Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common 
questions of students and parents.

1. What if my child is falling behind in a class?
2. What classes should my child take next year?
3. What if my child wants to change a class?
4. How can I contact my child's teacher?
5. When are grades coming out?
6. What is Seminar?
7. When are the breaks this year?
8. What the requirements for graduations?
9. Are there different requirements for college bound students?

What if my child is falling behind in a class?

It is important that your child gets back on track.  The first 
thing they should do is talk to the instructor of the class.  
Check with the teachers to see if there is anything they can do 
to assist your child.  

The teachers at CHS do not want your child to fail.  If you would 
like you can call the instructor, every teachers now has a phone 
in their rooms, each phone is equipped with voice mail.  All 
teachers also have e-mail with the first initial of there first 
name and the first 7 letters of their last name with the 
@rayder.net extension.  Example jprescot@rayder.net or 
ddevitt@rayder.net

If you would like we can contact the teacher for you by 
contacting us at 231-547-3226.

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What classes should my child take next year?

It is important that you review your child's EDP (Educational 
Development Plan) with them.  This was the four year plan that 
each student filled out on career cruising in their 7th grade 
year.  This plan should be reviewed yearly to be sure your child 
is staying on track for their career direction.

If you need a copy of this ask your child to bring one home.  
Once you have the EDP look to see that your child is following 
the pathway that they desire.  The six career pathways are listed 
on page 13 of the yearly enrollment guide.  If the pathway has 
changed review the courses of the new pathway.

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What if my child wants to change a class?

We base our Course Master Schedule around student requests.  We 
start the process in February each year.  We then send out a 
course conformation sheet if there are any changes they should be 
changed at that time, otherwise we will build a schedule based on 
these selections.    

After that period of time we will only make changes based on the 
following;
1)  A student fails a class and needs to repeat the prior class
2)  The student has already taken a class they are schedule for.  
This happens if the student thinks they might fail the second 
semester class during registration, and then passes that class.
3)  The student wishes to strengthen their academic schedule.  An 
example of this would be changing a PE class to Chemistry or an 
Adv. English class

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How can I contact my child's teacher?

Each high school teacher has voice mail and an e-mail account.  
The phone numbers can be reached by calling the main office at 
231-547-3222.  Each teachers e-mail is very simple.  Use the 
first initial of the teacher’s first name and then the first 7 
letters of their last name, followed by @rayder.net.  Here is an 
example for John Prescott, counselor at 
CHS jprescot@rayder.net listed on the main website at 
http://www.rayder.net.  If the teacher has less then 7 letters in 
their last name use the full last name like Deb Devitt's e-mail 
ddevitt@rayder.net.

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When are grades coming out?

Typically at the high school many of the final grades require 
essay questions.  In an effort to allow the staff enough time to 
grade the longer questions it takes two full weekends after the 
end of the marking period for teachers to complete the grading 
process.  You can also check POWERSCHOOL for updates on your 
child’s grades.  Semester grades should go out around January 22, 
2010 and final grades will be about one week after school ends. 

CHS will send out progress reports to students who need attention 
during the middle of each nine (9) week marking period.

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What is Seminar?

Seminar is a class every student has twice a week on Tuesdays and 
Thursdays.  Seminar is worth one quarter credit every semester.  
Seminar is also required for every semester of attendance at 
CHS.  The period begins at 9:20 and everyone in the building is 
doing the same thing for the first twenty minutes.  Activities 
could include portfolio review, class meetings, or free reading.  
After those twenty minutes students can go and get guided 
instruction from their instructors, provided they have prior 
permission. This is very similar to college professor’s office 
hours.

This class is required of every student for graduation.  If a 
student fails seminar they are required to perform 54 hours of 
community service per semester.

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When are the breaks this year?

All of the major breaks are ISD (Intermediate School District) 
wide.  Thanksgiving break is November 25 and 26 2009 Christmas 
begins on December 21 2009 and school begins again on January 4, 
2010. Spring Break for 2010 will begin at 3:10 on April 1 and 
students will return on April 13 at 8:00 am. 

In addition to the above dates there will be scheduled 
Professional Development Days, that students will not attend 
classes.

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What the requirements for graduations?

Great Question!  At this time we are making some changes in the 
areas of Math and Science.  Beginning with the class of 2008 and 
ending with the class of 2010, students will be required to have 
3 years of Math and a minimum of two sciences. 3 years of 
English, 3 credits, 3 credits of Social Studies (US History, 
World Studies and Government/Economics), 1 credit of PE and 1 
credit of BAT (Business Applied Technology). In addition, each 
CHS student MUST HAVE:  Fine or Applied Arts 4 credits, and 
credit for seminar for every semester of attendance at CHS.  


The classes of 2011 and beyond will have to meet the new state 
curriculum of 4 credits in Math (with a minimum of Algebra 2), 4 
credits of English, 3 credits of Science (with at least a 
chemistry or physics course), 3 credits of Social Studies (US 
History, World Studies and Government/Economics), 1 credit of PE 
and 1 credit of an “On-Line experience”. In addition, each CHS 
student MUST HAVE:  Fine or Applied Arts 4 credits, and credit 
for seminar for every semester of attendance at CHS.  

At this time ALL students will need a total of 25 credits for 
graduation.  Any additional credits necessary to meet the 25 
total credits will be from electives in the student’s 
concentrated pathways.

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Are there different requirements for college bound students?

According to the CHS Enrollment guide page 7, college bound 
students should take a more rigorous course of study then the 
minimum.  A college prep curriculum would include the following: 
English 4 years (including Honors English and AP Lit. and Comp.), 
Math 4 years (including minimum Pre-Calculus and/or 
Calculus), Science 4 years (including Chemistry and Physics, A & 
P, and/or Advanced Bio), Social Studies 3 years, Foreign Language 
4 years.  In addition students should meet the basic requirements 
in BAT, PE, Fine and applied arts.

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