Secrist Handbook Information!

 

 


All information is located in the front part of the student planner.

 

TEXTBOOKS

 

Textbooks, athletic uniforms, and band/orchestra instruments are the property of Tucson Unified School District and loaned to students subject to the following conditions:

 

 

 

1. To be used only by the students to whom issued and not transferred to any other students.

 

2. To be returned when requested or at the time of withdrawal if the pupil leaves before the end of the year.

 

3. If the textbooks, athletic uniforms, or band/orchestra instruments are damaged in excess of reasonable wear or are lost, the student must pay full replacement cost.

 

Because Secrist Middle School does not have lockers, all students will be issued a textbook (in those classes that issue books) at the beginning of the school year to leave at home. These books must be returned in good condition at the end of the school year.

 

VALUABLES / LOST AND FOUND

 

Tucson Unified School District is in no way responsible for any property belonging to a student or another person when such property is brought on to or left on a TUSD school premises. For this reason students are urged to leave valuables including unnecessary amounts of cash at home. Radios, portable CD players, cameras, tape recorders, electronic games or equipment (including beepers/phones) and other items of value are not allowed on campus.

 

SUPPLIES

 

It is important that each student have the appropriate materials for class each day. Each teacher will send a letter home at the beginning of each school year specifying the supplies needed for their class. All students enrolled in Physical Education must change into exercise clothes (maroon shorts, gray shirt);

 

Secrist P.E. uniforms are mandatory. Uniforms are available at the Secrist Store for $16.00.  A Secrist issued combination lock is also required. The cost is $4.00 and they may be purchased through the P.E. department or at registration.

 

TELEPHONE

 

The office telephone is to be used for "school" business only. You may use the office telephone only in case of an emergency and with permission of the office staff. If you must stay after school for an activity, or other reason of your choice, you must notify your parent/guardian the day before or use the telephone. The telephone may only be used before schools, during lunch (with permission) or after school.

 

 

 

 

The Secrist school-wide discipline policy is designed to promote a positive atmosphere for teaching and learning by creating a system for dealing with inappropriate behavior and rewarding positive behavior

 

 

 

1st REFERRAL (after parent contact by teacher) Counselor

 

2ndREFERRAL     Assistant Principal

 

3rd REFERRAL     Lunch Detention  

 

4th REFERRAL     In house (suspension alternative) 

 

5th REFERRAL     3 days out of school suspension

 

6th REFERRAL     5 days out of school suspension

 

7th REFERRAL     9 days out of school suspension

 

Further referrals may result in a long-term suspension (10-175 school days).

 

 

 

 

 

Students committing infractions of a serious nature should be sent directly to the Assistant Principal. These infractions include but are not limited to:

Profanity (Especially toward a teacher or another student)

Bullying                 Theft              Fighting

Vandalism            Assault           Arson

Weapons             Alcohol/Drugs     Extortion

Sexual Misconduct

 

**** Students who behave inappropriately with a guest teacher will receive a minimum of 3 days After School Detention.

 

Parents and students should also be aware that any infraction that occurs during the last 9 days of school might result in an automatic out-of-school suspension for the remainder of the school year.

 

Further, any 8th grade student will not be permitted to participate in the 8th grade end-of-the-year activities if they have been suspended during the 4th quarter, have 6 or more unexcused tardies to school during the 4th quarter, do not attend assigned after school detention or are frequently sent to the office for disciplinary reasons. Students serving a suspension at the time of the promotion ceremony may not participate.

 

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

 

Interscholastic athletics include volleyball, basketball, soccer and tract for both boys and girls. Practice and athletic events occur after school. Each participant must have written parent permission and a current physical examination (dated after 8/15/08) on file in the Nurse's office prior to tryouts. Students must be in school all day in order to participate in athletic events.

 

 

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

 

Student participating in extra curricular  activities must meet academic eligibility guidelines Student activities are defined as those that are organized, planned sponsored and/or recognized by the school. This includes school clubs that compete, in all skill competition whether academic or athletic Students must maintain a passing grade in all classes as well as acceptable behavior. Students not meeting these requirements will have one week to raise their grades and/or behavior to an acceptable level. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility for at least two weeks. Students must be in school the day of the event.

 

HONOR ROLL

 

Students are listed on the Secrist Honor Roll at the conclusion of each grading period when a 3.0 or better GPA is earned with no "D," "F," "U" or "I" on their report card

 

AWARDS

 

Selected students will receive awards at assemblies to be held twice a year during the school day. The awards are based on academics, citizenship and improvement. At the end of the school year student athletes will be honored at an evening award ceremony. Student accomplishments are announced each morning and published in the newsletter.

 

BUS POLICY AND SAFETY

 

To make it possible for school bus drivers to transport students to their destinations safely and on time, it is required that certain standards of student behavior be maintained. Please take a few moments to review the following bus rules:

1.    Always comply with the bus driver's/monitor's directions.

2.    Use classroom voices only. (No profanity/loud noises.)

3.    Remain seated.

4.    Keep hands, feet, and head inside the bus.

 

5.    Keep unauthorized material and substances off the bus. (Snacks, drinks, animals, glass objects, weapons, skateboards, large radios or other electronic devices.)

6.    Students who wish to ride a bus with a friend must bring a written permission from their parents and have the note signed by either the Assistant Principal/Principal and present the note to the bus driver.

Please refer to TUSD Guidelines for Rights and Responsibilities for detailed

information regarding infractions and consequences.

In incidents involving major violations of the TUSD Guidelines for Rights and Responsibilities, an immediate suspension of riding responsibilities

may be imposed. 

 

CLEAN CAMPUS

Secrist students and faculty and staff are proud of their school. The appearance of the school and the way it is kept has a great deal to do with the reputation of the school. It is the individual responsibility of each of us to keep the school campus clean. Make a special effort to keep the buildings and grounds clean.

FOOD. CANDY AND GUM

All food is to be eaten in the cafeteria. Food is not to be eaten in any area of the building or grounds without special permission. Careless disposal of gum and candy presents sanitation problems as well as costly repairs.  Kids caught with gum on school grounds will scrape gum off school property during their lunch period.

BICYCLES

Bicycles ridden to school are to be parked in the bicycle enclosure upon arrival. Each bicycle is to be locked (do not lock bicycles together). Bicycles cannot be ridden on campus; please walk your bicycle.

LUNCH

Students may bring their lunch to school, purchase a hot lunch or buy food from the snack bar in the cafeteria. All food and drink must be eaten in the cafeteria. Free/Reduced applications are available at registration and in the office. Appropriate manners should be exhibited in the cafeteria.  Each lunch costs $2.50

Clean up your area after eating.

Take your turn in line without "cuts" or saving places.

•    Do not ask others to buy you food or lend you money. Push your chair in when you are finished.

•     No running, pushing, loud talk or horseplay is permitted in the cafeteria.

DELIVERIES SENT TO SCHOOL

Flowers, balloons and gifts sent to the school for a student cannot be delivered to classrooms. They will be kept in the office until the end of the school day. Balloons and balloon bouquets are not allowed on the school bus.

PROGRESS REPORTS/REPORT CARDS

Approximately halfway through each nine-week grading period a Progress Report will be mailed home for each student. Report cards will be mailed home approximately one week after the end of each nine-week grading period. Parents are encouraged to contact individual teachers or a counselor if the progress report or report card is unsatisfactory Teachers may be contacted via email or phone. Please contact the office for email addresses or telephone numbers.

SCHOOL INSURANCE

An independent insurance carrier provides this service. Forms are available at

registration or in the school office.

DRESS GUIDELINES

Secrist encourages students to take pride in their attire as it relates to the school setting. Students should dress in a manner that, in addition to the following guidelines, takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health and welfare of others.

•  Only shorts and skirts that are fingertip length may be worn.

•  Bare midriffs, halter tops, spaghetti straps, fishnet shirts, muscle shirts, strapless tops, sagging pants and/or clothes that expose undergarments are not acceptable.

•  In the interest of student safety, appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Profane or defamatory writing on clothing or jewelry is not acceptable.

•  No hats or sunglasses may be worn indoors.

•  Gang-related personalization is not permitted on hats, on items of clothing, or on one's person. This includes anything worn or carried on campus.

• Obscene language or symbols, or symbols of drugs, sex or alcohol on

clothing are expressly prohibited.

Please refer to the TUSD Student Rights and Responsibilities for complete dress guidelines. Students who do not adhere to the dress guidelines will be asked to change clothes or face disciplinary action.

NEWSLETTER/YEARBOOK

Each month a Secrist newsletter published by the 7th grade Newsroom class will be mailed home. The Newsletter will include important dates, upcoming events and general information. The Newsletter will be written and printed by Mrs. Marcello's Newsroom class.

The 7th & 8th grade Service Learning class, with the assistance of parents, Mrs. Regole and her Yearbook class will publish a yearbook to be distributed the last week of school. Yearbooks may be purchased at registration and throughout the school year for $25.00, or more if you would like add-ons.

 

Health Office

A registered nurse and health assistant are on staff at Secrist Middle School. Except for injuries needing immediate attention, all students are to report to their classroom first and the teacher will give them a pass to see the nurse. Any injury occurring on school property or during school-sponsored activities should be reported to the health office. Prescribed medication must be in properly labeled prescription containers and must be stored in the school medicine cabinet to be dispensed by the health staff. The school nurse can dispense certain over the counter medications; however, only after a parent has contacted the health office Please contact the health office if you have any questions related to your student's health.

Written medical requests for exemption from Physical Education should be submitted to the school nurse.

LIBRARY

The Secrist library is open during regular school hours and is staffed by a certified, full-time librarian and parent volunteers. Our library provides materials to encourage independent and recreational reading as well as support our school curriculum. Students must have their school ID card to check out materials from the library. Books may be borrowed for a two-week period; magazines and some reference books may be borrowed for a one-day period. Students are responsible for taking care of borrowed materials and returning them when due. Any lost or damaged library materials or damage to library technology is the responsibility of the student.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Parents have several opportunities at Secrist to be involved in their student' education, including School Site Council, Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) and volunteer efforts.

The PTSO supports the school with parent volunteers who assist in various activities from registration to supervision of dances. PTSO is also a place where parents can feel comfortable in addressing any concerns they may have regarding their student's success at Secrist. For more information contact Secrist PTSO at secristptso@mstar2.net. Secrist School Site Council is a group of parents, teachers, staff and administration that shares in making decisions which affect the entire Secrist School Community. Decisions such as, site goals, hiring of personnel, and the introduction of new programs take place at regularly held meetings. Secrist Site Council is proud to have achieved a Level II accreditation with the Tucson Unified School District.