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MIDDLE SCHOOL HANDBOOK PART 2 - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

227 N. Fourth Street
Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: 630-463-3000
Academic Program 
The academic program at Geneva Middle School is a blend of traditional academic courses, exploratory classes, physical education, health, and electives.  Please visit our website for more information about Middle School Frameworks.
 

6th and 7th Grade Program 
Required Courses 
Full Year Elective Courses  
Trimester Elective Courses 
Language Arts I & II 
Band   
2D Art   
Mathematics 
Choir   
3D Art  
Science 
Orchestra  
General Music   
Social Studies 
Study Hall  
Entrepreneurship  
Physical Education  
 
Family & Consumer Science  
 
 
Technology Education/ Project Lead the Way  
 

8th Grade Program 
Required Courses  
Full Year Elective Courses 
Trimester Elective Course  
Language Arts I & II 
Band 
Automation & Robotics 
Mathematics 
Choir 
Computer Science 
Science 
Orchestra 
Culinary Arts & Hospitality 
Social Studies 
Spanish 
Digital Design 
Physical Education 
German 
Fashion & Design 
 
French 
Music Creation 
 
Study Hall  
Studio Art 
 
 
Accelerated Classes 
  • Geneva Middle School curriculum ensures a challenging program for all students.  Some students, however, are ready for more advanced work, and accelerated classes are intended to meet their needs. 
  • Accelerated classes are offered in mathematics at all three grade levels.  The accelerated 6th grade math class follows a 7th grade curriculum. The accelerated 7th grade math class is pre-algebra/pre-geometry, which is the 8th grade curriculum,
  • 8th grade accelerated math class is high school algebra.  An identification matrix is used to select students for math classes. Students who do not qualify utilizing the identification matrix may be identified using a placement test. 
  • Students with superior abilities in language arts are offered accelerated classes at all three grade levels.  These students exhibit several of the following characteristics: superior verbal ability, well-developed vocabularies, the ability to think abstractly, strong writing skills, and a high level of performance in previous language arts classes.  An identification matrix is used for the selection of students for these classes. 
 
Student Commitment to Performing Ensembles 
Each concert in band, choir, or orchestra is a unit of study.  As members of an ensemble, it is each student’s responsibility to complete all coursework assigned, and to perform with the ensemble at the concert. 
 
Parents of students interested in a schedule change must contact the music teacher directly to discuss the schedule change and initiate the process. 
 
PLEASE NOTE: Sixth-grade students may drop out of an ensemble group before the 3rd Friday of school but will not start their new schedule until that following Monday regardless of when they start it. 7th and 8th graders are not allowed to drop once the school year starts until the first trimester ends. All other drops must be made at trimester end, and their new course will begin on the first day of the new trimester. 
 
Homework 
We believe that homework is an integral part of the educational process. Homework is assigned to help students prepare for class, practice new skills, and extend their skills. Homework will be posted on the school website under; the student.

Supervised study time is provided during the school day for students who are not in band, orchestra, or choir. If you have concerns about the amount of homework your child has, whether it is too much or too little, please contact your child's teachers or counselor. 
 
Parents may request homework for students who have been absent for two days or more. If requests are received before 8:30 a.m. on the second day of absence, homework should be available by the end of the day. Requests received after 8:30 a.m. will be honored the next day. Assignments are available for pick-up until 4:30 p.m. Please encourage your child to get the names and phone numbers of at least one reliable student in each class to call for clarification about assignments. 
 

Grading Scale  
  
Grade  
Minimum Percent  
A+  
97.5 
 
92.5  
A-  
89.5  
B+  
87.5  
 
82.5  
B-  
79.5  
C+  
77.5  
 
72.5  
C-  
69.5  
D+  
67.5  
 
62.5  
D-  
59.5  
 
0 
 
Progress Reports & Report Cards 
At the mid-point of each trimester, a progress report will be available to parents through Home Access Center.  Parents can access weekly reports of their student(s) grades through Home Access Center. A printed progress report may be requested through the office on an individual basis.  If you should ever have questions about your child’s progress, please contact any teacher. 

Parents/Guardians can download a ‘Home Access Center’ cell phone application through your cell phone service provider’s app store. Report cards are accessible through the Home Access Center at the end of each trimester. 
 
Honor Roll 
Honor rolls are based on trimester grades. Grades in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and foreign language are used to determine honor roll status. Three honor rolls are published. The High Honor Roll includes students with straight A’s for the trimester. The Honor Roll includes students who have an average of B or better. Grades of D or F in any subject automatically exclude students from the Honor Roll.
Parent-Teacher Conferences 
Conference days are set aside for parents to meet with an individual teacher or a team of teachers.  Parents are invited to conferences if the teachers see a need to do so. Parents may request a conference at any time by calling the school and leaving a message for the teacher or the team. If you have any cause for concern, please contact the team. 
 
Testing Program 
Academic ability tests and achievement tests are scheduled for middle school students, inclusive of those mandated by the State of Illinois. Other tests may be given individually as needs warrant, and the information used for pupil guidance. 
 
Learning Resource Center (LRC) 
1.    The Learning Resource Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. each school day. 
2.    The function of the learning resource center is for research, information gathering, reading for pleasure, taking part in different creative activities, working on homework or projects, and spending 
3.    Beverages, candy, gum, and other food items are discouraged unless given permission 
 
Checkout information 
1.    Books may be checked out at the circulation desk for two weeks. Materials may be renewed if no other student is waiting for the item or at the librarian’s discretion. 
2.    Students will be held responsible for any materials checked out that are lost or returned damaged and will be informed of any charges. 
 
Overdue materials 
1.    If students have not returned late materials and have not responded to multiple reminders, their checked out materials will go to "Lost" status. A fee will then be fined to their account until the materials are returned. 
2.    Students will receive written and e-mail notification of overdue materials and/or replacement charges through their first period teachers. 
 
Computers & Printers 
1.    The online catalog is accessible from the library page on the Hub. Please ask for assistance if you are not able to find the information you need. 
2.     Various online resources may be accessed to assist students with research projects. The online catalog and databases are also accessible from home. 
3.    Printers are to be used for school-related projects. 
4.    To avoid paper waste, please ask for assistance if you need help printing.
Special Education 
When properly identified learning needs are present, these needs are addressed through the problem-solving process and students may be eligible for special education services. Please contact the guidance office for information concerning the problem-solving process. 
 
In accordance with state and federal legislation regarding the education for students with disabilities, Geneva School District offers a wide range of programs and services to eligible students aged three to twenty-two. Special education programs and services are available to students meeting qualifying conditions within the following categories: 
 
  • Developmental Delay  
  • Deaf-Blindness 
  • Deafness 
  • Intellectual Impairment  
  • Other Health Impairment  
  • Speech and Language impairment  
  • Traumatic Brian Injury  
  • Visual Impairment (including Blindness)  
  • Autism  
  • Emotional Disability  
  • Multiple Disabilities 
  • Hearing Impairment 
  • Specific Learning Disability  
  • Orthopedic Impairment  
 
Students are identified eligible for services under the regulations set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If a student is determined to be eligible, services will be delivered by learning behavior specialists or speech pathologists. Student may qualify for services provided by other related service providers as deemed necessary including speech and language therapists, occupational and physical therapists, school psychologists, school social workers, teachers of the visually impaired, and hearing itinerants. 
 
Students with disabilities receive special education assistance within the learning environment determined most appropriate: within their home schools and the regular classroom environment; within special education classrooms; or within non-district facilities when alternatives to the public-school setting are needed.  In accordance with the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Geneva School District has also developed policies and procedures designed to assure an appropriate education to eligible students. 
 
Section 504 of thRehabilitation Act 
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Geneva 304 provides a free and appropriate education for students who are eligible for a 504 plan by individually designing accommodations/modifications and or services to meet their educational needs in the same manner as their non-disabled peers. 
 
It is important to note that students with a Section 504 plan are considered general education students. 
 
To be eligible for services within a Section 504 plan, a student must have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life functions. 
 
Additional information regarding these programs and services can be obtained by contacting your building principal. If your child receives special education services and is also Medicaid eligible, Geneva CUSD 304 can seek partial reimbursement from Medicaid for health services documented in your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Medicaid reimbursement is a source of federal funds approved by Congress to help school districts maintain and improve diagnostic and therapeutic services for students. 
 
The reimbursement process requires the school district to provide Medicaid with your child’s name, birth date and Medicaid number. Federal law requires annual notification of our intent to pursue this reimbursement opportunity. 
 
If you object to the release of information to Medicaid for health services documented in your child’s IEP, now or at any time in the future, please state your objection in writing and forward it to the Director of Student Services, 227 N. Fourth Street, Geneva, IL, 60134. Regardless of your decision, the District must continue to provide, at no cost to you, the services listed in your child’s IEP. 
 
This program has no impact on your child’s or your family’s current or future Medicaid benefits. Under federal law, participation in this program CANNOT: decrease lifetime coverage or any other public insurance benefit, result in the family paying for services that would otherwise be covered by Medicaid, increase your premiums or lead to discontinuation of benefits or insurance, or result in the loss of eligibility for home and community-based waivers. Your continued consent allows the district to recover a portion of the costs associated with providing health services listed in your child’s IEP. 
 
Right to Inspect Materials 
Parents have the right to inspect all instructional materials, including teachers’ manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary materials which will be used in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation of their child (20 U.S.C. 1232h). These rights include: 

  1. The right to inspect a survey created by a third party before it is administered and distributed to their student and procedures for requesting and accessing surveys distributed to students.
  2. Arrangements to protect student privacy with regard to surveys requesting particular personal information. 
  3. The right to inspect any instructional material used as part of their child’s educational curriculum,  and the procedures for accessing this information. 
  4. Physical examinations or screenings that the district may administer to the student. 
  5. The collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information (or otherwise providing that information to others for that purpose), and the parent's right to inspect any collection instrument used for this purpose.  
Equal Educational Opportunities 
According to Board Policy 7:10, equal educational and extracurricular opportunities are available for all students without regard to color, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, gender identity, status of being homeless, immigration status, order of protection status, actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy. Further, the District will not knowingly enter into agreements with any entity or any individual that discriminates against students on the basis of sex or any other protected status.  Any student may file a discrimination grievance by using Board policy 2:260Uniform Grievance Procedure. 
 
Sex Equity 
No student shall, based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity be denied 
equal access to programs, activities, services, or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, 
privilege, advantage, or denied equal access to educational and extracurricular programs and activities. 
Any student may file a sex equity complaint by using Board policy 2:260Uniform Grievance Procedure. 
 
Parents School Visitation Rights 
The School Visitation Rights Act permits employed parents who are unable to meet with educators because of a work conflict the right to an allotment of time during the school year to attend necessary educational or behavioral conferences at the school their child attends (820 ILCS 147/1 et seq.).  Upon written request, employers must grant employees leave of up to eight hours per school year, not to exceed four hours in any given day, to attend their children’s classroom activities or school conferences which cannot be scheduled during non-work hours. 
 
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Notice 
Qualification of Teachers and Paraprofessionals 
Any public school district that receives Title I funds must notify the parents of each student attending a Title I school that the parents may request, and the district will provide upon such request, information about the professional qualifications of the students’ classroom teachers, including, at a minimum, the following: 
 
a. Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction. 
b. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived. 
c. The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree. 
d. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.