Pinecrest Middle School offers a co-educational, rigorous academic curriculum with an emphasis on personal responsibility, character development, and community service. In addition to preparing students for success in high school and beyond, it is our mission to create lifelong learners by providing a strong academic framework as well as opportunities to pursue individual interests.
Our middle school curriculum includes a prescribed set of courses in English, Spanish, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, the Arts, Technology, Physical Education and Health. School/Community Service and Character development are also required of all students.
As Pinecrest provides the best for its students, it also expects the best from them. Strict adherence to decorum is part of the Pinecrest tradition. Behavioral problems will be handled immediately and parents will be notified as to their student’s citizenship. Homework is given on a regular basis and may often require parental interaction.
Finally, we encourage character development by requiring the old-fashioned values of hard work, honesty, good citizenship, and fundamental respect for others. This is a place where everyone must feel safe; intellectually, physically, and emotionally. Absolutely no put-downs or disregard for another’s feelings, whether student or staff-member, will be tolerated. We build self esteem by frequent, positive reinforcement and by recognizing your child as he/she successfully meets each new challenge.
Academic Standards:
Students must maintain a C (2.0) average in each class to remain in good standing and receive a passing grade in the class. If a student falls below this minimum standard, the student will be placed on Academic Probation for a period of five weeks, and may be ineligible for athletic and/or extracurricular activities. Any student on Academic Probation for two consecutive quarters may be subject to dismissal from school. Students with exemplary citizenship and earning all A’s and B’s are eligible for Honors awards and privileges.
Disciplinary Standards
On-going violations of school policies will result in Disciplinary Probation. A parent conference will be scheduled and both the parents and the student will be required to sign a contract for improvement. This contract will serve as notice of possible dismissal from school unless the inappropriate behavior is corrected.
Attendance Policy
The campus opens at 7:00 a.m. for child care. School starts at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 3:10 p.m. Any student arriving after 8:30 a.m. must check in at the office for a late slip and admittance to class. As a general rule, regular and punctual attendance is mandatory for all Pinecrest students.
Regular attendance is necessary for academic success and students are required to be in school for the entire day. Absences for personal illness are excusable. Students are responsible for making up all work missed while absent. If your child is absent from school, we allow an extra day for each day absent to make up work. You may call the school by 9:00 a.m. and request the day’s assignments. They will be ready for pick up in the office at 3:30 p.m.
Students must remain on campus until picked up by a parent or other authorized person unless they have written permission to leave from their parent or guardian. Students must be signed out in the office when leaving before 3:10 p.m. The campus closes at 6:00 p.m. A fee of $1.00 per minute is charged after 6:00 p.m.
Academics
The academic year is divided into four quarters. At the end of each quarter a report card is sent home and is part of the student’s permanent record. Every five weeks, progress reports are sent home for all students. These five week reports are not part of the student’s cumulative file.
Grades are based on class work, tests, class participation, and homework. Excessive absences and/or tardiness may seriously affect a student’s average.
Each student is responsible for his/her own assignment notebook, which must be used in each class. Assignments for each class should take approximately 30 minutes per subject to complete. If a student is spending considerably longer doing homework, please notify us. The problem could be unfinished class work or a misunderstanding of the assignment itself.
All written assignments are to have the student’s name, date, and class placed in the top right hand corner. Heading is to be on the top line of the paper. Heading is the assignment, page(s), and problems. All work is to be neatly written or typed. All work is required to be completed and turned in on time.
Citizenship Policy
The registration of a student at Pinecrest Simi is an expressed agreement on the part of the student and the part of that student’s parents or guardian to observe these behavioral standards. The school reserves the right to review unsatisfactory conduct with regard to disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal, should this be justified.
All members of the school community should contribute to a positive, caring environment. This is a general expectation of all students. The following specific codes of behavior reflect this general concern for the school community.
The school recognizes that the parents are the primary persons responsible in seeing that their son/daughter is clean, groomed, and dressed correctly for school. The following are the guidelines used by Pinecrest Simi.
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All clothing
must be of proper size and fit.
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Shirts - Collared, Hunter
green, Burgundy, White, or Beige with Pinecrest
Middle School logo. Shirts must be tucked in at
all times. Turtleneck, crew, or tee shirts may be
worn under a uniform shirt.
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Pants/Shorts/Skirts - Khaki or Navy blue only, Pinecrest sweatpants
may be worn.
- Pinecrest Sweatshirts
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Polar Fleece
Jacket with Pinecrest Logo (navy, green
or burgundy)
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Shoes - Athletic shoes, loafers, top-siders, or dress
shoes must be worn at all times. All shoes must
be closed-toe and closed-heel. Shoes that can be
laced must be laced and tied at all times. Socks
must be worn at all times.
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Hair/Hats - Student’s hair is to be neat and conservative
in style. Hair must be clean and well groomed and
of natural color with no extremes in coloring or
tinting.
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Jewelry/Make-up - Jewelry and make-up are to be worn in moderation.
No visible body piercing is allowed other than earrings.
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Free
Dress Day - Items
listed may not be worn: Crop tops, baggy or oversized
clothing, thermal underwear, skin-tight apparel,
see-through apparel, lingerie-type apparel, military/work
boots, or athletic tights. When in doubt, call the
office.
-
The dress code
is in effect for all school-sponsored field trips
taking place during regular school hours.
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Consequences
for Dress Code Violations:
A student who is out of dress code and is unable
to correct their dress may be sent home and/or not
be able to attend classes until his/her dress is
corrected.
Emergency Procedures
During an emergency, students and staff make their way in an orderly, quiet fashion to a designated safe location. In the event of an earthquake or fire, students are to walk with their class to the sports field.
Please be sure to keep all emergency contacts up to date.
The school is prepared to care for students in time of critical situations. We have several staff members with first aid certificates as well as food, water, and emergency supplies.
Visitors
All visitors and volunteers must sign in and receive a visitors pass from the office.
Students who are suspended may not come to school, may not attend classes, may not attend practices or rehearsals, and may not attend or participate in any school sponsored activities. They will, for the time they are suspended, be the direct responsibility of their parents. Suspended students will be responsible for all homework assigned in their absence and for all notes and other subject matter given out in class. Grounds for suspension may include, but are not limited to the following:
Pinecrest recognizes that a person’s appearance is indicative of their positive self-image and the ability to be self-disciplined. What is appropriate, however, in recreational or leisure situations may not be appropriate in a school environment. Pinecrest requires that a student come to school clean, well groomed and with their clothing laundered and in good condition. The school has used the following guidelines in determining the Pinecrest uniform dress code: