Lamar County School District

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Lamar County School District

• 2008-2009
• High School
• Parent/Student
• Handbook
• Highlights

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DRUG FREE SCHOOLS

• The Lamar County School Board resolves to have
  the most Drug Free School environment possible.
  The District and School Board, through its
  Administration and Police Department, will
  vigorously seek out those who use, sell, or come
  to school under the influence of drugs or
  alcohol. Students who violate the School District
  Policies in regard to use, possession, or sale of
  drugs will be subject to the strongest discipline
  to include alternative school placement and
  expulsion. The District will be using its own
  drug dog to conduct drug searches at all of its
  schools on a regular basis.

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Hazing/Stalking

• Student behavior that harasses or threatens other
  students or school personnel will not be
  tolerated. The
  
• Lamar County School District shall treat hazing,
  as defined in MS Code 37-11-37 through 45
  97-3-105 107. The honor system will be used
  whereby those who are hazed will be expected to
  report the hazing or will be held just as
  responsible as those doing the hazing. If the
  hazing is related to initiation into teams,
  clubs, or organizations, removal from the
  activity will be immediate and automatic. Other
  consequences will be determined by the severity
  of the hazing.
• This policy is not limited to on-campus
  activities.

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The Following Signed Forms are Required for All
Students

• Note Absolutely no medication shall be
  transported by a child to or from school. It must
  be transported by a parent/guardian only to the
  school office.

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Food Services Program

• Breakfast 1.50
• Reduced Breakfast .30
• Adult Breakfast 1.75
• Student Lunch 2.25
• Reduced Lunch .40
• Adult Lunch 3.00

• Free and reduced lunch forms are always available
  to students/families
  
• Payments can be made weekly or monthly.
• Students are NOT allowed to leave during lunch
  break nor are they allowed to send for other
  purchased lunch items during lunch.
  
• No carbonated beverages.

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The goal of the Lamar County School District is
to assure that parents, families, and schools
work together to insure each student is
successful and a productive citizen in todays
world. Lamar County School District will involve
parents in the success of each student!

• Academic successes
• Tutoring opportunities
• Attendance issues
• Academic interventions
• Discipline issues

• Club involvement
• Extra-curricular activities
• Scholarship opportunities
• Booster clubs opportunities
• Drop out prevention

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Early Dismissal for Bad Weather

• LCSD is in constant contact with the Emergency
  Management Agency. In case of an early dismissal
  due to impending bad weather, notification will
  be made on
• WDAM-TV FM 94.3
• FM 95.9 FM 97.3
• FM 98.1 FM 100.3
• FM103.7 FM 104.5

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Attendance

• All students attending a Lamar County School must
  attend a minimum of 84 days in a one credit
  course and 42 days in a ½ credit course
  
• All absences other than school activities, those
  accompanied by a doctors excuse, or those
  
• due to out of school suspension are counted in
  the total number of absences allowed.
  
• For any absence, the student must bring a note
  from parent/guardian or doctor to validate the
  absence within 3 days of the students return to
  school.
• Students/Parents/Legal Guardians are responsible
  for keeping up with student absences.
  
• Principal will notify parents/guardians about
  excessive absences.

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Student Check-Out Procedures

• Students must present parent note to school
  office by 830 a.m. for verification of
  check-out.
  
• Students cannot be checked out by phone calls
  Parents must physically come and check student
  out.

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Tardies

• Students are expected to be in class promptly.
• Unexcused tardies will result in disciplinary
  action.
  
• School principals will determine appropriate
  disciplinary action when students are tardy to
  class or school.

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Grading Scale
A 93-100 Superior Work B 84-92 Above Average Wo
rk C 75-83 Average Work D 70-74 Below Average
Work
F 0-69 Failing Work I Incomplete Work
Complete grading information is on page 21.
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Exemptions

• Senior Exemptions
• 85 average in class with no more than 2 absences
  in a half-credit course and no more than 4
  absences in a full credit course. School business
  absences do not count against student.
• Grades 9 11 Exemptions
• 93 average in class same absence policy as above.

Note If a student reaches level 5 on the
discipline ladder, he/she automatically loses
exemption status in all classes. Also, if a
student receives 2 long forms from the same
teacher, he/she loses exemption privilege in that
class.
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Subject Area Testing Program

• Students are required to pass the following state
  tests in order to graduate
  
• English II multiple choice and writing
• Algebra I
• Biology
• U.S. History

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Correspondence Courses

• Only one unit can be earned through
  correspondence that counts toward graduation.
  Approval is at the discretion of the principal,
  and approval will not be granted for English II,
  English III, English IV, Biology I, U.S. History,
  Algebra I, or any lab based science course.

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Traditional Diploma Graduation

• Requirements refer to pages 27-28 of handbook
• All high schools are now on a 4 x 4 schedule and
  by 2010-2011 all seniors will be required a total
  of 28 credits to graduate from Lamar County
  School District.
• The five state subject area tests must be
  passed.
  
• Exhibition of achievement (Senior Project) must
  be completed.
  
• Look at other important information regarding
  graduation on page 29.

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Traditional Diploma Graduation Continued

• Seniors will be limited to one block per semester
  of early dismissal for one of the following
  
• Dual enrollment
• Career Directed Learning
• School to Work (special services)

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Graduation Optionsfor Students With Disabilities

• Lamar County School District students with
  disabilities will have three graduation options,
  as follows
  
• Students with disabilities may enroll in an
  academic course of study aimed at obtaining a
  Standard Lamar County School District High School
  Diploma.
• Students with disabilities may obtain a
  Graduation Certificate of Completion as specified
  in the Mississippi Code 837-16-11.
  
• Students with disabilities may enroll in an
  occupational course of study aimed at obtaining a
  Lamar County School District Occupational
  Diploma. The student must have an approved
  portfolio, containing a collection of evidence of
  the students knowledge, skills, and abilities,
  related to the occupational core curriculum. The
  primary postgraduate goal for students enrolled
  in the occupational course of study is
  competitive employment.

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GED Option Program

• Lamar County will provide a program of GED
  preparatory instruction as a part of the
  Alternative Education Program. The legislation
  mandates that students who are enrolled in an
  approved GED Program shall not be classified as
  dropouts and that the school district will
  continue to receive Minimum Program funding for
  the students while they are enrolled in the GED
  Program. Students placed in the GED Program shall
  not be eligible to participate in regular
  academic courses or other programmatic activities
  within the school district, including athletics,
  choir, band, or any other extra curricular
  activities except that a GED student may
  participate in existing job and skill development
  programs or in programs developed in conjunction
  with the GED Program and the Vocational Education
  Director.

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Student Dress Code9 12
Refer to page 32 of student handbook
New changes

• No spike Mohawks or off color hair
• Under no circumstances will excessively baggy,
  low-riding pants or oversized shirts or
  sweatshirts be allowed (An oversized shirt is
  defined as bottom of shirts cannot hang below
  the wrist). If the bottom of the shirt goes below
  the students wrist, the shirt must be tucked
  in
• Walking shorts will not exceed 5 inches above the
  top of the knee.
  

• Shorts must be hemmed
• All other apparel will not exceed 4 inches above
  the top of the knee slits in skirts must meet
  this requirement also
  
• Hoods are not allowed inside or outside
  buildings
  
• No clothes containing holes above the knee

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Disciplinary Policies and Procedures
Refer to pages 33 - 37 of student handbook

• New Change
• Unsafe School Choice Option

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Discipline Ladder
Refer to pages 37 - 43 of student handbook

• New Changes
• Fighting 1st offense begins at Level 5
• Use, sale, possesion, or under the influence
  drugs and/or drug paraphenalia or counterfeit
  1st offense begins at Level 6
  
• Possession of weapons 1st offense begins at
  Level 6
  
• Pornography in any form Steps 5 - 8

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Discipline Guide

• Fighting
• Level I Pushing Shoving Wrestling Trying to
  throw a punch Inciting a fight
  
• Level II Vicious, Blood, Fist fight
• Level III Habitual discipline problem,
  previously warned, 2nd fight or more in a year
  
• Consequences
• Level I Step 5 1 day suspension
• Level II Step 5 5 days suspension
• Level III Step 6 6 days suspension 35 days
  at Alternative School
  

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Discipline Guide - Continued

• Weapons
• Level I Weapons other than a gun found on
  person, vehicle
  
• Level II Using, Threatening or Brandishing any
  weapon, Possession of a gun on person or in
  vehicle
  
• Consequences
• Level I Step 6 6 days suspension 35 days at
  Alternative School
  
• Level II Step 7 6 days suspension expulsion
  for one calendar year
  

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Discipline Guide - Continued

• Illegal drugs Alcohol
• Level I Handling, Passing it on to another
  student, misuse of any of the above
  
• Level II Under the influence
• Level III Brought to school
• Consequences
• Level I Step 6 6 days suspension 35 days at
  Alternative School
  
• Level II Step 6 6 days suspension one
  calendar year at Alternative School
  
• Level III Step 7 6 days suspension
  expulsion for one calendar year
  

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Discipline Guide - Continued

• Prescription drugs, Over the Counter Medications
  Supplements
  
• Level I Handling, Passing it to another
  student
  
• Level II Brought to school to sell, give away,
  trade
  
• Consequences
• Level I Step 5 3 days suspension
• Level II Step 6 6 days suspension 35 days
  at Alternative School
  

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Youth Court
Criminal behavior if committed by a student may
result in referral to Lamar County Youth Court or
the appropriate Judiciary. The following is a
list of offenses that may be reported

• Possession of weapons
• Possession of drugs
• Possession of alcohol
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Simple assault
• Disorderly conduct
• Abuse of a Teacher or Principal
• Threatening and intimidation
• Public intoxication

• Malicious mischief
• Cyber stalking
• Vandalism
• Gambling
• Trespassing
• Rape
• Sexual battery
• Bomb threats
• Defacing or destroying school property

• And other criminal offenses of the Mississippi
  Code
  

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Remember

• School Bus Transportation is a privilege! You CAN
  be denied bus transportation.
  
• Fighting aboard a school bus will result in
  automatic expulsion from the bus for one school
  year.
  
• Cameras are placed on school buses to monitor
  your behavior.
  
• Only students and school officials are allowed to
  ride on buses. Parents or any other persons
  cannot board a bus.
  
• Riding another bus from your assigned bus
  requires a written note from a parent or guardian
  to be approved by your principal.
  
• It is against the law to pass a stopped school
  bus!

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Tobacco

• NOT permitted in any form

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Possession of Pagers, Cellular Phones, Radios, or
Other Electronic Devices

• Students are not permitted to bring electronic
  items on the campuses. Students in possession of
  electronic games, pagers, beepers, portable cell
  phones, or other electronic devices shall be
  subject to the following consequences
• 1st offense such item(s) confiscated and held
  until parents/guardians meet with the
  principal/assistant principal and may also be
  subject to other disciplinary action
• 2nd offense such item(s) confiscated for the
  duration of the school year and may be subject to
  other disciplinary action
  
• 3rd offense such item(s) confiscated and
  suspension from school.
  

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Automobile/Motorized Vehicle Use

• Parking lots are off limits during school hours
• Students may not return to their vehicle during
  school.

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Extra Curricular Policies and Procedures (page 48)

• Students must have an overall 75 or higher
  average and must pass 5 units of credits the
  previous year.
  
• Students must earn 3 units of credit with an
  overall 75 average the first semester to be
  eligible the second semester.

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Whos Who (page 49)

• Clubs, Class Officers and Homecoming court-
• During the year of election, a student cannot
• Reach step 5 or above on the discipline ladder
• Receive more than two office referrals