Staying Informed: Policy Changes

Author: Noelia Medina

As we prepare for the new school year, several school policies have been updated to support student learning, safety, and success. Below are highlights of changes to our Cell Phone Policy, Late Work Policy, and Attendance & Make-Up Work Policy. We encourage all families to review our school policies and the review the Family Handbook on our school website for detailed information about school expectations, procedures, and student responsibilities. Thank you for partnering with us to help create a safe, respectful, and successful learning environment for all students.

Late Work

• Assignments submitted after the due date receive a 10% deduction from the earned score unless an approved extension was requested in advance.

• Students have up to 4 weeks from the original due date to submit late work. After 4 weeks, the assignment is recorded as NC (No Credit) and cannot be made up.

• Late work must be completed during Office Hours or another scheduled meeting with the teacher.

• Teachers should support students struggling to complete work in class. Teacher-approved unfinished classwork completed by the agreed-upon timeline is not considered late.

Extension Requests

• Students may request an extension before the due date by submitting an Extension Request Form signed by both the student and teacher.

• Approved extensions waive the late penalty if work is submitted by the new due date.

• Work submitted after the approved extension date follows the standard late work policy.

Excused Absences (EXA)

• Students receive an extension based on the number of class periods missed.

• Teachers may provide additional flexibility for illness or extenuating circumstances.

• Students are responsible for checking assignments and completing missed work within the approved timeline.

Unexcused Absences (UXA)

• Students generally cannot make up participation-based or attendance-dependent work, including class discussions, group work, labs, presentations, warm-ups, exit tickets, and similar activities.

• Teachers determine whether other missed work can be made up.

• Teachers should contact parents during the week of an unexcused absence.

IEP/504 Accommodations

• Students with IEPs or 504 Plans receive accommodations that override this policy when applicable.

• Modified deadlines, extended time, and other required supports will be provided in accordance with each student's plan.

To support a focused, respectful, and distraction-free learning environment, Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori has updated its Personal Electronic Device Policy.

Key Expectations

• Students may bring phones and other personal electronic devices to school, but they may not use them during the school day unless specifically authorized.

• Devices must remain turned off or in the school's approved locked mode, out of sight, and secured throughout the instructional day, including passing periods, lunch, assemblies, field trips, and other school-sponsored activities.

• Students are required to participate in the school's phone-locking program each morning. Tampering with or bypassing the system is a policy violation.

School-Approved Phone Locking Program

To help maintain a distraction-free learning environment, all students are required to use the school's phone-locking system each day. Upon arriving at school, students will scan a designated QR code (or follow another approved process) to lock their phones. Devices will remain locked throughout the school day and will automatically unlock at dismissal unless released by school staff.

Students are responsible for locking their devices daily. Any technical issues must be reported to the office before accessing the device. Attempting to bypass, tamper with, or disable the phone-locking system is a violation of school policy and may result in disciplinary action.

Exceptions

Students may use a device only in limited circumstances, such as:

• During an emergency.

• With teacher or administrator permission for instructional purposes.

• For approved medical needs or accommodations outlined in an IEP, 504 Plan, or health plan.

Consequences for Violations

• First Incident: Device is confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the day after reviewing the policy.

• Second Incident: A parent/guardian must pick up the device from the office.

• Third Incident: A parent/guardian must pick up the device, and for the remainder of the school year, the student must either leave the device at home or check it into the office each morning.

• Continued violations may result in additional school-based disciplinary interventions.

Parent Communication

If families need to contact their student during the school day, they should call the school office. Students may also request permission to use the office phone to contact home when needed.