Notice to Students and Parents
A recent change in state law requires local schools to inform students that they can expect no privacy rights concerning school lockers, desks or other school property.
The new law reads: "Pupils shall not have any reasonable expectations of privacy towards school administrators or teachers in the contents of a school locker, desks, and other school property in order to properly supervise the welfare of pupils. School lockers, desks and other areas of school facilities may be opened and examined by school officials at any time and now reason shall be necessary for such search."
School officials also have the authority to detain and search any student or property in the possession of the student when he/she is on school property, on the bus, or at school functions. This authority is given to school officials if they have reason to believe the student is in the possession of a dangerous weapon, drugs, alcoholic beverages, (beer, etc.) or stolen property.
Helpful Information
Students in grades six, seven, and eight are experiencing a critical period of development. It's known as early adolescence, and it's a time of tremendous change. Early adolescents are changing physically, socially, intellectually, and emotionally. You have probably noticed some of the following characteristics in your own middle schooler:
Emotional Characteristics
| *Emotional highs and lows are more pronounced |
| *Believe that personal problems, feelings, and experiences are unique to their lives |
| *Tend to be self-conscious and sensitive to personal criticism |
| *Self-esteem may drop as changes occur |
Social Characteristics
| *Have a strong need to belong to a group |
| *Like fads; being "in" is better than being "out" |
| *Are dependent on parental beliefs and values, but do everything possible to be individuals making their own decisions |
| *Friends affect superficial behavior to a large extent |
| *Often preoccupied with "self" |
Intellectual Characteristics
| *Intensely curious |
| *Prefer ACTIVE over passive learning |
| *Prefer interactions with peers during learning activities |
| *Are inquisitive about adults; always watching adults |
| *Are in a transitional period from concrete thinking (using the five senses) to abstract thinking (beyond the five senses) |
| *Are primarily concerned with social and personal interests rather that academic pursuits |