EAST FORSYTH MIDDLE
Student Handbook
2013-2014
A Multiple Intelligence School
With a focus on
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
(PBIS)
______
Student Name
Grade: ____ Homeroom Teacher: ______
Table of Contents
Office Information 3
Daily Schedule 4
School-wide Guidelines 5
Student Fees 6
Grades and Reports 7
Middle School Athletics 8
Parent Information 9
Student Expectations 12
Media Center 17
PBIS 18
Raven Pride Matrix 19
Dress Code 20
General Disciplinary Procedures 21
Student Programs 32
Signature Page 33
East Forsyth Middle School
810 Bagley Road
Kernersville, NC 27284
336-703-6765
Principal Curriculum Coordinator
Mr. Dossie Poteat Mrs. Shiwanah Bangham
Assistant Principals Guidance Counselors
Mr. Todd Nelson Mrs. Cheryl Tilley
Ms. Deborah Smith Mrs. Bianca Williams
Telephone Numbers Office Hours .
Main Office: 703-6765 Main Office: 7:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M
Guidance Office: 703-6769 Guidance Office: 7:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M
Fax: 607-8531
Cafeteria: 703-6770
PTSA OFFICERS 2013 – 2014 Student Day
President: Jennifer Badger 7:25 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
VP : Kim Hawley
Secretary: Tammy Fletcher Web Addresses
Treasurer: Carla Collins WS/FCS District: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us
School Site: http://web2k.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/eforsythms/
Home of the Ravens!
Welcome one and all to another exciting year at East Forsyth Middle School. Fasten your seat belt and get ready to be engaged in a year filled with acquisition, innovation, connectedness and challenges. While providing a safe, caring and orderly environment, EFMS embraces the theme, Multiple Intelligences (MI), where scholars will engage in strategies and student activities to enhance all styles of learning. East Middle is also a PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) Green Ribbon School where we teach behavior expectations that will foster student success in and outside of the classroom as we continue to prepare our scholars for the world in which they will live.
East Forsyth Middle SchoolDAILY SCHEDULE 2013 - 2014
WARNING BELL / 7:20 AM
TARDY BELL / 7:25 AM
MOMENT OF SILENCE / 7:26 AM
RAVEN PLEDGE / 7:27 AM
ANNOUNCEMENTS / 7:28 AM
6TH GRADE
HOMEROOM / 07:25 AM - 07:35 AM
CORE TIME / 07:35 AM -12:12 PM
RELEASE FOR ENCORE / 12:12 PM
6.5 / 12:15 PM - 1:05 PM
6.6 / 01:08 PM - 1:58 PM
7TH GRADE
HOMEROOM / 07:25 AM - 07:35 AM
RELEASE FOR ENCORE / 07:35 AM
7.1 / 07:38 AM - 08:28 AM
7.2 / 08:31 AM - 09:21 AM
CORE TIME / 09:24 AM -02:00 PM
8TH GRADE
HOMEROOM / 07:25 AM - 07:35 AM
CORE TIME / 07:35 AM - 09:30 AM
RELEASE FOR ENCORE / 09:30 AM
8.3 / 09:33 AM - 10:23 AM
8.4 / 10:26 AM - 11:16 AM
CORE TIME / 11:19 AM - 02:00 PM
ENCORE SCHEDULE
7.1 / 07:38 AM - 08:28 AM
7.2 / 08:31 AM - 09:21 AM
8.3 / 09:33 AM - 10:23 AM
8.4 / 10:26 AM - 11:16 AM
6.5 / 12:15 - 01:05 PM
6.6 / 01:08 - 01:58 PM
School-wide Guidelines
Raven Pledge
Ravens are in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time, with the right people because we are…
Prepared, show
Respect, have
Integrity, display
Discipline, and soar in
Excellence!
Ø Comply with Dress Code
Ø Follow all EFMS and
WSFCS rules
Student Fees and Information
All P.E. fees must be paid to the P.E. teacher during the first week of school. All Fees including replacement fees, may be paid online at http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/efms (Quick Links “Online School Payments”
A. REQUIRED FEES* Gym Suits are REQUIRED
(Tennis shoes must be worn during PE class)
1. Lock Rental $ 0.50
2. Physical Education Fee $ 3.50
3. EFMS (P.E.) Uniform $11.00
$15.00
B. REPLACEMENT FEES
1.Lock - $4.50
2. Rental P.E. Uniforms–New Shirts $5.00/Shorts $8.00
3. Book – Depends on cost and condition of book when issued
C. INSURANCE
Accident and dental insurance will be made available to interested parents. Information will be given to students to take home on the first day of school.
D. SCHOOL MEALS
The cost for school breakfast is $2.00 and lunch $2.60. If your child qualifies for reduced price meals the cost is .30 for breakfast and .40 for lunch. Prices are subject to change.
E. Middle School Fees
1. Athletic Admission Fees $ 3.00
2. General copying of records 0.25
3. Extended Supervision Charge/after-school without permission $10.00
*Required fees may be waived for students who are approved for free lunch (School Board Policy 3250.1). Subject to change*
I. GRADES, REPORTS, AND AWARDS
1. No student will receive “F” or “U” on a report card unless parent/guardian has been forewarned via progress report, written letter, email, conference, or telephone call.
2. A letter notifies all parents at the end of 2nd and 3rd quarter if a child is in danger of failing.
The grading scale shown below is used for all instructional programs.
Letter Grade Description Numerical Equivalent
A Superior 93 - 100
B Good 85 - 92
C Satisfactory 77 - 84
D Poor 70 - 76
F Failing 0 - 69
I Incomplete
NG No grade
3. MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORTS
a. Upon request in writing, progress reports are sent home or emailed.
b. Important reports or info are sent in WEDNESDAY PACKETS.
c. Grades can be viewed through Parent Portal in PowerSchool which will be accessible beginning in October.
d. REPORT CARDS are issued at the end of each quarter
e. HONOR ROLL consist of students with all A’s , B’s and good conduct
f. PRINCIPAL’S SEAL consist of students with all A’s and good conduct
J. PROMOTION for MIDDLE SCHOOL
1. In accordance with School Board Policy #5131 for promotion from grades 6-7-8 , a student must pass 75% of his/her elective courses plus three (3) of the following four (4) subjects each year:
Communication Skills Science
Mathematics Social Studies
2. End of Grade testing will be administered in the middle school. A student who scored below a predetermined percentile may be offered tutoring.
3. Any student who fails to show expected academic growth on End of Grade testing and/or fails to pass the required number of courses will be retained and not promoted to his/her next grade.
K. MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS/P.E.
In order to be eligible for athletics, a student must have passed all of his/her courses and maintain a 1.75 grade point average and have good conduct. He/she must not have been absent more than 10 days from the previous semester. The East Middle Athletic Committee will distribute rules for participation in interscholastic sports. Grades, conduct, and attendance will determine your eligibility. Complete gym suits must be worn in gym class by 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. No part of the gym suit should be worn at any time except during physical education class.
INTRAMURAL ATHLETICS
An intramural athletic program is offered after school for interested students. Intramurals are sporting activities that are housed at East Forsyth Middle School. Various sports are offered at different times during the school year in cooperation with our interscholastic athletic programs at the seventh and eighth grade level. Some examples of such activities are bowling, flag football, basketball, soccer, and golf.
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS
Seventh and eighth grade students only may participate in interscholastic athletics. Volleyball and girls’ soccer are offered in fall, basketball in the winter, track, and boys’ soccer in the spring. Students must meet the criteria shown below for participation.
§ Students must be properly assigned to a school and have been in attendance for at least 85% of the previous semester at an approved school.
§ Students must meet state and local promotion standards and maintain passing grades each semester. The first semester grades are used for athletic eligibility for track and girls’ soccer. The second semester grades are used for athletic eligibility for boys’ soccer, volleyball, and basketball. This means that the previous year’s grades are used for eligibility. Students must maintain passing grades in each class (no grade below a “D”) and meet local school system requirements to participate in interscholastic sports at East Forsyth Middle School.
§ Students must not become 15 years of age on or before October 16 of the 7th or 8th grade year.
§ Students must receive a medical examination conducted by a licensed physician.
§ Students must carry proper insurance.
Students cannot participate in intramural, interscholastic, or other after-school activities for the day if they have been assigned in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension.
SPORTSMANSHIP
East Forsyth Middle School students are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times. Regardless of your status as an athlete or as a spectator at a sporting event, all students are expected to show respect to all participants. We will not tolerate bad language or other inappropriate conduct during sporting events. Students, as well as athletes, will be removed from the event if poor sportsmanship is observed by a coach, staff member, or other adult present for the event.
PARENT INFORMATION
To give a child a personal message during the school day interrupts the child and his/her entire class. Please give your child all the information he/she needs before the child comes to school. In case of an emergency, please notify the office and we will do our best to accommodate. Please do not call your child’s cell phone for it may be confiscated if used at unauthorized times. Please be mindful that office personnel are limited, and we cannot guarantee all messages can be delivered to students.
Please do not call the school requesting that your child be called to the office because you plan to be there at a certain time to pick him/her up. We will not call a child to the office to go home until the parent is present in the main office to sign them out. Students must be signed out by a parent.
Students leaving school prior to the end of the school day must have a parent or guardian report to the school office and sign him/her out. Only persons designated on student’s emergency card are allowed to take a student from the building. A note authorizing another party to pick up your child will suffice if parents wish to have their student signed out early by someone else. School personnel may call to verify this written authorization.
Many avenues are provided for communication with parents and the school:
· Student Agenda Books for daily parent comments
· Monthly informational progress reports
· PTA meetings scheduled throughout the year
· Arts and Athletic events scheduled throughout the year
· E-mail messages to teachers
· FAX messages, permission slips or absence/doctors’ notes to school
· Appointments may be made to confer with administration, guidance or teachers
Also, remember that fees paid for an event that has already been paid out (tickets, reservations, etc) cannot be refunded. Students that have been removed from a trip due to discipline will not be eligible for a refund. This is clearly explained on the EFMS field trip permission form.
ATTENDANCE
Student attendance will be checked daily in homeroom and in each class.
§ Eight or more days of absences per quarter can raise serious questions about the student’s ability to make a passing grade during that grading period. Remember that there is a correlation between the number of days a student is in attendance and achievement.
§ A student who is present at school for less than one-half the regular day will not be permitted to participate in any of that day’s after school activity. (Example: school dance, intramurals, interscholastic games, club activities, etc.) Any students who leaves school before 11:00 A.M. is considered absent for that day. Any student who leaves campus without being signed out by a parent will be considered skipping class or school.
§ Each day of instruction is important and necessary to the total learning opportunity. Meaningful work will be planned and offered through the last day of the school year. It is therefore suggested that vacation plans not be made prior to the last possible day of the school year. Yet, if it is necessary for a family to schedule a trip during the school year, the parents should send a note to the grade level administrator prior to the trip, and the child and family must agree to make up all work within the normal timeline. It is not always possible to provide work prior to the trip. It may be necessary for the child to remain after school upon his/her return to make up tests or other assignments which were completed during their absence.
§ Work missed due to excused or unexcused absences should be made up promptly after returning to school. Students are given one-day make up time for each day of absence. It is the responsibility of the student to request make-up work as soon as he/she returns to school. Parents may call the guidance office to request work when students are out of school.
§ Pupil absences shall be classified in accordance with the laws of North Carolina.
a. EXCUSED ABSENCE: Personal illness, doctor appointments, and death in the immediate family (parents, grandparents and siblings, etc.).
b. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Absences that occur with the knowledge and approval of the parent, but the reason is not acceptable under state laws.
c. TRUANCY: Intentional absence without parent knowledge and/or in violation of state laws.
§ PREARRANGED ABSENCES: If a student is out of school because of a family out-of-town trip, the parent should notify the office in writing before the absence occurs. The absence will be unexcused unless prior approval is granted
§ STUDENTS REPORTING TO SCHOOL AFTER 7:35: Report to the office for an admission slip. Those reporting late will be recorded as TARDY for that day. The classification for EXCUSED (lawful) or UNEXCUSED (unlawful) will be determined by the same standards as listed in “a” and “b” above.
§ Excessive unexcused tardiness (3 or more per quarter) to school will result in after-school detention for student.
§ Excessive absences contribute to a student’s failure in school. A WS/FC
school official will investigate these absences. This could result in judiciary