PACE Core Values

All members of the PACE community:

• Will encourage and support all to achieve their personal best in all social and academic pursuits.
• Need to be respectful, courteous, and positive toward all members of the community, school environment, and ourselves.
• Will mentor and support one another through education, example, and friendship to become responsible members of the community.
• Will be responsible for their actions and will be accountable for them.
• Deserve the opportunity for a safe, non-judgmental environment to foster the growth of individual strengths and talents.

The core values represent how members of our school community will conduct themselves. Behavior that does not reflect an adherence to these core values will be addressed through discussions with oral and/or written classroom agreements made between students and staff members. Continued behavior that is inconsistent with core values will be addressed by written individual agreements made between students and the Director. Consequences for serious behavioral infractions will be issued at the discretion of the Director. These consequences, which will be accompanied by a written contract, will be designed to facilitate the student’s assumption of responsibility for his/her actions, the development of self-monitoring of behavior and adherence to the core values of our school community.

STUDENT SERVICES

Recognizing the inherent vulnerability of adolescence, PACE Career Academy offers a wealth of services to support its students throughout their high school careers.  Most fundamentally, each student has free access to our Student Services Director, who, ideally, will work with the student as both a personal and academic resource through graduation, by monitoring academic progress, planning programs of study, scheduling classes, and discussing vocational and academic options.  The Student Services Director is a student’s primary support regarding consultation about personal issues and possible referral to more specialized services.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Students are expected to exhibit honor in completing their own work. PACE Career Academy considers honesty to be essential for each student’s intellectual development. Therefore, student work must follow fundamental expectations and proper academic guidelines with regard to doing one’s own work and/or giving credit to others when using their work in whole, part, or through paraphrasing. Students who have questions or uncertainty about their course work and academic honesty are highly encouraged to discuss the matter with their teacher or other school official. A violation of academic honesty is any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage.

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as your own. All words, ideas, opinions, graphics, or other material that is not original to the student must be properly cited using in-text citations. This applies to using other’s work in whole, part, or through paraphrasing. Quotation marks must be used for direct quotations even for just a few words. When in doubt about the proper use of citations please talk with a teacher. The proper process for citing work is taught and reviewed throughout a student’s career and it is the student’s responsibility to adhere to these common academic guidelines.

Cheating is similar to plagiarism in that cheating involves taking credit for knowledge the student has not attained or credit for work that someone else has done. This might include tests, projects, and other assignments. The most common form of cheating is copying or attempting to copy from others (with or without their knowledge).  In our electronic age, this obviously includes information or work received electronically. Students who make their work available to others for copying or plagiarism are also guilty of cheating. Students are expected to do their own work and keep their work to themselves unless the assignment includes specific directions to share work, such as group work situations. If in doubt, students should ask a teacher.

PROCEDURE FOR CONCERNS / APPEALS

Students or parent may occasionally have concerns regarding their experience at PACE Career Academy including the actions or decisions of staff members. Students or parents with such concerns should first discuss the situation with the staff member involved. If an acceptable resolution of the concern is not met, then the student or parent should discuss the situation with the School Director.  A final appeal, after the Director, would be made to the PACE Career Academy Board.

FIELD TRIPS

PACE Career Academy students will be required to participate in activities outside of the classroom which supplement and enrich the regular curriculum, develop students’ social skills, and encourage participation in community development.  In order to participate in field trips, students must complete and return the PACE field trip permission form to the teacher.

PACE Career Academy students must obey all school rules and are expected to conduct themselves in such a way as to bring credit to their school, their community and themselves.

PROGRESS REPORTS

PACE Career Academy will issue four grade reports each year, as well as warning letters between grade reports.  On-going tracking of grades will be available electronically. There is an expectation that the student, parent and school staff will have regular communication about personal, academic and career growth.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

Standardized testing is used along with classroom assessments to provide accurate and timely information about student achievement leading to improved student learning.

Students will take the Accucess at the beginning of each year, or within one month of enrollment. Students may also take the MAP assessment at other times when information would be helpful to teachers, such as for a student new to our district or to gain information mid-year.

In addition to the testing described above, all juniors take the state-mandated New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests – language arts and mathematics in the fall, and science in the spring. The NECAP is required for all juniors in the state of New Hampshire to ensure that there is a consistent standard of grade level expectations across all schools in the state.

Other standardized testing may be used to measure student competency in literacy, numeracy and in technology.

ABSENCES

PACE attendance expectations mirror those expected in the workplace. When a student must be absent for medical or other unavoidable family circumstances, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the school via phone or email prior to the start of the school day. This must be followed up by a written note from the parent acknowledging the absence.

For a planned event or anticipated absences that require that the student will miss school, parents/guardians are asked to send a note to PACEas far in advance as possible. It is the student’s responsibility to request assignments and monitor their status.

If an absence occurs during an internship or off-site placement, the student will be responsible for notifying the supervisor. Please remember that inconsistent attendance at work can be cause for dismissal from the internship or job.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

Advanced Placement courses are the most rigorous academic experiences secondary schools offer; indeed, AP courses are designed to replicate the scope and intensity of a college course and, as such, require a considerable commitment on the part of students who elect them.  Each AP course culminates in a standardized examination developed and scored by the Educational Testing Service, the same organization that offers the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT).

Because these exams form a natural culmination and focus for students’ academic experience in these courses and because they offer a reliable vehicle for instructors to gauge the effectiveness of the curricula, all Pace Academy students are encouraged to take the appropriate AP exam(s) in the spring.

ATTENDANCE

Because encountering new ideas; showing respect for other’s views; meeting oral, written and performance standards; and learning personal responsibility are all core objectives of PACE Career Academy’s curriculum, it is the belief of the PACE Career Academy that attendance is essential to each individual student’s educational and work related success.

Therefore, students have the responsibility to be in school participating fully in their classes on a daily basis.  Students and parents must understand that any pattern of repeated absences will seriously jeopardize a student’s ability to successfully complete a course of study and affect their ability to be placed in a career internship or a job.

Daily Attendance

Daily attendance is kept by each teacher. Parents will be notified if the student is expected for class, but is not present.

Students, parents, school staff, and possible law enforcement personnel will work together to resolve issues resulting in poor attendance when necessary.

Tardiness

Students are considered tardy if they arrive to class after the beginning of the morning or afternoon session.

Any student who is tardy to school due to a medical appointment is expected to obtain a note from the medical office where he/she was seen.

Punctuality and reliability are expectations in the workplace, tardiness issues will be addressed by the staff at PACE with the student and parent with a goal of resolving the problem.

CONFERENCES WITH PARENTS OR GUARDIANS

Parents are encouraged to confer with teachers, counselors or administrators about their son/daughter.  Conferences can be arranged by calling the school and requesting to set up an appointment at a mutually convenient time and date.

DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT TO SAFE SCHOOLS

As a school, PACE is committed to creating a safe environment and recognizes the following responsibilities to achieve this goal:

Students:

• Agree not to bring any materials to school or any school event that will be   harmful to themselves or others.
• Will seek adult assistance when an unsafe situation arises.
• Will not support or encourage other students in creating unsafe situations.

Families:

•     Will teach their children about harmful materials and keep harmful materials away from children.

•     Will support the school’s policies and work with the school in developing programs to ensure a safe environment.

•     Will teach children to settle arguments without resorting to violence, encourage them to use conflict resolution skills when necessary, and follow guidelines for maintaining a safe environment.

School Personnel:

• Will ensure that students have an anonymous way to report to an adult any unsafe situations.
• Will promote conflict resolution instruction for all students as PACE Career Academy as part of the curriculum.
• Will communicate district policies on violence to all parents in the school community.
• Will report all serious violations to law enforcement officials according to established procedures.

DIRECTORY INFORMATION

The PACE Career Academy may, at its discretion, release to the media, to area civic organizations and commercial enterprises whose place of business is Allenstown, Chichester, Epsom, Deerfield or Pembroke and to recruiters for the armed services (in compliance with federal statute) the following information about its students:

Name

Address

Name of Parent(s) or guardian

If a parent/guardian or student over the age of eighteen does not wish any portion of this information released, please inform the Director.

DISCLOSURE OF STUDENT RECORDS

The PACE Career Academy will disclose information from a student’s educational records only with the written consent of the parent or eligible student, except when there is a legitimate interest to know and under circumstances provided by law, the school may disclose student information from educational records without the written consent of the parent of the student or the eligible student:

1. To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records.  A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member, a person elected to the school board, or a person employed by or under contract to the district to perform a special task, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultants or therapists.  A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is performing a task that is specified in his or her position description or by a contract agreement, performing a task related to a student’s education, performing a task related to the discipline of a student, or providing a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as health care, counseling, or job placement.
2. To officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll upon request from such official.
3. To certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, and state and local education authorities, in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs.
4. In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to
5. Determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
6. To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
7. To parents of a dependent student as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Section 152.
8. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena, provided that the District makes a reasonable effort to notify the parent or student of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance.

DRESS GUIDELINES

PACE Career Academy simulates an actual workplace including the appropriateness of dress. Students will be provided with guidance on business-appropriate clothing and resources for appropriate clothing if necessary. Pajamas and overly revealing clothing are not appropriate.

PACE Career Academy relies upon the good judgment of its students regarding their manner of dress, cleanliness and grooming habits.  Students are reminded the school has the legal right to forbid articles or modes of dress which disrupt the educational mission of the school.  Students are encouraged to express their individuality while adhering to these guidelines:

The following are general guidelines; additional restrictions may be added depending on internship sites and school activities.

• Hats, bandannas, hoods and sunglasses are not to be worn inside the building.
• Shirts must be long enough to cover the midriff.
• Clothing must completely cover undergarments.
• Tank tops, sheer (see-through) clothing, halter tops, tube tops, strapless and off-the- shoulder tops are not allowed.
• Necklines on all tops must modestly cover the chest.
• Skirts, shorts and dresses must reach the mid-thigh.
• Clothing that references sex, drugs, alcohol, weapons, tobacco products, discrimination, violence or gang-related activity or membership is not permitted.
• Jewelry, accessories, and clothing that include sharp, spiked or items otherwise potentially injurious to another are not permitted.

Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be sent to the office and asked to take corrective action.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES – Cell phones, MP3 players, etc.

In order to facilitate a focused and productive work environment, PACE Career Academy limits student use of personal electronic devices during the school day.

Cellular phones and other electronic communication devices are not to be used inappropriately during the school day.

Personal music devices (MP3 players, iPods, etc.) may be used in classrooms when the teacher deems it appropriate. It is not appropriate for any device to interfere with learning by creating a distraction or disturbance.

When participating in an internship, job or on a field trip, students will adhere to the policies of the sponsoring company. Any violation of those policies may result in removal from the internship, job or field trip.

Teachers may confiscate devices if used inappropriately. Confiscated devices will be turned into the office, where they may be picked up at the end of the day.  Repeated violations will result in confiscation until the student’s parent picks up the device.

GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY

We encourage all of our students to be good neighbors and to respect the properties around PACE Career Academy.  Students must always use the school’s entrance on the East end of the building near the school parking area. Students should not congregate on or near our neighbor’s properties before, during or after school or school activities.  Students are not permitted to loiter in the streets around the Academy or to smoke or use tobacco products in violation of PACE Career Academy policy and state law.  Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY

This policy is designed to assure that the Academy facilities and programs provide access for physically handicapped students, parents, and guests.

Handicapped parking spaces are clearly marked at the main entrance of the building. Barrier-free handicapped restrooms are located on the main floor of the facility and are available whenever a function is held.  All lab machinery, equipment, and workstations in classes where a handicapped student is enrolled will be modified according to a student’s needs.