Archive for November, 2016

I know that Shen schools have emergency drills for the students, faculty and staff to practice what they need to do. But my kids now tell me that there are no drills during lunch periods and they haven’t had any instruction on what to do for a lock down etc. during lunch. My question is are the kids and staff instructed on what to do during an emergency during there lunch period?

A.  Schools provide instruction on what to do and we do hold emergency drills during lunch.

Which of the Shenedehowa schools have won the national blue ribbon of excellent from the U.S. DOE and for what years?

A. Tesago in 2013, Arongen 1991 and Gowana when it was a junior high.

What is your policy on the new “All Gender” bathroom in the Acadia 7th Grade wing? Who is this bathroom supposed to be used by? Can it be used casually by any student?

A. They are not new. They have always been there.  This is a single stall bathroom available to students, not bathrooms with multiple stalls.

Why is there a four-to-a-table rule in the library? I often go to the library with myself and more than 3 other friends (so 4). The odd person out will usually move a chair up to the table so we can all sit together. Me and my other peers frequently get yelled at for this, even when there are countless open tables. I don’t see how this is a problem, as long as the noise is kept in check. I believe that there should be a 3 strikes system for noise level if there is more than 4 to a table, seeing as more people = more noise. Names are taken of each person at the table, if there are more than 4, and they are being noisy. If someone’s name appears 3 times, they are not allowed to sit more than 4 anymore. Thanks for the feedback.

A.  The library is a busy and large facility (over 200 seats) in which we need to maintain an academic environment  in which classes can conduct research and students can read, work individually and in small groups on academic projects.  The four person to a table policy (also the policy in most area high school libraries) […]

Where does Shen get their lunch food from? Can I buy products used at Shen at grocery store, because some of it is quite good?

A.  Yes you can.  We use Tyson Chicken products, Cain’s dressing and most of our snacks can be purchased in the grocery store.  

Do comments and questions on grapevine get forwarded to the department in question? For example, did the physical education department receive the complaint that High Schoolers went outside when it snowed?

A. Yes, all comments and questions are forwarded. And when we get multiple comments on a topic, they are forwarded to the person responsible even though we don’t continue to post them all.

This may be a stupid question, but how do students in HSE go to see their counselors? Do we need to make appointments, or can we just walk in and talk to them when we need to?

A.  The answer is both.  While you can surely make an appointment, the counselors if available meet with students on a drop-in basis as well. 

how much of the orchestra grade will be practicing?

A.  The orchestra grade is based on preparedness and participation. Practicing is a part of the preparation necessary to successfully participate. Students who spend time practicing are generally more successful because the act of practicing makes a student more prepared.

If a student gets picture retakes will they receive a different student ID with the new picture on it.

A. Yes.

Does the district any official guidelines on how a student who identifies with a different gender than they were born with should be referred to? It seems like at least one student is complaining that they are being called a she when they want to be called a he or vice versa. Does the student have to legally have their named changed or can they just announce to a teacher that they are now a different name/gender without any type of legal documents?

A. This information is taken out of the district’s DASA Regulation 7555R All students should be addressed by a name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity that is exclusively and consistently asserted at school.  Students are not required to obtain a court ordered name and/or gender change or to change their official records as […]