New Student Information

Daily Schedule

Our day at the middle schools begins at 7:35am and ends at 2:35pm. Our regular schedule begins with an advisory period and ends with an enrichment period. There are 7 periods of class time each day with 2 minutes passing time in between each period and a 30-minute lunch. Each class is 45 minutes long with a period of Health/Wellness every day. Unified Arts classes will change every 30 days and include Family and Consumer Sciences; Tech Ed; Art; Business, Communications, and Information Technology; and Information Literacy. Students involved with orchestra, band, or chorus will have the opportunity to meet as a group twice a cycle during enrichment. Students also have the opportunity to participate in clubs and organizations, which also take place during enrichment.

Early Dismissal

On days when we have an early dismissal, school will let out at 11:30am.

2-Hour Delay Schedule

On days when we have a 2-hour delay, school will begin at 9:35am.

Virtual Learning Days

On days when we take part in virtual learning, all students will be expected to log in with their advisory at 7:35am and will conclude their day at 11:24am.

School Breakfast and Lunch

Good nutrition and learning go hand in hand! Meals, food, and beverages sold or served at our schools meet state and federal requirements, which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines. Students receive affordable and appealing foods that meet their health and nutritional needs.

Breakfast will be free for all students in Pennsylvania under Governor Josh Shapiro's Universal Free Breakfast program through the 25-26 school year. Our cafeteria staff has delicious options for breakfast at the middle school!

If needed, you can apply for free and reduced lunch through the SchoolCafe App or pick up an application from our front office. Factors considered include household size and total household income.

To add money to your student's lunch account, you can bring a cash or check in to our front office, or use MySchoolBucks to reload.

For more information and to find lunch menus, you can visit our district's Child Nutrition Services webpage.

Sapphire and Schoology

At the Middle School, we utilize Schoology as our everyday learning management system, and Sapphire is used to report final grades and manage demographic information. We encourage all families to sign up for both to make sure your contact information is correct, to receive all the communication that is sent out from the middle school, and to keep track of your student's progress as they progress through the middle school.

There are differences between these Sapphire and Schoology, so please see below to understand how the middle school uses each of these systems to support our students and families.

Sapphire

Sapphire is our main student management system. This is the system that houses all student information, to include addresses, contact information, family contact information, emergency forms, attendance, schedules, and more. The school district and middle school will also send out mass communications via Sapphire. You must make sure that your phone numbers and email addresses are updated to ensure that you receive communications. Final report cards are always sent through Sapphire, but you can keep track of grades in Schoology. You can also submit excuses for attendance under the Student Data Forms in your student's backpack.

For more information on how to sign up for Sapphire, visit our Sapphire page on the district website. Make sure to check your spam email for the approval email once you've registered. If you have any questions, please contact David Ankney at ankneyd@nebobcats.org.

Schoology

Schoology is currently only being used for grades 7-12. This is a learning management system that takes on more of a social media look. At the middle school, teachers will assign work through Schoology. The front office will also send out frequent announcements for students to see, as well as any parents who are signed up on Schoology. Schoology has more of a social media feel. Students will submit their assignments through Schoology and can fill out help tickets to see the guidance office, front office, or nurse. We encourage parents to sign up for Schoology so they are able to keep track of their student's grades throughout each marking period. Final report cards are always uploaded to Sapphire.

You can also download the Schoology app onto your phone to better receive notifications.

For more information on how to sign up for Schoology, attend our building tour and visit the library for help signing up, or visit our Schoology page on the district website. Codes will be available in Sapphire, or you can contact the front office for help in getting your child's code. PLEASE NOTE that codes will initially be given out at the building tour and back to school night. The front office will only have the codes after that point. If there are any questions, please contact David Ankney at ankneyd@nebobcats.org.

Technology

Chromebooks

• Not your personal/private property and should never be used for social media.
• Only use for educational purposes. Never visit inappropriate sites. Student activity on Chromebooks are monitored by the district.
• Remember to charge every night and keep away from food, beverages, and wet/dirty locations.
• Can lose privilege - be responsible! Families will be charged for intentional damage and barred from graduating if not paid.
• Do not share passwords.
• Buy Chromebook insurance through MySchoolBucks EVERY SCHOOL YEAR to cover accidental damage!
• Become familiar with our Acceptable Use Policy

Cell Phones/Earbuds/Smartwatches

• Students may use cell phones with listening devices before and after school.
• Cell phones are not permitted in classrooms or gym locker rooms. Cell phones must be placed in lockers at the start of the school day and should not be retrieved until the completion of the school day unless given permission in advance by a teacher or administrator.
• Violation of these rules will result in confiscation of the electronic device and disciplinary action.

Consequences for Misuse

If a Chromebook is deemed to be intentionally damaged, as determined by our tech assistant and/or administrators, families will be charged to replace parts or the entire Chromebook. Failure to pay these charges will bar your student from graduation.

For cell phones/earbuds/smartwatches, disciplinary action is as follows:

• 1st Offense: Warning - Phone is confiscated until the end of the school day; student may pick up their phone at the end of the day.
• 2nd Offense: 1 Hour after school detention and a parent or guardian must pick up the phone.
• 3rd Offense: 1 day of ISS and a parent or guardian must pick up the phone.

Health Plans, Medications, and Immunizations

We have one nurse on staff, Mrs. Ellen Marquard.

Prior to starting 7th grade, all students must be current on their TDap and meningitis vaccines, or they cannot attend school.

If you have a health care plan, please have a current update for any changes that need to happen in a middle school setting. You can fax this to the school from the doctor's office at (717) 266-9735, or a parent can bring it in to our front office.

Please ensure all medication orders are updated and current for the new school year. You may fax them to us at (717) 266-9735 or turn it in to our front office.

If your child has a medical 504, it will transition with them from their previous school. The middle school will update as necessary.

Students may not bring in ANY medication without nurse approval, including Tylenol, ibuprofen, Midol, etc. Please make sure to fill out the NESD Health Form and submit on Sapphire prior to the start of the school year. This will give the nurse permission to treat your child with Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Tums, and will update our nurses with any new health conditions or medications that your student may have.

Transportation

You can find your bus assignment on Sapphire. For any transportation questions, including any changes, you can contact our Transportation Director, Stephen Burk at burks@nebobcats.org.

Northeastern Middle School Expectations

At Northeastern Middle School, we are excited to watch your child's growth, both academically and socially. We are committed to providing a safe environment for all students and to help them navigate the middle school with as few issues as possible. The Middle School Handbook outlines our expectations, rules, and procedures. Please read through this handbook carefully and confirm on Sapphire.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for academic success. Northeastern School District's attendance policy requires students to be in attendance for school according to Pennsylvania State law. Attendance is taken during advisory and during every class period. An automated call is sent out at 10am if a student is marked with an unexcused absence.

We have many ways to excuse an absence. To excuse an absence, you can leave a voicemail on our attendance line by calling (717) 266-3676, Option 1; fax us at (717) 266-9735; email our attendance secretary, Mrs. Monhollen, at msattendance@nebobcats.org; or report the absence on Sapphire. You can also send in a note or any other documents with your student to be turned in at the front office. To maximize instructional time, teachers will not collect absence excuses. Parents are encouraged to check their student's Sapphire portal or contact Mrs. Monhollen with any questions concerning attendance.

Northeastern School District also allows for up to 5 days per school year for an educational trip. Please fill out an educational trip form, and either send with your student to the front office or email to Mrs. Monhollen at msattendance@nebobcats.org. Please note that we will not approve educational trips during the first 10 days of school, during state testing (PSSAs and Keystones), or the last 10 days of school. Any absences exceeding the 5 per year will be marked as unexcused.

Grades

We encourage parents and students to regularly check Schoology to keep track of grade progress throughout the school year.

The grading scale at Northeastern Middle School is as follows:

Requirements for Distinguished Honor Roll: Students must earn all As and one B.
Requirements for Honor Roll: Students must earn all As and Bs.

*Band, Chorus, and Orchestra grades are not included as they are optional courses.

Dress Code

At Northeastern Middle School, we strive to allow students to express their individuality while providing a learning setting with minimal distractions. The School Board has the authority to impose limitations on students' dress in school. The following expectations are provided to help students comply with the dress and grooming policy, which allows for our students to maintain a healthy learning environment without disruption or health and safety hazards.

Students may not wear:

• Hats, hoods, face coverings, ski masks, sunglasses, etc.
• Clothing that could damage furniture or property
• Clothing that creates a safety concern
• Clothing with messages that are lewd or illegal
• Clothing not covering the midriff area or shows undergarments
• Blankets and pillows

Athletics

Students attending the middle school have the opportunity to participate in various sports, depending on the season. Please visit our Athletics Department page for resources, such as coach information, athletic forms, and sports physical information.

Please see the list of sports available to our middle schoolers by season below.

Fall

• Junior High Boys and Girls Cross Country
• Junior High Football
• Junior High Girls Field Hockey

Winter

• Junior High Boys and Girls Basketball
• Junior High Wrestling

Spring

• Junior High Boys and Girls Soccer
• Junior High Boys and Girls Volleyball
• Junior High Track and Field

Clubs and Social Activities

Students at Northeastern Middle School have the opportunity to participate in various clubs and organizations. Some are open to all students, and some are invite only. Keep an eye out on Schoology for announcements concerning our clubs and organizations!

Some clubs and organizations that we have offered in the past include:

• National Junior Honor Society
• Newcasters
• National Junior Art Honor Society
• Friends of Rachel
• Student Senate
• Sewing Club
• Gaming Club
• Band
• Orchestra
• Chorus
• Brass Ensemble
• Jazz Band

Our Student Senate also hosts several dances per year, one around Halloween, one in the winter, one in the spring, and an 8th grade dance. These dances include a DJ and dancing, and the gym is open for basketball and volleyball for anyone interested in playing. Pizza and soda are available to purchase, as well. Dances are from 6-8pm. All students must arrive by 6:30 and are not permitted to leave prior to 8 without prior approval. Our school district dress code policy applies for dances. Entry is $5, with an additional admission cost for our Haunted Hallway for the Halloween dance.

Students must be in attendance at school on the day of the dance or they will not be allowed entry. If a student serves any OSS during the marking period in which the dance occurs, they will not be allowed to attend the dance, as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will we need to change during PE?

• All students will be informed of the dress requirements for PE by their PE teacher. You will have a PE locker and will be expected to wear clothes appropriate for exercise.

Will all students get a locker?

• Yes, all students will receive a locker assignment. It is important that they do not share their locker combination and only store their own things in their locker. If a friend stores something in your child's locker and receives discipline, your child will also receive discipline for it. We recommend buying a combination lock (with a dial that rotates) to practice on. You will not need your own lock for our lockers.

How do I report my child's absence?

• You can report your child's absence several different ways:
  • Leave a message on our attendance voicemail by calling (717) 266-3676, Option 1
  • Fax in your excuse to (717) 266-9735
  • Email our attendance secretary, Mrs. Monhollen, at msattendance@nebobcats.org
  • Turn in an excuse note to the front office
  • Submit your excuse on the Sapphire portal

How do I put lunch money on my student's account?

• Northeastern School District uses MySchoolBucks to manage online payments for lunch accounts
• You can bring cash in to the front office

How do I check my student's grades?

• We strongly recommend that all parents sign up for a parent account on Schoology to monitor their child's grades throughout the school year. If you need help finding your student's code, please call the school's office, and we will try to help!
• Only final grades and report cards are posted on Sapphire.