Student Success Manual Garner Middle School 4302 Harry Wurzbach San Antonio, Texas 78209 (210) 356-3800 Phone (210) 805-5138 Fax www.neisd.net/garner
Garner Middle School Mission Statement Garner Middle School is committed to meeting the needs of our diverse population, while building a community where excellence in academics and extracurricular activities is achieved through collaboration, promoting personal responsibility, and maintaining a positive, safe, and respectful environment. Student Success Manual Disclosure For more comprehensive guidance, please refer to the NEISD Parent/Student Handbook. All policies in the current edition of the NEISD Student/Parent Handbook for Secondary Schools Grade 6-12 take precedence. This document was prepared in August 2013 and updated May 2016. The most current version of this is available on the Garner web page.
P R I D Persevere, though times may be tough. Respect myself, all adults, and peers. I will do my best. Do the right thing even when nobody is looking. E Encourage each other daily.
Arrival and Dismissal Arrival The campus opens for students at 7:30 a.m. Any students arriving prior to 7:30 a.m. must remain at the front gates of the school. Students arriving by bus should proceed to the front entrance of the school. Students cannot stay in the bus unloading area. Please use the sidewalk. Students arriving by car should be dropped off on the south side of the campus, then proceed through the front breezeway to the main entrance of the campus. 6 th graders should report to the uncovered cafeteria patio. This area is for 6 th grade students only. 7 th and 8 th graders may wait on the covered cafeteria patio or courtyard area. The cafeteria is open at 7:45 a.m. for breakfast for all students. Dismissal School ends promptly at 3:25 p.m. All halls should be cleared by 3:35 p.m. Students must leave campus or report to one of the following locations: bus dock parent pick-up extra-curricular activity / KIN tutoring The buses leave promptly at 3:32 p.m. If a student misses the bus, he/she needs to go to the office to call home for a parent to pick them up. Parents should not pick up students in the front of the school before 3:45 p.m. Students must wait for their parents on the sidewalk, and may not walk across the parking lot to get in their car. Attendance If you are absent, ask your parents to call the school AND bring a note to excuse the absence. Make sure you get a note from home or the doctor. Take your note to the attendance office before the first period on the day you return. If you don t have a note, your absence is unexcused. Only eight parent notes will be accepted for the year to excuse absences. After the 8th parent note, doctor s notes must be presented. Unexcused absences will result in a 20% penalty on assignments turned in. It is like turning in late work. After your 18 th absence, you will lose credit for the year. You can regain credit by attending Saturday School. To get info on Saturday School, see an administrator or the attendance office. Five or more unexcused absences may result in the Attendance Officer visiting your home. A final warning notice may be issued for court, and if unexcused absences continue, you and your parents can be taken to court for non-attendance.
Bullying When someone says or does something unintentionally hurtful and they do it once, that s RUDE. When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they do it once, that s MEAN. When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and keeps doing it even when you tell them to stop or show them you re upset, that s BULLYING. You can report bullying to any teacher or other adult on campus. You can also report it online through the Garner website or by using the Bully Box in the Garner library. Cafeteria Walk to your line and stand/sit as directed. Do not sit at the center tables until serving lines have finished in that area. During announcements or when someone gets on the microphone there should be no talking (voice level 0). Encourage others with your silence. Follow ALL adult instructions. Respect everyone in line by waiting your turn (keep hands and feet to yourself). Enjoy your lunch time with your friends by talking at no louder than a voice level 2, staying seated and cleaning up your area. Everyone must report to the cafeteria for lunch. During lunch, no one may leave the cafeteria without permission or a pass. Computer Use in Lab / Classroom Each student is completely responsible for his/her assigned computer. Any damage or vandalism will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate consequences administered. Do not touch the equipment when entering the lab and wait for all instructions and procedures set forth by the teacher. No student is allowed out of his/her assigned seat without raising his/her hand and receiving permission. If you need help or have technical problems, raise your hand or use the signal your teacher asks you to use. Be good to the equipment. Due to the nature of the equipment, no eating, drinking, combing or brushing hair, and no makeup or hair products are allowed. In addition, absolutely no magnetic devices of any kind are allowed in the computer lab. No disk or flash drive from home may be used in the computer lab. Do NOT leave your computer unattended and logged on. LOG OFF your computer if you leave the computer lab for any reason. Please leave the lab neat and clean for the next class. Push in your chair and leave the computer station in good order. Take all of your things with you. Students should adhere to the NEISD Acceptable Use Policy. Violators will be called in by their assistant principal and may lose computer privileges.
Dress code Any clothing deemed inappropriate by an administrator because it is a distraction to learning will not be permitted. A student will not be permitted to attend class if his/her attire is out of compliance with the standard dress policy. From the moment students arrive on campus in the morning until they are completely off campus in the afternoon, students must be in uniform. Parents are expected to provide attire that complies with the school and district s dress policy. Garner Standard Dress Policy for Girls Solid navy or khaki pants, shorts, skort, skirt or dress/jumper. Solid navy, white, or royal blue shirt or blouse with collar. Visible undershirts must be white only. Spirit shirts from Garner or MacArthur may be worn any day of the week. Spirit shirts from other campuses are not allowed. Students may wear jeans (blue or black) on Friday with a college shirt. The college shirt must represent an accredited college. Walking shorts, skirt, skort, dress or jumper must be within 3 inches of the top of the knee Garner Standard Dress Policy for Boys Solid navy or khaki pants or shorts. Solid navy, white, or royal blue shirt with collar. Shirts must have buttons and sleeves. Visible undershirts must be white only. Spirit shirts from Garner or MacArthur may be worn any day of the week. Spirit shirts from other campuses are not allowed. Students may wear jeans (blue or black) on Friday with a college shirt. The college shirt must represent an accredited college. Cold Weather Attire Jackets, hoodies and sweatshirts that are Garner, MacArthur, solid navy blue, solid royal blue, solid black, or solid white may be worn any time. Multi-colors or stripes are permitted as long as the jacket is predominately uniform colors. Logos can be no larger than a 3x3 post-it note. Hoods must remain down at all times while on campus. Exceptions will be made during periods of cold weather. The timeframe will be from the Monday following Thanksgiving break through President s Day. Exceptions may be made if cold weather occurs outside of this window. If deemed appropriate, teachers may, at their discretion, ask students to remove non-uniform jackets in class. Appropriate uniform items must be worn under the jacket.
Dress code continued - The following items are NOT acceptable Hats/caps/beanies Oversized clothing Visible undergarments Piercings other than ears Visible tattoos Jewelry and accessories determined offensive or dangerous Jeggings/tights Writing on clothing or body Sagging, frayed, or torn pants Pajamas Bandanas Exposed midriffs or low cut tops House shoes and slippers Non-Compliance of Standard Dress Policy If a student arrives at school and is not in compliance with the school s standard dress policy, the following will occur: The student will call home for a change of clothing. If no one is available to bring clothes to school, the student will be given a change of clothes or may be placed in In-School Suspension. Persistent non-compliance with the standard dress policy will be considered insubordination and dealt with accordingly by an administrator. All other NEISD dress code policies will be enforced. Electronic Devices Cell phones, ipods, Headphones, etc. are permitted on campus, but must be turned off between 8:10 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. The school is not responsible for any lost items. Devices may be used during the school day for instructional purposes as determined by the teacher. Cell phones or electronic devices will be confiscated if they are seen or heard during the school day if not authorized by teacher (this includes headphones). Confiscated electronic devices will only be returned to the parent/guardian. Repeated violations will result in after school detention(s) and/or in school suspension Extracurricular Activities It is a privilege to attend after school activities such as sporting events, concerts, and dances. Students must be picked up within 15 minutes of the activity ending or privileges may be suspended. Students cannot leave and return to the activity. Students who are absent or in ISS during the school day are not eligible to attend an after school activity. Students placed at AMS will not be allowed at after-school events for the remainder of the school year.
Fire and Safety Drills Fire and safety drills will be conducted throughout the year; students will follow the instructions of their teacher. If students are not in their assigned classroom at the time of a drill, they will be escorted to an appropriate location by the first adult they meet in the halls. Students will walk in a single file line without talking (voice level 0). Food, Gum and Drinks No food is allowed outside of the cafeteria/patio. Garner Middle School is a Gum Free Campus. No drinks are allowed outside the cafeteria/patio without a nurse s note. Grading and Reporting The purpose of this section is to supplement the NEISD Grading and Reporting Guidelines, which regulates consistent grading and reporting standards. Garner Middle School adheres to the Texas Education Code (TEC), the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) and North East ISD Board policies and regulations. Student Responsibilities Understanding the homework assignment(s) before leaving school Taking home all necessary materials to complete assignment(s) Use the Garner Agenda Book to keep track of assignments and projects Having an organized method for keeping and carrying homework to and from school Arranging for a place to work and having a regular time to study Scheduling time for homework that is compatible with family responsibilities and/or afterschool activities Completing homework with minimal help from parents Parent Responsibilities Reading and discussing the District s homework policy with the student and encouraging good study habits Providing necessary assistance and a positive, supportive attitude Communicating any concerns and questions regarding homework assignments to the student's teacher Encouraging the student to seek additional help, if needed, from the teacher Providing an appropriate time and environment for study and learning; checking the homework for completion and showing an active interest in it Monitoring television, technology and outside activities to be sure the student has sufficient study time. Grade Reporting Progress Reports: issued twice during each grading period Grading Period Report Cards: issued within one week from the end of the grading period All progress reports and report cards should be signed by the parent/guardian and returned.
Hallways Library Locker Use Students will sign out when leaving a classroom. Students going to the nurse or office should have a hand written pass. Otherwise, students must be wearing a pass to be in the hall during class. Students should not be in hallways during the first 10 minutes of each class. When walking in the halls, students should stay on the right side to minimize congestion. Library hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students are required to have a pass to come to the library during class time. Books are checked out for a two week period. Students can have up to two books checked out at any one time or one book and one magazine. Renewals will be allowed only if there is no waiting list for that title. Anyone with an overdue book will not be allowed to check out other materials until all books are returned. Reference books will not be checked out. Back issues of magazines are checked out for an overnight period. Books that are lost or damaged must be paid for by the person whose name appears on the checked out to: report. Students may not bring food or drinks into the library. Printing must be restricted to school related materials. Other printing will be charged a per page fee: 10 cents per page for black/white; 25 cents per page for color. Parents must show an I.D. to check out materials. Students are not permitted to go to the library during lunch. Students are allowed to go to their locker at these times: before and after school before and after lunch before and after PE. Lockers are for individual students only. Do not give your combination to anyone. Do not share your locker with anyone or let them store anything in your locker. Do not accept anything suspicious from anyone or put it in your locker. Students will be held accountable for ANY item found in their lockers. IF YOU THINK IT IS WRONG IT IS WRONG! The care of valuables is a personal responsibility, not that of the school. The school cannot guarantee the security of the contents of the lockers. School authorities may inspect lockers for any reason at any time without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.
Past Problems with Sharing Lockers Stuff disappears - it happens. Other people get the locker combination and more stuff disappears. You can t remember which locker you put your stuff in because you are sharing with someone else is it in his/her locker or mine? Stuff appears in your locker that is not yours. If it is in your locker, YOU are responsible for it, whether you put it there or not! Medication and Nurse Visits Taking any kind of medication is a serious responsibility, and that medication should only be taken under the direction of a physician. Parents/Guardians must bring all medications and notes directly to the clinic. You must have a pass in order to visit the nurse during school hours. Students are not allowed to be in possession of any form of medication. Refer to the NEISD handbook for all policies regarding medication. Off Limits Areas Construction areas: All construction areas are off limits. This includes all fenced off areas around campus. Before and after school: The front of the campus in front of the big Garner gate (after 7:30 am), the football field, in front of the new gym. In the back of the campus tennis courts, basketball courts The gyms are off limits unless you have specified practice/permission. Orchestra and choir rooms are off limits unless you have specified permission. During school: Students are expected to be in their assigned location. Students must have a pass when in the hallways during class time. Prohibited Items Any form of weapons, including: knives, brass knuckles, explosive devices, firearms, and any jewelry, belt buckle or toy that depicts these items Any gang-related material Any drugs, alcohol, or related material Laser pointers Prohibited items will be confiscated by a teacher or administrator Step Process Redirection by teacher Student/teacher conference Parent/teacher conference Referral to counselor Referral to AP
Tardies A student is tardy to class if he/she is not in the classroom when the bell rings. A student is not considered tardy if he/she brings a note from an appropriate school official. When a student is tardy, the teacher will electronically submit the tardy within 24 hours. Administrative consequences will occur for persistent tardies beginning with the fifth tardy. Consequences may include: administrative conference lunch detention Overnight Suspension after school detention In-School Suspension Textbooks Books will only be issued to students whose parent specifically requests them. All other books will be consumables and classroom sets. Transportation General NEISD Rules for the Bus: Refer to Student Parent Handbook for more information Stay seated at all times, facing forward. Use conversational tone of voice and appropriate language. Nothing will be discarded out the windows. Riding the bus is a privilege. Students can be suspended from the bus for violating bus rules. Students must bring a written note signed by their parent if they want to ride a different bus home. The note must be presented to the front office first thing in the morning for approval. NO student will be allowed to ride a different bus without approval from the office. All students who need to cross the roadway must cross using the crosswalk. Students should never cross between school buses. Tutoring Tutoring is available before and after school. See your teacher for specific times and days. Students must check in with door monitor to attend tutoring before school. Tutoring may be offered at lunch. If so, you will need a pass to attend. After school tutoring begins immediately after the 3:25 dismissal bell. Using School Phones Let your teacher know you need to call home and ask for permission to come to the office to use the office phone. Students who need to call home must get permission from the front office to use the phone. Students may not use the phone without permission.