CARTHAGE ELEMENTARY STUDENT HANDBOOK
School hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 each day. Children should arrive at the classroom no later than 7:55 a.m. each day. The bell to go into the hallways and classrooms will ring each day at 7:45. Students who arrive before that time may remain in the lobby if accompanied by an adult. Students riding buses or coming into the building unaccompanied before 7:45 a.m. should to go the cafeteria if eating breakfast, to the gym if not eating. Children should not arrive earlier than 7:30 a.m. or remain on the campus later than 3:05 p.m. unless they are participating in a supervised activity.
SCHOOL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL 7:20 EACH SCHOOL DAY. Supervision may not be provided for students who arrive before 7:30 a.m. or remain later than 3:05 p.m.
No
parent or guardian that does not have a visitor’s pass from the office should be
in the building after the 8:00 a.m. bell rings. We feel that part of growing up
is learning responsibility and independence. After the first week of school,
please allow your child to enter his/her room alone to unpack and begin the
morning routine.
The Smith County School Board and the State of Tennessee believe regular attendance in the school accompanied by the responsibility to study and participate in school activities is essential to the learning process. Students are expected to arrive at school promptly each day. Once a pupil arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day. In order to be counted present for the school day, a student must stay until 11:16 a.m. Students who are tardy more than three (3) times in a six weeks’ period may be assigned detention. Unexcused early checkouts of a student may result in detention as well.
Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal or his designee, where applicable. Excused absences shall include:
1.
personal illness (A doctor’s statement will be required after the
fifth day of personal illness.)
2.
illness of immediate family (doctor’s statement required after third
day)
3.
death in family (if death is non-relative, day of funeral only)
4.
religious observances
5.
subpoenaed court appearance
6.
circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create
emergencies over which the student has no control
When a child must be absent from school, a written parent/guardian note is required upon returning to school within three (3) days. Parent notes will excuse five (5) days absent for the entire school year. After five (5) days absent, all personal illness absences will require a doctor’s statement in order to be considered excused. After five (5) unexcused absences, including suspensions, a student’s name will be given to the Smith County Schools Truancy Board for further review. Not sending a note will result in an unexcused absence regardless for the reason of the absence. The student’s attendance will be monitored the remainder of the school year and the following school year. If a student receives any future unexcused absences after appearing before the Truancy Board, further action may be taken.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION
Report cards will be sent home at the end of each six (6) weeks. This is a means of informing parents/guardians of the student’s progress, or lack of progress, in each subject.
GRADING
SCALE:
First – Fourth Grades: E = Excellent, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs Improvement, U
= Unsatisfactory
A = 93-100
B = 85-92
C = 75-84
D = 70-74
F = 0-69
Homework will be assigned to all students. Students should record their daily, weekly, and/or long-term assignments in their Student Planner. This book will help students manage their time and homework assignments.
Planners will be written in daily by the students, initialed by the teachers, and must be signed by the parent each night. The planners are a very useful communication tool between the parents and teachers. Students who lose their planners must purchase a new one at the cost of $4.00.
When your child is absent from school for one day, it is best that he/she receive missed assignments upon returning to school the following day. If your child is unable to come to school for an extended period of time but could complete some assignments at home, please notify the school office. The homeroom teacher will be contacted and those assignments that may be completed at home will be sent to the office to be picked up by the parent/guardian or sibling at a later time. Teachers have the right to require that daily work missed when absent is completed at school.
EXCUSED ABSENCES – the student must make arrangements for make-up work immediately upon returning to school. All make-up work will be completed within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. If a student fails to complete the make-up work in the time required, a zero will be earned for the make-up work. The above arrangements will be made so that class time is not taken from other students.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES – A student will be allowed to make-up his/her work for unexcused absences; however, a grade of zero will be given for assignments on the day of the absence. Suspended days are unexcused absences and make-up work will be given for the student to complete.
Textbooks are furnished to your child by the school system on a loan basis and should be treated as borrowed property. Students must pay for the loss or abuse of textbooks.
We welcome your requests for conferences. It is very important that you know what is going on with your child at school. Please schedule all conferences by calling the office at 735-0433. At this time, the secretary or one of the administrators will assist you in arranging a conference with your child’s teacher. NO PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES – NO MATTER HOW BRIEF – SHOULD TAKE PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, THIS INCLUDES THE PERIODS BETWEEN 7:45 AND 8:00 A.M. AND DURING BUS CALL FROM 2:40 UNTIL 3:00 P.M.
Physical Education is an integral part of the instructional program and is required as part of the State curriculum. All children will be required to participate regularly unless a doctor’s excuse is presented. If on a particular day your child cannot participate, please send a signed note to the physical education teacher. A daily note from the parent/guardian will be satisfactory for no more than two (2) consecutive days. After that time, a doctor’s statement is required. To ensure the safety of your child and others, tennis shoes are required for physical education. Students not arriving for physical education wearing proper footwear may be assigned written work as an alternative to participating in the day’s activities.
Each staff member at Carthage Elementary accepts responsibility for the maintenance of discipline and for the promotion of a program for the development of wholesome human relations. A student’s behavior should conform to acceptable standards of conduct as established by the school board, principal and teachers.
The staff requests parental support in helping maintain appropriate conduct in the school. Children’s behavior should reflect self-respect and consideration for the rights, feelings, and property of others. Please remember it is for the safety of your child and the other children that we must have expectations for the students’ behavior.
Weapons, including knives of any type, are not allowed on school
property. Possession of such may be considered a felony. There is also a Smith
County School Board zero tolerance policy in effect regarding weapons. Toy
weapons are prohibited as well.
The use or possession of a controlled substance (drugs or alcohol) is not allowed. State law requires law enforcement officials to be contacted in the case of an occurrence of either of the above. In addition, the Smith County School Board has also adopted a zero tolerance policy with regard to drugs.
Students are not to possess or use any form of tobacco product during school or any school activity. This includes lighters and matches.
Electronic devices, including beepers and cellular phones, are not allowed in the possession of students at school or on the bus. Lasers are prohibited as well.
The defacing or destruction of school equipment or school property is not allowed. Destroyed or defaced equipment must be paid for.
Students are expected to wear clothing that is appropriate for school. See Dress Code section for further guidelines.
Students are to refrain from any type of inappropriate language.
Fighting is never allowed in the school building, on the playground, or on the bus.
Chewing gum is not permitted in school.
Cafeteria rules will be displayed in the cafeteria and will be discussed with students by classroom teachers.
Students are not allowed to bring toys to school unless they are given special permission by their teacher.
A comprehensive listing of each rule is neither possible nor necessary. Each student is expected to follow acceptable standards of behavior, respecting the rights of others at all times.
Remain seated at
all times. Obey the
driver at all times
No loud talking or
yelling. No
destruction of property. *
Objects should not be thrown on or out of the bus.
No use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol. *
No food or drink unless permitted by driver. No
fighting. *
No rude, discourteous, or unacceptable language. *
No balloons
Emergency doors will not be used except for emergencies.
No glass vases
Any other conduct prejudicial to good order on the bus is prohibited.
The bus driver does have the authority to assign seats.
The bus driver will report a rider to the principal of the school, and the principal of the school has the full authority to discipline the student just as if the student were in the school building.
The breaking of rules marked by an * may justify suspension on the first offense. This will be done at the principal’s discretion.
Riding the bus to and from school is a privilege and not a requirement by law. If a child cannot follow the rules, he or she will not be allowed to ride the bus.
Clothing and/or appearance that disrupt the educational process by drawing undesirable attention to the wearer will not be allowed. Students will not dress, groom, wear or use emblems, insignias, badges or other symbols that distract other students, cause disruptions or interfere with the operation of the school. Clothing shall be neat, clean, hemmed and shall not have holes, rips, cuts or frayed edges.
The wearing of headgear, bandannas, and sunglasses in the school building is not permitted for boys or girls.
Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times. Flip flops are not considered appropriate shoes as students are not able to move quickly in an emergency situation. All shoes must have a heel or strap to keep them secure on the foot. High-heeled shoes are not considered appropriate for daily school activities. Shoes that might cut, mar or otherwise damage school property must not be worn. If a child is unable to keep a pair of shoes on their feet or the shoes are distracting in any way they will be asked not to wear them back to school.
For K-2 students, the ability of the child to play comfortably without revealing undergarments shall determine the appropriate length of shorts and skirts. For students in grades 3 and 4, all skirts and shorts must be as long and longer than the end of the fingers of the student’s hand when his/her arm is extended straight down by his/her side. Shorts are not to be worn from November 1st until April 1st. Slits in skirts must be no higher than two (2) inches above the knee. Spandex and biker shorts are not permitted. Undergarments must not be visible. Excessively revealing clothing is prohibited. Pants should not have any writing on the seat.
Offensive language or lewd pictures (including wrestling pictures) on clothing will not be permitted. The advertisement of alcohol and tobacco is not permitted on clothing. Symbols of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, drugs or drug paraphernalia are prohibited.
Tank tops (shirts with spaghetti straps) and mesh tops are not allowed unless a sleeved shirt is worn under them. Shirts must come to the waistline (to the belt). Clothing that exposes bare midriff is not allowed. Shirts that are not tucked in should extend no more than six (6) inches past the waistline. Shirts should be size appropriate for the wearer.
Bottom wear must be size appropriate for the wearer with no sagging or bagging and must be worn secure at and around the waist so as not to reveal undergarments and to prevent pant legs from touching the floor. Pants that extend over the shoes and drag the ground are dangerous for daily school activities and are not permitted.
Makeup, false fingernails, facial jewelry, visible tattoos and perfumes/colognes that disrupt the daily educational process are discouraged. Unnaturally colored hair is prohibited. Any accessory that is studded, spiked, contains chains, or in any way presents a potential danger or harm to self or others is prohibited.
Long coats, heavy jackets, or raincoats must be placed in the classroom and shall not be worn inside the building.
It is the policy of the Smith County Board of Education that backpacks brought into the building by students be mesh or see-through only. For safety purposes, backpacks with wheels should not be rolled in the school building.
Students needing occasional medication for illnesses such as colds, earaches, and sore throats are to take these medications at home if possible. Medication that is prescribed three (3) times a day can be given before the student comes to school, after school, and again at bedtime. However, if medication MUST be given at school, it must be personally delivered by the parent to the school office and must be accompanied by a written authorization from a parent/guardian that includes the name of the medication and instructions for its administration (time and dosage). Include a spoon or medicine cup with the medication. Medication must be brought to school in the original container.
Parents/Guardians of students who require long-term medication should consult with the school’s administration for proper procedures. No medication will be administered to any student until all required documentation is submitted.
Send your child’s check or money in a sealed envelope to his/her classroom teacher. Write on the outside of the envelope the student’s name, the homeroom teacher’s name, the date, the amount enclosed, and how much of the money enclosed is for breakfast and how much is for lunch. Lunchroom finances are kept on computer; your child’s lunchroom account is kept much as a checking account. You may pay for your child’s meals on a weekly or monthly basis, adding money to the account as it becomes necessary.
Breakfast & Lunch Prices Prices are subject to increase based on the cost of food.
Students will only be able to charge meals three days in a row. Students who do not have lunch money and have three charges will be fed but will not receive the scheduled school lunch. If two or more checks from an individual are returned for insufficient funds, then only cash will be accepted as payment for school meals. Free and reduced lunch prices are available to students who qualify.
It is imperative that the school office be notified immediately of a change of address, home or office telephone number, or of a change in emergency information during the academic school year. ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE EMERGENCY INFORMATION – INCLUDING AN EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER – ON FILE IN THE OFFICE AT ALL TIMES. Transportation arrangements must be current as well. Messages for changes in transportation arrangements must be made in person or in writing. Your child should know his or her transportation plans for the afternoon when they arrive at school. Please do call the school on a regular basis to make changes in transportation plans. Calls should be made in an emergency only. This is confusing to both your child and their teacher. Please do not call after 2:00 p.m. Without a note, your child will follow the normal transportation plans.
According to the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the parent/guardian or student age 18 or over is permitted to inspect and review educational records relating to the student.
When severe weather creates hazardous conditions, the regular school schedule may be suspended to ensure students’ safety. It is the parent /guardian’s responsibility to monitor news reports via television and radio stations. Announcements are normally broadcast between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The following local radio stations will announce school closures: 104.1 FM and 1350 AM.
Students may also watch the TV for information concerning the closing of school. The TV stations will be notified as soon as possible. TV stations that normally broadcast Smith County School closing include channels 2, 4, and 5.
If school begins late because of inclement weather, children should not arrive at the school any earlier than 15 minutes before the starting hour. (I.e. if school begins at 10:00 a.m., children should arrive no earlier than 9:45.) Buses run on a delayed schedule if school opening is delayed. Weather in Tennessee is often unpredictable. Please discuss alternate transportation plans with your child in case of an early dismissal.
Every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of your child during normal school hours. Periodic fire, tornado, and other safety drills are executed to make sure students learn proper safety procedures and adhere to all safety guidelines.
Please help us to prevent the risk of serious injury by carefully adhering to all rules of traffic safety:
ALL students should be dropped off and picked up in the school parking lot only. Please do not put your child into a hazardous situation by dropping him/her off in an unauthorized or unsupervised area. This rule is only intended to prevent serious injury and to ensure the safety of all students.
Parents should circle around drive to pick up students in the afternoon. Please do not get out of your car to pick up your child. No children will be released to parents walking up to the porch. You will be asked to check your child out through the office. This procedure insures that authorized persons only pick up your child.
Do not stop to drop off or pick up a child until you have driven to the far end of the drop-off and pick-up area behind the car ahead of you. EXTENDED PARKING ALONG THE CURB IS PROHIBITED. The spaces along the curbside must be left available for dropping off and picking up children. Please have your child ready to exit the vehicle as soon as you stop at the appropriate place.
The area at the north end of the building is for buses and authorized vehicles only. It is unsafe for other cars to enter this area.
Children are not permitted to cross the front parking lot unless accompanied by an adult. Acknowledge and obey the school traffic volunteers. ALL PEDESTRIANS IN THE PARKING LOT SHOULD CROSS IN THE DESIGNATED CROSSWALK.
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately,
there are times when domestic situations arise between parents and/or families
where there are people that cannot pick up a child.
Anyone picking up a child must be listed in the office.
If the staff doesn’t know you, you will be required to show
identification. Please understand
that if serious issues are taking place and we feel that your child’s safety
is a concern, you will be asked to come into the office during car riders to
check out your child. The traffic
line moves quickly and we do not want to make a wrong decision as to whom is
allowed to pick up a child.
NUMBERED SPACES IN THE PARKING LOT ARE ASSIGNED PARKING FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THOSE SPACES.
Properly supervised and planned educational field trips are an important part of the instructional program. A signed permission form from a parent or guardian is required for all field trips. School buses will normally be used for field trips. All children participating in a field trip must ride the bus. The classroom teachers on an as-needed basis will select field trip chaperones. Those adults accompanying field trips should not include other children on the trip. Field trip deadlines must be enforced so that transportation, ticket and meal reservations may be made in a timely manner
PTO
The PTO is a vital part of our school program. We
encourage parents to support the PTO by becoming ACTIVE members. A successful
school needs the services of the PTO. Information regarding membership,
meetings, and activities will be sent home with your child.
Students will not be called from their classrooms for telephone calls unless
in the case of an emergency. ADDITIONAL
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
Your child’s
teacher will send home the rules and consequences for that grade. Each grade
level will be working from the same set of expectations. This will help us as a
school make things more consistent for the students
and easier to understand for the parents. All visitors to the
school must report to the office before going to any room. Visitors must sign
in and a visitor’s badge that must be worn in the building. This policy is for
the safety of students, faculty, and staff at Carthage Elementary School. If
you are planning to be at the school for an extended period of time, please park
on the street rather than in front of the school.
SPECIAL GIFTS RECEIVED AT SCHOOL Parents often wish to
have gifts delivered to students on special occasions. Please understand that
items will NOT be delivered to your child’s classroom. He/she will be allowed
to pick up items from the office as they leave the building. It is also a
Smith County Bus Rule that no balloons or glass vases be allowed on buses. Snack machines are
available at our school. Sodas are not sold in any of our machines. Students
may purchase snacks at our school in the afternoon or bring a snack from
home. Milk, yogurt, and string cheese will be available from the new milk
vending machine. More products may be added at a later time. There will be several
fundraising activities sponsored by the school each year. While we hope
that everyone chooses to take part, participation is strictly voluntary and at
the parent’s discretion.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS All students attending
Smith County Schools are required to be a resident of Smith County. Proof of
residency is required. The Board of Education recommends that each child attend
the school in their home area; however, at the beginning of each school year,
parents may enroll their children in the school of their choice. Once a student
has enrolled, transfers to other county school will be permitted only under the
following conditions: 1. The student’s
parents/legal guardian move to a new school area; 2. A student starting
the school year outside his/her home school area may transfer to their home
school. They must then stay at this school for the rest of the year unless they
move again.
STUDENT WITHDRAWALS/TRANSFERS Please notify us
immediately if your child is withdrawing from Carthage Elementary. The new
school will contact us regarding the transfer of records. No records will be
released until all fees are paid and books including those borrowed from the
library are returned. Your child will be counted as absent until we receive
a request for records from the new school.
Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require school districts to have
officially adopted policy of nondiscrimination on the basic of sex, handicap,
national origin, and race.
It is the policy of
the Smith County Board of Education not to discriminate on the basic of sex,
race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, or disability in its
educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI
and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational
Amendments and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is
also the policy of this district that the curriculum materials utilized reflect
the cultural and racial diversity present in the United States and the variety
of careers, roles, and life-styles open to women as well as men in our society.
One of the objectivities of the total curriculum and teaching strategies is to
reduce stereotyping and to eliminate bias on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity,
religion, and disability. The curriculum should foster respect and appreciation
for the cultural diversity found in our country and an awareness of the rights,
duties, and responsibilities of each individual as a member of a pluralistic
society. Inquires regarding complaints may be directed to the Title VI, Title
IX, and Section 504 Coordinator, (126 Smith County Middle School Lane, Carthage, TN 37030
735-9625).
In order to ensure
a safe and secure learning environment free of drugs, violence and dangerous
weapons, any student who engages in the following behavior shall be expelled for
a period of not less that one calendar year. The superintendent shall have the
authority to modify this suspension on a case-by-case basis. For the purpose of
this section, “expelled” means removed from the pupil’s regular school or
removed from school attendance altogether, as determined by school official.
Nothing in this section shall be constructed to prohibit the assignment of such
students to an alternative school. Zero tolerance acts are as follows: 1)
Students who bring or possess a narcotic or stimulant drug, including marijuana,
or dangerous weapon onto a school bus, onto school property or any school event
or activity; 2) Any student who while on a school bus, on school property, or
while attending any school activity (a) possess a drug or dangerous weapon; or
(b) commits battery upon a teacher, principal, administrator, or attending any
school event possessing drug paraphernalia, alcoholic beverages, or intoxicated
(either by drugs or alcohol) will be subject to suspension up to a maximum of 20
school days.
HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The Smith County
Board of Education is committed to safeguarding the right of all students and
employees within the school system to learn and work in an environment that is
free from all forms of harassment and/or sexual harassment. The school system
prohibits any form of sexual harassment or harassment based upon age, religion,
disability or race/national origin. It shall be a violation of this policy for
any student or employee of the school system to harass a student or an employee
through conduct or communication in any form as defined by this policy. It is
the policy of the Smith County Board of Education not to discriminate on the
basis of sex, race, national origin, religion, creed, age, martial status or
disability in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies as
required by the herein references federal status. Any employee or student of
this school system shall be punished for infractions of this policy as provided
for herein. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of harassment
or sexual harassment by a student or an employee of the school system, or any
third person with knowledge or beliefs of conduct that may constitute harassment
or sexual harassment should report the alleged acts immediately to an
appropriate school system official as designated by this policy. The school
system encourages the reporting party or complainant to use the report form
available from the principal of each school or available from the school system.
Parents may request information about qualification of teachers and
paraprofessionals who instruct their child.
Parents may request that their child’s name, address and telephone number not be
released to a military recruiter.
Parents have the right to transfer their child to another school within the
district if he/she is the victim of a violent crime at school.
English Language
Learner Services are available. Please contact your child’s
school for more information
Please make sure that your child and his/her teacher understands the day’s
transportation plans when they arrive to school. Students are only allowed to
use the telephone for emergency purposes only.
A lost and found box is maintained in the school office. Students finding any items should turn it into the office. Students who loose an item many request permission from their teacher to check in the office for the lost item. At the end of the six weeks, unclaimed items in the box will be donated to charity. Please make sure anything that you child brings to school is labeled with his/her name. It is best that your child does not bring anything valuable to school. The school will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items
The Smith County School Board has a lice and nit free policy for our schools. We do a weekly head check. If your child is found to have lice or nits, a parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the student. Information will be provided concerning how to eliminate the lice/nits. The child then needs to be brought back to school for a head check by the principal or school nurse before returning to class. After three absences due to head lice, additional incidents will be considered an unexcused absences.