OREM HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES
Philosophy of the OHS Attendance Guidelines
Attendance is a significant factor affecting student achievement in school. Opportunities for success during and beyond secondary school are also directly affected by a student’s attitude toward attendance in high school. In order to afford students the opportunity to be academically successful and responsible citizens, OHS expects students to be in class, prepared, and on time each day.
In accordance with the mission statement of Orem High—“Student Achievement is Our Business, Our Only Business”—the objectives of the Orem High School Attendance Guidelines are to: 1.) provide students with successful learning experiences in each class, 2.) teach responsible behavior by encouraging students to be accountable for their attendance, 3.) support parent efforts in promotion of student attendance, and to 4.) provide a safe, effective, and uninterrupted learning environment for each student.
OHS supports state and district attendance policies which call for fairness and provide flexibility and accountability on the part of students, parents, and the school. OHS believes school attendance is a student-parent-school responsibility which involves all three entities in order to resolve attendance concerns prior to referring attendance problems to the district or juvenile court systems. High attendance expectations have proven to improve academic achievement, graduation rates, responsibility, respect, school climate, and school safety. Students who demonstrate excessive attendance problems (as defined by school, district, and state policy) will be subject to actions that could result in having credit(s) withheld from their high school transcript.
We understand that there are times when unexpected situations arise and/or when families will have a need to schedule important family events during the school year. The following policy provides the opportunity for the school to work with families through appeals and the process of excusing legitimate absences.
Attendance Appeals Process
Students and parents may appeal in writing to the administration for a closer examination on a case by case basis. Appeals should provide details as to why absences/tardies should not count against a student’s attendance. Appeals are reserved for unusual and/or uncontrollable attendance problems (i.e., medically verifiable illness, etc.). It is expected that students will clear absences and tardies through the attendance remediation class or lose credit. The waiving of absences or tardies is entirely up to the discretion of the administration. Appeals should be submitted as soon as possible to the attendance office. Appeal forms are available in the attendance office and on the website.
Excusing/Reporting Absences and Tardies
Parents may excuse absences and tardies by sending a note to the attendance office at Orem High School between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Notes may also be faxed to 227-8774. An excused absence clears a student from truancy, however, it does not remove the absence from attendance records. Absences must be cleared within five (5) school days of the absence(s). When clearing an absence with a note, parents should include the date of the absence, the date and time (if student is checking in during or after first period) the note was written, specific class periods missed (if not for an entire day), and a phone number where a parent can be reached during the day. Fraudulent excusing of absences and tardies by students will result in school discipline.
Absences
OHS has set standards for class attendance based on research, district and state guidelines and policies that have proven to improve success in high school.
EXCUSED ABSENCES—
Students may occasionally need to be absent for illness, emergencies, etc. In such cases, students may be excused but are responsible to make-up any work missed. Students have the responsibility to arrange with their teachers for make-up work. Parents/guardians are advised not to check students out of school for anything other than emergencies, as a student’s academics can be significantly affected by this. All absences must be excused within five (5) school days of the absence with a note from the parent explaining the dates of absence, reason for absence, and contact information. After the five school days the absences will remain as unexcused or truant.
PRE-EXCUSED ABSENCES—
Absences in any given class can be pre-excused between the teacher and student. This provides advance notice to the teacher and the attendance secretary that a student will be absent, and allows the student to know in advance what will be missed on the day(s) of the absence. A pre-excused form must be filled out, signed by the student, parent, and teacher, and filed in the attendance office.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES—
All un-excused absences are considered truancies. Any absence not excused in the five (5) school days allowed is considered, on the sixth (6th) day, an unexcused absence. The only way to modify this is for the parent and student to meet with the administration. If a student is truant, the student forfeits the right to earn credit on any assignments, tests, or quizzes given on or due the day of the truancy.
Failure to clear unexcused absences will result in a loss of credit (NC) for the class regardless of a passing grade. Each unexcused absence in each class will need to be cleared through the Attendance Remediation Class (ARC).
If a student leaves school without checking out through the attendance office, which requires a parent or administrative approval, the absence will stand as unexcused.
ABSENCES & EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES—
Students who are participating in any type of extra-curricular activities are held to a higher standard as they are ambassadors of Orem High and thus they are required to attend all classes for the day of an event, unless it is a pre-approved absence. Activity advisors and coaches are required to maintain eligibility standards which include grades and attendance.
ON THE 4th EXCUSED ABSENCE—
Unless pre-excused, on the fourth (4th) excused absence of a term in each class, a student will need to make-up time in attendance remediation class or appeal to the administrative team in order to receive credit. If time is not made up, and the appeal has not been granted, a student will receive a no credit (NC) on their transcript.
Tardies
Punctuality is an important life skill and tardiness is extremely disruptive to the educational process. A student is considered tardy if he or she is not in the classroom when the tardy bell rings. A student who is more than fifteen (15) minutes late will be marked as present, but Very Late (V). On the third (3rd) Unexcused Tardy (T) in a single class each term, a student must attend attendance lunchtime remediation periods. This is also for the third (3rd) Excused Tardy (L). Thus for each very late (V) or 3 tardies (T or L) in any class, credit will be lost unless the student completes 2 lunchtime attendance remediation periods. Failure to make up the credit through attendance remediation school/periods will result in a no credit (NC) being transcribed.
Attendance Remediation Class (ARC) and “Why Try” Classes
Once a student has received an NC (No Credit) in a class, the student must make-up time in Attendance Remediation Class to have the NC removed. A student must attend Attendance Remediation Class for 80 min. per absence per class missed. Students who are 15 minutes late to any class will receive a NC (No Credit) for that day until they fulfill 2 lunch detentions. Lost credit, not made up by the time grades are posted by the 3rd day after the end of the term, will stand as final. Attendance Remediation Class starts sharply at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, free of charge. Students are advised to arrive five minutes early as latecomers will not be allowed in. Additional sessions will be held on Thursdays, and Fridays at 6:00 a.m. at a pre-paid cost of $4.00 (used to off-set the costs of running the sessions). Students who attend sessions on fee days, but who have not paid in advance, will be charged $5.00 at the door. There will be after school sessions as per the need. The after school time is 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. All after school sessions are all fee pay session based on the same fee structure as the before school fees. All fees must be paid prior to students receiving credit for attending the Attendance Remediation Class. In order to attend Attendance Remediation Class, a student must bring homework for the class missed (i.e. if making up an English class, student must be making up English homework) or a book to read.
Why Try Classes will be offered to students every Wednesday afternoon which a student can earn 2 ARC credits for attending. An evening Why Try class will be offered every other Thursday which parents are invited to attend with their student. The student will earn 2 ARC credits but if their parent comes with them they can earn an extra credit (total of 3 ARC credits). Students will not be permitted to attend a Why Try lesson that they have already attended and they will be required to complete a worksheet prior to receiving the credit.
No music, cell phones, games, sleeping, or talking is permitted in either the ARC or Why Try classes. Violators will be asked to leave and will not be given credit for attending the make-up session regardless of the time of removal. If it is a fee day, they forfeit the right to a refund.
Checking on Student Attendance
Student attendance and grades can be checked at home or at work over the internet at the OHS homepage at: www.oremhighschool.com. To access the information you will need the ID and password for powerschool. You may also call the attendance office at 227-8765 between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to check on attendance. Attendance for each class will be entered into the computer by the end of the class period.
Other
* School excused absences (admin. approved field trips, extracurricular activities) do not count against attendance.
* An NC does not count against a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA).
* An NC is treated as an F for participation in extracurricular activities.
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Code of Conduct
C |
be COMMITTED to excellence |
L |
LOOK the part |
A |
have a good ATTITUDE |
S |
be a good SCHOLAR |
S |
have SCHOOL SPIRIT |
C - Be Committed to Excellence
An Orem High Tiger achieves excellence through striving to be the best in academics, activities, athletics, serving their communities and throught the arts. The purpose of our school is to help each student know how amazing they are and what they can become. We encourage you to participate in as many of these areas as possible even if you're just a fan. By doing this, you will see how you can strengthen our school.
L - Look the Part
Be a true tiger by looking like one first. We should present
a drug and alcohol free lifestyle when it comes to fashion.
Be modest in your appearance by wearing sleeves, shirts that
cover your bellies, and necklines that cover enough of your
body. Guys, pull your pants up. Seeing your underwear hanging
out is not attractive. Our dress and appearance reflects
our school's personality. Set the standard for everyone around
you by dressing appropriately.
A - Have a Good Attitude
As a Tiger, we should obey the rules and abide by the guidelines.
We need to respect each other and all the adults at OHS. Every
personality adds to the greatness of our school and we need
to appreciate each one. Take pride in our school and the environment
we learn in by picking up the messes we make. We're not in
kindergarten anymore, we should be able to pick up our own
trash.
S - We are Scholars
As Tigers, we seek good grades and strive for excellence. We
attend class regularly and get to them on time. We try our
best to maintain an attitude of academic integrity. We know
that if we try our hardest, that's enough.
S - We Need School Spirit
The true Tigers of the past had plenty of school spirit to
go around. We need to carry on that tradition by supporting
our classmates. We support our sports teams by positively cheering
louder than our rivals and motivating our athletes. Cheer appropriately
and show that we're the best. We have good sportsmanship and
a great reputation. Let's all show our school spirit more than
ever this year and prove to everyone how great we really are.
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Cell Phones
Due to the advancements in technology and the increased ability
to compromise the integrity of assignments and tests, as well
as the distraction to individual and class attention to the
educational focus, cell phones will not be allowed in classrooms
during class time at Orem High School. If a cell phone is seen
or heard during class time, in a restroom, locker room or another
place where an individual would have the expectation of privacy,
a teacher or staff member will confiscate the phone and hold
it untilthe parent of the student comes to retrieve it. Failure
to surrender a phone when asked by a staff member will constitute
insubordination and will be grounds for suspension or other
disciplinary action. If a parent, after talking to the teacher
to learn the circumstances surrounding the confiscation, can
not come during a time when the teacher is not conducting a
class, the parent may contact an administrator to arrange to
pick the phone up at another time. If a cell phone is confiscated
a second time during any school year, the student will be banned
from carrying a cell phone to school. Parents who need to contact
a student during school hours will be accommodated through
the attendance office.
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Schedule Changes
Any necessary change in a students class schedule must be made prior
to the beginning of the semester, with the appointed counselor. Exceptions
must be cleared by an administrator after a meeting with parents,
student, and teacher. Any changes which take place after the 10th
day of the term will have the grade in the course from which the student
in transferring posted to the students permanent transcript with the
appropriate amount of credit for the day of the transfer.
A $5 class change fee must be paid in the accounting office
and the receipt brought to the counselor before a schedule will be
changed.
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Parking Lot and Parking Permits
The Alpine School District will provide limited parking for students under certain provisions as outlined. These provisions apply to all motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and scooters. It is the intent of the administration of the Alpine School District that the bringing of cars to school will in no way interfere with the normal operation of the school. With a passage of Utah Code Section 53-6-20, amended by Senate Bill No. 37 1975, Orem High School will receive assistance of the Orem City Police Department in enforcing all rules and regulations in and around the parking lot. Parking at Orem High is a privilege, not a right. Orem High administration or designated security personnel can search vehicles on its property at any time in the interest of school safety. Parking at Orem High is a privilege earned through excellent attendance. Parking is not a right.
1. All automobiles MUST be registered with the school and display a current parking permit. Registration forms and parking permits are available at the attendance office. Students who have the best attendance in the preceding year will have first choice at obtaining parking permits. A list of those students will be on file at the attendance office. This "best attendance" privilege can be revoked during the current year if attendance patterns change. Student attendance will be reviewed at the end of each quarter.
2. Student Parking: Sophomore students will not be issued on-campus
parking stickers. They may park on the road in legal parking
spaces. Juniors and seniors who have not earned the privilege
to park on campus may also park on the road in legal parking spaces.
A. Any marked parking stall in the south parking lot may be
used, except those marked for handicapped individuals and faculty
and the Senior Parking Permit rows by those without a Senior Parking
Permit.
B. The first two rows of the student parking are reserved for
SENIORS who have earned the best attendance parking privilege. A
special "Senior Parking Permit" will be available for purchase by
seniors.
C. Student parking at any other place is prohibited.
D. Fees are charged for parking permits. One permit must be
issued for every car the student drives with a limit of three per
family. If parking privileges are lost during the
year, fees will not be refunded.
3. Visitor parking is west of the main building in designated stalls.
4. Student cars parked in any reserved space will be ticketed, booted or towed at the student’s expense.
5. Cars parked without appropriate permits will be ticketed, booted or towed at the owner’s expense.
6. Three (3) unpaid tickets may result in having the car booted and/or revocation of the student’s parking privileges.
7. The speed limit in all parking areas is 5 miles per hour.
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Sexual
Harassment
Alpine School District is committed to the maintenance of a learning
environment which is free of any form of sexual harassment; an environment
where students may attend school free of unwanted conduct or communications
of a sexual nature; one which is in compliance with State and Federal
laws dealing with this form of discrimination.
Alpine School District strongly disapproves of any form of
sexual harassment in the schools, including acts of non-employees.
Disciplinary action will be taken against any employees or students
who engage in unlawful sexual harassment.
Definition: Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted conduct
or communication of a sexual nature that adversely affects a persons
educational opportunities, relationships, or environment.
1. It is illegal for any student or employee to:
a. Make unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors
or other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature a condition of obtaining an education.
b. Make submission to or rejection of sexual advances the basis
for educational opportunities affecting students.
c. Create an intimidating, hostile or offensive school environment
through unwanted conduct or communication of a sexual nature.
2. Sexual harassment may include:
a. Sex role stereotyping which is demeaning and involves unequal
treatment of any individual
on the basis of that person’s gender.
b. Gender abuse, which can be either visual or verbal, such
as the display of demeaning posters,
cartoons, nudity or offensive sexual jokes about gender.
c. Visual or verbal expressions about an individual which are
sexual in nature.
d. Criminal touching or actions not involving touching but
which are offensive to the extent
that
they visually or emotionally shock the conscience of a reasonable
person.
e. Quid pro quo cases where sexual favors are asked in exchange
for educational benefits
received.
f. Any unwelcome sexual behavior initiated by an employee,
a student a volunteer or a non-
employee.
3. Anyone may file a sexual harassment complaint in response to conduct
which is unwelcome, or a sexual nature, and creates a hostile or abusive
learning environment for a student.
a. Sexual harassment complaints may be filed regardless of
whether or not the behavior
occurred on or off duty if it created a hostile learning environment
for a student.
b. Malicious or frivolous complaints of sexual harassment are
prohibited.
c. A supervisor, students, or employees may be held liable
in a sexual harassment case if
he/she knew or should have known that sexual harassment behaviors
were taking place and did not take prompt action.
d. There is protection against reprisal for anyone who makes
a complaint, testifies, assists, or
participates in any manner in an investigative proceeding or
hearing. Acts of reprisal toward complainants , witnesses, or others
involved in an investigation shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Prohibited reprisal actions include but are not limited to: open hostility,
elusion/ostracism, creation of or continued existence of a hostile
learning environment for the student, gender-based negative remarks
about anyone involved, special attention to or assignment of anyone
involved to demeaning tasks in the school setting, tokenism or patronizing
behavior, discriminatory treatment, subtle harassment, or unreasonable
time restrictions on students in preparing complaints or compiling
evidence or sexual harassment activities/behaviors.
4. Students who have been sexually harassed are afforded avenues
for filing complaints which are free from bias, collusion,
intimidation, or reprisal.
a. Students who have been sexually harassed by an adult should
file a complaint with a school counselor or the school administrator.
The investigation and resolution of the complaint should proceed
as in Procedure 4097.
b. Students who feel they have been sexually harassed by another
student should report such to a responsible adult such as a
counselor, a teacher, or the school principal. The student
should then be helped to file a written complaint with the school
principal. Upon receiving a written complaint, the principal and/or
the director of pupil services will conduct an investigation as follows:
1. The accused student shall be called in privately for an
interview to determine the facts.
2. If the administrators are convinced that the sexual harassment
has taken place, the offender should be told that the behavior
must stop immediately. Disciplinary action must be followed
according to the severity of the offense and district policy 5180.
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Dress
and Grooming Standards
Board Policy
As fads and extremes of dress and appearance tend to attract
improper attention to the individual and interfere with the educational
process, the Alpine School District Board of Education requires
all of its students to conform to standards that avoid extremes
and that exemplify personal cleanliness. Any personal appearance
in either clothing style or personal grooming is prohibited if:
1. It tends to cause a material and substantial disruption
of the educational process in the school.
2. It would endanger the health, safety or welfare of either
the student or others.
3. It does not conform to generally accepted community standards,
or it calls undue attention to
the anatomical details of the individual.
4. It does not conform to the requirements of a special class
or activity approved by the school
principal which requires special dress or grooming, and in
which the student expects to participate.
5. It appears as an obvious attempt to challenge the intent
and scope of the policy or the authority
of the school in its reasonable interpretation and enforcement.
This policy applies to all school related functions except those special activities approved by the principal. Adopted: July 12, 1983 Policy No. 5152
District Guidelines
1. Hair–Hair should be clean and well groomed. Hair styles distracting
in appearance or needing
constant attention are not acceptable.
2. Clothing–All students are required to wear appropriate footwear
to school. Footwear must not mark or damage floors. Clothing which
is ragged, tattered or deliberately distracting in appearance must
be avoided. There should be no displaying of undergarments. Halters,
bare midriffs, cutoffs and jeans of a “grubby” or work
type are not acceptable. Vulgar words, profane or obscene slogans
and pictures or advertisements for alcohol, tobacco and drugs cannot
be worn.
School Guidelines
1. Shorts must not be shorter than mid thigh.
2. No displaying of underwear or the areas normally covered
by underwear.
3. Students may not wear clothing which has been traditionally
affiliated with gang culture (including but not limited to:
Bandannas, ‘Do
Rags’, A- Shirts, hair nets, long belts, chains, hats worn with
the brim to either side, clothing marked in a manner consistent
with gang graffiti, etc.).
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Internet Policy/Utah
Link
1. The primary purpose of the Utah Link is for the use of the public
school professional staff an secondary student access. The use of
an individual student account is considered to be a privilege and
is permitted to the extent that available resources allow.
2. Secondary students may be granted an account for up to one
academic year at a time, provided they:
a. Read and agree to follow all guidelines outlined in the
Acceptable Use Policy. This
agreement is formalized through their signature on the application
form.
b. Have at least one teacher sign the application form as a
sponsor.
c. Obtain the signature of a parent on the application form.
3. Generally, students are not permitted to enter professional
UtahLink or Usenet discussion groups. Under certain conditions, posting
privileges to specific news groups may be granted.
4. Any use of UtahLink for illegal or inappropriate purposes
(criminal activities, downloading or uploading copyright software,
operating a business, political lobbying, pornography, spreading computer
viruses, vulgar language, etc.), or to access materials that are objectionable
in a public school environment, or in support of such activities,
is prohibited. Language that is deemed to be vulgar is also prohibited.
Illegal activities shall be defined as a violation of local, district,
state, and/or federal laws. Inappropriate use shall be defined as
a violation of the intended use of the network, and/or purpose and
goal. Objectionable is defined as materials that are identified as
such by the rules and policies of the Utah State Board of Education
that relate to curriculum materials and text book adoption.
5. Any use for commercial purposes or financial gain, any use
for product advertisement or political lobbying, and any use which
shall serve to disrupt the use of the network by other users are also
prohibited.
6. Neither Alpine School District, the Utah State Office of
Education, nor the UEN have control of the information on the Internet.
Other sites accessible via the Internet may contain material that
is illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive to some
people.
7. The above-mentioned use is subject to revision in policy.
In all cases, use by professional public education staff shall take
precedence. The State Office of Education reserves its right as final
authority on use of the network.
General Rules of Safety While On-Line
1. Students should not give out personal information such
as addresses, telephone numbers, parent’s work address or
telephone numbers, or the name and location of the school without
permission.
2. Students should avoid getting together with someone they
have “met” on-line. If a meeting does take place, it
should be in a public area.
3. Students should not send a person their picture or any information
without getting permission.
4. Students should avoid responding to messages that are mean
or vulgar. If there are problems, the student should contact the on-line
service.
5. Students should not go on-line without a supervisor knowing
where and when they will be on- line.
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