HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
We acknowledge that we have received the Enders-Fisherville/Halifax
Elementary School Parent/Student Handbook for the 2015-2016 school
year and recognize that it is our responsibility to familiarize ourselves
with its contents.
_________________________
__________________________
Student Signature
________________________________
Teacher
Parent/Guardian Signature
_____
_____________________
Grade
Date
_________________________________________________________
Student Information
Name:___________________________ Grade: ___
Address:__________________________________________________
Student Resides with: Father
Mother
Both Parents
Guardian
(Please Circle)
Home Phone Number: _________________________
E-mail Address: _____________________________
Mother’s Work Number ____________cell_________
Father’s Work Number _____________cell________
Emergency Contact:
___________________________________________
Students will not be released to persons other than those listed below,
for any reason, without consent of parent/guardian.
__________________________
____________________________
__________________________
____________________________
__________________________
____________________________
__________________________
____________________________
Please sign and return this page to your child’s
teacher/school by Friday, September 11, 2015.
Parent/Student Handbook
and Student Code of Conduct
Enders-Fisherville Elementary School
Halifax Elementary School
2015-2016
I.
II.
III.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mission Statement
Principal’s Message
Cycle Days and School Procedures
Page
A. PSSA
B. Attendance
C. Tardiness
D. Special Excuses
E. Names, Address, Telephone Numbers
F. Care of Books, Lockers, & School Property
G. Report of Pupil Progress
H. Student Confidentiality Policy #216
I. Homework
J. Educational Field Trips
K. Parent Volunteers, Conferences & Meetings
L. Volunteers, Clearances, Field Trip Chaperones,
& Safety Procedures
1-9
1
1-2
2-3
3
4
4
4-5
5
5-6
6-7
7
7-9
9
9
9-10
10
10-20
10
11
11-13
13-16
16
16-17
17-18
18
18-19
19-21
21
21-22
22-23
23-24
24-25
26-31
M. School Delays/Early Dismissals
N. School Spirit Days
O. Distribution of non-school materials
P. Cafeteria
IV.
Student Code of Conduct
A. Cat Stars – Positive Behavior Program
B. Enders-Fisherville Classroom Management
C. Concerns, Fouls and Strikes
D. School Bus Procedures
E. Tobacco
F. Controlled Substances
G. School Dress Code
H. Phys. Ed. Dress Code
I. Music Class Dress Code
J. Weapons Policy
K. Electronic Devices
V.
School Health Services
VI.
Student Assistance Program
VII. School Wellness
A. Recess
VIII. Acceptable Use Policy
IX.
Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services and Programs,
Services for Gifted Students, and Services for Protected
Handicapped Students
I.
Halifax Area School District
3940 Peters Mountain Road
Halifax, PA 17032
(717) 896-3416
www.hasd.us
Mission Statement
Halifax Area School District in a partnership with
students, parents, and community members will provide
all students a safe, supportive and challenging
environment in order to engage students to discover and
achieve their best academically, socially, emotionally, and
ethically as they grow to become evermore
responsible, productive, and accountable citizens.
Halifax Area School District
II.
Halifax Elementary Schools
Halifax Elementary School
3940 Peters Mountain Road
Halifax, PA
17032
717-896-4053
717-896-8337 (FAX)
Dr. J. Craig Raisner, Principal
Mrs. Marie Daub, Secretary
Mrs. Bonnie Kabonick, Secretary
Enders-Fisherville Elementary
791 Enders Road
Halifax, PA 17032
717-896-4054
717-362-6358 (FAX)
Mrs. Carla Sauer, Principal
Mrs. Kathy White, Secretary
Dear Parents,
As stated in our Mission Statement, ”we seek to work as partners with
our parents to support the growth of our students.” The teachers and staff
at both Enders-Fisherville and Halifax Elementary strive to create a safe,
caring, and structured environment for all children. We follow curriculum
aligned with state standards to prepare our students well for a successful
future.
Research has proven that parental involvement in schools increases
student achievement. We encourage parent participation and volunteering
through many outlets within our schools. Please contact your child’s teacher
if you are able to volunteer or want more information concerning what you
could do to help.
Communication is an essential key for a successful partnership. If you
have any concerns about the progress or work habits of your child, please
contact the teacher first. If you feel your concerns need to be addressed
further, please contact the school office to schedule an appointment.
This handbook has been compiled to serve as a resource. Hopefully,
you will readily store and use it as a reference throughout this year. On
behalf of all the school board, teachers, and staff here at Halifax, we
extend all our best to you and your child for a fantastic school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. J. Craig Raisner
Halifax Elementary Principal
Mrs. Carla Sauer
Enders-Fisherville Principal
III.
CYCLE DAYS AND SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Our school operates, not according to the days of the week, but with
each day numbered so that all subjects get equal time. August 31 is Day 1 in
our cycle while September 1 is Day 2, September 2 is Day 3, etc. On the
fifth day, Sept. 8, the cycle will end. A new cycle will begin on Sept. 9 (Day
1) and will run continuously throughout the year. In most cases, days that
school is not in session for students are not counted as days in the cycle.
The day of the cycle is always announced in the morning and posted in the
office window. The five-day cycle allows more flexibility in scheduling as
well as consistency in scheduled time.
A. P.S.S.A.’s
During the administration of the Pennsylvania System of School
Assessment (P.S.S.A.) attendance of all students is critical. Please refrain
from scheduling appointments during that time. No educational trips will
be approved during testing.
The PSSA Test Window is April 11th through April 29th.
B. Attendance
According to Pennsylvania School Law, “compulsory school age refers to
the period of a child’s life from the time the child enters school as a
beginner which may be no later than at the age of 8 years, until the age of
17 or graduation from a high school, whichever occurs first. A beginner is a
child who enters a school district’s lowest elementary school grade that is
above kindergarten”. Regular attendance at school is essential. The
following is the procedure we will follow for student absences.
1. If a student is absent and homework is requested, all requests should
be made to the school office no later than 10:30 a.m. to guarantee the
availability of homework.
2. A student will have three (3) days in which to submit an excuse. If no
excuse is received by the third day or if a written excuse it delivered
after three (3) days, the absence will be logged as
unexcused/unlawful. Three days of consecutive absence from school
will require a doctor’s note in order for the absence to be recognized
as excused.
3. A student who has accumulated THREE (3) unexcused/unlawful
absences will receive a certified letter notifying the parents of these
absences and outlining the school policy regarding these absences.
1
4. After three days of unexcused/illegal absences, a notice will be sent
to the parents. Fines could be imposed.
5. 10:45 a.m. is considered the cut off time for half day absences. For
example – students entering after 10:45 would be considered present
½ day.
6. Attendance at school is required for participation in extra-curricular
activities.
7. The following condition(s) will constitute reasonable causes for
absence/tardiness/special excuses from school:
1.
Illness
2.
Doctor/Dentist Appt.
3.
Quarantine
4.
Recovery from accident
5.
Required court attendance
6.
Religious Holiday
7.
Exclusion from school
8.
Educational Trips
9.
Death in the family
10.
Exceptionally urgent reason
The term “exceptionally urgent reasons” shall be strictly enforced and shall
not provide license for irregular attendance. The following reason shall
constitute examples of exceptionally urgent reasons:
a. Stranded away from home
b. Family emergency (principal will interpret)
C. Tardiness
School begins at 8:40 am with attendance in homeroom. If a student
enters after 8:40, he/she must report directly to the Office. Students will
be marked absent by the homeroom teacher. Students who arrive at school
after 8:40 am but before 10:45 am will be marked with “Tardy” on their
official attendance record.
Beginning with the 3rd tardy to school, a student will be called to the
office and will have a conference with the principal. A letter will be sent
home alerting the parents to the level of tardiness.
Beginning with and including a student’s 6th unexcused tardy, the
student may be subject to consequences. A parent/guardian phone
conference will be conducted by the counselor and/or principal.
2
When habitual tardiness accumulates to equal one school day, the student
will be charged with an unexcused/unlawful absence. With the exception of
late bus arrival, illness, or family emergency, lateness to school will be logged
as unexcused.
D. Special excuses
While the need may arise for students to be excused early from school
to attend an approved special activity or doctor’s appointment, parents
should make every attempt to schedule such activities after the school day.
However, if a special excuse is required, the following procedures will be
followed.
1. Students must present a written note to the office signed by the
parent or guardian indicating the reason for special excuse. If the
request is for a medical or dental appointment, an official
doctor’s/dentist’s note must be submitted to the office upon return
to school.
2. Written notes must be submitted to the office on or before the day
of the special excuse.
3. Parents must come to the office and sign the child out indicating the
expected time of return. Students will be instructed to report to the
office at the time indicated for dismissal on the written note.
4. The special excuse will be posted on the daily attendance bulletin with
the time of dismissal stated. Students are responsible for any missed
work.
5. Students will be granted an excused early dismissal for significant
reasons only. Refer to #7 under attendance. If a student leaves
school after a special event during the day (Grandparent’s Day, Class
Parties, etc.) it may be counted as an unexcused absence depending on
the amount of school time missed.
6. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS A STUDENT TO LEAVE SCHOOL
WITHOUT PERMISSION given through the office.
7. The expectation is maintained that when an special excuse occurs, the
student will be in school prior to the appointment or return to school
after the appointment within reason and constraints of the school day.
For example, if a doctor’s appointment is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., it is
expected that the student will be in school during the morning and
would return after the appointment.
3
E. Changes of Names, Addresses & Telephone Numbers
Students/parents must report changes in their names, addresses, and
telephone numbers to the office as soon as possible so that school records
can be kept up to date. The updated information is especially important so
that school personnel could contact the student’s home in case of an
emergency. An emergency contact and work number at which a parent can
be reached are ESSENTIAL.
F. Care of Books, Lockers, & School Property
Textbooks and supplies are furnished to students at the school
district’s expense on a loan agreement. All textbooks are identified by a
stamp and number on the inside cover. When a book is issued to a student,
the teacher records its number and condition. The student is responsible
for returning the same text at the end of the year.
Students are
accountable for lost and damaged books regardless of what happens to them.
If books, chorus music, or other property are lost, they shall be paid for on
the basis of cost at the time of issue. 5th Grade students will be issued a
locker for storage of their belongings. If your child installs a lock on the
locker a spare key and/or the combination must be given to the
Elementary Office.
G. Report of Pupil Progress
The pupil reporting system adopted at Enders-Fisherville Elementary
School and Halifax Elementary School is designed to better facilitate
communications between the home and school. So that we can report your
child’s progress in a manner that is compatible with his/her program we have
devised different report cards to be used in the grade levels. Even though
they are different each report card is based on the following ideas:
1.
Each child is an individual and should be judged accordingly.
2.
Both social and academic skill developments should be reported.
3.
Conferences are an important part of any reporting system.
4.
Four report cards will be issued each year.
Enders-Fisherville – Each student will be assessed using a skills checklist
developed using academic standards developed by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education. Parent/Teacher conferences are conducted in
lieu of report cards during the first marking period.
Halifax Elementary – Students will be graded in all subjects.
The following grading system will be used for Grades 2 – 5:
Advanced (A) = 93% - 100%
Basic (B) = 70% - 79%
Proficient (P) = 80% - 92%
Below Basic (BB) = 0% - 69%
4
Individual progress is graded. However, BL (Below Level) notation will be
used to indicate if the curriculum content grade level is not reached. To
enter the next grade, students must successfully meet the academic
requirements at their present grade level.
Recognizing Student Achievement - Students who have earned a 93% or
higher in the six (6) core areas (English, Spelling, Reading, Social Studies,
Science and Mathematics) for each of the third, fourth, and fifth grades
will receive a Bronze Medal at the annual Academic Awards Banquet held in
the spring of each school year.
H. Student Confidentiality Policy #216:
The Halifax Area School District protects the confidentiality of
personally-identifiable student information. Children with disabilities,
students eligible for special education services, and protected handicapped
students are also provided additional protection in accordance with the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and other
applicable federal and state laws. The school district will provide a copy of
its confidentiality policy upon request. Should you feel the district is not
providing the rights as guaranteed by the Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act of 1972, you may file a letter with the U.S. Department of
Education at 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.,Washington, D.C. 20201. More
information can be attained on the school district’s website pertaining to
FERPA at www.hasd.us.
I.
Homework
Homework is important because it reinforces what has been learned in
class, prepares students for future lessons, teaches organization and
responsibility, encourages innovation and creativity, and helps students to
develop good work habits. Homework also acquaints parents with what their
children are learning in school. Based on school instruction and guided
practice, students should be able to successfully complete work at home
within a reasonable amount of time. Homework is an integral part of the
learning process requiring shared responsibility of teachers, parents and
students. A detention to complete missed homework assignments may be
assigned after multiple infractions.
5
What are the students’ homework responsibilities?
Students will:
*Have the responsibility to complete the assignment and return the
completed assignment to school on time.
*Have the responsibility of communicating any confusion regarding the
assignment to teachers.
*Clearly communicate homework assignments to parents by a homework
agenda book (Halifax Elementary only).
*Complete any missed assignments due to absences.
What are the teachers’ responsibilities?
Teachers will:
*Provide variety in homework assignments: review, practice and enrichment.
*Provide expectations for work quality and due dates.
*Individualize homework assignments when necessary.
*Review and provide feedback for all homework.
*Monitor completion and quality of assignments and determine consequences
for incomplete work.
What are the parents’ responsibilities?
Parents will:
*Promote a positive attitude and outlook toward homework.
*Understand the responsibility of homework rests with the child.
*Allow children to do their own homework. Provide support when asked by
the child, assist when asked specific questions.
*Communicate concerns regarding student needs/frustrations to the
teacher.
*Provide a quiet study area and needed supplies for the student.
*Check homework agenda book on a regular basis and use it as a
communication tool between teacher and home.
J. Educational Field Trip
It is the practice of the Halifax Area School District to permit student
educational trips (One trip up to but not exceeding 5 days per school
year). Forms for requesting an educational trip are available in the
elementary school office and must be completed and submitted five days
prior for principal’s approval. The educational value of the trip and the
student’s attendance and academic progress will be factors in determining
approval of educational trips.
6
NO EDUCATIONAL TRIPS WILL BE PERMITTED DURING PSSA OR
STANDARIZED TESTING DAYS. THE DATES OF TESTING WINDOW
IS APRIL 11 THROUGH APRIL 29, 2016. PLEASE CHECK WITH
BUILDING OFFICES FOR MORE INFORMATION.
All homework, assignments, tests, and projects missed during the dates of
the educational trips must be completed and submitted to the classroom
teacher no later than five (5) school days after the educational trip.
K. Parent Volunteers, Conferences & Meetings
In order to minimize the interruptions during classroom instruction,
all parent classroom observations must be set up and approved in advance by
the Principal. Classroom volunteers are to schedule their times with the
teacher prior to coming in to help. In order to minimize disruption to the
instructional process for all students, unannounced visits by
parents/guardians will not be permitted.
Visitors’ Pass – All visitors must register in the office upon entering
the building and receive a visitor’s pass. Each visitor must also inform the
office as they leave the building. (School Board Policy #907)
If you have an item that needs to be delivered to your student the
office will get it to your child. If you need to talk to your child’s teacher,
we will be happy to deliver a message for you. Thank you for your
understanding and cooperation. By working together we can continue to
make Enders-Fisherville Elementary School and Halifax Elementary School
truly outstanding places for our children to learn and grow.
Please contact your child’s teacher to schedule a conference.
Teachers are not expected to conduct conferences from their home by
telephone.
Parent/Teacher Conferences:
Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 12:35 pm to 8:00 pm
Thursday, February 11, 2016 from 12:35 pm to 8:00 pm
L. Volunteers, Clearances, Field Trip Chaperones, & Safety Procedures
The following information is for all staff members, employees,
students, and parents of Enders-Fisherville Elementary School and Halifax
Elementary School. The steps outlined in this notice are designed to ensure
the safety of the children attending our schools. These procedures will help
us provide an orderly atmosphere in the school and in the classrooms.
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Volunteers – According to Act 153 of 2014 a school volunteer is “someone
who is not under the constant supervision of the district’s paid staff.”
Examples: a field trip chaperone, a dance chaperone, the parent who eats
lunch with their child in the cafeteria.
Clearances – Mandates from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
require the Halifax Area School district to follow Act 153 of 2014. In order
to volunteer as a chaperone on a school field trip, volunteer in your child’s
classroom, or eat with your child in the café, you must obtain and have on
file in the Elementary Office, the following clearances:
Act 34: Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check
Act 151: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
These clearances can be applied and paid for electronically. All necessary
instructions and links to apply for these clearances can be found at:
http://www.dhs.state.pa.us/findaform/childabusehistoryclearanceforms/ind
ex.htm
Field Trip Chaperones – Parent chaperones will be randomly selected at each
grade level prior to the field trip. Parents who have not been selected may
NOT follow the buses to, or meet the buses, at the designated field trip
location.
Student Pick-Up – Students will be released only to their parents or other
adults identified in writing in advance. Phone requests for bus change or
parent pick-up will be honored only in emergency situations. Other phone
requests cannot be honored because we cannot verify the request.
*** In the front of this handbook is a form which will be used to identify
those adults who may pick up your child at school other than parents. If
there is a court order restricting one parent, the school must be provided
with a copy by the custodial parent, in order to follow it. The person or
persons included on this list must follow all the procedures outlined in this
section. No child will be allowed to leave the school for any reason without a
signed note from a parent/guardian.
*** If you wish to alter this list during the year, you must present the
requested change in writing as least 48 hours prior to the change. This will
give us an opportunity to check the validity of the request by contacting you
personally.
Student pick-up during school day: Parent/guardian will come into the
office to sign student out. If student returns the same day,
parent/guardian should escort student to the office to sign student back in.
8
Parents are not to go to the classroom to get their child. This procedure
includes parents who wish to pick up their child before they board the bus.
Student pick-up at dismissal: At Enders-Fisherville, students are to be
picked up in the main lobby.
At Halifax Elementary, students are to be picked up in the cafeteria at the
rear of the building ONLY. A parent, or designated individual, MUST walk to
the rear door and check-in with the school staff member. No child will be
permitted to leave the building unattended. Halifax Elementary students are
required to have a note from parent/guardian if they are to be picked up.
Parents picking up at Halifax Elementary without sending a note beforehand
must come into the office before 3:30 p.m. and complete a pink Request for
Student Pick Up. For convenience, pick-up slips and a drop-box are located
between the glass doors at the main entrance. The slips are collected at
3:25 each day. After that time, the box is closed and parents must come to
the office. (These students will have their names called during afternoon
announcements so they know they are being picked up.) All Parents should
park in the rear parking lot and walk towards the building so they are visible
to students and staff as students exit the dismissal doors.
M. School Delays/Early Dismissal
Announcements will be made in case of school closure due to inclement
weather. Please listen to the following radio stations for reports of delays
or cancellations: WINK 104, LOVE 99, WHP 580, BOB 94.9, WQKX 94.1,
KISS 99.3, CAT Country 102.3/106.7, River 97.3, WEGH 107.3 On
television, WGAL, Channel 8; WHTM, Channel 27; WITF, Channel 33; WHP,
Channel 21; WPMT, Channel 43, and WLYH, Channel 15 will also broadcast
delays. Please do not telephone the school for information because the
school’s telephone lines are busy with emergency contacts.
N. School Spirit Days
The FIRST FRIDAY of every month is designated as School Spirit
Day. We would like all students to participate and show Halifax Pride.
Students are encouraged to wear our school colors, black and gold, or dress
in Halifax School Spirit clothing. Classroom teachers will tally the number
of students participating and the class with the most participation per grade
level is recognized. Show your pride by participating in school spirit days!
O. Distribution of Non-School Materials
School Board Policy 220 references student distribution of non-school
materials during school time, and for the purposes of the student handbook,
9
please be reminded that any invitations to celebrations or any non-school
activity should not cause an interruption in the educational process. As an
administrative regulation regarding this policy, parents wishing to have
invitations distributed in their child’s classroom must include all the children
in the classroom. If all children are not included, materials may not be
distributed on school property.
P. Cafeteria
By encouraging your child to use the available hot lunch facilities, you
are assured that he/she will have a well-balanced meal. Complete platters,
including milk, are served at a nominal cost.
Prices for lunch are:
$2.20
Breakfast:
$1.40
Milk:
$0.60
Breakfast begins at 8:20 am and ends at 8:40 am. Classroom
attendance is taken promptly at 8:40 am.
Your child needs to memorize his or her student number. This is the
number that identifies them from Kindergarten through 12th grade. They
will be using this number daily in the lunch line. Student identity will be
confirmed by using their photo in the cafeteria computer system.
IV.
Student Code on Conduct
A. Cat Stars – Positive Behavior Program
As stated in the district mission, all students will be provided a safe,
supportive, and challenging environment. This Cat-Stars program is based on
a system of positive rewards, recognizing students who contribute to the
overall school climate and environment. At the beginning of each school
year, students will be given information about the Cat Stars . The emphasis
of this presentation is on positive reinforcement of acceptable behavior
rather than negative consequences regarding unacceptable student behavior.
This positive environment is the responsibility of students, staff,
parents and community. Students and staff will be expected to:
1. Be Kind
2. Be Safe
3. Be Ready
4. Be a Learner
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B. Enders-Fisherville - Classroom Management and Discipline
In the kindergarten & first grade classrooms, a consistent classroom
management plan is implemented. Hanging in each classroom will be a six
color chart. On the six color chart will be “clips” (clothespins) with a
child’s name on each clip. All students/clips will begin the day on Green
which means “Ready to Learn”. During the course of the day, the clips
move up and down the chart based upon the behavioral choices each
student makes. Good behavior causes the clips to move up one level.
Conversely, inappropriate behavior will cause the clips to move down one
level. However, some behaviors warrant a clip being moved from one end
of the chart to the other, e.g.: Physically causing harm to someone else,
etc. Each classroom may have different incentives for upward movement.
There will be times when students are rewarded with Cat Stars for
reaching “Outstanding”. This chart is fluid as well. A student that has
had their clip moved to yellow, orange or red has the chance to move
upward if they demonstrate appropriate behaviors (i.e. responding to
interventions and consequences).
C. Halifax Elementary School - Concerns, Fouls and Strikes
We recognize that proper student conduct during school contributes
to learning and is a shared responsibility between the students, the
student’s families and the school district. However, when student
misconduct interferes with educational programs, disciplinary measures
appropriate to the infractions shall be assigned.
Levels of Consequences:
CONCERNS:
Absenteeism
Bullying – 1st offense
Daydreaming
Difficulty when working on own
Distracts others
Homework not complete
Hygiene issues
Inattentive
Leaving class chronically (nurse, bathroom, etc.)
Makes little effort
Not having supplies for class
Other Concerns
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FOULS:
Inappropriate touch
Dress code violation
Inappropriate language
Hall misbehavior (running, horseplay, shouting, noisy, etc.)
Inappropriate bathroom behavior
Disrespect
Bus misconduct
Refusal to follow directive
Minor theft
Absence from class without permission
Bullying – after 1st offense
Discipline Consequences – Fouls
Fouls 1 and 2 – Staff member giving the foul informs the student and
submits the foul on Powerschool for record keeping purposes.
Foul 3 – Staff member giving the foul informs the student and
office/teacher through Powerschool and makes contact with parent.
Foul 4 – Staff member giving the foul informs the student and the
office refers the student to the principal for assignment of detention.
STRIKES:
Forgery/cheating/plagiarism
Major damage to property
Major defiance
Major disruptive/inappropriate behavior
Refusal to follow directive – after 1st offense
Theft
Discipline Consequences – Strikes
Strikes 1 and 2 – Detention
Strike 3 – The principal may assign multiple detentions or utilize
other levels of consequences (suspensions, behavioral contract, alternative
education program, and expulsion) as appropriate.
Little Cat Discipline: Behavioral Expectations and Discipline:
As described in our district’s mission statement, it is our goal to help
all students become responsible, productive, and accountable citizens. All
students and adults have the right to work in a safe environment and an
atmosphere free of disruption. Students who cannot conform to these rules
will be disciplined to preserve other students’ rights to learn and teachers’
rights to teach. Disruption will not be tolerated.
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Behavioral requirements may be different from those at home but
students are expected to conform to the school requirements while in
attendance at school. Discuss this with your children and keep in a location
where it can be reviewed if necessary.
Implementation:
These behavioral expectations are in effect:
 during school hours
 while students are walking to and from school
 while students are being transported on school buses
 during recess and lunch
 during field trips and other activities under the school’s supervision
Detention (Halifax Elementary): If behavior issues warrant an
after-school detention the parents will be notified at least one full school
day in advance of the date of detention. Detentions are held immediately
after the school day beginning at 3:45. Parents must make arrangements to
have their child picked up at 4:45 p.m. in the lobby of the Elementary
School.
D. School Bus Procedures
Transportation is provided for all elementary children if so desired.
Children who walk to school need a “Permission to Walk” form signed by their
parents and filed in the elementary office. Bus stops are located as
conveniently as possible for all concerned, but because of highway traffic
and time limitations, these stops must be at safe places and not too close
together.
Boys and girls are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly
manner while riding on a school bus. There should be no improper language,
pushing or shoving. Bus drivers have complete charge and authority of the
children riding their buses.
HALIFAX AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT – BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY
Rules for Students Riding Buses/Disciplinary Action
To assist bus drivers in carrying out their responsibilities for the
conduct and safety of their passengers, the district hereby gives bus
drivers’ authority to apply the following uniform rules and regulations.
Student bus passengers who refuse to respect the authority of a driver will
be disciplined in accordance with district policy.
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By policy, students who commit serious or repeated infractions of
bus rules and regulations will be suspended from riding district buses.
At All Times
1.
Ride only the bus to which you have been assigned. Exceptions
must be approved by a school principal according to the policy.
On each bus will be a roster of assigned students.
2.
Exercise caution, good manners, and consideration for other
people.
3.
The driver’s first concern must be for safe operation of the
bus; therefore, obey his/her directions.
Waiting for the Bus
4.
Be at your stop for five to ten (5-10) minutes ahead of the
scheduled pick-up time.
5.
Stay a safe distance from the roadway.
6.
Respect the property of persons living near the bus stop.
7.
Stay clear of the bus until it has come to a complete stop.
8.
Wait at least one-half hour (30 minutes) beyond the posted
time for the bus to arrive at your stop before returning to your
home.
Boarding the Bus
9.
Board the bus only at your assigned designated stop.
10.
Do not push or crowd others.
11.
Go directly to your assigned seat. The bus will not be moved
until all passengers are seated.
Personal Items on the Bus
12.
Do not carry knives, firearms, or any other potentially
dangerous items.
13.
Do not place gym bags, band instruments, school projects, and
other such items in the aisles. ACCESS to the front entrance
and rear emergency doors must never be blocked.
Conduct on the Bus
14.
Sit only on your assigned seat.
15.
Avoid yelling, loud talking, and any other conduct which could
distract your driver.
16.
Electronic devices are not permitted.
17.
Keep all parts of the body inside the bus.
18.
Use the emergency door and exit controls ONLY during
supervised drills or actual emergencies.
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19.
20.
Smoking and eating on the bus is prohibited.
Do not possess, sell, or consume drugs, alcohol or other
controlled substances on the bus.
21.
Remain seated until the bus has come to a complete stop.
22.
Help keep the bus clean and in good condition. You will be
responsible for paying for any damages you cause.
Getting Off the Bus
23.
Get off the bus only at your designated stop.
24.
Stay clear of the bus until it has moved from the stop.
Changing Buses
School bus loading zones and routes shall, in accordance with school
law, be approved by the School Board. Students shall be assigned one
permanent pick-up and drop-off point.
In accordance with approved changes made to School Board Policy
#810, requests for changes in bus transportation from the permanent
pick-up or drop-off location must be submitted in writing to the office
at least 48 hours in advance of any change. Bus changes will only be
approved for the following reasons: Change of residence, Change of
permanent sitter, or Emergency situations. Exceptions for unforeseen
emergencies will be permitted on a case by case basis. This request must be
in writing and approved by the building Principal. A bus pass must be secured
for any change in bussing, whether a different bus, or a different stop. The
request must be submitted on the official “Bus Change Form.” After a
written request has been made and approved, a Bus Pass will be issued to the
student permitting him/her to ride another bus. A permanent bus
assignment must be approved by the Principal or Transportation Office.
Requests to accommodate child care needs should be limited to not
more than one change request per month. Written notification
requesting the change must be given forty-eight (48) hours in advance
of the change on the proper form. (Forms are located on the Halifax
Website). This change can be considered only if there is available space on
the bus traveling the route necessary to fulfill the request. Written
approval/disapproval must be received by the student from the building
administrator before a change can take place. Written parent/guardian
permission request forms for students to take a different bus home for
early dismissals should be completed at the beginning of the school year.
The school cannot be expected to satisfy telephoned requests for changes
in weather emergencies.
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STUDENT BUS CONDUCT
When a student misbehaves on a bus, the bus driver shall correct the
student, inform him/her of the infraction and deliver a written report to the
principal the same day. If the infraction occurs during the PM run, the
principal should be notified on the morning of the following day. The
Principal shall meet with the student regarding the infraction and inform the
student of the consequence of any further misconduct on the bus. The
principal shall notify the parents of the student in writing, informing them
of the infraction and punishment. The Bus Conduct Report will also inform
the parents of the penalties for subsequent infractions.
The parents of a student who has had his/her bus riding privileges
suspended for the remainder of the school year may, after a period of
forty-five (45) days, petition the principal of the school to have the
suspension lifted. The principal, before granting the request for a review of
the suspension, shall determine and consider the student’s conduct, academic
performance, and attendance record since the suspension. The principal
shall also take into consideration the infraction leading to the suspension as
well as any prior infractions. If the principal feels a review of the
suspension is in order, the transportation department shall be asked to have
a representative at the review. The decision to grant or deny the parent
petition shall lie with the principal. If the student’s bus privileges are
restored and the student commits another infraction, there shall be no right
to further appeal and parents will be responsible for transportation at least
for the remainder of that school year.
The parents of any student causing damage to a school bus or any
other school property will be held financially liable for the repair or
replacement of such damage.
E. Tobacco
The use or possession of tobacco in any form is not permitted on
school property or on a school bus.
F. Controlled Substance Abuse
In the best interest for the safety and welfare of students and
individuals associated with the educational process and extra-curricular
activities at the Halifax Area School District, the School Board and
Administration concur that any individual using, or in the possession or
control of, or selling or trafficking a controlled substance or alcoholic
beverage on school property, vehicles or buildings, shall be suspended from
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the regular school program for a period of time to be determined by the
Administration or until appropriate action is taken at a hearing before a
committee of the School Board.
G. School Dress Code
The students of the Halifax School District are expected to be aware of
the importance of dressing appropriately and are urged to accept their
responsibility that dress need not be elaborate, but should be safe, clean,
appropriate, and neat. Distracting apparel can be detrimental to the
educational process. The following guidelines serve as standards of decency
to determine the appropriateness of clothing:
1. Clothing must be worn as it was designed and intended.
2. Messages on clothing which are vulgar, have sexual connotations, or
are generally offensive, or which advertise or advocate the use of
tobacco, alcohol or drugs are inappropriate for school.
3. Skirts or shorts should be an appropriate length for school. Pants,
skirts, and shorts should also not be worn low enough to expose
undergarments or the student’s backside.
4. Tops that expose the midriff, low cut tops that expose the chest
area, see-through tops, tank tops, camisoles, halter tops, and tops
with spaghetti straps may not be worn unless they are under another
shirt that will remain on all day. Shirts should cover the shoulder.
5. Holes in clothing should not expose anything above the knee.
6. Students may not wear pajama tops or bottoms to school.
7. Shoes must be worn at all times. Slippers and shoes with wheels are
prohibited. Flip flops and sandals are NOT permitted.
8. The following are not to be worn indoors: gloves, hats, caps, winter
scarves, bandanas, hoods, sunglasses, or other head gear. Hair bands,
headbands, and fashion scarves used as they are intended are
acceptable.
9. Outerwear such as coats and jackets must be placed in the designated
area for storage.
10. Any chains, metal items attached to leather, or any apparel that could
be determined to be inappropriate or dangerous (i.e. necklace with
spikes) are prohibited
11. Backpacks and book bags are to be stored in the designated area and
must not be carried during the school day.
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The school staff and administration makes the final interpretation as to
what is immodest and distracting. Students in violation of the above
guidelines will be asked to alter their clothing immediately or will be
subject to school disciplinary actions. Parents may be contacted to
supply suitable clothing.
H. Physical Education Dress Code
At Enders-Fisherville Elementary School and Halifax Elementary
School, students are not permitted to wear jewelry while participating in
Physical Education classes. Jewelry includes, but is not limited to, rings,
watches, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Jewelry should be taken off
prior to leaving the classroom to attend Phys. Ed. class. The only reason for
this policy is injury prevention, not only to oneself, but to others as well.
There are exceptions to this policy. Any student may wear any piece
of jewelry provided that student has a note from a parent or guardian
requesting that the jewelry not be removed. Acceptable reasons might
include bracelets or necklaces bearing important health information (such as
diabetes or asthma), or recently pierced earrings where studs must be worn
for a minimum period of time. If there is no note requesting that the
jewelry not be removed, it must come off. The purpose for the parental
note (which will be kept on file) is to alleviate any injury liability on the part
of the Physical Education Instructor.
All students are required to wear sneakers, socks, and pants/shorts
(no dresses or skirts) to each Phys. Ed. class. This, too, is purely for safety.
Sneakers should not be of the slip-on variety and must have a way to tighten
(shoe strings and Velcro are acceptable). Also, the sneakers should not
contain any metal clips, such as those on hiking boots. Flat, round metal
eyelets through which shoe strings pass are not an injury hazard and are
fine. This is part of the student’s PE grade. Provisions can be made for
students who do not have access to sneakers.
NOTE: Students are made aware of each policy above during their initial
physical education class session each school year.
I. Music Class Dress Code:
All students are required to wear sneakers or flat, non-platform
shoes (with a back strap to tighten) (shoe strings and Velcro are
acceptable). Students wearing footwear that is inappropriate for music
class will be asked to sit out during the game, dance or activity that requires
18
movement. This will affect the student’s music grade. Provisions can be
made for students who do not have access to sneakers. Any sneaker that
would be appropriate for physical education class would also be appropriate
for music class.
J. Weapons Policy
The Halifax Area School District recognizes that the possession of
weapons on school property is a criminal offense in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The Halifax Area School District also recognizes that the
misuse of weapons has become a serious problem in schools and in society.
Weapons in the schools present serious legal, safety, and welfare problems
to the school community. As an educational institution, the District will
strive to prevent the presence of weapons in the schools. However, when
weapons are found in the schools, the District will intervene to remove the
weapons and prosecute those individuals responsible for handling the weapon.
Possession of a weapon on school grounds, in school buildings, or on school
transportation is a crime in the Commonwealth of PA. Possession of a
weapon at school-sponsored activities also presents serious legal, safety, and
welfare problems to the school community. Therefore, the Halifax Area
School District emphasizes that possessing a weapon or knowing and not
reporting, before or during the course of a District investigation, the
possession of a weapon in the buildings of, on the grounds of, at schoolsponsored activities of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to or
from any elementary or secondary educational institution of the Halifax
Area School District, is a serious violation of the rules and regulations of
The Halifax Area School District. Additionally, because of the potentially
harmful effect on the school community and the strong public policy of
preventing persons from possessing objects which have the appearance or
characteristics of weapons in the building of, on the grounds of, at schoolsponsored activities of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to or
from any elementary or secondary educational institution, for purposes of
this policy, objects which have the appearance or characteristics of weapons
shall be considered weapons and possession of such objects or knowledge
without proper reporting of possession of such objects also shall be a
serious violation of the rules and regulations of the Halifax Area School
District.
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Possession - An individual possessing a weapon is in violation of this policy
when the weapon is found on his/her person. Additionally, an individual will
be deemed to be in possession of a weapon if the weapon is found in his/her
personal property (for example, book bag, gym bag, purse) or in a place
where the individual exercises exclusive control (for example, a vehicle or
locker.
Weapon - For purposes of these rules and regulations, the term weapon
shall include but not be limited to any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool,
nun-chuck stick, firearm, bb gun, pellet gun, shotgun, rifle and/or any other
tool, instrument, or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.
The term weapon also shall include objects which have the appearance or
characteristics of weapons as defined above, or objects which are intended
and capable of producing bodily injury. Weapons also shall include look-alike
or replica weapons which are not necessarily operable.
Student Expectations - students observing or otherwise becoming aware of
weapons on school property, at school activities, or on school transportation
shall report the same to the administration immediately. Administrators
shall report individuals suspected of possessing weapons on school property,
at school activities, or on school transportation to the appropriate law
enforcement officials immediately, such duty to report being subject to
review by the District’s Solicitor. The District shall inform students of the
policy regarding weapons.
To the greatest extent possible, information which is supplied by
students shall be kept confidential to protect the students making the
reports.
Discipline - Students found to be in violation of this rule by possessing a
weapon may be denied access to the schools and school-related property of
the District and may be denied the opportunity to participate in student
activities.
Students found to be in violation of the aforesaid rules and regulations
regarding the possession of weapons or knowledge and failure to properly
report the possession of a weapon in the building of, on the grounds of, at
school-sponsored activities of, or in any conveyance providing transportation
to or from any elementary or secondary educational institutions of the
District may be immediately suspended for a period not to exceed ten (10)
school days or until such a time as the Board of School Directors conducts a
hearing on the matter, whichever period is shorter. The Board of School
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Directors, after a hearing on the matter, may permanently expel a student
for violating the aforesaid rules and regulations regarding weapons.
The administration shall report every student violation of the District’s
weapons policy to the Board of School Directors.
Because violation of this policy may result in the expulsion of a student,
students subject to discipline for violation of the Weapons Policy shall be
entitled to a formal hearing pursuant to the hearing policies of the District.
K. Electronic Devices, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND TOYS
Use of electronic devices, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND TOYS are not
permitted at school. When students enter the building, they are to stop using and
to turn off all cell phones and electronic devices. Upon arriving, students are to
store their cell phones, electronic devices, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND TOYS in
their backpacks during the remainder of the school day.
Cell phones will also be confiscated and returned only to parents/guardians.
(Confiscated cell phones will be turned off and stored securely at the school.)
Students with multiple infractions or students who are caught using cell phones
during class will receive additional penalties.
V.
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
Vision, Hearing, Growth and Development screenings are done as
required by the PA Department of Health. Also, required physical and
dental exams are done and parents are notified of any concerns.
First Aid and Illness
When an accident or illness occurs, first aid will be administered and
the parent may be contacted if deemed appropriate. Parents will need to
make sure the school is kept informed of any changes in home and work
addresses and telephone numbers.
Communicable Disease
Any child showing symptoms of chicken pox, measles, mumps, strep
throat, whooping cough, impetigo, ring worm, pink eye, pediculosis or any
other communicable disease may be excluded by the school nurse for the
protection of the other children. Any child so excluded shall be readmitted
when a physician certifies that the child is free from communicable disease.
If your child shows any signs of illness at any time DO NOT send
him/her to school.
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Lice Policy – notify school if affected and treated.
Medication Policy and Procedure
Parents may request that the school district administer medication to
their children WHEN IT IS NECESSARY for the medication to be
administered during the school day.
1. A written physician’s order listing medical diagnosis must
accompany each medication to be dispensed. NO MEDICATION
IS ADMINISTERED BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL WITHOUT
SPECIFIC WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FROM A PHYSICIAN.
2. Parent/guardian must sign a Parental Authorization Form
requesting the administration of medication.
3. Medications must be delivered in pharmacy containers clearly
labeled with the child’s name, name of physician, date of
prescription, name and telephone number of pharmacy, name of
medication, dosage and frequency of administration.
4. Every child seeking admission to the public schools must be
adequately immunized against certain communicable diseases.
According to Pennsylvania law all children attending school must
have:
DIPHTHERIA – TETANUS VACCINE – 4 DOSES
ORAL POLIO VIRUS VACCINE – 3 DOSES
MEASLES VACCINE – 2 DOSES
RUBELLA VACCINE – 2 DOSES
MUMPS VACCINE – 2 DOSES
HEPATITIS B – 3 DOSES
VARICELLA (chickenpox) – 1 DOSE
(a 2nd dose as of 2010/2011)
5. The Pennsylvania Department of Health recognizes that students
may be exempt from immunizations for health, religious or
philosophical reasons. Please contact the school nurse to
communicate any exemption status.
VI.
STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
A Student Assistance Program is designed to 1) identify at risk students
who are experiencing barriers to learning, 2) intervene and refer these
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students to appropriate community services. It is an intervention, not a
treatment program.
The Student Assistance Program utilizes a systematic process by which
school personnel determine when students are having problems and refer
them for help. The heart of the program is a Student Assistance Core
Team, which consists of a group of school personnel who are specially trained
to work with these students. For more information, please contact Mrs.
Kathryn Stefanowicz, School Nurse, or Mrs. Christie Esworthy, School
Counselor.
VII.
SCHOOL WELLNESS
Enders-Fisherville & Halifax Elementary
In March 2006, the Halifax School District adopted a Local School
Wellness Policy, a requirement of the State and Federal Government. The
Policy guidelines were put into effect during the 2006/07 school year. The
Wellness Policy addresses such issues as child nutrition education programs,
life-long physical activity education, dietary guidelines for all foods and
beverages made available in school during the school day, and community
education.
It has been a long standing tradition for the parents of school age
children, especially within the elementary setting, to provide snacks for
their child’s classroom during holiday and birthday celebrations. These
practices have been modified to still allow your child to enjoy school
celebrations but with their health and well-being in the forefront. At this
time, we ask for your help and consideration with the following procedures.
Parents are asked to provide healthy snacks that follow the district’s
approved recommended snack list and not to provide, at any time during the
school day, items that are determined by the USDA as foods of minimal
nutritional value.
Fresh Fruit or Vegetables, Crackers & Cheese, Dried Fruit (i.e.
Raisins/Apples), Pretzels, Popcorn, Chex Mix, Graham Crackers, Animal
Crackers, Granola, Yogurt, Apple Sauce, Fruit Cups, String Cheese, Fish
Crackers, Baked Snack Foods such as Sun Chips or Baked Lays.
Homemade baked goods are certainly welcome, however, please be
considerate to avoid high sugar content items.
Beverages can include 2%, 1% or skim milk, 100% fruit juice products
or water.
23
Please no artificial sweeteners, no items that have sugar listed as
their main ingredient, and no foods of minimal nutritional value.
Foods of minimal nutritional value that can not be offered at any time
during the school day include:
 Soda or any carbonated beverages
 Water Ices – except water ices which contain fruit or fruit juices
 Chewing Gum
 Certain Candies such as:
o Hard Candy – such items as sour balls, fruit balls, candy sticks,
lollipops, starlight mints, after dinner mints, sugar wafers,
rock candy, cinnamon candies, breath mints and jaw breakers.
o Jellies and Gums – A mixture of carbohydrates which are
combined to form a stable gelatinous system of jelly-like
character, and are generally flavored and colored, and include
gum drops, jelly beans, jellied and fruit-flavored slices.
Except those items that are made with 100% fruit juice.
o Marshmallow Candies – An aerated confection composed as
sugar, corn syrup, invert sugar, 20 percent water and gelatin
or egg white to which flavors and colors may be added.
o Fondant – A product consisting of microscopic-sized sugar
crystals which are separated by thin film of sugar and/or
invert sugar in solution such as candy corn, soft mints.
o Licorice – A product made predominantly from sugar and corn
syrup which is flavored with an extract made from the licorice
root.
o Spun Candy – A product that is made from sugar that has been
boiled at high temperature and spun at a high speed in a
special machine.
o Candy Coated Popcorn- Popcorn which is coated with a mixture
made predominantly from sugar and corn syrup.
A. RECESS:
The general guidelines below from the National Weather Service
should help guide indoor/outdoor recess procedures:
Below 60 degrees – Light Jacket or a Sweatshirt
Below 50 degrees – Coat/Jacket (not a sweatshirt) and Long Pants
Below 32 degrees – Coat/Jacket (not a sweatshirt) Gloves and Hats
Below 25 degrees – Principal’s Discretion
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One of the greatest myths that still are perpetuated is that cold
weather causes colds and illness. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The reason that children seem to be sicker during the winter months is that
they are usually inside more, coughing on each other while spreading germs.
They should be allowed to go outside as often as possible, as ironically, being
outdoors gives them the best chance of not picking up a cold from their
peers. The temperature outside will have no effect on whether a child gets
sick.
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VIII.
Guidelines for the Use of Computing and Networked
Information Resources
The Halifax Area School District makes available computing and networked
information resources that may be used by district students, faculty, staff,
and community members. These resources are intended to be used for only
educational purposes and/or to carry out the legitimate business of the
district. Appropriate use of these resources includes instruction,
independent study, authorized research, community participation as
approved by the School Board, and the official work of the offices,
departments, recognized student organizations, and agencies of the district.
The following list does not cover every situation which pertains to proper, or
improper, use of the resources, but it does suggest some of the
responsibilities which you accept if you choose to use a District information
resource or the network access which the District provides. Additionally,
the District Policy on Copyrighted Material (Policy #814) of March 1995 is
considered an integral part of these guidelines.
1. Use of computer technology shall be limited to educational and
instructional purposes related to the class curriculum of the particular user
and for business use by District employees, for recognized and authorized
use by student and community organizations and for no other purposes.
2. The Internet and computer technology will not be used for illegal
activity, transmitting offensive materials, hate mail, discriminatory remarks
or obtaining, transmitting or otherwise communicating indecent, obscene or
pornographic material ( Board Policy #815). Use of the Halifax Area School
District's computer technology or the Internet for fraudulent or illegal
copying, communication, taking or modification of material or any other
activity in violation of the law is prohibited and will be referred to the
proper authorities. The Internet and computer technology will not be used
for personal or profit purposes, lobbying or advertising.
3. The Halifax Area School District, in its discretion, reserves the right to
log, access and/or review, without prior notice, use of any/all District
computer technology, including but not limited to, file servers, desktop and
portable computers, electronic devices and Internet files. This data will be
26
used to ensure appropriate use of technology, including space utilization,
license compliance, and appropriateness of content.
4. Network accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the
account for the authorized purpose.
5. Users shall not intentionally seek information, obtain copies of, or modify
files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresent
other users on the network.
6. Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is defined as
any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or the
Internet or other networks that are connected to the Internet
backbone. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of
computer viruses. The user shall be responsible for damages to the Halifax
Area School District's equipment, systems and software resulting from
deliberate or willful acts.
7. If you have a computer account or operate a system, you are responsible
for the use made of that account or system. If you discover that someone
has made unauthorized use of your account, you must report the incident to
an administrator or teacher. Never share your password or account with
anyone. You have full responsibility for the use of your account, and you will
be held responsible for any policy violations that are traced to your account.
8. If you encounter or observe a problem in system or network security,
you must report the problem to an administrator or teacher. Misuse of
security gaps will be considered a serious offense. Attempts to decrypt or
translate encrypted material, or to obtain system privileges to which you are
not entitled are prohibited.
9. Messages, sentiments, and declarations sent as electronic mail or sent as
electronic postings should meet the same standards for distribution or
display as if they were actual documents. Attempts to alter the origin (i.e.
the "from" or "addresser" lines) in electronic mail, messages, or postings will
be considered a violation of District rules. You are free to publish your
opinions, but they should be clearly and accurately identified as coming from
you.
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10. Students possessing cell phones or other personal electronic devices
must turn them off when entering the school building and place them in their
lockers until the end of the school day. Electronic devices include but are
not limited t IPhones, IPads, Blackberries, Droids, handheld games and any
other devices which can be used to take photographs; record audio or video
data; store, transmit or receive messages or images; or provide a wireless
unfiltered connection to the Internet.
11. You should be aware that there are Federal laws which govern certain
aspects of computer and data communications, for example, Federal statute
18 USC 1030 (Computer Crime Act). Members of the Halifax Area School
District community are expected to obey any applicable laws, as well as
observe and respect District rules and regulations.
12. The District allows you to use many programs and data which have been
obtained under contracts or licenses which state that they may be used, but
not copied, cross-assembled, or reverse-compiled. You, as the user, are
responsible for determining that programs or data are not restricted in this
manner before copying them in any form, or before reverse-assembling or
reverse-compiling them in whole or in any part. If it is unclear whether you
have permission to copy such software, assume that you may not do
so. District administrators will assist with any questions regarding software
usage and licensing issues. ALL software must be approved by the
Technology Department prior to installation on district workstations
and/or servers.
13. The use of district computer technology (Internet, local network,
equipment, etc.) is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in
a cancellation of those privileges. (Each student who receives an account will
discuss appropriate and acceptable use with a Halifax Area School District
staff member.) The administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and
their decision is final. Also, the administrators may close an account at any
time as required by Halifax Area School District. The administration,
faculty, and staff of Halifax Area School District may request the system
administrator to deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts. The
Halifax Area School District may modify the use of or terminate the
availability of the Internet and network accessibility at its sole
discretion. Uploading, downloading, installation, or use of unauthorized
games, programs, files or other electronic media is prohibited. If you
28
create, alter, or delete any electronic information contained in, or posted to
any District computer or affiliated network it will be considered forgery.
14. You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network
etiquette. These include (but are not limited to) the following: a) Be
polite. Do not get abusive in your messages to others. b) Use appropriate
language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate
language. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden. c) Do not reveal your
personal address or phone numbers of students or colleagues. d) Note that
electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate
the system do have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of
illegal activities may be reported to the authorities. e) Do not use the
network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by
other users. f) All communications and information accessible via the
network should be assumed to be private property. Exemplary behavior is
expected on virtual field trips. Treat people you meet on the Internet as if
they were honored guests at your school.
15. The District has made a concerted effort to effectively integrate
technology into our instructional delivery. Many Web 2.0 tool such at blogs,
wikis, educationally-based social networking sites, collaborations sites
(Google Apps for Education), and a course management system (Moodle) are
allowing our students to be more actively involved in their education during
school hours as well as off-site. Many safeguards have been put into place to
filter and protect students while using these tools. Although all Halifax
computers utilize filtering systems, no system is foolproof. If you have any
specific concerns regarding internet usage, speak with your child’s teacher
or the director of technology.
16. Computing resources are not to be used for leisure activities such as
game playing and other trivial applications; sending frivolous or excessive
mail or messages locally or over an affiliated network; or printing excessive
copies of documents, files, images or data. You should refrain from using
unwarranted or excessive amounts of storage or printing documents
numerous times because you have not checked thoroughly for errors and
corrections. You should be sensitive to special needs for software and
services available in only one location, and allow access to others whose work
requires these special services. Do not knowingly degrade the performance
of the network. For example, chain letters are prohibited for this reason.
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17. Diligent effort must be made by the user to delete mail daily from
personal mail directories to avoid unnecessary use of file server disk space.
18. Failure to follow the procedures listed above by students or employees
of the Halifax Area School District may result in suspension or loss of the
right to use the Internet and/or Halifax Area School District's computer
technology and subsequent disciplinarian methods including expulsion or
employee dismissal. All students and employees who wish to use the
Internet, network and computer technology tools must sign an Acceptable
Use Policy Agreement form that will be kept on file in the Administrative
Office of the District. If the user is a student under the age of 18, the
signature of the student's parent or guardian will also be required.
19. The access protocols for students and school technology users are in
compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), a federal law
enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content
over the internet on school and library computers. In accordance with CIPA
compliance, the Halifax Area School District monitors the online activities
of students as well as school employees. The District also has instituted
technology protocols and protections to:1) assume the safety and security of
students when using electronic mail, and other forms of direct electronic
communications, 2) block access by students to inappropriate matter on the
Internet including text and photos that are obscene, harmful to minors, or
otherwise inappropriate for students or for the school setting. 3) The
Halifax Area School District also uses technological tools to block
unauthorized access including “hacking” or other unlawful activities. 4) In
addition the Halifax Area School District has protocols and protection in
place to prevent the unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of
personal information regarding minors.
20. Each year school personnel will educate all students about online safety
and digital citizenship including but not necessarily limited to instruction
concerning appropriate online behavior, interaction with other individuals on
social networking websites and chat rooms, and cyber-bullying awareness and
response. This instruction will occur through school assemblies with special
follow-up activities in homerooms, Discovery classes, or through other
specialized class activities.
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In no event shall the Halifax Area School District be liable for any damage,
whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising out of the use of
the Internet or other district computer technology.
CONCLUSION
The Halifax Area School District recognizes that our users have a wide
range of needs and requirements. Providing these services for research and
instruction entails providing a relatively unrestricted and flexible system
and network organization. To this end, we depend on and request that our
users practice considerate and responsible computing and adhere to common
sense standards. When problems arise, they will be dealt with to insure the
unimpaired operation of our systems and network, but we request that all
users try to be considerate and prudent in their use of the resources.
In summary, the Acceptable Use Policy mandates that all computer
resources will be used for curricular and school district business only. It
requires that users of these resources are respectful of the system and
other users. The Acceptable Use Policy acts as one part of a system that
engenders responsible use of learning tools. It cannot, however, take the
place of responsible behavior that requires a concerted effort of parents,
teachers, students, and administrators.
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Halifax Area School District
Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services and Programs,
Services for Gifted Students, and Services for Protected Handicapped
Students
Notice to Parents
According to state and federal special education regulations, annual public
notice to parents of children who reside within a school district is required
regarding child find responsibilities. Halifax Area School District is
required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for
services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For additional
information related to Section 504/Chapter 15 services, parents may refer
to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic Education Circular entitled
Implementation of Chapter 15. Also, the school district is required to
conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for gifted
services via 22 Pa Code Chapter 16. For additional information regarding
gifted services, parents may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16. If a student
is both gifted and eligible for Special Education, the procedures in IDEA and
Chapter 14 shall take precedence.
This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district, intermediate
unit, and charter school of the child identification activities and of the
procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information pertaining to
students with disabilities or eligible young children. In addition to this
public notice, the district will publish written information in the handbook
and on the web site. Children age three through twenty-one can be eligible
for special education programs and services. If parents believe that their
child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact Matt
Czaplicki, Special Education Supervisor at czaplickim@hasd.us, or at 717896-3416, ext. 111.
Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also
eligible if they have developmental delays and, as a result, need Special
Education and related services. Developmental delay is defined as a child
who is less than the age of beginners and at least 3 years of age and is
considered to have a developmental delay when one of the following exists:
(i) The child’s score, on a developmental assessment device, on an assessment
instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed
by 25% of the child’s chronological age in one or more developmental areas.
(ii) The child is delayed in one or more of the developmental areas, as
documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean
on standardized tests. Developmental areas include cognitive,
communicative, physical, social/emotional and self-help. For additional
information you may contact Eric Bostick, Supervisor of Preschool/Early
Intervention, Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15, at ebostick@caiu.org, or
at 717-732-8400, ext. 8619.
Evaluation Process
Halifax Area School District has a procedure in place by which parents can
request an evaluation. For information about procedures applicable to your
child, contact Matt Czaplicki, Supervisor of Special Education at
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czaplickim@hasd.us or at 717-896-3416, ext. 111. Parents of preschool age
children, age three through five, may request an evaluation in writing by
addressing a letter to Eric Bostick, Supervisor of Preschool/Early
Intervention, Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15.
Consent
Halifax Area School District cannot proceed with an evaluation, or with the
initial provision of special education and related services, without the
written consent of the parents. For additional information related to
consent, please refer to the Procedural Safeguards Notice which can be
found at the PaTTAN website, www.Pattan.net. Once written parental
consent is obtained, the district will proceed with the evaluation process. If
the parent disagrees with the evaluation results, the parent can request an
independent education evaluation at public expense.
Program Development
Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professionals
and parents determine whether the child is eligible. If the child is eligible,
the Individualized Education Program team meets, develops the program, and
determines the educational placement. Once the IEP team develops the
program and determines the educational placement, the district will issue a
Notice of Recommended Educational Placement/Prior Written Notice
(NOREP/PWN). Your written consent is required before initial services can
be provided. The parent has the right to revoke consent after initial
placement.
Confidentiality of Information:
Halifax Area School District maintains records concerning all children
enrolled in the school, including students with disabilities. All records are
maintained in the strictest confidentiality. Your consent, or consent of an
eligible child who has reached the age of majority under state law, must be
obtained before personally identifiable information is released, except as
permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The
age of majority in Pennsylvania is age 21. The district must protect the
confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage,
disclosure, and destruction stages. The special education office assumes
responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable
information. The district must maintain, for public inspection, a current
listing of the names and positions of those employees within the agency who
have access to personally identifiable information.
For additional information related to student records, parents can refer to
the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
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This notice is only a summary of the Special Education services, evaluation
and screening activities, and rights and protections pertaining to children
with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their parents. For
more information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private
school child, contact Matt Czaplicki, Special Education Supervisor at
czaplickim@hasd.us or at 717-896-3416, ext. 111. For preschool age
children, information may be obtained and screenings and evaluations may be
requested by contacting Eric Bostick, Supervisor of Preschool/Early
Intervention, Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15, at ebostick@caiu.org, or
at 717-732-8400, ext. 8619.
Halifax Area School District will not discriminate in employment, educational
programs, or activities based on race, color, national origin, age, sex,
handicap, creed, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a
veteran of the Vietnam era. No preschool, elementary or secondary school
pupil enrolled in the district shall be denied equal opportunity to participate
in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, color,
handicap, creed, national origin, marital status or financial hardship.
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