At the July board meeting, the HLCS Board of Education approved administrative recommendations to modify certain policies in the HLHS Student Handbook. While most changes were language clarification or vendor updates, two policies in particular have seen relatively substantial changes, and we wanted to communicate these changes to the community.
First, the Valedictorian and Salutatorian language has been updated. Effective with the Class of 2029, these honors will be granted based on the following language:
Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Valedictorian and Salutatorian are selected based on student grade point average. In the event of tie, administration will then use the SAT score of the exam administered by Houghton Lake Community Schools during the student’s Junior year to determine the tie breaker. In the event that these two scores are the same, the students will share the honor. This will be effective beginning with the graduating class of 2029. All classes prior to this will use grade point average as the single data point.
The second change pertains to our cell phone policy. As with many districts in our geographical region, we will be a phone-free school during school hours. This policy is reflected in the following language:
Cell Phones and Telephone Communication
Houghton Lake Junior/Senior High School has multiple office phones available for students and parents to communicate should the need arise. Because of the negative impact cell phones have on the classroom environment, the following policies and procedures are in place to support our learning environment.
Students may not use or be in possession of their cell phone during school hours. This time frame begins at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 2:55 p.m.
During school hours, cell phones should be kept in the student’s backpack, located in the school-issued locker.
Students are to power down their cell phones while left in their lockers.
Cell phones are prohibited in bathrooms and locker rooms at any point, including after-school hours.
If you need to contact your child, please call the main office and we will connect you with them.
The consequences for cell phone violations are on an escalating progression identified below.
1st Offense: Staff confiscates and gives administration the cell phone. Detention is assigned, and the cell phone is returned to the student at the conclusion of the school day.
2nd Offense: Staff confiscates and gives administration the cell phone. One-day ISS is assigned, and the phone must be picked up by a parent.
3rd Offense: Staff confiscates and gives administration the cell phone. Three-day ISS is assigned, and the phone must be picked up by a parent.
4th Offense: Staff confiscates and gives administration the cell phone. Three-day OSS is assigned, and the phone must be picked up by a parent.
Thank you for taking the time to read the items above. Any conversations you have with your student prior to the school year are greatly appreciated and would significantly support our enforcement of these policy updates. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me at 989-366-2005 or via email at goodwinj@hlcsk12.net
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Goodwin