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Schoolwide Policies

 

Student Attendance

The Board of Education of the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District recognizes that regular school attendance is a major component of academic success and that the responsibility for educational success rests with the student, the parent, and the school. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that students arrive at school on time, prepared to work, and remain in school for the entire day. Classroom lessons and participation foster social interaction, development of effective communication skills, and critical thinking. Any absence is detrimental to the learning process. The scheduling of vacations while school is in session is strongly discouraged.
 

Excused and Unexcused Absences

Excused absences, tardiness, and early departures (ATEDs) are defined as being due to personal illness, illness of death in the immediate family, approved family emergency, religious observance, required court appearance, medical appointments, approved college visits (students must provide documentation of the visitation on college letterhead), and approved school activities including educational travel. Excused tardiness includes all of the above and inclement weather.

All other ATEDs are unexcused.

All ATEDs must be accounted for and class work made up (as stipulated in this policy). It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the school office of the reason for the ATED, within 24 hours by phone or in writing. If after three school days the school has not been notified of the reason for absence, the absence will be considered unexcused.
 

Grade and Credit Consequences

The District continues to support a no-cut policy. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Upon their return to school, all students with an excused ATED will be counseled by their teachers or appropriate staff regarding missed work. Consistent with the importance of classroom participation, unexcused and unmade-up ATEDs will affect a student’s grade.

A high school student who has more than nine (9) absences in a semester course, and eighteen (18) absences in a full year course, will receive no credit for that course. Being late three times is the equivalent of (1) absence. Staff will contact parents when a student has reached four (4) absences in a semester course, and six (6) and 12 absences in a full-year course.

At the elementary level and middle levels, when a student has an unexcused absence, it is the responsibility of the parent to pick up missed work and supervise its completion.
 

Appeals

A high school student who has exceeded the number of allowable ATEDs for a course may request a review of his/her attendance and appeal the loss of credit at the conclusion of the course.
 

Leaving School Grounds

With the safety of the children in mind, no pupil will be allowed to leave the school grounds at any time during the day. Written permission from the parent or guardian is required before a child will be allowed to leave school any time prior to the termination of the school day.

A child may be released prior to the end of the school day providing the child submits a note to the teacher from the parent or guardian stating the reason for early dismissal and the time the child is to be dismissed. The note should also mention the person who is to pick up the child if they are someone other than the parent or guardian. All such dismissals will be from the office of the school. The person who is to pick up the child must report to the office in order to sign the release sheet.

Children who must be released from school early because of illness or injury will be released in the custody of the parent or guardian only. In an emergency a child may be released in the custody of the person named on the emergency address form.
 

Code of Conduct Summary

A more detailed district and specific building code of conduct may be obtained from your child’s individual school office. Building codes of conduct will be reviewed with students and parents in each of the district’s schools annually.
 

Student Rights and Responsibilities

It is the goal of the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District to educate students to their potential. In order to do this effectively, each member of the school community is expected to treat all others with dignity and respect.

A discipline policy has been developed with this goal in mind. It includes a description of the rights and responsibilities of students, as well as a code for student behavior.
 

Student Dress Code

All students are expected to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to dress appropriately for school and school functions. Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and all other district personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting.

A student’s dress, grooming and appearance, including hair style/color, jewelry, make-up, and nails shall:

  1. Be safe, appropriate, and not disturb or interfere with the education process.
  2. Include footwear at all times. Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed.
  3. Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, libelous, or denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
  4. Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.
  5. Recognize that extremely brief revealing garments are not appropriate.
     

Prohibited Student Conduct

The Board of Education expects all students to conduct themselves in an appropriate and civil manner, with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, district personnel, and other members of the school community, and for the care of school facilities and equipment.

The best discipline is self-imposed and students must learn to assume and accept responsibility for their own behavior as well as the consequences of their misbehavior. District personnel who interact with students are expected to use disciplinary action only when necessary and to place emphasis on the students’ ability to grow in self-discipline.

The Board recognizes the need to make its expectations for student conduct while on school property or engaged in a school function specific and clear. Students who will not accept responsibility for their own behavior and who violate school rules will be required to accept the penalties for their conduct.

Students may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension from school when they engage in conduct that is disorderly, insubordinate, disruptive, violent, or endangers the safety, morals, health, or welfare of others.
 

Visitors

All visitors, including parents, must first check in at the office in all of the school buildings. This requirement does not apply when parents and residents are invited to a school assembly program. It is important that all visitors comply with this request since this policy is for the protection of the children. Visitors are requested to park their automobiles in the designated parking area. The school office will arrange for the delivery of milk monies, sneakers, homework, lunch, etc. when parents bring such items to children during school hours.