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HANDBOOK

I.  MISSION STATEMENT AND PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

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Sacred Heart High School, located in Vineland, New Jersey, Cumberland County, is a member school of the Diocese of Camden serving young men and women of all creeds and races from Cumberland and surrounding counties.  As a Catholic High School, our mission is to herald and teach the "Good News of Salvation" found in Jesus Christ to all people.  We strive to spread the light of faith, to illumine everything that the students learn about the world, about life, and about the human person.

Since its founding in 1927, family has been central to the formation of students here at Sacred Heart High School.  Many alumni continue the family tradition of sending their children as students to Sacred Heart.  The students arrive with the concept of immediate family and through the transmission of information--through the sciences and liberal arts, physical prowess through physical education and athletics, and spiritual development through the celebration of the sacraments and apostolic works--these young men and women are transformed into young productive members of the family of God and of the world community.

As students, they experience family as a mosaic of people of different, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic backgrounds.  This challenges them to mutual respect and to an intellectual openness that at the same time permits them to follow the teachings and the Catholic Church as Americans.  The student is taught to appreciate creation through his/her studies and discipline.

As Educators we recognize that teaching is more than a job, but an active ministry preparing young men and women for the future.  As part of the family we see our roles as listeners, encouragers, counselors and guides.

II. ADMISSIONS POLICY

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The school admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin in the Administration of its educational policies, in its admission policies, scholarship programs, athletic and/or school-administered programs.

A. Applications from 8th Grade Students

Students attending a Catholic Elementary School in the Camden Diocese should indicate to their school that they intend to attend Sacred Heart High School . School records will automatically be forwarded for review and possible acceptance. Students must also complete the Application for Admission prior to the application deadline.

Students applying from a public or private elementary school need to have their current academic records and two letters of recommendation (from a principal, teacher, guidance counselor, coach, etc.) sent to the Guidance Office at Sacred Heart High School. Students must also complete the Application for Admission prior to the application deadline. The Application for Admission, records and recommendations will be reviewed for possible acceptance.

B. Students Transferring to Sacred Heart High School from another High School

1. All applicants and their parents/guardians must first arrange for an appointment with the Principal or one of his Administration.
2. Letters of recommendation from the transferring school’s principal, guidance counselor, and/or a teacher, as well as an up to date transcript are to be sent to Sacred Heart High School.
3. An Application for Admission must be completed.
4. The Principal and guidance office will evaluate all records and the Application for Admission.
5. Transferring students must be enrolled in a curriculum similar to the one offered at Sacred Heart High School.
6. Transferring students must meet the same requirements as enrolled students to enter the next grade level or participate in extracurricular activities.
7. If accepted, the school will notify parents/guardians at which time all required fees must be paid and the required documentation completed.
8. All transfer students are automatically placed on probation subject to review at the end of each quarter for a period of one year.
9. Senior transfers are discouraged but not prohibited. Anyone seeking such a transfer is reminded of the necessity of satisfying the school’s academic requirements for graduation, the social adjustment involved, the possible restrictions on participation in extra-curricular activities, and other matters that make such a transfer difficult. Senior transfers will not be ranked and are not eligible for Valedictorian/Salutatorian honors.

C. School Visitation by Prospective Students

Students who are planning to register or transfer to Sacred Heart High School are permitted to visit the school for a day. This must be done with administrative approval at least one week prior to the visit. Both parents and the potential student must complete proper forms, which can be obtained from the guidance office.

D. Transfers from Sacred Heart High School

A student who wishes to transfer from Sacred Heart High School to another school must obtain the necessary forms from the office of the Assistant Principal of Academics. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the student. No transcripts or records will be released until all financial obligations are settled.

III. ACADEMICS

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A. Accreditation

Sacred Heart High School maintains full accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Membership in this organization signifies that the highly regarded standards of Middle States are being realized at Sacred Heart High School .

B. Curriculum and Course Offerings

Students of Sacred Heart High School are expected to fulfill all the graduation requirements of the State of New Jersey as well as those established by the school. These include four years of Theology, English, Health and Physical Education, three years of Social Studies, Mathematics and Science, and two years of a World Language.

C. Course Selection

The selection of courses for the following school year takes place in the 2nd semester. Courses chosen are subject to the approval of parents and school administrative personnel. Careful consideration must be given to the selection of subjects. College and/or vocational preparation must be considered as a student selects a course of study. Consultation with the Guidance Department is urged.

D. Progress Reports

Progress reports will be given to each student at mid-quarter. These must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to the school. These are designed to make parents/guardians aware of the academic standing of the students. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact teachers if they are not satisfied with a student's academic standing.

E. Report Cards

Specific dates for report card distribution will appear in the calendar. Parents/guardians are required to pick up report cards on the designated dates of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters. Report cards will be mailed home after the 4th quarter. No report cards or transcripts will be released if tuition and fees are not
up-to-date. Ineligible or failing students will be notified of their situation regardless of financial status. Any report card changes must be done through the office of the Assistant Principal of Academics.

F. Grading System

Students receive a numerical grade in each subject on their report card. The letter grade equivalent is as follows:

A+ 97-100 (4.5) A 93-96 (4.0) B+ 89-92 (3.5) B 85-88 (3.0) C+ 81-84 (2.5)

C 77-80 (2.0) D+ 74-76 (1.5) D 70-73 (1.0) lowest passing grade F Below 70 failing

G. Academic Honors

Academic honors to deserving students are awarded after each quarterly report card.
First honors for each quarter require a student to maintain a QPA of 4.0 or above with no grade below a B in any subject.

Second honors are awarded to those students who maintain a QPA between 3.5 and 4.0 with no grade below a C in any subject.

Any student who maintains A's in all semester and full year courses (with no quarter course grade below a B is named to the Principal's List .

Certificates of commendation are awarded to all students receiving honors.

H. Academic Convocation

An Academic Awards Assembly will be held in the Spring honoring students who have attained First and Second Honors for the first three report card periods of the year. Other special recognition awards will be given at this time. Parents are invited to attend.

I. Class Rank/GPA

Two of the important criteria by which colleges and universities evaluate an applicant are Class Rank and GPA (Grade Point Average). Class Rank and GPA are two distinct entities.

Class Rank is determined by using the QPA (Quality Point Average) which is calculated from the numerical grade of each course, the number of credits of the course, and the degree of difficulty (level) of each course. Class rank is calculated after the sixth semester (Junior year).

GPA (Grade Point Average) is determined from averaging the final grade of each course. The GPA that is printed on Sacred Heart transcripts is weighted (using a 4.5 scale ) to reflect the degree of difficulty (level) of the courses that were taken.

J. Quality Point Values

Subjects are divided into four academic groups. Each group of courses has a quality point value. A calculation employing the difficulty level of the course, the number of credits of the course, and the final grade of the course determines the quality point value. Level II Courses have a 10% higher value than Level I. Level III Courses have a 15% higher value than Level I. Level IV Courses have a 20% higher value than Level I. Level V (AP) - Advanced Placement Courses have a 30% higher value than Level I Courses.

K.  Subject Groupings for Quality Points

Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV	Level V
Accounting I	Accounting II	Chemistry	H. Algebra II	AP Calculus AB
Algebra I	Algebra II	Trig./Pre Calculus	H.Anatomy/Physiology	AP English Literature/Comp.
Biology	H. Biology	Math and Technology Applications (Basic Engineering)	H. Chemistry	AP European History
Current Issues	Economics		H. English III	AP Physics B
Comp. Applications	H. Geometry		H. French III,IV	H. Psychology II
Comp. Graphics/Web Design	Guitar-Advanced		H. Law and Government
English I, II, III, IV	Journalism II		H. Physics
Environmental Science	Music Prod. & Tech.		H. Spanish III, IV
French I, II	Probability & Statistics		H. Trig./Pre Calculus
Geometry	Studio Art II, III
Guitar-Basic
Health I, II, III, IV
Humanities
Integrated Math
Introduction to Business
Keyboarding
Mass Media Communications (Journalism I)
Music Appreciation
Phys. Ed. I, II, III, IV
Physical Science
Psychology I
SAT Lab English
SAT Lab Mathematics
SAT Prep
Senior Guidance
Spanish I, II
Studio Art I
Theology I, II, III, IV
U.S. History I, II
World Geography

 

L. Semester Exams

In January and June of each year students are required to take semester examinations in major subject areas. Only those subject areas that make an exam impractical are exempt. All students are required to take semester exams. Results of the exams represent 1/5 (20%) of the semester grade.

No student should be absent from school without serious cause during exam time. A doctor's note will be required to excuse illness, in order for the student to be permitted to make-up his/her exams.

Seniors are eligible to be excused from individual final exams if they average an “A” at of the end of the 3rd marking period. The grades from the first semester (including the exam) and the 3rd quarter are used to determine eligibility for this exemption.

Additionally, no medical, dental, college entrance tests, vacations or employment appointments should be scheduled during the final examination time for Seniors.

M. Student Evaluation

The grade each student receives is a reflection of progress being made in the classroom. Tests are only a part of that evaluation. Teachers are urged to consider other factors such as homework, class participation, effort, and attitude when assigning grades. Home study becomes an important factor that has a dramatic impact on student performance. Regular homework and daily school attendance influence classroom progress.

N. Dropping Courses

Course selection must be completed with careful thought. The Assistant Principal of Academics and/or a Guidance Counselor must approve any changes.

O. Scholarships

Any student who has received a scholarship must maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 (a “B” average) based on the weighted 4.5 G.P.A. scale. Failure to do so results in the loss of scholarship money for the student's career in Sacred Heart. Academic dishonesty or other serious violations of school policy may make a student ineligible to receive future scholarship funds.

P. College Visitations

Seniors are permitted to take 1 day excused from school to visit perspective colleges or universities before the 4th quarter. Documentation of such visits must be approved through the Guidance Office prior to the date of visitation and all visits must be verified in writing by the college/university. It is asked that no college visits be made after 3rd quarter.

Q. Commencement Exercises

The Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation Exercises are high points in the lives of each student who passes through Sacred Heart High School . It is therefore expected that each Senior attend every practice for these two important events.

The Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be selected from the two highest-ranking students in the graduating class. This selection is determined at the end of the first semester of Senior year. Students should be enrolled for a minimum of two academic years to be considered for Valedictorian or Salutatorian.

R. Academic Eligibility for Extra-Curricular Activities

1. Students receiving two or more failures in any quarter are suspended from participation in any extra-curricular activity until progress reports are distributed. At the end of this period a review of current status will take place. Those students who continue with these or other failures will be ineligible until the end of the quarter. Students who meet eligibility requirements can rejoin the activity. A “U” in conduct will be equivalent to a failing grade.
2. Academic probation requires that students maintain the minimal eligibility status of the school. Students who do not maintain this status are subject to review and/or dismissal.
3. Academic Probation for 4th quarter failures (prior year):
   
   a.) Students are on Academic Probation until the 1st quarter progress reports are distributed. If they have two failing grades at that time they will be denied participation in extra-circular activities for two weeks, at which time their grades will be reviewed. If they are still failing, they will not be able to participate in any activities until the 1st quarter report cards are distributed and the failures have been eliminated.
   b.) If the student has attended and successfully completed summer school in the failing 4 th quarter subject(s), this will negate any ineligibility for the 1st quarter of the new school year. However, Academic Probation will still be in effect.
   
4. For student participation in interscholastic athletic competition the following N.J.S.I.A.A. guidelines are followed:
   
   a.) To be eligible for athletic competition during the first semester (September 1 to January 31) of the 10th grade or higher, or the second year of attendance in the secondary school or beyond, a pupil must have passed 25 % of the credits (27.5) required by the State of New Jersey for graduation (110), during the immediately preceding academic year.
   b.) To be eligible for athletic competition during the second semester (February 1 to June 30) of the 9th grade or higher, a pupil must have passed the equivalent of 12 ½ % of the credits (13.75) required by the State of New Jersey for graduation (110) at the close of the preceding semester (January 31). Full-year courses shall be equated as one-half of the total credits to be gained for the full year to determine credits passed during the immediately preceding semester.

S. Policy on Failures

No student will generally fail unless, in the judgment of the teacher, he/she has not shown sufficient effort. If a student fails three subjects on the first semester report or three subjects on the final report, he/she is liable to dismissal.

Each student is expected to successfully complete all major subjects. A major subject is defined as one that satisfies state and school requirements for graduation or a course that carries a credit value of 5 or above. Any student who receives a failing grade for the year must make-up that course in an approved summer school program before returning in September.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances as determined by the Administration, any incomplete grade (I) will become a failing grade (F) two weeks after the end of the marking period.

Seniors who fail any subject at the end of the year may not participate in Baccalaureate or Graduation exercises. They will receive their diplomas upon the successful completion of work in the course they have failed. To this end, they must attend summer school.

T. Summer School

A student who fails one or more subjects at the end of the school year must attend summer school. He/she is expected to remedy these failures or be dismissed from Sacred Heart High School .

U. Academic Honesty

Honesty in academic work is necessary for effective intellectual development and an accurate evaluation of student performance. More importantly, honesty is a moral demand of our faith. Consequently, academic dishonesty cannot be tolerated. This act can be liable to detention, suspension and a possible dismissal at the discretion of the Administration.

Among ways a student can be academically dishonest include: plagiarism, violating the rules of an assignment, copying from another student, discussing answers during an examination, using unauthorized material during a test or in completing an assignment, and impeding the academic progress of other students.

V. Make-Up Work

Make-up work for absence from school falls into the following categories:

W. School Library/Media Center

The school library/media center is located on the second floor of the building. The library/media center houses books, audio-visual materials, periodicals, professional journals and computers with Internet access.

X. School Counts!

School Counts ! is a program of the Business Coalition for Educational Excellence at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

The School Counts! program requires a student to: 1) keep at least a “C” average in all courses, 2) be present and punctual 95% of the school year, 3) take more than the minimum amount of credits required for graduation and 4) graduate in eight consecutive semesters. (By attending Sacred Heart, the last two criteria are automatically fulfilled.)

Students achieving all of these specific goals are designated as School Counts! Students and given a certificate of achievement that can be used by prospective employers in making hiring decisions. The School Counts! Student status can also be included on college applications to emphasize a student's academic performance.

Certificates are issued on an annual basis to students who meet the criteria of the School Counts! program.  There are different colored certificates for each year of high school:  blue for Freshmen, brown for Sophomores, red for Juniors and green for Seniors. The criteria are the same for all four certificates.  All certificates are issued on an annual basis except for the green certificate. Because Senior year is the last time a student can receive a School Counts! certificate, the green certificate is the student's exit document if he/she meets all of the criteria of the School Counts! program during the Senior year.  

Beginning with the Class of 2005, free tuition for two years is offered at Cumberland County College when a Cumberland County resident student graduates from Sacred Heart. This means that if a student keeps a “C” or above average in all courses and is punctual and present in school 95% of the time (i.e., not late or absent more than 9 times combined per year) for their four years at Sacred Heart , he/she is eligible for this tuition benefit if he/she decides to attend Cumberland County College .

There is no cost to enroll in this program and nothing is lost if the student decides not to attend the county college. Students wishing to participate in the program should contact the guidance department.

It is the student’s responsibility to register annually for the School Counts! Program. This process does not roll over automatically each year.

The official certificate that is awarded each year for participating in the program is recognized by the business community and gives preferential treatment to those who hold one when seeking job interviews with participating businesses statewide.

Whether applying for summer/seasonal, part-time or full-time employment, being a School Counts! Student will be to the student's advantage.

Further information can be found at: www.schoolcounts.org

Y. Dual Credit Courses

In a partnership with Cumberland County College and Camden County College , some of the courses offered at Sacred Heart earn a student college credits. A college representative assists in processing information from the students to the college. There are additional fees associated with this process. The Guidance Office should be contacted for further information.

College credits are posted on college transcripts and not on the high school transcript.

Z. Tech Prep

In an agreement with Cumberland County College , we are able to offer courses in the curriculum of Work-Readiness as recommended by the State of New Jersey . These courses offer college credits if a student enrolls at Cumberland County College . The Guidance Office should be contacted for further information.

AA. Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which offer the possibility of earning college credits, are offered at Sacred Heart. In order to be eligible to receive credits, a standardized test must be taken and passed at the level each individual college decides is acceptable. The level of achievement requirement varies from institution to institution. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain from individual colleges and universities the level of achievement necessary on the AP tests in order to be awarded college credits. There is a fee for the Administration of the AP test as determined by The College Board .

IV. DISCIPLINE

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Keeping in mind that Sacred Heart High School is a Catholic High School based on Christian principles, the Assistant Principal of Students, with the cooperation of the faculty and parents, has the following goals: to assist in the character development of the students, to help students assume responsibility for their actions, to make students aware of their obligations to others, and to provide an atmosphere conducive to education. Mindful of these goals, regulations and guidelines have been formulated in order to protect the school, the student, and the community. Priority will always be given to the good of the school community. Therefore, if a conflict arises between the individual student and the common good, preference will be given to the common good.

Sacred Heart High School imposes sanctions for various behavior that is not consistent with the proper atmosphere for a Catholic school. These sanctions are described in this portion of the handbook and common examples of behavior that may result in each type of sanction are listed. Please be aware that the Principal, the Assistant Principal of Students and other members of the Faculty and Administration may impose sanctions for offenses that are not listed if they conclude that the conduct or behavior is harmful to the good order and discipline of the school, its religious mission or its educational objectives. While this section explains typical disciplinary procedures, the Principal and Assistant Principal of Students have the authority to alter these procedures as they determine is warranted in a particular situation.

A. Code of Conduct

For the sake of good order and of public safety, students of Sacred Heart High School must observe certain regulations. These are basically matters of courtesy and common sense, which foster an effective learning environment and encourage Christian concern for the individual.

Proper decorum is expected from every student at all times. This includes all events in which Sacred Heart High School is represented or participatin