Student Handbooks

Troy South Middle School contact information and location 

Troy South Middle School hours of business 

Lincoln County R-III School District Student School Year Calendar 

Mission

All learners will achieve success through exemplary experiences, trusting relationships, and superior instruction.

Vision

LCR3’s vision is to inspire, strengthen, and maximize growth for every learner through exemplary experiences, trusting relationships, and superior instruction designed to promote achievement and a lifetime of success.

Troy South Middle Vision

Troy South Middle School is dedicated to embracing lifelong learning and creating a culture of kindness to assist students in an ever-changing society.

Collective Commitments

• We will make connections between the classroom and outside world.
• We will build trusting relationships within our school community through a trauma informed lens.
• We will step outside our comfort zones to create engaging lessons for students.

Troy South Elementary Bell Schedule

Troy South

Middle School Curriculum

6^th Grade Required Classes 

• English Language Arts 
• Math 
• Science
• Social Studies 
• Physical Education/ Health/Academic Lab

6^th Grade Exploratory/Electives (By Quarter)

• Art
• Band (year)
• Career 
• Choir (year) 
• Agricultural Science (AG)
• Design and Modeling (PLTW)
• Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
• Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (PLTW)

7^th Grade Required Classes 

• English Language Arts 
• Math 
• Science 
• Social Studies 
• Physical Education/ Health/Academic Lab

7^th Grade Exploratory / Electives (By Quarter) 

• Art 
• Band
• Career 
• Choir (year) 
• Medical Detectives (PLTW)
• Agricultural Science 1 & 2 (AG)
• Automation and Robotics (PLTW) 
• Family and Consumer Science 1 & 2 (FACS)

8^th Grade Required Classes 

• English Language Arts 
• Math 
• Science
• Social Studies 
• Physical Education/ Health/Academic Lab

8^th Grade Exploratory / Electives (By Quarter)

• Art 
• Band (year)
• Choir (year) 
• Media and Broadcasting
• Family and Consumer Science I, II
• Agricultural Science 1 & 2 (AG) 
• Design Your Future

Troy South Middle School Activities

Eligibility to Attend and Participate in Extracurricular Activities

The District provides opportunities for individual students to grow physically, socially, and intellectually through their experiences in self-discipline and their contribution to team effort that is made possible through competitive interscholastic athletics. The purpose of secondary school athletics is both educational and recreational. Emphasis shall be upon the development of good attitudes among students and the public toward losing situations as well as winning situations, with a focus on how well the team or individual played the game with respect to skills and sportsmanship. 

Interscholastic athletic competition for secondary school students is to be provided in a variety of sports. Students are allowed to attain the privilege of representing their school in interscholastic athletics by meeting the standards of eligibility as set forth by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). These standards include academic requirements (passing 6/7 classes), citizenship, age maximums, and passing medical examinations to name a few. MSHSAA eligibility requirements are regularly discussed between coaches, sponsors, athletes and participants. A complete list of MSHSAA eligibility requirements can be located through the TSMS athletic department or the official MSHSAA website. 

While extracurricular activities do offer educational experiences, they are a privilege. As such, extracurricular activities may be withheld from any student as a condition of discipline. Furthermore, all policies that apply to the regular school day apply also to extracurricular activities. In addition, coaches and sponsors may establish policies for their groups in addition to those stated herein. Students demonstrating unacceptable behaviors may be suspended from participation in extracurricular activities. A student must attend at least 3.5 hours of a school day in order to participate in an after school MSHSAA sanctioned event on that same day. 

Assemblies  

Students must sit in the section assigned to their class. Students are expected to behave appropriately and give courteous attention at all times. 

Between Classes

The time between classes is meant to be a passing period. There is to be no loitering, students are to travel from one class to the other with possible stops at their lockers or the restroom as needed. Students are not to be out of academic areas between classes. Getting a drink or going to the restroom will not be accepted as valid reasons for being tardy. 

Cafeteria Rules

Students are not to leave the cafeteria/commons area during lunch; students should not be in the academic wings for any reason during their lunch period. If a student needs to use the restroom, they are to use the restroom designated by a supervising faculty member. Students are to finish their entire lunch in the commons area. Only packaged food and drinks with lids are allowed out of the cafeteria area. It is teacher discretion as to the consumption of food and beverage in their classroom. Students elsewhere during lunch without permission face disciplinary action. 

Hall Passes

During class time students are not to be out of their classroom without a hall pass.

Locker Assignments

Students in 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade may be assigned lockers for the storage of books, clothing and personal articles, depending on availability. Students are not allowed to change lockers or share a locker with another student. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Students are required to use school issued locks and clean out their assigned locker at the end of the year. Replacement locks can be purchased for $6. Maintaining and cleaning out gym lockers are the students’ responsibility as well. 

Lost and Found Articles

Lost and found is located in the exploratory hallway outside of the choir room door. Unclaimed items will be donated to local community assistance organizations at the end of each quarter. 

Lunch Accounts

Chartwells School Dining Services serves students with well-balanced meals at affordable prices. All students have a meal account that is used to keep track of student deposits and purchases. Parents can view the balances of their child’s meal account via the Infinite Campus. Students can deposit money in their account by placing cash/check in an envelope and turning it into the deposit box located in the cafeteria or by making a deposit online. Students are required to keep meal accounts current. 

Meal Charges Policy 5550 

Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to maintain consistent meal account procedures throughout the District. Unpaid charges place a financial strain on District finances. The Food Service Department is responsible for maintaining food charge records and for notifying the District’s building administrative offices of outstanding balances. 

Administration

1. Student Groups:
   1. Elementary students will be allowed to charge a maximum of ten ($10.00) dollars.
      1. These meals charged will include only the menu items of the reimbursable meal.
      2. Once the maximum of $10 has been met, the student may receive a designated menu alternate for both breakfast and lunch.
   2. Middle school students will be allowed to charge a maximum of ten ($10.00) dollars.
      1. These meals charged will include only the menu items of the reimbursable meal.
      2. Once the maximum of $10 has been met, the student may receive a designated menu alternate for both breakfast and lunch.
   3. High school students are not allowed to charge any meals.
      1. If the meal account is negative, the student may receive a designated menu alternate for both breakfast and lunch.

Physical Education Excuses

Students requesting to be excused from physical education for medical or other reasons must have a written excuse from a doctor or parent. Grade reductions are made for parental excuses. There is no grade reduction for an excuse signed by a doctor. In order to be exempted from taking physical education, a physician's statement is required. 

Restroom Dismissal

Students should use the restroom during passing time. 

School/District Communication App

The Lincoln County R-III School District partners with ParentSquare to provide families with a FREE mobile app available in Google Play or the Apple App Store. Search for ParentSquare, download, and log in using the email address that is on file with LCR3. ParentSquare is convenient and customizable to your family’s needs. It provides a one-stop-shop for all of your children in the LCR3 School District by providing a personalized feed, building calendars, lunch menus, and direct communication with teachers, sponsors, and coaches. 

ParentSquare is also the platform that the district and its schools use to notify parents in an emergency, for school closings, or with general updates and reminders. It helps prevent missed connections from your school by storing push notifications in your app, regardless of incorrect contact information or poor cellular reception. Download the ParentSquare App for FREE today. To find out more and customize your language and delivery methods, visit our ParentSquare information page.

School Event Pick Up Policy

For all athletic events, practice, or club meetings held after school, students are to make arrangements to be picked up as soon as possible at the conclusion of a school activity. Approximate ending times are announced so students can inform parents/guardians when to pick them up. Teachers assigned to supervise activities appreciate student cooperation. The names of students who have not been picked up fifteen (15) minutes after an event will be given to the administration, and those students will be subject to the loss of attendance privileges to extra-curricular activities. Anyone leaving the area or building prior to the end of the event will not be allowed to return to the event. After leaving, the student must immediately leave the school premises unless waiting in a designated area for transportation. 

Valuable Personal Property 

Troy South Middle School is not responsible for any personal property brought to school by students. Personal property should not be left unattended. TSMS is not responsible for recovery, reimbursement or replacement of lost, stolen or damaged personal property. Student personal property includes, but is not limited to: purses, wallets, watches, jewelry, book bags, credit cards, cash, checks, electronic devices, notebooks, books, and band instruments.

Work Completion (Missing Work/Late Work)

Class work assigned during a student’s absence is expected to be completed. Students will be granted a minimum of 2 days for each day missed. In instances of absences that are longer than two weeks in duration, a longer period of time may be granted. It is the student’s responsibility to take the initiative to make up work. 

Students who are absent more than one day may request homework by calling the office NO LATER THAN 10:00 am. If students know they are going to be absent, they should pick up homework in advance from their classroom teachers. 

Students are expected to complete all work assigned. Work will be accepted until the day of the unit assessment. Students who CHOOSE NOT to complete assignments (to the expectation level of the teacher) will be subject to interventions.

Academic Lab

The goal of Academic Lab is to assist learners in reaching their goals. Academic Lab will be on an A/B Schedule opposite of a student’s physical education class for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. 

Accelerated Courses

Troy South Middle offers accelerated learning opportunities for eligible students in several key subjects. Students may qualify for advanced placement in 6th and 7th grade Math, Algebra 1, and Physical Science. Eligibility for these rigorous courses is based on meeting specific success criteria. Transfer students who were previously enrolled in accelerated classes at their former schools will be automatically placed into the corresponding accelerated courses at Troy South Middle. Algebra 1 and Physical Science courses will contribute to a student's high school GPA and credit hours.

Flight Program  

This program is designed to enhance the regular curriculum for students who are academically/intellectually gifted. Qualification for this program would be under the direction of Student Services at Lincoln County R-III Central Office. 

Grade Reporting  

Report cards are issued every nine weeks (quarterly). Recorded on each student's grade card will be the grades for each subject, number of days he/she has been absent, and conduct grade. 

6th Grade 

For the 26/27 School year our 6th grade students will use Evidence-Based Grading Practices to better communicate student learning and growth. Our goal is to make grades more accurate, meaningful, and helpful for students and families.

Evidence-Based Grading focuses on what students know and are able to do based on learning standards and classroom expectations. Instead of grading everything the same way, we look at the evidence students provide through assignments, assessments, projects, discussions, and other learning activities. 

What do the numbers on the report card mean? 

We are using a NE-4 scale to help explain how your child is progressing with academic and behavior standards. The scores are based on different pieces of evidence such as, assessments, artifacts, and observations. 

The description of the scale on the report card looks like this: 

4- above grade level expectations at this time 

3- meets grade level expectations at this time 

2- progressing toward grade level expectations 

1- with support, developing grade level skills 

NE- with support, no understanding of the skill is demonstrated. 

When a teacher is scoring a student on a standard, they are using a scoring guide called a proficiency scale. The proficiency scale explains the standard in detail and what a student must demonstrate to receive each score. Teachers will use several assessments, artifacts, and/or observations throughout the quarter to determine a final score that best reflects the students progress.

The goal is to receive a three (3). A three (3) means your child has been successful with the standard expectations and they are right where they need to be! Although a four (4) is the highest score on the scale, it is beyond what is expected and may be difficult for many students to achieve.

Example: 

The Bike Analogy: How it Works in Real Life

Think of learning a new skill in school, just like learning to ride a bicycle. Your goal is to ride a bike completely on your own.

• NE (No Evidence) | No understanding of the Standard: You aren't quite ready or able to get on the bike yet, even with help.

• 1 | Beginning with the Standard: You are riding, but you still completely rely on training wheels.

• 2 | Progressing with the Standard: You are pedaling and staying upright, but only if an adult is holding the seat and giving you a push.

• 3 | Achieving the Standard (The Goal!): Success! You are riding the bike safely and confidently all by yourself.

• 4 |Extending the Standard: You’ve mastered riding, and now you're popping wheelies, jumping ramps, and doing tricks.

7^th and 8^th Grade:

The following grading scale is used at TSMS:

• 90-100 = A (4.0)
• 80-89 = B (3.0)
• 70-79 = C (2.0)
• 60-69 = D (1.0)
• Below 60 = F 

Math Success  

Math Success is a program designed to help learners reach their math goals while providing students with the unique tools they need to thrive. In the Math Success program, students will receive targeted, data-driven instruction. 

National Junior Honor Society

Requirements for gaining membership include:

A. Open to any 6th/7th grader who has a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher after 3rd quarter.

B. Must complete a membership application

• Must receive 90% of the points on the essay and the Teacher Evaluations surveys.

C. Members must be in good standing in the area of discipline

• Receiving 1 or fewer discipline referrals during the school year

Requirements for maintaining membership include:

A. Members must maintain GPA at 3.5 or higher

B. Members must attend 75% of all full member meetings 

C. Members must complete 20 service hours (5 of which need to be Chapter sponsored)

D. Members must be in good standing in the area of discipline.

E. Quarterly checks will be done to monitor grades/behaviors/service hours

• If you are not meeting the expectations, you will receive a written warning asking you to make improvements by the end of the next quarter.  If you are not meeting the expectations at the end of the next quarter, you will be withdrawn from NJHS.

NJHS Appeals Process (What to do if you do not receive an invitation to apply for NJHS or if you aren’t granted membership after the application process)

Step 1: Consult with the chapter adviser.

• Your first inquiry should always be with the faculty member assigned to serve as the adviser (or sponsor) of the chapter at your school. The adviser will give you a specific reason why you did not qualify for membership.

Step 2: Appeal to the principal.

• Should the response from the adviser be insufficient or unsatisfactory, the next step is to take your concern to the building principal.
• The building principal will make the final decision.

Promotion Policy  

It is important for TSMS students to understand that they will be accountable for the successful completion of their scheduled course work. Failure of coursework is not acceptable. 

Grades earned in the core classes (Science, Math, English, Social Studies) will be considered prior to promotion to the next grade level. Students who earn a failing semester grade may be required to successfully complete Content Review during the year, and/or Summer Content Review, after school tutoring or Saturday school before being promoted to the next grade level. 

Students who have not met the requirements of the core classes (passing 7 of 8 possible core classes during the two semesters of the year) may be required to attend Content Review during the year and/or Summer Content Review to catch up on course level expectations that were not met during the school year. 

All Missouri schools may be mandated by legislation that students perform at specific levels regarding their reading skills. These skills will be tested through multiple instruments. 

Appeal Process 

The final recommendation on student promotion/retention will be made by the Tier 3 Building Intervention Team to the school administration. Student promotion/retention appeals will be considered upon written request to the office of the superintendent by the student or the student’s parents/guardians. All written appeal requests may be made to the office of the superintendent within ten (10) days of receipt of notification of promotion/retention from the Tier 3 BIT.

Promotion Policy  

It is important for TSMS students to understand that they will be accountable for the successful completion of their scheduled course work. Failure of coursework is not acceptable. 

Grades earned in the core classes (Science, Math, English, Social Studies) will be considered prior to promotion to the next grade level. Students who earn a failing semester grade may be required to successfully complete Content Review during the year, and/or Summer Content Review, after school tutoring or Saturday school before being promoted to the next grade level. 

Students who have not met the requirements of the core classes (passing 7 of 8 possible core classes during the two semesters of the year) may be required to attend Content Review during the year and/or Summer Content Review to catch up on course level expectations that were not met during the school year. 

All Missouri schools may be mandated by legislation that students perform at specific levels regarding their reading skills. These skills will be tested through multiple instruments.

APPEAL PROCESS 

The final recommendation on student promotion/retention will be made by the Tier 3 Building Intervention Team to the school administration. Student promotion/retention appeals will be considered upon written request to the office of the superintendent by the student or the student’s parents/guardians. All written appeal requests may be made to the office of the superintendent within ten (10) days of receipt of notification of promotion/retention from the Tier 3 BIT. 

Reading Success

Reading Success is a program designed to assist the learner in reaching his/her goals with reading while providing students with the unique tools they need to thrive. In the Reading Success program, students will receive targeted, data-driven instruction. 

Reading Success Plans (Policy and Regulation 6215) 

Utilizing a state-approved reading assessment, the District will assess the level of reading readiness for all students enrolled in Kindergarten through grade 3. Newly enrolled students in grades 1 through 5 shall be assessed at the time of enrollment. 

At the beginning of each school year after initial screening, the District will create a Reading Success Plan for eligible students. The Plan will be consistent with the guidelines issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to include but not be limited to measures of reading proficiency, strategies for addressing reading deficiencies, timelines for measuring improvement and information on screening. 

The district will implement a reading success plan as required by state statute. Any student, parent, or guardian who has questions or concerns related to reading performance should contact their student's building principal. 

RISE Program 

RISE is an acronym that stands for Relationships, Interventions, Strategies, and Empathy. The goal of RISE is to assist learners in reaching their academic and social-emotional goals while providing students with the unique tools they need to thrive in school. In RISE, students will receive grade-level curriculum instruction as well as targeted instruction on growth strategies in the areas of self-management, goal-directed behavior, relationship skills, social awareness, personal responsibility, decision making, and optimistic thinking.

School Counselor’s Department  

Troy South Middle School offers the services of a school counselor department to each student. The counselor's objective is to assist students in securing an education. 

School Counselor services offered: 

1. Assist students in realistically appraising themselves and the world of work.
2. Aid students in deciding whether or not to go to college and in choosing a school that will best fill their needs.
3. Assist students in finding jobs through various agencies.
4. Aid students in their attempt to identify and eliminate causes of academic difficulties.
5. Assist students in identifying and solving problems of a personal nature.
6. Assist students in choosing high school subjects that will give them the education they need.

Tutoring  

Students who are behind in their class work or need extra help may be recommended and/or required to attend tutoring sessions after school. Tutoring is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.