General Information

Students are encouraged to use the guidance services using one of the following procedures:

• E-mail your counselor to schedule an appointment
• Stop by the guidance office during the school day to schedule an appointment
• For immediate concerns, request a pass to guidance from your classroom teacher

SAHS bell schedules can be found on the Bell Schedules page of the Calendar section.

If a student is uninsured and ineligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may be able to help. Please visit the CHIP Web site.

Souderton Area High School does not publicly report students’ individual class rank. For college admissions, counselors will report a student’s cumulative weighted grade point average (WGPA), and will report the range, mean, and median GPAs for the student’s class. If required for scholarships, armed forces, etc., counselors will report decile rank (10%, 20%, etc.) based on a quality point system. While SAHS does not report class rank, the ranks are used to establish students’ decile rank.

For the purpose of determining the top 5% of students for Valedictorian selection and for invitation to the Scholars’ Banquet at the end of junior and senior years, students who are in the top 5% based upon either Quality Points or WGPA after the 3rd Quarter will be included.

See below for an example of how Quality Points are used to determine decile rank.

No type of ranking will appear on a student’s high school transcript.
 

Quality Point System

Example of quality points calculation:

Student A

Student B

Student C

Based on the above examples, despite the C in French I, Student C would be ranked number one in the class because this student took more courses and had more quality points. Student B would be ranked second and Student A would be ranked third.

Two types of GPA are calculated at the High School – a weighted and an unweighted GPA. GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points by the total of credits. Using our student examples from above:

Student A had 11.75 quality points and 3 credits. This student would have a weighted GPA of 3.916. In order to calculate an un-weighted GPA Student A’s quality points would have to be adjusted by removing the course weight. Therefore Student A would have 11.00 un-weighted quality points and an un-weighted GPA of 3.666.

Many colleges require aptitude and/or achievement test scores as part of their admissions process. They use these scores as one measure of a student’s academic potential. The student’s school record is considered the most accurate single predictor of readiness to do college level work, but the best means of predicting academic success in the first year of college is the combination of SAT scores, ACT scores, achievement test scores, and his/her high school grades.

• P.S.A.T. (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test): The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Tests are administered to all juniors in the fall. This test is considered a “junior version” or practice version of the SAT (College Boards).
   
• SAT I (Scholastic Aptitude Test): The SAT I is a multiple-choice examination that measures writing, verbal, and mathematical reasoning abilities. The verbal questions measure the student’s ability to understand what he/she reads and the extent of his/her vocabulary. The mathematical questions measure quantitative abilities closely relating to college work. The SAT I is similar to the PSAT/NMSQT which is available to juniors in the fall of the year and recommended as a practice test for the SAT I.
   
• ACT (American College Test): The ACT is a multiple-choice examination measuring achievement in four subject areas: English usage, mathematics usage, social studies reading, and natural science reading. Science in the ACT is closely related to material covered during high school, many feel very comfortable taking this test.
   
• SAT II (formerly called Achievement Tests): Some colleges (especially the private-competitive schools) require specific achievement tests for admission while others use them for placement. Each test is a one-hour multiple-choice test made up of questions that measure knowledge in subject area and the ability to apply that knowledge. The student may take one, two, or three achievement tests on any test date. However, he/she cannot take both the SAT I and SAT II tests on the same date.

To know which test you should take; it is advisable to check the catalogs of the schools of interest. If the student is unsure, it is advisable to take both the SAT and ACT tests and to take them as often as possible. It is often the highest score obtained, which helps colleges determine the academic potential of an applicant.

The Guidance Department at SAHS is designed to be a support system for students during their high school years. The department supports students in at least two ways: (1) to help with present needs and concerns and (2) to assist in long-range planning. The Guidance Department is aware that students have other support systems, including families. To help further with students’ present concerns and future plans, parents are urged to make appointments with counselors during the school day.

A wealth of information is available on the Web site about the district schools, community, and initiatives. Students and parents are encouraged to visit the site for information at any time.

District & School Communications:
SAHS relies upon private parent e-mail to communicate important information. Therefore, it is important that the school has your updated e-mail address. Please contact Mrs. Barb Denison (bdenison@soudertonsd.org) if your e-mail has changed.

Note: All school board policies supporting the contents of this handbook can be found on the district Web site in the Board Policies section.

SAHS relies upon private parent e-mail to communicate important information. Therefore, it is important that the school has your updated e-mail address. Parents should notify the school in writing with changes to their phone numbers, e-mail address, and employer.

Parents and students can access certain information via the Internet. This system, called Home Access Center, allows users to check grades, assignments, attendance, and other information. Student grades will be up to date within five (5) class meetings (5 school days for classes that meet every day; 10 school days for classes that meet every other day). See the District's Grades/HAC page.

Parents and students should use the HAC to view report card grades at the end of each marking period. Parents may request that SAHS print and mail report cards, such requests need to be made with the Guidance Department.

Seniors must have completed and passed all work and acquired all credits in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. Seniors who fail any required course and thus do not have all credits to graduate are strongly encouraged to complete the requirements, by August, following graduation.

Participation in the graduation ceremony is a privilege. Any student who commits a Level III or IV disciplinary infraction during their senior year may be placed on privilege suspension which may include denial of participation in the graduation ceremony.

Students will be denied participation in the graduation ceremony if they have outstanding disciplinary and/or financial obligations to the Souderton Area High School.

Students who are expelled for all or part of their senior year will be denied the participation in the graduation ceremony.

Each student in grades 9 through 12 must carry a full schedule of at least 7 credits each year in order to be classified as a full time student.*

In order to graduate on time with your class, the following credits must be earned

• Grade 10: Completion of at least 6 cumulative courses/credits
• Grade 11: Completion of at least 13 cumulative courses/credits
• Grade 12: Completion of at least 20 cumulative courses/credits. A student must be able to schedule all courses required for graduation in order to be placed in a Senior Advisory.

*does not apply to seniors graduating in January of senior year

If a prom or dance occurs on a school day, students must be in attendance 3 out of the 4 blocks minimum in order to attend.

Application packets are available in the Guidance Office. The Souderton Area High School code number is 394635. The completed application and registration fee (check or money order) should be mailed directly to the testing agency well in advance of the registration deadline. Several days before the test, the student will receive from the testing agency a ticket for admission to the test. If, for some reason, a student has still not received information two days before the test date, he/she should notify the Guidance Office.

Report cards will be posted on Home Access Center (HAC) after the end of each quarter. The following grades are given to designate the scholastic standing of the student:                

Parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s academic progress by regularly checking HAC.

At the end of each marking period Honor Roll and Distinguished Honor Roll are determined. Honor Roll includes all students with a grade of A or B in all of their courses. All subjects will be involved in Honor Roll computations. Distinguished Honor Roll students are those achieving a grade of A in all of their courses.

The high school does not have a Drop /Add period for changing schedules. Students have until May 1st to make any changes to their course requests for the following year.

After May 1st, the course request changes are for corrections only, based on the following criteria:

• An inability to schedule a core class (English, SS, Math, Science)
• An imbalance in a student's schedule (3 or more core classes in one semester)
• A course prerequisite is not met An increase in the rigor of a course is desired.

If a course is to requested to be dropped, it must meet the following criteria

• Extenuating circumstances such as illness, doctor's notes, etc. will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 
• A student and his parents may choose, with parent permission, to take a grade of Withdraw (W) for the course, which will remain on the student’s permanent transcript. 

Additionally, schedule change requests for a different teacher or meeting time will not be honored.

See the school calendar page.

Souderton Area Virtual Academy (SAVA) is Souderton Area School District’s K-12 online learning program. SAVA students are registered with the District and all relevant guidelines from this handbook apply to SAVA students. Please see the SAVA Web site for more information about the program.

Programs for individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Elegible Students - Chapter 14:
In compliance with state and federal laws, notice is hereby given by the Souderton Area School District that it conducts ongoing identification activities as a part of its school program for the purpose of identifying students who may be in need of special education and related services (eligible students). If your child is identified by the district as possibly in need of such services, you will be notified of applicable procedures.

Individualized services and programs are available for children who are determined to need specially designed instruction due to the following conditions: autism, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, neurological impairment, other health impairments, physical disability, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability and speech and language impairment.

If you believe that your school-age child may be in need of special education services or related programs (or your young child age three to school-age may be in need of early intervention), screening or evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his or her eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. You may request evaluation at any time, whether or not your child is enrolled Souderton Area School District. Requests for evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to:

Supervisor of Special Education
760 Lower Road
Souderton, PA 18964

Student accident insurance is available to all students. For students who expect to participate in any organized athletic team, insurance is mandatory and is paid by the individual student. For more information on how to purchase Student Accident Insurance, please visit the District’s Student Accident Insurance Web page.

It is the policy of the Souderton Area School District to allow students to enroll in foreign exchange programs. More information on the foreign exchange program can be found in Policy 204.1.

A student who has failed a required course must take some action for remediation. Students may not remediate a Algebra I, Biology, English 9 and English 10 (Keystone Courses). Students who receive a grade of F- in a course are not eligible for remediation. The maximum number of credits a student may earn in a summer program is two (2). There are four options available.

1. Attend a summer school program in another school district (e.g., North Penn) or a previously approved alternative summer school program.
2. Secure 60 hours of private tutoring in the failed subject area by a certified teacher prior to the opening of the next school year and pass the regular final assessment for the course (tutor must be approved by the principal).
3. Complete a pre-approved correspondence course (arranged through the Guidance Department).
4. Repeat the course during the regular school year. If the final grade is an F-, then the student must repeat the course to receive credit.

The Guidance Office will contact students who have failed courses. The counselors will advise them on the options available for their specific situation. A student may also repeat a course they fail.

*Both the failing grade earned and the grade earned in remediation will appear on the student's transcript.

*If a student chooses to repeat a course that he / she has already passed, both grades will appear on the student's transcript.

The Valedictorian & Salutatorian are chosen by Committee.

• Principal
• Guidance Coordinator
• 3 Faculty Representatives

Based Upon Overall Rubric

Attendance

*consideration given to major illness
*excessive tardies to school will diminish the score

School Leadership

Based Upon Rubric (score assigned by the Selection Committee)

School Involvement

Based Upon Rubric (score assigned by Selection Committee)

Process Notes:

• Senior resume and application are used to determine initial level of involvement and leadership
• Candidates are anonymous until field is narrowed to 5 candidates
• Committee screens to narrow to 5 candidates
  • Committee interviews advisors/coaches where necessary
• Committee narrows to finalists who are interviewed to determine Valedictorian (runner-up is Salutatorian)

It is not the practice of SASD to permit having friends and/or relatives of students attend school while visiting the area.

Guests at dances/proms:
Guests at dances, proms, or other social, extracurricular events are limited to one guest per SAHS student. Students wishing to bring a guest to such an event must pre-register the guest and provide information including: name, home school, and parent/guardian phone number. All guests must be under the age of 21 and also in at least 9th grade. Guests may be required to provide proof of age.

In order to withdrawal from SAHS, the following procedure must be completed, whether moving to another district or going into full-time employment. A parent, guardian, or legal custodian must obtain the “Withdrawal Form” from the Guidance Office. The student must have a withdrawal conference with their Guidance Counselor. The student must return all school materials and obtain teacher’s signatures, before the withdrawal card can be returned to the Guidance Office.

The Pennsylvania Child Labor Law, Act 151 of 2012 resulted in changes to Work Permit Application. All students between the ages of 14 and 17 are required by Pennsylvania School Law to secure an Employment certificate, known as "Working Papers," before they may begin to work. Students, who have reached 18, by state law, do not need working papers. Under the current Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, only one type of work permit is issued. This is a wallet-size, transferable work permit, which is valid from the time of issuance until the minor turns 18 years of age. The minor provides a copy to the employer and retains the original.

Proof of age is required:

• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Learner’s permit

Parent/guardians are required to sign the working paper application and are welcome to observe the application process but are not required to appear in person before the issuing officer.

Students must sign the working permit in front of the issuing officer.

Work permits are issued in the Registration Office and Reception at District Office.

Office Hours:

• Monday through Friday 8:15a.m. - 3:30p.m.

Use the following link to download and complete the School District Work Permit Application (PDF).
*Note: Please bring a COMPLETED application to the Registration Office.

Any questions, please call registration office 215-723-6061 ext. 10227.