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Bell Student & Family Handbook

Robert E. Bell Middle School 

Student Handbook

                                                                       

At Robert Bell Middle School, we adhere to a foundational principle known as the "4-Core." Established years ago by our students, faculty, and administration, this term and motto serve as a guiding philosophy to enhance daily operations and ensure that Robert E. Bell Middle School achieves its fullest potential.

To achieve this goal, we as members of Bell Middle School commit to fostering the best possible school community by upholding the following core principles:

  • Empathy

  • Respect

  • Perseverance

  • Self-Regulation.

Important Information:

General “Who to Contact @ R.E. Bell MS” - Link HERE

School Arrival / Dismissal Times

Building Opens: 7:30 A.M. (security entrance)

School Schedule: 7:55 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.       

Bus Schedule: Buses dismiss students to the building at 7:45 A.M. 

School Schedule: 7:55 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.The middle school runs on a 6-day rotating schedule. Days are passed over due to emergency closings. Days also match the district calendar and are the same for all buildings. Please ask your advisory teacher or school counselor if you have any questions about the schedule. 
 

period schedule

 

Attendance

It is vital to come to school daily and to arrive on time. Your period one teacher will take attendance at 7:55 A.M. each day, and your teachers will take attendance at the beginning of every period. If you are absent, an adult family member must notify the attendance office before 7:30 A.M. by calling 238-7202 ext. 3111. Parents/guardians can also email the Attendance Office at bellattendance@chappaquaschools.org to report an anticipated absence.

Missed School Work Due to Absence 

Most assignments are available on your Canvas pages or can be accessed by contacting the teacher directly. Parents, you are also encouraged to communicate through Canvas. In the case of a prolonged absence, please contact your child's school counselor for further assistance.

Being Picked Up During School Hours:

Please plan accordingly when an event or circumstance requires a student to be picked up. Students being picked up should bring a written note from a parent or guardian to the Main Office when they get to school. Parents/guardians should report to the security door to sign the student out upon arrival, and the student will be called down. Please limit pick-ups from 2:00 p.m. and later to emergencies only. Please call the Main Office at 238-7202 ext. 3112.

Bus Expectations:

Our students must be safe, courteous, and respectful while riding district transportation or on school trips. In addition, the student handbook and the school district’s CODE OF CONDUCT must be followed. Hate speech, bullying, chanting at other students, taking pictures of other students, and making another student feel uncomfortable are all behaviors that will not be tolerated. As a reminder, all buses are equipped with cameras with audio. We will review bus footage if complaints are made to the Assistant Principal/Principal.

Illness at School:

Students who feel too unwell to complete the school day must report to the nurse in the Health Office. The nurse will then contact families. 

Going Home with a Friend: 

Please plan social activities before coming to school each morning. Students planning to ride on a friend’s bus or exit at a stop other than their assigned destination must bring a written note granting permission, signed by a parent or guardian. When the student gets to school, they must take this note to the Main Office before going to Period 1 or when they arrive. A Bus Pass will be issued and is required to get on a different bus. The school may deny permission depending on circumstances, such as bus capacity. This procedure is required for students planning to ride home in a car with friends.

Late Buses

Late buses are available to students who participate in Extra Help, clubs, and other after-school activities. These buses arrive at approximately 3:00 p.m. and depart at 3:10 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the buses arrive at 3:20 p.m. and leave at 3:30 p.m. Only students with passes for clubs, activities, or Extra Help can board the buses.

Contacting Teachers and Administrators

Canvas is the best way for students to contact their teachers. Students or parents/guardians can message teachers through the learning management system. You can also find each teacher’s email address on the STAFF DIRECTORY of our website. If you encounter issues with Canvas, contact our Tech Support Specialist, Pamela Rodriquez, at parodriguez@chappaquaschools.org.

Personal Clothing and Appearance

Students should choose their clothing carefully to reflect their view of themselves as people committed to learning and academics. State law provides that your clothes should not be a distraction in school; therefore, students should wear appropriate clothing.   Clothing that promotes the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or clothing with abusive or suggestive language/symbols is not permitted. Clothing that poses a safety hazard (for example, belt chains, roller shoes, studs, and pins) is also not allowed.

We also strongly discourage wearing clothing received as a party favor at a celebration on the first day back at school. Having many students wear, for example, the same hooded sweatshirt to school on Monday morning can create a feeling of exclusion for students not invited to the party.     

Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs)

Personal Electronic Devices
Using personal laptops, personal tablets, smartwatches, headphones, wireless technology, and similar devices is not allowed during school hours. The school will provide school-issued devices.

Cell Phone Expectations During School Hours:

Cell phone and technology expectations are established to cultivate a safe and focused learning environment while fostering responsible and considerate use of technology among students. Cell phones must be turned off or set to silent mode and placed in backpacks or lockers during school hours. Cell phone use is strictly prohibited during instructional time except when explicitly permitted by the teacher for educational purposes.

Students may not use their cell phones during passing periods, lunch, recess, and especially in bathrooms. 

Consequences for violating personal electronic device expectations will be evaluated individually, considering the frequency and severity of the infraction, its influence on the learning environment, and other pertinent factors. Penalties may include a verbal warning, phone confiscation, parent/guardian retrieval, notification, detention, or suspension.

Emergency Situations:


In emergencies or situations necessitating immediate contact with parents or guardians, students may seek permission from a teacher or school staff member to use their cell phone in the main office. There are phones throughout the school, especially in the main office and the counseling office, that are available for students to contact their parents/guardians. Before making calls during passing times, report to your assigned class first since you are responsible for being in class on time. If a parent/guardian needs to reach you, they should contact the main office at 914-238-7202.

The school will not accept responsibility for lost, stolen, or broken devices. PEDs may never be used during emergency drills or actual emergencies. 

Adherence to cell phone and technology expectations ensures a focused and courteous learning environment while promoting responsible technological usage. By working collectively, all members of the school community contribute to the safety and welfare of every student.

Social Media

Students who use a phone outside of school must remember the following:

  1. You cannot name a group chat or other social media thread “BELL MS, Bell" or by the class name “Ms. X’s Period _ class.”

  2. If you do not have something nice to say, do not text it, say it, record it, or film it. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. There is no ‘DELETE’ once something has been sent.

  3. Every student has the right to feel included. Outside school behavior, online, text, and social media should promote inclusivity.

  4. Cyberbullying of any kind is strictly forbidden in and out of school. Please communicate with the school counselor if you are experiencing any form of bullying, whether digital or in person. 

 

Code of Conduct 

(Point your smartphone’s camera at the QR code to view the entire CCSD Code of Conduct.)

As a member of the Bell Middle School student community and the Chappaqua Central School District, it is essential to remember to behave respectfully towards others. Please review the hate speech portion of the Code of Conduct. Acts of harassment and bullying shall include, but not be limited to, those acts based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex. For this definition, "threats, intimidation, or abuse" shall include verbal and non-verbal actions.

If you see something, talk to a trusted adult. You can also use the Anonymous Alert system to let an adult at Bell know what is happening. Please provide specific information so we can help solve the issue. You can also use Canvas to message a teacher, school counselor, our school psychologist or social worker, and Mr. Curtis and Ms. Parrottino.

Lunch/Recess and the Cafeteria

You will eat lunch with your grade daily in our cafeteria. Lunch is an opportunity to model kindness and awareness of other students’ concerns with your behavior. You can bring your lunch or buy lunch at school. Teachers, teaching assistants, and monitors supervise lunch and recess periods, and you can go to any of them if you are concerned about another student or yourself.

To make lunch and recess a relaxing, fun time for all, students and faculty have adopted the following expectations for lunch and recess:

  • Laptops and other electronic devices are not permitted in the cafeteria during lunch or recess. Exceptions to this expectation may be announced by the lunch monitors based on varying circumstances and schedules. (For example, Tech Tuesdays)

  • Clean your table before beginning recess. Follow the directions at our recycling area for the disposal of various items.

  • Bell encourages ALL students and adults to participate daily in our “community clean-up” culture.

  • Please listen and follow the cafeteria announcements regarding recess activities and the procedure for properly storing games and equipment.

  • Be safe during indoor recess. Playing with outdoor recess equipment indoors is prohibited.

  • Be kind, courteous, and respectful to all custodians, cafeteria staff, lunch monitors, classmates, and teachers.

  • Students waiting in line to purchase lunch are to do so in an orderly fashion by following the directions of the lunch monitors.

  • Snacks are to be purchased only during your designated lunch time. Students are not to leave class to purchase snacks in the cafeteria. 

  • Remain in the cafeteria or designated recess area until dismissed.

    • Do not wander the hallways during lunchtime.

    • Go to lockers between classes and before school, not during lunch. 

    • Get a pass if you need to leave the cafeteria

  • Do not bring candy or sweets to hand out during school or lunch.

  • Food and drinks are to remain in the cafeteria unless otherwise directed.

  • If you meet with a teacher during lunchtime, please obtain a pass BEFORE going to the lunchroom. Show the pass to the teacher/monitor on duty and then go to your location.

  • Invitations to events or gatherings cannot be distributed at school.

 

Evacuation and Emergency Drills

We practice various safety drills throughout the year. Your teachers will walk you through all drills and procedures during the first week of school. For evacuation drills, as soon as the alarm sounds, you must:

  • File out of the building SILENTLY and quickly from wherever you are.

  • Line up in a designated location or as directed.

  • Follow the directions of teachers.

  • Listen for directions from administrators and emergency personnel who may arrive at school.

  • When instructed, re-enter the building SILENTLY if further directions are needed.

  • Electronic devices may never be used during an actual emergency or drill.

 

Extracurricular Activities / Clubs

Bell has many club offerings for students in grades 5-8. A list of all clubs will be published on our website in mid-September. We will also host a club fair during lunch and recess to introduce students to the clubs. We encourage students to get involved in participating in and leading clubs. If you want more information about a particular club, contact your child's counselor here.

Sports (for 7th & 8th Graders as defined by New York  State law).

Fall 

  • Football
  • Cross Country
  • Volleyball
  • Field Hockey

Winter

  • Indoor Track Track and Field
  • Wrestling

Spring

  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Lacrosse

Lost Articles

Please label all of your things with your first and last name. Each month, many items are turned into our Lost and Found without identifying information. If you find something, please bring the item to the Lost and Found near the Band and Orchestra rooms. Please do not bring valuable items to school; the school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

School Lockers (Optional)

Locker use is optional but is assigned at the start of the school year.  Please do not bring candy and other food items to store in your locker. Decorating lockers for birthdays, etc., is not permitted. Finally, as an FYI, most 9th-12th grade students do not use lockers at Horace Greeley High School. 

ESSA Funded Programs - Complaint Process: 

Complaints regarding ESSA Funded programs should be sent to Dr. Adam Pease, adpease@Chappaquaschools.org, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction.  If the complaint is not resolved within 30 business days the complaint may then be sent to NYSED.   Additional details can be found here: New York State ESSA-Funded Programs Complaint Procedures(https://www.nysed.gov/essa/new-york-state-essa-funded-programs-complaint-procedures)

 

If you need help with ANYTHING, connect with a trusted adult, including but not limited to your school counselor,   advisor, teacher, principal, etc. 

We’re here to support YOU.

Contact Information

 Geoff Curtis, Principal  

Cell: 914-497-5846

gecurtis@chappaquaschools.org   

     

Christine Parrottino, Assistant Principal 

Cell:  914-203-0497

chparrottino@chappaquaschools.org