Principal's Message
November, 2007

Dear Olympus Junior High Parents,

            In previous months, my newsletter articles usually focused on one central message.  This month, I’d like to use my newsletter space as a checklist of reminders covering a variety of issues.

  1. Parents, I feel it necessary to point out the fact that we seem to be seeing a increase in the number of “street passes” that are being issued this year.  Street passes are what we give to students when they are checked out of school by their parents.  Street passes should ideally only be issued to students who are ill and need to go home, who have a medical appointment that couldn’t be scheduled after school, or for special family occasions, i.e., weddings, funerals, etc.  We’ve received an increased number of requests this year to issue passes for students to run down the street to buy lunch at a local eatery as well as to be released (for no apparent reason) because we are having assemblies.  I urge you to use care when allowing your students to leave school grounds for lunch.  Not only are we technically a “closed campus,” meaning students should not leave campus during school hours, but there is a direct correlation between who is allowed to leave for lunch and who receives tardies at the end of our lunch time.  As for assemblies, we do all that we can to limit the number of assemblies in the school year, thus maximizing the amount of time kids are in class.  We also try to avoid assemblies that really have no connection to school-wide events or themes.  Consequently, when we do have assemblies, it is my hope the students will attend.  Secondly, it is common that when we do have afternoon assemblies, students whose parents have allowed them to leave early tend hang out for quite some time in front of the school.  When students receive a street pass, it is expected that they will leave campus.  Any help you can provide us with regarding this issue would be appreciated.
  2. Our attempts to improve the pick-up and drop-off situation continue.  I want to extend my hearty thank-you to those of you do your best to follow the traffic flow pattern.  The PTSA and I are currently engineering a few ideas that may help our efforts.  When a firm and complete plan has been developed, we will utilize every avenue of communication to make sure every household understands what is expected.  Again, thanks to those of you who have tried to help.  If you’d like more clarification of what our traffic flow pattern is, please do not hesitate to call me.
  3. Finally, a few dress code issues.  First, I’d like to announce that our school’s Community Council has voted to allow the wearing of khaki green (or olive drab, fatigue, etc).  Quite a few parents and students have been asking for this clarification, and we hope this will dissipate some confusion.  Secondly, I am about to start an information campaign with our students regarding our Friday dress code.  Contrary to what you may have been told, there are a few dress code rules that we do enforce on Fridays.  Our Friday dress rules unfortunately are not outlined in the official dress code.  To the best of my knowledge, they have developed over the past decades through informal allowances made by previous administrations, parent groups and faculties.  The Community Council and I will be adding a “Friday clothes” section to our dress code in the not too distant future in order to clear up any confusion.  Until that time, here are some guidelines to follow on Fridays:
    1. Jeans are OK to wear on Friday, as long as they are not torn
    2. Clothes should still be safe, modest and clean
    3. Any color may be worn
    4. Patterns – not graphics – are allowed as long as they are woven into the fabric.  Graphics and logos are never OK (unless they represent OJHS or OHS).  Silk screened patterns are not OK.

I realize our Friday rules are confusing – believe me, enforcing the variations is not easy either – but your willingness to follow these guidelines definitely make a difference in our school’s climate. 

I thank you for your continued support.
Eric Bergmann, OJHS Principal