SIDNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
2008-2009
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Calendar
First Day of School for Students.................................................. Wednesday,
August 20, 2008
Last Day of School.................................................................................... Friday,
May 29, 2009
No
School For Middle School Students
Teacher Inservice Day................................................. Monday &
Tuesday, August 18-19, 2008
Back to School Parent Night……………………………………… Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Labor Day........................................................................................ Monday,
September 1, 2008
MEA/Teacher Inservice........................................... Thursday &
Friday, October 16 & 17, 2008
No School Parent-Teacher Conference Make Up Day......................... Friday, October
31, 2008
Thanksgiving Vacation.................................................................
November 26, 27, & 28, 2008
Christmas Vacation........................................................... December
20, 2008 - January 4, 2009
Snow Day (if needed) or Vacation............................................ Friday,
February 20 & 27, 2009
No School Parent-Teacher Conference Make Up Day........................... Friday, March
27, 2009
Good Friday.............................................................................................. Friday,
April 10, 2009
Easter Monday....................................................................................... Monday,
April 13, 2009
Early
Dismissals For Students
September
17th
October 22nd
November 19th
January 14th
February 11th
March 11th
April 15th
Grading
Periods
1st Nine Weeks August
20 – October 24
2nd Nine Weeks October
27 – January 16
3rd Nine Weeks January
19 – March 20
4th Nine Weeks March
23 – May 29
Report cards are usually handed out the Wednesday following the end of
the nine weeks grading period.
Progress reports will be mailed to parents between the 4th and 6th week
of each grading period if deemed necessary by individual teachers. If there is a need for it, reports may be
made at additional times.
Sidney
Middle School Staff
Kelly Johnson----------------------------------------------------------------------- Principal
Mike Gear------------------------------------------------------------------ Athletic
Director
Faculty
|
S. Anderson C. Halvorson |
Music |
|
J. Mueller |
Language Arts/Reading, Social Studies |
|
J. Skinner |
Math, Fitness |
|
D. Prevost |
Physical Education |
|
D. Biebl |
Reading/Lang. Arts |
|
G. Schaff |
Agriculture Education |
|
K. Werner |
Special Education |
|
G. Schell |
Math, Geography |
|
M. Hermanson |
Special Education |
|
L. Thiel |
Guidance |
|
R. Braun |
History |
|
C. Wagner |
FCS & Library |
|
M. Halvorson |
Science |
|
M. Schulz |
Industrial Arts/ Fit. & Wellness |
|
S. McMorris |
Computers |
|
J. Spracklin |
Music |
|
J. DiFonzo |
Language Arts, Reading, Science |
|
E. Stedman |
French |
|
R. Klose |
Character Education, Math, Geography |
|
J. McDonald |
Science |
|
J. MacDonald |
Science, Elementary Art |
|
S. Sullivan |
Language Arts/Reading, AR, 9th grade English |
Clerical
Staff, Custodial Staff, and Instructional Support Staff
Linda Stevens
...................................................................... Middle School Secretary
Maria Jensen,
Ken Stennes……………………………………………………… Computer Support
Lacey Hunter.....................................................................................
Alternative Education
Louise Wraith............................................................................. Deaf
Education Interpreter
Kenny Vannatta.................................................................................... …..Head
Custodian
Tom
Verhasselt, Lenny Larson……………………………………………………..Custodians
Bell Schedule
First 8-8:50
Second 8:54-9:44
Third 9:48-10:38
Fourth 10:42-11:32
Lunch 11:32-12:08
Bell Rings 12:03
Student Advisory 12:08-12:28
Fifth 12:32-1:22
Sixth 1:26-2:16
Seventh 2:20-3:10
Greetings
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I would like to welcome you to the 2008-09 school year. The purpose of this handbook is to help you make informed choices and to make known to parents and students the expectations that we hold for our students. Critical sections of this handbook will be reviewed with students in the upcoming days. We expect students and parents to be familiar with the policies and procedures outlined in the following pages, and review this document together. A SIGN-OFF SHEET must be returned by Friday, August 29, 2008, stating you have received and reviewed a copy of this handbook. I would strongly suggest you keep this handbook in a file for future reference.
We are looking forward to working with each of you and having a great
year together!
Kelly Johnson, Principal
As guidance counselor, I want to welcome you to Sidney Middle
School. Feel free to stop by my office
at any time for assistance. If you have
any school or personal needs, I’m here to help you. I hope you have an enjoyable and productive
year.
Loretta Thiel, Guidance Counselor
ACADEMIC
ADVANCEMENT OR RETENTION
A student must maintain a 1.0 grade point average in order to pass to the next grade level. The student must also be passing a minimum of three “required” classes for that school year to advance to the next grade level. Special considerations may be given to students with special needs.
PROMOTE BUT RETAKE
Students that complete the requirements to be promoted (1.0 grade point average and passing at least three required classes) may need to repeat any math or language arts classes that they may have failed in the previous year. For example, if a student is promoted from grade six to grade seven but fails sixth grade math, that student may repeat sixth grade math as part of his/her seventh grade curriculum.
Rationale: Students need to master the skills at one level before they can be expected to have success at the next level. Also, students need to understand the consequences that go along with failing classes prior to their getting to high school.
MORNINGS
When you arrive at the Middle School, you are
to visit outside until allowed to enter the building at 7:55 a.m. A teacher will be
at the front door at 7:40 a.m. for any student who needs to be admitted for
special reasons. At the 7:55 opening
bell, go to your locker, hang up your coat, and gather your materials for first
period. You are to be in your class
ready to begin school at that time.
NOON
Students are dismissed from class at 11:32,
11:34, & 11:36 (depending on the rotation that will be used from quarter to
quarter). At this time, go to your
locker, store your class materials, and get your coat. From there, proceed to the lunchroom or
outside. Restrooms are available on the
south end of the building for use before or directly after lunch. After lunch, you are to go out the south door
and visit quietly on the school grounds until the 12:03 bell. If you eat lunch at school, you must present
your lunch ticket at the lunch line. Lost tickets may be replaced at a cost of
$1.00. Be sure you maintain a sufficient
lunch account balance. Deposits may be
made at the office before 10:00 a.m.
Lunch prices for this school year are student ($2.45), and adult ($3:15),
Extra Milk ($0.25). Students who forget
their lunch tickets will be allowed to eat, but will go to the end of the lunch
line and wait to eat at that time.
Only seventh and eighth grade students will
be allowed to leave the campus during the lunch break. When students leave the school grounds and
cross Central Avenue, they may do so only at the light on the corner of 4th
Street and Central. You must follow the
appropriate traffic signals at this time as well. Any student who violates this rule will
lose his/her off-campus privileges for a period of one week and will serve
detention after school for an hour per night for the one-week that they lose
their off-campus privileges.
Sixth grade students do not have an
open-campus at this time. They are to
remain on the school grounds during their lunch hour. The only exceptions to this rule are for
those sixth grade students who go home for lunch under the supervision of their parents, and occasions when students bring
a signed parental note to go out for lunch. This signed parental note
must be given to the principal first thing in the morning EACH time a student
leaves campus for lunch, whether going home or to a downtown eating
establishment. Those
sixth grade students who violate this rule will receive one hour of after
school detention for a period of one week on their first offense, two weeks on
their second offense, etc.
NO STUDENTS ARE
ALLOWED TO GET INTO CARS WITH PEOPLE OTHER THAN THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL
GUARDIANS. STUDENTS IN VIOLATION OF THIS
OFFENSE WILL BE ISSUED A PINK SLIP.
Sidney Middle School maintains the right to
make lunch hour closed-campus for any or all of our students if deemed
necessary due to a lack of cooperation by the students that attend our
school. We would only take this action
if the behavior of our students warranted this action. Please do your part to keep this from
occurring.
AFTER SCHOOL
At the 3:10 bell, go to your locker, gather
the materials needed at home and leave the building, unless you will be under
direct supervision of teachers or staff.
If you ride the bus, go to the bus loading
area and wait in an appropriate manner.
If you are walking home, follow appropriate
traffic signals and safety procedures.
SIDNEY
MIDDLE SCHOOL BELL SYSTEM
1. The bells at 7:55 and 12:03 are warning
bells; students should be in transit to their rooms at this time. The first
listed bell on the class schedule on page two is the tardy bell for each
period.
2. You
are allowed 4 minutes between classes.
You will be marked tardy if you are not in your room when the second
bell rings. Go directly to class between periods. After lunch, leave the
building until the warning bell rings.
3. Bell Schedule: One Buzz:
Opening and closing of school and
passing of classes.
Continuous ringing from
fire alarm bell: Fire alarm.
SCHOOL CONDUCT
Each student's cooperation is needed to make
Sidney Middle School a pleasant place to study.
The rules that are found here were established to expedite the main
purpose of school, which, of course, is learning. We need and expect your compliance to the
rules at all times. These regulations
apply to all students regardless of age.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is one of the most
important contributing factors for success while in school. The
habits of dependability and responsibility you learn and practice are essential
to success in adult business, social and personal relationships. Absences from classes should be for reasons
of health, for curriculum-related activities, or for unavoidable
emergencies. The Board of Trustees
establishes attendance and discipline regulations.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
It is the legal responsibility of the parent or guardian and student to
keep the school informed concerning the circumstances that affect daily
attendance. Attendance will be checked
each period and school personnel will attempt to contact by the end of each
school day any parent or guardian whose child is absent from school but who has
not been reported as absent by the parent or guardian.
ADMIT/MAKE UP PROCEDURES
If you are absent, upon your return, you must report to the school
secretary or principal who will issue your make-up slips. Students will be allowed to make up work at
the rate of one day for each day absent plus one additional day (example: a
student absent on Monday but present on Tuesday will need to turn missed work
in on Wednesday). This rule does not
apply to work, major tests or assignments, when the student had knowledge of
the due date prior to the absence. It is the responsibility of the student to
secure work missed during an absence.
Your school's policy in regards to absence type issued and make up
procedure allowed will differ with the reason for your absence.
I.
EXCUSED ABSENCES: Excused absences are those absences where the
middle school office has received a satisfactory explanation from the parent or
guardian of a student, either by phone, in person, or by written note. Absences of this type will include medical
appointments, dental appointments, legal appointments, family trips, illness,
etc. Students have five (5) school
days from the time of absence to get the absence excused. Absences not cleared within five school days
will be recorded as unexcused.
1.
School sponsored events and activities: If you are required to be absent for a school
sponsored event or activity, you must pick up a
make-up slip from the coach or sponsor and make up your work in advance. Make-up slips must be returned to the
activity sponsor prior to the trip. If
you have not made up your work, you will not be allowed to go on the trip. In the event that you make up your work in
advance and are not permitted to attend the event, you must attend your regular
classes.
2.
Absence from school the day of an after-school or evening performance or
activity:
If you are absent from school for any portion of
the day of an after-school or evening performance or activity, you may not
attend or participate in that activity if it is an activity away from
home. For activities that occur at
home, morning absences will be excused as long as the student is back by his or
her afternoon classes. The building principal or athletic director, in
consult with the coach or advisor, may waive the above. Pre-arranged appointments, (i.e.
orthodontics, dental, etc.) are not included.
II.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE:
Unexcused absences are those that do not come
under any of the definitions of excused absences. The first unexcused absence of only one
period will result in two hours of after-school detention. The second single period unexcused absence or
absences of two or more periods in a single day will be considered the same as
a full day unexcused absence and will result in a pink slip. A student who receives an unexcused absence
will not be allowed to make up work in classes missed and will receive a pink
slip.
1.
Truancy: In all instances where a student
is in violation of the compulsory attendance laws, the truant will be reported
to legal authorities as prescribed by state law (MCA: 20-5-106 and
41-5-103). The principal will:
a.
Ask the
county attorney to impose prosecution under the truancy laws,
b. Refer the youth to the Department of Public
Health and Human Services - Child and Family Service Division for possible action
to determine if the student is a youth in need of care.
c. Refer the student to the truant officer for
appropriate legal assistance under Montana Law.
d.
As
necessary, meet with appropriate personnel to discuss solutions to the pupil's
truancy.
III.
TARDY RULES:
Promptness
to class is extremely important.
Students are expected to be in their classrooms, ready to work, at the bell. Students who miss over one-half of a
period will be entered as absent rather than tardy for that period. Students will be allowed a maximum of four
tardies per quarter. At three tardies,
parents will be notified in writing.
With a fourth tardy, the student will receive a verbal warning. No tardies are excused but penalties are not assessed until the fifth
tardy. Beginning
with the fifth tardy, the student will receive Saturday school from 8:00 a.m.
until 12:00 p.m. on a selected Saturday(s).
Students who miss Saturday school will be assigned a pink slip with the
attendant penalties. On tardies #6, 7, 8
and 9, one hour of after school detention will be assigned for EACH of these
four tardies. On a student’s tenth tardy
in a quarter, the student will be issued a pink slip. An additional pink slip will be issued if a
student receives his or her fifteenth tardy during a quarter. A student will receive an additional two
hours of after school detention on tardies #11-14 of that quarter. When a quarter ends, so does tardy
accumulation. Each student starts each
quarter with zero tardies. Teachers will inform students when they are late
for class.
IV.
EXCESSIVE ABSENCE - 10 day rule: Since
attendance in school is paramount to realizing the utmost of one's education,
the school district will utilize every effort to keep students in school. The intent of the 10-day rule is to call to
the attention of parents and students the importance of class attendance and
provide for greater student accountability, not to punish students who have
legitimate absences approved beforehand by the parent or school. Students who are absent from any class for
more than ten days in a semester may not receive credit in the class. There may
be mitigating circumstances for which the principal is advised to use
discretion when working with a student’s attendance. For clarification purposes, all absence types
count towards the 10 day limit except for the following absence types:
1.
School-approved
activity-related absences.
2.
Professional
and medically related absences with proper documentation (i.e., medical
appointment slip).
3.
Family or
student emergencies or extended absences approved by the administration (i.e.,
bereavement, family trip).
4.
School
suspensions.
Students may appeal the ten (10) absences per semester limit. Those students whose attendance records are
free of truancies will be given special consideration in the appeal. Students are expected to attend class daily
regardless of their decision to appeal loss of credit. The appeal will be made to an appeal board. The appeal board will consist of the
principal, the counselor and one of the student's teachers. The student may choose the teacher to sit on
the appeal board. Decisions of the
appeal board will be rendered within one school day of the hearing. If any of the parties (student or parent) are
dissatisfied with the appeal board's decision, it may be appealed through the
Sidney Public School's Complaint Procedure starting at Level II.
The policy will be administered in the
following manner. Three different and
progressive attendance letters will be sent.
Letter 1. At seven
(7) absences, parents are informed that their son/daughter may lose credit if
10 absences are exceeded in any class.
Letter 2. At nine
(9) absences, students and parents will be notified that the 9th
absence has occurred in one or more class periods and the student has been
placed on attendance probation. An
immediate conference will be called between the middle school administrator,
parent and/or student to discuss the consequence of continued absence from
school.
Letter 3. At eleven
(11) absences in one or more class periods, parents will be notified and the
student may be denied credit for those classes pending an appeal initiated by
the student. If credit is denied
following the appeal, the student will be expected to remain in class in preparation
for material to be covered the following semester.
PINK SLIPS
Pink slips are issued for discipline infractions, unexcused absences,
excessive tardiness, and are cumulative within the school year they are issued
regardless of reason for issuance.
Parents are contacted when pink slips are issued. Depending on the severity of the offense, the
first pink slip will usually result in a one-day in-school
suspension. The second pink slip will
result in a three-day in-school suspension.
A third pink slip will result in suspension from school until the school
board can meet to consider the case. For infractions of an academic nature
(i.e., cheating, skipping school, tardiness), a 2 % grade deduction will be
applied to quarter grades. During any
given quarter, the total maximum grade reduction for academic reasons to be
imposed will be a 5% deduction on quarter grades. In the event that a
student receives a pink slip, the principal will provide the student and parent
with:
1.
an oral or
written notice of charges;
2.
an oral or
written explanation of the evidence in support of the charges;
3.
an oral or
written explanation of the suspension which may be imposed;
4.
the
opportunity to present his/her explanations.
With the receipt of a third pink slip, the parent and student will be
provided with notice of the type of suspension¾not to exceed 10 days, notice of the
recommendation for expulsion, notice of the expulsion hearing procedures and
guidelines cited in Board policy, number 3300P.
A student may be expelled from school only by the Board, and only after
due process has been followed. In all cases, the student’s report card
will reflect which grades were reduced as a result of the student’s suspension.
SUSPENSIONS
Suspensions will be in or out-of-school. Suspension
offenses include all violations for which pink slips are issued. Work while on suspension can be made up.
However, a time limit equal to the length of suspension will be in effect.
Example: For a 3-day suspension, the
student will have 3 days to make up all work missed. In-school suspension work will be completed
while in suspension. Any work not made
up in that time will be recorded as a zero.
AUTHORIZED SEARCHES OF SCHOOL
PROPERTY (Policy 3231-3231p)
Searches and Seizure: To maintain order and security in the
schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of
school property and equipment, as well as of students and their personal
effects.
School Property and Equipment as well as Personal Effects Left There by
Students: School authorities may inspect and search
school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school (such as
lockers, desks, and parking lots), as well as personal effects left there by
the student, without notice or consent of the student. This applies to student vehicles parked on
school property or near school premises.
The Superintendent may request the assistance of law enforcement
officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots,
and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons or other
illegal or dangerous substances or material, including searches conducted
through the use of specially trained dogs.
Students: School authorities may search the student
and/or the student’s personal effects in the student’s possession when there is
reasonable ground for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the
particular student has violated or is violating the law or the District’s
student conduct rules. The search itself
must be conducted in a manner which is reasonable related to its objectives and
not excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the
nature of the infraction.
Seizure of Property: If a search produces evidence that the
student has violated or is violating either the law or the District’s policies
or rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities, and
disciplinary action may be taken. When
appropriate, such evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities.
TOBACCO
The possession or use of smoking or chewing tobacco, while on school
property or while under school supervision, will result in a pink slip and the
appropriate penalties. Since the law
forbids the possession or use of tobacco by persons 18 years of age or younger,
parents and local law enforcement officials will be notified. The cumulative policy concerning pink slips
applies in this case.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
The consumption, possession, or active promotion of the use of illicit
drugs or alcohol by students while under school supervision, or while attending
an activity in which Sidney schools are involved, is prohibited. The principal may administer a Breathalyzer
test when there is reasonable suspicion that school rules have been
violated. Refusal to take such a test
will result in a recommendation to the Board of Trustees that the student be
suspended. Being in the accompaniment of
peers using or in possession of illicit drugs or alcohol and making a conscious
decision to remain in this situation is also prohibited. Students who violate this rule will be placed
on a three-day, in-school suspension. In
all instances, law enforcement officials will be contacted and the student will
be turned over to law enforcement.
School officials will also contact parents during such occurrences. Students will also be suspended from
participation in extra-curricular activities for a quarter (45 school days) and
must attend group counseling. If the
offense occurs on an out-of-town trip, parents will be notified and the student
will be referred to local law enforcement.
Parents will be asked to pick up their child from law enforcement or to
make other arrangements for their return home.
A second violation of this rule during a school year will result in
suspension until the Board can meet to consider the case and suspension from
extra-curricular activities for one calendar year.
Sidney schools recognize that chemical dependency, both alcohol and
illicit drugs, is a treatable illness.
Health problems of youth are primarily the responsibility of the
home. Community and schools share in
that responsibility because chemical problems often interfere with behavior,
learning and the fullest possible development of each student.
Sidney Middle School, wishing to intervene early in the disease process,
will have personal contact with students, and the parents of students,
manifesting signs of misuse or abuse and make an effort to educate and aid
them.
DANGEROUS WEAPONS
No student in Sidney Middle School will knowingly possess, handle, carry,
or transmit any weapon or dangerous instrument in any school building, on
school grounds, in any school vehicle, or at any school sponsored
activity. Such weapons include, but
are not limited to, a firearm, a pellet or BB gun, a knife with a blade, or a belted sheath knife, a straight razor,
ice pick, explosive smoke bomb, incendiary device, slingshot, blowgun,
artificial knuckles, or any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon
or dangerous instrument whether by threatened or actual use.
GUNS OR FIREARMS
Any student who brings a firearm onto school property without authorization shall be suspended immediately. Parents and local law enforcement officials will be contacted. Students in violation of this policy will be expelled for a period of not less than one calendar year unless modified by the Board of Trustees.
GENERAL DISCIPLINE
In order for students to take advantage of available learning
opportunities and to be productive members of our school community, each
student is expected to: Respect Others, Respect Environment and Property,
Respect Yourself, and Respect Learning. In doing so, at Sidney Middle School,
each student will:
- Demonstrate courtesy, even when others do not.
- Behave in a responsible manner, exercising self-discipline.
- Attend all classes, regularly and on time.
- Prepare for each class; take appropriate materials and assignments to class.
- Meet District and building standards of grooming and dress.
- Obey all campus and classroom rules.
- Respect the rights and privileges of other students, teachers, and other District staff.
- Respect the property of others, including District property and facilities.
- Cooperate with or assist the school staff in maintaining safety, order and discipline.
- Avoid violations of the Discipline Policy below.
PROGRESSIVE
DISCIPLINE POLICY:
For the purpose of classification,
student classroom, hallway and bus misconduct will be classified into major and
minor incidents. The list is not all-inclusive
but should provide a guideline.
MINOR INCIDENT
Obscenity (verbal, written, gestures, etc.)
Disorderly conduct (classroom, lunchroom, halls, etc.)
Inappropriate dress
Inappropriate display of affection
Running in halls
Violating bus rules
Cheating
Inappropriate or unauthorized use of cell phone or other
electronic devices
Teachers will address the minor classroom incidents and
the school administrator will address those incidents that don’t occur in the
classroom. An Incident Report will be
filed in the office in all cases.
Extreme or repetitive cases of minor incidents will be referred to
administrative personnel and will be subject to the following action:
Progressive Discipline Referral Minimum
Disciplinary Action
1st referral (same
teacher/staff member) Level
I
2nd referral (same
teacher/staff member) Level
II
3rd referral (same
teacher/staff member) Level
III
Multiple referrals (different
teacher/staff members) Administrative Discretion
30 school days with NO incident will
result in a clean slate for the student if the disciplinary action has not
reached Level III.
MAJOR INCIDENT
Major incidents will be addressed by
administrative personnel and will be subject to the following action: