Stafford USD 349

DRILLS (BOE Policy EBBE) Students shall be informed of emergency drill procedures at the beginning of each school year. Crisis/Evacuation Drills There may be yearly crisis/evacuation drills done by the school district in cooperation with local authorities. Parents will be notified after the drill. As prescribed by the State, USD 349 has an official Crisis Plan document that is regularly revisited and updated according to best procedures adopted by our surrounding service center. Parents and patrons can request this document from the school administration for review. These crisis procedures and policies have been approved by the BOE. Fire and Tornado Drills There will be regular monthly fire drills as prescribed by the State. Each teacher is responsible for providing instruction on fire drill procedures for his/her classroom. In addition, three (3) tornado drills will be held. The signal for a tornado drill shall be intermittent ringing of the bell from the intercom. Lockdowns Lockdowns will be announced school wide via email or intercom to ensure the safety of students and staff. Administration will determine whether parents will be notified of these realities or drills in order to protect the rights of individuals involved. As always, students’ safety and privacy is of utmost importance in these cases. See pages 24-27 in the student handbook for more detailed information. https://www.stafford349.com/documents/resources/191392

CHECK IN/CHECK OUT Students must check in when arriving at school after 8:00 AM. Students must check out in the office before leaving school premises during the school day. ALL visitors must check in the office when arriving and before leaving.

There will be no MS weights tomorrow.

Enrollment: TODAY 8/1 from 12pm-7pm and TOMORROW 8/2 from 8am-12pm. Call the office to schedule a time if you are not able to make it on these dates. Elementary Office 620-234-5255 MS/HS Office 620-234-5248

Building Hours: Only in special circumstances such as inclement weather, appointments with teachers, or a need to report to the office, should students be in the building before 7:40 AM. In such cases, students should remain in the vicinity of the entries and not be throughout the building. At the end of the school day all students are expected to exit the building unless they have a legitimate need to remain. Under no circumstances should students remain in the building without supervision. The student and family handbook can be accessed at: https://www.stafford349.com/documents/resources/191392

Attendance and truancy Tardies ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TARDIES (K-5) It is the responsibility of the student and parents to be on time for school. Students who fail to do so shall be required to stop in the office before going to class for a tardy pass. The elementary considers students to be tardy if they are past 8:05 a.m. Breakfast is served until 8:00 a.m. Morning Meetings start at 8:05 a.m. and contain our school kickoff and social emotional curriculum. First and Second Tardies—No penalty. Warning. Third and Additional Tardies- Students serve 15 minutes for each tardy. The elementary office will contact parent/guardian(s) when tardies are beyond three and discuss times for students to serve detentions. Notification is sent to parents regarding dates and times for the detention. In matters of truancy, five tardies constitute an unexcused absence. If a student is more than 20 minutes late, it is considered an unexcused absence. Parents and school will work together to come up with a plan to help students arrive in time for breakfast and to participate in Morning Meetings. MIDDLE / HIGH SCHOOL TARDIES “Early is on time, on time is late.” Students who arrive at school late without a valid excuse will be given a “pink slip” before entering class. Time lost will be time made up at the end of the school day (minimum 30 minutes). Students with tardies will report to the school office for make-up time. Students will bring homework. (5) Tardies- conference after school on the day of the tardy. (5+) Tardies- conference with the student/parent/principal. Arriving late to class is a disruption to the teacher and all students involved. These tardies will be addressed by each teacher individually.

Attendance and truancy continued Excessive​ ​Absences The basis of the USD 349 Attendance Policy is the School Attendance Laws of the State of Kansas. Excessive​ ​Absence​ ​Policy​ ​(Grades​ ​K-12​) After the 10th day of any absence, all further absences are considered unexcused unless the student brings in a doctor’s note, appointment card, or a conference is held with the building principal who then classifies the absence as excused. A student is marked with an “unexcused absence” from school if the child is absent from all or a significant part of the day without a valid excuse acceptable to the school administration. Excessive​ ​Absence​ ​Policy​ ​(K-12) On the 7th absence: The school will send a letter to the parent/guardians of attendance concerns. This total of seven counts for excused absences, unexcused absences, or a combination of both. On the 10th absence: The school will notify parents that all subsequent absences must be verified by: A note from a doctor who has examined the child for the specific condition (medical doctor, dentist, optometrist, etc.) A funeral brochure Administrative approval for other types of verification All unverified Absences After the Tenth (10th Absence will be considered “Unexcused.” Unexcused​ ​Absences are absences that: have not been called in and the school doesn’t know where the child is absences that are past the threshold (10 absences) determined by the district and not verified as defined above.

Attendance and truancy continued Attendance: Parent/Guardian Responsibilities Parents are responsible for: Informing the school office personnel of a student’s absence within the first 30 minutes of each school day. Sending a note explaining the absence on the day the student return to school if unable to contact the school on the day of the absence. Notifying the school if medical or dental appointments are scheduled during the school time for that day. Scheduling appointments for their son or daughter on those mornings and days when school is not in session. If this is not possible, all efforts should be made for the student to be in school until it is time to leave for the appointment and to return promptly when the appointment is over. Hair appointments are not considered an excused absence. A note from orthodontist, dentist, eye and doctor appointments may be required by administration. Students are recorded absent if: They are not present at school for any reason They miss more than 20 minutes of any class period, (this will be recorded as absent for that whole class hour.) They miss more than 4 hours (this will be recorded for a whole day). Any exceptions to the above guidelines may be approved by the building administrator. Attendance:​ ​ Excused​ ​Absences The following are valid excused absences within the limits established by the excessive absence policy: Personal illness Family illness Death in the family/friends Doctor/Dental Appointments Court Proceedings Religious observances School activities Other absences deemed necessary by the parents AND approved in advance by the principal.

Attendance and truancy continued The focus of improving attendance and eliminating tardies centers on the belief of the Stafford High School Mission Statement - “to foster a cooperative and inviting environment in which students, staff, and community have high expectations for lifelong learning.” It is the responsibility of the student to be in class on time. Students who fail to do so shall be required to obtain a tardy note from the office if the tardy occurs in the 1st hour of any day (A, B, or C). An unexcused tardy of more than 20 minutes will be considered an unexcused absence. Tardies that occur during the rest of the day (2nd through 7th hour) will be marked by the teacher in the student information system.

Attendancy and truancy continued: Truancy (BOE Policy: JBE) Whenever a student is required by law to attend school and is inexcusably absent there from on either three (3) consecutive days or five (5) or more days in any semester or seven (7) in a year, such child is truant. A student is inexcusably absent from school if he/she is absent from all or a significant part of a day without a valid excuse. A “significant part of a day” shall mean more than one hour or more than one scheduled class period, whichever is shorter. The principal of each attendance center is designated as the school attendance officer. Each shall be responsible for the school attendance of the students under his/her jurisdiction. Matters of truancy, as defined in this section, shall be handled according to applicable statutes and board policies. The building principal shall report students who are inexcusably absent from school to the appropriate authority. Prior to reporting to the Department of Children and Families (for children under 13 years), a letter shall be sent to the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) notifying them that the student’s failure to attend school without a valid excuse shall result in the student being reported truant. If a law enforcement official returns a truant child to school, the principal shall notify the parent or guardian.

Your student's attendance at school is important to his/her academic success. There will be several consecutive posts concerning the attendance and truancy policy. The handbook can be found at https://www.stafford349.com/documents/resources/191392 ATTENDANCE/TRUANCY (BOE Policy: JBD, JBE) Absence Policy When a student is absent from school, an attempt shall be made to contact the parent or guardian to determine the reason for the absence. The principal has been designated to determine the acceptability and validity of excuses presented by the parent(s) or the student. Stafford Schools recognizes two types of absences: “Excused” and “Unexcused.” Excused Absences: Personal illness and professional appointments Serious illness or death of a member of the family Emergencies calling for the student's services or presence at home Obligatory religious observances Participation in a district-approved or school-sponsored activity Absences 1-4 must be accompanied by a note or phone call from the parent or guardian within three (3) days of the absence. If no note or call is forthcoming within three days, the absence will be unexcused. Any exceptions to the above guidelines must be approved by the building principal (for example, a family trip). In cases of prolonged illness (3 consecutive days), a note from a physician may be required. When a student is out of school for a professional appointment, a note may be required upon return to school. Credit will be given for work made up from an excused absence for reasons 1-4. Work must be made up within a reasonable time frame. Students should meet with teachers the first day after returning from an absence to gather assignments and arrange for a time to make-up work. In most cases, make-up work should be completed before pre-arranged absences. Unexcused Absences: Students receiving unexcused absences will receive no credit for class participation and work missed. Out-of-school suspension (OSS) is considered an unexcused absence. Compulsory Attendance Requirements Kansas law requires students to attend school until the age of 18. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds may be exempt from the compulsory attendance requirement if: They have attained a diploma or GED; or They are enrolled in an approved alternative education program, recognized by the local board of education; or A court orders exemption; or The parent or person acting as parent consents in writing to their child being exempt from the requirement and the child and parent attend a final counseling session conducted by the school to sign a disclaimer. The law requires the disclaimer to include the following information: The academic skills the child has not yet achieved; The difference in future earning power between a high school graduate and a high school dropout; A list of educational alternatives available to the child. Students aged 16 or 17 who are not exempt shall be reported as truant.

The next student and family handbook focus will be the electronic device policy. After research and discussion, the electronic device policy has been changed so please read carefully. The entire student and family handbook can be read at: https://www.stafford349.com/documents/resources/191392 ELECTRONIC DEVICE / CELL PHONE USE POLICY Cell phones and/or peripheral/electronic devices shall be placed into a district-assigned location in a powered-down state as directed by administration. The student will be allowed to bring the device(s) into school for the purpose of placement into the district-assigned location and will also be allowed to take the device(s) out of the building after removal from the district-issued location. This storage shall occur before the first available period of the day and shall end after the last available period of the day. For PK-5 students, the device(s) will be turned in to the teacher prior to the beginning of the school day; the device(s) can be retrieved at the end of the school day. For 6th-12th grade students, storage shall occur in a district-issued hall locker. This will typically occur before the first period and after the Advisory period, but may occur at different times due to unique circumstances and varying contexts (see Actions to Ensure Compliance). If at any time a cell phone and/or peripheral/electronic device(s) is identified outside of the district-issued hall locker during the school day beyond bringing it to be placed into the locker and taking it after being removed from the locker (at the earliest and latest possible times as outlined above), this will be classified immediately as a violation and will be given the appropriate consequence. Definition Cell Phone or Peripheral/Electronic device(s) is defined as any non-district issued device(s) that can communicate with other devices electronically or with the internet via browsers, apps, or other access methods. Some common device(s)s that would be included (although not exhaustive) with this definition would be cell phones, smart phones, smart watches, and gaming systems. Violations 1. First Violation will result in a warning by the staff member and the student will be required to eliminate possession. 2. Second Violation will result in the staff member confiscating the device(s) and giving it to the office. The office will notify the parents and the student will pick up the phone at the end of the day. 3. Third Violation will result in the staff member confiscating the device(s) and giving it to the office. The office will notify the parents and the parent will be required to pick up the device(s) at the end of the day. 4. Fourth and Subsequent Violations will result in progressively longer In- School Suspensions beginning with one day for the fourth violation. ***In no manner do the aforementioned consequences limit the ability of administration to issue more significant discipline if/when the violation involves an extreme or egregious act.*** (NOTE: If at any point a student refuses to turn over the device(s)/reveal that what has been identified is not a device(s) to a staff member for a violation, the student immediately will be given a one day in-school suspension-or longer for violations numbering greater than four-effective immediately.) Actions to Ensure Compliance 1. (In school from the beginning of the day to the end of the day-7:55 am-3:20 pm) Student leaves the device(s) in his/her locker prior to the beginning of school. The student takes the device(s) with them out of the building at the end of the day. 2. (In school for less than a full school day/irregular attendance on a particular day) Student leaves the device(s) in his/her locker prior to the beginning of school. Upon leaving the building permanently for the school day, the student is allowed to retrieve the device(s) from the locker. The student takes the phone with them out of the building at that time. ***Administration reserves the right to interpret any unique situation and circumstance as it deems appropriate.

2023-2024 sports seasons are right around the corner. Make sure you have everything in order to participate from the first day of practice.

With the new school year quickly approaching, we are going to be sharing some highlights from the student handbook. The handbook can be found at https://www.stafford349.com/documents/resources/191392 As many begin to start some back to school shopping, dress code is first on the list. The handbook states that DRESS CODE (BOE Policy JCDB) The principal shall make the final determination regarding the appropriateness of a student’s appearance. Students who are inappropriately dressed will be required to change the offending clothing or appearance and will be subject to disciplinary action. Dress code is enforced to accomplish these goals: Maintain a safe learning environment. Meet requirements of any courses which are a part of the approved curriculum in which students are enrolled. (Science Labs, Culinary, etc.) Prevent students from wearing clothing with images of language depicting or advocating violence or the use of alcohol or drugs. Prevent students from wearing clothing with offensive images or language including profanity, hate speech, and/or pornography. Allow students choices that make them comfortable. Ensure that all students are treated equitably. Personal Appearance Guidelines: Certain body parts must be covered for all students. Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, and nipples are covered with opaque material. Students MUST wear Shirt Bottom: Pants/ sweatpants/shorts/skirts/leggings (opaque) Shoes: Activity-specific shoe requirements are permitted (i.e. Physical Education) Students CANNOT wear: Violent language or images Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol or use of the same Hate speech, profanity, pornography Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment Bathing Suits Headgear that obscures the face or ears Hats: unless it is a part of school sponsored event Enforcement Enforcement should be consistent with our school’s overall discipline plan. Violations should be treated as minor on the continuum of school rule violations. Enforcement for students in grades K-5 should be limited to safety and non-violence and should not include messages predicated on body maturity. Students should never be removed from a classroom solely as a result of a dress code violation. Students should never be forced to wear extra school clothing (that isn’t their own) when in violation of the dress code. (Much like we wouldn’t ask a student to wear a dunce cap.) No student should be affected by dress code enforcement because of gender, race, body size, or body maturity. Students should not be shamed or required to display their body in front of others in school. Shaming includes but is not limited to kneeling or bending over to check attire fit, measuring straps or skirt length asking students to account for their attire in the classroom, and directing students to correct a dress code violation during instructional time. Principals shall make the final determination regarding the appropriateness of a student’s appearance.

Hello families! The new school year is just around the corner we have something new for you! This year we are trying a new SEL curriculum: Suite360 with Navigate. Please read the attached letter for more information. More information about the student and parent platforms (that's right... you can get your own account with resources, too!) will also be available at back to school night.

Stafford County Drug is offering school supplies for PK through 6th grade. Thank you Stafford County Drug.

Our Kindergarten students are special to us, and have special enrollment requirements.

Get active Trojan Nation!

Driver's education begins on Monday in St. John. If you have signed up for driver's ed, the bus will leave at 7:30 on Monday morning. Remember: students will need to make arrangements for lunch.

Our third week of Tech Camp revolved around drones. We learned to account for yaw and pitch and to work around drift as well as code variables, loops and functions. We created obstacle courses and coded the path to get around/through them as both teams and individuals. We sure enjoyed our 3 weeks with these fantastic Trojans!