2019-20 Parent/Student Handbook (PDF)
Parent/Student Sign Off After reading the Handbook, sign this sheet and return it to your instructor.
Mission
WANIC’s primary mission is to provide quality, diverse, and cost-effective career and technical education for all students through interdistrict cooperation.
WANIC’s goals include:
CONTACT US
WANIC SKILL CENTER
11605 132nd Ave NE Suite A108
Kirkland, WA 98034
Email: wanic@lwsd.org
Tell: 425.739.8400
Fax: 425.739.8398
Website: www.wanic.org
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bookkeeper Hours
Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Staff
Karen Hay – Director/Principal
Jana Robertson – Office Manager
Nikki Meredith – Office Manager
Erika Somm – Office Manager/Bookkeeper
The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, gender, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran, military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Director of Human Resources 16250 NE 74th Street Redmond Washington, 98052 (425) 936-1266
Schedule
Classes scheduled at WANIC Skill Center on Lake Washington Institute of Technology campus are
7:15-9:45 am and 12:00-2:30 pm. Subject to slightly change to accommodate student schedules.
Classes scheduled on DigiPen Institute of Technology campus are 7:15-9:45 am, 12:30-3:00 pm, and 3:30-6:00 pm. Subject to slightly change to accommodate student schedules.
Classes at the WANIC Skill Center and DigiPen follow the Lake Washington School District schedule. The LWSD District Calendar is available on the LWSD website in English and Spanish.
NOTE: WANIC students do not release early on Wednesdays.
Emergency Closure
As a courtesy, local radio stations and flashalert.net will announce school cancellations, delays, and early dismissals due to inclement weather or emergencies. WANIC Skill Center will be delayed/closed in conjunction with the Lake Washington School District. If Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) or DigiPen is closed, WANIC classes held on those campuses will also be cancelled. LWTech recommends registering with Omnilert to have updates sent directly to you.
NOTE: WANIC students do not release early on Wednesdays.
As a courtesy, local radio stations and flashalert.net will announce school cancellations, delays, and early dismissals due to inclement weather or emergencies. WANIC Skill Center will be delayed/closed in conjunction with the Lake Washington School District. If Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) or DigiPen is closed, WANIC classes held on those campuses will also be cancelled. LWTech recommends registering with Omnilert to have updates sent directly to you.
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and/or Section 504 Accommodation Plans are designed for students with specific learning, behavior, or health needs. Once determined eligible, students may receive support and/or accommodations in the classroom setting. All necessary determinations of individuals who qualify for such services as well as any supports or accommodations deemed necessary are the responsibility of the student’s sending high school. Students with Individual Education Plans or Section 504 Accommodation Plans must remain enrolled in a sending high school in order to continue receiving special services support while attending WANIC.
On-the-job safety is a vital part of all occupations and is a part of each program at WANIC. Everyone is expected to demonstrate safe work habits. WANIC reserves the right to search the following but not limited to lockers, backpacks and vehicles that are on campus and at school-related events if reasonable suspicion exists. Safety violations are subject to strict discipline, including possible dismissal from a program. The following safety regulations, adopted from industry standards found on the job, are to be observed at all times:
1. Safety Rules: Students are expected to know, understand and follow safety rules as well as maintain an orderly and clean work area. Individual program safety rules are posted and must be followed.
2. Eye Safety: If a student is involved in a program of a hazardous nature WISHA code clearly states individuals must wear appropriate industry-quality eye protective devices as designated.
3. Handling Blood/Body Fluid: Gloves (available in each classroom) must be worn if contact with blood or other body fluid is possible.
4. Food-Borne Illness: Care must be taken in program activities involving the handling of food in an effort to prevent food-borne illness from occurring.
5. Fire Drills and Emergency Procedures: Plans have been developed that will ensure the maximum efficiency and safety for evacuating the building during fires or other emergencies. Drills are to be taken seriously. Instructions will be posted for students in each room. Teachers will discuss the instructions periodically with the students.
WANIC follows an attendance policy similar to business and industry in that a student is considered an employee or a professional and is expected to be in full daily attendance in order to assure that maximum learning and productivity are achieved. Daily attendance and active participation in each class is a critical part of the learning process. The following policies and procedures are designed to help students learn responsibility and increase their potential for success. As part of recognizing the importance of this issue, parents and student are responsible for both being aware of student’s attendance and correcting any error in a timely manner.
Programs at WANIC Skill Center include numerous hands-on activities which can be attained only by being in attendance. The skill application and practice in the lab setting is critical to skill competency.
All program instructors maintain the standards and attendance expectations for their programs. Individual teacher policies may include grade consequences related to attendance. Refer to teacher syllabus for specifics.
An absence may not be approved if it causes a serious adverse effect on the student's educational progress.
If a student is chronically absent, the school principal shall have reason to consider that further absences may have an adverse impact on the student’s educational progress and therefore that further absences shall not be considered excused until a conference is held to develop a plan to support the student and that the student is in compliance with such a plan.
Tardies
Students are expected to be in class each assigned class period on time. Corrective action may be taken when a student’s tardiness becomes frequent or disruptive.
These standards teach what employers expect of their employees:
Absences must be reported by the parent/guardian to the WANIC Office within 48 hours of the missed day. There are four ways to excuse an absence:
All attendance communication must include the student's full name, date of absence, and detailed reason for the absence and must be submitted directly to the WANIC office. Please review the JED file on the LWSD website and the JED-R file on the LWSD website for more information on State laws regarding school absences. Until a valid reason is provided, the absence will be considered unexcused. Verification from a medical professional may be required for excessive absences. It is the student’s responsibility to have their parents excuse absences on time.
Absence excuses must be communicated directly to the WANIC office. We encourage communicating to the teacher too, however, the WANIC office must hear from the parent/guardian directly in order to excuse an absence. It is not the teacher’s responsibility to relay parent messages to the office.
Pre-Arranged Extended Absence If it is unavoidable that your student will be missing three or more school days, you must complete the Pre-Arranged Absence Form at least one week prior to the absence. This form requires approval from both the instructor and the WANIC Director, who will consider the student's current grade, attendance record, and the impact additional absences will have on the student's academic progress. This form can be found at this link or picked up in the WANIC office.
We believe that students need to be in school to receive the fullest measure of educational benefit and we would like to work with you to eliminate unnecessary absences. We understand that there are legitimate reasons that a student needs to be absent and will work with you and your student when these circumstances do occur. Poor attendance may impact your student’s grade. In our effort to communicate and work together for your student’s success, grade and attendance information is available any time online through LWSD Skyward Family Access.
Students, if you become ill during the day, report to your teacher. Do not leave school for any reason without signing out and without parent/guardian approval or you will be considered truant.
Students are responsible for the proper care of all school property including but not limited to books, supplies, technology and furniture. Anyone who damages or loses property or equipment will be required to pay for the item to be repaired or replaced. Anyone misusing or abusing school property will be subject to disciplinary action.
In computer labs, care must be taken to protect equipment from damage. Specific restrictions may be applied by program instructors regarding the use and consumption of food or beverages within a computer or classroom lab setting. Liquids, if allowed by instructor, are to be limited to containers that can be sealed and hands must be cleaned of all sticky or oily residue.
Students provide their own transportation.
Students who are authorized to drive to and from any WANIC campus must know and observe the following regulations:
· Student vehicles are to be parked in designated spaces only. Vehicles must occupy only one parking space. Cars parked in unauthorized areas may be ticketed or towed.
· Handicapped parking is available.
· Student parking must comply with city fire codes; do not block fire lanes around the building.
· Follow the posted speed and stop signs on campus at all times. Speeding or careless driving on campus grounds or on streets bordering the campus or at off-campus sites may cause loss of driving privileges and/or further disciplinary actions.
· Drivers are responsible for keeping all litter contained in your vehicle. Littering is not permitted on any WANIC campus including the parking lot, the street bordering the campus, or at any off-campus sites.
· Music must be at a level that will not be disruptive to the educational process. Music should not be able to be heard outside of the student’s vehicle.
· The parking lot is considered off limits during session hours. Students must gain permission from a staff member prior to going out to the parking lot for any reason during session.
· Drivers shall, at all times, yield the right of way to school busses and pedestrians.
Students who are authorized to drive to and from DigiPen will receive a parking pass from them.
Failure to follow the above stated rules may result in the termination of driving/parking privileges and/or further disciplinary action.
Cell phones and electronic devices are to be silenced and put away during class time. It is the intent of WANIC Skill Center and the Lake Washington School District to provide a safe, productive, positive, and disruption-free classroom and learning environments. Use of cell phones (including texting, taking pictures and videos, etc.) and other electronic devices can be disruptive to the classroom environment and must be silenced when entering the program area. Programs may have additional guidelines regarding cell phones and electronic devices noted in the program syllabus.
Consequences for inappropriate cell phone and electronic device use can range from a verbal warning to confiscation of the cell phone and electronic device.
Dress standards at WANIC are established in an effort to directly connect to the expectations in
an employment setting. Therefore, several of the standards acceptable at the comprehensive high
school level may not be deemed acceptable by WANIC employability standards. WANIC instructors will provide dress code regulations specific to each program.
A good general policy regarding the dress code is: If there is ANY QUESTION about an item being inappropriate, DO NOT WEAR IT.
If the student’s dress or grooming is objectionable under these provisions, the principal/designee shall request the student to make appropriate corrections. If the student refuses, the principal/designee shall notify the parent/guardian and request assistance in guiding the student to make the necessary correction. If both the student and parent/guardian refuse, the principal/designee shall take appropriate corrective action. Students may be suspended, if circumstances so warrant and students who violate provisions of the dress code relating to extracurricular activities may be removed or excluded from the extracurricular activity for such period as the principal/designee may determine. All students shall be accorded due process safe-guards before any corrective action may be taken.
WANIC will help students to develop and reinforce self-control, orderliness, respect, and efficiency necessary to maintain a positive attitude, self-discipline, and overall effectiveness as a future employee.
Each staff member at WANIC is committed to proactive involvement with students by anticipating needs and always treating individuals fairly, openly, and honestly. If disciplinary action is warranted this will result in referral to the student’s sending high school for disciplinary measures.
Health Information - Parents/guardians have the primary responsibility for a student’s health. WANIC does not have a full-time on-site school nurse or health room, so anyone who is too ill to be in class needs to identify an emergency contact person who is available for transportation home.
School Accident Insurance: WANIC and the Lake Washington School District do NOT provide medical insurance coverage for accidents or injuries resulting from participation in school or school-related activities. This means that the student’s parent or legal guardians are financially responsible for any cost associated with such accidents. If a student has no medical insurance or wishes to supplement existing insurance, information detailing available accident insurance plans is available. Please contact the WANIC office. WANIC is not acting as an insurance agent; it is only making information available to interested parties.
Privacy Rights: Federal law prohibits school districts from releasing information found in student files without parent/guardian permission, except for what is called Directory Information. Parents can tell the school and district to keep Directory Information private as well. You can specify your Directory Information options at the same time that you verify your student’s information in LWSD Skyward Family Access. This must be done before September 15 each year. Or you may write a letter to WANIC explaining your request to withhold Directory Information.
To set options online: In LWSD Skyward Family Access, in the Online Student Information Verification section, in Step 1 a. at the bottom of the page, you will find the “Allow Publication of Student’s Information for:” section. You can select Yes or No to the following options:
All these options default to Yes.
If you set either the Public or District options to No, be sure to inform your student so they understand why they will not be included in any photographs or videos during WANIC activities.
WANIC grades are assigned quarterly and transcripts are forwarded to each home high school at the end of each semester. Students may receive up to three high school credits per year. Grading categories include at a minimum, but not limited to the following areas:
ONLINE GRADING: Students and parents/guardians are given access to view their grades and attendance online through LWSD Skyward Family Access.
Note: A grade of “F” may be recorded for a course dropped at any time after the 10th day of the semester.
Most WANIC programs offer Dual Credits (students can earn both high school AND college credit). Students who successfully complete their program with a grade of B or better are eligible to receive college credits. For more information visit the Pacific NW College Credit (formerly Tech Prep College Connections) website https://www.pnwcollegecredit.org/
DigiPen students should speak with their instructor to learn about earning college credits for DigiPen Institute of Technology.
WANIC leadership activities exist to give everyone an opportunity to develop a sense of belonging, greater school pride, leadership skills, a sense of accomplishment, and a commitment to one's community. WANIC endorses, encourages, and supports leadership activities as part of training. In accordance with Washington State standards for vocational education, a leadership component shall be integrated into each program curriculum. This may be accomplished through Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) such as Skills USA, HOSA, or through a locally developed leadership program, such as Explorers.
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