Bassett Middle School

Home of the Hounds

4400 Elm Street
El Paso, TX 79930
915-231-2260

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Things to Know

• Visitors: A visitor is anyone who is not enrolled or employed at Bassett Middle School. All visitors must sign in and out at the main office and obtain a visitor’s pass, and must have a valid reason for visiting the campus or permission may not be granted. Student visitors are not allowed during school hours Anyone found on campus without permission may face legal actions, including, but not limited to: citation, fine, and/or police arrest.
• Library: Students are encouraged to use the library as an educational resource. The library is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students are responsible for lost, damaged and overdue books and will be held financially liable.
• Nurse: Nurse’s hours are from 7:30 – 2:00. All students are required to turn in an emergency card at registration. Parents should keep the information on the card updated: only people listed on the card will be allowed to pick up the student if they are ill. All medication must be stored in the nurse’s office (no medication can be in the possession of the student during the school day). It is the student’s responsibility to notify the nurse of any necessary medication, and the nurse will notify the teacher when she needs to see the student to take their medication. Students should not go to the nurse’s office during transition as they are required to report to class and ask their teacher for a nurse’s pass before seeing the nurse. The nurse’s office is closed from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch (report to the front office for assistance during this time) and 2:00-3:00 is for emergencies only.
• Textbooks: By Texas State Law all textbooks are to be covered at all times (book covers are available in the bookroom). The student is responsible for keeping books in good condition. Books must be returned at the end of the year or when the student withdraws from school. Each student, or his/her parent/guardian, will be held financially responsible for any books not returned by the student. Any student failing to return their textbooks shall forfeit their right to free textbooks until the books previously issued are returned, or are paid by the parent/guardian (TEC 12.65c).
• Electronic Devices: Students are prohibited from bringing radios, CD players, tape recorders, video games, cameras, I-pods, MP3 players and other similar devices to school. Beepers, paging devices, cell phones and laser pens are prohibited during the curriculum day!! Any electronic devices used on campus may be confiscated by an employee and turned into the front office. The student’s parents/guardians will be charged a $15.00 surrender fee (as approved by the district). Items will not be returned unless payment is made. Items must be picked up within 45 days.
• Transportation Policy: It is a privilege, not a right, to utilize the EPISD transportation system afforded students. Students and parents must sign a bus agreement before students are allowed to ride the bus; violations may result in the revocation of your privilege to ride the bus. All students eligible to ride the bus will be required to show their bus card each time they board the bus; the bus driver can refuse a student boarding if he/she does not show their bus card. Any student who is disruptive, damages the bus in any way or interferes with the bus driver’s ability to transport students in a safe manner will be referred to an administrator. If the student loses their bus privileges, it will be the parent’s responsibility for providing transportation to and from school.
• Fire Drills: A fire evacuation plan is posted in each classroom. Students should study the plan and become familiar with it. When a fire alarm sounds, students will immediately stand and form a single line and leave the room in an orderly fashion, with teachers in the lead. No one is to run, pass one another, or get out of line. One student in each class should be assigned by the teacher to act as the “last student out” to guarantee that the door is locked upon final evacuation of the classroom. The first students to reach an outside door are to hold it open until everyone has left the building. Students are not to talk during the drill and are to remain with their class/teacher until the signal is given to re-enter the building.
• Telephone Usage: The telephones in the main office are to be used only in case of an emergency. The school has limited telephone lines and your cooperation in planning ahead is greatly appreciated. Only messages of the utmost emergency will be delivered to students.
• Lockers/Backpacks: Lockers are no longer assigned, except for PE. Students are completely responsible for any personal property they may have in their lockers. Sharing lockers is not allowed, and we encourage students not to share the combination with anyone (this may result in your loss of the right to locker use). Students should leave large amounts of money and/or valuables at home; if items are stolen, an incident report must be made immediately to the Assistant Principal, and reported to the campus police. Bassett Middle School is not responsible for any items that are lost and/or stolen.
• Hall Passes: Students are not permitted in the halls without a pass that has been signed by their teacher or an administrator. Students must remain in the cafeteria before school and during lunch, and must exit the building immediately after school unless they attend tutorials or club meetings.
• Cafeteria Procedures: The ability of our students to pick-up after themselves is a demonstration of their level of respect and responsibility for themselves and other; a clean environment also prevents accidents. 1. Students must stay either in the cafeteria or on the blacktop during lunch; students are not allowed to leave campus for lunch. 2. Lunch periods are 30 minutes. 3. Students must have their money or Student ID number ready when they arrive a the lunch line (credit is not allowed to any student). 4. Students are not to push, run or cut in front of other students in line. 5. Deliveries from outside restaurants are not permitted. 6. Campus adheres to the nutritional mandates of the district. 7. All food, snacks and drinks are to be consumed in the cafeteria. No items are permitted to leave the cafeteria. 8. All food or waste must be disposed of properly in trash cans that are provided. 9. Tables, chairs and the floor must be kept clean.
• Breakfast/Lunch Program All students will be given an application form for the school breakfast/lunch program. We encourage all of our parents to fill out the forms and return to the school within the first week of school. Parents will be notified if their child qualifies for either free or reduced meals. Meal Prices Breakfast Regular $ 1.15 Reduced $ .30 Lunch Regular $ 1.75 Reduced $ .40
• ATTENDANCE POLICY: Requested Absences: Texas state law and the El Paso Independent School District policy require all middle school students attend class a minimum of 90% of the number of days in the semester. Students may not be absent more than 18 parts of days, and are required to attend 180 days during the school year in order to be considered for promotion. Excused Absence/Tardy: Regular attendance and punctuality are mandatory. If a parent is requesting an excused absence/tardy for their child, it is required that the parent/guardian notify the attendance office by 9:00 a.m. Students will be allowed one day per absence day to make-up any missed assignments (excused absences only). Excessive Tardies: Students may be referred to Truancy Court for persistent tardies (more than 6 cumulative during any six-week period); if tardies persist, or result in truancy, students will have a complaint filed against them and/or the student’s parent in a justice court for an offense under TEC §25.093 or 25.094, as appropriate. Unexcused Absence (Truancy): Truancy is an absence from school without permission from the parent/guardian and or school. Actions on truancy may include, but are not limited to: immediate parent contact, zero grades for all classes missed (with no make-up work allowed), In School Suspension (ISS), and possibly a complaint filed against them and/or the student’s parent in a justice court for an offense under TEC §25.093 or 25.094, as appropriate. Excessive Absences: Excessive excused and/or unexcused absences most certainly reflect upon a student’s grades. When a student is absent for 3 days or more days, a written doctor’s note explaining the reason for their absences is required upon returning to school. It is their responsibility to obtain make-up work from each of their excused classes. Make-up Assignments: If a student misses work, assignments or tests during an excused absence, they are responsible for checking with each of their teachers to determine what work must be made up. Parents may request work in cases of illnesses of three or more days by calling the school receptionist. A 24 hour notice is required for assignments to be gathered. If make-up work is not allowed (i.e., considered unexcused), parents may appeal to the appropriate grade-level Assistant Principal for verification; such requests must be presented in writing. Final determinations will be made by the Principal if necessary. Important Information: If you know that your child/children may accumulate excessive absences throughout the school year due to a chronic illness please advise the attendance office and our school nurse. A note from the doctor will be required stating the nature of the Student’s illness. Students who have more than the state/district allowed absences (18) during the school year will be considered for retention at the end of the year. Any considerations must appear before the campus Attendance Review Committee. Pass to Leave Campus: Parents/guardians must report to the attendance office to receive permission to remove their children from campus; provide proper identification (military ID, driver’s license) is required. The student will not be called out from class until the parent/guardian has arrived at the school and has been approved by the attendance clerk as the parent/guardian. Emergency contact persons must present proper identification and be on record with the school as having parent permission to remove children from campus (brothers, sisters, aunts must be recorded on the emergency card before being allowed to remove students from campus). Please allow extra time to pick up your children for their appointments. Counselors and At-Risk Coordinator: Our Counselors and At-Risk Coordinator will be glad to talk to you whenever you need advice regarding academic, social, emotional or career concerns. You must have a pass signed by your teacher in order to be permitted to see a Counselor or At-Risk Coordinator.
• Uniform Policy: To ensure a safe and secure environment for all students, the following guidelines for attire will be observed: • The Bassett Middle School uniform is mandatory. • White or maroon polo or crew neck shirt with approved Bassett logo (vendor list available in the office). • Regular fitting cotton khaki uniform pants (must fit at the waist and not be excessive in length). • Belts are required. No military style belts or oversized buckles will be allowed. • Make-up must be gender appropriate and not distract from the educational process. • Students may use sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets at school, however, only solid colored jackets that open completely or solid white or maroon sweaters and sweatshirts may be worn in classroom. All others must be removed in the classroom. Students will not be permitted to wear/possess any of the following: • Hats/caps inside the building • Articles of clothing or other items determined to be gang related. • Large or dangling earrings. (Only stud earrings permitted) • Body piercings other than ears • Bandanas, sunglasses, sweatbands, hairnets. • Baggy/sagging pants, bell-bottoms, hip huggers, cargos, capris, shorts • Military style belts or oversized buckles • Slippers, house shoes, open-toed, steel toed shoes • Doubled socks or rolled up pant legs Parents will be contacted and given the opportunity to correct uniform violations. **Electronic or battery powered devices such as cell phones, iPods, games, etc. being used during the school day will be confiscated and returned to parents only. In accordance to school district policy, a $15.00 fee will be collected for each device confiscated.
• Honor Roll Celebrations The Honor Roll is a special recognition for students excelling in academics and citizenship. A Honor Roll¬ - 90% or above in all subjects, no U's in conduct A/B Honor Roll - 80% or higher in all subjects with no U's in conduct Perfect Attendance - Student is neither tardy nor absent in any class during a 6 week period Student achievement will be recognized with various incentives each six weeks.
• Consequences for Negative Behaviors • Parent contact • Parent/Teacher Conference • Counselor/At-Risk Coordinator conference • In-School Suspension (ISS) • Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) • Citation and/or Court Notice • Campus Alternative Education Program (CAEP) • Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) off- campus
• Expected Behavior at Bassett Middle School: It is imperative that all students at Bassett Middle School conduct themselves in a manner that will serve to enhance the overall educational environment. • Students are expected to comply with the Student Code of Conduct and all school rules. • Students are expected to communicate appropriately at all times. • Students are expected to respect the authority of and follow the directives of all campus and district personnel who are responsible for their safety and well-being
• The District has disciplinary authority over a student under the following conditions (the conditions listed pertain primarily to the campus authority: see the Student Code of Conduct for other district areas of authority): • During the regular school day and while the student is transported to and from school on District transportation; • While the student is participating in any activity during the school day or on school grounds; • Within 300 feet of school property; • While the student is in attendance at any school-related or school-sponsored activity, regardless of time/location; • For any school-related misconduct, regardless of time or location; • When retaliation against a school employee or volunteer occurs or the employee or volunteer is threatened, regardless of time or location; Personal searches of student’s purses, handbags, or billfolds and the emptying of pockets, the removal of shoes, socks, coats, and the like, but which do not involve the removal of other items of clothing or wearing apparel, are authorized if a principal or designee has reasonable belief to suspect a search may disclose evidence a student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school. The manner and degree of the search must be reasonably related to the objective of the search and not excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the suspected infraction. The principal or designee should advise the student of the reason for the search. The principal or designee can search a student’s outer clothing, pockets, or property if she/he has a reasonable belief to suspect that the search will reveal evidence that the student has violated a school rule. The scope of the search will be related to the suspected violation. The District has the right to search a student’s locker to include the necessary removal of any lock, whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that it contains articles or materials prohibited by the District. The District has the right to deny/revoke the transfer of a student for lack of parental cooperation, violating attendance policies, failure to uphold academic standards, and/or noncompliance with the District’s Student Code of Conduct. If a student is involved in extracurricular activities, his/her eligibility may be affected as well. Disciplinary action will be correlated to the seriousness of the offense, the student’s age and grade level, the frequency of misbehavior, the student’s attitude, and other factors related to the offense and student.
• Campus/District Discipline Policy The following information is taken directly from the El Paso Independent School District Student Code of Conduct. Each student will be issued a Student Code of Conduct that describes the discipline requirements and penalties set forth by the El Paso Independent School District. It is the responsibility of the students and parents to be aware of all the rules, regulations, and standards for student behavior as stated in the Student Code of Conduct. The El Paso Independent School District has implemented a Zero Tolerance Policy throughout the district that will be strictly enforced on our campus. A student whose behavior shows disrespect for others (including interference with teaching and learning and a safe environment) will be subject to disciplinary action; a student who violates campus or classroom rules that are not Student Code of Conduct violations may be disciplined by discipline management techniques listed in the Student Code of Conduct. School rules and the authority of the District to administer discipline apply whenever the interest of the District is involved on or off school grounds in conjunction with or independent of classes and school sponsored activities.
• Bassett Middle School "Proud home of the Mighty Hounds" 4400 Elm St. El Paso, TX. 79930 Main Office (915) 231-2220 Fax (915) 565-1562 Mark Brooker, Principal Amanda Tooke - Assistant Principal-7th Ken Prince - Assistant Principal-8th Pauletta Howard - Assistant Principal-6th Danny Blanco, Counselor Alfredo Govea, Counselor Keren Escobar, At-Risk Coordinator