1. Good morning, and thanks for coming to Swamp Fest.
We are very excited to have you and your students joining us today. While you are in here, your students are having some fun, meeting their upperclassmen mentors, getting to know their way around campus, and finding out “what every freshman needs to know”.
I am sure you have many questions and are a little apprehensive about sending your child off to high school, but hopefully I can ease your minds and answer those questions along the way. We will take good care of them and do our best to make sure that they are best prepared for whatever their post secondary goals are

2. ADMINISTRATION Principal Mia Edwards Associate Principal Beth Templet
Assistant Principals
Angela Boudreaux
Christina Carter
Amy Knott
Kellie Gonzales

3. A little about SAHS… ~2000 students,150+ teachers and staff
SPS score: 116.7= A
recognized by US News and World Report for preparing students for college
AP courses at every grade level
25 freshmen received AP credit
40% school passage rate (20% is national avg)
Dual Enrollment classes
One to One

4. Freshman Academy Vision
The vision for the Freshman academy is that ALL incoming freshmen will have a rigorous and enjoyable high school experience.
Freshman Academy Vision
Ensure that ALL incoming freshmen will have an enjoyable but rigorous high school experience that prepares them for their next level of school.

5. BASIC GOAL
ALL 9th graders will be remain on track to graduate from high school within four academic years.

6. Organization
dedicated Associate and an assistant principal (w/ administrative support)
4 X 4 Block Schedule: ELA, Math, and Science or World Geography, Elective (Career Readiness)
2 special education teachers, one guidance counselor – Jennifer Kleinpeter
Contained in the Freshman building
Most on one lunch shift
Electives taken with other grade levels
Eligible to participate in co and extra curricular activities

7. Failure Is Not an Option
Teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community members work TOGETHER to ensure the success of every child.

8. Scheduling
Students are scheduled based on test scores, recommendations, and requests
Reading/English
Math /Algebra
Environmental Science/Biology
AP Human/Geography
Career Readiness- elective for all

9. As a team, we can discuss overall concerns for your child
Coordinate tests and projects
intervene on discipline issues
better track attendance
build better relationships with students
provide strategic interventions
Regardless of the child’s schedule, our teachers work as a team to ensure the success of each child; we hold weekly meetings where we discuss academics, behavior and emotional issues that students might be having in order to develop a plan for intervention and support.

10. Work Together as a Team Teachers Parents Have high expectations
Communicate with students and parents
Use PBIS system
Participate in team meetings
Provide interventions for struggling students
Provide enrichment for those who master the content
Parents
Expect students to attend
school regularly and to do homework
Communicate with & support teachers & staff
Check Blackboard/powerschool
Encourage child to request extra help from teachers.
We also want parents to be a part of our team…..

11. Academic Interventions
Free tutoring is available after school
Students who need additional help, repeatedly refuse to do work, or who are in danger of failing will be assigned to report to after school tutoring, detention or Academic Saturday Detention to catch up .

12. PBIS
PBIS- positive behavior intervention and support: system for teaching expectations and rewarding positve behavior
We reward students for doing the right thing (Incentives.) “Gator green” can be redeemed for things such as a jeans day; we have Gators of the Month that teachers select, they get a breakfast and a chance to win cash prizes

13. Attendance/Tardies:
State law requires a student who has missed more than 5 days unexcused in a full credit class to fail regardless of grade (can miss 3 days unexcused in a half credit class)
Can do attendance recovery for 5 (or 3) days over
Tardy policy is in handbook – students can receive discipline consequences for excessive tardies
By state law, students will fail a full credit course on the 6th absence, and a half credit course on the 4th absence. We do have attendance recovery so that students can make up seat time, but that is limited
Classes are close- there should be no tardies. However, when they accumulate a certain number of tardies they will face discipline consequences

14. Check Out Policy
Students must be checked out in order to leave campus during the school day
ONLY a parent or someone on the student’s checkout list may do so
Please make sure that information is updated (can be done at Open House or any day but MUST be done in person)
Reminder: if a student misses a class due to checking out, he /she is absent
If your child needs to check out, the person that signs them out must be on your emergency contacts; We will have those available at open house for you to check – because it must be changed in person by the parent

15. Must wear ID – consequence is behavior clinic- EVERY time (temp ID can be purchased for $1)
This is a safety issue with almost 2000 students on campus

16. Dress Code: Pants/shorts: khaki/black, no holes, ragged edges
Must wear belt if there are loops
Shirts: polo style (collar) in black, white, yellow
spirit shirts may be worn (with no collar)
Undershirts must be school colors
Polo must be tucked in
Closed in shoes
Solid school colored jackets and sweatshirts
CONSEQUENCES – See APSB Student Handbook (Page 45, Appendix D) for complete High School Dress Code and Consequences.

17. Cell Phone Policy:
Students may only use a cell phone during an official class session if expressly authorized to do so by the teacher.
NO OTHER USE of the cell phone is permitted on campus at any time. Usage of the cell phone may begin after the 2:45 bell.
The APSB (and its employees) shall not be responsible or liable for any electronic device that has been confiscated, including for any damage, loss or theft of such device.
CONSEQUENCE AND RETRIEVAL: (District policy)
Only the parent/guardian, in person.
ONLY on Tuesday and Friday from 12:30 – 2:30 in ISSP.
A $10 processing fee will be assessed.
See the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for complete Electronic Device policy.

18. CHURCHPOINT ROAD SHELL LOT PARKING Morning Traffic Flow BUS LANE
BUSES AND SHELL LOT PARKING ENTRANCE
HWY 431
For safety purposes, students cannot be dropped off or picked up in any parking lot area.
SHELL LOT PARKING
Freshman
Academy
Freshman Academy Parking
SAHS
Main Building
Drop Off Go
Gators
For safety purposes, students cannot be dropped off or picked up in any parking lot area.
PARKING LOT
For safety purposes, students cannot be dropped off or picked up in any parking lot area.
PARKING LOT
Please note that we do not allow student drop off any where besides the spot indicated on the map – for their safety
For safety purposes, students cannot be dropped off or picked up in any parking lot area.
PARKING LOT
CHURCHPOINT ROAD

19. Need info? There’s an APP for that And a Facebook Page
If you need information about STA the best way to do that is to utilize our APP (see handout). We also have a facebook. You have a blackboard account that you need to activate

20. Save the Date October 25th* Parent meeting: “Refresh Night”
Don’t worry – you are receiving a lot of information today. We will have another night later in the year to review and go back over all of the info you hear today