FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below are answers to some of the questions most frequently asked of our office staff. For more detailed information, check out the Turners Falls High School Student Handbook, located on the Home page of this website. If you still need help, please contact our office.
- What is the dress code for Turners Falls High School?
- What will happen if my child becomes ill while at school?
- What is Turners Falls High School’s homework policy?
- Can my child change his or her schedule once school has started?
- Can my child earn college credits while attending high school?
- How do you notify parents and students about school closures?
What is the dress code for Turners Falls High School?
Students, teachers, parents, and members of the school committee collaborated to produce our policy statement on student dress and appearance:
A student's appearance is primarily the responsibility of the student and his or her parents. However, a student's attire and grooming must be of such nature so as not to endanger his or her health and safety or that of others. We do not permit students to wear clothing that is damaging to school property or disruptive to the educational process. We expect students to be neat, clean, and orderly in appearance. We will send home students to change if they wear clothing that is offensive or contributes in any way to the disruption of the school. Students must follow the dress code at all times, including extra-curricular activities (dances, field trips, etc.). For more information about the dress code, read the Student Handbook, located on the Home page of this website.
What will happen if my child becomes ill while at school?
If a student becomes ill, we will attempt to notify a parent or guardian promptly, and we will care for the student in our nurse’s station until a parent or guardian arrives. Students may not leave school grounds without either a parent or another approved adult (as listed on the student’s information form). If the situation is a medical emergency, we will follow standard emergency procedures.
What is Turners Falls High School’s homework policy?
The Gill-Montague Regional School District supports the belief that meaningful and appropriate homework should be an integral part of every student’s educational program. Every student should expect homework on a regular basis. At Turners Falls High School, we strive to assign 30-45 minutes of homework per subject, per night, as appropriate.
Homework should complement, supplement, and reinforce classroom instruction. Homework focuses on skill and work habit development, remediation, skill reinforcements, enrichment, and research. Students should be aware that schoolwork performed at home is important, should be of high quality, and that teachers will evaluate it for a grade.
Can my child change his or her schedule once school has started?
After the first week of each semester, we do not allow student-initiated course changes. Parents and guidance staff must approve all schedule changes. We use course change request forms, available in the guidance office, for this purpose.
Students who withdraw from a course after 15 class days receive a withdraw-passing or withdraw-failing grade on their report cards. If a students withdraws before the 15th day of class, there will be no grade reported.
Can my child earn college credits while attending high school?
Yes. Turners Falls High School has a program through Greenfield Community College, designed for juniors and seniors. TFHS considers these as honors-level courses, and although factored into the student’s GPA, the student must also pay for tuition through GCC. Interested students should contact their guidance counselor for more information.
How do you notify parents and students about school closures?
Our first concern is the safety and well-being of our students. To this end, it is necessary for us to cancel classes from time to time in the event of inclement weather. The following radio stations and television stations broadcast announcements for school closures: WHAI (1240AM or 98.3FM), WHYN (93.1FM), WHMP (93.3FM), WGGB (TV40), and WWLP (TV22). Whenever possible, the district will also have an “all-call” to notify families via telephone of a school delay, early dismissal, or cancellation.