Attendance

Compulsory School Attendance (per School Board Policy JEA): Compulsory education is essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people and the continued prosperity of our nation. Maintaining regular student attendance is necessary to achieve the goal of an educated citizenry.

• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Under state law, full-time attendance at school is required of every child between the ages of 7 and under 17, unless he/she has received a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Excusable Absences from School: A person’s absence from school is excused when the absence is for one of the following reasons:
  • Personal illness; an appointment with a health professional that must be made during the regular school day; observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day; a family emergency; a planned absence for a personal or educational purpose which has been approved; or education disruption resulting from homelessness, unplanned psychiatric hospitalization, unplanned hospitalization for a medical emergency, foster care placement, youth development center placement or some other out-of-district placement that is not otherwise authorized by an IEP or other education plan or Superintendents’ agreement.

PHS Attendance Practices: In alignment with Bulldog Belief #2, the purpose of having attendance guidelines is to ensure that PHS students experience academic growth and success, maintain a strong attendance record, and comply with Maine school attendance laws. PHS recognizes the critical relationship between consistent school attendance and academic achievement. The direct instruction, targeted academic support, enrichment activities, group discussions and explorations, and ongoing assessments that take place in classes are essential components of the educational process.

At PHS, daily attendance is taken promptly at 8:40AM and throughout the school day, attendance is taken at the start of each class. Once a student arrives at school, they are expected to be in their assigned classes, including study halls and Learning Center blocks. Students should not be loitering in the hallways or other spaces during class times, including those with senior privileges or other late arrival or early release circumstances and any student who is in the hall should have a pass from a teacher or staff member. Any student in the hallway during a class time may be asked to show their pass, and give their name, to any staff member and failure to do so could result in disciplinary action.

Students who are absent must make sure that a parent/guardian notifies the school by phone between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. If circumstances prohibit a parent/guardian from making a phone call, a note or email to brycea@portlandschools.org excusing the absence will be accepted within twenty-four (24) hours of the absence day. Students attending appointments during the school day must bring documentation of the appointment to the Main Office. Students are expected to partner with their teachers to arrange and complete make-up work from time out of school and teachers are authorized to establish deadlines for submissions of make-up work and failure of the student to meet such deadlines may result in loss of credit for the assignment(s).

Dismissals: For expected dismissals during the school day, students should check in with an administrative assistant in the Main Office before the start of that school day; the student will be given a note to give to the appropriate teacher. Also, students must sign out in the Main Office at the time of dismissal. At PHS, parents/guardians can email Ann-Marie Bryce at bryce@portlandschools.org to request dismissal and Ms. Bryce will print the email for the student file and will respond to confirm receipt. If there is not a response to the email within a reasonable amount of time, Ms. Bryce may be out for the day or there may be technical difficulties. In that event, please call the school to request student dismissal at 874-8250. Please note that, in order to ensure safety, students may not leave PHS during the school day without going through the proper dismissal procedures and without the permission of a parent/guardian and an administrator, school nurse or administrative assistant.

If a student becomes ill during the school day, they must report to the school nurse or, if the nurse is not available, to one of the assistant principals. Students who are ill may not leave the building until the school nurse, an administrator, or administrative assistant contacts a parent/guardian for permission. Students leaving school without permission will be subject to disciplinary action.

Other important things to note about PHS attendance practices include:

• If a student misses more than 30 minutes of a block, the student accumulates an absence for the class.
• School personnel, other than administrators, may not excuse students from a class. Students are expected to meet with school counselors, social workers, or other teachers during study halls, Learning Center, lunch, or before and after school.
• Students who live with a parent or legal guardian may not dismiss themselves even if they are 18 years or older. Students are only able to dismiss themselves if they have been given that approval by a PHS administrator.
• If a student is marked absent for any part of the school day, the computerized attendance program will notify the student’s household with a robocall.
• When a student is absent from school or misses any part of the school day, it will result in missing practices/games/other co-curricular activities, unless the absence is approved by the Co-Curricular Director or another administrator.
• Students who are late to school may be required to serve a lunch detention that day. Students with a legitimate reason for arriving late (as determined by a PHS administrator) will report directly to the Main Office to obtain a late pass.

Interpreters/Translation

PHS recognizes the needs of students and families who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and of our linguistic and cultural minority families who are limited English proficient (LEP). In order to ensure equal access to public education, Portland Public Schools is committed to providing access to interpreter and translation services during school hours for all students and/or family members who have legal access to the student(s) and who need such services for school business.

Metro Transportation

During the COVID19 pandemic, many things changed regarding Metro transportation for our students. As we start the 2021-22 school year, students should be aware of the following:

• All incoming 9th graders were issued Metro cards at the end of 8th grade and should use those cards to ride the Metro. If a student did not receive a card, they need to contact Ann-Marie Bryce in the Main Office.
• Last year, all incoming 10th, 11th and 12th graders were instructed to download the TouchPass Transit app on their smartphones (available in the App Store or on Google Play). If students need support with downloading the app, advisors will review the process during the first week of school, and Julia Pazniokas in the Main Office is available to assist students who need more support.
  • If a student does not have a smartphone, they can request a Metro card with Ann-Marie Bryce in the Main Office.

Peer Tutoring

The peer tutoring program at PHS matches student tutor volunteers with students who have been referred or who have requested assistance in specific subjects. Peer tutoring occurs during study halls, Learning Center, and/or after school.

Portland Mentoring Alliance Program

The Portland Mentoring Alliance matches adult volunteers in the Greater Portland community with students who have requested a mentor. The program focuses on creating a supportive mentoring relationship that supports academic success, post-secondary planning, and socialization as experienced in a one-on-one relationship. A mentor serves as a consistent, reliable role model and a trusted friend to a student. The relationship provides the mentor an opportunity to share professional and personal interests and provides the student college/career guidance. A mentor meets with their mentee for a minimum of one hour per week for one school year. Please visit the Mentoring Alliance space at PHS in Room 109 if you are interested in learning more or applying for a mentor.

School-Based Health Clinic

The school-based health clinic, operated by the City of Portland, is located on the ground floor of PHS. Services offered at the clinic include treatment of acute health conditions (i.e. sore throat, rash), management of chronic conditions (asthma, acne), testing and treatment of sexually-transmitted infections, birth control (including annual exams), physical exams, sports physicals and immunizations. Physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists and a clinic assistant are on staff.

To be seen at the School-based Health Clinic the student must have: 1) a signed parental permission, and 2) a scheduled appointment made by the PHS school nurse. The phone number to the clinic is 756-8418.

School Counseling Services

PHS school counselors provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program addressing the academic, career and personal/social development of all students. School counselors are a vital link to the academic, career and social development for all students and provide support to students through classroom guidance lessons, small group sessions, individual meetings, consultation with families and teachers, and through collaboration with other community resources. School counselors advocate for the needs of all students by providing guidance and support to maximize each student's potential and academic achievement. The needs of students are best served with a partnership between school, home, and community. As noted earlier in the handbook, our school counselors are assigned to students by their last name and those assignments are listed again below:

• Johannah Burdin, School Counselor & Director: last names A-De
• Victoria Caron, School Counselor: last names Di-Kh
• Laurie Medeiros, School Counselor: last names Ki-Pe
• Marisa Emerson, School Counselor: last names Ph-Z

School Nurse and Health Office

The nurse is available on a regular schedule to assist students with their health needs and to answer health-related questions. The school nurse, Sarah Thompson, can be reached at 874-8250 x7438 or at thompsar@portlandschools.org.

Health Screenings and Physical Examinations: Students must have a physical examination every two years in order to participate in school-sponsored athletic programs. Evidence of a physical exam must be signed by a healthcare provider and given to school staff before a student will be allowed to participate. Physical examinations can be scheduled at the Portland High Student Health Center through the school nurse. Vision screenings are completed in Grade 9. A vision or hearing screening may be conducted at the request of staff, students, or families.

Immunizations: Maine law requires all students to receive the following immunizations: four polio (one after the first birthday), five DPT (diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus) or DT, two German measles/rubella, mumps, and measles. Students must also provide documentation of chicken pox disease (varicella) or immunization from their health care provider. Students may be exempted from this requirement due either to a physician’s statement that one or more of the immunizations would be medically inadvisable, or to a parent’s or guardian’s statement in writing that the family is opposed to immunization given its sincere religious, moral, or philosophical beliefs. However, both the superintendent and public health officials retain the right to exclude from school any student who has not been immunized and who poses a danger to the health of others (e.g. one who has contracted a communicable disease) (reference Board Policy: NEPN/NSBA).

Medication: If a student is required to take medication during the school day then parents/guardians are required to contact our school nurse to complete all necessary paperwork and procedures. “Administration” means the provision of prescribed medication to a student according to the orders of a healthcare provider. A student with asthma, severe allergies and diabetes may carry and self-administer medications necessary for the treatment of that condition. The medications must be prescribed and approved for independent use by a healthcare provider. All medical needs must be documented and properly monitored by our school nurse ( reference Board Policy: NEPN/NSBA Code: JLCD).

Special Education/504

The Portland Board of Education has adopted a complete set of policies related to special education services and can be referenced at:

• https://www.portlandschools.org/academic-programs/student-support-services

Referrals for special education may be made at the school and families are encouraged to reach out to an administrator or a school counselor for more information about the referral process. Any student who has a disability or a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits a major life activity may be referred for services under section 504; assistant principals are the 504 case managers as PHS and can be contacted about the 504 referral process.

Social Workers

At PHS, our social workers support and counsel referred students and their families. They also coordinate various services for the student within the school and the Greater Portland community. Students often connect with social workers when they need support with academic, attendance, social, emotional and personal issues. As noted earlier in the handbook, our social workers are assigned to students by their last name and those assignments are listed again below:

• Sophie Payson, Social Worker: last names A-J
• Katie Small, Social Worker: last names K-Z
• Rebecca Stubbs, Social Worker: Breath and Beach Programs
• Paula Hernandez, Social Worker

Student Learning Center (SLC)

At PHS, we believe in providing students with personalized, targeted and extended support in order to maximize their learning. Acting on this belief, we have embedded a structure into our daily schedule that allows students to access teachers outside of the traditional class period for individual and small group intervention. This opportunity happens during Block 5 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1:50-2:50PM and it is a mandatory attendance block. Students are scheduled with teachers and staff members for SLC through their WINNME accounts.

Student Records Access

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides certain rights to parents and eligible students (18 years of age or older) with respect to the student’s education records. These include:

• Inspection and review of educational records
• Request an amendment of the student’s education records to ensure they are not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right to privacy
• Consent to disclosure of educational records, except in circumstances as permitted by law
• School officials with legitimate educational interests may disclose to school officials with a “legitimate educational interest”
• Military Recruiters/Institutions of higher education are entitled to receive the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of secondary students
• Complaints regarding school department compliance with FERPA who believe that the School Department has not complied with the requirements of FERPA have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education (reference Board Policy: NEPN/NSBA Code: JRA).

Transfer Students

Parents/guardians of students transferring to PHS from an outside school system are required to complete a registration packet online (please contact our registrar at bryane@portlandschools.org for details) and to provide all required documentation.

Families who move out of Portland, or who are planning to send their student to a non-PPS school will be required to complete a registration packet at the new school, and then PPS will send the student’s educational records to the new school. All devices, library books, textbooks, and other school property assigned to the student must be returned before the student transfers or the parents/guardians will be billed. In order to make the transition effective and smooth for the student and family, PHS does encourage families to notify the school of a pending transfer a few weeks ahead of time when possible.

Students looking to transfer to PHS from Deering High School or Casco Bay High School must contact the principal directly and schedule a meeting about their proposed transfer. Please note, PHS does not normally accept internal transfer students unless the transfer is taking place at the start of the school year, or at the start of a new semester. Any student wishing to transfer during the academic year must obtain approval for the transfer from the administrators at both high schools.

Truancy

Per School Board Policies NEPN/NSBA, Code: JHB, a student is considered truant if the student:

• Is subject to the compulsory attendance law; and
• Has completed grade six and has the equivalent of 10 full days of unexcused absences or seven consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year; or
• Is at least seven years of age and has not completed grade six and has the equivalent of seven full days of unexcused absences or five consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year. Truancy under this paragraph is considered “child abuse and neglect” under Maine law and is reportable to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Work Permits

Any student under the age of sixteen must obtain a work permit prior to employment. Paperwork to apply for the work permit can be obtained in the School Counseling Office and students must have the “promise of a job” prior to submitting the paperwork.