Upper School Handbook 2015-16

The Kinkaid School
Upper School Handbook 2015-16
CAMPUS MAP - UPPER SCHOOL
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
History...................................................................................................................................... 3
Mission .................................................................................................................................... 3
Philosophy and Values .............................................................................................................. 3
Commitment to Character........................................................................................................ 4
II. Academics
Graduation Requirements.......................................................................................................... 5
Community Service................................................................................................................... 5
Summer Reading....................................................................................................................... 6
Grading and Grade Reporting................................................................................................... 7
Academic Honors...................................................................................................................... 8
Honors and Advanced Placement Courses................................................................................. 9
Independent Study.................................................................................................................. 10
Adding and Dropping Classes.................................................................................................. 11
Academic Probation................................................................................................................. 11
Summer School....................................................................................................................... 12
Homework.............................................................................................................................. 12
Tests and Examinations............................................................................................................ 12
Tutorial.................................................................................................................................... 13
Study Hall............................................................................................................................... 13
Tutoring.................................................................................................................................. 14
Interim Term........................................................................................................................... 14
Assemblies............................................................................................................................... 16
Awards, Grants, Special Scholarships........................................................................................ 17
III. Daily Life
Introduction to Upper School ................................................................................................. 20
Problem-Solving at Kinkaid .................................................................................................... 22
A. Support at Kinkaid
Advisory Program............................................................................................................. 22
Dean System ................................................................................................................... 23
Counseling/Support Services............................................................................................ 24
Health Care, Medical Forms and Medicines at School..................................................... 24
Communicable Disease Policy.......................................................................................... 25
Moran Library................................................................................................................. 26
Bookstore......................................................................................................................... 26
B. Councils, Clubs and Publications
Student Leadership Statement.......................................................................................... 27
Governing Council.......................................................................................................... 27
Honor Code and Honor Council..................................................................................... 28
Community Service Council............................................................................................ 30
Peer Mentors.................................................................................................................... 30
Extracurricular Programs & Clubs................................................................................... 30
Student Publications........................................................................................................ 32
C. Student Expectations and Responsibilities
Attendance....................................................................................................................... 34
Dress Code...................................................................................................................... 38
Driving and Parking on Campus...................................................................................... 39
Personal Electronic Devices.............................................................................................. 40
Eating and Drinking in School Building.......................................................................... 40
Lockers............................................................................................................................ 40
Backyard.......................................................................................................................... 40
Building and Grounds Regulations.................................................................................. 41
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Policy................................................................................. 42
Tobacco & E-Cigarette Policy.......................................................................................... 44
Guns & Weapons Policy.................................................................................................. 44
Acceptable Use of Technology.......................................................................................... 44
Visitor Policy.................................................................................................................... 46
Off-Campus Trips and School Trip Policy ....................................................................... 47
IV. Arts and Athletics
Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness............................................................................. 49
Athletics and Fine Arts Cooperation Guidelines....................................................................... 49
SPC Sportsmanship Creed/SPC Members............................................................................... 50
Interscholastic Athletic/Activities............................................................................................. 51
Off-Campus Physical Education/Athletic Credit ..................................................................... 52
Dance for PE Credit................................................................................................................ 52
V. Administration, Faculty and Staff...................................................................................... 53
VI. School-wide Policies
Statement on Diversity............................................................................................................ 57
Statement of Environmental Intention..................................................................................... 57
Expectation of Adult Constituencies........................................................................................ 58
Non-Discrimination Policy...................................................................................................... 61
Non-Harassment..................................................................................................................... 62
Policy on Religious Expression................................................................................................. 62
Fine Arts Safety Policy............................................................................................................. 63
Student Accident Insurance..................................................................................................... 63
About this Handbook.............................................................................................................. 64
School Song, Motto, Colors, Mascot and Emblem.................................................................. 64
The oldest independent coeducational school in Houston, Kinkaid was founded in 1906 by
Margaret Hunter Kinkaid. The School has had three locations—the first of which was Mrs.
Kinkaid’s own home, where classes were conducted in the dining room; the second location
was at the corner of Richmond and Graustark; and, in the fall of 1957, the School moved to
its present campus in Piney Point Village. Initially 40 acres, the campus expanded by another
24 acres with the purchase of neighboring property in 2011.
Kinkaid has had five headmasters — Mrs. Kinkaid, who governed the School until 1951;
John Cooper from 1951-1979; Glenn Ballard from 1979-1996; and Donald C. North from
1996-2013. Dr. Andrew Martire began his tenure as Kinkaid’s fifth headmaster in the 2013-14
school year.
John Cooper’s twenty-seven year leadership continued Mrs. Kinkaid’s traditions of rigorous
academics, arts, and athletics for all students. It was during this time that Kinkaid developed
the national reputation enjoyed by today’s school. Under Glenn Ballard’s guidance, Kinkaid
and its faculty were enriched by parent and alumni encouragement and support. Student
opportunities in academics, arts, and athletics were expanded steadily, with corresponding
increases in the number of achievements. The campus witnessed extensive renovations and the
addition of a new Middle School and gymnasium. During Don North’s tenure, the School
adopted its current mission statement, statement of philosophy, and its four core values of
honesty, respect, responsibility and kindness. The School’s endowment was significantly
increased, and noteworthy enhancements were made to the campus, including a new Lower
School building, the Lenny C. Katz Performing Arts Center, and the Center for Student Life,
Fine Arts and Administration. With Dr. Martire, Kinkaid has a dedicated new leader who
is committed to moving the School ahead, while heeding the traditions of the four wise and
caring individuals who preceded him.
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
MISSION
Kinkaid’s mission is to promote educational excellence, personal responsibility, and balanced
growth, and thereby to help its students to discover and develop their talents and to fulfill
their best potentials.
PHILOSOPHY
From its earliest days Kinkaid has emphasized both academic attainment and character
development. Margaret Kinkaid described her ideal student as “the intellectually capable boy
or girl of sound character whose talents, interests, and uniqueness are educational assets for
other Kinkaid children.” Today’s Kinkaid remains faithful to its founder’s calling, valuing its
students for their potential, as well as their achievement, and striving always for their balanced
growth—intellectual, physical, social, and ethical.
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The primary goals of Kinkaid are intellectual endeavor and achievement. The School also believes that
a well-rounded education includes experiences in the arts, athletics, and a variety of extra-curricular
activities.
Kinkaid further believes that every student is and will continue to be part of a community and,
therefore, seeks to strengthen his or her moral responsibility to it. The School actively promotes
honor, respect for self and others, and responsibility.
Kinkaid also believes that participation of parents in their children’s education is essential to
accomplishing its mission. The School makes every attempt to inform them of the School’s purposes
and goals, and expects their strong support in the pursuit of these aims.
COMMITMENT TO CHARACTER
The Kinkaid School is a community with a continuing commitment to the following shared values.
These values guide our philosophy, educational program, and daily interaction. Kinkaid recognizes
that the primary responsibility for instilling and strengthening these values resides with parents.
Nevertheless, Kinkaid can and should play an important role as well. The four core values are the
following:
• Honesty: Members of the Kinkaid community tell the truth and act with integrity and honor. We do not mislead, cheat, or steal.
• Responsibility: Members of the Kinkaid community are reliable and hold themselves and others
accountable for their actions. We do not make excuses, blame others, or take unwarranted credit.
• Respect: Members of the Kinkaid community affirm the intrinsic dignity of all people. We act with
tolerance, courtesy, and thoughtful regard for all persons, for property, for the environment, and for
ourselves.
• Kindness: Members of the Kinkaid community exhibit caring and compassionate behavior in all
aspects of daily life. We are not mean and do not harass nor act in a cruel manner. By our positive
example, we discourage unkind behavior in others.
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ACADEMICS
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements for Graduation
Students are required to carry a minimum of five graded courses (not including after-school
courses), four of which are academic (required or academic electives qualify), per semester and
complete 20 graded credits. An “Independent Study” (or a course described as “directed study”)
will not count toward the “five course minimum load” required of students. Most students
should also participate in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities as detailed below.
20 REQUIRED GRADED CREDITS (See Course Catalog for specific details.)
4 credits
English
3 credits
History
3 credits
Mathematics (Required to be started in student’s freshmen year.)
3 credits
Science (Required to be started in student’s freshmen year.)
2 credits
Foreign Language (Required to be started in student’s freshmen year.)
1 credit
Fine Arts Graded Elective
4 credits
Academic or Graded Electives
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED CREDITS
2 credits
Interim Term (½ credit for each year in attendance)
ALSO REQUIRED
Computer Proficiency and Community Service (see below)
6 required credits of Physical Education (out of 12 possible seasons), four credits
recommended by the end of the sophomore year. This can be accomplished through
participation on an interscholastic sports team or in one of the alternative activities
offered by Kinkaid.
1 required credit of Decisions for Healthy Living or equivalent, completed during the
freshman year.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Every student in all grades, 9th through 12th, will be required to participate in at least one
Kinkaid-sponsored community service project during the 2015-2016 school year. This project
will involve a minimum commitment of 3 hours. The term “Kinkaid-sponsored” means
that the project has been approved by the Upper School Head and meets all criteria set by
Kinkaid. “Kinkaid-sponsored” service projects will involve groups of Kinkaid students working
together, provide a valuable service to the community, be acts of service rather than fundraising
activities, be in cooperation with a charity that meets Kinkaid’s standards and provide face-toface interaction with those served. Students are encouraged to attend as many service events as
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they wish during any given school year. However, service credits earned in excess of the requirement
during a given school year may NOT be applied to the requirement in other school years. Each
student is required to fulfill the service credit by the end of the school year. Those students who have
not fulfilled the service credit by the end of the school year will be required to perform 30 hours of
summer service at a Kinkaid-approved organization and submit a personal essay reflecting on the
experience. Returning students who have not fulfilled the service credit will not receive a transcript
and will not be enrolled in the next year’s classes until the service credit is complete. Seniors who
have not fulfilled the service requirement by graduation will not receive a diploma or transcript.
COMPUTER PROFICIENCY
Each student must demonstrate the ability to use the computer effectively for word processing,
database, spreadsheet, and networking tasks. The proficiency requirement can be met in the following
ways:
• completion of a computer programming class at Kinkaid; or
• completion of a designated course (see course catalog) that allows the student to demonstrate
application masters
• acceptable performance on a proficiency project completed within the first four semesters of the
student’s Upper School career.
SUMMER READING
Reading is an essential academic skill; accordingly, during the summer vacation, students should read
at least THREE books:
• The core book for the English course the student is taking;
• The all-school or grade level book selection;
• One book of the student’s choice--the student may, of course, choose another from the
Recommended List as his/her free choice.
The core book will be part of the curriculum for that year’s work in English; the other readings may
serve as springboards for discussion and as a foundation for other courses students will take during
their fall semester. The Honor Code applies to all work and activities associated with summer reading.
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GRADING & REPORTING
Academic grades are measures of a student’s achievement in the School’s educational program, in
terms of Kinkaid’s grading policies and standards, as interpreted by individual teachers. Grades are
not a measure of a student’s personal worth or potential.
Grade reports for each student are made available electronically to parents five times a year: two
times during the fall, at the end of the Interim Term, and twice during the spring semester. Semester
reports represent the cumulative academic achievement of the student. At the end of each grading
period (approximately nine weeks), the teacher averages the grades from the beginning of the
semester; thus, the grade on each report card represents the student’s exact standing. The semester
examination counts as 20-25% of the semester average.
All teachers are required to average grades in accordance with the cumulative grading system as
defined by the Governing Council and the Administration: that is to say, the grade recorded as the
“Cumulative Average” at the end of the semester should be the average of all individual grades earned
from the beginning of the semester to the last day of classes and should not simply be the average of a
first quarter grade and a second quarter grade.
The final semester grade will be calculated using a combination of semester cumulative grade and final
exam. The percent contribution of the exam (20-25%) is determined by the department/course.
Grading System
(97-100)
A
(93-96)
A(90-92)
B+ (87-89)
B
(83-86)
B(80-82)
C+ (77-79)
C
(73-76)
C(70-72)
D
(60-69)
F
(59 or below)
Seniors are required to pass all courses (final year’s grade) in which they are enrolled past the official
course withdrawal deadline; additionally, seniors must pass the second semester of all courses in
which they are enrolled. Any schedule changes made by a senior in the second semester must first be
approved by the colleges where the student has submitted an application.
Any problems that occur with regard to grading and testing policy and its implementation should be
A+
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addressed according to the guidelines for problem-solving described in the Upper School Handbook:
that is, students should first discuss the matter with the teacher immediately concerned; then if the
problem remains unresolved, seek the assistance of a dean, or the Upper School Head.
On student grade reports (but not on the transcript) an additional grade of U-Unsatisfactory,
N-Needs Improvement, S-Satisfactory, or E-Excellent will be shown for each subject. These are given
to inform the student of the teacher’s assessment of his or her effort in each particular class; they are
not grades for citizenship or deportment.
Grade Point Averages - The following scale will be used when calculating Grade Point Averages
(GPA) for transcripts and probation status:
Grade Point Averages
A+
= 12.0
C+
=
6.0
A
= 11.0
C
=
5.0
A-
= 10.0
C-
=
4.0
B+
= 9.0
D
=
2.0
B
= 8.0
F
=
0.0
B-
= 7.0
A weighted GPA will be calculated. In calculating the weighted GPA for a full-year course, the
following formulas will be used: in honors courses, 0.6 will be added to the scale grade before
averaging; in AP courses, 1.2 will be added to the scale grade before averaging. The average of the
Interim Term grades counts as a .5 credit each year. (The grade in Decisions for Healthy Living will
not be included in GPA calculations.) The grade for the full-year course is calculated by averaging the
first semester letter grade with the second semester letter grade, except in the case of a D or an F. In
such cases the numerical grades from each semester are averaged.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Honor Roll - At the end of each semester honor roll designations are made according to the
following:
• High Honors: All A’s (90-100)
• Honors: All A’s (90-100) and not more than two B’s (80-89)
(Please note: Additional points for weighting AP or Honors courses are not given when calculating
the Honor Roll.)
Honor Day - Each spring, Kinkaid recognizes exceptional accomplishments of its students at Honor
Day. Top scholarship awards are presented in the individual academic disciplines, in the arts, and in
extracurricular activities. The school also recognizes special scholarship recipients, school citizenship
awards, and other special awards.
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Cum Laude Society - The Cum Laude Society is a national organization whose purpose is to
recognize outstanding academic achievement in schools that have been awarded Cum Laude
Chapters. Election of students to the Kinkaid Chapter of the Cum Laude Society, normally in the
spring of senior year, is one of the School’s highest honors.
The selection committee consists of faculty members of the Kinkaid Chapter of the Cum Laude
Society. Cum Laude candidates must have earned a cumulative weighted grade point average
that puts them in the top quarter of their class and must have exceeded the minimum number of
graduation credits required in English, history, language, mathematics, and science. The selection
committee considers the relative academic rigor of the courses taken, including those with Honors
and Advanced Placement designations. In addition to compiling an outstanding record, candidates
for admissions to Cum Laude must also have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity.
Thus, the committee chapter’s review of potential inductees begins with a consideration of a student’s
academic record of achievement, but also includes consideration of a student’s disciplinary and
honor record in the Upper School. Both the timing and the seriousness of any disciplinary or honor
violations are important factors in this consideration. A student may be denied membership in Cum
Laude because of a disciplinary or honor violation.
The Cum Laude Society Handbook states that a school chapter may elect no more than twenty
percent of the senior class, but may elect fewer. The Handbook states further: “Since the motto of
the Society stresses excellence, justice, and honor in the broadest sense, the regents assume chapters
will elect to membership only students who have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity
in all aspects of their school life.”
AWARDS AND HONORS
The School’s policies and procedures on decisions for grading student effort and achievement and
awarding various school honors and prizes are the exclusive responsibility of designated members of
the administration and faculty.
HONORS AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
The School offers a number of Honors and Advanced Placement courses designed to challenge
interested students who are recommended by their teachers according to department guidelines.
Placement in Honors and Advanced Placement courses is at the discretion of the Upper School
Head or the Head of School. Recommended students benefit from both the pace and breadth of
the courses. Honors courses, designated with the suffix “H” in the course name (e.g. Chemistry IH),
are often prerequisite to enrollment in Advanced Placement courses. Advanced Placement courses
provide the student an opportunity to gain credit and/or advanced standing at some colleges in the
first year of college through national examinations administered each May.
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Normally, the Upper School offers Advanced Placement courses in English; World History, Modern
European history; United States history; U.S. Government and Politics, studio art; music theory;
calculus; computer science; statistics; fourth and fifth year Spanish, French, and Latin; and second
year biology, chemistry, and physics, as demand warrants. The courses are marked Advanced
Placement (AP) on the transcript. All students enrolled in AP courses must take the appropriate AP
exam regardless of the policies of any college that those students may plan to attend.
Recognizing the rigor of courses of Honors and Advanced Placement courses, extra points are added
to final scale grades when calculating Grade Point Averages (GPA). The formulas used are described
in the Grading and Reporting Grades section. The weighted GPA does not affect the tabulation of
honor roll nor is any grade altered on the permanent record or transcript for college.
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Requirements
Occasionally a student will exhaust the options for study within the regular curriculum, or will have
special interests in pursuing independent study. In order to pursue an independent study, a student
must submit a prospectus. The prospectus will include the following:
• the aim or goal of the study, including a description of the final product;
• the method(s) of accomplishing the final goal, including a process paper describing initially; the
methods anticipated and, finally, the methods actually used;
• a bibliography and/or description of all sources used in the project. Both the prospectus and the
process papers must be presented to the Selection Committee in writing and orally.
Selection Committee
This committee shall be comprised of the Upper School Head, the students’ dean, the department
chair, and the sponsoring teacher. The committee’s duties are as follows:
• approve the prospectus;
• hear progress reports from the sponsor and from the student at stated intervals, which it
determines;
• hold a final review to approve the completed independent study.
Sponsor Responsibilities
• Assist the student in adhering to the guidelines for writing the prospectus.
• Meet with the student at least once a week to assess progress.
• Prepare all standard grade reports for parents.
• Assign an academic grade to the project after final approval from the Selection Committee.
• A list of all independent study projects, with teacher advisor, will be kept in the upper school
office and with the registrar.
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ADDING OR DROPPING A CLASS
ADDING A CLASS
No course may be added to a student’s schedule after TEN CLASS DAYS.
DROPPING OR WITHDRAWING FROM A CLASS
A student wishing to drop a class must do so by the Friday of the second week of the second marking
period (or the second Friday of the fourth marking period in the case of a second semester course),
following discussion with parent(s) or guardian(s) and the teacher, and must be approved by the dean
(forms available from the dean). If students drop a course, they must still meet the minimum course
load requirements as described previously. After an approved drop, no evidence of the student having
been enrolled in the course appears on his or her transcript. In the case of seniors, colleges to which
they have applied may be notified. The same process for withdrawal from a P.E. class or team will be
followed (drop form and dean approval).
After these dates, there will be no withdrawal from courses without penalty on the transcript unless
approved by the Upper School Head. The transcript of a student who withdraws from a course after
the deadline will show a “W” followed by the grade earned at the time of withdrawal.
SWITCHING BETWEEN LEVELS OF THE SAME COURSE:
Students may switch between levels of the same course (e.g., AP US History to US History, Honors
Chemistry to Chemistry, Spanish III Honors to Spanish III) if they do so no later than by the Friday
of the second week of the second marking period (or the second Friday of the fourth marking period
in the case of a second semester course), following discussion with parent(s) or guardian(s) and
the teacher, and must be approved by the dean, department chair and Upper School Head (forms
available from the dean). After this date, there will be no switching between levels unless approved by
the Upper School Head.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
Students with one F, or more than one D in a semester, or whose unweighted semester average
is below C- (based on the grade point averages scale; averages are not rounded up) in English,
mathematics, history, science, and foreign language are placed on academic probation. Typically,
the student will have to achieve an average of C- or above with no grades of D or F the following
semester to continue at Kinkaid.
A student who returns to the academic probation list will be required to meet with his or her parents
and the Upper School Principal to determine if the student will be invited to return the following
semester. Students may also be placed on academic probation for other reasons at the sole discretion
of the Head of School.
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SUMMER SCHOOL
The minimum passing grade is 60/D. A student must have at least a 70/C- in English, Mathematics,
and Foreign Language for the second semester and the year to be eligible to proceed to the next level
in that discipline. Students may be allowed to proceed by completing an approved summer school
course, or twenty hours of tutoring, or other course of study approved by the dean and the Upper
School Head. Students may also be required to take a test prior to the new year to determine their
readiness for the next level.
Summer school courses taken for acceleration will not be shown on the transcript. Credits earned
will NOT count toward required credits. Grades will not be included int he cumulative GPA
computation. When a required course is taken off-campus, the Upper School Head reserves the right
to determine whether or not a student may advance in the curriculum sequence. Upon completion
of approved off-campus coursework students must arrange for a final transcript to be forwarded to
Kinkaid’s Deans Office for inclusion in the student’s permanent record.
HOMEWORK
Homework is carefully planned to prepare for experience in class and to reinforce what has been
previously learned. Forty-five minutes (60 minutes for AP courses) per subject per day is considered
the average homework load. Students are encouraged to be independent in carrying out their
assignments; nevertheless, faculty help should be sought whenever needed. Because of the emphasis
placed upon longer assignments (reading, research, theme-writing), students need to plan carefully so
that homework will not be excessively heavy when these assignments are due.
Thanksgiving and spring vacation are protected holidays: no homework may be assigned over these
holidays. All assignments due the Tuesday following these vacations should require no more time of
students than assignments on any other regular school night.
TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS
The purpose of this policy is twofold: to open the lines of communication between faculty and
students concerning grading and testing policy and to give teachers maximum flexibility and
autonomy. Making grading and testing policy more explicit, understandable, and accessible should
encourage positive interaction between faculty and students.
General Policy
All faculty members should adhere to the following:
• embrace the spirit of openness and communication shown throughout this document;
• give to their students a formal, written statement of their personal grading and testing policy at the
beginning of each course.
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Tests and Major Papers
• Tests and major papers must be announced three calendar days prior to the testing or due date.
• All tests on Monday must, however, be announced by at least the preceding Thursday.
• Teachers are required to record their tests in Veracross.
• No more than TWO tests and/or major research papers (in class or take home) can be required of
any student on any one date. This rule does not apply to make-up tests.
• It is the responsibility of the students to determine in what order teachers registered tests on the
Testing Schedule. If students find they have more than two tests/papers scheduled for the same
day, they must inform the teacher whose registration in the Online Testing Calendar is the most
recent at least 24 hours before the scheduled test.
• Teachers are expected to share the evaluation of previous tests with students prior to giving a
new test. Research papers must be registered on the Testing Calendar and will be considered
equivalent to one test.
FINAL EXAMINATION EXEMPTION
All students are required to take examinations with the exception of students in certain AP courses
and seniors attaining a grade of A- or above in certain courses. Each department determines which, if
any, of its AP offerings will not require spring final examinations. In the case of other courses, if the
teacher approves, a senior student with an A- or above average may be excused from taking the spring
examination. Exemptions may also be made for one-semester courses in the fall. A grade of A- or
above does not mean an automatic exemption.
AP TEST POLICY
All students enrolled in AP courses must take the appropriate AP exam regardless of the policies of
any college that those students may plan to attend.
TUTORIAL
All members of the faculty are available to provide extra help to their students each school day:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:45 to 8:25 a.m.; and Tuesday from 7:45 to
7:55 am, and at other announced or prearranged times. Students who wish assistance are urged to
participate in tutorial. A faculty member may require a student’s presence at the morning tutorial
whenever it is considered necessary.
STUDY HALL FOR NINTH GRADERS
Ninth grade students with only five courses will be assigned to study hall. The purpose of the study
hall is to provide a setting for proper use of free time. Study Hall will be treated as a class and failure
to attend will constitute a class “cut.” The Upper School Head or deans may assign any student to
study hall based on his or her academic progress.
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TUTORING
Tutoring is recommended only in unusual circumstances. The appropriate department chairperson
must approve all tutoring arrangements involving a Kinkaid teacher. Kinkaid teachers may not
accept fees for tutoring their own students. Kinkaid teachers may not tutor students for pay during
the school day. Any paid tutoring on the Kinkaid campus must have school approval. The School
recommends that classroom teachers be made aware that a student is being tutored so that the teacher
and the tutor can work together to help the student. Tutoring cannot substitute for the satisfactory
completion of a course required for graduation and will not earn academic credit toward graduation.
INTERIM TERM PHILOSOPHY
Interim Term is a separate curriculum which runs during the first three school weeks of January, and
all upper school students are required to participate. The primary purpose is enrichment through
experience, affording students opportunities to study in areas and situations unavailable in the regular
curriculum. To that end, Kinkaid Upper School faculty design and implement a variety of course
offerings and programs involving subjects not offered elsewhere or delving in greater depth into
subjects addressed only in survey courses in the regular curriculum. Students may choose to pursue
particular interests during the Interim Term. They are encouraged as well to explore new fields of
study and develop new academic interests during this special term.
PROGRAM
The term includes the following offerings, and a complete catalogue detailing all the elements of the
program and its requirements is published and distributed to students each fall:
Campus Program: (grades 9-11) Kinkaid faculty offers approximately 50 different courses during
Interim Term in a variety of subjects not available in the regular curriculum. Some of these courses
may involve traveling off-campus to sites around the city; the School, with faculty or professional
drivers, provides all transportation. While students must purchase textbooks for most courses, a select
few classes may involve fees to cover material costs where students produce a final product that they
may keep or to defray costs for special instructors or equipment brought in from outside Kinkaid.
Career Development: (grade 12 only) Internships in a workplace in a field of interest to the student,
such as law, medicine, journalism, research, or business. Seniors may choose to participate in an
international travel trip; the deadline for seniors to withdraw from a trip is September 1, 2015.
Independent Study: (grades 10-12) Students may apply to engage in an independent study project
part-time or full-time during Interim Term. The final deadline for these proposals is October 1, 2015.
They must apply in writing and be approved by the Upper School Head prior to commencement of
the independent study. All independent study proposals are subject to the following guidelines:
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• Independent Study projects should involve applied fine arts (drama, writing, painting,
photography, sculpture, etc.) or research in an academic subject (history, science, etc.)
NOTE: Internships with business or professional establishments, community service,
language study, and school exchanges do NOT qualify as Independent Study projects.
• By their nature, such projects are presumably individual; only in rare cases where
collaboration is shown to be necessary to the completion of the project will partnerships be
permitted.
• Only ONE student (except in the case of necessary collaboration) will be permitted to
complete a project at any particular off-campus site.
• The proposed study must be sponsored by a Kinkaid Upper School teacher who is
qualified and prepared to evaluate the project, assess a grade, and write a report card for the
student. The proposal should include the objectives of the study, the methods of approach,
a description of the final product of the study, the location(s) at which the study will be
completed, evidence that the student has whatever background or experience which the
study may require, the name and signature of consent of a Kinkaid Upper School faculty
sponsor, and the name and signature of consent of the student’s parent.
• Students must bear all costs involved in the proposed study.
• Proposals must be accompanied by a signed parental consent form indicating that the
student’s parents approve of the intended project, are prepared to bear all costs, and agree
either to transport their child to sites of study or to allow their child to drive unsupervised
to such sites.
• Those students who will pursue Independent Study projects at off-campus sites will
be required to sign and to have their parents sign the “Interim Term Independent Study
Understandings and Agreements” form prior to December 1, 2015.
Network: (grade 11 only) An exchange program offered by an association of 25 public and
independent schools around the United States and Canada, many of which have specialized curricula.
Host families and schools bear all costs except travel and incidentals. Kinkaid students must apply for
this program and be accepted by the host school.
Travel: (open to all grades, priority given by seniority)
The Interim Term program offers a variety of travel opportunities designed to offer the kind of
learning that cannot be achieved in the classroom. The academic focus of each trip varies depending
on the destination and the activities planned by the trip supervisors. Kinkaid students bear the costs
of these experiences, including transportation, accommodations, meals, and tour guides. The deadline
for seniors to withdraw from a trip for a full refund is September 1, 2015. For all others, the deadline
is September 8, 2015. Changes in trip choice may not be made after September 1, 2015.
The faculty chaperones design and publish clearly defined academic programs, delineating educational
objectives and describing the kinds of academic tasks assigned to students. In addition, it is expected
that faculty determine and approve all arrangements that have been made for the trip.
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Faculty also have another, no less important, role. They must define the parameters which ensure
the safety and well-being of the individual student and of the group as a whole. This responsibility
will include establishing limitations on student activity, both in kind and extent. In addition to
those restrictions already published under “Conduct,” the nature of the travel will also require
implementing room curfews, limiting or denying student separation from the group, and defining
appropriate student behavior in public or private places.
In addition to trip-specific policies and procedures set forth by the School, the sponsors and the
chaperones of any trip, all of the School’s regular policies and procedures, including those set forth
in this handbook, apply while a student is on school related travel of any kind. It is correspondingly
important that student travelers understand and accept the policies and obligations defined by the
School and its faculty representatives. Individual students do not travel as private citizens. They are
students both enrolled in and representing The Kinkaid School. They are, likewise, members of a
larger travel group, to whom they owe obligations which may require the sacrifice of personal desire.
Students who do not recognize their responsibilities should not enroll in school travel opportunities.
Once enrolled, students who choose to violate restrictions on behavior and/or activities should
expect and accept consequences for their actions, even to the point of expulsion from the School.
Students should understand that the standards which have been established aim to create maximum
educational value and personal safety. Students, therefore, who voluntarily remove themselves from
school policies designed to protect them, risk personal danger for which the School cannot be
responsible.
The School believes as well that it is the obligation of parents to know and understand the educational
aims and personal restrictions in student travel. These policies should be discussed within the
family, and the family as a whole should agree to their purpose and value. In cases where parents are
uncertain about school policies, they should seek clarification from the Upper School Head or other
authority. In cases where parents disagree with these policies, they should not enroll their child for
travel.
SPECIAL ASSEMBLIES
Scheduled periodically during the school year, assemblies feature a variety of speakers and programs
and are held for the benefit of Upper School students and faculty. Three regular assemblies of note are
those held in conjunction with the Papadopoulos, Weiner and Wells Fellowships. Because of space
limitations, interested parents should check with the office if they wish to attend a school assembly.
Assembly attendance is mandatory for students.
Papadopoulos Fellowships - Endowed by Dr. and Mrs. C. N. Papadopoulos, these fellowships bring
an outstanding research scientist to the Upper School each year. The fellow interacts with students
throughout the day in addition to making an assembly presentation. Recent fellows include Dr. Jane
Goodall, Dr. Stuart Yudofsky, Dr. André Droxler, Dr. David Eagleman and Dr. Huda Zoghbi.
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Weiner Fellowships - Endowed by the Leon Weiner Family, these fellowships bring an outstanding
personality to the Upper School each year to explore with Kinkaid students the dimensions of an
issue which confronts citizens and leaders of today’s world. Speaking both during an assembly and in
dialogue with smaller groups, the fellow encourages responsible judgments and decisions.
Damon Wells Fellowships - Endowed by alumnus Damon Wells, these fellowships enable the Upper
School to invite outstanding persons of national and international standing to spend at least two full
days on the campus. Special luncheons with students, assemblies, class visits, and open meetings are
normally scheduled. Damon Wells Fellows have included James Michener, Winston S. Churchill,
Roger Bannister, Barbara Jordan, Robert Ballard, David Gergen, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ken Burns,
David Brooks, Walter Issaacson, Peggy Noonan, Michio Kaku, Hampton Sides, H.W. Brands, Robert
Edsel and Brian Greene.
AWARDS, GRANTS, & SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Awards are presented in each academic discipline, in various areas of the performing and visual
arts and in student activities. The departmental faculty or the appropriate activity sponsor selects
recipients of these awards.
There are special awards for both underclassmen and seniors, such as the Citizenship Awards for
underclassmen, the Mrs. W. J. Kinkaid Award and the W.J. Kinkaid Award for seniors, the Amber
Alexander Award, and the Independent Study Award. Nominations are solicited for these awards and
the final decisions are made by the Honor Day Committee which is made up of the Upper School
Head, the Deans, the Department Chairs, and the Chief Advisors.
The Academic Merit Awards: In 1998 the faculty sought to recognize a student in each class who
has demonstrated dedication, love of learning and a high level of performance in his or her academic
classes. To be eligible for this award, a student must be selected by at least three of the six academic
departments.
The C.A. Coskey, Sr. Scholarship and the Cooper Scholarship: In 1979, Mr. J.B. Coskey
established these scholarships to honor his father and John H. Cooper, who served as Kinkaid’s
Headmaster from 1953 to 1979. These awards for Kinkaid tuition for the senior year are open to
members of the junior class who are invited to submit written applications after an announcement is
made in the spring semester. The awards are not based on need and are available to any student who
best meets the criteria for the award in the opinion of the Scholarship Committee, which consists of
representatives from the Cooper and Coskey families, the Headmaster, the Upper School Head, the
Deans, the Director of Athletics, and the Chief Junior Advisor. These scholarships honor students
who have given their best efforts and often excelled in both academics and athletics for every season
over three years. Their dedication in the classroom and on the playing field has earned the admiration
of their teachers, teammates, and classmates.
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The Elena Semander Scholarship for Art and Athletics: This award honors the memory of a
Kinkaid graduate who excelled in sports and the creative arts. It is a tuition scholarship which is
awarded to a junior girl who is outstanding in both areas. The winner of this award is selected by the
Department of Fine Arts and the Athletic Department.
The John Fontaine Memorial Scholarship: This award is a full tuition scholarship for Kinkaid’s
senior year. It is awarded annually in the spring to a member of the junior class whose kindness,
positive spirit, and strength of character exemplifies the qualities for which John Fontaine is
remembered, and whose involvement in the arts, athletics, community service or extracurricular
activities inspires compassion and love for others.
The Herder Fellowship for Science Research: Initiated in 2006, this grant of up to $2000 is
awarded in the spring to a sophomore student who has planned a research project to be pursued in
the junior year. This project may be the continuation of an existing project or the initiation of an
entirely new one. Sophomore students are invited to submit written applications describing their
proposed projects and their desire to do directed research.
SENIOR AWARDS
The Kendall Award for Community Service honors a senior who, through the course of his or her
years at Kinkaid, has contributed the most to the Houston community, either through the school’s
community service program or through extraordinary dedication to an organization in the Houston
community. The recipient of this award has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to addressing
the needs of the Houston community through his or her initiative, vision, hard work, and leadership.
In so doing, this student has made a positive difference in the Houston community, reflecting
enthusiasm for service which has inspired others.
The Cooper Award: This grant, established in 2001 by Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Kayem, honors
Kinkaid’s second headmaster, John Cooper. The Cooper Award is presented to that senior who best
reflects the qualities of character Kinkaid has identified as central to its mission: honesty, respect,
responsibility, and kindness. The recipient is that student who is honest and trustworthy, even when
such behavior does not advance his or her own interest; who respects the right of others to work
toward their own achievement, delights in their successes, and is free of meanness of spirit; who
respects the property of others, both intellectual and physical; who is a responsible steward of the
privileges and talent he or she possesses; who is generous to the point of sacrifice; who works to
achieve his or her goals without the expectation of formal recognition; who enjoys the challenge of
pure competition and is tenacious in determination; who possesses the courage to act in accordance
with his or her deepest convictions; and who seeks integrity and authenticity in his or her own life.
In the early spring, nominees for this award are solicited from the senior class, and then a committee
made up of faculty, deans and administrators decides on the recipient.
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CITIZENSHIP
Nominees for these awards are from students, faculty, and class advisors, and the Honor Day
Committee decides the recipients. These awards honor the student in each undergraduate class who
manifests sound judgment, dependability, positive attitudes, selflessness, and integrity, and who
makes an outstanding contribution to the total program of Kinkaid.
The Class of 1975 Award for Senior Citizenship: First sponsored by the Class of 1975, this award
honors the senior who manifests sound judgment, dependability, positive attitudes, selflessness, and
integrity, and who has made an outstanding contribution to the total program of the School.
The Mrs. W.J. Kinkaid Award: Honoring the founder of our School, this award goes to the senior
girl who has best exemplified the ideals of the School.
The W.W. Kinkaid Award: Named to honor Mrs. Kinkaid’s son who served as the first Upper School
Principal, this award goes to the senior boy who has best exemplified the ideals of the School.
Special Awards (not necessarily given each year)
The Independent Study Award(s): This award honors a student from any class who has done
extraordinary work during the school year or during Interim Term on a project which was conceived
and carried out by the student independently, but was accomplished under the sponsorship of a
faculty member. Faculty sponsors of independent study projects suggest nominees for this award, and
the Honor Day Committee decides the recipient.
The Amber Alexander Award: Honoring the memory of a longtime employee in Kinkaid’s Business
Office, this award is given to a student who has, through dedication and selflessness, contributed
in an extraordinary and positive way to the life of the School. Nominees for this award are solicited
from the faculty, and the Honor Day Committee decides the recipient.
MISTER AND MISS FALCON
Mister or Miss Falcon is an honor given to a senior boy or a senior girl who best represents the ideals
of The Kinkaid School. This honor is based on character, participation in extracurricular activities,
offices held, honors received, citizenship, leadership and scholarship achievement. The Governing
Council nominates five girls and five boys, and then the Upper School student body votes on the
nominees.
YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE
You Make a Difference is a group of well-rounded students selected by the faculty of the Upper
School. Those nominated for this honor must display excellence in some, if not all, of the following
areas: academics, athletics, arts, and other extracurricular activities. These students must also have
leadership qualities and reflect in their attitudes, conduct, and character the highest ideals of the
School. This honor was formerly known as Who’s Who.
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DAILY LIFE
THE UPPER SCHOOL
The Kinkaid Upper School is a place that offers the opportunity for students to grow
intellectually, athletically, in the fine arts and in their character development. Our curriculum
provides for breadth and depth within the academic and fine arts classrooms. In every
academic discipline, we offer introductory courses leading to advanced (and in most cases
Advanced Placement) courses. These courses emphasize learning course material and the
development of higher order learning skills. Our goal is to prepare students for college as
well as to develop lifelong learners. Learning to write, to reason, to hypothesize, to apply
knowledge in unfamiliar situations are all a part of the Kinkaid education. In academics and
the arts, students have the opportunity to investigate areas of new interest or develop and
sustain areas where they have expertise or talent. Beyond the formal classroom setting, we
provide the chance for independent study in areas of student special interest.
We have a highly developed visual and performing arts program. Whatever the student
interest or talent, we have courses that will whet their appetite and allow them to develop fully.
Our galleries are always stocked with student work from our photo studios and our visual arts
programs. Our performing arts groups enter various competitions as well as performing for
the Kinkaid community.
Kinkaid’s athletic program is also broad and deep with teams competing in the SPC
(Southwest Preparatory Conference) in 23 sports with supporting junior varsity and freshman
teams as needed. We compete with intensity but we maintain our emphasis on character as
exemplified by our major goal of good sportsmanship.
The Upper School Faculty provides the means for students to develop. Highly educated,
passionate about their work, devoted to their students, the faculty offers, prods, goads, and
leads our students to operate at their highest levels. Because the school recognizes the vast
diversity in students and families and the school’s obligation to give individual guidance,
it has implemented the Dean system. In addition to serving as advisors and advocates for
students at all grade levels, the Upper School Deans help students through the college
application process. The School educates its students and parents on colleges and college
admission standards, procedures, and trends, and it facilitates their application process by
advocating on behalf of the students and providing the colleges with accurate and complete
information on the students’ qualifications for admission. Understanding that what is right for
one student may not be right for another, the deans maintain an unbiased regard for a broad
spectrum of colleges as we evaluate their appropriateness for the individual student in terms of
size, type, affiliation, reputation, and selectivity.
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The Upper School takes Kinkaid’s four core values (honesty, responsibility, respect and kindness) very
seriously. Our honor code provides the obvious support for academic and personal honesty. But our
overall ethos, supported by various student organizations, provides the opportunity for daily, visible
commitment to our values. The opportunity to lead in these endeavors is open to all students. Our
Peer Mentor Program, developed by students with faculty guidance, is evidence of older students
taking responsibility for younger students’ adjustment to the Upper School.
Kinkaid’s Mission Statement includes the sentence: “Kinkaid’s mission is to promote educational
excellence, personal responsibility and balanced growth, and thereby to help its students to discover
and develop their talents.” The Upper School, in all we do, is devoted to that goal.
TRANSITION AND GOALS
The Upper School seeks to enable students to make the transition from Middle School to postsecondary education. Whether it is academics, sports, the fine arts, character or behavior, the goal
is to develop greater independence and more mature decision-making in every student. Courses
gradually shift from a dependence on memorized material to the using of that material in an analytic
or synthetic manner. Students develop research skills, the ability to manipulate data and concepts and
the ability to express their ideas clearly in written and oral form.
Whether they are on the field, in the classroom or in the extracurricular activities of the school,
students can develop their leadership abilities and their abilities to be active participants. The fine arts
allow students to develop individual talents and their creative abilities.
The four core values of Kinkaid are the cornerstones of expected behavior of students and faculty.
They form the basis for all interactions within the Upper School. When a student graduates, we hope he/she will do the following:
• be a competent student who is able to express himself/herself clearly and maturely;
• be an independent thinker academically and behaviorally;
• demonstrate traits of character that are consistent with the Kinkaid core values;
• be prepared to continue developing as a student, a leader and a member of the community.
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PROBLEM-SOLVING AT KINKAID
Problems are an inevitable part of everyone’s life. Learning to deal with problems is undeniably the
most important part of one’s education. Following are some suggestions to the student for dealing with
school problems.
First, because few problems disappear by themselves, acknowledge your problems and resolve to deal
with them in an intelligent, practical way. If your problem involves a particular class, grade received,
or activity, go directly to the teacher or person in charge and explain the problem straightforwardly.
Teachers appreciate few things more than a student’s honest attempt to remedy a problem at its source.
If the problem isn’t remedied at the classroom level, seek the counsel of your advisor, your dean, upper
school counselor, Upper School Head, or headmaster. These people are at Kinkaid to address students’
needs. They can be counted on to be sympathetic, discreet, and helpful if at all possible. So don’t be
bashful about asking for help. Also, don’t overlook your parents as a source of wise, caring counsel.
Sometimes serious problems arise, problems threatening to a student’s health, safety, or welfare. Such
problems may include physical or verbal abuse, or inappropriate conduct of some form on the part
of a student, faculty member, or some other adult. Such problems should be reported immediately
to a faculty member, a dean, the Upper School Head, headmaster, or one of your parents. Do not be
concerned that such problems might involve private or potentially embarrassing subjects. Rest assured
that reports of this type will be addressed prudently, expeditiously, and always with the purpose of
protecting the student.
ADVISORY PROGRAM
Our founder, Margaret Kinkaid, encouraged her students to seek honor as well as achievement, and
she described her ideal student as “the intellectually capable boy or girl of sound character whose
talents, interests, and uniqueness are educational assets for other Kinkaid children.”
To that end, Kinkaid believes that in order to follow our mission of educating the whole child,
students should have the opportunity to interact and build community through relationships with
both adults and students in a meaningful and profound way. Thus, the advisory program is designed
to provide the space and time for sustained dialogue addressing educationally appropriate topics
that may not necessarily fit into the confines of academic classes. At Kinkaid, “Education involves
acknowledging and valuing what is comfortable and known and leading students to an understanding
and appreciation of what is new and different. Encountering different perspectives, ideas, and
understandings is an essential part of this process.” The advisory program aspires to provide a forum
for such interaction. As student groups meet with their faculty advisors, they are introduced to topics
that reinforce our commitment to our four core values -- honesty, responsibility, kindness, and respect
-- as well as discussing the extension of these values beyond the school and classroom to the larger
community around them.
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College Counseling
Kinkaid prepares students for college with its rigorous academic program and rich
extracurricular opportunities. The School aims to prepare students for the independence they
will find in college.
Each student’s dean serves as his or her college counselor. Deans meet individually with
students and their parents during all four years in the Upper School. Students receive specific
and individual guidance about college applications, admission requirements, and standardized
testing.
The deans host evening educational programs about the Upper School experience and
the college admissions process for parents of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend these presentations, which include information
pertinent to Upper School students: course selection, college admissions, and standardized
testing. All students and parents have an individual account on Naviance, an Internet-based
comprehensive college counseling resource that we use to track student applications and
analyze data about college application trends. Additionally, Naviance allows students to build
a resume, manage timelines and deadlines, research college options, and communicate with
deans.
SUPPORT AT KINKAID
DEAN SYSTEM
The Dean system at Kinkaid reflects the school’s commitment to holistic counseling. Before
entering the ninth grade, students are assigned to one of the Upper School Deans. Serving as
an advocate and resource for the student, the Dean advises and counsels students in academic
and social matters, including counseling toward college.
As a NACAC member, The Kinkaid School will, when requested on the institution’s
application, report student conduct records to colleges - including, but not limited to, serious
disciplinary violations, honor violations, suspensions, and dismissal. When discipline
questions are asked on required college application forms to be completed by the dean, he/
she will provide a written response to the question, describing the situation and disciplinary
action while continuing to support the student on behalf of the school. When a specific
disciplinary question is asked of a student on a college application, Kinkaid requires the
student to provide the college a written report of the incident with an honest, thorough
explanation. The dean will advise the student throughout this process. Should disciplinary
action occur after college applications have been filed and prior to graduation, Kinkaid still
considers it reportable to those colleges that specifically asked about disciplinary action in
their application process.
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COUNSELING
The Upper School Counselor provides personal counseling and consultation that affords each student
the opportunity to discuss questions or issues regarding studies and learning, peers, teachers, coaches,
and family. Most information obtained in conversation with the counselor will not be disclosed with
identifying information to any person(s) outside the session(s). Exceptions to this privilege include,
but may not be limited to:
• situations in which the student or an identified individual has been determined, in the counselor’s
judgment, to be in danger of physical harm;
• when the welfare of a minor or elder is at stake;
• in the case of some custody or criminal proceedings.
In addition, a parent will be notified when meetings of a student and counselor are regular and
ongoing. Sessions with the Upper School Counselor are intended to promote optimal development,
problem solving and adjustment in students. Meetings with the Upper School Counselor are not
intended to be a substitute for ongoing therapy.
UPPER SCHOOL LEARNING SPECIALIST & SUPPORT
For students with documented learning differences, we offer a variety of individualized supports
to help students attain their educational goals. For these students, we aim to provide appropriate
academic support through strategies, interventions, and techniques. These students may also receive
reasonable educational accommodations in the Upper School. The support plan for a student
will take into consideration psycho-educational testing by a licensed psychologist, other relevant
medical documentation, the child’s developmental needs, and current school performance. (Parents
considering educational testing for their child should contact their divisional learning specialist
to ensure that the appropriate professional administers the testing the school requires.) However,
Kinkaid may not be able to provide appropriate support or accommodations for all of a student’s
needs.
At Kinkaid our developmental approach is to offer the most support in the elementary years and to
gradually decrease support as students mature and expectations for academic independence increase.
Qualified Upper School students may also work with the Learning Specialist. All students, with or
without reasonable support and accommodation, must achieve satisfactory academic progress to
maintain enrollment at Kinkaid.
HEALTH CARE, MEDICAL FORMS, AND MEDICINES AT SCHOOL
Each student must have an annual Kinkaid Health Form with an updated immunization report
provided by the physician on file in order to attend classes, participate in sports, and/or any school
sponsored activity. The school nurse reserves the right to require a separate written, dated order
from a medical doctor/specialist for clearance of those students with a medical condition that may
interfere with physical activity. Please inform the Health Services staff of any changes in your child’s
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medications, health status, family dynamics or other factors that may affect their well-being during
the school day. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or come by the health center.
Any student who becomes ill at school should visit the nurse immediately. The nurse shall make the
determination whether a student should return to class, stay in the Health Center, or go home. A
student who goes home for reasons of illness must check out through the Health Center. A parent
or emergency contact will always be notified if a student is leaving the campus. Students with an
oral temperature over 100 should remain at home until fever free without the use of fever reducing
medication for at least 24 hours to control the spread of the illness to other students and teachers.
Taking prescription medications at school must be arranged through the nurse. Prescription
medications given by the nurse must be in their original pharmacy container and will be dispensed
pursuant to the prescription on the container. Parents are responsible for updating the clinic of any
changes in a student’s need for prescription medication. Parents are also responsible for insuring
the nurse has an adequate supply of medication that is not expired. Certain over-the-counter
medications are available at the Health Center. Medications will be given upon a student’s request, if
the parent has given written permission on the health form and the school nurse feels the request is
warranted. Other medications that are non-prescription, but are taken on an as-needed basis, may
be kept in the Health Center in the original container with dosage infromation, labeled with the
student’s name and locker number. These non-prescription medications will be available by request
if a parent has given written permission on the health form. All medication (prescription, nonprescription and over-the-counter) must be kept in the clinic unless a student’s treating physician
provides documentation that the student must keep the medication with him/her at all times
(such as asthma inhalers and epi-pens). In such cases, new documentation must be provided at
the beginning of each school year and any time an update is required as a result of a change in
the student’s medical needs. All medication (prescription, non-prescription, and over-the-counter
medication) must be taken home at the end of the school year. The school nurse will not dispense
any non-FDA approved substance including but not limited to natural or homeopathic supplements.
Medications taken on a daily basis at home must be listed on the health form. For confidentiality,
the conditions for the daily medication may be put on a separate piece of paper and will be kept in
confidence. As with any person at Kinkaid, but especially in matters dealing with health, complete
honesty regarding illness is essential.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE POLICY
With regard to communicable diseases, Kinkaid will endeavor to follow the recommendations in
the Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Some
diseases are classified as highly infectious diseases. Such diseases may be transmitted from one person
to another without physical contact. Examples are chicken pox, tuberculosis, and measles. Parents
should report to the Health Center all medically diagnosed cases of influenza. The School will
follow all the governmental guidelines for handling a pandemic flu outbreak, including coordination
with local and state health departments. A student, faculty member, or staff member who has been
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diagnosed as having a highly infectious disease must be excluded from all school activities until
appropriate medical authority asserts that the person is no longer contagious. Faculty or staff who
develop a highly infectious disease that is in the infectious stage must inform either the school nurse
or headmaster of this fact. In the case of a student who develops a highly infectious disease that
is in the infectious stage, either the student or parent/guardian must inform the school nurse or
headmaster. The nurse or headmaster may seek discussion or counsel with a physician or members of
the school administration.
Some less infectious, but nevertheless very serious, diseases are transmitted only through intimate
physical contact, or through bodily fluids. Among such diseases are HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus), AIDS and hepatitis B virus. In the case of low infectious disease in one of its members, the
School shall seek and follow medical advice about how to serve responsibly both the individual and
the community.
The School shall not discriminate against any student or employee on the basis of the person having
a communicable disease. No student or employee of the School shall be denied access to school
facilities or activities on the ground that they have a communicable disease. The School reserves the
right, however, to exclude a student or employee with a communicable disease from school facilities
or program, if the School determines that the person constitutes a threat to the health or safety of
others. The School may from time-to-time change or discontinue its policies or adopt new policies
with respect to these matters.
MORAN LIBRARY
The Moran Library promotes intellectual endeavor and achievement through the development of a
balanced collection of materials for both research and pleasure reading. We encourage the use of the
collection by all members of the Kinkaid family in the pursuit of lifelong learning.
• The library is staffed from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily. Self-checkout is available after hours
and online resources are available 24/7 through the library webpage with firstname.lastname/
funky login.
• All materials should be properly checked out at the Circulation Desk and returned or renewed by
the date due. Lost materials will be charged to your Kinkaid On Account.
• The librarians are always willing to help you with research and suggestions for reading. Please ask
us!
KINKAID SCHOOL STORE
The School Store sells Kinkaid apparel, spirit items, gifts, school supplies, textbooks and much more!
Insignia items can also be purchased on line at store.kinkaid.org. You can follow us on Facebook for
special events, contests, and announcements. www.facebook.com/KinkaidSchoolStore.
REGULAR HOURS: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. during regular school days.
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Members of the Governing Council, the Honor Council, the Community Service Council,
the Peer Mentor Program, the Arts Board, Presidents and Vice-Presidents of clubs, captains of
sports teams, and Governing Council appointed committee chairpersons and other student
leadership positions are considered by the School’s faculty and students to be exemplary
students, worthy of respect and admiration from the entire school community. Because of
this, they often attend special events and conferences as emissaries of The Kinkaid School.
Their public notoriety and responsibilities in and out of school demand that leaders
conduct themselves appropriately at all times. To that end, we would like to call attention
to this portion of the Kinkaid Student Handbook’s statement on conduct, which states the
following:
The School will impose penalties for conduct of a student at any location when, in its
judgment, the conduct threatens the reputation of the School, its students or employees.
Negative or poor conduct on the part of a student leader threatens the reputation of the
School. This negative conduct may affect a leadership position in addition to disciplinary
action that may be taken. A student leader must sign the Student Leadership Statement
acknowledging his/her special position with its behavioral requirements.
GOVERNING COUNCIL
The Governing Council consists of elected representatives from each class as well as from
the faculty of the Upper School. In the words of the Upper School Constitution, “its
purpose is to represent the students and faculty of the Kinkaid Upper School as their elected
spokespeople.” The Council is the voice of the entire Upper School body, students and
faculty, and is responsible for considering carefully issues of concern to its constituency,
proposing resolutions, seeking the approval of the headmaster, and when such approval is
given, publishing and implementing policy. It is also the responsibility of the Governing
Council to see that the Upper School body upholds the Upper School constitution.
Advisor:
President: Vice President: Ms. Jennifer Kehler
Mason Mings
Mary Labanowski
Secretary: Treasurer: Parliamentarian:
COUNCILS, CLUBS AND PUBLICATIONS
STUDENT LEADERSHIP STATEMENT
The Kinkaid School student handbook clearly spells out the conduct rules governing each
student’s behavior on and off campus, at school and non-school related functions. While
these rules are for everyone, the school community acknowledges that there are students
who, because of their election to office or position by faculty or by students, require a higher
standard of accountability.
Austin Karkowsky
Will Langford
Rahul Popat
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Class Presidents
Senior: Junior: Sophomore:
Freshman:
Representatives
Senior Class: Junior Class: Sophomore Class: Freshman Class: Culver Stedman
Rob Lahourcade
Grace Manes
To be elected in the fall
Halle Brazda
Philip Mentz
Allison Favaloro
To be elected in the fall
Faculty Representatives
Mr. John Gomes
Mrs. Laura Lomax-Bream
Mrs. Sarah Shea
Dr. Tara McDonald Johnson
Mr. Robert Street
HONOR CODE AND HONOR COUNCIL
At Kinkaid, honorable behavior is the highest goal. The School wholeheartedly endorses the ideals of
honor expressed both in the general code of conduct that appeared previously in the Handbook and in
the Honor Constitution, part of which follows: “The Kinkaid School believes that academic integrity
is of primary importance, an essential component of educational discipline. Each Kinkaid student
must know that he or she will be evaluated on the basis of his or her own accomplishment and must
trust that all other students are evaluated correspondingly. To assure such knowledge and trust, an
Honor Council and Honor Code have been established, their primary purpose being the creation of
an atmosphere of optimum learning, an atmosphere of trust, not suspicion or fear. The Honor Code,
therefore, is not a long list of regulations, but instead is a simple statement espousing our belief that an
honorable student does not lie, cheat, or steal. The honor pledge affixed to work submitted states that,
‘On my honor, I have not violated the Honor Code on this test (or other type of assignment).’
Further, the Honor Code requires that students will not steal anything: books, class notes, papers,
homework, clothes, uniforms, equipment, or ideas. They will neither give nor solicit information
about the contents of any graded material; that they will not cheat in any form on any assignment or
activity; and, with respect thereto, they will not lie about themselves or others. Students, faculty, and
administration are equally charged with the responsibility for promoting and enforcing the principles
of honor and creating an atmosphere of trust. Accordingly, the Honor Council is not a trial court,
but is an elected representative body acting on the behalf of students, faculty, and administration
to hear the circumstances of an alleged violation, to report to the Headmaster, and to make
recommendations for appropriate action to maintain the integrity of the honor system.”
Established by the Governing Council in the spring of 1981 and revised in the spring of 1984, the
Honor Code is an obligation of every student enrolled in the Upper School. In its simplest form, the
Code requires that on examinations, tests, quizzes, and other such assignments as may be determined
by the teacher, the student will write out and sign the following pledge:
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On my honor, I have not violated the Honor Code on this test (or other type of assignment).
The code prohibits both the giving and receiving of unauthorized aid on the assignment. Suspected
violations of the Honor Code are reported to the Honor Council. It conducts an investigation,
privately meets with the student, and recommends a course of action to the Headmaster.
Punishments for honor violations includes disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from
the school or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years. The Head of School is the final
authority on punishment for violation of the Honor Code. The Head of School may also, in his sole
discretion, take immediate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the School or nonrenewal for future academic years, against a student without permitting the student to appear before
the Honor Council.
The Upper School Head will send a letter to the student’s parents (a sealed copy will be placed in
the student’s file folder) when the student is found to have violated the Honor Code. The Honor
Council will keep all aspects of the violation confidential. Some colleges/universities ask about Honor
Violations in their application process. A student who has violated the Honor Code is obligated to be
forthright in the application process.
Valued for their judgment and ability to keep the matters brought before the Council in confidence,
student members of the Council are elected by their classmates. The faculty elects one teacher, and
the Upper School Head serves as a permanent member of the Council. (The Dean of Students
will serve as the adult representative to the Honor Council if the elected faculty member or Upper
School Head are unable to participate.) Each of these members expects to be approached by students
or faculty who suspect an honor violation. In addition, Council members report regularly to their
classes and the student body as a whole.
HONOR COUNCIL
Senior Class Representative:
Grant Carmain
Junior Class Representative:
John Goettee
Sophomore Class Representative:
Joey Cook
Freshman Class Representative:
To be elected in the fall
Faculty Representatives:
Mr. Patrick Loach
Mr. Harlan Howe
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COMMUNITY SERVICE COUNCIL
The mission of the Community Service Council is to encourage the Kinkaid Upper School to give
back to the community at large. The Council strives to connect students and faculty with different
organizations and communities through a variety of service opportunities, focusing on projects
that include face-to-face interaction. The Council leads and facilitates service activities that provide
students with fun, rewarding experiences and that inspire students to be more involved in the
community.
Faculty Advisor: Ms. Emily Gordon
President: Kaveh Badrei
Executive Committee: Worthley Burke, Amy Drews, Lily Fitzpatrick, Katie Kim, Rebecca Roff,
Zach Roubein
Faculty Representatives: Ms. Casey Fleming, Mr. John Gomes, Mr. Josh Hudley
PEER MENTORS
Made up of selected seniors and faculty advisors, this group focuses on guiding freshmen in
making healthy decisions overall, supporting senior Peer Mentors in their leadership roles with
underclassmen, and providing a forum for upperclassmen to discuss issues relevant to student life.
Faculty Advisors: Mrs. Jennifer Kehler and Mr. Michael Vischak
Peer Mentor Leaders: Alex Goeringer, Lindsey Jacobe, Grant Martin, and Jeel Mehta
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS
The School provides a wide range of opportunities for student growth and accomplishment in
extracurricular activities. Clubs and organizations reflect student and faculty interest and are
sanctioned by the Governing Council. Each club must have a clear purpose, a stated plan of
organization and governance, and the approval of the Inter-Club and Governing Councils. A student
may be prohibited from participating in extracurricular programs for academic, behavioral or other
reasons at the sole discretion of the school.
CLUBS
Amnesty International, Faculty Advisor: Michael Vischak
Arts Club, Faculty Advisor: Nancy McMillan
Bite of Kinkaid Club, Faculty Advisor: Robert Street
Book Club, Faculty Advisor: Kate Lambert
Chinese Club, Faculty Advisor: Mrs. Jenny Chiu
Engineering Club, Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Clancy
Film Club, Faculty Advisor: Ryan Gillentine
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French Club, Faculty Advisor: Marie O’Donnell
Health and Fitness Club, Faculty Advisor: Christa Forster
Herobox Club, Faculty Advisor: Dennis Kliza
India Club, Faculty Advisor: Eric Emerson
Investment Club, Faculty Advisor: Susan Wheeler
Kinkaid Cooks for the Community (K.C.F.C.), Faculty Advisor: Tamasine Ellis
PAWS, Faculty Advisor: Shannon Terrill
Robotics Club, Faculty Advisor: Harlan Howe & John Gomes
Science Club, Faculty Advisor: Sonia Clayton
Spanish Club, Faculty Advisor: Yolanda Soliz
Spirit of Kinkaid (S.O.K.), Faculty Advisors: Jennifer Kehler
World Heritage Club, Faculty Advisor: Michelle Miller
World Update, Faculty Advisor: Ted Curry
Youth Against Cancer, Faculty Advisor: Sarah Shea
Young Liberals Club, Faculty Advisor: Casey Fleming
Young Republicans Club, Faculty Advisor: Mrs. Beth Fayard
ORGANIZATIONS
American Field Service (A.F.S.), Faculty Advisor: Ms. Leslie Lovett
An international exchange program which consists of a parents’ chapter and a student club. The
parents’ chapter runs the student exchange program. The students’ club supports the parents’ group
in helping to host foreign students at Kinkaid.
Arts Board, Faculty Advisor: Mrs. Betsy Durning
Promotes the arts at Kinkaid and in the community. Representatives are selected from faculty and
students participating in the arts program.
Debate Society, Faculty Advisor: Mr. Eric Emerson
Students who are interested in detailed analysis of current issues, in either the cross-examination or
Lincoln-Douglas formats. Debaters work during the school day and after school and participate in
local, statewide, and national tournaments.
Model U.N., Faculty Advisors: Mrs. Angela Wainwright and Ms. Tamasine Ellis
Students prepare for and participate in state, national and international Model United Nations
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programs. They work at Kinkaid within their delegation developing position papers, resolutions,
speaking skills, and caucusing techniques. Prep Bowl, Faculty Advisor: Mrs. Beth Fayard
Membership in Kinkaid’s highly successful academic skills prep bowl team is determined through
competition held in the fall.
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
The Falcon, Falcon Wings, The Kinkaidian, and other school-sponsored publications containing faculty
or student writing, drawing, or photography are a part of Kinkaid’s educational program. The School
exercises full editorial control over all such publications through its faculty advisors.
The Falcon (Newspaper) – Published seven times a year, The Falcon is the student newspaper.
Journalism students serve as reporters, photographers, designers, and editors for the 20-page tabloid.
The Falcon covers school news and issues that affect Kinkaid students.
Editors-in-Chief: Halle Brazda and Caroline Orr
Wed Editor: Aliza Kajani
Assistant Editor: Kirk Hachigian Falcon Wings (Literary Magazine) – Staffed by the students in Creative Writing, Falcon Wings
publishes the best writing, art, and photography by students and faculty of the Upper School. Any
student or teacher may submit work at any time from September-February. The annual magazine
comes out at the end of the school year.
Faculty Advisors: Ms. Angélique Jamail and Ms. Carolyn McCarthy
Kinkaidian (Yearbook) – The Kinkaidian, Kinkaid’s annual, is published each spring. Students in
yearbook class assume responsibility for producing the book, which includes the Upper and Middle
school and runs close to 500 pages. The staff also produces a supplement to cover spring sports and
graduation events as well as a Lower School yearbook.
Editors-in-Chief: Lindsey Jacobe, Sophie Mireskandari, Mary Caroline Scofield
Assistant Editor: Marie Parra
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These are not hopes or dreams--they are expectations. Kinkaid expects this behavior of each
student, and it is, therefore, essential that every Kinkaid student, together with all parents,
understands the School’s expectations and understands as well that the School will impose
disciplinary action for behavior that is contrary to these values.
The School’s faculty and administration will determine which behavior requires disciplinary
action. Rudeness, abusiveness, profane language, bullying, fighting, malicious gossip,
dishonesty of any kind, vandalism, and actions that are illegal are among the behaviors that will
lead to disciplinary action. Possible disciplinary action includes but is not limited to the loss
of campus privileges, Saturday detentions, exclusion from school activities, in-house detention,
suspension from school, dismissal or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years.
Professional counseling or evaluation may be required as a condition for continuing enrollment.
Kinkaid recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for the conduct and discipline
of their children. The School, however, may notify parents, in such instances as it deems
appropriate, of inappropriate conduct off campus. The School will impose the disciplinary
action described in the preceding paragraph for conduct of a student off campus at any location
or online at any time which, in its judgment, threatens the safety or welfare of students or
employees, interferes with or obstructs the missions or operations of Kinkaid, or threatens the
reputation of the School, its students, Kinkaid community members or employees.
The School may also impose disciplinary action upon, or decline to re-enroll, a student whose
parents have organized or promoted activities that involve serious or repeated violations of
Kinkaid’s rules of conduct.
The Headmaster’s charge from the Board of Trustees includes the authority for dismissing
a student from the School or non-renwing a student’s enrollment for any of the following
reasons:
• Conduct that threatens the safety or health of any student or employee;
• Conduct that subverts the School’s purposes or interferes with the work of teachers or
students;
• Stealing or unauthorized possession of another person’s property;
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CONDUCT
Kinkaid’s expectations for student conduct derive from the four core values the school has
embraced: honesty, respect, responsibility, and kindness. Put simply, Kinkaid has the following
expectations for students:
• To be honest at all times;
• To respect themselves, other people, the School, their physical environment, the belongings
of others as well as their own;
• To behave in a responsible manner and to accept responsibility for their own actions;
• To treat others with kindness.
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• Academic dishonesty, including cheating or plagiarism;
• Vandalism;
• Possession of any weapon, knife, gun, instrument, or article, including instruments of the martial
arts, that might be injurious to a person or property;
• Possession or use of alcoholic beverages (beverages containing any amount of alcohol), any
controlled substance, drugs, or medications (prescription, non-prescription or over the counter)
carried by a student that have not previously been approved by a treating physician through the
nurse’s office. Possession or use includes behavior that indicates a student has consumed or is
under any degree of influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or drugs. Legal intoxication is
not required;
• Organizing, promoting, or assisting other students to use alcoholic beverages or any controlled
substance or drugs as defined by state or federal laws.
• Any other behavior that in the sole discretion of the Head of School is not in the best interests of
the School or the student.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
What makes Kinkaid one of the top independent schools in the country is not the textbooks we use
or the tests we give, but rather it is the quality of our faculty and student body. The learning that
occurs in the classroom through discussions and interactions among students and teachers cannot
be made up when a student is absent from school. It is also the case that when a student is absent,
the other students miss out on contributions that would have been made by the absent student. We
believe that the classroom experience is the foundation of a Kinkaid education and it is a student’s
responsibility to attend his/her classes daily. If a student misses class more than NINE times in the
same course during a semester, excused or unexcused (this does not include absences due to Kinkaid
sponsored activities), the student may not receive credit for the course. Excessive absenteeism may
result in dismissal from the School or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years.
ATTENDANCE
In ALL cases of absence, parents are to call or email the Upper School office as soon after 7:30 a.m. as
possible. Regular, punctual attendance is necessary to the success of all endeavors at Kinkaid and is
expected of all students. The School categorizes absences and tardies as either excused or unexcused.
An absence or a tardy occurring for reasons of illness, religious holiday, or family emergency is
excused, and in such a case, the student has the right to make up missed work. With few exceptions,
other absences or tardies are considered unexcused, including “sleeping in” due to staying up late.
Students who have a scheduled appointment during the school day (with a doctor, for example)
should present the Upper School office with a note signed and dated by a parent no later than the
morning of the appointment. The student should check out at the office when he or she is leaving for
the appointment and then bring a note (or form) from the doctor verifying the appointment upon
the student’s return to school. If the student is not returning to school on the day of the appointment,
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the note of verification must be turned into the office on the next school day. Failure to do this will
result in detention time or other disciplinary action.
Upper School policy on unexcused absences is that a student may receive a zero on any graded work
given on a day for which his or her absence is unexcused. Students requesting excused absences
for a reason not included above should see his or her dean or the Upper School Head several days
in advance. Parents should write a note that specifically explains the reason for the absence, with
details about the time absent. The note should be dated and signed by the parent. This note should
be submitted to the dean or Upper School Head before the student’s departure; but in any case, the
note must be submitted within 24 hours of the student’s return to school. Note in particular that
absences on days before or after vacation times are unexcused, and disciplinary action will be assessed
if students are not in school on those days.
The first unexcused absence for all, or any part, of a school day will typically result in a Saturday
detention of four hours or more, or an in-house detention whereby a student will be asked to stay
in a separate study room for the day. The student will be prohibited from attending classes but will
be allowed to take tests or quizzes scheduled for that day and will be responsible for turning in
any written work due that day and for homework due the following day. Any unexcused absence
precludes participation in extra-curricular activities. The next unexcused absence may result in a
suspension from school. As a reminder, if a student misses class more than NINE times in the same
course during a semester, excused or unexcused (this does not include absences due to Kinkaid
sponsored activities), the student may not receive credit for the course.
Students are allowed a total of three unexcused tardies per obligation (an obligation being a class,
advisory, or joint advisory--anything where a student’s attendance is required.). Each subsequent
tardy will result in the following:
• The fourth time a student is late for an obligation, the student will receive two hours of detention.
• Each subsequent tardy will result in four hours of detention.
• On the sixth recorded tardy, the student and his or her parents will be invited to meet with the
Upper School Head to discuss how to avoid being late in the future. Following this meeting, any
future tardies will typically result in a suspension from school.
• Unexcused absences to any obligation count against a student’s three “free” tardies.
• Excessive tardiness may result in dismissal from the School or non-renewal for future academic
years.
After receiving a third tardy, students will receive an email from the Dean of Students reminding
them of their obligation to be on time, and of the consequences for any subsequent tardies. The
email will be sent out weekly as a reminder to students.
Students who arrive after 10:00 a.m. typically will not be allowed to participate in after-school
practices, rehearsals, games, and performances. If a student leaves school before the day is complete,
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they typically will not be allowed to participate in after school activities. The nurse (medical excuses),
the dean, or the Upper School Head will determine exceptions. Seniors are eligible to participate
upon return from an approved college visit.
Otherwise, all students must remain on campus until the end of the school day. Violation of this
rule is considered by the School to be a very serious offense and could result in in-house detention or
suspension from school or other disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the School or
non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years. Any senior transporting a younger student off
campus can receive similar disciplinary action.
Names of students who have detentions to serve will be emailed weekly. Students are responsible
for checking this list and for serving detentions at the times specified. Detentions will be held on
Saturday mornings starting at 8:00 am ONLY and must be served in the week they are posted, unless
otherwise determined by the Dean of Students or Upper School Head. Students are responsible
for communicating with the Dean of Students if they will be unable to attend detention. Typically,
students will incur an additional four hours of detention if they do not attend the assigned detention.
At the teacher’s discretion, students taking a pre-arranged excused absence (e.g., college visit, sports
or arts trip, etc.) are expected to complete before their departure any tests, quizzes, papers, lab reports,
etc. which are due during the absence. In addition, students are expected to complete reading,
problem sets, etc. during the absence and return to classes caught up on all work and prepared
to take any scheduled tests, quizzes, etc. on the day they return. As a general guideline, students
having unforeseen absences (i.e., for illness or death in the family) should be permitted as many days
to complete make-up work as they were absent from school. The tutorial time the day following
an unforeseen absence will be designated as a time for consultation (not make-up work) with all
teachers, so that the student may have time to make arrangements for missed work with all of his/her
teachers. Students are obligated to make arrangements to make up the work that they missed. The
repercussions of failure to make these arrangements or follow through on them are at the teacher’s
discretion. Students absent for religious holidays will be given as many days to complete make-up
work as they were absent from school.
COLLEGE VISITS
Students are encouraged to plan college visits during school holidays and weekends. We understand
that this is not always possible; therefore, students have FIVE DAYS during their upper school
careers that are excused for legitimate college visits. Exceptional requests will be considered on a
case-by-case basis. A permission form is available in the Deans’ Office; it must be signed by teachers,
parents, and dean and submitted THREE SCHOOL DAYS IN ADVANCE of the proposed campus
visit. Upon return, students are required to submit a note from the college’s admission office verifying
that the student visited the campus. If a note is not submitted to the Deans’ Office, then the absence
will be considered unexcused.
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SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Early Dismissal and Shelter in Place
The Early Dismissal Plan will be enacted for an event that requires a quick, orderly and efficient
evacuation of the campus. The School’s goal will be to get students to parents or to their designated
driver as quickly as possible. The Shelter-in-Place Plan will be enacted by an event that requires
keeping students at school for some time. Doors to school buildings will be locked and parents are
asked not to come to Kinkaid while the Shelter-in-Place is in effect. Kinkaid will communicate with
parents about the implementation of these policies. Emergency Release Forms for each student will
be mailed in the general school mailing in August.
When an Early Dismissal has been announced for Upper School, the following plan should be
implemented:
• Upper School students will report immediately and directly to their advisories and check in with
their advisors.
• Students with permission to leave in their own cars may leave after checking in with their
advisors.
• Students with permission to leave with another student may leave after checking in with their
advisors.
• Students who are to be picked up by a parent, guardian or other adult will accompany their
advisors to the sidewalk in front of the Upper School. Ninth graders will wait in front of the
entry to the North Hallway, and tenth graders will wait in front of the main entrance to the
Upper School.
When a Shelter-in-Place has been announced, the following will occur:
• Students will report immediately and directly to their advisories and check in with their advisors.
• Exterior doors to the campus buildings will be locked.
• Kinkaid will notify parents as soon as the Shelter-in-Place is lifted.
Inclement Weather
Announcements about school closing or delayed opening due to inclement weather or other events
will be made via the Kinkaid website (www.kinkaid.org). Whenever possible, the School will make
such a decision and notify these stations by 6:15 a.m. the day of the closing or delayed opening. If
early or late dismissal is warranted, announcements will be made via the website.
The safety of our students is of primary importance to Kinkaid. If on a day of inclement weather in
Houston, Kinkaid determines that the conditions do not merit closing school, any parents who judge
that it is not safe for their child to come to school should keep the child at home. He or she will be
allowed to make up missed work with no penalty. In such cases, a parent shall contact the School
within 24 hours of the student’s absence.
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DRESS CODE
Students who are uncertain about dress should inquire in advance of a faculty member or the Dean
of Students. Final determination of appropriate dress rests completely with the Head of School,
Upper School Head and the Dean of Students. A student who is NOT dressed appropriately may
be given detention and/or required to come to school in “dress day” attire on a subsequent school
day. Repeated dress violations will result in a conference with parents and the Dean of Students
and additional disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the school or non-renewal for
future academic years.
Student dress is to be neat, clean, and not distracting. The following guidelines help describe
appropriate dress.
• T-shirts and sweatshirts may be worn at school but are limited to just two types: Kinkaid and
college. College t-shirts and sweatshirts may be for a school in general or for one of their athletic
teams. Any other type of t-shirt or sweatshirt does not adhere to the dress code. Shirts without
collars that are not t-shirts are still permitted.
• Kinkaid and college t-shirts do not have to be tucked in. All other collared shirts are to be tucked
in regardless of the student’s gender.
• Shirts or blouses should be neat in appearance and of sufficient length to cover the waistline—no
bare skin showing front or back.
• “Sports uniform” attire such as basketball shorts, sweatpants, warm-up pants and yoga pants are
not allowed.
• Footwear must be laced, tied, buckled or fastened as appropriate. Beach or shower sandals are not
allowed; in short, if they can be dipped in water without long-term effect, they are prohibited.
House shoes are prohibited, although sandals and tennis shoes may be worn. No work or military
boots or any shoe with a black sole, which may mark the floors, is permitted.
• Frayed, ripped or torn clothing—no matter how stylish it appears—is NOT permitted, and NO
hats of any kind are permitted.
• Sleeveless or low cut shirts or blouses are not permitted.
• Appropriate undergarments are required, but must not be visible, even when moving. The
exception is undershirts, though they are considered undergarments, may be visible when worn
beneath another shirt.
BOYS
Boys may wear slacks, jeans or shorts. Shorts must be “walking” or Bermuda length.
GIRLS
Girls may wear slacks, jeans, skirts or shorts. Skirts must be knee length. If they are not, then jeans or
slacks must be worn under the short skirt. If a skirt is “regulation” (reaches the knees), then and only
then, leggings may be worn. Shorts must be “walking” or Bermuda length.
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Dress Day Attire
On announced days, students are expected to dress in professional business attire for the occasion.
• No jeans of any color are to be worn on Dress Days.
• GIRLS should wear appropriate dresses, dress slacks, or skirts with dress shoes. No flat thong
sandals, Keds, tennis shoes or boots are permitted. Dresses and skirts must be knee length.
• BOYS should wear coats and ties, dress slacks, a belt, and dress shoes and socks. No tennis shoes
or sandals are permitted.
DRIVING AND PARKING ON CAMPUS
The campus speed limit is 15 M.P.H. Speeding or reckless driving by students or parents may result
in the loss of campus driving privileges. The first violation of the school’s driving rules may result in
a warning or a loss of privileges; the second offense results in a loss of driving privileges for a longer
period of time, and continued offenses may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal
from the School or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years.
Parking spaces on campus are limited, and every available space is used. Faculty and staff members,
seniors, and most juniors receive assigned parking spaces on campus. Students must park in their
assigned spaces—not in the front of the school, near the Harrison House, or on the neighboring
streets, even with the permission of the homeowners. The penalty for the first parking offense will
typically be four hours of detention. The second offense will typically be six hours and the third
offense will typically result in the loss of parking privileges for the school year. Parents must park in
designated spaces.
Sophomores and some juniors are assigned to park at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC).
Students must enter and exit MDPC only via Memorial Drive and should never exceed 15 M.P.H.
Students who drive recklessly or exceed the speed limit at MDPC may lose driving privileges.
Shuttles run before and after school between MDPC and Kinkaid. Students need to arrive at MDPC
on time to make it to advisory or class. Students who need to leave or arrive when shuttle service is
not available should let the Upper School office know at least a day in advance. If possible, they may
be given permission to park on campus for that particular day. If students are unable to let the office
know ahead of time, they should arrange for someone to bring them to school.
Students must register their cars with the Dean of Students at the beginning of the school year and
must place the appropriate stickers on their cars. As students start driving or change cars, they need
to register with the office immediately. Students who drive an unregistered car on any given day
should let the Upper School office know upon their arrival to school. Students who do not register
their cars, fail to display the proper stickers, or park incorrectly may receive detention hours, lose
campus parking privileges, or other disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the
School or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years. Any vehicle parked or driven on
campus is subject to search at the sole discretion of the School with or without notice to the student
or parent(s). Seniors in good standing have off-campus privileges and may leave campus (driving or
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riding with another senior) during a free period or lunch. Juniors in good standing may leave campus
after their last class of the day.
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Students may use personal electronic devices (iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, etc.) inside buildings in
similar ways as computers. Inside classrooms, they must be turned off and out of sight and they may
only be used at the direction of the teacher. Personal electronic devices may not be used for phone
calls in academic buildings or the cafeteria during the school day. Students are asked to step outside
to use their phone. Students should not use their personal electronic devices while walking through
the hallways. Any electronic device brought on campus or connected to the School’s network or
systems may be searched.
EATING AND DRINKING IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Students are not permitted to eat anywhere in the building except for the Student Center without
special permission from a teacher or administrator. Students are permitted to drink (water, coffee, tea,
soda, sports drink, etc.) in the Upper School classroom building ONLY, so long as the beverages are
in bottles, Nalgenes, or other closed containers.
LOCKERS
Each student is assigned an individual, full-sized locker. It is subject to inspection at the sole
discretion of the School and with or without notice to the student or parent(s) - both the locker and
the area around the locker should be kept clean. There should be no expectation of privacy in the
use of school lockers. The school may inspect lockers and their contents, including backpacks and
personal items brought on campus. Students are liable for damage to lockers.
BACKYARD RULES FOR STUDENTS
Kinkaid’s Backyard is a unique educational asset. It is a nature preserve, a living laboratory, and
an outdoor classroom; its purpose is to provide a natural environment for learning in a variety of
disciplines while conserving a portion of Kinkaid’s heritage found in the native riparian corridor
along historic Buffalo Bayou. Because of its wildness, it is imperative that all students and visitors
treat the area with a respect that will not only ensure their own safety, but will also preserve the
special features of this natural ecosystem for generations of students to come. The following rules,
suggested by students representing Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, outline policies that will
invite appropriate use and avoid inappropriate abuse of this exceptional part of our campus. Students
who do not comply with these rules or with the spirit of these rules are subject to disciplinary action
by the School.
Safety
• Students visiting the Backyard should dress appropriately for woodland activities; socks and
closed toe shoes with good traction are required.
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• Students may not approach water in the bayou, creek, or temporary ponds unless a teacher
is present and directly supervising the actions of the students. Lower school students are
required to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) whenever they are on the banks of Buffalo
Bayou. Teachers of Middle and Upper School students may also require the wearing of PFDs
when students engage in activities along the bayou. Swimming in Buffalo Bayou is absolutely
prohibited.
• Students must be attentive to their teachers’ instructions concerning woodland hazards, such as
poison ivy and wild animals, and follow those directions with diligence and care.
Respect for Nature
• Students and all other visitors must protect the Backyard’s natural habitat by conducting
themselves in a manner compatible with nature preserves; e.g. talking quietly, staying on trails,
preventing litter, avoiding actions that harm plant or animal life, etc.
• Students may not introduce plant or animal species to the Backyard.
• Students may not bring food of any kind into the Backyard.
• Cycling or running is not permitted in the Backyard.
• Students performing labs or conducting research in the Backyard must follow procedures that
minimize their impact on the natural environment and must remove all evidence of their study
as soon as the work is finished.
Access
• The Backyard is open for visitors during daylight hours only.
• During the school week, all students who enter the Backyard must be accompanied by or under
the direct supervision of a faculty member.
• On weekends students may enter the Backyard only if accompanied by a parent or supervising
adult.
• The school may close the Backyard and prohibit entry when circumstances exist that would
compromise the safety of visitors and/or the integrity of the Backyard’s natural and educational
assets.
• Kinkaid’s stated policies in student handbooks concerning unauthorized entrance into campus
buildings apply equally to the Backyard.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS REGULATIONS
The school buildings and grounds are open on school days from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Because the
School is responsible for its students’ safety and welfare while they are on campus, school facilities
are open only when proper supervision is available. No Kinkaid student may enter a Kinkaid school
building outside of the regular school day for any purpose which is not supervised by a physically
present faculty or staff member. A student violating this rule is subject to disciplinary action up to
and including dismissal or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years as well as prosecution
for illegal trespass.
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ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE POLICY
Overview
The Kinkaid School’s policy on alcohol and substance use has three purposes. First, the policy is
intended to send a clear message that the use of alcohol and other illegal or intoxicating substances,
including the illegal or inappropriate use of prescribed or over-the-counter medications, by
students is not tolerated. The possession, use, sale or distribution of alcohol or illegal substances
or medications (prescription, non-prescription or over the counter) that have not been prescribed
by a treating physician, at The Kinkaid School or at any school-related event is strictly forbidden.
Second, the policy is intended to generate a climate that will engage the entire school community
in comprehensive and thoughtful efforts to prevent the use of alcohol and other illegal use of
substances by adolescents. use of substances by adolescents. Part of generating this climate includes
good modeling by adults in the community. Third, the policy recognizes The Kinkaid School’s
commitment to maintaining the health, well-being and safety of all of its students.
The Kinkaid School’s policy is based on the belief that a student under the influence of alcohol,
other illegal substances, or medications (prescription, non-prescription or over the counter) not
prescribed by a treating physician is not prepared to attend to academic, artistic, athletic or extracurricular endeavors. Said another way, The Kinkaid School believes that the use of alcohol and
illegal or inappropriate substances creates a state of mind that is incompatible with the attention and
concentration needed for successful performance in academic, artistic, athletic or extra-curricular
activities. Also, alcohol and illegal or inappropriate substance use, especially in excess, can seriously
impair a student’s judgment and lead to dangerous behaviors and outcomes, including serious injury
to or even death of one’s self and/or others.
Disciplinary Response
A student who possesses, uses, is under the influence of, or distributes alcohol, any other illegal
substances, or medications (prescription, non-prescription or over the counter) carried by a student
that have not previously been approved by a treating physician through the nurse’s office on school
grounds or at a school-sponsored event is in violation of The Kinkaid School’s policy and, as such, is
subject to a disciplinary response, including, but not limited to, suspension, dismissal or non-renewal
of enrollment for future academic years. This includes activities and events that occur outside the
normal school year but are in any manner School related.
In addition, The Kinkaid School may impose a disciplinary response for conduct of a student off
campus at any location or time when, in the School’s judgment, the student’s conduct threatens the
safety or welfare of its students or employees, interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations
of the School, or threatens the reputation of the School, its students, Kinkaid community members
or employees. Such disciplinary responses could include, but are not limited to, requiring nonconfidential medical assessment or evaluation and treatment for alcohol or substance use/abuse,
testing for alcohol or substance use/abuse, loss of membership or leadership positions in artistic,
athletic or extra-curricular activities, disciplinary probation, suspension, dismissal or non-renewal of
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enrollment for future academic years.
The Kinkaid School may also impose a disciplinary response upon, or decline to enroll, a student
whose parents have permitted, organized or promoted activities that involve violations of The Kinkaid
School’s alcohol and substance use policy.
The Kinkaid School believes that communication in this, as with other important issues, is
enormously important. The School, therefore, may contact parents when a concern about a
student’s behavior, in regards to alcohol and/or substance use, has come to the attention of school
administrators.
Non-Disciplinary Response
The Kinkaid School will provide a non-disciplinary response for any student who comes forward or
is referred to a school counselor or administrator for concerns about alcohol or substance use before
a violation of The Kinkaid School’s alcohol and substance use policy has been discovered. Under
such circumstances, the school counselor or administrator will work with the student and parents to
develop a plan to help the student. Such a plan could include making arrangements for medical or
psychological assessment and treatment, including intensive inpatient or residential treatment, and
would remain non-disciplinary and independent of the student’s official academic record.
Education
In accord with The Kinkaid School’s commitment to maintaining the health, well-being and safety of
all of its students, The Kinkaid School will strive to provide age-appropriate education about the legal,
medical, behavioral and psychological consequences of the use of alcohol and other illegal substances,
including the illegal or inappropriate use of prescribed or over-the-counter medications, to all of its
students as well as to its faculty and administration.
The Kinkaid School will provide formal education to Middle School and Upper School students
about the alcohol and substance use policy. Upper School students will be asked to sign a statement
annually indicating that they have read and understand The Kinkaid School’s alcohol and substance
use policy. Parents will be given a copy of The Kinkaid School’s alcohol and substance use policy with
their students’ annual enrollment contracts. In signing the enrollment contract, parents indicate that
they have read and understand The Kinkaid School’s alcohol and substance use policy.
Adult Consumption of Alcohol at School Related Events
Educating students, guiding them to make good choices and modeling responsible behavior requires
a joint commitment from the School, parents and all adults in our community. Accordingly, alcohol
may not be served at any School related event where students are present. This includes, among other
things, class parties or team dinners where students and adults are present, athletic events on or off
campus, and fine arts performances on or off campus. Alcohol also may not be served at any school
related adult events during daytime hours, even if students are not present. This includes but is not
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limited to breakfasts, coffees or luncheons hosted by the School or parents. Alcohol is permitted at
adult only school related events that take place in the evening such as parent socials, fund raising
activities and galas.
Providing Alcohol or Drugs to Students
Parents and other adults in the Kinkaid community are at all times prohibited from serving or
providing alcohol, drugs, illegal substances or medications (prescription, non-prescription or over the
counter) not prescribed by a treating physician, to Kinkaid students.
TOBACCO & E-CIGARETTE POLICY
The Kinkaid School campus is tobacco free. Students may not use cigarettes, e-cigarettes or other
tobacco products, nor have them in their possession when they are on campus or attending any
school related event.
GUNS AND WEAPONS POLICY
Firearms, guns, explosives, knives and other weapons are prohibited on campus, including in all
buildings and on driveways, streets, sidewalks or walkways, parking lots, parking garages, or other
parking areas. Guns are also prohibited from being in locked vehicles or trunks while parked or
driving on campus. Students shall not interfere with normal activities, occupancy, or use of any
building or portion of the campus by exhibiting, using, or threatening to exhibit or use a firearm,
gun, explosive, knife or other weapon. Campus security officers may be allowed to be armed on
campus.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
The Kinkaid School Computer Network is established for the educational and professional use of the
Kinkaid students, faculty, and staff. The network includes PC and Macintosh computers located in
computer labs, libraries, classrooms, and offices, and any personal devices connected to the School’s
network or systems. Kinkaid expects the use of this resource to be consistent with the mission and
principles of the School and, for Upper School students, the Honor Code. The use of the network is
a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked if abused. Although the Kinkaid staff and teachers will
make every effort to supervise and guide students in the use of computers and the safe use of the
Internet, the student is personally responsible for his/her actions. Violations of the Acceptable Use
Policy may result in loss of computer privileges, other appropriate disciplinary actions, and/or legal
actions. Every student is expected to sign a form signifying that he/she has read the acceptable use
policy, which follows:
I will practice Kinkaid’s four core values when I am online and whenever I am accessing the School’s
network or systems, including the the Internet from on-campus or off-campus:
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•
•
•
•
Respect. I will honor and protect my privacy and the privacy of others. I will not reveal
passwords, home addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, social security numbers or credit card
numbers.
Responsibility. I will use responsible language. I will not swear or use vulgarities or any
other inappropriate language. I will not surf web sites that I know contain objectionable or
inappropriate content.
Honesty. I will not knowingly access the files of others. I will not install software onto my
computer that I do not legally own and I will legally download only legal content (film, music,
and text) onto my computer.
Kindness. I will not write anything mean or abusive. My behavior in the “virtual” world of
computers will be consistent with my behavior in the real world.
The following list contains examples of unacceptable use: I understand that it is by no means
complete and that it is to provide me with examples of what is considered unacceptable use.
• Using the network for any illegal activity, including downloading music, art, film, or text illegally
or without permission of the creator of the content.
• Using the network for financial gain.
• Breaking or damaging school equipment or slowing down the School’s network.
• Vandalizing the data of others.
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to information, resources, or entities.
• Using an account owned by another user.
• Forwarding or posting content created by someone else without that person’s consent.
• Forwarding or posting recordings of someone else without that person’s consent.
• Posting anonymous messages.
• Using the network to access or distribute objectionable or unacceptable materials.
• Sending, posting, or viewing content that contains pornography, violence, homophobia, hate,
racism, sexism, alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs.
I understand that the School will not tolerate the use of unauthorized software. All software used on
Kinkaid computers must be purchased legally.
I understand that files, including e-mail, stored on the Kinkaid network are not guaranteed to be
private. Any network, systems or internet activities may be monitored and logged. This information
can be retrieved as necessary if an infraction of the A.U.P. is suspected. The School may monitor, view,
store or delete my emails, files, documents and other data at any time with or without notice to me. I
also understand that any electronic device brought on campus or connected to Kinkaid’s network or
systems may be searched with or without notice to me. The School may filter or block any content at
its sole discretion including but not limited to social media or other content the School determines is
inappropriate.
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While Kinkaid takes steps to keep data safe and secure, the School cannot be held responsible for
student work that is lost due to disk failure, viruses, Internet access interruption, and other system
failures. Kinkaid also cannot be held responsible for problems that arise from the network being
down or a computer malfunction--even if a problem arises from circumstances under the control of
Kinkaid.
I understand that using the Internet I can access Kinkaid School sites such as Moodle and the
School’s website from anywhere. Whenever I access these sites, the School’s network or other systems
from off-campus, I will follow the same rules as if I were accessing these sites from on-campus. I
understand that the use of the Kinkaid network is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may
result in a cancellation of those privileges and may lead to further disciplinary actions.
As a user of The Kinkaid School computer network, I agree to follow the rules in the Acceptable Use
Policy in addition to any guidelines set by the supervising teacher. I also understand the consequences
of inappropriate behavior or use. Kinkaid expects the use of this resource to be consistent with the
mission and principles of the School and the Honor Code.
VISITOR POLICY
Purpose
The Kinkaid School welcomes parents and other individuals to visit and participate in school
activities and business. The support and cooperation received from visitors is essential to the safety
and success of the school. Because the protection of our students, faculty and staff is of paramount
importance, the School has established guidelines for campus visitors. These guidelines apply to our
school buildings during normal school hours on normal school days. They do not apply to sporting
events, pep rallies, Book Fair, special assemblies and similar activities. In special circumstances, the
School may make discretionary changes to these guidelines to ensure campus security.
Definition of Visitor
A visitor is defined as any person who is not a Kinkaid student, school employee, trustee or approved
on-duty school volunteer. Parents and other relatives of students are considered visitors for purposes
of this policy.
Guidelines
• All visitors must sign-in at the appropriate school office. Sign-in locations include Student Life
Building lobby, Lower School Office, Middle School Office and Upper School Office. Upon
completion of visit, visitors will sign-out at the same location that was used for sign-in.
• All visitors will receive a temporary visitor badge that must be worn in a visible location while on
campus. This badge should be returned to the school office upon sign-out.
• Long-term volunteers may be issued a Volunteer Badge for use during their time of service.
Volunteer badges will be issued only as needed and must be approved by the division head,
Director of Athletics or Director of Advancement. Volunteer badges must be returned to the
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
school at the end of the project or school year.
Signage will be posted at security kiosk and building entry points stating “All Visitors Must SignIn.”
School faculty and staff should notify the security kiosk staff when expecting visitors to the
campus. The preferred method of notification is an email to [email protected]. Last minute
notifications may be made via telephone at (713) 243-5059.
School faculty and staff should direct visitors without a visitor badge to the appropriate location
to sign-in.
Vendors and other visitors doing maintenance/repair work on campus will sign-in and receive
visitor badges at the security kiosk.
School faculty and staff are required to wear their Kinkaid name badges while on campus.
Visitors shall not disrupt the school day or the School’s operations.
In its sole discretion, the School may prohibit any visitor on campus or at school related events at
any time.
OFF-CAMPUS TRIPS
Participants on a team or members of a school group must travel in the transportation provided by
the School unless specific permission has been given to do otherwise. Specific dress requirements will
be in effect.
SCHOOL TRIP POLICY
The Kinkaid School affords its students a variety of travel opportunities designed to offer the kind of
learning that cannot be achieved in the classroom. These trips create situations, therefore, in which
students, their families, and faculty chaperones share special concerns and responsibilities.
In addition to trip-specific policies and procedures set forth by the School, the sponsors and the
chaperones of any trip, all of the School’s regular policies and procedures, including those set forth in
this handbook, apply while a student is on school related travel of any kind. Discipline will generally
be handled through the School’s regular disciplinary process. The School may at any time require
parent(s), at their own expense, to arrange for travel home for a student due to injury, illness or
behavior.
The faculty chaperones design and publish clearly defined academic programs, delineating
educational objectives and describing the kinds of academic tasks assigned to students. In addition, it
is expected that faculty determine and approve all arrangements that have been made for the trip.
Faculty also have another, no less important, role. They must define the parameters which assure
the safety and well-being of the individual student and of the group as a whole. This responsibility
will include establishing limitations on student activity, both in kind and extent. In addition to
those restrictions already published under “Conduct,” the nature of the travel will also require
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implementing room curfews, limiting or denying student separation from the group, and defining
appropriate student behavior in public or private places.
It is correspondingly important that student travelers understand and accept the policies and
obligations defined by the School and its faculty representatives. Individual students do not travel as
private citizens. They are students both enrolled in and representative of The Kinkaid School. They
are likewise members of a larger travel group, to whom they owe obligations which may require the
sacrifice of personal desire.
Students who do not recognize their responsibilities should not enroll in school travel opportunities.
Once enrolled, students who choose to violate restrictions on behavior and/or activities should
expect and accept disciplinary consequences of their actions, up to and including dismissal from the
School or non-renewal of enrollment for future academic years. Students should understand that the
standards which have been established aim to create maximum educational value and personal safety.
Students, therefore, who voluntarily remove themselves from school policies designed to protect them
risk personal danger for which the School cannot be responsible.
The School believes, as well, that it is the obligation of parents to know and understand the
educational aims and personal restrictions in student travel. These policies should be discussed within
the family, and the family as a whole should agree to their purpose and value. In cases where parents
are uncertain about school policies, they should seek clarification from the division head or other
authority. In cases where parents disagree with these policies, they should not enroll their child for
travel.
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In order for a student to participate in any sport or athletic activity of the School, a physician
must certify the physical health and fitness of the student by completing the School
Certificate of Participation-Medical Record. This certificate is due to Kinkaid by July 15. A
student may be prohibited from participating in athletics for academic, behavioral or other
reasons at the sole discretion of the School.
ATHLETIC AND FINE ARTS COOPERATION GUIDELINES
Kinkaid has valued, and continues to value, the tradition of students being able to participate
both in athletics and the fine arts. Both the Fine Arts Department and the Athletic
Department will work cooperatively to avoid conflict. The Athletic Department will be
notified when performances are scheduled and will work around those performances so that
students are not required to make a choice. The Fine Arts Department will schedule rehearsals
to avoid pulling students from scheduled athletic contests or practices. However, when there
are unavoidable conflicts, the following set of guidelines will be used to resolve them:
• There will be dates in the week of the musical when rehearsals have clear, unambiguous
priority over athletic events. Other “select” groups also have performances, and
cooperation between the departments to allow dress rehearsals is extremely important.
• In an I.S.A.S. Arts Festival year, there will be one date in the week that the festival takes
place when fine arts has clear, unambiguous priority over athletic events.
• Fine arts directors will schedule rehearsals to avoid conflicts with scheduled athletic
contests and practices. In the case of conflict, the scheduled athletic event will take
precedence.
• Once the rehearsal schedules have been established, they will take precedence over
contests that are not on the original athletic schedule. Every effort should be made to
avoid rescheduling which produces such conflicts.
SOUTHWEST PREPARATORY CONFERENCE
The SPC is comprised of accredited, independent schools established for its students’
enjoyment, physical fitness, and instruction in skills and character, for the intrinsic worth
of individual sports, and for mutual benefits derived from keen competition and true
sportsmanship within an educational setting.
ARTS & ATHLETICS
ATHLETICS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND WELLNESS
The School believes the development of a strong body is harmonious with the development
of a strong mind and a strong heart; therefore, participation in six seasons of physical
education, a sport, or alternative activity class is required. Moreover, students completing their
sophomore year should have accumulated at least four physical education credits, plus the
Decisions class. Students participating in conditioning during the school day will have access
to the weight room. After school cardio fitness will be held in various locations, inside and
out, but will not have access to the weight room. Credit for physical education and sports is
awarded on a credit/no credit basis.
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SPC ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION
Admission to and enrollment in Kinkaid does not guarantee that a student is eligible for participation
in SPC athletics. The SPC is the final authority regarding a student’s eligibility for participation.
SPC SPORTSMANSHIP CREED
Kinkaid competes in the Southwest Preparatory Conference. Athletic competition in the SPC is
guided by the following ideas:
THE PLAYERS AND COACHES
Players and coaches shall at all times represent themselves, their school, and their conference with
honor, proper conduct, and good sportsmanship. They shall understand that competitive rivalries are
encouraged but that disrespect for opponents is unsportsmanlike and lessens the value of the rivalries.
They shall confine the competitiveness of the game to the field, and in particular behave properly on
the sidelines and in the locker rooms both before and after games. Players and coaches shall comply
fully with the rulings of the officials. They must never forget that they represent their school.
THE SPECTATORS
SPC member schools will not tolerate any spectator, either student or adult, whose behavior is
disrespectful toward players, officials, coaches, or other spectators. Nor will SPC member schools
permit any type of spectator behavior that either detracts from the proper conduct of the game or
disadvantages a player or team.
SCHOOLS IN SPC:
Arlington: The Oakridge School
Austin: St. Andrew’s Episcopal School & St. Stephen’s Episcopal
Dallas: Episcopal School of Dallas, Greenhill School, The Hockaday School and St. Mark’s School
of Texas
Ft. Worth: All Saints’ Episcopal, Ft. Worth Country Day and Trinity Valley
Houston: The Kinkaid School, Episcopal High School, Houston Christian and St. John’s School
Irving: Cistercian Preparatory School
Oklahoma City: Casady School
San Antonio: Saint Mary’s Hall
Tulsa: Holland Hall
The Woodlands: The John Cooper School
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INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS/PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Athletic activities are offered in specific seasons, at a variety of levels and some have limited space in
the following areas:
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
Cheerleading
Cross-country
Field Hockey - Girls
Football - Boys
Volleyball
Cardio Fitness *
Conditioning*#
Tennis*+
Yoga I and II*
Basketball
Soccer
Swimming
Wrestling - Boys
Cardio Fitness *
Conditioning*#
Golf (beginnner level)
Yoga I and II*
Baseball - Boys
Golf
Lacrosse
Softball - Girls
Tennis
Track and Field
Badminton I and II*
Cardio Fitness *
Conditioning*#
Yoga I and II *
* No Interscholastic Competition
# Offered during the school day if there is sufficient enrollment
+ Only open to students not on the Kinkaid tennis team.
GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN UPPER SCHOOL TENNIS PE CLASS
TThe fall/winter PE Tennis classes are for beginning tennis players only. This class is a “tennis-101”
course. Any student, who has, at any time in the past, played for a Kinkaid Tennis team, middle
school or high school, will not be permitted to enroll.
GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN UPPER SCHOOL GOLF PE CLASS
This is beginning level golf. There is no experience needed, participants must have their own clubs
and the class carries an activity fee. Participation on any Kinkaid golf team prior to class will exclude
students from enrollment, as they will be far too advanced for the class. Some classes will be held
at Sharpstown Golf Course, some classes will be held at Memorial Park driving range. On the days
when classes are held off campus, parents will need to be able to pick students up at the various
locations.
GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN WINTER PE CLASSES
Please understand when signing up for a WINTER PE class, you are expected to be able to attend all
classes. If you are planning to travel during Interim, or will be leaving town for an internship, you
will not be allowed to sign up for a class.
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GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING UPPER SCHOOL PE CLASS ROSTER BASED ON PRIORITY
These guidelines outline the procedure used to determine the class enrollment when space is limited.
Priority Levels (highest to lowest)
• Senior needing athletic/PE credit
• Junior needing athletic/PE credit
• Sophomore needing athletic/PE credit
• Freshmen
• Senior not needing credit – never taken class before
• Junior not needing credit – never taken class before
• Sophomore not needing credit – never taken class before
• Senior not needing credit – has taken class before
• Junior not needing credit – has taken class before
• Sophomore not needing credit – has taken class before
GUIDELINES TO RECEIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION/ATHLETIC
CREDIT FOR OUTSIDE ACTIVITY
Any student who desires Physical Education/Athletic credit for an activity outside of the Kinkaid
program must complete the Upper School Credit for Outside Participation form and return it to the
Director of Physical Education, Jeremy Platt, by the appropriate due date.
• The activity should be at least ten (10) hours per week.
• The activity should include some level of competition or performance.
• The student must attempt to participate on the Kinkaid team in season if Kinkaid offers the
activity.
• The student’s outside activity coach must be willing to submit a written report using The Kinkaid
School Physical Education and Athletics Seasonal Report. The report must include a comment
along with assessments.
• This report should include the student’s schedule of practice times, a schedule of competitions,
and some information on the facility where the activity takes place.
Once the Director of Physical Education approves the off campus activity, it will require further
approval from the Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Wellness, and the student’s Dean.
If the student is granted credit for the off campus activity, further eligibility will hinge on the timely
submission of The Kinkaid School Physical Education and Athletics Seasonal Report by the student’s
outside activity coach.
DANCE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CREDIT
Offered fall and spring seasons; pass/fail. Students who take dance for one semester will earn one
credit. Students who take dance for an entire year will earn two credits. Students may not earn
Physical Education credit and Arts credit for the same dance class.
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DEANS OFFICE
Quenby Mott - Lead Dean - B.A., Gettysburg College
Scott Lambert - Dean - B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University
Joshua Hudley - Dean - B.A., Washington University in St. Louis
Jennifer Kincaid - Dean - B.A., Trinity University; M.L.A. St. John’s College
Claire Logsdon - Dean - B.A., Duke University, M.A., Columbia University
Robert Street - Dean - B.A., Whitman College; M.Ed., Harvard University
Carol Baez - Administrative Assistant - B.S., State University of New York at Geneseo
Alejandra Cashiola - Administrative Assistant
ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STAFF
ADMINISTRATION
Andrew Martire - Head of School - B.A., Princeton University; M.A., Johns Hopkins University;
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Ed Trusty - Assistant Headmaster - B.A., University of Virginia; M.A., University of Virginia;
Ph.D., Morgan State University
Patrick Loach - Upper School Head - B.A., State University of New York at Geneseo; M.Ed.,
M.S., University of Virginia
Josh Ramey - Upper School Dean of Students - B.S., United States Coast Guard Academy; M.A.,
Spring Hill College
Laura Lomax-Bream – Upper School Counselor - B.A., Trinity University; M.A. and Ph.D.,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jennifer Kehler - US Coordinator of Student Life - B.S., M.A., Kansas State University
Shannon Terrill - US Learning Specialist - B.S., University of Vermont; M.S., University of
Southern Maine
Emily Gordon - Coordinator of Community Service - B.A., Texas A&M University; M.A.,
Sacred Heart University
Jennifer Monteleone - Community Service Assistant - B.S., University of Texas
Karen Horne - Administrative Assistant to the Upper School Head - B.S., Vanderbilt University
Gulzar Kurji - Upper School Office Receptionist
INTERIM AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Thomas Wey - Director of Interim Term - B.A., University of St. Thomas
Jane Murdock - Associate Director of Interim Term - B.A., M.A.T., University of Massachusetts
Judith Muir - Director of Career Development - B.A., College of Wooster; M.Ed., University of
Houston; Ed.M., Harvard University
LIBRARY
Dorian Myers - Director of Libraries - B.A., Rice University; M.L.I.S., University of Texas at
Austin
Sarah Gesell - School Archivist and Assistant Librarian - B.A., Austin College; M.S., University
of Texas at Austin
Sharon Reed - Associate Librarian - B.A., M.L.S., University of Texas at Austin
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ENGLISH
Katherine Lambert - Chair - B.A., Wesleyan University; M.A., Rice University
Kristen Bird - B.A., Houston Baptist University
Casey Fleming - B.A., Smith College; M.A., American University; M.F.A., University of Houston
Christa Forster - B.A., Loyola Marymount University; M.F.A., University of Houston
Angélique Jamail - B.A., University of Houston
Jennifer Kehler - B.S., M.A., Kansas State University
Scott Lambert - B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University
Carolyn McCarthy - B.A., Georgetown University; M.A., Indiana University
Tara McDonald Johnson - B.A., M.A. Winthrop University; Ph.D., The University of Alabama
Michelle Miller - B.A., Hiram College; M.A., University of Houston
Tyson Morgan - B.A., Macalester College; M.F.A., University of Houston
Tom Peden - B.A., University of Texas at Austin; M.A., Princeton University
Charlie Scott - B.A., University of Tennessee; M.F.A., University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of
Houston
HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES
Ed Harris - Chair - A.B., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., J.D., Columbia University
Ted Curry - B.A., Trinity University; M.A., Columbia University
Patrick Durning - B.A., Duke University; M.A., Ph.D., Brown University
Tamasine Ellis - B.A., Rice University
Eric Emerson - B.A., University of Texas at Austin
Beth Fayard - B.A., Mississippi State University; M.A., University of Houston
Leslie Lovett - B.A., Newcomb College of Tulane University; M.A., Rice University
Josh Ramey - B.S., United States Coast Guard Academy; M.A., Spring Hill College
Anthony Suber - B.F.A., University of Houston
Angela Wainright - B.A., University of Houston
MATHEMATICS
Sheri Offenhauser - Chair - B.A., New York University; M.A., University of Texas at Austin
Carolyn Clancy - B.S., Villanova University; M.A., Rice University
Kenneth J. Conner - B.S., University of Louisiana at Lafayette
John Gomes - B.S., Fairfield University
Eva Herzog - B.A., Bryn Mawr College; M.A., University of Houston
Olen H. Rambow - B.A., Rice University; B.S. Rice University; M.S. Rice University
Anjaly Thakkar - B.S., M.S. University of Houston
Michael Vischak - B.A., Swarthmore College
Susan Wheeler - B.A., Cornell University; Doctor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
SCIENCE
Sonia Clayton - Chair - B.S., University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., Baylor College of
Medicine
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Clay Anderson - B.A., The Johns Hopkins University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Craig Bowe - B.S., B.A., University of Minnesota; Ph.D., Indiana University
Lara Cross - B.S., Trinity University; M.A., University of Texas at Austin
Shannon Hardie - B.S., University of Mississippi; Ph.D., University of Virginia
Dennis Kliza - B.S., United States Air Force Academy; M.S., University of Michigan
Linda Miller - B.A., University of Chicago; M.A.T., Northwestern University
Stephanie Toro - BA, MT, University of Virginia; MS, Old Dominion University
Sarah Shea - B.A., University of Texas; M.A., Columbia University
Christina Zeigler - B.S., M.S., Texas Southern University
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Marie O’Donnell - Chair - Bac. Academie de Paris; M.A., University of Paris
Elliot Benge - B.A., Texas Tech University; M.A., Universidad de Salamanca
Sarah Cegelski - B.A., Baylor University; M.A., Middlebury College; Ph.D., University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jenny Chiu - B.S., University of Houston
Allison Das - B.A., University of North Carolina; M.A., Ph.D., University of Washington
Esteban Longoria - B.S., Texas A&M University; M.A., University of Salamanca
Yolanda Soliz - B.A., Texas A&I University; M.A., University of Houston, University Park
Jane Murdock - B.A., M.A.T., University of Massachusetts
Vanessa Zamudio Lara - B.A., Universidad de Especialización Psicopediagógica de Yucatán, M.A.,
Universidad de Salamanca
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Harlan Howe - U.S. Technology Coordinator - B.A., Rice University; M. Ed., Harvard University
FINE ARTS
Betsy Durning - Director of Fine Arts - B.A., College of the Holy Cross; M.A., Brown University
Fred Angerstein - Performing Arts Coordinator and Band Director - B.M., M.M., University of
Houston
Farrah Braniff- Visual Arts Coordinator and Photography Director - B.F.A., San Francisco Art
Institute; M.Ed., University of Houston
John Childs - Photography - B.A., University of Texas at Austin
Justin Doran - Children’s Theatre - B.F.A., Southern Methodist University; M.F.A, University of
California at Los Angeles
Ryan Gillentine - Digital Video/Filmmaking – B.F.A, Syracuse University
Luiza Grandchamp - B.A., Universidade Celso Lisboa; B.A., University of Houston
Cindy Harrrison - Choral Director - B.M., University of Wisonsin; M.M., Northwestern University;
Ed.D, Walden University
Angélique Jamail - Creative Writing - B.A., University of Houston
Steve Kastner - Orchestra Director - B.Ed., West Texas A&M University
Michelle Ludwig- Drama - B.A., Trinity University; M.F.A., University of Texas
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Carolyn McCarthy - Creative Writing - B.A., Georgetown University; M.A., Indiana University
Nancy McMillan - Art - B.A., Michigan State University; M.A., Rice University
Krissy Richmond - Director of Dance - Washington School of Ballet
Mark Sell - B.A., University of California, San Diego
Anthony Suber - Art - B.F.A., University of Houston
DECISIONS FOR HEALTHY LIVING
Jennifer Haynes - B.S., Texas A&M University, Kingsville; M.S., Texas A&M University, Corpus
Christi
Cheryl Mitchell - B.S.Ed., Northeast Missouri State University; M.S. Ed., Baylor University
ATHLETICS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND WELLNESS
Bob Beeman - Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Wellness - B.A., Principia College; M.S.
Ed., Southern Illinois University
Cheryl Mitchell - Director of Wellness - B.S.Ed., Northeast Missouri State University; M.S.Ed.,
Baylor University
Angie Nickens - Assistant Athletic Director - B.S., M.Ed., Texas Christian University
Stacey Marshall - Assistant Athletic Director - B.S., University of Houston
Jeremy Platt - Program Director of Physical Education - B.S.Ed., M.Ed., Springfield College
Megan Arnold - B.A., Sam Houston State University
John Beckwith - B.S., Trinity University
Kelly Bolin - B.B.A., University of Mississippi; M.B.A., University of Houston
Curtis Brooks - Assistant Director of Physical Eduation - B.A., Houston Baptist University
Jackie Ciconte - B.A., University of Maryland
Everett Coleman - B.A., Rice University
Robert Eggleston - B.S., Rice University
Jennifer Haynes – Athletic Trainer - B.S., Texas A&M University, Kingsville; M.S., Texas A&M
University, Corpus Christi
Molly Higby - B.A., University of Southwestern Louisiana
James Jordan - B.A., Mercer University; M.A., George Washington University; Ed.D., George
Washington University
Steve Maas - B.L.A., Lamar University
Garry McMillan - B.A., Trinity University
Erica Meyer - B.A., University of Houston
Jennifer Peyton - B.S., University of Houston
Jamie Platt- B.S., Western New England College; M.Ed., Springfield College
Beth Rodriguez - B.S., Texas Christian University
Jimmy Roton - Head Athletic Trainer - B.A., Rice University
Kevin Veltri - B.S., University of Kansas
Mike Yarotsky - Texas A&M University
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SCHOOL-WIDE POLICIES
STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY
Kinkaid’s mission is “to promote educational excellence, personal responsibility, and balanced
growth, and thereby to help its students discover their talents and develop their best potentials.”
Kinkaid believes that the diversity of its school community, which in simplest terms means
the ways in which people are different, enhances the school’s ability to implement its mission.
Education involves acknowledging and valuing what is comfortable and known and leading
students to an understanding and appreciation of what is new and different. Encountering
different perspectives, ideas, ways of thinking, and understandings is an essential part of this
process. Through their experience with such differences students develop the ability to think
critically, to make informed judgments, to imagine, to understand, and to grow. This principle is
at the heart of Kinkaid’s motto, lux per scientiam, light through knowledge.
Diversity serves other mission goals of Kinkaid as well. Personal responsibility in today’s world
will demand increased knowledge and respect for the rich diversity of the people and points of
view in that world. The next generation of leaders must be prepared to deal effectively with rapid
change, varied viewpoints, and different methods of solving problems. Helping Kinkaid students
understand their connection to the world and to each other will enable them not only to achieve
their highest potentials but also to serve as strong and effective leaders.
Respect for diversity mirrors Kinkaid’s commitment to character education. It is the School’s
goal that all students, school families, and faculty and staff feel welcome, valued, and respected at
Kinkaid. The values that anchor its character education program—honesty, respect, responsibility,
and kindness—also characterize its attitude toward the diversity in the school community.
Kinkaid expects that in the professions and communities its graduates enter as adults, they will
embody these values that contribute to a global society in a positive and transforming way.
Kinkaid students benefit in other ways from diversity at school. The Houston metropolitan area
(and many other parts of the United States) is undergoing dramatic demographic change. The
cities in which most of today’s students will live, work, and raise families will be racially and
culturally diverse. Indeed, Houston will be one of the most diverse cities in the country. Similarly,
the professions that many of our graduates will enter will increasingly be required to serve a
global community and to draw on resources from around the world to generate their best work.
To compete successfully, Kinkaid students must develop a greater appreciation for such diversity.
STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTENTION
Everyone benefits from a healthy environment, and everyone is responsible for the health of the
environment. Our decisions and actions - as institutions, as communities, as individuals – have
consequences both positive and negative for our local and global environments.
Responsibility and respect are core values of The Kinkaid School. As an institution, therefore, we
seek both to teach and to practice responsible and respectful treatment and stewardship of the
natural environment. We do this for our own sakes, but also for the sake of the larger community
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and future generations, including future generations of Kinkaid students.
At Kinkaid all policies and practices should be informed by their environmental impact. Thus, for
example, we are responsible not only for informed teaching about the environment to our students,
but also for the conservation of energy, water and material resources, increased recycling and reuse
of “waste,” sound practices of land use, and the reduction of pollutants. To prepare our students
for life in a century in which environmental issues promise to play an increasingly significant role
in the formulation of both public—including economic—policy and private decisions, the School
seeks to cultivate a culture of informed environmental awareness among all members of the Kinkaid
community. This is done in a variety of contexts, both in and out of the classroom.
Further, we believe that responsibility and respect must guide our process and commitment to
achieving positive environmental outcomes: respect and responsibility for one another, for the natural
world, for the rights of all to a healthy environment, and for the generations to come.
EXPECTATIONS OF ADULT CONSTITUENCIES
The Kinkaid School, like other schools and organizations, is guided by its mission, stated policies
and values. Our mission defines the School’s purpose and reason for being; our policies define the
School’s expectations around specific issues; and, our values set the basic behavioral norms and
expectations for all members of our community.
Even with these clearly established and well-articulated guiding statements and principles, there
remains an ongoing need to provide clarity regarding expectations of each of the School’s adult
constituencies. With the clarification detailed below, we hope to avoid misunderstanding and
misinterpretation of important responsibilities and basic expectations.
For this reason, and with great institutional respect and appreciation for the important and diverse
roles of each of our constituent groups, the School has defined and embraced a set of expectations
that more clearly defines roles and responsibilities of the School’s adult constituencies. These
expectations, in concert with our core values, define the minimum, basic interpersonal expectations
for interaction among and with each other around school activities, responsibilities, functions and
gatherings.
What all adult parties have in common is concern for the welfare and education of Kinkaid students
and the long-standing regard and tradition of the organization. As a community, we must work to
strike and maintain a healthy balance whereby parents respect the role of the school and its teachers
and staff to educate, and the school and its teachers and staff respect the primary role of parents to
provide the childrearing and value system for their child. Just as families and communities depend on
respect and trust among their members in order to flourish and be successful, so must Kinkaid.
We have a proud, rich history that is defined by our traditions, our families, our teachers and our
students. These basic guidelines, which reinforce the need to understand and respect the roles of each
adult constituency, are defined as follows:
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Board of Trustees
• Sets the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the School
• Establishes the School’s general educational policies
• Sets fiscal and operational policies of the School that support the mission, vision and strategic
goals
• Is responsible for the fiscal health of the School
• Selects and evaluates the performance of the Headmaster
• Supports the Headmaster’s efforts to implement the initiatives necessary to achieve the School’s
vision and strategic goals
• Approves graduation requirements
• Ensures that the School operates in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations
• Provides oversight of risk management plans for the School
• Engages proactively with the Headmaster in cultivating and maintaining good relations with
School constituents as well as the broader community
• Provides philanthropic leadership and support of the School’s programs and key initiatives
• Demonstrates respect for Kinkaid’s core values in interactions with all Kinkaid constituencies
• Shows respect for others regardless of the individual’s religious, social or political views
• Is available to School constituents, but supports established means for those constituents to
provide input and discuss concerns regarding School matters by referring input and concerns to
the Headmaster or Board Chair
Headmaster and Administration
• Ensures that board-approved mission and goals, along with the educational, operational and fiscal
policies, are appropriately implemented
• Provides academic leadership to the School, including the following:
• Ensuring that subject matter is adequately taught and contributes in a meaningful way to the
School’s overall academic objectives
• Overseeing the selection and, if necessary, termination of faculty
• Establishing standards of performance and overseeing the evaluation and development of
administration and faculty
• Provides operational and fiscal leadership to the School, including the following:
• Managing the day to day operations of the School
• Setting the instructional and operational budget within limits set by the Board
• Ensuring the safety of the learning environment and establishing emergency plans and
procedures
• Determining the calendar of the School and, with the faculty, the daily schedule
• Communicating clearly and in a timely manner with Kinkaid constituencies—faculty, students,
parents, alumni/ae, and the Board of Trustees
• Recognizes the value of and balance between both the most current thought in educational
preparation for our students and school traditions and long standing practices
• Appreciates a student’s or a family’s right and responsibility to provide input and discuss concerns
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•
•
•
•
regarding school matters through established means and, as appropriate, provides a timely
response to all such input or concerns
Engages proactively with the Board of Trustees in cultivating and maintaining good relations
with school constituents as well as the broader community
Provides philanthropic leadership and support for the School’s programs and key initiatives
Demonstrates respect for Kinkaid’s core values in interactions with all Kinkaid constituencies
Shows respect for others regardless of the individual’s religious, social or political views
Faculty
• Shares the responsibility, with the administration, for the development and appropriate
implementation of the entire educational program (academics, arts, athletics, character education,
and extracurricular activities)
• With the guidance and approval of the administration, determines the courses of the curriculum
and delivers the subject matter on a day-to-day basis, including selection of instructional
materials to be used
• Assesses student work
• Communicates in a timely manner with parents about students’ progress
• Draws on a variety of intellectual sources for subject matter, at the same time emphasizing what
has proven most excellent and admirable in the subject area over time
• Makes clear that there are differing viewpoints and encourages students to form opinions
supported by thoughtful reason
• Teaches course material in a way that covers the subject matter in a thorough, balanced, age
appropriate and well-reasoned way that promotes learning and critical thinking
• Encourages students to explore their own ideas and respectfully discuss opposing ideas, without
advocating personal political views
• Recognizes the value of and balance between both the most current thought in educational
preparation for our students and school traditions and long-standing practices
• Selects performing groups and determines student roles in productions
• Selects teams, their lineups and determines appropriate strategies for athletic teams and contests
• Appreciates a student’s or a family’s right and responsibility to provide input and discuss concerns
regarding school matters through established means and, as appropriate, provides a timely
response to all such input or concerns
• Respects the primary role of parents in guiding their children’s belief systems and values and
recognizes that different families will take different approaches
• Demonstrates respect for Kinkaid’s core values in interactions with all Kinkaid constituencies
• Shows respect for others regardless of the individual’s religious, social or political views
• Discusses matters pertaining to individual students only with the student, his or her parents, or
other appropriate, authorized adult school personnel
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Parents
• Have the primary role in guiding their children’s belief systems and values
• Ensure that students come to school on time, free of illness, safely, and prepared
• Adhere to Kinkaid’s policies and procedures and ensure that their Kinkaid students understand
and adhere to them as well
• Communicate with administrators and teachers, as necessary, the information that is important
to their children’s educational success
• Recognize that Kinkaid is a student-centered educational institution
• Support and respect the expertise of trained educators and coaches, the quality of the Kinkaid
curriculum and the impact of both on students’ education and maturation, and convey that
support and respect to their Kinkaid students
• Respect the primary role of teachers, including those in academics, the visual and performing
arts, and athletics, to teach the approved curriculum, direct and lead in the arts, and coach
in their respective athletics in an appropriate manner consistent with the School’s beliefs and
practices.
• Recognize the value of and balance between both the most current thought in educational
preparation for our students and school traditions and long-standing practices
• Utilize established means to provide input and discuss concerns regarding school matters
involving their children
• Demonstrate respect for Kinkaid’s core values in interactions with all Kinkaid constituencies and
convey to their Kinkaid students the importance of doing the same
• Show respect for others regardless of the individual’s religious, social or political views
• Recognize and respect the confidential nature of some school disciplinary actions concerning
administrators, faculty or students
Each individual has a personal responsibility to meet the expectations outlined above and to do so
in a manner that models the behavior, decorum and trust which we want our students to exhibit.
In trusting the good intentions of all within our community, we demonstrate confidence in each
other to help our students “discover and develop their talents and to fulfill their best potentials” as
articulated in Kinkaid’s mission.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Kinkaid School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights,
privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin or any other state,
local or federally protected class in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,
scholarship, and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
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NON-HARASSMENT POLICY
Kinkaid is committed to treating all members of the school community with respect. In furtherance
of this goal, the school prohibits harassment of any kind and on any basis, including but not limited
to the following: gender, age, race, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. This
policy applies to all employees of Kinkaid as well as its students.
POLICY ON RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION
Kinkaid is a non-sectarian school that welcomes students, families, faculty, and staff of all religious
faiths, as well as those who do not profess religious faith.
As a non-sectarian school, Kinkaid does not sponsor, promote, or favor any particular religion, but
the School recognizes the importance of religious faith to many members of the school community.
The comfort, strength, and guidance many derive from religious faith are significant, and religion
plays an important role in the moral development of many young people. Kinkaid believes that
its community is enriched by the contributions of individuals representing diverse views, religions,
cultures, and ethnicities.
• In recognition of the importance of religion to many members of our school community,
Kinkaid permits the exercise of religious expression outlined below in a manner that is consistent
with the School’s standards of deportment, honorable and civil behavior, and the four core values
Kinkaid has identified as being central to the life and work of the School—honesty, respect,
responsibility, and kindness.
• During free time in the school day and in the times immediately before and after school, students
may gather for prayer, for the study of religious texts, or for religious discussion. Students may
not be led or accompanied in such gatherings by non-students, and they may neither proselytize
other students to join in these gatherings nor exclude students who wish to take part. Students
must obtain permission from the administration to post on-campus notices of such gatherings
and to use school buildings for these gatherings.
• With the approval of the Headmaster, religious student organizations may use school facilities
outside of the school day for meetings. Non-student members of such organizations may be
present at the meetings, but may not be present on campus for any purpose associated with
the organization during the school day or outside of the approved meetings. Such groups must
obtain written approval from the Headmaster for on-campus notices of these meetings. Members
of these organizations may not proselytize on behalf of these groups on campus nor exclude
students who wish to take part.
• As has been traditional at Kinkaid, nondenominational prayers or selected religious readings may
be offered at baccalaureate ceremonies, graduations, and other school events where such prayers
and readings are customary or otherwise appropriate.
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FINE ARTS SAFETY POLICY
The Kinkaid School and fine arts faculty value the safety of its students. Kinkaid’s fine arts students
are educated in professional workspaces that contain many costly and dangerous materials (lighting/
sound equipment, musical instruments, paints, photo chemicals, power saws, etc.). In order to
control and encourage respect for the fine arts spaces and materials, students may not be in any fine
arts classrooms, performance or support spaces without a faculty member’s awareness or direction.
Areas such as the roof, catwalks, mechanical rooms, fly lofts, and other usually locked spaces of
buildings are strictly off-limits. Students may not touch any fine arts materials unless authorized
to do so by an appropriate faculty member. Students should exhibit the same degree of common
sense and courtesy as if a guest in someone’s home. No food or drink is allowed in the Katz Center
for the Performing Arts. Student behavior that is dangerous to self or others will not be tolerated.
Disciplinary action will be taken if such behavior occurs.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
All students are covered by a student accident insurance policy that provides coverage for injuries that
occur during school-sponsored and supervised activities. The policy provides benefits for expenses
that are not covered by any other medical insurance, but the claim must first be submitted to
student’s primary medical insurance and there is a $100 deductible. Treatment must commence and
the claim must be filed within 90 days from the date of the injury. Mrs. Margraves in the Business
Office should be contacted for a claim form.
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ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
Parents agree to adhere to and abide by and require their child(ren) to adhere to and abide by
the policies and procedures set forth in this handbook, as amended from time to time with or
without notice. Any violations of these policies or procedures by parent(s) or student may result in
disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the School or non-renewal of enrollment for
future academic years, at the sole discretion of the School.
This handbook creates no expectancy of enrollment in future school years. Kinkaid reserves the
right to suspend or dismiss during the school year or decline to re-enroll any student who in effort,
conduct or progress is not fulfilling the School’s expectations, as determined by the School. Kinkaid
also reserves the right to suspend, dismiss during the school year or decline to re-enroll any student
whose enrollment is deemed by Kinkaid not to be in the best interests of the School or whose parents
are deemed by Kinkaid not to support the School’s mission, philosophy, expectations and/or rules.
SCHOOL SONG
Kinkaid, My Own Kinkaid
MOTTO
Lux Per Scientiam
Thy praises high I love to sing,
Kinkaid, my own Kinkaid
My homage now to thee I bring,
Kinkaid, my own Kinkaid.
With friendship, loyalty and cheer,
I’ll spread my knowledge far and near,
And hold thy precepts ever dear,
Kinkaid, my own Kinkaid.
COLORS
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Purple and Gold
MASCOT
Falcon
EMBLEM