School Handbook

The School Handbook is the guide for students and parents that will tell you about the school and its policies.

Please go to www.sis.mybps.org to login and the Edison Handbook.

Student Information System – BPS Family Portal
Families and students can log in to monitor attendance, academic progress and engage with their schools through the BPS Family Portal. The BPS Family Portal is a safe, secure, online tool that helps families engage in their child's education.
 
The following instructions will show you how to create a Family Portal account in the Boston Public Schools’ Student information System.
1. Use any Internet browser and type http://sis.mybps.org in the address bar.
2. Click the “Create an Account” button on the login screen.
3. Select the “I am a parent new to SIS” option and click Next.
4. Enter the security code that you were given in a letter from your child’s school. (If you do not have this code Dorkas Gomez, our guidance counselor, can provide it for you.) This security code is unique and can only be used once. Enter your last name as it appears on the letter and click Next.
5. Enter your personal email address. Your email address will become your login ID to the SIS. Choose a password and a security question. The security question will be used to reset your account in case you forget your password.
6. Click OK and you will immediately be granted access to your child’s attendance, grades, and testing information!
 
Any time a student changes his/her address or telephone number the school office should be notified immediately. Families can now also update this information themselves by using the BPS Family Portal.


Below are some of the key items:

Edison K8 Operational Routines, Systems and
Student Behavior Non-Negotiables
We are the Edison Bright Lights and we live by the 5Rs: Respect, Responsibility, Rigor, Righteousness, and Resourcefulness.  Edison students and staff are expected to practice the 5Rs EVERYDAY through their actions, words and thoughts.  Each month there is a focus on a particular core value.  At the end of each month there are school wide assemblies to recognize staff and students who exemplify the Edison 5Rs.

Respectful:  I will treat myself, others and property the same way I want to be treated, with the care and kindness all people deserve.
Responsible: I will think before I act and consider the impact my actions and choices have on other community members and their property.
Rigorous: I will try my best and work my hardest in the classroom every day.  I will take the positive risks necessary to achieve success.
Righteous: I will be honest and trustworthy.  I will stand up for what I believe in and what is right in appropriate ways and allow others to do the same.
Resourceful: I will take an active role in making my community the happiest and safest it can be.  I will speak up/seek help when I, or a member of my community is in need.
 
This year we will continue to implement our systems for recognizing appropriate behavior and responding to inappropriate behavior.  The purpose of these systems is to create a positive school climate, support students’ social, emotional and behavioral development and create conditions for academic achievement. 

Dress Code and Uniform Policy
At the end of the 2013-2014 school year Edison parents voted to have a mandatory uniform policy.  EVERY student is expected to wear the Edison uniform EVERYDAY! Students will be required to wear khaki colored pants and any navy blue polo shirt or an Edison T shirt. Every student will receive ONE FREE uniform T-shirt during the first week of school in September or upon their entry into the school. Students who arrive without the uniform will be considered not prepared for the school day.  Students not in uniform will be sent to a staff member to call home to plan for getting into uniform.  This process typically causes a student to be tardy.  Tardiness at the middle school level may result in afterschool detention.  We appreciate your support in preventing this and ensuring your child arrive prepared everyday in uniform.
In accordance with Massachusetts State Law, there is an expectation that students dress in keeping with reasonable standards of safety, health, and cleanliness, so as not to detract from the educational process.  There is an expectation that students dress in a manner that is appropriate for a place of work and study.  An individual’s grooming, dress, and behavior does affect how others react to him/her.  Dress and grooming should be clean and neat.  If style demonstrates that it is disruptive to the educational process, constitutes a threat to safety and health of self and others, or is in violation of any statute, it will not be permitted in school. 
Due to the disruption caused by the wearing of certain items, the following are not permitted:

  • Clothing with any picture and/or wording that relates to sex, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or improper language
  • Hats, headbands, hoods, bandanas, or any other head coverings (except for religious reasons) and sweatbands or wristbands
  • Clothing worn in such a manner as to reveal underwear, cleavage, or bare skin between the upper-chest, mid-thigh and waist/stomach areas
  • Spaghetti straps, strapless tops, and halter tops
  • See through, mesh garments
  • Clothing that is excessively baggy or tight
  • Skirts and shorts shorter than “finger-tip” length
 

Sunglasses worn inside the school building
  • Clothing that advertises adult entertainment symbols (Playboy, Playgirl, etc)
  • Clothing or articles that suggests gang activities
  • Chains (wallet, belt, large neck chains, etc.)
  • Spikes collars, spiked belts, spiked bracelets
  • Pants, when the waist falls below hip or the length of the pant touches the floor
  • Leggings worn by themselves or worn under skirts and shorts that are shorter than “finger-tip” length
  • Any other article of appearance that is physically revealing or provocative

The school administration, has discretion to render judgments regarding what is and what is not appropriate, and may, if necessary, waive these policy restrictions in religious and/or medical situations.  The administration will determine what consequences should follow when a student does not comply with this policy. An inappropriate item may be confiscated.  A student may also be given an Edison T-shirt to wear for the day or a parent may be asked to bring a change of clothing.  All outer garments (i.e. jackets, parkas, etc.) must be removed and left in a student’s locker during the school day. Students should bring a sweater or sweatshirt to wear in school during the cooler months.
​Attendance Expectations
Family Responsibility
The Edison K-8 School seeks to promote excellent school attendance.  Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76 states that parents/guardians are legally responsible for ensuring that a child under their control attends school daily.  The school system employs an attendance officer to support families and encourage regular compliance with the state statute.  Parents, guardians and other concerned individuals may contact the school guidance counselor, Dorkas Gomez at 617-635-8436 x1208 regarding school attendance issues.
 
Absences
To ensure maximum learning time, students must attend school each day and arrive on time (8:30 am).  Families are expected to telephone the school office prior to 8:00am to report that their child will be absent on any given day.  In addition, a written excuse from the parent and/or guardian must be presented the day the student returns to school from absence.  Any situation resulting in an absence that may have serious extenuating circumstances must be brought to the attention of the principal, by the family, as soon as those circumstances are apparent.
 
Absence notes are given to the child’s homeroom teacher.  The date(s) of the absence(s), the student’s full name, the reason for the absence, the student’s homeroom number, and a parent/guardian signature should be on the note.  Any student who is absent over three consecutive days must return to school with medical documentation.
 
If a child fails to attend school for eight full days within a marking period, the supervisor of attendance may file a CHINS (Child in Need of Services) against the responsible parent and/or guardian.  When a student has been absent for a total of four days the Guidance Counselor will make a call home to the parent/guardian.  When a student has been absent for a total of six days, a parent/guardian meeting set-up by the guidance counselor with a school administrator is required.
 
Excused Absences are limited to the following:
  • An illness or injury that prevents the student from attending school.
  • A death in the immediate family.
  • A significant personal or family crisis that prevents the student from attending school.
  • Suspension from school.
  • Court appearances: Students must provide documentation of the required appearance.
  • Medical or psychological tests during the school day that cannot be scheduled after school or on the weekend: Students must show documentation of medical testing.
  • Religious holy days that require an absence from school to meet religious obligations.
  • Other extraordinary situations approved by school Administration.
Vacations other than school vacations are considered unexcused absences.
 
Tardiness
Any student who is not in their seat ready to learn by 8:30 will be marked TARDY by homeroom teachers, unless there is a bus issue.    Any student arriving after 8:45 will need to report to the main office.  The student will receive a tardy slip, which should be presented to the first period/homeroom teacher.  Any unexcused tardiness may result in disciplinary action.  Habitual tardiness may result in detention, family involvement and/or school suspension.  A tardy after 11:00 am will be counted as an absence and may result in an administrative search.  
Technology/Electronics
The Edison School encourages students to leave valuable electronic devices at home.  The school does not assume responsibility for valuables.  Any students bringing electronic devices to school should do so with the permission of their parent/guardian.
  • Personal electronics must be silenced or powered off in lockers at the start of the day. Any electronic devices that are visible at any point in the day can be confiscated.  Any confiscated devices can be turned over to the grade level administrator and housed in a locked area.
  • Students committing repeated violations of this policy may be subject to additional disciplinary action, consistent with the Code of Conduct.
  • In order for personal electronic devices to be used in classrooms, teacher must have details about device usage written into formal lesson plans.
Enforcement and PenaltiesALL staff may monitor student violations of the cell phone policy.
Penalties for students found to be in violation of the policy will be as follows:
  • First offense: Student’s cell phone will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day.
  • Second and subsequent offenses: Student’s cell phone will be confiscated by administrator or designee and returned only to the student’s parent or guardian.  Administrators will keep any confiscated items in a locked location at all times.  The student will be prohibited from bringing a cell phone to school for the remainder of the school year.
  • Students committing repeated violations of this policy may be subject to additional disciplinary action, consistent with the Code of Conduct.