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| TUCKER VALLEY ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL | |||||
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Bulletin Board | Calendar | Conduct | Edline | GEARUP | Information | Menu | Parents | Photos | Staff | Tucker County Schools | Teacher Pages |
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ABOUT US: Nestled in the beautiful hills of Hambleton, in Tucker County in West Virginia, and not far from scenic Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley State Parks, Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School opened in the fall of 1995 consolidating the Hamrick Elementary School and Parsons Elementary Middle School. There are about 600 students in grades Pre K - 8 making TVEMS the largest school in the Tucker County School system. The staff of TVEMS numbers more than seventy, and includes teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel and administrators. TVEMS is a learner focused school offering a diversified and inclusive educational program to assure the success of all students. |
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| OUR MISSION: Learning for all. | |||||
| OUR VISION: In partnership with parents, community members, other school employees, the Tucker County Board of Education and our students, Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School will provide an education that has value and meaning, where all students will learn and achievement is stressed and rewarded. All students will develop skills that will enable them to make responsible choices and become productive members of our society. | |||||
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Dear Parents and Students: Welcome to the 2006-2007 school year at Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School. We are excited about the learning opportunities waiting for the students of Tucker Valley. Our staff has been working hard through the summer to make certain that we have everything ready – a safe, clean building, teachers learning new programs and teaching techniques, and purchasing some new materials and equipment are just some of the many things that have been done to help us better prepare our students for success in school and in life. We welcome and encourage parent involvement in our school. You are your child’s first and most important teacher and we believe that you serve as a valuable resource in helping us help your children be the very best they can be. Volunteer! Be involved! Join PTO! Let your students know that school is important to you too! We need you as our partner and invite you to join us in the quest to assure educational excellence for all students at Tucker Valley. We will leave no child behind. We are dedicated to our students and excited and enthusiastic about providing a quality education in a safe and caring learning environment. Our children are our future. We welcome the opportunity to touch tomorrow by working with our children today. Sincerely, Principal Assistant Principal |
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FOR INFORMATION ON
Attendance.............................................................
Student Responsibilities......................................... Code of Conduct.................................................... Academic Progress................................................. Parents as Partners................................................ This and That.......................................................... Computer Use.........................................................
GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION
GUIDANCE Students are encouraged to visit with the school counselor for personal guidance and for information on grades, study help and testing programs. Our school counselor is available to discuss any home, school, or social concerns.
SCHOOL NURSE AND MEDICATIONS The school nurse’s office exists for emergency situations and as a waiting area for ill students who are going home. Parents are encouraged to administer any necessary (prescription or non prescription) medications at home when at all possible. If a student must take medication while at school he or she must bring it to the nurse or the school office in its original container with specific instructions signed by the prescribing physician. Students are not permitted to possess any drugs of any kind at any time at school.
TRANSPORTATION Most TVEMS students
are transported by school bus. The bus schedule is published in
The
Students who walk to school or those transported by private vehicle may be dropped off at the gym door entrance. They should not arrive at school prior to 7:45 A.M. unless they are eating breakfast. Students eating breakfast should not arrive before 7:30 A.M. as there few staff members available to supervise them. For the safety of
all of our students please remember if you are leaving your vehicle
when bringing a student to school be sure to park your vehicle in a
designated parking space and turn off the engine. DO NOT leave your
vehicle in the traffic lane. CAFETERIA
LOCKERS Hall lockers are provided to students in grades 5-8. Many elementary classrooms have lockers or cubbies in the classroom. These lockers are the property of the school and state law permits school officials to inspect a locker at any time. If students choose
to put a lock on their lockers they are advised to share the
combination or extra key with the teacher that made the locker
assignment. Students should not permit anyone other than their
locker partner to use their lockers. TEXTBOOKS Textbooks are
issued to each student for each class. Students are responsible for
the books issued to them and may be required to pay for books that
are lost or damaged beyond normal wear and tear. Students will not
be issued new books before settling any lost or damaged book
accounts. ASSIGNMENT BOOKS Assignment books
are provided for each student at the beginning of the school year.
These are to be used to record class activities and assigned work
and to serve as a communication tool between teachers and students
and their parents. Assignment books should be checked regularly by
parents. The assignment books also contain the student’s copy of
the student-parent handbook. If an assignment book is lost or
damaged beyond use there are usually a few extras in the office that
may be purchased for $5.00 each. TELEPHONES There are no pay phones at TVEMS. The telephones are business phones and must be available for school use. If students must use the phone to call home their teacher will send them to the office with a permission slip. If it is necessary for you to contact your child during the school day, please call the office and leave a message so that we may minimize the disruptions to the classrooms. Cell phones may not be used during the school day. ANY student violating this rule will loose cell phone privileges for the remainder of the school year. Tucker Valley will not be responsible for lost or stolen cell phones.
LOST AND FOUND Lost and Found items are sent to the office or to the lost and found box located outside the cafeteria. Students who have lost items may check for them in those locations. Periodically announcements are made to remind students to check for their lost items. After three days of reminders the items in lost and found are donated to a charitable organization in our community.
It is no surprise to know that research shows that children who have high attendance rates frequently have a higher school success rate. We will do all we can to encourage good attendance but ultimate responsibility for class attendance lies with the student. ABSENSES State law requires students to attend school daily unless sickness or special family circumstances prevent this. Tucker County policy permits five (5) parent excused absences per semester. After that, a doctor's excuse is required for excused absences. Parents will be notified if a student accumulates five unexcused absences during a semester and ten unexcused absences will result in a referral to the county attendance director. When returning to school after any absence (even if the student was sent home from school due to illness) students must bring a note from a parent/guardian stating the date of and reason for the absence or it will be recorded as unexcused. TARDINESS Students are expected to report to school and to each class at the scheduled starting time. Tucker County Schools Policy states that "tardiness interferes with the orderly conducting of class and ... shall be considered a discipline problem.” Students who arrive later than 8:00 A.M. are to report to the office with an excuse for their tardiness. Students with more than three tardies in a grading period will be subject to disciplinary action. Habitual or excessive tardiness may become a truancy issue. EARLY DISMISSAL
DRESS CODE Students have the privilege of selecting their own style of dress unless it disrupts the educational process or endangers the health or safety of any person. Clothing which exposes (by design, fabric or pattern) any portion of the body trunk from the lower neck to mid-thigh is inappropriate for school. Items advertising sex, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products are not permitted in school or school functions. Students may be asked to change clothes or add a cover-up if their clothing is determined inappropriate.
CHEATING Students who cheat,
plagiarize, or forge in connection with academic endeavors or school
procedures are subject to disciplinary action which may include a
zero for the assignment. POSSESSION OR USE OF TOBACCO/ DRUGS Students who use or bring tobacco or drugs to school or have them in their possession are subject to suspension or expulsion and will be disciplined as mandated by Tucker County Board of Education Policy and West Virginia Student Code of Conduct. HARASSMENT Harassment in any form will not be tolerated. If violations occur, disciplinary action will be taken. Any discrimination of the basis of race, creed, national origin, sex, age, or handicap will not be tolerated. ONLINE POLICY The use of
electronic resources is supported provided that abuses do not
occur. Access is a privilege that will be denied if used
inappropriately. Students must have a signed Internet Acceptable
Use Policy on file for the current school year to make full use of
the technology available to them. The form is on the page 13 of
this handbook and is to be signed and returned to the student's
homeroom teacher. FIGHTING/AGGRESSION Students who are involved in a physical confrontation of any kind -- before, during, or after school on school property, or in any school function away from the school will be given three days ISS for the first offense. Parents will be notified. Additional infractions of this nature will result in more serious consequences.
The State of West Virginia has adopted a Student Code of Conduct on which our Tucker County Board of Education Policy is based as well as our school code of conduct. Highlights of the state policy are: Every student in WV public schools shall:
The code may be read in its entirety at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p4373.html PROHIBITED ITEMS In order to maintain an orderly environment students may not possess the following items at school:
REPORT CARDS Report cards are issued every nine weeks with mid-term reports sent approximately mid-way through the nine weeks grading period. Report cards are usually sent home in early November, mid January, and late March to early April. The last report card is sent home on the last day of school in June. GRADING SCALE TVEMS staff members use the grading scale adopted by the West Virginia Board of Education. The grading scale for non-weighted grades is as follows: 93-100 A 4.0 85-92 B 3.0 75-84 C 2.0 65-74 D 1.0 0-64 F 0.
HONOR ROLL Students who earn a 3.0 average with no D's or F's qualify for the Honor Roll. Students with a 3.7 average and no D's or F's qualify for the Principal's List. ZAPPED! Teachers of middle school students use the ZAP (Zeroes Aren’t Permitted) to help assure all students have every opportunity to complete all of their assignment. Please be sure to visit our website for a detailed account of how the ZAP Program works. PROMOTION/RETENTION All TVEMS staff members work hard to assure that all students are successful. In the event that it becomes evident that a student is in danger of being retained, the student and parents will be notified by the end of the first semester so that interventions can be made to help the student meet the goals necessary to move to the next grade level. If a student in fifth through eighth grade has an F in three core subjects from two different teachers that student is in danger of repeating a grade. Elementary students who are failing three or more core subjects may also be considered for retention. GRADES AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Students who wish to participate in extracurricular activities must maintain a C/2.0 average for the semester. West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission rules allow students to improve their grade during a nine-weeks grading period. CURRICULUM All students at TVEMS are taught using the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives appropriate for the grade level to which the student is assigned. There is a strong emphasis on reading and math with social studies, science, the arts and physical education playing significant roles in each student's educational development. Student progress is assessed at the end of the school year with the WESTEST (grades 3-8), the DIBELS, and informal math assessments (grades K-3). Results are sent home when they are available.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT At TVEMS we are
committed to open and clear communication. All parents are given
the opportunity to participate in their child's education and
strongly encouraged to do so. These are only a few of the
opportunities for parents to be involved:
WE ARE A TITLE I SCHOOL WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Being a Title I school means that because a high percentage of our students receive free and reduced priced meals we receive funding from the federal government that helps cover the cost of teachers and paraprofessionals as well as some support programs and materials for our students. It also means that we are mandated to provide you with specific information including some of which follows. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW Parents of our students will receive regular information from TVEMS that includes information about our academic programs, parent programs and workshops, newsletters, etc. You will also receive information about the status of our school including our school report card, the status of our instructional staff, and our AYP status. We will make every attempt to not only give you information but also to answer any questions you might have concerning the education of your child. We believe it is not only your right to ask questions but also your responsibility as parent and stakeholder in our school. Your questions and concerns are seen as a valuable resource in providing us information and direction to help us accomplish our goals. HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 into law. The law brings sweeping changes to public schools throughout the nation. One of these changes requires that any school in receipt of Title I funds must now inform parents if their child is assigned a teacher for four or more consecutive weeks that is not yet "highly qualified" under the terms and criteria outlined in the NCLB Act. According to the No Child Left Behind law, a "highly qualified" teacher is one who:
Please know that all teachers who teach the core academic subjects had until June 30, 2006 to meet all three standards. This transition was deliberately written into the law to acknowledge that many states have certification and licensure requirements that differ from the new federal standards for teacher quality. Although our state has some of the most demanding certification requirements in the country, these requirements do not automatically mean that every teacher meets the highly qualified standard, even if he or she has been teaching for years and has been performing at high levels. Certain teachers, even outstanding veteran teachers, may not have taken the time to comply with the new expectations.
NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS OF
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS The Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires school districts that receive federal Title I funding to notify parents of their right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their child. As a recipient of these funds, TVEMS will provide you with this information in a timely manner if you request it. Specifically, you have the right to request the following information about each of your child's classroom teachers:
Tucker County Schools is committed to providing quality instruction for all students and does so by employing the most qualified individuals to teach and support each student in the classroom. As of June, 2006 all Tucker Valley teachers and paraprofessionals were classified as highly qualified. If you would like to receive any of the information listed above for your child's teacher, please contact Joyce Carrico at Tucker Valley – 478-3606. CITIZENS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE A grievance process is in place for parents and students in the event they feel there has been a violation of state law, policy or access to the right to an equal education. Forms may be obtained from a building administrator.
VISITORS Even though there are some scheduled and invited times, parents are welcome and encouraged to visit anytime. If you wish to have a conference with any staff member please call to make an appointment. Planning in advance helps prevent disruptions to the classroom. All visitors are required to sign in at the office when entering the building. This is a necessary precaution to help us ensure the safety of our children. Students may not bring student visitors to school without prior permission from school administrators. We pride ourselves being a friendly school where everyone feels welcome. Stop by and visit sometime - just give us a call so we can be ready for you!. SCHOOL ATHLETICS Seventh and eighth grade students at TVEMS have the opportunity to participate in boys and girls basketball and a girls softball team. Coaches will meet with interested students at the appropriate times. INSURANCE Accident insurance is available from a company independent of the school if parents wish to have additional coverage for their students. Students participating in interscholastic sports are required to have insurance of some type. Insurance forms are distributed to parents during the Back-to-School Day at the beginning of the year. CHANGES IN SCHOOL SCHEDULE Occasionally weather conditions or unforeseen events mandate a change in the regular school schedule. Announcements of these changes will be broadcast on the following radio, television and communication systems: WVAQ FM Radio (102) WFBY FM Radio (106.5) WDNE AM Radio
(12.40)
WKMM FM Radio (96.7) WFSP AM Radio (1560) WFSP FM Radio (107.7) WKHJ FM Radio (104.5) SBRB (THE BEAR) (101.3) WV Public Radio WBOY TV Channel 12 WDTV TV Channel 5 www.tuckercountyschools.com Please be sure that your child knows what to do and where to go every day when school is dismissed. This is particularly important if you suspect that weather conditions might cause a change in the regular schedule if you do not plan to be home when your child arrives home from school. EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES In the event that an emergency situation occurs which requires TVEMS students be evacuated, they will be accompanied by their teachers to local churches until they are dismissed or able to return to the school building. Identified evacuation locations are: Baptist Church - Grades K-4 First United Methodist Church - Grades 5-8 Presbyterian Church - Pre School Presbyterian Church - Bright Beginnings If students are to
be sent home parents will be notified by the same means as any other
unscheduled early dismissal. TVEMS WEBSITE Parents and students are invited to visit the TVEMS web site at www.tuckercountyschools.com and clicking on the Tucker Valley box for more information about our school. There you will find information on lunch menus, PTO meetings, LSIC meetings, basketball game schedules and lots of other current information.
STUDENTS AND THE MEDIA At TVEMS we are proud of our students and all of their accomplishments and we sometimes like to share news of these accomplishments through newspapers, our school website, television and other publications. If you DO NOT wish to have your child's picture or name (last names are not used with pictures on the web site) made available for use in public media, please inform the school in writing so that we may have that on record. ANNOUNCEMENTS At TVEMS we place a high priority on protecting instructional time. We will limit classroom disruptions as much as possible. This includes making announcements throughout the school day. Except for emergencies announcements will be made every day during homeroom period at 8:00 A..M. and each afternoon shortly before dismissal. Please keep this in mind if there is information you need to share with our staff and students. FIELD TRIPS Many TVEMS teachers choose to plan field trips during the school year. They are not required to do so and it is only at their discretion. Field trips are to be an extension and enrichment activity relating to a lesson on any of the West Virginia Content Standards or Objectives. Though it is not always possible, teachers are encouraged to plan trips that can be done during the school day and to also keep any expense to the student to a minimum. You will be informed and provided details from the teacher when these trips are planned. Often parents serve as chaperones on field trips and students are expected to exhibit the same respect and cooperation to these parents as they do to their teachers. ASSEMBLIES Assemblies that have educational value are periodically scheduled throughout the school year. Students are expected to be courteous and respectful of all presenters and failure to do so may result in a suspension from all such presentations and/or other disciplinary actions. UPDATED INFORMATION If you move or change phone numbers during the school year (or if you think we might not have current information) please be sure to notify us so that we may keep our records current. It is also helpful to let us know if there is any change in our student's living arrangements (e.g. parents have separated, or child is with grandparent) if it relevant to who we contact in matters concerning the child. If there is a court order involving custody of a student it is imperative that a copy of that order be available to the school if we are responsible for upholding it. AVAILABILITY OF ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN In October 1986 the United States Congress enacted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. Under this law, each elementary and secondary school is required to inspect the friable and nonfriable asbestos and develop asbestos plans to address the finding of these inspections. Our program for meeting this requirements is described in our Asbestos Management Plan. Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School contains no asbestos materials. You may review the plan at the county board of education office. Questions should be directed to Brad Ramsey at 478-2771. PESTICIDE APPLICATION NOTIFICATION Tucker County Schools adhere to an Integrated Pest Management Plan in accordance with Title 61, Series 12J rule of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Pests are controlled primarily through preventive measures. When pesticides are required the least hazardous materials will be used. Pesticides are classified as Level I (non-chemical, preventive), Level 2 (least hazardous, low toxicity, non volatile baits or dusts), Level 3 (EPA caution, limited volatility liquids), and Level 4 (EPS warning or danger, broadcast and space treatments, spraying and fogging) depending upon the degree of hazard associated with their application. PLEASE NOTE: Level 3 or 4 pesticides WILL NOT be applied when students are present. As a parent/guardian you have the right to be notified 24 hours in advance if and when Level 3 or 4 pesticides are to be applied. To receive such notification, please request the notification form from Tucker Valley or from Brad Ramsey at the Tucker County Board of Education office. FEEDBACK We look forward to getting to know you better this year. We hope this handbook is useful in helping you learn more about your school. If you have suggestions or ideas on how we may improve next year's handbook, please let us know. Your input is valued and welcomed. Have a great year at Tucker Valley and don’t forget to visit our county website at www.tuckercountyschools.com
Tucker County Schools Telecommunications Acceptable Use Policy The following form must be read and signed by you and your child. · I will limit my use of telecommunications systems in school to the educational objectives approved by my teachers and school staff.
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· I will not use abusive language of any type. · I will not share my full name, home address or telephone number with another user for any purpose. · I understand that information received online is private property unless specified. I will not plagiarize information received in any form. I will adhere to copyright laws. · I will not use another person's account or share my password with anyone else. · I will not attempt to by-pass the security built into the system, nor will I try to gain access to any remote site through the process of hacking. I recognize that doing some will result in immediate suspension of my privileges. · I will not interfere with or disrupt network users, services, or equipment · I will not access chat rooms with our direct supervision by a teacher. I understand this may be banned by my district or by my school. · I will not use the internet or other telecommunications systems to buy/sell any items, goods or services of any kind for personal gain.
Tucker County Schools will not be held responsible if the student participates in any of the activities listed above.
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Parsons
Lunch and breakfast
are served each day in the school cafeteria. Menus are sent home at
the beginning of the month to help parents and students plan to meet
nutritional needs for the month. Meals are billed on a monthly
basis and prompt payment is greatly appreciated. If there is a
question about the bill, please contact the office immediately.
Applications for free and reduced priced meals are mailed home or
may be obtained by contacting the school office. To qualify for
reduced priced meals you must complete the application every year.
Students will be considered full price status until a new
application is filed and processed. 
Average Grade
Quality Points
