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Howard County Public School System Policies

For the most up-to-date information on HCPSS Policies please visit the Howard County website.

Please note that students received a copy of the dress code in the school folder given to them at the beginning of the school year.

STANDARDS OF DRESS:  It is a violation of the Howard County Board of Education Dress Code Policy 9210 for any student to wear attire that interferes with the educational mission of schools, is disruptive to the school environment, provocative, or could endanger the health or safety of students or others during school hours and school activities. This includes, but is not limited to, attire that:

1. Depicts profanity, obscenity, the use of weapons, or violence.
2. Promotes the use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or harmful products.
3. Contains sexually suggestive messages.
4. Unduly exposes or reveals skin or undergarments.  This may include tank tops, halter tops, tops which are strapless, low cut or expose midriff, pants worn low or loose which expose skin and finger tip length skirts, shorts, and dresses.
5. Depicts gang affiliation.
6. Contains language or symbols that demean an identifiable person or group or otherwise infringe on the rights of others.
7. Causes or likely to cause a substantial or material disruption to school activities or the orderly operation of the school.
8. Contains rude, disrespectful, or discourteous expressions inconsistent with civil discourse and behavior.
9. Causes a health and safety risk for students.  This requires that shoes must be worn at all times in the school building and that sunglasses may not be worn during the school day.
10. Headgear or head coverings such as a hat, visor, bandanna, scarf, and sweatband are prohibited during and after the school day until 3:00 p.m.

In order to ensure the safety and appropriateness of school sponsored dances, the following set of guidelines has been created for Oakland Mills students.

1. All students must purchase their own non-transferable ticket during lunch shifts. No tickets will be sold at the door. Outside guests are allowed only at the Homecoming Dance and Prom. Their sponsoring OMHS student must complete a Guest Form at least 2 weeks in advance of the dance. Each Oakland Mills High School student may bring only one outside guest per event. Students will be asked to show identification when checking in at the dance.
   
   
2. Students will not be admitted after 9:00pm and must be picked up within 15 minutes after the end. Once students leave the dance, they may not return.
   
   
3. Students may not bring any coats, book bags, purses, or other similar items into the dance. Items are to be checked at the Coat Check prior to entering the dance. Sponsoring groups may charge a small fee for the Coat Check as a fundraising activity.
   
   
4. All HCPSS and Oakland Mills High School policies are in effect. Any student suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be subject to immediate disciplinary procedures in accordance with countywide policy.
   
   
5. The sponsoring organization will provide a well-lighted dance floor in addition to a music selection that represents the diverse interests of Oakland Mills High School’s student body. If the administration does not find the level of lighting provided by the sponsoring organization satisfactory, they may turn the gymnasium lights on for the duration of the dance.
   
   
6. Students are expected to dance in a manner that is appropriate for a school activity. This includes:
   
   • Maintaining an upright, vertical position
   • Avoiding any inappropriate or suggestive dancing

Student Activities

Students are reminded of HCPSS Policy 9070: The Board of Education of Howard County is committed to providing a well-rounded program of student activities for high school students as a complement to the education program. The board further recognizes that to best serve the vision and mission of the school system, extracurricular activities must not, in any way, supplant academics as the primary focus of the school system.

Attendance (HCPSS Policy 9010)

Students are reminded of HCPSS Policy 9010: The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that a quality education is provided for each student who is enrolled in the school system. The Board recognizes that students are required to be in school or to be attending a school-related activity each day school is in session and that there is a strong correlation among regular attendance, academic achievement, and the completion of school. The Board of Education further believes that regular attendance is vital to ensuring that students become productive members of society.

Absence Policy

The Howard County Public School System follows the policy set forth from the Maryland State Department of Education. Policy 9010 can be viewed in its entirety on the HCPSS.org website.

• A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance four hours or more of the school day.
  
  
• A student is counted present for a half day if in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours.
  
  
• A student is counted absent for the day if present for less than 2 hours of the school day.
  
  
• Students enrolled for less than a school day must be present for their full defined day in order to be credited with a full day. In this case, students will be considered absent the whole day if present for less than one hour.
  
  
• A student who misses 20 minutes or more of a class is considered absent for that day from that class.
  
  
• A written request for absences for non-emergency circumstances (discretionary days) up to 3 days must be submitted at least 3 days prior to the absence and will be determined excused /unexcused by the principal.
  
  
• Discretionary days in excess of 3 days must get the approval of the Central Office Director of High Schools. These must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the absence.
  
  
• Students who are unlawfully absent for 15 consecutive school days or more will be administratively withdrawn from school and may be allowed to re-enroll provided they meet enrollment requirements upon their return.
  
  
• Students who are unlawfully tardy or absent will not receive credit for any work completed that day.
  
  
• Lawful absences include:
  1. illness
  2. bereavement (5 days for immediate family, 1 day for others)
  3. court summons
  4. observance of religious holiday (submit a religious observance form)
  5. suspension
  
  
• In order to strengthen academics, a student who is absent over 5% may be denied privledges to participate in field trips.

From the Health Room

Thank you to all parents who have been notifying the school when your child is absent from school with an illness. We are continuing to track student illnesses and reporting weekly numbers to the Health Dept. The most efficient method of notification is by email: omhsabsence@hcpss.org as this address notifies Mrs. Bechara in the Health room, Ms. Kai the Cluster Nurse and Mrs. Herr the Attendance secretary; or call 410-313-6952 or 410-313-6945.

Please include your child's symptoms. We are specifically tracking Influenza symptoms: fever higher than 100.0, cough and sore throats; but appreciate symptoms if your child has another illness.

Please also continue to send a signed note with your child when (s)he returns from the absence. Thank you.

If your student is sick, please do not send them to school to take a test/quiz and then sign out to go home. Students are permitted to make up any work for an excused absence.

Also, cell phone use is not permitted during the school day. Please do not permit your student to text you that they are not feeling well. Any ill student should report to the Health Room, and Mrs. Bechara and Ms. Kai will be happy to help your student contact you at that time.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Weapons (HCPSS Policy 9250)

Students are reminded of HCPSS Policy 9250: The Board of Education believes that the presence of weapons on school property poses a serious threat to the safety and well being of students and staff. It is unlawful for any person to carry or possess any firearm, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on any public school property of the State of Maryland. Therefore, the presence of any weapon on school property, on a school bus, in a vehicle locked or unlocked located on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity is strictly forbidden.

Personal Property

Families and students should be aware of their responsibilities for students’ personal property at school, or school functions, or on a school bus. The safety and security of personal property brought by a student into a school, on school grounds, on school-sponsored events such as a field trip, or on a school bus shall be the responsibility of the student. HCPSS does not assume responsibility for the personal property of students and does not provide insurance coverage for the property. This includes HCPSS property loaned to the student as part of a program, i.e. instruments, uniforms, computers, books. Students and their parents are urged to give careful consideration to items brought, or left at the school, since storage and security of these items is limited at the schools. Items of significant sentimental and/or monetary value are strongly discouraged.

Computer & Internet Use

Students are responsible for good behavior on the Internet just as they aare in a classroom or a school hallway. The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others. Access to network services will be provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.

Independent student use of telecommunications and electronic information resources will be permitted upon submission of permission forms and agreement forms by parents of minor students and by students themselves. (NOTE: Extra Internet permission forms can be obtained in the Media Center.)

Internet services are to be used in a responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner. Users of the Internet must acknowledge their understanding of the guidelines as a condition for independent use of the Internet.

Use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in suspension or revocation of Internet access.

Provisions:

1. Acceptable uses of the Internet include activities that support learning and teaching. Internet users are encouraged to develop uses which meet their individual educational needs and which take advantage of the network's functions.
2. Unacceptable use of the network includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Violating the rights to privacy of other students.
   2. Using profanity, obscenity, or other language that may be offensive to another user.
   3. Copying materials in violation of copyright law.
   4. Plagiarizing, which is the taking of someone else's words, ideas, or findings and intentionally presenting them as your own without properly giving credit to their source.
   5. Using the network for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity.
   6. Attempting to degrade or disrupt system performance or unauthorized entry to and/or destruction of computer systems and files.
   7. Reposting personal communications without the author's prior consent.
   8. Revealing home phone numbers, addresses, or other personal information.
   9. Making personal purchases or unauthorized orders.
   10. Accessing, downloading, storing, or printing files or messages that are sexually explicit, obscene, or that offend or tend to degrade others.
   11. Downloading or copying information on to disks or hard drives without prior teacher approval.
3. The Howard County Public School System will be responsible for:
   1. Teaching students about these guidelines.
   2. Supervising and guiding student access to the Internet.
4. All users of the network are responsible for adhering to Policy 8080, Acceptable Use of Computer Technology.
5. The following people are entitled to use the Internet:
   1. All students under the direction of a teacher during a classroom lesson.
   2. All students in grades 9 through 12 independently, if a permission slip with signatures of both the parent or guardian and the student has been submitted.

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