Student Handbook

PAGOSA SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL

STUDENT HANDBOOK

2024-2025

Mission Statement:

Empowering students to navigate the future

through learning and problem-solving.

updated 8/28/2024

The Archuleta School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities. A lack of English skills will not be a barrier to admission or participation. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures:

Superintendent Rick Holt 309 Lewis Street
PO Box 1498, Pagosa Springs, CO 81128
(970) 264-2228
[email protected]

Administrative Flow Chart

(Use this when contacting the school by topic)

Chris Hinger

Principal

Janae Ash

Assist. Principal / Athletic Director

Angelica Gallegos

Secretary / Admin Assistant

Instructional Leader / Coach
Teacher Evaluation
School Improvement Lead
Intervention Systems Leadership
Master Scheduling
Academic Intervention Leadership
School Accountability Chair
Data Analysis Leader
School Assessment Coordinator
Professional Learning Community Leader
Professional Development Leader
Emergency Operations Leader

Positive School Culture Leader
School Safety Leader
Student Attendance Leader
Student Discipline
Athletic Directorship
Teacher Evaluation
Instructional Coach
Student Behavioral Intervention Leadership (Roll Call, Behavior SST, 504’s)
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Leader - Incentive Programs
Threat Assessment Leader
Juvenile Assessment Board

Office Administration
Registrar
Customer Service Lead
Communications Lead: Phones, Voicemail, Infinite Campus messaging, Facebook, Email, Intercom)
Infinite Campus Management
Enrollment
Attendance Tracking
Scheduling/Calendaring
Scheduler for Individual Education Plan (IEP) Meetings
Website Management
Cumulative File Management
Grade Cards Management
Substitute Management
Order Supplies
Copier Management

Natalie Baca & Melissa Wood

School Counselors

Mallory Mackey

Nurse’s Aide / Admin Assistant

School-wide Counseling Programming
Advisory Program Leader
Scheduling
504 Case Management
Risk Assessment & Crisis Management
Small group / individual counseling
MTSS leadership
Career Exploration Leader

Monitors Student Health
Medication Management & Dispensing
Record Keeping & Documentation
Manages High-Risk Health Conditions
Orders & Manages all First Aid Supplies
Organize & Coordinate Wolf Creek Ski Program
Office Administration
Assist in Communications Assisting People in the Office
Attendance Messaging
Attend all weekend large scale athletic events
First Aid & CPR Leader
Athletic EMT for all home games

Missy Lee

BETA Coordinator / Behavioral Specialist

Kim Domingo

Bridges Counselor

BETA Caseload Management
Collaboration with Student Needs, Crisis, Abuse, Etc.
Intensive Case Management
Behavior Support & Coaching
Academic Support & Coaching
Sustainable Supports at Home, School, and Community
Family Engagement Liaison
Data Collection & Documentation
Team-Building & Experiential Learning

Bridges Caseload Management
Wellness Focus
Individual & Small Group Therapeutic Support
Development of Social/Emotional Skills
Life skills Training
Behavior Support & Coaching
Academic Support & Coaching
Collaboration with Families and Community Partners/Resources
Team-Building & Adventure Learning Trips

🏴‍☠️ PSMS POLICIES AT-A-GLANCE

Students must maintain a safe and hands-free environment. Personal body contact in the school building or on the school grounds is not allowed beyond holding hands.
Students may not use personal mobile phones or headphones/earbuds during school hours, including lunch. Phones must be turned off and put away between 8:00 am and 3:25 pm (between 8:00 am and 1:30 pm on Fridays). If a student has his/her phone out or on, it will be taken and kept in the office until a parent/guardian comes to pick it up. Confiscated devices shall be returned to the student only after a conference with the parent/guardian, student and school personnel.

The district shall not be responsible for loss, theft or destruction of electronic communication devices brought onto school property.

Activity Participation Policy:

1st Suspension: Student may not attend school dances or student council sponsored activities for the remainder of the quarter.
2nd Suspension: Student may not attend school dances or student council sponsored activities for the remainder of school year + student may not attend end-of-year adventure trip (alternative assignment will be assigned)

Dress Code: Parents and students shall be allowed considerable freedom in determining the manner in which they dress at school. Items that are deemed disruptive to the classroom environment of a safe and orderly school are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities.

Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, accessories, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct are not permitted. Clothing must cover all undergarments (with the exception of shoulder straps) and cover all private parts of the body. Clothing that should be worn as an undergarment cannot be worn as an outer garment.

Students are not permitted to wear hoods up on their sweatshirts during school hours, including in the classroom, hallways, and any other indoor spaces. This policy is in place to ensure that all students can be easily identifiable by staff and peers, which is crucial for maintaining a safe and secure school environment.

Students shall dress appropriately for the designated learning environments such as shop, lab work, physical education, art, and extracurricular activities. Any student deemed in violation of the dress code shall be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school immediately. Building principals shall have authority to impose reasonable rules concerning dress that are consistent with this policy.

It is the policy of the School Board to maintain classrooms in which student behavior does not interfere with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively or the ability of the other students to participate in classroom learning activities. Students should be able to attend school and classes as free as reasonably possible from unnecessary and unwarranted distractions and disruption. Any student who violates the code of conduct or other classroom rules may be subject to removal from the class and/or disciplinary action.
Students found to be in possession of vape paraphernalia and/or vaping at school, or at school activities, will result in suspension, and vapes containing THC will be referred to law enforcement.

Students are not permitted in the hallways during class periods or lunch unless they are accompanied by an educator or have a hall pass from a PSMS staff member.
Per district policy, Pagosa Springs Middle School is a closed campus. Students may not leave without being signed out by a parent/guardian. This starts at bus/guardian drop off and continues until dismissal. To ensure safety, students leaving campus without permission will be referred to law enforcement.
Gaggle: All student communications, web searches and Google Drives using district technology are monitored. If a student is communicating or searching anything that the system flags, administration or law enforcement will be contacted.
Students will carry and use their own personal water bottle. No drinks, except water, will be allowed in any classrooms, halls and the library. Students are allowed to have food (snacks) in the classroom. Teachers have the authority to determine when food is allowed in their classroom and what types of food are permissible. This may vary depending on the class schedule, activities, and the specific needs of the students. Students are not permitted to order food and have food delivered to school without prior permission from school personnel. Lunch and breakfast must be eaten in the cafeteria or outside on the courtyard unless permission is given from school personnel.

Students will carry their own individual school supplies. Where appropriate, students will store class-specific items in the classroom, i.e., notebooks, folders, projects, etc.
Absences: To support all students and families, schools will use the following process with attendance concerns:

Send a beginning of the year attendance information letter to inform all students/families of current attendance policies/procedures and expectations.
After 5 unexcused absences: Contact parent/guardian as a friendly notification regarding attendance expectations and status
After 10 unexcused absences: Hold a meeting with parent/guardian, student and administrator to review attendance expectations, discuss concerns, write a support plan and inform parent/guardian about referral or out of district withdrawal possibility at 20 days
After 20 unexcused absences: Referral to law enforcement for in-district and referral for withdrawal for out of district students.

Excused Absences: The following will be considered excused absences:

A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences will be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
A student who is absent for an extended period due to a physical disability or a mental or behavioral health disorder.
A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.
A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.
A student who is suspended or expelled.

Unexcused Absences:

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused absence will be entered on the student's record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence will be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence. In accordance with law, the district may impose appropriate penalties that relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. Penalties, when appropriate, may include a warning, school detention or in-school suspension. Academic penalties, out-of-school suspensions or expulsion will not be imposed for any unexcused absence. The administration will develop procedures to implement appropriate penalties. The school administration will consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these procedures and will implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of unexcused absences. Students and parents/guardians may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy provided that no exception will be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting any such exception.

Chronic Absenteeism:

referral to community partners to support the student/family, requirement that students remain in a current grade to gain necessary mastery of skills prior to grade promotion, withdrawal of credit for courses enrolled, elimination of elective courses to increase time in core classes, or home visits by staff/administration. When practicable, the student’s parent/guardian will participate in the development of the plan. Nothing herein will require the principal or designee to identify a student as “chronically absent” prior to declaring the student as a “habitual truant” and

pursuing court proceedings against the student and his or her parents/guardians to compel the student’s attendance in accordance with state law.

Make-Up Work:

Make-up work shall be provided for any class in which a student has an excused absence unless otherwise determined by the building administrator or unless the absence is due to the student’s expulsion from school. It is the responsibility of the student to pick up any make-up assignments permitted on the day returning to class. There will be one (1) day allowed for make-up work for each day of absence. Make-up work will be allowed following an unexcused absence or following a student’s suspension from school with the goal of providing the student an opportunity to keep up with the class and an incentive to attend school. This work may receive full or only partial credit to the extent possible as determined by the building administrator. Unless otherwise permitted by the building administrator, make-up work will not be provided during a student’s expulsion. Rather, the district will offer alternative education services to the expelled student in accordance with state law. The district will determine the amount of credit the expelled student will receive for work completed during any alternative education program.

Tardiness:

Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the non-tardy student to uninterrupted learning, appropriate penalties may be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents/guardians will be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness. In an unavoidable situation, a student detained by another teacher or administrator will not be considered tardy provided that the teacher or administrator gives the student a pass to enter the next class. Teachers will honor passes presented in accordance with this policy. The provisions of this policy are applicable to all students in the district, including those above and below the age for compulsory

attendance as required by law.

Truancy: If a student is absent without an excuse signed by the parent/guardian or if the student leaves school or a class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge, the student shall be considered truant. An "habitual truant" shall be defined as a student of compulsory attendance age who has four (4) total days of unexcused absences from public school in any one (1) month or ten (10) total days of unexcused absences from public school during any school year. Absence due to suspension or expulsion shall not be counted in the total of unexcused absences for purposes of defining a student as an "habitual truant."

In order to reduce the incidents of truancy, parents/guardians of all students shall be notified in writing at the beginning of each school year of their obligation to ensure that all children of compulsory attendance age attend school. Parents/guardians shall be required to acknowledge in writing awareness of their obligations and to furnish the school with a telephone number or other means of contacting them during the school day.

The school shall establish a system of monitoring individual unexcused absences. When a student fails to report on a regularly scheduled school day and school personnel have received no indication that the parent/guardian is aware of the absence, school personnel or volunteers under the direction of school personnel shall make a reasonable effort to notify the parent/guardian by telephone.

A plan shall be developed for a student who is at risk of being declared habitually truant with the goal of assisting the child to remain in school. The plan shall also include strategies to address the reasons for the truancy. When practicable, the student's parent, guardian or legal custodian shall participate with district personnel during the development of the plan. Appropriate school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to meet with the parent, guardian or legal custodian to review and evaluate the reasons for the student's truancy.

In accordance with law, the district may impose appropriate penalties that relate directly to classes missed while truant. Penalties may include a warning, school detention or in-school suspension. Academic penalties, out-of-school suspensions or expulsion shall not be imposed for any truancy. The administration shall develop regulations to implement appropriate penalties for truancy.

The school administration shall consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these regulations and shall implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of truancies.

ONE ESSENTIAL SCHOOL RULE

The staff of Pagosa Springs Middle School has adopted ONE school rule for students that will be the basis of our school-wide discipline system. There are other basic rules in this handbook, but they can all be summed up with our ONE essential rule, which is:

“Don’t create a problem for yourself or anyone else. If you do, you will

be asked to solve it in a way that doesn’t create another problem.”

BEHAVIOR CORE BELIEFS

The staff of Pagosa Springs Middle School has adopted six core beliefs about behavior that will guide our decisions and interactions with students, staff and parents/guardians:

We believe that every attempt should be made to maintain the dignity of all.

We believe that students should be guided and expected to solve the problems they create without making problems for anyone else.

We believe that misbehavior should be viewed as an opportunity for individual problem solving and preparation for the real world. Repairing harm and restoring relationships is central to this mindset.

We believe that there should be a logical or natural connection between misbehavior and resulting actions, including restorative practices and consequences.

We believe that students should have an opportunity to tell their side of the story (due process) when consequences are perceived as unfair.

We believe that students should be given the opportunity to make decisions and live with the results, whether the consequences are good or bad.

School Business Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 7:55am - 3:25pm

Friday: 7:55am - 1:30pm

School Class Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8am - 3:25pm

Friday: 8am - 1:30pm

School Contact Information:

Pagosa Springs Middle School ext. 1 - Attendance and Student Messages

319 Lewis St. P. O. Box 1498 ext. 2 - Principal: Chris Hinger

Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 ext. 3 - Assistant Principal: Janae Ash

Phone: (970) 264-2794 ext. 4 - 7/8th Grade Counselor: Natalie Baca
Fax: (970) 264-6112 ext. 5 - Admin. Secretary: Anjelica Gallegos

ext. 6 - Health Aide/Office Asst. - Mallorie Mackey

ext. 7 - 5/6th Grade Counselor: Melisa Wood

Staff List

5th Grade Team

Kelly Prudhomme - Math

Lelsey Peck - Language Arts

Lauren Wolford - Science

Amy Owen - Social Studies

Amber Kirkham- ELA/Math Enrichment

Lisa Dess - Physical Ed. / Health

6th Grade Team

Terri Lindstrom - Math

McKayla Miller - Language Arts

Carol Holleran - Science

Naomi Lindquester - Social Studies

Kait Weiland - ELA/Math Enrichment

Matthew Teachwork - Physical Ed. / Health

7th Grade Team

Emily Huber - Math

Sarah Cook - Language Arts

Tiffany Candelaria - Science

Sam Hanson - Social Studies

Simone Mounsamy- ELA Enrichment

Mathew Wolford - Physical Ed. / Health

8th Grade Team

Daniel Barnes - Math

Hannahy Hemenger - Language Arts

Anita Hinger - Science

Matthew Kueter - Social Studies

Thomas Davenport - Math Enrichment

Keith Candelaria - Physical Ed. / Health

Media Specialist/Librarian

Laura Jenkins

Exploratory Teachers

Malinda Burnett - 5/8 Music / Band

Julie Ogier - Art

Allen Thompson - Shop / STEM

Exceptional Student Team

Tanya Garcia - Teacher 5/6

Theresa Suchanek - Teacher 6

Jana Schick- Teacher 7/8

Jenny Tonner-Antoniazzi - Special Talents Teacher

Noelle Lynskey - Instructional Aide

Julie Pederson - Instructional Aide

Rachel Factor - Instructional Aide

TBA - Special Talents Aide

Amanda Salazar - Instructional Aide

Leesha Rivera - Special Talents Aide

Junior Lister - Special Talents Aide

Kim Domingo - Bridges Therapist

Amy Fair - Instructional Aide/Bridges Behavior Coach

Melissa Lee - BETA Coordinator/Teacher

Joel Hernandez - 5-8 ELL Teacher

Carrie Steadman - K-12 Gifted & Talented Coordinator/Teacher

Custodial Staff

Melvin Martinez - Daytime Custodian

Nick Zeller - Evening Custodian 5/6

Shanon Chadwick - Evening Custodian 7/8

Lunchroom Staff

Robbie Parker - Lead Cook

Letica Olson - Lunch Clerk
Stella McFatridge - Server

Administration

Chris Hinger - Principal

Cory Clopton - Assistant Principal / Athletic Director

Anjelica Gallegos - 5-8 Admin. Assist.

Natalie Baca - 7/8 School Counselor

Melisa Wood - 5/6 School / Preventions Counselor

Mallorie Mackey - Nurse’s Aide / Admin Assistant

School Resource Officers

Officer Dylaina Gauvey

Officer Brandon Bishop

District Special Education Coordinator

Kristen Albers

District Nurse

Emily Furr

Equal Educational Opportunities: Every student of this school district shall have equal educational opportunities regardless of gender, race, color, ancestry, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or need for special education services.

Compulsory Attendance Law: Every child who has attained the age of six (6) years on or before August 1 of each year and is under the age of 17 is required to attend public school with such exceptions as provided by law. It is the parents’/guardians’ responsibility to ensure attendance.

Student Dismissal Precautions: The school is legally responsible for taking the reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of its students during the school day. Therefore, each school shall set up procedures to validate requests for early dismissal so that students are released only for proper reasons and into proper hands. Under no circumstances shall teachers dismiss a student from school prior to the end of the school day or into any person's custody without the direct prior approval and knowledge of the building principal.

First Aid & Emergency Medical Care: No treatment of injuries except first aid shall be permitted in the schools. First aid is that immediate help given by the best qualified person at hand in case of an accident or sudden illness. At least one person in each building and all staff members who teach or supervise students in classes or activities where students are exposed to dangerous equipment or chemicals or other increased risks of injury, as determined by the school district, shall have special training in first aid. A master first aid kit shall be kept and properly maintained in each school. Any person who in good faith provides emergency care or assistance without compensation at the place of the emergency or accident shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions in good faith. Treatment of injuries occurring outside school jurisdiction is not the responsibility of school employees. No drugs shall be given at any time except for aromatic spirits of ammonia in the case of fainting. The administering of aspirin or other analgesics for headaches or pain or the giving of sodium bicarbonate is forbidden unless a parent/guardian and physician have given written authorization for their use.

Section I: General Student Conduct & Policies

(A complete list of district policies is available on the district website)

Dress Code - District Policy JICA

Parents and students shall be allowed considerable freedom in determining the manner in which they dress at school. Items that are deemed disruptive to the classroom environment of a safe and orderly school are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities.

Building principals shall have authority to impose reasonable rules concerning dress that are consistent with this policy.

Hallway & Classroom Behavior in a Hands-Free Environment: Our goal is to have safe, quiet hallways in our school where students change classes in an orderly manner and arrive to the next class ready to learn. When transitioning to the next class, students must maintain a hands-free environment. Hands-free refers to students treating each other with appropriate respect and not physically touching each other. Pushing, shoving, wrestling and general horseplay are all examples of unsafe behaviors that are not conducive to the learning environment. Finally, students should walk in the hallways as running poses a significant safety hazard.

In addition, we will maintain a hands-free environment with regards to the Public Display of Affection (PDA). The school takes a conservative, age-appropriate stance given societal norms when addressing this matter. For example, hand-holding at lunch time, on the playground, is normal for middle school students in this setting. Kissing, frontal full body hugs, and front to back full body hugging is not appropriate.

Tardiness: Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. are considered tardy. You must check in the office upon arrival and the parent must account for the student’s tardiness. Teachers will record tardies and will refer students to the office should tardies become excessive (>3). Appropriate discipline measures will be applied for excessive tardiness.

Cafeteria Rules:

Walk to the lunchroom and enter using the back door and exit using the front door.
Students are expected to wash their hands as they enter the kitchen area.
Keep talking at a moderate level.
No cutting in the lunch line.
All students will take lunch outside to eat.
Leave No Trace: All trash gets thrown away and not left behind on a table, the ground, etc.

Library Use and Proper Student Conduct in the Library:

Our goal is to provide a quiet and orderly learning environment as expected in every library.

The library is for academic use by students and staff of the middle school.
Students must have a pass from the classroom teacher to be in the library.
Students should enter the library in a quiet manner and should be respectful of others who may be present.
Talking should be kept in moderation.
Do not use the library as a hallway between the front entrance doors and seventh grade hall.
Food or drinks are not allowed in the library.

Office Phone Use: There is one office phone that students may use to call parents. Teachers are not to let students out of class to use the phone unless there is an urgent, emergency reason. Students may use the office phone during lunch and breakfast breaks to make phone calls home. Please do not crowd the office; only one student at a time may use the phone.

Messages for Students: Students will receive their messages during lunch or end of the day unless urgent.

Directory Information: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, allows the Archuleta School District to disclose designated Directory Information to third parties without written consent, unless and until parents/guardians inform the school/district otherwise. Directory Information includes name, place/date of birth, address, phone number, awards and diplomas, participation in sports and activities, etc.

Areas Off Limits During School Hours:

School district parking lots and all private property surrounding the school.
Sidewalks and streets around the building.
Any area (especially the gyms, locker rooms and weight room) not under the direct supervision of an educator.

Closed Campus Policy/Permission to Leave Campus: Students are required to stay on campus at all times during the school day including lunchtime. Parents or guardians may sign out (in person) their child for appointments or family business. Parents may call in to excuse their child for regularly scheduled appointments (i.e. Counseling, Physicians, Dental) within walking distance of the school. Students will not be released from campus for lunch by parent phone call, text, or email. To leave for lunch the student must be accompanied by the parent. All students, including bus students, must come immediately onto school property and may not go downtown. Students who violate this policy will be considered truant.

Student Conduct---District Policy JICDA

It is the intent of the Board of Education that the district’s schools help students achieve maximum development of individual knowledge, skills, and competence, and that they learn behavior patterns which will enable them to be responsible, contributing members of society.

The board shall periodically approve rules of conduct for students. These rules: (1) shall not infringe upon constitutionally protected rights; (2) shall be clearly and specifically described; (3) shall be printed in a handbook.

In all instances, students shall be expected to conduct themselves in keeping with their level of maturity, acting with due regard for the supervisory authority vested by the board in all district employees, the educational purpose underlying all the rights and welfare of other students. All employees of the district will be expected to share the responsibility for supervising the behavior of students and for seeing that they abide by the established rules of conduct.

The principal may suspend or recommend expulsion of a student who violates one or more of the following specific standards of conduct while on school grounds or during a school-sponsored activity. Suspension may be on campus or off campus suspension for the following reasons:

Causing or attempting to cause damage to school property or stealing or attempting to steal school property of value.
Causing or attempting to cause damage to private property or stealing or attempting to steal private property.
Causing or attempting physical injury to another person except in self-defense.
Commission of any act which if committed by an adult would be robbery or assault as defined by state law. Suspension or expulsion shall be mandatory, in accordance with state law.
Violation of criminal law, which has an immediate effect on the school or on the general safety or welfare of students or staff.
Violation of district or building regulations.
Violation of the district’s policy on dangerous weapons in the schools. Expulsion shall be mandatory for possession of a deadly weapon unless the student has delivered the firearm or weapon to a teacher, administrator or other authorized person in the district as soon as possible upon discovering it, in accordance with state law.
Violation of the district’s alcohol use/drug abuse policy. Possesses, uses, transmits or is under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, inhalant, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant of any kind.
Violation of the district’s violent and aggressive behavior policy.
Smokes or chews tobacco on school property.
Throwing objects, unless part of a supervised school activity, that cause bodily injury or damage property
Directing profanity, vulgar language or obscene gestures toward other students, school personnel or visitors to the school.
Engaging in verbal abuse i.e., name-calling, ethnic or racial slurs, or derogatory statements addressed publicly to others that precipitate disruption of the school program or incite violence.
Committing extortion, coercion or blackmail, i.e., obtaining money or other objects of value from an unwilling person or forcing an individual to act through the use of force or threat of force.
Lying or giving false information, either verbally or in writing, to a school employee.
Scholastic dishonesty, which includes but is not limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism or unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work. Acts of academic dishonesty will, in the least, result in an automatic zero for the assignment.
Continued willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of a proper authority.
Behavior, on or off school property, which is detrimental to the welfare, safety, or morals of other students or school personnel.
Repeated interference with the school’s ability to provide educational opportunities to other students.
Violation of the district policy on sexual harassment.
Violation of the district’s dress code policy.
Engaging in “hazing” activities, i.e. forcing prolonged physical activity, forcing excessive consumption of any substance, forcing prolonged deprivation of sleep, food, or drink, or any other behavior, which recklessly endangers the health and safety of an individual for the purpose of initiation into any student group.

Student Conduct on Buses—District Policy JICC

The driver of a school bus shall be responsible for the safety of the students on the bus, both during the ride and while students are entering or leaving the vehicle. Students must follow the driver’s instructions at all times. All bus drivers are bound by the School Bus Regulations, State of Colorado, and must enforce the accompanying rules in addition to the rules of the State of Colorado. Adult sponsors will assist the drivers in every way possible and are responsible for order. It is the bus driver's duty to notify the supervisor of transportation and the principal of the school involved if any student persists in violating the established rules of conduct.

Buses shall run on predetermined schedules each school day. However, in cases of inclement weather or emergencies, students and parents will be notified through their Infinite Campus preferences, can check the school website and/or Pagosa Springs Middle Facebook page, or can listen to Radio KWUF in the mornings to see if the buses will run.

Students participating in activities which require transportation away from the school district must accompany the team or group in buses or cars provided by the district, including the return trip, except when officially released by proper authority.

Student Transportation in Private Vehicles: A staff member may transport a student or group of students in a personal vehicle for school-related purposes only if the staff member has special permission covering the specific trip. Special permission for providing student transportation may be granted in exceptional cases by the superintendent or designee. Exceptional cases shall be determined by review of the number of students traveling, relative costs, safety factors, distance and other factors, as determined necessary by the superintendent or designee.

Personal Property/Electronics - District Policy JICJ

Pagosa Springs Middle School is well equipped to educate students using school provided technology. In general, class sets of Chrome books will be used as much as possible for all educational needs within the school and no other devices are necessary.

The Board of Education recognizes that electronic communication can play a vital family communication role. However, the ordinary use of electronic communication devices in school situations interferes with the educational environment. For purposes of this policy, "electronic communication devices" includes any telecommunications device.

Students may possess electronic communication devices inside school buildings, on school buses, at school-sponsored activities and on field trips. Devices may be used for personal use only before and after school. During regular school hours all devices must be turned off. This includes lunch. If a student has their phone out or on it will be taken and kept in the office until a parent/guardian comes to pick it up. Confiscated devices shall be returned to the student only after a conference with the parent/guardian, student and school personnel. The building principal or designee may also refer the matter to law enforcement, as appropriate. The unauthorized use of electronic communication devices with cameras or recording devices is prohibited in locker rooms, bathrooms, or other locations where such operation may violate the privacy rights of another person.

The district shall not be responsible for loss, theft or destruction of electronic communication devices brought onto school property.

Student Use of Internet and Electronic Communication - District Policy JS

District computers and computer systems are owned by the district and are intended for educational purposes only. Use of the Internet and electronic communications is a privilege, not a right. Students shall have no expectation of privacy when using the Internet or electronic communications. Students must sign the Acceptable Use Agreement form, specific to the grade level, prior to using any computer system.

Gaggle: All student communications, web searches and Google Drives using district technology are monitored. If a student is communicating or searching anything that the system flags, administration or law enforcement will be contacted.

Pagosa Springs Middle School Acceptable Internet Use Student Contract: The computer system is owned by the school and is made available to students to further their education. The school's Internet Access Policy has been drawn up to protect all parties - the students, the staff, and the school. The school reserves the right to examine or delete any files that may be held on its computer system or to monitor any Internet sites visited.

Students requesting internet access, and who have previously signed a copy of the Acceptable Internet Use Student Contract, must review this copy of the contract with their advisory teacher at the beginning of each school year. If a student has not signed a copy of this contract, either as a 5th grader or as a new student, they can see Mrs. Jenkins in the Library for a copy.

All Internet activity should be appropriate to the student's education.
The use of email, chat rooms or other forms of direct electronic communications for non-educational purposes is not allowed. Use of email and specific chat rooms will only be permitted if part of a specific class activity and will be monitored by the respective teacher.
Access should only be made via the authorized account and password, which should not be made available to any other person.
Activities that are detrimental to the school network system, computer hardware or activity that attacks or corrupts other systems is forbidden.
Users are responsible for all email sent and for contacts made that may result in email being received.
As e-mail can be forwarded or inadvertently be sent to the wrong person, the same polite and responsible levels of language content should be applied as for letters or other media.
Posting anonymous messages and forwarding chain letters is forbidden
Use of chat rooms is forbidden.
Use for personal financial gain, gambling, political purposes or advertising is forbidden.
Copyright or materials must be respected; graphics and text that is copied must be cited with its original source.
Use of network to access inappropriate material such as pornographic, racist or offensive material is forbidden.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in privileges to use the Internet or network being revoked and disciplinary action being taken.

*This contract is effective from the time the student hands in the signed copy to the librarian through the end of 8th grade

Textbook and Library Charges - District Policy JQ

Students must pay for lost or damaged books based on the value of the book. The teacher or librarian will determine the cost of the book depending on the age and condition of the book. Replacement books, report cards, and school records will be withheld until we receive payment for lost or damaged textbooks, library books, library fines or other debts have been paid. A new state law permits the school to withhold report cards until the fines or charges are paid.

Student Absences and Attendance - District Policy JH

One criteria of a student's success in school is regular and punctual attendance. Frequent absences may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development and possible academic failure. Regular attendance is of utmost importance for school interest, social adjustment and scholastic achievement. No single factor may interfere with a student's progress more quickly than frequent tardiness or absence. According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent/guardian to ensure that every child under their care and supervision receives adequate education and training and, if of compulsory attendance age, attends school. Continuity in the learning process and social adaptation is seriously disrupted by excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up adequately. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more and are more employable after leaving school. For at least these reasons, the district believes that a student must satisfy two basic requirements in order to earn full class credit: (1) satisfy all academic requirements and (2) exhibit good attendance habits as stated in this policy.

To support all students and families, schools will use the following process with attendance concerns: Send a beginning of the year attendance information letter to inform all students/families of current attendance policies/procedures and expectations. After 5 unexcused absences: Contact parent/guardian as a friendly notification regarding attendance expectations and status. After 10 unexcused absences: Hold a meeting with parent/guardian, student and administrator to review attendance expectations, discuss concerns, write a support plan and inform parent/guardian about referral or out of district withdrawal possibility at 20 days. After 20 unexcused absences: Referral to law enforcement for in-district and referral for withdrawal for out of district students.

Excused absences:

The following will be considered excused absences:

A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences will be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
A student who is absent for an extended period due to a physical disability or a mental or behavioral health disorder.
A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.
A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.
A student who is suspended or expelled.

As applicable, the district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.

If a student is in out-of-home placement (as that term is defined by C.R.S. 22-32- 138(1)(h)), absences due to court appearances and participation in court-ordered activities will be excused. The student’s assigned social worker must verify the student’s absence was for a court appearance or court-ordered activity.

Unexcused absences:

The administration will develop procedures to implement appropriate penalties. The school administration will consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these procedures and will implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of unexcused absences. Students and parents/guardians may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy provided that no exception will be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting any such exception.

Chronic absenteeism:

When a student has an excessive number of absences, these absences negatively impact the student’s academic success. For this reason, a student who has 10 total absences in a semester, whether the absences are excused or unexcused, may be identified as “chronically absent” by the principal or designee. Absences due to suspension or expulsion will not be counted in the total number of absences considered for purposes of identifying a student as “chronically absent.” If a student is identified as “chronically absent,” the principal or designee will develop a plan to improve the student’s attendance. The plan will include best practices and research-based strategies to address the reasons for the student’s chronic absenteeism, including but not limited to: referral to the court system, referral to community partners to support the student/family, requirement that students remain in a current grade to gain necessary mastery of skills prior to grade promotion, withdrawal of credit for courses enrolled, elimination of elective courses to increase time in core classes, or home visits by staff/administration. When practicable, the student’s parent/guardian will participate in the development of the plan. Nothing herein will require the principal or designee to identify a student as “chronically absent” prior to declaring the student as a “habitual truant” and pursuing court proceedings against the student and his or her parents/guardians to compel the student’s attendance in accordance with state law.

Make-up work:

Tardiness:

Truancy - District Policy JHB

If a student is absent without an excuse signed by the parent/guardian or if the student leaves school or a class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge, the student shall be considered truant. An "habitual truant" shall be defined as a student of compulsory attendance age who has four (4) total days of unexcused absences from public school in any one (1) month or ten (10) total days of unexcused absences from public school during any school year. Absence due to suspension or expulsion shall not be counted in the total of unexcused absences for purposes of defining a student as an "habitual truant."

The administration shall develop regulations to implement appropriate penalties for truancy. The school administration shall consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these regulations and shall implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of truancies.

Disciplinary Removal from Classroom - District Policy JKBA*

It is the policy of the Board to maintain classrooms in which student behavior does not interfere with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively or the ability of the other students to participate in classroom learning activities. Students should be able to attend school and classes as free as reasonably possible from unnecessary and unwarranted distraction and disruption. Any student who violates the code of conduct or other classroom rules may be subject to removal from the class and/or disciplinary action.

A student who engages in classroom conduct or behavior prohibited by the code of conduct may be removed from the class by a teacher and placed temporarily in an alternative setting in accordance with these procedures.

Formal Removal from Class:

A teacher may formally remove a student from class for the following conduct or behavior:

Conduct that is prohibited in the student conduct code. The building administrator makes decisions regarding suspensions from school and the superintendent makes recommendations for expulsion from school.
Disruptive, dangerous, or unruly behavior. The following behavior, by way of example and without limitation, may be determined to be disruptive, dangerous, or unruly:

Inappropriate physical contact intended or likely to hurt, distract, or annoy others such as hitting, pushing, shoving, poking, pinching, or grabbing;
Inappropriate verbal conduct intended or likely to upset, distract, or annoy others such as name calling, teasing, or baiting;
Behavior that may constitute sexual or other harassment
Repeated or extreme inappropriate verbal conduct likely to disrupt the educational environment, particularly when other are talking (e.g., lecture by teacher, response by other student, presentation by visitor) or during quiet study time;
Throwing any object particularly one likely to cause harm or damage such as books, pencils, scissors, etc.;
Inciting other students to act inappropriately or to disobey the teacher or school or class rules, including without limitation, inciting others to walk out;
Destroying or damaging the property of the school, the teacher or another student; or
Loud, obnoxious, or outrageous behavior.

Conduct that otherwise interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively. Students are required to cooperate with the teacher by listening attentively, obeying all instructions promptly, and responding appropriately when called upon. A student’s noncompliance may in turn, distract others either by setting a bad example or by diverting the class from the lesson to the student’s inappropriate behavior. By way of example and without limitation, this behavior includes:

Open defiance of the teacher, manifested in words, gestures, or other overt behavior;
Open disrespect of the teacher, manifested in words, gestures, or other overt behavior; or
Other behavior likely or intended to sabotage or undermine classroom instruction.

Procedures to be followed for Formally Removing a Student from Class: Unless the behavior is extreme as determined by the teacher, a teacher shall warn a student that continued misbehavior may lead to removal from class. Consistent with our Discovery model, the first teacher redirect is verbal, the second is verbal utilizing proximity and the third removes the student to the hallway for one-on-one problem-solving with the instructor.

When the teacher determines that removal is appropriate, the teacher should take one of the following courses of action:

Instruct the student to go to the main office. Unless prevented by the immediate circumstances, the teacher shall send a note with the student stating the reason for the student’s removal and call the building principal’s office.
Obtain coverage for the class and escort the student to the main school office. The teacher shall inform the building principal or designee of the reason for the student’s removal from class.
Seek assistance from the main school office or other available staff. When assistance arrives, the teacher or the other staff member should accompany the student to the main office. The principal or designee shall be informed of the reason for the student’s removal.

At the discretion of the building principal or designee, the student may be placed in another appropriate class, program or educational setting, provided the students are supervised in such alternative setting.

Violent and Aggressive Behavior - District Policy JICDD*

The board recognizes there are certain behaviors that, if tolerated, would quickly destroy the type of learning environment to which the students and staff of the district are entitled. These behaviors, categorized as violent or aggressive, will not be tolerated and shall result in immediate action being taken by the district.

An act of violence and aggression is any expression, direct or indirect, verbal or behavioral, of intent to harm, injury or damage to persons or property. A threat of violence and aggression carries with it implied notions of risk of violence and a probability of harm or injury.

The following behaviors are defined as violent and aggressive:

Possession, threat with, or use of a weapon---as described in the district’s weapons policy.
Physical assault---the act of striking or touching a person or that person’s property with part of a body or with any object with the intent of causing hurt or harm.
Verbal abuse—includes, but is not limited to, swearing, screaming, obscene gestures or threats directed, either orally (including by telephone) or in writing, at an individual, his or her family or a group.
Intimidation---an act intended to frighten or coerce someone into submission or obedience.
Extortion---the use of verbal or physical coercion in order to obtain financial or material gain from others.
Bullying---any written or verbal expression, physical act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school environment as further described in the district’s bully prevention and education policy.
Gang activity---as described in the district’s secret societies/gang policy.
Sexual harassment---as described in the district’s sexual harassment policy.
Stalking---the persistent following, contacting, watching or any other such threatening actions that compromise the peace of mind or the personal safety of an individual.
Defiance---a serious act or instance of defying or opposing legitimate authority.
Discriminatory Slurs---insulting, disparaging, or derogatory comments made directly or by innuendo regarding a person’s race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic background or handicap.
Vandalism---damaging or defacing property owned by or in the rightful possession of another.
Terrorism---a threat to commit violence communicated with the intent to terrorize or with reckless disregard for the risk of creating such terror or to cause serious public inconvenience, such as the evacuation of a building.

Drug and Alcohol Use by Students - District Policy JICH

Archuleta School District 50 Joint shall promote a healthy environment for students by providing education, support and decision-making skills in regard to alcohol, drugs and other controlled substances and their abuse. In order to accomplish this goal, a cooperative effort must be made among the schools, parents/guardians, community and its agencies.

It shall be a violation of Board policy and considered to be behavior which is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or school personnel for any student to possess, use, sell, distribute or procure or to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other controlled substances. The unlawful possession or use of alcohol or controlled substances is wrong and harmful to students.

For purposes of this policy, controlled substances include but are not limited to narcotic drugs, hallucinogenic or mind-altering drugs or substances, amphetamines, barbiturates, stimulants, depressants, marijuana, anabolic steroids, any other controlled substances as defined in law, or any prescription or nonprescription drug, medicine, vitamin or other chemical substances not taken in accordance with the Board policy and regulations on administering medicines to students.

This policy also includes substances that are represented by or to the student to be any such controlled substance or what the student believes to be any such substance.

This policy shall apply to any student who is on school property, in attendance at school, in a school vehicle or taking part in any-school sponsored or sanctioned activity or whose conduct at any time or place interferes with the operations of the district or the safety or welfare of students or employees.

Students violating this policy shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions which may include suspension and/or expulsion from school and referral for prosecution.

Situations in which a student seeks counseling or information from a professional staff member for the purpose of overcoming substance abuse shall be handled on an individual basis depending upon the nature and particulars of the case. When appropriate, parents shall be involved and every effort made to direct the substance abuser to sources of help.

Whenever possible in dealing with student problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse, school personnel shall provide parents/guardians and students with information concerning education and rehabilitation programs which are available.

Search of School Property - District Policy JIH

School lockers, desks and other storage areas are school property and remain at all times under the control of the school. School property provided for the use of students is subject to inspection, clean-outs, access for maintenance and search pursuant to the policy.

Students shall assume full responsibility for the security of their lockers and/or other storage areas in the manner approved by the administration. Students shall be responsible for whatever is contained in desks and lockers assigned to them by the school. Items seized and offered as evidence in any suspension or expulsion proceeding, if it is tagged for identification at the time it is seized, will be presented at the hearing. It may be returned to the parent/guardian or it may be turned over to law enforcement in accordance with district policy.

If law enforcement personnel are involved, the search will be conducted under criminal law standards rather than under provisions of this policy.

Interrogation of Students by Law Enforcement - District Policy JIH

When the law enforcement officials request permission to question students when students are in school or participating in a school activity, the principal or his designee shall be present. If the student is under 18, the student’s parent/guardian shall also be present unless the juvenile is emancipated as that law defines the term.

Search of a Student’s Person - District Policy JIH

The principal or designee may search the person of a student if the school official has reasonable grounds to believe that the student is in possession of contraband. Search of a person shall be limited to the student’s pockets, any object in the student’s possession such as a purse or briefcase, and/or a “pat down” of the exterior of the student’s clothing. Student searches shall be conducted out of the presence of other students and as privately as possible. At least one but not more than three additional persons of the same sex as the student being searched shall witness but not participate in the search. The parent/guardian shall be notified of the search as soon as possible. Searches that require removal of clothing other than a coat or jacket shall be referred to a law enforcement officer. No strip searches shall be carried out by any school employee.

When custody and/or arrest by the police is involved, the principal shall request that all procedural safeguards as prescribed by law be observed by the law enforcement officers. This includes all due process procedures including but not limited to obtaining proper arrest warrants where required.

Sexual Harassment Policy - District Policy JBB & JBB-R

The district recognizes that sexual harassment can interfere with a student’s academic performance and emotional and physical well-being and that preventing and remedying sexual harassment in schools is essential to ensure a nondiscriminatory, safe environment in which students can learn. In addition, sexual harassment is recognized as a form of sex discrimination and this is a violation of the laws that prohibit sex discrimination.

Unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature may constitute sexual harassment, even when the harasser and the student being harassed are the same sex and whether or not the student resist or submits to the harasser when:

Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a student’s participation in an educational program or activity.
Submission or rejection of such conduct by a student is used as the basis for education decisions affecting the student.
Such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive such that it limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or activity or it creates a hostile or abusive educational environment.

Sexual harassment as defined above may include, but it is not limited to:

Sex-oriented verbal “kidding” abuse or harassment.
Pressure for sexual activity.
Repeated remarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implications.
Unwelcome touching, such as patting, pinching, or constant brushing against the body of another.
Suggestions or demanding sexual involvement, accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one’s grades or similar personal concerns.

Legitimate non-sexual touching or other non-sexual conduct is not sexual harassment.

Bullying Prevention and Education - District Policy JICDE*

The Board of Education supports a secure school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment and any type of bullying behavior. The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to help create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable.

Bullying is the use of coercion or intimidation to obtain control over another person or to cause physical, mental or emotional harm to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying is prohibited against any student for any reason, or against whom federal and state laws prohibit discrimination upon the bases described in C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)(II)(I), whether such characteristic(s) is actual or perceived.

Common language used with students and parents at Archuleta School District 50 Joint schools will be: The ABC and D of bullying; A - Aggressive: Attacks that are physical social and/or emotional, B - Balance of Power is unequal – bigger vs. smaller, older vs. younger, C - Consistent – It happens more than once over a period of time, D - Deliberate: There is an intent to hurt or harm.

Bullying is prohibited on district property, at district or school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in any vehicle dispatched by the district or one of its schools, or off school property when such conduct has a nexus to school or any district curricular or non-curricular activity or event.

A student who engages in any act of bullying and/or a student who takes any retaliatory action against a student who reports in good faith an incident of bullying, is subject to appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. The severity and pattern, if any, of the bullying behavior shall be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made. Bullying behavior that constitutes unlawful discrimination or harassment shall be subject to investigation and discipline under related Board policies and procedures. Students targeted by bullying when such bullying behavior may constitute unlawful discrimination or harassment also have additional rights and protections under Board policies and procedures regarding unlawful discrimination and harassment.

The Superintendent shall develop a comprehensive program to address bullying at all school levels. The program shall be aimed toward accomplishing the following goals:

To send a clear message to students, staff, parents and community members that bullying and retaliation against a student who reports bullying will not be tolerated.
To train staff and students in taking proactive steps to prevent bullying from occurring.
To implement procedures for immediate intervention, investigation, and confrontation of students engaged in bullying behavior.
To initiate efforts to change the behavior of students engaged in bullying behaviors through re-education on acceptable behavior, discussions, counseling, and appropriate negative consequences.
To foster a productive partnership with parents and community members in order to help maintain a bully-free environment.
To support victims of bullying by means of individual and peer counseling.
To help develop peer support networks, social skills and confidence for all students.
To recognize and praise positive, supportive behaviors of students toward one another on a regular basis.

Conflict Resolution and Bully Prevention Curriculum & Programming:

PSMS follows a tiered approach to conflict resolution and bully prevention. Every student receives Tier I support and education in these areas. Other students receive Tier II support as needed. The goal is to educate students on the effects of conflict, positive ways to resolve them, and prevent bullying from occurring.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports:

Tier I

Great Body Shop

5-8 curriculum covering bullying, sexual harassment, gang activity, aggression and violence

Technology Class

5-8 class covering cyber bullying, appropriate use of Internet (email, chat rooms, social networking sites)

Pirate Time

5-8 class covering bullying, harassment, team-building, Covey Habits, etc.

Targeted Scheduling
Common Language

“Hands-free”
“OK to report”
“I respect you, you respect me”
“THINK” (is what you’re saying True, Helpful, Important, Necessary, Kind?)

Principal/Parent Communication
Counselor Parent Communication
Individual Counseling
Provision and Reading of Student Handbook

Tier II

Intensive Individualized Counseling
Counseling referrals (AXIS health)
Conflict Resolution
Scheduling Changes
Second Step Class
Social Responsibility Training Class
Behavior Plan
Rewards System/Point Sheet
Increased Parent Involvement (attend)
Respect Agreements
Behavior Learning Lab: Student based scenarios to modify inappropriate behavior
BETA Program

Tier III

Bridges Program
Behavior Tracking Briefings w/AP
Partial School Day
Parent Check-in/out
Remedial Discipline Plan
Habitually Disruptive Law
Off Campus Instruction
Behavior Prevention Specialist Shadowing
Partner with Courts/Probation—CYTF
Referral to Human Services and/or Law Enforcement

Weapons at School, on District Property and at School Sponsored Activities - District Policy JICI

Violation of the following shall result in expulsion from school: Carrying, bringing, using or possessing any dangerous or deadly weapon in any school building, on school grounds, in any school vehicle or at any school sponsored activity without the authorization of the school or the school district is prohibited. Such weapons include but are not limited to any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, air gun or spring gun; slingshot; bludgeon; brass knuckles or artificial knuckles of any kind; knife having a blade greater than three and one-half inches, any knife the blades of which can be opened by a flick of a button or pressure handle, or any pocketknife where the blade is carried in a partially-opened position.

Expulsion shall be mandatory for possession of a deadly weapon unless the student has delivered the firearm or weapon to a teacher, administrator or other authorized person in the district as soon as possible upon discovering it, in accordance with state law.

A student in possession of a knife of any type or length on school property shall be suspended from school. A student in possession of a firearm is a violation of federal law and is subject to expulsion for a calendar year.

Suspension / Expulsion of Students - District Policy JKD/JKE

The Board of Education shall provide due process of law to students, parents, and school personnel through written procedures consistent with the law for the suspension or expulsion of students and the denial of admission.

As an alternative to suspension, a student may remain in school with the consent of his teachers if his parent, guardian or legal custodian attends class with the student for a period of time specified by the suspending authority. If the parent, guardian or legal custodian does not agree or fails to attend class with the student, the student shall be suspended in accordance with the accompanying regulations.

Students exhibiting violent or aggressive behavior or warning signs of future violent or aggressive behavior shall receive appropriate intervention to change behavior before a crisis occurs and shall be subject to discipline when appropriate.

Students shall be taught to recognize the warning signs of violent and aggressive behavior and shall report questionable behavior or potentially violent situations to appropriate school officials. All reports shall be taken seriously. Acts of violence and aggression shall be well documented and communicated by the staff to the building principal and the superintendent. The Board of Education shall be informed of all students receiving intervention. The immediate involvement of the parents/guardian is also essential. Law enforcement officials shall be involved if there is any violation of law.

Grounds for Suspension / Expulsion - District Policy JKD/JKE

According to Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-106 (1) (a-e) and 3 (e), the following shall be grounds for suspension or expulsion from a public school.

Continued willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of proper authority.
Willful destruction or defacing of school property.
Behavior on or off school property which is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other pupils or of school personnel including behavior which creates a threat of physical harm to the child or other children except that if the child who creates such a threat is a handicapped child pursuant to Section 22-20-103 (4) such child may not be expelled if the actions creating such threat are a manifestation of such child’s handicapping condition.
Declaration as a habitually disruptive student for which expulsion shall be mandatory. For purposes of this paragraph, “habitually disruptive student” means a child who caused a disruption in the classroom, on school grounds, in school vehicles or at school activities or events more than two times during the school year because of behavior which was initiated, willful and overt on the part of the child and required the attention of school personnel to deal with the disruption, except that no child shall be declared to be an “habitually disruptive student” prior to the development of a remedial discipline plan for such child in accordance with the conduct and discipline code of the school district. Nothing shall prohibit a school district from defining “habitually disruptive student” in its conduct and discipline code so long as the definition is no less stringent than the definition in this paragraph.
Serious violations in a school building or in or on school property for which suspension or expulsion shall be mandatory, except that expulsion shall be mandatory for the following violations: the commission of an act which if committed by an adult would be robbery or assault.

Upon the return to school at the completion of an expulsion, the student and parent/guardian shall meet with the principal to develop a remediation plan. The remediation plan shall specify that the student shall be allowed only one additional disruption after returning to school and a second disruption will result in an additional expulsion.

Habitually Disruptive Students & Remedial Discipline Plans - District Policy JK

Students who have caused a material and substantial disruption in the classroom, on school grounds, in school vehicles or at school activities or sanctioned events three or more times during the school year may be declared habitually disruptive students. Any student enrolled in the district’s schools may be subject to being declared a habitually disruptive student. Declaration as a habitually disruptive student shall result in the student’s suspension and/or expulsion in accordance with Board policy concerning student suspensions, expulsions and any other disciplinary interventions.

Remedial Discipline Plans:

The principal may develop a plan for any student who causes a material and substantial disruption in the classroom, on school grounds, in school vehicles or at school activities or events. The goal of the remedial plan shall be to address the student’s disruptive behavior and educational needs while keeping the child in school.
To develop the plan, the principal will arrange for a meeting with the student, the student’s parent/guardian and any members of the staff whom the principal believes should attend.
The purpose of the meeting will be to address the reasons for the student’s disruptive behavior and cooperatively to establish goals, objectives and timelines to modify such behavior. A written plan will be prepared which addresses the student’s disruptive behavior, educational needs and what steps are necessary to keep the child in school. The plan will include incentives for good behavior and consequences if the student is disruptive in violation of the plan.
The plan may be written in the form of a contract which the student and the parent/guardian will sign and date.
The parent/guardian will be provided a copy of the remedial discipline plan and it will be placed in the student’s cumulative file.

Habitually Disruptive Students:

A student will be declared “habitually disruptive” if three or more times during the course of the school year the student causes a material and substantial disruption in the classroom, on school grounds or at school activity or sanctioned event. The principal will inform the superintendent when a student causes a second material and substantial disruption.

The student and the parent/guardian will be notified in writing of each disruption which counts toward declaring the student habitually disruptive. The student and parent/guardian will also be notified in writing and by telephone or other oral communication of the definition of “habitually disruptive student.”
A student who has been declared habitually disruptive shall be suspended and/or expelled in accordance with Board policy concerning student suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary interventions.

Student Distribution of Non-Curricular Materials – District Policy JICEC

It is the goal of the district to strike a balance between a student’s right of free speech and the school’s responsibility to maintain an orderly and safe school environment which respects the rights of all students. School equipment and supplies shall not be used for publishing non-curricular materials. Students who wish to distribute non-curricular materials must notify the principal a minimum of one day in advance. The principal will determine the place, time and manner of distribution.

Section II: Grading & Reporting

The purpose of this grading policy is to establish a clear set of guiding principles that all middle school teachers use to fairly, accurately, and consistently communicate student learning progress and achievement. Ultimately, our grading policies support our school mission: Empowering students to navigate the future through learning and problem solving.

Academic Grading:

Teachers document grades frequently (weekly) online within Infinite Campus, the district’s online student management database. All grading and reporting practices will support the following outcomes:

The primary purpose of grading is to communicate learning progress and achievement to all stakeholders.
Grades serve as measures of learning that inform stakeholders to make important decisions about a student’s education.
Grades provide points of feedback in a continuous improvement model where students grow academically over time, striving to reach proficiency in all academic areas.

Grading Scale:
To enhance learning, encourage continuous academic growth and student motivation, teachers use a 4-point scale that aligns with Proficiency Levels (see table below). This 4-point scale eliminates the exponentially negative zero effect while raising the academic bar of proficiency to eighty percent. Should a student score below an eighty percent their understanding of the content is considered partial or in progress and should result in re-teaching and re-learning for the student to reach a proficient understanding.

Percentage

Grade

Grade Points

Proficiency Levels

100-97

96-93

92-90

A+

A-

Advanced Understanding

89-87

86-83

82-80

B+

B-

Proficient Understanding

79-77

76-73

72-70

C+

C-

Partial Understanding

69-67

66-63

62-60

59-50

D+

D-

In-Progress

Grade Point Average - Academic Honors:

Teachers strive to employ a consistent system of grading that will produce a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for each student each quarter. Students with 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher at the end of the quarter will be recognized for the honor roll. Students that have a 4.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the quarter will be recognized with top honors. Students will be commended at awards assemblies, in the local newspaper and through social media. They will also have the opportunity to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society should they consistently perform at this academic level and qualify through an application process.

Re-teach / Re-learn Opportunities:

Students will have the opportunity to re-learn academic content in order to reach a proficient understanding within each nine week grading period. Teachers will develop classroom routines that encourage, support and ultimately enable students to re-learn and demonstrate proficiency especially concerning the major assessments, writing assignments and projects.

Weighted Gradebooks:

Teaching staff utilize a weighted grading system splitting the gradebook into two parts: student work and assessments. We purposefully separate student work and assessments to more clearly communicate with stakeholders how a student is progressing in their learning. Grade 5 weights their gradebooks by calculating 50 percent for assessments and 50 percent for student work. Grade 6 weights their gradebooks by calculating 60 percent for assessments and 40 percent for student work. Grades 7 and 8 weights their by calculating 70 percent assessments and 30 percent student work.

Monitoring Grades:

All stakeholders are encouraged to monitor student learning progress utilizing the parent and student portal provided by the school through Infinite Campus. This online platform effectively communicates grades as well as attendance, tardies, state assessment scores and behavior records. Please contact the front office to set up your online account if you do not have one.

Homework Policy:

Middle school students who are on task and use their time wisely should have a reasonable amount of homework. Reasonable amount should consist of no more than 30 minutes of homework per night as a total for all subjects. The two subjects that consistently assign homework are math and language arts. For example, students are expected to read a library book a minimum of twenty minutes, five days per week and students will have a weekly math skills assignment. Occasionally, other homework may consist of studying for a test or finishing up an assignment or special project. A daily Pirate Time Class (Advisory Program) is also in place to allow students time to complete school work within the school hours. Additional homework will be required if a student has been absent and needs to make up missing work. Students will generally be given one day per day of absence to complete makeup work but this is flexible. Parents and students are encouraged to monitor learning using the Infinite Campus Portal and Infinite Campus app.

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Parent-Teacher conferences are held once per quarter at the middle school. See school calendar for dates.

Progress & Behavior Reports:

Parents will receive an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account to monitor progress/attendance/behavior reports. Please contact the middle school office for more information.

Special Programs

Talent Search

Knowledge Bowl

Science Fair

History Fair

Destination Imagination

Student Leadership

National Junior Honor Society

Wolf Creek Ski / Snowboard Program

Ghost Ranch Field Trip (5th grade)

Great Sand Dunes Field Trip (6th grade)

Bandelier Field Trip (7th grade)

Canyon of the Ancients (7th grade)

Moab Trip (8th grade)

Hunter Education Program (6th grade)

Special Education Program

Bridges Program (Cooperative Program between DHS & ASD)

BETA Program (BOCES & ASD)

Exceptional Student Services:

This program will provide educational opportunities to exceptional students, including an adaptive learning environment to support student success.

The local program will comply with Federal laws in the identification and eligibility of student placement before exceptional student services can be rendered.
The local program will adapt and design specific individualized programs to meet each student’s needs.
An individualized educational plan (IEP) will be designed by E.S.S./BOCES staff to identify student needs, area(s) of support, and appropriate assessments to measure progress.

Gifted & Talented Program:

The purpose of this program is to recognize and nurture outstanding potential so that gifted students may become all that they are capable of becoming.

All students are given an equal opportunity to be selected for participation in the Gifted and Talented Program within the Archuleta School District. The program serves exceptional students qualifying in one or more of the following areas:

Creative or productive thinking
Leadership and human relations abilities
Visual arts, performing arts, spatial or musical abilities
Psychomotor abilities
General or specific intellectual ability
Intellectual ability

Archuleta County School District #50 Joint uses a process for identification and appropriate programming options. Multiple indicators of giftedness with information obtained from various sources are used to determine eligibility for formal identification.

All students identified as gifted and talented participate in developing an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP). The ALP is an individualized educational program that serves as a written record of gifted and talented programming for each gifted child and helps with their educational planning and in the decision making process.

Archuleta School District #50 advocates a variety of educational opportunities based on gifted best practices. Through an inclusive model, students are clustered, and provided with differentiated instruction. Other interventions included Response to Intervention (RtI), acceleration, mentorship, independent study, and after school learning experiences. These strategies and opportunities promote the district goal to empower students to achieve personal and academic successes.

Section III: Emergency Procedures

School Closures / Activity Cancellations - District Policy EBCE

Listen to the local radio station KWUF (AM 1400 or FM 106.3) for announcements regarding school closures or activity cancellations due to poor weather conditions. All families will be notified through our automated phone system. Note: It is essential to notify the office as soon as possible if your phone number and/or email has changed.

Drills & Safety: Pagosa Springs Middle School follows the Standard Response Protocol

Fire Drills: The safety of the students is our number one priority in all schools. Drills are periodically held to teach the students the proper way to leave the building or to find an exit route in an emergency. Fire drill instructions are posted in each classroom. When the fire alarm sounds, the students are to quietly and quickly follow all directions given by school personnel or fire department personnel. Lack of cooperation with the teacher during a fire drill will result in disciplinary action as this poses risk to students welfare and safety.

Hold: Announcement: “Hold! In your room or area. Clear the halls.”

This response will be used when there is a potential threat outside the school building. The principal or designee will announce a lockout over the intercom should an emergency lockout be required. All staff will immediately lockdown the building. The staff will not allow anyone in or out until they receive permission from the building principal or designee. Classes will proceed in a normal manner with updates communicated by office personnel. Lack of cooperation with the teacher during a lockout will result in disciplinary action as this results in risk to all student’s welfare and safety.

Secure: Announcement: “Secure! Get inside. Lock outside doors.”

This response will be used when there is a potential threat outside the school building. The principal or designee will announce secure over the intercom should it be required. All staff will immediately lockdown the building. The staff will not allow anyone in or out until they receive permission from the building principal or designee. Classes will proceed in a normal manner with updates communicated by office personnel. Lack of cooperation with the teacher during a lockout will result in disciplinary action as this results in risk to all student’s welfare and safety.

Lockdown: Announcement: “Lockdown! Locks, lights, out of sight.”

This response will be used when there is a potential threat inside the school building. The principal or designee will announce a lockdown over the intercom should an emergency lockdown be required. All staff will immediately lockdown the building and the classrooms. The staff will not allow anyone in or out until they receive permission from the building principal or his designee. We do not want anyone in the hallways. Lack of cooperation with the teacher during a lockdown will result in disciplinary action as this poses risk to all students welfare and safety.

Evacuate: Announcement: “Evacuate! A location may be specified.”

Leave the building immediately in a calm and orderly manner using the nearest exit should the fire alarm sound. Follow your teacher to the designated safe area. The class must stay with the teacher as a group and take roll call. Wait to be contacted by the building administrator for further directions. Lack of cooperation with the teacher during a lockdown will result in disciplinary action as this poses risk to all students welfare and safety.

Shelter: Announcement: “Shelter! Hazard and safety strategy.”

Most often, the Shelter Protocol is utilized for tornadoes and other severe weather, in which case it would include the Shelter location for students and staff, and what protective posture or action they should take.

Section IV: Health Care

School Nurse: A school nurse’s aide is at the middle school on all school days. They are responsible for screenings, health care, immunization and health records and various other health issues.

Medications at School - District Policy JLCD

School personnel shall not administer prescription or nonprescription medications to students unless appropriate administration cannot reasonably be accomplished outside of school hours and the student’s parent/guardian is not available to administer the medication during the school day.

Medication may be administered to students by school personnel whom a registered nurse has trained and delegated the task of administering such medication. For the purpose of this policy, the term “medication” includes both prescription medication and nonprescription medication. The term “nonprescription medication” includes but is not limited to over-the-counter medications, homeopathic and herbal medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements. Medication may be administered to students by the school nurse or other school designee only when the following requirements are met:

Medication shall be in the original properly labeled container. If it is a prescription medicine, the student’s name, name of the medication, dosage, how often it is to be administered, and the name of the prescribing health care practitioner shall be printed on the container.
The school shall have received written permission to administer the medication from the student’s health care practitioner with prescriptive authority under Colorado Law.
The school shall have received written permission from the student’s parent/guardian to administer the medication to the student.
The parent/guardian shall be responsible for providing all medication to be administered to the student.

Self-administration of Medication for Asthma, Allergies or Anaphylaxis: A student with asthma, a food allergy, other severe allergies, or a related, life-threatening condition may possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition. Self-administration of such medication may occur during school hours, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to and from school or school-sponsored activity. Student possession and self-administration of such medication shall be in accordance with the regulation accompanying this policy.

Authorization for a student to possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or other related, life-threatening condition may be limited or revoked by the school principal after consultation with the school nurse and the student’s parent/guardian if the student demonstrates an inability to responsibly possess and self-administer such medication.

Use of Stock Epinephrine Auto-Injectors in Emergency Situations: The district shall have a stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for use in emergency anaphylaxis events that occur on school grounds. Any administration of a stock epinephrine auto-injector to a student by a district employee shall be in accordance with applicable state law, including applicable State Board of Education rules.

The district’s stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors is not intended to replace student-specific orders or medication provided by the student’s parent/guardian to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition.

Student possession, use, distribution, sale or being under the influence of medication inconsistent with this policy shall be considered a violation of Board policy concerning drug and alcohol involvement by students and may subject the student to disciplinary consequences, including suspension and/or expulsion, in accordance with applicable Board policy.

Immunizations District Policy JLCB

The Colorado School Entrance Immunization Law requires all students to provide proof of immunizations to be enrolled in school. Immunization requirements will be strictly enforced and recorded for all school children. According to Colorado statutes, no child shall attend any school in the state of Colorado unless the child can present to the appropriate official of the school a certificate of immunization from a licensed physician or authorized representative of the department of health. Transfer students have sixty days to comply with the new law. Children who do not meet the minimum immunization requirements shall be suspended from the school. The child’s immunization record must be presented by the first day the child attends school. Each student’s parent/guardian must provide one of the following to the student’s school in order to comply with the law:

A completed Certificate of Immunization certifying that the student has received minimum immunizations, as required by Colorado State Law.
If a student’s Certificate of Immunization is not up-to-date, the parent, guardian, or emancipated student has 14 days after notification to provide documentation that the next required immunization was administered and submit a written plan for completion of any additional required immunizations. If the plan is not completed, the student shall be expelled or suspended from school for non-compliance. Exception to this is a shortage of vaccine.
Statement of Exemption to Immunization Law printed on the reverse side of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Certificate of Immunization.

a medical exemption signed by licensed physician stating that the student’s physical condition is such that immunizations would endanger life or health or is otherwise medically contraindicated; or
a religious exemption signed by the parent, guardian, or emancipated student that the student adheres to a religious belief opposed to immunizations; or
a personal exemption signed by the parent, guardian, or emancipated student that the student adheres to a personal belief opposed to immunizations.

Immunization requirements will be strictly enforced for all students. Students who do not meet the requirements will be denied attendance according to Colorado Revised Statutes 25-4-902.

Note: Students may submit a written request to be exempted from the law if one or more of the immunizations may endanger his/her life. They may also be exempted if such a written request is based upon religious conviction or opposition to immunizations for personal reasons.

Health Care Plan: The school nurse, or a school administrator in consultation with the school nurse, shall develop and implement a health care plan (plan) for each student with a diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening food allergy. The plan shall address communication between the school and emergency medical services, including instructions for emergency medical responders. If a student qualifies as a student with a disability in accordance with federal law, the student's Section 504 plan, Individualized Education Program (IEP), and/or other plan developed in accordance with applicable federal law shall meet this requirement.

Reasonable Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations shall be made to reduce the student's exposure to agents that may cause anaphylaxis within the school environment. If a student qualifies as a student with a disability in accordance with federal law, the student's Section 504 plan, Individualized Education Program (IEP), and/or other plan developed in accordance with applicable federal law shall meet this requirement.

Access to Emergency Medications: Emergency medications for treatment of the student's food allergies or anaphylaxis shall be kept in a secure location accessible to designated school staff. Whenever possible and in a timely fashion, the student's parent/legal guardian shall supply the school with the medication needed for treatment of the student's food allergies or anaphylaxis, unless the student is authorized to self-carry such medication in accordance with Board policy JLCD, Administration of Medications.

Students with Food Allergies – District Policy JLCDA

The Board recognizes that many students are being diagnosed with potentially life-threatening food allergies. To address this issue and meet state law requirements concerning the management of food allergies and anaphylaxis among students, the Board sets forth the following requirements.

Accidents at School: If you are injured during the school day, please report the injury to the teacher who will notify the office. In the event of an accident that may require medical attention, parents will be contacted (if possible) before taking you to a doctor.

Free and Reduced Price Food Services - District Policy EFC

The district shall take part as feasible in the National School Lunch and other food programs which may become available to ensure that all students in the district receive proper nourishment. All lunches and breakfasts are free starting Fall 2023.

School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time - District Policy IC-ICA

In accordance with Colorado law, teacher pupil instruction/contact time is defined as time when pupils are actively engaged in the educational process and by law includes parent-teacher conferences, staff in-service programs and closings necessary for student health, safety or welfare. The Board defines “actively engaged in the educational process” as time when students are working toward achieving educational objectives under the supervision of a licensed teacher, including: Classroom instruction time Individual student work time while at school, including study hall and library research School-related field trips Independent study insofar as such study is allowed under district policy Assemblies Recess time Passing periods between classes Response to Intervention time “Actively engaged in the educational process” shall not include: Lunch Time students spend before school waiting for classes to begin and time after the last class of the day, including waiting for the bus Supervision by a licensed teacher shall not require that the teacher be in the student’s physical presence at all times, but that the teacher is exercising direction and control over the nature of the student’s activities. Prior to the end of the school year, the Board shall determine the length of time during which district schools shall be in session during the next school year. The number of hours/days of planned teacher-student instruction and of teacher-student contact shall be consistent with the Board’s definition of “actively engaged in the educational process,” shall meet or exceed the requirements of state law and shall include a sufficient number of days to allow the superintendent flexibility in preparing a calendar that supports the district’s educational objectives, including how best to address the needs of all students to enable them to meet or exceed state and district content standards.

Ensuring All Students Meet Standards (Promotion, Retention & Acceleration of Students) - District Policy IKE

The Board believes that early identification of students who are not making adequate progress toward achieving standards and effective intervention are crucial. In accordance with the Board's policy on grading and assessment systems, teachers shall assess the teaching and learning process on a continual basis. Teachers shall identify students early in the school year who are not making adequate progress toward achieving the district’s academic standards and may choose to implement an individual learning plan for each such student. The plan shall be developed by the student's teacher and/or other appropriate school staff with input from the student's parents/guardians. The student’s parents/guardians shall agree in writing to support the plan. Neglect by the parents/guardians with regard to participating in development of the plan or agreeing to support the plan shall not affect implementation of the plan. The plan shall address the specific learning needs of the student. Strategies designed to address those needs may include tutoring programs, after school programs, summer school programs, other intensive programs and other proven strategies. Teachers are encouraged to collaborate on the development of such plans and to use a variety of strategies consistent with the student's learning style and needs.

Teaching about Controversial Issues and Use of Controversial Materials - District policy IMB

Controversial issues are defined as those problems, subjects or questions about which there are significant differences of opinion and discussion of which generally create strong feelings among people. Although there may be disagreement over what the facts are and what they mean, subjects usually become controversial issues because of differences in interpretations of the facts or the values people use in applying the facts. Controversial materials are defined as learning resources which are not part of the district’s approved learning resources and which are subject to disagreement as to appropriateness because they refer or relate to a controversial issue or present material in a manner which is itself controversial. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, those that depict explicit sexual conduct, graphic violence, profanity, drug use, or other socially undesirable behaviors, or materials that are likely to divide the community along racial, ethnic or religious lines.

Statement of Understanding

All students in attendance at Pagosa Springs Middle School will be held to the rules and requirements of this handbook at all times. It is provided to students digitally via their school email account, is available on the middle school website, and paper copies will be available in the middle school office. If a student or parent/guardian has questions or concerns about any of its content they should contact administration.