TABLE OF CONTENTS

• School Hours

• Bell Schedule

• Parking/Building Access

• State Health Requirements for Freshmen & New Students

• Procedure for Reporting Absences

• Student Handbooks

• District 129 Rights and Responsibilities Pamphlet

• Be On Time: It's Required

• Student Fee Schedule - Material Fees

• Parent Newsletter

• Dress for Success (Dress Code)

• Cellular Phone Policy

SCHOOL HOURS
COMING SOON!

BELL SCHEDULE [top]

PARKING/BUILDING ACCESS [top]
There are a limited number of parking spaces available for students, staff and visitors to park in and an increase in the amount of motor vehicle traffic around the building. Please be patient and observant. This is especially critical during drop off and pick up times of the day.

• The main entrance for the building is Door #1 (off Galena). There is visitor parking at the front of the building. All visitors must enter through Door #1 or through Student Services (Door #4) and sign in to gain access to the building.
• Students will enter the building at the cafeteria entrance (Door #22) or Door #15 before school. After 8 A.M., Door #15 will be locked and all students and visitors will enter through the front of the building (Door #1) or through Student Services (Door #4).
  
• Bus pick up and drop off will take place in front of the building. A few buses may utilize the corner of Commonwealth and New York Streets. Bus drop off will be in front of the student cafeteria in the morning. Students will be picked up in front of the auditorium & cafeteria at dismissal. Signs will be posted at the major entrances/exits of the school indicating where students should board their bus.
  
• Student parking changes. Students may park in student designated spaces located along Commonwealth and Plum Streets with a parking permit. Parking permits will be issued on a priority basis after the beginning of the school year. There is absolutely no student parking in front of or on the west side of the building.
  
• Student drop off is on Commonwealth between New York and Plum Streets. Drivers and students should use caution crossing the street and opening car doors as Commonwealth is often congested.

STATE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS for FRESHMEN & NEW STUDENTS[top]
West Aurora School District 129 will be implementing first-day exclusion for the fall of 2008.. What this means is that ninth graders or new students to West High must complete the requirements for physicals and immunizations before beginning classes. Students reporting for classes on the first day without health requirements completed will not be issued a schedule and will be sent home. Students will not be allowed to return until all requirements are complete.

PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING ABSENCES[top]
Parents/guardians must call to report their child’s absence. In order to more conveniently report a student absence, calls can be made between 6 P.M. and 10:30 A.M. to an answering machine at 301-5560 for any full day absence. The answering machine may be used to report absences prior to or the day of the absence only. Please have the following information available when you call:

1. Parent/guardian name.
2. Student’s name.
3. Student’s ID number.
4. Reason for the absence.
5. Date(s) of the absence(s).
6. A telephone number where the parent/guardian can be reached during the school day.

STUDENT HANDBOOKS[top]
Students will receive a Student Handbook during the first or second week of class. The handbook contains the school rules that serve as a guideline for student behavior. It also contains other helpful information regarding attendance, guidance, co-curricular activities, student services, important names and numbers and various aspects of student life at West High. Additionally the handbook serves as a planner and school calendar which will assist students in organizing their time in order to be successful at West High. Please review this information carefully with your student so that you are both well informed. Additional copies of the handbook (without the planner) will be available in the Student Services office if a student misplaces the original and/or parents would like a copy for home. If parents have any questions regarding information contained within the handbook, please contact Ms. Gail Wronski, Assistant Principal for Student Services, at 301-5550.

DISTRICT 129 RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES PAMPHLET[top]
Each student will be provided with a copy of the District 129 Rights and Responsibilities pamphlet at registration. This document contains information students and their parents/guardians should be familiar with to help insure success in school. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to know and understand the contents of this important school document. Included is information regarding the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (Article 1, Section C, #7) and Student Directory Information which may be reported to the community (Article 1 Section 5.H). If you misplaced this information or do not receive a copy of the document, you should contact the Student Services office and you will be given an additional copy. Should you have any questions about the information in this document, do not hesitate to call the Student Service’s office for an explanation.

WORKBOOK and CONSUMABLE MATERIALS FEES[top]
Many elective courses will carry an additional fee for instructional materials that are consumable by the student. The fees will vary with different courses. Consumable fees may be for such items as ribbons, food items, workbooks, materials, etc. Fees in this category will be collected at the beginning of each semester. (A complete list of workbooks and supplies is included in this newsletter.)

BE ON TIME: IT’S REQUIRED![top]
West Aurora High School sincerely believes that quality education is enhanced and positive work habits are reinforced by punctuality. All students are expected to be at school and in their classrooms on time. With the expansion of West High over the past few years came an increase in the time allotted students to get from class to class. Students currently have a six-minute passing period between classes and are expected to be in their assigned room (including lunch and study hall) prior to the ringing of the tardy bell. Loitering in the halls during passing periods will result in consequences being issued in addition to those earned for being tardy to class. Punctual students are often successful students!

STUDENT FEE SCHEDULE - MATERIAL FEES[top]
More information available: WAHS Registration Website

Students who register in the fall shall pay an $115 registration fee which covers the cost of textbooks, a student newspaper, a planner, and a technology fee.

Students who choose to participate in any of the following must pay the specified fee:
$50 per sport per student
$40 second sport
$200 for Driver Education
$20 for Band
$10 for Choir
(Freshman Choir excluded)

PARENT NEWSLETTER[top]
The parent newsletter, Blackhawk Beat, will be mailed to your home four times throughout the school year. The newsletter serves as the primary source of information regarding school events, recognition of student achievement, and other items of importance. Please take the time to read it and be an informed parent.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS[top]
The Administration at WAHS would like to take this opportunity to clarify the student dress code. Hopefully this will assist you as you plan your back to school apparel shopping. The following are examples of items that should not be worn to school:

• Clothes that depict violent scenes, obscenities, offensive language, drugs or alcohol.
• Halter tops, tube tops, mesh/sheer tops, thin strapped tank tops or spaghetti strap dresses.
• Clothing items that allow undergarments to be exposed.
• Shirts that expose the shoulders and/or the midriff/navel area.
• Shorts & skirts that are shorter than mid-thigh in length.

CELLULAR PHONE POLICY[top]
Students may bring cellular phones to school but they must be turned off upon entering the school and secured in their locker. Additionally, cell phones must be turned off at all school related events and activities held outside of normal school hours. Cell phones may be used after the school day (2:45pm). Students found in possession of or using cell phones during the school day will be considered guilty of gross disobedience and misconduct and appropriate consequences will be administered. Students found to be disruptive at any school related event or activity with a cell phone may be removed and/or receive disciplinary consequences.