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WELCOME TO FLAGSTAFF UNIFIED MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to Flagstaff Unified Middle School. As we approach our third year as a 6-8 model, we do so with a great deal of excitement. This year, we will be implementing and expanding on academic academies at the middle schools and continuing to offer rigorous and enriching opportunities for all students. We look forward to the challenges that we will face in our pursuit of academic excellence.
As a faculty and staff, we are committed to a safe and positive educational environment. In order for this to occur, we ask that all parties involved commit to being on time, giving your best daily and supporting your teachers, peers and school. Together we truly can move mountains and reach for the sky.
This handbook provides a framework and general information about Flagstaff Unified Middle School, which is important to all students and their parents. It is important that you read the enclosed material carefully. You are responsible for knowing and adhering to the policies and procedures outlined on the following pages.
We sincerely thank you for placing your trust in us and vow to do everything in our power to preserve it. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Tari Popham Steve Boadway
Principal Principal
Sinagua Middle School Mount Elden Middle School
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Regular Schedule A: Regular Schedule B:
Period 1 7:40 – 8:42 Period 1 7:40 – 8:42
Period 2 8:46 – 9:43 Period 2 8:46 – 9:43
Period 3 9:47 – 10:44 Period 3 9:47 – 10:44
Lunch 1 10:44 – 11:14 Period 4 10:48 – 11:45
Period 6 11:18 – 12:15 Lunch 2 11:45 – 12:15
Period 7 12:19 – 1:16 Period 7 12:19 – 1:16
Period 8 1:20 – 2:20 Period 8 1:20 – 2:20
Modified Block Schedule A: Modified Block Schedule A:
Wednesday/Thursday Wednesday/Thursday
Period 1/3 7:40 – 9:10 Period 1/3 7:40 – 9:10
Period 2/6 9:15 – 10:45 Period 2/4 9:15 – 10:45
Lunch 1 10:45 – 11:25 Period 7/8 10:50 – 12:20
Period 7/8 11:30 – 1:00 Lunch 2 12:20 – 1:00
-Release on Wednesday to busses- 1:00
-Release on Thursday to Pathways – 1:00
Snow Delay Schedule A: Snow Day Schedule B:
Period 1 9:40 – 10:25 Period 1 9:40 – 10:25
Period 2 10:29 – 11:06 Period 2 10:29 – 11:06
Period 3 11:10 – 11:47 Period 3 11:10 – 11:47
Lunch 1 11:47 – 12:17 Period 4 11:51 – 12:28
Period 6 12:21 – 12:58 Lunch 2 12:28 – 12:58
Period 7 1:02 – 1:39 Period 7 1:02 – 1:39
Period 8 1:43 – 2:20 Period 8 1:43 – 2:20
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Days missed because of inclement weather may be made up at the discretion of the Governing Board.
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Teachers Begin August 8, 2012
Classes Begin August 13, 2012
Labor Day September 3, 2012
Veterans’ Day November 12, 2012
Thanksgiving November 21 - 23, 2012
Winter Recess December 24 – January 4
New Year’s Day January 1, 2013
M.L. King Day January 21, 2013
Presidents’ Day February 18, 2013
Spring Break March 18 - 22, 2013
Memorial Day May 27, 2013
Last Day of Classes May 30, 2013
Teacher Work Day May 31, 2013
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Flagstaff Unified Middle School
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Mission Statement
We are committed to the holistic education of all of our students by providing each student a guaranteed and viable curriculum within the framework of curriculum mapping based on the Arizona State Standards. Student’s academic success will be ensured through differentiated instruction and by implementing SIOP strategies and assessed using summative and formative common assessments. Staff will continue to collaborate with each other to provide the best environment possible for students by working in professional learning communities.
Flagstaff Unified Middle School is committed to using data-based strategies to guide instruction and provide interventions for students in a positive, safe, caring environment that promotes peaceful conflict resolution to produce motivated, successful, independent life-long learners.
Goals
The middle school partners students, parents and faculty to provide a curriculum that:
· Offers opportunities for exploring present interests and abilities and encouraging development of others;
· Emphasizes information application and skill development using varied learning opportunities that involve students as active participant;
· Provides for a comprehensive guidance/advisor program.
Policies
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Attendance Policy
Every child’s academic success is important to the Flagstaff Unified School District, and regular attendance is necessary to meet that goal. In our search for excellence in education at F.U.S.D., we will be implementing the following tardy and attendance policy: parents will be notified by letter of their student’s fifth absence, again at ten absences and at 12, the student will be placed on attendance probation.
Flagstaff Unified will follow ARS-15-803 that requires students to be in attendance 90% of the time to receive credit. Students who miss a class 12 times may lose credit in that class. There will be a very strict chronic illness list, documented by our nurse, parents and physicians. There will also be a special circumstance list to provide a safety net for children with unusual circumstances that affect attendance. Flagstaff Unified believes very strongly that 12 absences is excessive and will result in loss of credit. Regular school attendance is required by law and students should remain out of school only when absolutely necessary. The ultimate responsibility for school attendance rests with parents and students. Flagstaff Unified will assist in monitoring your student’s attendance. An appeals process with an administrator and a committee of teachers is available for students who exceed the 12 attendance marks.
Parental Instructions
If you are absent from any class for any reason except a school-sponsored activity, your parent/guardian must clear an absence by 9:00 a.m. the same school day. She/he will need to use one of the following two procedures: 1) Calling the attendance office recording line at 773-8261 the day you are absent, or 2) Sending a note with you including: your name and grade, day and date of absence(s), the reason for absence(s), parent/ guardian signature and daytime phone number. The attendance window will be open at 7:30 a.m. You can turn in a written excuse at that time.
When cumulative absences exceed 12 days in a semester, a statement from a physician is required to excuse illnesses.
Petition for Absence
If your family finds it necessary for you to be absent from school because of a non-school activity, your parents/ guardian must notify the administration two (2) school days prior to the absence. The school will provide a petition-for-absence form for you to get your teachers’ signatures and your class assignments. The form must be returned to the office before you leave school. Your parents will be advised if you are not doing well in school or if such absences will cause a loss of class credit.
Tardy Policy –
Tardies will be handled through the Elect To Learn (ETL) or Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC) Programs.
Student Sign-Out Procedures
Once your student is on school grounds and needs to leave campus, you must sign your student out at the attendance office before leaving the building. It is considered a truancy if your student is not signed out, no matter what the reason. Only a parent, guardian or a designated adult over the aged of 18 who is registered in the school’s data system may check out a student from school. Please include all family members whom you may want to check your child out of school. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure all potential emergency contact information is up to date in the computer data system. Only those contacts listed may check out your student. ID is required at the time of check out for your child’s safety.
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Responsible Thinking Classroom
The Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC) is the school wide discipline program designed to teach students to think about their behaviors. The key component of the RTC process is its focus on how students can achieve their goals without interfering with the rights of others. When students fail to follow the rules, school personnel will ask a series of pre-determined questions. Through the questioning process, students choose to remain with their class and respect the rights of others or they choose to leave and go to RTC. In the RTC, students think through and implement successful ways of handling problems by developing a specific plan. Once the plan is reviewed by the RTC teacher, the student must negotiate an approved plan with the referring teacher before he/she returns to class. However, if a student chooses to violate the rules while in RTC, he/she understands that he/she has chosen to leave school and to be picked up by a parent/guardian.
Elect to Learn
ETL is an intervention program designed to help students become more responsible for their own achievement and make positive choices. Students who are not prepared, do not have their agenda, are out of dress code, do not have their Identification cards, or have not completed their homework can be assigned to ETL after school.
If students are assigned ETL 1, they are responsible for contacting their parent immediately. ETL 1 is a study-hall class where students complete missing assignments, read, and work on AIMS prep material from 2:30-4:00. Activity busses are available after school, servicing all destinations. Students who do not attend ETL 1 will be assigned ETL 2. ETL 2 is a study hall classroom lasting the entire school day up until 4:00. Daily work is delivered to the class and a highly qualified teacher is available to assist your child.
Suspension
Typical causes for suspension include:
Ø continuous and willful refusal to accomplish school tasks even though the student is able to do so (insubordination);
Ø disorderly, vicious, illegal, or immoral conduct;
Ø persistent violation of school regulations; and
Ø violation of local, state, or federal law.
Length of suspension will be determined by school authorities and reflect the offense committed. Parents/ guardians will be notified of action taken and will have complete custody and jurisdiction of their child during suspension. A suspended student may not loiter or appear on school property or at any school-sponsored activity, at or away from the school. A student will be readmitted to school after a satisfactory solution to his/her conduct is agreed upon by the parents and administration. Upon return to school from an out- of-school suspension, a student has one day for each day absent to turn in schoolwork missed due to the suspension.
Ultimately parents must accept responsibility for their child’s conduct. The public schools will assist parents whenever possible by recommending services and agencies that may helpful.
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Miscellaneous Information
Bicycles: Bicycles should be parked in the bicycle enclosure and locked. The school is not responsible for stolen bicycles. It is to your advantage to have a good, strong lock for your bicycle. Police reports for stolen bicycles must be filed by your parent/ guardian.
Student Relationships: The demonstration of affection between students in or around school or during school related functions is limited to holding hands.
Fees: Project Fee - The $40 Project Fee will assist in funding essential school activities offered at Flagstaff Unified Middle schools.
Sports Fee – The $30 Sports Fee will cover costs associated with running middle school athletics. This $30 fee is a one-time payment that allows students to participate in multiple sports.
Delayed Start Schedule: School cancellations and/ or the DELAYED START SCHEDULE will be announced by 6 a.m. over all radio and television stations and on the FUSD website: www.fusd1.org.
When a DELAYED START SCHEDULE is in effect, school will start at 9:40 a.m. rather than the usual time of 7:40. All morning school buses will run 1 hour 40 minutes later than usual.
Flowers, Balloons, and Presents: Interruptions during the school day interfere with learning. Flagstaff Unified School District Middle Schools cannot accept and deliver balloons, flowers, etc. to students.
Lockers: Students will be assigned lockers to store school and personal items. 6th grade students at MEMS will have cubbie spaces in their homeroom class. When students are issued a locker, they are encouraged not to share locker space or combinations. Any lost or damaged locks are the responsibility of the student. School-issued locks must be used (no exceptions).
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Facilities
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School Day Hours
Students will remain on campus during instructional school hours (including lunch).
The school building opens at 7:00 a.m. Students may stay in the school building after 2:30 p.m. only if they are supervised by a teacher or attending a school-sponsored activity. Students participating in an after school activity may not leave campus and then return to their function, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian. Please no loitering on school premises, unsupervised.
Cafeteria
Hot breakfast and lunches are served daily. Vending machines are not available at lunch.
Library
The library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Books in the general collection may be checked out for two (2) weeks with renewal privileges. No fines are charged for overdue books, but students are required to pay for lost or damaged books.
Bookstore
The bookstore handles a wide variety of student supplies such as pencils, paper, notebooks, erasers, art supplies, and school t-shirts. Normally, bookstore hours are before school and during lunch.
Textbooks: The school furnishes your textbooks, but you are required to pay for any lost or damaged books assigned to you.
Visitors: We encourage parents/ guardians to visit our campuses and look forward to seeing them. However, all visitors are required by law to sign in at the office.
Student visitors must:
Ø be future student prospects
Ø be approved by the administration,
Ø be of middle-school age,
Ø have a valid student ID from their home school
Ø provide information 48 hours before the day of visitation.