Academic Policies
1. Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and will not be tolerated. Cheating may include but is not limited to sharing homework, turning in another student’s work, communicating verbally with others during a test, communicating the contents of a test to others, using unauthorized materials for a test, copying off another’s paper, plagiarism, (the presentation of anothers ideas or words as if they were your own) and use of undocumented information off of the Internet. Students who are found to be cheating will receive no credit for that assignment, test, or quiz. Parents will be notified by the teacher and may be required to meet with the Discipline Board.
2. Academic Probation and Dismissal
If a student earns 1 or more failure(s) at any block, she is placed on academic probation for the following session. She will meet regularly with her counselor who monitors her progress throughout the session. A student who fails the same course two times will not be allowed to continue at Trinity. If a student on probation fails 2 or more classes at the end of a session, she may be required to transfer to another school that can better meet her academic needs and abilities.
3. Class Ranking
A student’s class rank is first reported to students and parents on the January report card during the sophomore year. During the first block of the senior year, seniors will be hand-ranked based on their final grades earned at the end of their junior year. Students who are enrolled in four or more honors courses will be ranked on a 5.0 scale. Students enrolled primarily in college prep courses will be ranked on a 4.0 scale. The rankings, not the students, will be ranked. Thus, if two students share the number one spot, the third student will be ranked second. The rank that is sent to colleges upon the student’s application will be the one that is to each student’s greatest advantage. The student who ranks first in the Senior Class at the end of the third block of the senior year is the class valedictorian. The student who ranks second is the salutatorian. A minimum of three academic years of credit must be earned at Trinity in order to be eligible for either of these titles.
4. Curriculum Guide
The Curriculum Guide is published each winter as students prepare to register for courses. It contains a brief description of every course as well as a reference to guidance services and registration information.
5. Exam Schedule
Exams are given on special-schedule days. All students are expected to be present on Exam Days. Study Halls do not meet. If a student misses an exam for any reason, it is the student’s responsibility to make up the exam immediately upon the return to school.
6. Failure and Incomplete Grades
Any student who fails a course must make up that credit in summer school before returning the following school year. The make-up course replaces the credit, never the original grade. Students are not allowed, as a general rule, to take those subjects during the school year to make up for past failures. Required course subject failures must be made up by the same required course subject failed. Failure in an elective course may be made up by another elective course rather than the course failed. Any student receiving an incomplete grade must make arrangements to complete exams immediately upon her return to school. Any incompletes may become failing grades after one week. The only exception to this is an incomplete grade issued when tests have not been taken because of overdue tuition fees or fundraising responsibilities.
7. Field Trips
Field trips enhance and expand the learning that occurs in the classroom. However, field trips are privileges afforded to students, not absolute rights. Students must have permission from all their teachers to attend a field trip and are responsible for making up any work they have missed while away. Students can be denied participation if they fail to meet academic or behavioral requirements or if they have had excessive absences from school. If a student has been absent just before a field trip, she might not be permitted to miss another day of school for the event.
8. Grading Scale
Trinity teachers use the following scale to determine grades:
A+ 99-100
A 95-98
A- 93-94
B+ 91-92
B 87-90
B- 85-86
C+ 83-84
C 79-82
C- 77-78
D+ 75-76
D 72-74
D- 70-71
F 0-69
College Preparatory courses are figured on a 4.0 scale. Honors and International Baccalaureate courses are figured on a 5.0 scale. Students who are enrolled in 5 honors courses plus Theology are given a weighted grade for all courses. See page 3 of Curriculum Guide.
9. Graduation Participation
In order for a senior to participate in Graduation and the Baccalaureate, she must have earned the required number of credits for her graduating class and be in good behavioral standing. All credits taken outside of Trinity must be completed by May 1st. additionally; all tuition, fees and fines must be paid in full in order to ensure participation.
10. Guidance Counselors
Three guidance counselors work with Trinity students in the areas of academic counseling, personal counseling, referrals for counseling outside of Trinity, conflict management, parent - teacher staffing, career education and college counseling.
Ms. Nicole Hoffman Class of 2011
- Class of 2010 (A-L)
Mrs. Carol McNamara Class of 2009 - Class of 2010 (M-Z)
Test Coordinator
Mrs. Diana Pascarella Class of 2008 College Counselor
11. Homework
Homework is an essential ingredient for success in Trinity’s academic program. Students should expect homework each night for each class they are taking. Parents are asked to be involved by providing the time and quiet place for students to complete homework that is assigned. If a student never appears to have homework, parents are urged to contact their daughter’s teachers and/or guidance counselor. In addition to regular homework, many subjects and departments require projects and papers that are completed primarily outside of the classroom setting either by individual students or students working in teams. This is a means of encouraging independent work, personal and team learning, research skills and long-term planning.
12. Honor Code
As a member of the Trinity High School community, I pledge to conduct myself at all times honorably and in a way that shows pride in myself, my family, my school and my community. As a person of honor I will show:
• respect for academic honesty
• respect for others
• respect for property
• respect for myself
13. Honor Roll
Trinity’s honor roll is determined each block on the following basis:
1st Honors 3.75 or better GPA
2nd Honors 3.30 – 3.74 GPA
14. Illinois State Textbook Loan Program
Students in Catholic schools are eligible to receive textbooks from the State of Illinois as funding is made available to the school. A lost book, owned either by the State of Illinois or Trinity, is the responsibility of the student and full replacement cost of the book must be paid.
15. Long Range Projects
If a paper or project has been assigned for 2 or more weeks, it must be turned in on the date specified by the teacher. Late papers and projects are subject to grade-reduction. Student absence on the day it is due does not change the due date.
16. National Honor Society
Juniors and seniors who have earned a GPA of 3.75 and have exhibited service, scholarship, leadership and exemplary character are invited to apply for membership in the National Honor Society. Applications are reviewed by a panel of teachers appointed by the principal. The panel selects students on the basis of their applications and the rules set by the National Honor Society. Membership acceptance is final and is not subject to review by the principal or any other person.
17. Parent – Teacher Conferences
Parent - Teacher Conferences are offered by appointment twice each year, during the first and third blocks from 6 - 9 pm. The dates and times are published in the school calendar. Trinity holds conferences approximately 3 weeks before the end of the grading period and after Progress Reports have been mailed. We believe this timing provides 3 weeks for students to make a concentrated effort to receive assistance from a teacher, study with parental supervision and complete missing work. Other appointments can be made through guidance counselors or directly with teachers for before or after school. We strongly encourage students to attend conferences with parents since, ultimately, it is the student herself who must make decisions for success in school.
18. Period Three
Period Three is designed to provide every student with a flexible study period each day. Students are assigned to a lunch period and her homeroom. During the time opposite a student’s lunch, she is expected to sign into a study area, library, computer lab or guidance department. She may receive tutoring from a teacher or peer tutor. She may attend a scheduled meeting for a club of which she is a member. Students who abuse any of the privileges of this period may be assigned to a permanent study hall for both 3A and 3B.
• August 21—September 4; All students report to homeroom and stay in homeroom.
• Students report to their homeroom for attendance each day unless they are going to another location.
• Homeroom teachers mark on their homeroom lists who is absent and turn it in to the office by the end of 3B each day.
• If a student is going to a meeting, computer lab, guidance, library or another location she is to go directly to that room and sign in with the moderating adult. Each moderator signs and dates the sheet and turns it in to the office by the end of 3B.
• Supervisors will cross check homeroom lists with meeting, lab, guidance and library lists in the afternoon to be sure all students have been accounted for during 3/A and 3/B.
• Tardies are treated as regular class tardies.
• Students unaccounted for during 3A/3B will receive a detention.
19. Progress Reports / Edline
Information regarding a student’s progress in class, grades, assignments and program are posted on Edline, a web-based communication program which also facilitates e-mail to and from parents, teachers and students. Progress reports are mailed to those without access to Edline approximately half – way through each block.
20. Retreats
As an important part of our mission as a Catholic school, every student is given the opportunity to explore and deepen her faith during every school year. Retreats, which give people the time to get away from the pressures of school, home and work, provide the setting and a program that help each student learn more about herself, her God, her relationship with others, and the role that faith plays in her life. Our retreats are designed in a developmental approach, so that each year, as students mature, the retreat program helps them move more deeply toward spiritual awareness and growth. The following outline gives a brief description of the retreat program at Trinity.
Freshman Year – Students attend one of two day retreats with their homeroom.. The goals are helping them meet one another, getting acclimated to the spiritual nature of a Catholic education, and spending time in prayer and reflection. This is a required school day and event.
Sophomore Year – Students attend one of two day retreats with their homerooms. The goals are to experience a smaller group discussion and sharing, to articulate one’s growing faith journey, and to engage in reflection and prayer. This retreat is a required school day and event.
Junior Year – Juniors are required to attend one of two day retreats. They are assigned by homeroom. The goals of this retreat are to help students reflect on themselves as young women, to consider a deeper relationship with the God as Creator and Friend, and to engage in prayer and reflection as they begin to discern some of their long-range goals.
Senior Year – All seniors are required to attend an extended day retreat at the end of their senior year. The goals of this retreat are to reflect on their high school experience before it ends, to celebrate the relationships and gifts of the past four years, and to dream creatively about the future. This retreat aids the students in doing their leave-taking well.
Kairos Retreat – Kairos, which means “the Lord’s time,” is an optional extended retreat of three days and two nights. It is a very special time away in order to reflect on the power of God’s love in our lives, especially as we experience it in family, friends and in our own hearts. Some students are selected to attend in the second half of their junior year; most attend as seniors.
A fee is charged for these retreats to pay for facility rental, meals, rooms, materials, facilitators, etc. Most retreat costs are very minimal, with the Kairos retreat costing considerably more. Students wishing to attend Kairos can arrange for a payment plan or apply to Campus Ministry for a partial scholarship if they can demonstrate financial need. Class retreat fees are paid at booksales.
21. School Calendar
The school calendar is distributed to every student at the beginning of the school year. It contains dates and times of events that involve students, parents, and the school in general. Parent club meetings, free days, holidays, retreats and school events are highlighted. Any changes to this calendar will be announced.
22. School Cancellation
In the event of inclement weather or other emergency situations which might cause the cancellation of school, please do not call the school. Any such situations are reported to the local radio stations but are not necessarily recorded on our phone system. School closures are announced on the Trinity Website, AM 670, 720, 780 and 890; FM 94.7, 96, 99; and Channel 32.
23. Service
Trinity students must perform a minimum of ten hours of service each year as a graduation requirement. These hours must not include service commitments for co-curricular clubs and organizations, class service projects, or CAS of the International Baccalaureate Program. Community Service is considered part of our commitment as Christians to live out our faith by reaching out to the world around us. Students may serve in their school, parish, or neighborhood communities. Service opportunities are also available through the Campus Ministry Office. Students must complete aSite Pre-approval form prior to completing their service hours. Completion of service hours is required for participation at Junior and Senior prom and/or graduation.
24. Students Taking Classes Outside of Trinity
If a student is taking an outside course through a Trinity-approved institution, the deadline for completion is May 1st. Graduation requirements may not be taken outside of Trinity. The only exception is if the course is failed and must be made up in order to meet graduation requirements.
25. Tuition, Fees, Fundraising
Tuition, fees and fundraising responsibilities must be current in order for a student to take Block or Session exams and move on to the next Block. When payments are completed, exams will be scheduled, subsequent grades reported and transcripts of credit updated. A fee will be added to the account for any checks returned for insufficient funds. Tuition, fees or fundraising money refunds will not be issued if a student withdraws from Trinity High School after the Block begins.
Schedule changes may require a $75 fee and there will be a fee of $300 for the re-taking of courses at Trinity.
Trinity High School reserves the right to amend
and interpret the policies contained in this handbook
when appropriate and necessary.
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