Students not riding the bus to school should be dropped off at the High School front entrance between 8:45 and 9:00.  There is no adult supervision prior to 8:45 am.  Parents must not use the bus lane from 8:45 – 9:00 am and 3:10 – 3:45 pm.

Student pick-ups will meet by the elementary gymnasium doors at 3:10 and will then walk to the high school main doors for dismissal.  Students whose parents are not at this location by 3:20 will return to the elementary office until an adult arrives.

As students arrive at school, students need to proceed into the lunchroom for breakfast. Breakfast at Southern Local Elementary is free and offered to all students. 

Breakfast is served from 8:45AM to 9:05AM each morning. Students are responsible for being in their classroom by 9:10.

Lunch is free and offered to all students.  If a student wishes to purchase additional milk or a snack side from the cafeteria they must have money on their student accounts.  The money must be in an envelope clearly labeled with the student’s name, ID number, teacher’s name, and amount enclosed.  All checks are to be made too Southern Local School District.  

• There is to be no pop brought to school to be consumed during lunch time.  

As said above, Southern Local Elementary offers free lunch to all students but in order for us to qualify we must provide documentation of a Household Survey. These remain on file for documentation for our free lunch program.

1. Walk at all times.                                         5. Eat and touch your food only. 

2. Keep your hands and feet to yourself         6. Put trash in the proper place. 

3. Talk in a soft voice.                                      7. Line up quietly and orderly. 

4. Stay in your seat. 

Students are expected to show the same reserved behavior that would be used in any restaurant. Boisterous noise and/or displays or rowdiness shall not be tolerated. All students are expected to clean up after themselves, picking up dropped trash, using the refuse containers, and returning food trays.

Close communication between parents and teachers is strongly encouraged.  The district offers two opportunities where teachers are available for extended times to meet with parents.  These regularly scheduled conference times create a better understanding between home and school, aid in reporting student progress, and help to meet the individual needs of each child.  Refer to the school calendar for these regularly scheduled times.  In addition, parents are encouraged to consult with teachers throughout the year.  To schedule a conference, contact the teacher directly either through phone call, note to teacher, or Class Dojo.

Except during an extreme emergency, neither teacher nor student will be called to the telephone during class time.  Students will not be permitted to call home when they forget to bring books, lunches or other related items.  

The use of cell phones for elementary students will be permitted on an as needed basis, with permission granted from the principal, only for contacting parents after school.  Cell phones must be turned off and kept in the student’s locker/book bag/cubby during the school day.  If a cell phone is found to be turned on causing a disruption to the academic day, the cell phone will be confiscated and turned in to the principal.  The student’s parent will be contacted to retrieve the phone.  The student who is in violation of the school’s cell phone policy may be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the principal.

Students are encouraged to carry their items to and from school in a book bag.  Students are not permitted to carry their book bags with them throughout the day.  They must remain in their storage area (locker or cubby). 

Assigned lockers remain school property and are subject to inspection by school personnel.  Each student is responsible for his/her own assigned locker.  Locks are highly recommended for protection of belongings.  The school is not responsible for any items placed in or stolen from lockers, nor will time be spent investigating theft of items taken from an unlocked or shared locker. 

Students’ academic success is based on numerous factors, and both promotion and retention are taken very seriously.  The decision to promote and retain is typically a team-based decision where many factors are taken into consideration, including but not limited to; overall academic progress, attendance, and overall classroom performance. 

The State Content Standards provide a curriculum guideline for student learning.  Teachers may utilize a variety of sources and activities to enhance and compliment student learning.  These resources may include textbooks.  Students are responsible for the textbooks assigned to them.  When the books are collected at the end of the school year, they should reflect normal usage.  Students could be charged for books that receive excessive wear, damage or are lost. Report cards will be held until borrowed books are returned.  

Class assignments – whether for completion in school or at home – are critical to student learning.  The length of homework varies among grade levels.  Students who are assigned homework are expected to return the completed homework as directed by the teacher.  Homework assignments are written daily in students’ agendas.  Teachers also communicate weekly through classroom newsletters about class and homework assignments.  Failure to complete assignments may result in office discipline.

Field Trips are educational experiences that teachers can use to enhance student learning.  Field trips are to be relevant to the Content Standards and Indicators being taught.  Parents please be aware of the following:

o   Parent/helper chaperones will be selected by the teacher.

o   The only children permitted on Field Trips are those students in the participating class.

o   Children whose parents act as chaperones will not be dismissed from school prior to the regular dismissal time.

o   Parent permission and an emergency medical form must be on file in the principal’s office before a child will be permitted to attend.

o   Board Policy concerning Student Field Trips and chaperones will be strictly enforced.

o   Field trip participation is not mandatory nor is it reflective on pupil grades.  Field trips are considered a privilege and not a right.  The administration reserves the right to deny field trip participation, if based on previous behavior or excessive absences, participation is not in the best interest of the student or his or her classmates.

Students in grades Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade are assessed using a standards based report card. Each grade level will send parent information home regarding their standards and student progress rating scales towards mastery of skills.  These standards based report cards will be sent home four times a year. 

Our grading system for grades 3^rd-5th utilizes a percentage scale with alphabetical equivalence with the following description: 

90%-100% A                A superior student who consistently shows subject mastery works beyond the assignments. 

80%-89% B                  A good student who is above average in performance and attitude. 

70%-79%C                   An average student who regularly completes the minimum requirements.

60%-69% D                  A student who frequently has difficulty completing assignments. 

59%-Below F                This mark indicates the student has failed to meet minimum standards and will not receive credit for the course. 

P Pass

 Credit given with no letter grade or percent attached. 

I Incomplete 

Two (2) weeks after report cards have been issued; an incomplete grade will become an F grade due to the student not meeting the minimum course standards. Exceptions may be taken under consideration with the teacher and principal approval.

NINE WEEKS GRADES are determined by averaging a minimum of nine (9) grades. Attendance and class participation are integral parts of student’s grades. Students failing the 3rd and 4th nine (9) week grading periods may or may not be granted credit at the discretion of the teacher and principal. 

SEMESTER GRADES are determined by averaging two nine weeks grades. Example: 98% + 76% divided by 2 = 87% or a B. FINAL YEARLY GRADES are determined by averaging 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th nine weeks percentages.

Students are considered tardy if they arrive to school after 9:10.  Students missing 60 minutes to three (3) hours are considered to be absent for ½ day.  Any absence of more than 3 hours will be considered a full-day absence. 

When it is necessary for students to be dismissed early from school, a written note must be provided requesting permission to leave and stating the reason and time for the early dismissal.  Parents/Guardians must report to office and sign their student out.  

If someone is going to pick your child up at school, please send a note with the child or call the school. *Without a note or parent/guardian call, your child will be put on the bus they were initially assigned. Please make every effort to call before 12:00 p.m. for a change of plan. Parents must request the change of plan. 

Parents/Guardians picking up their child/children after school (3:10 pm) must send a written notice to the school prior to the end of the school day.  Students will be dismissed with other car riders at the high school entrance.

In order to attend school-sponsored activities/extracurricular activities (weightlifting, basketball, baseball, volleyball, basketball, softball, etc.) after regular school hours as a spectator or participant, the student must be in school at least one-half of the school day.

When students are withdrawn from school, parents should notify the school office several days in advance.  Students’ records will not be released without parental consent.  All outstanding fees must be paid and all books and materials returned upon withdrawal from school.  Records, grades, and credits may be withheld for failure to pay fees.

All parents are required by Ohio Law to have an emergency notification form completed and on file for each child enrolled.  The Emergency Medical Authorization Form is sent home at the beginning of each school year.  Parents are responsible for keeping the office informed of changes in telephone numbers and other pertinent information; any change should be reported immediately to the school office.

Any child who becomes ill or injured at school is seen by the school nurse or designated personnel.  Emergency care that can be legally given will be administered, and the parent/guardian will be notified as soon as possible.

The Board of Education may require students of the district to submit to a periodic health exam to:

a.    Protect the school community from the spread of communicable disease;

b.    Verify that each student’s participation in health, safety, and physical education courses meets his/her needs.

Listed below are common illnesses and the appropriate guidelines for treatment and/or school attendance:

o   Chicken Pox:  a skin rash consisting of small blister, which leave scabs.  A slight fever may or may not be present.  There may be blisters and scabs all present at the same time.  Your child should remain home until all the blisters have scabbed over, usually 5-7 days after appearance of the first crop of blisters.

o   Common Cold:  Irritated throat, watery discharge from the nose and eyes, sneezing, chilliness, and general body discomfort.  Your child should remain home if the symptoms are serious enough to interfere with the youngster’s ability to learn.  Medical care should be obtained if symptoms persist beyond 7-10 days, fever develops, or discharge becomes yellow to green.

o   Fever:  If your child’s temperature is 100 degrees F or greater s/he should remain home until s/he has been without fever for a full 24 hours.  Remember, fever is a symptom indicating the presence of an illness.

o   Flu:  Abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, and sore muscles.  Runny nose, sore throat, and cough are common.  Your child should remain home from school until symptoms are gone and the child is without fever for 24 hours.

o   Head Lice:  Lice are small grayish-tan, wingless insects that lay eggs call nits.  Nits firmly attach to the hair shafts, close to the scalp.  They are small white specks usually found at the nape of the neck and behind the ears.  After receiving treatment from pediculicide shampoo and nits have been removed; the school nurse must see your child before returning to school.  Parents must accompany their child on the day s/he returns to school.  A call to 330.679.2343 ext 4016 must be made and an appointment set up before the child is readmitted.  If there is still lice or nit evidence, the child will go back home with the parent.  If readmitted, the child will assume normal activities which include bussing privileges.

o   Impetigo:  Blister-like lesions that later develop into crusted, pus-like sores.  Your child should remain home from school until receiving 24 hours of antibiotic therapy and sores are no longer draining.

o   Pain:  If your child complains, or behavior indicates, that s/he is experiencing persistent pain, s/he should be evaluated by a physician before attending school.

o   Pinkeye:  Redness and swelling of the membranes of the eye with burning or itching, matter coming from one or both eyes, or crusts on the eyelids.  Your child should remain home from school until receiving 24 hours of antibiotic therapy and discharge from the eyes has stopped.  Please note that viral conjunctivitis does not have drainage from the eye.  Until conjunctivitis is ruled out by a physician, the child per The Ohio Department of Health, will be excluded from school in order to prevent additional spread of the virus.  Spread of the infection can be minimized by keeping the hands away from the face, good hand washing practices, using individual washcloths and towels, and not touching any part of the eyes with the tip of the medication applicator while administering antibiotic ointment.

o   Skin Rashes:  Skin rashes of unknown origin should be evaluated by a physician before your child is sent to school.  If a contagious is suspected, the student will be sent home until seen by a physician. When the physician approves a return to school, please send a physician’s note with your child to the office.

o   Strep Throat:  Strep throat begins with fever, sore and red throat, pus spots on the back of the throat, and tender swollen glands of the neck.  Antibiotics ordered for strep infections are to be taken for ten days or until all medications are gone.  Students can return to school after being on the antibiotic therapy for 24 hours. Only when these directions are followed correctly is the strep germ completely eliminated from the body, no matter how well your child feels after the first few days of receiving treatment.

o   Vomiting and Diarrhea (Intestinal Viral Infections):  Stomachache, cramping, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, possible fever, headache, and body aches.  Your child should remain home until vomiting, diarrhea, or fever has ceased for 24 hours.  **If your child has any of these symptoms during the night, s/he should not be sent to school the following day.

Please keep these guidelines for future reference.  Consult your physician for the most accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The District may provide or request parents to provide:

a.    general physical examinations for athletics

b.    tests for communicable disease

c.     vision and/or audiometric screening

d.    scoliosis tests

Providing medical care to a student is the responsibility of the parent and should not be assumed by the school.  Whenever possible, it is preferred that students not be expected to take medication during school hours.  If it is absolutely necessary that medication be administered during school hours, these procedures must be followed:

o   Written permission for dispensing medication (prescription or over the counter) must be obtained from the student’s parent and physician.  The administration of any medication without the order of a physician and the permission of the parent/guardian is interpreted as practicing medicine and is prohibited by medical law.

o   The parent/guardian and the physician must complete the School Medication Permit and Administration of Prescription Drugs Form.  These forms are provided during the first week of the school year. If you will need additional forms, please contact the school office.  This form provides parent permission, medical information, and the physician order required by Ohio Law.  A separate form is required for each medication.  New forms must be submitted each school year as well as for each change in medication or dosage.  No medication will be administered unless this parent permission, medical information and physician order is provided.

o   The student is responsible for reporting to the clinic on time for medication(s).

o   Students are not permitted to carry medications to, from, or during school.  Consequently, the parent is advised to deliver medication directly to the school nurse or office.  School personnel are not responsible for medication prior to delivery of them.  Students with life-threatening critical needs verified by a physician are permitted to carry medication.

o   All medications must be delivered in the original container, properly labeled with directions for administering.  The student’s name must be clearly visible on the container.  The parent must supply the school with the exact dosage.  Parents are responsible for being aware of the quantity of medications supplied to the school and when additional medication may be needed.  Only parents/guardians are permitted to bring medications to school.

o   The school nurse or designee will administer the medication as prescribed by the physician.

o   When prescription medications have been discontinued, the parent/guardian must pick up any remaining medications within one week or it will be disposed of by the school nurse.

According to Ohio Law, persons whose duties bring them into contact with children are expressly required to immediately report instances of suspected child abuse or neglect.  This includes teachers, school employees, and school administrators.  Failure to report is a fourth degree misdemeanor.

All students and staff regularly practice building lockdown and evacuation procedures for a variety of circumstances including; unknown intruder, fire, severe weather, and tornados.  

It is the policy of the Southern Local School District Board of Education that hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational process and shall be prohibited at all times.  No administrator, faculty member, or other employee of the School District shall encourage, permit, condone, or tolerated any hazing activities.  No student, including leaders of student organizations, shall plan, encourage, or engage in any hazing.

Hazing is defined as doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.  Permission, consent or assumption of risk by an individual subjected to hazing does not lessen the prohibition contained in this policy.

If hazing or planned hazing is discovered, involved students shall be informed by the school employee discovering the hazing of the probation contained in this policy and shall be required to end all hazing activities immediately.  All hazing incidents shall be reported to the Superintendent immediately.

Students who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to disciplinary action and may be liable for civil and criminal penalties in accordance with Ohio law (R.C. 2307.44, 2903.31).

1^st offense- verbal warning, call to parents

2^nd offense- Lunch/Recess Detention, call to parents

3^rd offense- office referral

Unless it’s a major offense (physical fighting, inappropriate language, hitting, etc.) an office referral and a possible emergency removal for 48 hours. 

The following is a list (not meant to be inclusive) of unacceptable student behavior on school grounds, during school hours, or at school activities which may require detention, night school, suspension, expulsion, legal action or a combination thereof.  The building administrators may use other options if they are deemed more appropriate to the infraction of the rules, or to address discipline problems not concerned by this discipline plan.

An infraction of the following rules may result in immediate referral to the principal, a minimum 10 day suspension from school, referral for expulsion, and/or legal referral.

An infraction of the following rules may result in the assignment of detention, in school suspension, or out of school suspension.

1st Offense – After School Detention or In-school suspension

2^nd Offense – In-school suspension 

3^rd Offense – Out of School Suspension           

Any infraction in this level of student handbook shall result in one or more of the following:

1^st Offense - After school Detention or In-school Suspension

2^nd Offense - In-school Suspension

3^rd Offense –Out of School Suspension 

Students are assigned to ride specific buses and to be picked up or dropped off at specific stops. Permission to change buses or stops will only be granted in special or unusual circumstances, e.g. changes in child-care arrangements.  A request for a transportation change requires the student(s) to bring a permission slip signed by the parent(s)/guardian(s) to school and be approved by the principal.   Please remember that requests to ride a different bus for social reasons will not be honored.

School bus drivers, like all school personnel, shall maintain discipline in order to promote safety pursuant to all state and local rules and regulations.  Failure to abide by the rules may result in disciplinary action including the suspension of transportation services.

A.             Students will be respectful and obey the bus driver at all times.

B.              Students may talk quietly.  Loud, vulgar, or unacceptable language and whistling or excessive loud noise are prohibited.  Students will be completely quiet as the bus approaches and crosses a railroad and at any other time the bus driver may deem it necessary.

C.             Students will not eat or drink on the bus, unless the bus driver gives authorization.

D.             Students will promptly be seated after entering the bus and remain seated with feet on the floor and facing front, keeping hands, feet and other objects to themselves and not extending them out of the window.

E.              Students will keep aisles and seats free from books and materials.  Throwing or spitting of objects is prohibited.  Squirt guns, water containers, water pistols, etc. are prohibited and will be confiscated.

.    1^st Violation – Verbal warning from the bus driver.

2^nd Violation – Verbal warning and letter from the bus driver given to the building principal.  The principal will give the letter to the student which must be signed by the parent and returned to the principal.  The bus driver may reassign seats.

3^rd Violation – Written referral to principal and denial of bus riding privileges for a period of two (2) days.

4^th Violation – Written referral to principal and denial of bus riding privileges for a period of three (3) days.

5^th Violation – Written referral to principal and denial of bus riding privileges for a period of five (5) days.

6^th Violation – Written referral to principal and denial of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the semester.

The following will result in a minimum of ten (10) days suspension of bus riding privileges plus possible school suspension, referral for expulsion, legal referral, and/or monetary responsibility for damages.

1.     Sale, use, or possession of drugs or alcohol.

2.     Possession or use of dangerous weapons.

NOTE: When bus transportation is denied, it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to provide transportation of the student to and from school.  Students failing to attend school will be declared truant and referred to the attendance officer.

Students will be referred to the superintendent for an expulsion/ejection hearing from the bus if the student has accumulated ten days of suspension of bus riding privileges.

According to State law (ORC 3313.661) the principals may suspend or remove a student and the superintendent may expel a student from bus riding privileges, provided that notice and opportunity for a hearing are given.