L. E. White Middle School

Parent Update #1 2017-2018

Hello! Summer Vacation is rapidly coming to an end. Again this year, the “Parent Update” will be one of the most important communication tools we will use to share Middle School information with parents. We hope that middle school parents and students will use the “Parent Update” as they make family plans. Please expect to receive your “Parent Update” at regular intervals throughout the 2017 – 2018 School Year. Parents can also like L.E. White Middle School on Facebook, follow @lewhitems on Twitter, and download the Allegan Public Schools Parent Link App for updates and information throughout the school year.

Enclosures:  Reminders for the 2017-2018 School Year (Pink)  2017-2018 School Calendar  Student-Parent-Staff Contract and Explanation (Tan)  Food Service News Letter and Free & Reduced Lunch Application Form Note: Lunch prices for the 2017-2018 School Year  

Secondary Regular Lunch = $2.75; Regular Breakfast = $1.75 Reduced Lunch = $.40; Reduced Breakfast = $.30

You may pay online to your child’s account through the SENDMONEYTOSCHOOL.com on our district website.  Permission to Administer Medication Form (Lilac): Parents of diabetic or asthmatic children will have additional forms to fill out in the office.  Field Trip Permission Form (Green)  Criminal Record Check & Background Affidavit for Volunteer Service to District o This process will now be completed online at www.alleganps.org under Parent Links  Other Links o For families without internet access, paper forms are available in the main office.  Student Technology Forms: Complete Technology guide can be viewed online. o Technology Acceptable Use Policy (TAUP) - needs be signed by all students and parents o Bring Your Own Technology Policy (BYOT) - needs to be signed by any student and parent who plan to bring their own chromebook/netbook/laptop to school  Parent Letter - MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)

Bus Schedule The middle school students will be dropped off first (approximately 7:25 A.M.), the high school students next and then the elementary students will be delivered to their respective elementary schools. At the end of the school day, the buses will be parked on “Tiger Trail” (the drive connecting the high school and middle school) and middle school students will be given 12 minutes to walk to their buses. At 2:45 P.M. the buses will leave to go to the elementary schools to pick up the elementary students. It should be understood that “Bus Passes” will not be allowed again this school year because the buses will not have room for additional riders. The bus assignments will be published in the “Back to School” issue of Our Schools or can be found at www.alleganps.org after August 21.

For Transportation Emergencies Call: Director of Transportation at 673-2203

Optional Student Insurance This is available again this year through FIRST AGENCY. If you are interested in purchasing this student health/accident insurance, please visit their online portal at www.1stAgency.com where parents can print the PDF and enroll through the mail with a check or money order OR you may enroll online with a credit card. The Allegan Public School District complies with all federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, marital status, political belief, or physical or mental handicap or disability—in all of its programs and in employment. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools, 550 Fifth Street, Allegan MI (phone 269-673-5431).

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Middle School Sports Participating students must have a completed physical form with them on the first day of practice or on file in the athletic office for the 2017 - 2018 School Year before he/she will be allowed to practice. Fall Sports for the Middle School can begin practicing on the days listed below:  Cross Country - August 23 -- Cross Country practice at 7 p.m. (nightly). Meet in front of the High School.  Volleyball - August 23 – 7th and 8th grade Volleyball tryouts begin in the high school auxiliary gym. Times: 7th Grade - 3-4:30 p.m.; 8th Grade - 4:30-6 p.m. @High School Aux Gym.  Football (7th/8th) - August 21 – 3:15 p.m. equipment and locker assignments. Meet by the high school locker rooms. All practices will be at the high school.

Note: Sports Physical Forms, Game Schedules, Recreation and Aquatic Programs can be found at www.alleganps.org. August 23 – The Middle School Counselors are back in their offices (8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.).

August 28 - Student Schedules with locker combinations should arrive by this day. The school will be open for parents to tour the school with their child Tuesday, August 29, and Thursday, August 31, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teachers will not be available to meet with parents due to professional meetings and responsibilities on those days but touring the school is encouraged.

August 30

-- Middle School Open House

 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

 Parents and students may tour the school, find classrooms, meet teachers, and practice locker combinations.

September 5 – 1st School Day of the 2017-2018 School Year 

A Full School Day.

September 6 - M.S. Girls Volleyball Match – 7th and 8th Grade at South Haven at 4 p.m. September 7 – Picture Day – Picture informational packets will be given out the first day of school during 1st Period or may be picked up in main office at any time. September 8 – Early Release Day for staff and students. Student release time is 12:33. September 9 - Cross Country Meet – away at Fennville Invitational at 9 a.m. September 13 - 7th/8th Grade Middle School Football at Dowagiac at 5 p.m. September 20 - Early Release Day for students. Student release time is 12:33. Sept. 21 through Oct. 5 – Middle School Student Council’s Fundraiser. All middle school students are given the opportunity to participate in the Student Council fundraiser. Besides earning prizes and special incentives, participating students will be helping the Middle School Student Council earn money to help support Student Council sponsored activities, special events, field trips, awards, classroom materials, and other items that they determine are needed. Cash

donations are always welcome if none of the fundraising items interest you! September 21 – Fundraiser Kick-Off Assemblies September 22 – Address Booklet Turn-in Day  10 Names & Addresses outside of the Allegan Area September 22  1st Social – 3 to 5 p.m. in the middle school gym – cost = $2.00 September 29 – Homecoming and CODE Orange game at Allegan H.S. – Game = 7:00 vs. Otsego C.O.D.E. Orange – stands for “Community On Deck for Education”!!! Please purchase your CODE Orange t-shirt for $10 at your child’s school, or at ACE Hardware, Springrove Variety, or TrueValue Hardware. This event is sponsored by the Educational Foundation of APS and Allegan General Hospital. Proceeds go to fund teacher mini-grants and student scholarships for our students. Your t-shirt will also get you in free to the CODE Orange winter MVE event in January!

October 4 – Fundraiser Form Turn-in Day -- Fundraiser Ends October 16 and 17 – Progress Reports for the 1st Trimester will be handed out at Parent Teacher Conferences. Don't forget that the library collects Box Tops for Education. Last year, due to your help, the library raised over $1,000. Keep collecting!!!

Important Information For the 2017 - 2018 School Year As we begin the school year, we want to share information that will help the school year run more smoothly for everyone.

Student Day We are very excited to be able to continue to offer students a 28 minute period each day called TIGERS for remediation, homework completion, student organization, and excelling/enrichment activities. Once again this school year students will be allowed to enter the school building to begin the day at 7:00 A.M. The daily schedule follows. DAILY SCHEDULE Warning BELL 7:35 1st Period 7:40 - 8:34 2nd Period 8:39 - 9:32 3rd Period 9:37 - 10:30 LUNCH PERIOD A 10:30 - 11:00 4th Period/7th 11:05 - 12:04 4th Period/6th 10:35 - 12:04 LUNCH PERIOD B 11:02 - 11:32 th 4th Period/8 10:35 - 11:34 LUNCH PERIOD C 11:34 - 12:04 5th Period 12:09 - 1:02 TIGERS 1:07 – 1:35 7th Period 1:40 - 2:33 BUS BELL 2:45 STUDENT EXIT BELL 2:50

Dress Code Reminders: We want to remind students and parents about our expectations for student attire: Disruptive/Prohibited: 1. Hats, other headgear, and coats: These will not be worn in the building during school hours. Lockers are provided for these items. 2. Any type of clothing that advertises alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or promotes drug use; includes profanity or vulgar suggestions; promotes violence or gang involvement or has reference to anything that distracts from the educational process are prohibited. 3. Clothes must conceal undergarments at all times. 4. See-through, sheer, see-through lace, fishnet fabrics, clothing with large or oversized holes/openings, halter (strapless) tops, off the shoulder, spaghetti straps, low cut tops and bare midriffs are prohibited. See through shirts may be worn over a t-shirt that meets dress code. 5. Short shorts, short skirts, short dresses or pants that do not properly cover the skin or have holes in inappropriate areas are prohibited. Shorts, skirts, pants or athletic wear that are not worn at the correct position at or above the hips are prohibited. 6. Pajamas (tops and/or bottoms), slippers and swimwear are prohibited. 7. For safety reasons, shoes must be worn at all times. (Over)

Front Parking Lot The parking lot directly in front of the middle school is a parking area for staff and guests and continues to be “one way” traffic flow. For safety reasons, please do not use this parking lot as a student drop off or pick up area. Please do not park in the staff parking spaces. Parents who bring or pickup their children to/from school should plan to use the east drive entry in front of the school and/or the “drop off/pick up area” on Goodrich Street (the east side of the M.S. campus).

Reporting Absences Please call Ms. Vlietstra at extension 4011 if your child is going to be late or absent from school. If you are unable to call, please send a written note to school with your child upon their return.

After School Time We have many students who stay after school to participate in a sport, to receive tutoring, special help, or are serving After School Detentions. These students are under the direct supervision of a staff member. All other students must exit the building at the end of that school day. We request that parents pick up their child as soon as possible after their child’s session is completed.

Cell Phone Policy Students may carry cell phones on their person and may use them during passing time between classes, before school, at lunch, and after school, but are expected to keep them out of sight and off in classrooms unless they have received permission from their teacher for educational purposes only. Any violation of this policy will result in confiscation of the electronic communication device or cell phone which must be picked up by a parent/guardian after school. Repeated violations are considered insubordination and are subject to suspension under the insubordination policy. The school is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged electronic devices or cell phones.

Messages, Flowers, Balloons, etc.  Parents and students are asked to PLEASE make arrangements before arriving to school for after school plans. Messages for students will not be delivered until the end of the school day. Parents who need to have a message delivered must call before 2:00 p.m.  We know that our students really enjoy receiving special gifts like flowers and balloons, however, we ask that these special gifts be sent to the student’s home address and not to school.

Student Handbooks These will be given to students during the first days of school. Students will be requested to bring the Student Handbook home to share with their parents.

School Closings School closings or delays due to inclement weather will be announced on most major local television and radio stations. School officials will make every effort to have the decision to close or delay the start of school by 6:00 a.m. You can also now sign up with REMIND.com to receive instant alerts from the superintendent regarding school closings by texting the message: @alleganp to: #81010. The following stations will have closing information: WWMT (TV3), WOOD (TV8), WZZM (TV13), WKZO (AM 590), WQXC (FM 100.9). If you wish, you may also sign up for instant alerts at wwmt.com or woodtv.com.

Early Release Several Early Release Days have been added to this year’s calendar. On many of these days, teachers will be utilizing this time for Professional Development. Students will be dismissed exactly 2 hours early on those days.

Parent Link App Download the new APS Parent Link app from the “Apple App Store” or “Google Play” (just search for Allegan Public Schools) and keep all your school-related information in one convenient place on your mobile device! You will be able to gain access to school calendars, sports, news, staff directories, Power School, lunch menus and Efunds, as well social media sites like APS Facebook and Twitter. Sign up today! Also, notifications from REMIND.com are going out to all parents that we have accurate cell phone numbers and/or email addresses for. If you are not receiving notifications yet from the Administration or from your child’s school for school closings or other important messages, please sign up for REMIND.com now (Just send a text to 81010 and type in alleganp).

Flyers Please support us in our efforts to “go green” at Allegan Public Schools. Most of the paper flyers that were once sent home with students in their backpacks are now being posted online instead. Parents can go online and view (and print, as needed) any flyers they may be interested in from the various organizations that sponsor student programs and events. Flyers can be viewed under “Parent Links”. Please note that these events and opportunities may or may not be school-related, and in general are not endorsed by the school district.