Marin Waldorf School Middle School Student Handbook Signed Agreement Dear Students, Read carefully through this booklet and discuss with your parents and teachers any points needing clarification. Then, sign on the space provided below to indicate your commitment to these guidelines. Enjoy the upper grades! STUDENT NAME: _____________________________________________ GRADE: __________ PARENT NAME: ______________________________________________ GRADE: __________
Marin Waldorf School Middle School Student Handbook
Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Middle School Programs 2 Transitioning to High School ......................................................................................................................... 3 Evaluation of Student Work 4 Academic Honesty ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Attendance and Promptness ........................................................................................................................ 8 Care of Supplies and School Environment 9 Student Behavior and Policies .................................................................................................................... 10 Cell Phone/Handheld Electronic Device Policy 12 Marin Waldorf School Behavioral Expectations 13 Middle School Discipline Policy................................................................................................................... 15
At Marin Waldorf School we are dedicated to providing an education that acknowledges and encourages the development of the child as a whole human being, body, soul and spirit, while maintaining high academic standards and lifetime skills. We offer a curriculum that fosters enthusiasm for learning as well as strengthening capacities and competence of skills. The middle school curriculum builds upon the foundation of well formed imagination and the enthusiasm engendered by the curriculum of the earlier grades. Each subject is studied in a manner that inspires the intellect, stirs the emotions, and physically challenges the capacities of adolescents. Beginning in the sixth grade, students are considered capable of a degree of independence and understanding that enables them to take full responsibility in their commitment to the school and its workings. As in many adult communities, the members are asked to consciously endorse the rules that underlie a harmonious life together and to agree to a way of remediation should these rules be broken. Most of the guidelines in this Student Handbook have been common practice for students since they first attended Marin Waldorf School. In earlier years, teachers and parents took responsibility to help students learn and follow the rules. Now students are asked to share this responsibility in full as a sign of their own desire and commitment to be a fruitful member of this school community.
Introduction
1 | Page Marin Waldorf School reserves the right to adjust middle school policies on an ongoing basis. Updates, adjustments, and addendums to the 2022-2023 Middle School Handbook will be communicated to the students as necessary.
Grades 6, 7 and 8 meet regularly, as individual classes and occasionally as larger groups, to hike and explore nature studies, both on and off campus.
The school strives to raise the awareness of our entire community by emphasizing the interconnectedness and care for our environment. An active school recycling system run by the upper grades ensures that consciousness about the environment is brought to the school. Activities may include: improving school landscape, building compost piles, studying man made systems in our environment, garden to table cooking, and working with plants.
Middle School Programs
After-School Sports
Throughout the 7th grade school year students have various assignments that may require typing. Along with developing keyboarding skills, teachers assign limited computer research for class projects in the 7th and 8th grades. The class teacher leads discussions around how to access and use Internet information in a reliable way. Students are guided in understanding how to incorporate outside sources accurately and avoid plagiarism.
Cyber Civics Cyber Civics is introduced in the 5th Grade and continues into 7th and 8th Grades. Lessons and discussions with students center around topics such as digital citizenship, healthy media practices at home and school, online safety and privacy protection. The course is designed to be free of any media or device use in the classroom. Parents will be incorporated in discussions around media use throug h lessons and take away materials.
Technology
Outdoor Education
Community Service 6th graders participate in on campus service projects throughout the year, including, but not limited to, recycling and campus care. In the 7th and 8th grades, students choose individual community service projects and participate in them for a minimum of 30 hours of service over the course of two school years. The project is rooted in improving the life or environment of others. Community service opportunities are available at school, and community service hours will be recorded by students and submitted to the teacher. (This program has been paused due to Covid.)
Environmental Education: Gardening and Ecology
The After School Sports Program is available to students in grades six, seven, and eight. Typically we offer basketball, soccer, volleyball and mountain biking. We emphasize skill building and good sportsmanship. All students are welcome and included on teams regardless of experience or skill level.
Transitioning to High School
We are committed to preparing our students for their transition to high school. We recognize that this time of transition can be challenging for students and their parents, and it is our intent to do all we can to prepare the children to go on to other schools, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the Waldorf curriculum. Please refer to the Marin Waldorf High School Handbook.
are based on the teacher’s best understanding of the average time needed to complete the task. Duration of assignments varies among students. If the student is consistently experiencing difficulty with completion of assignments or is not being assigned an adequate amount of homework within these guidelines, please talk directly to the teacher.
MarinTestingWaldorf focuses on two types of testing in middle school: block tests and the introduction of standardized tests.
● Take the planner and all needed books and materials home on a daily basis, reviewing all assignments and work completed with parents.
● Make up all homework and tests in a timely manner when absent, otherwise the assignment could receive a score of zero.
● Support and motivate the student, but not do homework for them
● Communicate with the teacher if assignments are too difficult or time consuming for the student to complete, and the student has already communicated this to the teacher. If homework is not completed on time:
● The teacher may call/contact parents if lack of homework completion is an ongoing problem.
● It may result in an assignment failure, lowered grade, incomplete, and/or request to use recess or after school to finish the work.
HomeworkHomeworkassignments
● Copy down all homework in a planner. This includes work that must be finished before the conclusion of the school day.
Parents must be sure to:
● Assist the student in learning to schedule each day so that homework can be done at an optimum time. Provide a quiet, well equipped and properly lit setting in which to work.
Evaluation of Student Work
● The student may receive a progress report to be signed by a parent.
● Both the student and parents may be requested to attend a conference.
● Complete all assignments to the best of their ability and return them to the teachers on time.
Students must be sure to:
● Check the planner, discussing assignments and reviewing any completed work with the student.
Block Tests
Tests
In spring of 7th grade, students are introduced to standardized testing.
Middle school students are tested at the end of most main lesson blocks. The student’s resulting score or grades are made available to parents in the mid and final semester written reports. Semester grades for the full 7th grade year and the first semester of 8th grade comprise student transcripts for entrance into high Standardizedschool.
InGradesourassessment of each student, we strive to develop a healthy relationship between the student’s abilities and their efforts. Students receive feedback at the end of every block of study from their main lesson teacher and bi annually from subject teachers. In 7th and 8th grade, block letter grades become a part of the student’s permanent transcript.
Plagiarism includes:
● Plan ahead. Rushing to get your work done the night before a big project is due may make it more tempting to plagiarize or cheat.
● Talking about anything to a classmate or exchanging any information during a quiz or exam once it has begun.
● Copying assignments or receiving answers from a classmate and turning them in as original work.
● Presenting any material for credit that is not written by you.
● Filling in or changing answers on a test/quiz/assignment (yours or a classmate’s) while you are correcting it.
● Be sure you understand the assignments. Don’t always rely on your friends for information about what is required. Ask your teacher!
● Providing test questions or answers to test questions to students before, during or after quizzes or tests.
● Doing an assignment given to an individual student with a partner or group.
Academic Honesty
● Don’t read someone else’s paper or homework before you do your own work. If you get any ideas from them, you would have to cite that person as a source.
MWS is committed to encouraging students to assume responsibility for their own ethical behavior and to experience the joy of accomplishing their personal best. Academic honesty means avoiding plagiarism, cheating or misusing information. Students are expected to do their own work at all times, and understand that plagiarism and cheating will adversely affect grades and how students are perceived by others.
Cheating Includes:
● Using summaries or commentaries (Cliff Notes, etc.) instead of reading the assigned material.
● Make sure you ALWAYS cite your sources. This means saying where you got the information you are using. Use phrases such as “According to...” and “In the book...” and cite ALL of the sources you used for information from in a bibliography.
● Helping others plagiarize by giving them your work when the assignment requires original work.
● Using unauthorized notes or technology, such as bringing notes into a test or using a computer program to translate an assignment and turning it in as your own.
How to avoid plagiarism and cheating:
● Turning in purchased or copied essays (whole or partial) from the internet written by someone else.
● Submitting someone else’s work as your own, including that of tutors, friends, parents or siblings or paraphrasing without giving credit to the source.
● Using someone else’s idea without giving credit to the original source.
● Trading assignments with other students, even if you don’t think they will be copied or allowing a student to copy from your homework, test or quiz.
● Keep a list of the sources you use (including the author, title, publisher and copyright date) as you use them and make sure to note which information you got from which source.
● When in doubt about what you need to do to avoid cheating or plagiarism, just ask your teacher.
Attendance and Promptness
TheTruancymajority of students at MWS arrive promptly and have good attendance records. Education Code Section 48260 defines a “truant student” as one who has been absent from school without a valid excuse three days or tardy in excess of 30 minutes on each of three days, or any combination thereof, in a school year. Furthermore, Education Code Sections 48261/448262/48264.5 defines a “habitual truant” as one who has been absent from school without a valid excuse for six days, or tardy in excess of 30 minutes on each of six days, or any combination thereof, in a school year.
AllTardiesstudents are expected to act responsibly by getting to their classes on time. Arriving late to class puts everyone at a disadvantage. Students miss out on valuable teaching and learning; they disrupt the learning of others, and they start the day disorganized and behind. Academic performance may suffer over time. Unless accompanied by a parent’s or a teacher’s note, tardiness at any lesson is recorded. Receiving three unexcused tardies in one month within each class will result in a Guidance Slip (see Guidance Slip sample provided on the last page of this booklet.) When arriving late students must pick up a late slip in the office to be admitted to class. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Musical Instruments and Music Lessons
Care of Supplies and School Environment
● Students are expected to take their instruments home the day of their last class or lesson of the week.
● On days when there is music class, students are expected to bring their instruments to school and store them in the assigned area.
Every student is responsible for the care and appropriate use of tools, books, and materials used in various classes. Caring for and respecting the school environment and outdoor grounds is also expected. In the case of conscious misuse of or damage to supplies and/or the school environment, it is the responsibility of the student to repair or replace as necessary, and such willful destruction may be grounds for suspension.
Personal supplies provided by the teachers must be kept at hand and in good working order at all times. If a student loses or damages any item given out by the school (such as colored pencils, pens, compasses, books, or eurythmy shoes, etc.), the student will be asked to immediately replace the item at his or her own expense.
● Students are expected to bring their sheet music and all other necessary accessories with them to class.
● All musical instruments must be clearly labeled with the student’s name, address, and phone number. Each student is responsible for his or her own instrument.
AttendingCodeMarin
Dress Waldorf School is an active and focused learning experience. In an effort to create a healthy learning environment both indoors and outdoors, we ask that students wear sturdy clothes and shoes, allowing for ease of movement. Simplicity and decorum are guiding considerations. We ask for and expect the cooperation of all parents, students, and members of the community in following these Theguidelines.following
Dress Code Guidelines for Grades One through Eight
It is the policy of the Marin Waldorf School to provide a school environment free from all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, and to maintain an environment wherein students and adults are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying, teasing, and discrimination are not tolerated and will be dealt with through the class teacher and administration, as deemed necessary.
A Note About Enforcement
Dress and Grooming Code applies in all the classrooms, at all school events, on field and class trips and whenever children are involved in class activities with MWS.
Harassment Policy
● Plain, plaid, prints or stripes, or clothing with nature pictures or Marin Waldorf School logo are permitted.
Student Behavior and Policies
Sexual Harassment
● When an infraction is observed, a discreet conversation with the student follows, and a request to change immediately is made. Examples are: t shirts turned inside out, nail polish removed, tattoos washed off.
Weapons Policy
No student or adult shall be subjected to sexual overtures or conduct verbal, visual, or physical that is intimidating, hostile, offensive, or unwelcome. Such conduct by adults or by students is deemed unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated by the Marin Waldorf School.
● Parents hold the first responsibility for making sure their children follow the dress code.
No weapons, even pocket knives, may be brought to Marin Waldorf School. Any student found with a weapon at school will be automatically suspended. In the event of a second violation the student will be expelled. Pocket knife exceptions to be arranged with the class teacher.
● Hair must be clean and combed, cut, clipped, or tied back out of the face.
● Clothing, including leggings, may not be sheer or see through.
● Pants must be worn at or close to the waist and may not drag on the ground.
● Tattoos, face paint, henna or ink designs are not permitted.
● Clothing should be free of advertising, messages, images, holes or tears, and athletic/ team logos, player names, and numbers. Logos that cannot be fully covered under an extended thumb size are not allowed. This includes outerwear.
● A sun hat for warm weather and a warm hat for cool weather are recommended.
● Cosmetics and nail polish are not allowed until grade 7 and 8, when modest use is permitted. Concert Dress Concert dress is required for Grades Four through Eight at Spring and Other Instrumental Concerts. Concert dress consists of: clean, solid white tops, solid black bottoms, and clean flat shoes (no heels).
● Jewelry must not pose a safety issue.
● Post or stud earrings are allowed. For grades 7 and 8, ½” dangling earrings from the bottom of the ear lobe are allowed. No hoops or gauges. Only ear lobes may be pierced.
● Beeping watches are not allowed.
● Shoes must have heel straps for safety, and must be worn at all times. Movement classes require gym shoes if the shoes worn aren’t suitable for ease of movement, another pair will be required for class.
● Shirts must cover the midriff regardless of movement, e.g. raised arms.
Jewelry and Cosmetics
● No high heel, platform, wheelie, light up shoes or flip flops are allowed.
● No dyed hair is allowed.
● Wallet or belt chains are not allowed.
● Underwear may not be exposed.
● We are a Hand held Device Free Zone. Students are not allowed to bring these devices to school. This includes all handheld electronic devices such as cell phones, Apple Watch, fitness trackers, mp3 players, game players, e readers, tablets or other portable electronic devices.
● There is a telephone available in the front office for children who need to make a phone call.
o Students may not use hand held electronic devices anywhere on campus, including before and after school or on field trips or other school activities.
o Parent sends a signed letter to the class teacher explaining the need for the phone. Once the request is received, the student is allowed to bring the phone to school. The student will be required to turn the phone in to the class teacher at the beginning of every school day and it will be returned to the student at the end of the day.
● We recognize that there are certain situations in which parents have determined that a child must have a cell phone and bring it to school (e.g., students living in two family homes, students in off campus, after school activities, students who ride bikes to school). In these cases, the following will occur:
Waldorf Educators deeply value the warmth of human connection and the multi sensory quality of direct experience in the educational process. Increasingly, small screen technology is proving a significant distraction from actualizing these primary values underlying our educational approach. In order to uphold these essential values, and to ensure an educational space that is a respite from media saturation, please observe the following:
Cell Phone/Handheld Electronic Device Policy
● Adults may use their devices in the administrative offices or in their car.
o If a student is found with one of these devices, it will be confiscated and turned in to the Front Office. Should this occur, a parent must pick up the device in the office.
o On occasion, 7th and 8th grade faculty may allow students to use electronic media for specific projects upon approval by the faculty and the College of Teachers. Should this occur, parents will be informed directly by 7th or 8th Grade class teachers.
The hallmark of good relationships between all the members of our school community is the ability to listen to and communicate clearly with each other with respect, courtesy, and awareness of each one’s responsibilities.
● Be in class on time and ready to work for every lesson, with no need to be excused to use the bathroom or take a drink. Have all materials (books, instruments, handwork materials, etc.), ready for each class period.
All of the students, teachers, faculty and staff at Marin Waldorf School are expected to follow the following four agreements and respect the “Code of Compassion”:
● Remain seated during class, unless asked or given permission to leave.
● Eat only in an area designated by a teacher. Sit down while eating.
● Walk while in the breezeways unless with explicit permission from a supervising teacher. Speak at a reasonable volume when passing other classrooms.
● Keep the classroom and the school grounds clean and tidy. Reuse, recycle and compost whenever possible.
● Leave the following at home: pocket knives, matches, lighters, magnifying glasses, weapons look alikes, weapons, dangerous objects, candy, chewing gum, sugary drinks, pets or special toys (except by written permission from a teacher), cameras (except by written permission from a teacher for a special project).
● Respond to the teacher’s instructions and cooperate with the teacher’s requests.
● Pay attention to the lesson at hand.
● Refrain from speaking or calling out during class.
● Remain within school boundaries during school and never leave the school campus without permission.
● Respect others, including their property and working space. It is inappropriate to take another’s belongings without permission and invade another’s space without invitation.
● Avoid eating or drinking without permission during class time. Candy or chewing gum are not allowed.
● Speak clearly and politely.
● Keep school materials and property in good condition. Students are required to repair or replace anything that they damage.
● Use the school library under the direct supervision of a teacher, librarian, or library volunteer on duty. Do not eat food and drink in the library.
● Complete class work and assignments on time and to the best of your ability.
All students are expected to:
● Be safe ● Be kind ● Be respectful ● Be Theresponsiblefollowingguidelines apply to class lessons, assemblies, festivals and other school activities.
● Refrain from swearing or rudeness.
Marin Waldorf School Behavioral Expectations
● Leave personal equipment at home unless first approved by the Movement teacher.
● Keep bicycles in bike racks. Skateboards and scooters are only allowed on school property during Wheel Week.
To contribute to an environment of safety, respect and cooperation:
● Wear waterproof gear if going outside when it is raining. Only teachers may bring umbrellas on the playground. Students without rain gear will play under cover in the breezeways, where supervising teachers will help determine which activities are appropriate.
● Share playground equipment. Return all equipment to its appropriate storage space. Notify a teacher on the playground if a ball is unreachable. Use equipment for its intended use only. Return unicycles to the 6th grade classroom after every use.
● Respect closures of certain areas: for example, the field and climbing structure may be closed due to excessively wet conditions.
● Stay on school property and in view of a teacher at all times during school hours and until picked up to go home.
● Climb only on play structure. Do not climb on sheds, buildings or basketball poles.
● Include others in games and activities.
● Do not use jump ropes or balls in the climbing structure area.
● Consult a supervising teacher immediately if difficulties or injuries occur.
● Keep the playground clean. Food is not allowed on the playground.
● Bathrooms are not play areas. Care for and use bathrooms properly so that they remain safe and clean for children of all ages.
● Use the garden only when a teacher is present and only for quiet activities. No balls are allowed in the garden.
Playground Behavioral Expectations
● Respect our neighbors, their property, their privacy and their animals. Do not sit on or climb fences. Do not enter or throw objects into a neighbor’s yard.
Marin Waldorf Middle School Students are expected to adhere to and have a working knowledge of the guidelines for school behavior as described in the Marin Waldorf School Behavioral Expectations. It is also expected that they strive to follow the Code of Compassion. In the Middle School, we strive to practice conflict resolution and restorative discipline to ensure that learning can take place in every lesson and school activity. We agree that good discipline grows out of an orderly and loving environment in which students have positive models for their behavior. Clear expectations and positive reinforcement will limit the situations where correction is necessary.
● Verbal warning ● Parents
Middle School Discipline Policy
The procedure described below does not rule out any teacher from sending a student home immediately if at any time a student’s behavior continuously disrupts the class, is flagrant and needs timely consequence, or is dangerous to others.
or School Director ● Support Circle meeting with parents/teacher/other members ● Probation ● Suspension ● Expulsion
MWS, at the sole discretion of the School Director, reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any student whose performance, conduct or attendance is found unsatisfactory. The school may also require behavioral or academic evaluation by an outside professional as a condition of continued re enrollment.
Slip ● Parents
The goal of this discipline policy is to help middle school students develop self awareness and take responsibility for their behavior and actions. Additionally the intent is to teach students how to be respectful and maintain appropriate behavior. It is the responsibility of the students in middle school to attend school with the intention to learn and grow according to the curriculum presented by their teachers. Being a member of a class requires each student to contribute to the group learning experience in a constructive, non disruptive way. When necessary, consequences for thoughtless or harmful actions and for classroom disruptions must be consistent, impartial, and timely. This communicates to the students that there is a strong commitment to a healthy learning environment for all. Examples of the responses that may be taken when other problem solving tools have been exhausted include, but are not limited to: notified via a phone call, email or white Discipline notified via a “Notice of Concern”slip Grades Director
● Referral to the
