On behalf of the staffs and faculties of Avery and Cranberry Middle Schools, we would like to welcome you to the 2008-2009 school year. We look forward to assisting you in fulfilling your educational goals. Avery County schools have established a history of fine academic and extra-curricular accomplishments. We expect you to carry on this tradition and make your middle school an even better place.

This handbook has been prepared to explain the Avery County School System’s procedures, policies, and regulations in an effort to make your middle school years as pleasant as possible.

You are urged to contact any of our trained professionals, and we will do our best to assist you.

This planner is your school’s gift to you to help keep yourself organized and focused during the year – replacements can be purchased from the front office for $5.00.

AVERY COUNTY SCHOOLS CODE OF CIVILITY

The Avery County Board of Education is committed to providing an educational setting for our students that is free of violence, crime, intimidation, and fear. Peace and order run hand in hand with safe and orderly school objectives. Unruly schools are a breeding ground for crime and violence. The Avery County School system does not allow students to be rude, disruptive, abusive, or disrespectful to other students, staff, or other persons at any time. School employees are required to treat all students, fellow employees, and other persons with respect and civility at all times and to set a positive example as role models in our schools and in the community.

In keeping with this policy, we require all visitors, including parents, who are on our campuses or at school activities for any reason, to act in a respectful and civil manner at all times. Any person who becomes abusive, profane, loud, disruptive, or in any way is unruly, will be immediately told to leave the property and not return again without prior, expressed permission of the administration. Refusal to leave or returning without permission will be grounds for a criminal trespassing charge under state penal codes.

We are dedicated to teaching our students to be good citizens. Establishing and maintaining a peaceful educational setting, with adults acting appropriately and setting positive examples is the basis of accomplishing this goal. ACS Policy Code: 4311/5021/7206

SECTION A: ATTENDANCE

1.  ABSENCES

When a student returns to school following an absence, parents should send a note to the classroom teacher stating the reason for the absence. If the student fails to bring a note, the absence(s) will be marked unexcused. Office personnel, guidance counselors, or teachers will call parents when there are questions/concerns about a student’s absences. Make-up work is the responsibility of the STUDENT. Teachers will provide students the opportunity to make-up work for excused absences. Missed assignments must be turned in within a three (3) day time period established by county policy. Regular attendance is essential to a student's success in school. Most subjects are taught in sequence requiring the understanding of each concept in the order of its presentation. Persistent absenteeism creates genuine hardships for a student and is regarded as a very serious problem.

Note: the Avery County Board of Education follows state policy concerning attendance. This policy addresses daily class attendance and the state requirements for credit – it does not deal with either punishment or grade reduction.

The following list of circumstances presents the only lawful reasons for school absence:

  • Illness or injury,
  • Quarantine,
  • Death in immediate family,
  • Medical or dental appointment;
  • Court or administrative proceedings,
  • Religious observances,
  • Educational opportunity with notification and prior approval.

All other absences are defined as "unlawful." When students have in excess of ten unlawful absences, they may have truancy charges filed with Juvenile Court. Twenty or more excuses, regardless as to whether they are excused or unexcused may result in grade retention.

2. PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT

The physician's statement must have:

  • time of the student’s appointment,
  • when the student is able to return to school,
  • a physician's signature.

3. TARDINESS

Prompt arrival at school is expected of all students. Late arrival disrupts class and causes loss of instructional time. Students who arrive after school begins are considered tardy and must check in at the office.

4. ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL OF SCHOOL

Classes begin at 8:00 A.M. Supervision in both schools is provided for students from 7:30 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. All students reporting early should go either to the cafeteria or gym at CMS or to the cafeteria at AMS. School will be dismissed at 2:55 P.M. at AMS and 2:50 at CMS. Students should be picked up and dropped off in the lower parking lot at AMS and the FTE entrance for CMS. This will prevent interference with bus traffic in the morning and afternoon. Duty teachers will assist car riders in loading.

For the protection of our students, we require parents/legal guardians to come to the office to sign out students. Any relative or person other than the parent must have written permission from the parent or legal guardian before a student will be allowed to leave school. Students returning to school after having signed out must come by the office and sign in. Students will need a pass from the office to return to class.

5. CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL

Cancellation of school takes place only during circumstances such as extreme weather, equipment failure, or public crisis. The school board and administration are aware of the hardships that can be caused by an abrupt cancellation. Therefore, school will not be canceled unless a significant safety risk has been created by unusual circumstances. Please call 733-3655, 733-6006 Ext. 38, 733-0145, or listen to the local radios and TV stations for school cancellation or early release information.

6.  ABBREVIATED SCHOOL DAYS

According to the North Carolina School Attendance and Student Accounting policies, a student must be present at least one-half of the school instructional day in order to be recorded present for that day (Chapter 2, Section 4, Subsection B).

“The instructional day” is the amount of time from the start the day until the last bell minus the time allocated for lunch. Thus, according to the "Half-Day" rule, a student must be in school (or at an approved location) for at-least half of that time, i.e. if the instructional day is 6 hours, then the student must be present a minimum of 3 instructional hours to be counted present for that day. Lunch is not counted as instructional time.

The length of the instructional school day will change when we have snow delays or planned early dismissals.

7. GOING HOME WITH OTHER STUDENTS

Students going home with a fellow student either by car or school bus must furnish written permission by 12:00 from their parents/legal guardians. Also, students taking a fellow student home with them must have written permission from their parents/legal guardians. These arrangements must occur at home before the school day begins. Students will not be permitted to use school telephones to make such arrangements.

8. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW

In accordance with GS11SC-378, every parent/ guardian, or other person in North Carolina having charge of a pupil in the school system, between the ages of seven (7) and sixteen (16), shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child assigned shall be in session.

The principal or his/her designee must notify the parent, guardian, or custodian of his/her child's excessive absences after the child has accumulated three (3) unlawful absences in a school year. After not more than six (6) unlawful absences, the principal must notify the parent, guardian, or custodian by mail that he/she may be in violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law and may be prosecuted if the absences cannot be justified under the established attendance policies of the state and local boards of education.

After ten (10) accumulated unlawful absences in a school year, the principal must review any report or investigation prepared under GS 11SC-381 and must confer with the student and his/her parent, guardian, or custodian, if possible, to determine whether the parent, guardian, or custodian has received notification and made a good faith effort to comply with the law. Depending on the circumstances, the principal must then notify the district attorney and file a complaint with the juvenile intake counselor (GS 11SC-378).

SECTION B: ATHLETICS

1. AVERY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOLS’ SPORTS POLICIES

Athletes Must Remain in Good Academic Standing in order to participate in sports. Students must meet Toe River Conference academic standards to compete at this level. Middle school athletes are required to pass at least three of four academic subjects, pass both state-tested Language Arts (Communication Skills) and Math classes, and should not miss class. Missing classes, poor classroom performance, academic or behavior problems can lead to game suspensions or dismissal from the team.

2. SPORTSMANSHIP

Good sportsmanship is a must for Avery County student athletes. If at any time a player displays unsportsmanlike conduct, this may call for a dismissal from the game. The player will be dealt with at practice the following day. If the player should do so again, he/she could be dismissed from the team.

3. PRACTICE

Every player is expected to attend every practice unless special permission is obtained from the coach. Players will not be excused from practice unless they are ill, have a death in the family, or weather conditions do not permit participation. Injured students are still expected to attend practice. Players missing practice the day before a game will not be allowed to start in that game. If they should miss more than one practice during the week, they will not be allowed to play in the games of that week.

Players are also required to attend school on the day of their games in order to participate in competition. Partial–day attendance as defined above (SECTION A: Attendance; Subsection 6, Abbreviated School Days) will be used to determine game eligibility based on attendance. If students are determined to be absent, they will not be allowed to compete. They must also be in attendance the next school day in order to compete in the next competition.

4. PERSONAL APPEARANCE

As a participant on an Avery team, student athletes are representing a part of Avery County. They are expected to behave like young adult men and women. When out in restaurants, in public areas, or in other schools, etc., student athletes are to respect everyone’s property. Student behavior should be a positive reflection of our schools.

5. PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS

All students participating in sports or cheerleading are required to present a physical examination report from a licensed physician before team try-outs begin. One physical covers all sports for the school year.

SECTION C: BUS TRANSPORTATION

1. BUS RULES

Legally, riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. Safe, non-distracting behavior is expected at all times. The following policies should be strictly adhered to:

  • students should use only the bus and bus stop assigned unless a note is brought signed by the parent requesting the student to be put on another bus;
  • orderly behavior is required on the bus and at the bus stop;
  • students will be assigned seats and expected to stay in those seats. Students may be held financially responsible for any damages that occur to their assigned seating area;
  • students should not talk to the driver unless it is necessary;
  • Students must keep head and arms inside the bus;
  • Students must keep seated and face forward at all times when the bus is in motion.
  • Open food and drinks are prohibited on school buses.
  • Book bags, athletic bags, musical instruments, and other large, bulky objects are to be kept in students’ laps and not take up seating space.
BUS DISCIPLINE

Any behavior that distracts or disrupts the driver’s attention or breaks any of the rules above will be reported as a bus transportation violation. The procedure for dealing with bus problems is as follows:

  • the bus driver will talk with students, review rules, and give warnings;
  • repeated misbehavior will be referred to the school administrator for further action and a letter sent home to parents informing them of the misbehavior;
  • further similar misbehavior will result in a three-day suspension from riding the bus.
  • Five-day suspension from riding the bus follows;
  • Ten-day suspension from riding the bus follows;
  • Indefinite suspension, with the approval of the superintendent, from riding the bus.

As with all discipline procedures, severe misbehavior will result in expulsion from the bus.

3. BUS “SNOW PLAN B”

In order to increase the number of days that students can safely attend school during winter months, Snow Plan B will be added to Avery County School’s inclement weather plan. Snow Plan B provides school bus transportation using designated stops on the main highways. Parents will meet their child’s bus at those designated stops in the mornings and afternoons when School Plan B is in effect. The schedule and route of individual school buses can be found using the search feature on the ACS Snow Plan B web page. Below are some important details of the plan for parents. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s principal.

  • Snow Plan B will be used only on days when school was cancelled the day before and will always be on a one hour delay. However, schools will be open at 7:30 am and parents may bring their children to school anytime after 7:30 am.

·  Each school bus has been assigned designated bus stops along the main highways with specific times to be at that stop. It is the parent’s responsibility to have their children at the designated stop at the appropriate time. The stops are also designated for the afternoon bus runs and will not be modified for warming weather or melting during the day. If your child rides the school bus to a designated bus stop in the afternoon, someone must be at the stop to pick up your child. If no one arrives at the stop, the driver is instructed to bring the child back to school where the child will be supervised until someone arrives to pick up the child.