BOMB THREATS. FALSE FIRE ALARMS. SMOKE BOMBS. AND FIREWORKS
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1.  Any threat, alarm, or bomb may be considered a criminal offense.

2.  False fire alarms (�18.2-212 of The Code of Virginia-states that it is a class 1 misdemeanor if any 
     person who without just cause calls or summons by telephone or otherwise any ambulance or 
     fire�fighting apparatus or maliciously activates a manual or automatic fire alarm in a building used for 
     public assembly or for a public purpose, including public schools, regardless of whether the fire 
     department responds).

3.  Bomb threats (�18.2-83 - Class 6 felony if 15 or over, class 1 misdemeanor if under 15). As 
     previously noted, this is now a reportable offense.

4.  Smoke bombs (� 18.2-87.1 - A person who willfully and intentionally sets off or causes to be set off 
     any chemical bomb capable of producing smoke in any building used for public assembly or regularly 
     used by the public could be guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

DRESS CODE
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1.        Hair color may not be applied at school, and must not be of unnatural colors, distracting from the

           educational process.

 

2.        All clothing should be neat and clean. Outfits, which are too tight, short, revealing, or suggestive, are not

           acceptable school attire. This includes, but is not limited to tank tops, muscle shirts, short shorts, or

           halter�tops.

 

3.        Questionable patches, slogans, or writing on clothing, which may be in bad taste, are not to be worn.

 

4.        Pants are not to extend below the heal of the shoe.

 

5.        All students are required to wear conventional foot apparel. Appropriate sandals are acceptable.
           (No shower shoes, flip flops, soccer sandals, or beachwear is allowed).

 

6.        Shirts and blouses must either be tucked in or may not extend below the buttocks, if not tucked in.

 

7.        Shorts, skirts, or dresses must extend to the end of the fingertips when the arm is extended down by the

           side.

 

8.        Hats, headgear, headbands, and dark glasses are not to be worn inside the building.

 

9.        Students cannot wear any clothing that expose undergarments.

 

10.      Pants, shorts, or skirts with a waistband must be secured above the hips.

 

11.      Body piercing jewelry may not be worn. Earrings are permissible. However, boys may not wear

           jewelry that dangles.

 

12.      In the interest of safety and/or health, the school may require specific dress or grooming  procedures for

           certain classes (such as vocational, science, technical, etc) in which some  particular danger may exist.

 

13.      Any other personal appearance attire or behavior, which the administration determines to be

           unacceptable, offensive, or disruptive to the educational setting, is prohibited.
 

 DISCIPLINE
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        The administration of Jonesville Middle School will not tolerate disruptions of the educational process. Any student who repeatedly fails to comply with the directions of teachers or other authorized school personnel may not be allowed to remain in school.

STUDENT'S RIGHT TO APPEAL
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        Students shall have the right to appeal any administrative decisions or actions taken against them to the next highest authority. The student may appeal a penalty to the School Board, by either the Superintendent or Disciplinary Committee. The penalty need not be postponed pending the outcome of the appeal. Such appeal must be made on the record made in the hearing. The appeal must be made within ten (10) days after notice of the hearing committee's actions. The School Board may alter the disposition of the Disciplinary Committee and/or the superintendent.

 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND ATTENDANCE RIGHTS AND  RESPONSIBILITIES
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        This booklet sets forth Lee County's expected standard of conduct and attendance, explains possible penalties, and outlines students' rights and responsibilities. Copies are provided students upon their entering the Lee County School System. Additional copies are available in the office.

 

SCHOOL RULES AND PROCEDURES
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ACCIDENTS/INJURIES  (Back to Index)
         All accidents/injuries must be reported to the student's immediate supervisor. A school insurance policy offers secondary coverage for all students; however, it is the responsibility of the student to have the necessary forms completed by school officials. Forms should be completed as soon after the accident/injury as possible.

ANNOUNCEMENTS  (Back to Index)
         Announcements will be made during the first and last minutes of school. All announcements must be written, dated, signed by a teacher or administrator, and given to the school secretary prior to first period for announcement that day. Only emergency announcements will be made during the day.

 

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL (Back to Index)
        Doors are open at 7:25 AM. Students who ride a bus must enter through the north doors and move immediately to the gymnasium. All other students must enter through the east end double doors and go to the gym. Students who arrive late to school and do not check in will be counted as absent.

DEPARTING FROM SCHOOL  (Back to Index)
       Students will not be permitted to leave the school grounds for any reasons unless excused to do so by the principal or designee. Early dismissals may be obtained by bringing a note to the school administration with the note stating the reason for the dismissal, departure time, parent/guardian telephone number, and parent/guardian signature. Students will be called to the Office when the individual arrives to pick them up

        If the student fails to obtain an early dismissal via the above procedure, and someone comes to pick him/her up, then the student will not be called, except during the last five minutes of the current class. Failure to adhere to this procedure may result in denial and/or loss of the privilege as well as not being allowed to make up missed work.

         Students leaving school early must not loiter about the campus but leave immediately by transportation approved by the school personnel. Students who become ill or injured at school should report to the office, and the parents/guardians will be contacted. Students must be signed out by their parents, legal guardian or their designee.

FIRE DRILL  (Back to Index)
        Fire drills will be held once a week during the first month and then once month thereafter. Each teacher is responsible for informing his/her students of the procedure for his/her room.

FUND RAISING  (Back to Index)
        School organizations should make every effort to keep fund raising to a minimum with no loss of school time. All sales and fund raising programs are to be coordinated through the principal's office or his designee. Sales of candy or food products which would interfere or compete with the school breakfast/lunch program are prohibited. Sales or solicitation by non-school groups are prohibited unless prior approval is obtained nom the school board.

MEDICINE  (Back to Index)
        Before medication can be administered a Notice of Medication Policies and Procedure must be signed by the parent or legal guardian, dated and on file at JMS. The form gives guidelines which must be followed at all times. All medications, prescription or over-the-counter drugs must be turned in at the office and will be kept under lock and key and dispensed by designated school personnel. Medication must be brought to school by parent or guardian only, at that time medication will be counted and a receipt given.

 

CAFETERIA  (Back to Index)
         Breakfast and lunch are served in the middle school for all students who wish to participate. The components of a complete breakfast include a meat or meat alternate, a serving of bread, fruit/fruit juice, and milk. The lunch components are a meat and meat alternate, a serving of bread, a vegetable or two fruits, and mille.

         Our feeding program operates within the Federal guidelines of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program, and allows students to apply for free or reduced price meals. Applications rnay be secured from the cafeteria clerk or the office personnel.

 GUIDANCE SERVICE  (Back to Index)
        The guidance counselors are prepared to help students who have questions or need assistance with such areas as personal problems, course work, grades, program selection, career planning, testing, coordinating service agencies, etc. Students can see a counselor before or after school or during study hall with a pass from the teacher. Students will also be scheduled by the guidance department for conferences when necessary.

 

HALL PASSES  (Back to Index)
        Students excused into the halls from class or study hall must have an agenda signed by the teacher from whose class or study hall they were released. The agenda must state the student's destination as well as the departure time.
 

LIBRARY  (Back to Index)
        The purpose of the Jonesville Middle School Library Media Center is to provide information to enrich the curriculum, to satisfy quests for knowledge, to give added dimensions to the learning process, and to introduce a variety of pleasurable reading experiences.

        The mission of the library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. This mission is accomplished:

            (1)  by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats

            (2)  by providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, view
                   and using information

            (3)  by working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of
                   individual students

  Students using the library are asked to observe the following rules:

            1.   Only students needing to use the library will be permitted to go to the library.
                  Assignments not requiring library materials are to be done in the class or study hall.

            2.   Students must have a pass from the classroom teacher, stating the purpose for being
                  in the library/media center.

            3.   Scheduled classes will be accompanied by the teacher and will not require a pass.

            4.   Using the library is a privilege. Improper behavior will result in loss of that privilege.

            5.   Reference materials are not to be removed from the library; however, there will be a
                  set of  encyclopedias for overnight circulation.

            6.  Library materials must be returned promptly; no student will be allowed to check out
                 additional materials until all overdue materials have been returned.

COMPUTERS AND INTERNET  (Back to Index)
         The Lee County School Board policy states that Internet, e-mail, network, and computer access is established solely for educational purposes. School divisions provided Internet and e-mail access is intended to provide worldwide resources and to facilitate communications that support educational research and education. Access to the Internet and e-mail is only permitted for educational research that is consistent with educational objectives. Inappropriate use will result in (at minimum) cancellation of the privilege to use the access. Further disciplinary action is possible under some circumstances.
        Students who use the Internet must have on file a signed (by student and parent/guardian) Acceptable Use Policy.   

LOCKERS  (Back to Index)
        There will be a $1.00 charge for the use of lockers. Backpacks must be placed in the lockers and remain there until the last period of the day. Students are responsible for these lockers when they are assigned and damage: writing, scraping the paint off, etc. will result in the students paying to have the lockers painted.

 

NEW STUDENTS  (Back to Index)
        Any student entering Jonesville Middle School must have evidence of complete immunization. This

includes the following:
 

            1.        MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) - One dose of each at age 12 months or older; may
                       be combined MMR vaccine.
 

            2.        DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) - Three doses with one of the three doses given
                       after age four years; or four doses at any age above four.
 

            3.        Polio-three doses with one of the three given after age four years; or four doses at any
                       age above four. *
 

*Virginia Department of Education booklet, "Your Child Starts to School, A Guide to Parents," May 1986. Students entering from outside the State of Virginia must also have proof of a physical examination by a licensed physician, a birth certificate, and a social security card.

 

DEMONSTRATION OF AFFECTION  (Back to Index)
        Public demonstration of affection in school is in poor taste. It is showing disrespect for the school and the students concerned. We will not permit holding hands, hugging, caressing, or kissing at school. If students fail to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, they will be given a warning and/or their parents will be notified for first offense. Additional offenses will result in a more severe punishment.

 

REPORT CARDS  (Back to Index)
        Report cards are distributed to all students five school days after the end of each nine weeks grading period unless this date falls on a Friday. In this case, reports will be handed out the following Monday. The responsibilities for delivery of report cards to home is that of the student and his/her parents/guardians.

SCHEDULES CHANGES   (Back to Index)         
        Request must be made by parent or guardian and must be approved by principal or designee.

TEXTBOOK RENTAL AGREEMENT  (Back to Index)
        A rental fee of five dollars ($5.00) will be charged to all students. Students and parents/guardian assume full responsibility for all books rented to them They must agree to replace or pay for any or all books destroyed, lost, or damaged beyond normal wear and tear. Books stolen from lockers are the responsibility of the student. Failure to pay for lost or damaged books may forfeit the student's privilege to rent textbooks the next school year. Students and parents/guardian must agree to all terms of the book contract.

VISITORS  (Back to Index)
         All visitors to the school must report to the Office immediately and obtain a visitor's pass from the principal or his designee. Visiting time will be strictly limited and cannot disturb classes. For any family member or relative wishing to visit a student, arrangements should be made with the principal prior to the date of visiting. Non-JMS students are not permitted as passengers on the Lee County buses.

USE OF TELEPHONE  (Back to Index)
        The office telephone is for office use only. In emergency situations, students may be allowed to use an office telephone. Routine calls home for forgotten homework, uniforms, and rides after school must be avoided. In an effort to safeguard instructional time, parents calling school requesting to speak with students should instead leave messages.

SPORTS  (Back to Index)
        The purpose of the athletic teams is to develop the student emotionally and intellectually as well as physically, to develop within the student a sense of responsibility, leadership and pride within the school, to promote sportsmanship and to improve physical abilities. The student must have passed five subjects the previous semester and be enrolled in at least five subjects for the current semester. They must also comply with all rules set forth by the Virginia High School League, athletic department, school and/or school board.

CHANGING ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER  (Back to Index)
        Students who change their residence, mailing address, or telephone number after enrolling in the school division must report the change promptly to the attendance office so that records can be corrected and kept current.
 

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT  (Back to Index)
        Corporal punishment may not be used as a means of discipline. However, this does not prevent teacher and principals from using "reasonable and necessary force" when necessary to maintain a safe school environment. �22.1-279.1. Corporal punishment prohibited. - No teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. .This prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent

    (i) the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and
        control;

    (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a
         disturbance which threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property;

    (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself;

    (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or

    (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects or
         controlled substances or paraphernalia which are upon the person of the student or within his control..

 

DUE PROCESS  (Back to Index)
        Students facing suspension have a property right of an education guaranteed under t he 14th Amendment which may not be taken away without due process. Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975)

For suspensions often (10) days or less, the student must be given oral or written notice of the charges and,

if the denies them, an explanation of the evidence and an opportunity to present his side of the story.

Virginia law requires more due process than required by the Supreme Court. Va. Code Ann. �22.1-277

provides the following requirements for suspensions of "not more than ten days":
 

            1. Providing the student with oral or written notice of the charges.
 

            2. If the denies them, an explanation of the facts and the opportunity to present his version.
 

            3. Notification of the facts in writing by the administrator to the division superintendent or
                designee and to the parent(s).
 

            4.  If requested by either party, the superintendent or designee will review the facts of the
                 case to "confirm or disapprove" the action.
 

            5.  Superintendent's decision may be appealed by the school board.

 

Virginia law provides the following due process for suspensions of longer than ten (10) days:

 

            1.  Written notice to the students and his parent(s) or guardian stating the proposed action
                  and the reasons.
 

            2.  Notice in the letter that suspension can be appealed to the school board, or if permitted
                 by board regulation, appeal can be made first to the superintendent or designee.
 

            3.  Final appeal step must be to school board

 

MOMENT OF SILENCE  (Back to Index)
                The 2000 session of the General Assembly amended �22.1-203 of the Code of Virginia to require daily observation of a moment of silence, not to exceed one minute, in every classroom in the public schools of Virginia. The teacher is to ensure that all pupils remain seated and silent and make no distracting display during the time.

Students may meditate, pray or engage in any other silent activity that does not interfere with other pupils. During the summer of 2001, the 4 Circuit Court of Appeals, by a 2-1 vote, upheld the constitutionality of this law. The decision was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear the case. See http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2000/inf122a.pdf for the additional guidance.

NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT RIGHTS  (Back to Index)
                To prevent schools from being in the middle of custodial and non-custodial parent issues, consideration should be given to providing some information in the student-parent handbook to clarify the school's position and to reference statute law.

The General Assembly added �22.1-279.4 to the Code of Virginia which specifically allows non-custodial parents to participate in school related activities. The law states that unless there is a court order to the contrary, non-custodial parents cannot be denied the opportunity to participate in school activities such as lunch breaks, parent-teacher conferences, and extracurricular activities. If there is a court order denying access, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide a copy of that order to the school. Access State Superintendent's Memo #41, March 22, 2002 at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2002/infD41.

State Board of Education regulations concerning management 0 f student scholastic records ( 8 V AC 20�150-370 {IO}), clearly state that data contained in the record

.. .shall be disclosed to the parent or guardian of the student including a noncustodial parent, unless such parent's parental rights have been terminated or a court of competent jurisdiction has restricted or denied such access until the student is 18 years of age or is enrolled in an institution or post-secondary education. . ..

SEXUAL HARASSMENT  (Back to Index)
        Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances. Students are protected against sexual harassment by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, a Federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

        Sexual harassment related to students can occur in many forms and can be teacher to student, student to teacher, student to student. It can also be male to female, female to male, male to male, and female to female. The following types of behaviors form a spectrum of possible unwanted sexual harassment: visual (ogling, leering, posters, magazines, gestures); verbal (personal questions, lewd comments, dirty/sexual jokes, whistling, requests for dates); written (love poems, love letters, obscene letters); touching (violating space, patting, rubbing, pinching, caressing, kissing); power (retaliation - using position to request dates or sexual favors); threats (demands, quid pro quo - demand for sexual favors in exchange for a grade, privilege, etc.; and force (rape, assault).

        In June 1998, the United States Supreme Court ruled that school divisions cannot be held liable for damages under Title IX in a private lawsuit over teacher-student harassment unless an official in a position to take corrective action knew of the harassment and was "deliberately indifferent" to it.

        The United States Secretary of Education has indicated that the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will continue administrative enforcement of Title IX when sexual harassment occurs in schools. Under federal guidelines, schools are required to have well-publicized policies against sexual harassment, to have procedures for handling complaints, and to take action to resolve sexual harassment complaint.

        In the summer of 1999, the Supreme Court ruled that schools can be held liable for student to student sexual harassment if  school officials are indifferent to acts of harassment. The Supreme Court made the following observation:

...in a school setting, students often engage in insults, banter, teasing, shoving, pushing, and gender� specific conduct that is upsetting to the students subjected to it. Damages are not available for simple acts of teasing and name-calling among school children, however, even where these comments target differences in gender.. .damages are available only where the behavior is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies its victims the equal access to education

that Title IX is designed to protect.
 

            A brief checklist for sexual harassment issues include the following:

             1.  Develop a sexual harassment policy

             2.  Take seriously all complaints of sexual harassment and investigate each one

             3.   Include a statement in the student handbook that sexual harassment is unacceptable and
                   that engaging in such activity will result in disciplinary action

             4.   Ensure that teachers and site administrators understand the types of conduct that could
                   be considered sexual harassment

             5.   Do not ask if the complainant did anything to bring on the behavior.

SMOKING. USE. POSSESSION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS  (Back to Index)

        Generally, smoking and use of tobacco products is prohibited on school property. However, if 18-year-olds are allowed to smoke, define the location where this can occur. Be specific about possession of tobacco products.

THREATS AGAINST PERSONS OR PROPERTY  (Back to Index)
        VA. Code Ann. � 18.2-60 - If the threat is written, signed, or unsigned, and contains a threat to kill or do bodily injury to an individual or member of his/her family, it is a Class 6 felony. If the communication is oral and contains a threat to kill or do bodily harm to any elementary, middle, or high school employee and occurs on a school bus, school property, or during a school-sponsored activity, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

TRESPASSING  (Back to Index)
        Both students and non-students can be charged under Virginia law (Va. Code Ann. �18.2-128) with trespassing. Virginia Code is clear that it shall be...Unlawful for any person, whether or not a student, to enter upon or remain upon any school property in violation of (i) any direction to vacate the property by a person authorized to give such direction or (ii) any posted notice which contains such information, posted at a place where it reasonably may be seen. Each time such person enters upon or remains on the posted premises or after such direction that person refuses to vacate school property, it shall constitute a separate offense.

LOST AND FOUND  (Back to Index)

        Articles that are found are taken to the office. They may be claimed by their rightful owners during the school year. Any unclaimed articles will be donated to charity at the end of the school year.
 

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES  (Back to Index)
        No type of religious activity can be endorsed by the school. At the same time, it is important that students have the opportunity to express their religious views in ways that do not violate the First Amendment. The Virginia Board of Education has issued" Guidelines Concerning Religious Activity In The Public Schools" which can be found at http://www.pen.kI2.va.us/VDOE/PC/religion.pd

        It is important to note that No Child Left Behind requires each superintendent to document that student� initiated prayer is allowed in their school division. Federal guidelines on constitutionally protected prayer can be accessed at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayerpidance? exp=O.

 

GANG ACTIVITY  (Back to Index)

        Notification of school superintendent of criminal street gang activity committed by juvenile. Requires of intake officer to notify the school division superintendent of the filing of a petition against a juvenile in cases involving criminal street gang activity.

 

PARENTAL DEPLOYMENT  (Back to Index)
        Admission of certain persons to the public schools. Ensures that students whose parents are deployed outside the United States will continued to be admitted to public schools in the Commonwealth without tuition. This bill provides for admission to the public schools of any person living with an individual who is defined as a parent, not solely for school purposes, pursuant to a special power of attorney executed by a custodial parent as provided in federal law while the custodial parent is deployed outside the United States as a member of the Virginia National Guard or as a member of the United States Armed Forces. The bill also assures that the student will not be charged tuition because of being placed in the care of a non custodial parent or other person standing in loco parentis who lives in a jurisdiction other than that of the custodial parent and that the student will, when practicable, have the option to continue to attend the school in which he was enrolled while residing with his custodial parent.

CHEWING GUM  (Back to Index)
    Gum invariably gets placed on furniture, clothing, and floors. Gum is not permitted at school.