Norwin School District Notices
Acceptable Use of the Internet
Norwin students have access to the Internet for the purpose of academic studies within each school building. In order to use the Norwin School District Internet, students must agree to the terms and conditions as outlined in the Student Internet Access Agreement. This agreement is made available to students at the beginning of each school year. Students and their parents or guardians are required to sign a consent form before the students will be permitted to have access to the Internet.
The acceptable use agreement outlines appropriate and unacceptable use of the Internet within Norwin School District. Students who violate the provisions of the agreement may be subject to disciplinary actions listed in the Student Rights, Responsibility / Discipline Code as well as the loss of the privilege of access to the Norwin School District network and the Internet. The District’ s computers are equipped with filtering software which limits access to inappropriate material as required by the No Child Left Behind and Children’ s Internet Protection Acts( CIPA).
Pursuant to CIPA, the School District will educate all students about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyber bullying awareness and response. Information regarding the Student Internet Access Agreement may be viewed by reading Policy 802, Acceptable Use, at www. norwinsd. org under“ School Board,” and“ Policies and Procedures.”
AIDS Instruction
Norwin School District provides instruction about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome( AIDS) and related issues at all three( 3) levels of curriculum: elementary, middle school and high school, as part of District policy and state regulations. Pupils may be excused from the formal instruction within the health curriculum when the instruction conflicts with the religious or moral beliefs of the parents / guardians or the pupil. A written excuse is required and must be presented to the building principal, prior to the instruction, for the pupil to be excused. Curricular outlines and materials used in conjunction with AIDS instruction are available for examination by calling the appropriate building principal for an appointment during regular school hours.
Attendance
Parents / guardians are reminded that regular school attendance is a necessity if a child is to have a successful school year. Students should bring a written excuse, signed by their parent / guardian, the day they return to school following an absence. Failure or refusal to supply a valid excuse within three( 3) days upon return to school will result in an unexcused absence. Students excessively absent will be required to submit a physician’ s excuse within five( 5) days of returning to school. The District will follow the provisions of 24 P. S. 13-1327 Compulsory Attendance and Truancy Elimination Plan of August 8, 2006.
BMI
The Pennsylvania Department of Health requires public school nurses to calculate the body mass index( BMI) of students based on their height and weight measurements. The index is a part of the scheduled screenings done at school. BMI is a weight and stature index that is used to determine whether a student is within a normal growth pattern, overweight or at risk for becoming overweight or underweight.
Building Emergency
Emergency situations sometimes develop in individual school buildings too late to cancel or delay school for that building. The situations may be temporary in nature and not necessitate a cancellation or delay. In either situation, the District attempts to provide a safe and comfortable educational environment for students. In order to do so, students may be bussed to another building, at regular intervals, to use lavatory facilities or moved to another building for the day. The District believes that this plan of action provides the best avenue for the child’ s education and welfare. Your patience and cooperation during these unusual times is appreciated.
Bullying / Cyber Bullying The Norwin School District is committed to providing all students with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect and are free from harassment or bullying. The District
Norwin School District Notices
recognizes that bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious violence. Therefore, bullying is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.
Bus Transportation / Schedule
Most students at Norwin enjoy the privilege of riding the school bus to and from school. All students, their parents, and members of the community can help maintain safe transportation for Norwin students by remembering:
• Students should be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.
• Parents who wait to pick up their children at bus stops should have alternate plans prepared in case of early dismissals, emergencies, etc.
• Students should stay a safe distance from the road while waiting for the bus.
• Students must behave while waiting for and riding the bus.
• Students are not permitted to eat or drink while on the bus.
• Students must remain seated while the bus is in motion.
• Students may be assigned seats by the driver at any time.
• The bus driver is responsible for maintaining bus discipline.
• Students should wait until the driver signals“ all clear” before crossing in front of the bus.
• Students should not reach under the bus to pick up dropped items. Rather, the driver should be asked for help.
• Students must board and unload at the designated spot unless permission to do otherwise is obtained in advance.
• Drivers are required to come to a complete stop to enable students to be picked up and dropped off.
• Nothing is to be sticking out of an open school bus window.
• Late students should avoid injury by not running after the bus.
• Students should avoid injury by not touching the outside of the bus.
• On arrival, students should report directly to their building.
Transportation assignments for the school year are posted through Skyward Family Access. The information includes bus number, bus stop location and pick-up time. If there is a question regarding your child’ s assignment, please call First Student bus garage at 724-863-2262 or Mr. Rod Stewart at 724.861.3038. In order to assist the transportation process, parents / guardians should check the information for accuracy and report any errors to First Student( 724.863.2262). Parents / guardians of students whose bus stops will change should report that change to First Student or the Norwin Transportation Office( 724.861.3038).
All buses serving Norwin School District transportation needs are subject to being both audio and video recorded to help ensure that the students are transported in a manner that protects them, as well as the school bus operator, from physical injury, verbal abuse, and threats. Such recordings, both audio and video, may be used in all disciplinary and security investigations of students and adult employees of Norwin School District and its contracted service providers.
More information can be found by reading Norwin School District’ s Policy No. 810, Transportation, and the Transportation Procedures No. 812 by visiting www. norwinsd. org and clicking on“ Policies and Procedures” under“ School Board.”
Educational Use of Personal Electronic Devices
The Norwin Board of Education recognizes that many students possess personally owned electronic devices, and that learning opportunities can be enhanced through“ Bring Your Own Device” educational programs in which teachers permit the purposeful use of personal electronic devices in support of curriculum learning objectives.
Norwin School District Policy 237, Educational Use of Personal Electronic Devices, sets forth expectations for appropriate use of existing and emerging technologies which students may possess, including but not limited to cellular phones, laptop or mini computers, e-readers, digital picture / video cameras and / or camera phones, personal digital assistants( PDAs), MP3s, tablet PCs, pagers and other personally owned electronic devices capable of transmitting data or images.
The Norwin School District holds high expectations for student behavior, academic integrity and responsible use of existing and emerging technologies. Students who possess and / or use such devices at school or school-sponsored events must demonstrate the greatest respect for the educational environment and the rights and privacy of all individuals within the school community. Personal electronic devices can only be used within the building or on school grounds if pre-approved and under the supervision of a classroom teacher or administrator for a specific educational purpose. The District shall not be liable for the loss, damage, misuse or theft of any personal electronic device brought to school.
The District reserves the right to take appropriate action, which may, depending on the circumstances, include monitoring, inspecting, copying, reviewing, or confiscating a personal electronic device or file when administration has a reasonable suspicion that a violation of District Policy or applicable law has occurred. Students who engage in inappropriate communications will be subject to discipline and, if appropriate, may be reported to local authorities.
For more information, please see Policy and Procedure No. 237,“ Educational Use of Personal Electronic Devices” at www. norwinsd. org under“ School Board,” and“ Policies and Procedures.”
Excuse from Instruction / Assessment
Parents / guardians have the right to have their children excused from specific instruction if that instruction conflicts with their religious beliefs. Requests must be made in writing to the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary or Secondary Education, signed and state the specific elements of instruction from which the student is to be excused. The request must be submitted at least six( 6) school days in advance of the instruction occurring and include the reason for requesting the excusal. This entire policy, 105.2 Excuse from Instruction / Assessment, can be found on the District website at www. norwinsd. org under“ School Board,” and“ Policies and Procedures.”
Complaint Procedure
When a parent / guardian has a complaint, it is District procedure that it should be resolved at the lowest possible level. The process typically would follow the steps below when there is a classroom concern:
Step( 1) Classroom Teacher Step( 2) Building Administrator Step( 3) District Office Administrator Step( 4) School Board
Following this procedure will ensure that the process is not delayed. All complaints must be filed within 90 calendar days of the alleged incident.
Drug-Free Schools Parents, students, and members of the community are reminded that, under provisions of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act( Act 211) and the approved Norwin School District Student Rights, Responsibilities and Discipline Code, mandatory standards of conduct have been set concerning the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol at any time on school premises. Disciplinary sanctions, including expulsions and / or referral for prosecution, are in effect for violators of the provisions. The sanctions are included in the District’ s Student Rights, Responsibilities and Discipline Code. Drug and alcohol counseling and rehabilitation and re-entry programs are also available through the District Student Assistance Program( S. A. P.)
Entering a Building
All members of the Norwin community are reminded of the District policy concerning entry onto school property and into school buildings. All District buildings are secured after students arrive; only one( 1) entrance is opened to the public. You must identify yourself and your purpose to be buzzed in. When you enter the building, please first report to the main office to obtain a visitor’ s pass.
Once inside the main office, a visitor’ s driver’ s license will be scanned and compared to a national database to check criminal history. The system alerts office staff in the event of a match to the database. Also, in cases where court documents are properly presented to the School District in advance, the system can alert
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Norwin school district News
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