2017-2018 Taylor County Middle School Student Handbook/Discipline Code The Taylor County Middle School does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Danita Johnson, Principal 300 Ingram Avenue Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718 270.465.2877 School-wide Expectations TCMS Student Expectations C Cooperate with teachers and others A Adjust your attitude R Respect yourself and others D Discipline yourself S Succeed in school so you can succeed in life. General Classroom Expectations Teachers can be more specific with their own Classroom Expectations 1. Please be in the classroom and seated when the tardy bell rings. 2. Come to class prepared with all materials needed for class. 3. Follow the teacher s instructions and procedures in a respectful manner. 4. Complete all tasks to the best of your abilities and ask questions when you need help. 5. Be a team player and treat classmates, teachers, and visitors to the class with respect. 6. Please be courteous and remain seated until the teacher dismisses the class. 7. Fidget Spinners are only allowed when documented to be medically necessary. Hall Pass Procedures (10/10 Rule) Class time is valuable and students should use time between classes wisely. However, there will be times when students need to be out of class for various reasons. Students may be excused from the classroom with a hall pass issued by the teacher. We ask that teachers and students honor the 10/10 rule. Hall passes may not be issued but ONLY AFTER the first 10 minutes of class and BEFORE the last 10 minutes of class. Hall passes should be issued to only one student at a time.
Taylor County Middle School Attendance Attendance Expectations At TCMS, we expect our students to practice those habits that will help them be successful in school and as adults. Therefore, we expect our students to be present and to be punctual. Attendance matters. The TCMS team will collaborate with students, parents, district leadership, and community agencies to ensure that our students maintain good and academic standing. TCMS Attendance Procedures Student Absence: 1. Parents should call TCMS at (270) 465 6794 by 8:15 to report their student s absence. 2. Students should bring a parent or excuse note when he/she returns to school and give to clerk before 1 st period tardy bell 3. Absences will be marked excused or unexcused according to district policy. Check In/Check Out Procedures 1. Parents, guardians, or approved adult must check all students out who are leaving school. Please enter the FRONT of the building and report to the front counter. You will then be directed to the office to complete the check in/check out procedure. 2. Students may check in without parents/guardian/approved adult, but if tardy to school, the student must present a parent or excuse note to the clerk. 3. Any change regarding mode of dismissal must be submitted to the front office in writing by 2:30 pm, ample time to get out the appropriate notifications. TCMS School Tardy Code School Tardy: 1. A school tardy occurs as a result of being late to school in the morning (after 8:05) or from leaving school before school is dismissed (3:05). 2. A school tardy is recorded by the school clerk and reported to STATE officials for purposes. 3. This type of tardy affects student and may result or contribute to truancy. Court appearances will be determined by state law. 4. Students who are persistently tardy will be subject to loss of school privileges that include school activities, field trips, etc, as determined by the TCMS administration.
TCMS School Trip Policy In order to be eligible for any school-related trip during school hours, students must maintain a 93% rate that includes absences and school tardies. Advisors, teachers, and coaches must submit student names to the clerk at least one week prior to trip. The clerk will notify the advisor and any student who is not eligible to go on the trip. Students who do not meet the 93% eligibility may set up a parent/student conference with a the TCMS administrator to review the student s record and determine a plan to improve the student s school rate. TCMS Cell Phone/ Personal Electronic Device Policy 1. Students are permitted to use their personal cell phones while in the cafeteria, during their allotted lunch period only. 2. Students are expected to comply with the classroom teachers expectations and procedures for cell phone usage. 3. Students who do not comply with the policy or who practice inappropriate use of their cell phone/personal electronic device will be subject to the confiscation of the device until the end of the day as well as disciplinary actions determined by the TCMS administration 4. Students who use their cell phone/personal electronic device to bully, harass, embarrass, or threaten a student or staff member will immediately be referred to TCMS Administration and/or the school resource office/appropriate authority. 5. For repeated abuse of the cell phone policy, a parent conference will be set up to determine further consequences and loss of privileges. Note: The Taylor County School District and Taylor County Middle School are not responsible for the loss, theft, or destruction of personal devices that students bring on school property.
Taylor County Middle School Dress Code We should all have pride in the way we dress. We also believe in promoting school spirit with our attire and supporting a safe learning environment. Clothing that interferes with the learning of other students is not allowed. The dress code will be checked school wide by all staff during morning roll call on a daily basis. Those students not in compliance with the following guidelines will be required to change into appropriate attire. PANTS / SLACKS / JEANS / SKIRTS/SHORTS Styles shall not be disruptive/distracting to the educational process in any manner as determined by the TCMS administration. Pants/Slacks/Jeans/Skirts/Shorts must NOT contain any vulgarity or suggestive messages pertaining to alcohol, tobacco, sex, drugs, gender, gang activity, ethnicity, violence, knives, guns and/or weapons of any kind. No pajamas or pajama like attire is allowed. All attire must be worn at the waist and fit properly (No Sagging). All attire length must be within 2 ½ inches of the kneecap or below. No attire with holes above the knee is allowed. Leggings, jeggings or yoga pants will be allowed, only if worn under top attire of appropriate length.. SHIRTS / SWEATERS / SWEATSHIRTS / BLOUSES Styles shall not be disruptive/distracting to the educational process in any manner as determined by the TCMS administration. Shirts/Sweaters/Sweatshirts/Blouses must NOT contain any vulgarity or suggestive messages pertaining to alcohol, tobacco, sex, drugs, gender, gang activity, ethnicity, violence, knives, guns and/or weapons of any kind. Hoodies are permitted, however the hood may not be on the head at any time while in the building. No pajamas or pajama like attire may be worn. No bellies, backs or cleavage/chest may be showing. No sleeveless shirts may be worn. Shirts made from sheer or see through fabric are not allowed. BELTS No chains, spiked, or metal objects that can possibly be used as a weapon are allowed. (These items will be turned in to the office and must be picked up by the parent.) *If pants are not fitted properly at the waist the student must wear a belt.
FOOTWEAR Students may wear tennis shoes, sandals, open heel clogs, loafers, boots, dress shoes or flip-flops. No house shoes or slippers. JACKETS /COATS, OUTERWEAR Styles shall not be disruptive/distracting to the educational process in any manner as determined by the TCMS administration. Jackets/Coats/Outerwear must NOT contain any vulgarity or suggestive messages on the jackets pertaining to alcohol, tobacco, sex, drugs, gender, gang activity, ethnicity, violence, knives, guns and/or weapons of any kind. Jackets must be placed in locker during the school day. HEADWEAR / HAIR Hair Styles shall not be disruptive/distracting to the educational process in any manner as determined by the TCMS administration. No hats, bandanas, hoods, sweatbands, or scarves may be worn on the head, unless for religious or medical reasons as determined by TCMS administration. JEWELRY / MAKEUP / ACCESSORIES/ ETC. No leather collars / wristbands or dog collars are allowed. No spiked items may be worn. No chains connected to belts or wallets are allowed. Facial piercings will be allowed on students, as long as they do not create a distraction to the learning environment. No theatrical make-up may be used, unless related to an instructional project. No sunglasses may be worn in the building. No wild eyes contacts are allowed. All backpacks, purses, fannie-packs, etc. must be placed in lockers during the school day. Note: The TCMS administration will make final decisions regarding appropriate clothing and must approve any exception to the dress code policy. All exceptions must be pre-approved.
Taylor County Middle School Discipline Code Student Mis Protocol Administrator Response Skipping Class A student who is not where he/she is assigned to be at any given time is skipping class. TCMS A student who does not show up to class is considered skipping. 1 st offense Administrative Conference Lunch detention 2 nd offense Administrative Conference 1 period of A school and lunch detention 3 rd offense Administrative Conference 1 day of A school with student & parents about desired Repeated offenses Complete referral form in IC Administrator s discretion, i.e out of school suspension/saturday school Tardies A student is tardy to class when he/she is not in their assigned classroom when the tardy bell has sounded. If a student arrives to class more than 5 minutes late they are considered skipping (See above for skipping consequences). The TCMS administration shall initiate disciplinary action after a student has accumulated 4 unexcused tardies in one (1) class. 1 st offense Document Tardy in Teacher provides verbal reprimand 2 nd offense Document Tardy in 3 rd offense Document Tardy in 4 th offense Document Tardy in 5 th offense Document Tardy in Repeated offenses Document Tardy in Teacher provides verbal reprimand Parent/guardian Contact by teacher & administrative conference w/student Parent/guardian Contact by administration & Lunch detention Parent/guardian Contact by administration &.5 day in A school Administrator s discretion
Phones/other communication devices/electronic devices Unless being utilized for instructional purposes, all devices shall be kept in teacher designated locations. Any such item observed by school personnel, not being used for instructional purposes, shall be confiscated from the student. However, Students are permitted to use their personal cell phones while in the lunch room, during their allotted lunch period only. 1 st offense Confiscate phone from student and turn in to office on day of occurrence 2 nd offense Confiscate from student and turn in to office on day of occurrence 3 rd offense Confiscate from student and turn in to office on day of occurrence Repeated offenses Confiscate from student and turn in to office on day of occurrence The administration will hold the phone until next school day where student may pick it up at the end of the next school day. Parent may pick up the device at any time. The administration will hold the phone until 1 week after the occurrence, at the end of the school day. Parent may pick up the device at any time. The administration hold the phone until 1 month after the occurrence, at the end of the school day. Parent may pick up the device at any time. Administrator s discretion Verbal Abuse The malicious use of threatening language or profanity toward a school employee or student 1 st offense Call ext. 31010 for administrative assistance. 2 nd offense Call ext. 31010 for administrative assistance. 1 day Out of school suspension on the following school day 3 days Out of school suspension on the following 3 school days. Possible referral for counseling.
3 rd offense Call ext. 31010 for administrative assistance. 5 days Out of school suspension on the following 5 school days. Repeated offenses Call ext. 31010 for administrative assistance. Administrative referral for alternative placement. Defiance of Authority & Disorderly Conduct Refusal to comply with reasonable request of school personnel or disobeying in general (i.e., refusal to sit in assigned seat, refusal to work in assigned group, non-compliance with school and/or classroom procedures/routines) 1 st offense Administrative Conference 2 nd offense Administrative Conference 3 rd offense Administrative Conference with student & parents about desired 1 period in A school 1/2 day in A school 1 day in A school Repeated offenses Complete referral in IC Administrator s discretion, i.e. out of school suspension, etc. Fighting Students who willingly engage in physical contact for the purpose of inflicting harm on the other person. 1 st offense Separate students if possible. Call office for escort. Complete referral form in IC. 2 nd offense Separate students if possible. Call office for escort. Complete referral form in IC. 3 rd offense Separate students if possible. Call office for escort. Complete referral form in IC. 1 day Out of school suspension on the following school day 3 days Out of school suspension on the following 3 school days 5 days Out of school suspension on the following 5 school days
Academic Refusal A student s failure to sincerely attempt or complete an assignment (i.e., classwork, homework, projects, formative and summative assessments, exams, etc). 1 st offense Administrative Conference Lunch detention student must complete assignment during this time. Student will repeat lunch detention until assignment is completed. 2 nd offense Administrative Conference Lunch detention & after school detention. Student must complete assignment during this time. Student will repeat consequences until assignment is completed. Repeated Offenses Administrative Conference with student & parents about desired Administrator s discretion Academic Dishonesty cheating, plagiarism, stealing or taking pictures of exams/answer keys, providing or receiving assistance on exams or assignments unless otherwise specified 1 st offense Administrative Conference Lunch detention student must ethically redo assignment or complete a comparable assignment during this time. Student will repeat lunch detention until assignment is completed. 2 nd offense Administrative Conference 1 period A school & Lunch detention student must ethically redo assignment or complete a comparable assignment during this time. Student will repeat consequences until assignment is completed. Repeated offenses Administrative Conference with student & parents about desired Administrator s discretion
Taylor County Middle School 2017-2018 Student Handbook/Discipline Code Student and Parent Acknowledgement and Pledge The Code of Student Conduct has been developed to help your child receive quality instruction in an orderly educational environment. The school needs your cooperation in this effort. Therefore, please (1) review and discuss the Student Handbook/Discipline Code with your child and (2) sign and return the multiple consent form to TCMS. Should you have any questions when reviewing the Student Handbook/Discipline Code, please contact TCMS Principal Ms. Johnson or Assistant Principal Mr. Bond. NOTE: FAILURE TO RETURN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND PLEDGE WILL NOT RELIEVE A STUDENT OR THE PARENT/GUARDIAN FROM BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING OR COMPLYING WITH THE RULES CONTAINED WITHIN THE CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT.