School Policies
School Policies, Behavior Expectations, and other Guidelines & Rules
Attendance and Tardies
The staff at Kelly believes that regular attendance is especially important during the middle school years. Students are learning personal responsibility and organizational skills as well as subject matter, and absences make it difficult for students to stay caught up with their work. We work to provide a challenging and motivating program that will encourage students to be at school every day.
It is very important you call the school at 687-3224 when your student is unable to attend. If you do not have a phone, please send a note with your child when s/he returns to school. If your child is absent three school days in a row, or has irregular attendance, a note from a doctor or nurse practitioner (available at North Eugene High School Clinic) may be required.
An absence may be excused if the absence is caused by the pupil’s sickness, by the sickness of some member of the pupil’s family, or by an emergency. A principal or teacher may also excuse absences for other reasons where satisfactory arrangements are made in advance of the absence. The Kelly staff primarily limits other reasons to doctor or dentist appointments which cannot be made outside the school day. Baby-sitting, vacations, and family social events are generally not considered acceptable reasons to miss school.
Tardies: All students are expected to be seated in class with the proper materials before the tardy bell rings. This increases academic performance due to increased engaged time for all students, decreases chaos in the halls and disruption in the classroom due to late entering students. It is a demonstration of respect and appreciation for the learning process, self, teachers, and fellow students. Consequences are determined by the classroom teacher, and may include such things as time owed after school, an intervention plan discussed with the student, or a referral to the office.
Behavior Expectations
Act in a safe and healthy way.
Follow the various rules around the school and on the buses.
Treat all property with respect.
Take care of textbooks, furniture, bathrooms, computers, and personal property of others.
Respect the rights and needs of others.
Work without disruption, show courtesy toward others, cooperate to help others learn, use appropriate and respectful language.
Take responsibility for learning.
Work hard and do your best. Come to school prepared to learn, be a good listener, turn your assignments in on time, do your homework, and set a good example for others.
The purpose of the disciplinary system is to provide a deterrent for misbehavior while providing opportunities to teach correct behavior to students. Each disciplinary consequence will have both of these components. We will use consequences that will provide a learning experience for students on an individual basis because it is recognized that there are individual differences between students.
Students who do not comply with the rules of in-school suspension will be sent home to complete the suspension. Any student receiving 3 suspensions during any trimester or 6 suspensions for the year may be recommended for expulsion.
One of the teaching tools used successfully at Kelly is Peer Mediation. A selected group of students have been trained to mediate and resolve disputes between students.
These rules are consistent with the district Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.
Complaints or Concerns
If either parents or students have concerns or complaints, they are encouraged to use the following procedures.
First, speak to the person with whom you directly have the concern or complaint and try to resolve the problem at an informal verbal level.
If that doesn't work, consider asking a counselor for assistance in problem solving.
The next step is to speak to one of the administrators or fill out a complaint form (available in the front office). If you are not satisfied with how the problem is resolved, contact the Deputy Superintendent (687-3454).
Dress Code
Kelly is committed to a healthful environment that is conducive to learning and positive social interactions. Student dress and grooming shall be clean and in keeping with health, sanitary and safety practices. Because of health and sanitation consideration, students shall wear shoes while on school property. The following items of apparel are not considered to be appropriate at school:
Clothing that displays illegal or inappropriate things, such as:
- cigarettes or other tobacco products
- alcoholic products or drugs
- language that is vulgar and plainly offensive, obscene or has sexual connotations
Clothing or objects commonly associated with gangs, such as:
- patterended handkerchief bandanas of any color
- hairnets
Clothing that is likely to disrupt or interfere with school or is a safety hazard, such as:
- crop tops, skimpy clothing (no bare midriffs or short skirts)
- heavy chains and studed bracelts or necklaces
- baggy pants
Homework Policy for Absences
If a student is ill or injured and not able to attend school, teachers prefer to have the student concentrate on getting well, and wait until a return to school to get homework assignments. This seems to work well, especially if there are specific directions or help needed. However, if a student is going to be absent for an extended time (3 days or more), parents may request homework. The office will forward the request to teachers, and parents may then pick up the assignments the following day. (24 hours after the request).
Internet Use Guidelines
Remember: Your use of the Internet mirrors the kind of person you are!
RESPECTRESOURCE LIMITS:
Use the system only for educational and career-development activities under the guidance and direction of Kelly staff or parent volunteers. Students may not download or copy files without staff permission.
PLAGIARISM and COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT:
Do not plagiarize works found on the Internet (take the ideas or writings of others and present them as your own). Respect the rights of copyright owners (don’t reproduce a copyright protected work; if you are unsure about whether you can use the work, request permission from the copyright owner or check with a teacher about how to avoid copyright infringement).
INAPPROPRIATE ACCESS TO MATERIAL:
Do not use the system to access material that is profane, obscene (pornographic), that advocates illegal acts, or advocates violence of discrimination towards others (hate literature), unless it is specifically the purpose of your research and is approved by both your teacher and your parent. If you mistakenly access inappropriate information, immediately tell your teacher to protect yourself against the danger of an intentional violation of this policy. Parents should instruct students regarding additional material they think is inappropriate to access; the district expects students to follow parents’ instructions.
YOU ARE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES.
Please note: students leave "electronic footprints" which school and district personnel can check. If a student is in violation of the above guidelines, any of the following may occur as deemed appropriate:
1. A verbal warning, and contact with a parent.
2. Exclusion from use of the system. Parents will be notified.
3. Building disciplinary plan consequences will be followed.
4. Law enforcement agencies may be involved.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent Conferences are scheduled in the fall. This time is set a side to make appointments with your students teachers, however this is not the only time you can talk to your students teachers. Parents are encouraged to contact staff members at school or by email if additional information or a conference is desired.
Parent Participation
Parent participation Kelly Middle Schools is an important part of the school program. Parents are encouraged to visit the school, to assist in instructional activities, and to participate in the Kelly Middle Schools PTO, the Kelly Co-Pilots. The school's resources are available for after-school use by parents and the community.
Report Cards
The entire district is on a semester reporting period. At Kelly Middle Schools we send out warning notices at 4 1/2-weeks to those students that are in danager of failing. At the 9-week mark all students receive a progress report. Again at the 13-week point warning notices are sent to only those students that are in danger of failing.Semester report cards are issued at the end of 18-week grading period. Parents are encouraged to contact staff members at school or by email if additional information or a conference is desired.
Skateboards & Rollerblades
Some students use skateboards or rollerblades for transportation to and from school. To ensure student safety, skateboarding or rollerblading is not allowed in the parking lots or front sidewalk areas immediately before or after school, nor are skateboards allowed on school buses. After school hours people may skate at their own risk.
Visitors
Parents should feel free to come and visit the school at any time. An extra treat for all is to come and have lunch with your student. Please check in at the office first.
Students who are not enrolled at Kelly are not encouraged to visit while classes are in session (especially high school students). Students may not bring pets to school. (The only exception is with permission from a teacher for a specific class and then only for the time of that class.) Middle-school-age visitors are accepted during regular school hours (including social activities) when the following conditions are met:
1. The visitor is a relative or friend from outside of Lane County.
2. The visitor's school is not in session during the day of the visit.
3. The visitor is in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade (middle school age).
4. At least one day prior to the visit, the student gets a permission slip from the office and has each teacher sign to give approval for the visit. Approval must also be obtained prior to the visiting date from either the principal or assistant principal.
5 . No visitors are allowed during the last 10 days of the school year. No exceptions.
6 . Only Kelly 8th graders (or those who attended Kelly and are currently 8th graders) may attend the end of the year 8th grade party.
