After School Detention.................................................... 9

Asbestos Report............................................................ 24

Athletics............................................................................. 8

Attendance........................................................................ 4

Behavior Expectations.................................................. 11

Behavior Intervention Center......................................... 9

Book Bags......................................................................... 7

Bus Riders........................................................................ 4

Cafeteria............................................................................ 7

Calendar............................................................................ 3

Car Riders......................................................................... 4

Cheating Policy................................................................ 9

Civil Rights Compliance Plan....................................... 1

Contraband....................................................................... 7

Daily Schedule................................................................. 3

Dismissal.......................................................................... 3

Early Sign Out................................................................... 3

Field Trips/Activities......................................................... 5

Grading Scale................................................................... 2

Guidance........................................................................... 6

Hall Pass........................................................................ 21

Health Center................................................................... 6

Home/School Relationships......................................... 5

Homework......................................................................... 3

Library/Media Center....................................................... 7

Lockers.............................................................................. 6

Lost and Found................................................................ 7

Make Up Work.................................................................. 5

Medication......................................................................... 6

Mission Statement........................................................... 2

Out of School Suspension........................................... 10

Peer Mediation................................................................. 6

Principal’s Message....................................................... 2

Renaissance Reading (AR)........................................ 13

Reward Plus................................................................... 12

Student Dress and Appearance................................... 8

Student Movement........................................................... 8

Tardies............................................................................... 3

Telephone Usage............................................................ 7

Textbooks.......................................................................... 7

Time-Out Procedures..................................................... 9

Valuables.......................................................................... 7

Visitors............................................................................... 6

MISSION STATEMENT

The Burns Middle School community will strive to promote a variety of successful educational experiences in a positive, motivating environment to support the on-going educational development of our youth.

E – Eager to

A – Achieve,

G – Grow and

L – Learn in

E – Every

S – Situation

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

On behalf of our faculty and staff, it is a pleasure to welcome each of you to Burns Middle School. Our goal is excellence in education. Striving to reach this goal must be a cooperative effort on the part of the students, teachers, administrators, parents and community. As you continue your education, I hope that each of you will find everyone here to be interested in and helpful with your total growth and development. We feel that this period of your educational, physical, and social development is very important to your success in life.

This part of your life is a time of change. We want to help you as much as possible to manage all the change that will be occurring in your life in a positive way. We encourage you to study hard and to make new friends. Our best advice is to become involved in the total school program.

In order to meet the needs of our students as fully as possible, it is essential that the home and the school make every effort to communicate openly and frequently. When parents are involved in their students’ education, and good communication is taking place with the teacher, the students will benefit.

GRADING SCALE

Grading Scale and Quality Points

Numerical
Grade
Letter
Grade
Quality
Points

99-100
        A+
4.00

95-98
       A
4.00

93-94
        A-
3.68

91-92
        B+
3.38

87-90
       B
3.00

85-86
        B-
2.68

83-84
        C+
2.38

79-82
       C
2.00

77-78
        C-
1.68

75-76
        D+
1.38

72-74
       D
1.00

70-71
        D-
1.00

Below 70
        F
0.00

Report cards are issued at the end of each nine weeks grading period. Progress reports are issued every three weeks. See the calendar on page 3 for dates of progress reports.

HOMEWORK

Students are assigned homework at the direction of their individual teachers. Students who are absent for multiple days should call the school and arrange for missed work to be collected. Please give 24 hour notice to allow teachers time to collect assignments.

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2007-08

August 16-24.................................................. Planning Days

August 27........................................... First Day for Students

September 3............................................. Labor Day Holiday

September 17............................................ Progress Reports

September 28...................................... Teacher Planning Day

October 9................................................... Progress Reports

October 29.......................................... Teacher Planning Day

October 31....................................... End of First Nine Weeks

November 7........................................... Report Cards Issued

November 12...................................... Veteran’s Day Holiday

November 21-23................................... Thanksgiving Holiday

November 27............................................. Progress Reports

December 18............................................. Progress Reports

December 21-January 1.......................... Christmas Holidays

January 2..................................... Students Return to School

January 18. End of Second Nine Weeks/End of 1^st Semester

January 21................................... Martin Luther King Holiday

January 22-23................................... Teacher Planning Days

January 28............................................ Report Cards Issued

February 13............................................... Progress Reports

February 22........................................ Teacher Planning Day

March 6...................................................... Progress Reports

March 24-28................................................. Spring Vacation

April 3............................................. End of Third Nine Weeks

April 7.................................................. Teacher Planning Day

April 10.................................................. Report Cards Issued

April 25..................................................... Annual Leave Day

April 28...................................................... Progress Reports

May 19....................................................... Progress Reports

May 26................................................. Memorial Day Holiday

June 10....... End of Fourth Nine Weeks/End of 2^nd Semester

June 10............................................... Last Day for Students

June 11-12........................................ Teacher Planning Days

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days

February 22

April 7

March 28

March 27

April 25

BMS DAILY SCHEDULE

The doors to Burns Middle School open at 7:30 a.m. Classes begin PROMPTLY at 8:00 and end at 3:00. The first bell will ring at 7:55, with the tardy bell ringing at 8:00. All students should be in homeroom by 8:00. Anyone not in homeroom when the tardy bell sounds will be considered tardy.

TARDIES

Being “on time” for the beginning of the school day and remaining for the entire day are expectations for students at Burns Middle School. All students should be in homeroom by 8:00, anyone not in homeroom when the tardy bell sounds will be considered tardy. When students are tardy to school, the parent must come into the school to sign-in their student in the office.

Three unexcused tardies and/or early sign outs will result in After School Detention. Excessive tardies could result in In School Suspension or Out of School Suspension.

EARLY SIGN OUT

Any student leaving school at any time, for any reason, prior to dismissal time, must sign out in the office.

Students may be signed out by parents. Parents must come in the office and sign the sign-out sheet.

Students to be signed out by a non-parent must have parent verification before office approval is given. Students who know in advance that they will be signing out should bring a note from home giving the reason for leaving early, the time they will be leaving, the name of the person who will be picking them up and a phone number where the parent can be reached.

Three unexcused tardies and/or early sign outs will result in After School Detention. Excessive tardies could result in In School Suspension or Out of School Suspension.

DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL

First bus load and car riders are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Students should exit the building promptly and not re-enter.

Second bus load will be dismissed by announcement.

Students practicing with an athletic team, serving after school detention, or staying for tutoring should be dismissed with the second bus load.

All students should be off campus by 3:30 p.m.

CAR RIDERS

Students arriving in cars should have parents or other drivers to drive to the west entrance, circle the teacher’s parking lot, and unload riders in the front of the building. Pull all the way up as directed by staff before unloading.

Single lane traffic only due to safety.

The doors are open to students at 7:30 a.m. Students are to report to the Commons Area (cafeteria) in the mornings upon arrival and remain there until they are dismissed at 7:45 a.m.

Students that arrive after the 8:00 tardy bell should report to the office to sign in.

Students who ride in cars in the afternoon will be dismissed with the first bus group and should exit the front of the school building promptly. All students should be picked up by 3:30.

For safety reasons, students will not be allowed to load into cars in the parking area. Pull all the way up as directed by staff. Do not stop in front of the doors if there is room to pull up further.

Car riders should wait at the front of the building until their ride pulls forward.

BUS RIDERS

Students are expected to behave in an appropriate manner to ensure the safe transportation of all students.

Bus riders will be unloaded on the east end of the building beginning at 7:45 a.m.

Bus riders will use the hall located to the left of the gym to exit the building in the afternoon.

Students riding second bus load should remain in the last block class until the announcement to dismiss is heard.

Students who need to ride a bus other than the bus assigned must have written permission from the principal’s office. Bus passes should be obtained in the morning upon arrival to school. Students must have a written note from their parent. No bus passes will be taken over the phone.

ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS

Attendance in school is crucial to educational achievement and school success. The principal must assure adherence to attendance rules and regulations and notify parents of their responsibility under the Compulsory Attendance Law. Teachers must monitor and report student absences on a daily and class period basis and follow all rules and regulations concerning attendance.

Daily Attendance: To be counted present, a student must be in attendance at least one-half of the student’s school day. This includes attendance at official school activities at a place other than school, with the approval of the principal or designee.

Class Attendance: To be counted present, a student must be in attendance at least one-half of the student’s class period.

Students who arrive at school after the school day begins are to report to the office.

Excused Absences
The following constitute valid excuses for the temporary non-attendance of a child at school, provided satisfactory evidence of the excuse is provided to the principal or designee:

1. When the absence results from illness or injury which prevents the student from being physically able to attend school. When cumulative absences exceed ten (10) days, a statement from a physician is required to excuse an illness. Students with documented chronic or serious acute health problems will be exempt from this requirement for excused absences resulting from the health problems.

2. When isolation or quarantine of the student is ordered by the Cleveland County Health Department or by the State Board of Health.

3. When the absence results from the death of a member of the immediate family of the student. The immediate family of a student includes, but is not necessarily limited to, grandparents, parents, and siblings.

4. When the absence results from the student’s medical, dental or other appointment with a health care provider. A written excuse should be presented with a doctor’s signature or stamp. When possible, such appointments should be scheduled during non-school hours.

5. When the student is a party to or under subpoena as a witness in the proceedings of a court or administrative tribunal.

6. When the student or the student’s parent/guardian or custodian adheres to a religion whose tenets require or suggest the observance of a religious event. The parent/guardian or custodian must seek prior approval of the principal for such absences, and the approval should be granted unless the religious observance or the cumulative effect of religious observances is of such duration as to interfere with the education of the student.

7. When the student obtains the principal’s prior approval for participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel. An Educational Opportunities form must be completed and approved by the grade level principal before excused approval is granted. The Educational Opportunities form may be obtained in the front office.

Unexcused Absences
All absences for reasons other than those identified under the section entitled “Excused Absences” will be deemed unexcused. An absence also will be deemed unexcused unless the student’s parent/guardian or custodian provides written documentation of the reason(s) for the absence to the principal’s designee within two (2) school days of the student’s return to school. A student who is suspended for misconduct will not be considered absent without excuse for the purposes of this policy, although such absences will be considered unexcused for the purpose of make-up work and co-curricular activity eligibility. However, students suspended for ten (10) days or less will have the opportunity to take any quarterly, semester or grading period examinations missed during the suspension period.

Three (3) unexcused tardies to school or unexcused early dismissals from school will constitute an unexcused absence.

Middle School - Students who exceed the number of absences listed below shall receive no credit for the semester or year and may face retention in the same grade.

2007-08 - 8 days per semester (16 days per year)

MAKE-UP WORK

When any absence occurs, whether excused or unexcused, the student is expected to make up missed work. Students are entitled to make up work from an excused absence without receiving penalties to their marks or grades. Each school shall determine whether teachers may assess a reasonable academic penalty for work that is late due to an unexcused absence.

Students are responsible for securing and arranging make-up work from their teachers. Teachers shall help students accept this responsibility by providing information and assistance concerning missed assignments. The teacher will determine when work is to be made up.

FIELD TRIPS/ACTIVITIES

All students must have a signed official field trip permission from in order to participate in school sponsored field trips. Handwritten notes and verbal permission will not be accepted. Students who choose not to participate in a school sponsored outing are expected to be in school for that day. Students participating in or attending school activities are subject to all school rules and are subject to disciplinary action.

HOME/SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS

Communication between the home and school is a key to student success. Parents are encouraged to maintain regular contact with the school through attendance at parent conferences, attendance at PTO meetings, by checking the student planner, and by monitoring progress reports and report cards. Teachers are encouraged to communicate with parents through student planners, phone calls, parent conferences, progress reports, and report cards. The school also uses a phone calling system to keep parents informed about upcoming events.

Teachers are available for phone calls and conferences during the grade level planning time. Please feel free to contact teachers or the appropriate counselor to schedule a parent conference.

6^th grade Counselor – Angela Jenks, ext. 210

7^th grade Counselor – Ron McCollum, ext. 208

8^th grade Counselor – Shelby Myers, ext. 219

VISITORS

All visitors must come to the office to register, gain approval, and receive a visitor’s pass before visiting within the building or on school grounds. Parents/guardians who request to observe in a classroom must have prior approval from the principal or the grade level assistant principal. Students are not to bring guests or visitors to school without permission. Violators of this policy may be subject to trespassing laws and penalties.

GUIDANCE

The purpose of the guidance program is to help each individual student achieve his/her highest growth mentally, emotionally, and socially. We try to do this in several ways:

Helping a new student feel at home in our school with new teachers and friends in a different setting.

Conferencing whenever a student, a teacher, a parent, or the counselor deems it necessary.

Discussing items of concern with any student, parent, or teacher.

PEER MEDIATION

Peer mediations are conducted by appointments to solve conflicts between students. These may be scheduled through grade-level counselors, principal, or assistant principals.

Burns Middle School

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Mr. Gary Blake, Principal

Name_____________________________________

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