Our Philosophy and Goals page 1 Our Program page 1

DISCIPLINE AND STUDENT BEHAVIOR

One of our significant goals is to foster a warm and caring environment for our students at West Valley Middle School. We find that a positive approach towards problem-solving based on trust and respect builds values essential to healthy interaction. We believe that a partnership between parents and the school is essential in meeting the needs of our students. Therefore, our core discipline structure is based on the following expectations:
The Student is responsible for:

1. 
   Behaving in the classroom and on campus in a manner that does not disturb or interfere with the rights of others.
   
2. 
   Respecting the authority of all staff members at West Valley Middle School
   
3. 
   The appropriate care and use of school property.
   

The Parent is responsible for:

1. 
   Reviewing school guidelines and regulations with students to ensure all are familiar with and understand the standards of conduct expected by the school.
   
2. 
   Cooperating with school officials in carrying out disciplinary measures when necessary.
   
3. 
   Reinforcing appropriate behavior of students in the home.
   
4. 
   Developing an interest in the student’s academic and other school related activities.
   

The Teacher is responsible for:

1. 
   Establishing classroom management that encourages proper behavior and gives every student the opportunity to learn.
   
2. 
   Assisting in the development and enforcement of school guidelines
   
3. 
   Communicating with parents and students regarding academic performance, recognition for progress and discipline.
   

The Administration is responsible for:

1. 
   Enforcing the discipline policy within the existing school policies and law.
   
2. 
   Supporting teachers by holding conferences with students and staff and parents when necessary, regarding behavior, academics and concerns.
   
3. 
   Ensuring that due process right of students are obeyed and observed.
   

DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS

West Valley Middle School desires to meet the needs of each student enrolled. However, the school must place limitations on the time, energy, and attention any one child requires when this attention hinders the progress of the other students in the classroom or school. Therefore, to preserve the quality of education and environment desired by all the families in the school, probation, suspension, or expulsion may be used. West Valley Middle School also reserves the right to deny re-enrollment.

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  Probation: Parents will be notified by the Principal or Administrator whenever a student is placed on probation. Probation is a period of time given to a student for change to occur. If satisfactory change does not occur, the student will be subject to suspension, expulsion, or denial of re-enrollment.
  
• 
  Suspension: Suspension from school is not an ordinary punishment. It will be used when other corrective measures have failed or a serious offense is committed. When a student is suspended, the parents will be notified of the suspension and the reason for the disciplinary measure.
  
• 
  Expulsion: Expulsion is for serious misconduct on-campus or off-campus during school related activities, or for continued misconduct after having been placed on probation. Expulsion from our school includes termination of enrollment without a possibility of re-enrollment in our West Valley Middle School Program.
  

DRESS CODE

Students need to arrive at school dressed in a manner which is clean and not hazardous to their safety or the safety of others. Clothing should be clean, neat, and without holes.

Students’ choice of clothing should allow them freedom of expression without negatively affecting other students’ efforts to learn. All clothing should provide adequate coverage so that no undergarments are showing. Our goal is to have our students dress in a manner and style appropriate for a school setting. Students in violation of dress code policy will be sent home or asked to change.

• 
  Sports, cheerleading, and other school uniforms are exempt.
  

Hats

Bandannas may not be worn. All other hats and hoods may be worn outside only.
Shirts

Students must be adequately clothed, without bare midriffs or plunging necklines. Tank tops require a 1” or greater strap width for adequate coverage. Spaghetti straps, undershirts, tube tops, and halter tops are not permitted.

Shirts should not be ripped or torn. Messages on shirts, hats, etc. should be appropriate. Any words or phrases should be of the sort that the student could speak aloud in class with the approval of the teacher.

Pants/Skirts

Pants should not be ripped, torn, or excessively saggy. Pajama pants are prohibited unless it is Pajama Day.
Skirts and shorts are to be no shorter than 5” above the bottom of the bent knee.
Hair and Jewelry

For some classes, certain jewelry, make-up, and hairstyles may be dangerous. Long dangling earrings and long hair could be a hazard in physical education, science, etc. Students may be asked to remove jewelry or tie back their hair. Unnatural hair colors and outlandish hairstyles will not be allowed at school. Hair must not obscure vision.

Other Items

Weapons of any kind are not allowed, including pocketknives and wallet chains.

*The school has final authority regarding dress code*
DROP-OFF and PICK-UP

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  It is encouraged for parents to sign their child in and out each day. West Valley Middle School will not be accountable for information missed by parents who are negligent in using the sign in/out procedure.
  
• 
  No student is allowed to leave campus without an authorized parent or guardian.
  
• 
  If a staff member does not recognize you, they are required to ask you to check in at the office for ID verification. Please understand that verifying who you are protects your child and is not meant to upset you.
  
• 
  Pick-up by someone other than a parent or guardian will only be authorized when the following criteria has been followed. Please read this carefully:
  

1. 
   The Parent must give prior notice to the School Office that someone else will be picking up their child. We need your child’s name, Room # and the pick up person’s full name.
   
2. 
   The Authorized Person must be listed on your child’s Emergency Contact Form – driver’s license verification will be required in the School Office at the time of pickup.
   
3. 
   If the person picking up is not listed on the Emergency Form and you have not given us prior notice, the child will not be released. Parents will be called immediately!
   
4. 
   If a parent has an unusual circumstance and needs to designate a one-time pickup to someone who is not listed on the Emergency Form, the parent must call the office and will also be required to Fax the Office a signed note authorizing us to release your child to the designated person. The parent must sign the note and the Office will verify your signature against the signature that we have on file for your child.
   
5. 
   Phone call releases for pick up will not be authorized without a signed release note as noted in #4 listed above.
   

• 
  Again, please understand that these pick up procedures are in place to protect your child. We appreciate your understanding when we ask to verify your identification.
  

EMERGENCIES

Fire, Earthquake, Evacuation – Please do not attempt to call the school. We must keep our phone lines open for emergency purposes only! Our school is well equipped and trained to handle these types of situations. Many staff members are First Aid and Pediatric CPR Certified. We have first aid kits, extra clean water, and food packets. If evacuation becomes necessary, the instructions on your child’s Emergency Form will be followed. No child will be sent anywhere until a parent or designee is located. By your understanding of our procedures, and understanding that we are very busy attending to the safety of the children, we won’t be able to answer incoming phone calls. We need to reiterate that we need your cooperation in keeping our phone lines open by NOT calling the school. Be assured that you will be contacted if it is necessary to do so.

In the event of an earthquake, an alarm will be sounded if evacuation of the building is needed for the purpose of a safety check. If it becomes necessary to evacuate, each teacher will walk their class to the field behind the classrooms. At the field, teachers will take roll and report any injuries or special problems to the principal or administrator. Students and staff will remain outside until it is safe to return to the building.
All students will be retained at school and will be cared for until dismissed to the care of a parent or responsible adult listed on his/her emergency form. This is for the protection of your child. The parent or his designee will sign the child out. No child will be allowed to go home alone.
EMERGENCY FORM

Students will not be allowed to attend school without a completely filled out Emergency Contact Form. For the safety of your child, it is imperative to keep this form updated with changes to your phone number, address, and contact information.

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are an integral part of the education process at West Valley Middle School. Each teacher plans several trips a year, which are integrated into the curriculum.

Parents will receive prior written notice of all field trips, including weeklong trips, etc. If this poses a problem to the student or parent, the school should be informed as soon as possible. If they do not attend, an alternate assignment will be given, but understand that this assignment probably will not replace the experience, only the points toward a grade.
Occasionally, a valuable but costly field trip may become available unexpectedly. When this occurs, the teacher will make every effort to provide a valuable alternative experience for students unable to attend.
GIFTS

Gifts to staff members are not encouraged or discouraged. However, joint collections for gifts are not to be taken without prior approval of the Administration.