Short Cut:  HA Application & Selection Important Dates FAQ Academic Integrity Contract

The Humanities Academy at Soquel High School:
A culture and community of learning

The Humanities Academy offers a unique opportunity for academically motivated students to experience many of the benefits of a small college preparatory high school while still taking advantage of all that a large public school has to offer.

The Humanities Academy is a linked, enriched curriculum of English and Social Studies. Although the program emphasizes college preparatory skills, it also encourages creativity and enrichment. Students attend field trips, experience a variety of guest speakers; and present creative, unique individual and group projects. The Academy hosts special events outside of school to encourage a culture and community of learning. 

Parent involvement in the Academy is encouraged and vital. Regular parent meetings are scheduled, as parents take on critical roles in the many special events sponsored by the Academy. Meetings also allow parents to be apprised of their students' activities, progress, and curriculum.

Soquel High School Humanities Academy

Application and Selection Process

Soquel High School currently offers two sections (two classes) of the Humanities Academy, allowing for a total of 70 new students each year. Student selection for the Humanities Academy is based on evaluation of three criteria: the writing assessment, reading comprehension assessment, and teacher evaluation.

Step 1: Complete the Application Packet

Eighth grade students at New Brighton Middle School and Shoreline Middle School are offered presentations on the Humanities Academy and receive enrollment and application paperwork in early spring. Students from other schools can request Humanities Academy enrollment information from Soquel’s Counseling office, (831) 429-3909 ext. 132, after March 1 of the application year.



Step 2: Bring your Application Packet to an Assessment:

In addition to completing an application, interested students must attend one of three scheduled assessments to complete a reading and writing assessment, bringing their completed applications with them at that time. The dates for these assessments will be noted on the application. In late March, three assessments are proctored at Soquel High at 4:00 pm in room 114.

Step 3: Determine If you Are Accepted or Wait listed

The results of the assessment, accepted and wait listed students, will be posted after May 1st on the administration office at Soquel High and on the Soquel High School website. Students will be listed by their self-selected PINs which they noted on their application materials.

Step 4: Attend the Humanities Academy Orientation

Students who are selected for the Humanities Academy or are wait listed are required to attend an informational meeting in early June. At this meeting, students receive summer assignments and sign a contract regarding their commitment both to academic achievement and to the community spirit of the Academy, and parents receive an orientation packet that outlines areas for parent support.

Students must complete the required summer assignments in order to attend Academy classes

Humanities Academy Important Dates

Dates to receive application packets

Assessment Dates and Times

Accepted and Wait-Listed Student are Posted by PIN

Humanities Academy Orientation Meeting

      Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Humanities Academy different from the other English and Social Studies courses at Soquel High School?

The Humanities Academy is taught at a higher level and supports the student who truly desires to pursue academic excellence in high school. Students in the Humanities Academy enroll in two years of social studies for 9^th and 10^thgrade; students in other levels take just one year of social studies in the 10^th grade. In addition, summer reading and writing are required of Humanities Academy students. The Academy offers opportunities for parent involvement and holds regular parent meetings to organize enrichment activities and apprise parents of class events and progress. HA student attend more field trips and other enrichment activities than the students in regular English and social studies classes. Finally, because students in the Humanities Academy take an additional year of social studies their freshman year, they must be sure to complete the required one semester Health class that is typically taken during freshman year. A year-by-year outline of the Humanities Academy is provided below.

Do any other high schools offer a program like the Humanities Academy?

No. Santa Cruz High School offers a Math Academy, but at the present time, Soquel High School is the only public high school in the area with a specific program like the Humanities Academy.

What are the criteria used to enroll students in the Humanities Academy?

Student applications are reviewed using a combination of three criteria: a reading comprehension exam, a writing assessment, and 8^th grade social studies and English teacher recommendations.

How can my child apply to the Humanities Academy?

Students from New Brighton Middle School and Shoreline Middle School can pick up application packets at Soquel High in mid-March on Knights' Day, when they visit Soquel High. Students from those schools who are interested in applying to the Humanities Academy can request an application from the counselors at that time. Students from private or other schools can obtain applications at the Soquel High School Counseling office at (831) 429-3909 ext. 132, to request an application after March 1 of the year of desired enrollment.

Interested students then complete a student portion of the application; ask their 8^th grade Social Studies and English teachers or their Humanities teacher to complete a teacher recommendation section of the application; and attend one of three scheduled writing assessments. Writing assessments will be held at Soquel High School on three days in late March. The dates of the assessments will be noted in the application materials that the students receive from the counselors at the time of the counselors' visit to the middle school.

After all applications and writing assessments have been reviewed, accepted and wait-listed students will be posted, using the PIN they selected on their application, on the door of the administration office at Soquel High School and on the Soquel High website. The students selected to be in the Humanities Academy will automatically have their fall schedules changed; in addition, enrolled students will be required to attend an informational meeting in June. Humanities Academy students will also be required to complete summer reading and writing assignments. 

If my child is accepted into the Humanities Academy for her/his freshman year, does that mean that he or she will automatically be in the program for the sophomore, junior, and/or senior years?

No. First, students must maintain a minimum C grade in both English and social studies in order to continue each semester during the first two years. Students with a C- or lower in either class at each semester end will be reassigned to other English and social studies classes for the next semester. In addition, at the end of the sophomore year, students interested in continuing in the Humanities Academy will be required to apply for AP US History and AP Language and Composition for the junior year. Finally, students must also apply for AP English and AP Government or AP Economics for their senior year. While a majority of Humanities Academy students will be eligible to continue with the program each year, some students will not.

Academic Integrity

Welcome to Soquel High School and to the Humanities Academy! The Humanities Academy is a two-year intensive humanities program for academically motivated students. In the Academy, students follow a rigorous course of study designed to prepare them for honors and AP courses, and ultimately for college. Students in the Academy have the opportunity to be a part of a learning community that encourages a high standard of achievement and that provides the support students need in developing strong writing, reading, and critical thinking skills. Additionally, one aspect of the Academy that is essential to its success is the close-knit community of learners and peers that develops among the students, which creates a safe and supportive classroom environment.

In order to provide this unique opportunity, all students must enter the Humanities Academy aware of community, performance, and integrity expectations. Likewise, the parents/guardians of Academy students are asked to support their children in fulfilling these expectations, so in this and other ways parents are asked to participate the Academy community as well. Therefore, we ask all Academy students and their parent/guardians to read and commit to the standards outlined below and on the reverse side.

I. Classroom Community

An important part of the Humanities Academy program revolves around the creation of a cohesive and supportive academic community. The Humanities Academy expects students to be supportive of their fellow students; contribute their thoughts, time, and energy in class; and uphold a high standard of academic discourse in the classroom at all times. Failure to participate positively in theHumanities Academy community can result in disciplinary action appropriate to the infraction.

II. Academic Performance

Students in the Humanities Academy must maintain a semester grade of “C” in both their English and social studies classes to continue their participation in the program. Therefore, students must work to maintain their grades in both classes throughout the semester. Though the teachers in the Academy will provide regular grade postings, it is the responsibility of students to be aware of their grades in the courses and inquire of the teachers if they have questions. Should a student’s semester grade drop below a “C” in either English or social studies, they will be removed from theHumanities Academy and placed in the appropriate English and social studies classes in the regular school program. An “Incomplete” grade is considered an “F” until the grade is changed.

III. Academic Integrity

Students enrolled in the Academy are expected to produce high quality work, and they are asked to produce this work with integrity. Plagiarism of any sort is not acceptable. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (2000) describes plagiarism as follows: “Plagiarism involves two kinds of wrongs. Using another person’s ideas, information, or experience without acknowledging that person’s work constitutes intellectual theft. Passing off another person’s ideas, information, or expressions as your own to get a better grade or gain some other advantage constitutes fraud” (66). The reverse side of this contract further elaborates what constitutes plagiarism and outlines the consequences of academic dishonesty. Please read this information thoroughly and print a copy to return to Ms. O'Reilly.

I, _______________________________________, agree to uphold the Humanities Academy standards of community participation, academic performance, and academic integrity. I understand disciplinary action may occur should I choose not to uphold these standards, and that action could include removal from the Humanities Academy. I have read and understand the integrity expectations outlined in this document.

___________________________________________

Student signature

I, _______________________________________, agree to support my child in upholding the Humanities Academy standards of community participation, academic performance, and academic integrity. I understand that disciplinary action, which could include removal from the Humanities Academy, may result if my child chooses not to adhere to this contract. I have read and understand the integrity expectations outlined in this document.

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Parent/Guardian signatures

Integrity Expectations

If it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that a student has plagiarized a summer reading assignment essay, he will immediately be dropped from the Academy.

Emailing an essay or leaving a paper in another student's possession can lead to plagiarism. In the event that plagiarism occurs due to such sharing of papers, both parties will punished as outlined below. In the event of such plagiarism of summer reading essays, both students will be expelled from the HA.

Soquel High School expects ALL students to demonstrate honesty and integrity. Soquel High School expects each student to complete his/her own work and to cite material taken from other sources. Violations of this contract include but are not limited to:

• Plagiarism from texts, Internet, magazines, or other sources.*
• Copying homework or otherwise submitting any work that is not the student’s own.
• Failing to cite sources that are directly quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
• Cheating on exams, tests, or quizzes, including theft of or unauthorized access to an exam.
• Submission or use of falsified data.
• Use of unauthorized material from the following sources in the preparation of any assignment or examination: online sources including but not limited to SparkNotes, eNotes, Maxnotes, Cliff Notes; textbooks, notes, or computer programs.
• Supplying or communicating unauthorized information in any way to another student for the preparation of an assignment, activity, or examination.
• Collaboration in the preparation of an assignment unless specifically permitted or required by the instructor.
• Submission of the same work for credit in two courses without obtaining prior permission from both instructors.

* Plagiarism includes but is not limited to failure to cite the source if any of the following appear in the work submitted by a student unless otherwise specified by the teacher:

• Any idea derived from the published or unpublished work of another person, whether directly quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
• A phrase, written or musical.
• A graphic element.
• A proof.
• Specific language.

• Conference with student and parent
• Zero credit or F grade for the assignment. If the F grade lowers the student’s grade to a C- or lower at the semester, the student will be removed from the HA.
• No opportunity for make up
• Referral to administration. Student is now on probation.

• Referral to Administration
• Zero credit or F grade for the assignment. If the F grade lowers student’s grade to a C- or lower at the semester, the student will be removed from the HA
• Suspension for violation of Ed. Code 48900 K
• Mandatory conference with parents, teacher, and administrator

• Referral to Administration
• Suspension for violation of Ed. Code 48900 K
• Mandatory conference with parents, teacher, and administrator
• F grade for the semester and removal from the HA, AP, or Honors course.
• Possible district Disciplinary Hearing