Cavalier Clippings

We recognize our amazing school counselors, Mrs. Kingsley and Mr. Reid, this week for National Counselor Appreciation Week. Often behind the scenes tasks are a significant part of their everyday. They support our students academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are grateful for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to helping every student succeed. Please join us in celebrating and thanking them for the countless ways they strengthen our school each day.

There will be no school for students beginning on Friday, February 13 through Tuesday, February 17. We will return to school on Wednesday, February 18. This is for our Mid-Winter Break.

Our next scheduled early release will be on February 19. High school students are dismissed at 1:15 pm.

Parent / Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 25, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the high school main gym.

This is a great opportunity to speak with your student's teachers to find out how they are doing in classes. Tables and chairs will be set up around the gym with each teacher's last name posted behind them. These are informal, no appointment necessary, but we do ask that conversations are kept to 10 minutes or less to ensure that everyone can speak with the teachers.

We look forward to seeing you at conferences.

There will be a half-day of school on Friday, February 27. High School students will be dismissed at 11:15 am.

This serves as a reminder that students are not to bring bookbags, totes, or purses that are larger than an average pencil case into the classroom. The items larger must be kept in the student's locker during the school day. Bringing these items inside the classroom and/or leaving them in the hallway outside of the classroom are a violation of the code of conduct.

Please remind your student to use their locker during the day to avoid policy violations.

Cell phones in the classroom has been given much attention across the country over the past few months. Several states have issued statewide bans of cell phones in schools and classrooms. Michigan has not issued such a ban. However, I am writing to bring to your attention to this concern regarding the use of personal digital devices by students during class time. It has been observed that many students are frequently using their personal iPads and cell phones in class, which constitutes a violation of the personal digital device policy outlined in the code of conduct. Additionally, it has become increasingly common for students to wear headphones throughout the school day, which is also against the code of conduct.

We are seeking your support in addressing these issues as we start the new school year. Furthermore, we would like to inform families that it is not recommended for students to bring these devices to school, as the school will not be responsible for items that are lost or stolen. We also advise against purchasing these items for use at school, as they would be in violation of school policy.

Summary of Attendance Policy

The following is a summary of the updated attendance policy for South Lake High School. Please be sure to read the student/parent handbook for further details. The handbook can be found on the district website or the button below.

Types of Attendance

Students will be marked one of the following attendance codes for each class period throughout the school day.

T = Tardy – Late to class, less than 10 minutes.

TU10 = Tardy more than 10-minutes – More than 10-minutes late to class, this code will count as an unverified absence towards the attendance policy.

DOC = Documented Absence – Parent/guardian has provided proper documentation which may include a note from a doctor, court paperwork, etc. All dates are clearly marked on documents. Parent/guardian will still need to call within 48 hours of the absence and produce documentation when the student returns to school. Documented absences do not count towards the attendance policy.

VER = Verified Absence – Parent/guardian has contacted the main office within 48 hours of the absence, this code will count towards the attendance policy. The student can make up the missed work.

UNV = Unverified Absence – Parent/guardian does not contact the main office within 48 hours of the absence, this code will count towards the attendance policy. The student cannot make up the missed work.

Attendance Policy

Students may have the opportunity to be exempt from their semester exam if they have 5 verified absences or less, zero unverified absences, and 5 tardies or less each semester and if their academic performance each quarter indicates mastery. The student cannot have any unverified absences for the semester exam exemption.

Once a student accumulates 7 absences in any class, the student will be placed on an attendance contract. Once a student accumulated more than 14 absences in any class, the student will have a reduction of 7% of their overall semester grade for each absence above the 14th absence.

Once a student accumulates 7 tardies in any class, the student will be placed on an attendance contract. Once a student accumulated more than 14 tardies in any class, the student will have a reduction of one letter grade (C- becomes D+) from their overall semester grade for each tardy above the 14th tardy.

Attendance Contract

An attendance contract will provide the student and parent/guardian with further information regarding the attendance policy. At a minimum the student and principal or designee will meet to establish the contract. The contract will include opportunities for students to make-up lost instructional time.

Please be sure arrangements are made to have your child picked up promptly when school is dismissed. Students are expected to leave the building immediately unless they have detention or other authorized assignments which are supervised by South Lake staff members or coaches.

While the weather is still nice, students will be made to wait outside for their ride or practice to begin. Students are not permitted to loiter in the building after dismissal.

Habitual loitering may result in suspension from school.

For security reasons, students are not allowed to call for lunch delivery, nor are deliveries from 3rd parties allowed to be accepted at school. The school will not be held responsible for the cost or reimbursement of ordered and delivered lunches.

Please remind your student that they will not receive food deliveries via Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. Continued violations may result in disciplinary action.

The safety of you and your children is of the utmost importance to South Lake High School. Before and after school can be very dangerous with the amount of traffic coming and going. In our efforts to keep your children safe, we will be strictly enforcing Michigan Law and the City of St. Clair Shores ordinances. The following items are such laws and ordinances that must be followed. Violations of these laws or ordinances may result in a civil infraction citation from the St. Clair Shores Police Department.

1. Vehicles must park in a designated parking space, except for the immediate unloading of students. The red zones on the attached map are for the immediate unloading of students, not to be confused with a parking area.

2. Parking is prohibited in all designated driveways and areas provided for ingress and egress. You must park in a parking space. You may not wait for your student in the exit lanes or in the passageway lanes of legally parked cars.

3. Parking is prohibited in all entrance and exit areas of the school building. Obstructing an entrance or exit with a motor vehicle is prohibited.

4. While picking up students, vehicles must:

• Park in a designated parking space in the parking lot.
• Once your student is in your vehicle, proceed to the exit lanes either out onto Nine Mile Road or out back to Cavalier Drive. Exits from the parking lot shall be in accordance with any directional signs posted.

Exits to Nine Mile Road

Left Two Lanes (West Lanes) – Turn Left Only

Right Two Lanes (East Lanes) – Turn Right Only

5. Do not exit the parking lot to the far west, closest to Harper, as it is an entrance only during drop off and pick up.

6. Do not pick up your child in any other area other than a parking spot in the parking lot.

If you have any questions, please contact South Lake Schools’ liaison officer: Detective Munger at (586) 435-1413 or rmunger@solake.org.

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Anytime your student is going to be out of school, please call the attendance hotline to report. Also, if your student is going to be leaving early, call the attendance hotline and we can be prepared for your exiting student.

(586) 435-1450

Monday, February 2 -

Tuesday, February 3 - Boys Basketball vs. Marine City (Home)

Wednesday, February 4 - Girls Basketball vs. Marysville (Home)

Thursday, February 5 - Boys Basketball vs. Eastpointe (Away)

Friday, February 6 - Girls Basketball vs. Chippewa Valley (Away)

• Students must present their 2025-2026 Student ID in MINGA and a purchased ticket to enter all home sporting events this year.
• New students to South Lake High School, may present a copy of their high school schedule until their ID has been updated in MINGA.
• Only students from South Lake High School and the visiting team will be allowed to enter. Students from other local high schools will not be allowed to enter.
• There is a no re-entry policy for all home events. Please plan accordingly to have your items with you at time of entry.
• We have a strict No Ski Mask policy at all home events. No one may enter wearing a Ski Mask and will be asked to leave if later found to be wearing a Ski Mask.
• No refunds will be issued to those individuals that are not following these policies.