School Handbook

 

This handbook is to be used in conjunction with the Morgan County Schools Student Handbook.  This handbook includes procedures that are exclusive to West Morgan High School and Morgan County Schools.  If you have any questions or comments about this handbook, contact the administration of West Morgan High School.

 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

THE MISSION OF THE WEST MORGAN SCHOOL FACULTY IS TO PROVIDE A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATIONAL CURRICULM IN WHICH THE INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT ARE CONSIDERED IN ORDER TO PREPARE HIM/HER FOR A SUCCCESSFUL LIFE AS A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING AND INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SOCIETY.

 

OFFICE HOURS

7:15 – 3:15 Monday - Friday

 

IMPORTANT CONTACTS      School Office-  (256) 353-5214

High School office:              Mrs. Hopkins         

Principal:                                Mr. Harris        

Asst. Principal:                     Mr. Chambers

Attendance Office:              Mrs. Alberti

Counselor:                             Mrs. Banks

School Nurse:                       Mrs. Wilson

Middle School Principal:    Mr. Sparkman

BELL SCHEDULE

 

Daily Schedule                                                    

7:05 – 7:45              Early Morning Detention   

7:50 – 8:40              1^st period

8:45 – 9:35              2^nd period

9:35 – 9:45              Break

9:48 – 9:58              Focus Group

10:03 – 10:53          3^rd period

10:58 – 11:48          4^th period

11:53 – 1:05            5^th period

1:10 – 2:00              6^th period

2:05 – 2:55              7^th period

 

Lunch Schedule

 

11:20 - 11:40 5th & 6th grade

11:53 - 12:17 7th & 8th grade

12:21 - 12:41 1st lunch (9-12)

12:45 - 1:05 2nd lunch (9-12)

               

Activity schedule

7:05 – 7:45              Early Morning Detention

7:50 – 8:40              1^st period

8:45 – 9:35              2^nd period

9:35 – 9:45              Break

9:48 – 9:58              Homeroom

10:03 – 10:53          3^rd period

10:58 – 11:48          4^th period

11:50 – 1:00            5^th period

1:10 – 1:40              6^th period

1:45 – 2:15              7^th period

2:20 – 2:55              Activity

 

 

Club Schedule

 PERIOD                                    TIME                                   MINUTES

1st                                           7:50-8:25                 (35)

2^nd                                         8:30-9:05                  (35)

A Clubs                                 9:10-9:40                 (30) HS students and teachers in Caft.

Break                                      9:40-9:50                 (10)

3^rd                                         9:55-10:30                             (35)

4^th                                         10:35-11:10                             (35)

B Clubs                                 11:15-11:45                              (30) HS students stay in 4^th period .

5^th                                          11:45-1:05                             lunch

6^th                                           1:10-1:45                (35)

C Clubs                                  1:50-2:20               (30) HS students stay in 6^th period.

7^th                                           2:25-2:55      (30)

 

 

Club A

1. Ping Pong A

2. DECA

3. JR National Honor Society

4. HS National Honor Society

 

Club B

1. Ping pong B

2.  MS Student Council

3. HS Student Council

4. Broadcasting

 

Club C

1. Ping pong C

2. Spanish club

3. FCCLA

4. FFA

 

TARDIES TO SCHOOL

Students who arrive after school begins at 7:50 must report to the office and will check in. They will receive a tardy. 

 

CHECK-IN/OUTS

Check-in/outs will be handled through the main office.  Teachers should not allow students to enter class without a note from the office.  Teachers will not allow students to leave their classroom unless instructed by school personnel.  NOTES OR TELEPHONE CALLS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CHECK-OUT OF A STUDENT.

 

TARDIES TO CLASS AND SCHOOL

Students should be in the classroom and seated when the bell rings to not be considered tardy.   Teachers will allow three tardies to their class each semester, any tardy after the third one should be written up on a discipline slip and sent to the office. 

 

1-3 tardies are excused

4th tardy 1 day EMD/Corporal Punishment/Written assignment  7^th tardy 5 days ISS

5^th tardy 1day ISS /Written Assignment                                     8^th tardy 7 days ISS

6^th tardy 3 days ISS                                                                  9^th tardy suspension

                                                                                   

EXCUSES

In accordance with state law, a parent or guardian must explain the cause of every absence of students under his/her control or care.  Every student, upon return to school, must bring a written excuse from home within three days following the absence signed by the student’s parent or guardian for each absence.  These written notes will NOT be given to classroom teachers, but presented to the attendance officer located in the ISS room before 7:45 a.m.  The attendance officer will issue an excuse slip to be signed by teachers.  If a student needs an excuse slip after 7:50a.m. they must get it from the main office and it will be considered a tardy.

 

 

MAKE-UP WORK FOR ABSENCES

If a student is absent for any reason, the student shall be allowed to make up all major assignments and other work missed during said absences at time agreeable to the teacher(s).  Teachers shall not be required to reteach lessons, but students shall be given a reasonable opportunity to learn the lessons missed due to excused absences.  The student shall be responsible for contacting the teacher or teachers to arrange make-up work.

 

Time limit – Plans to complete make-up work must be made within three (3) days after returning to school from an excused absence.  Students will be expected to complete and turn in make-up work to their teacher by the end of the grading period.  If this is not possible, the teacher will provide the student with a deadline date that is reasonable based upon the amount work due.  Teachers may use EMD to give make-up tests.

 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

 

1^st unexcused absence we will send a letter home to the parent or guardian.

5^th unexcused absence the student will be turned into the Attendance office at the C.O.

7^th unexcused absence the student will be turned into the Attendance office at the C.O. and a petition will be filed.

 

NURSE’S OFFICE/MEDICINE PROCEDURES

Any student with emergency health or safety situations should consult the school nurse.  Students MUST have a pass from a teacher to enter the health room.  Students shall not be permitted to take medicine while at school unless medicine is given them by the principal, school nurse or his designee acting under the specific request of the parent or guardian.  Students are not permitted to possess drugs of any kind at any time on school property.

 

LOCKERS

All students may buy a locker.  Students are responsible for the security of their lockers, and no students should share a locker. 

 

INTERNET GUIDELINES

Computer, Internet access, and other technology will be made available for approved educational uses.  Inappropriate use or abuse will result in suspension of privileges and/or disciplinary action.

 

HALL PASSES

Students must have the required hall pass from a teacher to be outside the classroom during class hours.  Discipline will be administered to all students who are in the hallway without a proper pass.

 

CELL PHONES/ELECTORNIC DEVICES

Cell phones/communication devices/electronic devices (i.e. Mp3 players, gameboys, iPods, headphones/CD players) are not allowed to be used during school hours.

 

1^st offense, student can pick up phone the next school day after school.

2^nd offense, parent must pick up phone the next school day and student receives 1 day ISS.

3^rd offense, parent must pick up phone after 7 calendar days while in school and student receives 2 days ISS

4^th offense, parent must pick up phone on the last day of school and student receives 3 days ISS

 

TELEPHONE USE

Students will only be called to the phone in case of emergencies. Students will be allowed to use the phone with approval from the administration for emergencies.

 

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR DISCIPLINE

Student of the Week

Class Picnic

1. No suspensions
2. No more than 5 days in ISS
3. All fees must be paid.

 

LUNCHROOM PROCEDURES

Students will go to lunch under the direction of their 5^th period teacher and will stay in the cafeteria until the bell rings.  Students are not to go their lockers or restrooms during lunch without permission from their teacher.  Students are to remain in the cafeteria during their lunchtime.  No food or drinks may be taken outside the cafeteria.

 

DRIVING PRIVILEGES

During the 20011-2012 school year, only Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will be allowed to drive to school and park on campus.  There are an inordinate number of students in each of those classes and it is impossible to park every student who wishes to drive.  Freshman must receive special permission from the administration to drive and park on campus.  This will only be granted under special conditions.  Driving to school is a privilege not a right.  Violation of the driving/parking rules will result in losing this privilege and disciplinary action. 

1. Prior to driving a motor vehicle to school a student must obtain a student-parking permit in the High School office.  Reserved parking spaces will be sold for $10.00 each with general parking for $5.00.
2. Students must park in their assigned parking area and spot.
3. Students must present a valid drivers licenses and proof of insurance. 
4. Students must park in marked parking places only. 
5. Students must exit the vehicle and enter the building immediately after parking. 
6. Students must not leave when buses are leaving.  Buses will leave at approximately 3:00. It is the student’s responsibility to check for buses leaving.
7. Students must have the required parking decal displayed at all times.
8. Students are not to return to vehicles during the school day without permission from the principal.
9. Students must follow the arrows in the parking lot and not cross parking spaces.
10. Students can not walk in front of the buses when they are leaving.
11. All students must park in the designated student parking lot.

DRESS CODE

The responsibility for appropriate dress and grooming rests with the parents. Parents and students should keep in mind that the reputation of the home, school, and community is reflected in dress, grooming and behavior of students. Students’ dress and grooming shall be appropriate for the classroom. Wearing apparel shall be such that it does not disrupt the classroom atmosphere, become unusually distracting, or violate health and safety rules of the school. These minimum standards shall apply to all students in the public schools of Morgan County.

 

1) Students must be neatly dressed, clean and well groomed while at school.

2) Shoes or sandals must be worn.

3) Students shall not wear midriff shirts, tube tops, muscle shirts, tank tops, spandex, mesh, or

fishnet garments, nor backless or strapless tops.

4) Shorts shall be permitted in Grades K-12; however, in grades four and above, the shorts must

not be shorter than three inches from the top of the knee.

5) Mini skirts and mini dresses shall be prohibited.

6) Students shall not wear sunglasses inside the school building or on the school bus.

7) The wearing of clothing advertising alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or suggestive words or pictures

or symbols of violence or death shall be prohibited.

8) Students shall not wear anything on their heads at anytime during the school day.

9) Oversized and baggy clothes shall be prohibited.

10) Any outer garment, including but not limited to trench coats, long dusters, full length/maxi

coats shall be prohibited.

11) Disruptive or distracting body piercing or tattoos shall be prohibited.

12) Disruptive or distracting hair color or styles shall be prohibited.

13) Skirts are permitted but must reach the top of the knee (front and back) while standing.

The Principal shall be the final judge as to neatness and cleanliness of wearing apparel and whether or not such apparel is disruptive, distracting, or is in violation of health and safety rules.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

No food, candy, and/or drinks shall be allowed outside the cafeteria or designated break area unless the student has special permission from the school administrator.

 

All school and personal business must be conducted during non-academic time.  Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom once class has begun unless it is an emergency.

 

Due to the confidential nature of the materials that could be found in the teacher workroom, students are not permitted in the workroom.  If students need to make copies, they should go to the library. 

 

Backpacks/large purses are not permitted in the halls or classrooms.  They must be unpacked and stored in the student’s locker and not re-packed until the end of the school day.  Athletic bags should be stored immediately upon arrival at school.

 

Students should not arrive at or enter the school before 7:15 without special permission.  All students should exit the school and school grounds by 3:15 each day unless they have special permission.