GENERAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS (TEACHER REFERENCE)

Buses

Most Bernardo Heights students are transported daily by school bus.  Teachers should be aware of and review the following bus regulations with students: 

No student will be allowed to go home on a bus other than the one to which he/she is assigned.

If a student wishes to ride the bus (no pass) or ride a different bus home it is always on a “SPACE AVAILABLE” basis.  A student must bring a signed note from home and have it approved by the principal, assistant principal, or campus transportation representative (Gina Stellwagen), and the bus driver.

Bus Passes can be secured at the District Transportation Department, or from the Bernardo Heights campus transportation representative (Linda Rehberg) located at the reception desk in the school office.

 Regular Bus:  Buses will line up at the west end of the school and in the circle by the Performing Arts Center at the end of the school day.  Buses depart promptly at 3:22.   Please refer students to Gina Stellwagen if they have bus questions. 

Activity Bus:  An Activity Bus is available Monday through Thursday at 4:30 p.m.  There is no Activity Bus on Friday.  In order to ride the activity bus, student must be involved in a school-sponsored after school activity and obtain an activity bus pass from the supervising teacher.  All students must remain on school grounds until the activity bus arrives. 

Teachers, if you are sponsoring an after-school activity, please see Gina Stellwagen for a supply of Activity Bus passes.

Cafeteria

There are two options for middle school lunch. Students may participate in the school lunch program and purchase a full lunch or choose individual food items from our a la carte menu. The full lunch is by far the most nutritious and best value. This meal includes an entrée, a variety of fruits and vegetables, and a choice of 1% low-fat white milk or non-fat chocolate milk for only $2.25. 

The school lunch menu is posted daily in the lunch area and in classrooms. The a la carte items and prices are posted at the lunch area windows. Both the school lunch menu and the a la carte items can be accessed online at:

http://www.powayusd.com/admin/foodservices/menus/menus.html 

There is a no borrowing policy at the middle school level, so utilize the pre-payment option.  Pre-paying for lunches and all menu items is the ultimate in convenience for parents and students and eliminates the daily search for meal money.  Parents may put $10.00-$20.00 in their child’s lunch account as “lunch insurance”.   Weekly, monthly, or quarterly pre-payments are advised.  Envelopes for this purpose are available in the school office and at the cafeteria.  Payments dropped off at the school office in the morning are picked up daily by the Food and Nutrition Department for deposit to student accounts.  Parents will be notified if the balance falls below $3.00. Detailed information about the District's online credit card payment system can be found on this website:
 http://www.powayusd.com/admin/foodservices/MyLunchMoney/MyLunchMoney.html

The cafeteria uses a computerized system to account for school meals.  The status of all students is maintained electronically.  Each student has a 6-digit PIN, which is their Student Identification Number.  Students enter their number each day on a keypad at the end of the lunch line.  This is not a charge system so meals must be paid in advance.  Students should memorize their PIN and keep it confidential.

Free and Reduced Lunches:

Free and reduced price meals are available for all students who qualify.  Lunch applications are available in the school office and at the Food & Nutrition Department.  A new application must be completed each year. Remember that only one application is required for each family.

Delivery of Items to Students

In an effort to encourage students to become more independent, self-sufficient, and also to prepare them for high school, BHMS will NO LONGER DELIVER forgotten lunches, P.E. clothes, homework (remembering to bring homework to school when due is part of the homework assignment), or other items.  Develop a “spot” at home where your student can collect items to bring to school the next day. 

Messages: To minimize classroom disruptions, only EMERGENCY messages will be delivered to students in class.  Suggestions:  Arrange to pick your student up at a pre-arranged time and location prior to the start of the school day.  Communicate appointments, work schedules, and rainy day arrangements in advance. 

Balloon and Flower Delivery:  Due to congested hallways and the disruption caused by having balloons on campus and in classrooms, we ask that there be NO balloon or flower bouquets brought to school for birthdays or other special events.  These items don’t always draw positive attention from the general student population.  In addition to this, no gifts should be brought to school for students.  If any of these items arrive at school, they must remain in the school office until the end of the school day. 

Food Delivery:  To avoid undue distractions and disruptions during the lunch period, outside food deliveries such as pizza to individual students is highly discouraged and should be avoided.

Dress Code

The Bobcat Dress Code is designed to encourage students to dress for the purpose of learning. Clothing should be neat, clean, free from tatters and tears, and fit properly, while following the standards of common decency and respect.

·    School clothing, jewelry, book covers, backpacks, or binders: No sexual connotations, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, profanity, obscenity, weapons, or violence. Items that are discriminatory or demeaning toward others are prohibited. (e.g., metal studs, patches, safety pins).

·    No sunglasses, hats, or hoods indoors. No bandanas, do-rags, or hairnets. Extreme hairstyles, hair dyes, or makeup are not permitted - only natural human hair colors are permitted.

·    Clothing that is revealing such as halter tops, tube tops, bathing suit tops, or tops that are strapless, see-through, low-cut or expose the midriff are not permitted. Bra straps, belly buttons, and cleavage should not be seen. Tank top shoulder straps must be 1-1/2” to 2” wide. No thin or spaghetti straps allowed. No pajama tops.

·    Shorts, skirts, skorts, and dresses must be an appropriate length for school.  The hem bottom must meet the tips of the fingers when fingers are extended.

·    Long dangling belts are not permitted.

·    Pants and shorts must be sewn to fit and be able to be worn at the waist without the need for a belt - “Sagging” is not allowed. Pants and shorts must be hemmed or cuffed - no torn or tattered edges. No visible underwear showing above or below pants. Shirts and pants must meet when sitting.  No pajama bottoms.

·    Footwear must not interfere with required school activities. Slippers and footwear containing wheels are not permitted.  

Also:  Jewelry, wallet chains over 3” long, key chains, and accessories which, in the opinion of the staff, attract undue attention or pose a threat to the safety of others are not permitted. No offensive writing on backpacks, book covers, or binders.  For identification purposes, only the student’s first name should be written on the backpack. 

Consequences for not following the dress code:

Students who do not comply with the Bobcat Dress Code can expect (1) to be asked to change into P.E. clothes or other available clothes located in the assistant principal’s office; (2) to have parent called to bring other clothes; (3) to be sent home and/or assigned additional consequences for repeated behaviors.

Lost & Found

Small items (jewelry, wallets, money, etc.) are located in the Attendance Office. 

“Lost and Found” clothing will be maintained in the office for 1 week, and then placed in a bin located outside the Custodial Office.

Prohibited Items

Tape recorders, electronic games, laser pens, and any type of trading cards or electronic signaling devices are strictly forbidden.  If a student is found in possession of a shock device or using one, serious disciplinary consequences may be given.  Radios, Walkmans, CD players, iPods or other MP3 players if brought to school, can only be used before school or after school.  If they are seen during the school day, whether in use or not, they will be confiscated and held in the office for a parent to pick up.  The school is not responsible for damage or loss to any items brought to school.

Telephones

Office Phone Policy: 

The office telephones are for EMERGENCY USE ONLY and may only be used with staff permission.  (Forgetting homework, supplies, or instruments does not qualify as an emergency.) 

Cell Phone Policy:   

·    Phones must remain off and concealed during the entire school day: 8:25-3:15.  This includes lunch, snack break, and field trips, and when students are on school buses.

·    If a phone call needs to be made during school hours, students must come to the office to ask permission to use their phone.

·    If the phone has a camera in it, students are not permitted to use that feature on our campus. 

If a phone rings during class time, it is considered a classroom disruption and will result in disciplinary action. 

Consequences: 

·    Violation of this cell phone policy will result in confiscation of the phone by school staff, and a parent will need to come to school to pick up the phone.

·    Repeated violations may result in other disciplinary action.     

Bernardo Heights Middle School is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen phones.

Visitors

Sometimes students ask to bring students from other schools to our campus to visit for the school day.  We do not allow such visits.  We work hard to keep distractions from learning to a minimum and cannot be responsible for students from other schools.