STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Counseling services are available to all students and parents. Students in Grade 9 are assigned to one counselor. Students in Grades 10-12 are assigned to the same counselor for three (3) years. Both group and personal conferences are arranged in an attempt to meet with each student regularly. Meetings may be designed to discuss student interests, abilities, course selection, educational/vocational opportunities, employment opportunities, or personal /social concerns. Students are encouraged to arrange to see their counselor whenever the need arises.
The Student Services Department provides information, services and materials for students and parents. Information available includes school and college catalogues, employment and occupational information, scholarship and financial aid booklets; armed services brochures, and College Board test information.
Guidance personnel arrange for college and career speakers at various times throughout the year. Counselors also coordinate the local scholarship program. Evening programs are conducted each season on topics related to the college application process. Parents are welcome to contact counselors via-email, make phone inquiries, or to arrange for individual consultation.
All grade 9 students: Mr. Glenn Lopes ext. 118
Grade 10-12
1. Carpentry, CIT, Electricity, CIT, CNT, Early Childhood Education: Ms. Tina Bennett, ext. 136
2. Collision Tech, Auto Tech, Community Health, Culinary Arts, Dental Assisting, Graphic Design: Ms. Megan McGraw, ext. 117
3. CAD/CAM, Commercial Design, HVAC, Metal Fab, Cosmetology, Plumbing: Ms. Marjorie Magny-Black, ext. 119
4. School Adjustment Counselor: Andrea Trottier
5. School Psychologist: Jamie Hale
Section 504 School Accommodation Plan
All programs activities and services are open to all students including those with disabilities. When a student requires specific accommodations unique to a disability that substantially impairs a major life function, the Director of Student Services convenes a team to determine eligibility for a Section 504 Accommodation Plan. Procedures, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are followed in these circumstances.
Change of Student Information
Please notify the Student Services Department immediately of any change in student information, for example address or telephone number. If you are moving outside of the regional school district, you must come to the Student Services Department for completion and signature of both the Records Release and School Leaver forms.
Dropping and Adding Subjects
The procedure for dropping or adding subjects is as follows:
1. The student makes an appointment to discuss the proposed change with his/her counselor.
2. The counselor may consult with the academic coordinator before acting on the schedule changes requested.
3. Administrative approval and parent approval are required for dropping or changing the level of a major course.
4. Students must follow their current course schedule until a “change of course” form completed or a new schedule is issued.
5. Unless teacher-initiated, students may not drop a course after the mid-term warning reports.
6. Requests for course changes based on teacher preference will not be considered.
SAT Test Programs
The most widely-used tests for college acceptance are the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT Reasoning test and SAT Special subject tests).
These tests are usually taken during the junior and senior year. To gain experience, an increasing number of students have opted to take the PSAT in their sophomore year. Students who have completed Geometry should be prepared to take the PSAT. The junior year PSAT serves to qualify for National Merit Scholarships.
Typically students take the SAT Reasoning test in the spring of their junior year and repeat the same in the fall of the senior year. SAT Special subject tests, formally called Achievement Tests, are required by some colleges. SAT Special subject tests may be utilized for admission placement and/or exemption from freshmen courses.
All of the tests described are products of the College Board. Some colleges may prefer the ACT offered by the American College Testing Program. Students with questions about college admission tests should contact their guidance counselor.
Child Abuse/Neglect
The school recognizes a need to be aware of and sensitive to children who may be in danger. Effective learning becomes difficult for a child coping with the strain of family turmoil and basic needs which are not being met. School personnel are in a position to notice the needs of a child and have a responsibility under law to make a report if they feel a child is in jeopardy. The goal of intervention is to strengthen family life and use available resources towards this end.
Mass. General Laws, Chapter 119, Section 51A. Any physician, medical intern, hospital personnel engaged in the examination, care or treatment of persons, medical examiner, dentist, nurse, chiropractor, podiatrist, osteopath, public or private school teacher, educational administrator, guidance or family day care worker, probation officer, social worker, foster parent or policeman, who, in his professional capacity shall have reasonable cause to believe that a child under the age of eighteen years is suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon him which causes harm or substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare including sexual abuse, or from neglect, including malnutrition, or who is determined to be physically dependent upon an addictive drug at birth, shall immediately report such condition to the department by oral communication and by making a written report within forty-eight hours after such oral communication; provided, however, that whenever such person so required to report is a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school or facility, he shall immediately either notify the department or notify the person in charge of such institution, school or facility, or that person's designated agent, whereupon such person in charge or his said agent shall then become responsible to make the report in the manner required by this section. Any such person so required to make such oral and written reports who fails to do so shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
Reporting Suspicion of Child Abuse and Neglect
The following school procedures will be followed for reporting suspicion of child abuse/neglect:
1. Report the situation to the Director of Student Services.
2. The Director of Student Services will convene and chair a team to further establish cause and reason for filing.
3. The Director of Student Services or guidance counselor will call the Department of Social Services.
4. The Director of Student Services or guidance counselor will complete and file required form within hours.
5. The parent(s), guardian(s) will be informed that a child abuse/neglect form is being filed with the Department of Social Services, except in rare cases where a child's life might be endangered to do so.
Recruiting Information (Armed Forces Recruiter Access to Students)
According to the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA Section 9528), schools are now required to provide students’ directory information upon request to military recruiters and/or institutions of higher education. If you do not want your son or daughter’s name, address and telephone number to be released to third parties, please notify the Student Services Department in writing.
Registering for the Draft
All 18 year old males are required by law to register for the draft at the local Post Office. Failure to register for the draft may adversely affect financial aid for college
Rights of Non-Custodial Parents
The rights of non-custodial parents to information concerning their children is governed by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 34H. A non-custodial parent is eligible to receive information (report cards, progress reports, meeting notices, referral to special education for evaluation notification, attendance issues, suspension and expulsions and other information not specified) unless said parent has been denied visitation or who has been ordered to supervised visitation. Another denial of access issue is the existence of temporary or permanent protective order (restraining order).
A non-custodial parent eligible to receive information must submit a written request to the school principal. The initial request should include: certified copy of Probate Court’s order or judgment relative to custody and indicating the requesting parent has not sought and been denied shared legal custody.
Upon receipt for information, the principal shall immediately notify the custodial parent of receipt of the request. Notification must be in English and the native language and sent by registered first class mail. The notification shall inform the custodial parent that the information requested shall be provided to the requesting parent after 21 days unless the custodial parent provides to the principal documentation of any court order prohibiting contact with the child or the distribution of information on the child.
In subsequent years if the non-custodial eligible parent requests information, the principal must immediately notify the custodial parent of the request.
Publication of Names and Photographs
We plan to publish the names and, on occasion, the photographs of students who will receive recognition for such activities as the Honor Society Induction, sports assemblies, quarterly honor rolls, special awards and assemblies, college acceptances, and graduation. Students may also be photographed during school activities. Photographs are often taken during class, shop and athletic activities. If a student or parent/guardian does not wish to have such information released to the news media, printed in school programs, or exhibited on school websites, they must inform the Principal in writing. This is in compliance with the student’s record release regulations and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Eighteen-Year-Olds
An eighteen year old student who wishes to exercise his/her legal rights as an adult with regard to his/her education must make such request in writing to the school principal or superintendent, who shall designate the student’s guidance counselor to schedule an appointment with the student. The guidance counselor will meet with the student to complete the appropriate form, upon showing official documentation (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license). Once the form is completed, a letter describing the student’s request to act on his/her own behalf, along with the student handbook guidelines, will be mailed to the parent(s)/guardian(s), and the student’s school record will reflect his/her 18 year old status.
Students who are eighteen are responsible for adhering to the attendance policy and all other procedures outlined in the student handbook.
With regard to dismissals and any activity that may adversely affect a student’s attendance record or jeopardize promotion or graduation, the Student Services Department reserves the right to contact the parent to review the attendance/academic record, determine the legitimacy of a dismissal request, and to approve or deny such a request.
To view the District Curriculum Accommodation Plan, click on the following link:
DISTRICT CURRICULUM ACCOMMODATION PLAN
Information on the Student Assistance Team Parent Brochure can be found by clicking on the attached link:
Student Assistance Team
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, homeless children and youth are eligible to enroll in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in, district schools. NCLB: Title X, Part C, Sec. 722(g)(6)(A)(ii)
Bristol-Plymouth provides services to students without a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residence, which may include but not be limited to students who are sheltered or unsheltered, doubled-up with family or friends, unaccompanied by a parent/guardian, living in a motel/hotel/campground, or a youth awaiting foster care.
Bristol-Plymouth will enroll homeless students even if they do not have the documents usually required for enrollment, such as school records, medical records, proof of immunizations or proof of residency.
There are several services available to a homeless student at Bristol-Plymouth such as: Immediate enrollment in the free meal program, assistance with purchasing school supplies and adequate clothing, transportation to and from school, access to bathing and laundry facilities, etc. Homeless families or students in need of services should contact the Homeless Education Liaison in the Office of Career and Student Services
