Essential Information for the Start of School

Enrolling Students

Families who need to enroll students may come to the Counseling Office starting in August to pick up enrollment forms and schedule an appointment with a counselor.  Counseling appointments will be scheduled in August.

Schedule Concerns

Students may have concerns about their schedules.  If so, they should come to the Counseling Office starting on Sep. 1^st during an open period, before or after school or at lunch to fill out a ‘Schedule Concern Form.’  The counselors will review the form and the stated concerns and determine whether the concern warrants a schedule change.  Reasons a student may not have received a course requested include:

• Schedule conflict due to singleton course offerings
• Students not meeting course prerequisites
• Full sections/courses (in which case we tried to give a student one of their alternative requests)
• Students may need to fulfill additional graduation requirements

Students are to attend their scheduled courses until they are notified of a schedule change. Students are responsible for their attendance; if students anticipate a schedule change and do not attend their scheduled classes, they will receive unexcused absences.

Attendance Policies

For complete information regarding attendance, please check the pink form included in the summer packet, the website or the student planner.  District and State approved reasons for excused absences include illness, medical appointments, bereavement, and religious observances.  In brief:

• All school absences must be cleared within 3 days through the attendance office (429-3907)
• Absences not cleared within 3 days become truant absences
• After the first 3 unexcused period absences a Truancy Letter will be sent home and the student will have a Saturday School
• To be considered on time to a class, students must be in the classroom before the tardy bell sounds
• If a parent calls in an absence for anything other than an approved excuse, the student may still be considered truant; this includes family vacations during school hours/days
• Accumulation of tardies will result in Saturday School assignments

In order to have an accurate view of student attendance and progress, all parents/guardians must set up their Infinite Campus accounts.  Come to the main office with a photo ID; we will then give you an informational handout that will include your unique login.  With this tool you will be able to monitor your student’s progress.

Campus Parking

Student parking on the Soquel High School campus is a privilege that may be revoked for cause at any time.  Students must purchase a parking permit in order to park in the lower parking lot.  Parking permits cost $40 and will be available for purchase starting Sept 1.  Parking tickets will be issued to cars parked in the lower lot without a parking permit beginning Sept. 16^th.  Tickets begin at $40 and increase in $10 increments for successive infractions.  Students are not allowed to park in any of the upper parking lots.  Parents who wish to drop-off/pick-up students on the upper campus may do so only at the traffic circle at the front of the campus.  No student drop-offs or pick-ups are to take place in the staff parking lots.  All California state laws (vehicular as well as all others) are enforced on campus.  Cars are subject to search. 

Eligibility--Athletics

To remain eligible for participation in athletics, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 (with only 1 grade of F [no consecutive Fs in the same course]).  Students must also maintain positive attendance and behavior.  Additionally, all athletes must pay all fines and fees and meet all detention/Saturday School obligations to remain eligible.

Eligibility--Activities

In order to attend various school activities, including all school dances, students must maintain positive attendance and behavior.  Students must pay all fines and fees and meet all detention/Saturday School obligations.  Students who fail to meet their responsibilities will be placed on an exclusion list and declared ineligible until all obligations are met.

Dress Code

Soquel High School’s dress code ensures that clothing fits well, reflects student pride in oneself, is conducive to the learning process and demonstrates respect for school and our diverse student community.  Additionally, we believe that high school is preparation for the world of work, so one’s dress should be appropriate for that setting.  Our purpose is not to stifle a student’s right to self-expression but rather to promote the health, safety and emotional well-being of all students.  Complete dress code information may be found on either the website or in the student planner.   In brief:

• Shoes must be worn at all times
• Students must cover their midriffs, backsides and/or cleavage; all underwear must be covered by clothing
• No professional sports logos (College and high school logos are appropriate)
• Clothing should not contain references to tobacco, drugs, alcohol or the use thereof
• Clothing should present positive messages, not messages of hate or intolerance
• Clothing must not make gang references or identifications
• All tops must have straps of at least 1 inch in width
• All attire must be appropriate to the school setting and not distract from the educational purpose of Soquel High School

Students on Track for High School Graduation

Students who are on track for high school graduation will have finished the 2011-2012 school year with at least:

• Class of 2012 (Sr.) 180 credits
• Class of 2013 (Jr.) 120 credits
• Class of 2014 (Soph.)   60 credits
• Class of 2015 you’re just joining us!

Students who are credit deficient should immediately contact their counselor to plan how to catch up on credits.  If you are too far behind, you may need to transfer to an alternative education setting and return to Soquel once back on graduation track, or graduate from that location.  Our goal is to help every student receive their diploma.

School Holidays and Minimum Days TBA

Log onto our website, www.soquelhs.net, and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the Knight Notes.  These are the best sources of information about what’s happening at school.

We look forward to 2011-2012 being another outstanding school year and are excited that your student(s) will be here with us at Soquel High School.  We hope that you have a safe and enjoyable summer.