1st Day of School letter - August 26, 2024
WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!
Important information has been assembled for you in the First Week of School Web Portals for each school.
In particular, it is important that you review all School Board policies and the Parent/Student Handbook for your student’s school so that your student and you fully comply with all District policies,requirements and general information.
Unless you notify your child’s school in writing, your student will automatically be opted in to field trips and photographs and/or videotaping for publicity purposes. Additionally, it will be assumed that you, the parents, have signed off on the Acceptable Use of Technology Policy and the Parent/Student Handbooks which contain important information. Expanded information on these topics is included below and on the First Week of School Web Portal. Please contact your child’s school office with concerns or to request paper copies of materials.
HANDBOOKS - Parents/Guardians must review with their student(s) the Parent/Student Handbook for their school at the beginning of each school year. The Handbook contains information about the Student Code of Conduct, medication, health, food, academics, athletics, arts, transportation, security, Chromebooks issued to students and much more. A review of the Parent/Student Handbook is imperative to assure that your student follows and complies with all policies. Click on the following link to access your school’s Handbook under the MANUALS section: https://www.parklandsd.org/about-us/publications
SCHOOLOGY - Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; provide a safe forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. Parents/Guardians have the ability to log in and see their student(s) Assignments, Course Work, Grades, and receive email messages and notifications from the teachers. After a student is registered in Parkland School District and there is a valid email address on file, an email from Schoology (no-reply@schoology.com) will be sent that includes a link to login and reset your password. Visit www.parklandsd.org/schoology for further information.
FIELD TRIPS - At times during school hours, students will participate in day field trips for educational purposes that take place away from your student’s school. These may include a visit to another Parkland school or to a site off School District property. All possible care and precaution will be taken to safeguard students including the administration of emergency medical treatment by qualified personnel. Field trips are governed by Board Policy 121. If you do not want your student to participate in a day field trip, you must notify the District in writing no later than one day prior to the scheduled trip. Click on the following link to review Board Policy 121: https://www.parklandsd.org/fieldtrippolicy
VIDEO/AUDIO RECORDING ON BUSES - The District is permitted by law and by School Board Policy 810.2 to video tape and audio tape on school buses or school vehicles. This means that your student’s image and voice will be recorded while riding in a school bus or school vehicle. See Board Policy 810.2 for a full explanation by clicking on the following link: https://www.parklandsd.org/videoonbuses
PHOTOGRAPHS/PUBLICITY/PERSONAL INFORMATION - Student-related information known as “Directory Information” is a part of a student’s educational record under federal law and School Board Policy. “Directory Information” is an educational record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory Information includes, but is not limited to, the student's name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, grade level, enrollment status, dates of attendance, participation in officially recognized school activities and sports, degrees, honors and awards received, school name and other similar information. Directory Information may be disclosed to others without parent/guardian consent in connection with a student’s participation in academics, the arts, athletics and other school related endeavors. An example of a disclosure of Directory Information would be publication in Parkland School District publications or other media/livestream/social media that includes photographs and videos of students individually or in group settings, including the possibility that the student will be identified by name, for publicity purposes of school programs. If you do not want the District to disclose this type of information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, please notify your school’s main office immediately. Unless and until notice is given by you, Directory Information will be disclosed in accordance with School Board Policy 216. Your rights regarding your student’s education record are fully explained in the Parent/Student Handbook for the current school year and in School Board Policy 216. Your school’s Parent/Student Handbook may be accessed by clicking on the following link under MANUALS: https://www.parklandsd.org/about-us/publications. Policy 216 may be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.parklandsd.org/publicity
ACCEPTABLE USE TECHNOLOGY POLICY - Your student will be required to abide by the Acceptable Use Policy for technology. District technology resources shall be periodically monitored to ensure compliance with this and other district policies including monitoring of users’ online activities. See School Board Policy 815 for a full explanation by clicking on the following link: https://www.parklandsd.org/techpolicy
SCHOOLMESSENGER RAPID NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - The School District uses Schoolmessenger, a rapid notification system, that allows for automated calls and emails to phone number(s) and email addresses the parent or guardian has provided to the District. This system will be used in the event of an emergency and to share important information. To receive text messages, parents/guardians must opt-in by texting the word “yes” to 67587. By next week, each guardian who maintains the same physical address as the student will receive an email asking you to review and update your contact information as well as emergency contacts for each student enrolled in Parkland schools. Please take time to review and/or update information upon receipt of the email. You may also contact your student’s school office with any updates at any time throughout the school year.