 |
South Carroll County |
||||||||
Clarksburg
|
|||||||||
|
Principal's Page
Asst Principal's Page School Counselors School Handbook Staff Listing School Faculty
|
South Carroll County Special School District CODE OF ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE Rights, Responsibilities, Rules and Procedures Click here to download a Word Version of the Student Handbook. View Online Below Adopted by the Board of Education July 20, 2006. Distributed to students, employees, parents and guardians. SOUTH CARROLL COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT! WELCOME TO CLARKSBURG – A FAMILY FRIENDLY SCHOOL! Dear Families, We provide this handbook as a tool to the families to ensure you have the best possible experience at Clarksburg School . Clarksburg faculty/staff is committed to preparing responsible individuals in a dedicated environment. In our continuing efforts to improve our school, we have participated in the Tennessee Family Initiative Training, High School Summit, Differentiating Instruction Workshops, Inclusion Workshops, and many other beneficial staff development training so that we can better meet the needs of our students. We are in the process of up-dating our school web page, which will include our school calendar, menus, faculty/staff e-mail directory, school counselor, Blueprint for Learning, direct link to the State of Tennessee website, and a new section on health. The health section will have our Wellness Policy and suggested snacks to send to parties as we try to implement this new policy this coming school year. Our website is: www.rocketsonline.org. We encourage you to become actively involved in your student's academic progress. Suggestions are welcome as to how we can enhance your involvement in the educational process of your student. Communication is the key to success. Four channels of communication to keep you informed are newsletters, notes, progress reports, and surveys. Clarksburg “PRIDE” begins at home – “Where Families and Communities Matter”. Thanks for sharing you child with us at Clarksburg School . South Carroll County Special School District Mission Statement Clarksburg School is a preschool through post-secondary institution designed to meet the changing and individual needs of every learner. Our goal is realized through the use of a cooperative team of educators working in conjunction with students, parents, and the community. Beliefs and Vision Statements We believe that: * All students can learn. * Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs. * We must provide instruction in a variety of learning activities to accommodate students' individual styles. * Instruction is most effective when it is developmentally appropriate, related to personal experiences, and where students are actively engaged. * Education should include the teaching of character: respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, trustworthiness, and citizenship. * Education should emphasize challenging academic expectations, achievement, and contributions to the community. * A safe and inviting environment promotes student learning. * A cooperative home-school relationship encourages parents to become partners in the learning process and ensures success for their child. * The teachers, parents, and community share the responsibility for the success of the school's mission. We envision that students will: * Value education. * Hold high personal and educational expectations. * Be responsible, productive citizens in their community. * Be life long learners. * Excel in all areas. Clarksburg School P.R.I.D.E. Preparing Responsible Individuals in a Dedicated Environment Mission Statement The mission of Clarksburg School is to enrich the community with an effective, challenging academic program provided by a dedicated staff in a safe, nurturing environment that develops productive, responsible, independent, and compassionate citizens. Each child's worth, uniqueness and creativity are recognized to empower him/her to reach his/her fullest potential. Beliefs and Vision Statements We believe that: * Everyone should show respect. * A student's education and the ability to think creatively is a life long process. * Every child can learn. * Cooperation among students, teachers and parents is essential to learning. * A supportive community fosters a positive education. * Each student should be an active learner. * Parents, teachers, and students share responsibility for student learning. * Everyone has a right to a safe environment. * Every parent and staff member should encourage our school system to set high, yet realistic, expectations for all learners. Our Student Expectations We expect our students to: • Be respectful of authority and work well with others while maintaining a positive self-concept. • Be respectful of themselves, their peers and all others. • Be respectful of the school facilities and the rules set forth by the South Carroll County Special School District . • Be effective communicators who can read and follow directions and speak and write clearly. • Be able to adjust to change in their workplace and in their personal and social lives. • Be able to take responsibility for their actions while maintaining a positive attitude. • Be able to make fair and logical decisions. • Be able to conduct themselves in a socially acceptable manner. • Be understanding of the importance of state-mandated tests. Purpose The purpose of this handbook is to provide a concise outline of rights and responsibilities of students in the South Carroll County Special School District and of those people, including parents/guardians and the school personnel directly involved in the education process. The handbook does not address every possible offense, nor does it address every possible disciplinary action that could be taken by school personnel instead, offenses and disciplinary actions are addressed in general categories. The handbook offers the administrator, teacher, parent, and student a guide to enable them to act in good faith and make just decisions about student conduct. Parent /Family Involvement in Educational Programs The Board encourages the involvement of parents, both as individuals and as groups, to act as advisors and resource people in the following ways: • With specific talents to complement and extend the instructional services of the classroom teacher • To serve as advisors on curriculum development projects • To express ideas and concerns by responding to surveys and other information-gathering devices • To be actively involved in parent-teacher groups and To serve on citizens' advisory committees. Title 1 Involvement Under the Federal Projects Director, the school system shall provide the coordination and technical assistance plan and implement the Title 1 Program according to the guidelines set forth in law which includes, but is not limited to, the following: • Parent input into the planning, design and implementation of the Title 1 Program • Meaningful consultation of parents of participating children in the planning, design and implementation of the Title 1 Program • Organized, systematic, ongoing, informed and timely consultation in relation to decisions about the program and • The involvement of parents through activities and procedures, which are of sufficient size, scope and quality to give reasonable promise of substantial progress toward achieving the required goals. 1 •To ensure that parents of participating children have an adequate opportunity to participate in the planning, design and implementing of the Title 1 Program, the school system shall: • Convene an annual meeting, to which all parents of participating children, including migrant students and limited English Proficiency students must be invited, to explain the programs, activities and curriculum available under Title 1 • Provide parents of participating children, including migrant students and limited English Proficiency students, with reports and explanations of their child's progress • To the extent practical, conduct a parent/teacher conference with the parents of each participating child to discuss the child's progress, placement, and training in methods the parents can use to complement the child's instruction. • Make educational personnel under the Title 1 Program, including student services personnel, readily accessible to parents • Permit parents of participating children to observe Title 1 Program activities • Provide opportunities for regular meetings with parents to formulate parental input into the program • Provide parents of participating children with a copy of the parental involvement policy as well as timely information about the program • Make parents aware of parental involvement requirements and other relevant provisions of the program • Provide reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request • Coordinate, to the extent possible, parental involvement activities and strategies under other programs • Develop a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff and students will share the responsibility for improved student achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve high standards • Provide information, to the extent practicable, on programs and activities in a language and form that parents understand and • Annually assess, through consultation with parents, the effectiveness of the parental involvement program and determine what action needs to be taken, if any, to increase parental participation. ____________________________ Legal Reference: Philosophy of Rights and Responsibilities Responsibility is inherent in all rights. No student or other person involved in the public schools can realize his/her rights unless he/she also exercises the self-discipline and care to afford all others the same rights and not allow his/her own actions to infringe upon the rights of others. In a social situation such as the public schools, all participants, students, parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and others in the educational process have the rights and responsibility to know the basic standards of conduct and behaviors, which are expected. Rights and Responsibilities The Board expects all school staff, students and parents to assume the responsibility for appropriate behaviors in the school. Each student has the right to: • Have the opportunity for a free education in the most appropriate learning environment • Be secure in his/her person, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizure • Expect that the school will be a safe place • Have an appropriate environment conducive to learning • Not be discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin or disabilities and • Be fully informed of school rules and regulations. Each student has the responsibility to: • Know and adhere to reasonable rules and regulations established by the Board • Respect the human dignity and worth of every other individual • Refrain from libel, slanderous remarks and obscenity in verbal and written expression • Study and maintain the best possible level of academic achievement • Be punctual and present in the regular school program • Dress and groom in a manner that meets reasonable standards of health, cleanliness, modesty and safety • Maintain and/or improve the school environment, preserve school and private property, and exercise care while using school facilities • Refrain from behavior, which would lead to physical or emotional harm or disrupts the educational process • Respect the authority of school administrators, teachers and other authorized personnel in maintaining discipline in the school and at school-sponsored activities • Obey the law and school rules as to the possession or the use of alcohol, illegal drugs and other unauthorized substances or materials and • Possess on school grounds only those materials that are acceptable under the law and accept the consequences for articles stored in one's locker. Legal References: In fulfilling any citizenship rights and responsibilities, employees shall give proper consideration to the educational welfare of the students and ensure that no conflict exists with their actual duties. Each staff member has the right to: 1. A work environment free from sexual, racial, ethnic and religious discrimination/harassment. 2. Academic freedom within the confines of state law and board policy in order to create an atmosphere of freedom in the classroom. Each staff member has the responsibility to: 1. Familiarize themselves with and abide by the laws of the state as these affect their work, the policies of the Board and the procedures designed to implement them. 2. To adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Tennessee Education Association. 3. Exercise good judgment in selecting issues for discussion and balance the relative maturity of his/her students and the students' right to know. 4. Be courteous and helpful in interacting and responding to parents, visitors and members of the public. 5. Keep all records and prepare and submit promptly all reports that may be required by state law, state board regulations, board policy and administrative procedures. 6. Wear appropriate dress for work according to board guidelines and local school rules. __________________________ Legal References: Parents/guardians have the right to: • Send their child to a school with an environment where learning is prized. • Expect classroom disruptions to be dealt with fairly, firmly and quickly. • Enroll students in the S.C.C.S.S.D. where they shall attend classes regularly and promptly with minimal interruptions. • Expect the school to maintain high academic standards. • Review the child's academic progress and other pertinent information that may be contained in the student's personal records. • Address grievances concerning their child to teacher and/or principal and to receive a prompt reply for any alleged grievance. • Confer with the teacher on their child's progress. Parents/guardians have the responsibility to: • Instill in their children the values of an education. • Instill in their children a sense of responsibility. • Help children understand that disruptions in the school are detrimental to the educational program for all students. • Become familiar with the educational program and the procedures. • Inform children about the disciplinary procedures of the school and emphasize the importance of following same. • See that children attend school regularly and promptly. • Determine the facts of any situation before passing judgment. • Support the efforts of the school personnel. • Demonstrate respect for the teachers, administrators and school personnel at school and all school related activities. • See that children exhibit neatness and cleanliness in their personal attire and hygiene. • Request an appointment for a conference with teachers by going through the principal's office. Principals have the right to: 1. Expect staff members to comply with policy and to comply with directions from the principal. 2. Suspend any student whose conduct disrupts the educational process. 3. Expect respect from students, parents/guardians, and staff members. Principals have the responsibility to: 1. Help create and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration among students, staff members and administration. 2. Administer discipline fairly and equally following the guidelines set forth herein. 3. Exhibit consistent exemplary behavior in action, dress, speech, mood, and maintain staff morale. 4. Communicate to his/her teachers and staff all information pertinent to school processes and operation. Code of Behavior and Discipline The Director of Schools shall be responsible for the overall implementation and supervision of the Board's Code of Behavior and Discipline and shall ensure that students at all schools are subject to a uniform and fair application of the Code. The Principal shall be responsible for implementation and administration in his/her school and shall apply the Code uniformly and fairly to each student at the school without partiality and discrimination. The Board delegates to the Director of Schools the responsibility of developing more specific codes of behavior and discipline which are appropriate for each level of school, namely, elementary, Middle School and senior high. The development of each code shall involve principals and faculty members of each level of school and shall be consistent with the content of the Board's Code. A copy of the Code shall be posted at the school and the guidance counselor shall be supplied a copy for discussion with students. The Code shall be referenced in all school handbooks. All teachers, administrative staff and parents shall be provided copies of the Code. Legal Reference: 7. Student and Employee Safe Environment Act of 1996 TCA 49-6-4011, et.al. Student Conduct The staff is authorized to take reasonable measures to establish appropriate school behavior. Any professional employee shall have the authority to control the conduct of any student while under the supervision of the school system. This authority shall extend to all activities of the school, including all games and public performances of athletic teams and other school groups, trips, excursions and all other activities under school sponsorship and direction. Such measures may include the use of reasonable force to restrain or correct students and maintain order. A student shall not use violence, force, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance or any other conduct which causes the disruption, interference or obstruction of any school property, in school vehicles or buses, or at any school-sponsored activity, function or event, whether on or off-campus. Neither shall he/she urge other students to engage in such conduct. No personal contact is allowed among students (horseplay, hugging, kissing, etc.). A student found guilty of misbehavior may receive punishment ranging from verbal reprimand to suspension and/or expulsion dependent on the severity of the offense and the offender's prior record. Dress Code The school staff believes the manner in which a student dresses affects his or her learning environment. Because of this, students shall dress and groom in a clean, neat and modest manner so as not to distract or interfere with the operation of the school. If either teacher or the administration considers a student to be dressed either indecent or disruptive, that student will be sent home to change clothes. If improper dress continues, disciplinary action will be taken. Some examples of improper dress, but not limited to, are: 1. Caps or hats worn inside the building 2. Sunglasses 3. Obscene clothing, i.e. T-shirts with alcohol, drug, racial (e.g. Rebel flag, Malcolm X), or sexual references 4. Mesh shirts, tank tops, halter tops and shirts with spaghetti straps worn alone 5. No pajama pants / lounge pants / house shoes 6. Clothing with holes 7. Cut-off shorts or shirts with the sleeves cut out 8. Tops or dresses with bare shoulders, backs or midriffs showing no low cut tops revealing cleavage 9. Extremely short or tight attire including t-shirts (dresses, skirts, or shorts shall be no shorter than three (3) inches below the bottom of the fingers when the arms are fully extended to the sides) 10. Long overcoats or trench coats 11. Chains, i.e. chains which attach to wallets or any type of excessively large chain 12. Bikers gloves 13. Baggy pants/shorts (all pants/shorts will be required to be worn snugly around the waist, no sagging) 14. P.E. shorts worn outside the gymnasium, unless they comply with the length policy 15. The only approved visible body piercing will be the ears 16. No visible tattoos Care of School PropertyStudents shall help maintain the school environment, preserve school property and exercise care while using school facilities. All district employees shall report all damage or loss of school property to the principal or designee immediately after such damage or loss is discovered. The principal or designee shall make a full and complete investigation of any instance of damage or loss of school property. The investigation shall be carried out in cooperation with law enforcement officials when appropriate. When the person causing damage or loss has been identified and the costs of repair or replacement have been determined, the Director of Schools shall take steps to recover these costs. This may include recommending the filing of a civil complaint in court to recover damages. If the responsible person is a minor, recovery will be sought from the minor’s parent/guardian. School property is defined as buildings, buses, books, equipment, records, instructional materials or any other item under the jurisdiction of the Board. In addition, the district will withhold the grades, diploma, and/or transcript of the student responsible for vandalism or theft or otherwise incurring any debt to a school until the student or the student’s parent/guardian has paid for the damages. When the minor and parent are unable to pay for the damages, the district shall provide a program of voluntary work for the minor. Upon completion of the work, the student’s grades, diploma, and/or transcripts shall be released. Such sanctions shall not be imposed if the student is not at fault. Lockers Lockers are available to all students at CHS and will be assigned by grade level. Students are responsible for their own valuables and/or books left in the locker. The school will not assume responsibility for any lost or stolen articles. Students should carry valuable possessions with them or place them in a locked locker. Locks may be used at the student’s expense, which are available in the office for $2. Students may provide their own lock, but they must provide a key or the combination to the office. Students should not bring large amounts of money to school. Lockers are school property and as such, are subject to search and inspection. Only the inside of a locker may be decorated. Do not decorate the outside of a locker in any manner.
Legal Reference: 1.TCA 37-10-101 through 103 Textbooks The following reimbursement schedule shall be used as a guide for collecting fines for lost or destroyed books:
AttendanceAttendance is a key factor in student achievement and therefore, students are expected to be present each day school is in session. To be counted present, students in grades 6-8 must be in class a minimum of forty- (40) minutes, and students in grades 9-12 must be in class a minimum of sixty- (60) minutes. Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal or his/her designee. Excused absences shall include: 1. Personal illness with doctor’s statement 2. Illness of immediate family member with doctor’s statement 3. Death in the family with funeral home statement 4. Court appearance with corroboration from the court 5. Extreme weather conditions, as confirmed by bus driver 6. Religious observances with corroboration from religious leader or 7. Circumstances, which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the student has no control.
Attendance Hearing After ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) total reported absences (excused or unexcused) by a student during any semester, an attendance committee appointed by the principal will conduct a hearing to determine if any extenuating circumstances exist or to verify that the student has met attendance requirements that will allow him/her to pass the course or be promoted. The principal shall be responsible for notifying, in writing, the director of schools and the parents of the student of any action taken by the school. Any administrative decision regarding attendance may be appealed initially to the director of schools and ultimately to the Board. The appeal shall be made in writing to the director of schools within five (5) days following the action, or the report of the action whichever is later. Truancy Truancy is defined as an absence for an entire school day, a major portion of the school day or the major portion of any class, study hall or activity during the school day for which the student is scheduled. Students who are absent five (5) days without adequate excuse will be reported to the director of schools. In turn, the principal will provide written notice to the parents/guardians of the student’s absence. Students participating in school-sponsored activities whether on or off-campus shall not be counted absent. In order to qualify as “school-sponsored”, the activity must be school-planned, school-directed and teacher-supervised. Mass exodus or early dismissal or late arrival of all students or any segment of students shall not be permitted for any reason except for emergencies such as inclement weather or other unavoidable situations, unless instruction time is made up in full. Make-up Work All missed class work or tests may be made up if the student makes the request immediately upon returning to school and if class time is not taken from other students. Time for Time - Learning Lab: Students in grades 9 – 12 are bound by stricter attendance requirements than other students because of block scheduling. Therefore, students in grades 9 – 12 will be allowed to make up one (1) class absence in one (1) forty-five (45) minute learning lab session. Students in grades 6 – 8 will be allowed to make up one (1) class absence in one (1) thirty (30) minute learning lab session. Students will not be allowed to enter learning lab without an assignment sheet signed by the teacher. Any student in grades 9 – 12 · who accumulates more than three (3) absences per class per 90 day semester must make up time in the school’s learning lab or accept a five point drop in grade for that class · who accumulates more than six (6) absences per class per 90 day semester must make up time in the school’s learning lab or accept a ten point drop in grade for that class. Any student in grades 6 – 8 · who accumulates more than five (5) absences per class per 90 semester must make up time in the school’s learning lab or accept a one-letter drop in grade for that class. · who accumulates more than ten (10) absences per class per 90 day semester must make up time in the school’s learning lab or accept a two-letter drop in grade for that class. Note: Learning lab sessions are for making up excessive absences only. Time for time requirements are not in effect for days missed because of suspension/expulsion. Tardies/Early Checkouts: A student will be tardy if he/she is not in his/her classroom when the tardy bell rings. Three (3) unexcused tardies will be equivalent to one class absence and will count towards learning lab. A student will be counted as an early checkout if he/she signs out of school prior to the end of class. Three (3) unexcused early checkouts will be equivalent to one class absence and will count towards learning lab. State-Mandated Tests/Gateway Exams Students who are absent the day of the scheduled Gateway Tests will receive an incomplete in the course until they have taken the Gateway Test. All students who miss a scheduled Gateway Test must take the test at the next administration in order to receive a grade for the course and to meet their Gateway diploma requirement. Attendance Accounting ProceduresFor attendance accounting purposes, any student under the age of 18 is considered withdrawn after ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) total unexcused absences during any semester and will be subject to all policies and procedures on truancy. This renders a student ineligible for promotion to the next grade and/or to receive credit toward graduation, and to retain a driver’s permit or license, or to obtain such if of age.Any student age 18 or over is considered a dropout after ten (10) days of unexcused absences, or if within these ten (10) days contact has been made and this person so informs the system that he/she is not returning and has not transferred to another school.Parents or guardians must be given written notice each time a student misses five (5) unexcused days (this means an aggregate of five (5) days during the school year and not five (5) consecutive days). Additional notices must be sent after each successive accumulation of five (5) unexcused absences. The principal shall be responsible for notifying, in writing, the director of schools and the parents of the student of any action taken by the school. It is the duty of the principal and/or teacher to report promptly to the director of schools the names of all children who have withdrawn from school, or who have been absent five (5) days (this means an aggregate of five (5) days during the school year and not five (5) consecutive days) without adequate excuse. Each successive accumulation of five (5) unexcused absences by a student shall also be reported. The director of schools shall thereupon serve, or cause to be served, upon the parent/guardian of the child (ren) absent from school, written notice that attendance of such child (ren) at school is required. If it appears that, within three (3) days after receipt of the notice, the parent/guardian has failed to comply with the provisions of the compulsory attendance law, the principal shall report the facts of such unlawful attendance to the Juvenile Court Officer of Carroll County consistent with the provisions of TCA §37-1-132, §37-1-168, and §37-1-169. If a student accrues ten (10) unexcused absences during the school year, the director of schools or his/her designee shall report the facts of such unlawful attendance to the Juvenile Court Officer of Carroll County Excused Absences Absences will only be excused if corroborated by a third party, i.e. doctor’s statement, funeral home director, court, etc. Students and parents are encouraged to ask for documentation each time school is missed for these appointments. Students returning to school without documentation from a third party will be considered as unexcused. Written notes from parents/guardians will not be accepted for excused absences. In compliance with state law, after the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, parents/guardians will be notified, and they will, at that time, be given the opportunity to provide evidence of the reason for their student’s absence. |