a. religious observance
b. death or serious illness in immediate family or accident
c. illness or accident
d. legal requirements to attend court (evidence submitted)
e. administratively approved absence

8 days in a semester course
6 days in Physical Education
2 days in Health education

a. Requests prior to date of absence for an “excused” absence should be
submitted to the school administrative office at least one (1) day prior
to the planned absence.

b. Requests to be “excused” for a previous absence must be submitted by
the student upon return to school. The school reserves the right to verify
the statements and to investigate the cause of each absence. Only
absences due to illness verified by a doctor’s note will be deducted from
the total days absent. All such notes must be submitted by the student
upon return to school in order to be deducted.

c. Verification from a licensed physician is required by a school
authority for frequent absences due to illness.

a. Excessive absences from class(es) will result in NO CREDIT for that class(es).

b. Those students who lose credit due to excessive absences must remain in scheduled class(es).

c. Classification of excessive absences which results in loss of credits may be appealed to the Appeals Committee.

a. In the case of truancy, however, after the first reported unauthorized absence, a letter of notification will be sent to the parents. The student will be given disciplinary action.

b. The second reported truancy or unexcused absence will result in no credit earned for each subject in which the student is enrolled.

c. The third reported instance of truancy, verified by the administration, will result in no credit earned for each subject in which the student is enrolled. Students will not be removed from these classes. The student’s parent or guardian has the right to appeal this decision through the Appeals Committee so designated by the building principal to review the case.

a. Five day notice to parents requiring their children to attend school within five days for students under 16 years of age (N.J.S.A. 18:3929).

b. A letter sent to parents informing them, in writing, that since their child has chosen to withdraw from school, their name will be dropped from the register (students over 16 years of age). The student’s parent has the right to appeal to the Appeals Committee.

c. Leaving the school building without permission may result in suspension.

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Tardiness

The statutes require attendance at school for all the days and hours that school is in session. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to see that their child gets to school. It is the responsibility of the school to monitor attendance.

1. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to see that their child gets to school on time, and the school’s responsibility to monitor attendance. Parents must accompany their child to school when they are late to ensure the child’s safety.

4th, 5th and 6th tardiness = 1-2 day detention
7th, 8th and 9th tardiness = 2-3 days detention
10th and above tardiness = 1 day OSS plus parent conference

A student who is tardy and does not sign in, in accordance with established practice, will not be given credit for any classes they attend or miss that day, and may face disciplinary action.

NOTE: If a student is tardy after 10:00 a.m., or leaves school early, they may not participate in after school activities or events without prior approval of the principal.

2. Classroom Tardiness-

One (1) late = Reprimand and Warning
Two (2) lates = 2-3 days detention
Four (4) lates = 1 day OSS
Six (6) lates = 3 days OSS + Loss of Credit in that Subject
Health (quarter courses)
Two (2) lates = 1 cut = 2 detentions
Four (4) lates = 2 cuts = 3 days OSS + Loss of Credit

3. Other Tardiness – class tardiness, classroom truancy or cutting homeroom,
or an assigned lunchroom will result in disciplinary action taken by the administration. This may include parental contact, detention, or suspension.

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Appeals Procedures Related
To Loss Of Credits

1. Upon notification of withdrawal of credit, the decision to withdraw credit may be appealed to the Appeals Committee by a parent or guardian, in writing, within five (5) school days after receipt of notification.

2. The Appeals Committee established by the building principal will be charged with the responsibility for rendering decisions related to all appeals.

3. The successive order of an appeal is as follows:

a. Appeals Committee
b. Principal
c. Central Office
d. Superintendent of Schools
e. Board of Education, Woodbridge

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Student Health Services

The administration and faculty consider this one of the most important sections of your student handbook. Good health is a prerequisite to learning; as a matter of fact, good health is essential to most successful activities. Following are a few simple regulations, which are requested of students in order that we may help to maintain safety and health for all of the students.

Student Health Services – The school nurse is available for any student who feels ill or is injured during the school day. A student should report to their classroom and then be dismissed to the Nurse’s Office with a Hall Pass.

Accidents and Insurance – The school is responsible for immediate first aid. The Board of Education does not pay any medical or hospital bill incurred as a result of an accident to the pupil at school. The parent or guardian is responsible for submitting such bills to their own medical insurance company first, then contacting the nurse for a medical insurance form from the school’s insurance company.
In the case of an accident, no matter how minor, the student should report that accident to the teacher immediately. In the case of severe accidents or acute illness, emergency care will be given and the parent will be notified.

Medical Transportation – It is the responsibility of the parents to provide transportation and further care of the student if the student becomes ill or injured on school property. Students may not be sent home without parental approval and no student may drive when excused for medical reasons unless parental consent has been given.

Emergency Forms – In order that we conform to the wishes of parents, emergency forms must be filled out for each student and returned to the Nurse’s Office for use in emergency situations.

Medications – Students who need medication during the school day should bring the medication that is due to be taken during school hours to the Nurse’s Office upon arrival to school. All medication must be in a properly labeled prescription container and kept in the Nurse’s Office.

Communicable Diseases – Students returning to school after recovering from a communicable disease must be readmitted through the School Nurse’s Office.

Scoliosis Screening – According to New Jersey State Law, yearly screenings are provided to all students. If, for any reason, the parent or guardian prefers to have this screening done privately, they must notify the Nurse’s Office.

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Marking Policy

The school year is divided into two semesters consisting of two marking periods each. At the end of each marking period report cards are issued using the following symbols:

Z – Health E – Withdrawn, Failing
H – Medical Excuse (Phys. Ed.)
P – Pass
I – Incomplete L – Loss of Credit
J – Withdrawn, Passing X – Probation

The following are the attitude grades give by teachers:

O - Outstanding attitude
S - Satisfactory attitude
N - Attitude needs improvement
U - Unsatisfactory attitude
G - Growth shown in attitude

Attitude is a student’s contribution to the classroom environment through effort and behavior.

Progress Reports are mailed home to keep parents abreast of students’ academic accomplishments.

Final exams are given at the end of each course and include all of the material covered in that course.

Honor Roll

To be placed on the academic honor roll for the marking period, a student must achieve a mark of at least a B in each course.

Attitude Honor Roll

To be placed on the attitude honor roll, a student is permitted only one attitude description of S (satisfactory). All others must be O (outstanding).

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Courses listed in the Program of Studies for high schools in Woodbridge Township are offered at different levels of intensity. These levels are designated as AP, R and S. Students should select courses on the basis of their interests and abilities and in consultation with their guidance counselor.
AP Level – courses are geared toward the College Entrance Board Advanced Placement Examination given each year in the spring. Students who are interested in advanced placement in colleges should apply.
R Level – R level courses in which materials, topics, techniques and requirements are very rigorous and challenging. The emphasis in these courses is placed upon individual responsibility and in-depth research.
S Level – S level courses are for students who may be preparing for entry to college, community college, business schools and trade and technical schools. The courses also provide the degree of proficiency necessary for job entry in the areas of clerical work, secretarial work, retailing and merchandising.

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Disciplinary Procedures

Referral of a student to the Vice Principal is used as a last resort after teachers have exhausted all other appropriate preventive and corrective measures. Once a student reaches the Vice Principal’s office, the seriousness of the case will speak for itself. The case will be dealt with as rapidly, firmly and as fairly as possible. Parents will be contacted.
When a student is suspended, the parents are required to contact the Vice Principal as soon as possible in order to establish a conference appointment. After the student and his parents have conferred with the Vice Principal, the pupil may be re-admitted to school.
It is understood that during an out-of-school suspension, the student may not attend classes, participate in school activities, or visit the school grounds. If a suspended student is found on school grounds, they may face an extension of their suspension period.

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Submission of Pupils to Authority

“ Pupils in the public school shall comply with the rules established in pursuance of law for the government of such schools, pursue the prescribed course of study and submit to the authority of the teachers and others in authority over them.” - N. J. Statutes Title 18A:37-1.

Causes for Suspension or Expulsion of Pupils

Any pupil who is guilty of continued and willful disobedience, or of open defiance of the authority of any teacher or person having authority over him, or of the habitual use of profanity or of obscene language or who shall cut, deface or otherwise damage any school property, shall be liable to punishment and to suspension or expulsion from school. Conduct which shall constitute good cause for suspension or expulsion of a pupil guilty of such conduct shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following:

1. Continued and willful disobedience.
2. Open defiance of any teacher or person having authority over student.
3. Taking, or attempting to take, personal property or money from another pupil, or from his presence, by means of force or fear.
4. Willfully causing or attempting to cause substantial damage to school property.
5. Use of tobacco (in any form) in school, on school property or on a school bus.
6. Fighting
7. Participation in an unauthorized occupancy or disruptive behavior by any group of pupils or others of any part of any school or other building owned by any school district, and failure to leave such school or other facility promptly after having been directed to do so by the principal or other person then in charge of such building or facility.
8. Incitement which is intended to and does result in unauthorized occupancy by any group of pupils or others of any part of a school or other facility owned by any school district, and incitement which is intended to and does result in truancy by other pupils – 18A:37-2.

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Detention

Detention meets immediately before or after school. A.M. Detention is conducted in the morning prior to the opening of school. Detention is usually assigned to students who commit minor offenses. Failure to report to an assigned detention becomes a serious infraction, which may result in suspension.

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Time Schedule

Regular Starting & Dismissal Times:
High Schools: 7:40 AM - 2:30 PM

Delayed Opening Schedule:
High Schools: 9:40 AM - 2:30 PM

Early Dismissal Schedule:
High Schools: 7:40 AM - 12:10 PM

Early Dismissal

High school students may be excused from school for medical or dental appointments, court subpoenas, college or job interviews and motor vehicle road tests. In each case the appointment must be verified on appropriate stationery the day prior to the early dismissal with the designated Guidance Counselor. If a parent wishes to have a student excused for any other reason, the parent must come into school and sign the student out of school. Under other extreme circumstances, students may be permitted to be excused early if a request signed by a parent or guardian is received by the school, and the school is able to confirm the parent’s or guardian’s request via phone call to the parent or guardian.

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Fire Drills

1. Order must be maintained during the drill.
2. All windows must be closed.
3. The last person is to make sure that the lights are out and the doors are closed.
4. Use the exit designated by the fire drill chart in your classroom at the time of the drill.
5. Note: Pupils in the halls during a fire drill must join the nearest line of march.
6. Students returning late from a fire drill will be subject to disciplinary action.

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Last updated: 02/06/2012