By: Caroline Utz

With every new school year come changes in rules, policies, and regulations. This year instead of creating brand new guidelines, the administration has turned their attention to improving existing rules.

“Every student will be here every day, learn as much as he or she can, behave appropriately, and graduate high school,” assistant principal Mr. Jason Flener said.

Don’t be late

The tardy policy has been revamped to help the school year run as smoothly as possible. Teachers now have more options when dealing with students who arrive late to class. While the planner specifically outlines the disciplinary measures for the third, sixth, ninth, and tenth tardies to a class, it also allows other infractions to be disciplined at the teacher’s discretion. Out-of-school suspension is no longer a consequence for violating this policy. Administrators are focused on students getting to class on time every day.

“Being one minute late to class each day would add up to approximately three hours of lost learning time in that class for the year,” dean of students Mrs. Michelle Ginkins said.

Power down

Although this rule is unchanged, administrators are looking to cut back on electronic usage in school. Unless devices are being utilized for instruction, any electronic item in sight during school hours is fair game for teachers to confiscate.

“We want every teacher to be able to use technology as long as it ties into academics,” Flener said. Cell phones, headphones, iPods and the like are at risk of being confiscated.

Just dance

According to Ginkins, the most talked about event in high school has a new stipulation this year. Students must attend all seven periods of the school day the Friday before prom if they hope to dance the night away.

“Prom is a privilege and not an excuse for missing school the day prior to it,” Ginkins said. Sophomores are still allowed to attend, but only with an invitation from an upperclassman.