Bucksport Middle School - Bucksport, Maine USA

BUCKSPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL
.....where All students Can and Do learn

The following information is for new students and parents as well as to remind past students and parents of some of the expectations, procedures and schedules here at Bucksport Middle School.
ATTENDANCE
Students may not enter the building until 7:40 am. Students being dropped off should be dropped off at the 1st entrance area to the school (on the left as you approach the school) no earlier than 7:40 am. Please do not park in this area as Spec. Ed. buses will be dropping students off as well as picking up students at the end of the day in this space. Attendance is taken at 8:00 am and students that arrive after that time will be marked as tardy. All tardy students are required to sign in at the office with a written excuse, unless a parent/adult is signing the student in. NOTE: A student with three tardies will be expected to serve an after school detention. If your child is absent from school, please call the office. Phone calls are made in regards to absent students and if we are not able to reach a parent/guardian, the absences are unexcused. Also please be aware that a New Middle School Attendance Policy is being drafted and may be adopted for this school year.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM
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.
MEDICATIONS
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.
SPORTS AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
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.
COMMUNICATION
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
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.

18 ABSENCE RULE

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.

EXCEPTIONS

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.

NOTIFICATION PROCESS

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.

TARDIES
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.)

APPEAL PROCESS

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

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100 Miles Lane PO Box 910 Bucksport, Me 04416
Phone (207) 469-6647 Fax (207) 469-2068
www.bucksportschools.com

April 28   Hotwings w/curly fries, pizza, chicken salad sandwich
April 29   Chicken grills w/mini pretzels, pizza, chef's salad, ham & cheese sandwich
April 30   Pasta bar: Rotini w/choice of cheese sauce, alfredo sauce, or spaghetti sauce, super sub
May 1   Hot dog & beans w/biscuit, pizza, ham & cheese bagel
May    2 Cheese sticks w/sauce, pizza, blt w/chees
May    5    Popcorn chicken w/fries, pizza, turkey italians
May    6    Mexican nachos w/hamburg, salsa, nacho cheese, pizza, chef's salad, chicken salad sandwich
May    7    Spaghetti w/meatballs, fresh roll, pizza, super sub
May    8    Teriyaki chicken dippers w/garlic roasted potatoes & hot veggies, pizza, club sandwich
May    9    Spicy chicken burger w/chips, pizza, turkey 'n' cheese wrap
May 12    Ravioli w/fresh roll, pizza, ham italian
May 13    Taco w/rice pilaf, pizza, chef's salad, egg salad sandwich
May 14    Lasagna roll ups w/fresh roll, pizza, make-your-own-sandwich bar
May 15    Sweet 'n' sour meatballs w/rice & egg roll, pizza, bagel calzone sandwich
May 16    Cheeseburger w/chips, pizza, chicken salad sandwich
May 19    Hotwings w/oven fries, pizza, turkey italian
May 20   Quesadilla w/rice pilaf, pizza, chef's salad, flatbread sandwich
May 21    Pasta bar: Rotini w/choice of cheese sauce, alfredo sauce, or spaghetti sauce, pizza, super sub
May 22    Country oven-fried chicken w/roasted potatoes & corn, pizza, club sandwich
May 23    BBQ ribs w/chips, pizza, ham & cheese bagel
May 26 MEMORIAL DAY--NO SCHOOL
May 27    Chicken nuggets w/oven fries, pizza, ham italian
May 28    Cheesy chicken alfredo over noodles w/roll, pizza, ham & cheese w/bacon on english muffin
May 29    Manicotti w/fresh roll, pizza, club sandwich
May 30    Hot dog w/chips, pizza, ham & cheese sandwich

   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.

Bucksport High School	Bucksport Middle School
G Herbert Jewett School	Miles Lane School