MISSION:
Together we Help all students Become Empowered Life-long Learners
VISION:
As a school community, we work collaboratively to support all students in maximizing their academic, social, and emotional potential.
OUR SCHOOLWIDE EXPECTATIONS
BE SAFE
Our students will:
Contribute to an environment where each student feels valued
Recognize how decisions impact others and work to make our school better for everyone
Act with dignity and honor
BE RESPECTFUL
Our students will:
Learn to communicate appropriately for the audience they are addressing
Value others’ lives, contributions, time, property, expectations, personal space, and well being
Show empathy and kindness towards others
BE RESPONSIBLE
Our students will:
Demonstrate accountability for their learning
Take ownership for their actions
Learn effective organizational skills
AI POLICY/ETHICS POLICY - At TH Bell Jr. High, we are committed to fostering a culture of integrity, responsibility, and respect. Our Ethics Policy helps guide students in understanding the importance of academic honesty and provides clear consequences for actions that compromise these values. Please read the following expectations…..
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Attending games or activities is a privilege. Poor conduct or poor sportsmanship could cause the loss of this privilege.
Students who plan to participate in after-school activities should make prior arrangements to be picked up after the activity
No food/drink will be permitted in the gymnasium.
The purpose of staying after for games or other extra-curricular activities is to be a part of the activity. Students will not be allowed to be in unsupervised areas in the halls or on other campus areas during activities. You are expected to be where the activity is being held!
TH Bell Junior High students are expected to exhibit respectful behavior at school sponsored activities. School dress code is enforced at all school sponsored activities. Behavior which exemplifies good sportsmanship is always required.
The main part of the building may be locked during activities. The building will be opened for a short period of time after the activity to allow students access to their locker.
ATHLETICS
TH Bell Jr. High offers: Softball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Volleyball, NAL (National Academic League), Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field. For the athletic eligibility policy, see the entry under Eligibility. Athletic practices on early out days will not begin until 3:15 at the earliest.
ATTENDANCE
According to Utah State Law and School Board Policy: “The student is responsible to be present in class and the parent, guardian, or other person having control of any such minor between six and eighteen years of age shall be required to send such minor to school during the regularly established school day in the attendance area of residence.” Students are expected to be at school in each class each day unless properly excused by their parents, administration, advisor, or teacher. A student not properly excused will be considered truant. Item #15 of this policy states: “It is the student’s responsibility to work with his or her teachers in making up work from absences.
Truancies may result in:
The following procedure will be followed as students are determined truant by an administrator:
1st offense–Admin meets with student, parent contacted, supervised lunch
2nd offense–Admin meets with student, parents contacted, 2 supervised lunches.
3rd offense–Admin meets with students, parent contacted, partial or full ISS.
4 th offense–Admin meets with student and parents, School Contract is put in place, ISS.
Parents may excuse students for illness or family emergencies. When parents request to have their children excused for reasons other than illness or family emergencies, arrangements for such absences should be made in advance.
When a student is absent from school, a phone call to the Attendance Secretary (801-476-5264) by the guardian will excuse the student for that day. Absences not properly excused will be considered truant.
Tardies: In order to optimize the opportunity students have for an education at TH Bell Junior High School, we feel that it is extremely important for students to be in class on time. Punctuality is a very important life skill and students need to begin developing this skill by making every effort to be on time, ready to begin when the bell rings. A student who arrives after the first 15 minutes of class will be marked as absent.
Administration will support the tardy policy that is put in place in each teacher's class. Consistent tardiness could result in the following additional consequences:
Parent contact
Supervised Lunch
In School Suspension
Decrease in citizenship
Checking in and out of school: Sometimes doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and family emergencies, etc. cause a student to arrive late or leave early from school. When arriving late, the procedure is for a guardian to call the Attendance Secretary (801-452-4603). When leaving early, a parent, legal guardian or someone designated as an emergency contact will be allowed to excuse a student. The parent or legal guardian must provide adequate identification in the school and sign their student out. If a student becomes ill or is involved in an accident and the school cannot reach a parent/guardian, emergency contacts will be called.
TH Bell Jr. adheres to the attendance policy set forth by Weber School District Policy 4170.
AUP (Appropriate Use Policy): Please read the following carefully. Violations of the Appropriate Use Guidelines may cause a student's access privileges to be revoked for a period of time up to one school year, other disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action to be taken. It is expected that all students sign as having read the district AUP.
BULLYING/HARASSMENT
Weber School District prohibits students and employees from bullying other students and/or employees on school property, at school-related events, on school busses or bus stops, or while traveling to or from school, school events, or bus stops, and encourages all targets of bullying and all persons with knowledge of bullying to report the incident(s) immediately.
Weber School District prohibits students and employees from cyber-bullying and hazing another student or employee at any time or in any location where the cyber-bullying or hazing creates a substantial and material disruption at school, or it is reasonably foreseeable that the cyber-bullying or hazing will create a substantial and material disruption at school.
Weber School District prohibits students and employees from retaliating against another student or employee who reports, investigates, or participates as a witness to a bullying, hazing, or cyber-bullying incident. All targets of retaliation are encouraged to report the incident(s) immediately
Weber School District prohibits false allegations of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing or retaliation.
Students found recording fights or other inappropriate behavior such as cheering fights on, arranging fights, encouraging fights, etc. at school will be subject to disciplinary action including suspension.
BUS POLICY
See Weber School District Bus Policy.
CELL PHONES
See "Electronic Devices."
CITIZENSHIP GRADES
Weber School District uses the following categories to assign citizenship grades which are separate from academic grades. H = Honorable, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs Improvement, U = Unsatisfactory.
CLASS CHANGES
Our schedule is extremely tight and class changes are usually very difficult to make. A $10.00 class change fee is assessed unless there is a mistake in the schedule.
CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY
In order to ensure student safety, students are not allowed to leave the campus at any time, including lunch unless properly checked out in the main office. Students leaving campus without properly checking out will be considered truant.
CREDIT
Credit will be earned each quarter. It is crucial to understand that each quarter stands alone. Therefore, every lost credit needs to be made up. All ninth-grade credit earned is used for high school graduation and scholarship applications. Any ninth-grade credit loss should be made up during summer school, in after-school or online classes, during quarterly credit remediation, or at the future high school. Graduation may be in jeopardy if this credit is not made up.
9th Grade Credit Recovery via Edgenuity
Credit recovery of core ninth-grade credit classes, English, Math, Science, and Geography, will be available through Edgenuity to make up failing grades. Arrangements can be made to do this during the school year through the school’s counseling department, OR after the school year during TH Bell Summer School, usually occurring for two weeks in June. The school’s counseling department will identify and notify the students and their parents if they qualify to take part in this program. To participate, the parents will need to sign a Credit Recovery Permission Form and pay $35 per quarter credit to the main office.
DANCES
A dance is different from the stomps we hold right after school. These are the dance policies:
Only current TH Bell Jr. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students may attend a dance at TH Bell Jr. High.
The dances will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All Students must be picked up by 6:45 p.m.
There will be no moshing or dirty dancing. And students will be asked to stay in the designated dance location at all times.
Students who do not adhere to dance rules will be asked to leave.
DESTRUCTION OF SCHOOL OR PRIVATE PROPERTY
Anyone who willfully destroys property through vandalism, arson, larceny, or who tampers with the fire alarms, fire extinguishers, or any electrical system will be referred to the proper law enforcement agency. Students and parents shall be held responsible for paying for damage to personal or public property.
DISCIPLINE POLICY (INCLUDING SAFE SCHOOL POLICY)
TH Bell Jr.High subscribes to Weber School District Policy 5200.
DRESS CODE
Weber School District has adopted a district-wide dress code, Policy 5220:
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
All classrooms at TH Bell Junior High School are cell-phone-free zones. During school hours, students are required to keep their cell phones and headphones in their school bags. Students are not permitted to use their cellphones in the hallways while class is in session. Cell phones should be turned off or set to silent mode to prevent disruptions. Cell phones must remain out of sight, stored in students’ backpacks, and silenced. Students are encouraged to focus on their lessons and interact with their peers face-to-face.
Consequences for Cell Phone:
First Offense: Teacher will take the phone. Student can pick it up after class from the teacher.
Second Offense: The cell phone will be collected and labeled and kept in the school office until the end of the day. Students can pick up the phone at the end of the day. Parents will be notified that the phone was brought to the office.
Third Offense: Parents will pick up phone in the office and student will not be allowed to bring it back to school for a period of time.
Egregious/habitual misuse: May result in ISS or other disciplinary action as best suits the circumstances.
T.H. Bell school personnel will not be responsible for electronic devices that come up missing. School administration or designee may search digital media devices based on reasonable suspicion that they contain evidence of a violation of school rules or policy. School district policies and State and Federal laws regarding illegal content of electronic devices will be enforced.
Students found recording fights or other inappropriate behavior at school will be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension.
ELIGIBILITY
ATHLETICS:
Students wishing to try-out for athletic programs must meet the eligibility requirements listed below:
A grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher for the previous quarter or a cumulative 2.00 GPA computed from the four previous quarters.
Receive no more than one F grade for the previous or current quarter.
A student participating in junior high athletics will be eligible with one U, or one N and one U, or two N’s for the previous quarter and current quarter.
If the above standards are violated, a student is ineligible to try out for an athletic program. For those already on a team, one (and only one) probation will be allowed. If the student remains ineligible after the probationary period, removal from the team will be enforced. Students desiring exceptions to the above standards may appeal to the Standards Committee. The purpose of the committee is to hear a student's mitigating circumstances, if any, that may account for ineligibility. Please see the Board of Managers Handbook for more details.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT:
A copy of the TH Bell Jr. High School Constitution may be obtained in the Main Office or from the Student Government Advisor. All students interested in running for student government must be eligible according to criteria outlined in the school constitution and:
Have a 3.0 GPA, or higher, the quarter prior to the election sign-ups.
Accumulate no more than a total of one ‘U’ or two ‘N’s during the three quarters prior to election sign-ups.
If the above standards are violated, a student is ineligible to run for any student government office. For those already holding an office, only one probation is allowed. If the student remains ineligible after the probationary period, removal from office will be enforced.
CHEER:
The TH Bell Jr. High Cheerleader Constitution outlines cheerleader policies at TH Bell Jr. High. A copy of the constitution can be accessed through the main office or from the head coach.
All students interested in trying out for the TH Bell Jr. High cheerleader squad must meet all criteria outlined in the Cheerleading Constitution and:
Be a current 7th or 8th Grader at the time of try-outs.
Meet all general eligibility requirements for extra-curricular activities in order to try out.
Will be expected to achieve and maintain a GPA of 2.0 for each term of the following school year if the candidate makes the team.
If the above standards are violated, you are ineligible to try-out for cheer. For those already on the squad, there is only one probation allowed. If the student is still ineligible after the probationary period, removal from squad will be enforced.
FIELD TRIP ELIGIBILITY:
Students will not be allowed to attend extra-curricular field trips if they have more than two “F’s”, three “N’s”, two “U’s”
FEE SCHEDULE
In accordance with Utah State Law, the Weber School District Board of Education annually reviews all fees charged students for various activities, classes, yearbooks, etc. This information has been published and is available to parents and students on the Weber School District website. A copy of the fee waiver can be viewed here.
FEE WAIVER PROCEDURE
Fees, as established by the Weber School District Board of Education, will be waived in accordance with the Utah State Board of Education standards for students whose parents or legal guardians verify evidence of inability to pay. Inability to pay is defined as those who are in state custody, foster care, receiving public assistance in the form of Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Supplemental Security Income, or are eligible for free school lunch. Those applying for fee waivers, should fill out the appropriate form, attach required supporting documents, and return it to the school office before or at the time of registration.
FIGHTING
Fighting at school or any school function will result in immediate suspension. Students found recording fights or other inappropriate behavior such as cheering fights on, arranging fights, encouraging fights, etc. at school will be subject to disciplinary action including suspension.
HALL PASSES
Students may not be in the halls during class time without a hall pass. If a student is found without a hall pass he/she may be marked truant. Students must obtain a hall pass before requesting to use the office phone. Misuse of hall pass privileges may result in restriction from using hall passes at school. Hall passes are not to be used when lunch is in session. Cell phones are not permitted while using the hall pass because it is during instructional time.
Students will be allowed to use a Hall Pass up to 4 times each quarter. Students that exceed that number will not be prevented from using the restroom, but teachers will refer the student’s name to Administration and a parent/guardian will be contacted. Teachers are expected to have a hall pass sign in/sign out sheet.
HONOR ROLL
At the end of each quarter, an honor roll will be published based on GPA.
Highest Honor: 4.00
High Honor: 3.75 – 3.99
Honor 3.50 – 3.74
IMMUNIZATIONS
Effective July 1, 1992, the Utah State Immunization Law mandates that student immunization records must be complete and on file at the time of registration in order for a student to attend school. Principals are asked not to enroll students who are not in compliance. A grace period will no longer be allowed. A person claiming an exemption to immunization shall complete the official Utah School Immunization Record with the required signatures, which must be obtained from the Weber County Health Department and/or the family physician. If you have questions concerning the immunization please contact the school nurse at the district office.
Please follow this link for 7th grade or new student immunization requirements. If your child has not received their vaccinations, please contact the Weber County Health Department at 2570 Grant Avenue, Ogden, 399-8433, or your local health provider to secure the vaccination. This should be done before entering school.
INJURY REPORTS
A teacher/Advisor/Coach or office assistant must complete a District Accident Report for every student accident/injury that occurs on campus or at school sponsored activities and submit it to the Main Office.
LATE WORK POLICY - CLT will be working on this with a possible update
We encourage all Minutemen to be responsible in completing assignments and projects on time. Please note that each teacher at T.H. Bell Jr. High has the autonomy to adjust their missing/late work policy within these parameters. These adjustments may not be more restrictive than the policy states.
LIBRARY
The library will be open from 7:15 a.m. to 2:255 p.m. including both lunches as often as possible. Student ID card is required to check out books. Overdue books will carry a fine of ten cents $0.10 per day. Students with fines may not check out other books until the late fine has been paid.
LOCKERS
Lockers are the property of TH Bell Jr. High and are assigned to students upon request for their use. Lockers will be checked on a regular basis. Fines will be assessed for damage. Students may not share their combination with anyone. A $5.00 fee per student will be charged to change locker combinations. Money or other valuables must not be left in lockers. TH Bell Jr. High is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
LOST AND FOUND
Students should turn in all items found to the Main Office. These items will be kept in the Main Office until the end of each quarter. Unclaimed items will then be donated to a charitable organization.
LUNCH
Students should present a student ID card with a barcode in order to get in line first to purchase their meal. A student may take a picture of their student ID and in most cases this will work. Students that do not have a card will have to wait until those with cards have been served. This enables lunch lines to move faster. Students will be expected to maintain school appropriate behavior in the cafeteria and during lunch period and are expected to clean up after themselves.
Those applying for free or reduced price meals should fill out the appropriate form and return it to the district office. Students will be assigned lunch depending on their 3rd/7th period class.
In order to ensure student safety, students are not allowed to leave the campus at any time, including lunch unless properly checked out in the main office. Students leaving campus without properly checking out will be considered truant.
Students may not have food delivery services (door dash, uber eats, etc.) drop their lunch off at school. IF a delivery service shows up with student food, we will turn it away. Parents may bring students their lunch but the student will be expected to retrieve it from the parent once their lunch period begins and no earlier. Under no circumstance may a student leave class early to retrieve their lunch. These lunches should not be dropped off prior to 11:10 for first lunch and 12:35 for second lunch. (Early Out 10:13 and 11:29) Students will not be allowed to take their unfinished lunch to their next class.
P.T.S.A. MEMBERSHIP
The PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) is organized to assist the school. It is one of the best sources of public relations available. Everyone is urged to cooperate with this organization and help in realizing its objectives. We encourage parents, students, and staff to become a member of our Parent Teacher Student Association. P.T.S.A. has an impact on issues that benefit your child. Interested parties may join at Back to School Night or anytime during the year in the main office.
REPORT CARDS / MIDTERMS GRADES
All grades and report cards are available through the PowerSchool Portal. Grade Point Averages (GPA) are computed as follows: A = 4.00, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.00, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.00, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1.00, D- = .67, F = 0.00.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Weber School District is moving to a new communication platform! Starting July 1, 2025 we will no longer use Remind. District, school, and classroom communication will now come through the Weber School District app. Download the app and sign in with your phone number to be connected to your student(s) schools and classrooms. iPhone - rmd.me/RmZBLq098YE Android - rmd.me/xYUAZsq6iEU
BUILDING HOURS: 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Parents, if you plan on picking up your student, please do so by 2:45 p.m. All students except those involved with teachers are expected to be off campus by 2:25 p.m. All visitors to the campus must check in at the Main Office
Here is our bell/period schedule.
SEARCHES
The administration or designees may search students, students’ lockers or personal property based on reasonable suspicion of illegal or dangerous activity.
SECTION 504 AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
The district does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs and activities. Furthermore, it is the policy of the Board of Education to provide a free appropriate education to each student with disabilities within its jurisdiction. Our staff is available on request to provide you with any further explanation of these rights as needed. It is the parents’ responsibility to advise the school district of any known needs for a disabled student. Contact the Weber School District Office with any questions or concerns.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The district strictly forbids any of its agents or students to engage in sexual harassment. Please contact the school administration if you have a complaint of this nature. Every effort will be made to keep the investigation confidential and to bring about a prompt remedy to any problem.
SICK ROOM
The sickroom in the Main Office is available to students who are ill or injured. Students must check-in before going to the sickroom. The Main Office staff will help in notifying parents, the School Nurse or calling for medical help.
SKATEBOARDS/BICYCLES/SCOOTERS/EBIKES
Students are allowed to bring bicycles, skateboards and scooters to school. These items must be locked during school hours under the conditions listed below. Failure to comply with these conditions will result in the confiscation of the item and the loss of the privilege.
No skating or biking is allowed during school hours. Students who ride or skate to school should immediately park at the racks upon arrival to school.
There will be no storing of skateboards, scooters, etc. in the main office or other classrooms. Students will not be allowed to take them to class with them. If students have requested a locker, they will be allowed to put their skateboard in their locker.
Skateboards must be stored on the skateboard rack and secured with a lock during school hours. Bicycles will need to be secured to the bike rack. Bike and Board racks located on the east side of the building.
TH Bell Jr. and its agents will not make themselves responsible for lost or stolen bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MEETINGS
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during meetings should notify TH Bell Jr. High administration at least three working days prior to the meeting.
STUDENT CONDUCT
Students are expected to behave in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, their family, and TH Bell Jr. High School whether at school or at school-sponsored activities. A detailed list of Weber School District policies can be found online at www.wsd.net.
TH Bell Minutemen must:
(1) Be Safe:
Avoid harassment and bullying behavior of any kind.
Do not use verbal or physical threats, harassment, profanity, intimidating gestures toward students or staff members.
Do not make physical contact such as pushing, shoving or play-fighting. Please keep your hands to yourself!
Avoid any behavior that compromises the safety or comfort of others.
Do not use or possess tobacco, intoxicants, or any other controlled substance of any kind on school property. Vape detectors are used in the school.
Do not possess any weapon or any object that can be reasonably considered a weapon or looks like a weapon.
(2) Be Responsible:
Focus on learning.
Cell phone use during instructional time is disruptive and will not be tolerated.
Clean up after yourself. Throw trash in the garbage can.
(3) Be Respectful:
Adhere to the dress standards.
Avoid unruly or confrontational behavior.
Do not participate in PDA (Public Display of Affection).
Refrain derogatory language regarding sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, nationality. Avoid generally offensive language.
STUDENT HAZING AND/OR ASSAULT ON ANY PERSON
A student shall not intentionally do bodily injury or commit any act that degrades or disgraces any other person. Students in violation are subject to immediate suspension and/or referral to the police.
Students found recording fights or other inappropriate behavior such as cheering fights on, arranging fights, encouraging fights, etc. at school will be subject to disciplinary action including suspension.
STUDENT ID CARDS
Students will be asked to have their student identification card with them at all times, which the school will provide. Replacement cards cost $5.00 at the expense of the student.
STUDENT RECORDS
Parents and students have a right to inspect student education records, the right to request amendments to those records, and that personal information will be disclosed only upon consent.
STUDENT CENTER/COUNSELING OFFICE
The student center provides additional support to meet the needs of students. Our counselors are assigned to students according to the first initial of their last name. Appointments are suggested and can be made by contacting the Counseling Secretary at 801-452-4615. Support groups will be available to assist students with specific needs. We also have a Licensed Mental Health Therapist at our school. If you are interested in that resource, visit with school counselor.
TELEPHONE USE
The office telephones are available for student use. Students and faculty will not be called to the telephone while classes are in session. However, messages will be delivered promptly to those concerned.
THREATS
All students have the right to a safe and orderly learning environment, so any threats to harm others will be investigated by a threat assessment team, including law enforcement and mental health professionals. Threats are classified as either substantive (serious and sustained) or transient (non-serious and resolvable), with both types subject to disciplinary action. Parents are notified within 24 hours of any threat assessments involving their child. Substantive threats, especially those involving severe harm or sexual offenses, are reported to law enforcement, and intended victims and their parents are informed of the threat and the identity of the student who made it. Students making substantive threats undergo mental health evaluations and may be suspended while a plan for their return and the school’s safety is developed. The full policy can be viewed here.
VENDING MACHINES
Vending machines are available for student convenience during lunches. Vending machines may be turned off if students do not maintain the cleanliness of the school building and grounds. The office will not provide change or be responsible for students who lose money in the vending machines.
VISITORS AT SCHOOL
Parents and other school patrons are always welcome in our school. All visitors must first check in at the office and be issued a Visitors Pass. Students from other schools will not be permitted to visit classes or any other parts of the school during school hours. Former student visiting hours are from 2:45 to 3:15 and they still must check in and receive a visiting pass. Unauthorized visitors may be charged with trespassing.
WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS
Students shall not possess any weapon or any object that can be reasonably considered a weapon. The “Safe School” environment of the school will not be compromised. Students found in possession of weapons or who knowingly endanger the safety of another individual shall immediately be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency and suspended from school until a thorough investigation is made. Alternative placement for the student is mandatory until there is satisfactory evidence that the student’s continued attendance will not be dangerous to the students or staff.