Handbook

McKnight Handbook

In accordance with RCW 28A.225.005, here are our attendance expectations. Students are expected to be in school all day unless they are ill. Washington State law only recognizes absences due to illness, religious holidays, medical or legal appointments, and funerals in the family. Parents have the right to present reasons they believe are justifiable to the Principal for consideration of other absences.

All absences require a written note from parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence. Emailed notes accepted. A note without a reason and date of absence is unexcused. The note must include the student's full name, reason for absence, date(s) of absence, and parent/guardian signature.

In order to comply with district regulations and state law, when a student has seven unexcused absences in one month or ten unexcused absences in one year, McKnight administrators will petition the Juvenile Court System to seek mandatory attendance by a student. An unexcused absence is defined as any unauthorized absence from school. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Oversleeping
Shopping
Missing the bus
Concerts
Babysitting
Failure to obtain private transportation to school
Mechanical problem
Failure to obtain leave of Absence request for absences
Missing bus/school due to inclement weather if school is not closed

Should a parent/guardian wish to remove their student from school (3 or more days) for an extended period (medical problems, emergencies, family vacations, etc.) a Leave of Absence form must be filled out prior to the student's absence. To obtain a Leave of Absence form, please send a note that includes the student's name, reason for the leave, and dates requested to be excused at least a week in advance. The note should be delivered to the Attendance Secretary; one copy will be brought home by the student to the parent/guardian. We strongly discourage absences for non-medical and non-emergency reasons. If a form is not filled out prior to the leave, the absence will be regarded as unexcused.

Further information on Attendance Policies is available in the Student Handbook.

Dress Code

School attire should be comfortable for the student, while also supporting a positive learning environment. Wearing “school appropriate” clothing avoids disruptions and creates a comfortable environment for all students and adults in the school. Students attending McKnight Middle School are expected to follow the dress code outlined below.

Clothing that must be pulled up, pulled down, or continually adjusted throughout the day in order to meet the dress code will need to be changed upon request.

Administration may employ an investigation and issue consequences for any student who repeatedly violates these expectations. Certain exceptions may be made during “Spirit Days” and will be communicated to students. Our expectations regarding McKnight Dress Code are:

1. Students will keep clothing with pictures, symbols, or messages that represent anything illegal, gang-related, or culturally derogatory or negative out of school.

Examples of prohibited topics/messages include, but are not limited to: Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, sexual messages/innuendos, racial slurs, and profanity.
Any message determined to cause a disruption shall be addressed.

2. Students will wear clothing that minimizes exposed skin, covers undergarments, and fits appropriately.

Students will refrain from wearing short shirts or tank tops with large arm holes that reveal extensive sections of skin such as the belly, or tops that expose large areas of the student’s back or shoulders.
Students will refrain from wearing tops with a low neckline. A neckline will be considered too low if a large area of the chest is visible.
Students will wear clothes in the position and in the manner in which they are designed to be worn. For example, hoodies and jackets may not be worn backwards and pants/shorts must sit near the student’s natural waistline (for example, “sagging” pants are not appropriate).

3. Students may wear shorts, skirts, or dresses that are at least fingertip in length or longer.
4. Students may wear leggings, tights, and yoga or other workout pants as long as undergarments are covered and the fabric is substantial enough as to prevent a see-through or transparent effect.
5. Students will keep their faces visible, recognizable, and free of distraction.
8. Students will wear shoes that are appropriate for a learning environment. Shoes must allow students to safely navigate the halls and stairs, as well as not hinder any required evacuation of the building.

Consequences and Procedures for Dress Code Violations:

Students will be sent to the office to change into their PE clothes or another outfit, if available. Repeated offenses or refusal to change into appropriate clothing may result in further disciplinary action, up to and including suspension.
Teachers and staff members have administrative support to address any dress code issue within a classroom, in the hallways, or in any other common areas of the school. Staff may ask that students adjust or change their clothing in order to comply with the dress code as they are interpreting it. There is no administrative “appeal” if a staff member in the building feels that the student’s clothing does not meet the dress code requirements. Students are expected to comply with all staff requests.
Administration may issue consequences for any student who repeatedly violates these expectations.

Academic Honesty

Academic Honesty for the Student

Honesty, trust, and integrity are important aspects of the McKnight learning community. Academic dishonesty on the part of the student destroys trust and damages the integrity of the grading system. Academic dishonesty may fall into two broad categories:

Plagiarism: The taking of another person’s words, works, thoughts, or ideas and presenting them as your own.
Cheating: The actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of improving one’s grade. Cheating also includes assisting another student to do so. Cheating includes any and all actions by a student that are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive means.

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include a grade of Insufficient Evidence (I.E.) on the assignment, or may require a retake, or may involve a classroom consequence, as well as a call home to the parent/guardian (first offense). Subsequent offenses will result in a discipline referral and may involve consequences assigned by administration.

Bags, Backpacks, Purses, and Lockers

Personal Belongings

Upon arrival to school each day, students will place bags, backpacks, and purses in their own assigned locker where they will remain until either the end of 5th period or after school. In order to support a safe environment for students and staff at the end of each day, teachers may now choose to allow students to take their belongings to 6th period if it is more convenient for them to do so. Bags, backpacks, and purses may be confiscated and consequences assigned if students fail to comply with this policy.

Locker Guidelines

Students will be assigned their own locker at the beginning of the school year. Students are expected to follow these locker guidelines:

KEEP YOUR COMBINATION SECRET! Don't share your combo with your friends or let someone look over your shoulder while opening your locker.
DO NOT CHANGE LOCKERS, USE SOMEONE ELSE’S LOCKER, or LET SOMEONE ELSE USE YOUR LOCKER. Each student is responsible for whatever is in the locker that has been assigned to him/her.
KEEP YOUR LOCKER LOCKED AT ALL TIMES and DO NOT “PRESET” YOUR LOCKER so that it opens without working the combination.
Do not leave money or other valuables in your locker as the school is not responsible for any articles stolen from lockers.
Keep your locker clean and organized.

NOTE: It is IMPORTANT to remember that student lockers are on loan for student use, but remain school district property. Periodic and unannounced inspections may be made, fines may be assessed for damage, and disciplinary consequences may result from rule violations.

Bicycles/Skateboards/Scooters

Bike/skateboard Safety

In an attempt to ensure the safety of our students who ride their bicycles to school, we have developed a set of guidelines for these students to follow:

Students must walk their bikes when on school grounds.
Bicycles should be LOCKED to prevent theft.
Students riding bicycles to school must wear a helmet while riding their bicycles in accordance with Washington’s state Bicycle Helmet Law.
The school is not responsible for damage or theft of bicycles/skateboards/scooters while on school property.

Closed Campus

McKnight is a Closed Campus School

For the safety and security of our students, McKnight is a closed-campus school. This means that all students must stay on school grounds once they arrive and remain on campus until the end of the normal school day. Students who leave the campus without authorization will be considered truant and will receive disciplinary consequences.

Disrupting the Educational Process

Disruptive Behavior

Includes, but is not limited to:

a student refusing to provide his/her name when requested or providing a false name
acts that are insulting, intimidating, threatening, or abusive (either physically or verbally) toward other students or staff
perpetuating rumors (either starting/spreading them or talking about other students behind their backs/in a hurtful way)
willfully disregarding the directions/instructions of an adult; creating a disturbance in the building or at a school-sponsored event
continual and/or repeated disruptive or non-compliant behavior; refusing to leave the building, the campus, or a school sponsored event when asked.

Distribution of Merchandise

Selling, Purchasing, or Distribution of Merchandise

Selling, purchasing, or any form of distribution of merchandise on school property is prohibited. Any money or merchandise in a student’s possession that is determined to be linked to buying or selling on campus will be confiscated and given to the parent/guardian, with a consequence assigned to the student.

Responsibility to Investigate: Administrators and/or the Safety Officer are obligated to initiate an investigation stemming from any report of inappropriate school conduct or behavior. These staff maintain the right to speak with or interview any McKnight student throughout the course of an investigation. The progression and scope of the investigation will be determined by the administrator or Safety Officer.

Duty to Cooperate during an investigation: Students have a duty to answer investigative questions honestly and completely. Witnesses who are dishonest or fail to cooperate during an investigation or impede an investigation by encouraging others to be dishonest, may be subject to disciplinary action.

Electronic Devices

Electronic Devices (cell phones, CAMERAs, e-Readers, TABLETS, MUSIC–Recording, VIDEO–recording, and GAME-PLAYing devices OF ANY KIND, etc.)

Students are discouraged from bringing any of these types of devices to school, as they are not necessary for the student’s school-day experience. Any student choosing to bring any of these items to school has the responsibility to follow the expectations listed below:

Classroom teachers and supervisors of after school activities hold the authority to determine if/when students’ devices may be used in class and the teacher will determine a procedure for how phones should be managed in the classroom.
At ANY TIME on campus, the use of cameras and video recorders is strictly prohibited unless under the direct supervision of a staff member.
At ANY TIME during the school day (from 7:35 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), a student may not electronically post anything to any site (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc.) that allows such postings.
Students are NOT to wear earphones, earbuds, or any other type of headphone device while they are in our building (from the time students enter the building until they exit the building) unless a teacher has directed the student to do so within a classroom or it is part of a student’s IEP or other individual learning plan.
Any disruption to our learning environment that stems from the use of an electronic device WILL be investigated, and the offending student(s) will receive disciplinary consequences. In addition, repeated violations of these expectations will result in loss of the privilege of having access to these devices while at school. Please note: by bringing a cell phone or electronic device to school, the student and his/her parent/guardian consent to search of the device by administration based on reasonable suspicion as part of an investigation (Policy 3245). In addition, when incidents related to inappropriate technology use occur, students are expected to follow all directions given, including giving the device to the staff member if requested.
Examples of possible disruptions to our learning environment due to the inappropriate use of technology include, but are not limited to: Causing, promoting, or perpetuating threats or any type of physically or emotionally intimidating and/or dangerous situation; causing distractions in a classroom/other school environment or in any way drawing attention away from the focus of learning in our school, causing or contributing to peer conflict and/or unrest; demanding the attention of staff to continually address non-compliance with our technology expectations. (This will be addressed as “defiance” on the part of the student.)

If a student is found to be in violation of this expectation, the cell phone, camera, or video-recorder will be confiscated, secured in the office, and held for the duration of any investigation that may be initiated (which may include a search of the contents of the device for investigative purposes). Items will be returned to parents/guardians following any investigation.

NOTE: The school is NOT responsible for the recovery of lost, stolen, or damaged electronic devices brought to school, as our resources need to be focused on student learning.

Food and Beverages

Consumption of Food and Beverages is Restricted

Lunches are held in our Commons (cafeteria) area each day. When dismissed from class, students will report to the Commons within five (5) minutes and will remain in the Commons until released to go outside, to the library, or until their lunch period ends. Students are expected to follow these lunchroom guidelines as well as any other instructions given by staff:

In order to maintain a safe and supervised experience for all students, we have established expectations and set boundaries for where you may be during lunch, both inside and outside. If you are not sure where you are allowed to be, please ask an adult supervisor.
Once in the Commons, students may either sit at a table or get in the end of one of the lunch lines. Students are expected to stay seated in their chosen seat throughout lunch unless otherwise directed
Each round table can safely accommodate 8 students while each long table may be filled according to available seating.
Out of respect for other students, please wait patiently in the lunch line (don’t cut in front of others), do not save seats or exclude others from your table, clean up your area, be in control of your behavior, and act responsibly toward others at all times.
Out of respect and courtesy to our custodial staff, please clean-up after yourself (table and floor area), place trash and food directly into the trash cans (no throwing or tossing these items), stack up all disposable trays and boats (this minimizes the number of times trash cans must be changed), and do not take food outside.
Students may use the restrooms located in the Commons foyer at any time during lunch.
Reminder—students may not bring or consume energy drinks at school, nor are they to bring large packages of food (chips, candy, etc.) or bottles of non-water drinks (soda, juices, lemonade, etc.) to share with other students.

Gum is Allowed Following These Guidelines

At McKnight gum may be used as long as it is disposed of in a garbage can after being chewed AND as long as the learning environment is not disrupted. Each teacher may determine the extent to which gum is allowed in their classroom learning environment.

Hall and Stairway Etiquette

Guidelines for Halls and Stairways

Because we are a very crowded school and we want our students to remain safe, students are to adhere to the following guidelines:

Walk on the right side of the hall and follow the directional markers indicated for each stairway.
Help maintain efficient movement through the halls by not congregating in clusters that block traffic in hallways and stairwells. Move into the pod to socialize.
Use quiet conversational voices and avoid loud noises such as shouting or yelling.
Keep moving on the stairs and landings and avoid stopping to talk to others.
Do not run, jump, push, trip others, or otherwise create a dangerous situation in the hallways or stairs. Students must keep hands, feet, and other objects to themselves.

Lunchroom Commons

Prohibited Items

Miscellaneous Prohibited Items

Due to safety and the security of such items, students are expected not to bring the following to school: skateboards, scooters, motorized scooters, gambling related items (such as dice), toys, perfume/cologne, etc. These items will be confiscated if observed and returned at the end of the day. Repeated violations may result in the school holding these items for parent pick-up and/or disciplinary consequences.

These items are also prohibited:

Fragrances/Body Spray/ Hairspray

Due to medical conditions such as allergies and the disruption created when these products are used at school, the possession or use of fragrances such as body sprays (ex: “AXE”), perfume, aroma-therapy products, fragrant lotions, hairspray, etc., are prohibited on campus or on school buses. Offending items will be confiscated, and the student will be asked to remove the fragrance(s) from his/her body.

Permanent Markers (Sharpies)

In order to prevent vandalism and maintain the positive appearance of our building, permanent markers are not to be brought to school. In addition, students are not to write on themselves, other students, or the personal belongings of others with markers while at school. If brought to school, permanent markers will be confiscated and not returned and consequences may be assigned.

Public Displays of Affection (PDA)

Reporting Illegal Activity and Dangerous Behavior

Reporting Guidelines for Illegal Acts and Potentially Dangerous Behavior

For the safety of everyone, students who have knowledge of illegal acts, crimes, or potentially dangerous behavior (such as students being in possession of, or under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol, or in possession of a weapon) are expected to immediately report this information to a staff member in the building. Students found to have prior knowledge of such information without making a report may be assigned disciplinary consequences.

Substitute "Guest" Teachers

Respect Guest Teachers

Because substitute teachers are guests in our building, we expect everyone to treat them with respect at all times. When the regular classroom teacher is absent, the Guest Teacher is the authority in the classroom and may fill out major discipline referrals on students who fail to comply with classroom rules. Teachers who return to find a poor report from a Guest Teacher (for individual students or class behavior) will follow up with discipline consequences as necessary.

Technology

Responsible Use of Technology

Renton School District Responsible Use Policy (RUP)
Students and Families: PLEASE READ THIS TOGETHER

1:1 Chromebook Handout

Statement of Purpose

Renton School District teachers and students use technology and internet-based tools in their classrooms on a regular basis to support student learning and prepare students to engage in the rapidly changing world. These technologies improve student communication and collaboration skills, provide an authentic audience, and extend learning beyond the classroom walls while building digital citizenship skills. Student access to technology requires responsible, courteous, efficient, and legal use. Our goal in providing access to these resources is to enhance learning experiences and to educate students in responsible and appropriate use. It is important that students and parents recognize that information posted on the internet is public, permanent, and needs to be appropriate.

Terms of Agreement

I agree to follow teachers’/building/district instructions when using technology.
I agree to be polite, considerate, and to use appropriate language.
I agree to report and/or help prevent any bullying, abuse, or harm of others.
I agree to tell an adult if I read, see, or access something inappropriate, or if I witness inappropriate use of technology.
I agree to adhere with all filters and security measures.
I agree to use technology carefully and to conserve district resources.
I agree not to share my passwords, except with my teacher or parent/guardian (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA).
I agree to use only my own files and folders. I will not access another individual’s files and folders without his/her permission.
I agree not to reveal or post personal information belonging to myself or another person (i.e., passwords, addresses, or telephone numbers).
I agree to adhere to copyright laws.
I agree to follow the technology check-out process.

Adhering to Federal, State and, local laws, Renton School District will protect student and employee data. However, I understand that my use of any district technology (computer, network, internet, resources, etc.) will be monitored and is neither private nor confidential to district/authorized personnel. I understand that if I violate this agreement, the district’s policies and procedures, or my student handbook, I may not be allowed to continue to use technology, or I may receive other appropriate consequences.

Cross-References/Guiding Reference/ Guiding Policies/ Policies

Board Policy: 2022 Instruction-Technology Resources

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) NETs standards:

Creativity and Innovation
Research and Information Fluency
Communication and Collaboration
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Digital Citizenship
Technology Operations and Concepts

Educational Technology Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRS):

EALR 1 Integration

Innovate
Collaborate
Investigate and Think Critically

EALR 2 Digital Citizenship

Practice Safety
Operate Systems
Select and Use Applications
Adapt to Change (Technology Fluency)