1.

How do I make an appointment with school personnel?

To See A Counselor: Call the counseling office or come in directly.

To See A Teacher: Send a not using the student agenda. The teacher can call you at home when it is convenient for you. You could also contact the couselor who will relay the information to the required teacher.

To See An Administrator: Call the administrator directly or leave a message with the Office Assistant.

To See the Principal: Call directly or leave a message with the Administrative Assistant, Mrs. King.

2.

What should I do if my child is absent from school?

Schools need to take proper attendance so the state will fund them. It is extremely important for parents to fil out an absence note and send it to school with your child after each absence. Your child should take the note to the attendance office so they can get a re-admit slip for each of their teachers to sign. This shows that parents are informed of the whereabouts of their child. The note shoud have the child's full name, date of absence, and parent signature.

What should I do if my child needs to leave early?

Parents need to go to the Attendance Office to have their child summoned. Please allow enough time.

What should I do if my child arrives late?

Students will go to the attnedance office to get a tardy slip or readmit slip to show their teachers. Parents need to write a note with the reason for being tardy.

3.

Are students required to wear uniforms?

No. But there is a Dress Code. No bandanas of any kind. No jacket hoods. No apparel that displays profanity, racial slurs, obscenity, advertisements for controlled substances (alcohol, drugs, etc. ), and any message that is demeaning to women and/or racial-ethnic messages. Clothing must be safe and clean. Clothing must not be excessively short or expose the body, such as: tank tops with straps less than 3 inches wide, spagetti straps, off-shoulder/back-less tops, bare midriffs, short shorts/skirts/dresses, tight-fitting garments, or bathing suit types tops. No low-rider "oversized", baggy pants that are "sagging". "Oversized" is defined as pants that will drop below the hips when the belt is removed and are more than 2 inches larger than the waist size or where pant leg is excessively wide (as determined by administration). "Sagging" is generally defined as pants worn so low on the hips that all or parts of the rear-end are exposed and the undergarments are exposed. No items that identify the wearer as gang-related (e.g.: belt buckles, etc.). Belt may not be more than 4 inches longer than the waist size. No sunglasses may be worn without the approval of the school nurse. No sandals, slippers, or thong-type footwear is allowed on the campus. This type of footwear is unsafe because it exposes teh toes and parts fo the foot to injury and/or accident. No high heels or platform shoes (more than 1-inch high) will be allowed. No beepers (State law), "Walkman"-type radios, head sets, cassette players, CD players or toys. Hats are to be worn properly OUTSIDE only.

4.

What vaccinations are required for my child to be enrolled in school? What happens if all vaccinations are not on file with the school?

These are the required immunizations:
Polio - 4 doses at any age, 3 doses if at least 1 was given on or after 2nd birthday
DPT - 4 doses at any age, 3 doses if at least 1 was given on or after 2nd birthday
MMR - 2 doses both on or after 1st birthday
Hep B - 3 doses
Varicella - if entering from out of state
Mantoux skin test - if entering from out of state

Students will be excluded from school if all vaccinations are not on file with the school.

5.

Are there other records that must be on file with the school for my child?

Each student has a cum that may be viewed by the parent at any time. We also need emergency cards, accurate records of previous schools, and attendance records.

6.

If my child needs to take medication diring the school day, what should s/he do?

A medication form signed by the student's physician and parent must be on file in the health office. (Blank forms are available from the school nurse.) A form is required for ALL medications including over-the-counter preparations such as Tylenol or aspirin.

7.

Will my child be issued a hall locker?

The School Leadership Coucil (SLC) has met and approved theissuance of lockers. Lockers are issued under the following stipulations: access to lockers is limited tobefore school, before and after nutrition, before and after lunch, after school; students are not to share lockers or combinations under any circumstances; students are not to leave class to go to their lockers; there is to be no loitering in the locker area; 3 tardies will result in the student forfeiting his/her locker; only school materials should be brought to school and stored in lockers; lockers are school property, and they may be randomly searched; locker problems will only be handled before and after school at the Student Store; and students must return a completed Emergency Card to teh record room teacher along with a locker application.

8.

What will my child study in middle school? do you have programs for students with special needs?

All students take a curriculum that includes, English, Mathematics, History, Science, and Physical Education. Some students are required to be in a phonics based reading recovery program for their 6th class. This determination is based on CAT6 scores and testing results of Degrees of Reading Power assessment. Other students are enrolled in the English as a Second Language program. For these 2 groups of students they do not have an elective. For the remainder of students, their 6th class is an elective. This class may be art, music, drama, leadership, video production or school service (7/8 grade students only). 6th grade students participate in a elective wheel, having a variety of experiences beginning with a study skills building class.

9.

Do you offer extracurricular and/or after school programs for students?

Our extracurricular offerings include field trips, assemblies, student recognition events, lunchtime sports programs and awards. After school, students may participate in The Story Project, Youth Services sports teams and dance classes, YWCA sports, arts and leadership programs, and L.A. Bridges leadership programs and field trips.

10.

Do you provide computers for students to use at school?

Mark Twain has computers located in the classroom, the library, and the Technology Learning Center. Students may use these computers to complete assignments, conduct research, and create projects. Students may not use any school computers for school assignments until the Acceptable Use Policy has been signed by the student and the parent and has been returned to your Record Room teacher.

11.

How will I be informed of my child's progress?

Progress reports are generated every 6 weeks of the semester. This provides parents/guardians with ongoing information regarding their student's progress. Only the final report at the end of each semester becomes part off the permanent record. Parents/guardians may contact the teacher at any time with questions/concerns. Using the student agenda book is the suggested means of home/school communication. Teachers may also communicate with parents through phone calls or notes home.

12.

What can I do if my child needs academic help?

If your child needs academic help, you should make an appointment to speak with his/her counselor and teachers to dermine what needs to be done. If students are not completing their homework on a regular basis, they may be referred to Guided Study to complete missing assignments. Guided Study takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m. Students may register for tutoring and/or extended learning which also meet after school on Mondays and Wednesdays 3-4 p.m. Late buses are provided for students who ride the school buses. Mark Twain students may also take advantage of Saturday (or Sunday) classes offered by Beyond the Bell (see Ms. S. Klein for information on Beyond the Bell.)

13.

Are there other services available to assit my child?

St. John's Medical Center offers counseling services to families of students who have problems that are beyond the scope of the school counselor. School couselors have information on how to access this program. There may be a fee for St. John's Services. L.A. Bridges provides peer mediation, anger management, and leadership development services for at-risk studentsand their parents. They also provide parenting classes to help parents address the needs of their adolescent students. L.A. Bridges programs take place Monday-Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m. The YWCA also offers programs in leadership and personal develpment and Reading is Fundamental to assist students. The YWCA programs take place daily 3-6 p.m. You may contact the program directors to sign your child up for theses programs.

14.

How can I be involved and support the school?

Parent participation and support are encouraged and needed in a variety of ways at Mark Twain Middle School. Parent representatioves are needed to serve on our advisory councils which provide direction for our Title 1, English Language Learners, School Improvement and School Leadership programs. Advisory councils meet once a month. Parents are a major component of out PTSA. In the past the PTSA has conducted school fundraisers, sponsored our book fairs, sponsored the 8th grade trip to Magic Mountain and provided clithing and/or dental services to students. Parent volunteers are also needed to assist in the library and helth office, supervise the campus, chaperone class field trips, and asist in the Parent Center. You may also make your voice heard by attending Coffee and Converstion with the principal on the first Monday morning of each month (7:30-8:30 a.m.)

15.

What are my child's responsibilities as a student at Mark Twain Middle School?

The primary responsibility of any Mark Twain student is to learn the core curriculum. All other rules, procedures, and responsibilities have been established to directly support this all-important goal. Students need to be respectful, punctual, attentive, safety-conscious, and hard working in order to master the skills and information presented. During the course of a school day, they are to comply with any requests made by teachers, administrators, and staff. In addition, students should follow all rules as they are written in the Mark Twain Handbook. For example, students must be seated and begin working before the tardy bell rings; they should follow Mark Twain's dress code, and they should never share a locker with another student.