• Montgomery Upper Middle School FAQ’s for Parents

     

    What Every Parent Should Know

     

      General Questions

     1. Where do I drop off something my child has forgotten? What information needs to be on the item?

     Items should be dropped off at the Main Office with your child’s name and grade clearly marked.

      

    2. Where do I park when I come to UMS?

     Visitor parking is available in the front of the building in the main lot. 


    3. Where do I drop my child off in the morning?

    Parents driving their children to school are asked to please drop them off in the rear of the building. For safety reasons, please follow the established traffic pattern around the "U". Students arriving prior to 7:55 am will report to the school cafeteria. The parent drop-off doors, located at the rear of the building, are locked at 8:20 am.

      

    4. What do I do if my child is having difficulty with a teacher or a class?

     Step 1 – Contact the teacher, Step 2 – Contact the department Supervisor, Step 3 – Contact the Principal

     

    5. How do I schedule a conference with a teacher?

     Contact your child’s teacher via e-mail or telephone to request a conference.

     

    6. How can my child get extra help after school?

    Teachers are required to stay for extra help 1 day per week (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday). However, many faculty members will stay when students request the need for extra help.  Please refer to the link on the web page for teacher’s scheduled days.

     
     
     
     
     
    7. What is the after school help policy with regards to athletics, band, and other after school activities?

    If the student is in need of extra help they should attend the session with their teacher and then proceed to their activity. Students will not be penalized for arriving late as long as they have notified their coach or advisor in advance.

     

    8. Where do I locate the summer reading assignments for each class?

     Summer reading assignments can be found on the website under the Language Arts department link.

     

    9. What expenses should we anticipate for each year?

    Below is a list of projected costs (fees are subject to change): 

    • Friday Night Socials - $5 each
    • 7th Grade Picnic - $10
    • 7th Grade Pumpkin Day - $5
    • Yearbooks – $35
    • 8th Grade Camp Mason Trip – $200
    • 8th Grade Frogbridge Trip – $65
    • Music Trip to Hershey -$175

     

    * No UMS student will be left out of an activity due to financial hardship.  Families can contact the principal or counselor for financial assistance.

     

    10. Is there a PTO at the Upper Middle School? How do I get involved?

    Montgomery Middle School has an active PTO. There are numerous ways to get involved on any level. Please refer to the PTO link on the web page for more information and contact numbers.

     

    11. Can students bring and use electronic devices including cell phones to school?

    Students are not advised to bring electronic devices to school as we do not generally permit their use during the day.  Teachers will occasionally invite students to bring and use devices in class to compliment a lesson and, in this instance, it is acceptable.  Cell phones and other devices that are brought to school should remain safely stored in lockers from 8:20am to 3:05pm.  The school is not responsible for lost or broken devices.

     

    12. When do report cards get mailed home?

    Report cards for all marking periods will not be mailed home unless requested.  Instead, they will be made available for viewing on Genesis via the parent resource portal on our website.  Please refer to the calendar on our webpage for marking period end dates.

     

    13. What is FLEX time?

    Students are granted a 20 minute Flex period each day.  This “flexible” time is allocated for a variety of student-centered activities including recreation, academic support, study hall, seminars and assemblies.

     

    Attendance, Tardiness and Absence-related Information

    For more detailed information, please refer to the student handbook.

    1. What is the attendance policy (excused vs. unexcused absences, how many days, etc)?

    Please be aware that not all absences reported by parents are considered “excused” absences. A parent reported absence for illness is considered an unexcused absence unless it meets the criteria below. It is recognized that the parent may not always take their child to the doctor every time he/she is sick. The district assumes that the "unexcused" absences will be used when it is necessary to miss school and documentation cannot be provided. The following absences are “excused absences” and do not apply towards the attendance policy limits as long as appropriate documentation is submitted within 2 weeks of the absence.

    • School sponsored activities (field trips, meetings, testing, etc) 
    • Religious holidays as defined by the NJ State Dept. of Education 
    • Family illness/death 
    • Absences covered by a doctor’s note (Must include diagnosis, duration of excused absences, and date of appointment - on script pad or office stationary)  
    • Homebound instruction
    • Suspension 
    • Where appropriate, when consistent with Individualized Education Programs

     

    2. How do I report an absence?

    Parents should call the attendance line at (609) 466-7610 #2 then #4 as early as possible to report an absence. This phone message does not “excuse” your child’s absence but informs the school that your child is absent with your knowledge. (For “excused” absences, please refer to question # 1.)

     

    3. Where does my child bring an absence note upon return?

    In order to keep attendance records up to date, a note from the parent should be sent in with the student when he/she returns to school. All attendance notes should be delivered to the main office.

     

    4. What do I do if my child needs to leave school for an appointment?

    When an appointment during school hours is necessary, your child should bring a signed note in advance to the main office. The note should include the reason for the dismissal including the destination, phone number and dismissal time requested. The parent/guardian is required to come into the office, present photo identification, and sign the child out.

     

    5. What is the policy for work missed during an absence?

    Upon returning to school, students must arrange with their teachers to make up any assignments or assessments missed during the absence from school. Students are responsible for attaining missed assignments and for scheduling any necessary assistance from the teacher(s). Teachers shall make reasonable accommodations to extend time for students.

     

    School Discipline

    1. What is the discipline policy at UMS?

    UMS uses a combination of cumulative “discipline points” along with after-school Office Detention ( 1 hour, 3:00 to 4:00), lunch detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and, in extreme situations, an expulsion hearing with the Board of Education to consider an Alternative School Placement. The “point system” was enacted to clearly define for students, staff and parents those behaviors considered unacceptable. Students who violate the norms of acceptable and expected behavior will receive disciplinary points; the number of points assigned will reflect the seriousness of each infraction. UMS reserves the right to alter any consequences listed depending on the severity of the infraction. Please familiarize yourself with the negative behaviors and their consequences (listed in the student handbook), remembering that excessive point accumulation carries its own sanctions.

     

    2. When is detention held?

    Detentions are held after school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and on. Students will be given a minimum of 24 hours’ notice if they receive an after-school detention and detention takes precedence over other commitments, i.e. sports, clubs, etc.

     

    Student Activities

    1. Where can we find information about clubs and activities at UMS?

    Please refer to the Co-Curricular tab on the web page for more information. Sign-ups occur throughout the year. Students will be notified during the daily announcements which are also posted in the Headlines section of our website.

     

     

    Guidance Specific Questions

    Please refer to the Guidance Department tab on the web page for more information.

    1. How does my child make an appointment with his/her counselor? Does my child need an appointment?

    There are a variety of ways to make a guidance appointment:

    ·         Students can email their counselor.

    ·         Students can ask their teacher for permission to see the counselor during class.

    ·         Students can visit their counselor before school, after school or during Flex time.

    2. How does my child qualify for 9th Grade Honors classes?

    Please see the High School Program of Studies for detailed course descriptions and pre-requisite information.