Student Handbook

Students who participate in after-school activities must have permission from a parent to stay. Students should make prior arrangements to have transportation home at the immediate conclusion of the activity.  Failure to do this may result in restrictions from after school activities. Students should report to the activity immediately at the end of the regular school day. The telephone in the office may not be used to gain last-minute permission.  Attendance at after school activities is a privilege earned by positive behavior throughout the school year.  To participate in after-school activities, the student must be in attendance at school that day.

When students are given the privilege to participate in any school or extra-curricular activity sponsored by the RMS, they are representing the school. All school rules and Campbell County School Board Policies, Rules, Regulations, and Procedures apply for school-sponsored activities, including conduct to and from the activity.

Academic eligibility for after school activities will be determined by the previous grading period when starting participation in extracurricular activities. At the beginning of the school year, all students will be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities. To be eligible to participate in after-school activities, students must meet the following requirements:

1. A student who receives one failing grade on a report card will be placed on academic probation until the next grading period. At the end of the next grading period, the student must be passing all classes.
2. A student who receives two or more failing grades on a report card will become immediately ineligible until he/she is passing all classes at the end of the next grading period.
3. Whenever a student receives ISS, he/she will be ineligible to participate the day in which they serve ISS. This includes games and/or practice.
4. If a student is suspended from school, he/she will be ineligible for the next contest upon returning to school.
5. Multiple discipline incidents may result in a student being ineligible to participate (or removed from) extracurricular activities. These are minimum requirements. The coach or sponsor of each activity may have their own rules that hold students to a higher standard.

The building opens to students at 7:30 am on days with a normal operating bell schedule. All students must report to breakfast or a designated area upon entering the building. The instructional day begins at 8:00 am. 

Students arriving at school after 8:00 am will be considered tardy. Students should report directly to the attendance officer located outside the office area or to the main office to be issued a tardy pass to first period.  

A student, either individually or as a part of a group, shall not harass or bully others either in person or by the use of any communication technology including computer systems, telephones, pagers, or instant messaging systems.  Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, physical, verbal or written intimidation, taunting, name-calling, and insults and any combination of prohibited activities.

“Bullying” means any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.  “Bullying” includes cyber bullying.  “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.

Students who use the school transportation system are expected to ride the assigned bus and use the stop assigned by the transportation department.  If a student needs to ride a different bus, a note stating the desired change must be presented to the attendance office before 8:00 A.M.  Permission will not be accepted over the phone. RMS cannot grant any permission for students to ride the bus to another Campbell County school without prior written consent from the principal of the school.  Failure to comply with the school bus conduct will result in loss of bus privileges or other disciplinary action.  

Students arriving or leaving school as car riders must do so by the front parking lot. Students being picked up by parents will leave after the first dismissal bell (2:50 p.m.).  A signed note from a parent is required before a student will be allowed to leave with anyone other than a parent or guardian. Using the parking lot area parallel to Village Highway is required to avoid interference with bus traffic. 

Students are not permitted to use or display devices during instructional time. "Instructional time" means any structured or unstructured learning experiences that occur from when the first bell rings at the start of the school day until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the academic school day. Elementary and middle school instructional time begins with arrival on school campus. If cell phones or personal electronic communication devices are brought to school, they must be stored and turned off during instructional time. Such devices will be considered "in use" if they are on (regardless of if they are set to silent or set to ring), utilizing any form of application on the device, sending or receiving a call or text message, or being used to take, display or send photos or videos.

"Personal Electronic Communication Device" means any personal device capable of connecting to a smartphone, the internet, a cellular or Wi-Fi network, or directly connects to another similar device. Personal electronic communication devices may include some wearable devices such as smart watches, as well as personal headphones, laptops, tablets, and other future personal electronic communication devices with the abovementioned characteristics.

Students may use their cell phones during afterhours athletic events, extracurricular events, and while utilizing CCPS transportation services. In addition, only high school students may responsibly use their personal communication devices before school and after school.

Prohibited Electronic Device Conduct

• Except as otherwise provided, no student shall photograph, videotape, record any student or group of students; or employee or group of employee's during the school day, on the school premises (including school buses), or during a school activity without the prior consent of a professional staff member of the school;
• Tease, bully, intimidate, threaten or harass another individual;
• Collaborate with, encourage, or incite others to participate in violent or unlawful acts. This includes creating and sharing video of an act in a manner that causes disruption and disturbance;
• Create, possess, exchange, distribute, post, or transmit an image, or video of a person in any condition of nudity, or a person engaged in any sexual act;
• Engage in academic dishonesty and cheating.

Students who violate these conditions are subject to disciplinary action, confiscation of the device, and prohibition from possession of their personal device upon school property.

Exceptions

Allowable exceptions for cell phone and personal electronic communication devices must be written into 504, IEP, Limited English Proficiency, and/or individualized health care plans. All individualized health care plans that include cell phone or personal electronic communication device usage must be approved by the Principal or Designee.

Communication during Instructional Time

During instructional time, students must use school-based communication tools and platforms to communicate needs with parents such as email or phone call from the school's front office. Parents should use school-based communication tools and channels to communicate during instructional time such as email or phone call to the school's front office.

Emergency Communications

Campbell County Public Schools have crisis and contingency plans for school-based emergencies that include written procedures and training for employees, students, and other staff during crisis and emergency situations. CCPS will provide regular communication and information through our division communication tools and platforms during such emergencies.

Family-based emergencies should be communicated directly with the front office of the school.

End of course exams will be given in all high school credit courses and count 10% of the final grade.

Exam Exemptions

A student may choose to be exempt from the final exam for one of the following reasons:

• ·Taking and passing the SOL test or credential exam for that course, OR
•  Taking the AP exam, OR
• Having all As for both quarters of a semester class or all As for each nine weeks of a year-long class

AND

• Having less than 10 total absences for the semester (20 total absences for year-long courses )

Fire drills will be held at least twice during the first twenty days of school and monthly during the remainder of the school year.  Exit routes are posted in each classroom.  Students will follow their teachers' instructions and leave the building as quickly and as quietly as possible while closing windows and shutting the classroom door behind them.  Students should stay in a single file line as they vacate the building.  The teacher will call the roll once outside.  Upon completion of the drill, a bell will ring which is a signal to return to the building and class.  Cooperation is essential and expected.

To maintain a clean and safe learning environment, all food and beverages, except water, are only permitted in the cafeteria. Students may bring water in a sealed container for use throughout the day. All other food and drinks must be consumed in the designated cafeteria areas during approved times.

Exceptions may be made for scheduled snack times in the classroom, students with documented medical needs or accommodations outlined in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, or other approved support plan.

Thank you for helping us keep our school clean, respectful, and inclusive for everyone.

Students must have a pass to be in the halls during class time or out of the cafeteria during lunchtime. Written permission from a teacher is required before coming to the main office or the counseling office.

Students who become ill at school may report to the nurse’s office after obtaining a pass from their teacher.

All course content will be stored in Canvas, the learning management system utilized by Campbell County Schools for students in grades 3-12. Teachers will utilize the system to post instructional videos and assignment information and for work submission.

Students are responsible for the care of the textbooks, laptops, and other school property issued to them. This includes books checked out from the library.  If an item is lost or damaged, it must be paid for by the student before he/she will be issued a replacement.

Lost articles should be placed in the box near the commons area.  Students will be provided with opportunities to check lost and found articles. All articles found at school will be turned in at the office. Questions about articles lost or found in locker rooms should be referred to PE teachers.  Every nine weeks all unclaimed articles will be disposed of appropriately.

Students may either bring their lunch from home or get a meal in the school cafeteria.  

All students are required to report immediately to the cafeteria during the time scheduled for their lunch.  Continual loitering in the halls or bathrooms after being dismissed to go to lunch may be subject to disciplinary action.   

All students will eat lunch in the cafeteria with their assigned class.  Behavior in the cafeteria should be based on courtesy and cleanliness.  Students are expected to remain seated during lunch and to clean up their area before dismissal from the cafeteria.  No food or drink, with the exception of water, is to be taken from the cafeteria without an administrator’s permission.

Students or parents may not order food to be delivered during lunch periods.  No outside food is allowed to be dropped off for students during lunch.  Students may not leave the cafeteria unless they have permission from the teacher or staff member on duty. 

A major function of the school counselor is to work with students in dealing with personal, social, and academic/career issues.  Throughout the school year, counselors conduct activities aimed at teaching appropriate social and interpersonal skills.  The school counselor also assists students with short and long-term academic and career planning by conducting interest inventories and college searches with students.  Counseling with students is done individually or in groups.

In addition to working directly with students and parents, counselors assist in the coordination and implementation of state testing as well as teaching students study skills and test taking strategies.

Another major responsibility of the school counselor is the management of cumulative and confidential records of all students.  From the initial registration to graduation, the school counselor is responsible for maintaining student records.  A permanent record file is kept for each active student attending Rustburg Middle School in a safe and secure location.

The doors to the school counseling office are always open.  Students are encouraged to see their counselor when specific problems arise.

Campbell County Schools provides access to our Student Information System via Parent Portal which can be used to update student and parent demographic information. The system is also used to view attendance records and student grades. For access to this system, parents should provide a current email address. For more information, please contact your school or access the CCPS Website.

In accordance with the State Code, all visitors to the building must report to the main office where they will sign in and be issued a visitor’s badge for identification purposes. Parent(s) and/or guardians will be required to show a valid form of state identification upon entrance to the main office. This identification will be recorded on our school's’ safety system. Visitors will be required to state their purpose prior to entry into the school.

Students walking to school should plan to arrive at school after 7:30 A.M.  Written permission from home is required to walk to or from school.  For those students who walk each day, one note for the year will suffice.  See the secretary in the main office for your permission slips.  Walkers must enter and leave the building by the door leading to the front parking lot.  Walkers will be dismissed at 2:50 P.M.