FAQs

To report your child absent, call 203-852-9488 ext. 11007

All attendance goes through our CGS Secretary Tonia Taylor. If a student is going to be absent, tardy, or dismissed early please call: 203-852-9488 ext 11007 or email taylort@norwalkps.org with a message that includes: 

• Student name

• Date of absence / tardiness / dismissal

• Your name

Students should check Google Classroom and/or email their teachers for work when they are absent.

New Procedure in 2024-25

This year, NPS seeks a school, family and scholars’ partnership to ensure students attend school daily and arrive on time.

• Community Letter about Grades 9-12 Attendance (ENGLISH)

Tardy Information

• A student will be marked tardy if they arrive after the late bell and tardies will be either excused or unexcused.
• If a student arrives to class late 30 minutes or more, they will be marked with an unexcused tardy (T30)
• Three unexcused tardies (T30) will count as one unexcused absence from class.

Procedure Regarding Incompletes for Attendance (IA)

Students who have absences (unexcused or excused) totaling 18 in a full-year course and 9 in a semester course may receive an Incomplete for Attendance (IA), rather than the passing course grade, as the final grade.

• Families will be notified in writing if students are at risk of receiving an Incomplete for Attendance (IA) because they are currently missing 10% or more of a course. 
  • Students will have 30 calendar days from the date on the notification to provide additional information regarding absences. After 30 calendar days, additional information will not be considered. 
• Students with an Incomplete for Attendance (IA), in one or more classes, may resolve it by completing additional steps outlined in a contract between the school, the student and family. 
• If the Incomplete for Attendance (IA) is not resolved by the deadline, a grade of 50 will be entered in its place.

If you need support with school attendance, please contact the school for assistance. 

Norwalk BOE Policy 5113

Attendance in school and in classes is required for academic success. Parent/guardian cooperation is essential in seeing that students are in attendance and adhering to the procedures and regulations established by the administration. The administration will publish reasonable rules and regulations regarding authorized, excused, and unexcused absences.

Below are some guidelines that we use for absences:

• sickness death in the family
• religious observance/instruction
• family emergency of short duration
• medical/dental appointment

(We strongly urge that appointments be made outside the school day.)

Unexcused absences (any absence without a phone call or note from parent/guardian)

• missing the school bus
• car trouble or other problems getting to school regarding transportation
• staying home to baby-sit
• oversleeping
• inclement weather family vacations

In keeping with the philosophy that students need to maintain regular attendance at school, we strongly discourage families from scheduling any trips other than during the normal school vacations. If unusual circumstances arise, contact the guidance counselor.

The safety and security of our building is paramount to ensuring we create and maintain a positive learning environment. The mission of school safety and preparedness at BMHS/CGS is to maintain and protect the physical and psychological safety of all students, faculty and staff in our building. Your cooperation and support are essential to our efforts in safeguarding our school community. Below are key security measures we have implemented: 

Campus Access

• Single Point of Entry: Once the school day begins, all exterior doors will be locked. Everyone must enter through the main doors after 7:30 am. 
• Visitor Protocol: All visitors must check in at the security desk and obtain a visitor badge before entering any part of the school. All visitors must bring a valid ID for verification. Visitors must wait in the location as directed by security until met by the appropriate staff for escort to a meeting location. Visitors may not walk unattended inside of the building.
• Building Security: All exterior doors will remain locked during school hours. Only authorized personnel with key fobs have access to these doors, and no one will be allowed to enter without proper authorization. As such, students must not open exterior doors for anyone at any time. That includes for parents, Uber Eats, DoorDash(which are not allowed under any circumstances). Doing so will result in a disciplinary consequence. 

School Preparedness

• Drills: All of our safety procedures follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) created by the I Love U Guys Foundation. We will conduct regular drills for various emergencies, including lockdown and evacuation procedures. These drills are crucial for preparing students and staff to respond effectively in real situations.
• Emergency Contacts: Please ensure that your emergency contact information is up to date with the school office. This information is vital for effective communication in case of an emergency.

Surveillance and Security Personnel

• Monitoring: Surveillance cameras are installed in key areas around the campus to monitor activities and enhance safety.
• Security Staff: Our security team will be present on campus during school hours to oversee safety measures and address any concerns.
• SRO: A Norwalk Police School Resource Officer is assigned to our building and is available inside of the building throughout the school day. A patrol officer is also onsite and available outside of the building. 

Safety

• BMHS School Preparedness Committee: Our school safety committee meets on a monthly basis to review and revise our school safety procedures. 
• Reporting Concerns: Encourage your child to report any suspicious activity or safety concerns to a staff member immediately. Anyone can also make an anonymous report using this site: https://www.anonymousalerts.com/norwalkps/
• Staff Training: All staff members participate in mandatory and monthly safety drills to stay updated on the best practices for ensuring safety.
• Facility Checks: We conduct regular inspections of the school facilities to address any potential safety hazards promptly.
• Personal and Situational Awareness: We encourage you to discuss safety with your child and emphasize the importance of being aware of their surroundings and following school policies.
• Information Updates: We will keep you informed about any changes or updates to our security measures through regular communication channels.

We appreciate your support and partnership in keeping our school a safe place for all students. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Qadir Abdus-Salaam, Assistant Principal, Brien McMahon High School

Inclement Weather Protocols

• DELAY: All delays are two hours in duration. Morning care will operate on a delayed schedule.
• CLOSURE: All schools are closed for the day. All after-school activities and programs are canceled.
• EARLY DISMISSAL: Schools open on time, but will end earlier than the regular school day, generally 2 hours before normal dismissal times. All after-school programs are canceled including after-school care. Early dismissals will be called by 10 a.m.
• AFTER-SCHOOL CANCELLATION: School opens and ends at the regular time but all after-school programs are canceled.

• DELAY: Program will have a delayed start of 2 hours.
• EARLY DISMISSAL: After school programs are canceled. CASPER at Carver Center will still pick up students and dismissal will be from Carver Center.

Where to Find Inclement Weather Announcements

To ensure the information you receive is accurate, we encourage all families to rely on official NPS sources. School delays, closures, early dismissals and after-school cancellations are communicated in the following places:

• Norwalk Public Schools website: www.norwalkps.org
• ParentSquare message -- text, email and phone call
• NPS Social Media:
  • NPS Facebook
  • NPS Twitter (twitter.com/norwalkps)
• NPS Info Line recording: (203) 854-4123
• Local TV, radio and online media outlets, including:

On days when weather may impact the school day, we ask that parents and guardians check these sources frequently for information. Parents and guardians should always make sure their child’s school has up-to-date contact information on file.

Although rare, changing conditions may require that a delay is changed to a cancellation, or that an early dismissal is called after the school day begins. We will make every effort to avoid changes, but there are times when it cannot be avoided.

What to Do When You Have a Concern

Ladder of Referral

If a parent/guardian has a question or concern regarding their child's progress or well being within the school program, we urge you to follow the steps outlined below. Parent concerns about a student related to teaching staff should be referred first to the teacher. If your concern is not addressed to your satisfaction, then please follow the procedure outlined below:

Teacher

As soon as you have a concern, send a note, call, or email the teacher during school hours. Leave your name, phone number and time you can be reached. Please also follow this procedure for concerns about special programs and/or services. Teachers wish to hear more, not less, from parents. The majority of misunderstandings can be resolved with the teacher.

School Counselor

The School Counselor should be contacted before contacting the Principal.

Assistant Principal or Dean of Students

If the issue has not been resolved to your satisfaction, send a note, call, or email the Assistant Principal.

Principal

If the issue has still not been resolved to your satisfaction, send a note, call, or email the Principal.

Central Office

If necessary, the principal will direct you to staff at Norwalk Public School’s Central Office.

Superintendent and Board of Education

After appropriate discussion with Central Office personnel, decisions may be appealed first to the Superintendent and ultimately to the Board of Education. Any appeal to the Board should be in writing and signed.

If you have questions or concerns about a teacher, please begin by contacting the teacher first. If your concern is not addressed to your satisfaction, then please follow the procedure outlined below:

1. Contact the Teacher
2. Then contact the School Counselor, Dean, or Social Worker
3. Then contact the Assistant Principal
4. Then the Principal
5. Then the Assistant Superintendent
6. Then the Superintendent
7. And last, the Board of Education

The Ladder of Referral is part of the NPS Behavior Interventions and Expectations Guide.

StudentSquare is an easy to use and secure communication tool for students and staff.

What you can do with StudentSquare:

• Receive messages from school by email, text or mobile app.
• Send messages to your teachers and staff at school.
• Stay in the loop regarding late start days, extracurricular activities, and class projects.
• Subscribe to calendars, RSVP to events, complete forms, use sign-up sheets and participate in groups.

Click here to register your account!

Download the FREE StudentSquare app! (Apple iOS or Android)

In order to get working papers you must first get hired. Your new job will provide you with a promise of employment, a letter that contains information regarding specifics about the job. Once you have the promise of employment bring this document in to Mrs. Ball in the Guidance Office who will help you in obtaining working papers.