Pleasant Plains Middle School
“Home of the Redbirds”
Student/Parent Handbook
Principal
John Marsaglia
Assistant Principal
Ben Theilen
2455 N. Farmingdale Rd.
Pleasant Plains, IL 62677
Telephone: 626-1061
Website:
www.ppcusd8.org
2007 Student Handbook Committee
Ben Theilen – Asst. Principal
Aimee Eddington
Debbie Greene
Liz Ladage
Noelle Clark
Phil Kaufmann – Parent
Table of
Contents
Page
Book Rental Service......... 4
Certified Birth Certificate.... 4
Illinois Textbook Loan
Program 4
Field Trips. 7/8
ISAT Testing Dates 8
STI Home Plus/Grading
Scale/Honor Roll/Student Progress.... 8/9
Promotion/Retention 9
PASS......... 11
Student Attendance/Student
Absences............. 11/12
School Nurse/Administering
Medicine to Students 13/14
Dental/Physicals/Immunization/Vision
& Hearing 15
School Records
Information/Directory Information 15/16/17/18
School Security 18
Code of Conduct/Student
Behavior/Dress Code 19/20/21
Dangerous Weapons/School
Searches/Student Sexual Harassment 21/22
Classroom Management
Plans/Student Discipline 23/24/25/26
Consequences for Level I,
II, III, and IV Behaviors 27/28/29/30
School Bus Discipline Code 31/32
Athletic &
Extra-Curricular Code of Conduct. 33/34
PPMS Activity Chart 35
School Calendar Back Cover
In
order to be successful, responsible members of society, the students at
Pleasant Plains District #8 will be prepared mentally, socially, and
emotionally through the development of their creativity, critical thinking, and
problem solving skills.
Mission
Statement
We believe that by promoting essential
learning and positive social skills, our students will be successful citizens
today, tomorrow, and in the future.
“Title IX
Compliance”
It
is the policy of Community Unit District Eight not to discriminate on the basis
of sex in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies as
required by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX
may be directed to:
Middle School Counselor
2455 North Farmingdale Road
Mrs. Maureen Talbert, Superintendent
P.O. Box 320
Pleasant Plains, IL
62677
or
Office for Civil Rights
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Washington, D.C.
Pleasant
Plains Community Unit District # 8 does not discriminate in its employment
practices or its educational and extracurricular programs, activities,
services, and benefits because of sex, race, color, religion, national origin,
handicap or age.
General
Building - Information and Procedures
Student
Insurance
All students
are offered accident insurance. This
insurance is secondary insurance to the student’s regular insurance
coverage. The insurance covers the
student while engaged in school activities including interscholastic
athletics. If an accident occurs at school, the student must report it to the
teacher in charge immediately! If
accidents occur to and from school, the parents accept the responsibility for
notification to the school office.
Student
Accidents
All accidents
should be reported to your teacher and/or the school
office. An accident report form will be filed with the school nurse and the
superintendent. No injury is too small
to report!
Book Rental
Service
The student rents all
basic textbooks. Students are charged
for undue wear due to careless treatment of books. The student, at the schools cost for replacement, will replace
lost books. Damaged books will be
assessed on a prorated basis. Book fees
are for textbooks rented and for workbooks consumed and other consumable
supplies. No part of the fee is
refundable unless the student withdraws from school. The following schedule will be followed:
Before end of 1st week -Full Amount
Before December 1-1/2 Amount
Before February 15-1/4 Amount
After February 15-No refund
Note: Students who
enter school late should be charged accordingly:
Before December 15-Full Amount
Before March 1-1/2 Amount
Certified
Birth Certificate – Illinois School Code
A state School Code, The
Illinois Compiled Statutes Missing Children Records Act 325ILCS50, requires the
school to keep a copy of each student’s certified birth certificate on file
(this is not a hospital copy). In
addition, the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), Section 3.011 for
athletic competition, requires a certification of grade, birth date, and
current physical examinations of competing contestants. In order to certify this, the school
requires a copy of your child’s certified birth certificate in order to be
eligible to participate in extra curricular activities, athletic contests, and
practice periods. If you do not have a certified birth certificate
for your child, it can be obtained through the Department of Vital Statistics
in the child’s state of birth.
Illinois
Textbook Loan Program
The Illinois Textbook Loan
Program was authorized in 1975 to provide textbooks free of charge to any
public and nonpublic student enrolled in Kindergarten through grade
twelve. The state purchases the
materials and then loans them to the pupils of Illinois. The program funding is only enough to
provide supplemental dollars for materials and is not aimed at total funding
for all instructional materials.
Parents or students may
request the loan of a secular textbook(s) by submitting an individual request
during the initial enrollment in our schools.
Questions regarding this program should be directed to the building
principal.
Student Lockers
At the beginning of the
school year, every student will be assigned an individual locker and issued a
combination lock. It is the
responsibility of each student to insure that his/her locker is locked at all
times; random checks will be performed to verify compliance. Students should not share their combinations
with anyone. Those students desiring to
provide their own locks must supply the office with the combination or key to
that lock.
The office shall maintain
a master list of all combinations. This
list shall be kept in a secure and locked location and only accessible to the
building secretary, the principal and the dean of students.
Students shall use only
their assigned lockers for their books and coats. Illegal entry or damage to lockers should be reported to the
office. Damage done to a locker from markings,
posters, and other abuse will be charged to the student. The school assumes no responsibility for
articles lost or stolen. Lost or damaged locks - $6.00 will be
charged to the student.
Book Bags
The use of book bags has
become increasingly popular among students.
While book bags can be helpful in carrying materials into the building,
they also add to overcrowding in the hallways, they block aisles in the
classroom, and they can lead to distraction of students. Therefore, students are discouraged from
taking book bags to the classrooms.
Teachers can implement and enforce rules that require students who bring
book bags to the classroom to leave them in a designated area of the room (i.e.
on the floor in the back of the room, on a table, etc.) In classes where such a
rule is in effect, students are expected to remove needed materials from the
bag and be seated in the assigned desk when the bell rings to start class.
Acceptable Use of
Computers
In an effort to provide a
safe Internet experience, Pleasant Plains Community Unit District #8 does
establish these rules and guidelines for use on computers. The use of the Internet is a privilege. Inappropriate use will result in
cancellation of this privilege.
The educationally based
restrictions deal with speech that is inappropriate in an educational setting
or violates district rules. In order of
severity, they are:
1. Inappropriate language — This includes any written or visual materials
that would be considered obscene, profane, vulgar, rude, disrespectful,
threatening or inflammatory language; harassment; personal attacks, including
prejudicial or discriminatory comments; or false or defamatory statements about
a person or organization.
2. Dangerous information — information that if acted upon could cause damage
or danger of disruption.
3. Violation of privacy — revealing personal information about others.
4. Abuse of resources — chain letters, spamming, etc. (Spamming is sending an annoying or
unnecessary message to a large number of people.)
5. Copyright infringement or plagiarism.
6. Violation of personal safety — revealing personal contact information about
self.
7. E-mail and chat rooms will not viewed by students unless approved by
the teacher for educationally designed activities.
Students
should be aware that actions taken on the system that are in violation of the
disciplinary code would be handled in accord with the school code. Appropriate legal authorities will be
contacted if there is any suspicion of illegal activity.
Teachers shall select material that is appropriate
and relevant to the course. The
teachers shall preview materials and sites they require and recommend student’s
access. Teachers shall provide
guidelines and lists of resources to assist their students in conducting their
research activities effectively and properly when they are accessing the
Internet independently. Teachers shall
assist students in developing skills to determine the truthfulness of
information, distinguish fact from opinion, and engage in discussion about
controversial issues while demonstrating tolerance for those who have different
views.
The
Board of Education and administration of Unit District #8 recognizes the need
to give each student fair treatment in all school matters, especially
disciplinary matters.
DEVICES
Phones/pagers/Cameras/Recorders (Photographic & Electronic)
Students can be in
possession of telecommunication devices such as cellular phones or pagers.
Students are allowed to have such items in their possession provided that the
following rules are adhered to:
1. These devices must be kept in a locker or book bag. The phone
or pager cannot be visible.
2. The device should be turned off during the school
day. Under no circumstances should a
call, page, or message be received. A
student shall not make any calls or send any messages during the school
day. The sending or receiving of
messages includes the lunch period.
3. Pleasant Plains Middle School is allowing students to
have phones, pagers, etc. as a matter of convenience. It must be understood that the phones and pagers should not be
used for any reason during the school day.
4. Cameras can be used only with permission of the
administration and/or a teacher. This
includes all cameras and cell phone cameras.
Failure to follow the
rules as stated above will result in Level II disciplinary action, including
the confiscation of the device. The
device will be held in the office until a parent can pick it up.
Food Services
Program at PPMS
The Middle School offers both a lunch and breakfast
program for the students and staff.
Lunch menus are included each month in the Plain Talk (district
newsletter). Students have the option
of participating in this program or bringing a sack lunch from home.
Types
of Lunches
Type A Lunch - Includes a main entrée, vegetable, two side items,
and milk. Everyday we offer cold
sandwiches that can be substituted for a main entrée.
Type B - Choice including a meat item, two side items, and
milk.
Side Items Include: Vegetable, fruit, salad, or
juice.
Ala Carte - This can be a choice of any of the components
listed in type A or B lunches.
Breakfast Meal - Includes an entrée, side item, and milk.
This meal includes hot and cold items daily. Students can purchase any of the
breakfast entrees at Ala-Carte prices
PPMS Bank-a-Meal
Program
We have the Bank-a-Meal
program at the middle school that is used much like a “bank debit card.” Each day your child goes through the lunch
line and buys food, his/her lunch card is “swiped” and the amount charged is
deducted from his/her account balance.
To have a positive balance, it requires that you, as the parent, put
money in your child’s lunch account on a regular basis. If your child goes through the line without
a positive balance it creates a “credit” charge and your child gets behind in
payments. At a certain point we are
required to stop providing lunches to those students with a high negative
balance in his/her lunch account.
Our procedure for keeping kids and parents informed
of their balance is listed below:
Tips for
Keeping Positive Lunch Account Balance
·
Because
we allow students to buy ala-carte items and an opportunity for extra entrees,
the average lunch is approximately $3 per day or $15 per week.
·
When
paying for lunch, please use a check or go to the district web page and use the
“e-check method.”
·
Parents
may use E-Z Pay program and use a credit card only (www.ezschoolpay.com).
·
When
you send cash, it is easier to get lost or spent on vending machine items.
·
If
you must send cash, please put in a sealed envelope with your child’s name,
grade and lunch account number on the outside.
·
Please
check with your child (or book bag) for low lunch account notice slips.
·
When
in doubt, just call the school and check with our cafeteria manager for your
child’s lunch balance. It only takes a
couple of minutes to check, and we would be glad to provide you with that
information.
If you have
any questions, please call our Kitchen Manager at 626-1061, ext. 184.
Friday's
Forecast!!!! www.ppcusd8.org
This is an informational vehicle to help keep
communications between home and school open.
Every Friday, we will send home
with your child a weekly newsletter with information of past events and
upcoming activities. If you don’t
receive a copy of the Friday's Forecast, please contact the school office. (Note: Friday's Forecast can be found each
week on our school web site.)
Field Trips
Student field trips are an
extension of the classroom learning.
Parents will be contacted to get permission for their child to
participate in a school fieldtrip. All
students will attend school-sponsored field trips under the following
conditions:
1. Signed permission form allowing your child to attend
2. Written instructions for any special needs (i.e.,
medicine, accommodations, special pick up times, etc.)
3. Student in Good Standing (can be removed for
disciplinary reasons)
isat
testing dates (March 3-1412-23,
20087)
The Illinois Standards
Achievement Test (ISAT) measures individual student achievement relative to the
Illinois Learning Standards. The results give parents, teachers, and schools
one measure of student learning and school performance. Students in grades 5-8 take the ISAT in reading, writing,
science, and mathematics.
Yearbooks
The students can purchase yearbooks at a cost
determined by the yearbook sponsor and administration. The yearbook is developed with the goal of
accurately depicting the students and activities of Pleasant Plains Middle
School during the academic year. While
it is our intent to include all students in the yearbook, the school cannot
guarantee that all students will or can be included. The purchaser of the yearbook assumes the risk that the yearbook
may contain errors and/or omissions. If
the purchaser is dissatisfied with the yearbook, he/she may ask for a refund. The decision to make a refund rests with the
building administrator or his/her designee.
STI Home +
(teacher Grade book)
STI Home + provides parents and students with a
means of accessing school information from a remote computer, via the Internet. This information includes:
·
Student Schedule
·
Student Discipline
·
Attendance
·
Grades
To access STI Home + you must receive training
through school personnel in order to get your child’s student identification
number and a password.
Grading Scale
It
is suggested that the following scale be used for daily and nine week grades:
A - 90% - 100%
B - 80% -
89%
C - 70% -
79%
D - 60% -
69%
F - 59% and below
A
grade of “0” will be worth 0 points.
This designation is to be used when a student does not or will not
attempt an assignment or test. Students
attempting to do the work will be graded “A” through “F” accordingly.
Academic
Honor Roll
High Honors –
To be eligible for High Honor Roll, students must receive A’s in all subject
areas (core, exploratory, encore, and PE).
Regular Honors –
To be eligible for regular Honor Roll, students must pass all subject areas. Students must have a “B” average (3.0 grade
point average) to be eligible for regular honors. Note: Students will receive an “academic” award for being on the
High Honor Roll for 3 out of the 4 nine weeks.
Nine
Week Period Grades
Grades are
issued to parents each nine weeks during the school year. These grades are determined by the
individual teacher and are based upon daily work, written work, outside
reading, and exams.
Progress
Reports
Progress reports will be
sent home at the midpoint of each nine-week grading period. These reports are
intended to alert parents of potential failing grades and to commend
outstanding academic achievement.
Promotion/Retention
Grade level promotion or
retention is based on academic performance.
Students must meet the following requirements for promotion to the next
grade level:
1.
Students must pass four (4) of the five-core classes (math, science,
composition, literature and social studies) for the year to be promoted to the
next grade level. Passing four out of five CORE classes does not guarantee
automatic promotion. Each student’s
Illinois Scholastic Achievement Test (ISAT) scores and/or local achievement test
will be reviewed before the student is recommended for promotion.
2.