STUDENT CODE OF ETHICS
One attends
school to learn. Everybody learns better
when comfortable in his or her environment.
You have responsibility to your peers and the adults who work at your
school to watch out for wrongdoings and help prevent them if you can. Reporting to someone in authority will be
kept confidential. Beware of how you
treat others; it could come back to you in the end. Treat others with the respect that you
deserve and want for yourself.
GOWANA MISSION STATEMENT
The Gowana family - faculty, staff, students, parents and other
community members believe that student achievement is our most important
goal. Our mission is to inspire each
student to strive for personal success academically, artistically and athletically
while promoting positive growth, social behaviors and attitudes and recognizing
the uniqueness of each individual. Each
year the Gowana Partnership Team, consisting of staff
members, parents and administrators, develops a list of goals. These are published in the fall PTA
newsletter and are aimed at improving the educational experience for our
students.
MIDDLE SCHOOL RIGHTS
AND
EXPECTATIONS
The Middle School Contract
“When individuals in the middle school
community respect each other, they agree to work together to support each other
in their learning.”
(Mary Henton. Adventure in the Classroom. 1996.)
Each member of
the middle school community has the basic right to an education. Everyone must feel physically and emotionally
safe in the middle school environment.
This includes school buses, school grounds, hallways, classrooms,
cafeterias and all school sponsored events.
To accomplish this, clear and consistent expectations are stated in the
form of a contract. Ultimately, the goal
is to have individuals make responsible decisions and be accountable
for their
actions. The social and emotional needs
of each middle school student play such significant roles in his/her
life that they
are the core of any middle school philosophy.
The Middle
School Contract clearly establishes
our expectations and is a vehicle for affective teaching. It provides students and staff with positive
learning and behavior strategies which allow them to become self-managing. Parents, teachers, staff and administrators
serve as role models, facilitators and partners in this process. This collaborative approach empowers all to
cooperate fully. Where respect and
success are nurtured, a student-centered team environment is achieved.
The Middle
School Contract asks all members of the middle school community to commit
to four expectations.
BE HERE
BE ON TIME
COME PREPARED
PARTICIPATE FULLY
TRY YOUR BEST
BE SAFE
PHYSICAL SAFETY
Follow directions
Promote a non-violent environment
EMOTIONAL
SAFETY
Be tolerant of individual difference
Respect others’ work and effort
Encourage others
to succeed
Be kind
BE RESPONSIBLE
BE HONEST WITH OTHERS AND YOURSELF
BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE GOALS
YOU SET
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS
AND WORDS
BE ACCEPTING OF OTHERS AND
THEIR DIFFERENCES
SET GOALS
DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN AND WILL ACHIEVE
SUPPORT EACH OTHER TO MEET SET GOALS
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES
For students unable to
Be
here
Be safe
Be responsible or
Set goals
Consequences are included as an integral
part of
the Middle School Contract.
BE HERE
LASER LIGHTS,
WALKMANS, CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Walkman or cell
phones should not be visible in school.
Any electronic items that interfere with instruction or presents safety
issues will be confiscated and turned over to the main office. Parents should pick up the items from the
office. Disciplinary actions may also
apply.
MAGIC, PLAYING and/or ANY OTHER CARDS, SKATEBOARDS AND
ITEMS DISRUPTIVE TO THE
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
These items
disrupt the educational process and are not permitted in school. They will be confiscated and stored in the
office. Parents must pick them up from
the office.
STUDENT DRESS
Students are
responsible for wearing clothing and accessories which are not offensive,
disruptive to the educational process nor a danger to themselves or others. You
have a responsibility to keep yourself and your clothing clean. Students will not be permitted to wear
clothing which depicts drugs, alcohol, sex or violence.
HATS/WALKMANS
Hats or other
headgear such as bandanas are not to be worn in the building during the school
day. Please show respect for the
building by adhering to this policy.
Students who choose not to follow this rule will have their hats
confiscated and turned over to the office.
Parents must make arrangements to pick up the confiscated item from the
office.
TARDINESS / CUTTING CLASS / TRUANCY
These will
result in detention plus possible suspension.
CLASS BEHAVIOR
Any activities
which disrupt the educational process may result in detention or suspension.
CAFETERIA BEHAVIOR
All students
have the right to a peaceful, enjoyable lunch.
Anyone who disrupts this right will be subject to disciplinary
consequences. Students are required to
throw their garbage away and clear their o wn table
area.
BUS
BEHAVIOR
The school bus
is essentially an extension of the school.
All of the rules of the Middle School Code of Conduct apply on the
bus. Additionally, there are specific
bus rules which apply such as remaining seated while the bus is moving.
Students who
fail to abide by the rules of the bus will receive disciplinary referrals to
the office which may result in consequences similar to classroom referrals.
Seat assignments and loss of bus privileges may also be included in the
disciplinary action.
BE SAFE
HAZARDOUS HORSEPLAY
Any behavior
that jeopardizes the safety of others, including “just fooling around ”, may
result in detention or suspension.
HARASSMENT
Harassment
occurs when one or more students use power over another to make that person
feel insecure, fearful, or unworthy.
Harassment is against the law. It
singles out a person through inappropriate sexual, racial / ethnic, religious,
verbal, or physical comments / actions.
Ignoring
harassment seldom ends it. If you are
being harassed, it is important that you make your feelings clear. For example, say “Please don’t touch me,” or
“Stop saying that about me,” or “Give me back my notebook. ” If the harassment continues, report it
immediately to any staff member in the building.
If you see
someone else being harassed, never join the harasser. Resist any peer pressure to take part in
behavior that makes someone feel inferior.
Help the person get out of the situation and encourage the person to
report it to a staff member.
When harassment
is reported to an adult in the middle school, immediate action will be
taken. A meeting will be held with the harasser(s)
to make him/her/them aware that such behavior must stop. If it does not, a discipline referral will be
made and the parent(s) of the harasser(s) will be contacted. If the harassment still continues, an
external suspension along with a request for a district hearing will be made.
Middle School
students have the right to feel safe in the classrooms, in the hallways, in the
cafeteria - anywhere in the building.
Every person has value and it is important that each student feel
comfortable and welcome in school.
THREATS / INTIMIDATION
Making threats verbally, in writing, or
through pictures against other students, staff, or the school is a violation of
the code of conduct. Anyone who writes
or talks about hurting people at school will face serious disciplinary
consequences, possibly including police intervention and a Superintendent’s
Hearing. Such behavior could result in long-term suspension from school.
FIGHTING
A student who provokes
or participates in a fight will be suspended from school. Peer mediation will be offered on a voluntary
basis to students involved.
OBSCENITIES,
OBSCENE GESTURES
OR PREJUDICIAL STATEMENTS
Obscene and /or
inappropriate language or prejudicial statements relating to race, religion,
sex or culture may result in detention or suspension.
SMOKING OR POSSESSION
OF CIGARETTES, MATCHES
OR A LIGHTER
These will
result in detention or suspension.
POSSESSION OF A
WEAPON OR FIREWORKS
In accordance
with state and federal laws, possession of anything that resembles a gun or
weapon may result in suspension, police intervention and/or a Superintendent’s
Hearing.
ARSON/BOMB SCARE
Such activity
will result in suspension, police intervention and/or contact with the District
Office for a Superintendent’s Hearing.
BE RESPONSIBLE
UNAUTHORIZED VENDING
Students will
not be permitted to sell items in school for personal profit e.g. candy, gum,
etc. Unauthorized vending will result in
the confiscation of the items and possible detention.
DISRESPECT / INSUBORDINATION
Insubordination
to reasonable requests and defiance of authority toward any staff member will
result in detention and/or suspension.
REFUSAL TO ACCEPT
ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE
A student, who
does not report for detention, will have two detentions assigned. Failure to report for additional detentions
will result in alternate or increased disciplinary measures.
FORGING A SIGNATURE
Detention or
suspension will occur.
CHEATING
Cheating is wrong and will be dealt with
on an individual basis. Gowana values honesty among its staff, students
and parents.
STEALING
Theft of any
kind will result in restitution by person(s) responsible. Suspension will also
occur
PULLING A FALSE ALARM
Suspension,
police intervention and/or a Superintendent’s Hearing will be the result.
VANDALISM
Defacing or
damaging school property will result in restitution, detention or suspension
and possible police intervention.
POSSESSION OF DRUGS, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OR ALCOHOL
Suspension,
police intervention and/or a Superintendent’s Hearing will occur. Depending upon the circumstances, referral
for a substance evaluation may also be made to the family.
DISCIPLINARY POLICIES/PROGRAMS
The
following policies and programs may be assigned to help students who violate
the Middle School Contract. Disciplinary
consequences are designed to help students learn to make choices consistent
with this contract.
DISCIPLINARY RESTRICTION
Disciplinary
restriction may result from a regular pattern of misbehavior as determined by
the building administration. Students
involved in a serious incident may be immediately placed on disciplinary
restriction for any length of time, even if it is their first or second
referral.
Students who
are on disciplinary restriction will not be allowed to participate in
any extra-curricular activities including:
clubs or organizations
sports or intramurals
dances
movies
roller skating parties
Students will
lose all pass privileges (limited pre-signed passes will be honored). They may participate in field trips with
administrators’ approval only if their parent or guardian accompanies them as a
chaperone and/or they must immediately surrender their honor pass.
SATURDAY DETENTION/
COMMUNITY SERVICE /
SHORT TERM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
(STEP)
If funding is available, these program
options may be used in lieu of suspension, in certain instances, at the
discretion of the administration.
DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE
A “Referral for
Misbehavior” form will be completed by the appropriate staff and an administrator
who will meet with the student and discuss the referral. Then, appropriate disciplinary action will be
taken.
The form will
be sent to the student’s parents and a copy will be kept on file in the office.
An
administrator or designee will contact parents by telephone in the event of
suspension.
A teacher or
administrator may contact a parent by phone to further discuss an incident or
to arrange for a parent conference.
SET GOALS
Gowana
requires every student to:
Bring his/her agenda to school every day and bring it to every
class, including study hall.
Write assignments for each class in his/her agenda on a daily
basis. Teachers write these assignments on a wall chart on a
daily/weekly basis.
Student schedules must be placed in the vinyl pocket located in
the agenda.
Students are to
use passes (Hallway Passport System) whenever they leave their assigned
classes.
Students and
parents are encouraged to use:
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Record of Achievement
Success Tracker
All three
sections are located in this Student Agenda
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY
School hours
are 8:55 am - 3:35 pm. You must be in
your homeroom and seated by 8:55 am.
During homeroom students must listen quietly to announcements and turn
in notes for absences. Students must not
be in the building before 8:40 am unless they are meeting a teacher,
participating in a club/activity/intramural or reporting for before school
detention. Before-school activities are
from 8:00 to 8:40. For these activities,
students are not to be in the building before 7:45 and must stay in the
cafeteria until 8:00 a.m.
VISITORS - ALL
VISITORS MUST SIGN IN AS SOON AS THEY ENTER THE BUILDINGS. A
sign-in procedure is necessary for school safety and security. Parents who need to drop off lunch money,
clothes, musical instruments, etc. to school must bring them DIRECTLY to the
attendance or principal’s office. The
office staff will give the m to the student.
Parents must not interrupt classrooms at any time.
HALLS - Students have four minutes to travel
between classes. Students will walk on
the right hand side of the halls.
Running or shoving is not allowed.
Students who are in the halls during class time are expected to walk
quietly and not disturb classes. Food or
drink is not allowed in the halls.
LOCKERS - All students will be assigned a locker
with a combination. The lockers belong
to the school. Administration has the
right to search lockers. Students should
not share their locker or combination with other students. The school is not responsible for items taken
from student lockers. Students are
encouraged to use their locker during the day as their schedule permits.
BACKPACKS - Backpacks
should be kept in lockers and used to carry books between school and home.
PASSES - Student hall passes are in the agenda
books. Students will fill in the pass
and teachers/staff will initial. Late
bus and office passes are also used.
Students who ride home on the late bus must get a late bus pass directly
from the teacher for whom they are staying after school. The office will not issue late bus
passes. Students who wish to ride home
on a different bus must bring a parent note to the office before homeroom. Bus passes will be distributed to students
during their lunch period.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS, Counselors –
The Shenendehowa Middle School is divided into three houses: Gowana, Acadia and Koda. Each house is
divided into teams: grade 6 has 2 full
and 1 half teams; grade 7 and 8 each has 2 full teams.
Teaming
provides a better opportunity for students, parents and counselors to get to
know each other. Each student is
assigned a counselor. This counselor
will “loop” with the students which means they will work with them all three
years of middle school. For this
year: Mrs. McTighe
– 6th Grade Counselor, Ms. Shady – 7th Grade Counselor and Mr. Szablewski
– 8th Grade Counselor. The counselor and team approach will give
students a sense of belonging and support plus an opportunity to become
independent learners as they make their transition through middle school
STUDY HALLS: 6th,
7th & 8th GRADES
Scheduled study
halls become an important part of the middle school day. These study halls provide the opportunity for
students to plan how to manage their time as well as making this time
productive. Therefore, students must
come to study hall prepared to do homework.
They are expected to bring their agenda and work on their current assignments. Students who do their work and follow all
study hall rules will be allowed to sign out as needed with a pre-signed
pass. Passes are located in back of
student agendas. Monitors do have the
option to review agendas and to restrict students who do not follow these rules
or abuse their pass privileges. After
school detentions may be assigned to those students who do not take advantage
of using this time productively.
Middle School Bookstore
The Middle
School Bookstore is a tri-building club which is open daily from 8:30 to 8:50.
Announcements
will be made in all three buildings at the beginning of the school year looking
for club members.
The bookstore carries Shen
merchandise, extra agendas and much more.
You may make a purchase using cash or checks made out to “The Middle
School Bookstore.”
HOMEWORK
A major part of
being successful in Middle School is doing homework on a daily basis. Homework results in good grades. Homework provides excellent opportunities for
developing good study habits. Doing
quality homework is the best way to prepare for tests.
The habit of
doing homework on a regular basis helps students develop a sense of
self-discipline, personal responsibility and independent thinking.
The biggest
challenge for teachers and parents is to help students develop positive,
consistent, well-organized daily habits.
We can only achieve this goal by working together. Focusing on the student agenda is the best
means of achieving this goal.
EXTRA HELP – Teachers
are available for extra help before, during and after the school day depending
on each teacher’s schedule. Many
teachers also offer regular review sessions for upcoming tests. Check with your teachers about these extra
help opportunities.
HOMEWORK REQUEST POLICY
The
following is the procedure used for obtaining homework when you are absent from
school.
For
absences of 1-2 days
- Call a “study buddy” in your classes
and find out your assignment. Try to do
as much as you can. If you don’t have
what you need to do your assignment, Gowana is open
most evenings for students and parents to access materials from the student’s
locker.
For
absences of more than 2 days (Excluding
pre-planned) See below
Your parent/guardian must call the counseling office at 881-0463 and ask that
homework requests be sent to your teachers.
It is best to call before 8:30 am.
2. Teachers will give homework assignments to
the counseling office within 24 hours from when the call is received.
Pre-Planned Extended Absence
A student’s
absence from school at any time represents an interruption in the student’s
academic progress. Of particular concern
are extended absences for family trips during the time when school is in
session. Such absences are illegal as
defined by New York State Law. It is the
parents’ prime responsibility to have their children present for instruction
except in cases of illness, religious observances, inclement weather, court
appearances, and a very few other unusual circumstances. Extended absences deprive a student of the
classroom interaction, practice, and opportunities for additional assistance
necessary for academic growth. Teachers
are not required to provide work prior to the trip or to provide any additional
instruction before or after the trip.
Upon returning, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain any back
assignments, tests, and work that the teacher deems necessary and to return
completed work in a reasonable amount of time.
CAPTAIN’S
HOMEWORK HELP
Homework
assistance is available three evenings a week through CAPTAIN’S “Homework Help”
program. Community volunteers and CAPTAIN
staff gather at the NYSEG Foundation Outreach Center at Cheryl’s Lodge in Turf
Community Park. Here they provide
homework support to all middle school students who choose to attend. It is important that the students bring their
agenda books
along with any
other necessary materials so that the community adults can work most
effectively with them.
Computers and
magazines are also available for assigned project work. For additional information about this
service, contact Kathie Chank at 373-8873.
Connections Program
The Middle
School Connections Program is an active, hands-on adventure based advisory
program. The program helps support
students who are finding it hard to:
Organize and prioritize activities in their lives
Take responsibility for their choices
Master time and life managing skills
Set and achieve goals
Communicate effectively with adults and peers
Make an overall adjustment to the middle school environment
Groups of 6 –
10 students meet twice a week for a forty-minute period. Time is spent helping students develop
effective habits. These habits are
developed through participation in adventure based activities which include:
Group Discussion
Projects & Games
Group Problem Solving Initiatives
High and Low Ropes Course
Field Trip Experiences
Questions about
the Middle School Connections Program should be directed to:
Al Green in Acadia: 881-0450 ext. 53606 or
Middle Schools
Counseling Centers
Acadia 881-0453
Gowana
881-0463
Koda 881-0473
Middle Schools Assist Program
(M.A.P.)
MAP is an
academic support program dedicated to the needs of students, parents and staff
in the middle schools. MAP has both 7th
and 8th grade components. Students and
teachers have the support of MAP workshop in a study hall release program. Academic success, confidence, relationships
and organization are the goals of MAP.
For more information contact the MAP Center, located in Acadia Middle
School at 881-0450 ext. 53106.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are issued every quarter. Students earn an alphabetical grade in each
course based on their achievement in the class.
The alphabetical grades correspond to the numeric percentages listed
below:
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
A+ = 97-100 B+ = 87-89 C+ = 77-79
A = 93-96 B =
83-86 C
= 73-76
A- = 90-92 B- = 80-82 C- = 70-72
D = 65-69 F = 64 or less
EFFORT, CONDUCT & OTHER CODES
1. Report cards also show the following effort
and conduct codes: 1 – Excellent, 2 –
Satisfactory, 3 – Inconsistent,
4 – Needs Improvement, 5 –
Unsatisfactory
Interims or
progress reports based on the first five weeks of each quarter are distributed
to students in homeroom to take home to their parents/guardians. Parents may contact individual teachers or
counselors if they have questions/concerns about interims or report cards.
2. INC =
Incomplete grade. Student has 5 weeks
into the next marking period to make up the work for the incomplete. It is the responsibility of the student to
complete missing work with their teacher so a grade can be assigned. If the work is not made up, an F will be
assigned.
X = Medical excuse. This grade is given for physical education
when an illness or injury prevents student participation in class.
GRADING SYSTEM
Since Middle
School grades are alphabetical, they need to be converted to Quality Points
which determines student averages, Honor Roll eligibility, final grades and, in
some cases, whether a student passes or fails a subject. It is very important that students and
parents understand this formula. The
first thing to do is convert the alphabetical grades to Quality Points based on
the following scale.
A+ = 10 A =
9 A- = 8
B+ = 7
B = 6 B- = 5 C+ = 4 C = 3
C- = 2 D
= 1 F = 0
This Quality
Point scale is used to determine the Honor Roll. The sum of these Quality Points is divided by
the number of courses taken. Physical
Education is not included. Please see
Honor Roll section for more specific information.
The final grade
in a full-year course is determined by averaging these quality points.
Option 1 - Courses that use the final exam as part of
the final average: The final exam counts
between 1/5 and 1/9 of the final grade depending on the subject/department
policy. In these cases the 4 quarterly
grades count between 4/5 to 8/9 of the final grade.
Example: Quarterly Grades: F=0, F=0, D=1, C-=2: Final Exam=D. Double the quarterly quality points (3x2=6).
Add the 1 point from final exam..6+1=7 point total, divided by 9=.777, which is
a passing combination.
Option 2 –Courses that do not calculate final exams
as part of the final grade: In these
cases, the final grade is determined by the 4 quarter grades only. Some departments may use a final exam as part
of the 4th Quarter grade only.
Example:
Quarterly Grades: F=0, F=0, D=1,
C-=2. Quality points add up to 3 points,
divided by 4 quarters =.75, which is a passing combination.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC
PROMOTION POLICY & SUMMER SCHOOL
The Board of
Education determines the promotion policies for elementary, middle school and
high school. Listed below is the NEW
Middle School promotion policy that was revised on January 14, 2003. (Summer school or other programs may be
required for promotion.)
A student will
be promoted if they pass all of the following subjects in each of the following
categories :
Category 1 Category
2
Grade 6 Grade 7/8 Grade 6/7/8
Lang. Arts English Art
Reading
Social Studies Health
Social
Studies Science FACS
Science
Math Technology
Math Foreign Lang. Foreign Lang. (6)
In order to
pass a full year course a student must:
Pass 2 out of 4
marking periods with at least one passing grade in second semester
Earn a minimum average of .75 Quality Points listed under Grading System.
At the end of
the school year, a student who does not meet this requirement will have his/her
case reviewed by staff including teachers, school counselors, and
administrators. The review will take
into consideration the following factors:
age, previous retentions, availability of summer school courses,
availability of appropriate courses at the next grade level, social
development, and potential to make appropriate progress.
The final
decision for grade placement will be made by the principal and may include a
recommendation for summer school or parental acceptance of a specific program
or course assignment. Parents may
request a meeting with the school principal to discuss the decision.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
AND RECOGNITION
HONOR ROLL
All 6th, 7th
and 8th graders are eligible for placement on the school Honor Roll. The Honor Roll is calculated and published
every ten weeks.
The Quality
Point scale formula is used to determine the Honor Roll. The sum of these
Quality Points is divided by the number of courses taken. Physical Education is not included. An effort
or conduct code of “5” will remove a
student from the Honor Roll.
There
are two honor rolls
Honor Roll -
Average of B or B+ (6.0 - 7.999)
High Honor Roll -
Average of A- and above
(8.00 -
10.00)
Please Note – Since rounding is done by individual
teachers in determining a report card grade, report card averages are not
rounded in determining eligibility for Honor Roll.
HONOR PASS
At the
conclusion of each school quarter all students who meet the following criteria
will be presented with a laminated Honor Pass:
- High
Honor Roll or teacher recommendation.
-
Effort and conduct marks of 1 or 2.
-
No serious referrals for misbehavior.
The honor pass
is issued for ten weeks or until the next Honor Roll is published. The Honor Pass affords many privileges
including leaving study halls to go to the library, locker, soft study areas,
bathroom, or phone; reduced costs for dances and eligibility for special prizes
and events.
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Periodically
throughout the year, “Student of the Month” selections are announced. These awards are based on high standards of
achievement or improvement in a specific subject area. They are also awarded to students who
demonstrate effort and interest above the daily routine, do
work outside
the classroom or demonstrate consistent cooperation and responsible
behavior. Students who receive this
award will have their picture put on display and a letter of commendation sent
home.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD
In order to be
considered for the perfect attendance award, the following criteria must be
met:
the student must be in
school every day.
a student who is tardy, leaves early, or is absent for part of the
day due to legal reasons such as a medical/dental appointment, will be considered, as long as no more than a total of
90 minutes is missed during the school year.
any absence for school
reasons such as a field trip will not be counted as an absence for this award.
PEOPLE & PLACES
ATTENDANCE/881-0468
HEALTH OFFICE/881-0461
Regular attendance is very important to
you as a student.
If a student is unable
to attend school, please have a
parent/guardian call the Attendance
Office by 9:00 am or as soon as possible.
881-0468
For the safety of the student and the accuracy of school records, a phone call is made by the
attendance secretary to verify an absence
if a call is not received from the parent
Please refer to page 9 regarding the procedure used for obtaining
homework when you are absent from school.