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Student support services...


Guidance & Counseling


Guidance provides a variety of services for students, their parents, and faculty members in order to facilitate achievement of the following goals:
1. to assist people in self-understanding and acceptance
2. to aid in the development of effective interpersonal relationships
3 . to help in the development of effective coping behaviors, problem solving and decision making skills
4. to aid in development of increased responsibility for academic success
5 . to aid in appropriate career exposure and post-secondary education

The basic services are:

counseling (individual and group)
interpreting pupil records and test results
parent/student/teacher/counselor conferences
informational resource for post secondary education and careers
parent and pupil orientations
liaison between home and school and outside agencies when appropriate
providing interim progress reports upon request
referral services to outside agencies
consultant regarding student needs in general
coordination of testing programs
assistance in developing programs for students with special needs
classroom observations of students
maintaining students records
classroom presentations regarding developmental guidance and career education

Guidance services are for all students, not just those who are experiencing difficulty in learning or relating to others. Guidance is designed to help all students feel comfortable with others and satisfied with themselves. All students need assistance and support to cope with the developmental tasks of adolescence. Parents, teachers and counselors work together to prepare the adolescent for a meaningful life.

Student Assessment

It is the intent of the CSD 13 School Committee that classroom teachers assess academic performance of students on a regular basis. Assessment may take various forms including homework assignments, classroom participation, tests or other teacher directed forms of assessment. Performance feedback to students will be provided promptly and on a weekly basis. The school shall also provide parents of students in grades K-12 with a written copy of their child's quarterly achievement and in grades 7-12 in cases of poor performance, with written mid-quarter progress reports. Teachers are encouraged to contact parents more often if a student's performance warrants this (because of problems or improvements). Parents are encouraged to contact the school with questions regarding grades or test results. Teacher time will be allocated for parent-teacher conferences regarding student achievement during the school year.

1. Standardized group tests will be administered to all students as follows:
2. Achievement tests in grades 2, 3, 5 and 6;
3. Maine Educational Assessment in grades 4. 8 and 11;

In addition, students are encouraged to take the following tests:

1. Grade 9: a career decision-making inventory;
2. Grades 9, 10 and 11: the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test);
3. Grade 10: the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery);
4. Grades 11 and 12: the SAT I (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and SAT II (achievement tests) offered at personal cost by Educational
Testing Service.

Students may be tested at additional grade levels, if needed. Parents and students will be given prior notice of all testing dates. Parents' requests that their child be exempted from taking group tests will be honored if submitted in writing in advance. Responsibility for group standardized tests lies with the guidance counselors. This involves testing arrangements, interpretation of results to students, parents, teachers and school committee, and maintenance of results in student records.

School personnel will use standardized test results whenever possible as one factor in determining class placements and instructional methods appropriate to individual students. This data will also be used by staff members in planning for improvement of instructional programs and in the identification of needs for curriculum revision.

When additional evaluation such as a psycho-educational or substance abuse evaluation is deemed necessary by staff members, it shall be administered by qualified personnel and in accordance with State laws and rules, local policies, and test administration manuals, with prior written permission from parents.

Special Education Services


The Pupil Evaluation Team assigns students to the special education program. An individual education plan is designed and developed for each student assigned.

On the basis of the P.E.T. recommendations, the student will receive services in academic and/or independent living skills development, social and/or emotional development and technical skills development. These services may take the form of direct teaching in the resource or composite room, tutoring, modification of the mainstream curriculum, methodology and/or classroom expectations, assistance to the mainstream teacher, counseling, or placement in programs outside the school district. Courses taught by the special educator may be offered. These courses will be designed to meet the needs of the individual student.

Adult Education


Through its various programs and courses for adults, the Adult Ed Program shall seek to meet the needs of adults of all ages. Adult Education students who, for whatever reason, have been unable to secure a high school diploma in a regular school program, or who need additional training to become more efficient in their chosen occupations will benefit from participation in this school-sponsored program. Adult programs in the Deer Isle-Stonington school system include:
1. An accredited high school completion program conducted at the Deer Isle-Stonington High School, which provides an opportunity for adults to earn a high school diploma. All required high school credit courses are taught.
2. State Literacy Program - This program is for any person over 17 years of age who wants help in learning how to read better. Usually the reading level of the person should be below eighth grade level.
3. G.E.D Program- for any adult who would like to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Must be 18 and out of school for a year to qualify for this test.
4. General Courses - These courses are generally offered to anyone 18 years of age or older.

The Director of Adult Education shall be responsible for the operation of the school system's adult education programs and shall report to the Superintendent of Schools. Tuition is free for the high school completion and the State Literacy programs. Vocational course fees are contingent on the expense of the texts and other materials. To the extent possible, the adult programs should be financially self-supporting. Tuition and fees collected in the operation of the adult programs shall be accounted for in the normal records and reports of the district.

Adult Education High School Diploma Programs


There are two routes to earn sufficient credits for a diploma. These are
(1) Night School and (2) the External Credit Option. There is no charge for either route.

(1) Night School - For night school one has to attend class once a week, usually in the evening. Each course lasts ten weeks. After successfully completing a course, the student will receive one credit towards his/her diploma.
Requirements - In order to be able to enroll in night school a person must:
a. be at least 18 years old or
b. be 17 years old, and have an immediate need for a diploma (i.e. job, military, etc.)
c. if under 17 years of age, special exceptions can be made but only with parent's, principal's, superintendent's and director's permission

2.) External Credit Option - This route is an independent study to receive
credits. Most of the work can be done at home with a minimum of five meetings with the teacher.
Requirements - In order to take this route a person must:
a. be 18 years of age or older and not enrolled in public school
b. be able to read at a sixth grade level or better and
c. have the ability to work as a self directed learner

General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) - This is a high school equivalency certificate issued by the State of Maine. In order to receive a G.E.D., a person must successfully complete a 7 hour test.
Requirements - in order to be able to take a G.E.D a person must:
a. be 18 years of age or older
b. be 17 years of age and have an immediate need and written approval from the adult education director and guidance counselor

If you have any other questions concerning these programs or their requirements please see the Adult Education Director.
Vocational Education Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC) provides vocational training in several programs for students during their junior or senior years of high school. Students may train in a program at HCTC and prepare for an occupation of their choice, provided the program is not offered at Deer Isle-Stonington High School or the Island Nursing Home.

A. Programs open to DIS students are: Automotive Repair, Diesel Mechanics, Building Trades, Computer Graphics and Repair,Food Service and Hospitality, and Diversified Occupations
B. Transportation will be available to all students attending HCTC. The Guidance Counselor shall notify in writing all tenth and eleventh grade students and their parents of vocational education opportunities and deadlines at HCTC by January 15th of each year.
C. Students interested in attending HCTC must first meet with the Guidance Counselor by April 15th of the preceding year in which he/she wants to attend. During this meeting the Guidance Counselor will review the credit status of the individual student to determine if he/she has achieved junior or senior class standing.
D. To attend HCTC during the student's junior year, students must have successfully completed 10 credits prior to entering HCTC. To attend HCTC during the student's senior year, students must have successfully completed 16 credits prior to entering HCTC. Beginning in September of 2000, juniors must have completed 11 credits and seniors must have completed 17 credits to be eligible to attend HCTC.
E. When it is determined that a student is eligible to apply to HCTC, the Guidance Counselor or the
student's parent will arrange for the student to visit HCTC and spend a day in the student's program of choice. HCTC applications will then be made available to the student. The Guidance Office will then mail completed applications to HCTC.

Now that you have read your Program of Studies, make an appointment with our Guidance Counselor to plan your next step towards a Deer Isle-Stonington High School diploma... and your future.