7th and 8th Grade
Classroom Guidelines
2015-2016 School Year
Ms. Dawkins, 7A
jdawkins@aacademy.org
Mrs. Rockhold, 7B
crockhold@aacademy.org
Ms. McNamara, 8A
nmcnamara@aacademy.org
Mrs. Horsford, 8B
bhorsford@aacademy.org
Mr. Skogseth
jskogseth@aacademy.org
Welcome to the new year! We look forward to an exciting and challenging year ahead. There
are a few guidelines we would like you to know about and follow to ensure a positive learning
environment for all.
Homework
Homework will be given periodically Monday through Friday to ensure your comprehension of
material. Homework needs to be completed on time. We encourage parents to check your
agenda to see that you are keeping up. All homework needs to be turned in at the beginning of
class. If you did not complete the work you will be assigned to homework workshop that night.
The missing work is expected to be completed in homework workshop for full credit. If it isn’t
completed in homework workshop, it should be turned in the next day for reduced credit.
Please note that homework workshop now ends at 4:00 p.m. Also, parents may decline
homework workshop for their student. (See page 29-30 in the Parent/Student Handbook for
more information.)
Assignment Postings
Homework assignments will be posted on the board and on each teacher’s home page. You are
required to write these assignments in your agenda, and we will check periodically to see that
you have done this. If you are absent, you have 2 days for each day you were absent to turn in
missed assignments. (For example, if you miss a Tuesday due to an excused absence, you have
until Friday morning to turn in any missing assignments.) It is the student’s responsibility to
get any work missed due to absence.
Progress Reports
Progress reports will be given halfway through each trimester. These must be signed and
returned by the end of the week to your homeroom teacher. Missing assignment reports will
be distributed periodically. These do not need to be returned signed.
SOAR Academy
Beginning 4 weeks into the school year, if you have a D or an F in any core class, you will be
assigned to SOAR Academy in order to get help from a teacher during Academy time. You will
stay in this Academy until the grade for that class changes to at least a C. If you must attend
SOAR Academy, you will attend for the entire week.
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Discipline/Classroom Management
As stated in the Parent/Student Handbook, students are expected to be prepared, take
responsibility for their choices, treat people and property with respect, and follow AAC Code of
Conduct. If you choose to disregard these guidelines in the classroom, you will be warned to
change your behavior. If the poor choice is repeated, a Behavior Reflection will be issued and
parent notification will occur. Below is a summary of the 4-step progression of the new
discipline policy.
1st minor behavior infraction in one week with
same staff member
2nd minor behavior infraction in one week with
same staff member
3rd minor behavior infraction in one week with
same staff member
4th minor behavior infraction in one week with
same staff member
Behavior Reflection sheet and parent contact
Behavior Reflection sheet plus disciplinary
activities and parent contact
Office Referral completed in the main office
and parent contact
1 point Demerit plus Behavior Reflection
sheet plus disciplinary activities and parent
contact
Please refer to pages 12-19 for further details of the discipline policy.
Miscellaneous
During the day, students who report late to class without a pass will be marked tardy. Similarly,
if you do not have needed materials (e.g., paper, pencil, text book, agenda) we will note that.
After whole-group and individual warnings, if you are tardy or come to class without needed
materials, you will fill out a Behavior Reflection per the new discipline policy. Subsequent
offenses will result in continuation through the discipline steps.
Since middle school students have the later lunch time slots, a snack time is permitted at the
beginning of 4th period for 7th and 8th graders. Snacks should be healthy and may be
accompanied with water only (no juice, Gatorade, soda, etc.). Students may not share or
exchange food.
Please note the school policy about paperwork requiring parent/guardian signature. If an item
(such as a behavior reflection, infraction notice, office referral, progress report or permission
slip) is not returned on time, a parent is contacted to make arrangements for the item to be
returned. If the item is not turned in by the following day, the student will report to the office,
where administration will contact a parent to resolve the issue. (See page 7 in the
Parent/Student Handbook for further details.)
The bottom line is that the power to be successful in school is primarily in YOUR HANDS! We
expect our students to come to class on time and ready to learn. Have the books, papers,
pencils, and supplies you need. Pay attention in class and ask questions when you don’t
understand something. Be respectful of everyone around you. And remember: learning can be
FUN!
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I understand and will follow the 7th/8th grade classroom guidelines.
Student signature __________________________________
Parent signature ___________________________________
Date ________________
Please sign and return this to your homeroom teacher no later than Friday,
August 14, 2015.
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