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

ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND POLICIESstudents, faculty, and staff are avoided. In consideration oftheir significance for many students, no examinations maybe given either on the day of or the calendar day after thereligious holidays listed below.The following are dates of religious holidays for the 2013-14school year:Eid-al-Fitr – August 8, 2013Rosh Hashanah – September 5, 6, 2013Yom Kippur – September 14, 2013Eid-al-Adha – October 15, 2013First Day of Passover – April 15, 2014Good Friday – April 18, 2014Easter – April 20, 2014Tampa Prep recognizes that there are other religious holidaysthat are of importance to the school community. These includebut are not limited to Hannukah, Sukkot, Ash Wednesday,Passover, Shavout, Simchat Torah, Shemini-Atzerat and Ra’sal-sana. Students who miss these days will be allowed tomake up all work and examinations in a timely fashion asagreed to by teacher and student.HOMEWORK OVER THANKSGIVING/SPRING BREAKNo homework is to be assigned over Spring Break. Noassignments can be due on the day of return from Spring Break.No major projects can be due during the first week back fromSpring Break. The above policy is also strongly recommendedfor the Thanksgiving Break, but is left to the discretion of theteacher.UPPER SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AFTER SPRING BREAKWith the exception of set days on the School Calendar, therewill be no Upper School field trips after Spring Break save for“unique opportunities” that must be approved by the CurriculumCommittee. This policy only applies to those field trips thatrequire students to miss a class other than the one involving thefield trip.CALCULATOR POLICYScientific calculators may be used throughout the Science andMathematics curriculum at the discretion of the instructor. Acalculator application on the iPad may often be appropriate.However, in testing situations students will be requiredto bring their own TI-35 scientific calculator. In advancedclasses, a TI-84 graphing calculator may be required. Use ofmore advanced calculators such as the TI-89 and TI-92 areprohibited. (Revised 7-13)POLICY FOR ENGLISHAS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) STUDENTS1. As individual teachers deem appropriate, they maybe flexible with the assessment of assignments forESL students as a way to facilitate these students’efforts to master material.2. Ultimately, however, Tampa Prep’s ESL studentsare to be held to the same academic standardon their transcripts as all other Tampa Prepstudents. For instance, on the transcript a teacher’s“B” should represent the same level of academicaccomplishment for ESL and native-Englishspeaking students alike.3. Tampa Prep’s teachers are not required to provideany more out-of-class help to ESL students thanthey would to native-English speaking students.ACADEMIC PROBATIONAny student who earns two D’s or one F, or worse, in anysemester will be placed on Academic Probation for the nextsemester. Each student on Academic Probation may meetwithin two weeks of the release of grades with his or herAcademic Probation Advisory Committee (APAC) to discussdefinite actions to help the student improve his or heracademic performance (unless a parent/teacher conferencewas previously held). These actions may include, but arenot restricted to, extra help, tutoring, diagnostic testing,counseling, removing school privileges, and suspendingschool activities (clubs, arts, sports). A letter will be senthome informing each student and parent(s) of the student’sprobationary status.Each student’s progress will be monitored closely by theDivision Director and the Advisor. At other intervalsduring the semester, the student will meet with the DivisionDirector, Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, or the Advisor, andas needed, specific teachers. The results of these meetingswill be communicated to parents. The number of follow-upmeetings will be determined by the Division Director andAdvisor.Students on Academic Probation who earn improved grades(no more than one D) for the next semester will be removedfrom Academic Probation. Any student remaining onprobation for the next semester may be subject to separationfrom the school. The Head of School or Division Directorwill inform the parent(s) and the student of the School’s finaldecision.NOTE:1. The determination of Academic Probation statusrelies only on semester grades, not cumulativegrades.2. Tampa Prep Summer School grades may be usedto replace grades. The new grade (followingSummer School) may remove the student fromAcademic Probation.APAC COMPOSITIONThe Academic Probation Advisory Committee is comprised ofthe student’s:1. Grade level administrator2. Advisor16 | GUIDE FOR ACADEMICS AND STUDENT LIFE