August 20, 2007

Dear Parents and Students:

WELCOME BACK TO RHS!

Please join us on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 for “Open House” 6:00-8:00 p.m.  The format will be as follows:

Meeting with Administrators:  Parents are invited to meet with our Administrative Staff in an informal Q/A session to clarify questions regarding dress code, closed campus lunch, graduation requirements, co-curricular activities or any additional concerns/suggestions.  Parents may select any session to attend, but please be prompt to avoid disrupting others.  Sessions will begin at

6:00 p.m. in the cafetorium and will run on the half-hour as follows:

6:00p.m…..6:30p.m……7:00p.m…….7:30p.m.

Meeting with Staff:  We will NOT run a bell schedule.  Please feel free to move about the building at your own pace.  Visit our teachers in their classrooms from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and learn about your student’s course requirements and learning environment from individual teachers.

Please Note:

Policy review:   Student success requires a thorough understanding of student rights/responsibilities while in school and during participation in co-curricular activities.  Wyandotte Public Schools continues to be proactive with prevention and intervention.  Please review the Policy and Procedures Guide that you received last week with your student’s opening letter. 

Brief Reminders: 

Closed Campus:  Roosevelt High School is a “Closed Lunch Campus.”   All students will be assigned to “A, B or C” lunch and must remain in the building during the lunch period.   Students/parents may deposit money into their student’s lunch account via the cafeteria for use as a debit system with the student’s ID card. 

Fighting:   Please be assured that there will be zero tolerance for any students who engage in dangerous/disruptive behavior at school or at school functions.   Please encourage your student to seek assistance/mediation from their Assistant Principal.  Students who lose control and engage in physical confrontations/fights will be disciplined as follows:

·         1^st offense  –   5 day suspension

·         2^nd offense – 10 day suspension

Dress Code:   Please be advised that the following criteria will be enforced:

• Tops:  Clothing must cover students from the shoulders to mid-thigh.  All top garments must be long enough to remain tucked in while seated.  They are not required to be tucked in, but they must be long enough to allow for that option. (Tank tops, cropped T’s/belly shirts that expose bare midriffs, clothing that advertises or promotes alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons or vulgar statements/symbols or shirts that expose cleavage exceed the standards of good taste and are prohibited.)

Appropriate clothing examples include, but are not limited to, t-shirts, button shirts/blouses, polo shirts or sweatshirts.

• Bottoms:  All bottom garments must be worn at or near (within 1 inch of) the natural waist.  Shorts/skirts must be mid-thigh.  (Polyester/nylon gym shorts, drop waist pants, pajama style pants,  torn/un-hemmed pants are prohibited)

Appropriate clothing examples include, but are not limited to, jeans, khaki’s, slacks, skirts, and walking shorts.

• Hats/Bandanas belong in lockers, all day.  (Hats/Bandanas that are confiscated will be returned at the end of the semester.)

• Shoes:  Sandals are allowed, but are not appropriate footwear for lab classes (Science, Vocational Shop, Physical Education or Art classes.)  (Flip-flops, black & white shower or beach type shoes and slippers are prohibited.)

Appropriate footwear examples include, but are not limited to, tennis shoes, casual shoes, and dress shoes.

Sexuality and teenagers has been a parental problem that has been aggravated by clothing trends for generations.  This is not new; however, it is important to establish/enforce a uniform standard of what is acceptable for our learning environment.  Violations will be dealt with as follows:

1.      The student will be given one opportunity to correct the infraction.

2.      Student will be referred to their Assistant Principal for progressive discipline ranging from detention to suspension.

Saturday Detention:  Saturday detention will be served between the hours of 8:00-10:00 am.

Students will be issued Saturday detention for all behavior infractions that do not warrant suspension.

Cell Phones:  Students are permitted to carry cell phones; however, cell phones must be turned off and out of sight during the school day.  Cell phone use is restricted to before/after school.  Individuals who violate this policy will have their cell phone confiscated and are subject to disciplinary action.

Attendance:  Please carefully monitor telephone calls and letters received.  These notices serve to remind both students and parents that students who do not meet the 90% attendance requirement will not earn credit.  Legislation requires that student attendance be recorded on each student’s transcript.

Tardiness:  Students are allowed (4) tardies per class/per semester, however, any student who reports to class more than 10 minutes late is considered absent.  Parents, please discuss the importance of punctuality with your student.  Excessive tardiness and absenteeism are not

acceptable in the workplace.  It is important to establish good habits now.

Vending Machines:  Vending machines will operate on timers and will be available for student use before school up to 7:50 a.m., during lunch and after school beginning at 2:40 p.m.  Vending machines will not carry snack foods or carbonated beverages with minimal nutritional

value including soft drinks, candy or any item that contains more than 8 grams of fat or

35% sugar per serving.  Beverages will include 100% juice, milk, sports drinks and water.

School Pictures/I.D. Cards:  Freshmen I.D./school pictures will be taken during Freshmen Orientation on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 (Please used enclosed order form).  Picture Day will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2007 for students new to RHS and for students’ grades 10-12.  All students are required to have their pictures taken.  Student I.D. cards will be processed by Life Touch studios at no cost to the student.  Information regarding picture package costs will be distributed to students grade 10-12 by Wednesday, September 5, 2007.

Pre-Planning

Please circle the following dates on your calendar:

Again, please join us on Wednesday, September 12, 2007.  Together, we have the opportunity to help the classes of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 establish their blueprint for success.

Sincerely,

Mary F. McFarlane