Catherine Merriweather ext. 4302
6th grade counselor (A-L)
7 th grade counselor

On behalf of the administration and staff of Helen C. Cannon Junior High School, I would like to welcome you to our course catalog for the 2007-08, school year. We appreciate the support that we have received from the CJHS learning community throughout this year, and we thank you for working with us to support our students. I am filled with optimism for the upcoming year and the continued direction of our school. This course catalog contains valuable information that will assist you in planning for the school year. As you prepare for the upcoming school year, parents and students are encouraged to review this catalog together.

Transitioning to a middle school model has proven to be a positive move for our students and teachers. Teaming has personalized interventions for students struggling with the curriculum and has given our high achieving students a greater confidence in their abilities. Our teachers have found common planning periods beneficial for interdisciplinary teaching allowing them more time to focus on struggling students. Our Collaborative Learning Communities have provided teachers opportunities to consult with one another on cross curriculum instruction, instructional strategies, and common assessments. Our expectation is that this greater collaboration among teachers will identify the strategies needed to improve student achievement.

Promoting academic excellence at Cannon Junior High and meeting the needs of all learners continues to be our focus. As the English Language Learner population grows in our school, it is increasingly important to consider their diverse educational needs. Using proven teaching strategies that enhance language learners’ understanding of the core curriculum will ensure their academic success. Our goal is for all students to be proficient in the areas of mathematics, reading and language arts and perform accordingly on the interim assessment tests as well as the high stakes state-mandated tests.

Mastery of reading, mathematics, and language arts benchmarks is integral to our school improvement Plan and will ensure that we are prepared for district and state assessments. The courses offered at Cannon Junior High School challenge our students, encourage questioning, and develop life-long learners. Course selection is determined by teacher recommendation for required courses and by student choice for electives. The choosing of electives should be a result of discussion between student, parents, and counselors to determine students’ interests and career goals. All courses follow Nevada State and CCSD curriculum standards and challenge students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. However, non-accelerated courses provide more time for mastery of specific skills as the accelerated courses challenge the higher-level thinking student to move beyond the skill level.

The time and effort that students invest in all their courses of study will determine their academic success. I cannot stress enough the importance of student attendance and class participation for the assurance of academic success. Please schedule all out-of-school appointments after school; take family vacations during school breaks; and if your child is sick and cannot attend school, send written notice to the attendance office and encourage your child to make-up his or her work for the days missed.
It is an exciting time of the year; time to look ahead with great optimism, opportunity, and planning. I encourage you to sit together as a family and review this course catalog. Decide together what courses and electives are best suited for the student in your family.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Promotion/Retention Policy

Clark County School District Policy and Regulation 5123 – Promotion, Retention, and Demotion of Students – was revised on August 10, 2000. This policy and regulation sets the standard for promotion from sixth to seventh grade, from seventh to eighth grade, and from eighth grade to high school. Under the provisions of this policy and regulation, a sixth or seventh grade student may be retained at that grade for no more than one year, but an eighth grade student may be retained for more than one year. The following information is provided to illustrate how this regulation will affect current students within the educational system:

Pupils currently enrolled in 6th or 7th grade must complete 1 semester of mathematics and 1 semester of English or reading with passing grades for promotion to 7th and 8th grade. (6th grade students with one required semester credit may be promoted and dually enrolled in deficient core course.)
Pupils currently enrolled in 8th grade must complete 3 semesters of mathematics and 3 semesters of English or reading with passing grades during the 7th and 8th grade years for promotion to high school.

Attendance Policy

Truancy

When a student between the ages of 7 and 17 is absent from school without a valid excuse or did not secure prior permission for the absence, the absence is deemed unapproved or unexcused. In accordance with state law, unexcused (unapproved) absences may be declared truancies (NRS 392.130).

Nevada State Law

If your son/daughter is a habitual truant (3 or more unexcused absences), the truancies must be reported to law enforcement by the school and a citation will be issued by law enforcement. Habitual truancy can result in fines of $100 or more, community service, and/or the suspension of the student’s driver license or future privilege of obtaining one. Students in grades 6-12, who have excessive absences and failing grades, may be retained at their current grade level.

Guidance/Counseling Website

The CCSD Guidance and Counseling Web site is designed to provide information on counseling services provided by the district. It is also a support reference for students and parents on Post-Secondary Planning. This planning information will help students prepare for their future educational decisions. Starting with grade six, parents and students will be able to review an activity checklist to prepare them for college, apprenticeships, trade and technical schools, military opportunities, or to go directly to work. For details visit: www.ccsd.net/cpd select Guidance and Counseling from the menu for the information.

Special Education

Students who qualify for special education are afforded the “least restrictive environment.” Parents and staff will be actively involved in the development of each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP), and the student’s schedule of courses will be developed from that IEP.

English Language Learners

The English Language Learner program at Cannon Junior High School is based on the Sheltered Content Area philosophy. The students who qualify for the program will be placed in an educational path that will both accelerate their learning of the English language and keep them on track for meeting the requirements of graduation. The LAS scores combined with teacher recommendation will determine all placements into English Language Learner Classes.

Laura Lyke ELL Specialist Office #807, 702-799-5600 x4017

Network Access Form

Each student must submit a network access form, which includes the CCSD Acceptable Use Policy, before he/she is allowed computer access.

In-Touch Online

With an activated user account and password, whether at home, school, work, the library, around the world, parents can access student grades and attendance through In-Touch Online. Each student will receive a login and password to access this information.

Yearbook

The Cannon Jr. High School yearbook will sell at the beginning of the school year for $30.00. The cost increases during each new quarter; so buy your memory book early.

Student Planners

Every student will be given at no cost an organizational planner upon enrollment. Each teacher will require students to enter the daily objective or essential question, homework and projects in their planners on a daily basis. Planners will help students and parents monitor academic progress. The planner may be used for c between home and school. If planners are lost, destroyed, or stolen, new ones must be purchased from the school banker for $5.00.

Standard Student Attire

Students are required to be dressed not only in accordance with CCSD dress code regulations, but also in accordance with Cannon Jr. High School standard student attire expectations. Students may wear khaki or blue jean pants, shorts, skirts, or shorts and red, white, or blue shirts or blouses without a logo.

Student ID

Every student will be issued a student identification card within the first month of school. Cards will be made and given to students at the same time they take their school pictures. Replacement cards will be made for students throughout the school year for a replacement fee of one can of food for the charitable food pantry. Student ID cards are necessary when checking out a book from the library, when entering after-school games, and when ordering meals in the school cafeteria. New students throughout the year will receive a temporary ID card and will have a picture ID card made on-site within a week.

PE Clothing

During the semester in which a student is enrolled in physical education, he or she is required to be dressed in a school physical education shirt and shorts. These may be purchased through the school banker. The cost is $15.00. During cool weather, students may wear sweatshirts and sweatpants over their PE clothing. Students who transfer into Cannon JHS from another middle school in the school district may wear the original school’s PE uniform for the remainder of the semester. Additionally, students will be responsible for purchasing a pad lock for his/her athletic locker.

Financial Hardship

A family’s difficulty purchasing all of the desired or necessary items for the student and/or paying necessary fees will not prevent a student’s enrollment in any course. Submit in writing to the school principal any financial hardship information as pertinent to any course fee requirements.