Student Handbook

FMSD ATTENDANCE POLICY

SCHOOL HOURS (Change to Prior Policy)

Our school hours are 8:10 AM- 3:10 PM. The first bell rings at 8:05 AM. Student supervision begins at 7:40 AM; car riders may be dropped off afterward.  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN THE BUILDING BY 8:10 AM. ANY STUDENT  DROPPED OFF AFTER 8:10 MUST BE CHECKED INTO THE FRONT OFFICE BY A PARENT. Students should be seated in their homeroom by 8:10 AM.

SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Please watch TV and radio announcements for FORT MILL SCHOOL DISTRICT # 4 (not York County) schools. The school district website, www.fortmillschools.org, will provide information about school closures. Please inform your child in advance what they should do in the event of an early school closing. The FMSD and SMS will contact all homes when there is a closing via our school messenger system. Please keep your phone numbers and email addresses up to date.

TARDY TO SCHOOL

Please arrive on time so students can begin the day promptly and enjoy uninterrupted class time. Students arriving by car after 8:10 must be accompanied by a parent into the office. 

EARLY DISMISSAL 

Early dismissal procedure: When your child requires early dismissal, please come into the front office and sign your child out.  Someone will then call your student from class to meet you. Students will not be dismissed after 2:40 PM. They must wait for the 3:10 dismissal bell.

ABSENCES

Students should give absence notes to the home room teachers. The following absences will be excused:  

• Personal illness (excused by doctor or parent note)  
• Serious illness or death in the student’s immediate family
• Religious holidays requested in advance  
• Parent notes may cover five days during the school year. Accrued student absences (excused or unexcused) may not exceed ten (10) days during the school year. Absences above ten days may result in a loss of credit for the year. 
• Any student who misses 50 percent or more of the instructional day for any reason for 10 percent (or more) of the enrollment period is considered chronically absent. All absences contribute to chronic absenteeism, including excused or unexcused absences and suspensions.

TRUANCY

A student who has accumulated unexcused absences on three consecutive days or five unexcused absences during the academic year is considered Truant. Parents of truant students are expected to attend a conference with the school administration to develop a Student Attendance Intervention Plan (SAIP).

ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER CHANGE, AND WITHDRAWAL

Please notify the school office immediately of any change of address or telephone number. In an emergency, we need to promptly locate parents. A withdrawal form must be completed if your student is withdrawing from SMS. This form is available in our front office. All books must be returned, and all fees must be paid before the transfer is complete.

LOCKERS/BOOKBAGS

Each student is assigned a locker and must rent a combination lock from the school for $5 (no personal locks are allowed).  All book bags/backpacks must be stored in lockers during the day; these items are not permitted in classrooms.  Any locker decorations should be removable and clean at the end of the year; no permanent locker decorations, such as stickers, are allowed.  School officials acting with “just cause” have the authority to search lockers or other areas of the school when there is reason to believe that items hazardous to the welfare of the student or the student body are present, or when such items are used to violate a law or cause disruption in the school.

Book bags, satchels, totes, and messenger bags are not allowed in classrooms. Students may carry a small purse, clutch, or handbag.  Locker dimensions are height: 28 inches, width: 11 inches, and depth: 10 inches. A 12” high locker shelf fits our lockers nicely.  Students should ensure that any items they bring to school will fit inside their assigned lockers.

Students will not share lockers—we have enough for each student to have their own. Locker combinations should be kept confidential and disclosed only to your homeroom teacher. The administration may be less effective at investigating losses when they occur if the student has disclosed their combination to other students. The school cannot be responsible for items lost or stolen.

Students should follow these locker guidelines:

1. Students can enter lockers at designated times during the school day. 
2. The homeroom teacher will maintain a record of all combinations of students.  
3. The student must keep a written record and memorize their combination. Students should not share their combinations with other students.
4. Students may use a school locker to store coats, books, and other educational materials. Items, including book bags, should not exceed locker dimensions.         
5. Non-school-issued locks may not be used and may be removed by the administration.
6. Broken or non-working locks should be reported to your homeroom teacher immediately.

TEXTBOOKS

Students must take care of their textbooks. The student must pay for a textbook if it is damaged, lost, or stolen. Additionally, the student will be charged the full price if the barcode on the back of the textbook is missing upon return. 

LOST AND FOUND

Students’ names should be on all personal articles, including lunch boxes, jackets, and gym clothes. Items found with a name will be returned to students. We maintain a lost-and-found in the cafeteria.

CAFETERIA

Our cafeteria staff serves breakfast and lunch every school day.  Menus, nutritional information, and allergen information are available on our website (fmsdstudentnutrition.com) and on screens in the cafeteria. There is also a free App available for your smartphone called LINQ Connect. A Registered Dietitian plans menus and includes input from parents, staff, and students.  The menus must comply with dietary guidelines that restrict calories, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium.  We provide students with a variety of healthy options and offer several fruits and vegetables daily. 

• A lunch meal includes foods from the five food groups: 2 oz of grains,  2 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of fruit, 1/2 cup of vegetables, and 1 cup of milk. Students may choose all five groups or at least three. One choice must be 1/2 cup of fruit or a vegetable. Students can select a cup of fruit or a vegetable with their meal. 
• A breakfast menu includes four items; students must select three. One choice must be fruit. 
• If a student does not take the required food components, then each item on the tray must be charged at a la carte pricing. Our cafeteria staff reminds students to take the required food groups. 
• The cafeteria also offers additional items for purchase, including milk, juice, water, and snacks. If you do not want your student to purchase these items, please complete the online form Opt Out for Snacks and Extras. 
• All foods served by the cafeteria meet State and Federal guidelines. 
• Our kitchens are tree-nut and peanut-safe.

PIN NUMBER

Each student is assigned a unique meal account identification number to use in the cafeteria to purchase breakfast, lunch, and a la carte items. This number is the last six digits of your student’s PowerSchool number. It should never be shared with other students. Please help your student memorize their PIN. 

MEAL PAYMENTS

Please take advantage of the options to prepay for your student's meals. Prepaid meal accounts help the lunch lines move faster and give students more time to eat, relax, and socialize. It also provides the peace of mind of not having to worry about daily finances or the risk of loss, theft, or diversion for purposes other than meals. Our cafeteria does not deny students meals; we allow students to charge up to $15 for meals. Automated calls, emails, and letters are sent weekly to students who owe the cafeteria money. Our cafeterias rely on meal payments to fund our program.

There are three easy ways to pay for meals and extras.

• Online via the district website’s Pay Fees lunch card feature, Quick Pay. This is a free service for adding money to your student’s meal account. You can also view meal purchases and balances. You can set up email alerts for balances on Parent Portal.
• By a separate check made out to your school’s cafeteria. The check should not include other school fees. Please note the child's cafeteria account number on the check. If the check is written for more than one child, the account number for each child and the amount to be credited to each child should be noted. The check must include a phone number.
• Cash is also accepted as payment, but it is strongly discouraged as it can be lost.
• Transferring funds between siblings is also available by completing the form on the fmsdstudentnutrition.com page.

FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION PROGRAM

Our district participates in the USDA Free and Reduced Meal Program. We encourage families to apply if they meet or fall below the income guidelines specified in the application. Applications are printed in English and Spanish; we can provide any language needed. If another language is required, please contact our office at 803.802.1968.

Students must complete their meal applications and be approved to qualify for free or reduced-priced meals. Applications are available at the school office, the cafeteria, and the district website; you can also apply online at https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new. Students must reapply each year.

FOOD ALLERGIES & SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

Due to the prevalence of food allergies, homemade or home-baked foods may not be distributed to students in the classroom or other applicable classroom settings.  Acceptable foods for distribution are those prepared in a commercial or licensed kitchen and, most importantly, packaged with a label listing the contents and ingredients.  This policy is designed to ensure consistency and minimize allergy-related risks across all classrooms while maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for all students. (Board Policy J LCDD) Students with Special Dietary Needs must have documentation of their diet changes signed by a medical provider. Please contact the school nurse to complete the forms.

WELLNESS POLICY

Our district has a Wellness Policy (Board Policy ADF and EFE). Information on the policy and how you can participate in this committee can be found here: https://fmsdstudentnutrition.com/index.php?sid=1625235896875&page=wellnesspolicy.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES/CELEBRATIONS – ACCEPTABLE FOOD GUIDELINES

Due to the prevalence of food allergies, homemade or home-baked foods may not be distributed to students in the classroom or other applicable classroom settings. Acceptable foods for distribution are those prepared in a commercial or licensed kitchen and, most importantly, packaged with a label listing the contents and ingredients. This policy is designed to ensure consistency and minimize allergy-related risks across all classrooms while maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for all students. (Board Policy J LCDD) Our district also has a Wellness Policy (Board Policy ADF and EFE) on the district website.  THE SCHOOL DOES NOT ACCEPT DELIVERIES OF FLOWERS OR BALLOONS FOR STUDENTS.

CELL PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES “FREE TO FOCUS”

The FMSD follows the SC State Board of Education’s Cell Phone Policy.

1. During the school day, students are prohibited from accessing their personal electronic devices, earbuds/headphones, smart watch, Meta glasses, etc., unless authorized for classroom use. Students may not wear or access device accessories during the school day. Students must store their devices and device accessories in lockers, backpacks, or other designated locations during the school day, as directed by the school district. Districts may prohibit students from possessing devices and device accessories on school property. 
2. If explicitly required by a student’s IEP, Medical Plan, or 504 Plan, the student shall be allowed to access their personal electronic device for medically or educationally necessary purposes described and required for administration of the IEP, Medical Plan, or 504 Plan.
3. A student who is a member of a volunteer firefighting organization or emergency organization may be authorized to carry a device with written permission from the District Superintendent or his/her designee.
4. If a student violates the preceding rules during the school day, the student will be subject to progressive consequences in the student code of conduct and disciplinary enforcement procedures.

Violations will result in the following:

• 1st Offense: The device will be taken to the office, and the student can pick it up at the end of the school day.
• 2nd Offense: The device will be taken to the office, and the student’s parent or guardian must pick it up at the end of the school day. A copy of the cell phone policy can be provided to the family when they retrieve the device from the office.
• 3rd Offense: The device will be taken to the office and kept until a meeting is scheduled with the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and a plan is agreed upon on how to proceed for the rest of the school year.
   

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOL

Regular communication between the home and school is an excellent way to support your student. The Parent Portal allows you to review grades and attendance at any time. If you are not registered for this, please ask our receptionist for registration instructions. Sometimes, parent conferences are needed to provide more information. Conferences must be scheduled; if you want to schedule one, please call the school, email the teacher, or send a note. Every teacher maintains a Google Classroom site where class assignments and homework may be viewed. Our school website is regularly updated with information. Please ensure that your email address and phone number are correct, so you receive emails and phone calls from our school. Each team updates information linked to our Weekly Roundup email by Sunday of the week prior.  

SCHOOL VISITORS

All visitors in the building, including parents and volunteers, must sign in at the office and receive a visitor pass. Students may not have school-age visitors, including out-of-town relatives. The administration must approve any visitor who is not a parent, grandparent, or guardian.  THE SCHOOL DOES NOT ACCEPT DELIVERIES OF FLOWERS OR BALLOONS FOR STUDENTS.  

 SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Please watch TV and radio announcements for FORT MILL SCHOOL DISTRICT # 4 (not York County) schools. The school district website, www.fortmillschools.org, will provide information about school closures. Please inform your child in advance what they should do in the event of an early school closing. The FMSD and SMS will contact all homes when there is a closing via our school messenger system. Please keep your phone numbers and email addresses up to date.

ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER CHANGE, AND WITHDRAWAL

YOU MAY UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION HERE

Please notify the school office immediately of any change of address or telephone number. In an emergency, we need to promptly locate parents. A withdrawal form must be completed if your student is withdrawing from SMS. This form is available in our front office. All books must be returned, and all fees must be paid before the transfer is complete.

DRESS CODE

Although each student and their parent/legal guardian are responsible for their dress and appearance, students are expected to demonstrate pride in themselves and their schools by dressing and presenting themselves in a manner that meets acceptable standards. The school administration and board discourage extreme styles of dress and grooming.

Students will dress in appropriate attire.  Students are expected to dress in accordance with the district dress code policy. Logos or clothing that promote alcohol, drugs, tobacco, racism, hate, gang affiliation, nudity, violence, or profanity are not allowed. No clothing or accessories are permitted to disrupt the educational process.  The administration reserves the right to determine what is appropriate for the school.

Per district policy, dress code violations will be addressed with dignity, discretion, and respect for all students by school staff throughout the district. The school board may establish administrative rules and procedures to enforce this policy.

Proper shoes must be worn at all times for safety reasons. Shoes with cleats may not be worn outside of sanctioned athletic events. Students may not wear headwear (hats, caps, hoods, etc.) or sunglasses in the building upon arrival and until dismissal.

The following items are not appropriate for school: visible undergarments; pants or jeans with holes, tears, or tattered areas to the extent that skin or undergarments are visible above the mid-thigh; see-through garments that show skin or undergarments above the mid-thigh; and tops with straps that are less than three fingers wide. Students are not permitted to wear hats or other head coverings during the school day. Exceptions will be granted for school-approved hat days and for headwear worn in accordance with religious beliefs.

If there is a disagreement among students,  parents/legal guardians, and staff regarding the appropriateness of clothing, the administration will exercise discretion in making the decision. Disciplinary action for noncompliance with this policy is outlined below.

Violations will result in the following:

• If the violation can be resolved promptly, the student will remain in/return to class without further disciplinary action.
• If there are three (3) unresolved offenses/violations, all subsequent violations will require a parent conference and detention. 
• At all offense levels, if the article of clothing promotes extreme offenses, such as acts of violence, profanity, nudity, hate-filled language, or other conditions that could disrupt the learning environment, the student may be sent to ISS until suitable clothing is brought to the school.

DISCIPLINE POLICY

Springfield Middle School follows the FMSD discipline policy.  Full Policies and Procedures can be found here: boardpolicyonline.com/?b=fort_mill. The FMSD discipline matrix for all grade levels can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KxsFJndIZJjfzw1j3cZfByI3uRT7oK5UYZUu_q8AGd8/edit?usp=sharing
 

SCHOOL HEALTH ROOM
Every school's health room is managed by a registered nurse. Any student who is not feeling well should obtain a pass from the appropriate staff or faculty member to visit the health room. The health room is designed to assist students with chronic health conditions and serves as an emergency station for minor injuries and illnesses that occur at school. Injuries that occur outside the school environment should be treated at home or by a health care provider before returning to school. Our school nurses cannot diagnose illnesses. A nurse cannot administer any medications without a medication consent form completed by a health care provider and/or parent or guardian. This form, M105, may be found on the district website fortmillschools.org/departments/student-health-services/student-nursing-services.

The health and well-being of all students is of utmost importance.  Procedurally, our nurses work to return students to the classroom as soon as advisable. However, sometimes a student may need to go home due to illness. We will request that you pick up your child if his/her medical condition is unstable, or if he/she is not capable of participating in the daily school activities. This decision is based upon an assessment conducted by the school nurse. In addition, the school must follow the Department of Public Health School Exclusion List for specific medical conditions to comply with SC State Health guidelines. 

GENERAL FIRST-AID AND MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
The school health room will supply the following items for first-aid purposes: Vaseline, Saline Eye Wash, Aloe Vera, 1% Hydrocortisone. If you do not wish for your child to be treated with these items, please provide your written response to your school’s nurse.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
If medical emergencies arise, the school nurse and school administrator will provide medical care deemed appropriate for the student (e.g., call 911 or transport the student to the hospital). In these cases, the schools will make every attempt to contact the parent/guardian. Please be sure to keep your student's emergency information up to date with the correct phone numbers. If a parent/guardian is out of town and has left their child in the care of another adult, written documentation should be on file with the school. This documentation authorizes the school to contact the alternate person in the event of illness or a medical emergency.

MEDICAL ORDERS, DOCUMENTATION, AND DEVICES

To ensure the safety, consistency, and legal compliance of student health services, the following requirements apply:

Independent Medical Orders Required

• Medical orders must be written, signed, and dated by a licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA) who is not the student’s parent or guardian.
• This requirement applies even if the parent/guardian is a licensed healthcare provider. In such cases, medical orders must be completed by another independent licensed provider.

Medical Excuses and Documentation

• Medical excuses, notes, or documentation cannot be written or signed by a student’s parent or guardian, even if that parent/guardian is a licensed medical professional.
• All medical documentation must be issued by the student’s independent healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA).

1. Medical Devices on Campus

If a student requires a medical device during the school day, a formal medical note from a licensed healthcare provider is required before use on campus.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Boots, slings, or braces
• Crutches or walkers
• Wheelchair

1. Required Accommodations Documentation

When a medical device is prescribed, the healthcare provider must also include any necessary school-day accommodations. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Activity restrictions (e.g., PE, recess)
• Mobility assistance needs
• Elevator access, extra time between classes, or seating accommodations

HOMEWORK POLICY/ “H.E.R.D.” PAGE
Homework allows students to independently practice content taught in class. Students must also develop crucial emotional and behavioral skills such as responsibility, autonomy, perseverance, and time management. Missing homework assignments will be documented on the student's H.E.R.D. page. If your child is experiencing difficulty with the homework, please schedule a conference with their teacher(s). Students are responsible for making up missed work when absent from school. This also applies when a student is on a school-related trip.  

ECU (Extra Care Unit)
An ECU-qualified assignment is any “quality” task, classwork, or homework as designated by the teacher. These high-quality assignments are essential to understanding the curriculum.  Our Extra Care Unit enables every student to complete all quality assignments.  This means that students’ grades will reflect their knowledge of the content.  We believe that failing to complete work on time is a behavioral issue and that such behavior warrants the expected disciplinary consequences (rather than deducting points from the grade).  Do not be alarmed if you are occasionally on the ECU list; it takes practice to develop time-management skills, and you may sometimes need additional support to master the content.  Your responsibility is to take advantage of all the help available to you and not allow yourself to fall too far behind. 

HOW ECU WORKS:

1. When a student doesn’t complete an assignment by the due date, that student completes a Google Form with incomplete assignment details. When the form is submitted, an email is sent to the parent/guardian. The child’s name, the teacher’s name, and the assignment will automatically be uploaded onto the ECU list.  
2. Students have the opportunity each morning to complete any missing assignments. Additional time is also available during working lunch and club time.
3. Immediate consequences for students on the ECU list, which stay in effect until work is completed: 
4. Students may be disqualified from field trips. 
5. Students may be disqualified from pep rallies or assemblies.  
6. Leaders in the school (HYPE Leader, Safe Schools Ambassadors, Beta Club, and Yearbook) may be disqualified from their roles. 
7. Students may be able to attend educational or cultural assemblies, such as author speakers or heritage month assemblies, with administration approval. These will be announced in advance so that teachers, parents, and students know which assemblies students can attend.  
8. All missing work must be turned in by the end of the unit per the FMSD Grading policy. If the work is not completed, their grade will reflect the missing work. 
    

INTERNET ACCESS AND RESPONSIBLE USE PLAN

Internet accessibility is provided to SMS students to support the instructional program.  Written parental permission is required and will remain on file to authorize the student's access to the internet at school. Students are expected to exercise responsibility for the appropriate use of the internet. Failure to comply with this request will result in denial of Internet access and/or disciplinary action. Students, parents, and guardians should read this policy and familiarize themselves with the RUP outlined below.  The following rules and procedures apply to all students enrolled in district schools on and off campus. Access to the district internet is for educational purposes only. Students must:  

1. Respect their privacy and the privacy of others.  

• Use only assigned accounts; keep personal information, such as name, address, and phone number, offline; and keep passwords confidential.  
• Have permission to photograph/videotape others and to subsequently save and/or post these images/videos to the internet.  
• FMSD cannot assume responsibility for lost or stolen information sent or received via the district’s communication resources  
• Documents may not include the student's phone number, address, or  the full name of the student or others (first name only)  

1. Respect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources. 

• Adhere to all network security protocols when protecting and sharing these resources with other users.  
• FMSD is not responsible for damages to personal digital technologies or electronic communication devices  
• Treat digital technologies carefully and report any damages, security risks, or violations to a teacher or administrator. 

3. Respect the copyrighted/intellectual property of others to assure academic integrity.

• Cite all sources appropriately, comply with copyright laws, and use electronic communication devices properly.  

4. Respect and practice the principles of community  

• Communicate only in kind, responsible, respectful, and lawful ways. 
• Use electronic communication devices (including FMSD email) for schoolwork only. 
• Report threatening or offensive materials to a teacher or administrator 
• Adhere to prohibited email usage rules, including; 
  • Create or transmit any emails containing content reasonably perceived as threatening, obscene, sexual, racist, or discriminatory  
  • Setting up or operating a commercial business  
  • Email signatures should not include religious statements, political statements, or group affiliations.  

5. Students who witness, experience, or otherwise learn about a suspected violation should report the matter to a teacher or administrator. FMSD reserves the right to monitor and/or review all uses of the district network, Internet usage, and activity. 

FERPA INFORMATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable U.S. Department of Education program. For further information regarding your rights under FERPA, please refer to the “For Parents'' section of the school district’s website at www.fortmillschools.org. 

RISK ASSESSMENTS

The safety and security of all students are of the utmost importance to our faculty and staff.  Should a concern arise about a student being a danger to themself or others, Fort Mill School District protocols for conducting a risk assessment (suicide and/or threat) will be followed to the extent appropriate. These assessments may include interviews with students and staff, reviews of student records, and consultations with district mental health staff, local law enforcement, or other community agencies that support our schools and students. If, as part of its assessment and response, the school district determines there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, it may disclose personally identifiable information from education records to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.  

6th Grade to 7th Grade Math Transition Guide
Key Concepts and Skills to Support Success in 7th Grade Mathematics 

This document provides an overview of the key mathematical concepts and skills students developed in 6th grade. These foundational understandings will support their success as they transition into 7th grade mathematics.

Data, Probability, and Statistical Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Create graphs (boxplots) for real-world and mathematical situations.
• Describe data by examining the median and mode.
• Organize and analyze data given in graphs or data sets.
• Identify the sample size of numerical data sets.
• Find the probability of an event and connect probability to sampling (e.g., calculating the probability of getting a heads when flipping a coin or getting the sum of seven when tossing number cubes).

Measurement, Geometry, and Spatial Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Determine area of triangles and quadrilaterals in real-world and mathematical situations.
• Create nets of 3-D shapes; use the nets to calculate surface area (the outside of a shoebox).
• Find volume of rectangular prisms (what fits inside a shoebox) in real-world and mathematical situations.
• Measure angles using a protractor.
• Categorize angles as complementary or supplementary.
• Graph points and shapes on the coordinate plane in all 4 quadrants.

Numerical Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Recognize rational numbers (numbers that can be written as fractions) in real-world and mathematical situations.
• Understand the different ways of representing rational numbers (fractions, decimals, or percentages).
• Compare and order positive rational numbers using is greater than (>), is less than (<) or is equal to (=).
• Represent real-world situations using integers (positive and negative whole numbers).

Patterns, Algebra, and Functional Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Analyze relationships in tables, graphs, and equations of independent and dependent variables (input/output tables).
• Write, simplify, and evaluate algebraic expressions for real-world and mathematical problems.
• Write and solve equations and inequalities for real-world and mathematical problems (e.g., the distance (D) traveled by a train in time (t) might be expressed by an equation 
• D = 85t, where D is distance in miles and t is time in hours).
• Use ratios to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
• Use the mathematical properties to create and justify equivalent expressions.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with positive and negative whole numbers.
• Apply all operations with positive rational numbers (fractions, decimals, whole numbers) to solve real-world and mathematical problems.

Source: Adapted from the South Carolina Department of Education's Family-Friendly Mathematics Standards Guide (Grade 6). 
 

7th Grade to 8th Grade Math Transition Guide
Key Concepts and Skills to Support Success in 7th Grade Mathematics 

This document provides an overview of the key mathematical concepts and skills students developed in 7th grade. These foundational understandings will support their success as they transition into 8th grade mathematics.

Data, Probability, and Statistical Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Create graphs (stem-and-leaf plots and histograms) to represent real-world and mathematical situations.
• Calculate and interpret the measures of center (mean, median, mode) and spread (mean absolute deviation, interquartile range, range) in mathematical and real-world situations.
• Calculate and interpret theoretical and experimental probability for simple events.
• Identify sample space for simple events. 

Measurement, Geometry, and Spatial Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Identify the parts of a circle.
• Solve mathematical and real-world problems involving circles, circumference, area, radius, and/or diameter.
• Use the Triangle Sum Theorem to find a missing side length in a triangle.
• Solve for volume or surface area of prisms in mathematical and real-world situations.
• Solve for missing angles formed when two lines intersect.
• Calculate and use scale factor to find dimensions and areas of geometric figures and create scale drawings in mathematical and real-world situations.
• Find the distance between ordered pairs on the coordinate plane.

Numerical Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Translate among multiple representations of rational numbers (fractions, decimals, and percents).
• Compare and order positive rational numbers using is equal to (=), is not equal to (≠), is less than (<), is greater than (>), is greater than or equal to (≥), and/or is less than or equal to (≤).
• Represent real-world situations using rational numbers (positive and negative numbers that can be written as fractions).

Patterns, Algebra, and Functional Reasoning
    Students learned how to:

• Write and solve multi-step equations and inequalities for real-world and mathematical problems (such as calculating the total cost of a shopping trip where you need to factor in the price of items, discounts, sales tax, and a delivery fee).
• Use ratios and rates, and proportional relationships to solve real-world problems (for example, if it took 7 hours to mow 4 lawns, then at that rate, how many lawns could be mowed in 35 hours? At what rate were lawns being mowed?).
• Solve real-world percent problems (for example, tax, tips, markups, and markdowns)
• Solve expressions with positive and negative exponents using the laws of exponents:
• 7-3 = 173.
• Use the greatest common factor (GCF) to create equivalent expressions:
• 6a + 15b = 3(2a + 5b).
• Apply all operations with rational numbers (positive and negative) to solve real-world and mathematical problems.

Source: Adapted from the South Carolina Department of Education's Family-Friendly Mathematics Standards Guide (Grade 7). 
 

REPORT CARDS

In Parent Portal, you and your student may view report cards, progress reports, and attendance records. Contact our office if you need help logging in.

GRADING SCALE

PROMOTION GUIDELINES

Students who fail one core (academic) class will be promoted. The team could recommend summer school.  

• If a student fails two core classes, at least one of which is language arts or math, they may attend summer school for one of the classes. If the student passes, they will be promoted. 
• If a student fails three core classes, the student will be retained unless extenuating circumstances exist. They may attend summer school and take math and language arts to be promoted.
• If a student fails four core subjects, they will be retained. However, extenuating circumstances may exist in which the principal determines that placing the student in the next grade would be in the student's best interest.  

SUMMER SCHOOL

Students may attend summer school for all core areas. A fee is charged for each session. Summer school may be at any Fort Mill School District middle school. Parents will be notified at the end of the school year if their child is required to attend.

• Our school hours are 8:05 AM– 3:10 PM. The first bell rings at 8:05 AM to notify students to report to class. Students not in classroom seats by 8:10 are considered  tardy.  Student supervision begins at 7:40 AM; car riders may be dropped off after that time.  If you arrive at school by car after 8:05 AM, you must accompany your child into the office. 
• Early dismissal  procedure: When your child requires early dismissal, please come in to the front office and sign your child out.  Someone will then call your student from class to meet you. There will be no early dismissals after 2:40 PM. 
• Our school website is kept current and announcements are published on it daily.  
• Students should bring their school supplies to school ON the first day of class (not before).
• 6th graders will use a lock that is provided by the school - there is a $5 lock rental fee charged to each student.
• Most student fees (including lunch fees) can be paid online through our website or any FMSD website.  Look for the “$ Pay Fees” tab at the top of the website to create your permanent account.  If you have already registered, your account login remains the same as in previous years.
• Cell phones must be kept in lockers.  They are not used during the school day.
• Report cards are published on Powerschool at the end of each nine week quarter.  You may also review your child’s performance at any time using our “Parent Portal” website which is kept current to within two weeks.  Sign up instructions are available in our office. If you registered in prior years, your account login remains the same.
• When a student is absent, a parent or a medical note should be submitted to his/her homeroom teacher or provided to our front office within one week.  Five days per school year may be excused with a parent note.
• Sixth grade students take two related arts classes each day.  If not participating in Band, your child will rotate through most of our available related arts classes during the school year.  If your student chooses to participate in Band (a full year course,) he/she will take one semester (two quarters) of P.E. and two quarters of our other available related arts classes.  Band participants must participate in band for at least one full semester.
• Students are provided with an agenda that contains a student handbook  This handbook is a comprehensive list of our policies and procedures.  We ask that you and your child review it together.   All of our school rules are consistently enforced.
• Students who feel ill enough to go home must see the nurse to contact home.  Using their cellphone to contact you without permission is a cell phone violation and their phone will be confiscated.
• Students may not ride a different bus to go home with a friend, except in rare cases as a babysitter request and then only with advance approval from the transportation department.  
• Please pick up your child from all extra-curricular school events on time.
• 6th graders are not able to participate in school sports.  Students may participate in sports in 7th and 8th grade.  You will find more information on https://fortmillathleticzone.com/springfield/.  The SC High School League governs our sports programs.
• To minimize classroom interruptions,  we do not call students from class to retrieve dropped off items.  If a student is expecting an item, he/she may check the front office between classes for it.  We will page a child at the end of the school day to retrieve an item.
• Lost and Found items are donated to Goodwill in Fort Mill at the end of each month if we can’t return it.  If you put your child’s name on clothing, lunchboxes, etc. it will be returned to your child!  Please have them check the stage in the cafeteria for any items they may be missing.

• Our school hours are 8:05 AM– 3:10 PM. The first bell rings at 8:05 AM to notify students to report to class. Students not in classroom seats by 8:10 are considered  tardy.  Student supervision begins at 7:40 AM; car riders may be dropped off after that time.  If you arrive at school by car after 8:05 AM, you must accompany your child into the office. 
• Early dismissal  procedure: When your child requires early dismissal, please come in to the front office and sign your child out.  Someone will then call your student from class to meet you. There will be no early dismissals after 2:40 PM. 
• Our school website is kept current and announcements are published on it daily. 
• Students should bring their school supplies to school ON the first day of class (not before).
• Students will use a lock that is provided by the school - there is a $5 lock rental fee charged to each student.
• Most student fees (including lunch fees) can be paid online through our website or any FMSD website.  Look for the “$ Pay Fees” tab near the top right corner of the website to create your permanent account.  If you have already registered, your account login remains the same as in previous years.
• Cell phones must be kept in lockers.  They are not used during the school day.
• Report cards are published on Powerschool at the end of each nine week quarter.  You may also review your child’s performance at any time using our “Parent Portal” website, which is kept current to within two weeks.  Sign up instructions are available in our office. If you registered in prior years, your account login has not changed.
• When a student is absent, a parent or a medical note should be submitted to his/her homeroom teacher or provided to our front office within one week.  Five days per school year may be excused with a parent note.
• Seventh and eighth graders take two related arts classes each day.  Each related arts class is 18 weeks long (one semester), except for Band and 8th grade Honors Chorus, which is taught both semesters.  (Students must audition to participate in the Honors Chorus.)  If your student participates in Band or Honors Chorus, he/she will also take one semester of PE and one semester of our other available related arts classes. If your child does not participate in Band or Honors Chorus, he/she will take four related arts classes each year.  We do our best to accommodate your child’s interests.
• Students are provided with an agenda that contains a student handbook  This handbook is a comprehensive list of our policies and procedures.  We ask that you and your child review it together.   All of our school rules are consistently enforced.
• Students who feel ill enough to go home must see the nurse to contact home.  Using their cellphone to contact you without permission is a cell phone violation and their phone will be confiscated.
• Students may not ride a different bus to go home with a friend, except in rare cases as a babysitter request and then only with advance approval from the transportation department.  
• Please pick up your child from all extra-curricular school events on time.
• Students may participate on our sports teams in 7th and 8th grade.  You will find more information on https://fortmillathleticzone.com/springfield/.  The SC High School League governs our sports programs.
• Lost and Found items are donated to Goodwill in Fort Mill at the end of each month if we can’t return it.  If you put your child’s name on clothing, lunchboxes, etc. it will be returned to your child!  Please have them check the stage in the gym for any items they may be missing.

SCHOOL BOARD POLICY ON HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, OR BULLYING

Purpose: To establish the basic structure for maintaining a safe, positive environment for students and staff that is free from harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

The board prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student by students, staff and third parties that interfere with or disrupt a student's ability to learn and the school's responsibility to educate its students in a safe and orderly environment whether in a classroom, on school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, at an official school bus stop, at a school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises, or at another program or function where the school is responsible for the student.

For purposes of this policy, harassment, intimidation, or bullying is defined as a gesture, electronic communication, or a written, verbal, physical, or sexual act reasonably perceived to have the effect of either of the following.

• harming a student physically or emotionally, or damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of personal harm or property damage
• insulting or demeaning a student or group of students, causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school

Any student who believes they have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, or bullying is encouraged to file a complaint in accordance with the superintendent's established procedures. Complaints will be investigated promptly, thoroughly, and confidentially. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal or their designee. Reports by students or employees may be made anonymously.

The district prohibits retaliation or reprisals of any kind against a student or employee who has filed a complaint or report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The district also prohibits any person from falsely accusing another as a means of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

The board expects students to conduct themselves in an orderly, courteous, dignified, and respectful manner. Students and employees have a responsibility to know and respect the school and district's policies, rules, and regulations. Any student or employee found to have engaged in the prohibited actions outlined in this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion for a student or termination for an employee. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement officials. The district will take all other appropriate steps to correct or rectify the situation.

Students, parents/legal guardians, teachers, and staff members should be aware that the district may take disciplinary actions for conduct initiated and/or created off-campus involving the inappropriate use of the Internet or web-based resources if such conduct poses a threat or substantially interferes with or disrupts the work and discipline of the schools, including discipline for student harassment and bullying.

The superintendent will be responsible for ensuring notice of this policy is provided to students, staff, parents/legal guardians, volunteers, and members of the community, including its applicability to all areas of the school environment as outlined in this policy.

The superintendent will also ensure that a process is established for discussing the district policy with students.

Cf. GBEB, JIC, JICDA

Adopted 2/5/07, 11/19/13

Legal references may be found here: here:https://boardpolicyonline.com/?b=fort_mill

AFTER-SCHOOL DISMISSAL

All students must exit the building immediately upon dismissal, unless they remain for an after-school activity. Car riders report to the front of the school, where they sit and wait for their rides. Bus riders report to the bus loading area in the back of the school.  

BUS TRANSPORTATION

Students riding the school bus must comply with all district bus policies and rules as communicated by the bus driver. Riding the school bus is a privilege, and students may lose that privilege if their behavior is disruptive and jeopardizes the safety of other students. Students may not ride a different bus without advance approval from the transportation department. 

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

A student who is involved in school activities is well-rounded. We have many clubs and activities with which students may become involved. Sports, band, chorus, and academic activities are available. Students must be at school for at least half of the day and not be on the ECU list to participate in an extracurricular activity that day.  The South Carolina High School League governs all sports. The SCHSL determines eligibility in conjunction with school board policy. Students must be picked up no later than 15 minutes after all school functions have concluded. Failure to comply with this policy may result in the student being prohibited from attending after-school activities.