2015-2016 Student and Family Handbook

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2015-2016
Student and Family Handbook
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TABLE!OF!CONTENTS!
Introduction!
2
(MS) !Mission!Statement!..!3!
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Key!School!Policies!
Inclement!Weather!and!Emergency!Procedures!..!4!
Daily!Arrival!and!Dismissal!!4!
Early!Dismissal!Policy!!5!
Attendance!Policy!.....!5!
Long!Term!Absence!Policy!...!5!
Excused!Absence!Policy!..!6!
Truancy!Policy!!6!
Notice!of!NonSDiscrimination!......!6!
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Academics!
2
Overview!of!(MS) !Curriculum!..!7!
School!Grading!and!Promotion!.!7!
Promotion!Criteria!....!8!
Students!with!Disability!8!!
Grading!Rubric!..!8!
Progress!Reports!and!Report!Cards!...!10!
Homework!Policy!.!10!
Standardized!Testing!.!13!
Extended!Enrichment!!13!
Student!Supplies!..!14!
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INTRODUCTION!
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Student!Support!Services!
Department!of!Student!Support!..!14!
Student!Probationary!Policy!...!14!
Student!Dress!Policy!....!15!
TAG!Day/DressSUp!Day!...!15!
Student!Behavior!Policy!....!16!
Due!Process!....!20!
Safety!Policy!!20!
Student!Use!of!School!Telephone!...!21!
Electronic!Device!Policy!..!22!
Locker!Policy!..!22!
Loaned!School!Resources!Policy!.....!22!
Health!Services!.!22!
Restroom!Policy!..!23!
Transportation!....!23!
Cafeteria!and!Meals!....!23!
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Parent!Responsibilities!
2
Communication!With!(MS) !...!24!
Advocacy!.....!25!
Grievance!Policy!..!26!
2
(MS) !Parents!in!Action!..!32!
Visitors!and!Volunteers!..!30!
Lost!and!Found!....!30!
Universal!Permission!Slip!..!30!
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The! Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and! Science! Family! Handbook! provides!
information!to!help:!
Students!have!a!productive,!enjoyable,!and!successful!experience!at!(MS)2,!and!!
Parents/guardians!fulfill!the!goal!of!effectively!supporting!their!child!in!the!(MS)2!environment.!
We!urge!you!to!study!the!handbook!and!become!familiar!with!all!of!the!information!presented.!Use!it!as!
a!reference!and!guide!to!develop!an!understanding!of!the!resources!and!policies!at!Howard!University!
Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science.!Please!take!time!to!review!each!section!with!your!child!so!
that!he/she!is!clear!of!the!expectations!and!underpinnings!of!the!operations!of!the!school.!
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Throughout! the! year,! we! will! also! review! and! discuss! the! different! components! of! the! handbook! with!
students.! In! this! way,! they! will! know! we! are! working! together! as! a! team! to! ensure! that! they! have! a!
productive!year.!
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Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015
do something extraordinarytm 2
MISSION!STATEMENT!
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In!the!tradition!of!Howard!University,!the!Howard!University!Public!Charter!Middle!School!of!
Mathematics!and!Science!(MS)2!provides!an!educational!experience!of!exceptional!quality!for!a!diverse!
population!of!students!in!grades!six,!seven!and!eight.
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Not!only!does!our!curriculum!emphasize!mathematics!and!the!sciences!as!core!disciplines,!but!also!
within!all!content!areas!to!develop!and!support!students!problem!solving!skills!and!creativity.!
StandardsSbased!instruction,!facilitated!through!student!centered!and!inquirySbased!activities,!ignites!
student!creativity!and!builds!academic!confidence,!thereby!providing!opportunities!for!exploration,!
discovery!and!knowledge!building.!Our!students!are!afforded!educational!programs!and!services!that!
foster!their!intellectual,!psychological,!social!and!emotional!wellSbeing!and!instill!a!desire!to!strive!for!
excellence!and!to!pursue!lifeSlong!learning.!(MS)2!encourages!the!academic!riskStaking!needed!to!master!
the!rigorous!academic!disciplines!and!celebrate!all!efforts.!The!relationship!with!Howard!University!
enriches!both!institutions!through!a!continuum!of!care!provided!to!its!students!and!supported!through!
collaborative!efforts!of!parents,!teachers,!school!staff,!university!personnel,!and!the!community.!
KEY!SCHOOL!POLICIES!
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INCLEMENT!WEATHER!AND!EMERGENCY!PROCEDURES!
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In!the!event!of!inclement!weather,!(MS)!follows!the!District!of!Columbia!Public!Schools!policy!for!delays!
and!closings!and/or!the!policy!of!Howard!University.!Notification!will!be!made!through!the!methods!of!
communication!listed!below.!
In!the!case!of!other!unforeseen!emergencies,!notification!will!also!be!made!in!the!same!manner.!
Methods!of!Communication:!
1. (MS)2!community!will!be!called!by!the!automated!telephone!and!email!message!system;!
2. Television!announcements!will!be!made!on!local!channels,!such!as!WRCS4,!WJLAS7,!FOXS5!and!
WUSAS9;!
3. Radio!announcements!will!be!made!on!local!stations,!such!as!WHUR!96.3FM!and!WTOP!107.7!
FM;!
DAILY!ARRIVAL!AND!DISMISSAL!
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(MS)2!opens!its!doors!at!7:00!AM;!students!will!not!be!admitted!before!this!time!and!no!supervision!will!
be! provided.! Therefore,! students! should! not! arrive! before! this! time.! If! it! is! necessary! for! your! child! to!
arrive!earlier!on!any!given!day,!please!contact!the!office!in!advance!so!that!arrangements!can!be!made.!
The!cafeteria!opens!for!breakfast!at!7:20!AM.!Homeroom!begins!at!7:50!AM,!and!any!student!arriving!
after!8:00!AM!will!be!marked!tardy.!Students!arriving!after!11:30!AM!will!be!marked!absent.!
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The!(MS)2!buildings!hallways!and!stairways!are!security!coded!and!are!not!open!for!public!access!prior!
to!7:45!AM.!As!a!result,!students!will!not!be!able!to!travel!beyond!the!first!floor.!If!your!child!is!meeting!
a!teacher!before!7:45!AM,!the!teacher!will!issue!a!pass!to!the!student!the!day!before!the!meeting.!In!the!
morning,!staff!on!duty!will!contact!the!teacher!to!come!down!to!get!your!child.!
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Unless!otherwise!noted!on!the!school!calendar,!school!ends!at!4:30!PM!MondaySThursday,!and!3:30!PM!
on!Fridays.!Students!are!expected!to!vacate!the!school!premises!immediately!at!the!end!of!the!school!
day.!Parents/guardians!who!pickSup!their!children!are!asked!to!enter!the!campus!through!the!4th!Street!
gate!which!generally!opens!at!4:25!PM!and!exit!through!the!6th!Street!gate.!The!4th!Street!gate!closes!at!
about!4:45!PM.!Make!certain!when!picking!up!your!child,!that!access!to!the!crosswalk,!driveways,!and!
intersections!are!not!blocked.!(MS)2!is!not!responsible!for!student!supervision!after!5:00!PM!unless!they!
are!involved!in!previously!scheduled!afterShours!school!activities.!
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Please!contact!the!school!immediately!if!you!will!be!delayed!in!picking!up!your!child.!All!students!in!the!
building!after!hours!must!be!under!the!supervision!of!a!staff!member.!Unless!a!student!is!with!a!staff!
member,!students!waiting!to!be!picked!up!must!wait!at!the!security!area!until!their!ride!comes.!!
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Students!who!walk!home!should!follow!staff!rules!as!they!exit!the!campus!to!ensure!their!safety.!(MS)2!
is!limited!in!its!ability!to!manage!students!beyond!the!boundaries!of!Howard!Place!and!4th!Street!and,!
the!metro!bus!stop!at!Howard!Place,!thus!students!are!encouraged!to!utilize!the!metro!bus!or!the!HU!
shuttle!to!travel!up!or!down!Georgia!Avenue.!Ultimately,!it!is!the!parents!responsibility!to!ensure!their!
childs!route!home!is!a!safe!one.!!
EARLY!DISMISSAL!
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An!early!dismissal!is!defined!as!a!child!leaving!school!before!the!end!of!the!school!day!at!the!request!of!a!
parent/guardian.! Requests! for! early! dismissal! must! be! made! in! writing! or! electronically! via! email! and!
submitted!to!the!main!office!upon!the!students!arrival!on!the!day!of!the!scheduled!early!dismissal.!The!
written!notification!must!include!the!following!information:!
1. Students!name;!!
2. Date!and!time!of!the!early!dismissal;!!
3. Mode!of!transportation!the!child!will!be!using!or!whom!will!be!picking!up!the!child;!
4. Parent/guardian!contact!information!so!that!the!request!can!be!verified!(particularly!if!the!child!
is!leaving!on!his/her!own).!This!person!must!be!the!parent/guardian!on!record.!
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In! the! event! of! an! emergency! in! which! you! are! not! able! to! provide! prior! written! notification,! please!
contact!the!schools!Attendance!Coordinator!by!phone!as!well!as!send!an!email!for!the!schools!records!
as! soon! as! possible.! While! (MS)2! may! honor! unscheduled! walkSin! requests! for! student! dismissal,! we!
strongly!encourage!parents!to!plan!ahead!to!ensure!that!your!child(ren)!is!prepared!to!be!released.!We!
will! not! honor! unscheduled! walkSin! requests! for! dismissal! made! after! 3:30! pm! unless! there! is! a!
documented!emergency,!as!students!are!participating!in!interactive!enrichment!classes!during!that!time!
that!may!take!them!outside!of!the!school!building.!!!
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All! students! are! required! to! be! signed! out! and! picked! up! by! an! adult! on! record! for! early! dismissals.!
Early! dismissals! should! be! reserved! for! emergencies! only.! Excessive! early! dismissals! will! warrant! a!
parent!conference!with!the!school.!
ATTENDANCE!POLICY!
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Parents/guardians!should!plant!the!seeds!early!for!developing!the!habits!of!coming!to!school!daily!and!
on! time.! Your! child! is! expected! to! be! in! school! every! day! that! school! is! in! session.! Both! excellent!
attendance!and!punctuality!are!at!the!top!of!our!list!of!behaviors!we!believe!help!build!good!character!
and! a! strong! work! ethic.! In! addition! to! coming! to! school! everyday,! we! believe! that! students! should!
arrive!a!little!early!versus!right!on!time.!This!will!allow!him/her!to!have!extra!time!to!mentally!prepare!
for!the!day.!!
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Please!note!that!being!tardy!three!(3)!times!will!convert!to!one!(1)!unexcused!absence.!If!a!student!is!
habitually!late,!parents!will!be!required!to!meet!with!the!school!administration!to!immediately!address!
and!correct!this!behavior.!A!contractual!agreement!will!be!on!file!to!this!effect.!!
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You!and!your!child,!together,!must!assume!the!responsibility!of!coming!to!school!everyday!and!on!time.!
However,!as!the!parent/guardian,!the!ultimate!responsibility!is!yours.!!
LONG!TERM!ABSENCE!POLICY!
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If! your! child! is! absent! from! school! for! a! week! or! longer,! this! constitutes! a! longSterm! absence.!
Parents/guardians!have!the!responsibility!of!informing!the!administration!of!the!nature!of!the!absence!
and! securing! all! missed! assignments.! Students! have! the! responsibility! of! working! within! a! planned!
agreement!for!completing!and!submitting!all!missed!assignments.!!
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KEY!SCHOOL!POLICIES!
EXCUSED!ABSENCE!POLICY!
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At!least!one!of!the!following!must!be!received!for!an!absence!to!be!considered!an!excused!absence:!
1. Note!from!a!doctor!specifying!the!date(s)!student!was!under!medical!care;*!
2. Note!from!parent/guardian!stating!the!absence!was!due!to:!
a. Illness;!
b. Celebrating!a!religious!event;!
c. Attending!a!funeral!of!an!immediate!family!member;!
d. A!mandated!court!appearance!with!verification!from!the!court.!
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*!!!!Required!if!student!is!absent!three!(3)!or!more!consecutive!days!!
TRUANCY!POLICY!
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The!Office!of!the!State!Superintendent!of!Education!(OSSE)!has!adopted!an!enhanced!truancy!policy!for!
DC! public! and! public! charter! schools.! Your! child! is! truant! if! he/she! is! excessively! absent! from! school!
without!an!excuse.!Five!(5)!days!of!unexcused!absences!will!warrant!a!parent!conference.!Ten!(10)!days!
of! unexcused! absences! will! warrant! a! truancy! court! referral! to! the! Department! of! Child! Protective!
Services!for!educational!neglect.!
NOTICE!OF!NONVDISCRIMINATION!
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In! accordance! with! Title! VI! of! the! Civil! Rights! Act! of! 1964! (Title! VI),! Title! IX! of! the! Education!
Amendments!of!1972!(Title!IX),!Section!504!of!the!Rehabilitation!Act!of!1973!(Section!504),!Title!II!of!
the!Americans!with!Disabilities!Act!of!1990!(ADA),!and!the!Age!Discrimination!Act!of!1975!(The!Age!
Act),! applicants! for! admission! and! employment,! students,! parents,! employees,! sources! of! referral! of!
applicants!for!admission!and!employment,!and!all!unions!or!professional!organizations!holding!collective!
bargaining! or! professional! agreements! with! Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and!
Science!are!hereby!notified!that!Howard!University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science!does!not!
discriminate!on!the!basis!of!race,!color,!national!origin,!sex,!age,!or!disability!in!admission!or!access!to,!
or!treatment!or!employment!in,!its!programs!and!activities.!!
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For! inquiries! or! to! file! a! complaint! regarding! Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and!
Science!compliance!with!ADA,!Section!504!as!it!relates!to!employees!or!third!parties,!and!compliance!
with!Title!VI,!Title!IX,!and!the!Age!Act!as!it!relates!to!students,!employees!and!third!parties!contact:!!
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Section!504,!ADA,!Title!VI,!Title!IX,!and!Age!Act!Coordinator!
Special!Education!Coordinator!
405!Howard!Place,!NW!
Washington,!DC!!20059!
Email:!!info@universitymiddleschool.org!!
Tel:!(202)!806S7725!
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Our! special! education! coordinator! has! been! designated! by! Howard! University! Middle! School! of!
Mathematics!and!Science!to!coordinate!its!efforts!to!comply!with!the!regulations!and!implementation!of!
Section!504!and!ADA.!!
ACADEMIC!
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OVERVIEW!OF!(MS)2!CURRICULUM!
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(MS)2!uses!a!unique!curriculum!based!on!nationally!recognized!standards!of!learning.!Inclusive!in!this!are!
the! learning! standards! of! the! District! of! Columbia! Public! Schools! (DCPS).! Our! learning! standards! are!
designed!to!encourage!the!highest!achievement!of!every!student,!by!defining!the!knowledge,!concepts,!
and! skills! that! students! should! acquire! at! each! grade! level.! The! new! learning! standards! in!
reading/English! language! arts,! mathematics,! science,! and! social! studies! are! among! the! best! in! the!
nation,! and! are! the! cornerstone! of! (MS)2s! commitment! to! provide! each! student! with! an! excellent!
education.!As!a!District!of!Columbia!public!charter!school,!our!annual!state!assessment!is!based!on!DCPS!
Standards.!You!can!download!complete!copies!of!these!standards!at:!!
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http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/Standards/standardsHome.htm!
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The!following!courses!are!offered!at!(MS)2:!
Mathematics!(including!Algebra!I!&!Geometry)*!
Science*!
Integrated!Mathematics!with!Technology!Applications!
English/Language!Arts*!
STEM!Literacy*!
Social!Studies*!
Spanish!
Music!
Physical!Education!
*This!is!a!core!subject.!
SCHOOL!GRADING!AND!PROMOTION!
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The!question!of!promotion!is!one!that!challenges!every!school,!at!every!grade!level.!At!(MS),!we!know!
that! neither! automatic! retention! nor! automatic! promotion! is! the! solution! for! students! who! do! not!
successfully! complete! their! work.! Given! the! importance! of! the! decision,! our! promotion! policy! is!
designed! to! provide! students! with! optimal! learning! opportunities! throughout! the! year! to! achieve! at!
proficient!or!advanced!levels.!
The!goal!is!that!all!students!have!the!support!needed!to!move!forward!successfully!from!one!level!to!the!
next.!To!be!considered!for!promotion,!students!must!at!least!satisfactorily!complete!work!in!their!core!
courses.! For! the! prevention! of! academic! failure,! we! have! carefully! planned! a! proactive! approach! that!
includes! parents,! teachers,! students! and! administrators.! Through! ongoing! monitoring! of! student!
performance,!starting!before!the!first!day!of!class,!appropriate!interventions!will!be!provided!to!ensure!
academic!success!for!all!students.!!
Evaluation!of!student!achievement!focuses!on!academic!performance!and!other!dimensions!of!student!
growth.!The!Principal!is!ultimately!responsible!for!determining!the!placement!that!best!meets!the!
student's!academic,!social,!emotional!and!physical!needs;!each!member!of!the!school!Instructional!
Team!is!responsible!for!evaluating!the!growth!of!each!individual.!
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ACADEMIC!
PROMOTION!CRITERIA!
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To!be!promoted!to!the!next!grade!level!each!school!year,!each!middle!school!student!should:!
Receive!no!more!than!one!D!and!no!Fs!in!any!core!subject.*!
Perform!at!the!Proficient!Level!or!higher!on!the!PARCC!or!comparable!standardized!assessment!
in!mathematics,!science,!and!reading.**!
Complete! a! writing! folder/portfolio! that! includes! 3! required! writing! pieces! ! one! from!
mathematics,!one!from!science,!and!one!from!English/language!arts.!One!of!the!writing!pieces!
must!be!a!report!on!a!science!or!mathematics!project!conducted!by!the!student.!
*!!!!Students!receiving!a!D!in!a!core!course!at!the!end!of!the!school!year!will!be!required!to!!
attend!summer!school.!
**!!Students!scoring!less!than!Proficient!on!the!PARRC!or!comparable!standardized!!
assessment,!will!be!required!to!attend!summer!school.!
!
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The! Principal! and! Instructional! Team! will! also! consider! the! following! factors! in! determining!
promotion/retention!of!students:!
Academic!achievement!(successful!mastery!at!the!current!level!as!evidenced!by!grades!earned!
during!academic!reporting!periods);!
Demonstrated!ability!to!function!at!the!next!level,!academically;!
Organizational! skills! and! work! habits! that! are! commensurate! with! requirements! at! the! next!
grade!level;!
Attendance;!
Level!of!maturity!!including!social,!emotional!and!physical!factors.!
!
Students! who! are! failing! one! or! more! core! academic! subjects! or! scoring! less! than! Proficient! on! the!
PARRC!assessment!in!mathematics,!reading!or!language!arts!will!be!considered!at!risk.!For!a!student!
at!risk,!the!Principal!and!Instructional!Team!may!recommend!from!the!following!alternatives:!
Attendance!at!summer!school!!
Supplemental! instruction/! assignments/tutoring! or! other! interventions! as! determined! by! the!
school;!
Promotion!to!a!Transition!Year!at!the!end!of!the!second!term!(Grade!8!only);!
Repeat! the! entire! year! (with! enhanced! supports! available! and! an! alternative! approach! to! the!
delivery!of!the!subject!matter!that!promises!greater!opportunity!for!success).!
!
Students!entering!the!school!at!the!6th!grade!level!will!be!given!diagnostic!assessments!in!mathematics!
and!reading/language!arts.!Any!student!placing!more!than!2!grade!levels!below!the!beginning!6th!grade!
level!will!be!considered!at!risk!and!the!accompanying!recommendations!listed!above!will!apply.!
STUDENTS!WITH!DISABILITIES!
!
Students! with! disabilities! are! expected! to! master! the! general! curriculum! to! the! maximum! extent!
appropriate!with!the!use!of!supplementary!aides!and!services.!The!Individual!Education!Plan!(IEP)!goals!
and!objectives!developed!by!the!School!Team!and!parents!determine!how!a!student!with!disabilities!is!
expected!to!meet!the!(MS)!promotion!criteria!and!must!be!documented!in!the!students!IEP.!
!
Grading!Rubric!V!Standards!for!EndVofVCourse!Grading!
A!
!
AV!
93V100%!
!
90V92%!
An! A! signifies! an! EXCEPTIONALLY! clear! and! creative! grasp! of! the! concepts!
and! skills,! which! reflect,! full! mastery! of! the! standards! for! the! subject/area! of!
study!for!his/her!grade!level.!Students!demonstrate!the!ability!to!apply!these!
skills! and! knowledge! in! novel! situations.! They! demonstrate! mastery! through!
oral! and! written! communication.! An! A! also! means! that! the! student! has!
actively! participated! in! class! activities! and! has! completed! all! assignments! and!
projects! in! a! timely! manner.! The! quality! and! appearance! of! the! assignments!
and! projects! indicate! that! the! student! has! spent! extra! time,! personal! energy,!
and!critical!reflection!in!an!effort!to!demonstrate!exceptional!work.!
B+!
!
B!
!
BV!
87V89%!
!
83V86%!
!
80V82%!
A! B! signifies! a! SOLID! understanding! and! full! mastery! of! the! major! concepts!
and!skills!of!the!standards!for!the!subject/area!of!study!for!his/her!grade!level.!
Students! are! able! to! demonstrate! the! application! of! the! concepts! and! skills!
studied.! It! also! means! that! the! students! effort! and! class! participation! have!
exceeded!the!minimal!basic!requirements!for!the!course.!All!assignments!and!
projects! were! judged! to! be! solid! in! content! and! were! completed! in! a! timely!
manner.!
C+!
!
C!
!
CV!
77V79%!
!
73V76%!
!
70V72%!
A!C!signifies!a!SATISFACTORY!understanding!and!application!of!the!concepts!
and!skills!targeted!in!the!standards!for!the!subject/area!of!study!for!the!given!
grade!level!as!well!as!minimal!participation!in!class!discussion!and!activities.!It!
also! indicates! that! the! student! completed! the! appropriate! assignments! and!
projects!that!satisfied!the!basic!course!requirements.!
D+!
!
D!
67V69%!
!
64V66%!
!
!
A! D! signifies! a! BELOW! AVERAGE! demonstration! and! application! of! the!

subject! area! concepts! and! skills! and/or! inadequate! preparation! for! class!
discussions! or! activities.! It! may! also! indicate! that! assignments! were! not!
completed! in! a! satisfactory! or! timely! manner.! A! grade! of! D! is! minimally!
passing.!
F!
63%!and!
Below!
An!F!signifies!that!the!student!has!NOT!DEMONSTRATED!adequate!
understanding!or!application!of!the!concepts!and!skills!reflected!in!the!content!
standards!for!his/her!grade!level!targeted!in!the!course.!It!may!also!indicate!
that!the!student!HAS!NOT!met!the!attendance!or!assignment!requirements.!A!
grade!of!F!is!NOT!passing.
!
!
ACADEMIC!
PROGRESS!REPORTS!AND!REPORT!CARDS!
!
There!are!two!types!of!reports!that!officially!communicate!student!academic!progress.!The!reports!are:!!
The! midSquarter! Progress! Report,! distributed! at! the! midpoint! of! each! quarter,! presents! the!
progress!(grades)!of!the!student!for!the!firstShalf!of!the!specific!grading!period.!
The!endSofSthe!quarter!Report!Card,!distributed!at!the!end!of!each!quarter,!presents!the!end!of!
quarter!grades!and!the!cumulative!progress!for!the!academic!yearStoSdate.!!
HOMEWORK!POLICY!
!
Purposes!of!Homework:!
!
Homework!prepares!for,!reinforces!and!extends!learning;!strengthens!skills!and!concepts!introduced!in!
the! classroom;! activates! prior! knowledge! and! assesses! student! understanding;! and! establishes! study!
habits!and!promotes!independence!and!academic!responsibility.!
!
The!administrators!and!faculty!at!Howard!University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science!(MS)2!
believe!that!homework!aids!in!preparing!students!for!classroom!instruction!and!reinforces!new!learning.!
Classroom! instruction! is! enhanced! through! the! practice,! application,! and! reinforcement! of! learning! in!
order!to!strengthen!the!acquisition!of!knowledge!and!skills.!
!
The!completion!of!homework!assignments!assists!in!the!development!of!good!study!skills,!work!habits,!
and!research!skills!by!promoting!personal!responsibility,!time!management,!and!critical!thinking!skills.!
!
Homework! fosters! opportunities! for! parents! to! become! an! essential! part! of! their! childs! daily! learning!
and!endorses!communication!between!the!school!and!home.!
!
Homework!Factors!That!Impact!Student!Learning:!
!
Quality!of!homework!assigned!
Student!motivation!
Family!Support!
!
!
!
Homework!Time!Guidelines:!
!
It! is! our! policy! for! teachers! to! assign! meaningful! homework! on! a! regular! basis! and! that! students!
complete!all!homework!that!is!assigned.!Students!may!be!expected!to!spend!a!maximum!of!2S3!hours!
per!night!to!complete!homework!assignments.!However,!the!amount!of!time!devoted!to!homework!can!
vary!considerably!depending!upon!grade!level,!the!nature!of!a!particular!assignment,!and!the!students!
study! skills! and! habits.! We! urge! parents! to! establish! a! homework! policy! for! your! child! at! home! that!
dictates!when!and!where!homework!is!to!be!completed!each!day.!
!
Late/Missing!Homework!
!
Students!are!expected!to!turn!in!homework!on!time.!Students!who!do!not!turn!in!their!homework!will!
receive!the!following!consequences:!
!
Student!may!be!assigned!a!detention!period!that!will!occur!within!24!hours!of!the!assignment!
due!date.!The!detention!period!may!occur!during!freeScess!or!after!school.!
!
Points!may!be!deducted!for!each!day!the!assignment!has!not!been!submitted!up!to!48!hours.!
Any! assignment! submitted! after! the! 48! hours! extension! period! is! in! jeopardy! of! not! receiving!
credit.!
!
An!exception!to!the!48Shour!extension!period!will!only!be!approved!by!an!Administrator.!
!
Parents!will!be!contacted!via!StudyWiz.!
!
Loss!of!extraScurricular!activities!until!all!homework!is!completed!and!submitted.!
!
Loss!of!field!trip!privileges!if!more!than!10%!of!homework!is!incomplete!or!missing.!
!
A!log!entry!will!be!entered!into!PowerSchool.!
!
(MS)2!Administration!Responsibilities:!
!
Periodically! engage! in! research! and! review! literature! on! relevant! homework! concerns! and!
trends.!
!
Annually! review! the! homework! policy! and! guidelines! with! all! stakeholders! through! various!
means!of!communication.!
Review! homework! practices! and! procedures! by! teachers! consistent! implementation! across!
grade!levels.!
Collect!and!review!data!of!the!number!of!students!completing!homework!consistently!across!all!
subject!areas.!
!
Develop!an!incentive!program!for!the!population!of!students!that!have!accurately!completed!and!
submitted!assignments!consistently.!
!
Teacher!Responsibilities:!
!
To!plan!appropriate!homework,!which!will!reinforce!skills!already!taught!in!the!classroom.!
!
!
!
Post! 100%! of! all! homework! assignments! in! StudyWiz,! with! clear! and! explicit! instructions!
necessary!to!complete!each!assignment!and!within!a!timely!manner.!
Utilize!StudyWiz!as!the!vehicle!for!submission!of!homework.!
ACADEMIC!
In! order! to! assist! students! with! the! most! effective! use! of! StudyWiz,! review! the! operational!
!
aspects! of! the! various! activities! with! students! in! the! classroom! prior! to! assigning! them! for!
homework.!
Establish! homework! value! that! is! commensurate,! gradeSwise! to! its! importance! and! to!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
communicate,! clearly! and! explicitly,! to! parents! and! students! (orally! and! in! writing),! the!
expectations,!and!how!homework!fits!into!the!grading!policy.!
To!give!clear!and!concise!instructions!for!the!completion!and!submission!of!homework.!
To!check!daily!homework!for!completeness!and!mastery!of!skills,!and!return!it!within!3!school!
days.!Update!PowerSchool!with!a!textual!indicator!of!assignment(s)!status.!
Establish!consequences!for!not!completing!assignments!
Provide!accommodations!and!modifications!for!students!who!have!IEPs/504!Plans.!
To!reSteach!where!completed!homework!indicates!student!lack!of!understanding!or!mastery!of!
a!concept.!
Inform!students!when!they!are!available!to!provide!assistance.!
To!document!communication!with!parents!regularly!when!a!student!does!not!meet!homework!
requirements.! In! the! case! of! repeated,! chronic! problems,! to! set! up! with! the! parents,! a!
homeworkSmonitoring!plan!and!notify!administration.!
To! periodically! give! feedback! to! parents! and! students! on! academic! progress,! including!
performance!on!homework!assignments.!
!
Student!Responsibilities:!
!
Students!must!complete!all!homework!assignments!and!submit!them!when!due.!
!
Students!must!seek!assistance!from!their!teacher!whenever!they!have!problems!completing!the!
homework!assigned.!
Students!have!the!responsibility!for!submitting!late!assignments!even!though!full!credit!may!not!
be!given.!
Students! placed! on! an! intervention! plan! for! repeated! violations! of! the! homework! policy! are!
responsible!for!adhering!to!a!specific!plan.!
Refer!to!the!class!syllabi!for!inSclass!homework!policies.!
!
Parent!Responsibilities:!
!
Consistently! monitor! student! progress! and! submission! of! homework! via! PowerSchool! and!
StudyWiz.!
Provide! an! appropriate! environment! and! the! necessary! supplies! for! the! completion! of! all!
!
!
homework! assignment.! Such! an! environment! would! include! one! with! sufficient! lighting,!
adequate!space,!and!isolation!from!extraneous!sounds. !
Motivate!and!support!students!to!comply!with!the!(MS)2!homework!policy.!
Inform! teachers! and! administrators! of! any! barriers! that! may! interfere! with! the! completion! of!
homework!assignments.!
Instruct! your! child! to! collect! all! missing! assignments! due! to! absence! and! follow! up! with! your!
child!to!make!sure!that!the!assignments!have!been!received!and!completed.!
Refer!to!the!class!syllabi!for!inSclass!homework!policies.!
!
Additional!Support:!
!
100%!of!all!homework!assignments!will!be!posted!on!StudyWiz.!
!
!
Use!of!homework!progress!sheets.!
Academic!advisement!sessions!with!the!Counseling!department.!
STANDARDIZED!TESTING!
!
The!District!of!Columbia!is!a!governing!state!in!the!Partnership!for!Assessment!of!Readiness!for!College!
and!Careers!(PARCC),!thus!the!PARCC!test!is!administered!to!all!students!at!(MS)2!at!least!twice!per!year.!
This! test! is! the! state! assessment! used! to! evaluate! the! schools! Adequate! Yearly! Progress! (AYP)! and! is!
mandated!for!all!District!of!Columbia!public!and!charter!schools.!!
!
In!addition,!the!Northwestern!Evaluation!Association!(NWEA)!test,!an!independent!test!used!to!assess!
student!achievement!and!gauge!performance,!is!administered!three!times!per!year!to!all!(MS)2!students.!
EXTENDED!ENRICHMENT!
!
(MS)2! has! an! extensive! Extended! Enrichment! program! designed! to! peak! the! interest! level! of! every!
student.!From!3:30!PM!to!4:30!PM,!Monday!through!Thursday,!your!child!will!engage!in!activitySbased!
learning! that! supports! the! core! content! areas! and/or! the! elective! courses.! ! Extended! Enrichment! is! a!
mandatory!part!of!the!school!day!for!all!students.!!
!
Extended! Enrichment! club! opportunities! vary! each! year! based! on! the! dynamic! individuals! and!
organizations!that!we!work!with.!Club!options!include:!!
Architecture!Club!!
Science!Exploration!Club!!
Engineering!
Broadcast!Media!!
Yearbook!Club!!
Team!Sports!!
Performing!Arts!!
Spelling!Bee!!
Achievements!in!Manhood!(AIM)!!
Young!Voices!(Choir)!!
Band!!
Visual!Arts!!
Who!Wants!to!be!a!Millionaire!(Business!Club)!
Girls,!Inc.!
STUDENT!SUPPLIES!
!
We!recommend!that!students!bring!the!following!to!school!each!day;!
2"ballpoint"pens,"blue"or"black"ink"
2"pencils,"mechanical"optional"
1"yellow"highlighter"pen,"any"size"tip"
1"or"2"three9ring"binders"with"plain"front"cover"and"appropriate"amount"of"loose"leaf"paper"
6"subject"dividers"with"the"pocket"folders"
Graph"paper"
Ruler"
Additionally,"teachers"will"make"specific"requests"throughout"the"year.!
!
!
STUDENT!SUPPORT!SERVICES!
!
DEPARTMENT!OF!STUDENT!SUPPORT!
!
The! Department! of! Student! Support! provides! opportunities! for! academic! and! social! development,!
assists! students! with! basic! academic! requirements,! and! serves! to! motivate! students! toward! the!
successful! completion! of! their! middle! school! education.! The! Department! of! Student! Support! also!
provides!instruction!in!basic!study!skills,!tutorial!services,!academic!and!personal!counseling,!assistance!
in!applying!to!high!school!programs,!mentoring,!and!specialized!services!for!students!with!special!needs.!
The!Department!of!Student!Support!consists!of!the!Dean!of!Students,!School!Counselors,!Social!Worker,!
Special!Education!Coordinator,!and!Behavior!Specialists.!
STUDENT!PROBATIONARY!POLICY!
!
Howard!University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science!promotes!a!level!of!expectations!for!all!
students! that! endorses! excellence,! respect,! discipline! and! responsibility.! A! review! of! each! students!
performance!may!result!in!the!assignment!of!academic!or!behavioral!probation!should!a!student!fail!to!
meet!the!required!expectations.!Any!student!that!fails!to!maintain!at!least!a!70%!grade!point!average!in!
each!class!will!be!placed!on!academic!probation.!A!student!who!receives!multiple!disciplinary!referrals!
may! be! placed! on! behavioral! probation! (See! Student! Behavior! Policy! for! more! information).! This!
probationary!period!will!be!assigned!semiSquarterly!and!will!continue!for!the!following!quarter.!
!
At!the!beginning!of!each!probationary!period!and!by!grade!level,!an!(MS)2!administrator!will!meet!with!
the! parent(s)! of! children! who! have! been! placed! on! probation! for! that! specific! period.! During! such!
meetings,!a!studentSspecific!improvement!plan!will!be!distributed!to!the!parents.!It!is!the!responsibility!
of! the! parent! and! student! to! abide! by! the! guidelines! of! the! plan! for! the! duration! of! the! probationary!
period!and!to!contact!school!officials!should!further!assistance!be!required.!Please!note,!regardless!of!
whether! or! not! a! student! makes! progress! before! the! end! of! his/her! probationary! period,! he/she! is!
required!to!abide!by!the!terms!of!the!improvement!plan!for!the!duration!of!the!probationary!period.!
!
At!the!end!of!each!quarter,!the!administrator!will!review!the!academic/behavioral!progress!of!each!
student!who!has!been!placed!on!probation.!Students!that!have!increased!the!grade!point!average!in!the!
area!of!need!to!at!least!a!70%!and/or!have!met!the!terms!of!their!probation!will!no!longer!be!on!
probation.!Students!that!have!not!maintained!that!level!of!academic!expectation!of!a!70%!grade!point!
average!and/or!continue!to!earn!behavioral!demerits!may!receive!further!consequences,!including!
expulsion.!
STUDENT!DRESS!POLICY!
!
(MS)2!maintains!a!strict!dress!code!policy.!All!students!must!wear!the!required!uniform!attire!everyday.!
A!signed!contractual!agreement!regarding!the!school's!dress!code!policy!will!be!a!part!of!your!child's!file.!
Violation!of!the!dress!code!policy!will!result!in!disciplinary!action!by!the!administrative!team,!which!will!
include!a!conference!with!the!parent/guardian.!Students!arriving!to!school!out!of!uniform!will!be!sent!
directly! to! the! senior! behavior! specialist,! who! will! document! the! uniform! violation! and! provide! the!
student!with!any!appropriate!uniform!attire.!Students!will!receive!three!uniform!passes!per!semester.!
After! three! uniform! violations,! students! will! not! be! allowed! to! return! to! school! until! they! are! in! full!
uniform.!Students!will!also!lose!all!dress!down!privileges!for!the!remainder!of!the!semester.!Repeated!
violations!could!also!warrant!suspension!and!expulsion.!!
!
All! students! must! wear! the! (MS)2! uniform! to! school! and! to! school! related! events,! unless! otherwise!
informed.! To! be! in! compliance! with! the! uniform! policy,! the! (MS)2! student! must! be! attired! in! the!
following:!
(MS)2!logo!polo!shirt!in!navy!blue,!or!red;*!
Navy!blue!or!khaki!pants!or!skirts!(During"the"spring"and"summer"seasons,"students"may"also"
wear"navy"blue"or"khaki"shorts"9"not"to"exceed"one"inch"above"the"knee.);"
Socks:!solid!color!socks!!(no"patterned,"or"fishnet"stockings);"
Shoes! (ALL! BLACKS! including! solid! black! soles! and! laces):! open! toe,! high! heel! shoes,! and!
open!heel,!i.e.!crocs,!are!not!allowed;!
Belt:!solid!black!or!solid!brown!(only"required"if"pants"or"skirt"have"belt"loops);!
(MS)2!logo!sweater!in!navy!blue;!
Stud!earrings!(Hoop"earrings"are"not"allowed.);!
Headband:!solid!red,!white,!blue!or!black!(no"patterned"headbands)!
!
*Shirts"must"be"tucked"in"at"all"times."
!
Except!for!stud!earrings,!students!are!not!allowed!to!wear!jewelry!of!any!kind,!or!armbands,!wristbands,!
hats,!scarves,!gloves,!vests!and!bandanas!during!the!school!day.!Make!up!is!not!allowed.!Lip!balm!should!
be!clear!ONLY.!Students!are!also!discouraged!from!wearing!nail!polish.!
!
TAG!DAY/DRESSVUP!DAY!POLICY!
!
Occasionally,!(MS)2!relaxes!the!dress!code!policy!and!sponsors!TAG!Day!and!DressSup!Days.!These!days!
are!announced!in!advance!and!students!are!permitted!to!dress!in!casual!or!dressSup!attire!respectively.!!
Please!note:!Students!who!do!not!participate!are!required!to!wear!the!full!school!uniform.!
!
The!criteria!for!student!attire!for!these!TAG!days!are!as!follows:!
1. Students! are! to! wear! appropriate! clothing! that! is! not! too! tight,! nor! too! short! (i.e." does" not"
exceed" one9inch" above" the" knee),! too! scant! (i.e.." halter" tops," strapless" tops," shoe9string" tops,"
tops"that"bear"the"stomach),!or!too!baggy!(i.e."below"the"waist).!!
2. Students!are!to!wear!clothing!that!is!void!of!vulgar!and!inappropriate!images!and!language.!!
3. Students!may!wear!ageSappropriate!jewelry.!
4. Students!should!refrain!from!wearing!heels!that!are!more!than!an!inch!high.!
!
Criteria!for!attire!on!these!DressSUp!days!includes!TAG!day!attire!guidelines!as!well!as!the!following:!!
1. Students!are!to!wear!ageSappropriate,!professional!clothing!that!is!appropriate!for!churchSlike!or!
business!functions.!(After9five"attire"or"high"heels"(over"2)"is"not"acceptable.)!
2. Students!may!not!wear!tSshirts,!jeans,!sweatpants,!or!leggings.!
!
Other!attire!guidelines!may!be!provided!for!themed!TAG!days!as!appropriate.!!
!
*Students)with)multiple)uniform)violations)and/or)disciplinary)infractions)may)not)be)allowed)to)participate)in)tag)days.!
STUDENT!BEHAVIOR!POLICY!
!
The! (MS)2! discipline! policy! helps! to! establish! an! environment! in! which! students! basic! rights! are!
guaranteed!and!responsibilities!are!clearly!understood.!Mutual!respect,!responsibility,!and!consideration!
for! others! are! key! values! at! (MS)2.! We! encourage! students! to! be! responsible! for! their! actions,! to! use!
good!judgment,!and!to!be!kind!and!honest!to!everyone!regardless!of!similarities!or!differences.!Please!
know!that!violence!and!abuse,!of!any!kind,!imposed!upon!any!student,!teacher,!employee,!or!volunteer!
will!not!be!tolerated.!
!
The!(MS)2!ZERO!TOLERANCE!POLICY!applies!to:!
Assault;!!
Cheating;!
Destruction!of!(MS)2,!Howard!University,!or!personal!property!of!others;!!
Fighting;!
Inappropriate!behavior!on!the!HU!shuttle!bus,!Metro!bus,!or!subway;!
Inappropriate!behavior!and/or!written!communications!that!contradict!the!values!of!(MS)2;!
Possession!of!pornographic!material;!
Possession!of!tobacco,!alcohol!or!drug!products;!!
Possession!of!weapons;!
Theft;!!
Threats,!bullying!(including!cyber!bullying),!and!harassment;!
Use!of!profanity;!
Vandalism.!
!
All! acts! of! violence! and! threats! will! be! taken! seriously.! Parents/guardians! will! be! contacted! and!
procedures!will!immediately!be!implemented!to!determine!appropriate!disciplinary!action.!For!serious!
infractions,!a!student!may!be!suspended!or!expelled!from!(MS)2.!Also,!legal!action!may!be!taken.!
!
INFRACTION!BY!LEVEL:!
Level!1!
!
Disciplinary!Procedures!
Classroom!disruption!
Eating/drinking!outside!of!cafeteria!
Insubordination!
Tardy!to!class!
Uniform!violations!
Possession!of!electronic!device!
!
Level!2!
Academic!Dishonesty/Cheating!
Cutting!class!!
Disrespect!to!any!(MS)2!personnel!!
Inappropriate!language/Profanity!
Rude,!disrespectful!or!discourteous!behavior!towards!others!on!or!off!campus!
Inappropriate!use!of!classroom!technology!
!
Level!3!
Assault!
Bullying!(including!Cyber!bullying)!
Failure! to! report! any! threats! or! behaviors,! which! may! compromise! the! safety! and! well! being! of!
members!of!(MS)2!
Forgery!!
Inappropriate!use!of!technology!to!include!sending!threats/inappropriate!pictures!via!social!media!
or!text!message,!and/or!recording!fights/verbal!altercations!!
Leaving!school!grounds!without!written!permission!from!parent/guardian!!
Physical!fighting,!verbal!assault,!intimidation,!or!threats!(written!or!verbal,!direct!or!indirect)!
Skipping!detention,!Homework!Scholars!Hall,!or!any!other!disciplinary!sanction!!
!
Level!4!!
Use/possession!of!tobacco!in!any!form!on!school!property,!immediate!vicinity!or!field!trips!!
Possession!or!use!of!any!form!of!drugs!or!alcohol!on!school!property,!the!immediate!vicinity,!or!at!
schoolSsponsored!activities!on!or!off!campus**!!
Defacing!or!deliberately!damaging!any!property!!
Possession! or! use! of! weapons,! ammunition! or! items! that! reasonably! could! be! construed! to! be!
weapons**!
Possession!of!pornographic!material!!
Vandalism!!
Sexual!harassment!
Stealing!
Any! behavior! or! illegal! act!
on!or!off!school!property,!that!brings!disgrace!to!(MS)2!
!
**In!this!case,!the!proper!authorities!will!also!be!notified.!
!
Administration!reserves!the!right!to!search!purses,!backpacks,!personal! belongings,!and!lockers!for!
items!not!permitted!in!school,!on!campus,!or!in!the!classroom.!
!
ACTION!BY!LEVEL!OF!INFRACTION:!
Infractions!and!consequences!will!be!processed!by!level!based!on!the!following!format:!
Level!1!!
3!processed!referralsS!Detention!
6!processed!referralsS!Detention/Other!Intervention!
9!processed!referralsS!Parent/Guardian!Meeting!and!Probation!
!
Level!2!!
2!processed!referralsS!Detention!
4!processed!referralsS!Detention/Other!Intervention!
6!processed!referralsS!Parent/Guardian!Meeting!and!Probation!
!
Level!3!!
1!processed!referralS!Suspension!(In!or!Out!of!School)!and!Probation!
2!processed!referralsS!Suspension,!pending!expulsion!
!
Level!4!
Automatic!suspension,!pending!expulsion!
!
NOTE:!
!
!
Parents/guardians!will!be!notified!at!every!juncture!of!the!discipline!process.!
In! addition! to! the! aforementioned! discipline! procedure,! the! Dean! of! Students! will! actively! refer!
students! to! the! counseling! department! and/or! other! appropriate! entities! in! and! out! of! the!
school!building!to!ensure!the!students!needs!are!being!met.!
An!offense!may!be!upgraded!to!a!higher!level!of!offense!if!the!conduct!is:!!
!
(1)!a!repeat!offense,!
!
(2)!one!of!multiple!offenses!committed!within!a!school!year,!!
(3)!accompanied!by!disrespect,!dishonesty,!willfulness,!and/or!lack!of!remorse,!or!!
(4)! committed! under! circumstances! indicating! a! flagrant! disregard! for! (MS)2s! standards,!
personnel,!or!values.!!
!
!
Detention:!!
After!school!detention!will!be!held!from!4:35!pm!!5:15!pm,!Monday!through!Thursday,!and!3:35!
pm!!4:15!pm!on!Fridays.!!
!
The! Dean! of! Students! or! a! Behavior! Specialist! will! notify! students! when! they! are! assigned! detention.!
Parents! will! be! notified! when! the! student! receives! infractions! that! result! in! disciplinary! action.! If! the!
student!is!enrolled!in!a!required!academic!intervention!that!runs!concurrent!with!detention,!detention!
may!be!assigned!for!a!later!date.!A!student!who!receives!excessive!infraction!points!may!be!placed!on!
probation!after!the!Dean!of!Students!has!notified!the!parent/!guardian.!
!
No! unexcused! absences! from! detention! will! be! accepted.! A! student! who! does! not! serve! detention! or!
any! other! disciplinary! consequence! will! be! suspended.! Notification! of! the! suspension! will! be! made! by!
phone!to!the!parent/guardian!by!the!Dean!of!Students.!The!student!is!responsible!for!completing!any!
quizzes,!tests,!and/or!class!work!missed!or!due!the!day!of!suspension!within!3V5!school!days!of!their!
return!to!school.!
!
RESTORATIVE!PRACTICES!!
Restorative! practices! is! an! integrative! framework! of! practices! that! facilitates! a! strong! school! culture!
through!proactive!and!reactive!processes.!Proactive!practices!include!a!large!emphasis!on!relationship!
building! and! social! and! emotional! intelligence! through! the! formation! of! classroom! discussion! circles.!
Through!proactive!circles,!teachers!can!facilitate!a!space!to!checkSin!with!students!and!discuss!relevant!
topics! pertaining! to! classroom! culture! and! academic! progress.! Reactive! circles,! executed! within! the!
classroom!and!within!the!disciplinary!process,!allows!for!the!collaboration!of!students,!staff!members,!
and!parents!to!address!and!rectify!situations!that!have!caused!harm!to!the!school!community.!Justice!is!
achieved!through!reflective!questioning!of!all!involved!parties!and!active!problem!solving.!!
!
(MS)2!Social!Emotional!Course:! The!(MS)2!social!emotional!course!will!be!utilized!as!a!major!reactive!
tool! to! address! student! behavior.! The! course! will! serve! as! a! major! character! educationSbased!
intervention!for!students!who!display!behaviors!that!are!inappropriate!or!unsanctioned!based!on!(MS)2!
policies.! The! instructor! will! focus! on! helping! students! understand! their! role! in! the! (MS)2! and! larger!
communities! and! the! responsibility! that! goes! along! with! that.! The! class! will! run! concurrent! with!
Extended!Enrichment!from!3:30!pm!S!4:30!pm,!Monday!through!Thursday,!and!will!last!until!5:15!pm.!
Students!will!be!assigned!the!course!for!a!predetermined!number!of!days!and!must!successfully!navigate!
the! classes! to! the! instructors! satisfaction! or! they! may! risk! having! their! required! time! in! the! course!
extended!or!be!subject!to!other!disciplinary!sanctions.!
!
DISCIPLINARY!PROBATION!
Once!a!student!earns!multiple!disciplinary!referrals,!the!student!will!be!placed!on!Disciplinary!Probation,!
depending!on!the!violation!(See!Action!by!Level!of!Infraction).!A!student!on!disciplinary!probation!may!
not!participate!in!coScurricular!activities!or!field!trips.!!All!students!placed!on!probation!will!be!enrolled!
in! the! (MS)2! Social! Emotional! course! for! the! duration! of! their! probationary! period.! At! the! end! of! the!
probationary!period,!the!students!records!will!be!discussed!by!the!Senior!Administration!to!determine!
the!need!for!further!action!or!for!the!termination!of!the!probation.!If!a!student!on!probation!receives!
further!disciplinary!notices,!the!student!and!the!students!parents/guardians!must!meet!with!members!
of!the!Senior!Administration!regarding!further!action.!
!
SUSPENSION!
The! gravity! and! the! extent! of! the! violation! of! the! discipline! code! will! determine! the! length! of! the!
suspension.!If! a! student! is! suspended! at! the! conclusion! of! the! suspension! upon! return! to! school! the!
student! and! parent! must! participate! in! a! reentry/restorative! conference.! However,! the! restorative!
conference!may!take!place!prior!to!the!start!of!the!suspension!term.!The!Dean!of!Students!will!conduct!
the! conference! along! with! the! School! Counselor! or! Social! Worker.! During! the! conference! a!
parent/guardian!must!be!in!attendance.!
!
EXPULSION!!
A!student!may!be!expelled!from!school!when!the!student!has!violated!the!Zero!Tolerance!Policy!or!when!
the! student! has! manifested! a! continued! unwillingness! to! abide! by! the! schools! regulations,! including!
violation!of!the!terms!of!his/her!behavioral!or!academic!probation.!
!
HEARING!PROCESS!
If! a! student! is! suspected! of! conduct! warranting! serious! disciplinary! consequences,! the! student! will! be!
suspended!from!school!until!a!meeting!is!held!with!the!Dean!of!Students!and!parents/!guardians.!If!the!
situation!calls!for!further!consideration,!the!parents/guardians!may!request!a!meeting!with!the!Dean!of!
Students.!The!student!will!remain!suspended!from!school!until!a!final!decision!is!rendered.!
!
Students! suspended! less! than! 11! days! may! appeal! their! suspensions! to! the! Principal! or! the! Dean! of!
Students! no! later! than! two! school! days! following! the! receipt! of! the! notice! of! suspension.! Appeal!
requests!may!only!be!made!by!the!childs!parent!or!guardian!and!may!be!made!in!writing.!!Upon!receipt!
of! the! request,! a! hearing! will! be! scheduled.! At! the! end! of! the! hearing,! the! school! hearing! officer! will!
render! a! final! decision! based! on! any! evidence! presented.! The! contents! of! said! hearing,! including! the!
final!decision!will!be!submitted!to!the!parent/guardian!one!day!after!the!hearing.!
DUE!PROCESS!
!
Students! suspended! for! 11! days! or! more! or! who! have! been! expelled! will! have! a! disciplinary! hearing!
scheduled!through!the!office!of!the!Dean!of!Students.!Hearings!will!be!scheduled!for!no!later!than!four!
school! days! after! a! notice! of! disciplinary! action! is! sent! to! the! parent/guardian.! Hearings! may! be!
postponed! for! up! to! five! days! upon! request! of! the! parent/guardian,! where! the! postponement! is!
necessary!to!prepare!for!the!hearing.!A!notice!of!the!date,!time,!and!location!of!the!hearing!will!be!sent!
through!the!office!of!the!Dean!of!Students.!Students!will!be!placed!on!suspension!until!the!proceedings!
are!concluded.!!The!hearing!will!be!closed!to!the!public!unless!the!parent!or!guardian!requests!an!open!
hearing.! ! In! the! hearing,! the! student! and! parent/guardian! has! the! right! to! have! a! representative.! ! In!
addition,!the!family!has!the!right!to!question!or!challenge!any!evidence!presented!by!school!officials.!A!
representative! designated! by! school! official! (Executive! Director,! Principal,! or! Dean! of! Students)! will!
ensure! that! the! proceedings! are! conducted! in! a! fair! and! orderly! manner! and! that! all! due! process!
procedures! have! been! followed! or! waived.! The! proceedings! will! be! recorded! for! the! schools! records,!
which!will!be!made!available!to!the!parent/guardian!upon!request.!
SAFETY!POLICY!
!
It!is!the!goal!at!(MS)2!to!ensure!that!all!students!and!staff!are!safe!while!in!the!school!building,!as!well!as!
in!close!proximity!to!the!campus.!The!school!does!not!sanction!any!conduct!from!students,!employees,!
parents/guardians,! or! volunteers! that! interferes! with! any! individuals! academic! or! professional!
performance! or! creates! an! intimidating,! hostile! or! offensive! environment! for! work! or! study.! Actions!
contrary!to!this!policy!will!result!in!disciplinary!action,!up!to!and!including!dismissal,!expulsion!and!legal!
intervention.!!
!
Currently,!the!following!policies!are!in!place!to!ensure!a!safe!school!environment:!
Visitors!must!signSin!at!the!security!desk!upon!entering!the!building!and!will!be!asked!to!show!
governmentSissued!photo!identification.!All!visitors!will!be!issued!a!badge!that!must!be!worn!for!
the!duration!of!the!visit.!!
A!staff!member!escorts!visitors,!with!appointments,!to!their!meeting!venues.!
Students!are!not!allowed!to!carry!backpacks!and!other!book!bags!to!class.!All!student!backpacks!
are!to!be!stored!in!assigned!lockers!and/or!cubbies.!
Students! are! not! allowed! to! leave! the! building! without! written! permission! from! the!
parent/guardian!of!record.!They!must!be!signedSout!and!picked!up!in!the!main!office.!!
Students! are! prohibited! from! engaging! in! any! activities! that! could! impede! their! safety! or! the!
safety!of!others,!i.e.!running,!playing,!fighting,!etc.!
Students!are!not!permitted!out!of!the!classroom!without!a!pass.!
!
We!also!suggest!that!you!review!safety!precautions!for!your!child!to!observe!while!coming!to!and!from!
school.!These!include,!but!are!not!limited!to:!
Traveling!with!at!least!one!other!student;!
Going! directly! to! school! and! coming! directly! home! (or! other! specific! destination)! without!
stopping!at!stores!and!carrySouts;!
Refraining!from!interacting!with!strangers!en!route!to!and!from!school;!
Refraining!from!getting!in!cars!with!strangers!for!any!reason;!
Staying!alert,!focused!and!aware!of!their!surroundings; !
Refraining!from!playful!and!disruptive!behavior!while!walking,!in!the!Metro!stations,!or!riding!the!train,!
bus,!and/or!Howard!University!shuttle.!
STUDENT!USE!OF!THE!SCHOOL!TELEPHONE!
!
Students! will! be! allowed! to! use! school! telephones! to! make! essential! calls! to! their! parents/guardians!
during! the! school! day.! However,! the! student! must! get! permission! from! the! teacher/staff! member! in!
charge.!A!written!note!or!pass!is!required!to!use!the!phone.!
!
Parents!should!communicate!with!students!through!the!main!office!during!the!school!day.!However,!we!
urge!parents!to!try!to!anticipate!any!needs!of!their!children!to!avoid!having!to!communicate!with!them!
during!the!school!day.!
ELECTRONIC!DEVICE!POLICY!
!
During! school! hours,! students! are! not! permitted! to! use! their! cell! phones! or! any! other! personal!
electronic! device.! If! there! is! an! emergency,! students! will! be! allowed! to! use! a! school! telephone.! All!
electronic! devices! must! be! turned! off! and! stored! in! the! locker! until! dismissal! time.! Violation! of! this!
policy! will! result! in! the! device! being! confiscated! by! a! staff! member! and! given! to! the! front! office.! The!
device!will!only!be!returned!to!the!parent.!!
!
We! are! also! requesting! that! students! refrain! from! bringing! items,! such! as! iPods,! MP3! players,! and!
electronic!games!to!school,!as!well!as!other!toys!and!gadgets!that!can!be!distracting!to!other!students.!
We! are! aware! that! many! students! use! these! items! to! entertain! themselves! on! their! way! to! and! from!
school.!While!this!may!be!the!current!trend,!we!urge!you!to!remind!your!child!that!they!need!to!stay!
focused!and!aware!of!their!surroundings!at!all!times!and!not!be!distracted!by!listening!to!their!favorite!
tunes! or! playing! their! favorite! games.! Any! electronic! devices! must! be! stored! in! the! students! locker!
during!the!school!day.!
!
If!a!student!is!found!in!possession!of!such!an!item,!including!cell!phones,!in!school!and/or!on!field!trips,!
it!will!be!confiscated!by!a!staff!member!and!given!to!the!front!office!personnel.!If!an!item!is!confiscated,!
the!following!will!apply:!
!
1st!Offense!!The!item!will!only!be!returned!to!the!parent/guardian!after!school!(12:30!or!3:30!
pm)!on!the!Friday!of!the!week!from!which!the!item!was!confiscated.!
2nd!Offense!S!The!item!will!only!be!returned!to!the!parent/guardian!between!4:30!PM!S!5:00!PM!
at!the!end!of!the!quarter!(a!date!will!be!determined!a!week!prior!to!the!end!of!the!quarter)!in!
which!the!item!was!confiscated.!
3rd! Offense!S!Item!can!be!retrieved!by!parent/guardian!from!the!main!office!on!the!last!day!of!
the!school!year!in!which!the!item!was!confiscated.!
!
!
*Please)note,)parents)and)students)must)comply)with)the)policy)in)order)to)remain)part)of)the)(MS)2)
school)community.)!
LOCKER!POLICY!
!
Each! student! will! be! assigned! a! combination! locker.! Each! student! should! remember! his/her!
combination! and! not! reveal! it! to! any! other! students.! Please! note! that! assigned! lockers! are! still! the!
property!of!the!school,!and!the!school!administration!has!the!right!to!open!any!locker!when!necessary.!
Lockers! are! to! be! used! to! store! school! materials! and! supplies.! In! addition,! all! valuable! items! must! be!
stored! in! the! locker.! Unfortunately! the! lockers! are! small,! resulting! in! students! having! to! store! their!
outerwear!and!book!bags!in!the!cubbies!located!in!their!homerooms.!It!is!essential!that!you!label!all!of!
your! childs! belongings,! including! book! bags,! since! there! is! the! possibility! that! students! may! have! the!
same/similar!items.!!
!
Students!are!only!allowed!to!use!their!lockers!before!school,!before!lunch,!after!lunch,!and!after!school.!
Therefore,! it! is! essential! that! you! emphasize! the! importance! of! being! organized! with! your! child.! Each!
child! needs! to! make! certain! that! they! have! all! the! materials! needed! for! the! morning! classes! in! the!
morning!and!the!afternoon!classes!in!the!afternoon.!Students!will!not!be!allowed!to!return!to!lockers!to!
retrieve!items!left!behind!once!the!locker!periods!have!ended.!(MS)2!personnel!are!not!responsible!for!
any!lost!or!stolen!items!that!should!be!stored!in!the!locker.!!
LOANED!SCHOOL!RESOURCES!POLICY!!
!
The!parent/guardian!is!required!to!sign!a!school!resource!form!for!every!schoolSowned!resource!that!
is! loaned! to! your! child.! These! resources! can! include! laptops,! textbooks,! calculators,! novels,! etc.! The!
signed! form! represents! a! contract! between! the! school! and! the! parent/guardian.! It! states! that! you!
assume!responsibility!for!the!issued!resource!and!if!it!is!lost!or!damaged,!you!are!responsible!for!paying!
the!replacement!cost!of!that!item.!!
!
At!the!end!of!the!year,!students!are!to!return!all!issued!books!and!other!materials!in!good!condition!or!
pay!the!replacement!cost.!Final!report!cards!and!transcripts!may!be!withheld!pending!compensation!for!
items! that! have! not! been! returned! or! items! that! are! damaged.! Please! note! that! all! 8th! grade! students!
must!settle!all!outstanding!debts!to!participate!in!the!promotional!exercises.!!
!
Generally,! students! are! expected! to! bring! their! books! and! other! issued! resources! to! class! everyday;!
however,!in!some!cases,!classroom!sets!of!textbooks!are!available,!which!enables!students!to!keep!their!
assigned!books!and!materials!at!home.!Students!will!be!informed!if!this!is!the!case.!
HEALTH!SERVICES:!HEALTH!SUITE/SCHOOL!NURSE!
!
!(MS)2! has! a! fullStime! nurse! on! staff! and! a! fully! equipped! health! suite.! Our! nurse! oversees! the! daily!
health! issues! of! all! students.! It! is! up! to! the! parent/guardian! to! fully! disclose! any! medical! condition(s)!
about!your!child!to!the!school!nurse!prior!to!the!opening!of!the!school!each!year,!and/or!present!such!
information! at! any! time! a! medical! condition! arises.! This! includes! information! about! allergies,! special!
diets,!or!any!physical!impairment.!The!school!nurse!is!the!contact!person!for!such!information!and!may!
be!reached!through!the!main!office!phone!number.!The!nurse!will!assume!responsibility!for!appropriate!
communication!to!the!teaching!and!support!staff.!!
!
Medications/Medical! Concerns:! Neither! prescription! nor! overStheScounter! medications! can! be!
dispensed! to! a! student! by! the! school! nurse! without! a! completed! release! form! signed! by! the! childs!
doctor.! The! form! for! schoolSdistributed! prescription! medication! is! available! from! the! nurse! or! in! the!
school!office.!Also,!at!no!time!is!a!student!to!carry!either!a!prescriptive!or!overStheScounter!medication!!
including! headache! or! pain! relievers! ! in! school.! In! the! event! that! your! child! requires! a! specific!
medication,! the! medication! and! proper! documentation! must! be! immediately! turned! in! to! the! nurse!
upon!arrival!to!school.!
!
Finally,!if!your!child!is!ill!or!contagious,!it!is!in!his/her!best!interest!and!the!best!interest!of!the!other!
students!that!he/she!is!not!sent!to!school.!
RESTROOM!POLICY!
!
Students!are!encouraged!to!use!the!restroom!during!their!independent!time!(before!school,!during!the!
lunch!period,!freecess,!and!after!school).!Students!will!be!allowed!to!use!the!restroom!during!class!time.!
However,!to!help!with!the!transition!of!students!into!and!out!of!classes,!we!ask!that!they!refrain!from!
entering! the! halls! to! go! to! the! restroom! during! the! first! and! last! 10! minutes! of! class! unless! it! is! an!
emergency.!A!log!of!student!restroom!usage!is!maintained!for!data!purposes!and!to!track!students!who!
may!be!abusing!restroom!privileges.!
!
Parents/guardians! are! asked! to! inform! the! school! nurse! if! their! child! needs! special! consideration! for!
using!the!restroom!for!a!temporary!problem.!If!there!is!a!chronic!condition,!a!doctors!note!stating!such!
must!be!onSfile!with!the!nurse!who!will!confidentially!inform!teachers!of!this!medical!situation.!
TRANSPORTATION!
!
We! are! privileged! that! Howard! University! has! granted! (MS)2! students! permission! to! travel! on! the!
Howard!University!shuttle!buses!to!and!from!the!campus!at!no!cost.!These!shuttle!buses!make!stops!in!
locations! around! the! Howard! University! community! including! both! Metro! stations! nearest! the!
university.! To! locate! other! stops! that! may! be! convenient! to! you,! please! check! the! Howard! University!
website.! If! your! child! rides! the! shuttle,! please! remind! him/her! that! this! is! a! privilege! and! that! proper!
decorum! is! expected! at! all! times.! Inappropriate! behavior! on! the! shuttle! can! result! in! your! child! being!
banned!from!using!it!in!the!future.!
!
Additionally,!(MS)2!students!are!expected!to!demonstrate!proper!behavior!in!public!places!both!before!
and!after!school.!This!is!particularly!true!for!large!groups!of!students!waiting!at!bus!stops!and!in!Metro!
stations.!When!wearing!the!school!uniform,!our!students!can!easily!be!identified!as!(MS)2!students.!We!
want!our!students!to!be!model!citizens!who,!by!their!decorum,!attract!others!middle!grade!scholars!to!
(MS)2.!
CAFETERIA!AND!MEALS!
!
All! students! are! expected! to! respect! the! rights! of! everyone! during! the! breakfast! and! lunch! periods.!
Students!are!to!stay!seated!during!meal!times!and!use!conversational!tones!when!speaking!with!friends.!
Students!are!responsible!for!ensuring!that!their!eating!area!is!clean!before!leaving.!!
!
Students!should!use!the!restroom!during!their!lunch!period!to!avoid!restroom!interruptions!during!class!
time.!Please!remind!your!child!that!following!lunch!period,!he/she!must!arrive!at!their!next!period!on!
time!and!that!tardiness!will!not!be!tolerated.!
!
Catered!breakfast!and!lunch!are!available!daily,!including!early!dismissal!days.!Parents/guardians!must!
submit!a!completed!lunch!application!to!determine!if!your!child!qualifies!for!free!or!reduced!meals.!If!
your!child!does!not!qualify!for!free!or!reduced!meals!or!he/she!prefers!not!to!eat!the!school!breakfast!
and/or! lunch,! then! they! may! bring! their! meals! from! home.! Also,! microwaves! are! available! in! the!
cafeteria!for!student!use!on!a!firstScome,!first!serve!basis.!
!
(MS)2! has! adopted! the! Healthy! Schools! Act.! Therefore,! students/parents! are! not! allowed! to! bring!
any!unhealthy! food! into! the! building! for! celebrations! (i.e.! Birthdays).! Any! foods! brought! into! the!
building!for!the!consumption!of!other!students!will!be!confiscated!and!discarded!by!an!administrator.!!!
!
!
!
COMMUNICATION!WITH!(MS)2!
PARENT!RESPONSIBILITIES!
!
NOTE:!Remember!that!you,!the!parent/guardian,!are!responsible!for!ensuring!that!your!child!is!in!school!
and!on!time!every!day.!Make!it!a!habit!to!check!home!assignments!to!ensure!that!they!are!complete!and!
done!well.!We!also!suggest!that!you!stay!in!touch!with!teachers/staff!using!any!of!the!ways!provided:!
!
It!is!easy!to!!
MAINTAIN!COMMUNICATION!WITH!(MS)2!ONLINE!WITH!
!
PowerSchool!
http://powerschool.universitymiddleschool.org/public/!!
PowerSchool!is!a!fully!integrated,!webSbased,!crossSplatform!student!information!system.! PowerSchool!
gives! you! the! ability! to! stay! abreast! of! student! progress! ! with! email! updates! and! online! access! to!
schedules,!grades,!homework,!attendance!information,!and!teacher!comments.!
!
Login!instructions!will!be!provided.!
Studywiz!
http://studywiz.universitymiddleschool.org!
Studywiz! provides! an! online! space! where! educational! content! of! all! types! is! collected,! organized,! and!
managed! to! create! an! enriched! learning! environment! and! curriculum! for! students.! Studywiz! gives!
teachers! a! unique! tool! for! elevating! instruction! through! personalized,! collaborative! and! interactive!
learning!and!realStime!assessment!and!results,!and!it!supports!parental!participation!in!learning.!
!
Login!instructions!will!be!provided.!
Staff!contact!information!can!be!found!on!the!schools!website:!!
http://www.howard.edu/ms2/!!!
!
ADVOCACY!
Parent,!Teacher,!Administration!Conferences:!You!are!encouraged!to!obtain!information!about!
your!child!using!the!ways!presented!in!the!COMMUNICATION"WITH"(MS)2"section!of!this!handbook.!As!
you!review!this!information,!we!invite!you!to!arrange!for!conferences!with!your!childs!teachers!through!
our!parent!liaison!to!gain!even!more!insight!into!how!well!your!child!is!performing.!Being!informed!will!
enable!you!to!play!a!more!significant!role!in!assisting!your!childs!teachers!in!addressing!concerns!and!in!
maintaining!success.!A!key!indicator!of!student!success!is!directly!linked!to!parent/guardian!involvement!
and!support.!Even!when!things!are!going!well!for!your!child,!it!is!encouraging!for!him/her!to!know!that!
both!parents!and!teachers!share!a!mutual!concern!about!the!childs!wellSbeing!and!academic!successes.!
!
Be! certain! to! check! the! school! calendar! for! the! dates! and! times! of! the! formal! parentSteacher!
conferences.!These!occur!at!the!midpoint!of!each!quarter.!During!these!conferences!you!are!afforded!
the! opportunity! to! visit! with! all! your! childs! teachers! in! one! day.! These! conferences! are! scheduled! at!
times!that!accommodate!work!schedules!of!parents/guardians.!
!
Parent! Inquiry! Request:! For! all! general! concerns,! meeting! requests! and! other! requests! for!
administrative!intervention!that!require!follow!up,!we!encourage!you!to!complete!the!Parent!Inquiry!
Request!Form!found!on!the!(MS)2!website!and!at!the!link!below.!Once!submitting!the!form,!the!Parent!
Liaison!will!contact!you!within!48!hours!to!work!with!you!to!resolve!any!issues!or!concerns!you!have!in!a!
timely!manner.!!
http://www.jotformpro.com/form/51095925250959!
!
!
!
GRIEVANCE!POLICY!AND!PROCEDURE!
!
It! is! the! policy! of! Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and! Science! that! all! employees,!
students,! parents,! and! visitors! have! the! right! to! voice! their! complaints! or! grievances! about! matters!
pertaining!to!its!school.!
!
Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and! Science! recognizes! the! meaningful! value! and!
importance!of!full!discussion!in!resolving!misunderstandings!and!in!preserving!good!relations!between!
all!(MS)2!stakeholders.!!Accordingly,!the!following!grievance!procedure!should!be!employed!to!ensure!
that!complaints!receive!full!consideration.!
!
1. WHAT!MAY!BE!GRIEVED!
Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and! Sciences! grievance! process! should! be!
used! as! follows! (1)! to! deal! with! complaints! and! concerns! pertaining! to! the! educational!
environment,! employment! arrangements,! or! interpersonal! conflicts;! and! (2)! to! resolve!
complaints! of! discrimination! and! harassment! based! upon! race,! color,! religion,! creed,! sex,!
national!origin,!age,!disability,!veteran!status,!sexual!orientation,!or!otherwise.!
!
2. WHO!MAY!GRIEVE!
The! procedures! set! forth! below! may! be! used! by! grievants! who! are! employees,! students,!
parents,!or!visitors.!
!
3. OTHER!REMEDIES!
The! existence! of! this! procedure! does! not! bar! grievants! from! also! filing! in! other! forums! to! the!
extent!permitted!by!state!or!federal!law.!
!
4. INFORMAL!GRIEVANCE!
Grievants! are! encouraged! to! discuss! their! concern! or! harassment! complaint! promptly! and!
candidly!with!their!immediate!supervisor,!the!Principal!or!Head!of!School.!
!
5. FORMAL!GRIEVANCE!
Within!sixty!(60)!days!of!encountering!the!harassment,!discrimination,!or!complaint!that!is!the!
subject!of!the!grievance,!a!grievant!shall!file!a!written!notice!with!the!school!Principal!or!with!
the!Executive!Director.!Grievants!may!use!the!Grievance!Form,!which!is!attached!hereto!and!is!
also! available! online! from! the! school! website,! or! from! the! Principal! or! Executive! Director.! The!
written! notice! shall! identify! the! nature! of! the! complaint,! the! date(s)! of! occurrence,! and! the!
desired!result,!and!shall!be!signed!and!dated!by!the!person!filing!the!grievance.!!In!the!event!the!
legal! guardian! or! parent! of! a! student! is! filing! a! grievance,! the! student! and! the! legal! guardian!
and/or!parent!shall!sign!and!date!the!grievance.!!The!Principal!and!the!Executive!Director!can!be!
reached!at!the!contact!information!provided!below.!
!
The! Principal! or! Head! of! School! will! immediately! initiate! an! adequate,! reliable,! and! impartial!
investigation!of!the!grievance.!Each!formal!complaint!will!be!investigated,!and!depending!on!the!
facts!involved!in!each!situation,!will!be!decided!after!receiving!information!from!the!appropriate!
individuals.! ! Each! investigation! will! include! interviewing! witnesses,! obtaining! documents,! and!
allowing!parties!to!present!evidence.!
!
All!documentation!related!to!the!investigation!and!discussions!held!in!this!process!are!
considered!EXTREMELY!CONFIDENTIAL!and!are!not!to!be!revealed!to!or!!discussed!by!any!
participant!with!persons!not!directly!involved!with!the!complaint,!with!its!investigation,!or!with!
the!decision!making!process.!!This!provision!does!not!! include!discussions!with!governmental!
authorities.!
!
Within!five!(5)!business!days!of!receiving!the!written!notice,!the!Principal!or!Head!of!School!shall!
respond!in!writing!to!the!grievant!(the!Response).!!The!Response!shall!summarize!the!course!
of!the!investigation;!determine!the!validity!of!the!grievance!and!the!appropriate!resolution.!!
!
If,!as!a!result!of!the!investigation,!harassment,!or!a!valid!grievance!is!established,!appropriate!
corrective!and!remedial!action!will!be!taken.!
APPEALS!
If! the! grievant! is! not! satisfied! with! the! Response,! the! grievant! may! appeal! in! writing! to! the! Howard!
University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science!Board!of!Directors!(or!designee)!within!thirty!(30)!
days! of! the! date! of! the! Response! summarizing! the! outcome! of! the! investigation.! ! The! written! appeal!
must! contain! all! written! documentation! from! the! initial! grievance! and! the! grievants! reasons! for! not!
accepting!the!Response.!The!appeal,!in!letter!form,!may!be!sent!to!Howard!University!Middle!School!of!
Mathematics! and! Science! Board! of! Directors! at! 2400! Sixth! Street,! N.W.! Room! 302! Washington,! DC!
20059.!
!
Within!fifteen!(15)!days!from!receiving!the!written!appeal,!the!Board!Chair!(or!designee)!will!respond!in!
writing!to!the!appellant!as!to!the!action!to!be!taken!and!the!reasons!therefore.!
!
!
!
PROHIBITION!AGAINST!RETALIATION!
Howard!University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science!pledges!that!it!will!not!retaliate!against!
any! person! who! files! a! complaint! in! accordance! with! this! policy,! or! any! person! who! participates! in!
proceedings!related!to!this!policy. !
Additionally,!Howard!University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science!will!not!tolerate!any!form!of!
retaliation! against! any! person! who! makes! a! good! faith! report! or! complaint! about! perceived! acts! of!
harassment,! discrimination,! or! concern,! or! who! cooperates! in! an! investigation! of! harassment,!
discrimination,!or!a!concern.!!Any!person!who!is!found!to!be!engaging!in!any!kind!of!retaliation!will!be!
subject!to!appropriate!disciplinary!action.!
MODIFICATION!
Howard! University! Middle! School! of! Mathematics! and! Science! may! approve! modification! of! the!
foregoing! procedures! in! a! particular! case! if! the! modification! (a)! is! for! good! cause,! and! (b)! does! not!
violate!due!process!rights!or!policies!of!Howard!University!Middle!School!of!Mathematics!and!Science.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CONTACT!INFORMATION!
!
HEAD!OF!SCHOOL!
HUMAN!RESOURCES!
!
!
Head!of!School!
Washington,!D.C.!20059!
(202)!806S7725!
!
Leslie!Boler!
Director!of!Human!Resources!
(202)!806S7725!
BOARD!OF!DIRECTORS!
Board!of!Directors!
H.!U.!Middle!School!of!!
Mathematics!and!Science!
2400!Sixth!Street,!N.W.,!!
Room!302!
(202)!806S2530!
GRIEVANCE!FORM!
FORM!QUESTIONS!
Date!of!Complaint:!
ANSWER!TO!FORM!QUESTION!
!
NAME!OF!PERSON!ON!WHOM!THE!COMPLAINT!
IS!BEING!BROUGHT:!
Relationship/Title:!
NAME!OF!PERSON!BRINGING!COMPLAINT:!
Address:!
Phone:!
SUMMARY!OF!COMPLAINT:!
If!others!are!affected!by!the!possible!
violation,!please!give!their!names!
and/or!positions:!
Suggested!Resolution:!
Additional!Relevant!Information:!
!
!
!
___________________________________________!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIGNATURE!OF!GRIEVANT! !
!
!
!!!!!
!
!
!
!
____________________________________________!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIGNATURE!OF!PERSON!RECEIVING!COMPLAINT!!
!
!!!!!!
_________________________!
DATE!
_________________________!
DATE!
!
!
(MS)2!PARENTS!IN!ACTION!!
!
All!parents/guardians!are!encouraged!to!be!active!participants!in!the!(MS)2!Parents!in!Action.!The!(MS)2!
Parents!in!Action!provides!parents/guardians!with!the!organizational!structure!and!network!capabilities!
for! families! to! work! collaboratively! in! making! (MS)2! one! of! the! most! effective! schools! in! the! nation.!
Check!the!school!calendar!for!meeting!dates!and!times.!
VISITORS!AND!VOLUNTEERS!
!
Upon!enrollment,!all!parents!agree!to!volunteer!for!at!least!five!hours!per!semester!in!a!school!related!
activity.! Information! about! upcoming! opportunities! will! be! shared! on! a! monthly! basis! to! give! parents!
ample!opportunity!to!fulfill!their!requirement.!!
!
(MS)2!welcomes!all!visitors!and!volunteers.!If!you!are!coming!to!meet!with!a!teacher!or!administrator!
about!your!child,!or!even!as!a!volunteer,!parents/guardians!are!strongly!encouraged!to!call!to!schedule!
an!appointment.!If!you!are!interested!in!volunteering,!please!contact!the!administrative!assistant!who!
will!connect!you!to!the!volunteer!coordinator.!
!
All!individuals!entering!the!building!must!signSin!at!the!security!desk!and!will!be!asked!to!show!and!turn!
in!government!issued!photo!identification!prior!to!receiving!a!visitors!badge.!The!badge!must!be!worn!
for!the!duration!of!the!visit!and!returned!to!the!front!office!upon!leaving.!Children!from!other!schools!
will!not!be!allowed!into!the!building!unless!accompanied!by!an!adult.!It!is!expected!that!all!visitors!will!
exhibit!proper!decorum!while!in!the!building.!!
LOST!AND!FOUND!
!
You! are! reminded! to! label! all! of! your! childs! belongings.! This! will! enable! us! to! return! lost! items!
expediently.!All!unidentified!lost!and!found!items!will!be!left!at!the!lost!and!found!area!located!at!the!
security! desk! in! the! main! lobby.! Also,! students! are! encouraged! to! check! their! classrooms! for! any!
misplaced! items.! At! the! end! of! each! semester,! unclaimed! clothing! will! be! donated! to! local! charities.!
Finally,! it! is! highly! recommended! that! large! amounts! of! money! and/or! valuables! are! not! brought! to!
school.!The!school!will!not!assume!liability!if!these!items!are!lost!or!stolen.!
UNIVERSAL!PERMISSION!SLIP!
!
A!signed!universal!permission!slip!must!be!on!file!for!your!child.!This!permission!slip!grants!permission!
for! your! child! to! participate! in! local! field! trips! (District! of! Columbia,! Maryland,! and! Virginia).! It! is! our!
policy!to!notify!parents/guardians!in!advance!of!all!field!trips;!however,!occasionally!excursions!may!be!
unanticipated!and!may!not!permit!advance!notification.!Thus,!with!this!slip!on!file,!your!child!will!be!able!
to!participate!in!all!activities.!
!
!
!
Howard!University!Middle!School!of!!
Mathematics!and!Science!
405!Howard!Place,!NW,!!
Washington,!DC!20059!
Phone:!202S806S7725!!
Website:!http://www.howard.edu/ms2!

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Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

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Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science - revised 7/2015

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