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Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
Uniform Policy
- Navy Blue Top, tan khaki bottoms (shorts, pants, skort, skirt, jumper)
- Gym Uniform (optional) – yellow shirt, navy bottoms
- No logos on pants/shirts (e.g., Nike, Polo, etc.)
Attendance
Unexcused Absences
When a student has 3 unexcused absences, a letter will automatically be generated and mailed home informing the parent/guardian of the School District’s concern. After the 6th unexcused absence, an invitation will be sent to the parent/guardian to attend a meeting to develop an intervention plan to improve the student’s attendance.
Absence Notes
Students who are absent from school must bring a verifiable excuse note signed by a parent or guardian on the day of their return to school stating the reason for and the date(s) of the absence. The note is to be given to the homeroom teacher. Students must bring the absence note to the homeroom teacher within three days of absence according to Pennsylvania State Law. If the student is absent longer than 3 days they must return with a doctor’s note. Until such a note is received, a student’s absence will be unexcused. Failure to produce a proper note will result in a coding of unexcused absence in the roll book and on the school computer network. A coding of unexcused absence does not allow for a student to make up any missed schoolwork.
If a note is sent via dojo it must include the child’s name, the date of absence and reason. The same above requirements apply to a dojo note as a note sent in with the student. Teacher’s will snapshot the Dojo including the note and date received on Dojo.
Makeup Work
Upon returning to school, students are responsible for making arrangements with their teachers to make up for the work that they missed as a result of their absence. Teachers also share in this responsibility for determining a reasonable and specific time period for the completion of the missed work. Illness or family emergencies often necessitate a child to be absent from school. If the absence is of significant duration, please contact the school counselor or nurse so that arrangements for assignments and homework can be made. All assignments missed due to absence are to be made up by the student.
Religious Observation
Students who are absent from, arrive late or leave early from school because of participation in a religious obligation must present a note from their parent or guardian stating the place and time of the obligation.
Lateness to School
All students who arrive late to school must report to the Welcome Desk up until 9:30AM and will enter the building from the Wolf Street rear door. After 9:30AM, students may enter the front doors on 2nd Street and will receive a late slip from the main office.
Students who report late after 10:56 am or leave early before 1:00 will be marked as half a day absent. Every two and a half days will add together to make a whole day.
Early Dismissals
According to State Law, all appointments, including medical and dental appointments, are to be scheduled after school hours. Early dismissal will be granted only when the parent/guardian comes to school for the student. Early dismissals are granted for certain types of medical and personal emergencies. Medical and dental appointments should be scheduled after school hours. For medical emergencies, see the school nurse. All students being dismissed early due to illness must have a parent or guardian pick them up and sign them out of the main office.
In order to conduct a safe dismissal, NO STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED EARLY AFTER 2:30PM. PARENTS MUST WAIT UNTIL THE 3:30 DISMISSAL. This policy supports the safety and well being of your child(ren). Dismissal can be a busy time for students and teachers. The main office becomes increasingly busy at the end of the day. Adding additional tasks impacts the functionality of the main office. We need your cooperation and understanding in adhering to this time.
ACT 29 of 1995 (TRUANCY)
Students cutting school are truant. Students who do not bring in an excuse note are considered truant. Truancy petitions will be prepared and turned over to the proper authorities for legal action(s), including fines, etc. to students and parents/guardians. Act 29 provides for a $300 fine and allows the court to impose parent education classes and community service sentences for parents of a truant child, who do not show that they took reasonable steps to ensure their child’s school attendance. It provides that the parent and child must appear at a hearing before the district magistrate.
For more information, please refer to the Student Code of Conduct or the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
School-Wide Positive Behavior Support System
Sharswood School prescribes a tiered structure of recognizing the positive in each and every one of our students while also holding students accountable for their actions. This tiered system is known as Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS).
We are continuously working on creating a positive school culture. We are in a planning year with a School District of Philadelphia PBIS coach. We will currently continue with our PBIS “Sharswood Style” system to support school climate and culture. Students will have weekly, monthly and quarterly attendance and behavior incentives. Please stay updated and read weekly updates to see our latest happenings. All parents/guardians are encouraged to contribute and participate in our events. Please see the front office on how to be a volunteer at Sharswood’s PBIS events.
ClassDojo
All parents and guardians can track student classroom behavior through ClassDojo – an online website that you can login to via your computer or smartphone app. Communication around this progress with teachers and administrators is highly encouraged.
You will receive a password and username from your student’s teacher. Through this application you will be able to see school-wide events, work that your student is doing in class and much, much more! We encourage 100% of parents to follow their student’s progress on ClassDojo.
Building Entry
- Guests cannot enter building without an appointment before 9am or after 2:30pm in order to maintain safe admission/dismissal.
- All persons including staff must enter through the back entrance between 8:05- 9am.
Student Expectations and Conduct
The staff of the Sharswood Elementary seeks to provide a school atmosphere that is free of disruption and allows students to develop a sense of responsibility, self-respect and respect toward others. Our goal is to have our students develop into productive citizens in our community. We expect our students to develop these qualities by following the rules listed in the School District’s Student Code of Conduct. Discipline and good citizenship are shared responsibilities of the school administration, the teachers, the students and our parents. When we all work together the children benefit. Appropriate school staff will contact parents when the need for intervention/support is evident. Parents should share their concerns with school staff and should encourage students to do the same.
Sharswood Elementary Climate team follows the behavior matrix’s progressive discipline per the School District Code of Conduct.
School District of Philadelphia Discipline Procedures
Sharswood as a School District of Philadelphia School adheres to the Student Code of Conduct as published by the School District of Philadelphia and requires students to follow all of the policies and procedures therein.
Below you will find a summary of the School District of Philadelphia Student Code of Conduct. The latest version of the handbook can be found here and translated copies can be obtained by calling 215-440-4180. Please see the matrix in the code for how students are disciplined per code of conduct.
The Code of Student Conduct establishes policies, rules, and expectations for all school community members to learn, teach, and work together.
Consequences for students who endanger school safety or disrupt the educational experience of others are listed in detail. The Code of Student Conduct applies during school and on the way to and from school, including, but not limited to travel on School District vehicles, private transportation, and public transit systems.
Families and guardians are critical to our community. We ask that they please read and understand the Code of Student Conduct and School Student Handbook, and discuss them with their children. We understand that families and guardians know best how to make sure that their children understand the expectations that will lead to a safe and orderly school community.
This Code of Student Conduct provides definitions of disruptive behaviors. Although some definitions include examples, the behaviors include, but are not limited to, the examples given.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers who have any questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the school principal and/or the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities at 215-400-4830.