UMHS
General School Practices/Procedures
Students are required to present absence excuses for all days of absence. Either pre-printed forms (available in the attendance office) or hand written notes are acceptable. In either case, a parent signature is required. These notes are to be turned in to the homeroom teacher no later than the second day after returning to school. If a note is not received by the 3rd day, the absence will be recorded as unexcused and illegal, and the student will receive a grade deduction and a Saturday detention.
Admission of New Students
Only students living with parents or guardians who legally reside in Upper Moreland Township are entitled to attend Upper Moreland Township public schools without paying tuition. A tuition student and his/her parent or guardian must secure approval from the office of the Superintendent before the student may enroll in Upper Moreland schools. All new students must first register at the district pupil personnel office.
Announcements
All announcements will be made over the intercom during homeroom each morning and will be posted in the main lobby. All announcements must be approved by a teacher,
sponsor or
coach.
Student performances, special speakers, music programs and a variety of other activities are part of the general assembly schedule. Whatever the program, much of its success lies in the behavior of the individual student as a member of the student body. The student will respect the efforts of those who are performing. Any discourtesy reflects not only upon the individual but also upon the school.
Athletic Participation
A variety of interscholastic sports are offered in the high school. The privilege of participation is granted to those students who maintain proscribed standards of academic performance, daily attendance, and appropriate behavior. All athletes are responsible to adhere to rules set forth in the Athletic Code of Conduct.
Automobiles
Based on availability, parking permits will be issued to students in grade 12 first, then to students in grade 11, and finally to students in grade 10. Students must be properly licensed and insured and have established an acceptable record of attendance and behavior. Students who wish to use the school parking facilities should realize that they do so at their own risk as the school district assumes no responsibility for any vehicle stolen or damaged.
All requests for driving and parking privileges must be approved by the Management Assistant. Students making applications for this privilege will be screened for patterns of unacceptable behavior or excessive absence/lateness. Students with no discipline record or with offenses considered minor who have acceptable attendance records could receive their parking permits immediately. Students who do not maintain an acceptable attendance and disciplinary record may have their parking privileges revoked.
Students who are granted driving/parking privileges must abide by the following regulations:
1. The speed limit on school grounds is 10 miles per hour.
2. Parking hang-tags must be obtained and displayed in the front windshield of any vehicle that the student selects to bring to school.
3. Once issued, the hang-tag must be displayed or a parking ticket will be issued for that vehicle. Student lots are permit-parking only; the vehicle hang-tag must match the lot assigned.
4. Student vehicles cannot be parked in staff or visitor lot areas.
5. Students are not to return to, sit in, or move cars during school hours.
6. Eastern Center students wishing to drive must have their cars in the
proper space at the high school prior to the start of homeroom.
Eastern Center will not issue parking permits to Upper Moreland
students. Students are not to drive to Tech without a pre-approved
note from a Tech teacher or high school administrator.
Any car without an official parking hang-tag or any car that is illegally or improperly parked will be ticketed and issued a $15.00 fine. Speeding, moving the car during school hours, or multiple parking tickets will result in parking privileges being revoked for a minimum of 30 days. Reinstatement of these privileges shall be at the discretion of the administration. Once a student loses his or her parking privileges but continues to park the car on school grounds, the car will be ticketed daily and may be towed away at the owner's expense.
Bicycles
Since specific areas are provided for parking bicycles and motor bicycles, students are required to park in these areas if they choose to use these modes of transportation. Motor bicycles are under the same rules as automobiles. Students operating motor bikes must secure a parking permit.
The school assumes no responsibility for any bicycle damaged or stolen. Students are urged to secure their bicycles with a chain and lock.
Cafeteria
The cafeteria is for the convenience of every student, whether purchasing food or bringing lunch from home. In order to see that all students have ample time to enjoy their food, the following rules govern cafeteria conduct:
1. All students must eat their lunches in the cafeteria area unless excused by a teacher or administrator.
2. As a courtesy to the other students who will use the cafeteria, students should keep the tables clean. Trays and dishes must be returned to the proper windows and all wastepaper must be placed in containers.
3. The throwing of food or other articles in the cafeteria will not be tolerated. Regardless of whether a student initiates such an incident or retaliates by throwing an item, they are considered to be a participant and will be subject to a 5-day suspension, the assignment of 5 administrative detentions, and a loss of cafeteria privileges for 5 weeks.
4. Students are not permitted to take food/beverages out of the cafeteria.
5. Students are not permitted to order food from an outside source to be delivered to school during school hours.
College Visitations
Normally, college visitations by juniors and seniors shall be scheduled during non-school time. If the visitation cannot be so scheduled, at least one day prior to the visitation, the student must present to the attendance office a letter from the college or parent requesting the visitation. If prior approval is not received, the days will be declared unexcused absences. A maximum of two days' absence per year is permitted for this purpose.
Distribution of Materials By Students
While students have the right to express personal opinions and to take stands on various issues, they may not disrupt the educational process. Therefore, the following rules must be adhered to in the distribution of material within the school:
- All printed material to be distributed, circulated, or posted on school property must be approved by the administration and bear the name of the sponsor.
- Only a sponsoring teacher, not students, may arrange to have approved materials distributed in homerooms.
- Only approved announcements and posters advertising upcoming school events may be posted throughout the school. Announcements may not be posted on windows or doors; materials that do not adhere to these guidelines will be removed.
- Violators of this policy will be disciplined, and the materials will be confiscated.
Early Dismissal
Requests for early dismissals require a parental note stating the reason for the request. Parental notes are limited to 5 per semester. Notes should be turned in to the attendance office for approval on the day prior to the early dismissal. All early dismissals for a doctor or dentist appointment will require a note signed by the doctor or their office stating the date and time the student was seen. The note must be turned in to the attendance office the following school day to avoid being marked as illegally absent.
Emergency Closing of Schools
If emergency conditions make it necessary to close school, official notification will be broadcast over radio and TV stations as soon as possible. Although the code number for Upper Moreland District has been 310, an updated bulletin is distributed each year. In any event, please do not call the principal, teacher, or the school so that the channels of communication may remain open for decision making.
Emergency Preparedness Drills
Emergency drills are occasionally held to prepare for severe weather or other emergencies which could require that students and staff seek shelter within the school building.
An emergency signal will sound to begin such a drill. Upon hearing this signal, students should look for the red emergency location sign (usually posted above the classroom door), move to that location, and remain there until the all-clear signal is given.
The faculty dining room and lounges are reserved for staff members. Students are expected to refrain from entering these areas without special permission.
False Alarms
The fire alarms in all schools are automatically connected to the police station. Any student found guilty of pulling the fire alarm may be subject to a minimum $500 fine. This action will be considered a Level 4 offence in the Upper Moreland High School Code of Conduct.
Fire drills are conducted monthly with the sounding of an automatically controlled bell system. Signs have been posted throughout the building to indicate the proper exits. The entire school body should be able to evacuate the building in less than two minutes in a quiet and orderly manner.
All doors and windows should be closed and all lights turned off. After reaching the outside of the building, everyone should move to a safe distance from the building and out of the pathway of incoming fire vehicles.
Upon a signal from faculty members or an announcement over the public address system, everyone should return to the building.
Hall Traffic
During the passing of classes, students should walk briskly and in an orderly fashion to their destination. Loitering is discouraged and horseplay will not be tolerated.
No student is permitted in the hallways during classes without a yellow hall pass signed by a staff member.
Homeroom
Each student is assigned to a homeroom to which he or she reports at the beginning of every day. During the homeroom period, students will be led, via the public address system, in the salute to the flag and will be given the daily announcements. Also, during this time, attendance will be taken.
Lost and Found
In the high school any lost or found article should be taken to or claimed in the main office.
Medications
All medications, whether prescription or non-prescription, should be kept in the nurse's office. In order for medication to be given in school, a note from the parent must accompany the medication. This note should contain the student name, name of the medication, dosage and time to be given, and the reason for the medication. All medicine must be in the original container from the pharmacy.
Physical Education Excuses
An excuse written and signed by a parent or guardian containing a full explanation of the reason for the excuse will be honored for three days only. A doctor's note is required in order for a student to be excused from gym classes after the third day. These excuse notes must be presented to the school nurse prior to the opening of school and at no other time during the school day.
At the discretion of the physical education teacher, a written assignment may be given on days of medical excuse. Failure to complete such assignments will result in a zero for that day's work.
School Insurance
The School District of Upper Moreland Township makes available to all students a group accident insurance plan. Brochures and application forms are available in early September. Homeroom teachers will distribute them to the students. Students participating in interscholastic athletics are strongly encouraged to enroll in this or some other insurance plan, since the school district does not provide coverage for sports-related injuries.
Student Privileges
The behavior of an Upper Moreland High School student should reflect the standards of good citizenship expected by society. Self-discipline is one of the most important goals of education. While education is the right of American youth, student participation in certain ancillary programs and activities are not rights which are guaranteed, but rather privileges which can be granted and revoked. Examples of such privileges are:
- Participation in co-curricular activities (both athletic and non-athletic)
- Attendance at home athletic events
- Attendance at school-sponsored social events, such as dances, proms, trips
- Participation in the commencement ceremony
- Membership in school-sponsored clubs and organizations
- Driving and parking privileges
- Open study period
- Unassigned seating in cafeteria and auditorium
Students wishing to take advantage of these opportunities are required to exhibit appropriate behavior on a regular basis. Compliance with the High School Code of Conduct is a prerequisite for granting and retaining such privileges. In addition, students must agree to comply with the UMHS Athletic Code and Activity Code. A disciplinary review board, comprised of professional staff members and/or administrators, may withdraw the privileges of any student who demonstrates a disregard for proper behavior and cooperation or violates the High School Code of Conduct, Athletic Code, or Activity Code. Upon seeing evidence of appropriate behavior modification over an extended period of time, the review board may reinstate privileges previously revoked.
Student Sales
Students are prohibited from selling items in school unless they are a part of a school-sponsored fund-raiser. All such sales have very strict guidelines concerning when and where the items may be sold. Profits from sales are maintained in the student activities accounts under the name of the organization conducting the sale. Funds maintained under the names of individual students, within organizations, do not earn interest. The teacher in charge of the fund-raiser will notify all participants of these guidelines.
Students who buy or sell items in the classroom or the learning areas may receive an administrative detention.
Textbook and Equipment
Textbooks and certain other equipment needed by the students are supplied by the school district. These are loaned and are to be returned in good condition at the close of the school year. Students are responsible for seeing that books are kept covered at all times.
All equipment which is lost or damaged by misuse or neglect must be replaced or paid for by the student before report cards are issued.
All visitors are required to register in the main office where visitation privileges will be determined by the Administration. If approval is given, all visitors will be issued a temporary pass that must be displayed at all times. To minimize disruptions to our educational program, only those people who have academic or educational goals to pursue will be granted permission to observe our school and classrooms during the school day. Any visitor, whether students from other schools, former graduates or other adults, must abide by the following regulations:
- Visitation requests must be made with the main office at least one day in advance of the visit to describe the intended purpose of the visit and the anticipated date(s) and time(s).
- The Administration will review the request and will obtain prior approval from all teachers who will be affected before granting visitation privileges.
- Visitations for social reasons are not permitted.
- Visitations will be discouraged during the first week of classes, the last week of classes, or on the day prior to or immediately following a school holiday.
- All visitors will sign in with the receptionist.
Withdrawal Procedures
When a student is withdrawing from school, the parents are required to inform the school in writing. On the day a student plans to leave, he or she must obtain a withdrawal form from the high school attendance office. The completed withdrawal form must be returned to the attendance office, whereupon the student will be issued a transfer card.
Families may move from the district during the summer months. Unless notified of such a move, the school reserves class space and bus seating for these students. It is also impossible to forward records without this knowledge. Therefore, parents and guardians are reminded of the necessity to notify the school in writing of any withdrawals.