September 9, 2010 PHS Academic Honor Code
This week and next one of the most important conversations of the academic year is happening in homeroom meetings, grade level meetings, and in classrooms. The topic is the PHS Academic Honor Code. PHS is one of very few public high schools across the country, though the list is slowing growing, who have put in place an honor code, and more importantly, set aside time to discuss the issues surrounding academic integrity. Below is a brief history of the honor code at PHS.
The topic came to light several years ago when a group of seniors ('05) began to meet in the main office conference room to discuss the issue, identify problems, and propose solutions. That group graduated before their work was done, but left a legacy that guided future work on the topic.
In 2008, a committee of teachers, parents, students, and administrators took up the charge of addressing the issue which could have been tagged with the cliche of the "elephant in the room". National research on the topic confirmed what most knew, but few were willing to discuss.....that "cheating" was common in high schools in the USA. The most common form of cheating that the PHS committee identified was exactly in line with the research...copying homework. Other forms of cheating that had become "acceptable" were simple things like asking a friend, "what was on the test?". The PHS committee also sought to identify causes and found it most often tied to "time". For example, students knew how to do the homework, but had
simply run out of time the night before and so asked a friend to copy their homework. And because these acts had become so common and acceptable, few actually believed that they were "cheating".
The work of the committee led to an honor code which includes statements of responsibility not only for students, but also for administrators, teachers, and parents. Ultimately, we must all share the responsibility and own our part of the issue. As we begin the new academic year, I hope everyone will engage in the dialog about academic integrity and to make their own pledge to support PHS students in their efforts to uphold their commitment to the academic honor code at PHS and beyond.
-grs
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August 30, 2010
Parent portal....yes, sorry system error prevented logins over the weekend....tech folks on top of it today and expect fix soon.
-grs
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August 23, 2010
August. Late August! Yes, the new school year is just around the corner....and on this end, it feels like it is about an hour away!! Whew, "summer vacation" for the office staff, custodians and other 12 month employees is long over as we push into overdrive to get everything in place for the new year.
To start the year... a few notes for your consideration:
- Please see the PHS Bell Schedule for 2010-2011. It is posted on the PHS Website.
- New Student Orientation is scheduled for this week....for all 9th graders and students new to PHS along with their parents. The program begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 26th in the Performing Arts Center (PHS PAC). Along with the program, new students will receive their class schedule and take a tour of the building to locate classrooms. While the students tour the building, parents will have a chance to hear from a parent panel and ask questions.
- PHS PowerSchool Parent Portal - the portal has been enhanced with an updated version over the summer. In the coming days ("end of August"), you will receive a mailing from PHS that contains many important pieces of information. Included is a letter that provides direction for your parent portal login and password. The portal will contain limited information in the days before school starts and then various tabs will become available as the school year gets underway.
-grs
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Memorial Day 2010 Pause to Reflect, Celebrate the Achievements, and "Finish Strong" !
During this Memorial Day holiday weekend, and as we prepare to step into the whirlwind of June events, I encourage you to pause and reflect in remembrance of the men and women who have given their lives for our country.
And on this Friday morning in May, I am reflecting in awe of the many, many achievements of PHS students guided by their teachers, coaches, and advisors this school year. Just this past week saw state golf championships, lacrosse playing for a state title, Gen One graduation, Numina Gallery filled with student work, an Orchestra wonderfully closing an evening with Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium, and a French Honor Society induction par excellence! The list of individual and group accomplishments during this school year is nothing short of amazing.
Finally, the words for June are "finish strong". The academic year, starting in early September and extending to the third week of June can easily become a test of endurance for students, teachers, parents, and principals. I encourage everyone to find time this holiday weekend to slow the pace, rest, and return on Tuesday ready to give our best efforts in the remaining weeks of the 2009-2010 school year.
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May 25, 2010 Automobile Crash Simulation for Juniors & Seniors
On Wednesday, May 26th, the juniors and seniors will be viewing an automobile crash simulation on Walnut Lane to reinforce the message of safe, substance-free, driving during this season of celebration. This program is put on once every two years in cooperation with Corner House, our local police, fire, and rescue personnel, and many others in the community. The students will witness the scene as it unfolds. It is a powerful event and afterwards, the students meet with counselors and rescue personnel to debrief the event.
Best wishes to all of our graduates for a safe culmination of their high school years!
-grs
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Parent Portal FAQs:
#1) Q: What does M1 represent in "Grade History"?
A: The computer calculated M1, which is the "midyear grade". This grade has no function in PHS system of calculating the final grade, but is merely there for use with seniors in February of each year. Colleges ask for a "midyear grade" of seniors, so this is calculated for that report. PowerSchool calculates it for all students and it now appears in the "Grade History" view, but as mentioned, it plays no part in determining the final grade. The formula for determining final grade is shown in the student handbook.
#2) Q: What is F1, Q1, Q2, Q3, and X1 in "Grade History"?
A: F1 is the final grade for the course. So at this time, the only final grades are for courses that might be a quarter or a semester in duration. For example, all Phys. Ed., Health, & Driver Ed. classes are a quarter in length, so the first three quarters are now completed and the final grade should appear for those courses as F1. Q1, Q2, & Q3 represent the marking period grades for the 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, and 3rd quarter. X1 is the mid year exam grade. X2 does not yet appear since end of year exams have not been completed. Same with Q4, it does not appear since it is in progress at this time.
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May 24, 2010
The pilot test of the parent portal into PowerSchool has begun. PowerSchool is the student information system used by PHS & PRSD. Parents may use their individual login code, mailed home recently, to access information about their child's attendance, grades, and other school information. The information is limited during the pilot, though it may expand over the coming weeks and as we move closer to the start of the 2010-2011 school year.
As the questions come in regarding the system and the information being shown, I will use this site to answer "frequently asked questions" (FAQ).
-grs
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PHS Traditions December 23, 2008
There are many proud traditions at Princeton High School and several of them happen during this festive month of December. One of the annual highlights of every school year is the winter orchestra and choir concert held at the Princeton University Chapel. This event is special for so many reasons, some more obvious than others. Obviously, the music, ranging from violin and harp solos to extraordinary vocal performances is unmatched by other schools. But there is a more subtle reason as to why this night stands out for me each year. The event happens late in December …three weeks of December intensity, emotions, college admissions news, drama, tests and projects due, stress, joy, excitement, more drama, one more test, first games of the winter season, rehearsals, snow, ice, and of course,
holiday preparations. So by the time I and many others sit in a pew at the Chapel, exhaustion is not far off…and then, the students, dressed in their finest clothes, stand before the school community with their voices and instruments ringing through the glorious hall…and we are immediately reminded of the beautiful work done at PHS each day by the talented students and their dedicated teachers. All of the month’s worries and stressors are swept away during that special time and lucky for me, the lights are turned down low so that no one can see the proud principal dabbing at his teary eyes.
There are other wonderful traditions this week, such as the Arch Sing and the Alumni breakfast sponsored by our PTO. Both of these events again celebrate PHS and give reason for the PHS alum to stay connected to their alma mater.
Lastly, another tradition of PHS is the spirit of giving. The students and staff of PHS have been active with a number of food drives to support the food banks of our area in their time of need. Given the difficult economic times, the local food banks truly are in need and I encourage you and your family to make a contribution this holiday season.
Wishing you and yours a peaceful and joyous holiday season!
GS
"A foray into blogging" December 10, 2008
A blog!? This is my first foray into the world of blogging. I never thought of myself as a Luddite when it came to new technology, but I must admit, I have entered into this blogging scene with trepidation. You guessed it; I don’t have a Facebook or MySpace page either. I can e-mail with the best of them, though not with a Blackberry, but have recently been persuaded to start a blog as a different way to share my thoughts and school news.
As I experiment with this “new” form of communication, I hope that you find the information useful, but also hope that you will accept the medium as less formal, less structured, and hopefully more frequent than the traditional “letter from the principal” or newsletter piece. Those more traditional forms of communication, letters, newsletters, automated phone messages, webpage, and of course, e-mail, will still be used and I encourage you to access all of those forms of communication.
GS
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