School Policy Guide

If your child is going to be absent or late, call 204-2110 (available 24 hours a day) and leave a message. Speak clearly and leave the following information:

• Student Name
• Grade
• Date(s) of absences
• Reason for absence/tardy
• Caller Name
• Caller Phone Number

Students returning to school after any absence, tardiness, or appointment must check in at the office. If you do not excuse your child for an absence, either with a phone call or note -- they will be marked an unexcused absence. Five days of unexcused absences results in truancy and a truancy meeting may be held with the parent, student, truancy staff, and principal.

The Madison Metropolitan School District strives to provide an environment where every student feels safe, respected and welcomed and where every staff member can serve students in an atmosphere that is free from significant disruptions and obstacles that impede learning and performance.

Bullying can have a harmful social, physical, psychological and/or academic impact on students who are the victims of bullying behaviors, students who engage in bullying behaviors and bystanders that observe acts of bullying. The school district does not allow bullying behavior toward or by students, school employees or volunteers on school/district grounds, at school/district-sponsored activities or on transportation to and from school or school/district sponsored activities.

Sherman staff works with students and families to understand the definition of bullying, how to report bullying, and how to work together to prevent it.

Sherman has an after-school program that offers a variety of opportunities for our students, including grade-level academic centers that offer tutoring provided by the
Urban League and MSCR staff. As long as your child attends either the academic center or is working with a Sherman staff member, they will have the opportunity to participate in clubs, intramurals or to attend the drop-in center from 3:30-5 p.m.

At the drop-in center, we offer a variety of activities including basketball, jump rope, various games, music, movies, field trips, and much more. At 5 p.m., a late bus arrives to take the students home.

Safety and belonging are important components of a positive school culture. The dress code policy is focused on promoting both. Students may dress in any style they desire and may present themselves in a way that is consistent with their identity, as long as their chosen attire does not cause a disruption or compromise safety in the school environment. The following examples are intended to represent these limitations.

Items not to be worn include:

• Clothing or accessories that cover your face
• Clothing or accessories that may be used as a weapon
• See-through clothing
• Clothing or accessories with statements or images that are vulgar, obscene, or promote illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, or gang activities
• Clothing or accessories that expose undergarments or the buttocks
• Clothing or accessories with words, pictures, or caricatures based on stereotypes of a specific gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or disability
• Clothing or accessories with Native American team names, logos, or mascots that depict stereotypes
   

Additionally:

• Clothing or accessories with sincerely held religious affiliations or purposes are allowed
• Shoes or footwear must be worn at all times

Students are to keep all cell phones and other electronic devices off and away throughout the day. If a staff member sees or hears a student's device during the school day, this may result in the phone being stored in the office or in a Yonder bag. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones or electronic devices.

To ensure your child's safety and our building safety we follow district-directed entry procedures at Sherman.

When arriving during the school day as a student, parent, guardian or guest you will be asked to identify yourself and state the purpose of your visit. A student who needs to leave school for any reason during the school day must bring a note from a parent/guardian indicating the time to be excused and the reason for the excuse. The student must take the note to their homeroom before school so that they can obtain outside authorization.

Board policy states students should only be excused upon the request of parents or guardians. Parents or guardians must come to the office to sign the student out. You may be asked for identification to verify your relationship. Students must check in at the main office upon returning to school regardless of the time.

Families and community members are essential partners in Sherman’s success. We have and will continue to work hard to engage our families and community members. When schools engage with parents and communities in authentic and mutually-supportive ways, parents and communities will be equipped to ask questions, make decisions, and expect the best from their schools for their children and all children. When we align our efforts and everyone has a charge – educators, parents, and community members alike – children will benefit. We will do this through building a respectful inclusive school community.

Attempt to schedule appointments at times other than during school hours. Only medical and other appointments that are necessary and impossible to schedule at other times should be made during the school day. Students who need to leave the building during school hours must bring a signed note from their parent/guardian to their Homeroom Teacher before school on the day the pass is needed. Help make the classroom a smooth learning environment by sending a note to school.

Students who become ill during the day will be sent to the health office with a staff escort. All students going home during the school day due to illness will be processed through the health office. It is against school policy for students to communicate directly with a parent or guardian in case of illness without going through the health office. Students leaving for any other reason will either need a note or phone call from a parent or guardian excusing them, with verification.

NOTE: Only people on a student’s contact list are able to pick them up unless we receive explicit instruction. Siblings are not granted access into Sherman, unless parent permission is provided and pre-approved by administration.

Families play a key role in school safety. You can read about school-specific resources for helping keep students safe. You’ll find more information on district safety and security, including how we communicate with you in an emergency, at madison.k12.wi.us/safety.

Sherman is one of several schools across the district that was selected to receive a grant that allows all students at Sherman Middle School to receive a free breakfast and free lunch. Students will eat breakfast in their homeroom each day. Students will be offered a choice of up to four lunch meals daily, and they will encouraged to take a fruit and/or vegetable and milk.
 

Along with the district fees ($72), and a lock ($6/lock). Students are encouraged to keep their lock over the summer as they are able to use it throughout their time at Sherman. Therefore, if your child is going into 7th or 8th grade and has kept their lock, they will not need to purchase a new one.

Student messages from parents are delivered during lunch period or again before the end of the school day. Unless it is an emergency, messages will only be delivered during those designated times. Make sure that your student knows what to do after school each day. If plans are unclear, arrange to have your child call you during their lunch period or at the end of the day from their classroom. Students are able to use the office phone in case of an emergency.

Each student is assigned a hall locker near their teaching team. This locker is intended for storage of outer clothing, hats, books, backpacks, and needed school supplies. The teaching team assigns these lockers. Students should keep lockers locked at all times. Students can purchase a school-issued lock ($5 per lock.) Students should keep their lockers locked at all times.

The building is supervised from 7:20 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. Students are allowed in the building each morning at 7:20. Students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and clubs after the bell rings at 2:47 or 1:47 when there is an early release Monday. However, students must be under the supervision of an adult or take part in our after-school program if they are going to be in the building after school.

Students who live too far from the school to walk can take the Sherman designated Metro Bus. These buses make stops around the neighborhoods.

Supplemental School Service Routes 

Students must purchase a bus pass in order to ride the Metro Bus; however, if a student meets certain financial qualifications, they are given a bus pass for free. Students who are eligible for a bus pass from the district are reminded of the importance of keeping track of it. District-provided Metro passes are available for students:

• Who reside more than one and one-half (1.5) miles from their attendance area school and
• Have demonstrable financial need, including qualifying for free or reduced lunch

Madison Metro’s EZ Rider passes can be purchased through the mail (free shipping on all orders) and at Metro’s Administration Office located on the second floor at 1245 E. Washington Ave.

Madison Metro is charged with enforcing the passenger code of conduct and may revoke riding privileges. If a student has his/her riding privileges revoked by Madison Metro, the District is not obligated to provide an alternative form of transportation. In addition, a student’s bus pass may be restricted based on his/her behavior.

Purchase a Metro Transit bus pass

If you are dropping off/picking up your student, please do not stop in front of the school or in the Sherman parking lot as this area is reserved for the buses. Rather, pull up Ruskin Street and stop by the playground/field area to let your student out. You can also wait for students on the side streets that feed into Ruskin Street.