Welcome to Pembroke High School

If you couldn't make it to our Parent University Night on May 4th, don't worry! Here's a summary of the topics discussed. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.

• Marc Talbot, Principal

• Kristen Kelley, Assistant Principal (grades 10, 12)

• David Rix, Assistant Principal (grades 9, 11)

• Brian Phillips, Athletic Director

• Officer Marybeth Simmons, School Resource Officer

• Dr. Mark Galligan, Humanities Coordinator

• Mr. Jonathan Shapiro, Science Coordinator

• Ms. Saviz Safizadeh, World Language Coordinator

• Mr. Brian Phillips, Health and Wellness/Athletic Director

• Mrs. Gwynne Chapman, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator

• Mrs. Maryellen Gate, Pathways Coordinator

Email: Firstname.lastname@pembrokek12.org.

• 20 AP Classes (starting in 10th grade)

• Eight Certificate-bearing Pathway Programs

• Dozens of Elective Classes Across the Curriculum

• Titan Time Enrichment Block

• Independent Study (for seniors)

• Robust support staff

• Three Guidance Counselors

• Mrs. Robin Conathan (A-F)

• Mr. Jim Shannon (G-M)

• Mrs. Ruthie Lydon (N-Z)

• Two Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW)

• Learning Centers

• Academic Resource Center

• Compass Program

• 32 Extra and Co-Curricular Activities

• Mr. Rix is the coordinator

• Activity Fair for 9th and 10th grades in September

• 28 Athletic programs, most with sub varsity squads

• Brian Phillips is AD

• Sports Nights each before season (Fall Sports Night - early August)

• Fall Sports - season begins third week of August

• Fees

• Eligibility - all incoming freshmen are automatically eligible for extracurricular activities…until Term 1 report cards are issued.

• Must pass all classes

• One F = Probation

• Two or more Fs = Removal

• PHS students need at least 88 credits to graduate.

• Successful completion of a course - either full (4 credits) or half-year (2 credits)

• “Successful completion” - grades and attendance

• Mandated Minimum Credit Requirements - 64 of the 88 credits must be:

• Four years of English (16 credits)

• Four years of Math (16 credits)

• Three years of Social Studies (12 credits)

• Three years of Science (12 credits)

• Four semesters of Physical Education (8 credits)

• Remaining credits are based on student choice/interest.

• Schedule is built to earn 28 credits

• Most graduate with close to or in excess of 100 credits

To view a 4-year graduation timeline go to the PHS Website and Select Departments and then Guidance Department

• Must Pass MCAS:

• Science (9th Grade)

• ELA and Math (10th Grade)

• 40 hours of community service

• 10 per year is recommended

• Counselors explain documentation piece when meeting with students

• P1 - Genre Studies (Hon/CP)

• P2 - World History (Hon/CP)

• P3 - Biology (Hon/CP)

• P4 - Mathematics (Hon Geometry, CP Alg. I, CP2 AIM I)

• P5 - World Language (Spanish, French, Latin)

• P6 - Semester of Grade 9 Health and Wellness/Semester Elective

• P7 - Elective(s)

Class lists will be issued in June.

• Counselors five days after and five days before to address concerns.

• Schedule changes once the year starts are difficult for a number of reasons.

• When we do make changes it is because a student is misplaced

• Placement Review Process - “Is the student doing everything to be successful but is still not meeting with success?”

• At week 4 (Progress Reports)

• At week 9 (Report Cards)

• We cannot make schedule changes because of:

• A change of mind

• A student doesn’t like the subject matter after all

• A preference for another teacher

• A desire to be with friends

• Because schedule changes are so hard to make, we limit movement to those that are misplaced

To review a copy of our Student Handbook click here.

• School begins at 7:30.

• Busses drop-off in front loop
• Please do not enter bus loop at any time.

• Parent drop-off is in the front parking lo
  

• Please use “Drop-off Zone,” which allows more cars to line up to drop off students.

• Allows easy access to the walkway, leading directly to the cross walk.

• Parents should access the Drop-off Zone by entering the front drive and using the last entrance to the parking lot before the bus loop.
  

• Remember please pull all the way up before letting child out.
  

• Proceed out the front of the parking lot (one way - exit only. Please no entering in the morning)
  

• School Day -7:30 a.m. -2:20 p.m.

• 7-day rotation, 6 periods/day - DROP ONE

• Rotate the days in descending order

• Titan Time daily after C-Block

• 40 minutes each day (10:21-11:01) Tuesday - Friday

• Advisory Monday - learn schedule for the week

• By Monday morning, teachers have used Enriching Students (website) to schedule students into their Titan Time

• During Advisory Monday, students log in to see their schedule for week

• If holes in their schedule, students work with Advisor to complete schedule

• Wed., Aug 28 - all students begin in Advisory

• At PHS students are assigned to a small-group “Advisory”

• They stay with that Advisory (students and teacher) for four years

• Meet every Monday

• 15-minute “get settled” period

• Get schedules (again)

• Other important operational topics (Chromebook, daily schedule, lunch schedule, etc)

• Then they proceed to periods 1-7

• As part of our “Minimum Attendance Policy” - distinction between EXCUSED and UNEXCUSED absences.

• No consequence for an unexcused absence unless a student exceeds the amount allowed under PHS’s attendance policy

• In order to track these absences, letters are mailed home periodically to keep parents informed.

• The following absences meet the criteria for “excused”

• Medical excuse

• Bereavement or serious family illness

• Legal excuse

• Religious Holidays

• College Visits (11th and 12th grade only - Not during exam week)

• Other - at discretion of administrator

• Documentation to verify must be submitted to the main office within 10 days of the student’s return to school.

• Notes from parents do not suffice to excuse an absence.

• Students shall not exceed

• 16 unexcused absences - full year course

• 8 unexcused absences - half year course

• Exceed those numbers = Loss of Credit

• On the 17th unexcused absence - full year

• On the 9th unexcused absence - half year

• Warning letters are sent home frequently

• Four unexcused absences per term (average

• Warning bell rings at 7:20 and 7:25 (No homeroom)

• Tardy bell rings at 7:30 - all students should be in class.

• Excused and Unexcused - same as absences

• Students are allowed five (5) unexcused tardies per semester - We know “things happen.”

• On the 6th unexcused tardy, progressive discipline is assigned.

• Important part of academic expectations for PHS students

• Two exam windows each year

• Midyear exams - typically week after MLK holiday (tentative Jan. 21-24)

• Finals last week of school (TENTATIVE 180th day is June 13, 2025 - 185th day of school June 23, 2025)

• Full year course, each exam 10% of final grade

(T1=20%, T2=20%, MYE=10%, T3=20%, T4=20%, FE=10%)

• Semester (half-year) courses, the exam is 10% of final grade

(T1=45%, T2=45%, FE=10%)

• PHS considers exam week to be the priority for students - students must be in attendance.

• Must have an excused absence to miss and reschedule an exam

• Keep this in mind when scheduling vacation, summer jobs, summer camps, service trips, etc = UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• Again - consider potential snow days. Last day of school could be as late as June 23 or later if we have more than five snow days.

We acknowledge that these events are important, too, but the PRIORITY during exam week is exams. Please schedule those other commitments during the other 50 weeks of the year.

• Email (first.last@pembrokek12.org)

• Phone

• “24-hour Rule”

• Weekly updates in PowerSchool

• Google Classroom

• Titans Talk - anonymous portal on website

• Open House - Sept. 5, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.)

• Parent Conferences

• Do not forget to register your student EACH year on the district website. It can be found under “Enrollment and Attendance”. Click on “Admission and Registration”. This is available mid-July.

• You must update all of your student’s contact information.

• Free/Reduced Lunch- You must apply EACH year and the application can be found on the district website under “Food and Nutrition”.

• This discount may be applied to:

  AP exams, bus fees, athletic user fees, SATs, college applications, etc.

  
  

(Tentative)August 21, 2024

8 a.m.

This video is a few years old but highlights some of the amazing things about PHS!