Our Philosophy and Goals page 1 Our Program page 1

COMMUNITY SERVICE

In an effort to provide hands-on educational experiences to our students, West Valley Middle School requires 6-8^th grade students to obtain five hours of community service per quarter. Several school sponsored community service activities are offered throughout the school year. Sixth grade students are permitted to complete their hours of service on school grounds, while seventh and eighth grade students are encouraged to perform services offsite to better their communities.

COMPUTER USE

Students use computers to do research and to produce written and graphical work. Computers are provided for our students while on our campus. Rules for using our computers will be reviewed with our students and a signed contract stating that the student will abide by our rules, must be on file before a student is allowed usage. Our Computer Use Policy will be sent home for parents to review. Students must abide by our school use policy or lose computer privileges and face further disciplinary actions.

CONFERENCES

Parents and teachers are encouraged to keep clear lines of communication open. For that reason, parents are invited to request a conference with their student’s teacher whenever it is necessary. Teachers may also request a conference with parents when concerns or questions arise. All conferences are indicated on our school calendar. Please make conference time a priority.
Conferences with the Academic Administrator or Principal may be scheduled through the office. Any administrator may also sit in on any conference to discuss a student’s behavior or progress in school. Conferences with the administration are held in confidence. However, factors pertinent to any staff member will be shared and openly discussed with that staff member. Our Administration may choose to request additional conferences with a parent and staff member to discuss any concerns or to clarify information. Our goal is to always work as a team in the best interest of the student.

Consequences

Because our curriculum is full of enriching and stimulating activities, we seldom see unacceptable behavior warranting extreme measures. However, if a student’s behavior infringes on the rights or health and safety of others and/or it continues to interrupt the classroom environment, we begin the following action and consequences.

School wide rules are first discussed with students at the beginning of each year. Students are asked to sign a behavior contract stating that they understand and will obey our rules. Certain rules must be followed to guarantee the safety and rights of each student. Causing, threatening , or attempting to cause physical harm to another student, bringing weapons and controlled substances to school and intentional harassment could constitute grounds for immediate suspension and/or expulsion.
Consequences are given in a progressive manner according to the seriousness of the offense and the number of times he/she has been referred to the office. Teachers will handle most minor offenses and some major offenses with the office. All major offenses and severe offenses will be referred to the office for consequences. Examples of offenses and possible consequences are listed below.
Minor Offenses Possible consequences

Violation of general school and classroom rules

Being in an unassigned area without a pass Broken Rule Notice

Tardy to school or class Student Conference, detention, community

“Horseplay” on campus service, parent conference
Major Offenses Possible consequences

Repeated Minor Offenses

Profanity or vulgarity Referral to Office, detention, parent

Truancy and Cheating conference, community service, etc.

Severe Offenses Possible Consequences

Repeated Major Offenses

Fighting, Defiance, Defacing School Referral to Office, internal suspension,

Property (vandalism/graffiti), Suspension or expulsion, restitution of

Possession of: property damage, Police report

Dangerous object, weapon, alcohol, tobacco

drugs or look-alike of any of the above.

Harassment

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please be sure to notify the office if your contact information changes during the school year. It is imperative that all our records have your current address, telephone numbers, including cell phone numbers and email addresses.

Dances

Because we feel that social events are an important part of our experience in middle school, we want them to be fun and safe for every member of our student body. We use the following guidelines to insure successful events.

1. 
   Dances are open to all West Valley Middle school students.
   
2. 
   Students may bring one guest of middle school age to our functions. ( students and parents are responsible for guest)
   
3. 
   All attendees must have turned in a student behavior contract and emergency form
   
4. 
   All students are expected to remain inside the designated areas. Permission to leave will only be granted for use of the restroom, or when leaving with a parent
   
5. 
   All school rules apply at our dances. Students who behave in an inappropriate manner will be asked to leave.
   

Detention

After school and lunch detentions are used as a tool to assist students in improving their behavior, tardiness and truancy. A day or more notice is given to the student. Lunch detention is 30 minutes in length on Wednesdays and afterschool detention begins at 3:05 on Friday afternoons. It is the responsibility of the student to inform their parent of any assigned detention. A “broken rule notice” will be sent home to explain the reason for this consequence. Parents are asked to sign the form and return it to school.

Rules for Detention

1. 
   Each student must attend detention on the day that they have been assigned.
   
2. 
   Students must be on time to detention. No tardiness will be tolerated.
   
3. 
   Students must come prepared with appropriate study materials.
   
4. 
   There is to be no talking, standing up, moving around during the detention period.
   
5. 
   Each student assigned to detention is expected to take care of all personal needs or problems before entering detention.
   
6. 
   Any disruption during detention by individual students will result in their removal from detention and further disciplinary actions will be taken.
   
7. 
   Failure to attend lunch or after school detention or tardiness to detention will result in double time and or further disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.
   

DIRECTORY

A directory of student and parent contact information will be provided to our West Valley Middle School families. The contact information is helpful in connecting parents and students. Information is not shared outside our community. Parents may opt out if they wish to have their information excluded from the directory.