GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES

A. STUDENT ATTENDANCE

All students are expected to attend school and arrive on time every day. The school day begins at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m.

There are 183 school days during the 2006-2007 school year, and students are expected to be in school every day. It is vital that families contact the school in advance regarding possible absences. Absences will be excused only when proper documentation is provided. In addition, if a student needs to be absent at the last minute, notice should be given to us as soon as possible and documentation explaining the absence should be presented immediately upon the student’s return.

Any student with excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may have his or her name submitted for consideration of denial of credit. A teacher may also submit the name of a student who has not made up missed work or who is not meeting expected levels of performance after absences.

If the student is ill (see the Student Health Service section for further explanation) or not going to be in school, parents or guardians must:

• Call the front office or send a fax.
• Submit a written excuse for the student’s absence upon his or her return to school.

If a local student becomes ill during the day, parents or guardians will be notified immediately to pick up the student as soon as possible (see the Student Health Service for further explanation).

If the student is absent three (3) or more consecutive days due to illness, the parent or guardian must send in a written doctor’s note.

If the student needs to go to the Student Health Service during class hours, the student must get a pass from the teacher of the class the student is leaving, and sign in/out with the front desk before/ after the Student Health Service visit.

1. EXCUSED ABSENCES

Acceptable reasons for excused absences include the following:

• Illness (if a student is absent for three or more consecutive days, a doctor’s note must be submitted to the front office).
• Doctor’s appointments
• Death in the family
• Court appearance
• Religious observances

Absences for reasons other than those listed above will be cited as “unexcused.” A note from the student’s parent or guardian excusing a him or her for a reason other than those stated above will not be accepted. The only exceptions made will be for illnesses that are substantiated by a note from a doctor. School attendance is mandatory. Excessive absences from school will be reported to the appropriate educational agency.

2. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

No absences may be unexcused. Every absence must have a documented reason. In the event that there is no acceptable documentation with an appropriate reason for an absence, the student will lose 10 points (one letter grade) off the grade for that class during that quarter. Each subsequent unexcused absence will result in an additional 10 points off the grade. When this occurs, the student’s teacher will notify his or her parents or guardians.

3. TARDINESS

If a student arrives to class after the class period has begun, he or she will be given a tardy. Each time a student is tardy for a class, two points will be deducted from the student’s final quarter grade for that class. When a student has accumulated three (3) tardies in the class, totaling six (6) points off the quarter grade, the family will be notified. If a student misses more than 15 minutes of the class period, this will be considered a cut, not a tardy, and the policy regarding unexcused absences will apply.

4. LATE ARRIVAL/EARLY DEPARTURE FOR COMMUTER/LOCAL STUDENTS

If a student arrives late to school, a parent or guardian (or a designee that is on the approved list filed in the student central file) must accompany him or her to the front office and sign the late arrival book for the student to receive a pass to class. If a student will arrive alone, the parent or guardian must inform the assistant principal’s office beforehand of the late arrival.

If a student will depart from school prior to the regular closing time, a parent or guardian (or a designee with a note signed by the parent or guardian) must pick up the student in the front office and sign the early departure book. If a student will depart early, the parent or guardian must inform the front office in advance.

5. STUDENT SIGN-OUT/PARENTAL PICK-UP/APPOINTMENTS FOR COMMUTER/LOCAL STUDENTS

In the event that a parent or guardian needs to pick up a student during the school day, the parent or guardian is required to stop by the front office to fill out the Student Sign-Out Log. Students going to appointments independently must also sign out.

If the parent or guardian picks up the student from the Student Health Service, the school nurse will ask the parent or guardian to stop by the front office first to fill out the Student Sign-Out Log. If the parent or guardian is unable to do so for any reason, the school nurse will immediately inform the front office. This information can then be entered into the Student Sign-Out Log and the Residence Education and dorm staff informed.

The following information is requested on the Student Sign-Out Log:

• Student’s name
• Name of the parent, guardian, or person signing the student out.
• Date and time of pick-up
• Return date, time, and place (i.e., school, dorm, or home)
• Reason for pick-up (i.e., medical appointment, student is sick, etc.)
• Identification will be required for verifying at the time of pick-up or drop-off.

In the event that a commuter/local student arrives late, he or she must sign in at the front desk with a reason for being late. The reason stated will be reviewed by administration to determine whether the late arrival will be excused or unexcused.

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B. HEALTH INSURANCE

MSSD’s Student Health Service is maintained for the care of sick or injured students. The emphasis for both is on first aid and short-term care with the goal of returning students to the classroom as quickly as possible. Residential students requiring more critical care will be referred to a local physician or hospital. There is a health insurance requirement for all MSSD students. The Gallaudet University health insurance plan can be purchased for the school year. Families with private insurance must contact providers and advise them that your child will need out-of-area services. This will ensure faster and more effective services should your child have an injury and require immediate service. Please check with the Student Health Service to see if your private insurance coverage is acceptable.

Health insurance coverage must be current and information furnished 25 days before the first day of school for each academic year. Contact the Student Health Service for more information.

Note: Students staying in the residence halls must have proof of health insurance.

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C. LOCKER AND DORMITORY ROOM INSPECTIONS

Lockers are school property and are available for use by all high school students without charge. Locker searches may be conducted primarily for enforcing order and discipline in the school.

In the presence of a witness, the principal, director, assistant principal, or a designee may conduct inspections and examine the locker contents, including personal belongings, when there are reasonable grounds to believe that they contain illegal drugs, weapons, stolen property, or other contraband.

When the student is present during the search, the school official will advise him or her of the circumstances justifying the search and seizure of the objects. If the student is not present, he or she will be informed of the search. Parents or guardians will be notified by the assistant principal’s office when inappropriate and/or illegal activity is suspected.

Dormitory rooms are school property and inspections can be implemented routinely or when there is reasonable concern about violations of D.C. laws and/or school regulations. The search must be conducted in the presence of another witness. This search may include student desks, bags, clothing, backpacks, closets, and suitcases. School personnel may confiscate student property if that property is likely to disrupt the school environment or if it is illegal.

If any material, contraband, or evidence of violations of laws or of school policies or rules is obtained in a search, it may be kept by the school, returned to parents or guardians, provided to the police, or used in any disciplinary action against a student.

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D. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

MSSD has a set of Emergency Response Procedures that is designed to respond to various situations, crises, or disasters. These procedures are also found on the Gallaudet/Clerc Center website. A brief synopsis of the response procedures is as follows:

In the event of any emergency, every attempt will be made to contact students’ parents or guardians promptly.

1. FIRE/BOMB THREATS

The building will be evacuated in the case of a fire or bomb threat. MSSD has clear procedures by which students, teachers, and staff members exit the building and proceed to the designated evacuation area.

2. BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL ALERTS

MSSD has assigned a ground level and a second floor location to all students, teachers, and staff members in the MSSD school building. In the event of a biological-chemical alert, MSSD personnel will care for students until their parents or guardians arrive to pick them up from school. This includes the basic provisions of care/food/water. Parents and guardians will be directed to a specific access door and will be assisted when arriving to pick up their children. All other exterior doors will be locked.

3. EVACUATE MSSD/GALLAUDET CAMPUS

In the event of a major disaster in which all individuals at Gallaudet University have been instructed to evacuate the campus, all MSSD students will be evacuated to a location in Maryland. Parents and guardians will be informed of the location. Students will be cared for until they are picked up by their parents or guardians.

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E. INCLEMENT WEATHER/CLOSINGS

Early Closings (i.e., students are at school, but school closes before 3:05 p.m.):

• The Operations and Programs/Principal Office will announce the early closing throughout the school.
• The Operations and Programs/Principal Office will facilitate the phoning of the parents or guardians of the commuter (day) students at MSSD who ride the KDES buses.

Delayed Openings:

• The Residence Education staff will inform MSSD students when there is a delayed opening.
• MSSD students who ride the KDES buses should watch the local news station for information about delayed openings for KDES and MSSD.

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F. GALLAUDET ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

Gallaudet Alert is an e-mail system based on a listserv. It works this way:

• The University president or his designee notifies the Department of Public Safety (DPS) of an unexpected closing (i.e., due to snow), an emergency, or any other unusual situation.
• DPS sends the message using the listserv.
• All people who have subscribed to the listserv receive the announcement immediately. The announcement can be sent to e-mail, pagers, cell phones (with text capability), laptops, PCs, and PDAs. You can subscribe to the listserv on more than one device (i.e., both your pager and your PC).

How to Subscribe to the Listserv:

• Use the device with the address to which you want the alert sent.
• With this device, send a completely blank message and nothing in the subject line to: alert-on@gumail.gallaudet.edu.
• After the listserv has received your blank e-mail, Gallaudet Alert will send you an acknowledgment and give you instructions on how to have your address removed in case you wish to unsubscribe at a later time.

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G. STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES

The Student Health Service (SHS) serves both Gallaudet University and MSSD students, offering a wide range of services for acute and chronic problems for those students with acceptable insurance coverage.

A nurse practitioner and a registered nurse have the primary responsibility for the health care of MSSD students. They are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on an appointment basis. In case of emergency after hours and on weekends, the student will be brought to the emergency room of a local hospital by the driver on call or by ambulance if necessary.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for SHS care, students must file:

• a completed medical form with medical history, authorization to treat, and the name and phone number of an emergency contact person;
• a physical examination report performed within one year of entry into MSSD;
• up-to-date proof of immunizations, including DPT and polio series; tetanus booster within last 10 years; two measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunizations; Chicken Pox; Hepatitis B shots; and a TB test within the previous year.

Any student out of compliance will not be permitted to come to school.

SHS Appointments

Students may sign in between 8-8:15 a.m., Monday through Friday, in order to schedule same day appointments. Students are to report to the front office for health problems occurring during school hours with a pass from their teacher. The school secretary will call the SHS staff, and the student will be given an appointment time or told to report to the SHS for immediate care. Appointment information will be shared with the appropriate department chair via the daily attendance sheet.

During evening hours, dormitory staff will issue SHS passes after contacting the SHS staff. Except for emergencies, students must have an appointment card or a pass to go to the SHS.

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H. MSSD TRANSPORTATION

Campus Shuttle Bus Service:

The University provides free shuttle bus service to and from the campus and to Union Station and the New York/ Florida Avenue/Gallaudet University Metrorail station. Commuter students may use the shuttle bus for transportation to and from school. Use of the shuttle bus for unauthorized purposes is strictly prohibited.

Closed Weekends:

During closed weekends, holidays, and the end of the school year, students will be provided with shuttle bus service. This service applies only when school closes at 1 p.m.. Students will be dropped off at the following locations: Union Station (Amtrak) and the Greyhound bus station, the Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). Those buses are not provided on the final day of the school year. Students are responsible for their own transportation when returning to school.

Routine Transportation Guidelines:

Routine appointments such as for dental orthodontics, physicals, etc., should be scheduled at home during the summer or during school breaks. When an appointment must be scheduled during school time, it is the responsibility of the student and his or her parents or guardians to inform the school, the Student Health Service, and the Residence Education staff as soon as possible. It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to arrange for transportation for the student to the scheduled appointment and back to school.

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I. IDENTIFICATION CARDS

All new MSSD students are issued an identification card for use on campus. Students must carry their ID cards at all times. ID cards are needed for admission to the cafeteria, the bank, and other facilities, on- and off-campus school activities, and to borrow school items. If a student loses his or her ID card, the cost for replacement is $20.

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J. AGE AFFIDAVIT GUIDELINES

Permission requirements are established by MSSD for students who have reached the Age of Majority (18 years). Parental permission is required for students under the Age of Majority.

Note: See the Appendix for more information on Age Affidavit Guidelines.

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K. MSSD DRESS CODE GUIDELINES

MSSD personnel, along with parents or guardians and the community, are responsible for encouraging all students to develop habits of proper dress and grooming.

Students shall not wear attire that interferes with the educational mission of the school, is disruptive to the school environment, is provocative, or that could endanger the health or safety of that student or others during school hours and school activities.

Students will need at least one pair of leather slip-on or lace-up shoes (not sneakers) for work internship days. The basic dress code is listed below.

(Note: This is not a complete list.)

In the school building, students may not wear:

• Boxer shorts
• Bare midriffs
• Cut-off shorts, torn clothing, or excessively faded jeans
• Pajamas
• Clothing that is either extremely tight or extremely loose/baggy, hip huggers or pants worn low or loose that expose skin or undergarments
• Short skirts
• Hats, visors, scarves, bandannas, sweatbands and forehead bands, or sunglasses
• Clothing advertising or advocating the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence, or other illegal or harmful products
• Clothing that unduly exposes or reveals excess skin or undergarments (i.e., tank tops, cut-off tops, halter tops, mesh shirts, or tops that are strapless, low cut, or expose midriff)
• Clothing containing sexually suggestive messages
• Clothing printed with obscenities, profanity, or the use of weapons
• Undershirts
• Excessive and visible body piercings (i.e., tongue, nose, brow, or lip piercing)
• Shoes and sandals must be worn at all times in the school building (i.e., water shoes, shower flip-flops, and slippers are not acceptable)

Students who dress inappropriately or contrary to the dress code will be asked to change clothes. If a student fails to comply, his or her parents or guardians will be contacted and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

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L. USE OF VEHICLES

Students may not, under any circumstances or at any time, operate any motorized vehicle on campus, including Gallaudet University. Students are permitted to use bicycles, skateboards, and in-line skates with appropriate protection.

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M. STUDENT PASS

Each student must carry a pass when he or she is not in class. If a student wishes to obtain access to the MSSD main building before or after school, he or she will be required to provide a student pass given by a teacher or staff member. Failure to carry a pass may result in the writing of an Incident Report by a teacher and/or staff member.

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N. LENDING MONEY/PERSONAL ITEMS

Students are encouraged not to lend out their personal items or to make monetary loans to other students. MSSD is not responsible for any monetary or personal item loans that students make to each other.

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