Dear Students:

 

Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year at Washburn Rural Alternative High School.  This will be the 11th year that WRAHS has been part of the Auburn-Washburn school district.  I am very honored to be able to be part of this fine program.  I look forward to getting to know you as a student and person and can’t wait to hang your picture on the “Wall of Graduates.”  Welcome to WRAHS and I look forward to a productive year.

 

 

 

 

Linda Thornburgh

Asst. Principal in charge of Alternative Programs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT OF WRAHS

Washburn Rural Alternative High School strives to empower at-risk students to earn a high school diploma while developing the intellect, integrity, and discipline required to be responsible and successful citizens in the 21st Century.

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Auburn-Washburn School District, USD #437, does not discriminate against any applicant, employee, or student in the admission or access to educational programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, veteran status, gender, age, or the presence of a non-job related medical condition or disability.

 

 

 

 

PERSONNEL

 

WASHBURN RURAL ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF

5900 S.W. 61st Street, Topeka, KS  66619

(785) 339-4900 or 785-339-4925 (Fax)

 Web Site:  www.usd437.net

 

Linda Thornburgh..……………………………………………………………………………………………Principal

Isaac Thompson…………………………………..….………………………………………………………..…..Math

Danny Ackerman……………………………….…..……………….……………………………………Social Studies Leah Henry………………...……………………………………..………………………………………...….English

Leslie Fischer………………………………….…… ………………………………………………………Counselor

Denise Moravec   ………………………………………………………………………………………………Science

Diane Ballou………………………………………………………………………………………………..Secretary

Theresa Johnson………………………………………………………………………… ………………Teacher Aide

Alan Hug…………………………………………………………………………………………………Teacher Aide

E-mail addresses:  first five letters of the last name and first three letters of the first name

@usd437.net

Example:  thornlin@usd437.net

 

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

Stephen Cavanaugh                     Christine Garrett                                   Darren Haddock                      Bob Lohse

3765 SW Spring Creek Dr.          6800 SW Lewelling Rd                         6447 SW 23rd Street                 5718 SW 38th Street

Topeka, KS  66610                     Topeka 66619                                      Topeka, KS 66614                   Topeka 66610        

273-3176                                    862-0464                                              228-0610                                 272-1567

                 garrechr@usd437.net                            haddockd@usd437.net            lohserob@usd437.net

 

 

James Owen                                                                William Sneed                                                       Shawn Tipping

5300 SW Mission Ave                                                6530 SW Vorse Rd.                                              6021 SW 27th, Apt #3

Topeka, KS 66610                                                      Auburn, KS  66405                                              Topeka, KS  66614

862-5959                                                                    862-3213                                                              224-1354

                                                sneedwil@usd437.net                                           tippisha@usd437.net

 

 

CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL

(785) 339-4000 or (785) 339-4025 (Fax)

 SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Dr. Brenda Dietrich

 ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

 

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES

Dr. Ann Elliott

 DIRECTOR OF SUPPORT SERVICES

Dr. Dennis Johnson

 DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES

Keith Love

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Bruce Petersen

 SUPERVISOR OF TRANSPORTATION

Susan Rosetta

 SUPERVISOR OF FOOD SERVICES

Donna Bateman

 SUPERVISOR OF MAINTENANCE

Gary Bingham

 

 

 

APPLICATION/ENROLLMENT

 

ENROLLMENT PROCESS:  The enrollment process for a student to be added to the WRAHS waiting list includes:           

·         A letter of recommendation from a source that knows the student well. This might be a parent, principal, counselor, or teacher.

  • A completed questionnaire from the student outlining why they wish to be a student at WRAHS.     
  • A completed student enrollment form.
  • A current transcript from the last educational establishment that the student attended.
  • An introductory interview, along with a parent, guardian or sponsor with the principal and/or counselor of WRAHS.
  • Successful completion of the TAP tests in mathematics and reading.
  • WRAHS does accept out of district students.

 

If the student is successful in their application and their name is added to the waiting list, they are also required to complete the following before being given a place in the school:

  • A completed student health form.
  • An updated transcript (if needed).
  • Payment of school fees for 2007-2008

 

                        Textbook Rental          $65.00

                        Parking Permit             $10.00

                        Planner                                    $  5.00

                        ID Card                                    $  3.50

 

It should be noted that the administration of WRAHS reserves the right to deny any student application, for any reason. It also reserves the right to place any student higher on the waiting list depending upon the nature of the student referral. The Superintendent or Associate Superintendent of Schools may only overturn this decision.

 

DROPPING A CLASS:  Students are allowed to drop a class or classes during the first three days of the unit.  No class changes will be allowed after completion of the third day of the unit. 

  • Permission of family teacher.
  • Teacher will sign off on class being dropped and added.
  • Students who drop main school (WRHS) classes will be enrolled in a study hall for NO CREDIT for the remainder of the semester.
  • If a student drops a main school class after the 6th week of the semester they will receive a WNC and be assigned a study hall for the remainder of the semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

 

SUBJECT AREA

CREDITS

SPECIFICALLY

Language Arts

4

3 credits must be in English Comp & Lit

1/2 credit must be in Speech (Debate or Forensics will substitute for Speech)

Social Studies

3

1 credit must be in Am. History

1/2 credit must be in Am. Govt.

1 1/2 credits are Social Studies electives

Science

2

1 credit must be a biological science

1 credit must be a physical science

Mathematics

2

Any two math credits will fulfill this requirement

Physical Education

1

This must be fulfilled by taking Basic PE or Intro to Strength and Conditioning

Teen Issues

½

Must be taken during sophomore year unless waived under approved Board policy

Fine Arts

½

A class in music, drama, art, or humanities

Practical Arts

½

A class in business, industrial technology, or family and consumer science

Computer Technology

½

One class in Computer Technology

Electives

11

All other classes besides those listed above will be considered elective classes

Community Service

20 Hours

WRAHS Requirement

First Aid and CPR

 

WRAHS Requirement

Portfolio of Work

 

WRAHS Requirement

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED

25

WRAHS Requirement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graduation Requirements

for the Class of 2009 and beyond

 

SUBJECT AREA

CREDITS

 SPECIFICALLY

English/Reading

4

3 - credits must be in English Comp. & Literature

1/2 - credit must be in Speech

 (Debate, Forensics, or Drama II will substitute for this)

Social Studies

3

1 – credit must be in World History (fr./soph. year)

1 - credit must be in American History (jr. year)

1/2 - credit must be in American Govt. (sr. year)

½ - credits are in Social Studies electives

Science

3

Credits must include Biological, Physical, and Earth/Space concepts

Mathematics

3

Any three math credits will fulfill this requirement

Physical Education

1

This must be fulfilled by taking 3 quarters of  Basic P.E. and 1 quarter of Health

Fine Arts

1

One credit in music, drama, or art

Practical Arts

1/2

A class in business, industrial technology,

family and consumer science, or agriculture

Computer Technology

1/2

One class in the computer area

Electives

9

All other classes besides those listed above will

be considered elective classes.

Community  Service

 

WRAHS Requirement

First Aid and CPR

 

WRAHS Requirement

Portfolio Of Work

 

WRAHS Requirement

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED

25

 

 

 

 

STUDENTS ENROLLED IN WRAHS: A student enrolled in less than 4 classes in WRAHS will not be eligible for open lunch, parking in west lot, end of year presentation, community service, or CPR, or any other responsibilities required by the Alternative High School. These students are main school students and are integrated into WRAHS.

 

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING:  A full-time counselor is employed by WRAHS and available to all students.  The counselor’s job is to help students succeed in school and to reach their fullest potential.  The counselor is someone with whom students can talk about anything that concerns them.  Students should sign up to see the counselor on the sheet of paper at the west end of the front counter.  Counselors can do many things to help students succeed in school and prepare them for life after graduation.  Some examples include:

  1. Post-High School Planning
  2. Career Guidance
  3. Individual Guidance and Counseling
  4. Group Counseling (when necessary)
  5. Teacher/Parent/Student Conferences

 

 

 

OFF-CAMPUS ENROLLMENT OPTIONS:  No student will be eligible for gaining credit from any other educational establishment without prior approval from the principal of WRAHS. This includes any elective classes taken at Washburn Rural High School.  Other options include:

 

  1. Technical education (see description  below).
  2. Eligible junior and seniors may attend a college for one or two courses per semester.  Students must apply and request prior approval from their counselor.  Students must submit proof of enrollment to the WRAHS administration within one week of the start of the semester.  College courses can apply toward high school credit.  University courses shall not be used in the calculation of the student’s high school GPA.
  3. The student must provide verification from the college of grade and credit earned.

 

OUTSTANDING FEES:  A notice of outstanding fees will be mailed to your home at the end of the school year.  This notice will be in addition to any other notices parents have received during the school year.  If these debts to the school are not taken care of by the parent or the student, the school will turn these over to a collection agency.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS:  Students desiring information on scholarships for post-secondary education are encouraged to visit with the school counselor.  Scholarships are available from colleges, universities, and other educational institutions, as well as private groups and corporations. 

 

TECHNICAL EDUCATION:  WRAHS juniors and seniors may choose to attend Kaw Area Technical School (KATS) in the morning (transportation is provided) if they meet the requirements for admission.

 

RECOMMENDED HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION

IN PREPARATION OF ADVANCED TRAINING OR COLLEGE EDUCATION.

 

English, 4 units of credit                     Literature, composition, speech,

                                                            (including Advanced Composition I, II,

                                                            III, & IV to be taken as Jrs. and Srs.)

Mathematics, 3 units of credit                       Algebra, geometry, trigonometry

                                                            (Also recommend courses in Technology,

                                                            Keyboarding, and Computer Applications)

Social Studies, 3 units of credit          US history, US government,

                                                            Economics, Int’l Relations, Wld Geography

                                                            are recommended

Science, 3 units of credit                     Biology, chemistry, Applied Principles

                                                            of Technology are recommended

Technical sequence                             Student should follow a recommended

                                                            sequence.  Consult his/her guidance

                                                            counselor, program instructors, and

                                                            occupational profiles in the Program                                                                                                   of Studies booklet.

RECOMMENDED HIGH SCHOOL COURSES FOR COLLEGE PREPARATION:

The high school preparation necessary for college will vary, depending mainly upon two factors:

(1)         choice of college or university, and (2) choice of major.  Since few high school students are completely sure of these factors, it is recommended that they take as many college prep courses as possible in high school so that their choice of a college and of a major may be kept as broad as possible.  Many college catalogs are available in the guidance office; the college-bound student should investigate the recommended high school courses which are listed for the school(s) of his/her choice.

 

 

KANSAS BOARD OF REGENTS REQUIRED HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM

 

Admissions Requirements:  To qualify for admission to any of the six Kansas Regents universities, you must meet one of the following requirements:

*              Complete the precollege curriculum with at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale; or,

*              Achieve an ACT score of 21 or above; or,

*              Rank in the top one-third of your high school’s graduating class.

 

Precollege curriculum:  One of the ways to meet university admission requirements is to successfully complete the precollege curriculum as outlined by the Kansas Board of Regents.  The following outlines the high school courses that are required to meet the requirements for admission to any of the Kansas Regents universities.

 

Note:  1 unit = 1 year

 

English – 4 units required

At least one unit of English or language arts must be taken each year of high school.  Courses taken in Journalism, Speech, Debate/Forensics, and/or Drama will not count.

 

Natural Science – 3 units required

Students must take three units chosen from the following courses.   At least one unit must be in chemistry or physics.  There are no exceptions or substitutions for this.

                *  Biology                               *  AP Biology                                         *  Chemistry                            *College Physics

                *  Physics                                *  Animal Plant & Soil Science               *   Biology 2                           *General Physics

                *  Earth/Space Science            *  Honors Anatomy & Physiology         *   Anatomy & Physiology

Math – 3 units required

Students must take one unit each of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.  Completion of any of the three prior to entering high school satisfies the requirement for that course.

 

Social Sciences – 3 units required

Students must complete the following:

*  One unit of U.S. History

*  One-half unit of U.S. Government

*  One & one-half unit selected from World History, World Geography, International Relations., Psychology, Economics,History, Current Events or Sociology

 

Computer Technology – 1 unit

One unit of Computer Technology is required.

This requirement may be fulfilled by passing a computer technology final exam.

 

Precollege curriculum requirements for scholarship applicants:

As a Kansas high school graduate, you may be eligible for one of three state-sponsored scholarship programs:

State Scholarship Program

Minority Scholarship Program

Kansas Teachers Scholarship

 

To be eligible for one of these scholarships, you must complete all the required courses for the precollege curriculum plus an additional three units, as follows:

Math – 1 additional unit; total of 4 units required

Foreign Language – 2 units required

Natural Science – Biology, Chemistry and Physics are required

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STUDENT BODY:  WRAHS accepts applications from any student in the state.  Students are placed on a waiting list following a referral that can be made by any principal, counselor, parent, or a student presently enrolled at WRAHS. Prospective students must complete an enrollment application, interview with his/her parents/guardians with the counselor or school principal, and pass an entrance exam in reading and math.  Provided the student meets the accepted criteria, his/her name will be added to the school waiting list.  Whenever possible any student from the Auburn-Washburn school district will be placed above any student who is not from within the district. Students are then offered a place in the school as soon as an opening is available.  New students are only allowed to enter the school at the beginning of a 15 day unit of study and may not be enrolled in any other educational establishment at the same time without prior permission from the principal.

 

TRANSFER CREDITS:  Washburn Rural Alternative High School will accept all transfer credits from accredited high schools. Required courses can only be taken for credit at an off-campus location with prior approval from the WRAHS administration.

 

WORK STUDY:  Students enrolled at WRAHS have the opportunity to gain credit from a work study program.  Only hours accumulated after the student enrolls at WRAHS will be counted toward work study credit.  Students are able to earn 1/2 credit per semester for every 250 hours of applicable work. A student may only receive one credit  (500 hours) of work study per school year.  Any hours over 500 will not be counted toward work study credit and cannot be carried over to the following school year.    Students with approved work study will be allowed to opt out of 1st or 7th class period.  Only students enrolled at WRAHS during the spring semester can earn work study credit during the summer months.

 

  • Student must have approval from family teacher and work study coordinator.
  • Confirmation of work with supervisor.
  • Students must turn in paystubs (W-2 verifiable job approved by WRAHS staff) each unit to keep enrolled in work study.

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:  A student’s attendance record is a very important part of his/her permanent record. Students with regular attendance generally will be more successful in their classes. Students are expected to be present and punctual for all classes throughout the year. The responsibility of school attendance is with the student and his/her parents/guardians. 

 

Students gain credit in each class on a daily basis.  Therefore, any absence directly i