STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR A DIPLOMA, INCLUDING SERVICE HOURS, TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL GRADUATION CEREMONIES. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE RECTOR WITH CONSULTATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND/OR PRINCIPAL.
1 year = 10 units; ½ year (1 semester) = 5 units; ¼ year (1 quarter) = 2.5 units
Students must remediate, in summer school, all grades of “F” earned in a current school year prior to the beginning of the following school year.
Class of 2008: a minimum of 270 units to graduate plus forty (40) hours Community Service. (Sixty (60) hours of Community Service is required for the class of 2010 and beyond).
Subject Area Required Courses:
· 4 years of Theology
· 4 years of English
· 3 years of Social Studies
· 3 years of Math (minimum of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
· 3 years of Science
· 2 years of the same Foreign Language
· 2 years of Physical Education
· 1 year of Visual & Performing Art (V.P.A)
· ½ year of Health Education
· ½ year of Computer Competency
Note: The remaining units needed to reach the 270 unit minimum are courses chosen by the student in consultation with the assigned counselor.
Requirements for a Diploma AND PARTICIPATION IN GRADUATION CEREMONIES
· To receive a Garces Memorial diploma and participate in graduation ceremonies a student in the class of 2008 must successfully complete (a grade of “D-” or better) the following: a) All Subject Area Required Courses; b) 270 credit units; and c) the forty (40) hour service requirement. All Community Service hours for graduating seniors are to be completed and documented with the Community Service Hours coordinator by the last day of Senior Final Exams.
· To receive a Garces Memorial diploma a student must attend Garces both semesters of his/her senior year. Garces expects that any student who desires a diploma will successfully complete a total of four years in high school. Students who apply as transfers to Garces and wish to receive a Garces Memorial diploma having attended high school for LESS THAN FOUR YEARS will be advised to enroll at another high school or complete the requirements for a graduation/diploma certificate available through the State of California.
· A senior who receives a second semester grade of “F” in ANY course will not receive a diploma until such course is successfully completed and will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies.
· Should a student not complete the above requirements by the scheduled graduation date, the student must obtain approval from the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs to complete the required work/units. Once the work is completed and submitted to Garces Memorial for posting on the student’s transcript, the student may receive his/her diploma.
· A senior who is denied credit in ANY course due to excessive absenteeism (See Attendance Policies and Procedures) will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies and will not receive a diploma until such course is successfully completed.
· Students must complete all additional course requirements as established by the school administration.
Forty (40) Hour Service Requirement Guidelines for the Class of 2008, 2009
All Garces students are expected to give back to the community in the form of service to others. In addition to the subject area requirements, students in the class of 2008 and 2009 must complete forty (40) hours of community service to receive a Garces Memorial diploma. (Transfer students in the class of 2008 and 2009 will be responsible for at least five hours for each full semester in attendance.)
All service hours must be fulfilled outside of school hours. For members of the class of 2008 all hours must be properly submitted by the last day of Senior final exams in the school year in which they were served or they will be invalidated.
· Service projects are made available and approved by the Service Hour Coordinator
· Each individual Service project will not be considered complete until all paper work (available from the Service Hour Coordinator) has been submitted. The evaluation form must be submitted to the Service Hour Coordinator and must be signed by the supervisor of the project.
· The completed evaluation form must be returned to the Service Hour Coordinator and retained in the student's Community Service folder for the duration of his/her schooling at Garces Memorial.
· No more than twenty (20) hours will be recorded for any single non-profit organization, thus encouraging the student to explore more than one area of need in the community. If a student dedicates their service to a particular activity for a long period of time (ie. Candy Striper) He/She may file a petition with the service hour coordinator to exceed the 20-hour limitation.
· Service projects are made available and approved by the Service Hour Coordinator.
· The service provided will involve the student interacting with a non-profit organization approved by Garces Memorial High School. Please see the Service Hour Coordinator for an updated list. A maximum of 10 hours of credit will be allowed for service given to the Garces Community.
· The acceptance of any monetary award for performing the service will invalidate the hours earned.
· The student will not be covered by the school's liability insurance when completing service hours in locations other than the Garces Memorial campus.
· Hours may be earned during the summer vacation; these hours must be submitted to the Service Hour Coordinator at the beginning of the subsequent academic year.
Sixty (60) Hour Service Requirement Guidelines for the class of 2010 & beyond
All Garces students are expected to give back to the community in the form of service to others. In addition to the subject area requirements, students in the class of 2010 and 2011 must complete sixty (60) hours of community service to receive a Garces Memorial diploma. A student who transfers to Garces Memorial and joins the class of 2010 or 2011 will be required to complete seven and one half (7.5) hours for each full semester in attendance.
Students must complete their sixty (60) hours in the following areas:
20 Hours for Garces Memorial High School
Hours must serve the Garces community not just one person. Events such as diving meets, academic decathlon, Gala, etc are acceptable.
20 Hours for a Parish/Church
Students are to be serving in a meaningful way that assists the parish community. Serving as a CCD aid, assisting in a church fundraiser, assisting with a parish service project are all acceptable hours. Altar Serving does not count as service hours. Working with a Parish School (OLPH, OLG, St. Francis) will counts for Parish Hours.
20 Hours for a non-profit organization approved by the Service Hour Coordinator
Non-Profit Community service may only be completed through organizations approved by Garces Memorial High School. Please see the Service Hour Coordinator for an updated list of approved organizations.
All service hours must be fulfilled outside of school hours. Service hour forms must be properly submitted to the Service Hours Coordinator by June 15th, of the school year in which they were served or they will be invalidated.
· Service projects are made available and approved by the Service Hour Coordinator
· Each individual Service project will not be considered complete until all paper work (available from the Service Hour Coordinator) has been submitted. The evaluation form must be submitted to the Service Hour Coordinator and must be signed by the supervisor of the project.
· The completed evaluation form must be returned to the Service Hour Coordinator and retained in the student's Community Service folder for the duration of his/her schooling at Garces Memorial.
· Students must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) service hours by June 15th of each year. Any student who has not completed the required hours will be contacted by the Service Hours Coordinator.
· Any student who does not have his/her hours properly submitted by June 15th may not be allowed to return to Garces for the next academic year.
· Seniors must complete all service hour requirements by the last day of final exams to participate in all Garces Memorial High School graduation activities and commencement ceremony.
· No more than twenty (20) hours will be credited toward the sixty (60) hours during any one school year; however, all service hours performed during any one year will be recorded.
· No more than twenty (20) hours will be recorded for any organization, thus encouraging the student to explore more than one area of need in the community. . If a student dedicates their service to a particular activity for a long period of time (ie. Candy Striper) He/She may file a petition with the service hour coordinator to exceed the 20 hour limitation.
· The acceptance of any monetary award for performing the service will invalidate the hours earned.
· The student will not be covered by the school's liability insurance when completing service hours in locations other than the Garces Memorial campus.
· Hours may be earned during the summer vacation; however hours submitted to the Service Hour Coordinator after June 15th will be recorded for the Academic Year that begins in August.