Sharon LaDue	Eric J. Schetter	Chris Ruggiero
Asst. Principal	Principal	Asst. Principal

LAGRANGE MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

The students, faculty, staff and community of LaGrange Middle School are committed to developing academic excellence, high moral character, and self-esteem to the fullest potential in a supportive environment of cooperation and mutual respect.
 

LAGRANGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK

YOUR SCHOOL DAY

You cannot enter the building before 7:20 a.m.  A bell will ring at 7:30 a.m. indicating the start of your homeroom.  This marks the beginning of a five minute period for the Pledge of Allegiance, teacher and school announcements and taking attendance.

TARDINESS

Students have a legal obligation to arrive to school on time.  If a student arrives late to school, after 7:30 a.m., you are to report directly to the Main Office, with your note, explaining a valid reason for arriving late.  Students may then sign in and get a pass to class.  Students who are repeatedly late to school, will be questioned by the administrators and parents may be notified.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE FROM CLASS

Cutting class is not tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.

LOCKERS

All students should be aware that school lockers, desks and other such storage spaces remain the exclusive property of LaGrange Middle School.  Students should have no expectation of privacy with respect to these areas from school officials.

You may go to your locker at the following times:
- when you arrive at school
- beginning of lunch period
- end of lunch period
- just prior to leaving school

It may become necessary to occasionally search one or more lockers.  This will be done in the event that the Administration has reason to believe the locker contains illegal or harmful materials.  DO NOT share your locker combination with any student not assigned to your locker.

HALL TRAFFIC

DO
- Stay on right side of the hallway
- Walk
- Use appropriate staircases

DO NOT
- Congregate in hallways or stairways
- Go to locker except during permitted times
- Run
- Yell or display loud,  boisterous behaviors

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED:

- fighting
- pushing
- selling candy/other items for personal profit
- water guns/pistols
- candy or gum
- laser pens
- paint balls
- pyrotechnic devices
- skateboards, rollerblades
- spitting
- balloons or flowers
- abusive or obscene language
- tobacco, alcohol, drug use
- damage and/or vandalism to school property
- pocket knives or other weapon-like objects
- magic cards, playing cards, dice or gaming
- "walkman", disc players, pagers, or distracting electronics
- open drink containers or screw top bottles

LaGrange Middle School believes in a progressive discipline policy.  If a student continues a pattern of misbehavior, the disciplinary action will increase in severity.
 

TELEPHONE USE & MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS

Students are not to use the telephone for non-emergency calls.  If ill, students can call from the Health Office at the nurse's suggestion.  Any after school plans should be made at home and students should not expect to call home to make after-school arrangements.  Only emergency messages will be given to students.

SCHOOL PROPERTY

Proper use of school property is expected at all times.  Persons responsible for property damage and/or vandalism will be held financially responsible and appropriate legal action will be taken.

DISCIPLINE, SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Students assigned Out-of-School Suspension are NOT PERMITTED to attend school sponsored activities during the time of suspension.  This time period commences at the time the student is suspended and ends at the beginning of the school day following the day(s) of suspension.  The Administration reserves the right to review each case and its consequences.

INJURY

All injuries, both major and minor, are to be reported to the teacher in your immediate area and to the school nurse.  If an injury occurs on the school bus, when you are going home, report it by telephone to the principal's office.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXCUSES

All students are required to dress in appropriate physical education attire.  Any notes or problems are to be taken to the Physical Education teacher who will then determine the extent of participation for that particular day.  Students that need to be excused for more than one week, must have a doctor's note.  A form is available from the Health Office.

A student who is dismissed from taking Physical Education class, due to a medical excuse issued from a doctor or a parent, may not participate in an Intramural or Interscholastic sport activity.

LUNCH TIME

- There are four lunch periods: 4, 5, 6 and 7
- All students must remain on school grounds during lunch
- You can buy a hot lunch, buy items a la carte, or bring lunch from home
- All food and beverage items purchased in cafeteria must be consumed in cafeteria
- Anyone who brings a lunch can buy milk, juice and/or dessert
- You should take your coat with you when you go to lunch because you may be
   allowed to go outside

KEEP CAFETERIA CLEAN

* Return trays and silverware to clean-up window
* Place garbage in garbage cans
* Clean up after yourself, you are expected to clean your area
* Keep the floor around your table clean
* Recycle

CAFETERIA BEHAVIOR

DO
Talk at a conversational level
Report any problems to the lunch duty teacher
Get permission to leave cafeteria for any reason

DO NOT
Yell or whistle
Throw any food or object
Push, tackle, or "rough play"
Leave cafeteria carrying food

HONOR ROLL

Students who maintain an overall academic average of 85% with no grade below 80% will be placed on the Honor Roll.

HOMEWORK

The quality of your homework and the promptness with which it is completed are factors in determining your report card grade.  Set aside a regular time each day for doing homework.  Homework may be assigned over the weekends and during vacation periods.  In the event a student is out for a few days, he/she should have the telephone numbers of a few classmates to call for homework assignments.  For more than one day, you may contact the Guidance Office at 486-4884 no later than
8:15 a.m. if you are unable to obtain the assignments from Homework Hotline.

HOMEWORK HOTLINE

The Homework Hotline is a program designed to enhance parent/school communication.  Teacher use of the Hotline is voluntary.  If your child's teacher chooses to use the Hotline, you can get up-to-date information by calling 483-3930 and following the automated menu instructions or simply inputting your child's teacher code.  You can also get information on school activities, P.T.A. activities and messages from the principal.

PASSES

You are not to leave your assigned room during the period without a pass from the teacher in charge.  You must have passes to go to the offices, lavatory, library, guidance office or any other place that is not on your regular schedule.  If you wish to go from a study hall or cafeteria to the guidance office, art room, computer lab, etc., a pass must first be obtained before school from the counselor or teacher whom you wish to see.  It is best not to try to get such a pass between classes or during lunch.   Obtaining a pass before school ensures that you will be able to meet with that particular teacher or counselor at a mutually convenient time.  Study hall teachers will not issue passes for students to see counselors or teachers except in an emergency situation.

If you become ill during the school day, obtain a written pass from your classroom teacher to go to the Health Office.  No student is allowed to go to the Health Office between classes, except in an emergency.  You should report to the next class, obtain a pass and then proceed to the Health Office.  The Health Office is provided to service those who become ill, injured or need physicals.

Late passes are to be issued by the teacher causing the lateness.  If you arrive late to class without a pass, you will not be admitted to class upon arrival.   For illegal lateness, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

ALTERNATE BUS PASS

Notes requesting permission to ride a different dismissal bus home from school, must be signed by a parent or guardian and brought to the Main Office when you arrive at the building in the morning.  Permission by telephone is not legally sufficient.  A written permission note must be submitted before a bus pass will be issued.

LATE BUSES

Extracurricular activities and teacher extra help sessions are conducted after school.  Teacher help can also be scheduled for at a mutually convenient time during the regular school day.  The library is open after school until 3:00 p.m.

Pupils who ride the bus and remain after school, for school approved reasons, will be able to return home on the activity bus.  The late bus leaves at 3:20 p.m. and a later bus at 4:00 p.m. may also be used when it is appropriate.  THESE BUSES ONLY TRANSPORT ALONG THE MAIN ROUTES.

NO student should be in the school building after regular school hours, unless under the supervision of a teacher or a parent.

Students may not leave school grounds and return expecting to ride an after school activity bus. Violators are subject to disciplinary action.

BATHROOMS

Bathrooms may be used before homeroom and between classes without a pass. You must have a pass from your classroom, lunchroom or study hall teacher when you leave that teacher's class or area.

STUDY HALLS

The purpose of study halls is for the completion of schoolwork.  When students have finished their schoolwork, they should use this time for leisure reading.  Students are required to be working or reading quietly for the entire study hall period.  Students may request permission to go to the library for research or to obtain reading materials.  In addition, students may request a pass from a teacher for computer lab.
 

DAILY TIME SCHEDULE

Regular Schedule
7:20  Pupils report directly from buses to homerooms
7:30 - 7:35 Homeroom Begins
7:38    Period 1 Begins

1 Hour Delay
8:20 Pupils report directly from buses to homerooms
8:30 - 8:35 Homeroom begins
8:38 Period 1 Begins

2 Hour Delay
9:20 Pupils report directly from buses to homerooms
9:30 - 9:35 Homeroom begins
9:38 Period 1 Begins
 

TO THE STUDENT AND PARENT
 

ATTENDANCE/MISSED SCHOOL WORK

Regular attendance and punctuality are necessary to insure success in school.  Make-up of schoolwork missed, because of absence, becomes the responsibility of the student.

Students who are absent, must check with their teachers to be sure all missed work is made-up.  "I was absent", is an unsatisfactory excuse for incomplete assignments.  Extra time may be allowed for assignment completion after a prolonged absence.  Teachers are not obligated to give extra help in the case of an illegal absence.

ABSENTEES

When you return from being absent, report to the Nurse's Office with a written excuse from your parent or guardian stating your full name, the dates of the absence, and the reason for the absence.  This excuse is a legal document and must be kept on file for three years.  Failure to present a note following an absence will result in the absence being recorded as illegal.

Examples of legal absences follow:
1. Personal illness
2. Critical illness or death in the immediate family
3. Recognized religious holidays (religious observance)
4. Required attendance at court
5. Quarantine
6. Impassable roads or weather conditions

Illegal absences fall into two categories:  Unlawful Absence and Truancy.
Unlawful Absence occurs when a student is absent with the knowledge and consent of his/her parent for other than legal reasons.
Example:   "visiting," "away," "vacation," "shopping," "needed at home," "caring for baby," "work," "no shoes," "overslept."

Truancy occurs when a student, whose parents expect the student to be in school, does not attend for other than lawful reasons.

Students may be excused for part-day absences of a legal nature.  He/she should bring a signed note requesting this permission to the Attendance Office before going to homeroom.  Students will be called down to the Main Office when they are to be dismissed. If he/she returns the same day, student should return to the Main Office, sign in, and receive a pass to class.

THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

Every pupil is assigned a guidance counselor.  If you have a problem with your schedule, or if you are doing poorly in some subject, or if you just want to talk with someone, your counselor is always willing to help.  In addition to scheduling and counseling, the counselors are in charge of all standardized tests.  They discuss these test results and other matters with you, your parents, and your teachers.  They also help you with plans for the future and give you educational and occupational information.  Counselors meet with pupils in-groups as well as individually.  Your counselor works with you, your parents, and your teachers to help you succeed.  The counselors are Ms. Nolan (A-GK), Ms. Relyea (GL-O), and Mrs. Sawicki (P-Z).

EMERGENCIES

EMERGENCY DRILLS

These drills are held during the school year for the purpose of saving lives and property in the event of a real fire emergency.  It is important that they be taken seriously.  Regulations for exiting your classroom are posted in each room and your teachers will go over the procedures with you.  We will have emergency drills during the course of the school year.

VISITORS IN THE BUILDING

1. All visitors must report to the Main Office.
2. Faculty members are to question all strangers they see in the building and direct them to the Main Office.  No unauthorized personnel (including former students) are permitted in the building or parking lot during the regular school session.

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