1259 Brighton Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tel: (510) 558-3600
Fax: (510) 559-6547
David Neumann - Assistant Principal
| Counselors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Becca Burns | Don Etchegorry | |
| 8th Grade Counselor | 7th Grade Counselor | |
Welcome, students and parents, to Albany Middle School
We look forward to working with you and your child during the 2008-2009 school year. The purpose of this planner is to increase communication between school and home, increase student organizational skills, and make available information pertaining to Albany Middle School’s policies, programs, and procedures. We urge all parents to carefully review and discuss the written assignments,teacher messages,and printed contents of this planner with your student student throughout the year.
Albany Middle School Vision Statement
In a safe, engaging environment, each member of the AMS community strives toward excellence, acceptance of differences, exploration of ideas, and responsibility to a larger world.
Table of Contents
Behavior and Conduct Code
Albany Middle School strives to provide a learning environment in which the needs of each of its members are respected. Teachers have a right to teach and students have a right to learn. AMS has high expectations of its students and every effort will be made to guide students to become responsible members of the school community.
Each student will:
- Attend school punctually and regularly.
- Obey the rules of each classroom and the school.
- Have respect for the rights and dignity of others.
- Complete assignments promptly and participate in
classroom activities.
- Treat all school personnel in a respectful manner.
- Carry a hall pass when out of class.
- Respect public and private property. Take good care of
furniture, books, restrooms, equipment and other facilities.
- NOT chew gum while on campus.
- Eat only in assigned eating areas and dispose of all trash appropriately.
- Be intellectually honest. Cheating (providing or copying work) and
forgery are unacceptable behaviors.
Some further rules to follow:
- Students may not borrow money from other students or loan money to others.
- Buying, selling or trading of any item is prohibited.
- Spitting is not permitted. Spitting on another will be grounds for suspension.
- School offices are the center of many activities. Students entering any office
shall conduct themselves in a respectful manner.
- When problems cannot be solved in an appropriate way - talking it out - seek
assistance from the counselor or other school staff member.
- Show courtesy and awareness of others when walking in the school hallways
and on the staircases. Keep to the right side, do not push, shove, or crowd into
doorways. Make way for people to pass if you are standing in the way.
- No running in the school building or courtyard. Students may run on the blacktop
and Cougar Field.
Bikes, Roller Blades, Scooters, and Skateboards
Bikes, roller blades, scooters and skateboards are not to be ridden or stood upon on school premises at any time, including before and after school, during school time, or on weekends.
Students must lock up bikes, roller blades, or skateboards during the school day. Students must not bring items to school that can't be safely stored. There are a limited number of skateboard lockers available for storage. Students may purchase a lock for those lockers early in the school year.
Cheating Policy
Cheating includes, but is not limited to the following:
Giving or copying work from others, plagiarism (not giving credit for sources, including the internet), looking at restricted materials during a test, getting or giving answers from other students during a test or before taking a test.
Any student involved in cheating in any form will receive a ‘zero’ for the assignment and a phone call home. A second offense of cheating will result in in a disciplinary referral in addition to losing credit and a phone call home.
Counseling Services
The counseling staff at Albany Middle School see themselves as an integral part of the AMS program. They are available to assist students with any school related problem; i.e. academic, social, interpersonal relationships, and crisis management. Services include individual and group counseling (support group, grief group, and conflict-resolution). Referrals are also made to outside agencies. Teachers may allow students to see counselors during the school day Counselors are also available to meet with students before and after school and at lunch. Parents may contact the counselor to talk about problems concerning student adjustment at school, discuss concerns they have about their children, consult about outside agencies or therapists, or make appointments with teachers.
Dress Code
Students and parents need to be aware of the importance of appropriate dress and its effect upon the learning environment. While each student’s mode of dress and grooming is a matter of personal style and individuality, a student’s choices may affect the educational environment or the health and safety of others.
Attire often influences attitudes and behavior while at school. Therefore, dress must be within the limits of safety, cleanliness, and appropriateness. A student whose attire is not appropriate for school will be asked to change into a t-shirt and/or sweats provided by the school.
- Shorts may be worn, but shorts and skirts that are too short, frayed, torn, or too tight are not acceptable. The length of shorts and skirts must reach the ends of the fingertips when arms are held at your side.
- Clothing must not have holes that would attract attention or cause distraction.
- Markings or insignia on clothing or the body, or items of clothing must not be obscene, suggestive, show gang affiliation, inappropriate language, or advocate disruptive behavior.
- Clothing must not advertise or promote alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
- Sagging is not permitted. The waistband of the pants must be above the hipbones. Underwear may not show.
- Tops worn by boys or girls must not be revealing as judged by school personnel.
- Clothing should cover the midriff with arms raised. Tummies and navels may not show.
- No hats or head coverings (unless for religious purposes) may be worn in class.
- Pajamas and slippers are not to be worn to school.
- Sunglasses (unless for a medical reason), spiked jewelry, costumes, and other such items are not appropriate in class and are considered nuisance items. Albany Middle School reserves the right to allow or disallow certain apparel and/or accessories deemed inappropriate. The judgement of school staff will be final.
Grading
Albany Middle School students are given a letter grade in each subject area.
Key:
A - Excellent achievement
B - Good or above average achievement
C - Average achievement
D - Poor or barely passing
F - Unsatisfactory effort / failing
The Middle School year is divided into four quarters or grading periods. Progress reports will be sent home halfway through each quarter to parents. This gives each student the opportunity to raise his/her grades before the final quarter mark is given. Conferences are arranged as needed in the fall and spring.
Sixth grade teachers schedule conferences as needed and in response to parent request. Seventh and eighth grade conferences are scheduled through the counseling office for students who are struggling.
Homework
Homework is an important part of the AMS curriculum, which extends and reinforces the learning experience of each student. Each AMS student should expect to complete approximately 30 minutes of homework in each of at least three academic subjects per night.
A successful student should expect to spend 1 to 2 hours nightly on homework. Additional time may need to be spent for long term assignments, research, and studying for tests. Failure to complete homework will affect a student’s grade in class.
Students are responsible for writing down their daily homework assignments in detail in their Student Planner, for completing all homework assignments, and turning them in on time.
Parents should frequently check the Student Planner to ensure that all homework is being completed on a regular basis. Parents are responsible for providing students with a quiet place to do homework with as little interruption and distraction as possible. Parents should provide a regular time for student’s to do their homework.
Nuisance Items
Items that are a distraction to the learning process and disruptive should be left at home.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Electronic Devices (cell phones, radios, CD players, MP3 players, cameras,
digital camcorders, iPods, personal stereos, Game Boys)
- Other Distracting Items (rubber bands, chains, electronic games, water guns,
hardballs, laser pointers, items for sale for personal profit, and other articles
deemed inappropriate for school.)
NUISANCE ITEMS WILL BE CONFISCATED AND WILL BE RETURNED
ONLY TO A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
At no time should electronic devices be on or visible during school hours. Any electronic device visible will be confiscated to be picked up at the end of the day. If an electronic device is confiscated more than once, it will only be released to a parent.
Inappropriate use by students of electronic recording devices such as recording any activities or events, classmates or teachers, on campus or in classes, will subject offending student(s) to the full spectrum of disciplinary action available to school personnel.
P.E. Uniforms
Albany Middle School students are required to wear an appropriate P.E. uniform as described below. Students who are not dressed in the uniforms described below will receive a “nonsuit”, which will negatively affect their grade.
To help prevent uniforms from being lost or stolen, first and last names must be printed on all clothing. Students may not loan or give their uniform to another student.
- Shorts: AMS physical education uniform shorts.
- Shirts: AMS physical education uniform shirt.
- Sweatpants/Sweatshirt: AMS physical education uniform sweatshirt or sweatpants.
- Shoes: Laced athletic shoes.
- Socks: Socks are required, white athletic socks are recommended. No nylons or tights.
Positive Recognition
Positive recognition programs have been designed to motivate students toward meeting the high academic and behavior expectations held by our school and community.
Some of these programs are:
- Cobra of the Month: One student per month chosen by each teacher
as being a good role model; i.e. good attitude, good effort, and gets
along well with others.
- Cobra Caught Cha Awards: Each teacher hands out one award per
week to a student that the teacher “catches” being good. These rewards
can be redeemed for goods at the Student Store.
- Honor Roll: Seventh and Eighth graders who have all A’s and B’s on
their report card receive an Honor Roll certificate. Students may get one
Honor Roll certificate per semester.
Prepared and Ready to Learn
Students need to come to school ready to learn. They need a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast. Middle school students still need guidance about eating and bedtimes. Students need to arrive at school with the basic “tools of the trade” which include lined paper, pencils, pens, binder, and calculator. A wristwatch is also helpful. You will find a list of required supplies in the planner.
Promotion, Retention, and Graduation
Students move through Albany Middle School with their mind’s eye on the culminating activity: PROMOTION to high school. Throughout the three years the classes earn money through fundraising activities, which underwrite their eighth grade graduation trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Promotion is a dignified event honoring the accomplishments of the previous three years. At the end of the eighth grade year we have an awards assembly to honor deserving students for their accomplishments in many different areas of school life.
Although the normal pattern of progress is annual promotion to the next higher grade, retention of students in any grade may be considered when a student is not progressing at an expected rate. Students shall be identified for retention on the basis of academic achievement using a variety of multiple measures as indicated by Board Policy. Final notification of retention for grades 6-8 students shall occur not later than May 31.
With the parents’/guardians’ consent, the Superintendent or designee may require a student who has been recommended for retention or has been identified as being at risk of retention to participate in a supplemental instructional program, which may be offered during the summer or after school.
Students who have not met academic graduation standards will not receive an eighth grade diploma and may not be allowed to participate in one or more graduation activities. The activities for graduating eighth graders include the dance following the graduation ceremony and the class trip to Six Flags Discovery Kindgdom.
Eighth grade students must also adhere to behavioral standards during the fourth quarter in order to participate in the above graduation activities. Fourth quarter behavioral and academic standards will be sent home with students at the end of the third quarter. Misbehavior by 8th grade students during the final quarter may result in the loss of one or more end-of-year activities.
Status Reports
Upon request, teachers can provide status reports when more frequent monitoring of student progress is warranted. To request status reports you must call on the specified dates only. The dates to call to request status reports will be printed in the important dates section in the Cobra Clarion.
Also a list of the call dates is sent home along with the report card and progress report dates at the beginning of the school year. Status reports are completed by each teacher indicating current academic and/or behavioral progress.
Student Planner
Each student at Albany Middle School has a planner. We ask each family to contribute $5.00 for the planner to offset our costs. This can be paid at Orientation Day or in the office after school starts. The planner can be used as a communication tool. Students should write assignments and due dates in the planner and parents can check the planner to see that the student is doing doing assignments.
There is a Parent/Teacher comments section, which can be utilized on an as-needed basis. This should be set up during parent-teacher conferences.
Substitute Teachers
A substitute teacher deserves the highest courtesy and cooperation from students at all times. Students will receive a referral to the vice-principal for any misbehavior with a substitute teacher.
| Regular Schedule | Wednesday/Advisory Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Period 0 | 7:15 - 7:45 AM | Period 0 | 7:15 - 7:45 AM |
| Period 1 | 8:00 - 8:50 AM | Period 1 | 8:00 - 8:40 AM |
| Period 2 | 8:55 - 9:45 AM | Period 2 | 8:45 - 9:25 AM |
| Period 3 | 9:50 - 10:40 AM | Period 3 | 9:30 - 10:10 AM |
| Period 4 | 10:45 - 11:35 AM | Period 4 | 10:15 - 10:55 AM |
| Period 5 | 11:40 - 12:30 PM | Period 5 | 11:00 - 11:40 AM |
| LUNCH | 12:30 - 1:15 PM | Advisory | 11:40 - 12:00 PM |
| Period 7 | 1:20 - 2:10 PM | LUNCH | 12:00 - 12:40 PM |
| Period 8 | 2:15 - 3:05 PM | Period 7 | 12:45 - 1:25 PM |
| Period 8 | 1:30 - 2:10 PM | ||
| Conference / Final Week Schedule | Minimum Day Schedule | ||
| Period 0 | 7:15 - 7:45 AM | Period 0 | 7:15 - 7:45 AM |
| Period 1 | 8:00 - 8:40 AM | Period 1 | 8:00 - 8:30 AM |
| Period 2 | 8:45 - 9:25 AM | Period 2 | 8:35 - 9:10 AM |
| Period 3 | 9:30 - 10:10 AM | Period 3 | 9:15 - 9:50 AM |
| Period 4 | 10:15 - 11:55 AM | Period 4 | 9:55 - 10:30 AM |
| Period 5 | 11:00 - 11:40 AM | Period 5 | 10:35 - 11:10 AM |
| LUNCH | 11:40 - 12:25 PM | Period 7 | 11:15 - 11:50 AM |
| Period 7 | 12:30 - 1:10 PM | Period 8 | 11:55 - 12:30 PM |
| Period 8 | 1:15 - 1:50 PM | ||
Albany USD Website
The school district has a website with links to all the individual schools in the district. The web address is www.albany.k12.ca.us. The Cobra Clarion is posted weekly on the web, as well as teacher extension numbers. Be sure to bookmark our school website.
Back-to-School Night
In September each year, Albany Middle School has a Back-to-School Night for parents (adults only). During the evening, parents follow their child’s class schedule. Teachers review the curriculum and class requirements. This is a great event for finding out about the AMS experience. We hope to see everyone there.
Cobra Clarion
The principal puts out a weekly newsletter. This golden-colored newsletter will go home on Wednesdays. The Cobra Clarion is also sent out through the AMS eTree. Send an email to AlbanyMiddleSchoolsubscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe.
Communication Day
Communication between home and school is of paramount importance. Albany Middle School has designated Wednesday as “Communication Day”. We will try to send home all parent notices on Wednesdays. Please ask your child for notes on Wednesdays.
Open House
In the spring, Albany Middle School hosts an Open House. Parents, students, and all community members are invited to come see what AMS students have accomplished during the year. Student work is displayed and students also participate in demonstrations of science experiments, physical prowess, and artistic endeavors.
PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
The PTA meets once a month. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend the PTA meetings. The PTA raises money for programs and assists the school with activities. Participation in the PTA provides parents an excellent opportunity to stay current with school activities and actively participate in the process of meeting the varied needs of AMS students.
The PTA also provides an e-tree which parents are encouraged to join. Just make sure the PTA has your email address and you will receive communications via email. In addition, the PTA puts out a quarterly newspaper that will be sent home via your child on a Wednesday. PTA has a box on the windowsill in the main office, which they check regularly for communications.
Principal’s Coffee
Principal Robin Davis hosts a “coffee” on a monthly basis. (Please bring your own coffee.) Watch for date, time, and location in the Cobra Clarion. This in an informal gathering to chat about school. All parents are welcome to attend.
School Site Council
The Site Council is an elected body made up of parents, students, teachers, and other staff. Their primary responsibility is to oversee the School Improvement Plan and budget the use of school improvement monies. Meetings are held once a month. All interested parents are encouraged to attend.
Telephone/Voicemail
Individual teachers can be reached by calling 558-3600 and then dialing the teacher’s voicemail extension. There is an extension address book that you can access if you do not know the teacher’s extension.
Harassment Policy
Harassment is repeated, unwanted behavior toward an individual. It can be physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual. Cyberbullying and cyberthreats are also considered harassment.
This includes sending offensive or harassing messages, spreading nasty rumors on sites such as MySpace, disclosing someone’s intimate personal information, excluding someone from an online group, or using the Internet to intimidate.
Students have the right to attend school in a safe and non-threatening environment.
If any student feels that he/she is being bothered or harassed, that student should let a trusted adult know about it. Such a report will be taken very seriously and the offending student will be told that the behavior needs to stop immediately. If the behavior does not stop, a harassment contract will be drawn up and signed by the harassing student, his/her parent, and an administrator.
It is our experience that when a harasser is confronted about such behavior and boundaries delineated, the behavior stops.
Levels and Consequences
To encourage the success of our students, school staff and parents must work together to support appropriate behavior at school. Students need the adults in their lives to set clear guidelines and follow through with fair and consistent consequences for misbehavior.
When a student is involved in some form of misbehavior, a review of the incident will occur. The student’s previous behavior record will be taken into consideration when determining appropriate consequences for misbehavior.
Level 1 - The first level of discipline is usually within the classroom. Teachers may assign detention or, work detail call parents, or withdraw classroom privileges, including being excluded from class field trips. (Depending upon severity of misbehavior, a higher-level consequence may be assigned immediately.)
Level 2 - If misbehavior continues or is severe, the teacher will make a disciplinary referral to the administration. Disciplinary referrals become a matter of school record. Depending upon the offense, consequences usually include school work detail, noontime detention, class suspension, or loss of school activity privileges. Parents will be contacted if the student gets more than one referral in a quarter.
Level 3 - Severe or continued misbehavior will result in one or more of the following interventions: In-school suspension; Suspension from school; Student Behavior Contract; Referral to Student Study Team (SST) or School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
Level 4 - If the student’s behavior is not responsive to lower level interventions, the following may take place: Increase in Level 3 consequences; Minimum day schedule; Transfer to alternate program; expulsion.
In cases of severe misbehavior, the level system may be bypassed.
It should be noted that any offense or combination of offenses might lead to expulsion if other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct, or when a student’s presence causes a continuing threat of danger to other persons.
Sexual Harassment Policy
Albany Unified School District’s sexual harassment policy in part states:
“The Board of Education recognizes that sexual harassment can cause embarrassment, feelings of powerlessness, loss of self-confidence, reduced ability to perform schoolwork, and increased absenteeism or tardiness. The Board shall not tolerate the sexual harassment of any student by any other student or any district employee.”
If a student feels sexually harassed, that student should tell a trusted adult, such as their teacher, a counselor, or administrator. School personnel will pursue the situation with the goal of stopping the harassment and punishing the perpetrator as appropriate.
Suspension
Certain conduct has been defined as being grounds for suspension or expulsion in California Education Code Section 48900. The full text of these codes is available at school sites and at the district office. The code identifies the following behaviors as being grounds for suspension:
[Student….]
(a)(1) Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person or
(a 2) willfully used force or violence upon the person of another except in self-defense
(b) Possessed any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object
(c) Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of
any controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind
(d) Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance,
alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind
(e) Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion
(f) Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property
(g) Stole or attempted to steal school property or private property
(h) Possessed or used tobacco
(i) Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity
(j) Unlawfully possessed any drug paraphernalia
(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 school property or private 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 witness in a school disciplinary proceeding
(.2) Committed sexual harassment
(.3) Caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of hate violence
(.4) Intentionally engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against a pupil or group of
pupils creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment
A pupil may be suspended or expelled for acts which are enumerated above when they are 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 from school.
3) During the lunch period, whether on or off campus.
4) During, or while going to or coming from, a school sponsored activity.
Attendance
When a child is absent parents must call the school before 10 a.m. on the day of the absence and each subsequent day the student is absent. Upon a student’s return after an absence, they should go directly to the office with a note from their parent and get a white admit slip. They need to show the white slip to each of their teachers.
Please have your child in school unless he/she is ill. Students need to be present consistently in order to be successful and frequent absences can have an adverse affect on a student’s grades. Also, when a student is not present, we lose funding for that child that day. The state of California no longer recognizes any absences as excused. Please bring students to school before or after appointments.
Closed Campus
Albany Middle School is a closed campus. To ensure safety, students must remain on campus at all times, unless specifically excused by a parent. Once students arrive at school, they are to remain until leaving for home at the end of the school day. If a student must leave before the end of the school day, s/he must sign out in the office prior to leaving. The front of the school and the area west of the gym (near the BART tracks) are off-limits to students during lunch and breaks.
Emergency Forms
An emergency form must be completed by parents at the time of registration and kept up-to- date and accurate throughout the school year. Incomplete or inaccurate data could endanger a student if an emergency occurs. Parents must update address and phone information immediately anytime there is a change in employment or residence.
Enrollment Requirements
All students enrolled in Albany Middle School must live in the City of Albany. Students who do not live in Albany must have an approved inter-district permit. Permits are issued on a space available basis only.
Please be aware that if residency verification efforts efforts determine that a student and his/her parent do not reside in Albany, the student will be dropped from enrollment and returned to his/her district of residence.
Parents must notify the school within five days if they move out of the city of Albany.
Extended Trips
Family trips should be arranged during summer and other school breaks. Extended absences will affect a student’s academic progress and grades. Alternative assignments while on trips do not fully take the place of daily attendance and participation in class.
If an extended absence is unavoidable, parents must notify the office and the teachers at least two weeks prior to the student’s departure.
Independent study should be arranged for absences of five days or more. Please notify the office and ask for an Independent Study form.
Illness at School
Students who are ill or have a fever should not be sent to school. If illness or fever develops at school, we will call a parent for pick-up. Students who feel ill may rest in the office for up to ten minutes and then must go back to class or call a parent for pick-up.
Students leaving school must have permission and must sign out from the office.
Immunizations
Incoming 7th graders are required by state law to have all of the Hepatitis B and MMR injections. Incoming 7th graders will not be permitted to start school without verification being provided to the school office that the student has completed these immunizations.
Leaving School Early
If a student needs to leave before the end of the school day, a note must be presented to the office staff. The note must contain the student’s name, date, time of dismissal, and parent signature. After turning in the note, the student must sign out, indicating the exact time of departure.
Upon return, the student must check in at the office and sign in.
Lost and Found
Items brought to school should be marked with the student’s name. Bringing valuables to school is highly discouraged. If an item is lost, check the Lost and Found under the staircase in the atrium. If the item is small and valuable, such as a watch, keys, iPod, cell phone, MP3 player, or jewelry, check with the secretaries in the main office.
Medication at School
Students may not carry any type of drug, either prescription or non-prescription and may not take any medication or pills outside of the school office. Students who need to take asthma medication prescribed by a physician during the school day may carry and self-administer inhaled medication with written orders from a physician and written parent permission. If students need to take medication while at school, a statement must be on file from the parent.
The medication must be sent to school in a container properly labeled, detailing the method, amount, and time schedule by which medication is to be taken.
The school office personnel shall administer such medication.
Money and Valuables
Students are responsible for all personal belongings. Expensive electronic devices of all kinds attract thieves and should be left safely at home. The school cannot take responsibility for lost, damaged, or stolen articles. You are in danger of losing your item if you bring it to school. Students should bring to school ONLY the amount of money needed for lunch. If a larger amount must be brought, take it to the main office for safekeeping.
Requests for Homework When Absent from School
Parents may contact the school office to request homework assignments for students who are or will be absent from school for three or more days. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain missed homework and/or class assignments from his/her teachers for any absences less than three days. It is also advisable for a student to have a friend to call to ask about homework when the absence is short-term. Teachers also post homework online.
School Premises
“School premises” encompasses the entire campus, including parking areas, surrounding sidewalks, and all areas normally supervised by school personnel. Cougar Field is included in our school premises.
Student Drop-Off/Pick-up
To avoid congestion in the mornings and afternoons, we suggest that you designate a drop-off and pick-up point a short walk away from the school. San Gabriel and Masonic are two streets that might be good meeting places. Students should use the crosswalks.
DO NOT stop in the middle of the street, and DO NOT let your child jaywalk.
We have had many near misses where students almost got hit by passing cars. Due to a mitigation agreement with the neighbors, parents must NOT turn north onto Spokane from Brighton, nor use the parking lot as a meeting place. Please do not use the cul-de-sac as a turn-around. Thank you for your cooperation.
Tardy Policy
Students are expected to arrive at school on time. Those who arrive at school after classes have begun are tardy. Frequent tardies interfere with a child’s learning. Students arriving late to school should report directly to class. However, if a student arrives fifteen minutes or more late to school, he/she must report to the office before going to class to get a tardy slip.
The only acceptable reasons for tardies are medical appointments or illness.
Other reasons are unacceptable and will be viewed as a class cut. During the course of the day, if students are late to class the learning process is disrupted. Students must get to each class on time.
The classroom teachers handle tardies to class in the following way:
1st offense - Warning and teacher documentation
2nd offense - Warning and teacher documentation
3rd offense - Phone call home/detention given
4th offense - Referral to vice-principal/student placed on Tardy Alert
Once a child is on Tardy Alert, the vice principal will notify the parent. Lunch detention will be assigned. If tardiness continues to be a problem despite these interventions, further action will be taken. When a new quarter begins, the students start with a clean slate. 15 minutes or late to any class will be considered a class cut. Severe penalties will result.
Telephone
If you need to reach your child during school hours, please call the school office.
Do not try to reach them via their cells phones.
A pay phone is available for students to use for all non-emergency calls before and after school. The pay phone may not be used during school hours. Students may use the office phone in an emergency only, to notify parents of an illness, to notify parents of a detention, and to notify parents of a cancelled, school-sponsored activity.
If parents expect their child to carry a cell phone it must be turned off upon entering the campus in the morning and may NOT be turned on again until school ends. AT NO TIME should a cell phone be on or visible during school hours.
Cell phones out and visible during the school day will be confiscated by staff. Students may pick up confiscated cell phones at the end of the day.
The second time a cell phone is confiscated it will be held in the school office and only released to a parent.
Visitors at School
All visitors, including volunteers, must check in at the main office before proceeding to any part of the campus. Non-school persons must wear a visitor or volunteer badge. Visitors who wish to observe classes must sign up in advance for a specified time slot. Visiting day is Thursday.
Only adults may visit.
Students or friends from other schools are not allowed to visit Albany Middle School while school is in session.
After School Sports
After school sports are offered. They include volleyball for girls, wrestling and basketball for girls and boys, and co-ed cross country and track and field. Information on try-outs and practices is communicated through the Daily Bulletin, which is read to students at the start of the day. Teams compete against other middle schools.
During the season, practice is 4-5 days per week, approximately 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. Students must maintain good behavior and grades to remain on a team.
Athletic Eligibility
To be in initiated Fall 2008.
Academic eligibility is based on grades from the most recent quarter, prior to the beginning of the sport. A student is eligible to participate in athletics if he or she receives a 2.0 G.P.A., (“C” average) or higher and has not received a “F” in any class. If a student is participating in a sport and receives a report card that makes him/her ineligible, the student will be dropped from the team.
However, a student may be granted a “one-time-only” probation exemption if they fail to earn eligibility. This probation is valid only if the student has not received an “F” in their most recent quarter.
A student who receives an “F” is not eligible for probation.
Once a student has been granted a one-time-only probation, the student may participate in athletics. This probation applies to only one quarter in the student’s years at AMS. Probation status is meant to be a second and and final chance.
No exceptions will be made.
In order for an athlete to be granted their Academic Probation, the athlete must have a conference with his or her parent (s), the athletic director, and coach if possible, to discuss the terms of the probation.
Dances
Evening dances will be held 4 times during the year. Seventh and eighth graders may attend all of the dances. Sixth graders may attend the second and third dances. The 4th dance is for 8th graders only and is a part of their promotion activities. All students may attend these dances provided they maintain good behavior.
Sixth graders have their own party for the first quarter.
Attending a dance is a privilege that students earn through good behavior. Students who have been suspended, have unserved detentions, are on tardy alert, or have had numerous behavior problems will not be allowed to attend the dances.
Note: Parents are asked to pick up their children at the stated ending time. With the exception of the assigned parent chaperones, parents will not be let in. Students must have a ticket and a current student body card to enter the dance.
The administration retains the right to send any student home for inappropriate behavior, suggestive dancing, or dangerous behavior such as running, “moshing”, or “freaking”. Any student ineligible for a school dance who shows up at that school dance will be subject to disciplinary action including but not limited to losing future dance privileges, becoming eligible for other promotion activities in the case of 8th graders at the graduation dance, or school suspension.
Noontime Activities
Albany Middle School offers an excellent noontime program. The sport’s leagues and tournaments work in conjunction with the physical education classes. Activities include team sports such as touch football, basketball, volleyball, softball and tug-of-war. For individual students, balls are available for checkout at noon, and a game room is open most days in the atrium. Students may also use the library at lunchtime.
Required:
• Binder paper – 81/2 x 11 in., 3 hole punched, wide ruled
• Three ring binder with dividers/accordion file system
• Pencils #2
• Colored pens
• Eraser
• Hand-held pencil sharpener
• Black or dark blue pens – not gel
• Fine-tipped colored markers
• Black fine line pen
• Ruler – cm and inch
• Packet of graph paper – standard size
• Glue stick
• Compass
• Protractor
• Calculator
• NO SHARPIES OR OTHER PERMANENT PENS
8th grade only:
• Scientific calculator with ability to do exponents, fractions, and roots. No graphic calculators.
• Three subject spiral bound notebook
Suggested
• Book covers – non-adhesive
• Zipper pouch to hold supplies
• Three-hole punch
• Highlighter
• Small scissors
• Colored ball-point pens
• Flash drive
APPENDIX I
USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES AT SCHOOL
2008/2009
USE OF ELECTRONIC LISTENING OR RECORDING DEVICES
Education Code 51512 states: “The Legislature finds that the use by any person, including a pupil, of any electronic listening or recording device in any classroom of the elementary and secondary schools without the prior consent of the teacher and the principal of the school given to promote an educational purpose disrupts and impairs the teaching process and discipline in the elementary and secondary schools, and such use is prohibited. Any pupil violating this section shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.”
This also includes posting of any pictures and/or video recordings on such websites as My Space, U-Tube, etc.
USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES AT SCHOOL
Electronic Games/Players: (CD players, Walkman, iPods, MP3 players, etc.)
1. No Electronic Games/Players will be allowed during school hours. This includes breaks and lunch.
Once you enter the AMS campus, you must put your Electronic Games/Players and headphones
in your backpack.
2. Electronic Games/Players in use on the school campus will be confiscated by staff and kept in the
school office for pickup by the student at the end of the school day.
3. If an Electronic Game/Player is confiscated more than once it will be released only to a parent.
4. To avoid possibility of theft or damage consider leaving all electronic devices at home.
Cell Phones:
1. If you carry a cell phone for emergency purposes, it must be TURNED OFF at all times during the
school day. You may not use your cell phone to send or receive text messages. This includes passing
periods, lunch, P.E., and breaks, and in school restrooms. Once you arrive at school, you should check
to make sure your cell phone is turned off and put safely away.
2. If you need to contact your parents for emergency purposes during the school day, come to the
school office and ask to use one of the office phones. Calling to get parent permission to visit a
friend’s house after school is not an emergency. Those types of issues need to be taken care of
before or after school.
3. Parents please note if you need to reach your child during school hours call the
school office at (510) 558-3600.
4. If you are having problems with another student during the day, do not use your cell phone to
call home. Go to a teacher, a counselor, or come to the office for assistance.
5. Your cell phone should be kept in your backpack.
DO NOT LOAN YOUR CELL PHONE TO ANOTHER STUDENT.
6. Label you cell phone clearly with your FIRST AND LAST NAME.
7. Cell phones will be taken away and held by staff if used by students during the day. If a cell phone
is confiscated a second time, it will be held in the school office and released only to a parent.
8. If staff confiscates a student’s cell phone a third time, the student will be required to leave the
cell phone in the office during school hours for the duration of the school year.
Rev. 8/08
AND STUDENT AGREEMENT
(including signature page)
APPENDIX II
ALBANY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Student Agreement for Acceptable Use of Computers and the Internet
Albany Unified School District recognizes the potential of electronic services to support curriculum and student learning at its various schools. These services include access to the World Wide Web, File Transfer sites, e-mail, and other Internet services. With the increased access to information from various sources via computers comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be appropriate in an academic setting. While the District’s staff will exercise diligence in supervising students’ on-line activities, it is imperative that all members of the school community exercise individual judgment while utilizing the Internet and any other electronic information retrieval system. Albany Unified School District firmly believes that the valuable information and interaction available on the worldwide electronic network far out weighs the possibility that users may access or produce material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the District.
Use of the District’s computer network is a privilege provided to students and staff. That privilege is conditioned upon the responsible and proper conduct of the users. Each student applying for access will participate in a discussion with the sponsoring or supervising teacher regarding the efficient, ethical, and legal use of the network. Students and their parent will then sign this agreement signifying their understanding of, and agreement to its terms.
The signatures at the end of this document are legally binding and indicate that the parties who are signing have read the terms and conditions carefully, they understand their significance, and are agreeing to abide by them.
1. Privileges: The use of electronic information resources is a privilege. Inappropriate use will
result in the loss of the computer services, disciplinary action, and/or referral to legal authorities.
An administrator or faculty member has the right to request, for cause, that the Systems Administrator
denies, revokes or suspends a user’s network access.
2. Acceptable Use: The use of the network account must be in support of the education, business and/or
research goals and objectives of the Albany Unified School District. Each user is personally
responsibly for this provision at all times when using network services.
a. Use of other organizations’ networks or computing resources must comply with the rules of the network.
b. Use only first name and last initial of yourself or other students. Do not reveal information,
i.e., home address, phone numbers, password, or social security number; this also applies to the
personal information of others.
3. Network Etiquette:
a. Be polite. Never send, or encourage others to send messages that are abusive, obscene, or threatening.
b. Use appropriate, respectful language. Remember that you are a representative of your school and district
when you are on-line.
c. Use electronic mail appropriately. Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. Any
message relating to or in support of illegal activities must be reported to the authorities.
4. Vandalism: Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy property of another user or
any other agencies or networks that are connected to the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the
uploading, downloading, or creation of computer viruses. Vandalism is strictly prohibited and will result in
cancellation of privileges.
5. Security: Security on any computer system is a high priority with multiple users. Do not use another individual’s
account. If you identify a security problem, notify your teacher or the Systems Administrator at once.
6. Unacceptable Use:
a. Any transmission or reception of pornographic or sexually explicit material is prohibited.
b. Transmission of any material in violation of any local, state, or federal law is prohibited,
including, but not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene
material that could be construed as harassment or disparagement of others based
on race, gender, age, or sexual orientation,or material protected by trade secrets.
c. Commercial activities by non-profit institutions are generally not acceptable.
d. Use of product advertisements or political lobbying, including lobbying for student body
office, is prohibited.
e. Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt network use by others.
7. Fee Services: You may NOT use the AUSD’s electronic information resources to access any database
service or to download data or software, which charges a fee for such service or access,
without express permission of a sponsoring teacher. If you do any of the forgoing,
you are liable for any and all charges and are subject to disciplinary action.
8. Services: Albany Unified School District makes no warranties of any kind whether expressed or implied,
for the service it is providing and will not be responsible for any damages you suffer while on
the system. Use of any information obtained via the District’s network is at your own risk.
AUSD specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained through
electronic information resources.
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