Student+Handbook+Reference+Guide

Smith County Middle School  Student Handbook   134 SCMS Lane   Carthage, TN 37030   Telephone: 615-735-8277   Fax: 615-735-8255   http://boe.smithcounty.com/scms

Principal’s Message Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Welcome to the new school year at Smith County Middle School. What you are holding represents the work of the faculty, students, and administration of our school. Consider it a guidebook to membership in our community of learners. The guidelines contained within this handbook are suggestions about how we can best contribute to an environment that is safe, friendly, and productive. It’s about having an atmosphere in our school that fosters good work, good feelings, and good memories. Most of us know when we are doing the right thing. No one is served well by going around looking for loopholes; it’s a waste of time. We ask that you review this Student Handbook with your child. Pay careful attention to what is in your handbook. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions if something is not clear. Have a great year. Sincerely,

Ronnie Scudder, Principal

** Parent/Student/Teacher Compact ** ** 2011-2012 **

Dear Parents/Guardian:

We value your role in working to help your child achieve high academic standards. The following is an outline of some of the ways you, your child, and the school staff can build and maintain a partnership to share the responsibility for improving your child’s academic achievement. //__ Parent/Guardian Agreement __// It is important to have my child reach his/her full potential. Therefore, I will: ! encourage my child to attend school regularly, arrive on time, and be well prepared. ! encourage my child to show positive school behavior. ! review my child’s homework. ! volunteer in my child’s school and classroom, if time or schedule permits. ! attend parent-teacher conferences and participate, when appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of my child. !  //__ Student Agreement __// It is important that I work to the best of my ability. Therefore, I will: ! attend school and have materials needed for schoolwork. ! complete and return homework assignments on time and ask for help when needed. ! write down homework assignments daily in planner. ! give to my parents or the adult that is responsible for my welfare all notices and information received by me from my school every day. ! always try to do my best. !  //__ Teacher Agreement __// Students must be given the opportunity to succeed. Therefore, I will: ! set high expectations for each student, for myself, and for my school. ! maintain an environment that is conducive to learning, while communicating with my students and their parents. ! provide a mid- six weeks progress report to parents. ! encourage parents to participate in school activities. ! respect the students and their parent while showing concern and sensitivity to students’ individual needs.

Smith County Middle School Student Handbook __Notice__ This handbook is designed to be a quick reference guide and to answer the more common questions that have been asked in previous years. For further explanations or questions concerning Board Policy, please feel free to look at the __Board Policy Manual__. It can be found on the Smith County Board of Education’s website at //boe.smithcounty.com.// Your student will also receive a packet at the beginning of the school year which may contain further explanations of some policies.

__Our Vision__ SCMS is committed to providing a safe, challenging environment in which students working with teachers, parents, and other stakeholders strive toward achieving success as life-long learners so that students will be prepared to face the challenges of the future.

School Hours School hours are from 8:00 A. M. until 3:00 P. M. each day. Students should arrive at the school and be ready for class no later than 7:55 A. M. Students should not arrive earlier than 7:30 A. M. or remain on the campus later than 3:15 P. M. unless they are participating in a supervised activity.

SCHOOL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL 7:20 EACH SCHOOL DAY.

Attendance Attendance will be counted per class. This will count toward whether the student must take final test. The Smith County School Board and the State of Tennessee believe regular attendance in school accompanied by the responsibility to study and participate in school activities is essential to the learning process. Once a student arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day. Students tardy more than three (3) times in a six weeks’ period may be assigned detention. Excessive tardiness to school will result in that student being referred to the Smith County Truancy Board with his/her parent or legal guardian. Unexcused early checkouts of a student may result in detention as well.

When a child must be absent from school, a written parent/guardian note is required upon returning to school. Parent notes will excuse up to five (5) absences for the entire school year. After five (5) absences, all personal illness absences will require a doctor’s statement in order to be considered excused. After five (5) unexcused absences, a student’s name will be given to the Smith County Truancy Board for further review. Student attendance will be monitored the remainder of the school year and the following school year. If a student receives any future unexcused absences after appearing before the Truancy Board, further action will be taken.

When a student absence is created by a doctor’s appointment, court appearance, etc., the excuse will apply only to the reasonable amount of time involved including time for travel. For example, a student having an appointment at 2:00 P. M. would not be excused for the entire school day.

__Final Test Exemption Policy__  Students in grades 5 through 8 will be exempt from final exams if they meet the following criteria:

100-95 5 absences 94-90 4 absences 89-85 3 absences 84-80 2 absences 79-75 1 absence 74-70 0 absence

The cut-off for attendance for the Final Test Exemption Policy will be the last school day before final tests are scheduled to begin.

Students who have attained the necessary grade average will be exempted only if a parent or legal guardian has signed the appropriate form acknowledging awareness of the exemption and giving permission for the student not to attend school on the day(s) of exams. Each student that does not attend school on exam days must have a parental consent form on file.

Any student, who has attained perfect attendance in an individual subject and has a passing average, will be exempt from the final test. Students may elect to take the final test if desired.

__Grading Scale__ 100-93 A 85-92 B  75-84 C  74-70 D  69 and below F

Residency Requirements Students who attend SCMS must live in Smith County. The Smith County Board of Education policy states the following: Smith County has a closed policy on out-of-county students. No student residing in another county will be permitted to attend Smith County Schools unless they were enrolled on or before September 14, 1993. __Nondiscrimination Policy__

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require school districts to have officially adopted policy statement of nondiscrimination on the basis of sex, handicap, national origin, and race.

“It is the policy of the Smith County Board of Education not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, or disability in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments and section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is also the policy of this district that the curriculum materials utilized reflect the cultural and racial diversity present in the United States and the variety of careers, roles and lifestyles open to women as well as men in our society. On of the objectives of the total curriculum and teaching strategies is to reduce stereotyping and to eliminate bias on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, and disability. The curriculum should foster respect and appreciation for the cultural diversity found in our country and an awareness of the rights, duties, and responsibilities of each individual as a member of a pluralistic society.”

Inquires regarding compliance may be directed to the Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator (207 North Main Street B, Carthage, TN 37030—735-9625)

__No Child Left Behind Requirements__ Parents may request information about qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals who instruct their child.

Parents may request that their child’s name, address, and telephone number not be released to a military recruiter.

Parents will be notified that their child has the right to transfer to another school within the district if they are the victims of a violent crime at school.

Check-out Procedures/Early Dismissal of Students In any check-out situation, the authorized person must report to the office and sign that student out of school. Authorized persons are not to go into the student’s classroom to get him/her. Teachers will not release students from their classrooms unless they are authorized to do so by the office. In case of court orders of custody of a child, a copy of the court order should be on file in the school office. Children will be released to authorized persons only.

Parents are requested to arrange medical, dental, and other appointments for their children outside school hours. Any dismissal before 3:00 p.m. must be requested with a note. The note must be given to the homeroom teacher who will send it to the office. The note should be dated, give a valid reason for the dismissal, specify the time of departure, indicate a phone number where the parent can be reached during the day, and be signed by a parent/guardian.

Visitor Policy Parents and visitors are welcome at Smith County Middle School. All visitors and parents must enter through the front entrance, sign in at the office, and obtain a visitor’s pass.

=Daily Procedures for Arrivals/Dismissals at School=

Students arriving by car should not arrive before 7:30 A. M. No car should ever be in the bus loading/unloading area (unless authorized by Smith County Board of Education). During dismissal, no cars should be in the bus loading/unloading area. Cars should be lined up in the front entrance area to wait for students to be dismissed. Students will not be allowed to walk from SCMS to surrounding areas (e.g. ballpark, soccer field, etc.)

If a student is going to ride a bus other than his/her usual bus, the student needs to bring a note that lets the bus driver and principal know the name and address of the residence to which the student is going, along with the date and bus number.

__ Phone Use __ School phones are for emergency use only. Emergency calls do NOT include forgotten lunch money, forgotten items, permission to stay after school, or permission to go home with another student. Teachers, students, and parents are expected to make arrangements for after-school activities or to cancel after-school activities in advance-not the day of an activity. If a student must call home due to illness, school personnel will make the call to the parents. Students cannot be called to the telephone. Only urgent messages will be delivered.

Homework/Make-Up Work Students should record their daily, weekly, and/or long-term assignments in the Student Planner. This book will help students manage their time and assignments.

When a student is absent from school, it is __his/her responsibility__ to obtain missed assignments upon returning to school the following day. If a student is unable to come to school for an extended period of time but is able to complete 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 WHILE ABSENT BE COMPLETED AT 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. A student will not be allowed to make-up their work for unexcused absences, and a zero will be given for assignments on the day of the absence. Suspended absences are unexcused absences, and no make-up work will be given.

__Homework Hotline__

The Homework Hotline is designed to provide students with free help on assignments after school hours. Students may reach this hotline by dialing 615-298-6636 or 1-888-868-5777. The Homework Hotline is available Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Textbooks Textbooks are furnished to the student 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 and Student Planners. Library books are considered in the same category as textbooks and should be treated in the same manner.

Parent-Teacher Conferences One conference is scheduled with the students’ teacher(s) during the school year. The conference will be split into two separate days in the fall. Parents will be asked to attend only one of the following dates: Thursday, September 30 and Monday, October 4. We encourage you to request a conference with your child’s teacher if one is needed at other times during the school year. It is very important that you know what is going on with your child at school. Please schedule all conferences by calling the school office. 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.

Physical Education Physical Education is an integral part of the instructional program and is required as part of the state curriculum. All students will be required to participate regularly unless a doctor’s excuse is presented. If your child cannot participate on a particular day, 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, appropriate footwear is required for physical education. __These shoes must be different from the shoes that are worn to school even if the student wears athletic shoes to school__. (They do not have to be new shoes—just different from the ones that the student wears to school every day.) Students who do not arrive for physical education wearing proper footwear may be assigned written work as an alternative to participating in the day’s activities.

Basic School Rules Show respect for yourself and others at all times. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Always walk in the school building. Talk at appropriate times and in an appropriate voice. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Students will NOT buy, trade, swap, or borrow items of value from other students. Follow directions the first time they are given.

Specific School Rules
__Student Code of Conduct__ Student offenses are in four categories. Most of these are listed below. Administrators are responsible for discipline and will classify any offense not listed below unless directed by the Board of Education.

CATEGORY I—Offenses to be administered by the school that may result in, reprimand, loss of privilege, detention (where applicable), corporal punishment, time-out, or suspension due to severity of incident.

CATEGORY II—Offenses that may result in suspension. Any student suspended will not be allowed to participate in any school function including field trips, athletic practices or contests, etc.

CATEGORY III—These offenses are subject to suspension up to a maximum of 20 days. (i.e. bullying, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol)

CATEGOR IV—There will be zero tolerance for the following offenses. These offenses will be reported to the superintendent and to law enforcement officials:
 * 1) Bomb threats
 * 2) Malicious arson
 * 3) Possession or distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substance, including marijuana
 * 4) Possession and/or use of weapons
 * 5) Battery of a school employee
 * 6) Being present on school property, on a school bus, and/or at a school event/activity under the influence of an illegal drug, controlled substance or alcohol.

Zero Tolerance Students shall not possess, handle, transmit, use or attempt to use any dangerous weapon in school buildings or on school grounds at any time, or in vehicles and/or buses or on the school grounds at a school-sponsored activity, function, or event. __The Smith County School Board has a zero tolerance policy regarding weapons__. Students who are found to have violated this policy shall be subject to suspension for a period of not less than one (1) year. The director of schools shall have the authority to modify this suspension requirement on a case-by-case basis. __Toy weapons of any size are prohibited as well and could lead to the enforcement of the zero tolerance policy.__

The use or possession of a controlled substance (drugs or alcohol) is not allowed. State law requires law enforcement officials to be contacted in the case of an occurrence of either of the above. __In addition, the Smith County School Board has a zero tolerance policy with regard to drugs; as well as, being present on school property, on a school bus, and/or at a school event/activity under the influence of an illegal drug, controlled substance or alcohol.__ Inappropriate possession, consumption, or under the influence of prescription drugs is a 365 day suspension from school.

Other School Rules Students are not to possess or use any form of tobacco product on school property or during school or any school activity. This includes lighters and matches. Students will not be allowed to “dip” any product even if it is one that does not contain tobacco.

Students may be questioned by teachers or principals about any matter pertaining to the operation of a school and/or the enforcement of its rules. Any principal, or his/her designee, may search any student, place, or thing on school property or in the actual or constructive possession of any student during any organized school activity off campus, including buses, vehicles or students.

The defacing or destruction of school equipment or school property is not allowed. Destroyed or defaced equipment must be paid for.

Students are expected to wear clothing that is appropriate for school. See the Dress Code section for further guidelines.

Students are to refrain from any type of inappropriate language.

Fighting is never allowed in the school, on school property, on the bus, or at any school related activity.

Hazing, harassment, peer or sexual, or threats of any kind will result in disciplinary action. Any incident should be reported to a teacher or principal.

Chewing gum is not permitted any place on campus. We insist on this policy because of the damage done to the furniture, carpet, etc. as well as the lack of manners many times displayed by the gum chewer. Although in and of itself, gum chewing is not a serious offense, the teachers and administration consider the disregard of a strict school rule an offense. Students who chew gum will be disciplined.

Students should be reminded that the school bus is an extension of the school day and all school rules apply on the bus.

Smith County Bus Rules Remain seated at all times. Obey the driver at all times. Electronic devices are not permitted on the bus. (ex: cell phones) No destruction of property. Balloons or glass containers of any kind will not be allowed on the bus. Neither the school nor the driver are responsible for personal items left or brought on the bus. 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 the driver. No fighting. Students will not use rude, discourteous, or unacceptable language. No loud talking or yelling. Emergency doors will not be used except for emergencies. Must remain in seat.

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. Any student riding a bus other than the one that the student usually rides needs a note signed by a parent/guardian __with the date, name of student and bus number to be taken by the student, as well as, the name and address of the destination__. The student also needs to get the principal or vice principal to sign the note. This note is to be given to the bus driver.

The breaking of any of the rules may justify suspension on the first offense. This will be done at the principal’s discretion. __After-School Detention or In School Suspension__ After-school detention may be assigned, by the teacher or administration, as a punishment for disobeying any school or classroom rule. A parent/guardian MUST sign the form before a child may complete the detention.

__Alternative School Placement__ The Alternative School is a short-term intervention program designed to develop academic and behavioral skills for the students who have been suspended or expelled from school. Students in Grades 7 and 8 who have officially been suspended from their regular school by the principal are eligible for the Alternative School. Students will be given the opportunity to keep up their school assignments and given credit for their work. Parents will be notified of this placement and will receive a list of parental information. Be sure to notice that the Alternative School dress code is not exactly the same as the dress code for SCMS. Students assigned to the Alternative School must follow the Alternative School dress code. Students in Grades 5 and 6 are not eligible for the Alternative School at this time. Students who are assigned alternative placement may be denied the right to attend school assemblies or field trips.

__Dress Code__ __ Students wearing articles of clothing or accessories that are not permitted will be sent to the office. Parents will be called to bring replacement clothing. The unacceptable article of clothing will be returned to the student’s parent. Continued disregard of the dress code will result in further disciplinary action. __

Students will be allowed to wear shorts before October 28, 2011 and may begin to wear shorts again on April 9, 2012. Only shorts that have pockets may be worn. Shorts and skirts must be about two (2) inches below fingertip length when the arms are extended at the sides. Shorts and pants must have a front or back pocket. __Athletic, drawstring or elastic waste shorts are not__ __allowed.__ Please remember that shorts that are appropriate in the fall may not be appropriate in the spring due to the growth of the student. Spandex and biker shorts are not permitted. Undergarments must not be visible; this includes tights, shorts, spandex, etc. Excessively revealing clothing is prohibited.

Pants and skirts must be 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. Both straps on overalls must be fastened. Pants with snaps up the legs are not allowed. __Jogging pants/sweatpants with no pockets and drawstring waist are not permitted.__

Tank tops and mesh tops are not allowed unless a sleeved shirt is worn under them. Clothing that exposes bare midriff is not allowed. Shirts must be long enough to tuck into pants, must have sleeves, and must be the appropriate size for the wearer. Extremely long shirts will be tucked in. All tops can be either crew neck (like a T-shirt) or with a collar.

Clothing and/or appearance that disrupts the educational process by drawing undesirable attention to the wearer will not be allowed. Students will not dress, groom, wear or use gang affiliations or gang signs, 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. All holes (in pants) MUST have a patch or not be worn.

Inappropriate or suggestive language on clothing is unacceptable.

Visible tattoos, facial piercings, and tongue rings are prohibited.

The wearing of caps, hats, knit hats, bandanas, 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 appropriate for daily school activities. Shoes that might cut, mar, or otherwise damage school property must not be worn. (Skate shoes and cleats will not be allowed.)

Offensive language or lewd pictures (including wrestlers and music stars or groups) on clothing will not be permitted. Shirts that advertise establishments where alcohol is sold should not be worn. Examples include shirts that have //Joe’s Crab Shack, Love, Peace, and Crabs,// and //Hooters//. The advertisement of alcohol and tobacco is not permitted on clothing, backpacks, lunchboxes, etc. Symbols of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, drugs, or drug paraphernalia are prohibited.

Makeup, facial jewelry, perfumes/colognes, and fingernail polish that disrupt the daily educational process are discouraged. Hair MUST be kept out of the student’s eyes. Unnaturally colored hair is prohibited. Hair will NOT be permitted to hang over eyes during the school day. Additionally, extreme hairstyles, such as mohawks or spiked hair, which draw undue attention are 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. Grills (for teeth) are not permitted.

Long coats, heavy jackets, or raincoats must be discarded upon entering the school building.

Pants with straps, chains, graphics and/or writing on the seat are not permitted

Sweat pants, pajama pants, or jogging pants are not permitted. Capri pants are acceptable, length must be no shorter than mid-calf. All shirts must be able to be tucked in when the student is seated, or an undershirt must be worn to prevent skin from being exposed.

No holes or frays and clothing must be patched from the outside.

Students will not be allowed to roll backpacks in the school.

Medication Students needing occasional medication for illnesses such as colds, earaches, and sore throats 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. However, if medication MUST be given at school, it must be personally delivered by the parent to the school office and must be accompanied by a written authorization from a parent/guardian (if the medication is a prescription, a signed physician’s form for medicine administration is required) that includes the name of the medication and instructions for its administration (time and dosage). Please include a medicine cup with the medication. All medication must be brought to school in the original container.

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.

__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: 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 there is a need for further evaluation by a physician a referral will be sent home. These screenings do not qualify as an examination and parents are encouraged to make sure child has annual medical checkups as well as bi-annual dental checkups. 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.
 * 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

Receiving Gifts at School Gifts sent or delivered to school on special occasions should be delivered to the office before 2:00 P.M. and clearly marked with the student’s name, homeroom teacher, and grade. No balloons or glass containers will be allowed on buses. Please be sure to remember this policy on Valentine’s Day.

__Lice Policy__

Students found with lice or nits in hair will be sent home for treatment. Students must be examined in the office and found to be nit-free in order to return to school. These rules relate to Smith County School Board Policy. School Breakfast and Lunch Following is a list of prices for meals at SCMS:

Student Breakfast: __*Reduced Student Breakfast:__ Extra Milk: __Student Lunch:__ *Reduced Student Lunch: __Ice Cream:__


 * Free and reduced breakfast and lunch prices are available to students who qualify.

All students should prepay for meals by sending money or a check to be deposited into their account. This money should be sent in an enclosed envelope with the student’s name, amount, homeroom, and whether it is for breakfast or lunch. Students will be allowed to charge meals a maximum of three school days. Students who do not have lunch money and have three days charged may be served an alternative meal.

If two checks from an individual are returned by the bank due to insufficient funds, only cash will be accepted as payment for school meals.

Students MUST know the last four digits of their Social Security number. A computer system is used to monitor student’s breakfast and lunch purchases. These digits are entered by the student as they exit the cafeteria line.

Change in Student Information It is imperative that the school office be notified immediately of a change of address, home or office telephone number, or of a change in emergency information during the academic school year. Also, we must be notified of any change in custody and custody papers MUST be on file in the school office. ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE EMERGENCY INFORMATION—INCLUDING AN EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER—ON FILE IN THE OFFICE AT ALL TIME. Transportation arrangements must be current as well. Messages for changes in transportation arrangements must be made in person or in writing. __ Permanent Records __ According to the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the parent/guardian or student age 18 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 stations. Announcements are normally broadcast between 5:30 A. M. and 6:30 A. M.

Students may also watch the TV for information concerning the closing of school. The Director of Schools will notify the TV stations as soon as possible. The principal of the school does not make this decision. TV stations that normally broadcast Smith County School closing include WSMV, WTVF, and WKRN.

If school begins late because of inclement weather, students should not arrive at the school any earlier than 15 minutes before the starting hour. In other words, if school begins at 10:00 A. M., students should arrive no earlier than 9:45 A. M. Buses run on a delayed schedule if school opening is delayed. ** __ Faculty/Staff Inclement Weather Info __ ** If school is opening late, custodians, cafeteria staff, and teachers on bus duty should report to school at the regular time. When school opens either one (1) or two (2) hours late, teachers shall arrive for their day in a proportionate manner of either one (1) or two (2) hours late. __ Safety Drills __ Fire, tornado, “lock down”, and other safety drills will be practiced at various times during the year. “Lock down” procedures will include locking all doors in the building in which students are located. Students who are in hallways, restrooms, etc. will be directed to go to the area where the nearest adult is located—classrooms, cafeteria, library, etc. Classes who are outside will be instructed to go to the nearest safe classroom. Fire drills will involve the moving of all students in the building to a place that is far enough away from the school building to be considered safe. During a tornado drill, students will be instructed so as to know the exact locations in the building that are considered the safest areas for inclement weather. __ 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. Students will not be allowed to ride with other parents in personal vehicles. 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. Disruptive or discipline problem students may not be allowed to participate in field trips. __ Money/Valuables/Banned Items __ The school will not be responsible for lost or stolen items. Students should not bring large amounts of money or valuable items to school. Students may not bring cellular phones, paging devices, laser pointers, radios, tape players, IPODS or MP3 players, video games, CD’s or players, skateboards, rollerblades, any trading cards, or any other type of toy, electronic device, music, or game to school unless prior approval has been given by the teachers/principal. Possession of electronic pagers at school is forbidden by state law. Cell phones will be an automatic enforcement of the policy.

__Consequences for possession of electronic devices at school:__ 1st Offense- 5 Days of In-School Suspension 2nd Offense- 5 Days of Out of School Suspension 3rd Offense- 30 Days Alternative School or appear before Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority

__Video Cameras__ Smith County Middle School is equipped with a video monitoring system.

__ELL Services__ ELL services are provided at Smith County Middle School for all students who qualify.

__Parental Rights__ Parents have the right to request information about the qualification of teachers and paraprofessionals who instruct their child. Parents have the right to request that their child’s name, address and telephone number not be released to a military recruiter. Parents have the right to transfer the child to another school within the district if they are victims of a violent crime at school.