Policies
Attendance:
Attendance is a student’s main priority. Full attendance at school is vital for maximum success. Important dates are identified in the monthly calendar to assist families when planning special events. Inappropriate or undocumented absences are truancies. Students who are truant at the time of evaluations such as tests, quizzes, presentations, homework grading or skill assessments, may not have a makeup opportunity and may be graded “0” on the evaluation. The consequences of truancy may be detentions, counseling with parents, and referral to an attendance counselor, suspension, or withdrawal from school. Absences of 3 days or more from class due to illness must be supported by a doctor’s note.
Extended Absence:
It is WIHS’s policy that any student who misses more than 30 per cent of a semester will receive an “incomplete grade.
Absence from Final Examination:
Absent from a final examination because of illness must be explained by a doctor’s certificate. The note must include the reason for the consultation and a statement that, in the doctor’s opinion, the student was incapable of writing the exam. Failure to produce valid documentation may result in a mark of zero.
Late Assignment:
It is the expectation of all students enrolled in Windsor Islamic High School that all assignments shall be submitted by the designated due date, at the start of class. Assignments are designed to show mastery of the curriculum expectations and, as such, are crucial to the assessment of the students’ achievement. Teachers will strictly enforce this policy and their establishment of a due date is final. Should students not submit an assignment by the due date, the following will apply: the assignment may be submitted, but must be accompanied by a clearly written reason for the assignment being late. The assignment must be submitted before any of the assignments have been returned to the class by the teacher.
If these conditions are met, the assignment will be accepted at face value and a late penalty may be assigned. Should students not fulfill the conditions; a mark of zero will be given since there is no evidence of achievement with respect to the curriculum expectations evaluated on that assignment. Note that the assignment may be returned at any time, since some assignments must be returned next day as a part of the lesson/learning activity. If a student is working with a partner or group, the teacher will assess the other members on their own merits. It is acknowledged that “Teachers will use a variety of strategies to ensure that students submit their assignments for evaluation and meet timelines”. Late assignments “will also be noted on the report card… as part of … learning skills and work habits”, Growing Success, 2010, p.44.
Instructor Granted Extensions:
It is up to the discretion of the teacher to grant extensions on deadlines. Special arrangements may be made for extenuating circumstances such as legitimate absences, illness, personal emergencies and mitigating circumstances. These should be made well in advance of the due date. Students should not assume that special arrangements will automatically be made; therefore, they must discuss their unique situations with the teacher. The teacher, acting as a representative for the Principal under the provisions of the Education Act, will determine if the situation warrants a further extension. If in doubt, the teacher will consult the Principal. The decision rendered is final.
Missed Assignments, Test, Presentations:
Students are expected to assume full responsibility for class attendance and are accountable for all work missed because of absences. Assignments are due as soon as the student returns to school with a legitimate reason. For prolonged absences, new due dates will be set. If students miss a test with legitimate reasons, they are responsible to write that evaluation on the day on which they return at a time set by the teacher. For prolonged absences, the teacher will use hisher professional judgment to set new test dates for that particular student. For students without legitimate absences, a zero may result. Presentations are critical learning experiences and often involve more than one student; therefore, students without authenticated reasons for absences will be given zero if they are not present for a scheduled presentation. If applicable, the teacher will determine how or if that member’s absence affects each group member’s total evaluation. Any make-up work, assignments, or tests are at the discretion of the school.
As in the late assignment policy, the teacher will have the authority to grant extensions or exemptions for extenuating circumstances.
Harassment:
Definition: A vexatious comment or conduct, verbal or written, that is known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome, in that it may cause insecurity, discomfort, offence or humiliation to another. This may take the form of remarks, slurs, requests, touching, gestures, references, jokes, or displays of offensive or derogatory material. It should be noted that it is the effect on the victim as opposed to the intent of the harasser that is the relevant criteria
Example of Harassment include but not limited to:
- Sex, gender, sexual orientation.
- Race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, creed.
- Bullying of a general nature.
Should any person in WIHS be a victim of harassment, the following should occur:
- Tell the harasser that the behaviour is not welcome and must stop.
- Keep detailed records of the incidents.
- Should the harassment not end, immediately contact a person in a position of supervision and trust.
- Students are encouraged to contact and inform any of the following: a parent/guardian, a classroom teacher, or principal.
- Teachers are mandated to contact and inform the principal.
Both parties have a right to a fair and impartial investigation. The primary intention of the procedure is to stop harassment, as soon as, after an incident occurs.
Bullying:
Bullying is defined as a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance Schools are encouraged to use this opportunity to explain the different forms bullying.
Example of Harassment include but not limited to:
- Physical: hitting, shoving, stealing or damaging property.
- Verbal: name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist or homophobic comments.
- Social: excluding others from a group or spreading gossip or rumours about them.
- Electronic (commonly known as cyberbullying): spreading rumours and hurtful comments through the use of cell phone, email, text messaging and social networking sites can take . These include:
Students have access to computers. All computers have access to up-to-date internet devices. The use of school computers is limited to research and educational matters only.
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week:
Ontario has designed the week beginning on the third Sunday of November as “Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week” to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment.
Provisions for Students with Special Needs :
Windsor Islamic High School does not have a formal special education program. However, it recognizes that some students may have special needs and will accommodate those students accordingly. Where a student has a current psycho-educational assessment which describes individualities in learning styles, the principal with the student and his/her parents will develop a strategy aimed at allowing the student to achieve success. Our guidance program will be applied in a manner sensitive to the student’s individualities. Accommodations such as extra-time on tests and examinations will be provided where appropriate. Other accommodations may be granted in consultation with the student’s teachers. Accommodations for the OSSLT will follow guidelines.