Parent/Guardian Drop Off/Pick Up

Parents and guardians who would like to drop off and pick up their students should turn on to School Road. They will then turn left at the second left hand turn not the first. They will then take another left and pull up along the curb. Students will be dropped off at the corner and proceed to the main entrances. Parents and guardians will then take another left to exit the parking lot back on to School Road. This process will repeat for pick up with parents creating a line along the curb on the side of the building.

CREATING THE PORTRAIT OF A TROJAN

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the Tulpehocken Area School Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting the adoption of the Portrait of a Trojan as the guiding principle for our district. The portrait represents the important foundational habits that all Tulpehocken Trojans need to be successful.

After a two-year process of gathering input from the community, students, staff, and families through surveys, focus groups, and interviews, it became evident that there were common themes that our community felt were vital habits that all individuals, especially Tulpehocken Trojans, to possess. These themes allowed us to identify the 5 core habits that our school community believes are the utmost important habits that every Trojan, young and old, need to embody to be successful in life.

The design for the Portrait of a Trojan came about through the idea that all 5 habits are essential for success and without one the others fail to complete the full portrait. Just as many machines require all gears to be in sync with each other, so too do our 5 habits. Each habit is interrelated with other one.

Building a Culture of Success: Our School Wide Campaigns

This year, we are continuing our school wide campaigns designed to help every student develop the habits that lead to success in school and beyond. Throughout the year, students will hear consistent messages from teachers and staff.

These campaigns are more than slogans—they are part of our Tier 1 approach to building a positive school culture. By using common language and reinforcing these expectations in every classroom, we help students develop responsibility, resilience, and ownership of their learning.

Families play an important role in this effort. We encourage you to reinforce these messages at home by talking with your student about the importance of being prepared, staying engaged, and finishing what they start. Together, we can create a consistent message that supports student success both in and out of the classroom.

Attendance Policy

Tulpehocken Area School District

Attendance Policy

School Hours

Bethel & Penn-Bernville Elementary: 8:50AM - 3:35PM

Middle School: 7:40AM - 2:42PM

High School: 7:40AM - 2:37PM

Students should not arrive before 7:30AM to the Middle School/High School buildings and not

before 8:30AM to the Elementary School buildings. Students will be marked tardy if they are not

in their designated classrooms by start time listed above.

Attendance Responsibilities and Regulations:

➢STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) Attend school regularly

2) Submit a written excuse signed by the parent/guardian and/or a licensed

healthcare provider to the main office upon return from absence

3) Check with teachers for missed work

4) Be aware of the school attendance policy and consequences of noncompliance

➢PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) Make sure that student attends school regularly, in accordance with the

Pennsylvania Compulsory School Attendance Law

2) Within three (3) days of the student returning to school from an absence, a signed

excuse note must be submitted to the main office or the online absence form must

be completed. False and/or forged excuses will not be accepted

3) Be aware of the school attendance policy and the consequences of noncompliance

4) Ensure the student completes and submits all missed assignments

5) Provide appropriate information and/or documentation to the nurse’s office

regarding known medical problems that could require a student to be periodically

absent from school

Attendance Reporting

If for any reason a student is absent from school, a parent/guardian must report the absence

through one of three ways: complete an online absence form on Sapphire, e-mail building

attendance, or call the student’s school building for each day of their absence. A note will still be

required if the absence is reported by phone.➢

How to Report A Student Absence

1) Website/Sapphire Parent Portal: www.tulpehocken.org

a) Click “Student Attendance” on homepage

b) Log into Sapphire Parent Portal

c) Click on “Student Data Forms” on left of screen

d) Click on “Student Absence Form” under “On Demand Forms”

e) Complete the form, attaching any relevant documents, and click “Submit”

2) Attendance E-Mail:

a) Bethel: Bethelattendance@tulpehocken.org

b) Penn-Bernville: PBattendance@tulpehocken.org

c) Middle School: MSattendance@tulpehocken.org

d) High School: HSattendance@tulpehocken.org

3) Attendance Voicemail: (610) 488-6286 ext. 2099

a) Written excuse note must be submitted

Excused Absences (EXC)

A maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative lawful absences verified by written parental

notification shall be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten (10) cumulative

days require a note from a licensed healthcare provider.

➢Examples of Excused Absences:

○Board Policy #204: “Attendance” can be found on Tulpehocken’s webpage by

clicking “School Board” and “TASD Policies” or at:

https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/tulp/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CN8MY75CD820

➢Educational Family Trips (EFT)

Requests by parents to have their children excused from school for educational trips must

be evaluated under the authority of the State Board of Education, Chapter 11, Pupil

Attendance, Section 11.26 “Educational Tours and Trips, Not School Sponsored”

➢Guidelines:

○An educational trip form must be submitted to the building principal no

less than five (5) days prior to the trip

○The student’s academic standing, attendance record, effect of absence on

student’s educational welfare, and exceptionality of the request will be

taken into consideration by the principal when granting permission

○A maximum of five (5) total days may be used, unless approved by the

Superintendent or other designee

■ Unused educational trip days will not carry over into next school

year

○Educational trips will not be permitted during PSSA or Keystone testing

○Decisions may be appealed to the Superintendent or designee○

Students are responsible for completing all work missed during the

educational trip

College Visits

High school juniors and seniors are encouraged to explore postsecondary options

by visiting and touring colleges, universities, or other programs of interest

Guidelines:

○Students must complete a college visit request form (available at the main

office) at least one day prior to the visit

○Upon returning to school, the student must present documentation of the

visit or absence will be marked unexcused

○Approved college visits are considered lawful excused absences and are

included in the ten (10) parent-excused absences permitted each school

year

Unlawful/Unexcused Absences (UNL/UNX)

Unlawful and unexcused absences occur when a student has not met the criteria for an excused

absence. The terms are used interchangeably, but are coded differently in Sapphire based on

compulsory school attendance age (ages six to eighteen). Absences are coded as “unlawful

(UNL)” if a student is under 18 years of age and the absence cannot be excused. Once a student

turns 18 years of age, absences unable to be excused will be coded as “unexcused (UNX)”.

➢Reasons for Unlawful/Unexcused Absences:

○Absence due to a reason not listed in Board Policy #204: Attendance

○Student failed to submit written excuse within three (3) days of returning to

school from absence

○Educational family trip or college visit was not approved prior to absence

○Student has exceeded ten (10) total excused or unlawful/unexcused absences for

the school year and did not submit a note from a licensed healthcare provider

within three (3) days of returning to school from absence

➢Attendance Procedures for Excessive or Unlawful Absences:

○Three (3) unlawful absences: First notice letter will be issued and school will

contact home

○Four (4) unlawful absences: School will contact parent/guardian to schedule a

Student Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC) with the purpose of

developing an attendance improvement plan

○Six (6) unlawful absences: Letter of notification will be sent home with a

reminder that a note from a licensed healthcare provider will be required after ten

(10) absences. Parent/guardian will be referred to the District Magistrate to be

charged with violation of PA Compulsory School Attendance Law■ In accordance with PA school law, students with six (6) or more unlawful

absences will be prohibited from transferring to a cyber charter school

during the school year without court approval

○Ten (10) cumulative absences: Notification letter will be sent home reminding

parent/guardian that all future absences require documentation from a licensed

healthcare provider

○High School Students: Excessive unlawful absences may result in forfeiture of

ability to participate in sports, school activities, field trips, and/or school dances.

Continued absences beyond the initial ten (10) days will result in the following:

■ 20 cumulative absences - loss of parking pass and ability to park on

school property

■ 25 cumulative absences - loss of privilege to participate in sports, school

activities, field trips (non-curriculum based), and attend all dances,

including prom

■ 30 cumulative absences - Seniors will lose the privilege to participate in

the Commencement ceremony

○Students will have the ability to earn revoked privileges back upon completion of

Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) goals, as determined by the

building principal during the Student Attendance Improvement Conference

(SAIC).

Late Arrival/Tardy (T)

Students are considered tardy if they are not in their appropriate classrooms by the start of the

school day. If a student arrives late to school, they must be dropped off at the main office to

check in and submit a note from a licensed healthcare provider, if applicable.

➢Students will be permitted up to three (3) parent-excused tardies per school year without

consequence. Parent note for tardy must be submitted the same day as the late arrival.

➢Minutes tardy may accumulate to result in unexcused absences, school consequences,

Student Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC) and/or referral to the Magisterial

District Judge.

➢Students may have the ability to regain previously revoked privileges upon completion of

Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) goals, as determined during the SAIC.

➢Elementary Guidelines:

Student arrival times:

8:51 - 9:49 = Tardy

9:50-12:12 = Half day absence

12:13 and after = Full day absence➢

Middle School/High School Guidelines:

Student arrival times:

7:41-8:39 = Tardy

8:40 - 11:09 = Half day absence

11:10 and after = Full day absence

➢3 Tardies - student warning & parent contact

➢4 Tardies - parent contact, detention, detention for each occurrence after

➢15 Tardies - SAIC, ISS, additional consequence & intervention at principal discretion

Early Dismissal (ED)

Students who leave school prior to the end of the instructional day are considered early

dismissals. A parent/guardian must provide written documentation or communicate directly with

the school office prior to the student's release. When applicable, documentation from a licensed

healthcare provider should be submitted upon the student's return to school.

Dismissals after the designated time for each building will not be counted as a half-day absence;

however, these missed minutes may accumulate and result in a full-day absence once they equal

a full school day. Students who leave school for an appointment and plan to drive themselves

must provide a note from a parent/guardian explicitly granting permission for the student to drive

to the appointment.

➢Middle School/High School:

○Dismissals before 1:00PM will be counted as a half-day absence

Extracurricular Activities

Students with an unexcused absence may not participate in school activities that day. Eligibility

may be restored only with a licensed healthcare provider's note approved by the principal or

designee before participation. Students absent due to illness may not participate until the date

specified on the note. Students absent due to injury may attend events but may not participate

until medically cleared. Students who are tardy or have an unlawful absence on the school day

following an extracurricular activity may lose eligibility to participate in future activities, in

accordance with school disciplinary procedures.

Absences and Making Up Work:

Make-up work policies apply to all absences, regardless of the reason. Students who are truant

may complete missed work, tests, or projects, but their grade may be reduced. It is the student’s

responsibility to initiate and complete all make-up work. Students who anticipate an absence

must notify teachers in advance and make arrangements for missed work. Students who are

suspended for disciplinary reasons are still responsible for all missed work.➢

➢Middle & High School Students: Students are responsible for completing any work

missed due to an absence. Late work must be accepted, but up to the teacher’s discretion

for penalties associated with turning work in after the deadline. The teacher’s late policy

must be clearly communicated at the beginning of the course.

FARM2SCHOOL

Farm2School is a collaborative effort between Tulpehocken's Food Service Department and the District's Agriculture teachers and community.

Our value statement: "Through the Portrait of a Trojan and the Tulpehocken Area School District mission statement, the Farm to School team seeks to utilize our elementary and secondary agriculture programs, local farmers, local businesses, and community to positively impact student nutrition while seeking learning opportunities in the agriculture and science fields."