BLOOM TOWNSHIP | With the second half of the school year under way, Sandridge Elementary District 172 is reminding students and parents of eligibility requirements for end-of-the-year celebration activities and graduation.

School and district officials met with parents last week to go over student behavior expectations, especially as they apply to seventh- and eighth-graders.

Sandridge Principal Jay Hollingsworth estimates between 40 and 50 parents attended the Jan. 31 meeting.

Hollingsworth said the expectations are not new, but the district wants to make sure the are clearly communicated to parents and students so they understand them and know they will be enforced.

According to information provided by the school, Sandridge students cannot have more than five detentions, no more than one in-school suspension, and no out of school suspensions to take part in field day, the seventh-grade reward activity, the eighth-grade reward field trip, eighth-grade dinner dance, and eighth-grade graduation ceremony.

New this year is a proposed semiformal eighth-grade dinner dance to be held at the school.

The behavior expectations are part of the school's effort toward maintaining a safe and comfortable learning environment in which students are to be respectful and responsible, Hollingsworth said.

Promotion/graduation requirements for seventh- and eighth-grade students include having passing grades of at least a D or above in three of four core academic subjects such as math, science, language arts and social studies.

In addition to the behavior expectations, seventh- and eighth-grade parents and students are reminded of the service hours that must be met.

Eighth-grade students are being required to perform and verify 12.5 hours of community service hours this year. Seventh-grade students must perform and verify 25 hours of community service hours by the end of their eighth-grade year.

Service hours for all students must be approved before they are served and recorded. Those hours will be recorded and monitored by the student's homeroom teacher.