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THE PURPOSE OF CONNECTIONS AT EVHS

1. Connect the student's high school learning and effort with their future plans, connect the student with a caring staff member so that every student is connected with a staff member that will help, assist, guide them during their high school years, connect the students and school with the community.

2. To improve student performance by helping students to understand that what they do now impacts their post high school goals and to guide them in planning for that future. To cause students to make education their priority.

3. To help students meet the state graduation requirements (A high school plus education plan, selection of an educational pathway, a culminating project demonstrating both learning competencies and preparations related to goals three and four.)

GRADING

Connections meets daily for approximately 25 minutes as a graded class that impacts cumulative grade point average. One quarter credit per year (.125 credits per semester) for a total of one credit over four years can be earned in Connections.

The Connections grade will be determined by points earn on a variety of activities and by earning reading points. The final grade will be calculated based upon 50% on activities and 50% on reading.

The grading scale used to determine final letter grade is as follows:

93-100%	A = 4.0
90 %	A-=3.7
87 %	B+=3.3
83 %	B =3.0
80 %	B-=2.7
77 %	C+=2.3
73 %	C =2.0
70 %	C-=1.7
67 %	D +=1.3
60 %	D =1.0
<=59%	F = 0.0

Some Connections activities are identified as "graduation requirements." These activities must be satisfactorily completed to graduate, regardless of the connection grade. Failure to satisfactorily complete any of the following will cause the student to not graduate:

Senior culminating project
Career pathway exploration/job shadow/presentations
Community service

CONNECTIONS ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

Developing reading skills by daily practice with silent reading of a novel, biography, or non-picture book is the most common Connections activity. Grade determination for the reading component will be determined by accumulated reading points that are based upon five points per reading day by completing the following two items. Failure of either will results in loss of all five points.

1. Having daily a novel that has been pre-approval by their coach. Students will be responsible to select a book within a reading range that is at or just above their reading level on a topic of interest to them.

2. Reading silently for the entire period without reminders and without disturbing others

- Up to ten points per week can be earned writing reading summaries and tracking pages for reading each week.
- At least one book shares must be completed per semester. This requires the completion of at least one book per semester (exceptions may be granted by coaches for books of extended length.) Each book share is worth 50 points.

CLASS ENROLLMENTS

Students are assigned to a Connections group during their freshmen year. Groups remain together with the same staff member for all four years. Students will not be regrouped based upon credits, friends, teacher, etc.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

1. All school rules are in place.

2. Students are expected to attend daily, arrive on time, have all learning materials, and use time productively. Behavior that diminishes or distracts from the learning of themselves, others, or instruction by the teacher is not acceptable.

3. Connections is not a study hall. The time may not be used to work on homework or as a study time. Reading is limited to a novel, biography, or non-picture book. Students may not read from magazines, newspapers, textbooks, etc. Novel's that are assigned as a part of a class may be read during Connections time, with the understanding they may not be used as a book share.