THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY
MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK
2010-2011
201 Valley Road
Montclair, New Jersey 07042
(973) 746-9800
This handbook belongs to:
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MKA Advisor:______
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSENCES………………………………………………………..………………………………………...... 14-15
ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...20
ACADEMIC PROBATION………………………………………………………………………………………………...... 21
ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR TECHNOLOGY…………...... 37-38
ADVISOR MEETING………………..………………………………………………………………………………………...... 16
ADVISOR SYSTEM………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………...... 23-24
AFTER SCHOOL STUDY HALL………………..…………………...... 21
AFTER SCHOOL REHEARSALS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………18
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS FAN SUPERVISION…………………………………………………………………………………………...18
ANNUAL ENROLLMENT……………..………………………...... 22
ASSESSMENT CALENDARS……………………………………..………………………………………………………………………….21
ATHLETE CODE OF CONDUCT………………………………………………………………………………………...... 34-35
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES……………..……………………………………………………………………………………………14
BEFORE SCHOOL………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………...... 14
BOOKSTORE…………...………………………………………...... 18
CELL PHONES…………………………………………………...... 16
CHARACTER STANDARDS FOR MKA THE COMMUNITY…...... 5-6
CLASSES……..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………16
CLUBS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….16-17
CODE OF ATTIRE……………..………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………...36
CODE OF CONDUCT…………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………...…26-33
MINOR DISCIPLINE…………………………………...... 26-28
Definition………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………….....26
Procedure……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... 26
CONSEQUENCES………………………………………….……...... 26-27
Community Service………………………………….……………………………………………………………………27
Detention………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………...26
Disciplinary Ladder…………………………………………………………..……………………………...... 26-27
Internal Referral Form…………………………………………………………………..……………………...... 27
MAJOR DISCIPLINE……………………………..………………………………………………………………………..…...28-31
Academic Dishonesty……………………………………………………...... 28
Acceptable Use Policy violations…………………………………...……………………………………………………..28
Conduct detrimental to the Academy………………………...... 30
Definition…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………28
Fire Regulations……………………………………………...…………...... 30
Harassment……………………………………………………………...…………………………………………….28-29
Honor Code Violations……………………………………………………………...……………………………………28
Invasion of privacy…………………………………………...... 28
Menacing words or conduct………………………………………………………………………………………………30
Off campus without permission/cutting class……………...…………………………...... 30
Personal Dishonesty…………………………………………………...………………………………………………….28
Physical aggression or fighting……………………………………………………...……………………………………..30
Reckless endangerment………………………………………………………………………...…………………………30
Repeated violations………………………...……………………………………………………………………………...28
Sexual Harassment……………………………………...……………………………………………………………...... 29
Smoking/Tobacco…………………………………………………...…...... 28
Theft/Vandalism………………………………………………………………...………………………………………..30
Unsafe Practices/Possessions..……………...…………………………………………………………………………….30
Willful Disobedience……………………………………………………………………………………………………....30
CONSEQUENCES…………………………………………………………….…………………………………………..……….31
Community Service………………………………………………………………...……………………………………..31
Detention……………………………………………………………………………………...………………………….31
Disciplinary probation……………………………………………………………………………………...……………..31
Drug and alcohol evaluation……………………...……………………...... 31
Expulsion……………………………………………………...………………………………………………………….31
Open file status……………………………………………...... 31
Suspension…………………………………………………...... 31
Withdrawal…………………………………………………...... 31
COLLABORATIVE WORK PERIOD GUIDELINES…………………...…………………………………………………………………..17
COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS………………………………………………...………………………………………………...... 23
DEFINITION OF SCHOOL DAY AND ACADEMY GROUNDS…………………………………..……………………………………..14
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING…………………...………………………………………………………………………...………………………21
DISCIPLINE LETTER…………………...…………………………………...... 27
DISMISSAL………………...……………………………...……………………...... 18
DIVERSITY STATEMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...23
DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………38-39
EDUCATIONAL RECORDS………………………………………...... 22
END-OF-DAY HOMEROOM………………………………………………………………………...……………………………………...17
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM……………...………………………………………………………………………...……………………...18
HEALTH SERVICES………………….…………..……………………………...... 24
Immunizations…………………………….…………………………….…………………………………………………………...24
Medications……..……………………………………….……………...... 24
Physicals……………………………………………………………….…...... 24
Student Services……………………………………………...... 24
HOMEROOM……………………………………….………………………………………………………...………………………………14
HOME STUDY POLICY…..……………………………………...... 23
HOME TUTORING………………...………………………………………………………………………………………………………....23
HOMEWORK…………...………………………...……………………………...... 20-21
HONOR CODE…………………...……………………………...………………………………………………………………………...10-13
HONORS………………..………………………………………………………...... 21
INCOMPLETE…………...…………………………………………...... 21
INDEPENDENT LEARNING PERIOD GUIDELINES……………………………………………………...…………………………….17
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS………………..…………………………………………………………………………...……...17, 33-34
INTRODUCTION…………………...……………………………….………………………………………………………………………...4
JURISDICTION OF THE ACADEMY……………...………………………………………………………………………………………..30
LUNCH……………………..………………………………………...……………...... 16
MESSAGES………………...…………...……………………………………………………………………………………………………...16
MIDDLE SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT………………..…………………………………………………………………………5
MISSING CLASS FOR AWAY GAMES………………...…………………………………………………………………………………….17
MISSION STATEMENT, MKA………………………………………………...……………………………………………………………...5
OUR COMMON PURPOSE………………..…………………………………………………...……………………………………………6-8
PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP…………………………………………………………………………………...……………………………...25
PERMISSION SLIPS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
PHOTOGRAPHS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………25
RECESS…………………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....16
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY…………………..…………...……………………………...... 16
SCHOOL CALENDAR……………...………………...…………………………...... 18-19
SCHOOL SEAL………………………………………………………..……………...... 9
SCHOOL SONG……………………...………………………………………………………………………………………………………...9
SPECIFIC POLICIES….……………………………...……………………………………………………………………………………32-33
Academic dishonesty……………………………………….……………...... 32
Cheating……………………………..…………………………………...... 32
Penalties…………………………………………………...... 32-33
Plagiarism……..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..32
Search and Seizure of property…..…………………………...... 32
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION…………………………………...……………………………………………………………4
TARDINESS……………………………………………………...... 15-16
TELEPHONE USE…………………………………………………...... 16
VENDING MACHINES……………..………………………………………………………………………………………...……………...16
INTRODUCTION
This handbook is designed to give students and parents basic information about The Montclair Kimberley Academy Middle School and to explicitly communicate the school's philosophy, as well as the details and procedures of daily life at the Middle School. It is important that parents and students familiarize themselves with the contents of this handbook so that there will be no misunderstandings with respect to the procedures and policies contained within. During the school year, you may receive communications, which supplement this handbook.
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Montclair Kimberley Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to the students at the Academy. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other Academy-administered programs. MKA complies with all state and federal non-discrimination laws.
THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY
MISSION STATEMENT
The Montclair Kimberley Academy is a Pre-K-12 coeducational day school with an exceptional college preparatory program unified by the concepts of our school motto: Knowledge, Vision, Integrity. An MKA education is defined by the following commitments:
Knowledge:
To cultivate a love of learning in each student
To develop independent and autonomous learners
To establish a foundation of academic excellence
Vision:
To engage each student intellectually and personally with the world
To graduate students who will excel in college and in their lives beyond MKA
To recognize complexity and value empathy
Integrity:
To strengthen each student’s intellect, character, and confidence
To promote each student’s full and active citizenship and leadership
To secure a life-long sense of honor through academic, athletic, and artistic achievement
With traditions dating back to 1887, MKA was formed by the merger of Montclair Academy, Brookside School, and The Kimberley School in 1974.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
The mission of the Middle School of The Montclair Kimberley Academy is to help young adolescents become self-reliant learners who strive for academic excellence, by engaging their intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning in a challenging and supportive academic program. By providing opportunities for students to learn independently and from peers with different strengths, skills, backgrounds, and perspectives, and to assume leadership roles through varied curricular experiences and activities, we seek to develop young adolescents of ethical and moral excellence.
Belief Statements:
We believe that:
every child in our community should be respected and honored
a young adolescent’s positive social/emotional development is essential to his or her success as a middle level learner
every Middle School child must have an adult who knows him or her well and who serves as advocate and primary contact with the family
a child’s education is a shared responsibility of student, family, school, and community
the academic program must challenge all students to achieve growth in knowledge and in the skills of speaking, listening, and thinking
our Middle School academic program must be designed to meet the needs of the young adolescents with varying interests, abilities, and experiences
we must provide support and guidance for students to work towards learning goals, while fostering their independence as young people
we must help students learn how to learn, instructing them in important learning strategies such as organization and time management
our academic program must offer experiential learning opportunities that create bridges to students’ life experiences
our academic program must encourage students to explore interests and develop strengths through learning experiences that link academic disciplines
our program must provide effective transitions between the Primary School and the Upper School
service to school, community, and others is an essential part of our program that builds upon young adolescents’ emerging sense of social awareness.
CHARACTER STANDARDS FOR THE MKA COMMUNITY
All members of the MKA community strive to act, speak, and think in ways that are:
Respectful: We act with civility in our relations with others while still valuing ourselves. We are conscious of the world around us and recognize the worth of all we have and treat it accordingly.
Friendly: We demonstrate good will and compassion in our relationships with others. We understand that in order to have friends we must be friends and treat all with understanding, loyalty, and respect.
Responsible: We fulfill obligations and complete tasks to the fullest of our ability, and we are accountable members of our community. We volunteer our assistance when called upon and budget our time, efforts, and resources sensibly.
Confident: We uphold a positive image of ourselves regardless of the way others perceive us. We recognize our potential and challenge ourselves to improve the talents and skills we possess. We are able to take pride in our work, while remaining humble and accepting criticism. We express our opinions freely without fear of the judgment of others and always speak up when we see acts of injustice.
Temperate: We balance all aspects of our lives. By devoting personal attention to academics and personal commitments, we maintain moderation. While welcoming relaxation, we exert self-control and strength of will when faced with temptation and challenge.
Fair: We cultivate an environment where all students may act and speak without the fear of prejudice, intolerance, or judgment. We recognize and seek to understand the differences between individuals in the community. While recognizing these differences, we also value the inherent equality among all.
Informed: We rely not only on our own experiences to make decisions, but we also actively seek a more thorough understanding of the world. With our knowledge, we envision a more peaceful and empathetic society.
Honest: We understand the value and necessity of being true to ourselves, as well as others, and we are sincere in words and actions. We take pride in the authenticity of our own work and ideas, and we have the courage and integrity to take responsibility for all of our actions.
OUR COMMON PURPOSE
What follows is a statement of purpose. It is intended to engage the spirit, echo in the memory, inspire us as members of The Montclair Kimberley Academy community, and constantly remind us of what our school is all about. Any school that aspires to truly educate and inspire students requires a document that radiates energy and becomes a vivid presence in the mind. Our document, in part, conveys what brings MKA together, what makes our community effective, and what sets us apart. It takes a cue from the words that guide us on our school seal and in our school song because words matter. These words force us to ask ourselves how we can put our ideas into practice every day, both personally and as a unified institution. Each time we consider making changes in our community, we use this document as a guide to ensure that we are continually striving toward fulfilling our goals for our students. This document helps us to focus on the ideals of our community and how it should be working. We call this document Our Common Purpose.
With a resolute commitment to the words on our seal - Knowledge, Vision, and Integrity - we, the members of The Montclair Kimberley Academy community, declare and confirm Our Common Purpose of intellectual and personal fulfillment for our students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, alumni, Trustees, and all others we serve at our three campuses.
We strive to be an affirming community of learners that encourages students to take themselves seriously and to take responsibility for their education. William Avery Barras, who taught English at Montclair Academy for 28 years, exhorted his students, "If what I am saying goes over your head, raise your head." In a similar fashion, we encourage the members of our community to raise their heads to meet the high standards we set forth. Great schools are made of such convictions and attitudes towards education and excellence.
Our primary goal is to graduate young men and women who love learning, who acquire both the knowledge of fundamental subject matter and the power of learning, and who are well-prepared to select and meet successfully the demands of a challenging college curriculum. We aspire to the ideals that our students understand the difference between knowledge that is ornamental and knowledge that is used with conviction; make intelligent life choices with a warranted self-confidence and intellectual humility; and prize such ethical principles as integrity, wholesome friendship, and individual and community responsibilities.
We are entrusted with the responsibility to guarantee that our students develop strong study skills, productive work habits, and the ability to grasp content as active learners who can identify problems and work creatively toward solutions. Our faculty members take such responsibility seriously. They work closely with students to emphasize the essential activities of the life of the mind: judgment, problem solving, reading, writing, speaking, observing, listening, remembering, and critical appraising. Faculty members also integrate powerful technology into the classroom to supplement students' learning and aid them in retrieving and using information effectively.
We commit ourselves to achieving and sustaining our high academic standards by appointing and retaining exceptionally talented faculty who capitalize on the benefits of small class size and provide a challenging and supportive learning environment. These faculty members dedicate themselves to the advancement of their own learning and to the cultivation of their own character, for they seek to exemplify the ideals they promote in others.
We recognize that students learn in a variety of ways, and we encourage the use of diverse and appropriate teaching styles, including lecture, cooperative learning, dialogue, and independent study. Effective education encourages students to recognize and use their particular abilities, to show flexibility in changing circumstances, and to display the courage to recognize their very human weaknesses as opportunities to seek the help of others - and not to give up. We strive to foster a lively and productive ethos which encourages teachers and students to develop a relationship of trust in which they invest their best efforts both intellectually and personally by enthusiastically engaging in stimulating dialogue and willingly taking intellectual and creative risks.
We cherish persons in their individuality because we believe that in the richness of our differences lie strength and opportunity. We know that by recognizing differences and valuing the contributions of each individual, we are bound to have a richer, more joyful, and more stimulating school. In spirit and activity, policy and program, each person bears the responsibility to work toward a harmonious environment where individual strength of character develops. At the same time, we celebrate the common humanity and heritage that unite us.
We prepare students of The Montclair Kimberley Academy for a wide range of educational opportunities, life experiences, and responsibilities. We aspire to make students ready for full and active citizenship - to make them young men and women who understand the philosophical underpinnings of their government and who are capable of independent ideas and social responsibility. Because our students are equipped for full citizenship and for thoughtful participation in the family and community, they will not allow the rights and privileges accorded to them as citizens of this nation to slip away.
We embrace the classical ideal of the educated individual who acquires a thorough grounding in the arts and sciences and cultivates that knowledge for a lifetime. As a foundation for such an education, we commit ourselves to teaching an inclusive selection of core works at each grade level. Focusing study on key works of literature, film, art and music from both western and non-western cultures helps to keep important works fresh and alive for our students. In addition to developing students' artistic appreciation, engaging in such common study guarantees that all students are exposed to a foundation of major works and provides a basis for meaningful discussion in the school community about lessons that these works teach. We also dedicate ourselves to enhancing students' learning by helping them to understand both the richness of individual disciplines and how integrating disciplines deepens understanding and knowledge. We appreciate the value of the exposure to and the study of multiple perspectives and the importance of our students' abilities to form reasoned opinions and to demonstrate the capacity for empathy.
We invest ourselves in our personal guidance system that helps each student on an almost-daily basis to recognize strengths, realize potential, choose options for the future, develop an increasing personal independence, and use the school's resources to maximum advantage. Under the guidance of faculty advisors, students also participate in and run programs that help them to develop responsibility for the school community. As responsible members of that community, we all live in accordance with our Code of Honor, which reminds us of the high standards of academic and personal integrity that we have set for ourselves to ensure the strength and unity of our school. Our basic expectation is to share the work of guiding our students with parents who are the first and most important educators of their children.
We are convinced that our school community must challenge the total person, and therefore we provide a broad range of opportunities beyond the classroom. The rich resources of the New York metropolitan area and other educational opportunities off-campus and overseas offer our students and faculty special advantages in the study of primary documents, art, and historical and cultural settings. We encourage students to participate in co curricular and community-service programs that provide opportunities to pursue interests and develop a variety of talents, expand sensitivity to the needs of others, and broaden personal horizons. We also invite students to take part in drama productions and in lifetime and competitive sports. We believe that all these activities enhance our students' abilities to manage time well, work effectively in groups, and develop team spirit. In addition, participation in such activities contributes significantly to students' overall well being and their development of a healthy desire to excel.
We accept the challenges of those who urge us to remember the words of our seal - Knowledge, Vision, and Integrity - that echo prominently in our school song. We can acquire knowledge by working very hard over long periods of time. In acquiring knowledge, we recognize that many important things to be learned are neither exciting nor entertaining but are necessary foundations for a clear vision. Without vision, we are adrift. Our Common Purpose is our compass. We realize that to have integrity, we must make sure that the same high principles govern all aspects of our lives: in the classroom, on the playing fields, and in the community. Together, knowledge, vision and integrity are the cornerstones that uphold Our Common Purpose.
We, the members of The Montclair Kimberley Academy community, understand that the fulfillment of Our Common Purpose requires us to foster an institutional coherence and to be open to meaningful change. We hold that responsibility for keeping Our Common Purpose fresh and alive falls upon each member of the community. We pledge our commitment to Our Common Purpose because in it lies our best hope for the future of our students and our school.