Bell Schedule
Our classes are 45min long, with a 20 min recess and 50min lunch. The mornings begin with 15min of homeroom time for devotions and announcements and our day ends with 10 minutes of homeroom time for wrap-up, homework overview and prayer.
Homework and Studying
Middle School students are expected to do homework regularly. Students should be completing assignments or reviewing/practicing skills for at least 45 minutes each day. All Middle School students have a dayplanner in order to record reminders and homework assignments.
If a student has incomplete homework, he/she will be referred to a supervised Study Hall during lunch recess to complete that assignment. If a student has missed three homework assignments within a month, a letter will be sent home to parents informing the parents of further consequences for the student if homework continues to be incomplete. Further consequences could include not being allowed to participate in extra-curricular sports and the possibility of an in-school suspension. During an in-school suspension, the student will complete assignments apart from his/her classmates in an area supervised by a teacher or administrator.
Since Middle School students need direction and guidance to learn effective study skills, we need parents to support their child in the following ways:
- Check your child’s dayplanner and backpack with him/her every day.
- Work with your child regularly so that you can guide them in developing effective habits.
- Set aside a consistent time for homework (i.e. right after supper) and provide a quiet place for your child to study and complete assignments.
- Ensure that your child has at least 45 minutes of study/homework time each school night.
Middle School study and homework time should include the following:
- Completing class assignments.
- Reviewing ideas and new vocabulary for each subject.
- Practicing music.
- Reading at least 15 minutes each day. (Read-alouds are great too!)
Attendance
School begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 2:55 p.m. There is a recess break from 10:25-10:45 a.m. and a lunch break from 12:20 to 1:10 p.m. The school day consists of six 45-minute periods as well as homeroom times at the beginning and end of each day.
Arrival and Dismissal
Middle School students may enter the building as soon as they arrive at school. Students must stay in the Middle School wing until the school day begins. They are expected to be in their homeroom class prepared for instruction by 8:40 a.m. (A warning bell will ring at 8:35 a.m.) The homeroom teacher will take attendance at 8:40 a.m. Students are dismissed at 2:55 p.m.
Late Arrival
Students who are not in their homeroom by 8:40 a.m. are considered to be late and must immediately report to the office where they will be issued a late slip. Students who are late must be excused by a parent (phone call or note to the office) or they will be given a recess detention. Students have a few minutes between classes to gather needed materials from their locker and/or classroom. If Middle School students are late to a class during the day they will also be given a detention.
Absences
If a student will be absent for the day, the office is to be informed by the parent between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m. Parents may inform the school either by a telephone call or a signed note. The home will be contacted if no communication has been received regarding a student’s absence by 8:45 a.m.
Illness
Parents or emergency contacts will be informed if a student becomes ill during the school day. Parents or guardians must sign out their child at the main office before leaving the school.
Pre-planned and Excused Absences
Parents must send a letter to the school office and principal to inform the school of absence longer than two days. Parents are responsible for discussing with the teachers how missed tests and assignments will be completed in the event of a pre-planned absence. In the case of an extended absence due to a family holiday, teachers are not required to have work available in advance. Students who miss more than 20 days of the school year may not eligible for the full student grant given by the government to LCS each year. If this is the case, parents will be charged for this amount.
Appointments
Parents are encouraged to arrange medical, dental, and other appointments outside school hours. If a student must leave during the school day, a note or phone call must be given to the office at the beginning of the day so that the office can inform teachers of that child’s absence. It is essential that parents sign out Middle School students at the office when they leave and sign in their son/daughter upon returning to the school.
Middle School students may not leave the school grounds at any time during the school day without teacher or parent permission and supervision.
Hallway Conduct
Students are expected to be respectful and courteous in the hallway at all times. When using the hallway during school hours, students are to be mindful of classes that are in session by speaking softly and moving quietly. Middle School students may not be in the High School hallways during the school day unless they are going to the library, band room, or art room.
Lunches and Snacks
Middle School students are required to eat their lunches in their homeroom classrooms. Pop cans, and other recyclable containers must be placed in classroom recycling bins. Spilt food and drinks must be cleaned up immediately. The High School vending machines are off-limits to Middle School students during the school day. Middle School students may only use the vending machines before 8:40 a.m. and after 2:55 p.m.
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch is organized by "Friends of LCS" and generally happens once a month.
Lockers
Each student will be assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year. Grade 6 and 7 students will be assigned to a ½ size locker; Grade 8 students will be assigned to a full locker. Students must have a combination lock for their locker. The school requests that students do not share their combination code with any other student. The Middle School homeroom teachers will record their students’ combination codes in case homework needs to be retrieved for absent students.
Lockers must be kept clean at all times; regular locker checks will be held by teachers so that students can organize their lockers. Students may post appropriate pictures and photos in their lockers but are requested not to put stickers inside or outside of their locker. Students are responsible for the condition of their locker and will be expected to pay for any damage.
Playground Safety
In order to ensure the safety of all the students, the following procedures will be strictly observed:
- Students must be outside during recess breaks so that they can be supervised by a staff member. Indoor rainy day recesses will be announced as necessary before each break.
- Middle School students may not be at the front of the school or on the west side of the school (the High School) during recess or lunch breaks.
- Rollerblades, skateboards, and scooters are allowed only in designated areas. Students must wear helmets while participating in these activities. Written parent permission must be given to the school allowing students to rollerblade, skateboard, or use a scooter.
- Bikes must be parked on the east end of the school. Bikes may not be ridden on the school grounds during school hours.
Library
The library is open to all Middle School students every school day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During school hours, students must have permission from a teacher to be in the library. The library staff is available to assist students with anything related to library use. In order to maintain a clean and pleasant atmosphere, students may not have food or drinks in the library.
The library offers students access to over 14 000 volumes. Students may borrow up to five books for a 3 week period. Although Middle School students are not fined for overdue books, a replacement cost will be charged for lost or damaged items. All library replacement costs must be paid at the end of each term.
Textbooks and class novels are signed out through the library for each student at the beginning of the school year. Middle School students must return all textbooks and class novels by the end of the year in good condition. Students will be charged fines for damaged or lost textbooks.
Telephone
The office telephone is designated for school business and emergencies only. A pay telephone (25 cents) is located in the main lobby by the High School gym if students need to phone home.
Visitors
All adult visitors are expected to sign-in at the office and obtain a visitor identification tag. Students from other schools may not visit LCS students during the day at the school.
Safety
A number of fire drills will be held each year. Whenever the fire alarm rings, everybody in the building must leave using the designated exit and meet in the assigned areas. Each classroom has a map posted near the door showing the exit route for leaving the building and the designated area to assemble. No one may re-enter the building until the all-clear signal is given.
Procedures to follow in the event of an earthquake will be explained and practiced in each class. In the event of an earthquake, students must follow the procedures and/or instruction given by the teacher. Students will remain calm and leave the building in an orderly fashion when given instructions to do so.
