Students are encouraged to be involved in athletics, which develops teamwork, decision and leadership skills. Educational studies have shown that students who are involved in athletics maintain higher grades and better attendance, and graduate at a higher rate than students who do not participate. Athletics is an integral part of the school program, and schools offer their students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of teams. Schools require academic and behavior standards in order to participate in athletics. In high schools, athletics are required to meet rules of eligibility set by the North Carolina High School Athletics Association, Inc. Parents and students should educate themselves on these criteria. Information is provided by the school’s athletic director.

 

To be eligible to participate in athletics, the athlete must meet rules of eligibility set by The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, Inc. including, but not limited to the following:

 

 

Other eligibility restrictions may apply. Please contact your school’s principal or athletic director for clarification as special situations or circumstances arise. 

 

Cheerleading is recognized by the North Carolina High School Athletics Association, Inc. as an activity and is recognized as a team sport by Wayne County Public Schools. All students that try-out for cheerleading are to receive Board Policy 3546, which governs cheerleader safety and selection.

All students participating in any sport for the current school year must be covered by insurance paid for by the Wayne County Board of Education. Any questions regarding athletic insurance should be directed to the school’s athletic director. Parents are urged to purchase school insurance if they do not have a primary policy.

 

The purpose of the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse is to determine the athletic eligibility of present high school seniors who wish to enroll as college freshman for the next school year at NCAA Division I and II institutions. The Clearinghouse determines freshman athletics eligibility using three components: core courses (specific academic courses), core course GPA, and SAT or ACT score. You must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse if you intend to participate in college athletics. YOU SHOULD REGISTER WITH THE CLEARINGHOUSE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR. NCAA Clearinghouse registration materials are available at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

Good attendance is extremely important! Students should be in school and on time each day. Should students be absent from school, parents are required to send a note of explanation when the student returns. If the student will be absent three or more days, a phone call to the school and/or teacher is requested. With reasonable explanations, our teachers will work closely with students and parents to make-up missed lessons and work. 

 

When students are attending school face-to-face, North Carolina law requires a student be present one-half of the school day in order to be counted present. A student must arrive at school no later than three and one-half hours after the school opening time in order to be counted present for the day. In addition, if a student leaves prior to three and one-half hours before the school dismissal time, the student is counted absent for the day. High school opening and dismissal times are listed on the inside back cover of this handbook. Students who miss classes to attend a school-sponsored activity will not be counted absent.

 

 

There is no substitute for the uninterrupted personal contact between teachers and students, where learning experiences are carefully planned by the teachers. Even though students may make up class work missed because of absences, they may never be able to replace the educational, cultural, and social contacts they would have experienced through virtual or face-to-face instruction and engagement in the lesson. Students with regular and consistent attendance generally achieve higher levels of learning than those with poor attendance.

 

Whenever a child is absent from a face to face class or a remote (virtual) class, a written excuse, signed by the parent, must be provided to the teacher. All absences require a note signed by the parent that states the reason for the absence. Excused absences are limited to those criteria established by Board Policy. The following constitute lawful reasons for absences:

 

 

If a student is expected to be confined to his home and/or hospital for an extended period of time due to injury, illness, or other disability, the child’s parent/guardian should confer with a school social worker and/or school counselor as soon as possible.

A grade 9-12 student is expected to attend school for the designated number of student days on the school calendar unless absent for the reasons noted in the previous section. Unlawful and unexcused absences are absences defined by the NC Compulsory Attendance law, and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, as “a child’s willful absence from school without the knowledge of the parent, or a child’s absence from school without cause and knowledge of the parent.” The term “unlawful absence” applies only to children between the ages of 7 and 16 who are subject to the Compulsory Attendance Law. Any student who accumulates and exceeds 6 unlawful or unexcused absences for any course during a semester is in jeopardy of receiving a failing grade and receiving no credit for the course. Suspension or exclusion of students for misconduct may NOT be used for compulsory attendance violation actions.

Each school has designated a time at the beginning of each instructional block to note the attendance of their students. Students who arrive to class later than that time of day are marked as being “tardy”. Arriving late for class and/or leaving early prevents the maximum amount of instruction to take place, not only for that particular student, but also for other students in the class. 

 

In an effort to recognize perfect attendance, a certificate is typically awarded to any student who has been “legally" present for all student days during an academic year. In accordance with State Board of Education policy, "a child shall be present at least one-half day of the school day in order to be recorded present for that day. A child shall be recorded present for any day that he is present at a place other than the school with the approval of the principal for the purpose of attending a school activity which has been officially authorized under the policies of the Board of Education of the school administrative unit. This may include field trips, athletic contests, music festivals, student conventions, and similar activities." 

 

Each school has a specific procedure to follow when a student should arrive after the instructional day begins, or it is necessary to leave before school is dismissed for the day. The procedure for your school is to be followed closely to ensure the student avoids being counted as absent.  

 

Once a student arrives on campus, he/she becomes the responsibility of the school; therefore, he/she will not be allowed to leave without permission from the office. Early dismissals will be granted to students with authorized permission only. Each school has a procedure for when and how early dismissals are permitted. It is the responsibility of each student to closely follow these procedures.

 

All new students who wish to enroll in school are to inquire at the main office. The student MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Records of prior attendance, grades and shot records are required. The following items should be supplied before the registration process begins:

 

1.  A report card, which lists all courses from the previous school year

2.  Withdrawal forms from previous school (after school year begins)

3.  Address and phone number of previous school

4.  A copy of the immunization record

5.  Birth certificate

6.  Proof of guardianship (legal/court document)

7.  Proof of residence—2 items are required.

8.  Safe Schools document signed and notarized

 

For more information about the enrollment process, go to www.waynecountyschools.org and click on “Enrolling Students/Reassignment” under the “Parent Resources” tab.

 

Students who withdraw will need a parent/guardian to come to the school to fill out withdrawal forms. All books and fees must be paid before withdrawing from school. Students who transfer to one school from another school within Wayne County Public Schools must provide withdrawal forms from the previous school before enrolling. Before transferring from the student’s assigned attendance area school to a school within Wayne County Public Schools which is not in the student’s assigned attendance area, the student must have written permission/approval from the Wayne County Public Schools district office.

 

Students planning to withdraw should notify their counselor of their intentions two or three days in advance. All fees should be paid, and all books including library books should be returned. Records will not be forwarded unless fees are paid and books are returned. On the day of withdrawal, the student should report to their school counselor before 1st period and get a withdrawal form and instructions for completion of the form. Lockers should be cleaned out and all books returned to teachers. Parents must make contact with the school for withdrawal to take place.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. The rights of eligible students (18 years or older) and parents as required by FERPA are governed by Wayne County Board of Education Policy 4700 “Student Records”. Wayne County Public Schools guidelines for implementation of FERPA can be found by clicking on the FERPA link under the “Student Resources” and “Parent Resources” tabs on the district website: www.waynecountyschools.org. If you do not have Internet access, a copy can be requested by calling Ken Derksen at 919-705-6125.

 

Parents who have a child under the age of 18 who is enrolled in a WCPS school can also request student records using the online Student Records Request Center, located at www.waynecountyschools.org under the “Student Resources” and “Parent Resources” tabs. For more information, contact 919-705-6090.

Transcript requests should be made two weeks prior to your deadlines. Typically, colleges will request transcripts electronically, and require electronic uploading from the counseling office. If a paper transcript is needed, a transcript given to the student will be stamped with the school seal to make it official. Some schools will request a copy of your mid-term grades. More information about how to share transcripts and mid-term grades with colleges may be obtained from the school counseling office.