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What is the Attendance Policy ? What is the procedure for signing my child out of school early due
to a scheduled appointment?
What do I need to do if my child is going to be
tardy?What is the Unified Dress Code and why does our
school have one?
Why is my child taking High School Algebra, Geometry or
Spanish in
middle school, and what does it entail?How do I schedule a parent/teacher conference?
What if my address, phone, or emergency contacts
change?My student has been absent from school, how does he makeup the
work missed?
What's for lunch today and other cafeteria questions eating away
at you?My child is eligible to ride the bus, could you tell me what is
involved?
My child walks to school or is driven, what are the things I need
to know?When are interim reports and report cards issued, what is the
procedure?
What is the textbook policy?What are some of the more important rules and which offenses can result in suspension?
Why do I have to wear an ID badge?My student is on daily medications, what are the clinic procedures
if they become ill during school ?
What is the Patriot Planner and why is it important?What
should I do if I am concerned about the safety or facilities at Plantation
Middle School?
What is the policy for the use of bathrooms
during school hours?
Whenever a student is absent or inevitably going to be absent, a parent or
legal guardian must submit a Student Absence Report, as early as possible, to
explain the absence. A Student Absence Report can be made by calling the school attendance office
on the automated line at 754-322-4102.
This will ensure that the student receives an excused absence upon returning to
school. An excused absence is considered if due to: (a) illness of the student,
(b) the student's need for medical/dental care (ie: a doctor's appointment), (c)
an illness of an immediate family member, or, (c) a death in the family. The student has two days to
make up the work for each day that the student is absent, not counting the day
of return. Unexcused absences will have a negative impact on the student's
report card grade. When there is extended illness (more than five school days),
special arrangements may be made for securing homework assignments by contacting
our Guidance Department at 754-322-4100. Please do not request assignments for
absences of less than five days, as the two-day makeup policy makes this
unnecessary.
NOTE: Parents will have only 5 days to change a
student's absence from unexcused to excused. Please remember to submit
your report electronically or call 754-322-4102 as early as possible.
If the student has a medical or other important appointment during school
hours, the parent must send a note to the office on the morning of the dismissal
date. It is necessary for the parent or guardian to come into the office to sign
out the student at the requested early dismissal time. Under no circumstances
are students allowed to leave campus without parental permission. No walk-home
passes will be issued. Parents will be required to pick up their child and only
individuals authorized according to school records will be permitted to receive
students. Identification will be required from anyone coming to sign-out a
student. No
sign-outs will be permitted after 2:45PM unless a child has a valid appointment or
the parent indicates that it is an emergency. The school day ends at 3:15PM.
Parents who pick up their child early need to know that their student will be
missing valuable class time. Please plan appointments accordingly.
All students must arrive by 8:40 AM. The tardy bell rings at 8:45 AM. If a
student is late, a parent MUST accompany the student into the school. If a
parent is unable to accompany the student into the school, the student will be
marked with an unexcused tardy for that day. Students
arriving on a late bus will be excused. Late passes will be issued to excused
students and MUST be presented to the teacher. Students without an excused tardy
pass will be marked as tardy.
Plantation Middle School is pleased to inform students and parents that the
mandatory Unified Dress Code is in effect for this school year. Plantation
Middle School believes that students have the right to attend a safe and secure
school where the focus is on academics. It is the intent of the Unified Dress
Code that students are dressed and groomed in an appropriate manner that
will not interfere with, or detract from, the school environment or
disrupt the educational process. All students at Plantation Middle School are
expected to adhere to the uniform policy.
Students may wear blue, black, or khaki trousers, pants or
capris. Students may also wear blue, black or khaki shorts (the length of which
must extend beyond fingertip reach). Girls may also wear blue, black or khaki
skirts or skorts (the length of which must extend beyond fingertip reach.
Students may wear shirts of red, white, or any shade of
blue. The shirts must be a solid color and have a collar (either polo or oxford
style). No emblems or logos are required on shirts or blouses, and shirts must
be long enough so that they can be tucked-in at all times.
Shoes must have enclosed toes, sleepwear and beach attire
are not permitted.
Sweaters, sweat shirts, and jackets are allowed as the
school tends to be chilly. These should be of a solid color in red, white, any
shade of blue, gray, black, or khaki. Again no emblems or logos are
required. A
collared uniform shirt must be worn at all times under the sweater, sweat shirt,
or jacket.
Blue jeans may only be worn on Fridays, and a collared
uniform shirt or the school spirit shirt must be worn with the blue jeans. Blue
jeans must also fit appropriately, neither too tight nor too loose, and be of
the appropriate length.
Donated uniforms are available upon request. Please see
your grade level guidance counselor if you need uniform assistance.
Algebra Geometry and Spanish classes at Plantation Middle School are at high
school 9th and 10th grade level. These courses have a mid-term and a final exam
just like the high school courses. In order to move onto the next level (Algebra
to Geometry, or Geometry to Algebra 2) students must pass both the mid-term and
final exams, and the course.
Current state legislation and related funding no longer permit middle school
students to take advanced academic courses using the pass/fail option. All high
school-level courses taken by middle school students must receive the grade
earned applied to the student’s high school transcript. There is legislation
under consideration to allow for “grade forgiveness” for a grade of “C” or
lower, but this has not passed as of this date.
In order to comply with this state requirement, the Broward County School
Board has adopted a policy that specifies a grade be given for any high school
course taken by a middle school student. While the District continues to
encourage each and every student to strive for academic success and achieve at
high levels, this notice of policy change is being provided. It is hoped this
will allow parents and students to make proper and informed decisions before
enrolling in high school level courses in middle school, as the students’ high
school grade point average will be affected by this change.
Parent /teacher conferences are scheduled on all school days
between 8:20 and 8:45AM in 25-minute blocks of time. Please contact our Guidance
Department at 754-322-4100 to
schedule a conference. Interim reports and test results often raise
questions in parents' minds. It is important that parents communicate with the
school whenever they feel that there is a problem or that one may be developing.
Please inform the office immediately if you have a change in any of the above
pieces of information. This information is necessary in order for communication
to be mailed home and essential in cases of emergency. It is essential that
current telephone numbers for parents be on file on the emergency contact card
for both work and home in case an emergency should arise.
Students who have had an excused absence may makeup all the work missed. The
teachers will be happy to assist the student, but it is the student's
responsibility to request the assignments. Students will be allowed two days to
make up work for each day the student is absent, not counting the day of
return, if it was an excused absence. For prearranged excused absences due to
(a) religious holiday, (b) family trip, (c) dental or medical appointment, (d)
field trips or school sponsored activities, it is the student's responsibility to
submit assignments on the day after the day of return, unless previous
arrangements have been made with the teacher. Prearranged excused absences
require a Student Absence Report submitted to the attendance clerk
electronically (visit the "Parents" section of plmsonline.com) and shown to the
student's teachers one week before the scheduled absence and stating the reason
for the absence.
Breakfast costs $1.10 and lunch costs $2.25. Milk can be purchased for $.30.
Breakfast is served from 8:10-8:30AM every school day. Students who wish to eat
breakfast must report promptly at 8:10AM as they will be expected to report to
their first period on time. Prepayment for regular meals is to be made in the
cafeteria before first period on Mondays or the first day of that week. Lunch is
served between 10:30AM and 1:15PM with each class scheduled for a 30 minute
daily lunch break. The student's class will be escorted to the cafeteria by
their teacher. They will immediately be seated at their assigned section/team
table until called up to purchase their lunch by the Administrator on duty.
Students are required to sit with their section and team to facilitate the
smooth running of the lunch period. Students may bring lunches from home. All
students eat lunch in the cafeteria. Students are not allowed to leave campus
during lunch or at any time during normal school hours. Bathrooms and the Patriot Depot (school store) are
located in the cafeteria and students may visit them if needed during their
lunch period.
A Free/Reduced Lunch application is sent home during the first week of school
and applications are available at student services. Students who received
free/reduced meals last year may receive the same for the first 10 days of
school. To do so, they should clearly state their name and last year's lunch
number to the cashier during lunch. A new form must be approved every year
before students can receive meals after the ten-day grace period. If your
child was not receiving free/reduced meals last year but is applying this year,
you must pay full price for meals until notified by the school that the child
qualifies for the free/reduced rate.
All completed applications for free/reduced lunches must be turned-in to
the designated facilitator for processing as soon as possible.
Bus transportation is available to students who live two or more miles from
school. Students who are eligible to ride the bus will receive a card with their
bus route number in the mail from Central Area Transportation. The card will
also have pick-up and drop-off times and bus stop addresses. Students need to
write their bus route number in a convenient place so that they will know
which bus to ride. (Parents should make a note of which bus route as well.) Bus
route numbers are posted in the bus windows. Staff members will be available in
the bus area to assist your student in getting on the right bus. The buses
drop-off and pick-up in the rear of the school building and for safety purposes
there are absolutely no cars allowed in that area. Students are to ride only the
bus to which they have been assigned. Student conduct on the bus must conform to
the bus driver's regulations. This is important for the safety of everyone. Any
repeated or serious violations may result in suspension from the school bus. If
a student misses their bus they should immediately come to the office and
request permission to call home. Parents should have a prearranged plan of
action with their children if they miss the bus, or there is an emergency
dismissal. If buses are late in the AM, students are to remain at their bus stop
until the bus arrives. If buses are late in the PM, students must wait at school
unless permission is given by the parents to go home in another manner . If
there are any bus changes for the day the afternoon announcements will inform
students. Students who have not been assigned to ride a bus may not ride a bus
for any reason.
Walking students are not to be on school grounds until 15 minutes before the
beginning of the school day unless students are participating in our school
breakfast program or tutoring. At the close of the school day, walking students must leave
the campus immediately upon dismissal. If your student rides a bicycle
their bikes should be parked in the bike racks located on the southwest and
southeast side of the school campus. Helmets are required. Due to the
accessibility of the bicycles to the public during the day, each student should
lock his/her bicycle in order to prevent theft. Students being driven to school
should be dropped off and picked up in the front of the school. Do not stop on
Sunrise Boulevard to drop off your student, always pull into the drop-off loop
or school parking lot.
NOTE: Do NOT use the medical building property, located
adjacent to the school for student drop-off or pick-up...this is private
property and is not permitted.
During each nine week grading period students may bring home an interim
report. Interim reports are required to be sent home if a student is in danger
of receiving a failing grade on the next report card or if a student has dropped
two
or more letter grades since the last report card. Interim reports must be signed by the parent and returned to
school. Please watch for interim reports on or about the following dates:
September 23,
December 8, February 24, and May 8. Report cards are computer
generated forms that will be given to students to take home on the following
dates: November 17, February 8, April 19 and June 27 (mailed to
home address).
Parents are also urged to keep tabs on student progress by
simply logging in to the Pinnacle grading system. Information is readily
available about assignments, attendance, as well as teacher reports twenty-four hours a day right on your
own PC at home or work. Simply click on "View Your Grades" on the tabs above for log-in procedures
and direct access.
A textbook policy form is issued to all students on the first day of school,
it must be signed by the parent and student and returned to school by the end of
the first week of school. The textbook policy form explains that textbooks play
a major role in curriculum and are used throughout the day and at home for
learning. Our school feels that it is critically important that we have a good
selection of textbooks for the students to be able to use. The school needs your
help as a parent too. We hope that you will take each and every step necessary
to ensure that your child's textbook is returned in the condition in
which it was received. The form signed by parent and student states, "I HAVE READ
THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND I AM AWARE THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF
MY SON/DAUGHTER'S TEXTBOOK IF IT IS LOST, STOLEN, OR NOT RETURNED IN THE
CONDITION THAT IT WAS RECEIVED."
NOTE: New district guidelines provide that students
with unpaid textbook obligations may lose the opportunity to participate in many
school activities.
1. Students are not permitted to leave campus--under any circumstances--without permission from the
Administration. 2. Students are prohibited from
smoking (or carrying cigarettes or matches) on the school grounds, school bus,
or in the building. 3. Students are not permitted to bring the following items
on campus: radios, CD or MP3 players, toys (electronic games), tape recorders,
hats, or cameras, beepers. 4. No student should be in the hallways
or on the school grounds without a pass after the bell sounds for class to
begin. 5. Students will not be permitted to chew gum while they are at
school. 6. Fighting, profanity, stealing, and insubordination will not be
tolerated in any manner. 7. Possession of knives (of any size/type) or any other objects
which might be considered a weapon is strictly prohibited. Violators will be subject to
disciplinary action in accordance with the Broward Schools Code of Ethics. 8. A better teaching, learning, health, and safety situation exists
when students are dressed and groomed in such a way that they reflect pride in
themselves and their school. Therefore, students are strongly urged to follow the
mandatory unified dress code policy that has been instituted at our school this
year. 9. All students will be issued a picture student ID
badge when they begin attending school. Students are required to wear their ID at all
times when on school grounds or participating in school field trips. Please refer to
the District's "Code of Student Conduct Handbook"
for a more in depth description of Broward County Code of Conduct
information.
The Student Identification Badge is very important for a number of reasons;
obviously, it identifies that this student belongs at this school and what grade
they are in (the stripes at the top are a different color for each grade). Also
students will be required to carry a school ID when they enter high school. The
ID badge also gives substitute teachers an invaluable tool for correctly
identifying the students in their class, thereby helping to decrease the
traditional "We've got a substitute today shenanigans!" that middle school
students pride themselves in.
In addition, the ID Badge is needed in order to check out books
and use the computers in the media center. The bar code at the bottom of the
card is their FSI or student number. This eliminates students checking out a
book under the name of someone else. The ID Badge will also be used in
the cafeteria instead of each student punching in their lunch number. Instead
the ID will be scanned, this will allow the line to move more quickly, and
prevent someone from punching in the number of someone else.
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Students who become ill while in school must request a pass to student services. If a student becomes ill while in the hallway or
cafeteria, any of the adults on hall or cafeteria duty will assist him. If
students are unable to return to class, their parents will be notified in order
for them to be picked up. Up to date parental phone information and emergency
contact information is absolutely necessary. All children entering 7th grade are
required to have completed the Hepatitis B Series (3 doses that take 6 months to
complete), Tetanus-Diptheria Booster, and a second dose of Measles vaccine
(preferably MMR vaccine). All vaccinations requirements must be met for
registration requirements. See
District
Guidelines.
If a child requires daily medication the parent must bring the prescription
or non-prescription medication to the guidance office , clearly labeled with the
child's name and instructions, and a signed and completed (two sides)
Authorization for Medication form. All medication shall not exceed dosages
required for a period longer than one week. For children with chronic disorders,
all authorizations by the Health Department will not exceed 3 months. If the
prescribed medication is to be given for a period of more than the 3 month
period, a renewal authorization must be issued. It is recommended that parents
ask their physicians if whenever possible medication can be prescribed in
dosages that can be given twice a day at home.
The Patriot Planners are used by students to stay organized and are a great
way to keep the lines of communication open. Teachers and parents can use the
planners to write to one another and keep updated on all that is going on. There
is also a section near the back of the planner where your student is asked to
keep track of their grade in each class. They are expected to keep this up to
date and this is another useful tool for parent/teacher communication. Every
student will be given a free planner during the first two weeks of school, funding for
this school wide program is supported with assistance from the PTO. Please take
a few minutes to look through the planner with your child when it is first
brought
home. Point out the many valuable reference resources available for homework
time on the first and last pages of the Patriot Planner. Finally, be
sure to ask to see your student's planner on a regular basis as you may learn
some useful information and it directly demonstrates to your child that you care
about his education.
If you ever feel as though you have a concern about the safety or facilities
at Plantation Middle School, please submit your comments with a complete
description of your concerns on our
contact form. In order to
route your concern to the appropriate party, please be sure to select "School
safety" as your topic on the form.
What is the policy for the use of bathrooms during school
hours?
The bathrooms located under the stairs at the
front of the building (beside the front office) and under the stairs at the back
of the building (across from Student Services) are open at all times during
school hours. The bathrooms located in the cafeteria are open during lunch hours
only. Students may use the bathrooms during their class changes, or during lunch
(with permission from the administrator who is in charge). In order for
a student to use the bathroom during class time, they must have the
permission of their classroom teacher. Students given permission to utilize the
bathroom facilities during class should exercise good judgment and be as brief
as possible. If at all possible, students should try and use the bathroom during
class changes in order to avoid missing valuable lessons.
Copyright © 1999-2011 Plantation Middle School. All rights reserved.
Revised: August 01, 2011.
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