WELCOME

 

The Roxboro Middle School staff, faculty, and administration welcome and wish you a successful and productive year.

 

All students have the opportunity to be a part of one of the finest middle school programs in Ohio. There are many educational, social, and extracurricular opportunities for you here at Roxboro.

 

Our school is committed to pride and excellence and our goal is to be the ‘best’ school we can be. We hope all students take pride in school, be involved, and strive for excellence. There is no substitute for hard work. To help reach these goals, we have prepared this student guide and homework organizer. Take time to look through this handbook as a family so everyone may become aware of the many opportunities, educational offerings, and challenging experiences you will encounter this year.

 

We look forward to working, learning, and laughing with you in your exciting middle school years!

 

HAVE A TERRIFIC YEAR!

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Arrival - Roxboro opens at 8:05 a.m. There is no supervision for students arriving prior to this time. Please do not drop off your child before 8:00 a.m. When students are admitted to school, they are to go to their lockers, then directly to homeroom. Students are not to be in the halls waiting for friends or socializing.

 

Dismissal

1. School is dismissed at 2:35 p.m. Students are not to be in the hallway until an announcement for dismissal is made.

2. Students staying for after-school

    activities will remain in their classrooms until   

    dismissed by the second announcement.

3. Busses leave promptly at 2:42.

4.  Students are not to remain after school unless they are participating in a supervised school activity and have their parents’ permission.

 

 

ATHLETICS - INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

We offer a wide variety of teams at both the 7th and 8th grade level so that students may develop athletic skills while learning responsibility and good sportsmanship.  In the fall: boy’s football, girls’ volleyball, girls’ field hockey, girls’ tennis, soccer and cheerleading.  In the winter: basketball, wrestling, and cheerleading.  In the spring: boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, boy’s tennis, and track.

A physical exam and accident insurance are required for all participants. Coaches will provide additional information concerning academic eligibility, team rules, and conduct guidelines.

Sportsmanship is expected at all times. Students represent Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools and conduct on and off the field is important.

 

ATTENDANCE

Absence from school - When a student is absent from school, a parent must call the school (371-7442) before 8:15 a.m. on or before the day of each absence. Roxboro Middle School has a voice mail system and parents may call any time after 3:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m. and leave appropriate information. The school will contact parents at home or work if they have not called the school. Excessive absence due to illness (15 days or more) may require a medical excuse from your doctor.

 

All absences beyond 15 days require the normal phone call on the day of absence, and a written excuse from the parents turned in to the assistant principal on the day of return to school. Any absence beyond 15 days, not excused with a written explanation of a legal excuse will be considered as unexcused and handled accordingly.

 

The following excuses are considered excused:

1. Personal illness

2. Illness in family

3. Death of a relative

4. Quarantine for contagious disease

5. Observance of religious holidays

6. Circumstances that in the judgment of the school constitute a sufficient cause for absence.

 

If you are absent from school for two days, it is best to get your assignments by calling a friend and from your teachers when you return. If you are going to be out for three or more days, your parents may call the main office to have your assignments prepared for you.

 

Makeup work due to absence - An excused absence gives a student the privilege of making up work that has been missed. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the teachers to make up this work as soon as possible at the convenience of the teacher. A student has the same number of days to make up work, as the student was absent from school.

 

Makeup work due to travel - The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education does not believe that students should be excused from school for non-emergency trips out of the district. The school will not give permission for students to be taken out of school for trips or vacations. Responsibility for this will rest with the parents and they must not expect any work missed by their child to be re-taught by the teacher. However, if the school is notified in advance of such a trip by the parents (legal guardian), a form will be given to the student to take to all teachers in order to procure assignments. Parents are to contact the guidance counselor at least a week prior to leaving. Teachers are not obligated to permit makeup work if proper arrangements have not been made prior to departure. Assignments are due on the day of return to school.

 

Tardiness to class-

1. When tardy to any class during the school day, report to your scheduled class. If a teacher is responsible for your tardiness, that teacher would give the student a pass showing that the tardiness is excused.

2. Except in the event of an emergency, students must report to class to get a pass to visit in the clinic. Otherwise, a late admission slip will not be issued from the office.

 

Tardiness to school - Homeroom begins at 8:13 a.m. If students arrive after this time, they are tardy.

1. If students are tardy, but arrive before the end of   homeroom, they report to the attendance office for an admit slip.

2.             All tardiness to school is unexcused unless you have an acceptable signed explanation from the parent, or a bus is late. Missing the bus and getting up late are not acceptable excuses for tardiness to school. If a student arrives after 10:30 the student will be absent one-half day.

Times Tardy/Consequence

1-3    Student is warned by the attendance secretary

4-6      Student is assigned an office detention.

7-8        Student is assigned an office detention and a

letter is sent home outlining future consequences and the Middle School Truancy Policy.

9         Student is referred to Assistant Principal for

            Saturday School.  The home is contacted. 

10           A parent conference is scheduled.  If the parent does not attend the parent conference, then another Saturday School is scheduled.

11           Student is referred to Assistant Principal for

            Saturday School.  The home is contacted.

12           Student is recommended for a three-day

suspension.  The home is contacted.  The student is also referred to the Coordinator of Pupil Attendance and Accounting, at the Board of Education, and another parent conference will be scheduled.  Continuous tardiness will result in the student and parent being referred to Juvenile Court for follow-up.

 

At the end of every QUARTER, a student begins a clean slate with regard to the tardy consequence hierarchy; however, the total number of tardies continues to accumulate for the purposes of referral to Pupil Attendance and Accounting.  A student also begins a clean slate on the tardy consequences

 

AWARDS

Students may be recognized for special achievement in many other ways including: Shark bucks, commendations, perfect attendance certificates, academic excellence plaques, Breakfast of Champions (at the end of each quarter). You may also receive recognition for participation and achievement in special programs such as Student of the Week and Student of the Month.

 

CAFETERIA

Lunch periods are one-half of a period in length.  Students may buy a school lunch or bring a lunch and buy milk. While in the lunchroom students should display good manners and courtesy. Students are not permitted to leave the school grounds during the lunch hour.

 

1. Students must eat in the cafeteria. No food or drink is to leave the lunchroom.

2.  Arrive to the lunch area before the bell rings or you will be considered tardy. Do not cut in line.

3. No loitering in the halls or locker area is permitted.

4.  Once a table has been chosen to sit at, please remain seated until the meal is finished. No more than six students are allowed to sit at a table.

5.  Written permission from a supervising teacher must be given in order to leave the cafeteria.

6. A supervising staff member will be assigned to various sections of the cafeteria. He/she will release students at the end of the period. If needed, this person can assign seats.

7. It is each student’s responsibility to properly dispose of all of their refuse and clean their place at the table. Failure to do so may result in cleaning duty.

8.  Lunch may be brought from home or purchased in the cafeteria with cash or use of ID number.  Money may be deposited on your ID account number.  You must see the cafeteria manager to do so.

9.  Students are expected to use manners and behave as if

      they were eating with their parent/guardian at home. 

10. Any questions regarding the lunch program, its prices,    

       and its procedures should be directed to the Cafeteria     

       Manager at (216) 320-3513.

 

CALAMITY DAYS

There will be no practices, meetings, contests, or other related activities on a day when the superintendent due to inclement weather cancels school. The only exception to this will be sectional, district, regional, or state level competition. Any special events to occur will do so at the discretion of the superintendent.

 

CLINIC AND MEDICAL INFORMATION

Injury or Illnesses occurring during the school day should be reported immediately to the supervising teacher. He/she will issue an excuse admitting students to the clinic. On arriving in the clinic please sign in and notify the clinic personnel of the concern. The clinic does not treat home accidents or illnesses. No student who is ill is to call his parents from the pay phone and leave the building without permission. Clinic and office personnel are forbidden to diagnose ailments or dispense medication without a medical authorization form, including aspirin. Students who are too ill to attend class are generally too ill to remain in school. The health department states that any student with an elevated temperature of 100 degrees or over should not remain in school. Parents will be notified to arrange for transportation when necessary. Please report communicable diseases to the school office. The principals will investigate reasons for an unusual number of clinic visits and parents will be notified. Parents must provide each student with the name of some relative, neighbor or doctor who the school could contact if unable to reach the parents in case of emergency. A student emergency card is on file in the office for this purpose.

 

Medication Policy - Should it be necessary for a student to take medication at school, parents MUST adhere to the Board of Education procedure. All approved medication must be kept in the clinic. See the information and form included in the folder that accompanied this handbook. More forms are available in the school office.

 

CONDUCT AT SCHOOL EVENTS

Students planning to attend events must leave the school grounds and return when the event begins. No student is to stay after unless permission from a principal has been given. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in denial of access to after school programs.

 

DANCE GUIDELINES

1. Parents provide transportation to and from

    Dances, and should be at the school promptly at

    the end of the dance. Dances run from 6-8 PM.

2. Be at home or make sure that your child has the

    phone number where you can be reached during               

    the evening in case of an emergency.

3. If your child is going to a restaurant or another

    place after the dance, take them there from the

    school.

4. Tell your child to stay for the entire dance - not to

    leave early. Students will be permitted to leave

    only with a parent.

5. Moderately priced refreshments will be sold at the

    dance. Students are not to bring any food or

    beverage of their own.

6. Only Roxboro Middle School students are

    permitted at the dances. No outside guests.

7.  Students will not be admitted unless they dress

    appropriately.

 

DEBTS

Various scheduled fees are due before deadlines as announced before the end of the first nine weeks of a given semester. Students have the responsibility of paying all financial obligations before the end of the school year. In accordance with state law, report of grades and copies of records will be withheld on a nine-week basis for fees, fines, athletic equipment, or damaged property, and charges that have not been paid. Contact the principal if you have any problems with meeting the deadlines.

 

DRESS GUIDELINES

All students are expected to be clean, decently attired, well groomed, and dressed in a manner, which does not cause undue attention or disruption.

1. Clothing with pictures or sayings which are in poor

    taste is not allowed. (Including anything chemical,        

    alcohol, or sexual related.)

2. Tank tops or sleeveless shirts are not permitted

    for either sex.

3. See-through clothing is not permitted.

4. Bare midriff, low cut or braless outfits are not     permitted.

5. Bare feet are not permitted. Socks must be worn

    with sandals or the like. No slippers or flip-flops.

6. Clothing is to be complete, and in good repair.

    Items with holes, slots, etc. are not to be worn.

7. Shorts and skirts are permitted no less than

    fingertip length.

8. Hats, head wear, gloves and sunglasses are to be taken off when students enter the building and kept in one’s locker.

9. Coats are for outside wear only and are to be kept

inside the student's locker. Students that wear the hooded portion of a hooded sweatshirt may be asked to remove the sweatshirt.

10.Glitter, face paint, stickers, and colored hair  spray and

     excessive makeup are prohibited. Drooped or sagging

     pants are not permitted. Dog chains around the neck or

     pants or accessories with studs are prohibited.

11. All pants and shorts must have pockets and belt loops.

12. All dress must meet the standard set in Board Policy

        #5133.

 

The guidelines listed above are presented as examples and are not a comprehensive list. A student may be asked to change out of any article that, in the judgment of the principal, is considered to be in violation. The student’s parents may be called if a change of clothing is needed. Repeated violations may result further discipline.

 

EMERGENCY PARENT NOTIFICATION

It is imperative that school be able to contact parents during the school day. Should school have to be dismissed early due to an emergency, we will attempt to contact all parents. Parents are encouraged to include a neighbor’s name and phone number for “early dismissal” purposes on the emergency card that is to be completed at the beginning of each year. All children should be directed to report to a neighbor’s home in case of an emergency. Parents should keep the school office informed of telephone number changes that should be made on the emergency cards during the school year. It is also a good idea to leave email information for your child’s teachers.

 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION

It is a school requirement that each student must have an emergency medical form filled out, signed by parents and on file in the school office. If there is any change in information during the year, please notify the school office immediately. Failure to comply may lead to disciplinary action.

 

ENTERTAINMENT  EQUIPMENT

Radios, I-pods, MP 3 players, televisions, games, pagers, cell phones, or other items, which may disrupt your education, are not to be brought to school. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action that could include, but not be limited to the confiscation of aforementioned items until the end of the school year.

 

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

There are numerous activities and organizations available. To be able to participate, a student must meet academic eligibility requirements.

 

FACILITY USE

Must be cleared with the building principal for any activity held in a school during the evening, over weekends, and/or during vacations. Arrangements must be made for access to the school when it is expected that the group will be returning to the school at a late hour.  Appropriate building permit forms need to be filled out with the Board of Education Business Services Department before any facilities can be used.

 

FIRE DRILLS AND TORNADO ALERTS

Fire Drills

Fire drills are held from time to time without warning; information concerning fire exits is posted in each room. When the signal is heard, all students are requested to walk quickly and quietly out of the building and stand quietly out of the building until told to return.

1. No talking.

2. Walk quickly but orderly.

3. Take wallets and purses with you. Leave books in

    room.

4. First person to reach exit doors is to open door

    and hold open for students and teachers leaving

    the building.

5. Do not return to building until signaled by bell or

    other administrative notification.

 

Tornado Alert Drills will also be held throughout the school year. Such drills are necessary and serious business. Students must co-operate fully by listening to directions carefully and not talking, running, or otherwise fooling around.

In the event of a “Tornado Warning” (which means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar), the students will do the following:

1. Total silence is to be maintained. Listen carefully

    to all instructions.

2. Follow your teacher in a single file line from your

    room to the designated areas within the school.