

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