School Calendar

An updated calendar is available on Dawes’ website. http://dawes.lps.org

Administrative Staff

Carmel Sheppard, Principal

Richard Vonderschmidt, Associate Principal

Sheree Miller, Special Education Coordinator

Jodie Green, Counselor - Grades 6 (A-K) & 8

Mary Starr, Counselor - Grades 6 (L-Z) & 7

Teaching Staff

A list of current teachers is available on Dawes’ website. http://dawes.lps.org

Communication Systems

Dawes Middle School Newsletter is distributed every quarter. It will inform parents, students, and community members of events and news of Dawes Middle School.

Free Times is a publication distributed each month to Lincoln Public Schools elementary and middle school students. It is a monthly guide for students and parents to meaningful activities available through non-profit community agencies in Lincoln. Free Times is a self-supported publication. For more information about Free Times, contact Communication Services at 436-1610.

EdLines is a newsletter about Lincoln Public Schools for district employees and interested community members. EdLines features pictures and articles about issues facing the board of education, curriculum, instruction, student activities and staff recognition. If you wish to receive EdLines, call Communication Services at 436-1609.

Educational programming produced or sponsored by Lincoln Public Schools is aired on cable channel 21. A variety of programs, topics and activities are featured.

Mission and Goals

Mission Statement

Dawes Middle School is dedicated to promoting self reliant and responsible students in a healthy environment, which fosters basic skills and problem solving strategies.

Goals and Objectives

BUILDING EMPHASIS FOR 2005 & 2006

As the staff and students work towards fulfilling the Dawes mission, you will become aware of many areas of emphasis. Key areas of focus for the 2005-2006 school year are:

· Multicultural Climate and Environment

· Inclusive Practices

· Social Skills (Boys Town)

· TeamMates

· Parent/Community Involvement

· Academic Success

· Safety and Student Management

· Stop Time

· Character Education

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GOALS

This school year Dawes is developing new goals. These goals will be announced at a later date.

Rights and Responsibilities

1. Receive competent instruction in a relevant curriculum.

2. Attend a school which is clean, comfortable, safe and reasonably equipped for the learning task.

3. Have a framework for student government which indicates the areas and circumstances of student sharing in decision making.

4. Express him or herself or attempt to influence others so long as the rights of others are not violated in the process.

5. Have access to printed copies of school regulations.

6. Privacy of personal belongings provided they are not injurious to other students.

7. Have the right of due process in discipline matters.

Responsibilities of Students:

• Be aware of homework expectations and make-up work obligations.

• Listen to and/or read directions and ask questions for clarification.

• Complete assignments and turn them in on time.

• Organize class materials and schedule time to complete school work.

Responsibilities of Parents:

• Communicate with students regarding assignments, progress made, and any possible make-up work.

• Make homework a priority by setting a homework time and providing a quiet place for study.

• Show an interest in the student's learning and provide encouragement.

• Communicate with teachers.

Responsibilities of Teachers:

• Communicate with parents and students regarding homework expectations.

• Give clear directions, check for understanding and be available for extra help.

• Check homework, give feedback within reasonable amount of time, and reteach if necessary.

• Coordinate homework assignments with other staff members.

Multicultural policy

Multicultural education is the identification, selection and infusion of specific knowledge, skills and attitudes for the purpose of:

· Affirming the culture, history and contributions that shall include but not be limited to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans; and

· Challenging and eliminating racism, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination and stereotyping based on race; and

· Valuing multiple cultural perspectives; and

· Providing all students with opportunities to “see themselves” in the educational environment in positive ways and on a continuing basis.

To promote and support multicultural education within Lincoln Public Schools, it shall also be the policy and practice of this district to create opportunities for all students to achieve academically and socially in an educational environment in which all students and staff understand and respect the racial and cultural diversity and interdependence of members of our society.

Complaint Procedures

If you feel you or someone you know has not been treated fairly, you have three options: 1) get more information to try to resolve it with a staff member who knows about the situation; 2) talk to your principal or a central office administrator who can advise you; 3) write to Lincoln Public Schools Equity Administrator, Box 82889, Lincoln, NE 68501.

If you send in the complaint form in the back of the Important Information book (provided by the LPSDO), a school district official will gather as many details as possible. That information will then be forward to the school district’s Educational Equity Monitoring Task Force, a group of citizens and school staff members. The task force will assign a team to thoroughly investigate your complaint and will make recommendations for changes if your complaint is justified. You name will not be used unless you authorize it. Complaints regarding sexual harassment will not be handled by the task force but by a district administrator.

School Day

Daily Schedule

6th Grade Schedule

8:00 am – 9:00 am Math

9:04 am – 11:04 am Language Arts

11:08 am- 12:22 pm Lunch, Soc. Stud, Science

12:26 pm – 1:06 pm Social Studies, Science

1:10 pm – 2:02 pm Academic Connections

2:06 pm – 2:58 pm Academic Connections

7th & 8th Grade Schedule

8:00 am – 8:52 am 1^st Period

8:56 am – 9:48 am 2^nd Period

9:52 am – 10:44 am 3^rd Period

10:48 am – 11:40 am 4^th Period

11:42 am – 1:06 pm 5^th Period, Lunch

1:10 pm – 2:02 pm 6^th Period

2:06 pm – 2:58 pm 7^th Period

Shortened Schedule

To Be Announced

Severe Weather and School Cancellations

See Page 10 of the Important Information Booklet sent to you from the Lincoln Public Schools District Office.

Open-Closed Campus

Dawes is a closed campus school. Parents are discouraged from picking up their children and taking them out to lunch. Students are discouraged from having fast food delivered or brought to school during lunch hours.

Use of Building and Grounds

Entering and Leaving the Building

7:30 a.m. - 7:52 a.m.-Breakfast

Students are permitted to enter the building for breakfast. Once students arrive on school grounds, they are not permitted to leave.

7:52 a.m.

Students may also enter and report to the lobby at 7:30 a.m. during inclement weather. All students are to use the South entrances.

8:00 a.m. - 2:58 p.m.

Classes scheduled.

3:05 p.m.

First buses depart. For safety reasons, at 3:05 p.m. all students are to be in an activity or in the ISS room waiting for rides. Students are not permitted to wait in the lobby or outside in front of the building after 3:05 p.m. Parents are requested to drive past the ISS room after 3:05 p.m. so that their child might be able to see their car and know when it is time to leave. Parents must come inside the building to sign their student out and pick up their child.

3:05 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

After school activities for grades 6 - 8.

4:15 p.m.

Late buses depart. Students must have a pass to ride at this time. Students may not leave campus and then return for the 4:30 p.m. bus.

Dropping off and picking up students

Students crossing the street before or after school must be very aware of traffic. Congestion at these times is high and includes a number of trucks and buses. Please do not use the bus cutouts for dropping off or picking up students. For safety reasons, we encourage drivers to drop off students near the field area. It is illegal to stop in front of the school. Parents are asked to not drop off students before 7:30 a.m. There is no supervision outside before 7:30 a.m. For safety reasons, at 3:10 p.m. all students are to be in an activity or in the ISS room waiting for rides. Students are not permitted to wait in the lobby or outside in front of the building after 3:10 p.m. Parents are requested to drive past the ISS room after 3:10 p.m. so that their child might be able to see their car and know when it is time to leave.

Visitors

Parents or legal guardians of students are encouraged to visit often. All visitors must report to the school office at the beginning of their visit for a guest badge.

We are not able to allow school-aged visitors to Dawes. After school visitation of teachers is allowed with permission of an office personnel.

Smoke-Free Environment

Lincoln Board of Education policy declares all Lincoln Public Schools buildings and grounds smoke-free.

The district has created the smoke-free environment in and effort to send a healthy message to Lincoln’s more than 31,000 students.

We would appreciate you help in meeting the goal of a smoke- and tobacco-free environment for Lincoln’s children. When you attend school events, including athletic events, please remember that our grounds are smoke- and tobacco-free and abide by our board’s policy. Seacrest Field, Den Hartog Fields and individual school athletic fields are included in the smoke-free environment.

Care of School Property

Textbook And Material fines

It is the responsibility of each student to give proper care to instructional equipment, materials, and supplies. When carelessness leads to destruction or loss of equipment or materials, the student and parent are responsible for making the appropriate payments.

Lockers

Lockers will be assigned to students at the beginning of the year. Students are not to share lockers or cause damage to the lockers. Any locker change must be approved by the office. If the combination lock is lost or damaged, there will be a $5.00 replacement charge. This will be enforced! If lockers or combinations are shared with others, there is little security in a school locker. Personal items of value should never be brought to school. (Examples: CD Players, Gameboys, Cameras) Recovery of stolen items is very difficult.

Searches of Lockers and Other Types of Searches

All school lockers, desks, and computers are the property of Dawes Middle School. At no time does Dawes Middle School relinquish its exclusive control of lockers provided for the convenience of students. Periodic general inspections of lockers may be conducted by school authorities for any reason at any time without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.

Use of Telephone

Students may use telephones with the permission of a school adult.

Bicycles

Students may ride bicycles to school. Bikes must be parked in the racks immediately upon arrival at school. Security for bicycles is the student's responsibility.

Student Valuables

Students should not bring money or valuable items to school, as Dawes Middle School is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Lost and Found

Most items are turned into the office. Check periodically for lost items. Articles not claimed are donated to worthy charity.

Accidents

Students should report all accidents that happen on school grounds to school staff.

Laboratory Safety Glasses

For safety reasons, safety items should be used whenever necessary.

Insurance

Dawes Middle School does not supply insurance on the students, and encourage them to get insurance if they participate in athletics or dangerous activities at school.

Treats

On birthdays and other celebrations, students are not permitted to distribute invitations or treats in classrooms. Instructional times may not be used for birthdays or other celebrations.

Bulletins and Announcements

If you want to put up an announcement or bulletin, Ms. Sheppard must approve the items first.

Copyright and Fair Use Policy

All students must comply with the current Copyright and Fair Use Laws.

Attendance

Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE is vital to student success. Little can be accomplished by the student when he/she is not in school. The most effective way to achievement and good grades is regular attendance. The learning which comes from interaction with teachers and other students is irreplaceable. Regular school attendance is required of all children between the ages of 7 and 16 who reside in the State of Nebraska.

Attendance and Absences

If a student is unable to attend school, a parent/guardian telephone call to the school office is necessary (436-1211). An answering machine is available from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. Unless the school is notified, a call will be made to your home or place of employment to verify an absence. If an absence cannot be verified, the student will be considered truant.

Excused Absences

Illness, death in the family, doctor or dental appointment, court appearances, family emergencies, participation in a school-approved activity and religious holidays are excused absences. By notifying the office in writing three (3) days in advance, students may be excused for: brief family vacations, student performances at church, attending sporting events and other events of community interest.

Dental or Health Appointments

For your convenience, please notify the office in advance of the appointment by sending a note or calling. Please indicate the time your student needs to be released. Your student will be issued a Medical or Dental appointment slip. Have the doctor or dentist sign the slip. Upon returning to school, bring this slip to the office secretary and obtain an admission to class slip.

Unexcused Absences

Oversleeping, choosing to miss a class, arriving at school after 8:00 a.m. without parent approval, and leaving school without permission are examples of unexcused absences. An absence which neither the school nor the parent condones is a truancy. Truancy is not only habit forming and a detriment to an education; it is also against the law.

Nebraska law requires compulsory attendance for children between the ages of 7-16. Any child whose age is within this range must be enrolled in a school that is approved or accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education. A student who is truant from school or from one or more classes will be referred to the administration. Continued failure to comply with this law obligates the public school attendance officer to investigate, and make a referral to the County Attorney if a family or child is in violation.

Make up work

When absent, students are to ask the teachers what work has been missed. Make-up work is just as important as any daily work. In every instance it is the student's responsibility to see the teacher about work missed, to make it up and turn it in to the teacher.

The number of days absent and the reason for an absence determines the number of days allowed for make-up. For excused absences, make-up work must be turned in within double the number of days absent. If an absence is more than 5 days, an individual plan should be made with each teacher.

For unexcused absences LPS policy states............

When a student is suspended or is truant, the student will have the opportunity to make up work missed. The date when make-up work is due will be determined by the teacher based on the content being studied and the length of the student's absence. For middle school students the maximum grade that can be earned for make-up work is the minimal passing grade in that class. It may not be possible to duplicate or even substitute equivalent activities for experiences missed during an absence. In such cases, credit cannot be issued.

Requesting Assignments During an Absence

The following procedures are recommended to students and their parents in making requests for assignments during an absence:

1. For an absence of one to three days the assignment may be delivered by a friend or classmate who writes the assignments down from the teacher's instructions during the regular class period.

2. For an absence of three or more days the parent may request assignments by writing or telephoning the office. At least 24 hours notice is needed to collect assignments. Please do not call for assignments if the student will be returning to school the next day.

Tardiness

Valuable instructional time is lost when a student is tardy to school or to classes. Students are considered tardy if they are not at their assigned workstation when class begins.

Tardy Time Consequences

This is school wide – not by individual classroom. Students will serve their time in the tardy room. Students will have 48 hours after the day of the tardy to serve their time unless other arrangements are made.

1. 1^st tardy (school wide) = 15 minutes + time late

2. 2^nd tardy (school wide) = 15 minutes + time late

3. 3^rd tardy (school wide) = 15 minutes + time late

4. 4^th tardy (school wide) = 15 minutes + time late

5. 5^th tardy (school wide) = 1 day Lunch detention + 15 minutes + time late

6. 6^th tardy (school wide) = 1 day Lunch detention + 15 minutes + time late

7. 7^th tardy (school wide) = Office Referral

8. An Office Referral for any after the 7^th tardy.

Leaving School

Busing

Approximately half of the Dawes students are bused to school. Students must live in transportation areas to ride buses. Students who do not live in bus transportation areas may not ride the bus to visit friends. The following procedures have been established to provide for a safe ride to school for all students.

1. Bus riders are expected to follow all rules and regulations for bus ridership as published in the Lincoln Public Schools' "Ride Guide." Failure to follow these rules will be considered a violation of school rules, which will result in disciplinary action as outlined on page 8-9. Once the bus arrives at Dawes students are not permitted to leave campus.

2. Students must ride the bus assigned to them. If a change is desired, contact the Transportation Department or Mrs. McPherson in the Dawes Counseling Office. Temporary changes can be arranged in the Dawes office.

3. Departure times:

3:10 p.m. - leaves school

4:15 p.m. - pass from activity or office needed to ride

Attendance is Required to Participate in Activities

Attendance is required to participate in extracurricular activities that day.

Scholastic Achievement

Grading System

Homework Policy

Parents should expect students to have homework for the following purposes:

1. Immediate Academic Achievements and Learning

• to provide practice, mastery, or maintenance of skills.

• to provide students the opportunity to finish an activity at home.

2. Long - Term Academic Effects

• to contribute to the student’s development of lifelong learning skills and independence in learning.

• to contribute to the student's development of responsibility and time management.

3. Nonacademic Effects

• to foster greater self-direction and self-discipline

• to teach students that learning takes place anywhere, not just in the classroom.

4. Greater Parental Involvement

• to keep parents informed about what the students are experiencing in their classrooms.

• to provide opportunities for the parents to encourage and acknowledge the student's effort toward his/her schoolwork.

Students are expected to do homework each evening. This may include paperwork, projects, lesson review, or test preparation. Effective homework needs the cooperation of teacher, student, and parent. All three are needed to have a positive impact on the student's learning.

Grade Scale

A+ 97% - 100%

A 90% - 96%

B+ 87% - 89%

B 80% - 86%

C+ 77% - 79%

C 70% - 76%

D+ 67% - 69%

D 60% - 66%

F Below 60%

WP - Student withdrew from class with a passing grade.

WF - Student withdrew from class with a failing grade.

Schedule Changes

Reasons that schedule changes will be made:

· You did not get a required class like math or English.

· You received a class first semester that should be second semester.

· You got a class you are not prepared to take.

Counselors will not change schedules for these reasons:

· You want to be in a class with your best friend.

· You want a different teacher.

· You want to switch a class to a different period of the day.

Report Cards

Reporting to parents - District policy provides that teachers communicate with parents at least eight times each year, including opportunities for at least two conferences. Teachers and parents are encouraged to communicate frequently. Please feel free to contact teachers with any concerns or questions.

Formal Building Communication Plan:

1. Student Progress Reports - Students receive a grade report after each nine-week quarter.

2. Mid-Quarter Reports - Dawes provides teachers the opportunity to complete a progress report on students approximately four weeks into each quarter.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences - Parent/Teacher conferences for this year will be held at Arnold Elementary on Thursday, October 6 and Thursday, February 23. Conferences at Dawes Middle School will be held on Tuesday, October 4 and Tuesday, February 21.

Support Services

Special Education Identification and Placement Procedures

See the Important Information Booklet sent to you from the Lincoln Public Schools District Office.

Guidance Services

Counselors

Dawes counselors work with student accomplish middle level competencies in the area of academics, career and personal and social growth. Counselors support students in academics though development of skills to become life long learners. Counselors provide activities for students to acquire work-related skills, learn about themselves and to understand the similarities between school and work. Small group and individual counseling helps students learn about themselves and getting along with others.

School Social Worker

The school social worker is at Dawes one day per week. She works with individual students or small groups, makes home visits, and consults with community resources to assist students and parents in coping with issues having a negative impact on or interfere with a student's education. Referral to the school social worker is made through the counselors and administration.

Resource Officer

A Lincoln police officer is assigned part time to Dawes. The function of this officer is to provide students with an opportunity to develop a positive relationship with a member of the Lincoln Police Dept. and help educate students regarding laws, violations and appropriate choices. Along with teaching whole class sessions, the officer is available to speak to individual students regarding their actions or concerns. The officer will also be the first contact when law violations occur at school.

Health Services

Student Illnesses

School health personnel will notify parents when a student needs to be sent home from school due to illness. Conditions requiring a student be sent home include: Temperature greater than 100 degrees F., vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained rashes, or live head lice. Please include emergency daytime phone numbers on your child's enrollment card so that you can be reached if your child becomes ill or injured while at school.

Please inform your school health office staff of health-related information you feel is important for your student's success in the classroom.

Guidelines for Administering Medication

School personnel can legally administer medication to students with a physician's written prescription and a signed parent permit.

Medication must be brought to school in the prescription container, properly labeled, including: child's name, physician's name and directions for administering. Over-the-counter medications will be administered only with a written order from the physician and a signed parent request. Please limit the amount of medication provided to school to a two-week supply.

School Health Screening

Each student is screened annually for vision, hearing, dental defects, height and weight. Additional assessments are conducted when appropriate. Parents are notified of any health concerns as they are identified.

Guidelines for Head Lice

IN ORDER TO:

* Better control a nuisance condition;

* Reduce absenteeism due to head lice; and

* Involve parents as partners with the school in control efforts...

1. Children will be sent home from school for live head lice. In the event the child has TWO cases of live lice in a semester, he or she will be sent home until free of both live lice and nits (eggs).

2. Health office staff will provide written treatment information and instructions, including how to check and identify head lice*.

3. A child who is sent home from school for head lice should miss no more than two school days.

4. A child who has been sent from school due to head lice must come to the health office for inspection before returning to class.

5. A child who returns to call with nits (eggs) will be checked again in 7-10 days.

6. Families are encouraged to report head lice to the school health office.

7. Individual buildings will perform classroom-wide or school-wide head checks as needed in order to control the condition at school.

Requirements in Nebraska Schools, Physical Examination, and Immunizations

See the Important Information Booklet sent to you from the Lincoln Public Schools District Office.

Media Center

The Media Center is open for students use at noon and after school with permission from staff. Students who check out books from the media center are expected to return them on or before the due date. Repeat offenders will be denied media center privileges. Fines will be assessed for lost or damaged books.

Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco

Drug-Free Schools

The District implements regulations and practices, which will ensure compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. The District’s safe and drug-free schools program is established in accordance with principles of effectiveness as required by law to respond to such harmful effects.

School Community Intervention Program (S.C.I.P.)

The School Community Intervention Program (S.C.I.P.) is designed to get help for students who are having difficulty in school and whose problems may be related to alcohol or other drug use.

Any student or concerned parent can take advantage of the program by contacting a school counselor or a S.C.I.P. team member at your sc

Student Rights, Conduct, Rules and Regulations

Forms of School Discipline

When school rules are violated, interventions may include any or all of the following:

1. Student-teacher conference/planning session

2. Student-teacher-parent conference/ planning session

3. Emergency exclusion from class (time-out)-students sent to time out will be required to make up the time missed from class

4. Referral to administration

5. Detention-teacher or administrator (after school or noon times)

6. Assignment to in-school suspension by an administrator - this is an alternative to out-of-school suspension where the student will remain in an isolated room for the school day. During this time the student will work on interventions and social skills to alter behavior.

7. Suspension from school

8. Referral to the Department of Student Services

9. Long-term suspension or expulsion determined by Student Services

Student Conduct

The purpose of management policies and practices at Dawes is to maintain a safe and comfortable learning environment for all students. All students, staff members and parents are responsible for maintaining this positive climate. Using a proactive approach, high expectations for student behavior will be modeled and taught. Problem-solving approaches will be used on an individual basis to help students change behavior should a difficulty arise.

All students are governed by the rules and policies listed in the Lincoln Public Schools' "Responsibilities of Students." The following areas will be grounds for disciplinary action:

1. Willfully disobeying any reasonable written or oral request of a school staff member or voicing disrespect to those in authority.

2. Use of violence, force, coercion, threat, intimidation or similar conduct in a manner that constitutes a substantial interference with school purposes.

3. Willfully causing or attempting to cause substantial damage to property, stealing or attempting to steal property of substantial value or repeated damage or theft involving property.

4. Causing or attempting to cause personal injury to a school employee, to a school volunteer or to any student.

5. Threatening or intimidating any student for the purpose of, or with the intent of, obtaining money or anything of value from such student.

6. Knowingly possessing, handling or transmitting any object or material that is ordinarily or generally considered a weapon.

7. Engaging in the unlawful selling, using, possessing or dispensing of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, narcotics, illicit substance, controlled substance or being under the influence of any of the above, or possession of drug paraphernalia.

8. Engaging in the selling, using, possessing or dispensing of an imitation substance as defined in section 28-401, of the Nebraska Statutes, or material represented to be alcoholic beverages, narcotics, illicit substance, controlled substance or inhalants.

9. Truancy or failure to attend assigned classes or activities.

10. Tardy to school, assigned classes or activities.

11. The use of language, written or oral, or conduct, including gestures, which is profane or abusive to students or staff members. Profane or abusive language or conduct includes, but is not limited to, that which is commonly understood and intended to be derogatory toward a group or individual based upon race, gender, national origin, or religion.

12. Public indecency.

13. Repeated violation of any of the rules adopted by the school district or the school.

14. Engaging in any other unlawful activity as determined by the United States or the State of Nebraska.

15. Dressing in a manner wherein such dress is dangerous to the student's health and safety or to the health and safety of others or is distractive or indecent to the extent that it interferes with the learning and teaching process.

16. Willfully violating the behavioral expectations for those students riding Lincoln Public Schools buses.

17. Sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault any school employee or any student either on school grounds or at a school-sponsored function or event, or off school grounds not at an education function or event.

Rules for Breakfast

Breakfast time is from 7:30 a.m. - 7:52 a.m. - if students are in line by the 7:52 a.m. bell, they will be allowed to get their breakfast and eat. They will be sent to class with a pass. Students will not be allowed to join the breakfast line after 7:52 a.m. unless there is a late bus. In this case, students will be allowed to eat and will be sent to class with a pass.

All regular cafeteria rules apply. Only those students actually eating breakfast will be allowed in the cafeteria. Students must remain in the cafeteria until the 7:52 bell. Students may not bring their own food or drink (federal regulation). Passes to class will not be given to students who are loitering or purposefully eating slow to avoid class.

Students will not need to designate a specific amount of money towards lunch. Students may and should still make all deposits in the morning before school. Price of breakfast is $.90. Students on free lunch also qualify for free breakfast. Students on reduced lunch will pay $.30 for breakfast.

Rules for Lunch

All students are provided 30 minutes to eat and participate in an activity.

Money my be placed in student's SNAP account in four ways: 1) For school lunch meals only; 2) For school lunch meals and a la carte food items; 3) For cash only to be spent as student desires for lunch and snack items; or 4) Breakfast account. As much money may be deposited in a student's account as desired. A student will be allowed only one borrow and this must be repaid the following day. Students may deposit money in their account before school each morning in the lunchroom. Student's wishing to deposit money at lunch, will be required to go to the end of the line.

Students may bring their lunch to school. They can bring can pops or purchase milk or juice. Re-sealable bottles are not acceptable for students to bring in their lunches.

Students are discouraged from having fast food delivered or brought to school during lunch hours.

Dawes is a closed campus school. Parents are discouraged from picking up their children and taking them out to lunch.

Lunch Room Guidelines

1. Stand in the lunch line with your hands and feet to yourself. Use conversational type voices while in line.

2. Remember to deposit money into your lunch account in the morning before school starts. If you are unable to do so before school, you will need to wait at the end of the lunch line and deposit your money into your account after all the other students have received their lunches.

3. Please find a seat at a table and stay there! DO NOT CHANGE YOUR SEAT ONCE YOU HAVE CHOSEN THAT SEAT.

4. Sit appropriately on the benches. Both legs are under the table. Examples of how not to sit:

• Do not put feet on the benches.

• Do not put legs in the aisles between tables.

• Do not sit on knees or feet on the benches.

5. Use a conversational type of voice in the lunchroom.

6. Every student has the responsibility to take their own lunch trays to the dish deposit window and to place the utensils, plates and bowls and the trays in their respected places at this window.

7. If you have trash, throw it away! There are two trash containers located at both ends of the lunchroom. This means that you do not throw trash under the tables.

8. Do not throw food or trash across the lunchroom or at people. This will result in disciplinary action.

Student Appearance Policy

Students are encouraged to dress in a manner which sends the message that school is a place of business for students. Clothing which distracts from a positive learning environment, is offensive to others, or exposes the body is inappropriate for school.

Administrator discretion will determine the appropriateness of clothing. A general guideline is to analyze the clothing in terms of the age of which children we serve. Ask yourself, "Is this contributing to a safe, productive, and positive learning climate for students in grades 6-8?" The following list is not complete. Additional items will be analyzed as the need arises. These are NOT allowed at Dawes;

1. Dress, which promotes, advocates, or advances drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Examples include: marijuana leaves on T-shirts, cigarette or alcohol or dining establishment ads or logos or other items determined by administration.

2. Dress which contains vulgar or offensive words or language, or is sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd - including those with a double meaning. Examples include: Coed Naked T-shirts, Big Johnson T-shirts, etc...

3. Dress which inappropriately reveals skin or undergarments. Examples include: boxer shorts showing above pants, crop tops with skin showing, tank tops with large arm holes, sport bras, short shorts, loose fitting overalls with crop tops, etc...

4. Dress which has been found to be gang related. Examples include: bandanas, sagging pants, homies T-shirts, etc...

5. Hats or coats. Examples include: baseball caps, bandanas, starter jackets, heavy coats, etc..

6. Gang Involvement- To maintain a safe and comfortable learning environment, gang involvement will not be tolerated. Gang signs, gang graffiti, or other signs of involvement will result in the following consequences:

First Offense - Student conference, parent contact, in- school suspension

Second Offense - Parent conference, out-of-school suspension

Third Offense - 5 days out-of-school suspension with a referral to student services for a possible long-term suspension or expulsion.

Public Displays of Affection

School is an environment where students and teachers are entitled to have a work environment that is distraction free. Public displays of affection are distractive and offensive to many people. Displays of affection are private feelings and should be done in private situations. Therefore the following guidelines are in effect at Dawes and fit into the Dawes Middle School Culture:

1. Students are expected to walk down the hall without touching anyone (this includes hand holding).

2. Inappropriate touching maybe addressed by any Dawes staff member.

3. The final decision on what inappropriate touching is will be left up to the discretion of the administration.

Network, E-mail, Internet and Other Computer Use Rules

Students using computers at Dawes are expected to:

1. Respect copyright laws, and not make unauthorized copies of software unless the original is clearly labeled shareware or in the public domain

2. Not intentionally access information that may be obscene or offensive toward any other individuals, nor place any such information on the network or internet.

3. Respect the security of any computer system or network and not try to gain unauthorized access to system programs, computer systems, or another person's files.

4. Not use the computer systems to disturb or harass other computer users.

5. Use the computer equipment to meet instructional objectives, and not as entertainment.

6. Not waste or take supplies, and print only when necessary to appropriate printers.

7. Not use the network for financial gain or any commercial or illegal activity.

8. Not engage in vandalism, including bypassing security systems, harming or destroying any data on the LPS network or the internet, or intentionally share computer viruses.

9. Understand that the Lincoln Public Schools is not responsible for any expenses incurred or purchases made while accessing any online service, such as the Internet.

10. Understand that violations of any of the above statements will make them subject to disciplinary action and can include immediate suspension of computer privileges.

Reporting Student Law Violations

Law violations that are committed at school are reported to law enforcement.