Nova Middle School - Important information for students.
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Attendance
Attendance policies have changed recently. Each student is expected to be in
attendance in every class each day, unless the student has an excused or permitted
absence. In order for parents to excuse an absence, the parent/guardian must
phone the first day of the absence by 10:30 a.m. or send a note specifying the
date(s) and reason(s) for the absence(s) with the student upon return to school.
Please call 754-323-3772 to report an absence. Failure to notify the school
within 48 hours will result in the absence being unexcused.
Permitted absences must be sent 5 days in advance. The reasons are limited. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for more information. NOTE: Vacations are not an excused absence.
Effective at the beginning of 2006-07 school year, both excused and unexcused
absences, along with tardiness and early sign-outs will be counted when determining
a student's pattern of non-attendance. This is a change from previous years
when excused absences had no impact on a student's attendance record. "A
pattern of non-attendance is established when an accumulation of non-attendance
excused or unexcused, equals 5 days (30 hours) in a marking period or 10 days
(60 hours) within 90 days. These hours may be accumulated by tardiness, early
sign-outs, or daily absences.
F.S. 1003.21, 1003.23, 1003.24, 1003.26, 1003.27, 1003.28, 1003.29
Amended 4/18/06
Cafeteria
Good behavior is the expectation for all Nova Middle School students in the
cafeteria. Students will follow the guidelines presented by their administrators,
teachers, and cafeteria monitors at all times. Students need to arrive on
time in the cafeteria to receive an appropriate amount of time to purchase
(if desired) and to eat lunch. Lunch periods allow for thirty minutes for
students and teachers. Every effort will be made to make sure every student
has enough time to enjoy lunch provided they arrive on time. Students who
encounter problems with the rules may have one or more of the following consequences:
lunch detail for one or more days, after school detention, choice/internal
suspension, external suspension and could possibly forfeit the opportunity
to attend school related field trips.
Dress Code
As students of Nova Middle Echo, it is important for students to project a
positive image, which includes proper dress. The way we dress influences our
attitude toward how we act. Nova Middle School has adopted a mandatory unified
dress code policy. In addition, it is the responsibility of the parents to
ensure that students are in compliance with Nova Middle's Unified Dress Code.
The consequences for not adhering to the Unified Dress Code Policy includes a warning, after school detention, internal suspension or external suspension. Staff and parents, alike, want students to remain in class during class time. Any and all interruptions, such as non-compliance with dress code, prevent students from receiving instruction and can, therefore, hender their grade.
Tops: All shirts must be polo or oxford type, be a solid color (no stripes), have a collar, may be short or long sleeved, and not oversized. Colors: Hunter Green, Yellow/Gold, White, Blue, and Red. Shirts may not be form fitting, lycra or spandex and must be long enough to cover the midriff when arms are raised. The shirt size should be appropriate to the size of the child. The shirttail should not extend below the torso. The collar of the uniform shirt must be visible at all times. Undershirts longer than the polo shirt will be confiscated.
Bottoms: Boys - Trouser/Cargo or Dickie Style with a belt; Shorts; Girls: Pants/Shorts/Skirts/Skorts/Jumpers; Colors: Khaki, Dark Blue, Black, White or Red. Bottoms may be cotton or cotton/polyester blend material. Pants may be long or with shorts, skirts, capri's or skorts must be knee length or below. Short shorts, skirts, skorts are not permitted. All pants must be worn with a belt. Pants that hang low are not permitted as well as oversized bottoms are not permitted. All bottoms must be hemmed. All bottoms must be loose fitting (not oversized) and secured at the waistline.
In addition, stretch pants, form fitting pants, low-riders, etc. will not be permitted. Jackets/Sweaters must be a solid color and may be worn over the uniform top but not in place of an appropriate uniform top. Jackets and sweaters must extend at least to the hip.
No Jean or denim material is permitted. Undershirts are not permitted to hang beyond nor below the uniform shirt. Oxford shirts must be buttoned at all times. Students who wear long undershirts will be required to remove them.
Shoe Requirements: Sneakers or hard bottom shoes must be closed-in. No sandals or backless shoes permitted. Slip ons such as related to the beach, pool, or house are not permitted.
Inappropriate Dress:
1. No articles of clothing made of denim, corduroy, lycra, spandex (stretch), nylon, velour, stretch or see-through materials.
2. Absolutely no sweat pants or shirts, drawstrings pants, oversized pants,
sleepwear, flannel bottoms, leggings, low cut/hipster styled pants, (including
Brazilian pants), athletic attire, tank tops, clothes with holes, clothes
no hemmed, formfitting or see-through clothing.
3. No jumpsuits or overalls. Nothing should be written on the seat of the pants.
4. No visible undergarments such as tank tops, camisoles and tube tops. No tops with inlay such as lace.
5. Polo shirts are not to be removed throughout the day, and they are not to be worn suspended around the neck.
6. No shirt should be worn over the polo shirt. This includes tank tops and athletic shirts.
7. Multi-layers of t-shirts should not be worn under the uniform shirt.
8. Excessively oversized shirts or pants are not allowed.
**In addition, all students are required to adhere to the dress code requirements as stated in the Broward County School Code of Conduct at all times.
Drugs/Alcohol
Drugs and Alcohol are not permitted on campus at any time. Please report any
violations to an adult. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct Booklet for more
information.
Early Dismissal
If you know in advance that you will be picking your child(ren) up early,
please call or send a note to his/her teacher with the following information:
1) the time you would like your child in the front office; 2) a phone number
where you can be reached during school hours, & 3) a parent/guardian
signature. It will still be necessary for the parent/guardian to come in
to the front office to sign out the student. Only those people listed on
the student's emergency information card are allowed to pick up the student(s).
Based on the new attendance policy, early dismissals count toward the hours
counted toward establishing a pattern of non-attendance. Early dismissal
is permitted up to 30 minutes before the end of school.
Field Trips
Nova Middle School enjoy many opportunities to participant in field trips
through out the year. Students who receive two or more external suspensions
may be prohibited from attending school sponsored end of the year field
trips. Bus referrals are included in this policy.
Guidance
Each grade level is assigned a guidance counselor. Listed below are some of the services provided by the counselors.
*Individual and small group counseling * classroom presentations * academic preparation * assistance with family counseling * assistance with social/emotional issues * referrals for special programs * assistance with outside agencies * test prep/study skills * crisis assistance * career guidance * conflict mediation
We are here to serve you. If you need to contact your counselor, complete a Counselor Request Form and return it to the main guidance office. A counselor will contact you as soon as possible. In the event of an emergency, please go directly to a teacher or staff member and your counselor will be contacted.
6th grade counselor is Ms. Coy (754-323-3738)
7th grade counselor is Ms. Kingsley (754-323-3765), also Guidance Director
8th grade counselor is Ms. Meyer (754-323-3706)
ESE Specialist is Ms. Moore (754-323-3721)
Parents should contact the school to make appointments with guidance counselors regarding concerns. Meetings with teachers, guidance counselors and/or administrators can be set up by calling the guidance department.
Grades/Promotion
The grading system for middle school students are as follows:
A 90-100 4 points; B+ 87-89 3 points; B 80-86 3 points; C+ 77-79 2 points;
C 70-76 2 points; D+ 67-69 1 point; D 60-66 1 point; F 0-59 0 points, I
for Incomplete
The final grade for the school year for each full-year subject is determined by totaling the points earned for each of the grading periods. To receive a passing grade for a full year class, a student MUST earn at least 4 points with at least 1 point earned during the final nine weeks or last marking period.
Student are required to pass a total of six out of the eight
courses offered to be eligible for promotion.
Health Information
Nova Middle provides several screening during the year for all of our incoming
sixth graders. Parents will be contacted with additional information prior
to these screenings.
Students requiring medication during school hours MUST have
a written consent form signed by a parent/guardian, and a completed treatment
plan signed by the physician on file in the front office before any medication
can be administered. Forms can be obtained by contacting our front office
staff. Students are not allowed to have any medication on their person during
school hours. We are not allowed to give even an aspirin without a treatment
plan from a physician. Please contact our office if your child needs a treatment
plan.
Immunization
Enrollment requirements for 6th grade students to enter school dictate that you child will need to have the following immunizations on an original Florida Certification of Immunization form #DH 680, which is provided by a physician along with a physical:
Diphtheria Tetanus Petussis (DTP)
5 doses (if 4th does was given on or after the 4th birthday, only 4 doses are required.)
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
4 doses (if 3rd dose was given on or after the 4th birthday, only 3 doses are required.)
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
2 Doses Measles (MMR preferred)
Hepatitis B
Enrollment requirements for 7th & 8th grade students to enter school dictate that your child will need to have the following immunizations on an original Florida Certification of Immunization form #DH 680, which is provided by a physician, along with a physical:
All of the above immunizations PLUS
Tetanus-Diptheria Booster
Any student who is not in compliance at the start of the grade will not be given a schedule and will not be permitted to start school. Any questions regarding this matter, please call our guidance department at 754-323-3700.
NOTE: Students coming from a Broward County Public School should already have the 6th grade requirements which will be automatically transferred from the prior school.
updated 7/30/06
Late Arrivals
Students arriving after the tardy bell has rung should go directly to
the front office for an admittance slip. Remember that according to the
new attendance policy, tardies are also calculated in determining a pattern
of non-attendance.
Make-up Work
Students who have been issued an excused absence are permitted 2 days
to make up from the time they return. Since we are on block schedules,
this would be 2 class periods. Please assist your child(ren) in keeping
up with missed work as it effects their overall performance in the subjects
they miss.
Parent Conferences
There are many reasons to schedule conferences. To set up a conference,
call the grade level secretary and request a conference. Be sure to let
the secretary know who you would like present at the conference (i.e.,
all teachers, specific teachers, guidance counselor, and/or assistant
principal). One teachers have been notified of a conference, they may
have additional information to present and may request attendance at the
conference. All conferences are scheduled to be held in the Saturn Building.
The secretary will advise the date, time, and room number once the conference
has been set and will notify the participants.
Phone
Numbers
Nova Middle's Main Phone Number is 754-323-3700.
Principal/Secretary - 754-323-3709
Assistant Principal's Secretaries:
6th grade - Ms. Laplante for Ms. Thompson at 754-323-3735;
7th grade - Ms. Runyon for Mr. Pierre-Jerome at 754-323-3722;
8th grade - Ms. Cookus for Dr. Toback at 754-323-3705.
Guidance Offices:
6th grade - Ms. Coy at 754-323-3738;
7th grade - Mr. Kingsley at 754-323-3765;
8th grade - Ms. Meyer at 754-323-3706.
ESE Specialist - Ms. Moore at 754-323-3721
Reading Coach - Ms. Krause at 754-323-3756
Progress Reports
Each marking period, progress reports are sent out school-wide to all
students regardless of progress or current grade. The reports are scheduled
four weeks into each new quarter. Please check your school calendar
and ask for these reports to assist your child(ren) in review their
progress and discussing any issues or concerns they may have. We want
all of our students to be successful and your participation is essential.
Once you review the progress report and have any questions, please call
to set up a conference or write a note to an individual teacher for
clarification if needed.
Student Calendar
The school's calendar and access to the Broward County Public School calendar are available from the Calendar button on the main menu..
Student Schedule
Student's may pick up their schedules with their parents on August 10, 2006 from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm in the cafeteria. Be sure to download the emergency information card and have it completed when you arrive. This will speed up the process. Students will receive their schedule, a school map, a bell schedule and information regarding purchase Spirit Shirts from our PTSA. Other information will be going home with your child(ren) during the first 2 days of school.
Textbooks
Textbooks are issued to students in each of the core subject areas and
some of the enhancement, enrichment, and elective courses. These books
are on loan to the student and must be maintained in good condition
and returned when the teacher notifies the student to return the textbook.
Textbooks not returned or returned damaged must be paid for. Textbook
obligations will follow students to high school and can prevent students
from participating in graduation ceremonies. Contact your child(ren)'s
teacher(s) regarding any lost or damaged books for replacement costs;
books are prorated for years of use.
Transportation
Staff from the Transportation Department will be on campus on Thursday,
August 10, 2006 to answer questions. Following the pickup of your child(ren)'s
class schedule, follow the directions to the Saturn Building, room 165A.
Weapons
Please read carefully and review with your child(ren) the policy regarding
weapons as presented in the Student Code of Conduct. Occasionally, students
do not realize what constitutes a weapon. The School Board of Broward
County has defined these weapons as Class A or Class B weapons in the
Student Code of Conduct. Students and parents are required to sign an
acknowledgment of this policy.
Withdrawals
Parents/Guardians should contact our Data Processor for information
on withdrawal forms and procedures. (Ms. Jocki Rogers at 754-323-3704)
Important: Confiscated Items
Each year students bring items that are clearly stated in the Student
Code of Conduct as inappropriate. Teachers and administrators may confiscate
these items as they are distracting to the process of teaching and learning.
Please review the Student Code of Conduct with your child(ren) and discuss
leaving these items at home. These items include ipods, mp3 players,
cd players, recording devices, games, etc.
Teachers who receive authorization for a student project to include
any of these items, will contact the parents to advise them the project,
the timeline, and the identified item so the student will be able to
participate in the classroom project. Otherwise, all electronic devices
will be confiscated. Students receive consequences and parents are notified
to pick up the item on Thursday afternoons between 3:30 and 4:30 pm
only. Some devices may be held until the end of the quarter and/or the
end of the school term.
School Board Policy states that the teachers nor any staff member can
be held responsible for the loss of confiscated items.