Summit High School

Message From Mrs. Grimaldi

Dear SHS Families,

Please be reminded that we have two modified schedules this week - Monday, October 14th and Wednesday, October 16th. Please see the information below for specific information about each day.

This newsletter contains information about upcoming happening at SHS and supports that are available for students and families. Please review it and share this information with your student.

It's a great day to be a Hilltopper!

Stacy Grimaldi

Principal

District Strategic Planning

PSAT Testing - Wednesday, October 16th

Summit High School will be providing all 10th and 11th grade students the opportunity to take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 16th. A letter with more information about this test was sent to all 10th and 11th grade families last week.

All 10th and 11th grade students must report to school for a 7:45am start of testing on that day.

All 9th and 12th grade students should report to school at 9:45am for grade-level programs.

The schedule for Wednesday, October 16th will be:

10th and 11th graders report at 7:45am for testing

9th and 12th graders report at 10am for programs

9th grade program: Naviance and Class Meeting

12th grade program: College Application Workshops

Testing should conclude by 11:00am.

Schedules for 10/14, 10/16, and 10/22

Monday, 10/14/2024 - Single Session Day

Period 1: 7:45am - 8:34am

Period 2: 8:38am - 9:27am

Period 3: 9:31am - 10:20am

Period 4: 10:24am - 11:14am

Period 5: 11:18am - 12:06pm

Wednesday, 10/16/2024 - PSAT Day

10th & 11th Grade Testers Arrive for a 7:45am start to testing

9th and 12th Grade Students Arrive at 9:45am

- 9th graders report to the auditorium

- 12th graders report to rooms to work with counselors

Testing concludes by 11am

Lunch 11:07am - 12:07pm

Period 6: 12:11pm - 1:01pm

Period 7: 1:05pm - 1:55pm

Period 8: 1:59pm - 2:49pm

Tuesday, 10/22/2024 - Jesse's Journey Assembly Program

Period 1: 7:45am - 10:15am (Split the school into two groups (A & B))

8am - 9am Group A assembly, Group B in class

9:15am - 10:15am Group B assembly, Group A in class

Period 2: 10:15am - 10:47am Entire school de-briefs with their period 2 class

Lunch: 10:47am - 11:47am

Period 6: 11:47am - 12:45pm

Period 7: 12:49pm - 1:47pm

Period 8: 1:51pm - 2:49pm

Save the Date - Share the Keys

Monday, October 21st @ 7:30pm

Attendance Matters

It is imperative that students are in school each day and on time.

Every time a student is absent from school, it will fall into one of two categories: CUMULATIVE or NON-CUMULATIVE.

NON-CUMULATIVE absences will not count towards a student’s absence total. These absences are the only allowable absences per Statute (N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3) and the NJDOE Guidance for Reporting Student Absences and Calculating Chronic Absenteeism.

The five, non-cumulative absences are:

Religious Observance
College Visit (up to 3 days per year for students in grades 11-12)
Take Our Children to Work Day
Observance of Veteran’s Day
The closure of a busing district that prevents a student from having transportation to school.

All other absences are CUMULATIVE absences, and will count towards a student’s absence total. Cumulative absences are divided into two sub-categories: VERIFIED or UNVERIFIED.

A VERIFIED absence means that a student is not in school, and the school has been notified of the absence. This applies anytime a parent/guardian has notified the school of the absence, such as the student being home sick and/or missing school due to a doctor’s appointment. Verified absences may count towards loss of credit, or may result in the school district sending a letter to notify families of the number of absences accrued in a given year.

An UNVERIFIED absence means that a student is not in school, and the school has not been notified of the absence. This will result in a phone call being made to parents/guardians in an attempt to verify the absence, and more importantly, to locate the student's whereabouts. In addition to counting towards credit loss (SHS only) and generating a phone call, unverified absences also count towards truancy and/or may result in student discipline (cutting class, for example).

The chart below was created to help as a visual representation of this policy. Please review the chart, and contact your grade level administrator if you have any questions.

Cumulative absences consist of all absences from a class that do not meet the criteria outlined in the Board definition of non-cumulative absences. State law requires 90% attendance for earning credit in high school courses.

Consequences for cumulative absences for full-year and semester during the school are listed below. The number in the parenthesis refers to totals for semester courses.

6 (3) - Referral form indicating total absences will be mailed home.

12 (6) - In-school parent conference and/or phone meeting. The contact will focus on the consequences of the accumulation of the 18th (9th) absence and student non-engagement in learning..

18 (9) - The student may be withdrawn from the course and will receive a WF (withdrawn failure).

Lateness to School/Class

A student is considered late to school or class any time they arrive after the late bell has rung. School begins at 7:45am, therefore it is necessary for students to arrive on campus before this time. Students who arrive after 7:45am but before 8:00am swipe in at the main door swipe station. Tardies require a parent/guardian note to be marked verified.

Any student who arrives after 8:00am must report to the attendance station in the Main Office to sign in.

Lateness to class will be counted on a cumulative basis throughout the course of the year and will receive the following consequences:

4 lates - Genesis notations/letter

7 lates - a) 2 detentions, administrative meeting with student

b) loss of unassigned study

c) administrator may contact parent/guardian for meeting

10 lates- a) 4 detentions, additional parent conference or phone call. The meeting or phone call will focus on the consequences of the accumulation of the 12th late. In attendance during this meeting/discussion may be the administration, the student’s counselor, the teacher of the specific course, and, if necessary, a Child Study Team member.

b) Loss of parking privileges

12 lates - The student may be withdrawn from the course and will will receive a WF. which may impact graduation eligibility.

Students missing more than 15 minutes of class time are marked absent. If it is unexcused, it is a class cut and will be recorded as such.

Your student's attendance can be checked in Genesis. Please contact either Ms. Aaron or Mr. Murtagh if you have any questions regarding your student's attendance.

Yearbook Information - Senior Portrait Selection

Senior Portraits: Yearbook selection due no later than 10/31/24.

If you haven't taken a photo with Wallburg Studios yet, contact them at 908.277.2078 or peterwallburg@gmail.com to arrange an appointment for your senior.

If you have taken photos with them, once you receive your proofs via email, click the link to select your photo for the yearbook.

If you prefer to use another photographer, please send a head-and-shoulders photo (jpg format) to creinholt@summit.k12.nj.us no later than 10/31/24.

Yearbook Information - Senior Ads

Yearbook Purchase Information

Visitors to Summit High School

Appointments must be made in advance to see teachers, counselors, administrators, and other staff. Please be prepared to announce your name and purpose in order to be granted access into the building.

When a visitor arrives at the school, they will be asked to provide identification, such as a driver's license or state-issued ID card. If the visitor does not have any means of identification on them, they will be asked to input their first name, last name, and date of birth into our visitor management system. The identification is then scanned into the system, and the visitor's information is checked against a database to ensure they are not on any prohibited lists. Once the visitor's information has been verified, a temporary badge will be printed and provided to them by the school security officer or school secretary. This badge must be worn at all times while the visitor is on school grounds and will be collected upon their departure. All visitors to the building must be escorted by a staff member at all time.

In the event an emergency visit is necessary, please call the school’s main office ahead of your arrival so we are prepared to accommodate your needs.

Drop-off items (lunch, instrument, Chromebook, etc.) may be dropped off in the bin outside the main entrance vestibule. We will not inform students when items have been dropped off for them.

Academic Help Centers

Our academic help centers are available each period of the day. Please encourage your student to visit the academic help centers during their study hall period.

Construction Update

Construction continued this past week on the interiors of the chorus room, the drama room, and the library. The work on the outside of the library has also progressed with the stone and brickwork installation and roof installation.

Library Exterior

Library Interior

Interior Chorus Room

Interior Drama/Dance Room

Weekly Calendar

Monday, October 14th

Single Session, 12:06pm Dismissal

Period 1: 7:45am - 8:34am

Period 2: 8:38am - 9:27am

Period 3: 9:31am - 10:20am

Period 4: 10:24am - 11:14am

Period 5: 11:18am - 12:06pm

Tuesday, October 15th

D Day

Wednesday, October 16th

Modified Schedule

10th, 11th , and some 12th grade students arrive at 7:45am for PSAT Testing

9th and 12th grade students arrive at 9:45am for programs

- 9th grade students report to the auditorium

- 12th grade students report to rooms with counselors (students should check their email for these locations)

Testing should conclude at about 11am

Lunch 11:07am - 12:07pm

Period 6: 12:11pm - 1:01pm

Period 7: 1:05pm - 1:55pm

Period 8: 1:59pm - 2:49pm

District Strategic Planning Meeting General Session, 6:30pm, SHS Cafeteria

Boosters Meeting, 7:30pm, Faculty Dining Room

Thursday, October 17th

A Day

Friday, October 18th

B Day

Cabaret, 7:30pm, Cafeteria

Looking Ahead

Monday, October 21st - Share the Keys, 7:30pm, Virtual
Thursday, October 31st - Deadline for Senior Portrait Selection for Yearbook
Monday, November 4th - Last Day of 1st Marking Period