Student Handbook 2024-2025

We welcome you as a new or continuing student to our International Baccalaureate-Middle Years Programme (IB-MYP) school. As an IB-MYP school, we do our best to ensure all students are exposed to the eight IB subjects and the IB-MYP teaching and learning platform. The overall philosophy of the programme is expressed through three fundamental concepts that support and strengthen all areas of the curriculum. These concepts are based on intercultural awareness, holistic learning, and communication. For more detailed information on IB-MYP.

We cannot emphasize enough that pride in your school is the key to a positive climate. Be proud of your school. Take care of it, and feel free to make suggestions for improving it. As a student, you are expected to be a good citizen and conduct yourself properly. You will learn necessary and useful skills for use now and in the future.

Overland Trail Middle School is an inclusive International Baccalaureate school that embodies the Learner Profile Attributes, achieves high academic standards, and develops active members of the local and global community

• 455 North 19th Avenue
• Brighton, Colorado 80601
• Main Office:  (303) 655-4000
• Fax Number:  (303) 655-2880

• Mr. Eric Lambright - Principal
• Christy Meredith - Assistant Principal
• Jonathan Robertson - Dean
• Yesenia Crespo - Counselor, last names A-H
• Guadalupe Mendoza - Counselor, last names I-P
• Jenna Carroll - Counselor, last names Q-Z
• Scarlett Betters - Social Worker

We believe that Overland Trail Middle School should be founded on the basic democratic principles of fairness and equality of opportunity as well as an unconditional positive regard for each other. To this end we have adopted the following specific educational student rights:

1. Every student has a right to attend a school that is safe, attractive, and nurturing.
2. Every student has a right to access a common body of essential knowledge and to develop higher order skills.
3. Every student has a right to academic assessment that helps teachers improve instruction, and to have enough time to master subject matter standards.
4. Every student has a right to have parents, advocates, and concerned educators involved in all decisions affecting his/her education.
5. Every student has a right to a broad range of support services that address individual needs.
6. Every student has a right to developmentally appropriate instruction, to learn in a language he/she understands and to have his/her culture respected.
7. Every student has a right to learn with classmates who have different interests, abilities, and learning styles.
8. Every student has a right to attend school unless he/she poses a danger to others or significantly disrupts the learning environment.
9. Every student has a right to take an active participation in his/her own learning and the assessment of that learning.
10. Every child has a right to be adequately prepared for life as a competent and participating citizen.

It is the policy of this school to honor the student’s right of inquiry and to express matters of concern through the process of communication. If a student feels that he/she has received unfair treatment, the student has the right to present their case in an appropriate manner. This does not guarantee that they will get their way but it does guarantee that they will be heard. Follow these steps in this order: Talk to a teacher, or counselor. If the student is not satisfied, an appeal can be made to the appropriate school administrator and then to the superintendent of schools.

Taking the Rights of Students to heart we have developed a PBIS framework at OTMS. This framework includes: BaseCamp, PupBucks, Redirection, and Tiered Interventions. The purpose of our PBIS Framework is to teach students both what our expectations for behavior are in the school, and how to manage their own behaviors and emotions in order to be successful in whatever setting they find themselves: academic, professional, social or personal.

Here’s what the various parts of the PBIS Framework look like:

• BaseCamp happens every year in the first week of school. This is where we go over our expectations for students in detail, and address any questions and concerns that they may have. Teachers will review BaseCamp as we return from Winter Break, and as needed throughout the year.
• PupBucks are a token currency that students earn through working towards and meeting our expectations. PupBucks can be used to purchase items at the BullPup PopUp.
• Redirection turns behavior management into a learning opportunity.
• We offer Tiered Interventions based on the needs of our students. When we see students struggling, we will strive to learn what supports and interventions that student needs in order to be successful both in school and life. We will work with families, teachers, and interventionists to find the right plan at the right level for each student.