School Vision Delano Optional School will prepare and empower students to demonstrate continued academic success and social leadership in a competitive global society. Mission The Mission of Delano Optional School is to teach students to read with comprehension, write clearly, develop, critical thinking skills, process information, and achieve today’s education using tomorrow’s technology in a safe and nurturing environment.
Motto Delano Optional School; where learning is not optional. Beliefs
Delano Seeks High Standards Because we want the best education for our students, we use standards as our starting point. Standards are clear; challenging statements of what students should know and be able to do with their knowledge and skills. Standards for teaching and learning provide the same high-quality results for education that standards provide for every other area. High-level, consistent standards are the best way to ensure that all aspects of the learning process are coordinated from kindergarten through grade twelve. Standards eliminate the guesswork in education and help guarantee success. Family Math and Science Delano works with the Memphis Urban Systemic Initiative to improve learning in math and science. Students are involved in hands-on activities to increase achievement in these two areas. Parents are encouraged to attend our Family Math and Science activity sessions. Reading Renaissance Accelerated Reader has been used at Delano, and positive results have been seen on reading achievement tests. The program encourages readers to score 85% or higher on a computerized comprehension test. Reading Renaissance places more emphasis on discussions with others. Students keep a log of their reading. During the last school term, students scored over 16,500 points and used those points to purchase incentives in the Reading Renaissance Store. The program involves reading to others, reading with others, and reading independently. Parent participation in this program has been very helpful. We encourage you to volunteer in a classroom any day from 7:45-8:15 to assist with this reading program. Adopters Delano Optional School is proud of our business partners, Cadence Bank and the Board of Probation and Parole. Bank employees and the Parole Board volunteer to read with students during designated time periods. Cadence Bank also provides incentives for our Reading Renaissance Store. Representatives from both of our adopters serve on our School Leadership Council. Parental Involvement Because Delano is an optional school and enrollment in Delano is parents' choice, we recognize the interest Delano parents take in their child's education. Parents play an integral part in their child's growth and learning process; the child will perform at his/her best when parents are involved. Your support of our academic program, your prompt attention to providing the necessities for your child, and your attention to the rules and regulations of Delano Optional School ensure success and the well-being of our children. Your participation in our Parent-Teacher Association is appreciated. We encourage parent-teacher communication for the common benefit of the child's educational needs. Parents sign an agreement with the application to the optional program to do the following:
Parents are our best source of public relations. Even though our school is recognized among educators as GREAT, many people in the community do not know about Delano. Help us spread the news about what a great school we have. Progress Report Another important part of the optional school program at Delano is the computer generated progress report that goes home every other Thursday. This is the school's communication to parents about their child's progress. Parents review, sign, and return the report each period. If parents get an indication that their child is experiencing difficulty, they are encouraged to call the school for an appointment with the teacher. Parents can access their child's grades daily by logging on to www.teacherease.com. To get a Teacher-Ease account set up, parents must provide their email address to their child's teacher. Parent Conferences We welcome parent visitation and participation. However, we ask that conferences be scheduled with your child's teacher before school, after school, or during planning time when students are not in the classroom. Parents should call ahead to schedule a conference with the child's teacher. Parents should sign in on the conference log in the office. We do ask that parents sign in on the conference log in the office, receive a visitor's pass, and visit their child's classroom only. Remember, classroom visitations are not the time for conferences with the teacher. PTA The Delano PTA deserves your support. All activities of the PTA are for the benefit of the children. Please support its fundraisers and projects as these activities only enhance learning for your child. If you are called upon to help the PTA, please say YES! Dues are $5.00 per person for the year. The PTA meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. In the recent past, the PTA has provided awards and incentives for student achievement. Science Fair The Science Fair is held in the spring. It is expected that each student in grades four through six prepare a science project as part of their science grade. Primary students will develop a class project. Spelling Bee Delano will hold a spelling bee for intermediate students (grades 4-6). The winner of the intermediate spelling bee will represent Delano in the county-wide spelling bee in the spring. Fundraising Fundraising is a must if we want to provide a quality education for students at Delano. This money is used to purchase computers, library books, classroom supplies, teaching materials, equipment and office supplies. Grants The faculty constantly seeks grant opportunities to raise additional funds for the school. Our television studio is the result of several grants over the years. Much of the technology in classrooms was attained through grants written by Delano faculty. We will continue to seek additional funds for the school through grant opportunities.
Attendance Good attendance habits are critical to a child's success in school and success later in life. Please help your child arrive on time each and every day. Start now to achieve perfect attendance. Students are rewarded for perfect attendance each six weeks and at the end of the school year. Tardies will disqualify a student from receiving an award. Children should be in their classrooms when the tardy bell rings at 7:30. If a student arrives in the classroom after that time, he/she will be marked tardy. A tardy is excused only if the child is coming from the doctor's office or has been ill. A ten or fifteen minute illness is extremely unlikely. Early dismissal is considered a tardy and it will count against your child's perfect attendance record and may affect your optional school approval status. Unless there is an emergency, students will not be permitted to checkout between 2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. This is an important time of the day when teachers give out critical information such as homework assignments, deadlines for projects, etc. If students miss part of the school day, whether it is at the beginning, middle, or end, they miss instructional time. If possible, please avoid tardies or early checkout. A total of more than fifteen absences and tardies will disqualify a student's optional transfer. Students arriving after 7:30 must check in through the school office and receive an admit slip to class. Absences Excused absences: 1. Personal illness of the student. 6. Deployment for and return from military service of a student’s parent/guardian or custodian (one day excused for the parent’s deployment and one day excused for the parent’s return). 7. Visitation with a parent/guardian or custodian who is a member of the United States armed forces when the member is granted rest and recuperation leave and is stationed out of the country. (Up to 10 days; of excused absences).
A student who does not receive prior approval from the teacher or principal/designee for an excused absence must submit a note from a parent or guardian or other appropriate person describing the excused absence immediately upon the student’s return to school, but, in any event, no later than three (3) schooldays after the absence was taken. The principal may require a doctor’s statement for the personal illness of a student that extends beyond three (3) consecutive school days or when a student is repeatedly absent for less than three (3) consecutive days. If no documentation justifying the absence as excusable is submitted within the three-day period, the absence will become an unexcused absence. Appeals Disputes over whether an absence is excused or unexcused shall be decided by the principal (or designee). Make-Up Work Students shall be permitted the opportunity to make up all work and classroom tests (or their equivalent) missed as a result of an excused or unexcused absence. Unexcused Absence Procedures a. First unexcused absence: Teacher calls parent/guardian. -Log date and time of call on Delano unexcused absence form b. Second unexcused absence: Teacher calls parent/guardian. -Log date and time of call on Delano unexcused absence form c. Third unexcused absence: Warning letter to parents/guardians informing them of the truancy laws and the consequences of noncompliance and requesting a parent/teacher conference.
---2) Send home MCS parent/teacher conference request form. -Log date conference request form sent on Delano unexcused absence form ---3) Send warning letter to parents/guardians informing them of the truancy laws and the consequences of noncompliance. Letter should also include request for parent/teacher conference. -Log date letter sent on Delano unexcused absence form e. Fifth unexcused absence: ---1) The first official letter from the District Attorney’s Office will be automatically generated by the district and sent to the parents/guardians informing them of their noncompliance and compulsory attendance laws, the consequences for failing to comply, and that their presence is requested at a meeting of the Student Assistance Review Team (SART). This team is designed to identify the cause(s) of the unexcused absences in order to bring the parent/guardian and student in compliance with attendance laws. -Log date letter sent on Delano unexcused absence form ---2) Minimum SART team composition: -Family specialist -Guidance counselor -Principal (or designee) -Parent/Guardian-Student-An advocate representing the student such as the student’s choosing. SART meetings are held every Tuesday morning as needed at 8:00 a.m. ---3) Designated office staff may continue to call the parents/guardians to request their presence at a SART meeting. -Log date and time of calls on Delano unexcused absence form. ---4) SART team must develop a Parent/Student Action Plan (PSAP). --------a) Plan must be signed by all members of the team. ------- b) Plan must be monitored on a regular basis. --------c) If the parent/guardian does not cooperate, the plan can be implemented with the student's signature. --------d) The plan must document attempts to contact the parents/guardians. -Log date and time of meeting on Delano unexcused absence form ---5) If student does not adhere to PSAP plan and accumulates a total of 10 or more unexcused absences, the final letter from the District Attorney’s Office will be automatically generated by the district and sent to the parents/guardians requiring them to bring their child to a mandatory meeting of the communitywide Student Attendance Review Board (SARB). The purpose of this Board is to determine if the student’s case should be moved to Juvenile Court. The Board consists of representatives from Juvenile Court, the Memphis and Shelby County Community Services Agency, Memphis City Schools, the Council of Missing and Exploited Children, and the Department of Children’s’ Services. ---6) The SARB Board shall review the student’s file, including attempts by the school to obtain parent support in enforcing the compulsory attendance laws. --------a) The Board can decide to refer the case to the Attorney General and Juvenile Court or give the parent the chance to follow the plan that has already been set forth. --------b) The Board may also modify the plan to place additional requirements on students and parents (e.g., requiring the student to attend an intervention program or the parent/guardian to attend a parent class). --------c) The Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) shall inform the principal of the outcome of the SARB meeting. --7) The Principals shall notify the Office of Student Engagement when they withdraw a student who has at least ten (10) consecutive days of absence. This notification shall include documentation of the school’s attempt to implement the Unexcused Absence Procedures outlined in these regulations. Law Enforcement Any student who accumulates 15 or more days of unexcused absences within a school year may be referred to Juvenile Court and the District Attorney General’s Office for appropriate legal action. However, every attempt shall be made to intervene to support students prior to referral to these agencies. Tardies If a student is tardy to school three times and/or has three early releases during the school year, the teacher documents on a Weekly Tardy Form and sends to office. A conference will be set up with the student’s parent/guardian by the counselor or office staff. A principal designee will follow-up with a phone call to parents. If parent is unable to be contacted by phone, teacher should follow up with a note in assignment journal. A student who arrives late to school or leaves school early without a medically documented excuse more than nine times within a school year may be subject to more stringent disciplinary action. -For every third unexcused tardy or absence a student receives, the teacher documents on a Weekly Tardy Form and sends to office. The office will follow up with parent. -Every Wednesday teachers complete a Weekly Tardy Form and submit it with attendance card to office. -The school will use any necessary interventions to promote timely school attendance. Refer to Board Policy #6.200 School Hours Delano's hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Teachers report to work at 7:15 and supervision of students begins at that time. All students will enter the building at 7:00 and report to the cafeteria. All students eating breakfast must be in line by 7:20. Students must be in their rooms when the tardy bell rings at 7:30. Students should be picked up after school by 2:30. For your convenience Delano offers an after-school program on our campus in the cafeteria. There is a $10.00 nonrefundable registration fee and a weekly rate of $40.00. Please sign your child up for after-school care in case an emergency arises and you are not able to pick up your child. The daily charge for a drop-in is $10.00 and a one - time registration fee of $10.00 . If you enroll your child in a day care center away from the school, please inform your child's teacher and make sure that the day care is responsible regarding transportation of your child. Remember they must be picked up by 2:30 as school staff leaves at that time, and there is no one to supervise stranded children. Please sign your child up for after care. In extreme cases, when children are not picked up, the Memphis Police Department will be called and the child will be held at Juvenile Court for your pick-up. Parents who bring children to school are requested to park against the curb on the north side of Delano Road. Please do not pull into either faculty parking lot or driveway as this may endanger children that are exiting from portable buildings. All students will enter and leave the building through the front door of the school during regular school hours. After-school students are dismissed from the cafeteria. For safety reasons, all doors to the school remain locked and door buzzers have been installed. When arriving to pick up your child, please wait on the front walk or in the office - not outside your child's classroom as this adds to the congestion in the hallways at dismissal time. Students must exit the building when dismissed and may not loiter in the hallways or go to the playground. Students must wait in the front of the school for their ride where school personnel will supervise them. Special after-school programs and clubs will have specified ending times and students participating in those activities should be picked up promptly. Failure to pick students up on time will disqualify your child from participating in club activities. Emergency School Closings In the event of inclement weather or other emergencies, the local radio and TV will announce school closings. Please stay tuned when threatening weather is at hand. Please do not call the school office as you cannot depend on getting through. The school has limited phone lines and personnel to handle a huge load of calls. If your work prevents you from leaving in an emergency, please make prior arrangements with a relative, neighbor, or emergency friend to pick up your child. Student Telephone Use Delano has one main phone line; therefore, we cannot allow students to call home except in an emergency. Parents are asked to make arrangements with their child before the student leaves home. A monthly calendar is issued and posted on the internet to help with planning for clubs and special occasions. Please post the calendar in your home and check it on a regular basis. Textbooks Students will be charged the new price for lost or heavily damaged new textbooks. A student will pay 75% of the new price for lost or heavily damaged used textbooks. Water damage, profanity or obscenities, or missing pages will result in a book being classified as unfit. Charges for minor damage, such as writing or abused covers, will be based on the degree of damage, not to exceed the cost of the book. No books will be issued without the parent signature on the textbook form. Failure to pay for textbook losses or damages will result in a hold on the report card.
Guidance Services A guidance counselor is available to assist students, parents, and teachers. It is the goal of the guidance counselor to assist families in accessing appropriate education for students. Please call the school to make an appointment with the counselor if your child is experiencing any problems that may affect schoolwork. It is our goal to help students through any hardships they may encounter. Homework Homework is required according to board policy and our requirements for optional transfer. Each student will keep a homework assignment journal. Parents should sign the homework assignment journal each night indicating awareness of the assignments. Parents should sign, check and review AR folders each night. Medication Students requiring prescribed medication during school hours will be required to personally administer their medication. A doctor's statement is required showing the necessity of medication during school hours, the dosage, the time it is administered, possible side effects if any known, and the anticipated length of treatment. This information may be faxed to the school at 416-3934. The parent must also complete an Authorization for Medication during School Hours form. Medicine should be brought to the school office by the parent. Do not allow students to come to school with medication in their possession. Medication will be kept in the school office. Club and Extracurricular Activities Delano has numerous clubs including National Junior Beta Club, a Computer Club for each grade, Music, Camera Club, Arts and Crafts Club, Pompon Squad, Computer Club, Jump Rope Club, and DTV. Clubs will meet on a monthly basis after school. We encourage participation of every child. Student of the Week At the end of each week, every teacher will turn in the name of his or her student of the week to be recognized the following week. Teachers use any criteria they wish, and the criteria may change from week to week in order to motivate students. The Student of the Week will receive a ribbon to wear and have his/her picture displayed on a bulletin board in the main hallway. At the end of the week, students will receive their pictures and certificates. Student of the Year At the end of the year, a student will be selected from each grade as Student of the Year. Each Student of the Year will receive a trophy and his/her name will be engraved on a permanent plaque, which is displayed in the front hallway of the school. A student cannot be selected two years consecutively.
Bookworm of the Year To encourage reading, Delano awards a plaque to the Delano Bookworm of the Year. Student participation in Reading Renaissance will be used to select the honoree. The student with the most points at the end of the year will be the Bookworm of the Year. Birthday Books If you would like to honor your child on his/her birthday, we would love to add a book to our library collection in his/her honor. Please check with the librarian for a list of approved books. Upon the family’s purchase of a book, a book plate will be placed in the front of the book recognizing the child, the occasion of the donation, and the date the book was donated to the library. Giving a book to the library can be a lasting birthday gift. Story characters or animals for the library would also be appreciated. Principal’s List Students who receive all A’s and E’s or S’s in conduct and special subjects will be named to the Principal’s List. Each award recipient will receive ribbons. The first time students achieve Principal’s List or Honor Roll, the family will receive a bumper sticker. Names will be displayed in the front hall. Honor Roll Students who receive A’s and B’s and at least S’s in conduct and special subjects will be named to the Honor Roll. These students will receive ribbons, and their names will be posted in the front hall. Citizenship Honor Roll Students must receive E’s in both conduct and work habits to be named to this list. Names will be posted in the front hall of the school. Grading Scale For students in grades 1-6, the numerical value upon which grades are based is as follows: 93-100 = A (Excellent) 85-92 = B (Good) 75-84 = C (Satisfactory) 70-74 = D (Poor but passing) 0-69 = Failure
Perfect Attendance certificates will be awarded to students who have maintained Perfect Attendance. That means NO absences and NO tardies. Certificates will be awarded at the end of each six weeks and at the end of the year. Cafeteria Conduct Cafeteria rules are as follows: 1. Follow instructions of teaching assistants. 2. Use good table manners. 3. Use a low tone of voice. 4. Trading food is not allowed (health reasons). 5. Be orderly in line. 6. Glass containers are not allowed. Federal Lunch Program A child must qualify each year for the lunch program. There is no carry over from year to year. Parents must complete the form carefully and list all members of the household since this affects approval. Students who qualify may also eat breakfast. Parents of students who qualify should also a sign a waiver form for payment for paid school events. Cafeteria Prices The cafeteria operates on a cash only basis. Lunch cards may be purchased on Monday mornings. If possible, we encourage parents to pay by the month for full pay and reduced meals. We will not accept checks for lunch cards or meals. Students bringing their lunches may purchase milk. Please make sure that your child has a sack lunch or a lunch card. The school cannot provide a meal for a student who has no lunch card or lunch money. Prices are as follows: Full Pay Breakfast …………….….. $0.00 Full Pay Lunch ………………......... $1.75 Reduced Price Breakfast ……….. $0.00 Reduced Price Lunch ………….… $0.25 Milk ……………….………………..... $0.45 Fruit Juice (4oz.) ……………….… $0.40 Fruit Juice (6oz.) ………………….. $0.60 Weekly Lunch Card ……………… $8.25
Lunch Loans The cafeteria staff is not allowed by Memphis City Schools’ policy to loan money. If students forget or lose their lunch, they are to borrow money for that day from the teacher before they leave the room. Students are to repay the loan the next day. Repaying promptly replenishes the fund so that other students may borrow when necessary. Breakfast Students learn better on a full stomach. Breakfast is most important. The cafeteria opens at 7:00 and students may enter until 7:20. Students should be finished with breakfast by 7:25 so that they will be in class before the late bell rings at 7:30. Blue Ribbon Discipline Plan Developing good citizenship is one of the major functions of education. Good discipline in a school is necessary to ensure a proper learning environment. Discipline is the responsibility of parents, teachers, the Board of Education and the administrative staff of the school. Parents are given the Memphis City Schools Code of Conduct and expectations at registration. Principals and teachers are charged with the responsibility of using any board policies or procedures necessary to provide an atmosphere for learning. The Administration will follow steps outlined in Board Policy # 5151.2. Suspensions The principal may issue a suspension when it is deemed necessary. Please see the code of conduct for a range of disciplinary measures. The guide of conduct outlines examples of disciplinary offenses and their consequences. Fighting Fighting will not be tolerated for any reason. Peer mediation is used to help students resolve conflicts and problems with others. We make students aware that if they have a problem that they cannot resolve on their own with words, they should ask an adult at school for help. With all of the violence on television and the popularity of the martial arts, children sometimes engage in what they call “play fighting.” This behavior will not be tolerated. Many times what begins as play ends up hurting someone or causing tempers to flare. Students who fight must be removed from the campus through a suspension. Dress Code We believe neat, appropriate dress influences student behavior. Under the Memphis City Schools board policy all students must wear uniforms daily. Uniforms consist of navy, black or khaki pants, shorts, jumpers or skirts and plain white blouses/shirts with collars. The following guidelines may be helpful to you: Tops (shirts, blouses) must be white with collars and sleeves.
Visit MCS website at www.mcsk12.net for more information on the mandatory dress code. Parties Learning is our priority at Delano. However, if parents would like to recognize their children on their birthday, the Health Department requires that treats be commercially prepared, and not made in the home. Parties should be prearranged with the teacher and held in the classroom. Field Trips At Delano, we place value on extending the classroom beyond the halls of the school building, and encourage teachers to plan field trips that support the curriculum. Transportation is approved by Memphis City Schools. Parents may be asked to chaperone when large groups of students go into the community. Cost for parents will vary, depending on the trip. School Insurance Information and enrollment forms for student accident insurance will be provided at or shortly after registration. We strongly encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity for your child. An option for 24-hour coverage is available. The school offers this to you for your convenience and does not profit by your enrollment. Communicable Conditions Head lice, Ringworm, and Pink Eye are highly contagious conditions. Students with evidence of any of these conditions must be removed from the school immediately upon discovery of the condition. Head lice are a common occurrence in children. The child will be allowed to return to school after treatment with a lice shampoo and no evidence of nits (eggs). The parent should bring the lice shampoo container to the school. Ringworm and Pink Eye require prescription medication to overcome. The child may return to school after treatment by a physician, and the parent should bring a form from the doctor’s office indicating the child may return to school. Open House Curriculum Night for all parents will be held shortly after school begins to provide orientation to the procedures and programs at Delano. This program will last one hour or less. Open House for all parents will be held in September. Specific information will be sent home with the monthly calendar.
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Memphis City Schools does not discriminate in its programs or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap/disability, sex or age. For more information, please contact the Office of Equity Compliance at (901) 416-6670.