Most of you have already selected your classes for this year so registration will be just a matter of filling in a schedule. Keep these points in mind when filling your schedule:

1.  Have you met the requirements of your present grade level? If you are behind in any required subject or in the customary number of earned credits, you should discuss your problem with the guidance counselor and the principal. You should have a definite plan for making up all the back work prior to your graduation at the expected time.

2.  Each student must have no less than seven (7) academic classes per two-day block. Make certain that your selection of subjects includes all requirements for graduation.

Changes in your schedule can be made with the permission of the guidance counselor, the teachers involved and the principal. A student may not drop a class after five (5) school days of the start of the class (1st or 2nd semester) without a failing grade at the time of withdrawal being recorded and used  for GPA and Honor Roll purposes.

A locker will be furnished for all students to store your backpack, books, notebooks, paper, and other school materials. Students will be assigned lockers and are not to change  lockers without the permission of the principal.

Lockers should be kept clean and will be searched periodically without notice. All lockers will automatically lock. The school is not responsible for any articles missing or stolen from students' lockers. It is the student's responsibility to keep the combination a secret and to keep the locker locked.

Student ID cards will be available for junior high and high school students (Grades 7-12) at the beginning of the school year. These cards will allow the student free admission to all home sporting events and school sponsored activities excluding district, SODAK 16, region tournaments and the high school play or musical.

The Alcester-Hudson School District owns several musical instruments and will rent these to students for a fee as set annually by the Alcester-Hudson School Board. The students must pay for the instrument rental in advance. The money must be paid to the high school office before the music teacher will be notified. At that time, the music teacher will assign an instrument and will be available for the student to pick up. Students must also pay for any damage during the school year other than normal wear and tear on the rental musical instrument.

 Homework will be regularly assigned in all classes, and it is the responsibility of the student to complete this homework on time. Because of the number of activities that students are involved in both at school and at church, no evening is excluded from homework.

The homework policy for students on Individualized Education Plans may be modified in accordance with the IEP.

Alcester-Hudson Junior High/High School uses a unified grading scale. Students can earn an “A, B, C, D, or F” in any given class. The last mark listed, "I", indicates only that work is incomplete and that no mark is awarded until the work is completed. Incomplete grades will become an “F” at the end of the semester.

It is necessary to assign numerical values to marks so they may be averaged. In our school, numerical values of various marks are as follows: A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, F-0. Grade point average is based upon semester grades.

ALCESTER-HUDSON JR. HIGH/HIGH SCHOOL GRADING SCALE

Adopted 7-16-2007

(Adopted 05-08-06) (Amended 8-14-06) (Amended 11-15-10) (Adopted 1-10-11) (Amended 6-12-12)

A student must pass 6 of his or her classes to be considered eligible for extra-curricular activity participation in a SDHSAA sponsored or other competitive events. In the event the student is not passing in two or more classes, the following procedures will be in effect:

A.        Student academic progress is evaluated each week with an academic progress report of students with grades of 67% or lower being sent to the office Monday morning. The first eligibility report will be effective on the 14th full day of school each new semester. After that eligibility will run from Monday noon to Monday noon.

B.        During a week of ineligibility, the student may continue to practice but will not be allowed to participate in SDHSAA sponsored or other competitive events. The student may not leave school early to attend a function sponsored by the SDHSAA or other competitive event either.

C.        The student will be allowed to resume participation in SDHSAA sponsored or other competitive events when his or her grade is passing (68% or higher) on Monday’s eligibility report provided the student has regularly attended practices.

D.        Students who are ineligible at the end of the semester will remain so until the beginning of the next semester.

E.        Junior High students will follow the same Academic Eligibility Policy as High School students.

F.        If an activity is scheduled that causes a team or group to leave prior to Monday noon, eligibility for that activity will be determined from the previous week’s report.

G.        All students must be in compliance with SDHSAA eligibility rules.

The junior high and high school will utilize semester grading. Progress reports will be posted as noted on the school district calendar. The final semester grade will be based on the cumulative averaged grades for the semester along with the semester test, which itself shall not count for more than 20% of the semester grade.

Teachers may categorize and weight grades within the semester grade as they see fit (e.g., assessments, daily work, and participation).

Semester tests should count no more than 20% of the semester grade. Semester tests are a part of the learning process and will be given in all classes.

The Honor Roll will be as follows: Straight "A" Honor Roll (all “A's”)

"A" Honor Roll "A" average (GPA 3.65) "B" Honor Roll "B" average (GPA 2.75)

Driver Education grade is not averaged in for Honor Roll

Students with a semester grade point average of 3.25 or higher will earn an Academic Honor Award. The first time a student earns the award they will be presented with an “Honor Student medal”, a “star” and a certificate.

Each additional semester that a student qualifies for the award they will receive an additional “star”. A student may "letter" in academics by earning an Academic Honor Award during two consecutive semesters. These two semesters do not need to be in the same school year. When a student "letters" in academics they will receive a chenille award.

CLASS RANK: Class rank will be determined on a 4.0 scale.

This is an organization composed of Junior and Senior class students who have achieved and maintained a 3.00 cumulative grade point average during high school. Grades are averaged at the end of the second semester of the sophomore year and at the end of each semester thereafter. If a 3.00 grade point average is attained, the student becomes eligible to join the National Honor Society.

These grades are averaged at the end of each semester thereafter and should the grade point average drop below 3.00, the student will be placed on probation for one semester. If the student’s grade point average does not reach 3.00 at the end of probation period, the student will be dropped from membership and will not be eligible again.

For Seniors this determination will be made at Progress Report #1 of the second semester. These students have achieved and maintained a 3.00 grade point average during high school.

-  5 credits required to be a Sophomore

-  11 credits required to be a Junior

-  17 credits required to be a Senior

-  22 credits required to graduate

A transfer student must attain 5 credits by August 1st of the prospective school year to be considered a sophomore (10th grade). A student must attain 11 credits by August 1st of the prospective school year to be considered a junior (11th grade). A student must attain 17 credits by August 1st of the prospective school year to be considered a senior (12th grade). A student must attain 22 credits to graduate.

It is the policy of the Alcester-Hudson School District to prepare our students for the real world and to be an asset to society. As a learning institution, we must be accountable for the students that enter the real world from our school. If more time is needed to prepare an individual student, then it may become necessary to retain that student.

When the work of any child has been below the minimum level of achievement commonly accepted for promotion, the case must be recommended to the principal by the student’s teacher.

The principal, the teacher, the parent or guardian and the student will then meet to discuss the deficiencies that have been identified. This group will decide whether the student’s deficiencies are significant to require the student to be retained.

Students who have met the graduation requirements by the end of the first semester of their senior year may graduate; however, the school will only hold one commencement ceremony and that will be held in May. Any student wishing to participate in school activities such as prom, athletics or the music trip must be enrolled as a full-time student during the semester of the event(s). Graduation is the exception to the rule. Students who graduate at the end of the first semester and want to attend the commencement ceremony must attend commencement rehearsals.

All students who complete graduation requirements shall be eligible to receive a diploma during the commencement ceremony. The standard courses offered may be modified by an Individual Educational Program (IEP) so that a student with special needs may complete a program geared to his or her own capabilities and will meet graduation requirements and receive a standard diploma.

All diplomas will be inscribed to direct the reader's attention to the transcript which will contain all information pertinent to the student's educational program. Early graduation (at the end of the student’s 6th or 7th semester) is possible but there will only be one commencement ceremony in May.

Any student who has completed four years of high school but has not acquired the necessary credits for graduation will still be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony but will be issued a certificate of attendance. A regular diploma will be issued upon the student's completion of the necessary requirements.

Will be awarded to any student who has completed four units each of English, Mathematics, and Science, two units of Foreign Language or Native American Language, and three units of Social Science. As a Regents' Scholar, this high school graduate has the privilege of admittance to any South Dakota public institution of higher learning. (This is subject to change

each year by the State).

STUDENTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY IN THE  FOLLOWING WAYS:
HONOR STUDENTS: They will wear a gold honor cord to signify that they have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average during high school.

In addition, these awards will be given during the Commencement Ceremony:

HIGH HONORS: These students are those who have been able to maintain a 3.7 grade point average or higher during high school. These students will be awarded a medal that distinguishes them for this achievement.

HIGHEST HONORS: Any student who has a 4.00 grade point average during high school will be awarded a medal that distinguishes them for this achievement.

Foreign exchange students may participate in commencement exercises, but they will not receive a diploma from the Alcester-Hudson School District. They will receive a certificate of attendance. Foreign exchange students may participate in extra-curricular activities sponsored by the SDHSAA if their sponsoring agency is recognized by the CSIET, which sanctions each group that brings foreign exchange students into the state

A class composite picture of all students who have received a diploma at graduation will be displayed permanently in the high school office.