Haywood County School Program Highlights
The North Carolina Academically and Gifted Standards require all school districts to employ challenging, rigorous, and relevant curriculum to accommodate the academic, intellectual, and social/emotional needs of gifted learners. Academically and/or intellectually gifted students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience or environment. Academically and/or intellectually gifted students require differentiated education services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. An AIG program is provided to afford these students the opportunity to develop to their potential.
An articulation agreement between Haywood County Schools and Haywood Community College enables the district to offer additional courses for high school students with the possibility of earning college credit. Board Policy 3101- Dual Enrollment regulates course offerings through the college.
Career and Technical Education provides students with experience in practical, meaningful applications of basic skills such as reading, writing and mathematics and offers individuals lifelong opportunities to learn new skills in a technical or trade career. Haywood County Schools offers a comprehensive career and technical education program for students in grades 6-12. Competency-based courses are offered in 8 program areas: Agriculture, Business, Marketing, Family and Consumer Science, Health Sciences, Technology, Trade and Industrial Education and Career Development. Opportunities for work-based learning experiences such as internships and apprenticeships are available at the high school level. Students entering the 9th grade complete a Career Development Plan outlining academic and Career and Technical Education courses that are needed to meet a tentative career objective by their senior year.
All students in North Carolina Public Schools in grades 9-12 are eligible to request an opportunity to earn credit by demonstrating mastery for available courses. Middle school students may request an opportunity for high school courses offered in grades 6-8. For more information go to http://www.haywood.k12.nc.us/resources/parentscommunity/ .
The Exceptional Children’s Program provides specially designed instruction to ensure that all children with disabilities, ages 3 through 21, have available to them a free and appropriate public education. The program emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living. Exceptional Children’s services may include specialized educational intervention, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, hearing impaired services, visually impaired services, and transportation. The EC Program is looking for any children and youth ages 3-21 with special needs that are not identified or may not be receiving the help they need. You can
assist us in finding these unidentified students by calling Brandi Stephenson, Director of Exceptional Children’s Program at 828-456-2400.
Our Mission is to provide the best possible experience, training, and support for our Teachers, Administrators, and Support Staff in service of Haywood County Students and Parents. Employment opportunities and applications can be located at TeacherMatch: https://www.haywood.k12.nc.us/employment/.
Substitute Teacher Training is offered on-line year-round. Instructions for on-line training are posted at: http://www.haywood.k12.nc.us/hr/substitute-teachers/. If you have questions about substitute teacher training please call Margaret Rogers at 828-456-2400. We appreciate your interest in Haywood County Schools.
The Haywood County Board of Education has policies pertaining to student accountability. These policies include 3400 Evaluation of Student Progress, 3420 Student Promotion and Accountability, 3460 Graduation Requirements, and 4400 Attendance. These policies may
be accessed through the “Resources” link at www.haywood.k12.nc.us. Policy highlights include:
∙ Minimum attendance requirements
∙ Minimum attendance for at least one-half of the day to be counted present ∙ Minimum expectations on Kindergarten through second grade state assessments ∙ Minimum achievement of Level III on state-mandated assessments ∙ Minimum grade of “D” in all except one core course in grades three through eight. ∙ High school end-of-course tests representing 25% of the student’s final grade ∙ Options for students not meeting minimum performance standards.
Haywood County Schools is committed to providing students, parents, staff and the community with school district information. Each school has a media contact person who works with the principal to submit regular school news to the media. Public information is shared through newspaper columns, the Haywood County Schools Report podcast and district-level press releases online at www.haywood.k12.nc.us. You may also access information by following Haywood County Schools on Facebook and Twitter. Parents and staff also have the opportunity to register for email, voice and text alerts.
Report cards are issued each nine weeks in grades one through eight. Report cards are issued each six weeks or nine weeks from all high schools. Schools also send a mid-grading period progress report to students in grades 1-12. Parents may access student grades, mid-grading period progress reports and report cards via the Parent Portal on the HCS website. Parents should contact individual schools if they need assistance signing up for the Parent Portal. All Haywood County students in grades 3-12 are on a 10-point grading scale.
All schools in Haywood County participate in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. The Haywood County School Nutrition Services Program is self-supporting. Customer revenue and federal reimbursement are the only revenues received. Families may apply for free or reduced price meals based on family income at www.lunchapplication.com or a paper copy from the school. Clyde Elementary, Hazelwood Elementary, North Canton Elementary and Central Haywood High participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and all students receive free meals regardless of income. Meal prices for the 2018-19 school year will be as follows:
Breakfast: PK-5: $1.25 6-12: $1.25 Adults: A la Carte or $1.75 Lunch: PK-5: $2.55 6-12: $2.80 Adults: A la Carte or $3.75
Security of buildings and grounds is essential in assuring student safety. Each school has a plan to secure buildings for the purpose of protecting students from potentially harmful offenders. Plans contain procedures for monitoring the school. Procedures are in place to notify the superintendent, parents and the media when appropriate.
A threat is any communication, written, verbal, or otherwise, that specifically implies harm to self or others. Any staff member who hears or otherwise learns of a threat against property or persons shall report the threat to the principal or designee. The principal or designee will investigate the matter. Action may include warning, parent conference, in school or out-of-school suspension, counseling referral or law enforcement intervention. The principal may require persons involved to have a threat assessment with a certified mental health counselor before returning to campus. Parents will be responsible for the cost of this evaluation, which may include multiple visits.
Additional student health information is available in the Annual Public Notices document published at the beginning of each school year. Parents of students who have chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, etc., are requested to inform school personnel upon the diagnosis and at the beginning of each school year. This can be very beneficial to establishing and maintaining the best school based support.