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It is expected that all students will attend school
regularly and punctually. Regular school attendance is vitally important. It
promotes successful learning as well as development of the habits needed for
the responsibilities of adult life especially in the workplace. Although it may
be possible to make up reading and written assignments, it is not possible to
replicate teacher-directed lessons, class discussions, laboratory experiences,
etc. Missing this instruction may adversely affect the student’s learning and
therefore her/his grades. Students and sponsors are responsible for ensuring
that students arrive on time and attend classes regularly unless they are ill,
have medical or dental appointments, have followed procedures outlined below
for Advanced Notification and Request for Excused Absence, or an emergency occurs. Excessive absences or
tardies will result in disciplinary action.
Five or more unexcused absences in any quarter will result in
a mandatory conference between parent, student and the administration. Extended unexcused absences will be reported
to the base agency and Family Advocacy.
Students will not be
allowed to leave campus without a parent present to check them out. Prior arrangements can be made with the
administration via the telephone.
Parents must sign students out during the school day in the office
logbook and sign them back in upon their return that day. If students are needed for appointments
during the day, parents should provide their student with a signed note stating
what time the parents will come to pick their student up in the office. The student then shows this note to the
teacher and will be released to the office for pick-up. This precludes interruptions to class
instruction.
Contacting
your Child at School
Unexcused Absence or Tardiness
Examples of unexcused absence or tardiness are oversleeping,
missing the bus, walking the dog, baby-sitting, going home for forgotten
homework or school materials, having to take the late shuttle because of suspension,
or not having a parent call the school when a student will be absent or late.
Students whose absences or tardies are unexcused will be allowed to make up
work; however appropriate disciplinary action may occur.
After an absence, students should check with all of their
teachers to make sure that work missed is completed. It is the student’s
responsibility to take care of all make-up work. Failure to do so may result in
a failing grade. Each individual teacher will determine make-up procedures in
his/her class. The rule for time allowed for making up class work due to an
absence will be as many days as the student was absent. Cases of prolonged illness or family trips
will be given special consideration. In such cases, assignments may be obtained
through the office.
Advanced Notification and Request
for Excused Absence
If a student/sponsor desires to request that class work be provided during a prolonged absence,
the request must be submitted through the office at least three days prior to departure. When the class work has been
provided, it must be completed and returned to each teacher within the first two days after the student’s
return to school. If it is not turned in as required, all assignments may be
recorded as a failing grade in the grade book. Students will be required to
sign a memorandum of understanding to this effect with the office prior to
departure. Please note, if a family requests Advanced Notification and Request
for Excused Absence after the established authorized departure date for PCSing
families and/or will not be returning until after the last day of school, no
class work will be provided and students will receive a grade to date for the
quarter. If this is the case, students will be expected to turn in all textbooks
and materials, clear their locker, and clear the media center before leaving.
Tardiness during the School Day
Students who are late to class miss the teacher’s
introduction of the lesson, initial instruction, and/or expectations for that
day. They also disrupt instruction for the other students in the class.
Unexcused tardiness during the school day is recorded as a violation of the
school rules. The teacher (s) will
contact the parents to notify them that the student is repeatedly tardy. If the problem is not resolved, the student
will be referred to the administration and appropriate disciplinary action will
occur.
The honor roll will be posted after each nine week marking
period. A failing or D grade in any
subject automatically disqualifies the student from the honor roll, regardless
of the grade point average. The honor
roll is divided into three levels.
|
Level |
Grade Point
Average |
|
Principal’s Honor Roll |
4.00 |
|
High Honor Roll |
3.50 - 3.99 |
|
Honor Roll |
3.00 - 3.49 |
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
The Seoul American Middle School National Honor Society is
open to any student who qualifies for membership as described by the NJHS
by-laws. A student must maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average in order to
be considered for membership and to remain as a member. Selection is by the
faculty based on the scholarship, character, leadership, and service criteria
published by the National Junior Honor Society. NJHS students are required to
attend regular meetings and to complete an annual service project. Selection to
the
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
Certificates are
given only to the exiting grade from middle school (grade 8). The
criteria for this award are as follows:
B+ average: The
overall B+ average is composed of all grades in the school including the fall
semester of
the final year. It is equivalent to a
3.5 on a 4.0 point scale or 85 on a 100-point scale.
test scores:
Standardized Achievement Test Battery Score is at the 85th Percentile.
The battery must be from
the current or preceding academic year
and include both verbal and mathematical skills.
Participation in school dances is limited to those students
currently enrolled at SAMS. Deadlines
will be imposed after which students may not enter the dance. School dress
codes will be maintained. Once a student leaves the dance, he/she will not be
permitted to re-enter and must immediately leave the campus. Parents are
responsible for students’ transportation home immediately after school dances.
The hot lunch program is provided by AAFES. School lunch
menus are prepared using available commodities and available kitchen equipment.
All lunches served meet the USDA pattern meal requirements to provide
approximately one third of a student’s daily nutrition needs. Parents may set
up a lunch account at the Cashiers Cage in the main PX. Once an account is set
up, the student will receive a PIN number to use when ordering lunch. Students
should memorize the PIN number and not share the PIN number with other
students. Please note that it is a violation of regulations for students to
let other students use their lunch PIN numbers. The privilege to purchase
lunch by PIN numbers may be revoked by AAFES in such cases. Students may
additionally purchase ala carte entries. Students must use cash for these ala
carte purchases. PIN numbers are not accepted for ala carte items.
Cafeteria Conduct
Students who intend to eat lunch will enter the cafeteria
through the entrance door only. They will then (1) get in line to buy lunch, or
purchase food a la carte, or (2) find a seat to eat their sack lunch. Students
must get in line immediately if they are buying a lunch, eating a la carte, or
purchasing a drink. This insures that all students will be served a lunch
before anyone is allowed to buy a second lunch. Students will treat the
cafeteria personnel with respect at all times.
No cutting in line is allowed. Anyone caught cutting or
allowing other students to cut will be sent to the end of the line. Once
seated, students will remain seated until they finish their lunches. There will
be no table hopping, standing to eat, food throwing, or eating off of other
students’ plates. It is also understood that shouting, yelling, screaming,
running, play fighting, or other such activities are prohibited. Once finished,
students will be responsible for cleaning their area and placing all trash and
lunch trays in the proper receptacles. When returning trays to the designated
window, students will be expected to stack the trays correctly, fitting them
one on top of the other. Students who elect an outdoor break option will then
be expected to depart the cafeteria through the exit door with all their
possessions.
The daily schedule includes a 20-minute morning
"Nutrition Break" from
Lunch break options include remaining in the courtyard where
students may sit and stand to visit with friends, the basketball courts, the
library, or staying in the cafeteria. In the cafeteria students must remain
seated once they have cleared their tables. Table-hopping is not allowed.
Normally, the cafeteria is opened to students at 0745. On rainy days/snow days, the cafeteria will
be opened at 0730 to accommodate students. During rainy day/snow day lunch
break, students must remain in the cafeteria during their normally scheduled
break period. On rainy days/snow days, crowded conditions require that students
remain seated and visit with their friends once they have finished their lunch
and cleared their table. It will remain in force throughout all lunch periods
unless rescinded by the administration, weather permitting.
Books, keys, coats, etc., which are found in the building or
on the campus should be turned in to the office. Larger lost items are placed
in the supply room. Smaller lost items such as keys or glasses can be claimed
in the office. Unclaimed lost and found items will be given to charity
organizations during winter, spring and summer recesses.
Parents and students
are strongly encouraged to mark clothing especially hats and jackets and school
supplies with the student’s name. Since many students’ possessions are
purchased at the same BX/PX, it is often difficult or impossible to determine
the rightful owner of unmarked property.
Loss of personal
property due to theft by other students is a serious matter. Students should
take all possible precautions to safeguard their property. At all times lockers
(book and PE) must be secured with a lock.
Students should not share their lock combinations and keys or lockers with
peers. Additionally, they should not leave personal items unattended. If a
theft does occur, it should be reported in writing to the main office. Standard
procedure is to attempt to resolve issues of this nature at the school level.
In our experience, the majority of items lost or stolen are located within
twenty-four hours. The military police will only be called when the
administration deems it appropriate. However, parents may wish to file an
official report with the military police on their own. The school will
cooperate fully in investigations involving theft of personal property.
All
visitors are required to check into the main office before
entering the school and sign out on their departure. Although guests
are welcomed, former
Parents are always
welcome to visit classrooms. These visits should be planned with the teacher or
administration prior to the scheduled day. This would include parents that want
to "look in," "check on," or spend the day with their
child. There are times when parents are scheduled to participate in a class
activity, this is encouraged. However, parents are not allowed to question
their child’s peers on community or personal issues when on school grounds.
Books and Other School Property
Textbooks are
furnished free of charge. However, students are held financially responsible
for loss or damage of these books. For any missing text book or library book
that is lost, a loss of government property
letter will be issued to the sponsor with DD Form 1131. Payment for missing
books will be due within three weeks at the Disbursing Office of Accounting and
Finance with DD Form 1131 for lost or damaged books. If the book is found,
parents must bring the book and paid receipt to the school supply office for
reimbursement to occur. Actual
reimbursement will come from the Yongson Finance Office, not SAMS. Students are
required to sign for books and must return the same numbered books when
withdrawing or at the end of the school year. Sponsors are also responsible for
payment in case of loss or damage to laboratory equipment, audio visual
equipment, computer materials, musical instruments, and any other school
property or equipment which may be lost or damaged.
Students may ride bicycles to school but not on school
grounds during the school day, before school, or at dismissal. Students are to
get off their bicycles at the curb by the street and walk them to the bike
racks. Bicycles must be locked.
Bus
Transportation and Discipline
School busses arrive to school at 0745 hours at which time
students will be dismissed to the school courtyard to await the start of school
at 0755 hours.
Inquiries about bus
routes or about delays in a student's arrival home after school should be
directed to the PACTMO at 738-5032. The school does not have this information.
Although school staff
members assist and counsel students on bus misconduct, military authorities
still have primary responsibility for regular school bus discipline. Complaints
about regular bus misconduct should be made to the bus barn. After school
activity bus discipline is the responsibility of school administration. Suspension for misconduct on regular
buses will also result in suspension from after-school activity buses and vice
versa.. After school activity bus misconduct may also result in the
right of a student to participate in after school activities.
Emergency and Evacuation
Procedures
In case of fire drill, or other emergency evacuation
procedure, a loud continuous ringing bell will be sounded. Students will follow the evacuation plan
posted in the room and leave the room in an expeditious and orderly
manner. Students are not to return to classrooms during or after emergency
evacuation procedures until given permission by an appropriate authority.
Emergency evacuation
procedures will be practiced every week during the first month of school and
every other month thereafter.