Middle School Handbook
Our Mission
The mission of Webb School is to inspire and nurture the full potential of each individual and to prepare our students to serve as leaders of character in tomorrow’s world.
Middle School Objectives
The Middle School strives for students to have:
• Self-confidence and pride in themselves
• Honesty and integrity through self-discipline
• Respect for the beliefs, ideas, and property of others
• Opportunities to succeed, if not excel
• The awakening and satisfying of intellectual curiosity
• Development of creative and critical thinking
• Fulfillment through personal growth
• Awareness of social responsibility and appropriate social decisions
• Efficient and organized learning and study skills
• A feeling of belonging to a strong school community through contribution and respect for differences.
Our mission is supported and achieved by our key values:
n The pursuit of academic excellence
n A strong sense of honor and personal integrity
n The development of critical, creative, and socially conscious thinking
n A culture for interacting with others in a respectful and productive manner in a vibrant, caring community
Character of the Webb Student
Students attend Webb School because they are committed to learning and open to discovering and developing their own gifts and talents. Essential to students’ growth are:
• A positive attitude
• A spirit of cooperation and kindness
• Pride in doing any task to the best of their ability
• A sense of humor
• Curiosity and enjoyment of learning
• An acceptance of others in the Webb community and a willingness to support those community members
To best represent the ideals of the school, students are expected to:
• Abide by the Honor Code and Middle School Pledge
• Respect the school’s mission and staff
• Participate actively in keeping the school clean and leading others to do so
• Be kind, considerate, and tolerant of the feelings and property of others
• Be committed to justice and charity
• Admit and learn from their mistakes
Honor Code
A Webb School student is expected to live by an Honor Code, which asserts:
I will not lie, cheat, or steal – nor tolerate those who do.
By this code, students accept responsibility for their own conduct and for reporting circumstances in which they perceive that an honor offense may have occurred. Violations of the Honor Code will be responded to with all seriousness.
THE PLEDGE
The following pledge complements our Honor Code when it relates specifically to schoolwork:
I will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on any test, quiz, or assignment.
Students will be asked to write “I pledge” at the top of all assignments.
“START” with the Middle School Pledge
Each morning, students, faculty, and staff S.T.A.R.T. by gathering in the Bishop Center. Everyone stands to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and then the Webb Middle School Pledge:
“Today I will accept the opportunity to grow in mind, body, and spirit. I will challenge myself to:
Strive for excellence
Touch lives through service
Act with integrity and self-control
Respect myself, my friends, and others
Take responsibility for my decisions.
We Excel and Burn Brighter!”
Middle School Student Life
Morning Assembly & Student Arrival
Middle School Morning Assembly begins promptly at 8:10 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Students should arrive by 7:55 a.m. to organize materials and hang their backpacks. On Wednesday, classes begin at 8:40 a.m. Students are expected to arrive on time and be prepared for class to begin promptly at 8:40.
BEFORE SCHOOL FOOD – Students may NOT bring beverages, breakfast food, etc., to consume during Assembly or school; any such items should be consumed and disposed of before entering the building. Students who partake of Webb's breakfast service may NOT take food to Assembly, lockers, or to Middle School Snack.
Attendance
Consistent daily attendance is important to each student's success. There is no substitute for participating in class discussions, contributing to group activities, and engaging in the learning process with teachers and classmates. Webb expects each student to be in school and on time every day.
Students and parents are expected to be familiar with the school’s attendance policy and procedures, and it is their responsibility to communicate with the Middle School’s attendance coordinator any and all absences from class.
• When students are or will be absent due to illness or are running late for any reason, parents must notify the Middle School Office (865-291-3779) before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.
• If students arrive late to school, they must sign in at the Middle School Office and have an adult’s written or verbal explanation for being late. The student will be marked absent in all classes that they have missed prior to arrival and tardy for the class they enter late. If the student does not have an adult’s explanation, it is an unexcused tardy and will require a meeting with the Dean of Students, who will assign consequences.
• If a student must leave school early, parent notification is required – either by note, email, or phone call.
• All students who leave school early must sign out at the Middle School Office. They will be dismissed to meet a parent at the dismissal area outside of the Haslam Center’s Elliott Stroupe Gym.
• AFTER-SCHOOL PARTICIPATION – Students must be in attendance for at least four class periods to participate in after-school activities. This rule is in place to ensure that our emphasis is on academics, not extracurricular activities. If students leave school due to an illness, they may not participate in afterschool activities (practices, games, rehearsals, concerts, etc.). Approval for participation must be granted by the Dean of Students if the absence is due to a family emergency or otherwise exception.
Student Lockers
Students will be assigned a locker to use for the year. Lockers are the property of the school and may be checked without students’ permission. It is the responsibility of students to keep their lockers clean and in good condition. Please follow these guidelines for decoration:
1. No adhesives other than regular tape or removable strips are to be applied inside the locker.
2. Cardboard and foam core inserts are not allowed because they consume storage space and prevent the door from closing completely.
3. Small dry erase boards, pen/pencil holders, etc., may be installed with removable adhesive strips (no double-sided foam tape), provided the door shuts completely.
4. Fronts may not be decorated without the permission of a teacher or the Dean of Students.
Students will be required to clean their lockers at the end of the second and fourth quarters. The student’s account will be charged a maintenance fee for anything that must be removed, cleaned, or repaired at the end of the year.
Food, candy, and drinks may not be kept in lockers. Snacks brought to school for the morning snack break must be kept in the advisor’s room in a sealed storage bin. Students should never open someone else’s locker without permission. “Borrowing” anything, such as a book, without the owner’s permission, could be perceived as stealing, and as such, constitute an honor offense.
Storage of Personal Items
Empty backpacks must be stored on the hooks in the hallway of the Innovation Center. Athletic bags should be stored in grade-level-specified bins. Please ensure that all items are labeled with the student’s name. Hallways must remain clear at all times of any large items, athletic bags, and band instruments. Musical instruments should be stored during the day in the area specified by music teachers.
Students should not bring personal or valuable items, such as expensive jewelry or electronics, to school. These items are easily lost or damaged and are better left at home.
Lunch
Students are expected to eat lunch in the cafeteria or other specified outdoor eating spaces unless they are participating in a special event. They should not bring food onto the campus for lunch except in special circumstances (permission must be granted by an administrator or advisor). Food should not be brought or delivered to the school without school permission, and students may not leave campus during the lunch period unless accompanied by parents. Parents are required to inform the Middle School Office that their student is to be checked out, and their student must sign out in the Middle School Office.
CAFETERIA USE
The atmosphere for dining in the cafeteria is informal but considerate, dictated by good manners, not rigid rules. Students are required to assist in keeping the tables clean. They may sit where they choose but may not save a seat for someone else. Conversation should not be
loud. The tables should be left clean and neat for other people to use comfortably. All dishes and paper waste should be returned to the dishwashing room. Only cafeteria staff may go into the kitchen.
If there is a special occasion or a special dietary need for which a student needs to bring food or drink items to school, arrangements for doing so can be made with the student’s advisor or the Dean of Students.
It is very important not to waste food. When choosing meals, students should take what they want but not more than they will eat.
Snacks & Gum
GUM IS NOT PERMITTED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. Only bottled water is allowed in school buildings, and it may not contain additives (e.g., sports powders). Snacks are allowed during Extra Help with the advisor’s permission. All trash must be disposed of properly.
After 3:25 p.m., snacks and drinks may be purchased from the vending machine in the lobby of the Haslam Building. Middle School students may not use the vending machine in the Lee Athletic Center, the Upper School Commons, or the Café on the Commons.
Webb School Bookstore
School supplies, textbooks, and clothes are sold in the Webb School Bookstore in the Central Building. With a parent’s permission, students may charge items.
The Webb Bookstore is typically open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and from 12:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Lost & Found
All student clothing and books should be legibly labeled with the student’s name. Items found unattended will be kept by the Middle School Office. Unclaimed, unlabeled clothing will be sent to the Webb Wearhouse or to a charitable agency several times during the school year. Students and parents will be given an advance warning regarding the date of the donations.
Phones
There is a telephone outside the Middle School Office designated for student use. This phone may be used only with permission granted by an adult. Students may bring cell phones, but they are required to be turned off during the school day and kept in the advisor’s room in the caddy provided.
Messages to Students
When necessary, the Middle School office manager can take messages from parents and deliver them to students. Students should not call or message anyone during the school day. They may come to the Middle School Office if they need to communicate outside of school.
Medication Policy
Any student who needs to take medication, whether it is prescription or over-the-counter, must comply with the medication policy. This policy includes prescription medications to be taken at school (original prescription labels must be intact), as these are the physician’s orders, which must be followed. A note to the nurse should accompany the medication and should include the name of the drug, dosage, frequency or time interval, route or method of administration, the time to be administered, possible side effects, and method of storage. Place the medication and note into a Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. The medication should be entered under the “Prescription Meds” form. If the prescribed medication order is changed during the school year, please update that information at any time with the Health Center Staff.
All medications, whether prescription or over-thecounter (other than what is stocked by the school), must be brought to the school by a parent or guardian.
Students may not carry medications of any kind on their person or store them in lockers. Failure to properly register medication shall lead to a presumption that any such medication is not lawfully in the possession of the student. Exceptions are made for students with asthma inhalers, Epinephrine devices, or insulin delivery systems. Signatures are required from a legal parent/guardian on the Self Possession forms, and the student must meet age requirements to be allowed to carry medications and self-administer. The student must demonstrate knowledge of proper administration and have permission from the nurse.
All medications must be in original containers. Prescription medications must have the prescription label intact as provided to the patient by a medical care provider or pharmacy. The prescription bottle must be the latest one filled by the pharmacy or medical care provider. Any over-the-counter medications prescribed for a student that are not stock items in the clinic must be provided in their original unopened, unexpired containers and have the student’s name written on the medication containers.
Medications will be stored in a secure location, and the school nurse will monitor the administration, documentation, and storage. The parent/guardian is
responsible for picking up any unused medication at the end of the treatment or at the end of the school year. Any medications not picked up shall be disposed of properly at the end of the school year. If antibiotic treatment is necessary for a communicable disease, a student should not return to school for 24 hours after the first dose of the antibiotics has been given.
The nursing staff at Webb School will follow the recommendations made by the Knox County Health Department and the child’s physician in regard to returning to school after diagnosis with a communicable disease. A doctor’s note will be required for readmission. A student must be fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication before returning to school after an illness. A student must have been able to eat two meals and be fever free for 24 hours after vomiting.
In the event that your child is found to have head lice, the school nurse must be notified immediately. Treatment with a head lice product should be initiated. The school nurse must check the student before he/she will be allowed to return to class after treatments have been started. Students must be free of live lice before returning to school.
On Campus After School
Aftercare is provided for students in grades six through eight from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the Middle School Library. All students must sign in with the adult who is supervising aftercare. Students may be in the Library, the Innovation Center, or outside within sight of the adult supervisor. Students are expected to remain courteous of each other’s time and space. Please arrange to pick up your child by 5:30 p.m., after which time there will be no designated adult in the building.
Guests
The only guests permitted at Webb are those prospective students who are visiting campus as a part of the admissions process. The prospective students will have their visit coordinated by the admissions staff. Parents customarily do not eat lunch with students on campus.
Emergency School Closings/ Weather Issues
In cases of poor weather that would cause a delayed opening, early closure, or cancellation of school, families will be notified by mass phone communication from the school. Additionally, this information is posted on the school’s website.
If school is in session while snow is on the ground, there will be no throwing of snow or ice anywhere on campus.
Fire/Severe Weather/Intruder FIRE
When a fire alarm sounds, all students and teachers are to evacuate the building IMMEDIATELY. Do not stop for any reason, except to receive instructions from adults. Students should stay with their class and use the proper exit as depicted on evacuation plans posted on each classroom wall. The teacher will be the last to leave the room and will close doors and windows.
SEVERE WEATHER
When a loud bell rings in short bursts for six or more times in a row, students are to take shelter in the safe areas designated by the plans posted on each classroom wall. Stay away from glass doors and windows if possible. When the signal sounds, students are to immediately move to designated areas. Remain quiet. Listen for information or further instructions.
Students who are outside when severe weather arises should quickly enter the nearest building and follow procedures for that building. If unable to reach a building, students should lie flat on the ground in a ravine or open ditch.
INTRUDER
If an intruder is discovered on campus, an alarm will sound and there will be instructions as to where students should be.
Middle School Academics
Grading
The school year is divided into four (4) quarters of about nine (9) weeks each. At the end of each quarter, students and their parents will receive a grade report. During each quarter, teachers generally send comments regarding the nature of students’ progress. An extremely low grade or a pattern of poor work may result in a conference with the parents, either via phone or in person. Please contact your child’s teacher and advisor first for specific concerns regarding academic communication. Communicate with the Dean of Students or the Head of the Middle School as needed after first addressing the concern with the teacher and advisor.
Students will receive credit on the basis of their yearly average. In core academic classes, the yearly average must be a grade of C- or higher, with the exception of eighth-grade math, in which the yearly average must be at least B- in order to advance to the next course in ninth grade.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
• Magna Cum Arte is defined as a marking period with grades in all classes (with the exception of the first quarter of sixth grade) of ≥ B
• Summa Cum Arte is defined as a marking period with grades in all classes (with the exception of the first quarter of sixth grade) of ≥ A-
Sixth graders: First-quarter grades are exempt; calculation begins in the second quarter.
Seventh & eighth graders: Calculation begins in the first quarter and continues until the end of the third quarter in the eighth grade.
Students matriculating into the Middle School after sixth grade must be enrolled for at least three quarters in order to be eligible for Magna and Summa Cum Arte recognitions, which are presented in late May.
GRADING
Report cards are available four times during a school year. Course averages are computed using the following grading scale:
Letter Grade Numerical Range
A+ 98-100 A 93-97
90-92
87-89
83-86
F 59 or Below
Make-Up Work
When it is necessary for students to be absent from school, they are responsible for making up any work that was missed. There will be a specific amount of time in which to make up all work missed, and students should take responsibility to find out from their teachers what needs to be completed. Teachers cannot recreate the classes missed but will assist the student if the absence is excused. Teachers are not expected to spend additional time with students who have missed class time due to unexcused absences.
Regardless of the reason for an absence from class (except for suspension or intentionally cutting class), if a student misses a test, quiz, in-class assignment, or due date, the policy for completing missed work is “number of days absent plus one day.” Times and locations are posted throughout the school. Official make-up sessions are as follows:
• Tuesday & Friday MORNINGS, 7:25-8:05
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday AFTERNOONS, 3:30-4:10
In the case of extended absence due to illness or injury, the school will prepare reasonable accommodations for making up work in a timely manner.
On rare, judiciously chosen occasions, a family may elect to schedule an activity that conflicts with official school days. However, as a matter of courtesy and respect, no teacher can reasonably be expected to reteach material missed during such elective absences. Any student planning to be absent for such occasions must discuss the absence and make-up plan with the advisor and – most importantly – arrange with teachers in advance to receive information about missed assignments. The standard policy for making up missed work will be applied.
Missed Deadline
When a make-up deadline is missed, the assignment is sent to the Dean of Students for consideration. S/he will send notice to both the student and family that the deadline has been missed and apprise all parties of an extended deadline (if permitted).
Generally, after the second instance of a missed make-up deadline in a semester (all classes included), the teacher will be advised to deduct points from the assignment once it is completed. After the third missed deadline in a semester (all classes included), work may not be given credit; however, the assignment must be completed.
If a student is absent for one day before an assessment and returns on the day of – and the teacher believes that the student had a good opportunity to be prepared – the student will be required to take the assessment. However, if the teacher does not require the student to take the assessment, then the student will have one additional day in which to remediate the assessment.
If a student misses school the day a long-term project or homework assignment is due, the work needs to be submitted as soon as possible, certainly upon the student’s return to school.
Work for anticipated absences can be made up partially or completely before a student is absent, with a teacher’s permission.
Extra Help
Extra Help is available every morning before school at 7:50 a.m. and every afternoon after school until 3:50 p.m., in addition to the Extra Help period (1:35 p.m.1:58 p.m.) during the school day. Students may be asked or required to come to a certain teacher for Extra Help, but students should seek help from any teacher anytime they feel it is needed. Snacks are permitted by the advisor; however, a student may not take food to another student or out of his/her advisory.
Conferences
Intake conferences are scheduled early in the fall to allow parents and advisors to exchange information that can benefit students and all of their teachers.
A second parent-advisor conference will be held later in the fall; parent-teacher conferences are held in the spring. However, if parents would like to meet with any or all of a student’s teachers at other times during the school year, arrangements can be made.
To meet with a teacher, parents should make an appointment. To communicate with a teacher, please leave a message via e-mail (most effective) or with office staff.
Ideally, students, their teachers, parents, and sometimes classmates can work together to promote effective learning. Students and their parents can enhance learning by apprising the school of the student’s learning differences and needs for additional help or accommodations.
When students experience academic difficulties, they are encouraged to explore the following:
• See the teacher to discuss strategies
• Attend Extra Help as suggested by the teacher
• Discuss strategies and an improvement plan with the advisor
• Seek help from the Learning Specialist.
Beyond the above opportunities, parents sometimes engage tutors. When a tutor is hired, the advisor and subject-area teacher should be notified so that regular communication between the school and the tutor can occur.
Remediating Courses for Sixth & Seventh Graders
Students who make below C- in any core academic class must remedy the deficiency before the next school year. There are two options available:
• Twenty hours of tutoring in each subject by an approved tutor
• Completion of a course approved by the Head of the Middle School
If remediating a math course, students must sit for an assessment no later than one week before the first day of school.
Remediating Courses for Eighth Graders
Eighth-grade students who earn a cumulative average below a C- in a Middle School course may not be recommended to attend the Upper School.
Eighth-grade students who complete Algebra I must do so with a yearly average of at least a B- in order to take Geometry in ninth grade.
Repeating/Remediating
World Language Courses for
Eighth Graders (rising ninthgrade students)
According to Upper School policy, a student may not retake a language course that was successfully completed in the Middle School with a yearly grade of C or higher. If students make a C or higher in the Middle School course and still feel unprepared to continue in Level II (or Level III Spanish), they may elect to:
• Engage in extra study of the same language on their own in the summer and then continue in Level II or Level III in the next school year, or
• Change to Level I of another language (there is no Honors for Upper School Level I languages).
Students who make a C- or below in a language course have three options:
• Follow the same rules for remediation stated for sixth and seventh graders,
• Retake Level I in the Upper School, or
• Change to another language.
Special Situations
While the school policy is to accommodate, within reason, unusual and unexpected situations affecting academic matters for each student, the school reserves the right (at its discretion) to make final academic determinations for the curriculum and performance of each student.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992, Webb School will make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
That accommodation may extend to students whose learning patterns are divergent but who can benefit from and succeed in Webb School’s program through intelligence, hard work, and learning strategies. Parents are responsible for acquiring documentation that supports the student’s need for accommodation and for submitting it to the Learning Specialist to be kept in the student’s file.
Any number of professional resources for testing and diagnosis are available within the larger community. When the student’s record contains a professional diagnosis of mildly divergent learning patterns caused by neurological disabilities like perceptual problems and dyslexia, or caused by attention deficit disorders with or without medication, the school will respond with appropriate support based on each individual’s needs.
The protocol is as follows:
• Contact the Head of the Middle School.
• A meeting will be held with parents, the Learning Specialist, and the Head of the Middle School or Middle School Dean of Students.
• The Middle School Learning Specialist will create a Webb School learning plan that outlines accommodations the school can support.
• Grade-level teachers will meet to understand the implementation of the plan.
• The plan is re-evaluated periodically throughout the school year.
If a student feels that the school’s accommodations are inadequate, the student and the student’s parents may appeal to the Head of the Middle School, who will convene a conference with the professional diagnostician for review of the student’s needs.
Middle School Activities
Service Learning
Throughout its history, Webb School of Knoxville has been committed to the idea that everyone benefits when leaders help others. At school, in their neighborhoods, and in the town at large, Webb students can help as they develop an understanding of leadership and the nature of the community. Our Middle School provides varied opportunities throughout the year for students to serve and make an impact in the lives of others.
Leadership
Students are welcome to be involved in the following leadership opportunities:
• STUDENT COUNCIL
Elections take place in the fall and appointments are for the school year. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grades are represented.
• HOUSE REPRESENTATION
Middle School students will have the opportunity to serve as student representatives for their assigned House. Elections will be held after Student Council elections.
A student may not serve on both Student Council and as a House Representative.
• NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY (NJHS)
Students are invited to be a part of this organization based on scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Seventh- and eighth-grade students are eligible according to the NJHS requirements. Letters are mailed to eligible students following the second quarter of school. Initiation takes place in the spring semester.
• MODEL UNITED NATIONS (UN)
Open to seventh- and eighth-grade students. This commitment requires a number of hours outside of school, as well as required conferences statewide. Students engage in public speaking, discussions of current events, and simulating the United Nations. Model UN introduces students to a global community of leaders.
• INTERACT CLUB
Open to all students, this club promotes “Service Above Self” to our school and to our community. There are three major events, drives, or activities in the school year.
Fundraising Projects
Any such activity considered by student groups must first be presented to the Middle School Head for approval. Such events may be approved on a limited basis. It is strictly forbidden for a student to sell items at school or to solicit contributions to charitable organizations on campus without authorized permission.
Encore Courses
Sixth graders rotate through all Encore courses over the first quarter, taking Wellness the entire year.
In the spring, seventh- and eighth-grade students will be asked to rank their choices of three Encore courses (including study hall). These are yearlong courses. Any changes to Encore enrollment must be completed no later than two school days after the fall Intake Conferences. Every consideration will be given to students’ preferences. However, due to enrollment limitations for most courses, students are not guaranteed their top three selections.
After-School Participation
Students must fully attend at least four (4) of their classes to participate in after-school activities. This rule is in place to ensure that our emphasis is on academics, not extracurricular activities. If a student leaves school
due to an illness, he/she may not participate in afterschool activities – practices, games, concerts, etc. If the absence is due to a family emergency or appointment, approval for participation must be granted by the Dean of Students.
Athletics
All students who participate in Webb School athletics must have an annual physical examination. All required forms for Webb student-athletes are within Magnus Health, located on the parent portal in Veracross. Select the red Magnus Health tab at the top right after logging in to the school website.
The purpose of the athletic program at Webb School is to provide students with the benefits of physical fitness, wholesome competition, and healthful recreation.
To these ends, a full and varied program of interscholastic sports is offered. Eighth-grade boys and girls are eligible by TSSAA rules to participate on freshman, junior varsity, or varsity teams in the Upper School.
Middle School Code of Dress & Appearance
The Webb Middle School uniform allows students to dress neatly and comfortably for the activities in which they engage during a normal school day. All students are expected to be in school uniform every day. We hope the student uniform will help diminish the sartorial competition and peer pressure that is frequent among younger adolescents. Webb’s Middle School is a place where students should be confident that they are accepted for their character and personality, not for what they wear.
All uniform shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, and skorts must be purchased from the following providers:
• My Aplus Uniforms (formerly Educational Outfitters), 453 Park 40 N. Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37923: knoxville.myaplusuniforms.com
• Tommy Hilfiger: www.globalschoolwear.com
• Lands’ End: www.landsend.com/shop/school/ S-ytp-xe8?cm_re=lec-_-global-_-glbnv-school-_20160525-_-txt
• Webb School Wearhouse
Approved items are located on the Hilfiger site under the Middle School menu; My Aplus Uniforms has a list of all approved Middle School uniform items.
When purchasing uniform items, please consider that your child will probably grow during the school year. This is especially important for eighth graders, who sometimes have to purchase new clothing to meet the dress code with only a few months remaining of school.
All clothing must be appropriate for our school context. Skintight clothing is never acceptable. Items that are tight or short at the beginning of the school year will almost certainly be inappropriate months later. We acknowledge that, during the middle school years, students change physically at different rates; nevertheless, our goal remains for clothing to be modest, comfortable, and non-distracting.
The Middle School Dean of Students must approve any and all exceptions to the dress code. Alternative clothing will only be permitted on account of religious habiliment or with medical documentation from a podiatrist or orthopedist. Medical documentation must be resubmitted each school year.
Uniform Guidelines
Pertaining to BOTH Male & Female Students
SHIRTS
• Navy, white, or hunter green polo purchased from My Aplus Uniforms, Lands’ End, or Tommy Hilfiger
• Light blue oxford cloth – short or long sleeves, in full length
• All shirts must be fully tucked inside pants/shorts/ skirts/skorts.
• Shirts must be buttoned to the top of the pocket.
• No logos allowed other than the required Webb School “W.”
• Collars must be buttoned if so designed.
• A plain white T-shirt may be worn under either type of shirt. Sleeves of an undershirt must not show.
SHORTS
• Solid navy or khaki, four (4)-inch minimum inseam, as indicated on the tag
• No cargo-style shorts; no two-tone flaps on pockets; no rivets or outside/decorative stitching
PANTS
• Solid navy or khaki
• No cargo-style pants or two-tone flaps on pockets; no rivets or outside/decorative stitching
• Slits or frayed hems are not permitted.
BELTS
• A belt must be worn.
• Webb School belt (purchased at Webb Bookstore) is encouraged.
• Solid leather belts in brown, navy, or black; or fabric/woven belts in brown, navy, or black must be worn with shorts or pants that have loops.
• No metal is allowed other than the buckle, and no buckle significantly wider than the belt.
SOCKS
• Solid white, gray, navy, or black socks must be worn.
• Socks must be at least high enough to show when wearing appropriate footwear
• Small logos of less than two (2) inches are allowed.
• No stripes, dots, logos, etc.
• Socks must cover the bottom of tights or leggings for girls.
FOOTWEAR
• Athletic shoes with non-marking soles
• Black, brown, or cordovan classic-style flat loafers
• Lace-up dress or casual shoes
• Shoes must be in good repair; no tears or rips.
• Shoes with laces must be tied properly at all times.
The following footwear is NOT allowed for daily wear:
• Slip-on or backless shoes, including shoes that have a backstrap
• Toms, UGGs, Crocs, house shoes (slippers), or moccasin-style shoes
• Sandals, high heels, (including stacked or platform soles), or Western-style boots or ropers
• Sport-specific footwear (e.g., cleats) or nontraditional shoes (e.g., shoes with wheels)
WET WEATHER FOOTWEAR
On those days when there is a high probability for rain, students may choose to wear shoes made specifically for wet weather (both shoe and boot styles are acceptable). If students are unsure about the weather, they should bring appropriate school shoes.
OUTERWEAR
The only outerwear permitted in classrooms will be Webb School sweatshirts, fleeces, and sweaters purchased from the Webb Bookstore. Any brand or style of jacket may be worn outside buildings; however, students must wear only approved outerwear once inside and in class.
TEAM WEAR
Members of a sports team may wear a customary jersey, T-shirt, or uniform component on the day of competition only and only one time per week . A solid white T-shirt must be worn under a tank top. Uniform bottoms must be worn. Any clothing item (e.g., hoodie) that indicates a team or sport may only be worn while the sport is in season.
OTHER
With the exception of announced dress-out days, hats, other forms of head coverings (religious exemptions allowed), or sunglasses may not be worn in the school buildings at any time.
Uniform Guidelines Pertaining to Female Students Only
SKIRTS & SKORTS
• Solid navy or khaki – Must be appropriate length for school and no shorter than fingertip length. Girls are required to wear solid BLACK spandex or running shorts or full-length tights (solid black, navy, or gray) that reach the ankle under their skirts.
• Eighth-grade girls may wear the plaid skirt/kilt worn in the Upper School, beginning in January.
SOCKS
• Socks must cover the bottom of tights or leggings for girls.
Appearance Guidelines Pertaining to BOTH Male & Female Students
HAIR
Webb School expects each student to avoid extremes of hair colors, coloration, or styles, including, but not limited to mohawks and spiked hair. More specifically, hair must be a natural human color, and this includes both tips and strands of hair.
Headbands and ribbons are acceptable, as is modest hair decoration (e.g., tinsel strips, ribbons).
PIERCING
With the exception of traditional earlobe piercing, Webb School does not permit students to have body piercings in the nose, ears, or other parts of the body that are visible and conspicuous. Nose rings, plugs, tunnels, gauges, stretches, septum rings, tongue rings/studs, eyebrow rings, lip/cheek rings, and belly button rings are not permitted to be visible during the school day, nor are they permitted when a student is representing Webb School as a participant in a school-sponsored event/conference.
TATTOOS
Students with permanent and/or temporary tattoos are not allowed to have either visible during the academic day.
Non-Uniform Day Dress Code Expectations
On occasion, students will be allowed to attend school out of uniform. Students may dress out on their birthday (or a day near the birthday). If the birthday falls in the summer, they may dress out on the half-birthday (six months). Other non-uniform days may be theme-oriented and will be announced in advance. If a student decides not to dress in the theme of the day, he/she must be in uniform attire.
• All clothing should be neat, clean, and in good repair. Rips, tears, and tattered items or items with holes are considered out of dress code, including dress-out days.
• Clothing displaying political or offensive logos, labels, or phrases, or suggesting sex, alcohol, drugs, or political statements is strictly off-limits and not acceptable.
• Necklines should be no lower than an imaginary line between the tops of the armpits.
• Tank tops and dresses are only allowed if the strap is at least three fingers wide. Spaghetti straps and halter tops are not permitted.
• Students may not wear any clothing that is skintight. Sheer clothing and exposed mid- or side-sections (front, back, or side) are unacceptable.
• All dresses and skirts must be at least to fingertip length. Shorts must be at least to thumb length.
• Shoes must be worn at all times, both indoors and outdoors.
• Hats and caps are permitted as part of a themed dress-out day or birthday dress-out. Religious head coverings are always permitted.
• Hats and caps should be doffed at the Pledge of Allegiance in Morning Assembly.
• At no time is a student allowed to wear or display anything of a provocative, lewd, overtly political, or controversial nature, including clothing or branding (e.g., stickers on iPad case).
• If a dress-out day IS themed, students must dress in accordance or come in regular attire. Students MAY appear in themed hair and face paint, as long as it is washable and appropriate for the next day of school. Students may NOT wear full-facial masks, full-body costumes, or anything that limits the ability to move around campus or participate in class activities.
• If the dress-out day is NOT themed, a student MAY NOT WEAR: slippers/house shoes or shoes without backs (e.g., slides); full-facial masks; full-body costumes; or anything that limits the ability to move around campus or participate in class activities.
Students who do not follow the dress-out expectations may be banned from future dressout days.
Conduct & Discipline Behavioral Expectations
All Webb School students are expected to respect their classmates and the mission of Webb School. Students will be challenged daily to understand their responsibilities as citizens in a community. Violations of these expectations and responsibilities have consequences, ranging from communication with a teacher or Dean of Students to suspension/expulsion from Webb..
The administrative response may include the following (not necessarily in this order):
• Official notice of misbehavior or violation of school rule
• A conversation with the Dean of Students and/or Middle School Head
• Message/call to parents
• Social restriction
• Detention
• Conference with parents
• Suspensions of privileges to attend classes
• Recommendation for expulsion from Webb
NOTE: If students believe they have been reprimanded unfairly, they should appeal as soon as possible. Students may appeal in a polite email or in a meeting with the Dean of Students. The advisor may serve as a student’s advocate.
The school expressly reserves the right to expel, permanently, any student at any time at the discretion of the school, and to require forfeiture of tuition and fees in connection with any expulsion.
As noted in the overview, all members of the community are expected to share the sincere purpose of the school and to act individually to support the goals of the school. Inappropriate behavior by parents or guests of a student may result in disciplinary action, including the administrative responses set forth above.
OFFICIAL NOTICE/SLIP
Students may receive an official notice (a.k.a. ‘a slip’) for minor violations of school rules (e.g., chewing gum, dress code violation). When students receive a designated number of such notices in a semester, the Dean of Students will design an appropriate disciplinary action. Notices continue to accumulate throughout each semester.
Students receiving a slip for borrowing an iPad (forgetting to bring or charging their iPad) two or more times in a semester will be banned from the courtesy of an iPad for two (2) weeks from their latest slip.
SOCIAL RESTRICTION
Behavior that generally violates the ethics and expectations of the Middle School (e.g., cutting in line, disrespectful behavior on the basketball court) may be assigned social restriction, which is the loss of free time during snack break, lunch, or time before/after school. Students will be assigned a specific classroom in which to spend the allotted time.
DETENTION
Some misconduct may result in a student being detained after school. Supervised detentions are held from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Students may be assigned a reflective activity to complete, after which, if time remains, students must sit in alert silence. No electronics are allowed during detention unless expressly assigned by the Dean of Students. AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES DO NOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER DETENTION.
SUSPENSION
Suspension is assigned when a student violates school rules, the Honor Code, or Webb’s expectations of ethics and behavior, and reaches the point where they need time away from the school community. Students who are suspended from attending classes are expected to check every teacher’s course/digital assignments in order to remain aware of and current with assignments. If work is assigned due for the day/s students return from suspension, that work is expected to be completed. If work is due during the day/s of suspension, students are expected to complete it and turn it in upon return to campus. However, that work may receive reduced or no credit. If students miss an assessment during the day/s of suspension, the teacher/s may expect students to complete it upon return; the teacher/s may give the assessment partial or no credit.
EXPULSION
Expulsion is considered when a student violates school rules – the Honor Code or Webb’s expectations. Generally, the behavior is so egregious or frequent that it is necessary to consider whether a student can continue to be a member of the Webb community. The decision to expel students is made in collaboration with the school leadership team.
Specific Guidelines
Students are expected to remain on campus during the school day. If leaving school early, students must sign out in the Middle School Office.
The following are not permitted for Middle Schoolers:
• Going to the following places without a teacher: ropes course, pond area, construction areas, faculty lounge and workroom, Upper School track environs, Lower School playgrounds, Upper School classrooms or café
• Vandalizing or damaging the school’s property
• Electronics and such equipment deemed to distract from educational purposes NOTE: Some electronic equipment (iPads, for example) may be allowed in classes.
• Verbal or physical abuse of humans or animals
• Sexual harassment
• Threatening, bullying, or harassment on campus or online – single or multiple instances
• Online threats, taunts, or accusations that are:
1) anti-racial, anti-gender, anti-person;
2) suggestive of self-harm;
3) suggestive of harm to others of the Webb community
• Possessing or using tobacco products, vaping products, alcohol, or illegal drugs
• Dangerous or volatile materials, including, but not limited to lighters, matches, lasers/ pens, knives, weapons, firecrackers, explosive devices, guns, bullets, or realistic imitations of such
• Profanity or gambling
Cell Phones, Smartwatches & Other Technology
Cell phones must remain OFF and left in the advisor’s room (or designated location) in the caddy provided from the time the student enters campus until departure from campus. Cell phones should not be turned ON unless a student is waiting in the dismissal line and needs to communicate about pick-up arrangements. Students
arriving late may leave their phones in the Middle School Office, with the Middle School Principal, or with the Dean of Students.
Smartwatches ARE NOT ALLOWED in the Middle School.
Phones and other personal devices are the students’ own responsibility and are brought to school at their own risk. The school is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or broken personal devices.
Students must use the iPad issued by the school. iPads belong to the school and are to be used for educational purposes only. Instructional or educational games must be approved by a teacher and utilized only at designated times.
Students may not market or sell any item for personal profit. Exclusions include marketing or sales for school-sponsored trips, clubs, or activities. All purchases or profits must accrue to a project or mission of the school approved by the Middle School Head and/or Dean of Students.
Webb School Substance Abuse Policy
There are four general points in the Webb Substance Abuse Policy that support and frame the policy:
1. Any Webb student who possesses, sells, purchases, obtains, distributes, uses, or is under the influence of illegal drugs, alcohol, or any abused substance on school property or at a school-sponsored event may expect to be expelled.
2. Regarding this issue, the school considers its jurisdiction to be “the school campus at any time and anywhere else that students are when they are involved in school-sponsored or school-endorsed activities.”
3. The school reserves the right to respond to off- campus student behavior that negatively threatens the safety and welfare of other Webb students or compromises the fundamental culture of healthy behavior that we are working to cultivate at Webb.
4. The school president has considerable discretion in interpreting the individual circumstances of each case and formulating the school’s response within the guidelines set below.
Response to any offense may include one or more of the following:
• The student will serve an out-of-school suspension. Over the course of this time, the school and the parents will work closely to plan a schedule that effectively and appropriately guides the student’s life during school hours (e.g. counseling and/or community service).
• The student will relinquish all elected or appointed school leadership positions (and candidacy for same) for at least the remainder of the year.
• The student will undergo assessment by a qualified substance abuse professional and begin treatment if necessary. A letter from the assessor to the division head must be received stating that the assessment has taken place and that treatment, if necessary, has begun. Communication initiated by a contracted counselor confirming that an appointment has been set or met must be received before the student is readmitted to school.
• The student will complete an essay that reveals at least: 1) an understanding of the specific legal consequences in the state of Tennessee for the infraction committed; and 2) thoughtful reflection on the experience and how it has affected the student’s life and the lives of those surrounding the student. The essay must satisfy the division head.
• The student will experience a 30-day loss of driving privileges (if the student is eligible to drive) and receive a mandate that the student must be driven to and from school by one of his/her parent/s or guardian/s.
• The student will perform 30 hours (not to count toward service hour graduation requirements) of school-approved community service (preferably in a drug and alcohol program) to be completed within nine weeks of the infraction.
• The student will agree to school-directed, familyfinanced random drug testing. If a test were ever positive, a permanent expulsion would result.
• The student will agree to and complete random drug testing administered by a school-approved, certified tester.
• The student will attend a re-entry conference with his/her parents or guardians and a school administrator before returning to classes.
• Permanent expulsion.
Until all requirements and conditions are met, the student will not return to classes; or, when applicable, the student's transcript will not be released.
Middle School
Library & Technology
Middle School Library
Located in the Governor's Center for Innovation, the Middle School Library serves Middle School students along with the faculty and staff of Webb School. The Library supports the philosophy and educational goals of Webb School to nurture the potential of each individual and prepare students to serve as leaders in tomorrow’s world by focusing on information literacy, diverse collections, and curricular support and collaboration.
Through the library, students have access to over 20,000 books, e-books, and over 60 online databases of journals and articles, newspapers, magazines, images, videos, and audiobook streaming content.
More information about the Middle School Library and access to resources can be found at the Library’s website: https://webbschool.libguides.com. The Middle School librarian is available to help students with research questions, projects, and book recommendations.
LIBRARY POLICIES
The Middle School Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and offers space for individual and group study, learning, and collaboration. Students are encouraged to come to the library any time. All school and classroom rules apply in the library. Water bottles are allowed, but keep food outside the library. Students should always be respectful of other students and classes in the library.
LIBRARY PRIVILEGES
Any student may check out up to five books, audiobooks, and e-books for two weeks, and these materials can be renewed. Books being used for class will be placed on a reserve cart and may only be checked out for short periods of time.
Students have access to Interlibrary Loan (ILL) for research materials. Interlibrary Loan is a service that provides books and research articles that are not already in the Webb collection.
OFF-CAMPUS ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCES
E-books, digital audiobooks, and online databases can be accessed 24/7 from any location with an internet connection and student login credentials. Students can ask the library or a teacher if they do not know their student I.D.
OVERDUE & LOST BOOKS
Students will receive email reminders for soon-to-be-due and overdue books, and students may reply to these emails to renew a book twice. If a student believes they have lost a book, they should notify the library. Students are responsible for replacing the book that they have misplaced, and may do so in one of two ways:
• Pay the library for the cost of the book.
• Bring in a copy of the book in the same format and condition as the original copy.
Technology
Any student’s use of technology on campus must be for educational purposes only. Using a device without teacher approval to play games, watch videos, listen to music, surf the Internet, or communicate with others is not allowed during the school day
In addition to sponsoring a one-to-one iPad program, Webb has a limited number of iPads available for student use.
• The tablets are provided for academic use only. System-altering software and games are not permitted.
• Food, drink, gum, or magnets are not allowed near any school technology.
• Software may not be installed on, copied from, or removed from any hard disk by anyone other than the lab supervisors. No changes may be made on the computers’ control panels.
• Data files must be stored on students’ personal storage. Because of frequent student use, files stored on a hard drive may not remain when he/she returns.
• Several classrooms have computers to be used at teacher discretion.
Violations of these rules may be considered vandalism or honor offenses.
Use of generative AI programs such as ChatGPT by students on graded assignments is prohibited, except with the express permission of the teacher, in which case the use of AI must be cited by the student. Unauthorized use of AI on graded assignments by the student will be treated as an academic honesty violation.
WEBB SCHOOL INFORMATION NETWORK
Using school technology comes with a great deal of responsibility. Ethical questions surrounding the use of computers and other related technologies are changing and evolving, but at Webb School, the Honor Code applies to computer use, as well as to any other aspect of life. To help ensure responsible use, each student must pledge to support the following code of ethics:
• Respect for Others and the Law
I will use computers, software, and related technologies only for purposes that are beneficial to others, that are not harmful to others in any way, and that are within the law.
I will not use email to harass others verbally. I will not write e-mail messages masquerading as another. I accept the responsibility of keeping all pornographic material, inappropriate text files, or files that are potentially dangerous to Webb School’s computer hardware or software systems from entering the school in any way.
• Respect for Privacy
I will respect others’ right to privacy. I will access or use other individuals’ or organizations’ information only if I have the permission of the individual or organization that owns the information. I will not access another’s email account.
• Respect for Property
I will respect others’ property. I will make changes to or delete computer programs, information, or files that belong to others only if I have been given permission to do so by the person or organization that owns the program, information, or files.
• Respect of Ownership
I will respect others’ rights to ownership and to earn a living for their work. I will use only computer software, files, or information that I own or that I have been given permission to use. I accept the responsibility of keeping copyrighted software of any kind from entering the school via the internet.
Any violation of this code of ethics is an honor offense or a disciplinary offense.
Webb School has the right and responsibility to monitor student e-mail accounts and to monitor all material downloaded from the internet. In addition, students who are found to have openly disparaged Webb School or members of its community in a libelous or harassing manner in a public internet forum may face disciplinary action, comparable to if the offense occurred in school.
Especially for Parents
Middle School Parents’ Advisory Committee
Middle School Parents’ Advisory Committee (PAC) is a dynamic, ever-evolving organization that facilitates productive parental involvement in the Webb Middle School community. It serves as the liaison between Middle School parents and the school administration. Every Middle School parent is a member of Middle School PAC and is welcomed and encouraged to participate.
As a manifestation of the diverse needs of our community, Middle School PAC has developed a range of different programs and functions. Most importantly, it serves as a catalyst for building enduring, healthy relationships among parents, faculty/administration, and students. It offers parent education programs and discussion groups, focusing on key developmental issues facing our children during these crucial middle school years. It serves as the coordinator of parent volunteerism and plans a wide range of social and educational activities for students, faculty, and parents, all of which foster and strengthen the sense of community within our school. Finally, through monthly meetings, it provides a vital forum for ongoing conversations between administration and parents on current school-related issues.
During the academic year, Middle School PAC usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Central Building’s Multipurpose Room. All parents are encouraged to attend these monthly meetings. When possible, a virtual option, in addition to the in-person meeting, is made available To better accommodate diverse schedules, meetings are usually structured to begin with timely presentations from school administration/faculty, lasting approximately 30 minutes; a standard business meeting follows.
Specific announcements of meetings and other important PAC events are placed on the school’s website and its online parent community.
Middle School PAC is led by a board of over 50 volunteers, including officers, heads of special committees, and parent representatives from each of the Middle School advisory classes. Grade-level committees led by a lead representative facilitate communications, social events, activities, and programs for each grade.
Webb School Parent Expectations
The Parent Advisory Committees of both Middle School and Upper School established a statement of common principles to serve as a catalyst for discussions among parents. It presupposes a need for parents to have a consistent network of support for one another in parenting children in a time when the media influences and the pressures associated with peer acceptance are higher than ever before. Although no formal declaration of commitment to these principles is required, it is hoped that parents of all students will agree that they serve the common good of the Webb School community and will abide by them.
STATEMENT OF COMMON PRINCIPLES
Evidence indicates that the single most critical factor in the safe and sound development of our children is parental involvement and support, followed closely by community involvement and support. Webb School is a unique environment, drawing its population from a 90-square-mile radius and a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. If we are to have a sense of community here, we must commit to work hard for it. Commonality, shared values, and family networking, as well as true respect and appreciation of our differences, will be our reward. Our agreement to a statement of common principles is a way to begin that process.
• We are concerned about the welfare and development of the children in our family, our school, and our community. We recognize that they are children, not always able to make the best choices, and they require effective parental as well as educational guidance. We reaffirm that our role as parents is to set standards for our children.
• We acknowledge the value of knowing our children’s friends and their parents, thereby providing our children and ourselves a sense of community and security.
• We will be assertive about calling other parents to verify plans and communicate any guidelines for our own children when there are activities where our children will be in the care or supervision of others. We will welcome calls when other children are our responsibility. We acknowledge a responsibility to contact parents when we are aware of noncompliance with these standards of behavior.
• We accept the responsibility to teach our children about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and to discourage the adolescent “rite of passage” that includes the use of illegal substances. We acknowledge that our own behavior sets an example for our children.
• We will neither serve alcohol and other drugs or harmful substances to children nor condone their use by the children of others who are under our supervision or in our care.
• We want to know if our children are engaged in inappropriate social media usage, activities with illegal substances, or any other serious illegal acts. While this information may be disturbing and uncomfortable to hear, we will treat this as an expression of care and concern for our children and our community.
The Webb Middle School team looks forward to working in partnership with you to help your student thrive during the middle school years and develop a strong foundation for lifelong learning. If you have any questions about the Middle School or its policies, please contact Jennifer Phillips, Head of Middle School, at jennifer.phillips@webbschool.org , or David Haines, Middle School Dean of Students, at david.haines@webbschool.org.
