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EMMS Student Handbook 2024-2025
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EMMS Student Handbook 2024-2025

Welcome to EMMS, home of the Trojans! We look forward to a great 2024-2025 school year. It is our hope that each student has a positive learning experience.

This handbook explains our school’s expectations and policies. Please make sure you read and understand it thoroughly. If you have questions, be sure to ask a teacher.

Our Vision 

Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn

Mission Statement  

At East McDowell Middle School, we continue to build upon students’ prior learning and equip them with new tools so they can graduate into a changing world. We support a creative environment where students and staff explore academic, social, and physical development

Our Beliefs

East McDowell Middle School embraces the following as its core values and beliefs:

Through all school operations and activities, EMMS will...

…stress the importance of students learning, growing, and developing into knowledgeable, reflective, caring, ethical, and contributing citizens.

...use research-based programs based on the North Carolina Standard Course of

Study (NCSCOS).

…engage in student-centered learning that is relevant, integrative, challenging, and exploratory through the use of data and differentiated instruction based on

individual learning needs.

...encourage students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in a collaborative learning environment where trust and respect are paramount and where family and community are actively involved.

...prepare students to face significant life choices and provide support in making wise and healthy decisions.

...ensure our educators are lifelong learners, committed to ongoing professional growth, and passionate about engaging the minds of our early adolescents.

Table of Contents

Academics

Arrival & Dismissal

Athletics

Attendance

Bus Transportation

Cell Phones & Other Electronic Devices

Child Find

Chromebooks

Dress Code

Student Code of

Conduct 2023-2024

Technology Responsible Use


ACADEMICS

Each grade level will work to develop a plan for assigning grades. Students will receive marks on the basis of their individual performance as determined by teacher evaluation of student tests and daily work, completion of projects, and effort. Our marking system is as follows:

90-100 = A          89-80 = B                  79-70 = C          69-60 = D          0-59 = F

Homework

Homework can be an integral part of the student learning process. Please communicate with teachers in regards to specific homework requirements for their class.

Progress Reports 

Teachers will issue progress reports every 4 12 weeks during the school year. This report will communicate to students and parents progress and give parents and students opportunity to assess gains or needs. Parents may inquire about a child’s progress at any time by phoning or emailing teachers or school counselors.

Report Cards

The office will issue report cards after each nine-week grading period.  

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

All students must be in the classroom by the designated school starting time. DOORS WILL OPEN AND ADULT SUPERVISION WILL BEGIN AT 7:15 AM. Upon arrival on campus, students will report to the cafeteria.

CAR RIDERS SHOULD NOT ARRIVE ON CAMPUS BEFORE 7:15 AM.

Students should not bring off-campus breakfast food onto campus.

Car riders are dismissed at 3:10 pm daily. Students who are car riders need to be picked up by 3:45 unless they are involved in an extracurricular activity. Adult supervision will end at this time. Bus riders will be dismissed at 3:25, with buses departing campus by 3:30. Walkers are dismissed at 3:10.

ATHLETICS

East McDowell Middle School offers athletic opportunities during the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Information regarding sports schedules will be posted on the school website and will be emailed to students. Students involved in athletics are responsible for maintaining positive behavior and passing grades. A Tentative Sports Calendar is linked here,

Disciplinary Guidelines for Athletics:

Students who are suspended (In-School Suspension/Out of School Suspension) are not eligible to participate in the sporting event while assigned (In-School Suspension/Out of School Suspension).

ATTENDANCE

Attendance in school and participation in class are integral parts of academic achievement and the teaching-learning process. Through regular attendance, students develop patterns of behavior essential to professional and personal success in life. Regular attendance by every student is mandatory. The State of North Carolina requires that every child in the state between the ages of 7 (or younger if enrolled) and 16 attend school. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for ensuring that students attend and remain at school daily.

Attendance Records

School officials shall keep an accurate record of attendance, including accurate attendance records in each class. Attendance records will be used to enforce the Compulsory Attendance Law of North Carolina. Teachers are responsible for maintaining accurate records of student absences and tardies for their classes. The student’s report card is considered a notification of absences. In accordance with North Carolina General Statute 115C-378 and McDowell County Board policies, notification will be given when a student has accumulated three (3), six (6), and ten (10) unexcused daily absences.

Definition of Attendance

A student must be present at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the school’s instructional day to be recorded present for that day.  

Tardies and Early Checkouts

Students are expected to arrive on time and remain in school the full day. A student is tardy if the student arrives anytime after the tardy bell. An early checkout occurs when a student leaves anytime before the dismissal bell. Tardiness and early checkouts are strongly discouraged because they result in students missing important information and instruction. Students who are tardy for school must sign in through the office and pick up a class admission slip. A tardy may be excused for the same reasons as an excused absence (see “D. Excused Absence”). Students on campus are expected to be in class. Students are not to leave the school premises without permission from the principal or designee. For a student to leave school early, a parent or legal guardian must sign him or her out in accordance with school rules. If a student who has left school early later returns to school, he or she must first report to the office.

The school principal is expected to deal appropriately with those students who are chronically tardy or who leave school early. Excessive tardies will result in a parent contact.  

Early Check Outs

A student who must leave school during the day, except for school-sponsored activities, must be signed out by the parent/guardian through the school office. ONLY A PARENT/GUARDIAN OR PRE-APPROVED STUDENT CONTACT WILL BE PERMITTED TO CHECK STUDENTS OUT.

Excused Absences

When a student fails to meet the attendance requirements (i.e. “the 75% rule”), a written excuse signed by a parent or legal guardian must be presented to the student’s teacher on the day the student returns to school (or class) after an absence. Generally, a parent or legal guardian may request that up to six (6) days of their child’s absences be excused for the reasons below without further review by the school. In addition, absences due to extended illnesses may also require a statement from a physician. Note: Total absences beyond six (6) in a semester, including any and all excused absences, are considered “excessive” which is addressed in Section F below. An absence may be excused for any of the following reasons:

  1. personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school;
  2. isolation ordered by the State Board of Health;
  3. death in the immediate family;
  4. medical or dental appointment;
  5. participation under subpoena as a witness in a court proceeding or if the student is required to appear in court;
  6. a minimum of two days each academic year for observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parent or legal guardian;
  7. participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel or service as a legislative or Governor’s page, with prior approval from the principal;
  8. pregnancy and related conditions or parenting, when medically necessary;
  9. visitation with the student’s parent or legal guardian, at the discretion of the superintendent or designee, if the parent or legal guardian (a) is an active duty member of the uniformed services as defined by policy 4050, Children of Military Families, and (b) has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting.

When a child is found to have head lice, the parent or legal guardian shall be notified either by phone or in writing. A parent or legal guardian must treat the lice immediately with an appropriate product and make every effort to remove all nits. Students may return to school upon completion of treatment. The parent or legal guardian must make every effort to remove all nits and provide proof of treatment. Students will not be admitted to school with live lice. Other than the day the student is originally sent home, the student shall accumulate unexcused absences for days missed due to the occurrence of lice. If a student returns to school after being diagnosed with head lice and live lice are still present, the student shall be sent home and receive an unexcused absence.

In the case of excused absences, short-term out-of-school suspensions, and absences under G.S. 130A-440 (for failure to submit a school health assessment form within 30 days of entering school) the student will be permitted to make up his or her work. (See also McDowell County Schools Board Policy 4110, Immunization and Health Requirements for School Admission, and 4351, Short Term Suspension.) The teacher will determine when work is to be made up. The student is responsible for finding out what assignments are due and completing them within the specified time period.

School-Related Activities

All classroom activities are important and difficult, if not impossible, to replace if missed. Principals shall ensure that classes missed by students due to school-related activities are kept to an absolute minimum. The following school-related activities will not be counted as absences from either class or school:

Assignments missed for these reasons are eligible for makeup by the student. The teacher will determine when work is to be made up. The student is responsible for finding out what assignments are due and completing them within the specified time period.

Excessive absences

Class attendance and participation are critical elements of the educational process and may be taken into account in assessing academic achievement. Students are expected to be at school on time and to be present at the scheduled starting time for each class.

Excessive absences may impact eligibility for participation in interscholastic athletics. See McDowell County Schools policy 3620, Extracurricular Activities and Student Organizations.

If a student is absent from school for six (6) or more days, the principal or a committee established by the principal shall consider whether the student’s grades should be reduced because of the absences. The principal or committee shall review other measures of academic achievement, the circumstances of the absences, the number of absences, and the extent to which the student completed missed work. A committee may recommend to the principal, and the principal may make any of the following determinations: 1. the student will not receive a passing grade; 2. the student will receive the grade otherwise earned; 3. the student will be given additional time to complete the missed work before a determination of the appropriate grade is made; or 4. the student will be given the opportunity to make up missed instructional time.

BUS TRANSPORTATION

School bus transportation is a PRIVILEGE that may be withdrawn for inappropriate and unacceptable behavior. Students and parents will be notified of these behaviors before suspension/expulsion from the bus. Students are to be at their designated bus stop when the bus arrives in the morning.

THE BUS DRIVER IS IN COMPLETE CHARGE OF THE BUS AND ITS OCCUPANTS AT ALL TIMES. Students riding the bus MUST comply with the requests of the driver as stated in Public School Law 115C-245. Any student who is reported to the principal for unacceptable behavior may receive sanctions, including suspension from riding the bus.

Bus Notes

ANY STUDENT WHO WISHES TO RIDE A DIFFERENT BUS OR GET OFF AT A DIFFERENT STOP MUST HAVE A WRITTEN NOTE SIGNED BY THE PARENT AND PRINCIPAL. NOTES MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE BEFORE 8:00 AM IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL TIME TO CONFIRM THE NOTE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY.

Other Transportation Changes

Notification for all other changes in students’ afternoon transportation must be given to the office by 2:00 PM on the day of the change.

CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

*Personal electronic and/or wireless communication devices, including cell phones, recording devices, iPads, airpods, earbuds, two-way radios, devices with internet capability, etc., are not permitted during school hours. These devices must stay in the backpack. If they are out, they will be confiscated by teachers or administrators and will be returned at the discretion of the administration.

Guidelines for cell phone use:

•        Cell phones must be turned off during school hours.

•        Cell phones must not be used during school hours.

•        Cell phones must be kept in backpacks.

•        For emergencies, the student will be directed to call home from the front office.

•        Students are personally and solely responsible for the security of their cell phones and all other personal items.

•        The school is not responsible for the theft, loss, or damage of cell phones or other devices under any circumstances related to the misuse and/or confiscation of cell phone devices.

Please note: a student’s cell phone, iPod, or other wireless device with texting/camera capability may be searched whenever an administrator has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will provide evidence that the student has violated a law, Board of Education policy, the Code of Student Conduct, or a school rule.

 

Valuables

Students are responsible for their possessions at school and are advised to bring only necessary items. When valuables are left unattended in classrooms, lockers, book bags, or dressing rooms and lost or stolen, the school is not responsible for recovery or restitution for those items lost or stolen.  

CHILD FIND

Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires states to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth to 22, who are in need of early intervention or special education. Referrals may be made to any school or to the Exceptional Children’s department

 

Discipline, Authority of School Personnel, and Case-by-Case Determination   

School personnel may consider any unique circumstances on a case-by-case basis when determining whether a change of placement, made in accordance with the following requirements related to discipline, is appropriate for a child with a disability who violates a school code of student conduct. Note: A removal is usually called an out-of-school suspension (OSS), but it may also include any time the school calls and asks you to pick up your child before the end of the school day because of disciplinary reasons. It also includes in-school suspension (ISS) if services are not provided to your child and suspension from the bus IF transportation is a related service for the child’s IEP.

General

To the extent that they also take such action for children without disabilities, school personnel may, for not more than 10 school days in a row, remove a child with a disability who violates a code of student conduct from his or her current placement to an appropriate interim alternative educational setting, another setting, or suspension. School personnel may also impose additional removals of the child of not more than 10 school days in a row in that same school year for separate incidents of misconduct, as long as those removals do not constitute a change of placement.

Once a child with a disability has been removed from his or her current placement for a total of 10 school days in the same school year, the school district must, during any subsequent days of removal in that school year, provide services to the extent required. If the behavior that violated the student code of conduct was not a manifestation of the child’s disability and the disciplinary change of placement would exceed 10 school days in a row, school personnel may apply the disciplinary procedures to that child with a disability in the same manner and for the same duration as it would to children without disabilities, except that the school must provide services to that child. The child’s IEP Team determines the interim alternative educational setting for such services.

Transfers

Students with IEPs are assigned to the school they would normally attend based on attendance zone or a parent’s school choice. However, changes to school assignment will be made when the goals, objectives, services and/or the accommodations on the IEP cannot be implemented at the attendance zone or choice school.

If it is determined that a student’s IEP cannot be implemented at the student’s attendance zone or choice school, then the student will be assigned to a school that can implement the IEP within the region of the attendance zone school.

If it is determined that a student’s IEP cannot be implemented at the regional school because of class size, transportation issues, accessibility, and/or other factors, then Special Education and Related Service will determine the school assignment.

Dispute Resolution

Any person concerned about the education of a student with a disability can raise the issue in one of several ways. For example, it is always appropriate to discuss the matter with the student's teacher or principal at the local school, or it is also helpful to contact the Director of Exceptional Children Program in the central office of the school system, charter school, or state-operated program.

The Exceptional Children Division's consultants for dispute resolution and consultants for instructional support and related services are also able to offer consultation to assist parents, advocates, or school system, charter school, or state operated programs personnel who request help with problem-solving.

Consultants at the Department of Public Instruction are neutral and refrain from taking sides when there is a disagreement but consistently advocate for appropriate services for children with disabilities. They are committed to the protection of rights for children with disabilities and their parents.

An informal means of problem solving is provided through the Exceptional Children Division's Facilitated IEP Program for school systems, charter schools, state operated programs, and parents.

Formal means for dispute resolution are also available through the Department of Public Instruction, Exceptional Children Division. These options are requirements of federal and state laws governing special education - Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), and Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities.

When there is an unresolved disagreement over identification, evaluation or educational placement of a child with a disability or the provision of free appropriate public education, the options for dispute resolution are mediation, formal written complaint, and due process hearing. A formal complaint filed on the same issue(s) as contained in a petition for a due process hearing will not be investigated. These options are also available to the adult student who has reached the age of majority (18), unless legally deemed incompetent or unable to make educational decisions.

For more information please contact:

McDowell County Schools Department of Exceptional Children Programs at

(828) 652-6580.

CHROMEBOOKS

There is a one time Laptop Insurance premium that covers the life of your student’s Laptop during his/her career at East McDowell Middle School. The Grade Level Insurance premium for incoming 6th graders is $40.00. The Grade Level Insurance Premium for 7th graders new to McDowell County Schools is $28.00 The Grade Level Insurance Premium for 8th graders new to McDowell County Schools is $14.00.

Laptop insurance is provided by Trinity3 Technology. The one-time Laptop insurance premium and annual maintenance fees are non-refundable. Insurance premium or annual maintenance fee must be paid in FULL at the beginning of each school year. Laptops are considered one of the primary educational resources at East McDowell Middle School. All students are required to have a school issued Chromebook and are required to have computer insurance.

What does the Annual Insurance Cover?

What is NOT COVERED by the Annual Insurance?

Fee Type

Incident Fee (ie:broken screen/shell) $15 per incident

Chromebook Loss and Intentional Damage- Fair Market Value for Replacement

Replacement Charger $40

DRESS CODE

The following dress code applies to students at ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN MCDOWELL COUNTY:

  1. The length of dresses, skirts, and shorts must reach at least mid-thigh.
  2. Pants, shorts, and skirts must be worn at the waist.
  3. Undergarments must not be exposed.
  4. The following clothing and/or items are not allowed:
  1. Hats, hoods, and bandanas are not to be worn in the school building during the instructional day. Items worn may be confiscated by the administration.
  2. No clothing disruptive or detrimental to the instructional process is allowed. This includes attire that displays alcoholic beverages, drugs, and tobacco products or promotes violence, hatred, or intolerance.
  3. Shoes are to be worn at all times.
  4. Sunglasses are not to be worn in the school building.

TECHNOLOGY RESPONSIBLE USE

The board provides its students and staff access to a variety of technological resources. These resources provide opportunities to enhance learning and improve communication within the school community and with the larger global community. Through the school system’s technological resources, users can observe events as they occur around the world, interact with others on a variety of subjects, and acquire access to current and in-depth information. The board intends that students and employees benefit from these resources while remaining within the bounds of safe, legal and responsible use. Accordingly, the board establishes this policy to govern student and employee use of school system technological resources. This policy applies regardless of whether such use occurs on or off school system property, and it applies to all school system technological resources, including but not limited to computer networks and connections, the resources, tools and learning environments made available by or on the networks, and all devices that connect to those networks.

Expectations for Use

The use of school system technological resources, including access to the Internet, is a privilege, not a right. Individual users of the school system’s technological resources are responsible for their behavior and communications when using those resources. Responsible use of school system technological resources is use that is ethical, respectful, academically honest and supportive of student learning. Each user has the responsibility to respect others in the school community and on the Internet. Users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. General student and employee behavior standards, including those prescribed in applicable board policies, the Code of Student Conduct and other regulations and school rules, apply to use of the Internet and other school technological resources. In addition, anyone who uses school system computers or electronic devices or who accesses the school network or the Internet using school system resources must comply with the additional rules for responsible use listed in Section B, below. These rules are intended to clarify expectations for conduct but should not be construed as all-inclusive. Before using the Internet, all students must be trained about appropriate online behavior as provided in policy 3226/4206, Internet Safety. All students and employees must be informed annually of this policy and the methods by which they may obtain a copy of this policy. Before using school system technological resources, students and employees must sign a statement indicating that they understand and will strictly comply with these requirements. Failure to adhere to these requirements shall result in disciplinary action, including revocation of user privileges. Willful misuses shall result in disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution under applicable state and federal law.

Rules for Use

  1. School system technological resources are provided for school-related purposes only. Acceptable uses of such technological resources are limited to responsible, efficient and legal activities that support learning and teaching. Use of school system technological resources for commercial gain or profit is prohibited. Because some incidental and occasional personal use by employees is inevitable, the board permits infrequent and brief personal use by employees so long as it occurs on personal time, does not interfere with school system business and is not otherwise prohibited by board policy or procedure.
  2. Under no circumstance may software purchased by the school system be copied for personal use.
  3. Students and employees must comply with all laws, including those relating to and trademarks, confidential information and public records. Any use that violates state or federal laws is strictly prohibited. Plagiarism of Internet resources will be treated in the same manner as any other incidents of plagiarism, as stated in the Code of Student Conduct.
  4. No user of technological resources, including a person sending or receiving electronic communications, may engage in creating, intentionally viewing,  accessing, downloading, storing, printing or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound files, text files, documents, messages or other material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing, abusive or considered to be harmful to minors.
  5. The use of anonymous proxies to circumvent content filtering is prohibited.
  6. Users may not install or use any Internet-based file sharing program designed to facilitate sharing of copyrighted material.
  7. Users of technological resources may not send electronic communications fraudulently (i.e., by misrepresenting the identity of the sender).
  8. Users must respect the privacy of others. When using e-mail, chat rooms, blogs or other forms of electronic communication, students must not reveal personal identifying information or information that is private or confidential, such as the home address or telephone number, credit or checking account information or social security number of themselves or fellow students. For further information regarding who constitutes personal identifying information, see policy 4705/7825, Confidentiality of Personal Identifying Information. In addition, school employees shall not disclose on school system websites or web pages or elsewhere on the Internet any personally identifiable, private or confidential information concerning students (including names, addresses or pictures) without the permission of a parent or guardian or an eligible student, except as otherwise permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or policy 4700, Student Records. Users also may not forward or post personal communications without the author’s prior consent.
  9. Users shall not intentionally or negligently damage computers, computer systems, electronic devices, software, computer networks or data of any user connected to school system technological resources. Users may not knowingly or negligently transmit computer viruses or self-replicating messages or deliberately try to degrade or disrupt system performance. Users must scan any downloaded files for viruses.
  10. Users may not create or introduce games, network communications programs or any foreign program onto any school system computer, electronic device or network without the express permission of the technology director or designee.
  11. Users are prohibited from engaging in unauthorized or unlawful activities such as “hacking” or using the computer network to gain or attempt to gain unauthorized or unlawful access to other computers, computer systems or accounts.
  12. Users are prohibited from using another individual’s ID or password for any technological resource without permission from the individual. Students must also have permission from the teacher or other school official.
  13. Users may not read, alter, change, block, execute or delete files or communications belonging to another user without the owner’s express prior permission.
  14. Employees shall not use passwords or user IDs for any data system (e.g., the state student information and instructional improvement system applications, time-keeping software, etc.) for an unauthorized or improper purpose.
  15. If a user identifies a security problem on a technological resource, he or she must immediately notify a system administrator. Users shall not demonstrate the problem to other users. Any user identified as a security risk shall be denied access.
  16. Teachers shall make reasonable efforts to supervise students’ use of the Internet during instructional time.
  17. Views may be expressed on the Internet or other technological resources as representing the view of the school system or part of the school system only with prior approval by the superintendent or designee.

Restricted Material

The Internet and electronic communications offer fluid environments in which students may access or be exposed to materials and information from diverse and rapidly changing sources, including some that may be harmful to students. The board recognizes that it is impossible to predict with certainty what information on the Internet students may access or obtain. Nevertheless, school system personnel shall take reasonable precautions to prevent students from accessing materials and information that is obscene, pornographic or otherwise harmful to minors, including violence, nudity, or graphic language that does not serve a legitimate pedagogical purpose. The superintendent shall ensure that technology protection measures are used as provided in policy 3226/4205, Internet Safety, and are disabled or minimized only when permitted by law and board policy. The board is not responsible for the content accessed by users who connect to the Internet via their personal mobile telephone technology. (e.g., 3G, 4G service)

Parental Consent

The school board recognizes that parents of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards their children should follow when using media and information sources. Accordingly, before a student may independently access the Internet, the student’s parent must be made aware of the possibility that the student could obtain access to inappropriate material while engaged in independent use of the Internet. The parent and student must consent to the student’s independent access to the Internet and to monitoring of the student’s e-mail communication by school personnel. In addition, in accordance with the board’s goals and visions for technology, students may require accounts in third party systems for school related projects designed to assist students in mastering effective and proper online communications or to meet other educational goals. Parental permission will be obtained when necessary to create and manage such third-party accounts.

Privacy

No right of privacy exists in the use of technological resources. Users should not assume that files or communications created or transmitted using school system technological resources or stored on services or hard drives of individual computers will be private. School system administrators or individuals designated by the superintendent may review files, monitor all communication, and intercept email messages to maintain system integrity and ensure compliance with board policy and applicable laws and regulations. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to authorities. The school system will monitor the online activities of minors who access the Internet via a school-owned computer.

Personal Websites

The superintendent may use any means available to request the removal of personal websites that substantially disrupt the school environment or that utilize the school system or individual school names, logos, or trademarks without permission.

Add updated Superintendent’s Message to Parents, Directory of Schools, and updated SBP on Student Conduct below. (including matrix)