Behavior Expectations & Discipline Policies

Mutual respect and good communication among students, staff, and parents characterize the Erwin Middle School community. Mutual respect fosters social and academic growth, self-discipline, responsibility, and problem-solving skills. By setting clear behavior expectations, a safe environment can be established. Our school teaches and models caring and respect. Appropriate and consistent consequences will be carried out for those who choose to overstep the boundaries. The following behaviors are unacceptable, will not be tolerated, and will result in disciplinary action: 

• Rude and disrespectful toward any individual
• Insubordination including talking back, arguing, refusing to follow directions, or obey the rules
• Disrespectful and inappropriate language
• Intimidation and harassment including threatening someone (verbally or in writing), using inappropriate physical contact, or using derogatory language (written, verbal, or hand gestures)
• Dishonesty or cheating (written or verbal)
• Roughhousing including tripping, pushing, kicking, hitting, picking up other students, etc.
• Stealing
• Fighting-- Students who are having conflicts should seek help from a staff member before a fight begins. All parties involved in a fight will be disciplined.

Public Display of Affection

Holding hands and quick hugs are permitted in school. Any other type of public displays of affection are not allowed on school grounds, school transportation, or at school events/activities. PDA can make others around you feel uncomfortable. Please monitor yourself so that others don’t have to monitor you!

Dress Code

A safe and disciplined learning environment is essential to a quality education program. District-wide standards on student attire are intended to ensure that all students are treated equitably and benefit from a safe learning environment. The Board of Education recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance and the responsibility for the dress and appearance of students generally rests with the student and their guardians. However, students shall not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of an overall safe and equitable school environment for all students. Students are expected to dress appropriately for all school activities. The following general guidelines will be in effect:

1. Shoes, sandals, or boots must be worn in the building and on school grounds in order to avoid injury and disease (no slippers please).
2. Students must wear tops (shirts) and bottoms (pants, sweatpants, shorts, skirts, dresses, leggings).
3. Traditionally known private parts of the body must be covered with non-transparent material.
4. Sunglasses, bandanas, and/or hats may only be worn inside the building with permission from an administrator.*
5. The following will NOT be allowed... Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisements, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that:
   • Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons
   • Are of a sexual nature
   • By virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attribute denote membership in gangs which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior
   • Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous
   • Threaten the safety or welfare of any person
   • Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
   • Are racist in nature or include derogatory comments or slurs against groups of people
   • Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process 
   • All middle and high school students are required to have in their possession an unaltered school-issued photo identification card (ID) during school hours, or at such times, locations, and activities specifically identified by the building principal.

* Hats will be allowed as long as they follow the criteria set in item 5 of the dress code and are not causing safety issues or disruption to the learning environment.

The following articles are NOT allowed:

• Hoods are not allowed to be up in the building
• Chains hanging from pockets
• Coats and backpacks/bags in classrooms
• Laser pointers

Consequences for Dress Code Violations

The administration reserves the right to determine whether clothing is distracting, indecent, unsafe, or inappropriate to wear in the school environment. Violations of the dress code are subject to disciplinary action. The disciplinary measures taken will be based on the degree and frequency of violations. All staff members will enforce the dress code. This dress code will be enforced beginning in the first period and for the entire school day.

Students wearing unacceptable apparel will be asked to change, cover their clothing, or have parents bring a change of clothing. Erwin spirit wear will be available in the office for students in violation of the dress code to wear and borrow for one day.

PBIS falls under the umbrella of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) and is intended to help teach our students expected behaviors in our building. In our building, the PBIS motto is ROAR. We teach students to be Respectful, Open-minded, Accountable, and Resilient. Students should follow specific ROAR expectations for each area or instance in the building. Students are regularly recognized for following the ROAR expectations and exhibiting positive behaviors.

Respect	We are principled and treat ourselves, peers, and adults with dignity. We use polite language and tone with everyone. We celebrate each other’s differences and background.
Open-    minded	We are inquirers and seek to understand. We are willing to learn from each other’s experiences.
Accountable	We are knowledgeable and complete assignments and tasks. We are creative thinkers and find solutions to problems.
Resilient	We are risk-takers and grow from setbacks. We communicate to be advocates for ourselves and others. We balance our emotions even in difficult situations.

 

It is impossible for teaching and learning to take place in a classroom unless discipline is maintained. Students must follow the Thompson Schools Code of Conduct for good behavior not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of others as well.

Administrative Disciplinary Process

Administrators use the process described below when any incident is reported to them:

1. Investigate the incident: Talk to witnesses, both adult and students if appropriate.
2. Conference with the student(s) being reported: Tell them what they are being accused of and let them tell their side of the story.
3. Make a determination: Decide, based on the evidence, if the student has violated a rule or policy of the school/school district.
4. Establish consequences/restorative action: Use the levels of consequences described as a guide. Thompson School District Code of Conduct will be the rule.
5. Contact Parent/Guardian: Contact parent/guardian on major or repeated incidents.

LEMS Classroom Discipline System

1. Classroom expectations (ROAR) are taught and students and staff members create class “Respect Agreements” (classroom expectations) together.
2. When students are not following established respect agreements or are not following the ROAR expectations as posted, they will be verbally redirected with the following questions:
   -  What are you doing?
   -  What do you need to make that happen? (Teachers will partner in problem-solving with the student if possible)
   -  What are you supposed to be doing?
3. Should the behavior continue or a new behavior appears, there will be a second redirect.
4. Should the behavior continue or new behavior appears, the student will be sent to a neighboring classroom to fill out a refocus form. The teacher will process with the student after the form is completed and the student will be allowed to return to class if things seem to have been resolved in conversation. If a resolution cannot be met, or if problems continue, staff may call for an administrator.
5. The staff member will make contact with parents sometime during that same school day informing them that the child was out of the room to refocus or if an administrator needs to get involved.
6. Students may receive office referrals for major or repeated minor infractions. Students shall receive an opportunity to tell “their side of the story” in these cases.

Fair Treatment

If you feel that you have NOT been treated fairly by your teacher...

1. Talk with your teacher in private, before or after class, or by appointment.
2. Talk with the counselor.
3. Talk with an administrator

Parent Concerns

Problems are best solved with the person closest to the problem.

Source of Concern	Who to Contact
Student in Class	1. Teacher of the class   2. Administrator
Student Outside of Class	1. Counselor   2. Assistant Principal   3. Principal
Teacher	1. Teacher of the class   2. Assistant Principal   3. Principal
Principal	1. Principal   2. Director of Secondary Schools   3. Superintendent

 

General Classroom Expectations

1. Prompt: Come to class on time and take your seat quickly and quietly. Classes will be dismissed by the teacher, not the bell. You are not permitted into the halls during class periods unless you are accompanied by a staff member or have a hall pass from a staff member.
2. Prepared: You should bring all of your supplies to class.
3. Participate: Engage in all learning activities planned by your teachers.
4. Polite: Follow respect agreements created by your class. Students visiting other classrooms or waiting to talk to an adult should knock and wait to be recognized by the teacher/adult before interrupting a class or work.
5. Produce: Complete tasks and assignments. Do your work!

Classroom Respect Agreements

Each teacher will spend time at the beginning of the school year establishing class respect agreements. Teachers and students will collaborate in each class to define what RESPECT looks and sounds like in the class. Respect agreements will examine how students want to be treated by the teacher, how students want to be treated by each other, how the teacher wants to be treated by the students, and how the students will treat their classroom environment and materials.

Homework

Homework is an opportunity to practice and extend learning to support academic growth and achievement. It’s important for the learning community of students, families, and educators to work together with common goals and expectations for high performance. Our goal is for students to have a successful and rewarding experience at Erwin Middle School. We believe this can be achieved through partnership with the learning community.

Teacher Expectations 

• Homework is directly connected to the skill and conceptual development of the learner.
• Homework is purposeful and meaningful.
• Homework will support student progress toward achieving learning standards.

Student Expectations

Homework is designed to support the educational process. We recommend the following: 

• Students complete all homework assignments routinely, thoroughly, accurately, and promptly.
• Students dedicate the time needed to complete assignments successfully.
• Students keep an agenda or utilize Google Calendar to keep a running list of assignments and due dates.

Parent/Guardian Expectations

• Stay informed about the child’s performance.
• Encourage growth in academic responsibility by openly valuing “best efforts and best work”.
• Routinely talk with your child about their progress in school.
• Provide an appropriate environment for studying at home.
• Monitor your child’s progress in Google Classroom and Parent Portal.
• Reach out to teachers when you have questions or concerns. School staff can be emailed (first name. last name@tsd.org).

Hallways and Hall Passes

In order to ensure safety and effective use of learning time, students are not allowed to be in hallways or bathrooms without a pass from their teacher. Each teacher may issue one hall pass at a time. Students may not use the hall pass during the first 10 minutes of class or the last 10 minutes of class unless being called by the front office or the counseling offices. Students should only pass in areas designated for their grade level and those specified on their pass. Students should not visit or enter classrooms they are not part of.

Lucile Erwin Personal Electronic Device (Cell Phones, Headphones, Tablets, Smart Watches ) Policy Away for the Day!

Lucile Erwin Middle School wishes to provide each student and teacher a distraction-free learning environment every school day. Research shows that when access to personal electronic devices is moderated during the school day, students are more engaged socially and academically. For more information and research on the effects of cell phones and other personal electronic devices on middle school students, please visit awayfortheday.org.

To ensure such a learning environment, LEMS implemented the following cell phone/personal electronic device (PED) policy. Please review the specifics of this policy with your student. We will also go over it with students when they return to school in the fall.

Cell phones and/or any personal electronic devices (PEDs - any device that can connect wirelessly to a network) may be brought to school; however, these items must remain off or silent and placed in the student’s locker or binder for the entire school day. Specifically, this includes periods before school, lunch, hallways, and other unstructured times. For the purposes of Lucile Erwin’s policy and to ensure a distraction-free learning environment, this also prohibits the personal use of wireless headphones, earbuds, and Airpods in all spaces. Students may use corded headphones with their Chromebooks when given teacher permission. Having a cell phone or PED is a privilege, not a right as defined by Thompson School District Board Policy (JS).

*Medical exemptions to this policy may be coordinated with a school administrator.

Student Expectations:

• I understand that I am allowed to have my PED at LEMS, but it will be away for the day once I enter the building. Specifically, PEDs are not allowed in hallways, cafeteria, classrooms, restrooms, and other locations around LEMS. PED shall be stored in my locker or my binders for the entire day. I can also ask the front office to hold it for me for safekeeping.
• I understand that I am responsible for the safekeeping of my PED. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen devices.
• I understand if I need to make an emergency call or text during the day, I am able to ask my teacher for a pass to step out of class to make a class or text.
• I understand that I may only use corded headphones with teacher permission.
• I understand I may have my smartwatch on, but only in airplane mode, and receiving/sending text messages may result in the loss of this privilege.

Our “away for the day” starts upon entering the building and continues until exiting the building at the end of the school day. “Away for the day” means phones will be stored in lockers or binders from the start of the school day until the end of the school day. If a student does not want to keep their PED in their locker or binder, it may be turned in to the front office. Violation of our policy may result in the following:

• First offense: warning and student asked to follow teacher directives (i.e PED returned to locker or binder, place in are designated by teacher, etc.).
• Second offense: PED confiscated, brought to the main office, and retrieved at the end of the day.
• Third offense: PED confiscated, brought to the main office, parents/guardians notified by student and administration, and phone retrieved at the end of the day.
• Fourth offense: PED confiscated, brought to the main office, parents notified, and parents/guardians pick up phone or device from office.

Any further incidents or not following teacher directives at the first and second offense will result in following the TSD Code of Conduct for insubordination and may result in consequences ranging from checking in a cell phone and/or electronic device daily to out-of-school suspensions.

Thank you for your support in helping us provide our students with a distraction-free learning environment at LEMS.

During the 2024-2025 school year, students will be issued Chromebooks for academic use according to the district Tech4All Program.

Students will be responsible for:

• Bringing Chromebooks to school CHARGED and in working order. Work with your family to choose a secure and convenient spot at home to store and charge your Chromebook.
• Following the District Student Acceptable Technology Agreement
• Handling Chromebooks with two hands
• Closing Chromebooks for safe transport during transitions, taking care to make sure NOTHING is closed inside that might damage the screen
• Handling, touching, and using ONLY their OWN machines
• Reporting any damage to school personnel promptly Chromebooks are to be used for school purposes only.
• Any misuse of district property may result in disciplinary action. Students and parents/guardians will be responsible for any damage to the district device as a result of misuse or abuse. TSD REPAIR COSTS