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> Handbook |
2007-08 Mohave Handbook Dear Mohave Students and Parents, Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year at Mohave Middle School! Please consider this handbook to be a resource guide for you to refer to in terms of Mohave Middle School’s opportunities and expectations. Our main objective and top priority is to provide a challenging academic program in a healthy and positive learning environment. While this handbook will provide a basic outline of our general policies and procedures, it is our intention to promote responsible, respectful behaviors and attitudes based on the simple concept of “doing what is right.” Our perception of “doing what is right” focuses on being kind to one another, treating teachers and students with respect, and appreciating the many differences that exist within our community. As you review this handbook, please note the emphasis that is placed on academics, attendance and respectful conduct. Students who attend with very few absences and miss school only when it is absolutely necessary prove to be more successful in terms of their academic performance. For students to experience success, they need to be in school. Please carefully consider this while scheduling vacations, appointments, etc. In addition to our school-wide goal for improved attendance we are committed, more than ever, to a school environment that is respectful and kind. Please review the enclosed “Wildcat Pledge” and “Partnership compact” and make a personal commitment to do your part to make Mohave Middle School free of bullying, teasing, and any insensitive treatment of others. I realize that students will, from time to time, make mistakes. This is part of growing up and students must learn to make decisions in the context of pressures that exist. We expect students to learn from their mistakes and become more responsible and respectful as a result of their experiences. This, I believe happens when the school and the parents are supportive of each other and share high expectations for appropriate and respectful behavior. I am very proud to be a part of the Mohave community and believe that through cooperative, supportive, timely communication we can make the 2007-2008 school year a success. Very truly yours, Mr. Chris Sawyer Principal Academic Academic Standards •At least one hour each day should be planned for review and study at home. Some assignments will require longer hours for research and class participation. •All written work must have an appropriate heading including full name, date and class period. Assignments must be legible and on standard notebook paper. Correct grammar usage, correct punctuation and correct spelling are expected. •After-school tutoring and peer tutoring are available. Academic Eligibility for Extra-Curricular Activities All seventh graders are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities when school starts. Eighth graders must have passed all courses during the last grading period of the 7th grade. At the end of the first nine-week grading period and each grading period thereafter, students must receive a passing grade in all courses to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities during the next grading period. Classroom Interruptions We encourage you to schedule appointments for your student before/after school. Please be certain that your student has lunch, lunch money, homework assignments, permission slips, or books before leaving home. If you are dropping off lunches or other items for your student, please label them and leave them in the school office. We ask your help in keeping classroom interruptions to a minimum. Homework In order for students to meet academic standards, teachers will assign homework. The purpose of homework is to provide practice of skills and concepts, strengthen basic skills, stimulate interests, improve study skills, develop responsibility, communicate with parents and develop critical thinking skills. We encourage an established daily routine with time scheduled for homework. Honor Roll and Principal's List Students earning a GPA of 3.5 to 3.79 in one grading period will be placed on the Honor Roll. Those who earn a 3.8 and higher will be placed on the Principal's List. Honors and Awards It is important to honor students, parents, staff and community members for special contributions to Mohave Middle School and the process of education. A number of programs exist for this purpose, which include but are not limited to, the following: Principal's List Honor Roll Super Cats Sports Awards Service Awards Teacher Assistants Wiley Wildcat Attendance Good Citizen Awards National Jr. Honor Society For more information, contact the Assistant Principal or a Student Advisor. Religious Beliefs and Customs Instruction Whenever and wherever religious beliefs and customs are taught as an appropriate part of curriculum, particular attention will be paid to accurate presentation of such beliefs and customs. Such teachings will be in a setting of the appropriate curriculum and in relationship to cultures and people. Caution is exercised to ensure that such instruction is about beliefs and customs and not in support of a particular faith. Report Cards/Progress Reports Student will be issued report cards every nine weeks. Report Cards will be mailed home. During each nine-week period, progress reports will be sent home with the students. The progress report must be signed and returned to the student's Advisory teacher. Parents are encouraged to discuss academic reports with their student. If a student is failing or in danger of failing a class, a conference is recommended. Contact your student's Advisory teacher to schedule a conference. Below are the approximate dates to expect progress reports: September 12th, 2007 November 21st , 2007 February 6th , 2008 April 16th , 2008 Retention Policy The Scottsdale School District retention policy is as follows: •Three Fs during the year in a specific subject constitutes failure in that subject. •Three Fs in two of the three subjects, Humanities, Math or Language Arts, constitutes failure for the grade. * Three F’s in three of the four content areas. Students who are having academic problems will meet with their parents, teachers, and and/or student advisor. Student Agenda Books Each student will be given an organizer/agenda book at the beginning of the school year. Teachers and students will be trained to use this resource tool. Replacement cost is $5.00. Each student will learn about time management, goal setting, study skills, keeping track of assignments and appointments, recording grades and planning. Parents and teachers may record notes on the weekly assignment calendar in order to communicate on a daily or weekly basis. Students will record all school activities so parents and teachers will know commitments in advance. Textbooks Textbooks are furnished by the Scottsdale School District for Math, Science and Social Studies. Each student will receive a set of books to leave at home for homework use when available. Each student will also have the use of a book while in the classroom. In the event a textbook is lost or damaged, the student will be charged the full cost of the textbook. Remember, textbooks cost about $50 each. We recommend that you cover the books and do not loan them to anyone. Attendance Absences On the morning of the absence, parents are to call the school attendance line by 9:00 AM to report an excused absence. Any absence not verified by the attendance office during the school day will be classified as unexcused. Unexcused/truant absences will result in detention, suspension and/or referral to our School Resource Officer for truancy violation. The attendance line can be reached by calling 480-484-5200 and then dialing "1". District practice is to communicate with the parent/legal guardian when a student accumulates three consecutive days of absence, or an intermittent pattern of unexcused absences. New changes in the Arizona truancy law state that if a student is absent 5 unexcused days within a school year without documentation or parent verification, or 10% of the school year (excused or unexcused), we are mandated to report the lack of attendance to the city court, county juvenile court system or may be cited into the CUTS Court Unified Truancy Suppression program. Unexcused Tardiness: To school will result in the following progression of discipline:
Closed Campus for Students A note excusing a student from class early should be sent with the student to the office on the day of the dismissal. The time and reason for leaving early should be included on the note. The office will issue a pass to the student, who will present that pass to the teacher at the appointed time, be excused to go to the office and then be signed out by a parent/guardian. When possible, medical and dental appointments should be made outside of school hours. A student will be released only to the parent/guardian unless the school has been notified in writing or by phone by the parent/guardian. The parent, or authorized person, must come to the office and present identification when signing the student out of school. For security and safety reasons, students may not leave campus at any time without following the above procedure. The rule is in effect once the student steps on campus or arrives by bus. Parents are discouraged from taking students out at lunch or bringing fast food lunches to them because it is disruptive. Tardy Reporting Parents must call to excuse a student who is tardy. Students arriving late to school must report to the office to sign in and receive a pass to class. Unexcused tardiness may result in after school detention. Withdrawing from Mohave Middle School If, during the school year, you move from the Mohave attendance area or from the Scottsdale District, please notify the school office at least two days in advance of withdrawing so we may have time to prepare the proper paperwork. All fees must be paid prior to withdrawal and all books returned or records will be held. Communication Bus Transportation (See Code of Conduct) Bus routes will be posted in the office windows the week before school starts. Any questions regarding changing a bus route or adding a bus stop should be directed to transportation in writing. Parent Orientation An Open House (orientation night) will be held for parents in August. All parents are urged to attend. Meetings are held in each classroom to explain instructional programming, expectations for student behavior, special events and projects to expect during the year. You will receive additional information at the beginning of school in the Mohave newsletter. Parent - Teacher Communication Parents are urged to contact the school whenever the need arises. Teachers may be contacted by note or telephone by calling 484-5200. When you call, you can dial "9" to hear a directory of names, dial "0" and be transferred to the receptionist or, if you know the teacher's extension, you may dial it at any time. Calls will be returned within 24 hours. Parent-teacher conferences will be held by parent request. The Principal and Assistant Principal are always available to meet with parents or students. Parents may request a conference at any time by calling them directly. Telephone/Address Change Please notify the school immediately if there is a change in your address, telephone number, or person to contact in an emergency. This information is very important in case your student becomes ill or is injured. Visitors on Campus Parents are always welcome at Mohave. Please make arrangements prior to visiting classes scheduling with the teacher or by calling the office. All visitors are required to report to the office when they arrive on campus. A guest badge will be provided. NOTE: Student visitors are not allowed. Check with the principal if you have questions. Wildcat Community Volunteers Parents and community members are invited and encouraged to participate in the school program as volunteers. Volunteers are usually needed in all areas of the school. Many programs and special events also depend on the voluntary participation of parents. Interested volunteers are encouraged to contact the school office at 484-5200. Discipline (see District Code of Conduct for in-depth information) Note: Students who violate school policies may be denied the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities such as athletics, dances, field trips, etc. Students who are involved with an extracurricular program at the time they violate a policy may face suspension or dismissal from that program. Mohave utilizes a school-wide discipline plan to accurately and consistently track student behavior. It is a guidance-oriented tool for parents and staff to help students develop self-management skills. This plan includes a hierarchy of student consequences tied to both infraction frequency and/or the severity of the infraction. We must advocate and model the type of student responsibility, which calls for the highest citizenship and character standards possible for each student. Abusive Language and/or Behavior This includes refusal to comply with requests by any authorized adult; disrespectful manner, tone of voice, and/or body language directed toward a staff member; conduct and/or behavior which is disruptive to the orderly educational procedure of the school; and statements or actions which intimidate or injure another person. Bullying/Teasing Intimidating and/or harassing others, verbally or physically, will not be tolerated. Students who are subjected to, or witness such behavior should report it to a teacher, counselor or administrator immediately. (See Wildcat Pledge) Bus Behavior Riding the bus to and from school is a privilege. The first responsibility of the bus driver is to drive safely and obey the rules of the road. Inappropriate behavior at the bus stop before or after school or inappropriate behavior while riding the bus is dangerous and is sufficient cause for bus privileges to be discontinued. Cafeteria Behavior The cafeteria is available for students who buy or bring their lunch. School lunch tickets are no longer available. In their place is the SNAP system in which each student has been assigned a pin number. A deposit can be made to the student's account and then the student uses his/her pin number to purchase lunch. All deposits must be made before school in the morning. Students are expected to help keep the lunchroom clean, neat and ready for others to use. Security personnel, principal, assistant principal, teachers and cafeteria servers supervise the lunch area. Students should observe the following cafeteria behavior: •Line up as assigned. •Walk, do not run, push, shove or cut in line. •Sit at a table to eat lunch. •Clean up table and floor after eating. •Keep food in the cafeteria. •Maintain proper conduct at all times. •Show respect for staff and students at all times. Consequences for lunchtime misconduct may result in lunch cleanup, lunch detention or referral to office for other action. Campus Rules
Code of Conduct Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that will bring credit to themselves, to their parents and to the school. A student is expected to follow all conduct rules and any reasonable direction given by a staff member. Discipline must be maintained in school and self-discipline developed by each student. No student will be allowed to disrupt the educational process of another student. The teacher will handle classroom discipline. All students must sign the Student Code of Conduct. Detention The lunch detention program provides a direct consequence for students who misbehave in the lunch area (throwing food, cutting in line, pushing, shoving, littering, etc.), are tardy to class, or for minor discipline referrals. After School Detention (3:30-PM 4:30PM Tuesday and Thursday) Students report to the designated room after school for one hour of academic work. Teachers or administration may assign this detention. Students failing to attend are assigned additional detention. Ditching See Unexcused Absence. Dress Code The policy of the Scottsdale School District places responsibility for personal appearance and dress on the parents of students. Dress must meet the reasonable safety, health and decency standards as well as the standards of decorum that does not cause any disturbance in the educational process. • Hats are not to be worn in classrooms and must be taken off when entering any building on campus. Hats will be confiscated if improperly worn. • Appropriate shoes/sandals must be worn at all times for student safety. • No muscle shirts (low cut tank tops) or half shirts. • Shirts, jewelry, or decorations with logos or words that promote alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gangs, violence, bigotry, or sexual innuendo are not permitted. • Clothing that exposes the midsection, cleavage, or underclothing is not allowed. Tank tops/spaghetti straps are defined, at Mohave, as tops having straps that are narrower than the width of three adult fingers. • No extreme hairstyles/hair coloring (bright steaks, etc.) or body piercing and accessories deemed dangerous and/or disruptive. Hair must be a natural occurring color. Students in violation of these regulations will be sent home or parents called to obtain appropriate clothing. Repeated violation of this policy would constitute Defiance of Authority. Electronic Devices/Toys Inappropriate possession or use of an electronic device or toy occurs when such device or toy is possessed or used in a way that interferes with the orderly operation of the school or otherwise constitutes disruptive behavior. “Electronic Devices/Toys, such as Walkmans, cell phones, ipods, etc. must be silenced and are not to be used during school hours. Use of electronic devices during school hours will result in confiscation. Electronic devices are discouraged and are brought to school at your own risk. Fighting There is to be no engaging in or threatening physical contact for the purpose of inflicting harm on another person. Students watching or encouraging fight participants could also be disciplined. Students who engage in physical conflict will receive an immediate three-day suspension and will be required to mediate upon return. Good Neighbor Policy As stated in the Scottsdale Unified School District Uniform Code of Conduct, Mohave behavior policies apply to not only the school grounds, but to the neighborhood surrounding the school as well. Therefore, for any policy violations that occur in the neighborhood of the school, disciplinary action may be taken by the administration. This includes policy violations that occur while going to and from school. Gum Gum is not allowed on campus. Discipline includes after school detention. Remaining pieces of gum will be confiscated and not returned. Harassment ALL employees, students and members of the public while on campus are expected to conduct themselves at all times so as to provide an atmosphere free from harassment. Teasing, name calling and hurtful "joking" will not be tolerated. Misbehavior for Substitute Teachers Students are expected to treat substitute teachers with respect, to follow instructions and to be on their best behavior. Students who are disruptive and defiant for a substitute teacher will face immediate disciplinary action (in-house suspension). Repeat offenses will result in suspension. Physical Assault Physical assault is defined as a physical attack by one person or a group of persons upon another person, who does not engage in the conflict and who has not provoked the attack. Possession Skateboards, roller blades, motorized vehicles, are items which are not permitted on school grounds. These items will be confiscated and students may be disciplined. If roller blades are used to get to school arrangements can be made with the Prime Time Teacher or with the office. "Rough Housing" For safety reasons, wrestling, chasing, shoving, play fighting, etc., and any physical conduct that could result in injury are not permitted. Consequences will be assigned for any student engaging in rough housing. Search and Seizure School administrators may conduct searches if there is a reasonable suspicion that the health, safety, or welfare of students may be in danger. Selling on the School Grounds No one - teachers, staff members, students or parents - is permitted to sell anything on campus for personal gain. Items and money will be confiscated. Money will be donated to Student Council for campus activities. Suspension In-house suspension is used as an option to out-of-school placement. The consequence, determined by an administrator, is used as a substitute for being suspended at home. The student will be provided with his/her assignments that may be turned in daily or at the end of the. Failure to complete assigned work will result in additional days of and/or off-campus suspension. Students must adhere to strict rules while serving in-house or they will be suspended. Off-campus suspension means exclusion from school premises and school activities. These exclusions can last from one day to ten days. School work missed due to suspension must be made up and will be provided. Tardy Policy Students should be in their seats and ready for instruction when the bell rings. Parents will be notified of excessive Tardiness and students may receive detention. Teacher Rights Every teacher has the right: 1. To be treated in a respectful manner by students, parents and other staff members. 2. To not be abused verbally or physically (Arizona State Statute; class three misdemeanor). 3. To be allowed to teach in an atmosphere of learning and exchange of ideas without disruption. Unexcused Absences An unexcused absence is defined as any absence from class that has not been excused by a parent or legal guardian. Excessive unexcused absences will result in discipline action and a referral to the Scottsdale Police Department for truancy charges. Vandalism Writing, painting, destroying or carving on buildings, equipment or property of school, community or other students is not allowed. Disciplinary action will result, which may include referral to School Resource Officer. Weapons/Dangerous Items No one may possess a dangerous weapon or use an object to injure and/or threaten another person. Students found to be in possession of a weapon subject to disciplinary action immediately and will be referred to the School Resource Officer. Health/Safety Bicycles Bicycles must be parked in the designated locked compound on the northeast section of the campus. At no time are students allowed to ride bicycles on school property. All bicycles should be locked with a chain and a padlock while in the compound. The school is not responsible for damage or theft of parts when bicycles are parked on the school grounds. The bicycle compound will be locked at the time school begins and opened when school ends. Riding a bicycle to school is a privilege that may be revoked. Cafeteria Menu Prices The cafeteria offers the following lunch plans: *Combo Lunch- Students may purchase a lunch consisting of a drink, sandwich, salad and fruit for $2.25 *Snack Bar-Student may select individual items such as pizza or sandwich. The price for a drink and main entrée range from $2.00-$3.50. For breakfast – juice, donuts, muffins, milk, etc. are available one half before school starts. Prices vary from .50 to 80 cents per item. Free or reduced lunch application forms are available from the Office. Counselor/Student Advisor Each student has access to the Student Advisor. Students may request to see the Student Advisor by leaving their name on a message board outside the Advisor's office. The Student Advisor helps students with school, social and personal concerns. Parents are encouraged to talk with a counselor about any issues that may impact a student's emotional, academic or social well-being. Medications All medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter) must be kept in the Health Center. No student is to carry an inhaler unless the parent and physician have signed a release form. Under no circumstance can a student give another student his/her medication; doing so will result in disciplinary action. If you have questions, please contact the School Nurse. Opportunities Dances Dances are held throughout the school year. The Student Council sponsors these dances. Only Mohave Middle School students are permitted to attend. A permission slip signed by a parent and a school ID are needed for entry into the dance. The approximate cost is $3. Students with discipline referrals may be excluded. In order to go to the dance the student must have attended school that day. Field Trips Students must have written parent permission to participate in any off-campus field trip. Parents may be asked to support field trips in various ways, such as underwriting transportation costs, chaperoning and coordinating arrangements. Students will be transported to and from school-sponsored activities by District-operated school vehicles. Fine Arts The Fine Arts Department produces many concerts, productions and exhibitions featuring the work of Mohave students. Band and Orchestra students participate in school, district and state performances. Visual art created by students is exhibited on campus, at District Offices and in competitions such as the Honors Art Competition. Guest artists and the Artist in Residence program enrich studies and contribute to the cultural life of the campus community. Inter-School Sports Mohave Wildcat teams compete against the other six middle schools in Scottsdale. The sports opportunities for boys include soccer, basketball, baseball and track. Sports opportunities for girls are soccer, volleyball, softball, basketball and track. Pom and Cheer is available to boys and girls. All students participating in sports programs must have a yearly physical examination, completed health forms, passing grades, and appropriate conduct. Lost and Found The lost and found is located in the cafetorium. The school is not responsible for loss or theft of any personal property. It is the student's responsibility to take care of personal items. Items left in lost and found will be disposed of at the end of each semester. National Junior Honor Society The National Junior Honor Society was established in 1929 to recognize and foster academic achievement while developing character, service, leadership and citizenship. The NJHS members help the school and community while discovering and developing skills and talents through chapter activities. All students who obtain a GPA of 3.8 or above and have exemplary conduct and effort grades for three consecutive quarters may be inducted. Physical Education The Physical Education program provides a sport and fitness based curriculum for students. Students are required to wear black athletic shorts and a white t-shirt during P.E. classes. Students are assigned a locker and should provide a lock for themselves. The physical education program at Mohave is an exciting, participation oriented activity class for all students to enjoy. Pom and Cheer Seventh and eighth grade Pom and Cheer students are selected through tryouts after school starts. These groups are subject to standards of behavior and performance as outlined by the coach and school rules. The students perform at various athletic and school spirit events throughout the year. Both male and female students are encouraged to participate. Tryout dates will be announced during the year. Sports Physicals A physical examination, performed by an M.D. or D.O., is required to participate in tryouts, practices, and games in the Mohave sports program. Physicals are good for one year only. This is a change in the policy. Proof of a physician’s examination must be turned in to the School Nurse. If necessary, consult the School Nurse for a list of facilities/physicians who perform low cost physicals. Student Council The student council is a very important part of Mohave Middle School. It is an avenue of communication between the administration, faculty and students. Student council members are called on to represent the school at various functions and are regarded as the student leaders of the school. Students interested in being members should check with their advisory teacher. Student Identification Cards Early in the school year, each student will receive a student identification card with his/her photo. These will be required to ride the school bus, for entrance into special functions and other uses as determined. Students may request a replacement in case of loss for a fee of $5.00. See Mrs. Keeler to get a new ID. Yearbook The Mohave yearbook is sold during the last two weeks of school until the yearbooks are gone. Yearbook signing parties will be scheduled after distribution of the yearbook during the last few days of school.
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Education Center: 480-484-6100 website: www.susd.org |
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