MEMORANDUM

TO: Carmen High School of Science and Technology Families

FROM: Ms. Mehr, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Humanities
Ms. VandeBunte, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, STEM

DATE: September 17, 2014
RE: Office Hours Carmens After School Academic Support Program
Office Hours is the name of Carmens after school academic support program. It exists to provide additional
instructional support to students who are struggling with subject matter mastery, time management, study or
organizational skills. Every teacher is available two days per week (T-F) from 3:454:30 p.m. for students who
need support. This program is primarily for students who are receiving grades below a C in specific courses,
have demonstrated low skills on standardized tests at the beginning of the year, or are invited to attend by the
classroom teacher. Once assigned to Office Hours, attendance is required until the end of the quarter or
longer, depending on the students progress. Students who choose to skip an assigned period in Office Hours
will be issued the same behavioral consequence as for skipping a class during regular school hours.
Who attends? Any student earning a C- or below in one or more classes will be scheduled for Office Hours.
Progress will be monitored and decisions made at the end of each quarter based on whether the student
shows passing grades on tests and quizzes. Students who are unable to show the expected growth in academic
achievement will remain on the Office Hours schedule through the next quarterly cycle.
How is a student notified? Students are notified as soon as their academic performance shows they need to
attend. Generally grades are reviewed on a four-week cycle and students will be added as necessary and
required to stay at least until the end of a quarter (i.e., late October, December, March). Students receive
notification in their advisory classes with a schedule of which days the student must attend. Once notification
is given, the student is expected to begin attending Office hours. In addition, the student must return to his or
her advisor the Office Hours attendance acknowledgement form signed by a parent/guardian.
What happens during Office Hours? The academic support offered during Office Hours by the teacher in the
classroom varies for each course and is specific to the subject matter in the course. Teachers might review
concepts that were taught before but not mastered by the students or questions on homework and tests. The
purpose is for the teacher to be as responsive as possible to the individual needs of the students who must
attend.