Crestdale Middle School We Dare To Be Great A North Carolina School to Watch Rhonda Houston Principal Student Handbook 2010-2011 940 Sam Newell Road Matthews, NC 28105 Office: 980-343-5755 Fax: 980-343-5761 http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/crestdale/ This agenda belongs to: NAME ADDRESS CITY ZIP CODE PHONE HOMEROOM TEACHER 1
WELCOME The administration and staff of Crestdale Middle School welcomes you and your family to what we know will be an exciting and productive school experience. In these, the middle school years, students will need to assume a much greater share of the responsibility for their decisions and actions than was the case in elementary school. You need to take the time to become familiar with the rules and to understand that they have been created to promote a safer and more productive school climate, which is necessary for success in school. The goal for Crestdale Middle School is for each student to achieve his/her greatest potential. To reach this goal, there must be a cooperative effort on the part of the students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community. We urge your cooperation in this venture and assure you that the results will be well worth the effort. Let s all strive to make Crestdale Middle School the best middle school in the world. At Crestdale Middle School We Dare to Be Great. PHILOSOPHY At Crestdale Middle School, much care has been taken to provide you with a rigorous academic program, a rich and diverse selection of exploratory experiences, and a variety of extracurricular activities designed to stimulate continuous growth throughout the middle school years. We recognize that through a partnership with students and their parents, we can ensure students positive development as well-rounded people and provide an effective transition between elementary and high school. We believe that all students can and will learn. In order to make this possible, we are committed to building, with students and their families, a school community that enhances learning and promotes positive social interaction among all members. MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCEPT Middle School is a special way of thinking about students and their instruction. It does not require a set grade span or a new building, but it does require a dedicated staff of professionals who believe that all students can and will learn, given the appropriate opportunities. The primary focus of the middle school program is to promote academic achievement, personal development, and good citizenship in a safe, caring environment conducive to teaching and learning for all students. STRUCTURE At Crestdale, the team concept is at the heart of our school. Each year, students are assigned to an academic team. Although these teams may include different numbers of students and teachers, they have in common the desire to support students and help them to be successful. Your team teachers will take a special interest in you, both as an individual learner, and as a member of the total team. They will monitor your progress in all areas, help you when you need a hand, and together with the other students on your team, function much like a second family. You will be responsible for making a positive contribution to this community, to receive all suggestions and directions appropriately, and to act on them promptly. Within the team, the grade level, and our school as a whole, you will have many opportunities to share in the leadership and decision making that influences your day. The maturity with which you exercise that leadership will determine the quality of your experience on the team, and in our school. Many of our students are athletic fans. You know that the success or failure of a team, whatever the sport, rests on its ability to work together toward common goals. You will find that the quality of your game your experience at Crestdale will depend to a great extent on the quality of your teamwork. We are here to support you, as good teammates should. You need to be sure to let us know if there are ways in which we can help you be happier, more comfortable, and more productive. Our number one goal is to ensure that you are successful in learning and in everything that you choose to do. We expect you to give us the same degree of loyalty, dedication, and effort that would be due any winning team by its players. ABSENCES--EXCUSED Valid conditions for excused absences include: Illness or injury of a student, death in the immediate family, quarantine, CMS approved religious holiday, doctor s appointment, court or administrative proceedings, and approved educational leave. (Form 5123.21 must be completed and approval obtained from the principal in advance). When the student returns to school after an absence, he/she must bring to the homeroom teacher, a note signed by the parent/guardian indicating the date(s) and reason for the absence. ABSENCES--UNEXCUSED Unexcused absences include: inclement weather, car trouble, lack of heat or electricity, missing the bus, babysitting, oversleeping, truancy, no written excuse, unnecessary delay in reporting to school when transferring to a new school, class cutting, and work. Students whose absences are deemed unexcused by the school administration may lose the privilege to make up work missed. ACCIDENTS OCCURRING ON CAMPUS In the event of a serious accident, cut or injury occurring on campus to a student or visitor, immediately notify the principal or assistant principal so that an accident report can be completed. This report must be completed within a 24-hour 2
period and signed by the principal. Forms may be obtained in the main office. ATHLETICS Crestdale Middle School will sponsor the following athletic teams: fall sports (girls volleyball, girls softball, football, and golf), winter sports (boys and girls basketball), spring sports (boys and girls track, boys and girls soccer, baseball) and cheerleading. Students in grades 7-8 may participate. Student athletes must maintain a 2.0 GPA, meet attendance requirements, and have excellent behavior. Student athletes are expected to be leaders on and off the athletic field. Dismissal from athletic teams will result if inappropriate behavior occurs in the classroom and/or on the athletic field and if academic expectations are not met. BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System s behavior guidelines are strictly enforced at Crestdale Middle School. These guidelines will be communicated to all students and parents at the beginning of the school year and will be discussed thoroughly in an assembly during the first week of school. Quarterly discussions of behavior guidelines will also take place. These guidelines are posted in all classrooms and can also be found in the Student s Rights, Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook your child will bring home. BUS RULES The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education provides transportation to and from school for most Crestdale students. Students who take advantage of this transportation are expected to be quiet and orderly on the school bus. Students must remain seated while the bus is moving. Students may talk quietly but must avoid shouting or making unnecessary noises. Students also need to keep their hands, feet, and objects to themselves. No food or drink is allowed on the bus. It is imperative that students wait at the assigned bus stop in a safe and orderly manner. Students who distract the bus driver or are disruptive on the school bus will be reported to the principal/assistant principal. The principal/assistant principal will then determine what disciplinary action is necessary. The student may lose his/her privilege of riding the bus for a period of time. Parents and students must understand that the bus driver s task is an extremely demanding one and that the driver deserves and needs cooperation and respect. Students are expected to ride the assigned bus to and from school. We are aware that situations arise when a student will request permission to ride on a different bus. This should be arranged in advance with a note from home, requesting such a change, and must be taken to the grade level Assistant Principal in the morning to receive approval. CAFETERIA RULES The Crestdale Cafeteria provides hot lunches for students and staff on a daily basis. All food is to be eaten in the cafeteria and is not to be taken to other parts of the building or grounds. If an accident or spill should occur, materials may be obtained from the custodian to clean the area. Soft voices should be used at all times. Good manners are expected at all times. Items purchased require a tray. Students may go through the lunch line only once. Once in your seat, stay seated. Leave tables and areas around the tables clean. Cooperation from every student is needed to keep the cafeteria and school looking its best. CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL Cancellation of school takes place only during circumstances such as extreme weather or equipment failure. Central Office personnel and administrators are aware of the hardship which can be caused by an abrupt cancellation. If school is closed or dismissed early for the day, an announcement will be made on the local radio and/or TV station and the CMS Website. Please listen for the announcement and do not call the school. Be certain that you and your child have made emergency plans in advance. CONFERENCES Conferences to discuss your child s educational/social needs may be scheduled through your child s team teachers or counselor. During the regular day, teams of teachers have a scheduled team planning time. Teachers may also be available before and after school. After conferences, parents should talk with their child about the results and make follow-up contacts with the teacher. Often, students misunderstand situations, and simple communication between teacher and parent will solve a problem. DRESS CODE Students at Crestdale Middle School are expected to be neatly dressed and well groomed at all times. Failure to follow the basic regulations listed below will result in parents being called to bring appropriate clothing, a change of clothing may be offered to the student or possible student assignment to ISS/OSS for the day. 1. Students must wear shoes at all times. 2. Slashed clothing, tight spandex type clothing, sheer, lace, halter tops, tank tops, sunglasses, hats, bandanas, head bands and chains are not allowed. 3. All walking shorts, skirts and dresses must be a length that is not too revealing and/or causing a disruption. 4. Students are not allowed to wear clothing with derogatory, terroristic, or insulting messages. 5. Clothing with advertisements for drugs, alcohol, or tobacco is prohibited. 6. Tights or leggings can only be worn when top garment is approaching knee length. 7. Students are prohibited from wearing any items or wearing items in a way that are determined to be related to gang identification 3
8. Students are not allowed to wear clothing that sags below the waist. The waist of clothing must be at the body s waist. Shirts must completely cover the midriff area. 9. The following items WILL NOT be worn at school: bedroom shoes, pajamas, straps that are less than 3 fingers wide, clothing with holes and rips above finger tip length, oversized shirts and pants, doo- rags and scarves. EARLY DISMISSAL A student is counted absent if he/she leaves before 11:30 a.m. or arrives after ll:30 a.m. If you must leave school before 3:00 p.m. for a medical/dental appointment or some other valid reason, please follow this procedure to ensure all students receive uninterrupted, quality instructional time: 1. Student must bring a note signed by parent/guardian to the Student Services Office at the beginning of the school day and will receive a pass to leave class at the specified time. 2. Parent/Guardian will come to the Student Services Office at the time of early dismissal, fill out the student s attendance card, and wait for the student to arrive. Remember, parents/guardians will be asked to show a driver s license or picture I.D. 3. If for any reason the note is forgotten by the parent or student, or if prior notice is impossible (i.e. doctor appointment work-in, etc.) please call the school at 980-343-5755 to verbally request an early dismissal. If the time frame allows, your child will be called to the office during the Class Change and given an early dismissal pass. 4. If you choose to pick up your child without following the early dismissal guidelines, you will be asked to wait until the end of the current class period to avoid interrupting instruction. 5. If your child fails to arrive at the designated time, he/she will be called from the classroom at the end of the class period. It is the student s responsibility to remember an early dismissal. 6. No student will be called out of class for an early dismissal. 7. Students will not be released to older brothers or sisters without the parent notifying the school in advance EDUCATIONAL LEAVE Absences from school for reasons other than illnesses are strongly discouraged. In the event that such an absence is unavoidable, a parent may apply (in advance of the absence) for educational leave for a student if there is educational merit to the trip. Students will be required to make up any additional work that is missed. EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS At Crestdale Middle School we will focus on the seven characteristics of an effective school: 1. a clear and focused mission 2. a safe, orderly and clean environment 3. high expectations for students and staff 4. strong leadership by the principal 5. frequent monitoring of student progress 6. an opportunity to learn with high time on task 7. positive home/school relations EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Fire drills are conducted each month, tornado drills are conducted each year, and lockdown drills are conducted periodically throughout the year. Detailed escape plans for fire drills are posted in each classroom showing the exit route. Students are not permitted to talk during an emergency drill and are to obey all instructions given by staff members. Students are expected to exit and re-enter the building in a quiet and orderly manner. Disaster drills are performed to instruct students about safety rules to follow during a hurricane or tornado. Disaster drills are announced over the public address system. Students should report to their locations as indicated by their teachers. Students will be instructed to get into a duck and cover position and remain there until the conclusion of the drill. EMERGENCY INFORMATION In case of an emergency, each student is required to have on file, in the Student Services Office, the following information: parent/guardian name, complete and up-to-date address, home phone and parent work phone numbers, emergency phone number of a friend or relative, physician s name and phone and medical alert information. The school should be notified if there are any custodial rights or legal responsibilities in regards to our students. FIELD TRIPS Field trips within our county and to nearby points of interest are scheduled by various classroom teachers throughout the school year. These field trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and to introduce students to the resources of the community. Parents will receive notices of field trips well in advance of the scheduled trip date and will be asked to sign field trip permission forms. Sometimes a small amount of money may be requested from each student to help defray transportation or facility use cost. CMS GRADING SCALE 93 100 A 85 92 B 77 84 C 70 76 D Below 69 F 4
HEALTH ROOM Students must have an authorized pass from their teacher to report to the Health Room. Students who report to the Health Room, but whose parents cannot be reached, will return to class within fifteen minutes, except in extreme emergency. The Health Room is merely an emergency station and is not equipped to take care of serious illnesses. In accordance with CMS Guidelines, school personnel are not permitted to dispense any over the counter drugs such as aspirin, Tylenol, ointments, or salves. If a student is required by a physician to take medication at school, he/she is to bring the medication in its original prescription bottle to the Main Office with a form signed by the physician and parent. This form is available in the Main Office and in your Student/Parent Handbook. HOMEWORK Homework is important and is an extension of the learning that takes place in school. Homework can provide practice and drill that reinforces classroom learning and provides opportunities for independent study, research, and creative thinking. Parents can help their child by arranging a quiet, comfortable place for the student to work and by seeing that assignments are completed. This student agenda should be the vital communication link between school and home, as it relates to homework. Each grade level will distribute homework guidelines at the beginning of the school year. Please support your child by ensuring homework is completed when it is assigned and turned in to the teacher. INSURANCE A school accident policy is available for all students. It is the Board of Education s policy that any student who participates in sports activities or cheerleading is required to show proof of insurance coverage. The insurance covers accidents that occur during the regular school day for all school sponsored activities. Additional coverage (24 hour) is available at a higher fee. At the beginning of each school year, a letter is sent to parents, which explains the cost and extent of the student insurance coverage. Applications are available from homeroom teachers. When purchasing insurance, a separate check must be made payable to the insurance company. LATE ARRIVALS When a student arrives late to school, he/she must bring a note signed by the parent/guardian indicating the reason for the late arrival. A parent/guardian is then required to sign the student in at the Student Services Office. If a student is arriving late on a consistent basis, he/she will be required to make up this time during after school detention. LOCKERS Each student is provided a locker for a rental fee of $2.00. Students and parents will need to sign and return the locker agreement form located on the back of the CMS Student/Parent Handbook. The homeroom teacher assigns lockers. Students are responsible for keeping their lockers clean. Any locker malfunction should be reported to the homeroom teacher. Students are cautioned against sharing their locker combinations with each other and are warned NOT TO KEEP MONEY OR VALUABLES in lockers. The school cannot be responsible for items lost, stolen, or misplaced. Periodically, there will be scheduled locker checks. School officials also have the right to make unannounced, random locker checks. Students are not allowed to apply individual locks (combination and/or key locks) to their lockers. LOST AND FOUND Items that are lost, such as articles of clothing, book bags, and lunch boxes should be placed in the lost and found area located in Student Services. Small items should be turned into the Main Office. If you lose an item, you may check Student Services between classes (this is not an excuse to be late to class), before or after school, or on the way to and from lunch. Please label your coats, gloves, sweaters, purses, sports equipment, etc. This will help us to identify the owner if items are in the lost and found. Be sure your textbooks have your name, in ink, in the appropriate place inside the front cover to avoid lost book charges at the end of the year. MAKE-UP WORK Students who are absent from school are responsible for all work and information missed in each class. In the case of anticipated absences of more than three days, assignments may be requested through the child s grade level counselor. Requests received by 9:00 a.m. will be communicated to teachers that day, and work may be picked up at the Front Office after 3:00 p.m. the following day. Assignments for absences of shorter duration may be obtained by contacting a classmate by telephone or by making a request from teachers upon returning to school. Missed work, which is not made up, will result in a grade of 0 being averaged into the quarter grade. Students will have five days after returning from an absence to make arrangements for the completion of makeup work and missed tests. Assignments that were previously assigned and due during the absence must be turned in the day the student returns to school. MEDICATIONS Absolutely no medication is to be kept in the classrooms. If a student is taking a prescription medication, the student must obtain an authorization form, located in the Main Office, to be filled out and signed by parents and physician. A record will be kept of the date and time medication is given to each student. MONITORING STUDENTS ACADEMIC PROGRESS To allow parents to monitor their child s grades, teachers will send home progress reports midway through each quarter. This report will give students and parents an opportunity to make plans for improvement prior to receiving a final quarterly grade on report cards. Between progress reports and 5
report cards, parents can monitor their child s grades by accessing the NC Wise Parent Assistant. Passwords are sent to parents yearly and can be obtained in the Student Services Office. Parent Assistant allows parents to view their child s grades and class attendance. PARENT TEACHER COMMUNICATION Good communication between home and school is an important element of the educational process. This communication, especially if initiated early in the school year, can be a positive force in the student s academic and social growth. Part of that early communication is the Fall Open House held at Crestdale, where parents and teachers meet. PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS For a student to be promoted to the next grade, he/she must pass each of the core academic classes (language arts, math, social studies, and science) with at least a D average. Students in the 8 th grade must also meet the Gateway Standards of scoring a level 3 or 4 on the End of Grade Reading and Math and Science Tests. SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Counseling services are available for each student in the school. These services include assistance with educational planning, occupational information, study skills, schedule problems, help with home, school or social concerns, or any questions which a student may feel that he/she would like to discuss with a counselor. Parents may arrange appointments for counseling services with the counselors by calling the school. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM The purpose of the School Leadership Team (SLT) is to serve in an advisory role supporting the principal as the school s instructional leader. The SLT will advise the principal in four critical areas: planning, management, communication, and evaluation. It will create a student-centered partnership of parents/ families, teachers/staff, and the principal. It will also serve as a liaison to empower parents/families, teachers/staff, and the principal to provide an ongoing forum for development of a meaningful home-school partnership. Parent members of the SLT will be elected. STUDENT MESSAGES To avoid classroom disruptions, phone calls from home to school will be handled on an emergency basis with permission granted by the principal. If you need to leave your child a message, please call the school and the student will be called to the office at the end of the school day to receive the message. The Main Office cannot accept flowers, gifts or balloons for students. TARDY TO CLASS Students are expected to be in class on time. All tardies to class will be considered UNEXCUSED unless an explanation signed by the teacher or staff member is presented upon entering the class. In-school suspension (ISS) will be used for students who develop a pattern of excessive tardiness. Parents will be notified of tardy problems and assignment to ISS. SCHOOL TELEPHONE USE We encourage parents to work with us in requiring students to make all transportation arrangements necessary for after school activities prior to arriving to school. This teaches responsibility and planning. Students are to obtain a pass from their teacher to use the phone. The optimum time is during class transition or lunch. The telephones in the office area are business phones and are not to be used by students unless directed to do so by the office personnel. Faculty members or students will not be called out of class to answer the telephone, except in case of an emergency. If you wish to talk with a faculty member, please call before school, during a planning period, or after school. Students are allowed to have cell phones on campus; however, they must be turned off during the hours of 7:15 3:15 and not visible. Cell phones that are in use during the school day will be confiscated. The first time a student violates this policy, his/her cell phone will be confiscated for 3 school days, on the second violation, the cell phone will be confiscated for 5 school days and on the third violation, the student will lose the privilege to have a cell phone on campus. A confiscated phone will be returned only to an adult. TESTING Our school follows the State Testing Program. Students in grades 6 through 8 will be given an End of Grade test in Reading and Math, and an End of Course exam in Algebra. Students in 7 th grade will take North Carolina Writing Assessments. Students in 8 th grade will take the North Carolina Computer Skills Test and an End of Grade Science Test. TEXTBOOKS AND STUDENT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS At the start of the school year, students are issued textbooks for all classes. These books are school property and are increasingly expensive. Every precaution, including covering the books, should be taken so that the books may be used for as many years as possible. Students should be certain that their first and last names are written in the front cover in ink, as soon as they receive their books. If a textbook is misused or lost, the student will be required to pay the replacement cost of the book. If the first book is lost and a second book is needed, the first book must be paid for before the second book is issued. At the close of the year, students will be charged for the cost of any book they were issued which is not returned, even if another book is now in their possession. All fines for 6
lost and damaged text and library books, overdue library fines, lunch money, and other financial obligations must be paid before the end of the school year. VISITORS Visitors and parents are always welcome at Crestdale. All visitors should report to the Main Office and obtain a visitor s pass or a school volunteer pass in accordance with the CMS Board policy. Tours for prospective students and their parents may be arranged through the Student Services Office. Students are not allowed to bring friends or same age relatives to school to spend the day. To observe a class, please make arrangements with the grade level administrator at least 24 hours in advance of the observation day. ELECTRONIC DEVICES Electronic devices (MP3 players, Ipods, Gameboys, etc.) are not allowed on school property including the school bus. Those items will be confiscated by an administrator and held for pick-up by an adult. PROPER USE OF CELL PHONES Improper use of the cell phone such as texting from class to class, texting parents during school, taking photos during school, but not limited to photoing testing and instructional materials may warrant a consequence as noted in the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. In compliance with federal law, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability. 7