Policy Updates

Everyone who owns a cell phone understands that for all of the benefits they provide, they also can be very distracting. This easy access to friends, social media, games and other features creates a hard to resist distraction in the classroom. Inadvertent device sounds can disrupt the flow of lessons and the attention of every student in the room. Text messaging and camera capabilities make cell phones and smart watches a tempting way to cheat on assessments. The unfortunate use of social media by those wanting to negatively impact their peers can create situations that are so upsetting the students involved are unable to attend to their lessons. Because the use of cell phones takes valuable time away from instruction and creates disciplinary problems, the district policy is that all cell phones or electronic communication devices must be turned off, put away and not visible upon the first bell at 7:45 until the school day ends at 2:35.

If you have any concern about your student’s ability to follow this policy, we recommend that your student’s cell phone and other devices be left at home, in the car, or in their locker. However, if you choose to allow your student this privilege, please stress that the device must remain “off”, and put away and out of sight at all times from the start of first period at 7:45 until the end of the day bell rings at 2:35. Students who have alternate schedules and leave prior to the end of the day must wait until they have exited the building to use their cell phone.

As written in the HHS Student Handbook:

--All cell phones or electronic communication devices must be turned off, put away and not visible upon the first bell at 7:45 and throughout the rest of the school day.
--Cell phones or electronic communication devices are permissible only after the student leaves their final class of the day at 2:35.
--If a student is using a cell phone or electronic communication device (ANY OF ITS FUNCTIONS) for any reason during the restricted school hours in situations not related to a school purpose or educational
function, the following consequences will be imposed:

1st Offense - The device will be confiscated by school staff, secured in a safe location in the discipline office and student will receive a warning – See Parent/Guardian phone pick up procedures. Failure to turn over a cell phone/electronic device over to any staff member and/or an administrator constitutes Cell Phone/Electronic Device Disobedience. SACS does not promote cell phone/electronic device usage during the school day. Should an emergency arise for a student during the school day, access to a Homestead office phone is always available for students. All students are provided a SACS issued email account that can be used for communication throughout the school day with parents/guardians should it become necessary. Cell phones/Electronic Devices are a distraction and disruption to student learning and should be turned off and stored in student book bags. A second offense of Cell Phone/Electronic Device Disobedience may result in a recommendation for expulsion.

Below is the updated portion of Homestead's cell phone policy. To view the full cell phone policy and parent pick-up procedures, please refer to the HHS handbook.

Cell Phone Policy UPDATE:

Students will be required to remove and store all watches and any device capable of accessing the internet or storing/sharing information prior to any assessment per the teacher's direction. Students may be asked to place smartwatches and other electronic devices in a teacher-designated secure location during any assessment. If the student refuses to do so or attempts to hide the device from the teacher, the student will receive a zero on the assessment and will be assigned discipline for willful disobedience, resulting in one day of ISS.

In the most recent survey conducted by the CDC (2020), approximately one in five high school students and one in 20 middle school students reported that they use e-cigarettes. Research gathered by the FDA indicates that nicotine in tobacco products such as e-cigarettes can rewire the teen brain to crave more of the substance and create a nicotine addiction. The types of brain changes that can occur may have long-lasting effects on attention, learning, and memory. Vaping also results in long-term exposure to toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, acrolein, acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, propylene oxide, and crotonaldehyde. Toxic metal particles such as nickel, lead, and chromium are also contained in e-cigarette vapors. Young people are more likely to take risks with their health, including the risk of using products that contain nicotine, and teens are especially susceptible to addiction to nicotine, whether the substance comes from a cigarette, e-cigarette, or other tobacco product. Some e-cigarettes popular among young adults, such as JUUL, deliver especially high levels of nicotine.

Unfortunately, this national trend of teens using e-cigarettes and other vaping devices is having a negative impact on our students, too. Be assured that this concern is being addressed in all of our health classes. Because the repercussions for using these devices are so serious, we ask that parents review both the health implications and the disciplinary policies related to using vaping devices that are found on the next page with their students, so that they are fully aware of the potential consequences of their actions.

Vaping Policy UPDATE:

The Use, Posesssion, Consumption of, and/or Under the Influence of Alcohol, Nicotine (Tobacco), and/ or any other Drugs and/or possession of Drug Paraphernalia, including any Vape related devices on school grounds and/or at school related activities/events can result in up to 10 day OSS, police report filed, and Expulsion Recommendation, permanent suspension from participation in and attendance at all school activities, and Permanent suspension from participation in an Extracurricular/Co-curricular group.

2022-23 COVID-related Absences Policy

Should your child test positive for COVID, please work with your primary physician for guidance and documentation for the doctor’s excused absences. SACS is not accepting COVID test results of any kind. Students must provide a doctor’s note in order to have their absence designated as a doctor’s excuse (DX) in PowerSchool for all illnesses, including COVID.

Illnesses that are excused by a physician on their official letterhead will not be counted as part of the ten parent/guardian excused absences. Each day that the physician is excusing must be stated on that document. Please note that starting with the 2022-2023 school year, the requirement to provide a note from a physician in order to have an absence coded as doctor’s excused (DX) will also apply to students with COVID and/or COVID-like symptoms.

Below is a message from Dr. Ginder regarding this year's E-learning schedule:

July 21, 2022

SACS Families,

SACS has been awarded a waiver for the 2022-2023 school year that will allow our schools to continue to host eLearning Days throughout the year, as well as use eLearning days on days when weather might have traditionally closed school. We will continue to host eLearning Flex Days at Homestead High School on August 25th , September 20th , November 2nd, and March 10th , and at the elementary and middle school level on September 20th, November 2nd, and March 10th. In addition, Homestead will have eLearning Days for selected students on SAT and PSAT days. eLearning Days will continue to be used this year, for up to 7 weather related disruptions, with January 16th, February 20th, and March 10th held in reserve as potential make-up days if needed. It is our intention to NOT add days at the end of the school year.

Park D. Ginder

Superintendent

Southwest Allen County Schools