ParentStudentHandbook2017-18 AUG.17

ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION

In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), parents and guardians of students attending Berlin Community School must be notified annually of this district’s activities regarding asbestos found in the school. In the past year, a periodic surveillance has been conducted. This means that an inspector came to the school and visually inspected for potential asbestos material and found no such material containing asbestos to be present. This inspection in no way posed any harm to the students and/or staff. During the 1993 – 1994 school year, the New Jersey State Health Department inspected the school under a grant from EPA and found us to be in full compliance of the law.

The management plan and the inspection results can be found in the main office of the school and are available for your review during school hours.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance Policy

Students who attend school regularly are more likely to demonstrate better study habits, achieve high grades, and enjoy school to a greater degree than students who are often absent or late. Regular and prompt attendance is necessary in order for a student to progress with his or her class(es). A major factor in a student’s lack of progress in school is often irregular attendance. Something important happens each period, each day. It is important that all students are here. Students and parents should be fully aware that what goes on in the classroom cannot be duplicated through make up work. When a student is absent, the educational experience of all the students in the class can be diminished. Regular and constant school attendance helps develop responsibility and self-discipline.

Excessive absenteeism/tardiness/early dismissal may preclude promotion to the next grade level.

An “excused” absence is any doctor’s appointments, religious reasons, court mandated events, or funeral services, Take Your Child To Work Day, student suspensions, death in the family, student illnesses, and for any other reason deemed appropriate by the principal (i.e. educational opportunities). All of the reasons listed above require parent notification to be considered excused.

If there is not proper written documentation, or if the absence does not fit in any of the categories above it will be recorded as an “unexcused absence that counts toward truancy.”

Absence from School Good attendance is essential to maintain high academic standards. However, a child who has any sign of fever, chills, sore throat, severe coughing, or earache should not be sent to school.

As mandated by the state, if a student is sick, they must return to school with a note from their parent or guardian documenting the illness in order for the day to be counted as an “Excused absence”. After a medical absence of five (5) consecutive days a doctor's note is required to be readmitted to school.

For safety reasons, parents of all students are requested to call the absentee line at (767–0129 [opt.3 ES] [opt.4 MS]), to report their child absent from school. The school will notify parents/ guardians to verify absences.

According to the compulsory education requirements of the state of New Jersey, students are expected to be in school every day. The following procedures will be initiated in order to promote good attendance: ● Parents/Guardians will be informed of their child’s attendance at or before 10 absences and/or tardies. ● 11 absences will result in a mandatory parent conference with the Principal and/or designee to establish and action plan.

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