Steele Report
October 2019
Principal's Message
Hello Comet Country,
We are quickly approaching the end of our first grading quarter. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to reach out to your child's teachers with any questions, comments, or concerns. Together, we can ensure continued success for our students.
We have many exciting things on the horizon, such as the district-wide Future Ready program. Please see below for more information and look for the parent letter which was sent home with your child.
Please continue to follow us on Twitter (@SteelePrincipal, @NikkiCampbellAP, @aharigan), Remind (@mls1920), and visit the Steele website for the latest Steele happenings and information.
Go Comets,
Mr. Tellier
PSAT on October 16th
On October 16th, Steele High School will be administering the PSAT/NMSQT to Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors only. Testing will begin promptly at 7:45 am. Students are released from school once they finish testing. There will be Grab and Go lunches available in the cafetorium for students to pick up on their way out of the building.
The busses will still run at the normal time of 2:45 pm. Students who do not have a way of getting home after testing may stay in the cafetorium with a staff member until 2:45 pm.
Seniors will not report to school on Wednesday, October 16th.
Amherst Future Ready
We are happy to announce that during the 2019-20 school year, all Steele students will be issued a Chromebook for educational use. We will begin issuing devices by grade level, beginning with freshmen, on October 21st, during the school day. In order to be issued a Chromebook, students must return the Amherst EVDS Technology Acceptable Use Policy for Students to Mrs. Doehr in the main office by Thursday, October 17, 2019.
Students will be assigned an individual Chromebook and are expected to carry the device with them throughout their school day. Students at Steele High School are expected to take the devices home and return to school fully charged. Any Chromebook damaged or lost should be reported immediately to the Creative Learning Center “CLC” to facilitate a timely repair or replacement. Similar to textbooks, if a Chromebook is damaged or lost while assigned to an individual student, that student may be responsible to repay the cost of repairs or the replacement cost. Please see below for Steele High School Future Ready Guidelines.
A website has been created with frequently asked questions and detailed information regarding the Future Ready Program. Please visit the website: https://sites.google.com/amherstk12.org/futurereadyamherst
Steele High School Future Ready Student Guidelines
The district uses a hybrid filtering solution to ensure all Chromebooks are monitored and filtered for content. Students will only be able to utilize their Chromebook at school and home by logging into their school district account. Therefore, devices will continue to be monitored and filtered for content with the same level of security while off-campus.
Students need to utilize their school-issued Chromebook. Students will not be permitted to use outside devices on school wifi except in common areas such as the cafetorium, gymnasiums, and school lobbies.
While using their district-issued Chromebook, students:
Must comply with the Technology Acceptable Use Policy for Students
Treat their device with care and never leave it in an unsecured location.
Must promptly report any problems to the Creative Learning Center (CLC).
May not remove or interfere with the serial number and other identification.
May not attempt to remove or change the physical structure of the Chromebook, including the keys, screen cover or plastic casing.
May not attempt to install or run any operating system other than the Chrome OS operating system supported by the school.
Students are not permitted to:
Send inappropriate emails.
Harass or bully other users.
Participate in inappropriate/illegal activity.
Engage in an activity that may pose a risk to anyone.
Violate school or district policy as outlined in the MLS Student/Parent Handbook and the Amherst ESVD Technology Acceptable Use Policy for Students.
Allow others to use account name or password.
Modify the Chromebook in any way.
Use another student’s Chromebook.
Apply any permanent marks, decorations, or modifications to the Chromebook.
Use their Chromebook during lunchtime.
Care and Proper Handling:
Close the lid when carrying.
Make sure there are no school supplies (pens, paper, etc.) when shutting the lid.
Charge only with the included charger every night. Extra chargers will be made available in the CLC for school use only.
Keep away from food and drink.
WiFi and Troubleshooting
Please refer to Future Ready Businesses in Amherst that support education and offer free wifi for Amherst students.
The Amherst Public Library has wifi hotspots available to all library cardholders. Please contact the Amherst Public Library for more information on how to gain internet access at home.
Other technical solutions are available for families. Please contact doug_cogdell@amherstk12.org for more information.
Grading Information
Final GradesStudents and parents should review the following information about grades: • Final grade computations are determined by an average of each quarter and the semester ending exam. Each quarter receives 40 percent weight while the exam receives 20 percent. • Two passing grades of the three and an overall passing average are necessary to earn credit for the semester. • Yearlong courses, except AP courses, will appear as two separate final grades on the transcript. • There are no running percentages from one grading period to the next. • All students must take the required final exam to receive credit for the course. If they do not take the final exam, then they will receive an F for the course. If a student is absent the day of the exam without a valid excuse, then the student will fail the exam and the course. • Evaluative and late work procedures will be communicated by the teachers at the beginning of the course. | Make-up Work Policy A student who has been absent from a class more than 65 hours in a semester will not be permitted to make-up assignments or assessments unless the hours are excused by a certified absence. While it is the responsibility of the student and the teacher to see that make-up work is completed, make-up work is primarily the responsibility of the student. The student is responsible for contacting teachers and obtaining make-up assignments and to complete work assigned within the designated time. Typically, a child will be granted one (1) extended day per each day absent. This rule also applies to students who are suspended as they will be allowed to make up the work missed without loss of credit. If requested, for extended absences, assignments may be picked up after school from the red tray located in the counseling office. Students should make every effort to pick up assignments or arrange for a sibling to do so. | MLS Student and Parent Handbook Marion L. Steele High School's policies for final grade calculations and make-up work can be found in our Student and Parent Handbook. |
Final Grades
Students and parents should review the following information about grades:
• Final grade computations are determined by an average of each quarter and the semester ending exam. Each quarter receives 40 percent weight while the exam receives 20 percent.
• Two passing grades of the three and an overall passing average are necessary to earn credit for the semester.
• Yearlong courses, except AP courses, will appear as two separate final grades on the transcript.
• There are no running percentages from one grading period to the next.
• All students must take the required final exam to receive credit for the course. If they do not take the final exam, then they will receive an F for the course. If a student is absent the day of the exam without a valid excuse, then the student will fail the exam and the course.
• Evaluative and late work procedures will be communicated by the teachers at the beginning of the course.
Make-up Work Policy
While it is the responsibility of the student and the teacher to see that make-up work is completed, make-up work is primarily the responsibility of the student. The student is responsible for contacting teachers and obtaining make-up assignments and to complete work assigned within the designated time. Typically, a child will be granted one (1) extended day per each day absent. This rule also applies to students who are suspended as they will be allowed to make up the work missed without loss of credit. If requested, for extended absences, assignments may be picked up after school from the red tray located in the counseling office. Students should make every effort to pick up assignments or arrange for a sibling to do so.
MLS Student and Parent Handbook
Family First Night
Important Dates
Wednesday, October 16th: PSAT Testing
Friday, October 18th: End of 1st Quarter, Senior Portrait Day (See Mrs. Doehr for an appt.)
Thursday, October 31st: C-Schedule
Friday, November 1st: Picture Retakes and Senior Panoramic Picture at 7:30 am
Wednesday, November 6th: Cap and Gown Order Day for Seniors, #CometCommunity Night
Wednesday, November 13th: Family First Night
Friday, November 22nd: Student Council Blood Drive
Wednesday, November 27th- Friday, November 29th: Thanksgiving Break, No School
Past Issues of the Steele Report
Just in case you missed a past issue of the Steele Report, click on the links below.