Ted Hall Principal ted_hall@yarmouthschools.org
Jennifer Lainey Secretary jennifer_lainey@yarmouthschools.org |  Josh Ottow Assistant Principal josh_ottow@yarmouthschools.org
Beth Lucien Secretary beth_lucien@yarmouthschools.org |
posted Mar 25, 2013, 5:42 AM by Ted Hall
Dear YHS Parents,
First, I would like to congratulate the cast, crew and directors of the One Act play for their outstanding performance on Saturday night in the Class B State Drama Festival. They were named state champions! If you are interested in seeing the complete results, go to this link.
Here is some information about upcoming activities in the next two weeks.
1. Parent-Principal Coffee--Tuesday Morning, March 26, 8:00-9:15 AM: If you are available, please come to this month's Parent-Principal Coffee tomorrow morning. The format is open with opportunities for us to talk about any number of issues regarding high school. The meeting will be held in the Flex Room.
2. Spring Sports Begin Today: Today is the first day of spring sports. In the spring, we offer girls and boys lacrosse, softball, baseball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys outdoor track, as well as opportunities to participate in the ultimate frisbee club and the sailing club. Finally, although Yarmouth Crew is not a school-sponsored activity, many of our students participate in this sport as well.
3. CEP Presentations, Thursday, March 28: If your son or daughter is a tenth or eleventh grader, you have already been invited to the CEP Presentations that are done with the advisor group. This is a great opportunity to hear more about the CEP program through the other members of your child's advisor group. If you have any questions, please contact your advisor directly.
4. Pizza Regatta, Saturday, March 30: On Saturday, Yarmouth Crew has their annual Pizza Regatta in the cafeteria from 11:30-2:30. There are pizzas from a large number of local and Portland pizza places as well as door prizes. For $8.00, you can eat all the pizza you want. For more information, see the online poster at: http://www.celebrate16.org/pizzaregatta/
5. College Information Night, Wednesday, April 3, 6:30-8:00: Although this night is primarily for juniors and their parents, everyone is welcome to attend. This is an opportunity to learn about the college application process. We will have admission representatives from the University of Maine, Bates College, and Salve Regina University to answer questions for parents and students.
6. Power of One Night, Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8:00: If your son or daughter is a ninth grader, (s)he has been working on the Power of One. On this night, all students will be presenting what they have learned in a variety of ways. We strongly encourage parents to plan to come to the whole event where you will be able to talk to groups of students and see presentations about their work. This is open to all parents even if you do not have a ninth grader.
7. Senior Auction and Talent Show, Friday, April 5, 5:30-10:00 PM: This is the primary fundraiser for Project Graduation. There will be lots of presentations of senior talent, as well as both silent and live auction items. In addition, there will be lots of food for sale. I have attached a flyer for your information.
8. Third Quarter Grades Clase, Friday April 5: Grades for third quarter close on April 5th. All grades become final on April 11th. If you have any questions about your son or daughter's progress, please be in touch with the teacher.
As always, please be in touch if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Mar 25, 2013, 5:41 AM by Ted Hall
Dear YHS Parents,
I have several items that may be of interest to you today:
1. Information about the search for a new superintendent 2. Hector Hebert Award winner 3. Congratulations to the Swim Team 4. Student project to collect books 5. Laptop collection next Friday 6. Reminder about comments in PowerSchool
1. Yarmouth Superintendent Search Process Underway--Parents and Community Invited to Participate: The Yarmouth School Committee has engaged Future Management Systems, Inc. to assist in the search process for a new Superintendent of Schools. An integral part of the process involves parent and community participation in focus groups. The groups are designed to obtain participant input about the attributes, experience and knowledge that the new superintendent should possess. The groups also provide an opportunity for participants to identify immediate tasks, which the new superintendent should address.
Municipal/Business Officials Monday, February 11, 2013 – 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. YHS Performing Arts Center
Community Members Monday, February 11, 2013 – 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. YHS Performing Arts Center
PTO/Booster Groups/Yarmouth Education Foundation Wednesday, February 13, 2013 – 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. YHS Performing Arts Center
Parents/Community Members Wednesday, February 13, 2013 – 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. YHS Performing Arts Center
For those of you who cannot attend but want to provide input, a Leadership Profile Assessment will soon be available on the Yarmouth school district website. We invite everyone to avail themselves of this opportunity to provide input into this most important process. All Yarmouth residents are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed above. There will also be focus groups held for school personnel and students.
2. Congratulations to senior Nicole Hoehle, the winner of the Hector Hebert Award. Mr. Hebert was an exceptional teacher whose high standards and passion for learning touched the lives of hundreds of Yarmouth students from the opening of the school in 1961 until his retirement in 1980. The award is for a senior who is academically well rounded, genuinely enthusiastic about learning, and self-motivated in the spirit of a true life long learner. The Hector Hebert plaque is right outside of the library.
3. Congratulations to the Swim Team. Our dedicated boys and girls swim team members often fly under the radar as they train and compete at pools around the region. Last weekend, both teams had outstanding performances in the Southwesterns, the big swim meet that precedes the state meet. The boys team came in second and the girls team came in third, with many of the team members getting their personal best times. Congratulations!
4. Junior Arie Potter is organizing a book collection. This is directly from Arie's message to students: "I've been volunteering teaching English to recent immigrants in Portland, and would like to collect children's/ easy reader books to donate to these students. What I've noticed most through volunteering is that these students take a lot of pride in their mastery of reading aloud. Many of these students have very limited reading material and no books of their own. Providing them with some of our extra books we have lying around the house would be very beneficial to them. I am hoping that YHS students (and parents) will contribute gently used children's/ easy reader books from home that can be distributed to these students. If you would like to help, please drop the books off at the YHS main office."
5. Laptop Collection: Next Friday, we will be collecting laptops from ALL students at the end of the day as we start our February vacation. If, for some reason, your son or daughter is not going to be in school that day, please make arrangements to drop off the laptop prior to the close of school on Friday, February 15th.
6. Reminder About PowerSchool Comments: If you have not already done so, I encourage you to go to PowerSchool to see the comments that teachers made about your son or daughter. Each quarter, the teachers put an individual comment about each of their students into PowerSchool that can help you to better understand your son or daughter's progress. You can get to PowerSchool at this link.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please be in touch.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Mar 25, 2013, 5:39 AM by Ted Hall
Dear YHS Parents,
As we start this last week in January, I have several brief items for your information.
1. Tim White Night on the YHS Basketball Court: This Tuesday, January 29 is Tim White Night and a short ceremony will be held prior to the boys game. The boosters will honor Tim’s memory and the community spirit that he exemplified with his motto of “Take Less, Give More". Tim was instrumental in making our outdoor basketball courts a reality as well as an incredible supporter of everything Yarmouth. Each year the basketball boosters give two scholarships, one each to a senior boy and girl basketball player, to further their education. Donations will be gratefully accepted for the scholarship fund in Tim’s honor. The girls' varsity team will tip-off at 5:30 PM vs. Greely and the boys' varsity will tip-off at 7PM.
2. PERC (Parent Effectiveness Resolving Conflict with teens) Discussion Group: This is for any families who may be struggling or in crisis with their adolescent child or who might benefit from being part of a supportive group of other parents who are having similar challenges. It is open to ALL families in Windham, Raymond, Falmouth, Portland, Yarmouth, RSU23, Biddeford, South Portland, Scarborough, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, and Gorham schools. The PERC (Parent Effectiveness Resolving Conflict with teens) discussion group will take place on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 at the REAL School on Mackworth Island. Participants will receive free books and materials, information and resources in an informal group setting. A family therapist and another trained facilitator will lead the discussions, but all participants help to guide the discussions and share their ideas and struggles together. Food, childcare, and door prizes are provided! For more information or to RSVP, call the REAL School 781-6207 or email Pender Makin, the director of the Real School, at pmakin@rsu14.org.
3. YHS College Resource Guide Goes Live on the Web! Beth Doane and Brenda Michaelsen are pleased to announce that the YHS College Resource Guide can be found at this site. Although this is primarily oriented to juniors and seniors (and their parents), this guide can give you a great deal of information about the college application process.
4. Advanced Placement Bulletin for Students and Parents: Recently, the hard copy of the Advanced Placement Bulletin for Students and Parents was distributed to all students who are taking AP classes. We encouraged students to share this bulletin with their parents. If you are interested in seeing this bulletin online, you can access it here. This is a useful guide to understanding the AP exam process. The AP Exams are given during the two weeks from May 6-May 17. Exams for YHS students are scheduled for the following dates/times:
Monday, May 6, 8:00 AM: Chemistry and Environmental Science Tuesday, May 7, 8:00 AM: Spanish Language Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 AM: Calculus AB and Calculus BC Thursday, May 9, 8:00 AM: English Literature and Composition Friday, May 10, 12:00 PM: Statistics (also the last day to submit portfolios for Studio Art) Monday, May 13, 8:00 AM: Biology and Music Theory Monday, May 13, 12:00 PM: Physics B Tuesday, May 14, 12:00 PM: French Language and Culture Wednesday, May 15, 8:00 AM: US History Wednesday, May 15, 12:00 PM: European History
5. Yarmouth Alumni Association Releases 50th Anniversary Video: A group of three seniors (Carrie Adams, Nicole Hoehle, and Jackson Hall) received a community service grant from the Yarmouth Alumni Association to produce a short film to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Yarmouth High School. The title of the film is Yarmouth High School, Looking Back After Fifty Years. You can see the film on Youtube at this link.
6. Honor Roll Published in the Forecaster: Recently, the honor roll for FIRST quarter was published in the Forecaster ( see it here). Unfortunately, it was labeled SECOND quarter honor roll. We hope the real second quarter honor roll will be published in the coming weeks. Congratulations to all students who made honor roll both first and second quarter.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please be in touch.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Jan 13, 2013, 1:17 PM by Ted Hall
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updated Jan 13, 2013, 1:18 PM
]
Dear YHS Parents,
I have several (8!) items for you today. To start with, I want to remind you that you can go to the "Principal's Page" on our website to see any of my YHS Update emails from earlier in the school year.
1. Update on School Safety 2. Parent Coffee, Tuesday evening, January 15th 3. Interact Pond Party, Friday afternoon, January 18th 4. Save the Date for the Senior Auction and Talent Show 5. Poetry Out Loud Results 6. End of Semester, Friday, January 18th 7. CEP Update for Sophomore and Junior Parents 8. Junior Book Discussions--Volunteers Needed
1. Update on School Safety: Following the tragic school shooting in Connecticut, the work we already began to improve safety and security in the Yarmouth schools moved to "front and center." The three safety forums hosted by the superintendent provided parents, teachers, and others a chance for input. The district administrative team met on January 9 and agreed on these next steps: - Complete the model Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for Harrison Middle School by March 31.
- Use the HMS plan as a model for our other 3 schools so that an updated Emergency Management Plan is done by the end of the school year.
- Develop a plan for implementing lockdown drills and have one test drill done after April vacation. Parents and students will be notified in advance of the first lockdown drill.
- We will be looking at our visitor sign-in process and develop consistent expectations for visitors in all of our schools.
- The Yarmouth Police Department, which has been a strong partner in this work, will be increasing police presence at our schools through occasional visits to all of the schools.
If you have any questions about this work or have additional ideas, please let me know.
2. Parent Coffee, Tuesday Evening, January 15th, 6:30-8:00 PM, YHS Library: Please join me and other parents for an informal opportunity to ask questions about any aspect of the school. I am going to begin this Parent Coffee with a discussion of school safety and then open up to any other questions from parents.
3. Interact Pond Party, Friday Afternoon, January 18th: Our YHS Interact Club, a club focused on both local and global community service is sponsoring its annual Pond Party. Here is the information from the club: Where: At the pond behind KeyBank When: Jan. 18th from 4-7pm What: An afternoon of skating, music, a bonfire, and baked good sales put on by the Interact club from YHS. Why: Proceeds go towards the Yarmouth Fuel Assistance Fund
We hope to see you there!
4. Save the Date for the Annual Senior Auction and Talent Show: Please save the date for the “Lucky 13” Senior Auction and Talent Show to be held on Friday, April 5, starting at 5:30 PM at YHS to Support YHS Project Graduation 2013. I have attached a flyer with more information.
5. Poetry Out Loud Results: On Thursday, January 10th, twelve YHS students (3 per grade) participated in the second annual Poetry Out Loud contest. Participants were 9th graders Henry Becker, Karl Munroe, and Amanda Dettmann; 10th graders Samantha Mangino, Meredith Coolidge, and Philip Chowdry; 11th graders Amelia French, Jordan Brown, and Emma Corbett; and 12th graders Max Murray, Harry Munroe, and Caelainn Costello. Second runner up was Henry Becker, first runner up was Max Murray, and the Poetry Out Loud winner was Amelia French. Congratulations to ALL of the students who recited a poem in their English class to begin this competition. Henry, Amelia, and Max
6. End of the Semester, Friday, January 18th: This Friday marks the end of the semester and the halfway point in the school year. For students taking semester classes, they will begin new classes on Tuesday, January 22. Grades become official and final on Friday, January 25th.
7. CEP Update for Sophomore and Junior Parents: Last Monday, we had a kick-off assembly for this year's Career Exploration Project, a three-day job shadow program for sophomores and juniors that will take place in March. Students are working with their advisors and parents to find a placement for this experience. I encourage you to visit the CEP website to learn more information, including a tab with parent information.
8. Junior Book Discussions--Volunteers Needed: Every year the junior class hosts a literature discussion project. We choose a theme and then offer a variety of novels around that theme. This year our theme is international novels. Once students have chosen books, we invite members of the Yarmouth Community to read a book from the list and then come to school in late January to join a group of juniors in a book discussion. All discussions are student organized and facilitated.The discussions will take place during the school days January 24 & 25 between 9:30-10:40 in the morning.
That was a long update! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please be in touch.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Nov 21, 2012, 6:41 AM by Ted Hall
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updated Nov 21, 2012, 6:42 AM
]
Dear YHS Parents,
As we head out for the Thanksgiving break, I would like to share some information with you about upcoming events the week following our break.
1. Monday, November 26th, 7:00-8:30 PM, YPAC, Freeport-Yarmouth Hockey Proposal: Susan Robbins and I have been approached by a group of Freeport hockey supporters to consider the possibility of forming a cooperative Freeport-Yarmouth boys' hockey team. On Monday, November 26th from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center, there will be a meeting for anyone interested in learning about the proposal. The Freeport parents will present their proposal, followed by a moderated question/answer period and the opportunity for those attending to state their opinion on this proposal. In the next few weeks, a decision will be made by the school administration based on all of the information, including this forum.
2. Tuesday, November 27th, 6:30-8:00 PM, YHS Library, Parent-Principal Coffee: Assistant Principal Josh Ottow and I will host parents at this evening meeting. Part of the meeting will be devoted to a discussion of an exciting opportunity for Yarmouth students called Youth Court. Youth Court is based on restorative justice principles. The opportunity for Yarmouth students is either to be involved in administering the Youth Court or to be referred for alternative discipline consequences under certain conditions. As with all Parent-Principal Coffees, these are informal and open forums for parents to discuss any issues related to Yarmouth High School. Please join us.
3. Wednesday, November 28th, 6:30 PM, Franklin Theater, Waynflete School, Portland: I want to let you know of an upcoming film called Play Again that is being shown at Wayneflete School next Wednesday night. I have attached a flyer for the film to this email. From the flyer: "Through the voices of children and leading experts including journalist Richard Louv, sociologist Juliet Schor, environmental writer Bill McKibben, educators Diane Levin and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, neuroscientist Gary Small, parks advocate Charles Jordan, and geneticist David Suzuki, Play Again investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature and encourages action for a sustainable future."
4. Friday, November 30th, 7:00-10:00 PM, YHS Cafeteria, Semiformal Dance: Yesterday, I sent an email officially notifying you of our decision to continue to conduct breathalyzer tests on all students attending this dance. Today's message is about the dance and the reasons we have decided to conduct these tests. The Semiformal Dance is a long-time tradition at Yarmouth High School, most recently being organized by the sophomore class for the whole school. The class has hired a DJ and will decorate the cafeteria for the dance. Students get dressed up for this dance. Some students come with "dates" but most students come by themselves or with friends. Last year at the semiformal dance, we had several problems with alcohol use and our subsequent discussions with students in the Student Senate and Class Councils resulted in a proposal initially brought forward by students to breathalyze all students at the prom to ensure that students did not come to the prom under the influence. The goal of the students and faculty is to have safe and fun dances that are substance free. One of the strategies in addressing this goal is to conduct the breathalyzer, but it is certainly not the only one. We have a full school assembly on Wednesday that is sponsored by the Student Senate where, among a number of other presentations, there will be an explanation of expected behavior at dances and a statement of our goal to have substance free, safe, and fun dances. It is certainly my hope that over time, we will not need to conduct breathalyzer tests on every student that attends a dance, but we want to continue to send a clear and unambiguous message to our students about our expectations. For a full list of our dance guidelines, you can go to this link.
5. Finally, I want to take the opportunity to congratulate all of the students, staff and parents who were involved in the Sound of Music production last week. Nearly every seat was sold out for five performances. Everything about the production was outstanding from the performers to the backstage crew to ushers and ticket takers to parent volunteers. Everyone involved contributed to this outstanding show. What a great demonstration of excellence!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Nov 20, 2012, 12:18 PM by Ted Hall
Dear YHS Students and Parents,
On Friday, November 30th, the sophomore class will sponsor the annual semiformal dance to be held at Yarmouth High School in the cafeteria. The purpose of this email is to let you know that, in accordance with a recently approved Yarmouth School Committee policy, we will be conducting breathalyzer tests for all students attending the dance on November 30th. The purpose of conducting these tests is to ensure that all students who attend the dance have not consumed any alcohol prior to arriving at the dance. We believe that students who have consumed alcohol or are in possession of alcohol pose a direct safety risk to themselves, staff, other students, and the community-at-large. The following points outline the process that will be used.
1. The breathalyzer equipment will be provided by the Yarmouth Police Department and the tests will be administered by Principal Ted Hall and Assistant Principal Josh Ottow, who have been trained in the use of the equipment. Students will be asked to breathe into a cone-shaped device that determines the presence or absence of alcohol. This process will not require a separate mouthpiece for each student. The tests will be done discretely in a location where the student will not be visible to other students.
2. Any student who refuses to take a breathalyzer test in order to be admitted to the dance will not be allowed to enter the dance and his/her parents will be notified of the student’s refusal to take the breathalyzer. If it is determined that there is reasonable suspicion that the student is either under the influence of or in possession of alcohol, and the student has been advised of the consequences of such a refusal, (s)he shall be disciplined in accordance with the Chemical Use Policy, and the parents/guardians notified. Reasonable suspicion may be satisfied by conduct including, but not limited to, physical impairment, unusual behavior, blood shot or glassy eyes, odor of alcoholic beverages or on the basis of any other behavior or information that provides a reasonable suspicion that the student has consumed alcohol or is in possession of alcohol.
3. If a student’s test result is positive, and that student indicates that (s)he has not consumed alcohol, the student will be allowed to retake the test after a 10-15 minute waiting period. If the test is positive the second time, the student shall be disciplined in accordance with the Chemical Use Policy and the parents/guardians will be notified.
4. If the observation of a student who was admitted to the dance after having passed the breathalyzer screening gives rise to reasonable suspicion that the student has either consumed alcohol or is in the possession of alcohol, the school administrators will investigate the matter and may use the breathalyzer test to determine whether the student has or has not consumed alcohol. If so, the student will be disciplined accordingly.
5. The local police on duty at the dance will be notified of any violation of the chemical use policy.
For a full reading of the Breathalyzer Use School Committee Policy, go to this link. For a full reading of the Chemical Use School Committee Policy, go to this link.
If you have any questions, please be in touch.
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Oct 12, 2012, 1:56 PM by Ted Hall
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updated Oct 12, 2012, 1:57 PM
]
Dear YHS Parents,
I have two items for you in today's update: Picture Day Information and Schedule for Parent & Principal Coffees.
1. Picture Day Information: Next Tuesday is School Picture Day at Yarmouth High School. Your child either already received or will receive on Monday a flyer/order form for the school pictures. I have also attached a scanned copy of the order form in case you need that. We take school pictures of all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders regardless of whether pictures are ordered since they are used both for PowerSchool and for school id cards. Since seniors have a separate yearbook photo, we don't schedule the seniors for pictures. However, any senior who wants a picture can get photographed during first break/lunch. Any student who misses picture day or doesn't like the picture taken Tuesday can get a photo taken on the retake day which will be scheduled later in the fall.
2. Parent and Principal Coffee Schedule: Throughout the year, I host parents for informal discussions of school issues. I alternate the time back and forth between early morning and evening so that as many parents can attend as possible. Sometimes, I will publicize a particular issue that we will discuss and other times the time is open to any topic. Usually, there is a mix of parents from different grades so that parents can ask each other questions. The first Parent and Principal Coffee will be held on Tuesday morning, October 30th from 8:00-9:30 AM in the Flex Room. All of the dates are posted on the school calendar (http://yhs.yarmouthschools.org/calend) and will be updated if any changes are made. November 27th is an evening session from 6:30-8:00 PM in the YHS Library.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please be in touch.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Oct 9, 2012, 5:19 PM by Ted Hall
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updated Oct 9, 2012, 5:20 PM
]
Dear YHS Parents,
Two items for you today: Mid-Quarter Progress Reports and Request for Feedback on Fall Sports' Coaches
1. Today is the date we designate as our Mid-Quarter Progress Report. Since parents have access to PowerSchool, we no longer print or send out individual progress reports. If you have not checked PowerSchool recently, this would be a good time to check your son or daughter's current grades. You can access PowerSchool by going to this link:
If you are having difficulty signing into PowerSchool, you will see in small print at this weblink a message that says "Having trouble signing in?" If you click on this, it will take you to the help page. You can also have your son or daughter login to his/her account. You will see the same information on the student page. Your child may be helpful in showing you all of the information available on PowerSchool about student progress.
If you have any questions about any of the grades, please be sure to contact the teacher.
We also recently received information about a new iPad/iPhone app for PowerSchool. I attached some information about this app if you are interested.
2. As we approach the end of the fall season, our athletic director, Susan Robbins, has asked me to send you a link where you can give feedback on the fall sports' coaches. Please complete a separate survey for each or your child's coaches this fall. The information from this survey is confidential and is accessed by Susan Robbins and then shared through an overall summary when she meets with the coaches at the end of the season. This feedback is very helpful to coaches as they continue to improve their work with students. Here is the link to the survey:
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please be in touch.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall, Principal |
posted Sep 26, 2012, 12:24 PM by Ted Hall
Dear YHS Parents,
A few weeks ago, I sent an email with the proposed breathalyzer policy attached and let you know about the school committee meeting where this would be discussed. At that meeting, several parents came and several others sent in comments for consideration. The school committee discussed the proposed policy and tabled a decision to a later meeting. Since that meeting, a revision of the proposed policy was written that reflected much of the feedback that the school committee received. At this Thursday's (September 27) meeting of the school committee, there will be further discussion of this proposed policy. If you are interested in attending, the meeting will begin at 7:00 PM at the Log Cabin. If you have further input, you can feel free to email me, superintendent Dr. Judy Paolucci ( judy_paolucci@yarmouthschools.org) or Margaret Groban ( Margaret_Groban@yarmouthschools.org), the chair of the Yarmouth policy committee.
The School Committee will not vote on the policy this Thursday but will instead continue their discussion, then table the vote for their first meeting in October.
The revised proposed policy is below.
Sincerely,
Ted Hall Principal --------------------------------PROPOSED POLICY:
Exhibit A NEPN/NSBA Code: JFCL BREATHALYZER USE The Yarmouth School Committee believes that students who have consumed alcohol or are in possession of alcohol pose a direct safety risk to themselves, staff, other students, and the community-at-large. To minimize this risk and to contribute to a safe environment, the School Committee authorizes administrators to administer breathalyzer tests to students in accordance with the provisions of Part A and B below. The purpose of this policy is to authorize the use of the breathalyzer test under Part A to screen students as they enter a Yarmouth High School dance, and, under Part B to screen students for which reasonable suspicion exists that a student has consumed alcohol or is in possession of alcohol. The administrators giving such tests shall be competent professionals who have been trained in the use of the breathalyzer. Part A: Use of breathalyzer to screen students as they enter a Yarmouth High School dance. In order to be confident that no students are entering a Yarmouth High School dance under the influence of alcohol, administrators may choose to conduct a breathalyzer test of all students entering the dance. In the event that administrators give breathalyzer tests to all students in order to be admitted to the Yarmouth High School dance, parents or guardians as well as students will be notified at least a week in advance of the dance that such tests will be administered and the process that will be used. In the event that a non-Yarmouth High School student is authorized to attend the dance, notice will be given as soon as practicable if the authorization to attend is given within one week of the dance. If a student’s test result is positive, (s)he shall be disciplined in accordance with the Chemical Use Policy, and the parents/guardians notified. Any student who refuses to take a breathalyzer test in order to be admitted to the Yarmouth High School dance will not be allowed to enter the dance and his/her parents/guardians will be notified of the student’s refusal to take the breathalyzer. If it is determined that there is reasonable suspicion that the student is either under the influence of or in possession of alcohol and the student has been advised of the consequences of such a refusal, (s)he shall be disciplined in accordance with the Chemical Use Policy, and the parents/guardians notified. Part B: Use of breathalyzer to screen students for which reasonable suspicion exists that a student has consumed alcohol or is in the possession of alcohol at school or at a school event If an administrator has reasonable suspicion to believe that a student either is using alcohol or in possession of alcohol, a breathalyzer test may be administered to a student. If a breathalyzer test is administered, a report shall be prepared indicating the outcome of the test that will be sent to the parents/guardians. If a student’s test result is positive, (s)he shall be disciplined in accordance with the Chemical Use Policy, and the parents/guardians notified. If an administrator has reasonable suspicion to believe that a student either is using alcohol or in possession of alcohol and the student refuses to submit to a breathalyzer test, the student shall be advised of the consequences of such a refusal. If the student continues to refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test, he/she shall be disciplined in accordance with the Chemical Use Policy and the parents/guardians notified. The term “breathalyzer” shall include the portable Alco-Sensor FST or other reliable and commercially available mechanism(s). The term “Yarmouth High School dance” refers to a dance sponsored by Yarmouth High School that takes place either at Yarmouth High School or at any other location. The term “school events” refers to any school activities that take place outside of the regular school day and may include dances, contests, concerts, pep rallies, and other such activities. School events may take place on school property or in other locations. The term “reasonable suspicion” may be satisfied by conduct including, but not limited to, physical impairment, unusual behavior, blood shot or glassy eyes, odor of alcoholic beverages or on the basis of any other behavior or information that provides a reasonable suspicion that the student has consumed alcohol or is in possession of alcohol. |
posted Sep 25, 2012, 7:53 AM by Ted Hall
Dear YHS Parents,
We have a busy week coming up at YHS and I want to make sure you have the information.
1. John Underwood presentation on Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center. He will be speaking to parents and students about Maximizing Athletic Performance and the Personal Well-Being of Teens. John is well known speaker with an important message that helps us to understand how the use of alcohol and drugs can impact athletic performance. This presentation is sponsored by Casco Bay CAN.
2. Are you the winner of the raffle at Open House? The students who are going to Turkey in April held a 50-50 raffle at Open House and the winner never came forward. If you have the winning ticket (584622), please let me know no later than Wednesday.
3. Swedish Visitors: This week, we are hosting ten students and two teachers from Sweden. They will be arriving tonight and will be attending school all week. Each student from Sweden is staying with a Yarmouth host family. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn about Sweden and its culture.
4. Each year the Prudential Spirit of Community recognizes and awards students who have made a difference volunteering in their communities. If you know a student who has made a difference through volunteering over the past year and would like to apply for this award please encourage that student to visit the following site: http://spirit.prudential.com. The application needs to be submitted by November 6, 2012. We have put this announcement out to students and thought it might be helpful if parents also knew about this award.
5. On Friday, during third period (9:30-10:40), the whole school will attend a presentation by Dick Beardsley who will tell his life story of being an elite marathon runner who became addicted to painkillers following a horrible farm accident. His story is inspiring. This presentation is made possible by New Balance and the Portland Running Company.
6. Finally, we have consolidated all of our "news" into one daily bulletin. You can access this on the front page of our website every day at: http://yhs.yarmouthschools.org/
Please be in touch if you have questions, comments, or concerns. |
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