• It is the parent’s obligation to inform the school office of an absence by telephone on the morning of the day of the absence. (Call must be made before 10:00 am when requesting make-up work to be picked up at the end of the school day)

• Students who are not in school for at least half of their solid subject courses will be considered absent for that school day.  Parents should make every attempt to not make doctor or dental appointments during school hours.

• Family vacations should not be planned during the school year when classes are in session.  If a trip is unavoidable, written notice should be submitted to the principal at least ten days in advance.  Absences due to trips are NOT excused.  Any final exams missed during an absence may be made up at the discretion of the teacher and/or the Administration.  Regular exams may be made up at the discretion of the student’s individual teachers.
  

RETURNING FROM ABSENCE
Students absent due to illness for five or more consecutive days need a doctor’s note to be readmitted to school.  This note must be turned into the school office.  Students are not allowed to go to class until they have checked in with the school office.

EARLY DISMISSAL AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Students who must leave school early should bring a note before 9:00 am to the middle school office.  Students must also be signed out through the school office by a parent or guardian.  If a person other that the parent or guardian is to pick up a student during school hours, a “Permission to Leave Campus with a Designated Adult” form must be submitted to the school office.  “Permission to Leave Campus” forms can be obtained at the school office or at our school website:  http://www.pinecrestschools.com/woodlandhills/. It is also important to notify the office when a student is left in someone else’s care. 

TARDINESS
All students arriving late to school must check in with the school office to receive a tardy slip.  A student is deemed tardy for school if he or she is not in their Homeroom at the 8:45 am bell.  A student is tardy for class when he or she is not in the classroom when the tardy bell rings.

Being tardy to any class may earn a student a lunch detention; consistent tardiness may earn students demerits.

Tardy to School

1. 1-7 times – Warning
2. 8-14 times – Lunch Detention
3. 15th time – Suspension

All tardiness to first period is unexcused unless the student brings a note from a doctor or parent.  Retroactive notes will not be accepted.  Excessive excused tardiness may result in disciplinary action.

Tardiness to class by more than ten (10) minutes constitutes a class cut and is cause for immediate referral to the Principal or Assistant Principal. 

Closed Campus
Remember, Pinecrest is a closed campus. This means that when you arrive at school you must stay on campus at all times unless you are released to your parents or other permissible adult. All students leaving campus must have written permission from their parents or legal guardian. Forms are located at the front desk. This includes lunchtime.

Pinecrest Bell Schedule

Students follow a rotating schedule in the morning with classes meeting every day.  Special activities (speakers, pep rallies, service programs, assemblies, educational films, homeroom meetings) are scheduled on Fridays from 2:00-2:45.

All grade levels are offered in two levels of study for each subject.  Regular classes work at or above grade level.  Enrichment is a part of all instruction.  In our Honors program students move more quickly through the required material and are challenged by advanced  concepts.  Placement into the Honors program is decided by teacher recommendations, previous grades, and scores on standardized tests.

Students choose four electives per year from a wide variety of selections. (See elective information)  Sports programs offer swimming, basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball for the girls, and swimming, basketball, flag football, baseball, soccer, and volleyball for the boys.  The Pinecrest Middle School Wildcats are always highly competitive, usually reaching the playoffs in many sports.

Zero Tolerance
(Bullying/Harassment/Weapons/Dangerous Objects)

Working together to maintain a safe learning environment is the responsibility of all segments of the school and society, especially the students, parents, and staff. Guns, weapons and other dangerous objects clearly are a hazard to the welfare of everyone and will not be tolerated on the school grounds.

Discipline Policy

Classroom
The classroom teacher will address minor offenses using such strategies as individual conferences, lunch detentions, demerits and parent notification.

Immediate Referrals
A student may be sent immediately to the Administration Office for the following reasons:  Disrespect or Harassment to teachers, staff, or students; Fighting; Stealing; Cheating; Drug possession or use on campus; Destruction or Theft of school or student property; Gang-related activity; Truancy; Possession of a weapon or potentially dangerous objects.  Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken which could include: Parent conference, detention, suspension, or expulsion.

Demerit Policy

If a student receives:
• 5 Demerits – Demerit Notification Letter sent home
• 10 Demerits- Suspension/Conference with Parents/Disciplinary Probation
• 15 Demerits- Student may not be asked to return the following year/Possible expulsion

Students who receive more than 5 demerits must also attend after-school detention for each demerit received.  Students are not permitted to work off any of their demerits Each semester, the number of demerits returns to zero for each student.

8th Grade Requirements
8TH grade students who receive 8 demerits in the spring semester will not be permitted to go on the Magic Mountain Grad Night in June.  8th grade students who receive 10 demerits in the spring semester will not be permitted to attend the Magic Mountain Grad Night event in June.  The students’ file will be reviewed and demerit causes will be taken into consideration.

Detention
Lunch detention occurs daily from 1:20 to 1:40 pm.  If a student misses lunch detention, he/she will be required to attend after-school detention.  After-school detention occurs M-Th from 3:30 to 4:00 pm and Fridays from 2:45 to 3:15 pm.  If an after-school detention is missed, the student may be suspended the following day.

Citizenship Standards

Students are expected to maintain excellent citizenship. Students earning a “U” on their report cards are not eligible for honor roll. Students earning three or more “U’s” will be on probation and may not be able to participate in school activities.

Student Success Tools

The teaching Staff at Pinecrest encourages all students to be prepared every day by having the proper classroom supplies.  Students who work hard and are equipped with the appropriate materials and supplies will find a positive reward.  Their efforts will result in student success!  Individual teachers may request additional supplies.  Students are required to bring their agendas to class every day (they will be given on the first day).

TEST-TAKING TIPS!
Positive attitude                    
Rest the night before
Eat a healthy breakfast
Pace yourself; don’t rush
Always read the directions
Return to hard items last
Eliminate distractions

Academic Policy

Homework

Students are assigned homework at the discretion of the teacher.  Included in homework are written assignments, class work, review, projects, reports, and test preparation.  Parents and students may check daily class activities and homework assignments on the Pinecrest Middle School website. Click on Homework Online.

Grading System

The school year is divided into two semesters. Student’s academic progress will be evaluated every five weeks. Semester grades will be decided as follows:
6th/7th/8th Grade:
Fall: Cumulative progress from Sept. to Dec. (80%), Final Exam (20%)
SpringSemester: Cumulative progress from Jan. to June (80%), Final Exam (20%)

Academic Probation

If a student falls below a C (2.0) average or receives 3 or more U’s on their report card, he/she will be placed on Academic Probation during the next grading period.  Students on probation may be ineligible for athletics and/or extra curricular activities.  Students who do not raise their grade point average to at least a 2.0 at the end of the next grading period will remain on Academic Probation.  Any student who is below a 2.0 for two consecutive report cards may be subject to dismissal from school.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

At any time during the school year a parent or teacher may request a conference.  To arrange a conference, please contact the classroom teacher or the Administrative Secretary.

Academic Incentive Program

At Pinecrest, we feel in order to promote an attitude of excellence and academic achievement, it is important to acknowledge students’ academic success.  Students are motivated by the recognition and rewards they receive.  Every student’s grades will be reviewed at the mid-semester grading period and the end of semester grading period.  By using short segments of time, students are encouraged to do better and to make the effort to improve.  Rewards such as school passes, special assemblies, lunches, and various “edibles” and prizes will be rewarded to all students who receive:

All A’s
All A’s and B’s
All E’s
GPA of 3.5 or higher
Improvement of .3 or more in their GPA

The principles of the academic incentive program are very important and include academic excellence, academic achievement and academic improvement.  Students are recognized with positive, short-term, tangible rewards and incentives.  The ultimate goal of our efforts is to have students and staff at Pinecrest enjoy and promote a community dedicated to achievement and committed to an attitude of excellence.

Honor Roll

All students who earn a B+ (3.5) grade point average with no (U’s) in Work Habits or Citizenship throughout the entire semester will be placed on the semester honor roll.  8th grade students who have an overall grade point average of a 3.5 or better (fall and spring semester GPA’s are averaged together) and no (U’s) the entire year will graduate with honors.  Students graduating with honors will be given a medal to be worn at the graduation ceremony in June.

Spanish

Spanish is an important part of a student’s academic preparation for high school and a very important part of our school curriculum.  For 7th and 8th grade, Spanish is part of the over-all grade point average (GPA).  Spanish is integrated into the school program as follows:

6th Grade
Mandatory Spanish Elective

7th / 8thGrade
Three times a week (during Literature or Language)

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

PARENT INVOLVEMENT = STUDENT SUCCESS