GENERAL INFORMATION

SCHOOL HOURS:
8:20 A.M. - 3:32 P.M.

EARLIEST ARRIVAL TIME:
Car riders and walkers may be dropped off no earlier than 7:30 A.M.,
at which time teacher supervision will begin.
Students eating breakfast report to the cafeteria.
(Students not eating breakfast report to the Homeroom)


BUS INFORMATION:
Information regarding route number and pick up times will
always be posted during open house at the beginning of the year.
The School Bus Guide (see the , p. 16) outlines the safety rules,
behavior expectations, and policy of bus conduct, which will be strictly enforced.

LUNCH & BREAKFAST:
LUNCH   $1.50   Students
$0.40  Reduced lunch
$2.50 Adult visitors

BREAKFAST   $1.00   Students

$0.30   Reduced breakfast

Free/reduced lunch applications are sent home on the first day of school.
Ice cream, Fruitworks, and other snacks are also sold in the cafeteria.

LOCKERS:
Lockers are located outside each classroom and will be assigned to the students.
Students are expected to keep their lockers locked at all times.

INSURANCE:
Student insurance information is sent home the first week of school.
Premiums are paid directly to the insurance company.

CLINIC:
Our school nurse is in the clinic, Room 202, each day.
Students requiring medication, whether prescription or non-prescription,
must have a medication form on file in the clinic.
 All prescription and non-prescription medications must be
 in their original containers and turned in to the clinic.
At no time may a teacher dispense any medication.

PARENT DROP OFF / PICK UP:
Those parents wishing to transport their children to and form
school may do so by using the gym entrance to SHMS on Atlanta Hwy.
Parents visiting SHMS must park in the front parking lot and sign in at the main office.

STUDENT CHECK-OUT / TRANSPORTATION CHANGES:
For your child's safety, a picture ID will be
required of any adult to check out a student.
If your child's afternoon transportation changes,
 please send a signed note with your child or
fax your written permission to the school at
(770) 531-2348 by 3:15 P.M. No phone authorization will be accepted.

STUDENT AGENDA:
Students will be given a Student Agenda
 to help them stay organized.
 This daily planner will be a vital part of a
successful school year as your child
records his assignments, projects, and tests.
 Teachers will require students to use their Student Agenda daily.
The first 36 pages of the Agenda have some of the
 policies and rules by which middle schools in our county operate.

STANDARDIZED TESTING:
A norm-referenced test, the ITBS Iowa Test of Basic Skills, will be given in September.
All students will be given the CRCT State Criterion-Referenced Competency
Test in all subject areas (Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) in April.
 In addition, 8th graders will take the State Writing Test on January 18^th.

GAMES / SPORTS:
We encourage our student body to attend South Hall sporting events.
Students must show good sportsmanship,
cheering for the Mavericks and not
against opposing teams. All Hall
County students in violation of
these rules, as well as County and School Codes
of Conduct, could be subject to disciplinary action.

DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL:
All students who are not riding the bus home
 must follow these procedures: (1) Walkers exit from the front.
Do not leave until the first bus wave is gone.
 (2) Car riders wait at the gym under the canopy until your car
ride has moved in front of the gym in the loading area.
Students must never enter a vehicle on Atlanta
Highway or attempt to cross the street. All students
must be picked up by 4:00 P.M.

ATTENDANCE:
It is very important that all students be at school every day.
There are specific reasons where absences
are excused (p.12 in the STUDENT AGENDA).
When absent, the student must bring a note from
home, doctor, dentist, or court. When a student reaches
 7 absences from school, he/she will be referred to the counselor.
When reaching 10 absences, the assistant
principal will take appropriate action.
All students who reach 15 absences from
school will be referred to the school social worker.

TARDIES:
When a student is tardy to school, the parent
 must check the student in at the main office.
Tardies are only considered excused for the same reasons as absences
(see p. 12 in STUDENT AGENDA). Students who show a pattern of unexcused
tardies may be subject to a variety of corrective measures.
Those parents will be contacted by letter and/or phone.

Students must be in homeroom before 8:20 A.M. to be considered on time.

We do expect students to be in class on time. Our uniform policy for tardies to class is as follows:

After determining if the tardiness is legitimate or not, the following steps will be taken:
 

Students who do not turn in their discipline assignments
for class tardiness are subject to silent lunch, detention,
or ISS. If necessary, these students will be referred to
administration. During each 9 week grading
 period, the tardy policies will be implemented anew.