Presque Isle Middle School Substitute Teacher Handbook 2014-2015 1
Presque Isle Middle School Mission Statement The mission of Presque Isle Middle School is to provide all students and staff with a premier education in a safe and supportive environment. We believe that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process, and we hold high expectations for our students and staff. We support individual teaching and learning styles and provide the opportunity for all to take risks, learn and experience success. As a community of learners, we value open communication and accomplishments and these are shared and celebrated. We strive to promote habits of life long learning to assist our students and staff in becoming responsible, productive and informed members of an ever-changing world. WELCOME! Welcome to Presque Isle Middle School. As a very important member of our substitute staff, you are vital to the continuity and organization of Presque Isle Middle School. This handbook will explain some of the policies and procedures at our school and will help make you comfortable in your position. We expect you to be responsible for the goals and objectives of the regular teacher on any given day. You should enlist the assistance of a neighboring teacher, the team leader, or an administrator when need arises. Generally, you will be called between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. The teacher you will replace is expected to leave detailed lesson plans. In the event that lesson plans are inadequate, you should develop a plan with the assistance of the team leader and/or administrator. BEFORE YOUR FIRST DAY Before you substitute teach, you must fill out the necessary paperwork in the Superintendent s Office including an application, Blood Borne Pathogens, Harassment Policy, Drug/Alcohol Policy, and Finger Printing Policy. In the Business Office, you will be required to complete the necessary payroll forms. Once you have taken care of these matters, your name will be forwarded to Presque Isle Middle School. Ms. Ward, in the Assistant Principal s Office, will contact you in the event that you may be needed as a substitute teacher at Presque Isle Middle School. 2
ACCIDENTS All staff and student accidents involving physical injuries must be reported to the office immediately. An accident report must be completed and filed in the Principal s Office (with Mrs. McQuade) by the end of the same school day. ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL You should arrive at school no later than 7:45 a.m. You may park in the teachers parking lot at the west end of the school. If you have any trouble finding space there, notify Ms. Ward, the secretary in the Assistant Principal s Office. When you arrive at school, check in at the Assistant Principal s Office with Ms. Ward; you will be directed to the appropriate assignment. ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES Your first duty is to take morning attendance and lunch count. Please document attendance and lunch numbers and sent a hard copy to the office. BELL SCHEDULE 1 st Warning Bell: 8:05 - dismissal from playground/gymnasium/cafeteria Three-Minute Warning: 8:09 - students should be making their way to their period 1 class Start of the Day: 8:12 students must be in their period 1 class for attendance and announcements End of the Day Announcements: 2:38 Dismissal Bell: 2:40 Lunch Block Schedule 6 th Grade 7 th Grade 8 th Grade 11:03 11:18 Lunch 11:59 12:17 Lunch 11:03 11:18 Recess 11:18 11:36 Recess 12:17 12:32 Recess 11:18 11:36 Lunch PASSES If you permit a student to leave during the classroom period to go to any room, including the office, a corridor pass should be issued. 3
DISCIPLINE You, as a substitute teacher, have primary responsibility for discipline in your class. Action taken by teachers to maintain classroom control must be firm, fair, consistent and respectful. Avoid confrontations with students from which neither you, nor the student can retreat gracefully. Remember, some students may be trying you out in the hope of leading you away from the task at hand. If a problem is serious enough to send a student to the office, please complete a Disciplinary Referral Form (in the substitute teacher folder) at your earliest convenience. If you need immediate help, call extension 301. Ms. Ward, the office secretary will get help for you. Brenda Ward Assistant Principal s Office Secretary Ext. 301 Barbara Bartlett Assistant Principal Ext. 305 Alice McQuade Principal s Office Secretary Ext. 302 Anne Blanchard Principal Ext. 303 DUTIES You are expected to review the teacher s lesson plans to determine if you have supervision duties. If you have questions, see an administrator or either of the office secretaries. Crisis Response Plan Substitute teachers must become familiar with the PIMS Crisis Response Plan, which is distributed to all teachers at the start of the school year. Crisis Response Plans are located in each classroom (red binder). FIRE/EVACUATION DRILL PROCEDURE When the fire/evacuation alarm sounds the following procedures will be followed: 1. Direct students to leave the room quietly and quickly following the instructions on the evacuation card posted by the door. 2. Close the windows and shut the doors when all have left the room. 3. Fire trucks may be moving near the school. All students should be kept clear of roadways. 4. Take your red Crisis Guide binder (there should be accurate class rosters in this binder) with you to take attendance once your class has left the building and has reached their assigned area of safety. 5. Stay with you class at all times. Supervision and safety are of prime concern when a fire/evacuation drill is being practiced or if a real emergency occurs. 4
6. You must leave the building and may not return to the building until the tone sounds to indicate that students and staff may return to the building. 7. Take attendance after the students return to class. 8. Other instructions may be given over the P.A. system. Listen to these instructions carefully; ask a neighboring colleague if you need assistance. LUNCH All teachers have a lunch break. Occasionally, however, a teacher has a supervisory duty during a portion of that time. Be sure to check teacher s schedule. Typically, 6 th grade teachers lunch break is: 11:16 11:36 7 th grade teachers lunch break is: 11:59 12:19 8 th grade teachers lunch break is: 11:03 11:23 Exploratory teachers lunch break is: 11:03 11:23 Lunch is available in the cafeteria for a nominal fee. Many teachers also bring their own lunches. A refrigerator and a water/juice vending machine are available in the staff lounge on the first floor, where staff members are also able to enjoy a break from the school day while they have their lunch. If a teacher prefers, s/he may also have lunch in the classroom. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION M.S.A.D. #1 does not discriminate in its education and employment programs on the basis of race, age, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, marital status, or parental status, and complies with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Inquiries regarding Title VI, Title IX, 504 and ADA may be made to: Mary Guerrette Affirmative Action Coordinator P.O. Box 1118 Presque Isle, Maine 04769 (207) 764-4101 PARKING You may park in the teachers parking lot at the west end of the school. If you have any trouble finding a parking space there, notify Ms. Ward in the Assistant Principal s Office. 5
ROOM CARE Please leave the room to which you have been assigned orderly and free of litter at the end of the school day. SMOKING No student or staff member is permitted to smoke on MSAD #1 school grounds. Student Supervision Teachers are responsible for student supervision at the middle school campus. This includes, but is not limited to, corridors during student transitions, restrooms, and school grounds. Teachers should not hesitate to address misbehavior if necessary, either in or outside of the building. Please notify an administrator regarding any serious or repetitive misbehavior. SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYMENT AND PAY The rate of pay for all substitute teachers in MSAD #1 is determined by the Board of Directors. The current schedule is available in the Superintendent s Office. Questions about substitute paychecks should be directed to the Superintendent s Office at 764-4101. SUBSTITUTE REPORT Please complete the Substitute Report sheet found in the Substitute Teacher Folder at the end of your substituting session. Please return the complete form to Ms. Ward in the Assistant Principal s Office at the end of your session. TARDINESS Students who are tardy at the beginning of the school day must report to Ms. Ward in the Assistant Principal s Office for a pass. If the tardy is unexcused, detention will be issued. Excessive tardiness will result in escalating discipline. Following homeroom, a student who is tardy to class will be issued consequences by the receiving teacher. 6
TEAM MEETINGS Grade level teams, as well as exploratory teachers at PIMS meet daily to discuss curriculum, to plan and organize team projects and the like. You are expected to attend the daily meeting of your team. If you have questions regarding the time and place of these meetings, please contact Mrs. McQuade in the Principal s Office. TELEPHONE PROTOCOL The telephone system at PIHS is for conducting official school business. Use of the telephone system for personal calls by the staff should be kept to a minimum. Classrooms are equipped with limited access telephone units that enable a teacher to contact staff. SUMMARY We thank you for your interest in the education of our students. We want to make your day go as smoothly as possible. Please let us know if you have been left with inadequate plans by the regular teacher. ADMINISTRATORS/SUPERVISORS Anne Blanchard Barbara Bartlett Sandy Curran Principal Assistant Principal Facilities Manager 7