CDJH Student Handbook

 

Attendance Policy

• Attendance guidelines are found in Section VII the Rapides Parish School Board Student Handbook. 
• Attendance may be checked and verified through the Power Parent or Power Student Portals. 
• Our student handbook and Parent Portal serves in lieu of the parent’s first written notice of absences. 
• Parents may receive written notification when a child has been absent for six unexcused absences. 
• Excused absence documentation must be submitted to Ms. Brown in the office the morning the student returns to school. 
• Parent Notes:  Two parental notes per year or one parental note a semester may count as excused absences.  Each parental note covers two (2) days of absence, totaling four (4) days per year. 
• Students with excused absences will be permitted to make up all graded work and receive full credit earned on each assignment. Students have three days from the day they return to school to make up any missed work. 
• Your cooperation is appreciated in having your student to school on time daily.  Attendance is critical so that we can achieve the state mandated requirements of teaching and learning.  It is impossible to make up the direct instruction and hands-on learning experiences your student misses when absent.  

Tardy Policy

• Students will be considered tardy to school if they are not in their classes and sets before the tardy bell rings.  The tardy bell will ring five minutes after the sound of the bell that starts the school day (8:15 am).    
• Students arriving after the tardy bell must report to the office with a parent or guardian to be signed in.  
• Tardiness, whether caused by the student or parent, is counterproductive to the educational process.  Tardiness will be dealt with the following manner:
  • 1st Tardy: parent is notified at check-in
  • 2nd & 3rd Tardy: the student, principal, and counselor will have a conference to see if a problem exists. 
  • 4th Tardy: the parents must have a conference at school with the principal and counselor.
  • 5th Tardy: the matter will be turned over to one or more of the following agencies:  The Child Welfare and Attendance Office or the Families in Need of Services (FINS).

Check-In and Check-Out Policy

• Only parents, guardians, and names of those authorized to check-in and check-out students may do so. 
• The authorized person MUST come into the school office to check-in or check-out a student. For safety reasons, a student cannot  just be sent out to a car.
• Siblings who want to check out students must be 18 years of age and on the authorized list.
• Those checking out students may be asked to present identification. 

Late Pick-Up Policy

• Students must be picked up by 3:30 pm, or at the time the car line ends, if it extends longer than 3:30 pm.  
• Students must be picked up in the office by a parent or guardian after 3:30 pm (or after the car line ends, if it extends longer than 3:30 pm). 
• Late pick-up, whether caused by the student or parent, will be dealt with the following manner:
  • 1st  - 3rd Late Pick-Up: Parent signs a form. 
  • 4th Late Pick-Up: The parent must have a conference at school with the principal.
  • 5th Late Pick-Up: The matter will be turned over to one or more of the following agencies:  The Child Welfare and Attendance Office or the Families in Need of Services (FINS).

 

General Behavior Expectations

Purpose: To create a positive learning environment in which students and staff demonstrate a clear understanding of Caroline Dormon’s behavioral expectations and positively reinforce the continued efforts of personal growth which ultimately supports students’ social and academic success.

• Hallway Expectations
  • Always walk to the right
  • Respect the personal space of others
  • Use inside voices
• Cafeteria Expectations
  • Remain seated and quiet until dismissed
  • Keep your eating area clean
  • Food remains in the cafeteria
• Classroom Expectations
  • Be on time
  • Resolve conflicts positively
  • Respect the personal space of others
  • Keep your area clean
  • Keep food and beverages outside of the classroom
• Restroom Expectations
  • Keep restrooms clean
  • Use restrooms quickly
  • Respect the personal space of others
• Bus Stop Expectations
  • Report to your bus promptly
  • Maintain a low level of noise
  • Respect the personal space of others
• Common Areas
  • Remain in designated areas
  • Proceed promptly and quietly to class upon dismissal
  • Respect the personal space of others

Discipline

Classroom Expectations

Classroom expectations will be set by each teacher.  Policies and procedures will also be taught at the beginning of the year.  6th - 8th will have a discipline assembly at the beginning of the year and midyear.  

Minor Referrals 

Minor referrals are issued when students have been made aware of classroom expectations, policies, and procedures and have been warned of the infraction. Examples of infractions include disturbance or disruptive behavior, disrespectfulness, foul language, repeated dress code violations, horse playing, etc. Minor referrals are kept on file for one year in our office.  They are not part of a student’s permanent record. 

Consequences as a result of minor referrals include, but are not limited to, loss of privileges (recess, specials, PE, etc.), lunch detention, and morning detention. 

Minor referrals will be given by the assigning teacher or administrator on a Google Form and parent(s) will be contacted via email, Remind, a phone call, or a hard copy of the referral.
 

Major Referrals 

Major referrals (state referrals) are issued when students have been made aware of classroom expectations, policies, and procedures, have been through more than one cycle of minor referrals, OR have behaved in a way that is deemed a major infraction, such as fighting.  Major referrals are part of a student’s permanent record. 

The following offenses are subject to suspension or expulsion:

1. Using, attempting to use, or possessing any tool or instrument with the intent to do or threaten bodily harm.
2. Possessing or using fireworks.
3. Threatening or cursing a student or faculty member.
4. Possessing or using drugs or alcohol. 
5. Possessing counterfeit or look-alike drugs.
6. Willfully initiating false fire alarms.
7. Creating or instigating a disturbance at any school and all extracurricular activities or school functions.
8. Willfully defacing, theft of or destruction of school or personal property on school grounds, school buses, or school-related activities.
9. Using forged official documents.
10. Leaving campus without permission.
11. Using vulgar, obscene or profane language, either spoken, written, or implied.
12. Committing act(s) of extortion.
13. using a self-defense aerosol spray such as mace, pepper spray, or any other aerosol spray when dispensed results in a disruption or cause health issues. 

 

Electronic Devices

CDJH PHONE/Electronics POLICY 

• Cell phones are to be turned off and left in backpacks at ALL times, including on the bus before and after school. There is NO reason any student should need access to their phone during the school day for instructional or entertainment purposes. Cell phones may ONLY be used by a student in an emergency situation.
• Smart watches and wireless earphones/earbuds are not allowed at school.
• Handheld gaming devices and tablets are ONLY allowed on approved TECH days which are rewards for good behavior. And then, are to remain turned off and in backpacks until permission is granted to be used. 
• NO personal student device should EVER be placed on school wi-fi, including TECH days.
• NO student school device should be placed on TEACHER wi-fi. Student school devices may only be connected to MD.
• Any prohibited electronic device that is SEEN or HEARD may be confiscated and given to an administrator.
• This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, tablets, smart watches, airpods, or other bluetooth devices.
  • 1st offense - warning,  device confiscated and held in the office until end of day
  • 2nd offense - device confiscated; minor referral with $15 fine as consequence; parents must retrieve device from the office at the end of the day
  • 3rd offense - device confiscated for 24 hours; minor referral issued with standard consequence; $15 fine; parents must retrieve device from the office the following business day
  • 4th and subsequent offenses - device confiscated for 24 hours; major referral with appropriate consequence determined by administration; $15 fine; parents must retrieve device from the office at the end of the semester.
• Caroline Dormon Junior High School is not responsible for electronic devices that are damaged or lost on school property.

Acceptable Use of Chromebooks

• Every student will be assigned a Chromebook to be used in each classroom.
• Students should not change the settings on the Chromebooks/tablets, including making changes under the accessibility options.
• Students will close the Chromebooks any time they are not in use, especially when walking.
• Chromebooks/tablets should not be placed on the floor, under desks, or in any situation in which damage could occur.
• If it is determined that a student intentionally damaged a Chromebook, he/she will be financially responsible for the device.

 

Acceptable Use of Rapides Parish Google Accounts

• Every student is issued a Google login from the Rapides Parish School Board.  This is the student’s official school account and should only be used for school assignments.  
• Students should not share login information.
• When working in their school-issued accounts, students should maintain integrity and professionalism; this includes files in Google Drive, profile pictures, email correspondence, etc. 
• Teachers and local and district administrators have the right to view students’ accounts when necessary.