Rules cause a stir From the Handbook

Students may not be in possession of or use cell phones or cell phone-sized electronic devices (including MP3 players) during class time, including when in the hall on a pass during class time. During class time, these devices are to be kept in the student’s locker. Students may use their cell phones or electronic devices in the hallways during passing time or in the lunchroom during their lunchtime. Students may bring larger tablets or E-Readers to class with prior approval from their teacher to be used for educational purposes only.

Headphones and earbuds are not allowed to be used during call time either in classrooms or in the halls unless:

• Headphones are being used with school-issued computing devices;

• Teachers have given students explicit permission to use headphones with that device on that day;

• Headphones are corded. Bluetooth headphones are not permitted because there are no school-issued computing devices with Bluetooth capability; and

• Other uses of headphones will be considered violations of this policy.

Students found to have a disallowed electronic device or who are misusing headphones will earn a referral and be sent immediately to the In-School Suspension (ISS) Room or main office. The ISS Supervisor, or Assistant Principal, will confiscate and secure the device and/or headphones, and the student will return to class without the device and/or headphones.

The standard rules and expectations for students have been significantly relaxed over the last few years. As staff navigated a return from virtual and hybrid learning where students had less restrictions, the struggle to consistently enforce the minimal expecations for cell phones, passes and backpacks has become an even greater daily struggle.

Now that school is back to “normal,” so are the rules, but many students are having issue with being sent to RTR or having their bathroom passes limited to the number they have in their new school-provided planner.

The administration understands people are mad about the bathroom pass rule and the phone rule, but the rules are put into place for several reasons. Many students abuse the bathroom pass and cell phones continue to be a huge distraction in the classroom.

91.3% of students have their phones in class

One of the main arguments in regard to bathroom pass limitations is that the number of passes needed varies from person to person.

“We shouldn’t be limited on how many times we can go,” sophomore Logan Halstedt said.

There is no doubt that bathrooms are packed during passing time, but it has become even worse now that people don’t want to use up their passes.

Students refusing to give their devices to the ISS Supervisor will be disciplined for insubordination.

• Confiscated devices may be picked up the same day between 2:50 and 4:00 p.m. or any day following. See LHS consequences below for information about who can pick up the phone:

• Offense 1 – Student may pick up the device

• Offense 2 – 1 ASD. The student may pick up the device

• Offense 3 – 2 ASDs. The student may pick up the device

• Offense 4 – ½ day ISS. The parent or guardian must pick up the device

• Offense 5 – 1 day ISS. The parent or guardian must pick up the device

• Offense 6 – 2 days ISS. The parent or guardian must pick up the device

• Offense 7 – 1 day OSS pending parent conference to develop a behavior plan, and the parent or guardian must pick up the device The number of offenses will reset each school year.

Potty Passes Stir the Pot

Zach Jager, Assistant Principal

“I understand why we use passes; it does help us identify patterns of students that are overusing them or are leaving class too often.”

Like many other students, freshman Santana Robles wants the bathroom pass rule changed. “It’s just too uch because if you don’t have your planner the teachers make you hold your bladder.”

“I think that some people will have to use the bathroom more than others; it should go back to the way it was, with no bathroom passes.”

“Bathrooms are way too packed. People have to use the bathroom and there are only four stalls in there.”

Josh Turner, senior

“It’s gonna take some responsibility from others, but when you gotta go, you gotta go.”

The discipline policy for cell phone usage seems to have caused the biggest issues.

With the current phone rule, students who are caught with their phone in class are sent to the Reflective Thinking Room (RTR), and are expected to turn over their phone for the rest of the day.

A poll that included all grades at LHS showed that out of 150 people, 137 had their phone on them in class. This is 91.3 % of kids at the school not following the cell phone rule. What is more concerning thought is that how much the rule is enforced varies from teacher to teacher, sending mixed messages to students about the expectations.

Testing, testing... Who’s There?

New this year is an attendance policy that incentivises coming to school as a way to earn exemption from taking final exams. To qualify, student must:

• Have less than six absences (excused or otherwise)

• Have earned at least a 70% in the class Many students are complaining about the attendance policy not distinguishing between excused and unexcused absences. The administrators have reminded students that this policy is not used as a punishment to students that have missed more than six days, but rather as a reward for students who have a low number of absences. This policy is set in stone for this year, but it will be assessed again in the future to see if there are any changes that should be made.