The absence line is open 24 hours/day, 201-670-2784.  Parents/Guardians must notify the Absence line by 8:45 am to report a Student’s absence or tardiness for the day.  A note to the teacher or guidance counselor is NOT sufficient notification. If the Main Office does not receive a phone call regarding a student’s absence, every attempt will be made to contact the parents. An automated call will go out at 9:00 am to all phone numbers on file. It is the parents’ responsibility to call the school after receiving the call to verify the student is with you. If your student will be tardy, they will be marked absent until they are in the building or a phone call is received from the parent notifying us of the reason for the tardy.

Homework Procedure When Your Child Is Absent 
If your child is absent less than 3 days and feels well enough, your student can contact their teachers by e-mail to request work. If they are absent for 3 days or more, parents may request homework through the Guidance Department at 201-670-2790 extension 40533.

Students are expected to be in their classroom when the 8:00 bell has rung. If your child will be tardy for any reason, you must call the Absence line at 201-670-2784 prior to 8:45 am.  All reasons for tardiness require a phone call.  If a student does not make it to class by 8 am, he/she will be marked tardy. After 8 am, your child should go directly to the Main office to obtain a late pass. Ongoing tardiness may be dealt with at the discretion of the Administrators.

If your student needs to be dismissed before the end of the school day, you must give them a signed note indicating the reason for the request. This must be brought to the Main Office by the student at the start of the school day. The student will receive an Early Dismissal pass. At the start of the designated period, they will show the teacher the pass so they can leave the class at the designated time and report to the Main Office to await pick up.

At pick up time, please ring the bell at the Washington Street main entrance. We will send your student out to you. Students will only be released to a parent/guardian unless approved in advance through Administration.

It is important to recognize that if your student does not have a note in the morning this may delay the dismissal of your child. Please do not text your student upon your arrival. Classes often meet in various non-classroom locations including the gym, the auditorium and Citizens Field. These locations do not have phones therefore it may take some time to for your student to come to the Main office to be dismissed. 

In the event of an emergency school closing, the district will send out a phone blast to alert parents. You may also check the district’s web site for up-to-date school closing information.

Bicycles, Skateboards 
Bicycles and skateboards are not to be ridden on school grounds or through the parking lots. Students must lock their bikes on the rack outside the gym. Skateboards and rollerblades used within one block of school may be confiscated. According to state law, students 16 years of age and younger must wear a bicycle helmet. Scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades must be kept in lockers.

Electronic Devices 
Students are not permitted to use cell phones or iPods during the school day unless specified for educational use by a teacher during a particular class, or during lunch, and recess. During lunch, students may use their phone or iPod to listen to music or play games, but may not make phone calls or text. Other than the exceptions stated above, if a student is found with his/her cell phone or iPod, it will be confiscated. The student may pick up the phone at the end of the school day in the office of the Assistant Principals. If a device is confiscated more than once, a parent must pick up the device from school.

Dress And Appearance 
Students are expected to dress neatly and appropriately for school. If your appearance disrupts learning, you will be asked to change your clothes. The wearing of hats is not allowed during the school day.

Guidance 
Guidance services are provided for each student within the framework of the house system. One counselor is assigned to each house and remains with his/her counselees for grades 6 through 8. This structure supports efficient and effective communication for parents, teachers, and students. The guidance department provides the following services: orientation, counseling, student appraisal, planning and placement, and parent conferences.

Nurse’s Office Illness In School 
If you need to see the nurse during the school day, you must have a pass from a teacher. If you are too ill to stay in school, the nurse will call a parent/guardian(s) and arrange for your child to go home. A student cannot be dismissed from school for illness without the permission of the nurse. Students should not call their parents to come to get them without having reported to the nurse’s office. If your child calls you and asks for you to come to get them, tell them to report to the nurse’s office. The nurse will call you if the child should go home.

Medication In School 
If you need to take medicine during the school day, you must give the nurse a note from your parent/guardian(s) and a note from your doctor. The nurse will administer the medicine and store it in the Medical Office.

Physical Examinations 
Physical examinations are required for all new pupils and recommended for all eighth-graders, and all students participating in an interscholastic sport. You must have all the immunizations required by the State before you can attend school.

Immunizations 
New 6th graders will NOT be allowed to attend the first day of school and all subsequent days if the nurse does not have documentation of all mandatory immunizations! PHYSICAL EDUCATION PASSES --You can be excused from Physical Education for up to one week by giving the nurse a note from your parent/guardian(s). You need a note from your doctor to be excused for more than a week. If you are excused from Physical Education, you cannot participate in intramural or interscholastic sports. P.E. passes are issued in the nurse’s office before school.

Bus Information 
Students eligible for bus transportation will receive a pass which they must present upon boarding the bus. When on the bus, students must remain in their seats and obey the driver. Inappropriate behavior may result in the suspension of riding privileges for at least one week. Students interested in riding the New Jersey Transit bus can pick up ticket information in the Main Office. Students are expected to follow the school’s rules for conduct while on the bus. Please note that GWMS does not have any control over the New Jersey Transit schedule, policies, or procedures. Additional information, including contact information, can be found on the GW website.

Cafeteria Procedures 
The following rules have been established to provide for an orderly and comfortable lunch period:
1. All students must report to the cafeteria for their regularly scheduled lunch period immediately after dismissal from the previous class.
2. Students may only purchase food during their regularly scheduled lunch period.
3. Lunches dropped off from home may not be picked up by students until their scheduled lunchtime. Lunch deliveries from restaurants are not permitted.
4. Food should be eaten at the tables, each place cleaned, and leftovers properly placed in the nearest trash can or recycling container before a student may go outside or to the lavatory. Food is not to be taken outside the cafeteria.
5. The boys’ and girls’ rooms at the Monroe Street end of the basement are the only ones to be used during lunch periods. Students must ask permission to use them and are to return promptly after using them.
6. Students may not leave the basement/cafeteria area during lunch periods without permission.
7. When weather permits, students may go outside.
8. GW does not have the ability to adjust lunch accounts.

Lockers 
At the beginning of each school year you will be assigned a locker near your homeroom. It is important that you use only the locker assigned to you and do not share it with other students. You are also responsible to keep your locker neat and organized. You will be assigned one of the school’s combination locks to use on your locker. (No other locks are permitted). A $5 fee is required from students who lose or damage a school lock. It is important that students NEVER share their locker combination with friends and are careful not to allow others to watch them unlocking their locks. A locker and lock for Physical Education will also be assigned to each student. All valuables should be locked in the assigned locker. Lockers remain the property of the school and may be inspected by school officials throughout the school year in accordance with Board Policy No. 5770 (Pupil Right of Privacy). Pupils have no expectation of privacy that would prevent examination of desks, lockers or other storage facilities by school officials.

Lost And Found 
Found articles should be taken to the Main Office immediately. Lost and found articles are kept in a box in the cafeteria. Each year, many valuable articles such as eyeglasses, watches, phones, and sweaters are unclaimed. Always write your name and homeroom number of your books, notebooks, and somewhere in your wallet or purse. This will facilitate the quick return of your property.

Student Visitor’s Pass 
Requests for student visitation must be processed through the principal’s office well in advance of the visit.

Student Behavior 
All students are expected to become familiar with and adhere to the Middle School Student Handbook and Student Expectations & Discipline (see the Student Policies and Procedures section of the GWMS website). In addition to the Code of Conduct, seventh and eighth graders will receive demerits for any consequences given. Any eighth-grader who receives a total of 5 demerits during the course of their 7th and 8th grade years will not be able to participate in the 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration. Those with 6 demerits will not be able to attend the 8th Grade overnight trip to Washington, D.C.