Hungary Creek
Middle School
Parent Handbook
2012-2013
Main Office: 527-2640 Fax: 527-2642
School Counseling: 527-2647 Fax: 527-2644
www.henrico.k12.va.us/MS/HungaryCreek
"Celebrating 8 Years of Academic Excellence"
Hungary Creek Middle School
4909 Francistown Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Main Office: 527-2640 Fax: 527-2642
School Counseling: 527-2647 Fax: 527-2644
www.henrico.k12.va.us/MS/HungaryCreek
Principal: Robert Moose
Associate Principal: Paul Jordan
Assistant Principal: Dale Morris-Bradshaw
Administrative Aides: Carey Reeves, Jane Williams, Donna Galligan, Frank Wheeler
Athletics: Will Brizendine
MISSION STATEMENT:
We will identify the needs of the students, facilitate their learning by making connections between subject areas, maintain discipline, communicate effectively with parents and the community to empower students to become self-disciplined, responsible citizens in a global-technological society.
VISION STATEMENT:
Our commitment is to prepare Hungary Creek Middle School students to be lifelong learners and positive contributors to society. We promote a safe environment where students, staff, parents, and community members are included, valued, and respected. In honoring our diversity, we celebrate individual strengths and talents. Our staff provides superior instruction where students are engaged in energized learning experiences. Students will leave Hungary Creek Middle School as effective communicators, confident problem-solvers, and independent thinkers.
We will:
*Communicate effectively with all members of the HCMS community;
*Create and participate in opportunities available to teachers, parents, and students that
foster personal and professional growth;
*Build trusting and respectful relationships among all stakeholders;
*Differentiate classroom instruction to ensure a variety of learning experiences that
promote individual achievement;
*Develop leadership and citizenship skills in all community members; and
*Incorporate technology to provide differentiation and individual growth opportunities.
Policy Information
A copy of the Policies and Regulations Manual of Henrico County Public Schools is maintained in each school library as well as in any public library of the County and is available to students and employees as well as the public.
Dear Hungary Creek Parents and Students:
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Hungary Creek Middle School. This parent handbook serves as a supplement to the student agenda book. Please take the opportunity to review the contents, which include information about our school programs. It is our belief that parents play a vital role in making Hungary Creek an excellent school. We welcome your input, your presence, and your involvement. We hope that this handbook will serve as a useful resource to you as we work together in our commitment toward an excellent education and school environment for our children. The faculty and staff at Hungary Creek are committed to providing the best educational opportunities possible to all of our children.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Moose
Principal
If I have a question please call us at 527-2640
About a Class - Please call the teacher.
About Attendance - Please call Mrs. Lane, our Attendance Secretary.
About Buses- Please call Mr. Wheeler, Administrative Aide.
About Health Issues- Please call Mrs. Bramhall, our School Nurse.
About Schedules or School Counseling Issues – Please call Ms. Martin (counselor, A-Cl), Mrs. Day (counselor, Co-Lo), Mrs. Mewborn (counselor, Lu-S), Mrs. Skaggs, Director of School Counseling (T-Z) or Mrs. Bell, our School Counseling Registrar.
The direct number for School Counseling is 527-2647.
About Special Education Issues – Please call the case manager or Mr. Campbell, Chairman of the Exceptional Education Department.
About Gifted Education – Please call Mrs. Williams, Gifted Coordinator
About the Media and Library Services- Please call Mrs. Spisak our Librarian, or Mrs. Richardson, our Library Secretary.
About Athletics – Please call Mr. Brizendine, Athletic Director.
About iBook Issues – Please call Mrs. Bradshaw.
About All Other Problems – Please call Mrs. Bradshaw, Mr. Paul Jordan or Mr. Moose.
2011-2012 PTA Board
President – Neil Suffa
First Vice President, Membership –
Second Vice President, Volunteers – Kris Horn
Third Vice President, Communication – Cathy Askew
Fourth Vice President, Fundraising – Lisa Young
Secretary – Cheryl Missimer
Treasurer – Susan Fellin
Dear Hungary Creek Parents:
Welcome back to school! I want everyone to know how very excited I am about our 2011-2012 school year and PTA. We’ve got lots of exciting events planned. Keep an eye on our website www.hcmspta.com for information about our programs, spirit nights and PTA news.
How do you become involved?
1) JOIN THE PTA– the cost is just $5.00 per member. Membership is open to anyone concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. Become involved in our school by joining the Hungary Creek PTA. Membership dues help to cover the operating costs of the organization. Checks should be made payable to HCMS PTA. Envelopes will be available in the back to school folders and in the office.
2) MAKE A DONATION TO THE “COUGAR FUND”. We are continuing with our annual Cougar Fund this year. What is this, you ask? In lieu of a fundraiser this fall, we’re asking for a tax deductible donation to our PTA and no selling of a product.
3) VOLUNTEER! Many opportunities exist for parental involvement at Hungary Creek. Volunteers are needed in the office, library, clinic, and PTA bookstore on a daily basis. This is a great way to get an inside look at your child’s school day. Other PTA committees need volunteers throughout the year and not always during the school day. Some committee work is accomplished before school and in the evenings.
4) ATTEND PTA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS/PROGRAMS– We have a lot of family friendly activities planned this year. Additional information will be provided on our website and in the newsletters.
5) Sign up to get your combined School/PTA Newsletter via email. You get instant information and notifications!
Please always feel free to contact me with any questions, suggestions or comments. The more communication we receive from parents the better the PTA can serve the Hungary Creek community. I look forward to seeing you at our next PTA function!!!
Sincerely,
Neil Suffa
PTA President
Visitors
All visitors must proceed first to the school office to sign the visitor's sheet and to receive a visitor’s badge. This procedure is designed to ensure the safety of all students and faculty at Hungary Creek. We welcome parents to visit at anytime however, due to limited seating, we welcome only parents/guardians as lunch guests.
FOR SECURITY PURPOSES... ALL VISITORS MUST WEAR A HCMS VISITOR'S BADGE AT ALL TIMES WHEN THEY ARE IN THE BUILDING.
ATTENDANCE
Regular school attendance is necessary for students to be successful in their academics and in their school program. Every effort should be made to maintain an excellent record for the entire year. Awards are given at the end of the school year to those students who have excellent attendance, which is defined as three absences or less.
ABSENCES: If you are absent from school, your parent should call the attendance office at 527-2640
by 9:00 a.m. The attendance secretary calls the parent of every child who has not been called in to verify
the absence from class. Upon returning to school after an absence, you should send a note with your child stating the dates and reason for your absence and give this note to your homeroom teacher.
This note must be received within 24 hours of your absence or your absence will be recorded as
unexcused.
If a parent wishes to keep a child out of school for any other reason besides those outlined in Section 1 of the HCPS Code of Student Conduct, then the parent must first submit a written request outlining the reason for the absence and the dates of the absence at least one week prior to the absence so that Mr. Moose may consider it for an excused absence. Without prior approval, such an absence will be recorded as unexcused.
Being truant, skipping classes, or leaving school without permission during the school day is a violation of the rules and will be referred to an administrator. In accordance with the
HCPS Code of Student Conduct, a referral will be made to the School Social Worker if a child accumulates 5 unexcused absences. Please refer to Section 1 of the HCPS Code of Student Conduct for further details and clarification.
TARDIES: If you come to school after 8:30 a.m., you are required to check in with the attendance secretary in the main office before going to class. A parent must accompany
you to the office, write a note for you to bring, or call the main office to verify your late
arrival. Unexcused tardies to school and to class are referred to the appropriate grade level administrator for discipline. In accordance with the HCPS Code of Student Conduct,
if a child accumulates 10 unexcused tardies to school, a referral will be made to the administration.
EARLY DISMISSALS
For unavoidable situations that cannot be taken care of after school or during school holidays, a child may be signed out of school before dismissal time. When picking up your child, you are required to come in and sign him/her out in the front office. For the safety of our children you will be asked to show your ID. No student will be called from class until the parent or guardian is present and has signed them out.
NOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR ABSENCES AND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.
ARRIVING EARLY AND STAYING LATE & AFTER SCHOOL EVENTS
Because we want to ensure a safe, well-supervised situation for our students at all times, students should not arrive at school before 7:45 a.m. nor remain after 3:20 p.m. unless they are a part of a school-sponsored program and have a parent permission form submitted for that day’s event.
For students who repeatedly arrive prior to 7:45 am or remain after 3:20 pm, the parents may be referred to Child Protected Service for neglect. This request is due to our obligation to keep our students safe and because of staff responsibilities during these times.
If students wish to return to school property to use outdoor facilities such as the outdoor basketball courts or tennis courts & track (when there is no practice or meet/match), they must be accompanied by an adult who is supervising them. Otherwise, they may be considered trespassing.
PROCEDURE FOR STAYING AFTER SCHOOL FOR A SPORT OR CLUB EVENT:
¨ Students should listen to daily announcements & check the Club Board in the Commons for upcoming after-school events & meetings.
¨ If a student is staying after for sports tryouts, no additional note is needed beyond the paperwork required for tryouts (please see “Athletic Handbook” section of this student handbook).
¨ If a student wishes to stay for a Wednesday “Project Power Hour,” he/she should pick up a permission form from the library and submit it by 3:30 PM the Tuesday before he/she plans to stay. (See “Library” section for more details.)
¨ If a student wishes to stay after for a club meeting, he/she should inform parents and follow the procedures given by the club sponsor.
¨ If a student wishes to stay after as a spectator for a home sporting event, he/she MUST submit a permission note to his/her homeroom teacher, no later than the end of homeroom period on the day before the event. Students who have been unable to submit a permission note may not call home for permission or for a faxed note, but they are welcome to ride the bus home and return for the event with a parent escort for the duration of the event.
¨ The level of coverage for after school events is scheduled based on number of non-escorted attendees. Therefore, we must adhere to the requirement of advanced permission.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT POLICY
The faculty of Hungary Creek Middle School believes that homework is an essential part of student learning. Homework provides practice for skill development, promotes good work habits, and increases self-direction and individual responsibility. Therefore, every student will have homework. Homework is due on the assigned date and may not be accepted late. Homework should not exceed thirty minutes per subject per night. All homework will be evaluated and may account for up to 15% of a student’s nine-week grade.
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY
Students absent from school will have the number of consecutive school days absent plus one to make up work missed. For example, if you have missed Monday and Tuesday classes and return on Wednesday, you will have until the end of the day on Monday of the next week to turn in your makeup work. It is the responsibility of the child to get the assignment to their teacher whether they have that teacher on that particular day or not. Again, for clarification purposes, you have the number of days absent plus 1 to get your assignments in, and they can always be handed in early. This policy also applies to school-related absences. If a student is absent two days or less, the student may get his/her assignments in the following ways:
1. Check with his/her “Study Buddy” in each class.
2. Check the homework make-up board/book/chart in each teacher’s room prior to homeroom when they return.
3. Check the teachers’ websites to see if homework may have been posted there.
4. Speak directly to the teacher before or after school.
If a student is absent for three consecutive days, a parent can call the School Counseling Department at 527-2647 by 8:30 a.m. to request your child’s work/homework from these days. Every effort will be made to fulfill this request so the assignments can be picked up after 3:30 that same day.
It is the student’s responsibility to get all assignments completed. Students absent more than five consecutive days will have a maximum of two weeks to make up work missed during their absence, depending on the length and nature of the absence. For extenuating circumstances, please notify your child’s school counselor.
STUDENT AGENDA BOOK
Teachers will expect students to bring their agenda books to class every day. We will utilize the student agenda book as the primary communication tool between school and home. Parents can review the student's agenda book for teacher comments and homework assignments along with various deadlines and events.
For any school to maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to learning, there must first be an environment that is free from distractions, disruptions, and unsafe conditions. For those students who choose to disobey the rules in the classroom, on a school bus, on a field trip or any Henrico sponsored event, consequences will result. You should read and follow the Henrico County Public Schools’ Code of Student Conduct and the following rules that are specific to Hungary Creek Middle School.