Pittsburgh Carrick High School
125 Parkfield St. | Pittsburgh, PA 15210 | Phone: 412.529.7700 | Fax: 412.885.7708
Parent Hotline: 412.529.4357 (HELP) | www.pps.k12.pa.us
Welcome!
Dear Pittsburgh Carrick Students and Parents:
We extend our best wishes to you for a successful year. This handbook has been prepared for you so that you may become familiar with the policies and programs that have been developed to make your high school years productive and exciting, and to best prepare you to make good and well-informed choices.
This is your school. Make the most of what it has to offer and contribute your time and talents wisely. Be proud of your school and always conduct yourself
in such a manner that your actions will reflect pride in yourself, your school and your community. We all share the responsibility for the school’s reputation. We look forward to supporting you in another year of academic growth.
Angel Washington and the Faculty and Staff of
Pittsburgh Carrick High School
The Handbook
The policies and procedures contained in your handbook are designed to help you have a successful high school career. Your teachers and school staff are eager to help prepare you for the transition from high school to adult life. Academics and activities lead to success. Your success is your parents’ success and pride; therefore, share this handbook with them and let them be a part of your student life at Pittsburgh Carrick High School.
Pittsburgh Carrick High School graduates have included outstanding scholars, doctors, lawyers, athletes, politicians, and other professionals. We are proud of our student body and we encourage you to continue in the fine tradition of Pittsburgh Carrick. The information in this handbook is correct as of June 2014. Information contained within the Student Handbook does not supersede any Board
of Education policies nor any information set forth in the Student Guide to Graduation Requirements and Subject Offerings.
Alma Mater
Carrick High, We Love You Dearly. You’re Our Pride and You’re Our Joy. You Hold a Sacred Spot,
Within The Heart,
Of Every Girl and Boy. We’ll Honor You Forever. We’ll Be Loyal ‘Till We Die.
You Always Can Depend On Us, Our Dear Old Carrick High.
School Colors
Blue and Gold
School Mascot
Raiders
School Procedures
Bell Schedule
Please visit our website at www.pps.k12.pa.us or contact our Parent Hotline at 412.529.4357 (HELP) for the bell schedule for your child’s school.
Attendance
Regular attendance in school is essential to your success. Following an absence, you must turn
in to the main office a signed excuse from your parent stating the reason for the absence. Students have three days following the absence to turn in their documentation. Absence from school, whether Excused or Unexcused, negatively impact student learning. We encourage you to make EVERY effort to be in school, every day. It is also important to remember that students must maintain 90% attendance in order to remain eligible to receive the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship. Although only Unexcused and Suspension days count toward Promise Eligibility, ALL absences count toward attendance rates, and could ultimately label your student as being a chronic or severe
attendance problem. We have great things to offer at Carrick High School, so make sure you are here every day to take advantage of what we have to offer!
Entering and exiting the building
All students entering Pittsburgh Carrick High School will enter through the cafeteria entrance and must pass through the metal detectors. Students arriving after the end of first period will enter through the main entrance.
Students exiting the building prior to the end of the regular school day must sign out at the main entrance. Students are not permitted to leave the building through any other door during the school day. Students who have a shortened schedule
must exit through the main entrance. Students may use authorized exits at the regular dismissal time. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action.
Students are not permitted to exit the building during school hours without an approved early dismissal. Students who leave without permission will face disciplinary action. Those students who leave the building without permission will not be allowed to re- enter school the same day without a parent.
Tardiness
Pittsburgh Carrick High School is committed to academic achievement and excellence. To prevent failure of the first period class due to excessive tardiness, it is imperative that you report to school on time. The day begins with the 1st period class
at 7:45 a.m. All students who arrive at Pittsburgh Carrick before 7:45 a.m. should report directly to their first period class. Any student who is tardy to school will not be permitted to interrupt the learning of their classmates, and will be asked to wait for the next class period to begin before being permitted to enter class. It is important to remember that students MUST arrive to school before 10:30 a.m. Students who arrive after 10:30 a.m. will not be permitted into the building unless they are escorted by their parent, or they have a medical or court documented note. The following rules apply for student tardiness:
• Students who arrive to school or class late will be monitored, and if a pattern is established, disciplinary action will be taken.
• Students who arrive to school after 7:45 a.m. are considered tardy.
• Students who arrive after 7:45 a.m. are tardy and will be asked to wait for the next class period to start before entering the classroom.
• Students who come into the school with a parent, have a doctor’s note or a note from court will not be held until the next class period begins.
• Students arriving after 8:29 a.m. will enter through the main entrance.
• Students, who receive multiple tardies in one school day, or student who establish a pattern of tardiness to school may receive additional disciplinary action.
Early Dismissal
Early dismissals will be granted for justifiable reasons approved by school authorities. If you need an early dismissal, you must submit a note written by your parent/guardian to the office before 7:35 a.m. The note should include: your name and homeroom, reason for the request and time of dismissal, phone number where your parent can be reached during the day, and your parent’s signature.
Early dismissals will not be granted unless your parent/guardian can be reached before the designated dismissal time. It is the student’s responsibility to provide transportation to an early dismissal destination. The school cannot supply bus tickets for early dismissals. If the early dismissal is
approved, you may pick up your early dismissal slip at the end of the second period or between any periods thereafter. You must present the early dismissal slip to the subject teacher at the appropriate time, sign out
at the main entrance, and leave the building. In the event of an emergency, you cannot be dismissed by phone. However, your parent/guardian may pick you up in person. Proper identification must be presented. Students are reminded that they are not permitted
to leave school grounds during the day without an approved early dismissal.
Make-up Work Procedures
If you are legally absent from school or suspended, you will be given a reasonable length of time to complete missing assignments. The parents of students who miss school for an extended period should call their counselor to obtain assignments. Students who will be away from school for an approved reason should obtain assignments from their teachers before they leave. All assignments should be completed and turned in on the day you return to school.
Responsibility for requesting and obtaining make- up work resides with the student and parents. Students who fail to request and complete make-up assignments must accept the consequences.
Closing School in emergency Situations
Sometimes it is necessary to close school when such conditions as extreme weather emergencies make it impossible to stay open. Should the weather look so bad that you suspect school might be closed, please do not call the school. Announcements will
be made on local radio and TV stations. On days when the weather becomes hazardous after the students have arrived at school, we rarely have an “announced official” early dismissal; if the situation warrants, students may be dismissed. In the event
of a two-hour delay, school will begin two hours later than usual; buses will conduct pick-up and arrival two hours later than usual.
Religious observance
Students will be excused for religious observation upon written request of a parent.
Closed Periods
Closed periods are periods in which students are not permitted to leave their assigned classrooms. You should not request to be excused from class during these periods, except for an emergency. Fifth, 6th,
7th, and 9th are closed periods.
Bus Pass Distribution
Bus passes for the month are distributed at Pittsburgh Carrick High School during the last week of the month. The student will sign for their bus pass, and the teacher will record the bus pass number on a bus pass roster. The homeroom teacher will then give the student their monthly bus pass. There are no exceptions to this rule. If a student is absent from homeroom on the day of distribution, he/she will have to see the transportation administrator for his/her bus pass upon returning to Pittsburgh Carrick High School.
Bus Pass eligibility
The Board of Education, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Office of Transportation is responsible for determining all Pittsburgh Carrick High School students’ eligibility to receive a monthly bus pass from the Port Authority of Allegheny County. This generally applies to students who are enrolled in the magnet at Pittsburgh Carrick High School. The main exception is when students that do not attend their school of residence and are out of their feeder pattern because of parent choice or open enrollment. These students are not eligible to receive bus passes.
Lost or Stolen bus Passes
The Board of Education is not responsible for any bus pass that is lost or stolen after the bus pass has been distributed to the student. Parents are responsible for their child’s transportation until
the next date bus passes are distributed through Pittsburgh Carrick High School. Pittsburgh Carrick High School does not provide drop tickets for lost or stolen bus passes. It is important for students
to attend to the safekeeping of their bus pass and under no circumstances should students leave their bus pass unattended.
Parents can call the following phone numbers for assistance with transportation:
Pittsburgh Carrick High School High School
412.529.7700
Office of Transportation 412.529.8125
School Dress Code
The School District of Pittsburgh has an exclusionary dress code. The Board, therefore, resolves that no student shall wear any apparel or jewelry that by words, signs, pictures or any combination thereof advocate or promote sexual activity or violence, or the use of alcohol or drugs or demeans or degrades another because of race, sex, religious persuasion, national origin, handicap or disability. Students are
expected to wear appropriate clothing at all times while at school. Clothing must not be of any style, length,
or fit that is of a provocative nature. Revealing attire that permits the exposure of undergarments or private
body parts is prohibited. This prohibition shall be in effect during regular school hours and at any school- sponsored event whether on or off school premises.
In regard to the dress code at Pittsburgh Carrick
High School, the following applies:
• Headgear (hats, scarves, bonnets, do-rags, bandanas etc.), revealing clothing, sunglasses, and chains are not permitted.
• Length of shorts, skirts, and dresses for any student should be no higher than six inches above the knee (approximate length of a dollar bill). Pants, shorts, and skirts are not to sag below the waistline so that bare-midriff and/or underwear are seen.
• Tank type jerseys, muscle shirts, sleeveless shirts, halters, spaghetti straps, off-the shoulder shirts, netting shirts and bare midriff tops are prohibited. Shirtsleeves must have a seam and two inches of material that cover the shoulders. See-through apparel and low-
cut shirts are not permitted. Shirts with plunging necklines that reveal cleavage are not permitted.
• Clothing with holes or slashes in inappropriate places is not permitted.
• Tight, revealing clothing, including leggings, are never appropriate for school when worn alone. A long shirt or skirt that covers the behind must be worn with these types of pants. .
• Objects that are sharp or protruding from the person of a student are prohibited. This specifically includes, but is not limited to spikes on collars, jackets, shoes and wristbands.
• Hats (including hoods), headbands, bandanas, wave caps and women’s scarves are not to be worn or carried during school hours. These items must be placed in a student’s locker. If students refuse to place their headgear in a locker, it may be confiscated by administration.
• Coats are not to be worn in the classroom during the school day. Coats (and hats) should be placed in lockers at the start of the school day.
• Pajama pants, shirts and slippers are not permitted.
• Pocket chains, metal spike jewelry or other heavy metal paraphernalia is dangerous and presents problems at the metal detectors. These items will be confiscated by security.
Administrative discretion will resolve all questions of appropriate dress. Any inappropriately dressed student will be asked to remove the item(s) and/or be sent home to change and return properly dressed. Should a student defy the dress code and refuse to comply, disciplinary measures will be taken.
Graduation attire
Male students must wear a dress shirt, tie,
dress slacks and dress shoes. No tennis shoes, Timberland shoes, flip flops, blue jeans or athletic wear will be permitted. Female students must wear a dress, blouse/skirt, and dress shoes. Caps and gowns cannot be altered in anyway.
Prom
• All male students must wear a tuxedo or a suit. Khaki pants and a sports jacket are not suitable for the occasion.
• Dress shoes are worn with prom attire, not tennis shoes or boots.
• Walking canes, sunglasses, do-rags, etc. are not acceptable accessories.