Mardela Middle High Student Handbook 2023-2024

2 Greetings from Your Principal Welcome to Mardela Middle and High School!! This school uniquely provides you with seamless support throughout grades 6-12. Our school aims not only to teach you academic skills, but also to teach you how to think critically and empathetically. We strive to engage students both inside and outside of the classroom, so that you will reach our mission to “equip students to change their world”. Our programs will provide you with opportunities to gain the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to be a productive citizen. As a student at Mardela Middle and High School, you should take full advantage of your right to an education. You should come to school each day with a positive attitude to learn and take part in the wide variety of school activities we have to offer. An important part of your education is your right to make decisions. To protect your rights and the rights of others, a student behavior guideline entitled the Wicomico County Code of Conduct has been established. We are PROUD of YOU and hope that during your years in our school you will utilize your classes, programs, and activities to the fullest. Mardela Middle and High School is an excellent school and with your help we will continue our positive journey to success. The Warrior Way Mardela Middle & High School promotes three rules for all students: Be Respectful ~ Be Responsible ~ Be Ready Where Can I Find? Table of Contents Page # 3. The School Day 4. Attendance Procedures 5. Personal and School Items 6. Academic Dishonesty 7. Academic Reporting 8. Behavioral Expectations 9. School Dance Policy 10. Student Services

3 The School Day Arrival to School • Students may enter the building at 7:20. • Students should not arrive prior to 7:20 am, unless they get on the morning shuttle to Parkside or Wicomico High. • Students must enter the building via their designated entrance and proceed directly to their assigned area. • Students eating breakfast will report directly to the cafeteria and will remain there until dismissed. • 6th and 7th grade students will report directly to the cafeteria and will remain there until dismissed. • Grade 8 will report directly to the auxiliary gymnasium. • Grades 9 and 10 will report directly to the main gymnasium. • Grades 11 and 12 will report to their designated hallways. • Any student arriving after the 7:45 bell must report to the Attendance Office to get a pass to enter class. • Students who drive to school must leave their cars and the parking lot once they arrive on campus and may not return until they sign out or are dismissed. Dismissal • Bus riders are dismissed at 2:40. • Car riders and walkers are dismissed at 2:45. • ALL students should be out of the building by 3:00pm. • Students are not permitted to roam the halls after school. • Students staying for an afterschool activity must be with an advisor/teacher/coach. Regular Bell Schedule 7:45 – 9:05am Period 1 9:10–10:30am Period 2 10:35–11:20am Period 3 (FLEX) 11:25am-1:20pm Period 4 Lunch Shifts 1) 10:25 – 11:50 am 2) 11:55 – 12:20 pm 3) 12:25 – 12:50 pm 4) 12:55 – 1:20 pm 1:25 – 2:45pm Period 5

4 School Delays, Early Dismissal and School Closings School delays, dismissals, and closings for the Wicomico County Public School system can be found by: • accessing the district website – www.wcboe.org • receiving the phone call and/or email generated through the school district automated program (Note: this program uses the primary contact information listed on the Student Personal Data & Emergency Record form.) • watching and listening to local television and radio stations Attendance Procedures Arrive after the 7:45am bell? Or Need to leave school before the end of the day? Report to the Attendance Office to Sign in or Sign Out Parents/guardians should know the rules for excused and unexcused absences for everything from family vacations, college and employer visits to student illness or death in the family. More information on the Attendance Policy and Procedure can be found on the WCBOE website under “Board Docs” tab. • Parents will receive automated phone calls and emails sent each day that a student is absent or tardy. (Note: this program uses the information listed on the Student Personal Data & Emergency Record form.) • A student should never, under any circumstances, leave school during school hours without first obtaining permission from the office or the school nurse. • Students leaving school property without proper permission are subject to disciplinary action. Lateness/Tardiness Tardiness is in two (2) categories- lateness to class and lateness to school. A student arriving late to school must report to the office for a late slip to enter class. Recurring unexcused lateness will be handled as a disciplinary problem and appropriate steps will be taken. Our present policy on lateness is as follows (quarterly basis): 1) First lateness- Verbal warning 2) Second lateness- Verbal Warning and call to parent 3) Third lateness- Detention 4) Fourth lateness-Administrative warning 5) Fifth lateness- Conference with parent and administrator 6) Sixth lateness- 30 minutes after school detention 7) Seventh lateness- 1 hour detention 8) Eighth lateness- ISI for day 9) Ninth lateness- Saturday school 10) Tenth lateness- Saturday school and further consequences

5 Time Between Classes There are FIVE MINUTES between classes, which is ample time to get to any location in the school. Students are to move as quickly as possible from one class to the next without running or making excessive noise. Students are not to loiter in the halls, outside, or in the lavatories between classes. Early Dismissal Students needing to leave school early must bring a signed note from their parent/guardian (including the reason for the request & the desired time for dismissal) to the attendance office first thing in the morning. Absences A student absent from school is NOT permitted to participate in any school-related activity that may be taking place that day or evening. Events students would be unable to participate in include athletics, band, choir, drama, clubs, SGA events, class projects, dances, etc. This does not include absences for excused school functions (ex. field trips, band/choral performances, AP testing, etc.). Absent Notes • A note is required for an excused absence. Such a note would include doctor’s note, court summons, or copy of an obituary from a death in the family. • Notes should be submitted within five (5) school days after returning to school from absences. • Notes from parents may also be submitted for consideration to excuse an absence from school. Only 5 parent notes representing 5 days of absence will be accepted per school year. • A written request for vacation must be submitted at a minimum of 10 school days in advance to the principal. If approved, the maximum number of lawful days for family vacations and family trips for any school year may not exceed three (3) days cumulatively. Request for Make-Up Work Homework assignments may be requested by speaking individually to each teacher immediately upon return to the classroom. Students can also find their make-up work in their classes Google Classrooms. What is Truancy? - Missing school has an impact on achievement in school! From the Wicomico County Code of Conduct – “A student is ‘truant’ if she or he is unlawfully absent from school for more than 8 days in any quarter, 15 days in any semester, or 20 days in a school year (Approximately 10%).” • Truant students are subject to disciplinary measures as per the policies of the Wicomico County Public School system. Unless students have a legitimate reason for their absence, students are expected to be in school every day. • A student who reaches 5 or more unexcused absences in a marking term will need to successfully complete an Attendance Intervention Plan, or they will fail all courses for that marking term.

6 Personal and School Items Cell Phones/Electronic Devices During the Day at Mardela Cell phone/personal electronic devices: • must be always in silent mode. • must be turned off in private areas of the building (locker rooms, restrooms, nurse’s office). • may not be used for audio recording per Maryland Law without the permission of the individual(s) being recorded prior to recording them. • should not be used in inappropriate situations such as video recording confrontations or fights. Failure to abide by this rule will result in disciplinary action. The school will not be responsible for replacing electronic devices or earbuds if lost or stolen. In The Classroom Cell phones/personal electronic devices should be in silent mode and MAY NOT BE OUT OR USED IN THE CLASSROOM. They should only be visible and in use if the teacher has given permission to do so for instructional purposes only. This is at the discretion of the classroom teacher. In The Building Silent use of cell phones is allowed to be used at class change, at breakfast and lunch and in nonclassroom areas of the school when permitted by the administration if it does not disrupt the school environment. Students who violate this procedure will receive disciplinary consequences. Parents- Please help us by not texting your child during the school day except during breakfast or lunch. Laptops Each student is provided with a school-issued laptop. Any laptop damage will be the responsibility of the student and family. Students must…. • be responsible for the care of the laptop. • bring their fully charged laptop and charging cord to school each day. • follow all guidelines as outlined on the “Wicomico County Public Schools Laptop Loaner Device Agreement” and the “Wicomico County Public Schools Acceptable Use Policy.” Book Bags We recommend that students use the smallest size bags that safely accommodate their needs and that fit under their desk/chair so that students and teachers can move freely around the classroom. Academic Dishonesty - “cheating”

7 HONOR PLEDGE: I have neither given nor received help on this assignment. Teachers need to be able to assess students to ensure that they will graduate College and Career Ready. When a student turns in work that is not their own, the process of monitoring students’ preparedness is undermined. At Mardela, cheating includes but is not limited to: • copying or paraphrasing all or part of someone else’s work • allowing others to copy or paraphrase your work. • working together without teacher approval. • using unauthorized electronic devices during an assessment. • copying from the Internet or other sources without crediting the source. • attempting to communicate or receive information during an assessment. • looking at someone else’s test, quiz or exam while testing. • asking or paying someone to complete work for you. • giving or selling work to someone to submit as their own work. • cheat sheets on paper, your person, etc. • misrepresenting/falsifying data or obtaining/looking at a test before it’s given. Disciplinary Action for Academic Dishonesty • The teacher involved will confront the student with evidence of suspected cheating and give the student an opportunity to offer an explanation. • If the explanation is unsatisfactory in the teacher’s judgement, the student will be referred to the office for cheating. • Cheating referrals to the office will be investigated and, if the administrator concurs with the teacher’s findings, the student will receive a grade of zero for the work presented and a parent conference will be required. • Subsequent incidents of cheating will result in further disciplinary consequences. Academic Reporting Homework Homework is necessary if you are to get the most out of your classwork. It is a good idea to review work covered for that day in each class and to check carefully to see that your assigned work for the next day is complete. Absences – Make-Up Homework Short-term Absence - (five days or less) Any student absent for any reason will have the privilege of making up work for credit. The makeup procedure for short-term absence will require the following: • Go into your Google Classroom (GC) and review any missed work. • Via GC, teachers are responsible for providing make-up work for students who are absent. • Students will be given the number of days equal to the number of days absent to turn in completed make-up work.

8 Long-term Absence (six days or more) The make-up procedure for long-term absence will require the following: • The student should enter Google Classroom (GC) to complete necessary work. • Via GC, teachers are responsible for providing make-up work for students who are absent. • A reasonable timeline for the completion of the work will be established. Progress Reports and Report Cards Directions on how to access Family Portal will be shared by Mrs. Hastings. Progress Reports • The progress report is designed to let you know how your child is progressing in their current classes. • Progress reports are issued midway in the marking period and are distributed to all students. Report Cards Report Cards provide the student and their parents with an account of academic school progress. Each student has access to their report card through the Family Portal X2 at www.x2.wcboe.org, four times per year one week after the end of each nine-week marking period. The report card gives a grade in every subject that the student is currently enrolled in every nine weeks. Behavioral Expectations Student Conduct Students are to always conduct themselves in a responsible manner and obey the rules and policies of the school and Wicomico County as described in this handbook. Specific values have been identified through community consensus to be included in instruction in Wicomico County. Students are encouraged to grow in their academic, social, and personal lives through the following 10 values: 1) COMPASSION - understanding of and sensitivity to others. 2) COURTESY - respectful attitude and willingness to accept a share of the work. 3) FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION - accepting different views. 4) HONESTY - being trustworthy and avoiding cheating in any form. 5) RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS - refraining from ridiculing, threatening, accusing and spreading rumors about others, including respecting others' property. 6) RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP - accepting the responsibilities inherent in a democratic society. 7) RESPONSIBILITY - exercising the ability to make moral and rational decisions even if different from those of my peers. 8) SELF-RESPECT - striving to develop my potential. 9) TOLERANCE - respecting others' rights to choose ways to dress, hairstyle and family mode of living. Hallway Rules Students are expected to behave in an orderly manner while in the hallway. “Hanging out” in the hallways is never permitted. The change of class time should be used to get to your next class. Always walk to the right and do not loiter. Go directly to class. Students who fail to give their name to the questioning adult will face disciplinary action.

9 We expect that the following rules be followed: • No pushing, shoving, running, playing, hitting or harmful touching. • Use conversational voices only. No loud voices or shouting. • Do not block the halls- no standing, stopping, or loitering. • Move directly to class in the right lane of all hallways. Students who do not follow the rules will be subject to disciplinary action. Hall Passes Students are expected to have permission and a pass from their teacher any time they leave the classroom. You may ONLY go to the location listed on your hall pass. Ten – Ten Rule Students are not to be out of class during the first and last ten minutes of the class period. Teachers will assess emergency situations that fall within this timeframe. Cafeteria Etiquette During each lunch shift, students are expected to be in the cafeteria. Expectations for lunch shifts and in the cafeteria include: • Report directly to the cafeteria for lunch and return directly to class at the end of your lunch shift. • Students may not leave the cafeteria without permission from a staff member. • Beverages must be in their original, unopened packaging. • Food deliveries from an outside vendor are not permitted. • Students may not leave campus to go to lunch. • Line cutting is not permitted. • Once seated, students are to remain seated and not go from table to table. • Before leaving, make sure that your table and the area around it is clean and ALL TRASH is thrown away. • No food or drink is allowed outside of the cafeteria. Detention Students assigned after school detention are required to serve detention. The detention slip must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to the appropriate teacher or staff member. Failure to attend the assigned detention will result in further discipline. Fire Drills • Each classroom teacher is responsible for instruc�ng every class in the procedures for evacua�ng their room. Instruc�ons will be posted in each room. • Move as quickly as possible without running. Move a reasonable distance from the school. • Remain silent in single file while wai�ng for the bell to signal you back to your room. • If a fire drill occurs while a student is at lunch, the student is to exit to the back of the building and join the class with which he came to lunch. • If a fire drill occurs during the changing of classes, students are to leave the building by the most direct route to the front or back of the building. Students should report to their previous teacher or, if their teacher is not in the same area as the student, the student should report to an administrator.

10 MMHS School Dance Policy Middle School Dance Criteria • GPA – 2.0 requirement per Wicomico County policy • CONDUCT – No OSS days served during the semester in which the dance occurs, in addi�on to county requirements for exclusion based on cumula�ve OSS days. • GUESTS – No guests allowed from outside the school. High School Dance Criteria • GPA – 2.0 requirement per Wicomico County policy • CONDUCT – No OSS days served during the semester in which the dance occurs in addi�on to county requirements for exclusion based on cumula�ve OSS days. • GUESTS – Guests must be under the age of 21, must be in good standing with school of atendance/employer, and must have an approved guest pass completed prior to the deadline set by the dance sponsor. Rules • Dances or par�es at MMHS are never open to the public. • Admission is by �cket only, sold in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the door. • Guests must be registered with the main office in advance. Unregistered guests will not be admited. • High school students may not atend middle school dances and middle school students may not atend high school dances. • Parents are always welcome as chaperones at social func�ons if they are on the student’s contact list. Parents who are interested in chaperoning must reach out to the dance sponsor prior to the event so that the sponsor can have a responsibility set for the chaperone prior to the event. At a dance, MMHS students and guests will: • Always demonstrate proper conduct. • Comply with all county and school rules and policies. • Dress to suit the occasion. • Show proper respect for chaperones. • Leave the ac�vity only when they do not intend to return. • Leave decora�ons in place. Student Services Student Assistance Counselors will assist students with problems related to academics, behaviors, peer rela�onships and grades. checks. Our counselors will help students plan class schedules and guide in the selec�on of courses. Students may schedule appointments with a counselor or social worker before school, during

11 lunch or a�er school. Our social worker is available to provide services to students to enhance their emo�onal well-being and improve their academic performance. Staff includes: • Middle School – Lisa Armstrong • High School – Brian Hollamon • Enrollment and Registra�on – Cassandra O’Neal • Career Coach – Amy Rhodes • Social Worker – Rebecca Raygor • School Psychologist – Tonya Combs Visiting the Nurse • Students must have a pass to visit the nurse’s office. • If there is a necessity for a student to be sent home, the nurse will inform the parent/guardian and the student will need to be signed out in the Atendance Office. • Please remember that students are NOT permited to carry any form of medica�on without having the proper documenta�on from their physician on file with the school nurse. • If it is necessary for a student to take medica�on during the school day, MMHS will follow the Wicomico County Policy for Administra�on of Medica�on guidelines (approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing and reviewed by the Maryland Board of Pharmacy). For more informa�on and any ques�ons contact Ms. Savage, our school nurse. Lost and Found The lost and found is in the main office. Students missing an item should periodically check the lost and found. Lost and found will be cleaned out several �mes a year. Students will be no�fied through morning and a�ernoon announcements when the clean-out will take place. Anything remaining will be donated to a local charity. Student Parking If you are going to park on campus… YOU MUST HAVE A PARKING PERMIT!! Parking Permits Parking on school property is a privilege that can be revoked at any �me. • Students are expected to register the vehicle in the main office and purchase a parking tag ($10). • The parking tag must be displayed while on school property. Students must abide by all parking regula�ons and Maryland State driving laws. • Students must park in the student parking lot in front of the school. Students are not permited to park behind or on the side of the gym during the school day. Students may not drive through the grassy areas and must remain in designated areas. • Failure to comply may result in the loss of parking privileges and may include addi�onal consequences. • Students who drive to school and have excessive tardies may have their student parking privileges revoked.

12 How to Buy a Parking Permit • Online Parking Permit Registra�on can be completed using this form htps://forms.gle/inpyFo9v7w8r9PT68 • The following items will be required to be uploaded or brought into the office to complete the parking permit registra�on: o copy of your driver’s license o copy of the vehicle registra�on • $10 permit fee (cash) pay in office. The Front Office Calling the Office: (410) 677-5142 When you call our office, you will be treated with respect and professionalism. Thank you for trea�ng our office staff in the same manner. Picking A Student Up To pick up a student, you must report to the atendance clerk and present your driver’s license. Any adult that signs a student out MUST be on the student’s contact list. Visitors ALL visitors MUST report to the Atendance Office and register using a valid ID before going further into the building. Visitors must wear a visitor’s pass. Please keep in mind that passes will not be issued automa�cally. Our procedures for visitors are designed to protect our students and staff. Fun Facts About Your School School Colors School Mascot School Emblem Green and Gold Warrior Administrator Fun Facts Interests If You Were not an Administrator What Would You Be? Mrs. Has�ngs-’49ers and dog rescue Mrs. Has�ngs- Professional DJ Dr. Nolan- Anything beach related Dr. Nolan- Courtroom Lawyer Ms. Guillemart- Hiking and Cooking Ms. Guillemart-Fitness Coach Mr. Hallman- Baseball and Fishing Mr. Hallman- Real Estate Agent Bucket List Mrs. Has�ngs- Go on an African Safari Dr. Nolan-Tour each of the islands of Hawaii Ms. Guillemart- Hike the en�re Appalachian Trail Mr. Hallman- Skydive

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