Breakfast and lunch are available to all students at BMS. Both breakfast and lunch are available in the regular meal form as well as additional a-la-carte items that may be purchased. Vending machines with milk, juices, bottled water as well as healthy snacks are available to students prior to the start of school, at lunchtime, and after school.
      Bucksport Middle School uses a computerized breakfast and lunch program. The cost for lunch is $1.75; reduced lunch will be 40 cents a day. The cost for breakfast is 75 cents and reduced price will be 35 cents a day. A-la-cart items will be an extra cost. Pre-payment of estimated meal costs for at least two weeks is suggested. Students are encouraged to take their breakfast/lunch money directly to the dining room upon arrival at school (teachers do not collect lunch money). Checks should be made payable to Bucksport School Lunch Program. Student account balances are available from the Food Services Program. Please remember that charging of meals is not allowed. Weekly menus are given to students on Friday for the following week.

     If your child requires medication during school hours, and a doctor has prescribed it, you may drop prescription medication off at the school one week prior to school starting. The quantity of medication accepted at a time can not exceed two weeks in quantity. The medication must be in the original container and accompanied by a doctor’s written order.
     Over the counter medication must be in the original container with written instructions for administering the medication from the parent and/or guardian. Forms for both of these types of medication are available from the office or clinic. Students are not permitted to transport medication on the bus or to school themselves with the exception of inhalers.

     Students should make after school arrangements with parents/others prior to arrival at school. Students that have a change in where they will be dropped off via the bus, will be walking somewhere specific, or will be staying after school for an activity should bring a written note stating that change. You may also call the school to verbally make a change. A change in destination slip will be given to students at the end of the day to confirm the new plans.
      BMS policy is that students go home the same way they came to school unless the school is otherwise notified. If there is a change in or cancellation of an activity or sporting event it will be recorded on the BMS phone system. Just push option # 4 on the phone menu.

      Please do not hesitate to contact the BMS office at 469-6647 (menu option #5) with your questions/concerns. Teachers have a phone in their classrooms but we strive to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum during the school day. If you have access to e-mail that is an excellent way to communicate directly with your child’s teacher(s).

      The school newsletter is mailed home once a month.

      Student athletes are given practice/games schedules by their coaches. Athletic game schedules are posted on the school district’s web site. Select the Athletics link.   

     The school calendar and district dress code policy will be posted on the Bucksport School System District Calendar that is available at the www.bucksportschools.com website.

      If you have concerns or questions in regards to busing, contact the Laidlaw Bus Company at 469-7673.

     Cell phones are not permitted at BMS in backpacks, lockers, etc. If your student should need one because of communication needs for an after school activity they must leave it in the office and pick it up at the end of the school day.  Noncompliance will result in detention and suspension for multiple offenses.  

Bucksport Middle School

ATTENDANCE POLICY

     Maintaining high standards of attendance creates opportunities for greater levels of success.  Research clearly indicates that students having poor attendance tend to also demonstrate poor academic performance.  Some work missed during absences can be made up with relative ease yet quite often when students are absent they miss the context, the richness and the depth of discussions and instruction that enhance students' learning.  The School Board feels strongly that parents and students must take an active role in monitoring school attendance and making it a high priority.

     In accordance with Maine State Law, students are required to attend school until the age of seventeen, unless specifically listed conditions under the law are met.  Local school committees have the option of adopting local policies that can be added to the basic state regulations.  The following recommendations are in addition to the Maine State attendance laws.

      1. A student that accumulates in excess of 18 absences for the school year which is a rate of greater than 10% absenteeism will be required to successfully complete a summer school session.  Failure to successfully complete a summer school session will result in a student remaining in their same grade for the next year.
      2. Absences for the sake of this policy occur cumulatively throughout the school year and are not distinguished as being "excused" or "unexcused" but rather are simply viewed as absences.
      3. Realizing that medical or dental appointment times are now often a matter of health care providers' schedules as opposed to parents' wishes, these missed classes will nonetheless be included as part of the policy.  Absenteeism as a direct result of personal illness will also be included under this policy subject to the same consequences as outlined in this policy.  Most reasons for absences will also fall into the same affected category including, but not being limited to, general illness, appointments of all types, extra vacation, truancy and unforeseen circumstances.  Missing more than 18 days within a school year is excessive and will result in a student having additional time to improve the skills that were missed during the regular school year due to absences.

     1. The only exempted circumstances, in other words those not affected by the policy, include an illness or injury that incapacitates a student and is accompanied by a physician's note.  This note must state the exact day(s) that the physician excuses the student for.  Also, absences that result from ongoing or perhaps chronic medical problems when accompanied by a doctor's note will be waived.

      2. School planned trips or activities which require that students miss classes, will not be counted as absences.

     1. Students who have been absent, upon returning to school, should provide a note from a parent indicating the reason for the absence if the office was not contacted on the day(s) of absence(s).  The school will make every effort to contact parents the morning of their son's/daughter's absence. 

     It is extremely important for students to be on time for the beginning of their school day.  Tardiness is disruptive to the student because it creates a hurried mindset involving "catching-up" on missed work and information.  It is disruptive to fellow students and teachers who are already engaged in the learning process.  Existing procedures require student athletes to be in full attendance each school day in order to participate in practices or games.  Additionally, students who are tardy three times must serve after school detention.  Being on time at school prepares students for the expectation of being on time for the many aspects of day-to-day life.  (Please note that the principal may waive a tardy that results from unavoidable, scheduled medical appointments as long as the office receives a copy of the verified medical appointment.)

     Parents of a student who exceeds the absence limit may appeal their case by meeting with the building principal.  The principal will give fair consideration to the proposal.  A denied appeal may then be appealed to the Superintendent of Bucksport Schools.  If that appeal is denied, the appeal may then be scheduled on the agenda of the next school board meeting at the parents' request.  Parents or guardians will be expected to be present with the student at this hearing.

Revised
9-6-06

September  1  Labor Day--No School
September   2   Breaded chicken burger w/chips, pizza turkey sub
September   3   Stuffed shells w/fresh roll, pizza, chicken salad
September   4   Quesadilla, rice pilaf, pizza, meatball sub
September   5   BBQ rib sandwich w/chips, pizza, club sandwich
September   8   Popcorn chicken w/fries, pizza, ham sub
September   9   American chop suey, w/fresh roll, pizza, chef's salad, toasted ham & cheese sandwich
September 10   Manicotti w/fresh roll, pizza, flatbread sandwich
September 11   Spicy chicken burgers w/chips, pizza, "make-your-own sandwich"
September 12   Cheese sticks w/sauce, pizza, blt's w/cheese
September 15   Chicken nuggets w/fries, pizza, ham italians
September 16   Sloppy joe, rice pilaf, pizza, chef's salad, egg salad sandwich
September 17   Mexican nachos w/hamburg, salsa & nacho cheese, pizza, super sub
September 18   Spaghetti w/italian sauce & fresh roll, pizza, bagel pizza calzone
September 19   Chicken grills w/cheese & chips, pizza, blt's w/cheese
September 22   Teriyaki chicken dippers w/fries, pizza, ham sub
September 23   Mac & cheese w/hot dog, pizza, chef's salad, bologna & cheese sandwich
September 24   Chicken pot pie, rice pilaf, pizza, tuna salad sandwich
September 25   Chicken cordon bleu sandwich w/pretzels, pizza, "make-your-own-sandwich"
September 26   Steak-ums & cheese, pizza, super sub

   Nutritionally, school lunches are planned to meet one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.  School lunch meets this requirement and only 30% of its calories come from fat. 

    All school lunches are subsidized by the federal government, even those for which students pay 'full price.'  Also, the Bucksport School Department's meals program receives government commodities for all student meals.