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Strengthening our community one student at a time.

General Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

FIELD TRIPS: Field trips are for the purpose of providing enrichment to the regular instructional program. However, students having excessive absences and/or chronic misbehavior, as well as those who are assigned ISS/OSS, may not participate.

MAKE-UP WORK: Make-up work is defined as work assigned on a day the student is absent and is not to be confused with previously assigned work. Previously assigned work includes but is not limited to reports, projects, homework, and term papers which were assigned when the student was present and should be completed on the day the student returns to school.

Teachers have the discretion to require students who are present prior to the date of the test administration, but absent on the date of the administration, to make up the missed test on the first date the student returns. Credit will only be awarded if the required excuse is submitted within five days and the absence is deemed an excused absence.

MATERIALS: Students will be expected to have textbooks, notebook paper, and pencils at all times for use in the class.

HOMEWORK: Parents and students should realize that homework is an integral part of the educational process. It is a reinforcement of the classroom and may affect the final grade. Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis and should make an effort to complete it on time.

TEXTBOOKS: All textbooks furnished free of charge to students shall remain the property of the state or Emanuel County School System. At the completion of the course of study (school year), or at the instructions of the principal or teacher in charge, such textbooks shall be returned as directed. These books must be used for several years. If a student damages or loses a state-owned textbook, he/she must pay for the replacement. The parent, guardian, or other person having custody of the child to whom such textbooks are issued shall be held liable for any loss, abuse, or damage in excess of that which would result from normal use of such textbooks. It is the responsibility of the student or his/her parents, guardian, or persons having legal custody of the child to pay for lost or damaged textbooks before the issuance of a replacement.

Teachers will inspect all textbooks issued to their students at the end of each year. Fines will be assessed if the book has been damaged according to the extent of the damage. When a student loses his book, he will be assessed for that book before another is issued to him. Discount 15% for each year used. All books will be turned in to the media center.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: School administrators recognized communication through personal contacts is extremely valuable; therefore, they provide information to parents, as well as ongoing opportunities for school personnel to hear parents’ concerns and comments.

Parents are encouraged to visit the school regularly and are expected to be actively involved in the behavior support processes designed to promote positive choices and behavior.

Georgia law mandates that any time a teacher or principal identifies a student as a chronic disciplinary problem student, the principal shall notify by telephone call and by mail the student’s parent or guardian of the disciplinary problem, invite the parent or guardian to observe the student in a classroom situation, and request at least one (1) parent or guardian to

attend a conference to devise a disciplinary and behavioral correction plan. Georgia law also states that before any chronic disciplinary problem student is permitted to return to school from a suspension or expulsion, the school will request at least one

(1) parent or guardian to schedule and attend a conference to devise a disciplinary and behavioral correction plan. Such notification will be by telephone and by mail. The law allows the Board of Education to petition the juvenile court to require a parent to attend a school conference. If the court finds that the parent or guardian has willfully and unreasonably failed to attend a conference requested by the principal pursuant to the laws cited above, the court may order the parent or guardian to attend such conference, order the parent or guardian to participate in such programs or such treatment as the court may impose a fine not to exceed $500.00 on a parent or guardian who willfully disobeys an order of the court under this law.

CHANGING CLASSES AND MOVING IN THE HALLS: Students are not to run in halls, classrooms, buses, or the cafeteria. Students should walk on the right side of the corridors to facilitate movement. Students who “horse play,” make excessive noise, loiter in the halls during change of classes, at break, or lunch are subject to office referrals. Any student in the hall during class hours must carry a student pass from a teacher or member of the administration or be considered “Out of Class without Permission.”

ARTICLES OF VALUE: Large sums of money or articles of great value should not be brought to school. This is for the protection of the owners. The school cannot be responsible for money or valuable items that are brought to school. If a student has to bring club money or fund-raising money to school, the student is to turn it in to the sponsor as soon as he/she arrives at school. Students are reminded that it is not a good practice to keep valuables or money in lockers.

ASSEMBLIES: Students are expected to conduct themselves properly during assemblies and to show proper courtesy to speakers and guests. Unwarranted acts in assembly such as whistling, booing or stamping feet are out of order. Students are asked to cooperate by:

  • Entering the front doors of the cafeteria.
  • Sitting in assigned grade sections.
  • Not sitting on the stage or around the walls
  • Following directions from faculty and staff. Improper conduct at assemblies will result in loss of privilege to attend in the future, as deemed appropriate by the administration

* Code of Conduct will be strictly enforced at all assemblies.

BOOK BAGS: Students may bring a book bag to school. Girls’ pocketbooks are not to be used as book bags. Athletic book bags, sports bags, or over-sized gym bags will NOT be allowed in the hallway. First period teachers will determine the appropriate location of athletic bags and oversized bags in classrooms.

CAMPUS LITTERING: Students are not to litter the campus with soft drink cans, cups, bottles or containers, food wrappings or food bags. These items are not to be brought on campus in the mornings and will be confiscated when seen.

CARE OF CLASSROOMS, BUILDINGS, and GROUNDS: All students are expected to do their part in keeping Swainsboro Middle School clean and attractive. No food or drinks (excluding CLEAR bottled water) will be allowed in the classroom areas. Please use trash cans!

FLOWERS, GIFTS, AND FOOD: Flowers, balloons, gifts, cards, etc., will not be delivered to students during the school day. Students, parents, or friends desiring to give these items should make arrangements to have them delivered to the home of the student. No food deliveries will be allowed.

  • Any celebration must have prior approval from the administration. These should be limited to awards, recognitions, classroom achievements, etc.
  • Outside lunches delivered by parents/guardians are prohibited.

OFFICE TELEPHONE USE: The office telephone is for business use only and is not to be used by the students except in cases of emergency. All calls concerning sickness or checking out must be placed through the Office or Office of the Registrar/Attendance Clerk. (Any student using office phone for other reasons must be approved by Principal.)

SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACTS: SMS provides information about school events and activities via Facebook, SMS Website, and the school communication app.