FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...

Student Safety
Safety is our highest priority.  We will continue to evaluate all of our safety protocols and improve wherever we can.  The following protocols and processes will be established and utilized.
The entry procedure for visitors has been updated for all campuses in MISD Our counselors are are available for students each day and physically present during arrival, dismissal and in cafeteria during breakfast/lunch each day. Our SRO officer is available and on campus each day and physically present during arrival, dismissal and in cafeteria during breakfast/lunch each day. We will continue to practice and refine our procedures for evacuation, lockout, lockdown, and shelter events We will streamline our communication systems during emergency situations Our PTO has taken a positive and proactive approach for being on campus and enhancing a positive student and community culture at SJMS, I hope you will consider joining this stellar group of parents and teachers.  Join TODAY!! We will continue with our two points of campus visions Student Growth Kindness
Dates
August 1st  – Parents and guardians of Returning Students to MISD will receive a unique snapcode via email and must register through PowerSchool Registration to update school information.  PowerSchool Registration Link - Click Here

June 15th – the Home Access Center was updated with your child’s academics, including STAAR and MAP testing results.

August 13th – Your child’s schedule will be viewable – please print a copy and bring it to Meet the Teacher (Aug. 14th) Home Access Link - Click Here

August 14th – Meet the Teacher 4:30 p.m.  – 6:00 p.m.      
6th grade students 6:00 p.m.  – 7:00 p.m.      
7th and 8th grade students
(Parents, if you have children in multiple grade levels, please use your discretion 
and choose just one time to come and visit your children’s teachers)
Bring your proof of residency to Meet the Teacher - i.e. water bill, electric bill, or mortgage/lease payment. Campus planners will be on sale for $5 and the school store will also be open with all the latest Tiger Gear. (Remember all students are required to have a planner and school-wide binder) The Fine Arts teachers will be available to answer questions about instruments and private lessons, as well as any other questions that you or your child may have. Please send any questions to staff through an email at www.sjmstigers.com PTO memberships will be available for $12 Pre-ordered school packets will be available for pick-up (a few extra were ordered, first come, first serve) Lockers will be available on request at Meet the Teacher or your child will be given one during the first week of school.
​
August 16th – 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Coaches will hand out athletic equipment  
August 20th  – 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Athletics Program Parent Meeting (Mandatory) for all student participating in athletics   
                                                         
Are you Moving?
If you are planning to move and will not be returning to Scott Johnson next year, please help us by sending a note to school or contacting our school registrar, Mrs. Sierra Diaz at asierradiaz@mckinneyisd.net .

**Registration**
Registration is online once again this year.  McKinney ISD will use PowerSchool Registration to update information for students returning to MISD.  Parents and guardians will receive an email beginning in August with a unique snapcode for each student.  The snapcode will begin the online registration process for that student. We will have computers for use the night of Meet the Teacher on August 14th, from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Online registration must be complete by Friday, August 17th, and no handwritten forms will be accepted. 
If you have not received a snapcode via email for your student, check your “spam” folder to make sure the email did not appear there.  You can email our campus registrar asierradiaz@mckinneyisd.net for guidance or visit the Returning Student Enrollment page on the McKinney ISD website - Click Here.
On or before the first day of school, all students must provide a COPY of your current (July) proof of residency (even returning students).  Proof of residency includes a current (July) utility bill (gas, electricity, or water) with the parent or guardian’s name and address, a current contract or lease agreement on your residence.  A phone bill or a driver’s license will not suffice as proof of residency.

Schedule Changes
Schedule changes that are based on extenuating circumstances only.  Schedule requests will be reviewed by Dr. Curry and only emergency changes will be made, i.e. a student that is missing a mandatory core course or Admission/Review/Dismissal requirements.  For any concerns regarding course requests send the information electronically and include the student's name, school ID number, and birthdate — to mcurry@mckinneyisd.net — with your specific request and the extenuating circumstance surrounding the request and we do our best to meet your needs based on what classes are available.
I have included more information on the following pages:  More info for commonly asked questions. I hope you find this helpful.
Thank you for your continued support. The SJMS staff and I look forward to working with you to provide your child with a world-class education and a rewarding experience in this upcoming school year. 

More Information:
Backpacks and Gym Bags
Backpacks will be allowed as long as they do not interfere with classroom instruction and the expectations for how the bags will be managed is at the discretion of the classroom teacher.  The teacher can require students to store their backpack in the student’s locker. Students are encouraged to store their backpack in their lockers at the beginning of the day and remove them only when necessary.  Gym bags (sport equipment bags) should be kept in the student’s gym locker or in the student’s academic locker assigned to them. Final decisions about a student’s backpack privileges will be made by the campus principal.

Buses
For questions regarding bus transportation, please contact Durham Transportation directly at 972.542.8316. Or visit this site    http://www.infofinderi.com/tfi/address.aspx?cid=D-M04436238560

Electronic Devices (Cell Phones, video games, IPads, Etc.)
If you choose to allow your child to bring a cell phone and/or an electronic device to school, please make sure to reinforce your expectations for your child’s use during the school day.  Teaching digital citizenship is more important now than it has ever been. We encourage students to use these devices in an appropriate way during class when requested by the teacher. i.e. research during a lesson as directed by the teacher.  The safest place for these items at all other times is locked in their locker. Just a note: there are no lockable lockers in the P.E. dressing rooms. Therefore, it is very important that cell phones, money, purses, school-wide binders, IPads, etc. are left in the regular school lockers and not taken to the gym.  It is sad, but these items come up missing from time to time and we don’t want your child to have something lost, stolen or broken. If an item is lost we will certainly investigate, but we will do so using a method that will minimize the loss of instructional time.

Clubs (SJMS Clubs)
Our clubs are listed on the website www.sjmstigers.com .  We encourage all students to be involved in a club and/or an organization.  We offer many opportunities for students to participate. Please go over the list and encourage your students to join one of these SJMS Clubs.

Dress Code
Before doing your back to school shopping please remember that the Scott Johnson Middle School administrators and teachers are committed to enforcing MISD’s Dress Code Policy.  Please refer to the Student Handbook (https://www.mckinneyisd.net/about-misd/rules-regulations/ ) for detailed information.  Here are a few reminders for you as you begin your back-to-school shopping:  http://www.mckinneyisd.net/parents/dress-code/   No leggings or spandex (unless covered by appropriate clothing that is at least fingertip length all the way around) No spaghetti straps or tank tops (sleeves are required for all students) No see through clothing No sagging pants or underwear showing No short shorts or skirts (must be at least fingertip length all the way around) No tummies showing No oversized clothing, i.e. no Tall T’s Holes, rips, and shreds in jeans must be located below the knee area ​Students who are out of compliance with the MISD dress code will be given the option to call parent for a change of clothes with time out of class not to exceed thirty minutes; or change into campus-provided alternative clothing. An excessive accumulation of dress code violations will be considered a failure to follow district and campus policy and will be handled using our discipline protocol.  The list above is not the entire list of dress code options. For the entire list please visit https://www.mckinneyisd.net/about-misd/rules-regulations/

Drop off and Pick up times
Our school hours are 8:45 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Students should not arrive to school before 8:15 a.m., as our teachers are not on duty until that time. Please remember that 8:45 a.m. is when instruction begins, so make sure that your child is here on or before 8:40 a.m. (the first bell is at 8:40 a.m. – the tardy bell will ring at 8:45 a.m.).  Also, please make sure your student has transportation at 3:45 p.m. when school is out, as there is no supervision after 4:00 p.m. and we want all students to be safe.  Students will be required to leave campus immediately after school and will not be allowed to “hang-out” after school without adult supervision i.e. club meetings or practices.  We need your assistance in ensuring their safety. Parents of students who arrive early or are left past these times on a consistent basis will be contacted and requested to make other arrangements for safety reasons.

First Day Schedule Procedures
During the first day of school, student schedules will be re-distributed on a colored sheet of paper.   When students arrive at school they will report to their morning holding area, to pick up their first day schedules:

6th graders: Large gym
7th graders: Small gym
8th graders: Cafeteria  

Staff members will be available in the main hallways and waiting areas to help each child find their first period successfully.   Each student will show their schedule to their teachers at the beginning of each period to verify that they are in the correct class.  Students without a schedule will report to the library. There will be no schedule changes prior to August 28; therefore, students will need to follow this schedule for the first week of school, even if they plan to request a schedule change.  The counselors will address changes with schedules during the lunch periods, with the most urgent changes taking priority.

Free/Reduced Lunch Applications 
Forms are available in the front office and are to be completed (as appropriate) by a parent/guardian and returned to the school ASAP.  This application has to be completed each year for eligibility. Please return by a parent/guardian to campus no later than Friday, September 25th.  Students will be offered a sack lunch after September 25th. Applications that are printed in Spanish are available.
Food Services
For questions regarding food service, please contact Aramark Services at 469.302.4263.
Lunch and breakfast prices for 2018-19 school year are:
Breakfast Prices:
$1.20 for Breakfast - regular price
$0.30 breakfast - reduced price
$2.00 for adult breakfast price
Lunch Prices:
$2.90 for Lunch - regular secondary lunch price
$0.40 lunch - reduced lunch price
$3.75 for adult lunch price

Lockers
On the schedule we give the students the first day of school their locker with the unique combination for that locker will be listed.  Please write this down somewhere that the student can access it during the first few weeks of school. The 6th grade students will go through locker 101 during the first week of school, so don’t panic if they don't have it mastered the first day.

Parking Lot
If you drop off your child in the mornings, please do so in the front of the building or in the bus entrances and exits located on the South Side of the school building off of James Pitts Drive (not the back of the school).  The back parking lot is for buses only. Please do not park near or block the bus barn entrance. Also, please make sure your child uses the crosswalks when walking to school. Check carefully and watch for students walking in front of your car.  As it gets closer to 8:45 a.m. the traffic increases, so please try to arrive earlier so that lines are not so long. 

Students need to have their lunch money, backpacks, etc. ready so they can get out of the car quickly and not block traffic.  Please do not try to cut through the lot with the cones. We have several ways to enter the parking lot, so everything will be smooth as long as everyone plays nice.  You can enter from Community Drive from the West (front of the building) or from James Pitts Drive from the East side of the building (near the tennis courts and transportation facility).

Buses will drop off and pick up in the back of the school, so please do not drive your car in that area during dismissal times.  If your child rides the bus, please make sure he/she knows which bus to ride (especially if you take your child to school and then he/she will be riding the bus home in the afternoon); the following website will help you find the correct bussing information:
http://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=D-M04436238560

In regard to pick up in the afternoon, we do not use ID cards in the car line like they do in elementary.  Please discuss with your child the procedures and place you would like them to wait for you. The entrances and exits operate the same in the mornings and afternoons.  After the first week of school, you will figure out the best routine for you and your child.

PE Uniforms
PE students are required to dress out 4 days a week (the 5th day is a instructional health lesson).  Please be sure your child has an appropriate set of shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes to participate fully each day.  Your child dressing out daily is a part of their grade and ensures that they can participate fully in the designed activities.

PTO
The PTO School Store will be open and will have lots of spirit attire for sale.  We need everyone to join the PTO!! Membership is only $15, and you can find the forms on our website.  Please contact our PTO president Gloria Albertson if you have any questions about our PTO. Also, visit the official SJMS PTO website at www.sjmstigers.com/pto.html 

Visitor ID System - Hall Pass©
Hall Pass helps track visitors, students, faculty, contractors and volunteers at our school, thus providing a safer, more monitored, environment for the students.  Visitors, volunteers or contractors check-in, and parents coming to pick up students will be asked to present a valid state or government issued photo ID for entering into the system.  The system has the ability to provide alerts on people who may jeopardize the safety of the campus. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in presenting your valid state or government issued photo ID when checking in at Scott Johnson.  Additionally, when checking out a student the adult must be listed on the emergency contact list and their I.D. will be verified before a student is released to any adult.

School Supplies
Please see the website for the supply list www.sjmstigers.com.  Supplies can be left in the student’s locker, and teachers will let students know what to do with the supplies the first day of school.  Parents that purchased a school supply pack can pick them up on August 14th at Meet the Teacher.

Scott Johnson News – “Tiger Tales”
The Scott Johnson News will be available weekly to assist parents and students in keeping up with our many activities and celebrate our successes.  If you would like to receive weekly emails from me, please go to Sign Up For Tiger Tales , and enter your email address.  You can enter as many email addresses, as you would like.

Scott Johnson School-Wide Fundraiser – begins August 31st 
We are preparing for our school-wide fundraiser.  Our fundraising efforts this year will help pay for things such as academic camps, character development programs, food for student representative luncheons, faculty luncheons, awards and prizes, etc.  Our fundraiser kick off day is Friday, August 31 and ends September 7th.  Details will be sent home with the students. Your participation will be very much appreciated.  Please Note:  Different student groups will still be doing their individual fundraisers throughout the school year.

Skateboards and Bikes
Skateboards must be left in the student’s locker and bikes must be left on the bike rack.  SJMS is not responsible for lost or stolen skateboards or bikes. Please lock them up each day. 

Tiger Dad’s Club
We would love to have lots of dads sign up for the Tiger Dad’s Club.  Look for more information from our PTO representative soon! Tiger Dad’s Club is a branch of our PTO and is a vital part of our parent involvement.    http://www.sjmstigers.com/pto.html

Volunteer Background Check
If you would like to volunteer at SJMS, please go online and fill out the Volunteer Background Check at http://www.mckinneyisd.net/parents/volunteer/.  If you have been approved in the past, you have until September to submit your form again.  Please note that if you do not complete the proper paperwork, you cannot help chaperone field trips or help with the school in any way.  We need and want your help, so please fill out the forms A.S.A.P. 

Commonly Asked Questions

When Does School Start?
The first day of school is Monday, August 28, 2017.   School hours are 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Students can arrive between 8:15 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. and should leave campus or be at a monitored activity before 4:00 p.m.

Where do I go on the first day of school?
6th graders report to the big gym and wait to be dismissed to first period.
7th graders report to the small gym and wait to be dismissed to first period.
8th graders report to the cafeteria and wait to be dismissed to first period.

What should I do if I lose my schedule?
Go ahead and report to your designated area the first day of school.  We will provide you with a new schedule.

What if a class period is missing on my schedule, i.e. I only have 6 classes?
Contact one of our counselors at sgaffney@mckinneyisd.net or chjartberg@mckinneyisd.net .  During the school day you should report to the library so that we can add your class.  

What if I want to change my schedule?
Schedule change requests will be based upon academic need and classroom space availability.  Schedule changes will not be made after the first two weeks of school, Friday, September 8, 2017.  Contact one of the counselors for more information: sgaffney@mckinneyisd.net or chjartberg@mckinneyisd.net .   Dr. Curry (mcurry@mckinneyisd.net) will make the final determination on the need of a schedule change based on the best interest of the student.

What if I need to deliver items or lunch to my student during the school day?
We cannot interrupt classroom instruction time to make deliveries, call student to the front, or leave messages.  Students will need to know to come to the front office, if they anticipate a delivery. We will make exceptions for emergencies.  Students need to check the front desk between classes or during their lunch period if they are expecting a delivery from a parent.  Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Remember parents can only bring food for their child. i.e. no, birthday cup cakes, pizza, etc. for students other than their own. 

When is lunch?
The lunch schedule is difficult to understand on the printed schedule, but basically what you need to know is that sixth graders eat at 11:31 a.m. on regular schedule days and 11:48 on activity schedule days, seventh graders and eighth graders are split into three lunches B lunch is at 12:25, C lunch is at 12:55 and D lunch is at 1:25.  On activity days B lunch is at 12:37, C lunch is at 1:07 and D lunch is at 1:37 for seventh and eighth graders. (the seventh and eighth grade lunches will be based on the student’s class schedule). We anticipate long lines in the cafeteria during the first week. Therefore, we suggest you bring your lunch if possible for the first week.  You are welcome to deposit money into your lunch account whenever it is convenient. When you make a purchase, you will enter your confidential student ID number. Please make sure you do not share your number with anyone else. Students are not allowed to charge meals in the cafeteria. 

Money deposited into www.mySchoolBucks.com will usually arrive at school by the next morning.  Parents can establish low balance settings as a reminder when it’s time to add more money or set up recurring payments so the system will automatically add money to the account when a your child’s balance gets low.  To get started, visit www.mySchoolBucks.comand click the “REGISTER FOR A FREE ACCOUNT” button to create an account.  A confirmation email will be sent to the address you provide.  Follow the link in that email and your registration will be complete.  Once logged in, you can add all your students by entering each student’s school, name, and student ID number.

With mySchoolBucks.com, parents can check balances, review transaction history, and receive low balance alerts from the comfort of home for no charge.  A convenience fee may apply for payments to student account(s).  You will have the opportunity to review any fees (and cancel, if you choose) before you are charged.

If you have any questions, email support@myschoolbucks.com  or call 1-855-832-5226.

What is the bell schedule?
The schedule is posted on the webpage www.sjmstigers.com.

When can I get a locker?
Locker information will be on your schedule.  If there is a problem with your locker, Mrs. Dozier mdozier@mckinneyisd.net will be available to help you at Meet the Teacher and during the first few days of school.  Please don’t stress if your locker doesn’t work. I promise it will be ok!! ☺

Where do I go after school?
Bus riders exit through the cafeteria.  You need to memorize your bus number. Car riders, walkers and bike riders exit through the front door.  Students who walk home after school need to leave immediately at 3:45 p.m. and cross the street at the crosswalk in front of the building. Unless students have an after school activity they must leave campus immediately after the bell.  All students must be picked up by 4:00 p.m. as there is no adult supervision after that time. 

How do I know which bus to ride?
Please check the website to find out which bus your child is supposed to ride.  A representative from Durham will be at Meet the Teacher in order to explain bus routes and give bus assignments.  For additional bus information, please call Durham at 972-542-8316 or check the website. http://www.mckinneyisd.net/transportation/

What else do I need to know?
Memorize your student ID before the first day of school.  Also, memorize your bus number and bring your schedule the first day of school.  SJMS is an incredible school and we’re glad you are going to be a student here!

How much is lunch?
$1.20 for Breakfast
$2.90 for Lunch
$0.75 for milk
$0.75 for juice
$2.00 for adult breakfast
$3.75 for adult lunch

Reduced Lunch price:
$0.30 breakfast
$0.40 lunch

You can establish an online account for your convenience at My School Bucks: www.myschoolbucks.com 

Also, a la cart items can be purchased. http://www.mckinneyisd.net/departments/nutrition/ 

 Online Meal Pay http://www.mckinneyisd.net/departments/nutrition/payment_notice/index.asp