Better Resolution Hillview Hawk
 

 

Hillview Middle School

A 21st Century Middle School 

1100 Elder Avenue

Menlo Park, California 94025

(650) 326-4341     http://hillview.mpcsd.org

 

Dear Hillview Families,  

 

With the new trimester having begun on Monday, March 18, we are changing the way we address tardies to school (a tardy is a "late to school" that cannot be excused for a valid reason).

 

When students are late to school, they miss crucial instruction in class or important information on our morning broadcast. They are also likely to experience a level of anxiety as they rush to their classes, knowing that they are a little too late.

 

We are also concerned that tardies are on the rise from first to second trimester. During the second trimester, 12 percent of Hillview students were tardy to school three or more times. This is simply not the Hillview way. Hawks value being on time! We need your help.

 

In order to establish the important "habit of mind" of punctuality, we are addressing this head-on. Please note our new policy (revisions in bold):

 

In the morning, all students arriving after 8:25 a.m. must report to the office to receive an admit slip. Morning tardies will only be excused if called in by parents within one week of the late arrival, and the reason for the late is valid per district policy.

 

Students arriving more than thirty minutes late to school, unexcused, will automatically earn an office referral. A student will be marked tardy during the day if he or she enters class after the start bell. 

 

Tardies 1 and 2 are "free"; over the course of a trimester, a maximum of two tardies is acceptable, and students will earn no consequence for the first two tardies. Tardies 3, 4, and 5 will each earn a 30-minute detention (at lunch or after school). Tardies 6 and above will earn a Saturday School.

 

Please note that you can review your student's tardies to school on PowerSchool. A tardy is coded as a "T," whereas a valid "late" is coded as an "L." 

 

Thank you in advance for discussing the value of punctuality with your child. You can also help by brainstorming ways to get to bed at an earlier hour, to streamline the morning routine, and/or to leave the house a few minutes earlier so that your student arrives at Hillview with plenty of time to spare.

 

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

 

Best regards,  

 

Willy Haug