The Mifflin Seal

The official seal of the School District has a very interesting historical origin and significant symbolism. The seal is basically the Mifflin Coat-of-Arms brought to this country from England by the Mifflin family. Adaptations include replacement of a dove at the top of the seal with a four link chain, the addition of GOVERNOR MIFFLIN SCHOOLS around the seal and color modification to conform to our school colors.

The colors and various parts of the seal stand for the following:

Gold: The gold stands for honor, loyalty, truth and honesty.

Maroon: The maroon represents bravery and courage.

Chevron: The chevron signifies the highest regard for excellence

and the outstanding performance in any field of endeavor.

Star: The star symbolizes spiritual guidance from the Almighty,
  which is essential for self-realization and a life of service.

Chain Links: Each link represents one of the original four school districts: Brecknock, Cumru, Mohnton, Shillington, Kenhorst, and

indicates strength and unity through cooperation.

Nil desperandum: “We are to despair of nothing.” This is the quality of a
positive, forward looking attitude so needed to deal
successfully with life’s complex problems.

It is our hope that each Governor Mifflin student will have an understanding of the significance of the seal, and that these attributes will become an integral part of his/her ideals, goals, attitudes and actions.

Philosophy

We believe that an excellent high school prepares students for a lifelong process of learning by providing opportunities to achieve academic excellence, to understand the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a democratic society, to become self-reliant, to work effectively with others and to experience a wide range of activities in addition to the academic curriculum. We further believe that a cooperative effort which includes students, professional and support staff, parents, school board and community is essential in promoting students’ intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth.

Governor Mifflin School District Mission Statement

The Governor Mifflin School District:  Educating, Inspiring, and Empowering Every Student, Every Day.

Shared Values:

• We believe in providing a comprehensive scholastic program that meets the needs and challenges the abilities of all students.

• We believe that lifelong learning is essential for one to flourish in a rapidly changing world.

• We believe the partnership among the School District, the home and the community has a direct correlation to the quality of the educational system and the experiences of each student.

• We believe that individuals are responsible for their choices and accountable for their actions.

• We believe that a commitment to continuous improvement is vital in order to achieve our mission.

• We believe that honesty and integrity are essential to healthy relationships.

• We believe everyone can learn.

• We believe it is important to develop within our students the attitude to “learn to live and live to learn.”

Governor Mifflin High School Mission Statement

The Governor Mifflin High School, in partnership with our community, is committed to prepare all students to become lifelong learners, in order to be responsible, respectful, contributing citizens of a dynamic and diverse society.

Alma Mater

Alma Mater, Hail to thee,
Symbol of Democracy,
Strong and mighty you will stand
As God protects you with His hand
Chorus: Mifflin High to thee we sing
As in our halls our echoes ring
Thy colors of maroon and gold
Ever in our hearts we’ll hold.

Words – Class of 1954       Music – Bernard Rightmyer ’52, Larry Rightmyer ’55

The Pennsylvania Code

§ 12.2. Student responsibilities/Chapter 12 Regulations

(a)  Student responsibilities include regular school attendance, conscientious effort in classroom work and homework, and conformance to school rules and regulations. Most of all, students are responsible to share with the administration and faculty a responsibility to develop a climate within the school that is conducive to wholesome learning and living.

(b)  No student has the right to interfere with the education of fellow students. It is the responsibility of each student to respect the rights of teachers, students, administrators and all others who are involved in the educational process.

(c)  Students should express their ideas and opinions in a respectful manner.

(d)  It is the responsibility of the students to conform to the following:

(1) Be aware of all rules and regulations for student behavior and conduct themselves in accordance with them. Students should assume that, until a rule is waived, altered or repealed in writing, it is in effect.

(2) Volunteer information in matters relating to the health, safety and welfare of the school community and the protection of school property.

(3) Dress and groom to meet standards of safety and health, and not to cause substantial disruption to the educational processes.

(4) Assist the school staff in operating a safe school for the students enrolled therein.

(5) Comply with Commonwealth and local laws.

(6) Exercise proper care when using public facilities and equipment.

(7) Attend school daily and be on time at all classes and other school functions.

(8) Make up work when absent from school.

(9) Pursue and attempt to complete satisfactorily the courses of study prescribed by local school authorities.

(10)  Report accurately in student media.

(11)  Not use obscene language in student media or on school premises.

Authority
The provisions of this § 12.2 amended under section 2603-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  26-2603-B).

Source
The provisions of this § 12.2 amended February 17, 1984, effective February 18, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 520; amended December 2, 2005, effective December 3, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 6510, 6658. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (279556) and (293057).

Coming soon

The Governor Mifflin High School expects all students to attend school daily. The educational program offered by the Governor Mifflin High School is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation in order for students to achieve academic standards and consistent educational progress. The District encourages cooperation and communication among parents/guardians, teachers, and administrators in upholding the laws regarding attendance, enforcing District policy and providing maximum benefits of education to our students. Compulsory school age refers to the period of a child’s life from the time a child enters school as a beginner, which may be no later than eight years of age, until the age of 17 or graduation, whichever occurs first.

Excused Absences

Excused Absences* include:

1.Personal illness
2.Death in the immediate family
3. Religious holidays
4. Emergencies (must be approved by an administrator)
5. Educational family trips (up to five days)

Educational family trips require a completed “Request for Excused Absence” form turned in to the associate principals’ office at least ten days prior to the trip. Forms can be obtained in the attendance office or printed from the district website, www.governormifflinsd.org. Approval will be made at the discretion of the principal and the assistant superintendent in accordance with the District policy and granted to students who do not have attendance issues.

**In order for any absence to be excused, a handwritten parent note must be submitted on the approved “Excuse for Absence/Tardiness/Early Dismissal” form within the first three days of student’s return. If a student hands in a note on any other piece of paper, it will be returned to the student and must be rewritten on the approved “Excuse for Absence/Tardiness/Early Dismissal” form (download here).

In addition, please submit a scanned copy of a photo ID with all faxed/emailed attendance notes. A parent signature must also accompany any notes submitted. A doctor’s note is also an acceptable form of an excuse note.

The high school may utilize the automated phone notification system to notify a parent/guardian of his/her child’s absence, tardiness, or half day absences with no notes.

Unexcused/Unlawful Absences

Absences for other than the above mentioned reasons will be considered unexcused (for students who are 18 years or older) or unlawful (for students who are under the age of 18). Examples of unexcused/unlawful absences include, but are not limited to:

1.Cutting class
2.Truancy
3.Missing a bus
4. Unlawful (for students who are under the age of 18) employment
5.  Oversleeping/failure to arrive at school
6.  Any other excuse that is not acceptable according to the School Code

Chronically Absent Student

A chronically absent student is defined as a student who misses 10% or more of the school year, therefore, 18 or more school days. To support students and avoid reaching the status of “chronically absent” the school will: send regular attendance letters home, provide proactive attendance improvement plans, and schedule SAIP meetings in accordance with the Berks County Attendance Protocol. If your child is having issues getting to school regularly, please reach out to the school administration team for support.

Participation in School Related Activities

Students who are absent from school will not be permitted to attend or participate in school-sponsored activities held the day or evening of the absence. This includes field trips, dances, concerts, plays, musicals, sporting events, etc. The only exception is absence due to approved trip/activity, involvement as a representative of the school or planned, pre-approved college trips. The District will approve up to three days per year for college trips for juniors and seniors. Any additional college visits may be counted as unexcused absences.

Early Dismissal and Late Arrivals

Secondary students must sign in at school prior to 9:20 a.m. to be considered present for the morning session. They must remain at school at least until 1:25 p.m. to be considered present for the afternoon session.

When a student has a doctor’s appointment that requires an early dismissal, he or she must bring a parent note indicating the dismissal time to the attendance office during homeroom. Any student not returning from a doctor’s appointment must submit a doctor’s note upon return.  If a parent’s note is not provided in advance, a parent will be notified by telephone to confirm arrangements and dismissal by emailing or faxing a signed, written excuse note with a copy of photo ID. This procedure is a safety precaution, and there will be no exceptions made.

Absence

1. A student who has been absent from school one-half day or more will, upon his/her return, bring a note written by his parent or guardian stating:

a. the date or dates of absence

b. the student’s name and homeroom teacher

c. the reason for absence

d. the parent or guardian’s signature

This note must be given to the attendance office for the attendance records. A.M. Career Center excuses are to be given to the associate principals’ secretary in the attendance office.

2. When the reason for a student’s absence is questionable, when an absence is extended or when the attendance is irregular, a statement from a physician may be required by the associate principals.

3. Students have three days following their return to school to present a note explaining their absence. A parent excuse note must be submitted the day of return. Failure to submit an excuse note within three days may result in the absence being recorded as unexcused/unlawful.

4. If it is necessary for a student to be absent, we request that the school be informed by telephone as early as possible on the day of the absence. Our attendance office phone number is 610-775-5092. We will make every effort to verify all absences from school.

5. Students who are absent three consecutive days are required to submit a physician’s note.

6. Excessive absenteeism constitutes absences exceeding 10 days for the school year. Students accumulating 10 absences with parent notes shall present a doctor’s note for any additional absences.

Absence and Making Up Work

1. Excused absence: This includes personal illness, accident, death in the immediate family and similar types of emergencies and pre-approved educational trips.

2.  When a student’s absence is unexcused or unlawful, the student may not have the opportunity to make up work.

3. Students whose absence from school is deemed to be excused are expected to make up all assignments and examinations within a reasonable time of the date of the absence. Teachers will review procedures for specific situations at the beginning of the school term.

4. Assignments or examinations that are not made up will be recorded as a zero and averaged with the grades earned to determine the quarterly mark.

5. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the make up arrangements with his/her teachers.

6. Regulations on make up work apply whether the absence was for a special rehearsal, illness, representing the school in athletics or music or an excused family trip. In other words, missed work must be made up. All attendance information is recorded on the report card.

7. If a student cuts class, he/she will not be permitted to make up missed work.

8. Absence because of suspension:  A student suspended from school shall be responsible for all material covered in his/her absence.  Teachers are required to provide missed assignments.

9. Co-Curricular participation: Students participating in a co-curricular activity on a school day must be signed in to school before 9:20 a.m.

Cumulative absences – Cumulative absences include, but are not limited to:

1. Illnesses covered by a parent note and contact

2. Truancy

3. Absences due to missing the bus

4. Class cutting

5. Non-school activities during the school day

6. Non-approved family vacations

* Students and parents will be notified at regular intervals about cumulative absences and have the right to appeal credit denial in writing to the associate principal.

Non-cumulative absences – Non-cumulative absences will not count towards the credit denial policy and include:

1. Illness verified by a doctor’s note

2. Death in the family

3. Approved family vacations (not in excess of five days)

4. Religious holidays recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education

5. Other administrative reasons including school trips and activities and college visits for juniors and seniors (up to three days).

Tardiness

A student will be late to school if he/she is not in class/homeroom by 8:05 a.m.

1. Tardiness to School

a. A summary of all tardiness is kept on the student’s report card. Repeated tardiness will result in disciplinary action.

b.  A student who misses class work because of an unexcused tardy may not be permitted to make up the work.

c.  If a student arrives to school after 8:05 am, he/she must report to the attendance office for an admission slip to class.

d.  Ten tardies with parent excuse notes may be deemed to be “excessive.”  Administration reserves the right to request a doctor’s note for additional tardies.

2. Half Day Unexcused (HU)

A student arriving to school after 9:20 a.m., without a valid excuse note, will be deemed unexcused for half of the school day and issued an HU on his/her attendance record.  A summary of all student attendance is kept on the student’s report card. HUs are cumulative and may lead to administrative disciplinary action, and/or truancy intervention action up to and including citations

3. Absence and Extracurricular/Athletic or Co-Curricular Activities Participation

a. Absence for 20 or more days during a semester for reason other than quarantine shall cause ineligibility until he/she has been in attendance for a period of 45 days following his/her 20th absence.

b.  Students participating in extracurricular/athletic or co-curricular activities on a school day must be in classroom attendance during at least the half day preceding the activity.  This means the student must sign in at the attendance office before 9:20 a.m.

Tardy/Half Day

TARDY (after 8:05 a.m. – before 9:20 a.m.):

Tardy students will remain in designated location until the end of the period during which they arrived. Tardy students are responsible for make-up work in class that day.

HALF DAY (after 9:20 a.m. – before 11:00 a.m.):

•  Consequences assigned after 4th half day unexcused.
•  After school detention automatically assigned on 5th half day unexcused and subsequent. (Monday and Friday HU’s will be assigned for Tuesdays.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE (after 11:00 a.m.):

Please refer to “Unexcused/Unlawful Absence” section above.

Why does attendance matter?

• 95% attendance is every student’s attendance goal (9 or fewer absences per year!) Use the last page of this book to track your absences and keep you on track!
• Showing up every day is a skill that you are developing that will help you do well in class and with getting and keeping a job later on.
• School only gets harder when you skip a class. Sometimes it’s tempting to skip or stay home because you are tired or don’t understand what’s going on in class, but missing a day only makes that worse because you aren’t learning something that will help you understand a lesson later on.
• If you think missing a day here or there won’t matter, think again! By missing just one day every two weeks, you would be on track to miss two full weeks in a semester or nearly a month of school for the year!
• A student who misses 10 days or more during a school year is less likely to graduate from high school and or ever enroll in college.
• Chronic absence can affect your ability to earn a living. Dropouts are less likely to succeed in a career. In fact, a high school graduate makes, on average, $1 million more than a dropout over a lifetime.
• If you’re having trouble getting to school— and have challenges such as transportation, bullies, etc.—tell someone, such as a teacher, guidance counselor or your family. Many schools offer services to help the whole family! (Source: https://attendanceworks.org)

Emergency Closing of School

Decisions about school closings, late starts or emergency closings are normally announced via our phone/email/SMS mass messaging system, are posted on our school web site (www.GovernorMifflinSD.org) and social media, and are forwarded to local radio/television stations (WEEU 830 AM, WFMZ Channel 69, WGAL Channel 8) by 6:00 a.m. The stations request that you do not call them. On occasion, an announced delayed school start may change to school being closed. Therefore, another mass messaging call will be made, our web site will be updated and the media will be alerted. The Governor Mifflin School District’s automated phone message will also be updated to announce the change in schedule. Should school close early, secondary students are dismissed first, then elementary students. All early dismissals are announced  via our phone/email/SMS mass messaging system, posted on our web site and social media, and announced on local radio/tv stations. Please refrain from calling the schools during these situations, as telephones are needed for emergencies. Please be alert to the possibility that school may close early, and if you are not home during the day, make sure your children know what to do if they are dismissed early. Secondary students are encouraged not to drive on days when bad weather is forecasted.

Smoke-Free Schools Policy

The Governor Mifflin School District is a smoke-free campus. In September 1997, the Governor Mifflin Board of School Directors approved a policy that will make all grounds of the Governor Mifflin campus smoke-free. In order to protect students, employees and community members from an environment that may be harmful to them, the Board of School Directors prohibits smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco in any form on or in school facilities by all district employees, contractors, visitors and community members.

• School facilities include all district buildings, school district vehicles and school grounds.

•  “Smoking” means all uses of nicotine/tobacco related products including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, pipes, smokeless tobacco, electronic, or vaporizing devices.

• Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco and/or tobacco “look-alike” products and related paraphernalia on or in school facilities or in school district vehicles will be considered a violation of this policy.

Visitors

All visitors are required to show a photo ID and receive a visitor’s badge at the high school main office. Any person picking up a student must be listed in Skyward and show proper identification. Student visitors must obtain prior permission from the administration. No student visitors will be permitted during the school day.

Video Surveillance

In order to keep Governor Mifflin High School students safe and secure and to protect individual property from harm, the school has been equipped with a video surveillance system.

Permission to Leave School During Regular Hours

1. No student is allowed to leave school during the day without permission from the attendance office. If such permission is necessary, the student must submit a written request to the attendance office prior to 7:45 a.m. The note must state the exact time of dismissal request and the reason for leaving school early. If the request is approved, the student will be issued an early dismissal pass which must be presented in the office before signing out.

2. All appointments, if possible, should be scheduled before or after school.  A parent’s note must be presented to the associate principals’ office before 7:45 a.m. on the day of the appointment, and a special excuse will be issued, which must be presented to the teacher in charge before leaving. A physician’s note is required for medical appointments upon return to school.

3. Except as approved by the principal or associate principals, students will not be permitted to leave the building during the school day for personal reasons such as errands or returning home for forgotten work.

Students Signing In or Out

Students entering or leaving the building for any special reason during regular school hours are required to sign the attendance roster in the attendance office.  Students requesting to leave school without a pre-approved note must receive permission from an administrator.

Building Security Measures

Students are restricted from opening any exterior doors to allow the entry of another person(s) into the building.  Those found to be in violation will receive disciplinary action for safety and security breach.

Students are reminded of their responsibilities to do their part in assuring our building is safe from any unauthorized entries into the building during the school day.

Respect for Property

Governor Mifflin High School is your school. Since the school is yours, you should have a certain pride in ownership. Those students who follow you in the years to come will appreciate your care and courtesy.

The boys and girls’ lavatories should be kept exceptionally clean. Our school pride is exemplified in the way we maintain our lavatories. Keep paper from the floor; do not deface walls and keep voices as low as possible. Persons causing damage to school property will be required to pay for the damages.

Respect for Others

Students are expected to be respectful of others. We recognize all students as individuals representing our diverse cultural heritage. We believe schools should provide all students with surroundings in which they can feel comfortable to express their opinions, ideas and beliefs without harassment regardless of age, race, color, national origin, sex or handicap. Students harassing others may be charged with a summary or criminal offense under the PA Crimes Code Section 2709.

Food and Drink Restrictions

1.  Large drink containers/glass bottles are not permitted during school.
2.  Food is permitted in the individual classrooms at the teacher’s discretion.
3.  Food purchased from an outside food venue will not be permitted beyond the attendance office without administrative approval.

Other School Building Regulations

School grounds are maintained for the benefit of our students and community members. Please help us by adhering to the following regulations:

• Use of the grounds by organized, non-school teams must be pre-approved in writing.
• Vehicle traffic is restricted to paved roads.
• Parking on grass is prohibited.
• Litter is to be placed in trash containers.
• Golf clubs, skateboards and in-line skates are prohibited.
• Dogs are not permitted on school grounds.
• The entire campus is a smoke and drug-free zone. As such, tobacco, nicotine, alcohol and controlled substances are prohibited.
• The use of laser pens/pointers is prohibited.
• All acts of vandalism and disorderly conduct will be referred to the local police

Pledge of Allegiance 

The US Supreme Court upheld a ruling that students cannot be forced to participate in or stand during the flag salute (Pledge of Allegiance) if they do not wish to do so. We ask that students who do not wish to participate in the Pledge remain seated and quiet as to not be a distraction to those that Pledge. Additionally, staff will not ask why the student(s) do not want to stand/participate for the Pledge.

Posting of Information

Any outside group or organization wishing to post information must receive authorization from the administration. The information will be posted on the bulletin board located in the hallway near the main office. The information should contain dates, times, locations and a contact person. Posters, flyers or general postings should be removed in a timely fashion.

Evening Activities

All practices, rehearsals and meetings involving high school students held on evenings preceding a school day shall end no later than 9:30 p.m. unless prior approval is given by the administration.  Students are not to be in the building for evening activities unless accompanied by a teacher or adult supervisor.

Lost and Found

If you find an article or have lost anything of value, bring it or report its loss, to the associate principals’ office. Lost articles may be claimed from the “LOST AND FOUND” located in the associate principals’ office.

Homework Request Procedure

When a student is sick three days or more, he or she should request work from his/her teachers. Thanks to modern technology, this process is easier than ever. Students and parents may e-mail their work requests directly to their teachers.

How? Students or parents can go to the Skyward web site where grades are reviewed. This information is presented to students on the first day of school. To access this site:

• Go directly to Skyward Parent log-in web site. Enter your user name and password.

• Feel free to call the technology office at 610-775-1461, ext. 1124 for more information or help.

Where? As in the past, if books or other materials need to be delivered to the students, they can be picked up in the attendance office before or after school. When the teacher has been emailed, at least 24 hours should be given to allow the teacher to respond.

If you have any problems contacting the teacher, feel free to call your guidance counselor at 610-775-5089.

School Sponsored Trips

All school rules and policies are in full effect on school trips. Written permission slips by parents or guardian must be submitted by the student to the teacher in charge prior to the trip date. Students may be restricted because of previous poor behavior on trips or current academic or discipline problems.

Financial Obligations

1. Students shall be held responsible for all outstanding financial obligations to the school.

2. Any student with an outstanding financial obligation or debt to the school will not be permitted to:

a. attend any extra-curricular field trip

b. participate in any interscholastic event

c. order class rings

d. purchase yearbooks

e. purchase dance, homecoming and/or prom tickets

f. receive graduation tickets and/or participate in graduation ceremonies

g. attend non-curricular related field trips

3. Students shall be responsible for the cost to repair and/or replace all school property that may be lost, damaged or destroyed as a result of their acts or activities. In particular, students who severely damage or lose a textbook or piece of school equipment are obligated to pay the full replacement price. Failure to pay for any lost, damaged or destroyed items can result in the filing of a civil suit against the student and/or the student’s parent/guardian.

4. Students shall return, or make restitution for, all borrowed books, materials, equipment and any monies or property collected by them through fundraising events.

5. Students are encouraged to resolve financial obligations as they are incurred. Any student who fails to honor and fulfill his/her financial obligations shall be subject to any and all authorized actions available to the District, including the institution of legal actions that may, to the extent allowed, include collection actions against the student’s parent/guardian.

Textbook Return Policy

Students are responsible for the textbooks assigned to them at the beginning of the school year. Textbooks damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen must be paid for by the student. Students are expected to personally return their books to their teachers during the scheduled times.

Late to Class

If tardy for class, the student will be admitted by the classroom teacher, who will record his/her name and time of entrance. Unless the student is in class by the time the bell rings, he/she is considered late to class.

Late to Class Consequence Chart

1

Verbal Warning

2-5

Verbal Warning

6-12

Teacher referral to the office/Administrative Detention

13+

Saturday detention, OSS

Study Hall Procedure

1.Regular Study Areas (cafeteria, auditorium, classroom) – A quiet study atmosphere will be provided for students to study individually. Students are expected to report before the late bell with materials for study or leisure reading. Students who find it necessary to work together on an assignment or project must obtain prior permission from their teacher.

Pledge of Allegiance

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling that students cannot be forced to participate in or stand during the flag salute (Pledge of Allegiance) if they do not wish to do so. We ask that students who do not wish to participate in the Pledge remain seated and quiet as to not be a distraction to those that Pledge. Additionally, staff will not ask why the student(s) do not want to stand/participate for the Pledge.

Fire Drill Procedures

In order that we may safely vacate the building, the following rules will be enforced:

1. All students will leave the room in an orderly fashion without talking.
2. Do not close windows or turn off lights.
3. The teacher shall be the last to leave the room and shall close the door.
4. Students will re-enter the building when all-clear is given to them by an administrator.
5. Consult posters in each room designating proper exits and routes.
6. Report to designated areas in the stadium and multipurpose field. Areas must be clear so that emergency vehicles have access to all routes to the building.
7. The teacher shall have crisis response booklet and take attendance once his/her students reach the designated safe area.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the failure to acknowledge someone else’s words or ideas. All of these following constitute plagiarism.

1. Failure to document with quotation marks any material copied directly from other sources.
2. Failure to acknowledge paraphrased material (someone else’s ideas).
3. Failure to provide a bibliography.
4. Use of others’ work as one’s own, particularly in the arts.
5. Use of others’ ideas as one’s own for themes, poems, musical compositions or artwork. ¹
6. Use or copying of any computer storage device.
7.  Use of an electronic device for any assessment.

Governor Mifflin’s procedure on plagiarism is as follows: Students who plagiarize will receive a “0” for their work for the first offense. A second offense could result in a failure for the quarter. This procedure applies to all forms of media including the use of computers and on-line services.

¹  “The Research Paper.” (Illinois: McDougal, Littell) 1989. p. 13

Students may be asked to submit their papers to www.Turnitin.com to check for any suspicion of plagiarism.

Cheating

Cheating is a very serious infraction and GMHS is committed to establishing the highest levels of academic integrity. To maintain these high standards, honesty in all assignments is crucial. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to the following: copying of another’s work or assignment, handing in another person’s schoolwork, assisting another student in his/her efforts to cheat, the use of or possession of exams, use of or possession of other unauthorized materials, use of or possession of aides during testing or the facilitation of cheating (i.e. disclosing test questions, sharing writings that are intended to be graded, etc…)

Consequences for cheating include contacting the student’s parent(s), a “0” for their work for the first offense, and removal from consideration for the National Honor Society or other scholarly organizations sponsored by the District. A second offense could result in a failure for the quarter. Each offense will include a discipline referral for the purposes of recording the student’s action(s). In addition, theft and/or the dissemination of a test may result in consequences up to and including out of school suspension.

Acceptable Use Policy for Digital Technology

The Governor Mifflin School District’s goal in providing access to the Internet and other digital technologies to employees and students is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication. (Please refer to the Governor Mifflin School District Acceptable Use Policy for Digital Technology, Policy No. 815.) If a Governor Mifflin School District user violates any of these provisions, his/her account will be terminated, suspended and future access could be denied.

Definitions:

Computer(s) – shall mean desk tops, Chromebooks, laptops, iPads, tablets, workstations, servers and (Personal Digital Assistants) PDAs, data projectors, printers or any other digital device in the nature of a desk top, laptop, workstation, server or PDA, that is owned, leased or licensed by or to the District.

Digital Technology – shall mean all forms of DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING software, hardware and digital services of any nature and kind that is based on DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, that is provided directly or indirectly by the District to its employees or students, and that is: owned, leased or licensed to the District; or that is accessed by or through DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY that is owned, leased or licensed to the District. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES COMPUTERS; servers; networks; programs; software; digital files, folders, data and records of any nature; the Internet; cell phones; beepers; PDAs; modems; voice mail; e-mail; chat-rooms; instant messaging; user groups and such similar technologies.

Privacy

No employee or student using the District’s DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY shall have any right of privacy or expectation of privacy with respect to anything done with said DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. The DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY belongs to, is licensed to or is accessible through DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY that is owned by or licensed to the District. The District retains all rights as an owner or licensee with respect to all DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY that it owns or licenses and has, unless restricted by an express agreement with a third party supplier, the rights of an owner or licensee, INCLUDING, the rights to use, transfer, inspect, examine, read or store any such DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.

Permissible and impermissible uses of DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

1. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY may be used only for legitimate educational purposes.

2. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY is being provided or made available to students solely as part of the educational program, for the purpose of teaching students how to use and employ DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY and to further the teaching of the District’s curriculum and educational programs. The District is not, through DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY that is being made available by the District to students, creating a public forum, an open public forum or a limited public forum.

3. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY may not be used by students for speech or expressive conduct:

    a. That materially and substantially interferes with the education process.

    b. That threatens immediate harm to the welfare of the school community or to any individual.

    c. That is lewd, vulgar, indecent or obscene or which contains sexual innuendo, metaphor or simile.

    d. That encourages unlawful activity.

    e. That interferes with another individual’s rights.

    f. That constitutes liable, slander or defamation.

    g. That is sexually, racially or ethnically related, that is offensive, threatening or an affront to the sensibilities of others, and that is unlawful under the standards of the anti-discrimination laws of the United States.

4. All expressive conduct or material, whether verbal, written or graphic-created, downloaded, maintained, copied, pasted, harvested or otherwise obtained, used or transmitted by, to, from or with the District’s DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, is required to be related to the adopted curriculum, assigned classroom activities or school programs, such as the development of writing skills, the learning of legal, moral and ethical restrictions imposed upon speech and the acceptance of criticism. Consequently, all expressive conduct by students shall be: age-appropriate; consistent with the rules of grammar, spelling, sentence structure and format being taught by the District and consistent with the abilities of the student.

5. No program, software, application or patch may be installed or placed in any District COMPUTER that is not licensed to and in the name of the District or that is not authorized in writing to be installed or placed in any District COMPUTER.

Provision of DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Services

Students shall be provided with only the following DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY services, subject to the policies, limitations, exclusions and conditions established by the District and/or the programs in which they are enrolled:

1. Access to the Internet.
2. Access to software as provided from time-to-time by the District.
3. Digital files from which to access or save work.
4. Print servers.

The information available to students and employees through DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY does not imply endorsement by the District of the content or accuracy of the information received. The District shall not be responsible for any information that may be retrieved, lost, damaged or unavailable when using the Internet or other DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. The District makes no warranties, either express or implied, for any of the digital services it is providing and will not be responsible for any damages suffered by the user of its DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.

Prohibitions

Students and employees shall not:

1. Use any DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY for any purpose other than for the legitimate educational purposes of the District’s students or for purposes of advancing the legitimate business of the District.
2. Use any DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY for personal business or affairs, except as expressly provided in this policy or in administrative guidelines disseminated and adopted by the Director of Technology or designee.
3. Use any COMPUTER unless and until a confidential USER ID and password have been assigned to the student or employee; students in primary grades are not required to have a unique USER ID for the District network.
4. Connect any unauthorized wireless device or device using wireless technology to the District network.
5. Terminate use of any COMPUTER without logging off the COMPUTER.
6. Disclose their USER ID or password to any other individual.
7. Use or utilize the USER ID and/or password belonging to or assigned to any other individual.
8. Open or log onto any COMPUTER, software, program or application using, utilizing or inputting the USER ID and/or password of any other individual or entity.
9. Misrepresent their identity when using the District’s COMPUTERS.
10. Bypass CIPA COMPLIANT SOFTWARE or any other blocking software that may be used or installed by the District.
11. Intentionally, willfully, maliciously or through reckless indifference damage or corrupt the functioning of any DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY or any data stored, either temporarily or permanently, on any DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.
12. Visit or access pornographic web sites.
13. Violate any applicable Code of Student Conduct.
14. Use any COMPUTERS unless and until the individual has signed an acknowledgment, in the form prescribed by the District, attesting to the individual’s understanding of the rules governing the use of DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.
15. Intentionally enter any secure or confidential area of the District’s systems or COMPUTERS without proper authority.
16. Violate any copyright laws or the ownership or license rights of any person or entity.
17. Violate the legal rights of others.
18. Knowingly infect any COMPUTER with any virus or spyware.
19. Use any software or Internet site in violation of any applicable licensing agreement or applicable terms of use.
20. Use any DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY to hack into anyone else’s COMPUTERS or networks in any way or manner that is not authorized.
21. Use any data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction methods in violation of any person’s or entity’s rights.
22. Use DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY to violate any applicable law, INCLUDING the Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Control Act.
23. Install any software program onto or in, or download any software program onto or in, any COMPUTERS without the express approval of the Director of Technology or designee.
24. Fail to report to the Director of Technology or designee any time when s/he inadvertently visits or accesses a pornographic site.
25. Violate any applicable work rule when using the District’s DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.
26. Alter or change the desktop or the look or operation of any desktop of any COMPUTER.
27. Alter or change the screen saver, or the look or operation of any screen saver, installed by the District.
28. Delete, disable, change, create or remove any program, application, security feature or virus protection from any District COMPUTER.
29. Abuse equipment. No person shall vandalize, destroy, alter or use equipment in a way that is not recommended by either the District or manufacturer of the equipment.

Lockers

Each student is furnished with a hall locker with a compartment for clothing and another for books. The individual student is responsible for the articles in the lockers, and the school cannot assume responsibility for any loss. Students should not bring large sums of money or valuable articles to school. Students are required to clean out their lockers by the last day of school. Any personal items left in lockers after the last day of school will be discarded.

Each student is provided a school combination lock for his/her hall locker. This is to be used to keep lockers locked at all times. No other lock will be permitted on hall lockers. Only school-purchased combination locks equipped for the master key control system will be permitted on gym lockers at times other than during the student’s gym class. However, locks other than school specified locks, may be used on lockers during gym class only.  Students are encouraged to secure/lock personal belongings in their school locker.

Problems with hall lockers should be reported to the main office. Problems with gym lockers should be referred to the gym teacher.  Replacement locks cost $4.50 and can be purchased in the main office.

School authorities may search a student’s locker and seize any illegal materials. Such materials may be used as evidence against the student in disciplinary proceedings. Prior to a locker search, students shall be notified and given an opportunity to be present. However, where school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the locker contains materials which pose a threat to the health, welfare and safety of students in the school, student lockers may be searched without prior warning. Students shall not expect privacy regarding items placed in school lockers. School lockers are considered school property and are subject to search at any time by school officials. Random, periodic or sweeping searches may be conducted by school officials. Searches may also be conducted with police and police dogs.

Gym Locker Rooms

Authorized students only are permitted in the locker room before, during, and after school hours.  Students without permission from staff or faculty are subject to prosecution for trespass.

Student Dances

1.  Students must submit guest requests for dances. Forms are located in the main office and must be filled out prior to the dance for administrative approval.
2.  DRESS ATTIRE:  Proper school dress shall be worn for dances. This will be the rule unless a special type of attire is requested in line with the dance.
3.  As students enter a dance, each will be required to show their school ID along with their ticket.
4.  Students will be able to place their coats and purses in a safe location but will not be able to access them until the end of the dance.
5.  Student’s inappropriate dancing/behavior will not be permitted at the dance and will be addressed accordingly. “Inapproriate” will be at the discretion of the faculty member/chaperone of the dance.
6.  Students leaving a dance early will be required to sign-out prior to leaving. Students will not be allowed to re-enter the dance.
7.  Random alcohol and drug checks may be conducted.
8.  All Governor Mifflin School District rules are in effect at the dances.

Electronic Devices

Electronic Devices shall include all devices that can take photographs; record audio or video data; store, transmit or receive messages or images; or provide a wireless, unfiltered connection to the Internet. Examples of these electronic devices include, but shall not be limited to, radios, walkmans, CD players iPods, MP3 players, DVD players, handheld game consoles, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, BlackBerries, laptop computers and tablet technology, as well as any new technology developed with similar capabilities.

The Board prohibits use of electronic devices by students in grade levels 9-12 during any and all periods of

instruction; during detention, unless approved by the teacher and in locker rooms, bathrooms, health suites and other changing areas at any time. In grade levels 9-12, the use of electronic devices is permissible during non-instructional time. Non-instructional time is defined as before/after school, during the change of classes, during lunch time and study halls.

The use of electronic devices as a classroom tool is permitted district-wide under the supervision of the instructor and approval by the Building Administrator.

The Board prohibits possession of laser pointers and attachments and telephone paging devices/beepers by students in district buildings; on district property; on district buses and vehicles; and at school-sponsored activities.

The district shall not be liable for the loss, damage or misuse of any electronic device.

Electronic Images and Photographs

The Board prohibits the taking, storing, disseminating, transferring, viewing, or sharing of obscene, pornographic, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer or other means, including but not limited to texting and e-mailing.

Because such violations may constitute a crime under state and/or federal law, the district may report such conduct to local, state and/or federal law enforcement agencies.

School personnel may confiscate electronic devices. Confiscated property will be given to the associate principals. A parent or guardian will be required to pick up any confiscated item following the first offense.

The building administrator may grant approval for possession and use of a telephone paging device/beeper by a student for the following reasons:

1.  Student is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue squad.
2.  Students as a need due to the medical condition of an immediate family member
3.  Other reasons determined appropriate by the building principal.

THE DISTRICT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE LOSS, DAMAGE OR MISUSE OF ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL BY A STUDENT.

Electronic Device Consequence Chart

Chromebooks

It is imperative that students have their Chromebooks each day, and that we have sufficient Chromebooks accessible with our technology department.

Chromebook rental policies and expectations:

· Students have a maximum of 5 Chromebook rentals each quarter. After those 5 rentals, students will NOT be permitted to rent again during the given quarter. Students will then need to complete any Chromebook assignments using pen and paper, and receive a consequence from their given teacher.

· Rented Chromebooks must be returned by 3:15 p.m. the day of the rental. Chromebooks turned in late will lead to a one week rental ban from the date the laptop is returned. This is to ensure that sufficient Chromebooks exist for students needing rentals.

Counseling Services

Click to view this year’s school counselor assignments

The Governor Mifflin High School Guidance Department strives to assist students to reach their fullest potential. The counselors work with students to design their high school experience and develop their future plans.

Special counseling is also available for students who have, or are trying to avoid, serious personal problems. Community agencies will be contacted as appropriate for specialized help.

Although conferences are generally held with students at specific times, students are, nevertheless, encouraged to come to the guidance office at any time, preferably during their study periods. Unless there are urgent reasons, students are not permitted to miss a class or any portion of a class to see a counselor.

Counselors are eager to meet with parents. Conferences with teachers and parents will be arranged upon request by calling the guidance office.

The guidance office is the center for information concerning scholarships and other forms of financial aid. A scholarship brochure is available to those seeking assistance.

Whether planning to continue formal education beyond high school or hoping to enter the work force upon graduation, a student should determine how to use his/her ability wisely so that his/her school experiences may be helpful and meaningful. In other words, “study, listen, participate, learn.”

Requesting Transcripts

For seniors, official transcripts will be processed through Naviance. A $5.00 fee covers all requests through Naviance.

All other students may request an official transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form with a $1.00 processing fee to the guidance office. This form is available in the guidance office and on the district website. If the student is under 18 years of age, the student’s parent/guardian must sign the release.

Grading Scale

Grade interpretation for student achievement is determined in the following manner: A – Superior; B – Good; C – Average; D – Poor; F – Failing; and in situations where a student is unable to complete the work because of sickness or some unavoidable situation, I – Incomplete. It is the student’s responsibility to make up the work within a reasonable amount of time. Every reasonable effort should be made to avoid an “I” in the final grade or for the final average.

In determining grade point averages, the following system will be used:

A    93-100    4.00
A–   90-92      3.67
B+   87-89      3.33
B      83-86      3.00
B–     80-82      2.67
C+    77-79       2.33
C       73-76      2.00
C–     70-72      1.67
D+   67-69      1.33
D     63-66      1.00
D–    60-62     0.67
F      50-59     0.00

S     85%
U     59%

50% Rule

During the first three marking periods, an “F” is no less than 50%. During the fourth marking period and the final exam, an “F” will equal 0-59.

Retesting Procedure

The retesting procedure is intended to build proper study habits, increase student mastery of concepts, and to increase student achievement.  Testing should reflect student learning in the classroom and all students should be given an opportunity to demonstrate growth. Students will be allowed to retake summative assessments based on the following conditions:

Mastery Learning

•  Students can retake a summative assessment regardless of score.
•  The highest score will be the documented grade in the teacher’s grade book.
•  The maximum score resulting from any retake is 100%.
•  Students may retake each summative assessment one time.
•  Students must have completed all classwork and practice assignments in order to retake a summative assessment.
•  Students must complete a “Request to Retest” in order to retake a summative assessment.
•  Teachers will provide this document upon student request.
•  The retake assessment will be different in questions but equal in standards and depth of knowledge. The structure of the assessment may change at the teacher’s discretion.

Time and Responsibility Factors:

•  Student must retake the summative assessment within two schedule cycles from the day the  original 
    summative assessment was handed back to the student (IEP students – refer to IEP).
•  Teacher may adjust deadline due to extenuating circumstances – student absences, schedule conflicts,
    etc.
•  Students must make arrangements with the teacher as to when and to where they will retake the
    summative assessment.
•  Students will complete the activities agreed upon in the “Request to Retest” document prior to taking    
    the exam. Students are encouraged to use the Learning Resource Center (LRC) to supplement the
    teacher conference and/or additional requirements.

Please Note:

•  All assessments should have feedback on them from the teacher to provide students with information on what they need to work on to achieve mastery on that content.
•  Mid-Terms and Final Exams are not available for retakes.
•  All assigned summative assessments during the summer are not available for retakes.
•  The retesting procedure does not apply to Advanced Placement courses.

Grade Point Average

A student’s grade point average (GPA) is calculated by averaging the point value earned in courses. Career Center students receive three credits.

Examples of Grade Point Averages:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Class Rank

Report cards and transcripts will carry the traditional GPA (grade point average) without any weighting. The GPA for six majors of three “A’s” and three “B’s” will be 3.5 and will not be modified by weighted grades. However, the class rank, as printed, will include the adjustments for students carrying courses with weighted grades. The result will be that all students will be on equal footing for printed grade point averages, but the highly competitive academic student will gain needed recognition for college entrance and scholarship in class rank determination.

Honors classes carry a weight of 0.01 while Advanced Placement courses are weighted 0.1. Students with AP courses must take the AP Exam and score at least a “3” to receive the 0.1 weight value.

Determining Final Report Card Grades

A student’s final grade in any subject shall be determined by averaging the four quarter grades and the quarterly exams. The actual percentage earned will be used in the calculations for the final grade. Letter grades are assigned according to the specifications listed below.

Assessments

Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT)

The Pennsylvania Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) is a set of online assessments, divided by content area, designed to provide diagnostic information in order to guide instruction and remediation.  The CDT reporting system is fully integrated in the Standards Aligned System (SAS). It assists educators in identifying student academic strengths, and areas in need of improvement, by providing links to classroom resources.  The diagnostic reports feature easy-to-follow links to targeted curricular resources and materials, including units and lesson plans found within the SAS system.  The CDT is available to districts at no cost.

The purpose of the CDT is to provide information that will help guide instruction by providing support to students and teachers.  The CDT reports are designed to provide a picture or snapshot of how students are performing in relation to the Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors & Eligible Content and Keystone Assessment Anchors & Eligible Content.  The CDT goes beyond focusing only on What students should know and be able to at a particular grade and/or course.  It also provides a snapshot of How and Why student may still be struggling or extending beyond the grade and/or course Eligible content.  This valuable information is typically not identified through other types of assessments.  Teachers, through the use of CDT reports, may access additional information through the Learning Progression Map.  The Learning Progression Map allows teachers to pinpoint where students are struggling along or extending beyond the learning continuum.  The CDT helps identify, and provides suggestions, for “next steps” in student academic development.

Benefits for STUDENTS include the following:

     •  Moves students along path toward career and college readiness
     •  Promotes teachers partnering with students to set learning goals
     •  Provides descriptive and timely feedback to students while in the process of learning and creating
     •  Builds efficacy brining students into the process of their own learning
     •  Supports ownership
     •  Builds efficacy bringing students into the process of their own learnin

Benefits for TEACHERS include the following:

     •  Access to immediate, detailed diagnostic reports
     •  Understand the strengths and needs of each student
     •  Provides tools needed to group students for different mini-lessons throughout the school year depending
     on their needs and goals set for learning
     •  Gain insight into students’ strengths and needs during the school year, as well as focus their teaching for
     classes and grade level
     •  Provides immediate access to available SAS resources at students’ instructional level

Dropping a Course

General

Any student wishing to withdraw from a course after the start of the school term must work through his or her counselor. The student’s parents and teacher will be consulted. The following summary covers only the broad points of procedure. Details will be explained by the counselor. Elective  courses are not considered under this drop policy. Only full-year, 1.0 credit courses will be considered.

Students With Six Credits

School regulations state that a student shall carry a minimum of six credits. A full-time subject (major) is one which meets every day and runs the length of the school year.

Dropping any major will be permitted only in extreme cases, and only if an alternative program developed in a student-parent, teacher-counselor conference does not resolve the problem.

Students With Six Majors

A student may request permission to drop a sixth major without penalty at the end of the first quarter but no later than three days after the first quarter report card is issued. Generally, an earlier drop will not be permitted. A later drop will result in an “F” for the year.

Advanced Placement Examination

Students who are enrolled in an Advanced Placement course are required to pass the AP Exam to earn weighted credit. The AP course carries a graded weight value of 0.1. If a student fails to score a 3 or better on the AP Exam, the student will forfeit the 0.1 weighted value. The weight adjustment will, subsequently, affect the student’s class rank.

Honor Society/Honor Roll

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. For more information on NHS, please see your guidance counselor. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.67 to be invited to join NHS in their junior year.

Students earn Honor Roll status by achieving a 3.0 GPA or better with no grade below a “C” in any subject. Honor Roll status will be indicated on their report card.

Interim Reports

Interim reports informing students and their parents of failing or near failing work are to be issued between the fourth and sixth week of each marking period. Receiving an interim report does not necessarily mean failure for the quarter, nor will not receiving a report guarantee a passing grade for the marking period.

Subject teachers are to report in duplicate and issue the original to the student. A copy is to be given to the guidance office. The student is to take the original home and have it signed by a parent. The signed report is to be returned to the teacher. Parents are encouraged to also monitor academic progress online by using Skyward.

Learning Resource Center

The Learning Resource Center is located in Room 141A.  The Learning Resource Center offers academic assistance and tutorial services for students during their study halls.  In addition, the High School Extended Learning Possibilities (H.E.L.P) Program, an after school tutorial program is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:55-3:55 p.m.

Graduation Requirements

*Although it is highly recommended for students to take both a math and science credit all four years, students are required to successfully complete a math or science credit their senior year.

Click here to view information on Act 158 – Pennsylvania Statewide Graduation Requirements

Keystone Exams

The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in various subjects.  The Keystone Exams are given to students in the following content areas: Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.  The assessments are given in May and retakes will be given in December.  Beginning with the Class of 2021-2022, the Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s proposed system of high school graduation requirements.  For specific information about the Keystone Exams, please visit the Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS) website at www.pdesas.org and select “Assessment.”

Promotion Requirements

Grade 9 to 10: five (5) credits earned

Grade 10 to 11: ten (10) credits cumulative (both Grades 9 & 10)

Grade 11 to 12: seventeen (17) credits cumulative (Grades 9, 10 &11)

Notes:

• A student must pass at least two traditional academic majors (English, foreign language, math, science, social studies) to be promoted to the next grade.
• Regardless of the number of credits earned, students must pass all required subjects in order to graduate.
• All seniors must successfully pass a math or science course in their senior year.

School District Policy #215 – Promotion and Retention

Subject Selection

In Grades 9-12, a student must carry a minimum of five full-time subjects and at least six credits. A full-time subject is one that runs the length of the school year.

1. A student enrolled in the Berks Career and Technology program shall carry a minimum of three full-time subjects each year in the home school.
2. It is very important that graduation requirements be studied in the subject selection process.
3. Subject selection shall be made during the second semester for the following year.
4. Counselors, in accordance with students and their parents, will develop a program of studies consistent with personal, post-secondary career plans.
5. Students planning to attend college after high school should have academic course work in English, math, science and social studies every year and a minimum of two years of the same world language. This combination of courses will meet the minimum entry requirements of most any college. Any departure from this program will limit the options of colleges open to a student.

Summer School

1. If a student fails four marking periods, he/she is not eligible for summer school and will be required to retake the course the following school year.
2. Students eligible for summer school will meet with their guidance counselor.
3. GM Summer School is through Berks Online Learning (BOL) and Wilson School District.
4. Students may take up to three summer school courses.
5. Students must have access to a computer (home or library).
6. A passing grade for summer school is 73% upon completion of the course.
7. Credit recovery grade on student transcript will reflect a 60% D-.

Working Papers

Application for working papers must (by law) be completed by the parent for all employed high school students. These papers are obtained in the attendance office. A parent should accompany the student along with a birth certificate.

Career Center Students

Career Center students must attend for the year unless there are medical or psychological reasons for a drop documented by a professional practitioner. If the Career Center initiates disciplinary action which results in the removal of a student from the Center, the student faces the possibility of being assigned to an appropriate schedule.

Withdrawal From School Procedure

If a student is moving from the District, the guidance office should be informed several days in advance. The guidance office will mail all records to the student’s new school.

If a student withdraws from school for any reason other than moving:

a.  See his/her guidance counselor.
b.  Return all school materials.
c.  Have a parent contact the guidance office secretary and complete the withdrawal form.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)

The student assistance program is a voluntary, multidisciplinary school based program that identifies students who are experiencing behavioral and/or academic difficulties that pose a barrier to learning and academic success. The student assistance program is a process, not a quick fix, and some students may need to be referred multiple times to access interventions. The student assistance program is confidential. It is designed to function as a partnership between the school and student/family to provide resources and interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle. The SAP team consists of a SAP Liaison from Caron Treatment Centers, teachers, school counselors, school nurse, administrators, school psychologist, social worker, and other community agency members. The goal of the SAP team is to discuss referral concerns and decide next steps. Some possible next steps are interventions within the school and community, a SAP behavioral health assessment, in-school support groups surrounding mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues as well as healthy decision making, and referrals to school based counseling or other outside counseling agencies for drug/alcohol or mental health support. The SAP Liaison does not provide 1:1 mental health counseling, but helps to refer to agencies who do provide that service. Referrals can be submitted online via Google forms or on paper located in the main office. You may also see a SAP team member with any questions/concerns. SAP Team members are listed on the school website and each SAP team member also has a Mustang symbol outside of his/her classroom door.

The H.E.L.P. Program

The HELP Program stands for High school Extended Learning Possibilities. It is a free, after school program available to all Governor Mifflin High School Students. H.E.L.P. is held in the LRC on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00. The LRC offers various resources such as: laptops, a printer, calculators, textbooks, folders, stationary supplies, and plenty of appropriate work space.

H.E.L.P. Teacher Schedule

Math: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

English: Tuesdays & Thursdays

Science: Wednesdays (or if scheduled in advance)

Spanish: Wednesdays (or if scheduled in advance)

Health Room Procedures

1. All students must present a pass from the teacher for admission to the health room (except in cases of emergency). Students will be required to sign the log.

2. Students may not leave the building because of illness without authorization from a parent or guardian (or alternate person listed on the Health Maintenance Form) and the nurse or principal. Student must sign out at the attendance desk in the attendance office.

3. In the event that a student becomes ill during the school day, he/she must first report to the health room.  The nurse will notify the parent.

4.  Health Room personnel are responsible ONLY for illness or injury occurring during school or on the way to and from school.

5. The following guidelines must be followed for medication to be administered during school hours:

a. Send medication to the health room. (Several days’ medication may be sent at one time.)

b. Medication with its name, dosage, date, student’s name and doctor’s name on the original container is required.

c. Include a permission slip, which includes child’s name, name of medication, date and time of administration, dosage, name and signature of both doctor and parent.

d. All medication will be kept in the health room, including prescription, non-prescription, homeopathic, etc. Students needing to use cough drops may be asked to carry a note of permission from the parent/guardian or nurse.

6. All parents/guardians are required to complete, sign and return a Health Maintenance Form for each child, listing the places where parents/guardians may be contacted during the school day, a responsible neighbor or relative, their family physician and dentist and any medical problems that might affect their child. The parent/guardian’s signature gives the school permission to treat their child.

7. Health services at the high school will include:

•Physical Examinations – pre-sports participation and Grade 11

•Height and Weight Measurements – Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

•Vision Screening – Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

•Hearing Tests – Grade 11

•Maintenance of Health Records

8. Parents/guardians are asked to contact the nurse with changes in work, doctors and emergency numbers throughout the year. Please contact the nurse with updates on immunizations and health matters in order to keep health records up to date.

Illness or Injury

Students who, during the school day, become ill or who are injured, but not seriously, are to report first to the subject teacher and request permission to go to the health room. They must report from the teacher to the health room. After treatment, the student gets a pass from the nurse to return to class or go home. If sent home, the student must sign out in the attendance office. A parent or guardian must report to the attendance office to pick up his or her sick child. Only a parent/guardian, or person listed on the school’s contact list are permitted to pick up a student, and that person must show a photo ID upon pick up. Students are not authorized to walk home. Any student sent home is not permitted to participate in or attend after-school activities without parent/guardian and/or physician’s clearance.

Accident or Injury Reporting/Insurance

Teachers are to report all accidents on the proper form immediately. The insured student must request a claim form from the high school office. This form should be submitted to the doctor or hospital involved.  The form should be requested within one week of the accident.

Section 516 of the School Code makes it illegal for the School Board to accept the responsibility in cases of accidents sustained by students or patrons on school property and in cases of injuries received by students during various school activities and athletic contests. The Board may not legally assume responsibility for the payment of bills incurred as a result of treatment of such accidents or injuries.

As a convenience to student and family, the Board has sanctioned a group insurance policy which can be purchased by the student. This policy has very broad coverage, and each student should avail himself/herself of this opportunity to protect himself/herself in case of an injury.

Currently Displaced Students/families

Children and youth are eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they have been displaced from their homes and are living in a place that is not fixed, regular or adequate. Do your family lack a permanent residence? Have you lost your home? Are you staying with friends temporarily, living in a shelter, or hotel? You may qualify for McKinney-Vento services. Please contact the Governor Mifflin Office of Pupil Services (610-775-1461). We will be glad to assist your family and provide resources to help you during this time. For additional information about your rights under the McKinney-Vento Act, please visit www.berksiu.org

The library is open 7:30am-4:15 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 7:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on Friday throughout the school year. Exceptions to after school hours may occur. Please check the daily announcements. Students are encouraged to find books, do homework and get help with research and writing assignments. Students visiting the library for their study hall should plan to stay the entire period.

Behavior Expectations

In order to maintain a vibrant, learning-focused environment for everyone: Students are expected to be engaged in meaningful work. The number of students at a table or carrel is not to exceed the number of seats allotted by the staff. Students are expected to be respectful of library staff, fellow students, and the library’s materials and spaces. Primarily, this means refraining from outbursts and keeping voices at an acceptable volume as determined by library staff. Students must not have feet on furniture or mark tables or surfaces in any way.

Students who do not adhere to these standards of behavior face the following consequences:

• First a verbal warning from any library staff person.
• Should the behavior continue after the verbal warning, students will be sent back to study hall for 5 school days.
• If a student is sent to study hall three times, a formal written report of the students’ behavior will be sent to the appropriate Associate Principal. Consequences may include detentions and loss of library privileges.

Most books can be borrowed for three weeks. Certain Reference and Reserve materials can be signed out overnight and must be returned by 8:00 a.m. the following day. Overdue books at the end of each quarter will be handled as an obligation. There are no late fees or fines, but students may be asked to pay for lost or damaged materials.

If you cannot locate the information you seek, please ask the librarian or library aide. We are happy to help! Further information can be found on our website: https://www.governormifflinsd.org/gmhslibrary/

1. A computerized point-of-sale system is available at the high school. This technology allows us to provide debit accounts for food purchases. For a small fee, you may use a credit card to make online deposits towards meals and à la carte purchases. Visit SchoolPay.com to make your online deposits and set up detailed allowable purchasing. This website gives parents the option of reviewing what cafeteria items their children purchased in the past 30 days. As an alternative, students may bring money to school and drop it in the “Deposit Box” in the main office. For security reasons, we recommend advanced payments be sent in the form of a check. Please write the student’s name on the check.

      *Additional information on placing money in student accounts for lunch is available in the main office or on the GM Cafeteria web page.

2.  Pricing for the 2020-2021 school year:

Breakfast $1.75
Mifflin Meal $2.95
Lunch $2.75

For purchasing meals, the cashier will scan a barcode on the Student ID to limit touch points.  If you need a Student ID number, you may contact the Senior High Main Office or the Food Service Director.  The point of sale system also eliminates the overt identification of students who receive free or reduced meals.  To apply for free or reduced meals, please visit the “Cafeteria” section of the high school web page on the District website (www.governormifflinsd.org).  After you submit your application, it will be directly submitted to the Food Services Department for processing.

3.  Breackfast will not be served after 7:30 a.m.

4. Taking any food or drink from the serving line is stealing.  Those students caught stealing will be prosecuted by law enforcement and receive appropriate disciplinary action.  Video cameras are located in the serving lines to deter students from taking food without payment.

5. Food trays and other items associated with the cafeteria are prohibited from leaving the designated areas. Students are to return food trays and other refuse before dismissal of the lunch period.

6. There are four serving lines, two lines to choose from to make selections.

7. There will be no cutting in on any cafeteria line. Students observed cutting in line will immediately be sent to the rear of the line by the staff on café duty.

8. After eating lunch, students are to remain in the cafeteria, not in other areas of the building. Lavatories near the cafeteria are open and may be used by students after obtaining a lavatory pass from a cafeteria monitor.

9. Due to the large number of students who use the services of the school’s cafeteria, it is important that each student make it his/her responsibility to help maintain the lunchroom as a wholesome, pleasant and orderly place to eat. During lunch, quiet conversation will be permitted. Loudness or throwing of food will not be tolerated and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

10. Breakfast will be available to all students between 7:25-8:05 a.m.

11. Other than during their assigned lunch period, students may not enter the cafeteria to purchase food or drink.

Governor Mifflin Meal Charging Procedure

Governor Mifflin School District participates in the National School Breakfast and Lunch program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Students will not be denied a breakfast or lunch meal for any reason unless the parent/guardian send a request via email, to laura.gudikunst@gmsd.org to refuse breakfast and/or lunch for the student. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to apply for free or reduced price benefits through SchoolCafe.com.

Meal Charging Guidelines

GMSD shall follow the guidelines below for unpaid meals for the designated school/grade level group. Students will not be allowed to charge a la carte when the account is negative.

•  High School students who forget money, or deplete their accounts will be allowed to charge breakfast and lunch meals only  and WILL NOT be allowed to charge any a la carte items until the balance is fully satisfied. Any negative balance at the end of the school year will be considered an obligation and can keep students from participating in school activities.

•  When a student’s account reaches a negative balance, an email will be sent to the parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians should monitor student balances and purchases regularly in Skyward, under the Food Service tab.

Low and Negative Balance Notification Procedure

Parents are strongly encouraged to check SchoolPay and Skyward to set up notification alerts and view their child’s account.

•  Students will be verbally notified by their cashier when accounts are getting low

•  Parents can set up low balance alerts at SchoolPay.com

•  Negative balance letters will be sent or emailed weekly

•  The building principal will be informed when a student’s account reaches a negative $50.00

•  All debts must be paid off at the end of the school year or may be sent to collections

•  Any negative balance left at the end of the school year will be considered an obligation and is to be paid

Insufficient Funds Fee

There is a $25.00 charge for checks returned for insufficient funds.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Students can join and participate in more than 30 clubs and organizations at the Governor Mifflin High School. Refer to the Clubs and Activities brochure for a complete listing and description of these extra-curricular groups.

Activity Fee

In accordance with school policy, the Governor Mifflin School District has established a Student Activity Fee. The purpose of this fee is to offset costs associated with Governor Mifflin’s extracurricular programs.  A one-time fee of $75 will enable each Grade 7-12 student to participate in an unlimited number of school athletic teams or other co-curricular activities during the school year. Families with multiple children shall pay a maximum of $225 in student activity fees for the school year. Students eligible for free meals will have the activity fee automatically waived and others who feel this fee is a financial hardship can call the Business Office to discuss installment payments or a possible reduction in the fee.

The fee is due by the following dates:

Fall Sports/Marching Band:  September 23, 2920

Winter Sports:  January 13, 2021

Spring Sports:  April 13, 2021

Clubs:  December 15, 2020

If payment is not received by the due date, the student will not be eligible to participate until payment is made.

The District offers the following payment options:

     1.  Online payment using a credit card (SchoolPay)

a.  There are directions for how to get to SchoolPay by clicking here or you can quickly access SchoolPay at any time by clicking on the SchoolPay icon on the
District’s website banner.

b.  The fee will not show up as an option until the student is flagged as participating in a
chargeable activity.  For fall sports that will be after the first two weeks of practice and for clubs
that will be after the first couple of weeks of school.

     2.  Check — Please write the student’s name, grade and activity on your check and make the check payable
     to “Governor Mifflin School District.”

     3.  Cash

Cash and check payments may be dropped off at the Education Center, the high school main office, the middle school main office or the athletic director’s office.

The activity fee applies only to certain co-curricular activities. Students who participate in any of the following are required to pay the student activity fee:

• All JH, JV, & Varsity Athletic Programs
• Chess Club
• Future Business Leaders of America
• Governors
• Mock Trial
• Academic Challenge
• Fall Play
• Future Community & Career Leaders of America
• Science Olympiad
• Statesmen Jazz Ensemble
• Art Club
• Foreign Language Clubs: French, German & Spanish
• Future Educators of America
• Marching Band
• Spring Swing
• UN Club

If you have any questions regarding the material fees or the payment process, please contact the Governor Mifflin School District’s accounting office at 610-775-1461, ext. 1108.

In addition to the discipline policies of the Governor Mifflin School District, students involved in co-curricular activities are also governed by the following Student Athletic/Co-Curricular Code of Responsibilities.

Student Athletic/Co-Curricular Code of Responsibility

Preface

The athletic/co-curricular program is an important and integral part of the total school program and is open to participation by all students who attend Governor Mifflin schools. Through voluntary participation, the student athletic/co-curricular participant gives time, energy and loyalty to the program. He/she also accepts the training rules, regulations and responsibilities which are unique to an athletic/co-curricular program in or out of season, in or out of uniform, whether on campus or off. In order to contribute to the welfare of the group, the student participant must willingly assume these obligations as the role demands that the individual make sacrifices not required of others. In addition to the Policy Manual of the GMSD, athletic/co-curricular participants are also governed by the Student Athletic/Co-Curricular Code of Responsibilities.

The close contact in GMSD activities of advisors and coaches provides them with a unique opportunity to observe, confront and also assist young people. The GMSD, therefore, supports education and awareness/intervention in adolescent chemical use problems.

It is also recognized that the parents of the athletic/co-curricular activity participants must support the student in not only the positive aspects of participation at GM but also accept the responsibility of any adverse actions by their child when participating in school athletic/co-curricular activities.

The school administration will endeavor to be the facilitator in strengthening community partnership to the benefit of students at GM, recognizing that community values and well-being are reflected in the standards set by the school.

Academic Requirements: Athletic/Co-Curricular Participants

The academic performance of athletic/co-curricular participants will be monitored on a weekly basis. Students failing more than one subject (major or minor) will be suspended from the activity until the weekly evaluation indicates that the situation has been corrected.

Any student failing two or more subjects (final grades) at the end of the academic year, will be ineligible for the first 15 school days of the new year. Students who successfully remediate the failed grade(s) by attending summer school will regain eligibility.

Any student failing two or more subjects at the end of any grading period will be ineligible to participate in interscholastic contests or co-curricular activities for 15 school days. The student is expected to take part in all practice sessions and meetings.

In the case of any failure, the coach/advisor will be informed.

Behavior Requirements

A GMSD athletic/co-curricular participant will be subjected to disciplinary action if he/she commits any of the following violations. The following violations and the penalties set forth, are in addition to those delineated in the Governor Mifflin Policy Manual.

Each coach/co-curricular advisor has the prerogative to establish additional rules pertaining to the activity supervised. These rules may include attendance at practices, detentions, curfew, dress and general conduct of participants during practices, contests and trips and will be handled by the coach/co-curricular advisor. These rules must be approved by the principal and athletic director and are to be clearly communicated, in writing, to all co-curricular participants.

1. An athletic/co-curricular participant found to be in violation of the following will be dismissed from the activity for a period of one calendar year from the date of incident:

a. Falsification of a signature on the Athletic/Co-curricular Code of Responsibility Card or Physical Examination Form.
b. Selling or aiding in the procurement of steroids, alcoholic and/or malt beverages, narcotics or restricted drugs, including marijuana or other controlled substances including, but not limited to the Drug Narcotic Identification Charts (Policy 227 – Governor Mifflin Policy Manual).

2. An athletic/co-curricular participant found to be in violation of the following will be suspended from the activity for a minimum of four weeks for the first offense and dismissed from the activity for one calendar year for each subsequent violation from the date of the incident:

a. Using, being under the influence of or in possession of steroids, alcoholic  and/or malt beverages, narcotics or restricted drugs, including marijuana or other controlled substances including, but not limited to the Drug Narcotic Identification Chart. (Policy 227 – Governor Mifflin Policy Manual). Reinstatement will only occur upon review by the school administration.
b. If drugs or alcohol are involved, an assessment by the SAP team consultant is mandatory. The athletic/co-curricular participant must comply with the recommendations resulting from the assessment for reinstatement. The athletic director and principal must be informed of the situation.
c. Voluntary admission of an infraction of rules regarding substance abuse will not result in disciplinary action. In such cases, a mandatory conference with the SAP team consultant is still required. (The purpose of this provision is to allow an athletic/co-curricular participant to seek help.) This voluntary admission may not be used by a student if the school is already aware of the rules infraction.

3. An athletic/co-curricular participant found to be in violation of the following will receive a SAP referral and will be suspended from the activity or interscholastic competition for a minimum of two weeks for the first offense, four weeks for the second offense and dismissed from the activity or interscholastic competition for a period of one calendar year for each subsequent violation from the date of the incident:

a. Selling, using or possessing tobacco or tobacco related products and tobacco look-alike products on school property.

4. Any civil law infraction or conduct by an athletic/co-curricular participant WHETHER IN SEASON OR NOT that is determined by the school administration to be detrimental to the athletic/co-curricular program, school or school district will result in counseling by a school administrator and dismissal from the activities for a minimum of four weeks including any post season activity.

Penalties will not be cumulative from the Governor Mifflin Middle School to the Governor Mifflin High School.

In the event that a suspension cannot be completed by the end of the school year, the remainder of the suspension will be imposed at the beginning of the following school year.

Non-Competitive Co-Curricular Activities

Students participating in non-competitive, co-curricular activities (i.e., Archive, Key Club, SADD/BTI, Student Government Association, etc.) when in violation of the code will be permitted to take part in meetings/work sessions and will be restricted from attending or participating in leadership conferences, workshops, field trips, etc. that are directly associated with their specific co-curricular activities for the duration of the assigned penalty.

The Music Program

Vocal Program

Goals of the program:

• To provide students with the opportunity to improve their singing voices in a choral setting and to experience choral music from various time periods and of different styles representative of quality choral repertoire.

• To allow students to improve their vocal technique through exercises in breath control, tone production, flexibility, diction, dynamics, articulation, blend, balance and range.

• To enhance the music reading and listening skills of all students with an emphasis on music fundamentals through sight-singing and ear training exercises.

• To build a community of learners, and to nurture a love of singing through the joy of performance.

Performing Groups:

• Concert Choir – Rehearses three times in a six day cycle. This group is open to all students in grades 9-12 who are interested in learning to sing and perform standard concert choir repertoire.

• Governors – Rehearses three times in a six day cycle. This group is a select performance choir which concentrates on popular musical styles with an emphasis on a cappella music and choreography. Membership is by audition which is held in February for the following school year.  Members must be a member of the Concert Choir the year they participate in Governors.

• Ambassadors – This men’s group meets three times in a six day cycle. This ensemble is open to all male students in grades 9 through 12. The Ambassadors perform a variety of repertoire from Barbour shop to Pop music. There is no audition required. Students must register for this as an elective class.  Students must be a member of Concert Choir.

• New Arrangement – This women’s group meets three times in a six day cycle. This ensemble is open to all female students in grades 9 through 12. New Arrangement performs a variety of repertoire. There is no audition required, but students must register for this as an elective class.

Students in the vocal ensembles will be expected to perform in three concerts during the year. The Governors may have additional outside performances at various times throughout the year.  Times and dates are presented to the group for discussion and approval before they are scheduled.

Instrumental Program

The instrumental student may participate in such activities as Marching Band, Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, the Statesmen Jazz Band and several small ensembles. Students who participate in a Governor Mifflin fall athletic activity may qualify for an optional exemption from the Marching Band (first quarter). If an exemption is taken, students will attend band rehearsals in the first quarter to learn the music and rehearse with the band during the class period. Students from Marching/Concert Bands are selected for Orchestra and Jazz Band.

Participation in Festivals

1. Participation by Governor Mifflin students in Berks County and PMEA music festivals is encouraged.

2. In addition to participating in the County festivals, each student will be limited to six days of participa- tion in the District or Regional festivals. Prospective music majors in college will receive consideration.

3. Activities contained within our school program and involving our own organizations will have no bearing on the limitations placed on the festival program.

4. In case of a conflict between one of our school activities and a County, District or Regional festival, the student’s first obligation is to the school.

Academic Awards

Approximately 50 scholarships are offered to graduating seniors by various organizations in the Governor Mifflin area. Scholarship criteria varies according to scholarship and may include one or more of the following: need, grades, merit, involvement in school activities and community service.

The largest scholarship given to a graduating senior is the Broadbent Scholarship, instituted in 1995. The Broadbent Foundation scholarships, $30,000 each, are given annually to two seniors. The scholarship criteria can be obtained in the guidance office.

Legacy of Service Award

Student Government Association has identified the need to recognize students who commit their short but meaningful high school careers to the betterment of the greater Governor Mifflin community.

We will ask each service-oriented club to select two members to receive this award for the school year.  The recipient may be from any of the four classes in the high school. The ideal recipient should display a high degree of integrity, and compassion; an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of a better school community; and a mind eternally-concious of social duty.  In order to facilitate the evolution of a mindful, motivated generation of students, we believe that now is the perfect time to recognize and reward the outstanding contributions our students have made to our school community.

Each Legacy of Service Award recipient will remain forever a part of Governor Mifflin Senior High School as a tile in his or her honor will be added to a personalized mosaic installation to be located in the cafeteria. Recipients will also be invited to a morning breakfast to celebrate their memorable contributions and remind them that they have the overwhelming support of the entire school behind them.

Responsibilities of the Athlete and the Student

• The athletic program is open to participation by all students, regardless of individual differences.
• The athlete must give time, energy and loyalty to the program.
• Athletes must accept the training rules, regulations and responsibilities.
• The athlete must willingly assume these obligations and make sacrifices not required of others.
• Student athletes must adhere to the rules of the Governor Mifflin School District and are also governed by the Student Athletic/Co-Curricular Code of Responsibilities.
• Each student athlete will sign an agreement to live up to these expectations as a condition for team participation. His/her parents will countersign the student agreement, acknowledging their support.
• Athletes must be proud of the opportunity to represent this school in athletics.
• Athletes must be proud of their actions as students as well as athletes.
• Athletes must maintain the tradition of not only having outstanding athletic teams, but the reputation of being a leader in sportsmanship.
• Athletes must abide by the school district’s cyber-bullying policy in regards to social media sites. An athlete can be suspended or removed from a team if found in violation of this policy.

Responsibility of the Student Spectator

The student body also has a role to play in the total athletic program. The habits and reactions of the students as spectators go a long way in determining the quality and sportsmanship which reflects upon the reputation of their school.

Student spectators are encouraged to:

1. Provide positive cheering and other moral support for Mustang team members.
2. Show respect for game officials and refrain from any unsportsmanlike act directed toward them.
3. Cooperate with, and respond enthusiastically to, our cheerleaders.
4. Censor fellow students whose behavior is unbecoming.
5. Show respect for any injured player when he/she is removed from the playing area.
6. Refrain from heckling or jeering members of opposing team.
7. Refrain from applauding errors by opponents or penalties inflicted upon them.
8. Refrain from criticizing players or coaches for loss of a game.

   **PIAA Policy requires that students must wear shirts at all events.  Body paint is not permitted.

The following actions shall constitute grounds for removal from the particular event and/or restriction from attendance at further events:

1. Disrespect to either home or visiting cheerleaders and/or bands.
2. Disrespect to school or security officials.
3. Abuse of school property.
4. Use of profane language, obscene gestures or similar behavior.
5. Inciting, or participating in, mass spectator movements from one seating area to another after the event is in progress.
6. Actions which are a potential hazard to health, safety or well-being of spectators or participants.
7. Other inappropriate behavior deemed sufficiently repetitive, flagrant or severe by the staff.

Students should remember that the requirements of the Student Handbook and the School District policies are applicable at all school events.

Interscholastic Sports Insurance

The Governor Mifflin School District now provides accident insurance coverage for any student athletes who are injured in the course of participating in all PIAA sports beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.  This coverage includes all Junior High and Senior High sport activities, Band and Cheerleading activities, the Middle School Water Polo program, and all swim lesson age groups sponsored by the school district.  This coverage serves as a secondary insurance reimbursement to the parents primary insurance plan.  The coverage will reimburse the first $100 of a submitted injury claim, then will reimburse any deductibles, copays, or coinsurance charges under the parents primary insurance up to the limits of the policy for treatment of that injury.

The sports accident insurance works as follows:

•  The parents/guardians’ insurance is used at time of service; applicable co-pay/deductible/
coinsurance is paid to provider or facility.
•  Any remaining charges from the service are billed to the parent/guardian, which they pay.
•  The parent/guardian should contact Kyle Koncar, Assistant Athletic Director, to fill out a claim
form with Pat Tulley, Athletic Director, or applicable trainer (signature needed).
•  The Districts’ sports accident insurance plan will pay the remainder of what the parent’s plan
does not pay at 100%  of Usual, Reasonable & Customary Charges (URC) up to the limitations of
the attached benefit schedule.

MCA Administrators will process all claims upon accurate submission of the following documents:

•  Claim Form (signed)
•  All itemized bills from physician with diagnosis codes
•  All Explanation of Benefit (EOB) statements from Primary insurance carrier

Parents should mail all documents to:

MCA Administrators
PO Box 6540
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(800) 427-9308

Parents can also scan all necessary forms, bills, receipts and statements and e-mail them to the claim department at student-insurance@mcoa.com

Athletic Activities

Governor Mifflin High School participates in the following interscholastic activities:

Boys – Varsity, J.V. and Freshmen Football, Cross Country, Golf, Varsity, J.V. and Freshmen Basketball, Swimming, Varsity and J.V. Wrestling, Varsity and J.V. Bowling, Varsity Rifle, Indoor Track, Varsity and J.V. Soccer, Varsity and J.V. Baseball, Track, Tennis, Water Polo, Varsity and J.V. Volleyball and Varsity and J.V. Lacrosse

Girls – Varsity and J.V. Field Hockey, Golf, Tennis, Cheerleading, Varsity, J.V. and Freshmen Basketball, Swimming, Varsity and J.V. Bowling, Varsity Rifle, Indoor Track, Varsity and J.V. Softball, Track, Cross Country, Varsity and J.V. Soccer, Water Polo, Varsity and J.V. Volleyball and Varsity and J.V. Lacrosse

* Each student-athlete is required to pay a one time a year $75 activity fee prior to their first sport of the school year. The maximum fee for a family rate per year is $225. Failure to pay this fee could result in the loss of privileges (athletic and non-athletic) for the student. 

Cheerleaders

The cheerleaders are to lead the school cheers and songs and encourage both good school spirit and sportsmanship at all football, some boys’ and girls’ home soccer games, boys and girls home basketball games, and home wrestling matches. Special assignments are undertaken by cheerleaders beyond these sports, including cheering at other events and providing school spirit support to other squads.

Because they are spirit leaders, members of cheerleading squads have extra expectations and responsibilities placed upon them, as outlined in the squad rules. Additionally, they are subject to the Athletes’ Code of Responsibilities and school district policies.

Athletic Medical Examinations

Before any student becomes eligible to participate in any interscholastic athletic contest, he/she must have on file in the school records a medical certificate with his/her name written in full (no nickname) which complies with the following P.I.A.A. ruling:

Article V – No pupil shall be eligible to represent his/her high school in any interscholastic athletic contest unless he/she has been examined by a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathic medicine, a certified school nurse practitioner or a physician assistant before his/her first sports season of that academic year. The examination for fall sports shall not be given earlier than June 1. Before each subsequent sports season of the same academic year, he/she shall be re-examined or certified.

Eligibility Rules For Athletes

Rules of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association govern the eligibility of our students for interscholastic competition. Certain important rules are:

1. A student must be an amateur under 19 years of age. (A student who becomes 19 on or after July 1 is eligible for the coming school year.)
2. A student must be regularly enrolled in a public high school and in regular attendance thereafter.
3. Absence for 20 or more days during a semester for reason other than quarantine shall cause ineligibility until he/she has been in attendance for a period of 45 days following his/her 20th absence.
4. A student must never have played on a professional team.
5. Academic eligibility standards – A student may not fail more than one course (major or minor).

a. Eligibility standards – Students failing more than one subject (major or minor) on a cumulative basis from the beginning of the current marking period, will be suspended from the activity until the weekly evaluation indicates the situation has been corrected.

b. In the case in which a student’s work in any preceding grading period (including the final grades of the previous year) did not meet eligibility standards, the student shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletic competitions for the first 15 school days of the next grading period. Athletic/co-curricular participants suspended for the first 15 days of the new year will be permitted to practice during this 15 day suspension.

c. In the case in which a student whose work does not meet the standards provided for, but who attends summer school and corrects his/her deficiencies, shall be eligible.

6. Written consent of a parent or guardian is required

Athletic Championship Criteria

Team Championship Criteria:

1. Any team that wins its section division or league title
2. Any team that ties for first place in its section, division or league and there is no play off
3. Any team that wins a County, District, or State title

Varsity Letter Winner Criteria:

Student responsibilities involving students themselves, fellow students, the staff and the school are set forth in detail in the regulations of the State Board of Education and of this school district. They are included in the Policy Manual adopted by the Governor Mifflin Board of School Directors and made available to students. In summary, the student is expected to:

1. Attend scheduled school and class sessions except when properly excused.
2. Share with the staff an effort to develop a climate within the school that encourages wholesome learning and living.
3. Respect the rights of others to pursue their school programs without distraction or harassment.
4. Make a conscientious effort in classroom work.
5. Refrain from littering, defacing or otherwise vandalizing school property.
6. Use instructional and other materials efficiently and without waste.
7. Avoid loud talking, running, horseplay or other misconduct in the halls, locker rooms, cafeteria, auditorium and other areas of the school.
8. Refrain from personal disrespect, including challenging staff members, obscene actions or language.
9. Remain away from locker rooms, back stage or any other area of the building unless scheduled to be there or given specific written permission by the teacher in charge of the area at that time.
10. Refrain from public displays of affection such as hugging, kissing or caressing.
11. Please be diligent in securing personal belongings if you choose to bring them to school. Students are encouraged to report situations of theft to the administration.  School investigation procedures may include notifying local law enforcement.  However, the high school is not ultimately responsible for the loss/theft of a student’s personal belongings.

Discipline Guidelines

1. Violations of laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the rules and regulations of the Governor Mifflin School District will result in disciplinary action. Parents are contacted in appropriate situations.
2. Serious offenses or repeated offenses against the school, staff or fellow students may be considered grounds for exclusion from school through suspension or expulsion.
3. If at any time a teacher finds it necessary to send a student from the room because of poor conduct, the student must immediately report to the associate principals’ office.
4. Students having in their possession cigarettes or other tobacco products, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia (including look-alike products), alcoholic beverages, offensive materials or other potentially dangerous substances will have these items confiscated, and appropriate disciplinary action will be administered.
5. Every student will be held responsible and subject to disciplinary action for his/her acts of misconduct including vandalism, disrespect and/or other damage to the person or property of any staff member.
6. Particular reference to the student behavioral expectations may be found in the School District’s Policy Manual.

Disciplinary Actions

Detention System

Placement in an administrative issued detention (after school or Saturday morning disciplinary class) may be made by the principal or associate principals. Prior notification of the detention action is required and transportation is the responsibility of the parent.

• Teacher-Issued Detention
A teacher is encouraged to issue a detention to any student who commits a minor infraction in the classroom. Students will serve the detention in the assigning teacher’s classroom. A student who is late or cuts detention will be reported to the assistant principal for further disciplinary action.

• Administrative-Issued Detention
Administrative issued detentions will occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in Room 114A. Administrative issued detentions will be issued by the building principals, or their designees, to students who commit various infractions. Students are to be engaged in school work activities during the detention. Students arriving late will not be admitted. A student who cuts the detention will be referred to the Associate Principal. Subsequent violations may result in an assigned Saturday detention. If a student cannot attend his/her assigned detention, a signed parent note is required to reschedule the detention the first day after the detention. If an activity bus is running the day a detention is to be served, the student may take the activity bus home. If an activity bus is not running the day a detention is to be served, families must make transportation arrangements to get a student home from detention.

• Saturday Morning Detention
A student issued a Saturday Morning Detention must report to the main office of the high school by 8:00 a.m. on the assigned date. If a student is late, fails to attend the detention for any unexcused reason, or was removed for failure to comply by the rules, he/she may be assigned out of school suspension. Saturday detentions begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 a.m. No transportation will be provided by the school. A student’s parent or guardian is responsible for transportation if a student is sent home early due to rule violation or illness.

• Mustang Period Detention
A student issued a detention during Mustang period is required to report to the assigned detention at 7:35 a.m. Due to Mustang period’s 30 minute duration, a student may be required to serve multiple Mustang period detentions for one infraction. If a student fails to attend his/her Mustang period detention, further disciplinary action will result.

In School Suspension

As available, students can be placed in in school suspension. During time in ISS, students will be required to remain in the ISS room for the allotted amount of time, complete work provided by teachers, and follow all expectations of the ISS team leader.

Out of School Suspension

During a disciplinary conference, a student will be notified of the reason for and duration of the suspension.  Prior notice of the intended suspension need not be given when it is clear that the health, safety, or welfare of the school community is threatened. Students shall have the responsibility to make up exams and work missed while being disciplined by suspension. Students should make every effort to keep up with their class assignments while on suspension.

Students are not permitted to participate or attend after-school co-curricular or athletic activities during the out-of-school suspension assignment. Students are not permitted on school property during the OSS assignment. A parent conference is required for re-admittance to school for all out-of-school suspensions lasting longer than three days.

Alternative Education Program (AEP)

In accordance with the provisions of the Policy Manual and/or the recommendations of the AEP Placement Review Committee, the administration has the authority to place a student in the Alternative Education Program. The minimum duration of the placement is 45 school days.

On a regular basis, the superintendent shall notify the members of the Board of School Directors of all Governor Mifflin AEP placements.

Procedure for Exclusion From School

(Reference: Pennsylvania Student Rights and Responsibilities)

A. The Board of School Directors has herein defined the types of offenses that would lead to exclusion from school. Exclusions affecting a student with a disability are governed by Pennsylvania Code Chapter 14.143 and the Code of Federal Regulations 300.121(d) and 300.519 – 300.529.

B. Exclusion from school may take the form of suspension or expulsion.

1. Suspension is exclusion from school for a period of one to 10 consecutive school days.

a. Suspensions may be given by the principal or person in charge of the public school.
b. No student shall be suspended until the student has been informed of the reasons for the suspension and given an opportunity to respond. Prior notice of the intended suspension need not be given when it is clear that the health, safety or welfare of the school community is threatened.
c. The parents and the superintendent of the District shall be notified immediately in writing when the student is suspended.
d. When the suspension exceeds three school days, the student and parent shall be given the opportunity for an informal hearing consistent with the requirements set forth in XII (C) (relating to hearings).
e. Suspensions may not be made to run consecutively beyond the ten school day period.
f. Students shall have the responsibility to make up exams and work missed while being disciplined by suspension and shall be permitted to complete these assignments within guidelines established by the Board of School Directors.
g. Students assigned to out of school suspension are not permitted to participate in the regular school program or activities (during or after school) while serving suspension.  Students are not permitted on school property during the OSS assignment.

2. Expulsion is exclusion from school by the Board of School Directors for a period exceeding ten school days and may be permanent expulsion from the school rolls. All expulsions require a prior formal hearing under XII, C (relating to hearings).

3. During the period prior to the hearing and decision of the Board of School Directors in an expulsion case, the student shall be placed in his normal class except as set forth in subsection (4).

4. If it is determined after an informal hearing that a student’s presence in his normal class would constitute a threat to the health, safety, morals or welfare of others and it is not possible to hold a formal hearing within the period of a suspension, the student may be excluded from school for more than 10 school days, if the formal hearing is not unreasonably delayed. Any student so excluded shall be provided with alternative education which may include home study.

5. Students who are less than 17 years of age are still subject to the compulsory school attendance law even though expelled, and they must be provided an education.

a. The initial responsibility for providing the required education rests with the student’s parent or guardian, through placement in another school, through tutorial or correspondence study or through another educational program approved by the District’s superintendent.
b. If the parent or guardian is unable to provide for the required education, they must, within 30 days, submit to the School District written evidence so stating. The District then has the responsibility to make some provision for the student’s education. If 30 days pass without the District receiving satisfactory evidence that the required education is being provided to the student, it must recontact the parent and, pending the parent or guardian’s provision of such education, the District must make some provision for the student’s education or proceed under paragraph (c) or do both.
c. If the approved educational program is not complied with, the School District may take action in accordance with Chapter 63 of the Juvenile Act (42 Pa. C.S. paragraphs 6301-6308), to ensure that the child will receive a proper education.

C. Hearings

1. Education is a statutory right, and students must be afforded all appropriate elements of due process if they are to be excluded from school. In a case involving a possible expulsion, the student is entitled to a formal hearing, which is a fundamental element of due process.

2. A formal hearing is required in all expulsion actions. This hearing may be held before the Board of School Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of School Directors or a qualified hearing examiner appointed by the Board of School Directors. Where the hearing is conducted by a committee of the Board or a hearing examiner, a majority vote of the entire Board of School Directors is required to expel a student. The following due process requirements are to be observed with regard to the formal hearing:

a. Notification of the charges shall be sent to the student’s parents or guardian by certified mail.
b. Sufficient notice of the time and place of the hearing must be given.
c. The hearing shall be held in private unless the student or parent requests a public hearing.
d. The student has the right to be represented by counsel.
e. The student has the right to be presented with the names of witnesses against the student and copies of the statements and affidavits of those witnesses.
f. The student has the right to request that any such witnesses appear in person and answer questions or be cross-examined.
g. The student has the right to testify and present witnesses on his/her behalf.
h. The Board of School Directors, its solicitor, the student and/or his/her parent or counsel for either of them shall have the right to examine and cross-examine all witnesses.
i. Only relevant and competent evidence shall be received and considered by the Board of School Directors, but strict rules of legal evidence shall not be followed so that every opportunity may be afforded by the Board of School Directors to hear and obtain all relevant pertinent facts.
j. A record must be kept of the hearing, either by a stenographer or by tape recorder. The student is entitled, at the student’s expense, to a copy of the transcript.
k. The proceeding must be held with all reasonable speed.
l. As promptly as is possible after said hearing is closed, the full Board of School Directors shall convene to consider the evidence and, by majority of members present by roll call vote, determine the guilt or innocence of the accused student and shall further determine the penalty, if any. The Board of School Directors may reprimand, suspend or expel. The Board of School Directors shall, by certified mail within five days, notify the student or his/her parent or guardian of the decision.
m. Where the student disagrees with the results of the hearing, recourse is available in the appropriate court of the Commonwealth. If it is alleged that a constitutional issue is involved, the student may file a claim for relief in the appropriate Federal District Court.

3. The purpose of the informal hearing is to enable the student to meet with the appropriate school official to explain the circumstances surrounding the event for which the student is being suspended or to show why the student should not be suspended. It is also meant to encourage the student’s parent or guardian to meet with the principal to discuss ways by which future offenses can be avoided.

The following due process requirements are to be observed in regard to the informal hearing:

a. Notification of the reasons for the suspension shall be given in writing to the parents or guardian and to the student.
b. Sufficient notice of the time and place of the informal hearing shall be given.
c. A student has the right to question any witnesses present at the hearing.
d. A student has the right to speak and produce witnesses on his/her own behalf.
e. The District shall offer to hold the informal hearing within the first five days of the suspension.

D. Disciplinary exclusion of a student with a disability

1. When a student with a disability is excluded from school for more than 10 school days in a row, 15 total school days in any one school year or when days 11-15 constitute a pattern of exclusion, this will be deemed a change in placement and requires a prior written notice. The exclusion of a child with mental retardation for any amount of time is considered a change in placement and requires prior written notice. If parents do not agree with the change in placement or the NOREP, the child remains in the existing placement until due process is completed, unless school officials take further action and go to court.

2. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act allows school officials to change a child’s placement for up to 45 calendar days to an interim alternative placement without parental permission in school situations involving possession of a weapon, possession, or use of illegal drugs or the sale of a controlled substance. In the 45-day educational placement, the child must be able to receive the services in the IEP and continue to participate in the general curriculum. The new placement must also offer services to deal with the child’s problem behavior so it does not occur again.

3. When a child’s placement is changed for disciplinary reasons, the IEP team (including the parents) must meet to review the IEP to decide if it is appropriate and if it contains an appropriate plan, which addresses the child’s problem behaviors. If no plan is included in the IEP, a functional behavioral assessment takes a look at the child’s behavior in the setting where the problems are occurring and analyzes what is happening to trigger and reinforce the inappropriate behaviors. It then outlines steps to reduce problem behaviors and replace them with appropriate ones. If a plan already exists, it must be reviewed and, if necessary, changed.

4. In addition, if a change of placement for disciplinary reasons is considered, a “manifestation determination” must be conducted by the IEP team to decide if the child’s behavior was caused by the child’s disability or is a “manifestation” of the disability. In order to determine that a behavior was not a manifestation of the disability, the team must decide that the current IEP and placement are appropriate and have been put into place; that the child was able to understand the consequences of the behavior and that the child could have controlled the behavior. Children with disabilities cannot be punished for behaviors that are related to, or are manifestations of, their disabilities.

5. If the IEP team decides that the child’s behavior was not related to the disability, the child’s placement may be changed for disciplinary reasons. Parents have the right to ask for a due process hearing to challenge this decision. During the hearing, and any appeals, the child stays in the current placement unless the incident involved drugs or weapons, in which case the child stays in the interim alternative placement for up to 45 calendar days or to the end of due process, whichever occurs first. School officials and parents may ask for an expedited hearing on a due process hearing if they believe that the child is a danger to self or others in the current placement.

6. Anytime a child is given a disciplinary change in placement, or anytime a placement is changed for possession of weapons or drugs, school officials must still provide a free appropriate public education (including all services necessary to enable the child to appropriately progress in the general curriculum and appropriately advance toward achieving the goals identified on the child’s IEP).

7. The law contains certain protections for not yet eligible children who face disciplinary procedures. If school officials “knew or should have known” that a child was disabled, because of written requests from parents for an evaluation; because teachers or other school personnel have expressed concerns about the behavior or performance of the child or because the child’s performance or behavior “demonstrates” a need for special services, the child is entitled to the protections given to children who already have been identified as eligible.

8. Nothing in special education law is to be construed to protect a school district/public agency from reporting a crime committed by a child with a disability to appropriate authorities or to prevent State law enforcement and judicial authorities from exercising their responsibilities with regard to the application of Federal and State law to crimes committed by a student with a disability. A school district/public agency reporting a crime committed by an eligible student shall ensure that copies of the special education and disciplinary records of the student are transmitted for consideration by the appropriate authorities to whom it reports the crime. A school district/public agency reporting a crime may transmit copies of the child’s special education and disciplinary records, only to the extent that the transmission is permitted by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (See Section X: Rights Pertaining to Education Records).

9. Other exceptional pupils

a. Exceptional pupils may be suspended from one to ten days as per the procedures described in Article XII, Sections A, B and C.

10. Exclusion of exceptional pupils for more than 10 consecutive days or 15 cumulative days.

a. A disciplinary exclusion of an exceptional student for more than 10 consecutive school days or more than 15 cumulative school days in a school year is considered a change in educational placement requiring multidisciplinary evaluation, and notice to the parents and a right to a hearing shall be afforded prior to the exclusion.
b. If a discipline problem with an exceptional student is so immediate or severe as to warrant immediate action, the School District, with approval of the Secretary of Education or a designee, may implement an interim change in educational placement, including exclusion from school, as long as notice is provided to the parents and a due process hearing is scheduled as soon as possible.

Student Searches Procedure

Students may be searched by authorized school personnel having reasonable suspicion. A search of a student includes a search of the student’s (a) person, (b) clothes being worn or carried, (c) locker, (d) purse, briefcase, duffel bag, book bag, backpack or any other container used by the student for holding or carrying personal belongings of any kind and in the possession or immediate proximity of the student and (e) vehicle in parking lot.

Bullying/Cyberbullying

1. Definition of Bullying/Cyberbullying –  Bullying means an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act or series of acts directed at another student or students which occurs in a school setting and/or outside a school setting, that is severe, persistent or pervasive and has the effect of doing any of the following: (1) substantial interference with a student’s education, (2) creation of a threatening environment and (3) substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school. Bullying, as defined in the District Policy 249, includes cyberbullying.

2. Reporting Procedures – Any staff member receiving reports of bullying will document each alleged incident and report it to the building administration.

3. Disciplinary Consequences – Will be based on the seriousness and repetitiveness of the behavior and may include the following: counseling referral, parent notification, peer mediation, detention, suspension, exclusion from school-related activities, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement officials.

Harassment (Crimes Code of PA, Section 2709)

1. The Governor Mifflin School District is committed to maintaining a school environment free of harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Harassment by administrators, certified and support personnel, students and other individuals at school or at school-sponsored events is unlawful and is strictly prohibited. The Governor Mifflin School District requires all employees and students to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner with respect for their fellow employees, students and all members of the school community.

2. Definition of Harassment-In General – Harassment includes communications such as jokes, comments, innuendoes, notes, display of pictures or symbols, gestures or other conduct which offends or shows disrespect to others based upon race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

3. By law, what constitutes harassment is determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with the characteristic on which the harassment is based. What one person may consider acceptable behavior, may reasonably be viewed as harassment by another person. Therefore, individuals should consider how their words and actions might reasonably be viewed by other individuals. It is also important for individuals to make it clear to others when a particular behavior or communication is unwelcome, intimidating, hostile or offensive.

4. Sexual Harassment – While all types of harassment are prohibited, sexual harassment requires particular attention. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

A. Acceptance of or submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or education.
B. The individual’s response to such conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting an employee or as a basis for educational, disciplinary or other decisions affecting a student.
C. Such conduct interferes with an individual’s job duties, education or participation in extra-curricular activities.
D.The conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or school environment.

5. Harassment and Retaliation Prohibited – Harassment, in any form or for any reason, is absolutely forbidden. This includes harassment by administrators, certified and support personnel, students, and other individuals in school or at school related events. In addition, retaliation against any individual who has brought harassment or other inappropriate behavior to the attention of the school or who has cooperated in an investigation of a complaint under this policy is unlawful and will not be tolerated by the Governor Mifflin School District.

6. Persons who engage in harassment or retaliation may be subject to disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, reprimand, suspension, termination/expulsion or other sanctions as determined by the school administration and/or Board of School Directors, subject to applicable procedural requirements.

7. Investigation – Any individual who believes he/she has been harassed or who has witnessed or learned about the harassment of another person in the School District, should inform the high school administration as soon as possible. If the individual does not wish to discuss the issue with him/her, or if he/she does not address the problem in an effective manner, the individual should inform the superintendent of schools who can be reached at 10 South Waverly Street, Shillington, PA, (610) 775-1461.

8. The Governor Mifflin School District will promptly investigate every complaint of harassment. If it determines that harassment has occurred, it will take appropriate action to end the harassment and to ensure that it is not repeated. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent consistent with the school’s obligations under law and under applicable collective bargaining agreements.

9. In certain cases, the harassment of a student may constitute child abuse under state law. The Governor Mifflin School District will comply with all legal requirements governing the reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and will report suspected criminal activity to the appropriate authorities.

10. Closure of a Complaint – When an investigation has been completed, school personnel will inform the complainant of the results and file a report with the assistant superintendent.

11. The Governor Mifflin School District urges all individuals in the school community to bring any concerns or complaints of harassment to the attention of appropriate school personnel so that they can resolve the issue. 

Extreme Breaches of Discipline

1. Examples of offenses which warrant ten day out-of-school suspension by the principal, involvement of the superintendent and/or action by the Board of School Directors, but is not limited to:

a. WEAPONS:  18PACS912 — The possession, sale, use or threat of harmful explosives, weapons, incendiary or destructive devices on school property.

DEFINITION:  Notwithstanding the definition of “weapon” in Section 907 (relating to possessing instruments of crime), “weapon” for the purpose of this section shall include, but not be limited to:  any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, non-chunk stick, firearm, shotgun, rifle, replica of a weapon, and any other tool, instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.

OFFENSE DEFINED:  A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he possesses a weapon in the buildings of, on the grounds of or in any conveyance providing transportation to or from any elementary or secondary private school licensed by the Department of Education or any elementary or secondary parochial school. Per Title 18, Pennsylvania Crime Code, Chapter 9 (18 PACS 912).

b. Bodily assault upon another student or member of the staff (during all times).

c. Selling, using, being under the influence of, possessing or aiding in the procurement of alcoholic and/or malt beverages, narcotics or restricted drugs, including marijuana or other controlled substance, including, but not limited to the Drug Narcotic Identification Chart.

d. Reporting by telephone, in writing or in person a threat known to be false.

e. Extortion.

f. Committing immoral acts.

g. Vandalism.

h. Special cases of offenses under “a,” “b” and “c” above, as provided therein.

i. Any other inappropriate behavior deemed by the administration.

Extreme Breaches of Discipline Which Require Referral to the Board of School Directors

1. Any act requiring suspension beyond ten days or expulsion, including but not limited to the following:

a. Selling, being under the influence or possession of restricted drugs or other controlled substance.
b. Bodily assault on any member of the school staff, volunteer worker, agent or visitor.
c. Possession, sale or use of harmful explosives, weapons or incendiary devices
d. Any acts which lead to the student being cited as a “disruptive student.” (A “disruptive student” is one, who through his/her actions, detracts in a serious manner from the well-being of the general school population.)

Nicotine products, Drugs and Alcohol

Tobacco

• Students are prohibited from using and possessing tobacco.

• Use shall be defined as use and/or possession of a lighted or unlighted cigarette, cigar and pipe, other lighted smoking product or electronic cigarette and smokeless or look-alike tobacco product in any form.

• Tobacco is prohibited in the building, school property, busses and school-sponsored activities.

• The school may initiate prosecution of a student in possession or use of tobacco products.

Drug/Alcohol Use, Possession and Distribution

• Students are prohibited from any use and/or possession of a controlled substance. A controlled substance shall include any drug prohibited by federal and state law, look-alike drugs, alcoholic beverages, anabolic steroids, drug paraphernalia, volatile inhalants and prescription or patent drugs except those for which permission for use in school has been granted pursuant to Board Policy.

Student Discipline Code

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Proper Dress Procedures

The students of Governor Mifflin High School shall dress and groom themselves:

1. In a manner which, in the opinion of the staff and administration, does not interfere with classroom instruction and the operation of the school.

2. In a manner which complies with the health and sanitary standards required necessary or desirable for a community or an education environment.

3. In a manner which complies with all safety regulations set forth by this school and by local and state governments. When representing Governor Mifflin School District as a participant in athletic, scholarship or club activities, attire should be in accord with the specifications of the coach or sponsor and school dress philosophy.

4. Because our school district wants to ensure a learning environment with minimal distractions, the following guidelines will be enforced.

5.  Any student in violation of the below dress code will be asked to change. If a student does not have a change of clothing, he/she will be given an appropriate piece of clothing, parent will be asked to bring in acceptable clothing, or student will be sent home (with parent notification and permission) to change his/her inappropriate apparel.

Section I:  General

1. Spandex or excessively tight outfits of any type or material are not permitted unless an accompanying top covers the hips, buttocks and cleavage in an appropriate manner.

2. Excessively baggy clothing that poses a safety hazard is not permitted.

3. Undergarments should not be exposed.

Section II:  Tops

1. Tops may not be “low cut” or exposing. Off the shoulders shirts/tops, midriffs and backs are not permitted to be exposed.

2. Cut off shirts or sleeveless undershirts are not permitted.

3. Any top that is excessively tight or allows the midriff, cleavage or undergarments to be exposed is not permitted.

4. Coats, jackets or garments designed for protection from the outside weather are not to be worn in school.

5.  Students are NOT permitted to wear sweatshirts with hoods up. Hoods must be down at all times, as this presents a safety and visibility concern in the building.

Section III:  Pants/Shorts/Skirts/Skorts

1. Pants, shorts, skirts and skorts must be secured and worn no lower than the hip. Low riding/sag style is not permitted.

2. Length of pants should not extend beyond the bottom of the shoe and should not drag on the floor.

3. Boxer shorts and pajamas/night clothes worn as outer wear are not permitted.

4. Shorts must be fingertip length.

5.  Any shorts or pants that are excessively short or tight are not permitted.  For example, pockets are exposed from the bottom of the shorts.  All shorts and pants must completely cover the buttocks whether the wearer is standing or seated.

Section IV:  Offensive Dress

1. Clothing, patches, buttons, pins, jewelry, back packs are not permitted if they:

a. Have sexually suggestive writing/pictures
b. Advocate violence
c. Advertise or promote the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs
d. Have innuendos or obscene language
e. Are disrespectful

2. A tattoo must be covered if it:

a. Has sexually suggestive writing/pictures
b. Advocates violence
c. Advertises or promotes the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs
d. Have innuendos or obscene language
e. Is disrespectful

Section V:  Footwear

1. Some sort of shoe must be worn at all times.

2. Any shoe that poses a safety hazard is not permitted.

3. Shoes with laces must be tied.

4. Bedroom slippers are not permitted.

Section VI:  Jewelry

1. Spiked jewelry, wallet chains, choker chains or any chains or jewelry that could cause injury/damage to school furniture and/or constitute a hazard is not permitted.

Section VII:  Headwear

1. Hats, caps, bandanas, sunglasses, visors, sweatbands and other head coverings are not permitted unless for religious purposes.

Section VIII:  Health and Hygiene

1. Any apparel that is judged to be unhealthy or unsanitary is not permitted.

2. Each student is expected to maintain good personal hygiene.

It is our sincere desire to provide adequate leeway for individuality but, at the same time, to maintain a standard of good grooming which will reflect in a positive way upon the school, the student and his/her home. The above guidelines are constantly being evaluated, and as changes in policy are developed, they will be announced.

Bus Loading and Unloading

Students waiting for buses will use the side of the auditorium, auxiliary gym lobby and main lobby as the bus loading and/or unloading zones. Caution must be used in getting on and off the school buses.

Conduct on Buses

Students who ride on buses to and from school are expected to conduct themselves in such a way that they will be free of criticism from anyone. They must respect the drivers and not abuse the buses or furnishings. The possession and consumption of food is strictly prohibited. This accommodation is provided by the School District and should be considered a privilege and a courtesy. The Board authorizes the use of video and audio recording on school buses and school vehicles for disciplinary and security purposes. According to the State Code, students may be assigned seats on the bus and, in case of misbehavior, students may be deprived of transportation for a duration of time to be determined by the offense or number of offenses.

Students driving to school are required to comply with the following rules and regulations:

1. The bus driver reserves the right to assign seats

2. No skateboards are allowed on the bus.

Personal Pupil Transportation

For reasons of safety, parents or other persons transporting students to school are advised to drop-off and pick-up students on Mifflin Boulevard or Waverly Street. Bus procedures will necessitate keeping the areas in front of the lobbies clear during morning and afternoon bus runs.

Students driving to school are required to comply with the following rules and regulations:

1. A student parking permit is required to park in the student parking lot. Students who receive a parking permit will be assigned a designated parking space.

2. All other students who drive to school should park their cars along Waverly Street or on Mifflin Boulevard toward Lancaster Avenue. Under no circumstances should residential driveways be blocked.

3. Students who ignore the parking rules/regulations may be subject to fines, loss of parking privileges, and/or towing. If a student vehicle is towed, the cost of the towing is at the expense of the student/student’s family.

4. During the school day, students may enter their cars only with special permission from the office.

5. The speed limit on the parking lot and around the school is 10 miles per hour. Students are to observe all signs and posted rules.

6. Traffic is to move in the direction indicated by the arrows on parking lots.

7. The driver of any car shall be accountable for any improper use of the car, such as:  horn blowing, racing of motors, spinning of tires, etc.

8. Vehicles parked on school grounds and persons and property therein are subject to school regulations.

9. Students may not display inappropriate flags, bumper stickers, symbols or any other visual graphic on their automobile.

Student Parking Permits

The Governor Mifflin School District is instituting a high school parking permit program. The parking permit program will enhance the District’s overall Safe Schools Plan. The program will require responsibility of students participating in the program. The issuance of parking permits will add to the protection of student and parent personal property.

The student parking permit program will be offered to seniors first. Seniors will be assigned a parking space on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each senior requesting an assigned parking space will be issued a numbered permit. The permit will designate the student’s parking space and shall be displayed on the student’s vehicle. In order to obtain a parking permit, each student shall submit an application containing student and vehicle registration information. A one-time parking permit fee of $15 shall be assessed to the student for the privilege of obtaining an assigned parking space. The school district reserves the right to tow any vehicle found to be in violation of this policy.

Parking and driving on school property is a privilege. The operation and parking of vehicles on school district property is regulated by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, applicable policies of the School Board and regulations and procedures of the high school administration. In addition to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct and School Board Policy, violators of regulations pertaining to the operation and parking of vehicles may be subject to prosecution. Students can be denied this privilege by the high school administration, if necessary.