LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL 2011-2012 STUDENT ...

Loyalsock Township Middle School - 14 -
2011-2012 Handbook
to the office by 8:30 a.m. Notice of the early dismissal will be placed on the daily attendance bulletin. Students
must report to the office at the time of excused dismissal and sign out before leaving the building.
Parent/guardian(s) are expected to come in to the building to retrieve their student(s) for dismissal. Students
returning to school after an appointment must sign in and provide a written medical or legal excuse.
EXCUSE NOTES
Pennsylvania State Law requires a written excuse note be handed to the office after each absence. The note
should include:
1. The first and last name of the student
2. Student grade level
3. The date of the absence(s)
4. An explanation of the absence(s)
5. The parent/guardian(s) signature
Students arriving late from a medical, dental, or legal appointment must bring official verification from the
service provider. If official written verification is not received, the absence will be considered unexcused.
If a student leaves school for an appointment, he/she must either pick up an appointment verification card in
the office prior to his/her dismissal, to be signed and returned to the office, or provide an official written
verification to the office upon return to school or the absence will be considered unexcused.
Students must have a written excuse by a parent/guardian (not to exceed 10 days in a given school year), or
written excuse from a medical or legal authority submitted to the school explaining the student’s absence within
three school days of the absence(s). Failure to submit the legal excuse note within the three-day time period will
result in an unexcused absence/tardy.
PLANNED FAMILY VACATION
Subject to any regulations which may be established by the superintendent, principals may approve as
excused occasional absences from school for the purpose of planned family vacations, provided each family
vacation is planned and conducted in accordance with the following: Each family vacation or excursion which
requires the absence of a student from school, shall be conducted only under the direct supervision of and in the
company of the parent/guardian(s) or a person designated by the parent/guardian(s) as one standing in “loco
parentis” to the student.
• Family vacations or excursions that take place on days when school is in session must be preceded by the
school district Planned Family Vacation Request form (available on our district website or from the
middle school office) at least two weeks in advance. Each request will be evaluated on its own merits and
educational benefits to the student. Requests not received at least two weeks in advance may not be
approved. Requests for planned family vacations or excursions during Standardized Testing will not be
granted and will be considered unexcused absences.
• The building principal may limit the number of planned vacations to fewer than 10 school days if, in
his/her judgment, the absence could be detrimental to the student’s overall educational progress.
• Students will not be prohibited from making up tests or other required assignments missed while absent
from school within the scope of this policy. Arrangements to make up work must be made by the student
with his/her teachers. Please refer to the Make-Up Procedures section (page 13) of this handbook for
complete details.
HOMEWORK FOR AN ABSENT STUDENT
Assignments may be obtained daily by visiting the teacher’s website. If needed, a parent may request
homework for a student who has been absent for two (2) or more days by notifying the office before 8:30 a.m.
This will allow sufficient time for the teacher to organize and duplicate assignments which will be ready for pickup
at 3:00 p.m. in the middle school office.
WITHDRAWALS AND TRANSFERS
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EXCEEDING
EXPECTATIONS