Our role in preparing our students for postsecondary learning, careers, and life is best fulfilled when we are all HERE. We want your student to feel connected and that they belong HERE in WDMCS.

What is chronic absenteeism?
A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10 percent of school, which is 18 or more days in a year. This equals only two days a month.

Why do we need to talk about it?
Research shows consistent attendance:

• helps children reach early academic and developmental milestones,
• helps students develop positive relationships with peers and staff,
• prevents students from falling behind academically,
• connects families to additional community resources, and
• increases graduation rates.

If your child needs to stay home or be late for school, please call the school office before the start of the school day and report your child’s name, homeroom teacher, and reason for the absence or tardiness. If a child is reported absent by the homeroom teacher and the school has not been notified, the secretary or school nurse will contact the home to ensure the child’s safety. In the case of excessive absences, a physician’s note, school nurse, or building administrator’s documentation may be required to excuse the absence. If there is anything our school can do to help your child attend school regularly and on time, please contact us.

Students who plan to leave the building at any time during the school day must first report to the office. The office must have written or verbal permission from a parent/guardian for the student to leave.

Attendance communications may only be reported by parents/guardians listed in Infinite Campus. You can call the main number, 515-633-6000, to report an absence.
If your student will be late or needs an early release, please send a note with your student to show their teacher at the time of release and then bring the note to the office to complete signing out.

You may also use the Stilwell email stattendance@wdmcs.org to report your student’s absences. Please remember to include your student’s first and last name, student number, date/time, and reason for the absence. Communication of the attendance event prior to, or on the day of, the
absence will prevent unexcused absence emails, text messages, and/or phone calls.

Whenever a student arrives late or needs to leave early during the school day, students must always sign in and out in the office and obtain a pass to class.

Make-Up Work
Students should contact their instructor about assignments missed. They will have two days to make up the work for each day of an excused absence, for up to six school days for multiple, consecutive, excused
absences. The time allowed for make-up work may be extended at the discretion of the teacher. Students should see teachers in advance of planned absences.

The only beverage students should consume in the hallways and classrooms is water. If students choose to carry a water bottle, it must be a water bottle that will not spill if it is tipped over in a classroom. Beverages other than water (juice, Gatorade, etc.) are only permitted in the cafeteria before school starts and during lunch.

• If there is a family emergency, please contact the school office, and they will reach your student. If there is an emergency at school, we will call the parent/guardian.
• Students may be asked to place their device in a caddy for the duration of the class.
• Cell phone/handheld electronic device usage is only allowed before or after school unless permitted by the teacher. This includes the use of earbuds.
• Smart watches can be worn as long as they are not a distraction.
• If a phone or other device becomes a distraction, a teacher or staff member may keep the device until the end of the day.
• WDMCS is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen cell phones or communication devices.
• To learn more about cell phone privacy, please read Board Policy 502.09 - Search and Seizure

District students are expected to be respectful of the rights of others and comply with school and district rules and policy regarding behavior. We believe each student deserves the right to a fair and appropriate education in which race, ethnicity, culture, religion, and abilities will be valued, celebrated, and used as a vehicle during academic instruction.

We are dedicated to being proactive and restorative in our efforts to implement practices that aim to keep our students in class, receiving access to instruction, and being provided the support to succeed. Practices that are restorative in nature (repairing the harm to the victim and the school community caused by a student’s misconduct) will be given first consideration to remediate offenses.

Each junior high school utilizes Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to set and maintain high standards of behavior for its students. PBIS includes instruction, common expectations, and
reinforcement for demonstrating appropriate behaviors. Teachers also work with students to help them identify emotions so they can work on managing stress, impulse control, and learn to develop and maintain positive relationships.

We believe as students develop strong social and emotional skills, we will see growth in their positive behavior and connections with others.

(Board Policy 502)
Students and their parents/guardians hold the primary
responsibility for what a student chooses to wear to school each day. When a student is comfortable in what they wear, including expressing their individuality and/or personal and family culture, they can better focus on learning. WDMCS expectations for student dress and appearance are based on safety and showing respect for others.

• Students are asked to dress appropriately for the weather, including coats, hats, gloves, and boots. Any family who needs support in obtaining clothing or shoes should contact the school office.
• Shoes must be worn at all times for student safety.
• Clothing or other apparel promoting products illegal for use by minors or displaying obscene material, profanity, or reference to prohibited conduct are not allowed. If worn, a student will be asked to change or be given something different to wear for the day.

School administration will work with the parent/guardian and student to address any concerns and create a positive solution. Board Policy 502 gives administration final discretion regarding student dress and appearance.

WDMCS welcomes visitors and volunteers to its school buildings. Visitors are individuals who come to watch an assembly, eat lunch with their student, or visit their student’s classroom. Typically, visitors arrange 24 hours in advance when they wish to meet with a classroom teacher and limit their visits to a short period of time. It is important that they do not interfere with the class in progress or discuss individual concerns when students are present. Young children and/or students must be accompanied by an adult when visiting.

Volunteers are often asked to help with a project at school. There are many choices for volunteers, including classroom assistance, participation in building and activity support groups, and service on districtwide or
building committees. You may obtain more information about sharing your time and skills by calling your school office. Volunteers may be subject to additional screening processes.

Both visitors and volunteers enter the building through the front door and check in at the office to pick up a
visitor badge every time they visit. Please bring your personal identification with you. Examples of personal identification include a state-issued ID, passport, military license, Mexico Consular ID card, and Permanent Resident card. Your ID will be run through a screening process called Raptor. They will also be asked where they will be in the building. This helps school staff understand where individuals are in the event of an emergency. Individuals who do not pass the Raptor screening process will not be allowed into the building.

Because WDMCS adheres to state and federal laws, all visitors and volunteers on school grounds must comply with the State of Iowa’s Senate File 482, which states individuals must use the restroom of their assigned gender at birth. All schools have multi-stall, gender-specific, and individual
restrooms available.