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=Welcome to the 8th Grade Team Wiki!=

 Dear Parents and Students,   Welcome to the 8th Grade! We are looking forward to the opportunity to work together on behalf of students, their academic achievement and overall school performance.   We will provide quality instruction by teaching the state standards and using best instructional practices to engage students in learning and performing at their best. Teachers will also help students to learn the importance of following rules and procedures in all school activities that support school performance.   In addition, teachers will hold high expectations for students to always perform at their best, in both schoolwork and behavior. If students’ behavior interferes in teaching and learning, teachers will notify parents for support in working together to change student behavior that is more appropriate for school and life. We want very much for our students to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities that high school has to offer. If we all work together, students, parents, and teachers, we can expect to have a great school that will be a success for all.   We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to working with you this school year. Please read the 8th Grade Procedures below. Review them with your child to make sure they understand what the 8th Grade Team expects from them. It is not meant to be a substitute for reading the school’s student handbook and listening to rules and procedures that are unique to certain teachers, but it will help students and parents to be informed of the expectations on the 8th Grade Team. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Then sign on the opposite side to acknowledge that you read and understand the rules and procedures. Please indicate if you are available to volunteer as needs arise. We look forward to having a successful and productive school year.   Sincerely,   The Eighth Grade Team  (J. Callicutt, E. Hadley, P. Sanders, and R. Spell)   ** 8th Grade Procedures ** <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Lockers __** <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Students will be assigned a locker and a combination. Lockers are to be kept clean and sanitary and should be kept locked at all times. The only way to properly and appropriately open a locker is to use the combination. Opening it inappropriately could result in a fine or After School Detention (ASD). Remember lockers are a privilege, not a right. Lockers and combinations are not to be shared. (Honor the locker rules or you may find yourself carrying your books from class to class.) <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Book bags are not allowed in classrooms. They are to be stored in students’ assigned lockers. Students may carry gym bags, but they should only be used to store their clothes for gym. Books, cell phones, music players, etc. should be stored in a student’s assigned locker, not his/her gym bag. Gym bags should be placed in a student’s locker immediately after gym class. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Tardies __**

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Students are expected to arrive to school and to their classes on time. Once they arrive on campus they should go to their locker and then to their homeroom. Depending on the period, students will have 3 or 5 minutes to go to their lockers, get water, go to the bathroom, and get to their classes. Once they are dismissed from class, teachers will monitor the time students have to get to class. A reminder will be provided. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Cell Phones and electronic devices __**

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Teachers are required by school policy to pick up any cell phone or electronic devices they see or hear between the times of 7:45 am and 2:45 pm. Students are allowed to bring them; however, they must keep them in their lockers during school hours. If a student is caught with cell phones or electronic devices, then parents will be permitted to pick it up after school in the office. The second time it is taken, the device will be given to the principal for her to keep until the end of the school year. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Lunch __**

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Students can be prepared for lunch by bringing a meal from home or by purchasing one in the cafeteria. Since instructional time is important, they will not have the opportunity to call home during the school day. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> If a student is disruptive, disrespectful, leaves the cafeteria without permission, or is out of his seat without permission, he/she may individually or as a class lose their privileges or receive a consequence. Behavior will be monitored in the cafeteria and will follow the discipline policy set in the Student Handbook. Tables will be left clean before leaving the cafeteria. We invite and encourage parents to eat lunch with their child. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Phone calls __** <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> We want to make wise use of instructional time. As a result, students will not be permitted to make phone calls during the school day, unless it is an emergency (ie. sick, injured, etc). Please make arrangements regarding sports or other after school activities, lunch, gym, or transportation in advance.

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Absences __**

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Absences can impact learning, so please attend school regularly. If absent excessively, then teachers will have to notify the school social worker. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Students who have an excused absence will have no more than 3 days to turn in assignments. If absent, it will be the student’s responsibility to retrieve and return all missed assigments. If you know your child is going to be absent, you may call the office so they can inform the teachers. **Please note that assignments will be given upon the child’s return to school.** <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Each teacher will have more specific information regarding their homework or assignment policies. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Planners __** <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Planners are given to students to help them to plan ahead for test/quizzes and to remind them of upcoming assignments. Parents can also use them to monitor the progress of their child, contact or respond to teachers, etc. Planners should be taken to every class so students can write down homework, test/quiz or project due dates.

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Field Trips and the Eighth Grade Dance __**

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Eighth Grade enjoys taking field trips that extend what students learn in their classes. Field Trips give students the opportunity to visit many of the places that they have seen in their books or discussed with their teachers. We are planning a couple of field trips this year. The Eighth Grade will also sponsor a dance to celebrate the end of the students’ years at Horton Middle School. Details of the dance and any field trips will be discussed at a later time in a letter. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> We want everyone to have the opportunity to attend these special activities. However, **students who have received 3 or more days of ISS or any OSS referrals** during the semester of the activity may not be allowed to participate. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">**__ Team Rules __**

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 1. Respect self and others’ feelings and property.

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 2. Come to class on time.

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 3. Be prepared with the materials needed for each class (textbook, pencil, paper, notebook, etc.).

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 4. Follow directions of your teachers, the faculty, and administrators at school.

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 5. No gum, candy, food, or beverages of any kind for any reason in the classroom. (You must have a note from home or the office to have a cough drop).

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 6. Make smart behavior and academic choices that are going to help you to be your best.

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 7. Students must have a hall pass from a teacher, administrator, or the main office when…

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 8. Restroom and Water breaks should be taken between classes.

<span style="line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9pt;"> 9. Students must go to breakfast BEFORE they enter the 8th grade hall.

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