Weekly Memo #5

Cougar Families,

As we continue to chug along through to the middle of the first progress report, it is important to note that students should be fully participating and engaging in work within the classroom. We are pushing towards that time that athletic events (volleyball and football) will take the forefront of the minds of some of our students. However, it is important that students who are participate in these sports remember that they are student athletes, with more emphasis on the STUDENT. There will be consequences for those students who do not uphold the mission and vision of Southeast Middle School. This includes those students who are participants in cheer and dance, as well. We will not reward behavior that is not within the realm of our expectations for students. We encourage our students to have fun in school, however, only when it is appropriate. When students continue to disrupt the learning environment, there are consequences. Again, we want to make sure that our students are receiving the instruction that will be necessary for them to excel on any standardized test that they will take this school year. So please, ensure that you remind your student that all discipline policies will be followed, including ensuring that the dress code is followed daily.

Thursday, September 11, 2025, progress reports will go home. As a reminder, if your child did not give you the information with instructions as to how to log into parent access, please reach out to our counseling department in order to obtain that information. Parent access will allow you to check grades, absences, discipline, and much more

This week, our CFA focus will be ELA and Science. Please ensure that your child is in attendance in order that he/she will receive instruction needed in order to perform well on these quizzes. Attendance is a huge part of the learning process. If your child is not in attendance, then he/she is not getting the information needed in order for them to master the content in their classes. This, in turn, will show on the LEAP test in the spring. Not only this, but it goes against the school's growth. So, unless your child is ill, has doctor's appointments, or family emergencies, please make sure that they are in attendance.

We will continue to partner with district office to ensure that we periodically employ the use of drug searches with the use of drug sniffing K-9s to ensure that our campus remains safe and drug-free. Unfortunately, we are in a time where we would rather be safe than sorry. And as a reminder, all persons entering the building is subject to be searched.

This is also a gentle reminder that students are not allowed to have cellphones in their pockets. We want to ensure that we are in line with the new law regarding cellphones on campus that was passed last school year. Cellphones and other electronic equipment (headphones, earbuds, etc...) should be placed in their booksacks or purses. Any student caught with a phone on their person will have that phone or electronic equipment confiscated and a parent will need to come to pick it up before 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. If it becomes habitual, the student will be disciplined according to the school's discipline matrix.

As a reminder, parents are not allowed on the hallways. If you need assistance, please enter through the front of the building and enter the front office. We begin registrations at 7:30 A.M. and will conclude at 2:00 P.M. in order for office staff to complete morning and afternoon duty routines. We are a large school and need all persons on duty. Our goal is to assist everyone in as much of a timely manner as possible.

Please note that students are considered tardy after 7:10 AM. If students are on a late bus, it will be documented in JCAMPUS by the front office. After 7:30 AM, students being dropped off MUST BE SIGNED IN BY AN ADULT! If the adult does not come in and sign the student in, the student will be placed in TOR until a parent/guardian can do so. This is for the safety and security of not just your child, but for the school.

Additionally, students who are not in proper dress code will be sent to TOR until a parent/guardian can bring them proper attire. We are already having issues with young men with sagging pants and no belts. This will not be tolerated. Please remind your scholar that the dress code is located in their student planner on pages 19-20.

Lastly, parents, please understand that we can not allow someone who is not on your child's demographic or emergency card to check him/her out. Our office staff checks this to ensure that your child is safe AT ALL TIMES. Please know that this is not to make life difficult, but to ensure the safety of our students. Not only this, but we can not give out student information over the phone. Anyone can call and state that they are the child's parent. Also, please be reminded that we do not do check outs after 1:30 PM. This is to ensure that there are no issues/disruptions with our carpool line as parents begin to line up early.

Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school at (225) 753-5930.

Sincerely,

Regina M. Bennett, Esq.

Principal, Southeast Middle School

September 1-September 5, 2025 attendance rate was 91.1%

Please ensure that your fees are paid in order to participate. If you have any questions, please contact the school.

Students will be able to wear a yellow shirt on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in recognition of Suicide Awareness Day. Students will need to wear their uniform bottoms with their yellow shirts.