Frequently Asked Questions

Here you will find that we have answered your most commonly asked questions. If you do not find what you are looking for, you may check for it in our student handbook, which is located on the Our School page. You are also welcome to contact us; we are happy assist you directly.

What are your office hours?

Our office hours are 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

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What time do classes start and end?

Our students begin their day at 7:45 a.m. and end it at 3:55 p.m.

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What is your attendance and tardy policy?

Absences:

  • Classification and Definition: We consider a student absent if he/she is not present in his/her assigned classroom during the assigned time.

Excused:

  • Personal illness verified by a note signed by the parent or guardian or a telephone message from the parent or guardian
  • Doctor or dental appointment verified with an appointment slip or note
  • Serious family illness or bereavement verified by parental contact or note
  • School-related activities, including athletics participation
  • When participating in a recognized religious holiday
  • A prearranged event whereby the parent(s)/guardian(s) notified the school office of the date/time of the absence
  • Our principal deemed it prudent that the absence was in the best interest and served the general welfare of the student

Unexcused:

  • Out-of-school suspensions
  • Absences due to truancy/ditching
  • Other absences—if you do not give proper notification

Tardies:

  • We expect students to be on time for class. There are few justifiable reasons for a student to be tardy to class; therefore, we grant few reasons for tardiness. Most will be unexcused.
  • Should a teacher hold a student past dismissal time, it is the holding teacher’s responsibility to forward a note to the receiving teacher. 
  • On the third (3rd) unexcused tardy, teachers will refer students to the principal for disciplinary action.
  • We will notify parents/guardians in writing of each imposed disciplinary action.
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What do I need to do if my child must leave school early?

Student Check-Out Procedure - It is sometimes necessary for a student to leave school for part of a day. For the protection of all concerned, the following rules will apply:

  • Each student leaving for part of a day must be signed out at the office by an authorized person, i.e. parent, legal guardian, or persons listed as emergency contacts
  • The principal must approve any exceptions to this rule. 
  • We do not accept notes giving permission for other people to check students out. If parents wish for someone else to take their child from the campus, a parent must come to the school sometime prior to this, sign the student out, and inform the office who will be checking out the student.
  • We do not accept notes asking that we dismiss a student to walk to an off-campus destination. If a student has a standing doctor or dentist appointment, the parent must come to the office, state the dates of appointments, and give permission for the student to walk.
  • Students riding the bus home with a friend must have a permission slip or note signed by the parent in order to get on the bus.
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How do I find out about weather-related and emergency closings?

If the superintendent decides to cancel classes for the day, our district office will notify police and local radio stations asking them to assist in publicizing this information. We will follow the below procedure:

  1. We will release students from school only after the principal has ascertained that parents or guardians are home to supervise the students.
  2. The principal may release staff members when he no longer needs them to supervise students.
  3. The principal will remain at the school until all students have departed.
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May I visit my child at school?

Parents or guardians are always welcome to visit classes while school is in session. However, prior to visiting a classroom, we request that you please sign in at the office.

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How do I learn more about your Promotion and Retention Plan?

You can find this information on the Our School page or in the student handbook located on that same page.

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How do you evaluate and grade my child?

We issue a report four times each year, which is intended to keep parents informed of their child's progress in the areas of achievement as well as the development of proper study habits and behavior. We send deficiency reports home mid-quarter if a student is performing unsatisfactorily. You will find additional detailed information in the student handbook, located on the Our School page.

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What if my child needs to take medicine while at school?

When it is necessary for a student to take medicine during school hours, the district and our school will cooperate with the family physician and the parent/guardian. Please look for additional, detailed information in the student handbook, located on the Our School page.

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What do I need to do if my child wants to participate in athletics?

Before participating in any sport, students must have a physical examination by a physician, a parent/guardian must attend an informational meeting held by the coach(es), and we must receive written permission. We also require that you provide proof of medical and hospitalization insurance.

  • Refer to the athletics handbook for all rules and procedures
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Does Willcox Middle School have a dress code?

A student’s dress and grooming must adhere to generally accepted standards, should not be offensive or pose a threat to the public or personal health or safety, and does not disrupt or distract from the instructional procedure of the school nor tend to diminish the disciplinary control of the teacher. Accordingly, our school has deemed the following inappropriate:

  • Bare feet (no shoes)
  • See-through clothing
  • Clothing with inappropriate or immodest slogans or pictures; which have profane, violent, or sexual connotations; or which endorse the use of substances illegal to minors
  • Spandex biking (bike) shorts
  • Shorts shorter than finger-tip length
  • Swimming suits
  • Cutoffs or pajama bottoms
  • Bare midriff clothing and clothing that reveals cleavage or undergarments
  • School athletic gear
  • Sagging pants, baggy pants
  • Gang-related clothing
  • Slits and/or holes in clothing (Patched holes are acceptable.)
  • Hats, hairnets, or any other headgear in classrooms, gym, cafeteria, or auditorium
  • Shirts no longer than finger-tip length, or students must tuck them into bottoms
  • No spaghetti straps on dresses or T-shirts
  • No tank tops unless they are at least 3 adult fingers wide at the shoulders
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Does Willcox Middle School have a set of general rules for students while in attendance?

Willcox Middle School has the authority and responsibility to establish reasonable rules and regulations for the conduct and deportment of its students. At the same time, we will not deprive any student of equal treatment and equal access to the educational program, due process, and free expression and association in accordance with these guidelines. The right of a student to participate fully in classroom instruction shall not be abridged or impaired because of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, pregnancy, or any other reason not related to the student's individual capabilities. Along with these rights, students have responsibilities that include respect for self and others, obedience to properly constituted school authority, and compliance with the rules and regulations of the school.

  • We prohibit fighting. Any student who instigates a fight will be as much to blame as those fighting.
  • We prohibit our students from loitering on high school grounds, around the cafeteria, or in front of or in the middle school office.
  • All students must receive permission from their teacher to be out of the classroom. When a student is out of the classroom he/she MUST be in possession of the Student Handbook/Agenda; it is the student’s pass.
  • We prohibit littering on our school campus.
  • We strictly prohibit smoking and/or chewing tobacco, stealing, swearing, possession or the use of drugs and/or alcohol.
  • All personal property such as clothing, purses, and book bags are the students’ responsibility.
  • We do not tolerate defacing or damaging school property!
  • There will be no tackle football, except in the organized program.
  • We do not allow running on sidewalks.
  • We do not permit insolence and disrespect towards adults.
  • We do not allow unnecessary or inappropriate display of affection between students.
  • We expect fifth and sixth-grade students to stay on the north playground and playground equipment areas. 
  • We expect seventh and eighth-grade students to stay on the west playground, on the concrete slab between the gym and classroom buildings, or on the south side of the eighth-grade wing. 
  • We do not allow students to chew, eat, or suck on gum, candy, or edibles of any kind while on campus unless a special occasion merits it and their teacher grants approval.
  • We do not permit students to bring any motorized vehicle on the school campus.
  • We do not allow students to leave loose books outside at any time. Students may use sturdy book bags to hold and protect their books.
  • The books we issue to each student are that student’s responsibility.
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