Student Handbook

Student Handbook for 2025-2026

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

At Corvallis Middle School, we expect all students to demonstrate honesty and take pride in their work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any form of dishonesty is taken seriously. In the event of academic dishonesty, the following actions will be taken: 

• The student will be counseled on the importance of academic integrity.

• The student will receive a zero on the assignment, quiz, or test involved.

• A parent/guardian will be notified.

• Repeated incidents may result in further disciplinary action, including detention or in-school suspension.

Academic honesty is expected at all times. Students are encouraged to do their own work and ask for help when needed.

After-School Activities

Corvallis offers a variety of after-school activities, including tutoring, sports, and clubs.  Students may remain on campus only if participating in a school activity.  Students participating in after-school activities (including ASES) are not allowed to exit the campus and re-enter. A late bus is available for approved student bus riders participating in an after-school activity.  The late bus leaves no later than 4:30 pm on select Tuesdays and Thursdays (a schedule is available in the school office and on our website www.corvallisms.org).

Students who are not participating in after-school activities must exit the campus within 15 minutes after dismissal.  Students may use the office phone to contact parents if needed.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS/EARLY CHECKOUT

Students must attend a full schedule of six to seven periods each day. If you need to pick up your child early, please check in at the Main Office and sign a student release form. Students will only be released to individuals listed in PowerSchool, and a valid photo ID is required. These procedures are in place to ensure the safety of all students.

ASB / STUDENT BODY GOVERNMENT 

The Associated Student Body Government (ASB) is the governing body responsible for student affairs, including the approval of club and activity organizations.  All ASB officers are elected by the student body and are expected to act in a responsible manner at all times. Information about activities, dances, rallies, and student government can be found in the school bulletin, on the marquee in front of the school, and on the school website: (www.corvallisms.org) 

BICYCLE & SKATEBOARD SAFETY

 To ensure the safety of all students and staff, we kindly remind families and students of the following guidelines: In accordance with California state law, helmets must be worn at all times while riding. Bicycles and skateboards must be secured to the designated racks only; they may not be locked to another student’s bike or placed outside of the designated area. Riding bicycles or skateboards on campus is strictly prohibited. Students are responsible for securing their personal property. Corvallis Middle School and the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District are not liable for any loss or damage. Failure to follow these safety rules may result in the loss of the privilege to bring bicycles or skateboards to school.

BUS RULES

If a bus driver must discipline a student, he or she is distracted from the safe operation of the bus. Pupils transported in school buses are under the authority of the bus driver. Disorderly conduct or refusal to submit to the authority of the driver may result in suspension or expulsion from bus transportation and further school discipline. Bus passes are only issued during snack and lunch if an application has been submitted to transportation. 

CITY OF NORWALK DAYTIME CURFEW LAW. It is unlawful in the City of Norwalk for a student under the age of 18 to be in a public place unsupervised between 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on days when school is in session. Students will be cited with fines up to several hundred dollars. (City of Norwalk Ord. 1550 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1474 § 2, 1997; prior code § 5-6.2).

CLOSED CAMPUS

In accordance with district policy, Corvallis is a closed campus. Students are not allowed off campus during school hours unless checked out from the office by an adult listed on the emergency form.

DELIVERIES TO STUDENTS

To help our students stay focused and make the most of their learning time, we ask that classroom interruptions be minimal. Students will not be called to the Main Office to pick up dropped-off items. Any non-essential items will be kept in the Main Office for students to pick up during snack, lunch, or after school. To maintain a smooth and distraction-free day, we kindly ask that balloons, flowers, gifts, cakes, and similar items not be brought or delivered to school. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and all other food deliveries are prohibited.

DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Displays of affection are inappropriate for students at Corvallis Middle School and are not allowed at school.

GRADE REPORTS

Students' grades are reported at the Middle School level after each semester. Additionally, progress reports are distributed every quarter via email, which is halfway through the semester. All Corvallis parents and guardians have access to the Parent Portal, which provides the most up-to-date attendance and grading information for each student. The PowerSchool website is: https://powerschool.nlmusd.k12.ca.us/public. 

I.D. CARDS

Each school is issued an ID card at the beginning of the school year.  School ID cards are required for bus riders and must be presented to the driver before boarding each day.

LOCKERS

Students in Physical Education are issued a P.E. locker. Corvallis Middle School is not responsible for articles stolen from lockers. The law provides that if there is a reason to believe something is prohibited, illegal, or dangerous inside the locker, it may be searched.  The student assigned to the locker will be responsible for all items inside. Students are not to share a locker or give their locker combination to another student. Students are to notify a staff member right away of any concerns regarding lockers. Replacement locks can be purchased for $8.00 during snack and lunch. 

Outside Food Policy

Students and/or parents are not permitted to bring food items to share with other students due to potential health issues, including food allergies. In addition, outside food and drinks are not allowed in classrooms. If a student brings food or beverages from outside, they will be asked to leave the items in the office and may pick them up during snack or lunch.

SEARCH AND SEIZURE

School officials may search individual students and their property when there is a reasonable suspicion that the student is violating the law or the rules of the school or district. The Board urges discretion, good judgment, and common sense in all search and seizure cases. Because lockers are under the joint control of the student and the district, school officials have the right and ability to open and inspect any school locker without student permission when they have reasonable suspicion that the search will disclose evidence of illegal possession, or when odors, smoke, fire, and/or other threats to student health, welfare or safety emanate from the locker. Notification of this policy will be posted throughout the secondary campuses.

STUDENT INFORMATION 

Addresses and Telephone Numbers

Up-to-date and accurate student information is critical. Parents must notify the school office of any address or phone number changes. This would include work address and phone number. Parents may update this information in the main office. If your address has changed, you must present proof of residence (utility bill, mortgage bill) and a valid ID.

STUDENT INSURANCE

Student accident insurance is optional. Regular and athletic insurance forms will be available at the beginning of the year in the Physical Education department or the Administration Office.

TEXTBOOKS

All students are issued textbooks for core educational classes. Any textbook returned will be credited to the student who originally received it. Students who return a textbook that was not issued to them will not receive credit for returning the book. An obligation will remain on the student’s record until the correct book is returned. Students are responsible for the textbooks issued to them. Students who do not return any textbook(s) will be required to pay for the textbook (s). Students who damage or deface textbooks must pay for the textbook.  It is the student’s responsibility to keep books in good condition and in a secure area to prevent other students from damaging the textbooks in any way. Textbooks damaged by graffiti will be confiscated, and the student will be charged for replacing the book.

USE OF TRAINED DOGS

To keep the schools free of drugs, the district uses specially trained non-aggressive dogs to alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or district policy. The dogs may sniff areas around lockers, vehicles within the student parking lots or at district-sponsored events as long as they are not allowed to sniff anyone.

A.   These inspections shall be unannounced and made at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee.

B. Students and parents/guardians shall be informed of this policy at the beginning of each school year.

C.   Dogs shall not be used in rooms occupied by persons except for demonstration purposes, with the handler present.  During inspections, teachers and students will be instructed to exit the classroom. When used for demonstration purposes, the dog may not sniff the person of any individual and shall be well separated from the audience.  Only the dog’s official handler will determine what constitutes an alert by the dog. If the dog alerts on a particular item or place, the student who uses that place or is responsible for it shall be called to witness the search. 

VISITORS 

All visitors must obtain a visitor's pass from the Administration Office. Parents must provide the office of any classroom visitation at least 24 hours before the visit. Please call the front office at  (562) 210-4125 to make an appointment. Brothers, sisters, cousins, or 

friends may not accompany students to school.

WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL

When transferring or withdrawing from school, the parent or guardian must visit the school office to complete an affidavit of school withdrawal. All books and technology, including iPads and iPad accessories, must be returned to the office, and any outstanding obligations must be paid. The student's new school will request student records. 

Corvallis Middle School Progressive Discipline

Purpose: Our goal at Corvallis is for every student to feel safe, supported, and successful. BARK expectations remind us how to behave in a way that helps everyone do their best.

Consequences for Misbehavior: We focus on teaching and learning from mistakes. If a student does not follow the BARK expectations, the following steps may be taken:

1. Reminder and Re-teaching
   Students will be reminded of expectations and have the opportunity to reset and adjust their behavior.
    
2. Reflection
   Students will complete a BARK reflection form to think about their behavior and how they can improve.
    
3. Restorative Conversations
   Students may have a conversation with a teacher or staff member to understand the impact of their actions.
    
4. Consequences
   Logical consequences such as extra work, loss of privileges, or participation in a restorative activity may occur. If needed, a meeting with the parent or guardian will be scheduled.

Positive Behavior Recognition:

Students who consistently demonstrate the BARK expectations are recognized 

and celebrated. Recognition may include:

• Bucks or points to redeem for prizes or privileges
• Shout-outs during school events or assemblies
• Bulldog of the Week Award

 Our Commitment to a Positive School Culture:

By following the BARK expectations, we create an environment where:

• Everyone feels respected and valued
• Students are held to high expectations, but also supported in learning from mistakes
• Our school is a safe and welcoming place for all

Student Behavior Expectations and Supportive Discipline

Corvallis Middle School is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. To support this, we expect students to follow school rules and demonstrate positive behavior both in and out of the classroom.

When a student violates Education Code 48900 or school policies, appropriate consequences may be assigned to help guide better decision-making. These may include detention, in-house suspension, or out-of-school suspension, depending on the nature of the behavior.

Detention
Detention may be assigned for various infractions and can take place during nutrition, lunch, before school, or after school.

Additional Support and Consequences
In some cases, further action may be taken, which could include:

• In-house suspension
•  Out-of-school suspension 
• A citation
• Referral to the District Guidance Committee for review
• Recommendation for an adjustment transfer or, in serious cases, expulsion

*Repeated violations of Board Policy 5495 may result in a recommendation for expulsion.

Expulsion Process
As outlined by California Education Code and Norwalk-La Mirada USD Board Policy, the principal or superintendent may recommend expulsion for serious violations listed under sections 15–21 of the Education Code. If a student is expelled, they may not attend any school within the district during the expulsion period. Our goal is always to work with students and families to support growth, responsibility, and success. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a positive school environment.

 

Clean and Safe Campus Policy

Purpose: At Corvallis Middle School, we are dedicated to maintaining a clean, safe, and respectful environment where all students can learn and thrive. These guidelines are designed to support student safety, responsibility, and pride in our campus.

Respect School Property

• No Throwing Food or Items: Students are expected to keep our campus clean. Throwing food, ice, or water is not acceptable and may result in disciplinary action. Students may also be held responsible for cleanup or repair costs.
   
• Graffiti & Vandalism: Students are responsible for keeping school and personal property free of graffiti. Writing on desks, walls, notebooks, backpacks, or clothing is prohibited. Items with graffiti will be confiscated and returned only to a parent or guardian. Students may be held financially responsible for damages and may be cited by school safety personnel.

Prohibited and Dangerous Items

• Explosives: Firecrackers, cherry bombs, or any explosive materials are illegal and strictly prohibited on school grounds and at school-sponsored events.
   
• Harmful or Disruptive Objects: Items that pose a safety risk or cause distractions, such as laser pointers, speakers, or cameras, are prohibited on campus or at school events.
   
• Gum: Chewing gum is not permitted on campus to help maintain cleanliness.

Safe Behavior and Positive Choices

• Fighting: Physical fighting is not tolerated. It is not an acceptable way to solve problems and may lead to serious disciplinary consequences, including removal from Corvallis.
   
• Gambling: Gambling in any form is not allowed at school.
   
• Loitering: Students should not gather in front of the school or in restricted areas. Remaining in these areas without purpose may result in consequences.
   
• Open Defiance: Students are expected to follow all school rules and respect staff direction. Repeated defiance, belligerence, or hostility will result in intervention and discipline.

Respectful Language and Actions

• Obscene Acts and Gestures: Inappropriate language, gestures, or actions are not acceptable on campus and will be addressed as acts of defiance.
   
• Profanity: Vulgar or offensive language is not appropriate in any school setting.
   
• Harassment, Bullying, or Threats: All students deserve to feel safe. Verbal abuse, threats, bullying, or gang-related activity will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action

Sexual Harassment and Assault

• Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment: Any form of sexual harassment—verbal, physical, or gestural—is a serious offense and may result in suspension or expulsion.
   
• Definition: Sexual harassment includes behavior that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment or negatively affects a student’s ability to learn. Sexual assault, as defined by California Penal Code, will be treated with the utmost seriousness and referred to law enforcement when necessary.

Corvallis Middle School Restroom Policy

Purpose:At Corvallis Middle School, we promote a respectful and responsible environment where students come prepared and instruction is a priority. These guidelines help students make responsible choices while maximizing learning time.

When to Use the Restroom:
To minimize loss of learning time, students are strongly encouraged to use the restroom during the following times:

• Before school
• During snack and lunch
• After school
  During passing periods

Using the Restroom During Class Time:
We understand that there are times when a student may need to use the restroom during instructional time. In these cases, students must follow this procedure:

1. Scan the class QR code to check out.
2. Check back in with the same QR code upon return.

Monitoring and Accountability:

• Administration, teachers, and staff will monitor restroom usage regularly.
  Patterns of excessive usage (e.g., leaving class daily or every period) will be flagged.
• If a student is consistently out of class during instruction, a meeting will be held with the student, and the parent/guardian will be notified.