Parent/Student Handbook 2020 2021 - E.C. Adams Middle School 233 Church Street Guilford, Connecticut 06437 (203) 453-2755 ...
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Parent/Student Handbook
2020 - 2021
E.C. Adams Middle School
233 Church Street
Guilford, Connecticut 06437
(203) 453-2755
https://ams.guilfordschools.org
1
Table of Contents
Guilford Public Schools ~ Mission Statement ........................................................................................................... 4
Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School ~ Mission Statement ....................................................................................... 4
GUILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLIC NOTICE – NON-DISCRIMINATION ..................................................................... 4
Welcome to the Adams Family! ..................................................................................................................... 5
Dr. Elisabeth C. Adams – An Extraordinary Legacy .......................................................................................................................................................6
Adams Faculty ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
Bell Schedule................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Adams Middle School Policies and Procedures** ......................................................................... 10
Academic Integrity.........................................................................................................................................................................10
Confirmed First Offense........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Confirmed Third Offense......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Adams Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) .........................................................................................................................11
Additional Classroom Resources ...............................................................................................................................................12
Assemblies ........................................................................................................................................................................................12
Attendance and Absence from School ......................................................................................................................................12
Tardiness to Class ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Early Dismissal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures ...................................................................................................................................................15
Morning Arrival ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Staff on Duty .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
General Arrival Protocols........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Bus Drop Off .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Parent Drop Off/Walkers ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17
Student Entrance Procedures ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Building Entrance Procedures.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Afternoon Dismissal .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Staff on Duty .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
General Dismissal Procedures .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Bus Dismissal ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Parent Pick Up/Walkers:......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Awards ...............................................................................................................................................................................................21
Bicycles ..............................................................................................................................................................................................22
Bus Transportation .......................................................................................................................................................................22
Cafeteria and Food Services Program .....................................................................................................................................23
Cancellation of School and Emergency Communications .................................................................................................23
Computer Use...................................................................................................................................................................................24
Conferences/ Parent Conferences .............................................................................................................................................25
Dance Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................................................26
Discipline/Detention .....................................................................................................................................................................26
Discrimination/Sexual Harassment (# 5004) ......................................................................................................................27
Dress Code #5362(a) .....................................................................................................................................................................28
2
Students Dress and Grooming .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Electronic Devices (# 5128) ........................................................................................................................................................29
Elevator Use......................................................................................................................................................................................30
Field Trips .........................................................................................................................................................................................30
Food in the School and Classroom ............................................................................................................................................31
Grading System ...............................................................................................................................................................................31
Grade Reporting .............................................................................................................................................................................32
Gum Chewing ...................................................................................................................................................................................33
Homework.........................................................................................................................................................................................33
Insurance ..........................................................................................................................................................................................35
Library Media Center ....................................................................................................................................................................35
Lockers ...............................................................................................................................................................................................36
Lost and Found ................................................................................................................................................................................37
Nurse/Health Office .......................................................................................................................................................................37
Personal Property ..........................................................................................................................................................................38
Physical Education (P.E./Gym) ..................................................................................................................................................38
Promotion/Acceleration/Retention .........................................................................................................................................38
Safety and Emergency Drills .......................................................................................................................................................39
Skateboarding/Rollerblading ....................................................................................................................................................39
Smoking/Tobacco Products (# 5322) ......................................................................................................................................39
Student Activities ............................................................................................................................................................................40
Student Support Services .............................................................................................................................................................42
Substance Abuse (# 5318) ...........................................................................................................................................................43
Telephone..........................................................................................................................................................................................43
Textbooks ..........................................................................................................................................................................................43
Visitors ...............................................................................................................................................................................................43
GPS District Policies and General Information ............................................................................. 44
SchoolMessenger ............................................................................................................................................................................44
Parent/Guardian Contact Information ...................................................................................................................................44
Steps to Accessing and Changing Email and Phone Information: ..................................................................................44
Bullying Behavior in The Schools (# 5005) ............................................................................................................................45
Discrimination/Harassment (# 5004) (Title Ix) ..................................................................................................................46
Suspension/Expulsion...................................................................................................................................................................47
AMS Handbook Verification Form 2020-2021 ................................................................................. 48
3
Guilford Public Schools ~ Mission Statement
Our mission is to foster excellence in a respectful and challenging academic environment that leads to a lifelong
passion for learning and the realization of each individual’s highest potential for success in life.
Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School ~ Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School to provide a safe, caring and collaborative community
that fosters mutual respect, responsibility for learning and intellectual, social and emotional development in young
adolescents through a challenging, enriching experience.
GUILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLIC NOTICE – NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Guilford Public Schools Non-Discrimination Statement
The Guilford Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed,
marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
genetic information or disability in its programs, activities, and employment practices and provides equal
access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries related to sex discrimination or
harassment should be directed to Jason J. Beaudin, Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Superintendent,
701 New England Road, Guilford, CT 06437 or at 203-458-0001, ext. 6; inquiries related to disabilities
should be directed to Jason Sconziano, Director of Pupil Services, 701 New England Road, Guilford, CT
06437 or at 203-458-0001, ext. 260.
4
Welcome to the Adams Family!
We hope that the two years that you spend with us at Adams Middle School will be happy and
productive. Your middle school years are an important part of your life and a time of dramatic
change. Our middle school faculty and staff are dedicated to providing you with challenging and
rewarding learning experiences and we encourage you to get to know your teachers, classmates, and
yourself better as you grow. As a result, you'll feel comfortable here and more confident about your
unique qualities and capabilities. Make decisions thoughtfully and responsibly, using all available
resources, and know that your parents, teachers and the staff are here to assist you.
Please read and review this handbook thoroughly. It contains a great deal of useful information,
including important student expectations. In addition, take the time to read the story about Dr.
Elisabeth C. Adams, for whom our school is named. She was truly an extraordinary lady and we
hope that you will take to heart her philosophy of service, of giving to and caring for your neighbor
and your town. There will be opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate these honorable
qualities while you are a student at Adams, and we look forward to working right alongside you, as
we are all members of the learning community that is the Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School.
Have a great school year!
E. Michael Regan James Pappa
Principal Assistant Principal
5Dr. Elisabeth C. Adams – An Extraordinary Legacy
Growing up in Guilford during the forties, fifties and sixties was like having a checkerberry ice cream soda at Mr. Douden’s Drug Store
on a hot summer day: cold, sweet and special. We kids had our problems. We suffered our growth pangs. We stumbled through
adolescence and then one day, each in our own time and way, had to step up to the line and face adulthood. Some very special people
blessed us in our time and place. They were ordinary people whose love and caring for us made them extraordinary people.
One of those extraordinary people we were fortunate to share with older folks was Dr. Elisabeth C. Adams because she cared for
everyone. She never seemed to sleep. She never seemed to be on vacation. She was everywhere and everything to everyone who
needed help, and she never let us down.
Dr. Adams served Guilford for many years in several official capacities, such as Health Director, Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner.
She was the most petite person in town, but the only thing people looked up to more often was the clock on the First Church steeple.
As kids we would watch in awe as Dr. Adams would stand eyeball to belt buckle with a 250 pound, 6' 3" volunteer fireman, flames and
sparks crackling around them, as she reprimanded him for not following proper safety procedures - and he would listen!
We would stop in the middle of third down and two on the Green, look at each other and snicker, as her Volkswagen Bug beat the
ambulance to an accident on Route One. Everyone in town knew that the car with no driver - she could barely see over the steering
wheel - was Dr. Adams, and everyone made way.
Every building contractor in town knew that he had to wait for Dr. Adams’ approval before he covered the new septic tank, or he’d have
to dig it back up, and it had better be the correct distance from the well, too!
Two or three times a week, Dr. Adams would come into my parents’ grocery store, usually in the evening when it wasn’t busy. She
would say, “Seven bags tonight!” My mom would line up seven large grocery bags on the counter. Into each would go a couple of
bananas and a bunch of grapes, which Dr. Adams always insisted had to be washed and dried carefully. My father would cut a pound
of sliced meat and a pound of cheese for each bag while I picked out seven loaves of bread. Next, Dr. Adams would quickly cruise the
aisles and select coffee for five and tea for two, peanut butter and some jelly and crackers. She would sometimes choose sugar, always
milk, and a pound of number nine spaghetti for each bag. Then we would all load the bags into the back seat of her “Bug” and away
she’d go in a swirl of dust, Guilford’s first, one-person “Welfare Department,” to deliver her bundles of nourishment along with her
medical care. My dad never had to send Dr. Adams a bill. She would always give him more than enough money and would continuously
maintain a credit in her account. She never, in twenty years, asked for a tally.
One day, in the fall of 1952, I was sitting with a family friend, Miss Marie Griswold, who lived in the Octagon House on Fair Street
with her ninety-three-year-old mother. Marie was staring out the window, deep in thought. Her mother, small, frail, and very ill, was
lying on the couch, her breathing raspy and harsh. I wanted to be with Marie, but I didn’t know what to say, so we sat in silence while
I pretended to read my social studies homework.
At about five o’clock Dr. Adams arrived. She came right in without knocking, black bag in hand. She touched Marie gently on the
shoulder and went immediately to work examining Marie’s mother. The sound of breathing that came from the couch had become very
raspy, its labor more intensified. Dr. Adams finished her examination and motioned for me to go out to the hall with her. She closed
6the door carefully and placed both hands on my shoulders. Then she looked me straight in the eyes and asked in a quiet but firm voice,
“Young man, have you ever been present when someone has died?”
My eyes wide, I could only sputter, “No!”
“Well,” she said, “I don’t think you should experience that just yet. You collect your books and run along back to the market. I’ll stay
with Marie, and, please, don’t you say anything to anyone just yet.” I, of course, did as I was told.
Dr. Adams came by the market, just before we closed, at about seven forty-five, to tell my parents that Marie’s mother had just passed
away. On the way out to her car, she whispered to me, “It was very good of you to visit with Marie today. It meant a great deal to her
that you were there.” Riding my bike home in the dark, I cried all the way, but I still felt so grown up.
In the summer of 1956, Guilford didn’t have anything like 911. Therefore, when I cut my wrist with a wood saw just after midnight,
my mother quickly called GL 3-2717, and Dr. Adams answered immediately. “You get him right up here and come straight in. The
door’s unlocked.”
Dr. Adams cleaned the wound and placed on the table some thread and a little curved blade that looked like a fishhook without the barb.
As she prepared her materials, she spoke in clipped, short statements. “Okay, this is going to hurt a little bit. But I know you’ll be brave
and not fuss. If you cooperate, it will only take a minute or two.” She was right. It hurt. My white knuckles and I didn’t flinch or make
a sound, and it only took her a few quick motions. I still have the scar and the knowledge that fatigue causes risk and sometimes loss.
On an afternoon in 1964, with a high fever and an achy feeling, I dragged myself into Dr. Adams’ office. She diagnosed strep, told me
what to do, and called for my prescription. A month went by. I was well again but had never received a bill. I went to Dr. Adams’
office one day and asked the nurse if I could please pay my bill. She asked me to have a seat. A few minutes later, Dr. Adams scurried
out of one room on her way to another, and, in a quiet voice, stated, “Listen, young man. You’re just home from the service, a veteran,
and now you’re back in college. You can pay me later in life, but right now you’ve got work to do, and I have patients waiting, so you
run along home and give your little boy Chris a hug from me.”
She did that for so many people we wondered how she ever made enough money to pay her own bills. We pondered a lot about this
extraordinary little lady, who never wanted any recognition. We couldn’t even have a birthday party for her because no one knew the
date of her birth or how old she was.
In the late sixties, when the “North Junior High School” was being built, I presented to the Board of Education the idea that we should
name both junior high schools after worthy citizens. The Board appointed a committee to research the possibilities and make its
recommendations. Mrs. Marjorie Guiles, Joel Helander and I met to begin our work. Mrs. Guiles asked if we had any preferences.
Since I suggested Abraham Baldwin for the “North School,” Mrs. Guiles suggested someone more contemporary for the “South School.”
Joel Helander immediately suggested Dr. Adams. Everyone’s face lit up; no explanation was necessary. It was unanimous. The meeting
was adjourned after thirteen and a half minutes.
Dr. Adams loved her school. She treasured her family of students, Duncan Craig and all the staff. She truly enjoyed their successes
and was always available to help in her own unique way.
On November 1, 1990, after having lived in Guilford for forty years, and recently retired, Dr. Adams wrote in a note: “Not until I retired,
did I realize that I was married to medicine. Now I feel like I’ve had a fortieth wedding anniversary! Furthermore, you are claimed as
cousins, the more treasured when children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are lacking for me.”
On July 13, 1994, Dr. Adams called her school and asked the secretary, Mrs. Larson, if she had mailed her the list of students who had
made the honor roll for the last marking period. Mrs. Larson assured her that the list had been mailed, and Dr. Adams was pleased,
because she was eager to write her personal note to each of those hard-working students, as had been her custom for almost twenty-five
years.
Those students will not receive her notes now, but they should always remember that they were in her thoughts on the last day of her
life - just another “ordinary” day in the life of Dr. Elisabeth C. Adams, an extraordinary legacy for all of us.
By: Carl A. Balestracci Jr., a lifelong Guilford resident and long-time local educator.
He is a former principal of the Dr. Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School.
7Adams Faculty
8Bell Schedule
9Adams Middle School Policies and Procedures**
Due to COVID-19 many of these procedures may have changed.
Please refer to our website for addendum items.
Academic Integrity
Students are responsible for their own coursework and are expected to maintain academic integrity.
Individual responsibility for scholarship is certainly a part of Adams CARES expectations. Cheating and
plagiarism are prohibited.
The consequence for cheating on a quiz or test will be a grade of zero. A make-up assessment is at the
discretion of the teacher. A student may be suspended or expelled for plagiarism, which is using or
copying the academic work of another and presenting it as one’s own without giving proper credit or
recognition to such other person. (See also BOE Policy #5126). Academic work includes illustrations,
photographs, or material from online websites, in addition to text.
The expectations for academic integrity apply to classwork and homework as well as quizzes, tests,
projects, and reports. Plagiarism does not apply to certain group assignments where the students are
expected to develop similar material or product(s).
In any/all instances of plagiarism, it is important that the student is still held accountable for doing the
work. Consequence levels apply to all courses at Adams. In addition, a student does not get a “first”
chance consequence in social studies and then another “first” chance consequence in another subject. The
consequences for plagiarism follow a student from course to course and from seventh to eighth grade.
Confirmed First Offense
● The teacher responsible for assigning the work will notify administration (using the Disciplinary
Referral Form), contact the school counselor and the parent/guardian.
● Administration will notify the student’s teachers.
● Teacher and student meet for review of the assignment, student work expectations, and re-teaching,
as appropriate.
● After school detention assigned by administration.
● Loss of 10 -20 % on final grade of assignment, determined by the teacher.
● Conference with parents as needed (with teacher, counselor and/or administration).
10Confirmed Second Offense
● The teacher responsible for assigning the work will notify administration (using the Disciplinary
Referral Form), contact the school counselor and the parent/guardian.
● Administration will notify the student’s teachers.
● After school detention or in-school suspension assigned by administration.
● Loss of 40 - 60% on final grade of assignment, determined by the teacher.
● Conference with parents (with teacher, counselor, and/or administration).
Confirmed Third Offense
• The teacher responsible for assigning the work will notify administration (using the Disciplinary
Referral Form), contact the school counselor and the parent/guardian.
● Administration will notify the student’s teachers.
● In-school suspension assigned by administration.
● Loss of 60 - 100% on final grade of assignment, determined by the teacher.
● Conference with parents (with counselor and/or administration as necessary).
Adams Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Members of the PTO are parents and teachers who are committed to supporting and enhancing the
programs and resources for our school. The PTO meets on a monthly basis and PTO volunteers assist in
classrooms, the library, the main office and chaperone field trips and dances. The organization collects
membership dues as its primary fundraiser for the school each fall. Monies raised from the membership
dues enable the organization to support unique cultural and curricular programs and/or purchase items to
enhance the school resources and environment.
11Additional Classroom Resources
In keeping with Board of Education policies and regulations on curriculum and materials, speakers, topics
and/or materials presented to Guilford Public School students and not provided by the district shall
complement the Guilford Public School’s curriculum. The school principal or his/her designee shall
review and approve material not provided by the district in relation to age appropriateness, content, and
context prior to its use.
Assemblies
Assemblies are a very important part of the school program. Much can be learned from them, and their
successful presentation depends upon the student audience.
Assembly time is really the only occasion when we can gather at the same time and in the same place.
This also becomes a time when our guests and visitors judge us as a school. Good school spirit and pride
can best be shown at such times by treating those presenting an assembly program with the utmost
courtesy. Good assembly manners include: giving complete attention and showing appreciation of what
is presented. Proper conduct should be observed coming to, during, and leaving the assembly program.
Poor behavior may jeopardize attendance privileges for future programs.
Attendance and Absence from School
The Guilford Board of Education believes that regular school attendance is essential to the academic
success of all of our students. Therefore, it is the policy of the Board of Education to monitor school
attendance so as to identify students who are truant or habitually truant, and to enlist the cooperation of
parents, child and family services agencies and, when necessary, the juvenile justice system, in order to
address the problem when it arises. The State Department of Education has allowed school districts to
excuse the first nine (9) absences for students as long as the absence is verified by a written note from a
parent.
Parents should call the school before 9:00 a.m. any day a student is absent and leave a message on
the attendance line with their child’s name, reason for the absence, and their phone number. If
this does not occur, parents will be called to verify their child's absence. If
telephone contact is not made, students should bring in a note to the Main Office when they return
to school, which explains the absence. (The school attendance phone number is
(203) 453-2755, ext. #1.)
12Absences from school are recorded as either ‘excused’ or ‘unexcused’. Examples of ‘excused’ absences
are personal illness verified by a physician, mandatory court appearance, religious holiday, and death in
the family. Absences due to family trips or vacations are not excused, and parents/guardians are strongly
discouraged from scheduling trips or vacations during times when school is in session. Teachers are
not required to provide makeup work for students who miss school due to a family vacation.
Making up schoolwork missed due to absence is the responsibility of the student. Students absent for an
‘excusable’ reason will have two days for every day absent to make up work. Students absent on the day
of a previously assigned test, quiz, or project deadline may be required to complete/present the work on
the day they return to school.
When a student will be absent for an extended period of time, written notice should be sent to the
Main Office, in addition to your child’s teacher(s). The Main Office will notify all of your child’s
teachers of the anticipated absence.
Parents will be notified if their child becomes ill while at school. Since the Health Office is not an
infirmary, parents will be asked to provide transportation from school to home when students are too ill
to remain at school. Parents' home/business/cell phone numbers and the names of two emergency
contacts should be listed on the emergency card for this purpose.
Excuses from gym or any other normal school activities will be granted only upon a written statement
from a doctor. Such notes should be presented to the nurse before the start of the school day.
In order to attend or participate in any school-sponsored activity, a student must be in attendance
at his/her assigned school, or activity sponsored by the school, for at least half of the regular school
day of the activity. Arrival later than 11:30 a.m. or dismissal prior to 11:30 a.m. will result in a student
being credited with an absence. The administration reserves the right to make the final decision if such
cases are appealed. In order to participate in a field trip, a child must be in attendance the day prior to the
trip.
Absence from school without the knowledge and permission of parents may be considered truancy.
Unauthorized absence from class may also be considered truancy. Tests and quizzes missed because of
unauthorized absence may not be made up. Generally, two detentions are assigned for each class missed
13as a result of truancy. Habitual truancy is against the law and will be treated in a serious manner. Truancy
from school may also result in the assignment of a suspension.
For your information, the following definitions are utilized in fulfilling Guilford's requirements regarding
regular school attendance in accordance with CT General Statute 46b-149.
1. Truant - a child enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8 who has four (4) unexcused absences
from school in any one month, or ten (10) unexcused absences from school in any school year.
2. Habitual truant - a child who has twenty (20) unexcused absences within a school year.
3. Parent - the parent, guardian or other person having control of a child who is enrolled
in kindergarten through grade 8.
4. Unexcused absence - any absence from an entire regularly scheduled school day for
which absence is not excused as defined below.
5. Excused absence - an absence from a regularly scheduled school day for:
a. The CSDE allows school districts to excuse a student’s first nine (9) absences
from school in any school year.
b. Reasons of health, including illness, incapacity or doctors' visits. The District
reserves the right to require a physician’s note or other appropriate certification
for absences in excess of five consecutive days or a total of fifteen days in any
school year.
c. Religious holidays
d. Court appearance
e. Funeral in immediate family
f. Approved school activities
g. Suspension or expulsion
h. Limited absences from school for special activities subject to the approval of
the school administration
Please note that an absence or tardy from any scheduled school day that has been reported to the school
by a parent or legal guardian is not defined as “excused” unless it meets a criterion listed in # 5 above.
Tardiness to School
The school building opens to students at 7:50 a.m. Classes begin at 8:15 a.m. We do not have a daily
homeroom meeting. Tardiness to school will also cause a student to be tardy to Period 1 class. An after
school detention may be assigned for every three unexcused tardies. Reasons for excused tardies are the same
14as those for excused absences. If a student is ten (10) times tardy in one semester, the student’s parents may
be requested to come in for a conference.
Tardiness to Class
Students are expected to arrive on time to class. Three unapproved tardies (per semester) to class will result
in the assignment of a detention and parent notification. Three additional tardies to the same class will result
in two detentions and parent notification. Accumulating nine tardies to this class will result in three days of
detention and further parental contact. Three tardies accumulated beyond this limit will result in parent
notification and the assignment of a day of in-school suspension.
Early Dismissal
Early dismissal means being excused to leave school while school is in session. To be dismissed, a student must
bring a note, signed by a parent/guardian, stating the time of dismissal and the reasons. This note should be
presented to the administrative assistant in the Main Office before 8:30 am. In order to leave the building, the
student should report to the Main Office to be signed out by a parent or guardian. Unplanned early dismissals due
to illness or emergencies will also require a parental sign-out. Please refrain from any unplanned early dismissals
other than illness that cause disruptions to classrooms. Students may not call home from their own cell phones in
order to be picked up early. Doing so will result in an unexcused early dismissal.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Morning Arrival
Daily Staff Arrival Time: 7:55 AM
Daily Student Arrival Time: 7:50 - 8:15 AM
Bus Arrival (Waves 1 & 2): 7:50-8:15 AM
Parent Drop Off/Walkers: 7:50-8:15 AM
School Day Begins: 8:15 AM
15Staff on Duty
Each morning AMS uses a mix of certified and noncertified staff to support morning arrival. Staff are
stationed outside of their classrooms to monitor hallway traffic and assist students in arriving to their first
period class. Once in the building, students will report directly to their classrooms where their first period
teachers will welcome them upon arrival.
General Arrival Protocols
1. Students will wear masks on the bus, entering the building, and for the duration of the school day.
2. Students who eat breakfast at school can order their breakfast on-line and prior to the beginning of
the school day and it will be delivered to their first period class (Note: this may change as we continue
to examine our procedures).
3. Students will follow floor markings in the hallways/stairways to ensure one way, socially distant
movement. Students will always stay to the right when passing and maintain maximum distance.
4. Students will not access the bathroom until the school day has started: they will enter the building,
report to their first period class and follow classroom protocol for bathroom use once the school day
has begun.
5. Students who typically check in with the nurse and school counseling office to start their school day
will report to their first period class. The appropriate school personnel will call them from class,
individually.
6. Students who bring an instrument to/from school daily will bring their instrument directly to the
band/orchestra room, using the first floor procedure, and then move to their first period class.
Bus Drop Off
Time: 7:50 - 8:15 AM
Procedures: Buses will arrive at AMS using the south parking lot to safely allow students to disembark.
Students will then walk, maintaining social distancing, to the front entrance of the school under the
supervision of the administration and staff members. AMS will maintain the south parking lot as a
designated bus-drop off zone which will be separate from our family drop-
off zone. When buses arrive, the following steps will be followed:
1. Bus will come to a stop in the designated area.
2. Bus driver(s) will dismiss students in an orderly manner.
16Parent Drop Off/Walkers
Time: 7:55 - 8:05 AM
Procedures: Families arrive at AMS and enter the front circular drive staying right to allow students to
exit the vehicle at the curb. Parents are asked to cue up using the entire length of the drop off and tight
to the vehicle in front of them leaving no significant gaps between cars and as far forward as possible.
Students will then exit the vehicle ONLY on the passenger side of the vehicle as soon as the vehicle has
come to a complete stop and is within the drop off zone. In this way, the entire line of cars can be
processed and moved forward allowing a new set of cars to enter and keeping the flow of traffic moving.
Parents are also asked to YIELD to buses entering and exiting our campus. It is recommended that
parents use a parking space in the NORTHERN parking lot if their child requires assistance and/or needs
to unload school materials/equipment such as large instruments, sporting equipment, etc.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL passenger vehicles leaving campus will be directed NORTH on Route
77/Church Street to maintain a steady traffic flow in front of Adams Middle School.
Student Entrance Procedures
AMS staff will monitor arrival into the building from the drop-off area, supporting students with safe
transitions. Additional staff are positioned in hallways to ensure students maintain social distancing and
travel directly to their classrooms.
a. Students arriving via bus or parent drop off will come in the main doors of the building.
b. 8th-grade students traveling to the 8th grade wing will stay to the right and go directly to their first
period class (either an academic or unified arts class).
c. 7th-grade students on Teams 7-2 and 7-3 traveling to the first floor or second floor of the main building
will be directed into the stairwell entrance to the immediate left of the main entrance and will proceed
directly to their first period class. Students on Team 7-1 will enter the main entrance staying left and
proceed to their first period classrooms located in the northeast corner on the main level.
17Building Entrance Procedures
Afternoon Dismissal
School Day Ends: 2:50 PM
Daily Student Dismissal Time: 2:50 - 3:20 PM (times will be intentionally staggered)
● Wave 1 Bus: 2:50 - 3:05 PM
● Wave 2 Bus: 3:05 - 3:20 PM
● Parent Pick Up/Walkers: 2:50 - 3:00 PM
Daily Staff Departure Time: 3:10 PM
18Staff on Duty
Each afternoon, AMS uses a mix of certified and noncertified staff to support dismissal. Staff are strategically
placed throughout the building, in classrooms, at the front entrance, and at each dismissal location to ensure
students can travel safely to either their bus or their family’s vehicle. Beginning at 2:45 pm, classroom teachers
will work with students to gather their belongings in the classroom for dismissal. At 2:50 pm, an
announcement will be made to signal the beginning of the dismissal process. Teachers will remain in their
classroom, monitoring student dismissal from their doorway, to ensure social distancing.
General Dismissal Procedures
1. Students will wear masks as they proceed to dismissal and on the bus for the duration of their ride.
For students who are being picked up by a parent or walking home, they will be expected to wear
their mask until they are in their parent’s vehicle or off of school property.
2. Students being dismissed will follow the same procedures as the entrance procedures except in
reverse.
3. Staff members will be stationed various locations around the pick-up areas to provide supervision
and support to our students.
4. At this time, we are discouraging the practice of students walking to off-campus destinations
(other than their homes). However, for those who leave campus, those students who have left
the premises will not be permitted to return. Please note that our campus will remain closed to
students and visitors after school hours.
Bus Dismissal
Time: 2:50- 3:20 PM (times will vary)
Procedure: Buses will arrive at AMS using the main entrance and travel directly to the south parking lot
for loading. As buses arrive, the following steps will be followed:
1. Bus will come to a stop in the designated area.
2. An AMS Staff member will communicate via walkie talkie to the main office which bus has arrived.
3. An AMS main office administrative assistant (Mrs. Criscuolo) will announce the bus numbers over the
PA system.
194. Students will walk directly from classrooms to their bus maintaining social distancing, assisted by AMS
staff.
5. Other staff will monitor hallways and support students with safe transitions.
6. Students will load the bus, proceeding as far back as they can to select an open row and take their seat.
Parent Pick Up/Walkers:
Parent Pick Up/Walker Dismissal Times: 2:50-3:15 PM
Procedure: Students who are walking or have a parent pick-up will be dismissed first. Families should
arrive at AMS no earlier than 2:40 and immediately form a cue in the front circular drive and be prepared to
load their student. Please encourage students to be prompt as delays will significantly impact the flow of the
traffic. Please be aware that our buses will be sharing the same traffic pattern and passing passenger
vehicles on the left. Parents are asked to yield to buses at all times.
For those parents or students who need more time to load, we encourage the use of the NORTHERN
parking area to be used. Traffic exiting the campus during normal dismissal times (2:50 pm to 3:20 pm)
will be directed NORTH on RT. 77/Church Street to maintain a smooth traffic flow and avoid the potential
for accidents.
20Awards
A variety of awards are presented to students annually. Each of our core teams in grades 7 and 8, presents awards
for academic excellence in language arts, math, science, and social studies. Students in both grades may also be
recognized for outstanding performance in the Connecticut Science Fair, the New Haven Register Spelling Bee,
the National Geographic Geography Bee, and WordMasters Challenge. Eighth graders are recognized for
achievement and/or outstanding performance in art, healthful living, physical education, band, chorus, orchestra,
and world language.
Student groups, such as the Student Council, Peer Helpers, and National Junior Honor Society, present awards
for outstanding participation and service. The awards for the eighth grade Physical Fitness Challenge are
presented during PE class, after the conclusion of fitness testing in the fall.
In addition to the above academic and performance awards, there are special awards voted on by the entire faculty.
These awards are named for people who played an important role in the history of the Adams Middle School.
They are presented to eighth grade students at the Closing Ceremony in June.
The Dr. Elisabeth C. Adams Service to School Award is presented to one boy and to one girl who have
demonstrated outstanding service to the Adams Middle School community. Dr. Adams, our school namesake,
was a beloved physician who provided medical services in Guilford for over thirty years.
The Carl A. Balestracci Jr. Humanitarian Award is presented to one boy and to one girl who demonstrate a
charitable and compassionate spirit towards others through community service. Mr. Balestracci served as a
teacher and administrator in the Guilford Public Schools for 23 years and was Principal of Adams prior to his
retirement from education.
The Duncan Craig Spirit Award is presented to one boy and to one girl who exemplify the spirit, leadership and
dedication demonstrated by Duncan Craig, former science teacher and Principal of Elisabeth C. Adams Middle
School.
The Alexander Kul Award is presented to one boy and to one girl who excel in citizenship and scholarship. Mr.
Kul was a math teacher in Guilford for 20 years and a dean at Adams for six years. He was a skilled and inspiring
instructor who believed that any undertaking, if pursued diligently, could meet with success.
21The Tammy McDowell Award is presented to one boy and to one girl who exemplify the qualities of a student
athlete and team player. Mrs. McDowell was a physical education teacher and coach at Adams. She was a gracious
team player and an exceptional role model for her students.
The Reverend William C. H. Moe Award is presented to one boy and to one girl who have realized their goals
through diligence and effort. Reverend Moe was a true advocate of young people in Guilford. He had a particular
interest in those children who overcame obstacles in life.
Bicycles
A bicycle rack is located adjacent to the north parking lot for student use. Bicycles should be locked there upon
the student’s arrival to school. Bicycle riders may be dismissed with the first wave of students. It is important to
note that students must walk their bicycles while on school property as they depart the campus during dismissal
in the afternoon. It is not safe to ride bikes through groups of students waiting for or boarding buses.
Bus Transportation
The school bus is a service offered to students for their convenience. A student can be excluded from bus
privileges for conduct which (a) endangers persons or property, (b) is seriously disruptive of the educational
process, or (c) is in violation of a publicized policy of the Board of Education (#3612/5310). Infractions that
occur on the school bus will be considered to have occurred in school and will be dealt with accordingly. See
also Board Policy #3612/5310 found in the Board of Education Policy section.
Should a student wish to ride other than his/her regular bus home (i.e. to a friend’s house or to the Guilford
Library) a written note requesting the change, signed by a parent or guardian, must be turned in to the Main Office
the morning of the change. A bus pass will be provided to the student for the student to give to the bus driver. In
accordance with Board of Education Regulation # 3614(a), Specialty Bus Company reserves the right to honor or
deny these special requests, depending upon the total number of students on the bus. In the event that a student
will have regular pick-ups and/or drop offs at an address other than their primary address, the parent/guardian
must fill out a secondary address form which can be found under the transportation tab on the website.
22Cafeteria and Food Services Program
Student lunch waves are 30 minutes long. Students may buy various menu items daily or bring a lunch. Breakfast
is available and snacks and desserts may be purchased à la carte at lunch. Guilford Public Schools has a debit
system for student lunches in our school cafeterias. Students will be issued a bar-coded ID card, which will be
scanned when a student makes a purchase. If your child will be making cafeteria purchases, we suggest that you
send a check for the amount of money you wish to have credited to your child’s account. The daily cost for lunch
is $3.00. À la carte specials vary in price. For the first day of school you may send a check made payable to
“Guilford Food Service”, to the following address:
Guilford Public Schools
Attn: Guilford Food Service
P.O. Box 367
Guilford, CT 06437
Please include your child’s name, student ID number, and the school your child attends. For the balance of the
school year you may send a check in with your child to be handed in to the cafeteria staff or use a debit or credit
card directly through MySchoolBucks.com.
Parents may track their child’s lunch account in MySchoolBucks.com. There will be a record of the current
balance and all transactions that have been processed in the current year. Please continue to send in enough
money to keep your child’s account replenished. If funds become too low, a reminder letter or email will be
generated and sent home to the student’s parent/guardian.
A free or reduced-price lunch plan is available to families who qualify. Families will be provided with the
appropriate forms to complete for this lunch plan in the first day packet.
Cancellation of School and Emergency Communications
The Guilford Public Schools will use the following means of communication during an emergency situation
provided we can access power:
● A School Messenger emergency message will be sent to all email and telephone contacts provided to GPS
by parents and guardians.
● Updates will be posted on our website at www.guilfordschools.org
● Updates will be posted on our local access television Channel 19.
● A voice mail message will be available at (203) 453-8200. Local television and radio stations may also
communicate delayed openings and school closings due to weather.
23Please refrain from calling the Town Communications Center for school closing information. If a storm develops
during the school day and shows signs of becoming a potentially dangerous situation, the schools will be closed
early to enable students to get home safely and quickly. The above means of communication will transmit this
information.
The Police Department recommends to parents that it is safer for children to take the school bus on days of
inclement weather, as buses may be equipped with snow tires and chains.
Cell phones and Electronic Devices (# 5128)
(Refer also to District Policy Handbook)
TO CONTACT YOUR CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, PLEASE USE THE MAIN OFFICE
NUMBER (203) 453-2755, ext. #0. DO NOT CALL OR TEXT A CHILD DIRECTLY DURING SCHOOL
HOURS.
At Adams Middle School, electronic personal communication devices must remain off and deactivated
unless a student is directed otherwise by a faculty member. Classrooms are equipped with wall mounted
storage pockets for student cell phones while class is in session.
Students who misuse or abuse the policy will receive the following consequences:
1st Offense – Written warning sent home with student to parent(s)/guardian and the device will be
held in the Main Office until the end of the day.
2nd Offense – Written warning and the device will be held in the Main Office until the end of the
school day. A loss of the privilege to have such a device will be for one week
3rd Offense – The student’s device will be held in the Main Office for the student’s parent/guardian
to pick up and a loss of the privilege to have such a device will be for four weeks or the balance of
the quarter, to be determined by the administration.
4th Offense – The student’s device will be held in the Main Office for the student’s parent/guardian
to pick up and a loss of privilege to have such a device will be for the balance of the school year.
Computer Use
Computers are in use daily as instructional and learning tools. The focus is teaching students how to gather, filter
and interpret the large volumes of information available, helping students understand how computers can expand
their productivity and creativity, and providing activities for students to demonstrate these skills.
24Every student will be assigned a Chromebook for his/her use during the school year, however the Chromebook
will remain the property of the Guilford Public Schools. Students will be responsible for the safe and appropriate
care of their assigned Chromebook and the administration reserves the right to inspect the Chromebook.
Computers will support classroom instruction and research through available software programs, stored and
online databases, and the Internet. As in any classroom, students are expected to demonstrate appropriate
behavior when using computers. In addition, no student may use any school computer unless the student and
his/her parent or guardian has signed the Guilford Public Schools (GPS) Acceptable Use Policy Agreement. This
policy will be distributed to students when they enter Adams. Should a student not follow the acceptable use
expectations, disciplinary consequences, including the loss of computer use may result. Insurance is available at
a reasonable cost to parents, to cover damage which may occur to a Chromebook.
The following guidelines apply to computer use at Adams:
● Students will maintain safe and appropriate use of the computer in the classroom/hallways at all times.
● Students will use computers as directed by a staff member.
● Students will not be allowed to use online research tools or the Internet without signing the GPS Acceptable
Use Policy.
● Students will be limited to the use of available software provided by the school. No unauthorized software
may be loaded on any computer. No computer games will be permitted during the school day, with the
exception of programs such as math puzzles as directed by a teacher.
● Food or drink is not allowed when using any computer.
● A student may sign out a Chromebook from the LMC for one day, if he/she forgets to bring his/her
Chromebook to school.
Conferences/ Parent Conferences
Core team teachers meet on a daily basis at Adams, therefore a parent or guardian may request a team or parent-
teacher conference at any time during the school year. Seventh grade teams meet in the afternoon and eighth
grade teams are available to meet during the morning throughout the year.
In addition, the Guilford Public Schools calendar provides early release days so that teachers may be available
for two hours on one evening (6:30-8:30 p.m.) and on one afternoon (12:45-3:00 p.m.), for conference sessions
in both the fall and spring. These conference dates are generally held in November and March. At Adams, twenty-
minute afternoon and evening conference appointments are team-initiated because available slots are limited to
six per session. Teams will send letters to the parent(s)/guardians with whom they wish to meet. After these
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