School Information
The following is a basic list of information from the SMS Handbook located in your student’s SMS Agenda Book (pgs. 4-14). We encourage you to take a moment and read the SMS Handbook in order to familiarize yourself with other SMS/CCPS policies and procedures.
SCHOOL DAY
The school day begins at 8:35 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. Students are required to be in homerooms no later than 8:35 a.m. First period begins after morning announcements. Students should not arrive before 8:10 a.m. Dismissal begins at 3:10 and will occur in the following order:
1. Walkers and Parent Pick-Up
2. First Bus Wave
3. Additional Buses
We understand that early dismissals may be necessary, however we request that every effort be made to pick up your child after 3:10 p.m. to avoid interruption of important instruction and closure.
SCHOOL CLOSING – INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event that it becomes necessary to close schools for the entire day because of inclement weather, the announcement will be made no later than 6:45 a.m. The following radio and television stations will make the announcement: WTTR (Westminster); WHVR/WYCR (Hanover); WGET/WGTY (Gettysburg); WTHU (Thurmont); WCAO, WCBM, WPOC, WVRT, WERQ, WRBS, WMIX, Lite 102, WFMM and WGRX (Baltimore); WTOP (Washington D.C.); and WCRH (Williamsport); Adelphia Cable Channels 3 and 21; WBAL, WMAR-TV, WJZ-TV and WNUV-54 (Baltimore).
VISITORS
Visitors are welcome to our school and are to report to the office upon arrival to obtain a visitors pass. Students from other locations will not be allowed to visit during instructional time. This also includes former students who wish to visit teachers or friends. All visitors are to use the Front Door and check in with the school secretary.
STUDENT ABSENCES
Attendance in school is very important and a major component to being a successful student. We encourage all students to be in school and to be on time. However, there are times when students need to come to school late or leave early. The following time frame will be used to determine attendance:
Students who arrive to school after 8:35 a.m. are to report to the guidance office to sign in.
Regular attendance is an important part of a student's school record. A note explaining the absence must be provided upon the student's return to school.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES ATTENDANCE
Students who are absent from school on the day of a special activity, must obtain approval from the school's administrator before attending the activity.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Parents wishing to pick up their student may do so with permission from the parent and approval from the school. Students leaving the school must report to the office to sign-out,. Students will NOT be excused to leave the school with anyone except the parent/legal guardian or other authorized person(s) listed on the Emergency Card. For security reasons, authorized person(s) may be required to show proper identification when picking up a student.
EMERGENCY CARDS
On the first day of school, each student will receive Emergency Cards which are to be completed by the parent and returned to school the next day. This information will assist the school in contacting the parent should your child become ill or injured. The school should be notified as soon as possible if there is a change of address or phone number.
MEDICATION
Students are not permitted to transport any medications to or from school. The student’s parent must deliver the medication to school, and pick up the medication when it no longer needs to be taken during the school day. Medicine may not be given by anyone in the school unless a medication form is on file in the nurse’s office regarding the administration of the medicine. The medicine must be brought to the school by the parent or guardian. The following items are not considered to be medication and therefore students may carry them without being in violation of our drug and alcohol procedure:
Chapsticks/lip balm
Non-medicated cough drops (e.g. Ludens’)
Saline eye drops
Saline nose spray
Hand creams/lotions
Sunscreen
Individually wrapped antibacterial hand wipes
DRESS CODE
The Board of Education has a strong commitment to the learning process. Therefore, the Board of Education has a legitimate interest in regulating student attire and appearance during the school day in an effort to avoid disruption, to promote self discipline, to promote student health and safety, and to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Students of Carroll County Public Schools are required to groom themselves in a manner that is modest, clean, appropriate, decent and not disruptive to the educational process. Students are expected to abide by this dress code from the arrival to the school building to the defined ending of the school day. For a detailed explanation of the dress code, please refer to the CCPS School Handbook given to your student the first week of school. There is also a printable version of the CCPS Handbook located on the CCPS website.
CELL PHONES
The cell phone policy is easy—turn them off and put them away. Students do not have a need for cell phones until after school. If visible or on, phones will be taken from students and given back to parents after school (remember to check cell phone charges to see how frequently you are paying for calls and text messages during school hours!).
CHEWING GUM
There will be no chewing gum in school or on school property. Continued violations of the Gum Chewing Policy will be considered insubordination.
PERMISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH, VIDEOTAPE OR AUDIOTAPE
Throughout the school year, the Carroll County Public School System frequently covers school activities and may use your child’s photograph, video image, or voice for educational, informational, or public relations purposes, with or without identification by name.
If you do not wish to have your child’s voice reproduced on tape or to have his/her image appear in such things as a video, a photograph, or the school website, please notify the school principal in writing. It is assumed that parents and guardians consent to their children being audiotaped, photographed, videotaped, or having their image placed on a school website unless such notification is received.
There are also occasions at which the media cover certain school events (such as when a government leader visits a school). If you do not wish to have your child’s name or likeness published by the media, you should address your concerns directly to the school involved so that the media is so advised. Please be advised that the school system has no control over the media when they are covering activities such as sporting events and musical programs that are open to the public.
CCPS ADA COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
The Board of Ed does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. Information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act is available from the Director of Facilities, (410) 751-3177. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Office of Community and Media Relations at (410) 751-3020, TTY (410) 751-3034, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157 at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed.
