Westborough MS Policies

When a student is absent, parents should contact Mrs. Fontana before 10:00 AM to report the absence.

If she is unavailable, students should bring a note when they return to school that states the date and reason for their absence.

Students whose parents have successfully called in need not provide a note.

Homework requests for students absent for three or more days due to illness should be directed to Mrs. Fontana. 

Lorna Fontana

650-877-8848

Students who are late to school should report to the attendance office to obtain an ADMIT slip to their class.

The first bell rings at 8:35 AM, and the tardy bell rings at 8:40 AM. Students arriving up to 30 minutes late to school are considered tardy. 

After 30 minutes the student is considered truant and should report to the attendance and discipline office. 

Students are considered tardy if they are still in the boys or girls locker room when the second (tardy) bell rings, or if they are not at their seat in the classroom when the second (tardy) bell rings.

Students who are habitually tardy and who fail to complete the teacher’s consequences may be considered to be exhibiting defiant behavior.

Such students will be referred to the assistant principal and assigned a consequence such as detention or make-up responsibilities. The student's parents or guardian will also be contacted

Students begin with a blank slate every new quarter.

Progressive Discipline

1. First tardy.
   • Students warned, and tardy is recorded
2. Second tardy
   • Students assigned 10-minute detention by teacher
3. Third tardy
   • Students assigned 10-minute detention by teacher
   • Parents contacted
4. Fourth tardy 
   • Teacher issues a referral and contacts parents
   • Student is to be sent to the assistant principal
5. Fifth tardy
   • Referral to assistant principal
6. Five or more tardies
   • Referral to assistant principal
   • Additional detention and/or community service assigned

First Notification Letter

To be classified as a truant, a student must have had three (3) unexcused absences or three (3) tardies of 30 minutes or more. Education Code Section 48260.5 requires that the parent/guardian be notified by a letter informing them of what can occur if their child fails to attend school.

Second Notification Letter and Truancy Meeting

In the event of continued attendance issues, the school will generate a second letter that includes a time and date for a meeting with the school principal.

Students who have been identified as truant (5 or more unexcused absences and/or 10 tardies) will be presented with an attendance contract or attendance improvement plan.

Regular truancy meetings will be held with students and their parents/guardians to improve the student's attendance rate. Our schoolwide average daily attendance (ADA) goal is 98%. 

Third Notification Letter and School Attendance and Review Board (SARB)

In the event of continued attendance issues, the student child will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). 

Students who have an appointment during the day or who need to leave school early must obtain a PERMISSION TO LEAVE CAMPUS pass prior to leaving campus.

The assistant principal oversees school attendance, discipline, and safety issues. Parents who wish to speak to the assistant principal may schedule an appointment.

Parents meeting with the assistant principal or picking up their child following a disciplinary meeting should do so at the main office.

The campus supervisor who patrols the school to ensure student safety can also be reached through the main office.

Our school is dedicated to providing a healthy, happy, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students. The student/parent handbook contains policies and expectations for the safe and orderly operation of the school. This handbook is contained in the student planner/agenda and is given out to each student at the beginning of the year. 

Some teachers have additional specific rules/procedures for their classrooms.  Students are expected to follow them. Most student infractions are minor and are resolved with a teacher-student or administrator/counselor-student conference. We understand that part of being a child is making mistakes and learning from them.

At our school, we try to teach students to be accountable for their actions and to resolve conflicts in a professional manner. When students struggle to make appropriate decisions or respond appropriately to peers and staff, we support and redirect students with the help of their families. Such interventions can including a parent-teacher conference and community service.

Should negative patterns of behavior continue, other measures will be used to deter students. These can include detention, withdrawal of student privileges, restitution, suspension, and expulsion (for illegal behaviors as set by state law).

Please refer to the SSFUSD Expectations for Student Success handbook for more information.

In order to maintain a safe school environment for all students and staff, the SSFUSD school board authorizes school officials to conduct searches of student lockers or other school or district or student property, if there is reasonable suspicion or grounds that the search will uncover evidence that a student is violating the law or the rules of the district or school.  

All searches will be conducted in the presence of an SSFUSD employee, and no school employee shall conduct body cavity searches or searches that involve removing or rearranging clothing to permit visual inspection of underclothing, breasts, buttocks, or the genital area.

Parents shall be notified by SSFUSD as soon as possible after the search. 

Our school maintains a closed campus. Students are not permitted to leave campus after arriving at school in the morning without a note presented to the attendance secretary.

All visitors must check in at the main office, sign in, and receive a visitor’s badge. Individuals arriving to pick up a child should be prepared to present identification and must also be listed on the child’s emergency form.

Students who leave campus without permission will be considered truant.

Student lockers are under the joint control of the student, SSFUSD, and school officials. School officials have the right and ability to open and inspect any school locker without student permission when there is reasonable suspicion that the search will disclose evidence of illegal possessions or activity or when odors, smoke, fire, or other threats to student health, welfare, and safety emanate from the locker.  

For health and safety reasons, a general inspection of school properties such as lockers and desks may be conducted on a regular, announced basis with students standing by their lockers or desks.

Any items in a locker shall be considered the property of the student to whom the locker is assigned. Notice of this policy shall be given to all students.    

Legal references: Education Code 49050-49501 and Penal Code 626.9

Book Lockers: Book lockers are subject to school-wide health policies. All students can request a book locker for use. Lockers are privilege and should be treated as such. If a student engages in excessive tardies as a result of using their locker or missuses the locker (fails to keep it clean, leaves inappropriate items in the locker, etc.) access to a book locker will be revoked. One personal lock will be issued for all three years of locker use. Do not share that combination information with anyone. If you lose your lock an additional lock can be purchased. You must use a school issued lock. Non-school issued locks will be confiscated. All Lockers are the property of Westborough Middle School and may be inspected by school personnel at their discretion. Westborough is not responsible for lost or damaged property.

PE Lockers: Student PE lockers and locker rooms are subject to school-wide health policies. All students are assigned a locker for storage of athletic clothes and shoes. They are to be kept clean, which includes not leaving food or drinks, or wet clothes in the locker for any time period. Lockers are the property of Westborough Middle School and may be inspected by school personnel at their discretion. Students will be held responsible for all contents and maintenance of lockers. Students may not share lockers or give their combinations to any other student. Students are issued locks for their PE lockers and should use them appropriately each day they have PE to protect their valuables. Westborough is not responsible for lost or damaged property.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Safety Guidelines

The safety of all Westborough students depends on drivers following these procedures:

• Do not drop off or park on Westborough Boulevard, especially in red zones.

• Follow directions from the student traffic patrol and observe all cones.

• Use the blacktop loop for student drop-off and pick-up; do not stop at the entrance or wait on the street.

• Enter the blacktop parking area no earlier than 5 minutes before dismissal.

• The upper parking lot and back road are for staff and special needs transportation only.

• Stay outside the dotted line in the afternoon and park in designated areas.

• Drive slowly (5 mph) and remain alert for students and staff.

Bikes, scooters, and skateboards are allowed on campus. Once you arrive through our gates, please walk your bikes, skateboards, etc. They must be stored in the rack/cage near the office when you arrive on campus. They can be collected after school at 3:15 PM and 2:00 PM on early release Wednesday. The school assumes no responsibility for damaged or stolen items. California State Law mandates that children under the age of 18 must wear a helmet when cycling. Students must also follow all traffic and safety laws.

Student use of personal electronic devices is prohibited during the school day (8:35 AM- 3:15 PM) unless approved by a teacher for a classroom purpose. All phones and devices should be turned off and put away.

Students may use phones on campus before and after school. During these times, students should use their phones outside and not in the hallways. The school is not responsible for damaged or lost devices. Office phones are available for emergencies. If families need to contact a student for an emergency, please call the office.

First - third violations: Staff member takes the device and gives it to administration to be picked up by the  student at the end of the school day.

Fourth violation: Parent/Guardian and student meet with an administrator, parent/guardian picks up the device, and the student receives a consequence.

Chronic violations subject to confiscation for up to 5 school days. Any device used inappropriately to photograph or video record (such as recording in bathrooms, recording fights, etc.) may be subject to immediate confiscation at the discretion of the Administration. Parent/Guardian will be called. Items will be retained or returned at administrator’s discretion.

Cell phones are allowed on campus, but students may use them only before or after school. They are not to be used in classes, hallways, or at lunch.   

In the event of an emergency, a student may always come to the main office to use our phones or call home on their cell phone under the supervision of a staff member. This is to ensure student safety and to limit classroom disruptions. 

Other electronic devices are not allowed and should not be brought to school with the exception of district-issued Chromebooks. 

The school assumes no responsibility for cell phones brought to school.

Students will use backpacks to transport necessary school supplies from class to class. Backpacks should remain clear of classroom aisles and set on the back of desk chairs. All students are provided with virtual textbooks (some hard copies are available as determined by student need) to use through the duration of the school year.
 

Clothing must completely cover skin from the top of the chest, back, and shoulders to the lower thigh. 

• Pants must be worn at the waist, leggings are allowed.
• Leggings may be worn to cover skin if there are holes in pants above the knee.
• Tank top straps must cover at least 2 inches of each shoulder
• Hats are acceptable, provided they do not interfere with the ability to identify a student quickly (Student eyes and ears should be visible and unobstructed).
• Hoods of jackets or Sweatshirts may only be worn outside. 
• Closed-toed shoes must be worn in lab-based classes; appropriate athletic shoes in PE (Science teachers and PE teachers will go over class expectations in class).

Students may NOT wear:

• Pants with rips 2 inches above the knee and showing skin without leggings or tights.
• PE clothes outside of PE class, unless as a temporary solution to a dress code violation
• Clothing or personal items which create a hostile environment or seriously distract from the learning environment. For example, any item depicting or advocating a controlled substance (drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, etc.), gang membership, profanity, pornography, violence; racist, or containing slurs against an ethnicity, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Dress Code Violation Policy: Wearing clothing that does not follow the dress code can result in the following disciplinary actions:

First violation: Directive to change attire or allowed to change into PE clothes or wait in office for a change of clothes.

Second violation: Directive to change attire, issued one detention, parent or guardian notified, allowed to change into PE clothes or to wait in office for a change of clothes.

Third violation: Directive to change attire, issued two detention, parent or guardian notified, allowed to change into PE clothes or to wait in office for a change of clothes. Placed on the non-activities list until the end of the quarter.