��

Included in this newsletter is a summary

of the

Code of Conduct.

de of Conduct.

Please note item V,

“Student Dress Code.”

Dear Parents:

In a few short weeks our children will be returning to school. Some enter our doors for the first time, while others are

anticipating graduation. Our goal is to continue to provide the high quality of education that this community has come to

expect and that our children deserve. With your help, we can do this!

When students return, they will find

a few familiar faces in different roles

Mrs. Legler

is our new Assistant Principal. Last

year, she taught our alternative education program.

Mrs. O’Hara

was parttime last year. Beginning September 5, she’ll be

full time in the Guidance Office, working with students in grades 910.

Ms. McCain

will be at the High School a few hours

every other day to help teachers incorporate technology into their classroom teaching.

New faces will also greet our students.

We welcome

Ms. Fisher

to our Science department. She will teach biology, replacing

Mrs. Fetes, who accepted a teaching position in the Webster School District.

Ms. Trombley

will replace Mrs. Legler in our

alternative education program.

Ms. Shields

will be our halftime Spanish teacher.

Mrs. Mintz

has accepted the combined

position of halftime counselor and halftime psychologist, replacing both Mrs. O’Hara and Mrs. Premich.

Mrs. Fisler

will return from maternity leave, to teach half days in English 11.

Mrs. Luke

will teach full time, and both she and

Mrs. Fisler will share all 11

grade English classes.

Mrs. Shaw

will return to English 10.

Academic Intervention Services

(AIS) are mandated by the Board of Regents to assi

st any student in NYS who is in danger

of not meeting the standards. Last year we used 10

period to provide help. This year, we have incorporated it into the school

day, either in a lab setting or through resource support. You will receive a letter in September providing details if your child is

involved.

Research identifies several

keys to a student’s academic success

. One is

organization

. Students who are better organized

achieve greater academic success. Please ask your son or daughter about the daily planner he or she will receive September

5th. These are daily organizers the students are expected to use. You can help by asking your child to demonstrate how he or

she is using this book.

Another key to success is

attendance

. A student who is absent is missing the classroom discussion, questions, explanations,

and the interaction that is at the heart of the teaching/learning process. I cannot emphasize how important this is. Please

discourage your child from the “mental health” day because he or she was up late the night before. The morning “stomach

ache” will go away 99% of the time when the student gets into class and begins to focus on something else. There is also a

financial connection to the attendance. We receive state aid based on our average attendance. This past year was the first in a

decade that our total attendance percentage was less than 95%. You help the district maintain a reasonable budget when you

ensure your child is in school.

New graduation requirements and the testing system generated by the Board of Regents have raised the stakes for schools –the

students, teachers, and parents.

Your involvement with your child

has always been a key to their academic success.

That

involvement is even more critical now. We will be increasing the amount of contact that we initiate with you and hope this

generates more communication from you as well. When you have a question, please email me at dstarr@wfmail.williamson

central.k12.ny.us or call the school.

About the Code of Conduct

…Included in this newsletter is a summary of the

recently adopted Code of Conduct. So much of this is common sense and

already in place in the High School.

Please note item V, “Student Dress

Code.”

The full text notes that students will not be allowed to wear clothes that

promote the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or contain sexual innuendo. In

addition,

the Board of Education requires that students do not show their underwear. For the girls, this affects tops

with “spaghetti straps” and for the boys, it impacts those who wear the elastic of their boxers above the belt line of their

pants.

Williamson Senior High School September 2001

Fashion cops, please

Backtoschool clothes should be inspected by discerning parents.

What will your son or daughter wear on the first day of school? Better check it out.

Attire on the outside may very well influence thinking on the inside. If students are dressed

for the beach, will their heads be in the clouds?

Parents need to help their young people express themselves through their fashion choices

without selling themselves short. Unfortunately, the list of duds that distract or reveal is

long.

Popular for girls is the Britney Spears lookspandex miniskirt topped with a tightfitting T

shirt decorated with sequins spelling “Hottie.” And for boys? Midriffrevealing, quarter

length Tshirts and baggy pants, preferably with tattered cuffs.

What’s wrong with these clothes? They are inappropriate for school.

And the cost of backtoschool garments and supplies? Parents will spend an average of

$247 a piece this year for elementary school student, $241 per middleschool student and

$278 per highschooler, according to Visa U.S.A.

One reason for the high cost: brand names. If it isn’t Old Navy, Abercrombie & Fitch or

The Gap, then – “Ohh, Mom…”

Many schools do have dress codes. However, it’s up to parents to be the fashion police

—

to check what’s on the child’s body —and in his or her gym bag. A change of clothes,

perchance?

If your child is taken with the TV ads for bellbuttonrevealing jeans, remember the ad

featuring kids thanking their parents for being tough.

Students will be asked to cover themselves appropriately, but we ask you to ensure that your child comes to school dressed

appropriately. Please note the editorial

from the August 15

ssue of the

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Also, see below an excerpt of

Mark Hare’s August 18 article.

Regarding

student driving

seniors

and juniors

may drive

without

parking permit

through September 14,

2001

. Students in grades 9 & 10 are

NOT allowed to drive to school. We

expect students to be responsible; this

means driving safely.

The start of the year is exciting as we all

begin anew with a refreshed sense of

purpose and renewed energy. Help us

celebrate this occasion by attending

Curriculum Night at 6:30 p.m.,

Monday, September 17

. See you then!

Sincerely,

Daniel Starr, Ed.D.

High School Principal

MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2002!

Have you had a senior picture taken yet?

A senior portrait and

ONE senior baby picture need to be turned in to Mrs. Ferraro

or Mrs. Locklear by September 28 to be included in the

yearbook.

A school dress code says ‘learning is your job, kids’

“Obviously, too many parents and too many children

just don’t see that at some basic level, clothes are about

respect—for self and others. Of course, fashions change.

People wear things just for fun, or to make a statement, or

to be different. That’s fine in a nightclub or at the beach,

but not in school.

Parents and school personnel should help students

“develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in

the school setting, which is the workplace where the

student is engaged in the vocation of education.”

Well, yeah. Nobody came to school—or work—

exposing navels or buttocks 30 years ago. And you

would only come to school dressed (or undressed) in this

fashion because going to school is—for you—of no more

consequence than hanging out at the mall.

I know that exposing one’s boxers is hip, but school is

where kids go to learn—along with the science, math,

history and literature — selfdiscipline.

School is where kids learn to take their jobs seriously, to

invest themselves in the task at hand.

It’s hard to do that when your pants are halfway down

your butt, or when you’re falling out of a halter top.

Or when you’re wearing clothes that contain words that

are “vulgar, obscene, libelous, or denigrate others” or that

“promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco or

illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent

activities.”

Clothes don’t make the person, but they do direct one’s

attention. A school dress code is a good thing—not

because it guarantees higher test scores, but because it

reminds kids that school is not the street corner.”

Mark Hare, Rochester D &C

August 19, 2001

CODE OF CONDUCT SUMMARY

Introduction

The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and orderly school

environment where students may receive and school personnel may deliver

quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible

behavior by students, teachers, other school personnel, parents and other visitors

is essential to achieving this goal.

The district has a longstanding set of expectations for conduct on school property

and at school functions. These expectations are based on the principles of civility,

mutual respect, citizenship, character, tolerance, honesty and integrity.

The Board of Education recognizes the need to clearly define these expectations

for acceptable conduct on school property, identify the possible consequences of

unacceptable conduct, and to ensure that discipline when necessary is

administered promptly and fairly.

III.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

The district is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under

state and federal law. Students will also have a set of responsibilities for which

they will be accountable. See “Code” pg. 4.

IV.

Essential Partners

These include parents, school personnel, teachers, counselors, administration,

Superintendent and Board of Education. See “Code” pgs. 5 & 6.

Student Dress Code

All students are expected to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to

dress appropriately for school and school functions. Students and their parents

have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance.

Teachers and all other school personnel should exemplify and reinforce

acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of

appropriate appearance in the school setting. See “Code” pg. 7.

VI.

Prohibited Student Conduct

The Board of Education expects students to conduct themselves in an appropriate

and civil manner, with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students,

school personnel and other members of the school community, and for the care of

school facilities and equipment. School personnel who interact with students are

expected to use disciplinary action only when necessary and to place emphasis on

the students’ ability to grow in selfdiscipline. Students who will not accept

responsibility for their own behavior and who violate these school rules will be

required to accept the penalties for their conduct. See “Code” pgs. 810.

H.S. 8/21/01

VIII.

Disciplinary Procedures and Penalties

Discipline is most effective when it deals directly with the problem at the time

and place it occurs, and in a way that students view as fair and impartial. School

personnel who interact with students are expected to use disciplinary action only

when necessary and to place emphasis on the students’ ability to grow in self

discipline. See “Code” pgs. 1220.

Discipline Of Students With Disabilities

The Board of Education recognizes that it may be necessary to suspend, remove

or otherwise discipline students with disabilities to address disruptive or problem

behavior. The Board of Education also recognizes that students with disabilities

enjoy certain procedural protections whenever school authorities intend to impose

discipline upon them. The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that the

procedures followed for suspending, removing or otherwise disciplining students

with disabilities are consistent with the procedural safeguards required by

applicable laws and regulations. See “Code” pgs. 2227.

XII.

Student Searches and Interrogations

The Board of Education is committed to en

suring an atmosphere on school

property and at school functions that is safe and orderly. To achieve this kind of

environment, any school personnel authorized to impose a disciplinary penalty on

a student may question a student about an alleged violation of law or the district

code of conduct. In addition, the Board of Education authorizes the

Superintendent to conduct searches of students and their belongings if the

authorized school personnel has reasonable suspicion to believe that the search

will result in evidence that the students violated the law or the district code of

conduct. See “Code” pgs. 2931.

XIII.

Visitors

The Board of Education encourages parents and other district citizens to visit the

district’s schools and classrooms to observe the work of

students, teachers, and

other school personnel. Since schools are a place of work and learning, however,

certain limits must be set for such visits. The Building Administrator is

responsible for all persons in the building and on the grounds. See “Code” pg. 32.

XIV.

Public Conduct on School Property

The district is committed to providing an orderly, respectful environment that is

conducive to learning. To create and maintain this kind of an environment, it is

necessary to regulate public conduct on school property and at school functions.

The purpose of this code is to maintain public order and prevent abuse of the

rights of others. See “Code” pgs. 3334.

The full “Code of Conduct” is on file in the main office of each school building, in the

library of each school building, in the Public Library, with the Board of Education Policy

Manual where it will be available for review by any individual.

H.S. 8/21/01

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

AUGUST

OCTOBER

Labor Day

Holiday

SUPERINTENDENT’S

CONFERENCE

DAY

(Teachers and Staff

Report)

SCHOOL

REOPENS

Spanish Club meets

period (room 11)

Board of Education

Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Used Clothing Drive at

Breen’s IGA from

47 p.m. sponsored by

France Trip 2001

CURRICULUM

NIGHT

6:30 p.m.

Class of 2002

group

picture

by Lifetouch

(7:30 a.m.)

Area AllState

application deadline

SCHOOL PICTURES

(retakes are scheduled

for 10/23/01)

by Lifetouch

Board of Education

Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Old English W

Awards Assembly

(following forum)

Williamson Senior High School

September 2001

Main Office 5899621

Guidance Office 5899624

Nurse’s Office 5899625

Young Americans Workshop

Publication of the

WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

PO Box 900

Williamson, NY 14589

Curriculum Night/Open House

will be held

Monday, September 17,

6:30 p.m.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

USED CLOTHING DRIVE