• Students must attend all classes on a regular and punctual basis.
• Parents are responsible for their child's attendance.
• Students entering the 7th grade in the 1997-1998 school year must be immunized with the complete hepatitis B vaccine series, a second measles vaccine (MMR) and a tetanus-diphtheria booster (td), in addition to currently required immunizations.

• Personal illness of the student (Medical evidence may be required.)
• Court appearance of the student (A summons is required.)
  
• Medical or dental appointment of the student (Medical statement is required.)
• Religious holiday
• Death in the immediate family
• Approved school activity
• Attendance at a center under Health & Rehabilitative Services
• Insurmountable problems (Permission by the principal may be required.)

• Bring a note from home stating the reason for the absence. (Attach other evidence as described under "Excused Absences.")
• Give the written excuse to the homeroom teacher upon his/her return to school.
• Obtain an admit to class to show all teachers whose classes were missed due to the absence.
• Ask for and make up missed assignments.
• Understand that he or she has 2 days for every day missed to make up the work, up to 2 weeks.
• Understand that he/she shall not be allowed to earn credit for making up missed work if he/she has been placed on "out-of-school" suspension, expulsion, or other unexcused absences.
• Understand that he/she may not attend school activities and functions on the day he/she is absent from classes due to serving individualized study services or out-of-school suspension.

1. Three (3) unexcused absences during a nine-week grading period
   
2. Excessive Tardies
   
3. Excessive absences--excused or unexcused

• A student is tardy if he or she reports to school at 8:18 a.m.
• If tardy to school, a student must report to the attendance clerk in the back of the main office to receive a pass to class.
• A student detained by school personnel will be given a pass to class by the staff person involved.

1. First............... Warning
2. Second............ Parent contact/ development of an attendance improvement plan
3. Third.............. Referral to SARC/ parent conference
4. Fourth............ Parent and child referred Referral to SARB (School Attendance Review Board/one day of ISS for every day tardy).

NOTE: Two tardies equals one (1) absence.

Leaving Campus:

• Once a student arrives on campus, he/she cannot leave the campus for any reason without permission from the office.
• Permission to leave campus will be granted only by parental request made in person or in writing to the appropriate school personnel.
• Students must be signed out in the front office before leaving school and signed in upon returning to school.
• If a student is to leave campus with someone other than the legal guardian, the legal guardian must give the name of the person to the office and this name must be on file prior to the child being released to the individual.

BICYCLES / SKATES / SKATEBOARDS

Florida State Law:

• All children under age 16 must wear a bicycle helmet.
• Violators may be assessed a fine or issued a traffic citation.

• Do not ride on school grounds or in the parent pick-up area.
• Park/store bike, skates, or skateboards in the designated area upon arrival at school.
• Purchase own lock for bicycle rack or locker for storage
• Lock bicycle to bicycle rack.

BUS POLICY

Student's Responsibilities:

• Understand that riding a bus is a privilege, not a right.
• Follow the rules set forth by the bus driver.

1. If there is an EMERGENCY, he or she must have from a parent/guardian written permission containing the request with dates, the parent/guardian's name and phone number, and the number of the requested bus.
2. The Permission to Ride School Bus form is completed by a school administrator or designee.
3. After the Transportation Department confirms that there is space available on the requested bus, the form is presented to the bus driver of the requested bus.
4. The original permission request is valid only for a designated amount of time.

CALCULATORS

In 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math classes, students may use FCAT similar calculators (those with the basic operations and functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percent, and square root in the following ways:

• In 6th grade math classes, students may use FCAT similar calculators for alternative assessments, and enrichment activities as designated by the classroom teacher.
• In 7th grade math classes, students may use FCAT similar calculators for alternative assessments, enrichment activities, and selected geometry topics or square roots, as designated by the classroom teacher.
• In pre-algebra classes, students may use FCAT similar calculators for selected topics and basic math operations of whole numbers, as designated by the classroom teacher.
• In algebra classes, after a review of pre-algebra topics, students may use FCAT similar calculators or scientific or graphing calculators, as designated by the classroom teacher.
• It is the student's responsibility to confirm with the classroom teacher that a calculator may be used and provide his or her own calculator.

DRESS STANDARDS

We believe that all students have the right to a safe, healthy school environment. We believe that all students have the responsibility to dress appropriately and observe basic standards of cleanliness and good grooming. A students dress and appearance should not cause disruption, distract from the educational process or create a health or safety concern for himself or others (HCSB Policy). . . .

SHIRTS

• Any long or short sleeve blouse or shirt.
• NO pictures of any type on front or back. NO wording of any type on front or back.
• Manufacturer logo, label, emblem must be no larger than the size of a credit card.
• School shirts--must contain the words "Sebring Middle School" or bear the "S/lightening bolt" logo or be related to a Sebring Middle School group/organization. School teams
  may design and wear school-team shirts. (This does not include community groups/organizations/teams.)
• ALL blouses and shirts MUST BE tucked into pants, shorts, skirts, or skorts. Blouses and shirts must be long enough not to "pull up and/or out" so as to expose the skin at the midriff, especially during normal movement.
• Consideration is given to students to allow them to wear an unbuttoned shirt or blouse as a" layered look" over a shirt that is appropriately tucked in. NO strapless, low-cut/deep scoop neck (no visible chest/cleavage); see-through, mesh, tanks, or t-shirts; halter tops; lycra or spandex; tight/form fitting; slashed or ripped garments; blouse or shirt must adequately cover ALL undergarments, underarms, stomach and chest areas.

PANTS, SHORTS, SKIRTS, AND SKORTS

• These items must be zipped, hemmed, and tailored to fit the wearer and worn at the natural waist. "Tailored" is defined as no more than one size larger or one size smaller than the student's actual clothes size. "Natural waist" is at the navel.
• Pant legs must be tailored to fit the wearer and cannot be longer than the heel of the shoes.
• Shorts, skirts, and skorts shall be below mid-thigh with no slits above mid thigh.
• Manufacturer labels on these items can be no larger than 3" x 4", e.g., Wrangler, Levi, Tommy, Bongo, etc. NO tight/form fitting; see-through (e.g., nylon); track shorts, gym shorts, boxer shorts, biker shorts; spandex or lycra.

DRESSES

• All dresses must cover the chest and underarm area, have sleeves, and be no shorter than at/below mid thigh
• If the dress does not cover the designated body areas, especially the chest and underarms, a short or long-sleeve blouse or shirt must be worn under the dress.
• No tight/form fitting; see-through; spandex or lycra.

OUTERWEAR (Jackets, Sweaters, Sweatshirts, Coats)

• Outerwear are those items that may be worn due to weather conditions or for personal comfort both in and outside the classroom/building.
• Clothing that meets the Code of Dress requirements described above must be worn under any item of outerwear.
• Students will be asked to store outerwear after arriving on campus IF it interferes or causes a distraction in the school environment or hinders a child's participation in school functions and activities.

ACCESSORIES

• Shoes must be closed toe. No thongs or sandals.
• No hats, head coverings, or distracting head adornments of any type.
• Jewelry may not pierce the skin except the ears.
• Jewelry should be kept to a minimum.
• Students may not wear jewelry, buttons or any other items with words, phrases, symbols, pictures, patches, or graphics which use indecent, swear or suggestive words, or are drug, alcohol or gang-related.
• Undergarments must be worn but not visible
• All clothing items must be worn "right side out."
• Regular bookbags are acceptable. If a problem occurs due to a bookbag and/or contents, a student may not be allowed to carry a bookbag and/or "no bookbags" will be allowed at school. We encourage parents to constantly monitor the contents and weight of the bookbag.

DRESS CODE VIOLATION INTERVENTIONS/DISCIPLINARY ACTION

*First Offense Student receives a documented verbal warning with a copy of the dress code.
*Second Offense Student receives a final, written warning. Principal or designee will contact parent.
Third Offense ISS--1 day (Discipline Referral Form)
Fourth Offense ISS--2 days (Discipline Referral Form)
Fifth Offense OSS (Discipline Referral Form)
After the fifth offense, repeated acts of violation will result in additional days of OSS.

*A parent/guardian may request a confidential conference with the principal to seek assistance and/or recommendations on how to meet the school dress code requirements.

School-based administrators have the final authority to determine when personal appearance and dress do not meet Board and school standards and also have the authority to take appropriate action (HCSB Policy).

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Emergency Evacuations:

• Regularly scheduled emergency evacuations and procedures will be conducted for the following: fire drills, bomb threats, lockdowns and tornado warnings.
• All students are responsible for attending to all emergency information and for following the procedures as directed by school personnel.
• In any emergency situation, no student will be allowed to leave his/her designated area until an "all-clear" notice has been given by the principal or designee.

GRADING PROCEDURES

Florida Law: The following grading scale has been established by the Florida State Legislature
for the 1998-1999 school year:

• Communicate with students, parents and administration how the grades for each class are computed.
• Compute numerically and report a grade for each student for each of the four nine-week grading periods (See official school calendar).
• Complete and send home a progress report for each student by the fifth week of each nine-week grading period.
• Make a reasonable attempt to notify parent/guardian when a student is not performing well.

• Stay aware of grades in each class at all times.
• Take progress reports home, have them signed by a parent or guardian, and return them signed to the appropriate teacher.
• Take report cards home, have them signed by a parent or guardian, and return them signed to the homeroom teacher.

• Ask for and sign progress reports during the fifth week of each nine-week grading period.
• Review, sign, and return the report card issued at the end of each nine week-grading period.
• When a concern about the child's performance or behavior arises, call the guidance department and set up a conference with the child's teachers or an individual teacher.
• Parents may visit classrooms with prior office permission.

LOCKERS

School's Responsibilities:

• A locker may be issued to a student for storage of books and school materials only.
• A combination lock is provided on each locker.
  
• A locker for physical education class may also be issued by the physical education department.
• School officials have the right to search and inspect lockers at any time without notice.

• Keep locker locked at all times.
• Do not leave valuables in your school or gym locker. Leave valuables at home!
• Do not share lockers. The student is responsible for whatever is in the locker.
• Keep the locker clean and orderly.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Inappropriate items: Do not bring to school!

• HATS, FOOD (other than lunch), PETS/ANIMALS, TOYS (of any kind), RADIOS, TAPES (CD, cassette, or video), EARPHONES, ELECTRONIC GAMES, CD PLAYERS, TAPE RECORDERS, CAMERAS, OTHER ELECTRONIC GAMES AND DEVICES, PLAYING CARDS, TRADING CARDS, DICE, BALLS (of any type), BATS, or any other items of a personal nature that may be inappropriate and disruptive in a school setting.
• Inappropriate items will be taken and returned at the end of the school year or during a parent conference.

• Backpacks may be carried to school only for school-related items.
• Large bags, such as duffel and sports bags, are not allowed.
• The school will not be responsible for any items that are left unattended by the student for any length of time, especially when the result is an item being lost, stolen, or damaged.

• Possession of FIREARMS (of all types), KNIVES (of any kind), EXPLOSIVES (including fire crackers), MACE, PEPPER SPRAY, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, or any other object that may be identified as a potential weapon.
• Illegal items will be confiscated and possession of an illegal item may result in out-of- school suspension or expulsion.
• Possession of an illegal item WILL BE REPORTED to law enforcement.
• Laser devises (pens or others) are not to be brought to school. If found in the possession of a student, disciplinary action based on the Code of Student Conduct will be implemented.

TEXTBOOKS

School's Responsibility:

• Loan textbooks to students for use in classes and at home.

• Know where the assigned textbooks are at all times.
• Keep all textbooks clean and free from damage or misuse.
• Pay for damaged or lost textbooks. A student may be fined the complete cost of the textbook if it was assigned to the student as a new book. A student may be fined 75% of the original cost if the textbook was assigned with one year's use; 50% with two years' use; and 25% with three or more years' use.

VISITORS

On Campus and in the Classroom:

• Parents, other adults in the community, and interested educators are welcomed and encouraged to visit our school.
• All visitors are to report to the office to sign in and receive a Visitor's Pass!
• Students from other schools are not permitted on campus or in the classrooms.
• Individuals who cause a disruption on the campus or at school-related events will be asked to leave or reported to law enforcement.

• Prearrange the visit.
• Upon arrival for the visit, register in the front office to receive a visitor's pass and information. Please visit only the area to which you are assigned.
• When visiting a classroom, remember that the teacher is in charge of his/her classroom.
• If you have a concern about what is happening in the classroom, see an administrator before leaving campus or arrange for a conference with an administrator.

STUDENT SERVICES

CAFETERIA

• Students will eat in the cafeteria.
• Students may either bring their lunch or purchase a lunch.
• Lunches may be prepaid for any amount of time. Contact the school cafeteria for more information.
  
• Costs:
  • Breakfast - $.80
  • Lunch - $1.50
• Free and reduced lunches are available through the county for qualified individuals. For more information, contact the Highlands County School Board Food Services office.
• No pizza or other fast food lunches may be brought or delivered for group lunches.

CLINIC

Services:

• Provide a place for students who must go home because they are injured and/or seriously ill. A student should not remain in the clinic room for more than one hour.
• Provide limited first aid for minor problems.
• If a current authorization form is on file in the clinic, medication that is prescribed by a physician and required to be taken during the school day may be dispensed.

1. An authorization form must be filled out by the physician and parent and on file in the school clinic.
2. All prescribed medication, when not in use, shall be stored in the original containers under lock and key.
3. The medication prescribed for the student should be labeled with the following information: student's name, dosage, time of day to be taken, physician's name, and date of prescription.
4. This procedure is followed also for non-prescription medication.

• After being contacted by school personnel, pick up a sick child as soon as possible.
• Fill out the authorization form for dispensing medication correctly.
• Complete an Emergency Treatment form at the beginning of the school year so that it is on file in the office and provide current information changes to the school.

• Enroll students. A student enrolling in Sebring Middle School must have:
  1. A birth certificate
  2. A social security number
  3. An immunization certificate from the Highlands County Health Department
  4. A physical (if coming from out of state)
  5. Custody papers, if applicable
  6. Name and address of former school
  7. Report card from former school
  8. Proof of address (for example, most recent electric bill or water bill)
  9. Proof of ability to swim.
• Schedule students.
• Help individual students and groups of students with the various problems , both school - related and personal. No counselor can "solve" these problems, but they can often help the student work out his or her own answers by giving helpful advice or can recommend alternative services. All conversations with counselors are strictly confidential. Students should request a pass from the counselor or his/her teacher for a conference with a guidance counselor.
• Assist with coordinating special need requests with the school program and services.
• Assist with specialized testing--to the extent possible at the school site.
• Administer standardized tests, such as the CAT, FCAT, and Florida Writes tests, and explain the results to individual students and parents.
• Request homework for students who have an excused absence for more than 3 days. If a child is going to be absent more than 3 days with an excused absence, a parent may call the guidance office and request the appropriate materials and assignments that the child has missed or will miss. This request should be made one day in advance. Note: Students have 2 days for every 1 day absent, not to exceed 2 weeks, to make up work missed during an excused absence.
• Arrange tutoring for students.
• Withdraw students. Procedure:
  1. The parent/ guardian must first notify the guidance office of the withdrawal of the child.
  2. On the last day of attendance at the school, the student obtains a withdrawal form from the guidance office in the morning and takes the form to his/her teachers, the librarian, and the lunchroom manager for their signatures.
  3. The form is returned to the guidance office at the end of the day.
  4. All debts incurred by the student must be cleared before the withdrawal may be completed.
  5. All records will be mailed to the receiving school upon parent request.

IDENTIFICATION CARDS

Every student will receive a picture identification card during the beginning of the school year at no cost. The student must have this card in his/her possession at all times.

Uses:
1. Purchase lunch
2. Check out library books.
3. Be admitted to extra-curricular events.

Replacement cost: $3.00

INSURANCE

• Available to all students.
• Types of coverage: school day, 24 hour, life, dental, and special football.
• Claims for accidents should be reported to the office.
• Healthy Kids Insurance - Contact the guidance office for information on enrolling in this excellent, low-cost plan.
• All students participating in extra-curriculuar activities must have proof of insurance before participating in tryouts or activities.

LOST AND FOUND

• An area in the office will be provided for lost and found items.
• Any lost or found item should be immediately reported or turned in to the office.
• Items not claimed by the end of the first week of summer school will be sent to needy
• organizations in the community.

MEDIA CENTER

Services:

• Open for student use from 7:45 A.M. until 3:15 P.M.
• Computers are available for research.
• Books may be checked out for two (2) weeks at a time and may be renewed.
• Overdue fine: Five cents ($.05) per book per day.

• Take care of books checked out from the media center.
• During the school day, obtain a pass from a teacher indicating the reason for being in the media center.
• Return books within the two-week check-out period.
• Pay the five-cent fine for each book for each day it is overdue. If the student is absent on the day the book is due, on the day of returning to school show the librarian an admit slip for an excused absence. The fine will not have to be paid.
• Understand that media center privileges may be revoked due to an overdue book, a fine, or a lost book.

SCHOOL STORE

The school store is open before school so that students may purchase limited supplies needed for each class. Cash only.

TELEPHONE

Rules and Regulations:

• Students may use the office telephones and the outside pay telephone only in an emergency and with written permission from school personnel. Forgotten books, band instruments and physical education clothes do not constitute an emergency.
• Arrangements regarding after-school activities need to be made before arriving at school.
• Students will not be called to the phone during the school day. Important messages will be delivered to the student.
• Students caught dialing 911 will be prosecuted by law enforcement.

STUDENT CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOR

Each student is responsible for his or her individual behavior while attending school, traveling to and from school, or participating in a school-sponsored activity. Our students make a positive contribution to Sebring Middle School by

1. Being on time and prepared for class;
2. Being polite and respectful to others;
3. Dressing neatly and appropriately according to the dress code;
4. Participating in school activities in a positive manner; and
5. Taking care of our school and school materials (including furniture, textbooks, library books, equipment, and all other school property).
6. Following directives of any and all school personnel at all times.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

• This Code will be followed by administrators, resource teachers, and teachers in dealing with the misbehavior of students.
• A copy of the code will be given to and reviewed with each student.
• This copy will be sent home for the parents to review and sign.

GENERAL SCHOOL-WIDE RULES

Our students

1. Obey all school personnel.
2. Keep hands and feet to themselves at all times.
3. Avoid improper body contact. This includes public display of affection, as well as horseplay, rough housing and fighting
4. Stay on campus and in their designated areas.
5. Walk at all times and keep to the right on walkways and in hallways.
6. Are aware of the yellow lines painted on walkways. They indicate doorways, curbs, and other hazardous areas.
7. Keep voices down in the halls during class changes and while classes are in session.
8. Are on time to class. Take care of bathroom needs and locker needs during the three- minute class changes.
9. Have a pass when they're out of a class during scheduled class time.
10. Know what they may and may not bring to school.

CLASSROOM RULES

Our students know and follow the rules specified by the teacher for appropriate behavior in each classroom.

CAFETERIA RULES

In the cafeteria, our students

1. Talk quietly to people at the table;
2. Stay seated;
3. Use good table manners;
4. Clean their own spaces and stack and dispose of trays or trash;
5. Keep hands and feet to themselves;
6. Raise hand when help is needed;
7. Get a pass from a lunchroom monitor to leave the cafeteria during lunch; and
8. Leave only when dismissed.

CONSEQUENCES

Minor Infractions:

• Individual teams will be responsible for determining the consequences for minor infractions. A copy of the team's rules and consequences will be provided for both the students and parents at the beginning of the school.

• ISS is a classroom where a student spends the entire day doing written assignments and completing assignments sent by his/her teachers.
• ISS provides the opportunity for a student to remain in school and receive credit for assignments.
• Procedures for assigning ISS are set forth in the Highlands County School Board Code of
• Student Conduct and the Student Handbook.
• Students receiving ISS may not take part in or attend special activities during the school day or extracurricular activities on the day(s) they are assigned ISS.
• If a student is absent on the day ISS is to be served, the missed time will be made up on the first day the student returns to school.
• If a student misbehaves in ISS, he/she may be dismissed from ISS or assigned additional days of ISS.
• If a student is dismissed from ISS for inappropriate behavior, he/she will be suspended from school (OSS) for one (1) or more days, and upon returning will be expected to continue the number of ISS days remaining in his/her assignment.
• Students assigned to ISS are required to report to their homeroom at the beginning of school. When they are dismissed by their homeroom teachers, they are then to report to ISS.

• Come prepared to work: Bring books, paper, and pencils to ISS. Teachers will send assignments.
• Work only on school work or supplemental learning materials assigned by the ISS
  instructor. You may also be assigned to extra duties for certain periods of time.
• Do not leave your assigned seat unless permission is given.
• Do not talk. If you have a question, raise your hand.
• Do not sleep or lay your head down on the desk.
• Sit in the direction of your desk.
• Do not leave the room. Bathroom breaks and lunches will be provided in the room. (Emergency evacuation and procedures will be followed.)
• Keep your desk and area in a clean condition, free of paper.
• Do not mark on desks or any other surfaces in the room.

• A student may not attend school or any extra-curricular activities on the day(s) he or she is assigned to OSS.
• A student does not receive credit for the assignments he/she has missed during the assigned days of OSS. Assignments may not be made up.
• Procedures for assigning OSS are set forth in the Highlands County School Board Code of Student Conduct.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES*

Eligibility: To be eligible during the first semester grading period of the school year, the student must have earned a 2.0 GPA and have passed five (5) full unit subjects the previous school year. Students wishing to participate in extracurricular activities during the third or fourth nine-week grading periods must have achieved a 2.0 GPA for the previous semester period. The eligibility requirements apply to those activities involving a competition, performance, and their related practices, outside the school and/or school day. Exceptions to this definition of an extracurricular acivity may be determined by the principal if the event is judged to enhance the instructional program and/or improve the school climate. Students must be present four (4) periods on the day of an event or have an excused absence to participate in a school activity.

Classes Requiring Extracurricular Activities:

• Band
• Chorus
• Yearbook

• must be in 7th or 8th grade.
• must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average (GPA) since 6th grade.
• must have no discipline referrals for the current year.
• must complete and return an activity form by a deadline date.
• must have a minimum amount of points on the teacher recommendation forms.
• Points are given for service, leadership, character, citizenship, and scholarship.

ACADEMIC RECOGNITION

HONOR ROLL

A student may be listed on one of the following honor lists each grading period:

• Principal's List: Grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 (all A's)
• High Honor Roll: Grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 - 3.9 No D's or F's
• Honor Roll: Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 - 3.499 No D's or F's

RENAISSANCE

To receive a Renaissance card, a student must have

• Platinum Card:GPA of 4.0. All absences excused and no discipline referrals.
• Gold Card: GPA of 3.8 - 3.999. No D's or F's. All absences excused and no discipline referrals.
• Silver Card: GPA of 3.5 - 3.799. No D's or F's. All absences excused and no discipline referrals.
• Bronze Card: GPA of 3.0 - 3.499. No D's or F's. All absences excused and no discipline referrals.
• High-Five Card: GPA increase of .5 from the previous nine-week grading period to the current nine-week period. All absences excused and no discipline referrals.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Students of the Month will be selected by teachers for each grade level to recognize students who show the following characteristics:

• good citizenship
• cooperation with faculty and administration
• school spirit
• respect for school property
• service to the school
• courtesy to fellow students

OTHER RECOGNITION

During the school year, especially after progress report and grading periods, various recognition programs, rewards, and events are scheduled for sixth through eighth grades. This may change on an annual basis depending on the needs of the students, team, grade level, and/or school. For example, sixth grade may have nine-week award programs, seventh grade may have semester award programs, and eighth grade has an end of the year award program and reception. IT IS CRITICAL that each student attend school on a regular basis, conduct himself/herself in an appropriate manner at all times, and strive to make the best grades possible each and everyday. Each one of these issues will result in recognition alone or in combination. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS WATCHING AND RECOMMENDING YOU FOR A SPECIAL RECOGNITION!!!

PARENT/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Sebring Middle School welcomes and encourages the involvement of parents and the community in creating a positive and successful school environment. There are several ways in which parents and members of the community can become involved:

• School Advisory Committee (SAC)
• Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO)
• Renaissance
• Volunteers (e.g. field trips; career, book, or health fairs; tutoring; classroom, office/ clerical help; Odyssey of the Mind)

BELL SCHEDULE
2000-2001