Zero Hour is an optional course made up of four core areas of development: lifting, speed/quickness, leadership, and culture development. All high school students in grades 9-12 are allowed to participate in this class with the ability to earn credit (.25 credit per semester). This credit does impact GPA (Grade Point Average). This course is a Pass/Fail course. To be eligible to earn credit for this course, a student must be enrolled in this class at the beginning of the semester.

 

Students who move into the district or decide to join the course are allowed and can receive the other benefits but will not have the opportunity to earn credit for the class if they started the course late.

No student may drop this class after five (5) school days of the start of a semester, unless a student has extenuating circumstances approved by the principal. Students are graded solely on showing up a minimum of 3 days per week. (Reminder, if you show up late, or do not put any effort into your workout, that day of lackluster performance does not count as 1 of your 3 days of lifting requirement.)

 

Class time is 6:30am to 7:30am. Attendance will be taken at 6:30am. You must be present by 6:30am and stay until 7:30am. Zero Hour athletic development class will follow the school calendar and be in session if school is. (Late starts or No School = NO Zero Hour). Students are required to lift 3 days per week. Students may choose any combination of three (3) days between Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. It is typically suggested that you do not do heavy lifting on a game day so plan accordingly each week.

 

Students (Grades 9-12) who are in Zero Hour Athletic Development Class have a unique opportunity to leave school early (roughly 2:30pm) during their SRB on Tuesdays and Fridays if specific requirements are met.

 

Requirements to determine eligibility of early dismissal:

1.        Must have lifted three (3) days the prior week of school and have a 3-day average

2.        Must be passing ALL classes

3.        Must have a parent/guardian’s signature for approval to leave school early

4.        Must have zero (0) documented behavior incidents

5.        Must have less than six (6) absences for the semester

6.        May not have more than three (3) tardies for the semester

 

At the beginning of the 2nd semester, all 8th grade students will be allowed to join the Zero Hour Athletic Development class. 8th graders will need to meet all the same requirements; however, they will not be allowed to leave early from SRB, and they will not be eligible for the .25 high school credit.

The junior high/high school day begins at 8:10am and ends at 3:15pm.

 

2025-2026 DAILY CLASS SCHEDULE

BLUE Day - Tuesday/Friday 

GOLD Day - Monday/Thursday

BLUE DAY/GOLD DAY SCHEDULE

Zero Hour - 6:30am-7:30am

Block 1 - 8:10am-9:45am

Block 2 - 9:50am-11:25am

 Lunch - 11:25am-11:55am

Block 3 - 12:00pm-1:35pm

Block 4 - 1:40pm-3:15pm

WIN WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

Zero Hour - 6:30am-7:30am 

Gold Block 1 - 8:10am-8:55am

Blue Block 1 - 9:00am-9:45am

Gold Block 2 - 9:50am-10:35am

Blue Block 2 - 10:40am-11:25am

Lunch - 11:25am-11:55am

Gold Block 3 - 12:00pm-12:45am

Blue Block 3 - 12:50pm-1:35pm

Gold Block 4 - 1:40pm-2:25pm

Blue Block 4 (WIN) - 2:30pm-3:15pm

STAFF PD WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

(Last Wednesday of the month)

Zero Hour - 6:30am-7:30am 

Gold Block 1 - 8:10am-8:45am

 Blue Block 1 - 8:50am-9:25am

 Gold Block 2 - 9:30am-10:05am

 Blue Block 2 - 10:10am-10:45am

Gold Block 3 - 10:50am-11:25am

Lunch - 11:25am-11:55am

Blue Block 3 - 12:00pm-12:35pm

Gold Block 4 - 12:40pm-1:15pm

Student Dismissal - 1:15pm-1:30pm

·         Each semester of the school year, a student is allowed to accumulate three tardies without punishment.

·         Upon receiving a 4th tardy, the student will serve detention for the offense. Students will serve an additional detention for fifth and successive tardies. Detention is served from 7:30am-8:00am or 3:20pm-3:50pm with the High School Principal.

·         Students arriving at school after 1st block begins and until 8:45am will be given a tardy. After 8:45am they will be marked as absent.

The entire process of education requires a regular continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experiences, and individual study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each student. While it is true that written work can be completed despite a student's absence from class, class instruction and presentation, discussions, audio-visual presentations and student-teacher interaction can never be made up for an individual student who has missed them. This is the essence of schooling. One period is counted as a quarter (¼) of a day absent; two periods is considered a half (½) day absent; three periods or over will be counted as a full day absent. A student's contribution to and achievement in class are directly related to attendance.

It is critical for both students and parents to understand that students miss an essential portion of their education when they are absent from class. Furthermore, South Dakota statutes require the local Alcester-Hudson School Board of Education to enforce definite standards of attendance, with few valid excuses for absence.

Absences will be grouped under two main categories:

1.        Excused:

The Alcester-Hudson School District allows six (6) personal absences for each student, during each semester. Additional excused absences include: any medical appointments with a valid doctor’s note and school sanctioned events/activities. However, after the sixth (6th) personal

absence per semester, any unexcused absences will have to be made up. This means the  student must make up the time and work missed before we calculate the student's grades,  grade point average, and qualify them for honor roll, academic honors etc.

2.        Unexcused:

Unexcused absences include any absence that exceeds a student’s six (6) personal absences, absences not sanctioned by the school, an appointment without a doctor’s note, or an absence involving parental neglect. Students are required to make up all work and time missed on Saturdays when Saturday detentions are scheduled periodically during the school year or after school hours with prior approval from the secondary principal.

An absence note from the student's parents should include (1) date of absence, (2) reason for absence, and (3) signature of writer. The penalty for a “fake’ call or a falsified absence note is an automatic in- school suspension.

ABSENCES AND ACTIVITIES: Students missing school for any part of the school day may not participate in any extra-curricular activity unless it is an excused absence or special permission is received from the principal or superintendent.

Each student is responsible for observing this regulation. A student who is unable to come to school  because of illness will not be able to attend an evening extra- curricular activity at the school.

After a student has been absent from school for six days during a semester, he or she will have to make up the work and the time missed for any portion of the day missed after six days, if the absence is considered unexcused. If a student is not making progress towards making up the time he or she has missed, he or she will be assigned times to make up the time by the principal. Absence time can be made up on Saturdays when Saturday Detentions are scheduled periodically during the school year.

If a student has not made up his or her hours by the end of the semester, the following will happen:

A.        No credit will be given for any classes that semester.

B.        Your GPA will not be figured.

C.        You will not be listed on any Honor Roll.

D.        You will not receive open campus privileges during semester tests.

It is your responsibility to:

-Make sure you know where to report when you are making up time.

-Be on time!

-Get the principal’s or teacher's approval to leave at the end of the make-up period and have them sign the make-up time sheet.

Rules concerning make-up time:

1.    Normal make-up time is scheduled on Saturday mornings from 8:00am to 11:00am during Saturday Detention. Saturday Detentions are scheduled periodically during the school year. If you do this, you need to notify the Saturday Detention Supervisor. If you wish to stay at a time other than this, you need to make arrangements in advance with the high school principal.

2.    You must be working on academic subjects during the make-up time or reading a book. You will not be allowed to play on your cell phone or watch videos.

Extenuating Circumstances:

Any absence for a medical reason would not be counted in the six (6) days allowed if the student brings a doctor’s note or appointment notice or written statement from the doctor that says he/she was seen that day.

All doctor notes must be received by the school within two weeks (14 calendar days) of the scheduled medical appointment. The school will only modify a student's attendance record if the required  documentation has been received within two weeks (14 calendar days) following the medical  appointment.

Time that a student spends in the hospital will not count in the six days if notification has been received by the attending doctor/physician. Time that a student must spend at home for recovery/convalescence. This also requires a written statement from the doctor with specific orders and time needed for recovery. South Dakota State Law requires regular school attendance of all students until the age of 18.

Regular attendance is necessary for students to be successful in learning. The Alcester-Hudson School District will adhere to all state laws pertaining to attendance. A letter of attendance will be sent to parents after the 3rd and 6th absences. Failure to comply with mandatory attendance laws will result in notification of the courts. Therefore, after ten (10) absences, and every five (5) absences thereafter, attendance records will be sent to the State’s Attorney.

You must notify the high school office staff before you leave school at any time. Students who leave school during the school day (except for school sponsored activities) must sign out on the sign-out sheet in the high school office. Be sure to sign your first and last name and the time in or out. Signing out on the sheet does not replace an excuse slip or a make-up slip for it is our means of locating you in an emergency or for any other reason.

Children need healthy meals to learn. The Alcester- Hudson School District participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced low-cost or free breakfast and school lunches to children each school day. Families are encouraged to apply for free or reduced school meals. An application can be picked up at the high school office at any time.

 

Breakfast and lunch are offered to all junior high and high school students during the school year. Menus for the school breakfast and lunch programs will be posted monthly on the school website. Lunch menus will also be posted daily on the electronic board in the high school cafetorium.

 

A lunch count will be taken at the start of first period each school day. Only enough food will be prepared for those who indicate they will be eating the school lunch that day. Parents need to put money in their family account prior to the student being allowed to eat the breakfast or hot lunch provided. When the family meal account has a negative balance, students will not be allowed to eat school breakfast or lunch and will be given a free cheese sandwich, yogurt, and milk for lunch until money is deposited in the family meal account. The Alcester-Hudson School District is a peanut-free school district.

Due to State regulations concerning free and reduced meals, there cannot be any trading, loaning, orborrowing of student’s personal lunch numbers.

 

·      Students who are failing a class on the weekly grade report which is pulled on Monday morning or missing work in a class must stay on Wednesday from 2:30pm-3:15pm. The student should work with the teacher(s) whose class(es) the student is failing. If the student completes missing or remedial coursework and has a passing grade by Thursday, the student may regain eligibility for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday activities so long as the student is failing no more than one course, per the Alcester-Hudson eligibility policy. Teachers will notify the secondary principal by Thursday morning if the student has improved to a passing grade.

 

·      Students who are required to attend Wednesdays from 2:30pm-3:15pm, but are absent, will receive a Saturday detention for the unexcused absence.

 

·      Students who are going to be gone on a future date (ex. family vacation, school activity, medical appointment) should make use of the time on Wednesdays from 2:30pm-3:15pm to complete any future work they may miss.

 

·      Students who are passing all classes may leave on Wednesdays after attendance is taken in SRB and the teacher has dismissed them. Buses will depart campus at 3:15pm.

 

·      Students who are passing all classes are invited to stay at school from 2:30pm-3:15pm to work on enrichment activities (ex. instrumental practice, test preparation, advanced academic course concepts, CTE experiences, laboratory experiments).

·      Athletic practices and large group rehearsals should not take place from 2:30pm-3:15pm.

 

·      Junior High and High School students should not be in the main gym or auxiliary gym from 2:30pm- 3:15pm.

 

·      Students may only be in the weight room if they are supervised by a staff member assigned by the secondary principal.

 

·      Students who ride the bus or cannot leave campus until 3:15pm should be in one of the following places; classroom receiving assistance from a teacher, outside of the school building, or cafetorium seated working quietly.

Tier 1: Student Assistance: Students work with teachers to attain proficiency in targeted content areas.

·      Develop foundational skills for success in core subject areas: English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

·      Complete remedial work to improve classroom scores and attain passing grades in all subject areas.

·      Build self-confidence across the curriculum with one-on-one help from teachers.

Tier 2: Student Accountability: Students work with teachers to bridge learning gaps caused by absenteeism.

·      Complete assignments in a targeted, small group setting after an extended illness.

·      Navigate difficult subject matter with teacher help when gone for activities or family functions.

·      Ensure understanding through reteaching and personalized instruction.

Tier 3: Student Acceleration: Students work with teachers to move from course mastery to advanced concepts.

·      Engage in laboratory experiments, seminars, and hands-on projects to promote deeper learning.

·      Study concepts that engage critical thinking through synthesis, exploration, and experimentation.

·      Maximize high school learning to reach post-secondary and career readiness.

 

*The “What I Need” (WIN) Wednesday tiered model was developed in conjunction with the district 2021-22 strategic planning process.

It is the purpose of the Student Responsibility Block (SRB) to provide a learning atmosphere for all students that is conducive to studying and doing research work. Rules and regulations are established and administered to protect this learning environment.

·          All students must report to the SRB classroom they are assigned to.

·          All students must have permission of the SRB/study hall supervisor before signing out.

General schedule of SRB will be as follows:

1:40pm-2:10pm - Students must remain in the SRB classroom and are not allowed a pass out of the room.

2:10pm-3:15pm - Students may now use passes from teachers to leave the SRB classroom and go to another SRB classroom.

2:30pm-3:15pm - Students participating in Zero-hour athletic development and have met the weekly requirements may be excused for open campus. Students with this privilege may leave the school premises, or they can remain in the SRB they are assigned.

Passes MUST be obtained before the start of SRB block, or the student will be marked tardy if they are late for SRB.

Only one person may sign out at a time (or use pass of SRB classroom) for the following reasons: go to the bathroom, their locker, or get a drink. The SRB teacher will write a pass for the student to go to the office if they need to or are called by the office to report.

Students wishing to go to see another teacher, or the guidance counselor must get a pass prior to coming to SRB. If they do not, the supervisor will call the other teacher to check to make sure the teacher or guidance counselor is there and is available.

Students may not add their names to a pass issued by a teacher.

 

POLICIES FOR MEETINGS HELD DURING SRB:

All meetings held during SRB time must be approved first by the principal and either be on the weekly bulletin or announced in the daily announcements by the office.

 

Meetings can only take place at the end of SRB based on length. When the meeting is over the supervisor keeps all students who attend the meeting in their room until the end of the day. Students are not allowed to go back to their SRB classrooms.

Meetings lasting less than 10 minutes can be scheduled no later than the morning of SRB day. They must be cleared through the principal and announced prior. Meetings that are to last longer than 10 minutes must be cleared through the principal and be put on the weekly bulletin in advance. Meetings cannot be mandatory as the SRB period is for the students’ study and work time.

 

In order to avoid interrupting the proper order or management of the school and keep parents informed on student's legal affairs, it shall be the policy of the Alcester-Hudson School District to not allow insurance agents, investigators, or salesmen to talk with students during school time unless the parent or guardian is present or has given written  permission.

Police, probation officers or social workers are by state law exempt from the above rule. These public officers may talk to a student at any time while they are acting in their official capacity. It will be up to the discretion of the school administration whether or not the parents are notified.

SENIOR OPEN CAMPUS: The rules of Senior Open Campus will be explained to all Senior class members at the beginning of the school year and at the start of the second semester by the secondary principal.

 

SENIOR WORK RELEASE: The rules for Senior Work Release will be explained to all Senior class members at the beginning of the school year by the principal.

1.   Students are dismissed after 11:25am on Blue Block days.

2.   The student is entering fourth year of high school. Students in grades 9-11 are ineligible.

3.   The student has earned 20 credits in high school.

4.   The students have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

5.   The student has only Government (1.0 credit), English IV (1.0 credit), and Personal Finance (.5 credit) left to fulfill high school graduation requirements.

6.   The student has fulfilled all graduation requirements for the following categories: science, math, physical education, health, career and technical education, and fine arts.

7.   Students will lose work release privileges if any of the following happen:

A. The student violates school policy or engages in improper behavior that results in disciplinary action from the secondary principal or superintendent.

B. The student accrues more than the three (3) allowed tardies during the semester.

C. The student accrues more than the six (6) allowed absences during the semester.

D. The student is academically ineligible for two (2) weeks or more during the semester.

E.  The student fails first semester English IV, Government, or Personal Finance.

F.  The student withdraws from one or more dual credit classes during the semester.

8.   Students who lose work release privileges will be placed in a Blue Block 3 course for the remainder of the semester. The student will attend the course but will receive no credit for the course. The secondary principal will reevaluate at the end of the first semester and may grant or revoke work release for the second semester.

9.   Along with the senior work release program, seniors will also be granted the normal spring open campus privileges if the student qualifies.

At least two fire drills will be held each semester. Exit routes will be posted in advance. File out quickly in an orderly fashion and assemble on the grass on the east side of the school building for roll call. Tornado drills will be held in the fall and spring with instructions given at that time. Fire and tornado drills will generally be announced.

 

Class visitation is a privilege and may be revoked. Those who wish to visit need to have permission from the principal the day prior to the visit and fill out a guest speaker/volunteer form.