Policies and Procedures

Dear Parents and Guardians:
The faculty and staff welcome you to Little Oak Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year! Students, parents, and teachers all share in the educational development of each and every student. Parental involvement is a key component to providing effective educational opportunities that will allow your child to fully develop his/her potential. We urge you to communicate with the teachers and administration regularly. Your ideas and suggestions can make meaningful contributions toward improving Little Oak Middle School! The Student/Parent Handbook is designed to provide information about specific school policies and procedures that will ensure a safe and caring school environment where all students have the opportunity to learn and grow. Please keep this copy of the handbook for your reference throughout the year. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We believe that working with you and your child will be very exciting and rewarding! Working together we can achieve much success! If you have questions about this handbook or other school issues during the course of the year, feel free to contact your child’s teacher, our school counselor, or an administrator. We strive to maintain open communication with parents, and we welcome your comments, questions, and involvement!
Sincerely,
Little Oak Middle School Administration Team 

This handbook should not be considered as “all inclusive”. The principal and her designees have the right and responsibility to add, amend, or remove any part in the best interest of Little Oak Middle’s students and staff. Information is subject to change due to COVID-19 protocols. Additional information can be found in the St. Tammany Parish Public School System 2022-2023 District Handbook for Students and Parents.

State Library of Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish Library

A few days before school begins, a letter will be mailed out to all of our students which will tell you your child’s homeroom teacher and room number. ALL students will report directly to their homeroom on their first day of school, depending on their last name: 8/8/22 for A-H, 8/9/22 for I-Q, or 8/10/22 for R-Z. Please refer to our District Website for more information about our Smart Start Days. On your child’s first day of school, it is NOT necessary for students to bring ALL their school supplies, as this would be very cumbersome. Instead, they should bring the amount that fits into their book bag without being too heavy to carry. The rest of the supplies can be brought in on Thursday, 8/11/22 and Friday, 8/12/22.

We are asking that our students ride the school bus on the first day of school. The traffic is always a bit nerve racking on the first day of school, as it usually backs up to Gause Boulevard. Be sure to view the maps, as they will provide details about the traffic procedures.  2022-2023 Morning Carline Route ALL car riders must adhere to the carline route. Follow the one-way route beginning on Stone Street. Turn RIGHT on Rebel Drive and drive through the Boyet faculty parking lot. Go through the gate and follow the gravel drive. Once in front of Boyet’s gym, proceed through the parking lot and turn RIGHT at the entrance of the Little Oak Middle carline drop-off.  Duty personnel will be at the carline drop-off to receive students.

2022-2023 PM Carline Route In the afternoon, cars should not begin lining up until 2:00 PM and cannot pass through the gate at the Boyet Gym until after 2:30 (gate area shown on map below). Cars should also stop at Little Oak’s gate until all buses have passed and students have been loaded. Upon completion of parking lot construction, the carline will begin exiting on Stone Street and will no longer be going past the front of Little Oak.  
Boyet’s Gate: For the safety of Boyet’s gym students, passage through gate is not permitted until after 2:30.
Little Oak Gate: Wait here until all buses have passed in afternoon

Parents cannot drive or park in the bus lane, and parents may not park in our faculty parking lots. Please keep in mind Boyet’s faculty and staff begin arriving just before 8:00 so we cannot park on their campus. All of our staff and personnel will be on hand to assist the students in locating their classrooms. All of our students will be in very good hands! Remember, parents are not permitted to walk students to class on the first day due to traffic and safety considerations. If your child will attend Little Oak’s aftercare, the registration forms are available on our website. Be sure to read all forms because some changes have been made (Aftercare Information & Aftercare Application.)  Aftercare will be available beginning on Monday, August 8. We are certainly looking forward to seeing all of our students! Thank you for your continued support!

Classes begin promptly at 7:35 AM. Students may begin arriving on campus on 7:05 AM. Students will report straight to homeroom classes on their first day. Beginning Thursday, August 11, when students arrive on campus, they will go to three separate locations according to their grade level. All students will be dismissed from these locations to their homerooms beginning at 7:30 AM daily. At 7:05 AM, faculty members are on duty to supervise the students. If parents utilize the car line in the morning, they must follow the morning drop-off for car line, which begins next door in the driveway of Boyet Junior High School (from one-way Stone Street, take right on Rebel Drive in front of Boyet to go around Boyet). Parents may not park in the faculty parking lot to drop off students. If a student needs mobility assistance to enter the building, a parent must proceed through the car line around Boyet Jr. High. Upon reaching the faculty member at gate duty, the parent should request access to our handicap parking. Your cooperation is appreciated! Students who ride the bus will be dismissed beginning at 2:36 PM. Students who walk or who are being picked up will be dismissed once all buses have cleared. If you utilize the afternoon car line, please remain in the car line and follow the duty teacher’s directions. It is important that you remain in the line. Please refrain from going around other cars in line. No students will be allowed to cross the driveway. Car line is a “Hands-Free Zone” and cell phones should not be used. All students going home by car should be picked up no later than 3:05 PM. Students remaining after 3:05 PM will be instructed to report to aftercare and the parent will be responsible to pay the daily rate. Concerning early dismissal, we encourage you to schedule doctor and dental appointments after school hours. If this is not possible, and you must check your child out, report to the front office to check out your child. The teacher will not release a child to anyone who has not been signed out through the main office. Except for emergencies, students may not be checked out after 2:00 PM. This directive has been put in place due to student safety measures-i.e. buses approaching the bus ramp, etc. 

Students Permitted on Campus: 7:05
Office Hours: 7:05 – 3:05
Instructional Hours: 7:35 – 2:36
Car Line Ends (remaining students sent to aftercare): 3:05
Aftercare: 2:40 - 6:00

Little Oak Middle School students are required to wear uniforms to school every day, unless a designated dress down day has been offered. Students must follow the St. Tammany Parish guidelines when wearing “dress down” attire. Our PTA sells spirit shirts which can be worn on Fridays and our various clubs and grade levels also offer shirts that can be worn on Fridays. The school uniform consists of a navy blue or white polo-type shirt and khaki (cotton or twill) bottoms. The Little Oak logo is optional. However, NO EMBLEMS or LOGOS are allowed except the optional school approved logo on all uniform shirts. This includes monograms, monogrammed emblems and patches, and/or embroidered pictures of any kind. The bottoms must be plain khaki, and may not contain any logos and/or stripes on them.

Girls may wear khaki shorts, skorts (skirts with shorts attached underneath), pants, or jumpers. The minimum length is at the fingertip when standing erect with arms extended down the sides as stated in the St. Tammany Parish Handbook. Clothing items that are too tight are not permissible.

Boys may wear khaki shorts or pants as long as they conform to the parish dress code policy–baggy pants that will not stay up at the waistline are not allowed. All shorts and pants should be secured at waist level.

Boys and Girls may wear undershirts underneath the school uniform shirt. Undershirts that are worn underneath the school uniform shirt, whether they are short or long sleeved, must be a solid color that coordinates with the school uniform. The undershirt should not hang below the hem of the uniform shirt or the uniform sleeve. When sweatshirts or outer garments are worn over the uniform, the outer garment may not hang below the hem of shorts and/or skorts. Uniform bottoms must be visible at all times. Long sleeve undershirts may be worn underneath the school uniform during inclement weather (below 40 degrees). Leggings are only allowed during inclement weather (below 40 degrees), and they must be a solid color that coordinates with the school uniform. The following colors are acceptable navy, white, black, grey, khaki. No jeggings or patterned/neon leggings are allowed at any time. Any article of clothing with suggestive symbols, words, or advertisements of products or substances prohibited by STPPS are not allowed. Due to safety issues, earrings should not hang lower than one (1) inch. Nose piercings of any kind, including studs, are not allowed. Extremely long fingernails are also not allowed due to safety issues. Hoods, hats, caps, and bandanas are not to be worn on campus during regular school hours. Hoods or winter hats may be worn outdoors while on campus during inclement weather (below 40 degrees), but must be removed when entering the building. Hair must be clean and a naturally occurring hair color. Sculptured hair styles will not be permitted. Pictures, symbols, letters, numbers, etc. will not be permitted. Ornate headbands, such as cat ears, are not allowed, as they can be a potential safety hazard. Headbands on the forehead are also not allowed. For your child’s safety, appropriate shoes should be worn for the classroom and the playground. Tennis shoes should be worn on Physical Education days. Slip-on style shoes, or high heeled shoes or boots, are not preferred for school. Regarding face masks-solid colored, patterned, and designed masks are allowed. “Gaiter style” masks are not allowed. Face masks, at this time, are not required but are permitted for all adults and students who choose to wear them. Please refer to the District Handbook for Students and Parents for additional information regarding dress code policies. Uniform checks will be performed periodically during the school year. Please be sure that your student(s) meet the uniform guidelines at all times.

Manager:  Wendy Sonnier
Assistant Manager:  Kristine Williamson
Cafeteria Phone: (985) 643-8647
Food Services page 

Free Meals for the 2022-23 School Year

Please contact the Cafeteria Manager, Mrs. Wendy Sonnier, at 985-643-8647 if you have any questions.
Email: wendy.sonnier@stpsb.org

Eligible Adults (non-cafeteria staff):
$3.50 for the 2022-2023 School Year

Regular attendance is essential to student success. As per Louisiana’s Compulsory Attendance Law, students may not miss more than ten (10) days of school per year. Days of absence include excused absences, non-exempted absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Students in danger of failing due to excessive absences will be expected to make up missed time in class sessions (seat time), which will be held outside of the regular school hours.

A student may earn a Perfect Attendance Award at the end of the year if he/she has not missed one day of school, has not been tardy, and has not checked out, on any occasion. A student who has one tardy or one check-out will not be eligible for the award. It is encouraged that parents schedule doctor appointments outside of school hours.

For more information on Louisiana’s Compulsory Attendance Law, please visit the following website: http://www.louisianabelieves.com/academics/attendance-requirements
For additional information on St. Tammany Parish School Board Pupil Progression and Attendance policy please visit the following website: https://stpsb.org/our-district/policies-and-procedures

Students who are late to class disrupt the educational process for themselves as well as other students. Please assist us in teaching your child the lifelong skill of promptness. If a student accumulates five (5) tardies, he/she will be subject to disciplinary action. Tardies are cumulative for the year and do not start over each 9 weeks. The bell rings at 7:35 AM and class begins at this time. A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in class seated by 7:41 AM (students are marked absent if they are not in their homeroom classrooms by 7:41 AM). When inclement weather is in the forecast for our area, please plan ahead and allow enough time for school travel. Students who ride the bus to school are not considered tardy.  A copy of the Tardy Consequence Form is included in this handbook, as well as on page 7 of the student planner. The bell rings at 7:35 AM and class begins at this time. A student is considered tardy if he/she is not seated in class by 7:41 AM. When inclement weather is in the forecast for our area, please plan ahead and allow enough In regards to tardies, a doctor’s note will not be considered an excused tardy unless the note is for a doctor’s appointment that took place on the same day as the tardy and attendance at the doctor’s appointment is the reason why the student is tardy to school. Students who have been tardy to school on any given day, or are not present for the entirety of all school days, including check-outs, are not eligible to receive a Perfect Attendance Award for the school year.

Little Oak Middle School Aftercare Child Program
Mrs. Arianna Kadinger, Program Director
Aftercare Enrollment Form

Mission Statement: The mission of our Aftercare Program is to provide students with:

· An inclusive program that is safe and nurturing in a comfortable environment.

· A cultural, enriching program that promotes the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of each child.

· A program that meets the highest quality of child care standards.

Eligibility: The After School Child Care Program is a service provided to Little Oak students only.

About our Program: The Aftercare Program will be provided on regular school days, beginning after school until 6:00 PM. Aftercare is NOT an extension of the students’ school day. It is a Community Education Program that is supported by the attendants. In middle school, our teacher-student ratio will be 1 to 16, with no additional attendants. The program will not operate when school is closed, including holidays and ½ days of school. The program’s phone number is 985-502-0457.

Registration: Students must have the Aftercare Enrollment Form turned in to the front office prior to the first day of service. The Aftercare Enrollment Form can be found on our Little Oak Middle website.

Program Fees: The daily rate is $10 per day. Drop in attendants are required to pay $10 upon pickup.
Non-payment of fees will result in student removal from the aftercare program. Payments are due Monday of each week, all aftercare must be prepaid.  As per school policy, students who owe fees (including aftercare) may not be permitted to attend extracurricular activities. Rates are subject to increase during the school year if operating costs of the program increases.

Payments: Payments must be made in advance for the days your child will be attending aftercare. Payments must be made online through MyPaymentsPlus, which can be found on our school website.

Overdue Payments: If an account goes unpaid beyond 2 days, your child will not be allowed to attend aftercare until full payment is made.

Daily Schedule:
2:46-3:00 – Roll Call
3:00-4:00 – Homework Time
4:00-6:00 – Activity Time
Note:  Homework is done on the honor system. Children are expected to have all assignments. Students without homework or who finish early may read for enjoyment or study for upcoming tests. Assistance from a Child Care Worker is available.

Late Pick-Up Fee: A $10 late fee will be charged for each additional 15 minutes (1-15 minutes; 16-30 minutes; 31-45 minutes) when the parent/guardian is late in picking up each of his/her children. Children who are consistently picked up late will no longer be allowed to attend aftercare. If parent contact has not been successful, authorities will be called for assistance with any student remaining after 7:00 PM.

Discipline: ALL students are expected to follow the same rules and procedures as during regular school hours. Inappropriate student behavior will be handled according to the STPSB Parent/Student Handbook. Students who receive disciplinary consequences will also receive a probationary warning. If behaviors continue, the student will no longer be allowed to attend aftercare. Aftercare should always be a safe environment for all. Students who injure others, purposely or accidentally, may be removed from aftercare immediately. Administration will determine if/when the student will be allowed to return to aftercare.  Students who are verbally abusive or use inappropriate language will also be removed.

Checkout Procedures: Only adults who are listed on the enrollment form will be allowed to sign out the child from aftercare. A photo ID will be required. Please keep your authorization list up to date at all times.

Front Office-
Mrs. Kristin Kennedy:
(985) 641-6510 Press “7” or Email
Please call regarding transportation, emergency card information, event information, general school related questions, attendance and/or tardy information.

Records Clerk-
Mrs. Kathleen Hardouin
(985) 641-6510 Press “2” or Email
Please call regarding student educational records, proof of residency updates, withdrawal or registration information, or out of district questions.

Bookkeeper-
Mrs. Susan Davis
(985) 641-6510 Press “1” or Email
Please call regarding MyPaymentsPlus, outstanding balances owed, general school finance questions, or field trip information.

Cafeteria Manager-
Mrs. Wendy Sonnier
(985) 641-6510 Press “5” (985) 643-8647 (direct line) or Email
Please call regarding menu questions, lunch/breakfast money, and Free/Reduced Applications, general cafeteria questions.

Counselor-
Mrs. Chancy Lafontaine
(985) 641-6510 Press “4” or Email
Please call regarding counseling concerns, 504 plans, and Kids in Transition (KIT).

Mental Health Provider (MHP)- 
Mrs. Heather Galbraith
(985) 641-6510 Press “9” or Email
Please call regarding MHP services.

Technology Resource Teacher-
Mrs. Laura King
(985) 641-6510 Press “6” or Email
Please call regarding LEAP testing, test scores, Chromebook, textbooks, and curriculum questions.

Secretary to Administration-
Mrs. Melisa Thompson
(985) 641-6510 Press “0” or Email
Please call regarding scheduling Parent/Teacher Conferences*, administrative questions, substitute questions, School Building Level Committee (SBLC) questions, and any general school related questions. *Please contact teacher first via email prior to contacting the administrative secretary.

School Nurse-
Mrs. Shelley Mitchell
(985) 641-6510 Press “3” 985-605-5646 (direct line) or Email
Please call regarding students calling home sick, medication and/or medical issues

GRADING SCALE
Graded papers are sent home on a regular basis by each teacher. If you do not receive papers in a timely manner, please contact your child’s teacher.
The grading scale for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies is as follows:
A 93-100
B 85-92
C 75-84
D 67-74
F 0-66

Health and Physical Education (PE), Music/Chorus, Band, and Conduct will be reported by: O, S, N, and U These subjects shall not affect the quarterly or final grade point average.
O Outstanding
S Satisfactory
N Needs Support
U Unsatisfactory
Parents and students are encouraged to monitor their child’s progress through the Student Progress Center.

INTERIM REPORTS AND REPORT CARDS
Interims will be available through the Student Progress Center each nine weeks. Parents will receive an automated phone call making them aware that the interim grades are up to date in JPAMS. Parents who wish to receive a hard copy of their child’s interim will need to fill out a request form. These forms will be available in the front office. Resource (Students With Exceptionalities or SWE) teachers are responsible for getting their student’s progress reports to the student’s homeroom teacher prior to the issuing of report cards.

NINE WEEKS HONOR ROLL
Parish Honor Roll requirements are followed and will be computed by the data processing department when determining honor roll recipients. Honor Roll – There shall be an Honor Roll for all 9 week grading periods. The fourth nine weeks Honor Roll will be computed as a YEARLY HONOR ROLL. A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for the “A-B” Honor Roll. The student may not have a grade of “D” or “F” to be considered for Honor Roll. A minimum of 4.0 GPA is required for the “All A” Honor Roll.

YEARLY HONOR ROLL
Yearly honor rolls are computed based on grades through 35 weeks of school. Music, PE, Band, and conduct grades are not used in computing honor rolls. The yearly honor roll will be computed as follows:
Principal’s Honor Roll – A student made all A’s on his/her report card in every subject, every 9 weeks of the school year.

Honor Roll – Students whose yearly average falls between 3.0 – 3.99 are eligible for this honor roll. The yearly average is computed as described above. Students may not have a grade of “D” or “F” to be considered for Honor Roll.

Reminders: A student must have at least 1 quality point in a subject in order to earn a grade of “D”. Example: .67 is an “F”. It is not rounded up to a “D”.

To receive the YEARLY Honor Roll, a student must not earn a grade of “D” or “F” in any subject on his/her report card. Students are allowed to have a grade of “C” on his/her report card and still earn the Yearly Honor Roll, as long as he/she meets the grade point requirement as stated above.

PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Perfect Attendance for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nine weeks is not cumulative. Students who have Perfect Attendance for the 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd nine weeks will receive a certificate at the end of the nine weeks. Perfect attendance for the 4th nine weeks is cumulative. Only students who have had Perfect Attendance for the entire school year will receive a certificate.

HOMEWORK POLICIES
Each student is expected to turn in all homework assignments in a timely manner. It will be at the teacher’s discretion to accept late homework. Assignments will vary from day to day. We encourage our students to use the dated student planner that is available at the beginning of the school year to copy their homework assignments each day. Parents should check the planner regularly to make sure that assignments are completed for each class. If homework completion presents an issue, teachers may request that a parent or guardian sign the planner in order to provide needed support.

Oftentimes, teachers may require students to study in lieu of written homework assignments. Checking the planner is the best way to ensure that assignments are completed. Parents should refer to each teacher’s individual policies and procedures for guidance.

PROMOTION AND RETENTION POLICY (as of 6/10/19)
FOURTH through SIXTH Grade Promotion Requirements
In order to be promoted at the end of the school year, a student shall pass the following: English Language Arts and Math and One of these subjects: Science or Social Studies

*If a student fails the same subject for 2 consecutive years and is below Basic in the same subject, then the student is subject to intensive intervention.

NOTE: Students with characteristics of dyslexia, who are served in a multisensory structured language program, follow the same criteria for promotion as all other students.

NOTE: Students shall have participated in the state mandated assessments, if enrolled at the time of the assessments.

NOTE: Pursuant to Bulletin 741, §1103.G, elementary students shall be in attendance a minimum of 60,120 minutes (equivalent to 167 six-hour days) a school year.

NOTE: Students who have failed a subject may enroll in summer school to remove a deficiency and be considered for promotion to the next grade. However, an elementary student may request to enroll in a class to strengthen knowledge and skills in which a need has been recognized. A student is allowed to enroll in only one course for a fee. The school system reserves the right to cancel any class in which there is insufficient student enrollment for a course. The summer school grade shall not replace the grade earned during the regular school year.

STUDENT PROGRESS CENTER
The Student Progress Center is a program that allows parents or guardians to review information about their child including grades, attendance, and schedules from a home computer. The password and user ID information will be mailed directly to each student’s home address. You can also access the Student Progress Center from our school website using the link listed under About Our School. PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES Communication is an essential part of the educational program. We feel it is very important for parents to keep in close contact with their child’s teacher concerning his/her progress. Please remember to schedule a conference in advance so that a convenient time for all may be established. A conference can be scheduled by contacting the teacher through email (each teacher’s e-mail address is linked to our school website), written note, or phone call to the front office (985-641-6510). Both virtual and in person conferences are available.

Little Oak’s teachers and staff volunteer to sponsor many great clubs and activities which are available to our students at different grade levels. Any student who participates in a club or activity must comply with the sponsor’s rules and expectations. Each sponsor has the right to remove students from his/her program if the student is not meeting the expectations. When a student commits to an activity or club, his/her parents must complete the Aftercare Program Application. When after school events or meetings are held, any student who is not picked up within 15 minutes of the end of the program, meeting, or practice shall be escorted to aftercare and the parent will be responsible to pay the daily rate. BAND and CHORUS Band and Chorus selection will be determined through a try-out process, which takes place in the spring of the previous school year. Students in grades 5 and 6 are eligible to participate in band. Students in grade 5 and 6 are eligible to participate in chorus. Due to scheduling conflicts, after a specific designated date (set by administration) during the first few weeks of school, students will not be moved out of band or chorus. Students will remain in the band or chorus class for the remainder the year, which will serve as the child’s music class. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing the student from attending band or chorus practices, the student’s parent(s) must contact and meet with the band or chorus teacher to discuss options and develop a possible solution. Parents may elect for their child not to participate in band/chorus concerts or functions, but the student will remain in the band or chorus class for the remainder of the year.

It is necessary that children learn to develop self-discipline in order to further their learning. We expect students to display acceptable behavior at all times, and we expect parents to work with us to reach this goal. Our school-wide expectations are:
Be Positive, Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful, and our rules are linked to these four expectations. Our method of teaching and modeling expected behavior each day is aligned with the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBiS) System. As per administration’s discretion, if a student has excessive or extreme disciplinary issues, he/she may be excluded from PBiS and extracurricular activities. Students who violate discipline policies will be addressed by the teacher for minor infractions. Student Behavior Reports (SBRs) may be distributed by teachers for minor infractions. Students who repeatedly have minor infractions will be sent to administration for further consequences. Consequences vary based on each given situation. Consequences include, but are not limited to, the following: parent and/or student conference, time-out/exclusions, lunch/recess detention, after school detention, Saturday detention, In-School Support (ISS), Out-of-School Suspension, request for re-assignment, and/or Recommendation for Expulsion.

Detention Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays – 2:36 PM until 3:36 PM
Saturdays – 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM
**Note: The school uniform is to be worn while attending Saturday detentions, and the students should bring work to last four (4) hours. Work will be provided for them if needed. Students should also be sure to eat breakfast prior to Saturday detention. Food will not be provided.

It is the policy of Little Oak Middle School to strongly adhere to the guidelines and policies of the St. Tammany Parish School Board regarding discipline policies. St. Tammany Parish Schools provide many opportunities to meet the needs of individual students. In some cases, students will fill out a document called A Plan for Safety and Success. This document, along with our Little Oak Middle School Conflict Form, are used to provide documentation and establish a successful plan to meet the needs of each and every student.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
We believe that instruction best occurs in a safe environment that is conducive to learning, free from distractions, and free from disturbances. As a result, teachers will develop a classroom management plan that they feel will best meet the needs of their students. Classroom management plans will focus on the four school-wide PBiS expectations. Student Behavior Reports (SBRs) are utilized school-wide to notify parents of any minor behavior issues. Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) Behavior Reports are utilized school-wide for major discipline issues. Consequences vary based on each given situation and can be progressive. Students are not allowed to bring toys of any kind to school. This includes electronic devices, stuffed animals, trinkets, fidget spinners, trading cards, etc.

HALLWAY BEHAVIOR
Students are not allowed in the hallways before, during, or after school hours without a pass from a teacher to justify his/her being out of class. The only exception to this would be during inclement weather when the hallways are used for mornings when the students cannot go outside, severe weather procedures, and/or indoor recess if the gym is not available. Students are expected to follow the hallway rules at all times.

WEAPONS POLICY
Students found using, possessing and/or concealing a knife (including a pocket knife), a firearm, a lookalike weapon, and/or a weapon that may discharge a projectile or other dangerous instruments that may cause bodily harm shall be immediately suspended and recommended for expulsion. Police notification shall be made immediately. Please see the District Handbook for additional information regarding discipline policies and procedures.

ACCIDENTS AND ILLNESS
If your child is injured or becomes ill at school, we will make him/her comfortable and then call you immediately. If you cannot be reached, we will attempt to contact the emergency numbers that you have listed on your child’s Emergency Information Card. Please remember we cannot keep seriously ill children at school. Keeping your child’s Emergency Information Card updated is extremely important if additional contact phone numbers are needed in the event of an emergency. Please notify the front office of any changes as soon as they occur, so that we may update your child’s card. Students who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be placed in a designated area until a parent or guardian picks him/her up. The student must be picked up immediately from school following the notification. Thank you for your cooperation.

STUDENT MEDICATION
Regarding prescription and over the counter medication: In order for students to take prescribed and/or over the counter medication at school, the appropriate medical forms must be signed by the child’s physician and parent. Once the forms are completed with the proper signatures, the parent or guardian must deliver the medication, along with the completed signed forms, to Student Services. The medication must be appropriately labeled by a pharmacist in accordance with the physician order for that particular student. This includes over the counter medication as well (such as aspirin or ibuprofen). At no time are students allowed to deliver medication to Student Services. 

Regarding inhalers:
Students are not allowed to carry an inhaler unless the appropriate medical forms have been completed and returned to the school nurse. Once the completed and signed forms are returned, the inhaler will be issued to the student by the school nurse. The inhaler must be appropriately labeled by a pharmacist in accordance with the physician order for that particular student. The doctor must check “Yes” next to the authorization statement on the medication form in order for the student to carry and self-administer the prescribed inhaler.

Bus Transportation
Bus routes and stops are planned and established by the St. Tammany Parish School Board Transportation Department.  Bus driver contact information, and bus stop locations can be found on the district site.  Students who ride a bus are expected to follow behavior guidelines, which are posted on each bus. The bus driver will also send home a flyer with additional information. The form on the flyer must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian.  Students should be at their designated bus stop 10 minutes prior to pick-up time. Students are not allowed to be dropped off at a different bus stop by their parent/guardian. They must catch the bus at their assigned stop only. Students cannot be dropped off at a stop other than at the stop nearest to their home. Students who are found to be dropped off at a stop that is not their place of residence and are picked up by parent/guardian in a vehicle will be reported to transportation and Child Welfare and Attendance. Safety is always our number one concern.

Bicycle Riders and Walkers
Unfortunately, there are no sidewalks leading to Little Oak’s campus. Students who ride bicycles to school must be responsible and mature enough to navigate extremely heavy traffic on Pearl Street, Stone Street, and Rebel Drive. Bicycle riders must enter campus from Rebel Drive and once arriving to the gravel parking lot, they must walk their bicycles to the bike rack near the gymnasium. In the afternoon at dismissal, students will leave at the same time as walkers. Walkers must live within a close proximity to Little Oak’s campus. Students are not allowed to walk in order to get picked up in a car. Walkers will travel in a group and leave together. Administration will determine if inclement weather prevents the walkers from traveling by foot. In these cases, the parent or guardian will be contacted to pick up the student from school.

Car Riders
We encourage all students to ride the bus. It can be very frustrating to wait in our car line in the morning and in the afternoon, as it tends to be very long. Our car line wraps around Boyet Jr. High’s campus. After turning on to Stone Drive from Pearl Street, parents must turn RIGHT in front of Boyet Jr. High and follow the gravel road through Boyet’s field. While the buses are still on campus, the morning line will drop off at the gate once duty personnel is present. Drop off will begin at 7:05 AM. Once the buses have all dropped off (approximately by 7:30 AM) then the traffic will flow through to the front of Little Oak. The duty teacher will initiate this flow once prompted by an administrator. No students may be picked up or dropped off in the bus loading zone. For safety reasons, no parents should be in the bus loading area to pick up or drop off a student. If your child needs handicap access, please follow the car line route and once you approach the gate duty person, inform them that you will need handicap access for your child and they will direct you through the gate. In the afternoon, the car line will begin forming at the gate on Boyet’s property at the end of the gravel road. This line should not begin any earlier than 2:15 since this is also the walking path for Boyet’s PE students to walk to their field. Once the bell rings and the last bus has picked up (usually about 2:40) the cars will be directed to pull in front of Little Oak. We try to empty/fill at least 8 cars at a time, so please pull up as far as possible before your child exits/enters your car. Unfortunately, there is no covered area to drop students off in the event of rain. We do encourage you to provide your child with a small, fold-up umbrella for rainy days.

Guidance and Counseling services are available to help children become aware of their abilities, aptitudes, interests, and attitudes. The school counselor can assist in the following areas:

• to help children reach their full potential
• to help children set realistic goals consistent with their abilities and interests 
• to help children maximize their self-esteem 
• to provide opportunities for democratic problem solving 
• to provide experiences which will assist children in making wise choices

Little Oak Middle has the services of one full-time guidance counselor. Also, a full-time Mental Health Provider (MHP) is provided to help strengthen your child’s overall school experience. The counseling department phone number is 985-643-2731.

Counselor-
Mrs. Chancy Lafontaine
(985) 641-6510 Press “4” or Email
Please call regarding counseling concerns, 504 plans, and Kids in Transition (KIT).

Mental Health Provider (MHP)- 
Mrs. Heather Galbraith
(985) 641-6510 Press “9” or Email
Please call regarding MHP services.

As per St. Tammany Parish School Board policy, students shall be allowed to possess a telecommunication device (cell phone) on a school campus during the instructional day or on the bus to and from school provided the device is turned to the OFF position, completely stowed away, and not in use. Stowing of cell phones is defined as being placed in the student’s school bag or purse and shall not be displayed in view using any type of clip or other device. If a student is found using a cell phone, displaying a phone, or in possession of a ringing cell phone or a phone that is powered on during the instructional day or on the school bus, the disciplinary procedures as outlined in the District Handbook for Students and Parents shall be utilized as a consequence. The Superintendent or his/her designee may authorize exceptions to this policy on an individual, case by case basis. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the emergency use of electronic telecommunication devices by any student or person. Emergency shall mean an actual or imminent threat to public health or safety which may result in loss of life or injury. Use or operation of an electronic telecommunication device shall mean the device is either visible or turned to the on position for receiving or transmitting signals. Possession and/or use of other electronic devices by students shall be prohibited unless authorized by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The School System will not be responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices. Electronic communication devices, including smart watches (with the exception of cell phones), recording devices, or devices that can render a photographic image are NOT allowed on school property or on the school bus. These types of items will be confiscated by the teacher/administration and only returned to the parent/guardian. Progressive disciplinary consequences may result from having any of these articles. Little Oak Middle School will not be responsible for investigating or recovering any lost or stolen electronic device.

Students are responsible for all textbooks issued to them during the school year. All online textbooks can be accessed through Moodle. Math, science and social studies will be loaded to the student accounts within the first few weeks of school. Students should log on to Moodle using their student ID and password set during their library and computer classes (students will reset their passwords periodically). Mozilla Firefox is the internet browser you must use to access the books online.

All unclaimed articles, such as jackets and lunchboxes, are kept in a lost and found bin. The bin is located near the front office. Please write your child’s name on everything that is worn or brought to school. Students are responsible for their own belongings. The school is not responsible for replacing lost, damaged, or stolen items. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity once per nine weeks, and the donation will occur at the end of each nine week grading period. Students will be notified a few days prior to the donation collection so that they may attempt to retrieve any lost items.

For respect to the classroom learning environment, classes will not be interrupted for messages. Forgotten lunches, homework, and/or transportation arrangements are not considered emergencies and students will not be called to the front office for these items. Forgotten items may be dropped off at the front office during the day and will be placed in the teacher’s mailbox. Birthday cupcakes or other birthday bakery items that are easy to divide and distribute are welcomed. However, these items cannot be distributed in a “party” atmosphere. The student should bring the items with him/her in the morning. If the parent is bringing the items to school, they must be dropped off at the front office to be retrieved by the student. No balloons, flowers, decorations, candles, etc. are allowed. Although we realize that birthdays are special occasions, cupcakes and snacks may not be brought to the classroom by parents and/or guardians. Parents must communicate with their child’s teacher if they are sending in items.

During the first week of school, your child’s teacher will be sending home a Student Emergency Card for you to complete and return. Having this information returned promptly and correctly is of the UTMOST importance. A record of this information is kept in the school office in case you need to be contacted. Please make sure all telephone numbers and addresses are accurate and clearly written. Remember to put the name and telephone number of a person who can be contacted in case you cannot be reached. Please notify the school if you change your address or telephone numbers at any time during the school year. It is very important that our records are kept updated. Students may only be checked out of school/picked up by a person listed on the Student Emergency Card.

If you are moving and are withdrawing your child from Little Oak, please call our Records Clerk or come to the school office a few days prior to the withdrawal date. This will give ample time to complete the necessary paperwork. All textbooks and Chromebooks must be returned. All bills and all fines must be paid upon withdrawal in order to have records released.

NOTIFICATION OF TARDY CONSEQUENCE
Dear Parent:
________________________________ has been tardy________ times as of today’s date:____________.

The following disciplinary action is being taken:
_____ Level One-5 tardies: 1 Hour after school detention on ____________________ from 2:36-3:36 PM.
_____ Level Two-10 tardies: 4 Hour Saturday detention has been scheduled on ______________ from 8:00-12:00 PM. Uniform must be worn.
_____ Level Three-15 tardies: In-School Suspension, 3 proofs of residency, referral to truancy* *Students who accumulate more than 15 tardies may receive further discipline, such as Out-of-School Suspension and additional Saturday detention dates.

Tardy Policy
Being on time each day is an important part of being a successful student at Little Oak Middle School. It is the responsibility of each student to be in the classroom when instruction begins. Students who are late to class disrupt the educational process for themselves as well as other students. Parents must discuss the tardy policy with their child/children and support the necessity for the school’s immediate consequences to prevent habitual tardiness. Tardies are cumulative for the entire school year.

Morning Start Times
Classes begin promptly at 7:35 AM. Students may begin arriving on campus at 7:05 AM. Students who are not seated in their classrooms by 7:41 AM will be marked tardy.

Consequences for Being Tardy
When students are not in class by 7:41 AM, the student must check in at the front office and receive an admit slip to report to class. Each tardy will be logged in JPAMS along with absences. Consequences will begin after the 4th tardy. If a student does not serve the consequence on the rescheduled date, the student will receive the next level consequence as noted below.
5th Tardy-Level One- 1 hour after school detention
10th Tardy- Level Two-4 hour Saturday detention, Not eligible for PBiS rewards
15th + Tardy- Level Three- In-School Suspension, 3 proofs of residency, and referral to truancy, Not eligible for PBiS rewards 

PARENTS’ RIGHT TO KNOW
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires school districts to inform parents and families about their right to receive information on the professional qualifications of their children’s teachers. Parents and families have the right to know: 
Whether all employed personnel have met state qualification and licensing criteria for the position they hold within the school 
If any personnel is employed under provisional status where state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived
All college degrees and general areas of certification held by teachers, and qualifications of the paraprofessionals 
Whether their child receives services by paraprofessionals and their qualifications
Teacher Certification/Degree Information can be verified at www.teachlouisiana.net

PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
St. Tammany Parish Public School System believes that Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) is important for children to achieve success. Parents and families are key partners with the schools. PFE includes programs, services, and activities at the school and district level.

District Responsibilities

• Involve families in developing and reviewing the district's PFE Plan 
• Hold yearly Federal Programs, PFE Stakeholders’, and PFE activity planning meetings 
• Support STPPS Title I schools in planning and carrying out their PFE activities 
• Annually review and monitor PFE activities and school-wide programs outlined in the School Improvement Plans 
• Provide a Title I PFE resource page and presentations for school personnel use 
• Develop Title I PFE survey to evaluate PFE plans and use results to plan future PFE programs and adjust PFE policies and procedures

School Responsibilities 

• Invite parents to a school meeting highlighting their school's educational programs, curriculum, and PFE opportunities 
• Offer PFE activities at various times which support learning goals at home 
• Involve parents in the planning, review, and implementation of PFE programs 
• Provide parents with timely information about the school PFE policy 
• Provide families with opportunities to volunteer, participate, and observe in the school and classroom 
• Maintain 2-way communication with families 
• Provide each student with the Compact for Student Success outlining responsibilities of students, parents, and teachers in the educational process 
• Support all students in their effort to achieve success

Field trips are planned by teachers in each grade level, and are intended to enrich learning.  All field trips will support the standards within our curriculum.  Information and cost of trips will be sent home prior to any trip.  Students are not required to attend a field trip.  Assignments will be given to any child who remains at school.  The work will be done under the guidance of another classroom teacher.  Students attending field trips must ride the school bus to and from the destination, and students are not allowed to ride with parents in cars.  Siblings are not allowed to attend field trips.  School spirit shirts can be worn on field trip days.  Since field trips are off campus and require closer supervision, due to safety concerns, administration reserves the right to require a parent or guardian to attend the field trip with their child.  Administration may also deny a student permission to attend a field trip, depending on the nature of the trip.