CB West High School
West Times Newsletter 8.7.17
NEWS FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
- Student Schedules for the 2017-2018 school year will be available on the Infinite Campus Portal on Monday, August 21, 2017 at 8:00 AM. Schedules will not be mailed home. If you require a printed schedule, please contact the Guidance Office and we will gladly print one for you.
- PSAT's: The 2017 PSAT’s will be held on Saturday, October 14th at CB West at 8 AM. PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Sophomores and Juniors are encouraged to take this Preliminary SAT if they plan to take the SAT for college admission. By taking the PSAT in the fall, Juniors may be eligible for college scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) program. Information about registration and online practice resources will be forthcoming.
- College Application Process: Starting this year, Seniors will use Naviance to electronically request and track transcripts sent to colleges. Students may electronically request transcripts any time after August 1st, but must first submit a signed Naviance Transcript Authorization form to Mrs. Matthews in the Guidance Office. Transcripts will be sent within 15 school days of the request. Senior House counselors Ms. Dallam and Mr. Curtis will review the application process with Seniors in the beginning of the year, and detailed instructions may be found on the Class of 2018 Webpage.
- The Central Bucks School District Financial Aid Night will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 7pm at CB East’s Auditorium, 2804 Holicong Road, Doylestown, PA 18902. Ms. Bonnie Behm, Director of Financial Assistance at Villanova University, will review the types of financial aid, steps for completing and submitting the FAFSA, comparing offers of aid, and the colleges’ approach to aid. This is a must-see for any Seniors and parents who plan to apply for financial assistance for college!
First Day of School!
- The first day of school for ALL students is Tuesday, September 5, 2017.
- The school day begins promptly at 7:25 AM. All students MUST be in their assigned class by that time. Otherwise, they will be considered late to school.
- CB West will be operating on a Special Schedule on the first day of school. This schedule will allow us to hold Welcome Assemblies for all three classes. The schedule will be as follows:
First Day of School Schedule
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
*Advisory (7:25-9:25)
- Junior Assembly (7:45-8:15)
- Sophomore Assembly (8:20-8:50)
- Senior Assembly (8:55-9:25)
1st Block (9:25-10:23)
2nd Block (10:28-11:26)
3rd Block (11:31-1:21)
- A lunch (11:31-12:01)
- B lunch (12:11-12:41)
- C lunch (12:51-1:21)
*Students report directly to advisory at beginning of the school day. Students should wait for an announcement before proceeding to the Auditorium. Students with First Marking Period Late Arrival are expected to be in school by 7:25 AM on the first day of school and should also report directly to advisory.
Important Information for MBIT Students
School begins on September 5th for MBIT students.
MBIT students will attend Middle Bucks Institute of Technology every day. Therefore, the following information is very important.
AM Session MBIT Students:
AM Session MBIT Students must board the MBIT bus each morning by 7:20 AM. There are two MBIT buses located at the end of MacFarlane Lane near Memorial Drive.
At the conclusion of MBIT, AM Session Students will be dropped off at CB West near the Cafeteria. Students are to report directly to their advisory classrooms after the bus drops them off at CB West. (On the first day of school, they should report to lunch after being dropped off.)
PM Session MBIT Students:
PM Session MBIT Students are dismissed each day from advisory at 10:40 AM. Students are to report directly to the small end of the Cafeteria for lunch. Students will be dismissed from lunch to the MBIT buses that are located outside the cafeteria at 11:10 AM. The PM MBIT buses return to CB West by 2:30 PM for dismissal.
Attention Sophomores and New Students to West!
Attention Juniors and Seniors!
Juniors and Seniors who meet the requirements for Privilege will have it indicated directly on their student schedules. Each marking period, “Privilege 11” or “Privilege 12” will appear in the advisory area of eligible students’ schedules. A reminder that Juniors and Seniors with Privilege must report to their assigned Study Halls each day to check in with the monitors. Sophomores are not eligible for Privilege. Please click on the following link to the student handbook for a list of requirements that students must meet in order to receive Privilege and details about the system.
Attention Seniors!
A reminder that Late Arrival or Early Release will not appear on an eligible senior’s schedule until her/his application is approved by the administration. Any senior with first or fourth block Study Hall may apply for Late Arrive or Early Release by completing the application found at this link. Any senior applying for Late Arrival or Early Release must remain in the assigned Study Hall until “Late Arrival” or “Early Release” appears on her/his schedule. Completed Late Arrival/Early Release Application forms should be returned to Dr. Caughie’s Office. Seniors must clear all obligations prior to applying for Late Arrival/Early Release.
Student Parking
Student parking spaces will be issued on a lottery basis with seniors initially receiving priority. All students who drive to CB West, whether they park in the lots or on the street, must register their vehicles. Parking registration forms are located in the security office and on the CB West Website. Students may not park in the Faculty Parking Lots or in Spaces 200-210, 260-279, 319-344 and 374-385. Spaces 203-209 are for visitors.
The cost for student parking permits for the 2017-2018 school year is as follows:
Full Year Permit - $100
2nd Semester Permit - $60
Additionally, we must continue to be good neighbors. Therefore, we ask that students DO NOT park in the YMCA parking lot, the First Baptist Church of Doylestown parking lot, or at Chestnut Grove.
CLICK here to access 2017-2018 Parking Registration Forms on CB West's Website.
Athletic Passes
Welcome back Bucks fans! We hope you enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to coming out and supporting our student athletes this school year. Below is a link for this year’s CBSD Athletic Passes. Please feel free to contact us in the athletic office if you have any questions. Looking forward to seeing you all in the stands in a few weeks.
Antler Yearbook Information
Online orders can begin September 1st at www.jostens.com.
For the entire month of September, our yearbooks will be at their lowest price of $75. You can order online or complete the order form on our website. Don't forget to look for our sales table in the lobby on Back to School Night!
Please Complete the Student Emergency Information Form for Your Family
Each year, the Central Bucks School District asks our families to fill out a Student Emergency Information Form. This form ensures that student information is accurate.
This year, we are asking that you complete your family’s Student Emergency Information Form online by September 20, 2017.
The online form will ask you to confirm and/or update the following:
· Demographic Information
· Emergency Contacts
· Health Information, including permission for emergency care and analgesic administration
· Media Release Preferences
Click here to be directed to your Parent Portal account to complete the Student Emergency Information form.
Thank you for taking the time to update this important information.
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For detailed information about this process, including a User Guide, please click here.
If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please follow this link to request one.
If you need support, please email parentportal@cbsd.org.
NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FROM PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has revised the immunization requirements for students effective the 2017-2018 school year.
As of August 2017, a parent must have all immunizations completed within the first 5 days of school.
Please click here for further details.
If the student is in the middle of a series and it is too soon for the next dose, the parents must provide the school nurse with a plan for immunizations (signed by a health care provider) within the first 5 days. If the student has incomplete immunizations and no medical plan, the student will be excluded from school.
You may check your child’s school immunization record by logging onto the parent portal through the district website at www.cbsd.org or by consulting with your child’s physician.
Picture Day
ALL students, including seniors, need to have their picture taken to receive an ID badge, even if you are not purchasing photos. ID badges are required for sophomores, juniors and seniors. Photo packets will be handed out during advisory on the first day of school. Picture re-takes are scheduled for October 19th.
Back-To-School Night
Central Bucks West’s Back-to-School Night is on Thursday, September 14 at 7:00 PM. Upon arrival to CB West, you should report directly to your child's advisory/homeroom classroom. Advisory/homeroom will begin at 7:00 PM. Throughout the evening, you will have the opportunity to follow the schedule of your son or daughter, meet your child's teachers, and hear a brief presentation about the courses. A blank schedule is available on our website. Please ask your child to complete this information for your convenience in planning your classroom visits. To print the Back-To-School Night Blank Schedule, CLICK HERE.
If your child took a Keystone Exam in Spring 2017, your child's Keystone Score Report will be available for pick-up during the Back-To-School Night Advisory Period. Keystone Student Score Reports that are not picked up on Back-To-School Night will be mailed home at a later date.
CB West Parent Council
We look forward to continuing our partnership with parents through the 2017-2018 Central Bucks West Parent Council. Membership to the council is open to all interested CB West parents.
Meetings are scheduled for the following Wednesdays in the Tower Room off of the Main Lobby, beginning at 9:00 AM and concluding at 10:30 AM:
September 27, 2017
October 25, 2017
January 24, 2018
February 28, 2018
March 28, 2018
April 25, 2018
Some of the goals of the group will be:
- To foster a dialogue between the home and school through the collegial sharing of ideas and concerns
- To undertake project(s) as developed by the group
- To support the school in the community by information sharing
We hope you will be able to participate in our 2017-2018 Parent Council.
RENOVATION PROJECTS AT CB WEST
The Central Bucks School District recently approved several renovation projects for CB West. Click here to follow the progress.
The CB West Auditorium project began on June 19, 2017. The project includes: a stage extension, an acoustical cloud, general acoustical upgrades, lighting upgrades, sound system upgrades, new rigging equipment for the stage curtain systems, backstage improvements, and cosmetic improvements. Due to this project, some Fall/Winter performances will be re-located to other school district venues. Venue change information will be posted on the Central Bucks School District calendar and the CB West website. The anticipated completion date of the project is January, 2018.
Renovations to the War Memorial turf and track began on June 19, 2017. This phase of the renovation project includes new turf (including new CB West logo at mid-field), a new track, and a new scoreboard. This phase of the project is scheduled to conclude prior to the start of the 2017-2018 school year.
WESTSYLVANIA
Phase 1 and 2 of the Westsylvania courtyard has involved the following work this Summer:
- Tree and shrub transplant
- Excavation and construction of new path (The path is made of gravel with a structural base allowing for ADA approved handicapped accessibility.)
- Prep soil for meadow seeds
- Construction of earthen mounds to be used to showcase student artwork
- The center space (outdoor classroom) is surrounded by two bios-wale for the treatment of storm-water runoff through plant remediation and ultimately defined by a meadow that has not been planted yet. This space will be able to be used as an outdoor learning environment for students and faculty that can serve a number of purposes.
Attendance Policies and Procedures
The issue of school attendance plays an important role in ensuring that your child receives a quality education during the school year. There is a documented link between attendance and declining achievement. Children who do not attend school regularly rarely achieve their full potential. Missed instruction and the challenges students face as they attempt to complete missed work are important factors that impact student performance.
As educators, we recognize that promoting regular school attendance is a key component in the successful growth and development of all students. To maximize student learning, we ask that you be mindful of our district attendance policy. The Compulsory Attendance Law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that an absence excuse, verified by a parent/guardian, be on file for every day of the student’s absence.
- According to State Law, the following excuses qualify as excused absences: religious holiday, illness, death in the family, educational trips or vacation with prior written approval by the principal.
- School district policy allows principals to approve a maximum of five vacation or educational travel days per academic year.
- Unexcused absences are defined as: truancy, oversleeping, missing the bus, shopping, child care, visiting relatives or friends, recreational activities, remaining home to do homework, and exceeding the five day vacation policy.
- Excessive absenteeism is defined as anything greater than 10% of the school year to date. Should this 10% threshold be met, intervention by school personnel is initiated. An ongoing truancy issue is forwarded to the Bucks County District Justice and/or Bucks County Children and Youth Agency.
- A note from a physician may be required for each absence over 15 days.
Regular attendance is not a problem for a majority of our students; however, there are small steps that all parents can take to monitor and limit absences thereby enhancing their child’s academic success.
- Strive to make appointments (doctors, dentists, etc.) during after-school hours.
- When planning an activity that will require absence from school, weigh the educational value against lost instructional time.
- Plan for some unstructured time to occur each weekend. Free time goes a long way in rejuvenating young minds and bodies.
Our district calendar provides various days off that we hope will allow your child ample opportunities to experience life outside the educational setting. Please take advantage of these school holidays, while being vigilant about the importance of regular daily attendance. With your support, Central Bucks High School West will continue to optimize instructional time and student learning opportunities.
For more information, click on the ATTENDANCE LINK found on our CB West website.
Dress Guidelines
The primary responsibility for the appearance of the students of Central Bucks West rests with the parents and the students themselves. Together, they have the right to determine such dress and grooming, as long as that appearance does not substantially and directly endanger physical health and safety, damage property, disrupt the educational process, distract those engaged in that process, or go beyond the community and school definition of modesty. Students and parents may determine the student’s personal dress provided that the student’s attire adheres to the following appearance guidelines:
- Clothing that does not expose underwear or abdomen
- Skirts or shorts at the fingertip length or longer when arms are held to the side
- Clothing that covers cleavage (front & rear), the back and torso
- Clothing that is free of pictures or wording that contains profanity, vulgarity, innuendo, the ridiculing of any person or group, the references to alcohol, tobacco or illegal activity
Appearance Guidelines can also be found in the student handbook.
Every staff member has the right to exercise control of his/her classroom atmosphere. The wearing of hats in classrooms comes under this right. If a staff member refuses to allow hats to be worn in the classroom, students are required to conform to this reasonable request.
Any shirt, sweatshirt, or other article of clothing being designed by an athletic team, club, music group, etc. must have prior approval from an administrator and must adhere to the school dress guidelines.
Violations of these dress guidelines may result in disciplinary consequences for your student(s). In addition, parents may be asked to bring appropriate attire to school to assist in correcting the violation. All homeroom advisors will review dress guidelines and consequences for violations during the first week of classes.
Please take a moment to review this information with your student. Thank you for your support in maintaining a safe, positive, and respectful school environment.
Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones are to be turned off during the school day (7:25 AM to 2:30 PM) unless being used in accordance with the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. If students need to make an emergency phone call, they may report to any office. Any student that has a cell phone on, out or audible during the school day will be disciplined as follows:
1st Offense: Cell Phone Violation Referral/Student Conference
1-hour Administrative Detention
2nd Offense: Cell Phone Violation Referral/Student Conference
Saturday Suspension
3rd Offense: Cell Phone Violation Referral/Student Conference
In School Suspension
4th Offense: Cell Phone Violation Referral/Student and Parent Conference
In School Suspension
Repeated offenses may be considered insubordination and may result in further consequences, loss of privileges, or an out of school suspension.
About Us
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/30
Location: 375 West Court Street, Doylestown, PA, United States
Phone: 267.893.2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools
Twitter: @CBWestHS