Classroom Norms

Arrive inside the classroom and prepare necessary materials before the bell rings/class commence.

Ensure your desk surface is completely clear of trash, crumbs, or stray markings before you sit down.

Any trash found near your desk area is your responsibility to pick up and dispose of properly, regardless of who dropped it.

Dedicate the final 30 seconds of the period to checking your immediate radius and picking up any debris, even if it is not yours

Class instruction will not begin until the classroom is completely clean, all materials are in order, and every student is seated in their assigned place.

Change into the appropriate, safe clothing required for specific subjects, such as closed-toe shoes for science labs or athletic wear for physical education.

Ensure your clothing is clean, neat, and appropriate for a professional public setting.

Avoid wearing clothing, hats, or accessories that display seductive, offensive language, political slurs, illegal substances, or discriminatory symbols.

Remove hoods, beanies, or sunglasses inside the classroom unless worn for documented medical, cultural, or religious practices.

Keep footwear on at all times.

Students who entered the classroom beyond the 5-minute grace period will be considered late.

The students who entered the classroom 16-20 minutes late will be considered absent but will still be allowed to enter the class and participate various classroom activities.

The ONLY acceptable means for a student to be excused is a written excused letter duly signed by the student’s legal guardian using the template provided by the school. In case that the guardian opts to use an online notification can notify the adviser through any communication platforms but still needs to fill out a form that could be found in the SHS site and upload the duly signed excuse letter and ID to verify the guardian’s signature. 

It is the responsibility of the students to ask their classmates or teacher about the activities that they missed at the time of their absence or they are excused.

You are fully responsible for retrieving and completing makeup work. You receive an equal number of days to turn in missed assignments (e.g., a 2-day absence equals a 2-day extension). Work not submitted within this window will be marked as a zero.

Assignments, quizzes, or projects due on the day of an unexcused absence will receive a maximum grade of 50%.

Prepare to take any pre-announced tests or quizzes on the very day you return to school. 

Other related problems on absences should be referred to the guidelines provided by the school student handbook.

Keep laptops closed, tablets face down, and smartphones put away until the instructor explicitly directs you to use them.

Open only tabs, applications, and documents that are directly relevant to the current lesson; close social media, games, and streaming platforms.

Remove earbuds and headphones completely when the teacher or a classmate is speaking. Use them only during approved independent work blocks.

Obtain explicit permission from both the teacher and your peers before recording audio, taking photos, or filming video inside the classroom.

Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, online calculators, and search engines only within the specific boundaries permitted for each assignment.

Keep smartphones in your backpack or the designated classroom phone caddy. Do not leave them on your lap or desk surface.

Unsanctioned or disruptive device use will result in temporary confiscation or the standard disciplinary actions provided in the Student Handbook.

Practice prudence during long discussion. Refrain from doing things that could disrupt the class form listening or accomplishing specific activities.

Share your perspective confidently if you are usually quiet; invite others to speak if you have already shared multiple times.

Pivot your posture and maintain eye contact with whoever is speaking to show physical engagement and respect.

Validate a classmate's contribution before adding your own thoughts or introducing a counterargument.

Other related problems on disruptive behavior should be referred to the guidelines provided by the school student handbook.

Determine group roles (e.g., facilitator, timekeeper, recorder) immediately and commit fully to your specific responsibilities.

Contribute actively to every step of the task; do not rely on one or two group members to do all the heavy lifting.

Maintain a collaborative "table talk" volume that allows your group to work effectively without disrupting neighboring teams.

Focus on brainstorming and refining ideas collaboratively without mocking a teammate's rough or incomplete drafts.

Keep a steady eye on the clock and self-regulate your workflow to ensure your group finishes the task before the deadline.

Consult the assignment prompt, your class notes, and a nearby classmate before approaching the teacher with a question.

Respect the concentration of those around you by working silently and avoiding social side-conversations.

Use headphones only when explicitly permitted, keeping the volume low enough to hear any sudden teacher announcements.

Respect the concentration of those around you by working silently and avoiding social side-conversations.

Laptops, tablets, and phones are powerful tools. Keep them out and active for classwork, but silenced and away during direct instruction or discussions.

Raise your hand and wait to be recognized before speaking; never shout out answers, even if you are enthusiastic.

Frame your answer as a complete thought rather than shouting a single-word response. (e.g., Instead of just saying "Photosynthesis," say, "The process the plant uses to convert sunlight into energy is photosynthesis.") unless the question demands one answer.

Allow a 3-second pause after a classmate finish speaking before raising your hand to respond, ensuring they have fully completed their thought.

☝️ 1 Finger — Restroom (Only the ladies are allowed to go to the restroom with a companion)

✊ Closed Fist Raised — STOP immediately. Freeze, end your conversation, raise your fist, and look at the teacher for instructions.