MSMS Informational Handbook 2008-2009

Main Street Middle School, with the support of parents and the larger community, is committed to ensuring a developmentally appropriate, safe, healthy, caring environment for learners in grades six through eight. We structure rigorous, creative, challenging and interactive learning experiences that develop students' critical thinking and social values. We act as a bridge from the elementary grades to the high school, assess and meet individual and group needs, and prepare students to become life-long learners and responsible citizens.

Welcome to another new school year! We are excited to welcome our students back on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

Enclosed in this section of the handbook is information related specifically to the middle school. I strongly encourage you to read through this information as well as the information in the "District" section as it applies to all students regardless of the building. It would be helpful if you share and discuss this handbook with your child so they also understand the rules, regulations and procedures. Should you be left with questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Here at the middle school we truly believe in working as a team, one in which families are a critical member. I encourage you to stay in close and frequent contact with your child's team of teachers and to not wait if you have an issue, concern, or question.

I know how busy everyone is yet I invite you to let us know if you would like to be involved or volunteer in the school. One way to become instantly involved is to join the Parent-Teacher-Organization, which meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the school library. There will also be several committees throughout the year that will invite parent representatives. Please look for these opportunities in the monthly editions of In The Middle, our school newsletter located on our website.

We are committed to ensuring that each child achieves a high quality educational experience in a developmentally responsive and respectful environment.

SCHOOL HOURS

The required start of the school day is 8:00 A.M.
Zero period/Breakfast	7:30-8:00
Grades 6-8 HR/TA	8:00-8:20
School day ends	3:00
Office hours	7:30-4:00

Students are encouraged to remain after school to complete work, use the library, study with others, or join a Community Connections activity. When students plan to stay after school, a teacher or staff member must supervise them and their parents/guardians must give permission for them to stay.

Zero period: For some students, the school day begins during zero period (7:30 – 8:00 a.m.). During this time, students have the following options/responsibilities:

Cafeteria for breakfast and/or socializing.
Teacher Support – Students may access teachers during this time for extra help. When possible, arrangements to meet with specific teachers should be made in advance as teachers also schedule additional meetings during this time.
Music – Instrumental, Jazz Band, String lessons and Orchestra may be scheduled.
Library – The library is open to students during this time for quiet study/research Monday through Thursday. The students are expected to follow library behavior rules.
Grade 8 students enrolled in algebra will have seminars scheduled weekly.
Other opportunities may become available as the year progresses.

*There is no outside supervision prior to or after school hours.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

ATTENDANCE

Absences: Consistent daily attendance is required by law and expected at MSMS. Please schedule appointments before and after school and if at all possible, take family trips during the regularly scheduled vacation times. Should a student be too ill to attend school, please call the attendance number (225-8601) by 9:00 AM to let us know. Families of students who miss 5 days of school (excused or unexcused) will be notified in writing from the main office. When a student reaches 10 absences, families will receive a letter from the principal and be invited to a meeting to discuss the frequency of the absences, the impact on student learning, and possible truancy concerns.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

Excused absences include the following:
• Illness
• Family emergencies
• Critical appointments (medical)
• Religious holidays
• Absence from town (when prior approval from the principal has been granted)

Should a student need to come in late or leave school for an appointment, please send in a note to the office where the student will then be given a pass to enter/leave class.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

Tardiness: Students are expected to arrive to school on time. If a student is participating in a zero period opportunity, this means the student is in the classroom ready to participate at 7:30. The regular school day begins at 8:00. When students are tardy they negatively impact their learning, and their late entry to class or advisory disrupts the learning of others. After three tardies within one trimester, parents will be contacted by the Planning Room to discuss the issue. Unless there are unusual (emergency) circumstances, the student will receive an automatic detention. Should tardiness become a consistent problem, the principal will contact the family via a letter to arrange a meeting.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

School Closings, Delayed Openings and Early Releases: For information on school closings, delays and early releases tune to WCAX TV (Ch. 3) or radio stations WDEV (550 AM), WSNO (1450 AM), or WNCS (104.7 FM). This information is also available via the web at http://corp.sover.net/schoolclosings. Please be sure to complete and return the emergency information form sent to families in August. It is extremely important that families and students have emergency plans in place should an unexpected emergency situation occur during the school year.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM

At Main Street Middle School, it’s all about making choices. There are many more food choices at the middle school level. With these choices comes a student’s increased responsibility of managing themselves. They become more responsible about what they choose to eat and how to pay for it. Money is to be put on an account for your child and purchases deducted as they are made. Students are not allowed to overdraw their account. If a student has an emergency and forgets his or her lunch money, the student will be allowed to charge one meal. Students are not allowed to charge snacks. Snacks are meant to supplement a balanced meal, not be the meal. Students can find out their balance from the cashier at any time and learn the importance of managing money through their own meal account.

Breakfast is undoubtedly the most important meal your child eats. Breakfast is available from 7:30 – 8:20 AM daily. There is plenty of time to eat, chat with friends, read or do homework. During the morning, children with a teacher’s pass may go to the cafeteria to get breakfast or a snack. If your child does not like to eat breakfast early, we suggest that you encourage them to eat it at school. Breakfast specials include locally made bagels (K.C.’s in Waterbury), school made muffins, yogurt and fruit parfaits, fresh fruit or 100% juice and milk.

Lunch starts at 11:00 AM. The options for lunch are as follows:

Main Event Meal Main Entrée changes daily Menu available monthly Always includes Protein, Fruit, Veggies, Bread, Milk	Pizza Meal Pizza w/whole wheat crust, varied toppings Veggie Sticks Choice of Fruit Choice of Milk
Yogurt Meal Yogurt Sunflower Seeds or Cheese Stick Homemade Roll Veggie Sticks Choice of Fruit/Choice of Milk	Salad Meal Large Garden Salad w/cheese or meat Homemade or Manghi’s Roll Choice of Fruit Soup Choice of Milk
Deli-Bar Sandwich (made to order) Choice of Bread: Whole Wheat, Wraps, Bulky Bun Choice of Filling: Turkey, Ham, Tuna Salad, Egg Salad, Chicken, Humus, Cheese Vegetable Toppings: Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Green Pepper Choice of Fruit: Always a fresh assortment, local whenever possible Soup: Varies daily, homemade when possible Choice of Milk (2%, 1% Fat Free, Chocolate)

Families that may qualify for free or reduced meals should send in the application that comes in the “Back to School Packet”. If you have children in more than one school, we only need one application per family. However, ALL children in the family unit must be listed on the form.

If you have any questions about the form or the school meals program, please contact the kitchen manager, Roxie Bador, at 225-8669 or you can call the Food Service Director, Betty Hammond, at 225-8016 or e-mail (Betty@mpsvt.org). We are here to help and look forward to another exciting school year.

Prices are as follows yet subject to change for the 2008-2009 year:

Breakfast	$1.25
Student Lunch	$2.25

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

PARENT INVOLVEMENT-PTO AND PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

We believe, and know, that parental involvement is critical to a child’s success in school. Research shows that many high-achieving students have parents that are involved in their school community. We realize that family demands are great, however we invite you to give what you can. Your involvement will serve to improve your child’s experience at school, and will also contribute to school improvement on a larger scale. Please feel free to contact your child’s advisor, classroom teacher and/or the principal and let us know how you would like to be involved in our Main Street community.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

PARENT/GUARDIAN TEACHER ORGANIZATION

The broad purpose of this organization is to support and improve Main Street Middle School, particularly in those areas that are outside the boundaries of basic education and co-curricular activities. The PTO offers support for a variety of enrichment activities, including drama and art, which are activities listed as highly desirable by our students. The PTO also sponsors fund raising events that have as their primary purpose a desire to bring the Montpelier community together. This group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The meetings begin at 7:00 PM.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

PARENT CONFERENCES

Parent conferences are scheduled two times during the school year (11/24-25 and 3/19-20). Teacher advisors and academic teachers attend these conferences. Students are also required to attend as they are an integral part of the conference. Students will lead the conferences as they share class work from the trimester. Should you want to meet with teachers not attending the conference, please call the school to arrange a time.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

STUDENT-PARENT-TEACHER COMPACT

IN ORDER TO HELP THE STUDENTS ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS,
STUDENTS WILL	PARENTS WILL	TEACHERS WILL
Use good judgment. Pay attention in class. Work hard in and after school. Talk to parents about problems or situations. Set high goals for themselves. Stand up for what they believe in and make sure their voices are heard. Be responsible for their learning by using good judgment, asking questions, and talking with teachers and peers. Make sure their work is quality work. Keep a positive attitude.	Balance extracurricular activities with schoolwork. Read and discuss the reading with child. Limit use of TV, phone and recreational technology. Be good role models and encourage citizenship skills and volunteerism in the community. Listen and talk to their child daily and make their child feel important and loved. Meet the basic needs of their child by ensuring he/she is fed, clothed, rested, clean, and sheltered. Participate as much as possible in all types of school activities. Encourage their child to participate and take responsibility learning and behavior. Communicate to their child that they support the school and the teachers.	Provide feedback to parents on the child's progress periodically. Be available for individual and small group assistance before and after school. Explain, expect, and hold students accountable for their learning and behavior. Maintain high standards and expect high quality work. Create a positive learning environment for all students. Develop guidelines for learning with clearly identified learning expectations. Build on what the student knows and connect his/her learning to everyday life. Use a variety of tools and strategies to support each student's learning style. Work to increase students' independence, autonomy and responsibility.

Back to MSMS Table of Contents

STAFF (225 Exchanges)

MIDDLE