A regular SWHS school day = 7:55 AM - 2:30 PM
Number of periods & times in regular school day = 4 periods / 78 minutes each
Number of semesters in a regular school year = 2
Number of credits a student can earn each semester from one class during a regular period = .5 / half a credit
Number of credits students can earn in a semester during regular school hours = 4.125
Number of credits students can earn in one year during regular school hours = 8.25
Number of credits students can earn over four years during regular school hours = 32

College Preparation: Students interested in attending a four-year college or university should plan on taking as manyEnglish, mathematics, science, and social studies courses as possible across high school. . In addition, most colleges/universities require two credits/four semesters of a single world language. Contact the Admissions Department or College website for specific admission requirements.

College and Career and High School and Beyond Plan: Advisory is a planning program for students in grades 6-12. It is a graduation requirement that helps students make clear, careful, and creative plans for life beyond high school. Students will work with the same advisory teacher across their high school career.

Components of the curriculum:

Equal opportunity for ALL students to have meaningful courses that align with their post-secondary plan or interests.
Enhance student achievement by helping students evaluate and reflect on their skills, interests, and accomplishments.
Parent involvement by encouraging parents to participate in their students' educational planning and decision making for both high school and beyond.

Academic Expectations Policy: We believe if a student is failing a class at SWHS, the student and their parents need to be informed of their status as soon as it is determined. If a student is in danger of failing a class, the teacher will contact the parents/guardian directly through a progress report, email, or by phone.. Open communication and collaboration between parent/teacher is critical in aiding in student success.

Parents/Guardians will be notified of their student’s graduation status two times a year. On/Off track letters will be mailed home in the fall and following the start of second semester. Students who fail a required course for graduation will be required to retake them. Continuously failing required courses will place your graduation at risk. The student is assumed to be in violation of WAC 180-40-210, which states "...it is the responsibility and duty of each student to pursue his/her course of studies..." Counselors will work closely with the student/family to encourage academic success and/or to provide educational opportunities which best supports the students needs.

Counseling and Guidance Services

School counselors serve as a support resource to students, parents, teachers, and administrators. School counselors are not mental health professionals; however, they can help support students/families with concerns that impact student success. Counselors help students with academic concerns, goal setting, personal problems, social conflicts, conflict resolution, grief/loss, anxiety, and family issues (death, divorce) which can impact student success. In times of crisis, counselors work closely with students, families, administration, and local agencies to help ensure student safety. Specific counseling resources are noted below.

Guidance Role

The counselor works closely with students to achieve the goal of graduation by scheduling classes, reviewing credits, credit retrieval information, and assisting students with personal issues that affect his or her education. The counselor also acts as a referral for teachers and administrators by assisting students with academic, career, social, and personal issues. Counselors may schedule conferences with the student, parent and teachers. Conferences and individual meetings are confidential to better serve the interest of the student (unless there are safety issues).

College and Career Center

The College and Career Center provides guidance to students for post-secondary planning. Information/resources regarding college and technical school options as well as requirements, financial aid, available scholarships, and career planning are provided by the College and Career Counselor.

Schedule Changes

Students may request a schedule change during the first five (5) days of spring semester, unless incoming 9th grade, using a Schedule Change Request Form, and only for the following reasons:

* Incomplete schedule * Failed subject with same teacher * Student does not meet prerequisite for class

* Needs to take a required class * Inappropriate skill level placement * Taken and received credit previously

Please contact any of the guidance counselors if you have questions or desire access to these services. Students can make an appointment by signing up in the guidance office and the counselor will call in the student as soon as possible.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Act

Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence should report this to their counselor or a staff member so as to receive adequate support and services. Students who know of peers who fall in this category should report those individuals to a counselor. All such reports will be confidential.

ASB Cards & Activities

To get the most out of the high school experience, students are highly encouraged to participate in as many extra-curricular activities as possible. ASB cards fund most of the student cultural, athletic, recognition, and social activities that occur throughout the year. At some point, every student benefits from ASB funds. Therefore, we encourage all students to purchase an ASB card. Students wishing to be members of ASB funded clubs and/or to participate in athletics are required to purchase ASB cards & sign and abide by the SWHS athletic/activity code of conduct/ethics. The ASB card also gives students the following discounts throughout the year:

Free admission to all regular season home athletic events • Discount at drama productions
Discount at regular season away athletics • Discount on some Cub merchandise
Half price entrance fee at pep dances. Discounts at others • Discount on other ASB sponsored activities

Dances: All school rules apply at SWHS dances & other activities occurring after school hours. Students may be asked to present identification proving their enrollment at Sedro-Woolley High School. Individuals not enrolled at SWHS will not be allowed to attend dance events unless as a guest of a SWHS student. Guests will only be allowed to attend dances that promote having a “date” (ie; Tolo; Homecoming, Prom). Guests of SWHS students will only be allowed to enter a dance if the following has been accomplished: 1) completing a guest registration form prior to the event 2) presenting the completed form at the dance 3) having reliable identification proving the individual's age. Students under the 9th grade and 21 years of age or over will not be allowed to attend dances for any reason. No exceptions. Only appropriate dancing is allowed during dance events. Students engaging in dancing deemed inappropriate (including, but not limited to front-to-back dancing, grinding, or placing hands in inappropriate areas; please see the Skagit County Dance Rules Agreement) will be removed from the dance for a short period of time and warned. Any further violations will result in removal from dance without reimbursement and may result in removal from all dances for the remainder of the school year.

Student Fees & Fines

ASB Card = $40 Replacement ASB Card = $5 ID card only = Free

Individual class fees are listed in the course description area of the SWHS Curriculum Guide. Students will not be allowed to participate in SWHS sports and receive their SWHS diploma until all fines have been paid. Unpaid fines & fees may also limit student participation in extra-curricular activities such as field trips, dances, club competitions, and other SWHS sponsored activities.

Lost/damaged textbook fees & fines: Students are responsible for the care and tracking of textbooks assigned to them. Upon first receiving a textbook, students have the responsibility of checking & reporting damages to the textbook. Any damages thereafter are the financial responsibility of the student. Damages that result in rendering any part of the textbook unreadable or useless will result in full restitution/replacement of the text. Fines for lost textbooks will be issued at the end of each semester. Due to the need to quickly replace lost textbooks in order for teachers to have an adequate supply for the following semester, students have 30 calendar days from issuance of a lost text fine to find/return the textbook. Students must appeal to an administrator in order to have fines removed for textbooks returned after the 30 day period.

Student Appeal Procedure for Grades and Fines

Upon receiving a semester grade or fine that a student feels to be unjustified or unfair the student may take these steps:

File a written appeal with the teacher within five school days of having received the report card or fine. The written appeal will include all information pertinent to the situation; class attendance record, etc.
If not satisfied, the student will request a conference with the teacher and the principal or his/her designee. The conference will consist of a review of the written appeal plus comments from all concerned persons and will result in the principal’s or designee’s preparation of a statement of approval or denial with remarks pertinent to the decision. A copy of the above statement will be given to the student and to the teacher within three class days of the conference.
If a denial is issued from the above action and the student is still not satisfied, the student may contact the superintendent within three school days. Failure to conform to the written appeal timeline constitutes a waiver of a student’s or parent/guardian’s right of appeal.

Attendance

Attending Sedro-Woolley High School is a right and responsibility of all students. State law and school board regulations require daily attendance. Mandatory attendance exists in all classes. The family and the student both hold full responsibility for attendance.

Absence Procedure: After being absent from school, a student must check in at the attendance office before school starts with a note stating the reason for the absence, the date of absence, signature and phone number from a parent/guardian. This note will be kept on file during the school year. A parent/guardian may call our attendance secretary at (360) 855-3512 or email kburress@swsd101.org to excuse an absence, but must do so within 24 hours of the absence. Upon returning to school, a student is required to make up all work missed during absence.

*If a student is going to be out for several days, a homework request can be set up through their counselor.

Students may be subject to discipline for all absences not excused after 24 hours.

Procedure For Leaving School For An Appointment Or Illness: Students must sign out in the attendance office, accompanied by a note or phone call from a parent/guardian (no text message). Please contact the school as soon as possible to excuse students for appointments.

Excused Absences: Physical health or mental health symptoms, illness, health condition or medical appointment for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible. Examples of symptoms, illness, health conditions, or medical appointments include, but are not limited to, medical, counseling, mental health wellness, dental, optometry, pregnancy, and behavioral health treatment (which can include in-patient or out-patient treatment for chemical dependency or mental health). Board Policy 3122

Unexcused Absences: Students with unexcused absences will work with administration to develop a plan of action and consequences. Lunch detention, after school detention and other consequences may be included in a progressive plan of action.

Prearranged Absences: It is the policy of the school when a student is going to be absent for reasons not related to illness, medical appointments or approved field trips, for the student’s parent or guardian to arrange for such an absence in advance by calling the Attendance Office (360) 855-3512 as early as possible, provide the student with a note or come to the Attendance Office in person. The request must be complete, approved and signed by all of the student’s teachers and an administrator, a minimum of three (3) days in advance for the absence to be excused. Failure to properly complete the pre-arranged absence form will result in the days being considered unexcused. If assignments are given to the student prior to leaving on a prearranged absence, the assignments are due upon return unless arrangements have been made with the teacher.

BECCA Truancy Law:Washington State Law (RCW) and SWSD Board policy require students to attend all assigned classes during a stated school day. Students, who consistently accomplish this, develop the skills and work habits necessary for individual academic success. Furthermore, district policy requires documentation for any absence from school. This is to be provided either in writing or by e-mail.

BECCA Bill—Washington State Truancy Law RCW 28A.225.030

Sedro-Woolley High School

SWHS Student Handbook

Mission statements, Alma Mater, School Colors & Mascot

2024-2025 SWHS ASB & Class Officers

Tips for being successful in high school for both parents and students

SWHS Personnel

Graduation Requirements, Planning, & Post High School Preparation

General SWHS Academic Information

SWHS FREQUENTLY USED BELL SCHEDULES