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The 1 st bell rings at 8:10 am. The Tardy Bell rings at 8:15 am. If a student arrives before 8:10, they are to report to the cafeteria or hallways. The doors will be opened each morning at 7:15. A student may leave the cafeteria early to attend tutoring but is required to have a hall pass from the tutoring teacher in order to attend tutoring. We have a closed campus at McDonald, which means that once you arrive in the morning, you are not to leave campus. This also includes the lunch period.
The Dismissal Bell (at the end of the day) is at 3:25 pm. All students should leave the building by 3:30 in the afternoon. The doors will be locked at this time. All students will need to leave campus by 3:40 unless a teacher supervises them. Students may not stay after school for evening events.
Any student arriving after the 8:15 bell must report to the front office to obtain an admission slip. Students will receive office referrals for three or more First Period Tardies during a semester--this policy will be discussed with students the first week of school.
The 4-minute break between classes is designed primarily to allow students to go from one class to another. However, students may stop by the restroom or water fountain if time permits. Find the nearest route and go directly to class. Do not loiter in the hallways! Tardies are considered very serious and your teams and principals will deal with this problem accordingly. Any student not in their desk when the bell rings is considered to be tardy.
It is required that parents call the school before 9:00 am. to report a student's absence. A phone call is required each day the student is absent. This phone call should include the parent's name, child's name, reason for absence and daytime phone number that can be used to verify the absence if needed. If these procedures are not followed the absence will be considered UNEXCUSED. After 10 unexcused absences, you run the risk of going to court for Non-Compliance with the Texas Education Code. Doctor's notes should be turned in to the office for documentation of illness. According to the Education code, both Excused and Unexcused absences are included in the 90% attendance requirement. Students not attending 90% of each semester could be denied credit. The campus attendance committee may restore credit for extenuating circumstances.
Breakfast is served in the Cafeteria at 7:45 A.M. until approximately 8:00 A.M.
All McDonald students have a debit account for purchasing food in the cafeteria. Each Student is assigned a 4 or 5 digit account number. At lunch time, the student enters his or her Personal Identification Number (PIN) into the PIN pad to access their account. All deposits must be made before school in the cafeteria. Students may also purchase a la cart and snack line items. The cost for these lunches varies according to items purchased. Students receiving free or reduced lunch rates are required to purchase the plate lunch. Lunch money may not be borrowed from the office. If a student forgets lunch money, a complimentary lunch is available--ask the cashiers in the hot plate line for help with this situation.
Application forms for free or reduced lunches are available in the office. Completed forms should be returned to the office as soon as possible. Allow 10 school days for processing.
Teachers will walk students to and from the cafeteria each and every day of the school year. Students will immediately sit at their assigned table. Cafeteria personnel will then dismiss students by table to go to the lunch lines.
ALL STUDENTS ARE TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING CAFETERIA RULES:
• Walk in the cafeteria
• Do not cut in line (forward or backward)
• Go through one line only. Students may not get up without permission once they have been seated.
• Keep all food on your tray – no trading
• Talk quietly
• Stay in your seat until dismissed by your teacher or cafeteria personnel
• Clean your area when dismissed
Failure to follow these rules will result in seating charts for students.
The parent/guardian must come into the front office to sign out the student. The student must leave from the office not the classroom. If the student returns on the same day, please provide a note that the student will give to the office with the reason for the absence (ex: doctor appointment, dental appointment, etc.).
The parent/guardian will be asked to show identification to the office staff to verify they have the authority to remove the student from campus. Arrangements must be made IN ADVANCE through the office if the parent/guardian has requested that someone else pick up the student.
THIS PROCEDURE IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF
OUR STUDENTS.
Students who miss work due to illness have that number of days to complete make-up work upon returning to school (ex: out 2 days - have 2 days to complete make-up work). IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT EACH TEACHER CONCERNING POSSIBLE NEEDED MAKE-UP WORK.
If a student is going to be absent three or more days, the parent may call the school and request the student's textbooks. Please call in the morning to allow the books to be ready to be picked up by that afternoon.
All visitors must check in with the front office upon arrival on campus. Students may not bring student visitors to school. Parents wishing to visit their child's classes are requested to make arrangements through the principal's office at least a day ahead.
Each student should write his name, in ink, in each book. It is required that textbooks be covered at all times. If a book is lost, the student must pay for the book before a replacement can be issued.
The restrooms are located in convenient placements in the building. Check your school map for the restrooms closest to your classrooms. Students must use their Assignment Manager passes in order to leave the classroom.
Each student is assigned to an academic team that consists of the “basic” academic teachers: English, Math, History, and Science (plus Reading for 7th grade and IT for 8th grade). These teachers hold team meetings on a daily basis to coordinate lesson plans, work with students, meet the parents, etc. In addition, each team determines the team discipline management policy, homework policy, field trips, and student recognition programs for academic and attendance performance.
Code of Conduct Books will be sent home on the first day of school. Please read this book carefully with your parents, sign the form at the back of the book, and return the SIGNED form to school ASAP. This is important!
When bus students arrive in the morning, they are to enter the building. All bus rules are to be followed at all times. Failure to do so may result in a student not being allowed to ride the bus. Students are not to leave campus after they arrive in the morning!
Boy's Athletics, Girl's Athletics, or Tennis may be substituted for PE or used as an 8th grade elective. Be aware that there will be a commitment of time, transportation, and money (for physicals and some equipment) on the part of the parent for these classes. Boys' Athletics and Tennis stay after school for practice. Girls' Athletics has practice before school.
Other electives that will require a commitment of time and money on the part of the parent will be Band, Choir, Orchestra, PE and Industrial Tech. Band and Orchestra students must have an instrument and uniform (at parent expense). Choir and PE also require a uniform. Students are expected to participate in after school practices and performances as a part of their grade.
The following items are not allowed at school:
• BEEPERS/PAGERS/CAMERAS
• RADIOS, JAM BOXES, HEAD SETS, IPODs, video games, etc…
• TELEPHONES (may be put in lockers and have to be turned off)
• LAZER PENS
Students will be charged $15.00 for the first two times that their cell phone is taken up. The third time that a cell phone is taken up; it will be returned to the student on the last day of school.
STUDENT ASSIGNMENT MANAGER (SAM)
The Student Assignment Manager (SAM) is a student organization plan that includes assignment sheet, 7 hall passes, and a calendar. The goal of this system is to improve home-school communication. Students will be given a SAM at the beginning of each six weeks. Replacement cost is $.75. Students must have a pass unused in their passbook in order to leave the classroom!
No student should be out of the class at any time without a pass from the classroom teacher. Students must have a signed pass from a teacher in order to go to the office.
The office needs to be notified of a student withdrawal 24 hours in advance. ONLY THE LEGAL GUARDIAN MAY WITHDRAW A STUDENT FROM SCHOOL.
In order to enroll at McDonald Middle School, a student must have the following:
•Proof of residency
•Proof of birth
•Social Security Card
•Immunization Record
•Withdrawal papers from previous school
•Copy of custody papers (if applicable)
If identification documents are not presented within 30 days, schools are required to notify authorities to determine whether a child has been reported as missing. Authorities must also be notified if there is discrepancy in the name as shown on the identifying documents and the name under which the child enrolled, unless adoption papers or other legal documents are presented which explain the discrepancy.
Please keep us informed of any changes that should be made on your student's enrollment card such as address, place of employment, phone numbers, etc.
PROOF OF RESIDENCY IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR THE SCHOOL TO MAKE AN ADDRESS CHANGE.
Students may bring book bags to school, but they MUST be stored in the student's locker during the school day. Book bags CANNOT be taken to classrooms during the school day.
According to the Mesquite Student Code of Conduct, chewing gum is not permitted at McDonald Middle School. Consequences will be given if students choose to chew gum at school.
In order to assist in providing a safe and secure learning environment, as well as offer additional instructional and counseling support, a uniformed police officer is assigned to each middle school campus. This program is a result of a cooperative agreement between the city and the Mesquite I.S.D.
The teacher, team or parent may request a conference. Parents wishing to schedule a conference may call the school office to make an appointment.
ALL MEDICATIONS MUST BE KEPT IN THE OFFICE AREA AND ADMINISTERED ONLY BY OFFICE STAFF.
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION- Must be in original container and must have a parental note requesting medication be given.
NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION- Must be in original container and must have both a doctor's note authorizing medication, and parents note requesting medication to be given.
NO STUDENT MAY KEEP MEDICATION WITH THEM OR TAKE ANY MEDICATION DURING THE DAY UNLESS ADMINISTERED BY OFFICE STAFF - NO EXCEPTIONS.
The school nurse is on campus daily. A student must have a pass from a teacher to visit the clinic.
NO PASS - NO PLAY
This statement is part of the state mandate. In order for any student to participate in any sport, cheerleading, band, choir, orchestra event, etc., an average of 70 or above must be maintained in all classes for the previous six weeks marking period.
Due to the limited space in our halls and classrooms, we are unable to accept flowers, balloons and other deliveries for students.
Tutoring is available before and after school, depending on the individual teacher's schedule.
A student must have a minimum average of 89.5 to be on the Honor Roll. Students are also recognized for perfect attendance. These students are additionally recognized in an Honors Assembly at the end of the year.
Announcements regarding school closings or delays will be made on KEOM (88.5 FM) radio and the MISD ITV channel. You may also check the MISD website at www.mesquiteisd.org .
All bicycles must be parked in the racks and must be locked for security reasons. Do not ride bicycles on school sidewalks. The school is not responsible for any theft or damage.
No fund raising may take place without the permission of the principal. Students are absolutely forbidden to sell any “items” at school.
Announcements are made daily during 2 nd period. All students are expected to listen to all announcements. Also, look for important messages/reminders on the school marquee located by the flagpole. The state has mandated that the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags be recited each day. Also, a minute of silence has been mandated by the state.
Report cards are issued at the end of each 6 weeks marking period. Numeric grades are given. An “A” is 90-100, “B” 80-89, “C” 70-79, “F” 69 and below. A copy of the report card will be sent home with the students (usually on the Thursday following the end of the marking period). Report cards are also mailed home at the completion of each six weeks.
Each student will receive a progress report at the end of the 3rd week of each marking period.
Students may not stay at school until an after school event begins unless they are a participant in the event and must be supervised by a teacher or coach. Students will need to be picked up by 8:00 for Volleyball and Basketball games and 8:30 for Football games and Track meets. The Code of Conduct will be followed for after school events . Students not picked up within 15 minutes after the completion of any game may forfeit the right to attend future games.
Any style of dress or hair that distracts from the educational process (as determined by a campus administrator) is not acceptable. Standardized Dress has been adopted by the MISD School Board and will be enforced for all students. Examples of dress and hair code are in the Student Code of Conduct Book
Teachers may hold their own detention halls before or after school. Office detentions may also be assigned. Detention notices will be sent home with students.
Please call the school with EMERGENCY messages only. Each time we disrupt a class with a message, the students are distracted. All arrangements for a ride home, etc. should be taken care of before arriving in the morning. There are no pay phones available. Students will not be called out of class to receive a phone call!
The PTA provides a dance each spring for McDonald students. Attendance and Discipline guidelines must be met to be invited to the dance. These guidelines will be announced on the first day back from Winter Break.
In order to maintain a pleasant, friendly and safe school environment – fighting, threats and intimidation will not be tolerated in any shape, form or fashion! These will be dealt with in a most serious manner. Suspension and parent notification would be the lightest punishment for these violations with an Alternative School Assignment or even Expulsion being considered in extreme or repeated cases. Participants are also subject to being issued a citation and arrest.
Counselors are available to see students throughout the day. A pass is required from a teacher to go to the counselors' office.
This program guides and enables students to learn to solve their own problems. There are a selected number of students who are trained in mediation. These students then work with other students who are having problems and use the mediation to help resolve the disputes. In order to ensure proper supervision and fairness to all, the mediation session are always monitored by an adult.
Vending Machines are located by the gym on the west side of the school to be used after school and during after school events only . Bottles and wrappers must be disposed of properly in order to continue these privileges. The machines are provided as a service to students, and they must be utilized properly. No food or drink in the gym!
Each 7 th and 8 th grade student is assigned a private locker. No other student has access to another student's combination. NO STUDENT IS TO SHARE A LOCKER WITH ANOTHER STUDENT! Students will follow the following schedule to go to their lockers:
• Before 1 st period
• After 1 st period – athletic girls only
• Before 8 th period – athletic boys only
• After 8 th period
Students will not be allowed to go to their lockers at other times unless they use their assignment manager!!
Our extended day ISS program will be used for students whose behaviors are impeding their learning or the learning of others. It will also be used for students who are missing valuable instructional time by being late to class. Students will be given and are expected to complete all assignments including make-up work. Students will attend ISS from 8:15-4:30. Transportation will be the responsibility of parents/guardians.
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McDonald Middle School
2930 N. Town East Blvd.
Mesquite, Texas 75150
972-882-5700
Copyright © 1998-2007 Mesquite Independent School District. All rights reserved.