General Information
(Rules, Procedures, Expectations)
1. Due to the location of our school, none of our students will be permitted to walk to or from school or to ride bicycles to or from school. No DCMS student may drive to school.
2. Parents are always welcome to attend the school, but All visitors , including parents, must check in at the principle's office. Students are not permitted to invite friends or preschoolers to attend school with them.
3. Students will not be permitted to go home with another student, ride another bus, or leave the school grounds with anyone other than those listed on the information form completed by parents at the beginning of the school year. Permission will be based upon WRITTEN REQUEST from the parent (s) / guardian (s). Any written request should be dated. PLEASE DO NOT CALL IN THESE REQUEST, EXCEPT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
4. Students who are out of class must have a hall pass or assignment book signed by a teacher.
5. Food of any type is to be eaten in the Commons area, except for special activities approved by the principal. This means students are not permitted to bring drinks, candy or other snacks to class.
6. Students will be unable to Use School Telephones to Make or Receive Calls Unless they Obtain the Principles Permission to do so. Important messages will be delivered to students, but normally, students will not be called to the phone (cases of emergency will be considered).
7. Tobacco products of any type are prohibited by law.
8. Textbooks are furnished by the Doddridge County Board of Education. Students will be assigned numbered textbooks and students/parents will be financially responsible for undue damage or loss.
9. The majority of a student's academic lessons should be learned and completed at school. HOMEWORK, however, should not be confused with unfinished classroom assignments or make-up work do to an absence. If a student appears to have excessive homework the parent/guardian should contact his/her teacher (s) to determine the reason. Students who are habitually late with assignments or who have incomplete homework consistently, will need possible disciplinary attention at school and at home. HOMEWORK REQUESTS for absent student should be made by 8:00 a.m., and only after two (2) consecutive days absent.
10. Emergency situations such as inclement weather might necessitate early school dismissal; therefore, your child needs to have instructions about what to do if parent (s)/guardian (s) are not at home. During periods of bad weather, please turn in to your local tv and radio station for school news.
11. Information concerning the purchase of student accident insurance will be sent home at the beginning of the school year. If you wish to enroll in this insurance program, you should read the policy carefully, complete the application, enclose a check or money order and mail the application and payment directly to the insurance company. The school does not act as the agent for the insurance nor does it benefit financially from the service.
12. There will be extracurricular activities throughout the year. Notices of these activities will be sent home with students and announced through news articles.
13. Field trips may be arranged by individual teachers or teacher teams and must have educational value. Students must have permission slip signed by his/her parent/guardian (s) before being allowed to participate. Students who are chronic discipline problems will have trip privileges denied to them, but will be required to attend school on trip days.
14. Activity buses after school will allow students to remain after school for teacher supervised activities, including detention. Permission forms are included on the back of the enrollment form. The activity bus leaves DCMS at 5:30 p.m. Schedules from drop off locations and approximate times are available.
15. State law requires the flag salute each morning. Proper respect for this exercise is expected.
16. Students who must leave school early for Doctor/Dentists appointments, etc., must present a written excuse for each appointment. Parents must come into the school office to sign out students. Students coming to school after 9:40 or leaving before 1:30 will be counted as a half-day absence. Students arriving between 8:10 and 9:30 or leaving between 1:31 and 3:00 will be counted tardy.
17. Chewing gum is not permitted during the school day or in early or late bus duty.
18. Academic study halls may be provided for students who must complete work or make-up work. Not reporting to an assigned academic study hall will result in detention.
19. Gift deliveries to students during the school day are not conducive to the academic process; therefore, we request that NO gift deliveries come to the school. If deliveries do arrive , our policy is to give them to the students at the end of the day as they depart for buses. Any item too large for a student to hold on his/her lap or place out of the way under a seat, is not permitted on the school bus. Also prohibited are balloons, glass containers, aerosol cans, and other items as defined in the "Safe Schools Act".
20.Book Bags ,backpacks, and sports/gym bags must be left in students lockers or designated areas during the school day. This will reduce congestion in the hallways and classrooms. Book bags can be used to transport student possessions, including books, from home to school and back home. PURSES may be carried to class as long as personal items are kept inside and do not become a distraction in the classroom--otherwise, they may be confiscated as any other item which causes a disturbance.
21. Students are not to bring unnecessary articles such as toys, baseball cards, cameras, hand held video games, radios, tape or CD players, or other electronic devices to school. Such items will be confiscated and parents must pick them up. We recognize the convenience of cell phones for students who participate in extra curricular activities. However, cell phones are to be kept in lockers and/or gym bags and are NOT to be used during the school day.
22.Students are not to trade, buy, or sell articles at school.
23.We try to keep fund raising to a minimum. We do, however, operate one school-wide fundraiser each fall. These funds are primarily used for instructional supplies, Student awards, etc. The school general fund is audited each year and is strictly regulated by state and county policies. Our PTO and other school organizations may also operate fund raisers For special projects our activities. Your child is not required to participate in any fund Raising activity of the school. We do, however, appreciate your support!
24. A monthly NEWSLETTER is sent home for parents and students which includes announcements about school activities, recognition of student achievements, etc. PLEASE WATCH FOR THE NEWSLETTERS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH.
25. Lockers will be assigned to each student. Only school locks may be used, except in special circumstances approved by the principal. Other locks will be cut off lockers. The misuse of lockers by defacing, application of stickers, or other acts of vandalism will result in disciplinary action and the loss of locker privileges. If a locker is abused, the student and/or his/her parent/guardian will be responsible for the cost of replacement or repair to the locker. If a lock is lost or abused, the student will be charged a $3:00 replacement fee. As per county and state policy, the school administration has the right to search student lockers as needed. Students must use only their assigned locker. If a student uses or enters another student's locker, they will be subject to disciplinary action.
26. Fire drills and/or emergency drills provide practice for leaving the building in case of an actual fire or emergency. Directions are posted for leaving the building in each classroom and area of the building. It is essential that everyone pass silently and quickly out of the building and remain completely quiet outside until given instructions. Any misbehavior during a fire drill could lead to serious safety problems and will be considered for disciplinary action. INTENTIONALLY PULLING OR OTHERWISE SETTING OFF A FIRE ALARM WILL RESULT IN SUSPENSION.
27. DRESS CODE: We at DCMS realize that dress styles and costumes change constantly. All students are expected to be clean, neat, well-groomed, and dressed in clothing that is appropriate for school. Dress or appearance that causes disruption of the educational process or presents a health or safety problem is not acceptable. The following shall serve as guidelines for selecting proper attire.
a. HEAD COVERINGS are NOT to be worn INSIDE the building. This includes caps, hats, scarves, or any other head coverings. (We will have special "Hat Days", just for fun, when everyone can wear a hat inside.)
b. The midriff is to be covered front and back. A "NO SKIN" (on the torso) policy is in effect.
c. See-through tops, open-sided shirts, or tank tops are to be worn with a shirt underneath. Shirts with sleeves are preferred.
d. Shirts and shorts of an appropriate length may be worn. When hands are placed at the side, the hem of shorts and skirts must fall below the fingertips. NOTE: Finger tip measurements are extremely variable due to the length of arms and upper body. Mid-thigh is too vague. Therefore, judgment calls will be made in some cases.
e. Footwear soles must be worn at all times. "Flip-Flops" (or similar shoes) are a hazard.
f. No bike pants, bike shorts, boxer shorts, sleep wear or aerobic wear may be worn.
g. Clothing may NOT be worn which is imprinted with tobacco or alcohol advertisements or which contain obscenities, profanity, sexual connotation, or other offensive information, including violent phrases or pictures, blood, weapons, etc.
h. The wearing of overly-tight, distracting, extreme, or inappropriate apparel will not be permitted. CLOTHING WHICH IS TOO LONG OR TOO LOOSE IS ALSO PROHIBITED.
i. Undergarments must be completely covered by outer clothing at all times.
j. Appropriate apparel and shoes must be worn for physical education classes to which students are assigned as part of the Related Arts rotation. When assigned to P.E., students are expected to bring a change of clothes to be stored in gym lockers.
k. CHAINS ARE NOT TO BE WORN and may be considered a weapon, or gang attire. All articles which could be considered gang attire are prohibited. Also any jewelry that has spikes, barbs, or sharp protrusions is also prohibited for safety reasons.
l. Students with hygiene needs will be offered private counseling and time set aside for use of school facilities for improving personal hygiene. NOTE: At the middle school level, deodorant is recommended.
m. Body piercing, self-mutilation, drawing on arms, etc., at school is prohibited.
**At all times, the school administration reserves the right to restrict any attire which causes disruption of the educational process.
28. CONTRABAND: Certain items should not be brought to school because they are illegal, offensive, or disruptive to classroom learning. These items are as follows:
a. Alcohol/Drugs--Any student found to be in the possession of or under the influence of a contraband substance will be dealt with according to Board policy and state law. Board policy requires suspension under these circumstances and possible referral to legal authorities, and/or counseling services.
b. Snuff, Unauthorized Medications, Tobacco, Cigarettes, Pocket Knives, Guns (toy or otherwise), or any other weapons are not to be brought to school and will be confiscated. All confiscated items of this nature will not be returned, but it will be sent to the proper authorities in accordance with state law and students will be dealt with according to state law and the county discipline policy.
c. Toys, Video Games, Baseball Cards, Playing Cards, etc.--Children are not to bring any type of toy to school except with the advance permission of the teacher. The school will not be responsible for such items that are lost or stolen. All toys brought to school without the teacher's permission will be confiscated. Parents will be required to come to school to claim the items. All items not claimed by the last day of school will be disposed of.
29. A NOTE ABOUT MEDICATIONS: Students are not permitted to carry on their person medications (prescribed or over-the-counter), nor store them in their locker. All medicines must be kept in the office unless a doctor's order specifies otherwise.
30. Our school has a policy of no spiral notebooks. Please purchase loose-leaf paper only.
31. Particular teachers by grade level or subject area will not permit the use of pens for class work. If pens are permitted, they should be blue or black ink only.
32. PLEASE RETURN TO THE SCHOOL CALENDAR (one of the last pages in this book) for days school is not in session. All days not listed are instructional days and your child should be in school--even the last day of school. If your children tell you they are not required to come, please call to ask principals or teachers to verify!