Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Westlake High School Administrative, Faculty, and Staff are delighted to serve as the catalyst of a “new” chapter in the history of Westlake High School. It is through the vessel time and the force of an unyielding will that we find ourselves at the threshold of our collective success. Informed by our past challenges and encouraged by accomplishments, we are determined to press forward with a “new” collective understanding that our greatness as a secondary institution of learning is inevitable.

Inscribed below are highlights of the “new” Westlake High School that will facilitate our success in the areas of academic achievement, social development, and personal responsibility.

New Facility
1.Square footage: 326,000
2.Instructional Units: 99 IU

New School Culture
1.Mission: Accountability and Order through Considerate Leadership
2.Beliefs: The acquisition of knowledge and the manifestation of personal responsibility are trademarks our success
3.Norms: Commitment to continuous improvement
4.Values: Academic achievement, social development, and personal responsibility
5.Traditions
6.Celebrations and Rituals
7.Taboos

New Expectations for Students
1.Student Leadership
2.Dress code and standard for student leaders
3.School and class attendance
4.After-school activities

New Academic Programs
1.Dental Assistant
2.Pharmacy Assistant
3.Broadcast Video and Production
4.Information Technology
5.Computer Networking

New Student Support Programs
1.GHSGT Certification Program
2.Learning Labs (Content-based)
3.Performance-based Teaching and Learning Model
4.Saturday Behavioral School
5.Saturday Academic School (Mastery Option)

New Teacher Support
1.Dean of Student Management
2.Dean of Effective Instruction
3.Dean Accountability and Assessment
4.Graduation Coach
5.Math & Science Instructional Leader (MAP)

Dress Code:
Students are expected to dress and groom themselves in such a way as to reflect neatness, cleanliness, and safety.  All students shall be modestly dressed and groomed so as not to distract unreasonably the attention of others or to cause disruption or interference with the educational program or the orderly operation of the school.  Extremes in dress will not be permitted.  The principal or other duly-authorized school official shall determine whether any particular mode of dress or grooming results in a violation of the spirit and intent of this rule.

Listed below are expected and encouraged dress daily dress code and standard for all student leaders:

Monday - Business Casual
Tuesday - Normal dress code adherence
Wednesday - Professional Day (i.e., professional attire)
Thursday - Normal dress code adherence
Friday - School Spirit day (i.e. school colors)

Student Attendance
1.Students may be withdrawn from school or not earn credit for classes for excessive absenteeism per Fulton County Attendance Policy.
2.Students are expected to be on time for school and for each class throughout the day -- in the classroom when the bell rings.
3.Students arriving to school after 11:40a.m. without a parent or a doctor’s excuse will be permitted to check in only with the approval of the principal or his designee. This will be counted as an absence.
4.Students may be placed on an Attendance Contract and referred to school social worker/visiting teacher due to excessive absences (three unexcused absences in one semester). Students on contracts must adhere to attendance contract or they will be withdrawn from school for the semester.

Classroom Visitation:
Parents must provide 24 hour advance notice to an administrator or counselor prior to school visitation.

After-school Activities
1.Students attending after-school games or dances must go home and return with their parent.
2.Students picked up late from after-school activities more than twice will no longer be allowed to participate in after-school activities.

Student Discipline Philosophy and Expectations
Westlake HS is committed to providing a safe and orderly academic environment for all students. When the active image of a school is collectively understood and accepted as an epicenter of order and learning, teachers are able to teach and students are able to learn more readily. Education provides a means of human development and adjustment. Subsequently, Westlake’s discipline policy provides alternatives to immediate out of school suspension and progressive disciplinary steps where appropriate.

Students at Westlake are expected to behave appropriately at all times. The Westlake HS faculty, staff, and community will not tolerate violence and chronically disruptive behavior. Fulton County School Resource Officers will be called in all cases of violence and charges will be placed against the offenders whenever possible.

All Westlake HS students are expected to:
Make a daily commitment to academic achievement and social responsibility
Avoid relationships or activities that have the potential to become an obstacle in your academic and social development
Come to school on time everyday, alert and willing to work effectively
Consistently exemplify school preparedness, self-discipline and governance, respectfulness, focus, courteousness, inquisitiveness, and cooperation with peers and school personnel

Sincerely,

Dr. Byron D. White
Westlake High School