Fletcher Middle School

DIRECTORY FOR ASSISTANCE

DUVAL COUNTY MISSION STATEMENT

FLETCHER MIDDLE SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT

ATHLETICS offers competition for seventh and eighth graders in football, basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball, track and field, swimming, and soccer. A student must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to participate in athletics. For a current physical form and all other paperwork, see Mrs. Phillips. See Coach Nevin, Athletic Director, or a coach for information about a specific sport. If a student is suspended twice during the course of a season, the student is automatically released from that team. If a student is absent on a game day, he/she may not participate. Physical education uniforms must be worn during gym class. These consist of light colored shirts and dark bottoms. Uniforms must adhere to the Duval County Public School dress code policy and may be purchased for $20.00 through the PE department.

ATTENDANCE is very important to your success in school. You should be in school and on time each day. Your parents are requested to call the attendance office when you are absent. Absences may be excused for the following reasons:

1. Personal illness.

2. Serious illness or death in the family.

3. Special and recognized holidays observed by the student’s faith.

4. Condition rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to health and safety.

Upon returning from an absence, the student should bring a note stating the reason for the absence to the Attendance Office. If you anticipate a prolonged excused absence (3 days or more) you may request homework by calling the appropriate grade level office. School Board policy states that a student has as many days to make up work assigned during absence as the length of the absence. It is your responsibility to find out what work you missed.

A student who misses more than eight (8) days of a course during one grading period must meet both criteria below to be eligible for a passing grade (A-D) in for that grading period:

1. The student passes the required comprehensive quarter exam or the required

comprehensive project in the course. A comprehensive exam or project will be given to

all students in all courses for each grading period, and

2. The student has an overall passing grade in the course for the grading period.

BICYCLES- If you ride your bike, you are reminded to observe all safety rules while traveling to and from school. State statute requires that students wear a helmet. Bicycles are to be walked on school grounds at all times which includes all areas within the gates. Bikes must be locked in designated bike racks. Violators of safety rules will be denied the right to ride their bikes to school. You are encouraged to engrave your name, address, and phone number on the frame of your bicycle.

BOTTLE DRINKS- Opened containers are restricted to the cafeteria and physical education locker areas. Opened containers are not allowed in the classrooms. Recycle bins are located in the cafeteria and students are encouraged to use them.

BUS TRANSPORTATION is a privilege provided for students living 1.5 miles or further from school. You must ride your assigned bus and observe all rules while on the bus. Any changes in bus arrangements must be written and approved by an Assistant Principal. Failure to follow bus rules may result in bus suspension.

CAFETERIA RULES are posted on the wall in the cafeteria and follow the CHAMPs model.

CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY- Our school buildings and equipment must be treated with care. Students who destroy or vandalize school property will be required to pay for losses or damage and are subject to the DCPS Student Code of Conduct. Accidental damage must be reported to a teacher or administrator immediately.

CLASSROOM VISITS- Only custodial parent/guardian are allowed to visit their child’s classroom while students are present. The parent/guardian must contact the grade level administrator and teachers at least 24 hours prior to the requested visit. The administrator will determine if the request is granted or to reschedule for another day.

DETENTION- Transportation is not provided by the school and is the responsibility of the parent. Detention is offered as an alternative to suspension. All detentions are held in the cafeteria.

8:30 A.M. – 9:15 A.M. - Tuesday/Thursday

DISCIPLINE- Students are expected to behave in a manner that promotes safety and order at Fletcher Middle School. You will also receive a copy of the "Code of Conduct," outlining the rights and responsibilities of every student, the levels of misconduct and appropriate disciplinary procedures for each. This planner includes additional school rules and procedures. It is your responsibility to read and understand the rules and code. Campus clean-up, before school detention, in school suspension and out-of-school suspension are assigned for violations of the Code of Conduct or Fletcher Middle policies. Make-up assignments will not be given in advance for students on suspension. Please refer to the Code of Conduct for consequences for violations.

DRESS CODE- Administrators and teachers of Duval County Public Schools enforce dress and grooming guidelines that promote the successful operation of schools. On-site administrators determine apparel that is inappropriate, disruptive, distracting, or in violation of safety rules outlined in the General Code of Appearance. Each student has the responsibility to dress appropriately for the school environment. Any apparel, jewelry (such as body piercings, ornaments) and hairstyles shall not disrupt the classroom environment. These guidelines for dress and grooming apply to all students in all public schools of Duval County. The following items are considered inappropriate for the learning environment. This list is not intended to be all encompassing, but is intended as a guide to direct students and parents to aide in selection of appropriate dress. Other items may be found as inappropriate on a case by case basis.

* Inappropriate clothing, such as clothing with holes or tears above the length that shorts would normally be worn. The waist of shorts or pants not worn above the hip bones. Clothes that are dragging on the ground. Garments traditionally designed as undergarments, including, but not limited to items such as boxer shorts, may not be worn as outer garments.

* Overly tight apparel, low cut tops, exposed midriffs, see-through blouses, tank tops, swimsuits, pajamas, biking shorts, muscle shirts or long t-shirts worn as outer clothing.

* Clothing or jewelry with ads for alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, slogans, symbols or pictorial images depicting or symbolizing drugs, gangs, sex, death, the devil or racist symbols.

* Sunglasses, hoods or hats worn indoors.

* Extreme hair or extreme make-up.

* Skirts or shorts shorter than four inches above the knee and less than a five inch inseam with or without leggings.

* Buttons, straps, and buckles designed to be fastened that are not fastened.

* Shoes must be worn. However, bedroom shoes or slippers must not be permitted.

DUVAL COUNTY CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT- Each student is provided a copy at the beginning of the year or upon enrollment. It is the parent/guardian and student’s responsibility to be familiar with its contents. The Code of Conduct is also available on-line.

EARLY CHECK OUT- You should be checked out early only when there is an illness or emergency. Bring a note from your parent/guardian indicating time of dismissal to the attendance office before school. Students will not be checked out after 3:15 P.M. unless prior arrangements have been made with the Assistant Principal. You will receive an early dismissal slip signed by the attendance clerk. At the sign-out time you are to report to the attendance office for checkout. Students are not permitted to leave campus early without being signed out in person by a parent, guardian, or adult listed on the blue emergency card. By Florida Statute an adult must provide picture identification at the attendance office.

GRADE RECOVERY- Students may seek to improve a quarter grade of "D" or "F" by demonstrating mastery of standards through grade recovery. A grade may be raised to a maximum of a "C." Grade recovery is arranged through individual teachers and will be accomplished through work on COMPASS Odyssey. Additional work may be required from the Matrix for science and social studies. Students may have access to COMPASS in the classroom, through Team-Up and through a home access program. A parent-teacher conference should be scheduled through the appropriate House Administrator’s office to discuss grade recovery for a student. Grade recovery is not a substitute for regular classwork. Guidelines are subject to change based on the 2010-2011 DCPS Student Progression Plan.

GUM, CANDY, FLOWERS, BALLOONS, PERMANENT MARKERS, AND TOYS do not belong at school or on the bus. The following will be taken from students and returned only to parents: cell phones, iPods, DVD, CD, and MP3 players, cameras, electronic games, radios, hand-held televisions, and skateboards. Students are not to sell items to other students for personal gain. Any student who chooses to bring these items to school shall do so at his or her own risk. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

HALL PASSES (PLANNER) must include a teacher or administrator’s signature, date, time, and destination. If between classes, the student must report to the next teacher’s class and obtain a hall pass from that teacher. Students without hall passes will be sent back to class. One student is allowed per pass.

LOCKS/LOCKERS- Each student shall rent a locker in the hall, P.E., and/or band; however, the locker remains the property of the school and its usage is a privilege. In accepting a locker, the student accepts the policy that the administration and designees may search the locker. The student is responsible for the contents of his/her locker; therefore, the sharing of lockers is prohibited. Students may only use school

issued locks. The initial rental fee for each lock is $3.00. Lost or stolen locks cost $5.00 each. Students will be allowed to go to their lockers at designated times throughout the school day.

PROGRESS REPORTS- Available through parent access to OnCourse, an online grading system. Parent portal access information is available through the House Administration Offices.

REWARD FIELD TRIPS- Students are able to participate if they have demonstrated positive behavior during a certain period of time (to be determined by each team’s teachers). Students are representatives of Fletcher Middle School and are expected to display character and excellent behavior. All students will be allowed to attend field trips which link to the grade level’s curriculum.

STUDENT I.D. BADGE- To provide a safe and secure learning environment, all personnel and students are to wear school-issued I.D. badges while on campus and when leaving and returning to campus. A disciplinary action will follow if students don’t wear an I.D. badge when on campus. Student information and photo on I.D. badges must be visible at all times. The entire badge should also be intact and worn around the neck.

TARDY POLICY- Since tardiness is disruptive to a quality learning environment, students who are tardy will receive a consequence. Tardiness is defined as the physical absence of a student in the classroom at the beginning of a regularly scheduled session at which he or she is scheduled to be present. Each student is allowed two tardy warnings each nine week period. The tardy policy starts over at the beginning of each nine week period. During the time a student is tardy 1-4 times to an individual class period, a parent or guardian will be contacted by the teacher. Repeated tardiness will result in the following disciplinary action once reported to the house administrator office via a referral. Guidelines are subject to change based on the 2010-2011 DCPS Student Code of Conduct.

TESTING- Classroom, school, district, and state level assessments are given throughout the year. Final exams are combined with End of Course Exams to count as one-ninth of the final year average.

TEXTBOOKS are issued to all students and each student assumes responsibility for them. Payment for textbooks, which are lost, stolen or damaged, must be received before new books are issued. These will be checked out through the 8th grade administration office.

VISITOR PASSES- Visitors are always welcome on campus; however, we require visitors to sign in at the main office, provide a valid picture ID and receive a visitor’s pass.