2009-2010
STUDENT- PARENT HANDBOOK
Holy Trinity Catholic High School
418 North 11th Street
Temple, Texas 76501
254-771-0787
254-771-2285
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to Holy Trinity Catholic High School. In choosing Holy trinity, you have demonstrated a commitment to the values and philosophy of a Catholic education.
The faculty and staff of your school look forward to working with you to promote academic excellence and spiritual development in the context of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Together let us pray that God, who has begun this good work in us, may carry it through to completion.
God Bless!
Chris Mosmeyer
Principal
The school accepts a student's registration as his or her intention to abide by the rules and regulations of Holy Trinity Catholic High School. All students and parents or guardians are expected to read and understand the contents of this handbook, then sign and return the accountability form contained in the book. This then becomes the formal agreement of both the student and parents to uphold standards of good conduct, to live by Christian values, and to support the school by adhering to the policies and regulations stated in this handbook.
The Mission and Philosophy of Holy Trinity Catholic High School
Founded in Faith. Sustained in Spirit.
Building the Christian Leaders of Tomorrow.
MISSION STATEMENT
Holy Trinity Catholic High School seeks to form the Christian Leaders of Tomorrow; we strive to develop the intellect, educate the heart, and form the character of each student by giving witness to Gospel values.
PHILOSOPHY
Holy Trinity Catholic High School is a private coeducational Catholic college-preparatory secondary school committed to the fulfillment of the educational ministry of the Church. We share with the parents, as well as the entire faith community, the obligation to provide each individual with the opportunity to share in the Catholic heritage through a gospel-based education of the highest academic quality. Each student is seen as a gift from God and the future of our Christian community. As stewards of these gifts, we feel it is our obligation to provide sound spiritual formation, as well as moral, academic and physical education of the highest quality. We have supported these priorities with a full-time campus ministry program, strong moral guidance, a challenging academic curriculum, and a growing extracurricular and physical education program.
HISTORY
1997 to 2001: Holy Trinity was established as an independent school by a group of committed parents in 1997 with a core group of twelve freshmen, and made possible only through the generosity and facilities of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Temple. The school was housed in the Religious Education Building on the St. Luke’s Catholic Church campus. Adding bus transportation in January 2001 allowed students from south and west Bell County to access our school. During its first four years, Holy Trinity added many athletic and extra-curricular programs to the school, including the first drama production, first newspaper, and first yearbook in 2001The first class graduated from Holy Trinity in 2001.
2001 to present: In August 2001, the school moved to its current location, the Vandiver school building, a historic school building owned by the Temple Independent School District. In 2004, the school was allowed use of the adjacent modular building, now known as the Assisi Annex. In 2005, Holy Trinity secured a donation of a portable science building from the Cameron Independent School District and through the generosity of the EBCO company was able to move the building, creating the EBCO Science Center. In 2007, the school added another modular building, now known as the Aquinas Math Building. During the past several years, Holy Trinity has increased its academic offerings to include many advanced placement and dual credit classes. In recent years, the school has had significant success in extra-curricular activities, including five state championships in academics, two state championships in boys golf, and the first girls state championship in girls golf in 2009.
School Colors: Navy and Gold
School Mascot: Celtics
School Song: The Everlasting Navy and Gold (written by the Class of ’01)
In the halls of Holy Trin’ty,
There you’ll find the navy and gold.
Memories will last eternally,
As the stories oft are told.
In the spirit of the Celtics,
Loyalty and love prevail.
Since we started we have felt it,
Helping us if we should fail.
In the halls of Holy Trin’ty,
Tomorrow’s leaders we behold.
They will seize the victory,
The everlasting navy and gold.
THE PROFILE OF A HOLY TRINITY STUDENT
Faith
I treat others with respect.
I am considerate of the feelings of others.
I am honest.
I respect authority.
I stand up for what is right.
I stand up for my beliefs.
I pray.
Compassion
I am kind. I care.
I am open to others.
I listen.
I don’t take advantage of others.
I speak respectfully of others and to others.
I forgive others.
I am grateful.
I am tolerant of differences.
I do not participate in gossip.
I respect myself.
Service
I share.
I am a good neighbor.
I volunteer my time and talents to help others.
I work to better my family, school, community, the world, and myself.
I protect the environment.
Leadership
I follow those who emulate Christ.
I take responsibility for my actions.
I actively take part in school functions and community needs.
I take a stand on issues.
I am willing to risk for what I believe.
I act without fear of failure or criticism.
I encourage others to be responsible and people of integrity.
I lead by example.
I am a Christian leader of tomorrow.
Excellence
I come to school on time prepared to work and study.
I put forth my best effort.
I follow directions, participate, and cooperate in class.
I am accountable.
I am self-disciplined.
I think.
I develop an ongoing appreciation for learning.
“I promise to embody this Code of Conduct in order to be a Christian Leader of Tomorrow.”
ACCREDITATION
Holy Trinity Catholic High School is a private, non-parochial school affiliated with the Diocese of Austin, supported by the Bishop and the Diocesan Schools office, and accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED), by authority of the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
ADMISSIONS POLICY
"The Catholic School has as its aim the critical communication of human culture and the total formation of the individual; it works toward this goal guided by its Christian vision of reality through our cultural heritage acquires its special place in the total vocational life of the individual. The Catholic School aims at forming in the Christian those particular virtues which will enable her to live a new life in Christ and help her to play faithfully her part in building up the kingdom of God." Vatican II Document on Catholic Schools, #36
Any student wishing to attend the school should follow the prescribed application procedure. Students who have successfully completed the eighth grade are accepted on the basis ofprevious academic, attendance, and conduct records.
Holy Trinity admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition grants, and athletic and other school administered programs.
Depending on openings at the sophomore, junior and senior levels, students are accepted on the basis of past academic and disciplinary record, provided it can be integrated with the Holy Trinity program and provided students can fulfill school and state requirements for graduation.
Holy Trinity Catholic High School does not accept married students for enrollment, nor does it allow students who marry to remain enrolled at Holy Trinity.
Transfer Admissions Policy
Holy Trinity Catholic High School welcomes transfer students from other Catholic, private, public, or home schools. In general, Holy Trinity encourages transfer students to enroll at the beginning of the academic year or at the beginning of the second semester. Holy Trinity will consider transfer applicants at other times for certain situations including, but not limited to, job or military transfers. Students who have been referred to alternative school, suspended from their current school, or those who are under school or criminal investigation for disciplinary or academic reasons will not be considered for mid-semester or second semester transfer. Such students may be considered for admission for the next full academic year after the suspension and/or probationary periods are fulfilled.
Exchange Student Policy
Holy Trinity Catholic High School recognizes the advantages of enrolling students from other countries, including the cultural enrichment and increased understanding that it provides for our students. In order to maximize the experience for all of the students and the faculty, the application papers, including, but not limited to, transcript, immunizations, admission forms, letters of reference, writing sample, and English proficiency test must be complete and the application approved by July 1 or the student will be denied admission. Upon acceptance all tuition and fees must be paid in full prior to the first day of school. Careful analysis of graduation requirements may limit the possibility of exchange students receiving a diploma from Holy Trinity.
Reevaluation Policy
Admission and enrollment in Holy Trinity does not guarantee future enrollment. Students are evaluated on a yearly basis to determine if they continue to meet the academic requirements, adhere to stated Code of Conduct, and exhibit the qualities stated in the Profile of a Holy Trinity Student.
TUITION, FEES and TEXTBOOKS
General Policies
· The school charges the following fees: tuition, application, registration, activity, technology and facilities usage.
· The school accepts payment by check, cash, VISA and MasterCard. A handling fee will be added to all credit card transactions.
· Checks returned NSF incur a service charge and a late fee if applicable. This payment and all future payments must be made by cash, certified check, or money order.
· Tuition and fees for the following school year are published prior to the beginning of registration.
· Miscellaneous fees and expenses are due when billed.
· Fees for books, transportation, supplies, lost or damaged athletic equipment or uniforms, extracurricular activities, field trips, social events and activities other than classroom instruction when required or approved by parents will be billed on occasion, in addition to the stated fees.
· Any student who withdraws from Holy Trinity during any part of the semester remains liable for the current semester’s tuition and all applicable fees.
· Questions concerning tuition and fees may be directed to the Finance Office.
· Holy Trinity reserves the right to withhold all credit for courses, transcripts and report cardsuntil the student’s account is paid in full.
Tuition
Tuition is the main source of revenue for the school. Therefore, the timely payment of tuition is critical to the school's financial well-being. The following policies have been adopted to ensure the financial stability of the school.
· Holy Trinity offers parents several payment plans from which to choose. Tuition may be paid on an annual basis, on a semi-annual basis or in multiple payments. Parents choose which type of payment schedule that would best fit their needs. Terms, condition amounts of tuition and fees as well as specified due dates are detailed in full in the Registration Contract. The contract must be signed by the parents/guardian before a student will be admitted to Holy Trinity Catholic High School. The Registration Contract is a binding legal document.
· Holy Trinity offers a discount on tuition for annual and semi-annual payment OR Holy Trinity offers a discount on tuition only for families with two or more students attending Holy Trinity.
· A late fee is charged for any payment made after the stated due date.
· A student may not be allowed to begin the semester unless tuition and fees are current.
· A student is not allowed to take examinations unless all financial obligations are met.
· Registration for the following year is not accepted or processed until tuition and fees are paid up to date for the current year.
· Financial aid applications must be submitted at the same time the HTCHS enrollment application is submitted (prospective students only). For currently enrolled students, financial aid applications are due in the Finance Office by APRIL 15 for the following school year.
· A student may be denied entry on the first day of school if satisfactory financial arrangements have not been made.
A student who withdraws in the first semester and has pre-paid tuition for the entire school year is entitled to a 100 percent refund of the second semester tuition only. Fees and textbook rental are non-refundable. Holy Trinity High School students who wish to transfer from the school must provide the Principal with a Letter of Withdrawal signed by a parent or guardian.
Registration Fee
The Registration Fee for currently enrolled students at Holy Trinity Catholic High School reserves the student a place in a given class for the following year provided the student meets academic, disciplinary, and financial requirements established by Holy Trinity Catholic High School and as stated in the handbook. The fee is non-refundable and is not prorated. Registration for the following year is not accepted or processed unless the tuition and fees are paid for the current year. A late fee will be applied to all payments received after the due date.
*Payment of a registration fee DOES NOT constitute a guarantee of enrollment. If, upon reevaluation, a student is not invited to return to Holy Trinity, any prepaid registration fee will be refunded.
Activity Fee
The Activity Fee covers a variety of expenses. The following is included in the activity fee: student handbook, school yearbook, school newspaper, academic competitions, some field trips and transportation, graduation and awards. The activity fee is collected at the beginning of each year. It is non-refundable and is not prorated. A late fee is charged for payments received after the due date.
The Activity Fee does not cover certain athletic fees, extracurricular expense and graduation receptions.
Textbook Rental Fee
The Textbook Rental Fee covers the cost of all textbooks and classroom materials for all core course classes. In some cases, AP or elective courses may require students to purchase books not covered by the textbook rental fee. AP Test prep, SAT prep, or ACT prep books are not covered by the Textbook Rental Fee.
Students are expected to give proper care to all textbooks provided bythe school. Students are to write their names in ink on the book label of each textbook. Textbooks are to be covered at all times. HTCHS owned textbooks are not to be marked or written in, nor are they to be marred in any way. Books lost or damaged must be paid for prior to final examinations or exemptions.
Technology Fee
The Technology Fee covers the use of equipment, supplies, and software/computers relative to coursework at Holy Trinity Catholic High School. The technology fee is non-refundable and is not prorated. It does not guarantee use of equipment, supplies, and software/computers. Students and parents are required to sign the Technology Acceptable Use Policy contained in the handbook. Misuse of any equipment, supplies, software or computers as stated in the Acceptable Use Policy may result in loss of access to equipment, supplies, and software/computer.
Facilities Usage Fee
The Facilities Usage Fee covers the operation and use of the physical plant.
Financial Aid
Families seeking financial aid must complete a FACTS financial aid application. Financial Aid is awarded by the Finance Aid Committee and recipients are notified by the Principal in late April or early May. Students who have received awards must remain in good standing in academics, attendance, and discipline throughout their program of study or risk possible loss of financial aid. Holy Trinity Catholic High School strives to inform parents by May 30 for the following school year of the amount of tuition reduction granted, but there is no guarantee that the parents will be informed by that date.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
School Mass and Prayer Service
Mass and prayer are integral parts of Holy Trinity’s effort to form the Christian Leaders of Tomorrow. Student attendance at school Mass and prayer services is mandatory. This requirement extends to all students at Holy Trinity—regardless of faith.
Theology Class
All students, regardless of their personal faith, are required to take theology.
Campus Ministry Program
Community Service is integral to Christian formation. In John’s Gospel we read, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13) For most of us, we will not be asked to physically die in order to save another. What then is to be made of this passage? To give of ourselves in service is to lay down our lives for others. This we can and must do in order to fulfill our mission in life. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read that “The human person needs to live in society. Society is not for him an extraneous addition, but a requirement of his nature.” (CCC 1879) To live in society we are not passive beings, but should rather be active participants.
This is the principle behind Holy Trinity’s community service requirements. Through their service to their parishes and surrounding community, students learn to be active participants in society. Half of the student’s hours must be completed in their home parishes or church outreach. The parish is their first faith community. This requirement is given in order to help the students establish a place in their church. The other half of the hours may be completed at any outside organization. Like the prophet Isaiah, we are called to share Christ’s love with others: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’!” (Is 52:7). In sharing ourselves it is really Christ we share.
The following are the community service requirements for each grade level. Please remember to use the official school form to document your hours.
9th grade - 20 Hours (10 of these hours should be completed with your parish or church.)
10th grade - 30 Hours (15 of these hours should be completed with your parish or church.)
11th grade - 30 Hours (15 of these hours should be completed with your parish or church.)
12th grade - 30 Hours (Senior students who receive financial assistance are required to serve 15 hours with their parish/church outside of campus ministry.)
School Retreats
Retreats are another vital part of the Campus Ministry program. Retreats are designed to allow students the opportunity to have a day of rest/prayer/reflection as well as time to connect with their peers. Attendance at all retreats, whether designated class retreats or school-wide retreats, is mandatory for all students. The applicable dress code for each retreat will be published before the retreat. Students are responsible for knowing the dress code before attending the retreat, regardless of absence from school. Violation of the retreat dress code will be subject to the same actions as uniform infractions and the appropriate disciplinary action at the discretion of the principal.
ACADEMIC POLICY and GRADES
Holy Trinity Catholic High School is a college-preparatory institution. Courses offered should reflect this designation both in the level of classroom instruction and in the expectations of student commitment in time devoted to study outside the classroom. The degree of difficulty of the courses should be commensurate with accepted standards for college-preparatory institutions.
Semester Grades
Each semester of a course is worth .5 credits for graduation. The semester grade is calculated as follows: 40 percent each quarter plus 20 percent semester examination.
A permanent report card grade is given at the end of each semester. Each course grade for the semester is a final grade and goes on the student’s permanent transcript.
Homework
Homework is an important part of the Holy Trinity program, integral to the student’s ability to understand and internalize academic material. Homework assignments are not given over major vacation periods such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring Break to allow students to spend quality time with their families. Exceptions may be made for Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Student responsibility for classwork and homework is part of the educational process. Teachers are not required to accept late work from their students. Late work does not include work missed due to an excused absence. Grading policies and guidelines for late work, if accepted, are at the discretion of the teacher. These policies are stated in the class syllabus.
Grading Scale
The following scale is used by Holy Trinity Catholic High School. AP and pre-AP courses are weighted with an additional 5 points each semester that will result in a weighted numerical grade point average. The actual course grade appears by the course name on the transcript. The weight is applied to the semester average and the Grade Point Average (GPA) reflected on the transcript.
Grade Conversion Scale
|
Letter Grade
|
Numeric GPA
|
4.0 GPA Scale
|
AP and Pre-AP Weighted Equivalent
|
|
A
|
90 – 100
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
|
B
|
80 – 89
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
|
C
|
75 - 79
|
2.0
|
3.0
|
|
D
|
70 – 74
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
|
F
|
0 – 69
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
“ I” = Incomplete (Incompletes become an F if work is not completed within two weeks)
Honor Roll
Students may earn academic distinction by exhibiting above-average performance. Official report card grades at the end of each nine-week quarter are used to determine placement on the appropriate honor roll.
Principal’s HonorRoll- students who have all A’s on their report card.
Academic Honor Roll – students who have all A’s and B’s on their report card and their GPA is a 90 or above in the following core courses: English, mathematics, social studies, science, theology, and foreign language.
Progress Reports
Grade averages in all classes will be reported every 4.5 weeks in the form of Progress Reports. The purpose of these reports is to show a student’s progress in each of his or her classes. Grades listed on Progress Reports are not official like those issued on the Report Cards at the end of each quarter.
Report Cards
Report Cards are issued in nine-week intervals during the school year called quarters. The beginning and end of each quarter is marked on the official school calendar.
Semester Examinations
All students may expect to take semester exams unless otherwise exempt. The examinations are to be given on the days established on the school calendar. Semester exam grades will count for 20 percent of the semester average.
Semester Exam Exemptions for Seniors
Seniors have the opportunity to be exempt from spring semester exams only. Exemptions are determined for each course and are based on a combination of the quarter grade average and number of semester absences. Excused and unexcused absences* will be counted when determining exemptions. Exemption guidelines are as follows:
Course Grade Allowed absences (semester)
90-100 3
85-89 2
80-84 1
Please remember that 3 tardies in a class equals one absence and will be counted as such in determining exemptions from finals.
Note: Please refer to Attendance Policy for further clarification on absences.
Failure of a Course
If a student fails the first semester of a two-semester course, the second semester grade may be averaged with the first. In this circumstance, if the student has an overall yearly average of 70, he/she will receive credit for both semesters. To receive credit for a one-semester course, or for the second semester of a two-semester course, the student must attain a 70 average. Students who fail to earn credit for a course necessary for graduation must seek remediation at Holy Trinity to earn the credit. Students will follow a remediation plan developed by their teacher and the school counselor. Successful completion of that plan will result in the student earning the credit.
Honor Graduates & Class Rank
The Valedictory Award is presented to the graduate who has achieved the highest cumulative weighted grade point average in courses taken at Holy Trinity. To be eligible, a student must be a full-time student and have attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School for the four consecutive semesters immediately prior to graduation. The Valedictorian must participate in graduation exercises. Failure to comply with graduation ceremony requirements may result in loss of honor designation. Grade point averages prior to academic awards are the basis for determining both the Valedictorian and the Salutatorian. In the event of a tie, the weighted GPA scale will be used to determine the Valedictorian. The Salutatorian is the senior with the second highest cumulative grade point average. Selection of the Salutatorian is based upon the same criteria used for determining the Valedictorian.
The official class ranking is not determined until the completion of the students’ calendar senior year.
Graduates, who are current members of National Honor Society and in good standing, will wear the NHS Honor stole as part of their commencement attire.
Class Rank
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