Also see... CHILLICOTHE R-II SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC NOTICES

CMS STUDENT HANDBOOK 2007-2008

DAILY SCHEDULE
The school day at CMS will begin at 8:10 a.m. Each of the class periods during the day will last approximately 50 – 54 minutes. Since no bells will ring to signify the beginning or ending of a class, students must listen closely to their teachers for dismissal times. First period class will begin at 8:10 a.m. School will dismiss at 3:10 p.m. The Middle School building is closed at 3:40 p.m. to all students not under the direct supervision of a teacher.

EARLY ARRIVAL
Students should not arrive prior to 7:45 a.m. each day. When students arrive they will be required to stay in the area designated for their grade level.

LEAVING SCHOOL
Once a student arrives on school property, they are not to leave school at any time without permission from the office. Students are to check out at the office when they leave for appointments, emergencies, etc. It is equally important that students check in at the office when returning to school. Students who fail to follow this policy will be considered truant from school.

POP, JUICE, AND CANDY MACHINES
Pop, juice and candy machines may be provided for student use during after-school hours in the commons. All pop and candy are to be consumed in the area where it is purchased. It is not to be taken into the classrooms, gyms, or on the bus after school. Make sure all trash is taken care of properly. These machines may be available for student use as long as students care for them properly and follow these guidelines. If you have a problem with one of the machines please contact the nearest office.

LUNCH PROGRAM
Lunch is provided for the students in the cafeteria. The meals are well-balanced and meet the guidelines of the national school lunch program. All students are to report to the cafeteria immediately upon the teacher’s dismissal to lunch, even if they bring their own lunch or choose not to eat the school lunch. Milk and a-la-carte items are available for all students to purchase. The cafeteria is a very busy place. It is essential for students to conduct themselves appropriately while in the cafeteria. Students who run, are loud, or fail to clean their area will be dealt with through the student discipline code.

STUDENT I.D./BREAKFAST/LUNCH CARD SYSTEM
At the beginning of the school year all CMS students will receive a picture I.D. which will also be used as a lunch card. Students will be required to wear their I.D. in a visible place, preferably on a lanyard around their neck. Students who fail to do so will receive a lunch detention and will add to their discipline point total. The student I.D. is not to be marked on, cut, or defaced in any manner. Students destroying their I.D. will be charged $5.00 for a replacement I.D. Students who need a replacement I.D. need to report to the East office before school to get their name placed on a list to get a new card. They will need to check back after first hour to pick up their printed I.D. According to federal guidelines the students will be issued up to five replacement cards for lost cards. Once the five are used the student will pay $5.00 for each replacement after that. Cards that are defaced or destroyed will automatically require $5.00 for a replacement. Student I.D.’s are a valuable tool in helping with school security and are required at CMS.

Students will use deposit envelopes to make deposits in their breakfast/lunch account as needed. Charging breakfast or lunches on an account with a zero balance will not be allowed. Students will need to be responsible for maintaining their own lunch account.

HEALTH SERVICES
If a student becomes ill at school, they should report this immediately to a teacher or the office. If it is deemed necessary, the student will be referred to the health office where a nurse is on duty. The health room staff will notify the office if it becomes necessary for the student to leave school. In order for a student to be dismissed during the school day due to health reasons, parental permission must be obtained. School officials should be made aware of any health concerns that require special attention.

MEDICATIONS
All prescription medications being taken by students must be cleared through the office by the parents. The will be monitored through the nurse’s office. All medications a student requires, no matter how minor they appear, must be dispensed in the nurse’s office. Students violating this policy can expect serious consequences.

ATTENDANCE
The Chillicothe R-II Board of Education finds that regular school and classroom attendance is key to satisfactory achievement within the school district’s curriculum and that attendance has an independent academic value which examinations or other evaluations do not fully measure. Consistent attendance by all students also has a profound effect on the district’s resources, which in turn, affects the quality of instruction and student achievement district-wide.

Students who fail to meet the districts standards for attendance are presumed to have failed to satisfy a necessary academic prerequisite to credit or promotion, unless the instructional staff of the district review the student’s case and find that the student has academically mitigated the effect of the absences.

To earn a passing grade or credit in a credit-based course, or to be considered for promotion in the middle grades, students who have missed school in excess of:

• 6th – 8th seven (7) days per semester
• 9th – 12th six (6) days per semester
• Must have their cases considered under Part III of this policy.

Students who miss in excess of the attendance limit could be considered “at risk” of potential failure, retention and/or eventually becoming a dropout. In order to assist all students in school success, the district will offer Saturday school for academic review, study, and preparation for academic programs. After exceeding the absence limit, all days must be made up at Saturday school.

VISITORS
Students from other schools are not allowed to visit the Middle School during regular school days. Visitors are welcome to our school, however, no visiting students will be permitted to remain in the building unless accompanied by an adult and advance permission is granted through the office. All adult visitors to CMS are required to check in at the office upon arrival to obtain an identification badge to be worn during their visit at the Middle School.

LOCKERS
Chillicothe Middle school has nearly enough lockers for each student to be assigned their own locker. Lockers will be assigned and managed through a classroom teacher. Once a locker assignment is made, students are not allowed to switch without the consent of the office and the assigning teacher. Records of all student locker numbers and combinations are kept in the office for reference when books are needed during a student’s absence. School issued locks will be made available to every 7th and 8th grade student. Students will be required to properly use and maintain their lock and locker. Only school issued locks may be used on school lockers. The lockers are property of the Chillicothe R-II School District and they may be entered by school personnel at any time it is deemed necessary. Students who lose locks or damage a locker will be held responsible for replacement or repair.

STUDENT ACTIVITY TICKETS
All CMS students are given the opportunity to purchase an activity ticket. This ticket allows the student entrance into all middle and senior high home athletic events with the exception of district and state tournaments.

SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS
In the event of severe weather, school may be cancelled or dismissed early. If this occurs, local radio and television stations will be notified. Please use these sources for information regarding cancellation of school or school related activities.

BUS STUDENTS
Middle School students are to board and leave buses only at such places as designated by the director of transportation and the bus driver. Upon arrival at CMS all students are expected to remain in their assigned portion of the building at all times.

SCHOOL TELEPHONE
The telephones in the office are important to the school as an outlet to parents, school related businesses and even emergency personnel. It is important as an inlet to parents and others who need to contact school personnel on school related matters. It is for this reason that student use of the office phone must be restricted. Only student calls that are absolutely necessary will be allowed, and students will not be called from class to answer the phone. No long distance calls are to be made on the school phone.

CELL PHONES/TEXTING
Students are not allowed to have their cell phones on during school hours. In certain classes such as P.E. cell phones are not permitted at all due to security concerns. Text messaging at any time during school requires the phone to be on which is a violation of school rules. Those who choose to violate this rule will have their phone confiscated and will face consequences which will accumulate discipline points in the CMS Assertive Discipline plan.

SOLICITATION
Distribution of literature, announcements, posters, bulletins, etc. by any individual shall not be permitted on school property without approval of the school principal. Commercial solicitations are prohibited.

FINES
Students who damage or lose school issued books, locks, athletic or band equipment, or other items, or fail to pay library fines or other bills, will have their name placed on the fine list. Fines should be paid at the office or with the teacher as soon as notice of the fine is received.

HONOR ROLL
A Principal’s Honor roll and a CMS Honor Roll will be published at the end of each quarter to recognize those students who have earned the honor. The standards for the Honor Rolls are as follows:

• Principal’s – G.P.A. of 9.5 – 11 (A- to A)
• CMS – G.P.A. of 8.0 – 9.499 (B to B+)

STUDENT DRESS CODE
The purpose of the Chillicothe Middle School dress code is to ensure that all students are able to attend school in an environment that is free from the distraction of inappropriately clothed students. It is not our intention to infringe on the individual student’s right to freedom of expression but rather to encourage students to “dress for success” and to come to school properly prepared to participate in the learning process. Although the listing given below details items that are not allowed, the teachers and administration reserve the right to determine that other items not listed here are causing interference to the educational process and therefore will not be allowed.

• No hats, sunglasses, handkerchief head scarves or headbands.
• No midriffs are allowed – the midsection should always be covered.
• Appropriate shorts may be worn. They will be disallowed if they are too tight or too short. Shorts are appropriate in length if they are worn at mid-thigh. For the purpose of this policy, the thigh is defined as the area from the inseam to the top of the kneecap. Dresses, skirts, shorts, and dresses with a slit in the side must meet the same standard as shorts to be worn to school.
• No halter tops
• Tank tops or spaghetti strap tops or dresses may not be worn in such a way as to expose inappropriate amount of the body or the underclothing.
• No clothing with inappropriate language, phrases, pictures, or innuendoes will be allowed. Clothing that advertises illegal drugs or paraphernalia, alcohol, bars, or tobacco is also prohibited. Jewelry that is distracting or dangerous will not be allowed.
• “Sagging” is not allowed. Pants must cover the underwear at all times.

Consequences for failing to meet the standards for dress at CMS are as follows:

1. First offense – warning, change of clothing and notify parents.
2. Second offense – detention, change of clothing and notify parents.
3. Third offense – Loss of privilege to wear the offending item to school, detention and notification of parents.

GENERAL SCHOOL RULES
Although every student is expected to behave in a responsible manner, it is helpful to the students for the school to provide them with general guidelines to follow. Middle School is an opportunity to transition from elementary to high school. We expect to see a transition from elementary actions to more responsible adult-like actions. The general rule to follow is an old one: Treat others as you would have them treat you. Incidents of harassment and intimidation are treated harshly at CMS. Be kind and respectful to every individual in your building. Keep your hands to yourself and allow others the space they need to get where they are going. If your school can be improved by your picking up a piece of trash and throwing it away – do so. Think of others and how things you say and do will affect them. This is your school, take care of it, take pride in it, and make it the best school it can be.

TEACHER ASSIGNED DETENTIONS
Students violating the teacher’s or school rules will likely be assigned negative consequences. This may be in the form of a teacher assigned detention. The teacher has the right to determine when and where the detention is to be served. If the student fails to serve the detention at the assigned time and place, the consequence will be doubled. Failure to serve the detentions at that point will result in the student being referred to the office.

OFFICE ASSIGNED DETENTIONS
Students may be assigned detentions through the office for infractions that occur in the hallways, cafeteria, or school grounds. These detentions can be in two forms depending on the seriousness of the offense. Lunch detentions will be issued for offenses that are minor. These detentions will be 26 minutes in length and will be held in the room adjacent to the cafeteria. Students who receive a lunch detention will report to that room at the beginning of lunch. They will sit in silence with no forms of communication until the supervising teacher tells them to get their meal. Upon getting their meal they will return to the lunch detention room and eat in silence. These students will be dismissed after the other students have been dismissed from the cafeteria.

For incidents more serious, Saturday school may be issued. Depending on the severity of the offense, two or four hour blocks of time can be assigned by the administration. Students assigned Saturday school will be expected to be prompt, bring work and work on it in silence, and follow all directions given by the faculty member in charge. Students who fail to do any of these will be required to serve the time again. Students who skip Saturday sessions will have their time doubled up to the point of serving two consecutive four hour Saturday sessions. The next skip will result in a day of ISS with the Saturdays still issued. Each subsequent skip after that will result in OSS with the Saturday time still issued. Once Saturday time is issued it does not go away until it is served.

IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
Students who are assigned to in-school or out-of school suspension are subject to a different set of guidelines than the rest of the student body. Any student serving a suspension is not permitted to attend or participate in any school activity, practice, game, etc. They are allowed to resume normal student status on the day following the completion of the suspension. A copy of the suspension notice will be forwarded to the office of the Superintendent of Schools, and possibly to the Juvenile Office and Police Department.

TRUANCY
Truancy is any absence from school without the knowledge and permission of parents and school officials. Truancy is a serious offense and will be dealt with in a serious manner. The Juvenile Office and Superintendent’s Office will be notified any time a student is truant from school. The following guidelines will be followed in handling truancies:

1. First offense 1 day I.S.S. or Saturday
2. Second offense 1 day O.S.S. or Saturdays
3. Third offense 3 days O.S.S. or Saturdays
4. Fourth offense 5 days O.S.S. or Saturdays
5. Fifth offense 10 days O.S.S. or Saturdays

Once a student arrives on school property in the morning they are not allowed to leave school grounds for any reason without permission. Students who do so will be dealt with according to the truancy policy.

TARDIES
Tardiness is defined as any unexcused absence of a student beyond the scheduled time that a class begins. Students are allowed four minutes passing time from one class to the next. This is ample time. Students are to come to the office for an admit slip if they are tardy to first period or just arriving at school. Students are not to come to the office for a tardy permit between classes. Tardy records are kept on a quarterly basis. The following rules apply for unexcused tardies:

1. First offense Teacher contacts the parent (letter sent).
2. Second offense Parent contact and lunch detention
3. Third offense Two lunch detentions
4. Fourth offense Four hour Saturday School
5. Fifth offense I.S.S.
6. Sixth offense Suspension from school and refer to School Resource Officer.

FIGHTING
Fighting is considered a serious offense at the Middle School. “Safe Schools” legislation in the State of Missouri mandates that certain violent or threatening behaviors that occur within a school be reported to proper legal authorities. The following guidelines will be followed when dealing with those who have allowed themselves to be involved in a fight. Some consideration will be given to those who have made an attempt to prevent the fight through notifying school officials, seeking mediation, or by being responsible enough to decline involvement. However, every student who is involved in a fight should expect the following punishment:

1. First offense 1 – 5 days I.S.S. or O.S.S.
2. Second offense 3 – 10 days I.S.S. or O.S.S.
3. Third offense 10 days O.S.S. up to recommendation to the Superintendent for expulsion.

SMOKING AND TOBACCO
Students are not allowed to have any form of tobacco on school grounds at any time. Incidents involving tobacco at school will be taken very seriously. Students who are found to have tobacco products with them at school will have the tobacco taken from them and thrown away, and will be subject to the following disciplinary actions:

1. First offense 1 day I.S.S.
2. Second offense 1 – 10 days O.S.S.
3. Third offense up to 10 days O.S.S. and recommendation to the Superintendent for expulsion.

DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND WEAPONS/ BOMB THREATS
Students who choose to involve themselves with any type of illegal drug, alcohol, or weapon, (real or look-a-like) or making a bomb threat, on school grounds or within the “safe school zone” are at risk of encountering very severe punishments. Recent changes in Missouri Law call for suspensions of up to one calendar year for those who violate these guidelines. Students should realize that even pocket knives that they may not consider to be a weapon have no place at school. Students who are found to be in possession of a knife – regardless of the size of the knife, will be subject to the same punishments as called for by the Missouri Safe Schools Act. Students making bomb threats verbally or in written form will be subject to up to one year of suspension. The motivation or means for carrying out such a threat need not be present for such a suspension. Threats such as this are taken very seriously and will be referred to the Juvenile Office in addition to the long term suspension.

CMS ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN
Chillicothe Middle School follows a set of procedures for maintaining discipline in the school called Assertive Discipline. The plan is based on the belief that every student and teacher deserves the opportunity to work in an environment conducive to learning. The student is informed of possible consequences of inappropriate action at the beginning of the school year and by failing to follow the established guidelines, is making the choice to accept the punishment described in the plan. Each teacher will establish their own classroom rules and the procedures for implementing those rules. A complete record of individual student behavior is kept in the school computer system. Students should be aware that the Assertive Discipline Plan calls for more serious consequences as the number of offenses increases. It sometimes seems unfair to students that two students will be called into the office for the same offense and will receive different punishments. The reason is often due to the fact that the students are at different levels in the assertive discipline plan. Understand that the more times you are referred to the office, or have teacher notices sent to the office, the greater the punishment.

When a student is referred to the office, or has teacher notes of discipline incidents in the classroom that each will be assigned a disciplinary “point” value. The more serious the offense = the higher the point value. As points accumulate there are levels established for a student to receive Saturday school, I.S.S. and O.S.S. As the points increase the punishment increases as well. The CMS Assertive Discipline point system is as follows:

POINT SYSTEM FOR OFFENSES

Each disciplinary incident will be assigned a point value ranging from 0.5 for minor incidents up. The following levels have been established for consequences from accumulation of discipline incidents on a semester basis:
6th grade 6 points = Saturday detention (2 hours)
12 points = ISS
18 points = OSS 1 day
24 points = OSS 3 days
30 points = OSS 5 days 
36 points = OSS 10 days with consideration of placement in Alternative School

7th grade 5 points = Saturday detention (2 hours)
10 points = ISS
15 points = OSS 1 day
20 points = OSS 3 days
25 points = OSS 5 days
30 points = OSS 10 days with consideration of placement in Alternative School.

8th grade 4 points = Saturday detention (2 hours)
8 points = ISS
12 points = OSS 1 day
16 points = OSS 3 days
20 points = OSS 5 days
24 points = OSS 10 days with consideration of placement in Alternative School.

General misconduct in the classroom and hallway can lead to serious consequences, including Out-of-school suspension. Please don’t allow yourself to be placed in this position. From time to time incidents of a more serious nature require movement beyond the next sequential step in the assertive discipline plan. Examples of incidents requiring movement beyond the normal placement within the assertive discipline plan include, but are not limited to: sexual harassment, flagrant disrespect, stealing, and intimidation. Students should keep in mind that Chillicothe R-II Board of Education policy “JGA” allows the use of corporal punishment when, “all other alternative means of discipline have failed.” This policy is maintained in accordance with Missouri Public School Law.

REDEMPTION OF POINTS

The whole idea of having consequences is to change behavior. In an effort to encourage change with positive reinforcement we have created a system for students to reduce their discipline point totals. For a student to accomplish this they need to come by either office and have an administrator fill in the students name and dates on a copy of the following voucher:

The bearer of this voucher, ___________________________________, may use it to earn a disciplinary credit of 0.5 points if they have ZERO disciplinary incidents for one entire week. It is the student’s responsibility to:

1. Initiate the process of point recovery by asking for a voucher
2. Have behavior for a solid week that merits ZERO discipline referrals.
3. Keep track of this certificate for the entire time period.
4. Present this voucher to an Administrator for verification and credit.

Time frame begins: ________________________________

Time frame ends: _________________________________

If the student behaves the entire week we credit their discipline record by taking half a point off. The voucher is null and void if there are any discipline incidents during the week’s time frame. Any student who has a discipline incident is encouraged to obtain one of these vouchers to reduce their point total.

Student Activities Code

Section I – Philosophy

The student activities program allows the school to meet those objectives not fully served through regular classroom instruction and is, therefore, considered an extension of the overall education program. Participation in the Chillicothe School District’s Activity Program is a privilege that a student must earn and maintain. This is accomplished by accepting standards that promote citizenship, academic performance, and responsibility. Participants will have the opportunity to represent our school and our community. They will serve as examples for other students and, therefore, must be considered a credible school citizen by society and be prepared to accept the specific guidelines set forth by the District, the sponsors, and governing bodies of the activities in which they choose to participate.

Section II – Principles and Procedures

It is the school’s responsibility to guide students in their decision-making related to conduct and academic performance. Students who violate expected standards may be subject to restrictions from participating in the activities program and/or the public recognition resulting from that participation. All such actions must be in accordance with the individual’s best interest while considering the welfare and purpose of the overall education and the specific activity.
When a violation of the established expectations occurs, the following stages are defined and specific responsibilities identified.

• Investigation
  When a violation is suspected, the sponsor, with the assistance of the appropriate administrator, shall attempt to gather as much information as possible from as many sources as they deem appropriate. In most cases that are extreme or of serious nature, the appropriate administrator shall direct the investigation. The investigation may include, but is not limited to, conferences with students, teachers, parents, law enforcement officials, and the student suspected of the code violation. All information collected shall be documented.
• Due Process
  If, after the investigation, a violation of policy is suspected, the sponsor and administrator will conduct a conference with the student to explain the charges and provide an opportunity for the student to respond. Conferences shall be conducted within seven days after the conclusion of the investigation. Parents, legal guardians, or other appropriate representatives will be allowed at the student’s request. If a student has been charged with a misdemeanor or felony, the student will be allowed to represent the school in activities pending the legal resolve of the case. However, if there is admission of guilt, or if, after reviewing the case, school officials believe there is strong evidence (e.g. witnesses, and/or information which strongly indicates guilt) the school may restrict or suspend participation.
• Notification Stage
  After a decision has been made regarding the penalty, a meeting will be held to inform the student of the decision. Parents will be notified in cases involving restrictions or suspensions from participating. Written notification will also be provided to the student and parents regarding the decision made as a result of the investigation.
• Appeals
  Students may submit a written appeal within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) business days from the time they are officially notified of the penalty. Appeals shall be submitted and reviewed according to the following order:
  1. Sponsor
  2. Athletic Director
  3. Building Administrator
  4. Superintendent
  5. Board of Education
  Decisions on appeals shall occur within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) business days from the time they are submitted. All decisions regarding appeals are considered final.

Section III – General Guidelines for Enforcement of Standards

Activities Governed by the Code
All activities sponsored by the Chillicothe R-II School District shall be subject to the guidelines set forth in this document. It is recognized, however, that the wide variety of activities available will require flexible application by the sponsors while insuring the intent of the stated philosophy and procedures.

Standards for Specific Activities
Sponsors are expected to develop standards that are appropriate for their activity and the nature of the students involved. The standards that are established by each sponsor shall follow sections I and II of this code. Items in Section III of this code shall be addressed as appropriate by each individual sponsor. All standards shall be presented in writing to the appropriate administrator for approval at least ten (10) days prior to the first organized activity. Students will be provided with written copies of policies pertaining to specific activities.

Athletics
Chillicothe Middle School’s Athletic Program includes football, basketball, wrestling and track for boys; volleyball, basketball, track, and cheerleading for girls. In order to be eligible for sports, a student must meet all requirements of the Missouri State High School Activities Association. They include:

• Citizenship - You must be a credible citizen. Credible citizens are those who conduct – both in and out of school – will not reflect negatively on themselves or their school.
• Academics - 1. A student must have been promoted to a higher grade or a higher level in special education at the close of the previous year. However, any such student who failed more than two (2) scheduled subjects, or failed to make standard progress in special education, shall be ineligible the following grading period regardless of promotion to the higher grade. A “grading period” is a period no less than 6 weeks and no greater than nine weeks where progress is determined and is reported to students/parents. 2. The student shall be currently enrolled in and regularly attending the normal course for that grade or must have enrolled in a full course at his or her level in any public school special education program for the handicapped approved by the Missouri State Department of Education which, though ungraded, enrolls pupils of equivalent chronological age. 3. This section shall not apply to students promoted for the first time into the 7th grade prior to the first day of classes. 4. Sponsors may establish additional standards that are appropriate to their specific activity. Certain activities defined as co-curricular may be deemed as not subject to these minimal standards.
• Amateur and Awards Standards - After entering a member school, you will become ineligible if you receive cash for participating in any athletic contest. You may accept awards which are symbolic in nature, such as medals, ribbons, trophies, plaques, etc. You may accept awards which are merchandise and do not exceed $25.00 in the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Such awards which are presented by a person or group other than your school must be approved in advance by your principal. Any questions should be addresses to the Athletic Director prior to participating in such events.
• Age Requirements - To be eligible for junior high competition against teams all in a particular grade classification, the students shall not have reached the following ages prior to July 1 preceding the opening of school: Grade Seven – 14, Grade Eight – 15. If a student does not meet the age standard for a particular grade classification, that student may compete on a school team of a higher grade classification, within the school district.
• All students must have a signed Physical, Citizenship, and Drug Testing Pool Permission form on file before participation is allowed.

SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

CMS Monthly Calendar
CMS Sports Calendar
Also see the district school calendar on this web site...

A NOTE FROM MR. PREWITT...

It is my sincere hope that each student at CMS experiences a wonderful year of success and growth. The staff at CMS stand ready to help each of you in that endeavor. Let me remind you that the benefits you receive from this year are directly related to the amount of effort you give to your studies. Everything you do whether it is in the classroom, on the athletic field, in the hallway or cafeteria, or on the school bus, develops your reputation. That same reputation, good or bad, will be yours for many years. Do your best to build positive relationships and to grow physically, emotionally, and as a student. We always expect the best from every student at CMS!

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