VIRGINIA
MIDDLE SCHOOL
2016-2017
Name: _____________________________ Grade: _____ Address: ___________________________
City: _________________ State: ______ Zip: ________
Telephone: ______________________
Virginia Middle School 501 Piedmont Avenue Bristol, VA 24201 276-821-5660 Fax: 276-821-5661
Home of the Bearcats
Superintendent Keith Perrigan Asst. Superintendent Gary Ritchie Principal Jason Matlock Assistant Principal Joshua Stamper Bookkeeper Amber Morris Secretary Dee Halstead Guidance Catherine Melton Attendance Scott Jones Resource Officer Eddie O’Dell Mission Statement We, at Virginia Middle School, with the help of parents and com-munity, strive to educate our stu-dents in a safe and nurturing envi-ronment, where academics, physical fitness, cultural awareness, social skills, self-motivation, and self-discipline come together to promote individual achievement and produc-tive, responsible citizenship. School Communications VMS Main Office 821-5660 Fax 821-5661 Attendance Office 821-5688
Contacts may be made with teachers by calling the office. Although teachers cannot be called from a class, a message will be left for the teacher, and he/she will return calls before or after school or during their plan-ning time.
All teachers regularly use email. Email addresses are published on the school’s website at www.bvps.org.
Virginia Middle School uses an automated voice system on special occasions. The system has the ca-pability to call and leave a general message to all parents.
The automated call-out system sends out messages when midterms and report cards go out, as well as other timely events. Bristol Virginia Schools produces the Communique, a quarterly news-letter. The contents of the newslet-ter relay various events of the divi-sion’s six schools. A snow line is available for stu-dents and parents to access in the event of poor weather conditions. The phone number is 821-5999.
Bullying
Students shall not harass or bully others either in person or by the use of any communication technology including computer systems, tele-phones, pagers, or instant messag-ing systems. “ A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself.” - Dan Olweus
BVPS Bullying Hotline (276) 644—4827
BVPS Hotline messages can be left anonymously, if desired. The school’s administration will check this number for messages and look into any issues.
All students are expected to wear street clothing and dress appropri-ately for a K-12 educational envi-ronment. Any clothing that inter-feres with or disrupts the education-al environment is unacceptable. Clothing should fit, be neat, and clean, and conform to standards of safety, good taste, and decency. Clothing should not be so tight that undergarments are revealed.
Parents of students requiring ac-commodation for religious beliefs, disabilities, or other good causes should contact the school principal.
Students not complying with this code will be asked to cover the noncomplying clothing, change clothes, or go home. Repeated in-fractions will result in disciplinary action.
Tops
All undergarments will remain under appropriate clothing.
Transparent shirts/blouses, backless shirts, halter-tops, tube tops, open sided tops such as basketball jerseys or cut off t-shirts and other tops that expose the chest, cleavage, back, midriff, navel or waist-line are prohibited.
Mesh type shirts or jerseys that expose the chest or midriff are prohibited.
Dress Code
Clothing with string or spa-ghetti straps are not permitted. The minimum acceptable width of a shoulder strap is the standard width of a driver’s license.
Clothing or accessories which identify with or can be per-ceived as gang affiliations are not permitted.
Tops worn under jackets or cardigans must meet dress code.
Bottoms
All undergarments must re-main fully covered by cloth-ing.
Hips, midriff, buttocks, lower back, upper thigh and navel will remain covered with clothing whether standing,
sitting, or bending. Miniskirts, short skirts, “short
shorts,” or other form-fitting attire that is revealing or dis-ruptive to the learning environ-ment is prohibited.
Skirts, dresses, and shorts must be no shorter than mid-thigh unless leggings are worn.
Pants with regular waist bands should be worn at the waist and be size-appropriate.
No sagging allowed. No holes, tears, or rips are
permitted in inappropriate places such as the crotch, seat, etc.
Disciplinary action will be taken against any student taking part in gang-related activities that are dis-ruptive to the school environment, which include the display of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, tattoo, or manner of grooming that, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark, or any other attribute, denotes membership in a gang that advocates illegal or disruptive be-havior. Clothing with slogans or advertising that are controversial, obscene, and inflammatory or may generate neg-ative feelings is prohibited.
Examples of some inappropriate displays include, but are not lim-ited to the following:
Hate messages
Sexual innuendos
Racial symbols
Violent or immoral messages
References to illegal activities
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco
Drugs
Shoes and Coats
Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times. All coats and heavy jack-ets should be placed in student lock-ers prior to the beginning of school. Sweaters, sweatshirts, or short light-weight jackets may be worn during the school day.
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Jewelry
No industrial chains, pet chains, or pet collars may be worn around the neck, wrist, waist, or chains at-tached to wallets. Chains worn around the neck must be small enough that they would break if jerked by another individual.
Piercings
Ear, facial, or body piercings that pose a potential threat to safety are
prohibited.
Head Coverings
Head coverings may not be worn on the head inside the building unless required for medical or religious purposes. Spirit Clothing for School Events
Spirit uniforms worn to attend class must meet all dress code require-ments. In the interest of safety/health, specific grooming standards may be required for certain classes. A more rigorous code may be re-quired for students serving as repre-sentatives of the school. Clothing worn to school sponsored events (sports events) does not have to meet the same dress code as cloth-ing worn in the classroom setting. However, students should dress in a manner that is not embarrassing to the BVPS BOE, school officials, and the students’ families.
Dress Code
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Virginia Middle School Regular Schedule
2015-2016
Mod-ule
Mod Start
Mod End
1 7:40 8:15
2 8:15 8:40
3 8:45 9:05
4 9:10 9:35
5 9:40 10:05
6 10:05 10:30
7 10:35 11:00
8 11:00 11:25
9 11:30 11:55
10 11:55 12:20
11 12:20 12:45
12 12:50 1:15
13 1:15 1:40
14 1:45 2:10
15 2:10 2:35
Virginia Middle School Snow Schedule
Module
Mod Start Mod End
1 9:40 10:00
2 SKIP SKIP
3 10:05 10:30
4 SKIP SKIP
5 10:35 10:55
6 SKIP SKIP
7 11:00 11:25
8 11:30 11:55
9 11:55 12:20
10 12:20 12:45
11 12:50 1:15
12 1:15 1:40
13 1:45 2:10
14 2:15 2:35
15 SKIP SKIP
VMS Afterschool Academy Afterschool Academy meets daily Monday through Friday from 2:35 to 5:00. All VMS students are eligible to attend, provided they have a permission form completed by a parent or guardian. VMS Afterschool Academy Rules:
All school behavior and
dress code rules apply. Respectful conduct toward
peers and staff are ex-pected at all times.
Students must report to the
cafeteria to sign in by 2:40 PM.
Students are to be in their
assigned locations at all times, unless per-mission to be otherwise is given by a staff member.
Infractions of the rules may re-sult in suspension from the pro-gram for a period of time or for the entire school year.
Tardy bell during lunches for regular classes:
10:25 10:45 11:05 11:25 11:45
Virginia Middle School Early Dismissal Schedule
Mod-ule
Mod Start Mod End
1 7:40 8:00
2 8:05 8:25
3 8:30 8:50
4 8:55 9:15
5 9:20 9:40
6 9:45 9:55
7 10:00 10:20
8 10:20 10:40
9 10:40 11:00
10 11:00 11:20
11 11:20 11:40
12 11:40 12:00
13 SKIP SKIP
14 12:05 12:35
15 SKIP SKIP
Students participating in athletics are required to have a physical before par-ticipation in a sport. The Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form must be completed, and properly signed, attesting that the stu-dent has been examined and found to be physically fit for athletic competition, and that his/her parents consent to the participation.
Bus Transportation Participation in Athletics
Athletics is an important part of the extracurricular pro-gram at Virginia Middle School. The following sports are available to our students: Grades Cross Country 6, 7, & 8 Basketball 8 Volleyball 7 & 8 Football 8 Cheerleading 7 & 8 Track 7 & 8 Swimming 6, 7, & 8 Wrestling 6, 7, & 8 Soccer 8
School bus transportation is provided by the City Transit System. Information regard-ing the buses should be ob-tained from the Bristol Vir-ginia Transit System by call-ing 821-5611. Riding a school bus is a privilege, not a right. Misbehavior on a bus may endanger the safety of riders, and will result in a student’s suspension from that bus and any other divi-sion bus.
Bus Notes
A written note signed by a parent and someone in the school office must accompa-ny any student who desires to ride a bus other than the one they normally ride. Students will not be permitted to ride with a friend or to a relative’s home unless a note is written for those special occasions
Bring Your Own Device Policy
The Bristol Virginia Public School System has initiated a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy which allows students in middle and high school to bring their own personal electronic internet enabled devices such as laptops, iPads, netbooks, e-readers, mobile phones, and other devices with Wi-Fi capabilities to school. Unacceptable devices in-clude but are not limited to gaming devices without Wi-Fi capabilities, laser pointers, televisions, mo-dems, wireless storage devices or routers. Bringing electronic devic-es is not required of students, but is a privilege. Before using these devices on school property, stu-dents and their parents/guardians must agree to and sign the Ac-ceptable Use Policy. Students bring personal electronic devices to school at their own risk. Bristol Virginia Public Schools (BVPS) is not liable for the loss, damage, misuse, and/or theft of de-vices brought to school. Students are responsible for the upkeep, mainte-nance, repair, protection and security of their devices.
Use of student owned electronic de-vices is allowed before and after the school day. Electronic devices may be used during instructional class time when authorized and supervised by faculty members. The use of elec-tronic devices is NOT permitted dur-ing lunch periods or class changes. Devices may only be used for educa-tional purposes in the classroom set-ting as directed by the teacher. Use of these devices will be moni-tored by BVPS staff. Students not adhering to the BYOD Policy or Guidelines may incur disciplinary actions for inappropriate use of electronic devices. BVPS reserves the right to monitor, inspect, and
review a personally owned device or file when the administration has a reasonable suspicion that a viola-tion has occurred.
Parents should continue to call the school office to contact their child. The student will be contacted to pass along the message. Parents should not contact their child by cell phone or other electronic device during the school day. Consequences for cell phone viola-tions: 1st: Warning, return phone at the end of the school day, call parents 2nd: After school detention, call parents, Parents must pick up the device from the office. 3rd and thereafter: In school suspen-sion, call parents, parents must pick up device from office. Students shall not take photographs or record audio or video of another student or teacher without their ex-press consent. The use of photograph-ic, video, or audio features of any device inside a locker room, rest room, or other room used for chang-ing clothes is expressly forbidden. Students using a cell phone, cam-era, or any other device with photographic, audio or video capabilities to take inappropriate photographs/videos on school grounds may be in violation of criminal code.
Classroom teachers have the authority and responsibility to maintain discipline and control in their classroom. Teachers have been instructed to make every effort to correct inappropriate student behavior and to handle discipline offenses as they occur. Teachers shall have the initial authority to remove students from class for disruptive behav-ior. Disruptive behavior is de-fined as a violation of school board regulations governing stu-dent conduct that interrupts or obstructs the learning environ-ment. The administrator will determine the appropriate ac-tions. Factors to be considered will be: 1. Willfulness 2. Extent of personal in jury or property dam- age 3. Action in concert with others 4. Frequency 5. Effect on public order and/or academic integrity The student code of conduct applies to all students’ conduct either on or off of school grounds, either on the way to or from school (including con-duct on school buses), during school hours, or at any school-sponsored activity.
Violation of school rules may result, but are not limited to any of the following actions: 1. Student-teacher confer- ence 2. Verbal reprimand 3. Silent Lunch 4. Office conference with administrator or counselor 5. After School Detention 6. Notification of parent or guardian 7. Loss of school privileges 8. Overnight suspension (suspension until parent reports with student for a conference) 9. In School Detention 10.Out of school suspen- sion from 1 to 10 days 11. Expulsion 12. Criminal charges 13. Payment for damaged Items
Extra Help Teachers make themselves avail-able one afternoon per week to offer tutoring to students. The tutoring sessions normally last until 3:15 and are coordinated with the teacher.
Disciplinary Procedures
Possession/Use of Tobacco Products
Students of any age are forbidden to use or possess tobacco or any tobacco-like substitute, in any form, while at school or while participating in any school-sponsored activity, at school or away. Students in possession or using tobacco will be assigned three days In School Detention for the first offense and a cita-tion to appear in court.
Alcohol, Weapons, and Drugs
Any student using, under the influence, possessing, or furnish-ing to another student, alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia at any school-related activity, whether on or off schools grounds will be subject to disci-plinary action. Possession of over the counter medications will be subject to the same provisions. Students in possession of an in-strument that could be construed to be a dangerous weapon is also subject to disciplinary action. An immediate ten day suspen-sion will be issued with an addi-tional suspension and/or expul-sion possible by the Board of Education. Pocket knives of any length are subject to a mini-mum suspension of ten days.
Attendance A reasonable effort shall be made to contact a parent/guardian of each absent student each day, and to obtain an explanation for the stu-dent/s absence. A log will be kept of call attempts. Students who are absent must bring a valid note stating the reason for the absence upon returning to school. Unexcused absences shall be handled according to the regula-tions issued by the superintendent.
Tardies
Unexcused school and class tar-dies hinder students from taking advantage of all instructional time. Students continually tardy will earn the following conse-quences:
Consequences of Each Tardy
1. Warning 2 Friday Lunch Detention 3 After School Detention 4 After School Detention 5 ISD 1 Day 6 ISD 3 Days 7 Office Referral Additional tardies will involve additional intervention strategies including suspension. The accu-mulation of tardies will be cleared at the end of each week.
Excused Absences
Under the compulsory at-tendance law, an accounting must be made of each day’s absence. A parent/guardian may give a student permis-sion to miss school for what-ever reason the parent/guardian deems necessary for five days during the school year. The parent should noti-fy the school by telephoning or by sending a note to the attendance office at 821-5688. After the fifth day, ONLY a special excuse is accepted. A Special Excuse include the following: State-ments from a physician, den-tist, or mental health profes-sional that the student was unable to attend; an excuse from a court; written evi-dence of the death of the stu-dent’s mother, father, step-parent, legal guardian, grand-parent, brother, sister, aunt, or uncle (bereavement that extends beyond two days would require permission from the principal). All writ-ten excuses must be dated and signed to be valid.
Unexcused Absences Truancy from school or skipping class will not be tolerated. These violations can hinder achievement and lead to habits of irre-sponsibility. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 must attend school daily, be on time, and follow the assigned schedule unless a valid ex-cuse is presented.
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Consequences of skipping class will result in in-school detention
Except for excused absenc-es, a student who is absent on a given day will not be permitted to participate in any school sponsored ac-tivity taking place that evening. This regulation applies to parties, ban-quets, dances, and other school, class, or social activities, as well as ath-letic contests or practices, concerts, and club or class meetings.
Grading System
The following grade point schedule controls the as-signing of letter grades: A 100 - 93 B 92 -85 C 84 -75 D 74 -70 F Below 70
Perfect Attendance Policy
Perfect attendance is de-fined as being in attend-ance 100% of each school day. No tardies, check-outs, or excused notes are permitted.
Lockers
Students are assigned lockers and combination locks for the storage of books, school supplies, coats, and lunches. All students are responsible for the upkeep and con-tents of their lockers and should not permit any other student to have access to it. Lock-ers will be subject to in-spection, announced or unannounced, to deter-mine proper use and con-tents. Lockers are the property of the school.
Student Agenda
A copy of the student agenda is given to every student free of charge. It is the responsi-bility of each student to maintain possession of this agenda throughout the school year. Students are required to bring their agenda to every class, every day. The agenda serves as an organizational tool and as a hall pass in case students need to be released during class. If a student loses his or her agenda, a replacement copy can be pur-chased through the office for five dollars.
Exam Schedule During exam week all stu-dents will be released at 12:30. Only students enrolled in high school credit courses will take exams. Those stu-dents will follow the Virginia High School Exam Schedule and the Board Approved Ex-am Exemption Policy. Both can be found on the BVPS website, and students will be notified of these procedures before exam week
Bristol Virginia Public Schools 2017-2018 School Calendar
August 9 First Day of School 18 Early Dismissal September 4 Labor Day Holiday 29 Parent Teacher Conferences October 10 End of First 9 Weeks 12 Early Dismissal 13-16 Fall Break 17 Report Cards November 7 Election Day– Schools Closed 22-24 Thanksgiving Holidays December 15 Early Dismissal (students and personnel) 18-29 Winter Holiday January 1 Winter Holiday 2 Teacher Workday 3 Schools Reopen 9 Report Cards 15 MLK Jr. Holiday Schools Closed
February 23 Parent Teacher Conferences
March 8 End of 3rd nine weeks 15 Report cards 30– April 6 Spring Break/Schools Closed April March 30– April 6 Spring Break/Schools Closed 9 Schools Reopen
May 21-23 Secondary Exams VMS 7:30 - 12:30 23 End of the 4th Nine Weeks-Early Dismissal 28 Memorial Day Holiday 30 Report Cards
