All students are capable of achieving at a high level!  The Liberty Middle School community is committed to creating an environment where opportunities and support are provided to help all students develop a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Our Liberty Academic and PRIDE (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence) Awards ceremony will continue our tradition of honoring many of our deserving Liberty students in both areas of academics as well as PRIDE. While our awards night continues to evolve, we honor our students in the following categories:

• Cumulative GPA awards for students who have a combined GPA of 4.0 through three quarters for 6th grade, seven quarters for 7th grade, and 11 quarters for 8th grade
• Cumulative GPA awards for students who have a combined GPA of 3.75-3.99 GPA through three quarters for 6th grade, seven quarters for 7th grade, and 11 quarters for 8th grade
• President’s Award for Academic Excellence (8th grade students only)
• Students have obtained a 3.5 GPA or higher for 10 previous quarters of middle school and earned a 90% or higher on a nationally-normed test in the areas of Math or Reading
• Extra-curricular awards NOTE: the extra-curricular awards may vary year to year.
• PRIDE Awards—Students will be honored in the five areas of Liberty PRIDE: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence. This process begins in March with a nomination process that is open to students, staff, and the community, and culminates at our Awards ceremony in May.

Every quarter, students are honored with a certificate of academic achievement for making the Honor Roll and/or the Growth Honor Roll.

Honor Roll is a quarterly award that recognizes students for achieving a 3.5-3.99 or a 4.0 the previous quarter.

Growth Honor Roll recognizes students who show an improvement in academic growth of .5 in their GPA from the previous quarter, or an increase of three letter grades. NOTE: students who are recognized for growth honor roll can also be recognized for the academic honor roll.

Student attendance is the law. Regular and punctual patterns of attendance are important to a student’s success in school and shall be expected of each student attending Liberty Middle School.  Continued unexcused absences and/or repeated tardiness may be considered cause for disciplinary action.  In accordance with law, the district may impose academic penalties which relate directly to classes missed while unexcused.

Liberty believes in promoting a positive and safe learning environment for all students.  We believe that all students and staff have the right to attend school in a safe and caring environment. At Liberty we promote a learning environment that is free of bullying and intimidation. Our mission is to provide a climate that promotes students’ ability “to think, to learn, to achieve and to care.”

The following rules will be in effect for the Cafeteria

1. During their assigned lunch period, students may get lunch in the cafeteria or may bring their lunch from home
2. Food or drinks are permitted only in the cafeteria
3. During lunch periods students should be only in the designated areas
4. Students will clean their eating area before they are dismissed

Cell phones and headphones can be used by students during recess and lunch. Students should not use them during passing periods, in bathrooms, or in the Library. Additionally, students may use them during class but only at the teacher’s discretion for an academic purpose.

Cell phones and headphones must be put away in backpacks, pockets, or lockers at all other times.

Unapproved cell phone use will result in student consequences.

As a reminder, all students have been provided a district laptop for academic purposes. This should serve as their main piece of technology.

Liberty students achieve academic success in a positive learning environment.  Students are expected to pursue the educational program and to behave in such a way that their presence does not detract from their own education or the education of others.  Students are expected to comply with all school and classroom rules.  Disruptive behavior is behavior initiated by the student which is willful and overt, and which requires the attention of school personnel to intervene.  All classroom and hallway interactions are expected to be appropriate and promote a positive learning environment; this includes no public displays of affection (PDA).

Our school clinic is staffed with a registered nurse and a health tech. If a student becomes ill while at school, she/he must request a pass to go to the clinic. If a student becomes ill between classes, she/he should report to the next class to obtain a pass. Students will be dismissed by the nurse to return to class after being seen.  Students may phone home from the clinic. Because of our limited space and the need to reduce the possibility of spreading infections, parents should pick up their student within 30 minutes of being called. Please note: Students may not wait outside the building for the parent.

CCSD Middle Schools promote a positive dress code where students are encouraged to wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for an educational environment.  A common dress code cultivates a safe and disciplined learning environment, which is essential to a quality educational program.

 CCSD Policy JICAB on student attire is intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and promote school order and safety.  It is designed to ensure that all students are treated equitably regardless of race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body type/size.   Clothing, accessories, paraphernalia, or body adornments may not:

• Be profane, obscene, lewd, suggestive, libelous, or vulgar
• Denote gang involvement
• Promote the use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons
• Intimidate or threaten any individual or group
• Expose discreet body parts
• Disrupt the learning environment

• Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct

• Clothing shall be sufficient to conceal all undergarments at all times (undergarments are any garments that are under the exterior layer of clothing)
• Shoes must be worn at all times; house slippers are not to be worn at school
• Pajamas are not to be worn at school
• Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon may not be worn at school
• Any item that obscures the face or ears (except as a religious observation or medical need) may not be worn at school

If clothing or accessories are inappropriate, disruptive, or outside the expectations, students will be asked to change; parents will be contacted and/or other disciplinary consequences may take place.

While it is not recommended that students bring electronic communication devices (“ECDs”) to school, if you choose to do so you are expected to use them ethically and responsibly. Some personal electronic devices have academic applications that may be used in class at the discretion of the teacher. Students assume responsibility for the safe keeping of items at all times. Students may use the ECDs during non-instructional time as defined by the building principal, such as cafeteria and recess.

• Appropriate use of technology is defined by policy JICJ and JS.  Inappropriate use of ECDs will result in consequences according to district policy.

Students may access the wireless network at school using their provided school laptops. Access is allowed for applications and activities of an academic nature.

Students are responsible and accountable for their own laptops. Liberty does not assume responsibility for laptops that become damaged, misplaced or stolen. Liberty is not able to provide technical support beyond connectivity or any computer repair to school provided devices. Liberty is unable to provide any support to personal devices.

Internet access will go through the Cherry Creek School District filter that is designed to block sites that are inappropriate for the educational environment. Students are expected to follow and adhere to all Cherry Creek School District and school policies regarding acceptable use.

Students are expected to bring their laptops and charger to school every day. Students should charge their laptop at home every evening to be well prepared for class the following day. We request that students check for and run updates weekly (Sunday evening is a good time to do this) to ensure their device continues to function properly.

• Students must use SmartPass when leaving the classroom.
• If you are using the bathroom, water fountain, or your locker, you will use the lanyard from your class and stay in your hallway.
• If you are sent by your teacher to a location outside of your hallway, you must have a Purple pass, filled out by your teacher.

Our school day begins at 8:50 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m.  You may not enter the building until 8:40 a.m. Students eating breakfast will enter through the cafeteria doors. Students will not be allowed to wait inside the building prior to 8:40 a.m.  If there is inclement weather students will be allowed to wait in designated areas starting at 8:30 a.m.

Students leave the building by 3:50 p.m., unless you are involved in an after school activity, tutorial, or participating in athletics. You are expected to be at your activity by 3:50 p.m., and should have a pass if you are in the hallways. Please make arrangements to have your child picked up by 3:50 p.m.

A school is a community of young people and adults organized for the purpose of teaching and learning. While much of our teaching in the classrooms is aimed at the development of each person’s skills and talents, we believe that the maintenance of good discipline is essential to the educational process.

Discipline is a dual responsibility. Mutual cooperation between staff and parents is necessary to encourage acceptable student behavior. It is our goal to have each student progress from the need for external controls to self-discipline. In every instance, all available resources, talents, and techniques shall be utilized to achieve this goal. Respect for authority as well as each other is an essential quality of acceptable student behavior. Individual student actions must not interfere with the rights or jeopardize the education of other students. Each student has the responsibility to know and to abide by the rules and regulations of this school.

Unacceptable behavior is subject to disciplinary action and/ or police notification. Rules and regulations apply to students in attendance at school, as well as any school-sponsored activity, including off-campus activities.