The School District of Greenville County does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, handicap, religion, or national origin in its dealings with employees, students, the general public, applicants for employment, educational programs, activities, or access to facilities.
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to Mauldin Middle School! It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Principal. Our faculty, staff, and administration strive to provide our students with exceptional instructional and extracurricular opportunities. We are committed to helping our students realize their full potential. I invite you to participate in your child’s educational journey. Together we can encourage, support, and strengthen our students to prepare them for a lifetime of success.
Parents and students, please read this student handbook together to be aware of the school policies and procedures. Clearly understanding these expectations is an important step toward your success.
I wish you all a wonderful school year and I look forward to building productive relationships with each of you. Please know that my door is always open if I can be of assistance to you.
Respectfully,
Karen H. Greene
Principal
The vision of Mauldin Middle School is to develop 21st Century learners by creating a collaborative learning community. We will ensure lifelong learners who are responsible, productive citizens by encouraging discovery and exploration through personalized learning.
Greenville County uses a 10 point scale which is in compliance with statewide grading
requirements.
A = 100-90; B = 89-80; C = 79-70; D = 69-60; F = 59-50
The School District of Greenville County has adopted uniform rules to assure that students attend school regularly. Students are counted present only when they are actually in school, on homebound instruction, or are present at an activity authorized by the school principal. A principal has the authority to approve or disapprove all student absences.
The school year consists of 180 school days. To receive credit, students must attend at least 85 days of each 90-day semester course and at least 170 days of each 180-day year course, as well as, meet course requirements. Accrued student absences may not exceed ten (10) days during the school year, unless validated with a medical note.
In order to receive high school credit after accumulating a combination of 10 parent notes and/or unlawful absences, “seat time recovery” will be required for any subsequent unlawful absence or parent note that was not approved by the principal, this recovery time may be arranged ahead of time with the grade level administrator to be served after school. (Note: the 10 day absence limit applies to each 180-day course and should be considered 5 days for each 90-day course). A student must attend the majority of a class session during the school day to receive credit for that class.
The definition of an absence at a Greenville County School is when a student misses more than one-half of any singular class period for which a student is enrolled, or multiple class periods for which a student is enrolled, during a school day. Absence in any part of the school day for a minimum of more than one-half class period, even if the student was present for all other portions of that same school day, by definition excludes a student from being determined to have Perfect Attendance.
Early dismissals should be scheduled between classes in order to avoid excessive disruption of class. The student must bring a note written and signed by the parent or guardian to the main office upon arrival to school. The note must contain the following information: date, name of student, time of dismissal, reason for dismissal, name of person picking up the student, telephone number where the parent can be reached for verification, and signature of the parent. If a note is not provided, parents should be prepared until the next class change or administration is available to go to the classroom to dismiss the student. A student is required to attend three hours (of the school day) in order to be counted present for the entire school day. However, if a period is missed, they are no longer eligible for perfect attendance.
The parent or guardian will be required to come into the office to sign the dismissal sheet. Identification from the person picking up the student will be necessary before the student is permitted to leave school.
No early dismissals are permitted after 2:45 PM.
If students move during the school year or during the summer, they should report changes of address and phone numbers to the guidance clerk and to the nurse. Accurate addresses and phone numbers are needed in case of emergencies. The school should have an up-to-date address and phone number for each student’s parents at all times.
Punctuality is a critical work related skill that a person can learn. It directly correlates to an individual’s success in the business world. Parents should have students at school on time each day. Furthermore, students are expected to be in their individual classes on time. Late arrival (tardiness) results in interruptions to the learning process.
School begins at 8:30 for all grades. Students not in Flex at 8:30 are Tardy. If a student arrives after 8:30, he/she must report to the office for an admittance slip. The tardy will be entered into the student’s attendance record. Tardiness will be excused for doctor or dentist appointments or for a late bus. Parents are expected to provide a note in the event of a late arrival to school.
Bus riders will receive a “Late Bus” pass and will have four minutes from the time on the pass to get to their first class.
It is important that all students develop responsibility and work to complete all assignments by the due date. We are aware that certain situations arise that prevent a student from turning in an assignments by the assigned due date. Students are expected to turn in all assignments. In an effort to provide every opportunity for students to succeed at Mauldin Middle School we have created opportunities such as teacher tutoring and Flex Time in our schedule to support student learning. Late work policy is posted on teachers’ websites.
All middle school students must pass all required academic subjects during the regular term or during summer school in order to be promoted to the next grade. The required academic subjects are language arts, math, science, and social studies.
A retake is not a right; it is an opportunity students must earn. A retake is for those who care about their learning and achieving mastery.
*Students must have all work submitted that relates to the test before they can retake the test. If they want to go back and do the work, they may. Students also have to fill out a Retake Form that they can get from their teacher. This form puts all of the responsibility on the student to earn their retake. They need to set a date with the teacher to retake their assessment, reflect on their preparation for the initial exam, get parent signatures, and actually go through each question they missed and correct them. (Retakes are for tests only.)
Textbooks are available digitally. Issued textbooks are to be kept clean and handled carefully. Students will be required to pay replacement costs for lost books and an appropriate charge for damaged books.
If for some reason a student is unable to continue his/her education at Mauldin Middle School, the student is to notify their appropriate counselor and/or registrar. The student’s parent or legal guardian should come to the office to sign the proper withdrawal/transfer paperwork with our registrar.
No student records will be released or forwarded to another school until the proper check-out procedures have been completed. All books, Chromebook with charger, and any outstanding fees must be completed prior to withdrawing.
No student will be allowed to attend Mauldin Middle School without proper notification of transfer.
Behavior in the cafeteria should be based on courtesy and cleanliness and should adhere to the following guidelines:
Breakfast is served from 7:30 AM – 8:25 AM. Students planning to eat breakfast should report immediately to the cafeteria on arrival to school. Once student arrives to designated holding areas, student will not be permitted to leave designated holding area.
Each student will have an account with a designated number in the lunchroom. Parents have three options when paying on their student’s account. Payments by check, cash, or online are accepted. To pay online, parents may go to the Greenville County Schools web site and click on the “myschoolbucks.com” link to set up an account.
Meals may not be charged. If a student does not have money in their account, they will be given an alternate meal. There will be no provision by the school to provide lunch money. Keeping up with lunch money is the sole responsibility of the student. Students must have their ID badge in order to purchase breakfast and/or lunch.
Students should refrain from eating or drinking outside of the school cafeteria. Students may carry only water in container with a screw-top cap and/or flip-up spout during the day.
Academic instruction is the primary function of Mauldin Middle School. In order for students to live up to their academic potential, all students are expected to:
Homework may be assigned to students as a way to supplement and strengthen the student’s regular class work. Homework is a part of a student’s grade, and the student is responsible for completing and submitting it.
Flex time is a period of additional instructional time during the school day set aside specifically for teachers to meet students where they are academically and students to receive either assistance in a content area in which they are struggling, enrichment in a content area in which they are excelling, or individualized guidance in completing their assigned academic tasks from teachers.
Why do we have flex time at our school?
School counselors are available at Mauldin Middle School for conferences with students and parents and to provide information and assistance with regard to the school program. Parent conferences with teachers concerning a student’s academics can be made through the counselor department or directly with the teacher(s).
Greenville County Schools Code of Conduct applies to all clubs and extracurricular activities. Students who choose to participate must be picked up by the school’s designated time; failure to do so may prohibit student’s future participation.
Off-campus school-sponsored activities must be substantiated with a written permit (form given to students by the teacher or sponsor) signed by parents. Students are under the district’s code of conduct when on school-sponsored trips. Students are responsible for work missed during field trips.
Students should notify their teachers immediately if they are ill or injured. Students are allowed to visit the health room, after obtaining a health room pass from their teacher. All health related phone calls to parents should be made in the health room. Dismissals due to illness must first be seen in the health room or they will be considered unexcused. If it is necessary for a student to take medication while at school, the parent must bring the medication to the health room. All medication must be in the original container, labeled with the student’s name and the directions for use. Medication cannot be sent to school with the student.
When severe weather creates hazardous conditions, the regular school schedule may be suspended to ensure students’ safety. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to monitor news reports via television, radio stations, and the school district's website and social media.
At the beginning of the school year, each student will be given the option of a locker with a built-in lock. Students will be given the combination and should memorize the combination and refrain from sharing it with other students. Students will be responsible for all articles left in their lockers. Because lockers are school property, the administrators retain the right to inspect lockers from time to time to prevent abuse.
Any article found on school grounds should be turned in to the office. Students claiming items found may have the items returned by checking with the office and making proper identification. Gym clothes will be turned in to the lost and found in the gym.
All lost and found items will be discarded or given to a charitable organization every 4.5 weeks.
The Media Center is open from 8:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. daily. All students must have a pass when using the library. Only one name may be included on a pass from a teacher.
Students are to demonstrate appropriate behavior and courtesy when using the library. No student may check out materials and/or books for another student. The books are the responsibility of the student who checked out the book(s).
Books may be checked out for two weeks and may be renewed once. Books in great demand may not be renewed. All fees should be paid promptly. Students may print in the Media Center for a fee.
Students are expected to make all daily school and after school arrangements, prior to coming to school each day. Emergency messages that must be communicated to students during the school day will be taken and written down by the school receptionist. These students will be called to the office at the end of the day to pick up their messages. Students will only be allowed to call home with a pass from a teacher. Please refrain from texting your child during school hours as this interrupts the education process and puts them in a position to violate school rules. Responsibility is a skill that will help students become successful. If a parent needs to drop off belongings for a student, parents may bring it to the front office and place in the cubby. Students will not be called to the office to pick up the belongings. Delivery of outside food, flowers, balloons, etc are not accepted at school. If they are delivered, they will be kept in the office until the end of school and students will be notified that they need to pick up in the office.
Report cards are sent to parents at the end of each nine-week period. Parents are invited to visit the school or otherwise communicate with the principal, counselors, and teachers for a discussion of any problem having to do with the student’s progress.
1st Quarter: October 27; 2nd Quarter: January 21; 3rd Quarter: March 30
The school day for Mauldin Middle School students is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Students who are eating breakfast will report immediately to the cafeteria. Band students who are practicing or storing instruments will report to the cafeteria. Eighth grade students will report to the designated area in the cafeteria. Sixth and seventh grade students will report to designated areas in the gym. Sixth and seventh grade students will report to the gym when they finish breakfast.
Teachers desiring students to report to their classrooms or to the library prior to 8:15 a.m. should give the student(s) a written pass the previous day. Students without written passes will not be allowed to leave the designated area.
All car riders and walkers must exit the building by 3:25 p.m. unless under the supervision of a teacher. Car riders must be picked up by 4:00. Any students not picked up by 4:00 will be brought into the front office. At that time, whomever is picking up the student must come into the front office to sign their student out.
Students wishing to participate must have an overall passing average in each of their academic classes and abide by the athletic behavior contract. Each athlete is expected to conduct himself/herself in an honorable way at all times--in school and in the community. Students must also complete the required physical examination/forms to participate. Students who are selected to participate on a school athletic team are required to sign and adhere to the Mauldin Middle School Student Athlete Contract.
Cell phones and Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) are allowed at Mauldin Middle School before dismissal from morning holding and after 3:15 pm. Student cell phone/PED must be turned off during the school day. Turned “on” includes a device that is activated and set or programmed to ring, vibrate or otherwise send or receive a signal. Students may not record video or take pictures of other students at any time. Earbuds/headphones are not to be visible in the hallways or classrooms during the school day. Personal speakers that play audio aloud are deemed inappropriate materials and will be disciplined as such. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action.
Students are encouraged to use technology to explore educational topics, conduct research, and communicate with others. Access to computers, however, also makes available material that may not be appropriate for a student’s age or course of study. The District will take reasonable steps to restrict access to inappropriate materials, but because it cannot guarantee such restrictions, students using technology must also bear responsibility for not accessing inappropriate materials. Students agree to the terms and conditions contained in the Acceptable Use Policy upon acceptance of the school handbook.
The use of technology and/or social media on or off school property, which results in a school disturbance, may result in disciplinary action.
The School District of Greenville County is committed to maintaining an educational environment in which students of all backgrounds, beliefs and religions are welcome and treated with equal dignity and respect. The District will neither advance nor inhibit religion. In accord with the United States Constitution, the District protects private expression, including religious expression, by individual students as long as that expression does not create a disruption to or interfere with the educational environment.
Student speakers at school-sponsored activities, including graduations, may not be selected on a basis that either favors or disfavors religious speech. Where student speakers are selected on the basis of genuinely neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious or secular content. In contrast, where school officials determine or substantially control the content of what is expressed, such speech is attributable to the school and may not include prayer or religious content. A school, however, may prevent or remove a speaker if the content of their speech is obscene, contrary to the District’s behavior code or substantially disruptive to the school environment.
For a comprehensive overview of student’s rights, please review the U.S. Department of Education’s guidelines on religious expression in public schools.
Do not bring money or other valuables that will be out of your sight during the day. Bring only enough money for each day. Any item that is stolen should be reported to your teacher or the office personnel immediately. The school does not assume responsibility for lost or stolen articles.
Mauldin Middle School has procedures and guidelines in place for various safety-related and crisis situations. Mauldin Middle School practices these procedures throughout the year to better ensure school safety.
A great school requires the best efforts and cooperation of all concerned. Each individual will be expected to:
It is the expectation at Mauldin Middle School that students will behave responsibly and follow the school district discipline code of conduct. Behaviors are divided into levels with appropriate consequences. Level I conduct refers to disorderly conduct. “Disorderly conduct is defined as any activity in which a student engages that tends to impede orderly classroom procedures or instructional activities, orderly operation of the school or the frequency or seriousness of which disturbs the classroom or School”. Level II refers to Disruptive Conduct. Disruptive conduct is defined as: “those activities engaged in by student(s) which are directed against persons or property and the consequences of which tend to endanger the health or safety of themselves or others in the school.” The Code of Conduct can be accessed on the Greenville County Schools website.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure safety and security of Mauldin Middle School students who are on campus each day. All students are required to wear an ID badge throughout the school day. One student identification badge and grade level color, breakaway lanyard will be provided to every student. EVERY student must wear the ID badge at all times while on school grounds. ID badge must be worn on the breakaway lanyard hanging around the neck. Lost, stolen, or defaced ID badges must be replaced for $5.00 at student cost. ID violations will result in disciplinary actions. Students who arrive to school without their ID will be sent to purchase a new one for $5.00 or to get a temporary ID sticker.
During school hours no student may use or have a cell phone or electronic device visible or turned on. “Turned on” includes device that is activated and set or programmed to ring, vibrate or otherwise send or receive a signal. Per district policy, phone/electronic device violations will be handled according to the discipline guidelines in the discipline matrix for Level 1 Offenses. If a student refuses to put away their device it will be considered refusal to obey, and they will have chosen the consequences for that behavior (Level II Offense).
Greenville County School District students are expected to dress and be groomed in such a way as to not distract or cause disruption in the educational program or orderly operation of the school. Personal appearance of students should promote health and safety, contribute to a climate conducive to teaching and learning, and project a positive image of the District to the community. Students should dress for the educational setting and not the recreational one.
The administration will make the final judgement on the appropriateness of clothing and/or appearance and reserves the right to prohibit students from wearing any articles of clothing or other items which lead to or may foreseeably result in the disruption of or interference with the school environment. In the event the administration will either require the student to change or will inform the student not to wear the garment to school again. Repeated violations of the dress code will be treated as refusal to obey in violation of the District’s Behavior Code.
All students must wear a mask when unable to socially distance while at school, during school-sponsored programs, or when under the control and care of the School District unless a student has a disability that would prevent the wearing of a mask or a student in K3, K4, K5 or 1st grade who is unable to wear a mask as a result of that child’s age. Students may also submit medical documentation to the school’s administration, and any medical exemption will be considered on an individual basis based upon that medical documentation. Any student who communicates an absolute refusal to wear a mask and is not willing to comply with the requirement will be assigned to the District’s virtual program.
Schools should work with students who inadvertently fail to wear a mask to teach them of the importance of wearing a mask and to remind those students of the requirement for masks to be worn around others. If a student demonstrates a pattern or continual failure of wearing a mask then the following process should be followed:
A decision by the school to assign a student to the virtual program may be appealed to the Executive Director of Student Services within 5 school days of that decision. The Executive Director of Student Services will review that appeal, which will include the reasons the student is challenging the decision, and obtain any necessary information from the school. A decision will be rendered in writing by the Executive Director of Student Services within 5 school days of the date of the appeal. Any further appeal must be directed in writing within 3 school days to the Superintendent. A final decision will be rendered in writing within 5 school days of receipt of that appeal by the Superintendent or his designee.
Teachers will make every effort to handle minor classroom disruptions according to the following plan:
1st Offense: Warning
2nd Offense: Warning/Parent Contact (after 1st quarter, this step is no longer included)
3rd Offense: Lunch Detention + parent/guardian contact
4th Offense: Administrative Detention (7:30 - 8:15 AM) + parent/guardian contact
After a 4th Offense, Discipline Referral
2020-2021 Discipline Referral Chart
**Addendum to this year's Student Handbook as of July 31, 2020.