2007-2008
Jeff Yoes,
Principal
Lynda Pinkston,
Assistant Principal
3480 Hwy. 41-A
North
Phone
931-294-2434 Fax 931-294-2444
Board of Education-
931-684-3284
Community
Elementary SACP- 931-294-2676
Web
address: http://www.bedfordk12tn.com/comm_e/
It takes a “Community” to educate a
child.
The mission of
1. The
education of a child is the responsibility of the school, the home, and a
caring community.
2. Classroom
curriculums should incorporate educational activities that take into account
individual differences.
3. Students’
achievement should be evaluated in terms of students’ competencies and not in
relationship to the achievement of other students.
4. Students'
self-esteem and character are enhanced by caring, positive relationships between
students
and school personnel.
5.
Challenging expectations increase individual student performance.
6. Students
learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
7. Students
are educated and assessed with the total child in mind, as a valued individual
unique
physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
8. Students
learn in different ways. All students
can achieve and succeed.
9. The
school personnel and community will work as a team to make decisions and
policies for
our
school.
Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Community
Elementary. The faculty and staff join
me in saying we're happy to have you as part of the Community family. We hope that this will be a successful and
satisfying year for you.
The pages of the handbook are filled with important
information regarding school policy and procedures. I suggest that parents and students review
the contents together. If you have
questions that remain unanswered after reading the handbook, please call the
school office. We feel that open and
clear communication between school and home is important to the success of our
educational program.
The Community Elementary student assignment book was
designed to assist your child in organizing his/her daily, weekly, and
long-term assignments. We hope that this
program will improve your child's organizational skills. In addition, we feel that the handbook will
serve as a helpful reference for parents as they seek to provide academic
support at home. Community Elementary
parents are our partners in the important job of educating the children of this
community.
We welcome your participation and support during the
school year. Working together, we will
be able to reach our collective and individual goals. We look forward to celebrating with you the
achievements of our students.
Sincerely,
Jeff Yoes
Principal
For the safety of your children, the teachers, and the
staff of Community, a safety plan has been implemented. We need YOUR help to make it work.
1. All outside
doors, except the main office entrance, will stay locked from
2. Parents and
visitors must enter through the main front doors, check in at the office, and
receive a visitor's sticker to wear while in the building.
3. If you exit
through a locked door, please check to see that it locks behind you.
4. Please do
not knock on any locked door to get in. Use the front office door only.
It is only with your help and cooperation that we can achieve the maximum safety in our schools.
School Hours
School hours are from
Equal Educational Opportunities
It is the policy of Bedford County Schools not to
discriminate on the basis 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.
The coordinator of Title VII, Title IX , and Section
504 non-discrimination acts is Betty Farrar.
Any questions concerning compliance with non-discriminatory statutes
should be directed to Betty Farrar or Joan Gray c/o Bedford County Board of
Education,
Arrival and Dismissal
All students arriving before
Please let car riders out under the awning or in front
of the gym. The area by the office is
for bus traffic and brief visitors
during the school day only. There
should be no traffic in the cafeteria loop during the posted bus loading and
unloading times.
Car riders are dismissed at
Attendance Policy
A student who is absent from school is required to
bring a note from parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence and a
phone number to contact parents. Reasons for excused absences are:
1. the child's illness
2. illness of immediate family member
3. death in the family
4. religious observances
5. circumstances which create emergencies beyond
the control of the student
Any absence without a note is automatically unexcused. A student has 5 school days to make up work missed during an excused absence. A limited number of parent excuse notes will be accepted before a physician's note will be required for absences to be excused.
Tardies
Students who arrive after the
Change of Address or Telephone Numbers
It is imperative that we be able to reach parents
during the day. Please keep the school
informed of any change in address or telephone number by sending a note to the
teacher. This information will be sent
to the office for change in our database.
School Fee/ Material Money
While textbooks are provided, additional instructional
materials are used. It may be necessary
to request a supply fee from each child.
Fees are used to purchase consumable instructional items, incentive
rewards, classroom supplies, and other materials. All outstanding fees must be paid before a
student may participate in Field Day.
Students are responsible for their assigned textbooks, as well as
library books checked out.
Halls
Students should walk single file on the right side of the hallway without talking to avoid disturbing classes.
Parents' Right to Request Teacher Information/Family
and Community Engagement
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, parents may
request to see their child's teacher's credentials, including licensure,
certification information, college major and graduate degree held by the
teacher. Parents may inspect and review
their child’s records upon written request.
Field Trips
Field trips to nearby points of interest are scheduled
by various classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement
different aspects of the classroom curriculum.
Parents will receive notices of field trips in advance of the scheduled
date and will be asked to sign field trip permission forms. Usually a fee is requested from each student
to defray transportation or facility use costs.
Students MUST have permission slips signed in order to go on a
field trip.
Head Lice
If your child has lice or nits, you will be notified immediately. It is important to begin treatment that day. According to the Board of Education policy, a student must be nit-free in order to return to school. Only two days may be excused absences for head lice. School wide head checks will be done periodically.
Illness or Injury
In case of illness or injury a student will be cared
for temporarily by a member of the school staff. School personnel will render first aid
treatment only. If emergency medical
treatment is necessary, the parents will be contacted. If parents are not available, the student may
be transported to the emergency room.
It is imperative that the school have accurate and up-to-date
information in case of an emergency.
We will attempt to contact parents first, but parents are not always
available. In this event, the names
on the emergency contact list are called.
Checking Out of School
Only parents or legal guardians may authorize a
student to leave school during the school day. If there is a
question of legal custody, school officials reserve the right to require proof
of custody before releasing a student.
Any parent who wishes to personally check a student
out during the school day must come to the office to do so. Teachers are not to release a student from a
classroom until notified by the office to do so. The student will be required to sign out in
the office. Notes from a parent will be
required for anyone else to check out a student.
Medications
According to School Board Policy, no school official
or teacher will routinely dispense medication to students. If under special circumstances a child is
required to take medication during school hours, the parent must
complete a special medication form
available in the office or from your child's teacher.
Student Performance and Evaluation
Report cards are issued following the completion of
each six week grading period. Graded papers will also be sent home on a regular
basis. This is a means of informing
parents of the student's progress, or lack of progress, in each subject.
Homework
Homework is important, and students are expected to
complete homework and classwork to the best of their ability. Homework can provide practice and drill that
reinforces classroom learning and creative thinking. Parents can help the student by arranging a
quiet, comfortable place for the student to work and by seeing that assignments
are completed. This assignment book
is to be used daily for the purposes of recording assignments and communication
between home and school. If a student
loses this assignment book, he is required to purchase a replacement.
Honor Roll and Principal's List
The Honor Roll is a special recognition for academic
achievement in grades 3-6. It is
published by the school at the end of each grading period to recognize and
honor those students who have maintained high academic averages during that
period. To determine eligibility, grades
will be averaged to the nearest whole number.
All A's are required for Principal's List. All A's and B's are required for Honor Roll.
School Wide Discipline Plan
General school behavior is the responsibility of the
entire staff at
A student may be sent to the office for consistent or
severe behavior problems. Parents will
be notified if this occurs.
Consequences, depending on the specific behavior and situation, may be
one or more of the following:
l. Conference
with student
2. Assign a behavior
improvement packet
3. Call parent
for a conference
4. Assign to
the "Quiet Room" (isolation)
5. Assign to
work duty
6. Refer to the
Guidance Counselor
7. Corporal
Punishment
8. Out-of
-School Suspension
9. Refer to the
Juvenile Officer
Harassment
of students/Bullying/Fighting will not be tolerated.
We suggest that
the student seek help from the closest available staff member. The first offense will result in three days
in the Quiet Room. The second time a
student is involved in a fight, he/she will be suspended Out-of-School for
three days. If a student chooses to
fight a third or more times, he/she may expect five days in the Quiet Room,
Out-of-School Suspension, or other consequences to be discussed with the
parents.
Tobacco/Alcohol and Drugs
Students will not possess tobacco, illegal drugs, paraphernalia, or alcohol on
school grounds at any time. If this rule
is violated, school officials will notify the student's parent and law
enforcement officials. Appropriate
disciplinary action will be taken.
Visitors
Any parent or visitor entering the school must report
to the office, sign in, and receive a visitor's sticker. Instructional
time is very important and should not be interrupted for visitors. Please make an appointment with the teacher
if you need to speak with him/her.
Bus Conduct
Riding the bus is a privilege. Improper
conduct on the bus may result in this privilege being denied. Students will receive one warning for bus
misconduct (except in severe cases).
Repeat offenses will result in removal from the bus for a period of
time. Students are expected to abide by
school rules on the bus. In addition,
the following rules have been established to ensure the safety of all students
who ride buses:
1. Observe the
same conduct as in the classroom.
2. Be
courteous; use no profane language.
3. Do not eat
or drink on the bus.
4. Keep the bus
clean.
5. Cooperate
with the bus driver.
6. Do not smoke
or use tobacco products.
7. Do not be
destructive.
8. Keep head,
hands, and feet inside the bus.
9. Sit in seats
assigned by the driver or principal.
Any student wishing to ride a bus other than his
designated bus must have written parental permission and the approval of a
school official.
****Students who are referred to the office for a
second bus offense will be removed from the bus for a period of time.
Use of the telephone
If there is sufficient need, a pupil may use the
office phone. Students may not bring cell phones or pagers. Children
should not need to call home to find out how they will get home. Children may not use the phone to ask
permission to do things not pertaining to school affairs. We ask that you make plans with your child as
to how to get home in the event of an emergency such as early school closing. Students will not be called out of class to
the telephone except in an emergency.
Dress Code
The majority of our students need no advice on their
dress or appearance because they use decency, good taste, and common
sense. However, it is occasionally
necessary to notify students that their clothing or appearance is causing a
disturbance or distracting to teachers and other students. Some specific rules for acceptable dress
include:
1. Any type of
dress considered too revealing will not be allowed (spandex or biker shorts,
shorts that are too tight or revealing, tank top shirts, etc.)
2. No attire
with sexual, immoral, profane, tobacco product, drug, alcohol, gang related, derogatory
or suggestive imprints will be allowed.
3. Caps inside
the building, sunglasses, pants with holes in the knees, seat, etc. are not
allowed.
4. Pants must
be worn at the waist.
Bookstore
The bookstore is open from 7:45 until 8:00 a.m. Paper, pencils, and other supplies are sold.
Valuables
The school staff cannot be responsible for valuables
which students bring to school. It is
recommended that students leave all valuables and large sums of money at home.
Lockers
Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders will be assigned
lockers. Students will have assigned
times to go to their lockers. No
student may go to the lockers alone or open anyone else's locker.
Gum
No chewing gum is allowed in the school. There may be exceptions to the rule such as infrequent
rewards to be determined by the teacher only in his/her classroom.
Weapons
Students shall not possess, handle, transmit, use or attempt
to use any dangerous weapon in school buildings or on school grounds at any
time, including school buses. Students
who violate this policy will be subject to suspension or expulsion from school.
Cafeteria
The same general rules for behavior apply in the
cafeteria as in the classroom. Students
are to:
1. talk quietly
2. keep hands
and other objects to yourself
3. remain
seated
4. return all
trays and utensils to the dishwashing area
5. no food is
to be taken from the cafeteria by students except by special permission
6. no Cokes
(soft drinks) are allowed in the cafeteria
To encourage good nutrition, a well-balanced lunch is
offered at a reasonable price. Parents,
please be responsible to see that your child is provided with lunch money to
purchase a school lunch. Free or reduced
lunches are available to those who qualify.
Lunch prices for 2007-2008:
Student lunch______________ Extra milk________________ Visitor’s
lunch______________
Counselor
Our school guidance program is designed to help
students develop responsible behavior and effective decision-making
skills. Through group guidance
activities, students will develop awareness for behaviors, feelings, values,
and attitudes as they interface in decision making and responsible
behavior. Guidance services are
confidential and students are welcome to make an appointment to see the
counselor. Parents may also make
appointments to see the counselor to discuss their child.
Birthday Parties
Occasionally students wish to observe birthdays at
school. Each teacher has their own
policy concerning this activity.
However, there are some general guidelines we all must follow:
1. Food treats
are permissible, but interruption of the school program should be kept to a
minimum.
2. Please contact the teacher before
planning this activity.
Transfer Option for Students Victimized by Violent
Crime at School
Under the Tennessee State
Board of Education’s Unsafe School Choice Policy, any public school student who
is the victim of a violent crime as defined under TCA 40-38-111(g), or the
attempt to commit one of these offenses as defined under TCA 39-12-101, shall be
provided an opportunity to transfer to another grade-level appropriate school
within the district. Additional
information regarding this option may be obtained by contacting the Title IV
Director at 931-684-3284.
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COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2007-08
Student
____________________________ Home Phone _______________ Cell ______________________
Grade ____________________________ Homeroom Teacher ___________________________________
Textbook/Library Book Agreement
I understand that my child will receive textbooks at
no charge and that those textbooks must be returned when requested by the
teacher. My child also has my permission
to borrow books from the Community Elementary School Library. In the event the textbooks/library books are lost
or damaged, I agree to reimburse the school for this cost.
Parent’s
Signature _________________________________________________________ Date
___________________
Permission to Photograph
There are times in which photographs or videos may be
taken at school for news stories or our school website.
___ My child may have his/her picture taken at school
for this purpose.
___ My child may NOT have his/her picture taken at
school for this purpose.
Parent’s
Signature _______________________________________________________ Date
_____________________
Corporal Punishment
As you may know, the
_______No, I do not want corporal punishment used on my
child. (Daytime phone required)
_______Yes, if necessary, I agree with corporal
punishment.
Child’s name:_______________________________________________________ Date:________________________
Parent’s Signature:____________________________________________________Daytime
Phone________________
Community Elementary Student Handbook 2007-08
My
child and I have read and discussed the rules and policies of this handbook.
Child’s
Signature: ________________________________________ Date: ________________
Parent’s
Signature: _______________________________________ Date: ________________
Thanks for being a part of
our “Community.”