Rahway High School 2017-18 Student Handbook

Rahway High School 2017-18 Student Handbook Notification of Rights for Elementary and Secondary Schools The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are: 1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal (or appropriate official), clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing. 3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. (Optional) Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. (NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or eligible student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.) 4. The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U. S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605 (NOTE: In addition, an institution may want to include its directory information public notice, as required by #99.37 of the regulations, with its annual notification of rights under FERPA.) i Frequently Asked Questions Q. How do I get my Student Handbook? What if I lose it? Why do I need it? A. Your homeroom teacher will give you the handbook in the first week of the school year. If you lose your handbook, you will be charged the current replacement fee. Your handbook is an essential part of your studies in high school. It should be used daily to record grades and assignments. The handbook also outlines key information that pertains to all RHS students. New students will receive a handbook upon enrollment. Q. How do I get my Student Identification Card? What if I lose it? Why do I need it? A. Student Identification Cards are printed in the Security office. If you lose your ID you will be charged $5.00 for a replacement. You need to have your ID with you for your breakfast and/or lunch and for entry to certain school functions. ID’s are important to carry for safety reasons. Please be reminded that you are to show your ID to any staff member if requested to do so. Q. Where are the lavatories located? A. Student lavatories are located on the first and second floors. Boys’ restrooms are located near the cafeteria on the first floor and across from Room 207. Girls’ restrooms are located across from the cafeteria on the first floor and across from Room 218. Please be reminded that, for the health and safety of all, lavatories must be kept clean! Q. Where can I use a computer? A. Rahway High School has two computer labs that students may access during lunch, study center, or after school. The labs are located in Room 200 (2nd floor) and in the Academic Success Center (3rd floor). Students must have a pass to enter. Students who use school computers for personal (non-academic) use will receive a consequence. Please refer to the Computer Acceptable Use policy for further details. Q. How do I obtain a locker? A. Lockers are assigned from the Attendance Office. If you need a locker or have problems with yours, see an administrator or safety officer. Please be reminded that you are to keep the locker to which you are assigned during the course of your studies at RHS. Be sure to keep your locker secured at all times. Students are responsible to secure all personal possessions in gym lockers as well. Do not share lockers/locker combinations. This is a direct violation of school policy. Q. Where is the Lost and Found? A. There are two locations—the Attendance Office on the first floor and the Main Office on the second floor. Q. Where can I get my working papers? A. Secretaries in the Main Office handle working papers. You must have promise of employment before requesting them. ii Q. What are some of the important offices on each floor? A. The Attendance/Vice Principal’s Office (across from the cafeteria) and the Nurse’s Office (in the gym hallway) are located on the first floor. The Main Office, Principal's Office, Vice Principal’s Offices and the Guidance/Counseling Office are all located in the main hallway on the second floor. The Child Study Team Office is located in Room 221 1/2. The SAC Office is Room 328. The Athletic Office is located at Veterans Field. Q. I was absent from school. Can I make up work that I missed? A. Yes, students are allowed to make-up missed class and homework assignments for excused absences. Students are allotted one day per excused absence to make-up work missed. It is the student's responsibility to request missed assignments. Please note that students who miss class(es) due to co- or extra-curricular events such as an athletic competition or field trip must present the work and/or complete tests or quizzes upon the day of return from the event. Q. How do I obtain an attendance appeal? A. If you received a letter concerning attendance and need to file an appeal, you must go to the Attendance Office to request one. A committee will review your absences and determine whether or not credit for the year is to be restored. Q. Where are announcements for school activities posted? A. School Activities are posted throughout the building and on the school website (www.rahway.net). Key places are on bulletin boards in the cafeteria, outside the main office, and on the sign board at the front of the school. Clubs advisors and members place posters throughout the hallways to announce an activity. Q. How can I get involved in a club? A. RHS offers a variety of extracurricular activities. These are listed further on in the handbook. Students have the opportunity to sign up for extra-curricular activates on our annual Club Day. You must meet academic requirements to be eligible to participate in co-curricular activities. Some co-curricular activities also require course enrollment. iii Table of Contents Alma Mater 2 Attendance 8-13 Age of Majority 9 Appeal Process 11-12 Attending Other Classes 11 Attendance Records and Notification 11 General Attendance Rules and Requirements 9 Maximum Absence Allotment 10 Reporting an Absence 9 Tardiness or Cutting 10-11 Truancy 11 Withholding of Credit 10 Bell Schedules 5 Calendar for Current School Year 7 Child Abuse and Neglect 12-13 Conduct 13-28 Acceptable Use (Internet and Computers) 23 Academic Integrity/Plagiarism 19 Cafeteria 18 Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices 23-24 Code of Conduct/Unacceptable Behavior in School 25-28 Conduct Away from School 14 Cyber Bullying 18 Dating Violence 17-18 Detention- Central Detention and Saturday Detention 21 Dress Code 19-21 Hall Passes 23 Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying 15-18 Hate Crimes/Bias Incidents 18 Out of School Suspension 22-23 Parking Lot/Students Driving to School 18 Philosophy 13 Sent Home for Parent Conference 22 Sexual Harassment 17 Smoking/Use of Tobacco 15 Student Records 23 Substance Abuse/Suspected Substance Abuse 14-15 Weapons and Dangerous Instruments 22-23 Disclaimer 4 Extracurricular Activities 29-31, 33 Academic Eligibility 33-34 Activities/Clubs 29-31 Athletic Participation 34-35 Attendance Standards 31 Disciplinary Standards 31 Field Trips 31 Floor Plans 46-48 Lockers 31 Mission Statements/School Beliefs 1-2 Nurse's Office 31 Power School 43 School Closings/Delayed Openings/Transportation 6 iv Table of Contents

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