HHS sees changes in existing policies with new ones to start the year
The front cover of the HHS Student Handbook.
Walking in the halls of Highlands High School, there has been talk about “new policies.” There is a “new” cell phone policy or a “new” cheating policy.
However, what most students don’t realize is that some of these rules were already applied, just not enforced before this school year.
Now, in the HHS Student Handbook it introduces new policies such as: Cell Phones, 10/10, and Academic Integrity. The Cell Phone Policy includes students putting phones in what Highlands calls cell phone “pockets.”
With the 10/10 rule, students are not permitted to leave the classroom within the first and last 10 minutes of that class period.
The Academic Integrity is aimed towards cheating and plagiarism but also deals with being sick frequently when students have a test in one or more classes. This can be counted as cheating for a student if that student is found to be faking ill to miss an assignment that is due that day.
On Page 26 of the Student Handbook under the Academic Integrity section it talks about the issues of faking sickness. The student handbook states, “Feigning ill to avoid assessments.”
The reasoning for changes and clarifications in the Student Handbook is to help contain some of the issues commonly seen among high school students.
Assistant Principal Jennifer Forgy explains how not having phones during class can help students stay focused in class.
“I think a lot of students were being really distracted by their phones… they weren’t able to learn and listen as much and so were hoping to take that pressure off of having it and having to respond to people.”
The FTIS Board of Education policy 09.4261 explains the limits students have to their phone access.
“Unless an emergency situation exists that involves imminent physical danger or a certified employee authorizes the student to do otherwise, devices shall be turned on and operated only before and after the regular school day and during the student’s lunch break.”
Within the 10/10 rule both Forgy and Principal John Darnell agreed on the reasoning behind the creation of this rule.
“There’s always a lot of important information at the beginning and the end of class… and also keeps kids out of the hall which will hopefully reduce some of our vape problems,” said Forgy.
Darnell followed with how the 10/10 rule is aimed at keeping students in check.
“Y’all heard us talk a lot about some activities going on in the bathroom that shouldn’t be going on. Always every single time it was in the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes of a class. Definitely cleaning out the bathrooms in those 10 minutes will make sure everybody is doing what’s expected of them.”
All grade levels went into the PAC this week and attended a meeting with Darnell and Forgy going over the newly enforced Student Handbook policies. In that meeting, Darnell and Forgy explained tardies, absences, and school eligibility can negatively affect extra“I think a lot of students were being really distracted by their phones… they weren’t able to learn and listen as much and so were hoping to take that pressure off of having it and having to respond to people.” [/pullquote]curricular activities.
Highlands High School is now being held with “what is expected of them,” said Darnell.
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