NGMS Student-Parent Handbook

• To access the car rider area, use the driveway off of West Price Rd.

• Drop off takes place between 8:55 AM and 9:20 AM. in the car rider area only (no student drop-offs in the front of the school). Students should remain in their cars until the doors open.

• Please do not unload while still in the line in the parking lot; make sure your car has reached the concrete sidewalk area before unloading.

• Encourage your child to have all belongings in hand and ready to exit the vehicle quickly.

• Once your vehicle arrives at the curb, pull all the way up to the car in front of you before stopping to unload. (It’s ok to block the crossing walks during drop-off time.)

• If you are first in the line of a “wave of cars,” please pull up all the way to the sign at the far end of the walkway. This maximizes the number of cars that can unload.

• Please know that on rainy days, the rules still apply. It’s impossible for each student to be let out close to an entrance. Please prepare accordingly.

• For safety reasons, the school doors are locked at 9:20 AM.

• Students arriving after 9:20 AM need to report to the front desk to be checked in as tardy (outdoor steps are located at the Peachtree Industrial Blvd end of the parking lot).

• Parents must complete a walker application to authorize their child walking home from school. Forms are available in the front office.
• Students must have their walker pass visibly attached to their bookbag each day.
• Staff will verify the pass before allowing students to exit the building.

• State Law: Children aged 6–16 must attend public, private, or home school.

• Legal Excuses for Absence:

• Personal illness

• Death in the immediate family

• Recognized religious holidays

• Court appearances

• Situations where attendance would be hazardous

• Attendance is taken each class period.

• To be counted present for the day, students must:

• Be at school for at least 3.5 hours (half the day).

• Arrive before 12:30 PM if checking in late.

• Stay until at least 12:30 PM if leaving early.

• Time away from school (even if returning later) is considered in the absence calculation.

To support focused learning environments, Georgia House Bill 340 (Distraction-Free Education Act) requires K–8 students to keep personal electronic devices inaccessible during the school day. The law took effect on July 1, 2026, and requires school districts to enforce device restrictions and storage protocols. Personal electronic devices include but are not limited to cell phones, smart phones, smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, personal laptops, wireless earbuds or head phones, and smart glasses (including those with prescription lenses).

Only simple analog watches are permitted at school. Smartwatches, digital watches, or any watches with touchscreens, cameras, microphones, or communication capabilities are prohibited during the school day.

Students who bring personal electronic devices to school must:

• Keep it turned off.

• Store it in their backpack throughout the school day.

• Students are responsible for the security of their own phones.

• The school is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen personal devices.

• If students need to contact home, they may use any school office phone.

• If personal electronic device is visible during the school day:

  • The teacher will confiscate it and it will be turned into the office.

  • First offense: the student may pick it up at the end of the school day.

  • Repeat offenses will lead to administrative consequences and parents will have to pick up the device each time.

• Personal electronic devices are strictly prohibited in restrooms and will result in an administrative referral.

• Chromebooks are only to be used for ACADEMIC purposes.

• Anything online is permanent, so think before you post or share.

• No chatting with friends unless directed by a teacher (Docs, Slides, etc.).

• Use only GCPS-approved websites.

• Must stay on school WiFi—no hotspots or VPNs.

• Chromebooks are GCPS property and subject to searches as needed.

• NGMS teachers focus on building relationships with students to foster a positive, dynamic learning environment.
  

• Students ARE expected to be:

• Accountable

• Respectful

• Engaged

• These expectations apply in all areas of the school.
• Students are regularly acknowledged for meeting these expectations.

• When expectations are not met:

• The teacher and student will discuss the infraction.

• A disciplinary step will be assigned as part of a progression designed to help students reflect on their choices.

• The assigning teacher will:

• Communicate the infraction to the student’s parent.

• Determine the date the consequence will be served.

• Unserved consequences will result in additional disciplinary actions.

For questions, parents/guardians should contact their student’s grade-level administrator.

• Chromebooks

• Dress code violation replacement items/clothing for accidents, spills, etc.

• Eyeglasses or contacts

• Instruments for musicians (parent places by trophy cases on the floor)

• Medications for the clinic (parent delivers to the clinic)

• Personal Hygiene items

1. Initial Screening Procedures:

• Students participating in Eighth-grade Biology, Tutoring, Scheduled Clubs, Athletic Team Practices, and Fine Arts Rehearsals will continue to go through the front door of the school.
• Morning Car Riders – All car riders must enter the building through the car-rider entrance door closest to the exterior stairs.
• B.L.U.E. Items for Students coming through the Car Rider door - Students entering through this entrance will need to remove all B.L.U.E. items (Binders, Laptops, Umbrellas, and Eyeglass cases) from their backpack or possession before walking through the Evolv system and place them on the "pass around" table. These items can cause alerts in the system and may require a secondary screening.
• Bus Riders - Students entering from buses will NOT need to remove B.L.U.E. items. Instead, they will place their bag on a conveyor belt scanner and walk through the gate system to retrieve their bookbag.

2. Secondary Screening: If an alert is triggered, a quick secondary screening may be required.

*Please leave the following items at home: large scissors, metal silverware, canned drinks, eyelash curlers, "Squishy" fidgets, or knives of any kind.

*Bookbags need to be free of any outside keychains, charms, etc. as they can get caught in the conveyor belt scanners.

Watch this video for a quick student arrival an arrival expectations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNz8npUbjOg

• All medication must be turned in to the clinic by a parent or guardian.

• Students may not have any medication in their possession inside the school building. Possession of substances may result in a disciplinary consequence. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Over-the-counter medication
• Prescription medication

• The only outside drink students are allowed to bring into the classrooms is water.

• All other beverages must be finished before entering the school. Additionally, any drinks brought in student lunches should be consumed before leaving the cafeteria.

• No outside food may be dropped off for students during the day.

• Students will only be released from school to a parent or an individual who has been approved and listed in the student information system.
• Office staff will request a valid photo ID before releasing any student.
• Please note that student checkouts are not permitted after 3:30 p.m., so plan appointments accordingly.

• All students must remain in their assigned classrooms under the supervision of a staff member to ensure safety.
• Students should use the most direct route when transitioning between classes to maximize instructional time.
• Late arrivals to each class period will be classified as tardy or AWOL in accordance with school policy and the number of minutes missed.
• During the school day, students must have a signed hall pass from a teacher to visit the restroom or any other location in the building.
• Hall passes must clearly state the destination, and students are expected to go only to the location listed.

The officers, employees and officials identified in this handbook are charged with using their personal judgment and deliberation in executing the functions and tasks set forth herein and nothing in the handbook should be construed or interpreted to create any ministerial duties on behalf of any officer, employee or official.