Updates from Mrs. Anderson
May 22, 2023
Updates for May 22, 2023- Testing and End of the Year
Thank you to all of our 8th grade parents who helped plan, decorate, chaperone, and put in place the 8th grade dance! Our students were so happy and it was a special night for all of them. We are so thankful to have the most supportive parents!
TESTING IS COMING!
State Testing is coming soon!
Tuesday, May 23- Math SCREADY
Wednesday, May 24- 6th Grade SCPASS Science
Wednesday, May 24- Algebra I End of Course Exam
What do students need for testing?
- A fully charged Chromebook
- A good night's sleep
- A good breakfast- Breakfast is free for all students at League Academy!
- Be at school on time. School starts at 8:30, which means students must be in class prior to 8:30.
What students DO NOT need for testing:
- Cell Phones/Smart Watches/Electronic Devices- Students will not need cell phones/Smart Watches/Electronic Devices during testing. They will be asked to turn them off and place them in their bookbags during testing. Students found with a cell phone will suffer consequences for disrupting testing.
- Blankets/Pajamas/Lounge Clothes/Pillows- Students will continue to dress appropriately for school. Students who believe they may get cold should wear a sweatshirt. This is not a time to be lax- this is a professional testing environment. Students who bring these items to school will be asked to give them to the teacher to hold until testing is over.
- Early Dismissals- There will be no early dismissals granted during the testing windows each day. We cannot disrupt the testing environment for early dismissals.
It is imperative that students attend school on the testing dates.
End of the School Year- Important Dates
8th Grade Day- May 26
Memorial Day Holiday- May 29
8th Grade Chromebook Return- May 30
6th and 7th Grade Chromebook Return- May 31
7th Grade Field Day- June 1
6th Grade Field Day- June 2
8th Grade Awards Ceremony- May 31
7th Grade Awards Ceremony- June 1
6th Grade Awards Ceremony- June 2
Stone Lake Neighborhood Traffic Update
You may have noticed that The City of Greenville added poles to our protected bike lane outside the school on Twin Lake Road. We would kindly like to ask those of you who park in the neighborhood during arrival or dismissal that you consider the safety of our students and neighbors while parking.
- The safest way to drop off or pick up your student is through the carline. We encourage everyone to use the carline.
- We start school at 8:30. Students should be in their classrooms by 8:25.
- We end school at 3:15. This when class ends and we begin dismissal. The entire arrival and dismissal process is in the student handbook, which is linked on our website.
- We dismiss buses first, car riders next on our carline app. Students exit the classroom in the order in which their name is on the app. Please encourage your car riders to pay attention to the app in the classrooms and hurry out to the line. If you or your student has a question about the app, please contact your child's 7th period teacher.
- Walkers- those are any student who is walking off campus even to get a ride, are called by grade level after we have started car line and all the buses have left campus.
- If you are picking up or dropping off on the surrounding streets in the neighborhood, please do not block their driveways.
- Please do not block the entrance or exit to the League Academy driveway off Stone Lake Drive. You will be asked to move if you are blocking either of these driveways. These are for bus entrance and exit only.
School Environment
ID Badges: ID badges are required for all middle and high school students in Greenville County Schools. This is more of a safety issue than just a rule. It is a way to identify our students and people who are not supposed to be in our building. Friday, we met with around 30 students who did not have an ID badge. Some of those students had just forgotten it that day- most of those students are habitual offenders when it comes to Ids. We gave those students who had lost their ID a new one, and we had students call their parents. From now on, those students who have three or more temporary IDs, will have a day of suspension. We understand that sometimes we forget. That’s why we have temporary IDs. These are not for every day.
Dress Code: We have gotten relaxed with our dress code especially with shorts that are too short or jeans that are ripped up to the hip. Please help us by ensuring that your student is covered and dressed appropriately for school. Our dress code is in my newsletter and on our website. We want students to be comfortable but we are still a place of business and a school. Students should not be wearing PJs. Parents should expect a call from school if your student is out of dress code. You will need to bring your student appropriate clothing for school.
Starting Class: At League, we have a rule regarding the first 10 and last 10 minutes of class. In order for teachers to get class started, and to close class, we have asked that students not leave class during the first ten or last ten minutes of class. Students are absolutely allowed to use the restroom and go to the nurse or counselors during class. In order to keep order, we just ask that students wait for the teacher to start class and direct teaching prior to students leaving class. Of course, we absolutely make exceptions for emergencies. Emergencies don’t happen every day and we do ask students to sign out of class so that we can look at patterns of students leaving class. We will handle students to have a pattern of leaving class on an individual basis.
Cell Phones/Electronic Devices: We have a no tolerance cell phone policy. There is no need for students to bring their phones to school. There is no need for students to bring their airpods or earbuds to school. Every single day, I announce that it is time to turn their phones off and place them in their bookbags with their other electronic devices. Every single student gets this warning as a reminder each day. If a student is caught with a phone they do not get another warning. We have found that the no tolerance phone policy has cut down on many discipline issues that we saw on the rise last year.
Chromebooks: Chromebooks should come to school charged each day. We are seeing a rise in Chromebook damages. At the end of class, students should put Chromebooks in their bookbags for safe transport to the next class. Students/parents will be charged for Chromebook damages that are beyond normal wear and tear. This includes bending the Chromebook backwards, broken screens, and broken keyboards.
Please be aware of the League Academy Student Handbook for all of our policies and procedures.
The LA Student Handbook can be found at the bottom of the homepage of our website.
Flu/Covid Drive-through Testing Sites:
Starting Monday, November 28, there will be free, drive-through testing for both Flu and Covid-19 provided at three locations. GCS students, employees, and their household contacts can get tested. Results will be provided in approximately 1 hour. An important change from last year: parents and employees are responsible for reporting any positive results directly to the school or their supervisor. DHEC has again contracted Mako Medical to administer the testing, and the three sites are the same as last year: Fountain Inn High School, MT Anderson Support Center, and Northside Park. All of the information has been updated on the GCS website, which includes flyers in both English and Spanish.
There are some notable changes from the process last year:
- They will test for both Flu and Covid-19: one swab, two tests.
- In addition to GCS students and employees, household contacts of both students and employees can get tested at these sites for free.
- Results will be provided in approximately 1 hour.
- It is the parent’s responsibility to report positive results to the school, and employees must report positive results to their supervisor. GCS will not be automatically alerted to the results.
- Pre-registering will help expedite the testing process.
- Be sure to check the flyer before going to a site. The flyer will reflect the latest information and reflect any updates such as changes in hours, location closures, etc.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices at League
Cell Phones, Ear Buds, Smart Watches and Electronic Devices
Cell phones and other communication devices continue to become a disruption to the learning and safety of our students. Last year, we saw an increase in:
- Disruptions to the learning environment because of cell phones
- Cyberbullying issues in and out of school hours
- Behavioral issues related to and beginning with the use of cell phones in the classroom, in school hallways and out of school hallways
- Cell phones being used in appropriately in restrooms and classrooms
League Academy Electronic Devices Policy
Revised July 2022
In order to create a safe and productive environment for our students, the following electronic device policy will go into effect immediately upon the beginning of the school year:
Electronic devices, including recording devices, radios, CD players, DVD players, TV’s, laser pointers, etc. are not to be brought to school. Items such as playing cards of any type (baseball, game, etc.), toys, candy, gum, etc. are also prohibited. Students who are in possession of the items will be subject to disciplinary action.
Students are permitted to possess electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, air pods, earbuds, etc.) on school property, school buses, and while attending school-sponsored and school-related activities. The use of electronic devices are restricted to before and after school hours only. Electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight throughout the school hours of 8:30 to 3:15. Students may not use, or have turned on, an electronic device without prior permission of an administrator, as set forth below. “Turned on” includes an electronic device that is activated, set or programmed to ring, vibrate, or otherwise receive a signal or message.
A person, who finds a student in possession or use of an electronic device in violation of this policy, must issue a disciplinary action. Students will only use headphones at the discretion of the teacher with their school-issued Chromebook.
Students using the electronic devices to video other students/faculty or post photographs of students/faculty without permission may lead to suspension and/or expulsion. Smart watches may be worn by students, but should not be used for communication during school hours.
Any electronic device listed above should stay in a bookbag between 8:15 and 3:15. If an electronic device is visible or heard then the student will receive the following consequences:
1st Offense : Referral and Conference
2nd Offense: Referral and ISS
3rd Offense : Referral and OSS
Communication During School Hours:
If parents need to get a message to their student during the school day, they can call the front office at 355-8100, and we will get the message to the student.
Parents are welcome to message their student's personal device, but it will not be accessible prior to 3:15 in the building.
LA Dress Code
REVISED
League Academy of Communication Arts
Dress Code
Revised 2022
The mission at League Academy is to prepare students to become lifelong learners and contributing members of society through rigorous, arts-focused, standards-based instruction and by building positive relationships among students, staff, and the community.
Greenville County Schools Dress Code States:
Clothing and/or hair should not be so extreme or inappropriate to the school setting as to disrupt the education process. Therefore, clothing deemed distracting, revealing, overly suggestive or otherwise disruptive will not be permitted.
Wearing accessories or clothing that could pose a safety threat to oneself or others is not allowed.
Hats and sunglasses may not be worn in the building.
Attire must not evidence membership or affiliation with a "gang" in any negative sense of the term.
Proper shoes must be worn at all times.
Attire must not be immodest, obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, indecent or offensive.
Clothing that inappropriately exposes body parts is not permitted. Students shall not expose undergarments.
Pants must be worn at the natural waistline and undergarments are not to be visible. Pants and slacks must not bag, sag, or drag.
No clothing, jewelry, or tattoos are permitted that display profanity, suggestive phrases, or advertisements for, or messages or pictures depicting or suggesting alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or sex.
In addition to the above code, dress code continues to be a source of discussion among students, parents, and staff. Although we all have our beliefs about what a dress code should look like in a middle school; there are several key pieces that we all must adhere to in order to preserve the learning environment and keep students safe and confident. Our dress code supports equitable, educational access by not enforcing stereotypes or marginalization of any group of students based on race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body size or type.
We believe:
Students should dress comfortably for school.
Students should not wear clothing or accessories that suggest or overtly display offensive images, or language including profanity, hate speech or phonography.
Students should be able to comfortably wear religious attire without fear of school discipline or discrimination.
Students should not wear clothing or accessories that denote, suggest or display references to alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or other illegal conduct or activities.
Students should not wear clothing or accessories that invade the rights of others including worlds or images that can be considered lewd, racist, vulgar, or obscene or that can reasonably be considered as containing fighting words, hate speech, imminent lawless action, defamatory speech, or threats to others.
Staff should manage their own beliefs about dress code and manage their distractions without regulating individual student clothing and/or self-expression.
Teachers should be able to focus on teaching without the additional and often uncomfortable burden of dress code enforcement.
Students Must:
Wear clothes that cover genitals, buttocks, breasts, and are fully covered with opaque fabric at all times.
Wear a shirt (fabric in the front and back, straps over the shoulders, and on the sides under arms, must touch the top of pants when standing.
Pants, jeans, skirts, sweatpants, leggings, dress, shorts.
Shoes- students must wear shoes at all times in the building.
Students May Wear:
Religious headwear
Fitted pants such as opaque leggings, yoga pants, and skinny jeans.
Ripped jeans as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed.
Students Cannot Wear:
Violent language or images
Images or language suggesting drugs, alcohol, vaping, paraphernalia or any illegal item or activity).
Bulletproof vest, body armor, tactical gear, or facsimile.
Hate speech, profanity, pornography.
Swimsuits
Pajamas/Robes/Pajama Pants
Any clothing that reveals undergarments (except at the shoulders)
Accessories that could be considered dangerous or a weapon (spiked jewelry).
Items that cover the face or ears such as hats, hats with bills, hoods except religious headwear.
Dress Code Enforcement:
Students will only be removed from spaces, hallways, or classrooms as a result of dress code violations stated above. Students who are in clear violation of this will report to ISS if the violation cannot be corrected immediately. Students will be provided two options to be dressed more to code:
Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.
If necessary, a student’s parent will be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.
No student should be affected by dress code enforcement because of racial identity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size or type or body maturity.
Students should not be shamed or required to display their body in front of others (students, classes, parents or staff) in school. “Shaming” includes:
Kneeling or bending over to check attire fit.
Measuring straps or skirt or shorts length
Accusing students of distracting others with their clothing.
These dress code regulations shall apply to regular school days during school hours.
Students who feel they have been subject to discriminatory enforcement of the dress code, should contact their administrator or school counselor.
Contact Information
Phone: 864-355-8100
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