This is the Official Arnold Memorial Elementary School Handbook. To Start reading the handbook from the beginning, simply scroll down on the page. If you would like to go to a particular section of the handbook, click on a link below and it will take you to that section.
 

1.

• Student Interpretation:

• Treat people the way you want to be treated.

• Say good things to and about people.

• Respect everyone’s space.

• Have a positive attitude.

2.

• Student Interpretation:

• Bring ALL supplies that you need to have a successful day.

• Study for tests.

• Keep a neat work area.

• Go to bed early so you will be ready to listen and learn.

3.

• Student Interpretation:

• Come to school on time.  Get an alarm clock!

• Use your time wisely.

• Cooperate with your parents so things go smoothly each morning.

• Go to bed early and get plenty of rest.

4.

• Student Interpretation:Pay attention to the teacher.

• Follow directions the first time.

• Do your work.

5.

Student Interpretation:

• Complete your work.

• Begin your assignments on time.

• Think about your answers and do quality work.

VISITORS

Parents are always welcome.  ALL visitors MUST check in at the main office and get permission before visiting a classroom.

A uniform method of communicating with parents on a daily basis has been established.  At the beginning of the school year, each student in grades K – 2 is given a folder, and each student in grades 3, 4 and 5 is given an Agenda (Student Planner).  The Kid Mail folders and the Agendas are to be taken home each night, checked and signed by a parent.  Parents are encouraged to check this folder or the Agenda nightly and to write notes to the teacher in the space provided.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH

Our cafeteria staff serves excellent breakfasts and lunches.  Fast food lunches, soft

drinks and glass bottles are NOT permitted.  Students may bring their own sack

 lunches.

Lunch-Visitors:

Lunches may be purchased in advance in any amounts (daily, weekly, monthly, or for the entire year).  Checks should be made payable to: CNDS or Child Nutrition Department Service.  A printout will be sent home indicating that the balance of paid lunches is approaching or is at a zero balance. Our auditing regulations prohibit charging of lunches without an available balance in the child’s lunch account.  Please keep your child’s account up to date.  This prevents what could be an embarrassing situation for your child.

Adult visitors are welcome to eat in the cafeteria, but must inform the cafeteria No Later Than 8:45 a.m. on the day of the visit.  The telephone number to the cafeteria is 476-8251.  Parents are requested to purchase the lunch served in the cafeteria when eating with their child.  Because of labor and the high cost of food, there will be an extra charge for our Thanksgiving and Christmas lunches.

Student accident insurance is available early in the school year for the school day and for 24-hour coverage.

ATTENDANCE

School hours are 8:15AM – 3:15PM.

Regular attendance is a most important factor in the establishment of a good scholastic record.  Work missed due to absences is difficult to make up.  There is no substitute for actual participation in the daily classroom discussion and work.  All missed class work or tests (whether from excused or unexcused absence) may be made up provided the request is made immediately upon returning to school and provided class time is not taken from other students.  Pupils are required by law to attend school regularly and on time.  Pupil absences are defined in the following paragraph, which explains the Tennessee Compulsory School Attendance Law:

There are six legal reasons for excusing a student from school attendance:

1. Personal illness

2. Death in the family

3. Illness in the family requiring the student to give temporary help (A physician’s statement is required in this case.)

4. Recognized religious holidays of a faith (The student must regularly attend the congregation.)

5. School approved trips

6. Court appearances

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EARLY DISMISSALS

Dismissals during the school day are discouraged.  Dismissals may be granted for doctor appointments, court appearances, funerals or school service activities.  Dismissals for other reasons than those listed will be handled individually by the administration.  A parent or guardian MUST sign the student out on the Check-Out Form in the Main Office.  Students being dismissed will be called to the office.  NO DISMSSALS WILL BE MADE BY TELEPHONE.

After 2 unexcused early checkouts, the parents will be notified of the number of early checkouts and the system’s concern.

After 5 unexcused early checkouts; a second contact will be made with parents.  This contact will be, at the discretion of the attendance personnel, a home visit, a letter, a phone contact, or such other contact as may be deemed appropriate.

After 10 unexcused early checkouts, parents and student will be asked to appear at a meeting of the Cleveland City Schools Campus Court.  Attendance personnel will be involved.

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TARDY / LATE PICK - UPS

Students are tardy to school if they are not in class at 8:15 A.M.  Students arriving after 8:15 must sign in at the Main Office and then go to class. 

Students are considered late for pick-up after 3:30 P.M. Parents should return to the main entrance to pick up their student and sign a late pick-up sheet. The principal will inform attendance personnel when a student reaches the 2^nd, 5^th, and 10^th day of unexcused tardies/late pickups.  The attendance personnel will take appropriate action at each of these points as outlined below:

After 2 unexcused tardies/ late pick-ups, the parents will be notified of the number of tardies/late pick-ups and the system’s concern.

After 5 unexcused tardies/late pick-ups, a second contact will be made with parents.  This contact will be, at the discretion of the attendance personnel, a home visit, a letter, a  phone contact, or such other contact as may be deemed appropriate.

After 10 unexcused tardies/ late pick-ups; parents and student will be asked to appear at a meeting of the Cleveland City Schools Campus Court.  Attendance personnel will be involved.

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It is understood that sickness will occur during the school year.  If your child is sick and you would like to pick up books and assignments, please call the office at 472-2241 by 9:00 a.m.  The staff will make arrangements to have the books and make-up work in the office for parents to pick up by 2:45.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Students must have record of immunizations on a Tennessee Certificate of Immunization on file in the school to include:

• 4 shots DPT or 3 shots after age 7

• 4 doses Polio or 3 doses after age 7

• 2 Measles, Mumps & Rubella for students in grades K, 4, 8, and 12

• 3 Hepatitis B immunizations for entrance into Kindergarten (must be in the process of beginning the series of 3)

GIFTS and INVITATIONS; Flowers and Balloons

COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER

An after school program is available for the students of Arnold Memorial Elementary School.  Operating hours are from 3:15 PM – 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  Students can receive help with homework, tutoring in areas of difficulty, enrichment programs such as music, dance, or drama, computer instruction, and other activities.  Parents will be invited to be an important part of this program at various times during the year.  More information on this program is available from the school office.

DRESS CODE

1. The length of walking shorts, skirts or dresses is to be longer than the fingertips when standing at attention.

2. No hats, bandanas, hoods or sunglasses will be worn in the building.

3. No article of clothing may be worn which implies or otherwise promotes alcohol, sex, tobacco, drugs, violence, gangs, racial, or offensive language.  This includes belt buckles and jewelry.

4. Pants must be securely fastened around the waist.  No clothing may be worn with holes, rips or tears above the knees.

5. Shoes must be worn at all times.

6. No spandex, bike shorts, or body suits may be worn.

7. No bare midriffs, halter tops see-through shirts, tank tops, or muscle shirts are to be worn.  Top wearing apparel must meet or overlap bottom wearing apparel.

8. No underwear (including sports bras) may show.

EMERGENCY CLOSING

 OF SCHOOL

Before school begins - In cases of inclement weather, please DO NOT CALL the school.  Instead, listen to WBAC, WCLE, or WALV since they will have up-to-date information that is reliable.  You will also receive notification from the Connect-Ed message system.

After school begins - Students who regularly use the school transportation system will do so.  Parents will be notified by the Connect-Ed message system.  If no one can be reached, students will remain in the office until a parent can be reached.

LIBRARY

The library collection at Arnold Memorial Elementary School is selected to provide materials to supplement the curriculum and to encourage recreational reading.  A wide variety of reference materials is provided for student use for the completion of classroom projects.

Students will receive planned instruction in the use of standard library materials and will have the opportunity to use the library in class groups during the year.

MUSIC

The music program at Arnold Memorial Elementary School includes regular classes for all students as well as an opportunity for developing special talents.  Students learn rhythmic songs, ballads and folk songs, popular music, as well as how to read musical notes.  Students in grades four through five are also eligible to join Arnold Singers/Ringers. These students learn to perform and are often spotlighted at school events.

PHYSICAL

 EDUCATION

Learning to develop physical skills are all part of a well rounded physical education program.   Students at Arnold Memorial Elementary School learn to exercise, play group sports, as well as push their individuals limits to help them grow and develop physically.  Students are not required to dress out for physical education, but are asked to bring or wear gym shoes to class.  Street shoes will damage the gym floor and are not recommended for athletic activities.  Students are graded on their ability to follow directions, work with others, and participate in the outlined activities.  If your child has or develops a physical condition, which limits his/her physical education participation, a note must be sent to the physical education teacher.  Long-term conditions will require a doctor’s note in the student’s file.

REGULATIONS FOR PUPILS RIDING SCHOOL BUSES

THE RIGHT OF ALL PUPILS TO RIDE IN THE CONVEYANCE IS CONDITIONED ON THEIR GOOD BEHAVIOR AND OBSERVANCE OF THE FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS.  ANY PUPIL WHO VIOLATES ANY OF THESE WILL BE REPORTED TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

1. The driver is in full charge of the bus and the pupils.  Pupils shall obey the driver cheerfully and promptly.

2. Pupils shall obey and respect the orders of monitors or patrols on duty.

3. Pupils shall occupy the space designated for them by the driver.

4. Pupils shall be on time; the bus cannot wait for those who are not on time.

5. Pupils shall observe the following:

1. Never stand in the road while waiting for the bus.

2. Clean their feet before entering the bus.

3. Avoid spitting on the floor of the bus. 

4. Not throw waste paper or other rubbish on the floor of the bus.

5. Not mar or otherwise deface the bus

6. Not start for school when sick or when any member of their family has a contagious disease.

7. Avoid unnecessary conversation with the driver.

8. Abstain from the use of tobacco and profane language.

9. At all times keep arms and head inside the bus windows.

10. Get on or off the bus or change seats in the bus only when it is not in motion.

11. Not leave the bus without driver’s consent, except at home or at school.

12. Respect persons whom they pass on the routes.

13. Report to the driver at once any damages to the bus.

14. Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.

6. Pupils who must cross the road after alighting from the bus, should pass in front of the bus and not behind it.  The driver should see that the way is clear before the child is permitted to cross the road.

7. SHOULD ANY PUPIL PERSIST IN VIOLATING ANY OF THESE REGULATIONS, IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE DRIVER TO NOTIFY THE PRINCIPAL AND AFTER DUE WARNING HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE PUPIL, THE PRINCIPAL SHALL THEN FORBID SUCH DISOBEDIENT PUPIL THE PRIVILEGE OF RIDING THE BUS UNTIL PERMISSION TO RIDE AGAIN HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.Written notice of the action of the principal shall be furnished the parent through the board of education, but such notice need not precede action by the principal.

8. Any complaints of drivers, pupils, or parents, not specified in the above regulations, shall be reported promptly to the principal or superintendent. 

9. Should the conduct of a pupil on the bus endanger the lives or morals of other people and  the offending pupil fails to cease such conduct when requested by the bus driver to do so,  with the permission of the principal the offender may be removed from the bus.  This  should be done only in extreme cases and as a last resort to protect the safety of other  pupils.

THESE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE KEPT BY THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR REFERENCE.

(AS WRITTEN BY THE CLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT- IF CLARIFICATION IS NEEDED PLEASE CALL 472-9576)

MATERIALS

Students are prohibited from bringing the following items to Arnold Memorial Elementary School because they are considered disruptive: radios, head sets, video games, sports cards, magazines, skateboards, and other novelty items. Other items that may be considered disruptive are not to be brought to school!

VIOLATION OF RULES

Repeated violations of minor rules or serious violations might result in a student being

removed from the school environment.  A list of offenses that might results in suspension or expulsion follows:

1. Willful and persistent violation of the school rules, or truancy;

2. Immoral or disreputable conduct, or vulgar or profane language;

3. Violence, or threatened violence against the person of any person attending or personnel assigned to a public school;

4. Willful or malicious damage to real or personal property of Arnold Memorial Elementary School, or the property of any person attending or person assigned to Arnold Memorial Elementary School.

5. Inciting, advising, or counseling of others to engage in any of the act herein enumerated;

6. Possession of a knife, firearm, or other dangerous weapons on school property (zero-tolerance);

7. Possession of fireworks or laser pointers;

8. Assaulting a principal or teacher with vulgar, obscene or threatening language;

9. Unlawful use or possession of legend drugs or other controlled substances (zero tolerance);

10. Any other conduct prejudicial to good order or discipline in any public school.

The School Principal is required by state law to notify the local police authorities of the following offenses:

1. Possession, sale or transfer of drugs

2. Assault (verbal or physical) of any staff member

3. Misconduct resulting in serious personal injury

4. Possession of a dangerous weapon

Most of the above violations require a hearing before the Disciplinary Hearing Authority and may result in a suspension of one (1) calendar year.

MEDICINES- POLICY 6.405

All medication, including prescription and non-prescription, must be brought to the office by a parent or guardian.  Medication brought by a student will not be administered.  Parents are required to sign the board approved form authorizing that medication can be administered.  Prescription medication must have the physician’s signature or it cannot be administered.  Medication must be in the original container.  It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to notify the nurse of any medical conditions your child may have with written instructions that will include:

1. Student’s name

2. Name of medication

3. Name of physician

4. Termination date for administering the medication.

5. Dosage

6. Possible side effects, if known

7. Time to be administered

A primary source of support for our school comes from our Parent-Teacher Organization.  This organization is especially interested in the welfare of the students in the community and strives to help in any way possible. Parents are urged to join the PTO and to attend the meetings.  Membership for individuals is only $3.00.  Family memberships are $5.00.  The 2005-2006 PTO officers will be elected in the fall.

Students shall not bring a cell phone, beeper, or pager to school.  Any student found to be in possession of a cell phone/ beeper/pager should immediately give the device to the teacher or principal upon request.  If the student refuses to turn over the device, the principal shall notify the parent of legal guardian.  Any confiscated cell phone/beeper/pager shall be forfeited to the school system and turned over to the parent.

STUDENT RECORDS

Notification of Rights Under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Institutions.

(1)  The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access.

(2)  The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.  Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personnel identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational Interests. A school off official is a person employed by the District as an administrator; supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist; or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school  official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the District discloses records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

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TELEPHONE

During the regular school day students may use the phone in the main office ONLY FOR EMERGENCY CALLS.  Students must get permission from the appropriate teacher to come to the office to use the phone.  Permission to use the phone must then be granted by the secretary or other office personnel.  Students will not be called from class to receive calls. 

TUITION

There is a tuition charge for any student who lives outside the Cleveland City limits.  By School Board policy, this fee must be paid in full before enrollment at Arnold Memorial Elementary School.  Taxes on city property may apply toward the tuition upon proof to the Director of Schools that the taxes have been paid.  Tuition for the 2005-2006 school year is $540.00 for county students and $1,317.00 for out of county students.

School System:

Publicity is an integral part of the regular school program for Cleveland City Schools.  Therefore, if you do not want your child in any story, picture or video for publicity in the media, please notify the school in writing within two weeks after the first day of school or within two weeks after registration.

DISCRIMINATION/

HARASSMENT

Cleveland City Schools will not tolerate discrimination or harassment from employee to

employee, employee to student, or student to student on the basis of race, color, national

origin, gender or disability.  Anyone who feels he/she has been grieved in regard to any

of the aforementioned categories may file a grievance with the Supervisor of

Instruction for Cleveland City School System.  A Grievance Form may be obtained in

the school office or the central Administrative Office Building.  A grievance may also

be filed with the U.S. Office of Civil Rights.  For detailed information, refer to the

Cleveland City School Board of Education policies    Discrimination/Harassment of

Employees, (5.500), Discrimination/Harassment of students (6.304), and Student

Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances, (6.305). Copies of these policies may be

obtained at any school or they can be accessed at our website at www.clevelandschools.org.

6.304 - Discrimination/

Students shall be provided a learning environment free from sexual, racial, ethnic and religious discrimination/harassment.

It shall be a violation of this policy for any employee or any student to discriminate against or harass a student through disparaging conduct or communication that is sexual, racial, ethnic or religious in nature. The following guidelines are set forth to protect students from discrimination/harassment. Student discrimination/harassment will not be tolerated.

Discrimination/harassment is defined as conduct, advances, gestures or words either written or spoken of a sexual, racial, ethnic or religious nature which:

1. Unreasonably interfere with the student's work or educational opportunities; or

2. Create an intimidating, hostile or offensive learning environment; or

3. Imply that submission to such conduct is made an explicit or implicit term of receiving grades or credit; or

4. Imply that submission to or rejection of such conduct will be used as a basis for determining the student's grades and/or participation in a student activity.

Alleged victims of sexual, racial, ethnic and religious discrimination/harassment shall report these incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor or building administrator. Allegations of discrimination harassment shall be fully investigated by a complaint manager (as set forth in Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances 6.305 ).

The privacy and anonymity of all parties and witnesses to complaints will be respected. However, because an individual's need for confidentiality must be balanced with obligations to cooperate with police investigations or legal proceedings, to provide due process to the accused, to conduct a thorough investigation or to take necessary action to resolve a complaint, the identity of parties and witnesses may be disclosed in appropriate circumstances to individuals with a need to know. A substantiated charge against an employee shall result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. A substantiated charge against a student may result in corrective or disciplinary action up to and including suspension. There will be no retaliation against any person who reports harassment or participates in an investigation. However, any employee who refuses to cooperate or gives false information during the course of any investigation may be subject to disciplinary action. The willful filing of a false report will itself be considered harassment and will be treated as such. An employee disciplined for violation of this policy may appeal the decision by contacting the Federal Rights Coordinator or the Complaint Manager. Any student disciplined for violation of this policy may appeal the decision in accordance with disciplinary policies and procedures.

6.300 - School Discipline

Code

The Director of Schools shall be responsible for the overall implementation and supervision of the Board’s Code of Behavior and Discipline and shall ensure that students at all schools are subject to a uniform and fair application of the Code, which includes policies 6.301-6.319, but is summarized below.  The complete Code can be found on the web at www.clevelandschools.org.

The principal of each school shall be responsible for implementation and administration in his/her school and shall apply the Code uniformly and fairly to each student at the school without partiality and discrimination.

The Board delegates to the Director of Schools the responsibility of developing more specific codes of behavior and discipline which are appropriate for each level of school, namely, elementary, middle, junior high and senior high.  The development of each code shall involve principals and faculty members of each level of school and shall be consistent with the content of the Board’s Code.

Copies of the Code shall be posted on the district website and guidance counselors may be supplied copies for discussion with students.  The code shall be referenced in all school handbooks.  All teachers, administrative staff and parents shall be provided copies of the following summary and have access to the complete Code on the website:

The Board expects all school staff, students and parents to assume responsibility for appropriate behaviors in the schools.

Staff, students and parents have the right to expect safety, non-discrimination and a focus on learning in the schools.

Staff, students and parents have the responsibility to:

• Follow the rules of the school and the laws of the country.

• Treat themselves and others with respect.

• Handle personal and school property carefully.

• Behave at all times in a manner that encourages learning.

6.314 - Corporal

Punishment

Any principal, assistant, principal or teacher may use corporal punishment in a reasonable manner against any student for good cause in order to maintain discipline and order within the public schools in accordance with the following guidelines:

1. Corporal punishment shall be administered only after other less stringent measures have been documented and failed, or if the conduct of a student is of such nature that corporal punishment is the only reasonable form of punishment under the circumstances.

2. Parent or guardians may submit a letter annually to the principal requesting that no corporal punishment be administered to their children.  If such a letter is sent, this form of discipline will not be used.

3. The instrument to be used in administering corporal punishment shall be approved by the principal.  The instrument should be the same used in all schools.  At no time should the hand be used as the instrument. 

4. Corporal punishment shall be reasonable.

5. Corporal punishment shall be administered in the principal’s office in the presence of another professional employee.

6. The nature of the punishment will be such that it is in proportion to the gravity of the offense, the apparent motive and disposition of the offender, and the influence of the offender’s example and conduct on others.

7. In determining the use and degree of corporal punishment, consideration will be given to the age, sex, size, physical and emotional condition of the child.

A disciplinary record shall be maintained and shall contain the name of the student, the type of misconduct, the type of corporal punishment administered, the name of the person administering the punishment, the name of the witness present and the date and time of punishment.

Disciplinary records shall be filed in the school office and made available to parents or students, whichever is appropriate.

Offenses

In order to ensure a safe and secure learning environment, the following offenses will not be tolerated:

WEAPONS & DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS

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 school vehicles and/or buses or off the school grounds at a school sponsored activity, function or event. Dangerous weapons for the purposes of this policy shall include, but are not limited to a firearm or anything manifestly designed, made or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury or anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Violators of this section shall be subject to suspension and/or expulsion from school.

Firearms (as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921)

In accordance with state law, any student who brings or possess a firearm on school property shall be expelled for a period of not less than one (1) calendar year. The director of schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Drugs

In accordance with state law, any student who unlawfully possesses any drug including any controlled substance or legend drug shall be expelled for a period of not less than one (1) calendar year. The director of schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Battery

In accordance with state law, any student who commits battery upon any teacher, principal administrator, any other employee of the school or school resource officer shall be expelled for a period of not less than one (1) calendar year. The director of schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Notification

6.601 - STUDENT PRIVACY RIGHTS

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