Student Handbook

-A-

Affirmative Action Policy

Attendance/Dismissal

Assemblies

 

-B-

Building Use

 

-C-

Community Services

 

-D-

Dances/Socials

Detention

Discipline Procedures

Dress/Clothing Guidelines

Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Policy

 

-E-

Electronic Devices

Emergency Information

Extra Curricular Activities

-G-

Grading System

 

-H-

Harassment Policy

Health/Medicine

Homework

Honor Roll

 

-L-

Lockers and Personal Belongings

 

-M-

Make-Up Assignments

 

-P-

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

Peer Mediation

Pets

Physical Education Attire

Progress Reports

-R-

Rank Cards

 

-S-

School Cancellation

School Delay

School Lunch

School Newsletter(s)

SeDoMoCha Counseling Services

 

-T-

Tardiness

Telephone

Trimesters

 

-V-

Visitors

Volunteers

Affirmative Action Policy

It is the policy of MSAD 68 and SeDoMoCha to ensure equal employment and educational opportunities and affirmative action regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, handicap, or religion in accordance with all federal and state laws and regulations relative to discrimination.  Sexual harassment is recognized as a form of sexual discrimination.

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Attendance/Dismissal

Students are expected to be in school except for the following reasons, which are excusable by law:

1. Illness

2. Appointments

3. Religious holidays

4. Emergency family situations

5. Approved planned absences for personal or educational reasons.

Students who have been absent from school must present a note from their parent or guardian to the main office upon returning to school (a doctor's note may be required).  Students are asked to be on time for each school day.  Tardiness creates a disruption in the educational process.  Regular unexcused tardiness will lead to disciplinary action.  If students are tardy, they must bring a note from their parent or guardian stating the reason.  Students must go to the office, sign in, and receive a pass to go to class.  If it is necessary for students to leave school early, they must have written permission to do so from their parent or guardian and they must sign out in the office.  Students who are going to have a planned absence (a family trip) should notify the office and all teachers at least a week in advance of leaving.  Students are responsible for making up all work they miss while absent for any reason.  Please note that all students must be present during the day in order to attend any after-school or evening event such as athletic contests or dances.  Excessive unexcused absences, known as truancy, is a very serious matter.  This situation will be brought to the Superintendent's attention.

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Assemblies

Students will have the opportunity to attend several assemblies throughout the year.  Students are expected to behave appropriately during assemblies.

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Building Use

Public organizations may submit requests to use the school's facilities to host events.  The appropriate paperwork may be obtained in the school's main office.  In certain circumstances, a nominal fee may be charged, and for larger events where a custodial presence is required, organizations will be required to pay for custodial support.  The final decision on Building Use will be made at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.

Community Services

The following agencies provide services in the MSAD 68 area:

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Dances/Socials

Periodically, the school will sponsor dances and other social events for students.  These events are considered a privilege.  Certain events will be offered to different grade levels as deemed appropriate by staff and administration.  Parents and guardians, as always, have final say as to whether an activity is appropriate for a particular student.  Dances will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Students will remain in the lobby/cafeteria/gym area and will not be allowed to leave the building without signing out.  Parents are asked to have transportation available promptly at 10:00 p.m. for pickup.  Students should understand that all rules are in effect at school functions the same as they are during the regular school day.  The following guidelines will be followed:

1. Students will conduct themselves in an orderly manner at all times.

2. Students who leave the building will not be allowed back into the dance.  If a student is an out-of-town student, he/she will be allowed to call home for transportation (collect), and may wait in the office until transportation arrives.

3. Sitting on each others' laps and/or kissing will not be condoned.

4. Behavior problems will be reported to the principal for further action.

5. If a student is absent from school on the day of the scheduled dance, he/she may not attend without permission from the principal.

6. All dances and social events are for SeDoMoCha students only.

7. Students who have had an in-school or out-of-school suspension during the period leading up to a dance will not be eligible to attend.  Students who demonstrate appropriate behavior in school from one dance to the next will be allowed to attend regardless of prior suspensions.

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Detention

Students may be required to remain after school for detention.  Twenty-four hours notice will be given for students, unless other arrangements have been made with parents.  Pupils kept after school must stay in a room where there is a teacher in charge.  Office detentions will be served in a central location on Tuesdays and Thursdays for behavior problems that occur outside of the regular classroom setting.

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Discipline Procedures

In order to have SeDoMoCha be a place where everyone feels SAFE and in order to have an appropriate learning environment, certain rules must be followed.  Students who choose not to follow the rules will face consequences for their actions.  People are encouraged to solve problems at the lowest possible level.

Following are guidelines that will be used to determine the appropriate disciplinary course of action in each case.  These are merely guidelines used in an attempt to have consistency.  Administration reserves the right to look at each instance individually and to use other disciplinary actions when deemed appropriate.

SMS: Organizing Red, Orange, & Yellow Behaviors (Bullying)

*Yellow Behaviors:

shunning/ignoring, chair kicking, making fun about fashion sense or clothes, telling lies about each other, disrespecting ideas of others, ordering people out of seats, exclusion during sports events, sarcastic remarks, swearing (in frustration), starting or spreading rumors about others/gossiping, moving personal property of others, saving seats, stepping on heels, lying, laughing/jeering at others, making fun of a family member, refusal to work with another student, poking/bumping, blocking, name-calling, glaring/staring, taking backpack, taking hat, knocking items away from people, shoving, invading personal space, hair pulling, exclusion at recess

*Orange Behaviors:

spitting, throwing objects at others, spraying perfume on others, locking students out, getting into others lockers, messing with drinks & food, asking to/forced to cheat off homework, back talking, cheating, defacing photos, pictures/taking photos, tripping, pushing, wedgies

* Red Behaviors:

fighting, biting, threats, destroying property, writing on walls about others, slapping, punching, stepping on back of someone’s shoe, touching someone’s private parts, bag tagging, breaking, stealing, or re-locating other’s items, swearing at others, accessing others’ electronic files,  cyber harassment—e-mail, stickies, cyber-notes, cell phone/texting, instant messaging, creating a ‘slam’ site, vandalism, physically abusive games, wiping bodily fluids on others, threatening gestures, “tit” twisters, stalking/following, “fake” sexual manipulations, inappropriate clothing, sexual harassment, stealing, pulling out a chair from a person, destroying work of another student, stabbing with pencils, spit balls

Notes: After the third offense, school, staff, parents & student work to develop an individualized rubric

More severe consequences than those on the rubric will result from severe behaviors that threaten the safety of others, at the discretion of administrator. The school will call the police if, in the administrator’s judgment, students’ aggressive behavior may have broken the law.

“Classes-only” means that a student attends classes but has no unstructured informal times with peers during the school day or in after-school activities, including sports.

Removal from Class:

Students who are disrupting the classroom environment will be sent to the office. This action is not taken lightly, but one student will not be allowed to ruin the classroom experiences of others. The general procedure for handling classroom issues is as follows:

1. The teacher will address negative behaviors by reiterating his/her expectations and why the behavior is not acceptable. Conversations will be done privately.

2. For the second offense, the teacher will again address the behavior. If necessary, a Classroom Detention will be assigned. A follow-up call home will also be made.

3. For the third offense, the students will receive an Office Referral.

4. All subsequent offenses will earn the student an Office Referral.

5. Once the student earns THREE Office Referrals, a Saturday Detention may be assigned. Students receiving a Saturday Detention will report to school on the assigned date and will work on school-related activities from 8-12. Removal from Saturday Detention will result in a TWO-DAY Out-of-School Suspension starting the following Monday.

6. The FOURTH Office Referral will earn the student an Out-of-School Suspension (OSS). Before returning from any OSS, the student and his mother/father will be required to attend a Mandatory Parent Conference (MPC).

7. The next Office Referral (FIFTH) will earn the student a Three-Day OSS. Before returning, the student and his/her mother/father will be required to attend an MPC with the Superintendent of Schools where next steps will be determined.

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Dress/Clothing Guidelines

A student may not remain in the classroom dressed in a manner that:

• creates a safety hazard for said student and for other students,

• constitutes a serious or unnecessary distraction to the learning process,

• tends to disrupt the school order, or

• is in conflict with the district's goals and philosophy for the prevention of substance abuse and gang activity.

Parents have the primary responsibility to see that students are properly attired for school.  School personnel have the responsibility for maintaining proper and appropriate conditions conducive to learning.

As examples to further explain inappropriate attire:

• Hats and caps should not be worn in buildings.  Bandanas, hair nets, or other types of head coverings are not allowed.

• Clothing that advocates or advertises any type of alcohol, weapon, drugs, or acts which are illegal, obscene, or hazardous to one's health is not allowed.

• Clothing which is sexually suggestive or extremely brief such as low-cut garments, strapless or off-the-shoulder tops, bare midriffs, tank tops, torn garments, shorts or skirts exposing posterior or that do not cover undergarments is not allowed.

• Proper footwear must be worn at all times for safety reasons.  Attire, including clothing, jewelry, and other accessories which are a safety hazard to the wearer or others is not allowed, e.g., excessively baggy pants, rings with sharp edges, chains.

• Pajamas should not be worn in the school setting.

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Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Policy

Any student found in possession of tobacco, drugs, drug paraphernalia, and/or alcohol or found to have used tobacco, drugs, or alcohol prior to arriving at school, during the school day, or at any school function will be suspended from school for up to ten (10) days at the discretion of the principal.  In addition, participation in any school-sponsored club, extra curricular activity, or team will result in suspension for the remainder of the season or nine-week period, whichever is greater.  If a law is broken, the appropriate authorities will be notified.  In all instances, parents/guardians will be informed.

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Electronic Devices

Electronic devices such as personal stereos, CD players, cell phones, video games, etc., are not allowed at school.  These items can be distracting to the learning process; they also lead to problems when lost, damaged or stolen.  Such devices will be taken from students and may be picked up in the office by parents.

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Emergency Information

Parents need to supply the school with emergency numbers, after-school arrangements, and hospital/doctor preferences.  Parents are advised to notify the office of moves, changes of home or emergency telephone numbers, and/or places of employment.  This information is of critical importance when we need to contact parents about their child due to injury, sickness, or educational progress.  In case of any school-wide emergency situation or crisis, please tune to WDME (FM 103.1) for emergency information.

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Extra Curricular Activities

Students will have the opportunity to attend many school events before or after normal school hours.  Acceptable school behavior is required while attending any school-sponsored event.  A variety of extra curricular activities are offered each year, including academic, cultural, and sports activities.

Fifth-graders are only eligible for participation in Cross Country, Wrestling, Track, Drama and clubs.

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Grading System

GPA	Equivalent
3.6 - 4.0	Exceeds the Standard
2.6 - 3.5	Meets the Standard
1.6 - 2.5	Partially Meets the Standard
0 - 1.5	Does Not Meet the Standard

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Harassment Policy

SeDoMoCha policy recognizes the right of each employee and student to a working and learning atmosphere which is free of intimidation, hostility, and offensiveness.  In order to ensure such an atmosphere, employees and students are not to engage in harassment of any other person.  Acts of harassment based on race, color, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, or disability are not only a violation of this policy, but also constitute illegal discrimination under state and federal laws.  Examples of prohibited harassment include:

1. unwelcome sexual advances, gestures, comments, or contact,

2. threats,

3. offensive jokes,

4. ridicule, slurs, derogatory actions or remarks,

5. basing employment decision or academic decisions affecting students on practices of submission to harassment.

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Health/Medicine

State law now requires that all students in grades K-12 be immunized against polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, and rubella.  Students may be excused for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons.  Questions should be directed to the school nurse.

Students suspected of having certain communicable diseases will be excluded from school until such time as it is determined that the disease is no longer contagious.  Parents will be notified immediately and asked to take their child home or to a doctor.

All medications must be given to the school nurse or the school office.  Non-prescription medications/short-term prescriptions should be placed in a sealed envelope or container with your child's name, type of medication, dosage, and instructions.  Medication forms are available at school.  A written request from parents/guardians is required for medications to be given to students.  This includes Tylenol.  Prescription medications that need to be given for longer than two weeks must be sent in the current prescription container with the student's name, medication, special instructions, and doctor's name.  Written requests are required for medication to be given.  A physician's signed request that the school district comply with the written medical order, dated for the current year, is also required.  On request, your pharmacist will provide a second bottle with the required information for parents to bring necessary medication to school.

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Homework

Homework will be assigned to students at the discretion of the classroom teacher.  Students are expected to complete all homework assignments on time.  Homework is a very important part of the learning process and reinforces class work.  Consequences for late homework will be addressed by individual teachers.

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Honor Roll

Students whose academic performance meets the following criteria will be eligible for "honor roll" status:

High Honors:  GPA of 3.2 or above for all subjects; this is the average of all "overall achievement" scores in each subject.  The student must also have no "overall achievement" scores below a 2.8.

 

Honors:          GPA of 2.8 or above for all subjects; this is the average of all "overall achievement" scores in each subject.  The student must also have no "overall achievement" scores below a 2.6.

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Lockers and Personal Belongings

Lockers are issued to students at the beginning of the year.  Lockers are the sole property of MSAD 68 and may randomly be searched at any time.  Students wishing to put a padlock on their locker may purchase the lock from school at a cost of $6.00.  These locks are all keyed alike in case school personnel must open the locker for any reason.  The locks become the property of the student.  Students are responsible for keeping their lockers clean both inside and out.  All personal belongings such as gym clothing, books, etc. should be labeled with the student's name.  Jackets, coats, and bookbags are to be stored in the locker during the day.  Students should use time at the beginning of school, ten minute break, and midday to get books and materials needed for class.

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Make-Up Assignments

Students will be allowed two school days for each school day missed to complete any work missed due to an excused absence.  Teachers may use discretion in making other arrangements as they deem necessary.  Students will be held accountable for work missed due to suspension, vacation, or extended absences.

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Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

Conferences are scheduled for the fall and spring of each year.  These are conducted in a "Student Led" format and are designed to bring the parent/guardian and student together to share strategies and plan for each student's education.

Parents who would like to meet with teachers or teams of teachers are welcome to call at any time during the school year to schedule an appointment.

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Peer Mediation

Students of SeDoMoCha Middle School have the option of resolving disputes with the help of their peers through the SeDoMoCha Peer Mediation Program.  Information and access can be obtained through mediators, the school guidance counselor or any member of the school staff.

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Pets

As a general rule, students should not bring pets to school.  In fairness to everyone involved (especially the animals), pets are best left at home.

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Physical Education Attire

Clothing for Physical Education should be non-restrictive, for example, shorts, sweatpants, t-shirts, jerseys, or sweatshirts.  Sneakers and socks are mandatory.  Clothing worn to school cannot be worn during physical education class.

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Progress Reports

Mid-term progress reports may be sent to parents of students at the midpoint of the marking period.  Progress reports must be signed by parents/guardians and returned to the teacher.

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Rank Cards

Rank cards will be sent home the Friday following the end of a ranking period.

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School Cancellation

If it is necessary to cancel school, announcements will be made before 6:00 a.m. The following list of radio and television stations will be used to communicate with the public concerning school delays, cancellations and early dismissals. 

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School Delay

If conditions warrant a delayed opening of school, the following procedure will be used:

1. All buses will run 2 hours later than usual.

2. Classes in all schools will start 2 hours later than usual.

3. Classes at all schools will dismiss at the usual time.

4. Announcements on the radio and television stations will be made by 6:00 a.m., provided the stations can be contacted.

5. If cancellation becomes necessary after the delay, announcements will be made by 7:30 a.m.

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School Lunch

SeDoMoCha offers a class "A" food service program.  At the beginning of each year, parents may apply for free or reduced rates.  Income guidelines for eligibility are established by the federal government.  If at any time during the school year a family feels it is eligible for free or reduce-price lunches, an application may be submitted to the school.  Each family who applies will be notified as to whether or not it qualifies.  If the application is rejected, the family may appeal the decision.

Lunches are purchased on the first day of the week in the cafeteria.  Students need to inform their advisors if they are ordering lunch on a daily basis so that the food service department has an accurate count for lunch preparation.  SeDoMoCha also offers an "a la carte" lunch where students may purchase a variety of items.

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School Newsletter(s)

Each Friday, the "Eagle Update", containing remainders of school news and events, will be sent home with each student.

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SeDoMoCha Counseling Services

SeDoMoCha Middle School offers in-house initial intake, assessment and referral services for all students, staff and their families who are experiencing difficulty in their lives.  These services can be accessed by contacting the school guidance counselor.

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Tardy Procedures

1. When a student is absent, s/he is expected to bring an excuse from home on the day s/he returns to school.  The excuse must be turned in to the homeroom teacher or to the main office.

2. The note must contain the reason for the absence with a parent signature.

3. The teacher and student should work together to insure that all missed work is completed within a reasonable amount of time.

4. Contact between a teacher and home is encouraged when a student is absent for a long period of time or accumulates more than five (5) days of absence during any one trimester.

5. A student who arrives late to school will not be admitted to class without a pass from the office.

6. Students who are tardy are expected to be signed in by a parent and/or bring in a note explaining the tardiness as legitimate.  Students who accumulate absences are in jeopardy of disciplinary action.

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Telephone

The office telephone is a business phone and should be used by students for emergencies only.  A public pay phone is located in the gym lobby.

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Trimesters

At SMS, there are three ranking periods called trimesters.  At the mid-point of each trimester, a progress report will be mailed home outlining each student's progress in all subject areas.  These progress reports are to be signed and sent back to school as such communication between home and school is vital to each student's success.

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Visitors

All visitors, including family members, must report to the office upon arriving at school.  Students will be dismissed only through the office.

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Volunteers

Parents, and others that wish to volunteer to help the school, are encouraged to do so.  Each grade level team will be assigned a parent volunteer coordinator in the fall.  We are very thankful for all the hard work that our volunteers do, and highly encourage participation in this effort.

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