Leslie Middle School Home Page


Beginning August 16, 2012:
MS Student/Parent Action Committee will meet the third Thursday of each month.





Leslie Middle School is a school of approximately 440 students in grades fifth through eighth grades. Each grade level consists of teams of teachers working together to meet each individual child’s needs, both academically and emotionally. We use data from student assessments to help guide our instruction through the implementation of a Response to Intervention Program (RTI).

In addition to core academics we also offer related arts classes of gym, band, choir, computers, creative expression through technology and Spanish.

Our students participate in extracurricular activities of Student Council and Pals along with many sports teams. Our staff and students also value service learning and we work closely with charitable organizations to help others in need.

Our staff values parent involvement and input. We encourage parents to contact us for volunteer opportunities here at school, and to call us with comments, suggestions or concerns.


Leslie Middle School
400 Kimball Street
Leslie, MI 49251
Phone: 517-589-8218
Fax: 517-589-5714

Carol Franz, Principal
Christopher Donoghue, Counselor




Anti-Bullying Information

Leslie Middle School Beginning of School Year 2011-2012 Anti-Bullying Evening Presentation video

Anti-Bullying Pledge available here.

Help Kids be Smart Online or While Texting

Here are some things that you can do to help prevent cyberbullying.
Communicate with your children. Set up a daily time to check in with your son or daughter, and listen to any concerns about online activities that they are involved in. Talk specifically about cyberbullying and encourage your children to tell you immediately if they see or experience cyberbullying.
Be aware of where your children go online. Familiarize yourself with the technology they are using.
Develop and enforce rules. Work together and come to a clear understanding about when, where, and for what purpose phones and computers can be used. Develop clear rules about what is and what is not appropriate online. Decide on fair consequences and follow through consistently.

How You Can Help

If you know or suspect your children are being cyberbullied, take quick action.
Talk with your children. Do not just ignore the bullying problem or hope it will go away. Tell your child that you are concerned and that you'd like to help.
Tell your child not to respond to cyberbullying. Responding can sometimes make the situation worse.
Empathize with your child. Tell him or her that cyberbullying is wrong, that it is not their fault, and that you are glad he or she had the courage to tell you about it. Do not assume that your child did something to provoke the bullying. For instance, do not ask things like, “What did you do to aggravate the other child?”
Work together to find solutions. Ask your children what he or she thinks can be done to help, and reassure him or her that the situation can be handled and still keep them safe.
Document ongoing cyberbullying. Work with your children to record bullying incidents. Write down what happened, where, who was involved, and when it occurred. Find out how your child reacted and how the students bullying, bystanders, and adults responded.
Block the person who is cyberbullying your children. Many websites and phone companies let you block people. Cyberbullying may violate the “Terms and Conditions” of these services. Consider contacting them to file a complaint.
Contact law enforcement. Police can respond if the aggressive behavior is criminal. The following may constitute a crime:
  • Threats of violence
  • Child pornography and sexting
  • Taking a photo image of someone in a place where he or she would expect privacy
  • Harassment, stalking, or hate crimes
  • Obscene or harassing phone calls or text messages
  • Sexual exploitation
  • Extortion
Be Persistent. Talk regularly with your child to see whether the cyberbullying has stopped. If the bullying persists or escalates, you may need to contact the appropriate people again or talk with an attorney. Don’t give up.

BULLYPROOFING YOUR CHILD

Bullying is not a normal rite of passage. It can have serious consequences. You can help your child learn how to prevent bullying.

These tips can help:

  • Help your child understand bullying. Explain what bullying is. It is more than physical; it can be done in person or over the phone or computer.
  • Keep open lines of communication with your child. Check in with your child and listen to any concerns about friends and other students.
  • Encourage your child to pursue their interests. Doing what they love may help your child be more confident among their peers and make friends with other kids with similar interests.
  • Teach your child to take a stand against bullying. Give guidance about how to stand up to those who bully if it is safe to do so.
  • Talk to your child about seeking help from a trusted adult when feeling threatened by a bully. Talk about whom they should go to for help and role-play what they should say. Assure your child that they should not be afraid to tell an adult when someone they know is being bullied.
  • Know what is going on in your child's school. Visit the school website, subscribe to the student paper—if there is one—and join the PTA listserv or mailing list. Get to know other parents, school counselors, and staff.
  • Contact the school by phone or e-mail if you have suggestions to make the school a safer and better learning place.

WHAT TO DO WHEN BULLYING OCCURS

Children often do not tell their parents that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed or frightened. If you suspect your child is being bullied or your child brings it up, consider these steps:

  • Talk with your child. Focus on your child. Express your concern and make it clear that you want to help.
  • Empathize with your child. Say bullying is wrong, that it is not their fault, and that you are glad they had the courage to tell you about it.
  • Work together to find solutions. Ask your child what they think can be done to help. Reassure them that the situation can be handled privately.
  • Document ongoing bullying. Work with your child to keep a record of all bullying incidents. If it involves cyberbullying, keep a record of all messages or postings.
  • Help your child develop strategies and skills for handling bullying. Provide suggestions for ways to respond to bullying, and help your child gain confidence by rehearsing their responses.
  • Be persistent. Bullying may not be resolved overnight.
  • Stay vigilant to other possible problems that your child may be having. Some of the warning signs may be signs of other serious problems. Share your concerns with a counselor at your child's school.

Working with Your Child’s School

Parents are often reluctant to report bullying to school officials, but bullying may not stop without the school’s help. Parents should never be afraid to call the school to report that their child is being bullied and ask for help to stop the bullying.
  • Know the school policies. Ask for a copy or check the student handbook to see whether your school has standards in place that will help resolve the situation.
  • Open the line of communication. Call or set up an appointment to talk with your child's teacher or school counselor and establish a partnership to stop the bullying.
  • Get help for your child. Seek advice from your child's guidance counselor or other school-based health professionals. They may be able to help your child cope with the stress of being bullied.
  • Commit to making the bullying stop. Talk regularly with your child and with school staff to see whether the bullying has stopped. You may need to seek an attorney's help or contact local law enforcement officials if the bullying persists or escalates.

What Not to Do

  • Never tell your child to ignore the bullying. What the child may “hear” is that you are going to ignore it. Be supportive and gather information about the bullying. Often, trying to ignore bullying allows it to become more serious.
  • Do not blame your child for being bullied. Do not assume that your child did something to provoke the bullying.
  • Do not encourage your child to harm the person who is bullying them. It could get your child hurt, suspended, or expelled.
  • Do not contact the parents of the students who bullied your child. It may make matters worse. School officials should contact the parents of the children involved.
  • Do not demand or expect a solution on the spot. Indicate you would like to follow up to determine the best course of action. Also, be aware that the law limits the ability of school personnel from revealing disciplinary actions taken against other students. Just because they cannot tell you if or how another student was disciplined, does not mean action was not taken.

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED

  • Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
  • Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
  • Has unexplained injuries
  • Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or feeling sick
  • Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
  • Has changes in eating habits
  • Hurts themselves
  • Are very hungry after school from not eating their lunch
  • Runs away form home
  • Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends
  • Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
  • Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school
  • Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home
  • Talks about suicide
  • Feels helpless
  • Often feels like they are not good enough
  • Blames themselves for their problems
  • Suddenly has fewer friends
  • Avoids certain places
  • Acts differently than usual

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS BULLYING OTHERS

  • Becomes violent with others
  • Gets into physical or verbal fights with others
  • Gets sent to the principal’s office or detention a lot
  • Has extra money or new belongings that cannot be explained
  • Is quick to blame others
  • Will not accept responsibility for their actions
  • Has friends who bully others
  • Needs to win or be best at everything
Leslie Middle School is looking for parent volunteers to come in to visit/mentor students during lunches. Lunches at the middle school start at 10:58 and run until 12:54. Parents can set up lunchroom visits weekly, monthly, or just once if that is all they are available. If you are interested in helping to mentor students during lunches please contact your child’s teacher at school to make arrangements (517) 589 8218.