Upon returning from COVID-19 and remote learning and in light of recent reinforcement of school policies throughout Poland Seminary Junior/Senior High School, many students need a refresher on the district’s expectations and policies. Our principals and staff have reminded us time and time again how these policies on dress code, phone usage during class, and tardy policies are still enforced after our fight with Covid-19 throughout last year. Though Covid may still be around, these policies are to be taken seriously. Here is what you should know about them.

Dress Code

Our dress code policies for grades 7-12  are the same ones that have been enforced at the high school. However, to our new students transferring from other schools or students in grades seventh and eighth, the dress code here at PSJSHS may be a little different from what they are used to.

The dress code includes:

• no sweat pants, with the exception of Fridays
• no jeans with holes
• no cut down shirts.

Also, students are only permitted to carry around clear backpacks. If they have a solid backpack, they will have to leave them in their lockers once they arrive to school.

Mr. Snyder refers to students wearing lounge wear throughout the week and how “it looks like a slumber party…” if we all wore clothes less than casual all the time to school.

He goes on to say that this policy also gives students dress-down Friday, a day that students can look forward to going into the weekend. Keeping this dress code also is a way for us to “look nice” while we go about our school day.

The rules have been kept the same from last year to this year, but they were just reminded to students for awareness of the policy existing.

Phone Usage Throughout The School Day

During last school year, rules seemed to be a lot more lenient throughout the building. Though the policy of “no phones in class” still existed, of course, staff was not permitted to have students congregate around the cell phone holders, and many students were online, so it was difficult to completely enforce.

This year, teachers are having students put phones in the classroom phone holder.

Mr. Snyder states that the phones may cause more drama than necessary throughout the school year and could take a student’s minds away from their educations. He expresses how refreshing it is to see students interacting with each other at lunch instead of staring at their phone screens in a silent cafeteria.

Tardies and Detentions

As a result of getting (4+) tardies while coming to school in the morning, you will receive a pass for a detention. This policy has been in effect before; however, it may be new to even the sophomore class this 2021-2022 school year, as it was not enforced last year.

Mr. Snyder states that students coming to school on time is crucial for a good attendance report for the school. Student attendance is based on hours, and the amount of hours students are attending school affects the funding the school receives as well. Plus, constant tardiness means missed class time, content, learning, etc.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic last year, this rule was not put into effect due to the loss of hours in attendance. Students were either in quarantine, getting sick, or even using online learning tools last year; therefore, assigning detentions to students for being late just did not feel as necessary as a normal school year. Furthermore, last year’s pandemic pushed the state to become more lenient on the attendance report.

Mr. Snyder reminds us that since this year, there are no online students and less kids in quarantine, so the state is a lot less lenient than they were last year. Detentions are reminders for students of how important it is that they come to school and classes on time.

These policies are put into place to enhance student learning, engagement, and attention throughout the school day so they are able to achieve their fullest potential.