Hillside Middle School - "Home of the Eagles" |
Policies - Hillside Middle School
NAUGATUCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ MISSION AND BELIEFS
The Naugatuck Public Schools is a community of leaders that values an active partnership with parents, businesses, and the public in order to prepare students for the challenges of a diverse, global, and informated world. This is accomplished by maximizing the potential of every student by teaching them to think critically, solve problems, make decisions, communicate effectively, and use technology, while acting ethically and responsibly.
In pursuing this Mission, we believe we must:
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The mission of Hillside Middle School is to provide the freedom of opportunities and a nurturing environment for students to develop academic skills, personal talents, and knowledge of democratic principles while supporting positive growth in physical, emotional, and social behaviors. By encouraging critical thinking, decision-making skills, healthy competition, aesthetic awareness, and creativity, Hillside Middle School focuses on developing reflective, self-sufficient, and responsible adolescents.
Arrival at School
Students are allowed to enter the building at 8:00 AM. Upon entering
the building, students may go to their lockers and then report to their
homerooms by 8:08 AM. Homeroom periods are used to
take attendance, distribute and collect material, and relay information
concerning upcoming events and activities.
Attendance Policy
Connecticut state law holds parents and/or guardians responsible for students attending school regularly during the hours and terms school is in session. Regular attendance is a key factor in student success.
Legal absences include the following:
1. Illness of student
2. Death in immediate family
3. Observance of religious holidays
4. Other reasons approved by the principal
Parents are requested to call
the school office by 8:30 AM if their child will be absent from school
that day. Parents who do not contact the
office will be called at home, or if necessary, at work to confirm an
absence. A student who is absent is required
to bring a note to the office explaining the absence upon his/her return.
Athletic Eligibility
1. Students must pass four units of work (four classes that meet every day). If this requirement is not met, the student is ineligible for the quarter.2. If a student fails a course and still passes four units of work, s/he is not eligible for three weeks. At the end of that time, if the student is passing all subjects, s/he will be re-instated.
Bullying
In accordance with state law,
it is the policy of the Naugatuck Board of Education that any form
of bullying behavior, whether in the classroom, on school property,
or at a school-sponsored event, is expressly forbidden. Under the policy, students are able to report
acts of bullying to teachers and administrators; parents/guardians may
file written reports of suspected bullying; school faculty and staff are
required to report to administrators witnessed acts or student reported
acts; administrators must investigate alleged acts; language addressing
bullying acts must be included in student codes of conduct; administrators
must, with a verified act of bullying, notify both the parents/guardians
of the student committing the act and the victim of the act; schools must
track such acts and maintain records as required by applicable law(s).
The policy defines bullying
as, “…any overt acts by a student or group of students directed against
another student with the intent to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate
the other student while on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity,
which acts are repeated against the same student over time.”
Most buses are filled to capacity so taking extra riders can be
difficult. Occasionally, a student might request to ride on a different
bus. In order for a request to be considered, the student must report
to the office in the morning with a note signed by the parent/guardian
explaining with whom the child will be going home and what bus/number
is being asked to take on an extra rider. The
student making the request will be required to stop by the office
later in the day in order to pick up the school-stamped note granting
the request. In the event that the request cannot be honored, the student
will be given ample time to call his/her parent in order to make other
arrangements.
Care of School Property
Students are responsible
for the proper care of all books, supplies, and furnishings provided
by the school. Textbooks are to be kept
clean and should be covered carefully. Students
who disfigure materials, break furnishings, or otherwise damage school
property or equipment will be required to pay for the damage or replace
the item before they can receive their final report card.
Counseling and Guidance Services
Counseling and guidance services
are available for every student at Hillside.
Counselors and students discuss such topics as educational
planning, home, school and/or social concerns, career information,
study help, and interpretation of test scores. Students are assigned
to one of two counselors for their two years at Hillside. Parents are
encouraged to contact their child’s school counselor to discuss any concern
they might have regarding their child. Counselors
are available to arrange conferences at the request of parents, students,
and/or teachers.
In most cases, your counselor
is assigned to you by alphabetical order according to your last name. Students whose name begins in A-K will be assigned
to Mr. Miata. Students whose name begins in
L-Z will be assigned to Mrs. Cicchetti.
Counseling/guidance passes are available in homeroom and in the
guidance offices. Students must fill
out this pass with the date, their name, their homeroom, and study hall,
and then place the pass in the receptacle on their counselor’s door. During the day, if an emergency arises and a
counseling/guidance pass needs to be completed, students can ask one of
their teachers to call the office with that message.
Their counselor will see them as soon as possible. An emergency is a situation that places students
or someone they know in danger. Disagreements
with friends are important, but usually are not emergencies.
Demerits
Detentions
Teachers are responsible for outlining classroom rules and
procedures and administering reasonable disciplinary action whenever
these guidelines are abused. A possible action
is an after school detention with that teacher.
Students are expected to bring homework or other study material
to detention with them. All students will be given 24-hour notice
for an after school detention.
A form will be sent home with the student indicating the detention date and length of time. The form should be signed and returned to the teacher assigning the detention. Failure to meet this obligation will result in parental contact and increased disciplinary action.
Discipline must be maintained
in order for teaching and learning to take place. Students
are reminded that they must live by a code of good behavior, not only
for their own benefit, but for the benefit of others as well.
Each staff member is directly
responsible for minor infractions. In
the event a student commits a major infraction of the school rules, a
teacher will send a written referral to the office immediately. The school administrator will then choose the
appropriate course of action.
Field Trips
Field trips are school activities considered to be part of
the curriculum. It is important that all students take part in these
activities. Unless there is an extenuating circumstance, every student
is expected to attend scheduled curricular field trips.
Unexcused absence will be considered for any student who
does not attend.
Grading Policies
Progress Reports will be issued to every student
during each marking period. These reports
allow for teacher assessment, student self-evaluation, and parental
comment. Progress reports will be distributed
on or around 10/1/04, 12/10/04, 3/3/05, and 5/13/05.
These dates may vary due to snow days, etc.
Report Cards will be mailed home at the
end of each marking period. Report cards
tentatively will be issued on 11/3/04, 1/25/05, 4/5/05, and
6/16/05. These
dates may vary due to snow days, etc.
Honor Roll
1. All subjects will count toward achieving Honor Roll
status
2. To
achieve High Honors, a student must earn an A average with no grade
below B
3.
To achieve Honors, a student
must earn a B average with no grade below C
Health Services
If a student becomes ill
or is injured in school, s/he should report to the nurse. Students may not leave the building because of illness
without authorization from the nurse or the principal.
Prescriptions and medications,
including over the counter medications, to be taken in school must be
in the original container, accompanied by the authorization form signed
by the doctor and parent. A parent or guardian
must bring the medication to the nurse.
When a student is absent
from school for medical reasons, a parent should call the school in the
morning. In addition, a parent should send
a note to school upon the student’s return, stating the dates and reason
for the student’s absence.
Parents must fill out emergency
cards and contact the school if there are any changes in home, work,
or emergency phone numbers and/or addresses.
To comply with Connecticut
state law, students entering grade 7 are required to have received 1)
a measles vaccine booster, 2) the first of the Hepatitis B vaccination
series, and 3) proof of Varicella (chicken pox) immunization or a doctor’s
note. If these requirements are not met,
the student will not be permitted to begin his/her grade 7 school year.
Before the start of grade
8, the Hepatitis B vaccine series (three inoculations) must be completed. If this is not done, the student cannot enter
grade 8. The Hepatitis B vaccine series
should be completed within a six-month period.
Lockers
Each student is assigned a locker for the storage of books
and equipment. Locks will be issued to students
by the office. It is the student’s responsibility
to keep his/her locker locked at all times. Students
are expected to keep lockers in good usable condition. All lockers are the property of the Naugatuck
Board of Education and are subject to inspection by the administration
at their discretion. Kicking or defacing a locker in any manner will
result in payment for damages. Students are
encouraged not to share lockers or to give out locker combinations.
Lost and Found
Middle School Dress and Grooming
Code
The Board of Education
and our middle school encourage students to dress in a manner that reflects
pride in and respect for themselves, their school, and their community.
To promote a positive, safe, and appropriate learning environment, proper
attire should be worn. Therefore, the following attire is considered
inappropriate for a safe learning environment.
a.
coats, jackets, or other attire
normally worn as outerwear;
b.
head coverings of any kind
including, but not limited to, scarves, bandanas, masks, kerchiefs,
athletic headbands, hats, caps, or hoods;
c.
tank tops/athletic shirts without
a tee-shirt or over-shirt;
d.
sunglasses (unless required
by a doctor);
e.
attire or accessories which
portray inappropriate writing or pictures;
f.
attire or accessories which
depict logos or emblems that encourage the use of drugs, tobacco products,
or alcoholic beverages;
g.
shirts and/or blouses which
reveal the abdomen, chest, or undergarments;
h.
see-through clothing;
i.
shorts, miniskirts, or pants
which reveal the upper thigh or undergarments;
j.
unlaced sneakers, shoes, or
footwear considered to be unsafe;
k.
pajama bottoms
l.
backpacks and/or book bags
should be viewed as a means of carrying books to and from school.
Backpacks and/or book bags are to be left in lockers during school
time. ANY BAG WORN ON THE BACK IS CONSIDERED
A BACKPACK.
These rules apply to all school
activities. Parents and students are asked
to review the above information about proper dress.
Any violation of this policy by your child will result
in the parent being contacted and the child being asked to change.
Non-Discrimination
In compliance with the regulations
of the Office of Civil Rights and with Equal Opportunity practices
as determined by state and federal legislation, the Board of Education:
… as a matter of policy
does not knowingly condone discrimination in employment, assignment,
program, or services, on the basis of race, gender, color, religion,
national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or unrelated abilities
to perform the duties of the position.
It is required that all program offerings, employment applications,
admission criteria in the Naugatuck Public Schools including vocational
and adult education, must contain the above statement.
Any concerns, questions, or
information regarding the above may be obtained by contacting, Laura
Cyr, Title IX Coordinator for the Naugatuck Public Schools, 380 Church
Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770 (720-5265).
Personal Property and Valuables
All articles and valuables are brought to school at the owner’s
risk. Students are asked to be extremely careful about leaving valuables
unattended in desks, cubbyholes, classrooms, and unlocked lockers.
The school is not responsible for stolen articles.
It is best that skateboards, cell phones, CD players,
and other valuables be left home.
Regulations for the Conduct of Pupils Riding on
School Buses
by the Board of Education,
Naugatuck, CT
The driver is in full charge
of the bus and of all pupils riding therein at all times while pupils
are being transported to and from school. S/he
is required to enforce all rules and regulations adopted by the school
authorities for the conduct of pupils riding on the bus.
Pupils must take a seat when
they enter the bus and remain seated at all times while the bus is
in motion.
Indecent or profane language,
smoking, rowdy behavior, loud talking, loud radios, or any illegal
activities are expressly prohibited.
Pupils must not open bus windows
without permission from the driver.
Pupils must not throw any
object in or out the bus.
Pupils must not, at any time,
extend their arms or heads out the bus window.
Pupils will enter and leave
the bus only at the front door except in cases of emergency.
Pupils must be on time and,
at all times, cooperate in keeping the bus on schedule.
Pupils will, after alighting
from the bus, wait for the signal from the driver before crossing
the highway, and pupils will also look to see that traffic is halted.
Pupils must not stand on the
traveled portion of the highway while waiting for a bus.
Penalties for Bus Violation
Parents of pupils who damage
or deface any bus will be held liable for such damage.
When pupils do not observe the
above rules, the driver will report them on bus company forms to
the principal as soon as possible.
The principal, as a last resort,
will determine the matter of suspension from riding the bus after
parents have been notified. This action
is subject to review by the superintendent.
Appeals from any decision may
be made in writing by parents to the transportation committee.
School Closing
School
may be closed, delayed, or dismissed early in the case of inclement
weather.
Announcements of school closings,
early dismissal, or delayed openings will be made on local radio and
TV stations, WATR (1320), WWCO (1240), WTIC (1080), WVIT, WFSB, and
WTNH after 6:15 AM.
Please do not call the school, the superintendent’s office, or the radio station to inquire about school closings.
School Rules
It is important
to establish certain rules and guidelines for all students. Most rules are a matter of common sense, and all
students should abide by them.
1.
Respect the property of others. Do
not mark on books, walls, desks, lockers, etc.
2. Maintain
good eating habits while in the cafeteria. Do
not take or eat food outside the
cafeteria.