September 2015 Dear Parents/Guardians, We are very excited to welcome all of our middle school students and their families to a new academic year. We would like to welcome families and students who are new to our middle school. This letter contains important information regarding our middle school. For returning middle school families, please take the time to note any changes in our policies. Your child has reviewed all of the following information at school today. The policies outlined in this letter are in place for ALL 6 th 8 th grade students. Please be sure to discuss the contents of this letter with your child(ren) and return the portion that requires your signature. Middle School Schedule: Students will be not remaining in the same room for the instructional day. All students will rotate classrooms and have a different teacher for each subject. Students can expect to receive different assignments and workload from each class. It is important that students remain organized and make the most of each class time. The middle school team for the 2015 2016 school year is: Ms. Shultz: Reading Ms. McMaster: Writing Mr. Sigman: Math Mrs. Storto 8th Grade Mrs. Brandes 7th Grade Mrs. Walsh 6th Grade Mrs. Rovito: Science Ms. Jugenitz: Social Studies Teacher Communication: All teachers will post class information on their own classroom page at www.hamiltoncps.org or on Classroom (student logins will be emailed out individually to parents. Please contact your child s homeroom teacher if you do not receive it). These websites are our primary form of communication as it has the school calendar, events, and other announcements. If you wish to have more information, please call or email your child s teacher (information also provided online). Teachers will update their pages on a weekly basis.
Discipline Overview: Hamilton middle school uses the check system. Each homeroom has a roster that will travel with students from class to class. Students can receive a check from any of their teachers for minor behavior (talking, not following directions, etc). This helps students become accountable for their own behavior and minimize students being sent to the office. Students who have 5 checks or less are eligible to attend our monthly incentives at the end of the month. The middle school team will determine monthly incentives. The incentives can range from Movie Day to a field trip. Below are some specifics regarding the new check system: Suspension of any type means student is not allowed to participate in the monthly incentive Students who have 5 checks or less will be allowed to participate in monthly incentives. All teachers, including Enrichment teachers can give students a check. Teachers will notify students when they are receiving a check. Each month the check system starts over and your child have the opportunity to work towards a new incentive. Checks are added up each weekly and totaled at the end of the month. 3 checks= detention, 4 5= office referral, 6 or more = administrative action such as a suspension and not allowed to attend incentive. 2 consecutive detentions can result in an in school suspension. Detentions are assigned to students who earn three checks in one week. Students attend detention the day the third check is earned during their lunch. These detentions are mandatory. Parents will be notified if a detention is assigned. Students can receive checks for the following things: fighting, being disruptive, excessive talking, disrespect, no participation, etc. After each monthly incentive, the slate is wiped clean. Detentions and checks will not roll over into the next month. Classwork/Homework: Students will not be assigned a separate homework category. All non assessment work is categorized as classwork. Work is designed using a portfolio method and due once a week. This means that work will be assigned and worked on in class, but will need to be done at home if it is not completed. Our classwork assigned is designed to encourage reflection, metacognition, and critical thinking needed to master class content. Our goal in middle school is to prepare students for high school Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as: The practice of taking someone else s work or ideas and passing them off as one s own. This includes copying and pasting text from outside sources, paraphrasing someone else s words, or changing a few words within a sentence. Disciplinary consequences for plagiarism as a first offence will be: Automatic 50% on plagiarized paper. In school suspension where the plagiarized paper will be rewritten and the scores of the plagiarized paper and revised paper will be averaged.
Students will research about plagiarism and write an essay to reflect on their actions. Further action will take place for repeat offenders at the discretion of the administration and can include (but is not limited to) out of school suspension. Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy: While we understand that students may need cell phones for safety reasons, they are not needed during the instructional day. If there is an emergency, please call the school. Students who wish to have a cell phone in school must bring a letter signed by their parent, or it will be taken away and only returned to a parent. Students must turn in their cell phones each morning to their homeroom teachers and phones are then sent to the office. If a student is caught with a phone or electronic device during the day: The phone will be taken away and student will come to the office to retrieve the cell phone. OR Parents will be called and must pick up the phone/electronic device. It will NOT be released to students. Repeated offenders may lose their cell phone privileges entirely and face consequences detailed in student code of conduct. Hamilton school is NOT responsible for lost or stolen phones, electronic games, or any other valuables. Do not leave valuables in your book bag or coats; they WILL NOT be replaced if lost or stolen. Bullying Policy: We do not tolerate bullying in any form at Hamilton school. Furthermore, Illinois has legislation that specifically addresses cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is punishable as a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and if severe enough can become an expellable offense. Dress Code: Hats are not allowed to be worn in the building. They will be taken away if students are wearing them. T shirts that are offensive or have inappropriate content on them are not allowed. (ie. Shirts promoting drugs, alcohol, etc.) Locker Policy : Students are assigned a locker during the first week of school. This locker is property of Hamilton school. We expect students to follow the rules below: Students are not allowed to switch lockers once they are assigned a locker. No locks are permitted on lockers.
No stickers or adhesive posters are allowed. Anything displayed inside the locker must be appropriate as determined by administration. Students are responsible for any damage done to their lockers. Students should not leave any valuables in their lockers. Lockers are primarily to store coats and books. Hamilton is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Students will have time to go to their lockers in the morning, before lunch, after lunch, and before their specials at the end of the day. No other times during class outside of these times are allowed. Technology in the Middle School: Students will be assigned a number at the beginning of the year which will be carried over to all technological devices in the middle school. In order for students to use the technology (ipads/chromebooks), they must have a signed technology contract turned in. Please read the technology requirements closely with your child so you are both aware of the expectations of using the technological devices. All classwork and assignments will be posted on the Hamilton website and/or Classroom. It is the responsibility of the student to check these sources if they do not know the due dates or requirements of an assignment. Every student is given a Google account through CPS and this will be used as the primary source of communication between teacher and student. Students will have to follow technology appropriate use guidelines outlined in their technology contract. Health & Wellness Plan at Hamilton: All fundraisers will be food free. Food will not be used as a reward for success. Candy jar for correct answers, etc. Hamilton Classroom Celebrations : In unison with CPS initiatives for health and wellness, Hamilton is implementing a healthy and safe way to celebrate special occasions. Many Hamilton students have severe food allergies as well and we must assure a safe learning environment for all students. Birthday Celebrations: There is no expectation that parents provide birthday favors. If you do wish to send in a little something for your child to share on his/her birthday please keep in mind: Hamilton will acknowledge birthdays this year without food, snacks or treats. This decision has been made to accommodate students who have severe food related allergies and to promote healthy eating at Hamilton
The use of technology resources is a privilege, not a right. Please review the rules regarding Hamilton s technology policies. Returning a signed form allows you to use the ipads/chromebooks. Please check each box. I understand: I will use the ipads/chromebooks responsibly so as to not damage them. I understand sound must be muted at all times, unless a teacher has told me it is alright to turn it on for an activity I am doing. I will not download music to the ipads/chromebooks. I will not look at sites not relating to the assignment my teacher has given me. I will not play games on the ipad/chromebooks unless my teacher has said it is alright. I will not delete any apps. I will not change the lock screen or background picture. I will not take pictures with the ipad/chromebooks unless it is for an assignment my teacher has given me. I will not look at any sites containing any guns, weapons, inappropriate language, alcohol, drugs, or gang information. I understand that this may result in suspension. I will not sign into my email account in the settings section of the ipads I will not text message/g chat, or use email in inappropriate ways from the ipad/chromebooks. I understand my teachers have my password and can monitor my account as needed. I will not access other student s accounts, files, or data. I understand that any type of vandalism may result in suspension. By signing on the next page, you understand that failure to follow any of these rules may result in detention or suspension. In addition, you may not be able to use the ipad/chromebooks for the rest of the year.
Please detach this page and return to your child s homeroom teacher Hamilton Elementary 2015 2016 Cell Phone Consent Form I,, parent of, give my child permission to bring his/her cell phone to school. I understand that the phone must be turned off and handed in to the office every morning. I also understand that if my child cannot follow the cell phone policy, administration will follow the consequences outlined below: First offense: The phone will be taken away and student will come to the office to retrieve the cell phone. Parents will be notified. Second offense: Parents will be called and must pick up the phone/electronic device. It will NOT be released to students. No exceptions. Third offense: Repeated offenders may lose their cell phone privileges entirely and face consequences detailed in student code of conduct. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Contact Information I have read and reviewed the Hamilton middle school policies with my child. Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature I have read and reviewed the technology appropriate use policies with my child. Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature I have read and reviewed the service learning hour requirements (7th and 8th only). Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature
Service Hours: (Applies to only 7 th and 8 th grade students) Hamilton requires all students in 7 th and 8 th grades to complete service learning hours. All students must complete 20 hours of service by the end of the year. The first half (10 hours) will be due on January 29th and the second half will be due one week before the class trip. 8 th graders must complete their hours in order to participate in 8 th grade festivities (luncheon/class trip). Students can complete these hours by doing various activities offered by Hamilton. Some ways may be volunteering to tutor younger students, helping teachers, participating in Hamilton s Buddy Program or local community centers. Each student will have a form to track his/her hours and will have to write a reflection upon completion of service hours. The purpose of Service Learning Hours is to have middle schools participate in helping better their community through service to others. Service learning is also an important component when applying to high schools, universities and jobs. We strongly believe that in volunteering, students will gain an appreciation and understanding of how their communities work. It will also foster a sense of responsibility that we all have to one another. We encourage all students to become a part of the Hamilton community by volunteering in any of the various programs/family nights that we offer. If students are participating in a family night as part of a fundraising effort and they receive the funds, service hours will not be given. Students will receive information of upcoming events.
Service Learning Hours Form (20 hours total) First 10 hours due January 29 Second 10 hours due One week before class trip Name: Classroom #: Site/Project Name: Site Address: Site Contact: _ Title: Site Phone Number:_ Date Time In Time Out Total Hours Description of Activity Supervisor s Signature Basic Responsibilities (Description): Total Hours Completed:
Reflection Question: Answer the following question in complete sentences. Your response must be a minimum of 3 well written paragraphs. Please attach your answer to this document. A typed paper with 12pt font is preferred, but a neatly written paper will also be accepted. Think about your experiences in completing your service learning hours. Which experiences were most meaningful to you and why? In what ways has this service learning project impacted you? I,, have completed my required service learning hours for the 2015 2016 school year. Student Signature: Date: Site Contact Signature: Date: