SPUSD Community Code of Conduct

• In order to best support our students’ success….
• We treat each other with respect
• by greeting each other upon meeting
• by expressing ourselves with kind words
• We practice active listening by focusing on the message we are hearing, not just the words
• We care for and about each other:
• by seeking first to understand, then seeking to be understood
• by being courteous and demonstrating kind acts

 

Academics

 

Computer Use Policy:

•  User must have a signed Acceptable Use Policy on file in the office to use any computer on campus.
• User may use computers for school assignments, for email, for personal technology enrichment.
• We do not allow IM, games, downloading of software, or music.
• There is a $0.10 per page charge for printing in the LMC and computer lab. Color prints are $0.25.
• Students may save work to the school server, but it is recommended that they also have a flash drive. Floppy disks are not encouraged.  Emailing files is also a secondary method of transferring data.
• School computers run Microsoft Office 2003; documents must be saved to run in that version.
• Malicious use of computers will result in loss of privileges and further disciplinary action.

 

Grading:

• Final Quarter Grades:  Are issued after each quarter. The end of the quarters are as follows:
•  1^st Quarter - November
•  2^nd Quarter - February
•  3^rd Quarter - April\
•  4^th Quarter - June
• Behavior and Work Habits: My also be reported during each marking period.
• “O” = Outstanding
• “S” = Satisfactory
• “N” = Needs Improvement
• “U” = Unsatisfactory
• (“U’s” in Citizenship can result in a loss of privileges including field trips and promotion activities.)
•  

Library Policies:

Textbooks/library books: Students should take good care of their school textbooks and library books. Textbooks are checked out to students using a unique bar code number. Students are to write their name in the space provided on the inside front cover of their textbook so it can be easily identified. If a textbook is misplaced students should check in the LMC to see if it has been returned. There will be a $3.00 re-issue charge to retrieve your book.

• Library hours are from 7:45 am to 3:00 pm Tuesday through Friday.  Monday the library closes immediately after school.
• The library is closed during homeroom each day.
• Students may check out three (3) books at a time for a three (3) week duration.
• A fine of $0.05 a day will be charged for overdue materials.
• No additional books may be checked out if others are over due or fines are owed.
• If a book is lost the replacement fees are $10 for paperbacks, and $20 for hardbacks.
• The rules of the library are: Respect others and respect the materials.

 

Physical Education Policies:

• Students are expected to dress for and participate in PE class EACH DAY. 
• Black shorts and grey T-shirts are the Middle School PE uniform. 
• PE clothes are not to be worn outside of PE class unless expressly directed to do so by school personnel.
  
  
• Gym clothes need to be worn in a manner so that at no time will undergarments be visible. 
• Tie-laced tennis shoes and white socks are required (slip-on shoes are NOT allowed for reasons of safety). 
• Due to safety and performance concerns, platform tennis shoes will not be allowed. 
• There will be a clothing inspection each week for name and cleanliness.  Pen/pencil to be kept in basket is to be used for exams

• A combination lock MUST be purchased at school for $5.00. 
• All lockers must be locked at ALL times. Students who fail to lock their lockers may be subject to disciplinary action.   

• Students who become ill or are injured during class are to tell the teacher immediately so that they can be assisted or sent to the Health office.

• Students needing to be excused from Physical Education for three (3) days or less should bring a signed note from home and present it to the PE teacher (include student’s full name, reason, and date(s) of absence).
•   A doctor’s note is required to be excused from PE for over five (5) days.  This note is to be given to the Health Clerk before school. 

• If PE is to be limited, restricted or excluded, a doctor’s letter is required every year and will be kept in the student’s file.

9TH Grade Promotion Policies:

(To participate in the ceremony and other activities)

1. A student must meet appropriate curriculum content standards and be recommended for promotion to the 9^th grade at the completion of 8th grade or they will not participate in the promotion exercises.

2. A student may not participate in promotion activities if he or she has more than four (4) “F” marks in the 8th grade with no more than one earned in the fourth quarter.

3. A student may not have more than four (4) unsatisfactory ratings (U’s) in 8th grade for behavior with no more than one (1) of the U’s earned during the fourth quarter of the 8^th grade.

 

 

Attendance

 

 

Attendance Intervention Policy

 

TARDIES

1-4                  *  Marked by teacher

 

5^th                  *  Blackboard Connect message to parent (Next tardy is a detention)

 

6^th                  *  Student calls parent from Assistant Principal’s office to notify  parents of detention and reason

 

8^th                  *  Counselor conference with student; Counselors call parents to inform              of meeting and discuss any issues.

 

 

10th                *  Student serves Saturday School for excessive tardies; 

                      *  Notation made in Aeries for Saturday School and reason

                      *  Letter from Principal sent to parents (reviewing needfor                       students to be on time and

                         tardy policy with SART/SARB information. Letter has tear off to return to school

                         Acknowledging receipt)

 

11^th – 19^th       *  Detention for each additional tardy

 

20^th                *  Saturday School (or lunch detention) and SART proceedings initiated

      Notation made in Aeries

 

* 3 tarties (30 minutes or later is equal to 1 truancy)

 

 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

 

1 period          *  One Saturday School

                      *  Notation made in Aeries

 

1 day              *  Two Saturday Schools assigned

 

 

 

EXCUSED ABSENCES

 

3^rd single period absence          Assistant Principal calls parents

 

4^th single period absence          School requests note from Doctor.

 

 

 

EXCUSED FULL DAY ABSENCE

 

On 4^th consecutive day             Parent called – Dr.’s note required

                                                For repeated similar absences   Dr.’s note required

 

*Repeated absences of 4 or more days with same illness may require another Dr.’s note.

 

 

SINGLE DAY ABSENCES

 

5^th full day absence in quarter              Counselor conference with student

                                                            May include parent call and/or SART/SARB proceedings

 

Leaving during school hours:

 

• Have your parent send a signed note with you to school in the morning.  Be sure the note specifies the date, time and purpose for you being off campus.  Bring the note to the office before school starts.  The office staff will complete an Admittance/Grounds Permit Form and give to you.  When it is time for you to leave school, show the Admittance/Grounds Permit Form to your teacher to be excused from class. 
• If you don't bring a note, your parent must come to the office and request you be called out of your class.  This interrupts the classroom learning. Your parent must wait for you to come to the office and then sign you out.  Please note students will NOT be called out of class until your parent arrives to pick you up.

 

 

Discipline

 

Discipline Policies:

• Students enrolled at South Pasadena Middle School are expected to comply with all requirements of the school.  Violation of the rules will be handled by appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to:
• Counseling, parent contact, loss of privileges, assignment of appropriate tasks, detention, temporary removal from classroom by the teacher, Alternative to Suspension, Suspension by teacher or administrator, and/or Expulsion.

• Unacceptable Behaviors:
  
  
• Cheating
•  Bullying
• Dangerous Objects
• Defiance
• Disrupting Class
• Dress Code Violation
• Explosives at School
• Fighting or encouraging fighting
• Gum Chewing
• Horseplay/Wrestling/Hitting
• Intimidation
• Panting
• Profanity
• Smoking, Alcohol, or Drugs
• Spitting
• Spreading Rumors
• Stealing
• Tagging
• Truancy/Excessive Tardies
• Threatening/Harassing
• Using Electronic Devices During School
• Violation of the “Computer Use” Policy

 

Dress Code:

• The school administration shall have the right to designate which types of dress, fashion, fads, or appearance disrupt or detract from the educational program and may be a potential safety hazard.

• Dress Code Violations:
• No underwear visible.
• No spaghetti straps (Tank top blouses should be  1.5” wide on the shoulder)
• Shorts must be long enough to meet the inside palm.
• Shoes must be worn (no flip-flops or open-toed shoes).
• Pants must fit and be worn to cover underwear and at the waist or just below the waist.
• No hats or hoods over the head inside the school building.
• No alcohol/cigarette advertising on clothing, notebooks, or backpacks.
• No slogans, emblems or advertising on clothing which by their controversial or obscene nature disrupt the educational setting
• No facial jewelry (nose, eyebrow, etc.).
• No bare midriffs, backs or transparent see-through tops.
• No bandanas.
• Earrings (hoops) must be smaller than two and a half inches in diameter.

Sexual Harassment Policy:

 

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical contact of a sexual nature made by someone from or in the work or educational setting.  If any student becomes aware of any sexual harassment, this information should be communicated, without fear of retaliation, immediately to the Principal or Assistant Principal.

 

 

Ground for Suspension:

• SUSPENSIONS: A pupil may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the Superintendent or the Principal/Designee of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has:
• Caused, attempted to cause or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.
• (b) Possessed, sold or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object unless, in the case of possession of any such object, the pupil had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, which is concurred in by the Principal or Designee of the Principal.  (Includes possession of an imitation or replica of a firearm or other weapon.)
• (c) Unlawfully possessed, used, sold or otherwise furnished or been under the influence of, any controlled substance, as defined in Section 11007 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind
• (d) Unlawfully offered, arranged or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, as defined in Section 11007 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage or an intoxicant of any kind, and then either sold, delivered or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid, substance or material and represented the liquid, substance or material as a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant.
• (e) Committed robbery or extortion.
• (f) Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.
• (g) Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.
• (h) Possessed or used tobacco, except as provided in Section 48901.
• (i) Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
• (j) Unlawfully offered, arranged or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Section 11364 of the Health and Safety Code.
• (k) Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.
• (l) Knowingly received stolen property.
• (m) Possessed an imitation firearm.
• (n) Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault.
• (o) Harassed threatened, or intimidated a pupil who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of either preventing that pupil from being a witness or retaliating against that pupil for being a witness, or both.
• (p) Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.
• (q) A pupil may be suspended or expelled for acts that are enumerated in this section and related to school activity or attendance that occur at any time, including, but not limited to any of the following:
• 1) While on school grounds
• 2) While going to or coming from school
• 3) During the lunch period whether on or off the campus.
• 4) During, or while going to or coming from, a school sponsored activity.
• (.2) Sexual harassment [E.C. Section 48900.2]
• (.3) Causing, threatening to cause, or participating in an act of hate violence [E.C. Section 48900.0]
• (.7) Terrorist threats against school officials or school property, or both, may be grounds for suspension or expulsion. As per E.C. Section 48900.

Activities

Associated Student Body:

• The Associated Student Body (ASB) directs the overall student activities of the school and the expenditure of student body funds.
• Students wishing to participate in school leadership/ASB must apply during the third quarter for the following year.  Candidates must have a “2.5” grade point average with no “D’s” or “F’s” on their 3rd quarter report cards.  Students wishing to serve as President must have a 3.0 grade point average.  Citizenship must be satisfactory (no more than one “N” and no “U’s”).

 

 

School Safety

 

Bikes and Skateboards:

• Bikes and skateboards are to be walked on the concrete areas in the vicinity of the bike racks and within the bike rack enclosure.  Bikes are not to be ridden through the campus nor are they to be ridden through the parking lot.  Each student who brings a bike to school must have a lock and chain/cable.

 

Electronic Devises (cell phones, ipods, gameboys, radios, etc.):

• Electronic devises are not allowed to be used during school. Cell phones may be used before and after school. All electronic devises must be off and place out of sight. Students are responsible for their electronic devices and are encouraged not to bring them to school.

 

Drop-Off and Pick-Up:

 

• Designated drop-off and pick-up areas can be found on Oak Street, Fair oaks and Rollin Street.
• Parents are asked to drop students off on the school side of the street avoiding students having to cross in front of oncoming traffic.
• Parents are asked not to use the staff parking lot to drop off, park or wait for their children.
• The parking lot can be a dangerous place and is off-limits for ALL students.  Street parking is available for all visitors.  Citations may be issued for illegal parking.  

 

 

Pedestrians:

 

 

 

 

 

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

 

Information on every student is kept on file in the Attendance Office to be used by school personnel to locate parents in case of an emergency.  For your child’s safety, you are required to notify the school of any change of address, changes to home, work and cell telephone numbers.  If you move to another school enrollment area and wish to have your child continue at this school for the remainder of the term, he/she may be eligible to do so.  Please check in with the Registrar in the office to obtain detailed District regulations regarding intra- and inter-district permit requirements.  If it is discovered that you have failed to report a change of address to another school attendance area, your child will not be eligible for a permit to continue at this school.

 

 

 

If you are sick, the Health Clerk can send you home or help you rest.  Do NOT come to school if you have: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye or lice.  If you have these conditions you will be sent home. Your parents, or authorized adult, must pick you up within one hour of being contacted about your health.

If a student becomes ill and needs assistance he/she should inform the teacher and receive a pass to the Health Office.  Any on-campus injury should be reported to the Health Clerk or teacher immediately. Parents should keep the Health Clerk informed of any special health problems.

 

 

 

HEALTH OFFICE

 

By law, if a student needs to bring medication to school, he/she needs a note from the doctor AND an Administration of Medication During School Hours form from the parent requesting it.  This form can be picked up from the Health Office.  The medicine must be in an original prescription container and kept in the Health Office.  Even over-the-counter medication needs to be checked into the Health Office and should only be brought with written permission from a doctor.

 

Written Releases are needed for:

• Students returning to school with crutches, casts, or orthopedic devices must have administrative approval and a written release from the attending physician.
• Obtain verification that a student on crutches has been instructed in proper crutch usage.
• Students returning from surgery or long-term illness of 10 days or more must have a written release from the attending physician.
• ·he releases should also indicate any limitations for PE.

 

Lockers:

• Lockers must be secured with a school-purchased lock.  Students are responsible for securing their locks.
• To prevent theft and vandalism, it is recommended that all belongings be taken out of the lockers during long breaks and holidays. 
• The lockers are the property of the middle school and subject to search when necessary.  
• If you have any locker problems, please see the Assistant Principal or Campus Supervisor.
• The person to whom the locker is assigned will be held responsible for its contents and condition.
• Students are not to share their lockers with anyone.  

 

• The South Pasadena Unified School District and/or South Pasadena Middle School will not be responsible for any item lost, damaged or stolen from a student’s locker.

 

 

 

LOST AND FOUND

 

If an item is lost, notify the Office at brunch, lunch, before or after school.  Please mark all personal items brought to school (including jackets, insulated lunch sacks, instruments, backpacks, tennis rackets, etc.).  Students are urged NOT to bring valuables to school due to the possibility of losing them.

 

 

Lost Textbooks & Library Books:

 

• Textbooks and library books are checked-out with a unique barcode which is linked to your student ID.  You should also write your name inside the front cover of you textbooks.
• Texts should stay at home until the end of the school year (unless the teacher instructs otherwise).  Classrooms have class sets of texts for most classes.
• If you misplace a book, first check all your classrooms and then come to the LMC to see if the book was returned.
• A lost textbook must be replaced; the average cost is $65.00.
• A vandalism fine will be charged for damage to book covers, pages, barcode or spine for damaged books.
• All library and textbook fines must be paid/cleared before the yearbook and final report card are sent home.

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