GLEN RIDGE

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

 

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2007 ● 2008

 

Glen Ridge, New Jersey   07028

Telephone:  (973) 429-8303

 

 

 

 

Message from the Principal:

 

Welcome to a new school year and a new building. This year will bring you many exciting opportunities both in and out of the classroom. It is the hope of the administration, faculty and staff that we will be able assist you in making the most of those opportunities.

 

This book is designed to help you reach some of your goals. The information and organizational tools included will be beneficial to you in a variety of ways. When utilized this book will assistance in your efforts to achieve.

 

I look forward to seeing you and what you will accomplish in the Glen Ridge Middle School Program during the 2007-2008 school year.

 

 

Kenneth Rota

Principal

 

 

This School Agenda belongs to:

 

 

NAME___________________________________________________

 

ADDRESS_______________________________________________

 

CITY/TOWN______________________________ ZIP CODE_______

 

PHONE__________________________________________________

 


 

 

 

 

 

Dear Students,

 

This Student Handbook/Agenda is a very important tool to use to assist you in becoming a successful student in our Middle School Program. Your student handbook explains our school rules, policies and procedures. Please take some time to read over this important information and discuss it with your parents.

 

The Agenda section will help you organize your homework assignments and social activities.  Good planning will be the beginning of your successful journey in Grades 7 & 8.

 

You will be expected to carry your Student Agenda with you at all times because it contains your hallway pass.

 

Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns about the material presented in the Student Agenda with me.

 

With best wishes for a great year,

Dr. Mary Lynn De Pierro

Assistant Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS                                                                                           PAGE

 

BELL SCHEDULES…………………………………………….     3

SCHOOL CALENDAR………………………………………….     3

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY OF STUDENTS………….     4

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT……………………….     4

GRADING …………………..……………………………………    5

SCHOOL PROCEDURES ……………………………………..     6

STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE…………………….     9

ATTENDANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES………………    10

DRUG/ ALCOHOL POLICY………………………………..…..    12

STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE…………………….    14

ACADEMIC HONESTY………………………………………….   17

DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES ……………………………………     21

HOMEWORK HOTLINE ……………..………………………..     23

 

Lost or stolen handbooks will cost $5.00 to replace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGULAR DAY

TIME SCHEDULE

Warning Bell                                 7:55

Block                      1                      8:00                       8:42

Announcements                          8:42                        8:51

Block                      2                      8:55                       9:37

Block                      3                      9:41                       10:23

Block                      4                      10:27                      11:09

MS Lunch                                      11:13                      11:43

Block                      5MS                11:47                      12:29

Block                      6MS                12:33                      1:15

Block                      7                        1:19                      2:01

Block                      8                        2:05                      2:47

Block                      9                       2:50                       3:15

 

 

 

   HALF- DAY

TIME SCHEDULE

Warning Bell                                                                 7:55

Block                      1                      8:00                        8:30

Announcements                          8:30                        8:33

Block                      2                      8:37                        9:07

Block                      3                      9:11                        9:41

Block                      4                      9:45                        10:15

Block                      5                      10:19                      10:49

Block                      6                      10:53                      11:23

Block                      7                      11:27                      11:57

Block                      8                      12:01                      12:31

 

Delayed Openings:  School will open 90 minutes later when a delayed opening occurs.

 

SCHOOL CALENDAR

2007 – 2008

 

September 4            Tuesday          School Re-Opens

September 13          Thursday         School Closed       Rosh Hashana

October 8                  Monday            School Closed       Columbus Day

November 8 & 9       Thursday/        School Closed       NJEA

                                    Friday                                                 Convention

November 21           Wednesday    12:30 p.m.               Thanksgiving

                                                              Dismissal               Recess

November 23 &        Thursday/        School Closed       Thanksgiving

                 24              Friday                                                 Recess

December 21           Friday               12:30 p.m.               Holiday Recess

                                                              Dismissal

December 24 -         Monday            School Closed       Holiday Recess

December  28               Friday

January 2                  Wednesday    School Re-Opens

January 21                Monday            School Closed       Martin Luther

                                                                                                King, Jr. Day

February 18-22        Mon.-Fri.          School Closed       Winter Recess

March 21                   Friday               School Closed       Good Friday

April 21-25                Mon.-Fri.          School Closed       Spring Recess

May 26                       Monday            School Closed       Memorial Day

June 20                     Thursday         12:30 Dismissal    Last Day for

                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS

 

The following are excerpts from the state handbook on students’ rights and responsibilities.

 

1.          You have the right and responsibility to live by the rule of law and to equal protection under the law, in school as in the larger society.  It is your responsibility to obey school regulations and the school authorities that enforce them.  This responsibility extends to your conduct to and from school as well as in the building itself.  Public information such as state school law, decisions by the Commissioner of Education, rulings by the State Board, and county and district by-laws, and directives are available to you as students at your local board of education office.

 

2.          New Jersey law requires you to show respect for the flag of the United States of America.  If you are conscientiously opposed to the pledge or salute, you may abstain from these ceremonies.

 

3.          Your right to assemble and circulate petitions carries with it the equal responsibility to respect the orderly operation of the school.  School authorities have a right to restrict the time and places of such activities and may require advance notice when necessary to avoid conflicts and to ensure protection of the school community.

 

4.          Your parents are entitled to inspect the official or permanent school records (those which are retained after you leave school) relating to you.  This means that they themselves have the right to inspect the actual record, and not merely have items selected from the record by school officials.  However, school authorities may withhold items of information which, in their judgment, are of a confidential nature or in which the applicant for such information has no legitimate interest.  School authorities may determine the time and manner of presentation of this information; for example, they may suggest that a counselor, qualified to interpret data in the records, be present.

 

5.          Under the Constitution, all citizens are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures.  However, this does not mean you are legally protected from search or seizure of any materials in your locker, which is school property.

 

6.          Students that are eighteen years old can take legal responsibility for themselves.  If a student desires to have the responsibility, he/she must sign an affidavit declaring that they are now assuming the rights of being eighteen.  A parent must sign this affidavit.  Once the completed form is turned into the main office, all notes and permission slips by the eighteen-year-old student will be honored as long as they are within the guidelines of the district attendance policy.

 

In order that teachers and parents will have a clear understanding of the rights and responsibilities under the eighteen-year-old law, it is the policy of the school that no student may withdraw from school without his parent’s/guardian’s signature.

 

 

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT

 

                                    It is the policy of the Glen Ridge Board of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, handicap, ancestry, national origin or social or economic status in the education program or activities.  Inquiries regarding compliance should be directed to the district Affirmative Action Officer, Barbara Gemza.  The district affirmative action grievance procedure is available through Barbara Gemza.  The grievance procedure may be utilized by any student, parent, staff or community member who has a concern arising from the application of policies or administration decisions arising from prejudice or discrimination on the basis of the aforementioned items.

 

GRADES AND GUIDANCE

 

QUALITY POINTS

 

                                                    Grade     Numerical Equivalents

 

                                                        A+  =               98 - 100

                                                        A    =               93 - 97

                                                        A-   =               90 - 92

                                                        B+  =               87 - 89

                                                        B    =               83 - 86

                                                        B-   =               80 - 82

                                                        C+  =              77 - 79

                                                        C    =               73 - 76

                                                        C-   =              70 - 72

                                                        D+  =              67 - 69

                                                        D    =               63 - 66

                                                        D-   =              60 - 62

                                                        F     =              0 - 59

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDTERMS, FINAL EXAMS

          All academic subjects will require that students complete a midterm and final exam, which will

cover the skills and concepts studied throughout the year.  The mid-term exam will be counted

toward the second marking period grade, and the final exam will be counted toward the fourth mark

ing period grade.

          The first experience the seventh grade students will have with mid-term and final

exams is a learning process where the mid-term and final exams count as one test grade. That

exam grade will be averaged in with the respective marking period grades.

          For eighth grade students, in preparation for High school exams, the midterm and final exam

 will have the weight of two test grades.  Good study habits, note taking, and reviewing techniques

are important ingredients to success on these important tests.  Teachers will review with the

 students before the scheduled midterms and finals.

 

HONOR ROLL

Students on the honor roll must achieve all “A’s” and “B’s”, and no grade lower in all their courses.

 

HIGH HONOR ROLL

Students on the high honor roll must achieve all “A’s” and no grade lower in all their courses.