Policies & Procedures
To Review All School Procedures and Policies, Please Download the Student Handbook [pdf file - nine pages]
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PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
The basic goal of Pershing Middle School is to provide an atmosphere in which each student can be involved in a meaningful learning experience. School policies and procedures are needed in order to achieve this basic goal. Student behavior is always to be guided by the principles of common courtesy and a spirit of cooperation.
ABSENCES
Good attendance is very important for students to do well at school. Absence from school should be kept to an absolute minimum. Appointments, when possible, should be made outside the school day (remember: school gets out at 2:45 p.m.) If a doctor or dentist appointment occurs during the school day, documentation from the doctor’s or dentist’s office of that appointment should accompany the student upon return to school.
If a student is unable to attend school for any reason, the parents should notify the school office between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. by calling 523-2415. Parents may also leave a message via voice mail by calling 523-2415 before or after school hours. No contact from a parent will result in an unexcused absence.
Excessive absences or tardies may result in disciplinary action. The attendance officer may be dispatched to check on unreported or excessive absences or tardies.
HALL PASSPORTS
When you are in the halls for any reason during class time, you should have your assignment book with you with the hallway passport completed by your teacher who has given you permission to be out of class. The hallway passport pages are located in the back of your assignment book.
The hallway passport should have the date, time in/out of class, your destination and the teacher's name. When you return to class, your teacher will enter the time you returned to class in the “time in” box.
It is extremely important that you keep your assignment book with you at all times; please do not lose it.
Hallway passports should be used only for necessary or emergency trips. You should plan far enough ahead that you would rarely need to leave your class. Students who make excessive use of hallway passports by asking to leave classrooms for non-essential reasons may lose the privilege of being issued a passport by any teacher.
HOMEWORK-MAKEUP WORK
Individual teachers set their own homework policies. If a student is absent from school it is the student’s responsibility to find out what they have missed and to make up the work.
Regular attendance is extremely important. Absenteeism makes it hard for students to keep up with course work and may result in grade reductions. Parents of a student who is absent may phone their student’s core team teachers and request homework assignments. (See “Faculty Members, Conference Time, and Phone Extensions” for school phone number and extensions.) Assignments may be collected in the main office after 2 p.m.. It is the obligation of the parent to collect the assignment, and it is the obligation of the student to complete all listed assignments.
LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY IN THE DAY FOR ANY REASON
Please make appointments outside the school day when possible in order to keep absences at a minimum. If you must leave during the school day, you need to bring written permission from a parent or guardian to the office before school. The office secretary will issue a “Permit to Leave School” form to you. Parents MUST come into the front office to check students out of school. The student will then be released to the parent.
TARDINESS
Students who are tardy to school (after 8:00 a.m.) must check in the office. A student who is tardy to a class from another class must have a passport completed by the sending teacher. Office personnel will not issue passports unless they cause the tardy.
A student who receives three tardies (per semester) will serve 30 minutes in after school detention. Continued violation of the tardy procedures could result in a suspension.
VISITORS TO SCHOOL
All visitors to Pershing Middle School must report to the attendance office upon arriving on school grounds. All visitors will be issued a visitor’s badge and asked to leave their keys. (Please refer to “Safety Procedures at Pershing,” page 7.). Pupils are not permitted to bring visitors to Pershing during instructional hours (7:45 a.m. to
2:45 p.m.)
SAFETY PROCEDURES AT PERSHING
For everyone’s safety, the following safety measures are practiced daily at Pershing School:
- All Pershing exterior doors are locked, with the exception of the south entrance center door, once school is in session. We have practiced this procedure for the past few years.
- All visitors, volunteers, and district personnel are required to check in at the attendance office where they will receive a visitor’s badge. Visitors will be asked to leave their keys with the attendance secretary while in the building. When the visitor is ready to leave the building, he/she will return to the office, turn in the badge and receive his/her keys.
- Staff members have also been advised to question any individuals they do not recognize in our building.
- A security mirror has been installed so the school secretary can observe who enters the south entrance of the building.
- Students MUST store all coats, jackets, and bookbags in locked lockers.
- Unoccupied lockers are also kept locked.
- Classroom doors are kept in the locked position during class.
- Classroom breaks should be kept to a minimum. Restroom breaks are allowed on emergency basis during class.
- Students and staff practice a “lock down” drill three times a year in the event an intruder enters our building. There are specific procedures in place for such a drill.
- Rumors will be taken very seriously. The Pershing administration and security officer will investigate every rumor. Severe consequences are in order for students who start a rumor or threaten another student.
- Pershing does have 32 security cameras installed inside and outside the school.
- Pershing is a very safe school and rest assured we will continue to maintain a safe, positive learning environment for Pershing students.
DISTRICT POLICIES, PROCEDURES, DISCIPLINE SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
Please refer to the District’s Middle School Handbook and Assignment Book for District policies, procedures, and discipline scope and sequence. This book was given to students at the beginning of the school year.