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| Middle School Operations Manual |
Just like any building or construction project, everything starts with a good foundation. The beginning of this year in middle school is an opportunity to create and build on a great foundation. We're going to work this year to be the best we can be. Read that sentence carefully. That may not mean that we are necessarily in first place, but instead, we're going to take that next step that is needed to take us to the next level, whatever that level will be. When we're learning new things, we're going to make mistakes and have some setbacks; we can learn from these and make progress. CCDS is the place to make mistakes, learn a few things from that process, and move forward to ultimately be the best we can be. We're all in this together. Let's all do our best to take that next step. Let's all build for success!
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Trustworthiness, Truthfulness, Active Listening, No put-downs, Personal
Best, Caring, common sense, cooperation, courage, curiosity, effort,
flexibility, friendship, initiative, integrity, organization, patience,
perseverance, pride, problem solving, resourcefulness, responsibility,
sense of humor
These are the qualities of the kinds of people we would all like to be
around. Wouldn't you agree? Imagine a classroom and a school where
all of the people involved acted within these guidelines. This is the
kind of place and community that we would like CCDS to be. You have a
huge role in this. You are now the oldest and largest students at our
school. You, like it or not, have a significant amount of influence
around here. If you act in a manner that represents the Lifeskills,
you'll inevitably make our school a better place. Therefore,
ultimately, these are a foundation for our classroom rules. It is very
simple, really.
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When your instructor prompts you, please use lined paper to answer the following:
- What are ways in which you will personally use these guidelines to make your school experience the best it can be?
- What lifeskills do you see being the most important for you to
use so that you are successful and you impact our school in the most
positive way?
- Of these things, which do you see as the most important for your teachers to use and why?
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We would like you to be consistent when you put your name on a paper. Here's how it needs to be done:
In the top margin, at the right on the top line, sign your first and
last name. Underneath that, write down the date. If there is an
assignment title, please put that down in the top margin on the top
line in the middle of the page, left of your name.
Why don't you practice? Title it, "The Thousand Word Essay I'm About To Not Write."
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Middle school is a time of great growth and change and learning. It
is a time for you to take more responsibility. In our school, you will
have many opportunities to use the lifeskills of organization and
responsibility. When you are assigned homework, it is your
responsibility to write the assignment down, complete the work, and
turn it back in when it is due. You will be getting assignments from
many teachers. Organization is one of the keys to success. While we
won't pile on huge loads, the amount we give will be appropriate and
necessary for your success. There are occasions when individuals might
need to miss an assignment, but those occasions will be few are far
between, and these situations need to be discussed with your
instructor. When an assignment is missed, it will be expected to be
made up. Please be aware that consistent actions and behavior give you
a proven track record. It is important to set the tone that you will
get your work done and make every effort to pursue your personal best.
If you work, you will find success and you will be creating good habits
that will serve you well in all of your future!
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When your instructor prompts you, please do the following assignment on lined paper:
1. Write several paragraphs that describe the importance of being
consistent with homework and schoolwork in general and how this will
benefit you. Make your last paragraph a pledge to yourself, your
parents, and your teachers about how you will approach
homework/schoolwork this year.
Two things really stand out here: one, you have one chance for a first
impression, and two, you are creating a "track record" or a "brand
name" for yourself. Think about how you would like these to be? How
do you want other people to think of you? Are you reliable,
responsible, and have integrity?
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Why might we emphasize teamwork and cooperation in our learning environment?
It would be an unusual thing in life for you to end up functioning by
yourself, whether it is in your home environment or your workplace. In
fact, if you think about the great things that have been achieved in
our world, they are due to many minds coming together for a common
cause. Think about the way NASA functions, or the way a government
functions, or even a great sports team. It takes many people coming
together, bringing their individual ideas and strengths, sharing them,
and creating a system that is bigger than the individuals that form
it. Most all successful companies, businesses, and non-profit
organizations (like CCDS) are run by a group of people called a Board
of Directors. This is a great example of different people bringing
different strengths to the table. By working together for a common
mission, these people carry on arguments, have brainstorming sessions,
and ultimately make decisions and create policy that keeps the company
or business moving forward. So, the sooner we all understand that by
working together we can create and learn more, the sooner our lives
will be enriched by success that would otherwise be unachievable.
Therefore, there will be many times throughout your middle school
experience here at CCDS where you will asked to work with others to
find success. We ask that you consider that we all are different people
and we all bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table. If
you are a strong reader for example, by being generous and kind, you
could share this skill with your classmates so that everyone benefits.
Perhaps, on the other hand, public speaking is a weakness for you, and
learning from others who are good at it will give you strategies for
improvement. The key concept with all of this is that if we practice
tolerance and patience as we work with each other, we can all benefit.
It is not reasonable to think that you will always be working with
people that you are happy to work with. This is simply a fact of
life. The key here is to make the most of the situation and be a
positive, proactive member of the group so that the situation can be
the best it can be.
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When your instructor prompts you, answer the following questions in a manner that they describe:
What are some new examples of great accomplishments that were the result of many people working together?
What are some problems that likely will arise when you try to work with others?
What are good solutions to the problems that you described from number 2 above?
What commitment are you willing to make to participate in our school to make it the best it can be?
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You've heard those words before, right? Maybe you've heard them as
"Smarts." There are different styles of learning and different
intelligences. We can list several:
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Artistic
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Musical
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Language/Linguistic
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Mathematical/logical
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Nature
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Interpersonal
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Intrapersonal
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Bodily/Kinesthetic
It is most likely that each of us has a mixture of these different
intelligences, although we might have significant strengths in some.
Furthermore, we might have some relative weaknesses in others. This is
why it is so critical to work with other people in life. Strengths
that you have might complement weaknesses others possess, or vice versa.
Finally, it is important, even critical, for you to have some
self-awareness about what intelligences you are strong and weak in.
This will allow you to be thoughtful in what ways are best for you to
learn. It will take time to make all of this work within in the
context of your new learning environment, and in fact it is quite
likely that as time goes by in your life you'll see a change in your
"smarts."
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- Why would it be important for a person to be aware of their personal intelligences and learning style?
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Who are the key players in your life that would benefit from knowing your intelligences?
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What are ways you could become better rounded and build strength
in the intelligences that you are weakest in? Think again about your
"brandname." People that are trying to get a job use a resume to sell
themselves. This is where they would think about and emphasize their
intelligences. How could you sell yourself? How about making a
magazine cover? How about a poster? Maybe a brochure about your
intelligences would be good?
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Mrs. Clarke:
I love working with middle school students! I love your
sense of humor, curiosity, and developing sense of independence. This
is such a dynamic time in your life. With the independence you are
gaining comes more responsibility and a realization that your actions
affect more than just yourselves. This gives you the power to make a
difference! You have the power to be a positive force in our school,
our community, and beyond. Being there to witness all the doors
opening for you is the best job I could ever imagine.
Mrs. Fairon:
Each year I have been teaching, I share with my students a
motto that we have for class, "Forward Progress for All." This means
that wherever you are right now is a fine place to be, but we are all
committing to moving forward. This makes our classroom a safe place to
make mistakes and a place where each individual talent is recognized.
Most importantly, it is a place where areas of growth are supported by
each member of the class, creating a collaborative learning environment
where we can all learn from each other. I look forward to the growth
we will all experience this year and am excited to be a part of this
important time in your life.
Mr. Garrett:
Middle school is an exciting and often challenging time.
Students at this level are at a critical juncture, with young-adulthood
right around the corner. While it is important to maintain the fun and
easy-going nature of childhood, it is also important to develop a sense
of our responsibility to our community and the world. Having fun while
living up to our responsibilities can be very challenging. We have to
balance our hard work with a light-hearted love of life so that the
learning environment pushes us to achieve more in an exciting and
engaging way. As a father, I am constantly striving to find ways to
combine joy with learning. Creativity and a sense of humor are traits
I strongly encourage in my own family and that definitely carries over
into my classroom. In many ways I am a big kid at heart!
Mr. Massa:
Transitions can be some of the most trying times of our
lives. With change, however, come new experiences, challenges,
responsibilities, and adaptations. Change provides you with new
opportunities to succeed and new tools to use as you go through life.
As I am transitioning into ChicoCountryDay School myself, you are
transitioning from elementary school to high school and beyond. There
will be bumps along our path, but we will work through them together
and discover new things about ourselves.
I challenge you to embrace these changes and take in as many
learning opportunities as you can. Learning and developing new skills
are the best ways to deal with change. As your teacher, I pledge to
never stop learning. I am constantly looking for new ways to interest
you and make you think. The more open you are to learning, the more
you will enjoy your middle school experience. And, if you are
persistent, you just might find that success outside of school is well
within your grasp.
Mrs. Peterson-Young:
Middle school students are some of the most interesting
people I know. You are in a time of life that allows you to look at
the world from both the perspective of a child and of a young adult.
This is an exciting place to be…and it can also be confusing and
overwhelming. You are lucky to be at a school that is dedicated to
helping you figure out who the best YOU is! Throughout the year we
will be looking at the world from multiple perspectives, which in turn
will expand our own. My job is to help you figure out how to make the
most of your strengths, accept and work with your weaknesses, and think
critically about situations before you make up your own mind.
Your job is to use the lifeskills to be a productive member of the
classroom and society at large. Ultimately the bottom line is
respect. If you respect yourself, respect others, and respect our
planet you will be successful… and you'll be setting a great example
for all CCDS students.
Mr. Pembroke:
We were kids once too, you know. I remember what it was like. In many
ways, I try to keep some of those feelings, ideas, curiosity, and joy
in my adult life too. I often ask myself, "What's important for kids
to know? How can I get it across to them in a way that makes learning
fun, or at least not a drag? How can I make school an institution that
is viewed by kids as a positive place to be and something that they
will view as a thing that will help them in life? What are key things
they need in order to have a bright and successful future and adult
life?" Therefore, the keys to my instructional strategies are to work
hard for our knowledge, and then play hard to keep the fun factor
high. I've always been taught that work comes before pleasure. We all
have a purpose and job to do at school, you as much as me. We need to
be sure to keep those priorities straight and get the work done. If we
work hard and are efficient and work together for success, we'll all
make our learning community a success.
Furthermore, middle school students in an elementary school setting
have a unique role to fill. You have the great opportunity to set an
example for the younger children at our school. This sometimes can put
some additional pressure on the way you conduct yourself, but the
rewards are great. I'd like to foster this situation as an opportunity
for you to be stewards for your school and take on situations that
allow you to be leaders for our youngsters around the campus, both
behaviorally and academically.
Finally, I can't help but think that a critical ingredient for success
is trust. We all need to earn each other's trust. If we think about
having integrity in our actions and working for a common goal, we can
build trust in each other and this will carry us toward a wonderful
experience. Through our hard work together and focus on a common goal
of success at school, I'm certain we'll have a great and memorable
experience together.
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We have some California State Standards that we need to address. Much
of these topics that surround our themes for the year revolve around
history and science. While we will be diving into these subjects often
and in-depth, we have "core curriculum" that we need as our foundation
for learning. This means we'll be working very hard at mathematics and
language so that we can have a strong foundation for learning. It's
interesting, and perhaps you haven't heard this before, but when we are
young children, we learn to read, but as we grow older, and especially
at your age, we begin to read to learn. So, the better readers we are,
the better note takers we are, the better listeners we are, the better
mathematicians and analytical thinkers we are, the easier it is to
learn all of the other stuff we have to learn.
Take it from us, your CCDS middle school instructors and
administrators, that all of learning is much easier if you have a
strong foundation in core curricular skills. If you are great at doing
research and finding the answers to questions, then taking those
answers and creating some way of proving your knowledge and have that
information really sink in, you will be very successful, not only in
school, but in your future career. Look at each of your instructor's
themes, and you'll see the big ideas that we will be addressing this
year in science and social studies.
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We should do something with the above ideas, don't you think?
Is it important to read? Is math important for you? Why should we
learn about science and history and how to be a good writer?
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Make a comic strip that addresses this topic. The theme of your
comic needs to emphasize how basic fundamental academic skills are
important for success in life.
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Does it really matter if a group of students make a line in the morning
at our flag salute? Well, here's some thoughts on the subject. Life
is full of rules and guidelines. Imagine if we didn't have stop signs
at intersections. Imagine also if people simply ignored them.
Clearly, we need rules to function. Making a really nice line in the
morning might not be a formal rule, but it definitely tells a story
about the kind of group we are. Great teams work together to build a
foundation of behavior. This gives a great team discipline and focus
and allows them to count on each other. It's important that a great
class of middle school students can show the self-discipline and focus
to something so simple as making a good line in the morning. It starts
the day off right and tells a story about what and who we are. Then,
when it's time to listen to the speaker, namely our Principal, and then
salute the flag, we're focused and ready and are getting the job done.
Finally if some work needs doing, like taking role, that can be handled
efficiently. This also shows the younger kids the right example of how
to act in the morning. Therefore, a great line in the morning is a
great way to kick off the day and get focused in a positive way for fun
and learning.
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Is there an activity we can do with this? Do you want to
practice making a line? Do you want to think or write or make
something that compares the pros and cons of lines?
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Think of a visitor to our school in the morning at flag
time. What do you think they might feel or think when they see our
school coming together and making nice clean lines?
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- Foul language will not be tolerated. School is not the place
for this. This includes what you might consider mildly foul language.
There are places in life where bad language just is not acceptable;
school, church, and a nice restaurant are good examples.
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Do not engage in "horseplay." Staff members are not
mind-readers and cannot determine whether you are "just playing" or
not. If it looks like a fight, it will be dealt with like a fight.
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Electronics are not allowed at school. This includes ipods,
cameras, cell phones, and any other devices that are similar. Cell
phones can be outside of school hours but must be concealed and turned
off during the school day. If you are seen with them or they go off in
class, they will be taken, given to the principal and your parents will
be notified. Further disciplinary action may be taken if there are
repeat offenses.
- Please leave trading cards, etc. at home. We want you playing, running, and exercising.
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Stay within sight of the yard duty. If you can't see them, they can't see you.
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Remove your hats before entering any buildings on campus. (Middle School)
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Eat a good lunch before any playing during your lunch break.
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Do not go behind any buildings.
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Do not play near classrooms that are still in session. Yard duty supervisors will indicate which areas are off-limits.
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No climbing trees, fences, or other structures that are not
designed for climbing. Trees are living things, please do not peel the
bark or hang on the branches.
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No leaving the fenced playground for any reason. If a ball goes over the fence, check with yard duty.
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No Wheels. This includes and is not limited to: skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wheeled shoes (Heelies), etc.
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Clean up your trash and put recycling in the recycle bin. Please
take pride in our campus and take the initiative to even pick up trash
that isn't yours!
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Public Displays of Affection: students shall refrain from
engaging in public displays of affection. Such displays include
kissing, hand holding, sitting on students' laps, or other behaviors
that appear to be inappropriate.
BATHROOM areas:
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You must use the restrooms by the library unless otherwise instructed by a staff member.
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When inside the bathrooms, please be quiet.
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Bathrooms are NOT an area to play around! No game playing or
hanging out and talking. Do what you need to do and leave.
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ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS!
SWINGS
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No jumping off.
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No touching others while they are swinging.
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No twisting.
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Be courteous to those who are waiting to use the swings. If
you are waiting, count 20 swings and the rider will let you have a turn.
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Stay out of the box while others are swinging.
AFTER SCHOOL PICK-UP
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When dismissed you must either go to your ride or to the After
School Program. No playing on the playground or being unsupervised on
campus after classes are dismissed.
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This is not a play time. Stand or sit quietly and watch for your ride.
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Be at your designated pick-up area and stay there.
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| CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT FOLLOWING SCHOOL RULES: | Top of Page |
Issuing consequences will be at the discretion of staff members,
depending on the situation and severity, but will generally follow the
following continuum for each specific rule violation:
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First offense: Verbal reprimand. Possible "time out" or removal from activity.
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Second offense: Behavior Warning Referral. Must be taken home
by student and signed by parent/guardian and returned the following day
to student's teacher.
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Third offense: Lunch Detention Referral. Parent/Guardian will
be notified through the referral that the student has earned a lunch
time detention. Detentions are scheduled in advance one day/week.
Student will eat lunch in the detention room and write an
age-appropriate explanation of his/her behavior and which Lifeskills
were not followed.
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After the third offense students are placed on a two week
"probation". Any subsequent offenses during that two week probationary
period will result in suspension. If a student has no offenses during
the two week probationary period, then the continuum will revert to
step #3 above after the probationary period.
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More than 4 detentions in any one academic quarter will result in a suspension.
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If a student exhibits unsafe or disrespectful behavior, then he/she
may be issued an immediate Behavior Warning Referral at the discretion
of any CCDS staff member.
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Rule violations that will result in an automatic detention include, but are not limited to:
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Foul Language
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Aggressive, hurtful "horseplay"
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Serious disrespect or defiance directed toward an adult
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The School Principal has the authority to suspend students immediately for the following behaviors:
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Fighting
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Stealing / attempting to steal
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Threatening students or adults
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Bringing weapons to school
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Possession and/or sale of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs
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Sale of prescription drugs
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Dress code is important to school safety and our dress code is simple.
What we define as appropriate attire is that which allows every child
to be comfortable and participate fully and that which would not
distract students from the learning process. We ask that you support
us in the implementation of the following dress code. If a student
comes to school in clothing that is considered inappropriate, parents
will be contacted and asked to either take the child home or bring a
change of clothes for him/her. The student will be provided with an
oversize shirt until parents arrive.
General Guidelines:
- No undergarments showing
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Girls should not show bra straps or belly buttons. No
spaghetti straps--tops should have a minimum of a 2" strap. No
short-shorts--shorts should not be shorter than arms length to the
fingertips.
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No flip-flop sandals or sandals that leave most of the foot
exposed. Shoes that are safe for P.E. and recess are strongly
encouraged. High heel shoes are strongly discouraged. No "roller"
shoes.
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No jewelry or other extra items that might be considered safety
issues or distractions. No long chains. No spiked jewelry (bracelets,
armbands, chokers).
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No "sagging" pants that expose underwear.
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Hats in the class are left to the teacher's discretion.
However in the middle school they will need to be taken off while
indoors.
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No violent, scary, or offensive images or words on any clothing item.
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Any items not covered on the above list that may seem
inappropriate will be left to the discretion of staff members and
ultimately, the principal.
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The way we teach at CCDS, by tying our teaching to a theme and trying
to connect the stuff you need to learn to some big concepts, really
promotes "being there" experiences. Don't you agree that getting out
into the real world and applying the stuff you have been learning is
the best way to really learn? We do. We'll take you on trips that
will really make your work and think. But most importantly, we hope
that you will remember our field trips for years to come.
Here's your chance to share your great hopes and ideas with your teachers. What field trips do you hope for this year?
Make a list of the 3 best field trips you've ever been on and explain why you feel this way.
Why do you think it is important to go on field trips?
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We know that many things in life need skills that go beyond
pure academics. Our elective program offers a variety of classes that
target real-world skills and scenarios. The electives range from:
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Guitar
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Cooking
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Yearbook
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School newspaper
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Drama
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Art
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Music
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Sports
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As well as several other interesting topics
We will be breaking up the electives into 3 trimesters. Some of the
classes will be offered each trimester and some will be a one-time
deal.
This is an excellent time for you to write a persuasive letter to your
teachers! What would you like to be sure is offered? What are your
concerns and worries? Which of these electives offer you the most
skills to take you into adulthood?
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Logging in:
When you want to use a computer on campus, you will
first need to log in. All of your files will be saved on a server,
which means that no matter where on campus you log in, you will always
have access to your files. At the login screen, you will need a login
name and a password. Your login name is the last two digits of the
year of your high school graduation, then your entire first name
combined with your entire last name with no capitals or spaces. Your
password is your student ID number, commonly referred to as your
library number. Your homeroom teacher can give you your ID number if
you forget it or don't know it.
Keeping your files secure:
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Don't give your ID number to anyone else. It is your only
password and you cannot change it. If you think someone else knows
your password and is getting into your files, let me know immediately.
- Always shut down your computer when you are finished with it
unless otherwise instructed by your teacher. Also, please wait until
your screen goes black before closing the laptop.
Laptop use rules:
- No food or drinks while using the laptops…not even water.
- Report broken or malfunctioning equipment to your teacher immediately.
- Carry the laptops carefully with two hands
- Before you print anything, ask your teacher for permission.
- Only visit sites authorized by your teacher. At school,
everything you do on the internet is tracked! Viewing inappropriate
content on the internet can result in suspension and/or loss of
computer privileges.
- Get permission from your teacher before using CD's, DVD's, flash drives, or other external equipment.
- Students are not authorized to use computers without appropriate supervision.
- Students may not use another Student's ID# / Password to gain unauthorized access to the internet, network, or drives.
- Students may not modify, delete, or copy any programs, applications or operating system files.
- Students may use only designated departmental programs on
computers. Students may not load, download, or install any application
software or program files on computers or networks.
- Students may save data to assigned locations only. System space
is limited and inappropriately place files may be deleted periodically.
- Non-educational games are prohibited at all times (before,
during, or after school). If unsure of the definition of
"educational", ask your teacher.
- Students are expected to show RESPONSIBLE use of internet /
network at all times. (additional internet expectations include, but
are not limited to the following.)
RESPONSIBLE USERS:
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May not use the internet for any illegal purpose.
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May not use impolite or abusive language or access materials that may be considered inappropriate or offensive.
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May not violate the rules of common sense and etiquette.
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May not send or get copyrighted materials without permission.
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May not download software, plugins, games or other without express permission from the network administrator.
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May not use chat rooms.
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May not use email (unless used for transferring assignments as authorized by your teacher).
14. Individual school personnel may impose additional rules.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
If you are uncertain about any of the rules above - ASK!
PRIVACY - Computer storage space may be treated like school lockers.
School personnel may review computer content to maintain system
integrity and insure that students are using the system responsibly.
Each person has the right to expect that his/her own work will be
secure and confidential. Violating a person's privacy and copyright is
a criminal offense and offenders will be dealt with accordingly.
Be prepared to be held accountable for your actions and the loss of
privileges and/or other disciplinary action if these rules are
violated. When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.
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