Middle School
Student Handbook
2019-2020
For Students
and Parents of
Dublin City
Schools Middle School Students
Selected Table of Contents
Welcome, Mission Statement......................... Page
1
Philosophy.............................................................. Page
1
Our Beliefs............................................................. Page
2
BOE, Administrative Team............................. Page
3
Middle Schools..................................................... Page
3
District Calendar.................................................. Page
4
Equal Educational Opportunity...................... Page
5
Lockers, Lunch..................................................... Page
8
School Closing...................................................... Page
8
Textbooks............................................................... Page
9
Student Health and Clinic Information....... Page
9
Immunization Requirements......................... Page 13
Grades and Report Cards............................... Page 16
Attendance Policy............................................. Page
18
Personal Communication Devices /
Cell Phones.......................................................... Page
20
Dress Code........................................................... Page
23
Student Code of Conduct............................... Page
24
Application of Code Consequences........... Page
28
Bullying
and Other Forms of
Aggressive Behavior Policy.......................... Page
32
Harassment Regulations................................. Page
32
Complaints Related to 504 Section............ Page
38
Substance Misuse.............................................. Page
42
Student Education
Technology Acceptable
Use and Safety Policy..................................... Page
45
1:1 Chromebook Program ............................ Page
47
Student Records................................................. Page
48
Bus Rules............................................................. Page
52
Pay to Participate.............................................. Page
53
Co-Curricular Activity Code........................ Page
58
Acknowledgement
Form ............................... Page
71
Welcome
Dear
Students:
Whether you are a newcomer to our school
or have previously attended, we hope you will find this school year to be a
memorable and exciting one. Cooperation
is, of course, the key, and toward that end we suggest that you read this handbook
thoroughly. It will tell you exactly what we expect of you and what services
and benefits you may expect from the school.
We are looking forward to helping you have a successful and rewarding
year.
Dublin City Schools
Mission Statement
We believe that all students can and must
learn at high levels of achievement. It is our job to create an environment in
our classrooms that results in this high level of performance. We are confident that, with our support and
help, students can master challenging academic material and we expect them to do
so. We are prepared to work
collaboratively with colleagues, students, and parents to achieve this shared
educational purpose.
Dublin Middle School
Philosophy
The middle school staff believes there is
no typical middle school student.
Rather, we believe that middle schoolers progress physically,
emotionally, socially, and intellectually at vastly different rates. Physically, middle school students are
characterized by erratic growth spurts and plateaus. Emotionally, middle school students are
characterized by feelings of uncertainty.
They suffer doubts about their competency, question whether they are
adults or children, and experience mood shifts that can produce baffling
behavior. Socially, middle schoolers are
increasingly peer oriented and concerned about their sexual identity. Intellectually, middle school students are
developing from dependent to independent learners. They are concerned about how they relate to
their environment and have broad and rapidly changing interests. All of these changes interact during
adolescence with the physical, emotional, and social growth having a great
influence on intellectual growth.
In response to the unique needs of middle
school age learners, we believe that the following eight (8) components are
essential to a successful school experience:
1.
Interdisciplinary
Teaming of Teachers - Teaming forms a transition from the
self-contained elementary classroom to the departmentalized high school
environment. An interdisciplinary team
consists of teachers in two or more of these core areas: language arts, science,
social studies, and mathematics. The
interdisciplinary team provides students with a school unit, which is smaller
than the grade level yet larger than a homeroom. This provides teachers with a basis for
providing individualized programs.
Teaming allows teachers to become more aware of the “whole child” and
thus communicate effectively with other educators and parents.
2.
Time
Flexibility in Teaching - Teaming allows for flexible scheduling
of large blocks of time, allowing teachers to adjust to the perceived needs of
middle school learners as curriculum demands.
3.
Basic
Curriculum - Middle school students are extremely varied
in their levels of learning. Therefore,
the middle school curriculum emphasizes continued mastery of the basic skill
learning areas: reading, writing, math
computation, science and citizenship.
4.
Exploratory
Programs - It is important for students to have exposure
to a wide variety of programs. These
activities include, but are not limited to, academic areas, career education,
outdoor education, and constructive use of leisure time.
5.
Student
Activities - Middle school learners need a variety of
co-curricular activities to stimulate learning.
These provide the excitement of change to complement academic learning.
6.
Developmentally
Appropriate Instruction - Middle school students are maturing
and learning at vastly different rates, regardless of age.
7.
Mental and
Physical Health - Students experience many physical and
psychological changes during their middle school experience. It is important to include in the middle
school student’s educational process physical activities and an increasing
emphasis on health awareness.
8.
Strengthening
of Self-Concept - Educators at the middle school level
will provide an environment in which strengthening of the student’s self concept
and confidence will occur. Positive
learning experiences enable students to learn to be independent young people.
Our Beliefs
1.
We believe that
each person can make a unique contribution to the greater good.
2.
We believe that
internal motivation drives personal behavior and accomplishments.
3.
We believe that
individuals are motivated to achieve through high expectations and the
experience of success.
4.
We believe that
success and happiness are defined by each person.
5.
We believe that
each individual has intrinsic worth.
6.
We believe that
a person’s potential is only limited by herself or himself.
7.
We believe that
learning is vital to personal fulfillment throughout life.
8.
We believe that
our choices determine our future; knowledge enables us to choose.
9.
We believe that
each individual is responsible for his or her own decisions and actions.
10. We believe that the family is the most important
model factor in our lives.
11. We believe that trust is built on honesty.
12. We believe that positive relationships are
critical for the identity of both community and individuals.
13. We believe that human diversity enriches life for
the individual and the community.
14. We believe that a democratic society’s vitality
is based on active civic participation by all citizens.
15. We believe that attitude governs the way one
leads his or her life.
16. We believe that every person has the right to
have their basic needs met.
17. We believe that growth of the whole person is
optimized by addressing physical, intellectual and spiritual needs.
Board of Education
Mr. Scott Melody
(President) 614-763-1959
Ms. Lynn May (Vice
President) 614-209-0078
Mr. Stu Harris 614-659-0905
Mr. Chris Valentine 614-370-6147
Mr. Rick Weininger 614-467-9767
Your Board of Education is comprised of five members,
elected to a term of four (4) years by the residents of the school
district. Dates, times, and locations of
the regular meetings of the Board of Education are set at the organizational
meeting in January. See the District’s
web site, www.dublinschools.net for dates, times, and locations of board
meetings. All community members are
invited to attend.
Administrative Team
Dr. Todd Hoadley Superintendent
Mr. Brian Kern Treasurer
Dr. Tracey Deagle Deputy
Superintendent
Mr. Tom McDonnell
Director of Secondary Education
Administration Building
5175 Emerald Parkway
Dublin, OH 43017
(614) 764-5913
Middle Schools
ANN SIMPSON DAVIS MIDDLE SCHOOL
2400 Sutter Parkway
Dublin, Ohio 43016
(614) 761-5820 761-5893 (FAX)
Principal: Ms. Ann McCarty Perez
Assistant Principal: Mr. Jason Snyder
Assistant Principal: Mr. Marty Assman
WILLARD GRIZZELL MIDDLE SCHOOL
8705 Avery Road
Dublin, Ohio 43017
(614) 798-3569 761-6514 (FAX)
Principal: Ms. Corinne Evans
Assistant Principal: Ms. Shana Murray
DR. HENRY W. KARRER MIDDLE SCHOOL
7245 Tullymore Drive
Dublin, Ohio 43016
(614) 873-0459 873-1492 (FAX)
Principal: Ms. Brooke Menduni
Assistant Principal: Michael Blake
JOHN SELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
150 W. Bridge St.
Dublin, Ohio 43017
(614) 764-5919 764-5923 (FAX)
Principal: Mr. Matthew K. Sachtleben
Assistant Principal: Mr. Joe Santa-Emma
Administrative Intern: Ms. Julie Moses
TRANSPORTATION GARAGE
6371 Shier-Rings Road
Dublin, OH 43016
(614) 764-5926
Supervisor: Ms. Amy Salay
Important Information
Equal Education Opportunity
The Board
of Education declares it to be the policy of this district to provide an equal
opportunity for all students, regardless of race, color, disability, religion,
sex, ancestry, age, national origin, place of residence within the boundaries
of the district, or social or economic background, to learn through the
curriculum offered in this district.
Any person who
believes that the school or any staff person has discriminated against a
student has the right to file a complaint.
A formal complaint can be made in writing to the school district’s Civil
Rights Coordinator or District Section 504/ADA Compliance Officers at: Dublin
City Schools, 5175 Emerald Parkway, Dublin, OH 43017, phone (614)
764-5913. Stephanie Armbruster,
Coordinator of Human Resources, is the district’s Civil Rights
Coordinator. The following individuals
serve as the District Section 504/ADA Compliance Officers: Chris Ondrus (elementary and secondary
schools; ondrus_chris@dublinschools.net); Tyler Wolfe (elementary schools; wolfe_tyler@dublinschools.net);
and Tom McDonnell (secondary schools; mcdonnell_tom@dublinschools.net).
The
complaint will be investigated and a response, in writing, will be given to the
concerned person within 15 days. The
Civil Rights Coordinator and District Section 504/ADA Compliance Officers can
provide additional information concerning access to equal education
opportunity. Under no circumstances will the district threaten or
retaliate against anyone who raises or files a complaint.
Student Support Services
Dublin City Schools offers many services to ensure
equal opportunity for all children, including enrichment services, early
childhood education, academic intervention, Title I math, reading support
programs, services to support English language learners, home instruction,
special education, and related services such as speech and language therapy,
physical therapy, occupational therapy, adapted physical education services,
psychological services, mental health services, and transportation. Support is
also available through our school counselors, substance use disorder
counselors, school nurses, and alternative education opportunities.
For more information about these services, please
visit the Department of Academics and Student Learning web page on the district
website at www.dublinschools.net.
Child Find – Help Dublin Schools Identify Children with
Disabilities, Including Students Eligible for Protection Under Section 504
Child Find
is the process of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with
disabilities who may be in need of special education and related services
and/or may be entitled to protection from discrimination based on his/her
disability. Parents, relatives, public
and private agency employees, childcare providers, physicians, and concerned
citizens are encouraged to help the school district find any child, age birth –
21, who may have a disability and is in need of special education and related
services. If you suspect a child may have
a disability, help is available. Contact
the Dublin City Schools Department of Academics and Student Learning at 5175 Emerald Parkway in Dublin, phone
614-764-5913, or visit www.dublinschools.net.
Response to Intervention
The Dublin
City School District promotes the use of the Response to Intervention (RTI)
process at the building level.
Within
this process, classroom teachers are the first responders in providing
instruction, intervention, and enrichment to all students. Grade
level teams document their efforts to support individual students and student
progress through an intentional and structured progress monitoring system that
captures timely and relevant data.
In
addition, teachers can access the Core Consultation Team for ongoing
support within the RTI process. This team is comprised of staff with a
wide spectrum of expertise, which may include: reading support staff, the
gifted intervention specialist, the school psychologist, related service staff,
ELL staff, the guidance counselor, etc. This team monitors the academic
and behavioral interventions and enrichment practices that are aligned with
student needs. The team ensures that interventions and enrichment are
well-documented, implemented with fidelity, and that the intensity of support
matches the student’s need.
Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement Act and Section 504/ADA
The Dublin City School
District provides a variety of special education programs and related services
to students identified with disabilities through an evaluation process as
defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
(IDEIA). Free assessment is available to
families to determine whether or not a disability exists. If a disability listed in the IDEIA is
identified, the child can begin receiving the appropriate special education and
related services through an Individualized Education Program. Parents are encouraged to be an active
participant in the process.
A preschool child, age
3 through 5, with a disability is a child who has one of the following
disabilities, as defined in rule 3301-51-01 of the Administrative Code: autism, intellectual disability, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional
disturbance, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment,
other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language
impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual disability, or developmental delay.
A school age child,
age 5 through 21, with a disability is a child identified with one or more of
the following conditions: autism,
cognitive disability, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, hearing
impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health
impairment, specific learning disability, speech or
language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment.
Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
(Section 504) provide that no individual will be discriminated against on the
basis of a disability. An individual
with a disability means a person who has a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities; or has a record of such an impairment; or has been regarded as
having such an impairment. This protection applies not just to the student, but
all individuals who have access to the district’s programs and facilities. In addition to the District Section 504/ADA
Compliance Officers, the Board has also assigned building principals to serve
as Building Section 504/ADA Compliance Officers. They are responsible for arranging annual
reviews and three-year eligibility meetings, and for investigating at the first
step any student or parent complaints of an alleged violation, misapplication
or misinterpretation of Section 504/ADA.
To inquire about the procedures or programs you may
contact your building principal or the Department of Academics
and Student Learning office at 764-5913.
Gifted
Education and Services
For further information on the district’s gifted
services, identification practices, and enrichment, please visit Dublin City
Schools gifted website, www.dublinschools.net/gifted.aspx.
Homeless Students
Homeless students will be provided
with a free and appropriate public education in the same manner as other
students served by the District.
Homeless students are eligible to receive transportation services,
participate in education programs for students with disabilities or limited
English proficiency, participate in gifted and talented programs, and receive
meals under school nutrition programs.
Homeless students will not be denied enrollment based on lack of proof
of residency. For additional
information, contact the liaison for Homeless Students at 760-4359.
Attendance at School Events
Students must be in attendance the day of
the event at least 240 minutes to be allowed to participate. This includes academic activities, athletic
events, extracurricular activities and clubs.
All school rules apply at school events.
Book Bags
Any bag or purse that is large enough to
carry a school book or notebook will be considered to be a book bag. Students may bring a book bag or backpack to
school, but they will not be permitted to take them into classrooms. Book bags and backpacks should be stored in
student lockers during regular school hours. Administration may permit book
bags and backpacks in classrooms and other academic areas when deemed
appropriate or necessary. Athletic equipment needs to be secured in assigned
athletic lockers prior to the school day.
Canteens Policy & Rules
Students may attend canteens/after school
dances, at their home school only. This
means that no guests from other schools may attend. Students must stay until the end of the
canteen, unless other arrangements were made with the administration. If a student leaves the canteen, s/he is not allowed
to return. Students not in attendance during the school day may not attend a
canteen except with the permission of the administration.
1.
Canteen
attendance is only for students of the home school.
2.
For safety
reasons, students will dance in a manner that enhances the safety of
others. Some poor behaviors would
include: slam dancing, smashing into one another, holding hands and swinging,
student on another student’s shoulders, piggyback rides, etc.
3.
If students
wish to sit on the floor, please do so near the walls of the gym.
4.
Please keep all
food and drinks in the commons area.
5.
Students will
promote safety by walking at all times during the canteen.
6.
Be considerate
of others at all times.
7.
Students must stay
at the canteen until completion. If a
student needs to leave the canteen, the parent/guardian must accompany the
student from the canteen or provide the administration with written permission
ahead of time.
8.
After canteens,
please remember that we want to keep good relationships with those in the neighborhood
and local businesses. Please do not do anything that would jeopardize this
relationship.
9.
All hats and
coats will be placed in the student lockers prior to the students entering the
gym.
10. Arrangements should be made with
parents/guardians for student drop off and pick up no more than 15 minutes before
or after the canteen.
11. Student behavior at the canteen is governed by
the Dublin City Schools Code of Student Conduct.
Early Dismissal
In the event of school closing early,
each child should have an early dismissal plan on file in the office if special
arrangements are necessary.
Early Arrival at School
Students are to arrive no earlier than ten minutes before first period begins
unless meeting with a teacher.
Emergency Procedures Fire/Tornado Drills
Fire drills at regular intervals are
required by law and are an important safety precaution. It is essential that when the first signal is
given, everyone obeys promptly and clears the building by the prescribed route
as quickly as possible. Students are not
permitted to talk during a fire drill and are to remain outside the building
until a signal is given to return inside. Books and personal belongings are to
be left in the room. Students are not
permitted to go to their lockers during a fire drill.
Tornado drills are conducted at frequent
intervals as well. Each classroom has an
area to occupy for such drills, and the same rules for personal behavior apply
as for fire drills.
In any other emergency, follow the
directions of your administrators or teachers.
Emergency Safety Drills
Emergency safety drills will take place
at regular intervals in the middle schools and are an important safety
precaution. When the announcement is
made for a safety drill, students, teachers, visitors and all other people in
the building are to follow the directions and protocols established by the
Dublin City Schools.
Food in Classrooms
Food, drinks, and candy, are prohibited
in the classroom unless part of the class activity or with the permission of
the school administration and/or classroom teacher.
Items/Messages for Students
Items brought to school by a parent must
be picked up by the student in the office.
Items will not be delivered to classrooms. Messages regarding appointments,
transportation, or other issues will not be delivered unless it is an
emergency. Parents need to make
arrangements in advance with their child.
Lockers
Lockers are the property of the school
and are assigned to the student as a convenience. Lockers are subject to search and seizure
policy. Locker assignment can only be
changed with the permission of the office.
DO NOT GIVE YOUR COMBINATION TO
ANYONE. ALSO, DO NOT PRESET YOUR LOCKER
COMBINATIONS.
Lost and Found
If a student finds something that is not
his/hers, they are to report it to the office staff or put it in the lost and
found in the designated area.
Lunch
Students may pack a lunch and purchase milk
from the cafeteria. Each Dublin middle school participates in the
National School Lunch Program and makes a balanced lunch available to
students. A la carte items are also available. You may put money on your
child's lunch account on-line by going to our district website (www.dublinschools.net) and clicking
"Online Meal Payment" to be transferred to the "SPS EZpay
Login" site. Applications for the Free and Reduced Price Meal
Program are distributed to all students at the beginning of each school year. These forms can also be
accessed from the district web site or by visiting
"www.lunchapplication.com" to apply online.
Sale of Items by Students
The sale of any items at school must have
prior approval of the administration.
Parent Notification System
The district’s parent notification system will be used in emergency
situations and will not replace TV, radio, the district’s web site, or the
subscription email system. The system is
voice activated and the recording will start when a phone is answered OR when
the call is dropped into voice mail. If
neither of these takes place, the system will continue to try to reach a voice
for a short period of time and you may receive multiple calls in these cases. If you have caller ID, the incoming number
you will see is 764-5913. If you miss
the call, please do not dial this number.
Listen to your voice mail message, check our web site, watch your TV,
listen to your radio, or wait for the automated call to come through again. You
will receive the information quicker through one of these electronic methods
than waiting for someone to answer your phone call. Parents will have the opportunity to control
their contact information through the district website (www.dublinschools.net) under “STUDENT & PARENT
RESOURCES,” in “Update Student Information.”
School Closing
If the school is closed because of
poor weather conditions or an emergency, the closing will be announced over
local radio and television stations and posted on the district’s web site,
www.dublinschools.net. If possible, the
announcement will be made on the 11:00 PM news the night before and 6:30 AM on
the day of school. Do not call school
employees, the high school or the central office to inquire about school
closings. Listen to the radio stations
and watch the local television stations.
If you have signed up for the Parent Notification System (as outlined
above), you will be notified of any school closing.
Skateboards/Bicycles
Students riding skateboards to school
must check the board at the office upon arrival. No skateboards will be allowed in class. Students may check their board out when
leaving the building for the day.
Confiscation of the skateboard may occur if there is a violation of
these procedures. No motorized bicycles
or mopeds may be ridden to school. Students may ride their bikes to school;
however, they must park and chain/lock their bikes to the appropriate bike
racks at school. Students riding bicycles
and/or skateboards to school must follow all applicable traffic laws and
students are encouraged to wear helmets.
If needed, helmets may be stored in the office during school.
Student Visitors
Student visitors are not permitted.
Telephone
Students who wish to call home must do so
from the office with the approval of school personnel.
Textbooks
Textbooks may be assigned to students. Each student is asked to take good care of
his/her textbooks. Students will be
charged full replacement costs for any book that they lose. Rebinding fees will be assessed for damaged
books.
School Counseling Services
School Counseling services are for all
students. The focus of the school counseling program is to provide experiences
to ensure that every student progresses toward fulfillment of their
educational, personal and career goals. We believe that parents are an
essential component in the educational planning for their student. The middle
school counseling department follows the School Counseling Framework of Dublin
City Schools, a coordinated plan based on stated goals and delineated student
competencies.
The school counselors are available to
assist and support you with decision-making and problem solving. If you need
help with a schedule change, the school counselor can assist you. They can
offer options about how to get along well with teachers and other students. If
you need assistance with personal decisions, you may want to talk with a school
counselor. They are available to assist you in understanding your interests,
abilities and skills related to academic achievement. Parents are welcome to
discuss any items of importance with school counselors.
If you would like to talk to a school
counselor, please complete the School Counselor Appointment Form that is
available in the School Counseling Office. A school counselor will contact you
as soon as s/he is available.
Withdrawal Procedure
At least three days prior to withdrawal,
a withdrawal form must be picked up in the Guidance Department. This form must be presented to each teacher
and all textbooks, library books, and other materials must be turned in. After this form has been completed, it must be
returned to the Guidance Department in order to allow cumulative records to be
forwarded to the new school.
Library Services
Our media center is centrally
located. This location indicates how
important the library is to our school. Books, reference materials,
encyclopedias, newspapers and magazines are provided for your use. Each student is responsible for materials
borrowed from the library. Fines may be
assessed for lost or overdue items.
There is also a copier available for student use, as well as a computer
lab, complete with networked Macintosh computers.
Student Health
Clinic Information
A student health
clinic is located in all elementary, middle and high school buildings. A full time clinic aide, in
consultation with a school nurse who covers multiple buildings, staffs the
clinic. When the clinic aide, school nurse, or a
substitute is not available in the clinic, the building office staff will
assist with student care.
Clinic staff offers basic first
aid, emergency care, medication administration, and vision and hearing
screenings.
Routine vision and/or hearing
screenings are conducted each year for all kindergarten students, first, third,
fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh grade students, and all new students to the
district. Additionally, if a staff member, parent/guardian or a student has a
concern about a student’s vision or hearing, the clinic staff will screen the
child upon request. Clinic staff also ensures compliance with Ohio’s medication
and immunization laws, monitors for communicable diseases, and assists students
with required medical care as ordered by a healthcare provider.
At the beginning of each school year, parents/guardians are
required by law (ORC 3313.712) to complete an Emergency Medical Authorization Form for each student.
This form is to enable parents/guardians to authorize the provision of
emergency treatment for children who become ill or injured while under school
authority, when a parent/guardian cannot be reached. The form can be accessed
online at CareDox. Throughout the school year, please
remember to update your student’s Emergency Medical Authorization Form if there
are changes to phone numbers, or your child’s health care information. Students will be
excluded from participating in field trips, school sponsored athletics, and
extracurricular activities until this requirement has been met. Please note: If a student becomes ill or is injured during
normal school hours, they will only be released to individuals listed on the
Emergency Medical Authorization Form. Contact the school of attendance
health clinic with questions.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the school nurse prior to
the first day of attendance with any health concerns or conditions that could
affect their child’s learning, attendance, or safety at school. It is also recommended that parents/guardians
list their child’s health concerns and medications on the district’s electronic
health record. This is especially
important if a child has life-threatening allergies, seizures, diabetes, or
concerns. The school nurse will work
with the parents/guardians to develop a health care plan for students who
require preventative or medical interventions at school when appropriate. This plan will be shared with school staff
that work with or supervise the student.
Injury and Illness
Procedures
The clinic is always open during the school day and
staff is available to care for students who are feeling ill or have an injury
that requires attention. If it is not an
emergency situation, students should ask their teacher to go to the clinic so
the teacher will know the location of the student. High school and middle
school students will be required to secure a hall pass from their teacher to go
to the clinic unless it is an emergency.
Students who become ill or injured
at school will need to be seen in the clinic for care. If a student phones or
texts a parent/guardian reporting he/she is not feeling well; the
parent/guardian should encourage their child to go to the clinic to be
evaluated, as the clinic staff needs to directly communicate with the
parent/guardian. If the student appears too ill/injured to remain in school,
the clinic staff will contact parents/guardians to make the arrangements for
the child to go home. If an injury or
illness appears life threatening, staff will summon the emergency squad. Every effort will be made to notify
parents/guardians of this necessity.
If a student is ill or injured and
must be dismissed early, the student will only be released to those listed on
the Emergency Medical Authorization Form. Dismissal procedure of
ill or injured students varies by the grade level as follows:
ELEMENTARY
AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Elementary and Middle School students may be released only
to a parent whose signature is on file in the school office or to a properly-identified person authorized on the
Emergency Medical Authorization Form by the parent to act on their behalf.
HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS
A high
school student may be released “on his/her own” only with verified parental or
designated emergency contacts’ permission.
Students returning to school on
crutches or in a wheelchair should be seen in the clinic before going to class
to obtain a buddy pass.
Medical
Referral for Illness/Injury
1. The
clinic health care team is not designated to replace the family physician or to
dictate medical care. The choice of health care provider and initiation of
medical referral always remains at the discretion of the parents.
2. Your
family physician should be contacted if: problems develop with an
injury/illness, the condition worsens, or the condition persists for an
extended period of time. It is important when an ill/injured student returns to
school that any new or remaining problems be reported to the clinic staff.
3. All
students evaluated by their family physician should provide a note from the
physician indicating the nature of the illness/injury, course of treatment, and
any activity restrictions. The notification should be provided to the clinic
staff.
Control of Casual
Contact Communicable Diseases and Pests
Dublin City Schools follow the
recommendations of the Ohio Department of Health regarding school exclusion
requirements for communicable illnesses. When a child is ill, appears to be
ill, has been diagnosed with a communicable, untreated illness, or has an
illness still considered contagious, the clinic and administrative staff have
the authority to exclude or isolate the student. In accordance with District Policy 8450,
students having symptoms of fever 100 degrees or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, or
other signs of a possible communicable disease, will be excluded until they are
symptom-free for 24 hours without the assistance of medication.
In accordance with OAC 3701-3-13,
when head lice are detected on a child at school, the child shall be excluded
from school until after the first treatment.
A parent/guardian will be notified to pick up the student for treatment
that day. The parent/guardian and child are expected to report back to the
school clinic for re-examination the following school day. If the student is found to be free of live
lice, he/she will return to the classroom.
Students with live lice will be re-excluded for further treatment.
For more
information on communicable diseases and the guidelines for treatment and
exclusion from school, please visit the Ohio
Department of Health’s website.
Medication
Procedures
If a child requires medications at school, a
parent/guardian is responsible for providing the school with the medication as
well as the appropriate medication request form. District forms for all medication
authorizations are available on the district’s web site (www.dublinschools.net/MedicalHealthForms.aspx) or in
the clinic. Parents/guardians of
students who participate in District-sponsored, after school, extracurricular
activities are also required to provide a separate Glucagon kit, epinephrine
autoinjector, or other emergency medication to the coach or supervising staff
member.
Use of Medications (Policy 5330)
[Please check the website, www.dublinschools.net, for any possible revisions to this
policy made during the school year.]
The Board of Education shall not be
responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. With the
exception of diabetes care covered under Policy 5336, the administration of
prescribed medication and/or medically-prescribed treatments to a student
during school hours will be permitted only when failure to do so would
jeopardize the health of the student, the student would not be able to attend
school if the medication or treatment were not made available during school
hours, or if the child is disabled and requires medication to benefit from
his/her educational program.
For purposes of this policy,
"medication" shall include all medicines including those prescribed
by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and any
nonprescribed (over-the-counter) drugs, preparations, and/or remedies.
"Treatment" refers both to the manner in which a medication is
administered and to health-care procedures which require special training, such
as catheterization.
Except as set forth in Policy 5330.02 (Procurement and Use of
Epi-Pens) and Policy 5330.04 (Procurement and Use of Naloxone), before any medication (i.e., a
drug) or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, the
Board shall require a written statement from a licensed health professional
authorized to prescribe drugs ("prescriber") accompanied by the
written authorization of the parent (see Administrative Guideline 5330-Use of
Medications). These authorization forms shall be kept on file in the
school clinic and made available to the persons designated by this policy as
authorized to administer medication or treatment. A copy of the parent's
written request and authorization and the prescriber's written statement must
be given, by the next school day following the District's receipt of the
documents, to the person authorized to administer drugs to the student for whom
the authorization and statement have been received. No student is allowed
to provide or sell any type of over-the-counter medication to another
student. Violations of this rule will be considered violations of Policy
5530 - Drug Prevention and of the Student Code of Conduct.
Students in grades 6-12 may carry and self-administer
non-prescription medications, if a signed parent consent form is filed in the
school clinic (see Administrative Guideline 5330-Use of Medications). This
authorization form
is good for one school year. The student may carry a one-day supply of
the medication. This medication is for the use of the student only and cannot
be shared. School personnel are not responsible for administering or
supervising non-prescription medication self-administered by student(s) unless
a physician’s form is completed (see Form 5330 F1 – Request for Administration of
Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication by School Personnel).
Only medication in its original container;
labeled with the date, if a prescription; the student's name; and exact dosage
will be administered. The Superintendent shall determine a location in
each building where the medications to be administered under this policy shall
be stored, which shall be a locked storage place, unless the medications
require refrigeration in which case they shall be stored in a refrigerator in a
place not commonly used by students, and unless the medication to be
administered is diabetes medication, which must be kept in an easily accessible
location pursuant to Policy 5336.
Parents or their designee whom are listed on the student’s
emergency authorization form may administer medication or treatment, but only
in the presence of a designated school employee, with the exception of diabetes
care covered under Policy 5336.
Additionally, students may administer medication or treatment to
themselves, if authorized in writing by their parents and a licensed health
professional authorized to prescribe drugs, but only in the presence of a
designated school employee with the exception of students authorized to
attend to their diabetes care and management pursuant to Policy 5336.
However, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as
necessary, an asthma inhaler, provided the student has prior written permission
from his/her parent and physician and has submitted Form 5330 F2 – Request for
Student to Carry and Administer Own Prescription Medication by Inhaler, to the principal and any
school nurse assigned to the building.
Additionally, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as
necessary, an epinephrine autoinjector to treat anaphylaxis, provided the
student has prior written approval from the prescriber of the medication and
his/her parent/guardian, if the student is a minor, and has submitted written
approval (see Form 5330A E F1 – Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Orders and
Care Plan)
to the principal and any school nurse assigned to the building. The
parent/guardian or the student shall provide a back-up dose of the medication
to the principal or school nurse. This permission shall extend to any
activity, event, or program sponsored by the school or in which the school
participates. In the event epinephrine is administered by the student or
a school employee at school or at any of the covered events, a school employee
shall immediately request assistance from an emergency medical service provider
(911). Students with diabetes authorized to attend to their diabetes care
and management may do so in accordance with Policy 5336.
Students shall be permitted to possess and
self-administer over-the counter topical sunscreen products while on school
property or at a school-sponsored events.
With the exception of diabetes care covered under Policy 5336, only employees of the
Board who are licensed health professionals or who have completed a drug
administration training program conducted by a licensed health
professional and are designated by the Board, may administer medications to students in school.
Provided staff have completed the requisite
training, the following staff are authorized to administer medication and
treatment to students:
- principal
- teacher
- school nurse
- building secretary
- aide
- others as designated by
student's IEP and/or 504 plan
No employee will be required to administer a
drug to a student if the employee objects, on the basis of religious
convictions, to administering the drug.
With the exception of diabetes care covered
under Policy 5336, the Board shall permit the administration by a licensed
nurse or other authorized staff member of any medication requiring injection or
the insertion of a device into the body when both the medication and the procedure
are prescribed by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs
and the nurse/staff member has completed any and all necessary training.
Students who may require administration of an
emergency medication may have such medication in their possession upon written
authorization of their parent(s) and prescriber or, such medication, upon being
identified as aforenoted, may be stored in the school clinic and administered
in accord with this policy and Policy 5336.
All dental disease prevention programs,
sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health and administered by school
employees, parents, volunteers, employees of local health districts, or
employees of the Ohio Department of Health, which utilize prescription drugs
for the prevention of dental disease and which are conducted in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the Ohio Department of Health are exempt from all
requirements of this policy.
The Superintendent shall prepare
administrative guidelines, as needed, to address the proper implementation of
this policy.
(End of Policy 5330)
2019-2020
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
Ohio Law requires each student to demonstrate compliance of
immunizations requirements via medical documentation. Please
provide a record to the clinic by the 14th day from the first day of
attendance. If no immunization record was provided when the student registered,
a record must be submitted to the school showing compliance by the 14th
day of school to avoid exclusion as required by Ohio Law (ORC 3313.671).
*NOTE: The clinic staff will review all student immunization
records for compliance with Ohio law. The number of required immunizations for
each child may vary depending on the child’s grade, child’s age, route of vaccine
administration, manufacturer’s brand of vaccine, and the child’s disease and
health history. The school nurse or
clinic aide will contact you if additional vaccines are required.
Please contact the building school nurse, your child’s
healthcare provider or the Ohio Department of Health Immunization Program at
(800) 282-0564 if you have questions or concerns about your immunizations.
|
VACCINES
|
2019-2020
IMMUNIZATIONS FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
|
|
DTaP/DT/Td/Tdap
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
|
K
Four (4) or more
doses of DTaP or DT, or any combination.
If all four doses were given before the 4th birthday, a
fifth (5) dose is required. If the
fourth dose was administered at least six months after the third dose, and on
or after the 4th birthday, a fifth (5) dose is not required.
Grades 1-12
Four (4) or more
doses of DTaP or DT, or any combination.
Three doses of Td or a combination of Td and Tdap is the minimum
acceptable for children age seven (7) and up.
Grades 7-12
One (1) dose of Tdap vaccine must
be administered prior to entry.
|
|
POLIO
|
K-9
Three (3) or
more doses of IPV. The FINAL dose must be administered on or after the 4th
birthday regardless of the number of previous doses. If a combination of OPV and IPV was
received, four (4) doses of either vaccine are required.
Grades 10-12
Three (3) or more doses of IPV or
OPV. If the third dose of either
series was received prior to the fourth birthday, a fourth (4) dose is
required. If a combination of OPV and IPV
was received, four (4) doses of either vaccine are required.
|
|
MMR
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
|
K-12
Two (2) doses of MMR. Dose 1 must be administered on or after the
first birthday. The second dose must
be administered at least 28 days after dose 1.
|
|
HEP B
Hepatitis B
|
K-12
Three (3) doses of Hepatitis
B. The second dose must be
administered at least 28 days after the first dose. The third dose must be given at least 16
weeks after the first dose and at least 8 weeks after the second dose. The last dose in the series (third or
fourth dose) must not be administered before age 24 weeks.
|
|
Varicella
Chickenpox
|
K-9
Two
(2) doses of varicella vaccine must
be administered prior to entry. Dose 1
must be administered on or after the first birthday. The second dose should be administered at
least three (3) months after dose one (1); however, if the second dose is
administered at least 28 days after first dose, it is considered valid.
Grades 10-12
One (1) dose of
varicella vaccine must be administered on or after the first birthday.
|
|
MCV4
Meningococcal
|
Grades 7-10
One (1) dose of
meningococcal (serogroup A, C, W, and Y) vaccine must be administered on or after the 10th birthday and prior
to entry.
Grade 12
Two (2) doses of
meningococcal (serogroup A, C, W, and Y) vaccine must be administered prior
to entry. The 1st dose must be administered on or
after the 10th birthday.
|
Tuberculosis (TB) Requirements
All new students to the district who have spent more than 30 consecutive days in a TB endemic region within the
past five years or who were born in a TB endemic region must also present
evidence of a negative Tuberculin
(TB) test before they can attend school. The TB test must have been completed
within the past year in the United States. Current enrolled students who spend
30 or more consecutive days in a TB endemic region will also be required to
have a negative Tuberculin (TB) test before returning to school.
Bloodborne Pathogens
The Dublin City Schools Board of
Education recognizes that staff/students incur some risk of infection and
illness each time they are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious
materials. While the risk to
staff/students of exposure to body fluids due to casual contact with
individuals in the school environment is extremely low, the Board regards any
such risk as serious.
The school district seeks to
provide a safe educational environment for students and has taken appropriate
measures to protect those students who may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens
in the school environment and/or during their participation in school-related activities. The staff is taught to assume that all body
fluids are potentially infectious and to follow standard precautions to reduce
risks and minimize and/or prevent the potential for accidental infection.
A district Exposure Control Plan
is in place for staff to eliminate or reduce the risk of student and staff
exposure to bloodborne pathogens. A
bloodborne pathogen is a pathogenic microorganism that is present in human
blood and can cause disease in humans.
These microorganisms include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B and C
Viruses (HBV and HBC) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Whenever a student has contact
with blood or other potentially infectious material, the child must immediately
notify the nurse/clinic aide. Staff will
assist your child in cleansing the exposed area. The parent/guardian of a student who is
exposed will be contacted regarding the exposure and encouraged to consult with
the student’s physician concerning any necessary post-exposure testing or
treatment.
As required by Federal law, parent/guardian
will be requested to have their child’s blood tested for HIV and HBV when a staff
member has been exposed to their blood.
Any testing is subject to laws protecting confidentiality.
Homework Requests For Absent Students
1.
Students are
allowed a makeup period equal to the number of days absent plus one. Long-term projects
or tests announced in advance are expected to be turned in or taken upon
return.
2.
For one or two
day absences, it is requested that the students call a classmate for the
homework assignments or check ProgressBook.
3.
In the event of
a longer absence (3 days of more), call the office for assignments in the early
a.m. for pick up at the end of the day.
4.
Students who
fail to make up work in the allotted time will be assigned a failing grade or
incomplete for the grading period.
5.
Incompletes
must be made up within ten school days or a failing grade will be assigned.
Test Security/Standardized Tests
Dublin City Schools administers
state and national standardized tests, which include, but are not limited to, Ohio
assessments in English, Math, Science, the MAP, cognitive ability tests, PSAT,
SAT and ACT. Students are not permitted
to review any portion of a state or national assessment at any time prior to
the test administration. In order to
ensure fairness and reliability of the test scores, students are not permitted
to discuss test questions or share any information regarding the content of
these tests at any time. Any student
caught accessing or sharing information in regard to state or national
assessments will be subject to disciplinary action.
Promotion and Retention
The promotion/retention of a student in
any grade level should be in the best interest of the student. The first consideration for student retention
is failure to meet minimum levels of knowledge and skills at this grade level,
or minimum goals prescribed on the Individualized Education Program. However, academics will not be the sole
factor in the determination of retention.
The student’s age, maturity level, emotional and social criteria must
also be considered on an individual basis.
Retention shall occur only if it presents the possibility of allowing
the student to function successfully at grade level in these areas. It is viewed as an opportunity for
growth. If deemed necessary, it should
occur as early as possible in a student’s educational program.
Criteria for consideration of retention
of middle school students will include:
1.
Current level
of achievement (e.g. standardized assessment tools, reading assessments,
classroom test results, work samples, progress reports, and current level of
achievement in core subjects).
2.
Potential for
success at the next level including emotional, physical, and social growth as
guided by a retention scale.
3.
Response to
planned intervention.
4.
Attendance.
Core subjects are Language Arts, Social
Studies, Science and Math.
Procedure for Potential Retention
=
Teacher or
parent initiates referral to team.
=
Team discusses
student and seeks related arts teachers/core input where appropriate.
=
Team leader
contacts parents (follow through may include parent conference, counseling, or
tutoring).
=
The office will
send a letter at the end of the semester for students experiencing difficulty.
=
Potential
retentions will be identified at the end of the third nine weeks. Parents will be notified.
=
The “Intent to
Retain” letter will be sent to parents stating reasons at interim time during
the fourth quarter.
=
Parent
conferences will be scheduled as requested.
=
Appeals to the
Superintendent/Designee must be submitted in writing by June 15.
Placement
A student who has not met the
requirements for promotion may be placed in the next grade by the principal
when the principal believes that placement in the next grade would be more
beneficial than retention.
Grades and Report Cards
Grading Scale
A = 93-100 = 4.00
A- = 90-92 = 3.67
B+ = 87-89 = 3.33
B = 83-86 = 3.00
B- = 80-82 = 2.67
C+ = 77-79 = 2.33
C = 73-76 = 2.00
C- = 70-72 = 1.67
D+ = 67-69 = 1.33
D = 63-66 = 1.00
D- = 60-62 = 0.67
F = 59-Below = 0.00
Nine Week
Grading Periods
1st Nine
Weeks Ends
October 11, 2019
2nd Nine
Weeks Ends
December 19, 2019
3rd Nine
Weeks Ends
March 6, 2020
4th Nine
Weeks Ends
May 22, 2020
Twelve
Week Grading Periods
1st Twelve
Weeks Ends
November 1, 2019
2nd Twelve
Weeks Ends
February 14, 2020
3rd Twelve Weeks Ends
May 22, 2020
Semester
Exams
6th Grade: No semester exams
7th Grade: No semester exams
8th Grade: Semester
exams will be given in any high school credited courses at the close of the
first semester. No final exams covering the year will be given.
GPA
Grade point averages will be figured each
quarter for the purpose of eligibility.
All courses will have equal weight.
Class rank will not be figured and has no purpose at the middle school
level.
Guidelines for
Schedule Changes for High School Equivalent Courses
Each spring, a series of scheduling activities takes
place to assist each student in selecting appropriate courses for the following
year. From the time a student returns
the course request form (February) until the end of the school year (June), a
student may request a schedule change.
It is important to realize that our master schedule is based upon the
student requests made in February. In
order to be fiscally responsible, the number of class sections within each
subject area is based on these projections. These requests also dictate new
teacher hires during the summer. Once
classes are scheduled, it is difficult to make a schedule change because many
classes will be at or near capacity.
Students may not be enrolled in a class that is considered filled. Once a
student has received his/her schedule in August, through the remainder of the
school year, the Dublin City Schools Change
Request Form, available in the Guidance Office, must be processed to
request a schedule change.
High School Credit Earned at the Middle
School
Middle school students successfully
completing any high school course during 8th grade will be granted high school
credit for each course completed. Such
credit will count toward high school credit requirements. The final grade and credit will appear on the
high school transcript and will be figured into the high school grade point
average (GPA). All students taking high
school classes for credit are subject to all high school student handbook
guidelines. (High school student
handbooks can be obtained in the high school.)
College Credit Plus
College Credit Plus is a program that gives students
in grades 7-12 an opportunity to be enrolled in both high school and college
coursework at the same time. College Credit Plus replaces Ohio’s Post-Secondary
Enrollment Options program (PSEO) and all dual enrollment programs. Students
must meet the admission requirements set forth by the university. Dublin City
Schools will bear all tuition costs.
Students eligible for College Credit Plus must be
academically ready for college level courses and be willing to follow the
procedures outlined by the university while still in high school. Dublin City
Schools has partnered with Columbus State Community College (CSCC), The Ohio
State University (OSU), and Cleveland State University (online). College Credit
Plus courses are offered on the campuses of CSCC and OSU and at all Dublin high
school campuses depending upon enrollment and availability of instructors.
Per HB 487, College Credit Plus courses must receive
the equivalent weight as any weighted course within a given content area. A
student’s letter grade earned through a university will be issued on his/her
Dublin City School’s transcript. The Dublin City School weight for that letter
grade will be factored into the student’s GPA. Credits earned through College
Credit Plus are transferable to many public and private institutions in Ohio
and out of state. Two websites are available to help students fully understand
what courses will transfer: www.transfer.org or www.ohiomeanssuccess.gov.
Further information about College Credit Plus will
appear on our district and high school websites. Parents and students are
encouraged to speak with their school counselor for more information.
Student Awards & Recognition
Honor Roll/Merit Roll
Students who have received a 3.0-3.49 grade point
average (GPA) will receive recognition each nine-week grading period on the
Merit Roll. Students who have a 3.5-4.0
GPA will receive recognition on the Honor Roll.
These names will be published following each grading period in the local
newspapers.
Scholastic Awards
Page Award - This
award is earned by any sixth grade student who, at the end of the third grading
period, has a cumulative average of 3.50 GPA or above including all graded
subjects.
Esquire Award - This
award is earned by any seventh grade student who, at the end of the third
grading period, has a cumulative average of 3.50 GPA or above including all
graded subjects.
Knight Award - This
award is earned by any eighth grade student who, at the end of the third
grading period, has a cumulative average of 3.50 GPA or above including all graded
subjects.
Principal’s Award - This
award is earned by any eighth grade student who, at the end of their eighth
grade year, has maintained a 4.0 GPA including all graded subjects. This is calculated from all quarter grades,
including classes taken in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, for all students.
Student Attendance
Daily Attendance Expectations
Dublin Schools has a commitment to
provide a formal quality education to its students. To achieve this goal, students must
consistently be in attendance at school.
Students are expected to be in all
classes and study halls. Attendance and
promptness to class is the responsibility of each student and his/her parents
or guardian. Attending classes and being
on time allows the student to benefit from the school’s program in addition to
developing habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and individual
responsibility.
When a student is absent from school, a
parent must call the school attendance office within 30 minutes of the start of
that school day to report their child’s absence from school. (Davis #718-8650, Grizzell #718-8600, Karrer
#718-8511, Sells #718-8572). If the school is not contacted by the parent, the
school will make every reasonable attempt to contact parents at home or at
work. Upon the student’s return to
school, parents must provide written documentation explaining the absence to
the main office.
Tardy Behavior
If a student is late to school, s/he must
report directly to the office. A student
will be considered tardy if s/he arrives at school up to 90 minutes after the
regular school day begins. If a student
misses 91 to 240 minutes of school, s/he will be counted absent for one-half
day. If a student comes to school and
goes home ill, but did not stay at school for at least 90 minutes, s/he is
counted absent one full day. P. M. tardies occur when a student leaves before
end of the school day. These tardies are
tallied with A.M. tardies. Tardiness for
reasons other than those listed in Ohio Revised Code in the attendance section
are unexcused. Multiple unexcused
tardies to school could result in disciplinary actions (please see Misconduct
Code Rule #17 Tardiness).
Leaving School During the Day
Students who have an appointment to leave
school during the day must come to the office before school with a note from
the parent and receive a Passport from the office. This list of students appears on the absence
list daily. Students are responsible for
reporting to the office and signing out at the correct time. Parents must come to the office to pick up
their student. This is to ensure their
safety and well-being.
Dublin City Schools Attendance Policy
Section 3321.04 of the Ohio Revised Code
provides that every parent, guardian, or other person having charge of any
child of compulsory school age must send such child to a school which conforms
to the minimum standards prescribed by the State Board of Education for the
full time the school is in session. Such
attendance must begin within the first week of the school term, or within one
week of the school term, or within one week of the date on which the child
begins to reside in the district.
The statutes governing school attendance
are very specific and leave little option for school authorities to excuse
children from school. The Ohio Revised
Code classifies absence from school as excused or unexcused. The following conditions constitute reasons
for excused absence from school:
1.
Personal illness
2.
Illness in the family
necessitating the presence of the child
3.
Quarantine of the home
4.
Death in the family
5.
Work at home due to absence
of parents or guardians
6.
Observation or celebration
of a bona fide religious holiday
7.
Necessary work at home due
to absence or incapacity of parent(s) / guardian(s)
8.
Out-of-state travel (up to
a maximum of four (4) days per school year to participate in a
District-approved enrichment or extracurricular activity
9.
Such good cause as may be
acceptable to the Superintendent or designee
10. Medically necessary leave for a pregnant student in
accordance with Policy 5751
11. Service as a precinct officer at a primary, special or
general election in accordance with the program set forth in Policy 5725
Take your son/daughter to work day is also an excused
absence.
Unexcused Absences: Absences by consent of the parent or with the
parent’s knowledge for a reason not acceptable to the school or absences that
are not followed by written documentation from the parent or doctor. Unexcused absences may receive no credit for
schoolwork. Examples could include: music lessons, hair appointments,
oversleeping, traffic delays, etc.
Habitually Truant: A
student who is absent
= 30 or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse
= 42 or more hours in one month without a legitimate excuse
= 72 or more hours in one year without a legitimate excuse
Excessively Absent: A
student who is absent WITH OR WITHOUT A LEGITIMATE EXCUSE
= 38 or more hours in one school month
= 65 or more hours in one school year
Extended Vacations/Extended Student Absence During
the School Year
Students are permitted to
go on vacation during the school year without penalty (except the week ending
each semester). The purpose of this administrative guideline is to accommodate
parents who must take their vacations during the school year because of company
(industry) policies and the desire to enjoy that time as a family.
- Whenever a proposed
absence-for-vacation is requested, parents must discuss it with the principal
or his/her designee. The length of absence should be made clear, and those
involved should have an opportunity to express their views on the potential
effects of the absence.
- The student may be given
approximate assignments and materials and pages to be completed.
- The time missed will be counted
as an unexcused absence under HB410, but shall not be a factor in determining
grades unless make-up work is not completed. If lengthy, time missed may cause
the student to become “excessively absent” under the HB410 attendance law.
Prearranged Absences
In addition to the above guidelines,
Dublin Schools have a procedure for prearranged absences. Form (5200 F1) must be picked up in the
office five days in advance of absence.
This needs to be signed by teachers and parents, and be on file in the
office three days prior to absence to be considered prearranged.
For students determined to
be habitually truant:
1. Written notice will be provided
to the parent/guardian
2. Student will be assigned to an
absence intervention team
3. If the child fails to make
progress after 61 days on the personalized absence intervention plan, the
district will file a complaint in juvenile court
4. Counseling will be provided
5. The student's parent or
guardian will be asked to attend parental involvement programs or truancy
prevention mediation programs
6. As applicable, the registrar of
motor vehicles will be notified
7. Children Services will be
notified as deemed necessary
For students determined to
be excessively absent:
1. Written notice will be provided
to the parent/guardian
2. The student will follow the
district's plan for absence intervention
3. The student and family may be
referred to community resources
Absence Intervention Team
State law requires districts with
a chronic absenteeism rate above 5% to establish an Absence Intervention Team
for students who are habitually truant. The school based absence intervention
team will establish a student-centered absence intervention plan by identifying
specific barriers and solutions to attendance problems.
Membership of each team should
vary based on the needs of each individual student, but each team is required
to include: 1. a representative of the school or district. 2. another
representative from the school or district who has a relationship with the
child. 3. the child's parent/guardian.
The Absence Intervention Team may
also include: 1. school psychologist, counselor or social worker. 2.
representatives from a public or non-profit agency. 3. a case worker from
Children Services if there is an open case or if the child is in foster care.
Activities and Attendance
Students participating in extracurricular
activities must attend school during the day of the activity in order to
participate in the activity. Students
who are absent from school for more than one-half day on the day of a game,
match or event will not be permitted to participate. Students must be in school at least 4 periods
to be considered eligible to participate in extracurricular activities.
Long-Term Student Absence for Travel
The Dublin Board of Education recognizes
that in exceptional circumstances, a student may need to be absent from school
for an extended period of time. Ohio has
specific compulsory attendance regulations, and Dublin City Schools must comply
with those State statutes.
Ohio Revised Code Section 3321.02 states
that “every child actually a resident in the state shall be amenable to the
laws relating to compulsory education, and neither he nor the person in charge
of him shall be excused from the operations of the sections or the penalties
under them on the ground that the child’s residency is seasonal, that the
parent of the child is a resident of the other state, or that the child has
attended school for the legal period in another state.” The parent of a child of compulsory school
age who is not employed under the age and schooling certificate must send said
child through school or special education program that conforms to the minimum
standards prescribed by the State Board of Education, for the full time the
school or program attended is in session, which shall not be for less than
thirty-two weeks per school year. Such
attendance must begin within the first week of the school term or program, or
within one week of the date of which the child begins to reside in the district,
or within one week after his withdrawal from employment (O.R.C. 3321.04).
The following procedures apply to
long-term absences and the consequences thereof:
1.
Any student
absent for more than twenty (20) days in a school year will find that attendance
records become a significant factor in a promotion or retention decision at the
close of the school year.
2.
Should a child
be absent from school for thirty (30) days, the principal may make a referral
to the appropriate social agency that may bring charges of parental neglect
against the parents or guardians.
3.
All absences
including illness, truancy, vacation, family or personal business, or
appointments to the doctor or orthodontist will be counted in the attendance
tally.
Therefore, if parents are going to remove
students from school for travel purposes or visitation of families in other
states or countries for extended periods of time, they must follow these
procedures.
A.
Notify the
student’s school of attendance in writing of their intent to remove their child
from school for any period beyond twenty (20) days.
B.
The
parent/guardian must show good and sufficient cause in advance to remove the
child from school. This notification
should occur two (2) weeks prior to the student’s departure.
If
the parent does not comply with this policy, the school district may be
obligated to report the parent/guardian to the truant officer and file charges
of lack of compliance with the compulsory education rules.
Personal Communication Devices
Possession and/or use of a personal
communication device (PCD) by a student while at school during the school day
is a privilege that may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by the
terms of Policy 5136 or this guideline, or
otherwise engages in abuse of this privilege. Strict adherence to Policy 5136 and this guideline is
required.
"Personal communication device"
includes computers, tablets (e.g., iPads and similar devices), electronic
readers ("e-readers"; e.g., Kindles and similar devices), cell phones
(e.g. mobile/cellular telephones, smartphones [e.g., BlackBerry, iPhone,
Android devices, Windows Mobile devices, etc.], telephone paging devices [e.g.,
beepers or pagers]), and/or other web-enabled devices of any type.
Unless approved by an authorized school
personnel, students are prohibited from using PCDs. If students choose to
carry the PCDs they must be out of sight and on silent during the
regularly scheduled school day (i.e. from the moment the individual student
arrives on school grounds during a day that students are in attendance for
instructional purposes, until the last class of the day has ended for all
students). This includes on school-sponsored trips and
"behind-the-wheel" driver education classes or in school vehicles.
Students may use PCDs before and after school, during their lunch break and in
between classes, as long as they do not create a distraction, disruption or
otherwise interfere with the educational environment. "Using" refers
to, not only the making and/or receiving of calls, but also using the PCD for
any other purpose (e.g., sending e-mails, text messages or instant messages).
Students also may not use PCDs on school property or at a school-sponsored
activity to access and/or view Internet Web sites that are otherwise blocked to
students at school. Students may use PCDs while riding to and from school on a
school bus or other Board-provided vehicle or on a school bus or Board-provided
vehicle during school-sponsored activities, at the discretion of the bus
driver, classroom teacher sponsor/advisor/coach. Distracting behavior that
creates an unsafe environment will not be tolerated.
PCDs, including but not limited to devices
with cameras, may not be activated or utilized at any time in any school
situation where a reasonable expectation of personal privacy exists. These
locations and circumstances include but are not limited to gymnasiums, locker
rooms, shower facilities, rest/bathrooms, swimming pool, and any other areas
where students or others may change clothes or be in any stage or degree of
disrobing or changing clothes, whether here or at another school district where
a school activity or athletic event is occurring. The building principal has
authority to make determinations as to other specific locations and situations
where use of a PCD is absolutely prohibited.
Students participating in extra-curricular
activities and athletics must contact their coach, advisor, or sponsor for
his/her rules involving the use of PCDs after school hours or on after-school
bus trips. Coaches and sponsors will set their rules and enforce consequences
involving the use and/or misuse of these devices.
The Board assumes no responsibility for
theft, loss, or damage to, or misuse or unauthorized use of, PCDs brought onto
its property. Students and parents are strongly encouraged to take appropriate
precautions, if students possess PCDs at school, to make sure the devices are
not left unattended or unsecured.
Using a PCD in an unauthorized manner or in
violation of Policy 5136 or this guideline may result
in loss of this privilege, additional disciplinary action (e.g., warnings,
parental notification and conferences, suspension, expulsion), confiscation of
the PCD (in which case, the device will only be released/returned to the
student's parent/guardian after the student complies with any other
disciplinary consequences that are imposed, unless the violation involves
potentially illegal activity in which case the PCD may be turned-over to law
enforcement), and/or referral to law enforcement if the violation involves an
illegal activity (e.g. child pornography).
If a school teacher or administrator
observes a violation of this guideline, s/he is required to confiscate the
device and bring it to the building principal's office and provide the name of
the student from whom the PCD was taken. Any confiscated device will be held in
a secure location in the building's central office until the item is retrieved
by the student's parent/guardian or turned-over to law enforcement. Students
whose PCDs are confiscated may be required to contact their parents/guardians
to inform them that the item was confiscated and that it will only be returned
to the parents/guardians.
Sexting
The possessing, taking,
disseminating, transferring, or sharing of nude, obscene, pornographic, lewd,
or otherwise illegal images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer
or otherwise (commonly called texting, emailing, or sexting, etc.) may
constitute a crime under state and/or federal law. Any person possessing, taking, disseminating,
or sharing nude, obscene, pornographic, lewd or otherwise illegal images or
photographs may be punished under this Code of Conduct and may be reported to
the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Electronic Equipment
While in some instances the possession and
use of electronic equipment or devices by a student at school may be
appropriate, often the possession and use of such equipment or devices by
students at school can have the effect of distracting, disrupting and/or
intimidating others in the school environment and leading to opportunities for
academic dishonesty and other disruptions of the educational process. Consequently, the Board of Education will
supply any electronic equipment or devices necessary for participation in the
educational program. Students shall not
use or possess any electronic equipment or devices on school property or at any
school-sponsored activity without the permission of the principal, the
classroom teacher, or advisor/coach.
Examples of prohibited devices include but
are not limited to:
A.
lasers,
B.
laser pens or
pointers,
C.
electronic
games/toys.
Students may use the following electronic
equipment/devices on school property for an educational or instructional
purpose (e.g., taking notes, recording a class lecture, writing papers) with
the teacher’s permission and supervision:
A.
cameras
(photographic and/or video),
B.
laptops, (with
Up-to-Date Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware Installed)
C.
mobile phones,
Students may use the following electronic
equipment/devices while riding to and from school on a school bus or other
vehicle provided by the Board at the discretion of the bus driver, classroom
teachers, sponsor/advisor/coach, or building principal:
A.
cameras (photographic and/or video),
B.
mobile phones.
Distracting behavior that creates an
unsafe environment will not be tolerated.
Students are prohibited from using
electronic equipment or devices in a manner that may be physically harmful to
another person (e.g., shining a laser in the eyes of another student). Further, at no time may a camera or other
electronic equipment/device be utilized by a student in a way that might
reasonably create in the mind of another person an impression of being
threatened, humiliated, harassed, embarrassed, or intimidated. See Policy 5517.01 – Bullying and Other Forms
of Aggressive Behavior.
Video Surveillance
& Electronic Monitoring
In order to protect Board property, promote security
and protect the health, welfare and safety of students, staff and visitors, the
Board of Education authorizes the use of video surveillance and electronic
monitoring equipment on school property, and in school buildings and school
buses. Information obtained through
video surveillance/electronic monitoring may be used to identify intruders and
persons breaking the law, Board policy, or the Student Code of Conduct (i.e.,
it may be used as evidence in disciplinary actions and criminal proceedings).
For additional information please reference Board of
Education Policy #7440.01 and Administrative Guideline #7440.01 – Video Surveillance
and Electronic Monitoring.
Personal Property at School
The school is not responsible for lost,
damaged, or stolen items that are brought from home.
Care of
Property
The Board of Education believes that the
schools should help students learn to respect property and develop feelings of
pride in community institutions.
The Board charges each student with
responsibility for the proper care of school property and the school supplies
and equipment entrusted to his/her use.
Students who cause damage to school
property shall be subject to disciplinary measures, and their parents shall be
financially liable for such damage to the extent of the law, except that
students over eighteen (18) years of age shall also be liable for damage they
cause.
The Board authorizes the imposition of
fines for the loss, damage or destruction of school equipment, apparatus,
musical instruments, library material, textbooks, and for damage to school
buildings.
The Board may report to the appropriate
juvenile authorities any student whose damage of school property has been
serious or chronic in nature.
A reward may be offered by the Board for
the apprehension of any person who vandalizes school property.
The Board will assume no responsibility
for any personal property that students bring on to District premises.
Search and Seizure
Search of a student and his/her
possessions, including lockers, may be conducted at any time the student is
under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education, if there is reasonable
suspicion that the student is in violation of law or school rules. A search may also be conducted to protect the
safety of others. All searches may be
conducted with or without the student’s consent.
Students are provided lockers, desks, and
other equipment in which to store materials.
It is clearly understood that this equipment is the property of the
school and may be searched at any time if there is reasonable suspicion that a
student has violated the law or school rules.
Locks are provided to the student to prevent theft, not to prevent
searches. Anything that is found in the
course of a search that may be evidence of a violation of school rules or law
may be taken and held or turned over to the police. The school reserves the right not to return
items which have been confiscated.
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