Student Policies

2026 - 2027 School Year

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Outcomes

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Students will increase their understanding of:

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• The HCPSS Student Code of Conduct

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• The Incident Reporting tool

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• HCPSS Policies

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We Are Here For You!!

• Ms. L. Smith, Principal
• Ms. Thompson, Assistant Principal
• Ms. Moravec, School Counselor (last names A-L)
• Ms. Sheffield, School Counselor (last names M-Z)
• Ms. James, School Psychologist
• Ms. Adkins, Student Service Secretary/Registrar
• Ms. Matthews, Principal’s Secretary
• Ms. Zimmerman, Social Worker
• Ms. Toler, Nurse
• Mr. Galanis, Cafeteria Manager

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87 Staff + 708 Students =

Team HMS

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One Team. One Purpose. Every Student

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

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• Students share responsibility with school staff for maintaining an environment of mutual respect and dignity in the school.
• Students take an active role in making school a supportive, safe, and welcoming place for all students and staff.

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School Improvement Goals for HMS

• Increase the number of students that score a 3 or more on MCAP Math and MCAP literacy
• Reduce the number of students that receive a consequence of suspension out of school.
• Create a school climate where all students know they belong

Hammond Middle School Will:

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• Foster a diverse, safe, and welcoming community and learning environment
• Engage students in a rigorous academic environment that meets their individual needs and interests
• Nurture the joy of learning for each student
• Instill critical thinking skills
• Promote strong relationships among parents, teachers and students

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Let’s Dig In To The Student Code of Conduct

Attendance Procedures, Policy 9010

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• Attend all classes, on time every day that school is in session.
• Email a note if you are late, need to leave early, or will be absent from class.
• Attendance email: hmsabsence@hcpss.org

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Civility, Policy 1000

Unacceptable behaviors include but are not limited to:

• Rude and insulting language
• Persistently unreasonable demands
• Displays of temper
• Harassment and intimidation

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Each student is responsible for behaving in a civil manner and for cooperating in resolving uncivil incidents.

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Grading Procedures: Middle School, Policy 8020 

• Students must maintain at least a “C” average in their core academic subjects to be eligible for promotion.
• A student may make up work and receive a recorded grade for work missed due to a lawful absence
• Extra credit is not offered in grades 6-12
• Teachers may allow students to redo work to demonstrate a satisfactory level of mastery at a minimum.

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Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media, Policy 8080 

• Middle school students must keep their cell phones/ear buds silent and away throughout the day.
• No technology in bathrooms/ locker rooms
• Student’s will access only those network resources for which they obtained permission.
• The misuse of the school system’s computer technology causing damage will result in families paying for the damage.

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Class Disruption & Disrespect

Respect for Yourself and Others

• Be Brave. Create the kind of world you want to live in.
• If you feel that you have witnessed or been bullied, report it to an adult immediately.

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Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation, Policy 9460

• The Board of Education prohibits acts of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation because these behaviors compromise the learning environment and wellbeing of students, staff and community.

• Bullying may include the following specific behaviors:
• Teasing, name-calling, critical remarks, or threatening, in person, by mail or text message
• Physical (such as hitting, kicking, shoving, etc.)
• Spreading rumors or gossip
• Cyberbullying

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CYBERBULLYING

• Incidents of cyberbullying from a student’s home that impacts another student’s well being at school can be reported.
• All reports of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment and intimidation will be documented and investigated.
• Retaliation against any victim or bystander is strictly prohibited and progressive consequences will occur if the activity continues.

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Discrimination, Policy 1010

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• Students and staff may not discriminate, intimidate, or harass any member of the HMS community because of their:

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• Race
• Color
• Nationality
• Religion
• Disability
• Age
• Gender

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DRUGS/ TOBACCO/ALCOHOL/WEAPONS

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• Don’t bring/ use them!!!!
• Don’t pretend to have them!!!

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Computer Use

• Students may only have their computers out with teacher permission
• While in the classroom, students should only use their computers for assignments/school purposes
• Students must treat their laptop with care
• Students must report any damage immediately to their teacher

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Now Let’s Explore - Academic Dishonesty

The HCPSS Student Code of Conduct defines Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism as:

• Academic Dishonesty can take many forms including plagiarism and/or cheating.
• Plagiarism, using the work or ideas of others, may also include the use of Artificial Intelligence writing programs without proper acknowledgment, giving the false impression of original authorship.
• Cheating may include forgery, such as faking a signature of a teacher or parent; or copying the work of another person digitally or in person.
• Furthermore, supplying work to be copied is the facilitation of cheating. (Policy 8120 Testing: State and Local Responsibilities and Protocols)

*Plagiarism may include but is not limited to the following types of sources: ChatGPT, textbooks, Wikipedia, other online sources, etc…

Class Disruption & Disrespect -#1 infractions

• Students are expected to use situationally appropriate behaviors in the classroom.
• To be considered “Class Disruption,” student’s behavior must be intentional and impede their own or others’ learning
• From relationships comes respect.
• Students are expected to use situationally appropriate behaviors in the classroom.
• Students are expected to treat peers and staff with kindness.
• Students’ behavior should not create an unsafe environment for others.

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The First Step in the Code of Conduct

“It’s ok to trip up sometimes, it’s how we learn and come back from it that matters.”

We practice progressive discipline.

• Class Warning
• Personal Warning
• Parent/Guardian Contact
• Incident Report
• Level 1- 2 responses
• Extended school day
• Formal teacher conference with parent/guardian
• Loss of privileges

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Level Responses

Offense

Range

Definition

Let’s Explore One Together - Attendance

• Why do you think regular on time class attendance is important?
• Go to page 5 and look at “Absent from Class without Permission/Class Cutting”
• Read the definition and level response.
• Notice there are times these infractions could be handled by teachers or by administration.

If a teacher suspects a violation of the student code of conduct:

The teacher will

• gather appropriate evidence (review of materials/resources, student statements, etc.)
• explain to the student(s) the nature of the offense and the possible consequence(s) for that offense.
• complete an Incident Report, assign the appropriate consequence, and contact the parent/guardian.

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Consequences for violations may include:

• Level 1 consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
• Level 2 consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
• Completing a comparable assignment
• A grade of 0 for the assignment with the ability to re-do the assignment
• A grade of 0 for the assignment without the ability to re-do comparable assignment

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*When determining a consequence, consideration may be given to the severity of the incident as well as previous academic dishonesty violations.

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Let’s Explore One Together

• Go to Insert a Code of Conduct issue that applies to your grade level/school community
• Read the definition and level response
• What do you notice about the definition?
• What happens when this reaches a level/level 4 response?

Incident Report

• Identifying information
• Prior staff actions & observed behavior
• Description of the incident in observable terms
• Student description of incident & discussion summary
• Actions taken (includes referral to school administration)
• Staff Signature section

Office Disciplinary Report

Differences between Incident Report and Office Disciplinary Report

• It becomes part of your permanent school record
• Administration handles office disciplinary reports
• They often involve more serious consequences

Student Code of Conduct

• Student behavior is the shared responsibility of the school, the student, and the home.
• The county wide discipline policy applies during school hours as well as at other times and places.

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“It’s ok

to make mistakes…

as long as

you learn from them.”

Policies

• All relevant HCPSS student policies can be found at:

9000 Series- Student Policies

• 9230 Substances
• 9250 Weapons
• 9260 Search and Seizure
• 9280 Community/Reportable Offense
• 9290 Gang Activity
• 9460 Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, Intimidation

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

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• Students share responsibility with school staff for maintaining an environment of mutual respect and dignity in the school.
• Students take an active role in making school a supportive, safe, and welcoming place for all students and staff.
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Lockers and Backpacks

• Students are allowed to carry their laptop, charger and books for class in their backpack.
• Students must put their coats, lunches, and books/supplies that are not being used in their lockers
• Students must store their backpacks in their locker during lunchtime. Computers are NOT allowed in the cafeteria during lunch or out at recess

Personal Communication Device Guidelines 

• Students must comply with class and school rules and all HCPSS policies

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• Cell phones are allowed ONLY before the arrival bell and after the dismissal bell
• No cell phones or accessories (including ear buds) should be used or visible during the school day
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Timeliness & Passes

• Students must travel to their classes via the indoor hallways
• Students must arrive at class on time
• Students must have a pass to leave the room
• Teachers may write Incident Reports, contact parents/guardians, or assign lunch time consequences for repetitive tardies
• Each classroom will have 1 passes for bathroom/drink
• Paper passes may be used for nurse, office, or guidance

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A Few Reminders about Sprays

• Perfumed sprays are NOT allowed to be sprayed at school.
• They trigger migraines
• They flare asthma attacks
• If you spray body sprays, deodorants, perfumes in hallways, classrooms, bathrooms the progressive discipline will be as follows.
• 1st offense-reminder to the student
• 2nd offense -parent contact
• 3rd offense- Administrator will hold on to the spray until dismissal
• 4th offense - Administrator will hold the spray until a parent coomes to get it.
• Keep your perfumed sprays at home

Lunch

• Come in and be seated

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• Know your table #

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• Know your lunch pin

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• Line up only when your table has been called

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• You may go to eat outside once your table has been called
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• Clean up your area and you may go outside for recess when you are ready

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Recess

• An adult must be outside before you exit the building
• Trash needs to be thrown out before recess equipment is used.
• Blacktop, kickball field and soccer field (if dry) are both open.
• Good sportsmanship is required - lunch duty staff have the right to revoke any sport if good sportsmanship is not demonstrated
• When the whistle blows all playing must stop, equipment returned, and line up

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Next Steps

• All administrators and staff have been trained
• All students will hear this presentation and sign off electronically in acknowledgement

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• We are sharing this presentation with parents, guardians, and families through Canvas and our Newsletter

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• Thank you for partnering with us to make sure this is a great year for everyone!

How are feeling after what we’ve talked about today?

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I feel excited and ready for this school year!

I am a little worried if I am ready for all of this, but I am ready to give it a try!

I feel like I need some extra support and plans now to make sure this can be a good year for me!