James Hillhouse

High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Course Selection Booklet

 

 

 

480 Sherman Parkway

New Haven, CT  06511

(203) 946-8484

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal’s Message

 

James Hillhouse High School represents 148 years of academic excellence.  Named for an early pillar of the New Haven community, our school continues to be a tower of strength and a place of support and stability.

 

James Hillhouse High School, an academic comprehensive school, offers a safe, orderly and productive environment.  As we endeavor to prepare our students for the twenty-first century, all of our caretakers are firmly committed to providing an education that meets the needs of the whole student.  This learning will be accomplished through promoting each student’s self-esteem, providing activities to enhance the enjoyment for learning, and creating programs that allow students to actively participate in their own learning.

 

Our physical plant has undergone an extensive renovation.  We now have a State Of The Art Facility with Twenty-First Century Technology.  With the new building, a new spirit has been generated in all stakeholders.

 

This “Course Selection Booklet” gives an overview of the course offerings at James Hillhouse High School.  It clearly spells out the requirements for graduation, provides information on class rank, and explains academic probation and promotion policies.  Parents and students will find this information to be valuable as they start the process of selecting courses for the next year.

 

Mission Statement

 

It is the mission of James Hillhouse High School; located in New Haven, Connecticut, to graduate students prepared for success in a world of increasing diversity, technological change, and global challenges.  Our task as educators, parents, and students is to create an environment in which all our students have the opportunity to reach their greatest academic potential and allow them to grow as responsible and respectful members of society.

 

 

Expectations for Student Learning

Academic

 

 

·        Hillhouse students will display problem solving skills in a variety of situations.

·        Hillhouse students will speak and write in an organized manner as well as reflect the ability to question and reason.

·        Hillhouse students will read, comprehend and evaluate materials from a variety of sources and disciplines.

·        Hillhouse students will incorporate technology in the learning process.

·        Hillhouse students will develop an understanding of universal and ethic art and explore various visual, auditory, and performing art mediums.

 

 

Social and Civic

 

·        Hillhouse students will demonstrate an understanding of and respect for others in a diverse world.

·        Hillhouse students will fulfill personal responsibilities.

·        Hillhouse students will participate in activities establishing their connection to the surrounding commuity

·        Hillhouse students will demonstrate a knowledge of their rights, duties, and responsibilities as citizens of our local, national, and global communities.  

 

 

 

 

 

Course Registration

 

In the spring of the year, the entire school community will be involved in registering students for the following year.  Each student will sit down with his/her counselor to select courses.  At that time, the following will be done:

 

1.      Review graduation requirements.

2.      Review post graduation goals for after high school.

3.      Review teacher recommendations of level of classes to be taken.

4.      Select electives

5.      Send a copy of the proposed schedule with name and telephone number in case parents have questions

 

Advanced Placement

 

Advanced Placement of Classes:

            AP English – Literature

AP English Composition

            AP French

            AP Spanish – Literature

            AP U.S. History I

            AP U.S. History II                   

            AP Calculus

            AP Biology

            AP Politics and Government

 

Required Student Load

 

All freshmen, sophomores and juniors are required to carry seven (7) credits.  Seniors can carry six (6) credits if they already have twenty-one or more credits.

 

Course Changes

 

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, there will be no course changes after October 15^th of each year.

 

Requirements for Graduation

                       

Twenty Six (26) credits will be required for graduation.

 

 6 credits to become a Sophomore

13 credits to become a Junior

19 credits to become a Senior

26 credits to graduate

  

 

Grading System

 

A+     96-100               B+     86-89              C+     76-79               D+     66-69

A        94-95                B        84-85              C       74-75               D       64-65

A-      90-93                 B-     80-83               C-      70-73               D-      60-63                                                                                                                            F       59

 

Incomplete Grades

 

Students receiving an “incomplete” have two weeks after the marking period closes to complete required work for that class.  After two weeks the grade becomes an “F”.

 

Academic Probation

 

Students who have multiple F’s on the final report card are put on academic probation for the next school term. The Principal meets with the parent(s) and student to assess academic progress and discuss how a student can continue his stay at Hillhouse.  This is done during orientation and ongoing during the month of September.

 

At the end of marking period one (1), the report cards are reviewed to see how much progress the student has made.

 

Mid-Year and Final Exams

 

The mid-year and final exams take place in the last week in January and mid-June.  If a student has no exam and happens to be in school during an exam period, he/she must report to a designated location-usually the cafeteria.

 

Rank in Class

 

Cumulative rank in class is calculated after the junior year or after six semesters. One must be at Hillhouse two years or four semesters to be included in the rank. Transferring seniors will be ranked from the sending school. 

 

Cuts

 

• Students are expected to attend each class if they are present in school.
• Anytime a student cuts a class, the parent will be notified by telephone and in writing.
• Consequences for cutting class are as follows

 

Half year courses:                     1^st cut=warning

                                                2^nd cut=loss of credit

Full year courses                       1^st cut=warning

                                                2^nd cut=loss of ½ credit

                                                3^rd cut=warning

                                                4^th cut=loss of credit

 

QUALITY POINT AVERAGE CHART

 

               Quality Point Credit will not be given to: PE      Volunteer        Work  Program            Teacher Assistant                   

 

 

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

 

1.      MULTIPLY the points on the 4.0 scale by credits

2.      ADD

3.      DIVIDE by the number of credits attempted

 

 

Grade	1 Cr Point	5 CR Point	Grade	1 CR Point	.5 CR Point	Grade	1 CR Point	.5 CR Point	Grade	1 CR Point	.5 Cr Point
A+	4.0	2.0	B+	3.3	1.55	C+	2.3	1.15	D+	1.3	.65
A	4.0	2.0	B	3.0	1.50	C	2.0	1.00	D	1.0	.50
A-	3.7	1.85	B-	2.7	1.35	C-	1.7	.85	D-	.7	.35

 

 

Promotion Policy

 

In order to be promoted to the tenth grade, a student must earn six (6) credits; to the eleventh grade, one must earn thirteen (13) credits; to the twelfth grade, one must earn nineteen (19) credits.

 

Academic failures can be made up two ways:

• Attend summer school and/or repeat and pass the subject during the following year
• Only one credit can be earned in Summer School

 

 

Working Papers

 

Working papers are issued in Gateway Center – Personnel Office.  In order to be eligible for working papers, you must:

 

1. Be sixteen  (16) years old
2. Show proof of age (birth certificate preferred)
3. Have a “Promise of Employment” which is a statement from your future employer stating what type of position you are going to have.

 

Riverside

 

Riverside has now become a magnet school.  In order for you to attend Riverside, you must apply through the magnet office at Gateway Center.

 

Adult Education

 

(946-5884)

Adult Education offers two high school programs

·        GED

·        High School Diploma Program

 

Job Corps

 

Job Corps offers the GED  It also offers many occupational training opportunities

 

New England Jobs Corps                                             CT Job Corps Center

Adult Education Center                                     455 Wintergreen Avenue

580 Ella Grasso Boulevard                                           New Haven, CT  06515

New Haven, CT  06519                                               Contact:  Carol Damsky at

Contact:  Torrey at 777-0872                                       397-3775 Fax:  392-0296

 

Community Service

 

Every student is required to do twenty (25) clock hours of community service.  The purpose of community service is for our students to learn how to give back without expecting any form of compensation from the non-profit organization.  This is a graduation requirement at Hillhouse High School.  Applications are available in the Guidance Office.

 

HILLHOUSE SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CLINIC

 

The Nurse’s Office and the Hillhouse School Based Health Clinic share the same suite.  The nurse’s responsibilities are separate from and different from the scope of services provided in the clinic.  The Hillhouse School Based Health Center is a satellite clinic of Yale New Haven Hospital’s Adolescent Clinic.  Students are generally seen by appointment only and they must have a completed permission form on file.  Appointments can be made in the health clinic office.  A staff member, teacher, administrator or parent may refer students for medical and/or mental health services.  Students can be seen between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  The clinic is open 12 months per year.

 

The care provided is developmentally appropriate to the adolescent population served.  Our clinic team respects the rights of adolescents to have: comprehensive, private and confidential care; accurate and age appropriate explanation of services, diagnosis and treatment that encourages self-care and preventative health behaviors; an active role in the decision making around their care; and the right to refuse care.  Group, individual and family treatment plans are available to students with mental health concerns. 

 

The following staff provides health care:

·  Pediatrician                                                   ·  Nurse Practitioner

·  Social Worker

 

The types of services that are available include:

·  Comprehensive school physicals/sports physicals/immunizations

·  Diagnosis and treatment of asthma, anemia, acne and other acute and

    common health problems

·  Treatment of injuries

·  Reproductive services including pregnancy and STD/HIV prevention

    counseling testing and treatment

·  Nutrition and weight counseling

·  Lab tests: cultures, blood test

·  Mental health counseling

·  Drug and alcohol assessment

·  Specialty care referral

 

The following groups are offered in the School Based Health Clinic:

·  Anger Management                             

·  Bereavement                                      

·  Depression                                          

·  Life skills for young adults                 

·  Teen parenting for young mothers and fathers

·  Peer educators group

·  Teen issues group for young men

·  Peer family relations

·  Self-esteem