• School Goals
• Non-Discrimination Statement
• Chapel
• Liturgy & Prayer
• Service
• Christian Service & Living the Gospel Awards
• Retreats
• Non-Catholic Students

• Instructional Time Requirements
• Academic Graduation Requirements
• Honors and Advanced Placement
• Grading
• Weighted Grades
• Honor Rolls
• Academic Letter
• National Honor Society
• Graduation With Honors
• Resolving Questions & Problems
• Add, Drop, Change of Course
• Acceptance of Transfer Credit
• Credit Earned Outside of SCHS
• Permanent Files
• Full Participation in Academic Courses
• Academic Probation
• Plagiarism/Cheating
• Behavior & Consequences
• Testing Program

• Self-Discipline Skills
• Demerits
• Disciplinary Probation
• Good Conduct Policy
• Attendance & Punctuality
• Absentee Policy
• PDA: Public Displays of Aggression or Affection
• Student Visitors
• Substitute Teachers
• Driving & Parking
• School Dances

Have a question or comment? Click HERE to contact us.

V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School forms and educates young men and women to become Christian leaders who empower others, promote justice, and initiate change.

BELIEF STATEMENTS
We believe that V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School….

• Provides a Spiritual Anchor to assist students in modeling their lives within the Roman Catholic tradition according to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
  
• Develops Christian Character through practicing the skills of self-discipline, individual conscience, and critical thinking when making decisions as a moral Christian and as a good citizen.
  
• Prepares for Post-Secondary Success by providing students a rigorous college-prep curriculum, state-of-the-art technology, and an opportunity to earn college credits.
  
• Inspires Moral and Ethical Leadership by, not only educating, but also requiring students to provide service to, embrace diversity within, and seek justice for, their communities and the marginalized in our society.
  
• Endorses a Co-Educational Academic Environment that exemplifies a real-world, life-long learning environment wherein a Christian's respect of self and others becomes the foundation for promoting self worth and service to school and community.
  
• Educates the Whole Person – Body, Mind and Spirit by providing a variety of extra-curricular activities to assist students in building a foundation for generating personal, physical, academic, emotional and spiritual well-being.

V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Omaha, serves the teaching mission of the Catholic Church by providing a quality co- educational high school program rooted in the historic Catholic tradition for young people in Omaha and surrounding communities. As an Archdiocesan high school serving the total Catholic community, the curriculum offerings of the school include competitive college preparation courses as well as complementary academic programs for a diverse population of students.

Faithful to its Catholic identity, V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School teaches the faith and morals of the Catholic Church in union with the local Archbishop, activates Catholic practices and culture throughout the school environment, presents the intellectual wisdom of the Catholic faith in formal classroom dialogue with the great Catholic thinkers of the present and past, builds a community of caring and justice among the school family which reaches out to evangelize and respond to the needs of the world at large, and empowers students to observe, decide, and act according to the Gospel principles of Jesus Christ.

Together with the provision of typical subject matter courses such as Religion, Language Arts, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Computer Technologies, Fine Arts, and Physical Education, the school gives focused attention to the teaching and modeling of critical thinking and self-discipline skills and provides a full range of extra- curricular activities and opportunities for students to engage in Christian service to the larger community.

In honor of the memory of V. J. and Angela Skutt, the school conducts its affairs in a professional manner that emphasizes personal success with integrity and responsibility, fairness to all, care and concern for individuals, service to those in need of healing and help, loyalty to religious faith, and joy and wonder in the beauty of all of God's creation.

Approved by the Archbishop of Omaha and the Archbishop's Fiscal Governance Board for Metropolitan Archdiocesan High Schools on December 13, 1991.

SCHOOL GOALS
All graduates of V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School (SCHS) will:

Follow the teachings of Jesus in the context of the community of the Church

• Discern one's vocation in response to God's call
• Know how to pray
• Participate in the life of the Church
  

Practice a code of moral behavior based on the principals of Catholic Christian beliefs

• Respect and value the gift of life
• Obey the civil laws of society
• Respond to the needs of the marginalized in our community
• Serve as good stewards of the environment

Strive for intellectual excellence and academic achievement

• Demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making skills
• Work effectively both cooperatively and independently
• Develop a self-disciplined approach to learning
• Make pursuit of self-directed learning a life-long priority
• Utilize current technology effectively and appropriately
• Communicate meaningfully through a variety of expressive media

Demonstrate an understanding of self and society

• Recognize the family unit as an integral part of a faith-centered life
• Actively invite and involve diversity in building community
• Respect, appreciate, and celebrate cultural diversity

Develop personal integrity

• Model moral convictions in interactions with others
• Build trust and mutual respect in relationships
  
• Reach out to others
• Live his/her sexuality according to the teachings of the Church
• Adopt and maintain a life-long approach to personal health
• Practice healthy decision-making concerning nutrition and exercise
• Accept one's own body

(Developed May 29, 2002)

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Non-Discrimination Statement

V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School admits students of any color, national and ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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Chapel

The Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan Chapel is open for student use throughout the school day at SCHS. Students are welcome to use the Chapel for prayer, meditation, or as a place to attend daily Mass. Students are expected to demonstrate a high degree of respect for the special presence of God in the Sheehan Chapel by using it often and appropriately.

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Liturgy & Prayer

Mass will be celebrated most days at SCHS. The schedule will always be posted well in advance. The daily Mass will be held at 7:15 AM. Students and parents are always welcome at this optional celebration.

All-school Masses will be scheduled regularly. They are held in the gym where seating will be assigned.

Classroom Masses are encouraged. Teachers interested in planning a Mass for/with students should contact Christine Diss, our Campus Minister in charge of liturgies, for scheduling and assistance.

We are fortunate in a Catholic high school to enjoy the full, free exercise of religious freedom that is guaranteed to us by our Constitution. Prayer is not only welcomed at Skutt Catholic High School, but also encouraged. Classroom prayer, private prayer, and contemplative prayer in the Sheehan Chapel are some examples of the many types of prayer in which SC students might engage.

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Service

Putting our beliefs into action for the benefit of others is the true meaning of the Skutt Catholic High School service program. All students are expected to contribute service to others each year. Although all faculty members will participate in the service effort of our school community, those who teach religion and Character Skills for Living will give leadership. Service ideas are posted regularly and are available in the Campus Ministry Office throughout the year. Your ideas for service projects are always welcome!

Each Skutt Catholic student is required to meet a service requirement each year as shown below. On each report card parents will be informed of the progress their student is making toward meeting the annual requirement. Meeting service requirements is a necessity for graduation just as academic requirements must be met. Students who fail to complete service requirements each year will not enjoy the full privileges of membership in the Skutt Catholic Community. In addition, failure to pass service for the year will result in the assignment of additional service hours equal to twice the required hours for that year before eligibility will be restored.

Freshmen......5 hours of service       Juniors.................15 hours of service
Sophomores…..10 hours of service   Seniors.................20 hours of service

Details of the service requirements are distributed to students at the beginning of each year. The annual "Community Involvement Day" is a special effort on our part to give back to the Omaha community; individual service hours are not earned this day.

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Outstanding Christian Service Award and Living the Gospel Award

The Living the Gospel program at Skutt Catholic encourages and guides students to live out the message of Jesus Christ. The Outstanding Christian Service Award recognizes students who have not only accumulated hours above and beyond what is required, but also those who have been willing to go out of their comfort zones to serve others, and reach out to the marginalized of society, with a generous and giving spirit that is evident in their relationships and actions. The Living the Gospel Award honors two graduating seniors who have best demonstrated a commitment to Living the Gospel.

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Retreats

Retreat is a time away from the regular routine, offering students an opportunity for reflecting on their relationship with God, sharing their faith with others, and deepening their spirituality. Every student is required to complete a school retreat each year.

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Non-Catholic Students

Our school is a Catholic Christian community. As such it is very important that each member of the community participate in the prayer and liturgical celebrations of the entire community. It is required, then, that non-Catholic students participate in all- school and classroom liturgies, reconciliation services, and prayer from the perspective of membership in the SCHS community. Conversion to the Catholic faith is not the school's goal; full community that includes each person is an important goal!

The curriculum content is developed with four assumptions regarding learning in the forefront:

1. Active student learning, emphasizing application of research skills, writing, and speaking is expected of all students. The teacher molds and shapes instruction to help students meet learning outcomes.
2. The student will master academic content in depth.
3. Academic content is naturally integrated and interdisciplinary. Students will leave Skutt Catholic High School better prepared for life and future learning because they will have learned to grapple with complex and well-defined questions that cross the lines of traditional school subjects.
4. Student learning will be assessed in multiple ways that require application of the skills and content learned. Performances and products will be the standard. Students will participate in the on-going evaluation of their learning.

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Instructional Time Requirements

The Nebraska Department of Education stipulates in Rule 10 (Regulations and Procedures for the Legal Operation of Schools) that high schools shall provide a minimum of 1080 hours of instruction each school year. The entire time school is in session is counted toward accumulated instructional time, except for the lunch period. Time is not counted when school is dismissed for any reason, including inclement weather and school-sponsored activity events.

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Academic Graduation Requirements

Skutt Catholic High School is fully accredited by the State of Nebraska and college preparatory accredited by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), an accreditation division of AdvancED. The Skutt Catholic curriculum surpasses all state and NCA/AdvancED requirements.

The Skutt Catholic High School curriculum is the vehicle through which SCHS students will learn the skills and concepts needed to satisfy the graduation/exit outcomes. To enable SCHS students to meet the graduation outcomes, the following requirements are established:

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Honors and Advanced Placement Classes

All students accepted for membership at Skutt Catholic High School have demonstrated a high degree of preparation for rigorous high school work. All students are required to complete graduation requirements designed to prepare students for college. Though the faculty considers it unnecessary to divide such able students into ability-tracked groups, an Honors Program and advanced placement courses are provided for students whose ability, interest, and work ethic merit enrichment and extended learning opportunities.

As a result of previous coursework, students are logically divided into appropriate courses in math and foreign languages as freshman. Students who have demonstrated exceptional aptitude in their previous coursework, entrance examination, and optional subject area placement examinations are encouraged to pursue participation in the Skutt Catholic Honors Program. Honors course offerings are designed to extend and enrich student learning, to challenge SC's most capable students, and to prepare students to excel at the collegiate level. In addition to the Honors Program, a combination of elective choice and staff recommendation enables students to pursue honors and advanced placement courses in art, computer science, English, foreign language, math, music, religion, science, and social studies.

Advanced Placement classes, which are based on a nationally established curriculum, include: AP Biology, English Language and Composition, Calculus I and II, Literature and Composition, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Computer Science, Studio Art 2-D Design, Studio Art 2-D Drawing, U.S. Government and Politics, and American History. Advanced Placement courses afford students the opportunity of earning college credit by means of a rigorous examination administered on a nationally established date and scored according to national standards. We encourage SCHS students to elect AP courses and exams where interest and aptitude exist.

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Grading

Grades will be issued two times per year: at the end of first and second semesters. Grades issued at the midpoint of each quarter and the ends of the first and third quarter indicate the quality of progress in a course to date. Letter grades will be used as follows and will equate to these percentages:

Weighted Grades

Additional honor points are awarded to students for grades earned in all honors and advanced placement classes that students elect. The courses in which "weighted grades" may be earned are the following:

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Honor Rolls

Academic Honors . . . At the conclusion of the first and second semester, students earning a grade average of 3.75 or better.

Distinguished Honors . . . Students earning a grade average of 4.25 or higher with no individual grade lower than a B will receive Distinguished Honors recognition.

Honor Roll Recognition will occur at the end of each semester when students will be awarded an Honor Roll Card and parishes will be notified of their accomplishments.

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Academic Letter

All students will have the opportunity to earn an academic letter at Skutt Catholic High School. The basis for earning an academic letter will be a student's consistency in earning grades defined as "A" or "B." The SC academic letter award will be earned and awarded once during a student's career at SC. A recognition ceremony will be held to honor those students earning the letter.
A student will earn "points" toward an academic letter on the following scale of semester grades: "A" = 2 points, "B" = 1 point, "C" = 0 points, "D" = -1 point, and "F" = -2 points. A student must earn 60 points to qualify for an academic letter. The letter will be awarded when it is earned all the way through to the Senior Awards Recognition Program. The letter may be earned as early as the end of the second semester of the sophomore year.

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National Honor Society

The Soaring SkyHawk Chapter of the National Honor Society is organized to encourage the development of character and leadership, to further scholarship, and to render service. The chapter by-laws state that membership shall be based on Character, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. Eligibility for membership includes a class standing of junior or senior; a minimum GPA requirement of 3.7 with preferred GPA of 3.8; membership at Skutt Catholic High School for at least one semester; evidence of character, leadership, and service as provided to the faculty council by the student; and a written essay on the merits of why the student should be a National Honor Society member.

Membership in the National Honor Society is a privilege and not a right. The character of the members of the Soaring SkyHawk Chapter of the National Honor Society is regarded with utmost importance. A measure of character will be the student's school conduct. Offenders of the school code, as evidenced by an accumulation of five demerits, violations of the Good Conduct Policy, and/or violations of the Principles of Academic Integrity will limit the possible acceptance into the chapter and may jeopardize retention for any chapter member. In addition, the service component of membership is fulfilled by completion of two additional service hours per semester.

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Graduation With Honors

A student must successfully complete 28 credits from honors, advanced placement, or elective courses with weighted grades, within the 55 required graduation credits, and achieve the following G.P.A., calculated at the end of the seventh semester, to graduate with honors.

3.75 GPA = Honors
4.25 GPA = Distinguished Honors

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Resolving Academic Questions & Problems

Because a school is an institution of people, sometimes misunderstandings and problems develop. Resolving difficulties should be accomplished as follows:

1. Think about whether or not you are having an individual problem, consider making changes in your study habits or preparation for the course, and discuss the matter with your parents.
2. Make an appointment with your teacher to discuss the problem in private. The goal should be to arrive at a clear understanding of the difficulty and identify some steps to be worked at together to resolve the problem.
3. If the problem doesn't seem to improve, the student should discuss the matter with his/her counselor to seek additional solutions.
4. If the problem still doesn't seem to improve, the student is welcome to contact the Principal to seek other solutions.

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Add, Drop, Change of Course

1. At the start of a semester, students have up to 10 calendar days to change courses. Any change in courses would have to meet guidelines outlined in the Program of Studies.
2. Requests for a change in course after the 10 day deadline will only be permitted when the instructor recommends that a student be moved to a different level of the same course. Such changes require the permission of instructors and the guidance counselor along with written parent/guardian permission.
3. Students with a study hall may add an 8th course to their course of study within the first 10 school days of a semester assuming there is space available in the course the student wishes to add to his/her schedule. The student must also meet any prerequisites for the course and have the permission of their guidance counselor and the course instructor.
4. Students carrying 8 courses (no study hall) may drop one semester-long course no later than the mid-point of the semester. Students with 8 courses may drop one year-long course no later than the mid-point of the second semester. Requests to drop a course must be made in writing and have the signature of both the student and parent/guardian. Students carrying courses will not be permitted to drop a course after the first 10 days of the semester.
5. A year-long course may be dropped at the semester's end provided graduation requirements in the area of the course being dropped have been met and permission to drop the course is granted by the student's parent, instructor, and guidance counselor.
6. Schedule changes will not be made to accommodate study hall preferences, lunch periods, or teacher requests.

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Acceptance of Transfer Credit

1. Students who transfer into SCHS will receive credit for courses taken at other approved/accredited schools.
   
2. Transfer credit will be awarded using the SCHS Program of Studies and guidelines. Courses not available at SCHS will be entered as electives. Credit for honors level courses that are not available at SCHS will be non-weighted.
   
3. Skutt Catholic High School will not award credit for extracurricular activities that do not involve classroom instruction, even if credit was awarded at the school from which a student transfers.
   
4. Credit will not be given for "Pass" or "Satisfactory" grades, but the class will be listed on the SCHS transcript.
   
5. Class rank and GPA will be determined using the system in place at Skutt Catholic.

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Credit Earned Outside of SCHS

1. Students enrolled at SCHS cannot receive credit for courses taught at other schools if those courses are offered at SCHS.
   
2. Students can take approved summer or night school courses for credit to make up lost credits from failed courses.
   
3. If a student wishes to pursue a level of a course not available at SCHS and receive SCHS credit, approval must be given by the SCHS Director of Guidance and the SCHS Principal.

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Permanent Files

1. The following information will be kept on file for all students registered at Skutt Catholic High School:
   • Standardized Test Scores
     
   • Transcript (including grades and college admissions test scores)
     
   • Health records
     
   • Copy of Birth Certificate
     
   • IEP (if applicable)
     
   • 504 Plan (if applicable)
2. Information contained within the permanent file can only be disseminated with the written permission of the parent/guardian and student.

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Full Participation in Academic Courses

To preserve the academic integrity of each individual course at SCHS, students may not exempt themselves from any portion of the curriculum within that course. As it is expected for all students to participate in all-school and classroom liturgies, reconciliation services, and prayer from the perspective of membership in the SCHS community, all students are to participate fully in the approved curriculum for the courses they take or choose.

Should a student object to participating in an academic assignment within the class, they may inquire from the principal about Board Policy 185, which addresses the procedures for handling complaints about instructional material.

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Academic Probation

Skutt Catholic High School is a college preparatory school where students strive for intellectual excellence and academic achievement. The program is designed to assist students to matriculate into a four-year college or university upon completion of all graduation requirements. The academic probation program was created to identify those students who are not making progress towards acceptance into a four-year, post-secondary institution. The program will offer strategies for assistance while also clearly expressing the expectations of the student and the consequences if those expectations are not met.

A student will receive an academic warning at the end of an academic semester if:

• His/her cumulative GPA falls below 1.7; or
  
• He/she receives a grade of "F" in 2 or more classes in one semester (including service)
  • Action: - Student is assigned to a success study hall
    - Parent(s) notified that receipt of a second consecutive warning will lead to academic probation

Academic Probation

A student will be placed on academic probation for the length of one semester if:

• Their cumulative GPA remains below 1.7 for two consecutive semesters *
  
• They have failed 2 or more classes in two consecutive semesters *
• Action: - Student is assigned to or remains in a success study hall classroom
  - Parent(s) notified of probationary status and risk of academic dismissal
  - Student meets as necessary, with the principal to review progress/grades
  - Student meets as necessary, with their counselor to review progress/grades

If, at the conclusion of the probationary semester, the student has raised his/her cumulative GPA above 1.7 and has not failed 2 or more classes, the student will be taken off of probationary status.

If, at the conclusion of the probationary semester, the student still maintains a cumulative GPA below 1.7 and/or has failed 2 or more classes, the student will be subject to academic dismissal. If, under the sole discretion of the principal / president of Skutt Catholic High School, it is determined that a student has made a concerted effort in meeting the goals outlined above, then the academic probationary status may be extended another semester.

* One semester if the student has previously been on academic probation (during any prior semester)

Academic Dismissal

If, at the conclusion of the probationary semester, the student still maintains a cumulative GPA below 1.7 and/or has failed 2 or more classes, the student will be subject to academic dismissal (will not be allowed continued enrollment at SCHS). Also, if a student has been placed on academic probation twice during his/her time at Skutt Catholic, he/she may also be subject to academic dismissal. The student's counselor, teachers, and principal will meet to discuss the student's status at Skutt Catholic High School with the principal making a final decision regarding dismissal.

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Plagiarism/Cheating

The skills of learning from the work and writings of others, incorporating those ideas into an individual's own work, and documenting the sources of others' ideas are sometimes difficult to master. The SCHS faculty is committed to helping students learn and apply those skills with ease. Keys to success in learning to use the work of others are to learn well and ask questions when uncertainty exists.

OVERT DISHONESTY AND/OR CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

It is unacceptable for a student to intentionally represent the work of another as his/her own, access or utilize information inappropriately during an examination, or knowingly obtain and/or provide information about an assignment or examination to another student.

In addition to the trust lost and tainted reputation earned by those without academic integrity, not to mention the negative character development involved, the following consequences will occur at Skutt Catholic High School.

In accordance with the Skutt Catholic Mission Statement, the Principles of Academic Integrity held by the Skutt Catholic Community are:

• The moral values adhered to at Skutt Catholic are those of Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church.
• Abiding by those values engenders respect for oneself and others in the Skutt Catholic Community.
• Cheating, in any form, is a violation of the Body of Christ and diminishes one's standing in the Skutt Catholic Community.
• Parents are the primary educators of their children in faith and morals.*
• Character is moral strength and the acceptance of personal responsibility for one's decisions.**
• The formulation and development of character is essential to the education of students at Skutt Catholic, through the curriculum, activities, and examples of its administration, teachers, and staff.
• Integrity is the firm adherence to a code of moral values.**
• Honesty is the uprightness of character demonstrated by refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way** or act as an accessory to previously mentioned behavior.
• Leaders will always stand on the side of truth, no matter how inconvenient, even if that means standing alone.***
• Moral instruction and accountability of students will prepare them to be responsible and trustworthy members of society.
  

* Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 22-23
** Webster's
*** Discipline with Purpose

Academic Integrity Looks Like:

• Students studying and preparing for class.
• Students doing their own homework.
• Students submitting tests that reflect their own abilities and efforts.
• Students having pride in their own sense of accomplishment and learning.
• Students accepting responsibility for decisions regarding time management and study.
• Students respecting themselves, classmates, and teachers by honestly representing their own work.
• Students understanding what is expected of them and following established procedures to obtain those results.

Academic Integrity Does Not Look Like:

• Students coming to class unprepared.
• Students obtaining grades dishonestly.
• Students representing others' work as their own.
• Students abusing others' confidence.
• Students using deceit to obtain higher grades, whether they are observed doing so or not.
• Students not being entirely truthful.
• Students providing information in the form of answers or "cheat sheets" to others.
• Students covering up and/or protecting others' dishonesty.

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Testing Program

The Skutt Catholic High School testing program is designed to give students, parents, school staff, and college admission officials' helpful information about student academic growth and aptitude, as well as provide the student opportunities to practice good test-taking skills. The program is composed of required and optional elements, as follows:

The purpose for the rules and regulations of Skutt Catholic High School is the development of Christian character in every student. Rigorous expectations and formal structures to promote self-discipline are integral components of the school learning process which complement the direct teaching of self-discipline skills addressed in the required course, Character Skills.

Adults will be trained to help students become self-governing. Formal conflict management skills will be learned and employed by students and faculty.

Every student is responsible for learning and following the rules of Skutt Catholic High School.

Ignorance will not be an acceptable reason for failing to follow school rules.

The RULES of Skutt Catholic High School are as follows:

1. Respect yourself, others, and your school.
2. Contribute in a positive way to your learning environment.
3. Follow school procedures.

The GOALS of the Skutt Catholic High School Student Discipline Program are as follows:

1. To promote the growth in every student of the character, integrity, and service to others modeled by Jesus Christ.
2. To guide each student's growth in respect for others, as well as the rights and property of others and those rights and property held in common.
3. To increase in each student the self-discipline trait of personal responsibility.
4. To guarantee students a school-learning environment where they are free to learn, grow, and change in safety.

The EXPECTATIONS for every SCHS student are as follows:

1. Treat every person with respect and dignity.
2. Always use appropriate language to represent oneself and our school in the best possible way.
3. Respect the property of others.
4. Work cooperatively with others.
5. Resolve conflicts in a peaceable and mature manner.
6. Cooperate with members of the school staff.
7. Attend all scheduled class and study sessions.
8. Act honestly and with integrity.
9. Act as good stewards of the gifts God has given us, chiefly by making moral decisions about the care of one's body and the material resources held personally and in common.
10. Follow the rules of the school and seek redress for any alleged grievances through appropriate means.
11. Follow the civil laws of the community, state, and nation.
12. Accept responsibility for one's actions at all times and act responsibly so as to protect the safety and well-being of others.
13. Know and apply the rules of Skutt Catholic High School.
14. Participate in the system used to teach self-discipline in the school.
15. Refrain from being present on the campus of other high schools except for authorized events.

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Self-Discipline Skills

At the heart of the behavior expectations for Skutt Catholic High School students are the fifteen skills of self-discipline that are taught in the class Character Skills for Living.

These skills are:

1. Listening
2. Following instructions
3. Asking questions
4. Sharing time, space, people, and things
5. Interacting socially
6. Cooperating with others
7. Understanding reasons for rules
8. Accomplishing a task
9. Exhibiting leadership
10. Communicating effectively
11. Organizing time
12. Resolving mutual problems
13. Taking the initiative in problem solving
14. Distinguishing fact from feeling
15. Sacrificing from a motive of love

INCENTIVES for acknowledgement of successful development of self-discipline skills:

• Students who are demerit free for one month (20 school days) may have two demerits removed from their demerit card by completing and submitting a demerit removal request to the Assistant Principal.
• Reduction of a student's cumulative demerit total may be accomplished provided:
  
  
  1. Student has already fulfilled consequences as detailed by SC disciplinary code.
  2. Student approaches an instructor who assigned demerits and develops an agreement concerning the removal of the demerits through work or service.
  3. Staff member provides documentation to the Assistant Principal explaining the work or service completed and the number of demerits which will be removed.
  4. The Assistant Principal will file the documentation, revise the disciplinary record, and provide a new demerit card reflecting an accurate, updated demerit total.

CONSEQUENCES for infractions of Student Behavior Expectations:

Demerits are formal signals that student actions are in conflict with school behavioral guidelines. Accumulations of demerits indicate undisciplined and on-going behaviors which may be detrimental to the school community and Skutt Catholic's educational mission.

Teachers routinely work with students to mediate problems while utilizing classroom management techniques to proactively shape student behavior. Inappropriate student behavior is consistently confronted and school staff will give demerits. At such times, the Assistant Principal administers consequences.

Student demerits are cumulative over the course of each current school year. The demerit card provides students and parents with a tangible informal record of student behavior. While staff members are encouraged to document disciplinary infractions on student demerit cards, this is not always possible. Consequently, all staff members document student misconduct on demerit reports that are compiled and maintained in individualized anecdotal student demerit files by the Assistant Principal.

Students are required to carry their demerit card during the school day. Failure to produce the card as requested by a staff member constitutes insubordination and a lack of cooperation; consequently, additional demerits may be assessed when the Assistant Principal reviews the incident.

Lost or destroyed cards may be replaced for a charge of $5 in the main office.

Specific consequences for accumulating demerits with the plans for formative action, parental involvement, and due process are outlined below.

Behavioral Interventions are conferences where the Assistant Principal reviews a behavioral incident with a student to analyze the situation and recommend appropriate alternative behaviors.

Students serve detentions after school beginning at 3:10. Parents and students receive written notification concerning the date and time. Skipping detention results in a doubling of the assigned time.

Out-of-school Suspension students are excluded from school attendance and activities participation. At the discretion of the Assistant Principal, students may be required to serve the suspension in school.

Community Service work assigned by the SC administration as a consequence for inappropriate behavior.

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Disciplinary Probation

A student who finishes a year with 20-29 demerits will be on Disciplinary Probation for the first semester of the following year. If the demerit totals shown below are reached during the semester that a student is on Disciplinary Probation, the student will likely lose the privilege of membership in the Skutt Catholic High School community.

A student may remove his/her Disciplinary Probation status by earning fewer than six (6) demerits in the probationary semester.

Disciplinary Dismissal Process

The Assistant Principal initiates the process of disciplinary dismissal after consultation with the President / Principal. Causes for considering such serious action may be continued misbehavior, as reflected in accumulated demerits exceeding 29, or single serious incidents. Examples of serious misconduct incidents include, but are not limited to, the following situations:

• Weapons . . . possession, threat, or use
• Harassment of students or staff
• Threatening students or staff
• Illegal Substance possession, use, sale, or influence
• Misconduct during a school-related activity
• Cheating or Plagiarism
• Creating unsafe conditions
• Vandalism or Graffiti
• Theft
• Possession/distribution of objectionable material that is degrading to people or groups
• Conduct detrimental to the school community, on or off campus
• Violations of acceptable technology use policies which compromise privacy, hardware, software, or the integrity of the Skutt Catholic computer system

The Principal has the authority to expel following:

1. Presentation of evidence to student and family
2. Conference to review evidence, conclusions, and Skutt Catholic disciplinary code
3. Explanation of potential consequences by the Skutt Catholic administration
4. Comment . . . the student and parent(s) may respond to the evidence and conclusions
5. Determination and notification of consequences.

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Good Conduct Policy

As visible representatives of the school, all students are expected to exhibit a high standard of personal conduct both in and out of school. In addition, students should realize that participation in co-curricular activities is a privilege and is often contingent upon the ability to understand and conform to program rules and policies as outlined by the head coach or activity sponsor. For that reason, students involved in co-curricular activities may have additional consequences for violations of the Good Conduct Policy.

The following could be examples of "serious misconduct" which would represent a violation of the SCHS student behavioral code. Skutt Catholic reserves the right to determine what constitutes "serious misconduct."

Harassment or threats to students or staff; illegal substance use, sale, and/or possession; tampering with safety equipment; creating unsafe conditions; theft; possession or distribution of objectionable material; conduct detrimental to school community on or off campus; illegal activity on or off campus; hosting or providing parties/gatherings that involve illegal activity.

If a student is in violation of the Skutt Catholic High School behavioral code, the following procedures will be followed:

1. Students are expected to self-report behavioral infractions, which constitute a violation of the Good Conduct Policy, to a school administrator, guidance counselor, head coach, or activities sponsor by noon of the following Monday (if a weekend) and/or within 24 hours of the incident. Failure to self-report in this timely and forthright manner will magnify the consequences.
2. The student and parents will meet with any or all of the following: the activities director, principal, an assistant principal, counselor, and/or coach or activity sponsor of the activity in which the student participates.
3. Either the disciplinary dismissal process will be initiated or the following consequences will be administered:

1st Offense

• Two day, in-house suspension.
• 8 calendar day suspension from all Skutt Catholic school sponsored events (including activity practices, games, school performances/events, etc.) if the student self-reports in the timeline outlined above. (The suspension would not include days occurring in any NSAA moratorium time frame) This suspension begins the day that the student self-reports. 16 calendar day suspension from all said activities if the student does not self-report in the timeline outlined above.
• During the school sponsored events suspension, mandatory school service will be held immediately after school from 3:15-4:30. Any and all hours worked to meet this requirement will not be credited towards a student's Living The Gospel Service Program requirements.
• If the student is not involved in an extracurricular activity at the time of the suspension, he/she will be required to perform an additional 20 hours of community service, beyond those hours worked in the 3:15-4:30 time frame described above, in order to become eligible for future participation in the activity programs at Skutt Catholic. Students who fail to complete the hours will be rendered ineligible for Skutt Catholic extracurricular programs until the hours are completed. Hours worked towards addressing this requirement cannot be used towards the Living the Gospel Service Requirement. Students need to receive SCHS administrative approval on the community service outreach before any hours are approved. (There will be a limited number of approved programs for which a student can work off their hours).
• Possible requirement of writing apology letters to any constituents affected by the student's actions or attending to any other similar consequence(s) as deemed appropriate by the administration.
• For Good Conduct violations involving drugs and/or alcohol, either directly or indirectly, as determined by SCHS, completion of a school approved, chemical dependency evaluation may be required if deemed appropriate by the SCHS administration. If the evaluation is required, registration for the evaluation must occur during the suspension time frame, otherwise the in-house suspension will continue beyond 2 days until registration for the evaluation is complete. Parents/Legal guardians must follow any and all recommendations conveyed by the professionals conducting the drug and alcohol evaluation. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must complete the "Release of Information Form." Proof of completion of the evaluation must be provided to Skutt Catholic within three days of its completion. Failure to complete this evaluation on the registered date will result in an indefinite suspension from all Skutt Catholic extracurricular events, activities, teams, etc or dismissal from Skutt Catholic High School.
• 15 demerits if the offense occurred on school grounds or at any school sponsored activity.

2nd Offense

• 2 day, in house suspension if second offense is more than one year after the first offense.
• 5 day, in-house suspension if second offense is within one year of the first offense.
• 21 calendar day suspension from all Skutt Catholic extracurricular events, activities, teams, etc. if a student's second Good Conduct violation occurs more than one year after the first violation, with no reward for self-reporting.
• 28 calendar day suspension from all Skutt Catholic extracurricular events, activities, teams, etc. if the second Good Conduct violation occurs within one year of the first offense, with no reward for self-reporting.
• For either suspension period, calendar days will not include any days that fall within a NSAA moratorium time frame. The suspension begins the day that the student self-reports. If a student is on an athletic team or participates in a school sponsored club or activity, that student is suspended from all practices, games, scrimmages, performances, etc. during this suspension period. This suspension extends to attendance at any school sponsored event such as athletic contests, school dances, school performances of any kind, etc.
• During the activities suspension, mandatory school service will be held immediately after school from 3:15-4:30 for a minimum of 8 school days or its equivalent. Any and all hours worked to meet this requirement will not be credited towards a student's Living The Gospel Service Program requirements.
• If the student is not involved in an extracurricular activity at the time of the suspension, he/she will be required to perform an additional 20 hours of community service, beyond those hours worked in the 3:15-4:30 time frame described above, in order to become eligible for future participation in the activity programs at Skutt Catholic. Students who fail to complete the hours will be rendered ineligible for Skutt Catholic extracurricular programs until the hours are completed. Hours worked towards addressing this requirement cannot be used towards the Living the Gospel Service Requirement. Students need to receive SCHS administrative approval on the community service outreach before any hours are approved. (There will be a limited number of approved programs for which a student can work off their hours).
• Possible requirement of writing apology letters to any constituents affected by the student's actions or attending to any other similar consequence(s) as deemed appropriate by the administration.
• For Good Conduct violations involving drugs and/or alcohol, either directly or indirectly, as determined by SCHS, completion of a school approved, chemical dependency evaluation is required. Registration for the evaluation must occur during the suspension time frame, otherwise the in-house suspension will continue beyond 5 days until registration for the evaluation is complete. Parents/Legal guardians must follow any and all recommendations conveyed by the professionals conducting the drug and alcohol evaluation. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must complete the "Release of Information Form." Proof of completion of the evaluation must be provided to Skutt Catholic within three days of its completion. Failure to complete this evaluation on the registered date will result in an indefinite suspension from all Skutt Catholic extracurricular events, activities, teams, etc or dismissal from Skutt Catholic High School.
• 15 demerits if the offense occurred on school grounds or at any school sponsored activity.

3rd Offense

• 10 day, out of school suspension.
• Expulsion from any and all Skutt Catholic athletic or extracurricular teams and/or activities. Such expulsion will extend to all semesters that the student remains at Skutt Catholic. There would be no reward for self-reporting.
• Indefinite suspension from attending any school sponsored event such as athletic contests, school dances, school performances of any kind, etc.
• For Good Conduct violations involving drugs and/or alcohol, either directly or indirectly, as determined by SCHS, completion of a school approved, chemical dependency evaluation is again required. Registration for the evaluation must occur during the suspension time frame, otherwise the in-house suspension will continue beyond 10 days until registration for the evaluation is complete. Parents/Legal guardians must follow any and all recommendations conveyed by the professionals conducting the drug and alcohol evaluation. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must complete the "Release of Information Form". Proof of completion of the evaluation must be provided to Skutt Catholic within three days of its completion. Failure to complete this evaluation on the registered date will result in an indefinite suspension from all Skutt Catholic extracurricular events, activities, teams, etc or dismissal from Skutt Catholic High School.
• 15 demerits if the offense occurred on school grounds or at any school sponsored activity.

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Attendance and Punctuality

Prompt and regular attendance is expected of all students. There is a direct correlation between school attendance and success in school. Students attending regularly benefit from the consistent contact with teachers and peers, while those whose attendance is irregular miss such benefits. "Make-up work" should not be viewed as an equal alternative to classroom instruction and interaction. It has been shown that students who establish a positive attendance habit in school make an easy and effective transition to the attendance requirements of the work world.

Each student is required to attend school daily during the required part of the day. If a student needs to be excused for all or part of the school day, a written request for excused absence must be presented to the attendance office in advance. Students will then be issued an authorization to leave school. For unanticipated absences during the day, a telephone contact by the parent to the SCHS main office will always be required before a student is excused and released.

IF LATE TO SCHOOL, A STUDENT MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE.

For guidance in making decisions, students and parents should know that the following absences will always be considered unexcused absences: oversleeping, shopping, grooming appointments, driver's license examination, pictures, recreation, and working for hire. Parents should consult administration in advance to determine the status of absences not clearly specified in the two previous paragraphs.

Students who are tardy (unexcused) beyond the beginning of second hour will receive two or more demerits.

The standards for being on time or late to class (in relation to the sounding of the bell) will be determined by each individual teacher and communicated to students.

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Absentee Policy

Students may be excused from attendance for reasons of personal illness, illness or death in the student's family, medical or business appointments which cannot be scheduled outside of school hours and for other reasons which can be justified from an educational standpoint and for which approval is given by both the student's parents or guardians and the school administration. Juniors and seniors are allowed two days of absence to visit colleges. Because of the educational nature of these visits, the student is not counted absent when the absence is planned through the Guidance Center in advance and written permission from parents is brought to school.

Any absences from school or class that are not approved in advance by both the parents or guardians and the school administration shall be treated as unexcused absences. Students will not be allowed to complete work missed because of unexcused absences.

Any absence, (excluding school approved activities), in excess of ten (10) days per semester, per class, will result in a loss of credit for that class. Individual cases, for reinstatement of credit, may be reviewed through an appeal process.

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Personal Trips

The school's policy in regard to trips rests upon the premise that the chief responsibility for a child's education belongs to the parents. In an effort to assist parents in determining how this trip will affect their son's/daughter's academic work, the following process has been set in place:

1. The parent contacts the Principal to explain the circumstances by coming to the office to sign an "Extraordinary Absence Request Form."
2. The student then receives the signed "Extraordinary Absence Request Form" and contacts each teacher for assignments. These assignments may be given, before or after the trip, at the teacher's discretion.
3. The teacher will sign the form and comment on how the absence will affect the academic status of the student.
4. The student returns the completed from to the Principal one week prior to the absence. IF THE STUDENT FAILS TO RETURN THE FORM, MAKE-UP WORK WILL NOT BE ALLOWE.
5. One copy of the completed form is given to the students, one is mailed to the parent(s), and one is kept at school.
6. The student is responsible for completing the work assigned in accordance with each teacher's make-up policy.
7. Personal trip days will be counted as part of the ten (10) days absence.

The earlier the school is notified, the sooner parents will be in possession of the information needed to base their decision regarding the absence.

Under no circumstance will make-up work be allowed if the Principal is not given advance notice of the trip.

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Truancy

By contract, a student is truant from school when s/he is absent from class and/or school without the permission of a parent or guardian or the school. Such errors in judgment subject the student to disciplinary consequences.

PDA: Public Displays of Aggression or Affection

Neither overtly aggressive nor affectionate actions receive the blessings of the school staff, whether the action occurs during the school day, at activities, or even off school grounds.

While we all experience anger and frustration at times, we must never grant ourselves the license to express those emotions with physically threatening actions toward another. Resolving mutual problems, in fact taking the initiative in resolving problems, is one of the skills of self-discipline that all SC students are expected to master. There is never a problem in seeking the assistance of others when a person can see that emotions may cloud judgment.

Aggression that takes the form of hazing, harassment, or initiation of any students at any time will not be tolerated. Any students making an error in judgment in this regard should expect serious demerit consequences under the category of conduct detrimental to the school community.

We can all express affection in ways other than physical demonstrations. When students publicly and physically display affection for each other, several things happen: there is discomfort to others, one's own reputation is usually damaged, there is often difficulty in drawing a stopping line once kisses and caresses have begun, and a negative image of the entire school community is created by the indiscretions of individuals in public. Whether it is in school, at an activity such as a dance, or outside of school, the school staff will approach individuals when they observe students failing to use good judgment in matters of displays of affection.

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Student Visitors

• All Student visitors must be scheduled in advance with the Recruitment Director.
• Middle school students who are in the process of making a high school choice are welcome to attend class and meet SC students and teachers as long as the visit has been prearranged by one of their parents.
• Students who already attend high school are only allowed to visit if they and their parents are seriously considering a transfer to Skutt Catholic. Such visits must be scheduled in advance, and a parent must make the arrangements.
• Skutt Catholic students are not allowed to bring friends from other high schools as visitors.
• Former Skutt Catholic students who have transferred may not come back to visit.
  

Substitute Teachers

Occasionally, one of the regular teachers will be absent due to family or business needs, illness, or attendance at a professional development event. It is not only important that we welcome substitute teachers to our school, but that we treat each one with the highest degree of respect and cooperation; any less will not be tolerated and will likely lead to severe consequences for an offending student.

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Driving and Parking

Students having a regular driver's license or an approved school license are permitted to drive to and park in the school lots after completing a vehicle registration form in the office indicating their license plate number and a description of the vehicles driven. All students are expected to park in the student lot south of the school.

1. Safe driving appropriate for the conditions is always expected. Students are required to respect on-campus STOP signs. Students may not cut through the front lot to leave school, nor block traffic on 156th Street at any time.
2. Students driving at speeds inappropriate for a place with many pedestrians, driving recklessly, or ignoring established traffic flow patterns will be denied parking privileges at school and may be referred to law enforcement authorities.
3. Students are expected to park in assigned student parking areas. This does not include driveways, fire lanes, visitor parking, or faculty parking areas.

Parking violations may result in fines, demerits, or loss of parking privileges.

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School Dances

SCHS holds several dances throughout the school year. Appropriate behavior is expected at all school dances. Students and parents should be aware of the following guidelines for appropriate behavior at school dances:
All guests must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Catholic, Christian mission of the school.
Students are expected to be clean and neat in their appearance. All dress should be modest and in good taste. The administration / supervisory personnel reserve the right to determine acceptability of clothing / appearance.
SCHS may conduct mandatory breathalyzer examinations at the entrance to dances. If a student fails or refuses to take this test, parents will be notified, and disciplinary action will be taken.
Royalty candidates for the Homecoming and Prom dances should be free of good conduct policy violations and/or other legal trouble.

Students in Catholic schools wear uniforms for important reasons: economy, a level of "reasonableness" in choice of attire, and as a component of the strong discipline for which students and parents choose Catholic schools. Uniforms help ensure that clothing does not become a distraction to the learning environment of the school. Of utmost importance, however, is that the uniform is a symbol of the community that all students in our Catholic schools share. Uniforms are not meant to suppress individuality; rather, the wearing of a uniform frees students to demonstrate their individuality at the most-meaningful levels: through their efforts, personality, spirituality and service to others.

Specifications are as follows:

1. SHIRTS – Students must wear white or black, monogrammed polo shirts purchased only from the SCHS Booster Club (except when wearing a school approved hooded sweatshirt). Shirts must be long enough to stay tucked in and must not be inappropriately tight. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. If a student chooses to wear a tee shirt under the polo shirt, the tee shirt must be of like color with no lettering or graphics. Turtle necks with SC logo may be worn only with a uniform approved sweater or sweatshirt. Students may not layer short sleeve over long sleeve shirts.
   
   
2. SKIRTS AND SKORTS – Girls may wear the sequoia-plaid skirt that must be purchased from the SCHS Booster Club. *The skirt must be worn no shorter than four (4) inches above the middle of the knee. When hemming the skirt, leave a two or two and a half inch hem to allow for adjustment for growth. Girls also have the option of wearing the sequoia-plaid, black, or khaki skort purchased only from Dennis Uniform Company. *The skort must be worn no shorter than four (4) inches above the middle of the knee. Sweatpants may not be worn under the skort or skirt.
   
   
3. PANTS AND SHORTS - Boys and girls may choose to wear black or khaki twill shorts during the months of August – October and April – May. These must be dark black or khaki. *Shorts should be worn no shorter than four (4) inches above the middle of the knee and should not extend below the knee. Pants (may be worn all year and corduroy pants are permissible) must be ankle length and may have slash or patch pockets. The school fit calls for the top to be located at the waist. Baggy, saggy, extremely tight, hip huggers, spandex pants, tattered pants or shorts, and bell bottoms are not allowed. Pants and shorts must have belt loops. A belt is required at all times. Drawstrings and chains are not considered belts.
   
   
4. SWEATERS AND SWEATSHIRTS – Students may wear only Dennis Uniform Company* cardigans, v-neck, or crewneck sweaters in black, forest green or burgundy colors chosen to match the colors of the plaid skirt. Some SCHS sweatshirts are sold by the school and are approved for uniform wear. Additionally, there is an approved hooded sweatshirt that may be worn. Although additional SC sweatshirts are available, not all are approved for uniform attire.
   
   
5. SOCKS – Students must wear socks every day. Socks must be visible above the shoes and cover the back of the heel. Leggings/tights must extend to the ankle and be of like color to the uniform. Tights must be solid colored and without pattern.
   
   
6. SHOES – A wide range of footwear is approved as long as shoes are non-marking and do not cause distraction.
   
   
7. Activity Shirt – Students participating in a sport or activity have the option of wearing the kelly green activity shirt on those days when their team has a scheduled game. An activity sponsor may also designate a date for wearing the activity shirt. A list of approved sports/activities can be found in the office or at Dennis Uniform. Students have the option of having their sport/activity embroidered on the shirt. This can only be done by the Dennis Uniform Company.
   
   
8. General Appearance: All students should uphold the "spirit" of the dress code by having an appropriate general appearance, as determined by the school administration. For example, dying hair an unnatural color or cutting one's hair in an extreme manner would not meet a level of expected reasonableness. Facial hair is prohibited.

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DRESS-UP" GUIDELINES

On occasion, students are permitted to "dress-up" at school. Such occasions occur for special class projects, certain field trips, or various presentations throughout the year. In the event a student is not willing to meet the guidelines laid out below, they will be expected to wear the school uniform as outlined in the student handbook.

Shorts, jeans, tennis shoes, and flip-flops of any kind are not acceptable on "dress-up" days.

Students must remain in this "dress-up" dress code throughout the whole day.

The "General Appearance" statement on this page of the student handbook applies on "dress-up" days.

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Charity Dress Day Guidelines

The following dress guidelines are to be observed during all charity dress days at Skutt Catholic High School.

1. The standard to be observed is dress of individual choice that is in good taste and appropriate for school. Students should approach charity dress days as opportunities to wear clothing they enjoy. Charity dress day is not, however, an opportunity to show off, test the limits of acceptability, or make a statement that may be perceived as offensive to students, staff, or members of the community.
   
   
2. Shoes and socks are always required.
   
   
3. Shorts may be worn during shorts season. Shorts must not be excessively short, as determined by the SCHS Administration.
   
   
4. Though the weather is still warm, students should remember that they are dressing for school...a parochial school which is air conditioned, NOT A BEACH. Bare midriff...cropped...spaghetti strapped apparel may not be worn to school.
   
   
5. Torn, ripped, ragged, fringed, cut-off, excessively worn, excessively tight, or mutilated clothing is never acceptable.
   
   
6. No clothing is allowed which promotes or advertises the use of tobacco, alcohol, or controlled substances, or contains graphics or slogans which are in conflict with the values taught at SCHS.
   
   
7. The administration will be the judge of the acceptability of clothing.
   
   
8. Should clothing be deemed unacceptable, students will be required to change before returning to class. The office has a stock of acceptable, though not particularly attractive, clothing for students who are unable to make intelligent choices of their own.

As always, headwear and gang-related apparel or style of wearing clothing is prohibited. Students may not carry or wear jackets or windbreakers. Socks must be school appropriate and cover the heel.

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Lockers & Personal Items

School lockers are made available to students for their use, but lockers remain the property of Skutt Catholic High School. Locker combinations are provided to students so that each might protect his/her belongings. Each student is expected to keep his/her assigned locker and insure that it is secured & that the combination remains private.

• Students may attach items to the inside of lockers with magnets only.
• Damage to lockers will be repaired at the expense of the individual student.
• Students may store athletic equipment and personal items in secured gym lockers before school, during physical education classes, or during athletic practices and games.
• The locker rooms are off limits to students during games unless a student is competing in that contest.
• Locker room floors, hallways, and the commons are not secure areas and should not be utilized as substitutes for lockers as secure storage locations for personal belongings.
• Students are advised to permanently mark or engrave personal items such as calculators.

It is expected, as well, that students not possess on their person or in their locker any items that are prohibited by school rules or are illegal. School administrators may search lockers at any time without announcement, but will generally do so only if there is reasonable cause that improper items may exist.

No food or beverage items, except for those unopened and in a lunch container intended for the current day's lunch, are to be stored in lockers. Since the school is carpeted, open containers simply cannot be allowed.

Cell phones, pagers, ipods, laser pens, remote control devices, and other electronic gadgetry will be confiscated if found in the possession of students during normal school hours.

Skutt Catholic High School Activity Department Policy expects students to pass all of their coursework in order to be eligible to compete or perform as a member of a school activity group.

At the end of the 1st or 3rd quarter, students who have two or more failing grades are ineligible for activity competition. Students can retain eligibility upon fulfilling the demands of the Activities Eligibility Reinstatement Request form.
Failing two or more classes or failure to fulfill service requirements results in loss of eligibility for a four-week (20 school days) period at the beginning of the following semester. If at the conclusion of four weeks in the new semester, the student has fewer than two failing and/or has completed the prescribed service requirements eligibility can be reinstated for the remainder of the quarter.

Coaches, sponsors, and administrators have the discretion to deny student activity participation if a participant fails to maintain passing grades in any of their academic courses, or violates school or program policies.

Computers in Skutt Catholic High School classrooms and computer labs are available for use by the students, faculty, and staff. Access to the computers is a privilege, not a right.

The Administration and Technology Coordinators reserve the right to monitor use of this technology and access student accounts, if deemed necessary by the administration, to ensure that the use by individuals is appropriate in character and extent.

• Classroom work will have FIRST priority for computer use.
• Individual schoolwork has SECOND priority.
• Personal use of computers and printers should be kept to a minimum. School computers are not to be used for playing games.
• SCHS reserve the right to assess a charge for printing for personal use.
• If you need help with a computer or printer, get help from a teacher or supervisor.
• Do not change any settings on the computer without permission from your computer teacher or the Technology Coordinators.
• People abusing/destroying the equipment or corrupting the operating system or individual applications will be held financially responsible for the damages at the rate of $90.00/hour for repair and/or the replacement cost of damaged parts or systems.
• School computers are not to be used to produce inappropriate materials, which includes but is not limited to, text or pictures that are obscene, libelous, indecent, vulgar, profane or lewd; advertises a product or service not permitted to minors by law; or contains material that insults or harasses others. This would include obscene file names when saving material.
• Loading of programs (or downloading programs off the Internet) will be done only with permission from the System Operator.

Networked Computers

• You will be held personally responsible for ANY use made of your USER ID to access the network.
• Passwords are for your protection. They prevent others from accessing your account.
• The system requires you to change your password periodically.
• You are encouraged not to use easily guessed passwords or write your passwords down where others might see them.
• Passwords must be at least five characters long and may be a combination of letters and numbers. If you forget your password, tell the System Administrator immediately.
• Do not access anyone else's account for any reason!
• Personal files will be limited. Please delete files when you are done with them to conserve space on the network server.

Failure to follow these rules (or those involving Internet usage) will result in the following cumulative consequences:

• 1st infraction: Lose computer privileges for 20 school days from the time of infraction.
• 2nd infraction: Lose computer privileges for 90 school days from the time of infraction.
• 3rd infraction: Referral for administrative disciplinary action.

Parent/guardians will be informed of any infraction and the loss of privileges.

Students are expected to read, understand, and follow the guidelines for use of the computer network as stated above. Student privileges may be revoked and/or students can be charged for damages and/or repair for failure to comply with these guidelines.
CONTRACT FOR ACCESS TO INTERNET FOR STUDENTS

The use of the Internet is a privilege. Internet access carries the potential to encounter information that some have identified as controversial and inappropriate for students. Information on the Internet changes rapidly and it is not possible to predict or control what students encounter. Since it's virtually impossible to control the Internet, it is the responsibility of the parents and the schools to teach students the skills to be responsible users of the Internet. Skutt Catholic High School has adopted guidelines for student use of the Internet accounts. To protect the due process rights of students, guidelines will define appropriate educational and ethical uses of the Internet, identify individual student responsibilities, and outline procedures for enforcing behavior on the Internet and handling violations.

The System Administrators/School Personnel have the right to question inappropriate Internet activities/materials, and may close/suspend an account at any time as required.

Please read over these rules. Students and parents will be required to indicate understanding by signing a letter which outlines these provisions and returning the completed form to the school office.

The Internet user is expected to abide by the following accepted guidelines of the network:

• Do not intentionally access any text file or picture that includes material which is obscene, libelous, indecent, vulgar, profane, or lewd; advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law; or contains material that insults or harasses others.
  
• Be polite. Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.
  
• Note that email is not private. People who operate the system have access to email.
  
• Respect current school policies and behavior standards.
  
• Do not download files, programs, or any other material from the Internet without permission.
  
• Illegal activities are strictly forbidden.
  
• Do not reveal personal information about yourself or other students or colleagues (i.e. last name, phone number, address).
  
• Respect the network; don't use it for illegal financial or commercial gain.
  
• Respect equipment, system performance, resources, and use of time on network.
  
• Chat sessions and newsgroups are prohibited without permission from the supervising teacher and are to be used only for curriculum-based projects.
  
• Any items produced by students will not be posted to the Internet without their and/or parent/guardian permission. If permission is granted, items will be considered fair use and available to the public.
  
• If a student gains access to any service via the Internet which has a cost involved or if a student incurs other types of costs, the student accessing such a service will be responsible for those costs.
  
• Any other infraction that conflicts with the Mission Statement of Skutt Catholic High School.

Cheer, cheer for Skutt Catholic High
We'll never give up, never say die;
In our silver, green, and black,
We are the SkyHawks, on the attack

What tho' the odds be great or small,
We know SC will win over all!
Sing the pride of SkyHawks fighting
Onward to victory!

The information contained in this handbook provides a general description of rules and regulations. The school reserves the right to add to, modify, or abolish any of the handbook provisions without notice.

Non-enforcement of any of the rules or regulations does not serve as a waiver of their future enforcement.

This handbook does not create any restriction upon Skutt Catholic High School's right to institute any course of disciplinary action that, in Skutt Catholic's sole discretion, it believes is necessary and consistent with its Catholic educational mission.