Steele Report
November 2019
Principal's Message
Hello Comet Country,
Tonight is our first Family First Night of the 2019-2020 school year. There will be no after-school events, practices, games, or activities. I hope you and your family enjoy your quality time together.
Believe it or not, we are about halfway into the second quarter! I encourage you to utilize ParentPortal and follow your child's grades. Please do not hesitate to contact your child's teachers with any questions, comments, or concerns. Mid-terms and final exams will be the last two days before Winter Break. Please see below for the complete schedule.
Finally, if you have not already updated your student's emergency medical and contact information through your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please do so by November 15th. It is imperative we have updated medical and contact information in our system. Please see below for more detailed information on this process. Any student who does not have updated information by November 15th, will not be able to attend field trips or participate in after-school activities, sports, events, etc. In addition, you will not receive email or phone communication from the district. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
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
Update Emergency Medical and Contact Information by Nov. 15th!
The Amherst Exempted Village School District initiated a new online returning student registration process this school year. As of today, we only have updated emergency medical and contact information for about 1,200 students. It is imperative that we receive updated information for all students by Friday, November 15, 2019. If you have already completed the online returning student registration process for each child in your family attending the Amherst Schools, then there is nothing further that you need to do.
It is crucial for the safety and security of your children that we have this information updated immediately. If you have not completed and submitted the online student registration process for each child in your family attending the Amherst Schools through your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, then follow these directions and complete the process by November 15th.
If we do not have your child’s updated information by the deadline of November 15th, then your child will not have the proper emergency medical and contact information within our system. As a result, your child will not be able to attend field trips or participate in after-school activities, sports, events, etc. In addition, you will not receive email or phone communication from the district.
To complete the process, please go to your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, click on the Returning Student Registration link in the left menu, and follow the prompts/directions.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your child's school office or the Board Office at 440-988-4406. Thank you for immediate assistance in completing this process.
Mid-Term and Final Exam Schedule
Fall End of Course Exams
SOS-Signs of Suicide
Lorain County JVS Information
College Visits
Important Dates
Wednesday, November 13th: Family First Night
Thursday, November 14th - Saturday, November 16th: Fall Theatre Production
Tuesday, November 19th: National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Thursday, November 21st: Jostens Ring Delivery and Senior Cap and Gown Order Day
Friday, November 22nd: Student Council Blood Drive
Friday, November 22nd - Saturday, November 23rd: Fall Theatre Production
Wednesday, November 26th: Crazy Games from 1:45 - 2:45, B-Schedule
Wednesday, November 27th - Friday, November 29th: Thanksgiving Break, No School
Friday, December 2nd: C- Schedule
Thursday, December 5th - Friday, December 13th: Fall End of Course Exams
Monday, December 16th: Choir Alumni Concert
Tuesday, December 17th: Band Winter Concert
Thursday, December 19th: Orchestra Winter Concert
Wednesday, December 18th: Jostens Final Order Day for Seniors' Cap and Gown
Thursday, December 19th - Friday, December 20th: Mid-term and Final Exams
Friday, December 20th: End of 2nd Quarter
Monday, December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd: Winter Break for Students, No School
Monday, January 6th: First day of 3rd Quarter
Attendance Information
Excused Absence
Excused Absence: an absence where parent and/or guardian properly provides a phone call or note within 48 hours of the absence. It is preferred that notification comes by 9:00 am the day of the absence.
If the student has more than 65 hours of absences within a semester, every absence thereafter will be considered truant unless classified as a certified absence.
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.
School authorized field trips and/or suspensions will not count as part of a student’s bank of 65 hours of absences per semester.
Certified Absence
Certified Absence: an absence recognized by the Ohio Revised Code.
The following reasons will be classified as certified:
- personal illness with proper documentation from a doctor
- illness in the immediate family with proper documentation from a doctor
- quarantine determined by proper health officials
- death in the immediate family
- medical or dental appointment with proper documentation
- certified religious holiday
- up to 3 college visits with proper documentation
Proper documentation will be received within 6 school days to validate the absence.
Special circumstances such as a family vacation or an extracurricular event request must be made via a completed “Pre-Planned Absence Form” at least two weeks prior to the absence is to occur.
Truant/Unexcused
Truant/Unexcused: an absence where a parent/guardian does not make contact with the school to verify absence and/or the student has more than 65 hours of noncertified absences in a semester.
Any student who leaves school without signing out, and/or parent approval is considered truant and cannot be excused by a note or parent call after the fact.
Grading Information
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
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.
Past Issues of the Steele Report
Just in case you missed a past issue of the Steele Report, click on the links below.
Marion L. Steele High School
Email: ashley_harigan@amherstk12.org
Website: https://www.amherstk12.org/schools/steele
Location: 450 Washington Street, Amherst, OH, USA
Phone: 440-988-4433
Twitter: @SteelePrincipal