Back-to-school - YHS

EARLENE WARD - SPECIAL TO SIERRA STAR

Classes will begin for the 2003-04 year at Yosemite High School Monday, August 18, at 7:50 a.m. Principal Steve Raupp says he is looking forward to “another outstanding school year.”

Activities will begin the week prior to the start of classes. Schedules for sophomores, juniors and seniors will be available beginning Monday, August 11, in the front office between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Freshmen will receive their schedules at the New Student Orientation Thursday, August 14. Information regarding this will be mailed to students’ homes the first week in August.

The counseling staff will be available to students on a first come, first served basis August 11-15. They will register new students and make schedule changes. After school begins, they will be available at lunch and after school to make schedule changes.

The school and district staff will be back on campus Thursday, August 14, to begin a two-day in-service. Two new staff members will be introduced at that time: Randy Hyatt will be a half-time administrator at YHS and half-time band teacher; Sonja Garnica is a new Spanish teacher.

“As we open the new school year,” Mr. Raupp says, “there are a couple of areas we need to address with parents and students — the dress code and student parking.”

There will be one change to the dress code this year: spaghetti straps will not be allowed at school. All other dress requirements are the same as last year.

“We want to notify parents and students well in advance,” Mr. Raupp says, “so that, as you begin your back-to-school shopping, you can plan accordingly.”

Mr. Raupp says the school board has made it a goal to hold students accountable to the District Dress Standards. New enforcement procedures were adopted last year and, the principal says, “while we had a few challenges at the beginning of the school year, students responded very well, and we were moderately successful in meeting the school’s expectations for appropriate dress.”

Those who have specific questions about the dress code can refer to the Student-Parent Handbook that is distributed to all YHS students.

Mr. Raupp also reminds students and their parents that those students who drive to school must have a valid drivers license, insurance, and authorization from the district to bring their vehicles on to the school grounds.

Students are required to register their vehicles at the front reception desk at the high school during the first week of school. They will be required to provide proof of insurance, drivers license number, registration and license number for the vehicle in order to obtain a parking permit. They are required to park in the student parking lot. Vehicles parked in other areas will be ticketed by law enforcement.

A major change for the members of the Class of 2004 is that they do not have to pass the California High School Exit Exam to graduate. The State Board of Education recently voted to postpone the CAHSEE until the Class of 2006.

However, Mr. Raupp notes, students will still be required to pass the district proficiency requirement based on the STAR test to graduate with the Class of 2004.

Mr. Raupp encourages students to become involved in the “wide range of positive experiences” offered at YHS. “Involvement in activities, athletics, and especially the academic programs makes the high school a complete one,” he says.


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