I'm So Excited!
We get to be in the same place at the same time - on TUESDAY!
I can't wait to see your faces - I've missed you BIG TIME!
Here are some things to know about Tuesday:
- To enter the building on Tuesday morning, use the Breezeway door - the Circle Drive is for buses ONLY.
- When you're inside, you'll head to the gym (Tuesday only).
- We'll greet you and give you a copy of your schedule, whether you want one or not. :)
- You'll go with your First Hour teacher to his/her room from the gym.
Read on for more information, in my favorite format for the first WILDCAT ROAR of the year: Questions and Answers!
I'll see you Tuesday, Wildcats!
jc
* P.S. - Note the new Start/End times below!
Q: What is the WILDCAT ROAR?
Seriously – I spend a lot of time each week typing out information that you need to know. It’s emailed to you – just open it, read it, and carry on. (P.S. – If I write about it, it means that it’s a wide-spread issue and you should pay attention.)
Q: What's the deal with cell phones this year?
Same as last year – no phone use, Smartwatch access, or airpods – except at lunch. You can have those things on you, but we don’t want to see them. (You can wear your watch – just use it as a watch.)
Bonus question: What happens if we’re on our Phone /SmartWatch /Airpods?
A: If a student is using a phone/watch/airpods when they aren’t supposed to,
1. Your teacher will write your name on envelope
2. STUDENT puts device(s) in envelope(s)
3. Teacher calls Ms. Tristen to inform
4. STUDENT brings envelopes to HS Office
5. Teacher enters referral
6. JClem processes
· See Handbook for Steps
Q: Where can I park?
Some students won reserved parking spots last May (see the table below), thanks to their Student of the Month achievements and Field Day finishes. Those students have earned the right to paint their spots with a design that they choose (and J Clem approves).
If it’s a painted or reserved spot, don’t park there. You’ll be asked to move. If it’s an open spot, it’s first come, first served.
Spots students CAN’T park:
- The Circle Drive
- Teacher Parking (off of Elm Street, in front of the Elementary Building)
- The Cafeteria Lot
- Reserved Staff Parking in Gravel/Bus lot (South end of lot)
If you’re driving to school, you need an SHS parking pass. You can get one from Ms. Tristen in the HS Office. They are $5/school year.
The Student Handbook has more info about Driving, Parking, and consequences of violating the rules. Check it out at SlaterSchools.net!
Q: How do I change my schedule?
To change your schedule, you need to complete a SCHEDULE CHANGE request form. You can get one from the HS Office or outside of Mrs. Crews’s office (next door to my office).
Here are some other things to know about schedule changes:
- Don’t ask to talk to Mrs. Crews about a schedule change during class time. If you’ve turned in a request, she’ll contact you if she has a question.
- Don’t come get a schedule change form during class time. You have time to grab one between classes.
- Keep reporting to the class you want to change until Mrs. Crews tells you that your schedule has been changed.
- Schedule changes are allowed the first three days of each semester. That means that the last time to request a schedule change is 3:15 on Thursday, August 25. If you don’t request it/get approved by then, you don’t get to change your schedule until second semester.
Q: If I ride the van from the Miami School, what time do I need to meet Mr. Gochenour in the Miami parking lot?
If you are one of the students riding with him, plan on being in the navy blue Slater van or white suburban before then. If he's taking you back to the Miami School at the end of the day, he'll leave from the Circle Drive after the 3:04 bell. (He's usually at the south end of the drive, towards Mrs. Shaw's windows.)
Q: Can we eat in classrooms?
Snacks and other meals, nope. (If you NEED a snack for medical reasons, we will make sure you get a snack.)
Here’s the deal: Food in the trash cans = bugs, mice, icky things. So…you are welcome to eat breakfast in your WIP room. Please throw your food/drink trash in the large rolling trash cans that will be in the hallways. This lets us keep the food out of the classrooms and in the dumpster.
You can pick up (FREE) breakfast each morning in the Breezeway – or bring your own food in if you’re not into FREE FOOD. Just throw it away afterwards. (Don’t stash food in lockers. That’s gross.)
Speaking of FREE FOOD – every student in the HS is eligible for FREE breakfast and lunch. (It has to be a complete tray for it to be free.) If you want Grab & Go items, seconds, or a single item, you’ll be charged for it and must have money on your student account.
Q: What’s the deal with tardies?
2. The handbook says:
Tardies Grades 5-12
All students will be required to check in at the office upon arrival and obtain an admit slip prior to going to class. Tardies are cumulative for the semester and reports will be run on a weekly basis.
4 tardies: 30-minute detention
5 tardies: 60-minute detention
6 tardies: ½ Friday School
7 tardies: Friday School
8 tardies: Friday School and closed lunch for one week
9 tardies: Friday School and closed lunch for the rest of the semester
10 or more tardies: At administrator discretion, including but not limited to: Loss of good standing, assigned intervention, and possible OSS.
3. Keep in mind: Your tardies are CUMULATIVE FOR THE SEMESTER. This means that they keep building up, even after you’ve served the detention. They reset in August and January.
Q: What is a College Visit Day and how do I schedule one?
Mrs. Crews takes care of College Visit days. Email her (lcrews@slaterschools.net) to visit about it and get more information.
Juniors are allowed two College Visit Days and Seniors are allowed three College Visit Days.
You can also meet with college, military, and job representatives by attending sessions that they host right here (on site!) during school hours. Juniors and Seniors may sign up to meet with representatives they’d like to speak with. Watch the ‘GET THE SCOOP with Counselor Crews’ bulletin board and your @slaterschools.net email address for more information – and let Mrs. Crews know if there’s a specific rep/place you’d like to visit with!
Q: Are Chromebooks the same this year?
Students with a signed Chromebook agreement (received at registration) AND an SHS Technology Contract (below, distributed on Tuesday) will receive their Chromebook on Friday, August 26.
Students with a signed agreement & HS Tech Contract will be able to take their Chromebooks home. If Chromebook Agreement is violated, the privilege to take home and/or retain the machine after graduation (if in good standing), may be revoked.
· Name must be on a card (provided) and on Chromebook at all times
· Student may not use a machine that has not been issued to him/her
· Technology abuse referrals (using the machine when student should be doing another task, using someone else’s machine, accessing or attempting to access restricted sites, abuse of @slaterschools.net email) may result in revoked privileges or machine.
- Students should leave chargers at home
- Charging your machine is your responsibility. However, if you need to charge your machine throughout the day, you can do so at our stations.
If you forget your Chromebook at home, you're out of luck. Loaners won't be issued, and you'll still be responsible for the work assigned. Just bring your Chromebook.
Don’t drop it. Don’t have it out near food/drinks (Breakfast, Cafeteria). Don’t abuse or break it. These infractions (and others) violate the Agreement you signed at Registration and can result in you footing the repair or replacement ($260) cost.
Q: What is LIFE ACADEMY?
"Life Academy is a High School program designed to make students successful ensure student readiness & success in their next steps. Staff members serve as ambassadors to find experts to guide our students in various areas ranging from presentation skills to car care, legal issues, home loans, and everywhere in between. The goal of Life Academy is to expand our classroom curriculum with practical applications and chances to talk to professionals in a variety of fields.
Students must complete the following criteria to be Life Academy certified and wear Life Academy cords at Commencement:
Complete Life Academy lessons
Maintain an updated Resume and Cover Letter
Participate in a job interview (mock or real)
Finish a minimum of 12 hours of Job Shadowing (complying with SHS guidelines)
Take 'the Core Plus More' = Required Graduation credits plus two more credits in one or more core areas"
This year, Mrs. Crews is leading Life Academy. She'll share more information about what it will look like this year later.
Q: How often should I be checking my school email?
Your school email address is your graduation year, first initial, last name@slaterschools.net (Example: 1912jclements@slaterschools.net)
Shout Out
Take a minute to let me know all about it by filling out THIS FORM.
Students, Parents, and Staff can give a shout out to any Slater Schools employee! We'll make sure they receive a copy of it and will look for ways to share them with you throughout the year as well.
Let's get to bragging about all the good people around here!
School Supplies for High School Students
You can access it by clicking HERE!
New Year, New Bells
Some changes that you'll notice are:
- No WIP time for HS (Report to your First Hour class when you enter the building)
- More instructional time for 1-7 hours
- Longer lunch (4 minutes!)
- Later start time
- Later dismissal time
Some things are still the same:
- Still 4 minutes for passing
- Still FREE breakfast before school
- Still FREE lunch for every HS student
- Open lunch for HS students with permission and in good standing
Parking Spot Painting
Painted Parking Spot information and contracts will be coming soon.
Stay tuned!
Contact Info
Email: jclements@slaterschools.net
Website: slaterschools.net
Location: 515 Elm Street, Slater, MO, United States
Phone: 660-631-5298
Twitter: @SlaterPrincipal
