Middle School Guidelines for Digital Device Usage

Phones

Students may bring phones to school, but are only allowed to use them before 8:30 a.m. and after 3:15 p.m. During the school day, phones should be kept in students’ lockers and turned off. Mobile phones that ring, buzz, send or receive messages, disrupt class, or are used during the school day will be confiscated, turned into the Principal or Dean, and returned at the end of the day. Repeat offenders will have their devices returned at the end of the week. Parents should refrain from texting or emailing their child during the day and should remind their children that they may communicate with home (or parents with them) through the Middle School Office. Important messages can be relayed to your child through the Middle School Administrative Assistant, Natalia Johnson (410-339-4185).

Laptops and Other Devices

To support both in-school and at-home academic programming and to minimize the risk associated with sharing devices, Park is requiring that each student have access to the following technology:

The table below applies to students in Grades 4-8

Should a student forget their device, or the student’s device is unusable for some reason, the IT office has a limited number of Chromebooks available to borrow for that school day (based on availability). Chromebooks, along with the accompanying charger, must be returned at the end of the school day, prior to 4 p.m. when the IT office closes. Should a student need to borrow a device for longer than that day, the Long Term Device Rental Google Form must be filled out and submitted.

All student use of devices, whether personal or school-owned, must abide by the rules in our Acceptable Use Policy. It is our expectation that student-owned laptops will be brought to school only for academic use and will not be used for recreation or entertainment purposes at any time during the school day. Other electronic devices, such as e-readers, cell phones, iPads/tablets/iPods, mp3 players, or game systems may not be carried or used during the school day except at the discretion of individual teachers for classroom purposes. Students who do not respect these policies will have their devices confiscated, turned into the Principal or Dean, and returned at the end of the day. Repeat offenders will have their devices returned at the end of the week. Please note that for self-owned devices, students should bring their own adapters, power supplies, cables, etc. Students wearing smart watches should follow the above guidelines and only use them as tools for keeping time during the school day.

Device Usage During After Day

From 3:15-6 p.m., there are two places where students may use their personal devices:

1.  in the library for completing homework assignments. 
2.  in the Middle School Commons for work or community purposes. 

Any devices that are used outside of the Commons or Library will be confiscated, turned into the Principal or Dean, and returned at the end of the day or week.

At Home

While the Middle School does its best to monitor digital device usage at school, we cannot do this at home, as only parents can. We recommend that parents regularly check their children’s phone, tablet, or computer, remove inappropriate apps, and that they speak with their children about what they post. Kids should know that everything they put online or send in a text or email becomes public information, regardless of how private they think it is.

Our biggest concern is their safety, and this can be communicated by creating clear guidelines at home, such as a family Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Below are links to several Home Media Agreements that you can customize as appropriate for your family.

Family Phone Contract

Have a Family Social Standards Agreement

Making a Family Media Use Plan

An iPhone Contract, With Love

Parents and Caregivers’ Guide for Cellphone and Device Usage

10 Tips For How To Handle Devices and Screens

The Middle School’s complete Digital Device Policy can be found in your Veracross portal.

Morning Drop-off and After School Procedures

Morning Drop-Off

All students are to be dropped off in the Middle/Upper School carpool lane next to the pond. Do not use the Lower School or Athletic Center entrances unless you are instructed to do so for a field trip.

Dismissal

Students may not leave campus without supervision, either during the school day or after school. They must be picked up at the end of their day by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult, unless they live in an adjoining neighborhood and have express permission from their families to walk home. 

Dismissal begins at 3:15 p.m.; all students will have 10 minutes to gather their books and materials, at which point they must report to carpool, after school athletics or activities, or After Day.

Bus riders need to move swiftly to the Lower School bus circle at this time. Buses depart at 3:25 p.m., sharp. Those getting picked up should proceed to the carpool area (next to the pond). Those staying at school will be required to sign in to After Day by 3:25 p.m. in the Middle School Commons.

If you are interested in exploring transportation options, please visit our Transportation page.

Staying After School

Those staying at school have two choices:     

1. Participate in a supervised activity (sports team, tutoring, music lesson, club, etc.). Once these activities or practices end, students must either go home (wait in the carpool area), or check in with After Day in the Middle School Commons.
2. Attend After Day in the Middle School Commons. All students must sign in with the After Day monitors. Only after checking in with the monitors may students go to the library for Study Hall, play in a gym, or simply hang out in the Commons or other approved locations. Monitors will regularly check each location.
3. WHEN PICKING UP YOUR CHILD:
   • Pull into the lot and dial 410-339-7070
   • Tell our supervisor the name of your child (first and last, and their grade level).
   • Tell the supervisor your relationship to the student.
   • The supervisor will radio our Director, who will then locate your child and send them out to you.

It is the students’ responsibility to update the sign-in sheet with their current location so that we can find them quickly. Please note that students will be monitored during their time in After Day, but not directly supervised at all times.

IMPORTANT: After Day is not day care. It is a cost-free convenience provided for families who are unable to pick up their children after school. And while Park is able to sponsor athletics, various clubs, and some after-school care, we are not able to provide enough space or supervision for every Middle School student to stay at school at the end of the day. As much as we love that the kids want to stay at school, PLEASE RESIST YOUR CHILD’S REQUESTS TO STAY LATER THAN NECESSARY AND PICK YOUR CHILD UP WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS OR AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES ARE FINISHED. Parents are encouraged to plan play dates where groups of students can hang out at home. 

Pick-Up

Students must be signed out by a signature or a phone call. Parents picking up children after normal carpool hours (3:25-3:50 p.m.) should do one of the following:

1. Park the car and walk into the Middle School Commons to sign out your children. 
2. Call the front desk (410-339-7070) and ask that your child be sent to the front of the building for pick up. You will be asked your name and relationship with the child. 

No food will be provided during After Day. Students should bring their own.

Trust

These guidelines will help us keep the students safe and accounted for, and we’ll need parental support for this to happen. Middle School students who have difficulty following these guidelines will be asked to leave school at 3:15 p.m. or at the end of their athletic practices/rehearsals. Parents will be expected to pick up children who cannot follow our Rule for Community Living.

Reminders & General Information

Reminders

Arriving Late, Missing School, or Leaving Early
Please call Natalia Johnson in the Middle School Office as soon as you know that your child will be absent from school (410-339-4185). You may also send her an email at njohnson@parkschool.net. Similarly, communicate with Natalia if your child will be picked up early from school, arriving late, or deviating from the normal school day in any way.

Permission to Be Away Form
This form is used for planned absences. It is the student’s responsibility to complete this form, listing all classes that will be missed during the absence and having the form signed by all affected teachers. The student must turn in the completed form to the Middle School office at least one day prior to the planned absence. A Permission to Be Away Form can be picked up in the Middle School Office (a paper copy) or found in the Veracross portal. When logging into the portal, click on “All School Resources,” select “Middle School,” and scroll down to the “Forms: Sign and Return” section.

Technology
Students in Grades 6–12 will need to bring their own laptop (PC/Mac) or Chromebook with a built-in webcam to be brought to and from school.

Morning Announcements
Each day, all parents will receive an email containing the day’s Middle School morning announcements. The announcements are updated daily and contain important information about life in the Middle School. Advisors read announcements with students during advisory time. Typical announcements will include changes to our regular schedule for special events or assemblies, information about after school programs, early dismissals for sports, lost and found, and so much more. Morning announcements may also be accessed through the Veracross parent portal by clicking on the “Middle School Resources” tab.

Forms
Many forms can be found in the resources section of the Veracross portal. When logging into the portal, click on All School Resources, select Middle School, and scroll down to the “Forms” section.

No Food Deliveries, Please
Students may not order food to be delivered before, during, or after school.

Student ID Card and ID Number
All students are given a 7-digit student ID number that they can use in lieu of their student ID card to make purchases in the Cafeteria. This number is the same as the number on their ID card and will be communicated to each student along with their locker combination at the beginning of the school year. It can also be found on students’ home pages when they log in to the Veracross portal.

Different Schedule on First Day of School
On the first day of school, all students should meet with their advisors in HOUSE at 8:30 a.m., then proceed to the Meyerhoff Theater for a special assembly.