A Letter from Your Principal: Bob Simpson

A Letter from Your Principal

Dear Students,

We at Southern Boone Middle School are looking forward to working with you during this school year. The mission for our district is “Excellence in Education for All!” This mission applies to our students, teachers, and everyone involved in our school system. As you approach the coming school year, it is our hope that our students and staff will work together to achieve this goal.

Southern Boone County R-1 holds the expectation that its students will strive to be safe, responsible, and respectful learners. These expectations guide this handbook and guide our classrooms procedures. They provide the framework for each of us to achieve to our potential. Thepolicies, guidelines, and procedures in placeexist to ensure that we havea safe atmosphere conducive to learning

This handbook serves as a guideline for students and parents to help them understand the proceduresat Southern Boone County Middle School. Please read them and review them with your parents/guardians so that you each have an understanding of what is expected. We want you to have the best learning opportunities possible and to have a tremendous experience in middle school.

Respectfully,

Kevin Kiley,

Middle School Principal

Travel Release

I give my consent for this student to represent Southern Boone County R-1 Middle School on activity trips without holding Southern Boone County R-1 Schools or trip sponsors responsible in case of accident or injury.

I give permission for accompanying sponsors to provide or cause to be provided any emergency medical attention as deemed necessary. I understand that I will be notified in the event of any emergency situation as quickly as possible.

This permission and authorization is valid for the period of August 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014.

______

Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature

Date______

Southern Boone County R-1 Student Handbook

2013-2014School Year

Documentation Form

Print Student’s Name______

I have received and read the SoBoCo and Extracurricular Handbook.

______

Signature of Student

Date______

Please sign and return this form to the Principal’s Office within the first week of school.

Table of Contents

1

1

Academic Dishonesty 4

Accidents/Injuries 4

Assemblies 4

Attendance 4

Bells 3

Bus Conduct 5

Care of School Property 5

Cell Phones, Pagers 6

Charges & Fines 6

Conference Hours 6

Contacting of Students 6

Corporal Punishment 6

Course Changes 6

Detention 6

Distribution of Student

Publications 6

Dress Code 9

Early Departure 9

Enrollment/Suspended 10 Excessive Absences10

Field Trips10

Food Services11

General Health Information11 Guidance & Counseling12

Hall Procedures12

Health Services12 Home Work Guidelines13 Honor Roll 13

In-school Suspension13

Interruption of Classes14

Lockers14

Lunchroom Procedures14

Make-up Work/Extracurricular14

Media Center14

Medications15

Mentor/Volunteer Program15

No Child Left Behind15

NCLB Complaint Procedure16

Notice of Non-Discrimination18

Parent’s Right to Know19

PIRC Notice19

Procedure for Grievances20

Progress Reports21

Publications21

Public Notice 21

Public Display of Affection 22

Pupil Information22

Reading Below Grade Level23

Safety23

School Violence Hotline23

School Visitors 23

School Parties-Dances23

Search of Students 24

School Activity Program24

Special Dietary Request24

Special Services24

Standard Complaint Resolution25

Statewide Assessment26

Student Admission Policy26

Student Alcohol/Drug Abuse26

Student Conduct Code27

Student Discipline27

Student Due Process32

Student Educational Records34

Student Activity Expectations35

Student Fund Raising35

Suspension & Expulsions35

Tampering with Computers36

Tardies36

Teacher/Staff Authority36

Telephone Calls37

Title IX37

Tutoring & remediation37

Use of Pictures/Web37

Videotaping of Classroom37

Walkmans, MP3’s, CD’s38

Withdrawal From School38

ZAP Policy38

1

Bell Schedule: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

4th hour/lunch IN DETAIL:

6th grade LUNCH:(11:15 – 11:47)

7th /8th grade LUNCH:(12:14 – 12:41)

Wednesday Compressed Schedule

1st hour 8:45-9:33 (48 minutes)

2nd hour 9:37-10:25 (48 minutes)

3rd hour 10:29-11:17 (48 minutes)

Lunch & 4th hour -3rd hour students return and continue in class learning, time depending on grade level.

5th hour is regular time

6th hour is regular time

7th hour is regular time

8th hour is regular time

Monday: Seminar; student’s bring planners, write assignments out for the week.

Tuesday: PBIS Lesson

Thursday & Friday: Flexible time; students can visit the teachers they need to see in their grade level with a pass.

Regular Day has a daily 20 minute intervention before lunch or after lunch. Advisory is in the morning during first hour.

On late start days there is no intervention and no advisory. Students are encouraged to come to school at the regular time and use the study hall teachers for intervention help.

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty runs the gamut from copying

homework to cheating on final exams and plagiarizing written reports. Students and faculty share responsibility to see that high standards of academic integrity are upheld. All school work should be only the individual’s actual work. Violation may result in a loss of credit along with further disciplinary actions. Cheating includes copying homework, sharing lab reports, copying of computer programs, sharing answers on a test, allowing others to use your work, using another person to write your papers, plagiarism, cheat sheets, electronic devices, and/or cell phones, etc.

Accidents/Injuries

If an accident occurs at school, first aid is given as soon as possible. The home is contacted next by the nurse, teacher, or principal if necessary. In a serious accident or emergency when the parent cannot be reached, the child will be taken to the emergency room or doctor of choice listed on the enrollment health form filled out at the beginning of the year. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING EMERGENCY NUMBERS CURRENT.

Assemblies:

School assemblies are considered to be an integral part of the curricular program. Assemblies may be used to encourage student performance, disseminate information to the student body, or to bring in outside speakers. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which reflects safe, respectful, responsible learning.

Attendance:

Attendance is a significant factor in achieving success at school. When a student is absent from class, it is impossible to recreate the situation that existed during the absence. No amount of make-up work can take the place of the classroom. For this reason, it is essential that each student be in class every day possible. Employers cannot allow chronic absenteeism from their workers regardless of the excuses. Jobs need to be done and accomplished with an element of quality. It is relevant that our schools teach our young people good work ethics.

If the student should miss school for any reason not covered under excused absences, the absence shall be considered unexcused, and he/she may not be allowed to makeup work. All total absences (excused or unexcused) are subject to the following procedures:

At or after first (5) absences for any reason, the parent shall receive a letter from the school notifying them of the student’s absences.

At or after ten (10) absences, parent shall receive a letter and/or a phone call from the principal notifying them of the student’s absences and reminding them of the attendance policy.

At and after fifteen (15) absences from school, the parent will receive a letter from the principal notifying them of his actions and referring the student to the Juvenile Office to request a review of the child’s truancy. This will include all excused and unexcused absences. Any such determination for truancy will be made by the Boone County Juvenile Office. Family vacations during the school year are also included. Each additional five (5) absencesmay again be referred to the Juvenile Office for consideration of truancy.

Excused absences:

1. Court appearances

2. Doctor/dentist appointment

3. Driver license exam

4. Funerals

5. Illness – requires note or telephone call from parents

6. Pre-arranged vacation

7. Cases specifically approved by the building principal

Students must be allowed to make-up assignments and tests in as many class periods as missed. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange a time with the teacher to complete missed work and tests.

Procedure to Follow When Absent

1. The parents/guardians of students who are absent on any given day must either send a note or call and notify the school of such absences. Students who are absent will receive an unexcused absence until a note or telephone call is received.

2. Students with medical appointments should bring a written excuse from their doctor/dentist when they return.

3. No student is to leave school without first coming to the principal’s office for permission. In case of illness, the parents will be contacted before a student will be permitted to go home.

4. Students must be in school all periods on the day of an activity before they will be allowed to participate in or attend such activity. A student may be allowed to participate in scheduled school activities if the absence is the result of the student:

a. attending a funeral or,

b. attending a doctor or dentist appointment and a note from the doctor/dentist accompanies the student’s return to school or,

c. attending a mandated court appearance and proof of that appearance is given to the building administrator or,

d. making arrangements with the building administrator prior to the absence.

5. A student may receive zeros for each day that is unexcused.

Bus Conduct Policy:

In order to insure the safety of every student that rides a school bus at Southern Boone County Schools, the following policy will be in effect:

1. At the beginning of each year and periodically throughout the year, the bus rules will be discussed with the students.

2. When misbehavior occurs, a bus conduct notice will be written. This notice will be given to the school administration. The parent will be notified of this warning.

3. The second time the driver issues a written conduct notice for the same student, the student will be suspended from riding the bus for one school day. The parents will be notified of this suspension by phone and/or mail.

4. Subsequent written conduct notices will increase the suspension time to three days for the third violation and ten days or more for the fourth and future violations.

* Only children of the authorized group may ride the bus unless permission is obtained through administration.

*Students may be released from a field trip or sporting event only to the child’s parent with prior written, approved permission from the parent.

*No middle school students may ride to or from school on regular routes within one mile of the middle school building.

Care Of School Property By Students:

Students are expected to take reasonable care of school property. Students shall pay for books, school supplies, school equipment, or other school property lost or damaged beyond ordinary wear and tear. Any student who carelessly or intentionally defaces or damages school property shall be required to pay for all damages, and may be subject to additional disciplinary action. According to state law, parents/guardians of juveniles under the age of 18 are responsible for vandalism, loss or damage caused by their children, up to the amount of $2,000.

Cell Phones, Pagers and Any Other Communication Devices:

Cell phones, pagers, and any other communication devices are not to be seen or heard during school hours. Any device that is seen or heard during school hours will be confiscated and given to the principal, no exceptions.

First offense: Confiscation of phone, student may pick up at the end of the day

Second offense: Confiscation of phone, a parent will be required to pick up the phone

Subsequent offenses: Confiscation of phone, a parent will be required to pick up the phone, one hour after-school-detention issued

**No cameras and/or camera phones will be permitted into locker rooms/restrooms during the school day and/or extra curricular events. Malicious inappropriate use of such devices will result in disciplinary action.

Violation of Policy: Confiscation of item, student/parent conference, detention, in-school-suspension, 1-180 days out-of-school suspension.

Charges and Fines:

Any student with outstanding debts due to fines or charges will not receive their report cards nor have records sent to any institution until debts are paid in full.

Conference Hours:

During teacher conference hours, teachers are available to meet with parents or students as a team or individually by appointment. Parents should notify the office upon arrival at school.

Contacting Of Students:

If there is a need to get an important message to a student, call the building level office and effort will be made to contact the student. To restrict interruptions to class, messages will be delivered at the end of the hour and end of the instructional day. Please DO NOT call or text you child’s cell phone during school hours.

Corporal Punishment:

No person employed by or volunteering on behalf of the district shall administer or cause to be administered corporal punishment upon a student attending the district schools. A staff member may, however, use reasonable physical force against a student without advance notice to the principal, if it is essential for self-defense, the preservation of order, or for the protection of other persons or the property of the school district.

Course Changes:

Any student wishing to petition out of a course must do so within two (2) weeks after the semester has begun. Any course changes after that time are strongly discouraged and are only permitted with special permission from the administration.

Detentions:

Students may be assigned before or after school detention by classroom teachers or administration for minor infractions of classroom rules. Students need to check with the teacher or administrator before serving their detention. Students who miss an assigned detention (after school) may be assigned additional punishment.

Distribution Of Non-Curricular Student Publications:

Guidelines

Students may distribute, at reasonable time and places, unofficial written material, petitions, buttons, badges, or other insignia, except expressions which:

1. Are obscene to minors;

2. Are libelous;

3. Are pervasively indecent or vulgar (secondary schools) or contain any indecent or vulgar language (elementary schools);

4. Advertise any product or service not permitted to minors by law;

5. Constitute insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses other people (e.g., threats of violence, defamation of character or of a person’s race, religion or ethnic origin);

6. Present a clear and present likelihood that, either because of their content or their manner of distribution, will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities, will cause the commission of unlawful acts or the violation of lawful school regulations. Distribution on school premises of material in categories (1) through (4) to any student is prohibited. Distribution on school premises of material in categories (5) and (6) to a substantial number of students is prohibited.

Procedures

Anyone wishing to distribute unofficial written material must first submit for approval a copy of the material to the principal or his or her secretary 24 hours in advance of desired distribution time, together with the following information:

1. Name and phone number of the person submitting the request;

2. Date(s) and time(s) of the day of intended display or distribution;

3. Location where material will be displayed or distributed;

4. The grades(s) of students to whom the display or distribution is intended.

Within 24 hours of submission, the principal (or his or her designee) will render a decision stating whether the material violates the Guidelines in Section 1 or the time, place and manner restrictions in the above list of this policy. In the event that permission to distribute the material is denied, the person submitting the request should be informed in writing of the reasons for the denial.

Permission to distribute material does not imply approval of its contents by the school, the administration, the School Board, or the individual reviewing the material submitted.

If the person submitting the request does not receive a response within 24 hours of submission, the person shall contact the office to verify that the lack of response was not due to an inability to locate the person. If the person has made this verification and there is no response to the request, the material may be distributed in accordance with the time, place and manner provisions in above passage.

If the person is dissatisfied with the decision of the principal (or designee), the person may submit a written request for appeal to the superintendent of schools or his or her secretary.

If the person does not receive a response within three (3) days (not counting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) of submitting the appeal, the person shall contact the office of the superintendent to verify that the lack of response is not due to an inability to locate the person.

If the person has made this verification and there is no response to the appeal, the material may be distributed in accordance with the time, place and manner provisions in the above passage.

At any level of the process, the person submitting the request shall have the right to appear and present the reasons supported by relevant witnesses and material, as to why distribution of the written material is appropriate.

Time, place and manner of distribution

The distribution of written material shall be limited to a reasonable time, place and manner as follows:

1. No written material may be distributed during and at the place of a normal school activity if it is reasonably likely to cause a substantial disruption of that activity.

2. Distribution of written material is prohibited when it blocks safe flow of traffic within corridors and entranceways of the school.

Definitions

The following definitions apply to the following terms as used in this policy:

1. “Obscene to minors” is defined as:

A.The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the written material, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors of the age to who distribution is requested; and or

B. The material depicts or describes, in a manner that is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community concerning how such conduct should be presented to minors of the age to whom distribution is requested, sexual conduct such as intimate sexual acts (normal or perverted), masturbation, excretory functions, a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and/or