Horse Heaven Hills Middle School Home of the Mustangs
3500 S. Vancouver
Kennewick,Wa 99337
509.222.6802 (Main Office)
509.222.6801 (Fax)
Administrative Team: Sue Denslow, Principal, susan.denslow@ksd.org
James Tobery, Assistant Principal, james.tobery@ksd.org
Diana Burns, Assistant Principal, diana.burns@ksd.org
Counseling Team Kelley Hawkins, Counselor, kelley.hawkins@ksd.org
Patti Ostby, Counselor, patti.ostby@ksd.org
Our Mission
To send our youth into the future ready to reach their potential as adults through a lifetime of learning
Horse Heaven Hills students are kind, safe
respectful, and they try their best. Our students achieve success in
a variety of ways. They enjoy positive and meaningful friendships, and
they are actively involved in their school.
MUSTANG ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
ATTENDANCE
If your student is absent, please call our attendance office (222-6802) before 11:00 a.m. on the day your child is ill. We will then include your child on the “excused” absence list. If you are unable to call the office, please send a note explaining the absence with your child when they return. Please call each day if your son or daughter will be absent more than one day. If you were not able to contact the school regarding the absence, your child will need a note explaining the absence. Please have the student take the note to the attendance window so they can be excused. (For more information, refer to School Board policy # 2421). Our attendance computer will automatically call home when a student is marked absent for one or more classes in a school day. If you receive a call, and have questions, please call our attendance office to clear it up.
HOMEWORK:
If your student is absent more than three days, you may arrange for homework to be collected by calling the school office before 10:00 a.m. and requesting this service. The homework will be available at the end of the day, and you may pick it up in the school office after 3:00. Students are responsible to meet with their teachers upon returning to school from an absence to make arrangements for missing work.
LEAVING SCHOOL
In the event your child becomes sick or injured during the school day, the office personnel will contact you. Students will not be allowed to leave school at any time without contacting parents and checking out through the office. If you need to pick up your child for an appointment during the day, send a note with your son or daughter. You can meet your child in the school office, where you will sign them out of school. Upon returning to school, you may come in to the office to sign your student back into school. They will then be issued a pass to return to class.
TARDIES
Students are to be in classrooms with proper materials ready to begin work when class begins. Students need to be seated before the bell rings for class. Four minute passing time between classes is sufficient, so please be seated before the bell. Students who receive an unexcused tardy are subject to after school detention.
TRUANCY
Truancy is defined as “not being where you are supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there”. Truancy is an absence from your class or classes without a valid excuse. We will make every effort to contact parents or guardians by phone as soon as possible in the event of truancy. We will arrange a conference with parents or guardians, and may take disciplinary steps in accordance with the Horse Heaven Hills discipline plan. Consequences for truancy may include in-school suspension, out of school suspension, or referral to the Benton County truancy board. Students who are truant lose the opportunity to make up work for credit.
EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
Students need to be in class to get the full benefit from the top-notch education being offered at Horse Heaven Hills. We understand that occasional absences cannot be avoided. Students who are ill are encouraged to stay home for the health and safety of the school community. In the event that absences become excessive, you will be notified by mail and a conference may be requested.
CLOSED CAMPUS
Middle schools in Kennewick are closed campuses. This means that we expect our students to stay on campus for the entire school day. If you need to allow your child to leave campus, please contact the office.
HARASSMENT POLICY
Harassment in school is UNWANTED ATTENTION from other students, and IS NOT TOLERATED. Harassment is clearly a disruption to the educational process. Harassment may include, but is not limited to, leering, pinching, grabbing, pushing, teasing, spreading gossip and rumors, expressing unwanted comments and jokes, and implied or expressed verbal or written threats. Harassment may carry the message that if the victim does not comply with the harasser’s demands, there may be retaliation. Harassment can cause physical or psychological damage to students, affecting grades, attendance, performance, and pride in one’s work.
Victims of harassment must report the problem to an adult in the school as soon as possible. The adult will then work with the student to see that appropriate action is taken. Depending on the severity of the offense, the range of discipline for harassment may include participation in counseling sessions on the problem of harassment in our culture and school, apology to the victim, suspension, and if appropriate, police intervention. (For more information, refer to board policy # 5150)
FORGERY/MISREPRESENTATION
Altering notes or documents, copying another student’s work, or impersonating a parent on the phone or signing a note for a parent, school employee, or medical personnel are considered forgery and/or misrepresentation and will be dealt with accordingly. In order to encourage authentic learning, Horse Heaven Hills has adopted a strict academic integrity policy. LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to use quiet voices and good manners while eating lunch in the cafeteria. Students are to stay seated until they are dismissed to go outside, weather permitting. It is important that all students have the opportunity to eat in an orderly and safe environment.
VANDALISM
Vandalism is the intentional destruction or defacement of public property
or property belonging to others, and is not tolerated at Horse Heaven
Hills.
WEAPONS AND LOOK-ALIKES
No student shall possess, use, or attempt to use, and/or threaten to use any weapons on school property. The safety of our students and staff are our top concern and a no tolerance policy is in effect with regard to weapons. Possession of weapons or look-alikes may result in suspension or expulsion. (See school board policy # 3314)
BUS DISRUPTION
Physical or verbal actions that distract the bus driver or interfere with the safety of others, or the safe operation of the bus are considered to be disruptive and unsafe. Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. Use of the school bus may be in jeopardy if students choose not to act responsibly on the bus and at the bus stop. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS
The use or possession of tobacco products and other drugs of abuse is not tolerated. Washington state laws require that a citation be filed on any student using or possessing tobacco on school grounds. Tobacco violations will be referred to the Kennewick Police Department; in addition, there will be school consequences. Possession of drug paraphernalia is also prohibited and is a violation of district policy. (See school board policy # 3418)
Back to Top HALLWAY BEHAVIOR
We expect our halls to be safe areas. Hundreds of Horse Heaven Hills students use the hallways daily to move from class to class. Inappropriate behavior in our hallways is not tolerated, and students who do not behave appropriately in the halls may be assigned after-school detention. Students in the halls during class time must have a hall pass. During lunch, students should be in the cafeteria or outside. Hallways are off limits during lunch time.
FOOD & DRINK
Horse Heaven Hills students do not bring food and drink into the classrooms or halls. Gum is considered food; therefore, it should not be in hallways or classrooms. Students are expected to eat their lunch in the cafeteria. Students may not bring open containers on school grounds (i.e., pop bottles, cups from restaurants, etc.)
LOCKERS
Students should not share their combination with anyone (including friends!). The majority of lost items from lockers is due to the sharing of your combination with someone. Do not leave money or other valuables in lockers. Horse Heaven Hills students are welcome to place pictures inside the locker door, but they must be removable without damaging the locker and must be appropriate for middle school. You should not alter the lock on your locker in any way. “Jamming” the lock, or putting objects into it is prohibited. Students who do this will be cited for vandalism and required to pay for repair or replacement of the locker. Lockers are the property of Kennewick School District, and are subject to inspection by administrators or security.
BOOKBAGS/BACKPACKS
We expect our students to carry classroom materials to each class. Backpacks will be stored in student lockers, not carried to class (this includes 7th period). We recommend that students develop a plan to visit their lockers as little as possible during the day to avoid being late for classes.
CLOTHING
We expect our students to dress appropriately for middle school. Appropriate dress will not disrupt the educational process. In an effort to help parents assist their middle school child in making good clothing decisions, we’ve established some clothing standards.
Clothing or jewelry that refers to or insinuates alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substance use is not appropriate. In addition, clothing that refers to or insinuates sexual, lewd, or discriminatory messages are not appropriate.
Appropriate clothing fits the student, and does not disrupt the school environment. Clothing that is too tight or exposes undergarments or a midriff is inappropriate for school. Sleeveless shirts must have a shoulder width of 2”, and sufficient to cover undergarments.
Pants are to be worn in such a way that the student’s underwear is not exposed. Belts may not hang and must be in the belt loops of the pants. Coverall or suspenders must be completely fastened and worn on the shoulders.
Students are welcome to wear hats to and from school, however caps and hats and head coverings are not permitted during the school day (this includes lunch). Messages on hats are to be appropriate and not gang related.
Jackets and coats are not to be worn to classes. During the winter, it is recommended that students keep a sweater or non-hooded sweatshirt at school in case of temperature fluctuations.
Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be referred to the office and a phone call to parents will be made. Students may change the clothing or parents may be asked to bring replacement clothing.
Students are not to write or draw on their bodies, nor those of their classmates.
Skirts and shorts must completely cover the student at least to the mid-thigh.
The above standards are not meant to be inclusive of every clothing contingency. We publish this to assist parents in helping their children to make good clothing decisions. Parents should carefully monitor what students wear and consider the effect their clothing has on their safety. The building administrators will determine if a student’s appearance is disruptive to the learning environment.
ELECTRONICS AND OTHER DISRUPTIVE
EQUIPMENT
Ipods, MP3 players, CD players, pagers, headphones and electronic games are not allowed at school. If a student must bring a cell phone to school, it must be turned off and kept in the student’s locker. The phone may not be used during school hours. Any electronic device that is seen or heard will be confiscated and locked in an office drawer. For the first offense, the student may claim his/her property after school. The student will be required to sign the logbook to indicate the property was returned to the owner.
If a student violates this rule more than once, the student’s parents will be required to come to school to retrieve the property. If this problem continues, the student will be disciplined for defiance of school rules.
Students are asked to leave cell phones and all electronic devices at home, as they pose a disruption to the educational process and are frequently targeted for theft. In the event of a theft parents are encouraged to contact the police. School personnel will not conduct an investigation into the theft of prohibited items. SKATEBOARDS AND SCOOTERS
Skateboards and scooters may not be ridden on campus and are not allowed in the building or lockers. They must be chained and locked in the bike rack near the gym. Students who are unable to follow these rules will have their skateboard or scooter confiscated. It will be held in the office until a parent comes to get it. Any student who has a skateboard or scooter confiscated more than once will lose the privilege of having it on campus for the remainder of the year.
PARENT PORTAL
Horse Heaven Hills now offers parents access to student grades and attendance via the parent portal. Logging on to WWW.KSD.ORG will get you to the portal access point. Once you input your student’s secure login and password you will have access to all current information. Mustang teachers will update grades weekly. Only persons with the secure login and password may access your student’s information.
GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
Our counselors provide many services for students, parents, and school staff. Counselors facilitate groups to help students deal with common middle school problems. They also meet with students one on one to provide guidance and help. If you need to speak with a counselor, you can set up a time at lunch or during your exploratory to visit them.
LIBRARY SERVICES
Horse Heaven Hills has an outstanding library facility at the students’ disposal. The library may be used before or after school, or during lunch (with an appropriate pass). Additionally, many classes visit the library during the school day. You must have your student I.D. with you to check out materials from our library.
MAIN OFFICE
Our main office staff is here to help you. Students who enter the office are asked to use appropriate voices, and to state the reason for their visit clearly. They may go to the office to wait for a parent to pick them up from school, to purchase an ASB card, or pay fees. Please remember to be respectful and polite to our office staff.
Office staff will deliver emergency messages only. After 1:45 p.m. no messages will be delivered. We would also like to remind parents and students that celebrations for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions should be celebrated at home. The office will not accept or deliver individual gifts or any form of individual recognition to students.
HEALTH ROOM
Students who are feeling ill may rest in the Health Room, after checking in at the office, for a maximum of 20 minutes. Students who are too ill to continue their school day after the 20-minute rest period must make arrangements to go home. Students must check in with their teacher and get a pass before coming to the health room.
TELEPHONE USE
Students will be allowed to use the office telephone only in the event of an emergency. Forgetting homework, sports equipment, and other supplies is not an emergency. The phone will not be used to make arrangements for after-school activities. Please make such arrangements before coming to school.
AFTER SCHOOL SOCIALS
We schedule socials throughout the school year. Normally these activities are from 2:30-4:00 pm, and students may purchase tickets during their lunch beginning the Wednesday before the social. The prices will be determined prior to each social. There will be some price discount if you have an ASB card. These activities are for eligible H3MS students only, and students who misbehave at the activity will be asked to leave. Students who leave the activity may not return during the activity. Students who have been suspended since the last social will not be eligible to attend.
TEXTBOOKS
Students are responsible for the textbooks they are issued. We ask students to write their name and their teacher’s name in the appropriate space in the book (please use ink). Students will be charged for damage or lost books in their care. Please put covers on your books.
VISITORS Parent visitors are welcome. Please check in at the office. If you wish to visit a classroom, we ask that you give 24 hours notice so the teacher has opportunity to set up seating and make other necessary arrangements for your visit.
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY POLICY
We want student-athletes to participate in the interscholastic athletic program as seventh and eighth graders, but students must have achieved at least a 2.0 GPA during the past reporting period (quarter). Students who have not earned a 2.0 GPA are ineligible to participate in athletics for the following quarter. Student athletes must also maintain passing grades during each season. If a student is earning an “F” grade in any of his/her classes, they will be suspended from game play. He/she may practice with the team, but may not compete until the failing grades are brought up to passing marks.
8th HOUR TUTORIAL
Horse Heaven Hills offers students the opportunity to stay after school to work quietly on schoolwork. This “eighth hour tutorial” time is available only to students who fill out a contract with an administrator. Eighth hour tutorial meets Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 2:25 to 3:25 pm. This is not a drop-in program, rather an ongoing class for students who regularly need extra time or help with homework.
