Oak Lawn Hometown School D123: OLHMS Student Handbook

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2012-2013 Student Handbook

This Student-Parent Handbook provides information to families about our school. At OLHMS we expect all of our students to achieve success. We are committed to providing a quality educational experience for each of our students in order to ensure their continued mastery of skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential in becoming successful, contributing, and responsible citizens of the world. With the cooperation, support, and involvement of parents, students, and school personnel we hope to best accomplish this purpose. Through collaboration with our school community we have attempted to address those issues and situations that might arise in the general school setting, we realize that questions and concerns that have not been addressed may occur. In this event, please refer to the Oak Lawn Hometown School District 123 Disciplinary Policy Handbook, or contact your child’s advisory teacher or a building administrator for further clarification.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES: Success at school requires regular and punctual attendance. School doors open each day at 8:25 a.m. and instruction begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. Parents/guardians are required to have their child/children at school regularly and punctually except in the case of illness, disability, or death in the family.

Reporting Absences: When it is necessary for a child to be absent from school, the parent or guardian is required to call school before 8:30 a.m. to report the absence. Please leave the following information when reporting an absence:

a. Name of the person leaving the message;

b. Relationship to the child;

c. Child’s name;

d. Reason for the absence.

If the school does not receive a parent/guardian phone call, state law requires the school to contact the parent/guardian to verify the absence.
DO NOT send notes to school following an absence, only a phone call is required.
Failure to report a school absence will result in the student being identified as truant.
The school strongly discourages absences from school for vacations or trips during school attendance days. However, if your child will be out of school for any extended length of time (two or more days), please call the school office with this information prior to the actual dates of absence.

Truancy/Chronic Absenteeism: By law, children between the ages of 7 and 16 must attend school. The law requires parents to keep their children in school on a regular basis. According to Illinois State Law, “truancy” is defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof. “Chronic Truancy” is defined as any student who is absent from school more than 10% of the school year, without valid cause.

Any student who accumulates six (6) or more truant days from school during a single trimester may be subject to action taken by the administration. The identification of supportive services, such as parent-teacher conferences, student counseling, and/or therapeutic referrals regarding community agencies will be offered to chronically truant students.

Tardiness: Any student who arrives in the building after 8:30 a.m. is tardy and must sign in at the school office. Tardy students who enter door 5 off Oak Center Drive will be issued a late slip, asked to report immediately to their first period class, and the tardy documented in the main office by school personnel. Being tardy to school has a detrimental effect on a child’s academic achievement. It is also a disruption to the learning environment for other students who have arrived on time and are already prepared in the classroom. Students tardy to school will not be allowed any make-up privileges for missed work and will be subject to disciplinary action. Excessive tardies will be viewed as a truancy issue and may result in disciplinary actions taken by the administration. Student’s arriving to school late due to a delayed bus will not be considered tardy.

Absent ‘Make-Up’ Work: Students are responsible for making up all missed work following absence from school. It is highly recommended that students and parents/guardians access teacher webpages for additional information on class work. Teacher webpages can be accessed at www .d 123.org /olhms /. For extended absences, over three (3) days, parents/guardians may request any missed class work and/or materials. This request must be made when reporting the absence prior to 8:30 a.m. Please make arrangements to pick-up all make-up materials in the school office between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. or request make-up materials be sent to you electronically (email or downloadable file) by the teacher. Any requested work must be completed and returned to classroom teachers within a reasonable amount of time as directed by the teacher.

Early Dismissals/Late Arrivals: The school encourages each student to remain in regular attendance for a full day. If a child must leave school early or arrive late due to medical appointments please provide a signed parent/guardian or physicians note indicating arrival and/or departure times. Parents/guardians must enter the school office to pick-up/drop-off a student and sign him/her out of the building. Students will only be released to parents, guardians, or individuals designated in writing by the custodial parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians will be required to show a picture ID before any student is released from our care.

After School Hours: Students may not re-enter the school building or loiter on school grounds after normal school hours. If a child forgets materials at school we require a parent/guardian to sign-in in the main office, escort their child to their locker, and sign-out upon leaving the building.

Arrival and Dismissal PROCEDURES: As a rule, students are not allowed to enter the building before 8:25 a.m., or 9:25 a.m. on scheduled late start days. Students who are involved in before school activities or have the approval from a teacher or activity sponsor will be allowed entry before 8:25 a.m. School dismisses at 3:20 p.m., or at 11:30 a.m. on scheduled early dismissal days. Students are required to enter and exit the building at the appropriate locations in an orderly fashion. Students walking home must walk directly home following the safest route and crossing streets at corner stops. Students riding a bus must walk directly to their assigned bus, board and follow the school expectations regarding proper bus behavior. Students involved in after school activities must report immediately to their activity sponsor or coach. School rules and regulations apply to students at all times and all places when traveling to and/or from school.

ASSIGNMENTS: Daily assignments and long-term projects are an integral part of the curriculum at OLHMS. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to show interest and concern in their child’s work by regularly checking progress and assisting when appropriate. Failure to complete homework assignments or study with proper effort will result in substandard grades, removal from extracurricular activities, and/or other disciplinary action. Putting forth a quality effort with homework assignments and studying is essential to academic success at OLHMS.

BACKPACKS AND PURSES: Backpacks, purses, handbags, and the like must be stored in lockers during the school day. Students are not permitted to carry backpacks and/or purses from class to class, or wear jackets during the school day. Backpacks must be of reasonable size to fit inside the locker and allow the locker to close. There are no provisions available for larger-sized backpacks or any type of luggage with attached wheels.

BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, SCOOTERS, AND ROLLERBLADES: Non-bus riding students may ride their bicycles to and from school. All bicycles must be securely locked to the bike rack provided outside Door #13 on the west side of the building. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items. As a matter of safety, students should wear a helmet if riding a bicycle to and from school. Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, and the like are not permitted at school. These items cannot be stored in lockers or be locked outside. Use or possession of these items anywhere on school property, including school buses, is prohibited.

BOOKS: Each student will be provided textbooks to help compliment classroom instruction. Students will also have the opportunity to check out books as well as access Ebooks through the OLHMS library. Students must be responsible with any school-related item brought to and from home, and make sure library books are returned in a timely fashion. Students are encouraged to take care of their textbooks by using book covers. Fines will be assessed for any late library books, and/or lost, destroyed, or damaged textbooks.

CLASSROOMS: Students are not permitted to leave the classroom unless granted permission by a teacher. Desks and other instructional materials are not to be misused by students. Teacher permission must be obtained to use chalkboards, Smartboards, bulletin boards, pencil sharpeners, etc.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: The aim of our co-curricular program is to provide school related activities as an extension of the regular school day to further enhance classroom learning and student interest.

Eligibility: As representatives of OLHMS, all students involved in before/after school activities are subject to eligibility procedures as defined by Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. Students may be restricted participation in any activity on the basis of academic and/or behavioral deficiency, which may include but is not limited to failing grades, suspensionable offenses, and/or repeated disciplinary actions.

Participation: Each student at OLHMS has the opportunity to join and/or try-out for co-curricular activities. Students absent from more than half of the school day may be deemed ineligible for participation in any co-curricular activity on the day of the absence. Due to the number of activities available at OLHMS, at times, schedules may overlap. Coaches/sponsors will make every effort to allow students the opportunity to participate in more than one activity. Occasionally, students will need to choose between two different activities.

Physicals: A state of Illinois statue mandates an annual physical examination for all students participating in interscholastic athletics. Students will be denied participation in any sport until proof of a current physical is on file with the school.

Spectator Expectations: Spectators at any school-sponsored event are expected to act and behave in an appropriate and considerate manner at all times. Students who attend school sponsored events must have a permission form signed by a parent/guardian and on file in the school office. Any student leaving the building during an event will not be allowed to re-enter unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.

COMMUNICATION: School news and other information may be sent home by mail or with students, however in an effort to “be green,” much of our home-school communication will be posted on our school district website and through SchoolMessenger via email, text, and telephone. In addition, the OLHMS Weekly and Mustang Messenger, our parent newsletter, are regularly posted on the website. Each teacher also has a webpage that can be accessed via our Teacher Pages link on the website homepage. HomeLogic, our school information system, provides information on student achievement, as well as lunch accounts. To access HomeLogic or Schoolmessenger visit our School District 123 homepage on the district website, www.d123.org.

COMPUTER/ NETBOOK USE: OLHMS students will have access to various modes of computer technology. The use of district computers, computer networks, and related technology is a privilege, in exchange for which students are expected to abide by all rules with regard to such use. Specific acceptable use policies are found in the Oak Lawn Hometown School District 123 Disciplinary Policy Handbook and will be defined in an Acceptable Usage Policy agreement sent home for parents/guardians to sign. Any student found in violation of District policy may be subject to disciplinary action. Fines will be assessed for any lost, destroyed, or damaged device.

CONFERENCES: Remaining consistent with our belief that communication between school and home is a necessary component of providing a quality education, we have a variety of conference opportunities to assist students and families with the learning process.

Family Conferences are held during the fall trimester each year for all students. The purpose of this conference is to provide an opportunity for students to reflect upon their work, discuss areas of improvement, and set specific goals for future success. Scheduling these conferences is done though advisory teachers. Information will be sent home prior to conference dates. Opportunities for this type of conference may take place later in the school year as well.

Advisory Teacher Conferences are held at the request of a family member or teacher regarding the progress of a student. These conferences are arranged between teacher and family members at a convenient time, or can be accomplished by phone. Concerns are surfaced and interventions established for continued communication and improvement.

Team Conferences are scheduled during the school day when teacher team meetings are held. This conference is designed to assist families and teachers in best communicating mutual expectations and student progress. A collaborative effort is made to communicate present level of achievement information and put into place a more formal consistent plan of action between all core teachers and parents. School administrators and students may be asked to be a part of this conference.

DISCIPLINARY EXPECTATIONS: Behavior is a matter of choice and students will be held responsible for their own actions. Students are expected to behave in an orderly and appropriate manner with regard to respecting the rights of others, the rules and regulations of the school district, the directives of school personnel, and all existing laws. Any conduct that prevents teaching, hinders learning, causes a disruption to the educational environment, or endangers the safety/well-being of others will be subject to disciplinary action, regardless of intent. In all matters relating to the discipline and conduct of the school and its students, school personnel stand in relation with parents and guardians to the students. This relationship extends at all times while students are on school property, traveling to and/or from school, and engaged in school-related activities.

Several degrees of disciplinary intervention exist at OLHMS. Consequences will vary depending on the infraction and frequency of occurrences. The purpose of assigning consequences is to change problematic behavior for the better. Consequences may include, but are not limited to conferences, Social Intervention Requests (SIR), classroom removals, loss of privileges, behavioral reflections, after school and lunch detentions, or suspensions for one to ten days.

In an effort to promote a positive learning environment a PBIS philosophy has been established at OLHMS. PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a systems approach to preventing and responding to classroom and school discipline problems. PBIS develops school-wide systems that support staff to teach and promote positive, appropriate behavior in all students. Emphasis is directed toward developing and maintaining safe learning environments where teachers can teach and students can learn. The Purpose of PBIS at OLHMS is to promote a positive learning community in a consistent manner by:

• Teaching clearly defined school-wide expectations
• Teaching responsible decision-making
• Teaching ownership of choices

Generally, when a student follows directions, accepts adult decisions, and is compliant to school rules there is little need to extend further disciplinary intervention. Please refer to the Oak Lawn Hometown School District 123 Disciplinary Policy Handbook for more specific information regarding school district disciplinary expectations.

DRESS STANDARD: OLHMS expects students to be dressed appropriately for academic performance. Any dress, groom, or accessories that have a distracting effect on the educational environment and/or compromise safety will be prohibited. Disciplinary action may result for students whose appearance violate the safety, decency, or consideration of others. The building administrators are the final authority for judging the appropriateness of individual student appearance.

Examples of inappropriate dress and/or appearance include, but are not limited to the following:

Clothing/accessories that contain or promote illegal substances, violence, profanity, vulgarity, negativity, or sexually explicit wording or symbolism.
Pajamas.
Coats, gloves, hats, head coverings, which include but are not limited to sweatbands, headbands, rubber bands, and/or bandannas will not be worn in school.
No spiked, dangerous, or excessively heavy jewelry including wallet chains, large necklaces/medallions, metallic belts, grills, or loop earrings. Any jewelry with a diameter greater than that of a school ID card will be deemed excessive.
All tops must cover midriff and fall to the waistline, as well as maintain a reasonable neckline.
Skirts and shorts must be of reasonable length.
Spaghetti straps and tank tops are not allowed.
Excessively tight, loose or revealing clothing that exposes undergarments or creates a safety hazard when walking.
Drawing, writing, or tattooing on skin is prohibited. Students may not write on themselves or others.
All footwear must be secure and safe on stairs. No backless, slip on type of footwear, or shoes without soles will be worn. No flip-flop or beach-like sandals, slippers, or shoes with wheels will be allowed.
Excessive make-up, shaved eyebrows, and/or hairstyles that cause disruption to the educational climate will not be permitted.
Body piercing that impede communication, disrupt the educational process, and/or present a safety or health hazard is not permitted.
Students must remain symmetrical in appearance. No tilted caps, uneven pant legs or shirtsleeves, etc.
Fingernails must remain reasonably trimmed.

Not adhering to the OLHMS dress standard may result in an office referral. Repeated violations will result in further disciplinary action.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES/CELL PHONES: Any electronic device brought to school must be turned off and stored in a locker during regular school hours, unless a teacher has granted a child permission to use the device for a specific educational purpose. Electronic devices are not to be used in settings such as hallways, washrooms, or locker rooms, or in any location for purposes that violate another individual’s rights. Using an electronic device to take or share photos, videos, or images of other people on school grounds or during school-sponsored activities is strictly prohibited. A parent or guardian will be required to pick-up any device that is confiscated by the school. Continued violation of this policy will result in further disciplinary action.

An electronic device is defined as any device that a student is in possession of which electronically communicates, sends, receives, stores, reproduces or displays voice, image, and/or text communication or data. These include, but are not limited to cellular phones, pagers, smart phones, music and media players, gaming devices, tablets, laptop computers, e-books and personal digital assistants. The school is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE DRILLS: OLHMS conducts regular emergency response evacuation drills such as fire, severe weather, and lock-down exercises for the preparation of an actual event. Tampering with emergency response equipment and/or setting off false alarms are a violation of village ordinance and school policy.

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS/DELAYED STARTS: In case of inclement weather or other emergency situations that would necessitate the closing of school or a delayed start, announcements will be made before school by way of telephone via the Schoolmessenger communication system. News services are informed as soon as the determination is made to close school, but we cannot guarantee that the services will post the information.

FIELD TRIPS/ACTIVITIES: Throughout the school year classes and grade-level teams organize educational field trips outside the building. Parent/guardian permission must be obtained in order for any student to participate. Students may be required to pay a fee for field trip outings. Students who display poor behavior, or those who do not meet minimum academic standards may be excluded from the privilege of participating.

GRADES, GRADE POINT AVERAGES (G.P.A.), HONOR ROLL AND PROMOTION:

Grades: Grades are earned and reported six times each year. At the mid-point of each trimester, a progress report is issued to each student indicating current progress. At the conclusion of each trimester a report card, listing all courses taken, will be issued to each student. Student achievement will be evaluated according to the Oak Lawn Hometown School District 123 grading scale. For the purpose of computing Grade Point Averages (G.P.A.) each grade is assigned the following points values:

A+ 100 4.33

A 94-99 4.00

A- 93 3.67

B+ 92 3.33

B 86-91 3.00

B- 85 2.67

C+ 84 2.33

C 76-83 2.00

C- 75 1.67

D+ 74 1.33

D 71-73 1.00

D- 70 0.67

F 0-69 0.00

Honor Roll: Students may qualify for one of two honor rolls each trimester by fulfilling the following criteria:

HONORS: Earning no grade less than a “B-“ in each subject area on a trimester report card.

HIGH HONORS: Earning no grade less than an “A-“ in each subject area on a trimester report card.

Promotion: Students must satisfy three of the following four criteria in order to be promoted to the next grade:

A final cumulative GPA of at least 1.60.
No more than one final grade of “F” in any major subject.
A final cumulative GPA of at least 1.00 in all major subjects.
Successful completion of the Service Learning requirement.

Parents/guardians will be notified at the end of the second trimester if their child is not meeting promotion requirements.

GRADUATION ACTIVITIES: Eighth grade students who display poor behavior, or those who do not meet minimum academic standards may be excluded from the privilege of participating in graduation activities including the commencement exercise, end of the year celebration, and Great America trip.

GUM & CANDY: Gum and candy are NOT allowed in school. Students who consistently disobey this rule will be subject to disciplinary action.

HALLWAY CONDUCT: There are no passing bells at OLHMS. Teachers determine classroom dismissal and commencement times. When students are dismissed from one class the next class begins. Students must move to their classes in an orderly, safe, and quiet manner, following the most direct route. Teachers will be positioned in the hallways to supervise passing times. Students are not allowed to make washroom stops without permission from a teacher. Locker stops are designated for specific times during the school day. Students must carry a teacher provided hall pass when traveling in the hallways during class times.

HEALTH ISSUES: In the event of illness, children will be sent to the nurse’s office. The nurse will contact parents/guardians if a child needs to be released from school. Please note that we do not have the facilities to house ill or injured children for extended periods of time. If a parent/guardian cannot pick-up a child, please have an alternate plan available. The school nurse must be notified in writing of any health related issue that requires special medical assistance during the school day.

Emergency Forms must be completed at the beginning of each school year. OLHMS will need names and telephone numbers of at least three (3) people in case a parent/guardian cannot be reached in an emergency. Students will not be released to anyone not listed on the emergency form. Please notify the school office of any changes in emergency contact information as soon as possible.

Medication procedures have been established for the safety of each person in the building. Students who require medication during the school day must complete a School Authorization for Medication Form on file with the school nurse. Only medications necessary to maintain a child in school during school hours may be administered to a student. All medication will be stored in a locked cabinet. In all cases, the school retains the discretion to reject a request for administering medication.

Should a student require a continuing program of medication such as an inhaler, it can be demonstrated that the student is of responsible age; arrangements can be made for self-administration of the medicine. Please contact the school nurse for the proper forms and procedures to implement this process.

Students may not carry on their person or store in their locker any prescription and/or non-prescription medications. Non-prescription medications include, but are not limited to: cough medicine and/or drops, Tylenol, aspirin, eye drops, etc. Students abusing this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

ID CARDS – STUDENT IDENTIFICATION: Every individual in the building is required to wear a visible school issued ID card and lanyard. ID cards serve a variety of important safety purposes:

Identifying students/teachers by grade level.
Entrance into building/school sponsored events.
Debit card for hot lunch program.
Library checkout card.
Bus or walker identification.

ID cards/lanyards are not to be destroyed, cut, or defaced. A replacement fee of $1.00 will be charged for lost, forgotten, defaced or destroyed ID cards and $2.00 for replacement lanyards. Please encourage your child to be responsible with their ID card. Consequences will be issued for students who deface, routinely neglect bringing or visibly wearing their ID.

LOCKERS: Each student is assigned a locker for the school year. Lockers are property of the school, however students are responsible for keeping their locker clean and secure at all times. Lockers as well as combinations should not be shared. Large sums of money or valuables should not be brought to school and stored in lockers. Any types of decoration on the outside or inside of the locker including stickers, tape, magnets, and/or balloons are not allowed. Inappropriate or unsafe items may not be stored in lockers. Lockers can be opened and inspected at any time by school administration.

Students will also be assigned a P.E. locker and asked to purchase a school issued combination lock at registration. Students can use this combination lock for P.E. class each year at OLHMS.

Search and Seizure: School officials who have a reasonable suspicion that a rule has been or is being violated have the authority to conduct a search of school property and equipment, as well as students and their personal effects left therein, without notice to or consent of the student and without a search warrant. Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places or in their personal effects left therein.

LUNCH PROGRAM: Students at OLHMS have an option each day to either bring a bag lunch from home or take advantage of the hot lunch program at school. A hot lunch program is offered to all students through Arbor Food Service. The student ID card serves as a debit card for all lunch purchases. No cash exchange is accepted in the cafeteria.

Students who purchase hot lunch with their ID cards must maintain a positive account balance in order to purchase food/drink. Students must activate lunch accounts with at least a $20.00 payment and replenish lunch accounts when needed. Checks should be made payable to School District 123. The school is not responsible for producing change. Lunch account payments can be made during regular school hours in the school office, in the hallway outside the cafeteria each day during lunch periods, as well as electronically via E-Pay on the district website. Students are responsible for keeping track of their own lunch account information. Lunchroom computers display current account information each day when ID cards are scanned. No written reminders or notices will be printed regarding low account balances. Students may be denied hot lunch service if account balances do not carry adequate funds.

Cafeteria rules are similar to those of the classroom. Appropriate behavior and manners are expected. Listed below are a few guidelines specific to cafeteria usage:

Students are to only use their own ID card to purchase their own lunch.
Students may not buy lunches for each other or borrow food/drink.
Glass containers are not allowed.
No carbonated beverages will be allowed.
No fast food lunches/food deliveries will be allowed.
Birthday food/treats are not to be distributed.
Any bag lunches brought to school must be stored in a locker until lunchtime.

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY: This prestigious organization is available to seventh and eighth grade students who meet and maintain high academic standards and exhibit qualifying behaviors in the areas of citizenship, leadership, service, and character. The minimum academic criteria include the following:

A G.P.A. of 3.75 or better for the first two trimesters;
Grades of “A” or “B” in all subjects.

Students who meet these criteria will be eligible to petition for membership. Qualified students who petition for membership and fulfill the minimum service requirement will be selected for membership by a vote of the faculty on the basis of the aforementioned criteria. Students who qualify for NJHS membership must maintain all of the criteria for the remainder of their academic career in District 123. NJHS sponsors will monitor members for compliance with all of the related responsibilities.

In addition to the expectations of meeting attendance, exemplary behavior, and service to school/community, each member must maintain the following academic standards each trimester:

G.P.A. of 3.60 or better; and
Grades of “A” or “B” in all subjects.

Members who violate NJHS requirements and/or any school-related expectations may be dismissed from NJHS.

PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT ASSOCIATION: The P.T.S.A. of OLHMS is an organization that fosters school and family support and cooperation. All parents/guardians are encouraged to become part of this organization and regularly attend meetings. The P.T.S.A. membership will work together to provide services and activities that benefit the entire school community. More detailed information regarding the P.T.S.A. and its sponsored events can be found on the OLHMS webpage http ://www .d 123.org /olhms /ptsa /.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: OLHMS provides various opportunities for academic support. Weekly before school tutoring and daily after school instructional support programs have been established to assist students. Parents should contact an advisory teacher or a building administrator for more specific information regarding these programs.

TRANSPORTATION: School District 123 provides bus transportation for students who live over one and a half miles from school. Students who qualify for bus transportation will be assigned a bus route and specific bus stop nearest their residency. Students who reside less than a mile and a half from school will be considered walkers. Student walkers are responsible for making their own transportation arrangements to and from school. Bus transportation will be provided for students who attend both before and after school activities. Activity buses will pick-up and drop-off students from elementary feeder school locations. Riding the school bus, walking to and from the bus stop, and walking to and from school is an extension of the school day. All school policies, procedures, and behavior expectations will apply.

Bus Guidelines: Bus transportation is a responsibility of the school that may be suspended due to inappropriate and/or unsafe conduct, or failure to adhere to the following guidelines.

Be on time at the assigned stop. Students should be at their stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
Share seating appropriately.
Sit facing forward with both feet on the floor and out of the aisle. Being seated on the floor, sitting on a backpack, and or standing/kneeling is not permitted.
Keep the aisle free of all objects.
Respect the rights and property of others.
Keep hands, arms, and all other objects inside the bus. Do not lower windows below the indicated window frame line.
Do not throw/shoot items in, out, or at the school bus. This conduct is unsafe and will not be tolerated.
Refrain from any unsafe conduct.

Students may NOT ride an unassigned bus or use an unassigned bus stop for any reason. Notes from parents will not be accepted for exceptions to this policy.
Due to safety precautions and hazardous intersections students assigned a bus are discouraged to walk to and/or from school.

Late Bus Procedures: It is only normal for bad weather, substitute drivers, traffic, trains, and other factors to cause delays in bus routing both to and from school. Please note that we do everything possible to work with the bus company to minimize such delays. Please adhere to the following procedures for late running AM buses:

Students must wait at least 10 minutes past the scheduled pick-up time before walking home, to the nearest feeder school, or to a specially designated safe location. Students who reside in the Covington area South of Southwest Highway should walk to Village Hall, students who reside in Hometown South of Southwest Highway should report to the School District 123 District Office building, and students who reside in the Kolmar area West of Cicero should walk to the Southside Baptist building, formerly McGugan Junior High School.
If a student walks home, to a feeder school, or to a specifically designated safe location from a bus stop the OLHMS office should be immediately contacted to report the missing bus. OLHMS will make transportation arrangements with the bus company to pick-up any child from one of these locations. Students should NOT walk to School.

Parking, Pickup, and Drop Off: Student walkers who get driven to school must be dropped-off and picked-up using the circular drive outside doors 4 and 5 on the southeast end of the building or park along the north side of Oak Center Drive. We discourage the use of the 99th Street parking lot for automobile use during student arrival and dismissal times. This parking lot is used for school bus traffic each day before and after school. The use of Oak Center Drive for automobile traffic is the safest and easiest option for parents/guardians.