General Information

The MHS class schedule runs on an 8-day rotation.  During Flex period, students can work in their assigned Advisory room or access a variety of services such as extra help, support from school counselors, Writing Center, etc. For more information about our schedule and calendars, please visit the MHS FAQs Center.

LOCKERS

All students will be assigned a locker upon enrollment and will retain that locker through graduation. Lockers are intended to provide a location for students to keep school materials and clothing safe and secure.  Please keep lockers neat and doors locked at all times to avoid theft. Permanent damage to lockers will result in disciplinary action in addition to restitution for damages. Any materials displaying drugs, profanity, weapons, or sexually offensive pictures are not appropriate and will result in disciplinary action. Lockers and all contents are considered school property and will be overseen by the administration.

FOOD/DRINKS

• Food and/or drink may only be consumed in the cafeteria during school hours. Water may be permitted in classrooms at the teacher’s discretion.

• Food delivery is prohibited during school hours. Parents should refrain from delivering food or drinks during the school day. Food deliveries from GrubHub, Door Dash, etc. are prohibited.

• Lunches must be dropped off at the main office and may be obtained during the student’s assigned lunch period.

STUDENT ATTIRE

Medfield High School seeks to maintain a respectful learning environment for all members of the school community. Student attire should reflect these values and refrain from inappropriate content and styles. The following is a sample of the types of items prohibited at school and school-related events:

• Clothing that depicts images of or contains any references to drug and/or alcohol

• Clothing with other inappropriate language or images

STUDENT PARKING 

• Parking is designated for seniors, with each eligible driver receiving a numbered parking spot for the school year. The fee for parking on campus is $180/year. All students must register their vehicle(s) with the Assistant Principal prior to receiving a spot assignment and physical parking pass.

• If there are additional parking spaces available, there will be a parking lottery for eligible juniors.

• Students may not visit their cars during the school day without permission from the main office.

• Students parking on campus are doing so at their own risk, and Medfield High School is not responsible for damages or theft.

• Medfield High School students and visitors are expected to obey all traffic safety laws and speed limits. Failure to do so will result in possible legal action and revocation of parking privileges.

• Due to safety, equity, and accountability reasons, students are not permitted to transfer or loan parking spots to other students. Sophomores may not park on campus. 

• Students who drive to school without an assigned parking spot or authorization from the main office will receive disciplinary consequences. Violators of the parking expectations may be subject to the loss of current or future on-campus parking privileges.

• Parking privileges may be revoked for leaving campus without proper authorization.

SEAT BELT POLICY

Massachusetts State Law states that all drivers and passengers of a motor vehicle must wear seat belts. Individuals not wearing their safety belts could face consequences such as losing parking privileges.

GIFT GIVING POLICY

The Medfield School Committee discourages gift-giving to staff. Massachusetts State Law prohibits public employees from accepting gifts valued at $50 or more. If you so desire, please consider making a donation to the Medfield High School Library Gift Books in honor of a selected staff member. You may also make a general donation to the Medfield High School Gift Fund, which will be given to the selected staff member to purchase supplemental materials.

PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT POLICY

Medfield High School’s policy on Physical Restraints/Management follows the Massachusetts Department of Education’s policy in 603 CMR 46.00 from the Laws and Regulations. Medfield Public Schools have adopted Safety Care techniques and protocols for incident/behavioral management.

This applies when an unsafe situation arises, and physical management is deemed appropriate to prevent a student from injuring themselves, another student, or a member of the larger school community. In these instances, a teacher, employee, or agent of the school district may use such reasonable force needed to protect all members of the school community from injury.

SCHOOL SEARCHES

The school retains the right to conduct searches in accordance with state and federal law. In New Jersey vs. T.L.O, 468 U.S. 1214 (1984), the United States Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the New Jersey Supreme Court and upheld the search of a high school student’s purse by a vice principal who had reason to believe she had been smoking in violation of the school’s rules. The United States Supreme Court ruled:

1. The Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure applies to searches conducted by public school officials.

2. A warrant is not required before a teacher or school administrator conducts a search of a pupil suspected of violating a school regulation.

3. Such a search must be reasonable in its scope. This requires a consideration of the purpose of the search, the age and sex of the student, and the nature of the infraction.

4. Probable cause is not required before a pupil may be searched; rather, before conducting a search, the teacher/staff member must have “reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school.”

5. In addition, any student vehicle parked on school grounds may be subject to search and seizure if reasonable cause exists.

6. Student lockers are the property of the school; therefore, students do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in school lockers.

EVACUATION DRILLS
Specific instructions are posted in each classroom for exit and route to safety. Instructions are as follows:

• Put aside all work immediately upon hearing the fire alarm

• Follow the evacuation route in an orderly fashion

• Focus on evacuating quickly and safely

• Follow the instructions of your teacher

• Report to the designated gathering area once outside

SCHOOL SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Maintaining the safety of our students and staff is the most important role we have as a school. Several times a year we partner with the Medfield Police Department and Medfield Fire Department to conduct both “safety drills” and “fire drills” in all of our schools. A safety drill involves students and teachers following specific classroom/school protocols that provide a safe environment in case of an emergency, such as an unauthorized person in the school building. A fire drill involves students and teachers exiting the building to an assigned area at a safe distance. Both of these drills involve protocols developed in collaboration with the Medfield Police or Medfield Fire.

There are situations when a school may need to implement a “shelter-in-place” protocol in the entire school or a section of the school. A shelter in place is not a lockdown. Students will remain in the room, the class will continue to function normally, students and staff are not permitted in the halls, and no one will be allowed in or out of the building while the shelter in place is happening. Shelter in place would be called if a medical emergency is taking place in the school or if a potentially dangerous event is happening in close proximity to the school.

EQUAL ACCESS POLICY

School Programs – Title IX

The Medfield Public Schools’ Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedure maintains that Medfield High School will not discriminate on the basis of gender and/or gender identity, race, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national origin in any of its programs. Any person who believes the Medfield Public Schools is in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that states “no handicapped individual should be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” should contact the school business office located at Medfield Town Hall- 459 Main Street, 3rd floor. Any concerns regarding this policy should be addressed to the Superintendent of Schools. (Title VI, IX, 504)

EXTRA HELP

Extra help will be available during Flex blocks as well as after school some Tuesdays and most Thursdays. Teachers may also offer extra help before school and those arrangements should be discussed directly with the teacher. 

 In addition, students may request assistance from a peer tutor (a list of peer tutors is available through the school counseling office).

MEDFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

All members of the Medfield school community must comply with the established Internet Acceptable Use Policy. This policy outlines the proper use of school-based technology, as well as restrictions and unacceptable practices.

All computer/technology use is designed to support educational programs throughout the district. Employees, students, and families are required to sign a consent form stating their understanding and compliance with this policy at the start of each school year.

To read more about acceptable uses of Artificial Intelligence tools, please  refer to the section on Academic Integrity.

PERSONAL TELEPHONE CALLS

In order to avoid disrupting the learning environment, students should not take/make phone calls during the school day. In the case of emergencies, students should report to the office to make/return a call.

USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• Medfield High School restricts the use of unapproved electronic devices during the school day, and for all personal/non-academic purposes.

• Unapproved/personal devices (primarily cell phones, but may also include other non-school related/approved devices) are not to be used during class time unless incorporated into the lesson by the teacher, or if specific permission is granted.

• Students may be asked to submit their cell phones/personal devices upon entering the classroom and may reclaim the device(s) upon exiting at the end of the class period.

• In accordance with the MPS Student Responsible Use Guidelines, students may not use devices to record, transmit, or post photos or videos of a person on campus without express permission of a teacher or building administrator. Violation of this expectation will be met with consequences which may include detention, Saturday School, suspension, or expulsion depending on the severity of the violation.

PROCEDURE FOR TEACHER CONTACT

In the event that a parent/guardian or student has a question/concern for a teacher, there is an expected chain of communication. Each subsequent step is only utilized if the issue is not successfully resolved at the previous step:

1. Email or phone call to the teacher (or Flex appointment for students) 

2. Direct conversation/meeting with the teacher

3. Conversation/meeting with the Department Chair

4. Conversation/meeting with an Assistant Principal

5. Conversation/meeting with the Principal

This process allows for the most direct exchange of information and offers opportunities for resolution prior to involving the school administration.  

NO SCHOOL/DELAYED OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS

In case of inclement weather or any other serious reasons for cancellation or delayed opening of school, information will be announced through a recorded message via phone from the Superintendent, as well as posted to various other school-sponsored social media accounts (Facebook, X, etc.).

Check radio stations WBZ (1030), WHDH (850), WRKO (680), WKOX (1200), and WCLB (105.7), as well as television channels 4, 5, and 7.

If school is delayed one hour, bus routes will begin one hour later than the regularly scheduled time.

If school is delayed two hours, bus routes will begin two hours later than the regularly scheduled time.

RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION 

School-based Publications

Certain personally identifiable student directory data, limited to name, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight (for members of athletic teams), and honors/awards received may be shared publicly. This information may be noted in athletic/extra-curricular publications, school newspapers, yearbooks, general school literature, or may be released to the news media.

Use of Student Photographs/Images

Photographs of students, parents, district employees, and school activities are often used on school bulletin boards, school-based publications, school-based websites/social media platforms, and local newspapers.

* Parents/Guardians wishing to request any/all of the above-noted information be withheld may do so by obtaining a Request to Withhold Student Information form at the high school’s main office. This form, with a parent/guardian signature, must be returned to the office in order for the desired information to be withheld. 

Armed Forces Recruiters

The No Child Left Behind Act and National Defense Authorization Act requires that school officials provide military recruiters with student information including name, address, and telephone number.

SITE COUNCIL

This council was established by the Education Reform Act of 1993 to serve in an advisory capacity to the principal. It is responsible for adopting educational goals for the school, identifying educational needs of the students, reviewing the annual school budget, and formulating a school improvement plan. An additional goal is the facilitation of communications among the student body, parents, faculty, administration, and the community. The council is comprised of the high school principal, parents, a community member, faculty members, and students. An election process is used each year to select parents and teachers for the council. Meetings are open to all. Students interested in serving on the Council should see the principal.