Weekly Memo #3

Cougar Families,

We are now well within the swing of the 25-26 school year. With that, your scholar should be well acclimated to the norms of their classrooms and the school. Every student should enter the building with the mindset that they are at school to learn. There are many expectations and it is incumbent upon everyone to do their part to ensure that ALL of our students are learning in a safe environment. We will not tolerate bullying, demeaning behavior, disrespect, or disruptive behaviors. 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.

We will continue with the security measures that have been put in place in order to ensure that our students are in a safe environment. Therefore, students must have clear or mesh booksacks. As a Title I school, we have used funding to ensure that all students have an equal footing. With this, we provide ALL of our students with a booksack and school supplies. Last week, we practiced several safety drills. Please remind your student that drills, although practice, are important so that we can be ready if or when something transpires at the school that will cause us to have to institute a serious lock-down situation. 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. Our search last week went extremely well, and the students did excellent! There were no issues found.

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. Students received their planners last week and we will begin going over policies in each class this week.

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

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

Students will receive their picture day packets on Monday, August 25, 2025. Please make sure that you read the information fully if you plan on ordering.