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The staff at Dr. Denison
Secondary School is committed to instilling the skills, knowledge
and values which will make our students happy and productive
citizens of the world. These policies are intended to reinforce
the importance of personal responsibility, punctuality and
regular attendance for all students. These skills are reflected
in the Comments section and Learning Skills section of the
student’s midterm and final report card.
For clarification on the rights and responsibilities
for both students and parents in regards to these policy statements,
please consult Appendix L, as presented in the Student Agenda.
Please explore each of the
following links:
Attendance Policies
There is a strong correlation between attendance and
academic achievement. You will find the school’s philosophy
regarding attendance outlined in the student agenda. Please
make note of the following expectations and outcomes regarding
absence and lateness:
1. In the event of absence it is
expected that students will make up missed work in a reasonable
amount of time. Students will arrange appointments with teachers
outside of class time in order to determine what has been
missed. Unauthorized absence on the day of a test or in-class
assignment will result in a mark of zero.
2. Authorized absences include
the following: illness of less than three days, provided a
parental note or, in the case of students over 18, a personal
note is given; extended illness, provided a doctor’s
note is received; court appearances, provided a subpoena or
court note is submitted; family vacations, provided an Extended
Absence Form has been completed and signed by the principal.
Senior students should note that the Extended Absence will
only be authorized if the vacation is being taken with one’s
parents.
3. Arriving late to class
disrupts the learning and teaching process and will not be
tolerated. If you are late, sign your teacher’s late
book and sit down quietly. After the third late, all subsequent
“lates” will result in detention. Do not be late
to class.
Assignment
Policies
It is important that work
is done by the date assigned by the teacher. Please make note
of the following expectations and outcomes regarding late
and overdue assignments.
1. Any major assignment must
be handed in on the due date specified by the teacher. If
it is not, students will be notified by the teacher of their
one, final, opportunity to hand the assignment in. If the
work has not been completed by this “dead” date,
a mark of zero will indicate that the student has not demonstrated
his or her mastery of the course expectations as addressed
by this assignment, and the student will be referred to the
office. Failure to complete this assignment can result in
the student not earning the credit.
2. After 8 absences (excluding
school sponsored events or special circumstances) students
may lose the right to receive marks for missed assignments
and/or write missed tests unless a medical appointment slip
is provided.
3. Students are marked individually
during all group seminars and presentations. Those students
who are absent for a presentation may receive a mark of zero
unless a doctor’s note is received.
4. It is expected that work not completed
in class will be completed at home by students.
In addition, homework may be assigned to be done on a student’s
own time. This will constitute a significant part of the Learning
Skills evaluation which is included on the student’s
report card. In addition to doing poorly in this area, students
who neglect their homework will also see this reflected in
poor results on tests and major assignments.
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is derived from the Latin
word plagiarius (kidnapper) and refers to intentionally
or unintentionally taking another person’s ideas or
words and presenting them as your own. It is not a form of
“borrowing”; it is stealing. As with other offences,
ignorance is not an excuse. Plagiarism will result in a mark
of zero, and a referral to the office. It may result in a
failing grade in the course. For more information on Plagiarism
and how to avoid it, follow this link
to the Library's PowerPoint presentation on this subject.
All major assignments are to be handed in with process work
(outline, rough draft, research notes, etc…). This is
evidence that the work you have submitted is the product of
your time and effort. Assignments will not be marked unless
accompanied by the process work.
All major assignments must be submitted with a properly formatted
reference page. Papers cannot be evaluated unless a reference
page is included at the time of submission.
All major assignments will be submitted in hard copy as well
as electronically, through the use of disk, CD, email or via
Turnitin.com. Detailed instructions for electronic submission
will accompany individual assignments.
Textbooks
Textbooks are on loan to students and it is expected that
they be returned in the same condition that the student received
them. Students will be given a book replacement cost when
they receive the text. For every book lost, a student will
have the option of replacing the book (with the same edition)
or paying the replacement value. Students who fail to pay
for lost texts will not receive end of semester report cards
or timetables for the following semester. Students are responsible
for returning the books with the text number indicated on
the IOU card.
Sensitive Issues in
the English Classroom
The English Classroom can be an exciting and dynamic place
where all sorts of topics become the subject of discussion,
including, very occasionally, issues deemed to be sensitive.
Sensitive issues are those which “…may invite
the expression of conflicting conclusions which represent
the various cultural, religious and personal values which
are reflected in a classroom.” (Standing Memorandum
S68, Guideline for the Implementation of the Family Life/Sex
Education Program). When these discussions arise, students
will be encouraged to discuss these issues and seek clarification
from their parents. If a student is uncomfortable with the
content of a discussion, then he or she may choose not to
participate or to leave the room for the duration of the discussion.
Parents wishing further information about this should contact
their child’s English Teacher.
The Internet and the English
Classroom
The Dr. Denison English and Drama Department would like to
recognize your efforts in class by posting a sample of your
work as part of our web page on the world wide web. This might
be in the form of a sample of your schoolwork, a photo of
you, a video with you in it, or your name. Before we do this
we would like to seek your permission and the permission of
a parent or guardian if you are under the age of 18. Please
circle the appropriate responses below, sign where indicated,
and return to your English or Drama teacher. We will let you
know when our web page has been updated to include you.
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