GRADES 7-8

Athletic Participation Information

At Dallastown, all athletes must abide by the Athletic Code of Conduct, in conjunction with school policy. Please read through the below document and submit to your respective coaches. 

CLICK HERE FOR 2022-2023 CODE OF CONDUCT

Athletic Eligibility 

Please visit School Board Policies for specific discipline references.

Students are always expected to conduct themselves in school as would be required in accordance with the Dallastown Area School District Code of Ethics. Unmannerly, rude, loud, or ill-mannered behavior cannot be accepted, and public displays of affection while in school are not acceptable. In the event that your conduct becomes questionable and you are asked by a school employee to leave a classroom, Innovation Center, assembly, lobby, hall area, or any area within the school, the student should report directly to the main office. In accordance with the Pennsylvania State Board of Education Regulations, the Dallastown Area School District has adopted a discipline policy. Pertinent excerpts from the policy are printed throughout this handbook, in the school calendar, and in student bulletins.

The Dallastown Area School District believes that an effective education can best take place in an orderly and disruption-free atmosphere. It has therefore chosen to emphasize the following listing of student responsibilities, as well as listings of examples of reasons for invoking disciplinary procedures.

A. Student Responsibilities*

1. Student responsibilities include regular school attendance, conscientious effort in classroom work, and conformance to school rules and regulations.

2. No student has the right to interfere with the education of his fellow students. It is the responsibility of each student to respect the rights of teachers, students, administrators, and all others who are involved in the educational process.

3. Students should express their ideas and opinions in a respectful manner.

4. It is the responsibility of the students to conform with the following:

a. Students should be aware of all rules and regulations for student behavior and conduct themselves accordingly. Students should assume that, until a rule is waived, altered, or repealed in writing, it is in effect.

b. Volunteer information in matters relating to the health, safety, and welfare of the school community and the protection of school property.

c. Dress and groom to meet fair standards of safety and health and not to cause substantial disruption to the educational processes.

d. Assist the school staff in operating a safe school for all students enrolled therein.

e. Comply with Commonwealth and local laws.

f. Exercise proper care when using public facilities and equipment.

g. Attend school daily and be on time for all classes and other school functions.

h. Make up work when absent from school.

i. Pursue and attempt to complete satisfactorily the courses of study prescribed by Commonwealth and local school authorities.

j. Report accurately and do not use indecent or obscene language in student newspapers or publications.

B. Acts by Students That May Result in an In-School Suspension Placement:

1. The use and/or possession of tobacco at any time in a school building and/or any property, buses, vans, and vehicles owned, leased, or controlled by the school district

2. Leaving school, other than at normal dismissal times, without securing permission from the nurse or school office

3. Missing an assigned detention

4. Theft or stealing

5. Repeated disruptive behavior

6. Harassment, threatening, taunting, sexting, cyber bullying or bullying another student

7. Excessive tardiness to school or classes

8. Insubordinate or disrespectful behavior

9. Other violations deemed to warrant removal from classes by administrators

10. Unauthorized recording (photo/video) of others

C. Acts by Students That May Result in Out-of-School Suspension or Expulsion:

1. The possession, use, or sale of drugs

2. Possession, use, or sale of alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, or being under the influence of alcohol/controlled substance

3. Assaulting another person, displaying aggressive or violent behavior

4. Repeating acts of misconduct which have resulted in an in-school suspension

5. Arson or setting off an explosive device

6. Possessing a dangerous weapon as outlined in the Dangerous Weapons Policy

7. Serious threats of harm to students or staff

8. Being dismissed from the in-school suspension program for misbehavior 9. Any act of behavior deemed unacceptable by an administrator *From the Pennsylvania State Board of Education Regulations

D. Acts by Students That May Result in Suspension from Participation in Extracurricular Activities:

1. Possession, use, or sale of drugs as defined in the HANDBOOK, while in attendance at any school-sponsored function

2. Possession, use, or sale of alcoholic beverage/controlled substance while in attendance of any school-sponsored

sport

3. Fighting or taunting others

4. Any act which would be disruptive or interferes with the right of others to enjoy an activity All students are denied participation in extracurricular activities through the duration of an in-school suspension, out-of- school suspension, or expulsion.

These listings should not be construed as being all-inclusive. The listings are intended to serve merely as examples of unacceptable conduct while under school jurisdiction, which would result in an in-school suspension, an out-of-school suspension from school, expulsion from school, or suspension from extracurricular activities. Any act which is illegal under local, state, or federal laws; constitutes a threat to students, staff or property; or causes a disruption of the educational process could result in the use of the disciplinary measures contained in the policy. II. Activities which are violations of local, state, or federal laws and constitute a threat to the safety or welfare of the school community will include contact with our school resource officer as well as the appropriate school disciplinary procedure.

In order to provide you with accurate, relevant, and timely information, please follow these guidelines:

• Questions or concerns regarding course work, assignments, teacher actions, and matters specific to a classroom, contact the specific teacher. Questions or concerns regarding team procedures, events, and activities, contact the team leader.

• Questions or concerns regarding academic standing, social-emotional issues, or family matters that may be impacting a student’s academics or school behavior, contact a school counselor.

• Questions or concerns regarding a student’s physical health, contact the school nurse.

• Questions or concerns regarding school wide policies, procedures, curriculum, standardized testing, and school safety, contact an administrator.

ATTENDANCE (DASD Cyber 7-8)

• A full-time cyber student that is taking four (4) courses is expected to invest 24 hours of time per week.  Of the 24 hours, a minimum of 12 hours must be DOCUMENTED ACTIVE ONLINE TIME.

• Time towards daily attendance must come from active online time (144 minutes per day, per five day week).  For attendance purposes, 144 minutes = 1 day; students will be marked absent if they do not meet the 144 minute per day requirement.

• For the purposes of a DASD cyber student, a week is considered Monday at 12:01 AM through Sunday at 11:59 PM.  Attendance for the previous week will be calculated each Monday morning.

• Cyber students and their families, like brick and mortar students, must use Skyward to report daily absences.  

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Mrs. Stephanie Veiss: Grade 7 -8 Teacher - stephanie.veiss@dallastown.net

• Dr. Barbara Terroso: Administrator - barbara.terroso@dallastown.net 

EXPECTATIONS

• DASD cyber students are expected to be actively engaged online 720 minutes per week, or 144 minutes per school day.  

• Students are expected to keep pace with their assignments and progress in each course as outlined by their cyber teacher.

• Students are expected to reach out and seek help from their teacher, school counselor, or other DASD staff when needed.

• Students are expected to communicate effectively with school staff by checking their email correspondence daily and responding in a timely manner to teacher and staff requests.

STATE AND LOCAL ASSESSMENTS

Students are required to participate in all state and local school-mandated assessments including the Keystone Exams. Students and parents will be contacted by Dallastown Area Cyber Academy administration well in advance of any testing with the dates/times/locations of the testing sessions. All testing must occur on-site and in person. 

Click HERE to access the DASD Cyber Academy Website.

Lunch Detention

Eating and socializing in the cafeteria is a privilege. Students may be removed from the cafeteria for a period of time determined by an administrator or one who is acting on behalf of administration as a result of poor behavioral choices during lunch.

Detention

Detention may be given for the following reasons:

• Tardiness to school or to class.

• Violations of school rules as determined by the administration or one who is acting on behalf of administration.

• Students and parents will be given either written or verbal notification before they are assigned a detention date.

In addition to DASD School Board Policy #221 and 221-AR-1, Dallastown Area Middle School adheres to the following:

• No Hats and/or sweatshirt hoods up

• No midriffs showing

• No winter coats on in class

Grading System

The following grading system is used to determine grade averages for each trimester and for the year.  Grade averages for the core subjects of English-Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies as well as World Language courses should be calculated in this manner:

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

E = Below 60%

Grade averages for Unified Arts subject areas follow the procedures below:

Outstanding (O) = 85-100%

Satisfactory (S) = 70-84%

Needs Improvement (N) = 60-69%

Unsatisfactory (U) = Below 60%

Honor Roll Criteria

Honor Roll: Student must have all A's or B's in major content areas and O or S in Specials (ex: Art, Music, STEM) 

Distinguished Honor Roll: Student must have all A's in major content areas and O or S in Specials 

Make-up work

When students are absent from school, they should contact their teachers and check Google Classrooms to stay current on the learning and activities taking place in their classes.

Cheating / Plagiarism

Cheating occurs when a student has taken another person’s thoughts, writing or work and submits this work as his/her own.

Examples of cheating include:

·         Citing published works of Internet sites without giving credit to the author or source (this is referred to as plagiarism.)

·         Copying another student’s answers on a test

·         Using written answers prepared before the test

·         Passing answers to other students on a test in progress or previously taken

·         Talking during a test without permission

·         Stealing tests or using tests stolen by another individual

·         Copying other students’ homework, with or without their consent

·         Making work available for someone else to copy and claim as their own

·         Changing answers on work being corrected without permission

The consequence for cheating may result in a partial or total loss of points for the task or assessment and/or administrative disciplinary action.

Health Services                             

School Nurse 717-244-4021 x 2508

The middle school nurse’s office is staffed full-time by a certified school nurse.  When feeling ill or sustaining an injury, students must get a pass and report to the nurse’s office only. It is important that students do not leave the building or contact parent/guardian to go home without first reporting to the main office or the nurse. Students are not permitted to contact a parent for an illness without first seeing the nurse. Students may not use their cell phones to call or text a parent to pick them up. Medication orders and parental consents must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Proper immunization status is required for school attendance. Please have emergency contact numbers up to date to ensure efficient notification of parent/ guardian in the event of a student emergency or illness. 

All students will have the following screenings completed during the school year:

• Height/Weight/BMI

• Vision

• All seventh-grade students are required to submit a dental exam to the school nurse and will also be screened for hearing and scoliosis. 

  • • Parents/guardians may opt out of the scoliosis screening by contacting the school nurse.

HEALTH SERVICES BOARD POLICIES

210. Medications

210.1. Possession/Administration of Asthma Inhalers/Epinephrine Auto-Injectors 

210.2. Accommodating Students With Diabetes

823. Naloxone  

Note: The school nurse may administer Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Mylanta according to our school physician’s standing orders. If you prefer that your child does not receive any or all these medications, you should submit a written request to your child’s school nurse. Upon receipt of such a request, the district will take all reasonable efforts to comply. The request will remain in effect until the district has been otherwise informed in writing.

We believe it is very important for our students to connect to something at the school. One of the ways for students to connect is to participate in our after-school intramural program.  There are many activities available to students, and we encourage every student to join at least one intramural per year. 

The intramural program at Dallastown Area Middle School was established more than 30 years ago. It has grown over the years to include more than 25 sports, clubs, and activities. Intramural activities provide students with opportunities to interact with peers, work together in groups, and to develop physical and social skills. 

Intramurals typically last for one trimester, so keep checking back for the updated listings of activities. For information about current intramural offerings and the online permission form, please visit: MS Intramural Program

Students may request an assigned locker for daily use. Lockers will only be used to store items such as what is needed for an after-school activity (equipment, uniform, etc.).  Lockers should be kept clean and organized at all times. Lockers are school property and may be searched by the administration with reasonable suspicion.

Note: The school and school district are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property.

• Students are allowed to use personal electronic devices (such as phones, smart watches, tablets, iPods, and games) on the bus to listen to school-appropriate music with headphones or play school-appropriate games. Devices may not be used to take photos or videos nor to communicate with peers. 

• Personal electronic devices must be turned off and put away (in locker or backpack) between 7:35-2:50.

• Smart watches should be in “school mode” or “airplane mode” between 7:35-2:50.  Students may only use smart watches as a watch during that time.

• Students may not use personal electronic devices or headphones in the hallway, cafeteria, bathroom, or locker room.

• Occasionally, teachers may give students permission to use personal electronic devices during class for an educational purpose.

• Headphones may be used in the classroom with permission from the teacher.  Teachers may confiscate headphones until the end of the class period if a student misuses them.

• At teacher discretion, students may listen to music during class on their Chromebooks.  Students are not permitted to listen to music on personal electronic devices during the school day.

• Any student who uses a personal electronic device in an unauthorized area and/or without explicit teacher permission will have the device confiscated until 2:50.  Repeat offenses will result in device confiscation and after-school detention.

Note: The school and school district are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property. 

Every middle school student will participate in physical education class.  When a student cannot take part in physical education classes, a doctor’s excuse must be submitted. The PE department, school, and school district are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal belongings.

School clothing may not be worn in physical education class; students are required to change. 

PE Guidelines:

1. There is no specific uniform. Students should dress in school-appropriate athletic gear. 

2. Students must wear sneakers.

3. No jewelry may be worn. 

4. Long hair must be pulled back from eyes and shoulders.

5. Recommended items: towel, deodorant, lock

The Wildcat Way is Dallastown Area Middle School’s positive behavior, interventions, and supports (PBIS) system.  Plainly stated, The Wildcat Way is a set of building-wide expectations built on our foundational principles of Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity.  Our school-wide program is designed to stress the importance of these core values, teach the students what each one of those values looks like in our building, and reward, incentivize, and celebrate students who are rising to meet those standards every day in our building.  This program is designed to improve school culture, climate, and academic success.

The Wildcat Way Matrix

At the foundation of The Wildcat Way is the matrix. The matrix identifies expected behaviors relating to Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity. At the beginning of the school year and several times during the year, the information on the matrix is taught, retaught, and reinforced.

Positive Paws

One of the foundational building blocks of The Wildcat Way is our Positive Paw system.  Positive Paws are tokens of appreciation that staff complete and give to students when they witness them doing something that demonstrates Respect, Responsibility, or Integrity.  It could be something as simple as holding a door for a classmate or something far more complex, but the act of rewarding the behavior and the conversation that occurs between the student and staff member can be a powerful moment that builds bonds and community within the school.  There are weekly, monthly, and annual “paw drawings” that give students who have received a paw an opportunity to win a prize.

Wildcat Way Days

A few times throughout the school year, we will hold Wildcat Way Days.  These days are designed as a reward for ALL of our students who have been demonstrating Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity.  There are hundreds of kids in the building who are tremendous, positive contributors to our school but may not have been recognized with a Positive Paw or been lucky enough to win a prize.  Wildcat Way Days make sure we do not miss anyone.  Each Wildcat Way Day will look a little different, but they all will include fun activities during the school day that give the students an opportunity to smile, connect with each other in a more relaxed atmosphere, and allow us to thank students for all they do to make Dallastown Area Middle School great!