UPPER SCHOOL

Division Handbook



WELCOME TO THE UPPER SCHOOL


In the upper school, our policies, rules, and community norms serve a clear purpose: cultivating a safe, kind, considerate, and enjoyable learning environment at North Shore. Students can simplify these rules by remembering that at our school, it's always important to do your best, treat others with respect and kindness, and act responsibly. Parents who reinforce these values will greatly contribute to their children's success and productivity throughout the year.

We deeply value diversity at North Shore, as it enriches our community and makes it more vibrant. We embrace the challenge of guiding our students to be brave, kind, and respectful. We aim for students to develop compassion, empathy, and the ability to build connections that unite people. By fostering inclusive friendships and communication, our students will mature in ways that benefit themselves and our school. We prioritize each student's needs and talents while striving to create a strong sense of unity across all three school divisions.


UPPER SCHOOL HANDBOOK
RULES, EXPECTATIONS, AND COMMUNITY NORMS


ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Information about NSCD's JK-12 academic integrity policy can be found in the Student and Family Handbook.

Academic integrity means doing work and indicating the source or sources used. Academic assignments exist to help students learn; grades exist to show how fully this goal is attained. Therefore, all work and all grades should result from the student's understanding and effort.
Students must approach their academic work with the utmost care and integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, and other kinds of academic misrepresentation are severe breaches of the School's code of conduct. Though the school's philosophy emphasizes collaboration, it also strives to teach students the importance of taking responsibility for their work and acknowledging when any work is submitted results from cooperation. North Shore recognizes the following categories of cheating or plagiarism that will not be tolerated. Students are responsible for understanding each classification; claiming ignorance of the rules is not a valid excuse for academic misconduct.

PLAGIARISM

Presenting someone else's words, thoughts, ideas, research, phrasing, or artwork without documenting them so they seem to be part of your own work. This can include ideas or knowledge from the internet, books, articles, journals, poems, movies, musical scores, photographs, and even images. All ideas or knowledge used as research, borrowed, copied, or quoted from another source must be properly cited.

IMPROPER CITATION

Failing to cite sources properly and accurately. This can include paraphrasing ideas or content without citing sources and/or using quotation marks, failing to cite sources that were used, and citing sources that were not actually used. Using unapproved aids to prepare an assignment, activity, or assessment as a means to circumvent responsibility for work. This can include prior tests, quizzes, lab reports, worksheets, unauthorized notes, cell phones, computers, iPads, calculators, or other materials or devices without the explicit consent of the teacher. If students are ever in doubt about whether it is permissible to use a particular resource or study aid, it is the student's responsibility to check with their teacher before utilizing the resource in question. The use of Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, or any other unauthorized aid is expressly forbidden by the School.

UNAUTHORIZED COLLABORATION

Giving or receiving unauthorized aid to another student. This can include copying someone else's or allowing someone to copy your own, work on a paper, homework assignment, test, project, or piece of art. This includes seeking specific or general information about the questions or problems on a test or quiz from students who have already taken the test or quiz or providing specific or general information about the questions or problems on a test or quiz to students who have not yet taken the test or quiz.

UNAUTHORIZED OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

Receiving outside help on academic work beyond the limits specified by the teacher. This can include receiving unauthorized aid from parents, tutors, family friends, and other outside sources. The teacher must approve all assistance on academic work, and any assignment submitted for a grade must be the product of a student's own understanding and thus expressed in the student's own words, calculations, design, and presentation.
Students who use an outside tutor, parent, family friend, or any other outside resource to assist with their coursework must be sure that the help they receive does not jeopardize their academic integrity. If students have questions about the nature or extent of the help received, they should seek advice from the teacher. We believe that it is in the student's best interest for a tutor and the North Shore faculty member to have a close working relationship.

UNAUTHORIZED TRANSLATIONS

Use translation software, including online translators or translations, to complete work in a foreign language.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS

Submission of the same work for credit to more than one teacher without permission. This can include work created for a previous school or teacher and resubmitted later. The teacher must approve resubmitting work or a portion of work.

HACKING

Accessing or attempting to access unauthorized class material. This can include unauthorized access to faculty offices, email accounts, or other course management services to access materials or alter grades.

FABRICATION AND FORGER

Dishonesty to gain an advantage in a class or academic setting. This includes altering documents to deceive an instructor or administrator or dishonesty to gain an academic advantage (e.g., an extension on a due date, an absence excused, admission to a course or program, a pattern of absences on assessment days, etc.).

ACADEMIC DAMAGE

Theft, damaging, or deceptive use of library or educational materials. This can include theft or damaging school materials, computers, and computer systems, failing to check out or hide library materials, or destroying or compromising another student's work.

All of the above-mentioned practices undermine the integrity of the School’s mission of providing an academically rich environment and deprive students of the opportunity to demonstrate genuine mastery of the curriculum.


ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE INFORMATION

Information about NSCD's JK-12 attendance and absence policy can be found in the Student and Family Handbook.

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
Students with excessive absences jeopardize their academic success and progress toward graduation. The total number of absences (including both excused absences and unexcused absences) permitted for each course before traditional credit is lost is as follows:
  • Full-year course: 10 or more absences in either semester
  • Full-year course: 10 or more absences in the first and second semester
  • Semester course: 10 absences
When a student has been marked absent (excused or unexcused) for five classes, a member of the divisional leadership team will confer with them and their parents to discuss the situation. Students who have accrued five or more absences may lose privileges, including school-sponsored trips that require them to miss additional days.

When a student has been marked absent (excused or unexcused) for ten or more classes in a given semester, the student will not be able to earn a traditional letter grade for that semester and will instead earn a Pass/Fail designation. A designation of a Pass is equivalent to a C- in GPA calculations. When calculating a student’s final end-of-year grade, the Pass, equivalent to 72%, will be averaged with the grade earned in the other semester and with the final exam/project grade to determine the final grade for the year.

When a student has been marked absent (excused or unexcused) for ten classes in two consecutive semesters during the same academic year, the student will receive a grade of Pass for their end-of-year grade, recorded on the student’s transcript.

When a student anticipates an absence from school or a particular class for any reason, it is very important that the student and their parents or guardian consider carefully the necessity of the absence, taking into consideration the current number of accumulated absences and their potential impact on loss of traditional credit in the course.

Absences that do not count towards the loss of credit include, but may not be limited to, the following:
  • School-related activities (such as approved field trips and early dismissal for athletics)
  • Religious observance
  • Extended medical leave
  • Disciplinary suspensions 


COMMUNICATION WITH MOBILE DEVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

NEW IN THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR:
Students will be required to deposit their phones and smartwatches in designated phone pouches at the start of each class to help them sustain their concentration and not be distracted by these devices. We hope this policy will help eliminate disruption in teaching and learning and ensure that students are fully engaged during class time.

While convenient for parents and students, mobile devices can be disruptive in an academic setting. Therefore, the School discourages students from using their mobile phones during the academic day. Students are prohibited from using their phones or other electronic devices to listen to audio recordings or watch videos during class, Advisory, Morning Ex, Community Gathering, or Class Meetings. Students are prohibited from using mobile phones or electronic devices to listen to music or watch videos with sound projected at any time. In addition, students may not text or listen to music when walking from point A to point B.

The School prohibits students, parents, and school community members from using cell phones or other electronic devices to record (video, audio, or otherwise) the school environment without express permission from the School. This policy generally does not apply to recordings at School performances and events.

Students can text or listen to audio (with headphones or earbuds) during free periods, lunch, and before and after school. To speak on their cell phones, students must first gain permission from an adult.


DRIVING PRIVILEGES

Because of the presence of younger children on campus and the considerable number of cars driven by parents transporting children, driving is essential for safety. Special care should be taken before and after school and at lunch when children are walking around campus. North Shore is not responsible for injuries or damages that occur while students drive to and from school before, during, or after the school day. The following is a set of guidelines for student driving:
  1. All cars driven to school by students must be registered in the upper school Office at the beginning of the school year using a Parking Permission Form. If the vehicle a student is driving changes during the school year, or if a student begins driving during the school year, the car must be registered in the office before being driven to school. Students should also notify the office if they temporarily drive a different vehicle to school. Failure to register a car may result in loss of parking privileges. New forms are required each year.
  2. Students may park only in areas designated for student parking. Depending upon availability, seniors and juniors may be assigned parking spaces on campus. Factors such as carpooling, distance traveled, activities, or class seniority will determine who is assigned a parking space. Students should notify the office immediately if another car is parked improperly. Cars parked in the fire lane or "No Parking" areas may be towed at the owner's expense.
  3. Eleventh and twelfth-grade students who complete the parking registration form are assigned spaces on campus. Students assigned a parking space or designated area are expected to park in that space or designated area.
  4. Students are not to drive faster than ten m.p.h. on the School grounds and 25 m.p.h. on streets adjacent to campus. It is each driver's responsibility to exercise sound judgment and slow down whenever the situation warrants.
  5. Reckless driving in the general vicinity of the school or on campus may result in the loss of parking privileges and any other discipline.
    Students are not to be in cars during the school day unless they are on their way to or from campus for an approved trip.
  6. With few exceptions, students may not drive to School-sponsored events during regular school hours or on trips outside the metropolitan area. The Dean of Students or the Head of upper school (or their designees) must clear any exceptions, which must be accompanied by parental permission.
  7. Any traffic accident on campus must be reported immediately to an upper school divisional leadership team member.
    Students who park in spaces not designated for student parking may lose their parking and off-campus privileges. Students must receive permission from an adult before going to the parking lot during the school day.
  8. Parking on School premises is a privilege, not a right. As such, any person who operates a vehicle on School property or in connection with any School-related activity agrees that the School may inspect and search the car and its contents without notice and further consent.


HOMEWORK

Information about NSCD's JK-12 homework policy can be found in the Student and Family Handbook.

Homework is essential for success in the classroom, developing self-discipline, and developing good work habits. Teachers support students who need it and assist students in budgeting their time, especially with long-term assignments. However, the responsibility for doing homework rests with the student.

All students are encouraged to keep a daily assignment book or use an online calendar to manage their homework. On average, a typical student can anticipate 2 1/2 to 4 hours of homework each night. Homework in AP-level classes may be more extensive. These times are used as a guideline only. Term papers, examinations, and other long-range projects are assigned sufficiently in advance, and this daily estimate may be extended.

HOMEWORK AND ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

In general, students should hand in homework before a planned absence.
In the case of an excused, unplanned absence (illness or family emergencies), students are generally given the number of school days they were absent to make up missed work. For example, if a student is ill for two school days, the student will generally have two days to complete any homework due during the absence. This policy may be modified at the School's sole discretion, especially in significant assessments with lengthy lead times.

A parent or student may call the School or the advisor during an extended absence and have written assignments prepared by teachers to be sent home. Students are encouraged to consult the course page on the learning management system for absences of only a day or two.

HOMEWORK OVER VACATIONS

We actively encourage students to read while on extended vacations. To that end, no regular homework is assigned over the winter and spring vacation breaks, except reading by the English Department. Students will be asked to read one book for their English class during the summer. Advanced Placement teachers may also assign a modest amount of homework over these long vacation breaks. Over shorter vacations, such as the Presidents' Day weekend or Interim Week, all departments may assign a single night's homework. Over Thanksgiving break, typically, no homework is assigned.


LEAVING CAMPUS

At North Shore, we believe a sense of community is developed by working and socializing. Therefore, we encourage all upper school students to eat lunch on campus.
At the same time, we appreciate and support the students' growing need for independence. This off-campus policy reflects the balance between these two beliefs.

ELIGIBILITY AND GENERAL RULES
  • Off-campus privileges are available to eleventh and twelfth-grade students in good academic standing with satisfactory attendance and behavior.
  • Parental/Guardian Permission: Parents or guardians may revoke off-campus privileges by notifying an upper school leadership team member in writing.
  • Closed Campus Days: Certain school days will be designated "closed campus," prohibiting off-campus privileges.
  • Food Delivery: Ordering food delivery to campus is prohibited.
TIMES AND PROCEDURES
  • Off-campus hours: Students may leave campus for one hour between 12:05 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. If students have used their "sleep-in" privilege, off-campus time is limited to lunch (1:20-1:55 p.m.).
  • Sign-In/Out: Students must personally sign out before leaving campus and sign in upon return. Failure to do so will result in the loss of off-campus privileges for at least six weeks.
  • Misrepresentation: Misrepresenting sign-out information or signing in/out for another student is considered dishonesty and will result in disciplinary action.
  • Late Arrivals: Students arriving late to school (excluding designated "sleep-in" blocks) may not leave campus.
  • End-of-Day Departure: Students with free periods at the end of the day must return to campus by 2:30 p.m. Early dismissal before 3:00 p.m. is not permitted.
TRANSPORTATION AND BEHAVIOR
  • Transportation: Eleventh—and twelfth-grade students may ride in cars with other students unless their parent/guardian revokes this permission. Ninth—and tenth-grade students require parental/guardian permission for each off-campus request involving car transportation.
  • Off-Campus Conduct: All school rules and behavioral expectations apply while off campus.
CONSEQUENCES
  • Loss of Privileges: Irresponsible conduct, poor attendance, or declining academic performance may result in suspending off-campus privileges.


PERSONAL PROPERTY

Information about NSCD's JK-12 personal property policy can be found in the Student and Family Handbook.

North Shore is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property brought on campus or left in school buildings or grounds. Therefore, students should avoid bringing expensive or valuable personal items to school. Should a student misplace personal property or find any such property damaged, the student should report the matter to the School immediately.

Lockers
The division office assigns lockers and combinations to students for their use. Students must utilize their lockers to store any valuable items they bring to school safely. These lockers are considered school property and may be subject to search or inspection at any given time. Students are expected to maintain the integrity of their lockers and should not deface or tamper with them.

While students can personalize their lockers with the school's permission, they must refrain from making permanent changes or using materials like paint, glue, or stickers that are difficult to remove. Students are responsible for keeping the area around their lockers clean.

Respecting privacy is crucial, and students should never attempt to open another student's locker. The school reserves the right to inspect lockers as needed. Students must clean out their lockers at the end of each school year and remove any temporarily affixed personalized items.

Mailboxes
In the upper school, every student has a mailbox, which serves as a means for administrators, faculty, and students to exchange vital information. Students need to check their mailboxes frequently as they are used to share details about clubs, activities, athletics, and community service initiatives.

Under no circumstances can a student access another student's mailbox be permitted.


STUDY HALL

A study hall or free period is essential to a student's academic day. It is a time to get extra help from a teacher, prepare for an upcoming test or significant assignment, get started on homework, or quietly read.

All ninth-grade students are enrolled in study hall during any free period in their schedule. Ninth-graders can check out of the study hall to attend an extra-help session with a teacher.