DEAN'S MESSAGE
The purpose of this handbook is to give parents, guardians, teachers, and students a concise source of information
on our school, its rules, goals, and expectations. It is important that all of us who are part of the school become familiar
with the expectations of the school.
Dr. Julie Howard, Dean
TUITION PAYMENT POLICIES effective July 1, 2008
Tuition payments will be on a specified due date agreed upon by all parties involved.
This designated due date is viewed as an "on or before" payment day.
A late fee of $50 will be incurred on the first day following the designated due date.
For each day following up to the 20th day following the due date, an additional $5 per day will be also be added.
On the 21st day following the designated due date, the student and the account will be suspended and a letter will
be sent registered mail allowing an additional 10 days from the date of the letter to bring the account current.
If no action is taken, the administration of Texas Prep will be forced to file suit for collections and truancy on
said student.
PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Teachers are normally available for an hour after classes on Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We have our
staff meetings on Mondays.
Early in the school year, we have a Meet-the-Teacher-Night where parents are welcomed into the school for an informal
talk with the teachers. This is an opportunity to become familiar with the routines and expectations in your child's class.
It is also an opportunity to give teachers information that may be helpful in teaching your child, where applicable.
Student progress will be reported three times a year by progress reports, parent-teacher conferences and report cards.
The dates and times will be posted regularly in letters home and school calendar notifications.
Scheduled Interviews and times will be sent home prior to the interview dates. If more time is required, parents are
urged to contact the school to arrange a suitable time.
We will continue to issue Notification Letters to the parents on a regular basis both to inform you of current events
and as a reminder of upcoming events.
SCHOOL CANCELATIONS
If all schools in the Alvin independent School District are to be canceled, parents will be notified
by radio announcements on local stations including that all schools are closed. The first notice will be broadcast by 7:00
am. In some instances, it may only be necessary to close individual families of school. Texas Preparatory Academy is in the
Alvin High School family of schools and you can listen for the closure of that family.
One-Hour Delay
In cases where a decision cannot be made by 7:00 am, a one-hour delay will be announced.
School Closure During the Day
Sometimes it may be necessary to close during the day in order to get students home before weather conditions become too
severe. In such cases, announcements
will be made by phone.
Suggestions for Parents:
1. Do not drop children off at school unless you are certain that school is operating that day.
2. Make arrangements for your children in case of mid-day school closure.
3. If schools are operating, the final decision to attend rests with you the parent.
EXIT
EXAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Any student enrolled in a class which requires an EXIT EXAM in order to receive high school credit for
that class MUST participate in the EXIT EXAM PROCEDURES.
EXIT EXAMS are given beginning three weeks from finals exams administration.
As each EXIT EXAM is a TEST, the work required for completion may only be done at school. Books are not allowed to
be taken from the classroom during this time.
Each student is responsible to maintain good communications with each instructor administering an EXIT EXAM and must
stay on task.
ALL of the required MUST BE COMPLETED in the three week timeframe with NO EXCEPTIONS.
Any student taking an EXIT EXAM is welcome to attend evening classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-8p.m..
Failure to complete is automatic failure of subject. A student must complete with a grade of 81 or higher to receive
credit for the course.
DISCIPLINE
POLICY
An effective discipline policy in a school allows for an orderly environment in which learning can take
place.
Harassment of other students, damage to school property, insolence, profanity, fighting, use of tobacco, failure to
obey teachers, and any deviant behavior that might cause injury to the student's self or to others will not be tolerated at
the school.
Students who cause damage to school property (books, desks, chairs, windows, etc.) will be expected to pay for the
damage.
The primary contact for parents at the school is the Administrator. Most matters pertaining to your child's education
and behavior will be reported through the Administrator and, ultimately, the Dean. Subject teachers may also deem it necessary
to discuss delinquent work habits and/or unacceptable behavior with the parents.
Section 72 of the Private Education Independent (P.E.I.) School Act states the following as student responsibilities:
To observe the code of conduct and other rules and policies of the school board and of the school;
to attend classes regularly and punctually and participate in education programs in which the student is enrolled;
to be diligent in pursuing the student studies;
to respect the rights of others.
Within the context of the expectations outlined by the School Act, the following school procedures will apply in cases
where these responsibilities are discharged:
Strike 1: Dean meets with the student to discuss areas of concern and possible solutions.
Strike 2: Administrator contacts home to schedule a parent meeting with the Dean to discuss areas of concern and implement
corrective measures.
Strike 3: Student is permanently removed form school.
Notwithstanding the previously outlined school policy, the School Act empowers the Dean to suspend students at
any time depending on the severity of the incident. This policy also empowers and enables the Dean to make changes of any
kind- whenever deemed necessary.
RANDOM DRUG TESTING
Students are informed at the time of interview and again at the time of the signing of the enrollment
contract of the random drug testing procedures. Students and parents must sign a Drug Testing Contract. Testing is done
weekly and randomly at the discretion of the Dean. This test allows for the detection of trace elements of any chemical substance
in the students body, so it is important to report any medications at the time of administering.
At the time of testing, all students randomly chosen will be required to empty all pockets and submit to a pat down prior
to entering the restroom. Any student who fails the drug test for any reason is subject to a 7 academic day of suspension
during which time the student's sole responsibility is to get clean and sober. If the student returns and fails a second
test, expulsion will occur.NO EXCEPTIONS.
CELL
PHONES, MP3 PLAYERS, CD PLAYERS
Cell phones WILL NOT be allowed within the school facilities.NO EXCEPTIONS. Any student failing to abide by this
regulation will be subject to loss of possession. At the first time of loss of possession, the phone will be returned at the
end of the day. Second loss of possession the phone may be redeemed for a fee of no less than $50. Third loss of possession,
the phone becomes the sole property of the school and suspension will be set in place for a period of 3 days. Any student
who must be contacted in the case of an emergency or any personal/family business may be contacted through the administration
office at 281 756 9231. Parents are asked to adhere to this rule with NO EXCEPTIONS.
MP3 and CD players MAY ONLY BE USED with permission from the dean for the purpose and use as a focus and concentration
tool. Notation must be made in student's file.
EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
Extracurricular activities such as field trips and travel are privileges. Any student persistently
breaking the school rules over the course of the year can expect to be excluded from such activities.
DRESS
REGULATIONS
Although we do not have a dress code as such, we do however expect students to dress appropriately.
IN ADDITION, PIERCING AND TATTOOS THAT DO NOT ALREADY EXIST MAY NOT BE OBTAINED UNTIL AFTER GRADUATION. ANY STUDENT WHO DOES
NOT ABIDE BY THIS RULE WILL BE SUBJECT TO LOSS OF ENROLLMENT. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN BE WITHIN THE MOUTH AREA WHILE IN SCHOOL
OR ATTENDING A SCHOOL FUNCTION.
Shirt logos and/or artwork generally perceived to be in poor taste (i.e. drugs, alcohol, profanity) will not be permitted.
Pants MUST BE KEPT up within a four-finger distance from the navel and a belt must be worn in order to maintain this
distance. "Baggin and Saggin" WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. If a student is repeatedly told to pull up his/her pants, the student
will be PERMANENTLY removed from school.
Shorts and skirts must be fingertip length.
No halters, bandeaus, or spaghetti straps will be tolerated.
Shirt hems on females must touch top of waistband.
Caps may be worn, only if worn correctly unless otherwise stated by a teacher as an independent classroom rule. If
a student must be told more than once to remove or correct headgear, it will become the property of the school.
ANY student in violation of a dress regulation WILL BE sent home and will receive an unexcused absence for the day.
SPECIFIED CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS
1. Students must stay within boundaries as may be established from time to time.
2. Students should not discriminate anyone due to race, color, religion or age.
4. Students must not use tobacco on school property or during school hours nor use tobacco -at all- if under the age of
18.
5. Students are expected to play and work in a reasonable manner that will not interfere with the rights of others.
6. Bad language will not be tolerated anywhere on school property.
7. There is to be no running or other rough behavior in the school building.
8. Students should walk in an orderly manner.
10. Respect must be shown for school property. Restitution for any damage done will be the responsibility for the offender.
11. Students must not leave the school grounds between arrival time and dismissal time unless written or the office has
approved telephone permission.
HOMEWORK POLICY
Students are expected to complete all their home assignments. If a student consistently does not complete
her/his homework assignments, they can expect the teacher to contact home and issue detention where necessary.
Failure to do home/ out of class assignments can influence the student's grade in that particular subject if specific
marks are given for the assignments. Please note that home assignments only exist in matters where:
a)student fails to use class time wisely or
b)student has a scheduled testing or outside research.
c)student accumulates excused absences, it will be the student's responsibility to communicate with all teachers regarding
makeup of all missed assignments and tests.
As per TPA's enrollment contract, all involved have been informed that all assignments are the SOLE RESPONSIBILTY
of the student.
Research Projects/Papers: Due to the extended amount of time given, the designated due date and time will be adhered
to with NO EXCEPTIONS.
AMNESTY DAY: All students all made aware of each semester's Amnesty Day. On this scheduled day, ANY AND ALL
missing assignments and/or exams may be made up. Any grades which have fallen below passing may also be replaced by any extra
credit work approved in advance by the teacher.
GRADING
SCALE
Texas Prep is a preparatory school with academic curriculum graded on a 65% and above scale as follows.
91-100 A
82-91 B
74-81 C
65-73 D
Below 65 is failing
Grade Point Average (GPA) is based on all core curriculum which include Physical education and any foreign language.
NO ELECTIVE grades are calculated as a TPA gpa is what is considered weighted on the 4.0 scale by all colleges and universities.
FIELD TRIP RULES AND REGULATIONS
We currently take field trips on select Fridays, unless other wise scheduled, and use private cars.
Orderly behavior on the transportation used is of utmost importance. Students who misbehave on a field trip distract
the driver, thereby endangering themselves and others.
1. There is to be no horseplay. One slip at the wrong time could cause serious injury.
2. Students should wait for their car and driver at a safe distance from the roadside and must make the return trip
in the same car.
3. Drivers must be able to listen for signs of danger so excessive noise is not allowed.
4. Bad language will not be tolerated.
5. The Driver is in full charge of the students. She/he must be obeyed.
7. Do not extend any part of your body out of the vehicle.
8. The throwing of objects from the vehicle can cause accidents; it must not be done.
9. Any from of transportation used for a field trip must be kept safe and clean. The offender will pay for any damage.
10. No students shall cause a disturbance or harass another student while entering, leaving, or traveling on the field
trip.
Students are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the school safety act. Failure to follow these rules
and/or listen to the driver can expect the following steps to be followed:
The driver will report any serious infraction that occurs on a filed trip to the dean in writing. The school will
then notify the student's parents by letter indicating that any further misbehavior will result in a field trip suspension
for that student.
If a student is given a second official misconduct report said student would be suspended for a period of three school
days.
A third official misconduct report will result in a one-week suspension and no further participation in field trips
will be allowed.
Once again, the School Act empowers the Principal to suspend field trip privileges at any time depending on the severity
of the situation.
RECREATION
PERIODS (BREAKS)
Recreation periods are held so students can get a break from their work, socialize with one another,
and get some fresh air and activity. This helps students be more alert over the rest of the day. We provide supervision so
they can have this break.
LUNCH PROCEDURES
1. There will be an allotted time for eating lunches.
2. Students will eat IN THE STUDENT CENTER.
3. Students will be responsible for keeping their area neat, orderly, and clean.
4. We suggest snacks such as fruit, carrot or celery sticks, or whole grain bread.
NOTE OR TELEPHONE CALL FROM PARENTS
We require written notes from parents for the following reasons:
1. Absenteeism - 5 excused and 5 unexcused per semester.
2. Non participation of physical activities
3. Leaving school during school day
4. Change of transportation (for unavoidable or emergency situations).
EARLY ARRIVAL POLICY
Students dropped off before the staff does not formally supervise 7:45 in the morning. The school will
not be held responsible for any injury that might occur during this time. Parents who drop their child off early do so at
their own risk.
Students in the school prior to 8:15 am will be expected to stay in the common areas of the school until the 8:15
call to class.
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS
Students are permitted to stay after school for different sports at certain times of the year, if
they wish. Notices will be sent out indicating the time, activity, and grade level. Students also encourage to stay after
school and participate in TPA’s ROTC Program.
Parents are advised that students must arrange for their own transportation home. It would be very helpful to us,
since students know ahead of time about school activities, that they arrange for their rides prior to the day on which they
stay after school so as to not need the use of the school office telephone.
COMPUTER
We have an excellent computer lab and resource computer station. Students will be regularly instructed
on the proper use and care of this equipment.
INTERNET USE
Students must have read and signed, along with their parents, the school contract understanding
the policy on Internet use before using the Internet. Any breach of this document could result in loss of Internet privileges.
