General Student Information

The following information is useful to all students, and can also be found in the white and red folder that every student receives when they're a freshman.

Mailing Address

Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center
5039 North Kimball Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625

Office Phone Numbers

Main office: 773 534-5100
Attendance Office: 773 534-5103
Counseling Office: 773 534-5110

Welcome

"The journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step..."

• Get organized!
• Make a goal to succeed.
• Learn to balance fun with responsiblity.
• True friends encourage each other to do their best.
• Be a strategist. What do you want to achieve? Break it down into small attainable steps. You can do it!

School Day

The school day for students begins at 7:30am and ends at 3:01pm. Students will not be permitted to loiter near buildings, cars or streets after arriving on campus. Students should not be on school property after 3:15pm unless they are participating in a supervised School Activity.

Now take the first step...

See the bell schedule.

Graduation Requirements

• Four years of English
• Three years of social studies
• Thre years of mathematics
• Three years of science
• One year of computer science
• Two years of world languages
• One year of art, drafting, or photography
• One year of music
• Two years of physical education
• Additional electives
• 40 hours community service (60 hours in Scholars program)

Pass all of the following:

• Minimum Proficiency Skills
• Consumer Education unit
• Public Law test

Honor Roll

Honor Roll - An average of B in all classes with no grade lower than C.
Principal's List - All grades of A and/or B.

Student Fees

The student fee is collected each year. This fee, reviewed yearly by the Local School Council (LSC), provides educational supplies and instructional materials for classrooms and laboratories as well as for the school newspaper, yearbook, literary magazine, lockers, and I.D. card. Optional items such as physical education uniforms, lab aprons, etc., are not included in the student fee. It is currently $80, and is paid for in room 126.

Grades

Performance Reports will be mailed to parents after the fifth week of each quarter. These reports are sent so that parents may be apprised of their child's achievement and performance and so that any remedial actions required on the part of the student may be taken in a timely fashion.

Progress Reports are issued four times a year: November, January, April, and June. Report card pick-up days at which parents pick up the progress reports are in November and April. January and June mark the end of the semesters, at which time credit is awarded in all classes successfully completed. Only semester grades are included in the official transcript.

Homework

Students should expect a minimum of 2-3 hours daily. CPS recommends at least a half hour of time should be put into each class nightly. Students are expected to complete all homework assignments carefully, accurately, and punctually. Parents should provide a quiet space for their child to complete homework assignments. Parents should monitor that the homework is being done.

Tutoring

There are many places to go for help if you are having difficulty in one or more of your subjects. See your classroom teacher or counselor for tutoring programs available within the school. Typically tutoring is available after school, from 3:15-4:15pm Monday thru Thursday.

Division/Advisory Period

The division is the student's base of operation. Students are expected to be in division on time and remain for the entire divison/advisory period. The official school attendance is taken and the school bulletin is read during this time.

Each division is under the leadership of a teacher and counselor. These individuals are your first source of information for guidance with any school problems. You should always feel free to consult your division teacher or counselor for help.

School and Class Attendance

All students are to attend classes regularly and promptly. Absense from school or from class is the greatest single cause for poor achievement in school. The basic responsiblity for the regular attendance of the student lies with teh student and the parent. The State Compulsory Attendance Law specifically states that the parent is obligated to see that the child is in school.

College admissions offices and future employers use attendance records to determine an applicant's dependability and good citizenship. To achieve your best in school, you must attend school regularly.

A parent or guardian must report all absenses to the Attendance Office some time after 6:45am at 773 534-5103.

A student who has been absent must bring a note signed by a parent/guardian or an Absense Admit from room 110 to be admitted back to classes. The note must show the student's first and last name, date(s) absent, reason for the absense, division number, and a phone number where a parent can be reached during the day. If a student returns from an absense without a note, he/she must report to the Attendance Office to obtain an Absense Admit.

In the case of absenses for religious holidays, inform the Attendance Office beforehand, so that your attendance is properly excused. Bring a note signed by a parent, and leave it with the office at least a day in advance.

The note must be signed by all teachers and then returned by the student to the Attendance Office, room 110, at the end of the day.

Late Arrival

The responsibility for prompt arrival to school belongs to the student.

• During the first period students who arrive late must get a tardy admit at the North Kimball entrance and go directly to class.
• Students arriving any time after period 2 begins are to go to the Attendance Office, room 110, for a tardy admit. (This applies to students who start 1st period. Students who start 2nd period follow the directions above, unless they arive any time after period 3.)
• Tardies will be recorded in the teacher's record book as well as the student's individual attendance record card.
• Tardies will be taken into account when determining a student's grade.
• Students who are late to class excessively will be counseled by their teacher. If the practice continues, the student will be referred to the counselor or administrator for appropriate action.

Cutting

Students who deliberately miss one or more classes are cutting. They will not be allowed to turn in late assignments, take make-up exams, or receive make-up work privileges. Cutting class will have a severely adverse effect on the class grade and will be cause for disciplinary action.

Early Dismissal

If a student requires an Early Dismissal (ED) from school, he/she must report to the Attendance Office, room 110. Attendance Office personnel will call the student's parent or guardian and inform them of the child's request. Students are allowed one ED per quarter.

As mandated by the Chicago Public Schools Board of Trustees, early dismisslas can only be issued for illness. A parent or guardian is required to pick up his/her sick child from school. Children will not be released to relatives, friends, or neighbors.
Reminder: All medical and dental appointments are to be scheduled after school hours

Parent Conferences

Parents may make appointments for conferences with teachers through their child's counselor by telephoning the school.

Special Offices

Extra-Curricular Activities

Properly applied and directed, these activities can provide excellent opportunities for exercising initiative and leadership, as well as developing a sense of responsibility. Every student has a wide selection of clubs, teams, service organizations, musical groups and journalistic staffs from which to choose. Every student is urged to join at least on activity. Through participation in activities and service to the school, every student has the opportunity to develop into the well-rounded person that both colleges and businesses seek.

Study Skills

A student who studies well:

• brings textbook, notebook, paper, pen or pencil and other materials necessary to class.
• is an active participant in the classroom, listens well and takes part in discussions.
• asks questions if he/she doesn't understand the discussion or has a problem.
• plans his/her work and schedules time for homework each day.
• uses what he/she learns and sees how each subject applies to others.
• strives to do the very best, not just get by.

Study Tips

• Attitude is important - think positively; work independently. Seek help only when you have exhausted your own resources; then ask questions and use library and internet resources.
• Learning requires concentration; keep your mind on what you are doing.
• At home, have a definite, well lighted, quiet place to study. Study at home every day.
• When reading an assignment, take notes. Reread an assignment to better understand the material.
• If the assignment is a long term project, do a little of it each day. Don't wait until the last minute!

Taking a Test

• Relax and get plenty of rest the night before.
• Read the directions carefully and follow them.
• Glance over the whole test first to see what's asked for and how to apportion your time.
• Think before you write.
• Answer questions fully with the information asked for.
• Be aware of how much time is remaining.
• Check your paper for spelling and grammar before turning it in.

Discipline Code and Rules

All students should familiarize themselves with the CPS Uniform Discipline Code. Each student is responsible to himself and to fellow students for maintaining orderly conduct. Students who cannot guarantee orderly conditions by their own self-discipline, require the school to exert external controls and, if necessary, impose disciplinary actions. The guidelines for disciplinary action are outlined in the Chicago Public Schools Uniform Discipline Code.
The partial list below describes a broad range of misconduct that is prohibited in school:

• Fighting
• Loitering
• Possession of weapons
• Forgery
• Verbal or physical abuse
• False activation of fire alarm
• Cheating
• Disruptive classroom behavior
• Profane, obscene, indecent, immoral, or seriously offensive language and gestures
• Possession or use of paging, cellular and other prohibited electronic devices (unless approved by office)
• Sexual harassment
• Gambling
• Theft
• Food in classrooms
• Defacing of school property
• Boisterous conduct
• Card playing
• Improper dress
• Persistent tardiness to school and class
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, narcotics, controlled substances, or contraband
• Use of intimidation, coercion, or force
• Gross disobedience
• Gang activity, representation, and symbolic dress

• Students must have their I.D. cards around their necks at all times.
• Students must surrender their I.D. cards upon request of an adult in the building.
• Students must change into their gym uniforms in the locker rooms, not in corridors or washrooms.
• Students must arrive in the locker room on time during their gym period and must change and report to their gym station within 5 minutes.
• Students are expected to dress appropriately for school.
  Bermuda length shorts that are just above the knee ar acceptable. Short-shorts, tops that expose the midriff, flip-flops, clogs, and skin tight clothing and T-shirts with inappripriate language, symbols and/or pictures are not appropriate for school.
• Students are reminded that their pants are to be worn around the waist and not below the waist.

Lunchroom Rules

All students who use the lunchroom should be able to expect a clean and orderly area in which to eat. The following rules are to be observed:

• Enter the lunchroom in a quiet and orderly manner with your I.D. clearly visible. Wait courteously in the lunch lines until served.
• Only students with the appropriate lunch period shown on their I.D. cards will be permitted in the lunchroom.
• Food purchased in the lunchroom must be eaten there.
• Be neat and clean. Place trays, silverware and refuse in prescribed areas before the lunch period ends. The last student at each table is responsible for removing any dishes, trays or debris left at the table.
• Students leaving the lunchroom must exit the building by the north stairway only.
• Students who choose to leave the building for lunch must remain outside for the entire lunch period. Re-entry to the building is through the rear center entrance from the courtyard.
• Students are not allowed in the hallways without a pass during their lunch periods unless they are leaving hte building or going to the library or writing center.
• When a fire alarm is sounded, students must vacate the lunch room even if their lunch has not been completed.

Computer Etiquette

Von Steuben maintains more than 300 computer workstations for student access. These workstations are the property of the school. They may not be modified in any unauthorized manner. These workstations are valuable tools used in supporting the curriculum, aiding homework assignments, and providing research access to local and world wide network resources.

Students may perform two activities at a student workstation: execute preloaded software and access educational data. It is the responsibility of each student user to immediately inform the instructor of problems. Modification to computer hardware and software is restricted to the technical coordinator or computer lab instructors.

Students are not allowed to:

• access someone else's data without permission.
• use a computer workstation without permission.
• play games or listen to music from a CD-ROM without permission.
• Create documents that contain offensive or profane language.
• Access Internet sites for other than educational research.
• Send messages or communiques of any kind from one station to another without permission.

Unauthorized use of or modifications to any computer or its system or unauthorized access to a local network file server or a restricted remote resource will result in disciplinary action.

The use of the Internet and all computer stations at Von Steuben is a privilege, not a right! Inappropriate use will result in cancellation of those privileges.

Textbooks

Textbooks are funished to students by the Board of Education. Students are required to sign record cards pledging the return of all textbooks. Any damaged books or books in poor condition should immediately be brought to the attention of the class teacher. When books are returned to class teachers, they must correspond in number and condition with the record card, or students will be held responsible. Fines must be paid for lost or damaged books. Payment is made in room 126.

Lost books may be claimed by number in the Lost and Found, room 126. Be sure to put the numbers of your books on pages 3 and 4 of your student handbook. If your book cannot be found, you must pay for it.

Locks and Lockers

Lockers are school property and are lent to the students for their use. The only items that may be placed in a locker are articles of clothing, school books or supplies relating to school use, lunches, and personal items which the student is legally entitled to have in his or her possession. Rules governing the use of lockers and locks are as follows:

• Students may go to their locker only during the four minute pasing time and before school between 7:15am and 7:30am (for students starting first period. Students starting second period have the four minute passing period in between first and second period to go to their lockers.)
• In an emergency, a student may obtain a locker pass from an administrator.
• Lock and locker problems should be reported to your division teacher and/or Mr. Keippel in room 126.
• All school lockers are allocated by division, and the division teacher makes the assignment to the individual student. Students must keep the lockers assigned to them. They cannot remove their belongings to any other locker to which they are not assigned.
• Lockers are not private property. They are subject to inspection at any time.
• Students must place outer garments in their lockers. Outdoor clothing may not be worn to class.
• Be sure to lock your locker each time you use it and do not store items of great value in it.

Fire, Tornado/Disaster Drills

Fire, tornado, and disaster drills are required by law and are an important safety precation. When the first signal is given, everyone must obey his/her teacher's orders promptly, clear the building by their prescribed route, and remain outside until the signal is given to re-enter the school.

Von Steuben School Song

See the school song page.