castle heights middle school parent/student handbook 2012-2013

Administration Ms. Kane is the principal of Castle Heights. In addition, there arethree assistant principals, one assigned to each grade level, to assist with parentcommunication and student supervision. All the administrators at Castle Heightswelcome your suggestions, comments, and concerns. If your child has a concern,contact the assistant principal assigned to that grade. If you are unable to do so or ifyou feel that the situation has not been resolved, please communicate with Ms.Kane. It is important to us that parents feel that their involvement at school is a vitalpart of their children’s success at school.Assistant Principals for each grade:6: Ms. Carie Hucks 7: Ms. Cynthia Robinson 8: Mr. Richard BallCounselors Castle Heights is fortunate to have three qualified counselors whoserve students at each grade level. A counselor is assigned to each grade level andmoves each year from grade to grade with the students. The counselor serves thestudents through individual and group counseling, assistance with course selections,assisting with the Knight Time program, and many other services. Parents who wishto discuss the progress of their children may contact teachers directly to set upconferences or may call the counselor for the student’s grade level.There is also an office of the Catawba Family Services counseling program locatedat the school as part of a school-community cooperative effort. If you feel that youchild could benefit from more intensive counseling, please let the grade levelcounselor know.Media Center The media center is open in the mornings at 7:50 for students whoobtain a permit from the office or from teachers on supervisory duty. The mediacenter is also open each afternoon for students to return or check out books or touse other library resources. The media specialist is available and willing to assiststudents during their time in the media center. In addition, the media specialist visitsclasses to create interest in reading for recreation or in special topics being studied.Resource Officer The Sheriff’s Department officer assigned to the school is hereto assist students and staff, as well as to provide students an opportunity to becomefamiliar with a member of law enforcement.Cafeteria Manager The manager of the cafeteria not only organizes the serving ofmeals for three lunch periods, but she is also available to help set up paymentaccounts and to explain about the nutritional value of the program.4

SCHOOL FEES AND EXPENSESStudents who owe fines from previous years may pick up a schedule at thebeginning of the school year; it will not be mailed. Please be aware that studentsowing fines are not eligible to participate in extracurricular athletics, clubs, or fieldtrips throughout the school year.Athletic Fee----$60 per school year for eligibility for athletic team membershipSchool supplies---a list of required supplies can located the district website.Students are encouraged to own and use technological devices that are compatiblewith instructional activities. The iPad is a recommended tool.Breakfast $1.00 daily Lunch $ 2.25 dailyP.E. Uniform $14.00 Yearbook $30.00 or $35.00Students may purchase school photos in the fall and in the spring. There are alsooccasional small fees if student wish to participate in events such as dress-downdays or some other activities.The school and the school district will gladly accept commercially printed checksfrom parents if the full name, street address and phone number are on the check. Inthe event your check is returned, it will be turned over to the CHECKredi forcollection. CHECKredi will debit your account electronically for the face amount ofthe check plus a $30.00 fee as allowed by state law.The district Food Services policy is that the cafeteria is unable to extend credit formeals if a child has forgotten his/her lunch money or if a cafeteria account is empty.Please check with your child to be sure he/she has the necessary money topurchase lunch each day, but please be aware that your child should let the officestaff know if he/she is without lunch money or lunch on any one day, and we willhelp.Textbook Information Students are issued textbooks at the beginning of theyear (if your child has a technological device and you wish to explore the possibilityof online text, please let us know) and are responsible for cost of any not returned.Failure to pay outstanding textbook losses, library fines, or lost athletic equipmentfees will result in a student being ineligible for participation in extracurricular or otheractivities such as athletics, fine arts concerts, overnight field trips, yearbookpurchase, or other activities. This is not the situation the school wants for your child,but as we are responsible to the state for the cost of the books, students must beresponsible for the good care and formal return of the textbooks that they use. If yourchild withdraws from school during the year, please be sure that you have notifiedthe office so that all textbooks have been returned. Students who owe fines or who5

have not paid fees at the end of the summer will be asked to come to the school topick up their class schedules.ACADEMIC INFORMATIONStudents in grade six through eight are scheduled into two to four-teacher teams forthe core content areas---language arts, math, science, and social studies. Sixthgrade students, except those who are taking full-year music classes, are scheduledinto an exploratory wheel of classes of rotating elective classes. Seventh and eighthgraders select semester or year-long electives. A student in any grade may beassigned to a computer lab academic assistance program in place of an elective. Inaddition, every student takes part every day in extra periods known as Enrichment,which includes academic assistance or enrichment and Knight Time, an advisoradviseetime. Our Gifted/Talented instruction takes place during this time.Report cards are issued every nine weeks. Parents will receive a progress reporttwice during each grading period---a progress report is sent home every threeweeks. Parents will be reminded when to expect the progress reports---please callus if you have any questions! A newsletter will accompany each progress report.Parents may also check academic progress online through our Parent Portalprogram. Please call your child’s counselor if you are unfamiliar with this system.During the school year students in all grades will have their reading and math skillstested using the MAP computer testing program. The test results will be used toidentify and focus on student academic needs. At the end of each school year allstudents take a state standardized test, the PASS test, in the core content areas.These tests are used to determine the grade level competence of each student andmay be used to determine promotion or retention from one grade to another.Eighth grade students and 7 th grade algebra students will take semester exams in allcontent areas at the end of both first and second semester. The semester examgrade counts 20% of each student’s grade, so it is important that students arepresent for all exams. Students will not be allowed to make up exams missed due tounlawful absences, and notification of absences during exams and permission tomake up those exams must be submitted prior to the exam date. At the end of theyear, English I and Algebra students will take a state standardized End-of-Coursetest. Spanish students at the 8 th grade level have the option of taking an end-ofcoursetest in order to move into Spanish II at the high school level. Sixth andseventh grade students may take cumulative tests at the end of each grading periodor semester.All students are expected to maintain a reading log during the course of the schoolyear, and a total of 25 reading units---books or a number of magazine articles--- is6

the minimum number expected for each student. The completion of the reading logmay be used to determine promotion from one grade to the next. Our goal is asuccessful academic year for every child.Teachers and/or parents are encouraged to set up conferences for students at anytime through the grade level counselor. Students maintain a Personal ProgressPortfolio that may be used at student-led conferences.GRADING POLICY The grading scale for Castle Heights is as follows:A 93-100B 85-92C 77-84D 70-76F69 and belowIIncomplete; work not completed for the courseProgress reports are sent home every 3 weeks, and report cards are issued very 9weeks.Mastery Re-take Policy Castle Heights teachers wish to grade students’ mastery ofcontent areas and skills, and they recognize that not all students may demonstratemastery without further study and/or assistance.The school has an academic re-take policy:Students who fail to reach mastery levels on a test or project (82% or higher)have the option to take the test again. The retake assignment may be adifferent version or format from the original assignment.The student is responsible for some type of re-study---study at homedocumented by the parents, assistance from the teacher, practice throughcomputer program, a retaught lesson in class----that will prepare the studentto take the test or submit the project again. Some academic interventionmust take place before a retake can be given.The retake time is at the teacher’s convenience, but it should be requested bythe student in a timely manner.The recorded grade is the highest score reached.A student may request a retake a third time if mastery is still not reached, butany further re-testing beyond that is at the teacher’s discretion.Students may be asked to complete and turn in missed assignments during the lunchperiod, enrichment periods, or before or after school.Homework Policy It is the intent of the Castle Heights staff to assign relevant andchallenging homework assignments that reinforce learning standards or to applyskills mastered in class.Homework is assigned for7

Further reinforcement or practice of skills/review of skills or content forassessmentCompletion of classroom activitiesRecreational readingAssigned reading related to classroom activities or instructional standardsReview of skills or content for assessmentOpportunities for creating a product which integrates skills or contentThe amount of homework assigned each day is determined by the teacher incollaboration with teaching team and grade level department colleagues.Homework may be assessedAs a graded evaluation---for accuracy and/or completion--- at no more than10% of a total nine-week summary grade ORAs a non-graded formative assessment to determine progress towardmasteryStudents who miss homework because of an absence will be given one calendar dayfor each day that was absent to turn in all assigned or missed work.ACADEMIC DISHONESTY A student who cheats on a test or assignment or whodeliberately plagiarizes will be allowed to complete or retake the work with a 20%deduction. A disciplinary referral from the teacher to the office will accompany thisaction.STUDENT ATTENDANCESouth Carolina Code of Laws 59-65-50 and South Carolina Board of EducationRegulations require that students attend school 180 days. Lawful excuses includeillness, death in the family, or a recognized religious holiday. Castle Heightsexpects that all students will attend school every day except for these threereasons. Parents are expected to cooperate and comply with this requirement.Any student who misses school must present a written excuse, signed by aparent/guardian, or a medical excuse. If this is not turned in within THREE daysafter the student is back in school, the absence will be UNLAWFUL. The maximumnumber of days that will be excused for lawful absences with parent notes will beFIVE.STUDENTS WHO HAVE UNLAWFUL ABSENCES MAY NOT RECEIVE CREDITFOR MISSED WORK, TESTS, OR PROJECTS.So that parents can avoid scheduling family vacations during school days, a calendarwill be sent home at the beginning of the school year.8

Attendance is an important factor for academic success. Students who haveexcessive absences may be retained if credit is not earned, and parents andstudents can be referred to Family Court. We would like to avoid this whenevernecessary---please be sure that your child is in attendance at school!Eighth grade students who are taking English, foreign language, or algebra for creditmay not miss any more than a limited number of days of class or credit for thecourse will be denied. Students who have unlawful absences may not receive creditfor work.CONDUCT AND EXPECTATIONSThe students of Castle Heights Middle School meet the expectations ofcourtesy, honesty, and appropriate behavior set for them by theirparents and their teachers the vast majority of time and in almost allsituations. In fairness to the students, however, the following Code ofConduct was created to clearly outline the behavior that is notacceptable and the consequences which will result from inappropriatebehavior.CHMS Code of ConductCastle Heights Middle School students are expected to exercise the higheststandards of respect, manners, courtesy, sportsmanship and self-discipline. Thefollowing are expectations of students while under the jurisdiction of Castle HeightsMiddle School:In order to insure greater uniformity in handling student misbehaviors and to reducethe number of behavior infractions the following code is subscribed to and will beenforced by the teachers and administrators of this school. The rules are effectiveduring the following times and in the following places:on the school grounds during and immediately before or immediately afterschool hourson the school grounds at any other time when the school is being used by aschool groupoff the school grounds at a school activity, function or eventen route to and from school on a school bus or other school vehicle or at anofficial school bus stopINTERVENTION LEVELTeachers or staff members may use interventions prior to addressing infractions.These interventions may include:verbal reprimands or cautionscommunication with parents or mentors9

change in seat assignment“time-out” in another classroomstudent/parent conferences with the team or individual teachersguidance referralsThe staff at Castle Heights prefers to use the interventions above priorto student behavior moving to one of the levels described below andthe consequences that follow. It is a staff member’s determination asto whether and/or when interventions are appropriate and effective.LEVEL IFor each of the following infractions the student may be assigned one (1) day oflunch detention which will be served the following day. The parent will be informed inwriting for the first and second lunch detention. For the third lunch detention a phonecall will also be made. Students are expected to report directly to lunch detention atthe beginning of the lunch period and will not be allowed to use the vendingmachines.A. Gum chewing in PE or music classes or in the media center (The principal maydetermine a time when chewing gum may not be allowed at all within the building.A teacher may determine the same for a classroom. This determination dependson the cleanliness of the school, whether gum is being disposed of properly, andresponsible gum use.)B. Irresponsible gum usage (ie: smacking, blowing bubbles, disposing of gumimproperly)C. Tardy to class without a passD. Loitering in the gallery, hallways, restrooms or outside areas during class timeE. Sleeping in classF. Running in the hallwaysG. Excessive noise in the buildingH. Throwing rocks, books or other objects with no injury or destruction of propertyI. Non-academic use of flash drives or other computer storage devicesJ. Being in an unauthorized area not indicated on the hall pass such as the vendingarea, health room or guidance office or being in some unauthorized area of theschool.K. Repeated violations of dress codeL. Sharing a locker with another studentM. Eating, drinking or possessing food in the building other than in the cafeteria.N. Disruption of class1. Talking out during instruction time without permission2. Out of seat without permission3. Making noises in class as to disrupt teacher and others4. Unauthorized handling of other’s property (where theft does not occur)5. Passive failure to complete or carry out directions10

O. Undirected use of inappropriate/obscene language, comments or gesturesP. Book bags, backpacks or purses in class if in violation of team or teacher rulesQ. Tardy to lunch detentionFailure to serve lunch detention will result in an After School Work Detail.* A student will be given a warning for the first two tardies per class per nine weeks.On the third tardy to class and each time thereafter, he/she will be assigned lunchdetention. If a student is tardy to school, a bus pass, doctor’s note, or court orderare the only acceptable excuses.LEVEL IIFor each of the following infractions the student may be assigned two (2) days oflunch detention which will be served the following two days. The parent will beinformed in writing for the first and second lunch detention. For the third lunchdetention a phone call will also be made. Students are expected to report directly tolunch detention at the beginning of the lunch period and will not be allowed to usethe vending machines.A. Minor acts of public display of affectionB. Rough play / play fighting (with no injury)C. Minor acts of school vandalismD. Use of inappropriate/obscene language, comments or gestures toward anotherStudentE Name-calling, verbal bullying, or slander of another student (initial offense)F. Cell phone or electronic device violation---1 st offense--- 1 After School WorkDetention + confiscation for the day (Parent must pick up.)Failure to serve lunch detention will result in an After School Work Detail.Any Level I or II violations after the third infraction will result in an After-School WorkDetail. The work detail will be served on the following Monday, Wednesday orThursday from 3:50-4:20 and will include cleaning the school grounds, hallwaysand/or classrooms. For safety reasons, the students involved in work detail will wearorange safety vests and disposable gloves. The parent will need to be at CHpromptly at 4:20 to pick up their child. A form will be sent home with the child asnotification and will need to be signed by the parent and returned to the team.11

Failure to serve work detail will result in assignment to the Behavior InterventionProgram (BIP).Any Level I or II violations after the third work detail will be considered a Level IIIoffense and will result in assignment to the Behavior Intervention Program (BIP).The grade level team will meet with the student and conference with them abouthis/her conduct. The team will also refer the student to the guidance counselor forintervention. Notification of the assignment to BIP will be made to the legal guardianby phone. If the teacher is unable to reach the guardian by phone (with reasonabledocumented attempts) written notification will be mailed.**ACCUMULATION OF CONSEQUENCES FOR LEVEL I & II VIOLATIONS WILLSTART OVER WITH EACH NINE-WEEK PERIOD.LEVEL IIIDisruptive Conduct at Level III is defined as those student behaviors which aredisruptive or directed against another person or property. Disciplinary action to betaken may involve assignment to the Behavior Intervention Program (BIP).Acts of Disruptive Conduct Level III may include but are not limited to:A. Repeated unauthorized sale of items (other than drugs or alcohol)B. Forging or falsifying a note or excuse for absence or tardinessC. Leaving the classroom without permission or skipping classD. Intentionally hitting/kicking/pushing another studentE. Vandalism/destruction of property, including throwing of any object whichresults in property damage, with monetary damages (Monetary restitutionis also required.)F. Open defiance of authority or willful refusal to do as instructed (withoutadministrative or resource officer involvement)/disrespectful manner oror tone to teachers or staffG. Confronting others as to create a disruptive environmentH. Heated arguments between students (but which may not result infighting)I. Racial slursJ. Threats, intimidation, or bullying of others/ongoing name-calling or verbalharassmentK. Instigating or encouraging a fight among othersL. Leaving school without permission (initial offense)M. Failure to serve an after-school work detail (1 Day of BIP)N. Seventh and each additional Level I or II offensesO. Cell phone/electronic device violation---confiscation +2 nd offense---2 days after school work detail or 1 day BIP3 rd offense---1 day BIP 4 th and subsequent offense—2 days BIP or OSS12

P. Academic dishonesty (plus 20% reduction in grade)Based on the severity of the offense, the teacher may refer any Level III toadministration or to the counselor.Minimal disciplinary actions to be taken for Level III violations include BIPassignment. Repeated violations of Level III may result in OSS.A team referral to BIP must involve all teachers on the team. If a student is assignedto BIP, the grade level team will meet with the student and conference with themabout his/her conduct. Notification will be made to the legal guardian by phone. Ifthe teacher is unable to reach the guardian by phone (with reasonable documentedattempts) written notification will be mailed.**ACCUMULATION OF CONSEQUENCES FOR LEVEL III VIOLATIONS WILLSTART OVER WITH NEW SEMESTER.LEVEL IV1. Disciplinary action to be taken will involve an office referral and will involve out ofschool suspension (OSS). Some instances of Disruptive Conduct Level IV mayoverlap certain criminal offenses, justifying both administrative consequences andinvolvement of the resource officer.2. Acts of Disruptive Conduct Level IV may include but are not limited to:A. Fighting (The punishment for fighting shall be determined by theadministration based upon the severity and intensity of the fight, and uponthe cooperation of those involved. In an extreme case, for example,expulsion might be recommended on the first offense.)B. Theft from staff members or other students (circumstances to bedetermined by administrators)C. Repeated offense of leaving school grounds without permissionD. Initial possession/use of tobacco products or paraphernaliaE. Initial possession/use of prescription or illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia,or alcoholF. Sexual harassment (verbal or physical)G. Use of inappropriate/obscene language, or inappropriate/obscenecomments or gestures toward a faculty member, administrator or otheradultH. *Any display of gang writing, symbols, gestures or actionsI. Repeated instances of racial slursJ. Throwing of any object/horse-play/shoving or pushing which results ininjury to another personK. Use of a laser or any other potentially harmful device used to disruptclass or harm anotherL. Disruptive or non-compliant behavior in BIP13

M. Third and subsequent violations of Level III.*First offense for display of gang activity will result in a referral to the guidancecounselor for intervention. Subsequent offenses will result in disciplinary action.Notification or the school resource officer will also occur.3. Minimal disciplinary actions to be taken for Level IV violations----1 to 10 days ofout-of-school suspension. Repeated or severe violations may result inrecommendation for the alternative Rebound Program or expulsion.The above guidelines outline the minimum consequences to be given. Schooladministration reserves the right to increase the severity of consequences asdeemed necessary to address discipline issues and ensure the safety and well-beingof all students.If a student is suspended out-of-school, a conference with the legal guardian isexpected before the student may be reinstated. This conference may be heldwith the team teachers, guidance counselor, home-school worker and/orassistant principal.A student may not attend any school function within the school District or trespass onany School District property or ride on any school bus while under the suspension orexpulsion or during the appeal process.LEVEL IV VIOLATIONS ARE CUMULATIVE FOR THE YEAR.LEVEL VCRIMINAL CONDUCT1. Criminal Conduct is defined as student behaviors which result in violence tooneself or another’s person or property or which pose a direct and serious threat tothe safety of oneself or others in school. These activities usually requireadministrative action which results in the immediate removal of the student from theschool, the intervention of law enforcement authorities and/or recommendation forexpulsion.2. Criminal conduct may include, but is not limited to:A. ArsonB. Assault and BatteryC. Bomb threatD. ExtortionE. False fire alarmsE. Repeated offense of possession of alcoholF. Distributing or selling of unauthorized substances such as alcoholF. Distributing or selling of unauthorized substances such as pornography14

G. Furnishing, selling or possession of controlled substances (drugs,narcotics, or poisons)H. Possession, use or transfer of dangerous weaponsI. Possession/use of fireworks or explosive devicesJ. Failure to report knowledge of weapons or explosive devices to schoolauthoritiesK. Sexual offensesL. Theft, possession, or sale of stolen propertyM. Vandalism (greater than $50)N. Rioting or lynchingO. Knowingly and willfully delivering or conveying to a public official, teacheror principal any letter, document, etc., which contains a threat of death orbodily harm to that person or a member of the person’s immediate family.P. Ongoing harassment and/or bullying of another student after interventionMinimal disciplinary action to be applied in case of Criminal Conduct mayinclude, but is not limited to:Out-of-school suspensionAssignment to alternative programExpulsionRestitution of property and damages, where appropriateOther sanctions as deemed necessaryPursuant to State Law, persons entering school property are deemed to haveconsented to search of their person and property. (ACT 373 of 1994)School administrators will contact law enforcement authorities immediately uponnotice that a person is engaging in certain activities on school property or at a schoolsanctioned or sponsored activity. Those activities are ones which may result, or doin fact result, in injury or serious threat of injury to the person or to another person orhis/her property.LEVEL V VIOLATIONS ARE CUMULATIVE FOR THE YEAR.At all levels, administrators reserve the right to apply more severeconsequences dependent upon the circumstances or during the last twoweeks of school.15

There are some areas of expectations, such as the use of cell phonesand the school’s standardized dress code, which may require moredetailed information. That information is included here:The following is the district board policy and administrative rules for cell phones andother electronic devices as they apply to Castle Heights Middle School”The phrase personal electronic device includes, but is not limited to: cell phones,pagers, gaming devices, electronic notebooks or readers or other devices that emitan audible signal, vibrate, display a message, display or record an image, orotherwise summon or deliver a communication to the possessor. Students maypossess a cell phone or other personal electronic device in school as long as it isused only during authorized times and is not disruptive to the educationalenvironment. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices are not permitted tobe on or visible in locker rooms and restrooms.Unauthorized use of a cell phone or other personal electronic device may include,but is not limited to: taking pictures or recording without permission, cheating,harassment or bullying, use during any emergency drill, use during unauthorizedtimes or use for unlawful activities. A classroom teacher may classify a classroomperiod or any part of a period as a time of unauthorized use. Evidence of use—suchas a phone call or a text to a friend---is a basis for unauthorized use.A student in possession of a cell phone, or other personal electronic device in conflictwith this policy will be subject to discipline as provided under the District’s code ofstudent conduct as follows:Consequences for unauthorized use of an electronic device:JICJ-R Issued 2/201216

1 st OffenseHigh School/Middle SchoolStudents receive a warning.2 nd OffenseHigh School/Middle SchoolThe student will serve one day of In-School Suspension.3 rd OffenseHigh School/Middle SchoolThe student will serve two days of In-School Suspension.Any subsequent Offense -High School/Middle SchoolViolation of this policy greater than three offenses is considered an act of defiance.The student will be assigned the appropriate disciplinary consequence based onhis/her personal cumulative disciplinary history.Any cell phone, picture taking, or text messaging that results in students cheatingor which cause major disruptions will result in the electronic device beingconfiscated with additional discipline at the principal’s discretion.CASTLE HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOLSTANDARDIZED DRESS CODE FOR 2012-2013Shirts must have a collar and sleeves. Shirts must be solid white, blue, yellow, gold orblack. Styles of shirt may include golf shirts, button-down shirts, or blouses. (Knit topswithout buttons or that are low-cut in front are not acceptable.) Shirts must be long enoughto be tucked in. Shirts that fasten across the front must have buttons. Shirts should bebuttoned within one button from the top and may not be open. A T-shirt (in dress codecolors) may be worn under the collared shirt. Visible long-sleeved thermal underwear orchemises are not appropriate.Pants, skirts, shorts, capris, and skorts must be solid black, navy or khaki in colorand of a twill material. (Twill material is a heavier cotton material with little or no stretch.Pants, skirts, or shorts bought for school should contain no more than 2% spandex.) Cargopants may be worn. Wind pants, sweat pants or suits, denim jeans, corduroy material, orathletic shorts are not permitted. Leggings may be worn under dresses or skirts. Dresses orjumpers which meet the dress code standards are also permitted.All pants, skirts, and shorts must be worn at the waist, and shirts must be tucked intopants, skirts, and shorts. (Low-rise trousers or pants are not acceptable.) Shorts and skirtsmust be no shorter than the student’s fingertips when his/her arms are held at the sides.17

All pants with belt loops must be worn with a belt that is properly buckled.Sweaters, light jackets, or sweatshirts of the same colors listed above and without logos,may be worn without being tucked into pants if worn with a collared shirt. Heavy, quilted orleather coats or pajama bottoms may not be worn inside the building.Shirts, pants, sweaters, and jackets should not have logos, advertising, or writing.Even small logos on the back of pants, for example, must be removed. An exception to thisis the Castle Heights logo. Logos on shirts may be covered by a pin, but coverage of logosby tape or stickers is not permitted.Caps and hats may be worn to school but must be stored in lockers during the schoolday. Headgear such as caps, hats, scarves, stocking caps, bandanas, or other headcoverings are not permitted for male or female students.Shoes such as shower shoes, plastic or rubber athletic sandals or flip-flops, and thosewith spiked or very high heels may not be worn. Bedroom shoes may not be worn toschool. (Leather or fabric sandals are acceptable.)Students’ hair must be neat and well groomed. No hair rollers, picks, or combs areallowed while in school.Clothing should be worn with appropriate underclothing and undergarments should not bevisible. Clothing must be size appropriate, and deliberately tattered or torn clothing isnot appropriate.Students are to avoid any clothing, hair style, or personal appearance that disruptsthe instructional process.LUNCH PROCEDURESTravel To and From the Cafeteria/Canteen:1. Follow hallway guidelines.2. Use the route to and from the cafeteria designated by your teacher.3. No food may be taken back into the hallway from the canteen or from thecafeteria. Food may not be “saved for later.”In the Cafeteria:1. Stand in line quietly; no cutting in line. (Those who cut and those who allowcutting will be sent to the back of the line.)2. Take only the food you have paid for.3. Use a conversational tone of voice in the cafeteria.4. No horseplay or running in the cafeteria.5. If you wish to use the restroom, use it before going outside. Students will not beallowed back into the cafeteria or hallway the last 10 minutes of lunch.In the Canteen Area and Vending Machine:1. Stay in an orderly line at the vending machines. Students may not cut in line.(Those who cut and those who allow cutting will go to the back of the line.)18

2. Eighth graders may be allowed to take vending machine items outside ifcircumstances permit.3. Students are to stay in the sidewalk and basketball areas or on the grassy areanext to them. Students who are outside will not come back into the building thelast 10 minutes of lunch4. Students must throw away all food or litter before leaving the blacktop area.Students may not carry food or drinks back inside.Vending machines may be used only at lunch and after school.Student Activities Usually the more involved a student can be in schoolactivities, the more successful the student’s school experience can be. The schoolstrives to provide a wide range of activities at Castle Heights including athletics andother other activities.Seventh and eighth grade students are eligible to participate in sports. Unfortunately,the High School League prohibits the involvement of sixth graders in inter-scholasticsports, but the school does attempt to provide a number of activities for all students.Students are encouraged to participate in a number of activities such as the morningChess Club, Academic Teams,, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, yearbook staff,archery club, Club Cuisine, various mentoring groups, Beta Club, intramural teams,and other clubs or groups. Often students who share an interest will approach astaff member to sponsor a group, and they are encouraged to do soStudent IncentivesWhen students follow the guidelines for dress and behavior at school, they willexperience progress in academic achievement. To encourage and reward thisbehavior, Castle Heights has a number of school-wide incentive programs.19

Attendance Incentives Students are required to attend school 180 days a year. Toencourage good attendance, students will be periodically rewarded for goodattendance during the week, month, or semester. Students who have a perfectattendance record for the entire year receive a certificate during the summer.Students of the Week Each week a student is chosen by each team to recognizefor effort and academic achievement. The student’s name and photo are displayedin the hallway.Team Incentives Each teaching team has a specific incentive program for itsstudents. That program may include “bucks” for good behavior or academic effort,incentive events, and recognition programs.Media Center Awards Throughout the media center also maintains an incentiveprogram to encourage the students to read. The Chill Out and Read competition is apopular winter program.Principal Scholars These students, recognized for maintaining a 4.0 average,participate in incentive activities planned by the assistant principals throughout theschool year.School Wide Incentive Program Students are awarded school-based “monetary”prizes for participation in academic activities, fine arts programs, and excellentbehavior.SAFETY AND SECURITYStudent supervision before and after school Students should be dropped off noearlier than 7:35 in the morning as supervision of students does not begin until thattime. The end of the middle school day is at 3:45—students should be picked up nolater than 4:15.Students should be picked up no more than 20 minutes after the end of a athleticevent or other school events in the evenings. Repeated failures to be picked up in atimely manner after evening events may result in a child being temporarily bannedfrom attending school events.Lockers Lockers are assigned to each individual student, and lockers should notbe shared with other students. Students are to provide their own lock and to givecombination information to their first period teachers. Students complain aboutstolen locks, but it is virtually impossible to “pop” a solid combination lock off alocker. More often, the disappearance of a lock has to do with the sharing of the20

combination or students failing to spin the lock as they leave. Principals have theright to inspect lockers at any time.Emergency procedures and drills The safety of our students is very important tous. Drills are held periodically for emergencies such as fires, high winds, or othersituations. Students are expected to be fully cooperative during these drills, andparents and other visitors are expected to do so also.There are some legalities of which all parents and students (and staff members!)should be aware. Included below are some of those laws:State 59-67-240. Duties and Powers of School Bus DriversThe driver of each school bus shall cooperate with the teachers in their work in the school towhich he/she is transporting pupils by being on time in the mornings and waiting in theafternoons until all pupils are dismissed by the school faculty and safely aboard the bus.They shall take particular notice along their route in the mornings and give pupils within sighta reasonable time in which to board the bus. The driver shall be responsible for maintaininggood conduct upon their bus and shall report promptly to the governing head of the school, toor from which the pupils are transported, any misconduct or violation of the driver’s instructionby any person riding the bus.District boards of school trustees of this state may authorize school administrators to suspendor expel pupils from riding a bus for misconduct on the bus or for violating instructions of thedriver.RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION: Notification of Rights under FERPA forElementary and Secondary Schools The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act(FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certainrights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of theday the School receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submitto the School principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies therecord(s) they wish to inspect. The School official will make arrangements for access andnotify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may beinspected.(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parentor eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of thestudent’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask theSchool to amend a record should write the School principal [or appropriate schoolofficial], clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why itshould be changed. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by theparent or eligible student, the School will notify the parent or eligible student of thedecision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for21

amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided tothe parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.(3) The right to privacy of personally identifiable information in the student's educationrecords, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Oneexception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials withlegitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the School asan administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health ormedical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the SchoolBoard; a person or company with whom the School has outsourced services or functionsit would otherwise use its own employees to perform (such as an attorney, auditor,medical consultant, or therapist); a parent or student serving on an official committee,such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteerassisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has alegitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in orderto fulfill his or her professional responsibility. [Optional] Upon request, the Schooldiscloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in whicha student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposesof the student’s enrollment or transfer. [NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to makea reasonable attempt to notify the parent or student of the records request unless itstates in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.](4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerningalleged failures by the School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name andaddress of the Office that administers FERPA are:Family Policy Compliance OfficeU.S. Department of Education400 Maryland Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20202-8520Notification of Directory InformationThe following information is releasable upon request at the discretion of the principal ofeach school; a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth,photo, subjects study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weightand height of members of athletics teams, dates of attendance (on both an annual anddaily basis), diplomas and awards received, and the most recent/previous educationalagency or institution attended by the student. Any parent or guardian of a studentattending Rock Hill Schools who would prefer that any of the information designatedabove not be released without the parent’s or guardians prior consent should notify inwriting the Office ofthe Superintendent, Rock Hill Schools P.O. Drawer 10072, Rock Hill SC 29731 by theTuesday following Labor Day. If such notice is given, the school attended by the studentwill be notified.The full policy on Student Records can be found on the district website at www.Rock-Hill.k12.SC.US22