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| 1001 Annapolis Road • Gambrills, MD 21054 • 410-674-6500 • Fax:410-672-3711 | |||||||||||
THE WILDCAT HOUR
PURPOSE:
The staff of Arundel High School has realized the possibilities of using a longer lunch period to allow our students to engage in more meaningful activities with teachers and other students and raising academic achievement. Teachers will now have intervention time embedded into the regular school day for tutoring, make-up assignments; HSA/SAT testing practices, basic math skill practice, writing skills, homework help, Advanced Placement support and test preparation as well student interactions through club and activity sponsorships.
FOOD SERVICE AND OPERATION:
Our operations staff of three full time custodians plus one supervisor will be used more efficiently by “sweeping the entire building of refuse after one lunch” rather than re-cleaning the same area multiple times as they do now with four lunch periods. Hot and cold ala carte items will be available from the main cafeteria serving lines as well as three satellite food “kiosks” located in the main and auditorium lobbies and the media center in “D” hallway, in order to reduce congestion.
Students will eat in classrooms with teachers to include the cafeteria (538 capacity), cafeteria lobby, in alcove near F120 and F122, in open hallway areas at the end of E halls, in the auditorium lobby, in the area outside of C101, in the courtyards weather permitting, and in open area by stairwell 4. Students will place books, backpacks and other belongings in lockers or in classrooms. It is essential that a 6 foot clearance be maintained in the hallways throughout the building during the lunch period. Students will not be permitted to gather on 1st floor C-hall as this area is limited by construction.
Areas off limits for eating/drinking include any carpeted area such as auditorium, media center or computer labs. Staff members will be positioned at each set of cafeteria doors with counters to ensure the seating capacity does not exceed the allotted number of occupants. This procedure is anticipated to last for the first 2-3 weeks until students learn to organize their schedules and visit other food kiosks away from the main cafeteria. The operations staff will place 30 large “barrel-type” trash cans in all hallways on both floors with most within a few feet of any classroom to dispose of trash that will accumulate during lunchtime. Operations staff will be provided with industrial brooms to make cleaning hallways faster and more efficient and most barrel cans will be on rollers for easy movement and waste disposal. Students or staff will not be permitted to dispose of “food trash” in any classroom waste paper basket. If a teacher permits students to eat in their room the teacher will be responsible for making sure students have cleaned up the area including properly disposing of trash, wiping up any spills and cleaning surface areas such as student desk, countertops and room tables. The operations staff will not be responsible for supplying paper towels to teachers to clean rooms. If a spill occurs it should be cleaned up immediately to avoid any potential accidents, either by the student or by calling the main office and requesting someone from operations for assistance. Due to the limited amount of operations staff during the regular school day (4) the majority of the “hall sweeps” will be done after students return to class. All teachers and administrators will be assisting students to keep their areas clean as the lunch hour progresses.
SECURITY:
The campus of Arundel High School will remain a “closed campus” during the Wild Cat Hour which means students will not be permitted to leave school grounds nor will they be permitted to visit automobiles if they have a car parked on campus. Security will be tightly maintained with the use of members of the administrative team (6 assistant principals, 1 principal, 2 student advocates, and business manager, SRO plus available counseling staff) to maintain a high level of visibility while checking student restrooms, stairwells, hallways and exit doors while also having informal chats with students to keep a pulse on the school and helping students who may be struggling to make those connections to school that foster success. Students will not be permitted to use cellular telephones, I-Pods, personal CD players or any other electronic device deemed inappropriate as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Compliance with this policy will be strictly enforced and students who are in violation of the policy will receive progressive disciplinary actions. There will be one administrator plus two counselors stationed at the cafeteria entrances counting students as they come through the doors and redirecting students to alternate food sites to relieve congestion. Teachers who have not selected an extracurricular activity will be assigned to supervision in one of the following areas: the auditorium which has been designated as a “quiet” area, to the media center along with current media staff, computer labs, court yards and main cafeteria. Students will be asked to sign in at tutoring sessions as well as the auditorium, media center and computer labs to maintain security. Administrators will be located in the following areas during Wildcat Hour: (1) Front lobby/A hall/ Auditorium Lobby 1st floor, A/C 1st and second floor including stairwell #1, (2) C/E hall 1st and 2nd floor and stairwell #2, (3) F/E halls 1st and 2nd floor plus stairwell #4, (4) D hallway/cafeteria, (5) C hall parking lot with trailers, (6) F hall parking lot with trailers 5-11 and stairwells #6-#7, (7) main cafeteria.
TUTORING:
Tutoring schedules for the staff have been staggered so that representatives from all 13 departments are available everyday throughout the entire 50 minute time frame. Each teacher has been assigned two tutoring days, either Mon-Wed or Tues-Thurs and can provide club/activity sponsorship, enrichment activities or additional tutoring the remaining three days. Staff will assist students in pre-planning to schedule time with teachers and activity involvement around subject/teacher availability. Teachers will have the ability to “require” that a student attend a tutoring session in order to improve progress or qualify for testing make-ups by providing that student a special “pass” indicating the location of the tutoring session as well as the amount of times they must attend. Students who do not attend mandatory tutoring sessions will be considered a “class skip” and be referred to their appropriate administrator. Students placed in lunch detention will report to F200 for the entire 50 minute lunch period. They will forfeit their 25 minute free time to eat lunch and receive tutoring.
EXTRACURRICULAR
During the 2-3 days teachers are not assigned to tutoring they may want to host a student activity, club or as many have chosen, additional “help-sessions” for various academic areas.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES
In the case of an emergency evacuation all students will leave the building via the closest exit and report immediately to Carroll Field where they will sit in their CATS assignment according to grade and CATS teacher last name. CATS teachers will report to their sections and take attendance informing administration of non-reporting students. In the case of a “Code Green” and students are not permitted to return to the building the administration will implement Arundel High Schools Critical Incident Response Plan.
LOOKING FORWARD
The Goal of Wildcat Hour is to empower both staff members and students, raise student achievement, reduces class absences (cutting) and fosters relationships for a positive school climate. We, the Wildcat Staff, are committed to providing all of our students with every opportunity to achieve and realize their fullest potential. We look to this as an opportunity to support school improvement, diversity, academic achievement, self-advocacy and student responsibility.