Other Academic Policies

c. Changing teachers of the same course also requires the Dean of Faculty’s signature. d. Switching from one level of a discipline to another level of the same discipline (for example, Spanish 2 to Spanish 1) also requires the signature of the Dean of Faculty.

DEADLINES FOR DROPPING CLASSES Classes may be dropped without penalty within five school days after the School posts mid-semester grade updates. Transcripts of classes dropped after these dates and through either November 15 or April 15 will indicate that the student has “withdrawn passing” or “withdrawn failing.” Classes may not be dropped after either November 15 in the first semester or April 15 in the second semester.

Seniors who drop classes are responsible for notifying the colleges to which they have applied if those colleges already possess the seniors’ transcripts.

DEADLINE FOR ADDING CLASSES No class, other than a class comparable to one in a student’s current schedule, may be added after its sixth meeting.

TRANSFER DEADLINES AND GRADE TRANSFER POLICIES BETWEEN COMPARABLE CLASSES Students may transfer from one level of a comparable class to another (i.e. classes with decidedly similar content but taught at different academic levels, such as AP US History and US History Honors, or Algebra 2 Advanced Honors and Algebra 2 Honors) up to and including the 12th meeting day of the new class. In this scenario, students will begin the new course without a grade. If students choose to transfer after the 12th meeting date up to the end of the fifth week of classes, then students' grades would transfer with them. In both scenarios, teachers are permitted to have students make up work for the class that has been added. After the fifth week of classes, students may not transfer between comparable classes. If students wish to change from one comparable yearlong class to another after the first semester, they should speak with their advisor and the appropriate Grade-Level Dean before second semester classes begin. Should questions about comparable classes arise, the Head of the Upper School/Middle School will determine whether one course is comparable to another.

MAKE-UP WORK Any student switching into a class already in progress may be asked to make up all significant work (i.e., required reading, tests, papers, projects, labs, reports, etc.) assigned before his or her transfer. This work should be completed according to a calendar agreed upon by the student and teacher. In certain situations, the Head of the Upper School/Middle School may mitigate the amount of work to be made up.

OTHER ACADEMIC POLICIES

POLICY FOR MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS 1. Schedule with the Head of the Upper School/

Middle School. To distribute student work loads and school resources as effectively as possible, the Head of the Middle School coordinates and approves all

Middle School major assignment due dates and the

Head of the Upper School coordinates and approves all Upper School major assignment due dates.

2. Identify as “major.” “Major assignments” are those that require substantial extra and extended time and independent work. Examples: Grade 11 Synthesis Project, Middle School Portfolio Presentation, research papers, etc. Teachers designate relevant assignments as “major” and make certain that all students understand their designation at the time the assignments are made.

3. Collect at 8:50 a.m. To discourage students from missing school to complete homework, all major assignments are due at 8:50 a.m. Teachers usually make their major assignments due on Mondays.

4. Grade reduction if late. If a student is absent on the due date of a major paper, project, or report, he or she must send the assignment to school with someone else. Major assignments not received by 8:50 a.m. on the due date are automatically turned in to the Head of the Upper School/Middle School who will determine a grade penalty.

NUMBER AND VARIETY OF TESTS To help students perform well academically, teachers should do their best to schedule tests so that students have no more than two tests in one day. Students who are unable to rearrange the dates of more than two tests in a day should see the Head of the Middle School (MS) or the Head of the Upper School (US). To help students maintain academic integrity, teachers of multiple sections of the same course are encouraged to vary their tests and quizzes when all sections do not take the test on the same day.

TESTS AND MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE EXAMS To ensure quality evaluation and optimum benefit for exam preparation, all major assignments must be due no later than two weeks before the start of exams. Unless pre-approved by the Head of the Upper School/Middle School, feedback and grades for all but the smallest quizzes and homework assignments must be collected from and returned to students at least five school days before exams begin.

exams. These are weighted 15% of the semester’s total grade. Two hour exams are administered over a three-hour period at the end of each semester. Arts performances are considered exams.

Seniors who have more than eight unexcused absences from any class during the second semester will be required to take the second semester final examination and be required to attend all meetings for that class prior to the final exam.

EXEMPTION FROM EXAMS Because each Tampa Prep academic discipline offers only one exam each year, and because exams serve as a valuable preparation for college assessments, all students, except second semester seniors who are not failing a class, are required to take the exam for each class in which they are enrolled. Students in an AP class who sit for the AP exam and are passing the course at the end of the academic year are not required to take a final spring exam or complete a spring project for their AP class.

ARTS EXAMS Arts major performances are considered exams. All Arts faculty will notify their students of these dates during the first month of classes.

INCLUDING OTHER ASSESSMENTS AS PART OF AN EXAM Other culminating requirements such as class presentations, term papers, oral examinations and projects may be considered a portion of a course’s examination grade. Whether simply a two-hour final or a multi-faceted assessment that incorporates a final with other culminating assignments, the total exam grade equals 15% of the student's semester grade.

COMPLETING FINAL PROJECTS AND EXAMS If a student does not complete a final project or take a final exam, s/he will receive an Incomplete for that course until either the project has been completed or the exam has been taken.

OPEN BOOK EXAMS Open book exams may be given if 1) logistically their administration site can be isolated from other exam sites, and 2) the Head of the Upper School/Middle School approves the teacher’s request to give such an exam.

REPEATED COURSES Students may repeat a class in Tampa Prep’s Summer School or during the next school year. Upon completion of the repeated course, the grade of the first class is deleted from the student’s official school transcript and replaced with the new grade if higher. If not higher, then the original grade will remain. Please note: Tampa Prep grades will not be replaced with grades earned at any other academic institution.

Students may only repeat a class at Tampa Prep during the following periods: 1) During the summer after the class was first completed; 2) During the subsequent school year; 3) During the second summer after the course was first completed. Upon completion of the repeated course, the grade of the first class is deleted from the student’s official school transcript and replaced with the new grade if higher. If not higher, then the original grade will remain. Courses with grades of B- or higher may not be replaced. Please note: Tampa Prep grades will not be replaced with grades earned at any other academic institution.

EXTRA HELP With minor exceptions, faculty members are available in their classroom for extra help from 3:30-4:15 p.m. each day and at other times during the day as designated by the teacher. Students may be required by faculty to attend these sessions. In addition, faculty may make some time available each week in the classroom for review and for working individually with students. Students who have teachers who coach need to make special arrangements for extra help sessions. Coaches try to ensure that they are available at least one afternoon per week and other mutually agreed upon times.

Advanced students will volunteer as peer tutors for other students during the school day. Students are encouraged to sign up for appointments using the online format or through the Peer Tutoring Advisor. Students must seek help from their teachers before seeking peer tutors.

The Writing Center, staffed by students recommended by their teachers, is located in the library. Students are encouraged to sign up for appointments using the online format. In addition to the appointment calendar, staffers will be in the library from 3:30-4:15 daily.

STUDY HALLS Most students choose to attend Study Hall for one of their scheduled periods. The purpose of this is to allow time during the class day for students to complete a portion of their homework or to seek assistance from a teacher. Unless otherwise designated, all Study Halls meet in the Peifer Library, Middle School meets in the Middle School Hub during 7th Period. Students are expected to be on time, and tardies and absences will be recorded like other classes. The Study Hall monitor will take attendance, maintain a productive study environment, and address any student issues. Guidelines: • Students should come to Study Hall prepared with sufficient work to occupy them for the entire period and should not be excused from the room to retrieve additional materials. • Phones and other electronic devices should be used for academic purposes. Under no circumstances

should a student talk on their phone in the library. • A student is permitted to listen to music if he or she is wearing headphones at a volume that cannot be heard by other students. • Leaving the library to see a faculty or staff member (to take a test, see the Health Coordinator, etc.) requires a note from the faculty member (notes furnished upon return to the library are acceptable.)

Seniors who did not receive any grade below C- in the previous set of quarterly grades, and who are responsible Tampa Prep citizens are excused from Study Hall. However, they must remain on campus in designated academic locations. Juniors who are on the Head’s List during the first semester are exempt from study hall in the second semester. • All students who are exempt from Study Hall must check in with the Health Coordinator if their Study

Hall occurs at 8:50 a.m. (the beginning of the class day) or 1:30 p.m. (the first period after lunch). • A student who has been suspended at any point in the previous year may not be excused from study hall.

TESTS AND WORK MISSED DUE TO ABSENCE All missed or due quizzes, tests, labs, and assignments must be completed and turned in on the day the student returns to school, even if that student’s class does not meet that day or if that student arrives at school after that class has met. Teachers may penalize assignments received beyond their due dates according to individual teachers’ policies. Under extenuating circumstances such as prolonged absences or religious holidays (see below), students must complete and turn in assignments within five school days of returning to school. No work should be accepted for credit beyond that time unless approved by the Head of the Upper School/Middle School. Refer to “Policy for Major Assignments” as well.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION POLICY Participation is a key component of Tampa Prep's Physical Education Department curriculum. As such, the following policy ensures that those students who cannot physically participate in class due to injury or illness are able to continue their engagement with the learning process. If a student is physically unable to participate in class due to injury or illness, the School asks the student and his/her family to adhere to the following guidelines to help ensure that the educational experience remains positive and productive: 1. A non-parent, physician's note must be turned in to the school's Health Coordinator outlining the student's physical restrictions. Teachers are generally not health care professionals who are qualified to diagnose injuries and illness. As such, we need to rely on the guidance of a qualified doctor, physician's assistant or athletic trainer.

a. The note from the qualified health-care professional must be turned in as quickly as possible after the injury/illness occurs. b. A student will not be allowed to return to participation until a non-parent, physician's note is turned in to the school's Health Coordinator stating that the student can resume physical activities. c. If the physical restrictions are to exist for an extended period of time, a conversation with the class instructor, the Dean of Students and the Head of the Upper School/Middle School will be initiated to determine if the student will be able to meet the expectations of the class. If the student is unable to meet the expectations of the class, a schedule change will likely be required. 2. The student must make every effort to participate in class activities in some manner. Whenever possible, the School expects the student to meet basic expectations for the class and to stay engaged in the learning environment. This includes dressing out for class and participating in any way that is possible given the illness/injury constraints. For example, students may be asked to complete the following activities while injured/ill: officiate contests, keep score, engage in alternative exercises (appropriate to the injury/illness), write research papers and other assignments that the instructor feels reasonable. Students who fail to meet these requirements will have participation points deducted from their grade.

TUTORING Tutoring may be appropriate when students need special, continuing, individualized assistance, but it should be considered only after the teacher has provided extensive extra help. Teachers should consult with the Head of the Upper School/Middle School before pursuing tutoring options or recommendations. Tampa Prep faculty may not tutor or give private athletic coaching to Tampa Prep students for pay.

INCOMPLETE GRADES If a student has not completed all work for a grading period, his or her teacher comment may include an expected date of completion. If more make-up time is needed, the teacher should arrange a make-up schedule with the advisor and Head of the Upper School/Middle School.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS Religious holidays are not formally recognized on the Tampa Prep calendar. In setting the academic calendar for each year, conflicts with these holidays may occur. In consideration of their significance for many students, tests and work missed due to absences for major religious holidays falls under this policy.