Student Handbook
GES Mission
Goals are obtainable.
Excellence is our goal.
Success is our only option.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
The main focus of all the GES faculty and staff is the overall well-being of the students. We set high expectations for all because we believe that all students can be successful. Thank you in advance for all of your support to our school.
BELIEFS
Gordonsville Elementary School believes that research-based information and data should be used to drive decisions. All teachers hold high expectations for all students and use diverse teaching strategies to foster success in all areas. GES believes in collaboration between faculty, staff, parents, students, and all other stakeholders and uses this collaboration to engage in adequate and appropriate internal and external communications to provide the best education possible. GES believes in a clear purpose and direction for all students and provides a safe and structured environment that promotes students learning. GES believes in aligning all policies and procedures that will maintain a focus on achieving the school goals. GES believes in establishing a vision, mission, and beliefs that all work together for the betterment of all stakeholders and the nurturing of life-long learners.
SCHOOL HOURS
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 go to the cafeteria. Children should not arrive earlier than 7:20 a.m. or remain on the campus later than 3:10 p.m. unless they are participating in a supervised activity.
SCHOOL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL 7:20 EACH SCHOOL DAY.
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.
ATTENDANCE
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 nine 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:
PARENT PORTAL-SKYWARD
The parent portal is available to all parents at GES. Student contact information and attendance can be viewed and updated on all students and grades can be viewed for students in 3rd-12th grade.
Parents of students in grades 3-12 will receive a form to be filled out and returned at the beginning of the school year. Parents must have a valid email address in order to be given access to the Skyward system. Once parent information has been returned to the school, a link to Family Access on the Skyward system will be emailed to the parent. Other grade level parents may contact your child’s school with a valid email address to receive a link to the Family Access on the Skyward system.
AUTOMATED PHONE CALLS
Your child’s school may use automated phone calls for student absences, important school announcements, school closings due to weather, and emergencies. These calls are generated from the county wide Skyward attendance program. If you do not wish to receive the automated phone calls, you can change or update the alerts by logging into Family Access through Skyward and selecting the Skylert tab. There you have the option to choose which notifications to receive and how you would like to receive them.
MAKE-UP WORK
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.
HOMEWORK
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.
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.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION
Report cards will be sent home at the end of each nine (9) 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
Students with passing grades will be promoted to the next grade level, but students that have failing grades will not be promoted to the next grade level.
FINAL TEST EXEMPTION
Any student in grades 5-6 will be exempt from final exams if they meet the following criteria
5 absences 95-100
4 absences 90-94
3 absences 85-89
2 absences 80-84
1 absences 75-79
TEXTBOOKS
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.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
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 615-683-8252. 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
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.
DISCIPLINE
Each staff member at Gordonsville 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. Many areas of our school are monitored with security cameras.
Tennessee Law Concerning Suspension
The administration of Smith County Schools is authorized to carry out disciplinary and related procedures necessary for the successful operation of the school under Tennessee Law concerning suspension and disciplinary action. Tennessee law allows principals to suspend students for good and sufficient reason upon satisfaction of due process.
SMITH COUNTY BUS RULES
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.
CAFETERIA RULES
Due to school nutrition guidelines, students are not allowed to bring food into the cafeteria in restaurant packaging. All food must be brought in a lunch box or sack.
Students are allowed to bring milk, juice, or water into the cafeteria. All other drinks will not be permitted.
No loud talking or yelling is permitted.
No rude, discourteous, or unaccepted language or behavior.
DETENTION
Students may be detained before or after school as a means of disciplinary action.
The following guidelines shall be followed:
The student will be given at least one day of notice before detention.
Parents will be informed before detention takes place.
Students in detention will be under the supervision of certified staff members.
Detention will not exceed one hour after the official closing of the school day but may be administered
several days in succession.
If a student, with his parents’ (or guardians) support, fails to meet the detention measures, the principal
may, at his/her discretion, suspend said student from school.
Parents must provide transportation for students promptly at 4:00 if student has been detained for after-
school detention.
The Smith County Board of Education has adopted a policy for elementary students to attend alternative school. Administration will provide information to parents/guardians if a student is to attend alternative school.
DRESS CODE
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. 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 6, 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. 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.
All apparel or accessories worn to school may not display or advertise the following:
Gang affiliation or gang sign Sexual themes
Tobacco products Ethnic groups or signs
Profanity Racist overtures
Alcoholic products Other suggestive or offensive sayings or graphics
Drugs or drug paraphernalia
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, 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.
For safety purposes, backpacks with wheels should not be rolled in the school building.
STUDENT HEALTH SCREENING
As required by the Tennessee Department of Education, mandated student Health Screening will be conducted in all Smith County Schools annually. Mass data does not include any identifying information. All information is private and confidential. This data analysis is reported to the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Health.
We will be screening to determine if your child has a health risk that needs medical attention and/or might affect his/her classroom work.
The Screenings that will be conducted are as follows:
If you have any questions regarding this free service, or if you wish for your child to be excluded from any part of the health screenings, please contact the School Nurse and/or Coordinated School Health Nurse at (615) 735-9625 or (615) 735-2083.
MEDICATION
NO STUDENT IS TO HAVE MEDICINE OR DRUGS IN THEIR POSSESSION WHILE AT SCHOOL. IF THEY ARE FOUND WITH THESE AT SCHOOL IT COULD RESULT IN A 365 DAY SUSPENSION.
If medication must be given at school, it must be personally delivered by the parent or a responsible adult in the original bottle or container and accompanied by written permission form the parent/guardian that includes the medicine and instructions for administration. Prescriptions medications must have a doctor’s form filled out. These authorizations forms may be obtained from the school office. Students needing occasional medications for colds, headaches, etc. 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.
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.
HEAD CHECKS
We do a weekly head check. If your child is found to have lice or nits, a parent/guardian will be contacted. 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 and must provide proof of treatment before returning to class.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
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, and the amount enclosed. 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 pricing is .75 for students and 1.25 for all visitors. Pricing for lunches will be the following: cost for all full paying students is 2.25, cost for adult visitors is 3.75 and child visitors is 3.25. Additional milk may be purchased during lunch. For special events, the price for a visitor’s lunch is 3.25 for a child and 4.00 for an adult. Free and reduced lunch prices are available to students who qualify. The reduced lunch price is forty (40) cents. 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.
CHANGE IN STUDENT INFORMATION
It is imperative that the school office be notified immediately of a change of address, home or office telephone number, cell phone 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 not 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.
LOST AND FOUND
A lost and found box is maintained by the school office. Students finding any items should turn it into the office. Students who lose an item may request permission from their teacher to check in the office for the lost item. At the end of the nine weeks, unclaimed items in the box will be donated to charity. Please make sure anything that your 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.
PERMANENT RECORDS
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.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
When severe weather creates hazardous conditions, the regular school schedule may be suspended to ensure students’ safety. It is the parent’s/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. In addition, parents may choose to receive alerts via text. To choose this option, parents must sign into their Family Access account on Skyward, choose the Skylert tab, and update the contact information.
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.
Teachers should report 15 minutes before the starting hour, and staff should report on the hour.
SAFETY DRILLS
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.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
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.
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.
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.
STUDENT MESSAGES/GIFTS
Students will not be called from their classrooms for telephone calls unless in the case of an emergency.
Please make sure that your child and his/her teacher understand the day’s transportation plans when they arrive to school. Students are only allowed to use the telephone for emergency purposes only.
Any gifts such as balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and etc., sent to a student will not be delivered to the student till after 2:00 p.m. Glass vases and balloons are not permitted on the buses.
EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS
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.
SCHOOL VISITORS
All visitors to the school will have to be buzzed in through the front door system and report to the office before going to any room. Visitors must sign in and a visitor’s badge must be worn in the building. This policy is for the safety of students, faculty, and staff at Gordonsville Elementary School.
FUNDRAISING
There will be only one fundraising activity each year that is sponsored by the PTO. While we hope that everyone chooses to take part, participation is strictly voluntary and at the parent’s discretion.
SNACKS
Ice cream will be available at our school. Sodas are not sold in any of our machines. Students, K-2nd, may bring a snack from home each day and will be allowed to purchase ice cream at our school on Friday’s. All other students (3-6) may purchase ice cream in the afternoon or bring a snack from home.
RESIDENCEY 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.
3. If the student is a victim of a violent crime at school.
STUDENT WITHDRAWLS/TRANFERS
Please notify us immediately if your child is withdrawing from Gordonsville 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.
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM/PLAYGROUND 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 student and easier to understand for the parents.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Smith County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, in its programs and activities. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Gina Morris
Smith County Board of Education
126 SCMS LN
Carthage, TN 37030
(615)735-9625
[email protected]
You may also direct inquiries to the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: The OCR office for Tennessee is located at:
Atlanta Office The OCR National Headquarters is located at:
Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
61 Forsyth St. S.W., Suite 19T70 Lyndon Baines Johnson Dept. of Education Bldg.
Atlanta, GA 30303-8927 400 Maryland Avenue, SW
(404) 974-9406 Washington, DC 20202-100
(404) 974-9471 (fax) (800) 421-3481 (202) 453-6012 (fax)
[email protected] (877) 521-2172 (TDD)
[email protected]
ZERO TOLERANCE
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 than 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 officials. 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.
ELL SERVICES
Smith County School System provides an English as a Second Language program for students who have a primary or home language other than English. These students receive specialized instruction to ensure that all students, regardless of language proficiency, have access to a quality educational program.
YOUR CHILD’S READING PROGRAM IN SMITH COUNTY SCHOOLS
HOW WE ASSESS YOUR CHILD’S PROGRESS
In the Smith County School District, reading skills of all students in grades K-8 are assessed at least three times a year. A team of professionals review assessments, progress, attendance and behavior data throughout the year.
HOW WE DETERMINE WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION
School teams use academic, behavior and attendance data to decide which students are doing well in the standard classroom reading program, which students may need supplemental instruction, and which students may need individualized instruction.
When students receive supplemental small group or individualized instruction, we check their progress frequently. The key is to make changes when current instruction is not sufficient for a child. When our data shows a child is not making satisfactory progress in the standard classroom program, we provide small group interventions. If, after a period of instruction, there is still a concern, we plan an individualized intervention.
During small group intervention, we assess student progress twice a month. During individualized intervention, we assess progress once a week. If a student makes limited progress during individualized instruction, we may ask parents for permission to conduct an individual evaluation. This evaluation might result in identification of a learning disability. No evaluation would be conducted without parents’ written consent.
PARENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO CHILDREN’S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL
Education is a partnership between home and school. When a child needs supplemental instruction, we will describe that instruction to you. We will also ask you to tell us anything you think may affect your child’s learning. For example, it is important for us to know if a child has missed a lot of school, experienced a trauma, or is having problems with friends at school. These problems may affect a student’s progress and if we know about them, we can design interventions more effectively.
We value parent involvement at every level and encourage you to partner with us. A good partnership includes good communication. Please feel free to call, write a note, or e-mail us if you have concerns or questions about your child’s education or if you would like to provide extra practice at home.
WHEN CHILDREN CONTINUE TO HAVE DIFFICULTY
The school will tell you if your child begins to make sufficient progress, or if your child continues to have difficulty. If you and the school have tried several interventions and progress remains limited, you may be asked to give consent for an evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine what your child’s educational needs are and to consider if he or she might have a learning disability.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION DESCRIBES A PROCESS CALLED: RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RTI)
RTI is a way of organizing instruction that has two purposes:
PARENT NOTIFICATIONS
For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions of service to protected disabled students, contact:
Gina Morris, 504 Coordinator
126 SCMS Lane, Carthage, TN 37030
615-735-9625
Goals are obtainable.
Excellence is our goal.
Success is our only option.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
The main focus of all the GES faculty and staff is the overall well-being of the students. We set high expectations for all because we believe that all students can be successful. Thank you in advance for all of your support to our school.
BELIEFS
Gordonsville Elementary School believes that research-based information and data should be used to drive decisions. All teachers hold high expectations for all students and use diverse teaching strategies to foster success in all areas. GES believes in collaboration between faculty, staff, parents, students, and all other stakeholders and uses this collaboration to engage in adequate and appropriate internal and external communications to provide the best education possible. GES believes in a clear purpose and direction for all students and provides a safe and structured environment that promotes students learning. GES believes in aligning all policies and procedures that will maintain a focus on achieving the school goals. GES believes in establishing a vision, mission, and beliefs that all work together for the betterment of all stakeholders and the nurturing of life-long learners.
SCHOOL HOURS
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 go to the cafeteria. Children should not arrive earlier than 7:20 a.m. or remain on the campus later than 3:10 p.m. unless they are participating in a supervised activity.
SCHOOL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL 7:20 EACH SCHOOL DAY.
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.
ATTENDANCE
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 nine 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:
- Personal illness (A doctor’s statement will be required after the fifth day of personal illness.)
- Illness of immediate family (doctor’s statement required after third day)
- Death in family (if death is non-relative, day of funeral only)
- Religious observances
- Subpoenaed court appearance
- Circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the student has no control
PARENT PORTAL-SKYWARD
The parent portal is available to all parents at GES. Student contact information and attendance can be viewed and updated on all students and grades can be viewed for students in 3rd-12th grade.
Parents of students in grades 3-12 will receive a form to be filled out and returned at the beginning of the school year. Parents must have a valid email address in order to be given access to the Skyward system. Once parent information has been returned to the school, a link to Family Access on the Skyward system will be emailed to the parent. Other grade level parents may contact your child’s school with a valid email address to receive a link to the Family Access on the Skyward system.
AUTOMATED PHONE CALLS
Your child’s school may use automated phone calls for student absences, important school announcements, school closings due to weather, and emergencies. These calls are generated from the county wide Skyward attendance program. If you do not wish to receive the automated phone calls, you can change or update the alerts by logging into Family Access through Skyward and selecting the Skylert tab. There you have the option to choose which notifications to receive and how you would like to receive them.
MAKE-UP WORK
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.
HOMEWORK
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.
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.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION
Report cards will be sent home at the end of each nine (9) 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
Students with passing grades will be promoted to the next grade level, but students that have failing grades will not be promoted to the next grade level.
FINAL TEST EXEMPTION
Any student in grades 5-6 will be exempt from final exams if they meet the following criteria
5 absences 95-100
4 absences 90-94
3 absences 85-89
2 absences 80-84
1 absences 75-79
TEXTBOOKS
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.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
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 615-683-8252. 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
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.
DISCIPLINE
Each staff member at Gordonsville 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. Many areas of our school are monitored with security cameras.
Tennessee Law Concerning Suspension
The administration of Smith County Schools is authorized to carry out disciplinary and related procedures necessary for the successful operation of the school under Tennessee Law concerning suspension and disciplinary action. Tennessee law allows principals to suspend students for good and sufficient reason upon satisfaction of due process.
SMITH COUNTY BUS RULES
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.
CAFETERIA RULES
Due to school nutrition guidelines, students are not allowed to bring food into the cafeteria in restaurant packaging. All food must be brought in a lunch box or sack.
Students are allowed to bring milk, juice, or water into the cafeteria. All other drinks will not be permitted.
No loud talking or yelling is permitted.
No rude, discourteous, or unaccepted language or behavior.
DETENTION
Students may be detained before or after school as a means of disciplinary action.
The following guidelines shall be followed:
The student will be given at least one day of notice before detention.
Parents will be informed before detention takes place.
Students in detention will be under the supervision of certified staff members.
Detention will not exceed one hour after the official closing of the school day but may be administered
several days in succession.
If a student, with his parents’ (or guardians) support, fails to meet the detention measures, the principal
may, at his/her discretion, suspend said student from school.
Parents must provide transportation for students promptly at 4:00 if student has been detained for after-
school detention.
The Smith County Board of Education has adopted a policy for elementary students to attend alternative school. Administration will provide information to parents/guardians if a student is to attend alternative school.
DRESS CODE
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. 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 6, 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. 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.
All apparel or accessories worn to school may not display or advertise the following:
Gang affiliation or gang sign Sexual themes
Tobacco products Ethnic groups or signs
Profanity Racist overtures
Alcoholic products Other suggestive or offensive sayings or graphics
Drugs or drug paraphernalia
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, 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.
For safety purposes, backpacks with wheels should not be rolled in the school building.
STUDENT HEALTH SCREENING
As required by the Tennessee Department of Education, mandated student Health Screening will be conducted in all Smith County Schools annually. Mass data does not include any identifying information. All information is private and confidential. This data analysis is reported to the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Health.
We will be screening to determine if your child has a health risk that needs medical attention and/or might affect his/her classroom work.
The Screenings that will be conducted are as follows:
- Vision – Grades Pre-K, K, 2, 4, 6, and 8
- Hearing – Grades Pre-K, K, 2 , 4, 6, and 8
- Scoliosis – Grade 6 only (optional screening)
- Dental – (optional screening)
- Blood Pressure – Grades K, 2, 4, 6, 8, and High School Wellness Course
- Height and Weight – Grades K, 2, 4, 6, 8, and High School Wellness Course
- Mile run/walk timed event – Grades 4, 6, 8, and High School Wellness Course
- Other students that could be screened are those new to the school system and those suspected of having a vision and/or hearing problem by their teacher.
If you have any questions regarding this free service, or if you wish for your child to be excluded from any part of the health screenings, please contact the School Nurse and/or Coordinated School Health Nurse at (615) 735-9625 or (615) 735-2083.
MEDICATION
NO STUDENT IS TO HAVE MEDICINE OR DRUGS IN THEIR POSSESSION WHILE AT SCHOOL. IF THEY ARE FOUND WITH THESE AT SCHOOL IT COULD RESULT IN A 365 DAY SUSPENSION.
If medication must be given at school, it must be personally delivered by the parent or a responsible adult in the original bottle or container and accompanied by written permission form the parent/guardian that includes the medicine and instructions for administration. Prescriptions medications must have a doctor’s form filled out. These authorizations forms may be obtained from the school office. Students needing occasional medications for colds, headaches, etc. 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.
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.
HEAD CHECKS
We do a weekly head check. If your child is found to have lice or nits, a parent/guardian will be contacted. 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 and must provide proof of treatment before returning to class.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
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, and the amount enclosed. 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 pricing is .75 for students and 1.25 for all visitors. Pricing for lunches will be the following: cost for all full paying students is 2.25, cost for adult visitors is 3.75 and child visitors is 3.25. Additional milk may be purchased during lunch. For special events, the price for a visitor’s lunch is 3.25 for a child and 4.00 for an adult. Free and reduced lunch prices are available to students who qualify. The reduced lunch price is forty (40) cents. 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.
CHANGE IN STUDENT INFORMATION
It is imperative that the school office be notified immediately of a change of address, home or office telephone number, cell phone 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 not 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.
LOST AND FOUND
A lost and found box is maintained by the school office. Students finding any items should turn it into the office. Students who lose an item may request permission from their teacher to check in the office for the lost item. At the end of the nine weeks, unclaimed items in the box will be donated to charity. Please make sure anything that your 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.
PERMANENT RECORDS
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.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
When severe weather creates hazardous conditions, the regular school schedule may be suspended to ensure students’ safety. It is the parent’s/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. In addition, parents may choose to receive alerts via text. To choose this option, parents must sign into their Family Access account on Skyward, choose the Skylert tab, and update the contact information.
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.
Teachers should report 15 minutes before the starting hour, and staff should report on the hour.
SAFETY DRILLS
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.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
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.
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.
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.
STUDENT MESSAGES/GIFTS
Students will not be called from their classrooms for telephone calls unless in the case of an emergency.
Please make sure that your child and his/her teacher understand the day’s transportation plans when they arrive to school. Students are only allowed to use the telephone for emergency purposes only.
Any gifts such as balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and etc., sent to a student will not be delivered to the student till after 2:00 p.m. Glass vases and balloons are not permitted on the buses.
EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS
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.
SCHOOL VISITORS
All visitors to the school will have to be buzzed in through the front door system and report to the office before going to any room. Visitors must sign in and a visitor’s badge must be worn in the building. This policy is for the safety of students, faculty, and staff at Gordonsville Elementary School.
FUNDRAISING
There will be only one fundraising activity each year that is sponsored by the PTO. While we hope that everyone chooses to take part, participation is strictly voluntary and at the parent’s discretion.
SNACKS
Ice cream will be available at our school. Sodas are not sold in any of our machines. Students, K-2nd, may bring a snack from home each day and will be allowed to purchase ice cream at our school on Friday’s. All other students (3-6) may purchase ice cream in the afternoon or bring a snack from home.
RESIDENCEY 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.
3. If the student is a victim of a violent crime at school.
STUDENT WITHDRAWLS/TRANFERS
Please notify us immediately if your child is withdrawing from Gordonsville 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.
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM/PLAYGROUND 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 student and easier to understand for the parents.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Smith County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, in its programs and activities. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Gina Morris
Smith County Board of Education
126 SCMS LN
Carthage, TN 37030
(615)735-9625
[email protected]
You may also direct inquiries to the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: The OCR office for Tennessee is located at:
Atlanta Office The OCR National Headquarters is located at:
Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
61 Forsyth St. S.W., Suite 19T70 Lyndon Baines Johnson Dept. of Education Bldg.
Atlanta, GA 30303-8927 400 Maryland Avenue, SW
(404) 974-9406 Washington, DC 20202-100
(404) 974-9471 (fax) (800) 421-3481 (202) 453-6012 (fax)
[email protected] (877) 521-2172 (TDD)
[email protected]
ZERO TOLERANCE
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 than 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 officials. 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.
ELL SERVICES
Smith County School System provides an English as a Second Language program for students who have a primary or home language other than English. These students receive specialized instruction to ensure that all students, regardless of language proficiency, have access to a quality educational program.
YOUR CHILD’S READING PROGRAM IN SMITH COUNTY SCHOOLS
HOW WE ASSESS YOUR CHILD’S PROGRESS
In the Smith County School District, reading skills of all students in grades K-8 are assessed at least three times a year. A team of professionals review assessments, progress, attendance and behavior data throughout the year.
HOW WE DETERMINE WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION
School teams use academic, behavior and attendance data to decide which students are doing well in the standard classroom reading program, which students may need supplemental instruction, and which students may need individualized instruction.
When students receive supplemental small group or individualized instruction, we check their progress frequently. The key is to make changes when current instruction is not sufficient for a child. When our data shows a child is not making satisfactory progress in the standard classroom program, we provide small group interventions. If, after a period of instruction, there is still a concern, we plan an individualized intervention.
During small group intervention, we assess student progress twice a month. During individualized intervention, we assess progress once a week. If a student makes limited progress during individualized instruction, we may ask parents for permission to conduct an individual evaluation. This evaluation might result in identification of a learning disability. No evaluation would be conducted without parents’ written consent.
PARENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO CHILDREN’S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL
Education is a partnership between home and school. When a child needs supplemental instruction, we will describe that instruction to you. We will also ask you to tell us anything you think may affect your child’s learning. For example, it is important for us to know if a child has missed a lot of school, experienced a trauma, or is having problems with friends at school. These problems may affect a student’s progress and if we know about them, we can design interventions more effectively.
We value parent involvement at every level and encourage you to partner with us. A good partnership includes good communication. Please feel free to call, write a note, or e-mail us if you have concerns or questions about your child’s education or if you would like to provide extra practice at home.
WHEN CHILDREN CONTINUE TO HAVE DIFFICULTY
The school will tell you if your child begins to make sufficient progress, or if your child continues to have difficulty. If you and the school have tried several interventions and progress remains limited, you may be asked to give consent for an evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine what your child’s educational needs are and to consider if he or she might have a learning disability.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION DESCRIBES A PROCESS CALLED: RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RTI)
RTI is a way of organizing instruction that has two purposes:
- To identify children needing help in reading and to prevent development of serious learning problems.
- To identify children who, even when they get extra help, make very limited progress. Research has shown these children sometimes have learning disabilities.
PARENT NOTIFICATIONS
- 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 military a recruiter.
- For homelessness and families in transition, please contact: Misty Smith, Homeless Liaison 615-735-9625.
- In compliance with state and federal law, the Smith County Board of Education will provide to each protected student with a disability without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriated to the student’s abilities. In order to qualify as a protected student with a disability, the student must be of school age with a physical or mental disability, which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for “protected students who are disabled” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.
For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions of service to protected disabled students, contact:
Gina Morris, 504 Coordinator
126 SCMS Lane, Carthage, TN 37030
615-735-9625