OJHS Handbook

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016/2017

Dear Students:

Welcome to Orcutt Junior High School. We are happy to have you as a member of the Orcutt family. Whether you are a 7th or 8th grader, we want you to experience the most exciting and successful year ever. While attending Orcutt Junior High you will encounter many changes. The academic workload and social adjustments will be great. You will be expected to attend school daily with school spirit, have pride in the assignments you complete, and accept responsibility for appropriate decisions and behavior.

Our goal is for you to be all you can possibly be. We need your cooperation as we move toward this goal. Both you and your parents need to read and discuss this handbook. This handbook will answer many questions you may have about rules and activities at your school. All students and parents are responsible for knowing the contents of this handbook.

Kelly Osborne, Principal

VISION STATEMENT

Orcutt Junior High School, which stands at the doorstep of America's West Coast aerospace launch site, will serve as an educational launch pad for our students; one that will prepare them well for their voyage to high school and beyond. Orcutt Junior High School will provide a stimulating, rewarding, and safe environment for all students to gain a sincere appreciation for life-long learning, as well as developing academic, social, and personal responsibility skills needed by all members of our society.

SCHOOL-WIDE GOAL

The goal of education at Orcutt Junior High School is teaching and learning about self-realization, human relationships, self-sufficiency, and civic responsibility while facilitating a smooth transition from elementary school into high school. You should feel confident in the fact that your student will move from an elementary environment into a welcoming and friendly seventh grade; then through articulation and preparation in eighth grade, students will feel prepared and comfortable about moving into the departmentalized high school environment.

THIS HANDBOOK

The information that follows will help make the time at Orcutt Junior High School a successful and rewarding experience. Please read the information carefully and then sign the last page. Have your parent or guardian sign the form as well. Remove the last page of the handbook; keep the packet for future reference. Bring the signed page as directed to your homeroom teacher. If you have any questions, please ask a teacher or an administrator immediately. We know that this is a great place to go to school – together we can make it an awesome year.

Academic/Attendance Requirements:

Seventh Grade: 

  • Academic requirements – ALL subjects shall be passed with a “D” average or better. Students who willfully and consistently evade their responsibility and thus earn less than a “D” average in any subject will be considered candidates for retention.
  • Attendance requirements – Classes must be attended greater than 80% of the time enrolled. Any student missing 20% or more of the days enrolled will be a candidate for retention, unless medically excused.
  • Placement Possibilities – IF a student becomes a candidate for retention, the student study team will meet to consider each candidate’s age, grade, placement, mental capacity, academic achievement, physical-emotional-social maturity, and the effect of retention. Parents will be informed in writing, if their child is a candidate for retention and his/her rights under California law.

Eighth Grade: 

  • General requirements – Having shown acceptable attendance, behavior, and passing all prescribed class work, eighth grade students earn the privilege of receiving a diploma, attending the graduation ceremony and all graduation activities. 
  • Academic requirements – ALL subjects shall be passed with a “D” average or better grade. In addition, in order to attend graduation/activities, students may not receive an “F”, “U”, or “I” in any course during the 4th quarter.
  • Attendance requirements – Classes must be attended greater than 80% of the time enrolled. Any student missing 20% or more of the days enrolled will be a candidate for retention, unless medically excused.
  • Behavior requirements – Poor behavior in the eighth grade can lead to the loss of all graduation activities and possible loss of the student’s diploma. See the section on school rules for more information.

Agenda/Assignment Book:

This useful resource should be purchased the first week of school and used daily by students throughout the year. Parents should check this book daily. 

Attendance

It is the parent’s responsibility to call the school and state the reason for a student’s absence. School attendance line phone number is 938-8748.

  • Excused absences include: personal illness, medical appointments, court appearances or funerals.
  • All other absences are considered unexcused, unless the student has signed an independent study agreement (see below).
  • Failure to notify the school within (3) three days about any absence will result in your child being marked as unexcused on the date(s) in question. Three unexcused absences will result in truancy and will be reported to the District Attorney’s Office and the District Superintendent. Habitual truancies will be investigated by the District Attorney and reported to the State of California.

An absence rate equal to or greater than 20% of enrollment time is cause to retain the student.

Awards:

Many awards are given out annually for exemplary performance by students. Many of these are given at the graduation time. Student awards are given in following categories:

  • Contests entered by departments (math, science, etc.)
  • Honor Roll/Trips (students attaining an average of 3.5 or higher GPA for the first three quarters are

eligible to attend special activities during the 4th quarter).

  • Student of the Month
  • Youth of the Month and Year
  • Sports awards
  • California School Employees Association (CSEA) for academic excellence
  • Teacher Appreciation Award is given to students with an appreciation for education
  • American Legion Award given to a student with outstanding leadership qualities
  • Academic Awards given for students with 3.5 to 4.0 GPA for at least six quarters
  • Sashes given at graduation for students achieving high academic success

Books:

Pupils shall take proper care of textbooks. Do not mark or “dog-ear” pages. Please remember, you must pay for any books you lose or damage and books can cost in excess of $75.00 each.

Bus Transportation:

Permission to ride the bus is a privilege and not a right. This privilege may be revoked if a student displays poor behavior at bus stops, while boarding, riding or leaving the bus. All school rules apply, including being respectful and acting responsibly. If a student receives a bus citation they are to serve detention the following detention day.

Class Changes:

Requests for class or teacher changes are difficult to accommodate given the large number of students we have and the complexities of the master schedule. Obviously, errors made in scheduling will be dealt with immediately. All other requests will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by the Principal or Vice-Principal. These requests should be in writing and include the nature for the request and specific action to be taken. Please be aware that not all requests can be honored for a variety of reasons.

Closed Campus/School:

All students are expected to stay within the designed boundaries at all times. Students are not permitted to leave school grounds except when properly signed out through the office. In addition, students are to come to school directly from home with no detours or unauthorized stops. After students arrive at school, they are to stay on campus until released at the end of the day. Upon dismissal, students are to go directly home or a location known by parents without detours or unauthorized stops.

Counseling Requests:

Counseling service is available to all students. Many problems concerning school can be helped by counseling. The Principal, Vice-Principal, Counselor, or a teacher will be happy to try to help students with any problems. Students/parents may request an appointment to see the school counselor by contacting the Vice-Principal. An appointment will be arranged with you as soon as possible. Emergencies will be taken care of immediately on a “drop-in” basis. 

Detention:

When a student is given a detention from a staff member, a copy of the detention is given to the student to be taken home for the parent’s or guardian’s signature. The actual detention is to be served on the next school day that detention is offered. The signed copy of detention notification will be needed by the student to be admitted into detention. A student who is absent on the day of an assigned detention must serve that detention immediately upon return to school. If transportation to school is a serious issue, please contact the Principal as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements. Students serving detention are expected to read or work on other school work. Students who are late for detention will not be admitted unless a parent has contacted the Principal in advance. Failure to show for a detention, on time and with a signed slip or note, will result in an additional detention. Upon two no shows for detention, a student may be suspended for one day.

Dress Code:

The staff of Orcutt Junior High School is concerned with the appearance of its students. We feel that each student should be dressed in such a manner as to reflect credit to himself or herself, his or her family, and to his or her school. Indecent or extreme dress, which may interrupt learning, has no place in any educational institution. (California Education Code 35183 and OUSD Board Policy 5132)

  1. ALL DRESS MUST BE MODEST, NEAT, CLEAN AND SCHOOL APPROPRIATE AT ALL TIMES.
  2. Hair must be clean. Temporary hair color will not be allowed.
  3. Proper footwear must be worn at all times. No slippers, flip-flops, beach sandals or open-toed shoes are allowed for safety reasons.
  4. Shorts and skirts must reach the end of fingertips with hands straight at sides.
  5. No leggings or yoga/stretch pants are to be worn as pants.
  6. No piercings other than ears. Earrings must be traditional (i.e. no spikes or gauges).
  7. Pants must fit appropriately and be worn at the waist (no sagging). No jeans, shorts, or other apparel with rips or holes. No frayed pant bottoms. 
  8. NO pajamas or slippers may be worn at school.
  9. Shirts must cover the midsection, with hands raised above head, and MUST have a sleeve. Shirts must maintain personal privacy at all times. Spaghetti strap, halter, see-through, low-cut, strapless, or tank tops are not allowed to be worn as a single garment.
  10. Undergarments must not be visible. Waist bands are to cover the undergarment.
  11. No gang-related clothing or accessories are to be worn at school.
  12. Hats or visors, worn appropriately, may only be worn outside of the classroom and in P.E. classes for sun protection.
  13. Dress for social functions and activities are the same as normal school dress, unless determined by the sponsor of the function and announced prior to the occasion.
  14. Hoods are NOT to be worn on campus except for inclement weather and ONLY outdoors.
  15. No representations of weapons, alcohol, drugs, or other inappropriate images are to be on clothing.

Any questionable grooming or dress that affects the learning process, could be a distraction to the learning of others, or endangers student safety will be dealt with by administration. Demerit detentions will be issued for infractions against this dress code.

Extra Curricular Activities:

The coordinator/coach of any extra-curricular activity may impose more stringent rules and/or regulations in the form of a contract that the student and parent will sign. Administration reserves the right, in consultation with the coordinator/coach, to make final determinations regarding ineligibility or removal from an activity.

Grades, Report Cards, Progress Notices:

Progress slips may be sent home at any time. Progress slips will be sent home mid-quarter if a student is earning a “D”, “F”, “I”, or “U” grade at that time. Report cards are issued about one week after the end of each quarter. Teachers will be available one afternoon and one evening for conferences during both the first and second quarter grade report periods, and for one conference during the third quarter. The final report card will be sent home with the student on the last day in June. Seventh graders not successfully passing one course may be retained, or repeat and pass the course in place of their elective in the eighth grade. Failing more than one class may result in full retention. Eighth graders who fail a course, with less than a “D” average, may be retained and forfeit all end of the year activities and diploma.

Grade checks will be conducted every week on Thursday to determine eligibility for the following week. Teachers will assign a percentage or a letter grade for the class in addition to an “S” (satisfactory) “N” (needs improvement) or “U” (unsatisfactory) for effort and conduct. If a student forgets or fails to turn a completed grade check into the coach or advisor, they will be placed on probation for one week.

The student must maintain a “C” (2.0 GPA), have no “U”s or “F”s in any class, and have no more than one “N” in conduct or effort. In addition, students must not accumulate more than 5 demerits per quarter to remain eligible. Any suspension for a serious school offense will be grounds for removal from an activity. If a student becomes ineligible to participate due to a poor Grade Check, they will be placed on probation for one week. If the student has another poor Grade Check during the season, they will be removed from the activity at that time. In the case of Spirit Leaders and Student Body officers, who have a year-long commitment, students will be given two probationary periods and be ineligible for the activity after a third poor Grade Check. A student may not have more than one D in any academic class. Two or more D’s will result in a week probation from the activity while the student works on bringing up their grades.

Students participating in the Leadership Class must maintain a 2.0 or better in ALL subjects with no more than five demerits in the school year.

Graduation Requirements: 

Graduation on Stage – 8th Grade

The formal exercise of graduation on stage is an honor and privilege. To earn this privilege, a student must meet the following criteria:

1. A passing grade in each class.

2. No academic “F” or citizenship “U” during the 4th quarter of the 8th grade.

3. No more than 20% of the enrolled days missed (36 days).

4. No more than 24 demerits.

Homework:

Homework is assigned when a teacher feels it will be beneficial and productive. Every student is expected to complete the assignment and turn it in, on time, as directed. Homework can be expected Monday through Thursday and sometimes on the weekend. Any student who does not have a completed homework assignment turned in on the due date may receive a homework citation. Citations that are not signed by a parent and returned the next school day may become disciplinary. When students are absent, it is their responsibility to check with each of their teachers for all missing assignments, and to complete them on time as directed by the teacher.

Identification:

When you are asked for your name by any adult employee of the school or district, even if you don’t know that person’s name, you are expected to give your first and last name immediately. You may be requested to show some form of identification. Our Student Body Cards are picture I.D.’s which are required for attendance at dances and for checking out sports equipment at lunchtime. It is always a good idea to have your ASB card when you come to any athletic event – they might even give you a discount!

Leaving school:

Once a student arrives at school, they may not leave campus until released at the end of the school day. Students may be checked out of school early by a parent or guardian (adult must be listed on the emergency card). A student can be released from school early with another adult if the parent sends a note or calls the school. Students may NOT leave an extra-curricular activity (dance, athletic event, performance, etc.) after school hours without a parent to pick them up. Students are not to walk home, to a friend’s house, etc. after such an event. Exceptions to this rule will only be made by the administration of the school. Students who violate this rule are subject to disciplinary action, including exclusion from future events.

Lost and Found:

Students who find lost articles are asked to take them to office. Lost articles will be kept for a reasonable time period. When appropriate, or at the end of the year, the unclaimed items will be given to charity. If you lose something, check with the office and/or the custodian immediately before or after school. Students are responsible for their own belongings and all school property that is issued to them.

Make-up and Independent Study Agreements (ISAs):

  • For anticipated absences of three or more days, parents may call the office for a homework request. Teachers will send the missed work to the office and the packet may be picked up after school that day.
  • Homework is posted on the internet at www.schoolnotes.com or http://new.schoolnotes.com Students are encouraged to check the website first to keep up with their homework.
  • For one or two day absences, students may request missed homework from their teachers upon return.
  • If a student plans to be away from school for five or more days, parents may request an Independent Study Agreement. Parents are requested to come to school at least five days in advance of the absence to request the ISA. The work will be assigned to the student before the anticipated absence. The student will have five days after returning to school to turn in the completed work.
  • Personal Absence – If a student plans to be away from school less than 5 days, parents must send a letter to the office stating the reason for the absence. These personal days should be kept to a minimum.

Parent Visitations:

All adult community members are welcome to visit classrooms provided they check in through the office first. All visitors must follow Board Policy 1250(a) in addition to giving at least 24 hour notice prior to the visit. This is to insure security and safety of all individuals on campus. Parents are invited to a Back to School Night in the fall and an Open House in the spring. Students should not attend the Back to School Night, but are encouraged to attend the Open House night.

Passes for leaving the classroom:

To leave a classroom, a teacher will issue a written pass with a stated destination, time and date. All students out of the classroom are expected to show any school employee their pass upon request. Students being called out of a classroom by the office will be issued a pass to return to the classroom.

Physical Education:

All students are expected to “dress-out” for physical education each day. The only exceptions are with a written medical excuse from the student’s doctor or by prior agreement with the physical education teacher. Information about what is required to be purchased and where it can be purchased will be given to students during the first week of class. Students needing assistance in obtaining these items should speak directly to their P.E. teacher as soon as possible. Students must take home their gym clothes each Friday to be laundered and return them each Monday. “I forgot my P.E. clothes” is NOT a valid excuse and teachers may impose an appropriate consequence for each violation. Students must use a Master-type combination lock (A 0-39) and locker each day. The student is responsible for his/HER OWN personal belongings and must learn to lock their own lockers.

School Rules / Conduct / Discipline:

Proper behavior and discipline are necessary for safe and efficient operation of a school as well as to protect the rights of all students and staff on campus. Students are expected to follow school and classroom rules at all times. Parents may be contacted at any time for infractions of the rules.

  • Don’t engage in “gossip”, “messing around”, “horseplay”, or other inappropriate behavior.
  • Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
  • Gang related material and behavior is prohibited at Orcutt Junior High School. “Throwing signs” or any gang related gesture, posturing, or other behavior which intimidates, poses a threat to others, causes, attempts to cause physical harm to others, or which may disrupt the educational process are prohibited. Any student in violation of these rules will be referred to the principal or designee for appropriate action which may include suspension or expulsion from school.
  • Gum is prohibited at all times.
  • Candy and other food/drink may be consumed only in the designated eating areas and in classrooms with teacher approval only.
  • Incendiaries and weapons: Matches, lighters, fireworks, laser pointers, knives, chains, and other weapons are not allowed at school. State law prohibits them. Possession, even concealed, will result in disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion. Do not bring these items to school at any time.
  • Lunch time conduct – Each pupil is expected to maintain good eating habits. A student must raise their hand to be dismissed by a noon time supervisor. You must pick-up all dropped or left-over paper, food particles, etc., when you finish eating and place items in trash cans. Students may be asked to assist in table clean-up as needed.
  • Skates, skateboards, or rollerblades are allowed on campus but must be locked up in the bike rack area. 
  • Any item that distracts from the learning process or is a possible danger, distraction or invasion of the privacy of others may be confiscated and the parent/guardian will have to claim it, except in the case of cameras where film will need to be destroyed prior to the return of the camera. Sharp pointed pairs of scissors, cameras, walkie-talkies, laser pens, aerosol sprays or body sprays of any kind, Sharpie-type markers, electronic equipment, toys, radios, disc players and CDS are to be left home. They are not allowed on campus at all.
  • Cell phones, electronic devices, and other items that MAY cause a distraction in class will be confiscated without warning if seen or heard before the final bell of the day. Cell phones must be off when they are on campus. They may be turned on only after school is dismissed. If a cell phone goes off or is used on campus, a student will be given a detention. A second offense will result in an automatic suspension and a third offense will result in an additional suspension plus revocation of cell phone privileges for the remainder of the school year. Confiscated cell phones may only be retrieved by a parent. Text messaging during school hours and picture taking is never allowed. Cell phones, electronic devices may not be used on a school bus. Using a cell phone while in a bathroom or locker room will result in an automatic suspension. In accordance with the Board’s policy and administrative regulation on search and seizure, a school official may search a student’s mobile communications device, including, but not limited to, reviewing messages or viewing pictures.
  • Public Displays of Affection (P.D.A.) – includes, but is not limited to, hugging, embracing other students, kissing, holding hands, and other displays of affection that are not connected directly to the instruction of curriculum, are prohibited at all times between students. Appropriate dancing at organized events is an exception. Public displays of affection may result in suspension.
  • Maintaining or posting material to a Web site or blog that threatens a likelihood of substantial disruption in school, including harming or interfering with the rights of other students to participate fully in school or extracurricular activities, is a violation of the student disciplinary code and subject to appropriate penalties herein.
  • Harassment of students or staff, such as bullying, including cyber bullying, intimidation, extortion, or any other verbal, written, or physical conduct that causes or threatens to cause bodily harm or emotional suffering is prohibited. Cyber bullying includes the transmission of communications, posting of harassing messages, direct threats, social cruelty, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images on the Internet, social networking sites, or other digital technologies using a telephone, computer, or any wireless communication device. Cyber bullying also includes breaking into another person’s electronic accounts and assuming that person’s identity in order to damage that person’s reputation or friendships.
  • Deliveries such as balloons, flowers, etc. are not allowed to the classroom and will be kept in the office.
  • Hover boards and/or motorized bicycles or scooters are not allowed on campus.

The following table includes most of the infractions and possible consequences, but is not all inclusive:

Minor infractions include:

Consequences (in no particular order)

  • Littering
  • Running in inappropriate areas
  • Riding bikes on campus
  • Inappropriate behavior at extra-curricular activities
  • Being in “off-limit” areas
  • “Ditching” a class or classes
  • Minor inappropriate bus behavior
  • Toys and other unauthorized devices
  • Failure to return notices, homework referral slips, detention notices, etc.
  • Making inappropriate noises in class
  • Not being respectful to others (gossip, etc)
  • Using profanity or vulgarity
  • Forgery, cheating, and other forms of deception
  • Public Displays of Affection.
  • Warning
  • Counseling
  • Confiscation
  • Parent notification
  • Clean-up duties
  • Denial of privileges
  • Exclusion from extra-curricular events
  • Detention
  • On-Campus Suspension (O.C.S.)
  • Teacher suspension from a class for up to two periods (48910 E.C)
  • Suspension

Major infractions include:

Consequences (in no particular order)

  • “Ditching” all classes for one or more days
  • Threatened to cause, attempted to cause, cause, or participate in an act of hate violence
  • Sexual harassment
  • False alarm (fire, 9-1-1, etc.)
  • Major infractions of bus rules
  • As well as any of the reasons listed in 48900 of the California Education Code (See the Annual Notification of Parent & Student Rights & Responsibilities of O.U.S.D.)
  • Any of the consequences listed in the above section.
  • Written parental notification
  • Suspension of bus privileges
  • Restitution
  • Suspension
  • Recommendation for expulsion
  • Sheriff notified/investigation/arrest

Offenses related to a school activity or attendance may occur at any time, including, but not limited to: 1) While on school grounds, 2) While going to coming from school (door to door), 3) During lunch period, 4) During, or while going to or coming from a school co-curricular or extra-curricular activity.

Loss of privileges – One demerit is assigned for each detention received, 2 demerits for each day of O.C.S., and 3 demerits for each day of suspension received. Students who receive 5 or more demerits in the first quarter will lose their privileges for the remainder of that quarter. In the second quarter, the number becomes 10 (including the demerits accumulated during the 1st quarter), in the third quarter the accumulated number becomes 15, and the fourth 20. The loss of privileges includes, but is not limited to, the loss of dances, games, assemblies, pep rallies, special activities, etc. In addition, students who earn 25 or more demerits at any time will have ALL privileges removed for the remainder of the school year INCLUDING GRADUATION and all related activities for eighth graders.

The principal may, at his/her discretion, add, delete, or modify any school rule when necessary.

Student Body Cards (ASB):

Student body cards will be sold and distributed during the first quarter. Certain privileges are extended to students purchasing student body cards, including admission to dances, sporting events, and other student activities at a reduced price, and provide a positive means of identification for safety reasons.

Tardies:

Students are expected to develop their ability to be on time for class. A student will be considered “tardy” if not in his or her seat and ready to begin class at the sound of the tardy bell. One detention is assigned for every unexcused tardy. If you know you are going to be late to class, be sure to get a pass from the adult you are speaking with. This is the student’s responsibility! A student, late to school in the morning, must report to the office to obtain a tardy slip and pass to class. If this is not done, the office may end up calling home to find out where the student is and causing a great deal of trouble for everyone. Please be sure students report to the office when required.

Truancy:

Any absence without parental permission is classified as truancy. For truancy, a student receives an “F” for the work missed for each period and make up is not allowed. Truancy is a violation of state law and one detention will be assigned for each period of class missed.

Valuables:

Students and parents must be aware that the school can not protect valuable or expensive items brought to school by students. Students should not bring electronic devices, large sums of money, or other expensive items to school. Students who do so are doing so at their OWN risk and responsibility and parents are asked to help us in keeping these items at home.

Visitors:

All adult visitors must sign in at the office prior to entering any part of our campus. Friends and relatives of students are not to come to “visit” – this includes high schools friends as well. Safety and security are important to us – and the student.

Yearbook:

Our yearbook features individual pictures of students, special activity groups, and candid snapshots. Yearbooks are usually pre-sold in the fall and distributed in the spring. The yearbook is produced by the eighth graders in the yearbook class. Yearbooks may be withheld if a student owes for damaged or lost textbooks or other school property.

The Orcutt Union School District does not discriminate against individuals based on actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation. Compliance Officer: Susan Salucci, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources/Discrimination/Equity & Title lX Compliance Officer, 500 Dyer Street, Orcutt, CA 93455, Email: [email protected], Phone: 805-938-8909. See district policies at http://www.orcuttschools.net/district_information/legal_notices/title_IX