Holten Richmond Middle School Student Handbook 2015 – 2016 55 Conant Street Danvers, MA 01923 (978) 774-8590 i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Danvers Public Schools Mission Statement …1 II. Holten Richmond Middle School Vision Statement …1 A. Holten Richmond Middle School – An Overview …1 III. Administrative Organization …2 A. Danvers Public Schools …2 School Committee …2 Central Office …2 Curriculum Directors …2 B. Holten Richmond Middle School Organization …2 IV. Standard Operating Procedures …3 A. Attendance …3-4 1. Absences / Illnesses …3 2. Absences / Family Vacations …3 3. Before And After School …3 4. ConnectEd …3 5. Excused From Physical Education …3 6. Dismissals, Medical & Dental Appointments …3-4 7. Make-Up Work …4 8. PowerSchool Attendance Codes …4 B. The School Day …4 C. Important School Dates And Announcements …4 D. After-School/Extra-Curricular Activities …5-6 E. After-School Help …6 F. Cafeteria …6-7 G. Cell Phones …7 H. Communication Protocol …7 I. Corridor Behavior …7 J. Dances and Social Events …7 K. Fire Drills and Evacuations …7 L. Lockdown Procedure …7 M. Field Trips …7 N. Grading …7-8 O. Grade Reporting …8 P. Guidance …8 Q. Homework …8-9 R. Lavatory Passes …9 S. Betty G. Allen Library …9 i T. Lockers …9 U. Lost And Found …9 V. Parent Advisory Council (PAC) …9 W. Promotion And Retention …9 X. Recognition Of Achievement …9-10 Y. Security …10 Z. School Council …10 AA. School Health / Medical Office …10 BB. School Store Hours …10 CC. Special Education /Student Services …10-12 1. Danvers SEPAC For Education And Special Needs …10-11 2. Student Services …11 3. Discipline Of Students With Special Needs …11-12 4. Section 504 Of The Rehabilitation Act Of 1973 …12 DD. Student Dress Code …12-13 EE. Tardiness …13 FF. Team Placement …13 GG. Textbooks And Equipment …13 HH. Transportation, Arrival And Departure Procedures …13-15 1. Arrival By Bicycle …13 2. Arrival By Bus …13-14 3. Behavior On Bus …14 4. Criminal Action …14 5. Arrival By Car …15 II. Visitors …15 V. Behavioral Expectations And Consequences …15-19 A. Code Of Conduct …15 B. Due Process …15 C. Time Out Process …15 D. Teacher Detention …15-16 E. Office Detention …16 F. Offences Resulting In Out Of School Suspension …16-17 G. Drugs And Alcohol …17 *Consequences For Drugs/Alcohol Violations …17 H. Bullying Policy …17-19 Bullying Prevention Program …18 1. Discrimination …19 2. Hazing …19 3. Libel …19 ii 4. Slander …19 I. Academic Integrity …19-20 J. Respect For The Facility …20 K. Assembly Behavior …20 VI. Appendices …21-31 A. Criminal Offender Records Information …21-22 B. Child Custody Policy …22 C. Civil Rights: Title IX And Chapter 622 …23 D. Policy For The Treatment And Care Of Students With Food Allergies …23 E. Drugs And Alcohol: Substance Abuse Policy …23-24 F. Hazing: An Act Prohibiting The Act Of Hazing …24-25 G. Medication Policy …25 H. Danvers Public Schools Internet Acceptable Use Policy …25-26 I. Parental Access To PowerSchool Acceptable Use Policy …26-27 J. Sex Education (Parental Notification) …27-28 K. Sexual Harassment Policy …28-30 L. Student Placement Policy …30 M. Concussion Policy …30-31 VII. Index …32 VIII. DPS 2015-2016 Calendar …33 IX. Sample Schedule …34 iii I. DANVERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT Through a commitment to individualized instruction, assessment, supervision and support, the Danvers Public Schools create a dynamic community of lifelong learners who are dedicated to intellectual and personal excellence and prepared to contribute to our global society. II. HOLTEN RICHMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT The Holten Richmond Middle School is a community of adults and adolescents committed to learning. Our school is built on four core values: Caring, Respect, Academic Excellence and Collaboration. Small teams of teachers and students nurture respectful relationships and foster intellectual, emotional, ethical, social and physical development. Our school challenges all students to use their minds well and realize their highest potential through a curriculum that emphasizes creativity, communication, problem solving and collaboration. The school community provides role models to inspire the pursuit of high standards and lifelong learning. All members of the Holten Richmond School community share in the responsibility of creating a learning environment where students can attain knowledge and skills to prepare for meaningful work and positive relationships. A. HOLTEN RICHMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL - OVERVIEW Our middle school encompasses grades six through eight and focuses on the learning needs of early adolescents. Emphasis is placed on academic success and acquisition of basic skills. Throughout the middle school years, students are supported in the development of their life-long learning and coping skills. The middle school program in Danvers utilizes the interdisciplinary team approach at each grade level. The staff is listed in teams at grade levels in this handbook so that you know how the instruction is organized. Three, four or five teachers instruct all the students in all the major curricular areas each day. The team of teachers serves the same group of students and therefore learns more about them in order to share and teach more effectively. Students on a specific team work exclusively with those teachers for all of the major subject areas. They also pursue exploratory courses such as art, computers, health, public speaking/drama, music, physical education, technology education and world languages with students from other teams. A middle school provides less structure than an elementary school, but more than a high school, for students at that “in-between age”. The purpose behind this team structure is to promote communication, coordination and cooperation among subject area specialists. Teachers work together to evenly incorporate all subjects for students. 1 III. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION A. DANVERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL COMMITTEE Eric Crane, Chair 13 Trinity Street (978) 777 - 8158 David Thomson, Secretary 9 Drummond Court (978) 774 - 1669 Jeffrey Kay 9 Congress Avenue (978) 777 - 6258 Connie Pawlak 60 Summer Street (978) 777 - 1255 Arthur Skarmeas 10 Thomas Road (978) 774 - 2661 CENTRAL OFFICE Lisa Dana Superintendent (978) 777 - 4539 Susan Ambrozavitch Assistant Superintendent (978) 777 - 4539 Keith Taverna Business Manager (978) 774 – 4800 CURRICULUM DIRECTORS Ellen Feerick (Interim) Holten Richmond Middle School (978) 774 - 8590 Peggy McElhinney Danvers High School (978) 777 - 8932 Mary Wermers K-12 Curriculum Director (978) 777 - 8932 Julie Posternack Elementary Curriculum Director (978) 777 - 8932 Mary Tatem Director of Student Services (978) 774 - 6112 Andrew St. Pierre Director of Athletics (978) 774 - 7133 B. HOLTEN RICHMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL ORGANIZATION OFFICE STAFF (978) 774 - 8590 Adam Federico Principal [email protected] Deborah Arno Assistant Principal [email protected] Julie Macdonald Assistant Principal [email protected] Kathleen Spinale Secretary to the Principal [email protected] Rachel Saggese Secretary to the Assistant Principals [email protected] Annamaria Piatelli Guidance Secretary [email protected] Amy Paganelli Office Aide [email protected] Janelle Moroney, R.N. School Nurse [email protected] Susan Rich, R.N. School Nurse [email protected] Cheryl Wermer Social Worker [email protected] Jill Weeks Guidance Counselor, 6th grade [email protected] Lindsay dos Santos Guidance Counselor, 7th grade [email protected] Christine Purcell Guidance Counselor, 8th grade [email protected] Amanda Diefenbacher School Psychologist [email protected] Officer Derek Colella School Resource Officer Danvers Police Department (978) 774-1213 2 IV. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES A. ATTENDANCE State law requires that students attend school. Danvers Public Schools expect its students to attend school all day, every day, except in instances of illness, death in the family, court appearances, religious holidays and/or family emergencies. There is no replacement for the instruction and interaction that takes place in the classroom. Documentation for excessive absences is required. Excessive absences may lead to Juvenile Court intervention through the CHINS process (Child In Need Of Services). 1. Absences / Illnesses Please notify the school office at 978-774-8590 if your child will be absent. We will call home to check on a student’s absence if we do not hear from you. After an absence, a signed note of explanation from the parent/guardian is required stating the date and reason for the absence. A physician’s certificate is required if the absence has been five or more consecutive days. Parents or guardians are asked to inform the school office whenever the student stays with another designated person for a period of time in the event of an emergency at school. STUDENTS WHO ARE ABSENT OR SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL MAY NOT ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL EVENTS ON THE SAME DAY UNLESS PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR DESIGNEE PRIOR TO THE ABSENCE. 2. Absences / Family Vacations THE DANVERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO NOT CONDONE OR ENCOURAGE FAMILY VACATIONS DURING SCHOOL TIME SINCE THERE ARE SPECIFIC VACATION PERIODS DESIGNATED A YEAR IN ADVANCE. In the event that it becomes necessary from the parent’s point of view to remove a student from school for an extended number of days, the parent is required to contact the principal in writing at least three weeks prior to the potential absence. A conference with the principal may be required. Make-up work will be given after the student returns from an absence and not before. Absence from class has a negative impact on a student’s learning and may place the student in academic jeopardy. 3. Before and After School Students are not to arrive at school before 7:00 a.m. each morning. Students in grade 6 & 7 should report to the gymnasium upon arrival. Students in grade 8 should report to cafeteria A or B upon arrival. Hats are to be removed upon entering the building.