School Year

DON’T FINISH WHERE YOU BEGAN……….. BECOME LEGENDARY!

Becoming legendary starts with respect, following school rules and being the best Student you can be. To assist you in becoming Legendary here are the Expectations for Students at JMMS. These Expectations are from the Students Code of Conduct in the Students Rights and Responsibility Handbook. This information can be found on the front page of the CMS website. Remember it’s all about Cougar PRIDE! Let’s talk about Horseplay:  Horse Play is rough play that can include play hitting, play fighting, slapping, kicking, wrestling, jumping on a friend’s back, etc. While Horse Play often starts off to be fun, it often escalates to one or both students becoming angry. Fights often begin with Horse Play.  Horse Play disrupts the flow of transitions, disrupts teaching and disrupts learning.  James Martin students will refrain from horse play.

 Refusal to follow instructions of a staff member is Insubordination.  Walking away and/or speaking to a staff member in an inappropriate manner (tone and/or language) is also considered insubordination. Remember Respect Builds Character!

Students will refrain from ANY behavior that might disrupt learning in the classroom. Students are expected to obey classroom rules, follow procedures and be respectful at all times. Students will be actively engaged in learning throughout the period. Causing Classroom Disruptions WILL result in serious consequences and loss of privileges.

Students are expected to refrain from engaging in or instigating a fight or participating in aggressive behaviors. These behaviors will result in an automatic out of school suspension….and could result in your attending an alternative school or being expelled from school. Should a fight occur students who are not involved in the fight are expected to remain seated or move away from the fight. Failure to do so CAN result in suspension.

During Transitions students are expected to move quickly in SINGLE file keeping to the right against the wall. This is NOT a time for social interactions. Always be respectful and quiet. Others are still in class. Students are NOT allowed in the “T” in the back hall or to use the bathroom during class changes. Students are to Remain on their own hallway at ALL times.

 Students are to Refrain from using offensive language toward any staff member, including your bus driver.  Cell phones, IPods, gaming devices, computer etc. MUST be OUT OF SIGHT during school hours, that includes riding on the bus.  If a member of the staff asks you to turn over an electronic device, you are expected to give the device to that staff member immediately. Failure to do so is an automatic 3 days of Out of School Suspension – Parent must pick up device.

A student shall not use, purchase, sell, distribute, be under the influence of or possess any kind of tobacco, alcoholic beverage, controlled substance (as defined by state law) or illegal or counterfeit substance.

A student will not possess, handle, transport or use any weapon, object that can be reasonably considered a weapon, dangerous object or substance that could cause harm or irritation to another individual on school property, on the bus or at any school function. This includes laser pointers.

A student shall not possess, handle or transport any handgun, rifle, starter gun, shotgun or any other weapon which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosion, including camouflaged guns or any firearm muffler or silencer. Students violating this rule are subject to a 365-day mandatory suspension.

No student shall commit any act that furthers gangs or gang-related activities. A gang is any ongoing organization, association or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal acts, or the purposeful violation of any district policy, and having a common name or common identifying sign, colors or symbols.

CMS has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy against Bullying. We expect our students to respect each other at all times!

NC State Law is clear on how students MUST Behave on a School Bus.  Stay seated at all times  Sit in assigned seats  Refrain from instigating or participating in a fight on the bus or at the bus stop  Refrain from talking loudly (use inside voices only)  Refrain from throwing items on the bus or out of the bus window  Refrain from taking food or drink onto the bus  Take care of the bus, refrain from vandalism  Respect the bus driver at all times – (Failure to do so is insubordination)  Refrain from using any electronic device on the bus  Follow all directions of the bus driver promptly  Refrain from using inappropriate language  Refrain from having anything on the bus or at the bus stop that could be considered a weapon

 Kissing, touching, hugging or any sexual contact - even if consensual – are all against CMS and James Martin Middle School Policy.  Sexual Behavior and/or Sexual Harassment /Battery is Unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This behavior can lead to suspension and even arrest.

 Prepared  Respectful  Innovative  Determined  Effort

Prepared – prepared for learning/success Respectful – at all times to all people Innovative – doing things that students ordinarily don’t Determined - to learn/make school a better place Effort – making an effort to learn and prepare for success

This year at James Martin students will be able to earn the PRIDE PASS. The PRIDE PASS will afford the students a set of regular, daily privileges as well as special events participation when necessary. For example: (to name a few)  Attendance at after school activities  School Dance Discounts  Athletic Tournaments  Ice cream/pizza socials  Gift Card Giveaways

Students may earn P.R.I.D.E Passes by demonstrating regular positive and expected behavior based on the school-wide behavior expectations matrix. Examples of positive behavior include, but are not limited to:  No office referrals for every 10 school days  No missing assignments for 9 out of 10 school days  No “time outs” or “bounce time” for 9 out of 10 school days  No Tardies for 9 out of 10 school days  No uniforms violations, including proper utilization of ID Badges for 9 out of 10 school days

Yes, violation of the guidelines and school rules or expectations may result in the revocation of the P.R.I.D.E Pass for an established amount of time. Students will have the opportunity to petition the P.R.I.D.E Pass Committee for renewal or restoration of their P.R.I.D.E Pass if they exhibit exemplary behavior (No Code of Conduct Violations for at least one week) and meet the committee's other requirements. It should be understood that petitioning the committee does not guarantee restoration of the PRIDE Pass. The request may be denied for good reason.

This will be an exciting year at James Martin. We have moved forward and will continue to move forward toward Legendary status. As a school family we are well on our way to becoming Legendary.

We ARE the COUGARS and WE ARE BECOMING…. LEGENDARY!!