General Information

Alcoholic beverages, including nonalcoholic beer, are not permitted on school grounds at any time. Possession of alcohol or nonalcoholic beer is a violation of the law, as well as School Board policy, and brings an automatic five-day minimum suspension from school, along with a thirty-day exclusion from all activities for the first offense. Refer to the Student Responsibilities and Rights section for further information on this policy.

BEEPERS

A high school student may possess any portable communication device, including any beeper, cell phone, or other similar device, including any device capable of receiving or transmitting text messages, on school property during the school day; however, the device must be out of sight, turned off, and used only with authorization from the principal. In addition to other disciplinary action associated with the possession or use of a portable communication device in violation of this provision, any such portable communication device shall be subject to confiscation by school officials and returned only to the student's parent or guardian.

BUS SCHEDULES

Students should refer to the route number posted in the right side window of the bus. The letters EH signify Edison High. All bus schedules are located in the main office area. LATE BUSES RUN ON MONDAY (3:30 p.m.) and WEDNESDAY (4:00 p.m.). Students will need a bus pass to board a late bus. The teacher/staff member with whom they were working will give the bus pass to them.

CAFETERIA

Edison High School will have three lunch shifts during the 2008-2009 school year. Students need to note that they will have access only to the cafeteria and the grounds immediately surrounding the cafeteria during their lunch.

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION

The Board of Education of the Commonwealth of Virginia has established regulations to support the commonwealth legislative mandate that each school division offer a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program. Fairfax County Public Schools offers this program at each county high school. An opt-out policy will be provided for those families who wish to exclude their children from any part of the FLE program identified for each grade level.

FIRE DRILLS

Students are to follow teacher instructions when a fire drill alarm is sounded. Tampering with an alarm box or a fire extinguisher is a School Board violation and a felony in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Criminal charges will be filed against any person activating a false alarm. Everyone is to evacuate the building whenever a fire alarm sounds. There are no exceptions! In addition, tornado drills are conducted twice during the school year. 

INTERNET INFORMATION

Blackboard.com allows all Fairfax County Public Schools, including Edison High School, to extend learning beyond the traditional school day and beyond school facilities. Students, parents, and teachers are invited to use FCPS 24-7 Learning (http://fcps.blackboard.com) to access homework and classroom assignments, to view class calendars, to explore links to enrichment activities, and to do much more. 

The Fairfax County Public School website (http://www.fcps.edu) also offers KEEP IN TOUCH. You will receive information concerning emergency situations, weather-related closings, school information, etc. by registering for KEEP IN TOUCH.

IPODS

No personal stereos are permitted during the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. They are not allowed in the library at any time.

LOCKERS

Lockers are intended for the storage of books and clothing. DO NOT leave valuables in your school or gym locker. If you should have difficulty with your locker, contact Ms. Carr Lougee in the Main Office. Do not disclose your locker combination to anyone or share your locker. Each student is responsible for the care of his/her locker. Writing on the lockers is considered an act of vandalism. Lockers, which are the property of the school, may be opened by the principal or his designee in the presence of a witness to examine the contents, including personal belongings of students, when there is reason to believe that the contents threaten the safety, health, or welfare of students and staff, or include stolen property. 

Reasonable efforts to locate the student shall be made prior to opening his/her locker to notify the student of the search. Stolen items and items which are specifically prohibited by law, School Board policy, or county or school regulations may be impounded by school authorities, and parents shall be notified of any impounding.

LOST AND FOUND

Students should take all found items to the main office with the exception of found gym equipment that should be turned in to the physical education department.

MONEY

Students are discouraged from bringing large sums of money to school. No money should be left in lockers. All money from bake sales, ticket sales, etc. must be turned in to the proper adult sponsors at the end of each day. Payments to the school of any kind should be made by check and made payable to Edison High School. Please write the student's name on the check.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Students shall be responsible for the personal property they take to a school building, on school grounds, on a school-sponsored function such as a field trip, or on a school bus. Student use of any storage area (lockers, instrument storage, etc.) provided by the school division is on a voluntary basis; there is no requirement to use any of it. Students who choose to use locker storage, or any storage area that can be locked, shall be responsible for the security of any associated keys or combinations. Fairfax County Public Schools does not assume responsibility for the personal property of students and does not purchase insurance for their property. Students and parents are urged to give appropriate consideration of what is taken to school.

Teachers or other school employees may not accept responsibility for student personal property on behalf of the school or the school division.

Teachers and school administrators who confiscate student personal property because student possession or use violates school division or local school rules (e.g., a CD player, a Walkman, hat, etc.) shall take every available precaution to protect that property until its dispersal can be determined. The school principal has the discretion to determine whether a banned item may or may not be returned to a student or to his or her parent.

Beepers, cellular phones or any portable communication device confiscated from students by school officials shall be returned to parents. 

Controlled substances and weapons shall be turned over to the police department; FCPS assumes no responsibility for those items.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE

Students at each school are expected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and to observe one minute of silence, on a daily basis, at the direction of the principal unless the student or his or her parent objects to participation in such exercises. No student shall be subjected to unfavorable comment or stigmatization for his or her decision to participate in or to abstain from the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or observance of one minute of silence.

 Nonparticipating students are expected to sit quietly, or to stand silently, during the Pledge or the observance of the minute of silence and to refrain from engaging in any disruptive or distracting activity. No disciplinary sanctions may be imposed for refusal to participate in saying the Pledge of Allegiance or in observing the minute of silence; however, willful disruption or interference with the exercise of pledging allegiance by others or interference with other students who exercise of their choice to meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity may result in the same disciplinary measures accorded to other instances of classroom disruption in school. Student prayer rights are described in more detail at http://www.fcps.edu/DHR/employees/oec/relguide.htm.

SALE OF GOODS

Only recognized and approved clubs and activities at Edison High School are authorized to sell goods (candy, gum, etc.). Such club/activity sales must be scheduled through Mr. Grimm, Director of Student Activities. No individual may sell for personal profit. All money is to be turned in to the adult sponsor by the end of the school day.

STUDENT PARKING AND DRIVING

Students who wish to drive to school must purchase a parking permit. Parking permits may be purchased for $150.00 for the school year. Students should park in areas designated as student parking areas. Unless students are in an early-release program, students are not permitted to enter their cars until school is dismissed. Any car improperly parked may be subject to "booting," a $25.00 fine, and towing. Illegally parked cars are subject to ticketing by the Fairfax County Police Department. Mr. Deck, Safety and Security Specialist, coordinates this program.

STUDENT PLANNERS

All students will receive a Student Planner to use throughout the school year. The planner is designed to help students manage and organize their time, keep track of assignments, due dates for major projects, and tests. The Student Planner is also used as the HALL PASS. If lost, students can purchase a new Student Planner for $3.00.

STUDY HALL

1. Study hall is designed to give students a structured supervised environment in which to finish work and study. While some coaches have indicated that they will require student/athletes to attend study hall – their attendance is predicated on good behavior. Students are expected to sign-in and sign-out of study hall.

The teacher in charge of study hall has the responsibility to ensure an appropriate environment. They have the right to ask any student to leave and not allow that student back until they have had a conference with the Director of Student Activities.

2. Study hall will begin promptly at 2:45 and end at 4:45 in the cafeteria – Monday through Thursday. There will be two teachers working the first hour of study hall so that we can get the day started in an organized manner.

3. If school is closed early or evening activities are cancelled by the FCPS, study hall is automatically canceled as well. Study hall will still be held on late start days.

For more information about study halls, please contact: Martin Grimm, Director of Student Activities 703 924-8091 TELEPHONES

Pay phones are available in the main lobby. Pay phones are not to be used by students while class is in session.

TOBACCO PRODUCTS

The use or possession of tobacco in any form, including smokeless, is not permitted at any time on the grounds of Edison High School.

UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS

No person whose presence or action interferes with or disrupts the operation of the school, its students, or school activities may enter or remain in any school vehicle or building or upon any school ground, roadway, or sidewalk. All visitors to a school or its grounds shall report to the main office immediately. Persons who fail to do so will be considered trespassers and subject to legal action.

WEATHER CLOSING

Fairfax County Public Schools responds to inclement weather by delaying the opening of schools, closing early if weather worsens, or by announcing "no school." The decision is communicated on all local radio and TV stations as well as posted on http://www.fcps.edu/news/emerg.htm. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

WORK PERMITS

A work permit is issued for a specific job. It is not required before applying for positions. Work permits are required for fourteen and fifteen year olds. Students who are sixteen years of age or older do not need work permits. Before a work permit can be issued, there are two forms that must be completed. The pink form must be signed by the parent/guardian in front of the school issuing officer or a Notary Public. The white form must be signed by the employer. Forms and additional information are available in the main office.