CABIN JOHN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
COMMUNICATIONS:
 Important Phone Numbers to Remember:
Main Office: 301-469-1150
Cafeteria: 240-406-1578
Counseling Office: 301-469-1160
Financial Office: 240-406-1558
Fax: 301-469-1003
Health Room: 240-406-1570

Emergency Information: A Student Emergency Information request is sent home the first week of school
on a pre-printed 8.5” x 11” sheet of yellow paper. Please review the pre-printed information and update the
home address, telephone numbers, and a designated adult who can be contacted in case of an emergency.
Please return this form to CJMS by Friday, September 4, 2015. Please update the school’s main office
anytime your child’s emergency information changes, or you may update it through your child’s Edline
Account.

Student/Parent Information: Requests for Information must be completed and returned to school as
follows: Directory Withholding Request and Authorization for Release of Student Information; and
Pesticide Notification Enrollment Form. Please complete these forms and return them to CJMS by Friday,
September 4, 2015.

School/Home Communication: Weekly ConnectEd telephone and e-mail communication messages will be
sent by CJMS to provide important updates, information, and celebrations. CJMS will continue posting the
Cougar Courier Principal’s newsletter on alternating Fridays on the CJMS website. We encourage parents
and students to visit the CJMS and Edline websites often. Please update the school anytime your email and
telephone information changes so you will stay connected.

Messages to Students: The main office may deliver individual messages to students during the school day,
but only in an emergency. To aid in early dismissal needs, please send a note with your child the morning of
the appointment and instruct your child to submit the note to the main office before school begins. The office
will provide an early dismissal pass for your child to show their teacher before they report to the office for
dismissal. In accordance with MCPS policy, students are not permitted to send or receive text messages or
cell phone calls during the school day, 8:15 AM – 3:00 PM. Please help us enforce this important policy.

Absences: Please call the main school office anytime your child will be absent and state your child’s first
and last name, the grade level, and the reason for the absence. Please provide a return to school note, signed
by a parent or guardian, when your child returns to school after any absence. Please visit Edline for missed
assignments. Call the counseling office at 301-469-1160 to arrange for pick-up of missed assignments after
the third consecutive day of absence. CJMS requires a doctor’s note for any student absence in excess of
three days. Please speak to your child’s grade level counsel regarding extenuating circumstances.
 Arrival and Dismissal: Students are not permitted in the building prior to 7:55 AM. In addition, students
who are not under the direct supervision of a teacher must exit the building at dismissal time. School Hours
are new for the 2015-2016 school year: 8:15 AM – 3:00 PM.
Students who do not ride a bus should arrive after 7:55 AM. Staff is not on duty to supervise students before
7:55 AM, therefore; students may not enter the building before the 7:55 AM bell. Students are expected to
be in their seats at 8:15 AM. All students must leave the building at 3:00 PM, unless supervised by a staff
member. Students must notify their parents the night before when plans are made to stay after school
or go home with a friend, and each child must have a note signed by a parent or guardian providing
permission for an authorized adult to pick up another’s child. Students should be picked up promptly
following all after-school and evening activities.

Academic Dishonesty: Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following: the
willful giving or receiving of an unauthorized, unfair, dishonest, or unscrupulous advantage in academic
work over other students, using fraud, duress, deception, theft, trickery, talking, signs, gestures, copying, or
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CABIN JOHN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
any other methodology. If a teacher determines that a student engaged in academic dishonesty, thereby not
meeting the basic requirements of the task/assessment, the teacher may assign a zero.

Cafeteria Update: For a short period of time at the beginning of the school year, all students will sit at
assigned tables during their respective lunchtimes. This time will be used to remind students about our
cafeteria expectations and procedures. Please know that this process is only a temporary one, and for the
reminder of the school year students will be able to choose their seats during lunchtimes.

Dress for Success: We ask that you remind our students they are to dress appropriately for school every
day. Inappropriate clothing can often be very distracting and might invite unsolicited and unwanted
comments from student peers. We ask that students “Dress For Success”, which means their clothing
should always be a reflection of excellence and a positive learning environment at CJMS.

Portable Communication Devices: Middle and high school students may possess portable communication
devices on MCPS property and at MCPS-sponsored activities. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that
the device is turned off and out of sight during times of unauthorized use. CJMS will not be responsible for
lost or stolen communication or electronic devices.
CJMS students are reminded to store cell phones and other electronic devices in the owners’ lockers during
the instructional day. The only exceptions are circumstances with permission granted by a staff
member. This includes any portable electronic device other than a cell phone. CJMS cannot be responsible
for lost, misplaced, or stolen items.

Security Update: All CJMS visitors gain access to the building by pressing the button on the silver box
located at the front entrance to the building, and upon verbal identification, all visitors will be asked to
listen for a brief click, and then open the door. Upon entering the main office, the visitor will sign in at the
front desk by presenting their driver’s license. This security system is called the Visitors Management
System (VMS) and is being used by most MCPS schools. Please know this is a required MCPS system. If
you have questions, please call the Department of School Safety and Security at (301) 279-3066.
PURCHASING FOOD AT SCHOOL:
 Breakfast and Lunch: School menus and meal prices may be downloaded from:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/foodserv/menus
You may also pre-pay for your child’s meals by sending a check payable to the CJMS Cafeteria or by
visiting: https://www.mylunchmoney.com/index.asp
Please remind your child not to share his/her PIN number with anyone. Please note that unless you notify
the school in advance, there is no daily restriction on the amount of money your child can use for
purchases.

Reduced Price Breakfast and Lunch Meal Program: Information and applications are sent home the first
week of school. You must re-enroll in this program at the beginning of each school year. We encourage
you to fill out and return your child’s application to the address noted on the form. The 2013-2015 application
expires on October 3, 2015.
SUPPLIES:
 Student Handbook and Dividers: As a CJMS initiative, our school has produced a student handbook that
is available for student purchase. This handbook is not graded or used as a hall pass, but it is used by the
teachers to help your child track his/her assignments and inform parents of assignment due dates. While this
is a voluntary purchase, we strongly believe a student handbook is a valuable organizational tool to help you
and your child monitor completion of assigned tasks. If you do not want your child to purchase the student
handbook, consider providing a tool your child can use for the same purpose. Student handbooks and dividers
will be available for a reasonable cost. Checks should be made payable to CJMS.
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CABIN JOHN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR

Locks: All hall and physical education (PE) locks will be provided. Please remind your child to NEVER
SHARE his/her locker combination with other students.

Physical Education Clothing: All CJMS students are required to change into shorts and T-shirts to
participate in their daily physical education (PE) classes. PE clothing is not needed on the first day of classes
because gym and locker room procedures will be discussed. Information regarding the purchase of PE
clothing is available on the CJMS website.
TRANSPORTATION:
 Buses: MCPS provides bus service for students living more than 1.6 miles from the school and in some
cases for those who must cross major roadways. Please review the bus stops stated on the transportation
route schedules that are available on the CJMS website, or visit the MCPS website at:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/busroutes/03606bus.pdf
Pick-up and drop-off times are estimated and may vary up to ten minutes before or after the time stated on
the route sheet. Therefore, students should be at their designated stop prior to the times listed. Please be aware
that the MCPS transportation policy may change based upon Board of Education approval. Concerns
regarding transportation should be directed to the MCPS Department of Transportation at 301-469-1140.

Parent Drivers: Please exercise caution while driving in our school zone. In the spirit of safety and in an
effort to minimize traffic congestion, we ask that you please assist us by having your child use the MCPS
bus transportation to and from school. If you must drive your child to school, drop off your child after 7:35
a.m., using the driveway in front of the school to enter from and exit onto Gainsborough Road. Please do
not enter the bus lane area on the Bells Mill Road side of the school. Please do not drop your child off on
Bells Mill Road.

After School Activities and Buses: Most after school activities meet once a week on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Activity buses are ONLY for students who participate in teacher supervised
after school activities and depart at 4:30 PM. The activity bus is not available for students who stay
afterschool to watch other students compete in sports activities or for students who are serving detention.
Parents must provide transportation under these circumstances.
After School Activities will be posted on the CJMS website and usually begin mid-September. After School
Activities are cancelled when school is closed for any reason, including holidays, early release days,
professional days, winter and spring break, and when schools close early due to inclement weather. Please
check the CJMS website periodically for any changes and additional information. Additionally, the PTSA
will also be offering a separate set of fee-based after school activities and will advertise these activities which
will run concurrently with the CJMS afterschool activities. Watch the CJMS website or electronic Cougar
Clips that the PTSA will send to its members.
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