The Code of Conduct establishes school-based rules and procedures that are in compliance with the JCPS Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline. 

A.  Student Expectations

1. Treat others respectfully.
2. Take responsibility for your words and actions.
3. Be on time for school and classes.
4. Come prepared —be ready to learn and have necessary materials in hand.

B.  School Rules

1. Cell phones are not to be seen, heard, or used inside of the school building. After school hours, cell phones may be used in the main lobby only.
2. Personal radios (i.e. walkmen, iPods, mp3 players, etc.) and playing cards (gambling is prohibited!) can be used before and after school in designated areas only.
3. Gum is not allowed in school.
4. Backpacks are stored in lockers.  This includes string/sling bags.
5. Scooters and skateboards are not allowed in the building.  Bicycles must be locked to outdoor racks.

Meyzeek is NOT RESPONSIBLE for items brought to school that
ARE NOT part of the school’s educational program.

(This includes iPods, handheld games, cell phones, electronics, jewelry, etc.)

C.  Student Dress Code

1. Students may wear shorts, skirts, and skorts to school.  However, they must be no shorter than five inches above the crease in the back of the knee – no matter what is worn beneath them (i.e. tights, sweats, etc.). Slits in skirts must meet the same 5” requirement. This rule applies to Meyzeek team uniforms worn to school as well. Exposed midriffs, backs, or clothing with low-cut necklines are not allowed.
2. No undergarments are to be seen.  No sleep apparel (i.e. house shoes, pajamas, etc.) is to be worn to school.
3. Tank tops can be worn only with a sleeved shirt beneath.
4. Headwear and hats (other than traditional religious apparel), are to be stored in lockers during the school day. Hair-bands are acceptable only if used to manage hair and not for decorative purposes.  Headbands (sweatband-style) are to be stored in lockers. Hair brushes, hair picks, and combs are to be stored in lockers.
5. No clothing, headwear, jewelry, or paraphernalia containing objectionable language or references to violence, sex, drugs, alcohol, gangs or clique affiliation of any sort is allowed.
6. Outerwear (i.e. heavy/rain coats, scarves, gloves, etc.) designed for inclement weather (i.e. extreme cold, rain, snow, etc.) must be stored in lockers during the school day.  Students may wear hoodies, sweatshirts, or sweaters.
7. Students are expected to keep themselves well-groomed and neatly dressed at all times.  Any form of dress, hairstyle/hair color, or accessory that is considered contrary to school hygiene or that is blatantly distracting or disruptive to the educational process is prohibited.
8. Students who arrive at school not appropriately dressed will call home for a change of clothing or will be given clothing by the Youth Services Center.

D.  Care of School Property

Students are expected to assist in keeping Meyzeek a clean, attractive, and comfortable place.  Students who willfully pull a false fire alarm, destroy school property through vandalism, arson, or larceny, or create a hindrance to the safety of others will be suspended and referred to proper law enforcement agency. 

Students who deface property or cause damage will be held responsible for repair, replacement, and/or clean-up.

E.  Behavior in Assigned Areas

Once arriving on the school campus, students may not leave the building without permission from the grade level administrator.  Students doing so will be considered “cutting,” and will be disciplined.  Students out of class or assigned areas – without a pass – will also be considered “cutting” and face similar consequences.

F.  Disruption

Fighting will not be tolerated.  Violent horseplay and play-fighting will be treated as a real fight.  Consequences will be applied up to and including suspension. 

Disruptive behavior – in addition to fighting – and inappropriate language will not be tolerated.  Consequences will be applied up to and including suspension. 

G.  Students’ Personal Property

Students are not to bring personal property to school that is hazardous, dangerous, disruptive, or may be used as a weapon.  If a student possesses, sells, or otherwise furnishes a firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object (or toy  designed to look like a dangerous object) to a student at school or at a school activity off school grounds, s/he is subject to discipline up to and including expulsion. 

H.  Smoking

No form of tobacco is allowed anywhere on the Meyzeek Middle School campus.  Students in possession of – or using – any form of tobacco are subject to disciplinary action.

I.  Zero Tolerance

Students selling, in possession of, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension and arrest.  Look-alike substances are treated like the real thing.

J.  Consequences

Consequences for violating the expectations, code of conduct, and rules include, but are not limited to, team measures, detention, removal of special privileges, referral to the grade-level administrator, assignment to the In-School Adjustment Program, assignment to STOP, and suspension from school. 

For more information, see (a) the JCPS Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline, and (b) the JCPS Student Bill of Rights.

Meyzeek’s academic policies replicate the JCPS Student Progress, Promotion, and Grading policy.  This policy, which includes greater detail than printed here, can be accessed from the parent section of the JCPS website, www.jcpsky.net.

A.  Promotion

In accordance with the JCPS Middle School Progression, Promotion, and Grading Handbook, students will receive report cards each semester, for a total of 2 report cards.  Meanwhile, each six weeks students will receive progress reports indicating student status in his/her classes.

In order to be promoted to the next grade and on to high school, the following benchmarks must be met.

Each year, all students must:

· Pass two-thirds of all classes

· Pass math and Language Arts each year

· Complete a writing folder or writing portfolio each year

By the end of 8^th grade, all students must:

· Achieve a rating of Apprentice or higher on the CATS assessment for Reading

· Achieve a rating of Apprentice or higher on the CATS assessment for Writing Portfolio

· Achieve a rating of Apprentice or higher on the CATS assessment for Writing On-Demand

· Achieve a rating of Apprentice or higher on the CATS assessment for Math

In the event the rating of Apprentice or higher on CATS assessments is not achieved, students must remediate in the specified areas through recovery modules.

B.  Grading

Letter grades represent the following:                

     A      93–100%

     B      86–92%

     C      79–85%

     D      70–78%

     U      Below 70%

     I      Incomplete

C.  Make-Up Work

A student returning to school after an excused absence or a suspension may request make-up work within three days of his/her return to class.  The make-up work will include only written daily work, tests, and/or major projects.  The make-up work will be provided to the student as arranged with the teacher.  The student will have the number of school days of absence or suspension plus one school day from the time s/he receives the make-up work to turn it in to the teacher.  Teacher discretion can be used to handle a special situation.

A.  Making “Being Present” Matter

Quoting the JCPS Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline,

All students are required by law to attend school every day and to be on time for school and all classes.

With or without the law, students must be present and on time in order to learn, grow, and achieve.  Please help us help you by coming to school everyday ready to learn and with necessary materials in hand.

B.  Absence

In the extreme circumstance that a student cannot make it to school, the parent/guardian should call Meyzeek’s attendance clerk before 9:00 am.

When the student returns, s/he should bring a note from the parent/guardian and turn it in to the homeroom teacher.

Any student absent from school for more than a half-day is not eligible to attend or participate in any after-school activities on the day(s) of absence or over the weekend if absence occurs on the last day of the week.

JCPS defines excused absences as, “student illness, visit to a physician or dentist, death in the family, religious holidays, or other extenuating reasons approved by the school administrator.”  Written verification of excused absences must be provided to the school upon the student’s return.

Patterns of unexcused absences may result in actions that include, but are not limited to, referral to the Youth Services Center, contact with parents/guardians, notification of JCPS Pupil Personnel, and referral to the Truancy division of Family Court.

C. Tardy (also known as “Percent Absent”)

Quoting the JCPS Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline,

Tardiness is not just being late for school as traditionally interpreted; it is defined by law as “any amount of instructional time missed.”  This includes being late to school or leaving school before classes are dismissed.

Students arriving after 7:40 am will be marked tardy.  A pattern of lateness to school may result in school interventions, including – but not limited to – Youth Services Center referral, parent contact, and/or detention.

D.  Early Dismissal

If a student needs to leave school prior to 2:20 pm, the student must bring a note explaining the situation.  In the note, the student must include the time the student needs to leave and a phone number of the parent/guardian.  The note should be submitted to the attendance clerk when the student enters school. 

When the parent/guardian arrives to pick up the student, s/he must present a picture ID and sign the student out with the attendance clerk.

E.  Illness During the School Day

If a student becomes ill during the school day, s/he should request a pass to the office from his/her teacher.  If the student is too ill to return to class after being checked in the office, the student will be permitted to call for a parent/guardian to arrange leaving school.

F.  Injured During the School Day

If a student is injured during the school day, s/he should report it to the teacher and receive a pass to the office to be checked and complete an accident report.  When injury extends beyond that which can be resolved with a band-aid, parents/guardians will be notified immediately and emergency services where necessary.

A.  Youth Services Center

The Youth Services Center (YSC) is located on Meyzeek’s campus near the corner of Jackson and Breckinridge Streets.  The YSC assists students and parents/guardians with any non-academic problems that may prevent students from doing well in school.

Programs offered by the YSC include, but are not limited to, counseling, anger management, mentoring, clothes closet, and financial assistance.

B.  Food Services

Breakfast is served from 7:10 am to 7:30 am.  Lunch is served during designated team times.  A la carte items are available at varied costs. 

Every student is assigned a lunch number.  Students must commit the number to memory!

Students may qualify for free or reduced meal prices.  Applications, available from the cafeteria manager or main office, should be submitted to the cafeteria manager each year.

C.  Lockers

Students will be assigned locker space near the team area.  Students should not share the locker combination with others.  The school is not responsible for items stored in lockers.  Should a locker get jammed, students may complete a locker trouble form in the main office.  A staff member will pick up the form and resolve the issue.

D.  Library/Media Center

In addition to visiting the library/media center with classes, students may access its services both before and after school—during designated times and days.

The care and return of books and materials is the students’ responsibility.  Fines and fees are charged for overdue, damaged, and lost books. 

The library/media center will arrange for students to sign up for access to the Louisville Free Public Library.

E.  Computer Access

To access the network, students must:

1. have a JCPS Net-User Agreement and Parent Permission Form signed by a parent/guardian or indicate no permission on the student enrollment form;
2. memorize their Network User-ID and Password.

Many technological services to students are becoming accessible by students’ home computers through the school website, www.meyzeek.org.

F.  Extra-Curricular Activities

Meyzeek offers extensive extra-curricular activities designed for academics, athletics, and recreation.  After-school programming comes from Meyzeek itself, its Community School, and partnering organizations such as Metro Parks.  Students should watch announcements for clubs, try-outs, and special opportunities.

Students can stay after school only for extra-curricular activities.  Otherwise, students must go home at the end of school.  Meyzeek does not have the staff or capacity to watch children after school who are not involved in an activity. 

G.  Extended School Services

 State funds for Extended School Services (ESS) grant the school the opportunity to offer intensive academic programming that goes beyond traditional school services.  ESS programs may occur during the school day, before/after school, and on weekends. 

Meyzeek’s ESS programming changes year to year based upon student need, finances available, and staff capacity.

H.  Bus Transportation

Riding the bus is a privilege, dependent upon good behavior.  Students must respect and obey all instructions given by bus drivers and abide by all JCPS bus regulations.  Both on and off the bus, the bus driver is in charge with full authority over his/her passengers. 

Students are to load and unload in an orderly and safe fashion.  Students should be at their respective bus stops at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. 

Good behavior at the bus stop and on the bus determines students’ ongoing permission to ride the bus.  While on the bus, students must:

• Sit in the seat while the bus is in motion;
• Keep hands and head inside the bus;
• Avoid horseplay;
• Keep noise at a reasonable level, whereby passengers can hear instructions from the bus driver at all times;
• Never throw anything on the bus or out of the window;
• Be courteous to other passengers, passers-by, and the bus driver;
• Behave appropriately in designated areas while waiting for the bus – be it at the bus stop in the morning or in the school building in the afternoon.

Students unable to meet the expectations outlined here face disciplinary action up to and including exclusion from bus transportation.

*If a student wishes to ride a different bus (to go home with a friend, for example) s/he must have a note signed by a parent with his/her phone number. The student must bring the note to the office in the morning. Office personnel will call the parent/guardian to verify the note. Once verified it will be given back to the student during the lunch so s/he can present it to the bus driver. Students with unsigned/unverified notes will not be allowed to ride a different bus under any circumstances.

I.  Textbooks

Textbooks are provided to students at no charge.  In the event that textbooks are lost or damaged, students are responsible for replacement or repair costs. 

J.  Medication

No medication of any kind will be dispensed unless an official form is signed by a parent/guardian and is on file in the reception office.  Prescription medications must have the doctor’s authorization on file and must be kept in the reception office at all times.

Only office staff members are able to dispense medication.

Students are never to have any medication—including aspirin and ibuprofen—in their possession.  To do so is in violation of the JCPS Zero Tolerance Policy.

K.  Immunization & Physicals

State law requires that each student have a current Immunization Certificate on file.  6^th grade students are required to receive two measles/mumps/rubella boosters, Hepatitis B series, and a physical prior to middle school enrollment.

Students not in compliance with this regulation may be barred from participation in school athletics and may be barred from school entirely.

Immunizations and physicals may be obtained from any branch of the Jefferson County Health Department or from a family doctor.

L.  Insurance

JCPS carries insurance to assist in covering students injured in school related activities.  Students needing health insurance can contact the Youth Services Center for information about KY-CHIP.

M.  Announcements

Morning news broadcasts on WMZK include important information for students.  Special opportunities, try-outs, and other important school information are broadcast.  Students should keep their agendas handy during the morning news broadcasts to record the important information for personal use.

Meyzeek news, updates and announcements can also be delivered daily to your email inbox, cell phone or PDA.  Go to www.meyzeek.org and subscribe to the Meyzeek Daily Email for this service.

N.  Visitors

Any person who is not a student or Meyzeek staff member must register with the receptionist and obtain an ID badge before visiting any area of the building.  Only those persons with legitimate business at the school will be permitted to visit. 

Visitors looking to speak with, pick up, or see students must be listed on students’ enrollment forms.  Anyone not listed will not be allowed to have contact with a student unless approved visitors (from the enrollment form) can extend and confirm permission.

All visitors must come with identification to verify identity and purpose.

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