EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY

Our goal is for all of our students to enjoy successful school experiences at AHS. We hold high expectations for our students and we welcome the opportunity to work cooperatively with parents/guardians as we maintain quality programs and seek to make needed improvements. The support of family and community is important to school success, and parents/guardians are encouraged to take an active role in their children’s education.

Parents/guardians are invited to participate in school functions, join Eagle Pride, and become members of our school improvement team. Parents/guardians are also encouraged to participate in the variety of opportunities to volunteer in our school. These opportunities are generally coordinated through Eagle Pride, or may be arranged with individual teachers.

Parents/guardians are free to call teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators to ask questions, share concerns, and make suggestions at any time. They are also encouraged to call or schedule appointments with their child’s teachers to discuss individual student progress or specific student concerns. If a parent/guardian would like to contact an individual teacher, please call the main office and leave a message for the teacher. Please do not call teachers at home.

Two weeks have been designated “Parent/Teacher Conference Weeks” on the MCPS calendar. The school will remain open until 7:00 PM one evening during each of these weeks as a way to provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet with all of their children’s teachers in one evening.

The guidance office is also able to coordinate and schedule group conferences with all of a child’s teachers at the request of a student, parent/guardian, teacher, or administrator any time during the school year. Arrangements will be made for the guidance counselor or an administrator to be present at these conferences to facilitate the meeting. An administrator also will attend those meetings to which he can contribute something, and/or at the request of a teacher or parent/guardian. Please call the guidance office to request group conferences.

If a student or parent /guardian has a concern about a school policy or an employee, they are encouraged to contact the person with whom they have a complaint to discuss the problem as quickly as possible. If either person feels the need to include a third party, or they are unable to resolve the problem, they should feel free to contact an administrator.

INVOLVEMENT OF NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS

As specified by the Code of Virginia and the Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), non-custodial parents have the full rights as parents for access to student records and for participating in school activities, “unless otherwise ordered by the court for good cause shown.” It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide documentation of any restrictions on a non-custodial parent. Duplicate copies of report cards and other written communications mailed to a student’s home will be made available to non-custodial parents upon their request. If a person not known to school officials attempts to contact or pick up a child at school, a photo ID and other verification of identity/relationship to a student (including confirmation with the custodial parent) may be required before releasing the student.

STUDENT INFORMATION

A Student Information Update form is distributed to students at the beginning of each school year. Any change of address, telephone number, legal guardian information, custody status, medical information, or emergency contact information must be reported to the main office. Accurate information is essential in case of illness or emergency.

Montgomery County Public Schools typically release “directory information” of students in certain school publications and to certain outside organizations per division policy 7-1.3. Military recruiters often request “directory information” of all juniors and seniors to be used by them specifically for armed services recruiting purposes and for informing students of scholarship opportunities. Division policy 7-1.3 allows us to disclose only the names and addresses of present and former students to military recruiters without prior written consent. However, new federal law requires us to include telephone listings in the information provided to military recruiters, upon their request, unless a parent/guardian advises us that they do not want this information disclosed. If you do not want Auburn High School or Montgomery County Schools to disclose this information to military recruiters, you must notify the Auburn High School Guidance Office in writing.

At the beginning of each school year, parents/guardians will be asked to sign an “Authorization to Reproduce Physical Likeness” form. This form will grant Montgomery County Public Schools the right to photograph your child and use his/her picture, silhouette, or other reproductions of your child’s physical likeness in connection with advertisements, publications, and/or videotapes of Montgomery County Public Schools. These reproductions may include an exhibition, Internet web page, incorporation into a publication, a television broadcast, school advertisement or promotion, or any other use of videotapes.

Please see the notice regarding student records and directory information in the Appendix at the end of this handbook for an explanation of parent/student rights under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

PTA & ATHLETIC BOOSTERS

Eagle Pride is the joint organization of our PTA and Booster Club at Auburn High School. They are the parent fundraising and education organization for our school, and have been a constant support of our academic and athletic programs. This group of dedicated individuals works tirelessly throughout the school year to raise funds to provide everything from new microscopes for our biology classes to equipment for our sports teams. Each spring they also sponsor scholarships for our graduating seniors. All parents/guardians are encouraged support Eagle Pride through membership and involvement. Eagle Pride meets in the evening on the first Monday of every month throughout the school year.

Eagle Pride officers for the 2007-2008 school year are:

President Linda Galloway

Vice-President Joyce Clower

Secretary Vickie Campbell

Treasurer Carolyn Jones

The Eagle Gridiron Club (EGC) is the booster organization for the AHS football teams and operates independently of Eagle Pride. The primary purpose of the EGC is to provide support and assistance to the AHS football program and stimulate and sustain an enthusiastic interest in the football program among parents, football players, the AHS student body, and members of the community. Membership in the EGC is open to all parents of AHS football players as well as any other community members interested in supporting the AHS Football Program.

Eagle Gridiron Club (EGC) officers for the 2007-2008 school year are:

President Geneva Watson

Vice-President Chari McCann

Secretary Dionne Harrison

Treasurer Alan Wood

Membership Debbie Miles

Fundraising Rene Underwood

Member at Large Roger Denny

STUDENT FEES

Student fees are collected during the weeks prior to the opening of school, at summer orientation & open house, and the first few days of school. The only student fees are for a hall locker and a PE locker ($5.00 each). An optional PE uniform and yearbook may also be purchased at this time. Paying your fees prior to orientation or open house is a great way to beat the crowds! Anyone who is unable to pay these fees should contact the principal.

There are no textbook rental or library fees. However, students are responsible for lost or damaged books. Any assessed fines or replacement costs must be paid prior to the end of the school year. These obligations must be taken care of before a class schedule for the following school year can be mailed home in the summer.

SCHOOL INSURANCE

All AHS students will be given the opportunity to purchase school insurance. Various levels of coverage are available at exceptionally reasonable rates. Forms will be sent home the first day of school, and insurance may be purchased within the first three weeks of the school year.

DELINQUENT DEBTS

Any student who has a delinquent or outstanding debt – library fines, charges for lost/damaged books, unpaid fees for uniforms, unresolved accounts for fundraisers, etc. – will not be allowed to participate in any extra-curricular event sponsored by the school for which there is a cost. Such activities may include sporting events, dances, and some field trips. Any student attending an extra-curricular activity while on the debt list will be subject to disciplinary action. Payment of these debts should be made to the school bookkeeper. Debts incurred in the preceding school year are carried over to the current year. Students will not receive their class schedule for the new school year until all debts have been satisfied.

TEXTBOOKS

Each student is issued a textbook for each course free of charge. The textbook then becomes the responsibility of the student. Lost or damaged textbooks must be paid for by the student to whom the textbook was issued. Students should be careful with their textbooks as the cost for replacements continues to rise drastically.

CLASSROOM MATERIALS

It is the responsibility of each student to bring his/her pen or pencil, textbook and any other appropriate materials to each class session. Additional materials may be required in certain courses. Each teacher will have their own means of addressing failure to be prepared for class. A student may not be given, or choose to take, a “tardy” in order to leave class for retrieving materials needed for class. Chronic problems may result in a referral to an administrator for further disciplinary action.

Students taking PE are required to wear appropriate PE attire. The purpose of wearing the required clothing is to ensure safety, comfort, and proper attire for all physical activities. Students must dress-out for PE class with the appropriate clothing (shorts and t-shirt), white sport socks, and athletic shoes in order to participate in PE activities. Chronic problems may result in a referral to an administrator for disciplinary action.

SCHOOL STORE

The school store, operated by the AHS Swim Team, is located in the A-wing near room 124. Pencils, pens, notebook paper, composition books, computer discs, poster boards, and other school supplies are available for purchase at reasonable prices. Other items for special projects may be made available when requested by a teacher. The school store is open in the morning before the 7:50 AM bell and after school. School supplies will also be available for purchase in the cafeteria during both lunch periods.

LOST & FOUND

PE uniforms and equipment should be turned in to the PE teachers; library books should be turned in to the librarian. All other found items should be turned in to the main office. Lost textbooks will be given to department heads and may be claimed before or after school. Students who have lost anything should check the lost and found (in the main office) several times. Due to limited space, students should claim items as quickly as possible. The school is not responsible for unclaimed items left in the Lost and Found.

LOCKERS/PERSONAL PROPERTY

Individual lockers in the hall and gym locker rooms are made available to all AHS students. A minimal fee is charged for locker upkeep and locks. Hall lockers are assigned to students as fees are paid on a first-come/first-served basis. Hall lockers are designed to hold books, school supplies, and limited personal items brought to school.

Students are responsible for the security of their own belongings and valuables. Students must safeguard their own belongings by locking their lockers and keeping their combinations secret. Anyone who forgets his/her combination should see Ms. Cole in the main office. Students should close their locker doors firmly and spin the combination dial before leaving. If a locker does not lock properly, the student should report to Ms. Cole for reassignment to a different locker until theirs is repaired. The sharing of lockers is strongly discouraged as students are responsible for the contents of the lockers to which they have been assigned. Students are discouraged from storing money or any items of value in their lockers. During PE, students should secure all personal belongings other than clothing in their hall lockers. Gym lockers are not large enough to accommodate large items (i.e. backpacks, large coats); these items should not be left unsecured in the locker room.

Although AHS cannot assume responsibility for any lost, stolen, or damaged personal items, such incidents reported to an administrator will be thoroughly investigated, and every attempt will be made to help recover the item(s). Students may also report suspected theft to the school resource officer.