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NEWTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL2020-21Student/Parent Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTSHYBRID OPENING PLAN – CHANGES TO HANDBOOK . 4-6A. GENERAL INFORMATIONWelcome/Telephone Directory . 7Newtown Public Schools Mission Statement, Core Beliefs and Student's Personal Mission Statement . 8Social and Emotional Learning . 9-10Newtown Middle School StaffCluster Teachers . 11Additional Newtown Middle School Staff . 12Educational Assistants, Interns, Building Subs, Etc. . 13Newtown Middle School Staff Voice Mail Numbers. 14Newtown Middle School SchedulesClass Time Schedule . 15Cluster Grade Level Schedules . 16Delay Opening – 2 Hour . 17Early Release Day Schedule . 18Emergency Closing Schedule . 19B. STUDENT INFORMATIONArrival Procedures for Students and Parents . 20Bicycles . 20Bookbags . 20Bus Information . 20Bus Rider Safety Regulations . 20Cafeteria . 20Closed Campus . 21Dismissal. 21Dismissal (Early) . 21Dress CodeNewtown Middle School Clarification of Dress Code . 21District (Student Dress and Grooming) . 22Fire Drills . 22Hall Passes . 22Library Media Center . 22Lockers . 22Lost & Found . 22Physical Education . 22Physical Education Dress Code . 23Rollerblades . 23School Counselors . 23Scooters . 23Selling of Merchandise . 23Skateboards . 23Student Visitors . 23Telephones . 23Textbooks . 23C. DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINESNewtown Middle School Philosophy of Discipline . 24School Behavioral Standards . 24Disciplinary Guidelines . 24-25“No Tolerance” Practices . 25D. ACADEMIC INFORMATIONAcademic Concern/Retention Procedure . 26Achievement Ratings . 26Effort Ratings (Citizenship) . 26Algebra 1. 26Algebra 1 (Eighth Grade Rubric) . 26-272

Grades (Changing of) . 27Homework . 27Honor Roll . 27Progress Reporting . 27Standards for Participation in School Activities . 27Standards for Promotion/Summer School . 27Study Skills Standards . 28World Language (Audit Policy) . 28E. ACTIVITIESBasketball & Baseball/Softball Games (After school) . 29Eighth Grade Moving-Up Dinner Dance . 29Eighth Grade Washington/Gettysburg Trip . 29Field Trips . 29Interscholastic Sports . 29Intramurals/Activities . 29Student Council . 30F. PARENT INFORMATIONAccident Insurance . 31Addressing Classroom Concerns . 31Attendance Procedures and Tardy Policy . 31Child Custody . 32Emergency Procedures . 32Health Education Program. 32Health Services: Pre-Entrance Requirements for Entering Students, Screening Programs,Administration of Medication, Exclusion for Communicable Diseases, Physical Education Excuses,and General Suggestions . 32-34Health Office: Passes . 34Inclement Weather . 34News Releases . 34P.P.T Schedules on Delayed Start Days . 34PTA Board . 34School Breakfast and Lunch Program . 35Student Obligations . 35Student Records . 35Visitors and Volunteers . 35G. STUDY SKILLS STANDARDSStudy Skills Standards . 36Homework and Study . 36Written Work Standards . 36Special Procedures . 36Guidelines for Productive Study . 37Ready to Research Guidelines . 37Self-Directed Learning (A Guide for Parents) . 38What Parents Can Do to Help . 39Shared Responsibilities . 39H. DISTRICT POLICIESAcademic Dishonesty: Cheating/Plagiarism . 40Safe School Climate Policy. 40-443

HYBRID OPENING PLAN – CHANGES TO STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOKPLEASE NOTE: The following procedures/policies will be in affect starting for the 2020-21 school yearuntil further notice. These items supersede procedures/policies listed later in this handbook.ARRIVALStudents should report to their homeroom classroom upon arriving at school. If students are going to bedropped off, parents please do not do so prior to 7:40 AM. Students are reminded to wear a mask and toappropriately socially distance themselves when walking in the hallway. Drop offs for students withHomerooms in the A wing should use the Horseshoe driveway in the front of the building.Please also note we changed the flow of traffic in the Horse shoe to the opposite direction from whatwe were using in prior years. This will allow for right hand turns to help limit traffic congestion. Students withtheir homeroom in the C wing should be dropped off at the Cafeteria DoorsBUS STUDENTSNewtown Middle School students should sit towards the front of the bus, as Newtown High School studentshave been asked to sit towards the back. We ask students to sit one to a seat unless it is with a familymember. If bus capacity doesn’t allow for one to a seat, please sit with the same person every time student isriding the bus. Students will also be required to wear a mask on the bus. Windows should be opened asweather allows.Students with their homeroom in the C Wing should disembark at the C Wing door and A Wing Homeroomstudents should get off at the A Wing Door.BUS PASSESNo bus passes will be issued this year as students cannot ride any other bus other than the one they areassigned to.CLASS ATTENDANCETeachers will be taking attendance each period. The expectation is that students learning remotely will login toeach class at the designated time. If a student is experiencing technical difficulties they should contact theteacher as soon as possible. Teachers will be flexible with students that communicate with them. It is theexpectation that students are on time, appropriately dressed, and are logged in to their assigned class in apublic part of the home ( i.e.: Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room) and that students will participate fully andappropriately. Teachers will also be providing additional steps and tips for students during remote learningtimes.DAILY ATTENDANCEIf your child is sick, please email NMSAttendance@newtown.k12.ct.us or call (203)270-6145. Please be veryspecific on the symptoms your child is exhibiting such as temperature or fever, cough, runny nose, nausea,vomiting, etc. You can report this 24/7.TARDYStudents that arrive late should enter the school through the main entrance (by the lobby) and go directly to thesecurity guard who will take their name and cluster and time of arrival. Students should then go directly to theirassigned class.4

HYBRID OPENING PLAN – CHANGES TO STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK (continued)DISMISSALSPARENT PICK UP AT END OF DAYIf you plan to pick up your child every day, please send an email toNMSAttendance@newtown.k12.ct.us and give a one-time permission for the entire school year. If youneed to pick up your child on certain days regularly, an email stating that will also suffice for the year.If you plan on occasionally picking up your student, you must emailNMSAttendance@newtown.k12.ct.us each day you need to do so. If it is a last minute decision to pickup your child (after 2:00 p.m.) please ensure you call (203)426-7638 and inform the school.Pick up locations: If your child’s homeroom is in the A Wing, pick up will be at the horseshoeentrance. If your child’s homeroom is in the C Wing, pick-up will be from the cafeteria door.EARLY DISMISSALSIf a parent must pick up their child early from school please email 24 hrs. inadvance NMSAttendance@newtown.k12.ct.us if less than 24hrs please call (203)426-7638 and let usknow the student name and time of pick-up. Upon the parent’s arrival to pick up their child, please waitin the vestibule of the main entrance and your child will meet you there once checking out with thesecurity guard.UNPLANNED DISMISSAL FROM NURSEAfter the nurse contacts the parent(s) and arranges for the student to be picked up, the student willremain in a designated room in the Nurse’s Office. When the parent arrives at NMS, they are to parkalong the school building and call either the nurse at (203)426-7636 or the C Wing Office at(203)426-7638 to inform us that they are here and their student can be dismissed.ITEM(S) DROPPED OFF FOR YOUR CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL DAYIf a parent must drop off an item for their child during the school day, the item will be placed on a table in thevestibule (in the main entrance) - the item MUST be marked with the student’s name and cluster. If the item isdropped off prior to the student’s lunch it will be given to the student during their lunch period; if the item isdropped off after the student’s lunch, the student will be asked to pick it up.LIBRARYThe library will not be open to student browsing at this time. Students will still be able to check books out ofthe library through “curb-side” pick up. In addition e-books will be available to NMS students.LOCKERSStudents will not be utilizing lockers at this time.SCHOOL SUPPLIESStudents will not be using lockers this year, so a sturdy backpack is recommended as students will be bringingtheir belongings from class to class. Since teachers will be using Google Classroom most of their assignmentswill be completed online. Students should be prepared with a notebook, pens, and pencils. Students may alsochoose to bring in an extra mask, hand sanitizer and wipes. These items will be in every classroom aswell. Classroom Teachers will be letting students know about any additional supplies needed during the firstfew days of classes. Additionally, here is a link to some of the supplies students will need for Art:https://nms.newtown.k12.ct.us/ t.pdf5

HYBRID OPENING PLAN – CHANGES TO STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK (continued)STUDENT VISITORSStudent visitors will not be allowed until further notice.WALKERSIf you would like to allow your child to walk home from school please be sure to check the box in yourPowerSchool portal (Signatures, and Opt-Outs page) this will generate a list of students with permission towalk. In the event of an emergency requiring the need for your child to walk home, and you have not given thispermission in PowerSchool, please call (203)426-7642 to make arrangements. Students that walk home afterschool without parent permission may/will be subjected to a school consequence.6