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Student Handbook 2013-‐2014 C h i n q u a p i n P r e p a r a t o r y S c h o o l | ( 2 8 1 ) 4 2 6 -‐ 5 5 5 1 | w w w . c h i n q u a p i n . o r g
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About the School History and Purpose Robert and Maxine Moore founded Chinquapin in 1968 with the goal of providing a high quality, college preparatory education to able and deserving youth from low-income families in the Houston area. The school’s name comes from the Algonquin Indian word meaning “large”, and is the common name for a species of tree found in the East Texas region. The Moores wanted their school to have a large impact on students, their families, and their community. The school was originally to be located on what was the Moores’ property near Palestine, Texas, where a branch of the Chinquapin Creek and several Chinquapin trees can be found. Chinquapin stresses ethical behavior, self-discipline, responsibility for one’s actions, and a caring attitude for oneself, others, and the world around us. Through a rigorous academic curriculum and an emphasis on community service and earning what one receives, Chinquapin hopes to produce responsible, well-educated citizens who will become constructive leaders in the community.
Quid pro Quo “Something for something” has been Chinquapin’s motto since the school’s founding, and its simple message pervades almost every aspect of the school. Basically it means that in exchange for receiving a college preparatory education, students are expected to apply themselves fully to all aspects of the school’s program. Students must do something for the school and their fellow classmates in return for their education. This means not only giving their best effort in their classes and participating in extracurricular activities, but also working at least forty-five minutes per day during the chores period to help maintain the school (see Chores). There is a practical as well as philosophical reason for the work-study program. For Chinquapin to succeed and survive, all students must do their part. The school employs no maids or janitors and only a part-time maintenance man. Students soon learn that when a window is broken, a desk carved, or the grounds littered, it is their responsibility to fix the problem. Before long, most students develop a care and respect for Chinquapin’s campus rarely found at other schools. Also implicit in Quid pro Quo is the challenge to improve the future. When students receive a gift from society in the form of a scholarship, they are challenged to repay that hope and trust by someday making a positive contribution to the world by developing their talents fully and becoming the best person they can be.
Academics Academic Expectations Chinquapin’s curriculum is similar to that of schools in the surrounding school districts but with smaller classes, individual attention, and a college preparatory focus. Most students take six classes per day from 6th grade to graduation. Since the Chinquapin curriculum is college preparatory, the standards are high. Students are expected to maintain at least a “C” average (72.5), have no more than two grades of D (69.49) or lower, and not fail any classes. Failure to meet this standard will result in academic probation and can lead to eventual dismissal. Some exceptional students may be required to maintain a higher grade point average in order to keep their scholarship.
Academic Probation Students whose overall average falls below 72.5, earn more than two grades of D or lower, or fail any class (either at the Quarter or Semester point), are placed on Academic Probation. Once on probation, the student will complete a contract with the Dean of Students. This contract will outline the steps necessary for the student to return to good academic standing. Failure to meet the expectations of the contract may result in dismissal (see Dismissal).
High School Graduation Requirements • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
4 years of English 4 years of Math 4 years of Science 2 semesters of Technology Applications 2 years of History 2 semesters of World Geography 1 semester of American Government 1 semester of Economics 3 years of Foreign Language 4 semesters of Fine Arts (or the equivalent of one credit) 4 years of Physical Education 1 semester of Health 1 semester of Speech & Communications 1 Community Service Project per year Acceptance into an accredited college or university
Honor Roll & Awards After each quarter, each student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed. Students with the highest GPAs (85 and above) are recognized on the Honor Roll. Students with an average of 90 and above achieve High Honors. At the end of each year students may receive recognition for their academic excellence or effort in their classes. These awards are given out at the Awards ceremony in May.
Report Cards Report cards are sent home quarterly, roughly every eight-nine weeks. Additional progress reports may be sent out mid-quarter if a student’s performance is deficient or noteworthy.
Athletics Chinquapin is a member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) and our students compete with similarly sized schools at both the junior high and varsity levels in a variety of sports. Although the focus of Chinquapin is academic, athletics are seen as a valuable part of the school program in which students learn lessons about competition, leadership, teamwork, and self confidence. There is no cost to the students to participate in a sport, and all students are encouraged to try out. Students who participate in sports should be aware that athletics are an extra responsibility and require a very strong commitment from the student. Often it will be the individual student’s responsibility to complete homework on their own time. Students who fail to maintain their grades will not be allowed to play during games (see Athletic Eligibility).
Athletic Awards In the Spring semester students will be recognized for their athletic achievements at an awards ceremony held during the school day.
Athletic Eligibility Because Chinquapin students’ first priority is to their academic classes, student-athletes must maintain their grades in order to play with the team. Students may become ineligible to play if any of the following conditions occurs: 1. The student is failing one or more classes (a grade lower than 60%) OR 2. The student has an overall average of lower than 72.5 OR 3. The student has 3 D's (or lower)
Any student deemed ineligible will not be allowed to compete in athletic events for a period of two weeks, starting on the following week. Although they are not allowed to participate in or travel to official games, the students may still practice during their probationary two weeks. After two weeks students are re-evaluated. Additionally, students who fail a course for the 2nd quarter or 1st semester are ineligible for the first 2 weeks of the 3rd quarter. Students who fail the 3rd quarter are ineligible for the first two weeks of the 4th quarter. Although no student who is failing a class can compete, the coach and/or teacher(s) may also decide that a particular student is ineligible because of generally poor academic performance. Finally, in order to participate in a game, a student-athlete must be in regular school attendance during the day on which the game is to be played.
Junior High sports Junior High boys’ sports include cross country, soccer, basketball, and track. Girls’ sports include cross country, volleyball, basketball, and track. All students, grades 6-8, may try out.
Varsity sports High school boys’ sports include cross country, flag football, soccer, basketball, track, and tennis. Girls’ sports include cross country, volleyball, basketball, track, and tennis. All students, grades 9-12, may try out.
General School Policies & Info Admission Chinquapin advertises its recruiting meetings in local newspapers, on radio and television, and in various churches and community centers. Faculty members also visit numerous elementary and intermediate schools in the Houston area. In March and April, the school holds recruiting meetings at locations in Houston and at the Chinquapin campus. An applicant must attend one of these meetings where the school’s curriculum, rules, and requirements for admission are explained. The applicants are then tested in math, reading and writing and interviewed by three faculty members. In June, qualified students attend a 1-week summer session at no cost. The week is similar to a typical week of school and is intended to allow students an opportunity to see what
Chinquapin is like. At the end of the week, the new students for the following year are selected by the faculty with input from current students who have acted as counselors during the week. The new students are chosen on the basis of their academic skills, motivation, behavior, and general attitude toward their peers, faculty, and the school campus.
Advising All students are assigned a faculty advisor who will meet with them during Advisory to discuss academic or other issues. Additionally, in the spring of their junior year students are assigned a faculty college advisor, who, together with the college counselor, will help them navigate the often confusing process of applying to college.
Arriving/Leaving Campus Students who arrive late to school must, together with a parent, sign in at the main office before attending class. Students who need to leave campus during the school day must, together with a parent, check out at the main office. If a boarding student needs to go home during the week, he must be picked up by a parent, and the parent should call the residence life director in advance. Boarding students will no longer be allowed to ride home on the girls’ or 6th graders’ bus. If the parent has called, then the student may simply sign out when his parent arrives to take him home. If the parent has not called, then the student may not leave campus without checking with the residence life director. (The parent is also responsible for bringing the student back to campus; bus service during the week is provided only for day students.) On Fridays, boys are not to ride home on the girls’ bus, nor are girls to ride home on the boys' bus.
Attendance In order to earn credit for a course, a student must attend at least 90% of the class sessions for that course. This means that during a semester a student may not miss more than 9 class sessions of any course, whether the absences are excused or unexcused. In addition, a student may not accumulate more than 4 unexcused absences during a semester. If a student misses more than 9 classes OR has more than 4 unexcused absences, he/she will be referred to the attendance committee for review, and may not receive credit for the course.
For an absence to be considered excused, it must meet the following criteria: • • • •
A parent or legal guardian of the student must call the office (281-426-5551) as soon as possible on the day of the absence. If a student misses class because of a medical or dental appointment, he/she must bring a note from the doctor’s or dentist’s office. If a student misses 4 or more consecutive days due to illness, he/she must bring a note from a doctor. Students are responsible for any class work missed during an absence.
Generally speaking, only absences resulting from illness, medical or dental appointments, family emergencies, school-sponsored activities, and extreme weather conditions will be considered excused. Absences resulting from simply missing the bus are not considered excused. Teachers do not have to accept work (quizzes, for example) on days students are absent without excused notes.
Automobiles With the Director’s permission (proof of insurance and a driver's license), students are allowed to drive a car to school. Car keys must be turned- in to the appropriate Dean of Students by first period on the day the student arrives on campus, or immediately after their arrival if the student arrives later in the day. Girls may retrieve their keys after P.E., and boys may retrieve their keys on Friday afternoon after chores. If keys are not turnedin, or are turned in excessively late, driving privileges will be revoked. Students may not leave the campus in their vehicle without notifying the Director or the Dean of Students. Students who drive to school will also be required to fill out a form for the Dean of Students stating car model, make and license plate.
Bicycles and Skateboards Students may not ride or use bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, or scooters on campus.
Breakfast Boys are served breakfast Tuesday through Friday. They must arrive between 7:15 and 7:30 at the latest. Boys who accumulate five tardies (or missed breakfasts) in one semester will have to serve a Friday Detention. If you are absent a day (and are accidentally marked absent) you must provide a note from a parent or doctor to the Dean of Students.
The Burr The Burr is both the school mascot and the name of the student newspaper. The name derives from the prickly seed enclosure found on Chinquapin trees.
Captains Since its founding, Chinquapin has placed a high value on student leadership. Students who display a high level of maturity become “captains.” There are dorm captains, chore captains, and mealtime crew captains. All of these are given significant responsibilities. Effective captains earn the respect of both peers and teachers.
Cell Phones Students are allowed to bring cell phones on campus, but must follow these regulations: All students are allowed to have their phones on them and use them in an appropriate manner (as explained below). Phones must be “silenced” during classes, unless a teacher gives permission to use them. Students may use their phones before their first period (8:15), during lunch and after PE class (5:15). Cell phones and other electronic devices are NOT allowed at any time in the lunch line or during chores. No use of phones or any other electronic devices are allowed during afternoon study hall except juniors and seniors. Students in the evening study hall in the library are allowed ipods/mp3s with headphones or earbuds. Students in the dining hall (evening) are not allowed to use any electronic devices. Headphones or earbuds are NOT allowed at ANY time except for the evening library study hall. Abuse of cell phone/electronic devices policies will result in confiscation of the phone for 24 hours and a $10 fine (also, see Electronic Media). The third confiscation of a cell phone or electronic media (or any combination thereof), a parent or guardian will be required to come to the school to pay the fine and pick up the phone/electronic device. The fourth confiscation will result in loss of cell phone/electronic device privileges.
Chores In accordance with Quid pro Quo all students help with the upkeep of the campus. Divided into crews headed by captains, they mow, weed, rake leaves, clean classrooms and dormitories, and work in the kitchen. Students are prohibited from entering the dining hall and kitchen during chores.
Skipping chores or accumulating excessive tardies are considered the equivalent of skipping a class; students will serve a Friday Detention for skipping chores. Additionally, students should change for PE/sports in between 6th and 7th periods (ten minutes) and bring any PE/sports bag/water bottle/cleats needed for their practice. They will not have enough time after chores to change and get to their PE class/sport on time. Furthermore, i-pods/mp3s are not allowed during chores and will be confiscated if students are seen with them. Music from computers or from “boomboxes� is allowed. Teachers should monitor music’s appropriateness.
Class Meetings Class meetings are held approximately once each month and are conducted by Class Advisors assigned to each grade level. Class Meetings address the planning and execution of class retreats, field trips, and community service projects; class meetings may also address any business, problems or issues pertinent to the class.
Community Service Each year there are several opportunities to participate in various community service projects, generally one project each month. Students are required to participate in at least one such project each semester and are encouraged to do more.
Computers Computer resources, including Internet access, are provided to students free of charge. All students must sign and abide by the Campus Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Violation of the AUP will result in forfeiture of computer privileges. Computers for student use are located in the Computer Room, Library, and Upper-School Dormitory (for upper school males only). All other campus computers can be used only under faculty supervision. Students may not tamper with classroom computers for any reason. Food and drink are not permitted in the Computer Room. Students are permitted to bring laptop or notebook computers to campus for academic use if he/she has at least an 85% average. Students must bring their computers to Francisco Perez immediately; failure to do so can result in forfeiture of use. If a student wishes to bring his or her own laptop computer, a form must be signed by both the student and parent. See Personal Computer Acceptable Use Policy for details. All students are required to pay a $25 technology fee ($12.50 per semester) that covers the expense of paper, toner, and other technology-related consumables.
Copy Machines The copy machines may not be used by a student without supervision and permission from a faculty or staff member.
Counseling Life at Chinquapin can be stressful, especially when combined with family and other pressures. Many students seek the help and advice of trusted faculty members. In addition to this informal assistance, students who need or want more help can see a counselor. The Dean of Students can arrange an appointment. (All conversations with a counselor are, of course, confidential.) Daily Announcements Faculty announcements regarding each day’s events are posted on the "Announcements" section on the school’s website. All announcements should be submitted to the Executive Assistant for publication by 2 PM the day prior to having it posted for reading. First-period teachers are expected to read or distribute the announcements at the beginning of class each day. Announcements will be read via the intercom every morning at 8:15.
Damages If a student breaks something, he or she must tell the director immediately. The student will be required to help repair the damage and/or pay for the repair or replacement. If no one admits to breaking an item, the members of the room or dorm will be expected to pay for repairs.
Detention Serious offenses or multiple minor offenses (see Discipline) can result in a student being sent to Friday detention (every other week). Students and parents are notified of the detention by the teacher issuing the detention or the appropriate Dean of Students. There are two types of detention a student may be issued: • Lunch Detention: An individual teacher may require a student to attend a lunchperiod detention supervised by the teacher issuing the detention. Students with lunch detention are expected to get their lunch and immediately report to the detention room. Students who have crew or other commitments will need to seek replacements. • Friday Detention: Friday, 2:30-4:30. Students may be required to attend a Friday afternoon detention. Parents will need to pick up their son/daughter as there are no buses leaving Chinquapin at the time.
NOTE: Students who accrue three Friday Detentions in one semester will be suspended and placed on Disciplinary Probation. If excessive detentions continue to accumulate after the first suspension, the student's name will come up at the end of the semester discussions and may be asked to find a new school.
Discipline Students at Chinquapin are held to high standards of behavior. Students whose actions disrupt the learning of others or harm the community in any way will be disciplined. Generally, the disciplinary process goes through the following steps: 1. Student Warned: The student is warned by the teacher that his or her behavior is unacceptable. Because all students are expected to have read the Student Handbook (and signed the pledge), all students are considered automatically “warned” about the policies herein. 2. Teacher-Student Conference: The teacher discusses the nature of the behavioral problem or rule violation with the student. This conversation is documented with the Dean of Students. If the student’s behavior does not change, the following step occurs. 3. Parent Notification: The teacher discusses the student’s continued behavioral problem with the parents. This conversation is also documented with the Dean of Students. If contacting the parents has no effect on the student’s behavior, the next step occurs. 4. Dean-Student Conference: The Dean talks to the student (and the parents) and, most likely, sends him/her to the SLC, where a punishment will be imposed— usually a Friday detention and/or a kitchen punishment (see Detention). 5. Suspension: If a student’s poor behavior persists and he/she is again referred to the Dean, the student will most likely be suspended. 6. Dismissal: Students whose misbehavior continues even after a suspension risk being dismissed from the school (see Dismissal). In addition to the above discipline process, Chinquapin is a bully-free campus. Bullying and Harassment of any sort, be it verbal or physical, will not be tolerated, and students with a history of bullying may be asked to find another school. Chinquapin’s Discipline Team assesses each bullying incident on a case-by-case basis to determine the punishment. If you are a victim of bullying or are a witness to bullying, please report it to the appropriate Dean.
Dismissal When a student is dismissed from Chinquapin, it is usually for one of the following reasons:
1. The student is unable or unwilling to handle the academic workload. 2. The student’s behavior becomes destructive to the school community. 3. The student’s behavior requires services or assistance not available at Chinquapin. Dismissal comes only after the student’s parents have been notified of the problem(s) and the faculty has worked to improve the deficiency or the destructive behavior (see Discipline). Some offenses, however, are so serious that they generally result in immediate dismissal. Examples would be possession of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon, or stealing.
Dormitory Life Maintaining the quality of dorm life at Chinquapin is a responsibility shared by teachers, dorm captains, and dorm residents. A teacher lives in each dorm, and another teacher is on duty each evening. The captains, however (who are always upperclassmen), are mainly responsible for the successful operation of their dormitory. They help make sure that the dorm is cleaned, that students go to bed at night and get up on time; they are responsible for helping to maintain order and settling minor disputes. Rules governing life in the dormitories: • • •
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Male students are assigned to a dormitory when they arrive for the first day of school. Middle school students will stay in the Wahlberg/HGA dormitories. Upper school students stay in one of nine suite rooms in the Fondren/Jones Dormitory. These students are asked to remain in their dorms for at least the first week of school. If at that time they wish to move and there is extra space or someone is willing to trade, they may change rooms with the permission of the director. After the second week dorm assignments are permanent for the year. Once dorm assignments are set, students in the Upper-School Dorm are expected to keep a list on their doors as to who resides in the dorm. Dorms should be neat and clean at all times, as they may be shown to visitors or prospective donors. Students may not hang offensive or lewd posters or other materials on their walls. If a faculty member deems it inappropriate, it must be removed. Students are not to move or dismantle dormitory furniture or arrange it such that it blocks doors or windows. Blankets, towels, or other items may not be hung in front of doors or windows or to create a privacy screen in a larger room. Students are not to adjust the thermostats in the rooms. If a room is too hot or cold, notify the teacher on duty. Space heaters are not permitted, but a student may bring a fan if he wishes.
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Upper school students (other than captains) are not to go in the middle school dorms at any time, and middle school students are not to go into the Upper School dorms.
Dress Code Students are expected to use good judgment in what they wear. They must wear shoes or sandals and may not wear sunglasses or hats indoors. They should leave T-shirts with vulgar, offensive or suggestive language or images at home. If a teacher deems the content of the shirt inappropriate, the student must change it. Students are not allowed to wear pajamas, slippers, blankets, or other bedding to class. (If you’re cold, wear a jacket.) These guidelines apply any time a student is at school or representing the school. Students who violate the dress code will be sent to the office or dorm to change; students may have to buy clothing from the school store if they don't have appropriate clothing to change into.
Boys In addition, boys are asked to wear their pants around their waists, not their thighs, and to forgo dangling earrings and jewelry that celebrates criminality. Additionally, students who wear shirts with offensive images/wording may be asked by a teacher to change. Boys who are not dressed appropriately will be asked to return to their dorm and change. Boys must also always wear a shirt when entering the dining hall. Boys who are working crew in the kitchen must wear closed-toe shoes to avoid injury.
Girls Girls must wear clothes that conform to the following guidelines or they will be sent to the office to change; if the student doesn't have appropriate clothing, she will have to purchase said item from the school store. • Length: when the student holds her arm down to the side, shorts and skirts must be no shorter than where her palm hits. • Tops: No halter tops or spaghetti-strap tops are allowed. Cleavage, bare stomachs, and rear ends must not show. You should not be able to see undergarments through the outer clothes. • Dresses: should not be slit past the knee and should not expose cleavage, the midriff, or the lower back. • P.E. Clothes: may be shorter, but must be loose to allow students to move freely and exercise in them. P.E. tops must be t-shirts, not tank tops. • Kitchen: Girls working crew must wear closed-toe shoes to avoid injury.
Drugs Possession or use of controlled substances (alcohol, tobacco products, inhalants, any illegal drug) is not permitted, and is grounds for dismissal (see Dismissal).
Electronic Media Students may not bring televisions, video game consoles, or handheld video games to campus. Students are permitted to have portable radios, CD players, or MP3 players in their dorms. Music should be played at a reasonable volume. Personal electronic devices (mp3 players, cell phones, PSPs, etc.,) are allowed, but they must be kept in the dorm or in the girls’ lounge. Headphones should not be used or worn outside these areas during the school day (until the end of PE), unless they are being used for academic purposes under teacher supervision, such as in evening study hall (as with cell phones, any electronic media (including tablets) used in undesignated areas at inappropriate times will be confiscated by faculty and they will have to wait 24 hours to retrieve them after a $10 fine has been paid. Following the third confiscation of electronic media/cell phone (or any combination thereof), a parent or guardian will be required to come to the school to pay the fine and pick up the electronic media/cell phone. Continued abuse will result in loss of electronic media privileges.
Emergency School Cancellation In the event of particularly dangerous weather conditions or other campus emergencies, Chinquapin will cancel school for that day, and the girls’ buses will not make their usual stops. Weather permitting, the boys’ buses will transport them to their stops. Generally, Chinquapin follows HISD’s lead on school cancellations for adverse weather conditions or flooding.
Extra-curricular Activities Students are encouraged to participate in one or more of our extra-curricular courses or clubs. These vary from year to year. Many activities meet during the Activity Period, although some may have meetings at lunch or have events after school or on weekends. As with athletics, students who participate in an activity are expected to commit themselves fully and maintain good academic standing. Students who sign up for elective courses offered during Activity Period must complete the entire year in order to receive a semester of credit. If two different activities meet regularly at the same time, then obviously students must choose one or the other.
Faculty Most of Chinquapin’s full-time teachers live on campus. They are hired not only on the basis of their knowledge in particular academic disciplines, but also because of their interest in and willingness to assist and counsel young people. Students may seek help
outside of class at the faculty members’ residences. Faculty can also be reached by phone (see Faculty Phone Numbers).
Food Boarding students are provided with three meals a day, Tuesday through Thursday, with breakfast and lunch provided on Friday and lunch and dinner provided on Monday. Girls are provided with lunch each day that school is in session. The school attempts to instill healthy eating habits in the students by providing beneficial meals and snacks. Students may bring healthy snacks from home for their personal use (not for resale), as long as that food is properly packaged in closed containers so that it does not attract ants, cockroaches, mice, or other pests. There is a microwave in the dining hall which may be used by students during meal times only. Please read and follow the instructions posted by the microwave. Cooking is prohibited in the dorms. Hot plates, coffee pots, cup warmers, microwaves, and refrigerators are not allowed. Food deliveries (such as pizza) are permitted only by permission of the director or faculty dorm resident. Any food delivered to the campus must arrive between 9:00 and 9: 30 pm. Failure to ask faculty for permission may result in revocation of student's right to order food deliveries for a set period of time (to be determined by faculty or dean of students). Students are expected to clean up after themselves. All boxes must be thrown out in the dumpster immediately after eating. Students are not allowed to bring food into any classroom. Students may not sell food during either one of the lunch periods.
Fridays Students who stay at school beyond 2:15 on Friday afternoon must have permission from the director, unless they are directly involved in a school-sponsored activity. Parents should know that the school is not responsible for supervising their children on Friday afternoons.
Games & Gambling Students are permitted to play board or card games in their free time. Gambling or betting, however, is not allowed.
Golf Tournament For the past several years, Chinquapin has supplied 40-50 students each spring to work at the Houston Golf Association’s PGA Tour event. In exchange for their work in various
capacities, Chinquapin students receive the benefits of some very substantial gifts to the school. The library, computer room, school vans, dining hall, and middle school dorms are all a result of HGA funding. It is considered an honor to represent the school during this five day tournament, and students are chosen on the basis of their dependability, work habits, and general demeanor.
Gum Gum is not allowed on the campus at any time.
Honor Code Chinquapin students maintain a code of integrity, dignity, and pride known as the Honor Code. The Honor Code makes the following stipulations: • • •
A student’s word is expected to be the truth; therefore, lying and forgery are violations of the Honor Code. A student’s work is expected to be entirely his/her own, unless properly credited; therefore, plagiarism and cheating are violations of the Honor Code. Τhe property of others is to be respected; therefore, stealing—no matter how minor—is a violation of the Honor Code.
All students must sign and follow the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code are considered major offenses, and can result in a student’s dismissal.
Illness & Injury If students are too sick to attend class, run laps, perform chores, or participate in P.E., then they are too sick for school. They must call and arrange for immediate transportation home. In the event of a non-emergency injury or illness, students are asked to call home to be picked up as soon as possible. Students requiring immediate medical attention while at Chinquapin will be taken to the nearest medical facility. Parents will be contacted and asked to meet their child at the hospital.
Internet Internet access is provided freely to all students on the school campus. Students who use the Internet must abide by the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (see Computers)
The school maintains its presence on the World Wide Web at www.chinquapin.org. This website includes information for both parents and students. Many classes at Chinquapin offer an online component accessible from the main Chinquapin website.
Library The library is open during lunch and afternoon study hall. It is closed after chore time (4:15) and after evening study hall (9:00). Students should not leave any property, including clothes or books, in the library. Any items left in the library will be placed in the Lost & Found (see Lost & Found). Students may check out books by printing their name and grade level on the book’s card and depositing the card in the container by the Librarian’s Office. Books can be checked out for a period of two weeks, and may be renewed. Reference books may not be checked out. Taking a book from the library without checking it out is considered theft. Food and drink are not allowed in the library. Students are asked to clean up after themselves and to treat library resources with care.
Lost & Found Any personal items left by students will be placed in the Lost & Found, located in the dining hall. If a student wishes to claim an item, he/she should see a faculty member. Unclaimed items will be given to Goodwill.
Off-Campus Opportunities Through both their academic and extracurricular involvements, Chinquapin students are able to enjoy a variety of off-campus outings, including museum trips, plays, concerts, movies, and athletic events. In most cases these outings are at no cost to the student. At times, however, students will be asked to cover part of the cost. Students should remember that when they are on an outing, they are representing the school and should behave accordingly. In addition to day trips, there are occasional weekend outings, such as camping or canoe trips. Chinquapin students are also eligible for a number of summer programs including Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Student Conservation Association, and World Learning. For some of these activities, such as Outward Bound and World Learning, a limited number of scholarships are available to Chinquapin
students. Information sessions about these opportunities are held at the school in January of each year. During the year, seniors spend a week in Washington, D.C. with the Close-Up Program, learning about the workings of the U.S. government.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent conferences are held twice a year in the evening during fall and spring semesters (see Calendar). Parents are encouraged to attend the conferences to discuss their children’s academic progress and other issues. Occasionally circumstances may require an additional conference between the faculty and the parents. Such situations are rare, but usually indicate a serious violation of school policies on the student’s part.
Personal Effects & Money Students are responsible for their own personal belongings. Boys are provided with lockable cabinets and girls are provided with lockable lockers. They should use them and keep them locked. Students should not bring large amounts of cash to school. There is rarely any reason to bring more than $15.00.
Phone Calls Students may make necessary phone calls home at lunch (in the office) and during phone time (9:00 to 9:15) after evening study hall. Emergency phone calls may be made at the home of the teacher on duty.
Probation There are two types of probation at Chinquapin: disciplinary and academic. Disciplinary Probation and Dismissal: A student may be placed on disciplinary probation for a serious breach of school rules or for persistent minor offenses. Usually such probation lasts one semester but sometimes covers an entire year. Disciplinary probation is meant as a warning that any further behavioral problems will lead to dismissal. Progressive discipline is always the preferred approach, but students may be dismissed immediately in appropriate serious circumstances.
Academic Probation and Dismissal: At the close of each quarter, a student who is failing one or more subjects, has a D or lower in more than two subjects, or who has a grade point average below 72.5 is placed on academic probation until his/her grades improve at the end of the following quarter. Teachers are expected to schedule additional tutoring whenever possible to help those students who need it. Such tutorials may occur during scheduled times in the school day or at night. In some cases, students may be assigned a volunteer Student Tutor to help them improve. Students on probation who do not show improvement, or who fail two or more courses for the year, risk not being asked to return the following semester. Students failing one or more courses are not eligible to participate in interscholastic sports (see Athletic Ineligibility in Student Handbook) or other student activities; they will also be encouraged to drop electives in order to allow for more study and tutoring time. Students who are not able to meet the academic standards of the school may be dismissed.
Relationships Relationships Part of what makes Chinquapin special is that its family atmosphere fosters the growth of close friendships. Among those friendships are “romantic” relationships. Students in such relationships are reminded that most physical expressions of affection are inappropriate at school. While hand-holding and brief hugs are allowed, kissing, fondling, lap-sitting and prolonged hugging are not. Also, couples are not to retreat to secluded areas. Students who violate this policy will be disciplined, and their parents will be informed of the problem. Should a student become pregnant, both parties responsible will be dismissed. Married students are not allowed to attend Chinquapin.
Restricted Areas Students should not use the library or the Office as lounge areas. Additionally, there are a number of restricted areas on and around campus. Students may not enter these areas without faculty permission: • • •
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Boys are not allowed in the girls’ lounge at any time. US boys are not allowed in the MS dorms, and MS boys are not allowed in the US dorms. Girls are not allowed in or near the boys’ dormitories at any time. Students may not go to the reservoir or to the nature trail/forest area without faculty supervision. No one is to swim in the reservoir at any time: it is home to numerous alligators and water moccasins. Students are not allowed to enter any locked buildings or rooms on campus. Doing so constitutes a major offense.
Student Leadership Committee (SLC) The SLC is a student council composed of students elected from each class—usually two members from each grade from seventh grade and higher, except the senior class, which is more heavily represented. The SLC plans student activities and contests and is also sometimes called upon to assist the Dean of Students in the disciplinary process. SLC members are expected to be exemplary students. SLC members who perform poorly in his/her classes may be excused from the SLC; similarly, any discipline issues on the part of an SLC member may be cause for dismissal. Students sent to the SLC have the opportunity to explain their behavior. The SLC then recommends and later oversees a punishment, such as washing pots in the dining hall. Teachers may be asked to attend disciplinary matters for clarity. The dean of students reviews all punishments recommended by the SLC. Student Searches In the event of a theft, or if the faculty has reason to believe a student is in possession of a prohibited item such as drugs or a weapon, the faculty may conduct a locker search. The school reserves the right to search any and all students, their luggage, their cars, and/or their personal effects if they are suspected of such a violation. Study Hall Upper School students who have an 87.5 GPA (current term) and who are not on Disciplinary Probation do not have to attend Study Hall during the school day (until 5:15 p.m.). Boys have permission to work in the dorms, girls in the Girls Lounge. They may also study in the quad or the library, attend a formal Study Hall, or meet with a teacher during Study Hours in the Teaching and Learning Leadership Center. Conditions necessary for quiet study are to be maintained at all times in both afternoon and evening study halls. No food or drinks are allowed. All textbooks and materials required by a student should be brought in before the study hall begins. Seating charts may be used at the discretion of the monitor. At the end of the study hall, each student is expected to inspect the area around his/her desk or table and to remove all possessions and trash. Afternoon Study Hall: • •
Personal electronic devices (mp3 players, cell phones, PSPs, etc.) are not allowed. Students may use headphones with laptops for academic purposes only.
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As a fairness issue, girls have priority over boys for computer access (boys have access in the evenings).
Students assigned to the library must have an 80.00 average or above or have written permission from the Dean of Students. Evening Study Hall: • • •
Personal music devices (mp3 players) are allowed in the library, not in the dining hall. Other personal electronic devices (cell phones, iPhones, PSPs, etc.) are not allowed. Students may use headphones with laptops for academic purposes and music.
Study hall proctors are encouraged to monitor students' use of media for non-academic purposes. Widespread listening to Youtube, for instance, for music purposes, slows the network down considerably. Because of a bandwidth problem in the evening, students can listen to music only on music devices (library only). Study hall monitors also reserve the right to confiscate music devices if privileges are abused (chatting, listening to music too loud, etc). Abuse of technology regulations will lead to disciplinary action and may include being banned from unsupervised access to computers or electronic devices in the future. Attendance at a campus event is NOT considered an excuse to miss study hall. You will be given an infraction if you are tardy to study hall because you are at a game or concert. Trash In accordance with Quid pro Quo, all students are expected to help maintain the clean appearance of the campus. Students are expected to clean up after themselves, and if they see trash on the ground or in classrooms, they should pick it up and deposit in the nearest garbage can. Tuition & Book Charges All Chinquapin students are on scholarship. It costs Chinquapin over $13,000 a year to teach, feed, house, coach, and bus each of its 150-plus students. The tuition that families pay covers only a small portion of this cost. A student’s fee for tuition, room, and board is calculated on a sliding scale based upon a confidential income statement. The amount ranges from $40 to $200 per month. Even for those families paying at the highest level, Chinquapin costs far less than comparable private schools in Houston.
Tuition can be paid at the beginning of each month or in a lump sum at the beginning of each semester. If their families are unable to pay, students may make arrangements with the director to work extra hours on campus to meet this obligation. There are no charges for regular textbooks, but some classes use paperbacks and workbooks which cannot be re-used, and students will be billed for such books. Visitors The campus and its facilities are intended for use by students who are currently enrolled. On rare occasions students are allowed to bring visitors to campus, but only when they have received prior permission from the Director. All daytime visitors must check in and out with the Receptionist in the main office and must wear a badge when they are on campus. Evening visitors must check in and out with the faculty member on duty, unless they are involved with a group sponsored by another faculty member, who must be present. Visiting hours are from 5:15 to 7:15 pm and 9:00 to 10:00 pm. No visitors are allowed after 10 p.m. Visitors will not be allowed to interrupt regularly-scheduled classes. Policies regarding visitors apply to alumni as well as parents. In some cases, groups of visitors have been authorized by the Director to visit the campus and use its facilities on a regular basis (keeping in mind that current students should have priority). A record of these groups is kept in the main office. Students who have been dismissed for behavioral reasons are not allowed on campus for any reason for one year after their departure. Weapons No knives, guns (including B.B.), slingshots, or other weapons are allowed on campus.
Faculty Phone Numbers/E-mail Faculty/Staff Member Cathy Adams Bridget Anderson Tina Barr Dave Bartholome Sandy Bartholome Yoli Bartholome Dale Dilworth Martha Dilworth Craig Duncan
Phone Number 713-907-7661 281-799-9385 832-784-2517 832-784-3394 281-236-2700 832-526-7563 281-515-5673 281-515-5563 832-247-4420
E-mail Address cathy@chinquapin.org banderson@chinquapin.org tbarr@chinquapin.org dbartholome@chinquapin.org sandy@chinquapin.org ybartholome@chinquapin.org ddilworth@chinquapin.org mdilworth@chinquapin.org cduncan@chinquapin.org
Jeremy Duncan Jessica Edwards Marissa Garcia Marilu Garza Jeremy Goodreau Laura Henry Derek Henson Tim Holm Jason Hurd Tara Kheradyar Pat Lohan Robert Long Carmen Meza Paul Nichols Ted Pallis Francisco PĂŠrez Mily PĂŠrez Tricia Ratliff Michaela Reynolds MaryJo Sadler Dorothy Scrutchin Cody Shilling Elizabeth Suman Ajani Thornton
832-414-3122 832-984-7847 832-984-0758 832-729-2119 972-345-5784 281-413-6339 412-874-8074 281-881-9113 832-723-6718 832-784-2518 281-421-2165 847-254-2951 281-780-9134 832-984-0257 510-325-7043 832-418-2854 832-418-9582 713-705-7422 620-794-2866 832-722-6572 281-917-3157 817-715-5370 713-516-6098 713-530-0989
Office
281-426-5551
School Fax
281-426-5553
Development Office
281-426-5467
Appendix Honor Code Personal Computer Acceptable Use Policy
jduncan@chinquapin.org jedwards@chinquapin.org migarcia@chinquapin.org mgarza@chinquapin.org jgoodreau@chinquapin.org lhenry@chinquapin.org dhenson@chinquapin.org tholm@chinquapin.org jhurd@chinquapin.org tkheradyar@chinquapin.org plohan@chinquapin.org blong@chinquapin.org cmeza@chinquapin.org pnichols@chinquapin.org tpallis@chinquapin.org fperez@chinquapin.org mperez@chinquapin.org tratliff@chinquapin.org mreynolds@chinquapin.org mjsadler@chinquapin.org dscrutchin@chinquapin.org cshilling@chinquapin.org esuman@chinquapin.org athornton@chinquapin.org