Orville A. Todd Middle School:
Student Handbook

ACCELERATED CLASSES

Todd Middle School offers an opportunity to 7th and 8th graders to qualify for acceleration in math [grade 7 & 8], science [grade 8], and studio art [grade 8].  To qualify for acceleration in math for grade 7 students must receive 85% or higher as a composite score which includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd quarter grades, Fifth grade State math placement test scores and teacher recommendation.  To qualify for acceleration in math for grade 8, a high school credit bearing class, students also must receive an 85% or higher as a composite score which includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd quarter grades, the 6th grade State math exam, and teacher recommendation.

To qualify for Earth Science in grade 8, a high-school credit bearing class, students must receive an 85% or higher as a composite score which includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd quarter grades, 6th grade State math exam, and teacher recommendation.

To qualify for Studio-In-Art in grade 8, a high-school credit bearing class, students must receive an 87% or above in 7th grade art, show responsibility [projects completed and turned in on time], work well independently, have an interest in the subject area, show a willingness to do extra work and with fellow students, display a mature attitude toward work, show pride in his/her work, have some creativity and pass an art performance assessment.  Due to student and teacher schedules, only twenty-five students can be accommodated in this course, which will be offered between the hours of 7:05 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.  If there are more than twenty-five qualified candidates, we will have a lottery with the remaining unselected students being placed on a waiting list if a student should drop out prior to the opening of school.  No transportation is provided for this early morning class.

ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SERVICES [AIS]

The New York State Education Department has mandated schools to provide Academic Intervention Services to students believed to be in jeopardy of not succeeding on the 8th grade Assessments.  Students who are placed in the AIS program score a 1 or 2 on the State ELA and/or math tests. Students are scheduled for one period every other day of AIS in the area(s) of math, english or both.  A letter will be sent home in September if a student needs AIS. 

ASSESSMENTS

During the school year students are tested to check that they are on target with New York State’s Requirements.  Some of the assessments that will be given are as follows:

• Grade 6:
  • State ELA exam - January
  • State math exam - March
• Grade 7:
  • State ELA exam - January
  • State math exam - March
• Grade 8:
  • State ELA exam - January
  • State math exam - March
  • State Social Studies exam - June
  • State Science Performance - April
  • State Science Written - May
  • Foreign Language Proficiency last week in June

** Results of the testing will help to determine if students are in need of academic intervention services [see AIS section].

TODD TIMES

Todd Time is provided when students don’t have regular scheduled classes.  All students in Todd Time should be engaged in studying or reading.  Students are expected to bring books and/or reading materials with them.  All students will be assigned a seat.  Students with passes from teachers are to sign out after attendance is taken.  Procedures for students using the Library during Todd Time will be as follows:

• After a study environment has been established, each Todd Time teacher will initiate a Library sign-out sheet on a daily basis.
• All students requesting to go to the library will be dismissed as a group with a pass to the library. 

STUDY TIPS

 Learning how to study is an essential skill.  Following are some tips to help you learn how to study:

1. Study in a quiet place with few distractions [not around TV’s, radios, other people].
2. Study for stretches of 30 to 45 minutes, and then take a quick break.
3. Study the most difficult subject first.
4. Study each subject daily [this helps with retention and comprehension of material].
5. Don’t wait until the last minute to study for tests/quizzes.
6. Study with a partner and re-teach the material to each other.
7. Don’t study too late.  Being tired will make it difficult for you to concentrate.

ATTENDANCE - TARDINESS

Regular attendance and promptness are essential for success in school.  Students are expected to arrive at school on time and should not be dropped off at school before 7:35 a.m.  Students are to be in the homeroom at 7:45 a.m. for the pledge of allegiance, attendance, and morning announcements.  Classes begin promptly at 7:45 a.m.  If a student arrives after 7:45 a.m., he/she should report to the attendance office with a note signed and dated by a parent explaining the tardiness.  An admit pass will be given to the student before reporting to the scheduled class.  The student will not be admitted to class without a tardy pass. 

All students must exit the building and leave school grounds at the end of the school day UNLESS they have a pass to stay with a teacher, or are participating on a school sports team.  

Leaving school prior to normal dismissal

Students who will be leaving school prior to normal dismissal must, before homeroom, submit a written request signed by his/her parent/guardian to the main office.  A list of those students with early dismissal is included on the daily attendance sheet.  When a student is leaving early, a parent/guardian must sign that student out at time of departure in the main office.

Homework

It is the responsibility of each student to complete all missed homework assignments.  If your child is ill, homework requests can be made through the main office and must be made as early in the day as possible.  Teachers need time to gather extra items for absent students.  If your child will be out for an extended amount of time and it is a “scheduled absence” (such as having tonsils removed, a family emergency, etc.) then it is the student’s responsibility to request the work from the teachers for the days that he/she will be out.

If students are planning to move

Students who are moving out of the school district must notify his/her guidance counselor.  Before a student leaves, a parent/guardian needs to sign a release, which will permit school personnel to mail the students’ records to the new school district.  Students also need to have all of their teachers initial a sign out form on the last day in school.  This form signifies that all school material has been returned. 

LOST AND FOUND

If students have misplaced or lost an item such as a book, an article of clothing, notebook, handbag, musical instrument, glasses, etc. they should check the lost and found bin located in the dining hall.  Students should also notify the main office of the lost item and periodically check back with the office.-

HEALTH OFFICE  

Read about the services provided by Todd Middle School's Health Office in their section of this website.

LOCKERS

Hall lockers are assigned to students at the beginning of the year.  Lockers are used to store and safeguard books and personal property.  Since the carrying of backpacks in the hallway during the school day is prohibited, you will need to use your locker.  

One of the first steps to using your locker is opening the lock.  To open your lock, follow these steps:

1. Spin the dial to the right a couple of times.
2. Turn the dial to the right until you get to the first number and stop.
3. Turn the dial to the left one full circle passing the first number and stop on the second number.
4. Turn the dial to the right directly to the third number and stop.
5. Pull the lock open.

Helpful Hints

• If it doesn’t work try again.
• Remember to turn the dial right, left, right for your combination.
• Ask for help! That is what we are here for.
• Put your locker combination in a safe place and don’t share it with anyone.
• If you lose or forget your combination, go to the main office.
• Practice makes perfect!

 Note:   Locks are yours to use free of charge for the year.  A lost lock will cost $5.00. 

USING YOUR PLANNER

On the first day of school you will be issued a planner.  This planner can hold the key to your success.  The planner is set up as a date book with the month, dates, and days of the week.  Use your planner to keep track of your daily homework assignments, tests, and projects.  Planners are also a tool for communication between school and home so make sure to share your planners with your parents/guardians. 

Some key elements in the planner this year are hallway passes (so make sure to bring your planner with you to every class!), a vinyl “Home-School” pouch for safeguarding items/correspondences between home and school, planning stickers to help with organization, a today page finder that also serves as a ruler, and an informative insert on character education.           

MOVING-UP CEREMONY The moving up ceremony is a Todd tradition that recognizes the successful completion of 8th grade and the transition to the high school.  The ceremony typically takes place the last day of school and encourages family and friends to attend.

At the moving up ceremony, several awards are given:

The Triple “C” Award stands for Character, Courage, and Commitment.  Students who receive this award have shown outstanding Commitment to education and to the future, display strong Character that has helped them to achieve goals, and the Courage to face any future challenges.           

The Scott A. Sanford Award is presented to the 8th grader who embraces the qualities that Scott Sanford demonstrated throughout his life: respects academic effort and success, values family and community, possesses exemplary character and integrity, appreciates fitness and sports, expresses understanding and compassion, and shares a wonderful sense of humor.

The Richard Jones Memorial Award is awarded in memory of Richard Jones who was a teacher for approximately 30 years in the Spackenkill School District.  Richard taught Health Education in grades 6 - 12 before his untimely death from a heart attack in 1997.  The following criteria for this award were chosen to reflect Richard Jones such as respect for others, thoughtfulness and consideration, loyalty in friendship, honesty, caring and helping others, and volunteerism in school and/or the community. 

The President’s Award has two categories, Educational Excellence and Educational Achievement.  To be eligible for Educational Excellence a student must have been on the honor roll for quarters 1 - 3 in grades 6 - 8 AND score in the 85th percentile or higher on an achievement test in the areas of math and/or reading.  To be eligible for Educational Achievement a student must show tremendous growth but not meet the criteria for the Excellence Award.  These students demonstrate unusual commitment to learning in academics despite various obstacles, maintain a school record that would have met the school’s selection criteria for the Excellence Award but illness, personal crisis, or special needs prevented the student from maintaining such high standards despite hard work, or demonstrate achievement in the arts such as music or theater. 

8TH GRADE DINNER DANCE

A formal dinner dance is planned at the end of the school year for the 8th grade students.  This dance incorporates a sit down dinner, music, dancing, and ambiance.  This is an event that is run by the student government.  Students look forward to this event and enjoy it tremendously.  

HONOR ROLL

The honor roll is for any student in grades 6-8 that has achieved a minimum quarterly average of 85% and has not received any failing grades or incompletes.  If a student has been on the honor roll for the first three quarters, they are recognized at a special ceremony and presented with a certificate.  Following the ceremony, the family and friends of the honored students enjoy a hearty breakfast provided by the PTA.  This event is a special way to acknowledge students’ hard work, dedication, and commitment to academics.