Parents who would like to speak to any middle school faculty member, are asked to telephone the Middle School at 681-5824 between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in order to arrange appointments.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

Each morning, school personnel will call the parents of students who are absent. The reason for this is that we are genuinely concerned about all the youngsters in our school. We have found that this procedure alerts us to serious student illness and/or personal problems.

Please provide your child with a note whenever he/she is absent or late. Absentee notes should be brought to the Attendance Secretary in the Assistant Principal's office (on the lower level), as soon as any child returns to school.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR ABSENTEES

In cases of student illness, the most important thing is for your child to get well and then to make the necessary arrangements to make-up work. Your youngster should adhere to the following suggestions for obtaining assignments:

1-3 Day Absence

In the case of absence of one to three days, your child should obtain assignments from other classmates. If that is not possible, students should obtain missed assignments from teachers when she or he returns to school. If the amount of make-up work seems overwhelming, students should speak to their first period teacher, advisor, or guidance counselor. They will be happy to work with the student and teacher to make it more manageable.

4-10 Day Absence

When students will be absent for four to ten days, you should contact the Guidance Office. A member of the guidance staff will contact all teachers and will obtain assignments. In addition,

students should make an appointment with a guidance counselor when they return to school. The counselor will help them plan a schedule for making up assignments.

Long Term Absence

If students are absent for longer than a period of two weeks, you should call the Guidance Office in order to request home tutoring.

After any period of absence, students should plan to meet with each of his classroom teachers to review and make-up all assignments. If they have difficulty making-up work or re-adjusting to school after an absence, students should contact their guidance counselor, an Assistant Principal, advisor or their first period teacher.

In the Middle School, the faculty and students are committed to demonstrating respect, care and consideration for others. Hopefully, this belief is demonstrated at all times by members of our school; at all times on school grounds, during all school activities in and away from the Middle School, and before, during and after school.

Out of consideration for students who are participating in after-school learning activities, quiet must be maintained in the halls and outside the building. In order to accomplish this, members of the Middle School are expected to show their consideration for students and teachers. Remaining after school only if they are involved in: Extra-help sessions, Clubs, Intramurals, Interscholastic activities.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE

All students are covered under the State Athletic Protection Plan. This protection is in effect only for the period of time in which students participate in school sponsored activities.

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES

Guidance services at the Middle School level are focused on the needs of each student. Our goal is to establish a close personal relationship with students in order to assist them in making appropriate educational, vocational, personal, and social decisions.

Seventh and eighth grade students may request appointments with their guidance counselors.

Parents are also encouraged to call guidance counselors whenever a concern arises.

EVENING GUIDANCE SESSIONSOur experience with Middle School students convinces us that our students' success depends on continued communication between teachers, students and parents.

We recognize that other commitments often make it impossible for parents to find time to meet with

counselors during the regular school day. As a result, we are continuing a program of evening meetings this year. Beginning with Tuesday, September 19, 2000, counselors will be available on the following Tuesday evenings to meet with sixth, seventh and eighth grade parents and students from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please call for an appointment.

September 26, 2000 January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2001

October 10, 17, 24, 31, 2000 February 6, 13, 27, 2001

November 14, 21, 28, 2000 March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2001

December 5, 12, 2000 April 3, 17, 24, 2001

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 2001

For appointments, please feel free to call the guidance counselors at 203-3600:

Ms. Joan York - Ext. 271

Mr. William Ciesla - Ext. 435

Ms. Rebecca Solerwitz - Ext. 274

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

Our school psychologist works with students who are referred by counselors, teachers, administrators, or parents for individual testing and help with emotional adjustment. Students may also request to see the psychologist.

In addition to meeting with students, the psychologist can meet with parents to discuss, clarify, and resolve academic and/or emotional concerns.

Dr. Barnes can be reached by calling 68l-4100, Ext. 212.

SOCIAL WORK SERVICES

Middle School Social Work Services are available to enhance the social and emotional well-being of all our students. These services include individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, conflict mediation, age-appropriate discussion groups and on-going support for students with special needs.

Students can be referred to Joanne Verdino, the middle school social worker, by parents, teaching and support staff, or administrators.

Ms. Verdino is available for consultation with parents on an on-going basis. Feel free to contact her at 203-3600, Ext. 432.

GRADE REPORTING:

As a means of providing students and parents with an ongoing, comprehensive assessment of student performance, you will receive report cards.

Report cards for grades six, seven and eight will be mailed home within 10 days of the end of the marking periods. Marking periods end on the following dates: Wednesday - November 8, 2000, Friday - January 26, 2001, Friday, - April 6, 2001, Wednesday - June 20, 2001

We strongly encourage you to discuss your child's report card with him/her, and to directly contact his/her teachers when questions or concerns arise. Teachers can be contacted by calling 681-5824.

EXTRA HELP

Students have the opportunity to benefit from help from their teachers by attending extra-help sessions. It is both each student's responsibility to take the initiative to make arrangements for extra-help sessions. Extra-help sessions take precedence over any other school function. All teachers are required to provide extra-help on a regular basis. A schedule which contains the days of the week when each teacher at the Middle School will be giving extra-help will be distributed in September.

HEALTH EXAMINATIONS

According to the policy of the Jericho School District's Board of Education, a health examination is mandatory for seventh grade students. This may be performed by a family physician or the school physician.

Each student will receive a vision test and hearing test on an annual basis. You will be notified if any health concerns arise.

HEALTH SERVICES

First aid will be administered to students who have accidents in school.

If your child becomes ill during the school day, she will be allowed to rest in the Health Office for a reasonable length of time. If your child must be sent home due to illness or accident, the Nurse will contact you or the person whom you designate.

Except as prescribed by a doctor, no internal medication of any kind will be administered to any student.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

A written request from you must be presented to an Assistant Principal before your child can be excused from school. Whenever possible, please schedule medical appointments after school.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXCUSES

A written request from you is needed in order for your child to be excused from a gym class. If more than two classes are to be missed, he will need to obtain a note from a physician.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Jericho Middle School offers many extra-curricular activities. Not only do clubs give students a chance to develop their interests and abilities, but they also help students to develop friendships and to provide service to our school and in some cases, to our community. All students are encouraged to become involved in at least one of these activities during the school year.

CAFETERIA

Our cafeteria provides lunch for students. They may either bring a lunch and buy a drink, or may buy a complete lunch. A large variety of food is available each day. Your child will be assigned to the lunch period during which he will eat.

SCHOOL LUNCH PROCEDURES

Parents may drop off student lunches at Mr. Rosen's office. A lunchroom supervisor will bring the lunches to the Cafeteria and place them on a table for students to pick up. In addition, the supervisor posts the student names in two different locations in the Cafeteria.

TRANSFERS

If you plan to move out of the school district, please meet with your child's guidance counselor. This will ensure that records are sent to your child's new school in a timely manner.

VISITORS

All visitors to the school must report to the Assistant Principal's office on the lower level to sign-in. We thank you in advance for your help and cooperation. We are confident that through these efforts we will ensure the safety of our students.