Thunder Mountain Middle School 2024-2025 Handbook PDF
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Thunder Mountain Middle School
2024
Shawn Arnold
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Summary
This is a 2024-2025 handbook for Thunder Mountain Middle School. It provides information on the school's mission, attendance procedures, academics, and various school policies, including general information, health and safety guidelines, and school events. It also covers activities, discipline guidelines, electronics policy, and rules and agreement. Key topics like positive school culture and the Falcon P.R.I.D.E. values are highlighted.
Full Transcript
Thunder Mountain Middle School 2024-2025 Handbook Main office phone: 907-780-1900 rincipal P Shawn Arnold [email protected] ice Principal V Laura Scholes [email protected] Table of Contents...
Thunder Mountain Middle School 2024-2025 Handbook Main office phone: 907-780-1900 rincipal P Shawn Arnold [email protected] ice Principal V Laura Scholes [email protected] Table of Contents Welcome Message age 3 P District Calendar Page 4 Mission and Falcon Overview Page 5 Attendance Page 6 Academics Page 7 General Information and Decorum Page 8 Health & Safety Page 10 School Events Page 12 Activities and Athletics Page 13 Juneau Partner Activities Page 14 Discipline/Dress Code Guidelines Page 15 Electronics Page 16 Behavior Expectations Page 17 Rules and Procedures Agreement Page 19 2 Welcome Message We are so glad YOU are here! Dear Families and Students, elcome to Thunder Mountain Middle School! Our staff is excited to work with you in W our new school. We are all committed to providing our students with an excellent education. We are here to teach students to think and be responsible in all they do. This handbook is a tool that will support their success at Thunder Mountain. e encourage parents to carefully review our school handbook and discuss written W assignments, teacher messages, and printed content with their students throughout the year. The education of Thunder Mountain Middle School students is our highest priority. e consider parents our #1 partners in this pursuit, and your involvement, concerns, W and feedback are welcomed and crucial to our shared success. e are honored to serve Thunder Mountain Middle School students and eagerly W anticipate a fantastic school year filled with growth, learning, and memorable experiences. e are here with a clear mission-to make good things happen for young people! This is W our commitment to the students of Thunder Mountain Middle School. incerely, S Shawn Arnold Principal, Thunder Mountain Middle School 3 4 Mission Statement hunderMountainMiddleSchooliscommittedtotheart&scienceofteachingandthe T challenge and joy of learning. We educate the whole child by: r esponding to the uniqueness of the adolescent learner providing a safe, positive environment offering a diverse array of learning opportunities integrating technology into our curriculum fostering high expectations for student success encouraging family and community partnerships creating responsible citizens and life-long learners affirming personal growth and healthy self-concept Falcon Flyer he Falcon Flyer is a newsletter containing announcements, shout outs, news, and T other need-to-know information for families of Thunder Mountain Middle School that is sent by the front office every week. School Culture hunder Mountain Middle School is dedicated to creating a positive school culture for T students, families, and staff. We want students to be excited to come to school every day, to be the best versions of themselves, and to recognize that making mistakes is part of growing up; learning from those mistakes shapes us. hat we do matters. This includes how we act, talk, think to ourselves, put forth effort, W treat others, treat things, and much more. We take purposeful steps to show our commitment to our values (using the acronym P.R.I.D.E.). We believe learning how to make these values part of students’ lives will support their success in and out of school now and in the future. Falcon P.R.I.D.E. .R.I.D.E. is an acronym that represents our values: Positivity, Respect, Integrity, P Determination, and Empathy. When students live these values, they will be their best selves and positive members of our school community and the greater Juneau community. We will explicitly teach what these values and associated behaviors look like and acknowledge students when we observe them. We want to catch students making great choices; that's what Falcon P.R.I.D.E. is all about. Soar like a Falcon by showing P.R.I.D.E.! 5 Attendance e aim to build a strong educational foundation for future success. Being here every W day on time for class builds foundations for learning.When you miss school, we miss you! Attendance matters! bsences:Call or email to excuse your student's absencesfor all or part of a school A day. Unexcused absences may result in disciplinary action. Call 907-780-1900 (office) or email [email protected], or send a note with your child. ate Arrival to School:Excuse your student for beinglate to school by calling, L emailing or sending a note from an authorized person. Appropriate excuses include: illness, doctor or dentist or other appointments, etc. Unexcused tardies in the morning and to classes during the school day may result in disciplinary action according to the Middle School Discipline Grid. Attendance letters are mailed monthly to parents/guardians and attendance information is always available via PowerSchool. arly Pick-up:Call 907-780-1900 five minutes beforeyou pick your student up for an E appointment. Your student will be called to the main office to wait for you. All students must be signed out at the main by an authorized person who is identified in PowerSchool. equesting Homework:Call the school before 9:30 amto request homework for R absent students. You may also access Canvas for each of your child’s classes. On return to school after absence, students should meet with teachers after school to discuss how to make up work that could not be sent home. amily Travel:Travel forms for three (3) or moredays of travel can be picked up at the F attendance office once a parent/guardian notifies the school of dates of travel. Students can bring this form around to teachers 2-3 days before departure to see if there is work that can be taken ahead of time. Extended travel absences need to be approved by the principal. ithdrawal or Transfer:Please provide the officewritten notification at least two (2) W days prior to withdrawal. A withdrawal slip will be issued for students to bring around to each teacher. Withdrawal is official after student obligations have been met including all books returned, locker cleaned out and fines paid. The TMMS Registrar is able to share school records with the transfer school. 6 Academics lasses:Students take the following core classes:Language Arts, Mathematics, Social C Studies, and Science. Students also Program/Advisory class and Exploratory classes such as: Art, PE, Music, Life Skills, Tlingit, etc. eport Cards:The four grading periods are each aboutnine weeks long. Progress R reports are printed and given to students midway through each grading period. Final quarter grades are also printed and given to students through the Advisory class. Parents/Guardians may contact the TMMS Office for a mailed copy. onitoring Grades:PowerSchool is the online toolthat helps you monitor your M student's progress, attendance, test scores, etc., in detail between official report cards. Students and Parents/Guardians can access the system 24 hours a day from anywhere through a link on the Thunder Mountain website and/or an app downloaded on your phone as well. Parent/guardian log-in information will be sent home the first week of school via email. It also is available through our registrar (907-780-2074). Advisory teachers will give students their own PowerSchool username and password within the first month of the school year. Office staff will provide account set-up assistance during Open House, PT conferences, and upon request. ooks:Textbooks may be assigned to students throughour TMMS Library. Some may B be checked out for the whole year and others may be for shorter periods. Library books are checked out for two weeks and may be renewable if there is no one waiting for the book. If any book (library or textbook) is lost or damaged, fines for book repair and/or replacement will apply. All books must be returned and fines paid by the end of the school year for final grades to be released. In addition, 8th grade students must return or pay for all books to attend the end-of-year 8th Grade Dance. If a book is found after a fee has been paid, please contact our office as we would love to have the book back and may be able to reimburse the fee if it is within 12 months. tudyHall/HomeworkClub:Beforeand/orafterschoolstudyhallsareusuallyoffered S as a quiet placetoreadanddohomework.PleaseseetheschoolwebsiteandFalcon Flyer or updated information about times and locations. chool Technology:Students are responsible for understandingand following the S Juneau School District Technology Use and Conduct and Permission for Student Internet PublishingandThe Juneau School District1:1 Program. Damaging school technology or using it inappropriately has disciplinary consequences, loss of technology privileges, and a possibility of fees. 7 General Information and Decorum unch Program/ Food:Soda, coffee, caffeinated drinks,and energy drinks are not L allowed at any time during the school day. This includes Lotus and other similar plant-based energy drinks. When preparing lunch for your student, please remember the healthy food groups. Food deliveries such as Uber Eats and DoorDash are not allowed for students at Thunder Mountain Middle School. chool lunches are available to all students on a purchased, reduced price, or free S basis depending upon income guidelines. To apply for free or reduced price meals, please obtain an application form from the attendance office or the district website. Please see the school website for updated information on lunch prices and how to set up an account to check lunch balances or pay for school lunch. Thunder Mountain is a closed campus which means students must be supervised and remain on school grounds during the lunch period. us Transportation:School bus transportation is providedas a courtesy and is a B privilege, not a right. It is the responsibility of the principal to advise parents when a student has been denied bus privileges due to behavioral issues. Loss of bus privileges does not excuse a student from school attendance. ockers:Advisory teachers assign students' lockersand combinations during the first L week of school. For security reasons, students must only use their assigned locker. To maintain your locker as a safe place to store your possessions, do not share lockers with other students or give out your locker combination to anyone. Items found in a student’s assigned locker will be considered that student’s property. Do not hold/store another student’s items in your locker at any point. Do not jam the lock to prevent it from locking. Items missing or stolen from your locker are not the school’s responsibility. tudents are responsible for keeping their lockers clean and orderly. When a locker S does not work properly or if you need to change your locker combination, notify the front office immediately. ockers are considered school property and school administration may examine them L without the permission or knowledge of the student or parent/guardian. Lockers and other school property may be searched anytime there is reasonable cause to suspect that the search will reveal evidence of a violation of law or school rules, or anytime a search is necessary at the discretion of school administration to protect the health, safety or welfare of the student body. 8 elationships:A school is not a place for extreme shows of affection between R students. Hand holding is the only form of affection permitted. Anything beyond this is considered inappropriate school behavior and is not allowed in the school or within the boundaries of the school. ikes, Skateboards, Etc.:For safety reasons, studentsmust get off their bikes, B skateboard and other similar equipment and walk once on school property. Riding in the parking lot, driveways, sidewalks or the courtyard may result in equipment being confiscated and/or disciplinary action. It is required by law for students to wear bike helmets when riding bicycles to and from school. The school district is not responsible for damage, loss or theft of bicycles, boards and other similar equipment so be sure to lock them up. Racks are provided outside for bicycles and skateboards. Please use a personal lock to secure this personal property. isitors:Students wishing to bring another studentguest to school must obtain prior V approval from the office and teachers 24 hours in advance. Parents/guardians are welcome to visit students. To minimize instructional disruptions please make prior arrangements with the classroom teacher. 9 Health and Safety Illness: Please keep children at home when they are ill to prevent spreading germs. All students must have a pass from a teacher to visit the Health Office. TMMS has a Nurse who oversees our Health Office. If the Nurse sends a student home, a parent/guardian or person on the emergency contact list will need to sign the student out at the Attendance office. Medicine at School: Students are not allowed to have in their possession or locker any medication, including, but not limited to: prescriptions, non-prescription medications, cough syrup, lozenges, Tylenol, or any other similar products. Students with prescribed inhalers will need to complete some paperwork with our school nurse to self-carry and self-administer the inhaler. Students must give all medicine, including non-prescription medication, to the nurse/health assistant at the beginning of the school day, and take doses at the health office at the designated time. It is required that the medication be in the original prescription bottle with the student’s name on it. Parents/Guardians must sign the JSD Authorization for Administration of Medication and Release of Liability form before the nurse/health assistant can administer any medication. Students are not allowed to administer medications to themselves unless the student has received prior authorization to possess and personally administer the medication. Students with unauthorized medication found on their person or in their belongings are subject to disciplinary action. ounselor:Thunder Mountain’s school counseling programis part of the district’s K-12 C comprehensive counseling program. Counseling services are available to students, parents and staff. During conferences with students, parents/guardians, teachers, and/or community resources, the counselor works toward supporting socio-emotional and educational goals. Other services include individual counseling to address personal and school related issues, small group counseling, referral for services, and assisting with transition in and out of middle school. e also have a Student Wellness Advocate at TMMS. This position is funded through W the Alaska Project AWARE grant through the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. 10 rohibited Items:Students may not possess the following items on school property or P at school sponsored events: Alcoholic beverages, cigarettes including e-cigarettes and vapes, marijuana, tobacco products, inhalants, cigarette lighters, matches, and look-a-likes or replicas. Prescription medications AND over-the-counter medications (Must turn over to the nurse.) Enhanced beverages/pills such as Jolt, Amp, Rockstar, caffeine pills, etc. Weapons including but not limited to: guns, knives, chains, nunchucks, or replicas. If these items are brought to school, the item will be confiscated and returned to the parent or guardian only. Items may not be returned if the items are determined illegal. ccidents:All families are encouraged to acquireaccident insurance either through an A insurance carrier or through family coverage. The school district does not automatically carry accident insurance to cover students. Any accident or inquiry on school property (including buses) must be reported to the school immediately. uilding Evacuation:In the event of an evacuationwhere students are not allowed to B return to the school building, a parent/guardian and the community will be notified through emergency messaging systems. A student pick-up point and administration office will be arranged. A parent/guardian should report to that designated area with proper identification to pick up their child. Students will be released only to those individuals listed on the enrollment form and emergency release document as indicated in PowerSchool. 11 School Events ssemblies:Assemblies during the school day are aneducational and entertaining A part of the curriculum and school culture. Students are expected to be attentive and well-mannered. eekenders:These events occur once a quarter on aFriday after school. They are W provided by various school groups as a fun fund-raising event. Only Thunder Mountain students in good standing can attend Weekenders. ield Trips:Criteria for participation and transportationduring field trips varies. When F transport is provided by the school, all students must travel to and from the destination with the school group. If a student wishes or needs to travel with a parent to/from the activity for some reason, they must first get approval in writing from the principal prior to the field trip. Parent/guardian must then contact the person in charge of the activity before the student may leave the group. Disciplinary action may result in immediate removal from the field trip and/or a loss of the privilege of participating in upcoming field trips. th Grade Dance:Only current Thunder Mountain MiddleSchool 8th grade students in 8 good standing can attend the 8th Grade Dance. Good standing includes returning and/or paying all book fines and not having disciplinary concerns. This dance is a celebration of the culmination of three years of middle school; we want all students to be able to attend. The parents/guardians of 8th graders typically plan and put on this dance as a gift to the students. Attending the dance is free of charge. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to volunteer to help with the Dance, please contact our school office, the school counselor, or your child’s Advisory teacher. 12 Local Partnerships In addition to school-sponsored activities, B.A.M. (Body & Mind, Before/After Middle School), a student-named program of diverse activities, is offered throughout the year by the Juneau Afterschool Coalition (JASC) in partnership with TMMS.B.A.M. activities are based on student preference surveys and have included everything from art studio, babysitting certification, outdoor skills, archery, cooking and more.Activities are provided by community organizationsand talented volunteers. This offering is year-long. In partnership with the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, TMMS offers an opportunity for all students to participate in Native Youth Olympics (NYO) events after school. This is asupportive, inclusiveyet competitive, opportunity to learn about traditional Alaska Native culture, skills, and values of teamwork and cooperation. Positive sportsmanship,understanding of ancient strategies for successful hunting, fishing, and survival are expressed through a wide variety of contests. Exact dates are TBD ur local ski area, Eaglecrest, partners with TMMS to provideski and snowboard O scholarshipsto middle school participants under anafter school program entitled Books to Boards. With monthly team-building activities after school, opportunities for lessons and support in learning and building winter sports skills, this program encourages both academic success and outdoor recreation. Exact dates are TBD. 14 Thunder Mountain Discipline Plan t Thunder Mountain Middle School we use the guidelines set forth by the A Juneau School District in the District-wide adopted Discipline Plan, coupled with restorative practices. Our policy is to enforce consequences for infractions, and to aid students in restoring trusting relationships, and learning from mistakes. ress Code D Thunder Mountain Middle School students are expected to dress appropriately for the school environment. Building principals shall determine whether the dress or grooming of students are within these guidelines. lothing must cover the body from the shoulder to just C above the knee, and not be in any way disruptive to the educational process. lothing may not advertise the use of alcohol or C drugs. lothing may not contain prohibited speech, be C gang associated, or depict violence. ats and hoods are not allowed within the school H building in order to ensure student safety and allow for students to be identifiable. ull pajama sets, slippers, blankets, or sunglasses may not be worn unless F authorized for a special event such as School Spirit Week or a Holiday celebration. ccasionally, exceptions for groups or individuals may occur in special O circumstances, however, those must be approved by Administrators and/or the Juneau School Board. 15 Electronics Policy egarding the use of electronics such as cell phones, smart watches, R gaming devices, earbuds, and the like, Thunder Mountain Middle School students are expected to follow these guidelines. ell phones must be powered off during the school day and out of sight C while the student is in the building and/or on any school-related outing. andlines are available to students in the classrooms and the main office. L Parents/guardians who need to get a message to their student may do so by calling the main school office. ell phone use may be permitted in some circumstances by school C personnel or administration, depending on the circumstances. Students are encouraged to leave electronics of value, such as smart watches, Bluetooth earbuds, and gaming devices at home. ell phone violations may result in a warning, and/or the cell phone will be C taken, kept secure, and returned at the end of the day. Repeated infractions may result in a return of the phone directly to the parent/guardian when they can pick it up. e appreciate the support of families in helping us keep the focus on W learning during the day. 16 17 18 RULES AND PROCEDURES AGREEMENT THUNDER MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL Advisory teacher House I, have read and understand the rules and procedures contained in the 2024 - 2025 Thunder Mountain Middle School Student Handbook and have read and understand theComputer Network Services – Acceptable Use Policy and Technology Use and Conduct Form. As parent/guardian of I have reviewed and am familiar with the rules and procedures contained in the 2024 - 2025 Thunder Mountain Middle School Student Handbook as provided on the TMMS website at: tmms.juneauschools.organd understand the Juneau SchoolDistrict’sTechnology Use and Conduct – Permission for Student Internet Publishing and Notice of Online Learning Applications. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Comments: All students must return this form to their advisory teacher. For further information please call 780-1900. 19
