📚 Newton Preparatory School: The Student Handbook Every US-Bound Family Must Know | Newton Preparatory School 赴美留学必知学生手册
Families who move to the United States for an academically focused education usually spend months on applications, standardised tests and interviews, and almost no time on the one document that actually governs daily life at the school: the student handbook. Yet for these families, the handbook is exactly where smooth adaptation is won or lost. It sets out, in writing, what the school expects from your child every single day - from how a source must be cited to how an absence must be verified.
关注学术的美国低龄留学家庭，常有这样一种状况：把大量精力投在申请、考试与面试上，却容易疏忽学校内部实实在在的管理规则。然而实际上，这些规则恰恰是学生能够顺利适应、进而获取成功的关键基石所在。手册用白纸黑字写明学校每天对孩子的具体要求——从引用来源该怎么标注，到缺勤该如何核实。
1. Why the Handbook Comes First | 为什么学生手册应当第一个读
Most US high schools publish a handbook of 40 to 100 pages and require students and parents to sign an acknowledgement form during orientation week. It is not a marketing brochure; it is a legal and operational contract. Every rule inside it can be enforced, and every consequence described in it can be applied. Reading it before the first day of class turns a set of hidden risks into a predictable routine.
多数美国高中会发布一份四十到一百页的学生手册，并在迎新周要求家长和学生签署确认回执。它不是宣传册，而是一份具备法律和运营效力的契约：其中每一条规则都可以被执行，每一种后果都可能真实发生。在开学第一天之前读完它，就能把一堆看不见的风险，变成可预期的日常安排。
The handbook normally covers six families of rules, and each one deserves attention:
手册通常覆盖六大类规则，每一类都值得留意：
- Mission, values and the honour pledge | 使命、价值观与荣誉誓言
- Academic policy, credits and graduation requirements | 学术政策、学分与毕业要求
- Attendance, absence and tardiness management | 出勤、缺勤与迟到管理
- Campus conduct, dress code and technology use | 校园行为、着装与电子设备使用
- Safety, health, medication and support services | 安全、健康、药品与支持服务
- Communication channels and parent-school procedures | 沟通渠道与家校协作流程
2. Core Mission, Values and the Honour Pledge | 核心理念、价值观与荣誉誓言
Every American high school uses its handbook to state clearly what kind of school it intends to be. The opening pages usually describe the school's mission, its values, and the honour pledge that all students and teachers agree to uphold together. This section sets the tone of the campus culture and stresses the importance of integrity, responsibility and a sense of community.
美国的每一所高中，都借助学生手册清晰地传达自身的那种教育理念。手册在其开篇之际，往往会去阐述学校的使命、学校的价值观，以及全体师生一起去共同遵守的荣誉誓言。这一部分奠定了校园文化的基调，着重突出诚信、责任以及社区意识的重要意义。
Read this section slowly, because everything that follows - grading, discipline, attendance - is derived from it. A school that writes "we trust students to do the right thing when no one is watching" will run a very different honour system from a school that writes "we verify everything". Knowing which kind of school your child is entering is the first step of preparation.
这一部分要慢慢读，因为后面的评分、纪律、出勤，全部由此推导出来。一所写下"我们相信学生在无人监督时也会做正确的事"的学校，与一所写下"我们核实一切"的学校，其荣誉制度完全不同。判断孩子进入的是哪一类学校，是准备工作的第一步。
3. Honour Committees, Academic Integrity and Penalties | 荣誉委员会、学术诚信与违规后果
Many schools set up an honour committee whose job is to handle cases of academic misconduct. Students are required to complete their own work independently and to acknowledge every source they use. If an honour rule is broken, the consequences can be severe: a zero on the assignment, a failing grade for the course, or even more serious disciplinary action.
好多学校设有荣誉委员会，其负有处理学术领域不端行为的职责，要求学生独立自主地完成作业，并且要注明引用的来处。假如违反了荣誉准规，有可能招致严厉的惩处，涵盖作业记零分、课程判定不及格，甚而至于更严峻的纪律处理。
The list of what counts as a violation is usually longer than international families expect:
构成违规的情形，通常比国际家庭想象的多：
- Copying homework or letting a classmate copy | 抄袭作业或允许同学抄袭
- Paraphrasing a source without citation | 改写资料却不标注来源
- Sharing or receiving test questions and answers | 交换或接收考题与答案
- Submitting AI-generated work as your own | 把人工智能生成的内容当作自己的作业提交
- Reusing a paper written for another course | 把为另一门课写的论文重复提交
Penalties can also extend beyond the classroom: loss of a club leadership position, ineligibility for sports, a note in the disciplinary record, or a withheld recommendation letter. That is why the honour code should be explained to students in their own language before school starts, not after a problem appears.
处分还可能延伸到课堂之外：失去社团职务、失去运动队参赛资格、在纪律档案中留下记录，或者推荐信被扣下不写。正因如此，荣誉守则应当在开学之前就用孩子熟悉的语言讲清楚，而不是等到问题出现之后才解释。
4. Credits, Grading Standards and Course Selection | 学分制度、评分标准与课程选修
The academic section of the handbook explains the credit system, the grading scale, course selection rules and exactly what is required for graduation. Students must earn the prescribed credits in the core subject areas: English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign languages and the arts. Knowing these requirements helps a student plan sensibly from the first year and avoids the situation of discovering a credit shortfall only in the middle of college applications.
详细阐述学分制度、评分标准、课程选修以及毕业所需具体条件的是学术部分。学生得满足在英语、数学、科学、社会科学、外语和艺术等核心学科领域修满规定学分。知晓这些要求，对学生从入学起就进行合理规划有帮助，能避免在申请大学前才发觉学分不足的问题。
A typical credit distribution in a US high school looks like this, though the exact numbers vary by state and by school:
美国高中的典型学分分布大致如下，具体数字因州和学校而异：
| Subject 学科 | Typical credits 常见学分 | Notes 备注 |
| English 英语 | 4 | Four years, usually compulsory 四年，通常必修 |
| Mathematics 数学 | 3-4 | Algebra to calculus 从代数到微积分 |
| Science 科学 | 3-4 | Lab science required 需含实验课 |
| Social studies 社会科学 | 3 | Often US history plus civics 常见为美国史加公民课 |
| World language 外语 | 2-3 | Sequential levels 需按级别递进 |
| Arts 艺术 | 1-2 | Music, drama or visual art 音乐、戏剧或视觉艺术 |
5. Promotion, GPA and Retake Policies | 升级、GPA 与补考重修政策
Beyond credits, the handbook lists the minimum GPA required to move up a grade and to graduate, together with the rules on makeup exams and course retakes. Retake policies differ widely: some schools replace the original grade entirely, some average the two attempts, and some record only a pass or fail. A student who understands this in year one can protect a GPA that matters enormously in university admissions.
除学分之外，手册会明确列出升年级和毕业所需的最低 GPA 要求，以及补考、重修的相关政策。重修政策差异很大：有的学校用新成绩完全替换原成绩，有的把两次成绩取平均，有的只记录通过或不通过。第一年就搞清这一点，学生才能守住一个在大学申请中极为重要的 GPA。
Two formulas appear again and again in American grading documents, and both are worth understanding:
美国评分文件中反复出现两个计算方式，都值得弄懂：
Semester grade × ½ + Final exam grade × ½ = Course grade
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
In the first formula, the weights may be 60/40 or 70/30 depending on the school. In the second, a single low grade in a high-credit course can pull the whole GPA down, which is why students should never treat an "easy elective" as something to neglect.
第一个公式中，权重可能是 60/40 或 70/30，视学校而定。第二个公式中，一门高学分课程的低分足以拉低整个 GPA，所以学生绝不能把所谓"轻松的选择课"当成可以忽略的课程。
6. Attendance Records and Absence Verification | 日常出勤记录与缺勤核实
Strictly speaking, attendance management is the single most important part of the disciplinary system in a US high school. Schools record attendance every day and require parents to verify an absence within three days of it occurring, through a designated method such as a phone line, an online portal or a signed note.
严格地讲，美国高中的纪律环节中，出勤管理是重中之重。学校每天都会记录学生的到课状况，而且要求家长在学生缺勤之后的三天之内，通过指定的方式去进行核实，例如专线电话、在线门户或书面签字说明。
If an absence is not verified, it is flagged as "unexcused". The resulting consequences can include deducted credits and loss of eligibility to take part in extracurricular activities. In many states, attendance is also tied to a student's legal enrolment status, so the record is not merely an internal matter.
要是缺勤未经核准，便会被标记成"无故缺勤"，这一系列后果可能包括学分扣除、丧失参与课外活动的资格等。在许多州，出勤还与学生的法定注册状态挂钩，因此这份记录并不只是校内事务。
7. Pre-Approved Absences, Truancy Thresholds and Warnings | 事前请假、无故缺勤累计与预警
For planned absences, such as university visits or family matters, parents must submit a formal request at least 48 hours in advance. Once unexcused absences accumulate to a set number within the school year, the school starts a warning process and may report the case to the local education authority.
对于那些计划之内的缺勤情况，像大学参观或者家庭事务等，家长必须提前最少 48 小时提交正式申请。只要学年内无故缺勤累计达到一定次数，学校就会启动预警，并且可能上报给地方教育当局。
It helps to keep the categories straight, because the paper trail differs for each:
把缺勤类别分清很有必要，因为每一类的处理流程都不同：
- Excused absence 核准缺勤: illness, medical appointment, bereavement; verified by a parent | 病假、就医、家庭变故，由家长核实
- Pre-approved absence 事前批准缺勤: college visits, family travel; request submitted at least 48 hours ahead | 大学参观、家庭出行，须提前至少 48 小时申请
- Unexcused absence 无故缺勤: no verification, or verification after the deadline | 未核实，或逾期核实
- Truancy 旷课: repeated unexcused absence triggering formal warning | 反复无故缺勤，触发正式预警
8. Campus Conduct, Dress Code and Device Management | 校园行为、着装要求与设备管理
The handbook contains detailed rules about how students behave at school. These cover classroom participation, study hall usage, dress requirements, the management of personal electronic devices and cafeteria etiquette. Most schools, for example, prohibit the use of phones during class, and set clear requirements about what clothing may display and how long it may be.
手册针对学生在校时的种种言行举止，有着细致入微的规定，这其中覆盖面广泛，涵盖了课堂参与规范、自习室使用规则、着装方面的要求、个人电子设备的相应管理，还有食堂礼仪等。就像，大多数学校都严禁在课堂之上使用手机，并且对于服饰所具备的标志、长度这类外在表现的内容有着明晰确切的要求。
At the same time, this section explains how to respect others, how to resolve conflict properly and how to take part in building the community, with the aim of helping students grow into responsible members of that community. For international students, the practical points are usually the dress code details, the phone policy, the academic honesty expectations and the rules on food and drink in shared spaces.
与此同时，手册会详尽阐述怎样去尊重他人，如何妥善解决冲突，以及怎样投身于参与社区建设，其目的在于培育学生成长为具备责任感的社区组成成员。对国际学生而言，最实用的要点通常是着装细节、手机政策、学术诚信要求，以及公共区域内饮食的相关规定。
9. Safety Protocols, Medication and Zero Tolerance | 安全协议、药品政策与零容忍
Campus safety is the school's most important concern. The handbook describes security protocols in detail, the specific emergency evacuation procedures, the policy on medication and prohibited substances, and the school's zero-tolerance position on bullying and harassment.
校园安全是学校最为重要的关注要点，手册会详细叙述校园安全方面的协议，紧急疏散的具体程序都有哪些，药品和违禁品的相关政策具体是怎样的，以及对于欺凌和骚扰采取零容忍的立场是如何规定的。
Three practical questions are worth asking during orientation: Where is the nurse's office, and what form is needed before any medication can be taken at school? What is the procedure during a lockdown or evacuation drill, and where should students assemble? How does a student report bullying, and is there an anonymous channel? The answers are almost always written in the handbook, but they are easy to miss among the routine announcements.
迎新期间有三个很实际的问题值得问清：校医室在哪里，在校服药需要提交什么表格？封锁或疏散演练时的程序是什么，学生应当在哪里集合？学生如何举报欺凌事件，是否存在匿名渠道？答案几乎都写在手册里，只是很容易被日常通知淹没。
10. International Students: Insurance, Housing and Guardianship | 国际学生：医疗保险、住宿监管与法定监护
For international students, the handbook explains the requirements around health insurance, accommodation supervision and legal guardianship. Many schools require proof of insurance coverage, an approved host family or boarding arrangement, and a guardian resident in the United States who can be contacted in an emergency.
针对国际学生，医疗保险、住宿监管以及法定监护人的相关要求会在手册中详细说明。不少学校要求提供保险覆盖证明、经学校认可的寄宿家庭或住宿安排，以及一名居住在美国、可在紧急情况下联络的监护人。
Students on an F-1 visa should also check the sections on maintaining status: keeping a full course load, reporting a change of address, and never accepting unauthorised employment. These obligations sit alongside school rules, and a breach of one can affect the other. Parents living overseas should confirm who holds decision-making authority when a medical or disciplinary situation arises.
持 F-1 签证的学生还应查看有关维持身份的部分：保持全日制课程量、及时上报住址变更、绝不接受未经许可的工作。这些义务与校规并存，违反其中一项也可能影响另一项。身在境外的家长，应当确认在出现医疗或纪律状况时，谁拥有决策权。
11. Support Services: Counselling, Tutoring and College Guidance | 支持服务：心理咨询、学业辅导与升学指导
The same part of the handbook lists the support services the school provides, including counselling, academic tutoring and college admissions guidance. The purpose is to make sure students know exactly where to go for help before they need it.
学校提供的心理咨询、学业辅导、大学升学指导等支持服务的信息，也会在这一部分进行罗列，以此确保学生知道求助的相应渠道。
In practice, these services fall into three layers. Tier one is the school counsellor, who handles timetabling, course changes, personal wellbeing and the college application process. Tier two is academic support: subject clinics, peer tutoring, writing centres and study-skills workshops. Tier three is specialist support, such as a learning specialist or an English language programme for students still developing academic English. A student who uses only the first layer and ignores the other two often struggles unnecessarily in the first semester.
在实际运作中，这些服务大致分为三层。第一层是学校顾问，负责课表安排、课程调整、个人身心状态以及大学申请流程；第二层是学业支持，包括学科答疑、同伴辅导、写作中心和学法工作坊；第三层是专业支持，例如学习指导老师，或面向学术英语尚在发展阶段学生的语言课程。只使用第一层、忽略另外两层的学生，往往在第一学期就会遇到本可避免的困难。
12. Communication Channels, Parent Portal and Grievance Procedures | 沟通渠道、家长门户与申诉流程
Effective home-school communication is the core of the support network a student needs. The handbook lists the main channels, such as the online portal system, the school calendar, the family directory and the emergency notification method. Schools make clear their expectation that parents will use these channels actively to follow attendance, check grades and keep up with campus news.
能起到有效作用的家校沟通，乃是学生所需支持网络的关键所在。
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