General Information

2008-2009 SCHOOL CALENDAR

July/August January
30-1 New Teachers Report 1-2 Winter Break
4-8 All Teachers Report 5 Teacher Work Day
7 Business Day 6 First Day of 2nd Semester
11 First Day for Students 14 Report Cards
29 Early Dismissal 19 Holiday
September February
1 Labor Day Holiday 6 Progress Reports
10 Progress Reports 13 Early Dismissal
15 Early Release/ In Service Teachers 16 Holiday/Make-up Day
October March
10 Early Dismissal/End of 1st Nine Weeks 12 End of 3rd Nine Weeks
13 Holiday 13 Teacher Work Day / Make-up Day
14 Teacher Work Day 23 Report Cards
20 Report Cards April
November 6-10 Spring Break
13 Progress Reports 22 Progress Reports
26-28 Holiday May
December 22 Early Release and End of 4th Nine Weeks
19 End of 2nd Nine Weeks 23 Graduation/Commencement
19 Early Dismissal 25 Holiday
22-31 Winter Break 26-28 Staff Days or Make-up Days

Inclement Weather Make-up Days

Order of Use Order of Use
1-5 Bank 8 May 26
6 February 16 9 May 27
7 March 13 10 May 28


SCHOOL HOURS

School opens for students at 7:45 a.m. and closes at 3:40 p.m. Prior to 8:03 in the morning, students will be allowed in the cafeteria, lobby, and main gymnasium hallway only. They are welcome to appropriately visit with friends. Unless under the direction of a teacher, students are not to be on school grounds after school and may be considered trespassing.

2008-2009 BELL SCHEDULE

8:03 Warning Bell
8:10 - 8:58 Period 1
9:04 - 9:52 Period 2
9:58 - 11:34 Block 3
  Pledge, Minute of Silence, Fluco Moment, and In the Know
 
11:40 - 12:03 Lunch A
12:07 - 1:53 Block 4
 
11:40 - 12:13 Block 4
12:16 - 12:39 Lunch B
12:42 - 1:53 Block 4
 
11:40 - 12:49 Block 4
12:52 - 1:15 Lunch C
1:18 - 1:53 Block 4
 
11:40 - 1:26 Block 4
1:30 - 1:53 Lunch D
 
1:59 - 3:25 Block 5
 
3:25 All students released



A 20-minute study hall is included in Block 4. Block 4 teachers will designate the specific time for the study hall and announce this to students on the first day of class.

Example Student Schedules

Example A

Two year-long classes and three semester-long classes per term.

August - December Term
January - May Term
Period 1 - 48 minutes year-long (1st class) Period 1 - 48 minutes year-long (1st class continued)
Period 2 - 48 minutes year-long (2nd class) Period 2 - 48 minutes year-long (2nd class continued)
Block 3 - semester long (3rd class) Block 3 - semester long (6th class)
Block 4 - semester long (4th class) Block 4 - semester long (7th class)
Block 5 - semester long (5th class) Block 5 - semester long (8th class)

 

Example B

Four semester-long classes per term.

August - December Term
January - May Term

Period 1 and Period 2

semester long (1st class)

Period 1 and Period 2

semester long (5th class)

Block 3 - semester long (2nd class) Block 3 - semester long (6th class)
Block 4 - semester long (3rd class) Block 4 - semester long (7th class)
Block 5 - semester long (4th class) Block 5 - semester long (8th class)

 

Life Skills

Integrity Total honesty based on sound moral principle.
Initiative To do something because it needs to be done.
Flexibility The ability to alter plans when necessary.
Perseverance To continue in spite of difficulties.
Organization To plan, arrange and implement in an orderly way.
Sense of Humor To laugh and be playful without hurting others.
Effort To try your hardest.
Common Sense To use good judgment.
Problem Solving To seek solutions in difficult situations.
Responsibility To be accountable for your actions.
Patience To wait calmly for someone or something.
Friendship To make and keep a friend through mutual trust and caring.
Curiosity A desire to learn or know about a full range of things.
Cooperation To work together toward a common goal.
Caring To feel concern for others.
Courage To act according to one's beliefs.
Pride Satisfaction from doing your personal best.

History of Fluvanna County High School

In 1870, free public schools were established in Virginia. At first, Fluvanna had small academies throughout the county. Judge Shepherd got the General Assembly of Virginia to pass an act to make Central High School the first legally accredited high school in the county and the first accredited rural high school in Virginia. This meant that Fluvanna had a licensed preparatory school for the University of Virginia. Charles S. Venablex, Chairman of the faculty of UVA, said that Central High School was a connecting link between primary and higher education in the state system of public schools.

Sometime prior to 1965, Joseph P. Snead, superintendent, consolidated the white high school students at Carysbrook. The African American students were consolidated at the Abrams High School, named in honor of the man who worked hard for this consolidation.

In 1965, all students in the county were given the choice to go to school in either high school-Carysbrook or Abrams. Total integration took place in 1969 when all students attended Fluvanna High School at Carysbrook and the Abrams building became a junior high.

The present Fluvanna County High School opened in 1976. Since then, the Southwest Wing has been added and renovated. The Abrams building is still used for classroom space. Currently, a new wing is under construction, which will house a new office suite and 22 new classrooms.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements are published daily and are read during second period. If a student is absent or not in school during announcements, copies of the announcements can be found in the main office and the attendance office. Announcements are updated weekly on the FCHS web site on the calendar pages. Students are held accountable for these announcements.

COMPUTER-USE PROCEDURES

FCHS is very fortunate to have an extensive computer network system for student and teacher use. We certainly want to encourage all students to take advantage of today's technology. These few simple guidelines will be used to assist students in their computer endeavors:

1. Students are required to turn in an assigned Acceptable Computer Use Form in order to use school computers.

2. Students are not allowed to use teacher or administrator User IDs.

3. The school's server is off-limits to students. Evading the content filters is unacceptable.

4. Students are responsible for items located under their user area (called a sub-directory).

5. Plagiarism (calling another student's work his or her own) will not be tolerated and is considered cheating.

6. No vulgar, pornographic, or obscene material may be on a computer, printed or downloaded from the Internet.

7. FCHS has the right to search student computer files at any time, without consent.

8. Placing a computer virus on any computer, inadvertently or intentionally, is strictly forbidden and can be considered vandalism.

Violations of these guidelines will be considered a discipline matter, resulting in loss of computer privileges and/or suspension.

DANCES

The principal must approve all guests to dances at least three days prior to the event and has discretion as to who may attend dances.
1. Student are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen at all social functions.
2. Any indication that a student has consumed or possessed alcohol or a drug is sufficient reason to have parents pick them up and appropriate consequences administered. Students will not be allowed to drive themselves home.
3. No one will be permitted to leave the dance and re-enter.
4. No one assigned to in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension will be allowed to attend dances.
5. FCHS reserves the right to turn away anyone from a dance at any time.
6. Middle school students may not attend ANY FCHS dance.

DRESS CODE

The administration and faculty of FCHS feel that young adults will want to take pride in their appearance and dress. Dress and appearances that are of such nature to disrupt normal school functions will not be allowed. If there are doubts about what should be worn or what is not appropriate, check with the administration before wearing anything questionable. Keep a change of clothes in the locker if a change is required or call parents to bring a change of clothing. If parents cannot be contacted and if no change of clothing is available, the student will spend the remainder of the day in ISS. Dress with self-respect and decency in mind.

The school prohibits anything deemed to be disruptive, distracting, provacative, provoking, and/or intimidating that rises to the level in the school's view as having a detrimental effect on the safe and educational atmosphere in the school environment including but not limited to the following guidelines:

1. Hats and headdresses of any kind are not to be worn in school buildings during the regular school day. Hats will be confiscated if found worn in the school buildings.
2. Clothing which advertises controlled substances and/or tobacco products are not permitted in school. Likewise, clothing with vulgar language/drawings is not to be worn at school.
3. Students must wear shoes.
4. Sunglasses are not permitted to be worn.
5. Bandanas, bandana print paraphernalia, gang insignia and tagging of any sort are not allowed at school, on any book, book bag, skin or any other item.
6. No see through fabric is allowed. Garment lengths must be below fingertip level at all times. The shoulder of the garment must be 2.5 inches wide or more.

DRINK MACHINES

Drink machines are available as a courtesy to students. To maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, the machines' hours of use are limited to before school, during class changes, and after school. Students are responsible for placing trash in proper receptacles. If students abuse the drink privileges, access to machines will be restricted or eliminated.

FIELD TRIPS

A field trip is any school-sponsored trip that is an outgrowth of the classroom or an extracurricular activity, and has been planned as an integral part of the curriculum. School personnel will supervise all field trips. The following rules are to be adhered to when taking a field trip:

1. Students must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to attend a field trip: A) C or higher in each class, B) less than five absences, and C) no out-of-school suspensions

2. Eligiblity forms are available from the field trip sponsor. The student is responsible for obtaining written permission from all of his/her teachers.

3. Once student have submitted eligibility forms, permission forms must be completed and the parent is required to sign.

4. A member of the faculty must supervise all school groups. The number of faculty sponsors will depend upon the size of the group.

5. No driving of private cars will be permitted.

6. All school rules apply on a field trip. Students who are assigned in-school suspension or out of school suspension are not allowed on field trips. The administration has the discretion to approve or disapprove of anyone participating in a field trip.

7. Field trips are for educational purposes only.

FIRE DRILLS

State law and school board regulations require monthly drills. Students should follow the fire chart located in each classroom and leave the building at the signal in a quiet and orderly fashion. Safe and orderly evacuation depends on the diligence of each student. All students will be taken a safe distance from the building and will remain there until directed to return to the school. Attendance will be taken so students are required to stay with their teacher at all times unless otherwise directed. If a student is not in class when an evacuation is occurring, the student is to report outside and find an administrator.

FOOD AND DRINK

No eating in classrooms.

GOOD STANDING

In order to participate in a variety of activities, students must be in "good standing" with the school. Some of these activities include (but not limited to): honor roll and permission to park at the school. The Principal has discretion to determine who is in good standing with the school. In order to be in good standing, the student must:
1. Have ten or fewer unexcused absences per semester.
2. Have two or fewer discipline referrals, with no referrals resulting in OSS, per school year.
3. Pass three out of four OR four out of five classes per semester.
4. Have a current emergency contact form on file
5. Not owe any school fees.

INSURANCE

To protect students at school, an insurance plan is available. Many students purchase this protection at a very small cost. Information will be available during the first weeks of school.

LOCKERS

Students will be issued lockers in the main office, at the student's request. If a locker is requested, the student must rent a lock from the school, and the cost is $2.00. Students are responsible for their lock, and the lock must be returned at the end of the school year. If the lock is not returned, a $3.00 fee will be charged to the student. School officials will remove private locks.

It is the student's responsibility to keep the locker locked at all times and to keep it neat and attractive. If a student has locker problems, please contact the main office. The administration is not responsible for the safety of items placed in lockers.

The principal and/or his designee have the legal authority to inspect all lockers. No illegal or inappropriate items should be in the lockers (i.e., tobacco products, alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, radios, weapons of any type, etc.).

PARENT MEETINGS

Parents are invited to visit the principal and/or teachers. Appointments should be made by calling the guidance office at 434-589-8933. The guidance office will set up an appointment with parents who wish to see teachers from 3:25 to 3:45 p.m. Parent-Teacher conferences are also scheduled during the year. All visitors must report to the main office upon arrival.

STUDENT ILLNESS DURING SCHOOL

When a student becomes ill, he/she must report to the school nurse in the main office. A student desiring to leave may only do so after a member of the office staff has contacted his/her parents. If the school cannot contact the parents, the student must remain under the school's supervision. An emergency medical form designating who should be contacted in case of an emergency must be on file in the main office for each student.

Prescription Medications

Fluvanna County Public School personnel may give prescription medication to students only with a physician's written order and written permission from the student's parent or guardian. Such medicine must be in the original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse or school division designee by the parent/guardian of the student.

Nonprescription Medication (Over-the-counter medication)

Fluvanna County Public School personnel may give nonprescription medication to students only with the written permission from the parent or guardian. Such permission shall include the name of the medication, the required dosage of the medication, and the time the medicine is to be given. Such medicine must be in the original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse or school division designee by the parent/guardian of the student.

Self-Administration of Medication

Students in grades nine through twelve MAY be allowed to possess and self-administer nonprescription medicine if:
Sharing, borrowing, distributing, manufacturing or selling any medication is prohibited. Permission to self-administer nonprescription medication may be revoked if the student violates this policy and the student may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Standards of Student Conduct.

TELEPHONES

Pay phones are available between class changes and during lunch. Students are not permitted to use the telephone during class time. Telephones in the office are limited to emergencies ONLY. All students must secure administrative approval to use office telephones for emergency reasons. If a parent calls for a student, a message will be delivered to the student at the end of the day.

TEXTBOOKS

All basic textbooks are given to students for their use during the year. Students are to keep textbooks clean and handle them with care. Students should remember to write their name and teacher's name on the inside cover. Fines will be administered to students for lost and damaged textbooks.

VISITORS

All non-students who visit the school or grounds during school hours must park in the teachers' parking lot, report to the main office to state their business, obtain a visitor's pass, and visibly wear the pass. A form of photo identification must be furnished to receive a pass and the pass must be returned upon exiting the building. Generally, non-students are not permitted on school grounds during the school day. Students are not allowed to bring visitors to school, and this includes lunchtime.