Student Handbook - Page 1 of 2
Page 1: Schedule, Expectations/Dress Code, Academic Honesty Policy, & Tardy Policy
Page 2: Harassament Policy, Suspensions & Expulsions, Calendar of Events, 100 Spelling Words, & Headings
Terman Middle School Daily Class Schedule
First bell (Warning bell) rings at 8:05 a.m.
Terman Middle School
2009 - 2010
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Minimum Day
9:10
8:50
10:10
9:30
10:20
9:35-
10:10
11:25
10:25-
11:00
1:00
11:40
2:00
Core
1:00-
1:40
11:45-
12:20
Dismissal
3:05
Dismissal bell rings at 10:10 (for brunch) 12:25 (for lunch) 3:05 p.m., or 1:40 p.m. on Wednesdays (end of school). Tardy bells ring at 8:10, 10:25, and 1:05 Daily Announcements will be at 10:25 a.m. daily. Period sequences on minimum days vary depending on the day of the week.Terman Middle School Expectations
Terman Middle School has a set of general principles that reflect the types of behavior expected from all members of the Terman community. All members of the Terman community are responsible for reinforcing and teaching behavior that promotes SAFETY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY for all individuals on campus. Students are expected to conform to the school and district Discipline Plan and Academic Honesty Policy. The discipline policy of the Palo Alto Unified School District complies with the California Education Code, Title V of the California Administrative Code, and the California Penal Code. (Copies are available upon request from the Assistant Superintendent-Educational Services.)
Terman has an active program promoting social kindness and positive behavior among all students. Each grade level has a series of lessons with follow through activities starting at the beginning of the year. Staff actively discourages mean or bully type behavior. Our student group, Tigers Achieving Social Kindness – TASK – works with 6th graders to promote a safe school environment.
In the event of inappropriate behavior every effort will be made to provide due process in determining the consequences. Each person involved will have an opportunity to present their perspectives before consequences are determined. Consequences that may be assigned to students include restriction of privileges, community/school service, detention, loss of next social event, suspension and/or referral to outside agencies including appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Students or parents who feel the disciplinary actions have be unfairly applied have the right to appeal the decision to Administration.
If the school must take disciplinary action involving a special education student, then administration will follow the guidelines as defined in the Palo Alto Unified School District Discipline Plan.
92% of Terman students would rather not drink alcohol when they hang out with friends.
73% of Terman students disapprove of their friends using any amount of alcohol.Expectations and Examples
Students are expected to meet academic responsibilities, be prepared for class and complete class work and homework. Students are required to follow each teacher’s individual classroom rules and procedures and come to class prepared with necessary materials and homework. Students are expected to behave in an acceptable manner at all times. Swearing, bad manners, spitting, rudeness and a lack of respect for people and property are not acceptable. Students are expected to act with honesty and integrity. Students are expected to follow the Academic Honestly Policy. Students are expected to treat each other with respect. Terman is a “hands off” school. * Unnecessary aggressive physical contact (roughhousing) with another student will not be tolerated.
* Boyfriend/Girlfriend physical contact is not appropriate at school.Students are expected to bring in only appropriate items to school and to school sponsored activities and events. It is strongly recommended that students leave all and any small electronic devices at home. Items that are never allowed include: * Matches, lighters, spray cans, laser pointers, drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, look-alike drugs or cigarettes, weapons and/or dangerous objects, such as poppers, imitation weapons and/or imitation dangerous objects, water balloons, squirt guns and other water toys.
* Personal electronics and other valuables are brought to school at students’ own risk. The school assumes no responsibility for loss, theft, or damage of such items.
* Items that require permission from the principal as well as a contract signed by the student and parent/guardian include: Cell phones or any other electronic communication systems.Students are expected to dress in a manner that:
* Allows participation in the learning environment.
* Is not a distraction to the learning environment.
* Does not pose a health or safety risk to the student or to others.
* Promotes a positive image.
* Clothes that fit comfortably.
* Baggy pants are prohibited on campus.
* Earrings may be no larger than a quarter (25¢ piece).Undergarments should not show or be exposed, therefore:
* Pants should be worn at the waist (no sagging)
* Straps on shirts should be at least 2 inches wide (no spaghetti strap tops).Excessive skin should not be exposed:
* No strapless, tube or halter tops, or short tops
* Tops must be long enough to keep the midriff covered. (A good test is that the midriff should remain covered when a student is raising up his/her hands.)
* Tops must be long enough to meet the upper portion of the shorts, pants or skirt that is being worn.
* Shorts/skirts must reach below the length of the fingertips (arms extended down straight to the side).Shoes must be worn at all times and should allow students to move safely about the school and participate in classroom activities:
* Closed toe and closed heel shoes are recommended. * High/heeled and/or platform shoes should not be worn.To promote a positive image, clothing may not have offensive remarks or markings, including references to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or sex. This also applies to backpacks, binders, jewelry, etc.
A student is considered tardy if not in the classroom at the beginning of the period. Students will be marked tardy unless they arrive with a written excuse from a staff member. Students arriving 10 minutes late for class will be marked absent. Academic Honesty Policy
Goals: The primary goals of any educational institution should be to enhance the learning environment and promote the pursuit of intellectual excellence. The Palo Alto Board of Education believes that the public school should reinforce the value of our democratic society, teach citizenship and provide an environment conducive to ethical behavior. Our school community believes that the school should maintain a climate in which honesty, courtesy, consideration, integrity and a concern for others are highly valued.
Definition: Cheating is taking or lending at inappropriate times a person’s work, information, ideas, research or documentation without properly identifying the originator. Students may not misrepresent someone else’s work as their own. The teacher’s professional judgment will determine whether cheating has occurred.
Policy and Consequences
95% of Terman students never use marijuana.
75% of Terman students agree that bullying is not acceptable in their group of friends.
86% of Terman students stood up for someone being bullied at school.
Tardy Policy
Being punctual is important. Students who are late for class unnecessarily interrupt classroom activities and miss valuable instruction. The first bell rings at 8:05 a.m. every day. Teachers will review classroom “on time” procedures during the first weeks of school. Thereafter, each student is responsible for following these procedures. A student is considered tardy if not in the room or at the place designated by the teacher at the beginning of each period. Students arriving late to class shall be marked tardy unless they arrive with written permission from a staff member. Students arriving after ten minutes shall be marked absent and subject to the regular procedures for clearing absences. Excessive tardies will result in the assigning of detention and/or loss of privilege to school events.
It is important to note that if a bus is late to school, a student is not marked tardy unless s/he does not proceed directly to class. Tardies that are not cleared within two days will remain unexcused.
A student can be marked tardy not only at the beginning of the school day, but at the beginning of any period during the day.
Admin will review monthly student attendance and will begin meeting with students who are showing a pattern of tardiness. We will speak with the students to get an understanding of the situation, and consequences will be assigned as follows.
5-9 tardies = 1 hour of detention.
10-14 tardies = 2.5 hours of detention and parents are notified.
15-19 tardies = 5 hours of detention, loss of a school activity (dance or other activity), and parents are contacted.
20+ tardies = A parent meeting is scheduled and consequences will be outlined at the meeting.
Continue to Page 2: Harassament Policy, Suspensions & Expulsions, Calendar of Events, 100 Spelling Words, & Headings
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