Student Handbook - Hermon DeKalb Central School

Loyalty: school spirit means loyalty to all functions of the school. A loyal student supports their school and does their utmost to keep their scholastic and activity standards at the highest possible level.

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Daily Bell Schedule

Warning Bell........................................ 8:04

Homeroom.......................................... 8:06 - 8:11

1^st Period............................................ 8:14 - 8:53

2^nd Period............................................ 8:56 - 9:35

3^rd Period............................................ 9:38 - 10:17

4^th Period............................................ 10:20 -10:59

5^th Period............................................ 11:02 - 11:41

Lunch

6^th Period............................................ 12:15 - 12:54

7^th Period............................................ 12:57 - 1:36

8th Period........................................... 1:39 - 2:18

9^th Period ........................................... 2:21 – 3:00

Public address announcements are read each morning during the homeroom period. Students should listen carefully to these announcements, as it is their responsibility to follow any instructions, which may apply to them. Anyone with announcements should submit them to the Main Office by 3:00 PM the day prior to the desired announcement time.

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Two Hour Delay Schedule

Homeroom.......................................... 10:00 - 10:05

1st Period............................................ 10:06 - 10:24

2nd Period.......................................... 10:26 - 10:44

3rd Period........................................... 10:46 - 11:04

4th Period........................................... 11:06 - 11:24

5th Period........................................... 11:26 - 11:44

Lunch through 9th periods - normal schedule

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Emergency Closings

The following radio and television stations will carry information regarding emergency closings: WTNY, WCTZ, WUZZ, WFRY, WVNC (FM 96.7), WPDM: (AM 1470) WHTS (FM 99.3), WPAC (FM 92.7), and FSR: (FM 95.3 and AM 1400), WGIX, WSLU (FM 89.5), WNCQ, WWNY-TV Channel 7 AND WWTI Channel 50. Usually these announcements are made by 7:00 a.m. If no announcement is heard, it can be assumed that school is opening on time.

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Fundraising Activities

It is important that a good relationship exist between the school and the residents of the community. For this reason, it is necessary to conduct fundraising drives in a systematic manner to assure that our residents are not solicited to the point that they feel overburdened or frequently disturbed in their homes. Residents should also feel that they are receiving a fair return in product or service for the expenditure they are asked to make.

It is equally important that appropriate purchasing, sale, and accounting procedures are utilized to assure that student organizations are financially stable and responsible for their debts, which they incur.

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Attendance

The administration and staff of Hermon-DeKalb Junior-Senior High School believes that regular attendance of classroom instruction is an integral part of the learning process and that there is a significant relationship between academically engaged time and student achievement. The insistence of good attendance serves as a clear and constant reminder of the importance of the instructional business at hand. It is the desire of this school to establish and maintain effective programs for learning. Therefore, to receive credit for courses at Hermon-DeKalb Junior-Senior High School, students must fulfill the necessary academic requirements. Excessive absences from school or classes will be addressed on an individual basis by the administration. See the Hermon-DeKalb Central School 6-12 Attendance Policy on page 21 for more details.

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Distribution of Literature/Signs

Students have a right to distribute literature and post signs in the school building providing such distribution does not interfere with fire codes, state laws, or present a disruption to the educational process. No literature may be distributed or handbills posted without first being submitted to the Superintendent of Schools or the Principal for approval.

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Secondary Day Pass

In order to better track attendance and student movement through the building, all students in grades 8-12 will be provided each day with a single “day pass” they will use all day long.

Guidelines

1. Each day’s day passes will be placed in homeroom teacher’s mailboxes by noon of the previous day. The color paper on which the day pass is copied will rotate.

2. Homeroom teachers will hand the passes out at the beginning of each homeroom period and insure that the date/name section of the pass is filled in properly for each of their homeroom students every day.

3. In order to limit the movement of grounded students, homeroom teachers should write, “grounded” on the day pass of any appropriate homeroom student.

4. A.M. BOCES students must pick up their day pass at the Nurses office when arriving at the building. Students will not be permitted to leave a class to pick up a day pass.

5. Students needing a pre-signed pass should have their day pass pre-signed with time and signature by the appropriate staff member.

6. A student who loses his or her day pass will not have the opportunity to leave classes. A second day pass will not be issued.

7. Teachers should use only the day passes provided by the school. Every time any student leaves the room his or her day pass must be signed. Please do not send the students out using any other form of pass.

8. It is the student’s responsibility to have in-hand a signed day pass whenever he or she is not in his or her assigned classroom and produce the day pass upon request.

9. Students with a senior privilege pass or a National Honor Society pass must still use the day pass except when signing out of a study hall for a designated destination.

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Academic Calendar/Student Planner

Students in grades 6 & 7 will be issued a student planner/academic calendar at the beginning of the school year. The planner will serve many purposes. Students are to bring the calendar to every class. Students can record information about homework, assignments, test dates, athletic events, etc. in the planner. Teachers can also use the planner to write and receive notes to and from parents. Students will only be issued one planner per year, if the planner is lost during the school year the student will need to purchase a replacement.

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Visitors to School

Our school is open to all parents and citizens of the community. We encourage the community to visit the school periodically during the course of the year. Persons who are not students or staff must report to the Main Office and sign in when they enter the school building during school hours. All visitors will receive a pass identifying them as a visitor. Student visitors from other schools must have a sponsor student from Hermon-DeKalb and a viable reason for visiting the school. Student visitation forms are available in the High School Principal's Office. All requests to sponsor a visitor must be approved at least 2 days prior to the visit by the Principal or the Superintendent before visitation will be granted.

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Buildings and Grounds

Hermon-DeKalb Central is equipped and maintained for the best possible utilization of our students and staff. The taxpayers of our district provide all equipment, maintenance, and facilities. It is the responsibility of each student and staff person to see that these facilities are not abused. This will require everyone's cooperation and effort.

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Transportation

Transportation is provided for all district students. Questions about transportation programs should be directed to the Head Bus Driver at 347-3672 or the Supervisor of Transportation at 347-3442. The school district has an obligation to provide students with proper and safe transportation to and from school. Likewise students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner, which will ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers. Actions such as fighting, yelling, throwing objects, use of abusive language, moving from seat to seat, smoking, or other objectionable behavior may result in the loss of the privilege of riding the bus. The Discipline Code as indicated in this handbook applies to bus riders.

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Sign In Procedures

When a student arrives late to school, he or she must go directly to the Nurses Office where the time of their arrival will be noted, their excuse collected, and their day pass will be given to them.

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Sign Out Procedures

Occasionally, students may have to leave school before the end of the school day due to emergency situations (i.e. medical appointments or family emergencies). The procedures to follow are:

1. Written permission is always required for students to leave school early or enter school late. Students under age 18 must provide a legal excuse in the form of a parent note as written permission. Students aged 18 and over (adult students) may write and sign their own legal excuse as written permission.

2. Written permission must be submitted to the Nurse’s Office before the homeroom period if the student is to leave early. No student will be permitted to leave without the proper written permission.

3. Students leaving the building and entering the building after the beginning of the school day must sign in or out at the Nurses Office.

4. Students leaving school early must provide a legal excuse. A legal excuse is defined as illness (as determined by the school nurse), a court appearance, family emergency (death in the family or family illness), or attendance at an appointment with a doctor, dentist, or lawyer. Students leaving without a legal excuse will not be readmitted to the building. Any student leaving school early is responsible for completing any missed class work, homework or tests.

5. All students including adult students leaving early due to illness may do so only with the approval of the school nurse. Leaving school through the Nurse's Office due to illness does not release the student from any of their academic responsibilities.

6. Students who leave under any conditions other than those described above will be considered truant and will be dealt with according to the Discipline Plan.

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Games, Toys & Electronic Devices

Portable radios, portable cassette recorders, CD players, electronic games, toys, and any other type of games are not to be used during school hours. Since a security factor always exists, it would be best if such items were not brought to school. If such items are brought into school, they should remain in the student's locker until dismissal. The school is not responsible for any items that are lost or stolen. When students are caught using any of these types of devices or games during school hours the device will be confiscated until the end of the day, for the first offense. The second infraction of this type will result in confiscation of the device until the end of the year or return of the device to a parent during a parent conference.

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Fire Drills

It is the Building Principal's responsibility for conducting fire drills to instruct students and staff in exiting the building in emergency situations as quickly as possible without confusion and panic. Every room is equipped with a fire drill map showing where the class will exit the building. Students are to stay with the class and their assigned teachers in the assigned staging area once they leave the building. Classroom teachers will take their attendance roster with them and then take attendance.

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Books and Equipment

Nearly all books and equipment are supplied free of charge to all students. Take good care of your books, as you will be responsible for any damages not included in normal wear. Lost books must be paid for before another is issued.

Payment for all school equipment (physical education, music, industrial arts, graphic arts, etc.) that is lost or damaged as a result of carelessness or abuse will be the responsibility of the student.

Stolen books or equipment should be reported to the office immediately.

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Student Dress

Individual students and parents are responsible for student dress and general appearance. Students are required to attend school in appropriate dress that meets health and safety standards and does not interfere with the educational process. Clothing that contains degrading pictures, references to alcohol or tobacco, sexual connotations, and/or vulgar language are not considered appropriate attire for the academic environment. Also, clothing of a revealing nature is not considered appropriate for the academic environment. Students found wearing such attire will be asked to change the article of clothing or to return home and change their clothes prior to returning to class. Parents and guardians may be called. The student will be responsible for any academic class presentation, tests, or work missed.

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Early Arrivals

Students who arrive prior to the opening of school must remain in the lobby or cafeteria until 8:00. Students are not allowed in the halls or at their lockers before this time.

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Working Papers

Working papers may be obtained in the Main Office.

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Cafeteria

Free & Reduced Programs

Proper nutrition has a direct impact on one's ability to learn. Hermon-DeKalb participates in the Federally funded lunch and breakfast program, providing free and reduced price food service to qualifying students. The Federal Reduced/Free application form is contained in the census information delivered to students' homes by the census taker. In the event that your family did not receive a form and your parents believe you are eligible for a free or reduced lunch, please contact the Main Office.

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Lunch Program

Hot lunches and ala carte lunches are available in the respective food service lines. Lunch is a time to socialize with your friends. Appropriate behavior is expected at all times. Please be courteous to others by not jumping ahead in the serving lines and please pick up your trays, papers, and garbage before leaving your table. Remember, all food and beverages are to be consumed in the cafeteria, not in the hallways. Students who do not choose to eat lunch must still go to the cafeteria during the lunch period. Students are to remain seated in the cafeteria until excused for gym activity period. During the activity period, students may use the Computer Lab and Library as well.

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Breakfast Program

Early arrival students may go to the cafeteria directly for breakfast if they desire. Secondary students should attend the breakfast program after notifying their homeroom teacher where they are. Students that will be using the Breakfast Program on a regular basis will be assigned to the breakfast homeroom. Secondary students that attend the breakfast program are to remain in the cafeteria until homeroom is dismissed.