Secondary Student Handbook 2024-2025

Website:  oxfordsd.org/SchoolBoard

Email:

• President:
  Denny Tosh – dennytosh3@hotmail.com
• Secretary:
  S. Ray Hill, IIIThe Third – rhill@claytonodonnell.com
• Lolita Gregory – llgregor@olemiss.edu
• Carter Myers – myerscarter@bellsouth.net
• Ashley Wilkinson – ashley@oxfordfloral.com
• Board Attorney:
  Paul Watkins – pwatkins@mayomallette.com
• Board Clerk:
  LaTeasha Blackmon – lblackmon@oxfordsd.org

Website:  oxfordsd.org

Location:  200 O.U.S. Drive

Phone:

• Office:  662-234-3541
• Fax:  662-232-2862

Email:

• Superintendent:
  Bradley Roberson – wbroberson@oxfordsd.org
• Chief Academic Officer:
  Marni Herrington – mherrington@oxfordsd.org
• Chief Operations Officer:
  Dr. Steve Hurdle – sjhurdle@oxfordsd.org
• Chief of Student Services:
  Dr. LaTonya Robinson – lrrobinson@oxfordsd.org
• Chief of Staff:
  Dr. Germain McConnell – gmcconnell@oxfordsd.org
• Director of Accountability & Accreditation:
  Noah Hamilton – nlhamilton@oxfordsd.org
• Directors of Athletics:
  • Chris Baughman – cbaughman@oxfordsd.org
  • Tabitha Beard – tgbeard@oxfordsd.org
• Director of Child Nutrition:
  Daniel Westmoreland – dvwestmoreland@oxfordsd.org, 662-236-1079
• English Learners Program Coordinator:
  Nancy McCurdy – nmccurdy@oxfordsd.org
• Director of Special Education:
  Toni Bell – trbell@oxfordsd.org
• Director of Student Success:
  Chris Cutcliffe – cecutcliffe@oxfordsd.org
• Director of Teaching & Learning:
  Johnnie Dudley – jjdudley@oxfordsd.org
• Director of Technology:
  Mike Fortenberry – mforten@oxfordsd.org, 662-236-7948

Website:  oxfordsd.org/OIS

Location:  501 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.

Phone:

• Office:  662-236-5508
• Fax:  662-236-7944

Email:

• Principal:
  Chase Goolsby – cbgoolsby@oxfordsd.org
• Assistant Principal:
  Molly McNeely – mpmcneely@oxfordsd.org
• Counselor:
  Brooks Gregory – egregory@oxfordsd.org
• Intervention Coordinator:
  Shenita Key – skey@oxfordsd.org
• Office Manager/Bookkeeper:
  Brandi Williams – bmwilliams@oxfordsd.org
• Receptionist:
  Staci Boone – sboone@oxfordsd.org
• Records Clerk:
  Joi Logan – jblogan@oxfordsd.org
• School Nurse:
  Kimberly McEwen – kjmcewen@oxfordsd.org

Website:  oxfordsd.org/OMS

Location:  222 Bramlett Blvd.

Phone:

• Office:  662-234-2288
• Fax:  662-236-7337

Email:

• Principal:
  Jeff Clay – jclay@oxfordsd.org
• Assistant Principals:
  • Danielle Fortenberry – dlfortenberry@oxfordsd.org
  • Yolanda Logan – yulogan@oxfordsd.org
• Counselors:
  • Hannah Finch – hkfinch@oxfordsd.org
  • Yolanda Morton – ymmorton@oxfordsd.org
• Intervention Coordinator:
  Shenita Key – skey@oxfordsd.org
• Receptionist:
  Ashley Summerford – absummerford@oxfordsd.org
• Records Clerk:
  Marquisha Bridges – mcbridges@oxfordsd.org
• School Nurse:
  Bailey Sardisco – bmsardisco@oxfordsd.org
• Retention Coordinator:
  Marlon Bell – mbell@oxfordsd.org

Website:  www.oxfordsd.org/OHS

Location:  101 Charger Loop

Phone:

• Office:  662-234-1562
• Fax:  662-236-7941

Email:

• Principal:
  Dana Bullard – dmbullard@oxfordsd.org
• Assistant Principals:
  • Lucas Ferguson – jlferguson@oxfordsd.org
  • Karyn Fortenberry – kfortenberry@oxfordsd.org
  • Michelle Rudd-Toles – mrruddtoles@oxfordsd.org (Discipline & Attendance)
  • Ashley Shannon – anshannon@oxfordsd.org
• Counselors:
  • Elizabeth Cassidy – eecassidy@oxfordsd.org
  • Yolanda Dudley – yydudley@oxfordsd.org
  • Tara Ross – tross@oxfordsd.org
  • Brittany Venson – brvenson@oxfordsd.org
• College/Career Counselor:
  Dana McConnell – dhmcconnell@oxfordsd.org
• Office Manager/Bookkeeper:
  Lori Giles – lgiles@oxfordsd.org
• Administrative Assistant:
  Alodia Cruze – aecruz@oxfordsd.org
• Receptionist:
  Tambra Brassell – tibrassell@oxfordsd.org
• Attendance Clerk:
  Jill Tyler – jbtyler@oxfordsd.org
• Records Clerk:
  Lori Barnes-Vaughn – lbarnes@oxfordsd.org
• School Nurses:
  • Erin Siskey – ehsiskey@oxfordsd.org
  • Ashley Ledbetter – amledbetter@oxfordsd.org
  • Agena Boles (Special Education) – aboles@oxfordsd.org
• Retention Coordinator:
  Marlon Bell – mbell@oxfordsd.org

Students at Oxford High School will be given multiple opportunities to take the ACT during their time at OHS. The ACT will be administered to every student during their sophomore and junior year. You may view testing dates for the ACT at www.act.org.

• ACT Code for Oxford High School: 252-242
• ACT Test Center Code: 197210

In order to keep class interruptions to an absolute minimum, the pledge of allegiance and announcements will be made at the beginning of the first period during the designated time. Students are expected to stand during the pledge. Information will also be available on the school website, the school newsletters, Schoology, PowerSchool, the Oxford School District mobile app, and district social media.

Oxford Intermediate School

The school will open to students at 7:45 a.m. Car-riders and walkers will enter through the front of the school. Upon arrival, all students will report directly to the cafeteria. The first bell will ring at 8:35 a.m. Students will begin transitioning to the 1st period. Students are expected to use the restrooms and take care of other needs during that time. Unless there is an emergency, students will not be allowed to leave the classroom after the 8:40 tardy bell rings. All students are encouraged to eat breakfast in the cafeteria when they arrive. Students who are receiving early morning tutoring, meeting with club and club sponsors, or attending any other structured activity, will remain in the cafeteria until they are dismissed.

Afternoon dismissal will begin at 3:45 p.m. Bus riders will be dismissed to their assigned bus rider location at 3:45. Car riders will be dismissed to their designated location at 3:45 to wait for pick-up. Car riders are to wait quietly in their assigned location until their name is called to report outside. Walkers are to exit the building immediately and leave campus directly. Walkers are to use legal crossings and exercise safety as they leave campus. They will wait until their assigned bus arrives. Walkers and car riders will exit through the front door. Duty personnel will halt all traffic to allow walkers to safely cross the street. Students will not cross until they have directed to do so by the adult on duty. Once walkers have safely crossed the streets, traffic will resume.

Oxford Middle School

Students should plan to arrive on campus before 8:40 a.m. Students who are car riders may enter the building starting at 7:45 a.m. through the 100 entryway at the rear of the building. Students who ride the bus may enter the building starting at 7:45 a.m. through the 100 entryway at the front of the building. Students will wait at the respective entryway until 7:45 a.m. Students who walk to school should use available crosswalks in a safe manner and enter the building through the front entryway. Breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m. at the breakfast kiosks located at each entryway, and students should report immediately to the first period. The bell for the first period will ring at 8:35 a.m. The tardy bell will ring at 8:40 a.m. Students arriving after 8:40 a.m. will receive a tardy to school. Three tardies to school equals one absence.

Students will not be permitted to walk the halls. Students who participate in band may report to the band hall to drop off instruments after 8:20. If prior arrangements have been made, students may report to the library or another teacher’s room for extra assistance. Students will not be permitted to be in a teacher’s room without permission from their assigned teacher and without supervision.

Students will be dismissed at 3:45 p.m. daily. Students who are leaving campus on foot will be held until the staff member(s) responsible deems it safe for students to walk out. Any student walking off of campus will exit with staff member(s) at the designated location and use the crosswalks if walking across the street. Students will not be dismissed from school when the community is under a tornado warning. School personnel are responsible for the safety of the students who are in the hallway during a tornado warning; therefore, personnel are not available to check out students in the office. There will be no early dismissal after 3:00 p.m. without prior approval from the principal. All individuals must be prepared to present a valid ID before a student can be checked out.

Oxford High School

All students must enter the building through the Commons area doors. When students arrive at school, prior to 8:20 a.m., they may wait in the cafeteria, commons, or other designated areas. Students will not be allowed in the gym. At 8:30 a.m. a bell rings dismissing the students from those areas to report to first period class. The bell to begin first period sounds at 8:40 a.m. School will be dismissed each day at 3:45 p.m. Car riders will be picked up in the area outside the Science building. In order to keep a steady traffic flow, parents picking up car riders need to stay in the inside lane of traffic around the campus. All traffic is one-way, in a counter-clockwise motion.

The Oxford School District wishes to inform its staff, students, parents, and the general public that an approved asbestos management plan is on file with the Mississippi Department of Education. Asbestos management plans are available for public review at each school location. For more information, contact Dr. Steve Hurdle, Chief Operations Officer, at 662-234-3541.

The Oxford School District certifies compliance with the above federal and state regulations.

Attendance is a vital aspect of developing and maintaining a successful educational experience. Regular attendance promotes a sense of responsibility, ensures educational continuity, and facilitates academic growth. Furthermore, daily attendance is important to both the school and the community in that it is the measure by which state funds are allocated to the schools.

View the following board policies for more information:

• JBA: Compulsory School Attendance
• JBD: Student Attendance, Reporting of Student Attendance, Tardiness, and Excuses

A student should adhere to the following attendance policy to assist in the earning of credit or promotion to the next grade in grades 6-12:

• Must be present eighty-four (84) days for a semester course (maximum of six (6) absences).
• Must be present one hundred sixty-eight (168) days for a full-year course (maximum of twelve (12) absences).

A student who will be absent for two consecutive days may request his/her assignments by calling the guidance office or by contacting individual teachers via email, Schoology, or School Status. When a student returns to school, he/she must check in at the front office with a written excuse. The receptionist will give the student an admittance slip and all absentee notes will be kept on file in a secure location. All other absences will be considered unexcused unless medical documentation is provided. Notes explaining the reason for each absence will be important in the event a student exceeds the maximum number of absences allowed. Parents may fill out the absentee note forms provided at the front office or send a parent note. All excuse notes should be turned in within three (3) days of a student’s absence.

Excused Absences/Unexcused Absences

Under Mississippi law (37-13-91), in order for an absence to be determined as EXCUSED, satisfactory evidence of the excuse must be provided by the student, including a note from the parent or a physician’s excuse. The following eight categories constitute EXCUSED ABSENCES:

1. An absence resulting from illness or injury of the student which prevents the student from being physically able to attend school;
2. An absence resulting from the death or serious injury of a member of the immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings);
3. An absence resulting from medical or dental reasons;
4. An absence resulting from a student’s attendance at the proceedings of a court or administrative tribunal;
5. An absence due to a required religious observance or event;
6. An absence resulting from an authorized school activity;
7. An absence that requires a student to be isolated for health purposes;
8. An absence whereby the principal determines that conditions warrant that the absence be excused, which includes pre-approval of the absence by the principal.

An excused absence counts towards the twelve (12) absences a student may receive before credit is lost. ONLY medical excuses (excused from a doctor’s office) are not counted toward the twelve (12) day requirement.

Parental Excused Absences

Students are allowed to have a maximum of six (6) excused parental absences per school year. Parental absences must be substantiated in writing within 3 school days of the absence. A parent/guardian can substantiate the absence by sending a signed note in person, by email, or by fax to the school attendance office. The note must have the child’s name and date of absence(s). A parent signed checkout will also substantiate a parental excused absence. A parental excused absence may be for one class, any 30- minute period within a class, or an entire school day. Once six parental notes are used absences that are not substantiated with legal or medical documentation will be marked as unexcused.

Also according to state law (37-13-91), an “unlawful” absence is an absence for which the student does not have a valid excuse, including days missed because of disciplinary suspension. These absences are also called UNEXCUSED absences.

Extended Absences

The following guidelines must be followed if a student is absent for more than five (5) consecutive days:

The student or parent must present a statement from a licensed physician certifying the specific dates the student missed due to the medical condition.

If extended absence due to medical reasons is anticipated, the parent or guardian must notify the attendance clerk and school counselor prior to the absence so that plans can be made for the student’s academic progress.

Official School Absence

An absence due to school-related functions will be excused as an Official Absence (Coded Activity in PowerSchool).

The student must:

1. Obtain permission from the principal prior to the absence;
2. Secure assignments from teachers before the scheduled absence;
3. Complete each assignment and give it to the appropriate teacher on the day he/she returns to school. (The teacher may deduct points from the assignment if it is not turned in on the date the student returns to school.)

Reporting Absences

Parents should accurately fill out the absentee note forms provided at the front office or download the absentee note form here. All excuse notes should be turned in within three (3) days of a student’s absence.

Hours for secondary schools are 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Oxford Secondary Schools will be open at 7:45 for car riders. Oxford Secondary Schools will remain open after school for school activities and club meetings. No club or activity should hold after-school meetings without sponsor supervision. If a student is not involved in a club or organizational meeting, they must exit the building at the conclusion of the school day.

Click here for the rules of bus conduct.

Money for lunch should be turned in to the office manager daily from 8:15 to 8:35. Parents may also pre-pay for student lunches via My School Bucks. Payment for more than one day at a time is encouraged. All checks should be made payable to each respective school. Lunch prices and forms will be sent home with the students at the beginning of the school year.

Students are expected to be courteous and refined in their cafeteria manners. Students must respect themselves, their peers, and their supervising teachers while in the cafeteria. Fighting, loud talking, playing, throwing items, disrespect, rudeness, combing hair, or other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Strict adherence to the lunch schedule will be observed. Students shall return trays, silverware, and trash to the appropriate areas when finished. Breaking line is not permitted. Inappropriate cafeteria behavior will result in the appropriate disciplinary measures.

All students are encouraged to eat lunch provided by the Oxford School District Child Nutrition Department; however, students may also bring their lunch. If a student forgets his or her lunch, it must be dropped off with the school receptionist by before the student’s assigned lunch time.

Commercial outside food will not be permitted in the cafeteria unless the adult who brings the lunch stays and eats with the student. If a student forgets a packed lunch from home, the forgotten lunch must be brought to the school prior to 10:00 a.m. or he/she is always welcome to eat from the cafeteria. However, parents are welcome to bring a lunch and stay to eat with their child.

When coming to eat lunch with a student, visitors must be on the student’s contact list, present a valid ID, and obtain a visitor tag. After signing in, the parent must wait in the cafeteria. The parent may then have lunch with his or her child at the hospitality table only. No other children will be permitted to sit with the parent and his/her child. Parents should not go to the classroom before or after lunchtime. After the student’s lunchtime, all visitors must check out in the office and exit the building.

Students who qualify under federal guidelines may receive lunch free or at a reduced price. Please pick up an application from the office or apply online. It must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian and returned to the cafeteria manager. Students receiving free or reduced lunch will not be embarrassed, humiliated, or identified in public by the school faculty or staff.

Oxford Intermediate School and Oxford Middle School

Teachers are to escort their classes and remain with students in the cafeteria to make sure that students do not loiter in the halls or the restrooms or disturb classes that are in session. Students are to sit with their lunch class unless instructed otherwise. If needed, administrators reserve the right to arrange cafeteria seating throughout the school year. Teachers or administrators may assign lunch detention to students who will be required to sit in a designated area. Each student is expected to dispose of all trash and food upon dismissal so that the next group has clean tables at which to eat.

Oxford High School

Students will be dismissed to lunch by their teachers at the appropriate time. Students are welcome to eat in the cafeteria or the courtyard. Students will not be allowed to enter the building during lunch without a note from a teacher. If needed, administrators reserve the right to change lunch seating throughout the school year. Teachers or administrators may assign lunch detention to students who will be required to sit in a designated area. Each student is expected to dispose of all trash and food upon dismissal so that the next group has clean tables at which to eat. In order to prevent spills and messes, no drinks can be brought into the building that do not have a screw-on top.

Students must take extra precautions to protect personal items. Books, physical education clothing, musical instruments, lunches, wallets, purses, notebooks, and other items of clothing are frequently lost, misplaced, or stolen. Students should not leave personal belongings unattended and should write their name on their personal belongings, including coats, bags, purses, etc. Frequently, these items are found and will be returned to the student’s possession.

Students should report any missing items to their teacher or the office immediately so that school personnel can assist in looking for the item.

School staff and personnel are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

We strongly encourage each student to help maintain and take proper care of school property. We strive to maintain a neat and clean school. Everyone must work to keep OSD schools free from defacement and damage.

Students must never mark nor write on walls, desks, chairs, tables, equipment or other school property. Students must avoid placing gum on walls, sidewalks, under desks, tables, and chairs. Students must never punch holes in chairs and seats, including buses. Students must not tear up the bathroom partitions, nor deliberately waste soap or paper towels.

Under normal use, the building and properties are difficult and expensive to maintain. The parent/ guardian will be financially responsible for a student’s intentional misuse, defacement, or destruction of school property, including but not limited to laptop devices.

Students will not be allowed to use cell phones or headphones. Cell phones or headphones may be utilized for instructional purposes at the discretion of the classroom teacher. Consequences for the misuse of a cell phone or headphones will be issued according to the nature of the infraction and in alignment to the Oxford School District Code of Conduct and discipline matrix. The school is not responsible for lost or damaged student cell phones.

Oxford Intermediate School and Oxford Middle School

Students are expected to power off their personal electronic devices and put them in their backpack at 8:45 a.m. as it can be a distraction from the educational process. If a parent/guardian has to get in touch with a student, the parent/guardian is welcome to call the main office and a message will be delivered to the student.

Oxford High School

As a student active in the learning community, it is the student’s responsibility to be respectful of the learning atmosphere in the classroom. To show respect of fellow students and teachers, students will silence phones and other electronic devices, and will not use these devices in the classroom unless the student receives permission from the instructor.

Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact his/her special education teacher for information regarding reasonable accommodations.

The correct address and current telephone number of the parent/guardian is not only required by the Mississippi Department of Education, but is also vital in the event of an emergency. Parents/guardians are required to inform the district registration office in writing of a change in address. If at any time during the school year the telephone number changes, the parent/guardian must report the change to the school immediately. Changes of address will require new proofs of the current address.

Oxford Middle School and Oxford High School

Students make course selections during the second semester of each year. The opportunity for elective course changes will be available for a one-time period during the summer months as specified by the school. Schedule changes will be made at the discretion of the administration. Students must attend the original class to which they were assigned until a counselor notifies the teacher of the class that the schedule change has been completed. A class is not officially added or dropped from a student's schedule until the counselor has completed the necessary paperwork, it is signed by the principal or designee and until all teachers have been properly notified.

Guidance personnel and the administration reserve the right to make adjustments to a student's course selection provided:

1. The course is not offered
2. Course prerequisites have not been met
3. A scheduling conflict exists
4. Overcrowding occurs
5. Lack of adequate progress in an advance level course

The following procedure will be followed if a student is checked out during the school day:

The parent, guardian, or designee must report to the office to sign the student out. A valid driver's license will be required as proof of identification. The office staff will contact the teacher who will send the student to the office. Students at secondary schools will not be allowed to be checked out after 3:10.

Parents must have legal documents on file if they do not want a non-custodial parent to pick up their student.

If the student returns to school after checking out, he/she must report to the office with a parent.

When a student arrives on the school campus, he/she becomes the responsibility of the school. The student must not leave campus under any circumstance without checking out in the office. A student who leaves campus without permission is subject to suspension from school.

Oxford High School

Sophomores are allowed two (2) college days while juniors and seniors are allowed three (3) and five (5) college days respectively during the school year for visitation to colleges. Students must make their request in writing to the principal prior to the scheduled visit. The student must submit a written statement from the college or university they have visited upon return to school. The written statement must be on the letterhead of the college that they visited. Students must be in good standing in regards to attendance, discipline, and academic performance.

Teachers and administrators act in loco parentis (as a parent for the student) while the child is at school or involved in a school activity. There are times when the student does not agree with everything that is occurring in the classroom. If a student has questions or concerns about a teacher’s actions, the student should follow these measures:

1. Students are to follow all directions from a teacher.
2. If a student disagrees with a teacher’s request, he should handle the problem after class to preserve the dignity of the student and the teacher.
3. If a student is then unable to resolve a conflict with the teacher, the student should request a conference with the teacher through a counselor or administrator.
4. If this does not resolve the problem, the student’s parent should arrange a conference with the teacher through the counseling office.

Confronting the teacher in the classroom will result in a referral for disruptive or disrespectful behavior.

Rules and regulations are provided so that school is safe and orderly at all times. Read the rules carefully and follow them. If you have questions, or need help, do not hesitate to talk to a teacher or administrator. Each student must make a conscious effort to be the best person and student he/she is capable of being and observe the rules of the building and the classroom. Our goal is to create self-managing classrooms where students will become self-disciplined and responsible. When a problem arises, the teachers and administrators will work with the parent/guardian to resolve it.

Disciplinary actions which may be used are described in detail in the “Infractions and Consequences” section of the OSD Code of Conduct.

Teacher-level consequences are notated below. Please refer to the “Infractions and Consequences” section in the OSD Code of Conduct for administrative-level consequences.

All students who attend Oxford School District schools are expected to respect the school community by dressing appropriately for a K-12 educational environment. Students’ attire should facilitate participation in learning as well as the health and safety of students and the adults that supervise them. This policy is intended to provide guidance for students, staff, and parents.

View the district’s board policy JCDB: Dress Code for Students.

It is the position of the Board of Trustees of the Oxford School District that student use of illicit drugs and the unlawful possession and use of alcohol are wrong and harmful. Accordingly, the Board is opposed to the illegal use of drugs, narcotics, anabolic steroids, or alcoholic beverages by students on or off campus. A student shall not possess, use, transmit, or be under the influence of any illegal drug or alcoholic beverage of any kind. Use of a drug authorized by a medical prescription from a licensed physician shall not be considered a violation of this rule; however, it shall be a violation if any student has a pill, drug, or medicine in any container that does not have the prescription label thereon. Such medication shall be kept in the nurse’s office and taken under the direct supervision of the nurse or office personnel. Also prohibited is the sale or attempted sale of drugs or alcoholic beverages by seller and/or thought to be drugs by the buyer on school property or at a school function or on property used by the school with permission of the owner.

Compliance with the above requirements is mandatory. Students who violate any of these rules may be suspended or expelled from school in accordance with School Board Policy JD.

Teachers should follow the guidelines below when class atmosphere is altered because of suspected drug influence:

1. A student that cannot function productively should be identified to the principal.
2. The teacher shall identify the inappropriate behavior (ex.: falling asleep, cannot comprehend normal conversation, is unable to move correctly, etc.).
3. Principals should follow the appropriate procedures below when student behavior is altered because of suspected drug influence:
   1. Parents should be contacted and informed that their “child is unable to function in class.” Principals should be cautious about making specific accusations.
   2. Principals will ask parents to pick up their child at school and when they arrive will provide them with a statement of counseling procedures. Counseling, to include the student and the parents, will occur within seven to ten days.
   3. When justified by behavior or material evidence, the appropriate police authorities must be called, parents contacted, and evidence retained for police inspection.
   4. If there is a question about the student’s physical or psychological well-being, the appropriate rescue agency should be contacted immediately.

All students have the constitutional right to due process in matters of cheating, grading, suspensions, expulsions, and any other instances that would affect their property or liberty. Due process includes: notice, hearing, and explanation. The Student Code of Conduct constitutes notice as required by due process. At the hearing, the student has the right to present his/her defense against the charges and to produce other oral testimony or written affidavits of witnesses on his/her behalf. Parents must be notified of the hearing and have the right to attend. An explanation of the results of the hearing and implications of the decision should be presented to the student after the hearing.

The Oxford School District has e-mail service available to each teacher and member of the administrative staff. While the district’s Office of Technology continues to work hard to keep the system operational, email service is subject to many areas of unreliability. Please do not rely totally on email as a primary source of communication for timely information.

OSD may provide users with the privilege of email accounts for the purpose of school-related communication. Availability and use may be restricted based on school policies.

If users are provided with email accounts, the account(s) should be used with care. Users should not send personal information; should not attempt to open files or follow links from unknown or untrusted origins; should use appropriate language; and should only communicate with other people as allowed by the district policy or the teacher. Users are expected to communicate with the same appropriate, safe, mindful, courteous conduct online as offline. Email usage may be monitored and archived.

Knowing what to do in times of crisis, inclement weather, and emergencies is essential. In an effort to ensure our students’ safety and wellbeing in the event of an actual emergency, drills are practiced at each school. During the drills, students should:

1. Follow directions heard over the intercom.
2. Be quiet and follow instructions given by the teacher in an orderly manner.
3. Stay with the members of their class and remain in a designated area.
4. Return to the classroom only when instructed to do so.

A student may be exempt from the final exam in any course by meeting the following criteria:

• achieve an end-of-course average of “A”, or
• meet course benchmark proficiency requirements listed in the tables below.

Students may choose to take the exam if they have met exemption requirements. Exams may be comprehensive in nature and will count as 5% of the final grade.

Students only need to meet one of the options for each subject area listed below to be eligible for exemption in that course or have an end-of-course “A” average.

Oxford Middle School

Oxford High School

ACT College Readiness Benchmarks

The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the ACT scores that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a “B” or higher or about a 75-80% chance of obtaining a “C” or higher in corresponding credit-bearing courses. These are also the scores that Mississippi Department of Education considers when determining our district College and Career Readiness metric.

Courses not specifically listed above will adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Core content area electives will give exams that count as 5% of the final grade. Students may be exempt from the core content elective exams by achieving an “A” average in the course or by meeting the pre-ACT benchmark score or ACT readiness benchmark score for that content area.
2. Non-core content area electives will not give final exams.
3. Students who take an AP exam will be exempt from the final exam in the AP course.
4. Dual credit courses will adhere to the exam expectations set forth by the Institute of Higher Learning.

Exams will be given at the end of the course and will count for 5% of the student’s grade.

The school board of the Oxford School District in board policy JS has authorized the charge of reasonable fees but not more than the actual cost for the following:

• Supplemental instructional materials and supplies - excluding textbooks.
• Other fees designated by the superintendent as fees related to a valid curriculum/educational objective.
• Extracurricular activities and any other educational activities of the school district that are not designated by the superintendent as valid curriculum/educational objectives such as band trips and athletic events.

Assessment of Fees and/or Fines for Devices

If a student encounters an issue with an Oxford School District-issued digital device, the student will complete a technology service request to the district technology office. If it is determined that students have been intentionally negligent with an Oxford School District device, the technology department will assess a fine measured by the severity of the offense. The technology department will contact the bookkeeper who will in turn contact the parent/guardian of the student utilizing the device.

Students will be assigned a device for instructional use. A technology fee of $50 per student will be assessed.

MacBook Fine Structure:

• 1st occurrence: $50
• 2nd occurrence: $50
• 3rd occurrence: $50 and students must leave their device at school each day
• Subsequent occurrences: Full cost of repair or replacement

Computation of the GPA is initially completed at the end of the student’s freshman year so that eligibility for the National Honor Society can be determined. Thereafter, GPA is computed every semester. Students with a final GPA of 4.0 or higher are identified as graduating With Distinction. Students with a GPA of 3.60-3.99 are classified as graduating With Honors. All Carnegie units taken will be computed in GPA.

See board policy IHA: Grading System for GPA calculation.

Grading Scale:

• 100 to 90 = A
• 89 to 80 = B
• 79 to 70 = C
• 69 to 65 = D
• 64 to 0 = F

Oxford High School

Awards and Honors

To graduate With Special Distinction, a graduating senior must have a 4.0 or better GPA for the first 7 semesters of his or her high school career. Averages will be rounded from the thousandth to the hundredth place only.

Graduating with Honors: Excluding "Special Distinction," a graduating senior who has achieved a GPA of 3.60 for the first 7 semesters of his or her high school career will graduate "With Honors." Averages will be rounded from the thousandth to the hundredth place only.

It is required for all seniors to attend graduation practice and graduation.

Speakers

In addition to the president of the senior class and the president of the student body, the two graduating seniors with the highest GPA at the end of the 7th semester will be designated as commencement speakers. The building principal and/or the principal’s designee shall approve speakers and speeches. Speeches should be turned in to the principal by the Tuesday before graduation.

Hall of Fame

The Oxford High School Hall of Fame recognizes those seniors who have made the greatest overall impact to the school during their tenure at OHS. Applications will be accepted from seniors who have a 3.0 or higher GPA at the end of their seventh (7th) semester, who have participated in a minimum of six (6) activities (academic or extra-curricular) sponsored by Oxford High School, and who have been nominated by a teacher. The Oxford High School Faculty will vote for the Hall of Fame. The twelve students with the highest total points will be members of the Hall of Fame.

Students are to enter and utilize the gymnasium only under the supervision of a teacher/coach. Students are not to loiter inside or outside the gymnasium or enter locker rooms without permission. Only approved shoes can be worn on the playing floor. Soft drink bottles or cans and gum are prohibited from the gymnasium.

Homework is one important and valuable part of the educational process and is the responsibility of students, teachers, and parents together to ensure its successful completion. Homework consists of academic or other activities assigned by the teacher to be performed primarily outside of class by a certain date and feedback will be given by the teacher after it is performed. Homework is purposeful and directly related to the objectives of the curriculum. It should never be given as busy or filler work.

Homework should:

1. Reinforce and enhance what the student has learned that day.
2. Provide extra practice and an opportunity for better understanding.
3. Help the student develop proper study skills.

Some advanced level courses may require additional time, particularly the reading components of the courses.

If a student becomes ill during the school day, he/she should notify the teacher. The teacher will talk with the student and, if necessary, will send him/her to the school nurse. The school nurse will take care of the student until the parent/guardian arrives. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the name of the person on the student’s emergency contact list will be contacted.

In the case of sudden illness or injury, the student will be cared for as well as possible. Every effort will be made to contact the parent or another person listed on the student’s emergency contact list. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the family doctor or paramedic will be contacted. If warranted, the student will be transported to the emergency room at Baptist Hospital - North Mississippi. A school staff member will remain with the student until the parent/guardian arrives.

In order to decrease the spread of infection, please adhere to the following for any student returning to school after an illness:

1. Free of fever for 24 hours
2. No vomiting for 24 hours

Students will be required to familiarize themselves with and complete the Internet User Agreement policy form prior to accessing the Internet on any computer within the school building. Students will only be able to use the computer after the form is completed. Acceptable usage forms and information will be included during online registration.

The Library/Media Center and Learning Commons exists to provide students with academic, personal, and recreational media and materials. Students can request permission from their teacher to visit the library/Learning Commons during the school day. The library will be open before and after school hours.

Students are encouraged to visit the library/media center and Learning Commons to borrow books and complete school work, with the approval of a teacher and the librarian. Students are expected, however, to accept full responsibility for the book(s) or materials checked out and for the Learning Commons furniture. Students are to return materials on time and in good condition. Students must pay for a book if it is lost or damaged.

Please write your child’s name on his or her personal belongings. Items that are lost and found will be turned into the office. They will be kept in the office for identification. Inquiries should be directed to the school receptionist. All found items will be kept and stored temporarily. Items not claimed within a reasonable time period will be donated to a social agency.

Students have 5 school days from the date of their return to complete graded assignments missed due to an absence. Teachers will mark the assignment as “missing” and input a “0” in the gradebook until the assignment is completed.

With permission from the principal, a student with extenuating circumstances may be provided additional time to complete make-up work.

With permission from the principal, a student who is absent for an extended period of time (more than 3 consecutive days) may be provided additional time to complete make-up work.

Projects that have been assigned prior to the student’s absence will be turned in when due. Tests announced prior to the student’s absence must be taken on the day scheduled. For example:

• If a student is absent on Tuesday, and a test was announced on Monday to be given on Thursday, the student must take the test during the regular class period on Thursday.
• If a test was announced for Tuesday and the student is absent on Monday, the student must take the test on Tuesday.

School personnel, with the exception of the school nurse, are not authorized to dispense medication nor administer medical treatment beyond minor first aid to students.

Any student taking any kind of medication during school hours must have written permission from a doctor or medical professional and parental permission on file in the school office. These forms may be obtained from the school nurse. Students must leave all medications with the school nurse. Sharing medicines of any kind with another student is strictly forbidden and may result in disciplinary action.

Students are expected to remain in the classroom during instructional time. If there is an emergency, the teacher will give the student a pass. No student shall be in the hall without a valid pass. The student must present the pass to any teacher/staff member upon request. Students absent from class without a valid pass will be considered truant. Anytime a student is in the hall, he/she should walk on the right side of the hallway. Congregating in groups, walking several abreast, and loitering block the normal flow of traffic and must be avoided. Students must keep moving while in the hallway.

The school office is for business only. A student entering the office should give the receptionist his/her name, the person he/she desires to see, the nature of the business, and take a seat. The receptionist will direct the student to the appropriate office. At times, it will be impossible for an administrator to see the student. The student will be asked to return to class and wait for the receptionist to send for him/her. Students are not to loiter in the office.

A student in the office for misbehavior must wait until he/she has been seen by an administrator. Failure to report to the office immediately, or leaving the office without permission, will result in additional punishment.

Students are expected to be professional and business-like while in the office.

Teachers welcome the opportunity to meet parents/guardians to discuss their student’s academic progress. Please call the counselor or teacher at your child’s school to set up an appointment. A list of school counselors can be found in the “Contact Information” tab of the secondary student handbook.

Photographs of all students will be included in our school yearbook. Also, photographs and video of students may appear in our school newspaper, magazine, website, broadcast journalism stories, and other school publications unless consent is denied by a parent/guardian.

Prior to being displayed on campus, all posters, signs, and/or announcements must be approved by an administrator. The responsible party should remove posters and signs in a timely manner. Surveys from outside publications for educational purposes that require student participation require parental permission. All surveys must have prior approval of the school administration.

The Oxford School District Board of Trustees has adopted a student promotion and retention policy that incorporates minimum standards mandated by the State Board of Education and provides a progression through the grades of the Oxford School District. In addition, in order to be promoted, students must meet minimum attendance standards as stated in Oxford School Board Policy JBA (School Compulsory Attendance).

View the full board policy IHE: Promotion and Retention.

When contacting employees about issues concerning your child, do so in the following order.

Chain of Command A:

1. Teacher
2. Principal
3. Assistant Superintendent
4. Superintendent
5. School Board

Chain of Command B (Athletics/Activities):

1. Coach
2. Athletic Director
3. Chief of Staff
4. Superintendent
5. School Board

Chain of Command C (Special Education):

1. Special Education Teacher
2. Principal
3. Special Education Director
4. Chief of Student Services
5. Superintendent
6. School Board

The policy of the Oxford School District is to recognize achievements and honors which students earn. Oxford School District is regularly called upon to release directory information for student recognition. This information may include the following: the student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, date of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student, and other similar information. Should a parent/guardian have objections to the release of directory information on a child being included in press releases, directories, official school rosters, honor lists, awards day programs, school publications, and the like, the parent or legal guardian should contact the principal within thirty (30) days of the first official school day of the year.

For a child to attend Oxford School District, parents/legal guardians must be able to provide residency verification. Parents should consult the Oxford School District’s descriptions of required proofs of residency.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association holds respective schools responsible for the conduct of each person in attendance at both home and away athletic events. Students are expected to exhibit the traits of good sportsmanlike conduct at all athletic events. Booing, the use of profanity, and other acts of unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

Students and employees in the Oxford School District are protected from bullying and harassing behavior, whether on or off campus, by other students or employees. Bullying and harassing behavior is a pattern of gestures or written, electronic, or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic that a) places a student or school employee in actual or reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property, or b) creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits.

To report a suspected incident of bullying please utilize the bullying reporting form.

Students nominated for an elected position (senior superlatives, class officers, homecoming and prom courts, etc.) at Oxford Secondary Schools must receive administrative approval before being placed on a ballot.

Oxford High School

Student parking at Oxford High School is a privilege and not a right. All students driving through or on campus to park are subject to the Random Drug Testing Policy. All students must complete the online registration, and final approval is left up to the school administration. Students with a history of absenteeism and tardiness can be denied parking privileges, and all fees and fines must be paid. Freshmen will not be allowed to park on campus. Violators of the parking policy are subject to being towed.

The following rules/regulations will be strictly enforced. These rules are for the safety and welfare of all students and faculty at OHS. Parking permits must be displayed at all times. NOTE: If a student drives more than one car, he/she must have a parking permit slip filled out and on file for each car.

The following offenses (not all-inclusive) can cause a student to lose his/her driving privileges:

• Unauthorized Absence (Skipping)
• Leaving school grounds without permission (i.e., leaving for lunch)
• Excessive office referrals for discipline (any violation)
• Possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, or weapon on campus
• Parking in an unauthorized parking space or area
• Excessive tardies to school and/or class
• Outstanding school fees or fines
• Poor academic performance
• Any other offense that the principal reasonably deems appropriate

We hope for and expect our students and teachers to have a very positive working relationship. If, however, a student feels mistreated, he/she should comply with the teacher’s instruction and then arrange to see an administrator. The administrator will work with the teacher and student to resolve the matter.

Courtesy to substitute and student teachers is one of the most effective ways to build good school-community relations. Students should treat the substitute and student teachers as they would a guest in their home. Students are expected to be cooperative and respectful. All substitute teachers are employees of the Oxford School District.

Oxford Middle School

Students entering the 7th grade must have received the T-dap vaccination as required by the Mississippi Department of Health. These forms must be up-to-date and submitted to the Oxford Middle School nurse.

Students will be allowed to use the telephone in the front office for emergency reasons only (ex. illness, injury, or ride home). Students must be given permission by school personnel before making a call. Abuse of the telephone may result in the monitoring of all calls.

Seniors will be given a form to complete in May to have their respective transcripts sent to the colleges or employers of their choice. Transcripts and all other school records are carefully controlled under the provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act. A final transcript will be mailed after graduation.

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the written consent of the transferring student is not required and school records will be forwarded promptly upon request to the school in which a student plans to enroll. The cumulative folder follows the student and may not be held for any reason, including fees and fines owed to the school.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

• School officials with legitimate educational interests;
• Other schools to which a student is transferring;
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
• Accrediting organizations;
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and attendance records. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

Parents and other visitors are always welcome at Oxford Schools. Because of campus security, all visitors are asked to report directly to the office. Visitors will be asked to present a driver’s license or valid ID as a part of the visitor check-in process. The office staff will direct visitors to sign-in utilizing LobbyGuard. LobbyGuard will print a visitor’s badge.

The schools depend on volunteers and value their contributions. The willingness to serve the students and staff of the district is greatly appreciated. Please complete the form at the the following link to apply to be a volunteer in our district. You will be notified by email when your application has been processed.

Apply to volunteer.

View the district’s School Volunteer Policy.

In the event of inclement weather that could cause schools to close, please refer to the OSD website and social media sites. Parents will also receive an automated call from the district.

The parent/guardian should meet with or call the school counselor or records clerk at least two (2) days prior to the actual date of withdrawal. A withdrawal form will be completed. Books, laptops, computer cords, and fines will be collected before withdrawal paperwork is released. The new school will request the student’s cumulative records and all documents will be forwarded accordingly.