2015-16 Solebury School Student Handbook

The Owl for

The Oak Leaf for

The Plow for

The Beaver for

WISDOM

GROWTH & STRENGTH

CULTURE

INDUSTRY

SOLEBURY SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2015-2016

Solebury School 6832 Phillips Mill Rd New Hope, PA 18938-9682

MAIN OFFICE NUMBER:

215-862-5261 Website: www.solebury.org

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY: Before 4:30 p.m., call 215-862-5261.

From 4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m., call 215-783-0116.

From 5:30 p.m.—11:30 p.m., follow these steps: 1. Call one of the three faculty members on duty: 215-783-0114 (Holmquist Dorm) 215-783-0115 (Walter lamb Hall Dorm) 215-783-0229 (Appledore) 2. If you cannot make contact, call the administrator on duty: 215-783-0116 3. Weekend duty cell phones: 215-783-0114 215-783-0115 215-783-0229 267-716-4976 267-716-4977 267-716-4978 From 11:30 p.m.—8:00 a.m., call the administrator on duty (step 2 above).

Please do not call dormitories between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or any time after 11:00 p.m.

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SOLEBURY SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2015-2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS Calendar

page 3

Introduction and Welcome

page 5

Statement of Philosophy and Objectives

page 6

Academic Information

page 7

Student Leadership

page 21

Student Support Systems

page 22

General Information

page 24

School Rules and Policies

page 28

Boarding Student Information

page 47

Middle School Information

page 55

Day Student Information

page 56

Whom to Call

page 57

Index

page 58

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SOLEBURY SCHOOL

2015-2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR

(June 2015) August ‟15

30 31

Sun New Student/Family Gathering/Barbecue Mon Fall Sports Pre-Season begins and New Faculty Orientation (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

September ‟15 1 Tue New Faculty Orientation, continues (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

2, 3, 4 Wed,Thu, Fri: Faculty Meetings 4 Fri Proctors Arrive – before 4 p.m.

7 Mon Labor Day – all NEW International Boarding Students arrive 8 Tue Registration & Orientation for Students & Parents: (all New Boarders, all International Students, and all Returning Day Students) 9 Wed Registration & Orientation for Students & Parents (all New Middle School Students, all New Upper School Day Students, and all Returning Boarding Students).

10 Thu First Day of Classes (start at 8:00 a.m.)

11-13 Fri-Sun Community Weekend for Boarders (Boarding Students must remain on campus) 18-20 Fri-Sun Peer Leaders Outing 24 Thu New Parent Welcome Reception at Headmaster‟s House at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

25 Fri Class Trip Day October '15

3 9 12 13 14 16 17 18 23 27 28 30, 31

Sat Fri Mon Tue Wed Fri Sat Sun Fri Tue

SAT PARENTS DAY 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. School & Dormitory closed for long weekend.

School closed (Columbus Day) Faculty In-Service Day – Boarders return between 3:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Classes resume 8:00 a.m. // PSAT Soccer Under the Lights Board of Trustees Meeting 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Admissions OPEN HOUSE 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Coffee House – 7:30 p.m.

Faculty In-Service (8 – 10 a.m.). Assembly for all Students starts at 8:00 a.m. Classes start at 10:30 a.m.

Wed Jazz Roots Concert – 7:30 p.m.

Fri,Sat Community Weekend for Boarders (Boarding Students must remain on campus) // FriHaunted Woods

November '15 1 Sun Community Weekend continues 5, 6,7,8 Th,Fr,Sat Fall Drama Production at 7:30 p.m. & Sun Matinee at 3:00 p.m. // Sat: SAT 13 Fri Fall Student Musical Concert at 7:30 p.m.

16 Mon Middle School Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

18-20 We,Th,Fr Fall Trimester Exams – School Closes for Thanksgiving at 5:30 p.m. on Friday 29 Sun Boarders return between 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

30 Mon Winter Trimester Begins – Classes Resume 8:00 a.m.

December '15

5 13 16 17

Sat SAT Sun Community Holiday Gathering at Head‟s House Wed Cookies and Carols 7:00 p.m.

Thu Winter Vacation begins after last obligation. (Friday 12/18: travel day for International students, if needed)

January 2016

4 Mon Boarders Return between 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m 5 Tue Classes Resume 8:00 a.m. // Young Alumni Day 8,9,10 Fr.Sa,Su Community Weekend for Boarders (Boarding Students must remain on campus) 12 Tue Faculty In-Service (8 – 10 a.m.). Assembly for all Students starts at 8:00 a.m. Classes start at 10:30 a.m.

18 Mon Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – School Closed, but dorms remain open.

23 Sat. SAT 29 Fri Senior Class/Board of Trustees Dinner 30 Sat Board of Trustees Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).

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February '16

Mid-Winter Break begins after last obligation. Dorms close at 5:30 p.m. (2/8 Mon & 2/9 Tue - School Closed) 9 Tue Faculty In-Service Day – Boarders Return between 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

10 Wed Classes Resume 8:00 a.m.

12 Fri Coffee House and “Empty bowls” Fundraiser 18,19,20,21 Th,Fr,Sa,Su Winter Musical 7:30 p.m. Thur, Fri & Sat – Sat Matinee at 2:00 p.m. & Sun Matinee at 3:00 p.m.

26 Fri Winter Student Musical Concert 7:30 p.m. (snow date: Sat.2/27/2016 ) 28 Sun State of the Address School .

March '16

April '16

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3 21 22 5

Fri

Th Spring Vacation begins after last obligation. Dorms close at 5:30 p.m. // 5th Sat: Mon Faculty In-Service Day – Boarders Return between 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Tue Spring Trimester Begins – Classes Resume 8:00 a.m.

Tue

8,9,10 Fr,Sa,Su 14 Thu 15 Fri 17-23 18 29 29,30 .

May ‟16

.

June „16

Sun-Sat Mon Fri Fr, Sat

SAT .

Faculty In-Service (8 – 10 a.m.) Assembly for all Students starts at 8:00 a.m. Classes start at 10:30 a.m.

Community Weekend for Boarders (Boarding Students must remain on campus) Coffee House – 7:30 p.m.

Parents Day (No Classes) & PROM (7:00 p.m.to 11:00 p.m.)& Middle School trip to Washington, D.C. ARTS FESTIVAL Jazz Roots Concert – 7:30 p.m. PAC Rock Band Concert – 7:30 p.m.

ALUMNI WEEKEND // Sat.: Athletic Hall of Fame 1:00 p.m.; Dinner Auction 5:30 p.m.

1 Sun ALUMNI WEEKEND // Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

2 – 13 Mon-Fri Scheduled AP Exams 5,6,7 Th,Fr,Sa Spring Drama Production at 7:30 p.m. // Sat.: SAT 16 Mon Senior Projects Begin 19, 20 Th,Fri Middle School Play at 12:55 p.m. on Thursday & 7:30 p.m. on Friday 21 Sat Athletic Banquet 28-30 Sat-Mon Memorial Day Weekend – School and Dormitories close at 3:30 p.m. on Friday 5/27 30 Mon Boarders Return between 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

31 Tue. Classes resume at 8 am .

3 Fri 4 Sat 6,7 Mon,Tue 6 Mon 7-9 Tu,Wed,Th 9 Th 10 Fri 11 Sat 13,14 Mon,Tue

Special Class Schedule & Prize Day // Spring Student Musical Concert 7:30 p.m. in PAC SAT Senior Project Presentations: 7:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.

Reading Day Spring Trimester and Final EXAMS Middle School Graduation and Dessert: 7:00 p.m. John D. Brown Athletic Center Senior Dinner at 5:30 p.m. at John D. Brown Athletic Center Graduation at 10:00 a.m. (dorms close at 5 p.m.)

Faculty Meetings 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. for DAY STUDENTS and continues until the last scheduled commitment, which can be as late as 5:30 p.m.

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Dear Solebury Students and Parents, On behalf of the faculty and staff, I want to welcome you to the Solebury School community.

At Solebury, you will find a casual, friendly atmosphere permeating the community, a school where teachers and students greet each other by their first names, a school dedicated to removing the barriers between students and teachers and replacing formality with a sense of ―We’re in this together and it’s fun and exciting.‖ Nestled on a rolling 90-acre campus in the Pennsylvania countryside, Solebury students and faculty pursue learning as an exciting, shared endeavor between teachers and students. This unique approach to education is not happenstance, but rather the cornerstone to Solebury’s educational philosophy, dating back to the vision of the four founders in 1925. To achieve and sustain this vibrant atmosphere, Solebury is crafted to be intentionally small. Our size fosters quality communication among our students, teachers, and parents, and enables our teachers to really get to know their students as individuals. At Solebury, the individual is prized.

Solebury students do not fit a mold, but in their dress, their avocations, and their passions, they are encouraged to express themselves and to strive for their personal excellence, intellectually, artistically, and athletically. The result is a magical learning environment, characterized by a wonderful tension between creativity and diversity, balanced against an ethos of cooperative learning between students and teachers.

To sustain our community, it is important that we have a set of clear and fair expectations for us all. These expectations are set forth in this Handbook, which reflects a great deal of work by administrators, faculty, and students over the years. Because the Handbook contains policies and information about student and parent rights and responsibilities, parents and students are responsible for knowing its contents. Therefore, please read the Handbook carefully to become familiar with the rules in effect as we begin the school year. Please understand that the school reserves the right to interpret its contents and make changes at any time, and note also that this Handbook is not a contract, nor is it intended to be so construed. The most current version of the Handbook will always be available on the School’s website for your easy reference, and we encourage you to ask us any questions about its contents. (One area of the Handbook that is especially helpful is the Whom to Call section.)

Solebury is a unique and exciting school—a community that will foster your learning and growth, academically and socially. We are a community where our many differences are both celebrated and nourished. I encourage you to seize the many opportunities we offer—in the classrooms, on stage, in the music and art rooms, on the playing fields and courts, and in community service—get involved! As we begin the new year, I encourage you to commit yourself to contribute your unique strengths and abilities toward achieving your personal excellence and enriching the Solebury School community.

Sincerely, Tom Wilschutz Head of School 5

Solebury School’s Mission Solebury School’s mission is to create an environment of educational excellence that prepares students for success in college and beyond. In the Solebury community, we strongly value intellectual challenge and academic achievement, creative and independent thinking, mutual respect between students and teachers, deep respect for each individual, and diversity.

Statement of Philosophy & Objectives Challenging and Innovative Academics We believe that all young people love to learn, and we view it as our responsibility to develop a challenging and creative curriculum that makes this curiosity a lifelong trait. We push students to investigate, to question, and to make connections between disciplines. Our academically demanding curriculum, high expectations, and the dedicated, personal involvement of our teachers ensure that every student is prepared for higher learning.

Students and Teachers – A Partnership in Learning Strong and positive relationships between students and teachers are central to the Solebury School experience. By remaining small and eliminating some of the formalities that traditionally separate students and faculty, we create a culture of mutual respect within the Solebury community. At Solebury, learning truly becomes a joint venture. Energized by the close, working relationships they form with teachers, students perform at their highest level in the classroom and the art room, on the stage and the athletic field. Mentored by faculty, students learn to take responsibility for their own learning and lives, and so prove successful in college and adulthood.

Profound Respect for the Individual We are guided by a profound respect for the individual, as we recognize the need to balance individual freedom with responsibility to the community. Solebury students do not have to fit a mold. All are valued for the talents and traits they bring to the school; all are encouraged to explore their passions and to make the school stronger through their performance.

The Importance of Diversity At Solebury, there is a basic, inherent respect for differences, and we are dedicated to embracing diversity in an expansive way. The diversity of our student body and staff enriches our school and helps students see beyond stereotypes. This appreciation of differences is crucial in a world that increasingly demands that people live and work with those unlike themselves.

A Relevant Education During their years here, Solebury students develop habits of reflection and critical thinking that are crucial to an understanding of self and society. Because we understand that individual success is intertwined with the larger world, we actively encourage students to become engaged in improving their community. Solebury School offers an academic program relevant to the lives of students and to the social, economic, political, and environmental issues of the day. A Solebury education is a solid foundation for broad and long-lasting success in academics and in life.

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ACADEMIC INFORMATION 2015—2016 The courses described in this bulletin comprise Solebury School's academic program.

Although each discipline teaches its own skills and its own methods, they have common goals of teaching you how to learn, how to solve problems, and how to become as effective a person as you can be.

REQUIREMENTS A minimum of 109 credits is required for graduation, distributed in the following manner: REQUIRED 24 English (required each trimester) 18 Mathematics * 18 Foreign Language ** 12 Science (Conceptual Physics and Biology required) 12 Social Studies (U.S. History required) 6 Arts 1 Health *** Electives to bring total credits to 109

RECOMMENDED 24 English 24 Mathematics 18 Foreign Language 18 Science 18 Social Studies 6 Arts 1 Health Electives #

* Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II & Trigonometry meet the mathematics requirement. ** Three years of the same foreign language are required. In extraordinary circumstances, this requirement may be modified or waived. A grade of C- is required for a student to be promoted to the second or third year. A grade of B- is required for promotion beyond the third year of study. *** Required of all students who enter Solebury before eleventh grade. # Students who apply to competitive colleges usually have 132 to 156 credits at graduation.

Every student must carry a minimum of 27 credits each year, or 9 each trimester. Most full-year and trimester courses earn 2 credits each trimester. Health, Information Literacy, Advanced Computer, Chorus, Studio Arts, and Theater Arts classes earn 1 credit each trimester.

In order to be guaranteed a spot in the senior class, juniors must be on track for graduation when the school year ends in June. For example, a junior who fails Spanish II is no longer on track to complete our foreign language graduation requirement by the end of senior year. Consequently, students in such positions may not be invited to return.

Depending on the severity of the case, some students may be allowed to make up the credit in summer school; however, we cannot guarantee that their spot in the senior class will remain open.

NON-ACADEMIC GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Community Service – Students from grades nine through twelve will be expected to complete 10 hours per year of approved community service. Middle school students will be required to complete 5 hours per year. All International students must complete their community service in the United States or on school-sanctioned community service trips.

Those entering Solebury after seventh grade will not be required to make up the lost hours from previous years because the requirement begins with the year of the student’s 7

enrollment. Any number of hours above the required 10 hours per year will count toward the next year’s requirement. Therefore, a student might conceivably satisfy his/her entire requirement in 1 year.

Sports and Activities – All students are required to participate in a supervised after school activity or interscholastic team sport each trimester. Activities meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, while athletic teams meet daily and may have weekend practices and games.

Students select activities from a list of choices over the summer for the upcoming school year; however, students still have the opportunity to change activities at the beginning of each trimester during the drop/add period. Participation in a physical activity is required during at least two of the three trimesters. Activities and sports offered include, but are not limited to, the following:        

Theater and Musical Productions Soccer Basketball Newspaper Wrestling Yoga Baseball Ultimate Frisbee

Independent Activities, another option available, are opportunities for students to receive credit for continuing a physical activity or sport that Solebury does not already offer (i.e. ballet, competitive swimming, figure skating, etc.). Proposals for Independent Activities must be submitted prior to the trimester and are subject to approval by the Director of Athletics.

Team Sports Solebury School fields Varsity and Junior Varsity athletic teams who compete interscholastically. We encourage all students to participate because we believe that healthy competition and physical exertion are integral components of adolescent development.

Toward these goals, the teams will generally play more experienced players and those with demonstrated talent and athleticism. Substitutions will be made both with an eye toward winning games and allowing students to grow and develop experience. However, teams do not guarantee playing time nor distribute it based on participation alone. Each student must earn playing time, and it can be a valuable life lesson for a student to learn that others have more ability in certain areas.

ATTENDANCE POLICIES Classes – Attendance in class is a requirement of all Solebury courses. A student who misses more than 25% of the classes in a course may not receive credit for that course, even if the absences are excused absences. If this produces a situation where a student may not be eligible to successfully complete an academic year, he or she may be required to withdraw from Solebury. In extraordinary cases, a student may appeal the application of this rule to the Head of School, who will appoint an ad hoc committee to make a recommendation. In addition, a student who misses more than 25% of the classes in one trimester of a full-year course will receive a grade of F for that trimester. The student would, of course, still have the 8

opportunity to pass the course for the year by earning high enough grades in the other two trimesters. Science lab sessions are not part of the 25% rule; however, incompletes may be given in a class when labs are not done. Class sessions missed due to late enrollment still count against the 25% Attendance Rule, so it is wise to learn as much as possible about each course prior to enrolling.

College Visitation Process – Visiting colleges is essential. Ten minutes on a college campus talking with actual students will reveal more about the school than reading an entire admissions catalog.

Schedule as many visits during Solebury vacations as possible, and try to visit when the college’s classes are in session. Summer visits are also encouraged to help minimize absences from Solebury classes. Some colleges offer Saturday tours and interviews during the academic year. In addition, we do recommend staying overnight during the college’s academic year because this is an excellent way to experience campus life. Many schools have overnight hosts to facilitate this process.

Plan any visits early. At some of the more popular schools, appointments need to be scheduled at least 6 weeks in advance. Think ahead and plan an itinerary if visiting more than one school. If you cancel an appointment for any reason, call and let the college admissions office know immediately.

In order to be excused from school for a college visit, students must meet with the College Counselor to discuss their plans and fill out the College Visitation Form. Students must have each of their teachers sign the form and then must return it to the College Counselor. As part of the final college visitation process, the student must give a note signed by the college’s or university’s admissions department to Solebury’s College Guidance Director acknowledging their visit. Students must give at least 2 weeks’ notice before the visit, or they risk having any absence treated as unexcused.

Planned Absences from School – Missing class is detrimental to students’ academic work.

They miss important material, lose the opportunity to ask questions, and often fall behind on tests and quizzes. While some of this work can be ―made up‖ (i.e., readings can be done at home and quizzes taken at a different time), many aspects of a class simply are lost. Science labs, for example, cannot be recreated for a single student, and class discussions or lectures cannot be reconstructed, no matter how many conference periods are attended. We do not ask our teachers to be responsible for remediation of a student who has missed school.

Furthermore, most courses at Solebury include class participation in calculating an average, and absence from class weighs negatively in this area.

Note: When students miss school, no matter the reason, they must realize that they are risking their academic success.

We recognize, however, that on rare occasions situations arise that may necessitate an absence. When that happens, families need to request permission from the Director of Studies (or the College Counselor if the absence is for college visits) at least 2 weeks in advance. Even with this advance warning, the aforementioned difficulties still apply, but there will be no punitive consequence. If the request is made less than 2 weeks in advance, Solebury School may treat the absence as unexcused.

Sports and Activities – Attendance in sports and activities is required at Solebury. A student who misses more than 25% of an activity or sport may not receive credit, even if the absences are excused absences. In extraordinary cases, a student may appeal the application of this rule to the Head of School, who will appoint an ad hoc committee to make a recommendation.

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In a given trimester, a student cannot miss more than 9 days of an activity or 11 days of a sport.

SENIORS In order to qualify for a diploma, a senior must pass all courses attempted or make up the credit. A senior who fails a trimester course in the fall or winter may make up the lost credit by taking an additional trimester course in the following trimester. A failure of a full-year or spring trimester course must be made up in an approved, accredited summer school.

Senior Projects – On May 16, some seniors will leave campus to work as apprentices or volunteers, conduct independent research, or pursue creative projects. To qualify, a senior must be in good social and academic standing, have the permission of all his/her teachers, and have a proposal approved by the Senior Projects Committee. Seniors return to campus to present their projects to the school on June 6 and June 7. For seniors on Senior Project, all coursework ends on May 13.

Guidelines and Overview: Senior projects are intended to allow seniors in good academic and social standing (see notes below in Academic & Social Requirements) to spend the final 3 weeks of school exploring a career path they may be interested in pursuing; a career path they may not be interested in pursuing, but would like to experience; or perhaps a personal cause, among many other directions. The project requires that the student be actively involved in hands-on experience—not just going to someone’s office, for example, and stuffing envelopes or answering the phone for 3 weeks. Students are encouraged to avoid working in a family business. Typically, we have students who intern with mentors in various areas of health care, politics, and agriculture (for example, a veterinarian or an organic farmer); with organizations such as Planned Parenthood, the SPCA, or environmental groups; and in various independent projects. The list is not limited to the areas mentioned. The student’s academic work is completed before the beginning of the Senior Project.

Important Dates: Fri, February 19 Wed, April 30

Full description of proposal due.

ALL DETAILS COMPLETE, including signatures (parents, Senior Project Mentor, etc.)

Note: All project re-writes and permission forms must be returned by the deadlines. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of the project.

Mon-Fri, April 11 - 15 Friday, May 13 Monday, May 16 Friday, June 3 Sunday, June 5 Mon & Tues, June 6 & 7, @7:00 p.m.

Final decisions by committee All academic work must be completed.

Projects begin.

Projects end.

Boarders return Sunday evening, or earlier with permission from the Dean of Students and the Dorm Head.

Project presentations in the Abbe building All seniors participating in projects must attend ALL sessions.

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Permission: Permission must be obtained in writing from all of the following (forms will be provided at the meetings with seniors): 1. Senior Project Mentor 2. Parent/Guardian 3. All of the student’s teachers 4. Senior Project Supervisor Academic and Social Requirements: 1. The student must meet all academic course requirements by May 13th.

2. The student must fulfill all non-academic obligations.

3. To be eligible to go on Senior Project, a student must be in ―good academic standing‖ at the time applications are due to the committee. ―Good academic standing‖ means that the student is NOT on ―Academic Warning‖.

Note: The 25% rule for class absences will apply to the 8 weeks of classes that meet before projects begin, and include both lab and evening classes.

The committee will not consider an application of a student who is not in good academic standing. Furthermore, the student must remain in good academic standing throughout the Senior Project process.

4. The student must be in ―good social standing‖, which means that if a student goes before Judiciary Committee for breaking a major school rule during the school year, the project may be cancelled and the student will complete the year on campus. Senior projects will be referred to the Dean of Students; if there is a question, the committee will consult with the Dean.

5. Students whose projects have been cancelled can appeal to have their projects reinstated.

They must write an essay stating why they should be allowed to continue to participate in Senior Project and give it to the Dean of Students, who will then appoint the appropriate committee to review the appeal.

Requirements: 1. The Senior Project Supervisor will call the student’s Senior Project Mentor during the project to see that all requirements are met. If not, the student must return to campus, where all academic work missed will be made up.

2. Each student will present during final presentations.

3. Students must work on average a minimum of 6 hours a day (30 hours per week) at the site and keep a journal/portfolio of experiences. These will be collected at the end of the presentations and are now a graduation requirement.

4. Students may not earn money for the work done on Senior Project.

5. Students must provide transportation to and from the project.

6. Students must provide the Senior Project Committee with a list of commitments for which they need to be on campus.

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EARLY GRADUATION Occasionally, a student comes along who is so far advanced in several disciplines that he or she will be ready for college a year early. Such students have completed all requirements, exhausted all the opportunities of our curriculum, and essentially would have nothing to gain by a further year of high school. In these extremely rare cases, we recommend that the student skip the sophomore year of high school, rather than the junior or senior year, because the college search process (including PSAT’s, SAT’s, etc.) is distorted by foreshortening and puts the student at a disadvantage. Such planning, therefore, needs to be done very early.

The Director of Studies will not approve this plan if the student will be only minimally prepared for college. It is always wiser to remain in high school and be maximally prepared for college.

DROP/ADD POLICY In September, students may drop or add courses until the tenth day of classes. At the start of the winter and spring trimesters, students may drop or add a new trimester course until the fifth day of classes. In rare cases, the Director of Studies may grant exceptions after consulting with the teacher. Class sessions missed due to late enrollment still count against the 25% Attendance Rule, so it is wise to learn as much as possible about each course prior to enrolling.

Permission to withdraw from a course may in some cases be granted by the Director of Studies after the drop/add period is over; however, a student may not withdraw solely to avoid a failure. A withdrawal appears permanently on the student's record (W), but does not affect the student's grade point average. A student who withdraws from a class with an Academic Warning range grade (D+ or lower) is placed on Academic Warning for the remainder of the trimester.

GRADING Grading is on a 4-point scale: A+ (97 - 100) = 4.333 B+ (87 - 89) = 3.333 C+ (77 - 79) = 2.333 D+ (67 - 69) = 1.333 F (59 or less) = 0.000

A (93 - 96) = 4.000 B (83 - 86) = 3.000 C (73 - 76) = 2.000 D (63 - 66) = 1.000

A- (90 - 92) = 3.666 B- (80 - 82) = 2.666 C- (70 - 72) = 1.666 D- (60 - 62, lowest passing grade) = 0.666

Four other grades are possible: P = Pass; NG = No Grade (used for audits); W = Withdrawn; and I = Incomplete. P, NG, and W are not used in grade-point-average (GPA) computations. The grade of I (incomplete) is converted to an F (failure) if the work is not made up within the deadline specified by the teacher. GPA computations are withheld until the Incomplete is converted to a standard (A - F) letter grade.

Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses will move at an accelerated and generally pre-determined pace. Teachers will not have the luxury of slowing the pace or providing inordinate extra help to remediate students who struggle beyond the norm. Seeking additional help in conference or through tutoring is the responsibility of the student.

Frequently, we receive requests from students who do not meet the prerequisites to be allowed to join an Honors course. Occasionally, teachers will oblige that request, but students and families must understand the reality and nature of Honors courses.

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Final Examinations Final examinations may count as much as 25% of the grade for the trimester in which they are taken.

GRADE WEIGHTING Students who undertake more challenging programs are rewarded in the computation of their grade point average. Honors and AP courses are weighted at Solebury School. The bonus will not be added to the course grade itself, but will be used in calculating the grade point average. The Honors bonus will be 0.333 and the AP bonus will be 0.666.

Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses will move at an accelerated and generally pre-determined pace. Teachers will not have the luxury of slowing the pace or providing inordinate extra help to remediate students who struggle beyond the norm. Seeking additional help in conference or through tutoring is the responsibility of the student.

Frequently, we receive requests from students who do not meet the prerequisites to be allowed to join an Honors course. Occasionally, teachers will oblige that request, but students and families must understand the reality and nature of Honors courses.

Honors:

AP:

Ethics Honors Algebra IA Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II & Trigonometry Honors American Literature Honors Theory History Thesis Honors Biology Honors Chemistry Honors Environmental Science Honors Pre-Calculus French IV Honors Spanish IV Honors Honors English 9 Honors English 10 Shakespeare’s Problem Plays Greek Mythology Reading and Writing Poetry Art, Argument, and Advocacy

AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Chemistry AP English Literature AP French Language AP Physics AP Spanish Language AP Statistics AP Studio Art AP US Government and Politics AP US History

HONORS AND HIGH HONORS A student is placed on the Academic Honors List if he or she earns a grade point average (GPA) of 3.000 (B) or higher. A student is placed on High Honors if he or she earns a GPA of 3.666 (A-) or higher. However, no student will be given Honors or High Honors recognition if a grade of D+ or lower is entered for that trimester. Students on Honors and High Honors are eligible for special privileges, including optional daytime study hall.

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HOMEWORK All students should expect to have 30-45 minutes of homework per school night, including Sunday night, in each full-credit subject. Most students will have some daytime study hours available to do homework, but almost all students will find that they need to do homework in the evening as well. If your child is ill for a day or two, the work can be completed at home, as well as in conference, so that subsequent classes do not lose continuity.

Some teachers may assign homework over vacations.

All parents have the right to help their children with homework, but it is sometimes hard to know the difference between ―helping‖ and doing the student’s work oneself. In general, we would prefer that you show your child how to find the answer, and resist the impulse to tell him/her the answer. If you are in doubt about how much help to give, or if you have questions about your child’s study skills in a particular discipline, contact the teacher or call the Director of Studies.

Note: Students who are ill are responsible for emailing or calling teachers and/or classmates to get assignments. Students should also check Moodle to get their assignments.

ACADEMIC HONESTY It is intellectually dishonest and unfair, both to yourself and your classmates, to submit as your own the words, ideas, corrections, data, solutions, or opinions of another. Because intellectual honesty is the basis of scholarship, plagiarism and other forms of cheating cannot be tolerated in an academic community. Violators of the principles of Academic Honesty will face serious consequences, which may include expulsion. Any student who facilitates an act of academic dishonesty has committed the same offense, and thus will be subject to the same penalty as the violator.

As a college preparatory school, Solebury has an obligation to train students in a way that will allow them to participate meaningfully in an academic community and in accordance with widely accepted standards. Each student therefore has the responsibility to learn and uphold these standards immediately upon entering Solebury. In order to help the student achieve that end, we will do the following:  Explain the importance of Academic Honesty during New Student Orientation.  Address the issues of Academic Honesty in a September all-school assembly.  Review the Academic Honesty policy in all classes at the start of the year and discuss the type of transgressions that are typical of each subject.  Distribute in all English classes a printed copy of the Academic Honesty Policy and answer any questions regarding it. We stress, however, that Academic Honesty spans the entire curriculum and is imperative in all disciplines and courses.

All acts of academic dishonesty are serious, but some rise to the level of flagrant dishonesty.

Both for educational and disciplinary purposes, we have created two categories that are defined below. Each act of dishonesty will be evaluated by the Director of Studies and the teacher of the course to decide the severity of the offense and thus the appropriate punishment. Factors that may go into the categorization of the offense are the nature of the assignment, level of deception, age of the student, and prior offenses (including other classes and previous years). The consequences described below are illustrative of what one may expect although the Director of Studies and the Judiciary Committee are not bound by them.

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Offenses – Type 1: Serious: Although undoubtedly violating the standards of Academic Honesty, such offenses may result from inexperience, or occur on smaller assignments. We understand that, in some cases, the student does not intend to deceive, but ignorance does not excuse a violation of Academic Honesty. Examples include:  Mild-to-moderate errors in paraphrasing or citation.  Copying another student’s homework.  Copying data for a lab report without acknowledging its origin.  Getting unapproved help, or cheating, on a limited part of a paper, quiz, examination, lab, project, etc.  Using a translator for a limited part of an assignment.  Helping a student commit a ―serious‖ violation.

Consequences for Serious Acts: First Time: 1. The student receives a zero on the assignment and other consequences to be decided by the teacher.

2. The student will meet with the teacher, advisor, and the Director of Studies to review all types of academic dishonesty.

3. A letter will be sent home informing parents of the incident and of the consequences for further acts of academic dishonesty.

Second Time: 1. The student receives a zero on the assignment and other consequences to be decided by the teacher.

2. The student will review all types of academic dishonesty with the advisor and/or another teacher.

3. The student will be sent to Judiciary Committee and face probable suspension.

4. If suspended, the student will have a re-entry meeting with the advisor, the Dean of Students, the Director of Studies, and parents.

Third Time: 1. The student will be sent to Judiciary Committee and face possible expulsion.

Type 2: Flagrant: These are the most egregious offenses and result in the most severe penalties. The intent is willful and deceptive. Typically, these offenses are ones in which a large portion of an assignment is taken from another source without proper acknowledgement. Examples include:  Major errors in paraphrasing or citation.  Cheating, including the use of prohibited materials during a quiz, test, exam, etc.  Fabricating sources.  Using a translator for a significant part of an assignment.  Plagiarizing major portions of a written assignment, whether from online, electronic, or printed sources.  Acquiring or distributing information on a quiz or test prior to that evaluation.  Getting unapproved help on a major part of a paper, examination, lab, project, etc.  Submitting the same major assignment for more than one course.  Helping a student commit a ―flagrant‖ offense.  Any offense that has been preceded by a ―serious‖ offense.

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Consequences for Flagrant Acts: First Time: 1. The student receives a zero on the assignment and other consequences to be decided by the teacher.

2. The student will review all types of academic dishonesty with the advisor and/or another teacher.

3. The student will be sent to Judiciary Committee and face probable suspension or possible expulsion.

4. If suspended, the student will have a re-entry meeting with the advisor, the Dean of Students, the Director of Studies, and parents.

Second Time: 1. The student will be sent to Judiciary Committee and face probable expulsion.

ACADEMIC WARNING A student who is failing a course (F), who has received an Incomplete (I), or who has two or more grades below C- is placed on the Academic Warning List. The Academic Warning List is prepared six times a year; however, a teacher may issue a warning at any time. Students on Academic Warning automatically lose any privileges they may have earned or are entitled to, may be given special study conditions, and remain on Academic Warning until the next time grades are formally collected. Students who withdraw from a class with a grade within Academic Warning range (D+ or lower) are placed on Academic Warning for the remainder of the trimester.

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE The Academic Committee is made up of teachers and students. This group meets, at the discretion of the Director of Studies and chair of the committee, with certain students in need of academic counsel. The most important role of the Academic Committee is to work with these students to develop a plan for improvement (with the student’s and advisor’s input), which may include new obligations (such as mandatory teacher meetings and restricted free periods). The Academic Committee also may place a student on Academic Probation.

ACADEMIC PROBATION Academic Probation is the most serious academic status at Solebury School. Students on Academic Probation must demonstrate improvement, as measured by the school, or they may be subject to dismissal.

LEARNING SKILLS and THE BRIDGE PROGRAM The Learning Skills (LS) Program is a separate program within the school for students with average or above-average intelligence and learning differences in verbal areas. Over the years, students with learning differences have often been honor students, outstanding artists, star athletes, and student leaders at Solebury School. We value these students and make reasonable accommodations to help them achieve in a challenging academic community.

The Learning Skills (LS) Program includes the Bridge Program. The Bridge Program is designed for the student who meets the criteria for the LS Program, but does not need the 16

same intense, daily, specialized skills and English instruction. A student in the Bridge Program will be placed in a mainstreamed English class, will have a scheduled Bridge Program assistance class, and study halls in the Bridge program room. During that scheduled class and during the study halls, the Bridge student will work with a highly skilled specialist/advocate who will assist the student in developing the skills necessary to be an independent learner and who understands their effective means of study and learning.

Because it is an extension of the LS Program, the Bridge Program students and faculty will have access to the specialized infrastructure of the LS Program, as well as the total knowledge and skill of the LS faculty. What follows is a summary of the kinds of help that are and are not available.

An important strength of Solebury’s Learning Skills (LS) Program is that it exists within a college-preparatory school. It is assumed that LS students have chosen Solebury’s program because it is a college-preparatory, mainstream program with LS support. Their diploma is a regular Solebury diploma, not a special-program diploma. LS students take pride in knowing that they have met the same standards other students have met. Because LS students, as well as a number of other students at Solebury, have learning differences, Solebury will make whatever reasonable and appropriate accommodations it can to help students meet those standards. Accommodation, however, does not mean changing the standards themselves. LS students and other students with learning differences should expect to read the same texts, attend the same classes (LS English usually replaces group English classes), complete the same projects, write the same papers, and take the same tests as their classmates without learning differences.

Because Solebury is a small independent school with an emphasis on creativity, innovation, and individuality, some features are commonly available to all students, whether or not they have learning differences. These include:      

Small class size A safe learning environment of mutual respect Regularly scheduled extra-help conferences Opportunities for peer tutoring or study groups Use of computers for word-processing or other tasks Creative, innovative teaching

Solebury teachers have a great deal of freedom in designing their courses and establishing classroom policies. Some teachers, for example, routinely allow extra time for tests; others only by special arrangement. Some teachers often give open-book tests; others never do.

Although some non-LS teachers are experienced at tailoring lessons to individual learning styles, it is safest to assume that not all non-LS teachers have this expertise. Therefore, when accommodations are needed, the LS teacher is the primary advocate on campus. The LS teacher will coordinate with the student’s other teachers, who are not specially trained in teaching students with learning differences, so that the student has the maximum chance of acquiring the skills and knowledge taught in those classes.

Accommodations will vary on a case-by-case basis, and all accommodations need to be arranged in advance. Although LS teachers act as advocates, a key goal of the LS Program is to teach students to advocate for themselves, as they will need to do in college. Other students with diagnosed learning differences, or their parents, may request that the Director of Studies or the Director of the LS Program serve as the student’s advocate. Below is a list of the sorts of accommodations that can be made, if appropriate for the individual and if arranged in advance.

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ACCOMMODATIONS THAT MAY BE GRANTED BY ARRANGEMENT  Textbooks on tape (requires sign-up some months in advance)  Extended (but not unlimited) time for tests  Permission to copy another student’s class notes or, if available, the teacher’s notes  Permission to use a laptop computer or other electronic aid in class  Use of a word processor for tests and quizzes  Test directions (or whole tests) read aloud  Permission to take tests in a distraction-free environment  Limited oral testing to supplement written tests  Alternate demonstrations of competence or extra-credit assignments, if deemed appropriate  Homework assignments in writing or assignment book checks  Frequent reminders of deadlines  Extra advance notice of written assignments  Reasonable extensions of deadlines, if requested in advance  Preferential classroom seating  Conferences with teachers, as appropriate  Regular telephone or email reports to parents by advisors or LS teachers  Duplicate texts (available for purchase in the bookstore) However, it is important to let families know that some accommodations will not be possible, either because we are such a small school or because we feel they could not be implemented without compromising standards. Below is a partial list.

SOME ACCOMMODATIONS THAT CANNOT BE GRANTED  Texts of a reading level or difficulty lower than those used by the class  Shorter assignments than those for other students in the class  Written versions of classroom activities  Adaptive testing that avoids course requirements or skills taught in the course  Use of electronic aids when test security would be compromised (e.g., spell checker in a spelling test)  Grades based primarily on effort or improvement rather than achievement  Exemption from major course requirements, including homework and class attendance  Printed course syllabi  Formal written reports to parents beyond those provided for all students For accommodations unrelated to learning differences, such as medical or physical disabilities, please see the section on Student Disability Accommodations.

LIBRARY Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Weekends, opened as needed by the On-Duty staff.

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On certain occasions, the library may be closed at the discretion of the librarian.

The Founders Library offers the Solebury School community a wide array of resources.

The circulating collection numbers approximately 10,000 items, including non-print materials.

All circulating material may be checked out for 4 weeks. Further renewals may be arranged.

Solebury is a member of the AccessPA Inter-library Loan Program, which allows borrowing from libraries statewide. Borrowing periods for inter-library loan materials are determined by the lending libraries.

Electronic resources in the library are available campus-wide through the Solebury network. All online resources are accessible via the library’s website at: www.soleburyschoollibrary.wikispaces.com. Online subscriptions are regularly reviewed, and may vary slightly from those listed. Many of these resources are accessible off-site, and the passwords for each database are available on the library’s website.

There are computers available for student use. When the computers are not in use by a class, students may use them for research, word-processing, and class assignments. Printers, scanners, and photocopiers are available for student use.

Note: School computers are for school activities only. No non-school related gaming or video watching is allowed. Also, students are not permitted to be on Facebook during school hours when on school computers.

(For further library policies, please refer to the ―Library‖ section under School Rules and Policies.)

COMPUTERS Solebury School’s computers use Microsoft (MS) Windows operating systems, and offer MS Office, Internet Explorer, and Adobe Acrobat among other programs. All campus computers are connected to the Solebury network and have high-speed Internet access. Our academic departments also have several in-classroom computers, as well as many laptops and Promethean White Boards. Computers for student use can also be found in the English as a Second Language Suite, Learning Skills, and the girls’ and boys’ dorms.

While every effort is made on the part of the information technology staff to ensure that all hardware and software are in top running order, unfortunately, files can become damaged. When this happens, if we are unable to recover files, the student will be responsible for reproducing the necessary work. We recommend that students back up their work frequently on a Thumb drive or on their folder, which is located on the school’s server.

DAILY EXPECTATIONS Advisory – Advisory meetings are every Monday from 3:10 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Advisory is a time when students have an opportunity to touch base with their advisor as well as other students who share the same advisor. Discussions, outings, and food are also a part of this meeting.

Assembly – Assembly takes place twice a week. Tuesday assembly begins at 2:25 p.m., and the end time varies according to the assembly for that day. Friday assembly is 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Attendance is required, and you must sit with your advisor.

Announcements are made, and details of school business and routine are carried out. Special programs involving outside resources, speakers, and performers are scheduled as often as feasible.

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Classes – Classes meet for approximately 6 periods, Monday – Friday. During the fall trimester, all new students will meet with Peer Leaders on Mondays from 9:50 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Bells signal the start and end of each class period, and there is also a warning bell at 7:55 a.m.

Note: Food and drink are not allowed in the classrooms or the library.

Conference Period and Office Hours – Conference period is every Tuesday from 12:55 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. During this time, all teachers will be in their classrooms, offices, or a designated place. Along with conference period, teachers have designated office hours where students can make an appointment, drop in, or be required to attend by a teacher. A student who misses a required conference appointment receives a detention.

Daily Schedule – Details and questions regarding the schedule will be addressed at student orientation or you can speak with the Director of Studies.

Day Student Drivers – All student drivers must park their at the John Brown Athletic Center parking lot during the Academic Day (Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:15pm). The student’s car must remain parked until the day is over and may not drive to their activity or sport.

Students are not allowed to park in the area between the boys’ dorm and the dining hall and that includes the grass by the tennis courts. A student is not allowed to go off campus before activity or sports have begun unless permission has been granted. Student drivers are not allowed to drop their passengers off in the main circle. On the weekends, student drivers are allowed to drop students off in the circle.

Daytime and Evening Study Halls – Supervised study hall will be held either in the Learning Skills Suite or in the Library during the designated period. A student must obtain a note from the teacher they will be meeting with to leave study hall. All students who do not have classes must attend, except seniors in good standing (i.e., not on Academic Warning) and underclass-persons on Honors. Students exempted from study hall may study in the library, student lounge, or in empty classrooms.

Note: Music can be played during study hall with the use of headphones only! However, at the discretion of the study hall proctor, the head phones may be confiscated if there is too much noise being produced or it creates any kind of distraction.

Evening Study Hours – The hours of 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, are designated for study. All boarding students are expected to be in a supervised study hall, including those who have earned ―Room Study.‖ (See the Dorm Handbook and ―Daytime Study Hall‖ section above for more detailed guidelines.) Students who wish to miss evening study hall must speak with the Dean of Students to obtain permission to miss study hall.

Kitchen/Dining Hall Duty – Every student is placed in a rotating schedule to serve, clean up, and assist in food service. Boarding students are split into groups, with each group doing kitchen duty for two weeks at a time. Students will meet prior to their two weeks of Kitchen Duty to select the job they would like. Weekends are also included in the rotation.

Work-Job Program – The Work-Job Program, which takes place every Wednesday from 3:10 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., gives students the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the school. All students are given work-job assignments that require frequent completion. A 20

teacher is assigned to supervise each chore. Work-Job is assigned for an entire year and, where possible, the interests and skills of the students are taken into account.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP Student involvement in the community is secured through a number of specific leadership positions. Although leadership is a quality that every member of the community can exert in many ways, through individual effort and good example, certain elected and appointed positions carry a formal commitment to our well-being.

Academic Committee – Student Academic Committee Representatives are an important part of the Academic Committee, which reviews the status of students on the Academic Warning lists, or students in other academic difficulties. The Academic Committee may place a student on Academic Probation, or it may recommend suspension or dismissal. Student Academic Committee Representatives are thus involved in supporting their fellow students in academic matters.

Ad Hoc Committee – An ad hoc committee is named by the Head of School and meets in place of the Judiciary Committee (JC) or the Academic Committee when the school’s calendar (vacations, etc.) prevents those two committees from meeting. An ad hoc committee may also be formed under other special circumstances. The ad hoc committee will take on the roles of the two committees as the case requires, and make recommendations to the Head of School, who will make the final decision.

Community Council – Community Council is an organization comprised of representatives from each grade, a faculty advisor for each grade, and representatives from each dorm. The group is the primary means for students to express their needs and concerns, and to see that action is taken. It meets weekly to plan events, discuss problems, and present concrete solutions to genuine concerns of the school community. To propose a change of rules in the Handbook, a student would submit a proposal to their Community Council class representatives as well as the Community Council Presidents, who would then take it to the Head of School.

Diversity Committee – The Diversity Committee consists of several faculty members. Its goals are to ensure that the school is striving for diversity and acceptance of diversity on all levels. Students and faculty should bring their concerns and ideas regarding diversity to the committee. The Diversity Committee oversees several clubs that all have leadership opportunities for students who are interested in that club.

Judiciary Committee – Judiciary Committee (JC) contains seven students and five faculty members. Present at a JC meeting are no more than two students and two faculty members.

Serious rule infractions are referred for JC’s review and the committee makes recommendations to the Head of School. Student JC representatives are, therefore, an integral part of the disciplinary decision-making process. (See School Rules and Policies section.)

Peer Leaders – Each year, a number of students are selected to become Peer Leaders. They receive special and extensive training on how to counsel their peers on the many different 21

and complex issues that adolescents face. Peer Leaders meet as a group on Fridays and then with new student groups on Monday from 9:50 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. during the fall trimester.

Peer Tutoring – The Peer Tutoring program has a number of student volunteers to tutor other students who are struggling in particular classes. Questions about or requests for this service should be directed to the Peer Tutoring Coordinator.

Proctors – are student leaders who oversee the daily routines and guidelines in the dormitories. The proctor’s position is a very important one; he or she is a leader in this community whom we think will work well with the teachers and the students. The proctoring role is one that may be difficult at times, and requires a great deal of responsibility.

Note: A student leader will be removed from office if he or she violates a major rule. (This includes the Presidents of Community Council, Judiciary Committee [JC], Diversity Committee, Proctors, Academic Committee members, et al.) A major rule violation is one that results in a JC meeting or suspension. A student who has been removed from office for a major rule infraction may appeal to the Dean of Students for reinstatement. The Dean will decide the appropriate body to receive the appeal.

STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS A Note on Confidentiality: We feel that students have a right to privacy, which adults at the school uphold and respect when a student comes to them for advice and counsel. However, if there is a potential for harm to the individual or to the community, confidentiality must yield to safety.

Advisor – Every student is assigned an advisor—a teacher or an administrator who helps students navigate their Solebury School education. Your advisor will give you solid advice about course and activity selection, help you get familiar with the different clubs and groups around campus, and work with you to develop a plan for community service.

There is a regular, designated ―advisor group‖ meeting time every week (Mondays after last period), as well as special lunches and assemblies. These are required meetings.

Your advisor will also be there for you as a liaison if you have problems with other teachers or administrators. The advisor should be the first person you go to with a problem, and the first person your parents contact if they have a question about Solebury life. If you decide, for whatever reason, that you would want to work with a different teacher as an advisor, you should contact the Director of Student Advising to begin this process.

College Guidance – The College Guidance Counselor works closely with juniors, seniors, and their parents to find the optimum college placement.

The Nurse – A Nurse Practitioner is at school from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. If a student needs to see a doctor, he or she is taken to Phillips-Barber Family Health Center in Lambertville, New Jersey (3 miles from campus). Doctors at Phillips-Barber are on call 24 hours a day. After hours, the school will utilize the local Urgent Care facility. Finally, in an emergency, the Lambertville Rescue Squad is available to take students to either Doylestown Hospital (PA) or Hunterdon Medical Center (NJ).

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Although the Nurse functions as the primary medical person on campus, she is also available for sexuality, drug, and other medically related counseling, as well as general counseling.

Pre-Discipline – The best way to help a troubled student, who could potentially become involved in a disciplinary situation, is early intervention. If the school and student work together and keep lines of communication open, we can often prevent serious problems before they occur. We need to encourage students who fear they are in trouble with drugs or alcohol to seek the help of their advisor, the Nurse, and the Dean of Students. It will be arranged for them to meet with a trained drug and alcohol assessor, who will make recommendations to the student, his/her parents, and the school. It is important for you to know that no disciplinary action will be taken based on these reports. The essence of a predisciplinary program is to instill trust in the student that we are here to help when needed.

Limitations to the pre-disciplinary system are as follows: The pre-disciplinary system can only be honored if the student or family approaches the school before a rule violation occurs.

The system will be honored as long as the student follows school rules (and any special guidelines that have been set up) while functioning under the system. In addition, information provided about other involved students may not fall under the pre-disciplinary system. Finally, as always, we may not be able to honor confidentiality if the health and wellbeing of any person or group of persons is in danger.

Counseling Services – Solebury’s counseling support services includes a school counselor whose primary role is to be available to boarding and day students who need emotional support and short-term crisis intervention during the academic day. The school counselor also maintains contact with the student’s therapist to make sure we are working together to support the student. If an issue arises that would require a referral, please contact Julie Liang, the School Counselor and/or Carol Hey, the School Nurse. They are the primary staff members to contact when looking for professional counseling. Annette Miller, Dean of Students and Bill Christy, Assistant Dean of Students are available to assist as well.

Solebury’s counseling services are intended to maintain and enhance a student’s psychological health. However, the school is not equipped to handle psychological conditions that seriously impair a student’s ability to function in an academic and residential community.

Professional Counseling Services - Psychotherapists are available to meet with boarders on campus for long-term therapy. The Psychotherapists that we use have a wide range of focus, including family, individual, and adolescent therapy. We also provide references for day students as well.

Sexuality Program – This program has been created to meet the needs of students at Solebury as they develop as adolescents. All new students meet with the Nurse in groups of 10–15 to discuss sexual issues, which include hygiene, HIV/AIDS facts, acquaintance rape, and more.

If you do not wish your child to participate in these programs, please contact the School Nurse or the Dean of Students. They act as in-house consultants for advisors, and also provide outside referrals and resources. While at Solebury, students will have the opportunity to take health classes which include human sexuality.

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GENERAL INFORMATION Accident Insurance – All students are enrolled in a Student Accident Insurance Policy that is paid for by the School and provides coverage on an EXCESS basis. Under the plan, the first $100 of covered charges is paid without regard to any other applicable coverage that may be in effect. After the first $100 in covered charges is paid, expenses which are NOT covered by your personal or group insurance are eligible for coverage under this plan up to the policy limit. Contact the Business Office for information and claim forms.

Dining Hall – The Boyd Dining Hall serves cafeteria-style meals at the following times: Monday through Friday Breakfast 7:15 a.m. – 7:50 a.m.

Lunch 11:25 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.

Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Cold Breakfast 9:00 a.m.

Brunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Sunday Cold Breakfast 9:00 a.m.

Brunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 6:30p.m.

Home and School Association The Home and School Association is the formal organization of parents at Solebury School. Its main purposes are to promote communication within the school community and volunteer financial support for special school and student activities. The Association’s main fundraising event is the annual Dinner-Auction, held in May. I.D. Cards – All students will be photographed for their student identification (I.D.) cards during registration. The student’s permission (driving and dorm visitation) information will also be listed in the card. Driving permissions will begin after Parents day in October and permission to visit dorms will start at the beginning of second trimester. Students should carry the card with them at all times while on campus. The I.D. cards will also help students take advantage of student discounts for airfare, museums, theaters, etc.

Lockers – Please see Bill Christy, Assistant Dean of Students, or Annette Miller, Dean of Students, for all questions concerning lockers, including lost locks or forgotten combinations.

Lockers are available for day students in the Rec. Room, Performing Arts Center, and the John Brown Athletic Center. Combination locks can be purchased, and require a deposit of $5 per locker, which will be refunded when the lock is returned. Under special circumstances, boarders can acquire a locker. Gym lockers are available to athletes during each season. The School reserves the right to inspect a student’s locker at any time, without notice or cause.

Lounges and Recreation – There are several areas provided for students’ recreational use.

Students can get beverages and food in the dining hall. In addition, the gym, tennis courts, and playing fields are available at all times. The Fitness Center is open at designated times.

The lounges in the girls’ and boys’ dorms have a TV and DVD (for boarders only). The Quiet Lounge and the Crib are available to all students.

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Mailboxes – Mailboxes are for boarders only, and are located in the Barn Theater. They should be checked daily.

Messages – If it is necessary to call the office to leave a message for a student, please do so before 9:30 a.m. (except in the case of an emergency). We will then send an email to your child, or contact the Dean’s office to find your child if the nature of the message is an emergency.

Religious and Cultural Holidays – Parents who wish to excuse their child from school for a religious or cultural holiday should inform the Director of Studies in advance of the holiday by telephone, email, or in writing.

School Closing and Late Opening – Please check the Solebury School website for school closing and late opening information. In addition to the website, school closing and late opening information will be announced to parents via emails and text messages, and on the following TV and radio stations: 1. ABC, Channel 6, ―Action News‖ 2. CBS, Channel 3, ―Eyewitness News‖ 3. KYW….1060 AM will announce our school closing number: 781.

Online School Closings websites: 1. WPVI: www.wpvi.com 2. KYW: www.kyw1060.com We understand that day students commute on buses from surrounding school districts, which may make different decisions concerning closings and late openings. Also, some day students have to travel greater distances than others. Therefore, we realize that parents may occasionally need to make their own decisions regarding the safety and advisability of sending their children to school when school remains open, but their local weather is marginal. If your family decides it is not safe to travel to school, please follow the usual attendance procedure by calling the school and informing us.

Early Closing – When the weather and road conditions become dangerous, we may decide to close school early. When this occurs, we will ask the students to call home and get permission from their parents to drive themselves and/or another student home. Please call the office if you have questions about early closings.

Late Opening – In the event of a late opening, all students are to report to their first obligation at 10:15 a.m., which is 2 ¼ hours after Solebury’s normal start time.

However, please note that both Solebury vans and public school buses will pick up only 2 hours later than your normal pickup times. Please call us if you have any questions about late openings or transportation-related issues.

School Store – The School Store not only provides textbooks, pens, and notebooks, but also Solebury sweatshirts, T-shirts, jackets, and other sundry items. Students can either pay cash or charge purchases to their general deposit account.

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Special Schedule for delayed openings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – M&M 10:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – First Period 11:25 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. – Second Period (Eng/SS/FL) 11:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Second Lunch 11:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Second Period (Math/Sci) 11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. – First Lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Third Period 1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. – Lab 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Break 2:20 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. – Fourth Period 2:55 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. – Fifth Period Special Schedule for Delayed Openings for Tuesdays 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – M&M 10:50 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – First Period 11:35 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Second Period (Eng/SS/FL) 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Second Lunch 12:05 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. –Second Period (Math/Sci) 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – First Lunch 12:55 p.m. – 1:35 p.m. – Third Period 1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. – Break 2:00 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. – Fourth Period 2:45 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. – Fifth Period * Short assembly after Fifth period Transportation Daily – Van service is available for day students who live in Princeton and surrounding areas in New Jersey and the Yardley area in Pennsylvania. There is an additional charge for this service. Please call the Director of Admissions for further information.

Weekend – Students and/or parents must inform the Assistant Dean of Students by Wednesday, if they plan to use Solebury van transportation for the upcoming weekend, according to the schedule below.

Friday Trenton Van:  Van leaves at 5:30 p.m. to take boarding students to the Trenton Train Station.

Sunday Night:  5:00 p.m. pickup for students from the Trenton Train Station to Solebury School.

Note: A student who misses the Sunday Trenton Train Van must call the Administrator on Duty to arrange for pickup, which could include a taxi or being picked up by a teacher.

We will try our best to arrange for transportation (at an additional fee of $50), but sometimes that is not possible. Parents, please make sure your child has emergency money in case he or she needs to take a taxi to Solebury School (Approximately $70). If your child does not have the correct amount, the school will pay the balance and then bill your account.

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Vacation Note: Students and/or parents must inform the Dean of Students of their travel plans at least 3 weeks prior to vacation.  Philadelphia or Newark Airports: Transportation can be provided either by the School or a limousine or taxi service.  If you would prefer to take public transportation, contact the Dean of Students for further information.

Unaccompanied Minors and Airport Travel – A child 14 years old or younger traveling alone needs to be accompanied through the airport by a member of our faculty or staff. In this situation, the faculty members will have to go through security and then stay with the student at the gate until his/her plane is in the air. The charge for the extra time will be $30 per hour and will be charged to your account.

Solebury School Community Code Solebury School strives to build a community guided by honesty, respect, and integrity. We seek to establish a safe and healthy environment, promote ethical behavior, and foster a spirit that furthers the well-being of all. To accept membership in this community is to accept and embrace responsibility to uphold the culture of Solebury School and carry these ideals into the larger world.

In order for members of the Solebury School community to be able to make the correct choices, the following questions serve as guidelines: -Does this action mislead or deceive?

-Does this action give me or others an unfair advantage?

-Does this action deprive another person of his or her rightful property?

-Is this action respectful and helpful to me or another person?

-Does this action bring credit to Solebury School or its community?

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SCHOOL RULES AND POLICIES Our expectations and rules derive from our past experience, as well as from the philosophy upon which the school was founded. We know, for example, that our community cannot function without honesty towards oneself and others or without respect for everyone and for all our facilities. Further, we assume that academic achievement and personal responsibility are related to emotional and physical well-being. For the school to operate well, everyone needs to make the best effort possible toward meeting our standards.

In special circumstances, a staff member may have to make a judgment concerning appropriate behavior that is not covered in this Handbook, or he or she may have to make a judgment regarding interpretation of the spirit of the rules. Students must comply with these decisions.

Appeal Process – The appeal process is designed to give a student a place to discuss either a disciplinary decision or a decision involving class attendance (25% rule). If the consequence was given by Judiciary Committee, the appeal must be submitted 1 week after the family learned of the decision. If it is regarding the 25% rule, then the appeal should be submitted before final trimester grades are tabulated.

There are several steps governing the process: 1. The student must write a letter to the Head of School to formally appeal the decision that was made.

2. In the letter, the student should state the reasons why Solebury should review the decision.

3. The Head of School will appoint an ad hoc committee to review the situation and make a recommendation.

4. The Head of School will inform the student of the final decision.

Appropriate Attire for Solebury – Within the close-knit fabric of our community, we foster a place where students have the freedom to express themselves in many ways. As with any community, there is an inherent responsibility within this right of expression to be conscious of others. For many years, Solebury has not had a dress code, and we do not want to create one. We are asking each student to be responsible regarding his/her selection of clothing at school, during school functions, and in the dining hall for meals. If we (faculty and staff) feel that the clothing a student is wearing is not appropriate for Solebury’s campus, we will ask the student to alter his/her attire.

Appropriate Attire for Graduation – Students must dress appropriately—No Jeans. Boys must wear ties and jackets, and girls must wear a dress or blouse with dress slacks or skirt. If a student has any questions about what is appropriate attire, he or she should ask well in advance of graduation day.

ATTENDANCE Absences – Attendance and accountability are vital to the success of our programs. Absences and lates must be excused in order to avoid penalties (and frequent absences are subject to severe penalties). Whenever a student is detained at home by a medical or other emergency, please call the school before 8:00 a.m.

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Note: Upon returning to school, a written excuse for the absence must be brought to the Assistant Dean of Students by 2:00 p.m.

Failure to present this note to the Assistant Dean upon returning to school will mean that the student will receive the stated detention time or consequence because he or she failed to account for his or her absence. Other excuses for missing attendance obligations while at school (e.g., failing to do work-job, missing activities or a class) must be presented no later than 2:00 p.m. the following day. Failure to do so will mean the student will receive the stated detention time or consequence as a result of failing to account for his or her absence.

Patterns of absenteeism can become quickly established and seriously jeopardize a student’s education. Therefore, if a pattern does begin to develop, more severe consequences can be expected (i.e., the school reserves the right to require a doctor’s excuse when chronic absenteeism develops). (See ―Consequences‖ in School Rules and Policies section for further details.)

Class attendance is a requirement of all Solebury courses. A student who misses more than 25% of the classes in a course or activity may not receive credit for that course or activity, even if the absences are excused absences.

Note: It is especially important to be aware that 25% of a trimester's classes can be a relatively low number. If a student were to miss approximately 11 or 12 classes in a trimester course or a sport, or miss 9 sessions of his or her afternoon activity, or approximately 6 or 7 classes in a double-period trimester course, or as few as approximately 3 classes in a trimester course that meets only once a week (e.g., Life Drawing), the student would not get credit in the course, sport, or afternoon activity.

Finally, if a student misses 25% of his or her classes in a full-year course in a trimester, excused or unexcused, he or she will receive an F for that trimester. If this produces a situation where a student may not be eligible to successfully complete an academic year, he or she may be required to withdraw from Solebury. In extraordinary cases, a student may appeal (see ―Appeal Process‖, above) the application of this rule to the Head of School, who will appoint an ad hoc committee to make a recommendation.

Note: If your child is late to school, he or she must get a note from the office prior to going to class. Excessive excused lates are not acceptable.

The Assistant Dean or the Dean of Students will call parents if a problem develops. If the problem continues, the student may be sent to the Judiciary Committee with probation, suspension, or expulsion as possible results.

Lates – If a student is more than 10 minutes late to class and the late is unexcused, it is considered an absence and will be listed as a missed obligation. If a teacher does not arrive to class on time, the students should wait 10 minutes, and then send one student to inform an administrator. The other students must stay in the classroom, and should use the time as a study hall.

Student Transportation Policy – All students are required to go to and from all Soleburysponsored activities (e.g., class trips, sports events) in a Solebury School van or chartered bus.

Any other arrangement for transportation will need to be arranged by the student’s parent with the Dean of Students or Director of Athletics, and permission will only pertain to that particular student, date, and activity. The permission for alternate arrangements will not include permission for any other students.

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Vacations and Extended Vacations – Missing large blocks of class time is a sacrifice, and may result in a devaluing of the school year in skill development, performance, or grades. It is especially important not to extend school vacations when a student would miss the important first days or final examination periods of a class.

It is very important to make vacation travel arrangements well in advance. If a student has to leave early or return late from a vacation because of difficulty with travel arrangements, he or she must inform Tom Wilschutz, Head of School, or Steve Buteux, Assistant Head of School, of those difficulties by the following deadlines:  September 12 for Thanksgiving Vacation  October 10 for Christmas Vacation  December 5 for Midwinter Vacation and Spring Vacation If a student does not clear his or her travel plans by these dates, he or she will not be excused to leave early or to return late because airline or other tickets are unavailable.

Note: Permission must be obtained from: Tom Wilschutz, Head of School; Steve Buteux, Assistant Head of School; Rick Tony, Director of Studies; or Annette Miller, Dean of Students, to extend vacations. Academic and social consequences will result if a student misses school, unexcused, around vacations.

Guide for Permissions Requests – The following is a guide to help students and parents determine whom to see when they want to obtain permission for a special activity.

Request  Leave of absence from school  Extend a vacation          

Permission to miss class or study hall Excuse from evening study hall Excuse from dorm for the evening Permission to have visitors during the school day (8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

Permission to have visitors after end of the school day (5:30 p.m.)

Permission to leave campus during the academic day Permission for overnight visitors Permission to study in the computer room or the library from 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Room Study students Permission for college visits

Whom to See Director of Studies Head of School, Assistant Head of School, Director of Studies Director of Studies Dean of Students/ Director of Studies Dean of Students/Admin-on-call Director of Studies Dean of Students/Assistant Dean of Students Dean of Students/ Assistant Dean of Students Dean of Students/Admin-on-call Study Hall and On-Duty Faculty On-Duty Faculty College Guidance Counselor

Note: Any other requests or questions should be directed to the Dean of Students, who will be able to answer your question or will be able to direct you to someone who can.

Long-Term Absences – If your child will miss school for a length of time, due to a medical condition or accident, please call the Director of Studies.

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The Campus – Students are free to roam the full extent of the campus during their free time.

However, if they abuse this privilege, they will be confined to the immediate area of the buildings.

Annual Notification Regarding AHERA Management Plan - Solebury School hereby notifies all parents, students, employees, and staff that the activities required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) 40 CFR Part 763.93 have been fulfilled. These requirements include the 3-year re-inspection and assessment of the asbestos-containing materials located within the facilities comprising the School Campus. A copy of the updated AHERA Management Plan document is currently available for review at Solebury School.

College Guidance Disciplinary Reporting Policy – Solebury School will report to colleges any disciplinary responses that result in suspension or expulsion. These reports will include disciplinary actions that occur during the student’s junior and senior year at Solebury School only. Solebury will report the disciplinary actions that occur prior to the submission of a college application only when asked; any disciplinary action that occurs after submission of the application will be reported to all colleges to which the student has applied.

Computers, Communications Devices, and Systems Usage Policy All persons using the school’s computers or other communications devices, the school’s computer systems or network, or personal communications devices to communicate over the school’s or other networks, are expected to use them in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner, and abide by the school’s rules. These rules apply to all communications devices (e.g., computers, cellphones, smartphones, iPads, tablets, and cameras) whether used on school property, at a school-related event, or otherwise relating to Solebury School or a member of our community. Failure to do so may result in revocation of permission to use such systems or devices or, for serious offenses, disciplinary actions including possible expulsion.

Computer Systems and Internet Access – Use and Misuse Computer systems, email, and access to the Internet at Solebury are provided to support the educational process, as an academic resource, and to facilitate other functions of the school. Students are given an email account and a folder on the server to save all personal documents.

Students and others are expected to treat our systems and programs with the same respect due any community resource. Consequently, alteration, deletion, misuse, or damage of the school’s systems or software, including the introduction of a virus to any system, will be treated as vandalism of school community property.

The Internet's diversity as a resource, coupled with its relative ease of access, make it a valuable source of information, but also a potential source of offensive material, viruses, and misinformation detrimental to the well-being of students, the computer system, and our school. Thus, Solebury reserves the right to monitor, limit, filter, or cancel access to any websites or networking media that it determines are offensive or may harm any members of our community. Solebury uses web filtering software to control what time of day and which Internet sites students are allowed to view. Overall, the program monitors: 1) Sites or categories available; 2) Specific sites or categories of sites that are denied; and 3) Downloading—the length of time and file size. That said, no monitoring system or filtering software is foolproof, and the school believes that its educational purposes are best served by generally open access to Internet. Thus, we expect users to act responsibly in their searches 31

and to disengage from materials that are inappropriate, offensive, or labeled as not intended for minors.

Communications or information sent over the school’s network, or the Internet generally, whether voice, email, text, or otherwise, are not private. The school reserves the right to access and inspect any such information, files, or communications, and to inspect any electronic devices brought onto campus, as well as any information on these devices.

All persons using the Internet are cautioned never to give out personal information over the Internet, or meet with anyone contacted over the Internet. Safety in this regard is the responsibility of the student, parent, or person using the Internet, and the School is not liable in any way for Internet use which results in any risks, damages, or liability.

Examples of misuse of Internet access include, but are not limited, to:       

 

Engaging in any kind of business activity unrelated to Solebury.

Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any computer or communications system.

Disabling security software or features, including virus protection software.

Playing games or accessing entertainment unrelated to school activities.

Cyber bullying - using Internet resources to bully others.

Creating, maintaining, or accessing publicly accessible personal blogs on school computers.

Publishing any information or opinion about any student, parent, employee, board member, or other member of our community on a publicly accessible blog.

Downloading copyrighted documents, files, music, or other such information without written authorization or payment of required fees.

Accessing, transmitting, receiving, or archiving illegal or sexually explicit material, or material which promotes hate, violence, discrimination, or illegal activity of any kind.

Note: Students are not allowed to play computer games on the school’s computers.

Cellphones and smartphones cannot be filtered by Solebury’s internet software.

Conditional Contracts – In February, we send parents a contract for the following year. If we are concerned about a student’s performance, we will hold the contract. In this case, we will send a letter informing the parents that their child might not be invited to return to Solebury for the following year unless his or her performance improves. If a student’s performance dramatically drops between February and the end of the year, the student may not be invited to return to Solebury. The actual decision is made in the year’s final faculty meeting, wherein the faculty discuss the student’s performance and make a recommendation to the Head of School, who makes the final decision.

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CONSEQUENCES The following is a summary of consequences that could result from some possible rule infractions. Please note that the school regards any behavior prejudicial to the best interests of the school or contrary to the school’s values, whether at school or elsewhere, as sufficient grounds for a disciplinary response. The policies and rules outlined in the Handbook should not be read as an all-inclusive description of the school’s standards, which are based on honesty, respect, trust, and safety. Note also that, in cases involving a major rule violation or behavioral problems, or if at any time a student’s influence or his or her presence in the school is considered harmful, the school reserves the right to require immediate withdrawal.

Thus, while the Judiciary Committee (JC) process is the most frequent arbiter of consequences for violations of conduct, the Head of School is empowered to act apart from the JC when, in his or her judgment, student OR parent behavior is unacceptable and separation from the school is determined by the Head to be required. This decision will most often come after consultation with the school’s senior leadership team.

Infraction Unexcused Absence Activities & Sports Class Daytime study hall Double-period class Assembly Labs Kitchen duty (day students) Work duty Failure to turn in a note excusing the absence Missing Detention More than 10 Minutes Late to Class

Consequences 1 detention 1 detention 1 detention 2 detentions 1 detention 2 detentions 1 detention 1 detention The student must serve the stated amount of detention time.

No hours given, but will be considered a missed obligation.

Considered an absence.

Accumulated Unexcused Absences and Lates in Each Trimester 3 or fewer unexcused absences Contact parent either by phone or email.

5 unexcused absences Judiciary Committee (JC) meeting 12 unexcused lates A Deans’ Council and/or a call home 6 Lates accumulated after Deans’ Council JC meeting Academic Dishonesty

Ranges from zero on the work involved to expulsion*. (See ―Academic Honesty‖ in Academic Information section and also ―Expulsion‖ section following this list.)

Being Dishonest to a faculty or staff member

Ranges from detention, Disciplinary Hearing, or JC meeting, depending on the situation.

Condoning an Infraction

The same punishment may be given to students who are in the vicinity of the infraction that has occurred.

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Creating Fire Hazards, especially in buildings

Ranges from Disciplinary Hearing to JC to expulsion,* depending on circumstances.

7:05 a.m. Detention: Accumulating 9 in a Trimester

First 5 Detentions: ―Campused‖ for one weekend. (―Campused‖ means that the student must sign in every hour, on the hour, during certain times.)

2 more Detentions: ―Campused‖ for one weekend.

2 more Detentions: JC and possible suspension

7:05 a.m. Detention

Served in the dining hall from 7:05 a.m. – 7:55 a.m. It is given as a consequence to a dorm infraction. Student will meet the Dean of Students in the dining hall at 7:05 a.m.

Drugs or Alcohol

JC, possible required assessment, and/or probation, and/or expulsion*, or other consequence appropriate to the situation. Second violation leads to expulsion. Suppliers can expect to be expelled.

False Sign-Out (Boarders)

Disciplinary Hearing, possible JC, possible expulsion*

Forgery

JC and possible suspension

Inappropriate Behavior (e.g., verbal abuse)

Ranges from detention to JC, depending on the situation.

JC meeting after 2 suspensions

Possible expulsion*

Late Violation (More than a half-hour late for check-in without calling)

JC and possible suspension

Leaving Campus on the Weekend (overnight stay) without signing out properly

Campused, JC, and/or possible suspension

Library Materials not properly checked out

Ranges from detention to JC, depending on the situation.

Medical Restriction Violation

Detention

Motor Vehicle Privileges

Dangerous/Major Violation: 1st : Loss of privilege for 1 school week.

2nd: Loss of privilege for 12 school weeks.

3rd : Loss of privilege for 12 months.

An extremely dangerous violation accelerates the above steps and results in possible JC. Minor Violations: 1st: Warning letter to parents and/or detention.

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Excessive minor violations: Ranges from detention to the equivalent of the above major violations.

Noncompliance with a direction given by a staff member

Considered a separate infraction.

Ranges from detention to JC, depending on the situation.

Noncompliance with a disciplinary action

Considered a separate and major rule infraction; Probable JC.

Out of Dorm after Check-In

Possible JC

Plagiarism

Ranges from letter home and grade of zero to JC and possible expulsion*, depending on the situation.

(See ―Academic Honesty‖ in Academic Information.)

Possession of False Identification

Ranges from Disciplinary Hearing to JC meeting.

Physical Conflicts (including aggressive behavior)

JC and possible expulsion*

Stealing

Disciplinary Hearing, JC, and probable expulsion*

Tobacco use, Paraphernalia, Vaporizer, smokeless Tobacco in any form, Nicotine delivery device

Loss of Room Study, and Inner Campus Confinement for the remainder of the school year. A second tobacco violation will result in a JC meeting and possible suspension.

Trespassing

Ranges from detention to expulsion*, depending on the situation.

Vandalism –Includes opening Doors (classroom or dorm) without permission

JC and probable suspension or expulsion, depending on the situation

Violations by Visitors

The Dean of Students will handle on an individual basis.

Visiting a dorm of the opposite JC and probable suspension sex between Check-In and before 8:00 a.m. weekdays (12:30 p.m. on weekends) Visiting a single-sex area of Ranges from detention to JC, depending on the situation. the opposite sex dorm or visiting an opposite-sex area without parent’s permission Visitation Violation (Other than above)

Phone call to the parent will accompany each violation.

1st: 7:05 a.m. detention and banned from dorm for 1 week.

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2nd: 7:05 a.m. detention and banned from dorm for 12 weeks.

3rd: Possible JC. Weapons

Ranges from detention to expulsion*, depending on the situation.

*Expulsion - If a student is expelled from school, he or she will be asked to leave school immediately. Students who are expelled will not be allowed to return to campus without prior permission from the Dean of Students.

Car Accidents on Campus – In the event of a car accident on campus, please notify the Dean’s office so that we can help with the necessary follow–up procedures.

Creating a Fire Hazard – Creating a fire hazard is treated seriously at Solebury School and could result in expulsion.

Damage to Property – Students must repair or pay for any damage done to school property.

If the damage was intentional, the student(s) involved will be referred to the Judiciary Committee, with suspension a likely outcome. If there is damage in a dorm hallway or dorm bathroom, and it cannot be determined who caused it, all the residents of the hallway and/or living unit may be charged.

Detention – Detention will be assigned to a student for rule infractions such as unexcused absences from obligations, leaving campus without permission, inappropriate classroom behavior, etc. Repeated rule infractions can lead to serious consequences, including referral to the Judiciary Committee, which may lead to suspension.

Detentions will be served at the discretion of the Deans during lunch on the day of the infraction, lunch the day after (if the infraction occurs after lunch), or Saturday morning.

Students who have detention will have time to eat as well as complete the assigned detention. During lunch detention, students will be expected to perform chores that benefit the community. Weekend detention begins at 9:00 a.m. and will end when all obligations are met. During this time, students will do chores around campus. Day students (and boarders who wish to go home for the weekend) who have detention must make their own transportation arrangements.

Dorm Visitation - General Rules and Procedures Senior and junior boarding and day students are allowed to visit the dorm of the opposite sex, while freshman and sophomores can visit the lounge areas only. Dorm visitation start at the beginning of the winter trimester.

Note: All students need to have their parents' written permission regarding dorm visitation.

All students with the proper permission can visit the dorm of the opposite gender at the following times:

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Junior and Senior Visitation Juniors and seniors may visit the opposite gender dorms and rooms with parental permission only, during the following times: Monday – Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

7:00 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – 10:20 p.m.

7:00 p.m. – 11:20 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 11:20 p.m.

(NO visitation from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – 10:10 p.m.

(NO visitation from 5:00 – 7:00pm)

Freshman and Sophomore Visitation Freshman and sophomores cannot visit dorm rooms, only lounge areas.

Freshman and sophomore visitation times are as follows: Monday – Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

7:00 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – 10:10 p.m.

7:00 p.m. – 11:20 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 11:20 p.m.

(NO visitation from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – 10:10 p.m.

(NO visitation from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)

Identification and Permission card – All students will need to have their Identification/Permission card if they plan to visit the dorm or get in a car. Students’ permission information will be added to their I.D. cards at the beginning of the year. The italicized heading on the I.D. cards denotes the type of permission. After the italicized heading, you will find an acronym that applies to the permission you were given by your parents. If parents want to change their child’s permission, please contact the Dean of Students, who will issue the student a new card.

Non-Solebury visitors must sign the guest register when they visit the dorm and must indicate in the register whom they are visiting. Their host must introduce them to the OnDuty person. Visitors are expected to obey the rules of the school, and the visitor’s student host will be held responsible for the actions of his or her guest.

Disciplinary Hearing – is a meeting with some administrators, the advisor, and a student who has broken a rule. Its purpose, like Judiciary Committee, is to listen to the student and deliver a consequence to an infraction that has occurred. The Head of School may ask any of the following to attend the meeting: the Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean of Students, and the student’s advisor.

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Drugs and Alcohol – Possession or use of drugs or alcohol is not permitted. The following rules and policies apply to students both on campus and while under school jurisdiction off campus. This prohibition includes possession of such items as empty liquor bottles and drug paraphernalia, intoxicated or drugged behavior, and other indications of drug use. Students are also responsible for drug paraphernalia and prohibited items found in their rooms, lockers, and cars. All persons present in the immediate area where prohibited drugs or actions are evident will be held responsible. A supplier of drugs or alcohol can expect to be expelled.

Note: Under Pennsylvania law, a person distributing drugs or alcohol will have 12–36 months automatically added to his or her sentence if he or she is distributing drugs or alcohol in a school zone.

Violations of the above guidelines will be referred to the Judiciary Committee, which may recommend to the Head of School one or all of the following actions: l) A required evaluation by a drug assessor with whom the school will then consult to determine the appropriate course of action that the student must follow; 2) Probation, with the stipulation that another drug violation could result in expulsion; 3) Suspension; 4) Expulsion; 5) Other recommendations appropriate to the individual situation, which may include ―Inner Campus Confinement‖.

Prescription drugs must be left with the School Nurse. Students may not have prescription drugs in their possession or in their rooms.

Bullying and Harassment – The diversity of the Solebury community is one of our greatest strengths. To understand others, we need to get to know them, and living with them offers the best opportunity to do this. Solebury is also committed to challenging all prejudices present in society at large, including those based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, ability, or learning differences.

It is expected that each person at Solebury will treat all members of the community with respect and courtesy. While some disagreement is healthy, it is essential that every member of the community feel safe and supported. Consequently, harassment, bullying, or abuse, whether physical, verbal, or electronic, regardless of whether it takes place on campus or off campus, over the phone, on websites, or over the Internet, or whether it is done directly or indirectly through others, will not be tolerated.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to, slurs, jokes, comments, teasing, rude behavior, and other offensive conduct relating to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national/ethnic origin, citizenship, or ability. Harassment also includes uninvited, unwanted, or offensive sexual advances or conduct.

Bullying includes, but is not limited to, physical or verbal aggression (hitting, kicking, taunting, teasing, threatening, ridiculing, etc.), relational aggression (harming or threatening to harm relationships or acceptance, friendship, or group inclusion) or emotional aggression (teasing, threatening, or intimidating).

Such behavior may result in detention, mediation, or a Judiciary Committee (JC) referral, depending on the severity of the incident or incidents. A JC meeting could result in suspension or expulsion.

If you have been harassed or bullied, or have witnessed or know of any harassment or bullying, please speak to the Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean of Students, and/or your advisor. It is a good idea to keep records about what happened, when it happened, and if there were any witnesses. The school’s administration will investigate. Confidentiality will be 38

maintained to the fullest possible extent, although the appropriate people (e.g., a student’s advisor) may be informed for the student’s support and protection.

Retaliation in any form against anyone for making a complaint under this policy, or for participating in an investigation, is prohibited, should also be reported, and would be a cause for disciplinary action.

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking is not permitted by state law.

HIV/AIDS Policy Summary– Current medical research indicates that the risk of transmission of HIV in the course of ordinary social interaction, such as school activities, is negligible.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most school-aged children and adolescents infected with HIV ―should be allowed to attend school without restrictions and with the approval of the child’s physician‖. Also, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Solebury School will not discriminate on the basis of handicap. Since HIV infection is a handicap, it is not a justifiable basis for discrimination if the employee or student is able reasonably to perform the duties of one’s job.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that decisions concerning an HIV-infected person are best made using a team approach, including the child’s physician, public health personnel, the child’s parent or guardian, and personnel associated with the proposed care or educational setting. Each case will be handled on an individual basis by Solebury’s AIDS Management Committee, which is made up of the Head of School, the School Nurse, and one faculty member.

These two paragraphs are only a brief, unofficial summary of the HIV/AIDS Policy, which should be read in full. Copies of the full policy can be obtained in the school office.

Inappropriate Behavior Off Campus – Students may be held responsible for inappropriate behavior off campus and be subjected to disciplinary action from the school.

Inner Campus Confinement – A student will be confined within the designated boundaries of the school buildings as a response to breaking a major school rule (such as a tobacco or drug violation). Students who are given this response will be shown a map of the boundaries.

If a student goes outside of the confinement boundaries without permission, they will come before the Judiciary Committee for violating the restriction. See the Dean of Students for an explanation of the confinement boundaries.

Judiciary Committee – Although the Head of School makes the final decision for all school discipline, most serious infractions are referred to the Judiciary Committee (JC). Its recommendations are endorsed by the Head of School but, if not, an alternative decision is reached after dialogue with the JC. The committee consists of five faculty members and seven students, but only two faculty members and two students are present at a JC meeting. The Assistant Dean of Students decides when a student needs to meet with the JC. A quorum for a JC meeting is three people. A student may bring his/her advisor before the committee. Parents will be informed promptly of the results by an email, letter, telephone call, or both.

In addition to other possible consequences, the JC may place a student on either a specific or general probation. A ―specific probation‖ refers to consequences for a repeat violation of the same rule for which the probation has been applied. A ―general probation‖ refers to consequences for the violation of any major rule. A student with two prior suspensions who comes before the JC may be expelled.

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A student who is expelled or withdraws because of disciplinary problems may not visit campus. If the student wants to appeal this policy for a special reason or event, he or she should contact the Dean of Students, who will take the matter to the appropriate group for a decision.

Note: The school may suspend (“Home”) a student pending a JC meeting.

An ad hoc committee named by the Head of School meets in place of the JC or the Academic Committee when the school’s calendar (vacations, etc.) prevents those two committees from meeting. An ad hoc committee may also be formed under other special circumstances. The ad hoc committee will take on the roles of the two committees as the case requires, and make recommendations to the Head of School, who will make the final decision.

Leave of Absence – Students or parents seeking a Leave of Absence must apply. The School Nurse, the Dean of Students, and other school officials will normally grant temporary, shortterm excuses from school, and may refer a student or a parent to the Director of Studies if they feel that an official Leave of Absence is appropriate or required. Before returning from an official Leave of Absence, a student must be granted permission to return by the Head of School. Before making a decision, the Head of School will appoint an advisory committee, which will make a recommendation to him. A student might be told that he or she can return under special conditions. If any of the conditions are violated, the Head will reconvene the committee, and they will advise him as to the appropriate course of action (which could include dismissal from the school).

If an illness or accident requires an extended absence, we may not have the resources to provide schooling for that student. In that case, the student may need to withdraw from Solebury, and reapply for the following year. The student may have to repeat the year or, with permission of the school, he or she may be granted credit for home schooling with his or her local public school.

Leaving Campus – Students may not leave campus during the school day until they have met their last obligation, and are not allowed to drive to their Activities/Sports. Students with independent activities must sign out in the office prior to leaving campus. For exceptions, a student may ask permission from the Dean of Students. Permission to miss class or study hall must be obtained from the Director of Studies.

Note: If students must leave campus, they must sign out in the office upon departure and sign in if they are returning prior to the end of the academic day.

Library – Non-circulating materials may not be taken from the library without prior arrangement. Any student found with non-circulating materials, or circulating materials that have not been properly checked out, may be given detention, have his or her library privileges denied, or be sent to the Judiciary Committee, depending on the situation.

Students are encouraged and reminded to return their library materials when they are due. At the end of spring term, the librarian will send home written notification of any materials that have not been returned and the charges for them. All materials will be billed at replacement cost plus a $10 processing fee per item. For seniors, the deadline for returns is the last day of final exams. Final grade transcripts for seniors will not be released until library obligations are met. For all other students, the deadline for returns is June 30. After this date, a non-refundable charge will be made to the student’s account for the materials.  Damage to library materials, including alteration of computer hardware or software, will be considered damage to school property.

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 

While quiet discussion is permitted, library users are reminded that respect for the area includes keeping noise at a level that does not disturb the study of others.

The classroom ―no food or drink rule‖ is strictly enforced in the library, as is ―no cell phone use‖.

Medical Forms – No student will be admitted without completed health forms.

Medical Restrictions – If a student misses more than one class because of illness, he or she will be placed on Medical Restrictions. Students on Medical Restrictions may not participate in sports or activities on that day unless they have permission from the Nurse and/or the Dean of Students. However, a boarder must go to evening study hall and do his or her chores unless specifically excused by the Nurse or On-Duty person. Except for meals, boarding students on Medical Restrictions must remain in their dorm after the end of the school day (3:30 p.m.). Boarding students may not leave campus and must be in their rooms at 9:00 p.m., preferably with lights out. They may not have visitors, nor may they request ―Late Lights‖ (See Boarding Student section). In extraordinary circumstances, exceptions may be made by the Dean of Students, in consultation with the Nurse or the relevant physician.

Motor Vehicles – Day students are allowed to have motor vehicles on campus, but we expect them to use their vehicles responsibly and to follow school guidelines. Students are not allowed to sit in or on their cars during the academic day.

1. Consequences for Dangerous Violations (acts that are potentially dangerous to oneself or to others): 1st: Loss of car privileges for both the driver and the passenger for 1 week.

2nd: Loss of car privileges for both the driver and the passenger for 12 school weeks.

3rd: Loss of car privileges for both the driver and the passenger for 12 months.

If a violation is extremely dangerous, the above steps may be accelerated or result in a Judiciary Committee meeting.

2. Consequences for Minor Violations (e.g., leaving school at an illegal time, driving an illegal passenger):  Warning call or letter to parents and/or a tangible consequence such as detention.  Two or more minor infractions and/or warnings will result in detentions and/or in the equivalent of a major (dangerous) infraction.

Boarding students may not have motor vehicles at school, nor drive motor vehicles while under school jurisdiction. Boarders may not sign out and return to campus with a car unless they have made prior arrangements with the Dean of Students.

Non-Discrimination Policy Admission and participation in our educational programs, activities, financial aid, loans, scholarships, athletics, and other school-administered programs is open to all eligible students who meet our qualification requirements regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, or ability.

Off-Campus Events – The school does not condone off-campus events where drugs and/or alcohol are present. We do not condone parties or gatherings at which parents serve or allow alcohol or drugs to be consumed. We strongly recommend that parents be present at all 41

parties or gatherings, and that they monitor all activities. In any event, the school may hold students accountable for their behavior during and after such events.

Cell Phones, etc. – Electronic equipment such as cell phones or MP3’s should be silenced or turned off when entering a classroom, study hall, library, or other venues where they are not appropriate.

Parent – School Relationship – The Handbook contains rules and information which are intended to facilitate communications, avoid misunderstandings, and sustain our community.

If conflicts arise that cannot be resolved in a satisfactory manner, the school reserves the right, just as parents have the right, to terminate the student’s attendance at the school.

Parent – School Respective Boundaries – Solebury School is responsible for educating its students, and parents are responsible for parenting their children. While the student attends Solebury, ideally these two responsibilities can be conducted in a collaborative manner. Our expectation is that parents and school personnel will communicate and use their best efforts to resolve any conflicts that arise.

Parent – School Communication – Solebury has always believed in the importance of communicating with parents and working in partnership with them. With the advent of email and text messaging, instant or frequent communication has become increasingly easy; however, this is not healthy or reasonable, for two reasons: First, adolescents need to form their own work ethic and learn to be responsible on their own; second, rather than emailing parents about minor issues, we prefer teachers spend their time preparing classes and working directly with students.

Therefore, we have developed the following guidelines: 





  

For occasional academic and behavioral slips, teachers will deal directly with the student without involving parents. Teachers may work in conjunction with the student’s advisor, dorm parents, Learning Skills teacher, the Director of Studies, the Dean of Students, or whomever they think will be helpful.

Teachers will inform parents when major problems occur, or if they see a pattern of minor lapses. The point at which teachers inform the parent will obviously be a judgment call involving the age of the student, past performance, and other factors.

Academic Warnings are sent if a student is getting a D or an F at the middle of a trimester. If a student’s grades are above this level and there are no worrisome patterns, parents will receive feedback at Parents Day and the end of the trimester.

Even when more communication is warranted, we advise our teachers as a general rule to limit their communication with families to once per week.

If you have special concerns, please communicate these to the advisor at the beginning of the year to help prevent problems before they arise.

Students are responsible for giving honest feedback to their parents. While the school may be able to help if this is not happening, ultimately this is an issue that should be addressed at home.

Please direct questions concerning faculty/parent communications to the Director of Studies.

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Parent – School Financial Obligations All financial obligations are expected to be paid in accordance with the terms of the enrollment contract. No grades will be forwarded, no records will be sent to another school or college, and no diploma will be granted unless all accounts are current. (This includes tuition, library, school store, student bank, late fees, returned check fees and other obligations.) The school reserves the right to require withdrawal in the case of accounts which are significantly in arrears.

Pets – Students may not have pets at school.

Quiet Time during the Academic Day – Quiet is maintained on campus during class periods.

Radios and Rec. Room stereos must be set to a low volume during quiet time.

School Jurisdiction – When school is in session, a boarder is under school jurisdiction except when he or she has signed out overnight and left campus with a parent’s or guardian's permission, or when he or she has left campus with a parent or guardian. When school is in session, a day student is under school jurisdiction whenever on campus or at an off-campus, school-sponsored function (such as the prom) or a school-sponsored trip.

School-Sponsored Trips and Athletic Events – All students must take school transportation when going on a school-sponsored trip or athletic event. Special permission may be granted by the Dean of Students in certain situations.

Search Policy – The school reserves the right to search at any time, without notice, any person, place, or item on campus or at a school-related event including, but not limited to, students, cars, rooms, book bags, lockers, computers, phones, or any other items, and the contents or information found. Further, the school has the right to seize and retain property or information found during a search or otherwise which is in the School’s view potentially harmful, dangerous, illegal, or inappropriate.

Sexual Behavior Solebury School believes that sexuality is a natural and healthy part of life. Knowledge about and comfort with one’s sexuality are important components of a person’s overall health and stability. Therefore, students will receive education, counseling, and/or support services to help them cope with various aspects of sexuality, including sexual identity, orientation, and expression.

We believe that most adolescents are not prepared to successfully manage all of the possible emotional and physical outcomes of a sexual relationship. Therefore, general guidelines related to sexual behavior help maintain an atmosphere that supports the healthy personal and emotional development of each student and the best interests of all members of the school community. In keeping with this view and our commitment to provide a comfortable and safe environment for all students, faculty, and staff, the following behaviors are not allowed when under school jurisdiction:   

Sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal, and anal) Other intimate sexual behaviors between consenting partners in the presence of other students, faculty, staff, or member of the public Abusive or coercive sexual behavior 43





Unwelcome sexual advances, requests, and other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is perceived as intimidating, hostile, or offensive (See ―Sexual Harassment Policy‖ for more details.)

Possession or distribution of sexually explicit images, including posters, drawings, photographs, screensavers, emails, cell phone pictures, DVDs, and other media.

If a student engages in any of the above behaviors, he or she may face consequences that include, but are not limited, to:   

meeting with the Dean of Students, Nurse, and/or advisor. referral to health professionals. notification of parent(s) or guardian(s).

Abusive or coercive sexual behaviors or repeated violations of the sexuality policy will lead to disciplinary action.

Students and parents are encouraged to speak with the Dean of Students, Nurse, advisor, or faculty member if they have questions about sexuality, Solebury School’s policy regarding sexual activity, or the state laws of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Law on Sexual Activity – In addition to being aware of the sexual behaviors that violate Solebury School policy, students should be aware that some sexual behaviors violate state laws, and school personnel are required to report students engaged in those behaviors to state or local authorities. According to Pennsylvania state law, sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal, or anal) with anyone below the age of 13 is statutory rape and is not permissible under any circumstances. Teens aged 13, 14, or 15, may not legally have intercourse with anyone four or more years older. See the following link for more in-depth details on the state law: http://www.4parents.gov/sexrisky/statutoryrapelaws.pdf Skates (roller and in-line) Bicycles, and Skateboards – Any student riding a skateboard, skates, or bicycle must wear a helmet. We do strongly recommend that you wear elbow and knee pads when on either a skateboard or skates.

Social Probation or General Probation – A student may be placed on Social or General Probation if he or she has broken several major or minor rules. The Judiciary Committee (JC) or an ad hoc committee designated by the Head of School will determine what response is to be given to the student. When a student is on probation, he or she must adhere to the guidelines set by the committee. If these rules are broken, the student may either be sent before JC or asked to leave the school.

Stealing – will result in either a Disciplinary Hearing or a Judiciary Committee meeting, with expulsion a possible or probable consequence, depending on the situation. The school cannot be held responsible for theft. We suggest that parents contact their homeowner’s insurance company for reimbursement.

Student Disability and Injury Accommodations Policy –We understand that there may be circumstances when a parent may request that the school provide an adjustment or accommodation for a student’s medical needs or physical or mental disability. The school’s policy towards such requests is to use reasonable efforts to provide accommodations or 44

adjustments for a student’s needs in circumstances in which the school administration determines, in its sole discretion, that doing so is within the reasonable ability of the school and/or its staff and will not result in an unacceptable impairment to the rights of other students or employees, or a fundamental change to our educational environment or mission.

We ask parents to appreciate that, given the small size and modest resources of Solebury School, we may not be able to provide the requested accommodations, or may require a sharing of the responsibility for the accommodations.

For any type of accommodation, the parent must inform the School Nurse of the need.

The Nurse will then advise the parent of the type of medical documentation needed, which generally will state the student’s diagnosis, how the condition limits the student, the recommended accommodations, and the length of time that the accommodations will be needed.

The documentation received from the physician may raise questions or be unclear as to the recommendations. For that reason, the parent must sign a Release of Information Form, permitting the school to contact the physician, when necessary. In addition, if there is a cost associated with the physician’s cooperation, the parent must agree to bear the cost of such process.

Once the parent’s request and medical documentation have been received by the school, appropriate persons within the administration will meet with the parents to clarify information and discuss whether the school will be able to implement the accommodations requested. In some cases, the parent may be asked to provide any special equipment needed, training for school staff, or other associated matters. In addition, the school may advise the parent that the school will allow a particular accommodation, but the full responsibility for doing so will rest with the parent. For example, if the student needs to be tested or have certain types of medicines administered during the day that the school or the Nurse believe are beyond the scope of the school’s responsibility, the school may allow the parent to make the arrangements to visit the campus for the purpose of testing and administering.

Please understand that the school is not a medical facility, and does not have the personnel, training, or equipment to handles certain types of medical procedures best left to the student, parent, or physician.

Study Hall and Class Violations – Any student who is asked to leave class or study hall for disciplinary reasons will be sent directly to the Dean’s office.

Suspensions and Missed Academic Work – When a student is suspended from school, there are quantifiable and unquantifiable costs. Obviously, a suspension indicates a very serious rule transgression; by design, it separates the student from the community for a period of time and sends a message to the community about what actions will not be tolerated. While a suspended student is allowed to make up most written work, there are elements of a class that cannot be recovered. Though not an inclusive list, labs, group projects, presentations, discussions, class trips, and debates are examples of work that usually cannot be made up, and zeroes may be entered for that work. This is not intended to be an additional punishment, but rather is a reality of missing class.

When a student is suspended, he or she is solely responsible for learning what work will be missed and completing as much as possible. Written work must be submitted the same day that the student returns to classes. If quizzes or tests have been missed, the student must arrange with the teacher to make them up within three class days, or they will be scored as zeroes. The student may attempt to arrange conference time with teachers before taking 45

missed examinations, but that will not always be possible; nor are teachers obligated to meet with students about these matters.

In-School Suspension –An In-School Suspension is served in a designated in-school suspension room, during the academic day. The student does not attend class, and follows an alternate schedule that allows for taking tests and quizzes. Or, if time permits, a teacher can come to the in-school suspension room and work with the student. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all of his or her homework information prior to the day of the suspension. Students are not allowed to have Internet, nor their cell phone. If they need to access Moodle, they can ask the Dean or the Assistant Dean. There are several components to the in-school suspension.

The schedule is as follows: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.

12:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The student is in the In-School suspension room completing homework.

Lunch *Community work time (Community service on-campus) Student is in the In-School suspension room completing homework.

The community work time and the 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. time may be interchanged according to the community service job that needs to be completed.

Tobacco – (definition: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, other smoking products or material, smokeless tobacco in any form, and any nicotine delivery device) Tobacco use is prohibited within 2 miles of any campus boundary. Possession of tobacco or tobacco paraphernalia (including incendiary devices like matches and lighters) on campus is prohibited.

Note: Tobacco use in cars on campus is prohibited. This includes entering and leaving campus. All persons present in the immediate area where prohibited drugs, tobacco, or other prohibited actions are evident will be held responsible. Tobacco is prohibited on schoolsponsored trips and functions. This includes informal trips to McDonalds’ and similar excursions. School rules apply on extended overnight trips away from campus. Solebury students must comply with tobacco rules when they are visiting other schools and other places where it is not appropriate to use tobacco.

Note: Violation of tobacco rules will result in being confined to the immediate area of the school buildings (See the preceding section on “Inner Campus Confinement”.) Also see the Dean for a map explaining “Inner Campus Confinement”.)

A second violation of the tobacco rules will result in a Judiciary Committee (JC) meeting and possible suspension. Consequences for possession of tobacco paraphernalia (including matches and lighters) can range from a detention to full consequences for tobacco rule violation. A ―Room Study‖ student caught violating tobacco rules will lose his/her privileges and will not be able to request reinstatement of privileges for 60 school days.

Tobacco use that creates a fire hazard, such as smoking in the dormitory, will result in a JC meeting. This is considered a major offense that could result in suspension for a significant period of time or expulsion. Repeated violations will most certainly lead to expulsion.

Students having difficultly with tobacco use in any form and want help should contact the school nurse. She will connect you with the right resources to help you. Some of the resources are Smoke Enders, hypnosis, and the American Cancer Society classes.

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Visitors –Guests on campus during the school day (8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) must have permission from the Director of Studies. From 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 – 10:20 p.m., visitors must have permission from the Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean, or the On-Duty person (OD), if the Deans are not available. Visitors are not allowed between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Weekend visitors must have permission from the Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean, or the OD person (if the Deans are not available), and must leave campus by 11:20 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. No overnight visitors are allowed during the week without special permission from the Dean of Students. Overnight visitors are permitted on weekends with the permission of the Dean of Students or the Assistant Dean. (See the preceding section on ―Dorm Visitation‖.)

Walking on Roads after Dark – Students are not allowed to walk or ride bicycles on the roads after dark.

Weapons – Knives, firecrackers, guns, weapons, and other dangerous articles are not allowed at school. Consequences for possession or use of weapons range from detention to expulsion, depending on the situation. The school may involve the police and other outside agencies.

In extraordinary cases, the student may appeal the application of this rule to the Head of School, who will appoint an ad hoc committee to make a recommendation.

BOARDING STUDENT INFORMATION There are three dormitories at Solebury: The Holmquist House (girls’ large dorm), Appledore (girls’ small dorm) and Walter Lamb Hall (boys’ dorm). Each has its own dormitory parents, student proctors, and support staff of faculty who assist by being on duty (OD) in the evening, and dealing with problems that may arise in student residential life. There are established procedures for dealing with the details of daily life and minor infractions such as improper check-in, lights on after designated times, or disruptive behavior. These are described at greater length in the Dormitory Handbook which is given to each boarding student when they arrive in September. The consequences for these infractions are at the discretion of the dorm parent or OD person; they are usually minor, such as warnings and restrictions to the lounge (―lounge restriction‖) for a period of time. However, repeated minor infractions can lead to more serious consequences.

Classroom Use After Hours - Students are not allowed in classrooms unless supervised by an adult or given permission to be there. If a student is caught in a classroom without permission, he or she will meet with the Dean(s), who will give the appropriate punishment for the infraction. ―Community Weekends‖ There are four weekends during the school year that are considered weekend that boarding students are not allowed to sign out and go home. The following weekends are closed:  September 11 - 13  October 30 - 31  January 8 - 10  April 8 - 10 47

Dormitory Handbook – A handbook covering the more detailed procedures in the dormitories has been prepared and will be distributed during dorm orientation at the beginning of each year.

Dormitories, Room Assignments, and Room Changes – Current students will give preferences of roommates and room locations to the Dorm Heads. The Dean of Students and Dorm Head, along with the Admissions department, will place new students in the dorm.

We will not consider changing roommates until the end of the first trimester. If a change is necessary, the Dean of Students and the Dorm Head will work with the students to make the change. All students involved must agree to a change, and further room changes are strongly discouraged. Though it happens rarely, the school may require a room change in the general interest of dorm life.

Boarders are urged to keep their rooms locked when unattended. The school is not responsible for stolen articles.

A student is responsible for the condition of his or her room. No major physical changes can be made to the room, including painting. Room inspections occur weekly to make sure rooms are kept reasonably clean, safe, free of fire hazards, and damage. (See ―Damage to Property‖ in School Rules and Policies section.)

Dorm Visitation – (See School Rules and Policies section.)

End of the Year – Ninth and tenth grade boarders must leave school the day of their last exam. Eleventh and twelfth grade boarders are allowed to stay in the dorm until graduation.

English As A Second Language Students – Circumstances may occur in which we must communicate important information accurately (sometimes quickly) with parents of English as a Second Language (ESL) students. In these cases, we will employ the services of professional interpreters. The parents must reimburse the school for these services. Also, if an ESL student is suspended or expelled and must temporarily live off campus, parents must reimburse the school for any expenses that are incurred.

Evening Study Hall – There is an organized study hall in the library and Abbe #4 classroom, Sunday through Thursday evenings, from 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Students must check in with the On-Duty (OD) person at the beginning of study hall to inform the OD as to their whereabouts (e.g., library, computer room).

All students who have obtained ―Room Study‖ may study in their rooms or in another location on campus with permission from the dorm faculty member on duty. (See ―Room Study‖ in General Information section.)

Keys to Dormitory Rooms – Each boarding student is issued a key for his or her room. If a key is lost, it is the student's responsibility to replace it in a timely manner. There will be a non-refundable charge of $20 to replace a lost key.

Leaving Campus – Boarders may leave campus on weekdays after their last school commitment and must return by 7:50 p.m. on Sunday. Students must sign out in the ―signout‖ book in their own dorm. A person may sign out and leave campus after evening work chores are complete. If he or she is going with a person from off campus, that person’s name and an emergency telephone number must be included in the sign-out book. Those remaining on campus on weekends (Friday and Saturday) may also leave during the day, but must return by 11:20 p.m. A dorm parent will determine consequences for failure to sign out.

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A false sign-out could result in a Judiciary Committee meeting. (See School Rules and Policies section.)

Boarders may go out to breakfast with day student friends, but they must obtain permission to do so from the Dean of Students the day before, and they must meet the day student in front of the theater.

Weekday overnight sign-outs are not permissible, except on rare occasions like college visits or late sporting events. These sign-outs are by the Dean of Student’s approval only.

Late Lights – Students who have studied diligently during study hall may request ―Late Lights‖. They should make their ―Late Lights‖ request by 9:45 p.m. Students may ask for ―Late Lights‖ three times per week and, if needed, they may request an additional night of ―Late Lights‖ from the faculty member on duty. Students can only request ―Late Lights‖ Monday through Thursday. Seniors have unlimited ―Late Lights‖. NO ―LATE LIGHTS‖ ON SUNDAY. The main objective with ―Late Lights‖ is to give students an opportunity to study after 11:00 p.m.; however, students who have ―Late Lights‖ should not be up later than 12:30 a.m.

Lights Out – Sunday through Thursday, all lights must be turned out (except students with ―Late Lights‖ permission) by 11:00 p.m. This includes all overhead lights, desk lamps, reading lamps, computers, music, and TVs. All bathroom needs must be taken care of before this time.

Mail – is distributed daily, Monday through Friday. Letters can be mailed at the front desk in the office, and stamps can be purchased at the bookstore. Stationery is not available, however; each student should have his or her own supply.

Medical Care – Boarding students who are too sick to go to their first class of the day must see the Nurse at least 10 minutes before the start of that class or receive an unexcused absence, regardless of the validity of their illness. Students who are too ill to go to the Nurse should inform a dorm parent, who will inform the Nurse. If a student becomes ill after the Nurse leaves at 3:00 p.m., he or she should go to the Dean of Students. If a student needs immediate medical attention after 3:00 p.m., he or she should go to the office, a dorm parent, or an On-Duty person for help. Boarding students on medical restriction may not leave campus and must be in their rooms at 9:30 p.m., with the lights out. (See ―Medical Restrictions‖ in School Rules and Policies section.)

Note: Prescription drugs must be kept with the School Nurse.

It is recommended that students needing eyeglasses bring two pairs. A copy of the student’s prescription for eyeglasses should be attached to the health form. Students who use contact lenses should bring a pair of eyeglasses. Major dental work should be completed at home.

Bills for medical and dental care, except for the service of the school’s infirmary, are sent to the parents. Transportation costs to clinics and hospitals, with a minimum charge of $5 plus mileage, are charged to parents. Students needing medical care are taken to the one of the following medical facilities: Phillips-Barber Family Clinic, Doylestown Hospital, or the Hunterdon Medical Center. In the event of any kind of emergency, parents will be notified as promptly as possible.

Nightly Check-In – Boarding students must check in each evening in person with the OnDuty (OD) faculty member in their dormitory. Sunday through Thursday, check-in time for 49

freshman and sophomores is 10:15 p.m.; juniors and seniors is 10:30 p.m., and proctors must check in by 10:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday check-in time for everyone is 11:30 p.m. Students must stay in their dorms after check-in until 6:00 a.m.

A student who is going to be late for check-in and calls the school may receive consequences for being late. A student who is more than a half-hour late for check-in and does not call the school will probably meet with the Judiciary Committee, and could be suspended.

Quiet Hours – At 10:45 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, students must keep the noise in the dormitory down and respect the rights of students who may wish to go to sleep early.

Playing loud music, wrestling, chasing each other up and down the halls, and screaming are examples of what should not happen after 10:45 p.m. Headphones are allowed. Offending equipment may be confiscated for certain periods of time at the discretion of the dorm parent.

Off-Campus Employment – Boarders may not be employed off campus on weekdays (this includes Sunday night). Boarders are allowed to have weekend employment if it does not interfere with required study halls, detentions, and other school obligations. Parents must approve any job, and the school cannot supply transportation.

Proctor Responsibilities – The proctor’s position is a very important one. A proctor is a leader in this community whom we think will work well with the teachers as well as the students. The proctor's role is one that may be difficult at times, and requires a great deal of responsibility.

Room Study – Room Study is when a student is allowed to study in his or her room during evening study hall. Students eligible for Room Study are senior boarding students (who are given this privilege automatically), and junior, sophomore, and freshman boarding students who have attained honors or high honors.

Room Study is granted to the following persons: 1. Any student who has earned a B average or better on his or her last Solebury report card.

2. Proctors and seniors automatically receive Room Study.

A student can lose Room Study in the following ways: 1. Placement on Academic Warning.

2. Falling below a B average (except for seniors and proctors).

3. Abuse of Room Study.

Restricted Areas – Certain areas of each dormitory may be off-limits to members of the opposite sex. Seventh and eighth graders are not allowed in the dormitories. Bathrooms in the boys’ dorm are to be used only by boys, except for the public bathroom; bathrooms in the girls’ dorm are to be used only by girls.

Senior ―Late Lights‖ Privilege – Seniors automatically receive the privilege to keep their lights on after 11:00 p.m., but they must stay in their rooms and may not have visitors. If a senior wants to study with another student after 11:00 p.m., he or she must ask the On-Duty (OD) person for ―Late Lights‖, and follow the rules accordingly. If a senior has a non-senior roommate who does not have ―Late Lights,‖ the senior may stay in the lounge of the boys’ 50

dorm or in the lounge in the girls’ dorm. A senior will lose this privilege for 60 school days if he or she:  Leaves his/her room or has a visitor.  Violates a major school rule.  Is placed on the Academic Warning List.  Is repeatedly late for school obligations, or falls asleep in class.  If an OD person decides that the senior is violating the privilege.

The second time a senior loses his or her privileges he or she will lose the privilege permanently. A senior may also lose this privilege permanently if he or she violates a major school rule while exercising this privilege (e.g., tobacco violations in dorm room).

Special Evening Events Attendance – Our special events such as the Coffee House, Ensemble/Chorus, Holiday Dinner, and SLAM* are an integral part of our community. We encourage students to attend and support fellow students during the performances. While we would like all students to attend, we feel that a balance with academics must be maintained.

Listed below are the attendance guidelines for all students. 



Who can go?

All students, on Academic Warning or not, are allowed to go. That said, there are some conditions which would prevent a student from attending:  If the advisor or Director of Studies says No.  If a student has been placed on Medical Restriction for that day.  If a student has an evening class (e.g., Art or Criminal Justice).

What’s the process?  No library study hall: only Room Study and Abbe. Students who normally would have study hall in the library will have Room Study if they don’t attend the event.  To go to the event, students must sign out by 6:45 p.m. (in order to allow the students to arrive at the event for a 7:00 p.m. starting time). Abbe study hall students sign out in Abbe and everyone else signs out from their respective dorm. The 6:45 p.m. sign-out time means the Abbe study hall proctor must arrive early.  The library study hall proctor, instead of running study hall, will go to each dorm and Abbe to build a list of the students attending the event.

Then that teacher goes to the event, takes attendance, and ensures that students remain at least until 9:00 p.m. (the time at which study hall would normally end).

*The procedure for Thursday night theater performances is slightly different: 1. Academic Warning students are not allowed to go because they can attend other nights. All other students may attend by signing out in the dorm or with the library study hall proctor.

2. The library study hall will meet as usual.

Student Bank – It is suggested that students have an allowance of no more than $30 per week for items such as telephone calls, use of laundry facilities, and toiletries. Families who wish to use the services of Solebury School’s Student Bank for disbursing personal funds should send money (in the form of wire transfers, checks, or money orders) directly to the ―Solebury 51

School Student Bank‖. (Money is not disbursed from a student’s general school account for such personal expenses.)

Theft – It is important not to keep large sums of money at school. Keep your money with you if possible, and keep your room door or locker locked at all times. Be concerned about even small amounts of money. It is also important to take special care with cameras and other expensive articles. The school is not responsible for articles stolen from students. Large amounts of money should be given to the Dean of Students, put in your bookstore account, or kept in the school safe. We suggest that parents contact their homeowner’s insurance company for reimbursement of lost or stolen property.

Vacation – Boarders may not remain at school during vacations. School and dorms are closed from 5:30 p.m. the day vacation begins until 3:30 p.m. the day before school reopens.

(Boarders must return by 9:00 p.m. the night before classes begin.) If a student must return earlier in the day, he or she must get special permission from the Dean. At the end of vacation, the Trenton Van will pick students up at 7:30 p.m. Dinner is not served the night before classes begin, but we will provide limited food or dinner transportation for the students returning early.

The school supplies van transportation to and from the Trenton Train Station.

Transportation to the Philadelphia and Newark Airports can be arranged for your child through the Dean of Students.

When students leave for the summer, they have a great deal of luggage, and they also leave at varying times. Therefore, the school will arrange transportation for students needing to go to the airport.

Note: It is important that your family plans do not include starting vacation early or extending it any later than our return date. (See ―Vacations‖ in Academic Information section.)

Weekend Activities – The staff members who are on duty for the weekend will plan trips, create on-campus activities, and help students to find other interesting activities going on in the area. There will be a weekend calendar posted in the dorms as well as the dining hall. The calendar displays the core weekend events. We encourage and accept input from all members of our school community. A list of upcoming weekend activities is announced in Tuesday Assembly.

Weekends – All Boarding students are required to stay at school for at least 14 weekends.

This includes the “Community Weekends”. On Friday afternoons, a van leaves for the Trenton Train Station at 5:30 p.m. Pickup at the Trenton Train Station is at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. When a student misses the van, we will do everything we can to pick up the student, for a fee of $50. However, if this is not possible, the student can get a taxi at the station. (A taxi from Trenton costs approximately $75, including tip.) Boarding students may leave on weekends only as specified by parents or guardians through written or telephoned permission. In addition to required parents’ or guardians’ permission, a student who is not going home must have his or her adult host confirm the invitation in a note or phone call to the Dean. A student may leave after his or her last school commitment on Friday and must return by 7:50 p.m. on Sunday. (A van picks up at the Trenton Train Station at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday evening.) Boarders signed out for the weekend must leave for their destination. If they wish to return to campus during the weekend, then they will have to stay on campus as if they hadn’t signed out at all.

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All Boarders leaving campus for the weekend (or overnight) must complete a weekend sign-out form and return it to Bill Christy, the Assistant Dean, by 6:00 p.m. of the preceding Wednesday. This is an essential procedure, because the school is responsible for a student’s whereabouts. Students who fail to sign out for the weekend with the Assistant Dean will be ―campused‖ for one or two weekends. As always, students must also sign out in the ―signout‖ book in their dorm prior to leaving the school. A repeat offense may be referred to the Judiciary Committee (JC), with suspension or expulsion as a possible result. A false sign-out is even more serious, and will be referred to the JC, with expulsion possible.

Trenton Van – Students who have signed up to return to Solebury via the Trenton van must call if they do not need the van. There will be a punishment levied if a student fails to call.

EXPLANATION OF PERMISSION FORM FOR BOARDERS When a student leaves campus for a weekend, he or she is no longer under the jurisdiction of the school. Therefore, it is important to consider carefully what sort of permission you will grant. You will receive a form in the summer mailing on which you will be able to indicate your choice. When making your choices, please err on the side of letting your child earn his or her permission.

Individual Permission for Each Weekend: This means that you will have to write in advance or call the school before 9:00 a.m. on Thursday of the week before your child wants to be away from school. In addition to a parent’s or guardian's permission, if the student is not going directly home, he or she must have written or telephoned invitation from his or her adult host. This option allows you to check your child’s plans before approving them.

Permission to go to a location other than Home: Any boarding student not going directly home must have permission from his or her parents, as well as a verbal or written invitation from the host.

Note: A student who falsifies a sign-out and is, for whatever reason, found out, is subject to serious disciplinary action. (See ―Consequences‖ in School Rules and Policies section.)

Blanket Permission to go anywhere (eleventh and twelfth grades only): This option allows your child to leave campus any weekend for any destination, without confirmation from you, provided that he or she signs out properly. In addition to a parent’s or guardian’s permission, if the student is not going directly home, he or she must have a written or telephoned invitation from his or her adult host. (See Note above.)

All weekends except our closed weekends are ―open‖ for students who have permission to leave. If for any reason your child will be delayed returning to school, please call his or her dorm parent.

What to Bring- All articles, including footwear, should be clearly labeled with the student’s name. We recommend labeling clothes for day students, too, because clothing can be misplaced.

Dress is informal at Solebury School, but we reserve the right to question the appropriateness of an individual’s attire. (See ―Regarding Appropriate Attire for Solebury‖ in School Rules and Policies section.) Pajamas are not allowed in the dining hall during meals.

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Winters can be severe, and warm outer clothing, including boots, is needed. Likewise, rainwear is necessary. Laundry facilities are available in the dormitories.

BRING:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Alarm clock Backpack for books Bedding and other linens (e.g., blankets, pillows, bedspread, towels, washcloths) Bicycle, with helmet and lock Clothes hangers Identification (for cashing checks, taking SAT’s, etc.)

Lamps (e.g., standing incandescent lamps) Lock box for valuables Tape/thumbtacks (to hang posters—no nails) Sports equipment Toiletries Wastebasket Winter clothing (e.g., boots, warm gloves, hat)

DO NOT BRING:

• • • •

Candles and incense Lava Lamps Drug or alcohol paraphernalia Heat-producing electric appliances (e.g., hot plate, refrigerator, toaster, heating elements, standing halogen lamps—See below.)

• Weapons and fireworks Electrical Appliances- Hair dryers, radios, stereos, and personal computers are permitted in the rooms. However, electric appliances that might overload the electrical system or create a fire hazard (e.g., hot plates, sun lamps, electric frying pans, heating elements, popcorn makers) are not allowed. We will allow pre-approved, automatic shut-off rice cookers and teapots; however, they must be approved by the Dean’s office or Dorm Head or they will be confiscated.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION The guidelines and rules set forth in this Handbook apply to all middle school students (seventh and eighth grades). Special attention should be given to academic information and to information specific to day students. The following information pertaining solely to middle school students should be helpful.

Because the social development and needs of our seventh and eighth graders are different from those of the older adolescents on campus, the middle school program is designed somewhat differently than the high school program. Unlike our upper school students, middle school students may opt for a shorter day and go home by 3:20 p.m. However, we also offer a variety of after-school options in which they may participate (see below).

During the Art/Lab block, middle school students will have a middle school Gym/Health and Wellness class two days per week, and they will also have their Introduction to the Arts class during that Lab block time.

Middle School students also elect representatives to the Community Council.

After-School Option for Middle School Students – Each trimester, there will be a facultymonitored activity specifically for middle school students from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Participation in the faculty–monitored activity is mandatory for any middle school students staying on campus after 3:30 p.m. who do not participate in an upper school activity or sport. All eighth graders are required during the spring trimester to participate in an after-school activity (three days a week) or a sport (five days a week) to begin the transition to upper school activities and sports. Any middle school student who wants to participate in Theater Tech must obtain the permission of the Head of the Art Department each trimester.

Note: If a middle student misses his or her sport or activity, it will be counted as a Missed Obligation and he or she will receive detention.

There are variety of activities offered after school including trips, games, library time, etc., which are designed to help the students get to know each other, become oriented to the school, and support them academically and socially.

Responsibilities of Middle School Community Council Representatives –Those middle school students elected to represent the seventh and eighth grades on the Community Council will have the additional responsibility of helping collect ideas for activities and organizing special events geared specifically to the middle school. This is an important aspect of contributing to an exciting and successful year at Solebury. Students should consider carefully all candidates and choose the one they feel can best fill the position.

Community Service – As members of Solebury’s community, middle school students are required to perform 5 hours of community service each year. The middle school director will organize events throughout the school year to help them fulfill this requirement. Middle school students will also be assigned a work job to be completed one day a week after school for 15 minutes.

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DAY STUDENT INFORMATION All day students at Solebury must reside with either a parent or guardian while enrolled as a student. If during the school year, we are notified that a student’s living situation is without a parent or guardian we will meet with the parents to resolve the situation.

Day Student Absences – It is best to make health care and other appointments at times when school is not in session. If an appointment is only possible during class time, again, please call the Director of Studies well in advance.

Note: If a student will be absent, a parent must call the school office (2l5-862-526l) before 8:00 a.m.

An answering machine will take a message. Please call each day that the student is ill, and then follow up with a note when the student returns to school. If a day student becomes ill during the day, he or she should see the Nurse. If a student becomes ill after the Nurse leaves at 3:00 p.m., he or she should go to the Dean of Students to get excused. If a student needs immediate medical attention, he or she should go to the office.

Dorm Visitation – (See School Rules and Policies section.)

Meals – Day students will be charged $5 for breakfast and $10 for dinners and Saturday and Sunday brunch. Day students who are participating in school events or obligations will not be charged. Lunches are covered by tuition.

Motor Vehicles – (See ―Motor Vehicles‖ in School Rules and Policies section.)

On-Campus Hours – Once a day student arrives on campus, he or she may not leave campus before the end of his or her last commitment without permission from the Dean of Students or the Assistant Dean.

Day students are expected to leave campus by 8:00 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and by 11:20 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. If a day student must stay after 8:00 p.m., he or she must get permission from the Dean of Students. Day students who are on campus after 8:00 p.m. on a weeknight must attend evening study hall, unless they have a specific library or computer room assignment (in writing) from a teacher. From Sunday through Thursday, day students may visit campus from 9:30 p.m. – 10:20 p.m.

Out-of-School Employment – Students will not be excused from school obligations (activities, sports, detentions, etc.) for out-of-school employment. We feel that a student’s first priority must be academic work. Therefore, we recommend that parents carefully monitor out-of-school employment to see that it does not interfere with homework and other school responsibilities.

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WHOM TO CALL All of the following staff may be reached via the main school number, 215-862-5261, from 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. if the following list does not help answer your question, call the main school number and the receptionist will direct your call.

Academics Athletics & Activities Programs Admissions Advanced Placement Coordinator Advisors Attendance Auction Chair Boarding Students Bookstore Bridge Program Business Office Class Representatives & Grade Level Advising Chairs

College Counseling Community Council Community Relations Community Service Computers Counseling Day Students Development Discipline Diversity Club English as a Second Language General Guidance Health Services Home & School Assn.

Learning Skills Middle School Peer Tutoring Public Relations School Garden Senior Project School Policies Social Life Student Bank

Rick Tony, Director of Studies Rob Eichem, Athletic Director Scott Eckstein, Director of Admissions Tim Gallen, Director of College Guidance Shawn Wright, Director of Advising Bill Christy, Assistant Dean of Students Donna Cosgrove cosgrove.donna@gmail.com Annette Miller, Dean of Students; or Dorm Heads Tom Cifelli, Manager Diane Dauer, Director Steven Feld, Director of Finance Patti Finn, Controller 7th & 8th – Cari Nelson (Rep. and Chair) 9th – Julie Liang: Chair – Hanna Elliot 10th – Kara McCabe: Chair – Nicole Mount 11th – Shawn Wright: Chair – Michelle Seternus 12th – Jared Levy: Chair – Jen Perez Tim Gallen, College Counselor Nicole Mount, Director of Activities Tom Wilschutz, Head of School Hanna Elliot, Director of Community Service Quinn Waters, Computer Coordinator Julie Liang, School Counselor Annette Miller, Dean of Students Bill Christy, Assistant Dean of Students Jennifer Burns, Director of Advancement Annette Miller, Dean of Students; Bill Christy, Assistant Dean of Students Annette Miller and Stacie Anastasio; Co-Diversity Coordinator Cinnie Wappel, Director of ESL Carol Hey, Nurse, Annette Miller, Dean, and Bill Christy, Assistant Dean Carol Hey, Nurse Practitioner President – Donna Cosgrove cosgrove.donna@gmail.com Vice Presidents –Kelly Mady and Rita Wright Treasurer: Steve Feld: Secretary: Terry Skovronek and Olga Vannucci Tom Rondeau, Head of Learning Skills Program Cari Nelson, Middle School Director Jackie Massina, Director of Peer Tutor Program Beverly Berkeley, Director of Public Relations Julie Garner, Garden Coordinator Martin Smith, Senior Project Chair Tom Wilschutz, Head of School Advisor, Dorm Head, Director of Activities Annette Miller, Dean of Students Tom Cifelli, Bookstore Manager

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Transportation Trustee Matters Weekend Events and Other Activities Work-Job Program

Bill Christy, Assistant Dean of Students Tom Wilschutz, Head of School Nicole Mount, Director of Activities Head of Work-Job Program

INDEX ABSENCES & ATTENDANCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE ACADEMIC HONESTY ACADEMIC INFORMATION ACADEMIC WARNING Accident Insurance Advisor After-School Option for Middle Schoolers ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES Accommodations for Students with a Disability or Injury Appeal Process Assembly Attire Automobiles (See Motor Vehicles.)

BOARDING STUDENT INFORMATION Bullying and Harassment Calendar Campus Cars (See Motor Vehicles.)

Classes College Guidance Community Code Community Council Community Service Conditional Contracts COMPUTERS Conference Period Consequences of Rule Infractions Counseling services Daily Schedule Damage to Property DAILY EXPECTATIONS DAY STUDENT INFO. Daytime Study Halls Detention Dining Hall Disciplinary Hearing Disobedience (See Consequences.)

Dorm Visitation 58

8-9, 28-30, 33, 36, 51, 56 16, 21 14-16, 33 7-20 16, 50-51 24 16, 19, 24, 37-39, 51 55 16-18 44-45 8, 11, 22, 28, 39 19, 33 28, 53 47-54 32, 38 3-4 31, 39-40 8-9, 20 9, 22, 31 27 21, 55 7, 55 32 19, 31-32 20 33-36 23 20 31, 36 19-21 56 20 36 24 37 36-37

DROP/ADD POLICY Drugs and Alcohol Policy EARLY GRADUATION Electrical Appliances Email End of the Year for Boarders English as a Second Language (ESL) Evening Study Hours Financial Obligations GENERAL INFORMATION Grade Weighting Guidance Hitchhiking HIV/AIDS Policy HOME AND SCHOOL ASSN. HOMEWORK AND STUDY HOURS HONORS AND HIGH HONORS I.D. Cards Infractions of Rules Injury In-School Suspension Keys to Dormitory Rooms Judiciary Committee (JC) Kitchen/Dining Hall Duty Leave of Absence Leaving Campus Library Lockers Lounges and Recreation Mail Meals Medical Care Medical Forms and Restrictions Messages MIDDLE SCHOOL INFO. Moodle Motor Vehicles Nightly Check-In and Lights Out Nurse Off-Campus Events On-Campus Hours for Day Students Out-of-School Employment Parent-School Relationship Peer Counseling & Tutoring PERMISSIONS

8, 12 34, 38, 41 12 54 14, 18, 25, 31, 42 48 48 20, 48, 50, 56 43 24-27 13 23, 30 38 39 24 14, 20, 45, 56 13 24, 35, 37 21, 33-36, 39, 41 44 46 48 21, 28-29, 44, 46 20 30, 40 34, 36, 40, 48, 52 18-19, 34, 40, 51, 56 24, 43 24 24, 49 24, 56 22, 30, 38, 40, 44-45, 49, 56 41, 49 25 55 14, 45 34, 41, 56 34-35, 47, 49 22-23, 43-45, 49, 56 41-42 56 50, 56 42 17, 22 9-11, 20, 24-25, 29-30, 35-37, 4243, 56 49

Perscription Drug Policy 59

Pets Philosophy Physical Conflicts Plagiarism (See Academic Honesty.)

Pre-Discipline Proctors Professional Counseling Quiet Hours Religious and Cultural Holidays Restricted Areas School Closing and Late Opening School Jurisdiction SCHOOL RULES AND POLICIES School Store Search Policy Senior ―Late Lights‖ Privilege SENIORS and Senior Projects Sexual Behavior Policy Sexual Harassment Sexuality and Sexuality Program Snow Days (See School Closing and Late Opening.)

Sports and Activities Stealing and Theft Student Bank STUDENT LEADERSHIP STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS Study Halls Suspensions Telephone Tobacco Transportation Unacceptable Behavior Vacation Visitors Walking on Roads After Dark Weapons Weekends What to Bring WHOM TO CALL Work-Job Program

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42 6, 28 35, 38, 43 23 22, 47, 50 23, 43, 50 25 36-37, 47, 50 25 37, 41-43, 53 27-47 25, 51 43 48-50 10-11, 37, 48-50 43-44 38, 43 22-23, 43-44 8, 9-10, 29, 33 35, 44 51 21-22 22-23 13, 20, 29-30, 33, 45, 48, 51 15-16, 33-39, 45-46 1, 25, 51-53 35, 39, 46 11, 25-26, 29, 36, 43, 49, 51-52 32, 36, 44 9, 14, 26, 29-30, 51-52 30, 35, 37, 47 47 35, 47, 54 35, 47-48, 52-53 47, 54 57 20-21, 29