2013-14 Guide for Academics and Student Life - Tampa Preparatory ...

ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND POLICIESTampa Prep has always offered a demanding college preparatory curriculum that has encouraged its students toperform well in the most competitive of college environments. The School realizes, however, that education goes wellbeyond a simple preparation for college and incorporates the education of the whole child—encouraging each todiscover, develop and maximize his or her inner strengths and capacities.Tampa Prep’s curriculum allows opportunity for individual growth, independent research and some subjectspecialization. To ensure that it does this most effectively, the School’s curriculum, using as its minimum standardsthe guidelines published by the Florida Council of Independent Schools, is reviewed annually by the CurriculumCommittee and Head of School and is updated according to current needs. Changes in the curriculum will be reflectedin the Course Description section of this handbook.Tampa Prep strongly believes in the sanctity and standards of its most important community values and norms. Amongthese values and norms are: Academic Honesty and Integrity, Artistic Integrity, Athletic Integrity, an appreciation fordiversity and acceptance, a community free from harassment, a drug and alcohol-free campus and adherence to thepolicies and procedures of Tampa Preparatory School.In 2009, the following Honor Code was developed and adopted:the honor code: a commitment to honorAs a member of the Tampa Prep Community, I am responsible for upholding and promoting honesty, trust,respect and fairness in all venues of school life. I pledge to maintain personal and academic integrity andsupport it in others. I solemnly promise to uphold my commitment to honor this code.HONORS ATTITUDETampa Prep encourages each student to develop an “honorsattitude,” which is reflected in all areas—academic, social,physical, and moral. The School strongly believes that anhonors attitude is important for all students, regardless oftheir level of aptitude. Students who aspire to an “honorsattitude” may look to the following as a model:Seriousness of purpose. A student with an honors attitudetries to produce the best work that he or she can.When confused about an academic matter, or when missinga class, a student with an honors attitude takes responsibilityfor successfully learning or producing therequired material.Class contributions. A student with an honors attitudecontributes to a positive learning environment throughclass discussion, attentive listening, well-plannedoral reports, cooperative group work, and thoroughpreparation for class.Effective management of course requirements. A studentwith an honors attitude manages time wisely to keep trackof and meet deadlines and produces his or her best work bydevoting sufficient time to homework and study.Emotional maturity. As appropriate to the grade level, astudent with an honors attitude discusses controversial orchallenging ideas with emotional maturity. Such a studentalso strives for excellence in all assignments, even thosewhich may be of less personal interest.Academic integrity. A student with an honors attitudetakes responsibility for his or her learning, completesin-class and out-of-class assignments according to theHonor Code, and works cooperatively and respectfullywith teachers and other students.ACADEMIC INTEGRITYEducation presupposes a context in which honesty is acardinal virtue. Truthfulness, respect of work and integrityare fundamental expectations for academic integrity and tothe Honor Code. Departure from this standard constitutes aviolation of the School Honor Code and causes the student tobe liable for major disciplinary action.All homework, tests, quizzes, examinations and papers arewritten under the Honor Code.EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTYActions that fall below the expectations of trust, honesty,respect and fairness, as established by the Honor Code, willalso constitute a violation of the Honor Code and result indisciplinary action. Examples include, but are not limited to:• Lying.• Using notes, calculator memory, or other unauthorizedaids in a quiz, test, examination or paper, or copying fromor being influenced by another student’s work.• Giving unauthorized aid to another student: allowinganother student to copy or use one’s test paper, homework,or notebook, or giving answers to tests or quizzes.• Using a cell phone or any unauthorized electronic deviceduring a quiz or examination.• Obtaining help on homework or on take-home tests thatis beyond the limit specified by the teacher.• Plagiarizing: presenting work as one’s own, in part or fullfrom some other source (be it published work, a parent,another student’s work, an Internet site, Spark Notes, orany similar aid).12 | GUIDE FOR ACADEMICS AND STUDENT LIFE