Policies
Absences and Early Release
Parents/Guardians clear all student absences and tardies by sending a note, email or calling the office. This should be done within two days of the absence/tardy. Please include the student’s first and last name, dates of absences and reason for absences/tardies.
Please notify the Attendance Office (650-877-8756 between the hours of 9:00am – 4:00pm) on the day of the absence to alert the office. If the Attendance Office does not receive notification, a phone call will be made alerting the parent/ guardian of their student’s absence.
Early Departure
If your student is leaving early, you must send a note with your student, or email attendance beforehand; otherwise you must come into the office with ID. No student will be released early via a phone call.
- Students are responsible for turning in their early release notes to attendance first thing in the morning. We will likely call the parent/guardian to verify the note.
- Students are also responsible for coming to the attendance office the passing period before they leave campus to pick up their departure pass (or earlier). Students will then excuse themselves from class at the indicated time by showing their teacher their pass.
Early Departure Without Permission
Students are not to leave campus without prior permission. If a student leaves campus during the school day without obtaining a departure pass from the Attendance Office the following consequences will result in addition to the application of the truancy policy described below.
Consequences:
1st offense: the parent will be notified and the student will be assigned 2 detentions.
2nd offense: the student will be assigned to the Saturday program.
3rd offense: the student will be assigned to the Saturday program.
4th offense: the student will be assigned In-School Suspension.
1st offense: the parent will be notified and the student will be assigned 2 detentions.
2nd offense: the student will be assigned to the Saturday program.
3rd offense: the student will be assigned to the Saturday program.
4th offense: the student will be assigned In-School Suspension.
Attendance Policy
More than 10 excused absences per semester may result in an attendance contract stating that the student may not pass the class if 14 days of absence is reached.
After 14 absences in any class, the student will be required to bring a doctor’s note for all future absences. Without a doctor’s note, the absences will be unexcused. Students will lose credit for work missed on days of absence that are unexcused.
More than 3 absences from Work Experience meetings for any reason will cause a student to lose credit for the semester in the Work Experience program.
Categories of Absences:
Excused – medical or dental appointments
Illness – unable to come to school due to illness
Other – personal reason/family emergency
Excused – medical or dental appointments
Illness – unable to come to school due to illness
Other – personal reason/family emergency
Cut/Unexcused – student did not bring a note within 2 days, absent without prior parent permission, credit will not be awarded for missing class work
Activity – school related business including sporting events, field trips, student government activities, meeting with a counselor, or IEP meeting
Suspended – in the event of suspension students are expected to complete all assigned class work. However, credit may not be awarded depending on the circumstances.
Truancies/Unexcused Absence Policy
Truancy, all day or two (2) class periods, will result in the assignment to the Saturday program, or 6-hours of community service. A parent or guardian will be notified and credit will not be granted for any work missed.
In the event of a 3rd truancy, either all day or single period, the student will be assigned consequences as previously mentioned. Additionally, a letter will be sent to the parent/guardian from the School Attendance
and Review Team (SART) alerting the parent/guardian of the truancy.
and Review Team (SART) alerting the parent/guardian of the truancy.
If the truancy continues the student will be both assigned consequences and referred for a School Attendance and Review Team (SART) meeting with the Assistant Principal to address and discuss the repeated truancy. Parent/guardian attendance is required at this meeting.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
Use of Electronic Recording Devices
Use of electronic recording devices to facilitate specific instructional and administrative services is permitted based on established policies and practices. Such uses include but are not limited to school or district publications and broadcast facilities, athletic programs and theatrical productions, scheduled distance learning classes, video conferences, digitally streamed class content (live or recorded), and videotape recording of classes or related academic events by Technology Services when requested to capture video, audio or still images.
Electronic devices may be used to record a lecture, presentation, interview or similar activity with prior permission of the individual being recorded. This permission does not extend to others who may be present. Absence of permission may constitute a copyright infringement. Verbal permission may be sufficient for recording within a class or meeting for personal use. However, written permission must be obtained prior to recording or transmitting someone's image or speech over the airwaves, in public, on the web, as part of a class assignment or any educationally sponsored activity or program. It is the responsibility of the user, host, event sponsor or department to provide notification and obtain the necessary permissions in advance or at the time of the recording / transmission.
In accordance with American Disability Act applicable policies and laws, instructional materials and school or district information presented in electronic form must be accessible to persons with disabilities. This includes recordings of lectures, events, DVDs and other recordings shown in class or posted on the web. In general, this requires that the recording be captioned.
1. Expectation of Privacy
Taking photos or making audio or video recordings without permission in ANY context in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy is prohibited. Such physical areas on campus include but are not limited to private offices, restrooms, changing rooms, labs, classrooms, and conference rooms. In such areas, permission must be granted by all persons being photographed or recorded.
Taking photos or making audio or video recordings without permission in ANY context in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy is prohibited. Such physical areas on campus include but are not limited to private offices, restrooms, changing rooms, labs, classrooms, and conference rooms. In such areas, permission must be granted by all persons being photographed or recorded.
2. Surveillance Equipment and Software
Surveillance equipment and software may be placed on campus and monitored by authorized campus personnel to prevent or deter crimes and protect public safety and to facilitate official investigations into criminal activities or violations of district policy. Such uses must be coordinated with the Police Department or Information Technology Services as appropriate.
Surveillance equipment and software may be placed on campus and monitored by authorized campus personnel to prevent or deter crimes and protect public safety and to facilitate official investigations into criminal activities or violations of district policy. Such uses must be coordinated with the Police Department or Information Technology Services as appropriate.
Non-Participation List
Students with overdue detentions, in-school suspensions, and/or Saturday Schools, or outstanding book bills or fines will not be permitted to participate in various activities including the Bell Game, Winter Ball, Junior Prom, Senior Ball, and Graduation. Participation in other activities may be denied as determined by the Assistant Principals.
Parking
Student parking permits may be purchased from the attendance office for $5. Parking permits authorize students to park in the school parking lot but do NOT guarantee specific parking spaces.
Only South San Francisco High School (SSFHS) staff have assigned parking. These spots are designated as "RESERVED".
Additional spaces labeled "STAFF" are reserved for SSFHS employees.
Visitors to the school may park in the undesignated spaces in the parking lot. Visitors should obtain a temporary parking permit from the attendance office after their arrival.
Student Bills
Overdue or Outstanding Books and Bills
Money for bills (i.e. AP tests or PSAT tests, nutrition bills) and for lost or damaged books can be paid before or after school. These bills must be paid before picking up yearbooks, diplomas, or being able to attend a school dance.
Bills should be cleared at the end of each school year. This policy also pertains to other bills accumulated during your SSFUSD enrollment. Payments can be made with cash, cashier’s check or money orders.
Uniform and Dress Code
Through much deliberation, including input from staff and students, South San Francisco High School has made alterations to the school’s dress code.
The new language in the dress code is designed to allow for student comfort and personal expression while maintaining an environment conducive to learning and appropriate sensitivity for the educational setting. An educational setting is a professional setting thus behavior and dress should reflect the environment.
South San Francisco High School recognizes that the primary responsibility for students’ attire rests with the student and parent(s)/guardian(s). The school is responsible to see that student attire does not interfere with the health and safety of any student and does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student.
At South San Francisco High School, students must wear:
- A shirt and
- Bottom (pants/jeans/sweatpants/shorts/skirts/leggings or equivalent [dress - may count as shirt and bottom])
- and Shoes
Students cannot wear:
- Images or language depicting/suggesting drugs, alcohol, vaping, paraphernalia (or any illegal item or activity)
- Accessories or attire that could be deemed unsafe
- Clothing that demeans others with regard to gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, etc.
- Visible undergarments (visible waistbands or visible straps are not in violation)
- Swimsuits (except as required for a class or athletic event)