WELCOME TO CENTRAL!

“Home of the Tigers”

Mission Statement

Supportive

Understanding

Central

Community--

Every

Student

Succeeds!

THINGS TO KNOW

Arriving at Central: Parents who bring their students to school are to drop their student off on the west side of the building in the Rankin Loop.  6^th and 7^th graders are to gather on the south blacktop, which is near the bus loop.  8^th graders report to the courtyard.  The 7:50 A.M. bell will permit students to go to first period classes.  On inclement days (temperatures 32 degrees or less, rain, snow, etc.) 8^th graders report to the cafeteria and 6^th and 7^th graders to the gymnasium to be seated and visit quietly.  Student supervision begins at 7:30 and ends at 2:50. Please do not drop off students earlier than 7:30 A.M.

Attendance: Students should be on time for their first class that begins at 8:00 A.M.; however, if you must be absent, your parents need to call the attendance secretary by 11:00 A.M. on the first day of your absence.  The attendance number is 340-2896.  If your parents do not call the school, you must bring a written excuse or be accompanied by a parent to sign you in. 

Students will not be excused from school once they arrive unless a parent/guardian checks them out (or has given permission for another person to do so by listing them on the enrollment card).

Students will not be released to anyone not named on their enrollment card!

Publicity: The principal must approve posters, flyers, etc. publicizing activities before being displayed.  Organizations that are not school-related CANNOT advertise in the school.

Student Agendas:  Each student is expected to have an agenda.  The purpose is to provide an organization tool and com-munication vehicle for students, parents, and teachers.  The agenda includes a Hall Pass, which must be used in order to be excused from classes.  The principals and counselors periodically schedule incentives, usually in the form of surprise classroom spot checks, known as “Blitzes.”  Students who success-fully use their agenda are given treats while others are encouraged to improve.

Bicycles: Bikes are to be parked in the bike racks located at the northeast and west corners of the school. It is recommended that locks be used, but are not provided by the school.  The school cannot assume responsibility for bicycles.  No students are to be around the bike area except to put away or pick up their bikes.  Students should walk their bikes on the school grounds.  Riding a motorized bicycle to school is not permitted.

Closed Campus: Central is a closed campus. School hours are 7:50 A.M.–2:30 P.M.  Students should not arrive on campus until 7:30 A.M. when supervision begins.  Students must stay on campus until the end of their scheduled day.  Leaving campus without permission will result in disciplinary action since this is considered truancy.

Emergency Procedures: In order to be prepared for an emergency, several fire, tornado, and lock down drills will be conducted each year.  Students must conduct themselves in the proper manner when a drill is in progress.  Teachers will instruct students about evacuation routes and proper conduct.

Homework Hotline: Any student or parent may call the hotline any time after 3:00 P.M. to listen to a recorded message regarding each day’s assignments and re-minders.  The hotline does not eliminate the need for keeping the Student Agenda but will allow parents to monitor their student’s homework.  There is also a general infor-mation number for all-school information.

Hotline Number    330-7333_

Lost & Found: Articles found in and around the school should be turned in to the Financial Office where the owners may claim their property by identifying it.  The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items including, but not limited to: books, musical instruments and bicycles.  All unclaimed items will be donated to a charity at the end of each semester.  Students are strongly encouraged to label all personal property with their full name.  Efforts will then be made to return items to the rightful owner.

Lost & Damaged Books: Each textbook has a different number on it.  When students are issued a book, they are responsible for it until the school term is completed or until withdrawing from school.  Whether the book is lost, stolen, or damaged (by the student or unknown persons), the student is responsible for it.  Students must pay for lost, stolen, or damaged books.  Obligations must be cleared in the Financial Office before receiving grade cards, etc.

Breakfast Program: Students may enter the cafeteria beginning at 7:30 A.M. each morning to eat breakfast prepared by our Food Service workers.  The breakfast food line closes at 7:45 A.M.  Students must be in line by this time in order to be served and have enough time to eat. Students may pay cash or use their regular lunch card to purchase food.

The same rules and procedures apply at breakfast as at lunch.  Tardiness to first period is unexcused if students socialize too long or eat too slowly.

Lunch Periods & Lunch Cards: Students may purchase a lunch with cash or bring a sack lunch from home.  Food Services use a computerized lunch account-ing system with debit cards issued to each student.  Parents may prepay any amount of money on an account. Cards may be used only once a day to purchase “full meals”; however, students may use their cards a second time for a la carte items.  Super lunches (a regular meal plus an additional serving of the main entrée) are available for hungry growing students for an additional amount. The price of lunches has increased.  Student breakfast is $0.90 and lunch is $1.85. Lost or stolen cards can be in-validated and the balance transferred to a new account.  Using another person’s lunch card is strictly prohibited. 

After eating, students have the opportunity to socialize and play outdoors on the south blacktop.  There are specific lunch and blacktop rules which the teachers will go over in class. The information contains, but is not limited to, appropriate activities and behaviors during lunchtime recess.  On inclement days, students will remain in the cafeteria after eating.  They may visit quietly and then return to class.

Students’ parents wishing to take their child out for lunch may do so by checking them out in the attendance office.  Parents are not permitted to check out other parents’ students to accompany them to lunch.  We strongly discourage all parents from checking out their students for lunch.                                    

Media Center: The media center specialist will be happy to assist students in the use of books, audio-visual materials, and computer software.  Except in cases of entire classroom groups, students must have a hall pass to be in the media center.  Books circulate for two-week periods; records and tapes for one week.  Some materials will be put on “reserve” and checked out overnight only.  A notice of overdue materials will be sent to your English class.  Fines may be assessed for overdue materials.  Students are responsible for any materials checked out.  Any lost, stolen, or damaged items will be the student’s responsibility.

Telephones:  The telephone in the office is available for EMERGENCY USE ONLY. Students may request to use an administrator’s telephone if they are ill, need medication, or if school activity plans change unexpectedly (e.g. sports practice can-celled).  If someone should call for a student at school, a message will be taken and then delivered to the classroom.  In case of an emergency, the message would be delivered immediately.  Messages called in after 2:00 P.M. are often difficult to deliver before the 2:30 P.M. bell.  Due to personnel constraints, parents are strongly urged to ask the secretaries to deliver only vitally important messages!  

Personal plans (such as going to a friend’s house after school, etc.) must be made in advance and must not be justification to tie-up the business of the office telephones. 

Vending Machines: Vending machines provide drinks and snacks before, after school, and during lunch.  (Students are not to use the vending machines during passing time.  This activity may result in confiscation of purchased item(s) at the expense of the student.) All food items purchased before school must be consumed by 7:55 A.M. and are not to be placed in lockers.  Misuse may result in loss of privileges.

Visitors:  Parents are always welcome at school, but are required to check in at the office and obtain a CMS visitor’s name badge to wear.  School board policy prohibits visiting students from attending classes with a Central student.  This can be a disruption to the learning environment.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS  & SERVICES

Counseling & Guidance: The guidance counselors will present structured programs and activities that facilitate growth and development of the students’ self-worth.  These programs and activities include group and individual counseling.  Other respon-sibilities include facilitation of parent-teacher conferences, participation in team meetings with core teams, and planning school-wide activities.  The counselor coordinates and implements achievement testing, enrollment, and scheduling procedures. They also address community and parent relations within the school setting.

First Aid & School Nurse: If you become ill or injured, please report this to your teacher, and then to the clinic for assistance.  Your parents will be notified if necessary.  If they are unavailable, the emergency notification person(s) listed on your enrollment card will be contacted.  Edmond Public Schools offers the services of a school nurse.  She is available on specific days and can be called immediately to our school in times of need.

Special Programs: Information regarding referral, screening, and placement in specific programs designed for special needs students can be obtained from the counselors.

After School Advantage:  After School Advantage is a program offered from 2:45-3:45 P.M., Monday – Thursday, for those students who may need extra tutoring or must make up school time due to excessive absences. Transportation home is the responsibility of the parent.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Students who are absent the day of an activity, whether it is an excused absence, unexcused absence, AISP or OSSP, may not be allowed to participate in after school or evening activities.

Parents are responsible for picking up their student(s) from extra curricular activities in a timely manner.  Students left longer than 30 minutes past the conclusion of the activity will not be allowed to attend further events.

 The school cannot assume responsibility for students if they leave the supervised school activity and/or area. 

Sports:  Numerous sports are available in which 7^th and 8^th graders may participate.  Girls and/or boys may go out for the following sports: football, softball, volleyball, basketball, baseball, cross-country, track, golf, tennis, and wrestling.  Intramural football is offered in the spring to 6^th and 7^th graders.

Eligibility:  The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association has established strict policies and procedures regarding scholastic eligibility for our 7^th and 8^th grade students.  In adherence to these rules, we are required to do weekly grade checks to determine eligibility for every student involved in a school sponsored competitive activity.  Any student failing one or more subjects is placed on probation for one week and is ineligible the following week if all grades are not brought up to passing.  Coaches and sponsors have further detailed information they will distribute to prospective students. 

Programs/Organizations: Tiger Chess, Academic Team, Tiger Theatre, and Action Council.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Board of Education Policy: The Board of Education recognizes that students do not surrender any rights of citizenship while in attendance at Edmond Public Schools.  The school is a community with rules and regulations.  Those who enjoy the rights and privileges it provides must also accept the responsibilities that inclusion demands, including respect for obedience to school rules. 

Board Policy #4401 details a discipline code.  It lists behaviors at school, while on school vehicles or going to or from, or attending school events that will result in disciplinary action, which may include in-school placement options or out-of-school suspension. Sample disciplinary options (excluding suspensions) include detention and alternative in-school placement.  In case of a suspension, specific guidelines and procedures listed in Policy #4401 will be followed.  Board policy books are available for review to interested parents/students.

Team Policies & Procedures: Core teams will develop consistent and specific team policies and procedures applicable to each team member.  While Board policy and school rules supercede team rules, students are expected to comply with and be obedient to specific team rules and regulations.

Bullying/Harassment:  In keep-ing with our goal to provide a safe and conducive learning environment to all students at Central Middle School, bullying and harassment will not be tolerated. Students are strongly encouraged to report any form of bullying or harassment directly to a teacher, counselor or administrator.  Accusations will be investigated and appro-priate consequences will be provided when necessary.

Tardies:  Teaching teams will develop a tardy policy, including consequences, for students to abide by.    Students are ex-pected to follow the established schedule by arriving to class, prepared and on time. 

Lockers: Lockers are provided for your use and convenience and are the property of the school.   Be sure to follow these guidelines: 

1.       Keep your locker combination a secret.  After closing your locker, always turn the dial a turn or two.

2.       Once you have been issued a locker, you may NOT change or share lockers without permission from a principal.  Violation of this rule will result in loss of locker privileges.

3.       Do not bring valuable items to school.  This includes any amount of money more than the price of a lunch.  Edmond Public Schools are not responsible for any lost or stolen items!

4.       Students who misuse or purposely abuse/vandalize lockers will be subject to disciplinary consequences.

5.       Lockers are not to be decorated with stickers, etc.  Instead, magnets and other removable items are permissible.

6.       Lockers should not be decorated for birthdays, etc.

7.       State law (Section 24-102 of Title 70) provides that “Pupils shall not have any reasonable expectation of privacy toward school administrators or teachers in the contents of a school locker, desk or other property.  School personnel shall have access to school property in order to properly supervise the welfare of pupils.  School lockers, desks and other areas of school facilities may be opened and examined by school officials at any time and no reason shall be necessary for such search.”

Prohibited Items:

            Significant amounts of money and other items of value are not to be brought to school. The Edmond Public Schools cannot assume responsibility for any lost or stolen items.

            Other prohibited items often include, but are not limited to radios, cassette/CD players, headphones, skateboards, roller blades, and squeeze bottles or other open containers.  These types of nuisance items will be taken away from students and released, upon request, to parents. 

            Students are not permitted to bring any sort of merchandise to school for sale or re-sale.  This does not include fund raising items that are sponsored by the school of the Parent Support Organization.

            Students are to place all necessary medications on file with the appropriate school personnel.  Students who are found to have unauthorized medications with them will receive appropriate consequences.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

As a Central Middle School student, you are expected to achieve and maintain your best effort in each class.  You have the responsibility of keeping yourself and your parents informed of your progress.  At the end of each five-week period, per quarter, you will receive a Progress Report to take home.  At the end of each quarter (nine-week period) grade cards are issued.  Grades are averaged on a semester basis.

Absences/Makeup Work: Stu-dents must arrange for make-up work due to absences.  In order to complete make-up work, students are allowed one day for each day absent plus one additional day to the total.  Thereafter, the work is considered late and might not be given full credit.  Ask your teachers for their team policy on late work. 

            After the third day of an absence, parents may request homework assignments by calling the Attendance Secretary and requesting that she gather assignments from the teachers.  The Homework Hotline is always available to parents and students in order to keep current on assignments.

Grading Scale:  

State Honor Society:  Membership is awarded to 7^th and 8^th graders whose grades are in the top 10% of their class.  The GPA is based on the student’s grades from the second semester of the previous year and the first semester of the current school year.

Honor Roll:  7^th and 8^th grade students qualify for Honor Roll with a 3.5 GPA (with no D's) and above.  This is based on the student’s grades from the first semester of the current year.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT & IFORMATION

Parent involvement is a valuable part of Central Middle School’s program.  The Edmond Public Schools’ philosophy promotes parental involvement and input as yearly curriculum and site improvement decisions are made. Volunteers are always welcome to serve on committees.

PASS Skills and Curriculum: P.A.S.S. Skills from the Oklahoma State Department of Education are available for parental review.  These skills and outcomes represent important skills for students to master.  Other items are available for parental review such as:  Central’s Site Profile and Improvement Plan as well as a variety of other curriculum materials.

“Roaring Tiger” Newsletter: The school publishes a monthly newsletter that is mailed home. The newsletter contains essential and valuable information and upcoming dates as well as current news from the teams.  Please take time to read this monthly newsletter.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Parents may initiate a conference with individual teachers or the entire team of teachers at any time during the year by simply contacting the guidance counselor.  Conferences are usually scheduled before or after school.  The district has established conference days each year (see school calendar). 

Parent Support Organization: The P.S.O. was formed to promote greater communication, involvement, and coop-eration between home and school.  The P.S.O. sponsors many activities and events throughout the school year.  They also meet the needs of the school both in and out of the classroom through fund-raising events, P.A.L.S., test monitors, concession stand sponsors, grade level socials, and Tiger Diner.  For more information please contact Elaine Weinmeister, P.S.O. President.

Grade Checks    Grade checks may be requested at any time by calling the Attendance Secretary.  Progress reports are given to students at mid-point of each quarter.  These reports are valuable to keep both students and parents apprised of any change in academic performance.  Even though grades are cumulative for the semester, report cards are issued after each quarter in order to keep parents informed of their student’s achievement.  Specific dates are indicated in the “Roaring Tiger” and on the marquee.

General Information:

1.       Book bags should be kept in the student’s locker, not the classroom.

2.       White-out/permanent markers are not allowed at school.  Students should use washable-based markers.

3.       Students who are enrolled in computers should bring a 3½ disk for class.

4.       Students who become ill at school must go to the clinic and check out through the office. 

5.       Students may not be picked up by anyone whose name does not appear on the student’s information card.

6.       The information contained in the Agenda is to introduce the general rules and regulations of Central Middle School.  It is in no way to be a totally inclusive document.  If you have any questions, please call-340-2890.