WHMS 2012-2013 Student Handbook - Westmont Hilltop School ...

POLICIES AND PROCEDURESVISITORSOur school business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. onFridays. Parents and the business community are encouraged to visit our school. For the safety and security ofour students and staff, we require all visitors to “check-in” at the Middle School Main Office and receive aVisitor’s Badge. Students are not permitted to bring relatives or guests to accompany them to school, unlessprior administrative permission has been granted. As a rule, students from neighboring IU08 school districtswill not be granted permission to visit our school. Summer office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.TELEPHONEThe Westmont Hilltop Middle School limits the use of the school telephone to matters of an emergency nature.All calls should be made during the student’s lunchtime. Students should not miss class time to use thetelephone. When a student needs to use the phone, they are to tell the nature of the call to their teacher. Theteacher will issue a pass to the students if they deem to be appropriate. The students are to show the pass to theoffice personnel.CELL PHONES and HAND-HELD DEVICESThe Westmont Hilltop Middle School does not permit the use of cellular phones or other handheld devicesduring school hours. Students must leave these devices turned off in their lockers upon entering the school inthe morning until after dismissal at the day’s conclusion. Any student possessing a cell phone or any otherelectronic device which is used to call or text during the school day, will be required to give the item to theoffice if it is “on” or visible. Such items should be kept in the “off” position and in students’ lockers. The firstoffense will result in the device being kept in the office until the end of the day, a letter being sent home and thestudent being deemed ineligible for the “Good Things Happen at WHMS” incentives (Quarter and End of theYear). A second offense will result in parents having to pick up the device, the student being ineligible for the“Good Things Happen at WHMS” incentives (Quarter and End of the Year), an additional letter sent home anda Friday Detention assigned. Additional consequences will occur beyond a second offense.NOTE: Electronic texts, posts, messages and pictures that are sent outside of the school day that ultimatelyinterfere with the educational process during the school day are considered to have a “nexus” between homeand school and will result in consequences at school. Problems extending from cell phone usage in school mayalso result in consequences in addition to the above offense consequences.COMPULSORY ATTENDANCEIn the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is compulsory for all individuals between the ages of 8 and 17 toattend school. Pupils may be excused from attendance for these reasons: illness, quarantine, death in theimmediate family, impassable roads, urgent reasons, or a uniqueness that affects the pupil directly. Periodicletters are sent home to parents when a child is absent Eight (8) days, Twelve (12) days and at Fifteen (15) daysabsent. After Fifteen (15) absences, the only acceptable excuse is a doctor‘s slip. Interpretation of statedreasons for absence and excuse of any absence from school is legally the province of school authorities. Parentsshould use the "Vacation/Education/Religious Request Form" for special situations and present this to theMiddle School Office AT LEAST one week in advance. When a pupil has been unlawfully absent from schoolfor three days, the law requires that a first offense notice be served on the parents. Further violations of theattendance laws leave parents subject to prosecution via the District Magistrate or referral to Juvenile Probation.Cooperation between parents and the school is strongly urged in order to avoid unpleasant situations. If thestudent's absence is not excused, he/she has the opportunity to make up the work, but no credit will be given.Refer to the District Attendance Policy.10