CAREER, COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Reference books, computer programs, and material on careers and employment opportunities are available in the Guidance Office and Library Media Center. Guidance counselors are available to provide individual counseling and upon request, can administer and interpret interest inventories and aptitude tests. Services provided by the Division of Employment and Training are made available to graduating seniors upon request.

Current education resource materials and financial aid information is available to all students. College representatives are invited in to make presentations and to speak with individual students and groups. In addition, arrangements are made for students to visit college fairs and to attend college days. Please note that arrangements must be made by the guidance department prior to each visit in order for the student to be eligible for an appealed absence.

COUNSELING

The guidance staff welcomes the opportunity to speak with students regarding academic, career or personal concerns. Passes issued by a teacher or Coordinator are required for a student to visit the Guidance Office during class or shop periods. Students can receive information on a walk-in basis before school, during lunch period and after school. In the event of pressing concerns, services also are available on a walk-in basis during school hours.

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES

The primary goal of the guidance department is to assist students with their educational, vocational and social concerns. It is vitally important that a student have at least one special person in school to whom he / she can turn for assistance. The goal of the guidance department is to meet that need.

HEALTH ASSISTING AND NURSE ASSISTING / SCHOOL NURSE

The services of a Registered Nurse are available to all students during the school day. In addition to responding to sudden illness or injury, the school nurse will conduct routine screenings for vision, hearing and scoliosis, manage communicable disease issues and perform routine health assessments. The nurse is always available to discuss health care issues with parents or students.

All injuries, however slight, must be reported to the instructor and the school nurse so that first aid may be given and a record made for insurance purposes.

INSURANCE

The school district provides insurance to all full-time students while they are in attendance at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. Because off-campus work is often an integral part of the school’s career and technical education programs, this insurance also covers students while they participate in school-supervised, off-campus projects and activities during school hours. This coverage is only for school-related activities and supervised travel to and from school.

This insurance supplements but does not take the place of a student’s private insurance. It is designed to cover those expenses not covered by other insurance, not to duplicate benefits from such other insurance.

Twenty-four hour coverage may be purchased separately by parents and guardians.

PREGNANT AND PARENTING PROGRAM

Pregnant or parenting students will be allowed to attend classes and career/technical programs during regular school hours, use all school facilities, attend all appropriate school functions, and participate in all curricular and extracurricular activities, as long as the student’s physical and mental health is not endangered.

To obtain services, a pregnant or parenting student should inform the School Nurse of his / her situation. All rights to confidentiality will be protected. However, the student will be strongly encouraged to discuss the situation with his / her parents.

The School Nurse will meet with the student for an initial assessment and review educational options, including remain at GNB Voc-Tech, transfer to the appropriate academic high school, or transfer to the New Bedford Public Schools Parenting Teen program. We strongly recommend that the student remain in a formal educational program.

If the student chooses to stay at GNB Voc-Tech, the School Nurse will meet with him/her at regular intervals to monitor progress and assess the need for services. Appropriate referrals will be made to medical personnel and social agencies and students will be assisted in accessing these services.

Educational materials on a variety of topics will be available from the School Nurse. Individual and group informational programs will also be available.

School services will continue as long as the student agrees to participate or until the school administration deems the services as not having a beneficial effect.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

The services of a licensed clinical psychologist and a school adjustment counselor are available throughout the academic year. The goal of these services is to assist students with academic, social, and personal problems, with special emphasis upon family conflict, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and depressive reactions.

Referrals are typically initiated through the Guidance Office, particularly in situations where counselors determine that a student would benefit from a more intensive treatment experience. Faculty and administrative personnel have been asked to refer students who display signs of disturbing behavior and / or emotional conflict. The nature and the content of the meetings are confidential.

SPECIAL SERVICES / SPECIAL EDUCATION

As required under federal and state law, special services are available to students who require assistance with their educational programs.

A student may be referred to the Student Study Team by a school official, teacher, parent or guardian, court officer, social worker, family doctor, or by the student himself or herself.

A student may be referred for an evaluation by a parent or any person in a caregiving or professional position concerned with the student’s development.

A student and / or parent should contact the Special Services department to obtain further information or make a referral.

After appropriate testing is completed and eligibility is determined, a Team will write an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for the student. The Team may include an administrator, special education person, general education teacher, chairperson, guidance counselor, nurse, psychologist, teacher, parent, and student.

An underlying principle of the law is that students with special needs must be treated in a manner that closely resembles their peers in regular education. At the same time, their unique programming needs are considered. In adopting a policy for the disciplining of special needs students, we have sought a balance between the overall maintenance of discipline and the assurance that special needs students are not denied access to their educational programs for behavior that is directly related to their identified special needs or because of an inappropriate special education program.

This policy puts in place procedures that assure that students receive their statutory protections. Special educators are involved in the decision to exclude a student. The special education program is reviewed and an alternative form of education is provided. It does not prohibit school administrators from suspending students but does require a more deliberate view of the causes for the suspension and the development of an alternative program, where appropriate, consistent with federal and state law.

Placement in an Interim Alternative Education Setting

In general, if a student has violated the school’s disciplinary standards, the school may change the student’s placement from the current educational setting to an interim alternative education setting, another setting, or suspension for a period not to exceed ten (10) cumulative school days during any school year.

This school district may place the student in an interim alternative education setting for up to 45 school days if the student possesses, uses, sells or solicits illegal drugs or carries a weapon to school or a school function. The school district also may place the student in an appropriate interim setting for up to 45 school days upon order of a hearing officer who determines the current placement is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or others.

If the school district wants to change the placement for more than 10 school days, the student’s parents must participate in the IEP Team that determines whether the behavior was or was not related to the student’s disability (a “manifestation determination”).

If the Team determines that the behavior was related to the student’s disability, then he/she may not be removed from the current educational placement (except in the case of weapons or drugs) until the IEP Team develops a new IEP and decides upon a new placement. If the Team determines the behavior was not related to the student’s disability, then the school may suspend or otherwise discipline the student, except that the school district must continue to provide him/her with a Free Appropriate Public Education during the period of suspension or expulsion.

If the student’s parents disagree with the Team’s decision on the “manifestation determination” or with the decision relating to placement of the student in an interim alternative education setting or any other disciplinary placement, the parents have the right to request an expedited due process hearing from the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.

If the student has been placed in an interim alternative education setting as a result of a disciplinary action, he/she may remain in the interim setting for a period not to exceed 45 days. Thereafter, the student will return to the previously agreed-upon educational placement unless either a hearing officer orders another placement or the student’s parents and the school agree to another placement.

The IEP for every special needs student will indicate whether the student can be expected to meet the regular discipline code or if modification is required. If a modified discipline code is required, it will be written into the IEP.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Education for students with limited English proficiency is provided as required by state law.

Student services are based on English proficiency, academic standing and ability to learn.

The school district offers equal access to all programs of study to students with limited English-speaking ability.

Parents have the right to know if their child has been placed in an English acquisition program, and to accept or refuse such placement.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is provided to and from school for those students who qualify.

As a convenience, the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) offers 10-ride student bus tickets for use on SRTA buses between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on school days. These tickets are available for purchase in the Main Office.

RESOURCES

Crisis and Emergency Numbers

Department of Social Services Child at Risk Hotline:

- 1-800-792-5200 or (508) 910-1000

Domestic Violence Hotline:

- (508) 992-4222

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center Teen Clinic:

- (508) 992-6553

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children:

- (617) 587-1500

New Bedford Child & Family Emergency Services (24 hours):

- (508) 996-3154

Poison Control and Prevention:

- 1-800-682-9211

Rape 24-Hour Hotline:

- (508) 999-6636

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline:

- 1-800-662-4357

AIDS

AIDS Action Hotline:

- 1-800-235-2331

Center for Health and Human Services:

- (508) 990-8280

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center:

- (508) 992-6553

Hepatitis Hotline:

- 1-888-443-4372

Counseling and Mediation

Boston Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth:

- 1-800-422-2459

Greater New Bedford Women’s Center:

- (508) 996-3343

New Bedford Child & Family Services:

- (508) 996-8572

Drugs and Alcohol

Al-A-Teen / Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction:

- (508) 997-9051

Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline:

- 1-800-252-6465

Center for Health and Human Services of New Bedford:

- (508) 990-8345

Educational Services / Job Training

Center for Human Services Educational Opportunity Center:

- (508) 996-3147

Greater New Bedford Career Center:

- (508) 990-4000

Job Corps:

- (508) 990-4136

New Bedford High School (and G.E.D.):

- (508) 997-4511

Legal Services

New Bedford Juvenile Court:

- (508) 999-9700

New Center for Legal Advocacy:

- (508) 996-8576

Southeastern Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation:

- (508) 979-7150

Medical Numbers

Emergency Rescue:

- 911

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center Teen Clinic:

- (508) 992-6553

New Bedford Family Planning:

- (508) 984-5333

St. Luke’s Hospital:

- (508) 997-1515

Pregnancy / Alternative Counseling

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center:

- (508) 992-6553

Greater New Bedford Women’s Center:

- (508) 996-3343

New Bedford Child & Family Services Young Mothers Program:

- (508) 996-8572

Runaway

Covenant Crisis Hotline :

- 1-800-999-9999

National Runaway Switchboard:

- 1-800-621-4000

Suicide / Samaritans

Samaritans Hotline:

- (508) 999-7267 or (508) 673-5160