Policies
Student/Parent Handbook
The Juniata Park Academy Student and Parent Handbook is distributed at the start of each school year. The handbook contains important information about the policies and procedures of our school.
Juniata Park Academy Family Handbook
Dress Code
Students should take pride in their appearance. All clothing should be appropriate for learning.
Policy 221 established by the School District of Philadelphia states that schools can establish and enforce their uniform policy. Juniata Park Academy believes that the purpose of the uniform is to create a positive learning environment. All parts of the uniform must be clean and in good condition. Juniata Park Academy students must adhere to the uniform policy that requires the following standards:
Navy Blue Collared Shirt
Navy Blue sweater or sweatshirt
ONLY navy blue hoodies may be worn, but the hood must remain down in the building
Khaki pants with a belt
Black, Blue, or Brown shoes or sneakers
No open toed shoes
Gym Uniform: Navy Blue Sweatpants, Navy Blue T-Shirt
Students should not wear earrings larger than a “quarter size” to ensure their safety.
Uniform items will be available for sale through the school. Please note that hats, and bandanas are not permitted to be worn during the school day. A phone call will be made to parents when a child is out of uniform. Students who persistently fail to comply with the school’s uniform policy may be subject to disciplinary action. For the 2022-2023 school year students can wear navy blue hoodies but may not wear the hood over their head in the school building.
Behavior
Students are expected to exhibit the highest level of behavior. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct may necessitate detentions or suspension. Serious or repeated infractions of rules and regulations will result in disciplinary action.
Act 26 is the state law which requires a recommendation for the arrest and expulsion for any student found in possession of any item which could be used as a weapon, including scissors, on school property, in a school program or while traveling to or from school.
Smoking is not permitted in or around the school building.
No chewing gum in class.
Use of Cell Phones and other Electronic Devices
In accordance with the School District of Philadelphia, iPods, MP3 players, walkman radios, CD players or any electronic games are prohibited during the school day.
While we recognize the value of cell phones in today’s society our school policy requires that cell phones must be off and out of sight during the school day. Inappropriate use of a cell phone or electronic devices will result in confiscation of the device.
Students are not permitted to accept personal calls or text messages on their cell phones during the school day. If you need to get in touch with your child please call the main office at 215-400-7010.
Attendance
The School District of Philadelphia requires all students to attend school daily in accordance with the compulsory attendance laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Juniata Park Academy adheres to the School District of Philadelphia’s Attendance Policy No. 204. We request that students be kept home only when it is necessary for medical reasons.
Absence Notes:
When your child is absent, you must provide the teacher with an absent note signed by the parent/caregiver within 3 days of the student’s return to school. The note must include the date(s) and a valid reason for the absence. A written excuse must be provided by a licensed healthcare provider when students are absent for 3 or more consecutive days. When a student is absent (excused with a parent note) totalling 8 or more cumulative days, all subsequent days may require a note from a licensed healthcare provider.
Excused/Lawful Absence:
The following conditions or situations constitute reasonable cause for absence from school:
• Illness, including if a student is dismissed by designated District staff during school hours for health related reasons •Quarantine •Recovery from accident •Required court appearance •Death in family •Observance of a religious holiday observed by a bona fide religious group, upon prior written request from the person in parental relation. •Out-of-school suspension •Family Emergency (An unexpected, serious event that is outside of the control of the student’s family) Requires parental note explaining the emergency received within 3 school days of the student’s return. School staff will evaluate if the situation constitutes a family emergency.
Unexcused/Unlawful Absences
An “unexcused” or “illegal” absence occurs when a student is absent without a valid excuse in writing. That means that either no written note was submitted to the school upon the student’s return or that the reason provided in the note was deemed invalid. Examples of invalid excuses include (but not limited to): babysitting, waking up late, illness of a family member, and vacation. Absences shall be treated as unexcused until the school receives a written excuse explaining the absence, to be submitted within three (3) days of the absence.
The school district modified its attendance policies and now keeps track of half day absences. If your child arrives at school after 10:00am, or has an early dismissal prior to 1:00pm, he/she will be marked as a half-day absent. Frequent half day absences can greatly impact your child’s attendance and their learning.
Requests for Family Vacations
In order to promote a consistent educational process throughout the school year, parents/guardians should not schedule family vacations during the school year. If a child is absent because of a family vacation, the absence will be counted as an unexcused absence.
Morning Admission & Afternoon Dismissal
MORNING ADMISSION LOCATIONS
Morning Admission will begin at 8:15am for all students. For safety, students are not permitted to arrive prior to 8:15am as we do not have the staff to supervise them.
Kindergarten students and 1st grade students in Rooms 5 and 6 enter through the Kindergarten wing doors and exit through their classroom doors. Outdoor classroom doors are labeled with the classroom numbers.
1st grade in Rooms 116 and Room 112, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grade students will enter through the Courtyard Doors and will be picked up in the school yard.
5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students enter through the Main Entrance.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL LOCATIONS & TIMES
Afternoon Dismissal Times are as follows:
K-2nd Grades 2:45 P.M. (½ day 11:50am)
3rd and 4th Grades 2:50 P.M. (½ day 11:45am)
5th-8th Grades 2:54 P.M. (½ day 11:40am)
*Students in Grades K-4 are not permitted to walk home alone.
Kindergarten students and 1st grade students in Rooms 5 and 6 dismiss through their classroom doors. Outdoor classroom doors into the courtyard and are labeled with the classroom numbers by 2:45 P.M. daily.
1st grade in Rooms 116 and Room 112, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grade students will exit through the Courtyard Doors and will be picked up in the school yard at their classroom lines by 2:50 P.M. daily.
5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students will exit through their respective doors onto G Street by 2:54 P.M. daily.
Inclement Weather Dismissal Procedures & Locations
In the event of inclement weather an announcement will be made on ClassDojo as early as possible for parents to pick up at the following times and at the following locations.
Afternoon Dismissal Times are as follows:
K-2nd Grades 2:45 P.M. (½ day 11:50am)
3rd and 4th Grades 2:50 P.M. (½ day 11:45am)
5th-8th Grades 2:54 P.M. (½ day 11:40am)
Kindergarten, Room 5, Room 6, will dismiss from their classroom door.
Rooms 112 & 116 (First Grade), Third & Fourth Grade will dismiss from the Gym. Parents will enter and exit through courtyard doors.
2nd Grade Parents will dismiss from the cafeteria. Parents will enter through the courtyard doors and exit through the cafeteria doors.
Fifth, Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade, & Eighth Grade will dismiss out their exit doors onto G Street.
*Students in Grades K-4th are not permitted to walk home alone.
Early Dismissals
Early dismissals are only granted until 2:00pm in order to ensure a safe and orderly dismissal. Early dismissals require photo identification to be presented.