ELKHART COUNTY ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is very important to your child and is required by law. Every absence interferes with your child's progress in school. To this end Baugo Community Schools has joined the other schools in the county along with Juvenile Probation, Juvenile Court, Office of Family and Children, the Sheriff's Department, and the Health Department to better enforce the attendance laws. In so doing there have been major changes in the attendance policies across the county.

The term absence of concern will be used, and it is defined as anyone who is truant, a non-verified absence, or an absence verified with question. A written excuse signed by one of the parents must be sent to school following an absence if a phone call is not made to the school notifying them of the reason for the absence.

• Level 1: When a student has reached 4 absences of concern from school the parent/guardian will be contacted by letter or telephone to confirm the absences and notify them of possible consequences if the attendance pattern continues.
• Level 2: When a student reaches 7 absences of concern the parent/guardian will be sent a legal notice.
• Level 3: Any absence of concern thereafter will result in an attendance hearing with the parent/guardian, student, hearing officer, school administrator and any other concerned individual. The hearing officer will discuss the attendance concerns to attempt to identify the factors interfering with regular attendance and resolve the attendance problems. The hearing officer will submit a written summary with recommendation to the parent/guardian, school administrator, Probation Officer and/or Office of Family and Children. He/She will also notify the parent/guardian and student that continued absence will result in a fine of $150 and referral to the Probation Officer and/or Office of Family and Children.
• Level 4: Any continued absence of concern is a violation of legal notice and will be filed with the Probation Officer and/or Office of Family and Children. The parent/guardian will receive notification of a mandatory meeting with the probation officer or a representative from the Office of Family and Children. The meeting with the parents and student should take place within ten days of the violation of legal notice. Juvenile probation or OFC can utilize any of the following interventions to reduce the juvenile's absences:
  
  • Saturday School
  • Community service
  • Parenting classes
  • Monetary fine for each day missed
  • Drug assessment/testing
  • Counseling
  • Student declared child-in-need of services
  • Case worker assigned to the family
  • Juvenile Court
  • Other


• Level 5: Any continued absence will result in a formal referral to Juvenile Court being filed. A court hearing will take place within 20 school days of the referral by probation. The juvenile magistrate may use any of the above interventions or additional consequences/services.
  
  All county schools will follow the same guidelines for attendance. If a student moves from one county school to another their attendance record will follow them and the same procedures will continue. If a student reaches level 1, he/she will continue to be monitored for one calendar year. These procedures do not start over at the beginning of a new semester.

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STUDENT CONDUCT

In order for the educational process to be effective and enjoyable for your child, it is essential that an orderly and safe atmosphere be maintained at school. Along with academic skills, children need to learn to work well in a group, conform to standards or behavior and develop self-discipline. The sections to follow provide some guidelines to help students:

1. SCHOOL RULES
1. Do Your Best. Each student should strive to give a complete and honest effort on every assignment. If a student is unable to perform the task, help should be sought.
2. Respect Others. Behavior such as fighting, insulting, stealing, swearing, and discourtesy will not be tolerated.
3. Calm and Orderly. This includes walking and the use of a quiet tone of voice in the school building. In addition, throwing objects, "rough-housing" or other unsafe play will be strictly avoided.
4. Respect Property. Students will respect school property and the property of others. This includes the proper use and care of furniture, building facilities, and instructional equipment
5. No Gum. Gum chewing is not allowed.
6. Come Prepared. In addition to completed assignments, it is the students' responsibility to bring to class required books, an adequate supply of paper, pencils, and other necessary materials. This also includes either lunch money or a sack lunch.
7. No Unsafe Objects. Unsafe objects such as knives should not be brought to school.
8. Follow Class Rules. Students will follow the rules and procedures for their own classrooms.
2. PLAYGROUND RULES
   1. Follow Directions. Obey the teacher on duty. Notify him/her of any problems. Students should not go outdoors until the teacher is out. Students are not to re-enter the school except under the direction of the teacher on duty.
   2. Play Peacefully. Rough play (hitting, pushing, fighting, kicking, wrestling, etc…) which may cause injury or clothing damage is not permitted.
   3. No Throwing Rocks or Snowballs.
   4. Play Safely. Use playground equipment properly and safely.
   5. Use Proper Play Area. Large team games such as soccer, kickball, and softball are to be played only in designated areas. Other off limit areas must be observed. Tackle football and hardball are not allowed.
   6. Return Equipment. Students who take equipment outside are responsible to bring it back in.
   7. Go In Promptly. When the bell rings at the end of recess, all pupils will lineup quietly and orderly.

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LOST AND FOUND

Lost and found items are kept in the office. Students who find items should bring them to their teacher or the office. Students who have lost articles should check with the secretary. It is helpful if gloves, mittens, boots, etc., are marked with some kind of identification.

DRESS CODE

The philosophy of the Baugo Community Schools places the responsibility for dress and grooming directly with the student and his or her parents.

School officials shall only become involved when common decency necessitates, disruption or disturbance of classroom order takes place, health and safety of the individual student or other students is affected and where excessive maintenance problems are caused by student attire.

The wearing of shorts will be permitted during the months of August, September and after spring break provided they meet the above mentioned guidelines. If the weather becomes excessively hot during October, then shorts will be permitted. Shorts must be at least fingertip length when a student’s arms are extended vertically. Thin, spaghetti strap shirts will not be allowed.