School Handbook

Good attendance is critical for steady academic growth, and, by law, children are required to attend school. 

Please call the school office any time your child will not be in school. 

If you are asked to leave a voice mail, please give the following information:

• Name of the parent or guardian calling
• Student's name and grade
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for absence; please be specific

Absences will only be excused for the following reasons:

• Illness
• Medical or dental appointment
• A family death or serious illness
• Court/judicial appearance
• Religious observations
• School-sponsored activities

Planned absences:

Parents of students who know in advance that they must miss school for unavoidable reasons should contact the school.

Principal approval will be given for only 3 days of absence; the remaining days of absence will be unexcused.

It is the student’s responsibility to see that all work has been made up in the allotted time.

A student who is absent because of participation in a school sponsored activity will be charged with an excused absence.

The student is responsible for the work that transpires in the class when he/she is absent.

Students who are late to school will be considered tardy. Please make every effort to have your student at school on time. 

Additionally signing your child out in the afternoon prior to the end of the school day affects their attendance and learning. 

Students who become truant (inexcusably absent three consecutive days or five school days in any semester or seven days in a school year) will be reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in accordance with Board of Education Policy 1461. 

Students must live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school to qualify for transportation to that school.

For questions about WPS transportation and busing, call 316-973-2190.

The district does offer the FirstView app that helps families track their student's school bus. Families will need a security code from the school office to use the app.

Before School

• The Morning Supervisors will open the front doors at 7:30 a.m.
• Students should have cell phones powered off upon entering.
• Between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., students can get breakfast in the cafeteria or report to the gym if not eating.
• After 7:45 a.m., breakfast is available in the gym.
• Students in reading programs may go to the library.
• Students remain seated until dismissed by a supervisor.
• Campus access begins at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served until 7:50 a.m.
• The bell rings at 7:50, and students are released by supervisors to go to lockers, stow cell phones, and gather materials.
• First period starts promptly at 8 a.m. 

After School

• Students are to be out of the school building by 3:15 p.m. and off the school grounds by 3:20 p.m. unless previous arrangements have been made between the parent and the administration or the student is participating in an after school activity. 
• It is important that all students make transportation arrangements to get home in advance, phone calls from the office should not be necessary. Once students have left the building they will not be allowed back in without a pass.
• Students picking up siblings at elementary schools that dismiss later than we do are not to arrive on those campuses until 4:10.

Color and Style Restrictions: All colors are accepted for tops and bottoms. Logos, pictures, or writing on clothing are permitted as long as they do not reference profanity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, weapons, violence, abuse, suggestive or sexual messages, or hate speech.  Tops must cover the majority of the back and shoulders, the midriff and back when sitting or standing, and be thick enough to prevent visibility of undergarments. Shirts must have sleeves that extend over the shoulder. Crop tops and tank tops are not allowed. Heavy winter coats must be stored in lockers during the school day. Sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters, and light jackets may be worn during the day.

Fit and Length Requirements: All clothing must be properly sized and not overly revealing or excessively tight. Bottoms must cover undergarments at all times. Sagging is not allowed. Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be long enough to maintain personal privacy and comfort in all settings, using midway between the knee and hip as a guide. Holes in jeans are allowed only if they do not expose the upper thigh. Leggings or shorts may be worn under other garments for added coverage.

Footwear and Accessories: Shoes must be worn at all times, fit securely, and have a hard or rubber sole. High heels that pose a safety concern are not allowed. Jewelry, piercings, colognes, perfumes, and accessories must not have an overwhelming fragrance or include parts that could serve as weapons.

School Spirit and Exceptions: Free dress days may be planned by PVMS administrators as incentives, rewards, or for spirit weeks and fundraisers. Student attire on these days must still comply with district policy. Hats are prohibited, and items that conceal identity such as ski masks or balaclavas are not allowed. Hoods may not be worn on the head inside the building. Religious headgear is permitted, and hair accessories are allowed only to support specific hairstyles.

**This list is not meant to be all inclusive. Administrators have the final say in determining if clothing is appropriate for school. Students who are out of dress code will be asked to change. Refusal to change will result in consequences including but not limited to In School Suspension/Out of School Suspension.

Parents should notify the school nurse if there are any health conditions that may require medical attention, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.

If a student becomes ill during the school day, they should request a pass to see the nurse. 

Students who exhibit fever, sore throat or tonsillitis, any eruption of the skin or rash, any respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe cough or cold, or any eruption of the scalp, will be sent home.

Parents will be notified to pick up their student and must do so in a timely manner to limit exposure to other students and school staff.

Please keep your emergency contact information up to date with both the teacher and office staff.

School board policy (BOE P5316) restricts school personnel from giving students any medication, including over-the-counter medication.

Medication is given only upon written request from both the parent/guardian and the student's physician. Students must also have received one dose of medication without an adverse reaction prior to any doses being given at school.

All medicine must be in the original container and be presented by a parent to the school nurse for safe keeping and scheduled administration. The container should be labelled with the following:

• Name of student
• Name of medication
• Directions for use
• Name of physician
• Name and address of pharmacy
• Date of prescription

The district uses the ParentVUE online portal to give parents to access information about their student's attendance, assignments and grades. Students are also able to access this information through StudentVUE.

ParentVUE allows parents to quickly and easily update their family contact information, which is vital in order to maintain strong home-to-school connections. 

Parents and students are encouraged to check ParentVUE/StudentVUE on a weekly basis.

Regular Bell Schedule
1st Hour – 8:00-8:25 (Advocacy)
2nd Hour – 8:29-9:10
3rd Hour – 9:14-9:55
4th Hour – 9:59-10:40
5th Hour – 10:44-11:25
6th Hour – 11:29-12:10 (6th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 12:05
7th Hour – 12:14-12:55 (7th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 12:50
8th Hour – 12:59-1:40 (8th Grade Lunch)
Pick up at 1:35
9th Hour – 1:44-2:25
10th Hour – 2:29-3:10

Half-Day Bell Schedule
No Advocacy on Half-Days
2nd Hour – 8:00-8:24
3rd Hour – 8:28-8:51
4th Hour – 8:55-9:18
5th Hour – 9:22-9:45
6th Hour – 9:49-10:12 (6th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 10:07
7th Hour – 10:16-10:39 (7th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 10:34
8th Hour – 10:43-11:06 (8th Grade Lunch)
Pick up at 11:01
9th Hour – 11:10-11:33
10th Hour – 11:37-12:00

AM-Activity Schedule
Report to Advocacy
AM-Activity Period - 8:00-8:55 
2nd Hour - 8:59-9:36
3rd Hour - 9:40-10:17
4th Hour - 10:21-10:58
5th Hour - 11:02-11:39
6th Hour - 11:43-12:22 (6th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 12:19
7th Hour - 12:26-1:05 (7th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 1:02
8th Hour - 1:09-1:48 (8th Grade Lunch)
Pick up at 1:45
9th Hour - 1:52-2:29
10th Hour - 2:33-3:10

PM-Activity Schedule 
No Advocacy on Activity Days
2nd Hour - 8:00-8:37
3rd Hour - 8:41-9:18
4th Hour - 9:22-9:59
5th Hour - 10:03:10:40
6th Hour - 10:44-11:23(6th Grade Lunch)
Pick up at 12:20
7th Hour - 11:27-12:06 (7th Grade Lunch)
Pick up at 12:03 
8th Hour - 12:10-12:49 (8th Grade Lunch) 
Pick up at 12:46 
9th Hour - 12:53-1:30
10th Hour - 1:34-2:11
PM-Activity Period - 2:15-3:10

Getting to class on time is a very important component of a quality education.

Students who are late to class not only miss out on important beginning of the class instruction, but they also interrupt the learning of other students.

Passing periods are four minutes each.

Students who are not inside the threshold of the classroom door when the bell rings and who do not have a valid pass and/or permission are tardy and will not be allowed to enter the classroom.

All late students will need to report to one of the hall sweep stations to receive a tardy pass.

After students have received their pass, they will be escorted to class. 

Students will serve a lunch detention for every 3rd tardy they receive.

All students will begin with ZERO tardies at the beginning of each quarter (9 weeks).

Students who have excessive tardies will participate in a conference with admin and an appropriate consequence/intervention will assigned.

Academic excellence is the standard at Pleasant Valley. Students are expected to arrive to each class on time, work diligently with each teacher, comply with classroom/school rules of conduct, and complete all classroom assignments.

It is the responsibility of each student to attend school each day, avoid disruptive 
behaviors, and focus on academic goals. Students with low grades will have the opportunity to attend lunch tutoring. 

We follow the ABC's of Success

Academics, Behavior and Character

Academics

• Attend
• Have supplies
• Device is charged
• Stay organized
• Follow class rules/CHAMPS
• Pay attention/listen
• Complete work
• Prepare for tests
• Ask for help
• Collaborate
• Read and write

Behavior

• Be on time
• Walk in the halls
• Keep your hands, feet and negative comments to yourself
• Follow school rules/CHAMPS
• Be compliant
• Use technology and social media appropriately
• Respect property
• Clean up your mess
• Be in control of yourself

Character

• Respectful
• Responsible
• Honest
• Kind
• Empathetic
• Positive attitude
• Good manners
• Be polite
• Resilience
• Accountable
• Cooperative

Parents may request homework by calling the main office or using ParentVue to email teachers if a student has been absent for two or more days.

Teachers must have 24 hours to gather assignments which will be sent to the main office.

When a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to ask the teacher for work missed upon returning to class.

Students have the time they were absent, plus one additional day to turn in makeup work.

If a student misses class due to a school activity, he/she has one extra day to make up the work. 

How is Grade Point Average (GPA) figured? Each A on a report card is worth 4 points, each B is 3 points, each C is 2 points, each D is 1 point, and each F is zero points.

Advocacy, Literacy Intervention, and Math Intervention do not count toward GPA unless it is an F.

Add the points for all of your student's classes and divide the sum by the number of classes to get their GPA. 

Principal’s Honor Roll: 4.0
Honor Roll: 3.5 - 3.99
Honorable Mention Roll: 3.0 – 3.49

At Pleasant Valley Middle School, we use the Classroom Discipline Cycle (CDC) to address Tier 1 and Tier 2 behavior.

Its intent is to allow students the opportunity to correct behavior by working with the teacher and not having to miss class time by having to work with administration. 

The CDC has three consequential steps which give students the power to correct their behavior: 

• First Reminder: Non-Verbal Warning
• Second Reminder: Verbal Warning 
• Third Reminder: Consequence Menu-Reflection Form-(every time); Call Home-Second time+; and Teacher Discretion 

We provide breakfast for all students free of charge.

Lunch fees can depend on family income. Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application annually to qualify for free lunch and adjustments to school fees. 

The district uses an app called School Cafe to allow families to see menus.

The district uses LINQ Connect to pay for meals.

For special dietary restrictions, please contact the school nurse. 

Field trips with our city and nearby sites of interest are scheduled by classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and intoduce students to resources within the community. Parents will be notified of the planned trip at least five days in advance and must sign a trip waiver for students to attend. If a student does not have a signed permission slip to attend the trip, they will not go. We will not accept verbal permission over the phone.

If there is a fee for the field trip, the money needs to be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled trip. All field trips require the use of school buses. Parents are not able to transport students on field trips.

If a parent serves as a chaperone, they will need to complete the school district's volunteer process prior to the field trip.

Test Fest at Pleasant Valley Middle School has earned the title of the "greatest party in the history of middle schools!" This exciting event celebrates student achievement by offering a day packed with fun activities and rewards. To qualify for Test Fest, students must either pass or show significant improvement on their FastBridge assessment (winter) or State Assessments (spring).

Test Fest Activities
Students who qualify for Test Fest can enjoy a variety of exciting activities, including:

• Concessions
• Roller Skating
• Bounce Houses
• Basketball & Soccer
• Karaoke
• Photo Booths
• eSports
• Board Games
• Arts & Crafts
• Ping-Pong
• Yard Games

For those who score at the highest level on their assessments, there's an extra special perk—access to the VIP Lounge, where they can enjoy free snacks and drinks provided by their teachers.

Test Fest is a fun and engaging way to reward students for their hard work and dedication, making academic achievement something to celebrate!

At Pleasant Valley Middle School, DEVO (Dark Evil Vortex of October) and DEVA (Dark Evil Vortex of April) Spirit Weeks are legendary events packed with fun, competition, and school spirit. These week-long competitions pit each grade level—students and teachers—against each other in a series of activities, all aiming to win the coveted DEVO/DEVA Spirit Stick.

Spirit Week Events
Throughout the week, students and staff earn points in various ways:

• Daily Dress Themes: Each day features a new theme, encouraging everyone to dress up and show their school spirit.
• Teacher-Made Videos: Teachers create fun and creative videos to entertain and motivate their grade levels.
• Staff/Student Bingo Cards: Bingo cards are handed out to students and staff, with points earned for completing challenges.
• Behavior and Tardies: Grade levels with the lowest percentage of office referrals and tardies earn additional points.

DEVO/DEVA Spirit Stick Assembly
The week culminates in a high-energy Spirit Stick Assembly, where students and teachers compete in a series of exciting games and contests, including the famous scream-off. Every activity counts toward the final score, and at the end of the assembly, the grade with the most points is crowned the winner of the DEVO or DEVA Spirit Stick!

DEVO and DEVA Spirit Weeks bring the entire school together in a fun, competitive atmosphere that promotes school spirit, teamwork, and friendly rivalry.

No food or drink (other than water) in classrooms or in hallways​

Students may carry a water bottle during the day (water only)​

Students are not allowed to buy, sell, or share food/drinks/candy at school​

Gatorade squeeze bottles (or similar water bottles) are not allowed

Students will be issued 1 binder for free​. Students are able to purchase a replacement for a cost of $15 with materials (paper, pencil, pen and highligther) or $13 for binder only.

Replacements can be purchased in the office​

Binders are for school supplies only. Candy, makeup, toys, cell phones, sharpies, or other prohibited items are not allowed in your binder. Prohibited items will be confiscated.​

Binders will be checked regularly to ensure you have the supplies you need and that you are organized. 

Cost for replacement IDs

ID card only - $3

ID card and Lanyard - $5

Lanyard Only - $2

All passes will go through eHallpass​

Students will have a limited number of passes per day​

Try to use the RR/get drinks during passing periods ​

Students who miss excessive class time on passes will have their passes limited or taken away ​

Passes will not be allowed during the first or last 5 minutes of class​

Passes are not allowed during the last 10 minutes of the school day

The safety of students, staff and parents is the Wichita Public Schools' greatest priority during the threat of dangerous conditions.

Emergency plans are in place should tornadoes, lightning, hail, snow or other dangerous circumstances present a safety concern. 

If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' website main page and displayed on all school websites.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to stay involved in your child's education. Parents have the opportunity to discuss their child's progress, review assignments, learn about future projects and to strengthen the connection between home and school. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in October and February. 

Mid-Term Progress Reports are available each 9 weeks and may be accessed through ParentVue.

Official Report Cards will be at the end of each grading period on December 20 and May 23 and may be accessed through ParentVue.

Additionally, teachers will update grades bi-weekly.

Parents are encouraged use their ParentVue account/App in order to monitor student grades on a consistent and regular basis.

All visitors to the building, including parents, must sign in through our visitor management system HallPass.

Parents, caregivers and other relatives wanting to volunteer in the school or for field trips are required to register every year as a volunteer. Visit the Volunteer Registration page to complete your annual registration.