Middle School Handbook

Mission:

Charlotte Preparatory School provides an extraordinary educational experience founded on academic excellence, character development and leadership in a culturally diverse environment.

A Charlotte Preparatory School student:

Exhibits a strong work ethic in the classroom Is courteous, polite and well-mannered Displays good sportsmanship in all athletic endeavors Displays poise and leadership in and out of the classroom Displays integrity and is morally ethical Is well-rounded with varied interests and values diversity in various

forms

Table of Contents

List of Faculty and Staff

Academic:

Daily Schedule

Grades and Renweb

Technology

Homework policies

Tests/Quizzes/Exams

Academic demerits

Online classes

Standardized Tests/Accomodations

Awards and honor roll

Non-Academic:

Code of conduct & Dress Code

Athletics/Extracurriculars

Advisory/ BUD-E

High School Placement

Faculty and Staff

Eddie Mensah—Head of Middle School

Mandy Cook: Middle School Administrative Assistant and School Registrar

Advisory lists (advisors):

5th Grade boys: Brandt Boidy (5th /6th Math)

5th grade girls: Sharon Mitchell (5th /6th Language Arts) and Jason Floyd (Athletic Director, PE)

6th grade girls: Terese Heaney (5th/6th History, Dean of Students) and Katherine Slayton (Writing)

6th grade boys: Dave Marchant (5th/6th Science)

7th grade girls: Erin Flynn (7th/8th Spanish)

7th grade boys: Katie Edde (7th /8th History) and Catherine Carbonaro (7th/8th Math)

8th grade girls: Alyssa Harrigan (7th/8th Language Arts)

8th grade boys: Kathy Zuck (7th/8th Science)

Diana Ligler: 6th Spanish

Lisa Watson: 5th Spanish

Angelica Rosen: 7th/8th Technology

Beth Otis: 5th/6th Technology

Fine Arts:

Genevieve Balcer: Art, Pam Freedy: Drama, Angela Stefanini: Chorus, Rich Borderman: Band

ACADEMIC:

Schedule:

The daily schedule runs from 8:05am to 3:20pm. Each class is 45 minutes long. Students can arrive as early as 7:30am. Early care is provided in the gym before the start of first period at 8:05am. Middle School carpool begins at 3:25pm. Lunch and recess go from 1:10pm to 1:50pm.

The core subjects (Math, Language Arts, Science and History) meet 5 times per week.

Spanish meets 4 times a week in 5th and 6th grade and 5 times a week in 7th and 8th grade.

Writing Workshop: 6th and 8th graders take Writing Workshop 4 times a week for the first semester and have two periods of Study Skills in the second semester.

Study Skills: 5th and 7th graders have 2 periods of Study Skills in the first semester and 4 periods of Writing Workshop in the second semester.

PE: 6th and 8th graders have PE once a week in the first semester and 3 times a week in the second semester. 5th and 7th graders take PE three times a week in the first semester and once a week in the second semester.

Technology: All students take Technology twice a week

Fine Arts: Charlotte Prep School offers 4 Fine Arts options; Band, Chorus, Art and Drama. In 5th grade each students takes a quarter each of each option, 4 times a week. Beginning in 6th grade students narrow down their choices by picking between Band/Chorus and Art/Drama. By 8th grade, students take one Fine Art option all year.

Electives meet during the last period on Fridays. Monday’s X block (1:50pm-2:35pm) is set aside for all school assemblies and BUD-E.

Grades and Renweb

Charlotte Preparatory school operates on the semester system (4 quarters making up 2 semesters).

At mid-quarter, parents will be provided with progress reports with teacher comments that allow students to make any necessary adjustments in order to positively affect their grades before the end of the quarter. A report card is produced at the end of each quarter and semester:

Mid-quarter comments: 4 times a year.

Quarter/Semester Report card: 4 times a year.

7th and 8th graders take two exams each year: a midterm exam at the end of the 1st semester and a final exam at the end of the year.

Renweb is the online portal where parents can access students’ academic progress periodically. Teachers will notify parents of when grades will be updated. Please check out the instructions for accessing Renweb on the Charlotte Prep parent web portal. There is also an “Acceptable Use Policy” for technology that is given out to parents.

Homework Guidelines for Parents:

The guidelines below are just that-- guidelines, not rules and regulations.  There may be occasional departures from the guidelines, but every attempt will be made to fulfill these goals. Please don't hesitate to contact the teacher if you have any questions or concerns about a homework assignment.  Also, if your child consistently requires more than the recommended guidelines of time to complete nightly assignments, please alert the teacher.  Sending a note in helps the teacher gauge how the class overall is handling assignments. Homework is an integral part of a strong educational experience.  Numerous research studies have addressed the short and long term benefits of daily, independent work completed by students of all ages.  Doing all homework assignments thoroughly, routinely, and accurately is one of the best ways a student can assist in his/her success in class. The purposes of homework vary.  A homework assignment might reinforce lessons covered in class or it may lay a foundation for future work.  Whatever its specific purpose, homework supports the building of independence and self-reliance as our students develop life-long learning and study habits.  Additionally, homework creates one of the best ways for students to take responsibility for their own learning and for "learning how to learn". Because we believe homework is central to the schooling process, it is important that students, parents, teachers and administrators at Charlotte

Preparatory School work together with common goals for high performance on homework. Here are some guidelines. Guidelines for Amount of Homework All students should expect homework on a regular basis. While there are many variables impacting the length of homework assignments, the following ranges are provided for each grade level.  Note that these are averages; some students may need or prefer to spend more time, while others may need less time. The ranges below are to serve as approximations for the pattern of homework assignments, not as an absolute rule for a single assignment. Also note that these times are not reflective of "cramming," when a student has had an assignment for several days and waits until the night before the due date to study or complete the paper or project.

** Time for nightly reading is not allotted in the times below; Middle School students are expected to read independently on a regular basis.

5th & 6th Grades                  60-90 minutes 7th & 8th Grades                  90-120 minutes

Please feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions regarding the guidelines for his/her class. 

Some Helpful Homework Tips:

1. Create a quiet work environment.2. Establish a consistent homework routine and time.3. Provide adequate supplies for completing assignments.4. Allow small breaks if a child struggles to maintain focus for a long

period of time.5. Provide a healthy snack before beginning homework.6. Help your child to prioritize their homework. It is advised to

complete the most challenging assignments first.7. Help and encourage your child as needed, but do not do their work

for them.8. Always discuss homework issues with your child's teacher. There

are things we can do to alleviate any homework stress.

Academic Demerits:

Academic demerits will be given to students who do not complete homework assignments. Three academic demerits in half a quarter will result in the student having to serve an after school detention in order to complete the homework missed. Students will receive partial credit for those assignments at the discretion of the individual teacher. Academic demerits will not be part of the student’s permanent record.

Tests/Quizzes/Exams:

Tests and quizzes are given at the discretion of individual teachers. Teachers work together to ensure that students are not overly taxed with such assessments. In general, students will not have more than a test and a quiz in one day.

7th and 8th grade students will take 2 exams each year, a midterm and a final. 5th and 6th grade teachers may elect to give unit tests at the end of a semester.

Online classes:

As dictated by our World Language Policy, some students may take online Language classes through Aventa. Those students will be required to check in weekly with a Language teacher in order to monitor and assess progress.

World Language Placement Policy

Incoming 5 th and 6 th grade students with NO Spanish experience: Complete ONE of the following:1) Take Spanish Boot Camp at Charlotte Prep in August2) Take another approved Spanish course during the summer 3) Meet with a Spanish tutor over the summer (the tutor should contact the appropriate Spanish teacher at Charlotte Prep to get a list of topics to cover). 

Incoming 5 th grade students with SOME PAST Spanish experience (in the past 2 years): Get a packet of materials from the 5th grade teacher to complete over the summer. Students can get the packet in June.

Incoming 6 th grade students with SOME Spanish experience (in the past 2 years): Take the Spanish Placement Test at Charlotte Prep.  The outcome of the test will determine whether you are ready to join your class in Spanish.  You may be recommended for tutoring OR Spanish Boot Camp at Charlotte Prep prior to the beginning of school.

Incoming 7 th and 8 th grade students with NO Spanish experience: Take an online language course through Fuel Education (formerly Aventa Learning).  Options include: Spanish, French, Chinese, German, and Latin.

If you take a Spanish course through Fuel Education in seventh grade, you have the option of taking the Spanish Placement Test at the end of the school year to determine if you are ready to join your class in eighth grade.

Incoming 7 th and 8 th grade students with SOME Spanish experience (in the past 2 years): Take the Spanish Placement Test at Charlotte Prep.  The outcome of the test will determine whether you are ready to join your class in Spanish OR whether you are a good candidate for online language learning.

**There is an additional cost for the online courses**

If you take a Spanish course through Fuel Education in seventh grade, you have the option of taking the Spanish Placement Test at the end of the school year to determine if you are ready to join your class in eighth grade.

A Spanish Boot Camp will be offered at school in August from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM each day.  There will be required homework assignments in addition to the materials presented at Boot Camp. 

*Students who need to take the Spanish Placement Test should do so as early in the summer as possible, per appointment, so that placement can be determined. Please contact The Head of Middle School to make an appointment.

Standardized Tests:

Charlotte Preparatory School students take a variety of standardized tests:

The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), required for admission to the school, is also taken by 8th graders in the fall/winter in as part of the high school placement process** (See High School Placement for more details)

ERB tests in Math and Language Arts are taken each fall by students in grades 3-8.

The WrAP test, which measures some aspects of students’ writing ability will be taken by students during the semester in which they take Writing Workshop (Fall for 6th and 8th, Spring for 5th and 7th).

If you have any questions about any of the standardized tests, please contact the school counselor, Erin Kelly, or your division head.

Honor Roll and Awards:

Criteria for making the Honor Roll: Honor Roll:Students must have an average of “B+” or higher in all of their classes. High Honor Roll: Students must have an average of “A“ or higher in all of their classes.  

End of Year Awards:

At the end of the academic year, the middle school faculty bestows individual subject awards to students who have demonstrated consistent and exemplary work in the specific subject areas. Students are also recognized at this awards ceremony for non-academic achievements.

Presidential Awards:

The Presidential awards take into consideration students’ GPA as well as their standardized test scores:

Gold: 3.7 GPA and a minimum of 85% National score on all sections of the ERB

Silver: 3.7 GPA and a minimum of 80% National score on all sections of the ERB

7 th Grade DUKE TIP Awards

The Duke University Talent Identification Program, also known as TIP, was founded in 1980 and is dedicated to the cultivation and education of talented youth.

The 7th Grade Talent Search identifies academically talented seventh graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are invited to take the ACT or the SAT college entrance exam as seventh graders, allowing them greater insight into their academic abilities. Participants also gain valuable benefits and have access to unique resources for gifted students.

To qualify for the 7 th grade talent search, a student must score in the 95 percentile or higher on specific subtests on a nationally recognized standardized test (in our case, the ERB)

Those students who qualify as 7th grade TIP Scholars are afforded the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT examination as 7th graders.

In addition, Duke recognizes and honors 7th grade talent search participants who receive outstanding scores on the SAT. Students who receive State Recognition must score a 520 or higher on Math, 510 or higher on Critical Reading, or 500 or higher on the Writing portion.

Students who receive Grand Recognition must score a 670 or higher in Math, a 650 or higher in Critical Reading or Writing on the SAT.

A number of awards are also given out to 8th graders during graduation:

Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the Year are chosen for outstanding achievement in athletics.

The McCallie Character Leadership Community Award offers a rising 8th grade boy a scholarship to the summer program and the opportunity to be part of a select group of talented, intellectually

curious peers who want to make the most of their abilities and learn to use those abilities to influence others in a positive way.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Scholarship for good citizenship.

The Fine Arts Award is awarded to the 8th grade student who has exhibited superior aptitude in Visual Art, Drama or Music.

Chatham Hall Book Award & Scholarship recognizes a seventh-grade girl who is in excellent academic standing, demonstrates leadership and character, and exhibits a love of learning.  The recipient will receive a scholarship which is renewable for each year she is enrolled at Chatham Hall.

Chatham Hall Science Book Award honors a sixth-grade girl who is in excellent academic standing and exhibits a love of science.  The recipient will receive a scholarship to the Chatham Hall Science Camp.

Leadership Award is given to the 8th grade who exhibits outstanding leadership during their time at Charlotte Prep.

School Spirit Award is given to the student who embodies the spirit and enthusiasm of being a Charlotte Prep student.

The STEM Award is presented to the eighth grade student at Charlotte Preparatory School who exhibits affinity for and achievement in the academic disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

The “Four Pillars” Award is bestowed by the Middle School faculty to that member of Charlotte Preparatory School’s graduating class whose character and actions best exemplify our school’s highest ideals and which are codified in The Four Pillars of Leadership: Respect, Integrity, Perseverance, and Courage. This is the highest Honor that a student at Charlotte Preparatory School can receive.

NON-ACADEMIC

CODE OF CONDUCT

Charlotte Preparatory School is a positive learning environment with high expectations of conduct and behavior. When student conduct strays from these standards, a system of consequences is in place to ensure they develop the awareness and skills necessary to meet the positive expectations in the future.

The Code of Conduct for students at Charlotte Preparatory School’s Middle School (grades 5-8) is a systematic process that uses teaching, modeling, and appropriate consequences to ensure a safe, orderly and productive school environment and the development of positive character traits for all students. Disciplinary actions are intended to be didactic, ensuring that negative behaviors become important learning experiences for all students. The system of merits, demerits and other consequences is designed to engender laudable behavior traits, including (but not limited to) integrity, sensitivity, respect, courtesy and consideration for other students and adults, and respect for school and individual property. The following list of expectations is not exhaustive.

SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS Students will be courteous and respectful to adults and other

students at all times. Students will adhere to all instruction given to them by faculty and

staff. Students will remain in dress code compliance at all times. Students will play their part to maintain a clean and tidy campus

by being responsible for their belongings, not littering and cleaning up after themselves.

Students are not allowed in any areas of the campus that do not have visible adult supervision without permission from a teacher.

Backpacks, book-bags, and gym bags may not be left in the hallways or foyer at any time.

Students may not leave campus at any time during the school day during without adult permission or accompaniment.

Students will not lie, cheat, steal, assist others in doing so, or knowingly stand by when such actions occur.

Students will not abuse or make unauthorized use of school property or property belonging to others. This includes unauthorized entry into another student’s locker, borrowing of others’ clothes without permission etc.

The following sections outline specific conduct offenses and disciplinary consequences that may be imposed as a result.

Level A

Defacement/Vandalism of school property Physical Violence Repeated occurrences of Level B offenses Bullying (Including cyber-bullying/harassment)* Theft Bringing dangerous objects to school

Acts of dishonesty (cheating or abetting cheating, lying, plagiarism, forging parents’ signature, etc)

Level B: Disrespectful Behavior (talking back, willfully ignoring a teacher’s

request, rudeness etc.) Unauthorized entry to school Obscenity or Vulgarity Violation of the technology department’s “Acceptable Use

Policies”

Level C:

Chewing gum Possession of Wireless Devices or food outside of the guidelines** Running or Loitering in the hallways/Other Miscellaneous

Offenses Dress code violations Littering Public displays of affection Failure to be under supervision when required Disruptive behavior

ACTION PLANS

LEVEL ALevel A offenses will be evaluated by the Dean of Students and Head of Middle School. Depending on the severity of such offenses, students can expect to be issued an immediate out-of-school suspension. Further action may be taken depending on the circumstances. In some cases such actions could potentially result in dismissal from the school. Students receiving an out-of-school suspension will be expected to make-up all work missed. Cheating on any assignment could result in a zero. Students may be required to write reflective essays, render formal apologies or undertake other acts of atonement.

LEVEL BLevel B offenses will be evaluated by the Dean of Students and Head of Middle School. Depending on the severity of such offenses, students will be issued one or more after-school detentions.

LEVEL CStudents guilty of Level C offenses will be issued a demerit by a teacher or staff member and reported to the Dean of Students or Head

of Middle School. In some cases, the teacher or adult may decide to issue a verbal warning first before proceeding to giving a demerit.

DEMERITS/DETENTIONS/SUSPENSIONS Demerits will accumulate as follows:

3 demerits will result in lunch detention. 6 demerits will result in an after school detention. 3 detentions in one semester will result in an in-school

suspension and a parent conference. 5 total detentions will result in an out of school suspension and a

parent conference about the students fit for Charlotte Preparatory School.

Demerits will reset at the end of each quarter. Detentions are cumulative.

After-School Detentions will be held on first day that is feasible from 3:25 pm – 4:15 p.m. Students in detention must arrive to the detention location no later than 3:25 p.m. The detention will be served on the first feasible detention day following the disciplinary offense. Students in detention will be assigned work or other restorative actions at the discretion of the teachers and administrators. Also, the Dean of Students will make every effort to notify parents of an upcoming detention as soon as possible.

A student serving an in-school suspension will be separated from the community for that period of time; in effect, this means that the suspension will be served at school in a room determined by the Dean of Students and Head of Middle School. The student will complete his or her schoolwork for that day as well as perform restorative work requirements. The student will not be allowed to participate in break or recess times. The student will eat lunch away from other students.

A student serving an out-of-school suspension will be allowed to make up the work missed on those days and will receive credit for that work, with the exception of any academic dishonesty (i.e. cheating) situations. A note will be placed in the student’s permanent file, and information regarding such suspensions is required to be provided on future school applications. The Head of Middle School and Head of School will consult on any further disciplinary actions.

Students serving a detention or suspension are not allowed to participate in after-school activities for that day. Such activities include sports, dances, and/or parties. This restriction does not apply to after-school care.

MERITS

Positive reinforcement is an important part of how Charlotte Preparatory Schools seeks to instill the values of our mission statement in our students. “Merits” are an important tool for achieving this goal. Students who are recognized by faculty and staff to be going above and beyond the values and quality traits exemplified by the Four Pillars, will be awarded a Merit. Merits can accumulate into other rewards including but not limited to: recognition at assemblies, quarterly certificates, and special privileges on campus as determined by the Middle School faculty. Merits are recorded in a student’s file and become part of their permanent record.

Dean of Student’s Role:

The Dean of Students is the primary administrator of the Code of Conduct and Dress Code.

He or she will maintain a record of all offenses and consequences assigned, and contact all parents regarding major discipline situations.

The Dean of Students will work with the Head of Middle School to handle parent conferences regarding all students discipline matters when necessary.

The Dean will notify the teacher if communication between the teacher and parent regarding the behavioral infraction is warranted.

The Dean will also work with the Head of Middle School to determine when detentions and suspensions will be served.

BULLYING (INCLUDING “CYBERBULLYING”) and HARASSMENTBullying and/or harassment are not only wrong – they are illegal. They will not be tolerated within the Charlotte Preparatory School community. The administration will take careful steps to ensure that appropriate consequences are meted out to any student engaging in this behavior. Repeated bullying behaviors exhibited by a student may result in the dismissal of that student from Charlotte Preparatory School. Additionally, external authorities will be notified as required by law if necessary. Note that off-campus bullying (including cyber-bullying) falls under these parameters if such actions involve Charlotte Preparatory School students.

CELL PHONES AND WIRELESS DEVICESThe Charlotte Preparatory School administration understands the value of cell phones and other personal wireless devices in communicating between parents and children. However, cell phones and personal wireless devices distract from a focused academic environment, and thus are not to be carried or utilized by students during the academic day. Students are to keep their personal technology devices in their locker, and turned off during the school day. Faculty will confiscate any devices seen being used during the day, and will drop them off at the middle school office for safekeeping. Parents will be contacted to retrieve them from the middle school office at the end of the day. Violations will be treated as a Level C conduct violation. Repeated and intentional violations will result in escalating consequences.

TARDINESSStudents entering class late not only miss out on important information and instructions at the beginning of the class – they disrupt the learning of other students already engaged in the lesson. Accordingly, tardiness to school and to class is to be avoided, and consequences will be issued for patterns of tardiness. Charlotte Preparatory School keeps records of all instances of unexcused tardiness. The school will notify parents when their child has been tardy three (3) times in any given quarter. If a student is tardy five (5) times in a single quarter, a detention will result. If a student is tardy ten (10) times in a single semester, he or she will face additional consequences. Instances of tardiness are part of a student’s permanent school record that transfers with the student.

STUDENT SAFETYStudent safety is our paramount concern. Accordingly, any student threatening self-harm or committing acts of self-harm will be immediately removed from the school environment and returned to parental custody. He or she may not return to school until cleared to do so, in writing, by appropriate medical/psychological professionals.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DRESS CODE

It is our intention to provide for all our students an atmosphere which is conducive to learning. Research clearly demonstrates the positive relationship between dress and both self-concept and behavior, and dress codes send a clear message that school is a place where serious, important work occurs. Accordingly, we have carefully created a dress code designed to encourage neatness and personal discipline while making allowances for expressions of individuality and personal

taste. We solicit the understanding and support of our parents as we endeavor to present fair and consistent guidelines for student dress.

Students and parents are reminded that, for most students, the middle school years are filled with uneven growth and development patterns. Clothing that fits well in August may be outgrown in a few short months; it is requested that students and parents periodically examine garments which are to be worn to school to ensure a continued proper fit. In addition, because fashion changes so quickly, a written dress code published yearly often cannot address every current fashion trend that may arise in the interim. Because of this and the almost infinite variety of available clothing styles, we appreciate parental support and understanding that faculty must enforce the dress code using the written guidelines together with their adult and professional judgment.

Students should attend school in clothes that are neat, clean and in good repair. Good taste and common sense should dictate parental and student choice of school clothes. We expect students to refrain from assuming any personal appearance that might distract from the process of teaching and learning.

Please be advised that should a student violate the dress code, parents may be required to bring a change of clothes to put student in appropriate attire. The student will receive a demerit for the offense. We recognize that such situations are embarrassing for the student, cause lost valuable learning time, and are often inconvenient for the parent, and it is our earnest hope that we are not put in situations where we are forced to make such decisions. Students may be give clothes by the Dean of Students to wear, wash and return.

GENERAL: Students are expected to remain in dress code throughout the

school day. Students may not wear dangling jewelry, hair accessories, or

other accessories that can disrupt study or may be harmful on the playground. This includes large hoop earrings.

Clothes must fit properly, and should not be excessively baggy or tight.

Clothing must be neat and in good repair - students may not wear “cutoffs” or clothes with frayed ends, and all clothing must be free of tears, rips, holes, or large stains.

Clothes should not display another school’s logos or branding. Clothes should not display or suggest offensive language, sex,

alcohol or drugs, or other attributes not in keeping with Charlotte Preparatory School’s values.

Students may not wear outerwear resembling underwear (e.g., long johns, undershirts), and undergarments should not be visible through or around clothing.

Students may not wear tie-dyed or camouflage items to school. Bathing suits, spandex shorts, short shorts, athletic shorts, and

excessively tight shorts and pants are not acceptable wear. Students may not wear hats, caps, or other head coverings, other

than as an expression of faith, anywhere on campus during the academic school day. Head coverings are allowed for sun protection or for warmth in the winter, but only outdoors.

Footwear should be worn at all times. Shower shoes, flip-flops, or shoes that restrict a student’s safe movement anywhere on campus are not allowed. “High heeled shoes” with heels higher than 2½ inches are not acceptable.

For the sake of safety, socks and rubber-soled athletic shoes are required for participation in PE classes.

Overalls, sweatpants, athletic pants or shorts, wind suits are not permitted.

BOYS Boys must wear shirts with collars; either folding collars or

turtlenecks are acceptable. The waistline of all pants must be worn at the natural waistline. If

needed, a belt should be worn to prevent “sagging.” Boys may not wear earrings at any school event, on or off-campus. Boys’ hair may not be longer than their shirt collar in the back,

and may not hang below the eyebrows in the front.

GIRLS Halter tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps*, revealing or provocative

tops, or tops that expose the midriff area in any way are not allowed. All tops must be long enough to completely cover the torso at all times and in all body positions.

Sleeveless tops are acceptable if the shoulder straps are at least 2 inches wide.

Form-fitting clothing of any type (tops, pants, skirts, etc) is not allowed.

A variety of pants, shorts, dresses and/or skirts may be worn to school within the general guidelines above. They should be properly cut and of modest length. They should not go above mid-thigh.

Tights or leggings are not appropriate pants. At no time should undergarments be visible. No athletic style t-shirts are allowed.

* Formalwear for dances and graduation may be an exception if

appropriate.Appropriateness of clothing and accessories is at the discretion of the Division Head or Dean of Students. If a student has a question about the appropriateness of a garment for school wear, he or she should bring the garment to school for a “ruling” prior to wearing it.

PROFESSIONAL DRESS DAYS

Charlotte Prep Middle School students will observe “Professional Dress days” on certain appropriate occasions. This is an opportunity for students to dress more formally within the school environment as a sign of respect for the occasion, and to learn the social expectations associated with more formal dress and behavior.

Boys are expected to wear long dress pants (no jeans) with a belt, a collared dress shirt, a tie, and dress shoes and socks. A sports or dress jacket is optional for boys.

Girls should wear a skirt, dress or dress slacks. Girls should not wear high heels, Ugg boots or similar footwear. Gladiator-style sandals are acceptable if they are a solid color and have a strap over the heel.

On Professional Dress Days, tennis shoes may be brought, by boys and girls, for use during Morning Break and Lunch Recess. For students who have PE on those days, time will be provided for them to change into PE uniforms. Professional Dress Day dates are noted in the Charlotte Prep calendar, and a reminder appears in that week’s Leader. If a student is not dressed appropriately for those days he or she will be required to dress professionally the next two days and receive a demerit. Additionally, the student may be held out of the special ceremony or occasion.

PE DAYSStudents are expected to be in proper dress code on PE days. They will be allowed time to change before and after PE classes. For PE class, a Charlotte Prep t-shirt and Charlotte Prep athletic shorts or Charlotte Prep PE shorts are required (no game shorts). Shirts and shorts are available for a nominal cost through the school’s online store. In cold weather, students may wear a Charlotte Prep sweatshirt and/or dark, solid-colored athletic pants. Appropriate athletic shoes and socks should be worn during PE class.

CONCERT ATTIREBoys: Black pants, collared white shirts, and black shoes.Girls: Black pants or appropriate-length skirts, white shirts, and black shoes.

ATHLETICS

The following sports are offered at Charlotte Preparatory School:

Fall: Soccer (Boys), Tennis (Girls), Volleyball, (Girls) Cross Country (Boy and Girls)

Winter: Basketball (Boys and Girls), Cheerleading (Boys and Girls are eligible)

Spring: Soccer (Girls), Tennis (Boys), Golf (Boys and girls)

Participation is open to all middle school students. If the number of players interested in a sport exceeds the capacity of our program, cuts may have to be made. Every effort will be made to ensure that all students are afforded the opportunity to participate in the sport of their choice. The Athletic Director is responsible for all issues concerning athletics at Charlotte Preparatory School.

Advisory/ BUD-E:

Advisory:   Each student will be assigned a grade-level advisor as well as an advisory group by gender.  The purpose of the program is to provide students the opportunity to develop a strong relationship with an adult at the school as well as to ensure that they have a designated advocate on campus to support their growth.  Students will meet with their assigned advisory groups two times each week at the end of the day for approximately thirty-five minutes.  During this time, advisors will provide guidance on school-based topics as well as deliver lessons from an outlined character development program based upon 4 Pillars.  The program is designed to allow for a certain level of flexibility. The advisor may choose from a variety of activities within designated lessons in order to meet the students’ and their preferences. Support is given throughout the year from the school counselor and other faculty members. Advisors will also be asked to provide insights into their advisory students’ difficulties they may be experiencing academically, socially or mentally.   Parents are encouraged to use their child's advisor as the primary source of communication with teachers and

other staff at Charlotte Preparatory.  This will continue to support the student-advisor relationship as well as the home-to-school communication. Each advisory will also be asked to plan and participate in at least one hands-on community service event.  This group will also serve as the foundation for the Bud-E Program which incorporates similar relationship and character development goals.

Bud-E:The Bud-E program at Charlotte Prep is a significant contributor to our intimate cohesion across campus each year.  Each Early School and Lower School student is matched with a Middle School buddy who serves as their role model on campus for the year. Students - older and younger - experience leadership in action as they meet for community service, character education, and teamwork exercises on a regular basis.  Middle School students are expected to take their BUD-E responsibilities seriously and welcome the chance to work with their younger peers as well as serve as a good example of character on campus.  

The High School Placement Process:

Graduates from Charlotte Preparatory School have many choices for ninth grade including private schools, public schools and boarding schools. Our high school placement process is designed to help students and their families make thoughtful and deliberate choices to find the right fit for their next school experience. Factors to consider include academic rigor, structure, extracurricular offerings and the overall environment of the school which are all important in finding the right balance for your student. Our high school placement team meets with parents and students throughout the process to prepare for the eighth grade year admission season. Events include:

Informational Parent Meeting – The Head of School hosts a parent meeting in late fall to meet with members from the Charlotte Prep community to familiarize them with our intentional, well-designed high school placement process and to answer questions. All parents are welcome.

Eighth Grade Parent Coffee – In September, our high school placement team presents an overview of the process and prepares parents for upcoming events.

High School Fair – Each fall, Charlotte Prep hosts a high school fair to which representatives from many schools (locally, regionally, and

nationally) come to meet our eighth grade students and present their schools for consideration.

Parent Meetings – Head of School meets individually with parents to discuss their student with regards to academic, extracurricular and social preferences and expectations.

On-going Communication - The high school placement coordinator keeps contact with each family to provide guidance throughout the admissions season.

Leadership Class – Eighth grade students learn valuable skills from the Head of School in the Leadership class including interview skills through a rigorous mock interview to prepare for school tours and meetings, resume writing, and what to expect once they get to high school.

Fall school visits – Parents schedule tours and student visits of prospective schools.

Application Timeline - Applications are completed and submitted November – January.

Student Transcripts and Packets - The high school placement coordinator prepares student packets to include transcripts and teacher recommendations to be hand-delivered in January to local schools or mailed to schools outside the Charlotte area.

ISEE Testing – Eighth grade students typically take the ISEE test in January. This test is offered on campus at Charlotte Prep on a Saturday morning to provide familiar environment for our students.

Continued Communication – The Head of School presents and discusses each student with each high school to which he or she is interested. The Head of School and the high school placement coordinator guide parents and students through the decision process.

Final Transition – Our high school placement team works with schools and families to facilitate a smooth transition.

Frequently asked questions:

What if I’m late to school? If you get to school before first period is over, you can go directly to class. If it is after first period, please check in at the Middle School office.

What if we have a planned absence? Parents should notify the Middle School Administrative Assistant or Head of Middle School as soon as

possible for a planned absence. Parents should also notify the student’s advisor to help with the coordination of missed academic work.

What if I have a question about grades? Parents and students are encouraged to speak directly to the teacher involved first. If a resolution cannot be reached, the Head of Middle School may be called in to assist.

What if I need to talk to someone about something that happened at school? Your child’s advisor is the main point of contact for most issues. He or she will be able to point you in the right direction if they are not able to provide answers.

Who do I talk to about athletics? You should talk directly to the coach of the sport concerned first. The Athletic Director may be called in as needed.

Can I use the elevator? Students are not allowed to use the elevator unless they are given specific permission by the nurse or other faculty and staff.

Who do I talk to about ISEE, ERB’s and other standardized tests? The School Counselor and the Head of Middle School are the main contacts for issues concerning standardized test.

How does high school placement work? Please see the section on high school placement for complete details.

HONOR CODE

As a Charlotte Preparatory School student I promise to respect my school community by not lying, cheating, stealing or plagiarizing on any school assignment. I promise to be fair, respectful and honest in

everything I do. I will always do my best to be a part of the community and accept others.

Our school honor pledge that will be written at the top of all major assessments:I pledge I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment.

==========================================================I have read Charlotte Preparatory School’s Middle School Code of Conduct and Dress Code, and I understand that it will be enforced during the 2014-2015 school year.

Student Signature Date

Parent Signature Date