Highland Falls Middle School extends a welcome to all of its students. HFMS is a special place where all members of our faculty and staff are dedicated to meeting the needs of every child. We have high expectations for every member of our learning community and understand the integral partnership between families and the greater school community. In creating our program we have two goals:

• To create and sustain a safe, positive learning environment that promotes, values, and increases student achievement and lifelong learning for all.

• We strive to develop each student’s intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development as he/she enters the teenage years.

At Highland Falls Middle School we feel a vital part of the classroom today is the teaching of Life Long Goals and Life Skills to our students .

LIFE GOALS:

* TRUSTWORTHINESS : To act in a manner that makes one worthy of confidence.

* TRUTHFULNESS : To be honest about things and feelings with oneself and others.  

* ACTIVE LISTENING : To listen with the intention of understanding what the speaker means to communicate.

* NO PUT-DOWNS : Not to use words, actions, and/or body language to degrade, humiliate, or dishonor others.

* PERSONAL BEST : One's best possible performance given the time and resources available.

Policies, Directives, and Guidelines

Absence Excuses/Attendance

All students are expected to be in school, on time, every day. Students who are excessively absent or late may be referred to Orange County Family Court.

When a student is absent from, or late for school a note is required from the parent or guardian indicating the reason(s) for absence or lateness. These written excuses, signed by parents or guardians, must include:

• Student’s name
• The date(s) of absence or lateness
• The reason for the absence or lateness
• Parent/guardian signature.

Tardies to School

The following will be the disciplinary policy regarding unexcused tardies. Unless a parent or garduian contacts the office, the tardy is considered unexcused.

1st Tardy Excused

2nd Tardy Warning

3rd Tardy Lunch Detention

4th Tardy After School Detention

5th Tardy Office Referral and Parent/Guardian Conference

Middle School Dress Code

The way we dress is a reflection of ourselves as well as our school. All students at Highland Falls Middle School are expected to dress in clean, neat clothes worn in a manner that will not detract from the learning environment in school or at school functions.

Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and all other personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting.

Appropriate Dress

It is expected that all students dress appropriately for school. Clothing that is distracting, unsafe or a health concern is unacceptable.

• Shirts or other clothing with pictures, language, etc. that are vulgar, obscene, libelous or denigrate others because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability are not allowed.

• Clothing that promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities as well as clothing that may be associated with any type of “gang” or cult affiliation, including chains, spiked wrist bands, or necklaces, excessively baggy pants, excessively baggy sweatshirts or hoodies, colors, beads, bandannas, excessively faddish or odd hair cuts and/or colors or spikes, excessively black makeup, etc. may not be worn as regular school clothing.

• Since going without shoes is a safety and health hazard, shoes or sneakers must be worn during all school functions and during the school day. Sandals are a safety hazard in technology class, so you must wear regular shoes or sneakers in all technology classes. Sandals without straps (flip-flops) are a hazard on the stairs and may not be worn in school.

• Hats, bandannas, scarves, dew rags, or other headgear, which are considered a distraction, are not allowed in classrooms.

• Visible body piercing (nose, tongue, eyebrow, etc.) is considered a distraction for Middle School students and may not be worn in school.

• Loose fitting tank tops or muscle shirts, strapless clothing, tube tops with or without a shrug, spaghetti straps, short cut shirts, pants with revealing holes, are considered inappropriate clothing for school. Undergarments should not be visible. Mesh or other see-through clothing must be worn over another appropriate shirt.

• Coats are a distraction and may not be worn in class. If a student has a medical problem that requires wearing a coat in class a written note from parents is necessary and the Principal will grant permission.

• Appropriate shorts may be worn. Shorts should be loose fitting and fingertip length when your hands are held relaxed at your side (a 4-inch inseam or longer, is a good guide for purchasing shorts for school).

Dress Code Violations

The following will be the disciplinary policy regarding not adhering to the dress code:

1. Administrative conference and correction of the problem (Change or turn inside out).
2. Administrator will call home to inform parent.
3. Violator will be given lunch detention.
4. A student with a major violation will wait for a parent to bring proper attire. If parent cannot bring proper attire, the student will remain in the office.

Respect for Authority

Lines of authority are necessary in any organization. In school and on school buses, students are expected to obey reasonable requests from administrators, teachers, monitors, school bus drivers, and other school personnel. If students believe that a request is unreasonable, it is best to comply at the moment and see an administrator, counselor, or parent at a later time to voice concerns.

Substitute and student teachers are provided with work, from the regular classroom teacher, which is designed to be an extension of the regular instructional program. Students are expected to pay attention and complete all the work assigned because it will be graded and count in overall class average. Students who are continuously rude or disruptive with substitute teachers will be referred to the office and will be subject to strong disciplinary action.

Honors

At each Quarterly Report time, students may be placed on the School Honor Roll if they fulfill the following requirements:

• Principal’s List – Average of 95% or above
• High Honors – Average of 90% - 94.99%
• Honors – Average of 85% - 89.99%
• Honorable Mention – Average of 80% - 84.99%

Students who receive an unsatisfactory grade in conduct and/or effort in any subject, including Special area subjects will not be awarded the Honor Roll.

Academic Eligibility Policy

Participation in the various school activities outside the classroom is recognized as a privilege and not a right. This is to be earned and maintained through academic effort and achievement as well as student behavior.

Students who participate in extracurricular activities (clubs, chorus, band, sports, etc.) are expected to maintain a passing academic grade in all subjects and demonstrate good behavior while attending the Highland Falls Middle School.

The following steps are taken to determine eligibility:

• A student who fails two or more subjects by the Progress Report time (5 weeks) will be placed on Academic Probation. This student may attend practices for sports, band, chorus, and other extracurricular activities but may not participate in actual games, performances or work.

• A bi-weekly progress report will then be given to the student. If the progress has improved during any bi-weekly time period, the student may again participate in practices – until a time when grades may decline again.
• By the next Progress Report time (5 weeks) if the student has shown improvement with passing grades in the deficient subjects and is not failing any other subjects, he/she may participate in activities again.
• This policy will be in effect during the entire school year and is repeated with each Quarterly Report Card.

Sports Eligibility Guidelines

NYS Interscholastic Association Law includes only 7th or 8th grade student participation in Interscholastic Sports. In addition to the Academic Eligibility guidelines, all participating students must have a physical examination by a doctor and get clearance from the School Nurse. Please refer to the Nurse’s Office for more information.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices

Radios, beepers, tape recorders, Walkmans, CD players, cell phones, headphones, electronic games and other electronic devices are a distraction, a safety hazard, and are not allowed in school during the school day. Students may use Walkman-type devices with headphones or electronic games on the school bus, walking to and from school, and at lunch and recess. These devices must be locked in the hall locker for the entire school day. If students have any of these devices with them during the school day, they will be subject to disciplinary procedures.

Laser pens/pointers are a distraction and a dangerous item. Laser pens/pointers will be held in the office and returned to a parent/guardian only.

Cell phones may not be used during the school day. Cell phones are to be powered down and kept locked in your locker. Students need to have special permission from the Principal to carry a cell phone in school or to take it on a field trip.

Students should not bring any expensive items to school unless they can assure their security. The Middle School is not responsible for items that are lost or stolen from school lockers or backpacks. Items not retrieved by the end of the school year will be discarded.

There is a pay telephone located outside the gym and in the main lobby. These phones may be used before and after school. The cost of a local call is fifty cents. These telephones may not be used during the regular school day. Office phones may only be used in an EMERGENCY or SERIOUS SITUATION and with permission from the office staff.