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Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School
Grade 5
Parent Handbook
WELCOME TO POBMS!
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Mr. John McNamara. 349-4754
Principal
Mrs. Joan Wartell 349-4750
Assistant Principal - Grades 5 & 6
Ms. Angela DeLessio...... 349-4750
Assistant Principal - Grades 7 & 8
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Main Office 349-4750
First Alert 349-4753
Nurse’s Office 349-4760
Library/Media Center 349-4770
Guidance Office 349-4756
Attendance Office...... 349-4750
PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
SCHOOL DAY
School starts at 8:43 A.M. and ends at 2:53 P.M. From 2:57 to 3:38, students may attend remediation and enrichment activities (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and the library (Monday through Thursday). Students are to arrive no earlier than 8:20 A.M. except for students who are in the music program, or attending co-curricular club meetings (Mondays and Wednesdays) Period Zero.
Period Begins Ends Length
0 7:52 8:34 42 mins.
Note: a nine minute passing bell is given for trips to lockers.
MAP 8:43 8:53 10 mins.
1 8:57 9:38 41 mins.
2 9:42 10:23 41 mins.
3 10:27 11:08 41 mins.
4 11:12 11:53 41 mins.
5 11:57 12:38 41 mins.
6 12:42 1:23 41 mins.
7 1:27 2:08 41 mins.
8 2:12 2:53 41 mins.
9 2:57 3:38 41 mins.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Students are to arrive at school no earlier than 8:20 a.m. Bus riders and walkers are to wait outside the front of the building until the doors are opened. Fifth and sixth graders line up at the pool entrance and seventh and eighth graders at the main lobby entrance. Students arriving by car are to be dropped off in the traffic circle on the Central Park Road side of the building.
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All students are dismissed from school at 2:53 p.m. Only those students attending period 9 supervised activities may remain. These activities include remediation and enrichment, music performing group, library and detention. All students not remaining for a Period 9 supervised activity must proceed home by their everyday means. Students are not permitted to “hang around” after school hours in unsupervised areas. Students may not leave the building to visit the stores across from school grounds during period 9.
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CAR POOLS
The POBMS Shared Decision-Making Committee has devised a car pool plan that we feel maximizes the safety of your child. This plan is especially critical during the times that school buses enter the parking lot.
Car pools that arrive between the hours of 8:15 through 8:40 (AM), 2:45 through 3:05 (PM) and 3:30 through 3:50 (PM) must pick-up or discharge children at the Central Park Road entrance to the building. Entering the main parking lot on Southern Parkway is not permitted during these peak times. There is a special traffic loop at the Central Park entrance. A teacher is on duty at that entrance in the morning and afternoon. Once children are dropped off, they will enter the building to join the other students at the main entrance or gym area.
At times other than 8:15-8:40, 2:50-3:05 and 3:30-3:50 parents are free to enter the main parking lot to pick up students. We ask, however, that parents do not enter the bus lane immediately adjacent to the front entrance; these are kept free of cars so that buses may pick up students.
CLUBS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
An important part of our school program is the rich variety of extra-curricular activities offered to students. Clubs and intramural sports meet Period Zero on Mondays and Wednesdays. Your child is invited to find an activity, join, and become involved.
The list of offerings includes:
Social Studies Club Stock Market Club
Student Council Science Club
Jazz Club Computer/Stock Market
Yearbook Club LEO Club
Newspaper Club Kids’ Connection
Drama Cadets Food and Nutrition (FAN)
Art Club Intramural Sports
First Lego League Robotics Math Olympiads
Gaming Guild Reading, Writing & Film Club
Sports & Statistics Club Odyssey of the Mind
MUSIC PERFORMING GROUPS
Performing groups meet either Period Zero (7:52 – 8:34 a. m.), or Period 9 (2:57 – 3:38 p.m.) as indicated below.
Group
Chorus 5, 6 (Period Zero on Tu-Th-Fri)
Chorus 7,8 (Period 9 on M-W)
String Orchestra 5 (Period 9 on M-W)
Symphonic Orchestra 6-8 (Period Zero on Tu-Th-Fri)
Cadet Band 5,6 (Period 9 on M-W)
Symphonic Band 7,8 (Period Zero on M-W-Fri)
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on two days in the fall semester. Parents wishing to meet with a teacher any time during the year may arrange to do so by calling the school and leaving a message. More specific information will be sent home prior to the two regularly scheduled evening conferences.
PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress Reports are issued midway between report card periods to indicate progress in subject areas. (Parents may call the school to discuss their child’s progress with specific teachers).
VISITORS
All visitors to Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School must enter the building through the main lobby, sign in and receive a visitor’s pass in the lobby. All visitors must show a valid picture ID.
SCHOOL-WIDE CONDUCT RULES
(Note: Additional information can be found in the district’s Code of Conduct in the school
calendar.)
Parents are asked to stress the above rules with their children to support our efforts to maintain a safe and organized learning environment at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School.
1. Be on time to all classes including homeroom and lunch, without running.
2. No schoolbags, jackets, coats or hats are to be worn or carried to classes at any time. Outer garments may be worn to outdoor recreation in cooler weather (no hats).
3. Dress should be appropriate for the classroom and not disruptive to the educational process. This includes the exposure of undergarments. Some examples of what is not appropriate include: tank tops without t-shirts underneath, short shorts, shirts and blouses that expose the stomach area, t-shirts containing inappropriate language or statements or advertisements for alcoholic beverages or tobacco.
4. No running in the halls at any time.
5. All students must have a pass to leave the room for ANY reason.
6. Students are to proceed home after period eight unless remaining for a SUPERVISED period nine activity such as remediation, club meetings, library work, detention or sports.
7. Students are not to use obscene or profane language, or engage in any physical or verbal forms of harassment towards anyone.
8. Students may not possess any obscene or pornographic written material or pictures in school.
9. No personal stereos, electronic communication devices such as beepers, laser pointers or laser-type devices, cigarettes, fire or flame-producing devices, or weapons are to be brought to school at any time.
10. Students should at all times show respect for each other’s personal property and school property.
11. Students should follow any additional rules set forth by their classroom teacher.
BUSES AND BUS DRILLS
Students who use school buses going to and from school must understand that this trip is a part of the school day. It is expected that they will behave in an appropriate and safe manner at all times.
Any disorderly conduct when reported by any driver will be considered as though the offense were committed in school. Improper behavior considered dangerous to the safety of others may be punishable by having the student’s bus riding privilege taken away for a period of time.
Buses will leave school at the end of 8th period and again at the end of 9th period. A later bus will also be provided for those students who participate in 7th and 8th grade interscholastic sports. All bus listings will be posted in classrooms and in the main lobby of our school.
PLEASE NOTE: Late buses are “Loop” buses which circle the community rather than making the regular end of period 8 street stops.
ALL STUDENTS MUST BOARD AND EXIT THE BUS AT THE SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED BUS STOPS ONLY.
Bus drills to review safety procedures will be scheduled three times during the school year. All students participate in these drills.
LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTER
Books, magazines and pamphlets may be taken home for personal use. Books are loaned for a period of 3 weeks.
The Library/Media Center is open to students during lunch periods and during the 9th period Monday – Thursday. A library pass from a classroom teacher is needed in order to use the Center during the regular school day.
Students are not to bring any coats or food to the Library/Media Center.
LOCKER-LOCKS
Each student is assigned a hall locker and a gym locker. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the locker clean. Outer clothing, including hats, are to be stored in the locker and not worn in the building during the school day.
The hall lockers have built-in combination locks... Each student will need to bring his/her own lock, however, for the gym locker. A combination lock is preferable to a key lock. We suggest that students do not share the combinations. If a key lock is used, we request that a duplicate key is made and kept with a teacher.
SPECIAL CLOTHING NEEDS
Two subject areas require that your child wear special clothing.
In Physical Education:
Dark shorts, (black, navy, brown)
White “T” shirt
White socks
Sneakers
(As a safety precaution, no jewelry may be worn in Physical Education Class).
In Art: An old shirt to wear as a smock
LOST AND FOUND
Receptacles are located in the main office, student cafeteria, and gym locker rooms.
LOST OR DAMAGED SCHOOL PROPERTY
If a student loses any loaned instructional materials or causes damage to school property, the parent will be required to reimburse the school district for the loss or damage.
ASSEMBLY PROGRAMS
Students will be invited to attend assembly programs throughout the year which will feature special speakers, musical performances, drama performances, and other programs. The assemblies will be announced in advance. Students will be assigned seats and are expected to stay with their class and teacher. Behavior is expected to be polite. Students should walk in quietly and remain in their seats. Self-control is an important responsibility of all middle school students.
ATTENDANCE - ABSENCE, LATENESS, REQUEST FOR EARLY DISMISSAL
All students are normally expected to be in school at the start of the “school day” (8:43 A.M.) every day that school is in session. First period teachers will take attendance.
If your child is absent, USE THE FIRST ALERT NUMBER TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL (349-4753). When your child returns, send a note signed by you to the MAP teacher. This note is required by law and must be presented as soon as your child returns to school.
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Early dismissal from school is granted in emergency situations and when appointments (medical, dental, etc.) cannot be made on other than school time. Board policy requires a note signed by a parent or guardian identifying by name the responsible adult who will call for the student. That adult must come to the attendance office with proper identification to call for the student at the time specified in your note.
EXTRA HELP
Your child is advised to attend extra help classes (remediation) if he or she is having difficulty or is in danger of failing. These classes are available during Period 9 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A “late bus” is available after Period 9.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
If you are in doubt as to whether school will be open because of bad weather or another emergency situation, please tune your radio or TV to one of the following stations:
WALK - 97.5 FM WKJY 98.3 FM
WBAB - 102.3 FM WGBB 1240 AM
WINS - 1010 AM WHLI 1100 AM
WCBS - 880 AM Cablevision - News Channel 12
Please become familiar with the school district calendar which comes to your home by mail. Board of Education approved school closing days and other important dates and events will be noted.
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips will be sponsored by the school during the school year as an extension of the school program. The clothing to be worn will be designated by the teacher. A parent consent slip is required. If there is an expense for admission, it will be shared by the students equally. Good student behavior is expected during all field trips since they represent their parents and our school.
FIRE AND EMERGENCY DRILLS
During a fire or emergency drill, students are expected to move quickly, silently and in an orderly fashion under the direction of their teacher. Students must remain silent to listen for instructions during the entire exercise. Exit directions are posted in each classroom. There will be twelve fire drills during the school year.
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FUND RAISING
Approval of the Superintendent of Schools or his delegate is required before any organization can distribute pamphlets or materials through the public schools which request funds for any purpose. The Superintendent’s approval is required before any organizations set up fund raising activities on school premises. Students may not ask for money off school property for school related activities without prior approval by the Board of Education.
HEALTH SERVICE
1. Physical examinations are required for:
all new entrants at any grade level, all students entering grade 7, 8th grade students who try out for interscholastic sports.