Dear Patriot Families;
I am in need of your help! We have an issue with tardiness in our Middle School/High School and I am looking for at home support to alleviate this issue.
As a reminder, being on time is a life skill. One that is taught from as early as Kindergarten. This is a skill that will carry over from a student’s education to the workforce someday and our job at May-Port CG is to raise up respectful, responsible, and accountable citizens.
During the school day we are implementing 'Tardy Sweeps’ this means that upon the tardy bell ringing (everyone gets three minutes in between classes, which is standard) the classroom door will be closed and the student will be required to come to the office for a tardy admit slip to class.
Moving forward, STUDENTS who receive a TARDY after their FOURTH TARDY will be required to attend a 30 minute detention immediately (DAY OF) after school. A morning detention option will not be available for Tardy Detentions after FOUR tardies. If a student SKIPS their mandator tardy detention they will be assigned to In School Suspension taking place with Mrs. Blotsky on Fridays 8:30-3:30pm. EACH STUDENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION BY ATTENDING DETENTION THE DAY OF THEIR ASSIGNED TARDY!
"How will my Student know if they have received a tardy?" If your student receives a tardy they will have a tardy notification in their PowerSchool, this is nothing new to your student. We will be adding an additional notification for your student from the office as we will ALSO run a daily tardy report prior to the end of each day and students will be verbally notified so that they are able to serve their detention immediately to avoid In School Suspension.
In School Suspension is NOT ideal and I do NOT want to see students being out of the classroom and missing out on valuable face to face instruction time, however, I feel that I have no other choice than to implement a more pressing consequence regarding tardiness.
When students are tardy it is an interruption to other students' learning in the classroom and an interruption to the classroom teacher. Being on time shows respect for that classroom, that teacher, and their peers.
I understand that emergencies/unforeseeable circumstances occur and things happen prior to school starting in the morning. If this is the case, please call the office PRIOR to your student arriving tardy to school so that the office can EXCUSE your student’s tardy.
The following are potential reasons for an EXCUSED tardy due to unforeseeable circumstances:
*Car Trouble
*Bad Weather
*Doctor’s Appointment
*Health Concerns
*Other unforeseeable circumstances as deemed appropriate by Administration.
If your student is TARDY to a class DURING the school day (after 1st period through the end of the day) and your student has a reason for their tardy (i.e. bathroom emergency, visiting the nurse, going to the office, staying after with a teacher for extra help etc.) your student must have a PASS excusing their tardy. This pass would come from THE OFFICE or if your student is staying back with a teacher and is tardy to their next class they need to obtain an ADMIT PASS FROM THAT TEACHER excusing their tardy.
As a reminder to you and your student our CURRENT tardy policy from our May-Port CG Student Handbook on Pages 12-13 is below. Please note the change below in yellow. Students WILL have the opportunity to avoid In School Suspension by attending an immediate after school detention.
Nearly every case of tardiness can be avoided. If due to some unavoidable circumstance you must come to school late, bring an excuse from home. The office will determine if the tardy was avoidable or not.
In ALL cases of tardiness, the student must report to the office to receive an admit slip to enter class.
1. Tardiness disrupts the class and often has an effect on a student’s grade since important information is shared at the beginning of the class period. In addition, most employers look upon promptness as a virtue, and it is imperative our students develop responsibility in this area.
2. Students are expected to be in their assigned room/area before the beginning of the class bell. After this they are considered tardy. Students who are 15 minutes late or more are considered ABSENT for that class period.
3. Unexcused tardies will be dealt with as follows: a. 1st tardy- recorded no penalty. b. 2nd and 3rd tardy- 15 minutes after school in the Auditorium.
c. 4th tardy- 30 minutes after school detention in the auditorium and mandatory parent meeting with administration.
d. Any tardy after your 4th- IMMEDIATE 30 MINUTE AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION TO BE SERVED SAME DAY. IF DETENTION IS SKIPPED THE STUDENT WILL HAVE one day mandatory In School Suspension.
e. ANY STUDENT FAILING TO ATTEND DETENTIONS FOR TARDIES RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION. IF FOR SOME REASON YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND A TARDY DETENTION, A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST CONTACT MRS. BLOTSKY IN THE OFFICE AND SET UP AN ALTERNATIVE TIME. FAILURE TO NOT SIGN-IN UPON ATTENDING A TARDY DETENTION WILL RESULT IN YOU NOT EARNING CREDIT FOR THAT DETENTION
MONDAY-FRIDAY 3:30-4:00PM UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED
STUDENT TARDIES RESET AT EACH SEMESTER.
Parents/Guardians of students who are tardy will be informed by means of a report from the Principal’s office. You will receive this in the mail.
If a student enters school late at any time during the day, they are to report to the office for a tardy slip.
I am hoping that these changes will alleviate the issue of chronic tardiness that we are seeing. Again, being on time is a life skill, and an important one at that! It is our job at May-Port CG to raise up students who are successful citizens and can contribute to society in a positive way.
Our Mission is C.L.E.A.R and I really do appreciate your help in this situation.
If you have any questions or concerns,
Please reach out to me.
Thank you,
Mrs. Blotsky