Parent Handbook

Fifth - Sixth Grade

Office: (610) 682-5131

Web Site: www.bhasd.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Middle School Office 610-682-5131

Guidance Office

Mrs. Kulp 610-682-5115

Mr. Schumacher 610-682-5132

Web Site www.bhasd.org

Support Personnel

Mrs. Kathy Johnson Principal

Mr. Edward Brooks Assistant Principal

Mr. Larry Schumacher Guidance Counselor

Mrs. Heather Kulp Guidance Counselor

Mr. Michael Barr Special Education Director

Mrs. Karen Dalfonso Speech Therapist

Mrs. Sharon Mutter Middle School Secretary

Mrs. Gail Gerlette Attendance Secretary

Mrs. Beth Adam Learning Support Aide

Mrs. LuAnn Bennecoff Learning Support Aide

Mrs. Nila Breneman Learning Support Aide

Mrs. Leanda Deisher Learning Support Aide

Mrs. Nancy Heffner Learning Support Aide

Mrs. Geri Leibensperger Office Aide

Mrs. Sue Merkel Learning Support Aide

Mrs. Patricia Weaver Learning Support Aide

Middle School Faculty

5^th Grade

Mr. Gerald McNabb

*Mrs. Tracy Reifsnyder

Miss Karen Rhode

Mrs. Sue Trupp

Mrs. Danielle Wells

6^th Grade Gray Team

Mr. Samuel Lovello

Miss Kristie Monshower

Mrs. Tracy Reader

6^th Grade Maroon Team

*Mrs. Kim Bonner

Mrs. Amy Rohrbach

Mrs. Kelly Womack

7^th Grade Gray Team

*Mrs. Janet Huston Social Studies

Mrs. Michelle McMullen Math

Mr. Jonathan Scheuer Learning Support

Mrs. Kelly Smith Science

Mrs. Marian Smith Reading

Mrs. Michelle Thompson Language Arts

7 & 8 Grade Maroon Team

Mrs. Cheryl Bleiler Language Arts

Mr. Matthew Donato Science

Mrs. Kathleen Hart Reading

Mrs. Mandi Kercher Social Studies

*Mr. Benjamin Tannous Math

Mrs. Sheldonia Weiler Learning Support

8^th Grade Gray Team

Mrs. Margaret Kennedy Language Arts

Mrs. Michele Kissinger Learning Support

Mr. Karl Kotsch Social Studies

Mr. Benjamin Stephens Science

*Mrs. Erica Whalen Math

Mr. Thomas Whalen Reading

Encore Teachers

Mrs. Marie Ballantyne Librarian

Mrs. Pam Clees Art

Mrs. Joyce Esser Family and Consumer Sciences

Mr. Philip Forlano Music/Band

Mrs. Kelly Hish Learning Support

Mrs. Jean Jones Art

Mr. Gene Kobielnik Latin

Mrs. Nicole Konyak Computers

Mr. Jeff Lapp Physical Education

Mrs. Jamie Nawrocki Autistic Support

Mrs. Dawn Schwenk Nurse

Mr. Steven Schwoyer Music/Band

Mrs. Martha Smith Health

Miss Ashleah Snyder Learning Support

Mrs. Joanne Telenko Learning Support

Mrs. Audrey Tucker Music/Chorus

Mrs. Lisa Weidemoyer Gifted

Mrs. Theresa Woloszanski Physical Education

* Team Leader

MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

PHILOSOPHY

Brandywine Heights Middle School has a deep commitment to the education of our students. Our curriculum provides our students with an integrated and comprehensive course of study, along with opportunities for exploratory learning.

TEAMING

Students are grouped into interdisciplinary teams for instruction in core subject areas. Core area teachers meet regularly to plan integrated lessons and facilitate student academic success. The teams set up in the following manner:

Fifth Grade: Two teacher teams

Miss Rhode with Mrs. Trupp

Mrs. Reifsnyder with Mrs. Wells

Mr. McNabb

Sixth Grade Maroon Team: Mrs. Bonner

Mrs. Rohrbach

Mrs. Womack

Sixth Grade Gray Team: Mr. Lovello

Miss Monshower

Mrs. Reader

Seventh Grade Gray Team: Mrs. Huston

Mrs. McMullen

Mr. Scheuer

Mrs. K. Smith

Mrs. M. Smith

Mrs. Thompson

Eighth Grade Gray Team: TBD

Mrs. Kennedy

Mr. Kotsch

Mr. Stephens

Mrs. Whalen

Mr. Whalen

Seventh/Eighth Grade Split Maroon Team: Mrs. Bleiler

Mr. Donato

Mrs. Hart

Mrs. Kercher

Mr. Tannous

Mrs. Weiler

PHYSICAL EDUCATION / SPORTS

CLASS GUIDELINES

Fifth and sixth grade students should come to school with appropriate gym

clothes and sneakers. Sweat clothing is advisable for cool weather.

Bringing valuables to class is discouraged, and the responsibility for

loss of personal possessions resides with each student. For safety reasons, students are

expected to remove all jewelry.

If a student is injured or ill, a note from home will excuse the

student from active participation for that day. The student, however, will be required to

participate in class in an inactive capacity (i.e. scorekeeper, referee, or helper). A

doctor’s certificate is required to excuse a student from three or more consecutive

classes.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS

SCHOOL NURSE

Your child’s health and well being are the primary concern of our school nurse. Parents must complete an emergency card for their children each year to remain on file with the school nurse. This card will come home the first day of school and should be returned by the second day of school. Allergies, medications your child may be taking daily, and/or any special medical conditions of the child should be listed on the card. Throughout the year, please make the nurse aware of any changes in address, phone numbers, or health information.

It is important that students are in the best physical condition while in school. State mandated height, weight, BMI, and vision screenings are performed annually. Hearing screenings are also performed in 7^th grade. Early in spring of 5^th and 6^th grade, parents will be reminded of PA State mandated physical exams for 6^th grade and dental exams for 7^th grade. If you wish to have your child examined by the school dentist or school physician, you must return the completed consent form to the nurse by the date stated in the letter. The school dentist, physician, and nurse WILL NOT do the exam without the completed consent form. If you wish to have your family dentist or physician perform a private exam, the private physical form must be completed and returned to the nurse by the date stated in the letter. Any exams one year prior to the entry of the required year will be accepted.

All immunization requirements must be met prior to the first day of school to avoid exclusion of your child from school. Your child may be admitted provisionally if proof of at least one dose of the required immunization has been administered. A copy of an official immunization record or note from your child’s physician must be provided. A plan for completion of the remaining immunizations must be submitted to the school nurse. All children Kindergarten through 12^th grade must have at least 4 properly spaced doses of Diphtheria-Tetanus (1^st shot on or after child’s fourth birthday), 3 properly spaced doses of polio, 2 properly spaced measles or MMR (1^st dose administered at 12 months of age or older), 3 properly spaced Hepatitis B immunizations, and Varicella Immunity (proof of disease or vaccine administered at 12 months of age or older). If your child has not received immunizations due to religious or medical reasons, please discuss reasons with the school nurse and she will inform you of the required signatures needed on your child’s immunization certificate on file at school.

Whenever a child is still ill after one rest period in the nurses office, he or she will either be returned to class, released to you, or the emergency contact person may be called to come pick him/her up. The Parent, or designated contact person, should report to the nurse’s suite to personally pick the child up from school. Because of liability, NO STUDENT will be allowed to walk home when the nurse determines they are too ill or injured to remain in school. Someone must pick them up and be able to care for them. It is very important, when possible, to choose an emergency contact person, or neighbor or relative, who lives close by and does not work.

When your child is not feeling well, please take the time to assess whether your child should come to school or stay at home. Please do not send them to school ill. This may jeopardize the health of other students. If you decide to send your child to school, there are PA State Guidelines the nurse follows, and based on the nurse’s assessment she will determine if the child may remain or is too ill to stay in school.

Our medication policy remains the same. A medication form will be sent home on the first day of school. Additional forms are also available on the BHASD website. Keep this form in a safe place in case your child needs either over-the-counter or prescription medication during school hours. As school nurses, we will not be able to give your son/daughter any medication (including over-the-counter), without this form completed and signed by the parent and prescribing physician. All medication must be in the original container identifying the child, the medication, the dosage, and the prescribing physician. We would like to encourage the parents to directly deliver any medication to the school nurse. Please do not send medication with your child on the bus.

Healthy children are better learners. Please make sure you encourage your child to eat breakfast and make healthy choices.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAP)

The SAP team is a program whose purpose is to identify students who are having problems in school because of drug or alcohol abuse (personal or family) or due to emotional and/or mental health reasons. The SAP team is an intervention program, not a treatment program.

Students may be referred by teachers or other school personnel, parents or other students. Once a student has been identified, he/she is referred to an appropriate agency for help. The team provides the student and his/her family with information and resources to help the student understand and resolve the problem. The SAP team is comprised of teachers, administrators, the counselors and the nurse. SAP team members have undergone special training to work with these students.

STUDENT ADVISORY

One of the components of successful Middle Schools is the existence of a student advisory program. The primary purpose of the student advisory is to allow every student in the school to have an adult faculty contact to offer assistance and support for the students’ academic progress and school success. Each BHMS student is assigned a faculty advisor (homeroom teacher) at the beginning of the year. Homerooms meet every day in the morning and once a month for an extended period to address advisory issues.

TUTORING

Students in danger of failing for any marking period may be referred by teachers or parents for tutoring. Students who receive below 70% in any core area subject will attend mandatory tutoring, remediation and/or study support until their grade improves. This temporary assignment will replace the elective activity they signed up for at the beginning of the year. Tutoring is provided by the middle school. At any time during the year parents and/or students may schedule tutoring. Requests can be made through the guidance office. Mrs. Heather Kulp is the counselor for 5^th grade and the 6M team and can be reached at (610) 682-5115. Mr. Larry Schumacher is the counselor for the 6G team, 7^th grade and 8^th grade and can be reached at (610) 682-5132.

LIBRARY

The library is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Books may be checked out for four weeks. Current issues of magazines, reference and reserve books, and audio-visual materials may be signed out overnight and are due back at the start of school the next day. Back issues of magazines may be checked out for two weeks. There is a 5 cent per day fine for regular books, and 25 cent per day fine for overnight materials, with a maximum fine of $3. Photocopies may be made for 10 cents per copy. Lost materials should be reported immediately, and must be paid for. Internet use is available to all students unless otherwise notified in writing from parents/guardians.

LUNCH PROGRAM

The middle school serves a “Type A” lunch every day that students may purchase for $2.25. Salad bar selections and a la carte items may also be purchased. Extra items, such as ice cream, juice, etc., may be purchased after the meal has been served. It is the parent’s responsibility to see that the students buy or bring a nourishing meal. A child’s health and progress in school depend a great deal on the food they eat.

All children eating in school must eat in the room provided for that purpose. Rules for behavior are set up for the lunch room, and students are expected to follow these rules.

The Brandywine Heights School District will provide free or reduced priced lunches under the Federal Type A School Lunch Program to eligible children in accordance with the procedures established and approved by the Board of School Directors and the Department of Education. Free or reduced lunch applications are available in the middle school office or the business office at all times. Approved or denied applications will be returned within 10 school days after submission to the school. If you have any questions when completing the application, you may call the cafeteria manager in the business office. School menus and a la carte price lists are subject to change during the school year. Lunch prices will be published in the school newsletter as changes occur. The monthly lunch menu will be included in the Pipeline and sent home with students the third Tuesday of each month.

Brandywine Heights Middle School uses a computerized Point of Sale payment system for purchasing school meals. Every student has their own personal ID number which serves as an access to their personal debit account. Any questions regarding this system or the lunch menus may be referred to the cafeteria manager by calling the school at (610) 682-5114.

BUS TRANSPORTATION

Each child is assigned to a particular bus, and may be assigned to a particular seat on that bus, at the driver’s or school’s discretion. Postcards notifying each child’s bus stop will be mailed to homes late August. Students are not permitted to ride a bus other than the one they normally ride except for emergency reasons. Written requests to change buses must be made to the transportation department or principal three (3) days in advance. Video cameras with sound are placed on the school buses and are rotated frequently.

BUS STOP RULES

Students waiting for the bus shall respect the rights of property owners. Children shall enter the bus quickly and in an orderly manner. Parents shall be responsible for the behavior of their children before the bus arrives. Students should be at their assigned bus stops approximately 8 to 10 minutes before bus arrival time.

BEHAVIOR ON THE BUS

1. The bus driver is in complete charge while students are on the bus and will report any misconduct to the school principal. If misconduct continues, the parent will be notified and the student may be denied the privilege of riding the bus.

2. If a student willfully damages a bus, the student and/or his/her parents will be held responsible for the cost of the repairs.

3. All riders shall remain seated when the bus is in motion.

4. All riders shall remain completely inside the bus at all times.

5. All riders shall carry on conversation in a normal tone of voice. Shouting distracts the driver.

6. Littering the bus with food or other debris, throwing objects, scuffling, fighting, or using obscene language will not be tolerated.

Because of our concern for the physical safety of students who ride the bus, it is necessary that strict adherence to regulations must be observed. Penalties will be imposed for misbehavior. The first offense will initiate a warning to students and parent notification. The second offense will cause a three (3) day suspension from the bus. The third, and any subsequent offenses, will mandate a parent conference. Students will then risk exclusion from the school bus for the remainder of the year.

GRADING SYSTEM

All student grades will be recorded as numerical percentages.

· A percentage of 70 or higher is a passing grade.

· If students earn an average below 55% for the first, second, or third marking period, a minimum grade of 55 will be listed on the report card rather than the actual average earned.

· For the mid-term exam, final exam and fourth quarter, all recorded report card grades will represent the actual grade earned by the student.

A student will not receive credit for classes they fail for the year. Parents are encouraged to monitor student grades throughout the year and check report cards each quarter. In addition, illegal absences will have an impact on a student’s marking period grade. The middle school consequence for illegal absences will be a 2.2% deduction from a student’s marking period report card grade for each excuse blank not turned in within three days of the absence. Returning excuse blanks in a timely manner will eliminate the need for this consequence. Intervention with tutoring or extra help during the year can reduce the occurrence of year failures. To request tutoring, contact the guidance office.

There are two honor rolls in the Middle School. To qualify, a student must achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or better for Honors Status. Students who receive a GPA of 3.85 or better will be placed on the Distinguished Honor Roll. Listed below are the grade percentages with their honor points:

%	GPA	%	GPA	%	GPA
100	4.33	89	3.48	78	2.62
99	4.25	88	3.40	77	2.54
98	4.17	87	3.32	76	2.47
97	4.10	86	3.24	75	2.39
96	4.02	85	3.17	74	2.31
95	3.94	84	3.09	73	2.23
94	3.86	83	3.01	72	2.16
93	3.79	82	2.93