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Policies & Procedures
Attendance
Attendance at school is required by State Law, and is a primary indicator of student success in school. School hours are 7:55 - 2:40.
When a student is absent from school, parents should call the attendance office on the morning of the absence. The telephone number for attendance is 301-601-0322. Students must present a note from a parent indicating the reason and dates of absence when the student returns to school.
Lawful reasons for student absences include:
- Certified illness of student
- Court summons
- Death in immediate family
- Observance of religious holidays recognized by MCPS
- Physical or mental incapacity
- Quarantine
- Violent storms
- Work of activity accepted by the school authorities
All absence notes should contain the student’s full name, grade, reason for absence, and should be presented to the attendance secretary in the main office. Notes should be received within 3 days of the absence. Reasonable attempts will be made to notify parents of absent students; calls will be attempted during the work day.
Late Arrivals
Parents are urged to get students to school on time. Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. should report to the main office to sign in. Reasons accepted by the state as excused absences are also acceptable for tardiness to school. Students with an excused tardy must present a written note by the next day. Unacceptable reasons for tardiness to school include oversleeping, car problems, missing the bus, etc. Three unexcused late arrivals to class will result in a detention. Parents of students who are chronically late will be notified by letter and a conference arranged with the appropriate administrator.
Tardiness to ClassAll students are expected to arrive to school and to class on time. Students are considered tardy if they are not in their assigned classrooms when the bell rings or they do not have a written excuse from staff.
If a student receives three unexcused tardies in a class, he or she will be assigned an after school detention by the teacher and the parent will be notified. Chronic tardiness will result in an administrative referral. At the start of a new semester, the student’s tardy record will start fresh.
Early Departures
In order to be released from school, students must present an early dismissal note from parent to the attendance secretary in the main office before school. The student will be given a pass to leave class at the appropriate time and will wait in the Main Office for parent pick up.
FOR WINTER
Early Dismissal/Delayed Opening Procedures/ School Cancellation
Decisions regarding delayed opening and school cancellations are usually made by 6:00 a.m. of the same day. Early closings are announced at least two and one-half hours before the end of the school day. Please listen to the radio, watch the television for information regarding school delays and/or closings or check the MCPS web site at www.mcps.k12.md.us/info/emergency. The Board of Education has taped announcements at 301-279-3673.
DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL
- Listen to local radio stations or watch local TV stations
- MCPS information line 301 279 3673
- MCPS web page www.mcpsmd.org
- www.schools-out.com
- 2 hour delay – school starts at 9:55
- Early closure – dismiss at 12:10
(a decision must be made by 11:00)
Cell Phones/Portable Communication Devices
Middle school students will be able to possess a cell phone on MCPS property and at MCPS sponsored activities. It will be the student’s responsibility to ensure that the device is turned off and out of sight during the school day. The cell phone may not be turned on or used until the end of the instructional day.
Cell phones, if seen or heard, will be confiscated and given to an administrator. A parent/ guardian must pick up the cell phone from the school. They will be not sent home with a child or sibling. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen cell phones.
Transportation/Riding Home with Someone Else
If a student wants to go home with a friend who rides a bus, a note must given to the main office in the morning stating names of both students, reason, bus number that they will be riding, and signed by parent.
Contacting Students During the Day
If you need to get a message or deliver a forgotten item to your child, please feel free to contact the office, or drop the item off. In the interest of limiting interruptions to classroom instruction, the staff will be more than happy to deliver and item and/or message during your child’s lunch period. In order to continue our Tradition of Excellence in the classroom, staff must limit interruptions for any purpose unless there is an emergency. Dropped off items must be marked with your child’s name and grade. Any money should be delivered in an envelope with child’s name and grade. Items should be dropped off to the school office no later than 10:30 to ensure lunch time delivery.
> For more information check out the Student Handbook (PDF).