Policies

Cell Phone Policy and Procedure

Penn Hills School District's cell phone policy states:

"In accordance with our district's policy, students are required to turn in their cell phones to school personnel at the start of each school day. This measure is intended to minimize distractions and promote a positive learning environment. 

Cell phones will be securely stored and returned to students at the conclusion of the school day. This policy ensures that students can fully engage in their educational pursuits without interruptions."

At the beginning of each school day, all cell phones must be handed to a designated staff member. Phones will be returned to students at the end of their eighth-period class. Special arrangements will be made for students attending Forbes Tech who leave from Penn Hills High School and for those with early dismissals. 

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Cell phone violation occurs when a student refuses to surrender their phone when asked by staff or attempts to conceal the phone to avoid collection.

Cell phone violations will result in the following disciplinary actions:

First offense: The cell phone is confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day.

Second offense: The cell phone is confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian at the end of the school day.

Third offense: The cell phone is confiscated, the student is assigned to New Directions for the day, and the cell phone is returned to the parent/guardian at a negotiated time which may not be the same day as when the cell phone was confiscated. 

Fourth offense or beyond: A parent/guardian conference is required, and a plan will be developed where the parent/guardian will be asked to allow the phone to be held for an indefinite period of time. 

Students refusing to surrender their phones either at the beginning of the day or if found in the student's possession may be dismissed for the day and asked to return with the parent/guardian. 

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this policy, which helps maintain a safe and respectful atmosphere throughout the school day and promotes a positive image for Penn Hills High School. 

Dress Code Policy

The Penn Hills School District reserves the right to establish dress and grooming guidelines. Discretion and good judgment should be exercised in all phases of planning your school wardrobe. The adoption of rules for student attire will be designed to respect all students' freedom to express their individuality. Our dress code will prioritize health, safety, appropriateness, and comfort. While a vast majority of students consistently reflect good taste in the selection of apparel, extremes in dress by any individual will not be accepted. The dress code will accommodate cultural or religious attire considerations without imposing gender-specific standards.

Pursuant to the Penn Hills Board of Education Policy 221, Penn Hills School District students are prohibited from wearing clothing or attire which, in the judgment of school authorities, is contrary to acceptable health and safety standards or may disrupt the educational process or learning environment. For health or safety reasons, specific dress may be required for some courses or activities.

The adoption of rules for student attire must recognize that while what one wears is a personal decision, some attire is not appropriate for a school setting. Students' dress and personal appearance must be of such character so as not to disrupt or detract from the educational environment of the school. Any form of dress or appearance so determined to diminish instructional effectiveness or may constitute a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of students will not be permitted. To this end, the administration and staff of Penn Hills High School respectfully ask that students adhere to the following rules of comportment so that the learning environment is laser-focused on learning, achievement, and positive relationships based on mutual respect and care.

Students will not be permitted to wear the following attire:

• Any type of sleepwear or loungewear: pajamas, onesies, bonnets, head scarfs, do-rags
• Any type of clothing articles that are too short, tight, or revealing. Breast/cleavage must never be visible in school. Students may not wear scantily/revealing clothing.
• Sports bras, tights, body shapers, corsets, or compression pants as an outer garment.
• Clothing that allows for a bare midriff such as belly shirts, halter tops, tube tops, tank tops.
• Any type of headgear in the school building: no hoods, hats, hair picks, bandanas, shiesties.
• Pants not worn at the waist. It is never appropriate for a student’s undergarments or excessive skin exposure to be visible due to excessively tight, loose, ripped, or skimpy pants/shorts/skirts.
• Inappropriate footwear. Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times.
• Chains larger than small links; this includes wallet chains.
• Sunglasses may not be worn inside the school building without a medical excuse.
• Students are not permitted to bring rat tail combs into the school building.
• Clothing items which display, promote, or endorse:
  • vulgarity or insults
  • tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use 
  • hate, discrimination, harassment, or violence (physical, emotional, verbal, weapons)
  • sexual activity or innuendo including explicit or suggestive images or words/phrases
  • gang-related affiliation or activity (including jewelry)
  • unlawful activities or is disruptive to the order of the school

Teachers or other staff who detect these violations of the dress code should contact the office immediately. Violations of the dress code will require students to remove the offending attire. Students violating these guidelines will not be permitted to attend classes until the inappropriateness of their dress in corrected. This may require the student to ask someone to bring a change of clothes to the school, they may choose to go home and return when dressed appropriately, be placed in New Directions for the day, and return to school with a parent/guardian. Students may also face sanctions that limit their participation in school activities such as dances, field trips, extracurricular activities, prom, and graduation.