In order that the school may be a clean, safe, pleasant, attractive and wholesome place in which to learn, certain rules are necessary. Each student must be responsible for his/her own actions and the consequences for any misbehavior. The following standards indicate the type of behavior expected of Holmes Middle School students:

General
1. Students are expected to show respect and to follow the directions of all school personnel.
2. Always use courteous language in class and in addressing adults and fellow students.
3. Show respect during flag ceremonies.
4. Distracting articles such as skateboards, cameras, mp3 devices, hand-held game consoles, and other toys (i.e. pacifiers, balloons, dolls, stuffed animals, etc.) are to be left at home. Expensive jewelry, personal items and large sums of money must be left at home, as our school will not be responsible for theft or loss of your personal property.
5. Amorous manifestations between boys and girls are not appropriate on school grounds.
6. "Tagging" or graffiti on workbooks, backpacks, hands, walls or school property is prohibited.
7. Whenever students need to leave campus during the school day, a pass from the Attendance Office must be obtained.
8. All food items are to remain in the designated eating areas.
9. Fighting is not permitted. Seek assistance from counselors or teachers in solving problems.
10. For the student's safety and health, shoes are to be worn at all times.
11. School uniform and dress code policy will be enforced.

Classroom
1. Be in your seat, prepared with necessary books and supplies, before the tardy bell rings.
2. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat and/or to speak.
3. Keep the classroom a neat, clean, distraction-free learning atmosphere.
4. Extend courteous behavior at all times to all school personnel and fellow classmates.
5. A student may only be excused to go to the Health Office or restroom if it is an emergency.
6. Gum is not allowed on the campus.
7. No student is to be out of class without a hall pass. Passes must be properly filled out with name of student, date, time and destination.

Campus Courtesy
1. Walk on the sidewalks, not on the grass or lawns.
2. For the safety of all students and personnel, walk at all times while on campus.
3. Take pride in the school campus; keep it clean and attractive.
4. Respect out-of-bounds areas on campus. Remain out of hallways and classroom areas during nutrition or lunch. Remain in supervised areas only.
5. Bikes and skateboards are not to be ridden on campus. Bikes can only be used as transportation to and from school while wearing an undamaged helmet.

AFTER SCHOOL PICK-UP AND SUPERVISION

For the safety and welfare of our students, your children, we have established the following guidelines for school dismissal at the end of the school day and for the after school time:

1. Students must depart campus and must go immediately and directly home after the close of school (unless they are participating in an after-school activity.)
2. Students who are picked up within 15 minutes of the close of school may wait on the perimeter of our campus for their pick-up. (They may not wait off-campus, such as on neighbor’s properties, etc., nor may they leave and return, such as to go to the store, etc.) If, after 15 minutes, students have not yet been picked up, they are to proceed back inside school grounds to the supervised P.E. area.
3. Students who don’t leave campus to go home must go directly from their last class to the P.E. area, which is supervised every day until 6:00 p.m. or the Champions Program.
4. Students are to remain in the supervised P.E. area until they leave to go directly and immediately home, or until they are picked up.
A. When it is time to be picked up, the student may leave the P.E. area to go to the south parking lot, along Prairie Avenue, to meet their ride.
B. If the student doesn’t know the exact time to leave to meet their ride, they may occasionally go to the fence to check to see if their ride has arrived.
C. The person picking up the student more than 15 minutes after the close of the school may park below the P.E. field on Prairie Avenue and walk up to the P.E. area to get their student.
5. Students participating in a “late day” activity must remain with that supervised activity until they leave to go either directly and immediately home, or until they leave to go to the supervised P.E. area.

For clarification, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact our School Dean, Mr. Latini, Miss Alvarez in Youth Services or Miss Quezada in Champions.

We appreciate your cooperation with these efforts to protect our students.