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Accountability
for Books and Equipment |
Grading
System - Academic |
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Accountability for Books and Equipment Students are responsible for the textbooks provided and assigned to them as well as for library books and equipment they use. At the beginning of the school year, parents sign textbook contracts of agreement to pay for lost or damaged books. Students will be assessed the cost of any damaged or lost books. Arrival/Dismissal Procedures - School Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Upon arrival at school, children riding the Memphis City School buses will enter the cafeteria for breakfast. Other students eating breakfast at school should arrive at 8:00 a.m. They will be dismissed from the cafeteria to go to classes at 8:15 a.m. Teachers will be at their classroom doors to receive children at 8:15 a.m. Please have your child here on time. Tardies and absences are part of the criteria for optional school renewal. Children must be in the classroom by 8:30 a.m. to avoid a trip to the office and a tardy mark. Excessive tardies are grounds for suspension. Let children out of the car at the right hand curb and pick children up in the same manner. Children should never be dropped off or picked up along the curb of Summer Avenue. Walk across the street only where there is a crossing guard (Summer and Graham or Tutwiler and Graham). Children should walk around, not through the faculty parking lot when entering or leaving the building. In cold and/or wet weather, it is more important than ever that you avoid bringing your children too early or picking them up too late. Please make allowance for longer travel time. After the first month of the school year, only on rare occasions will a parent need to escort their child to and from the classroom door. Please choose a spot near the building exit for that last "goodbye" kiss and "hello" hugs. Parents who wish to come inside the building before dismissal are asked to check in at the office, get a visitor’s sticker, and wait in the cafeteria for their child to be dismissed. Rules and Regulations for the New Circle Drive - The maximum speed in the drive is 10 miles per hour. Morning Drop Off No parking allowed except in designated spaces. Afternoon Pick Up Cars may park along the north and south curbs just long enough to pick
up. Attendance
Pupils are required to attend school on all days that school is in operation.
The only acceptable excuses for absences are: Absences for any reason other than those stated above will be considered
unexcused. Teachers are NOT required to give students make-up work for
unexcused absences. Please call the school office (416-5952) on the morning of the day when
your child is absent. On the first day back at school after an absence,
the parent must send a note giving date, student’s name, days of
absences, reason for absence, and parent’s signature. Early Dismissals Parents are encouraged to schedule doctor and dental appointment after school hours. No dismissals are permitted between 2:00 and 3:15 except in extreme instances and approved by an administrator. If this is not possible, send a note to the teacher requesting the early dismissal and stating the time and reason for dismissal. The parent must come to the school office to check out the child. Bicycles Bookstore After checking with their teacher, students may buy school supplies at the school bookstore from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Breakfast Breakfast is available in the cafeteria from 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. for walkers. Students coming for breakfast should enter the north or south doors near the cafeteria. Memphis City School bus riders will eat upon arrival. Bus Safety Rules To ensure a safe bus ride to and from school, please insist that your children:
Classroom
Parties Conferences We invite and urge you to consult with your child’s teacher or an administrator for help with any problems. Please send a note or call the school to arrange for a conference time. Teachers are happy to arrange a meeting before or after school hours. This is done so that every child can benefit from an uninterrupted school day. Discipline A school atmosphere conducive to learning is a place where individuals are self-disciplined and show respect for themselves and others and for school and personal property. We ask that you discuss with your children the importance of good behavior and a good attitude at school. Grahamwood School has adopted the following school rules, which are posted throughout the building: Because We Value Education . . .
Classroom
teachers seek to handle discipline in a positive manner. All students
know the classroom rules and positive behavior is reinforced. Consequences
for inappropriate behavior are clear and consistent. Generally speaking,
children are sent to the office only after the following has occurred: However, in extreme cases, a student may be sent to the office with
a discipline referral form. It is important for parents and school personnel
to work together for the good of the children. All students and parents
must sign and return the Memphis City Schools Code of Conduct prior
to the Labor Day Holiday each year.
Dress Code Basic Uniform:
For the 2002-2003 school year, students at all schools must wear the basic district wide uniform, but schools that have existing school uniform policies may continue to wear their uniforms for the 2002-2003 school year. For the 2003-2004 school year, all schools must comply with the district wide school uniform policy, including schools that have existing uniforms. 1. School leadership councils may approve of an additional style and color for the uniform top if the change is school-related and is consistent with district and school dress codes. These changes can be implemented for the 2002-2003 school year if the school leadership council meets and approves the changes before August 12, 2002. School leadership councils may also approve of days or events when school uniforms will not be required. Middle and high school students must provide input in decisions regarding local changes in school uniforms. A student will not be out of compliance if he/she wears the district wide uniform rather than local school’s uniform. 2. Students may wear the uniforms of nationally recognized student organizations at their schools on days specified by the organization (e.g., girl scouts and boy scouts). 3. The school district and local school must inform parents of the availability of financial assistance if they cannot afford school uniforms at competitive prices. 4. Violation of the school uniform policy shall not affect a student’s academic or conduct grades. 5. School leadership councils shall establish dress codes consistent with the district wide policy on dress codes. 6. Parent complaints about the school uniform policy and the school dress code shall be reported to the principal or a designee. 7. The Department of Exceptional Children can decide whether any student(s) should be exempt from the School Uniforms Policy due to a student’s exceptionality. 8. Compliance: First
Violation - The school shall attempt to contact the student’s
parent or guardian to determine whether the student has uniform clothing.
If the student has uniform clothing, the school should request that
the parent bring them to school. If the parent cannot be contacted,
the school will provide alternative clothing. A Notice of Dress Code
Violation will be sent home with the student, regardless of whether
the parent was contacted. Mr. Ali requests an exemption for his daughter. He states that he is a member of the Islamic faith, and his religion requires women to cover their heads and all parts of their bodies except their face, hands, and feet when in public. Mr. Ali believes that wearing the traditional Islamic dress will allow his child to fulfill these requirements. He believes that the school uniform is not sufficient to meet the requirements set forth by the Islamic faith because of parts of the young women’s bodies that Islam requires to be covered will not be covered. In this example, the parent identified his religion and one of its beliefs or tenets and indicated how he believed wearing the school uniform conflicts with one of his religion’s beliefs. Emergency Drills
FIRE: The
signal for a fire drill is indicated by a long continuous sound of a
buzzer. The building is evacuated, with students leaving nearby exits
as instructed by the teacher. Grading System: Academic
A
- 93-100 Grading System: Conduct
A
- 93-100 Grahamwood Parents Association All parents are encouraged to take an active part in the Grahamwood Parents Association. Monthly GPA business meetings are open to everyone, and are generally held on the first Friday of each month at 8:45 a.m. The GPA newsletter is sent home on report card day each six weeks. Homework Policy #6133: "The Memphis Board of Education recognizes the importance of homework as a supportive activity designed to promote academic achievement, to reinforce or apply a skill previously taught, and to extend activities into the home. Therefore, meaningful homework assignments shall be made throughout the year." It is the policy of this school that at least ten percent of each six weeks grade will be based on the evaluation of meaningful homework assignments. In order to assure meaningful homework, assignments should be: The implementation of this homework policy shall be the responsibility
of each teacher. Homework assignment books are available for purchase
in the school bookstore. Honors Assemblies At the end of the first through fifth six weeks periods, students in grades 3-6 attend assemblies for recognition of honors earned. Honors include the following: Recognition will also be given to students who earn awards in competitive
events such as science fair and history fair. Instructional Programs Student instruction is aligned with Memphis City Schools Student Standards. Grahamwood has an enriched academics optional program, which is available to children who apply for and meet the qualifications of this program. Entrance requirements are:
Special needs of children are addressed through programs in the Memphis
City Schools Division of Exceptional Children: While teachers refer students who seem to have special needs, it is
also appropriate for a parent to request that a child be considered
for a particular program. For more information about guidelines for
placement, please call our guidance counselor or school administrator. Lesson Line Lesson Line is a telecommunications service provided to teachers and parents by First Tennessee Bank. Lesson Line makes it possible for parents and students to get recorded messages by telephone from the school from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. weekdays and anytime on weekends. Just call the Lesson Line telephone number and follow the recorded directions. Telephone numbers and teacher codes are sent home at the beginning of the school year. Lost Articles Please mark all coin purses, lunch boxes, lunch sacks, clothing, schoolbooks, etc. with your child’s name. You or your child may check in the office for lost articles. Lunch If your child chooses to bring a lunch from home please write his/her name on the lunch box or sack. Carbonated drinks and glass containers are not allowed in the cafeteria. Milk and some à la carte items are available for purchase in the cafeteria. The Federal Lunch Program is available for children whose family income qualifies them for free or reduced price lunches. Applications are available at registration and throughout the school year in the office. Parents are invited to have lunch with their children any day. No reservation is necessary. Please do not bring in food from fast food restaurants. Money If you give your child money for any reason, please put it in an envelope. On the envelope write your child’s name and the purpose for which the money was sent. It is especially important that parents do this for students in grades K-3. Parent Meetings In order to keep you informed of our educational activities, there will be various classroom and school visitations, programs, GPA meetings and open houses during the school year. You will be notified when these meetings are scheduled. All parents are encouraged to take an active part in the Grahamwood Parents Association. Monthly GPA business meetings are open to everyone, and are generally held on the first Friday of each month at 8:45 a.m. The GPA newsletter is sent home on report card day each six weeks. Schools Closings In case of severe weather, snow, ice, etc., an official announcement for school closings can be heard over the local radio and television stations. Parents are requested to have a "snow plan" on file with each teacher. This plan should specify what each child should do in case of early dismissal. Students will NOT have access to a telephone to call you. Sick or Hurt Students Please inform us in writing of any specific health problems that your child may have such as severe reactions to bee stings, other allergies, or seizures. We will call you if your child becomes sick or is hurt at school. However, sometimes this notification takes hours. We encourage you to help us by:
If it is necessary for your child to take medication at school, send the medical form, available in our school office, completed by the doctor and parent, along with the medication. All medicine is kept in the office and is dispensed there. A school nurse is present at Grahamwood one full day each week. The secretaries in the office handle medical concerns daily. Several staff members are trained in CPR and on call for "code blue" emergencies. In case of a serious accident, students will be transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital or medical facility. Student Health Insurance Although purchase is optional, school insurance is available and a good investment. Packets are sent home early in the year. The school does not assume financial responsibility for injuries incurred on school premises. Telephone Calls Pupils
may not use the office telephone except in extreme emergencies. We do
not call pupils to the telephone when they are in their classes. We
will, however, deliver an important message to your child. Visitors All visitors must check in with the office to get a visitor’s sticker before going into other parts of the building. Any unauthorized person will be sent to the office. If a parent is bringing something to a student, the parent should come to the office. We will deliver the item to the student. Withdrawing from Grahamwood Please notify the school at least two days before the date of withdrawal. We need time to get records together for your child’s new school. Please write us a note telling us the new address and the last day he/she will be attending Grahamwood School. All textbooks, library books, and other school-owned materials must be returned before withdrawal. When student’s record has been cleared, a Transfer Data Sheet will be provided to the new school.
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