Daily Student Life

Announcements will be read daily at the beginning of 1st hour, along with the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Appropriate Apparel

Important Dress Code items to note:

• The responsibility for the dress and grooming of a student rests primarily with the student and their parents or guardians.  Students have the responsibility to dress appropriately for the school and wear safety or special purpose equipment whenever it is required.  Each student has the right to determine personal dress within the guidelines as long as the clothing is appropriate, clean and safe.  Any student whose attire does not meet the Appropriate Apparel Guidelines may be asked to fix the situation or be sent home with parent notification to change clothing.

Allowable Dress and Grooming

• Students must wear clothing including both a shirt with pants, skirt, shorts or the equivalent and shoes (state law) in and around school at all times.  Shoe features must be both safe and non-destructive to school property. 
• Shirts and dresses must have fabric that covers the front, back and sides (under arms).
• Clothing must cover undergarments (waistband and bra straps excluded).  Pants, skirts, sorts or the equivalent must be work at or above the hips.
• Fabric covering all private parts and /or undergarments must not be see through. 
• Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff.  Hoodies must allow the students face and ears to be visible. 
• Clothing must be suitable for scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, industrial technology, and other activites where unique hazards exist.
• Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.  

Non-Allowable Dress and Grooming

• Clothing that depicts, advertises or advocates the use of alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, marijuana or other controlled substances. 
• Clothing may not depict pornography, nudity or sexual acts. 
• Clothing may not use or depict hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected groups. 
• Clothing including gang identifiers or depictions of violence, must not threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff. 
• Clothing may not depict foul language, inappropriate or offensive words or phrases (i.e. swear words).

Assemblies are an important part of education. Students must behave appropriately to participate in these activities.

View the attendance policy in our student handbook:

Student Handbooks

Students are permitted to ride bikes to school at all ages but must follow the rules below  before and after school:

The following rules help create a safe environment before and after school.  Students must:

• Lock bikes to bike racks only and store skateboard and/or in line skates in lockers or jacket storage areas.

• Not ride bikes or use skateboards and/or in-line skates on school property.

• Yield to pedestrians at all times. 

NOTE: Wearing bike helmets is strongly encouraged.  Scholarships are available for students in need.

Please click here for our Transportation page.

Bulletin boards will be used for posting information about school and/or activities pertaining to school affairs or as designated by a principal/activity advisor.  All announcements or posters must be pre-approved by administration.

River Bluff students must have an outside permit to leave the building during school hours.  Once students arrive on school property to begin their school day they must remain on school property and in their scheduled location until the school day ends at 3:15 pm.

River Bluff students in good standing will be able to  attend after school student council dances. Only current River Bluff students may attend. Students may not be allowed to attend or may be sent home early due to inappropriate behavior.

1. Students must be at school the day of the school dance to be eligible to attend.

   1. Students who go home sick from school, are not eligible to attend.

2. School dress code applies to school dances.

   1. Student faces must be visible at all times, no masks or other items that cover the face. 

   2. No costumes, or costume look alikes. 

3. Students who are suspended from school may not attend.

4. School administrators may take away dance attendance privileges for inappropriate behavior at school. 

5. Once a student enters, they must  remain in the building until leaving for the evening.

6. The Student Council Dance is for students only; Only adult chaperones/volunteers with district approved background checks are permitted to supervise. 

7. All non-staff chaperones must pass a background check. 

8. No student will be denied access to a school dance based on ability to pay an entry fee. Student    scholarships tickets are available in the main office. 

Students assigned detention will serve 30 minutes of time in an assigned space.  Detentions can be served before school, during lunch, and/or after school.  Failure to make up detentions may result in an additional detention time or in-school suspension. 

Detention Procedures:

• Students must report to detention on time
• Students must turn their cell phones in to the supervisor during detention 
• Noon hour students may bring a lunch
• Students will not be admitted to detention after the start of the detention period
• Student materials should be brought to detention
• Students may not talk during detention
• Students who miss detention will need to meet with an administrator

Forms

Student Handbook

library information

• Lockers are for storage of personal items such as backpacks, coats, school supplies, etc.
• Blankets, stuffed animals and other non-essential personal items are to be stored in lockers at all times.
• Any locker items must be easily removable, no stickers, glue or tape may be used to affix items to lockers.
• Lockers are subject to search at any time. If a non-school combination lock is used, it may be removed/cut-off in order to search a locker.
• Items that are too large to be stored in a locker, such as skateboards, scooters, and sports equipment will be stored in the main office.

Breakfast and lunch is available to students daily via their meal accounts. Cash is not accepted. Students grades 6-8 need permission on file to purchase ala carte items. Please click here.

Brown Bag Lunches are available on early release days for students grades K-8.  Students may request a brown bag lunch the morning of an early release day.

Breakfast times and procedures will be communicated in August prior to the start of the school year.

Lunch Expectations

• Visitors/non-students are NOT permitted to eat lunch in the cafeteria with River Bluff students for safety and security reasons. 
• Students may not purchase food for delivery from area restaurants to ensure the safety and health of our students with medical conditions and food allergies.  Should a parent need to drop off lunch items for their student they may do so in the main office.
• Food and beverage items may only be consumed in the cafetorium and will not be allowed outside at recess or in the gym. 

Students will

• Enter the lunch room at a level 2 volume
• Go immediately to their seat
• Sit only 1 student per stool
• Come to zero immediately when directed by a supervisor
• Line up for hot lunch only when directed
• Clear their table and the area around their table before requesting to go outside
• Raise their hands when table is clean and wait to be directed to head outside by a supervising adult
• Not take open food outside.  Food not consumed in the cafeteria and kept in a lunch box will be held in the office until the end of recess.

Please click here for details regarding our food service program. 

***The school and/or district is not responsible for personal technology brought to school.  ***

Student personal electronic devices may not be used during school hours. Any staff member who sees a personal electronic device during the day (including lunch) will confiscate the device and turn it into the main office. 

Consequences:

1st offense:  Verbal Warning

2nd offense:  Written Referral.  Electronic device is sent to the office where student may retrieve after 3:15 pm

3rd offense: Written Referral and parent/guardian is contacted by Administration.  A school plan may be developed.  Electronic device is sent to the office where student may retrieve after 3:15 pm

If a student refuses to give up their personal electronic device a building Administrator will be contacted to determine next steps which may include removing the student from the classroom.  

Note: The use of personal electronic devices or external wifi/bluetooth/connected speakers to play music, podcasts or other audio for one or more individuals is considered a disturbance and is prohibited.  Earbuds/headphones are used in classrooms with teacher or administrator approval.  Reference:  717.00 Internet, Electronic Device, and Social Media Usage Policy for Students

River Bluff Middle School recognizes that true and real feelings of affection may exist between two students.  However, in order to maintain an atmosphere of learning, mutual respect, and safety in school, students may not participate in Public Displays of Affection (PDA) while on campus or while attending and/or participating in a school-related activity.

It is acceptable to demonstrate care for each other in a physical expression by handshakes, high-fives, friendly hugs, or pats on the back or shoulders.  All such contact should be open and include everyone  within a social group to be acceptable. 

It is not acceptable to show intimate physical expressions of affection (hugging, holding hands, kissing, embracing, inappropriate touching) at school, on the school bus, or during any school activity (including, dances, night out, nature camps, fields trips, out of school events or competitions).  

It is not acceptable to lie down with another student, have your hand(s) on another’s lap; sit on another’s lap; touch in sexual ways either under or through clothing.

Student safety is our number one priority.   Below are the general playground rules, however, all CREW Way rules related to student physical and emotional safety apply. 

• No food or drinks
• No piggy-back rides
• No tackle football
• No fence climbing
• No sitting, hanging, or swinging on the swing gate
• No retrieving playground equipment that goes over the fence without supervisor permission
• No leaving the playground boundaries

school supplies

Stoughton Area School District expects good sportsmanship in classrooms and school assemblies as well as at athletic contests and extra-curricular functions/competitions.

Students who do not exhibit good sportsmanship will be subject to disciplinary action and /or censure from future activities. 

Student and family spectators are expected to exhibit the following at all school activities and events:

• Good attitude
• Self-control in the presence of a rivalry
• Positive enthusiasm
• Courteous relations with all fans
• Graceful acceptance of the results
• Respect by standing at attention and facing the flag during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner"
• Know and demonstrate the fundamentals of good sportsmanship
  • Respect, cooperate, and respond enthusiastically to the cheerleaders
  • Encourage fellow students and family members to use appropriate behavior
  • Respect the property of the school and the authority of school officials
  • Respect the opposing team - do not heckle, jeer, or distract members of the opposing team
  • Never criticize the players or coaches
  • Do not use profane language or behave in an obnoxious manner

School Safety

At River Bluff Middle School tardiness to a class is defined as not being in the room when the bell rings and without an excused pass from a staff member.  Please see policy 803.00 Attendance in the in District section of this handbook for the full policy.

Consequences for Tardiness:

1st Tardy: Teacher will speak with the student

2nd Tardy: Teacher will contact a parent/guardian

3rd Tardy or more: Teacher will inform an administrator, who may assign a 30-minute detention to the student.  Detentions not served may result in disciplinary action. 

Students have access to a phone located in the Main Office.  Students must obtain permission and a pass from a teacher or the office to use the telephone during the day. 

Students and families are responsible for the care of district textbooks or library books that have been assigned or loaned to students. If a book is lost, students will be responsible for their actions that damage, deface, or destroy the property of the District or other individuals, and will be required to pay the replacement cost for the lost/damaged material. Replacement fees will be added to your Infinite Campus Portal Account.

Work permits may be suspended for disciplinary or attendance purposes. Students of the age of 14 and 15 are the only ones who need a work permit.

Please click here to be directed to the State of Wisconsin Work Permit page.

The following is required by state law before a permit can be issued:

• A job

• A letter from the employer verifying employment

• A letter from the family giving permission to work

• Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate (Baptismal Certificate must include Date of Birth), or Driver’s License

• Social Security card

• Home Address and phone number

• Payment of $10.00 (to be reimbursed by the employer)

To obtain a Work Permit for a Middle School Student

Please call 608.877.5502 or 608.877.5507 to confirm staff availability to process. Hours permits are issued:

• Instruction days – Permits available from 7:45 am – 3:30 pm

• Winter and Spring Break - Unavailable

• Summer Break - Please call to schedule an appointment