Parent & Student Handbook, 2013-2014 - Tandem Friends School

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16 ● Follow food and drink rules: ● ● Eat in designated areas only the cafe, Middle School Meeting Room, Math/Science building, and outdoors. Do not bring food or drink into classrooms, with the exception of water. Eat, clean up, and put away food and trash before moving on to another activity. Dress: Although Tandem Friends does not have a dress code, students are expected to dress in a schoolappropriate manner. Students must wear shoes at all times. Tree climbing, skateboarding, and snowball throwing are not allowed. Conflict, Discipline, Rules and Consequences in the Middle School Conflict We recognize that conflict when two or more people disagree about something is a natural part of life. Students come into conflict on a regular basis, and we welcome the respectful expression of different viewpoints and opinions. Younger children rely on adults to help them resolve differences. In their quest for autonomy, Middle School students seek to move away from direct adult guidance and control. They try to settle disputes themselves, but often lack the wisdom and skills to do so effectively. This can lead to hurt feelings, physical and verbal aggression, exclusion, and bullying. Teaching students how to manage conflict with skill and care is an important part of the job of Middle School educators. We teach conflict resolution concepts and skills as part of our advisory program, and these lessons are reinforced in our classrooms, athletic fields, play rehearsals, during breaks and lunch, on field trips, and in other school settings. Relational Aggression and Bullying While conflict resolution is a great model for many situations, disciplinary measures need to be taken when students “cross the line” into overt, deliberate aggression. Relational aggression is a term that includes unkind actions such as ridicule, spreading rumors, malicious gossip, intimidation, namecalling, and exclusion. Repeated instances directed at the same individual can be characterized as bullying. These behaviors are antithetical to Tandem Friends’ values and can lead to serious consequences. When a significant act of relational aggression occurs: ● The student meets with the division director and parents are informed ● Possible disciplinary consequences include loss of free movement during lunch and breaks, Monday Grounds, a formal apology, and/or a written response indicating understanding of the behavior and its consequences ● In cases of “cybermeanness,” students face possible loss of Internet access at school and requested/required monitoring of home email, Facebook, texting, etc. by parents When, in the judgement of the Middle School Director and faculty, a student commits acts of bullying: ● A meeting is scheduled with the Middle School Director, the student, and his or her parents ● The student is assigned reading on bullying and its consequences and required to write a response ● The student may be suspended from school ● The student will be placed on Disciplinary Warning or Disciplinary Probation (see Disciplinary Warning below) ● There may be additional consequences such as restrictions during breaks and lunch "Kindness and Wisdom, with Kindness Always First"
17 Disruptive Behavior in Classes, including Cards and Monday Hours Disruptive behavior in class is defined as behavior that interferes with the learning of others and/or prevents teachers from doing their jobs. Examples are calling out in class, ignoring instructions, and socializing with classmates. We understand that sometimes students act impulsively and are not trying to deliberately interfere with the learning of others, therefore the first response is usually a “card” issued by the teacher. The student writes what he or she did on the card, dates it, and returns it to the teacher. The teacher enters this in a shared Middle School spreadsheet. There are no further consequences for occasional lapses, and parents are not informed. However, if a student accumulates three or more cards in a fiveday period, the student is given Monday Grounds, an hour of campus cleanup work scheduled for the next Monday. Parents are informed so that they can adjust pickup time and also follow up with a discussion at home. Monday Grounds supersedes all other activities, including athletic training and contests, play rehearsals, music lessons, etc. Rule Breaking Students who violate basic Middle School rules (being late to class, wearing inappropriate clothing, engaging in risky and prohibited behaviors such as throwing snowballs and climbing trees, and personal or school property violations are examples) may earn a card, be placed on Monday Grounds directly, or be scheduled for a conference with their parents and the Middle School Director. The Middle School Director will determine the exact consequences on a casebycase basis. Major Breaches of Trust Major breaches of trust include lying, cheating, and theft. Parents are always informed in these cases. The Middle School Director, in consultation with members of the faculty, will determine the exact consequences on a casebycase basis, which may include suspension from school, and placement on Disciplinary Warning or Probation. Disciplinary Warning Students are placed on Disciplinary Warning for serious violations that are judged not severe enough to warrant a probationary status. Parents are informed in writing, but placement on Disciplinary Warning is not reflected in the student’s permanent record. Disciplinary Warning generally lasts for one semester. Disciplinary Probation If a student on Disciplinary Warning commits a similar offense, he or she will be placed on Disciplinary Probation, which means the student may be suspended, expelled, or denied reenrollment if he or she commits a similar offense. Placement on Disciplinary Probation does become part of the student's permanent record. A student may be put directly on Disciplinary Probation, without first being put on Disciplinary Warning, at the discretion of the Middle School Director. In most cases a student remains on Disciplinary Probation for the remainder of the school year. Middle School Cell Phone and Device Policy If Middle School students do bring cell phones to school, they may not use them during school hours (8:30AM– 3:30PM), with this exception: if a student needs to check for a message from a parent, he or she can do so during lunch, after first receiving permission from a teacher. The student can then get the phone and use it in the presence of the teacher, and return it to his or her locker. 7 th and 8 th grade students must keep their cell phones in their lockers during school hours. We recommend that students purchase and use locks for their lockers. 5 th and 6 th grade students must keep cell phones turned off in their backpacks in their classrooms. Violations of the policy will result in loss of the privilege to bring a cell phone to school. "Kindness and Wisdom, with Kindness Always First"
Page 1 and 2: 1 Parent & Student Handbook 2013‐
Page 3 and 4: 3 Table of Contents Introduction...
Page 5 and 6: 5 Regular Publications.............
Page 7 and 8: 7 Meeting for Worship Our Quaker af
Page 9 and 10: 9 2‐Hour Delay Schedule Monday Tu
Page 11 and 12: 11 Admission and hiring committees
Page 13 and 14: 13 ● Please note that skipping sc
Page 15: 15 Assignment to Hours for discipli
Page 19 and 20: 19 Free Periods (Upper School) The
Page 21 and 22: 21 Those not participating in the s
Page 23 and 24: 23 School. Simpler disciplinary iss
Page 25 and 26: 25 and foreign languages; course pl
Page 27 and 28: 27 3. The Academic Committee will n
Page 29 and 30: 29 Promotion from the 8th grade to
Page 31 and 32: 31 * To receive email alerts when
Page 33 and 34: 33 ● A page on the Tandem Friends
Page 35 and 36: 35 The school offers a full suite o
Page 37 and 38: 37 Sale or Distribution of Proscrib
Page 39 and 40: 39 VIII. Safe Conduct and Weapons P
Page 41 and 42: 41 Regular Publications Tandem Frie

Parent & Student Handbook, 2013-2014 - Tandem Friends School

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