Skip to main content

Rules We Live By

With the return of springtime weather, it's a good opportunity to revisit some of the school rules, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy those sunny afternoons and the team days, field trips, and recess blocks without having to worry about any behavior mishaps.


(1.) DRESS CODE - Warm temperatures are predicted for the end of this week. Please take some time to review the Braintree Middle Schools' Dress Code with your child (PDF attached). Some of these expectations are a bit outdated (and, in some cases, hard to shop for!) so the general rule around here is: shorts/skirts/dresses have to be "long enough" to not be revealing. This is particularly tricky in the spring, when kids have grown more than they think, so make sure to try on those outfits the night before, so you're not scrambling in the morning if something turns out to be too tight, too short, etc. The golden rule for school attire is that clothing should cover the things that are supposed to be covered, but don't cover your eyes and ears, so we can be assured that everyone is tuned in! 

(2.) BUS PASSES - We have seen an increase in students riding their friends' buses home. This is not allowed, as the driver needs to know who is on their bus to ensure everyone's safety. According to the Transportation Policy, all bus students are required to carry a bus pass, and to ride their assigned bus only. The drivers often know their kids, but there's always the chance that a substitute driver could be on the route. If you need a replacement bus pass, come to the office in the morning. All drivers have been encouraged to do "spot checks" of bus passes over the next week or two, so be prepared!

(3.) HALL PASSES - Students should spend their school time in class. In an emergency, they can ask permission to go to the bathroom, nurses, their locker, etc. but this should be a rare occasion. Students need to sign out (and sign back in) and must carry a hall pass with them, so staff know they have permission to be out of the classroom. Wandering in the hallways can be an escape from some tasks, but it is not a productive habit and isn't particularly healthy, so we're trying to reduce the amount of time some students are spending out of class.

(4.) CELL PHONES - Cell phones are not allowed to be used in school, and teachers can confiscate phones if they're seen on, whether or not the student is using the phone. Students are not allowed to take photos/videos of other students without permission. These guidelines apply to smart watches, too! I've mentioned in earlier posts how important it is for young people to have the opportunity to "unplug" from the distractions of constant connectivity. If students need to contact home, they can ask to use the phone in the classroom or in the Main Office.

(5.) BULLYING PREVENTION - School ought to be a safe place for all students. If anyone is experiencing bullying or has witnessed it, they are expected to report it to the teacher, guidance, or administration, so the behavior can be stopped. The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy is viewable online, and later this month the schools will be implementing an online "tip line" for reporting inappropriate behavior. This tip line is being set up by the Sandy Hook Promise organization in collaboration with Braintree Public Schools, Braintree Police, and the Town of Braintree, to promote safe and supportive schools. More information to follow! It is the responsibility of everyone to protect each other and to make every day great by treating others as you would want to be treated.

Thank you for supporting our school rules. You can review the full student Handbook here. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

South Cinco - 3/31/2025

  Many of us were slow getting to South today, after returning late on Saturday night from the annual 8th grade Washington DC trip. It was a great trip! Thank you to Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Clark who coordinated the trip, to all the teachers who chaperoned overnight for 4 days, and to the students who represented South well! (1.) CALENDAR RAFFLE Tomorrow is the official first drawing of the South PTO April Calendar Raffle! Bring in all sold tickets to enter every drawing! Tickets & rules were sent home from homeroom. Once you sell tickets, bring the filled-out tickets & money to your homeroom teacher or the Main Office! You can also pay to the South PTO Venmo-- https://www.venmo.com/u/SouthMiddlePTO--and  just let your homeroom teacher know that you paid online. (2.) GIRLS ON THE RUN An outside group is using South's field as their meeting spot for two great activities:  Girls On the Run  and  Heart and Sole !  South students are encouraged to check ou...

South Cinco - 5/7/2025

  Five from South: (1.) South Middle School The Musical 2: The Musical Revue debuts this Friday May 9th, at 7pm, with shows on Saturday May 10th at 2pm and 7pm.  Tickets are $10 and are available online at  https://southms.seatyourself.biz.  Contact Ms. Proulx ( kelly.proulx@braintreeschools.org ) with any questions. Break a leg! (2.) View  the extracurricular activities calendar here . We encourage all students to try different clubs to see what interests them, spend time with friends, and form connections with new students--and you should encourage your child to as well! (3.)  South PTO meets next Tuesday, 5/13, at 7pm for our May meeting. Agenda to follow. (4.) On Friday, 5/23, starting at 1 PM, South's annual Memorial Day assembly will begin. During this event, select 8th graders present the research from their Veterans Project, a civics program that teaches students about the sacrifices made by family members or local heroes who served in the Armed For...

Bulldog Bulletin - 6/3/2025

Congratulations to all the students that participated in the Trills and Thrills music festival this past Friday - your hard work and effort paid off! Your playing and love for music impressed one of the adjudicators so much that he wrote an email to our superintendent letting him know how much he appreciated South Middle School’s music program!  7th & 8th grade orchestra won gold and the 7th & 8th grade Band and Concert Choir both earned silver.  This Thursday, 6/5, is the last day for Late Bus this school year. Students can still stay after for extra help, but you’ll need to arrange for a ride home or plan to walk! Homework Lab also ends this Thursday, so if you plan to stay after, you’ll need to make plans with one of your teachers. Don't forget! Bus registration ends next Friday, 6/13.  See the Districtwide post for bus registration information. Please check the Yearbook Sales list posted at your homeroom entrance.  If anyone thinks they purchased a y...