Bellizzi Middle School Rules, Regulations and Information

The Bellizzi Middle School community will provide its students with appropriate opportunities to be productive and creative learners prepared for life in an informational and technological age, while guiding them to become responsible, physically, and emotionally fit citizens within an ever-changing, diverse, global society.

Bellizzi Middle School provides students with a productive learning community that helps them become responsible citizens in an ever-changing, global society.

Bellizzi Middle School agrees to fulfill the following responsibilities:
provide a safe, healthy environment that is conducive to teaching and learning where the rights of all are protected;
provide each child with a successful learning experience thus allowing them to reach their highest potential;
provide academic lessons which foster higher order thinking skills and the implementation of advanced technology;
provide ample opportunity for an exchange of ideas and concerns with the family through conferences, meetings and communications; and
provide a variety of assessment methods to ensure that each child's unique needs are addressed.

The family agrees to fulfill the following responsibilities:
share the school's high expectations for their child;
actively participate in the educational process by attending meetings and conferences and supporting school sponsored activities;
engage in open communication with the school;
foster a sense of pride and responsibility in their child;
actively participate in the educational process by overseeing homework, reading with their children and monitoring the quality and quantity of television;
take responsibility for school attendance and punctuality; and
foster good citizenship and good sportsmanship in their children.

The student agrees to fulfill the following responsibilities:
attend school on a regular basis;
participate in a variety of school sponsored activities;
respect all peers, respect themselves ajd school personnel, and respect their environment;
abide by the discipline code of the school;
be prepared for each class and be prepared to participate fully in the learning process;
appreciate diversity by understanding and respecting individual differences;
assume responsibility for homework assignments,
use higher order thinking; and
give nothing less than his/her best everyday.

Homework

Students at Bellizzi Middle School receive homework in major subject areas at least four (4) times per week. Homework is viewed as an integral part of the school program. The classroom remains the primary instructional center in the school system. Homework has several purposes:
To supplement and reinforce classroom work;
To give increased practice in particular skills;
To make up work lost through absence;
To develop initiative, independence, self-direction, and responsibility;
To assist in developing good study skills.
Homework also provides an opportunity for independent study. They type, frequency, and quantity of homework assigned should be according to the needs of the individual student or group and should not require additional instruction eyond the class period or outside help. Homework assignments should not depend on essential resources other than those available in the school. Homework shall not be given for disciplinary purposes. Assignments may be given over weekends and it is suggested that summer reading and writing assignments be given to middle school students.
Homework assignments for each school day should not exceed 30 minutes in each academic subject.

The Role of the Parent:
Parents should provide suitable conditions for students to do their homework. This would suggest a definite time for homework and a quiet place for study without interference of telephone, television, or visitors. Parents should be interested in the child's work, but give only that assistance which will help a child to think for himself/herself. Parents should review student homework daily and then sign their child's homework book.

Community Service Learning
The school administration requires students to take part in community service activities as long as prior permission from parent or guardian has been obtained. All students in grades 6-8th are required to complete 30 hours.

Attendance Policy
Connecticut State law requires parents to send their children to school regularly during th hours and terms the public schools are in session. The Board requires that accurate records be kept of the attendance of each child. The principals of the school shall supervise the maintenance of such attendance records as shall be required by law and the Board. Attendance regulations and procedures will be established for the elementary, middle, and high school levels, which are consistent with state statutes and are designed to minimize such absence or tardiness which will detract form the student's ability to benefit fully from the programs offered by Hartford Public Schools.

Excused Absence
The Board requires that students enrolled in the Hartford Public Schools attend classes regularly. All absences from such classes shall be considered unacceptable, except for the following absences, which may be considered excused absences:

      1. Illness or injury, reasons of health, including incapacity or doctor's visits. THe District reserves the    right to require a physician's or other appropriate certification for absences in excess of five consecutive days or a total of fifteen (15) days in any school year.
     2. Death in the immediate family.
     3. Religious holidays requiring absence.
     4. Prearranged medical or dental treatment which, for good cause, cannot be made after school hours.
     5. Court appearance.
     6. Approved school activities
     7. Family or medical emergencies.
     8. Other exceptional circumstances. Written excuse for such absences should be submitted to school officials by the child's parent or guardian. All other absences with or without written explanation shall be considered unexcused.

Tardiness/Truancy
Students are late to school after 8:20. Students who are late must sign in at a support staff station where they will receive a late pass. No excuses are accepted from the student outside of a doctor's note, phone call from a parent, or if parent accompanies the student with a valid excuse (administrator's discretion). Students who are not excused will serve a detention until 3:55 p.m. They will be given a pass for the 4:00 p.m. late bus.

Bus Passes
Bus passes are given to students who qualify for transportation in the beginning of the year. Lost bus passes may be replaced at a cost of one dollar ($1.00).

Conduct on School Buses
Bus trasnportation is a privilege. Appropriate behavior is expected. Parents will be notified of inappropriate bus behavior and students may be denied bus riding privileges on a limited or permanent basis.

Cafeteria
Students are expected to adhere to established cafeteria rules including the following:
      1. The cafeteria is a place to talk quietly
      2. Students are to remain in their seats except to throw out their trash.
      3. No food is to be taken from the cafeteria without permission.
      4. Eating areas are to be kept clean. Each student is responsible for throwing away his/her tray or refuse.
      5. Eating lunch in the cafeteria is a privilege that can be revoked due to inappropriate behavior.

Early Dismissal
Students must be signed out in the main office. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to leave the school without a paarent/guardian. If s/he is to be picked up by any one other than the parent/guardian, the school must be notified before the student will be released. Identification may be required.

Emergency Closing of Schools
Announcements will be made on radio and television in case of inclement weather or other emergencies. Please listen to them for announcements concerning delays and closing of school. The Hartford Public Schools now have a number to call: 695-SNOW

Entering the School Before 8:15 a.m.
Students who have an appointment before school begins at 8:15 a.m. will be required to have a pass from the teacher, counselor, social worker, or administrator with whom they are to meet. Students are to remain with the specific staff member until 8:15 a.m. Since there is no supervision on school grounds before 8:00 a.m., it is highly recommended that students not arrive to school before this time.

Field Trips
The educational field trip activity is an opportunity available to Bellizzi Middle School students ar various times during the school year. All students will be considered eligible to participate provided they have demonstrated to their teachers and the administration self discipline and respect for the rights of others. Students who have exhibited the inability to understand and follow the school rules governing proper behavior will not be allowed to go on field trips. Teacher detentions, office referrals, suspensions, unpaid debts, and general classroom or school disruptions will be considered evidence of poor self-discipline.

All school rules are in effect during field trips and/or school activities that occur off school grounds.

Lockers
     a. All students will be assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year.
     b. Ownership of student lockers remains with the Hartford Board of Education. They are assigned to students as a privilege and a convenience.
      c. The lockers are made available to students for the exclusive purpose of storing only such property and materials as needed for the fulfillment of school related responsibilities. Lockers are not to be used for storing valuables because the school cannot guarantee complete security.
      d. Lockers must be kept clean and neat by students. No inappropriate markings, decals, or stickers are allowed on lockers. Locker cleanout and inspection will occur on the last day of school in December and the Friday before February and April vacations. Anythin left in them will be thrown away.
       e. Lockers should be kept locked at all times. If a locker has been tampered with, such incident should be prompltly reported to the school office. Personal locks added in addition to the built in combination locks are not allowed.
      f. The school administration reserves the right to inspect any and all lockers and desks at any time to ensure that their use complies with school rules and policies.
      g. Students will be assessed for damage caused by misuse or abuse of lockers. Students should not give their locker combination to other students, as they will be held responsible for anything that is stored in them.

Passes
Students may not leave a classroom without a pass. Students who have been issued a pass to report to another teacher or the office must first present the pass to their regularly assigned teacher. Students who do not first report ro the assigned class, even though they have a pass, will be considered skipping class. Between classes, students may not report to the nurse, office, guidance, media center or any classroom area in the building without firsr presenting a pass from their next period teacer. Any abuse of the pass privilege will result in assigned detentions and loss of the privilege for a specific length of time.

Picking Up and/or Dropping Off Students
When dropping off students in the morning and/or picking them up after school, parents/guardians should park on South St. or Campfield Ave. Do not drive into any of the parking lots.

School Nurse
Any student who becomes ill or is unjured during the school day should report to the school nurse with a pass from the teacher. Students are not allowed to stop at the nurse's office between classes without first reporting to the teacher assigned for the next period.
If the nurse is not immediately available, students should report to a secretary in the main office. Students are not allowed to walk home from school when excused for reasons of illness. The parent or guardian must arrange means of transportation. State law requires that all 6th grade students receive a physical examination and a second measles injection. This law is strictly enforced.

Telephone Calls
Telephone calls disrupt the learning environment. For this reason, no telephone calls will be put through to the classrooms during instrutional time.

Textbooks and Equipment
Students are responsible for their textbooks and equipment. All textbooks are to be covered. Teachers will send letters home to parents notifying them if textbooks and/or equipment has been lost or damaged. Students who have not paid for lost or damaged textbooks/equipment will be excluded from class field trips, promotional exercises, and class activities until their debts have been paid. Balances will be carried over to the following school year and thos students will not be issued new required books.

Vandalism
Parents are responsible for property damage incurred by their children. Students who vandalize school property may be subject to expulsion.

Visitors
To ensure the safety of out students and staff, it is necessary that all parents and visitors report to the security desk or main office, sign in and receive a pass before going to any area of the school. Parents/visitors without a pass will be redirected to the office, especially the portable area. All staff members will be consistent with this procedure. To avoid disruption of classes, it is always best to notify the teacher that you wish to visit and arrange a convenient meeting time.