Gettys Middle School students are expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior at all times. Each teacher has rules and consequences posted to address any problems that may arise. Additionally, the student handbook covers the school-wide discipline policy addressing behavioral issues, cell phone violations, and other discipline situations that may arise throughout the school year. Please consult the GMS Student Handbook for a full list of expectations and consequences. Go to DOCUMENTS on the webpage for the complete handbook; attendance and dress code rules are highlighted below:

Regular attendance is essential if students are to be successful in school. Absences can be a major cause of learning problems. Each student enrolled in the Pickens County School District is expected to attend school regularly.

Conditions under which a student's absence from school shall be excused are:

1. Student's personal illness (a physician's statement may be required).

2. Illness in the family requiring temporary help from the student (a physician's statement may be required).

3. Death in the immediate family (not more than five days shall be excused).

4. Observance of religious holidays.

5. Absence due to a school-approved activity.

Any student absent more than 10 days in the school year (180 days), except when such absences are excused by the District Board of Trustees designee, may not be promoted at the close of the school year.

Every student must bring a note or doctor's statement within three days of returning to school. Once a student has three consecutive or five cumulative unexcused absences, a meeting must be held with the student, his or her parent, and the School Intervention Specialist. Further unexcused absences by the student will result in a referral to the district attendance office. A doctor's excuse is required after a student has accumulated a total of ten absences, excused or unexcused.

Moderation and modesty should govern student dress. Therefore, students will follow these rules in middle and high school programs. The dress code effective for the current school year is:

• Provocative and suggestive clothing is not permitted (tight-fitting, plunging necklines, etc.)

• Garments worn on the legs (pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, etc...) must have a length that comes to within one inch of the top of the knee; with no holes or slits above this line. No sagging, baggy pants are permitted.

• Bare midriffs will not be permitted. The standard used will be that no midriff is visible when the student is engaged in normal movement such as walking, sitting down, standing up, bending over, etc.

• Any sleeveless garment must have a width of at least four (4) of the student's fingers, and the arm opening should fit the body closely enough to cover the underarm and the side of the chest areas.

• Mesh or see-through garments are permitted only if a legal garment is visible underneath.

• Underwear should not be seen at any time.

• Sleepwear is forbidden; this includes bedroom slippers.

• Shoes or sandals must be worn. Flip flops (shower type shoes with soft bottoms) are forbidden.

• Headwear (hats, sunglasses, do-rags, skullies, head bands, bandannas, etc...) is not permitted to be worn inside the building.

• Hair rollers are not permitted.

• Face painting in not permitted.

• Any garment or accessory that displays inappropriate language or images (profanity, sexual suggestion/insinuation, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, ethnic slurs, slogans/symbols that may lead to disorder, etc...) is forbidden.

• Visible piercings should be small and not pose any health or safety hazard.

• Chains or other articles hanging from clothing are not permitted, as well as items that have potential to cause harm to one's self or to others.

• Gang attire, colors, or symbols are not permitted in clothing or accessories.

• In order for a student to have an unobstructed view during instructional activities, a student's hair must be worn in such a manner that his/her eyes are not covered.

A principal may make an exception to these rules for medical or religious situations or for school spirit or curriculum activities. A principal has the authority to judge a student dress situation not specifically listed in this regulation as a violation if the situation has potential to disrupt the education process or environment.

Any student found not in compliance will be subject to the following consequences:

The student will have to correct the violation before given permission to return to class. The student will be given a formal warning that will be documented in the student's discipline record (not the permanent record).

The student will have to correct the violation before given permission to return to class. The student will be considered disobedient and an appropriate disciplinary consequence will be assigned based on the context of this situation in the student's discipline record for the year.