Policies and Procedures
To ensure a safe and productive learning environment for students, Syracuse Academy requires that policies and procedures are abided. If you have question regarding these policies and procedures please contact an administrator.
Uniform Policy
Students are expected to arrive to school in proper uniform. Students who are not in dress code will not be allowed to enter the classrooms.
For regular school days, students are to wear only:
- Khaki slacks* or ankle length khaki skirts or knee length or longer khaki dress shorts (No cargo pants, joggers, or others designs)
- Light blue school shirts with logo
- Any color of shoes (No flip-flops, open toe-shoes, or sandals)
In physical education classes, students in grades 5-12 must wear:
- SAS Atom GYM T-Shirt,
- SAS Atom shorts or plain navy blue sweatpants,
- Athletic Sneakers
Important:
- Students who arrive to school out of Dress Code will be immediately sent to the office to call home and required to return in Dress Code.
- Repeated dress code violations will result in a parent conference.
- Students will only be able to “dress down” when that privilege is earned.
- Students who do not return the school are considered as unexcused absent.
- No undergarments should be visible
- Wearing uniform inappropriately is considered a Dress Code Violation (see appendix-D for more details)
- Hats, Hoods and Scarves are not to be worn in the building and will be considered a dress code violation.
- Any outerwear not issued as part of the uniform cannot be worn in the building
- Dress Down days will be announced to staff, students, and parents/guardians in advance and will not be a regular occurrence.
* Contact to the Elementary School regarding the color of slacks for elementary students.
Additional Dress Code Requirements and Limitations
In addition to making sure you are wearing the school uniform, Syracuse Academy requires that you follow these additional guidelines in terms of uniform appearance and personal appearance.
- Jewelry should be appropriate for school and not attract undue attention. SASCS reserves the right to decide on the appropriateness of jewelry
- Students may wear ONE pair of earrings to school that do not attract undue attention.
- Headbands should only be worn to hold back the hair.
- Neckwear and ties are not to be worn by ladies or gentlemen.
- Cosmetics should be appropriate for school and not attract undue attention.
- No moustaches or beards except for due to medical reasons.
- The following items are not to be worn or brought into classrooms and should be removed and stored in lockers prior to students’ first class: Jackets, hats, caps, berets, scarves, bandanas and other headgear, winter hats, mittens and gloves
Dress Down Days:
- Shirts must include sleeves and be full length
- Shorts must be knee length
- Skirts must be ankle length
- Undergarments must not be exposed
- No low cut shirts or tank tops are allowed
- Jeans may not be ripped or have holes
Absolutely none of the following are permitted:
- Baggy or sagging slacks: Sagging bottoms are not permitted and displaying of undergarments is a violation of dress code. Those students whose bottoms do not rest appropriately at their waist should wear a belt.
- Skinny pants/jeans, skintight, body-hugging materials
- Clothing made from a lycra or stretch material
- Jeans/denim fabric including dark wash
- Defacing of the Syracuse Academy uniform polo shirt by writing, cutting, tearing etc; those students whose uniforms have been defaced will be required to purchase a new one prior to returning to classes.
- Rolling up the hem or sleeves of the Syracuse Academy uniform polo shirt
- Gym shorts or athletic wear including sweatpants and yoga pants
- No open shoes (toe and heel) such as slippers, sandals, flip flops, sliders, etc and high heel shoes
- Bare legs and stockings where the skin beneath is visible
- Waist and/or hem should never be rolled to shorten length of skirt
- Hoods must be down at all times in the building (Not worn on head)
If a student is deemed to be dressed inappropriately on dress down days, he/she will be asked to correct their clothing choice to reflect the dress code; should the student refrain from changing his/her clothes, a parent/guardian will be called and the student will be sent home.
Parent/Staff/Public Complaints and Grievances
The Board of Trustees of the school takes seriously complaints or grievances from any member of the public, parent, guardian, or person in parental relation, or employee. It is also mindful, however, that many disputes are best resolved at the lowest possible level. Accordingly, the Board provides the following process relative to public or parent, guardian, or person in parental relation complaints and/or School employee grievances. To the extent a complaint or grievance is submitted without prior compliance with the procedures set forth below, the recipient of the complaint or grievance shall provide a copy of this Policy to the complainant and direct that person to submit his or her complaint or grievance consistent with this Policy.
All complaints and grievances shall be submitted to the appropriate person, as identified in this Policy, only in writing. The Board expects that a person will comply with the procedures stated below, in the below-stated sequence, prior to filing a written complaint with the Board.
A. Level I
In keeping with the above-stated guidance, complaints or grievances should first be discussed with the teacher of a parent, guardian, or person in parental relation’s child or the immediate supervisor of a School employee.
1. Parental Complaints. If a student’s classroom teacher has the authority to resolve a complaint or problem, the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation shall first raise and discuss the complaint with the classroom teacher, either by:
a telephone conference or an e-mail; or
a conference between the teacher and the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation, which the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation shall request with the teacher.
2. Staff Complaint. A School employee shall describe and specify the basis for a complaint with his or her immediate supervisor in writing. Thereafter, the immediate supervisor and employee shall meet to discuss the complaint and work in good faith toward a satisfactory resolution.
B. Level II
If a person has complied with the process for Level I and is dissatisfied with the results of that process, he or she may pursue the complaint using the Level II process.
1. Parental Complaints. If a parent, guardian, or person in parental relation has first spoken with his or her child’s classroom teacher and attempted in good faith to resolve the problem, but remains dissatisfied, the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation may contact:
The Dean of the School, Director or his or her designee concerning any academic or teacher-related complaint; or the Dean of Students concerning any discipline-related complaint.
The Director or his or her designee or the Dean of Students will keep a record of each Level II complaint, including the nature of the complaint, the complaining party, and a description of the steps taken to resolve the complaint.
2. Staff Complaints. A School employee who has complied with the procedures for Level I complaints and is dissatisfied with the results of that process may forward his or her complaint in writing to the School’s Director or his or her designee and HR department. The Director or his or her designee shall consider the complaint and, within seven (7) days of its receipt, either respond to the employee in writing or meet with the employee regarding the complaint. If the Director or his or her designee meets with the employee in lieu of providing a written response, the Director or his or her designee shall respond to the employee’s complaint in writing within seven (7) days after that meeting.
C. Level III
A person who has complied with the Level II process and remains dissatisfied may proceed with the following procedures under Level III:
1. Parental Complaints. If the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation is dissatisfied with the response of the Director or his or her designee or Dean of Students to his or her complaint, the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation may state his or her complaint in writing to the Superintendent. The written complaint to the Superintendent shall comply with the following:
Be signed by the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation filing the complaint;
Specifically state the nature of the complaint, including any School rule, guideline, law, or regulation that the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation claims to have been violated, and all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the complaint;
Contain sufficient information and/or evidence to support the complaint; and
Specify how the parent, guardian, or person in parental relation would like the complaint resolved.
2. Employee Complaints. An employee who has completed the procedures stated in Level II and who remains dissatisfied with the results of that process may forward his or her complaint in writing to the Superintendent and HR department. The Superintendent shall consider the complaint and, within seven (7) days of its receipt, either respond to the employee in writing or meet with the employee regarding the complaint. If the Superintendent meets with the employee in lieu of providing a written response, the Superintendent shall respond to the employee’s complaint in writing within seven (7) days after that meeting.
D. Level IV
A person who has completed the procedures of Levels I through III but remains dissatisfied with the responses provided during those procedures may submit his or her complaint in writing to the Board and HR department. Any such written complaint shall contain the elements stated in Level II. The Board will not accept any complaint if the complainant has not been provided the Superintendent with at least seven (7) school days in which to respond to the complaint.
The Board will discuss any properly-submitted complaint at its next scheduled meeting, in Executive Session when appropriate, and shall provide the Director with guidance regarding any further response concerning the complaint. The Board will advise the complainant of its decision within thirty (30) days of its receipt of a properly submitted complaint.