Tuba City Jr. High School
Tuba City Junior High School
Home of the BRAVES!
Braves Pride, Students First
Tuba City Jr. High School
2013-2014
Student Handbook
Contents
District/School Goals and Mission 3
If I plan to learn, I must to plan. 4
Parent/Student Teacher Compact 5
Braves Attire 6
Braves Attire Continue 7
Raising Expectations 8
Student Attendance 9
Arriving late or leaving early 10
Braves Guidelines 11
Awards 12
Cell Phones continue 13
Hall Passes 14
Time Allotments 15
Lost and Found 16
Promotion Criteria 17
Eligibility 18
Textbooks 19
School and Law 20
School and Law 21
Disciplinary Action 22
Disciplinary Action/Responsible Thinking 23
Disciplinary Action/ Responsible Thinking 24
Braves Conduct Consequences 25
Discipline Referral Form 26
Braves Pride Stamp Card 27-29
Tuba City Jr. High School
Brave’s Pride, Students First
To provide a quality education for all of our students
Tuba City Unified School District’s Mission:
Ø The TCUSD mission is to provide a quality education in a safe and encouraging environment for all of our students.
Tuba City Unified School District’s Goals:
Ø Goal 1: All schools will increase student achievement, to exceed State Standards, and become Excelling Schools.
Ø Goal 2: Parental Partnerships will be strengthened at each school (Board Approved: August 6, 2008)
Tuba City Junior High School’s Mission is to provide:
Ø To meet the academic, physical, social, and emotional needs of our student so that they may become self-sufficient in school, in life, to be successful in a safe, nurturing, and challenging school-community environment.
Tuba City Junior High School’s Goal is to provide:
Ø Our goal to provide opportunities and support of adolescent students making the transition from elementary to high school. The administration and staff are committed to the development and implementation of curriculum and activities that will empower students to become lifelong learners, and productive members of their communities. The Junior High environment will foster opportunities for the students’ intellectual growth, creativity, self-awareness, self-discipline, and maturity.
“If I plan to learn, I must learn to plan.”
Dear Parents,
The staff of Tuba City Jr. High School is pleased to give this agenda to your child. Students are expected to have it with them at school each day and during each class period. Consistent use of it, with encouragement from you, will help ensure success in school this year.
The purpose of the agenda is two-fold:
Ø It is an organization tool for your child.
Ø It is a home-school communication tool for you and your child’s teachers.
We ask that you do the following 3 things:
1. Review the features of the agenda with your child. It contains the school handbook and assignment calendar. Please be sure to discuss the Braves Guidelines and Code of Conduct with your child.
2. Each page of the assignment calendar provides space for teacher comments. Homework and study assignments are to be written on the assignment calendar in the appropriate spaces each day. Teachers will periodically communicate with you on these pages and may require your signature. You may also use this agenda to communicate with teachers.
3. Please let us know that you have reviewed the handbook and the importance of its use with your child by signing at the bottom at this page. Please feel free to add your comments in the space provided.
Thank you,
Tuba City Jr. High School Staff
Yes, I have reviewed and understand the handbook and agenda, and I have discussed it with my child.
______
Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature
We invite your comments:
Parent/Student Teacher Compact
(Please remove, sign and return to your first period Teacher)
Parent Responsibilities
We, as parents, will support our children’s learning in the following ways:
• Support school attendance and discipline policies.
• Make sure that homework is completed.
• Monitor amount of television my child watch.
• Meet with teachers to discuss student classroom performance at school’s request.
• Participate in decisions relating to my children’s education by attending meetings, parent/teacher conferences, collaborating with administration, teachers, sponsors, and athletic coaches.
• Assist with school or classroom activities.
• Be informed about my child’s education; communicate with the school, read all notices from the school district .
• Support Responsible Thinking Process Protocols (RTP).
Student Responsibilities:
We, as students, will share the responsibility to improve our academic achievement to meet State Standards. Specifically, we will:
• Believe in me that I can and will learn.
• Show respect for property by not stealing or vandalizing.
• Come to school prepared with my homework and supplies.
• Obey classroom, school and bus rules.
• Do my homework every day and ask for help when I need to.
• Spend at least 30 minutes or more reading every day.
• Set aside adequate study time to complete Jr. High level homework.
• Be responsible to relay all information received from school to home.
• Abide by Responsible Thinking Process (RTP); 3 referrals could result in Long Term Suspension.
Teacher Responsibilities:
• Show respect for each child and their family
• Make efficient use of learning time.
• Provide a safe and comfortable environment that’s conducive to learning.
• Help each child grow to his or her fullest potential
• Provide necessary assistance to parents so they can help with assignments
• Enforce school and classroom rules fairly and consistently
• Supply students and parents with clear evaluation of progress and achievement
• Use special activities in the classroom to make learning enjoyable
• Demonstrate professional behavior and positive attitude
• Support and follow RTP.
Now, hand in hand, we work together to carry out this contract.
Signed:
______
Parent/Guardian Signature
______
Student Signature
BRAVES ATTIRE
The Tuba City Jr. High School policy seeks to strike a balance between the following groups and issues:
1. Students: Need for independence in decision-making, individuality and comfort
2. Parents: Desire for clear guidelines, fairness, decency and appropriateness
3. Educators: Ease of interpretation, need for a safe, orderly school free from distractions to maximize the learning environment
Ø If a student chooses to wear shorts, the shorts must be at least mid-thigh in length.
Ø The appropriate measurement will be determined when the student is standing erect, hands at his/her side, fingertips not extending below the hem of shorts. Administrative discretion will determine appropriateness.
Ø Bike shorts, spandex and other types of excessively form-fitting shorts do not fit our standard.
Ø Skirts should be at least mid-thigh in length.
Ø Measurement will be determined exactly as described above with shorts, including slits in skirts.
Ø All shirts, blouses and dresses must have a least a two inch width on the shoulders.
Ø Undershirts should not be worn as outer attire.
Ø Clothing should not expose areas of stomach, side or back. Bra straps should not be visible and cleavage should be covered.
Ø Pants must be appropriately sized for width and hemmed to a safe length. Underwear/boxer shorts should not be visible.
Ø Pant size should not hinder a student’s ability to move about easily and safely.
Ø Pants must be fastened securely at the waist. Belts must remain fastened and conform to the natural waist size. The end of the belt should be fastened in belt loop and not hang down.
Ø Tennis, athletic shoes, loafers, flats, lace-up style shoes, sandals and flip-flops are allowed.
Ø As a safety precaution, skate shoes with wheels on the bottom, heels over two inches, and steel or otherwise reinforced hard-toe boots or shoes may not be worn at school. No slippers are allowed, except for special events.
Ø Gang-affiliated clothing, deemed such by local law enforcement officials, may not be worn. Examples include, but are not limited to hardware chains, bandanas and headbands, multiple safety pins on clothing slash in eyebrow.
Ø Clothing worn must not depict inappropriate or negative pictures, messages, symbols or lettering.
Ø Clothing may not be worn backward unless it’s for an event.
Ø No pajamas or pajama bottoms may be worn unless it’s for an event.
Ø There can be no depictions of sex, alcohol, drugs, weapons, or skulls.
Ø Piercing must be limited to ears. Safety pins must not be worn in ears.
Ø Hair color must be natural as to not cause a distraction (unless it’s for school spirit event).
Ø All hats must be worn facing forward. Hats are not to be worn indoors. Visors, hoods, and beanies are not to be worn indoors.
BRAVES ATTIRE
We share the responsibility of assuring that the atmosphere is conductive to learning and fosters an environment of respect. Appropriate dress is often a requisite for employment and, therefore, is a topic consistent with meaningful instruction and consequential student learning.
1st offense
School staff will notify parents of concerns. Students will be expected to change into appropriate clothing provided by the parent or school personnel. Students will be welcome back to class when they meet the Braves Attire guidelines. An entry into the discipline database will be made.
2nd offense
School staff will notify parents of concerns. Students will be expected to change into appropriate clothing provided by the parent or school personnel. Students will be welcomed back to class when they meet the Braves Attire guidelines. An entry into the discipline database will be made.
3rd offense
Parent will pick up child from school.
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Tuba City Jr. High School
Tuba City Jr. High School
Students First
RAISING EXPECTATIONS
The following policies were enacted to focus attention on the value of academic achievement and to increase accountability.
Rewards
1. Students who “meet” the reading, writing or math sections of the AIMS test will receive a ribbon.
2. Students who pass all sections of AIMS tests, reading, math, and writing (when the writing section is required) and “exceed” the standard on one or more test will receive a plaque.
3. Students who “exceed” all sections of the AIMS test, reading, math, and writing (when the writing section is required) will receive a trophy.
Required Interventions
1. A District Assessment will be given to all students for math and reading prior to the end of the first three quarters.
- Any 7th – 8th grade student who falls far below the district assessment standard will be required to complete 12 hours of remediation for each deficient area.
2. If at the end of the 1st, 2nd or the 3rd grading period a student has an F in a core course (math, language arts, reading, science or socials studies), the student will be required to successfully complete a minimum of 12 hours of remediation for each failing grade.
Remediation may include one or more of the following:
· Tutoring (After- School)
· Saturday School
· Summer School
· Additional academic courses in lieu of Specials or Electives
· Private or Commercial Tutoring preapproved by the principal
Excessive Absences
Regular school attendance promotes learning and achievement; therefore, students who have nine or more days of excused or unexcused absences in a semester will be required to complete 12 of remediation.
Consequences
Students who fail to successfully complete required remediation will be retained.
Notes:
· TCJHS may choose to implement complementary positive and negative consequences for all testing programs.
· Special Education students requiring interventions will be referred to the IEP team.
· Students will be treated as individuals and principals will have the authority to make exceptions.
· Any retention decision may be appealed to the Governing Board, as per board policy.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Attendance
Regular attendance contributes to success in school. At Tuba City Jr. High, attendance is one of our highest priorities.
A close correlation between attendance and academic achievement has always existed. Likewise, success in the job market is also dependent upon establishing good attendance patterns and work habits. It is with these thoughts in mind that the attendance policy has been developed.
It is our objective to assist students in developing more responsibility and to maintain acceptable attendance behavior. Reading the material and performing satisfactorily on tests does not compensate for the loss of insight gained during class discussion. The daily student/teacher/peer dialogue is extremely important and cannot be duplicated effectively outside of school. Each student contributes to the learning atmosphere.
Parents’ strong commitment to see that their child attends school daily and arrives on time is critical.
Absences
When a sickness or other obligations make an absence necessary, we request that parents call Tuba City Jr. High School Attendance Office at 283-1040 by 8 am the morning of the absence. If we do not receive a phone call, we will try to verify the absence by calling the parent.
If you know your child is going to be checking out during the school day, please send a note in with the student to be given to his/her teacher and/or the school office.
If a student is absent for more than one day, please call each day. We cannot assume the student is sick. An unexcused absence will occur if we cannot verify the absence from phone contact or written communication, Absences shall be excused only for necessary and important reasons including illness, bereavement, other family emergencies, observances of major religious holidays of the family’s faith, and doctor’s appointments that cannot reasonably be scheduled during non-school time. School administrators may deem absences for family vacations as excused as long as the absences are arranged at least 48 hours in advance and are limited to no more than five days per semester. School administrators have the authority to deem family vacations as unexcused absences if the student already has excessive absences or is making unsatisfactory academic progress. A student is provided one day of make-up per day of excused absences.
Please work to schedule vacations and appointments outside of the regular school day. If an absence is planned, please make arrangements with the student’s teachers for make-up work.
Truancy
Unexcused absences may be deemed as truant. Truancy is a violation of state and local attendance laws and is considered a serious offense. Continued truancy may result in legal action against the parents and guardians. The Arizona Compulsory Attendance Law makes it the legal responsibility of parents to have their child in school on a regular basis.