Sharon High Students Face New Tardiness Policy

students will have a new incentive to come to school on time when classes start next week.

Unexcused tardiness five times in the same quarter will put the student on a one-week “social suspension” from extracurricular activities, including sports, for one week, Principal Jose Libano says.

Eight unexcused tardys in the same quarter will prompt a social suspension for the balance of that quarter, the policy says.

The new policy is among the biggest changes awaiting Sharon High students when classes start on Aug. 31.

Last year, school officials handled the issue mostly through letters and phone calls, Libano says.

“This year, the ante is a little higher,” he says.

“It’s not that we want to suspend kids from activities,” Libano says.

 “When a kid misses class time, they’re compromising their education. When you’re walking in late to a class, it’s disruptive to everyone else.”

Students can look forward to a new school store at the cafeteria and run by students from the six-town CHARMS Collaborative special needs program, Libano says.

Online sales are eyed as well.

“We’ve been talking about having a school store for a while,” Libano says.

“The Class of 2010, as a class gift, donated some money to set up the project. We’re ready to get off the ground now. It’ll be a nice addition to the school.”

The CHARMS students’ involvement is “a great way to familiarize those students with a work environment,” he says.

Sharon High officials also are exploring starting a robotics team, Libano says.

And Sharon’s involvement in the program marks its first full year of full enrollment.

Last year’s enrollment was five or six students per semester, Libano says. This year, 25 students are enrolled per semester.

“That means kids are taking advantage of opportunities that weren’t available to them in the past,” Libano says.

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