JINKS MIDDLE SCHOOL

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1 JINKS MIDDLE SCHOOL By providing a supportive, safe, and secure environment, the Jinks Middle School community will provide all students with curriculum strategies and enrichment activities that will enable students to achieve academic excellence.

2 Welcome Hornets Welcome to. I am glad you have chosen to be a Hornet and look forward to you being successful while at. Jinks has a proud history of being a school from which students have gone on to do great things. Our expectations are that you will also do great things. The middle school years can be a time of questions, discovery and even uncertainty. Everyone working at Jinks is here to encourage and support you during this time. I encourage you to have an A+ middle school experience. An A+ experience will involve you focusing on the following areas. Academics - Make good grades and focus on learning all you can in your classes. Arts - Pursue artistic outlets found in the fine and performing arts. Athletics - Involve yourself in athletic teams and support those who represent our school. Achievement - Obtain positive academic growth in everything you do. Compete against yourself to fulfill the potential within you. Acceptance - Promote a caring environment where everyone feels safe, secure and knows we strive to build each other up and never put people down. Finally, communication is extremely important. Each week I will send to our students, parents and community an electronic newsletter. These newsletters will highlight special events and activities involving our students and school. I also welcome our Jinks community to follow Jinks Middle School on Facebook or me on Twitter and/or Instagram. Simply find or JinksPrincipal (Instagram) and click follow. You will then receive the most immediate news and pictures involving. I hope you have a great school year and look forward to your future success! Go Hornets! Britt Smith Principal JINKS CONTACT INFORMATION Phone Numbers Main Office Bookkeeper Guidance Attendance Lunchroom Fax Line Website: JINKS SCHOOL SPIRIT Jinks is a HBS School (Hornet Behavior Support). Hornet Behavior Support: Aims to build effective environments in which positive behavior is more effective than problem behavior. Provides a collaborative, assessment-based approach to developing effective interventions for problem behavior. Emphasizes the use of preventative, teaching, and reinforcement-based strategies to achieve meaningful and durable behavior and lifestyle outcomes. The school s expectations are based on four guiding principles. They are Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Successful. Jinks School Spirit is based on students exhibiting the characteristics of being Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Successful in various areas and settings of their daily school life. We believe that by helping students practice expected behaviors, we will build a productive school community where all children can learn and grow. Jinks Colors: Green and Gold Jinks Mascot: Hornet Jinks Motto: Our Students Do Their Best! PARENT INFORMATION Checking Students Out Parents may check students out of school for emergencies, illnesses, and appointments. Students must be checked out through the attendance or main office. Students will only be released to those persons who are designated in FOCUS. A valid photo ID is required for all check outs. No students will be called for check out after 3:00 pm. 2

3 Parent Conferences Parents are urged to call in advance to make appointments. The staff is occasionally away from school at meetings, and an unannounced visit may not be productive. Call the guidance office at to schedule an appointment. Conferences are scheduled for either 8:00 a.m. or 8:20 a.m. They may on occasion be held during the teacher s planning period. Opportunities for Parent involvement School Advisory Council and Parent Teacher Organization Our SAC is an integral part of our school program. It consists of parents, community leaders, business partners, administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals. Please check our web site: for the dates, times, and place of these meetings. In addition, the dates and times of these meetings will be posted on our marquee and in our school newsletters. These volunteers serve our school in many ways. In order to function effectively, the SAC and PTO need members with a broad range of talents and skills; therefore, we need you! Parent Volunteers Every year, we have a number of parents who help in many ways. Parents can volunteer their time by assisting teachers in the classroom, aiding secretaries in the main office, grading practice work, chaperoning field trips, producing the newsletter and filling in wherever we need you! Volunteers must be on Daily file. Forms Lunch are Sched located in the main office. loves volunteers! Please call if you would like to offer yourself as a volunteer. We Can Work It Out! Parents, teachers, and administrators also have the Jinks Spirit and work together for SUCCESS. Parents can help us reach our goals by: 1. Supporting school policies, 2. Working together with the school, 3. Contacting the school regarding concerns or questions, and 4. Communicating with your child on a daily basis about their school day. If your child has a problem, please contact the teacher first. If you need further assistance, please contact guidance to schedule a conference. 3 Florida Standards Students at are provided instruction aligned to the course standards approved by both the Florida Department of Education and Bay County School Board. State standardized testing is administered in the spring. The Florida Department of Education website provides helpful information regarding the standards. Click here to access Standards and Assessment Information Student Policies and Procedures For the school year, will implement a 7 period day. This schedule will allow students to participate in additional enrichment classes. Students in need of remediation in core academic areas and/or with behavior will attend an intervention class during the enrichment period. Recurring for is a rotating schedule. Each week classes will alternate in order. The exception will be the Enrichment Period which will always coincide with the daily lunch period. Daily Class Schedule 08: School Begins 09:00-09: First Period 09:51-10: Second Period 10:52-11: Third Period 11:43 12: Fourth Period 12:34 1: Enrichment (Lunch Shifts) 01:52-02: Fifth Period 02:43-03: Sixth Period Parent Pick Up/Drop off Supervision of students begins at 8:00 a.m. Parents, please be aware that if you leave your student at school before that time, there will be no supervision available. The morning drop off and afternoon pick up area is the loop adjacent to the school off Entera Avenue. We also ask for your consideration of our school neighbors when driving around Jinks. Please refrain from parking on neighboring businesses properties. Please observe the no parking signs in the drive through on Entera Avenue. Attendance/Absenteeism Regular attendance is essential for success at school. However, if a student must miss a day, then parents are responsible for reporting a student's absence by calling before 9:00 a.m. each day the student is absent. Please leave a message on the

4 answering machine if no one answers. A student s absence will be excused for the following reasons: 1. Death in the family or other bona fide family emergency 2. Illness of the student (physician's note required if student is absent more than 5 days) 3. Appointments for medical or dental care (physician's statement required for verification) 4. Religious instruction or religious holidays 5. School sanctioned activities 6. Legal reasons 7. Approved educational trips 8. Pre-approved family leave On the day of return, the student must turn in assignments (including major or minor projects) that were given to him/her before the absence and also take any quizzes or tests that were announced prior to his/her absence. The teacher or administrator may alter this in extreme circumstances. Absences resulting from truancy, out-of-school suspensions, or expulsion will be considered unexcused. Promotion to the next grade will be seriously jeopardized when the student is absent more than twenty days. Tardiness is an interruption for the whole class. Courtesy requires that we all arrive on time and ready to work. Students inside the classroom by the end of the ringing of the tardy bell will not be considered tardy. Students who are less than five minutes late to class will be recorded as tardy to that class. The Front office will determine if a tardy is excused or unexcused. Students who are more than five minutes late to class or who leave more than fifteen minutes before the class is over will be given a Late Absence. Buses Bus schedule information is available in the guidance office and at the front desk. You can also access bus information by using the district web site. Click here for bus information. Bus regulations have been established for the safety and comfort of all students. Students should be on time at their designated bus stop and should wait until the bus is completely stopped before attempting to board or unload. Violation of the following bus rules may cause a student to lose the privilege of riding the bus: 1. Students must keep their head and hands inside the bus at all times. 2. Loud talking and laughing is not allowed. 3. Horseplay is not permitted around or on the bus. 4. Students cannot leave their seats while the bus is in motion. 5. Students are to be quiet when the bus is approaching a railroad crossing. 6. Students must get permission from the bus driver before bringing items, such as band instruments and science projects, on the bus. 7. If students wish to ride another bus or get off at another bus stop, they must complete the transportation request form and have permission from their parent/guardian. The note should include the student's full name, bus number he/she wishes to ride, and a parent's or guardian's telephone number. The receptionist will call the parent to verify the request. Verification must be completed before 2 p.m. The student should then bring this note to an administrator for approval. A written violation for misconduct on the bus will result in the loss of bus privileges from 1-10 days. Severe violations will result in immediate consequences without warning. Closed Campus is a closed campus. Once a student arrives at school/steps foot on the campus, he/she must remain on campus until the close of the school day or is checked out of school by a parent or guardian. Students leaving campus after the dismissal bell to go to a convenience store or any other location may not return to campus for club meetings, practices, to ride a school bus, attend sporting events or for car pickup, etc. Courses of Study Each student in middle school must be scheduled for six courses of study and an enrichment class. The typical middle school instructional program shall include: 6 th Grade Language Arts (Regular or Advanced) Reading (Regular) Math (Regular or Advanced) Science (Regular or Advanced) Social Studies (Regular or Advanced) *Physical Education **Elective 4

5 7 th Grade Language Arts (Regular or Advanced) Math (Regular or Advanced) Science (Regular or Advanced) Social Studies (Advanced Civics/Civics) *Physical Education **Elective 8 th Grade Language Arts (Regular or Advanced) Math (Regular, Advanced, or Algebra) Science (Regular or Advanced) Social Studies (Regular or Advanced) *Physical Education **Elective *Physical Education includes information on health. **Electives include Intensive math/reading, band, guard, Research Class and Introduction to Information Technology. Deliveries for Students Items, such as flowers, balloons or food may NOT be delivered to Jinks for students. Office staff will not accept deliveries for students and will not call them to the office to accept such deliveries. Delivery people will be told they cannot leave anything, including prepaid items. Discipline Our goal at Jinks is to prepare students to be responsible and productive citizens. Discipline is viewed as a method to teach responsibility for actions, rather than as punishment. Misconduct of any degree or frequency is undesirable and not conducive to a positive student environment. Consequences for violations of the Student Code of Conduct are determined using the Bay District Schools Discipline Matrix for Middle Schools. This matrix is located on the district webpage for parental and community reference. Field Trips / Activity No Go s Before a student can participate in an off-campus school-sponsored activity, a signed statement giving parental permission must be on file at our school. This permission slip releases the school from all liability. Students who participate in a field trip are subject to the same rules of conduct that govern their actions on campus. Additionally, when assigned to a specific group or chaperone, he/she must remain 5 with the appropriate person(s) to and from the event unless an administrator has approved alternate traveling arrangements before departure. Students and parents should remember that field trips are a privilege, not a requirement. Students not meeting academic or behavioral expectations may be prohibited from participation. Students may be placed on a No Go list for field trips or special school activities. Placement on this list may last the entire school year. Any misbehavior at school may result in a student being placed on the list. No refunds will be made to students who land on the No Go list 2 weeks prior to the event and/or when tickets for an event are purchased in advance. Financial Obligations Students may bring checks to school to pay for items such as textbooks, pre-paid lunches, yearbooks, and damaged school property. If the bank returns any check, the school will no longer accept checks from the student s family. The expectation is that refunds will require the white receipt copy. Class, Schedule or Teacher Assignments, Changes Request to transfer Students are assigned a course progression that will meet requirements for promotion from one grade level to the next. Should a student desire a change in his/her classes or course of study, the student is to schedule a meeting with his/her guidance counselor. During that time the student should share the extenuating circumstances resulting in the need for a schedule change. It is important to note that classes are not changed based on a preference to be with friends or a specific teacher. Our focus is getting students into courses needed to best address their academic needs. If an academic need arises and a parent desires to request a transfer for his/her child from one teacher to another, the following process will be used: 1. Parent initiates the request for a teacher transfer using the FOCUS form online. 2. The principal schedules a parent-teacher conference (required attendance by the parent and teacher and facilitated by the principal) to discuss the parent s concerns.

6 3. The principal renders a decision on the transfer request within two weeks of the form being received. Request to transfer from an out-of-field teacher If a parent desires to request a transfer for his/her child from one teacher to another for out-of-field reasons, the following process will be used: 1. Parent initiates the request for a teacher transfer using the FOCUS form online. 2. The principal schedules a parent-teacher conference (required attendance by the parent and teacher and facilitated by the principal) to discuss the parent s concerns. 3. The principal renders a decision on the transfer request within two weeks of the form being received. Grading System Numerical grades will be recorded on progress reports and report cards. The grading scale is: A = B = C = D = F = 59 or Below Grading practices at are based on the Bay District Schools Assessment Principles and Practices. This document is posted on the Jinks MS school web page. New for this school year is the use of a double asterisk (**) to indicate an assessment is missing. The ** will average as a zero in the grade until the missing summative grade is replaced with a student s score. A zero (0) is only used when a student has demonstrated NO KNOWLEDGE of the standard. It is important to note that at least 95% of the student s grade is based on summative assessments. Each classroom teacher has a copy of their grading procedures posted on the teacher s webpage. You can access these websites via our school webpage. Progress Reports Progress Reports are available through the District's PARENT PORTAL. Hard copy progress reports will no longer be printed by the district. Parents without internet access at home can contact the school to access PARENT PORTAL and print, as needed, their child(ren)'s Progress Report(s). Hall Pass Rule Anytime a student is in the hall and not under direct supervision of his/her teacher, he/she must have a hall pass issued by his/her teacher. If it is necessary for a student to visit a teacher s classroom before 8:55 a.m., then the student must get a pass signed by that teacher the previous day. Illness at School If a student becomes ill at school, he/she should immediately report it to his/her teacher. Parents will be contacted to pick the student up if he/she is not well enough to stay at school. This is one reason why it is vital that the student s emergency phone number be current in our data system. Injuries Students should report all injuries to the teacher in charge, regardless of the injury type or degree. Lockers Lockers may be issued for storing books and supplies. Book bags are encouraged. String Bags may be used for gym clothes. Students are responsible for the care of all books and/or technology issued to them. Gym lockers are assigned by physical education teachers. Academic lockers (located in the school hallways) are available to students by filling out and submitting a locker request form to the school office. Locker request forms are located in the school office and posted on the school webpage. Free and Reduced Meals Jinks participates in the National Lunchroom Program that allows us to serve our students wellbalanced meals at no cost to the students. Both breakfast and lunch are served daily. Medication Jinks faculty and staff are not allowed to administer any medicine to students without a health form signed by the student s parent and physician. The forms are in the main office. The school nurse or office staff will distribute the medicine according to the doctor s prescription. Each dosage will be logged daily. All medications must be stored in the nurse s office. Students are not allowed to have the medicine in their possession. Physical Education Dress A physical education uniform will be required for each student at. The uniform 6

7 will consist of a white T-shirt of full length, green pair of gym shorts, and a pair of athletic shoes. The cost of the uniform is $20. It is a practical economic investment, for it prevents wear and tear of school clothing. Uniforms may be purchased from the physical education department. Participation in the Pledge of Allegiance Florida HB 7029, signed into Law by Governor Rick Scott on April 14, 2016, amended Florida Statute by spelling out requirements. In accordance with the law, upon written request from the student s parent/guardian, Bay District students may be excused from participation in the Pledge of Allegiance. Updated provisions, effective July 1, 2016, from the FL Statute include: When the national anthem is played, students and all civilians shall stand at attention, men removing head coverings except those worn for religious purposes. The Pledge of Allegiance is defined: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The Pledge of Allegiance shall be rendered by students standing with the right hand over the heart. The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited at the beginning of the day in each public elementary, middle, and high school in the state. Each student shall be informed by a written notice published in the student handbook or a similar publication pursuant to s (2) that the student has the right not to participate in reciting the pledge. Upon written request by his or her parent, the student must be excused from reciting the pledge, including standing and placing the right hand over his or her heart. When the pledge is given, non-exempt students must show full respect to the flag by standing at attention, men removing any headdress, except when such headdress is worn for religious purposes. If you would like your student to be exempt, please contact your child s school directly. The school will advise you how to proceed with your written request. Possession of Unauthorized Items Students are not to bring items to school which disrupt the learning environment and/or prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct. The school administration shall determine if an item is 7 considered disruptive. These items and any other expensive or personal items may be confiscated. *Cell phones must be turned OFF during school hours. Parents are asked to refrain texting or calling students on cell phones during the student day. Confiscated Items Confiscated items shall be turned in to the front office immediately. The items shall be clearly labeled with the student s name. A parent must pick up the confiscated item from the front office any time between 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. only. Public Display of Affection Public display of affection is prohibited on any Bay County school campus. All Jinks students are expected to conduct themselves properly at all times and refrain from kissing, hugging, holding hands, and walking embraced. Recognition for Achievement Students are awarded for academic achievement at the end of each nine weeks and in an end of the year awards ceremony. Parents are invited to these events. Sources of Student Help If you have problems or concerns during the day, we encourage you to seek help from a responsible adult. Students are encouraged to notify their teachers, guidance counselor and/or administrators regarding their concerns. If in doubt, simply ask as we are here to help you! Student Information Florida School Law requires that we have accurate information on all our students. The student's social security number, mailing address, residence address, and a current emergency number must be on file at all times. The parent and student must be responsible for keeping the school informed of any changes by calling the guidance office at It is important that our files are updated any time a change is made! Student Insurance Students participating in sports will have to provide their own insurance. This insurance may be purchased through the school. Medicaid will not cover sport injuries.

8 Bullying Policy All students have the right to attend school and be free from aggravation by others. Students who bully other students will be dealt with severely. Students also have the right to expect freedom from any type of harassment, whether it is racial, sexual, or religious. Such behavior will not be tolerated. Anonymous reports of bullying may be made by using the FriendWatch program. FriendWatch gives you a safe and anonymous way to watch out for your friends who may need help. If you have a friend who s in trouble, go to the website and click on the FriendWatch icon to find help. It s the right thing to do! Textbooks and Library Books The student is responsible for all books issued to him/her. If a book is misplaced, the student should get a missing book form from a teacher. Payment for the lost book should be given to the bookkeeper. All books must be turned in when a student withdraws or at the end of the school term. Visitation Administrative approval is required for visitation beyond regularly scheduled school hours. Classroom visits must be arranged at least 24 hours in advance. All visitors must sign in at the attendance window before any visitation takes place. Waiting Areas When students arrive on campus, they must report directly to their designated waiting area. The sixth grade waiting area is located in the school cafeteria. The seventh and eighth grade waiting area is located in the gym. Supervision begins at 8:00 a.m.. Students who do not comply will be considered trespassing and receive disciplinary actions. Special Opportunities for Students A.S.P.I.R.E. Academic Success through Prevention, Intervention, Remediation, and Enrichment Plan Jinks offers this program to students who need to improve their math, language arts, science, or social studies skills. Jinks offers challenging courses for those who excel academically. These courses include: 6 th : Language Arts, Math, Social Science and Science 7 th : Language Arts, Math, Social Science and Science 8 th : Language Arts, Math, Social Science and Science Applications are available in the Guidance Office. Athletics Jinks Hornets play many sports to enhance their talents and entertain students and guests. These sports include football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track & field. Not only do we play at home, but we also travel and play at other schools in the district. To try out for any sport, the student cannot be 15 years 9 months of age. In order to try out, students must be regularly promoted from the previous year; with no more than one failing grade and have a 2.0 Grade Point Average, which must be maintained. To be eligible to try out for sports, students must pass 5 out of 6 classes, have a sports physical, liability form, insurance and have medical release form. Medicaid policy must be supplemented with a private policy which may be purchased through the school. The basic school policy is sufficient for sports. *Make a copy of the policy and payment plan and attach it to your sports paperwork. National Junior Honors Society Students are invited to join this organizations when they meet certain academic and social criteria. Dances All Jinks dances will begin immediately after school. Dances are for Jinks students only. Dance tickets are sold in advance. Students must remain inside the building at all times. NO ONE IS ALLOWED OUTSIDE, except when arriving or leaving. Students are expected to have rides home at the designated time. JS2S The purpose of JS2S is to help new students transition to our school and community. Pre AICE University of Cambridge Advanced/Gifted Program 8

9 Student Government Association SGA represents the student body and advocates student causes & activities. FCA FCA - Fellowship of Christian Athletes. FCA is a non-denominational Christian organization that is run by the students. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ. FCA is open to all students, not just athletes. WJMS School I.T.V. productions are planned and produced as an extra-curricular activity. Students will work with the I.T.V. sponsor before school to plan and participate in this activity. Band and Color Guard Students are provided opportunities to participate in the school band, and/or color guard. Students will need to enroll in band as an elective class in order to participate. In addition, students are expected to participate in extracurricular events and performances involving these groups. Announcements Daily announcements will be made on the public address system (ITV).. Cell Phones Cell phones may be brought to school. However, they must be turned off during school hours (9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.). They may only be turned on and used when approved by a BYOD certified teacher or administrator. If cell phones are turned on, used, or displayed during school hours they are considered as prohibited items. Arrival of Students No student is to enter the building before school without a pass. Once a student arrives on campus, he/she must remain on campus until the dismissal bell. On arrival, students shall report directly to the cafeteria to eat breakfast or their designated waiting area. 6 th grade waiting area is located in school cafeteria. 7 th & 8 th grade waiting area is inside the gym After the dismissal bell: Walkers: They must exit the campus within 5 minutes. Car riders: They must go directly to the parent pick-up area. Bus riders: They must report directly to the bus loading area. Extracurricular activities: They must report directly to their supervising teacher. During inclement weather (rainy or extremely cold days), students may be allowed to enter the building. Sixth graders will go to the cafeteria. Seventh and eighth graders will go to the gym. Bicycles are to be parked and secured in the designated area immediately upon arrival at school. Dress Code: adheres to the Bay District Schools dress code policy which may be found in its entirety on the district website at: The Jinks approved shirt colors are white, green and gold (yellow). Pants must be worn at the waist and may be khaki, or black/blue jeans. Pull over sweatshirts/hoodies must be white, green or gold (yellow). Jackets with buttons or zippers down the entire front of the jacket or coat may be any color. HELP LINES Your guidance counselor is ALWAYS available to assist you when you are facing major problems, but there are also many community agencies available to help students. Such agencies are completely confidential. For a list of available resources contact our Guidance office. Save-A-Friend Hotline: Students and their parents are encouraged to help ensure the safety and security of our campus. If you have knowledge of anything that could result in harm to any student or employee, be responsible and talk to an administrator or School Resource Officer. If you wish to report the information and remain anonymous, call the Save-a- Friend Hotline at Help to protect yourself, your friends, and your school! Show that you care... report incidents and prevent danger. 9

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12 **The Bay County School Board policies are subject to change at the discretion of the School Board. The complete School Board policies are available at each school, at the district s web site and at the Superintendent s Office at 1311 Balboa Avenue. 12