Appling Middle School
E3– Excellence – Everybody – Every Day!
Student Handbook
2017 - 2018
Assemblies
Our students must behave courteously at school assemblies. Students should give their full attention to the speaker(s)/presentation and show their
appreciation only through applause. Whistling, shouting, and foot stomping are not appropriate. Students may face disciplinary action will for students displaying inappropriate and/or discourteous behavior during assemblies.
Attendance
Students cannot learn if they are not at school. Please know that when a student is sick, they are responsible for any work they have missed. Please follow teacher webpages to keep up with class work and assignments. Doctors’ notes should be submitted to the homeroom teacher on the day students return to school for the absence to be excused. Notes may be e-mailed to our attendance operator and the homeroom teacher on the day students return. Notes not submitted within 2 days will not be accepted. Students whose absence is unexcused will receive a 0 for any missed/graded work.
*Tardies will now affect students’ attendance. Students with 5 unexcused tardies will have an unexcused absence.
Athletics
Appling sponsors basketball, football, and volleyball teams. We also have a cheer squad, cross-country team, dance team, swim team, and a track team. Our basketball, football, and volleyball teams compete against other middle schools in the municipal school districts. There are combined middle school baseball and softball teams. Parent volunteers, at the discretion of the school administrative team and the district, may coach other athletic teams. Students who participate in these groups have indicated a desire to contribute their time and energy for the good of themselves, the team, and the school. We expect our athletes to be outstanding representatives of Appling wherever they go. Behavior and academic performance must be exemplary. The coaches’ first and then administrators, if necessary, will deal with any issues related to athletics. All students are encouraged to attend school athletic events and support our teams.
**Students who have been absent from school are not allowed to attend school related events that occur on that same day.** Attendance has its privileges J
Awards/Recognition
So that students may be duly recognized for outstanding achievements, awards are presented for report card honors each nine-weeks. Students on the Principal’s Honor Roll are recognized for A’s in all subject areas and all MAPS classes. Academic Honor Roll students are recognized for having more A’s than B’s in all subject areas and all MAPS classes. The conduct requirement for both honor rolls is nothing less than an S for all subject areas and MAPS classes. Our PTO recognizes students earning Principal’s Honor Roll and Academic Honor Roll with rewards. Citizenship and Perfect Attendance certificates are also awarded each nine-weeks.
Band/Chorus/Strings
Students in band, chorus, and strings are expected to purchase or rent their instruments and to attend all performances as part of their grade. Students who sign up for band/chorus/strings have made a commitment for the entire school year. Our schedule does not allow for mid-year changes in MAPS because we must adhere to class size limits.
Before/After School Care
Before and after school care are provided at the school by the YMCA. Their fees vary based on the options you select (before school care, after school care, or both). Please know that before school care is at the discretion of YMCA and is based upon enrollment numbers.
Breakfast
Breakfast will be served each morning. The cost of breakfast is $1.50. Students are not allowed to enter the cafeteria in the mornings unless they are having breakfast. Breakfast is served from 6:40 – 6:55 a.m.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are to be kept off during the school day. Before students enter the building, cell phones should be turned off. During school hours’ cell phones are to be stored in students’ lockers, purses, or back packs and turned off. Cell phones should not be on a student’s person (pockets, clothing, etc.) Confiscated cell phones may be picked up by a parent or guardian during the office hours of 6:45 a.m. – 1:40 p.m. Please note the change in pick-up times. Cell phones not picked up by a parent/guardian by 1:40 each day will be locked up overnight. The second time a students’ cell phone is confiscated will result in one day of ISS. The third violation of the cell phone policy will result in two days of ISS. A fourth violation of the cell phone policy will result in 1 day of OSS.
*Please do not tell students to call you or text you from their cell phones during the school day. Phones should be off and students should not be accessing their cell phones during school hours. Using a phone without teacher or administrator permission, even at the parent’s directive, violates our school expectations and procedures. When this happens, students will receive the appropriate consequence as explained above.
Checkouts
To protect the integrity of our academic program and facilitate a smooth dismissal each day, students are not allowed to be checked-out after 1:40 p.m. Students checked out at the end of the day will receive an early check-out. Five unexcused check-outs will result in an unexcused absence. Checking out after 1:40 p.m. is too close to our dismissal time and disrupts instruction. Please be mindful of this throughout the school year as check-outs do impact your child’s attendance.
Clinic Visits
We are working diligently to improve our school attendance. To that end, we will be selective in allowing students to call home for minor issues. All students will be assessed by the nurse before they call home. We will always encourage them to try and remain at school unless they have a fever, have vomited, or have been injured. We need the students here so they can learn. Please don’t tell your child to call you if they don’t feel well. This gives them your permission to call even if they could remain here at school. Please work with us on this as we work to improve our attendance.
Conferences
Conferences with teachers may be scheduled directly through your child’s teacher via e-mail or telephone messages. The teachers will contact you to arrange a time that works for everyone. The front office staff will take a message for the teacher during instructional times. We will not call a teacher to the phone during class time. It is our policy that teachers return all phone calls within 24 hours. Many times, when you call and leave a message or e-mail them, the teachers have already had their planning period for the day. Twenty-four hours allows them time to address school business at school and not interrupt your evenings or their evenings.
Course Selections/Schedules
Each Spring students complete MAPS (Music, Art, PE) forms selecting 4 options for their MAPS classes for the upcoming school year. Students normally receive their first or second choice for MAPS classes. Due to scheduling constraints and staffing, MAPS changes are not allowed.
Dances
All school dances are for Appling Middle School students only. Admission to the dances is $7.00 in advance and $8.00 at the door. Dances are scheduled on Friday nights from 6:30 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. Students admitted to a dance are to remain inside the building until the dance is over. Students who have difficulty behaving during the school day may be excluded from participating in our dances. School dress code must be followed for dances. Students not picked up on time will not be allowed to attend the next dance. Please note that students will be asked to turn in all cell phones when entering the dance. Cameras, iPods, mp3 players, and other electronic devices are not permitted at dances. Cell phones will be collected and returned once the dance is over. Inappropriate behavior during the dance will result in disciplinary actions at school the following week.
**Students who have been absent from school on the day of a dance will not be allowed to attend the dance that evening.**
Detention
Detention will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:10 P.M. until 3:10 P.M. Students must be quiet, seated, and remain awake for the duration of detention. All rules must be followed or the time spent in detention will not be counted. Students in violation of detention rules will be removed from detention and will serve ISS the following school day. Failure to serve/show up for detention will result in ISS.
Dress Code
Clothing, make-up, and hairstyles should reflect neatness, cleanliness, and self-respect so that the school is a desirable place in which to promote learning and character development. Appling Middle strongly discourages hair dye, as it is a distraction to the learning environment. Leggings are not allowed for our students.
*Students who are not dressed appropriately will be allowed to call home for a change of clothes. If no one can bring them clothes, the student will spend the day in ISS. Students waiting longer than 15 minutes for a change of clothing will be sent to wait in ISS.
ACCEPTABLE attire is set forth below:
Note: **These are not all inclusive.**
*Pants of appropriate size, worn at waist and a safe length (Overly large
and/or sagging pants are not allowed. If your pants do not sit at your waist, you must wear a belt or change into pants that are appropriate.)
*Shirts must cover the abdomen, back, shoulders, and have sleeves. Shirts
or tops must cover the waistband of pants, shorts, or skirts. Tops should
be no longer than wrist length.
*Jackets (not coats) may be worn during the day. Jackets must be left open at all times.
UNACCEPTABLE attire is set forth below:
Note: **These are not all inclusive.**
*Spandex shorts or shirts and other skin-tight outer materials are not acceptable. Leggings are not appropriate attire for school.
*Shorts, skirts, dresses, or slits in dresses/skirts more than 4 inches above the knee are not acceptable.
*Blouses, tops, or dresses that expose the cleavage are not appropriate clothing for school.
*Sleep wear/pajamas or pajama bottoms are not allowed.
*Barebacked or bare midriff tops, shirts, or dresses should not be worn.
*Tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, or fishnet mesh shirts are not allowed.
*Any transparent clothing is not permitted.
*Hats and hoods may not be worn in the school building.
*Any clothing and/or accessory such as backpacks, patches, jewelry, and notebooks that advertise substances that are illegal by law for minors or that depict violence, profanity, is sexually suggestive in nature, promotes any gang or gang activity or displays language or symbols that create a disruptive environment are prohibited.
Students who fail to follow the established dress code will be sent to the office to call for a change of clothing. If the student is unable to reach a parent/guardian to bring them appropriate attire, they will spend the day in ISS. Please note they will wait in ISS for clothing that is being brought to them.
Emergencies
School officials will not interrupt classroom instruction to deliver a message to a student or to call a student out of class. In the case of an emergency, we will be glad to assist you in any way possible. However, daily phone calls are not allowed as students miss valuable class time when they are called to the office. Please be sure to include the names and local telephone numbers of two emergency contacts on your child’s enrollment information. It is important that this information be kept current in case an emergency occurs during the school day. If this information changes during the year, please call the school office and we will update your contact information as needed.
In-School Assigned Work Grade Recovery
Over the course of the school year, the administrators will, from time to time, place students in a structured environment to complete missing and/or incomplete graded and non-graded assignments. This allows students the opportunity to receive partial credit for their work. Parents may not be contacted for students being placed for grade recovery because this will occur after the teachers have made attempts to contact the parents regarding this work (i.e. ZAP assignment paperwork sent home and e-mail or phone contact with parents). This is not punitive, but an opportunity for the students to receive credit for work. Please know on the front end, these students are usually sitting in the ISS room, but conduct is not impacted as it is with ISS. Again, this is not punitive, but an opportunity to recover grades and catch up on missing assignments.
Homework
Students will receive homework assignments each day and are responsible for the completion of all assignments. Please help your student by providing the appropriate environment needed to complete assignments. Students who fail to complete assigned homework will be issued ZAP (Zeroes are Not Preferred) to allow them an opportunity to complete the work.
Honor Code
We expect our students to be honest, respectful, and demonstrate integrity in their personal and academic lives. Students are to do their own school work and assignments. Students caught cheating will receive a zero on the assignment and parents will be notified. Please review our Honor Code for additional detailed information.