Student Handbook 2009-2010
Magoffin Student Handbook Information 2009-2010
August 14, 2009 — 2009-2010 Policies Student Handbook Dress Code
Magoffin Middle School
Administration & Staff
Principal- Raul Ruiz
Assistant Principal – Rossana Jayme-Haugen
Assistant Principal – Beatrice Gonzalez
Counselor Gloria Lopez
Counselor Rodolfo Torres
Special Education Coach Elena Gallardo
Literacy Leader Terry Lopez
Math Leader Moses Cortez
Diagnostician Diana Ratcliff
Librarian Dana Calloway
Nurse Marta Banning
AVID Jessica Mallari
Senior Clerk Griselda Gomez
Registrar Adela Burchett
Attendance Clerk Victoria Perez
Bookroom Clerk Terri Quintana
Computer Clerk Sylvia Monroy
Lep Clerk Yolanda Martinez
Head Custodian Arturo Ponce
Cafeteria Manager Jackie Perez
Nutrition Clerk Marie Grayson
STUDENT HANDBOOK
SCHOOL PHONE NUMBER:
MAIN OFFICE 774-4040
SCHOOL HOURS
The entrance bell rings at 7:40 a.m. and the tardy bell rings at 7:45 a.m. Early arrival at school before 7:15 a.m. is discouraged except when a student plans to receive additional instruction from a teacher. Students must have a pass to attend tutoring before school and must enter through the front of the building. Students who are tardy will be given a detention notice to serve detention the following day. Students who are late more than 10 minutes are marked unexcused by the attendance office. It is the student’s responsibility to notify parents when they are given a detention form. When the student cannot attend detention the student must bring a written parent note as to the reason the student cannot attend detention.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Excused Absences: Absences are to be excused when they result from reasons specifically allowed in Section 21.035 of the Texas Education Code: personal illness, sickness or death in the family, quarantine, weather or road conditions making travel dangerous, or special or extenuating circumstances acceptable to the Principal.
Requested Absences: A requested absence is an absence which cannot be classified as excused, but in the judgement of the Principal, make-up work may be allowed. Such requests are to be submitted in advance and in writing to an administrator.
Unexcused Absences: An unexcused absence is one which may or may not be known or approved by the parents and/or school and which cannot be classified as excused or requested according to the above definitions. Make-up work will not be permitted on any missed assignment. After 3 unexcused absences the school will file a court warning.
Effects of Absences: According to the Texas Education Code 21.041, a student must be in attendance at least 80 days during a semester in order to receive credit for a class.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE
It is necessary that a parent or guardian phone the school the day of the absence. The school phone number is 774-4040. Use the EPISD parent portal to view your child’s attendance go to episd.org.
Medical Appointments: Doctor/Dental notes are required for all medical appointments. Only 1/2 day will be excused unless the note states that the appointment took all day. It is best to make late dentist and doctor appointments if possible.
Passes to Leave Campus: No student is to be removed from the school grounds during the school day without going through the attendance office. Parents must report to the office and sign the student out. The student will not be called out of class until the parent/guardian is present. Please allow enough time to pick up student and arrive at your appointment. Students should not call or text messages parents from their cell phones to come pick them up. The school nurse/assistant principals are the only staff who can excuse students to go home. Only parents or legal guardians are allowed to pick up students. An I.D. is required of all parents before a student can be released.
Excessive Absences: Excessive absences, excused or unexcused, will most certainly reflect on student’s grades. When a student’s absences reach the point of being excessive, we will require a doctor’s note with each absence that follows. If a student is absent more than three days in a row, a doctor’s note will be required. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up work from each of their classes. Excessive absences will be filed in JP court.
Unexcused Absences: Parents/students will be sent to court for excessive unexcused absences. Parents will receive a court warning when their student accumulates three unexcused absences within a four week period or 10 days in a 6 month period.
Tardiness: Students who are tardy in the morning to class will be given detention for the following day. It is the student’s responsibility to inform parents they will be serving detention after school the following day from 3:00-4:00pm Monday to Thursday in the cafeteria. On Friday detention is 2 hours, 3:00-5:00pm. After a student is late more than 10 minutes the attendance office will mark the student unexcused. Students who are tardy due to the fault of their parents will not be excused and will receive detention the following day. If the student cannot serve after school detention the parent must send a note with the student giving the reason and the student will serve two days lunch detention.
Please note: If you feel that your child may accumulate excessive absences throughout the year due to chronic illness, such as asthma or allergies, please advise the attendance office and the nurse at the beginning of the school year. A note from the doctor will be required stating the nature of the illness. This note must be renewed each year.
TRUANCY
Truancy is any absence from school without permission from the parent/guardian and/or school officials. Action on truancy may include: zero grades for all graded work, parent contact/conference, parent escort to class or In-School Suspension (ISS). Students late to class more than 10 minutes will be marked unexcused by attendance unless documentation is provided. We will file all truancy cases in JP court. Monitor your child’s attendance using the EPISD parent portal on episd.org.
Pupil Transfer Request
Transfers from other schools are done on an individual basis and are subject to strict guidelines. We require good grades, no discipline problems, good attendance, and parent cooperation. We have the right to revoke pupil transfers when students do not abide by our campus rules.
Schedule Changes
Beginning the first 3 weeks of the Fall and Spring semester the Assistant Principals will do any schedule changes. After the 3 weeks, the principal will make any schedule changes. Schedule changes will not always be granted, especially when the six weeks begins. We consider the student and teacher when we make any changes.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM
All students will be given a lunch application form for breakfast and lunch. All parents are encouraged to fill out application forms if you would like your child to participate in the free or reduced lunch programs. Parents will be notified if their child qualifies by mail. Parents may pre-pay for their children’s lunch/breakfast in the cafeteria. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children have enough money in their accounts to eat daily. We will call parents when students owe money in the cafeteria. Breakfast is served at 7:15am and ends at 7:40 when the bell rings. Students that are late to eat breakfast will not be served. Please get your children to school on time to eat breakfast. When EPISD buses are running late we will serve those students breakfast.
Meal prices are: Breakfast Regular Price $ 1.15
Reduced $ .30
Lunch Regular $1.75
Reduced $ .40
Milk $ .40
FOOD AND BEVERAGES AT SCHOOL
Please take pride in your campus! Students are expected to keep their eating table area clean and discard uneaten food and tray items when in the cafeteria. All food, snacks, and drinks must be consumed in the cafeteria only. No food will be allowed in classrooms or to be taken outside the cafeteria. Students who take food or milk outside will be disciplined. After eating lunch students should go out side to the playground. No backpacks are allowed in the cafeteria during lunch time, students are to go to their locker and put their backpacks away. Students tend to hide food and milk in backpacks and take them outside.
VISITORS
A visitor is anyone who is not enrolled or employed at Magoffin Middle School. Persons wishing to visit the school must obtain a visitors pass from the office. Unless a person has a valid reason for visiting, permission will not be granted. Visitors will be asked to sign in and out at the front office and will be asked to show an I.D. Only parents or legal guardians of students may speak to the student. Parents cannot take students home when a student calls/text the parent to pick them up from their cell phone or other phone. Only the nurse or an administrator may send a student home. Students that go home without the school being informed will be marked unexcused absence.
VALUABLES/LOST AND FOUND
Students, not the school, are responsible for their personal property. Personal property brought to school should be properly labeled with the student’s name and kept in the student’s personal locker until the end of school. We do not recommend students bring anything of value to school lost or found items should be turned into the Bookroom. If any item has been stolen, report it to an Assistant Principal immediately. Students, please leave large sums of money and valuables at home. Students should not bring toys, CD’s, I-Pods, MP3 players, cameras, and CD players to school. These items will be confiscated and a parent must pick up these items with the assistant principal. There is a $15.00 charge for a cell phone that is confiscated.
LOCKERS
Students will be assigned a locker at registration. Sharing lockers is not allowed!! Money and other valuables should not be kept in the lockers. We do not recommend students bring items of value that can get lost or stolen! The lockers are part of the school building and can be searched by school officials. Students will also be issued a P.E. locker by their P.E. teacher. Students must buy their own locks. A sturdy combination lock is recommended. We do not recommend locks with keys because the keys get lost and the locks have to be cut. Students should give their combination to their 1st period teacher in case they forget their combination. Students should never give their combination to friends. Any books lost are the responsibility of the student and must be paid if not found.
TELEPHONE USAGE
Students are not allowed to use the telephones in the office. Due to limited phone lines, we ask for your cooperation in planning ahead. Please plan with your children when you are picking them up when they stay after school. The office telephones are to be used in cases of emergency only. Emergency messages will be handled by administration. If your child has a cell phone they cannot use the phone while on the campus from 7:40am to 2:50pm. This includes the lunchtime. The students are not allowed to call/text parents to pick them up from their cell phones, or other phones. Only the nurse or administration can send a student home. A student may use their cell phone once outside of the campus building after school.
FIRE DRILLS
A fire evacuation plan is posted in each room. Students should study the plan and become familiar with it. When a fire alarm sounds, students will immediately stand and form a single line as they leave the room. No one is to run, pass one another, or break line. The first students to reach an outside door are to hold it open until all have left the building. Students should not talk during the drill and are to remain with their class until the signal is given to re-enter the building. Students who arrive late to their classes after a fire drill for what ever reason will receive an unexcused tardy and be given detention.
HALL PASSES
Students are not permitted in the halls or about the campus unless they have a pass from their teacher or the office. No student is allowed out of class to the restroom until 20 minutes after the bell rings and not within 20 minutes of the ending bell. This is the 20/20 Rule. All teachers abide by this rule. Students asking to use the restroom should use the restroom before the bell rings in the morning, right before the lunch bell rings or during the 5 minute transition times. Emergencies are excluded from this policy. Students wandering the halls and not in class will be marked truant for that class period and be taken to court.
BUS CONDUCT
All students eligible to ride the bus will be required to show their bus ID card. The bus driver can refuse a student boarding the bus if he/she does not show the proper bus ID. Any student who is disruptive, damages the bus in any way, or interferes with the bus driver’s ability to transport students in a safe manner will be referred to an administrator. If a student loses their bus privileges, it will be the parent’s responsibility
for providing transportation to and from school.
COMMUNICATION/LASER DEVICES
Students are prohibited from bringing radios, toys, CD players, I-Pods, MP3 players, tape recorders, game boys, cameras, cassettes, and other telecommunication device that emits a signal, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor, including but not limited to cell phones to school. If a student is caught text messaging, using the cell phone, or a student’s phone rings in the classroom, outside of the classroom, in the halls, bathrooms or during lunch time the phone will be confiscated. A $15.00 fine will be assessed and a parent must pick up the phone in the principals secretary’s office.
TEXTBOOKS
Books must be covered (TEC 12.65b) by the student under the direction of the teacher. Books must be returned at the end of the school year or when the student withdraws from school. Each student or parent/guardian, shall be responsible for all books not returned by the student. Any student failing to return all books shall forfeit his right to free textbooks until the books previously issued, but not returned, are paid for by the parent/guardian. (TEC 12.65c) The student is responsible for keeping books in good condition. Writing or marking on non-consumable textbooks is not allowed. Any misuse of the textbooks due to carelessness or neglect will be considered cause to charge the student a fine for any damaged book. Fines will be imposed accordingly. Students should not share lockers or share books. Students who lend out their books and other students lose them is still the responsibility of the student the book was issued to pay for the book. Leaving backpacks unattended that have books is also the responsibility of the student the book was issued and will have to pay for the book(s).
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Counselors
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The counselors are available to students to talk whenever they need advice with academic, social, emotional, or career concerns. Students must have a teacher pass to visit with a counselor. Students should not go to the counselor without a teachers pass during the school day. Students may also see a counselor before or after school.
Nurse
Hours: 7:20 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. (Lunch 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.) When students become ill during class the teacher will send the student to the nurse with a nurse’s pass. The nurse will also store and administer prescribed medication with a doctor’s note. It is the student’s responsibility to take medication at the proper time. ALL medications MUST be turned in to the school nurse. NO medication is to be in student’s possession while at school. Students are not to go to the nurse’s office during transition time. Student’s are to report to class and ask the teacher for a nurse’s pass before going to the nurse’s office. The nurse’s office is closed 30 minutes during lunch and a sign is posted during that time. If a student needs medical assistance during her lunch and the nurse is not available go to the office for help - do not leave without checking with an adult in the office if you need help! Students are not to call/text their parents from their cell phone to pick them up if they feel sick or for any other reason! Only the nurse or an administrator can release a student to a parent. If a parent picks up the student without approval the absence will be unexcused and subject to be taken to court.
Library
The library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If a student needs to go to the library, they must have a pass from their reading teacher only! Students will be monetarily responsible for lost, damaged, or overdue books. Library opening during lunch is dependent on Library schedule.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Students may join Lobo Vision, Craft Club, Math Club or AVID in 6th to 8th grade.
7th & 8th grade students may join basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and track during the year. Students that stay busy do well in school. Get involved!
**8th grade Student Success Initiative**
The Student Success Initiative was created by the Texas Legislature to ensure that all students receive instruction to be academically successful in reading and mathematics. All 8th grade students are required to pass the TAKS grade 8 reading and math test to be promoted to the 9th grade. All 8th grade students will be given three opportunities to pass these tests.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Honor Roll
The Honor Roll is a special recognition for students excelling in academics and citizenship in and out of the classroom. Students will be recognized each six week grading period for their achievement. There are two Honor Rolls in which students are recognized:
A-Honor Roll: *Students must receive a grade of 90% or above in all subjects.
*No U’s in conduct.
A/B–Honor Roll: *Students must receive a grade of 80% or above in all subjects.
*No U’s in conduct.
*Monitor your child’s grades by viewing them on the parent portal at www. episd.org home page.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Students who are not absent during each six week grading period and will be recognized for this achievement. Students will also be recognized at the end of the year if they are not absent all year. In order to receive this recognition, a student must be present in all classes for the entire class time. Attendance is essential for student success. Monitor your child’s attendance on the parent portal at www.episd.org home page.
TUTORING
Tutoring in all Core Subjects will be available each six weeks. The tutoring schedule will be posted in the office or students need to check with their classroom teachers to see if they tutor after school. Court appointed tutoring is the student’s responsibility to get their tutoring hours as mandated by the court. Students should inform parents of the days they will stay after school for tutoring so parents know what time to pick them.
INTERNET USE
The Internet is available for student use in the library. However, a student is not permitted to access the Internet until an Acceptable Use Policy has been completed by both the student and the parent. Acceptable Use Policies must be renewed each year. Any student found using access in a way deemed inappropriate will be denied privileges and given appropriate discipline action. Computer use is primarily for academic instruction.
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher conferences are strongly encouraged through out the year. Parent should check their children’s report cards every six weeks and schedule appointment with teachers as needed when the student is failing. Please do not wait until it is too late to help your child. Please call the main office, leave your number and the teacher will return your call and set up an appointment. Visitors passes DO NOT allow parents to interrupt teachers during instructional time. There are two District scheduled Teacher/Parent conferences one in the fall and one in spring. EPISD Parent Portal is a parents’ gateway to student achievement! Parents can view their child’s attendance, progress reports, classroom grades, and report cards on line. You can contact teachers directly on line. Go to www.episd.org home page and register.
Magoffin Middle School
DISCIPLINE POLICIES
Student Code of Conduct Plan that describes the discipline requirements and penalties set forth by EPISD is available at EPISD.org. A hard copy of the Student Code of Conduct is available through the Assistant Principal and on line at www.episd.org. Students given ISS (In School Suspension) or OSS (Out of School Suspension) cannot be on campus the same day as their suspension for any campus activities or events.
It is the responsibility of all students and parents to be aware of all the rules, regulations, and standards for student behavior as stated in the Student Code of Conduct and Campus Discipline Plan. All students will adhere to the Zero Tolerance Policy implemented by the district. Students can be given a citation for classroom disorderly conduct, using profanity, or obscene gestures towards others or the teacher. Students who fight will be given a citation.
SCHOOL PERSONNEL JURISDICTION
Any adult on our campus will enforce school policies and regulations. A student who refuses to comply with directions may be subject to disciplinary action. Students who disrespect or use profanity towards any faculty/staff member will be given a citation. If a student feels he/she has been mistreated or misjudged, the matter should be immediately discussed with an administrator or counselor.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Any student involved in misbehavior at any school activity will be subject to disciplinary action. This includes school-sponsored activities away from campus. Students will be asked to leave a school activity even if they have bought a ticket for the event and will not be given a refund.
SCHOOL DANCES
Dances are for Magoffin students ONLY. All school rules will be in effect.
RULES:
1.School uniforms will be worn to all after school dances, unless otherwise stated by administration.
2.No inappropriate physical contact or sexually explicit dancing will be allowed.
CONSEQUENCES:
1.Verbal warning.
2.Parents will be notified and student will be removed from dance.
3.Loss of dance privileges for the rest of the year.
4.Even if the student has purchased a ticket and violates the Code of Conduct the student will be asked to leave and a refund will not be given.
DETENTION
Detention will be held Monday – Thursday after school for approximately 1 hour 3pm-4pm, and Friday for 2 hours 3-5pm. Arrangements must be made by the parents for transportation from school to home no bus transportation will be provided for detention students. Detention will be held in the cafeteria. Students who are tardy to school in the morning to class will be given a pink detention form to serve the following day in the cafeteria. It is the student’s responsibility to notify parents. Students who fail to serve their assigned detention will be given one day of ISS (In School Suspension) for each day they miss detention. Student’s who bring a parent note stating the child cannot stay after school will be given two days of lunch detention.
STUDENT PERSONAL SAFETY
Anytime a student feels threatened (verbally or physically); it is their responsibility to notify a teacher, an administrator, or the campus security. Every student has the right to feel safe and secure at school. Bullying, abuse, or mistreatment of students by anyone will not be tolerated. We recommend that parents pick up their children after school on time and not leave them unattended. Unattended students tend to get into the most trouble. Any off campus incidents that happen please contact El Paso police department at 911 to make any reports. Any parent has the right to file an assault charge on another student that has hurt their child. The El Paso police will send any reports to us that parents file, especially felony charges.
THROWING DANGEROUS OBJECTS/Milk/Food
Any students caught throwing a dangerous object of any kind such as a rock, regardless of size, will be disciplined in accordance to district policy. Any parent has the right to file an assault charge on another student that has hurt their child. Students who throw food at others in or outside of the cafeteria will be disciplined. Students who “milk” other students outside will be given ISS or OSS depending on the situation. For these reasons we do not allow backpacks in the cafeteria or allow food or milk to leave the cafeteria.
INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT
Students must keep their hands to themselves. Inappropriate verbal, physical, or sexual contact will not be tolerated. Students will face consequences according to district policies concerning sexual harassment. Directing profanity, vulgar language, or obscene gestures towards others will not be tolerated. Horse playing, tackling or contact football is not allowed anytime on campus. Students will face consequences stated in the student code of conduct.
2009-2010
DRESS CODE AND UNIFORM POLICY
UNIFORM POLICY
School Each grade level will have a different color shirt.
Colors:
6th graders will wear-Royal Blue/Navy t-shirts w/logo/Polo shirts only
7th graders will wear-Red t-shirts w/logo/Polo shirts only
8th graders will wear-White t-shirts w/logo/Polo shirts only
Uniforms may be bought at School Wear 4727 Hondo Pass 757-2118 or El Milagro 8500 Dyer Suite #18 751-9611.
Tops:
• Polo shirt (collar, 2 or 3-basic front button, straight sleeve or long sleeves) in grade level school color. No Polo shirts with 5 or 6 buttons with tight sleeves/puffy sleeve or designer polo’s.
• T-shirt in school colors with the school logo.
• Only solid red, white, or blue undershirts, under armor or any thin long sleeve shirt will be allowed under school shirt.
• No slogans, motifs, or other logos besides the school logo may be worn for tops. No over sized, very tight, or short shirts that cannot be tucked in are allowed.
• No P.E. gray shirts are to be worn under school uniform.
• Shirts should fit to proper size, not to small or too large.
• Shirts must be tucked in for all students.
Undershirts must only be solid Red, White, Royal Blue/Navy. No black, grey, pink or other colors allowed.
Winter
wear: Red, white, or Navy/Royal blue sweatshirts, sweaters, turtlenecks, and long sleeve shirts may be worn as the weather turns colder. No hooded sweatshirts or sweat jackets will be allowed. Outer wear described above will be allowed during the school day when the weather turns cold. Heavy coats should be left in the lockers.
Slacks:
• Only khaki or navy slacks will be allowed. All pants should fit appropriately. No baggy pants allowed (droopy pants). Pants should not fall below the waist without a belt. No jean style pants allowed, if they have outer pockets or studs they are considered jeans.
• Belts are optional. No military belts or belts with gang or metal lettering. Basic brown or black belts are recommended.
• No tight fitting pants, no sewn-in tight leg pants (skinny pants), pants may not be tucked into tennis shoes, rolled up or gathered at ankles.
• Slacks shall be appropriately sized and worn no lower than 1 inch below the waistline.
Shoes: Tennis shoes must be worn at all times due to the number of stairs on our campus. All shoes must have a back to the shoe. Slipper type shoes, boots, ballerina slippers, heals, and flip flops are not allowed. Tennis shoes are the safest shoe your child can wear.
Other: Club/organization shirts may be worn on Fridays only or as directed by sponsor/coaches. Athletic team uniform tops may be worn on game days and must be worn with a school shirt underneath. Sweatpants are allowed only in P.E. classes during cold days. Tennis shoes should be worn at all times.
In addition to the Uniform Policy, the following are NOT allowed:
• NO caps, hats, bandanas, stocking caps, head bands, hoods or similar items will be allowed in the building. If brought they must be kept in locker.
• NO Accessories, to include oversized earring hoops (quarter size or smaller allowed), long earrings of any type must not be longer than a quarter, no earrings with spikes to the back, and/or hair-picks.
• No facial piercing on any part of the face or tongue.
• No make-up (example glitter on eyes, extended eye liner, eye shadow) no stickers on any part of the face and/or accessories that are distracting or interfere with the Instructional program.
• No shaved eye brows, half shaved eye brows, shaved lines on eye brows, no unnatural hair dye or hair color including orange, pink, purple, green, gold or red.
• No flip-flop style sandals, house slippers, open-toe shoes, high heels, or clog tennis shoes. Use regular tennis shoes!
• No heavy, bulky outer coats/jackets in the classroom. Black gang related writing, religious figures, or plaid check jackets of any color are not allowed.
• No jackets with rock bands, rap figures/logos, pictures of personalities are allowed. Please buy solid colored jackets in school colors.
• No Backpacks allowed in the cafeteria during lunch time.
• Any of the not allowed items brought to school will be confiscated and not returned until the end of the year. A parent must pick up item.
P.E. Uniform:
Navy blue shorts with grey T-shirt. ALL students must have a P.E. uniform.
PE Uniforms may be bought at School Wear 4727 Hondo Pass 757-2118 or El Milagro 8500 Dyer Suite #18 751-9611.
UNIFORM DISCIPLINE POLICY
• During each class period and throughout the day teachers are to check daily dress code compliance.
• Uniform violations such as military belt, wrong shirt, or wrong pants will be handled by the teacher who will write a referral and send the student to the office. Administration will try to contact parent for change of clothes.
• If no parent contact is made student will be placed in ISS (In School Suspension) for the day.
We do not expect problems with the Uniform Dress Code Policy if students comply with the dress code.
The El Paso Independent School District does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military status, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Inquiries concerning the application of Titles VI and IX, and Section 504 should be referred to the District Compliance Officer, Vincent Sheffield, at (915) 779-4015; 504 inquiries regarding students may be referred to Cecelia Whitman at (915) 755-2109.
