Sydney Mines Middle School Important Information

Communication

Education is a shared process between home and school, and good communication is an excellent starting point for resolving issues that may arise. School staff welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your child’s education. If you have a concern or question about your child’s education, the following steps will help ensure an effective line of communication.

Step 1: Teacher

The first person to talk with is the classroom teacher. They know your child well and most concerns can be addressed at this level of communication. Please set up an appointment by contacting the teacher or the school so that your concern can be heard without distractions.

Step 2: Principal

If you need extra assistance with your concern or question, the school's administration is here to help you.

Step 3: Regional Centre Staff

If you have questions that you feel were not resolved at your child’s school, contact the Regional Centre at 902-564-8293.

Means of Communication

At Sydney Mines Middle School we know that communication between the school and the family is key to a child’s success at school. Each September, parents/guardians will receive Sydney Mines Middle School's handbook, sent home from the school administration. We ask that you review this handbook with your student and save this information for future reference through the course of the school year.

Early in the school year, an individual classroom Communication Plan will be sent home , with all students, from the classroom teacher. There will also be an assortment of information memos sent home, with all students, very regularly throughout the year, regarding day-to-day matters. A regular monthly newsletter will be sent home every month. Newsletters will be posted on our school website. This newsletter will provide information on school activities and upcoming events.

Parents are encouraged to keep in close contact with the teachers relative to their child’s progress and teachers will inform parents when their child is not meeting the requirements for his/her grade. Parent Portal in POWERSCHOOL allows you to access your child’s attendance and progress on your phone or electronic devices. Please contact the office to sign up!!!

Upcoming events will be documented on the Sydney Mines Middle School's calendar which can be viewed on the home page of our school website.

Important announcements will be made directly to parents/guardians via our automated school notification system.

Student Arrival and Departure

Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Our school parking lot and the Main Street can be incredibly busy places in the morning when children arrive and in the afternoon when it's dismissal time. Ensuring that no one gets hurt is a primary concern of the school staff, but it requires everyone's participation, including parents. The safety of our students and community members is very important. When everyone practices proper “drop off and pick up” safety, it makes it easier to keep everyone safe.

The following guidelines will help to ensure that our students enter our school grounds safely:

1. Parent are not to drive into the school’s parking lot.

2. Students are to be dropped off on Main Street in front of the school or along side of the school on Convent Street.

3. Drop-off Guidelines: We encourage student drop-off, if necessary, to be done quickly with the safety of our children in mind. Parents are not permitted to remain parked in front of the school along the sidewalk on Main Street during morning drop-off (8am to 9am) and lunch drop-off (12:20pm to 12:45 pm). During these times, this areas is for drop-off only.

4. Pick-up Guidelines: Parents are permitted to park in front of the school along the sidewalk on Main Street when arriving to pick up their student at lunch time (11:30am to 12:05pm) and when arriving to pick up their student after school (2:30pm to 3:pm)

5. Student who are dropped off across from the school or along Convent Street must not cross the street. Students must proceed to the crosswalk where they will be guided across the street by the crossing guard.

6. When students enter the parking lot, they must proceed past the marked spot on the cement wall to ensure that they are not standing in the area of the parking lot designated for staff parking and buses.

Bus Rules

A large percentage of students attending Sydney Mines Middle School travel on school buses. Safety is of utmost importance. It is to be understood that the bus driver is in authority at all times and any student disobeying rules which are set down for safety of the students shall be subject to suspension of bus privileges.

Bus times shall be set during the first week of operation and students are asked to observe the proper time and places of departure. Bus students will be provided (at school) a coloured bus tag that must remain on their backpack for the duration of the school year. This coloured bus tag will indicate which bus the student must board each day. Students must take their assigned bus as indicated by the coloured bus tag.

Switching buses is prohibited. Students without a bus tag are not permitted to board the bus.

Attendance

Attendance is taken each period and recorded in the computer. It is reported to parents on the report card as classes missed in each subject. Teachers and administration may call home when a student is missing more than a few days in a term. Parents are expected to contact the school when a student is absent.

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and parents will notify the school if your child will be absent.

Our automated system will call home when students are absent and unexcused. Please make sure we have accurate phone numbers on file.

Late Policy

Students are expected to be in all classes at the required times. Students who are late at the beginning of the morning or afternoon must obtain a late slip before entering class. Students who are late between classes do not need a late slip and the classroom teacher will enter the late into the computer. Excessive late will result in detention, loss of privileges or suspension.

Late arrival at lunch time will be tracked every two weeks by the school's administration. Receiving 6 late slips upon arriving late after lunch over a two week period will result in an in-school suspension.

Academics

Sydney Mines Middle School is proud to recognize the academic, athletic, and social excellences of our students. An "Awards Night" will be held at the end of the school year to celebrate and honour our students with medals, plaques and certificates. During this evening, students will be eligible to receive the following awards:

• Honours

• Honours with Distinction

• On The Right Track

• Male Athlete of the Year

• Female Athlete of the Year

• Exemplary Participation Award

• Good Sport Award

• Carolyn Guy Award

• Miners Award

• Nicole Meaney Award

• Carmen Young Courtesy Award

• Academic Achievement Award

• John J. Nugent Award

• Advisory All Star Award

• Rising Star Award

• Perfect Attendance

Criteria for Grad 6, 7, and 8 Honours and Honours with Distinction

At various times throughout the academic year, students who have met the stated academic criteria will be placed on the Honour Roll.

To be eligible for the Honour Roll in Grade 7 and 8: students must have an average of 85% and above with not term mark below 75%.

Students in Grades 7 and 8 can receive Honour with Distinction if their average is over 95% with no mark below 85%.

For grade 6 students, Honour with Distinction is reached by having all A's in Math and the English strands and only one "D" (Developing) in the remaining subject areas.

Grade 6 students will receive Honours if they receive only two B's in either Math and the English strands and no more than 2 "D"s (Developing) in the remaining subject areas.

All subjects are counted in determining Honour and Honour with Distinction status. While a student may miss the Honour roll during a term, they can regain their honour status if year end marks match the criteria. Students who have spent part of their middle school career at other schools are still eligible for they types of awards.

Miners Award

This award is presented to a grade 8 male student who has a good academic standing, is a dedicated worker, cooperative and is considerate of others.

Nicole Meaney Award

This award is in memory of a former student at SMMS who lost her life in a tragic motor vehicle accident while on her way to school. It is given to a female grade 8 student who shows persistence and displays social qualities consistent with life at SMMS.

Carmen Young Courtesy Award

This award is presented to a male or female student, preferably from Grade 8. The student must openly display good manners at all times towards teachers, administration, support staff and fellow students. Marks are not a factor for this award.

On The Right Track Award

"On The Right Track Awards" are presented to those Grade Eight students at the end of their final year in Middle School who have been recognized by teachers throughout their Middle School career for demonstrating a positive attitude towards their school, classmates, and academic achievement. Students will be recognized for this accomplishment at the end of each reporting period by having their name published on the "On The Right Track" list posted in the main lobby. To be listed each term, students will have to be recognized by a minimum of five teachers and a total of 15 for the school year. Students receiving an "On The Right Track" certificate and medallion at the Awards Banquet will have received 15 nominations for each academic year at SMMS. This is a very prestigious award that recognizes the integrity,consistent efforts, and achievements of our students. Special consideration will be given to students who have spent part of their middle school career at another school.

Scent and Allergy Sensitive

Sydney Mines Middle School has been moving towards becoming a scent and allergy sensitive school.

Allergies

Several of the students at Sydney Mines Middle School have allergies to various nuts. It has become necessary, for the health, safety and welfare of our students, that our school remain a “Peanut & Nut-Free School”. We ask that no peanut butter or nut products of any kind be brought to school.

Scent Sensitive

Due to health concerns arising from exposure to scents in the school and other allergens we are encouraging and asking for everyone’s cooperation towards a fragrance and scent free products environment at this school. We are also communicating the potential symptoms of sensitivities to maintain a safe school environment for all.

Exposure to fragrances, scented products and other allergens can trigger serious health reactions in individuals with asthma, allergies, migraines or chemical sensitivities. Fragrances and scents are found in a wide range of products including perfume, aftershave, deodorant, soap, air fresheners, laundry detergents, facial tissues and candles.

It is a personal choice to use fragrances or scents; however, it is important to recognize that the chemicals from which these are created are, by their very nature shared. The chemicals vaporize into the air and are easily inhaled by those around us. Today’s fragrances/scented products are made up of a complex mixture of chemicals which can contribute to indoor air quality problems and cause health problems.

Susceptible individuals can experience a variety of symptoms, including headaches, sore throat, runny nose, sinus congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, anxiety, anger, nausea, fatigue, mental confusion and inability to concentrate. The impact on all these affected can be quite severe, resulting in great difficulty in work and study activities.

In order to protect those individuals with sensitivities to scents and other allergens and to possibly prevent others from developing such sensitivities, we are asking for your cooperation in establishing a fragrance/scent-safe environment in the school. Employees, students and visitors are strongly encouraged to avoid or reduce the use of fragrances and scented products and to be cognitive of those students and staff with potential life threatening allergies.

Students who are wearing scented products will be asked to either change into other clothing and, if necessary, will be asked to leave the building and return when the scent as been removed.

We ask that you please be considerate of those who are sensitive to scents and other allergens. Avoid using these products in the school or bringing these foods to school.

Student Medication

CBVRSB policy prohibits staff from providing students with medication unless parents/guardians complete the proper forms. Medicine must be that prescribed by an authorized health care professional or a physician. A request for the administration of medication must be made, in writing, to the school. Forms are available through the administration office at the school. An appropriate print out from the pharmacy detailing pertinent information pertaining to the prescribed medication must accompany this request.

School Fees

Student Fee Locker Fee Lost Lock Lost textbooks:

$25/$30 family No Charge $7 replacement $50 hardcover

$40 soft cover

$15 library books

General Conduct Policies and Rules

Gum Chewing

Sydney Mines Middle School has a policy where gum is permitted. Students are permitted to chew gum as long as it does not become disruptive, or misused.

Smoking/Vaping

Smoking/Vaping is forbidden on all school property. This policy will be strictly enforced.

White Out

In order to facilitate school maintenance and protect personal property, white out is not to be used by students while on the premises.

Fighting/Intimidation

Students are expected to treat each other with dignity and respect. Fighting, bullying, and other forms of intimidation and harassment are strictly forbidden in all circumstances.

Hats and Jackets

Students are required to remove hats upon entering the building. Hats and jackets must be placed in the students’ assigned lockers before students enter the classroom. They are not permitted to take them into class.

Lockers

Students can go to their lockers during homeroom, recess, lunch, afterschool NOT during or between classes. There is no locker fee, but there is a $7.00 replacement fee for a lost lock. All students will be assigned a locker and lock and MUST use it.

Prohibited Area

Students are not permitted in the back parking lot at any time.

Electronic Devices

Cameras, cell phones, MP3 players and voice recorders are strictly prohibited from use within the school at all times unless school personnel give explicit permission.

Cell Phones

Cell Phones are not to be used during the school day.

If a student has a matter that requires contacting a parent they must do so under the supervision and with the permission of a staff member using a land line. Cell phones may be used on school grounds before entering or after leaving the building. They are not to be used inside the buildings at any time without the expressed permission of a teacher or staff member. Staff who witnesses a student using a cell phone, having it on or in plain sight will confiscate the phone.

First offenders retrieve the phone from the office at the end of the day.

Subsequent offences require a parent/guardian to retrieve them. This is in compliance with the CBRCE policy PSS#258.

If a student has a cell phone it must be turned completely off (not just to silent), and it must be hidden from sight. SMMS is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones or other electronic devices.