Dear Parents of Stapleton Junior and Senior High School Students,
Going forward I will be strictly enforcing the following policies when it comes to excessive tardies. The student handbook that was sent home states that once a student exceeds four (4) tardies within a given semester that student must attend a detention. We now have designated our "9th hour" class as home for that detention. (3:35 - 4:05 Monday through Thursday, 3:05-3:35 on Fridays). It will be supervised by a teacher on a rotating basis for an entire week before a new teacher oversees it. Students will be required to sit in the designated detention room and make up for missing work (or they can "choose" a school community service project to complete instead). If your student receives a detention they will not be able to ride the bus home and a parent/guardian must pick them up (or they can walk home if they live within the village).
Additionally, if a student is participating with an athletic or activity team (one act, speech, FFA etc.) and receives a detention for excessive tardies they will not be allowed to participate on the day they serve their detention. This could impact their playing time and position on the team in which they participate. I have sent out emails to students, teachers, coaches and other staff members informing them of the enforcement of this policy. Being late to class is no longer going to be acceptable. Students who have legitimate reasons for being late (a note excusing their tardy) will not be affected.
Being present and on time is a critical part of the educational process. Students who come in late disrupt the flow of the classroom and delay our teachers from getting started on their daily lessons. Additionally, part of our jobs as educators is to prepare students for life outside of school. Being where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be, is a skill that must be developed, practiced and reinforced through repetition and consistency.
Any discrepancy or dispute will be handled by me on a case by case basis. There is no legitimate reason why a student should be late more than four (4) times within a given school semester. Students have plenty of time between classes. They should communicate with their teachers if they feel they may be late to their next class. If a student does not serve their detention when it is given they will receive an in school suspension which then begins their "loss of credit" clock found in the student handbook as well.
If there are questions or concerns feel free to call me at the school or email me at jeremiah.johnson@stapletonschools.org
Thank you
Jeremiah Johnson
Secondary Principal/Activities Director
Stapleton Public Schools (Sandhills Valley Sports Cooperative AD)