Student handbook for 1996-1997 - Southwestern Academy

INCIDENTALS Your “incidentals” account is likea bank account with the school. Your studentnumber is the account number. Your parentsdeposit money for you to draw against to buybooks, clothing, sundries, school supplies,postage, insurance, travel, and other needs, andto draw from for weekend cash and activities.Off campus transportation costs are dividedamong students who go. When the balance islow, the school’s business office asks parents tomake another deposit. Any credit balance will berefunded to your parents a month after you leaveSouthwestern. Itemized incidentals statementsare sent to your parents each month. The schoolmakes no profit from incidentals, but does addany charges for taxes, shipping, travel agentservice fees, or for issuing checks. See page 23.INTERNET Southwestern offers Internetaccess so you can do valuable research onlinewhile learning technological skills to be successfulin today’s world. San Marino libraries, offices,dorm rooms, and classrooms are connected to aT1 broadband cable. Beaver Creek also has a T1line to facilitate Internet use. Most campus areasare covered by Wi-Fi.Unfortunately, there are problems with theInternet. Some sites are objectionable andinappropriate. The school’s LANs have filters toblock objectionable material; sometimes thesealso prevent serious research in some topics. Ifyou are blocked from materials you need, see acomputer teacher to gain access. Some studentstake materials off the net and pretend it is theirown work – cheating. Teachers use resourcesdesigned to catch such plagiarism, and willpunish students who cheat. Viruses can spreadto our computers and software. Never open anemail attachment that could have a virus.All students sign a computer use agreement. Ifyou abuse the Net, by cheating, playing games ordownloading movies or music during academictime, or by demonstrating poor behavior in yourInternet use, you will be denied access. We offerthese broadband Internet services to you forresponsible use. Computer teachers will explainthe rules and use policy with you. Should youhave any questions, ask them.LIBRARY The library collections at bothcampuses are small but helpful. The San MarinoPublic Library, the Huntington Library, andCaltech Libraries can be accessed through CrowellLibrary in San Marino from all classrooms andlibraries at our campuses, and from the computercenter at each campus. Beaver Creek studentsuse the Northern Arizona University Library andthe Cottonwood and Sedona Public Libraries.Many other files of information are available online. Ask a teacher for help if you need it.Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other referencebooks may not be taken from the libraries.Reading and research books may be checked outas needed, but must be returned to the rightlibrary as soon as you are through so otherstudents may use them. The user must replaceany lost or damaged books.If you cannot find what you are seeking, ask ateacher or librarian for help. If we do not haveit, we will help you find it.LOCKERS Lockers for books, P.E. clothing, andyour possessions are assigned you at the SanMarino Campus. Your locker numbers are listedon the front sheet of this handbook. Lockboxesare in dorms for laptops and other electronics.Padlocks are available to keep books andmaterials from disappearing. If you need help inopening your locker, ask at the Student Office.Never leave books or materials on the topof lockers or outside on benches or tables.OPPORTUNITY This is a special, carefullymonitored study time for students who have notcompleted a day’s homework satisfactorily.“Opportunity” is held each afternoon from 2:50 to3:30 with the teacher whose work you missed.Nothing else but homework may be done.Teachers who want to give you the chance tosucceed make a list each day of poor or missinghomework. Teachers are available to help you.It is best to do your work correctly the first time -but if you get behind, “OPPO” is there to help.Students may not go to sports, go home or todorms, or otherwise ditch “OPPO” or they will bepunished for a class cut.Students receiving a “DEFICIENCY NOTICE” -meaning class work is below what the teacher(and you) know you can do - stay in “OPPO” eachday until the deficiency is removed.PROCTORS Students are chosen each year forthe honor and responsibility of being Proctors.Proctors study peer counseling, tutor otherstudents during the term, monitor the librariesand computer rooms, advise students on schoolrules and procedures, and assist in maintainingan orderly school. Proctors receive some specialprivileges, while assuming extra duties. MostProctors are juniors or seniors who havedemonstrated strong leadership and positivecitizenship. See page 24 for names of Proctors.10