Schuylerville Middle School Student Handbook

Schuylerville Middle School oouurr YY ee eesstt!! BB BB 7- 1 8 0 1 2 0 2 Informational Guide for Schuylerville Middle School Students & Parents e Your Best! B Welcome to Schuylerville Middle School! We’d like to welcome you on this journey into the realm of exciting opportunities that await at Schuylerville Middle CORE VALUES School. And, of course, as an integral part of the Middle School Whether it’s the “Golden Rule” community, we invite you to provide feedback, suggestions and or another set of standards that may not be as well-defined, ev ideas for improving our school. eryone typically makes decisions and acts in ways that align with their values and beliefs. With this in mind, community mem bers, students, parents and Middle School Mission Statement staff members identified a set of core values that would become the driving force for decisions, Schuylerville Middle School is dedicated to creating behaviors and activities in the Middle School; the values also independent, confident and well-prepared adolescents by were used as a code of conduct was developed. meeting their physical, social, emotional and intellectual The common values were col lected using a survey and the re needs. sults were certainly interesting. Students felt that fun, kindness, fairness, trust and challenge With collaboration among administration, faculty and (pushing kids to be their best) were most important. Parents, staff, students, parents and the Schuylerville community, staff and community members identified the following values as we will foster independence for students to become top priorities: respect, account ability/responsibility, honesty/ problem-solvers, critical thinkers and respectful integrity, self-discipline/hard individuals with a strong work ethic. work and achievement. The ideas were merged and Schuy lerville Middle School now has the following core values: We value a commitment to a rich, challenging and Be Kind purposeful educational experience. We believe a team- w oriented approach in a safe, supportive environment Be Respectful w provides opportunities for students to achieve goals as Be Responsible life-long learners while successfully transitioning to high w school. Work Hard w Have Fun 2 Your Bes Be t! Using this Handbook and Student Planner This guidebook has been developed to give parents and students useful information that will help everyone navigate the middle school years with confidence and greater success. Hang on to this guide and you’ll probably find yourself coming back to it when questions or problems arise. If we left something out that would be useful for parents or students to know, please tell us so that we can include it in future handbooks. Please also keep in mind that the information contained in this guide is subject to change. Student Planners SERVE SEVERAL IMPORTANT PURPOSES AT • Parents can tell, quickly, whether or not students are SCHUYLERVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL! recording daily homework assignments. One of the biggest challenges students will face during their • Parents and teachers can arrange to communicate middle school years will come from an unexpected source. via the “notes” section on students’ agenda books. For It isn’t making the basketball team or having to memorize a example, when homework is a problem, teachers can long list of mathematical formulas. According to counselors record whether or not all homework was satisfactorily and teachers, it’s learning how to manage their time and stay completed for the week. organized. • “Pass pages” in the planners show how often students For the first time, all students are faced with having multiple are leaving class to go the bathroom, the library, an teachers, each with their own set of assignments and expec other classroom, etc. tations. Juggling these new academic relationships (not to mention their extracurricular activities and social lives) can be All students are issued a planner at the start of each overwhelming for some kids. Helping children learn to keep track school year and they are required to have it with them of their commitments will save them a lot frustration and will every day. put them on the road to success in school––and life! Talk with your children about how to use it and why. Sug Schuylerville Middle School planners are the perfect tool gest they open it at the beginning of each class and leave for helping students get organized and keep track of multiple it on their desk until they have written down their assign commitments and deadlines. These books are also an effec ments. Encourage them to review it before leaving school tive way for parents to learn about their child’s homework, to be sure they bring home the books and other materials communicate with teachers, etc. For example: they will need. COMMON PLANNER PITFALLS TO AVOID 1 NOT WRITING DOWN ASSIGNMENTS Guidance counselors at Schuylerville Middle School say this is a huge issue for students. Smart students get into the routine of copying down homework assignments from the board as soon as they enter the classroom. Unfortunately, many kids think they can trust their memories––and quickly get into trouble. 2 NOT BRINGING THE RIGHT THINGS HOME At the end of each day, students should refer to their student planners when packing books and other supplies for home. Again, memory is not always reliable! When kids create good routines and habits, their levels of responsibility increase. 3 Your Bes Be t! able of ontents T C UP FRONT COMMUNICATION Protecting Valuables ............................. 24 Welcome to Schuylerville Middle TOOLS Salute to the Flag .................................. 24 Study Hall Guidelines .......................... 24 School! ................................................. 2 Parent Portal ......................................... 11 Visitors .................................................. 25 Middle School Mission Statement ........ 2 Global Connect .................................... 11 Weapons in School ............................... 25 Core Values ............................................. 2 Parent Conferences .............................. 11 Working Papers .................................... 25 Using this Handbook & Planner ........... 3 District Website .................................... 11 Title IX & 504 Compliance .................. 31 Common Pitfalls to Avoid ..................... 3 Student Use of 10th Period .................. 11 MEALS & WHEELS CONTACTS & SCHOOL DISCIPLINE CALENDARS Food Service ......................................... 26 CODE Transportation ..................................... 26 Faculty & Staff by Department.............. 5 Preface ................................................... 12 Summary School Calendar .................... 6 Student Bill of Rights & Responsibilities .................................. 12 BULLYING: BACK TEAMING & TIMING Student Due Process Rights ................. 15 OFF...STEP UP! Student Rights & Responsibilities ....... 15 Bystanders: The Third Party to Faculty by Team ..................................... 7 Essential Community Partners ............ 15 Bullying .............................................. 27 Advantages of the Team Approach ........ 7 Disciplinary Schedule .......................... 17 Helping Your Child Take a Stand ........ 27 Schedule (Daily & Lunch) ..................... 7 Summary of Disciplinary Responses ... 21 Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Academic Restricted List...................... 22 Plain Language Summary ................. 28 ACADEMICS Annual Review ..................................... 22 Course Grades ........................................ 8 Annual Implementation Procedure .... 22 CO-CURRICULAR Homework .............................................. 8 ACTIVITIES Program of Studies ................................ 8 Art Club ................................................ 29 Honor Roll .............................................. 9 THIS & THAT Athletics ................................................ 23 Book Club ............................................. 29 Marking Periods & Report Cards .......... 9 Book Bags/Knapsacks .......................... 23 Drama Club .......................................... 29 Incompletes ............................................ 9 Change of Address or Telephone Environmental Club ............................ 29 Aim High Literacy Strategies ................. 9 Number .............................................. 23 FFA (Future Farmers of America) ....... 29 Computer/Equipment Acceptable Use FBLA (Future Business Leaders of PARENTAL Policies ............................................... 23 America .............................................. 29 INVOLVEMENT Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Chewing Individual Class Representation .......... 30 Tobacco .............................................. 23 Advice for Parents ................................ 10 Jazz Band .............................................. 30 Field Trips ............................................. 23 Homework Expectations ..................... 10 MathCounts ......................................... 30 Fire Alarms & Drills ............................. 23 National Jr. Honor Society .................. 30 Food & Beverages ................................. 23 Our Space Art & Literary Journal ....... 30 ATTENDANCE Harassment/Hazing/Bullying .............. 23 SADD (Students Against Destructive POLICIES Library .................................................. 24 Decisions) .........................................

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