Assignment Notebooks
Students will write all assignments in their notebook daily. At the end of each day the students will review the list of assignments and gather necessary materials/texts to complete the homework. It is a student’s responsibility to record and complete assignments. Daily assignments are posted on the website as a back-up and are updated frequently.
Behavior Cards
The seventh and eighth graders will use behavior cards to track their behavior. Students may earn merits for demonstrating positive skills and demerits for behaviors that need to be corrected. Reinforcement will be given for both merits and demerits. Students who wash their behavior card will be given a replacement card (and one demerit). Students who lose their behavior card will be given a replacement (and two demerits). Only one replacement will be given each month. If the replacement card is lost or washed, the student will be expected to serve a detention for each demerit earned. A new card will be issued the following month. For more information, follow the Discipline Cycle link on the MS web page.
Binders
Middle school students will keep all homework and class handouts in a binder. Time will be spent organizing the binder and cleaning it out periodically.
Book Orders
Book orders will be sent home throughout the year. Please send them back promptly with your payment in the form of a check (no cash, please.) All checks should be made out to the company.
Classes Taught
Mrs. Truax will be responsible for teaching the areas of
Detentions
Detentions may be earned for accumulating demerits on the behavior card. Detentions will be spent on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will work on a “Detention Reflection” while in detention. This reflection will come home and must be signed and returned to the detention monitor the following day. Failure to do so will result in a demerit.
Discipline
Discipline With Purpose will be used. A parent workshop is available. Please contact Mr. Maline for information. A copy of the MS discipline cycle can be found on the MS webpage.
E-Mail
Mrs. Truax, Mrs. Curley, and Mr. Maline can be reached by clicking on the links to email them on the MS home page. Specials teachers can be reached by email as well. See their Edline pages for address information.
Field Trips
The middle schoolers will be going on field trips this school year. You will be notified of these trips in writing and will be asked to fill out a permission slip. Students are not permitted to attend without parental permission. Parents may attend some trips as chaperones, but are asked not to bring siblings along. .
Form for Papers
Specific guidelines for format can be found on the MS webpage. We ask students to review and assure that all work turned in meets these guidelines.
Friday Recess
On Friday when possible students may earn the Friday Recess privilege. They must have no more than 2 demerits on their card for the week.
Grading Scale
Most papers will show the number of points earned over the number of points possible. This will be written as a fraction (Ex: 5/10 meaning that 5 points were earned out of 10 possible points). These will be averaged for each grade report, progress report, and report card and reported as a percent. You are encouraged to check Edline frequently to keep updated on your child's progress. Students may re-do daily work for additional credit. Papers redone/ corrected will be marked with an average of the original and new scores.
The grading scale is:
93-100% A
86-92% B
78-85% C
70-77% D
Below 70% F
Homework
Homework is an important part of our curriculum. Not only does it reinforce material covered in class; it helps students learn responsibility. Homework may consist of work that was not completed during the day, work that was assigned specifically for home, or a combination of both.
Homework should take your child approximately 70-90 minutes each night. If your child is spending considerably more time than that, please contact your child's homeroom teacher.
Jewelry/Makeup
As stated in the family handbook, watches and small religious medals are acceptable. Girls may wear post earrings. All other jewelry is prohibited. No makeup or fingernail polish is allowed. Only Chapstick-type lip balm is acceptable. No glitter or sparkling lotions may be used.
Late Work is not acceptable because it impedes student learning and results in extra work for teachers and teacher assistants. Late assignments will result in consequences as described below:
One day late: 80% of the total points is the top grade possible
Two days late: 65% of the total points is the top grade possible
More than two days late: 50% of the total points is the top grade possible
Mass
The seventh and eighth graders will attend Mass each Tuesday and Thursday. Please watch the classroom note to see when the Mass will be planned by your child's classroom. You are invited to attend all Masses.
Medications
All Medication is to be administered through the office. The exception to this rule is cough drops, which the students may have as long as they have a signed note from the parent/guardian. If you want your child to have the ability to take aspirin or ibuprofen, then the medication sheet indicating so must be on file in the office.
Office Communication
The most reliable form of communication is the website. (www.stpatselkhorn.org) An email with a link to each Thursday's Principal's Notes will be sent. Parents are encouraged to provide the office with one or more email addresses.
Parent Communication
Please send notes to school for: Student absences, change in dismissal procedures, and any concerns. You may call the office if you need to reach us by phone and we will return your call. You may also reach us by e-mail.
Supplies
Please mark all of your child’s supplies with his/her name. School sweatshirts and sweaters should also be labeled.
Sweaters
Students are encouraged to leave their uniform sweater in their locker so it is available for
Teacher Communication
You will be informed of the weekly activities by class newsletter. We will send a link to the middle school newsletter each Sunday evening or Monday.
Website
Parents and students are encouraged to visit our website at: www.stpatselkhornschool.org/middleschool This site will have weekly classroom notes, vocabulary lists, updated homework assignments, class projects, pictures, events, forms and much more! It is a helpful tool that will help you stay informed about middle school happenings.