Absences...
If your child is going to be absent from school, parents are asked to notify the school by calling the main office at 356-8350. A note explaining the reason for the absence is also required within three days of the time your child returns to school. Students should give the note to their homeroom teacher. Read more on Mohonasen's attendance policy...

Absences and homework...
It is the responsibility of each student to find out and complete homework assignments -- even when absent from school. With a little planning and follow through, students can avoid falling behind. For example:
n Visit Homework Hotline on the Web to get that day's homework assignments -- even when you're absent!
n Find a reliable friend in each class that you can call if you have a question about the homework, need to copy missed notes, etc. (Offer to the same for him or her, too!)
n Know each teacher's rules (including deadlines) for making up missed homework.
n Students who will be absent for several days can call Draper's Guidance Office to get homework worksheets. Allow 24-hours before pick-up.

Advisory...
In the middle school block schedule all students have an 80-minute advisory period every other day during block three. This time is a much-improved alternative to the old practice of mass study halls where very little studying ever took place. Instead, students are now assigned to a particular classroom and teacher for their advisory period. However, students don't necessarily stay in that classroom for their entire advisory period. In practice, advisory time is meant to be flexible and accommodating to students' needs and interests. Advisory is a time when: 
n Students can arrange to meet with any of their teachers for extra help.
n Students can get a head start on homework assignments or make up past-due work.
n Students in the band, choir or orchestra programs practice and perform as a group.
n Students can relax and enjoy some time for free reading.

"Block five" appointments and detentions...
Block five runs from 2:10 to 2:50 p.m. This is a time when many students voluntarily stay after to get extra help from teachers, organize their notebooks or make up past-due work.
n Teachers may also ASSIGN a "block five appointment" to students who break one of the four standard classroom rules. In most cases, teachers will schedule this after school appointment, in writing, in the student's assignment notebook, indicating exactly which number rule was broken. (See "classroom rules"). This helps students remember when their block five appointment is scheduled, and communicates to parents why it was assigned.
n Students who exhibit more serious or chronic behavior problems may be assigned a one or two-hour main office after-school detention. This is also noted in the student's assignment notebook.
n Late buses are provided for block five appointments and main office detentions, so transportation home will not be a problem for students.

Bullying...
Draper uses the nationally-recognized Bully Beware training with all students in grades 6-8. The school tackles the issue head-on by discussing it annually in special assemblies and taking decisive steps to stop bullying when it occurs. Students should report any bullying to an adult if they are either a victim or witness to it. By reporting it to an adult at school, the bullying can be stopped in a way that no one will know who reported it. A lot of kids worry that "telling" will only make things worse. Parents and teachers need to keep sending the same clear message: REPORTING WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER. School counselors at Draper will also tech kids strategies to help avoid being the target of bullying -- such as making eye contact, walking assertively through the halls and developing a circle of support by joining a school club or activity where they will make friends and develop valuable connections. Students who are known to bully are subject to disciplinary action. They may also be referred for specialized counseling designed to help them examine -- and change -- their bullying behaviors. For more on bullying, visit our middle school Parent Spot.

Bus notes...
In the event that a student wants to ride an alternative bus than he or she is scheduled to ride, (i.e., to go to a friend's house after school) parents are asked to send in a note that must be approved at the front office. Bus drivers will often ask students to produce the approved note before allowing them to board a bus they are not schedule to ride.

Classroom rules...
1. Students will arrive to class on time.
2. Students will bring all necessary materials to class.
3. Students will complete all assignments to the best of their ability.
4. Students will behave in a manner which is NOT disruptive.

Contacting us...
If you have a concern about your child's progress, homework, discipline or some other issue, please contact us right away. Your child's guidance counselor, in particular, can be extremely helpful in this regard. Here are just a few of the many ways to reach teachers and other staff at Draper.

Directions to our school(s)...
Print out these directions and you'll find us with no trouble!

Extracurricular activities...
Extracurricular activities are a great way for kids to meet new friends, learn new things or give something back to their community. Best of all, studies show that students who are involved in after school activities earn higher grades and are more successful -- both academically and socially. Details about meeting dates and times are generally provided over the morning announcements and via notices posted around the school. Parents and students should also feel free to contact their guidance counselor or club advisor for more information. Get information on all extracurricular activities at Draper Middle School here.

Homework expectations...
Homework helps students practice and reinforce what they learned in class. It also teaches self-discipline, time management skills and responsibility. According to district guidelines, middle schoolers should be spending, on average, one to two hours on homework and reading daily. Visit our middle school Parent Spot for some helpful articles on organization and homework or look on our Draper homepage for more tips on homework.

Honor Rolls...
Four times each year, after report cards are issued, an honor roll is released based upon grades received during the preceding quarter. All classes with numeric grades are counted when computing honor roll standings.
n High Honor Roll is awarded to students who achieve a grade point average of 89.5 or higher.
n Honor Roll is awarded to students with a grade point average of 84.5 to 89.4.

Honor Society...
Membership in Draper Middle School's National Junior Honor Society is open to 7th- and 8th-graders. To be eligible for induction, students must meet established academic criteria. Student who meet grade requirements will receive a letter inviting them to apply for membership. Application also requires participation in at least two school and/or community activities and teacher recommendations. A special induction ceremony is held each spring and parents are invited to attend.

Medications during the school day...
The following is the New York State and the school policy regarding medication during the school day:
n The nurse must have a written request from the physician on file, which indicates the frequency and dosage of a prescribed medication.
n The nurse must have a written request from the parent on file in order to administer the medication as specified by the physician.
n The medication is to be delivered directly to the nurse by the parent. (Between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) Under NO circumstance should the medication be delivered by the student.
n The medication should be in a properly marked pharmacy container. The label should include:  student’s full name, address, name and strength of medication, dosage, and frequency of medication.

Music lessons...
Students who participate in band and orchestra take small group lessons during the regular school day. Lessons are scheduled on a rotating basis to avoid conflicts with any one class. Students must report to their regular classroom teacher first, before going to a scheduled lesson. Students are also responsible for completing missed classroom assignments when they are pulled out for a music lesson. Band, orchestra and choir students meet regularly to practice and perform as a group. Large group sessions are always scheduled to coincide with advisories. Students are given monthly schedules, in advance, for both lessons and large group sessions.  It is recommended that students record the dates and times in their assignment books to avoid forgetting! Music students are required to keep their instruments in lockers in the music room.

Parent conferences...
Parents may make appointments for conferences with teachers and/or their child's guidance counselor by calling Draper's Guidance Office (356-8370) any time they have questions or concerns. School officials may also call parents to request a conference as needed. 
n If a parent or a student is unhappy with an interim report or report card, a conference can help get at the root of the problem.
n A conference is a good way to set up an improvement plan -- for behavior and/or academics. In almost all instances, students will be expected to participate.
n Guidance counselors can also set up and facilitate a group conference involving one or more teachers. The focus is always on problem-solving, not playing a "blame game."
n Most people, including students, say they feel relieved at the end of a conference. That's because once the nature of the problem is clearly understood, it's much easier to address it -- particularly when everyone is working together. 
n Keep in mind things don't have to be desperate before parents step in. Any drop in grades is a good reason to call the school.

Passes...
Student assignment notebooks also serve as their hall passes. When traveling the halls during instructional periods, students need to get the "pass page" in their assignment book signed by a teacher or other school official. Students are required to have this notebook with them at all times and be ready to present their "pass" whenever asked by a staff member.

Picking children up during the day...
When picking middle school students up early for doctor appointments, etc., parents are asked to observe the following procedures:
n Parents are asked to write an early dismissal note for their child to bring to the office the morning of the appointment. This note should state the child's full name, reason for having to leave early, the time he or she will be picked up and be signed by a parent/guardian. The office will then issue an early dismissal pass which students simply need to show their teacher at the time of dismissal. The student is then free to report to the main office lobby to meet his or her parent.
n Parents need to come INSIDE the school to meet their child and physically sign him or her out for the appointment. For obvious safety reasons, students are not allowed to sign themselves out of school.

Requests and non-requests for teachers...
Requests for a particular teacher cannot be honored since there are too many scheduling variables to consider and such requests could create imbalances in class sizes. If a parent or student has had a negative past experience with a teacher, a non-request may be submitted to the guidance office. Where appropriate and scheduling permits, the school will do its best to honor such requests.

School supply lists...
School supply lists for each grade level at Draper Middle School are generally mailed home with the fourth quarter report cards at the start of July. The information is also provided online as a link off the Draper Middle School homepage during the summer months in case you misplace the list.

Standardized tests...
Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, students in grades 3 through 8 take a battery of standardized tests from the state. These exams measure whether or not a student is on track to achieve the challenging Regents requirements in high school. Exams include:
n The Grade 6,7,8 NYS English Language Arts Exam
n The Grade 6,7,8 NYS Math Exam
n The Grade 8 NYS Science Exam
n The Grade 8 NYS Social Studies Exam
In addition, eighth-graders take a proficiency exam in French or Spanish.
Parents are advised to pay close attention to their child's standardized test results. These are shared with parents annually. If a child is having difficulty -- and many are -- parents should not wait until high school to get actively involved. Academic Intervention Services are provided to students in serious academic jeopardy, but parent support on the home-front is just as important. Call your guidance counselor and request a meeting if you have concerns about your child's performance or questions about what you can do, at home, to help your child be successful.

Student schedules...
Student schedules are not finalized until late summer each year. In general, students are notified of their homeroom number by mail the week before school starts. On the first day of school they report to their homeroom and receive their schedules at that time.

Student transfers...
If a student is going to transfer to another school district, parents are asked to notify the child's school counselor as far in advance as possible. Early notice will help make the transition smoother for all concerned. School records need to be transferred and processed and schedules need to be adapted when students leave one school for another. Whenever possible, it's best to try to time the move so that it coincides with the end of a marking period or the beginning of a new school year. 

Summer reading...
All students entering grades 6-8 are required to complete a summer reading assignment. Details about the assignment are generally send home in June and will also be posted on the Draper homepage from mid-June until the start of the new school year. 

Swimming and physical education...
All middle school students take part in an annual co-ed swimming unit at the high school pool. girls must wear one-piece bathing suits; swim trunks with a lining are required for boys. No cut-off jeans or two piece suits are allowed. White T-shirts may be worn over bathing suits and girls can also wear nylon shorts over their suits if they prefer. Students must supply their own towels. 

Telephone calls...
n To contact your child's teacher(s), call the office at 356-8350 and ask to be connected to his or her voicemail. For obvious reasons, calls will not be put through directly to classrooms during instructional time. Teachers are generally VERY good about returning phone calls to parents in a timely fashion.
n The main office has a telephone for students' emergency use only (i.e., to call home for forgotten books, physical education clothes, etc.) Students are not to use this phone to make social plans or to call parents for a ride home when they don't want to wait for the late bus. Before 7 a.m. and after 2 p.m. on weekdays, students may use a pay phone in the school lobby. Local calls are 50 cents. 

Tutors...
Students or parents who wish to obtain a private professional tutor can call their guidance counselor for the names of qualified tutors in various subjects. The cost generally runs between $20 and $30 per hour. Another option -- that has NO cost -- is to request a peer tutor. National Junior Honor Society students at Draper are often willing to tutor other students in need of additional help. High school-age students can also be arranged. Contact your guidance counselor for more details.

Unplanned early dismissals...
Information about early dismissals is quickly posted on Mohonasen's school closings and delays page. It is also released to all local TV stations and major radio stations. Parents are urged to make sure their children know what to do if they arrive home unexpectedly and no adult is there.

Visitors...
For security reasons, all visitors during school hours are required to first report to the middle school office for a visitor's pass. This includes parents.

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