STEM Virtual Academy at East High School

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

3225 Walnut Grove Rd.
Memphis, Tennessee 38111

PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK
Dorsey E. Hopson, II, Superintendent
Ms. Carol Miller, Director Career and Technical Education
Mr. Brett Lawson, Instructional Leadership Director
Dr. Marilyn Hilliard, Principal East High School
Dr. Taura Turner
Marketing/ Media/ STEM Advisor
Department of Career, Technical and Adult Education
2930 Airways Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38116
(901) 416-8049 Office
(901) 416-8092 FAX
turnertm@memphiseast.com
www.stemvirtualacademy.weebly.com

GENERAL INFORMTATION
2015-2016 DIRECTORY
STEM Advisor

Dr. Taura Turner

turnertm@memphiseast.com

STEM Teacher

Felecia Thomas

thomasfelicia@gmail.com

STEM Teacher

Marion Anderson

mlandrs1@gmail.com

STEM Teacher

Tanja Owens

owenstl@scsk12.org

STEM Coordinator

Donna Walker

walkerdc49@gmail.com

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2016 - 2017 School Calendar

All dates are tentative and subject to change. Updates will be posted on
www.stemvirtualacademy.weebly.com.

Saturday, August 27

Mandatory Orientation for ALL Students.

Tuesday, September 6

STEM Lab Open for Returning Students

Tuesday, September 20

Last Day to Drop Course

Thursday, September 15

Parent Conferences

Friday, September 16

District Learning Day LAB CLOSED

Friday, October 7

End of 1st 9 weeks

Saturday, October 8 - 15

Fall Break LAB CLOSED

November 11 - 12

Veterans Day LAB CLOSED

November 23 - 26

Thanksgiving Break LAB CLOSED

December 14 - 17

Semester Exams LAB CLOSED

December 16

End of 2nd Quarter

Monday, December 19

District Learning Day LAB CLOSED

December 20 December 31

Winter Break LAB CLOSED

January 3

LAB REOPENS

January 16

Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday LAB CLOSED

February 9

Parent Conferences

February 10

District Learning Day LAB CLOSED

February 20

Presidents Day LAB CLOSED

March 11 - 18

Spring Break LAB CLOSED

April 14

Spring Holiday LAB CLOSED

Saturday, May 20

LAST DAY to COMPLETE STEM Coursework & Related Labs

Wednesday, May 24 - 26

Semester Exams

Friday, May 26

Last day of school

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STEM Virtual Academy PROCEDURES & POLICIES

STEM Mission Statement
To increase students awareness and understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to better
prepare them for post-secondary education and their future careers.

STEM Goal

To decrease gaps in achievement and technical skills among student populations by gender, racial/ethnic
background and economic level.
To increase STEM exposure across the district.

Attendance
Online Coursework
It is expected that students will login to their online STEM101 accounts at least once per 7-day period. Students
who do not login during this time frame will be contacted by their instructor to review progress. SCS Policy
4.209 states: Students must withdraw from a district-offered on-line course within 10 days of beginning the
course. If the course is not dropped within the timeframe, the student must complete the course within the
enrolled term or receive a failing grade. Students who do not drop the course by the deadline will be expected to
complete the course, seek the help needed and accept the grade earned. Students desiring to drop a STEM course
must provide written notification with parents signature or notification via email from parent to Dr. Turner by
the deadline date.
Lab Hours
The labs will be open Monday Friday from 3:00 - 6:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Students
may come to the lab anytime during these hours; however, this year students are required to attend one lecture per
week during designated time slots. STEM teachers schedule and lab hours are subject to modifications. Please
refer to the STEM School Calendar & Lab Schedule.
STEM Lab Attendance
The STEM program is designed to be self-paced and in order to complete the program, it is suggested that
students come to the lab once per week.
STEM Lab Sign In and Out Procedure
After being buzzed into the STEM lab, students are expected to sign-in electronically on a computer designated for
STEM Lab Attendance each time they come to the lab. Students are responsible for signing in and out of each
STEM lab session. The attendance logs allow teachers and STEM staff to monitor the students participation and
progress. Most of the STEM courses taken throughout the duration of the program will accompany a STEM lab;
thus, it is imperative for students to participate in STEM lab as well as sign in and out of each day.
Make-Up Work
According to SCS policy, all students have the opportunity to make-up assignments. Students will be given two
attempts to complete online quizzes. Further make-ups are at the discretion of the teacher. If a student fails to
make-up quizzes and/or assignments, the deficiencies shall be averaged with the other grades.

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Extracurricular Activities
Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Students who have not attended lab or
completed a reasonable amount of STEM coursework will not be allowed to participate in STEM extracurricular
activities.
Communication
Due to the nature of the course, students will receive regular correspondence from their teacher or other STEM
faculty via email and/or phone. Students are expected to regularly check their email accounts. Teachers will only
communicate via outside email servers in extreme cases.
The STEM program is a part of the SCS Virtual School. Throughout the school year, SCS will send out
communications to all students enrolled in online courses. If a student or parent receives a district level email or
phone call from the SCS Virtual School, he/she should contact the students teacher or counselor to determine if
the correspondence is applicable.
Emergency Closing
In the event schools are closed due to inclement weather or other calamity, all extracurricular and afterschool
activities scheduled for those days will be canceled or postponed. The Virtual STEM Academy uses REMIND to
alert parents regarding school closures, emergencies, etc. Please be sure that all contact information is correct and
up-to-date.

CONDUCT
General Conduct
1.

2.

Standard classroom behavior includes the following behaviors:

a. Respect the teacher and his/her right to teach.
b. Respect fellow students and their right to learn.
c. Be prepared for class each day, have materials and homework.
d. Follow teachers directions the first time they are given.
The first priority of STEM Academy is teaching and learning. Class misconduct will not be tolerated.
Lack of cooperation, excessive talking, repeatedly acting out and horseplaying in class will not be tolerated.
Plagiarism

The act of plagiarism may include direct copying, but it may also be more complex than verbatim repetition. The
following activities constitute plagiarism:
Submitting images and/or documents in whole or in part from the internet without citation of the
sources(s).
Copying anothers work.
Using anothers ideas without proper citation.
Incorporating portions of anothers writing within the context of your own work.
Failing to acknowledge a source of information.
Using unique phrases without citation.
Using graphics, charts, diagrams, illustrations without citations.
Consequences for Cheating/Plagiarism:
Whenever a student is caught cheating or plagiarizing, he/she will receive an automatic zero on that particular
assignment/test.

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Electronic Devices
Since the participation in STEM labs is an after school activity, the use of electronic devices, such as cell phones,
electronic games, radios, tape players, CD players, mp3 players, ipods, etc., are permitted as long as it does not
interfere with the teaching of instructors and learning of others. Teachers dictate what is considered an interruption
of his/her class. Teachers have the freedom to allow students to use electronic devices of any kind for class projects
and assignments. Please be advised that the school cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen items. Furthermore,
the school cannot hold investigations regarding these items or search accused students for possession of these items.
Results of repeated violations are as follows:
First offense Item will be confiscated and held until student leaves the STEM lab.
Second offense Parents will be notified.
Third (or more) Offense Student will not be allowed to use electronic devices in the STEM lab.
Refusal to surrender your electronic device to school staff will result in an automatic notification of parents.

Smoking
The possession or use of tobacco in any form by any student is prohibited on the school campus and all school
activities. Disciplinary action will result the STEM program and your HOME school. Students under 18 can also be
issued a Juvenile Summons if found to be in possession of tobacco.
Student Parking
Students driving automobiles to school must park in the student parking areas, which are located in the current drive
east and parking lot south of the lab building. All vehicles are subject to search when individual circumstances
dictate. Under no circumstances should students park in handicap spaces or in spaces designated for teachers or staff.
Student Drop Off and Pick up Location
Students should be dropped off at the East High School Vocational Building located at 3225 Walnut Grove Rd when
attending lab. The STEM lab entrance is located off of Holmes Street. Parents should drop off and pick up students
at the STEM lab door. Students will be buzzed in daily.
Student Pick up Time
You must make arrangements to have your child/children picked up on time, if you are not able to do so, the student
will be waiting outside after lab hours without supervision.
Transportation
Parents are fully responsible for transporting students to and from STEM lab. STEM staff cannot transport students
to and from the lab.

MISCELLANEOUS PROCEDURES & POLICIES

Medications
Students may not be in possession of any medications (prescription or otherwise). Any student needing to take
medication during lab must present it to the STEM teacher with proper documentation. The student may return to
his/her teacher at such time as is necessary to take this medication.
Lost and Found
Students who have lost articles may inquire to his/her teacher. If students find articles belonging to others, they are
expected to give them to their teacher immediately.

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Telephone Messages
Since STEM labs are completed after school, students are permitted to bring their cellular devices. However,
cellular devices must not interfere with the teaching of instructors or the learning of others as decided by the
teachers. Teachers reserve the right to execute a cellular device policy for his/her class.
Posters & Signs
All posters and signs must be approved by the administration. Persons posting the signs and posters are responsible
for their removal and for cleanup. Candidates for school or club offices should check with the administration to
approve all signage related to campaigns.
Program Overview
The STEM Academy allows students to explore a virtual curriculum and apply that knowledge in a hands-on lab
environment. The courses are a hybrid course and as such, students are allowed to pace themselves as it relates to the
online curriculum. Students are expected to come to East High School to complete the lab work, on average, once
per week.
Program Qualifications

th

60 percentile on math and science section of the TCAP

GPA>3.0
Satisfactory conduct
No more than 15 absences and/or tardies

STEM Academy Program Curriculum

For each STEM course, students are expected to complete the accompanying lab component. STEM Labs will
take place in the STEM facilities located on the East High School Campus and students are expected to attend the
lab, on average, once per week. All courses with be factored into the students GPA and fulfill graduation
requirements for online courses and elective focus areas.
Students will take their general education courses such as English and Geometry at their home school. A course
name with STEM preceding indicates that it is an online course and must be taken virtually. All engineering clusters
of courses are required to be taken virtually. STEM labs will take place in the STEM facilities located at the East
High School Campus. After course work and lab requirements are satisfied for a course, the student can move on to
the next course.
Honors and AP classes and Dual Enrollment for higher level course are additional options. All STEM coursework is
considered honors. Students must also complete a Capstone Project in order to complete graduation requirements.
Since students will take multiple STEM courses throughout their high school career, these courses will satisfy their
elective focus graduation requirement.
Students can participate in the online courses anywhere that broadband internet access is available be it at home,
school, library, community center, etc. Online teachers monitor all lessons and all session communication is
monitored electronically by sophisticated filtering mechanisms.
STEM Tracks
After students have successfully completed the Introduction to Engineering and the Principles of Engineering
course, he/she can declare a STEM track. Students have the option of choosing from four different Engineering
tracks: Civil/Architectural, Biotechnology, Manufacturing or Energy. The STEM counselor will be available to
assist students in choosing a STEM track.
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STEM 101 Website

The STEM Academy curriculum is rigorous, innovative and comprehensive. Students are assessed through
various methods such as traditional tests; project based learning presentations and portfolios. The curriculum
culminates with students applying real-world application of their STEM education with hands-on activities. All
STEM course work will be completed online on the STEM 101 website learn2.stem101.org unless specified by
your assigned teacher. However, the same information should also be posted on the STEM 101 website site.

ACADEMICS
Grade Point Average (GPA)
The grade point average (GPA) is computed for each student by using the semester grades for all high school credits
earned up until that point (includes grades received in 8th grade Honors Physical Science and Honors Algebra I).
Each semester letter grade receives a numerical value as shown on the Quality Points Scale. These values are then
added together and divided by the total number of grades used. STEM students will receive progress reports
throughout the year and a final grade at the end of the school year. All STEM Courses are considered honors. Each
course taken in the STEM Academy will appear on your transcript and be calculated into your cumulative grade
point average.
Quality Points Scale
LEVEL
Traditional (4)
Honors (6)
Adv. Placement (8)

A
4
5
6

B
3
4
5

C
2
3
4

D
1
1
1

F
0
0
0

Note: Many colleges and universities disregard the quality point scale and recalculate GPA based on a 4.0 scale.

Grading Scale
A......... 93 - 100
B......... 85 - 92
C..........75 - 84
D......... 70 - 74
F.......... Below 70
Internet Policy
Students are responsible for good behavior on the Internet just as they are at their home school and in the classroom.
Materials that are obscene, offensive, threatening, or otherwise intended to harass or demean recipients must not be
transmitted. Using the network is a privilege and entails responsibility. A student will lose the privilege if any of
the access rules are broken.
Optional Program
The STEM Academy is considered an optional or honors program. To remain in the STEM program a student must
maintain an average of C or above in each course. In order to take the Principals of Engineering course, a student
must earn a B in the Introduction to Engineering course.
Summer Enrichment Programs
Students are encouraged to participate in the STEM Academy two week summer program and strongly encouraged
to participate in Engineering and/or STEM summer enrichment programs. Information regarding local, regional and
national summer enrichment opportunities will be disseminated throughout the year.

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Handbook Awareness Statement

My signature below indicates that I have received and read East High Schools STEM Academy Student Handbook. I
have read all of the policies and I agree to abide by each of them.
STEM Teacher ____________________________________________________________________________
Students Name (PRINT) ____________________________________________________________________
Students Signature ________________________________________________________________________
Parents Name (PRINT) ____________________________________________________________________
Parents Signature _________________________________________________________________________

Date _____________________________________

This form should be signed and submitted to your STEM teacher.

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