Handbook

On behalf of the staff, I take pleasure in welcoming you to Caribou Middle School. This student agenda is published so that all students of Caribou Middle School may have a ready reference to information which is necessary to the understanding of the daily operation of our school. It is essential that all students read the information contained in this folder so there may be as few misunderstandings as possible. When this does not give you the information you need, you should contact your building administrator, counselor, or teacher for help.

The goal of Caribou Middle School is excellence, and striving to reach this goal must be a cooperative effort on the part of the students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community. We earnestly solicit your cooperation in this venture and assure you that the result will be well worth the effort. Therefore, I urge you to become actively involved in your studies and in the extracurricular activities at your school.

Students are expected to be in school every day that school is in session. Excusable reasons for being absent are:

2. Appointments with health professionals that cannot be made outside the regular school day.

3. Observance of recognized religious holidays when the observance is required during a regular school day.

5. Planned absences for personal or educational purposes which have been approved in advance.

Students who have been absent for reasons outlined in #1- #4 above must bring a note signed by their parent or guardian. This note must state the reason for being absent and be brought the first day you return to school. Students will give the note to the office staff before going to classes. A parent should also call the school in the morning if your child will be absent for reasons #1- #4. Students requesting to be absent for reasons stated in number 5 above, are reminded that approval must be given in advance of being absent. Requests for approval should be submitted to the principal. All other absences will be considered unexcused. You will be required to make up all the time and school work missed. Time may be made up only after normal school hours. Failure to make up time or schoolwork will result in more severe disciplinary action.

Students will not be permitted to participate in any middle school extracurricular activity on those days they are absent.

Students having medical or dental appointments, that could not be scheduled during non-school hours, may be dismissed. A note signed by the parent or guardian stating the reason and time of dismissal must be presented to the office staff prior to the start of school in the morning. Your name will appear on the daily attendance sheet as being excused at that particular time.

All students are expected to be at school on time each morning. Those students arriving late must report to the office and have a note signed by the parent or guardian stating the reason for being tardy. Three unexcused tardies will result in disciplinary action.

Students who have unexcused absences do not qualify for perfect attendance. You also must be present four periods out of seven to qualify for perfect attendance if you are absent one day.

Please telephone the school before 10:00 to get homework for students who are absent. The teachers may not have the necessary time to prepare the assignments for your arrival after school if you call in the afternoon.

The middle school provides an In-house Supervision Program as an effective alternative to suspension from school. The program is used as a disciplinary measure for students who have demonstrated severely inappropriate behavior. It is designed to provide needed structure for the student outside of the regular classroom, while still enabling the student to attend the middle school. Severe cases of discipline may result in suspension or expulsion from school.

You will be assigned detention for reasons of makeup work or misconduct. A detention notice will be given stating the reasons and date of detention. This notice is taken home, signed by the parent/guardian, and returned to the teacher the following day. Failure to return the notice does not excuse you from serving the detention. (It is the responsibility of the parents to provide transportation for you home.)

Mandatory study hall is held every Tuesday and Thursday for students who habitually do not complete assignments; It is supervised by staff from 2:45 - 3:20.

You are expected to dress appropriately for the classroom and in such a way as to not distract from the primary objectives of learning, teaching, and studying. Dress or grooming styles which attract undue attention, because of noise, lack of modesty, or obvious intention to disturb others, will not be permitted. You will be expected to wear shoes in school. Jackets or coats intended for outdoor wear should not be worn in school.

You will be responsible for all textbooks, workbooks, and other material assigned to you. You will be billed for any book or other material not returned or returned in an abused condition. Also, all textbooks must be covered in order to protect the life of the book.

The school is not responsible for anything of a personal nature that you bring into the school. You and your parents need to note that personal property is brought into the school at your own responsibility and at your own risk.

The school does not provide lockers for student. Any item of value that must be brought to school may be left in the office until dismissal. During physical education classes, such item such as watches, jewelry, or money may be given to the teacher for safe keeping.

Students who must take either prescription or over-the-counter medicines during school hours must bring a note signed by the physician stating the time the medicine is to be taken and any other direction required. The students may then come to the office to take the medication at the specified time. Parents/guardians are the only ones who can transport medication to and from school. All medication must be turned over to the office.

All lunch payments will be made in the homeroom during the attendance period on Monday mornings only or on the first day of the week. Students absent on Monday or the first day of the school week may pay before school starts in the breakfast line.

Students needing to charge a lunch may do so as they go through the lunch line. No one will be permitted to have more than five lunches on charge at a time.

The purchases of fruit juices and chocolate milk may be done during the breakfast period, lunchtime, or after school. These beverages should be consumed in the cafeteria or outside while waiting for your bus. At NO time will these drinks be allowed in any other location in the building. Students are asked to deposit their juice cans in the redemption box near the machine.

The telephone in the office is to be used by students for emergency reasons only and written permission must be obtained from a teacher before using the telephone.

The following activities are available to CMS students. Sports are offered to 7th and 8th grade student. Physical exams and some form of accident insurance are required of all athletes. All team members are also required to be passing all classes. *Programs offered to 6th grade students if space is available.

All-Aroostook Band	All-Aroostook Chorus
Band	*Basketball
*Baseball	Builder's Club
Cheering	Chorus
*Cross Country	*Cross Country Skiing
Drama Club	Strings Instruction
Gifted & Talented	Intramurals
Invention Convention	Jazz Band
Kitchen Helpers	Math Team
OM Team	Puttin' On the Hits
R.A.P.	Reflections
Show Choir	*Soccer
*Softball	Spelling Bee
Student Organization	Talent Search
*Tennis	*Track
*Wrestling	Yearbook

Supervised recreational activities begin at 7:45 – 8:10 daily in the gym. 5th and 7th grades alternate days with 6th and 8th graders.

The middle school offers band and chorus for all students as part of the co-curricular program. The 5th and 6th grade band meets during noon activity period on Wednesday and Friday. The 7th and 8th grade band members will rehearse on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during noon activity period. The chorus rehearses during the noon activity period on Tuesday and Thursday. The strings program is offered on Monday and Thursday.

At 2:30 in the afternoon the bell will ring ending classes for the day. Students are to return to their homeroom and wait quietly for the school announcements over the intercom system. Students will be dismissed after the announcements.

All bus students not able to take an express bus will report to the cafeteria and remain there until their bus number is called, or if weather permits, go directly outside and wait for their bus on the north side of the building.

Students having detention will report directly after dismissal. The detention will be from 2:40-3:20.

Our honor roll is determined and published in the local newspaper each of the four ranking periods of the school year. A student who earns A’s in every subject will receive Highest Honors. A student with an A average will receive High Honors. A student with a B average will receive Honors. Students receiving a D in any subject area would be ineligible for the honor roll status.

These basic guidance services are offered to student, parents, faculty and administration in an attempt to fully serve the school population.

Students are encouraged to visit the guidance office at any time when there is a need. Normal visits should take place outside the scheduled classes (e.g. homeroom, lunch period, and study hall.) All conversations taking place between the counselor and student are confidential.

A Note to Parents: Students in grades 5-8 are growing towards young adulthood, developing broader interest in the world, and inquiring about issues more in-depth than in elementary school. The library’s responsibility to students is to provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interest, abilities and maturity levels of the students. The library provides material on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens develop the ability of critical analysis. In the library, students have access to materials representative of the many ethnic, religious and cultural groups and their contribution to our American heritage.

All students are required to participate in Physical Education unless excused by a physician with a written letter. Also, all students are expected to wear an appropriate change of apparel during classes (top, shorts, and running shoes). Sweat tops and bottoms are also acceptable.

Articles found in and around the school should be turned in to the main office where the owners may claim their property. It is a good idea to clearly mark items with the owner’s name so they can be returned without delay. This also discourages unauthorized borrowing. Lost items will either be found in the main office, on stage or in the lost and found box in the gymnasium.

In case of a fire emergency, the signal to evacuate the building will be a continuous sounding of the emergency alarm or bell. There will be an evacuation plan posted in each room. Each teacher will instruct you regarding specific procedure.

Your student organization committee provides for student activities, serves as a training experience for leaders, promotes the common good, gives students a share in the management of the school, develops high ideals of personal conduct, acts as a clearing house for student activities, seeks to interest students in school affairs and helps solve problems that may arise. Members of the committee are your representatives and have direct access to the school faculty chairperson and the administration.

*Students and parents should be familiar with the following policies. Information on these policies is available in the main office.