No cans or glass bottles are allowed in school. Also, junk food is discouraged. Please remind your child that the lunchroom is for eating and that appropriate behavior is expected at all times.

FOOD ITEMS

Candy, Chewing Gum, Bubble Gum, Sun Flower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Hug Drinks, and Soda Will Not Be Permitted in Howe School at any time.  Recommended soft drinks (Capri sun or other fruit juices) are acceptable. 

CELL PHONES/ ELECTRONIC GAMES

Any item that disrupts normal school activities such as toys, hand held games, cell phones, radios, tape players, beepers, toys, balls, trading cards, electronic games, etc. will be confiscated until June. The student’s parent/guardian must claim the item from the office.

 For a complete list check the:

Code of Student Conduct

School Uniform

SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY

The School District of Philadelphia has a mandatory uniform policy effective September 2004.  All Howe students are expected to wear the school uniform daily.   The dress code will be strictly enforced. The following is accepted attire for Howe Students:

Boys - Navy slacks, white shirts, (long sleeve in the winter and short sleeve in the summer) dark shoes. 

Girls - Navy skirts, navy jumper dress, navy slacks, white shirts, (long sleeve in the winter and short sleeved in the summer), and dark shoes.

On gym days, gym uniform.

 No hats, oversized shirts or baggy pants.  Sweatbands are not a part of the uniform. No blue jeans under the dress or skirt are acceptable.  Students being out of uniform will cause students to have demerits leading to detentions and restrictions from school wide activities.

Attendance and Tardiness

ATTENDANCE

The educational program offered by the School District is based upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation.

A note signed by a parent/caregiver must be brought to school after each absence, indicating the dates and reasons for the absence.  Absences will be coded “unexcused” if a note is not provided.

When a pupil is absent for three days due to illness, a written note from the doctor documenting the medical necessity for the absence must be brought to the teacher the day of their return.

Every effort must be made to make up work missed as a result illness or other excused absence.  Worked missed because of absence can lower academic marks.  Students are responsible for making up work missed as result of suspension or other means. 

When possible, a parent is to notify the school if a pupil is to be absent for several days.

Unexcused lateness which causes a student to miss all or a substantial part of the day’s instructional time may be coded as an unexcused absence. 

TARDINESS

A little late is TOO late!

Coming to school is your child’s job. Like their parent, there are consequences for being late. Therefore, when your child arrives late to school, there are certain consequences for him/her.  They will report to the late desk for a late slip.  No child will be admitted to class without a late slip.  Repeated tardiness will result in penalties and will require detentions, parent-teacher conferences and/or a parent-administrator conference.  Lateness due to appointments must be accompanied with a note to be excused.  

Four times being late within a month’s period will result in a detention of fifteen minutes.  More than four will result in thirty-minute detentions.  Latenesses are cumulative.

Security

SECURITY 

Students may not enter the building prior to 8:00 A.M.  as there is NO supervision for children before 8:00 AM.

Safety for our children and staff is a crucial factor. All of our doors will be locked from the outside and you must be buzzed in after 8:45 A.M.  You must have identification to enter the building. ALL VISITORS MUST STOP AT THE SCHOOL’S PARENT ASSISTANCE DESK AT THE FRONT TO SIGN IN AND RECEIVE A NAME TAG THEN PROCEED TO THE MAIN OFFICE.

For safety reasons, parents will NOT take their child to the classroom.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s), and community partners may volunteer in classrooms other than their child(ren), upon state and federal background clearances.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s), and community partners are needed to monitor schoolyard activities during lunch and recess daily.  Please volunteer.