This handbook has been prepared and presented to you, the students of the

E. VISITING STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS

The practice of a student bringing a student visitor from another school to PAHS has been discontinued. A PAHS student is not permitted to bring a visitor to school.

F. WITHHOLDING REPORT CARDS FOR UNPAID DEBTS

The administration reserves the right to withhold any student’s report card or diploma if the student has an unpaid debt with the school. A report card may also be withheld if the student has lost school district property, for example, a textbook. The student may also lose their laptop take-home privilege.
HOMEROOM GUIDELINES

Students report to their homeroom during activity period and other designated times. The homeroom and activity period provides a time to study and a time to participate in clubs and other school activities. Students not participating in activities are to have schoolwork to complete during activity period. Homeroom will be operated as a study hall according to the guidelines on page 14. The homeroom teacher acts as an advisor and will be able to help you in many areas when called upon to do so. Students on detention list; restrictive movement, and academic support are required to remain in homeroom unless a green slip is signed by a principal.

UNITED FUND

Two weeks a year, money for the United Fund is collected from the various homerooms. This money is divided equally between the various organizations.

If flowers are sent in case of death of a pupil or member of his immediate family, they should be sent only from the class (Junior, Sophomore, etc.) of which the pupil is a member, and not from the homeroom or any other school organization. A special collection will be taken at the beginning of each school year and/or when necessary for that purpose. Flowers should be sent only to those who are current members of the group. Homeroom teachers of the class involved may act as advisors to the class in this matter.
STUDY HALL GUIDELINES

A study period is for work. Students will arrive on time and bring with them all materials that they will need, such as textbooks, paper and pencils. Students will not be excused to get books, pencils, etc., from their lockers. The most benefit is obtained from a study hall that is quiet. Students may not study in groups nor may they talk without permission from the teacher or monitor in charge. Students who consistently arrive without work or who are noisy or unruly, will be sent to the Principal's office. Food is not permitted. Comic books and pornographic reading material have no place in school. The teacher or monitor in charge will confiscate any such books. Students using laptops during study hall will be required to sit near a teacher or monitor so screens can be checked and reviewed. While completing schoolwork, students are permitted to listen to music during study hall with their laptops as long as headphones are used and other students are not distracted. Computer games are not permitted during the school day unless approved for educational purposes.

Students in study halls who wish to go to the library may sign out on a library sign-out sheet and should go directly to the library as a group. The teacher or monitor will inform all students of the route which they should take when going to the library. Students going to the library may not go to their lockers or elsewhere when going to the library. Students going to the library should refrain from loud talking or other unnecessary noise so as not to interrupt classes in session. Violators will have their library privileges revoked.
21^st CENTURY LEARNING INITIATIVE
PHS is very proud of this program. It provides students and their families a valuable tool that will give them access to a variety of positive resources available in our technology- driven society. This provides students with a mobile learning tool that they can access at any time while also sharing the technology with the members of their household. However, with this technology students must be held to a high standard of personal responsibility. Students are prohibited from:

1. 
   Playing games during the school day unless approved for educational purposes. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
2. 
   Neglecting to bring the computer to class with the battery charged. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
3. 
   Social networking during the school day. (Example: Skype, Facebook, etc) Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
4. 
   Having inappropriate social networking conversations outside of school. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
5. 
   Cyber bullying or using the computer as a means to harass another person. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
6. 
   Distributing their password to another person or have access to another person’s password. Students who violate could be suspended with the possibility of expulsion.
   
7. 
   Allowing another student to use the computer. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
8. 
   Having any form of pornography on the computer whatsoever. This includes but not limited to the files, history, or server account. Students who violate could be suspended with the possibility of expulsion.
   
9. 
   Having any form of profanity or not school appropriate activity on the computer. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
   
10. 
    Intentionally damaging or mistreating the laptop. Students who violate may receive administrative detention or suspension. Also student will be financially responsible for the cost of repair or replacement.
    
11. 
    Accidentally damaging laptop. Students may be held financially responsible.
    
12. 
    Having any program that provides access to illegally download movies, games, pictures, or songs. (For example Limewire) Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
    
13. 
    Clearing the history of the computer or setting the history to private. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
    
14. 
    Using the technology for commercial activities. (Including, but not limited to activities requiring the exchange of money/credit card information, charging the school fees, purchases or sales of any kind, solicitations/donations, advertising, and/or political lobbying) Students who violate could be suspended with the possibility of expulsion.
    
15. 
    Attempting to circumvent the district’s internet content filtering system by proxy or other means. Students who violate will receive administrative detention with repeated violations receiving suspension.
    
16. 
    Installing any software that is not part of the district’s approved software image. Students who violate could be suspended with the possibility of expulsion.
    
17. 
    Attempting to gain unauthorized access to the network. Students who violate could be suspended with the possibility of expulsion.
    
18. 
    Using the laptop as a means to plagiarize or cheat on school assignments. Students who violate this will be issued an official warning with repeated violations receiving suspension. They will also receive an academic consequence to be issued by the teacher.
    

Students are to adhere to all policies and practices as dictated 21^st Century manual and the Acceptable Use of Technology and Equipment Loan Agreement. The administration reserves the right to withhold the one-to-one privilege from any student who violates any of the stipulations set forth by this program.

GYM UNIFORMS

The administration has adopted a standard gym uniform for gym classes in order that students may avoid the purchase of a new outfit each year. Students may continue to wear whatever gym clothing they have at present. However, clothing purchased hereafter should conform to the standard set by the administration. Students are to wear T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, or sweat pants that are red, white, gray, or contain a Punxsy logo. Students must also wear sneakers.

HALL LOCKERS

The homeroom teacher will assign each student a hall locker. All students are expected to keep their books, coats, and other belongings in their ASSIGNED locker. Students are not to take their coats with them to the last period class or study hall. The school assumes no responsibility for the safe-keeping of the contents of the locker. Students are not permitted to go to their lockers during class periods without permission from a teacher, a monitor or the office. Students are not permitted in another student’s locker for any reason unless they have permission from the Principal or Assistant Principal.

Valuables should not be left in lockers. Students may leave valuables in the office for safe-keeping and pick them up after school. NEVER leave money in your coat pockets, locker or any other insecure area.
It is to be remembered that the lockers are the property of the School District. School authorities or those designated by school authorities may search a student's locker and any material seized may be used as evidence. Prior to a locker search, the student may be notified and given an opportunity to be present. However, where school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the locker contains materials, which pose a threat to the health, welfare and safety of students in the school, student lockers may be searched without prior warning.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is a major factor in success at school. In job recommendations, the most frequent question asked by prospective employers is, "What was the student's attendance record?" Irregular attendance often is the first indication of loss of interest in school or of a personal problem.

In case of absences and tardiness to school, the student must present an excuse signed by the parent or guardian to their first period teacher IMMEDIATELY UPON RETURNING TO SCHOOL. If a student fails to bring an excuse within three days upon returning to school, the attendance monitor will report the student to the office and the absence or tardy could be regarded as unexcused and consequences could be issued.

1. 
   When a student has an early excusal form (“Appointment Excuse” form), he should take the form to the office before first period.
   
2. 
   If a student has any other excuses for absence or tardy, he should take the excuse directly to his first period teacher. All excuses will be sent by the first period teacher to the attendance monitor. The attendance monitor will accept the excuse or in case of questionable excuses refer the excuse to the office or nurse for further action.
   
3. 
   Any student whose absenteeism exceeds TEN DAYS or TEN PERCENT of the number of school days that have occurred thus far will be reported to the Principal or Assistant Principal. The Principal or Assistant Principal may then request that the student, and the student's parents, attend a conference for the purpose of determining the causes for the excessive absenteeism or may place the student on doctor’s excuse status. Once a student is on doctor’s excuse status, an official PAHS Doctor Excuse Form must be provided after any absence from school. This must include the dates of absences and doctor’s signature. If this is not provided within 3 days of absence, the absence will be considered illegal/unexcused and consequences may be issued.
   

EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

State law requires that all students be in school 180 days each year. The calendar for these days is set by the local School Board. Absences from these 180 days fall into three categories: Excused Absences, Unexcused Absences (17 and older) and Illegal (16 and under).

1. An excused absence may be for:

A. Illness

B. Quarantine

C. Death in the immediate family

D. Impassable roads

E. An emergency permit

F. Inclement weather

G. Exceptionally urgent reasons

The term "URGENT REASONS" does not include working at home. If there is a question in this area, refer to the office for ruling.

2) Unexcused absences may be for:

A. Absence through parental neglect

B. Illegally employed

C. Truancy

D. Any other reason not covered in the prior list of excused absences.

It is an established policy of this school that attendance in our school is a privilege as well as a right. Students who continually refuse to abide by the school regulations will be suspended or expelled. The school administration is charged with seeing that students attend school the required number of days unless they have an excused absence.
Pupils whose absences or tardiness are deemed unexcused or illegal may NOT be permitted to make up work for credit. Pupils should however, make up the work just the same since that work will be required for report periods and final exams. If a student did not have work which was graded for credit on the day of the unexcused absence, the teacher reserves the right to deduct 1/45 of the student’s grade per unexcused day at the end of the nine week period.
Our policy in the Punxsutawney Area Schools is that if a student misses school with an unexcused/illegal absence, he or she will make up that same amount of time in detention hall. This policy has been set by the school administration and has been approved by the local School Board.
Once a student has received three or more illegal absences during a school year they will receive a first notice of illegal absences. This notice will be in effect until the student’s seventeenth birthday. Any future illegal absences may result in action being taken consistent with Pennsylvania compulsory attendance law and filed through the district magistrate’s office.
If the office is PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED that the student will be out of school with an illegal/unexcused absence, the student may make up the work missed and detention hall will be waived if approval is granted by the administration. If approval is denied, the regulation stated above will be enforced.
EXCUSALS FROM SCHOOL

A. DENTAL AND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

Students who wish to leave the school for dental or medical appointments are required to bring a note from the parent and an appointment card from the doctor and give them to their first period teacher the day of the appointment. Only in cases of emergency should a student ask to be excused from class; if possible, the appointments should be made during study periods. An excusal form is given to the student and the doctor fills in the time and signs it. This form must be returned to the office upon the student's return to school, or the absence from school will be considered UNEXCUSED.

B. SENIOR EXCUSAL FOR INTERVIEWS

When seniors have a written invitation or appointment to go for a job interview, college admission, nurses training, trade or technical school as well as other post high school plans, they may be excused for a maximum of two days during their senior year. The senior is to obtain a permission slip from the guidance office and have this completed BEFORE the day he is to be excused. For early morning appointments, the request from the parent should be brought the day prior to the appointment. The purpose is to aid seniors in getting into post high school plans that will best meet their needs.

C. EDUCATIONAL TRIP- NOT SCHOOL SPONSORED

Students can be excused for designated trips provided a request form is completed a WEEK IN ADVANCE of the trip. The request must include destination, date of departure and return, and a brief statement explaining the trip or tour and its educational benefits to the student. The student must be under the direction and supervision of the parent or an adult person acceptable to the parent. The request is given to the principal and then sent to the Superintendent for his approval or disapproval. Parents will be notified by letter of disapproval by the administration. No excuses for trips will be issued during the final two weeks of the school term. Students will be excused for a maximum of ten (10) school days per academic year.

D. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS

1. Any pupil wishing to be excused during school hours must have his excuse approved in the Principal's office. A pupil who becomes ill during the school day and wishes to go home must first report to the Principal's office.

2. Students are not permitted to go home during the day without permission of the Principal, Assistant Principal, or School Nurse.

3. Under NO circumstances should a student call home and ask his parents to come and take him home. When necessary such calls should be made by the School Nurse or office personnel.

4. Any student not in school by 12:00 (noon) WILL NOT BE PERMITTED to participate in any school activity that day. This rule does not apply to those students who receive pre-approval from the school office for the reasons stated above, or other reasons as determined by the administration.

TARDINESS

1. A student is tardy if he or she is not in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings at the beginning of a class period. Classroom teachers and study hall monitors will record student tardiness on a late slip list. Classroom teachers may assign a teacher detention anytime a student is late to their class or refer three accumulated lates to the office for disciplinary action. Completed teacher assigned detentions will not be included in an office referral for accumulated lates.

1^st Office Referral – May Result in Administrator Assigned Detention